Well, ladies and gentlemen, Sorry this took so long, by I had a lot of makeup work to do because of my sickness, however, I just found out something wonderful. *Ahem* Ladies and Gentlemen, I have officially made National Honers Society. YAHOOO!!!!!!!!!

            Sorry, I'm just kinda happy right now.

            For the record, this is not one of my best chapters, but I don't think it's too bad. I tried editing it several times, and this was a good as I could get it.

            Also, a quick comment to Time's Mortal Enemy: Yes, I did do InuYasha like that on purpose. I meant to make this more of a point in Two Weeks, but didn't manage it very well. The main reason Kagome was so sick was because she exherted herself so much in running home after yelling at InuYasha. Because she did this largely because InuYasha was an idiot, InuYasha was guilt ridden. InuYasha, being both a little more mature and a little more appreciative of Kagome, is in fact trying very hard to be nice.

            Anywho, on with the fic!

*****

Weaving back and forth through the trees, a long, white serpentine apparition, darted swiftly, in its clawed, bony fingers was a blue flame.

            Just behind the thing, a shadow darted. It swished along the ground, flowing over the surface of the leaves, through the grass, across the thick branches of the trees, and through the stream beds.

            Death was not something to be taken lightly. When you defied it, in any way, things started happening. Rules started being bent. And when certain rules are bent, they stepped in to unbend them.

            And when they step in, things start happening. Shadows come alive.

            The thing finally reached a clearing, and began circling. The shadow stopped at the edge, and faded into the blackness of the forest.

            Lying up in a tree at the edge of the clearing was a woman. She was dressed in a white Haori and a red Hakama. Her hair was a rich, lush, dark ebony, and across her shoulder was a strung longbow. Her eyes were closed, and she was not breathing.

            The odd white creature circled the clearing, once, twice, three times, then came to hover over the woman. Slowly, it loosed its bony grip on the flame, and the flame slowly sank down into the woman's body, permeating into the front of her haori, then disappearing.

            Her eyes opened, and she slowly leaned forward. Her eyes were a deep rich brown, but only barely opened, her lips turned down in a forlorn frown. She looked up, staring at the apparition, and nodded to it.

            At the signal, the thing darted off again into the forest.

            As it darted, it passed right by a shadow. And the shadow grabbed it. The hand was black. Not shadowed, but black, as if someone had cut out the space it took up. The thing writhed for only a moment, then it fell limp in the hand. A sandaled foot stepped out of the shadow towards the woman. Following it, came the woman in black. She stepped forward, gazing at the priestess in distaste. It was the same one as before. The girl that did the writes over the dead cattle driver.

            Death took another step, her lips parting in a snarl. As she came out of the shadows, she left the shriveled spirit in the shadows, out of sight. The woman did not look at Death. She couldn't see her.

            Death slowly circled the woman as she started out of the clearing, a hand pressed to her chin as she inspected the woman, like a piece of cattle. How could she have not seen it before? She had been too preoccupied with the cattle driver. Very unprofessional. She had been looking for a problem, and not kept her eyes open. And so, it had gone under her nose. Now she looked at the woman with disgust. The woman was not alive. He flesh was warm. Her skin wasn't pale. She was not dead. But she was not alive either. Death sniffed at the woman. She smelled of ash, blood, dirt, and flesh. Death scoffed, and spat. The work of the demon Uresue. Death was familiar with the work of the demon. She had had to deal with some problems of hers before. But none like this. Stealing the souls of the dead. Slowly, Death's eyes widened, as she looked at all the souls in the body. They were rotting, stagnant. They were crying out in pain. A gloved fist clenched at Death's side. This woman lived using the souls of the dead.

            She closed her eyes, and searched her head. Death had a good memory. It came with the job. The name floated to her. Kikyo…

            But she wasn't looking for a stealer of dead souls right now, she was looking for the thief of live ones. She would deal with this golem later. A quick glance through her memory told her that Kikyo hadn't yet been re-incarnated. But there was something odd about this golem which used her body.

            But for another day. There was something else that must be done.

*****

            Sesshoumaru sat placidly in his chair at the foot of the table. It was an uncomfortable chair. It was hard wood, with no curve to the back, or any give in the seat. It was flat and plain. Sesshoumaru knew that all the other seats were heavily padded and cushioned.

            "It seems you are missing one of your number." He observed, staring at one of the empty seats, to the left of the red haired girl. "Khellendros is missing, is he not?"

            The red haired girl nodded. "Khellendros ran into a bit of trouble." She explained. "He's dead."

            Sesshoumaru nodded, letting nothing escape. His thoughts on this were his own.

            "However, this is not much of a loss." The man to Sesshoumaru's right said. "We shall not miss him."

            Sesshoumaru nodded again. He said nothing on the matter, but pressed on. "You mentioned… a fellow dragon." He said carefully, staring directly ahead at the figure at the head of the table. "Why?"

