Chapter 24

The Beginning of the End: Take a Breath


When the light of his spell had faded, there was nothing left. No rural village. This was not the damage of a fire or demonic miasma - this was complete obliteration. All structures reduced to ash and then that same dust brushed off the face of the earth.

Pian regarded his hand in wonder, covered in the black scripts like an elaborate tattoo, surprisingly free of burns or any physical damage from the attack.

He let out a dry laugh. Was this really all it took? Years of planning careful revenge with Kan made obsolete in an instant with the power from a pact?

Raising his hand again, this time he pointed it back towards the charred mountains. But the energy did not heed his call. Of course, even demonic powers from beyond the afterlife required a chance to build up again. That was mildly disappointing.

A glitter of red caught his eye. Now that was far from disappointing. With a lazy wave of his arm, Ryuushin leapt into his palm and he shivered slightly.

The cold of the red steel, the heat of the blood lust, the perfect blend of malice tuned to his mind. He bent down to pick up the sheath and slide it into his sash. Ryuushin thrummed impatiently from within its wooden cage.

With a relaxed sigh, he extended his gaze to the newly widened horizon. He had all the time in the world. Perhaps his time in the great beyond had dulled his anxiety-fueled need to overplan, to intricately work out all the details. Now, it was only him and the complete annihilation of his enemies.

As a cold wind rustled his robes, he turned northerly, with a dragon scale in his hand. First, let us find your brother.

A second later, the wind whistled in isolation.


Rin grit her teeth. Losing Ryuushin would be a problem. Dealing with a Pian in possession of powers unknown was a downright catastrophe. They could not possibly be prepared to take action.

Sesshoumaru helped Tsukiakari to her feet as the maiden apologized once more. "I am sorry, but surely now is the time?"

She watched curiously from afar as Sesshoumaru drew his fiancee to the side. Her acute demon hearing afforded her a few phrases: "We cannot risk the plan." "This is beyond what we had anticipated." Sesshoumaru caught her gaze, gave her a piercing return before turning away to conceal their discussion more carefully.

"What do you think they're talking about, all chummy over there?" Kohaku whispered to her.

"Shut up. They can hear you." Rin glowered at him.

"What does that bother me?" Kohaku snapped bitterly.

"If you do not stop being an insufferable twat, I will reduce you to a pile of blood and organs right now. Do not doubt for a second that I wouldn't do it." She growled under her breath.

Kohaku shut up, but his eyes narrowed.

Tsukiakari and Sesshoumaru concluded their huddle. The great inu lord raised his arm and a dozen black birds erupted from his hand, cawing their way into the sky. One of them landed on Kohaku's shoulder, taking him by surprise.

On reflex, Rin held out her arm as one of the birds dug into newly scaled skin; she was very familiar with Sesshoumaru's messenger birds. Amazing magical summons with the ability to copy voice, but more commonly used for carrying paper notes. A great sense of nostalgia waved over her.

"...ri...Mari!" Kohaku was hissing her cover name. "They're watching you!" He tersely spat at her under his breath.

Rin froze. Sesshoumaru and Tsukiakari were indeed staring, one might say with concern. Crap crap crap crap crap - act natural! Forcing a blank expression, she shook the crow off with one strong push of her arm and it vanished along with Kohaku's. "And what are these, messenger birds?"

Sesshoumaru did not say a word, but Tsukiakari spoke up. "Come with us. We will explain."

Both Rin and Kohaku shared a confused glance, but held out their hands for Tsukiakari to work her magic again. The familiar blur of travel was over in a second and the group found themselves in a dark space illuminated with the flickering spark of torchlight.

"Where are we?" Kohaku asked, voice echoing in the large chamber.

"You are in my castle."

Damn it all, Rin cursed. Another familiar voice. She should have escaped when she had the chance.

Kongomi walked down a narrow set of stairs made of obsidian. The golden figure of Yoihito complete with a flowing red cape stepped in her shadow.

"Technically, the basement of my castle, since no one knows you are here." The princess stopped when she reached Sesshoumaru and turned to face him straight on. "Welcome back. We only just received your message. What is the matter?"

"The demon has returned. He has Ryuushin and powers beyond comprehension."

Kongomi paled. "How the hell does he have Ryuushin?" She gaped. "I thought you disposed of that weapon after the forest fire."

