Authors note: This chapter was originally named "Bastard", but my beta reader said it should be named Rin. So -- here's chapter 43 - Rin. Enjoy!

Chapter 43 - Rin

Sesshomaru disliked being separated from Rin, but in his mind, it was the safest most logical course of action. He had witnessed InuYasha's franticness, when Kagome had been kidnapped by the panthers devas, and intended to learn from his brother's mistakes. At this point, basically no one knew of Rin's existence. The longer he could keep it that way, the better off they all would be.

Whatever may be lurking, Rin would surely be safe with Jaken and A-un in tow. The only exception, of course, was Kagura. Who'd seen Rin twice now. Sesshomaru found it hard to imagine, that the wind sorceress who so eagerly tried to earn his favor, would do anything to harm the girl who traveled with him. It was reverse logical.

Which brought him back to the scent on the wind, which was that of Naraku. But, given the shift of the wind, he was fairly certain it was Kagura, and not Naraku himself. If it was her, she would in all likelihood show herself soon. They were in the Musashi province, at the base of the mountains, not far from where InuYasha spent much time at that human village. Sesshomaru had intended to take Rin back to the abandoned hut, to give a few days rest. That would, unfortunately, have to wait until their reunion.

Sesshomaru reached out with his senses in the direction that Jaken had taken Rin, ensuring once last time that she was safe. Once he was assured, he rose into the air and flew in the opposite direction. Be it Kagura, or Naraku himself… or any other number of incarnations the demon may have created. Sesshomaru flew slow, intending for whomever followed to catch up. For a long while, his pursuer hung back. Likely they were unaware that Sesshomaru had already sensed them.

As the sky began to lighten, the yokai grew tired of the game. He stopped midair, he had led the pursuer onto the other side of the mountain from where Rin and Jaken should be. There was no reason for him to hesitate to confront them now. Turning sharply, Sesshomaru reversed, aiming directly for whomever was following him. It took less than a minute to spot the speck in the sky.

Kagura.

Before he reached her, he abruptly stopped, the wind casting his silver hair wildly around his shoulders. Likewise, the incarnation stopped, the giant feather that she rested on hovering midair several yards away.

"What do you want?" Sesshomaru demanded, all traces of politeness gone from his tone.

"I thought it was time that we had a little chat." Her voice was coy, she rolled one shoulder forward in a suggestive manner.

"A chat?"

"Naraku is planning something." Kagura said, floating closer. "I don't know what it is yet… but I do know that it involves you."

Sesshomaru couldn't have been less interested. "I have nothing of value that Naraku would be interested in."

Kagura's eyes narrowed. "I'm telling you… he wants something from you."

For a moment there was silence. Perhaps she was trying to be genuine, it was hard to tell. "I will consider your warning. Was there anything else you needed?"

Smiling Kagura circled him once, floating on her feather, before coming to stop by Sesshomaru's left side. He did not turn his head to watch her motion, instead he closed his eyes, summoning self control.

"I thought perhaps you'd had some more time to consider my proposal." Kagura's voice had adopted that silky tone again. The one he knew so well, from watching his mother handle Toga. "The one where we could work together?" She prompted, as if he'd forgotten. Smiling, she leaned over the side of her feather, trying to catch his eye.

"I already gave you my answer."

"Are you certain there's no room for negotiation? I can be," she reached out to touch the cold metal of his sode armored with her fingertips, "very… persuasi—" her words cut off with a gasp. Sesshomaru's hand grasped her wrist tightly, claws threatening to slice her skin. His eyes were open now, glaring gold daggers into her crimson eyes.

"Do not touch me." His voice was hard as a sword, and just as cutting. For the first time, he saw the fear in her eyes as she looked up at him.

Good. She should fear me.

With a cry, she wrenched her hand away. Any fear he had seen, was now replaced with rage.

"You!" She fairly spit at him. "I came here to offer you warning." Her words came out in a hiss. All traces of the seductress were gone. Released from his grasp, she floated back several feet, as if he would try to grab her again — which he had no intention to do. "I will do as I see fit! Bastard!" Turning, the wind sorceress fled, her feather cutting through the air sharply and vanishing on the horizon.

Had she been genuine about Naraku's plans? Did he have some evil intent toward Sesshomaru? Maybe. It seemed like a reach though. There were few with enough power to truly challenge the yokai lord.

Sesshomaru's thoughts turned toward Rin, and he wondered briefly how long it would take Jaken to find some appropriate food for her. Perhaps he had been hasty to send her away because of the risk, but he'd done what he felt was best in the moment. He would not second guess himself, there was no place for regret on the path of supreme conquest.

