A/N: Surprise!

Contrary to popular belief, rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated...

Mea culpa. I'm sorry. Bedlam turned into all heck breaking loose, leading to the worst writer's block ever. Knew what I wanted to write - too dang tired most evenings to string together a coherent sentence.

Well, after many moons, we're finally going to get Sesshoumaru, Aine and Londubh off that ridge and on to other things - below is the promised conversation between the dog demon and the healer, with a hint of things to come. Might still need some editing, but I wanted to finally get this out - so here you go (thank Magnusrae for her judicial nudges...).

Speaking of editing, a couple of past chapters will be getting minor tweaks (nothing that changes to story itself). I goofed a bit on the timeline - this story takes place after the destruction of Tokijin, so any mention of Sesshoumaru's secondary blade will soon be cut from the text.

No Irish lesson this time. Sonovagun, eh? ;) There's a lot of conversation in this chapter, so hopefully it's not too dry after such a long wait. Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: The characters of the anime InuYasha are the property of Takahashi Rumiko/Shogakukan and Yomiuri TV Sunrise 2000. I do lay claim, however, to Aine and Lon. And, Kakusamaru.


Chapter Seventeen: A Matter of Honour

Sesshoumaru's decision to leave the clearing had been a matter of strategy.

The dog demon knew that it was highly unlikely Kakusamaru would risk approaching him during the day (his 'near miss' with the dokkaso the previous night would certainly have given the creature something to ponder). Despite this, however, Sesshoumaru acknowledged that Kakusamaru was still largely an unknown element and thus he had swiftly concluded that he and the lady required a suitable location for any further conversation – to wit, a location which a certain scentless, underhanded shadow-user would be afraid to approach.

And, he thought grimly, where Naraku's minion will have no opportunity to eavesdrop.

Analysing every stray breeze that now sifted toward him from the surrounding woodland, Sesshoumaru smoothly wove his way between the slim, white birches, his sharp senses leading him unerringly toward his goal.

Meanwhile, the Dé Danann woman travelling in his wake was occupied by worrying thoughts of her own.

Certainly, Aine reflected (with many a glance at the wall of white silk and fur before her), she was having ample opportunity to further ponder poor Rin's condition. Despite his expressed wish for further conversation, Sesshoumaru had not spoken from the moment they had exited the clearing. Instead, he had simply indicated that Aine should follow him and had strode ahead. Knowing from past experience that her stoic anamchara did nothing without a reason, she had ignored this seemingly abrupt behaviour and had silently complied. Still, with a very fragile Rin on her mind, and other patients awaiting her return in the village, Aine was now wondering how much longer she could hold her peace.

She allowed herself a soft sigh as she glanced skyward. Though there was still some time before the sun would reach its zenith, the temperature had risen considerably in the past hour – the day, she knew, was going to become much hotter. Although the honey and water which her very capable Londubh was now providing would do much to improve Rin's health, the weather remained as much their enemy as the black magic which had stolen the girl's soul.

The heat will cause the child's body to weaken rapidly, thought Aine. Even spells have their limit in such a situation. Unless...

She blinked as the memory suddenly rushed into her mind. It had been over forty decades since she had been taken to the Cave of the Fianna, but she could still clearly remember how, with a softly whispered Word of command, Dian Cecht had parted the glamours and wards which hid the cavern from mortal eyes and had led her into its depths. She had felt such awe and wonder when her great-grandsire – her teacher – had shown her the legendary band of armoured warriors lying still and silent in a circle, their life energies suspended by magic as they awaited a call to fight for Eire again.

And then, to her great honour, Dian Cecht had told her that she had qualified to the second highest office of healing, and that he considered her ready to learn how to cast the Spell of Stasis.

The more she thought about it, the more Aine realised just what might have to be attempted if Rin's body was to be spared further deterioration. However, the idea of performing such a spell on her own was more than daunting, and she once again felt a longing for her great-grandsire's wisdom and expertise.

And, she wondered, will Sesshoumaru even agree to doing such a thing to the child?