"I did. My mother saw fit to send it back with an envoy." His eyes flashed in Rin's direction and the full brunt of Kongomi's naturally sharp tone turned on her.

"Who are you, exactly?" Kongomi asked, taking in Rin's appearance. "That's Inukojo's uniform. You're working with her too?" She glanced back at Sesshoumaru. "I didn't think you dealt with traitors and spies, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"She is - " Sesshoumaru began, but Rin wasn't having any of this. She untied her mask, recalling that Kokhau had said it was hard to spot the similarities. Kongomi would not be satisfied with anything less and if no one could tell who she was, then it was worth it.

"My name is Mari. Inukimi paid me to clean up this mess," Rin announced with all the false haughtiness she could muster. "And who are you, exactly?"

"Kongomi, queen of Ryudo." Kongomi returned proudly. "What do you mean by 'clean up this mess'?"

Tsukiakari interjected, "Inukimi-sama provided Mari-san with Ryuushin in the anticipation that the foreign demon would return and attempt to summon the remaining daiyoukai dragons. She was there when we encountered the demon in question."

"You saw him? That bastard?" Kongomi's mouth shook with emotion before quelling her anger. "So, Mari, did you put up a fight or did you merely hand Ryuushin to him?"

"We interfered and he secured the weapon from us." Sesshoumaru replied baldly.

"Oh." Kongomi seemed taken aback. Yoihito and Kohaku both looked around in mild uncertainty. "Well I supposed that is a moot point now. Are we proceeding with that plan?"

"We think it might be the only way to combat the new powers he unleashed on us. Even with the sword at large, Mirai or Omo might be our best chance at victory," Tsukiakari supplied.

Yoihito sighed, "Then it is a good thing that we had everyone move to the evacuation points last month. But the timing could not have been worse. I am not sure we're prepared to execute both plans at once."

Rin wanted to inquire, but realized that she had developed somewhat of a taciturn cover persona and therefore kept silent. Luckily, Kohaku was not as quiet.

"Can you please explain what you mean by plans? You have been speaking in riddles since we arrived."

Kongomi gave him a rude glare. "If you hadn't been playing around as the kuroi akuma, you might know what we're talking about."

"I can explain on the way," Tsukiakari said. "Kongomi-sama, your team will need to leave immediately. Sesshoumaru-sama has already informed Inyuasha-sama. They will be monitoring the demon at a distance. I will return to the palace to determine what next steps we need to take to counter my mother."

Rin was about to volunteer to scout the demon, as her cover story required, but Sesshoumaru addressed her first.

"You will join the queen as part of her security detail. I will accompany you to make sure you do not cause problems."

"Ah, then I'll-" Kohaku began but Tsukiakari got there first.

"Actually, Kohaku-san, I have instructions to take you back to your sister should I find you." She smiled demurely. "You will be coming with me."

"I didn't agree-" but Tsukiakari had already tapped him on the shoulder and the pair disappeared.

"Yoihito, make preparations. We leave in an hour." Kongomi watched her guard leave and then turned to Sesshoumaru. "Would you mind giving us a minute, privately?" Her smile was equally sweet and venomous.

Immune to her sharp tongue, Sesshoumaru followed the guard out of the room. As soon as the door to the downward stairs closed, Kongomi whipped around, using her forearm to force Rin's back to the wall.

"You tell me what is going on right now or so help me, I will tell everyone for you!"

Rin wheezed a bit from the sudden force. "What are you on about? Sesshoumaru told you."

Kongomi pushed a bit harder. "Right. And that's why you've done the dragon mantle ritual with Jiro. I can see it, you know!"

"What?" Rin blinked. "You can see Jiro?"

"Obviously! I was his partner and I would never forget the pattern of his demon energy. If you don't have a good reason for why his energy is wrapped around you, I will end you right here. I don't care if you're Sesshoumaru-sama's prodigy or pet or whatever, I will not hesitate to take you down, Rin."

Silence fell between the two girls.

"What...do I look like - to you?" Rin asked hesitantly.

Kongomi lowered her arm and backed away. "You are distorted. I can see Jiro's features overlaid on yours. That is how I knew it was you, but that is beside the point. How the hellspawn did you do this?"

"Harika-chan."

There was a thump as the queen grabbed onto the wall and slid down.

Rin sat next to her. "I met her and Jiro in the land of the dead. When Inukimi came to collect me, Harika offered me Yami to help keep me alive." She pulled aside her collar to expose the tiny shadow creature, who chirped happily.

