A/N I do not own Inuyasha.

I would like to show you two artworks regarding this fanfic.

Both of them were created by my fiancée.

The first one illustrates a scene from this chapter, Yuutsuki sitting on a porch.

It´s as well the cover of the fanfic. The link : deviantart . com /#/d4s4kfd

The second one shows Oka, or more like how I imagine her to be.

The link : deviantart . com /#/d4s4l10

Just erase the spaces.

Chapter 8

The morning was serene, with a sunrise of warm purple mixed with rose. The wild birds flew down close to the trees, making swift, blue shadows on the ground.

Involuntarily it reminded him about Yuutsuki's belief of new, rising opportunities. Aberrant, how a human's words had deeply been engraved in his mind. The dog demon was rapidly heading towards the small village, allowing his eyes to witness the beauty of the morning landscape.

Only Rin had succeeded to baffle him to that point, nonetheless the variance was that Rin had done so due to her infantile inquisitiveness and Yuutsuki's beliefs were an attempt of expressing a great relish of every day. Sesshoumaru had seen more than hundreds of thousands of dawns, but it was the first time he had actually valued it, all because of a human.

Yuutsuki stretched her back, enjoying the first rays of the autumn sun while eating delicious fruits that were brought by the village people.

"Thank you for the food, Miroku." The girl smiled and bowed politely, letting her massive curls cover her face.

"No problem, really. Eat plenty, your body needs to recover." She was given a concerned look.

"I am already fine. Tenseiga works miracles. More importantly, I am leaving shortly, but I intend to return after the training. Will you remain in the village?"

"Yea…" Inuyasha scratched his head. "We will sleep here."

"There are more demons to be exterminated around here. Since we get free food and a warm place to sleep and moreover money…" The monks shrugged his shoulders and smirked slightly.

Inuyasha became tense and turned abruptly, sniffing the air.

"Sesshoumaru is coming."

She felt it as well, however in her case his overwhelming presence hadn't caused any unpleasant feelings. Yuutsuki smiled again.

"So… I will be on my way."

"Good luck!" Miroku waved goodbye, Inuyasha said nothing, probably still dense about the fight between Sesshoumaru and him.

The girl sensed that he had stopped, apparently awaiting her. She rushed towards his location, feeling weirdly amused. The good mood improved when her glance met the golden eyes. His garment was different, more official, a black kimono with his red, royal crest placed on the left shoulder and the silver hair was pulled away from the face and secured with a tight tie, leaving the fringe partly covering his forehead. Yuutsuki took out Tenseiga, still drawn by his gaze.

"Thank you." She handed it away, grinning gleefully. She had been urging to see him. The fact was settling around slowly with denial. Sesshoumaru gently took the sword out of the girl's hands, directing his eyes over Yuutsuki's shoulders.

"Come out woman."

Yuutsuki looked behind and she spotted no one else but Oka coming forward.

"Who are you?" The demon's tone was demanding, he made a step towards Oka, as if shielding Yuutsuki from a menace.

"Sesshoumaru-sama…My name is Ren Oka." Her voice was boiling with a sudden flurry of excitement.

"I have no business with Rens anymore. Yuutsuki, we are leaving."

"My lord, please…" Oka graciously dropped to her knees, placed hands on the ground, creating a triangle. Then she bent forward, touching the hands with her forehead.

"The head of my family sent me to you. We are afraid that you have abandoned your promise. There are tongues spreading rumours… That you wanted to avoid your family's oath and brought this girl posing as a fake Ren…"

"None of this is truthful!" Yuutsuki interrupted her. "The head saw the evidence of my identity!"

"For the sake of our union the head demands her to hand the ring and the sword to my hands and that you my lord will accept me as the one to carry out the promise. Please make me your mate! I was born to serve you!"

Sesshoumaru frowned at Oka's words and his eyes darkened.

"Imprudent. Your family had long lost privileges of the alliance. The ring disappeared, so did the union."

"So why is she with you, my lord?" The high voice cried loudly, complaining with a sudden surge of bitterness.

"Ren Yuutsuki is the only one still bounded by the alliance, for she is the ring's wielder." His ferocious glare raked Oka. "Yuutsuki." This time his tone was indifferent, but she understood effortlessly. The girl touched his shoulder and before long they were in the same place as the previous day.

