(A/n:Sorry for the OOCedness of Rin last chapter. I actually did that on purpose, and the explanation for it in this chapter. Please forgive me.)

Chapter Nine

Saraku ran as fast as she could down the mountain. She was hurting from her broken wrist. Even worse, Rin's words of hatred towards Lord Sesshoumaru stung. She couldn't believe Rin would even say such things about him. But I have to to find him anyway. Maybe if he helps her, she'll realize he's not how she thinks. Besides,hadn't Sesshoumaru saved her once before from a bunch of demons? Sara wiped her eyes sadly, as she hit the flat ground. "Well, Rin, here I go." She ran in the familiar direction of Inuyasha's camp. "Uncle Inuyasha will want to know about this,I'm sure."

"You will regret this,Nyrou! Mark my words." Kouga broke away from his captors, and strode over to the other wolf demon prince. "Our families' feud ended with our fathers' deaths. Why must you continue it? More over, your hurting innocent cubs, who weren't even around!"

"You don't seem to get it! The feud will never be over, until you and all your kin are destroyed!"

"That will never happen! Kouga will make bird food out of you!" Ginta replied over his shoulder. "We've lived in peace with your tribe for centuries. Why won't you let the past die?!"

"Ginta, be at peace." Kouga said to his loyal friend softly. "It is useless trying to talk sense into this guy." He glanced over at the small cave where he'd last seen Saraku disappear to,then he turned back to Nyrou. "Your fight is with me. Let my brothers and sisters go." His voice held a tight edge that sounded like a growl. "And the human girls. Let them go too."

"If I do, you must stay with me." Nyrou seemed to be considering this whole thing.

"Very well." Kouga agreed, though he had no intention of staying. He no sooner agreed when Kyoko and Achika were brought to him.

"Say your farewells quickly." Nyrou ordered, returning to his home cave, to give them a bit of privacy.

"Farewells? What is going on, Kouga?" Achika hugged her mate in worry, Kyoko at her side.

"You two are to lead everyone home. I will be right behind you." Kouga replied barely above a whisper. "See that Saraku is returned to Inuyasha."

"Yes, but....." Achika's head snapped up,hearing a ruckus. "What now?"

Everyone looked towards Rin's little hut. There was a lot of action going on over there. "It looks like Rin and Saraku made their own escape..." Kouga smiled to himself. "I see Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru have trained them a lot more."

"Yes, but they won't be able to get far." Kyoko fled from her mother and father. "I have to find Sara, before the nasty wolf-demons do."

"Kyoko! Come back, darling!" Achika looked at Kouga. "Now what?"

"Go with her. She'll never make it alone. Ginta, you go with them. The rest of you, go home." Kouga watched as his orders were carried out. Then he turned to Nyrou. "Now it's just us,Nyrou. Me and you." He eyes glinted in anger.

"So, she is now on her own, is she?" Moraine gazed at the mirror image in the water. "This couldn't have worked better if I had planned it." She gathered her things, and began her trek to find Saraku again. "This time, my girl, you will be coming with me. You've no business being with demons and the like!"

"I'm afraid your journey is over." A soft, cold voice answered the woman. Sesshoumaru glided into view.

"Be gone! You don't frighten me...." Moraine's trembling voice betrayed her however.

"Do you know who I am?" Sesshoumaru took a step forward, smirking when the woman backed up.

"I don't care to know you." Moraine replied. "I'm on a mission here, and I will find Sarah, and bring her to her rightful home."

"That's going to be quite impossible with you trapped in my castle,now isn't it?" He reached out and grabbed her roughly by the neck. "Jakken! Bring me some rope."

Jakken did as he was told. "We won't have time to go all the way back. The wolf-demons are coming closer!"

Sesshoumaru thought for a minute, then smiled. "No indeed, we will not. You will. Take this woman to the castle, and I will be there later with Saraku."

"B-but Mi'lord..." Jakken was cut short when Sesshoumaru darted off. "Oh....this is turning out worse than when Rin left!"

Sara dropped to her knees in exhaustion. " I c-can't run anymore....Why'd I ever leave Inuyasha and everyone. Lord Sesshoumaru will be so worried...."

"Don't worry, Sara." Rin appeared from the shadows of the bushes. "I'm with you."

"You........I thought you hated Sesshoumaru?" Sara glinted at her older sister angrily.

"Of course not! I only said that to make you leave. I knew you wouldn't otherwise. I love Lord Sesshoumaru." She put a hand on Saraku's arm. "We've to get out of here. They found me out,and they're following me."

"What about Prince Kouga?!"

"He let his tribe go, but Nyrou wants the prince dead." Rin's eyes narrowed. "Come. I hear them." She pulled the young girl to her feet,and they fled through the forest.

Saraku's heart pounded in her chest. Would she ever see Kyoko again? Would Kouga be okay? She spoke softly. "I just want to go home, to Lord Sesshoumaru."

"And you will get there. I promise." Rin assured her, as she led the way to a small clearing. "But first we need to rest. We'll never make it all the way there on foot."

"I miss Ah-un." Sara allowed.

"Makes two of us." Rin mumbled, making a fire for them. "How's your wrist?"

"It's much better." Saraku told her quietly. "You're a good medicine woman."

"I learned from one of the best people in Japan." Rin said quietly, a sob in her throat. "But now she is gone. Along with the rest of my village."

"Don't worry. Maybe Lady Kaede will help you finish your schooling." Saraku suggested. "She's working with me."

Rin sighed heavily. "Perhaps." She left the subject alone, but she really hoped Saraku was not seriously thinking of becoming a priestess. "Come. You need your rest now." She covered the younger girl with a wolf skin blanket before moving to tend the fire.