Kongomi fondly reached out to delicately stroke the little head. "Welcome back," she whispered softly, as though somewhat removed from reality.

"According to Harika-chan, Jiro wanted to come, to help you. And this," she gestured to her general state, "was how he could do it. She did the spell and here we are."

A few moments of heavy silence passed. Sharp inhales from Kongomi belied her attempts to conceal her emotions. Rin waited.

"Let me get this straight: you died."

"Yes."

"And then you were somehow brought back to life by Sesshoumaru-sama's mother."

"Yes."

"And you were given Yami and Jiro to help you."

"In a manner of speaking."

"This is the part that I don't get: why did you have Ryuushin? Sesshoumaru-sama was adamant about throwing that sword away and you had to bring it back!"

Rin threw up her hands. "Inukimi told me that the demons were back and trying to summon the dragons. Ryuushin was just thrown into the underworld. How was I supposed to know that Sesshoumaru is the one that threw it in there?"

Kongomi scoffed at her and was ready to retort, but there was the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Rin grabbed her tightly.

"You have to keep this a secret. Sesshoumaru can't know that it's me," she gave Kongomi a shake for good measure. "You have to promise. No one else knows! Promise!"

"Fine! Fine! I won't tell anyone." Kongomi snapped. "Now let me go." She brushed off Rin's grip and stood up. In a slightly louder voice she replied. "I hope that we understand each other." Then she swept towards the stairs, where Yoihito was waiting and closed the door.

From her spot on the floor, Rin put her head in her hands. "Well, this is going swimmingly."

"What is?"

Rin immediately scrambled to her feet. How did he get down there without so much as a single sound?

She threw the cover persona out the window. No more minding her tongue!

"For starters, what are you on about?" She crossed her arms and frowned at Sesshoumaru, the recently-arrived. "My mission is to destroy that demon - not be a babysitter."

He wasn't moved. In fact, he didn't move at all. Not a single muscle.

"And what were you thinking, separating me from my traveling companion. What are you planning?"

She pushed aside the butterflies in her stomach to make direct eye contact with a close glare.

The man did not budge. Now it was getting irritating.

"Who do you think you are?" She asked with all the menacing charisma in her possession.

His brow raised a millimeter and he took a step towards her. It took every ounce of resolve not to back away.

"I am Sesshoumaru, son of Inutaisho and Lord of the Western Lands." He coldly stared down his nose at her. "If I recall, you are just 'Mari' - a spy sent by my meddling mother."

Rin gave a small harrumph. There was nothing she could dispute there - not without creating an even more tangled story. "Well, have fun on the royal outing, heika. I am going after the demon and the sword." She shouldered her way past him, silently celebrating that she now had the physical strength to do so. I always wanted to take him down a notch!

An iron grip caught her wrist and pulled her back.

"You will be coming with me."

She swallowed nervously, but was able to retort: "Who's going to stop me? You?"

"Yes."

Oh boy. This was getting dangerous. This was merely Sesshoumaru being Sesshoumaru, but in another life, with another man, this could be considered flirting. Rin tried to tell her heart to keep quiet - he had a fiancee for kami's sake!

She wrenched her arm free. "Nobody touches me without asking." She returned his look as apathetically as possible. "And nobody tells me what to do. Even you, Sesshoumaru-tono."

Fiddling with her arm bracers, she casually remarked. "It appears we are at an impasse. Give me one good reason why I should go with you instead of with the others and I will concede."

Not missing a beat, he remarked: "I cannot trust that you will not cause trouble as soon as you are out of my sight."

"What gives you the impression that I would 'cause trouble'?"

She regretted the question as soon as it left her mouth and she mentally smacked herself. You appear with Tenseiga and Ryuushin, dressed in the military clothing of his aunt, while claiming that his mother sent you. I wouldn't trust me either!

Sesshoumaru chose to ignore that nonsense. "The boat leaves in an hour. Be on it."


Inukimi drifted around her palace as she was wont to do. The pieces were in motion, but nothing had yet come to fruition.

"You idiots! Why did you not come to me immediately?"

Inukojo's voice echoed down the corridor. Inukimi paused at one end, easily able to overhear everything.

"Sorry, denka!"

"I don't want an apology, I want a report! Now!"

"Yes, denka! We encountered two suspicious individuals, one dressed in our uniform, sir. They escaped and shortly after we gave chase, we felt a huge energy. When we arrived at our usual station, the village was gone, denka!"

