*I am very sorry that this is such a short update - I have much more coming shortly, but decided to add just a small next chapter until I'm done. I hope you enjoy it - and thank you so much again for all your kind reviews.*

Sesshomaru coursed across the night sky at a blinding speed, hate coursing through his veins. He could think of one thing, and one thing only.

Rin.

How could he have fallen for a trap such as that? He cursed his foolishness. Because of his stupid instincts, because of his bloodlust; and most of all, because he hadn't properly disposed of that foul, inbred creature and her lackey of a brother, Rin was dead. And he could never get her back.

Just like Inuyuki.

Now that his rage was set loose, the flood of memories assaulted him with a seeming will of their own.

He remembered the first time he laid eyes upon Inuyuki - her beautiful hair the color of midnight, her eyes the color of the ocean, her skin pale as milk. And her boundless grace and humility - she was utterly unlike any other youkai he had ever known - dog or otherwise.

The entire Palace was enamored with her, though she did not see it - her powers, though largely defensive, were incredible. She was able to take a portion of her abilities and let her dogs feed off of them, in a way, as to become stronger themselves. And her healing was impressive as well. If she had been trained, as he had planned to do himself, her attack would likely be somewhere equal to his. However, her grace and quiet nature made it difficult for her to wish harm to any creature - human or youkai. In that alone, she was very unique.

Up until he met Rin, there was no creature he had adored so much - and she adored him, as well. He could always feel it in her embraces, and sighs, during their many wonderful nights under the stars. They had been in bliss - though of course, he never would have admitted it.

And then that foolish bitch Inuchiyo had been thrust upon him, by his parents - or rather, by his own father, who angrily complained that Inuyuki wasn't good enough because of her consorting with humans. The same youkai who, a hundred years later, took a human mistress and gave her his child. The two-facedness of his father's behavior was something Sesshomaru was never able to forgive - especially since he knew from the first that his father wished to have Inuyuki for his own.

He knew from the moment he met Inuchiyo that she was nowhere near as powerful as her father had asserted - she had strong mind reading abilities, and persuasion as well - but that was it. It was clear from the beginning that she relied on her brother for all things involving protection. And for affection, as well.

The night that was supposed to be their bridal moon found him walking in to the two of them, brother and sister, rutting on the marriage bed. It was well within his right to kill both of them where they stood - but he chose instead to let them live in his disgrace. He was hopeful that they would beget a child between them, and get themselves executed.

He mistook Inuchiyo's thankfulness for her life as acquiescence - he had no idea that she had wanted him to actually lie with her (which would never happen). Of course, she didn't care for him at all - she wanted the power of proving to the world that she had brought forth the new heir to the family line. They would, of course, be able to tell the child's father by scent.

Then, the betrayal.

He should have seen it coming. But he hadn't, and that was something he would always have to live with. That, and the fact that he hadn't finished the bitch like he thought he had.

Three days after Inuyuki's burial, he was able to track Inuchiyo to a cave, waiting for her brother's return. He had mercilessly lashed her with his light-whip from head to toe, scarring her gorgeous flesh all over. Then he strangled her with it viciously. He was certain she had died.

The question remained: how was she alive?

He didn't have any more time for reminiscence; he was approaching the two of them, and quickly. They were on the edge of the Forest of Inuyasha - an interesting place for them to pick for a battle. Rin's corpse was not far away. He no longer tried to suppress the rage - it fairly boiled out of him.

They were standing in front of the large camphor trees, Inukaito braced in a fighting stance, sitting upon his large white haunches. Sesshomaru found it odd that the youkai was still in his beast form - that took up a great deal of energy. He alighted, facing them both, Inukaito standing in front of Inuchiyo. Before he could attack, Inuchiyo spoke.

"Why look, my brother! Sesshomaru has graced us with his presence once again! I am fairly certain that this time he was seeking us out, much like he did all those years ago. What a shame - for the second time, he has lost the thing dearest to his heart."

Sesshomaru growled menacingly, preparing to strike.

"Oh, not so quick, Sesshomaru. You see, Inukaito has vowed never to transform back into his two-legged form until we and our clan are avenged upon you. You took our family from us - you took our dignity - and my beauty," she said, bitterness in her eye. "But you will not take our revenge." She held up the bone dagger in her hand.

Then it struck him - the bones! That was how she had stayed alive - she stole Inuyuki's power, and divided her in half. It confirmed what he had long suspected about Inuyuki - that she had a soul. He cursed his ignorance - all he had to do was destroy the bone!

But he knew he couldn't do it with Bakusaiga - the bone, and Inuyuki's soul with it, would be poisoned completely, and destroyed. The only answer was... unfortunately... Tetsusaiga - Inuyasha's blade. Its ability to cut through barriers was unrivaled.

He felt a sudden familiar, yet strange presence. Out of the trees, to the left of the three youkai, stepped out a tall young woman, with dark hair, beautiful light brown eyes, and a purple staff. At her side stood a dog - who seemed much larger than he had last time Sesshomaru saw him.

It was Rin.