Rin's jaw was clinched tightly as she flew through the forest on her small dragon. Her long tresses were loose and whistled lightly as the fast blowing air billowed through them. She rode bareback for there had been no time to saddle her mount. Muscled thighs clinched expertly to the back of the small beast. She unclenched her jaw as a wave of determination found itself within her. A blank expression then came and engulfed her face in its entirety, all but her eyes. Her chocolate colored orbs housed a hidden rage as she examined her father's overheard words.

The scene was almost too tranquil the young slayer admitted to herself. Her expression for once teetered toward gregarious, though there were none to see this rare slip. She let out a soft breath that caressed the cool night air while opening her eyes taking in her surroundings.

Rin sat silently under the balcony belonging to the study inside the library. A patch of lunar flowers grew there that she was particularly fond of. And she often found herself sitting amidst them, pondering the vast universe and her role within it. But this night her thoughts spiraled around the whereabouts of her sister and the words of her forbidden lover. Sango was probably headed towards Miroku, for what reason, she knew not. But the young slayer could think of no other reason for her sister and brother to disappear into the night together.

Then the matter of pursuing them arose. She knew the basic location of the temple where her sister's lover slept for years, reliving a nightmare impossible to wake from. Yes, but for them to be there. The chances of such were not very high. Rin sighed. She supposed if she did pursue them, that temple would be a good place to begin the search.

Her small fingers brushed against the tender petals, their acute skill with swords abandoned momentarily for a gentle lady's grace and delicacy. She leaned inwards, her rosy lips brushing against one of the glistening white flowers. The brief serenity of her mind rebelled against her as Sesshoumaru's threat echoed through her head. She squashed the rebellion with her will at first, her want for a moment of tranquility over ruling the situation.

But despite her efforts, this sense of peace and serenity could never last too long. And it was broken in an instant, her body tensed reflexively as she heard movements above her.

"I do not care. She shall not be shown any sympathy, is that understood? Bring her corpse or yours shall litter this citadel!" A loud voice bellowed filled to the brim with anger. Rin became slightly ridged as she recognized the voice of her father. A familiar rage began to build, but was easily soothed by the desire for stealth and knowledge.

"But my lord, the men are very fond of Lady Sango. She trained many of them and I believe…" An officer spoke. Rin assumed he was one of the unseasoned ones, for his voice was not familiar and it held no constitution within.

"You are not here to think or believe! She is a traitor. And I want her dead." Her father once again bellowed. Rin's fingers again found their assassin's touch as she reached toward her thigh for a dagger, should she be discovered. Her eyes became slant, her ears sharp. She prepared herself for any confrontation, whether it be from above or the ground.

"But sire…"

"She was the first act of true rebellion within my household. If possible, bring the boy unscathed for he carries my name. Kill the girl; she no longer has any uses. Is that understood?"

"Of course my lord, but what shall we do about her sister? Surely she will attempt to warn her." The officer replied after a moment of shuffling.

"Let her do as she pleases, she shall be out of my hair soon enough. She lacks the resources and allies to ever pose a true threat to me."

Rin controlled the rage that began to build yet again as she remembered her father's words. Her eyes narrowed as an evil smirk found its way to her lips. "Never ever underestimate your opponent."

As the sun peeked over the horizon, Kohaku stretched and lazily rolled off of the futon. Kirara opened one eye to acknowledge his movement, and then she returned to a light slumber. A quick survey of the room told Kohaku that is his sister had already left, probably to gather information. With a stifled yawn he made his way over to a small basin and splashed the cool water on his face.

"Kirara, where did Sango go?" Kohaku asked as he dried his face off. The neko opened both of her eyes and stared at him. She flicked one of her two tails before placing her head back on her paws. "Come on girl…" Kohaku muttered to her as he scratched behind her ear. Kirara yawned a bit and then gave out a soft purr. After a long stretch she slowly strolled toward the screen and placed her paw on it. She gave Kohaku a bored look as he pulled back the screen and followed behind her.