"Only a dead person wouldn't have felt that energy. What was it?"

"...We don't know."

"Well go find out!"

"Yes denka!" There were a pair of boots echoing on the stone, fading with each passing second. Once the noise had disappeared, Inukimi stepped out.

"Having some trouble?" Inukimi asked, keeping her hands folded in her silk sleeves.

Her sister whipped her head around. "Why are you here?"

"Do you mean in this part of the castle or in the castle in general? Or perhaps you meant that more existentially?"

Inukojo bared her fangs. "You are infuriating."

"At least I am not infuriated," she chided cooly. "And I am the one that should be. You have an army, fathomless militant might. In a number of days, your daughter will be wed and the provisions in Inutaisho's final wishes will be met, effectively transitioning all of his lands and properties to Sesshoumaru." She held up a silk sleeve in mock grief. "I will be without a home."

"Spare me the theatrics," Inukojo growled. "I believe those damned demons are back."

"Demon."

"What?" Her reply was sharp.

Dropping her sleeve, Inukimi spelled it out for her sister: "One of the demons was killed during the forest fire, by Sesshoumaru. There is only one remaining."

"And that's one too many! Didn't you feel the massive blast of demonic energy? Apparently that whelp learned some new tricks while he was away." Inukojo pushed past her. "Get out of my way. Some of us actually have things to do."

"The sword is back."

Inukojo stopped mid step and pivoted on her heel. "How would you know?"

Inukimi shrugged vaguely. "I am its creator, perhaps that affords me a special bond with the blade?"

Inukojo paused and closed her eyes for a minute. "You're right, I can feel it." Her eyes snapped open with a fury. "I thought Sesshoumaru had gotten rid of it."

"Yet, somehow it is back." Inukimi smiled slyly. "But I cannot imagine that it would be of much use, now that the dragons are gone."

Inukojo stormed off without saying a word in reply.


Following the furious glow in his palm, Pian carefully made his way through the remnants of the forest. His last visit here had been far less agreeable. True, Ryuushin had shown him a few tricks, but ultimately, he was bested by some hooded creature.

A happy circumstance, now that he reflected on it. Without that banishment, he would lack the power, trapped in a prison of his own making.

Dirt thudded faintly under his feet and paused, surveying the land. A tiny stream of light from his dragon scale directed his gaze with pinpoint accuracy. Brushing aside damp ash, he uncovered a twin, sparkling with its own inner brilliance.

"There you are," he whispered fondly as he joined the pair once again. In close proximity, they called out to one another and shone towards the north, which was a land still steeped in winter.

"Omo, lorf of the daiyoukai dragons, shall I add you to my treasure horde of weapons at my disposal?" he mused quietly out loud. Then all pleastry melted from his expression. "Why don't you stop lurking?"

Turning around, he found himself face to face with a Inu clan warrior, hair tied back in a severe bun. Bold silver embroidery on navy robes indicated her high rank. A close relative of Sesshoumaru, perhaps?

"Give me back my sword." The demon's voice was harsh and clearly not in the habit of being denied much of anything.

"Your sword…?" Then his mind made the connection. "You are the one that sent that poor little princess to us, yes? She was such a wretched creature."

"That is immaterial. I'll be taking it back." Inukojo held out an armored hand and furrowed her brow. Once she had the sword, everything would be back on track.

Ryuushin tugged and twitched. Her enemy's eyes widened in surprise and she could not resist cracking a sly grin. Take that, you simpering fool!

But then the demon returned her smile, confidently covering Ryuushin with a steady hand. "Oh, my dear. You could not best me then, you cannot best me now."

Inukojo snarled, "We'll see about that." She reached inside her robe to grab the wana seal, the golden family crest that Sesshoumaru had tossed to her haphazardly a year ago. With a few deft steps, she materialized by his side and slammed the amulet against his arm. "You will relinquish the sword to me."

Immense and immediate satisfaction flowed out of her as she watched the perspiration form at his temples, struggling to avoid the siren call. But then his grip grew looser, weaker. She went in for the kill.

"Ryuushin does not belong to you. It never has. Give it up."

And just like that, the sword was back in her hands. The silver demon grasped at the air, concentrated, trying to pull the blade back, but to no avail.

"As I said, this does not belong to you. You will never hold it again." She smirked as he dropped to his knees.

