"I don't know why Sesshomaru took her, Kagome" Inuyasha said clearly annoyed. Kagome was badgering him again, and his veins began popping at the temples.

"We'll you better find her quick, my house is full of policemen" Kagome interjected. Once that manager found out Reina was missing, he accused the family of killing her. They were going to get incarcerated for this, scratch that, they were going to burn for this.

Kagome had tried feeling out Sesshomaru's shard for days, while Inuyasha tried to catch his scent. Neither was successful. They had almost given up but suddenly a faint scent filled the air. Inuyasha knew it. It was the girl, Reina. She was far off, but still there. Inuyasha rushed towards the scent with Kagome on her back. They traveled that way for a few hours until they came upon a smoking village.

"What happened here?" Inuyasha asked. He suspected something already. Reina was back to her old ways.

"We were attacked by bandits" A dirty villager said as directed the injured. There were two people carrying an old man on a mat, trying to get him some treatment.

"NO!" He said out. He looked quite deranged.

"It was her" He said looking around wildly. The people around him ignored him clearly thinking that he was delusional

"It was the demon priestess my grandfather told me about, I saw her" He said in his old foreboding voice.

"Calm down, gramps, you're in shock" One of the men carrying him said. Inuyasha's expression tightened. Sesshomaru had taken Reina in order to resurrect the evil inside her. What was his full plan though?

Inuyasha started running towards the scent with Kagome. If they had any chance of bringing back the human girl, they had to act now. Inuyasha had to beat time though, tonight would be the new moon before it started waxing again. He would turn human. Kagome wanted to stay behind and help the villagers but catching the girl became more important lest she slaughter again.

The sun began to set and still they were far off. The scent was strong enough though, it seemed as though Sesshomaru was only traveling at a walking pace. Inuyasha sat down in the grass, there was no use fighting it, he felt his demon body seal up. He was human again

"Inuyasha… what are we going to…" Kagome started

"I don't know" Inuyasha said into the wind. He should have heeded Kaiede and took Reina back into the well when he had the chance. Instead he brought her to the cave. Kagome started building a fire, right now there were almost defenseless, but soon enough Miroku, Sango and the others arrived.

"You didn't have to run so fast" Miroku said. Even if he got there in time, his human form would have made him useless in a fight against Hanako. Being a monk, he had heard all about her tale. She was one of the vilest creatures alive before a valiant monk had destroyed her. Sango had heard a similar tale, the only difference was that the hero was a demon hunter.

"So you really think he revived Hanako" Sango said as she warmed her hands by the flame.

"I wouldn't put it past the bastard" Inuyasha said grimacing. This was so annoying, his human body, and his human weakness. Yet a part of him could tolerate it, this was the only night he and Kagome were the same. It was the only time he felt that maybe it wasn't so impossible to be with her. Kagome was boiling some water in an 'elektricty' contraption. She was preparing to make some ramen, which was in fact still quite impressive to Inuyasha's mind.

When day broke they ran on, getting closer and closer. Kagome had to get Reina back and get those investigators out of her house before they found the well of time. The ran on for another day, the sun almost setting before they found them

Inuyasha could see two figures appearing in the horizon. It was their scent, he had found them. As the figures focused, he could see Rin on the dragon and Jaken walking in the grass. But he also saw something quite shocking. Reina and Sesshomaru were holding hands. Reina started to blush trying to puller her hand away. Sesshomaru on the other hand didn't really understand the human gesture, and remained unabashed. But when her hand parted from his, he felt something. It was like a loss.

Miroku and Sango appeared in the background looking at the demon girl they knew from legend. Indeed she did not disappoint, she was as beautiful as legend told. Her ebony locks reflected the sun brilliantly. Her face could be that of a seraphim or a cherub. Miroku understood why Sesshomaru was holding her hand now, why he had taken her in the first place.

"How troublesome little brother" Sesshomaru said turning three quarters back to look at him. Kagome was shocked to see this too. Reina seemed … happy. Moreover she was definitely not transformed into some demon Miko.

Inuyasha smirked. His idea was wrong all along, no this was much better.

"Isn't this a bit hypocritical" Inuyasha said tauntingly. Sesshomaru winced. Inuyasha was not matter but his own mind began to turn against him. Why was he doing this, why did he love these humans? His demon pride wanted to win over. Inuyasha, that weak half-breed, Sesshomaru wanted to destroy him. But Sesshomaru had to answer that question, if not to Inuyasha, as least to himself.

He searched him his mind for an answer, but he could only she Reina's smiling expression in his subconscious. He could not fight it, he cared for her, if not already loved her. He understood now. Suddenly he rushed at Inuyasha pinning him by the neck to a tree.

"Do you think I am weak Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru mused "I protect them because they need me, but who do you protect? Yourself? "

Inuyasha felt weak, his blood circulation was being cut off. Yet he smirked, he had won after all. If his arrogant brother could not be defeated physically, he could still see Reina's expression.

"Maybe you should turn around for a second" Inuyasha said cruelly. Sesshomaru indulged him and turned around. Reina was looking at him, with an expression of fear. She had only seen a gentle side of him, never had she seen the ruthlessness just below the surface. She backed up, how could she have let herself fall for him? He was a monster. And what else, he couldn't answer him. It was true, he hated humans didn't he? Sesshomaru dropped Inuyasha sparing his life yet again. What should he say, he didn't know.

"You're not who I thought you were" She said sadly, with a fearful expression. She realized that Sesshomaru was so much different then herself. He moved with expert speed, and dangerous precision. Never had he been so beautiful, or so untouchable. She was not for him. She was only human.

