Hokai skulked in his rocky grotto, scheming. The caves he had picked for his spiders to reside in were ill-suited to their needs. A strong breeze scuffed debris into the caves, they were too shallow and the morning light crept in around the corners insistently. The spiders loved the dark and cold places of the world, and had tried to make the caves more homely by spreading their springy webbing about the place. They were an advantageous distance from Inuyasha's village, so the discomfort of brightness and warmth had to be endured.

He had sent spies to watch Inuyasha and Sesshomaru in order to learn of any weaknesses that could be exploited. He had deliberated spying on the wolf demon Koga, but had decided against it eventually. Whilst the wolf demons were a tribe he could probably get away with massacring, he did not have enough spiders to spare. Instead he decided to focus his attention, undivided, on the dogs. He kept this to himself, blabbing about it to the soldiers would risk Kumonosu getting wind of his desires, and he was only meant to be pursuing the humans.

So far he had heard some interesting news from his spies about the western lord. Sesshomaru was warring with the new northern lord, who apparently had ambitions beyond ruling his native lands. This was potentially good news. Sesshomaru had always been a foe too strong to handle, but did this war mean revenge against him could be on the cards? Hokai endeavoured to lie in wait for an opportunity to use this information.

Hokai could sense the tide of favour turning against him. The spiders that had put their name forward to join him had expected blood and carnage, not lurking about indefinitely in some nondescript caves. None would dare complain to his monstrous face, but there were mutterings and grumblings that he heard with a strained vibration of his hairs.

He was surprised when his underling Yami arrived at the caves, scuttling into the shelter and away from the morning light distastefully. Yami's grey carapace was almost identical to the cave walls, so much so that Hokai did not even notice him until he was a few meters away.

"Yami? what are you snooping around here for? You should be in the Weaver cavern doing my job for me," Hokai scolded. Yami was a loyal spider, loyal to Hokai above all others. The younger spider had some scars crossing his tibia and femur, scars Hokai had given him to ensure he stayed in line.

Yami stared at Hokai with his lidless eight eyes, his spinneret quivering with fright at the sight of his master. "Weaver Kumonosu sent me, Spinner Hokai. He has a message for you," Yami said apologetically.

Hokai became unnaturally still for a moment at the response. It had only been a few days, Kumonosu was surely not calling him back already?

"Then you had best deliver it, young Yami," Hokai said, his chelicerae twitching.

"He said he knows you have not attacked the humans in Inuyasha's village yet. He asks when you will do so, and reminds you that the deal was to avoid the wrath of Inuyasha," Yami recited. "He instructed me to wait for an answer from you Spinner, before I return."

Damnation, Hokai thought, so Kumonosu had sent his own spies in to see what is going on. Did that mean the Weaver also knew that the army he had gifted had split into two and been given two separate missions?

"Did Kumonosu say anything else?"

"No, my Spinner," Yami answered diligently.

So perhaps Kumonosu was not as all-wise as he was intending Hokai to think he was. Still, the Weaver's suspicions were a blow, Hokai needed time and stealth to bring his plans to fruition. But he could not ignore this intimidating prompt. If the Weaver was watching, he had to act and attack the village as agreed.

Some spiders lurked around the cave halls, their interested piqued by Yami's arrival.

"Very well. We attack Inuyasha's village at sundown. Kill any humans you see and destroy their homes. But do not engage Inuyasha himself," Hokai clicked out loudly, shooing Yami out of the caves. "Tell the Weaver the assault is just beginning."

An onyx black sky had settled ominously over Kaede's village, a night that seemed as silent and treacherous as an open grave. It was a still and unnatural silence, no scuffling of woodland creatures could be heard. A foreboding mist clung to the ground and trees, as if the very earth sensed machiavellian forces at work.

Kaede lay stiffly on her futon, her breathing a worrying rasp of rushing air. Her once ample frame seemed smaller, had become more fragile. The old woman slept fitfully and did not wake up when eight legs scampered past her hut as swiftly as a rat. Rin lay close by, also dreaming with a blissful ignorance.

Miroku and Sango slept near their three dozing children a few huts down. Tear stains still marred Sango's pretty face, even in sleep she continued to mourn Kohaku's passing. The monks eyes were shadowed with purple and he looked exhausted, the concern for his wife taking its toll. The couple slept soundly, unaware that they were surrounded. The fox demon Shippo pillowed his head on Kirara's bushy tail, snoring lightly next to the slayer's children.

Kagome and Inuyasha shared their neighbouring hut alone, still savouring the euphoria of being newlyweds. Kagome slept in the fetal position, her hands unconsciously wrapped around her non-existent bump. Inuyasha spooned his wife from behind, her dark hair tickling his nose. The half-blood demon brushed Kagome's hair to the side as he picked up on a scuffling noise outside. His fluffy white ears pricked up instantly and he poked Kagome's back in warning.