"Why...not kill me…?" he panted from exertion.

Inukojo crouched down low right next to him. "I need you to be the bait." She pushed his forehead. "Do your best - I'll look forward to your results." Then she whirled around and leapt away.

Pian counted slowly until he could detect no trace of her presence. He stood and delicately wiped the sweat from his face.

"If I am the bait, then you are just one of my traps." His teeth glinted in his malicious smile as he glanced down at the golden amulet in his hand bearing the familiar floral crest of that family. The crimson tassel swayed slightly.

Easy. Much too easy.


An hour later, Rin found herself sitting behind Kongomi on the back of Yoihito's red dragon, Aki, as they hurtled over the ocean.

Having conceded to Sesshoumaru, Rin had gone up the stairs to meet a very familiar sight: the castle in Ryudo that was destroyed. Completely perplexed as to how a castle could be reassembled in such a short period of time, she wandered around in a fog, trying to grasp what she was seeing.

The rooms, the halls, the balconies. It was all here. As though nothing had even happened. Well, not entirely. There were much fewer dragonkin, the level of pomp and circumstance had dropped considerably, but the fledgling hustle and bustle of daily life was taking root.

Somehow she made her way to a lower balcony by the coast, right along the edge of the water. Sesshoumaru, Kongomi, and Yoihito were waiting for her with a boat, harnessed to a fairly large dragon in the water.

Seconds later she was handed up onto Aki by Yoihito and then they were off: Yoihito guiding the boat and Sesshoumaru flying on his own.

Time for some answers. She was about to open her mouth when Kongomi preempted her.

"Tsukiakari-sama helped rebuild the castle with magic. She had a dozen magic practitioners working spells."

Rin was astonished. "That was nice of her."

"It was Sesshoumaru-sama's idea."

That was a bit surprising. Sesshoumaru had never shown any sort of altruistic side before. She felt her heart sink a bit. Maybe that was what happened when someone met the person that was right for them: they changed, became better.

As if sensing Rin's melancholy, Kongomi awkwardly cleared her throat. "And, um, well, we are eternally grateful. We have a home: it's not the same, but we have started to rebuild our future."

In that moment, Rin could see Kongomi the ruler, Jōo-Heika of Ryudo. For all her bite, she cared for her people, for her homeland. That passion had no doubt fueled her energy for these long months as they healed. Rin smiled at the thought of everyone being able to look towards tomorrow.

Another reason why she couldn't let herself get carried away.

"Where are we going?"

"Why are you only asking that now?" Kongomi asked incredulously.

"It doesn't matter. Are you going to tell me or not?"

"Mirai, one of the last daiyoukai dragons is sleeping under the ocean. If we make good time, we will be there before nightfall tomorrow."

That would explain the boat, if they needed a place to rest. But her answer did pose an interesting point.

"Don't you need to get your blood on the dragon -"

"Yes." Kongomi held up a hand. "You don't need to worry about it. There is a plan."

"But-"

"No. I refuse to discuss this." She looked over her shoulder. "Not unless you're willing to tell me why you insist on keeping your identity a secret."

"Do you promise to keep it a secret?" Rin tentatively let her guard drop.

"Yes! Yes! For the last time, I will keep your stupid secret!"

The lock holding Rin's anxieties, her fears and frustrations opened with a tiny click and the floodgates opened. The fear and loss of being in the underworld. The hope and trepidation of returning to the land of the living. The desire to see and be seen, but the drive to hide.

To be honest, it was such a relief to be able to talk to someone. Not an old skeleton. Not a manipulative sorceress. Not a close friend who was overcoming their own trauma. Just a person who would listen.

At the of it all, Rin expected a curt response, a jarring "Are you finished yet?" None came. Only quiet and that was okay. They didn't need to come to an understanding on everything.

Hours passed in that tranquility, watching the sun slowly lower on the horizon.


Tsukiakari dropped herself with Kohaku in tow into the courtyard of Inukimi's palace. Kohaku took note of the extensive presence of guards, all in uniforms that matched the one Rin had worn.

"Excuse me, Tsukiakari-san. I did not agree to this. Please bring me back to the others." He walked behind her, trying to keep pace as she glided up the stairs.

"I do apologize, Kohaku-san. That was incredibly rude of me to do that without your permission, but your sister was quite particular about being reunited with you."

