Hello dear readers. I felt as if I were terribly behind on this chapter but I am right on time with it. Writing out one chapter over the course of a month has been workign out wonderfully for me. Thank you everyone for the follows, favs, and reviews. It is always greatly appreciated. Now, let's get into it.

Enjoy!


Rin had a near overwhelming feeling of exhilaration in the coming days since Sesshomaru had appeared with izayoi to inform her he would be going on a journey. She and Tomoya had talked about the arrangement in length, with her withholding some truths as to who exactly Sesshomaru was, and he seemed fine with Rin having him as her 'personal guard'.

"I would rather it be someone I know cares for you than a random person." He said. "That way I know you will be safe from harm no matter what may come."

Personally Rin was surprised at the fact that her husband was being so accommodating, while it had yet to be spoken outright he knew she wished to take Sesshomaru on as a consort. He reminded her that their marriage had been made on the grounds that they both could still seek out what they wished to do and how they pleased to go about it. It did make Rin wonder if he himself had a woman he was interested in or was in a relationship with but bit her tongue in asking.

Truly she didn't mind if he did and was appreciative of the fact that they could live their lives separately while putting on the public façade of being what their lands and people wanted. After the night Rin had been with Sesshomaru before inviting Tomoya to spend the night with her she did have some concerns over a possible pregnancy but those were soon dashed away when she menstruated on schedule as she normally did.

It emboldened her in a sense that she could carry on an affair with both of them without consequence allowing her attention to be turned to Kiyoko. The shock of meeting up with her long lost sister had rendered her nearly mute as she went about her tasks and days stoically, wooden; with her eyes always glazed over as she kept to herself.

"Kiyoko, please talk to me." Rin said finally after two weeks of near silence other than an answer to a request. Shaking her head ever so slightly Rin sat back in her chair and sighed. Placing the book down she had been reading she placed it down on the small table in front of her squaring her gaze at the other. "I learned from Lord Sesshomaru that Izayoi lived within his palace. We made an arrangement for the two of them to meet with you, I just had not realized it would be so soon and under…those conditions."

"Lady Rin, since you met with Lord Sesshomaru everything I knew has been turned around." Kiyoko replied.

"How so?" Rin queiried leaning forward slightly in her chair to hear her, as her voice had come out soft. Closing her eyes to take a steadying breath Kiyoko shook her head.

"I knew my sister was gone, that was a fact, lost at sea on some manic quest that didn't exist. I was terrible to her. The things I said, the shame I felt…the way we treated her thinking she was soft in the head." Kiyoko opened her eyes to looka t Rin with unshed tears shimmering, threatening to spill down. "But it was all true."

"Before any of this, if a person had come to me and said those things I certainly wold not have believed them. Kiyoko, there is no reason to feel guilty. You know now that Izayoi is alive and well, living her life how she wants to. I, for one, am happy for her and I would hope you feel the same."

"I could not understand why the boy, Inuyasha, seemed to be so familiar to me. What that feeling was about it with his golden eyes and white hair…pointed ears; he appeared so different, unlike anything I have ever seen before. I know what it is now." She continued on as if talking to herself.

"What?" Rin asked intrigued as Kiyokos tears began to fall.

"His smile, he has his mothers smile." She whispered out. Standing, Rin went to her side placing a hand on her friends shoulder rubbing gently.

"I am sure you will both Inuyasha and Izayoi again. I know you will. You can start to rebuild your relationship and be a part of their lives." Rin soothed.

"The way Izyayoi looked through me, she was emotionless. In all honesty, if she were not to want anything more to with me than I would understand; after the way I treated her." Kiyoko responded.

"Whatever may happen, I am here, and I am not going anywhere." Rin knelt taking her friends hands in hers looking back into her eyes.

"If they can walk on the land than you can tell me, truthfully, that you would not go with Lord Sesshomaru if he offered you his kingdom; as his queen?" She questioned meekly. Opening her mouth Rin closed it promptly swallowing down the words that had never formed. "I think you would."