Ryou had already been there, waiting with his arms crossed. His raven hair was waving in the wind, alternately hiding and exposing a disturbing smirk on the ghastly face. Yuutsuki lowered her head, politely greeting him, and shortly after Sesshoumaru spoke:

"Two hours." Then he disappeared, leaving the insecure girl with her new mentor.

Regardless the form of Ryou's training, enduring it was essential. She had already been mentally prepared for pushing her body to, or maybe even beyond the limits.

"Rather surprising that you are here." Ryou beckoned her to follow.

"Weren't you the one demanding me to come?" He was leading to a swampy area, filled with mud and fallen leaves.

"I tried to make sure that you wouldn't appear. How did you recover so fast?" Yuutsuki observed the demon's hair reflecting rays of the morning sun.

"You are not the type I would confide in."

"Fair enough."

She became absorbed in her own cogitations. Allegedly the Rens didn't give her any credence, in their eyes she wasn't suitable for the role, yet Oka had been given an acknowledgement of such worthiness. Conversely, Oka didn't appear like a reliable person, apt to protect anything. Maybe there was a veiled motive behind her behaviour and actions, still too indistinguishable to comprehend.

They walked in silence, Ryou stopped only after ten minutes. The weather was favourable, being neither rainy nor sunny, with a neutral temperature. Yuutsuki had a hard time finding support for her feet, for the ground was covered with mud, making it extremely slippery.

"We will fight here." That was what the girl feared.

"The grounding works in my disadvantage. Are you broadening the gap between us on purpose? Why would…" Yuutsuki's eyes widened, he was already attacking, his right hand reaching straight for her throat. There was no time to draw the sword, so she dodged it, losing her footing on the slippery mud. She fell, but recomposed her posture just afterwards.

"Advice number one. Be always prepared for an attack." He laughed impertinently.

Yuutsuki drew her sword, trying to calm down her breath. Courtesy of Sesshoumaru, her body had recovered from damages, slightly adapting her to disregard the hazards of injuries. However this time she only sought support of her own capabilities and skills.

Taking him by force was not obtainable. Granted, the girl's strengths were unimaginably matchless to Ryou's, nevertheless the sword could twist the adverse fate. If the unthinkable happened, she would stand a chance.

"I thought that the training's objective is gaining control over the sword."

Suddenly she felt a strong punch in her stomach. Yuutsuki knelt, coughing continuously. The demon abruptly pulled her to the back by her hair, causing a gnawing pain.

"Advice number 2. Either Tie or cut your hair. It's an easy target." Seeing the girl's vicious look, he added:

"If you encounter Naraku, he won't be so gentle."

Ryou spat on the ground and grabbed her wrist violently.

"Now behold how useless you are." He suddenly snatched Yuutsuki's ring out of her finger. Already squeezing it tightly, he brought himself just few centimetres away from her face and bawled:

"You were to protect it with your LIFE!" Yuutsuki saw his hand lifting, knowing he was about to slap her cheek. Yet she didn't even close her eyes, unwillingly admitting her failure.

Ryou turned, and slowly walked away, but there was still a chance. The sword had been the source of the mysterious power, the ring just sheltered her from the aftermath. Unknown risks could be the result of what she had decided to do, but she didn't fret.

Yuutsuki looked at the blade, grabbing it tightly she whispered:

"Please, help me…"

The feeling came rapidly, however not gently and warmly, like when she had wielded the ring. There was a fire burning through her veins, as if trying to destroy the body from inside. The girl's vision became foggy, almost as if possessed she lost control over her body. Within a second she was about to pierce the demon through his back, but Ryou was fast enough to avoid the critical hit, although the sword had reached him anyway, leaving a deep, vast wound. The blow had felled him to the ground, probably leaving him unconscious. The burning sensation stopped only when she retrieved the ring, nonetheless her body had suffered some damage already. Mere breathing caused her pain, weakened and on her knees she was wondering what really had happened to her. When the girl's eyes focused on Ryou, her heart stopped beating for a second. His body was lying in a puddle of dense, red blood mixed with dirt, giving off the hard metallic smell of iron. She tried to sit up, urging to aid him, but a wave of wooziness and nausea prevented it. Finally she returned to her full height, as though her bones were made out of iron and her joints stained with rust, she moved toward Ryou, enduring the unimaginable ache in her body.

