Authors note: I slept in quite late today, after the event yesterday! I took some liberties in this chapter. Parts of Affections Across Time didn't make sense to me, so I'm sorting it out in my own way. :)

Chapter 19 - Lurking

Sesshomaru felt a deep sense of foreboding, like a shadow hovering just beyond the horizon. Exceedingly dark demon energy seemed to be festering just beyond the boundary of his senses. Uncertain what it meant, he kept their group in constant motion over the course of the next days. A moving target was far more difficult to track, or hit. Especially since he had no idea who would have sent the two demons to attempt to retrieve the Tenseiga. The only clue that could possibly be considered, was the moth which had accompanied them. If it was ga (moth) yokai who had dared to send the demons to challenge him, it was best to stay moving. Not out of fear, but caution.

Moth demons were quite powerful. They enjoyed inflicting pain on their victims and consuming female humans — specifically their energy and soul. Some were less picky and would consume souls from any beings for their satisfaction. Generally, they'd were a deviant yokai, in Sesshomaru's opinion, not valuing or honoring any code of conduct or the rules of engagement. It had been Sesshomaru's understanding that the most powerful ga yokai had been defeated by his father, Toga, and their line sealed in the Tree of Ages within the Forest of No Return.

Deciding on caution, Sesshomaru kept their small group lingering along the foothills of the mountains, close enough that Jaken could take Rin to an easily defensible area, if absolutely necessary. Rin remained riding A-un most of the time, at Sesshomaru's instruction. Only dismounting to get food or water when necessary. The second day waned to night, Rin was restless with boredom. Sesshomaru only grew more wary of the evil presence lurking out of sight.

They were traveling across a grassy knoll, large boulders scattered randomly through the grasses. A common sight in the foothills of the mountains here. Clumping with grass in bunches, purple and white flowers grew in a thick carpet. Naturally, Rin had slid off of A-un to examine the flowers and pick a bunch of them. As she selected the best blooms, she sang a tune softly. Sesshomaru only caught a few words here and there, it was something about the flowers blooming under the light from the stars. Patiently, he stood watch, his eyes lingering on the horizon.

It was the flare of demonic energy that drew the yokai's attention first, it came from somewhere on the other side of the mountain. His gold eyes narrowed as he focused on it. Suddenly, before his eyes, two moths flitted toward him on the wind. Sparkling powder hazy in their wake, which went swirling on the breeze. Without even a fraction of hesitation, he sliced first the one, and then the other moth, with his claws. The pieces fell to the grass twitching. He stared at the fragments, contemplating.

It was at that moment that Rin cried out. Sesshomaru's focus shifted from the moths bits at his feet, to Rin as she ran to him. Flowers forgotten and discarded, she hid behind Sesshomaru and clung to his hakama. Lifting his eyes, the yokai Lord saw a horde of moths descending from the mountain, leaving the sparkling powder as thick as smoke in their wake. Behind him, Rin whimpered softly. She was right to be afraid. If he was right in his assumptions, humans would be profoundly affected by the moth's powder.

"Rin. Take cover."

"Right." She released him and hid behind the boulder which Jaken presently stood on, then put her hands over her eyes.

Satisfied, Sesshomaru focused on the cloud of flying bodies. Just as he was gathering the energy necessary to annihilate the creatures, Jaken came up beside his master.

"Lord Sesshomaru, there's no need for you to waste your energy. Allow me to take care of them." Without waiting for his lord's reply, which was wise because one was not forthcoming, Jaken walked forward toward the descending mass. "Behold the power of the staff of two heads!"

Flames leapt from the open mouth of the staff, bathing the oncoming horde of flying insects. The smell of burning filled the air as the fire consumed every piece of the demonically driven moths. When it ended and the flames dispersed all the moths were gone. Jaken giggled with glee, pleased with himself immensely.

"How brazen to think they could conquer Lord Sesshomaru." Before the imp even finished speaking, a moth landed on his bug eyed face. Which sent Jaken into a fit of screaming and waving his arms. Serving no purpose, other than to annoy Sesshomaru. "I can't see! get it off me! It's stuck to my nose I can't see!"

With a sound of irritation, Sesshomaru extended his foot, Jaken planted his face squarely into the black sole of his kegutsu, squishing the moth. As a perk, Jaken also fell silent as he rolled to the ground groaning.

"Excellent aim Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cheered, racing from her hiding place, to his side. Sesshomaru's eyes were on the mountain, thoughtful.

"So, it seems Hyoga has been resurrected." His theory was correct. If Hyoga had returned, it had to mean someone wielding a blade as powerful as Toga had enabled his escape. It had to be InuYasha. Is that why the two demon's had been searching for the fang of Toga? Perhaps they had simply mistaken one sword for the other. Tenseiga could not remove barriers — but Tetsusaiga could.

"The moths are all gone my Lord!" Rin smiled up at the yokai.

Lost in thought, Sesshomaru turned away from the mountain and began walking away. This was not his battle. He had not been the one stupid enough to release Hyoga. Irritation with his brother blossomed again. The fool. Sesshomaru stepped on something squishy that cried out as he made his way back toward A-un. Absentmindedly, he realized afterward that it must have been Jaken.

