Chapter 3:

A Tale of Tengu

Evening was approaching, and the sun was seen setting over the horizon as it beckoned men and children back to their huts for supper. Kagome's spacious abode sheltered a few extra guests that night; a sudden invasion she was used to given Miroku and Sango's growing family. The priestess poked at the crackling fire that heated the stew she had prepared, and smiled fondly at the sight of her husband and son eating away at her cooking; both expressing the same sloppy table manners much to her inner dismay.

Off near the corner of her hut gathered each of Ungai's followers. Though they rejected any hospitality at first, their hungry stomachs called for the enticing aroma of venison that filled the four walls of her home. They confessed how many nights it had been since they ate a decent meal since their master fell sick; their usual diet of acorns and berries was hardly fit to compensate for the amount of energy it took to travel the countryside. Needless to say, none denied the food that was offered to them. Kagome took pride in her skills as a hostess, but her generosity wasn't accepted by all.

"Rin?" she asked the younger woman who kneeled beside Ungai's futon, "Aren't you hungry?" Kagome noted how her dark-chocolate eyes have yet to break away from his sleeping form, and the tray by her side remained untouched. Her question seemed to pass right through her ears, and when Kagome went to lay a hand on her shoulder she felt Rin's body shudder beneath the warmth of her palm.

"Pardon?" she asked; suddenly making nervous eye contact with Kagome's dark-blue eyes, "Oh," Rin tilted her head down to her cold stew, "I'm sorry Kagome, my thoughts roamed elsewhere…"

Kazu immediately slid next to Rin's meal; his mood dropped earlier upon realizing the pot was empty no thanks to the new guests, and his insatiable hunger had yet to be filled, "I'll take it if you're don't want any, Rin?" His eager hand went first for her rice before his mother swatted his greedy fingers away, "Don't be rude," she chided, but Rin knew she wouldn't find her hunger that night. "It's alright, Kagome," she reassured her before sliding her tray over to Kazuhiko. Her convincing smile and exasperated sigh from his mother was all the encouragement the little boy needed to begin scarfing down seconds.

"You know, Rin," Kagome informed, "Inuyasha and I have already agreed that if this is too weird for you we can always think of another arrangement for these guys." Though the details remained untold both Inuyasha and Kagome distinctly remembered the messy intercourse between Sesshomaru and Ungai many years ago. Whatever the reason was for that particular chance meeting it was obvious Rin was directly in the middle of it; the scene of a little girl following after her demonic companion was imprinted in Kagome's memories. Though she rarely mentioned his name, Rin's actions thus far was proof that Sesshomaru wasn't as far from her thoughts as she preferred everyone to think.

Upon Kagome's considerate offer Rin observed the group of bald men; some old, some young. Unlike the growing boy next to her everyone else seemed satisfied with their portions, and each of the men in Ungai's circle bowed in gratitude. "They've done nothing wrong," was Rin answer, and after Kagome acknowledged their appreciation she lifted herself to find some extra bedding.

Rin shifted her gaze until it rested on the sleeping monk before her. Kagome's remedies did well in getting him to sleep evenly. Even in his slumber he still carried a serious scowl; the slight part of his lips was the only indication that he was actually asleep. The years didn't do much to his appearance-Rin noticed-but then again the lines on his skin reminded her that he wasn't exactly a spring chicken upon first meeting him almost ten years ago. His theory of being cut down sparked her curiosity, and her eyes once again scanned the tan skin on his chest. Perhaps a bug bite or two, but no piercing of the skin-no rip through his aging muscles-nothing. Then he had to go and say those words-

"That blasted moon bared across his forehead, curse him…"

Rin habitually went to grasp her apron with rigid force, and found herself overwhelmed with questions. Fortunately for her so was Inuyasha, and after he picked out whatever scrap of meat remained in his teeth he stood up and towered over a man who sat at the forefront of the group. The irritated glare he exerted had each of the monks leaning back on their hands.