A feeling of relief, but as well fear came over her, when the demon slowly moved, coughing repeatedly. To her disbelief, it didn't take him long to rise up, he even had a bold smile on.

"Despite your obvious disadvantages, you appear to have managed well enough so far."

The smirk disappeared from his face when the girl tripped and fell on her knees, laughing.

"Of course… You are a demon… Of course you wouldn't die…I'm glad…"

Not her words, but a big, black area rapidly forming on her chest had disquieted him. As far as he could estimate, she had absorbed too much of demon energy, thus she needed to be purified immediately, otherwise the energy would slowly devour her body, making her heart stop in the end.

"You better not move." He commanded, as he placed his muscular arm on her back, supporting her from falling. Yuutsuki's shiny wisps of hair were swaying, for she had been breathing heavily, barely able to keep herself conscious. The pain was spreading across her chest, her lounges felt clogged, permitting her to take less and less air in every time she took a breath.

"I see… It wasn't supposed to happen." She gasped, looking at him through lowered eyelashes.

"You need a priestess. Do you know of any?" His tone was impatient, almost panicky.

"In the village… Kagome…She's with the half-demon Inuyasha…" The girl stopped, slowly losing her awareness.

Like through a fog, she remembered being carried on the demon's arms, who was desperately running through the silent forest.

Kagome held her breath for a second, when she sensed a demon approaching the village.

"Inuyasha… A strong demon is nearby…"

"Yea… I smell Yuutsuki too…"

Sango asked curiously:

"Is it Sesshoumaru?"

Kagome shook her head in denial. It was indeed strong, but Sesshoumaru's power was incomparably greater.

"It feels different."

The four friends stepped outside the hut. Just afterwards they heard a loud scream coming from the centre of the village:

"Priestess Kagome!"

"Here!" To everyone's surprise Kagome answered.

In a second they saw Yuutsuki in the arms of a tall, pale demon. His scared eyes were scanning the women's faces.

He placed the girl on the ground and his shaky voice could be heard:

"She needs to be purified. Priestess, can you perform it?"

Kneeling over Yuutsuki's body Kagome slightly uncovered her clothing, sensing demon energy coming from her chest. The damage was horrid, it was slowly devouring Yuutsuki from the inside. She was unconscious, her face wet from sweat and tears. Not waiting long, Kagome started to use her powers, with all her might trying to save her friend. She placed her hands over Yuutsuki's chest, producing a warm, soft glow of pure energy.

"What happened? Who are you anyway?" Inuyasha spoke to Ryou, who didn't answered, starring at the unconscious girl in fear.

Miroku placed a paper sutra on Yuutsuki and started to pray, a light blue stream of light embraced her body.

"Kagome…" Sango said quietly. "Will she make it?"

"I do not know yet… What has caused this?" Kagome directed her attention to Ryou.

"Priestess, will she live?" The demon avoided answering.

Sango swept the curls from Yuutsuki's face, wondering what had happened to the girl. Suddenly she opened her eyes, screaming out of pain. Sango and Inuyasha had to restrain the movements of her limbs, otherwise Kagome couldn't safely use the purifying powers.

Miroku spoke calmly:

"She will suffer a bit, but she might live. Let us purify her, we will do as much as we can. The rest is up to her vitality."

Sesshoumaru absentmindedly looked at the cloudy sky, the wind was picking up. His business had finished earlier than expected for his mother had merely provided him with valuable information about Naraku. There were rumours about his reincarnation hidden deep in the mountains. Apparently destroying it would weaken Naraku significantly, furthermore, there were chances of retrieving shards of the jewel. Sesshoumaru had wanted to go alone, but eventually he had conceded with mother's idea of Yuutsuki coming along. That way he could be sure the girl was unharmed, besides as a Ren she was obligated to bear out her responsibilities anyway.

Upon arriving at the place, where he had left the girl, he smelled Ryou's blood from afar. He traced the iron odour, reaching a puddle of still fresh blood. Their absence was undoubtedly odd, Ryou wasn't the one to either, shun or discontinue training. The demon lord picked up Yuutsuki's scent and followed it with a speed of lightening. Sesshoumaru scurried through trees and bushes, destroying every obstacle on his way. The trace leaded to the village, his sharp senses localised Inuyasha's group, Ryou and Yuutsuki – all of them gathered up in one place.

