Well, this is really the last chapter before a two week hiatus. I'm really going to Miami this time. Sorry for the down time, but I'll update when I get back, I promise. Until then, I guess you'll have to make do with this. Sorry again.

Sesshoumaru growled. He was becoming tired of Inuyasha's talking.

"If…you…won't…fight…" he managed to say. He could hardly make words; his voice was so doglike.

He then charged at Rin, the youngest there.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" she cried in alarm.

Sesshoumaru's ears twitched. He slowed down and came to a stop before the child. His face showed confusion for a moment.

"Who…are…you?"

Rin gasped. She was scared. Her lord didn't even remember her!

"I…will…not…stand…for…this! Answer…me!"

Sesshoumaru swiped at Rin and she shrieked before darting away. The taiyoukai gave a snarl and the spines on his back lengthened. The transformation caused him pain and he yelled before turning back to the others. His fangs dripped saliva as he charged at Rin again.

This time, the young girl smiled sadly.

"If my lord wishes to take my life, I will gladly give it," she whispered. "You gave it to me, and you can take it away again."

The moist sound of claws on flesh was the only thing heard in the clearing. Rin staggered back before passing out. Her shoulder was cut open.

Sesshoumaru roared. His skin was tinged red and he himself felt as if his skin was burning. With a cry, he began to bang his head on a tree with powerful head butts.

"Stop it!" Inuyasha snarled, trying to bar his brother's way. Sesshoumaru ceased hitting his head and began to tear at his hand with his gargantuan fangs, ripping the flesh away until his jaws closed around the Jewel Shard. With an almighty wrench, he pulled it out of his hand and spat it to the ground.

At once, the crimson bled from his eyes and his blistering fever dissipated. He collapsed to his knees and held Rin's head up with his mangled hand.

"Rin…Rin, wake up. I order you to awaken!" he said hoarsely.

The young girl stirred.

"Lord…Sesshoumaru? You did not kill me? Did you change your mind? I am so glad!"

Rin gave a small smile.

"Rin, I apologize. I meant no harm, I would never…"

"I believe you. There was a bad thing in you. But it's gone. Now you're my courageous lord again!"

Sesshoumaru turned away.

"I will not hurt you again," he promised quietly.

"Thank you, my lord…"

Rin closed her eyes and with a smile, she fell asleep in his arm.

"Sesshoumaru…" Sango interrupted.

"Hn?"

Sesshoumaru turned to his brother's friends.

"We're sorry. We're all sorry that it's so hard for you."

Sesshoumaru smiled genuinely.

"That is alright. I suppose I should not have been so short with you. After all, you have all helped me quite a bit…with the exception of Shippo…"

Shippo laughed nervously.

"Sorry about before. I didn't mean to do that," Shippo said apologetically.

"What is done is past. I do not dwell on it…much…"

Sesshoumaru sighed. The spines in his back had not disappeared.

"Must I look like such a vile creature?" he muttered. As he rose, the spines twitched slightly. They were part of him for the time being, and were reacting so. He also had three spines coming out of his arm.

"We're gonna have to get rid of those, you know," Inuyasha said. "They're from the transformation…"

"Yes, I know. How shall we go about it?"

"I'd cut 'em, but they might grow back. Let's just pull 'em out."

Sesshoumaru suppressed a shudder at the thought. It would probably hurt like nothing else, but he was left with no alternative.

"Very well…"

He turned his back to Inuyasha, where seven enormous black spines were protruding.

"Have at it."

Inuyasha hesitated before gripping the first spine on the bottom. He moved it slightly and Sesshoumaru's muscles tightened.

"This may hurt," Inuyasha warned. He then used all of his strength to yank the spine out.

"AAAUUGHHH!"

Sesshoumaru yelled in pain as the spine was removed. A sizeable bit of flesh went with it.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried in alarm. "I don't know if this is safe!"

"There is no other alternative, Kagome!" Sesshoumaru told her through his teeth. Inuyasha grabbed another spine and yanked roughly. It came away and Sesshoumaru gave another cry of agony. He fell to his knees, sick with the pain. He could feel his wounds healing; the first was halfway healed, but the pain persisted.

And so went the other five spines. After that, he felt so drained that he could hardly hold up his arm for Inuyasha to remove those. When the hanyou was finished, Sesshoumaru was quivering from the tips of his elfish ears to his now doglike paws. The claws in his feet retracted and withdrew rhythmically and slowly as his toes twitched.

"What about those dog feet?" Miroku had to wonder.

"They will transform back soon enough," Jaken spoke up. Everyone had quite forgotten him, so with the exception of Sesshoumaru, they were all surprised. "Lord Sesshoumaru is a dog demon! His blood can reverse the transformation!"

Sesshoumaru rose to his feet. The terrible wounds in his stomach were beginning to heal once more and were at their previous state, give or take a bit of added injury.

"It is time we resumed your journey and mine," Sesshoumaru said. "Now is as good a time as any."

"Are you positive?" Kagome asked. "You're sure you don't need rest."

"Feh. I am not weak. Let us get on with our objectives."

Ever since his visit to the castle, Sesshoumaru had regained much of his arrogant attitude. The Inu-gumi wasn't sure on whether this was good or bad. Except Inuyasha, who knew his brother well.

"Hmm…come on, bastard, what are you in such a hurry for? I know you don't care about the Shikon Jewel, and you haven't expressed much concern for the Were-Dog thing at all yet. You want something else…"

"…I am the Lord of the Western Lands, Inuyasha. I must patrol my borders and visit several villages."

"Great! Cuttin' even more into our travel time!" the hanyou growled angrily.

"I will go by myself if that is what you wish. Either way, business must be conducted. More to the point, several demons and dragons have been plaguing villages in my jurisdiction. This village is in your jurisdiction, and I know you wish no harm to befall it. That is your wish. This is my job. Surely you can understand?"

"Yeah, but we still don't have the time."

"Jewel shards could be present in my business. I have seen this sort of thing before. However, I do not bother with the jewel shards. I leave them in the villages."

"Is that so?" said Kagome slyly. "Let's drop by some of the villages you need to check, shall we?"

R & R pretty please so that I have something to come back to!