Sesshoumaru entered the village, followed by Kanai, who was caring the out-cold Shippou. the demon lord strongly disliked being surrounded by so many humans, and the villagers themselves had a mixture of reactions concerning demons in their midst. But no one said anything. Kaede hadn't taken a great deal of notice to Kanai earlier, she had just assumed her to be another noble demon like Inuyasha's brother. But now, seeing as to how it was she who was carrying Shippou, whom the priestess was quite fond, the old woman took a moment to eye this young hanyou.
"You are but a half demon. Am I correct in this assumption?" She asked.
"Yes," Kanai answered shortly.
"I see, tell me, what has happened to young Shippou?" The old woman replied.
Her voice was now calm and steady, but in her mind, Kaede was quite confused.
"This is a somewhat different demon than the one described by Kagome and the others."
Kanai sat the kit down on the floor of Kaede's hut ware the old priestess looked him over. She told them that she didn't know what was making him sleep.
"I know not what is stirring with your brother Lord Sesshoumaru, he and Kagome departed without saying a word to anyone. I know only that he is at present in the future with Kagome. But if Naraku is indeed plotting something, it would be unwise for you to linger hear for the time it would take for Shippou to wake," she told them.
With out a word Sesshoumaru departed.
"Please, forgive his rudeness," Kanai said as she stood to follow him.
"Kanai," Kaede said, catching the hanyou just before she got out the doorway. "Do you know why Sesshoumaru seeks his brother?""No, I don't, all I know is that it has something to do with what that wind whore said." She answered.
"Strange, it has been my impression that the two were bitter foes." The priestess said in reply.
Kanai noted the slight confusion on her tone.
"And ware did you get that impression?" Kanai asked, now equally confused.
"From Inuyasha." The old woman said dryly.
Kaede then motioned for the hanyou to depart with Sesshoumaru.
"My lord," said Jaken, "you entered the humane village, why?"
Sesshoumaru hesitated for a moment. He didn't like being in the presence of so many humans, and wasn't certain how to explain his motives to the toadish without bringing forth more questions. In the end he simply decided not to.
"I don't feel the need to explain myself to you," he said in an attempt to quiet the annoying imp.
"Of corse my lord, please forgive me" Jaken whined, as the three met up with Rin.
"Is the kit all ok?" She asked impatiently.
Sesshoumaru disliked the scared tone in her usual cheery voice. As he was disliking so many other things this day.
"Yes he is ok, but he is still not awake and we must be moving on." The demon lord assured the young girl.
He was really becoming annoyed with the questioning. He was saying all of this as he continued to stride in the direction they were apparently heading.
The group continued on for several more uneventful days. During which Jaken explained to Kanai his version of who Inuyasha was, and the extent of his and Sesshoumaru's relationship. She heard him out and payed attention, but in the end she decided she would rather find out for herself.
One evening they had come to a waterfall on the river they had been following. Rin was tired, and Ah and Un needed to rest as well. So they decided to settle there for the evening.
Sesshoumaru seemed annoyed, though the rest of the group wasn't sure why, he seemed anxious.
"Kanai," the demon lord said. "Have Jaken and Rin fallen asleep yet?
"Yes?" She said questioningly.
"Then please, would you follow me." He asked.
Without a word, Kanai followed Sesshoumaru out of the trees about a mile into a grassy field.
Sesshoumaru knew exactly why he had brought the hanyou there, and what he intended to do. Kanai on the other hand was for the most part oblivious. Without any warning, he came at her with the claws on his remaining hand. Kanai was struck with utter surprise and disbelief as she, with some effort, dodged the attack. Before she could regain her footing, she had to dodge another swipe, but rather than just keep herself from being hit, she swung back, only to catch a had full of air.
"Sesshoumaru! What the hell are you doing?!" He heard her scream.
"Don't speak. Come at me" was all he replied.
Taking his invitation, she quicky oriented herself into an attack position. Now Kanai was on the offensive, lunging, swiping, and kicking. Yet never landing a blow to her opponent.
Every now and then he would make an offensive maneuver, simply to see how she would react. But for the most part the demon lord just dodged her seemingly blind kicks and punches.
"Her fighting technique is far too reminiscent of that of my brother" Sesshoumaru thought.
Try as she might, Kanai couldn't lay a finger on him. She had however figured out why they were hear and what he was doing. Sesshoumaru was testing her. She knew that if he really wanted to kill her than he would have done so a long time ago. She also deduced that the reason he wasn't using Toukijin was because he didn't want to seriously harm her.