A/N: Sorry it took so long with this chapter! I’m having a bit of writer’s block. If anyone wants to be a beta to me of some sort; holla :) Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

The Hanyou’s Betrayal and Kagome’s Broken Heart:

With a loud bark one of the wolves leaped for Inuyasha, teeth bared. The hanyou knocked it aside easily, as if the rabid beast was but a pup, glancing over one shoulder and seeing Kagome staring at him fervently. Her deep set chocolate eyes looked troubled.

“Kagome! Watch out!” he cried out, unsheathing Tetsusaiga, which transformed before them. It was an empty warning, made more out of fondness and familiarity than fear for the girl’s well being. They both knew that Kouga wouldn’t allow her to be harmed, aspiring to protect her indefinitely, and especially if it was under his power to prevent such a thing! Kagome nodded, their gazes meeting, and took on a defensive stance.

Around them, the others were fighting off the wolves. A whimper resounded through the clearing as Sesshomaru punished a handful of the offenders, slashing them with his whip. Rin cowered, moving closer to Kagome, who was the only one not fighting besides Shippo. The miko felt like she should be, to prove her strength to Inuyasha. She had forgiven him, but the instinct to upright herself and regain her dignity after he had humiliated her was as strong as ever.

The guilt of battling Kouga’s pack, turning against members she had bonded with, made Kagome’s eyes prick sharply, hot tears gathering her eyes. If only she could speak with Kouga now! Why on earth had he done this? The raven haired girl needed to know what he had been thinking, to assure him that he needn’t have put her through such anguish simply to prove his dominance. Despite her frustration with him, she didn’t want to argue with Kouga.

Inuyasha seemed to know what Kagome was thinking. He smoldered at her for one brief, single moment. The Tetsusaiga began to glow and Kagome froze, uneasy at what he intended to do. “Inuyasha, no!”

The dog demon chuckled, and the fang dulled to its usual metallic tint. The wolves, who had sensed the danger of Inuyasha’s sword, retreated. “Don’t worry Kagome. I wasn’t actually going to kill them,” He told her, “not like they deserve it.”

Kagome smiled shakily. “I’m glad.” This was so unexpected.

Sesshomaru remained unmoved, watching the pack run away coldly, one hand on the sword at his hip. His expression became calculating, and Kagome sensed that he knew that they hadn’t been responsible for the incident. "It appears you have competition," he needled bleakly, a smirk gracing his lips and waiting for his younger brother to take the bait.

Inuyasha did not disappoint. Spitting at the atrocity of the statement, he snapped back, "That mangy wolf doesn't scare me!"

Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow in amusement, opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by a tentative Miroku. He didn't seem to feel comfortable speaking to the tai youkai, his mouth pinched as if he had tasted something sour, although his voice did not shake. "Can we please return to the subject at hand? What is it you know about Naraku, Sesshomaru?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Right to it, then," he muttered to himself. Kagome shook her head with exasperation, but a smile was tugging at her lips.

Sesshomaru stared Miroku down, looking skeptical. It was because Miroku did not break eye contact that he shifted a little, nodded to himself, and told them everything he knew. "The suspicion's you carry are correct. With his minions and a little outside help from Kikyo, he has found his way back from the Land of the Dead."

The silence stretched out. The birds were flying South and the other animals halfway to hibernation. What seemed to be the only sound was Inuyasha's ragged intake of oxygen, breathing in and out so quickly it was almost as if he were having a panic attack. "How--what are you talking about, Sesshomaru?!"

Kagome took in the hanyou's bewilderment with sympathy. He was trying so hard to hide it, but from the hurt, confused expression on his face and how he stared off into the distance she could see that he was about ready to keel over from shock and outrage and disbelief.

"Are you sure?" Sango prompted the tai youkai, glancing over at the dog demon, anxious on his behalf. Inuyasha was peering off into the distance, still as a statue, as if searching through what he knew of the deceased priestess. Trying to discover if the Kikyo he knew would ever do such a thing. But maybe that was exactly it; perhaps the woman he had known and loved for so long was not the same person he had thought her to be.