            The figure smiled, the firelight catching the sharp fangs, and reflecting them out of the shadow in crimson. "Because he is of our concern." The figure said, her voice sounding inhumanly through the room. "And because we have reason to talk of him."

            "My father banished Ryuukotsutsei long ago." Sesshoumaru said simply. "You should know this, queen of dragons."

            The figure in the shadows chuckled. "You flatter me." She said simply. "But I see the insult, as well." The figure took a step forward, only outlining her features in the torchlight. Her tan skin was turned a bronze, her face was sharp and firm. Three crimson stripes ran up her left cheek. Her hair was long, and tumbled freely down her back in a regal cascade. It was a deep, shade of bloody red, with deep, reddish purple highlights. Curling out of her hair, just above her long, elfin ears were long, ivory horns stained orange by the flickering light. Her neck was high and long, and wrapped around her shoulders was a deep, royal purple cloak, drooping around her, obscuring her entire figure. Sweeping broadly out from her back, and disappearing into the darkness behind here were two, arching, leather, draconic wings. The shadows that played across her seemed to make her seem like some creature of the underworld. Her eyes reflected no light; they were completely dead, betraying no emotion. "I knew your father, Sesshoumaru-Sama, better than most. Few knew him better."

            Sesshoumaru's lips upturned slightly. He hadn't expected to get away with it, but when he was dealing with dragons, one must settle for anything one can.

            "Then why do you bother me with talk of Ryuukotsutsei, queen of dragons?" He asked.

            To their sides, the girl and the man turned their heads back and forth to each speaker, like watching a tennis match.

            " Because," The woman said, "Your father banished the traitor, yes, but failed in killing him."

            "I most certainly hope that wasn't an insult to the mighty InuTaisho…" Sesshoumaru said, his tone, still even, dropped just slightly. To anyone who truly knew him, this spoke of a threat beyond words.

            "Still, son of Taisho." The woman commanded, her voice sharp. "It was not an insult, but a fact. Your father could only seal the traitor with a fang, and this wounded him to the point of death. Now the failure may haunt his descendent."

            Sesshoumaru simply turned his head slightly, lending the watchers a profile. "Have you reason to believe that Ryuukotsutsei has broken the seal of the fang at last?"

            The woman shook her head. "Much of our magic went into that fang, Sesshoumaru-Sama. It would not be broken easily."

            Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Than why would you bother me?"

            "Because another seal of your father's has been sidestepped." The woman pressed on. "It was shortly before your father's battle with the traitor that he fought with the mighty Chinese demon Hyoga."

            "Hyoga and many of the Chinese youkai were sealed by another of Taisho's fangs." Sesshoumaru finished the story for her. "I was there."

            "Yes, but some months ago, half a year, maybe, an event occurred." The woman said. "Something that none of us, not even Vadise thought of, happened. The Shikon no Tama, the jewel of four souls, returned to existence after fifty years of absence from this world, and even more curious, it was shattered."

            Sesshoumaru turned again, facing the woman. "Yes." Sesshoumaru said. "I know all of this." He left no sign of impatience, only the ghost of it.

            "We aren't sure how, but one of the Chinese youkai escaped from the seal, using the power of a Shikon shard." The woman said grimly.

            Sesshoumaru's lips tightened ever so slightly, and his hand clenched imperceptibly. Barely noticeable telltale signs of his feelings. "And it was?" His voice had dropped in pitch only slightly.

            "It was Menomaru." The woman finished.

            Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, and his fist clenched suddenly. The calm blue, icy blue of his eyes stated to heat into a boiling, crimson red, and he whipped out of his chair, his back to the visitors. "Why did you not know of this when it first came about?" He asked softly, his voice wavering with anger. "I remember that you make a point to watch over all my father's seals…"

            The woman closed her eyes, and her lips thinned. "We meant to." She said, and suddenly looked to her right where the girl sat. "However, our dearest little Tiamet decided that they weren't important enough to bother with."

            The girl on Sesshoumaru's left crossed her arms, and pointed at the man across from her. "Well, I told Gelledius to watch for me!" She said defensively. "I was taking a nap!"

            The man on the left leaned forward, a satirical smile on his face. He braced his strong, muscular arms on the table, and pressed his fingers together in front of his strong face. His hair was long and black, hanging to his shoulders, and his beard and mustache were well trimmed. His face was firm, and foreign, paler than the average Japanese, and more angular. "Well, young Tia…" He said. "We have this amazing thing among adults called 'responsibility.' It's truly amazing."
            Tiamet narrowed her eyes. "Well, I have this thing called Gel is stupid." She said, sticking her tongue out at him.

            Sesshoumaru seemed not to notice the bickering. "So, you failed to detect this until now." He finished. He turned around again, once again in control. There would be time for emotions later, now the Overlord of the West, the leader of Shinjuku needed to act. He sat down once again at the table. "Where is he?"

