Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...yet

Surreal Authenticity

"Why did you betray me Inuyasha?"

Disbelieving brown eyes pierced his soul as he stared at her in shock.

"Kikyo, it wasn't me!" he tried to defend himself.

She shuddered clutching at her side her gaze dropping to the floor. He took a step towards her intending to comfort her. He could smell the blood that dripped from her side its sweet scent calling out to his demon side but disgusting his human side. She violently shook her head as he drew near.

"Traitor," she whispered.

He could hear the hatred overtaking her voice. Her gaze moved back up to his. Her eyes burned with her intense loathing. Before he could register her movements, she picked up her bow and aimed an arrow at his heart. He gaped at the glowing pink tip before holding out a hand to her.

"Kikyo-" he started.

"Die Inuyasha!" she shouted vehemently releasing the arrow.

It pierced his heart, the force of it throwing him against a tree, the arrow embedding itself deeply into the bark. He struggled feebly against the arrow, its purifying powers beginning to take effect. I'm going to die, he thought frantically. He watched as Kikyo slumped to the ground trembling from the pain of her wound.

"I will die here next to you Inuyasha," she said calmly watching as his breathing became as labored as hers, "Together we will burn in Hell."

The jewel around her neck caught his attention, he found himself staring at it as his vision dimmed. That damn jewel. It mocked him even as he died. It was a curse, she had told him. Her curse. She was bound to her duty to protect it. The last sight he ever saw was her clutching the jewel, tears streaming down her face as she glared at him.

"I didn't do it," he tried to whisper, his last breath leaving his body. His body slumped against the tree as the wind whipped his hair. His first and only love had killed him.

"Are ye dwelling on my sister Inuyasha?" an old voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked down from his perch on the tree and glowered at her.

"Whaddya want ya old hag?" he snapped crossing his arms. She smiled softly up at him.

"Ye mustn't think of the past. My sister is dead and buried. Let her soul rest in peace," she advised walking back towards the shrine.

"Feh," he said closing his eyes and settling back on the branch. He couldn't forget her. His heart and mind would never let him. Sighing he jumped from the tree and walked towards the hut. He had been staying with Kaede ever since she had freed him from the tree.

"Took her long enough," he muttered to himself.

He marched into the hut and plopped himself on the floor, legs and arms crossed. Kaede was currently ladling soup into a bowl meant for him. His nose twitched and his stomach growled, but he didn't let his intense hunger show. She set the bowl before him and he sniffed it before picking it up and gruffly giving his thanks.

"Inuyasha," she said seriously, "I think it's time ye knew the truth about my sister's demise."

He stiffened and put the bowl down.

"It all begins with a petty thief named Onigumo."

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Rin curled into herself and whimpered. She could hear the pretty lady fighting off the wolves as best as she could, but Rin knew she would lose. Memories of fanged, yellow teeth tearing into skin bombarded her mind. Shuddering she stifled the little sobs of terror that threatened to come out. She knew that if she made a sound the wolves would find her again.

One wolf let out a high-pitched wail and the growling and snapping increased. If there was one type of youkai that terrified Rin the most, it was wolves. They had killed her, and only Sesshoumaru-sama could bring her back. Thinking of her guardian brought more tears. Would he be mad that she had run away from Jaken again? No, Sesshoumaru-sama had never been mad at her before.

Kagome's screams made Rin jump. The pretty lady had lost to the wolves. Rin's heart started pounding faster, when the wolves were finished they would find Rin and eat her too. All rational thought leaving her mind, she acted on instinct and did the only thing she could do whenever she was terrified.

"SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!!"

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Sesshoumaru turned away from his current prey towards the sound of Rin's scream. She obviously escaped from Jaken and was now in trouble. Cursing, he cut down the last of the wolves, summoned his youkai cloud, and flew off in the direction of her cry.

He could sense a half dozen youkai wolves below him. The sound of dying shrieks reached his sensitive ears and he descended to view the youkai tearing into a body. Momentarily he thought the wolves had seized Rin and his eyes narrowed in barely concealed rage. Rin's familiar scent however drifted to him from a hole behind him calming his fury into simple irritation. Dismissing the wolves and their current victim, he strode towards the hole and peered into it.