"So what's the real story behind the old guy's attitude?" Inuyasha gruffly asked.

"W-We've already spoken," said the man Inuyasha hovered over, "Master was struck dow-"

"I want the whole story," Inuyasha demanded, and pointed to Ungai "And leave nothing out about the guy who he said looks like me."

The man took a deep breath, and looked to his fellow mates for their approval. None opposed, so it was a start, and he briskly cleared his throat. "There hasn't been much change since the last time we met. We still travel the countryside, and we still assist those who are in need of extracting demons. I suppose that's where all this began."

Inuyasha signaled them to continue, and his eyes jumped to the corner of his socket to see Rin listening to every intricate word with intense interest.

"You see, rumors were spreading of an ancient Tengu demon that broke free from its shrine many moons ago. We researched its origins, and as legend has it may have once been a good monk cursed by evil's bane, and was sealed away at the frozen peak of a northern mountain. Naturally, Master Ungai felt obligated to hopefully purify this once holy man, and thus our search began. An old associate of ours finally confirmed its location, but forewarned us of its newly acquired powers."

"What," Inuyasha teased as his eyes rolled, "Snow?"

"Ice."

Inuyasha felt the string of logic snap in his head because it was the same difference to him, "Get to the point!" he barked.

"We set our sights in the direction of the East as told. The winter is still many seasons away, so the sight of mountainous spears of frozen ice was enough to assume that are target was within reach and once there we followed the trail of blood leading to the Tengu…"

The man gripped the collar of his ropes, and swallowed, "You cannot begin to imagine its power," he shivered, "Its form is not like that of a human; its body is engulfed with black feathers…Its wings are enormous, and upon its shoulders sits the head of a crow-"

"We all know what a Tengu demon looks like," Inuyasha spat impatiently.

"Well you must understand our leader fought bravely against it, but its powers of shifting the wind, and forming ice at its will overpowered our master's concentration. During the heat of battle Master Ungai fell to his knees after exhausting all of his spiritual strength. My comrades and I gave all that we had left to put up a barrier to protect him and ourselves; oddly enough it seemed to ward off the demon. He found his attempts to attack us futile, and flew off without a trace."

"What the Hell does this have to do with that demon who you claim attacked your master?"

"Inuyasha," Kagome badgered as she looked toward Kazuhiko who currently was found dozing off near Rin's lap, "Language."

Inuyasha felt the tip of his ears go down, but still persisted in getting his answer.

"Afterwards," the monk finally continued, "Even when we gained back our own strength Master Ungai only seemed to be losing more of his. We quickly noticed that our leader was growing paler than we'd ever seen, and his breathing was uneven. We thought for sure he was going to die in that snowfield, but he insisted we help him to the nearest village with whatever strength he had left. We were left with no choice, and we took to the forest's path once again. That's when we saw him…"

Rin felt the heart in her chest pound against her ribcage like a drum, and the materials around her body suddenly became too tight in anticipation for how the explanation was going to unfold. All throughout the story she kept readjusting her headpiece, tugged at her apron, but now her hands remained stiff at her side as she blocked out any other noise aside from the monk's voice.

"He appeared before us without warning," the man continued as he took a much needed gulp, and his eyes drifted off, "The moonlight illuminated him; it was like revisiting an old memory for his appearance was untouched by time."

His words, while helpful, didn't give Rin the clarification she was searching for. She told herself to remain quiet, but felt her patience wearing down till it was as thin as Inuyasha's. She couldn't help but suddenly speak up, "So, it was him after all?"

The group of men turned her direction, as did an astonished Inuyasha. Her voice broke the tension around them, and she took the gap of silence as her chance to further explain her question as her thoughts wandered across seas of memories. "He's the same demon who once interfered with your rescue mission for a group of children many years ago, is he not?"