The lady's thoughts were interrupted when Sesshoumaru suddenly stopped. His head turned sharply to the right; then, after nodding once to the puzzled Aine, he moved off in that direction. The trees around them soon began to thin and before long they stepped out onto a broad outcropping. The mid-morning sunlight suddenly seemed even brighter as it glinted off the rock's mineral-flecked surface.

When they reached the centre of the open space, the taiyokai halted and turned to face the healer. She tilted her head slightly in enquiry as she waited for him to speak.

'I have met Naraku's spy,' said Sesshoumaru. Then, in his succinct yet thorough manner, he told Aine of how he had first come to hear of the Lake of Tears and its haunt, Taka, and of how there existed a being possessed of a life force so faint that even the dog demon could not detect him until he was very near.

'A creature of magic... with no aura of power,' said Aine softly, her tone making no secret of how disturbing she found this information. It was very likely that this spy of Naraku's would also be invisible to the healer's own innate sensitivity to magic and life energy.

'Shadows and darkness hide him further, lady,' the taiyokai then added.

Aine shivered despite the warmth of the day and reflexively crossed her arms – she was suddenly very appreciative of Sesshoumaru's chosen location for their discussion.

'I understand, Lord Sesshoumaru,' she said with a faint smile. 'And, I thank you for warning me of this Kakusamaru.'

Sesshoumaru's response was to move his hand in a slight gesture of dismissal. He had already acknowledged Lady Aine as an ally – it had simply made sense, he now told himself, to inform her of a potential enemy.

A startled look then crossed Aine's face. 'Ach, that second life-force that was tied to Rin's...' she breathed. 'I'd thought its faintness was a matter of distance, but... you believe that it was him, don't you? You think that this Kakusamaru is the one who's stolen Rin's soul!'

Sesshoumaru nodded. 'Correct.'

'Then, Lord Sesshoumaru... if the ghost – this 'Taka' – is not involved, why do you wish to confront her? Why does she still interest you?'

'Because,' said Sesshoumaru, his eyes taking on a decidedly predatory glint, 'she interests Naraku.'

'Ah.' Aine nodded in understanding. 'And, at the moment, she is also the only strand in this tangled web which may lead to your thief.'

'Rin's soul will be found,' observed the dog demon. The cold glitter in his golden eyes intensified, despite his deep voice conveying only calm assurance. 'It is a matter of honour.'

As Sesshoumaru spoke, Aine felt the briefest flicker of the soul-bond brush against her senses, and once again her own heart responded in sympathy as she felt the frustration and rage still simmering deep beneath her anamchara's coolly aloof demeanour.

Aye. So you say, mo chú... So you say, she thought sadly. You don't like dancing to another's tune, but you'll do so... for you've no other leads to follow, and there's something more precious than your honour at stake – even if you'll not admit so to yourself.

Aine found herself feeling truly frightened, and not only for little Rin. She had considerable faith in the taiyokai's strength in battle – after all, hadn't she seen him take down a hell-spawn of the Abyss? But she still could not forget how his first confrontation with that same enemy had very nearly had a different ending. The Dé Danann healer well knew that even Sesshoumaru, powerful though he was, was not invincible against the supernatural.

She also knew that there would be no advantage gained by voicing this opinion.

And rightfully so, she then acknowledged with an inward sigh. For, who am I to question one whose skills and intelligence might rival those of Fionnbharra himself? This was Sesshoumaru's battle. Aine could only trust in his judgement, and offer whatever assistance she could to ease his path.

'Well then,' she said. 'We'd best start comparing notes on this dark spectre, hadn't we?' And, with that, Aine told Sesshoumaru of how she had come to a secluded valley to investigate an illness plaguing a human village, and of what she had heard about the haunted lake.


Sesshoumaru allowed himself a moment of self-congratulation.

His decision to speak with the lady was indeed proving to be worthwhile. Although the information she had discovered about the ghost had for the most part been items overheard in passing, she had retained every detail (something which he hardly found surprising, having had prior acquaintance with the observant nature of Dé Dananns). As Sesshoumaru listened closely to her account, more pieces of Naraku's puzzle began clicking firmly into place.