Sesshomaru watched the scene before him with an air of thoughtful disdain. "Perfectly sure," he announced, not making eye contact with the taijiya. He couldn't even remember her name; why would he speak to her directly? Rin was the only human that was constantly on his mind. Kagome's name popped up every now and again, but only when in reference to his half brother. "Whether Naraku blackmailed her, won her over, or hypnotized her, is unclear. But that woman had a rather important role in bringing that baka back to life."

Inuyasha's shoulders relaxed a bit at this last statement, but he remained quiet and deep in thought. It was clear to the other members of the group that they were going to have to take control of this situation.

"What else do you know on the subject? And how is it that you found out?" Questionned Miroku, his forehead creased with dread. So it was true. Despite their strongest efforts and all that blood that had been shed, he was back. The monk shuddered, and Sango stepped closer to him, an unconscious move of support.

"It was Kagura who told me," Sesshomaru relayed to them. "He dragged her back with him, you see. She escaped from his clutches for a few brief hours and came to me, told me everything she knew. He has taken on a role that leaves him wealthy and well protected. All ready there has been rumour of killings in the area, young children being slaughtered in the form of a particularly savage youkai with white hair and amber eyes." Here, Sesshomaru looked amused, and he caught Inuyasha's gaze as he continued, "My claws have not been stained with the taint of infant's blood, half breed, and I assume that you would do no such thing. There remains only one other person who would go to such lengths to make you miserable."

His eyes hard, Inuyasha exclaimed, "That bastard! I'll destroy him, I'll shred him limb from limb! But what does the slaughter of young children have to do with me? What is he planning?"

"Now that," said Sesshomaru, "I cannot explain. Kagura has long since lost Naraku's trust; she was unable to confide the rest of that scum's agenda." He smirked a little at the mention of Naraku's unfaithful minion, and Rin wondered why that was. Moments before the wolves of Kouga's Western clan had interrupted them they had shared a connection, swayed on the verge of crossing into some sort of understanding. Now that the main topic for the two brothers' encounter had been addressed the young girl wondered whether she would see such a vulnerable side of her lord again.

"Well, that isn't much help," grumbled Sango, looking disconcerted and pessimistic. She caught Sesshomaru staring at her disdainfully, his gaze filled with amused contempt. Insulted, her brows furrowed and her expression became openly hostile. "Just saying," she glared.

Kagome couldn't help it. She let loose a musical giggle as laughter bubbled up inside her. She grinned over at her friend, who returned the smile and winked. If anyone knew how to put the miko at ease it was Sango.

"I do know this," started the tai youkai, drawing out the anticipation with relish. His mouth spread in what was less a smile and more a baring of teeth. At last, when the tension was nearly unbearable, he stated, "Your actions are being observed closely, and this will prove great to Naraku's advantage. All is not as it seems, Inuyasha. I would have thought you would be able to tell when there is a spy among you."

A shiver passed through the gathering. Inuyasha bristled, clenching his fist. "Oh, shut up, baka. Now is not the time. Who is the spy?" His golden eyes shimmered with suspicion. "Tell me!"

There was a beat of silence, and then Sesshomary betrayed the last bit of information he had. "It is Kanna. She was instructed to watch you and your humans, and has been doing so with great pride. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Sango snorted, tossing her head indignantly. "Oh, how great he wise the man is, with all his wonderful advice!"

"Now, Sango, let's not start something," Miroku chastised her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. Sango rolled her eyes, but backed down, and held her husband to be's hand.

"Anything else we should know?" Kagome voiced the question burning in everyone's minds. Shippo peered at Sesshomaru behind Kagome's calfs.

"Actually..." Kagome's arched a brow at the suggestive pitch of Sesshomaru's voice. His tone gave off an I-have-a-secret-that-you-don't-know vibe.

