Chapter Two:

Burdens

A/N: Okay...here is chapter 2. I hope y'all like it. Sorry if it took me a little longer to post it. I didn't get enough reviews, but...Oh well. I'm still adding chapter 2 anyway. Plus, I've been moving and yeah. Y'all know what that's like. Lol. Anywho... I hope you enjoy this chapter. Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, it's characters, or locations. I only own Rayne, Kiba, and her swords.

"So, Kagome, did you bring anymore ninja snacks?" Shippo, a fox-demon, asked curiously as soon as Kagome, the reincarnation of a priestess named Kikyo, returned to the Feudal era.

"Of course I did, Shippo. You wouldn't think I'd come back without them, did you?" Kagome asked, smiling at the young fox.

"What kind of 'chips potato' did you bring? Better not be that disgusting Curry flavored stuff. Eww!" Inuyasha, a half-demon who wields the infamous Tetsusaiga and is the younger half-brother of Sesshomaru, said as he began to snoop around in Kagome's bag.

"Inuyasha! Sit boy!" Kagome yelled angrily, causing Inuyasha to smash into the ground hard enough to create an Inuyasha shaped hole in the ground.

"Why'd you do that?" Inuyasha snapped back angrily.

"Because you don't have any respect for me. You can't just snoop in my bag everytime I bring back food, ya know?" Kagome said bitterly.

"Guys, stop. I sense a demonic aura nearby. It seems to be coming fast." Miroku, a lecherous monk with a cursed wind tunnel in his right hand, said as the forest behind them started to rumble.

"What is it?" Shippo asked curiously as he shook out of fear.

"I don't know, but it's really big." Inuyasha said as he unsheathed the Tetsusaiga.

"Ahhh--INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed as a tentacle shot out of the ground and grabbed her along with Miroku, Shippo, Kirara their two-tailed demon cat companion, and demon slayer Sango.

"BASTARD!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran towards the demon with his sword.

But, the Tetsusaiga didn't wound the demon. The body armor was too strong even for the Tetsusaiga's Wind Scar to pierce it.

Knocking Inuyasha unconscious, the others were helpless while they were still in the grip of the demon. Also, their weapons had been thrown to the ground as they were grabbed.

"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed at the unconscious half-demon.

"Oh no! We're done for!" Shippo said frantically as the demon brought them closer to his mouth.

"LIGHTNING STRIKE!" A voice yelled as a bolt of lightning followed after, striking the demon and quickly disintegrating it.

"Wh-who saved us?" Shippo asked curiously.

"The lightning came from over there." Miroku said, pointing towards an opening to the forest where a female wolf-demon was standing.

"Wait! Don't go!" Kagome hollered as the wolf-demon turned to go.

"I saved you, what more do you want?" Rayne asked irritably.

"We wanted to thank you for saving us." Kagome said as she approached Rayne.

"That half-demon over there...why is his scent so familiar?" Rayne asked, not to anyone specifically.

"That's Inuyasha. Perhaps you've met him before?" Miroku said.

"He doesn't look familiar. He just smells familiar." Rayne said.

A couple seconds later, a wolf had emerged from the forest, running right up to Rayne.

"Die, wolf!" Inuyasha yelled as he went after the black wolf with his Tetsusaiga, only to get blocked by Rayne's Kokirai.

"Stop! You must not harm him!" Rayne yelled, throwing Inuyasha backwards with her sword.

"Why not? He'll take off our heads!" Inuyasha asked rudely.

"His name is Kiba. He's my companion. If you hurt him, I'll have to kill you." Rayne said as she glared dangerously at the half-demon.

"Inuyasha, leave them alone." Sango said as she stood in front of him.

"Oh, s-sorry about that." Inuyasha said, sheathing his sword.

"Your scent...it's the same as the dog-demon's scent who's been following us, only...a little different." Rayne said.

"Same, yet a little different? Could you be talking about Sesshomaru? He is Inuyasha's full demon half-brother after all." Kagome asked curiously.

"Don't know. I've never actually stuck around long enough to meet him." Rayne said.

"Good thing, too. He wouldn't even hesitate to lop off your head." Inuyasha said as he crossed his arms.

"You know, you should join us in our pursuit of Naraku. You were strong enough to take out that demon. So, you may be strong enough to take out Naraku." Miroku said eagerly.

"I don't think so. The only companion I want is Kiba. Everyone else would just be a burden to me." Rayne said rudely.

