The next morning, Lyra wasn't surprised at all to find Sesshomaru missing. She had awoken to the sound of Jaken telling Rin off for accidentally spraying water on him. It felt so refreshing to have had such a long and deep sleep. She was sure that whatever task Sesshomaru had to do was something that was quicker on his own. Upon seeing her awake, Rin ran over to her as she sat up.

"Good morning, Lyra!" Rin greeted.

Lyra smiled softly. "Good morning. I feel like I've slept for too long," she said as she stretched her arms up.

The little girl giggled. "Lord Sesshomaru couldn't wake you up."

Lyra pictured the image of Sesshomaru trying to shake her awake only to be met with grumbles of how tired she was before getting annoyed and disappearing. She laughed nervously.

"He wasn't mad, was he?" she asked.

"No. He just told me to tell you that he'll be gone for a while. Maybe even all day."

Lyra nodded. "Okay. Thank you for telling me." She stood up and stretched again. "Have you had breakfast?"

"Yep! We saved you some. Come on!"

Rin grabbed her hand and pulled her towards Jaken and the leftover food. As she ate, the imp was sure to make it clear that he was in charge since Sesshomaru wasn't there. They had to do whatever he said and follow his orders. Lyra simply rolled her eyes, deciding to go along with it just to save herself from the headache of hearing him complain. Just as she finished her breakfast, they were off. Rin sat on A-Un whilst Lyra walked beside her holding the reigns, following Jaken as he took the lead.

The open air and fields brought so much joy to Lyra. She breathed in deeply, savouring the fresh breeze as the luscious green grass flowed beneath it. After returning to the future, she thought she would have missed the city life. Tall buildings, the noise of the traffic she grew up, the huge crowds of people. But being back here, she realised she loved the openness and greenery. There was no light or noise pollution and she could see the galaxy in the night sky for the first time. Sure there were demons who would have no hesitation in killing her but she was in much danger in the feudal era as she was in the future. At least she had Sesshomaru.

She was suddenly brought out of her thoughts when Jaken stopped walking in front of her, causing her to almost step on him.

"Watch where you're walking, fool!" he yelled at her.

"Oops! Sorry!" she apologised quickly. "Why have you stopped?"

Jaken began to giggle almost evilly. "Because I'm going to steal the tetsuaiga!"

Lyra sighed. "You failed yesterday. What makes you think you're going to get it today?"

"Because, fool, I have learned from my mistakes. I'll be sure to get it this time!" he exclaimed with confidence before walking off. "Don't go anywhere!"

"But, Master Jaken-" Rin began.

Jaken turned around and yelled at her. "Rin! Be off with you, you pest!"

"Jaken! Don't talk to her like that," Lyra scolded.

Lyra and Rin watched the little imp disappear before looking at each other with quiet giggles. At least they wouldn't have to hear his annoying voice. They decided to go their own way but they didn't stray too far from where Jaken had left them. Rin wanted to clean A-Un so they found a small stream. Lyra sat on the bank and dipped her legs in, rolling her pants up to her knees whilst Rin bathed the demon. She took notice of Rin's expression and she seemed quite angry. Rin was thinking about Jaken speaking so rudely to her earlier and it was bothering her more than she showed before.

"Rin, are you alright?" Lyra asked with concern.

Rin was scrubbing the demon's side with a cloth as she spoke out loud, "Hm! Alright. I'll stay away if that's what you want."

Lyra blinked a couple of times. "Rin?"

The little girl sighed and stopped rubbing A-Un's side before looking at Lyra. "Master Jaken is always so mean to me. He doesn't trust me with anything."

"That's because he's jealous."

"Jealous?"

Lyra nodded with a smile. "It's because Sesshomaru likes you better than Jaken." She then giggled and put her finger on her lips. "But keep that between us."

That seemed to cheer Rin up as a smile returned to her face. Rin suddenly saw a flower flowing with the water and an idea came to mind. She was going to pick flowers for Sesshomaru and Lyra. She jumped off the rocks and made her way onto the bank.

"I'll be right back!" she told Lyra.

"Where are you going?" Lyra asked with surprise.