"Rin," he said his voice slightly soothing, "come."

The sight of her face sparked his anger. She was dirty, had numerous cuts, and tears streaming down her face. Catching sight of her protector, she launched herself at him. He allowed her to clutch his leg tightly and bury her face in his hakama before he patted her head and stepped away from her.

"We are leaving Rin," he instructed fully expecting the girl to follow him.

She stared up at him beseechingly.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," she cried, "please save the pretty lady who helped Rin. Please!"

He stared at her in thought. His first reaction to her plea was to automatically comply. His eyes hardened, he was becoming like his father. He looked towards the wolves who were feasting on their now silent meal. The girl was certainly dead. But he had Tenseiga to bring her back. He arched an eyebrow; nonsense. Why should he waste his sword on an insignificant human? Because she had protected Rin, he was indebted to her. Besides, he planned on disposing of the wolves for trespassing. Glancing back at Rin, he stifled the unbidden thought that threatened to ruin his steadfast, demonic convictions. It would please Rin.

Sighing inwardly, he approached the wolves, whip already in hand. With one smooth swing, all were disintegrated and he was left staring in disgust at the viciously mauled body. There was no way the girl had survived her encounter with the youkai. Drawing Tenseiga he glared at her, foolish humans and their weakness. He drew nearer, his nose wrinkling at the overpowering scent of wolf.

He realized he couldn't see the goblins that chained her soul. Could it be possible this girl survived? He resisted the urge to snort. Perhaps she had not been dead long enough. He drew Tenseiga over her body and awaited her stirring.

Rin held her breath in anticipation for the rising of Kagome. Maybe Sesshoumaru-sama would allow Kagome to stay with Rin. She bit her cheek to conceal the excitement that notion brought. When Kagome didn't awaken right away, she began to grow worried. Why wasn't she waking up?

Sesshoumaru was wondering the same thing. There was something strange about this girl. He moved to draw Tenseiga over her again when it pulsed, sending an almost painful vibration through his hand. He stared at it intrigued.

"So, Tenseiga has rejected this girl," he murmured, "but why?"

Sheathing the sword, he contemplated leaving the body to rot when he heard Rin sniffle.

"Why can't Sesshoumaru-sama bring her back?" she cried softly rubbing at her eyes, "Is the magic sword broken?"

He glanced back at Rin briefly. Her tears bothered him, it made him slightly uncomfortable. That was…irritating. He would have to find some way to placate her. Steeling himself, he resolved to dump the body at a nearby village; the people would make a grave and Rin could live on in peace knowing her friend wasn't decaying in a forest. He moved closer noting the smell of wolf was dispelling and the girl's own natural human scent was coming through.

He took a sniff and froze gazing down at the girl with narrowed eyes. Her scent was not right. How is that possible? he wondered. He picked up the body and took another confirmatory sniff. Yes, he was correct. There was something different about her scent, it was subtle but it was still there. Even more intriguing, the girl was breathing.

"So, she survived," he said softly.

Rin was staring at him anxiously shifting from foot to foot.

"We are leaving," he announced summoning his cloud.

Rin nodded and attached herself to his leg peering up at Kagome quizzically. Sesshoumaru-sama did not look happy. Of course he never looked happy, but right now he looked somewhat angry. Rin thought it wise to remain silent, and contented herself with staring at the trees as they whizzed by.

Sesshoumaru's mind was buzzing. Impossible, he thought, she does not show any signs. How had she survived that attack? He had questions for this girl. She would answer them when she awoke. After he was satisfied he would dismiss her from his lands he decided.

A.N.

It's probably confusing, but i promise all will be revealed in due time. Chapter 4 will explain Sesshoumaru's thoughts about Kagome and her fate.

Thanks to Addanc-TSC, TigressMoon, Tsuki Yume, addicted, corrupted-miko, and lyn for reviewing! It's very much appreciated