Disclaimers: None of the characters except those i made up belong to me.

Author's Note: Hey people sorry for taking such a long time to update, I hope this chapter is good too, please review!

Warnings

"Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord Kobaru caretaker of the Southern Lands came by, he passed this message to be given to you." one of the many servants in Sesshoumaru's castle said, bowing low down to her lord, putting a piece of paper under his nose. Sesshoumaru looked at the servant and nodded an almost invisible nod, took the note and swept past without a word.

Sesshoumaru, walked down the hallway, feeling very irritated, in fact, Sesshoumaru, the Lord of the Western Lands was furious, why did people always want to interfere with him? Even if Rin was killed someday, he would not be weakened. He was after all only her guardian. He would either revive her or kill her killer, then he would go back to his own life. After all, it was his responsibility as an adoptive father to her. He had been looking after her for close to a decade!

How long would it take for people to start to give up on the idea of weakening him through Rin? He was never weak! Now he had to go and meet Kobaru at the dancing halls, not that he disliked going there, but the incompetence of his underlings was something he could not tolerate. Yet, Kobaru was an efficient and wise demon, he would not disturb his Lord's peace unless it was of grave importance, might be he would wait and go and see what Kobaru wants before passing his judgement about Kobaru's incompetence.

Might be Kobaru would give him a valid reason as to why he asked to meet at the dancer halls, about threats to Rin's well being.

Riyo's pov

I am a dancer; I just dance at the dancing halls near the castle Lord Sesshoumaru stays in. The job of a dancer is not very hard, and the pay is quite okay, we also have a place to stay there, not that we must stay there, but since it's free, it's better than renting a room outside.

I have a much diluted blood of a sorceress and demon, and was the descendent from the people of the undergrounds of the Western Lands, some even suspected that I might be a faraway descendent of the Lady of the Western undergrounds, as I have the same markings as the Lady, only much faded. My guess of my age is about four hundred years old, but it is not accurate, and I look at about eighteen years old of a human. That is my full knowledge of myself, and if you asked me more, I would not know myself.

I lost my memory a few hundred years ago, the first thing I could remember about my life was waking up in a pile of snow, wearing a dancer's dress, thinking that I was a dancer from the nearer areas, I went to the nearest city, the capital of the Western Lands, and went to the dancing halls there, however, they said that there did not know me, but I could have a job as a dancer there if I wanted. I took up the job, and surprisingly, people, humans and demons alike all said that I danced very well. I have been staying there since.

Flashback

"Where am I? Who am I?" I walked around the clearings, I could few the strong demonic aura around, and knew that I had to leave soon, but where do I leave to? I looked down and saw my clothing, a black colour halter dress, the material of that of a dancer dress, might be I was a dancer…

I walked around, looking for the nearest city, walking and walking, a toad-like demon came into sigh, I asked him, "Do you know where the nearest city with a dancing hall is?" The toad demon stared at me like I was dirt, looking me up and down.

"How would you not know, the nearest city is to the west, where the Great Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord of all lands, Glory of the Morning, Lord of the Lights live. You ignorant country bum, not knowing where the great, wonderful, marvellous……" I bowed and left him to his mutterings about his Lord and walked off, so, I was in the Western Lands, no wonder there was this strong demonic aura, it must be The Lords one.

I walked west until I reached the city, I looked around, and finally found the dancing halls, I stared at it, it did not seem familiar at all, was I at the right place?

"Are you alright? You seem a bit lost, do you need any help?" A dancer came forward to ask me, I stared at her helplessly…

"It's alright, you can stay here and get a job here, it is a good pay and you would be well looked after." She said again. I stared at her, still trying to recall my past, but tried as I could, I couldn't, so I stayed there.

Flashback over

Although I do have some sorceress and demon blood, it is too diluted, hence I was as good as a human with a long life.

Besides working as a dancer, two hundred years ago, I took up an apprenticeship as a healer, and did quite well in it, having quite a bit of potential in that area, now I have become a full master in that area, and am a well known healer of the commoners, although I rarely used my skill. I am not a healer to earn money, it was just an interest that I had.

"Riyo, there is another performance coming up in ten minutes, be ready, they say that a Lord of great importance would be here, dance well and we might earn more money tonight." One of the dancers came in and said, interrupting my thoughts. (AN: They earn money like this, there is an entrance fee of ten dollars, and then the audience can give any extra amount of tip to any dancer that he founds danced well, 10 of the tip would be given to the owner of the dancer hall and the rest would be kept by the dancers. they also have a fixed amount of money given to them every month.)