It was in that moment of total despair that Reina's soul grew weak. Her demon sword pulsated at her side, and another form took over. She collapsed on to the ground. Sesshomaru rushed to catch her but he felt her aura change. Her blood became like a demon's. Her scent became like copper and iron, like blood.

Her eyes opened up again but they were no longer the warm brown color they were before. They were a shade of red, that made him wince. Cradling a girl that was no longer the one he loved in his arms, he felt… sad. She smiled sinisterly up at him

"Finally" She said. Then there was a huge explosion. When the smoke cleared, she was gone. As he tried to understand this feeling that was afflicting him, it became even worse. Did he love her? Did it occur the first time he laid eyes on her, or perhaps it was when she said that surly insult about his looks? He was sad, and being one of few times feeling this way he couldn't handle it. His eyes became blood red.

"Jaken, take Rin away from here" He said. Jaken followed his orders immediately taking Rin and Ah Un away from here" He said. Jaken followed his orders immediately taking Rin and Ah Un away from this battle sight. Sesshomaru stood silent for a second, he looked up angrily.

"Inuyasha, it was you" He said darkly. "I would have merely killed you before. But because of what you have done to me, I will do the same to you. That human girl you love, I will take her life"

"Like hell you will" Inuyasha said. He stepped in front of Kagome and took out Tetsaiga. Inuyasha was nervous though, he had never seen Sesshomaru this angry before. He was serious. Sesshomaru moved with lightning speed. Inuyasha feeling that Kagome's life was in danger fought furiously. But eventually he got tired. Kagome barely dodged at hit, and some of it managed to tear at her side. She screamed out.

"Stop Sesshomaru" Miroku said. Sesshomaru didn't seem to hear, he was only preoccupied with ending the girls life.

"She is a demon, I can subdue her and bring Reina back" Miroku said. Sesshomaru looked at him and stopped his assault. His body was about to become full formed but it changed back.

"Can you do this, shall I raise the stakes to the life of your woman as well" He said raising his eye. Miroku almost wanted to say no, Sango was not worth the risk.

"Do it, Miroku" Sango said, she had placed her life on the time.

Sesshomaru sat away from the rest of them looking out into the darkness. They had been traveling two days, following a trail of destruction. It occurred to him that this was also around the time he had made the one week deal. The thought had made him sullen.

Kagome was nursing her side, Sesshomaru refused to heal it with Tetsaiga. It wasn't any of his business, as he stated. Inuyasha and Miroku were going over possible plans to capture and subdue her. Sesshomaru looked at them for the first time in two days of traveling together. He needed to tell them what he knew in order for their plans to be successful.

"It's the sword" Sesshomaru said. He was quite laconic while with them. Yet his mind mused, he became so talkative and playful when around Reina. She brought out something in him. She made him happy. When Sesshomaru thought that, he became even more sullen.

"What do you mean Sesshomaru" Inuyasha said.

"It's the sword that makes Hanako strong enough to break the surface of consciousness" Sesshomaru said

"If that's the case, why didn't you take it away from her" Miroku mused. Sesshomaru hated it, he could have done something, yet he had failed her.

"Do you expect me to steal her weapon as she slept like one of you lowly slime" Sesshomaru said. In short, he couldn't help but do what she demanded. He had asked her to leave the sword behind a few times but he couldn't force her. He had only ever demanded her presence, and that was enough for all the other things. If she stayed with him, he would give her anything she wanted. But perhaps now, it wasn't the best course of action. It was not the kind of love that would keep her safe.

"So we take the sword away" Sango said being a weapons expert "Seal the sword, and Reina will return?"

"It's not that simple" Miroku said being a spirit expert "Reina gave up control because…well we need to awaken her with a strong enough stimulus"

Sesshomaru didn't like to be pitied on by humans. He knew it was because of him, and it was just even more insulting to have this man belittle him. Sesshomaru growled, he would kill them all after he brought Reina back. Yet he reasoned, he could not do that either, if Reina wanted to spare them, he would comply. Why did he have to fall in love with such a weak creature, one that caused him so much grief?

They took turns on lookout until day break. Then they began the pursuit again. They came upon a demon clan that was heavy with the scent of blood. It was a lion pride. Dead demon bodies lay sprawled out on the ground, making it red with their blood. In the middle of this horror scene was Hanako drinking the blood from a cupped hand. She caught sight of them and smirked. Her white Kimono with lotus flowers, which Sesshomaru had given her, was stained almost completely in blood.

"This ought to be interesting" She said

Sesshomaru looked at her demonic body and something else began to plague him. If she were like this, she would live forever. His demon conscious told him to let her remain. But it wasn't the same. She was not the person he loved. Though he was conflicted about human love, he could no longer deny that he loved her. If it made him weak then so be it, let it be his only weakness. It was then that voice of Jaken, of all people filled his head. He had been scolding Rin at the time, when she was particularly brazen.

"My mother once told me love for humans is only heartache and death. Every spring the flowers come back, every summer the watermelon ripens. This is not so with humans. One spring when the flowers come back, you will sit alone as if they did not comeback at all. One summer when the watermelons ripen, you will find yourself eating it alone." Jaken said wisely, repeating the words of his mother.

Sesshomaru felt conflicted unsure of what to do…..

- On hiatus-

This whole story needs a typo revising from the beginning. Also winter break is ending soon! I will try to update sometime but it's not going to be too soon. Also I can see this story isn't doing too well, so I want to rewrite parts of it before continuing!

Apologies, and thanks for read so far,

V.T R