Of course, Sesshoumaru also learnt that it had been more than Naraku's snakes which had drawn Inu Yasha to the valley of the Lake of Tears. Apparently, the cleric who travelled with the hanyo was entertaining the notion of trying to exorcise the spirit.

'Indeed, lady?' he said, on hearing this. 'Then, the monk would do well to curb his altruism.' And mind his own business – the wraith is my quarry.

Sesshoumaru's tone of voice was almost blasé, but the cold and unmistakeably predatory gleam which once more flickered through his eyes made it clear to Aine that Miroku would do well to heed that particular piece of advice, and she nodded in understanding.

However, any further ire the dog demon may have felt regarding this news was quickly put in abeyance, for the healer suddenly voiced an intent to return to the human village.

Sesshoumaru frowned. 'To what purpose?' he asked. Given the protectiveness the lady had shown in the past toward Rin – and, a distant part of his mind subtly prompted, to other previous patients – he was genuinely puzzled that she would be willing to leave the child.

'I believe there's more to be learnt there,' said Aine. 'And, from one man in particular,' she added, a pensive look upon her face.

Sesshoumaru immediately grasped her meaning, for in her discourse she had told him of an old human who had somehow escaped Taka. 'You believe you can glean something of use from a madman?' he asked, his tone of voice leaving no doubt of his skepticism for such a plan.

However, Aine nodded. 'I do,' she answered. 'His reason... can be restored.'

The taiyokai's watched her speculatively. 'Yet, you doubt this course of action,' he observed.

Aine shook her head. 'No, Lord Sesshoumaru,' she said. 'Not anymore, though I did... at first. The poor man's been lost for so long. But, ach, surely he deserves to spend his remaining years free of madness and... and the stakes have changed,' she added softly.

She looked up into her soul friend's golden eyes and, as he responded with the subtlest of nods, she saw that he had understood her meaning. Rin's affliction had tipped the scales.

Aine paused and took a deep breath, then continued in her usual calm manner. 'I promise, Lord Sesshoumaru... if Taro's memories of this Taka contain anything of import, I'll send word to you.'

Sesshoumaru's eyebrow rose fractionally in enquiry. 'Send word?' he asked, drily.

A sparkle of amusement appeared in Aine's eyes as she realised that he had already guessed the answer to his own question. 'I may not be able to leave the grey one right away, so I'll send Lon to you,' she answered.

The taiyokai's stoic expression shifted on hearing this – for one brief moment, he bore the look of one enduring a bad taste in his mouth. He would by far rather deal with the lady than her kitsune-like compatriot.

Aine explained further. 'Lon is a púca, mo anamchara. He belongs to a clan long acknowledged for their tracking skills. The Londubh will be able to find you anywhere in this valley, and far more swiftly travelling alone than with a passenger,' she added with a conciliatory smile.

'Hnh,' said Sesshoumaru, his eyes closing briefly. Unfortunately, he reflected, he could not truly argue with the logic in this proposal. 'Very well.'

Then, his stare once more fixed firmly upon her, he suddenly stepped nearer. Aine looked up at him in enquiry, and once again the dog demon fleetingly acknowledged a sense of approval for one who could meet his gaze so calmly.

'Lady,' said Sesshoumaru. 'How did you come to return to this land – at this time?'

Aine's eyebrows lifted slightly, the only sign of her momentary distraction by this non sequitur. 'Ach, that is a tale, mo anamchara,' she said. Her eyes flickered to the sky, taking in the position of the sun. Following her gaze, the dog demon understood.

'You wish to return to Rin,' he said.

Aine shook her head. 'I was but gauging the time,' she replied. 'The child's wee stomach needs to absorb the honeyed water gradually. Lon knows what he's about – he'll not be rushing her. So, we've a bit more time, though for now I can only give you the bare bones of the story.'

Sesshoumaru nodded. 'Agreed.'

Lightly tapping a finger against her lips, Aine paused in thought. 'So,' she said softly, 'Where best to begin for now? 'Tis true, right enough – I'd thought to be home more than mere weeks before making plans to return. However, there were signs and portents dictating otherwise.'