Shaking her head somewhat as if she didn't understand the question the thought circled her mind suddenly in a whirlwind. Is that where this would ultimately be headed? Would she be forced to make a choice, not just between Sesshomaru and Tomoya, but her home on the land or one with Sesshomaru in the water?

"I-I could be like Izayoi and live in both." Rin offered meekly.

"Then you would have to tell everyone about their existence and as gracious as your husband is I don't think he would let you leave with Lord Sesshomaru." Closing her eyes Rin didn't know what to say. Standing once again she glanced out her window.

"How did this topic turn to me when we were discussing you?" She wondered aloud.

"This is not my story; I am only a side character with some attachment." Kiyoko answered. "This is very much your story Lady Rin and how you go about things will be up to you."


Sesshomaru was amazed at how different travel was above the oceans and seas. He had traveled quite extensively throughout his life and was accustomed to the familiar landmarks that pointed him in the right direction under the water. Being on the wooden ship, riding the waves he normally swam beneath, it left him feeling uneasy as he had no real sense of direction. He knew they were heading south but it made the journey feel unfamiliar and he was wary.

He couldn't recall most of the last time they had journeyed south, he was with his parents and some guards. Their trip then had all been due to a stupid mistake on his part given his own arrogance. He had spotted a stone fish and liked the spines that adorned its back. Thinking he could grasp it with his hands to take the spines to make a necklace, he was soon struck in the palms of his hands when he grasped it. He recalled the pain as his flesh was pierced but that was nothing compared to the venom it delivered.

By the time he made it back to his fathers grotto had could barely move, violently ill, and nearly unconscious. His body reacted badly to the poison as it was suspected he had received a high dose given the wounds on his hands. The healers in the west couldn't help him thus forcing his parents to take him south to the sea witch, Kikyo.

"You seem morose." Izayoi commented coming up alongside him to stand at the ships rail. "A bit seasick, my lord?"

"Hardly." Sesshomaru scoffed. "I do not like leaving Rin the way I did."

"And who knows in what condition." Izayoi smirked to herself as she spoke.

"You speak out of line and forget yourself, Izayoi." Sesshomaru glanced at her with a side eye.

"You have yet to tell me to hold my tongue, Lord Sesshomaru. Until you do, I will continue to speak my mind." Izayoi quipped back. Looking back out over the water he took a deep breath. She wasn't wrong, since she had shown him how to transform he had allowed her to speak freely. Given the circumstances he felt he needed her to, as he was in uncharted territory.

"I am quite surprised you are as upbeat as you are, given the reunion with your sister." Sesshomaru said wanting to jab at her a small bit for her incessant tongue.

"Ah, yes. I have not properly thanked you for that, have I?" Now it was her turn to glance at him. "I don't care."

Looking at her fully he saw the impassive expression on her face that mirrored her words.

"After so many years of telling me to get along with my younger brother and you cannot be bothered by your grieving sibling. I hadn't comet o think of you as so cold." Seshomaru commented. Sighing Izayoi shook her head.

"Do you want to know how I found out about your people?" Izayoi asked bringing her gaze to his.

"The though has crossed my mind." He admitted.

"I found an item on the beach one day while Kiyoko and I were looking for shellfish to eat. It must have been washed up for some time, it was old and worn from the salt water. It was a seashell that looked it may have been used for a necklace. It was crafted to resemble to small flute. It was beautiful and I was intrigued to find out what it was." Izayoi explained. "Asking around the village some of the elderly said it was an Amphitrite flute used by the goddess herself to summon her Lord Poseidon when he wandered too far from her side. It was a fairytale, a made up story that admittedly anyone had only seen pictures of yet I had one."

"I know what you are speaking of. My own mother has one." Sesshomaru said.

"Yes. As I researched it more, I found out that mermaids of standing carry one as a means to warn of danger or to request their mates." Izayoi nodded her head at his words. "I told my sister what I had found and I began combing the shoreline for more artifacts to support that your kind existed. In return I was told I was crazy and weak in the mind. For some time my parents chalked it all up to the last whimsies of childhood until I began working for Lady Kiyko, that was my proof…that all of you were real beings."

