This was the third time he had to watch her die.

Her little hands gripped his finger, her big eyes full of trust.

"It's going to happen again, isn't it?" She asked. He glanced down at mess of pulverized meat and gore where her tiny stomach had once been.

"Yes, Rin."

"How long will I have to stay in the dark place this time?" Her unyielding faith broke his icy heart, because he couldn't save her this time. He was limited to one resurrection with Tenseiga, and the second had been a gift from his mother. This time, he had no way to bring her back to the land of the living.

"Not long, child." He lied. She smiled weakly and blood dribbled from her mouth.

"That's good. I don't like it there. Please come get me quickly, my lord. I'll be waiting... for you." Her soft voice faded and her eyes grew unfocused.

"Always, Rin. I will always come for you." She sighed, the sparkle of her pretty young soul left her eyes and she was gone.

Sesshomaru clutched her small body to his chest and drew a ragged breath. Unshed tears burned in the corners of his eyes that grew a deeper crimson with every passing moment. His demons strength and anguish welled up and became a rushing tide of pain crashing against the iron control of his conscious mind.

He wiped the blood from her face tenderly and threw his head back with a forlorn howl. He failed. He broke his promise. He broke all of his promises. He struck the earth again and again, breaking his fingers and his wrist.

He failed. He FAILED. And she was dead. Midoriko was dead. Kagome was dead. They were all dead. Yet he was still here, too strong to die but too weak to save the ones he wanted to protect.

He glanced back down to the body in his arms and he drew back in shock. Midoriko's face looked up at him with resigned acceptance.

"Sesshomaru, why?" She stammered through the pain of the vicious scores in her chest that he had inflicted on her 400 years before.

"I didn't mean to. I was just a pup, I lost control. I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you did… And you never came back. You promised me… you'd stay by my side and protect me. Your demon tried to kill me, and I never saw you again." She breathed.

"I was… afraid. I almost killed you. I couldn't stand the idea of hurting you if I came back. And…" He paused, his pride dying, "I didn't know if you would hate me the way I hated myself. I couldn't bear it. So I ran. I am weak, Midoriko, and I am sorry."

"I wish that you would have found me again." She said.

"I received word of your battles often. I was pleased you healed well and became stronger."

"Until I died. We made a pact, Sesshomaru, that we would kill that demon together. I battled for seven days before my death and my soul has been trapped in the jewel for hundreds of years because you didn't come back. Kagome may die from that same evil because you didn't help me destroy it when I was alive. If you were there… if we were together…" her voice hitched and her eyes betrayed the deep sadness she felt, "things could have been so different. I loved you, Sesshomaru."

He had no words for her. He held her silently as her pain gored his heart. A tear slid down his porcelain cheek. He closed his eyes tightly, and the guilt and the grief and the rage consumed him.

The sun was setting painting the horizon a beautifully bloody crimson, battling against the encroaching darkness from the other side of the sky. Many demons had gathered, softly growling to each other and stealing glances at the small woman who stood at the center of the mass of youkai. She had been occupied by the scorch pattern she had burned into the earth, incanting another curse over the first, but with a swell of dark power, she raised her eyes to the creatures that surrounded her.

"Greetings, my subordinates," Kagome called over hushed whispers to several hundred pairs of glowing eyes. She sauntered out of the center of the summoning gate and smiled dreadfully at the youkai.

"You may call me Master. I have gathered you here to witness the end of an era. This human body I inhabit is from a future where there are no demons. The humans used their tricks and their priestesses to push us to the edge of our territories and murdered our packs and our offspring until we all but disappear. Those that survive the purging of our species grow small and stupid. Most lose the ability to speak, and they live their lives in hiding as the human's population swells to unsustainable levels. They cut the trees and raze the mountains with their tools and their hate." She paused and the silence echoed. "I refuse to let this happen." She said quietly, and a few of the demons leaned forward, hanging on her every word.

"Together, we can stop this future from becoming our reality. We will destroy every last human before they get a chance to do the same to us. Any demon who sympathizes with those damned creatures will be slaughtered without hesitation. The time of demons is now. What say you, my children? Will you help me carve a dark and beautiful future where demons rule and humans are farmed like cattle for labor and food?" A cacophony of howls and hissing and growls responded and she grinned madly.

"Are there any questions?" A boar demon stepped forward and bowed to her.

"Master, I have a question." He croaked. Her black eyes slid to rest heavily on his cowering form, and he instantly combusted into murky flames.

"Anyone else?" The demons were silent and she smirked wildly. "Excellent. Then let us begin." She turned to the gate; its ancient ruins scorched into the dirt and glowed like embers. A figure stood shrouded in a blistering black aura beside it.

"Sesshomaru, if you would." Kagome prompted, and the figure stuttered into motion. His red eyes held no light and he moved like a marionette. He walked to the center of the gate and drew Tenseiga from its sheath, raising it above his head.

"Now, my subjects behold the fang of heaven and hell. With it, I will open this gate to the underworld and engulf this land in the evil of old." Sesshomaru plunged Tenseiga into the center of the gate and twisted. The center ruins moved with the sword, and with a terrible metallic grinding, the change rippled outwards. He drew the sword from the gate, and walked mindlessly back to the outskirts of the scorching. There was a moment of pregnant silence as the grating sound stopped and the ruins settled into their new positions. Flames exploded from the successfully open gate and whipped around riotously.

"My reign has begun. Tonight we make our first steps to becoming the master race of this place the humans call earth. None shall stand against us and live."

Through the sweltering flames, dark silhouettes started to move towards the mouth of the gate.

"COME AND CELEBRATE, CREATURES OF DARKNESS. ALL I ASK IN RETURN FOR PAVING YOUR WAY BACK TO THIS RELM IS YOUR UNYIELDING LOYALTY. NOW COME AND SHOW US THE TRUE POWER OF HELL!"

An enormous clawed hand burst through the gate, sending sparks flying. Horns and a white mane of hair appeared, followed by deep scarlet eyes. Tokijin pulsed frantically and a wicked smile cracked Kagome's face.

"Goshinki!" She cried, happily. "How good to see you again!" He snarled back at her, pulling himself free from the gate as lesser demons poured out behind him. He leaned down and touched his long snout to the earth before her in a deep bow. She touched his face affectionately and stepped up onto his shoulder. He stood, and the two of them towered over the gathering of evil things below them.

Over the commotion of skittering claws and deep growls her voice rang out.

"WITH THIS GATE, WE HAVE BECOME THE UNDYING. SHOULD YOUR LIFE BE REQUIRED IN SERVICE OF OUR CAUSE, YOU MAY SIMPLY RETURN TO ME TROUGH IT. YOU NEED NOT FEAR DEATH ANY LONGER. THE PORTAL WILL NEVER CLOSE UNLESS DESTROYED SO YOU MUST PROTECT IT WITH YOUR LIVES. WITH RECKLESS ABANDON WE MUST PURGE THE EARTH OF THE HUMAN SCUM AND ANY DEMON WHO ATTEMPTS TO STOP US."

The resounding roars were deafening. Kagome's eyes found Sesshomaru's blank face and she summoned him to her. He landed silently on Goshinki's shoulder, much to the enormous demon's displeasure. Kagome soothed him gently and turned back to the masses.

"Now, ARE YOU HUNGRY?"

The demons wreathed and churned with anticipation.

"Then let's feast." Kagome said, dark eyes ablaze. Goshinki dropped to all fours and lead the march east towards the closest town.

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