Hey, guys! Sorry for the ridiculously long hiatus. Junior year in highschool was a killer. Now that I've finally gotten some free time I hope to be able to finish the story. Again, I apologize for the long wait. So, with no further ado, the story continues . . . .

Chapter 6. Reunion

The tranquil calm of the forest was broken by the sound of someone moving through the trees. Inuyasha leaped higher in an attempt to get a better lock on the scent. He knew that within a few moments it would vanish, leaving no trace behind.

"We've got to hurry!" Kagome said worriedly clinging tight to his back.

Inuyasha nodded in agreement as he flew from branch to branch. If they could not stop Kimaryu now . . . "No", Kagome tried to shrug off the doubt eating away at her, "we will stop him."

Sesshomaru lay motionless as Kimaryu crush him to the ground with his foot.

"Lord Sesshomaru!", cried Rin, arms outstretched for her master.

Kimaryu laughed at her feeble cries, holding her up in his hand. He held the Tokijin high in his right hand preparing to drive it through the weakened Sesshomaru when something caught his attention. He released his hold on Sesshomaru and turned towards the forest. The familiar scent of the half-breed and the priestess filled his nostrils.

"So they're coming are they?"Kimaryu laughed , "Though I doubt it's to save your hide."

Sesshomaru's wounds continued to flow out as Kimaryu ascended into the sky.

"Lord Sesshomaru, help me!" Rin screamed.

"You've been spared for now, my loathsome kin", gloated Kimaryu, "I assure you that next time you won't be so lucky."

With that, he took off into the fading crimson sun leaving Sesshomaru's broken body behind.

"No!" Inuyasha roared as he rushed to the clearing.

"What is it?" Shippo asked as they flew across the river to the other side.

"We lost him!"

He landed and let Kagome off his back, and it was only then that he saw him. His ears stood up in surprise at the unbelievable sight.

"What is . . ." Kagome stopped in mid sentence when she saw the fallen Sesshomaru not ten feet away. Before she could say anything else Inuyasha leaped into to the air preparing to finish the job.

"Iron Reaver!" His attack was cut short as Kagome slid in front of him to shield Sesshomaru.

Inuyasha's claws had stopped just two inches from her face.

"What the hell are you doing?!" ,he screamed, "Get out of my way!"

"I'm stopping you from doing something you'll regret!" Kagome replied continuing to barr Inuyasha's path.

He starred down at her in amazement and anger. How dare she defend him of all people! Sesshomaru, the very one who'd tried to kill him just the day before! The one who'd almost had them all killed.

"Inuyasha I can't let you do it. Not like this. I won't stand by and watch you murder your own brother!" She almost broke into tears as she starred up into Inuyasha's eyes. He was speechless and num. Kagome turned away from that amber gaze and wiped her eyes before he could do it for her. "Help me lift him.", she said kneeling down over Sesshomaru.

"What?"

Kagome turned back to him with a look of urgency in her eyes.

"Just this once . . . help him."

Reluctantly, Inuyasha knelt down as he and Kagome distributed Sesshomaru's weight.

Jaken began to stir and leaped up in surprise at what he saw.

"What are you two doing with my master?! Put him down right . . ."-

"We're helping him." said Kagome.

"Helping?" Jaken repeated. He was taken aback, but he hardly had time to ponder this new development as he suddenly remember what had happened.

"Rin!!!", he shrieked, "Rin, where are you?!"

Kagome and Shippo gasped. "You mean the little girl that travels with you?"

"Lord Sesshomaru will have my head! He'll kill me! He told me to protect Rin with my life and I let her fall into that demon's hands!" He began to smack himself with his staff.

"Calm down or you're gonna hurt yourself." Shippo said.

"You calm down! When Lord Sesshomaru wakes up I'm as good as dead!"

Kagome reached out and stopped him.

"Don't worry Jaken, we'll help you get her back. Nobodies gonna kill anyone until we've come up with a plan."

Jaken looked up her, a bit more relieved.

"Now," Inuyasha said as he and Kagome lifted Sesshomaru to his feet, "Anywhere we can put this guy?"

"Yes", Jaken said running ahead of them, "Their's a small human hut just over this hill."

"Good."

Kagome looked over at Inuyasha as they started up the hill.

"What are we gonna do?"

Inuyasha shook his head, unsure of their next move.

