Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

I wanted this chapter to reveal some undercurrents, but as I was writing it out, I realized that it was actually really long, so I broke it up into two parts, I and II.

Sesshomaru's eyes were red, and he had purple scars on his face. He took out his poison whip, and hurled it towards Inuyasha. Inuyasha rolled to the side, and out of range-for the moment, and just barely.

"Curse you!" Inuyasha bawled. "What's your bloody problem huh?"

Sesshomaru continued his relentless attack. He did not change himself into his true youkai form, out of consideration to Rin; he did not want to reveal himself a beast to her –though he doubted it would affect her hero worship. He was intent on finishing Inuyasha himself.

Due to the attack, Kagome had been knocked the ground. However, she raised herself, and balanced on her knees. Kagome nocked an arrow to her bow and took aim, at Sesshomaru's whip wielding arm. She concentrated her spiritual energy into it, said a prayer, and let it fly. Her arrow was true, and it seemed as if it would, in truth pierce Sesshomaru through. However, at the very last moment, Sesshomaru turned his eyes towards Kagome, and with a disdainful expression, caught the arrow.

There was a gasp. The arrow shimmered in his hand; it was a contest between the spiritual power of Kagome and Sesshomaru's demonic energy.

The arrow crumbled into ash in his hand.

Kagome gasped and clutched one hand to her chest.

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru spoke in quiet, controlled words. "Tell your insignificant human wench not to interfere or she shall die as well!"

At the words "insignificant" and "wench", Kagome saw red. She nocked another arrow on her bow, however Inuyasha yelled at her not to interfere

The entire bank was blazing with fire. There were strips of fire running all around the place, and even the trees were ablaze.

"Use the power of the shikon no tama, Kagome!" Belladonna spoke up. She had been strangely quiet, and had been hanging back in the shadows throughout the encounter.

"I...don't know how to!" Kagome screamed. The volume of her voice was blanketed by the blazing fire, and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's combat.

Inuyasha was heavily on the backfoot. He was swinging the Tetsusiaga and unleashing its wind scar, however, Sesshomaru was conveniently evading it. He flung out his poison whip at Inuyasha, which struck his shoulder. There was a sizzling sound and an awful scream from Inuyasha as a gash opened up in his arm, and dark red blood began to emerge. Sesshomaru then punched Inuyasha full to the face, and Inuyasha fell to the ground, his silver hair covering his face.

"Serves you all right!" Jaken, the imp exclaimed. He had, unwisely, ventured in , far away from the safety of Ah Un. "That should teach all of you a lesson to kidnap from Lord Sesshomaru!" He had also been using his staff to feed the flames of the fire.

Miroku gave an evil grin. He pounced at Jaken, and punched his head. A swelling began to emerge.

"Listen, you little imp, you's better tell us what in the world is going on!" Miroku held Jaken in a death grip, and began to shake him.

"Oh...aa...ai..." Jaken began to choke.

"You're going to talk or not?" Miroku choked him even harder.

"Inuyasha..the cursed half breed...stole into the shelter...and tried to kidnap Rin...Lord Sesshomaru will never forgive this..."

Miroku dropped Jaken in shock.

"When did this happen?" Miroku shook him harder.

"You're his companion, you should know."

Miroku gave a similar evil grin. He picked up a stick. "I've always wanted to know what happens when you poke a toad with a stick." He said nastily.

Jaken's eyes went wide. "Yesterday...if you must know..."

"That's impossible!" Miroku exclaimed. "We were coming back from Midoriko's cave then!"

"Lies!" The tiny imp screeched. He danced out of Miroku's grasp. 'You will all suffer!" and he blew a flame directly into Miroku's face.

Meanwhile, Kagome and Belladonna had taken shelter behind a couple of sturdy trees.

"Kagome, concentrate!" Belladonna seemed to be losing the edge of her patience. "You need to concentrate harder!"

'I...can't!" Kagome said through gritted teeth. "I..." she stopped. She wanted to say that she couldn't concentrate, not while Inuyasha was in danger, and her powers less than a match against Sesshomaru.

"Why don't you do something?" She turned at Belladonna. "You're the one in the prophecy, if you came to help us, help us now!"

Belladonna went still. Her body was quivering. She seemed to be struggling against something, Kagome noted.

Belladonna grabbed her bow, and pulled the shikon no tama from Kagome's neck. The string holding it broke easily, and Belladonna tucked it inside her tunic, where it touched her skin.

"I will then." Belladonna said. She made an odd gesture, touching her throat. She clutched her tunic, clenching her hand into a fist, and walked out of the shelter.