Sesshoumaru's abrupt arrival caused quite a commotion. Inuyasha jumped up with a quiet growl, clenching his fists tightly, whilst Sango had to toughen her grasp on Yuutsuki's body, for the half demon had let her go. Kagome lost her focus for a minute and her powers stopped working.

Ryou lowered his posture, bowing down like he had never before. His forehead was touching the ground just in front of Sesshoumaru's shoes.

The demon dog looked at Yuutsuki. Her agonising screams were penetrating his ears, her pasty colouring was burning his eyes. The girl was on the verge of death, she apparently had used the sword without the ring's protection. An unpleasant feeling went through his chest, like a bite of a venomous snake. Another human under his protection was in danger of dying.

"Lord Sesshoumaru…" Ryou's fear was obvious, he could almost taste it. Sesshoumaru snapped his claws, keeping himself from crushing Ryou's throat.

"Chill, Sesshoumaru! Kagome and Miroku are helping her now!" Inuyasha felt the murderous aura around his brother.

"Do you honestly think…" Sesshoumaru's enraged eyes pierced Inuyasha. "That my kin's energy can be purified by an ordinary priestess or monk?" Miroku stopped his prayer, gracefully rocked back on his hills and unfolded in one, swift movement to his full height.

"I think Sesshoumaru-sama is right. It's pointless, what we are doing right now. However, nothing is lost yet."

Kagome stopped her powers as well, paying attention to Miroku's words.

"I cannot purify that energy, but I can withdraw it from her. There is a problem though. If it is not destroyed moments after being withdrawn, it will return to its previous vessel."

"How can you destroy it?" Sango asked.

"I think Inuyasha can pull it off, it's needed to cut the vortex with Tessaiga."

"All right! I am ready!" Inuyasha took out Tessaiga, awaiting.

Sesshoumaru wasn't convinced of the effectiveness of their plan, but currently he couldn't think of another. He stifled a growl and forced his mind into blank.

"There I go!" Miroku briskly folded his hands in various signs. Suddenly a blast of dark energy jumped out from Yuutsuki's body. The monk's face became sweated, his hands shaky, as if his shoulders were bearing an unimaginable amount of weight.

"Inuyasha, hurry…"

Inuyasha with an effort cut the energy's vortex. The clash resulted in a small explosion, in which the energy pushed away Inuyasha, who fell on the ground.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome approached him.

"Am fine. That was nothin'!"

The screams ceased and only a quiet sob could be heard. Sesshoumaru turned his head away, as though he were just a bystander, with no particular interest in the actions happening around him.

"Well done, Inuyasha!" Sango complimented him, taking a look at Yuutsuki. She was shaking, her lips dry and cracked.

"Let's take her to the hut. She took a lot of damage and needs to rest."

"Yuutsuki falls under my care now." Sesshoumaru joined the conversation.

"Hell no, take a look at her! She needs resting!" Kagome jumped in, spreading her arms wide in a protective gesture.

"Ryou." The demon lord still didn't divert his eyes from Yuutsuki's throat. Just beneath its surface, the blood thrummed rhythmically within her veins, but not as strong as he would have liked.

He knew the girl was becoming conscious, slowly moving her still closed eyes.

"Yes my Lord."

"You are no longer desired."

"But the training…"

"You say nothing else for fear of what I might do!" Sesshoumaru's eyes became red and his energy unleashed like never before. It was certainly hard, refraining from killing the underling.

Ryou bowed one more time, left Yuutsuki's sword next to her and disappeared without further ado.

"Out of my way." Sesshoumaru referred to Kagome and Sango.

"She's a human! You should understand! Don't you take care of Rin?"

Silence fell upon them. Nobody was sure if Sesshoumaru was considering what Kagome had said, or maybe he was choosing the best way of killing them all. His expression was blank, unreadable, making him look bored and weary.

"It's fine, really." Yuutsuki's weak voice interrupted the silence.

"Sh… You should rest." Miroku hushed her, conceding with Kagome.

The girl lifted herself up, using support of the sword.

"I cannot stroll yet, I am afraid." She laughed slightly. "Thank you for saving me." Yuutsuki turned to her friends.