"One of her apprentices was injured, Sango. I found her and helped her. She in turn told Lady Kiyko of me and put me to work on matters that were hard for her to attend to on the land. That was how I met Jaken and began affiliating with him to carry out our orders." Izayoi continued. "When I received word to go south to assist in helping you I told my sister of it and she had no more patience for me. She said to go and not return, so that is exactly what I did."

"I see." Sesshomaru replied in thought. "Well, I cannot fault you for that then."

"I do admit that I can't help but wonder how our parents are or others that I knew but at the same time, I simply do not care." She said more to herself than to Sesshomaru. "It will still be another days' time, as long as the weather holds out, as nice as it has been."

"Do you still have it? The Amphitrite flute?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Not on me but yes. Why do you ask?" Izayoi smirked at him again coyly. "Do you wish to gift it to Rin to be at her beck and call, my lord?"

"Shut up Izayoi." Gripping the rail he brought his attention back out to the ocean as she let out a small chortle knowing she was right.

"Where is my son?" Nishi demanded Toga crossing her arms over her front.

"I am not certain. Sesshomaru is a grown merman and sees about his own business as he should." Toga said slowly taking a great deal of patience from him dealing with his mate.

"Well, wherever that may be I am certain he and Izayoi are having a good time." She quipped back.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Toga questioned frustrated.

'oh, you do not know? Your son and consort have left together leaving your youngest son behind." Nishi replied slowly to allow her words to sink in to his head.

"And?" Toga pressed his eyes wide in exasperation.

"You don't care?"

"Why in Poseidon's great blue ocean, would I care?"

"Hm, I suppose if she was good enough for the father than the son doesn't mind sampling."

"Stop it." Toga put his hand up to end the foolishness. "I have apologized for my infidelity many times over to you. Whatever Izayoi chooses to do with her lift or whom she is with is up to her. As far as Sesshomaru is concerned, I highly doubt he would have the gall to take what he perceives as mine."

"So certain." Nishi smirked to give her head a small shake.

"Lady mother? Father?" The small timid voice came from the entrance to their room.

"Enter Inuyasha." Toga said. Coming to the open stone doorway he had his hands behind his back as he fidgeted.

"Straighten out Inuyasha and heed your fathers command." Nishi ordered smiling softy as the boy did as she said. "Now, what it is my little guppy." Lowering herself down to his level she took his chin between her fingers. "Do you miss your mother?"

"I do my lady, but I-I wasn't eavesdropping." He said quickly as if to defend himself.

"You heard what we were discussing." Toga sighed out giving his mate a glance of mild irritation.

"About Sesshomaru and mama…being away." He said. "Um, I know where they are."

"Do you now?" Nishi questioned her tone taking on a higher inflection than before. Nodding Inuyasha took in a breath puffing out his chest somewhat to hold it in. "Where would that be?"

"Seeing Rin again." Inuyasha said softly.

"The human woman, running to the north again." Looking up at Toga conveying her frustration to him Inuyasha shook his head.

"No, Rin lives in the west now. She lives on the coast." Inuyasha informed.

"I see." Nishi whispered. "Thank you little one. Go to your room and I will be in shortly to put you to bed."

"Yes, Lady mother." Making a move to turn he suddenly looked at them both. "Don't tell Sesshomaru I told you please."

"My lips are sealed." She insisted. As Inuyasha left the room Nishi straightened herself out. "He is not in the west, that is all I know. None of my sources can seem to find either of them. This can only mean one thing; our son has become a human."

"There is no proof of that Nishi." Toga stated.

"Izayoi, flitting around coming and going as she does. That toad the witch employs skulks out in the kelp and the weeds, waiting for her command to return her to her natural state…what are they planning?" Nishi thought aloud bringing finger to her chin in contemplation.

"Sesshomaru is too smart to put his wants or desires for a human ahead of our people." Toga said. Laughing outright Nishi nearly doubled over in laughter. "What is so funny?"

"You say that, as his father…Sesshomaru is your son. What makes you think he will not fall to the same infliction his father did?" She managed out. Looking away from her Toga bit his tongue but did begin to worry.