"Then why am I here?" He stopped short. "Clearly aneue and the others are somewhere else."

"This is a quick detour before we join them. Given what we saw, I need to assess the situation with my mother, to confirm that our plans do not need to change." She turned rapidly down passage after passage.

"Can you tell me what those plans are? Or do I need to be left in the dark?" He grumbled.

Tsukiakari looked both ways before sliding into a room and dragging him behind her. She drew him in close, forcing a small blush on his face from the proximity. "Please try to be discreet. My mother has ears everywhere."

He nodded, inching away the best he could.

"My mother intends to claim the Western Lands for herself. If she rules down here the way that she ruled in the north, she will eliminate all humans and any demons that oppose her tyranny. To do so, she needs Sesshoumaru and myself to marry. That will grant her rightful claim to this palace and all the lands tied to it."

Kohaku forgot his momentary embarrassment. "Then why are you getting married?"

She paused, listening carefully for any sign of life before continuing. "There were several reasons leading to that decision, for which we do not have time to elaborate. Let me just say that it is in the best interests of everyone to make sure the ceremony happens without interruption."

There were voices in the hall.

"Stay here." Tsukiakari slipped out and found her mother striding down the hall without apparently a care in the world.

"Ah, my lovely daughter!"

Tsukiakri turned around with a soft and serene countenance. "Mother, it is good to see you. You seem to be in good spirits."

"I am!" Inukojo walked up and leaned towards her daughter conspiratorially. "You will never guess what I have!" She held up a black lacquered sheath. "Ryuushin is once again ours!"

Tsukiakari felt the blood drain from her face and she was grateful that her mother was not likely to notice in her exuberance. "Where did you find it?"

"I stole it back from that bastard and I used the wana seal so that he'll never be able to take ownership of it again!" Inukojo smiled broadly. "All I need to do is keep on the lookout for daiyoukai, let them finish off those pesky people, then use the sword to deal with them and the little dragon brat."

Seeing her daughter's horrified expression, she reassured her: "Of course, it will be after the wedding. We wouldn't let your special day be ruined, now would we?" She chuckled to herself as she continued down the hall.

"Kohaku-san."

He peeked out to see a very shocked Tsukiakari.

"My mother has become unhinged. I am not sure what happened, but she is not of her right mind."

"Was she ever in her right mind?" he asked, somewhat jokingly as he stepped out. He held up his hands in apology when all he received was a blank stare.

There was a flurry of rustling and murmured chanting as Tsukiakari started to cast a spell. She held up her interlocked hands in the direction her mother had gone and frowned. With a sweeping motion, she tracked an invisible force until she stopped, facing north.

"Kohaku-san, come here. We have to get to the others immediately." She held out a delicate hand. "My mother lost the seal."

He gently placed his hand in hers. "What -"

"-seal?" His head was spinning from the teleportation. He clutched his head to stop the headache beginning to accumulate.

Tsukiakari was surveying the area. "I think that is as far as we can go. We will need to go on foot from here." She contemplated Kohaku. "It will be faster if I carry you."

Resigned to his fate, he allowed the inu maiden to pick him up behind his back and under his knees, his legs dangling over her arms. This was the second time being carried in the arms of a lady. "What seal?"

They rose rapidly in the air. "My family has a crest, an amulet. Sesshoumaru-sama used to have it, but last year, he traded it in favor of getting Ryuushin. We did not realize its true power at the time, but it has the ability to sway the hearts and minds of others. Enough so that my mother was able to create a massive army in a number of days."

"What's different now?" Kohaku asked directly into Tsukiakari's ear.

"Everything has changed," she replied, bounding over trees that were increasingly covered in snow. "My mother clearly had an encounter with Pian, I think his name was. She returned with the sword, but now the seal is gone."

"Do you think he got the charm and used it against her?"

"I have to imagine so. If that is the case, then we have to face the possibility that she has been compromised. Others like Rin might also be in danger if they have been under his curses or spells before." She stopped under a tree. "Give me a moment and I will change us into something more suitable."

More chanting, more elaborate motions with her hands and arms. Kohaku felt his armor thickening, protecting him against the chill. She also arranged pants and armor for herself. "Now let us meet up with the rest. We are hours behind them."

The landscape brushed past him as he tried to process what was happening. Then he caught something.

"What do you mean..Rin?"

Tsukiakari gave him a surprised eye. "I was hoping you would be able to tell me, given that you were traveling with her."