'Portents?' asked the taiyokai.

'Aye,'she answered. ''Twas "written in the stars", so to speak.'

Sesshoumaru's head canted marginally to the side as he fixed the healer with an enquiring stare. 'Star divination,' he said.

Aine smiled. 'Judging from your expression, I take it you're after being a bit of a skeptic when it comes to the stars' guidance?'

The healer's assumption was accurate. Despite the fact that events had caused the lady to return at most opportune time, Sesshoumaru found that Aine having allowed her choice to have been influenced by a prediction derived from the stars to be, at best, perplexing. He himself had little interest in prognostication, the Way of Supreme Conquest having long ago taught him that the only guidance on which one should rely was that which came from within.

'I had thought your people to be more... grounded,' he replied.

A soft chuckle escaped the healer on hearing this. 'I believe I'll take that as a compliment,' she said as her smile momentarily widened into a grin. 'Never fear, mo anamchara... the daoine sídhe are hardly a race of astrologers. However, there are a select few who have the gift of reading the mysteries of the night sky.' Her expression sobered again as she asked, 'Lord Sesshoumaru, do you remember what I told you of our druids?'

The dog demon answered with a curt nod. He remembered the moment with utter clarity. 'Your people's clerics – those who practice soul magic.'

Aine nodded. 'Soul magic... aye, indeed. But, the druids hold claim to many other gifts, including that of star lore. The chief druid of the sídhe of Dian Cecht – my clan's ancestral home – is such a scholar. His name is Daire.'

A note of fond affection entered her voice as she continued. 'I've known him all my life, Lord Sesshoumaru. In fact, he was once my teacher – all that I know of medicinal herbs I learnt from him. But, more importantly, he's a dear friend whom I trust as much as I do Eadoin and Lon. When Daire foretold that I should return to this land, this year... that, if I didn't, regret would ever be my companion... I believed him.'

Sesshoumaru's frown had reappeared. 'How did this cleric's advice come to be proffered?'

'As a result of my seeking his counsel on another matter. You see, during the journey home, the soul-bond... activated.'

The frown deepened. 'Explain,' said the dog demon. How, he wondered, was this possible? Given what the healer had already told him about the connection they shared, the presence of both parties was required to activate it. Certainly, he had noticed no stirrings within the bond until he and the healer had met that morning.

'It wasn't that I'd sensed anything akin to emotions, Lord Sesshoumaru,' she said then. ''Twas more of a sensation of your presence... of your life force, if you will. It first happened in the homeland of Eadoin's betrothed – now his bride,' she added with a smile. 'The elven lands of the Albenwald fairly resonate with magic; as soon as I stepped on their soil... well, it was as if you were standing there beside me, so strongly did I feel your aura of power. Then, the experience was repeated the moment I entered our sídhe, so... I sought Daire's input.'

'And?' asked an obviously intrigued taiyokai.

'And... he'd no clear explanation for me, other than the bond being enhanced somehow by the magic within the sídhe. Though, I can hardly find fault with him, since ours is the first bond he's ever examined which involved a non-Dé Danann.' Once more, healer's green eyes showed a hint of amusement. 'Ach, poor Daire... though he tried well to hide it, I could see he was most startled when he felt your power signature – "singular", he was after calling it. He told me then that he could only conclude that our bond is unique and that whatever mysteries it holds... we ourselves shall have to uncover them.'

Sesshoumaru's expression was once more inscrutable, although the lady had no doubt he was giving this information much consideration.

'Hnh,' he said then. 'So, in the end, the Dé Danann cleric had little to offer.'

'Ah, no,' she said, shaking her head. 'You see, that was the crux of the matter, Lord Sesshoumaru. Because the imprint of your life force presented Daire with so many unknowns, he sought guidance from the stars... and thus it was I learnt that my journeying was to resume.'

Aine's gaze momentarily became distant as she recalled the extensive discussions which had taken place within the throne room of Cnoc Meadha on her behalf.

