AN: Okay…. I decided to just split this long chapter so I can update frequently instead of bombarding you guys with a HUGE chapter and making you wait for a week or so. I split the chapter in half and will upload the rest ASAP. Stay tuned!

Chapter 1 – Kuroi Shi

Lord Sesshomaru's nose twitched slightly in disgust as the assortment of strong unpleasant smell invaded his senses. It smelled of rotting flesh, various herbs and miasma. Skulls, bones and dried carcasses were hanging from the ceiling. His hand twitched towards his sword the moment he stepped inside the witch's chilly cavern.

"Ah, Lord Sesshomaru! What a pleasant surprise." A scratchy, high pitched voice reverberated around the small cave. An old woman wrapped in worn out fur appeared from the other end, her hands hidden inside her cover. Her long hair was greasy and unkempt. She smiled at him wickedly, showing her yellow and missing teeth.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "You knew I was coming here tonight. It is no surprise."

The witch scratched her head. "Ah well. It is still surprising and humbling to see you inside my home." She walked around and grabbed a small red cushion, which she gingerly placed on the floor after dusting it. "Please, have a seat."

"It won't be necessary."

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "In order for me to help you, you WILL sit."

They stared at each other coldly. Sesshomaru contemplated finishing the old witch right then and there. But seeing the resolution in her black eyes and her strange confidence to use that tone with him, he reconsidered. He walked past her, removed his swords and placed it next to him as he sat down.

The witch followed and sat right across from him and blew into her hands to warm them up.

"How bad is it?" She queried while rubbing her hands together and staring on the floor.

"It has spread since the encounter." He answered.

The witch sighed. "Lord Sesshomaru, I will need to see it."

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was rather uncomfortable, but he had no choice. There was no one else that could provide him the answers he needed but this unsightly being.

He started undoing his armor clasp and placed it with his swords. He dropped the right side of his kimono and pulled his hand from the sleeve. He stared at the witch stonily.

The witch crawled closer and observed him like a hawk. She noticed that he had no fear in his eyes, despite the fact that he was carrying such a burden. A part of his shoulder was completely black, and the area around it was darkening slowly… beginning to extend towards his chest and back. What a shame. And he had such wonderful skin.

"How is the pain treating you?" She then proceeded to gently touch the blackened area with her forefinger.

Sesshomaru's eyes quickly turned red as he jerked away from her, baring his fangs and claws. The pain was so intense at her touch that he dropped on his knees after his sudden movement. White lights flashed in front of his eyes. He closed them once again to focus, ridding himself of the slowly ebbing pain. When he looked at the witch again few minutes later, her hands were raised as a sign that she did not mean any harm.

Sesshomaru sat once again and calmly tried to catch his breath. For the past few days, he hid his pain well… from Jaken and from Rin. No one noticed. No one knew but him.

The witch shook her head in disapproval. He's in pain alright. A crippling one. And yet, he walked in here as if nothing was bothering him. Only he could do that. "Kuroi Shi. The black death of demons. Caused only by a tainted demon from the underworld. Just a scratch from them will corrupt your demon body. It spreads slowly, painfully, until it reaches your heart. Then it starts to devour your demon vortex, which means death for you. Did you know this Lord Sesshomaru?"

He snarled. "I was told. You are not the first I sought for answers. They all told me how I will perish from this but not how to rid of myself of this corruption. I have no intention of dying anytime soon."

The witch began to laugh maniacally. So hard, that she was bent over and banging the floor with her fists. Her beady eyes were tearing up. Those he sought knew the answer on how to cure him, yet they refrained from telling him because either they want Lord Sesshomaru to die, or they fear that when they tell him, the merciless ice prince will kill them in anger anyway.

"If you don't stop that, I will kill you."

The witch raised her head and saw Sesshomaru's claws extended, dripping with green acid burning the floor. His face was calm, but in his eyes was fury.

