Chapter 9

The M.I.A Sesshoumaru

Inuyasha sprinted through the forest, using the trees as well when he found it convenient. He'd caught Shippo's scent and was following it madly, afraid that the kit was in some kind of danger. Kaelas had been compremized and he wasn't going to risk letting Shippo fall to Naraku as well. His feet carried him hastily through the forest, bringing him to a small break in the trees where a cave lay nestled near the stream. Shippo's scent was all over this place.

"Shippo! Get out here you little twerp!" Inuyasha skidded to a stop before the cave and glared into its dark depths, waiting impatiently. "Shippo!" He leaned in close, his ears twitching with the familiar sound of Shippo's snoring. The kitsune was obviously asleep. "Damn lazy kitsune! WAKE UP, SHIPPO!"

The kit shrieked in terror, jumping up and out of the cave in a hurry. Inuyasha's hand shot forward and grasped Shippo by the scruff of the neck, his amber eyes closed. "It's about time you woke up, twerp."

Shippo, squirming uncomfortably, suddenly stopped moving, staring at him in stunned silence. "In-Inuyasha? Is that you?"

"Of course it is! Who else would it be, Shippo?" Inuyasha's arrogant smile vanished suddenly as the expression on Shippo's kitsune face slowly went from surprise to utter relief on the side of grief. "What the...!"

"INUYASHA!" Shippo cried, latching onto the hanyou's chest so quick that it nearly knocked him off balance. "You're alive!"

"Well of course I am," Inuyasha muttered, prying the kit off of him. "Hey, quit crying, squirt, or I'll smack you," Shippo stilled his tears for a moment, smiling a faint smile at the Hanyou. "Are you all right, Shippo?" Inuyasha pried after a few moments of silence, wanting to be sure that the kitsune wasn't injured before they headed back to Jaenelle's cottage where Kagome waited nervously for their return.

Shippo's crying resumed, but he nodded to confirm that he was all right, relieved greatly to see the face of a friend again. "Is Kagome ok, Inuyasha?"

"Yeah, she's waiting for us with Kilala and some new friends."

"I think I met one last night..." Shippo murmured nervously. "I was in the garden looking around because I thought that I had caught your scent and then she snuck up one me but Kilala got to me before anything bad could have happened," He shivered, obviously upset again. "She shouldn't have done that, Inuyasha! She's hurt!"

"I know, but she'll be ok," Inuyasha reassured Shippo easily, setting him onto the ground. "Come on, if we hurry we can get back before dark. I've already been away for almost a day,"

Rin, flushing a deep crimson, bowed low to Kagome who also blushed. "Rin, you don't have to bow, it was nothing, really,"

"It's embarrassing," Rin whispered.

"Don't worry, we all went through it at one point,"

Jaenelle, despite the terrible last few days, smiled, nodding. "Really, Rin, you should be happy. You're officially a woman now,"

"Bet that's got Sesshoumaru reeling," Kagome snickered, stroking Kilala's fur. Rin's face seemed to blanch. "Rin?"

"Sesshoumaru has been absent all morning. He must have caught the scent..."

"The first moontime is always richer than the rest," Jaenelle said simply, shrugging. "If you haven't noticed, all of the boyos are tense. Remember this morning when you walked into the dining room?"

Rin shivered convulsively. "It was uncomfortable," She admitted, looking away. "If I had gotten one more offer to have my pillows fluffed or to have a warming spell put on my clothes I would have screamed,"

That brought a genuine smile to Jaenelle's face. "The potency of the blood the first go around is always stronger. But get used to it, Rin, it'll be like this for the next three days," Rin didn't seem pleased, but, in fact, terrified and troubled.

"It's not that bad, Rin, I promise,"

"It's not that,"

Both women looked at each other and then back at Rin. "What's wrong?"

"I'm of age now..."

"Oh," Kagome murmured, understanding. "You think that's why Sesshoumaru has been M.I.A. today?"

"I thought you were twelve?" Jaenelle asked, confused.

"Today I turn thirteen," Rin still hadn't looked at them.

"In the warring states era, thirteen was the age a girl became a woman and was eligible for marriage. Rin is on the market now, as it were,"

She blushed again.

"That ought to really please the boyos," Jaenelle smirked at Rin, her eyes twinkling. "Don't worry, Rin, he'll come around."

Rin shrugged, shifting uncomfortably. "I don't know..."

"He can't be that cold," Jaenelle muttered suddenly. "And if he is cold enough to totally ignore the woman who is blatantly smitten with him then he deserves to have his balls squeezed dry and his cock tied in a knot. But then again, any male that cold would have shriveled balls anyway,"

Kagome choked, Rin's eyes went wide, and Daemon, who had just stepped into the room nearly died for lack of air all of a sudden.