"Inuyasha stop it!" she murmured, still half asleep.

"Something is outside, I can hear it moving," Inuyasha said urgently. He jumped to his feet energetically, sniffing the air around him.

"What's moving outside? I can't hear anything, you must've imagined it," Kagome said sleepily, as she stifled a yawn and stretched out her arms.

"I don't know what it is. You stay here, I'll see what is going on," Inuyasha said. He bounded out of the hut without the slightest bit of caution or hesitation. Kagome sighed at his predictably reckless behaviour, but did nothing to stop him.

A strange sight met Inuyasha's eyes.

Armoured spiders crawled over the village, setting demonic green fires at the entrances of the nearby huts or murdering the villagers savagely in their beds. The spider's mottled carapaces were various shades of amber, bistre and pitch, this made them difficult to see in the gloom and fog. But the screams of terror from the villagers were undeniable and stark in the shadows.

Inuyasha's dark gold eyes widened at the violence he saw and he called to his wife.

"Kagome! Wake up Sango and Miroku, we're being attacked!" he bellowed. Slipping in her haste, Kagome sprinted to the monks hut in her pyjamas and started screaming their names loudly. Inuyasha swiped at the spiders nearest to him with his claws, he had left his Tessaiga inside his hut and cursed himself for it.

"It doesn't matter. I don't need my sword for the likes of you!" He lunged at the spiders, smearing fern green blood onto his claws as he cut through the brittle flesh. Disgusted, Inuyasha wiped his fingers on his robe of the fire rat.

"Inuyasha!" Sango shouted as they pelted out of their home, the slayer had a tight grip on her three children and pushed them behind her out of sight. "These are the same demons that killed Kohaku!"

The spider demons slunk away from the group evasively, some dragging villagers with them into the darkness until only the echo of their screams remained. Miroku held his staff aloft, escorting Kagome to where Sango defended their crying children.

"There must be a leader, look for the one in charge, Inuyasha," the monk said wisely, his eyes analysing each demon in turn. The spiders hung back, then reappeared randomly as though they were taunting the village.

"We need to protect Kaede and Rin! They might still be sleeping," Kagome said in a stricken voice, trying to block Sango's children from the spider's view.

"I'll go, Inuyasha, you take care of these spiders," Miroku said before heading into Kaede's hut. Inuyasha ran at the demons, trying to engage them in battle, but they evaded all his efforts. Inuyasha began to lose his temper at their cowardice. He spotted the largest spider of the bunch at the edge of the woods, protected by a shield of hardened webs and not even bothering to fight. The dog demon leapt up to the monstrosity.

"Well well well, I'll bet you're the leader of this sad little bunch. Who are you and why have you brought your ugly face here?" Inuyasha said clicking his knuckles threateningly. Hokai's eyes glittered with amusement and malice. The Spinner snapped his pincers together loudly and his armies' show of intimidation ceased.

"Inuyasha, you do not know me yet. But you will…and soon," Hokai said in a deadly voice before retreating into the darkness of the trees.

Kikyo's soul collectors had dragged the Western Lords unconscious body back to the castle as quickly as possible, in case Tsumetai's warriors spied them. The return journey was not as pleasant as it had been the first time. Concerned about travelling slowly on foot, Kikyo allowed her soul collectors to wing round her waist and fly them back to the western lands. It was slower than Sesshomaru's cloud, but would have to suffice.

Jaken met her at the gates of the castle, his jaw dropping when he saw his masters dishevelled state.

"W-what have you done to him you stupid woman?!" Jaken cried in dismay. Kikyo gave the irate toad a stern look that brooked no further insults.

"Kindly show me the way to Lord Sesshomaru's chambers, toad."

"My NAME is Jaken you insolent wench! Oh, Lord Sesshomaru will be furious when he wakes up!" Jaken said nervously, biting his little claws.

"It sounds to me like you and Lord Sesshomaru need some lessons in etiquette. Now show me to his room Jaken, if you want your master to be healed," Kikyo said wearily, feeling thoroughly fed up with demons.

After some fussing, sulking and tiny tantrums from Jaken, Kikyo finally reached the demon Lords private quarters. His room was impossibly large and grand with tapestries of black silk draped on the walls, depicting an intricate drawing of a Sakura tree. Sesshomaru's room was scarce of furniture, instead adorned with various different weapons on stands. Some of the weapons looked old and emitted a faint demonic energy, like the lingering warmth of hands that used to wield them. An elegant statue of a solid gold tiger leaping over a topaz scaled fish towered in the room, drawing Kikyo's gaze. The futon was a wide expanse of obsidian sheets on a low bed that looked crisp and unused, Kikyo wondered whether Sesshomaru actually slept. He gave of the impression of being made of unbending wire.