After ten minutes of trotting behind the small neko, Kohaku found himself standing at the edge of a stream. Kirara yawned, the same bored expression still planted on her feline features before she sat down near the water's edge, intent on resuming her nap. The young man resisted the urge to roll his eyes before pursing his lips together and taking in his surroundings. A bit further downstream Sango stood speaking with a young woman. The two women were smiling and after a short time Sango nodded and headed towards Kohaku.

"Ah dear brother, you are up quite early. I'm surprised you found me so quickly… But then you did have assistance…" Sango said lightly as she motioned toward the sleeping Kirara.

Kohaku ignored her cynical salutations and inquired softly, "Did you learn of any news? For that would be the only reason you would be up with the crows…" He leaned down to pick up Kirara, who in turn snuggled into his arms without even waking up.

Sango smirked as her eyes danced with amusement and joy. "There is word of a monk spreading around this area. They say he cleansed an inn of an ill omen. He resides there for the time being." Sango stopped hardly able to hide her growing excitement. "The villagers gossip that he appears quite rouge, his hair unkempt and his chin unshaven. But the village has had an increase in luck since his appearance…"

He stared at her face, unsure if he should share in her obvious joy. The sleeping monk may have awoken; in fact, he may be closer than once thought. But something just felt a bit off. "We must take caution then but make haste. If you believe that this may be him then there is no time to lose. Do you still plan to escape to the continent?"

"Of course, there is no other way for me to continue breathing with him by my side. That demon will not allow our union, and I am no longer naïve enough to care. The village should be a few hours trek from here, but we shall ride Kirara for we are in desperate need to make haste. Besides…even if it is not him, this monk may be able to give us the information we need to find him."

"Demonic whore!" The words rang sharply through the air of the temple quieting all those inside to hushed whispers.

Rin sat on her knees with an eyebrow slightly raised at the accusation. She had arrived at the temple when the sun was at its peak in the sky. She, of course, was greeted with the finest hospitality that could be offered at a place that had been partially destroyed by flames. The monks of the temple offered her tea as one went to fetch the head of the temple, since Miroku had been directly under his care. She had actually been having a pleasant conversation about cross breeding flower types before being called out by her hidden title.

She carefully placed the tea cup down and looked toward the old monk. Her face was calm, her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement and curiosity. She spoke softly but loud enough for all to hear. If she was to become the stuff of gossip and later legends, she would prefer if the tale was told correctly at least once. "The title whore is quiet unsettling upon my conscious Houshi-sama… Demonic bitch is more to my liking. Of course, my curiosity does rage at your accusation, and I wonder if you smell his seed on my skin, or have somehow recognized one of the bite marks that litter my frame?"

The old monk's eyes widened as he looked the young princess over. This reaction was not one he was expecting, most in her position would adamantly deny it. She embraced it as though it was the most obvious thing and she was confused as to why no one had mentioned it sooner. Her manner of speaking also unnerved him. Her mannerisms matched her stations, but her words were so uncouth. A hard frown came to his features as an unsteady hand pulled out a sutra. He carefully edged closer to her intent on freeing her from possession of whatever had a hold on her mind.

Rin let out an airy giggle, one that an untrained ear might think denoted innocence. Of course, they would be mistaken. "Sir, I only fuck him… And such an interaction does not give me the energy that a sutra needs to be effective." She picked up her tea and took another sip as the elder drew closer. His weapon of choice would have no effect on her. In her mind, he should have been more frightened of her, for her sword lie next to her leg, and it had drunk blood before.

"Second Princess of the Taijiya… I know not what to say to you. You protect yourself with a demon's energy and yet you claim to be a slayer. It is obvious that you have mated with a high ranking demon or else you would not be wearing that comb." The old monk proclaimed as all other eyes in the room darted to Rin's hair.

