AUTHOR'S NOTES~

1. Inuyasha is not my creation but I am eternally grateful for Rumiko Takahashi because she brought Sesshoumaru to me, and nothing had been the same ever since.

2. Things had been a little busy at work and again, my monitor gave up on me after a faithful service of nine months. May the kami rest its components in peace.

CHAPTER 28

LOST

"Rin-sama! Rin!" Jaken gasped as she stopped to buckle her sword letting the toad youkai catch up to her. "Oh! Thank goodness I found you!"

"Oh? Why?"

"Oh, nothing! I'm just so glad I saw you! He-he-he!" But the toad was squirming on his toes.

"Jaken."

The toad jumped as if poked by a burning stick. "Uh-huh? He-he-he! What is it Rin?"

Rin noted the sweating toad's brows. "You call for me and now you tell me nothing?" She went down on a knee to level with the retainer with a gimlet eye. "Jaken….what's going on?" Rin knew the toad hated it when she lowers her voice like her father would.

Jaken gulped first before blurting -"Have you seen Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Father?" The captain frowned. "No, I haven't. I've been out scouting and patrolling. I just came back to replace the men. Why? What happened?'

"Oh no! Oh no!" The toad wiped his wet face and gasped. "I have been looking for him for days now. He has been…"

"Days?" She blurted. "Jaken, what are you talking about? Looking for him? He must be around here somewhere. You know him…"

"No! No, Rin! He is missing! The servants reported that the lord had not been taking meals nor sleeping in his room. We need to find him." Jaken began tugging at Rin's pant leg. "The runners from other villagers had been asking if the missives they delivered had been signed and approved so they could return it to their elders. But nothing's been happening. Nothing!"

Rin frowned. True, Sesshoumaru had a habit of leaving for days but he makes sure that someone, at least Jaken, would know when he would come back. And though he hated paperwork Sesshoumaru would not be remiss in his duties before disappearing to Kami knows where. "How many days now?"

"About five days ago." Jaken sniffed.

"Five days? Have you tried looking for him in the castle?"

The toad bristled at his former ward's insulting tone. "Of course I have! I'm not stupid, Rin! But we couldn't find him!" Jaken cried in a panic now. "Rin! What if he's…"

"Jaken, he's not!" Her glare cowed the toad. "I'm sure he's just here." Rin gestured around.

"Since the miko left he…he has been…" the toad blew his nose on his sleeve. "What entered that foolish woman's head and she decided to leave with that…that…"

Rin and Jiro traded glances. "Hey, don't worry Jaken. I'm sure he is here. You know father, he likes his peace and quiet." Rin consoled the small youkai. Jaken might be acerbic and of foul mood with other people and sometimes with Rin as well but his loyalty and faithful subservience to Sesshoumaru is without fault.

Rin stood and sighed, her face sad. She missed Kagome. When her father and Kagome came back from their visit to Bokuseno they had with them a man looking very much like Kagome's markings and colorings.

He was introduced as…

~O~

"Rylanion from the far Northern area of the blue lake Baikal, at your service, captain." The pale man bowed to the waist.

"Rin Okamoto, captain of the West. Welcome." Rin returned the bow with a smart nod and stiff back as befitting her title and rank. Sesshoumaru lead the group while Rin and Jiro brought up the rear better to observe this guest.

Yes, indeed he and Kagome had the same markings on their forearms and the paleness of the skin, eyes and hair must be a racial trademark. She has heard of people like him from Sesshoumaru. They were a kind of bird of prey youkai but they live in the upper northern area where the ice doesn't melt and it was almost perpetually dark more than half of the year. It must have been truly cold out there.

"Yes captain, you are correct." The man admitted as they were ushered into the main hall all the way to the main library. Rin noted with a frown that Kagome almost never left Rylanion's side since they came back. The miko seemed fascinated at him.

"Now," Sesshoumaru rounded at them when the doors had closed, "explain who you are and what is your connection to Kagome." If a voice could turn air to ice….

Rylanion smiled like an indulgent uncle. "Like I said, I have been looking for Zariana," and he turned to Kagome who in turn blinked speechless. "and I have found her."

"Uh, my name is Kagome. I could explain what happened so all of this confusion would be straightened out." Rin noted with an added frown that Kagome seemed to be blushing. Not good.

Rylanion spread his hands in agreement and for thirty or so minutes Kagome told the tale of her transformation the fascination of which has never failed to amaze everyone in the room. All the while Kagome was telling her story Rin continued to covertly observe the stranger. The pale youkai was charming and friendly, very much the opposite of her parent. If this youkai Rylanion was telling the truth about finding his lost mate who bears a striking similarity to Kagome's new persona then this means….

"Bad news." Rin muttered over her warm cup of sake.

~O~

"Listen, here's what we will do-quietly tell the servants to begin looking for the master but they must not raise a panic. You understand?"

Jaken straightened as some of his worry was lifted now that Rin was taking over. "I understand, Rin."

"Go on." The toad scrambled off.

"Rin-taisa," Jiro hurried after the captain. "If we cannot find the lord I may have a way to help."

"Good." she nodded. "But that would only be our last recourse." Rin sighed. "I should have been paying more attention to him. Jiro, tell Commander Taka he will lead the patrol today." The kitsune veered to another direction as Rin entered the office and found almost a handful of letters from different villages of the West, some unopened and some were waiting for immediate approval. Thankfully none contains any life and death situation. At the bottom of the pile she even found a dinner invitation from her godfather, Takuma.

With all haste Rin dispatched the runners bearing their approved requests and only then did she leave the office to see if the servants did as she had bade. The servants of the Western shiro had been properly trained by (surprise) Jaken and the captain was glad that they were discreet about it. As Rin passed the servants shook their heads at her silent inquiry.

Where the hell could he be? If he doesn't want to no one could ever find Sesshoumaru even when he was just right behind you. He's that good.

And frustrating.

And that was six days ago.

Sesshoumaru, the lord of the West is missing.

~O~