A/N:

For a long time I wasn't sure of the specifics I wanted for the story… I was pretty sure of where I wanted my characters to go but I was uncertain of the scenarios they would have to pass through to get there… now I feel more confident and inspired… hope that's how this feels.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 5

Villages and Habits

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Despite the wind passing through on the same direction they were walking he could already smell the human stench coming closer each time, or better said, to which they were getting closer and closer with every step. He looked up at the woman walking beside him and wasn't surprised to find her smiling down at him already.

"Don't worry… it's a small stop to say hi"

He barely looked at her for a moment before going back to watch the road ahead of him but that was enough for her to know her message was well understood.

What was it that she saw in him to be able to read him so well? It was true he hadn't change that much in personality… or in appearance for her to not be able to follow the same parameters she might have used with him before, but how much could she see in him to be able to tell his thoughts so easily? Had he been so easily read before?

Sesshomaru felt troubled. The thoughts swimming around his head weren't the cause of his frustrated emotions; instead it was the thoughts his thoughts liked to bring.

That girl knew him so well… and something told him that even after the many years apart she would still be able to understand him the same while he had trouble comprehending half of what she did and knew nothing of what she thought. Questions about her and the years prior to their unplanned reunion were mocking him at every turn, telling him of important pieces of information he could never grasp, rubbing against his face the truth about her intentions and the reason behind her decisions that he couldn't find. Like water between his clawed hands those things slipped his hold leaving him unsteady, unsure and raw. And what was worse… he couldn't help wondering, why did he feel so unbalanced by this? When did her life become so important to him?

Why did he leave her? What happened that made him leave her?

Arrrg!

He mentally screamed and on the outside Rin heard a distinctive growl coming from her companion. It was normal enough for him or so it seemed since she barely turned to look at him after he released the sound.

Enough!

He ordered his mind and decided to focus on something else… or 'else' enough for him to feel less troubled.

The differences in his bodily capabilities and functions were mostly annoying but after the first couple weeks together he felt with each day a little bit more at ease with said differences. For starters he still wasn't affected by the cold weather and he felt actually comfortable with anything remotely cold… yet his body dehydrated way faster than before under the heat of the summer time. This made him feel… mortal but it was good to know he would only have to suffer a few more weeks of it before it begun to change and get colder. Another thing he noticed was his affected senses; it was true they had diminished greatly but he also discovered they could actually be taken as an advantage of some sort… for example, despite the fact that he could still smell humans, he was no longer so bothered by their scents, instead it was a warning aroma that didn't hurt his nostrils like it used to do and a smell he could actually tolerate having around… not that he would agree to such a thing yet considering the life style he had been a subject to for the past couple of weeks he better be comfortable with seeing a lot more humans than he had ever seen.

He could still smell them and his dislike for them wasn't in anyway diminished… but at least he felt now benevolent enough to forget about their petty existences for a while… a while enough for the girl to make her rounds around the pathetic little towns.

The lord had first thought his ward would travel fast towards the hunter's village but instead she took a particularly long route and passed through all villages checking on each village's priestess or monk. It surprised him now how common they were, although, considering all the destruction Naraku created with his minions and he himself, having a deputy in each human habitat was most practical and wise; probably an idea of the miko. He doubted his brother could be smart enough to think up such long term plan. So… it became painfully obvious that they wouldn't reach the village in short since she would take quite some time to review the situation in each village and take notes of possible threats to their communities. The Inu youkai lord was puzzled once again by Rin's actions; she was taking care of these creatures while they welcomed her with angst and repulsion.

These people hated her, disliked her, they showed it so obviously in their faces and he knew that even thought Rin could not smell the contempt they felt and their animosity upon receiving her, he knew she was aware of them by the impatient twitch of her lips, hands or feet whenever she spoke with them. She wanted to be among them just as much they wanted her there.

So, why was she doing this? What could she possibly gain from this?

