Sesshomaru entered Kotori's village just as the sun sank behind the horizon. The humans screamed as he passed them, fear was plastered on their faces.

"Pathetic humans. If I wanted to kill them, I would have already done so." he thought as he held Rin a little tighter in his arm.

He walked right into the main shrine and found an old man sitting at the back, meditating.

He looked up at Sesshomaru and said, "What business have you here, demon? The Kenakari is no longer here! It is with it's rightful owner!"

Sesshomaru laughed deep in his throat, "I have not come to harm you or the villagers, but if I am provoked, I can promise you nothing."

"Then what are you here for?" asked Master Enoki.

"I wish to speak with the priestess, Kotori. I have heard that she is a great healer. I need her to heal this little girl." He lifted his arm a little so Master Enoki could see Rin.

"Give her to me. I might be able to help." said Master Enoki.

"My Lord! We must be cautious of these tricky humans!" squeaked Jaken.

"Silence, you insolent toad." said Sesshomaru, calmly.

"Y...yes my Lord." said Jaken as he sank into the shadows.

Sesshomaru handed Rin to Master Enoki and watched carefully as he examined Rin.

After a few moments, Master Enoki shook his head, "I cannot heal her. She is very weak, but can be saved. You must get her to Kotori, and quickly. I am not sure how much longer this little one has."

"Where can I find Kotori?" asked Sesshomaru as he took Rin back from the master.

"She left early this afternoon, bound for the next village. It is about a day's walk from here. If you hurry, you can catch up with her."

Suddenly, Sango burst through a door at the back of the shrine, her boomerang bone ready.

"Master! Stay back! Let me handle this!" shouted Sango.

Sesshomaru chuckled, "Aren't you one of my half-breed brother's companions? I can't smell them here. Why aren't you with them?"

"I chose to stay behind! And if you even try to hurt anyone, I'll kill you Sesshomaru!" shouted Sango.

"Well, I have no business with you humans. Come Jaken." said Sesshomaru.

"Yes milord!" said Jaken as he scurried over to his master and they walked out of the shrine.

Sango began to run after them, but Master Enoki stopped her.

"He will not harm the villagers. He was simply looking for someone to cure the girl."

"Then where is he going, Master?" asked Sango.

"To find Kotori."

Inuyasha, Kagome, Kita, and Shippo were preparing to eat dinner when Kotori and Miroku walked into the room.

Kagome looked up and, trying not to seem anxious, said, "How are you feeling, Kotori?"

"Much better thanks to Miroku. I'm sorry I overreacted like that." she replied, blushing.

"Don't be. You've had it tough and no one should treat you like that." said Inuyasha.

"Thanks, Inuyasha. Thanks all of you." said Kotori, smiling.

"No problem. Now, come sit down and eat! You must be hungry." said Kagome as she held out a bowl of rice to Kotori.

Kotori and Miroku took their places at the table and began to eat. It wasn't till they were halfway through their meal that Kotori piped up. "Where's Shigure?"

Inuyasha, Kagome, Kita, and Shippo just looked at one another before Inuyasha spoke, "He stormed out of the tavern not long after Miroku went to find you. We're not sure where he went."

Kotori quickly stood up and headed for the door. Miroku caught her hand before she disappeared, "Where are you going?"

"Something's not right. I sense something evil in this village and what if it found Shigure first? I have to go find him." And with that, she disappeared from the doorway, the soft tinkling of her enchanted bells followed her. Miroku thought for a moment, and ran after her.

Suddenly, Inuyasha stood up. "What's wrong, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome.

"I smell a demon nearby. We should go with Kotori just in case Shigure is hurt." said Inuyasha.

As Kotori ran through the forest, her bells rang louder and louder. She shouted Shigure's name, hoping he would answer. Instead of Shigure's voice answering, she heard a loud roar, followed by a scream.

"Shigure!" she shouted.

She entered a large clearing amidst the trees and was shocked to discover a huge, monstrous creature. It was at least fifteen feet tall and had a sickly green tinge to it's skin. It's arms and legs were as big around as tree trunks and it's small head that was perched atop it's shoulders turned to look at whatever had created the noise. Dangling from one of it's massive hands was an unconscious Shigure.

His sword had fallen to the ground, leaving him defenseless. Inuyasha and the others ran up behind her, and Kagome gasped.

"It's a corrupt forest spirit. The power of the Shikon shard in his left arm made him grow, not only in size, but in hatred as well." said Kotori.

"She can sense the Shikon shards too? I thought I was the only one who could do that." thought Kagome.

Kotori unsheathed her sword and turned to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, I'll distract the demon while you rescue Shigure."

"Right." said Inuyasha as he bounded off, the transformed Tetsusaiga in his hands.

Kotori ran at the creature, sword pointed at it, and jumped up. She slashed it's head and it began gushing a green, sticky fluid. The creature roared in pain and dropped Shigure. Inuyasha quickly ran to him and carried him to the safety of the trees where the others were hiding.

The demon swung at Kotori, but missed as she quickly dogged the blows. The green fluid ran into the creature's eyes, blinding it, but it was still determined to kill Kotori.

In what seemed like one movement, she swung her sword and the creature's head and left arm fell to the ground. Green fluid gushed from the open wounds, as the rest of it's body fell to the ground. Kotori quickly dug out the Shikon shard from it's arm and hurried over to the others.

"Is Shigure all right?" she asked.

"He'll be fine. He's just knocked out." said Inuyasha.

The blood that covered Kotori's hands began to eat away at her skin and she winced at the sudden intense pain. Ignoring it, she handed the clean Shikon shard to Kagome.

"It's already purified." said Kagome as she closed her hand around the shard.

"How could it be? Only you have the power to purify the shards, Kagome." said Miroku.

"But Kotori was able to see the shard in the demon's arm. She's the only one that touched the shard before me." said Kagome as she put the newest shard with the other ones they had collected.

They all turned to Kotori, but she shook off their looks and said, "Let's get Shigure back to the village."

She wiped the Kenakari on the grass and returned it to it's sheath. The places where the blood touched her skin burned worse than ever.

"I have to wash this stuff off quickly before it eats all my skin away." thought Kotori.

"I'm going to wash this blood off. I'll be right back." said Kotori.

The others nodded and walked off. Once they were out of earshot, Kotori swiftly ran to the pond she had found after she had run from the tavern.