The Better Man

Chapter Thirty

Kagome was the first to wake, her head groggy. Something was touching her finger, it was cold and sticky. Her head lifted when it all came back to her. She'd finally passed out leaving Rin alone to fight off the man. She sat up and looked around, the head was the first thing she saw. Her scream filled the room causing the others to stir. She stood up seeing two seperate puddles of blood. Where was Rin?

"RIN?!!!" She couldn't sense her anywhere, panic filled her. The blood on the floor made tears come to her eyes. The girl couldn't be dead, it wasn't fair. Why had they been left alive?

Youko opened his eyes to see Kagome standing not far from them. The scent of blood filled the air, Rin's blood. A growl escaped his chest as he stood up. What the hell had happened? "Where is she?" She wasn't dead, that was the only thing he was sure of.

"I don't know, you all fell down. I went down soon after leaving her alone to deal with them. I don't sense her anywhere." Kagome looked down at the blood.

"Two other youkai were here as well, there scent is almost unnoticable. I don't sense the girl anywhere. One of the youkai was extremely powerful, Kanna is gone as well." Hiei looked down at the corpse of the woman's mate. "My guess is that she took the girl after her mate had been slain. She must have killed the man, the smell of the poison from her fans lingers on his neck."

Kagome looked down, "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to find her." Youko spoke finally, he wasn't going to lose her. Despair filled him knowing he had failed to protect her. He would get her back, the person that had taken her would die.

Two weeks later Jaken was running towards his lord's chambers. He would be displeased about at the news he carried. Rin was in her room having a fit once more, he'd never seen the girl that angry. He'd been sent to inform her that she would be staying there, that her request had been denied.

His eyes widened at seeing the girl leave her room, storming after him. "Rin, go back to your room now."

Rin kicked him when he tried to stop her, "Out of my way Master Jaken." If she wasn't allowed to go back and help Kagome then someone should. Her lord had hardly spoken to her since she'd been back. She didn't bother knocking, she opened the door and walked in.

He was standing looking out the window, his head snapped at her entrance. "What is it Rin?"

"I don't like your answer. Why won't you go help them? They won't be able to do it alone, you could atleast go see if Kagome needs it?"

"Why should I care if the miko needs assistance?" He lifted his eyebrow, and since when had Rin decided it was okay to yell at him?

"Because she saved my life that's why and if you won't help her then I'm going back. With or without your permission. I am no longer your ward." She stated anger filling her. "That woman tried to kill me several times, if you won't kill her I will."

"Very well, I will go speak to the miko." He walked up to her, "But you will stay here if I do this for you. You will not be returning to your mate. Try to return to him and he will be the next to die."
He had smelt the insult on the girl's back even if it had been cleaned off. The fox had degraded her then failed to protect her. He was tempted to go take his head but Rin seemed to care for him. He could smell it and see it in her eyes when she spoke of the man. Even now emotions flashed through her eyes.

"Fine, I'll stay put but you gotta swear to me you won't hurt him or kill him." She waited for his answer, it wasn't his fault. If he'd been in his right mind he wouldn't have claimed her.

"I won't kill him." He left the room leaving it at that. The man would pay for what he'd done, nor would he be allowed near Rin again.

Hiei was sitting on the roof at Genkai's while the others sat inside listening to Koenma speaking. So far neither Kanna or Rin had been found, leaving everyone to wonder at the girl's fate. The only hope was that she wasn't dead yet. He was sure it was only thing keeping the fox sane. He'd never seen Kurama this distressed before. Everyone was on edge, fearing that at any minute the link between the two would suddenly disappear.

He growled when he sensed the strong aura coming towards the temple at a fast pace. The scent filled his nose as soon as the youkai came to a halt a few feet in front of him. It was the scent from the castle, this had to be the same man.

Sesshoumaru watched the little man jump off the roof to confront him. He was powerful but he was nothing compared to himself. "Step aside."

"Where is the girl?"

Kagome came running out the house as soon as she felt him. Her eyes widened, "Sesshoumaru." Seeing him again brought back memories and reminded her of Inuyasha.

"Miko, this Sesshoumaru has come to speak to you."

"You can speak after you've told us where the girl is. Her scent is all over you." Hiei heard Kurama's intake of breath as he came out.

Kagome knew what had happened now, "You killed him didn't you? Somehow you made it in time to save her then you took her. Rin is with you again isn't she?" Relief filled her at his nod, it suprised her but she was thankful.

"She has requested that my services be offered."

"You're offering to help us?" She looked at him oddly, he must have changed since she'd last seen him.

"Don't gawk woman, this Sesshoumaru does it only so my ward will quit harrassing my servant. Jaken won't survive too many more of her tantrums. Plus we have struck a bargain. I kill the offspring and she stays with me. The fox will never go near her again." He waited for the man's anger, he watched him transform.

"You would try to keep her from me?"

"This Sesshoumaru will not try anything, you will not be able to find her. She wishes to stay with me."

"If thats true then why is she following you here?" Hiei left him standing there. He could see the girl now, she was moving in the Makai.


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