Now they found themselves bordering the east villages closer to the northeast hunter's village area and as they approached the limits of the lands he could tell the stress and fear was growing with each settlement they passed. From the looks of it they were going to face a rogue group of demons hunting inside a protected area, not a good idea from what Sesshomaru could say and not a choice he considered smart or likely… those were now under the protection of the lords of the East, which made the humans untouchable. He remembered the treaties well and knew how the lands had been divided near the borders of the north to avoid any conflict not to mention their demon hunters had been trained by demons themselves and had specialized weapons that could kill a creature in a matter of seconds or impair a great demon like him with a few rounds.

What was wrong then?

The same question loomed over in Rin's eyes, a plight she knew she was going to encounter if not today, the next day during their next check up point. He wondered what he could do to help or protect her.

"Remember to stay close to me" she said in a hushed tone. This made Sesshomaru look up in time to notice they were already entering the village. Some humans were outside occupied with various tasks and activities yet all stopped the moment she walked right through the middle of the road, followed closely by a wolf twice the size of their regular dog.

This arrangement was another thing that had left him annoyed and insulted. How come she was now constantly protecting him or defending him from those pests she supposedly belonged with?

"I know it sounds terrible yet it will be best for you if you stay close to me and enter the village with me…"

How come she was so sure he wouldn't be able to take on them all?

"Most of them are cowards or losers that won't harm a human like me… or a demon, but I've seen most them cowards harm an animal that has no fighting chance against their weapons"

It unnerved him how she was so certain of his capacities and inabilities, it made him want to claw his new body until he could find his older version underneath and (probably) destroy those meat bags he was forced to deal with… yet why did he listen to her? Why did he follow her instructions either way? Why did he feel it was important for him to stay with her and do as she pleased so he could remain with her?

A trick of that old woman perhaps… the thought was unsettling and he felt like smirking. Whatever she has planned, now I know it has to do with Rin, there for, I need to follow this trail until I find a way to get my old self back and relieve that wench of her life… and leave… and… He's brows knit together with uncertainty, why couldn't he finish the sentence? He knew that no matter what reason he had left Rin alone at the human village it was probably for the best since it had been his decision in the end… so why did he feel, it might not be a resolution he would take this time around…?

He growled lowly again and saw how a couple of villagers moved back hurriedly. Good… he thought relishing in their fear. Something familiar to smell… Then Rin stopped. Sesshomaru noticed they had walked right into the end of the main road to finally face a small rundown shrine looking house, from it came out a small woman, small; but in no way younger than Rin. The former demon lord wasn't sure when it came to guessing human years but if he guessed he would say the woman was as old as Inuyasha's wife, perhaps one of her first trainees.

She was wearing the customary white and red robes on her body and was also carrying a bow behind her back. She looked distressed but tried to smile at Rin as they approached the shrine.

"So good to see your face around this village child"

Heh… that's better.

"You don't seem happy Naru-dono, has something happened while I was away?"

Rin wasted no time to get down to business and Sesshomaru could only agree to that. He wished to move onto the next village pronto so they could arrive at the hunter's keep and so his time would Rin… would… end…. Somehow this thought didn't please him in the least.

"Things have gotten dicey child, I'm not sure of the reason since many rumors exist surrounding the cause but what I know is the damage this is causing our village and others… if you have time for a cup of tea, perhaps we could discuss it over a cake?"

He felt the slight woman beside him brighten up and he suddenly got a feeling they weren't going to stop for only a checkup. This wasn't a pleasant notion but looking at the girl's happy face made him feel a little uneasy and reluctant to complain.

"And waste an opportunity to taste one of your sakura cakes, I don't think so!"

Rin turned only a little to glance back at him and motion him into the shrine. It was somewhat distasteful Sesshomaru thought, why would he, a demon, enter a shrine? But those thoughts were soon forgotten when the scents inside the place filled his nostrils.

This wasn't good.

He recognized the scent coating the walls of the shrine and as they moved through the first room into a small room with an herbal garden inside he felt a growl come out of his lips. The witch had been there, not long before.