            The woman smiled. "We think he is still where he was sealed." She said. "He does not wish to risk anything by venturing into the rest of the world, but is amassing power from where he is." She held out her hand, and suddenly across table spread a map, like magic.

            Sesshoumaru looked down at it. "So, he would be here." He said, pointing. The map glowed ever so slightly where he pointed. "What will he do to gain power?"

            "You remember his father's method." The woman left it hanging.
            "He is stealing souls." Sesshoumaru said with distaste. "He is using the moths again?"

            The woman smiled at him. "He can't steal many. He's still fairly weak."

            Sesshoumaru nodded. "What else?"

            The women stared at him. "Oni and Shin are already here, and other demons from China will surely be on the way." She said. "He will also be looking for a way to destroy the seal on his father." She said. "This will give him access to all the youkai that were sealed, as well as allow him to perform the write of passage."

            "The write of passage?" Sesshoumaru asked.

            "It's an ancient ritual in his family, in which the strength of one generation is passed down to the next. It is how they became so powerful." The woman sighed. "And we think he will also try to find a way to release Ryuukotsutsei."

            Sesshoumaru nodded. "What does he need to do this?" He asked, practicality pervading his mind.

            The woman turned, and thought. "We believe that he needs the Tetsusaiga to unseal Hyoga, but I don't think he's capable of freeing the traitor."

            Sesshoumaru nodded. "So, we must find my brother, then?"

            The woman grinned. "Not so." She said happily.

            "I grow tired of these games, Atma." Sesshoumaru said, his tone barely giving a hint of warning.

            The dragon queen grinned. "Vadise has the Tetsusaiga." She said. "And a doubt that she'll let it fall into the wrong hands."

            Sesshoumaru did not ask how Vadise had the Tetsusaiga. It was unimportant. "So our concern is his forces from the east?"

            Atma nodded. "Yes." She said. "Can you manage this?" She asked.

            Sesshoumaru thought for a moment, then looked up, smiling. "Is this not technically your island?" He asked.

            Atma nodded. "Good." She said. Then she blinked and looked at him. "What was that?" She asked, her voice lowering.

            "This is your island." Sesshoumaru said. "Should not you hold the border?"

            "Sesshoumaru-sama…" Atma said dangerously.

            Sesshoumaru pressed onward. "You watch the border, and I will go and kill Menomaru. Then, we shall not have to worry about anything of the kind." He reasoned. "We shall cut the problem off at the root."

            Atma regarded Sesshoumaru coldly. "You still hold a grudge against the Hyoga family, for aiding in the downfall of InuTaisho, don't you?" She said. It was not a question.

            Sesshoumaru turned around, back to her. "My reasons are my own." He said shortly.

            Tiamet smiled leisurely, and glanced at Atma. "Oh, c'mon." She said. "Let him have his little revenge thingy. It can't hurt."

            Atma scowled. "There are too many things that can go wrong." She said authoritatively.

            "But I have no water capability." Sesshoumaru reasoned.

            Atma scowled at him. "Bull." She snapped. "I know you've at least got that sea-serpent, Syldra. She could hold it off for a while, by herself."

            Sesshoumaru did not bother looking at Atma. "Then let her handle it." He said. "I will deal with Menomaru." He said.

            "You're letting your personal feelings once again interfere with your leadership." Atma warned.

            Sesshoumaru turned around and looked at her. "No." He said. "In this case, it's your leadership that is being interfered with." He said. "I will go to face Menomaru."

            Atma's eyes glowed red, and her lip curled up in a snarl. "Very well, Sesshoumaru-sama."

            Sesshoumaru did not look back again as he strode out of the hall.

            As the door closed, Atma's hands clenched. And the long table shattered, splintering into shards no more than an inch long. The other two people at the table didn't find anything odd about this.

            "So, why are you so mad about him going after Menomaru?" Gelledius asked, turning to Atma.

            "Because there's to much that we don't know." The dragon seethed, he fangs clenching. "Ryuukotsutsei was too smart to just rely on winning the first time."

            "Umm…" Tiamet began. "He's been sealed to a big tree, remember?" She asked.

            Atma glared at her. "Does that mean he couldn't have set something up?" She demanded. "If I remember correctly we still don't know what happened to one of the rebel dragons. She could easily have a hand in this."

            Tiamet raised an eyebrow. "Who, Kiriln?" She asked. "I liked Kiriln. She didn't really rebel."

            Atma crossed her arms in front of her, the cloak parting to reveal sable black plate mail. "She didn't?"

            Tiamet shook her head. "Naw." She said. "Kiriln just sorta… sauntered away from the rest of the group."

            Atma flared her wings out. "She left the clan." She said. "That's more than enough for me to be suspicious."

            Tiamet waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah." She said. "I know why you're really angry." She turned around with a wolfish grin. "You just don't like the idea that the leader of Shinjuku just openly defied you."

            Atma narrowed her eyes at Tiamet. "Shut up." She said. Behind her, the splinters crumbled.