The headman of the group looked at her with surprising wonder; Rin felt either she had aided in his recollection or her accusation was so uncanny it freaked him out. They all seemingly remembered Inuyasha so it wouldn't it stand to good reason that Ungai wasn't the only one who remembered Sesshomaru? After a momentary silence he finally spoke up. "The group of children from the village at the foot of a mountain," he recalled, "They were held captive by a demon known as Ongukuki, until Master Ungai annihilated him."

Rin didn't realize the breath she was holding until the monk finally blessed her with the answer she was hoping to hear. He nodded his head, "Yes."

His passive attitude towards her presence foretold Rin that the vaguely familiar man hadn't recognized her to be the same little girl that was a part of that group of children. For now, maybe that was for the best, and she nodded her head in response.

"While the Tengu is as fierce as demons come," the man described, "We'd never forget such an aura as the one emitted from that particular demon..."

"Did he do what that delusional monk claimed?" questioned Inuyasha; that being his initial mystery we wanted unfolded.

The younger monk furrowed his brows in uncertainty, and again looked to his brethren in the hopes that anyone else would answer the half-demon's question better than he could, but it would seem the task was yet again left up to him. His breathy exhale carried with it a tone of doubt.

"He did," he stated simply, a small sentence that struck Rin down to her inner core. Sesshomaru cut a man down, should she really have been that surprised? Yet, the question remained why Ungai wasn't dead?

"It's just…"

The man spoke again, his loss of words foreshadowed a complicated scene he found difficult to describe, "It wasn't that simple…You see; once Master realized that he was face to face with such a formidable demon from his past he immediately tried to find the strength to confront him. This demon that you are all so curious about-he only seemed interest in one thing, however, and that was the Tengu. Vague as he was; he kept asking us if we had any information on its whereabouts. No doubt he was seeking the same target we were, but for whatever reason he sought out this enemy I am without an answer for."

A challenge arose, and of all the warriors to walk the land the Great Dog Demon was never one to stray away from such a grand foe; Inuyasha knew that and Rin especially knew that. Now, one would normally wonder why a demon with such a sensitive nose would have difficulty honing in on his prey that he'd have to result in confining to humans for directions, only Inuyasha knew the reason. Whether frozen water or flurries of snow; it all had a funny way of distorting a dog demon's sense of smell.

"Only wanting information, sounds like he hasn't changed much," Inuyasha thought to himself as he huffed at his elder brother's boorish impression, and his head gestured for the man to carry on with his explanation.

"We were certain Master Ungai would deny him any information, but before our leader could utter a word to the demon he collapsed on the ground. Perhaps the…shock of seeing something so frightening from his past…I don't know…To this day we are uncertain what had happened to him; his body shuddered, his breathing withered to short gasps of air and…and then he stopped breathing all together." The man wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked to his Master with eyes full of relief to see the rhythmic rise of his abdomen. "His spiritual aura vanished from our senses; confirming our fears that the life was drained out of him, and that's when it happened."

Rin's lips parted; her persistent theory that remained at the forefront of her mind was about to be established.

"He…brought out a blade; I loosely remember he had two by his hip, but I'm certain it didn't come from the white scabbard. I remember the swords unusual energy, and his oncoming presence wilted us into a shameful state as we backed away; leaving Master Ungai without protection. It all happened so quickly, he sliced the area around his chest…cutting…cutting hell knows what! I know he cut something; we all felt it…"

The man tried to calm his distasteful appearance; it wasn't everyday he unknowingly witnessed the resurrection of a man from a demon none wouldn't think capable of carrying a weapon with such a heavenly skill.

"He sheathed his sword, his solemn expression led us to believe that his actions only shamed an otherwise honorable death to our Master…but then…Master Ungai, he…he rose…I...We don't know what to make of it. As you can imagine Master awoke just as mortified as we were, and I remember the first think he did was tear at the fabric of his clothes to see a mark that wasn't there. That's how his robes became as they are."

"Did he leave after?" Inuyasha asked as he finally moved from his spot, and looked out the window of his hut. Both Rin and Kagome wondered what was going through his mind.

