A/N: Our favorite dog demon everybody. I apologize for the late update, I plan to update when I have the hour of day.


When Rin was lost that cursed day, Sesshomaru felt the world had become frigid and harsh.

Futilely, he scavenged the land for any hint, sign—something that held evidence of her. Murder was pointless, no one to blame but himself. He knew—he knew that he should have been firm with the old woman and taken Rin with him, he protecting her and keeping her safe. He had rescued her countless times, and did not this time. Constantly reminded by that, guilt weighed heavy in his raw heart and soul, if he had one still. Years crawled, and after half a decade he stopped searching. However it wasn't due to the gnawing hole but a disturbance had begun, and in his nature, he goes wherever it starts.

Skirmishes were getting serious, no longer child's play, and he had to take action, quickly. His father had died and left Sesshomaru to be his successor; to live up to his image. Honorable figure his father was, having a compassionate spot for humans; likewise with his own kindred. Accomplishing the feat was effortless, sought out from his impression of opponents retelling his challenges. Wins and defeats. Inuyasha too, whilst full blooded demons were reverent to Sesshomaru.

Subsequently, seeing that he had nothing left in his inheritance (except his swords), in a mere matter of years he built his empire to the western province that his father had conquered, armies volunteering and supplying the lord. Everyone, demons and mortals alike, clambered at a chance to join arms of the daiyokai. Allowing a selection that held a defined potential and loyalty, he let them reside in his empire, fit for an abundant of inhabitants; majority being so the inu yokai looking to him for leadership. Other forces set agreements, the Wolf Tribe agreeing to fight alongside as allies, Koga having no bitter blood with Inuyasha's brother.

Jaken remained at his side, finally what he desired in the profession of Chief Minister, and his younger brother and wife along with their friends took refuge in the establishment, their village ransacked by the corrupted, the first to crumble. A calamity in the northern and southern lands. No one had control over any lands, but in these parts an unknown disease plagued everything, spreading. Turning the living insane with blood lust, kin and kin against each other. Houses burned to the ground, among the ashes the innocent and the frail. If no one found what was the cause, it would end in distinction of all races. Theories they had come up were too absurd to process, and had them all pondering. A new threat perhaps? No, they would have already announced their presence. Were they too close to the shadows then? Whatever or whomever it is, it needed to be found and finished.

He sent messengers to spread word to neighboring territories, in return either gave word of held their tongue. Most were wise, and cooperated with the canine demon. The agenda was send out specialists that were familiar with tracking down to try and find origin of the malady; meanwhile herbalists would try and figure out if there was a cure. At the moment, the herbalists stated it was a type of miasma, with components that even they didn't recognize. Unfortunately, no antidotes were produced yet, herbs and spells having an unsuccessful effect. On the lighter side, the plurality all had contributed in many ways; negligible ill-heart among the diversity of the kind. He himself accepted mortals. Too many lives lost; and it wouldn't help to add more.

Roaming through the passages, Sesshomaru snapped out of his cognition. He came from a meeting resulting in a treaty, and he kept mind on the denizens so he knew the concerns they had. Thereafter he would go off, solitude his sanctuary. Fellow affiliates acknowledging the superior in a dip of their heads, an occasional bow. Jaken toddled steps ahead, berating anyone who seemed out of line to him.

"Sesshomaru-sama, I have good news!" a jubilant voice yelled. Rotating halfway, he let the colonel get within a feet. In the short period, at least to them, he was very considerate giving the man space, not that he was afraid of him. Yes he was intimidating, he would say that as much, but he had centuries and had seen sights that would make grown men cry to their mother's, he was quite the story teller if he would say himself. Compared to the lord, he could be of higher rank. Inu no Taisho inclined him to warfare, and he was at peace where he was.

"Yes?" he said with a speck of agitation. The man grinned broadly, his cyan markings stretching, his fangs peeking out of his mouth.

"We finally got Fumito-san to join us!" the man excitedly said. The yokai lord lifted a thin eyebrow then gave a scant of indication. Stubborn man refused, till they had to rescue him and he reluctantly submitted to them, in debt forcing him. One of the few who abhorred changes, centuries from a late epoch. "Bastard was hard to convince," the older demon grumbled. "Indeed," Sesshomaru agreed. "What prosperous fortune!" the gamin shrilled.

"Let's go celebrating," he cheered. "Hiromasa-san, now isn't the time or place to get intoxicated," the younger spirit reprimanded, rotating back and continuing on his path. "Your father—"

"Don't speak—"

"Jaken." Mindful of his mouth, he clamped his beak shut. Hiromasa growled at the impudent demon, in return Jaken glared at him. Not bothering to admonition, the commander's son spoke as he went to the entrance.