Arriving in the south Sesshomaru was grateful to get onto land but did not enjoy the strange feeling in his new legs, he still felt as if he were swaying and the ship were underneath him. Looking down at the ground he half expected to see the dirt path they followed rising up underneath him but found it to be solid.

"It takes some time to adjust and get your sea legs." Izayoi said as if she knew what he was experiencing, and he supposed she did.

"How far have you traveled?" Sesshomaru asked taking in his surroundings. The world seemed much larger above than it did below. He knew practically every inch of the territories they visited but now it made him feel as if he did not know as much as he had thought he did.

"Everywhere and anywhere. I have been to this land, all over in every direction you could think of, and others as well. Whatever is deemed necessary of me I do it and wherever I am needed I go." She replied.

"Izayoi, are you indebted to the sea witch?" Sesshomaru questioned low as there were some people passing them.

"I feel so, personally, yes. I am under no obligation nor have I ever been to do her bidding. It gives me a sense of purpose and freedoms that I would not have otherwise." She stated. Sesshomaru took in the information and stayed his tongue. "This way."

Leading him towards a large rock outcropping he was grateful to be so close to the water again. It set his trepidation at ease as it lulled him and called him to return. Izayoi glanced around to make sure there was no one placing her bag down, Moving aside some debris revealed what appeared to be an underwater cavern. Reaching her hand in she splashed the water a bit in a rhythm. Soon Jakens head surfaced.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Izayoi; this Jaken is pleased to see you both made the journey." He nearly chirped pulling himself out the hole.

"You as well Jaken." Izayoi greeted.

"Tell me Jaken, when you left the west was there any concern over my whereabouts?" Sesshomaru inquired.

"Yes, my Lord. Lady Nishi has sent her scouts to learn of your location." Jaken answered dutifully.

"Any this far that you have noticed?" Sesshomaru pressed.

"No Lord Sesshomaru. I do not believe your mother thinks you would come this way."

"Even still we should move fast once we are transformed and on our way." Izayoi said beginning to undress. "We can leave our clothing in our bags so we may have it when we return to the land. Not many people come this way so our belongings will be unbothered."

"Very well." Sesshomaru nodded his head once disrobing as well. Once they had folded and put away their clothing and boots they stood side by side as Jaken tottered a few paces ahead of them. Following Izayois lead Sesshomaru sat down with his legs and feet dangling in the warm water. Closing his eyes he felt the salty spray soothe his senses.

A feeling of many needles piercing his legs caused him to grunt. Placing his hands down on the rock to steady himself as sweat began to bead down his forehead. Screwing his face up he held his breath as the feeling began to dissipate. Breathing relief he opened his eyes to see his tail had fused back together just as it had been. Running his hand down his scales making sure none were out of place Izayoi affixed the top she had tying it around her neck giving her arms free range to move without bothersome sleeves.

"Shall we?" She questioned glancing at him before she slunk into the water. Sesshomaru pushed with his hands to allow himself to sink below. Closing his eyes he leaned his head back in relief, momentarily grateful to be back in familiar surroundings. Hearing a splash he looked up to see Jaken following them.

Exiting the cavern into the open area Jaken lead the way through what seemed like a rarely used path. The terrain below them was rough, filled with jagged coral and poisonous creatures. Sesshomaru swallowed down his disdain for their surroundings focusing on the task at hand.

"Oh!" A voice exclaimed coming from seemingly nowhere.

"Kagome." Izayoi answered back. Shimmering into view before his very eyes appeared the mermaid that had appealed to them through the mirror. Feeling dumbstruck as she materialized out of nothing Sesshomaru automatically put his guard up.

"Come on, come on. Sango is with Lady Kikyp but she doesn't have much time left." Kagome urged taking off ahead of them. Picking up their pace Sesshomaru felt as if they crossed a veil or some force that pricked at his skin and made his hairs stand on end. Glancing at Izayoi he assumed it was a barrier of some sort, perhaps that was why Kagome had been hidden from sight; she had been behind it when they approached.

