Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the character thereof, but I do claim the creative liberties to this story.

Author's Note: I would like to dedicate this chapter to Whimsy, who very much encouraged me to stop being a slacker and get back to writing.

Keitaro slept fitfully that night. He dreamt he was surrounded in darkness, suffocating from an invisible force that weighed down on his chest and shoulders. A small speck of light appeared before him wanting, demanding his attention, but he drew away from it. He didn't know this light or what it was, what it meant. The speck of light grew as it came closer to him and the unseen forces that had been pulling him down were now pushing him into the light. The light blinded him and his skin began to tingle and burn. He soon felt as though he were falling and tried to cry out, but no sound came and still he continued to fall. He slammed into the ground, stars marring his vision.

An exasperated sigh came from above him. "Really, Keitaro, I had hoped you would have done a good deal better today. You have much explaining to do."

Keitaro blinked several times wishing his head would stop reeling. "Master?" Yue-Lao offered the end of his walking staff to his apprentice, helping him to his feet. Keitaro looked about his surroundings, once again finding himself in the clearing were he had found the girl and her demon. He turned back to his master, "what are we doing here?"

"We are here to discuss your lack of tact that was so pitifully demonstrated tonight."

"My…what?"

Yue-Lao waved his hand and two figures suddenly appeared in the clearing, both mirror images to the young woman and demon he had encountered before. "You let the demon see you. You exposed yourself!"

"I didn't realize he was a demon until… Master Yue-Lao, please understand I…"

"I understand, that after all your training, you have yet to display any sense of diligence that a matchmaker must have to carry out his duties. Perhaps I have truly been mistaking in your abilities to be my successor."

Keitaro was at a loss for words. This was the last thing he had been expecting. "I would like to think that I did fairly well for my first assignment. I suppose you did better your first time out."

The old man recalled his time out in the field, trying his damnedest to separate Inutaisho and his human princess, Izayoi. She had died, burned to death in the fire that had consumed the estate where she lived. Hundreds, in fact, had died trying to achieve the same goal. In the end, her life was restored, returned to her by her demonic lover. He had let things get too far out of hand, only to have his hard work wasted by senseless death. If only she hadn't died, then her bond would not have been broken. But death can be so meddlesome and pointless at times. And all this happened with out Inutaisho knowing that the matchmaker was behind the scenes, pulling the strings and planting seeds of hate and doubt. "It is difficult enough to rid these matched mates of interfering demons as it is. And now that her demon knows of you, it will make your work that much more strenuous and sensitive. You must be quick to act now, because that demon will be."

A new figure appeared in the clearing, the imitation of Keitaro. He walked to the couple, clearly oblivious to the demon growling. Keitaro winced as his imitation performed the mind sweep, realizing just how lucky he was to have survived the night with out his throat being ripped out.

Yue Xia Lao Ren shook his head, history was on the verge of repeating itself. "At least he didn't interfere with mental bonding. What does her past tell you?"

"Nothing, Master." Keitaro shook his head, "she has no memories, other than the ones involving that demon of hers."

"What?"

"And I suspect…Sesshoumaru, is the same way. Albeit to a much lesser degree."

"I see."

"Perhaps since she has no memories of her destined husband, this demon is her mate?"

Yue Lao swung around, smacking his apprentice with his staff. "Never, never say that again. A demon and human," he spat, "will never be together, not as long as I have control of mortal bonding."

Keitaro rubbed the side of his face, feeling a trickle of blood run down his scalp. "O-…of course, Master Yue Lao."

The Matchmaker straightened, his eyes still ablaze with this sudden wave of fury. "This…demon is not her mate, he is still out there. The bond says they have met before, even though her memories tell nothing of the sort. You must work quickly to find him. You do not have much time left."

Keitaro's world began to fade and his head to swim. He could feel his body rising above the ground and the unseen forces consumed him. He jerked awake to find the sun shining brightly, his master's words still echoing in his ears.

"Do not fail me, or your goddess."