Rin giggled. "It's a secret."

"Well, I'm going with you," Lyra stated as she stood up.

"No, you can't." Rin held her hands up. "It's a surprise. I won't go very far. I promise!"

Lyra frowned softly. "I'm not very comfortable allowing you to go on your own."

Rin clasped her hands together. "Pleeaaase?" she asked whilst elongating the word.

"Hmm..." Lyra folded her arms. "Okay. But A-Un has to go with you. And come back quickly. Understood?"

Rin nodded happily. "Yes! Come with me, A-Un!"

The dragon demon growled behind its mouth cover and obediently followed behind Rin as she ran off happily. Lyra watched which direction she was disappearing off to, a bad feeling bubbling up in her stomach.

'How much longer are you going to be, Sesshomaru?'

***

Lyra was pacing. The sun was beginning to set and Rin still hadn't returned. It had only been half an hour but the skies were quickly growing dark. She didn't like it. Something bad was going to occur and she needed to find Rin. Leaving her post, she went in the direction Rin had taken and was quickly surrounded by trees.

"Rin!" she called out. "Rin, where are you?"

She was met with silence but she continued searching, going further into the dense forest. How far could Rin have gone? She then tried calling for A-Un hoping that the demon would be able to hear her. She waited a few minutes but again received no response. Looking up at the sky through the dense foliage, she could see the first appearance of stars for the night.

"Dammit..."

Suddenly, she heard the snap of a twig and turned in that direction before going after it. Hopefully it was Rin. Jogging passed the trees in the direction she was hoping was straight, she quickly excited the forest only to find herself where she started.

"What..?"

She took in her surroundings. It was definitely the exact place where she had been waiting for Rin. She had gone around in a circle but she was absolutely certain she had heard something come from here. Maybe Rin had returned and saw Lyra wasn't there. She had to go back. She couldn't have gotten far.

"Rin!"

"Lyra."

She jumped at the sound of the voice. It definitely wasn't Rin. The voice belonged to a man. Turning around, her eyes widened with fear.

"Naraku..."

***

Night had fallen and Rin had finished picking the most perfect flowers for Sesshomaru and Lyra. She wanted to pick the exact same flower she saw floating down the stream. Not realising how far away they were, she ended venturing further and farther into the forest. On her way back, she realised she had gotten lost. Even A-Un couldn't catch the scent of Sesshomaru nor Lyra.

"I guess we really are lost..." she sighed. "I guess I'll have to go back to Jaken."

After finding Jaken in a huge predicament with Inuyasha and his friends, Rin had saved the imp from being attacked and flew him away on A-Un. Although Jaken didn't manage to take the sword despite being so close, he was grateful that Rin had saved his life. They soon found themselves in a small vegetable patch and Jaken sat and sulked at the all the work he had gone through without getting a result. Meanwhile, Rin was panicking as there was no sign of Lyra.

"Master Jaken! We need to find Lyra," she exclaimed whilst looking around. "What if a demon gets her?!"

"I don't care!" Jaken sighed in annoyance. "I'm sure she's fine!"

Rin picked up a watermelon, hoping it would make Lyra happy when they found her. "I hope so."

Suddenly, a large gust of wine appeared alerting Jaken and causing him to stand. Kagura, one of Naraku's incarnations landed in front of Rin.

Jaken pointed at the woman. "It's you again!" he gasped.

"Hm. Sesshomaru can be so careless," she smirked. "Taking his eyes off his wort."

She blew her fan, sending forceful gusts in the imp's direction. Jaken yelled as he went rolling back. By the time hr regained himself, Kagura had already set off in the wind with an unconscious Rin on her feather.

***

Sesshomaru stood on an open field, gazing up at the night sky. A gentle breeze left the grass unsettled, his hair gently blowing before the wind suddenly calmed.

'The scent of the wind has changed.'