"What?" Jaenelle asked sharply. "Well, it's true!"

"My balls aren't shriveled," Daemon muttered with a roll of his eyes.

"You're not cold, either,"

"Not at the moment," Daemon said flatly. "Lady Kagome, Inuyasha has returned."

Kagome rose quickly, cuddling Kilala to her chest, and raced for the front door. Inuyasha was just coming up the drive when she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"He's exhausted," Inuyasha murmured as he reached her, Shippo curled up in his arms. "I don't think he's eaten much at all,"

"He looks terrible," Kagome whispered, her heart clenching in her chest at the sight of him. Kilala leaned forward and purred, licking Shippo's face delicately. "We should get him inside," Kagome was certain tucking the kitsune into bed to rest for the night and possibly getting him some food later on would do Shippo some serious good. Inuyasha seemed to agree completely having already started up the stairs and into the Hall, Kagome on his heels.

Daemon remained on the front steps, staring into space for the longest time. "Is Kaelas alright?" Jaenelle had joined him, curious about the delay in his return.

"His chalice is repaired," Jaenelle murmured. "and his jewels are intact...but...muddled,"

Daemon nodded, seemingly thinking about something very deeply. "What is it, Prince?"

His golden eyes closed as that midnight voice rolled over him, soothing him. "So far, two of their friends have resurfaced. It's possible that the other two might be alive as well, don't you think?"

"It's possible," Witch agreed, looking towards the drive. "I'm going to the Keep tomorrow to speak with Lorn and Papa." Jaenelle smiled sweetly at her husband. "I'm leaving you to deal with our guests."

"Figures," Daemon looked over at her, studying her intensely. "You can feel it then?"

Those sapphire eyes became unfocused for a moment, reminding him too strongly of the way Jaenelle used to be when she had the Ebony, and how she still was with the Twilight's Dawn jewel.

"It's a subtle disturbance, but yes, I can feel it,"

"Something is coming,"

"Yes,"

"Something bad,"

"Yes,"

Daemon's eyes closed again and he drew in a long, deep breath. "What should we do?"

There was a moment of silence and then, "I don't know,"

Again, he nodded. "You will weave tonight and inform the court in the morning?"

"Daemon..."

"I don't care what you say, Jaenelle, you're still our queen, no matter your jewel. You may not reside on the Dark Throne, but you're still Kaeleer's heart. You're still my queen." The intensity of his words told Jaenelle that he was aware of how serious this new disturbance could get. Was the Sadist really going to be needed again?

There was a question on her mind that they both knew needed to be asked, despite the fact that they already knew the answer. "A few years ago you played out a deadly game in order to give me the time I needed to cleanse the realms forever. If Kaeleer requires it, if I require it, can you awaken that Warlord Prince they called the Sadist?"

"Yes," Daemon breathed, not even hesitating because when it came to Jaenelle he would do anything, no matter who was hurt in the process. He had been born for the woman standing before him and he'd waited too long for her to ever let her go. Yes, he could take on the mask of the Sadist again for Jaenelle and for Kaeleer because where Kaeleer was involved, Jaenelle was most definitely in the center of it. The Sadist stirred in him then. "When the time comes, our enemy will dance with the Sadist,"

The setting sun brought her no comfort at all whatsoever. He'd still not shown his face the entire day meaning she was likely to not see him again for several days...if at all. Why was he doing this? Why was he running away from her when she desperately needed him around?

She'd loved Sesshoumaru since the day he'd saved her from death, and every day since, and she knew that recently his care for her had changed, had turned into something much deeper. He knew her potential to bear strong pups for him and he knew that his care for her had gone beyond his own understanding. He loved her, she could tell, and she wasn't about to let him just run away from her.

But Sesshoumaru was a Youkai lord and could technically do whatever he wanted. Including avoiding her no matter what.

"Damn you and your stupid pride, Sesshoumaru!" Rin cursed quietly, tears stinging her eyes. "All this time I knew what we wanted and you've known too and the second it's able to happen you run away with your tail between your legs. Well...fine! Be that way then! Don't worry about what you're doing to me and just worry about yourself, you stubborn bastard!"

"You curse him too quickly,"

Rin shrieked, jumping away in surprise. Her hand pressed against her chest, she glared at the woman. "Lady Surreal...you scared me."

"Sorry," Surreal smiled, moving to sit on the bench that Rin had been occupying. "Male troubles?"

"Basically,"

"Ah," Surreal flashed that smile again and Rin started to relax.

"You, too?" Rin asked, sitting down next to her.

