He'd lied to himself long after he'd saved the miko from the poison-master. Rin had been one thing—she was a child who'd borne no ill will and hadn't instigated the attack.
The miko was the cause of the land's strife and their constant dealings with the spider hanyou. She'd been the one to shatter the jewel. She was the one who insisted on involving innocents in a fight that they had no part in.
Their first encounter was due to his obsession with his father's sword—and his legacy. He'd wanted nothing more than to eradicate the scourge that was his brother from the face of the earth, all while claiming his birthright.
There had been no hold on him back then, nothing to slow down his pursuit of conquest. He'd killed without forethought or mercy, leaving a trail of blood and devastation, and his name fearfully whispered behind him.
He'd gone after Naraku for personal revenge, the stench of the poison drawing him nearer until he'd realized the danger the miko had been in. Then the obnoxious, infuriating little female had thanked him for saving her and stopped his brother from retaliating. As if he'd done it on purpose.
His claws raked through his hair as he sped through the horizon, youki licking his heels as he scanned the area.
How had she seen through him even then?