Chapter 3

Under the cover of the nearby bushes, a figure in a white baboon pelt watched the two dog demons fight for dominance. This shadowy observer had been there the entire time, even before the dog demoness Seishi had arrived to witness InuYasha and Sesshoumaru's battle, he had been there, after all it was because of him they had fought in the first place.

Flashback
"Dammit! I know Naraku's here; I know that disgusting smell anywhere," InuYasha growled and he hopped and sniffed about trying to find where his most hated nemesis was hiding.

Miroku watched InuYasha's frantic efforts to catch onto Naraku's scent again, he then turned to their young schoolgirl friend from the future, "Kagome-sama, do you sense any shikon shards round here?"

Kagome sighed and shook her head, "No I'm not feeling anything at all..."

Shippou hopped down from his perch on Kagome's shoulder and walked closer to Inuyasha, "Well that proves it you're wasting your time InuYasha... Why would Naraku be here anyway?"

Inuyasha snorted and then leaped towards Shippou, bowling him over and he continued his search, "Shut up, my nose doesn't lie, I'm definitely smelling Naraku around here."

Sango sighed, and gazed off over the wide-open field they had come across on their journey through the woods. Kiara mewed and leapt up onto Sango's shoulder, believing her friend and master looked a little down and could use some cheering up. Sango smiled and patted Kiara's head feeling grateful that she had such a loyal companion and partner.

Just then a violent wind rose up and out of the corner of her eye she saw a white figure land in the field not too far off from where they were all standing. With a slight turn of her head, taking a good look had her shooing Kiara off her shoulder and taking up a defensive stance as she shout a warning to her friends, "Hey guys be careful, Sesshoumaru's here..."

InuYasha's sprang up and stood at the head of his group as he addressed his brother, "Sesshoumaru! What are you doing here?"

Sesshoumaru looked coolly back at InuYasha, "I smell Naraku here; I'm here to collect his head."

InuYasha gritted his teeth together, "What? To hell with that; I'm the one who's gonna take Naraku down!"

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed dangerously and he focused on his uncouth hanyou brother, "Naraku is my prey, get in my way I'll kill you too, little brother..."

InuYasha drew Tessaiga and waved it menacingly at Sesshoumaru, "Big talk, you'll be singing a different tune once I cut you to pieces with my Tessaiga..." Inuyasha wasted no more words and charged at Sesshoumaru.

End Flashback
The thought of how easily even the slightest trace of him had the two inu brothers at each other's throats gave Naraku a cruel chuckle. The disharmony between the brothers only worked to his advantage. He didn't even have to be there himself, with any luck those two might just finish each other off one day. Stupid fools... Naraku then put his attention back onto the fight between Sesshoumaru and this new female dog demoness that had so suddenly appeared. This new female was an interesting one indeed. She was certain not an ordinary demon with the way she evaded Sesshoumaru's attacks. Grace and speed seemed to define her style, she also seemed to getting off on a rather bad start with Sesshoumaru. An idea then came to his head that brought a wicked smile to his face. He then decided to make his presence known. He walked out onto the field slowly clapping his hands together in applause.

"Well, well, well, this is a first. For the Great Sesshoumaru, the Lord of the Western Lands, to be having such a difficult time dealing with you, you must be quite the accomplished warrior, young lass. Forgive me for intruding, but I would like to know why two demon of seeming high statue are fighting like wolves out here in the middle of nowhere?" Naraku did his best to sound as pleasing and unthreatening as he could.

Sesshoumaru turned immediately when he heard Naraku's voice. He narrowed his eyes at the sight before him. He was badly tempted to go and rip this image of Naraku to pieces but he could sense no demonic aura coming from Naraku. It was another one of his demon puppets, hardly worth wasting his time on.

Seishi lofted a brow as she paused in her parting, regarding the new being that made himself known. She was rather surprised, since she hadn't sensed anyone before he choose to show himself… Then again… she had had the majority of her senses focused on the testy Sesshoumaru… Scanning this newcomer with her piercing silvery blue gaze; she found she couldn't distinguish what exactly he was… He did looked more or less humanoid, but hidden under that baboon-pelt cloak, it was impossible to really know what was hidden beneath… He was obviously not human, he didn't have a ningen life force… but he didn't give off a demon aura she could identify either… Intriguing and disquieting at the same time… something to be cautious of. "Lord Sesshoumaru, huh?" She looked back at the dog demon, "Rather lacking in manners for a noble born…" then she looked back at the new comer. "Lord Sesshoumaru wasn't feeling very social today, I'm afraid, and I seemed to have gotten on his bad side… I was just leaving."