His mouth dropped. "How did you know?"

"Each of Sesshoumaru-sama's crows is bound to a single person. Rin's bird flew right to her; it could not have happened with anyone else."

This in turn generated a million questions: How was that possible? Why did Sesshoumaru do that for a dead person? But the most important one of all:

"Does he know?"

"Of course. Why else would he refuse to let her out of his sight?"


As the bright orb dipped below that line, Kongomi brought Aki down to rest on the boat. Sesshoumaru joined them as well.

Kongomi stretched her neck. "This would be much easier if Tsukiakari-sama was able to bring us right to the location." She gave Yoihito a knowing look. "Yes, I know that she can only go to places she has seen before. I'm just tired of riding all day."

She then proceeded to pull out supplies from several boxes they had packed and tossed a set of rations to Rin. "Here. Eat quickly and go to sleep. We leave just before dawn."

Looking around the boat, there wasn't much privacy, but it was big enough that she could find herself a corner away from the others. A feast of dried meat and slightly stale onigiri was oddly satisfying before nestling into her nook.

The water was calm and the air on the boat was slightly warmer than it had been while they were flying. Thank you, Jiro. If I had been a human, I'd be shivering at this point!

Avoiding eye contact, she faced the side of the boat and tried to ignore the thudding in her chest. Actually 'camping out' with Sesshoumaru was a rarity indeed and she was not prepared for it in the slightest. Let's just go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.

But for some reason, she could not shake the adrenaline in her veins. Her eyes met Kongomi, who came to the back of the boat.

"I told you to get some sleep."

Rin sat up. "I told you my secret. Fair is fair: tell me your plan. If I remember, waking a dragon takes your blood. How are you getting that blood to the bottom of the ocean?"

Kongomi appeared about to refuse, but exhaled. "Yoihito and I are in disagreement. He does not want me to summon Mirai or Omo because he's worried about me."

"Ah." Rin looked to the other end of the boat where the two gentlemen in question were stoically watching the water lightly lap the sides of their vessel. "Are you and he …?"

"Don't. Even. Think about it." Kongomi held up a warning finger. "He's worried because of this," she said tapping her ears. "Turns out I can control them, but last time, it permanently destroyed part of my hearing and I was dead to the world for days."

"What?" Rin blurted out a bit too loudly. If the others heard her, they made no indication. "I would be worried too if that was the cost. Knowing that you're still planning to go through with it?"

"Be quiet," she looked cautiously. "There's another part that I haven't told him yet." She unraveled a piece of fabric that contained a stoppered bottle of some kind. "This contains my blood. When we get to the location, I will dive to the body and make sure the blood is spilled."

"You could drown," Rin pointed out.

"So could he." Kongomi scowled at the flask and wrapped it back up.

"Let me do it," Rin offered. "We need you to try to control the dragon and let's be honest, if it's between me and Yoihito, let it be the person who is already halfway back to the underworld."

"That's not possible," the queen shook her head.

"Sure it is. I will leave Yami here, I can hold onto the … swimming dragon there," she gestured to the massive dragon that had been pulling the boat. "I'll swim down and get the blood where it needs to go. If I drown, I drown."

"I can't let you do that," Kongomi whispered. "If he finds out that I knew and I let you do that-"

"Then don't let him find out. You promised," Rin put a hand over that of her friend. "I will not let any of you sacrifice more than what you have given. Let me do this."

After a heavy pause: "Alright."

Rin tried to hide a smile. "Let's get some sleep. We have more traveling to do in the morning."

She abruptly turned around and tried to get comfy in her little corner again.

But sleep would not be coming for her. Not now.


Calling it a castle would have been generous, but there was no mistaking the fine architecture that must have been resplendent and grand in the distant past - even in the darkness of the late evening.

Up here, in the northernmost reaches of the western lands, snow lay thickly on the ground and hung densely in the air. Spring might be on the cusp further south, but winter kept its chilled claws tightly around these lands.

Pian's breath puffed out and he ignored the bite in his fingers. The shards had led him this far, to a delipidated ruin; there must be something here. He shrugged: there was no urgency.

He strode through the collapsed walls around the estate and into the primary stronghold.

The first order of business was finding a bit of cover from the elements and other minor annoyances. A quick barrier would suffice - something to hide himself while he lazily garnered enough energy to launch a flurry of attacks that would wipe this pitiful spot of land into the ocean. Recalling the spell from long ago, he performed a few hand symbols, a handful of chants and the snow stopped falling.

