Plans

The fire was low, the pots cold and hut quiet as the chill pressed in on them as Inuyasha spun his tale of what Touzen had stumbled upon.

"I do not see how this concerns me," Sesshoumaru said.

"Really?" Inuyasha bristled, then needled. "Keh. And here I thought you were supposed to be smart."

"It seems this is more a concern for your spawn," Sesshoumaru retorted with an arrogant smirk, "Or perhaps, even, yourself."

Inuyasha took a gamble.

"If it's a problem for me, then you know who else it's a problem for?"

He let Sesshoumaru answer for himself and knew the moment the daiyoukai had put it together. Sesshoumaru's eyes sharpened as he watched the fire.

"Yeah," Inuyasha continued. "Figured that might get your attention. And not just her. What about your other so-called people? Ain't you supposed to be the great lord or something? S'your responsibility to keep'em safe, right? Or was it just our old man that could manage that?"

Sesshoumaru nearly lost control of his jyaki as he scowled at the mongrel.

"You dare speak of him? Presume to understand him? You, who never even knew his face?"

Inuyasha leaned forward, hands on his knees.

"You know what? Yeah, I do, actually. Kintsuke's said enough that I think I could figure out at least that much about him." He ignored the red seeping into the edge of Sesshoumaru's eyes, unable to resist. "Even with that fancy sword of yours, you're still chasing his shadow, ain't'cha? Some greater demon…"

The straw flap to the hut swung open just as Sesshoumaru's claws began to lengthen. Kintsuke paused as she stepped into the thick, aggressive air. The daiyoukai's fury calmed just a hair.

"Am…I interrupting?" she asked carefully.

"Nah, you're right on time," said Inuyasha, crossing his arms. "Was just telling Mr. Indominable here what I told you earlier."

"Ah."

Slowly, Kintsuke settled into the empty space by the fire across from Inuyasha, flanking Sesshoumaru's other side. She glanced between the brothers for a moment, Sesshoumaru slowly calming himself further until his claws retracted and the red left his eyes. The silence was tense. Kintsuke cleared her throat.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, Inuyasha, is there any tea left?"

"Yeah, sure."

While Inuyasha set about stoking the fire and reheating the pot, Kintsuke caught Sesshoumaru's gaze. His eyes were still seething. She quirked her lip slightly, trying to calm him a bit more. To her surprise, it worked.

"So," she prodded. "What are we going to do?"

"Suppose I could take Miroku and Sango to go check some of the towns further out," Inuyasha said, "see if there's anything there. And you can keep an eye out while you wander around."

"That would leave only the priestess to defend the village," Sesshoumaru retorted, and his lack of faith in Kagome's abilities was unmistakable.

Inuyasha wanted to argue on principle but found he couldn't. Even he was forced to recognize Kagome's decline. Kintsuke read the pain on his face.

"Perhaps," she offered, "if the monk and taijiya were to remain behind with the priestess, and you and I were to go, Inuyasha…"

Sesshoumaru's lips turned downward and Inuyasha frowned.

"You and me? What good would that do?"

"We're in a unique situation, aren't we?" she continued, ignoring Sesshoumaru's disapproval. "Even if our youki is drained, we both are accustomed to functioning as mortals. From what you've described, humans won't feel the power of the object your son found, and other demons might be overly affected. And" she flicked her eyes to Sesshoumaru, "a search radius this small is hardly worth anyone else's time."

She sipped her tea as the males considered her words. Both hated her silver tongue at that moment, but even Sesshoumaru had to admit it made sense.

"Fine," Inuyasha finally relented. "But we'll take Kirara."

"No."

They looked at Sesshoumaru.

"You will take A-Un."

Kintsuke and Inuyasha shared a terse expression.

"Yeah, fine, whatever," he said.

"It is settled, then," said Kintsuke.

They were quiet as she finished her tea, and she rose to follow Sesshoumaru out into the chilly night. Inuyasha flicked his eyes at her, saying she could stay here, where it was warm, but she declined with a slight shake of her head. Back out to the thawing fields, they went. A-Un rose to follow Sesshoumaru toward the tree line, where he found a sturdy bough on which to lounge for rest. Kintsuke found her own a little above him. Jaken nestled into A-Un's mane and was soon deeply asleep.

"I presume this deviation will be quick," Sesshoumaru said softly, knowing Kintsuke could hear him.

"I cannot say for sure," she replied just as softly. "This is something I've not encountered before."

The daiyoukai glanced up at the moon. It was nearly gone, meaning there were a couple of weeks to spare. It was surely enough time for him to conference with Hiken again and then press eastward while Kintsuke and Inuyasha completed their task.

"Do not take too long, female."

Kintsuke glanced down at Sesshoumaru, unsure what to make of that, but his eyes were closed, and his expression as placid as ever. There was something in his tone… Even if she was only imagining that he cared, that he wanted to be the one to guard her on that horrid day, it made a warmth flicker deep in her chest.