Naraku nodded, "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru does has a way of putting off other people around him." Naraku then looked down at his cloaked body, or lack there of underneath, "Please pardon my appearance, but you see right now I am undergoing a state of transformation, so I must keep myself covered up. I realize it makes for a rather impersonal way to meet someone, but it will have to do for now. At any rate, it seems my arrival has ended your fight... or maybe Sesshoumaru-sama would like to pick up from where you left off?"

Although his face had no expression, underneath his calm features Sesshoumaru was fuming. Every time Naraku called him 'Sesshoumaru-sama' it sound like sandpaper being rubbed together. How dare Naraku mock him so openly and make him look like a fool? "What kind of pathetic display is this Naraku? Do you think that sugar coating you words will hide that fact that you sent a demon puppet out in your place, and even though it is only a puppet, is still carries the scent of your filthy body?"

Seishi kind of blinked back at the dog demon Sesshoumaru, and then to the baboon clocked Naraku. Hmm… On one side, she had the proud, stubborn, and hotheaded demon lord, Sesshoumaru, who had attacked her… even if she did in her own way, pick the fight… Then on the other, there was the mysterious demon Naraku, who was the most polite person she had met yet since she came to Japan… well at least as far as the local demons went… But just because Naraku was polite, didn't mean Seishi would trust him right off… The most treacherous of characters were those who knew how to get people to let their guards down… they were good at flattery and charm… She had many demons like this while she grew up at her father's castle…

Hmm… one demon that wanted to knock her head off her shoulders and one that might just be trying to charm her to get her defenses down… But then again… that was a large 'might'. Naraku had not given her any reason to disbelieve his sincerity. Although his running around concealed by a baboon cloak didn't hold well. Then there was Sesshoumaru's comment about this only being a puppet, and not the real Naraku at all… What kind of demon sent dolls out to do his bidding unless he had many enemies and wouldn't risk his own neck? Then again Seishi could not know anything for sure. All in all, not a good situation… Turning her icy blue eyes from one demon to the other, then back, she shrugged and took a step back from both of them.

"Well, gentlemen… I am but just the foreign bitch, who knows only what her mother told her as a pup about this bloody country… And you two seem to have some very bad air between you, so I really don't think I should get myself involved…" Ignoring Sesshoumaru for the moment, Seishi turned fully to the other, "Naraku, was it? I believe that is what he called you… it was a pleasure meeting you, and if we meet again, I'll see it as one of mutual esteem... I have no friends in this country, as of yet, perhaps you may be the first. Although I do hope next we meet it wont be a puppet I am speaking to. Sesshoumaru…" She turned her blue gaze to him now, "You really do need to work on those people skills… good looks and power aren't everything in life you know… Fair thee well…" she gave a polite bow to each, then turned on her heels and started to walk away… the days playful breeze whipping at her long wavy locks of hair, making it flow off to one side like streamers of platinum white silk. She traveled in no real decided direction, and was in no hurry. She had nowhere to be and no one anywhere that was expecting her, so why hasten when she could take a relaxed scenic walk.

As soon as Seishi was far enough away, Sesshoumaru launched himself at the puppet and ripped it to pieces with his claws. He knew it was pointless, but he didn't want to look at Naraku's form at the moment. Naraku's evil laughter reached Sesshoumaru's ears, "Sesshoumaru, please promise to be just as amusing the next time we meet..." Once the puppet was gone, he looked at Seishi's retreating form. Then he felt something he did not expect. He felt the urge to follow her. He didn't know why, maybe it was that he felt he needed to warn her to be wary of Naraku's trickery, or maybe it was that he felt he still had unfinished business concerning her insolence. Whatever the reason, he found himself walking after this strange demoness as he realized he didn't even know her name...

To Be Continued...