"Rin-chan… uhmmm…" the woman was really stressed, now that menacing growls were coming out from the tall animal accompanying the hunter "I didn't wish to say anything outside but that animal looks a little wild for your usual company"

Rin spared him a minimal glance before she waved a hand at him like shooing off an imaginary person near her. "Don't mind him… he's just overprotective" the gentle dismissal didn't lift the stress off the woman's face and Sesshomaru would have been insulted by Rin's words if it weren't for the energy she, herself, was projecting. She either felt the scent or felt the woman's deceit but his ward was well aware something wasn't right inside the tattered building. "Now" she continued sitting down beside a table "what has happened…"

Their host stared at the wolf for a long couple of seconds more before directing her attention at the task at hand. She had pulled from a small paneled closet a teapot with hot water and a platter with what looked like the 'cake' she mentioned. "A couple months ago a fearsome energy started to sprout from one of the old shrines near the edge of the Eastern forests" the older woman begun to tell as she moved her hands making a fresh batch of tea. "There is a legend about that place, you know? A legend about an old witch who was said possessed the greatest power of all… that she was so powerful she could even live forever"

The witch… Sesshomaru recognized the 'rumor' immediately and knew then she was still there where he left her. Perfect, it will save me time when I finally decipher how to kill her.

"Such power must have attracted enemies" Rin continued their talk seeming interested in the tale. The story, Sesshomaru thought the tale was a little old for her and she probably knew nothing of what really transpired back then. Then the former demon lord wandered if the meat stick could do something useful and inform the kid of what really happened.

"It did" the priestess handed Rin a cup which the other took gracefully and took a sip (Sesshomaru thought it was an obvious sign of trust meaning he was supposed to trust this woman too) "and another legend came out before the first one could be proven, this time people started to say that whoever defeated the witch would be capable of keeping her power to himself which proved too difficult a temptation to pass up so many men and demons moved east to fight the old hag and take for themselves whatever she had to give"

She had already cut the cake in slices and gave Rin a piece while she placed another similar portion on her own plate.

"It created chaos back in those days… many died and many more came out changed…"

What… this peaked Sesshomaru's interest immediately.

"Changed?"

"Cursed my child…" the woman said in a trembling voice

Cursed in what way you stupid human!

"Those who survived spoke of a beautiful woman of bewitching looks who tricked them into accepting a deal of some sort and that in exchange for whatever she was going to give them they had to give something precious in return… nobody said what they lost, only that they couldn't return home" he felt Rin shift uncomfortably in her sit and he tried his best to avoid thinking about her while he concentrated on the old priestess's tale "Most of them didn't stay, they left as wanderers and never came back and those who stayed disappeared shortly after… some said they were turned into animals, doomed to roam the woods and planes alone… unwelcomed by all creatures"

Turned into animals…? That I can believe. Yet the witch didn't take anything from me. Sesshomaru had to think for a moment losing interest in the words being spoken. If she didn't take anything from me then… perhaps that's what the hag is expecting to get from me… the reason why I can't go back to the forest, I have yet to lose something…

"What happened to the witch?" Rin's voice drove him out of his thoughts and back to the present.

"Well… I was told that she was defeated by one demon alone" Rin moved to get a second helping of the cake and breaking it into two she offered the wolf the other half "One very powerful demon entered her home in the woods and after he came back alive and well the witch was never heard from again… until now" Sesshomaru didn't take the morsel until Rin turned around to face him with the strangest look on her eyes. What is she thinking now?

"Who did it? Is he still alive?" she said turning back to the priestess.

"I'm afraid he died a long time ago… murdered because of love"

This story, Sesshomaru knew all too well.

"love?"

"A sad story child… the story of Lady Izayoi and the great Lord Inu-taishou"

Had he ever mentioned the story to Rin? If not surely that human woman had…

"Inu…" Rin mumbled thoughtful for a second "Oh... Kami…" her breath caught and the wolf knew she had heard the tale before "Uhmmm… I think I know a little of the story myself…"

"child?" the woman asked to the wind sounding concerned and Rin only smiled weakly.

