Sesshoumaru's usual apathetic expressions faded at the sight of his long dead father. He blinked and resisted the urge to rub his eyes as others did when seeing something out of the ordinary. No, this wasn't just out of the ordinary. This was impossible.

'It has been a long time, my son,' said the youkai after a moment's silence.

Sesshoumaru did not reply. He was caught between affection and anger. It had indeed been a long time, and he had missed his father- fighting side by side in many a battle; ruling the Western Lands. Sesshoumaru was upset, though, with his father's decision about who would end up with Tetsusaiga. Such a powerful sword did not belong in the hands of a half-breed... a mutt. He did not dare express these thoughts, though. He did not doubt that he was too old to be punished for arguing with his father. No. This is an illusion. One of Naraku's ploys. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and turned away from the powerful youkai, seemingly undisturbed that he was walking on nothingness.

'Sesshoumaru! First, you disturb me from my resting place, then turn away as if I were nothing. You know better than that. My son...' The youkai child halted. Only his father could speak in such a tone. 'I never thought you would use Tenseiga in this way. If anything-'

'I appologise, father.' Sesshoumaru turned again to face the taiyoukai, and hung his head in feign shame; a trick he had mastered long ago. He was proud, but not so much that he wouldn't play his father's sympathies. A small smile danced across Inutaishou's face.

'That's the son I know... Now, why...'

'Tenseiga called me here.'

'Sesshoumaru-sama has been gone an awfully long time, Jaken-sama. I'm worried.' Rin sat cross-legged in the dirt with her head hung in anxiety.

'Do not worry about such a powerful demon as Sesshoumaru. It would insult him.'

Rin sighed and hung her head even lower. 'I'm worry. I don't want to hurt his feelings.'

Jaken gave a half hearted laugh. Sesshoumaru- have feelings? The poor human must be jesting.

'What is so amusing?'

'Uh. Sesshoumaru, my lord. It was nothing. Hi.'

'Sesshoumaru-sama, you are unharmed,' Rin cried with glee. The youkai grimaced at the small child's hug and closed his eyes hoping he wouldn't imagine the humoured expression on his father's face when he saw he had acquired a human.

'You pathetic humans will be no match for me,' the demon said almost laughing.

'You'll regret that,' Miroku muttered as he untied the wraps that bound his kazaana. The monk pushed Sango aside, braced himself, and whipped the prayer beads from his wrist. Shippou shielded his eyes and Kagome, too, readied herself. Miroku did not expect what came next, though. Kagura's wind demon pulled at his dark thunder clouds and created a void of his own into which the monk was slowly being pulled. With wide eyes, he recovered his hand.

'Inuyasha! Help him!' Kagome screamed.

'What am I supposed to do?' he puzzled franticly as the demon slayer grabbed at Miroku's robes to keep him from disappearing into an endless void much like his own. I don't want to die, Miroku thought, let alone be sucked into a void of infinite nothingness. Sango- she. I- 'Hold on, houshi-sama.'

'Inuyasha!' Kagome stamped her foot in frustration at the hanyou, then rushed to help Sango and Miroku.

Inuyasha paused, and thinking quickly, found that now would be the time for Tetsusaiga's backlash wave. The demon before him was obviously emitting a demonic aura with power so great it was sure to destroy him. Raising his sword against the wind was a obstacle easily overcome. Poised to attack, the hanyou swung down his sword then stood confounded at the what didn't happen.

'Your toys are useless, half-breed.'

'Kagome,' Shippou called. 'The sunset!'

'What about it?' she cried.

'It's the new moon. Inuyasha!' Shippou squealed as he dodged flying debris and ducked behind Kirara who had assumed her full demon form some time ago.

'It is not the new moon,' Inuyasha said, refusing to believe, but when his hair turned from dawn to dusk and his demon claws vanished he knew.

Kagome stumbled over to Inuyasha, arms extended. 'No,' she whispered.

'Don't let go!' Miroku shouted at Sango who held on, but just barely.

'Inuyasha, how can you have forgotten? You're so stupid.' Kagome whimpered as she pounded a fist against his chest.

'Weak humans,' the wind demon sneered with a snide smirk plastered across his face. 'Here, a present for you, Inuyasha!' The youkai breathed deep and soon the hanyou and school girl found themselves twined with cloud.

'It burns,' Inuyasha gasped.

'Miroku... wait. No.' The demon's slayers hands finally slipped. 'NOO! Come back! You can't leave me, houshi-sama!' Tears streamed down Sango's face, impairing her vision, weakening her soul. 'I love you,' she sighed.

The school girl threw herself down at Inuyasha and demanded that he be fine. 'How could you forget?' she cried, gripping his shirt with all her might. She closed her eyes and tried not to hear the hanyou's screams. When they stopped she loosened her hold on him and opened her eyes only to fall to the earth beneath her. The wind carried the clouds from around her back into the endless sky and carried her heart piercing scream for miles.

'It is Hakudoshi,' came Inutaishou's voice. 'How could you leave your brother?'

'I had every intention of heading that way,' Sesshoumaru lied, although now his curiosity had gotten the best of him. Who was Hakudoshi? And how did his father know of him?

It's probably not very nice of me to leave you with such an evil cliff hanger, but, alas, I'll do it anyhoo. Hehe. Thanks for the review, by the way, and keep on reviewing. Only about two chapters to go.

COMING SOON: Chapter Seventeen: Inutaishou's Sacrafice