"My father is dead." Pausing he moved back in the half circle, face above his shoulder. "Yes, you were in his stead and you were his leading man. As you are now to I. Yet, you think this Sesshomaru is like him, which I, am not."

With those parting words and a hurrying yokai, he left the warrior inwardly chuckling. "Kami help us," he walked to the mess hall. Inspecting his mien, ponytail loose, clothes and armor crooked. "A change of clothes is required, don't want to look drunk before I do get drunk," he mulled. A certain limit measured on quantity for drinks, and he held record.

(000)

He stood at the timber well. Timelessly, it stood like him, untouched by the destruction that shrouded the area. This feudal lord came to the site, the one place Jaken didn't accompany him, taking it as his sanctuary. He had to get his hands dirty to simply stand, demons and humans attacked him. Each visit had an increase of varmints, and he could no longer stand here and think.

Unusual was the word to describe the place. Many of the foes had cleared out, leaving the abolished vicinity. Taking a mid-step closer, he inhaled. He felt it. Smelled, sensed, he could taste it. Her. She was here. Distant though, but he could travel the distance. Why hadn't he detected it sooner?

Wishful thinking, maybe his mind was playing tricks. The disappearance of Rin had been shy of a decade, one year more would equal ten years. Time regarded immortality, he had a lifetime to wallow in self-pity.

Nonetheless, he proceeded to pursuit the faint fragrance. Then, it went dead. Anomalous, he circled where it went cold. Inside he lambasted himself. Even if it was her by a whim of chance, how would he approach her? For all he knew, it could just be someone who smelled similar to his ward. Humans had that repulsive scent, but to him he was accustomed to Rin's. She could be a replica, a shell of herself. Brought back from the dead, like his brother's departed paramour.

Returning to the estate, he collided with a shorter demon. "Ojii-san!" a joyful chirp was heard below. Staring at the one-fourth demon and human child, he waited for one of her parents to come charging. Accurate to his intuition, Inuyasha came barreling through. Seeing his dearest daughter safe, he let out a puff of relief.

"Chisuzu!" he said, anger and worry intermixing. The toddler yipped in fear, using her uncle's leg as the perfect hiding spot. She reminded him of Rin so much when she was a youth. The dark hair was a shade darker then hers, and she had lighter eyes, a shade from her father and mother traits. To Kagome's dismay, she didn't possess the adorable dog ears her husband had, but her teeth and nails, sharper and pointed than a normal mortal. Attitude-wise, she was a smidge bolder than Rin at her age gap, a quirk from his sibling.

"Sesshomaru," he greeted, thanks in the name. "Brother," he replied, looking ahead.

The father cleared his throat, Chisuzu taking the cue to go off and hide. Inuyasha lifted her up effortlessly, her shrieks and laughter bubbling from the hybrid. Infectiousness she is, he laughed along with her. Controlling his laughter, he coughed turning him serious. "You can't just explore this place without permission and supervision," he scolded, the girl slumping, pouting.

"Hey... just ask your mother next time," he tilted her chin up. Inuyasha was new to the whole father job, and scolded by Kagome. Spoiling and lenient on punishments and rules, both parents tried to outdo one another. All in all, they loved their children endlessly, coming to comprehend how Sango and Miroku felt. Family influenced them, bringing experiences to the couple, Inuyasha's overdrive of security on his children.

"Okay," she huffed, giggling when her father tickled her. "Now go find your mother, she's probably taking care of your brother." Clambering out of his arms, the small girl scampered off, leaving the two brothers alone. The younger of the two leaned against a pillar, crossing his arms inside his baggy sleeves. "Kids, you can't get rid of them," he tiredly humored. Chisuzu wear him and Kagome, the tyke extremely energetic.

"Hn."

"Again with one worded answers, huh," his brother snorted. "And I thought you changed."As a cause of living under the same damn roof his older brother lived in, they had set aside their differences, a bizarre bond between the two. Everyone was thankful they didn't kill each other, the first days quite a duel; Inuyasha the irrational and Sesshomaru being logical to the point of fratricide. Bearing through it all (the yeomen mainly), they settled on a truce.

Inuyasha cocked his head, keen nose identifying the scent that lingered on him. "Rin is here?" his posture straightened, head swiveling for the girl. Wouldn't he have seen her with his brother anyway? Stiffening, Sesshomaru indifferently gave no response, despite the fact that the hanyo saw his sudden rigidness.

