Disclaimer: *singing* I WANT TO SAVE THE WORLD! something something something..... Oh, and don't own Inu-Yasha either. Sesshoumaru: Thank goodness. Phoenix-Flame: FLUFFY-CHAN!! Sesshoumaru: O.O!!! *runs*

Thirteen Dragons

Rin knealt down by the stream's edge and let the current slowly fill the gourd. When it was sufficiently full, she replaced the cork stopper and paused for a moment, to look at her reflection. She was not special, not to her mind, as she looked into the water. Her eyes were brown, which was nothing of note, and her hair just black. Not like Sesshoumaru-sama. He was tall, with long, pretty white hair and gold eyes. She wished she looked even half like that.

"You're too young to start worrying over your appearance," a strange voice said. Rin jumped, almost losing the precious gourd before clutching it tightly to her chest. Standing across from her on the other side of the stream was a strange lady.

Rin couldn't tell how old she was, but she looked young, maybe just becoming a woman. She had strange eyes, big eyes, and such a bright green that Rin had never seen before. Her skin was tanned, darker than hers or Sesshoumaru-sama's, and her hair was long and braided, with an ear lock before each slighty-pointed ear. Those locks were braided two, and pinned to the back of her head. And that hair.. it was just the loveliest thing Rin had ever seen, like liquid silver. And the lady wore a miko outfit of white gauze, sheer, with white undergarments visible beneath.

"H-hello, ma'am..." Rin said, unsure of what to say to what must surely be a princess. The lady smiled, and Rin relaxed. It was a very nice smile.

"Hello, little one," she replied. "Why are out here all alone?" Rin held up the gourd.

"Collecting water for Sesshoumaru-sama..."

The nice lady smiled. "So I see. Would you mind taking me to this Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin smiled and nodded. The lady smiled as well and Rin felt good. "What's your name, dear?" Suddenly the lady was beside Rin, but she didn't remember seeing her cross the stream, and her feet were dry...

"Rin."

"Well Rin, I am Star. Come. Take me to your guardian," she said. Rin nodded, and scampered off down the trail, pausing to make sure the Star lady was still following. She was. Rin couldn't explain it. She felt as though she knew this lady from somewhere, and she couldn't help but trust her, despite how odd she looked and seemed.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin called, coming into the clearing that their camp had been made in. Jaken was nowhere to be seen, probably off tending to Sesshoumaru's strange, two-headed beast. The youkai lord himself sat on the soft grass, leaning against a tree. He turned to regard his young charge. Then his golden gaze flickered over the newcomer. Rin introduced her new friend. "This is Star. She was down by the stream. She wanted to meet you."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

The lady Star smiled a little bit. Apparently there was still no love lost between the ryu and the youkai. "I came to ask something of you, although I'm afraid it will be a bit of a burden to you, but you might find the result worthwhile."

Sesshoumaru, inu youkai lord, did not grace her with an answer.

"Someone is hunting the 13," she said. "Someone who wants to destroy youkai. All youkai." She let him digest this, then continued. "You know as well as I do that if he succeeds, even you will die. For those who kill one of the 13, gains their powers, and a mortal with the power of all elements is unstoppable." Sesshoumaru's glare faded away, but he still showed no expression. Not worry or concern, not fear or anger, not anything.

"What does this have to do with me? I realize that if it were possible, yes, even the great Sesshoumaru would be in danger, but there is no human who could even find the 13, not to mention kill them." Star sighed, and touched Rin's shoulder reassuringly as she passed the girl and took a seat in front of the youkai. Rin relaxed. The confrontation had worried her.

"I said the same thing," she replied wearily, letting slip her mask of apathy to reveal deep exhaustion. "But then I saw him destroy the Fog. And now Ghost's ki is his, and his power grows. He hunts for the ryu by a mystic crystal given to him by a witch that he killed and stole her magic. His blade is sanctified silver, bathed in the blood of a hundred and seven demons under a full lunar eclipse. He is unknown. No ryu knows who he is. No youkai has heard his past. And the ningen won't talk. He wants to destroy all youkai. He wants this with a passion I have never sensed before. And if he must kill gods, he will." She ended her narrative and studied his face. "I do not lie. You know what I am. I tell the truth."

"Maybe you do, but why should I help? Go find someone else to bother. If I see the one you speak of, I will kill him." He brushed a stray hair from his face and looked over, to where Rin placed firewood for the fire. Star smiled sadly.

"I will not. I came to you because you are the only one. You are strong, fast, and experienced, and you have just enough kindness in you to be convinced." Sesshoumaru glared at her, as if kindness were the worst insult. Maybe it was. Her eyes flashed and he heard her voice. You will help me because you love the girl, and if not for my help, she would be wolf fodder. The great youkai's eyes narrowed, and for a brief instant, a moon-made bird perched on the woman's shoulder.

"Fine." He turned away. "You may travel with us, but under my rules. And do not bother me."

She smiled. "Of course."

***

The moon spoke to her. Ivy knew it was a message from an old friend, and she took it's message to heart. The adventurers with the inu hanyo had left, but were still on the fringes of her territory. She raced to find them, sinuous body coiling deftly between the trunks of the thick forest. If what her friend had said was true, she needed to leave the forest, her forest, and she could not wait.

But she already knew why. She could sense all the comings and goings in her abode. And she felt the approaching darkness. And it scared her.

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