He had left early that morning before Lyra had woken. He was tempted to wake her but she was in such a deep sleep. It worked out for the best. He wished to search for Naraku's castle to end his miserable life. The longer that monster was alive, the more danger Lyra was in. He knew she would have insisted on going with him having already being concerned that Naraku was after him. His thoughts became interrupted at the sound of Jaken's voice, causing him to look over his shoulder.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" he panted, running over to him before halting to a stop. "Young Rin has been abducted. Naraku's incarnation, Kagura, appeared out of nowhere and took off with Rin. A-And I cannot find Lyra anywhere!"

Sesshomaru continued to stare at Jaken with an unreadable expression, molding over the information he had just been given. Another voice suddenly appeared, interrupting them.

"Let me reassure you, Sesshomaru," came Naraku's mocking tone.

Sesshomaru and Jaken turned towards the direction of the voice. A few of the saimyosho appeared before Naraku himself, disguised under his baboon pelt, materialised in front of them.

"If you heed my request," he continued, "I shall return Rin in good health."

"Ah!" Jaken gasped in fear. "It's Naraku!"

Sesshomaru's expression remained stoic. "We meet again. I assume you are the one behind Lyra's abduction as well."

"Lyra will be freed in due time," Naraku chuckled.

Sesshomaru simply stared at him. "So, what do you have up your sleeve this time?"

"Nothing special," he answered. "I simply want you to kill Inuyasha."

"Huh. Why are you going through so much trouble for something so trivial?"

Without warning, Sesshomaru used his speed and unsheathed his sword before slicing Naraku's head off his body. The baboon pelt head fell to the ground before turning into nothing but a pile of dirt and rocks, the same happening to what remained of the body.

"What is that?" Jaken wondered in disgust before noticing the wooden figurine in the midst of the dirt pile. "A demon puppet?"

"Does Naraku honestly believe that he could threaten me into action by endangering the life of a mere mortal?"

Jaken looked up at him. "Will you turn your back on the girl? Will you forsake her?"

The saimyosho still observed Sesshomaru as he turned away, leaving Jaken's questions unanswered. The last thing he wanted was any information relayed to Naraku to be used as an advantage against him.

***

Kanna sat on her knees, holding her mirror up to show Naraku. He was shown a live image of Sesshomaru and Jaken heading towards his vastly. A triumphant smirk appeared on his lips. 'So, Sesshomaru, you've come.'

Lyra was knelt down in front of him, her eyes peeking through her hair that had fallen over her face, watching Sesshomaru making his way to the castle. This was exactly what she was afraid of the day before. Naraku knew that Sesshomaru wasn't going to carry out orders and would ultimately decide to find Naraku to kill him, thus drawing him into a trap.

"Why am I even here?" Lyra questioned, staring directly into his eyes to show she wasn't afraid. "You know I won't lend you my powers. I'm not going to help you."

Naraku simply grabbed her chin harshly and pulled her forward between his legs. "I can't kill you, so I'll lock you away. No one will be in reach of your powers."

Lyra gasped as he yanked her forward and struggled against his grip. "Sesshomaru is going to kill you," she threatened through gritted teeth, her hands on the ground to avoid touching him.

"Is that so?" His evil smirk widened as he pulled her closer to his face. "Was that a guess or did you see a vision?"

Lyra glared at him, her brows furrowed angrily to mask the fear in her heart. She closed her eyes and tried to move away from him but Naraku was fast. He gripped her shoulders and forced her forward until she was collapsed on top of him. A sudden numbness took over her entire body and she was unable to move as of a spell had been cast on her. She couldn't move even a finger. She could feel the dull pressure of his hands holding her down on top of him. She was scared and he knew it too.

"Sesshomaru won't find you," he spoke with amusement in his tone. "You are in a castle far beyond his reach hidden behind a barrier. He won't even be able to follow your scent."

The realisation suddenly hit her. "You're just a puppet. The real Naraku is waiting for Sesshomaru."

"Correct, my dear."

An uncomfortable shiver ran down her spine at his voice. Lyra watched the image in Kanna's mirror of Sesshomaru walking towards the castle. Naraku was getting exactly what he wanted. He had managed to lure Sesshomaru into whatever trap he'd laid out whilst also keeping her locked away so nobody could find her.

'Sesshomaru... Please, kill Naraku...'