Normal pov

Sesshoumaru walked into the dancing halls, pass the main entrance, with a majestic light, and wonderful paintings on the wall into the theatre. The theatre had two levels, the bottom for the commoners, the top were mainly for the Lords, but there were commoners there as well. There was also a higher level with only four to five seats, usually retained for important people, great lords, or people of great prestige. The stage was very big, with red curtains hanging at the side, and the whole place was very grand. Sesshoumaru of course went to the highest level, where Kobaru was already waiting.

When Sesshoumaru stepped in, he could feel a very strange demonic aura coming from the theatre. It was a kind of aura that was very familiar, yet he could not put his hands on it. When he stepped up to the highest level, Kobaru stood up and paid his respects to his lord.

Sesshoumaru nodded his head and they both sat down, Sesshoumaru first then Kobaru.

"What is all the fuss about? It had better be good, or I would have no choice but to eliminate you," Sesshoumaru said, looking at Kobaru. Kobaru was the closet one would come to call as Sesshoumaru's friend.

Kobaru looked down, and then looked straight into Sesshoumaru's eyes and said, "My lord, there is trouble, remember a few years back my son Kiso reported a threat of a demon uprising in the Northern lands?"

Sesshoumaru stared at Kobaru, irritated and puzzled, and said, "I know that, I sent your son to go and eliminate him, and all went smoothly, now stop beating around the bush, you did not call me here to reminisce the pass, what is wrong?"

"Well, my lord, in the pass few weeks, reports have been that this demon has been spotted around the Western Lands, and we believe he has been revived. It's said that he was very displeased with you, and wants to take revenge; however, he has not much power yet. He has this fatal poison that has no antidote, and he plans to give it to Rin, as a warning to you. Rin would be incurable if she drank it. There used to be a cure for this when the Western undergrounds were still intact, but now……" Kobaru said.

"Well, now lets see what this demon can do, Kiso managed to destroy this demon before, send him to do it again, and investigate on who was the one who revived this demon, I want that demon. If that demon comes after Rin, he would have to get through me, step up the security in the city as well as the castle." Sesshoumaru ordered.

"Yes my lord," Kobaru knelt down to receive his instructions. Then they both stayed for the performance.

The song came on and the stage curtains opened, it was smoky. When the smoke cleared, in the middle of the stage was Riyo, one of the best well known dancers all over the lands. She started to dance, and you could see the people starting to pay attention.

Sesshoumaru stared at her, he had only seen her dance one other time, and he had to admit that she was a good dancer. Her movements went with the music, and she looked as though she was drowning in the music, and nothing would stop her. He had also heard of her, she had come here a few hundred years ago, and that was the extent of his knowledge.

Riyo's pov

I came on stage and started to dance. The smoke started to clear and I danced gracefully, hearing the music. I danced and danced and danced, drunken in to the music. Soon, it was over, and I looked up to give my curtsy. My eyes swept pass the audience below and those on the second floor, I noticed people on the highest floor and was rather surprised, that place was usually empty, and was her favourite place to go to when there was no one about.

I looked closer and saw a flaxen hair coloured fox demon, beside him, I saw a silver hair demon, He turned towards my direction and I stared at him, looking into the amber eyes, I dimly heard some voices, but before I could register anything, there was blackness.

"Riyo, Riyo, are you alright?" I heard the same voice I heard a few hundred years ago.

I opened my eyes and smiled, "Maki, I'm alright, what happened?"

"You don't remember? You fainted on stage, what happened, luckily the audience thought that it was part of the show, or we would have chaos!" Maki said. Maki was the owner of the dancing halls, she was a dancer too. She was my only friend that I ever knew.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong, I must be too tired," I said, smiling at her. I knew I was forgetting something, but shrugged it off. I smiled at Maki, and reassured her that I was alright.

I suddenly had a bad feeling that something bad was going to happen, and I would get involved, however, I just put it off as a superstition.

Sesshoumaru's pov

The dance ended and the Riyo looked up, as she stared in my direction, I could suddenly feel confusion radiating from her, then, she fainted. The humans below thought it was part of the show, and cheered wildly as the curtains closed, however, I knew that she fainted.

I shrugged it off, it was none of my business, I reminded Kobaru of his task and went back to the castle.

"Lord Sesshoumaru! You are back!" I heard Rin's excited screams the moment I stepped into the castle. She immediately started talking about how Kiso came and visited her and her day, before asking me about mine, I just said it was fine, asked her to be careful this few days. She smiled happily at me and I walked off.

I was rather proud of Rin, she grew up worthy to be his daughter, and would help him with his household matters. She could be taken out to be seen by others without being a disgrace even though she is only a human.

All this only made me angrier that some stupid demons was going to try and kill my daughter. What was their problem! I would make sure that that demon would not succeed.