Disclaimer: Own InuYasha? Hell no. I was on Santa's naughty list!

Jaken had noted the change in his lord since the dragon demon had berated him all those weeks ago. Instead of merely appearing sullen, Lord Sesshomaru now seemed lost in thought. With the change in the inuyoukai lord's mood so, too, came a change in the directions of their travels. Unless Jaken was mistaken they now appeared to be making their way northward. Was it possible they were going after Rin? Why else would they be making their way into Lord Bassarious' land? As soon as they crossed the border, Lord Sesshomaru stopped. Ah-Un watched its lord closely, waiting to see if they would continue forward.

"Is something the matter, me lord?" Jaken inquired, glancing about.

Despite still being miles from Lord Bassarious' hall, Sesshomaru could already sense something in the air. In the fields around them, people were tending the fields, cattle roamed freely, everything seemed as it should be. Demons walked openly among the mortals and some even greeted each other. It would seem Rin had indeed found a way to bring the two warring nations to a peaceful co-existance. Slowly Sesshomaru began to walk once more, his eyes watching those around him. Jaken followed after him, his mouth gaping open in stunned disbelief. At the edge of the woods, wild game of every assortment stood, dashing back into the trees only when a beast of cattle moved too close. Children dashed by, calling out in greeting as they went about their play. Their gleeful chatter recalling a time when an orange and yellow kimono would disappear and reappear in the high grass of fields.

"Why exactly do we come here, Lord Sesshomaru?" the vassil asked, finally coming out of his stupor.

"To get back that which is mine." Sesshomaru replied simply without breaking his stride.

Jaken need not ask anymore questions. That statement had said all that needed to be said. Without Rin travelling with them, Sesshomaru, Jaken and Ah-Un walked day and night. None of them needed rest. The first few days passed uneventfully but then Sesshomaru noticed something that migh otherwise have passed him by. The wildlife which had been everywhere was now practically non-existant. There wasn't even the call of the birds in the trees. What was the meaning of this? Had something hunted the animals out of existance? Without wild game around how could the humans this far northward live? They would starve before the harshest part of winter had hit.

"As prosperous as the land is that we have passed through, this all seems so desolate, me lord. One would think the closer to the lord's home, the better the conditions." Jaken murmured.

"Nothing here is as it seems, Jaken. Be on your guard."

As they crested a hill, the great hall loomed into view. Again not a bird cried, no animal scurried about in the thick high grass. Bassarious' closest and most trusted guard moved about the courtyard, looking as tiny as insects from this distance away. Jaken's eyes narrowed as he squinted to see what lay ahead. There was the occasional whinny of a horse, the pounding of a hammer as a man seemed to be constructing what looked to be a large metal trap. The contraption would be useless here. There was nothing to catch, not even a small rabbit. Bassarious' blonde hair was easy enough to pick out in the mass of men who moved about in the yard. Jaken snorted in disgust. The man must be blind not to see his land was devoid of a great food source and would rather spend his time lingering around the great hall doing nothing to remedy the situation.

Sesshomaru looked to the treeline nearby. There would be a suitable place for them to make camp so as not to be noticed. He would study Lord Bassarious' men and his habits until he knew the pulse of the entire great hall. He would know when they hunted and where, how long they went on those hunts. Was it possible Bassarious, himself, had hunted his lands dry? Surely the mortal could be that much of a fool. Just then a scent seemed to drift Sesshomaru's way. A scent so sweet and poignant, he shuddered at the memories it stirred. His gaze swiftly returned to the courtyard. Her name came unbidden to his lips and seemed to carry on the wind to her for as he spoke it, it was as if her eyes locked with his across the distance.

"Rin."

She had stepped out into the courtyard, her slender formed wrapped in her beloved cloak. Sesshomaru's eyes drank her in as best they could. She moved quickly through the courtyard, keeping her head down and covered by the hood of her cloak. Where was she going? Perhaps going out without her lord's permission. The nervous way she kept glancing over her shoulder gave the impression she knew what she was doing was wrong. Rin disappeared into the stables and Sesshomaru found himself able to breath once more. Their time apart had not dulled her impact on his senses, not even from afar. Bassarious allowed her some freedoms or so it would seem. Only when Rin had departed the courtyard on her mare did Jaken dare to speak up.

"This is our chance, me lord! If we follow Rin we can speak with her and return home!"

Sesshomaru smirked, "I think we shall linger here awhile, Jaken. Rin and the others shall remain ignorant of our presence. Come. We shall make our camp and begin our vigil."

His eyes watched the mare and its rider as they put greater distance between themselves and the great hall. He would almost swear Rin was trying to get as far away from Bassarious as possible. Perhaps she was discovering life amongst those of her own kind was not what she had hoped it would be.

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"He is here."

"You have seen him with your own eyes?"

"Yes. He, the vassil and the two headed beast."

"Did he follow after the girl?"

"No."

There was a silence and then a low, cold chuckle.

"Shall we strike now? The time seems ripe to do so."

"No. Not yet. Patience. This cannot be made to look obvious. It is crucial we do not get ahead of ourselves."

"And if we do not move swiftly, we will be discovered!"

"You worry too much. Believe me, none will see this coming until it is too late. Follow the girl, watch her closely. We cannot have anything happen to her just yet."