'My clan's leader, my great-grandsire, was himself not best pleased at my choice to leave again,' she explained, 'but even he took less persuasion on the matter than did the High King, who is very protective of his people. Without the insistence of Eadoin and Daire, both of whom Fionnbharra holds in great respect, I doubt I'd have been permitted to undertake such a long voyage again so soon.'

A gust of wind crossed the outcropping then, causing the healer's still unbound hair to waft before her face. It seemed to signal the end of her tale – with a slight toss of her head she captured the wayward locks and began to re-plait them into a semblance of order. 'And so,' she said, 'here I am.'

Sesshoumaru nodded. 'Indeed,' he said, his eyes intently following her fingers' motion. Then, he raised his hand and reached beneath the collar of his haori.

'I have that which you entrusted to me,' said the dog demon, as he grasped the coiled length of ribbon resting securely within the silken folds of his jacket. However, before he could withdraw it, Aine stepped forward and, letting her loose coppery braid fall, laid her hand upon his arm.

'Stay,' she murmured softly. 'Not yet.'

Sesshoumaru paused, a slight furrow again appearing on his brow. 'You don't wish its return?'

'Of course I do, Lord Sesshoumaru,' she said, as she gently squeezed his wrist. 'You've honoured me greatly by safeguarding it. But, the return of such a token is as special an occasion as when 'tis first given – and so, shouldn't be tainted by dark events. And, truly,' she added sadly, 'Haven't we become thoroughly entangled in darkness this day?'

Releasing his wrist, she then lightly slid her hand over the silk of his kimono, her fingers following the outline of his own through the fabric until they halted directly over the token nestled against the left side of his chest. 'This ribbon was woven within my clan's sídhe,' she said. 'The fabric is Dé Danann; the thread embroidered upon it was spun from the gold of Eire. Perhaps... it will bring you luck this night.'

Topaz eyes looked into green unblinkingly. 'I, Sesshoumaru, have never relied upon luck, lady,' answered the dog demon.

She nodded. 'Still, keep it with you yet a while longer, mo anamchara. Wait until after your battle. And then,' she murmured, her soft smile returning, 'and then, I may acknowledge its return properly.'

'More Dé Danann ceremony, lady?' he asked, an eyebrow again subtly rising. Nevertheless, his hand was empty as he withdrew it from his jacket.

'Indeed,' she answered. 'It is, as you would say, a matter of honour.' The healer's fingers lightly smoothed the edge of his collar, then she stepped back; again her attention was drawn toward the bright morning sky.

'Lon will soon complete his task,' she said. 'But, Lord Sesshoumaru, you must understand... this respite we've gained Rin will be but temporary. The child's life will begin to wither again quickly in this heat, and she'll need more than honey and water to sustain her. And then,' she added softly, 'there's also that foul parasite within her... the sleep compulsion I cast will not last indefinitely.'

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in contemplation as he immediately realised the validity the healer's concerns. If the demon worm awoke and vacated Rin, the last of her life energies would also vanish. But, he also knew that there was yet another possibility to consider.

'Your magic has made the demon worm dormant, lady, but it will not prevent it from leaving,' said Sesshoumaru. Forestalling the question he knew she would ask, he curtly explained the puzzle of the absent worm-charmer. No matter who had originally controlled the worm – whether it had been Kakusamaru or another as yet unknown player in Naraku's devious game – the individual who controlled the worm-charmer's jar had the ability to recall its servant at will.

Sesshoumaru had expected Aine to show concern on hearing this information; he had not anticipated hearing a soft moan of distress from the normally calm and collected Dé Danann healer. 'Lady?' he asked.

Aine sighed. Then, as she once again met his questioning stare, the taiyokai saw that her expression held both resolve and... trepidation.

'Lord Sesshoumaru,' she said. 'There's a spell – an ancient magic – which would preserve Rin's body from death, no matter if the parasite departs. Given the stress the summer heat places upon her, I was prepared to propose this course to you if matters weren't resolved by day's end, but now... now 'twould seem there's little choice.'

The dog demon's eyes again narrowed ever so slightly. The magic she was suggesting sounded similar to a placing someone under seal, though he suspected that the premise of her spell was very different. As Sesshoumaru well knew, the primary reason for a seal was imprisonment, not preservation. 'So, you are suggesting a state of... stasis. Yet, you are wary,' he observed.

