We walked for three days in the direction of the Ox-Tiger with almost no interruptions. Sesshomaru remained as quiet as ever though. On the morning of the fourth day, something interesting finally happened. While we were walking, Rin decided to go fishing as we reached a stream. She ran off ahead of us with Jaken right on her heels like usual, but as I took in the scents of the morning a familiar scent hit me. It was the scent of wolves, but not any wolves I knew. Actually, now that I thought of it, the scent was a bit similar to that of Kouga's. As we walked up towards the river I heard Jaken shouting, and two other voices I didn't know. When we did reach the river we could see two wolf demons and their wolves stood between us and the river.
"Jaken, what's the cause of this commotion?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried as she moved from behind Jaken to behind Sesshomaru in fear. I watched her curiously and looked over to the two demons. Their wolves started to back away from Sesshomaru; it was shameful for wolves to cower in front of an enemy no matter how powerful they may be. Showing fear was disgraceful, although I understood they were simply trusting their instincts, but to actually show their fear, disgusting.
"Who are you and what do you want!" The wolf demon on the right asked.
"You looking for a fight?" The other one challenged. Sesshomaru just glared at them, for they were no challenge to him. I smirked at this, for the demons now backed away.
"We're gonna leave but it ain't outta fear!" The one on the right shouted.
"Yeah, you don't scare us mister!" The other one lied as they took off. Sesshomaru, surprisingly, watched them run off.
"Ah, Rin." He said.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Weren't you going to catch yourself some fish?" He asked her. She smiled delightedly.
"Ah, Yes!" She shouted and ran over to the water.
"Be careful, Rin!" Jaken shouted after her, following her to the water. I smiled, amused.
"Shiori." Sesshomaru called.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Did you know those two?" He asked.
"No, but they smelled like a demon I met once." My smile quickly faded as I recalled that demon. "His name was Kouga; he claims to be the leader of the wolf demon tribe in the western mountains." I calmed myself down a bit and sighed. "I'm going to help Rin." I said and walked over to the water. Before I even got in I could hear barking coming toward us. Rin heard it to and she shuddered at the sound. The wolves were coming back, but the two demons from before weren't with them. I ran over to them, stopping them before they could get anywhere near Rin. I gave a low growl to warn them, I didn't want to harm them. They told me to let them by, for they wanted to eat the human girl. I growled back, telling them to leave, for she was mine. They looked at each other unsure. Then they split up, one group at me the other into the water. I struck them hard with a closed fist, so as not to kill them. Then I ran over to Rin and managed to get between her and the wolves. She screamed alerting Sesshomaru, but I had this handled. I struck the wolves as I had the others, and growled at them once more, warning to kill them if they persisted. Luckily, they were not foolish enough to try again and so they ran off in the direction from which they'd come. We had no issues for most of the day after that. Rin caught herself some fish and we cooked them over a nice fire. After that I helped her onto Ah Uhn and we all headed towards the direction of the Ox-Tiger once more.
When nightfall came, we ran into those two wolf demons again. They annoyingly stood in our way.
"This road is closed, you cannot pass!" One shouted.
"Turn around and take another route!" The other one demanded.
"What'll we do now if we can't take this route?" Jaken asked.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked wearily. I looked at him, wondering what he'd do also.
"We're the personal assistants of Kouga, the great young leader of the wolf demon tribe; I'm Ginta from the fires of hell!" One claimed
"And I'm Slayer Hakkaku!" The other shouted.
"That's not what they said earlier on." Jaken told us.
"This rode is closed, turn around!" They exclaimed.
"So annoying they are." I said. Sesshomaru just stared at them, emotionless. Then they struck the air several times, in all different ways, trying to prove themselves.
"You got that!" They shouted. Sesshomaru was not amused by this, however I was. They were going to get themselves killed. Then they started to mock fight each other. "How was that!" They asked. Still Sesshomaru just stood there staring coldly at them. Then Hakkaku threw Ginta high into the air.
"Throwing stars attack!" Hakkaku shouted. Ginta came down hard striking the ground at full force with his foot.
"Lightning bolt attack!" Ginta cried.
"Well?" They both asked waiting for Sesshomaru to say something, anything. Honestly their charade was getting old now.
"Make way." Sesshomaru demanded. This frightened them, they had no idea what to do.
"You go elsewhere, this path is closed." Hakkaku stuttered.
"There's nothing to see here, move along." Ginta told us. Jaken's jaw dropped, astounded anyone would try something like this to Lord Sesshomaru.
"I told you to make way." Sesshomaru told them as he headed toward them. They started to freak out again.
"It's all over Ginta." Hakkaku whispered.
"Hakkaku, we have a chance of making it out alive if we drag Kouga away. What do you think?" Ginta asked.
"You're right! Let's get Kouga out of here!" Hakkaku replied.
"Somebody looking for me?" A familiar voice called from the distance. It was Kouga, he was standing above us on a cliff. I couldn't stand the sight of him.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Kouga asked. He watched Sesshomaru carefully for a moment then he jumped down behind Ginta and Hakkaku. Then he looked at me, probably remembering me from before, and gave me a stern look. Then he looked back to Sesshomaru. "He reeks like that filthy mutt Inuyasha." Rin gasped at the sight of him.
"Lord Sesshomaru." Rin called. We both looked at her, she was scared out of her mind. Ginta and Hakkaku ran behind Kouga. Sesshomaru's eyes did not leave her.
"That's him, Inuyasha's older brother." Hakkaku told him.