The man nodded, his body had since calmed, "I told him the direction the Tengu fled in. I don't know what possessed me to tell him, and Master was of course displeased. I just feared what more he could have done had we tried to escape without telling him anything, and after all we witnessed…between our battle with the Tengu…between him…We really needed a peaceful atmosphere to come to terms with everything. Master Ungai hasn't been the same since; he believes that any weapon that leaves no physical damage must instead be internal. He blames the demon, and his sword for how he's been fairing thus far."

"So the old man thinks he's cursed now, huh?" Inuyasha declared.

The man scratched his cheek with the tip of his forefinger, "He believes so, yes."

"What about you all?"

Each of the monks expressed curious glances at one another. "We've devoted ourselves to Master Ungai; we see things the way he sees them, and we believe what he believes."

"Huh," Inuyasha grumbled, contemplating whether or not to knock them all upside the head, "Well let me tell you idiots something. That sword that your Master is so paranoid about can't cut through rice-paper; wet," he added. "I'll tell you the trick it can do though, and after hearing it you'll realize how lucky that monk is because Sesshomaru can be a real jackass sometimes and-"

"Inuyasha," Kagome warned, though with their son sleeping she wasn't sure why she should deny him his foul mouth.

"We believe Master Ungai," the young monk persistently lied, "That is why we sought help from all the skilled priests and priestesses across the land. This village's priestess was the first on our list given the subject of the once sacred Shikon Jewel. Master believes what's happened to him needs the attention of someone whose sole skill is detecting evil aura hidden beneath a soul. That is why we came to you, priestess," he looked to Kagome.

Kagome couldn't help but blush at their accusation of how renowned she'd become, but alas she still didn't detect any evil within the monk's soul. Well naturally, now that she knew what had happened she was very certain he had succumb to some medical disease; not spiritual. Though she longed for the advances equipment only found in her modern time period she deduced by their words alone that Ungai had suffered some sort of heart attack or stroke. Trying to explain that to him however…that was like convincing her son that vegetables were essential to his diet. She ended her tail of thoughts and quickly noticed Inuyasha putting the palms of his hands behind his head motioning that he was done with the conversation. Well almost…

"So which way did this Tengu whatever run off to?" Kagome gave her husband a quizzical look, what was he up to?

"We marked a presumed location out on a map," the monk pointed at Ungai's bamboo backpack, "Master Ungai thought it best to hold onto it."

"Give it to me," Inuyasha demanded, a statement that had Kagome going wide-eyed.

"We rather not make such a decision without the Master's consent."

His answer upset the half-demon, and he growled, "Look here, I-"

Kagome placed a gentle hand between the groove of his elbow, and Rin saw as she dragged Inuyasha to the other corner of their home; their conversation left but a whisper on her ears. What little she heard revolved around Kagome arguing that Inuyasha once promised his wife and son that he'd never journey too far away from them unless absolutely necessary. While his cause was indeed thoughtful Kagome also had the utmost faith that Sesshomaru was capable of eradicating whatever evil was bringing terror to the land.

Years ago the young priestess would have jumped at the chance of traveling away from the village for the sake of mankind and demons alike, but that wasn't the case anymore-for neither of them. Her eyes traveled to the little boy snoozing away with rice still sticking to his cheek, and her heart was immediately reminded of her primary duty to the child that meant most to her than anyone else in her life. She vowed on the day of his birth that he'd grow with his parents-both parents. Inuyasha sighed, knowing well that there was a valid point to her argument; though he wasn't happy to hear it was Sesshomaru he knew he wouldn't have trusted the issue with anyone else.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the hut Rin felt a desolate sigh linger on the tip of her tongue, and her fingers involuntarily combed through Kazuhiko's head as he sailed through a peaceful slumber on her lap. Her heart felt heavier than it's ever felt; because it's been too long since she's dealt with this kind of concern. Sesshomaru's quest for battle was confirmed now, and unlike before where she could just brush off the notion with a quick thought of him resting beneath a tree her mind was plagued of visions of him putting his life on the line again.

