Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Inuyasha, but it'll be interesting putting them in diff situations…

Hello again everybody! As a general note- thanks to Devlinn Reiko-sama (my first reviewer -yea!), Hanyou-demoness, kirei, Centaury Cruxis Angel, heofen, and bob for reviewing! I'll try to update regularly (got midterms, assignments, an essay and exams in the next few wks) and hopefully I won't disappoint! (Is it just me or are there too many exclamation points everywhere?)

Heofon: Whoa, long review!(Which is a good thing) I'm glad you found it kind of funny (though I'm not really trying to make it a humour fic) And the way they talk… well even though it's "classic villainy", it reminds me of how my little brother and I annoy each other sometimes (except without the swearing, malice and killing part - ) Plus, you're right. Since this is my first story ever, I don't really have my style down yet. For the ending of the previous chap, I thought that it was kind of fast, but I'm not used to writing fighting scenes (especially since I didn't want emphasis on the bad guys- their purpose was to act more as a catalyst). Hopefully, all I need is some more practice!

Anyway, next chap!

XXX

As Sesshoumaru dashed through the forest towards Rin, Tenseiga pulsed lightly- telling him to hurry. There was an underlying urgency to its beats and it was unsettling. What was Tenseiga trying to say? Though he was worried, (that damn icy knife kept turning in his gut!), he was sure that he would save her. He had always done so in the past, and this time would be no different. No. Instead, he was very pissed off. Did Naraku think that he could best this Sesshoumaru? After Rin was once again safe, he would definitely get the sneaky bastard and take great pleasure in ripping his head off.

He was startled out of his pleasant thoughts, though, when a whiff of Rin's scent came to him. Around it was the stench of poison, blood, and…death. However, Sesshoumaru was caught off guard when Tenseiga stopped vibrating. What? He hadn't even reached her yet! He quickly followed her scent.

He finally came upon her small frame slumped over the protruding roots and leafy debris that covered the ground. He was not bothered with the sight of blood or gore anymore, for he had been killing things for a long time. But…. the scene that greeted him could only be called disturbing. It looked as if she had been trying to run away. She obviously had not succeeded.

The large dark pool beneath her slowly spread- as if it was still trying to get away. Only a few clumps of dark hair could be seen on her smooth head and Sesshoumaru couldn't help but notice a handful of strands stick to the glossy pool and flutter uselessly up and down with the wind. He could only assume that the crimson protrusions from her clothing were her limbs. And….and the smell was unbearable. It seemed to create a vapour that burned his nose and threatened to scald his eyes. A thick metallic taste lingered in his mouth.

She had been sprayed with some sort of corrosive poison.

With quick graceful strides he came to stand beside her. Grasping the hilt of Tenseiga, he prepared to draw the sword. Something was wrong though: it was not responding. His throat went dry and his insides seemed to fall away. This was absurd. Tenseiga would listen to this Sesshoumaru!

He raised the sword over the body and narrowed his eyes. He was going to make Tenseiga work. He stood and waited. He became very irritated when seconds passed and nothing happened. A hollowness entered his being. His body stiffened. Where were the minions that carried the soul to the after-life? Why was this not working! But now he finally understood why Tenseiga had stopped thrumming. It could not or would not save her. 'Why?' he thought. He re-sheathed his sword. 'What a useless thing, this Tenseiga.' When it had been Kagura in this position, he had been fairly calm. But now…all he could feel was emptiness. He felt as if his being had been split from his body. He was in nothingness.

His eyes flashed a crimson red and a low guttural growl emanated from his chest. Someone would pay for this. His ears twitched when he heard something coming towards him. His hand contracted and he cracked his fingers. It looked like the demon from earlier had decided to follow him. How foolish. The thing would die.

The incarnation came at Sesshoumaru, but when it glanced at his face and felt his growing jyaki, a look of terror crossed its face. It turned to flee, however futile the attempt would be. Sesshoumaru didn't wait. An aura of cold calm rage surrounded him as he came upon the thing with unfathomable speed. He didn't even think to use Toukijin. With sharpened claws, he sliced the demon across the body like it was the easiest thing to do in the world. He gripped the despicable thing by the throat and slowly ate it away with his poison. This thing had dared to distract him. Sesshoumaru snapped its head off and threw it to the ground. He then became still: his only movement the clenching and unclenching of his hand. A moment passed.

He slowly walked back to where the girl's corpse now laid.

XXX

Everyone looked around in bewilderment. Just as suddenly the demons had come, they had left. The remaining incarnation had dashed off in Sesshoumaru's direction before Inuyasha could kill it. He sheathed Tessaiga before chasing after the demon. Since there was nothing left to do, the rest of the Inu-gang followed.

"I wonder where it's going," questioned Sango as she rode on Kirara's back.

Miroku looked thoughtful for a second. "I think that I saw Sesshoumaru go this way earlier, but I don't see why this demon would go in his direction."