"Don't go picking a fight with him." Ginta said.
"So you're Inuyasha's brother? Hmm, except that you're not a half demon." Kouga said. Sesshomaru quickly looked back at Kouga now. "What's this, looks like I struck a nerve?"
"Kouga, no!" Ginta and Hakkaku shouted frightened for him.
"Stand back Rin." Sesshomaru commanded. He walked over to Kouga.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" She cried. Jaken and Ah Uhn, carrying Rin, backed away. I stood my ground. Ginta and Hakkaku cowered in fear behind Kouga. Kouga posed to fight. Sesshomaru too readied to fight. Then suddenly they both looked to the wood behind them, suddenly it reeked of demon. As I assumed the demon burst from the trees behind Kouga.
"Give it to me! Hand over the Sacred Jewel Shard!" The demon shouted. Kouga jumped into the air and kicked it hard in the face. The demon stumbled toward Sesshomaru. I poised to fight, if Sesshomaru needed me.
"Look out my lord!" Jaken cried. Sesshomaru quickly pulled out Tokijin and sliced the demon through, destroying it. Kouga landed safely next to Sesshomaru.
"Thanks, but I could've handled him myself." Kouga told Sesshomaru. I eased up and relaxed although not too pleased about Kouga's presence. Sesshomaru glared at him.
"Help me Master Jaken!" Rin cried. I spun around to see a demon appear behind her. Jaken swung at it and I rushed toward them, as did Sesshomaru, but before either of us reached them Kouga struck the demon, and kicked it aside.
"No humans for you worm!" Kouga cried. The demon was shattered to pieces and Kouga again landed safely this time next to Rin and Ah Uhn. He walked back over to his men but as he did Sesshomaru spoke to him.
"Unnecessary interference." Sesshomaru told him.
"Feeling's mutual." Kouga replied.
"Okay…" Jaken said.
"Humph." I replied.
"Okay?" Ginta and Hakkaku asked.
"Come on fella's we got a long way to go." Kouga said wrapping his arms around his comrades and walking away.
"Are you content in letting them go my lord?" Jaken asked. "Those wolves of Kouga's are the very ones that attacked young Rin." My eyes widened and I looked over to her.
"If he tried the same thing today, I would've killed him." Sesshomaru replied.
"Huh?" Jaken questioned.
"Naraku is the only one I'm concerned about now. Unnecessary conflicts don't interest me." Sesshomaru continued. I sighed again annoyed with this interference and started to walk as Sesshomaru did, Rin and Ah Uhn following after me.
"Uhh?" Jaken questioned yet again.
"Let's go Jaken." I told him.
"Yes, hurry Master Jaken, or you'll be left behind!" Rin teased.
"Huh, Ah wait for me!" Jaken called following after as quickly as he could.
"I'm surprised you did let him go, but Naraku is more concerning. Kouga, what a strange and foolish demon." I said.
"Humph." Is all Sesshomaru had to say.
"Heh, not to be a downer but, after tomorrow." I paused. "I promised Inuyasha I'd return, and I'm quite tired of breaking my promises to him." I finished. He looked back at me but kept walking. "Yet, I still don't wish to go." I told him. I saw a small smirk come across his face.
"You may do as you wish." He told me. I sighed but kept on walking.
Unfortunately the next day came and went quickly, still with no lead as to where Naraku was. We had stopped for the night to let Rin rest, and it was now that I had to say goodbye once more.
"Must you really go?" Sesshomaru asked annoyed. "I feel you owe nothing to that half breed brother of mine." He continued.
"I told you before, I owe him for a broken promise to his mother. I feel it would be dishonoring of her memory not to repay him for breaking that dear promise to her."
"Humph." He replied. I grabbed his hand.
"Come with me, just for a moment." I begged. He stared at me, but then reluctantly replied. I walked him away from the others into the woods. "I really am torn, Sesshomaru." I explained. He just stared at me blankly, as if trying to figure out what was going on in my mind. Then pulled him close to me. "Sesshomaru…" I said. Still he stared, straight into my eyes. Then, I leaned in and kissed him. He was surprised that I would do that so suddenly, but he kissed me back and wrapped his arm around me. It felt as if it lasted forever, but like all things it had to end. He still held me close though and I could see in his eyes he really didn't want me to go. He pulled me in tighter and I laid my head on his chest. "I will return to you."
"Humph." Was his reply.
"I know that last time, I was gone for a very long time and although I haven't said it, I am sorry. I did what I did and I can't rewrite the past, otherwise I would. But, you must know that I will do what I can to prevent it from happening again in the future." I told him confidently. I lifted my head and looked into his gorgeous golden eyes. "Sesshomaru, I promise that I will return to you." He stared deep into my eyes, and then he released me.
"Until we meet again." He said and then he walked away. He left me standing there. So I headed off, right then and there to find Inuyasha. I took me about a day, but I finally tracked his scent. It was leading towards the mountains. Then suddenly, it started to snow. It was summer and yet it was snowing. Thinking fast, I transformed to keep myself warm and to make it a little easier to see where I was going as the light snow turned into a blizzard. Almost an entire day passed before the storm died and Inuyasha's scent was lost in the snow. So I wandered in the snow, blindly. Then suddenly I heard several loud bangs and some loud roaring. I ran in the direction of the noise and saw Inuyasha's Windscar reaching high into the sky. I reached a large house and saw everyone standing there staring at the sky. I transformed back and they all stared at me amazed.
"Heh…Heh….I said I'd be back." I told them with a smile.