The news of her his wellbeing thus far brought a slither of peace to her worried state, but at the same time it also reminded her how far away she was on his list of priorities. Her eyes once again glanced over to Ungai; despite her feelings of neglect she couldn't help the smile that tugged at the end of her cheeks. Lord Sesshomaru, no matter the reason, had resurrected a man's life. Inuyasha was correct in his statement that her unpredictable demon lord hadn't changed a bit.

Lord Sesshomaru…

Now, she only hoped Ungai would see things their way, but admitting his debt of gratitude meant throwing away a stern philosophy he's built his life on. His mindset was as stubborn as the demon he scorned. She looked to the wicker knapsack by Ungai's bedside; its leather latch was easily within reach, but she dare not move her hand forward. No; in fact she dare not continue with the schemes that were plotting in her mind.

Despite her overwhelming urge to stay, she forcefully sat her body up and was the first one out of the hut; her mind set on going home and staying there the remainder of the monk's visit or else she foresaw herself doing something truly foolish…

The sound of nightly crickets was the first of nature's symphony to slowly bring Ungai out of his deep slumber; it had been quite some time since he managed a good few hours of undisturbed rest-though-he was smart enough to realize it was all premeditated by his hosts. Regardless, he allowed his senses to adjust to the darkness, and patiently waited for his body to regain the strength he had previously lost.

He closed his eyes, and detected the spiritual presence of the abnormal priestess that lay on her futon a few feet from him; her-also unusual- human son slept beside her. The half-demon's demonic aura was sensed somewhere yards away, and his acolytes all bundled together in comfortable slumber against soft futons and warm blankets. Ungai allowed his worries to rest along with the rest of his body; once daylight rose he'd have his followers take him elsewhere. Some place where he was confident a skilled priestess knew what she was talking about.

He closed his eyes again, and allowed his mind to drift into nothingness until…

It happened…A single footstep ignited his sense to high alert.

Whoever walked in was careful with their footing; not even the fabric of their clothing was heard rustling together. Obviously, they dappled in the skill it took to exert stealth, and apparently no one else had taken notice of the intruder. Had Ungai not awoken like he had he may never have known either. The half-demon was the first to come to mind, but his carefulness didn't comply with his hasty attitude the monk remembered him possessing.

The footsteps reached the edge of his futon, and while he wanted desperately to see with his own eyes who dare approach him with such secrecy he instead listened. He head the faintest sound of his possessions being messed with; scrolls slid against one another, spiritual antiques gentled clinked together-good lord someone didn't know how to properly execute sneakiness did they? Once the rustle of papers was heard Ungai decided he had enough, and with as much strength as he could assemble, he quickly launched his forearm and clamped down on a dainty wrist.

The quiet gasp sounded soft; like the gentle sound of wind shims.

He deduced right then that it had to be a woman, and carefully opened his eyes to adjust to the regretful stare of his burglar.

Once his onyx eyes met the cinnamon color of hers as he exerted an equally, quiet gasp for he knew he'd seen her before; like the tender dream that accompanied his nightmarish demon.

"You…" Ungai grip on Rin's wrist tightened.

End of Chapter

AN: Sorry it took a while to update; I wish I could say it won't happen again, but work sometimes leaves me feeling too tired to do anything but sleep. I know Sesshomaru has yet to make an appearance, I apologize, and his time will be here soon. To all who reviewed Raindropsandcherryblossoms, Gul Sen Go, sllmidnight, belle'sdarkangel, and guest I really appreciate your kind words they mean so much that you find my story worth reading!

PS: Thank you so much to signaturesweet for your lovely PM it had me smiling all day long that you liked my story that much. Thank you for not thinking it weird that I've dedicated this story to you lol I get my inspiration from your work, and hope my stories come off half as good as yours one day. If any haven't read her work; it's an absolute treat and recently updated! In my opinion one of the best Sesshomaru and Rin portrayals!

That's all for now. Thank you again for reading!