A couple seconds later, Kiba started growling towards the forest and baring his fangs.

"Not again. Why won't he just give up already?" Rayne asked irritably.

"Wait! We didn't catch your name!" Miroku hollered as Rayne and Kiba ran off in the opposite direction, but Rayne ignored him and kept running.

As Sesshomaru approached them with Jaken, Rin, and Ah-Un in tow, he looked particularly angry.

"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he pulled out his sword.

"Sheathe your sword, Inuyasha. I didn't come here to engage in a battle with you." Sesshomaru said as he stared off in the direction where Rayne and Kiba went.

"Then why are you here?" Kagome asked rudely.

"Watch your tone when you speak to Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken said angrily.

"It is of no concern to you." Sesshomaru said as he continued to stare in the direction where the scent has gone.

"Tell us where that wolf-demon went!" Jaken said rudely.

"And why would we tell you?" Inuyasha asked just as rudely.

"Because--" Jaken began loudly.

"Jaken." Sesshomaru said.

"Oh, right. Sorry m'lord." Jaken said apologetically.

So, you actually listened to me? How I told you about Sesshomaru being your enemy?

"I wasn't listening to you, Naraku. I was going by a gut feeling about what I should see him as. You didn't influence my thoughts at all." Rayne said as she stopped the minute Naraku spoke.

Please, come to my castle and rest. You look exhausted and hungry.

"I'd rather not. The moment I step foot into that castle, I'll never be able to leave it." Rayne said.

Why would you think such a thing? I have no desire to keep you as a servant in my castle. My own desire is to make you more comfortable.

"I'd rather die than come to your filthy castle!" Rayne said disgustedly.

Her scent...it stopped. Perhaps she's resting from all that running.

Without another word, Sesshomaru vanished into the forest as Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un followed closely behind him.

Until we meet again, Rayne.

The voice of Naraku suddenly disappeared, leaving Rayne and Kiba alone once again.

"Come on, Kiba." Rayne said, then resumed their journey.

"They've started moving again." Sesshomaru said quietly as they, too, continued their journey.

"Hey, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked.

"Yes, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Can we stop and rest?" Rin asked curiously.

"Rin! No, we can't stop! If we do, Lord Sesshomaru will loose the wolf-demon's scent!" Jaken said angrily.

"Yes, Rin. They have stopped anyway." Sesshomaru said.

"Come, Ah-Un. Let's go find some food." Rin said as she led the two-headed demon through the forest.

"Jaken. Go with her." Sesshomaru said as he sat down on the ground and leaned against a tree, staring up at the starry sky.

"Y-yes m'lord." Jaken said, then headed off after Rin.

Why won't you stop? Why is it, that when I get closer, you flee from me?

"This is a good a spot as any to rest." Rayne said as she went to collect firewood.

Even though the scent of a dog-demon is still pretty strong in the air, Kiba needs to rest to regain his energy. Still, I'm freaked out by this Sesshomaru guy and what that Inuyasha said about him.

Rayne had been too lost in her thoughts to have even noticed how far she had gone. But, before she stepped any further, she looked up in time to see a figure through the trees.

Who could that be? Surely not Sesshomaru? Even though the dog-demon scent is extremely strong over there. Is this the same Sesshomaru Inuyasha and Naraku have warned me about?

Hiding behind a closer, yet larger tree, Rayne stood there, watching the dog-demon for a little bit.

Huh? The wolf scent...it's much closer now. It's coming from over there.

Looking towards the trees to his right, Sesshomaru stared through the branches where Rayne was standing, hiding for a few minutes until he closed his eyes and lowered his head, showing a small smile.

"I know you're there." Sesshomaru said as he stayed seated on the ground.

But Rayne didn't reveal herself. She just stayed hidden and quiet.

"Why do you run from me?" Sesshomaru asked softly.

But Rayne remained silent. Instead of answering, Rayne hurried back to where Kiba was and lit a fire as Kiba dropped some fish in front of her.

"Thanks, Kiba!" Rayne said as she skewered them on sticks and put them on the fire to cook.

Hmm...She left. But, her scent still lingers in the air. Perhaps she's not so far away.

"Look at all this food Rin found!" Jaken said excitedly, but as usual, Sesshomaru ignored him.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin said when she approached him, noticing that his eyes were closed.

"Rin! Hurry up and get the firewood!" Jaken said loudly.

