Disclaimer: Still don't own InuYasha.

Sesshomaru felt a presence in his chambers as soon as he entered. He also knew the scent in the air all to well. The last creature in the world he wanted to see. He never even so much as glanced at Juri as he made his way across the floor. With a shake of his head he spoke. Not that he expected her to obey him.

"Get out."

"Now really, love, is such hostility really necessary? You and I have such a rich history after all." Juri smirked, slowly stepping from the shadows.

"Such hostility is all I shall give you, Juri, now leave. Had I wanted you here I would have sent for you. I think you have done enough damage in your short time here." Sesshomaru replied in a dry and disinterested voice.

"All I did was show them I side with you, that my allegiance is with you, Sesshomaru. When did that become such a crime? They were ready to overthrow you and have you destroyed. I wasn't about to stand by and allow that to happen. I think some show of gratitude was in order."

Sesshomaru watched, his amber eyes blazing as Juri stretched herself out upon his bed on her side. There was a time when he would have fallen on her in a frenzy that left them both sated and weak but now...now her body left him cold. Her form was too angled, too sleek. He saw her for what she was. A demoness craving power and station and willing to step on whomever she must to attain both. The red of her hair seemed so brassy now as well. It seemed to crackle when she moved, giving off an aura of danger should one venture to close. So unlike Rin's soft black hair which practically begged him to sink his fingers into it.

"That is your trouble, Juri. You think something is owed to you. What you did was nothing more than a gross display of your power, a show. Trying to impress those around you. I would have thought you had outgrown such a trait in the last few decades. I tell you again, leave."

As he expected the demoness hissed at him, spitting like a wild cat and coming at him with her nails bared. If anything, Juri despised being accused of being childish. Without missing a step, Sesshomaru caught her wrists in his hand and jerked her hard towards him, crashing her into his chest, the deadly tips of his armor pricking the skin beneath her chin. Juri looked up at him, her eyes blazing with hatred, anger and even lust. Her breath came in quick gasps as she struggled weakly to pull away from his grip.

"And another thing, Juri. Inuyoukai lord I may be but I have no use for bitches. Attempt something so foolish as that again and you will find yourself on the receiving end of my poisoned claws. I am sure we understand one another now?" he growled, shoving her roughly away, sending her staggering back and holding her wrists.

"If you have no use for bitches then why do you keep the girl?"

Juri could hardly believe the words had left her mouth. Wisely she took several steps away from Sesshomaru and expected to feel the piercing agony of his claws in her throat. Slowly he turned and locked his eyes with her's. Juri had no chance to move, to scream, to even think of escape before Sesshomaru stood before her, the fingers of one hand locked tight around her throat. She knew she had gone too far. The inuyoukai lord's eyes blazed blood red and she gripped his wrist in panic. As she struggled to breath, spots dancing before her vision, once more Sesshomaru brought her nose to nose with him, his voice deadly.

"If you ever think to question what I do and why I do it, Juri, so help me I will make you BEG to be cast down into hell. You are trying my patience with your clever little games and your subtle digs. I have tired of you and the rest of these would-be demon lords thinking to come into my home and dictate how I shall conduct myself. This Sesshomaru answers to no one. Least of all to a woman. Cross me again and we will end this little game."

With that Sesshomaru release Juri's throat and watched with cold eyes as she fell to her knees, gasping and gagging for air and rubbing her bruised throat. As faint as it was he had caught Rin's scent on Juri. Just the thought of this demoness near Rin made his skin crawl. Rin's innocence and niavety would be no match against Juri's wicked and twisted games. What damage had the woman already done? He must find Rin and speak with her, if only to warn her to be wary of Juri and to instruct her to keep Jaken with her at all times til these damnable demons were gone from the great hall.

Staggering to her feet, Juri watched Sesshomaru's face. Always so impassive and giving away nothing. Even in the privacy of their chambers all those years ago he had been like this. Where once it had driven her wild with want to see him like this it now fueled her temper, spurring her forward with her plan. Tonight, she take it to the next level. The seeds of doubt were planted in the mind of the stupid human girl. Now to give them reason to grow. With a little help from her underling, she would completely destroy the precious Rin's faith and devotion to her lord and the meddling demon lords would have no reason to linger here. Finally, she would have what she had come for!

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Another short chapter I know! I am building up for a Rin and Juri confrontation in the next chapter! I just wanted to thank everyone who has read this story and given me such high praise for my efforts. It is because of you all and your words of encouragement that I keep this going. I honestly started off as a MAJOR InuYasha fan but slowly my eyes began to kinda linger on his older brother. I am that cliche of "Good girls love a bad boy". And I think we love Sesshomaru because damn if we all wouldn't love to be the girl to put a real smile on his somber face! If his smirk is that sexy...boowah!