Disclaimer: I don't own anything of InuYasha or the other characters.
To my fanbase: I'm so glad you all are hanging in there and enjoying the story. Thanks for all the kind words!
It was all Juri could do not to shout her victory. The girl was dead, the wounds to her body would proclaim Sesshomaru as her killer. Either Sesshomaru would be overthrown as Lord of the Western Lands and she would see to it she became his successor or Sesshomaru would come after her and die in battle. No matter what happened, she would win. Who would have guessed the human girl would prove to be so useful? The only pitiable part of Juri's plan was that she could not be there to see the blow that ended her miserable life. She walked slowly back towards the great hall. Should the others turn on her, she had her alibi. How could she possibly have had anything to do with Rin being killed if she wasn't even within the great hall? It was only a matter of time now. All she had to do was simply be patient.
Suddenly, the ground before Juri seemed to erupt, sending the demoness flying and slamming into a tree. The wind seemed knocked from her lungs as she slid down the tree's trunk and landed in the grass. Stars exploded before her eyes. What had happened? Holding a hand to her head, Juri slowly opened her eyes and looked upwards. Any wise demon would have cause to be afraid. Sesshomaru in his true form was terrifying and Juri backed up the tree trunk with a gasp. This was a turn of events she had not anticipated. How the hell had those fools allowed him to leave the great hall!
"B-by what right to you attack me, Sesshomaru!" she demanded, shoving away from the tree, her eyes blazing.
"By the devine right of one protecting what is his!" Sesshomaru roared, his body transforming once again to its human form as he advanced on the demoness, "You come into my home uninvited, you do all within your power to turn the others not only against me but against Rin as well, but your true and fatal mistake was when you paid some hired assassin to try and kill her. Those without motive to kill seem incapable of finishing the job!"
Juri barely had time to react before Sesshomaru unsheathed Toukijin and brought the deadly sword down in a powerful arc, splitting the tree behind her in two. Scrambling away from the falling tree, Juri turned once more to face the enraged inuyoukai lord. Against Toukijin she stood little chance. She would have to disarm him and fast. Sesshomaru's speed was legendary, she would have to anticipate his every move. Not an easy task in and of itself. Slowly she circled the inuyoukai lord, waiting for an opening. Of all Lord Sesshomaru's weapons, she feared Toukijin the most. How could she hope to get the weapon away from him without putting herself in harms way?
"The attack on the human girl was not my doing! How could I have anything to do with it when I was nowhere near the great hall, Sesshomaru? And a hired assassin? Why would I have need for such a thing?" Juri smirked, thinking to provoke Sesshomaru and cause him to strike blindly, "If I wanted her dead, I'd want to do it myself. Just for the sheer pleasure of watching her die!"
Sesshomaru smiled. Not just a grin or a smirk but a smile. A smile that sent a chill down Juri's spine.
"Someday, when we meet in the netherworld? I'll be sure to tell you how pleasurable it is to watch a woman die, Juri."
Again Toukijin slashed through the air but once more Juri was able to dodge the blow...narrowly. This damn battle would not end until one of them was dead! Dog demon or not, he's body was not immune to fire! Leaping back from the sword's reach Juri gathered a fiery ball in the palms of her hands. It would be a shame to kill such a fine specimen but such sacrifices had to be made!
"Flames of Hell!" she screamed, heaving the deadly orb into the ground before Sesshomaru and sending flames racing through the high grass.
Unfortunately for her, her attack was easily detectable and took time to produce. Sesshomaru was able to leap clear of the blast and land safely away from the flames. Damn him! She had to weaken him so his reflexes would not be so swift! Again and again Juri attacked, always hoping the get in a shot that might injure him. Sesshomaru was toying with her! She knew it. He could unleash the Dragon Strike on her and yet he did not. He wanted her to lose her temper and faulter, to attack him like a clumsy child. Juri knew his weakness was the girl. What good was a weakness that was so far away!
"You cannot keep her safe forever, Sesshomaru! In protecting her, you have made yourself vulnerable, weak! To destroy her is to destroy you and it is the same the other way as well! I'll end your miserable existance and throw her pitiful soul into the pits of hell to join you!"
"So confident you will defeat me, Juri? Your attacks are those of a infantile demon. You haven't the power or strength to defeat me," Sesshomaru replied, Toukijin pointing its sharpened tip at Juri's throat, "Don't think to use the girl against me. Many others before you have tried and failed."
"Then they all lacked the motive to kill her!" Juri shrieked, lashing out without warning, a pillar of flames engulfed Sesshomaru and sent Toukijin flying.
Thinking she had the battle won, Juri dared to rush towards the inuyoukai lord. Even without Toukijin, Sesshomaru was uneffected by the flames. Juri had forgotten about Tenseiga. The sword protected its master as faithfully as any guardian. Reaching through the fire, Sesshomaru's claws gripped Juri's throat in a brusing vice. To stunned to maintain the attack, Juri's flames swiftly vanished and her hands gripped Sesshomaru's wrist. Why wouldn't he die!
"You have only one motive, Juri. Power. And power is fleeting."
"S-so is...human l-life!" she rasped, feeling the poisoned claws sinking into her skin.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed for a split second before he threw Juri aside, sending her limp body rolling through the ruined grass. Already the poison was beginning it deadly work and the demoness felt it. She looked up once more and saw the lord's retreating back as Sesshomaru retrieved Toukijin. It took all of the remaining strength and life she had left in her but Juri would not leave this world until she had brought the Lord of the Western Lands to his knees! Forcing every bit of her power into the palms of her hands, Juri breathed raggedly in outrage and pain. On her knees, her flaming hair forming a curtain around her face, she lifted her arms and threw the deadly fireball at the inuyoukai lord's back.
"PURGATORY!"
The power struck Sesshomaru full force. Even Tenseiga had no chance to react and protect its master. The blow sent him flying, knocking him to the ground and rolling him like a ragdoll. Sparks in the grass around him began to consume the fuel of the dried foliage. Tenseiga quickly pulsed and glowed, forming a barrier around him and shielding him from the approaching fires. Juri never saw the inuyoukai lord fall. Her final act had drained her, sending her soul back into hell. Somewhere in the distance a bell began to toll. A warning. The flames had been seen and the evening wind would soon carry them to the great hall.
Sesshomaru grimmaced and rose to his feet. He saw Juri's ashen remains. That threat was gone. Now to discover who had actually struck Rin. A shadow seemed to pass in the moonlight above and Sesshomaru looked to the heavens. Ah-Uh swooped down, its reigns within Sesshomaru's grasp. Quickly he grabbed the straps of leather and felt the two headed dragon fly higher. The battle had been won...but he had a feeling the war was only just beginning.