Aine nodded. 'So I am. I was taught the spell... but, I've never cast it. Ach, Danu, sure and I've never had cause to do so. But if that... that thing could leave Rin's body at any moment...' Once again, the healer reached out to the dog demon and lightly rested her hand upon his arm. 'Please,' she said, 'let us return. I'll explain all before proceeding, I promise.'

The dog demon gave her a measuring look, then nodded. 'Agreed.'

'Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru,' replied a relieved Aine, who had not been certain of the taiyokai's consent until then. As they made their way off the escarpment, she added, 'And, rest assured that if the spy does approach yon clearing, he'll have no opportunity to practise his craft.'

'Indeed, lady?' queried the dog demon.

'Aye,' said Aine, a hint of a smile on her lips. 'Remember, mo anamchara... my blackbird is a master of glamours and warding. Unlike your man Kakusamaru, the Londubh of the Púca Clan doesn't need shadows to fool the senses – he can do so in broad daylight.'

'Hnh,' said the taiyokai. 'And, he will obey you?'

She shot him a startled look, then she did smile. 'Obey? Ah no, Lord Sesshoumaru. Lon is not my retainer. He does as he pleases – but I've no doubt he'll be more than willing to thwart Naraku's spy.'


And, indeed, Aine was right – her púca friend needed little persuasion to cast protection about the clearing. The walls of 'nothing there' appeared instantly with a gesture of his hand and some swiftly uttered Words.

He did, however, need considerable persuasion to agree to the rest of her plan.

Lon listened to Aine's proposal to place Rin under stasis... for all of thirty seconds. Then, his eyes flashed blue fire and he turned to Sesshoumaru, firing off a rapid stream of words in his own language.

Sesshoumaru said nothing. His eyes narrowed, however, for he had noted the shape-shifter's tone of voice. It was one he had not heard directed at him since his sire had been alive.

Jaken took one look at his lord's face and almost swooned. Then, he surreptitiously slid behind Ah-Un.

Aine, meanwhile, swiftly stepped toward Londubh, shooting a quick apologetic glance at Sesshoumaru in passing (whilst praying that the dog demon held check on his formidable temper). She was thankful beyond words that only she had understood the púca. 'Ye daft dog, do you not realise what risk you place on her?' was the mildest thing he had said.

''Twas my suggestion, Lon,' she said quickly, as she placed a hand on the púca's shoulder. 'Dian Cecht himself taught me the spell.'

'Aine,' he answered, his eyes and his voice conveying the depth of his worry. 'I know this magic... I remember. Dian Cecht took to his bed for two days after it was cast.'

'Use the language of this land, mo londubh,' she chided gently, throwing the by now glacial-looking taiyokai another subtle glance as she gripped the older Dé Danann's shoulder. 'It will be all right, Lon. I can do it... to not do it will place the child's body at great risk. The creature within her could be recalled to it's master at any time.'

'There is a problem, Lady?' interrupted Sesshoumaru.

Lon answered. 'So there is, your lordship! The problem is, is that such magic is bloody draining. The spell will weaken Aine. As you might imagine, that's not the best option with murderous shadows and ghosts leppin' about.'

'Rin is only a wee child, Lon,' came Aine's quick response, her face now showing some exasperation as she tried to put her old friend at ease. ''Tis not the same as it was for the Fianna.'

'Fianna?' asked the dog demon.

Aine turned to him. Lon has tensed under her grip, but his posture told her that he was holding his peace. For now.

'Another long tale, Lord Sesshoumaru,' she said. 'Londubh speaks of another time the spell was cast – 'twas used on an elite band of warriors. Strong, powerful men all, in the peak of health and with their souls intact. It took two Dé Dananns and a half-dozen mortal druids to complete the enchantment.' She turned again to Lon. 'This is not the same, dear one,' she said again. 'A child, Lon... a child with no soul and her life barely clinging to this earth... the Stasis may be the only thing to hold her until Lord Sesshoumaru can retrieve her essence...'