The young woman's lips immediately fell into a thin line. A not too steady hand reached upward into her hair and she, for a moment, contemplated ripping the accusatory item from her ebony locks. The happenings of the night it was received flickered through her mind, the mystery behind his strange actions suddenly becoming clearer. But at the same time they became even more muddled than before. She dropped her hand into her lap, her promise controlling her actions for reasons she did not understand. A sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes.

"It was a spontaneous gift. Nothing more, nothing less." She recited, needing to hear the words to give them power. "The significance that is being placed on it now confuses me." She admitted softly before rising to her feet. "I wish you no harm, as the monk who fetched you should have informed you, I came to ask about Miroku-sama, for my siblings have gone missing and the odd happenings before their disappearance led me to believe it has something to do with him. But perhaps such inquiries are not meant for the ears of many. I will leave my weapons; you may bring your sutras." She turned softly on her heels and headed deeper into the temple.

The monk followed, a wary eye trained on her movements. They soon stopped near a grand torii that lead to a now half scorched garden. The land had seen better days the young girl mused. Turning from the scene of destruction, Rin waited for a moment as she met the old monk's eyes. He clinched a sutra in his hand so that the ink began to run with the sweat of his palms. Deciding that nothing would be learned if she did not speak first, she parted her lips twice. First to lick her chapped lips and then to speak.

"My brother came to my sister with some sort of news that was only meant for her ears. I wish to know why they left. I assumed it had to do with Miroku-sama but being that he is not here…" Rin paused as the old monk relaxed just a bit, hoping that information was all the young girl desired. She continued. "And from what gossip I have gathered from the monks while waiting to speak with you, he moved on his own…"

The monk took a good look at her. He had not seen her since she was small, but she still seemed to house the same concern for her older siblings, including the cursed monk whom he had cared for. And even though she was tainted by some unknown demon, he could not deny her what he knew, for he could find no other faults in her. She was being honest, as she had been when he accused her of being a demonic whore.

Rin listened as the old monk explained how he cared for Miroku, exactly how he was cursed, and the happenings of the night the temple burned. Apparently, the monks of the temple had been able to banish most of the curse of his blood into his palm. There raged a void that sucked in all things around it if not restrained by prayer beads. It grew as he slept, and would no doubt continue to grow until it consumed his whole being.

The whole tale took near two hours to explain and when it was done Rin had a rough idea of where her sister would be headed after she found Miroku. She bowed gracefully at the monk. Her mind racing as she prepared to take her leave. "Thank you, though I would have loved to stay, other matters call for me, and I fear I bring uneasiness to this temple." She said preparing to make her way toward the coastline. Her sister would most likely attempt to make it to the continent, as she had tried before.

"Wait…" He looked her over, his eyes locking onto hers once more. "You did not know what that object in your hair meant." He once again noted that anyone in her station would probably deny ignorance. And for a moment, he waited for her to do the same. But she simply stood before him, waiting for him to continue.

He cleared his throat, unsure of why he was offering her such knowledge. "It is a a type of betrothal comb. It creates a contract; the wearer is protected by the one who gives it. The benefactor, in turn, sacrifices a small amount of demonic energy that builds up in the object until it is needed. It is a promise of protection, passed down in royal demonic bloodlines."

Rin was very careful not to move and to keep her face masked as the monk spoke to her. But her insides were twisting into knots and her mind was reeling. There was a heavy silence as the young woman carefully organized her thoughts. She was careful not to sigh as her entire body called for it. She did not understand his actions. Why would he give her something of such importance and symbolism? "Does the comb serve any other purpose?" She asked carefully, her fingers itching to examine the ornament.

The monk tried to read her, but her actions gave away nothing. So he continued. "I am sure you are vaguely aware of youkai mating rituals. That object is a precursor to mating."

"That's impossible his intentions would never…" Rin started automatically before pressing her lips together. "I must go. Thank you for the information and your time." She muttered as she bowed gracefully and quickly made her way out of the temple, not taking a moment to look back.