"I'll do what I can."

As promised, Sesshoumaru took the time to bid farewell to Rin before letting Jaken cling to his mokomoko as he took to the sky. A quick exchange of looks with Kintsuke was all that was needed.

'There is nothing she has not been able to handle thus far,' the daiyoukai reconfirmed to himself. 'Over five centuries, and she has overcome even death.'

Sesshoumaru turned his focus to his own task. Hiken had no news that was worth hearing. The raven still did not know what had become of the missing Himari and Ichika. Sesshoumaru conveyed as much as was necessary about the youki-draining contraption before leaving Hiken to his investigations. The daiyoukai refused to spare even a glance down at Musashi as he bounded through the clouds over the territory. He kept his focus on the Eastern peninsula and its large province of Shimosa. Things were going to be tense.

Sesshoumaru was not welcome here.

It took him the greater part of a day, but he eventually found the scent he was looking for. Down he glided, humanoid by the time his feet touched ground. There, he waited, feeling the jyaki of the one he sought approaching. The air slowly chilled, then turned bitter cold. The frost-kissed plants turned to crystalline ice, and preternatural snow began dancing on the wind. He remained calm as a thick fog rolled toward him. Within slinked an elegant feline silhouette. As it drew near, it shrank and reformed, and from the fog came an equally beautiful blue-haired female. The ground froze over wherever she stepped.

The female paused a safe distance from him and set a defiant hand on her hip.

"Well, well, if it isn't Lord Sesshoumaru," she cooed. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you again."

"Touran," he greeted tersely.

"Lady Touran," the ice panther corrected sharply, "seeing how I am the master of this territory; which is what confuses me. I thought we had an agreement, Sesshoumaru."

"The agreement stands. These lands belong to your tribe. I am here for another purpose."

"Oh?" She crossed her arms, curious. "Out with it, then."

"I am offered no hospitality, I see," he jeered.

"That is only for welcomed guests."

Sesshoumaru chuckled.

"Very well. I seek information. Tell me, have any of yours gone missing?"

"Missing?" Touran nearly blanched. "Why would they go missing?"

"Aside from their inherent weakness, I am merely curious as to if there have been any strange happenings in Shimosa."

"You take a great interest in land that is not your own," she said, defensive.

"Is it so strange that I should be concerned with the happenings of a neighboring land in the interest of the safety and stability of my holdings? Do you yourself not send scouts into my own lands for the same purpose?"

The panther's sharp expression softened, then she chuckled, and she held up her hands.

"I guess you have me there."

"Then, you will answer my question," Sesshoumaru insisted.

"Not so fast. How do I know this isn't some sort of reconnaissance so you can plan an invasion?"

"As I stated before, the agreement stands."

"I have your word on that?" Touran demanded.

"My word," Sesshoumaru said, chewing on the words.

Touran considered him, then lowered her hands. Her shoulders stiffened.

"As it so happens, yes, one of mine has gone missing. Shunran."

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment.

"Your sister. The female with the flowers."

"Yes."

"For how long has she been missing?"

"A few moon cycles. We've searched far and wide but found no trace of her."

There was an unspoken 'but' in her voice. Sesshoumaru canted his head questioningly.

"But we did find something else."

"Go on."

"I have your word?" she asked again, still unsure.

'How many times must you ask, female?'

"My word," he reiterated.

Touran motioned west toward the coast of the bay that separated the peninsula from the rest of the mainland.

"Somewhere there, near the coast. There is something there, but we dare not investigate. It drains even the most powerful youki, rendering one helpless."

"You have seen this for yourself?"

Touran hesitated.

"Yes."

"Do you think Shunran is there?"

"It is possible but searching there would risk our lives. Shunran would not want that."

"A convenient excuse."

Touran bristled.

"You are more than welcome to search there yourself. In fact, I urge you to. Let us see how the great Sesshoumaru fares!"

The loss of her sister had shaken Touran in a way Sesshoumaru had not thought possible. Perhaps, what Inuyasha's spawn had found was a smaller part of a much greater threat. Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to heckle the panther further. If such a threat existed, then it would not be long before it infected his lands. Nipping it in the bud, here and now, would be the most effective action.

"I accept your invitation," he said.

He turned and began toward the west. Touran snarled.

"Sesshoumaru!"

He glanced back at her.

"You will return to me before you flee back to your lands and tell me all you have found. Assuming you are still alive," she commanded.

His blood burned, and his demon demanded he put this lesser daiyoukai in her place. But Sesshoumaru stopped himself. These were her lands, by his own concession. Were it that they were on the mainland, he would speak to her in the same manner as he spoke to him now. He drew a single calming breath, barely nodded, and resumed his path.

"Don't you dare die!" she called after him.

Sesshoumaru did not respond.