"Don't be irrational…" Kagome tried to stop her.

Yuutsuki reached out her trembling hand towards Sesshoumaru and he grabbed it, they both disappeared in a ball of luminous light.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Please wait!" Oka´s high pitched voice could be heard as she was drawing nearer Inuyasha´s group.

"Ah look who finally came back." Inuyasha goggled her with a mocking stare.

"I heard screams and then Sesshoumaru-sama and….he´s not here anymore! He went again with that wretched girl, didn´t he? She supported her hand on her hip, awaiting an answer, but no one even bothered.

The impulsive burst of bravery caused Yuutsuki to faint in Sesshoumaru's arms as soon as they arrived at the place.

She woke up in a bed, covered from feet to the tip of her nose in woollen blankets. It was a four poster-bed, with four vertical columns, one in each corner that supported an upper panel. Ornately patterned, blue curtains were all around the bed, so the decor of the room remained unknown.

The girl heard a sound of approaching steps. The soft material tickled her lips as she burrowed a little deeper into her blanket.

Someone hammed, and a pleasant, however nervous female voice could be heard.

"Hu… ekhem. Lady human? Are you awake?"

Yuutsuki widened her eyes, trying to stifle a chuckle. Lady human.

"Seems like yes."

The curtains opened slightly and a face of a middle aged woman popped in. Her eyes were grey blue like a clouded sky, and lips prominent in colour of rose. She was wearing a very neat uniform, a red garment nicely contrasted with her dark hair, let loose over her shoulders.

"I brought fresh clothing, if it is not in the lady´s taste, I can arrange others. Would the lady like to take a bath?" The woman fully uncovered the curtains.

Yuutsuki sat up, noticing she was wearing something resembling a night dress.

"Gladly. This…" She pointed at herself.

"It was me. The lady's clothing is being washed. If it's of any offence…"

"No, thank you." The girl looked through a window. The red sun was setting and to the west the sky was gold and crimson.

"Excuse my manners." Yuutsuki turned to the woman. "I'm Yuutsuki."

"My name is Nora" She bowed graciously. "And Lady, you are in Lord Sesshoumaru's household, I am your maid for time being. Now put on a housecoat, I shall take you to hot springs. We don't have much time, so if there are any questions, ask them on the way."

Already back in the room, Yuutsuki changed to a new kimono, which was admittedly marvellous. The cerise material with two silver dragons adorning the clothing, was tightened with a white sash patterned with flowers.

"Now that you are ready lady, please proceed to the dining room. The food is on the table."

They went through long corridors of the big mansion. Finally they reached the dining room. It only had a big table inside and one chair. In the corners there were three maids ready to serve her anytime, all had the same uniforms as Nora. Dishes on the table were producing an intense smell, which encouraged her to begin eating.

The food was delicious, however she ate carefully, not to stain the evidently expensive material. It was somewhat an uncanny sensation, bearing the gapes of the servants in silence, as if she were a kind of peculiar animal suddenly capable to dine by herself, like she was undesired in there.

"Lady, please, follow me. Lord Sesshoumaru will meet you shortly." Nora spoke, after noticing she had finished eating.

She was guided to a porch facing a charmingly tended garden. Sitting down, she felt the blissful state of warmness, caused by the sake she had consumed over the meal.

"Lord Sesshoumaru will…" Nora started to repeat herself.

"I know. He's already here."

"Oh. I didn't suspect a Ren to sense energy. With all due respect. I will leave then."

Yuutsuki nodded her head.

In a moment she heard a voice behind her.

"Has your condition steadied?" Sesshoumaru sat next to her and slid his hands into his voluminous sleeves.

"Yes. I am grateful for your concern."

"Tonight we depart for a journey."

Yuutsuki looked at his face. Both of his eyes were reflecting the last rays of the sun.

"A journey?"

"Consider it a great honour and opportunity to train under my eye."

Brows drawing down, she narrowed her eyes as he continued speaking.

"We will face another one of Naraku´s reincarnation. I shall give you the details as we walk. Assemble your gear and meet me as soon as you are ready." Sesshoumaru left the place, not even bestowing her with a look.

A/N Thanks for reading. Person too lazy to log in, thank You for your review ^^, as well thanks to others for alerts and favs.