"Oh yeah," Surreal sighed, hooking her hair behind her delicately pointed ears. "Let's just say that my new male is a bit wayward and hard to understand. He's got more demons in him than I can count,"

"What do you mean?" Rin asked, confused. When did Surreal get another boyfriend? Hadn't she just broken up with that Lord Falonar character?

"I mean he's got some dark secrets, lots of them, that he hasn't told me," Surreal shook her head slightly. "It's like I can't keep his attention unless I'm doing something provocative."

"Oh," Rin understood, sighing heavily. "Just a sex hungry man I guess,"

"Well, no, not really..." Surreal sat back, rubbing the back of her neck in disdain.

"Are you ok?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, just agitated. I've got a bad headache...actually I've had it for a few weeks now. I feel...muddled...foggy I guess. It's weird. I was going to go see Jaenelle in case there was something she could do for it,"

"I'm sure there is," Rin reassured.

"Well, what are your current troubles?" Surreal inquired then.

"I'm officially a woman now--"

"And he went running," Surreal understood completely. "Well, there is a way to get him to come running right back."

"How do you mean?" Rin was curious because of the slightly devious tone of voice Surreal had taken. She was suspicious of the woman, but intrigued greatly.

"Oh, sugar, there's always a way to catch your man," Surreal smirked maliciously. "What usually has Sesshoumaru running into your arms?"

"Actually, it's mostly the other way around," Which brought Rin to a sudden standstill. Had she been wrong about Sesshoumaru's care? Had he only stayed near her to protect her because she wasn't of age and couldn't take of herself too effectively? Now that she was a woman and had a better chance of standing up for herself, would he leave for good? Disturbed now, Rin's mind started to turn towards darker thoughts. You love me, Sesshoumaru, and I'll find a way to make you see that!

Surreal smirked, having succeeded in her original intentions. "You want Sesshoumaru to notice you again, right?"

"Of course," Rin murmured, turning her eyes away from the older woman.

"Then let's make him come running back,"

"How...?" Rin breathed, her eyes closing.

"We'll put on a little show," She's taking the bait...

"What kind of show?"

"A dramatic one. One where you're seemingly in danger. One where Sesshoumaru comes running to your aid and realizes how much he loves you. Like, let's say, a near death experience,"

Rin shook her head. "Sesshoumaru is smarter than that. He'll know I'm not in any danger. He'll know that I'm faking,"

"The Blood have ways that even the Youkai lord couldn't detect," Surreal had a strangely pleased look on her face. Just a little more and she's ours...

Rin seemed to be considering this. "I will not die?"

Youwon't... "Of course not,"

"Sesshoumaru won't be at risk?"

Not immediately... "No,"

Rin took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then looked at Surreal. "Ok...What do I need to do?"

"Has anyone seen Rin?" Kagome asked as she sat down at the table for dinner.

"She's probably sulking somewhere because my brother blew her to the wind," Inuyasha muttered, smiling sardonically. "She couldn't possibly have expected him to stay with a human girl when the word human makes him sick,"

"Inuyasha..." Kagome murmured, shaking her head. "But, I guess...you're partially right. I suppose I just thought that Sesshoumaru had something of a heart when it came to Rin...Maybe I was wrong..."

"Feh,"

"I'm sure she's fine," Saetan reassured them, smiling timidly in wait for his own love to arrive.

"Is something the matter?" Kagome inquired, studying him warily.

"Silvia is coming for dinner," Lucivar snickered, earning a jab to the ribs from his wife. "Owe..."

Inuyasha chuckled.

"Well, I think whoever this Silvia is happens to be very lucky to have a man like him," Kagome snarled at Lucivar and Inuyasha, her jaw twitching.

"You know, you're awfully moody lately,"

"Excuse me, but have you not been around the last few days? Kaelas has gone nuts on us, Shippo's hurt, I keep dreaming of killing Inuyasha, I'm still wondering about Sango and Miroku and what else? Oh yeah! I had a miscarriage! HOW COULD I NOT BE MOODY!"

"Kagome," Inuyasha murmured, staring at her. "He was just being-"

"A prick," Daemon said flatly, staring across the table at his brother to shut him the hell up before Jaenelle and Karla came sauntering into the room and saw Kagome in distress. Besides, Inuyasha eyes looked a bit dark all of a sudden.

"I'm fine," Kagome muttered, plopping back into her chair. "I'm just...stressed is all..."

"We understand," Saetan said, nodding his head towards her. "Let us just enjoy this meal so that tonight we may all get some much needed rest and relaxation. We all need it,"

End o' chapter! Wow...I'm in a really good mood today, I may just post up chapter 10 here in a few minutes, too. XD Oh this is about to get just so much more interesting. Next chapter; enter Hakuuyo!

Later!