The priestess stepped into Sesshomaru's private chambers warily, she had never been into a man's private rooms before. She felt like she was intruding when she walked into the grand room, it was forebodingly silent like its owner. As if the very walls were condemning her actions.

"Place him on the bed," Kikyo commanded gently and her soul collectors instantly obeyed. They swooped downwards and dropped Sesshomaru (rather roughly) on the vast expanse of the futon, his sterling hair falling over his face. Kikyo perched next to Sesshomaru on the futon and brushed the twinkling strands of hair from his brow with her fingers. She studied his handsome face intently, finding the perfection in his features unsettling. He was too beautiful to be real surely?

'Inuyasha had a certain roughness about him, but his brother has none of that. Sesshomaru has an ethereal beauty about him that belies his stern nature,' Kikyo mused.

Kikyo turned her attention to the wounds on his chest, parting the ripped folds of his kimono. The wounds had different ages and had been sustained over a long period. Even then, Kikyo found it difficult to believe that Tsumetai's power alone had brought Sesshomaru low. He was by far the most formidable demon she had ever encountered, his current state was a joint effort at least. It had taken a great portion of her strength to render Sesshomaru unconscious for limited amount of time, even in his vulnerable state. Kikyo knew what she did was a necessity, or the stubborn demon would never be healed, his pride would not allow him to be aided by a human. Let alone an undead one.

There were eight frosted cuts and rips on his chest and stomach that she could see. Three of them were much worse than the rest and Kikyo winced when she gazed upon them. One deep gouge lay an inch above his collarbone diagonally, damaging the tender hollow of his neck. If Kikyo had dared to look at Sesshomaru for more than a few seconds, she may have spied that particular wound before. Another long laceration ran along his torso, spanning his rib cage. The recent blow from Tsumetai. Another was a grizzly indent in his pelvis that had cut almost to the bone. The other five wounds were lighter and more manageable, scattered on the surface on his skin like broken glass.

Kikyo placed her ivory hand on the smallest injury near his left shoulder, it was like touching snow that hugged a freezing mountain pass. Kikyo purified the demonic ice that clung to Sesshomaru's pale skin and watched in amazement as the cut slowly closed up. The priestess set to work healing the next four smaller injuries before focusing on the largest wound running horizontal on his torso. Her fingertips lightly touched the cold muscled skin, when a clawed hand shot up, wrapped itself around her slim neck and squeezed hard.

Kikyo looked down to see Sesshomaru's eyes blazing with fury.

"How dare you, I did not give you permission to lay your hands on me," Sesshomaru said in a dangerously low and quiet voice. Kikyo's hands quickly left his body and she attempted to prise the western lord's hand from her throat, but he held her in a vice-like grip.

"L-lord Sesshomaru, I must purify these wounds or they will continue to fester for months. Tsumentai's blade must have some enchantment to prevent wounds closing. It was the only way I could think to help you," Sesshomaru's warm fingers clamped down on her windpipe, had she been a human she would have already been dead.

"You think I don't know about my condition, priestess? You have no right to interfere with my business," Sesshomaru snarled, several soul collectors hovered nearby uncertainly, as if they were ready to snatch their mistress to safety. Kikyo tried not to choke above Sesshomaru, he had dragged her forward so that she was almost sitting on his thighs. Her petite hand encircled his own large claw desperately, she shuddered and grimaced in his grasp.

"Please…allow me to heal the damage Tsumetai's magic has done. If you had shown me this wound earlier, we could have defeated the northern lord," Kikyo said bravely. She was close to attacking Sesshomaru so she could escape with her life, however she had a feeling that her spiritual powers would be no match for the dog demon. Kikyo decided to use her power if only to break his hold and flee. Holy power began to trickle into her fingers, like fire under her skin.

The western lord raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise at Kikyo's gall, she looked back at him fiercely. They glared at each other for a time, hazelnut eyes fixed on lemon irises as if searching for weaknesses.

Reluctantly, Sesshomaru released Kikyo, who promptly retreated out of arms reach.

"Fine. I will let you proceed for now," Sesshomaru said to the ceiling in his usual indifferent voice. He showed no more signs of rage and now merely looked bored. The split second change in his manner unnerved Kikyo.