Lon sighed, his shoulders slumped with capitulation. 'Why should I bother objecting – you've already decided, so you have.' He straightened then, and looked at the dog demon. 'Well? She'll need an anchor, and you hold more power than me, so. I'm guessing that means you're elected, your lordship.'

'Anchor?' asked Sesshoumaru, ignoring the shape-shifter (rather than flattening him like a bug) and focussing on Aine.

'Aye,' the healer answered. 'The magic used for this spell can be wild; another source of power must be linked to the caster to help channel it. Also, to break the spell, there must be a call –a summons, if you will.' As she spoke, she moved to where Rin was lying on the ground. She now knelt down and gently placed the little girl's head in her lap, cradling it with her left hand. 'For the Fianna, the recall was placed on a hunting horn,' she said contemplatively, as she softly brushed the child's cheeks with her fingers. 'But for this wee body... we'll need only a voice.'

Aine then held out her right hand to the intently watching Sesshoumaru. 'Do you not think, Lord Sesshoumaru, that I should set the recall to both of us, so that either of us can wake her? 'Twill be easily done since, if you act as my anchor, our auras of power will be joined.'

Jaken blinked in disbelief from beside Ah-Un. Lord Sesshoumaru, allow his jaki to merge with another? Never going to happen, thought the kappa. Then, he paused and watched his master speculatively. Then again, the way this day had been going... and, of course he does.

A now resigned Jaken could only watch, fascinated, as Sesshoumaru stepped forward and smoothly lowered himself to one knee beside Rin's body, facing the healer.

'Agreed,' he said. 'Begin, lady.'

Aine nodded. 'Please, give me your hand.' Then, sending a reassuring smile to the worried puca behind her, the healer bowed her head and began to recite words in her own language.

Londubh shook his head, then threw every once of his concentration into the glamour surrounding the clearing, bracing it against the waves of Power rising from the pair bent over the human child. He barely cast a glance at the two other yokai present, though he could hear the dragon heads' nervous snorts. The little green toad was, remarkably, silent.

Outside the glamour, birds sang undisturbed and a warm summer wind soughed through the branches of the surrounding birches.


Obviously, thought Kakusamaru, the younger dog is but a pale copy of the elder.

The shadow user was feeling quite smug. He had managed to trail InuYasha to the upper reaches of the valley without being detected by him or the firecat. Now he stood, gloating, within the shadows of one of the many entrances to the snake demons' tunnels, watching as an increasingly frustrated hanyo scoured the nearby slopes, turning this way and that as he scented the air and glancing upward periodically to track the progress of the demon-slayer and her feline mount.

Before reaching the caves, Kakusamaru had been intercepted by one of Naraku's saimyosho. Thus, on reaching the upper end of the valley, he veered from his course and made for that same tunnel from which he had departed on the previous evening. There, as expected, he met Kanna. She now stood calmly beside him, also watching their adversaries as they searched the slopes.

It was obvious to both that InuYasha was discovering that the area was saturated with the snake demons' scent; even though Naraku's scent was incorporated with their own, it was just as evenly distributed.

Except here, in this tunnel, the blue-skinned incarnation suddenly realised. The tunnel in which he stood was the one which had been most used by Naraku himself. Of course, he mused, it had been months since Naraku had interacted with Taka, and he and Kanna were virtually undetectable, so their location shouldn't be too obvious.

Then, Kakusamaru growled slightly – he had relaxed too soon, he realised. The hanyo and the demon-slayer had paused for a brief conversation (argument), then the pattern of their movements had changed. It soon became apparent to both of Naraku's servants that their adversaries' search had become methodical.

The blue-skinned demon shot a worried glance at the diminutive female beside him.

'They are no longer relying upon scent alone, Kanna. A systematic search will eventually bring them here. Shouldn't we move deeper into the tunnel?'

'No need.'

The comment, spoken in a self-assured tone, came from behind the pair. Kakusamaru hissed and turned sharply – only Kanna's calm, unperturbed presence kept him from instinctively vanishing into the shadows of the cave. The small female remained still; not even her eyes moved as she addressed the newcomer.