"Spit it out," the brother tapped his tapered nails on the bridge of his forearms, reclining on the pilaster. These words were commonly used on his children, who fancied to stuff anything in their mouths. "It's not her," his brother had already retreated from the conversation. "Oh no you're not," the brash man seated his feet in front of his path. "It might have worked in the past but you sure as hell aren't escaping from this."

"Move Inuyasha," the older commanded. Moods were unpredictable, unstable. Balance brought no release, as did sleep. Though he didn't sleep generally, a percentage he currently got nowadays. "If it isn't her, then why is her smell on you? She's been missing for almost ten years, maybe even more—"

"Nine years," he corrected. Nine years, two and a third months, fifteen days, thirty-four hours, seven minutes, and fifty-eight seconds to be precise. Eight minutes. "So you are keeping track of her," the half demon smirked in the answer that had slipped out unwittingly. Without exception, every moment of his existence he kept a mental calendar, xing the twenty-four hours that passed to only repeat the cycle.

"My affairs do not concern you," he coldly stated. " Keh! Like hell it does! We've had to put up with your sulking and you're more of a—" "Inuyasha, cease your talking." Swimmingly, he leapt above him, although Inuyasha wasn't going to chase him. "Even if it is her, we can't ignore the circumstances. Our primary motive is to resolve this cataclysm."

His mouth was in retort, but he closed it. What he said was true, but damn if it was Kagome, he would drop everything for her. But that was him and not Sesshomaru. The noble had responsibilities and had to focus on what was occurring; cargo heaping. "If you're done, I will be going."

"Sesshomaru-sama! Where were you?" his devoted minion smacked into his legs. "Nowhere," he riposted, marching past him. "Milord you can't be nowhere," the Chief Minister dissented. "Jaken." Pausing the high demon stopped his pace. "Yes milord?" the impish yokai, slamming into his leg once more. "You know fully well where I have went. Don't ask inane questions."

Obeying as he unfailingly did, he kept up informing him. "Much has happened. An emporium and armies, in a short span! Only you, Sesshomaru-sama, can vanquish what we're in. We've have scores of demons, but never humans under our control. An achievement for the history volumes, no less! At long last, we have a domain we can call ours, I—I mean yours milord." Prolixly lauding him, the taller, paying no interest at the babbling eulogizes. Additionally, a conference was commencing, the lord naturally there. Had to hold his rank; listen to the information and the progression.

"Wondering when you were coming," the inu yokai gestured to the meeting as it already was in session. "What are we discussing?" he inquired, observing the words everybody was debating. "The situation at hand, what else?" Hiromasa bantered.

"Maybe it is a curse by the gods," a mortal loudly spoke. "It is not a god's doing," another answered. Opinions were fired, shot down by rationals.

"A disease by demons?" one provided. "Yes because we would create a disease that would kill us too," demon retorted. An uproar sprang up, both classifications defensive about their statuses.

Now, the room was lively with taunts and insults. They did get along, but when another accused the other, it created a headache for the patrician. Hiromasa breathed soundly, looking at the young lord. Before blood could be spilled, he took his role, he stood up, crowd hushing at the respected dog yokai; Jaken standing next to him noiseless.

"What is this nonsense? Aren't we proper beings or not?" his authoritative tone making them feel shameful for arguing like children. A long-lasting thickness fell in the chamber. Obviously, it didn't last for long as someone broke it.

"Milord, the infected are spreading, slow but surely, and we haven't discovered the genesis. Gas masks are the only thing immune to the ailment, no elixir. We cannot bring contaminated people back to their state of minds, death their providence. Years have flown by, yet it seems there is no progress. Our actions are worthless, we can only withhold them," a stouthearted voice ventured.

Contemplating he pondered, his silence making the room tense. "Yes you are right, it is fairly hopeless," he acceded to, a lot jaw-slacken. Rarely he vocalized his assessments, letting Hiromasa to handle that. "Let me propose a notion." Waiting, the consortium patiently observed him. "If it satisfies oneself, go and rest if you want. But if one want's to find it, go and search for it on your own. When you are finished, come back and report."

Murmurs of consensus were heard, and many started planning. "I myself will go and try to find a cure or the origin. For those who stay, Colonel Hiromasa will be my replacement. He's the one I have confidence in and is capable." Glancing at the stunned dog demon, he quirked his eyebrows."You will do the task?" he requested, hidden meaning to not refuse.