The priestess crept forward warily and gingerly continued to purify his chest wound, watching Sesshomaru out of the corner of her eyes in case he made any sudden movements. She began to panic about the locations of the two remaining lacerations as the frost on his chest dissolved steadily. The one by his neck would make it impossible not to look into his unreadable eyes. Kikyo did not doubt that if she delved deep enough, she would find disgust and hatred there. Disgust and hatred for a spectre that should of left this world long ago.

'But….the other wound is low on his hips….near…" Kikyo thought with dread, the unknown parts of men scared her more than demons did. She had only ever kissed Inuyasha.

It was to intimate to contemplate.

Kikyo hesitated, openly dithering as Sesshomaru watched her with a mild amusement that did not quite reach his eyes.

"Don't tell me you've never touched a man before," Sesshomaru taunted, making a faint flush of colour flood Kikyo's marble cheeks.

"Oh course I have, there are countless soldiers and veterans that need help in these feudal times. There were never enough healers to help them all, if I recall correctly," Kikyo replied, trying to scrape the conversation back to normality. It was true she had healed ailments everywhere on the human anatomy without such shyness, why was it different with Lord Sesshomaru?

The chest wound was purified and was closing up nicely, she was deliberately stalling and the dog demon knew it.

Kikyo purified the injury on his pelvis first, a rosy colour leeching into her cold and lifeless cheeks in an odd paradox. Sesshomaru's body felt strong, muscled and warm to the touch. The western lord had an angelically masculine look to him that turned her gaze away, looking at Sesshomaru was like looking at a bright light. Sesshomaru watched her internal struggle passively.

"Why are you acting so coy? Surely you realise that I saw your unclad body when I brought you here. My attitude towards you was no different," Sesshomaru lied. He had a passive aggressive expression on his face that Kikyo did not like. The priestess did not reply to his words, she removed the pads of her fingers as soon as his pelvis was healed. As if her hands would burn if she touched him for too long. She shuffled closer to the dog demon unwillingly, pressing her cool fingers to his neck. The gelid ice began to melt and the raw flesh glowed a soft fuchsia.

"Lord Sesshomaru there was something unusual about Tsumentai's demonic power…it didn't feel…" Kikyo trailed off, the words to explain eluding her. She kept her eyes glued to her task, not once looking into his eyes. But she could feel his gaze on her.

"It didn't feel his own, I am aware of this," Sesshomaru finished for her. His short replied invited an awkward silence to sit amongst them as the frost on his neck evaporated. Just half a cut and Kikyo would be free to step away from the dog demon.

"It seems we are missing a piece of the puzzle…I have an arrow of sealing, it is different from my holy arrow. I used the sealing arrow on Inuyasha fifty four years ago, it will render Tsumetai inactive until we find where his power is coming from. Like you, he is resistant to my spiritual power," Kikyo said thoughtfully, the glow of her magic lighting her face from below, creating odd looking shadows.

"Perhaps. I do not think Tsumetai will fight me head on after today," Sesshomaru said as he inspected Kikyo's intent face.

"I agree, so we need to draw Tsumetai out in some way. The question is how do we do that?" Kikyo said as she ruminated, unaware that the wound she had fretted about so much was already healed. She was still bent over him, their legs next to each other.

"You will get off me now, spectre," Sesshomaru said. Caught off guard, Kikyo accepted his eye contact and nearly drowned in a golden ocean. Every time she looked at him it was like she received an electric shock.

Jaken's voice screeched from the hallway and the pair turned and watched as the little toad burst into the room dramatically. Kikyo was still bent over the western lord, whose kimono was lying open. Jaken gaped at his master in shock, his eyes bulging.

"L-L-Lord Sesshomaru! What are you doing with that undead human? At least your father picked a woman who was alive!" Jaken cried in dismay, betrayal palpable in his bulbous eyes.

Sesshomaru brushed Kikyo off him, as if gently swatting a tiresome fly. He got to his feet elegantly and strolled away from her, he did not thank Kikyo for her help. The priestess got to her feet too, her lips pressed together at the dog demons rudeness. Jaken scampered over to Sesshomaru, who towered over the imp's inconsolable face, irritation flashing in stare.

"Enough Jaken, why have you burst into my chambers uninvited?"

"Mi'lord, Inuyasha's village has been attacked! Some of the villagers have been killed, children and adults alike!"

Sesshomaru stared at Jaken and Kikyo saw the dog demons shoulders tense.

"….Children …" Sesshomaru whispered almost to himself, Kikyo and Jaken glanced at him in concern.

"Lord Sesshomaru-" Kikyo began, but the western lord cut her off.

"Stay here priestess," He said, before transforming into a glowing blue orb of light. Kikyo thought she saw a hint of red in his eyes before he shape-shifted, but decided later she must have imagined it.

And then he was gone.