(A/N: Hey readers! I'm back. I don't know if any of you figured out who the demon was in the last chapter, but they shall be revealed in this chapter. So please enjoy it.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 3: The Return of a Demon and the Princess of the Western Lands

A group of 4 bandits rode on horseback to their next destination. What that destination was, not even they were sure of, but it would certainly pay well, as had all their destinations.

"Hey boss, check it out!" one of the bandits cried, spotting a figure up ahead in their.

The head bandit spotted the figure and smiled evilly. "Looks like no one told them that these parts aren't safe after dark." He said.

"Oh, I hope it's a woman." The third bandit said. "I need to have some fun."

As it turned out, the figure wasn't a woman, but a man. And from the moment the bandits reached the wanderer, they knew that something was not right. First off, the man wore no clothing. Perhaps they not been the first bandits to come across this man's path? The man certainly didn't look like he had been robbed, unless he was not harmed while it had happened.

But then the bandits started to notice a few strange things about the man, besides the fact that he was naked. From the waist down, his skin was brown, almost as it he had been wadding through mud that came up to his hips. Also, in the middle of his back, just under his long brown hair, there was a burn mark in the shape of a spider.

The head bandit snorted. "Looks like someone beat us getting to this one."

"Maybe they're still nearby." The fourth bandit suggested. "If we can take them, it might be worth our while."

The head bandit smirked and nudged the man with his sword. "Hey, you, tell us, which way did the ones that did this to you go?"

The man was quiet for a moment, but then he spoke to them. "I remember. I remember everything."

The second bandit raised an eyebrow. "What's he talking about? Remember what?"

"Kikyou." The man said. "Where is Kikyou?"

"Kikyou?" the fourth bandit repeated.

"Who's that, your girlfriend?" the head bandit asked.

The first bandit laughed. "You should be more concerned about yourself."

The man slowly turned to them and the bandits gasped. This man, this thing, whatever it was, had no face. Just a mask of flesh over the place that should have contained eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

"What the hell?" the fourth bandit cried.

"Where is Kikyou?" the faceless man demanded.

He suddenly lashed out at the four bandits. His arms suddenly transformed, become long tentacles resembling the spiky vines of thorn bushes. The spiky tentacles flew at the bandits, wrapping around two of them and slicing them to ribbons. One of the two remaining bandits decided to flee, turning his horse around and urging it to run.

"I WANT KIKYOU!"

He swung his tentacle arm, beheading the retreating bandit. Only the leader remained, but he didn't even have a chance to react as one of the tentacles impaled his chest, knocking him off his horse, and pinning him to the ground.

The bandit coughed up a mouthful of blood and stared in horror at his attacker. "What are you?"

The faceless man came right up into the bandit's face. "My name is Onigumo. I was once a bandit like you. I have been burned, devoured, trapped in a half-demon's body, and had my memory erased. But now I remember everything. I have been given new life. I am no longer human. I am a demon. And I will have what I desire. Now tell me, where is Kikyou?"

The bandit trembled in fear. This creature had once been human? It was hard to believe. But whether this thing was a human or demon, he was very close at losing his life to it.

"Please, I don't know anyone named Kikyou." He gasped.

Onigumo growled; how was that possible without a face? "Then I have no use for you!" He prepared to deliver the finishing blow, but stopped. He turned the bandit's head side to side, examining him. If he had a mouth, it would be grinning. "On second thought, maybe you can be useful."

The bandit gulped. "What do you want?"

Onigumo brought his faceless head much too close for comfort. "I like your face." He hissed.

The bandit's tortured cries could be heard a mile away.

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

The daughter of the Lord and Lady of the Western Lands strolled leisurely through the castle. Her cold exterior along with her stunningly beautiful appearance made her into the perfect image of an ice queen. Long pointing ears could be seen sticking out of her long hair, which wasn't quite white like her father and uncle's, but more of a silver. Like her father, she had marks on her face, but only a single one on each side, which were a bluish-purple instead of a magenta like her father's, making them stand out against her pale skin. Also like her father, she had been trained to show no emotion, no weaknesses. What should have been the whites of her eyes were actually pink, surrounding her blood red eye color, displaying no trace of feeling, a very good mask, one she mastered very well.

Being the daughter of Sesshomaru and Kagura made her a very powerful and intimidating. Not that she needed to be. She was the daughter of the Lord and Lady of the Western Lands. No demons dared to try anything against her, less they face the wrath of her parents. But she could be very harsh at times as well. She had an emotional status equal to that of her father, but a temper that matched her mother.

"Lady Linca."

The Princess of the Western Lands stopped and turned to face the one who called her. A demon resembling a child walked towards her carrying a mirror.

"Aunt Kanna, what is it?" she asked.

Kanna still resembled a child, although she was anything but. She was older than her niece, which would confuse most humans since Linca appeared older than her aunt, being in her twenties. But things were different with demons than they were with humans.

Kanna, who always displayed less emotion then even Sesshomaru, looked a little worried as she said, "I'm detecting a very powerful demon. One that may be a threat to your family."

Linca's eyes narrowed. "Surely you can't be serious. My father is the most powerful demon alive, and my mother is very strong as well." It was true. Sesshomaru was currently the strongest of all demons, and Kagura was certainly no pushover. "You have nothing to fear."

Kanna shook her head. "You mistake my meaning. Your other family is in danger."

Once she realized what her aunt was talking about, Linca gave a snort of laughter. "If you are referring to my half-breed uncle and his family, then you are wasting your time speaking to me. I don't care what happens to them. Even so, as pathetic as my uncle is, he does have some strength, and the slayers are there along with his priestess mate." She turned and walked away. "Do not expect me to go to their rescue every time a demon decides to attack them. And if my parents weren't away, they would say the same."

Kanna was silent for a moment. "What of your sister and niece?"

Linca froze. Her face showed no emotion, but inside thoughts were swirling around in her head. It was true that she didn't care about her uncle or her aunt or anyone else she was related to by marriage, but she did care for Rin and Aiko.

Turning back to her aunt, she said, "Show me the demon in question."

Kanna held up her mirror. In it the image of Onigumo trying on a human's face appeared. Linca looked at the image in disgust. This was the demon that had her aunt worried.

"I see no threat." She said. "My sister's husband is a demon slayer, as is his sister. They are capable of dealing with this disgusting creature."

Kanna shook her head. "No, this demon is different. In a way… in a way he is my brother."

Linca raised a silvery eyebrow. "He is one of Naraku's incarnations?" Yes, she knew of her 'grandfather', although she considered Inuyasha more family than him.

Kanna shook her head again. "Not necessarily. He was alive before Naraku. Naraku… mutated him, evolved him. He was reborn through Naraku and granted power."

Linca stopped to think some more. This changed things a bit. Any creature, other than her mother and aunt, with any relation with Naraku was bad news.

"Very well." She said. "I shall go see if my sister and niece are well. If my mother and father return, tell them where I have gone."

Kanna nodded. "I will."

(A/N: Ok, who guessed that the demon was Onigumo? I was trying to keep it as a surprise until this chapter, but I think I gave out too much of a hint last chapter. Anyway, who liked Linca? She's definitely her father's daughter. And what is going to happen when she reaches Kaede's village? Just wait and see. Feel free to leave me lots of reviews.)