Akiko didn't see the lord at first that evening in the castle. Not even at dinner time. But Rin was lovely company to have. She told the young woman of her adventures with Sesshomaru, Jaken, A-Un, and the pack. They had been busy while she was absent, fighting off Naraku's incarnations and jewel shard possessed demons. There was even a human at one point. But the demon lord didn't care for the shards once found. His half-brother and friends collected them instead as they would arrive soon after should their paths crossed. Other times the shards was carried off by one of the poisonous insects to take back to their master.

It was unsettling that they would be searching the north without much information to go on. Even her findings in the present didn't reveal much. Most text had been lost over time, and thinking back to the reports given in her classroom realized that nothing was set in stone regarding her future in the Feudal Era. Which was both terrifying and open to any possible outcome. They could succeed and reclaim the north or fail in their search when unable to locate the lost castle.

"We'll take however long it takes to find it," Tobi reassured her that evening after putting Rin asleep in her bed.

"We have to find it," Akiko said. "Or Naraku will gain power." And they couldn't ask any of their allies for help in this matter either. Even in the young woman's absence many had shown loyalty towards the Lord of the West, which in turn pledged their allegiance to the Queen of the North's household as well. But this was something they had to do alone.

"And you will," a voice sounded from behind them. Looking over a shoulder towards the opposite end of the hall they both noticed Sesshomaru. "But it will take time. The northern mountain range is vast and treacherous in many areas because it has been uninhabited for so long. A long, harsh blizzard has set in over the area for the last few decades."

"This is not news," Tobi spoke up. "All are aware of this."

"Then you should know that every path that was carved out and every village there once was has been buried long ago. There are still some that reside at the base, but the living conditions are rather unfavorable."

"The people of the north would not be in this position if it wasn't for–"

"That's enough, Tobi," Akiko quickly cut in before a fight could ensue. The half-breed looked up at the young woman. "Go on, I'll be right there." Growling lowly at the demon he turned and went towards their room. "If you think I was naïve enough to not do my own research before going on this quest you are wrong," she spoke. "I know what awaits us, and that the journey will not be an easy one. There is even the fear of one of Naraku's reincarnations coming to stop us along the way. All have crossed our minds and we are ready." She looked to him, realizing the demon had moved closer so they stood only a few feet apart now. "But we need the north and if you're here to try and talk me out of it–"

"No. We do need that land to be under your rule. I was merely stating what lies in store for you out there."

"I must admit... I'm a bit afraid," Akiko stated quietly.

"As you should be. This is not your world. You do not know all of the horrors that could be out there. And while you have grown since your first arrival... there's no way to know for sure if that has been enough."

"I won't let Naraku win."

And he knew she wouldn't. If there was anything he had learned from this human since their meeting it was that she was a fighter. Many would cower away in fear at the challenge, but this young woman wished to confront it head on. She was willing to give up everything in her world to protect this one, otherwise the human would have run back towards the well and never wished to return. It was that quality about Akiko that he had grown to admire yet would never admit it aloud.

Rin was upset the next morning to discover Akiko and the pack would be leaving so soon, pouting for a bit during breakfast. The young woman managed to coax a smile out of her in the end and their final meal together became a rather pleasant one as Sesshomaru listened to the two converse. The lord also relayed that they would be setting off as well, heading south to looking into rumors of another reincarnation. The child rushed off to get changed and ready for the journey ahead, Jaken already in the stables collecting A-Un.

As the lord and human discussed their plans a bit further outside Akiko cut off abruptly and looked to the surrounding forest, realizing the pack was already mobilizing in a half circle around them, eyes narrowed on the trees. "We're being watched," Aisu growled at her side, Tobi on the other. They all fully transformed to their demon appearances, Sesshomaru's hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Everything had grown abnormally silent.

And then it came bolting out of the underbrush with such speed and agility it was hard to follow, a dark mass that drew closer and closer to them as the pack attacked attempting to slow it down without success.

"Lord Sesshomaru," Rin called in a singsong voice, exiting the front doors to the palace. And Akiko paled realizing the trajectory of the moving object. Whirling on the ball of her foot towards the entrance the young woman allowed her transformation to take effect staring at the grinning child, who still had yet to realize her mistake of stepping out into the open as she skipped towards them.

"No, Rin!" Akiko shouted.

Her smile instantly fell finally realizing the danger and freezing on the spot before screaming and rushing towards Akiko. But there wasn't enough time as the young woman pull Rin into her to rush inside or run back to the safety of the others. And with the child this close to her could not perform an ice attack without hurting Rin in the process from the cold. So she threw her through the air and into Sesshomaru's waiting arms as he had rushed after the reincarnation. Ice formed across the ground below her instantly, spikes shooting out of the ground as the shadow loomed over Akiko's form. The human turned to meet the attack head on, sword forming in her grasp when something penetrated her gut so swiftly it wasn't felt at first before the pain spread and a strangled gasp escaped her lips.

Rin screamed at the sight, Sesshomaru quickly forcing her to turn into his chest. "Naraku," he growled. The pack was howling and snarling savagely, regrouping and charging the enemy that held the reincarnation in his grasp her blood dripping from one of the tentacles protruding from her.

"The mighty heroine returns from a long stay away," Naraku ignored the demon, staring down at Akiko with his red eyes. "I must admit I am rather disappointed. Your emotions towards that child has made you less of a warrior and more of a mother hen, discarding your own safety towards a life that is meaningless. I expected better from you."

Opening her mouth she breathed out heavily as her breath became a visible cloud of white. The frost attacked his face, blinding the enemy and causing him to recoil with a shout of pain. He couldn't see as Akiko brought around her blade and cut herself free dropping to the ground. And that was when they could see what remained of the tentacle had begun to freeze over from where it touched the skin.

"Akiko–!"

"Stay back!" she ordered Tobi. She wasn't getting back up though holding onto the item in her gut to freeze it faster when Naraku recovered. And before any of them could get close enough the two vanished.

Rin was sobbing in Sesshomaru's grasp, as he looked at the area the two had once been. There was only a faint scent to follow. It was only lead they had, but the extent of the reincarnation's damages did not look good.

"She's still alive," Aisu spoke up.

"How can you be sure?" Sesshomaru asked.

"That technique that she used not only froze Naraku's arm in order to stop it's movement it also began to shield and freeze over her organs and veins so to prevent further damage from growing. It probably saved her life, but we need to move quickly."