"Spit it out!" Cried Inuyasha at last, looking reproachful and completely fed up with his brother's immature behaviour. Wasn't he supposed to be the older one?

"Yes, tell us, please," Rin murmured, looking up into the demon lord's pale eyes meekly. "The anticipation is killing me!"

Sesshomaru held her gaze for a long moment, trying to get a handle on the turmoil of emotions within him. It was the young raven haired girl who had thawed his icy heart. Now if only he could revert to his old ways so as not to feel the wanting for her by his side, that protective streak she brought out in him, the hurt from her betrayal.

Suprisingly, it was the tai youkai who broke eye contact first. "I cannot tell you who it is amidst you who has deceived your trust. That is not my place and you wouldn't believe me, anyway. But what I can tell you is this; the dead priestess Kikyo's most trusted confidante is not to be trusted. It is up to you to figure out who it is I am speaking of."

The group glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes; who was it of their fellow companions that had let them down? Shippo found himself staring at Inuyasha, his expression sour with suspicion, but had the grace to look ashamed when the hanyou glared.

"Whatever," Inuyasha shook his head, shaking off the insult. "We got what we came here to find out. Let's move out."

The others nodded their assent. Leaving seemed like a good idea, before they got too in to depth on the subject of the traitor among them and began accusing each other. They turned, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo mounting Kirara who pounced into a soar. Kagome climbed onto Inuyasha's warm back, trying not to sink into him too comfortably, thinking sadly upon Kouga's bad choices. They were all ready to leave, everyone besides Rin.

She stayed rooted to the spot as did the grown man before her. Their eyes met, and before she knew what she was doing Rin was running at him and had flung her arms around his waist. Hot tears soaked his haori and the fluffy appendage draped over his shoulder; otherwise known as his tail.

"Oh, Sesshomaru Sama! I am so sorry I disobeyed you! Your memory doesn't leave my thoughts even for a minute through out the day--you are always somewhere at the back of my mind. I want you to know that I am happy--even though I miss you terribly."

Sesshomaru froze, stock still, looking bewildered at such an open display of affection from his ward and a bit embarrassed. Eventually, stiffly, he patted her head. Then, with a more genuine fondness behind the action, he rubbed her back.

"I am not going to pretend to understand the reason you choose to stay with Inuyasha's group--I only know that as a human it is better for you to stay among your own kind. When you are not here it feels like a piece of me is missing, as if I am incomplete. All I ask is that you keep yourself safe, Rin, and that we meet again sometime soon."

Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo had all stopped to watch the scene playing before them, Kirara hovering in the air with the three on her back. Kagome smiled softly, a joyous warmth filling her chest and chasing the unhappiness from her heart, if only for the time being. "Look at them," She whispered to the dog demon she was clutching. She pushed aside the sheet of his silvery hair so as to see better, and one of Inuyasha's furry ears twitch. "Isn't it just heart breaking that they are being seperated?"

"Meh," the hanyou grumbled, rolling his eyes. But although he wouldn't admit it, Inuyasha could feel the love, too. At last Rin was released, and she peered up at her old master with eyes full of admiration.

"Thank you," she murmured, walking backward to her friends, who beckonned. "I thank you, Sesshomaru Sama!"

The tai youkai's nod was barely imperceptible, but it was there, and when Rin had finally turned and joined her companions, he clenched a fist to keep from grimacing at the pain he felt from being seperated by the only human he had ever cared for. "Live, Rin. Live and prosper."

And then he was gone, turned on his heel and left. Without waiting for her to catch up, Inuyasha scooped up Rin and he, his load, and the rest of the gang departed.

A/N: I know, short, and it took me so long to post this! But I've just been really busy with school and family stress and my social life. orry, folks :S please please please review, it will give me inspiration to write more quickly! And yes, Sesshy was OOC. But deep down he loves Rin, and let's just say he decided to be a little more free spirited on this rare occasion :)

xox Sacha