Kagome looked ahead. She agreed with what Sango and Miroku had said. What was Naraku doing? She had a feeling that something was terribly wrong though. Whatever Naraku planned was not good.

The group then noticed that Inuyasha had sped up. "Something's wrong," he said, seeming to share the same sentiment as Kagome. Inuyasha could smell a great deal of blood and poison and the stench of death hung heavily in the air. Sesshoumaru was there; it smelt like he had finished the remaining incarnation off. There was another smell under everything, though, and it was human. It seemed vaguely familiar. 'The little girl!' thought Inuyasha.

He picked up his speed even more and eventually found Sesshoumaru standing beside something on the ground. Inuyasha abruptly stopped a good distance away and could only stare at the sight before him. Sesshoumaru didn't seem to notice that he was there. He didn't seem to notice anything around him and that was surprising considering that Sesshoumaru was such an observant demon. The rest of the gang followed and Inuyasha quickly jumped to cover Shippo's eyes.

"What!" Shippo shouted. He pushed the hands off but then froze.

The others froze too- Kagome made a strange sound in her throat and looked sickly pale.

"What….," started Miroku, eyes wide.

Nothing could describe the horror that they were seeing. They could only watch in shock as Sesshoumaru slowly kneeled down beside the little girl's ruined body.

XXX

The demon lord stood silently above Rin, an indiscernible look on his face as he gazed down at her. He didn't seem to notice that there were other people watching him. He didn't notice the tears that were starting to stream down Kagome's face or the shocked look on Inuyasha's. Sesshoumaru could only feel emptiness- a hollowness where something used to be. He had failed in protecting his ward. Though only a human, she had somehow become his responsibility and he had failed miserably. The proof was right below him. He slowly lowered himself down to his knees and knelt beside her.

Yes. He had failed miserably. Sesshoumaru carefully flipped Rin's body until she was facing him. He noticed that half of her face had been eaten away and one eye was still open, staring hazily. It looked right at him- accusing him. 'Rin…' His hand reached out and he gently ran a clawed finger against her other cheek. The skin was still soft and yielded to his touch, but the color was wrong. He thought back to his musings that morning. How morbidly ironic that he could only touch her now in death. In a daze, he held her up, just as he did many months ago when he had revived her from the wolves. This time, however, she would not be waking up. Looking down at her, he still felt nothing. No sadness, no anger: just emptiness.

'Rin' he thought again. He shifted her until her head rested near his shoulder. It lolled to the side. Crimson stains appeared on pristine white- matching the red that decorated his clothing. A heaviness settled in his chest, but he still felt empty. Why did he feel so empty? He should at least feel something; especially anger at Naraku for playing his stupid games on him. But no: just this strange hollowness. He clutched Rin tighter. Why was Rin's death affecting him so? He knew that he had grown somewhat attached to the little girl; had become soft in that respect. She was just a mortal that followed him around. And he had let her. She was just human, and humans were nothing. Just as Naraku was soon to be nothing. Just as Tenseiga ( which he found to be even more useless than he thought) was nothing. It was just like the nothing that filled him right now.

He did not like this feeling. He could be cold and unfeeling: yes. Possibly cruel? Well, many believed him to be so. But this strange deadness inside? Hn. Of course not. That did not happen to this Sesshoumaru. The very notion was ridiculous. Death could be a number of things- amusing or bothersome, satisfying or uninteresting- but it was not suppose to be like this. Death did not cause him to be like this. He unconsciously held Rin tighter.

"Uh? Sesshou…..?" Inuyasha stopped abruptly when Sesshoumaru started to growl and glance his way. His eyes were red-tinged and they caused a chill to run down Inuyasha's back. The hanyou put his hand on Tessaiga's hilt.

Sesshoumaru ignored him, possibly because he was vaguely aware of what had just transpired. He buried his face into what remained of Rin's hair, still growling. He felt something rise in him as he could detect almost nothing of her natural scent. Just poison and blood. Did he already forget what she smelt like? Would he always remember it to be like this? The thought of that made him inwardly cringe. Was he now becoming just as irrational as his pathetic brother? Of course he would remember her if he chose to do so! He was a high-blooded youkai lord! That thought seemed to mollify him a little.

Keeping her head below his chin, he found his hand reaching for hers. He slowly grasped it. It was so pathetic looking. It was so small and frail compared to his own clawed hand. He rubbed his fingers up and down the tiny digits. How many flowers had been plucked because of them? How many floral wreathes did she make because of them? Sesshoumaru then gently placed the hand on her stomach. Curling his arm beneath the girl, he deftly lifted her up. He cradled her close, almost as if he was trying to put something back inside him, and gracefully rose up: unaware of the mess upon his attire.

Not even glancing at the others near him, he gradually walked away.

XXX

So…How was it? Comments or improvements? Please review! Did I spell jyaki right? Everything is getting too depressing! I felt so bad doing that but don't worry…..everything will work out in the end… just gotta traumatize him a bit. Anyway, I hope you guys liked it.