"Be quiet, Master Jaken! Lord Sesshomaru is asleep!" Rin whispered.

"He must be exhausted from all this walking." Jaken said quietly as Rin headed off in search of some firewood.

Rayne, as usual, had yet another sleepless night. She had feared that she would dream about her parents' death as well as Naraku.

As she watched her wolf companion sleep, Rayne had thought abou how she would kill Naraku as well as if she would be able to. Her strength isn't quite as strong as she'd hoped it would be. But, because of her Kokirai, everyone who she's ever encountered thought she was strong.

But then, why would anyone want me to join them to destroy Naraku? Yes, I'm extremely strong but...my Kokirai makes me strong. I don't have the strength that I've seen in other people to join anyone. Still, I must help them out to gain that strength. That dog-demon and his companions seem to be strong.

As the sun rose high the next morning, Rayne and Kiba continued on early, hoping the dog-demon was still sleeping.

After Rin and Jaken ate breakfast, they sat by Ah-Un while they waited for Sesshomaru to wake.

Once his eyes suddenly snapped open, Sesshomaru stood up quickly, making both Jaken and Rin jump.

"What's going on me lord?" Jaken asked curiously, as Sesshomaru headed off into the forest, ignoring Jaken completely.

They've started moving again. They are much further away from us now, perhaps they started early?

"So, do you think Sesshomaru caught up to her yet?" Miroku asked curiously as they, too, set off.

"Hard to tell. But, I wonder why he was following her?" Sango said.

"What if he wanted to kill her? He's not the kind of person who'd show anyone mercy because of who they are." Inuyasha said.

"Still, he didn't want to fight you, Inuyasha. There's something going on with him. He usually wants to fight you." Miroku said as they continued on.

"I wonder what his infatuation is with that wolf-demon girl?" Sango asked curiously.

"Hard to tell. No on really knows much about him, do they?" Kagome asked.

Wait a minute...I know that scent. Is it another wolf-demon?

"There you are, Rayne. I've been looking all over for you." It was a male wolf-demon.

"I should've known. What do you want, Koga?" Rayne asked irritably.

"You, obviously. I want you to join my tribe. I want you to marry me." Koga said as he held on to her hands intimately.

"I'm not interested." Rayne said, pulling her hands away from him.

"Why not?" Koga asked curiously.

"Because, I'm not interested in you." Rayne said as he continued to block her way.

"Why? Is it because of that mutt, Inuyasha? I can smell him." Koga asked angrily.

"That's not Inuyasha. It's his brother Sesshomaru. But no, I'm not interested in either one. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to get out of here before he catches up to me." Rayne said.

But as Rayne turned to go, Koga grabbed her arm and held her hands in his intimately once more.

"You don't want to mess with me, fool." Rayne said, pulling her hands away from him once more.

"What can you do? You're just a female wolf-demon. You can do me no harm." Koga mocked.

Pulling out a handful of small knives, Rayne threw them. One by one, they pinned him by his arm bands and leggings to a tree behind him. Flying towards Koga, Rayne held the blade of her sword to his neck, causing his eyes to go wide with fear.

"Do not underestimate me. Female wolf-demons are just as ferocious as male wolf-demons." Rayne said, and before Koga knew it, she had disappeared.

"Finally we've caught up to you." Ginta, one of Koga's men said, completely out of breath.

"Huh? Koga? What happened? Did you find Rayne?" Hakaku asked curiously, trying not to laugh.

"Oh, I found her alright. How else do you think I ended up like this? Now, can you get me down?" Koga barked at the two.

"R-right away." Ginta said as the two began pulling the knives that pinned him to the tree out of the tree.

Why do I smell another wolf-demon? It's scent is not familiar or similar to the female's scent

"Well look who it is. Rayne was right. Sesshomaru." Koga said when Sesshomaru and his companions approached the male wolf-demon.

"We don't have time to talk to you, wolf-demon." Jaken exclaimed.

Wait, this new scent...it can't be.

"Naraku." Sesshomaru said as he hurried off.

A/N: Hmm...that chapter kind of ended up sounding really lame. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed it anyway. Yes, Koga! Anyway, sorry I ended up making him act like an asshole. But, if you remember, this fanfic is about Sesshomaru. Lol. Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter! It's got many emotions thrown into it! Oh, yeah...don't forget to review! I love hearing what people have to say about my fanfics!! Next Chapter title: Naraku's Selfish Plot.