"No — don't leave me Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin raced after him, the squishy screaming sound from Jaken repeated. Rin walked beside him, gazing up with concern.

"Is something the matter Lord Sesshomaru?"

Beyond the trees, the first rays of sunshine were just beginning to touch the sky, staving off the nighttime darkness. Though the physical light returned, the dark aura remained looming. Hyoga would be consuming as many human souls as he possibly could. Other humans mattered to him little — but what would happen to InuYasha if the humans, his friends, were consumed? They who had lent some stability to the hanyo's life. Or, that Kagome, who ensured he would not transform and lose his soul.

"The day has returned, but the darkness remains." Sesshomaru said finally, then turned to look down at Rin. "Let us go."

Reaching out, he offered Rin his right hand. Eagerly she grasped his fingers. Transferring his energy to her, she rose in the air. Carefully he guided her to lightly float back down into A-un's saddle. Once safely placed, he withdrew his hand, though she was reluctant to let go.

Jaken came crawling up, whimpering. Sesshomaru stepped past him, glancing first at the mountain, then toward village in the valley a distance in the opposite direction. It was the village which InuYasha loosely protected. Likely, his brother would be somewhere near there.

"You must be completely silent, we will be passing human villages." Neither human or demon would understand a human girl traveling as a companion with a great yokai lord. Sesshomaru knew from experience. No demon or human, had accepted Toga's relationship with Izayoi. It was not the same situation, of course, but it would tarnish Rin's chances of living a normal life someday.

Turning toward the village, the great Lord began walking with intentioned purpose. They reached the outskirts of the village sometime in the early afternoon. The village seemed untouched. Distantly, he sensed the remnants of a spiritual barrier. It must have protected the inhabitants of this village from the moths. Sesshomaru paused, sniffing, but not moving any closer. InuYasha was not in the village now, but there was blood. It was not a scent he recognized, but it was human. It was accompanied by the distinct scent of Kagome. Where she was, InuYasha would be near.

"Hm."

Turning, Sesshomaru followed the scent through the trees, away from the village. Behind him, as instructed, Rin was completely silent. A very sullen Jaken sat behind her, also silent.

Shortly, he began to see signs of a battle. Portions of tree bark that had been melted, a bridge entirely collapsed. InuYasha's scent was everywhere, including his blood. It was still the scent of a half demon. The part that surprised Sesshomaru, was that the only other scent was that of Kagome. No other pursuer appeared to have followed them.

What happened here?

Sesshomaru disliked mysteries. Careful to conceal himself and his companions deep in the foliage, he followed the scent at a distance, not wanting their presence revealed. Concern for his brother was a most human emotion. Thankfully, Sesshomaru was only interested in solving the mystery at hand. Of course.

The sounds of voices reached his ears finally, they were distant, but Sesshomaru was positive that it was both Kagome and InuYasha ahead. Glancing back at Rin, her eyes were wide, but she nodded and held a hand over her mouth. As if it would ensure her compliance to be silent.

Turning his attention to the sound of their voices, Sesshomaru shifted closer, listening, and peering through the brush. The sound of their voices was muddled and unclear. Though it appeared now, that Kagome had been the one battling his brother. Sesshomaru's eyebrows lifted a fraction. He had not given the human girl enough credit. It appeared, she had done him some significant damage.

The one thing the yokai heard clearly was Kagome's plaintive cry of InuYasha's name. It was at that moment that Sesshomaru smelled the scent; moth demons. Something fell from Kagome's forehead and shattered, along with it so did the moths which had suddenly filled the air. So, Kagome had been controlled by Hyoga? Her spiritual powers must have overwhelmed the medium Hyoga had used to control her impressive spirit power.

Kagome, clearly overwrought with grief at what she had done, raced for InuYasha who lay at the base of the tree. Belatedly, Sesshomaru realized it was the Tree of Ages, which InuYasha had been sealed to for so many years. She fell to her knees beside the half demon, cradling him to her chest. The scent of her salty tears filled the air. Crying his name, she clung to him, as if he was the only being in the world who mattered.

The overwhelming outpouring of raw emotion made the yokai uncomfortable, he shifted his gold eyes away. Inadvertently, they were drawn to Rin. Who was watching the scene unfold through the branches from her perch atop A-un. Her hand still covered her mouth, but her eyes were glossy with emotion as she stared transfixed at the scene unfolding before them.

Sesshomaru felt something. The closest word he could think of to describe it, would have been regret. Though this Sesshomaru, never, felt regret. For he never did anything worthy of regretting.

His gold eyes moved back to the sobbing Kagome, clinging to InuYasha. Perhaps it was more than regret. Perhaps it was a vague sort of… longing.

Reluctantly, Sesshomaru realized, this was the type of care that Rin deserved. Human to human. Someone to cherish her, as Kagome clearly cherished InuYasha. Something Rin may have had, if he had not intervened in her life. If she had survived, that is.

Turning, he was about to lead their party away from the uncomfortable scene, when he realized that another presence had joined them. The scent was not at all human though. Curious, he glanced back. It was a woman who looked very much like Kagome, but perhaps older. Except, that this woman smelled of graveyard soil. She was dead.

Interesting.