"I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you milord. I will tell you how to stop the corruption from spreading. It is quite simple really. All you need is a human soul. Kuroi Shi only destroys demons. If you absorb a human soul, it will stop the corruption, and the disease will dissipate in a few months along with the pain."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly. He was horrified. He remembered the dead priestess made of clay who absorbed human souls to keep herself alive. The one who impaled his pathetic hanyou brother to a tree. This is ridiculous! "You want me… to absorb human souls?" His nails dug through his hand when he made a fist.

"Just one soul milord. It will NOT affect you in anyway, I promise you that. You will remain a demon, you won't turn into a human if that's what you're worried about." She laughed, but seeing Sesshomaru glaring death at her, she stopped abruptly and cleared her throat.
"…You won't even notice it. You will only be a vessel to the soul. But it will protect you and heal you. After you are healed, you can remove it from your body. OR wait for your youki to destroy the human soul within you."

Sesshomaru was seething inside. Even then, having some… human's soul inside of him was vexing. And to protect him?! It was disgusting and humiliating.

"You want to live, right Lord Sesshomaru?"

He glared at the witch.

"Then ignore your pride for a moment and let me cure you. I believe you have companions who need their master alive."

He placed his hand inside his kimono sleeve, then grabbed his armor and fastened it back to his body. He also took his swords as he stood up.
The witch followed him with her eyes waiting for an answer.

Sesshomaru still had many things to accomplish before he let death takes its course. Not now. "How?"

The witch smiled. "Return to me on the third moon after tonight, and I will have a suitable soul for you."

o~O~o

"HMPH! Lord Sesshomaru always leaves us. WHY?! WHY not leave Rin and bring me along instead?!" Jaken wailed while pulling Au-Un's reins. The moonlight guided their way through the treacherous valley.

"Jaken, why don't you complain to Lord Sesshomaru then?" Rin sat side saddled on Ah-un, while combing her hair with a pretty shell.

Jaken stopped walking and glared at the woman on the two headed dragon. "I will! But maybe the reason Lord Sesshomaru leaves us so often is because of YOU!"

Rin froze mid-combing her long hair. "What? I have no idea what you're talking about."

"OH come on! I know you've noticed, but Lord Sesshomaru has no idea how to handle you now! You've grown, you're a woman now. You're not the same! He is confused on what to do with you, and frankly… SO AM I! Maybe he's been trying to find you a suitable village to live in, where we could leave you so you can live your short human life with a mediocre human husband!"

Rin gasped. She opened her mouth to answer, but she couldn't say anything. She wanted to say she was bound to her Lord, that she was meant to follow and serve him forever like she always wanted but… what if Sesshomaru's wish is for her to stay in a village? She could not say no and defy him. Not again. She will NOT be a burden. Would it be best for her if she tried to live a new life without her Lord?

"RIN!" Jaken yelled, trying to catch her attention.

"If that what Lord Sesshomaru wishes, then so be it." She answered softly. Yes, maybe starting new wouldn't hurt.

Jaken sighed. He knew she would say that, but he couldn't help but want Rin to fight with him. To tell him that she will stay forever. But she changed. He hated to admit it but Rin was now more mature than him.

"Jaken, can we hurry now? This place gives me the creeps." She glanced up and saw two bird demons circling each other but strangely avoiding them... a tasty human and a wrinkled old demon for dessert. Yes, they shouldn't stay here any longer.

Unconsciously she reached for her necklace for comfort.

Then suddenly, her breath was knocked out from her when she felt something wrap around her waist tightly. She was forced backwards then hurled forward. She screamed while hearing Jaken's panicked scream yelling her name. But his screechy voice was fading away fast.

"KYAAA! LET ME GO!" She screamed at her assailant who carried her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and running so fast everything around her was blurred.

"Stop screaming you're hurting my ears."

"WHO ARE YOU?!" She yelled, trying to push herself away from him hoping that he will drop her.

"The name is Kyousuke. Pleasantries later, for now go to sleep."

Rin was about to protest but felt a force behind her neck. Then everything blacked out.