"So… if Inutaishou destroyed the witch, why is she a problem?"

His eyes locked on Rin as he bit down on the treat in front of him, she was clearly avoiding any topic related to him.

"The stories say that Inu-taishou never said the word destroyed… or killed or anything similar for that matter, they are actually clear when they say he stated the witch wouldn't disrupt their peace anymore… so many guessed something else"

"He didn't kill her…"

A lie! He thought for a moment to say as he felt his hackles rise. But it was true, what they were saying. His father had been reckless leaving that creature alive and now that he knew the truth it was his duty to fix his father's mistake, something he probably did because of the feelings the human had planted in him, feelings the lord had no need for.

"The energy that has been pouring out of the forest has called again to the bloodlust of many, has brought killings and battles and destruction and pillage of the cities surrounding the shrine and it's woods… it is the reason why many powerful demons have been attacking around the area… despite the prohibitions stated by the Lords of the North and East"

"They are demons, its normal they will not follow…" she added with disdain but was cut short by the elder. "No my child, this hasn't happened before, this pact was respected for a long time and I can assure you that after the beast Naraku was destroyed too many wished more for peace and cooperation than war and fear among those who live in this area." The woman trembled again as she spoke and Rin shifted too in her seat once again "This breach in the pact isn't something they agree with, and it's not even natural!"

"What do you mean?"

"Those creatures… " he heard the other take in a sharp breath "They were cursed too Rin-chan!" moving quickly closer to her she took Rin's hands on her own effectively surprising her and calling her attention "Look into their eyes and you'll see… there's nothing inside them"

After a long moment of silence the hunter finally sighted and managed to smile softly at the older woman. "They are demons Naru-sama" "there was never something inside them to begin with"

"Child" Naru said quietly "Do not let the pain of your past distort your view… don't let your hatred blind you"

Suddenly rising from her sitting position, the young hunter stood up tall and proud, hands on her hips as she spoke in a dismissive tone "This Rin doesn't hate Naru-sama… This Rin just… holds no interest for those creatures"

"Aah… Rin-chan" Sesshomaru could only snicker at her way of speaking. She still spoke of herself in third person.

"Where are the hunters?" she tried to change the subject and decided she had stayed long enough so she also begun moving back to the entrance of the shrine. Naru, the priestess followed her shortly "They come whenever they can but the village was attacked and many are already covering entries and roads to other cities… they are already doing what they can"

"Don't fret Naru-sama" back at the entrance the young woman pivoted on her heels to look back at the woman following her tracks with a confident smile on her face "I'll fix this" she said smugly then added quickly when she noted the priest beginning to stress "I'll send a message to Inuyasha and Kagome-sama too"

"Lady Kagome must rest now chid, she won't come"

"Perhaps not… but they'll know what to do better than me"

Caught for a moment by her cautious response the grey haired woman smirked and snorted "You might be right there Rin-chan"

Rin only laughed as a challenged and lifted her nose high in the air with petulance. Sesshomaru decided he liked her laughing like that.

"Thanks for your vote of confidence" brown eyes twinkled with glee then turned mildly serious "I'll explore the area and send Inuyasha the message, please keep the villagers inside for tonight, I don't want casualties if something happens"

Signaling Sesshomaru to move back they moved away from the shrine and soon left the village behind going back through the road they had just passed. Once they were far enough she changed course right into the complex of trees and tall bushes pulling out her sword to slice her way clean.

"You felt it too, right?" his companion worded out after a moment "There was an energy inside that felt… alive" he felt more than heard her shudder "and it wasn't Naru-sama's" she paused then sliced a tall plant in half "we must be careful then… tonight might turn out way more exciting than we first thought it would"

Sesshomaru growled his approval. Something was coming and he could feel it.

"Up the mountain then" Rin smiled at him as she directed them towards the entrance of the forbidden forest.