'Byakuya,' she said.

The being who emerged from the depths of the cave bore a face which was almost a mirror image of Kakusamaru's own features. However, whereas the shadow yokai was pale blue with white hair, this incarnation (for surely, he must be another of Naraku's servants) had the flesh tones and hair colouring of a human and his clothing – the kimono of a samurai, complete with sword – seemed outlandishly refined within the drab and dank interior of the cave.

As the new male canted his head sideways to look at him, Kakusamaru found himself comparing the stranger to a colourful bird. Then, Byakuya smirked at him... and Kakusamaru decided that he did not like birds.

'The intruders will not notice this cave,' said Byakuya. 'No one can see through my illusions.' Sighing dramatically, he lifted his hand in a languid wave. 'As far as the hanyo and his companions are concerned, this is merely a solid, craggy outcropping. They will see nothing here that could imply a hidden snake den, hmm?'

Kakusamaru threw him a sullen look. 'I hardly needed assistance to evade detection by those bunglers.' he ground out. Tossing his head proudly, he added, 'I tracked them the entire length of the valley without being detected!'

Byakuya smirked again as he lifted one elegant eyebrow. 'Good for you,' he said, in a manner that was obviously intended to be patronising. Turning to Kanna, he briefly nodded his head in greeting.

'Kanna,' he said. Then, looking at the darkened mirror the small female held, he frowned. 'How curious,' he said. 'You seem... diminished, somehow, without your mirror.'

Byakuya paused for a moment, but when Kanna made no response (not that he had expected one) he turned back to Naraku's newest incarnation. 'Don't worry, shadow-man,' he said. 'I have duties elsewhere and must move along. I've merely dropped by to give you this.' Saying this, he held out his hand, palm up, to reveal an origami bird.

For a moment, Kakusamaru did not move. Then, realising that defying this Byakuya might be construed as defying Naraku, he reached out to take the paper ornament.

Suddenly, the bird's wings fluttered. In the blink of an eye, it landed on the mirror in Kakusamaru's palm and sank into the reflective surface. Immediately, the shadow-user felt a pulse of demonic energy meld with his own jaki.

Kakusamaru threw Byakuya a questioning look. The latter shrugged his shoulders.

'Did you not wonder how Naraku would create the darkness needed for tonight's deeds?' he asked. 'Your task is simple: release the bird on the lakeshore after the sun sets – it will do the rest.' Grinning, he gestured to the front of cave mouth. 'As I said, my illusions are most effective.'

Kakusamaru turn his head to see InuYasha and his companions standing just outside the cave entrance. They were looking directly into the tunnel, then they turned away. Then, InuYasha paused and looked over his shoulder.

The blue-skinned incarnation tensed when the hanyo sniffed the air and frowned. Then, InuYasha turned away and leapt down the brush-covered slope.

'It would seem they've decided to return to the village,' commented Byakuya.

'Hmm,' said Kakusamaru. He turned again to the newcomer. 'The half-demon is persistent,' he said. 'What if he turns up at the lake tonight? What then?'

'He won't,' answered Byakuya.

'And you are so certain because...?' came Kakusamaru's retort, his tone just short of sarcasm.

Byakuya shrugged. 'Ah. A distraction has already been planned for InuYasha,' he replied. He smiled tauntingly at the other male. 'It won't be difficult to do and you'll still be able to carry out the final task in time.'

Kakusamaru planted a smirk of his own on his face. 'The hanyo doesn't look like the sort to be easily distracted,' he said. Inwardly, however, he was worried. Would he be asked to reveal himself, he wondered? He certainly did not relish being cast in the role of decoy.

To the shadow-user's surprise, Byakuya chuckled. 'Oh, the distraction will work, never fear,' he said. Then, he turned and gestured toward the tunnels. In the distance, the sibilant hissing of scales grating over stone could be heard.

'You see, Kakusamaru,' he explained, 'unlike Sesshoumaru, InuYasha will actually give a damn about the destruction of a village full of humans.'


A/N: And, there you go. Next: back to the village and its inhabitants. Remember Taro?