Coming into his line of sight was a hut, not entirely unlike what humans made, thatched together planks from ships made up the sides and the roof. Stones held down seagrass to protect the wood and Sesshomaru began to wonder if maybe all of these mermaids had once been human. Mermaids and mermen lived in stone structures, like his fathers grotto, this was very clearly inspired by human ideals and to him was entirely impractical.

Opening the door Sesshimaru heard a whining sound above him. Bringing his attention upwards he saw a silver eel carrying a glowing ball unlike anything he had seen before. Rushing past them he opened his mouth to speak only to be interrupted.

"That is Lady Kikyo's last soul collector. It is doing all it can for her but sadly it is not enough." Kagome informed.

"Kagome, what happened here?" Izayoi asked as she led them into the hut. "And why wasn't I sent for sooner?"

"Lady Kikyo said it was not safe for us to travel at this time. We are being hunted by Ryukotsusei" Kagome pressed her lips together. Entering the small space Izayoi immediately went to the merwoman lying on the netted hammock as another mermaid sat worriedly.

"Lady Izayoi." She said simply before bringing her attention back to the other. Apprehensively Sesshomaru drew closer looking down at the frail thing below him. She didn't appear any different from any other he knew, her features being quite average, however when she opened her eyes he saw and felt infinite knowledge, wisdom, and a maturity he could not begin to understand.

"Lord Sesshomaru," Kikyo managed out, "It has been some time since you have been here."

"Yes." He responded. "I am need of your knowledge and help in a matter."

"Oh." Giving a small wry laugh Kikyo closed her eyes again. "As you can see, I am In no condition to do either."

"My lady, Lord Sesshomaru has agreed to lend us assistance, in whatever way we may." Izayoi comforted.

"Izayoi, you should not have come here. Rykotsusei, he asked for what could not be done. In his anger he destroyed my soul collectors, without them I am not long for this plane of existence." Kikyo managed out.

"What would that be?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"To bring back someone from the dead." Sango whispered out. "His mate died along with their unlaid clutch, he came here appealing for her to be brought back however that is beyond even Lady Kikyos abilities."

"Lady Kikyo, what of the Tensaiga?" Jaken questioned.

"The Tensaiga has long since used up its powers, it does not respond to me to heal as it once did. Even still, it never allowed me to bring back someone from the dead." Kikyo said.

"Then there is nothing to be done here." Sesshomaru stated to wash his hands of it.

"We can attract more soul collectors, we have tried, but Ryukotsusei just keeps destroying them." Kagome said. "If we can get rid of him then we can save Lady Kikyo."

"Ryukotsusei is the great sea dragon of the south, to kill him would cause a great unbalance in all of the oceans and seas." Sesshomaru ccrossed his arms over his chest in thought.

"If Lady Kikyo dies it would cause an even greater upset." Izayoi said. "Believe me."

"Lord Sesshomaru, if you were to kill Ryukotsusei in battle then it would make you a great champion." Jaken thought out cheerfully. Glancing down at him curiously Jaken continued. "Ryukotsusei is mighty and defeating him for someone such as yourself would prove yourself as a Lord in your own right."

"That is true." Izayoi agreed. "If you were to achieve such an accomplishment then you could get out from under your parents, establish your own territory, and do as you please."

"Very well." Sesshomaru appeared disinterested but inwardly he was giddy; becoming a Lord meant power and having power meant he would have better means to be with Rin. Perhaps even persuade her to come with him and live as his Lady. "I will slay Ryukotsusei so you may nurse Kikyo back to health and in return she will gibe me what I need."

"That is, 'Lady' Kikyo, to you buddy." Kagome humphed throwing him a thousand dagger glare.

"Impudent girl!" Jaken screeched. "How dare you speak to Lord Sesshomaru in such a way?!"

"Silence." Kikyo commanded, although her voice was still small it held deep authority behind it. "It is agreed then Lord Sesshomaru. I have one request."

"Being?" Sesshomaru sighed out clearly irritated.

"Take the Tensaiga with you. It may prove useful." Kikyo insisted.

"Why use is it if its power has been drained?" He queried narrowing his eyes at her.

"Please…" Kikyo sighed out closing her eyes again unable to continue.