Reliable, he would have said yes anyway, the absence of the pressure from the gazes waiting for his reply would have been appreciated. "Of course," he risked his hand to close the agreement. Impassively, he shook the proffered hand; Jaken scowling. "Thank you I'm privileged to have your position," the yokai said, shaking twice. As mortals and spirits either left or stayed, Sesshomaru retired to his quarters.

(000)

Sipping the hot tea, he sat gazing up at the evening sky. Stars coruscated in the rich blueness of the heavens, the moon nonexistent in its phase. Steam blew in the chilled air, the warmness cooling in his hands. Once, he had enjoyed the scenery, presently he loathed it. He and Rin diurnally gazed at the living painting, she sometimes attempting to count the stars as she fell asleep. She never got past ten, education undeveloped, he listing to a infinite number.

Everything was bemusing when the innocent girl had fun. Simplest recreations entertained the girl, he mystified by the activities she played. Apart from flowering picking, star counting was her favored pastime in the dark. Admittedly, that was leisure for him, numbering the celestial bodies. Farthest he tallied was in a range in the thousandths. Then daybreak roused her and they carried onward.

How carefree and ebullient she seemed then. Was she happy? Petals from the blooming cherry blossom tree in the courtyard scattered in the air, painting an alive portrait. A stray floret drifted to his cup, bobbing in the ripples of the jade ocean. Touching the blossom, he let it float in his nightly drink.

"Rin."

Saying that word made the dull ache in him filed a inch further, anguish his liberation, and he regretted uttering the appellation. His mouth curled, as if the name brought torment. He avoided using it; though he stood at the location that she had vanished. Sinful he felt, doing nil to the well, except trying to reach her. But he only ended back up to the surface. A cruel reminder of her and his failure.

What was she like now? Her eyes and hair were common, but her sweet disposition made her an original. Had she gotten rid of talking in third-person? Was she okay? Swirling the bowl, it created waves that dunked the flower. It rose to the surface, buoyantly afloat. Putting down his tea cup, he quieted those questions he had wondered numerously, busying himself with what he needed for the trip. Who knows, the lord could be in the road for many more centuries.

Organizing his commodities, he worked on the paperwork that was sitting on his desk. Neat, tidy, barely put to its purpose. Lighting the table lantern, he settled himself, coating his brush in the ink. Glad he had speed, manipulating the ability writing crisply and ideally. Setting aside the parchment, he cracked his fingers. Distinguishing the flickering flame, he made up his mind, going outside to count the stars. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. The repetition had began.

(000)

"Let's go," the phrase innate to them. A-Un refused to be led by Jaken, and walked at the back. "Where are we heading milord?" the toad solicited, already in the forests. "And why are we bringing A-Un?"

Already in the forests and the demon had his old habits showing. A-Un neighed to make obvious what he felt. He was restless, the trees stripped of their leaves and the vegetation wilting. It was good to be a demon; food wasn't a problem unlike to humans.

The feudal noble didn't reply, Jaken mentally taking assumption that led to him in conclusion that his the feudal yokai was scheming to slay him. Rin would have answered him and he felt saddened. Though he wouldn't say it aloud, the girl made conversations easier, and he felt dolor. Plus, his ruler was still sore on the subject and evading it. Enticed to ask, he cleared his throat.

"Are we to fi—" "Finish that sentence, I finish your life." the lord nonchalantly threatened. "My apologies, milord." Expecting it, the threat confirmed his hunch. Whether he wanted to his lord had taken this as a opportunity to locate where Rin was. He knew his true intention and he had no problem with it. He never did, respecting the feudal demon.

Sometimes, he was curious on what Rin was exactly to Sesshomaru. She didn't feel as a daughter, the lord was miles from fatherly. Her admiration for him when she was as a minor, matched his though he was at his side for lasting decades. Rin was at his side for a fraction of the time he served, to boot his lord preferred her over him. Confusing him before, a human over a demon? What was she to him? And what was he to her? His lord would save her, over and over, death looming. Overjoyed, he was when Rin was resurrected, though Sesshomaru was the one that was feeling the greatest of joys. He had learned what his father had laid for him, playing right in his hand to have a compassionate self. Rin had been an extra to help him feel. And then Jaken came to understand though his lord might have not.

Taking to the skies, he decided to fly, the little yokai riding the back of A-Un. With no interferences he resumed his search for his ward. The pain was lessening and the burden becoming unwanted cargo. Pieces were pulled into a single proportion, his purpose was renewed and a part of him returned, lively as it was when she was with him.


A/N: Rin is next. R&R is appreciated.

Hiromasa: widespread brightness.

Chisuzu: the beauty of a thousand bells.