Angling toward the ground, Sesshomaru skimmed the treetops, flying back toward the place where he had parted from Rin and Jaken. His pace was leisurely now, self assured that the threat had been neutralized. Some time later, he landed on the grassy hill, near the woods that they had been traveling toward. It was quiet. No sign that the others had yet returned, but Sesshomaru remained unconcerned. He stood at the crest of the hill in silence, observing, listening, smelling. Mountains lined the horizon in the distance, to his back the forest encompasses the grassy meadow.

For hours he stood, unchanged, unmoving. As if the yokai lord has turned to stone. Only his eyes shifted from time to time, his hair and clothing teased by the breeze. Day faded to dusk, there was still no sign of the trio. Concern edged into his mind, but he refused to entertain it. Jaken and A-un were well able to defend themselves and ensure Rin's safety.

If they have not returned by the time the moon has fully risen, I will search.

The moon seemed to rise slower this night than any other. He stood, watching with growing impatience as the red full moon, rose slowly into the darkened night sky. Suddenly, the wind shifted, completely changing direction, the grass at his feet lashed against his boots in confusion.

The scent of the wind has changed.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken's familiar rasping cry came from the woods, Sesshomaru turned to see the imp running across the grassy expanse. Alone. The scent of lilacs was notably absent from the air. Something inside Sesshomaru turned cold. Jaken paused at his master's feet, out of breath. "Young Rin has been abducted! Naraku's incarnation, Kagura, appeared out of nowhere and… took off with Rin!"

Gone? Sesshomaru did not speak for several heartbeats, as he tried to process the information. Surely Kagura is not so desperate as to harm one of my clan.

"Let me reassure you, Lord Sesshomaru." The yokai would have known that voice anywhere. Naraku. Turning toward the sound of the voice, Sesshomaru felt himself slip automatically into his mother's training.

Show no emotion that can be used against you. Say nothing that can make you weak in the eyes of your opponent. Be aloof, and cold. No one can harm a block of ice.

Just beyond the edge of the woods, the baboon pelt clad image of Naraku appeared as if from thin air. Behind him hovered a swarm of red eyed insects — siamyosho. The messengers of Naraku. Their buzzing filled the air.

"If you heed my request, I will return Rin in good health."

"Ah! It's Naraku!" Jaken cried, bulging eyes wide as he cowered behind his staff.

"We meet again." Sesshomaru said impassively, icing over the part of his brain that was hammering Rin's name over and over. "So. What do you have up your sleeve this time?"

"Nothing special. I simply want you to kill InuYasha."

Kill InuYasha? So I was right. Naraku wants InuYasha dead for some, personal reason. He intends for me to do it for him. Long moments of silence passed. Tension filling the air. Finally, Sesshomaru's eyes tilted, his expression almost amused.

"Huh. Why are you going to all this trouble for something so… trivial?"

In the flash of an eye, Sesshomaru leapt into the air and slashed the baboon pelt with his claws. The head lolled off and fell to the ground, then both the head and body melted into a pile of clay and rock.

"What IS that?" Jaken asked, gaping at the mound in horror. In the middle of the pile, lay a wooden figure. "A demon puppet?"

Though Sesshomaru's eyes lingered only on the demon puppet, his ears were honed in on the low monotonous buzzing of the saimyosho, who still hovered. Watching. Listening. His words and actions could define Rin's fate.

"Does Naraku honestly believed that he can threaten me into action, by endangering the life of a mere mortal?"

Jaken, who had been staring at the pile, turned to look up at his master with wide eyes. "Will you turn your back on the girl? Will you forsake her?"

There was no response for such ridiculous questions. Certainly none that he could answer candidly, with the poisonous insects watching. Turning away without answering, Sesshomaru headed down the grassy knoll.

"Wait! Lord Sesshomaru, where are you going?!!" Jaken cried, racing after the long legged steps of his master.

Rin.

"Where are you headed my Lord???"

Rin.

With every beat of his heart, he saw her smiling face. Heard her name in his ears like the roar of blood through his veins. Images overlaying each other, moments in time that they'd spent traveling together over the last many months.

Rin.

It made his heart pound with rage that he could not acknowledge or show even a hint of, on his face. If Naraku knew that Rin was more than a companion. If he knew she was part of Sesshomaru's clan— his family. It would be the end of her life.

Rin.

Family? He couldn't even entertain the thought. He had to focus. He couldn't be impulsive or irrational. Every movement had to be deliberate. Perfectly executed. To preserve her life.

Rin.

The voice in his head spoke her name over and over, until the cacophony was so loud he could not hear his own thoughts.

If Naraku has harmed her, I will peel every inch of flesh from his bones.

I'm coming for you Rin.

Wait for me.