His bubble extended to the edge of the property, dozens and dozens of yards away. Such a useful spell for protection and concealment, but quite costly. Pian could feel the energy slipping away.

"Well, that will not do." Walking the perimeter of his new domain, he haphazardly flicked his hands as tiny fragments of energy drifted down and stuck to the ground. Each one created a small translucent portion of a barrier. The entire time he regarded the amulet in his hand with greater interest. That was a mystery worth unraveling.

He finished his patrol and returned once more to the center of the castle. The amulet disappeared in his robes for merely a second as he completed the spell, before making his way into the main entrance, where he found a throne of sorts.

Dropping onto the cold stone in the deep darkness of night, he slouched back, crossed one of his legs and then drew the amulet as the barrier hummed with a renewed vibrating energy.


COME TO ME.

Rin awoke, thrashing, clamoring to her feet and drawing Tenseiga, panting.

COME TO ME.

The other three in her party were awake, staring at her with a blend of curiosity and alarm, apparently deaf to the voice that she knew so well.

COME TO ME!

The words were so loud that she tried covering her ears, letting Tenseiga clatter to the wooden boards of the deck.

Sesshoumaru was beside her in an instant, eyes narrow in suspicion.

She put up a hand to wave him off, despite her rising panic. Her breath wouldn't calm down and she could feel Yami's energy dwindling. There must be something about the demon energy around her that was staving off some part of the psychic attack, but wasn't able to mute the call completely.

COME TO ME!

It screamed in her mind and she dropped to her knees. She bit her lip, sharpened teeth cutting through her toughened demon skin. Spots began to form in front of her eyes as Yami began chittering in alarm.

Then everything went dark.

Sesshoumaru caught her as she collapsed and gently laid her out on the deck, keeping her torso against his own. His eyes glowed golden in the inky darkness and his engagement mark shone out.

"It's the dragon, he must have done something. I felt him heading away, towards Omo, but now he's gone. It's just like before when he kidnapped everyone." Kongomi kneeled down and peeled back 'Mari's' collar to reveal the little kagekyo's miniscule bubbles of light traveling toward her heart.

He imagined that each one was a beat of her heart; these were so slow and weak. He waited with baited breath and then choked back a tiny gasp of relief when the lights began to get stronger. Her breathing evened out.

"He must have put out some sort of call that affects...lower level demons," Kongomi worded carefully.

"Is that what she is?" Sesshoumaru asked with a critical stare.

"Of- of course, what else would she be?" Kongomi stammered under his scrutiny.

He held out his arm and a crow materialized, taking shape and taking flight in seconds. "We will need Tsukiakari." Without breaking his concentration, continuing to look upon the unconscious girl in his arms, he said "Get some rest. You will summon the dragon tomorrow. I will wait for Tsukiakari here with Rin."

Kongomi was flabbergasted for the entirety of one second. "You knew?"

"You cannot tell anyone. Her life depends on it."

She crossed her arms. "Well, I can tell her, right?"

He lifted his head. "No one." Then he resumed his vigilance, checking her pulse, verifying that she was still breathing, that the little spots of light were making their way from the kagekyo to her.

A cawing from overhead drew their attention. Yoihito held out his arm, "That was fast."

The crow opened its mouth and produced a voice not entirely dissimilar to Inuyasha's to utter a single word:

"Help."


A/N: Here we are - the beginning of the end.

First question for you all - what should I call the finale arc? I have been wracking my brain for something other than "Finale" "The Final Boss", "The Big Fight", but to no avail. I'm open to suggestions!

Second question to you all:

Looking at the plot, I don't think I'll be able to tie up every loose end without slowing down the pace, which is definitely not what we want this late in the game. And let's be honest, life isn't tidy enough to let you tie up loose ends all the time.

That said, which subplots would you most like to see resolved in the main story?

(1) Kohaku finds peace in his life (and a potential new love interest)
(2) Inukojo fully gets what's coming to her (and possibly a reunion with daddy dearest)
(3) We find out where Jaken has been all this time
(4) Tsukiakari moves forward and rules in her mother's stead
(5) Kongomi and Yoihito get married (or start a family)
(6) Any other threads where you are curious to see where they go

Don't worry about our power couple - the confession, the kiss, what happens after - that's all mapped out. ^_^