"If this Kimaryu guy was able to beat Sesshomaru then we know we're not dealing with low class demon. We need time." Exactly what they were running out of. The sun was already setting, sending shadows streaking across the mountains. Demons would be coming soon. Darkness always brought forth the fiends of the feudal era and now was not the time to be caught out in the open. Finding Sesshomaru would only serve to work against them is Rin did not survive the night.

Cold, damp, darkness. Rin opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by infinite blackness. She sat up slowly feeling her surroundings. She crawled toward what seemed to be a rough and jagged wall and used it to stand. What was this place? Where was Lord Sesshomaru? Would he come to save her? Would he even know where to look for her? She sat down, her mind quickly giving in to the fear of uncertainty. "Lord Sesshomaru, please hurry."

Kagome worked diligently, bandaging Sesshomaru's wounds while Inuyasha stood by. Inuyasha jerked his head in the other direction and folded his arms to show his disgust.

"Now what's the matter?" Kagome asked.

"Listen, if you're not gonna let me kill him, I'd prefer it if I didn't have to look at him." He said.

Normally Jaken would have protested in his master's defense but he knew now was not the time.

Kagome was just finishing when Sesshomaru's eyes shot open.

"Rin!"

He grasped Kagome's arm tightening his hold. She placed her hand on his chest to try and calm him down,

"Sesshomaru you have to be still or you'll open up your wounds again."

He released his hold on her as he took in his surroundings.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm closing your wounds. You were badly injured. . ." - "Rin, where is she."

Kagome took in a deep breath.

"She was . . . captured."

Sesshomaru turned his piercing gaze from Kagome to Jaken who stared into the opposite corner in shame. Then Sesshomaru's eyes met Inuyasha's.

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking care of your sorry but. What's it look like?"

Sensing another fight about to stir Kagome stood up.

"Inuyasha, would you stop it!"

He rolled his eyes.

"Sesshomaru we're only trying to help you!"

Sesshomaru stared up at her.

"I didn't ask for your help, human." He spat.

"Well it's not like you have a choice."

Sesshomaru closed his eyes.

"So, I am reduced to being cared for by a half-demon and his human. On top of this Kimaryu has betrayed me and failed to slay Inuyasha."

Kagome turned to him in shock.

"What did you . . .?"

"I knew it!",Inuyasha roared, "I knew this bastard couldn't be trusted! He sold us out to that demon, and for what?!"

Forgetting the absence of his sword, he flew across the room reaching for his empty sheath.

Sesshomaru laughed, "A little hasty for our own good."

A startled look appeared on Inuyasha's face as he remembered it was gone.

"It appears once again that we are at a stalemate."

It didn't take long before Rin realized she wondered deeper into the cave. She stopped to catch her breath. The air was growing thinner and more frigid the farther she walked. She knew not why, but something was calling out to her. It called her and she followed. Suddenly she saw something in the distance, almost a flicker. Could it be? She took a deep breath and ran towards the defining glow. She burned with excitement. Sunlight was just up ahead. Just as she was upon the strange light,she realized it was not the rays of the sun that had drawn her. She open her mouth to scream but the wind was sucked out of her as the purple glow burned brighter and pulled her inside.

Kagome stared tentatively at Sesshomaru who stared back. Inuyasha, Shippo, and Jaken had gone to retrieve the others. Sesshomaru shifted his weight and sighed heavily. Finally, Kagome decided to break the silence.

"So, that girl who travels with you, her name is Rin?"

Sesshomaru pretended not to hear her.

"I'm sorry we didn't get here in time to stop him."

Sesshomaru flashed a feint grin.

"I don't need your sympathy."

"That's not what I'm trying to say!"

Sesshomaru continued to look away.

"Sesshomaru, I know it's none of my business, but . . .", she paused realizing what she was about to say, "why do you and Inuyasha hated each other so?"

Sesshomaru's icy stare turned from the corner, to Kagome, to the Tensaiga that rested at his side.

"You know nothing of my cursed fate with this worthless sword. Funny how even though I've tried to abandon it all my life it's always come back to haunt me.", he laughed coldly, "It will be the death of me."

Kagome looked at him in surprise. It had only been a small bit, but he had just opened up to her. She stood up and peered outside the doorway. The sun was dropping below the mountains as Inuyasha, Koga, and the others arrived.

"Maybe not, Sesshomaru. Maybe not."