Yuki would have dearly loved nothing more than to remain in Sesshomaru's arms and think of nothing else except how his kisses made her weak at the knees like nothing else could do. Her close brush with a fate worse than death in particular made her want to cherish the fact that she was able to feel him again, that she could stay with him.

But reality was hard to forget, even with Sesshomaru there, when Naraku's poisonous miasma continued to swirl around them and his scent threatened to overwhelm their noses as the spider demon did everything he could to keep them from finding-

"Rin." Yuki finally muttered as she finally pulled away from Sesshomaru with only a hint of reluctance as her fear for the little girl returned tenfold now that her own life was secured. Or, her sanity was at least.

"He'll be after her next."

Sesshomaru's own expression was grim as he acknowledged the truth in her words; but he didn't rush off immediately as Yuki had half expected him to do. Instead, he examined her intently, his brows furrowing just slightly as his gold eyes noticed something in her blue ones.

"What did Naraku say to you?" He asked, and Yuki's face fell.

She had nothing to hide from Sesshomaru but this had been something she had never brought up - for obvious reasons. Sesshomaru's own strained relationship with his late father and his knowledge of Yuki's childhood meant that neither really ever talked about the other's parents. That wasn't to say she would hesitate to tell him the truth. But now was not the time.

"Later." Yuki promised, meeting his gaze firmly. "Right now, we have more important things to do."

Sesshomaru read the honesty in her eyes; trusting that, he nodded his agreement and let the subject drop for the moment. He picked her up in his arms, tucking her against his chest while she wrapped her arms around him securely. It was only then that Yuki realized Sesshomaru was bleeding - although the wound was already almost healed thanks to his superior healing ability - and she frowned.

"Did I do that?" She asked worriedly and Sesshomaru glanced down at her before he faced forward.

"You were not yourself." He answered simply. "And a scratch is a small sacrifice for what was gained."

"The words of a general." Yuki muttered dryly but she did press a quick, apologetic kiss to his arm. He didn't reply as he took them off speedily, chasing after what their noses were telling them.

Naraku's entire body shook and huge spikes began to appear along his fleshy insides as Naraku attempted to stab Sesshomaru. The dog demon dodged the attacks easily, while Yuki fended off any of Naraku's tentacles when they threatened to come at her in an attempt to separate the pair.

"Naraku's getting serious." Yuki muttered as Sesshomaru dodged another spike that had shot out toward them.

"Magatsuhi is dead." Sesshomaru explained and Yuki glanced at Sesshomaru sharply. "The priestess's spiritual powers will have been fully restored by now."

"Which means Kagome's a threat to Naraku again." Yuki realized. "So he's finally getting serious."

Her jaw tightened.

"And Rin's in greater danger."

Sesshomaru didn't bother to reply as he dodged about while speeding toward where both he and Yuki could smell Rin… and Yuki frowned as she smelt Sango and Kirara near the child as well.

"What's Naraku playing at?" She wondered tightly. "Why's Sango with Rin?"

Sesshomaru didn't answer, possibly because he didn't have a response. They were closing in, they would reach Rin soon - when Yuki smelt Kohaku and A-Un arrive near Sango and Rin.

'Why is Kohaku here?!' Yuki thought worriedly, her hand tightening around Sesshomaru as she feared for the boy. She'd have thought Inuyasha would leave the boy behind: this was no place for a child, no matter how skilled a fighter he was. And she definitely didn't see Sango allowing him to follow them into Naraku. 'Unless he snuck in without Inuyasha and his friends knowing...'

The boy's scent didn't get closer to Sango or Rin, which Yuki thought was odd… but then both she and Sesshomaru heard Kohaku's yells albeit faintly given the distance.

"Please stop, sister! Sister!"

And then they smelt Byakuya beside Kohaku. Yuki's eyes widened.

"They're tricking Sango with an illusion." She gasped. "She'll kill Rin!"

Sesshomaru grit his teeth but there was nothing more he or Yuki could do; he was already going as fast as he could. But they were too far away. They weren't going to make it in time.

And then, for some reason, Rin's scent dropped as though the child had fallen down. For a split second, Yuki's heart stopped as she feared the worst; but then she breathed as she realized she couldn't smell fresh blood. Kohaku and A-Un's scents abruptly moved closer to Rin as well at the same time that Naraku's entire body shook.

Meanwhile, Sango stared in shock as Naraku disappeared from her view, his illusion flickering out abruptly just before Hiraikotsu could cut through him… and Rin. The child dropped as the illusion holding her collapsed, before Hiraikotsu tore into Naraku's fleshy walls right where Rin had been seconds earlier.

"Rin!"

"Kohaku?" Sango gasped in shock as Kohaku suddenly appeared, tearing through a hole in Naraku's body as he flew the two-headed dragon to catch the falling little girl. She hadn't even seen her brother so nearby until he'd shouted - had this all been a trick by Naraku?

"Sister, Rin is fine!" Kohaku cried in a mix of relief and worry as he caught the unconscious little girl in his arms, the two-headed dragon taking them away safely.

Sango couldn't feel any relief at Kohaku's words and the blood pounded in her ears as she realized what she had done.

"You tried to kill Rin," Sango's eyes widened as she heard Byakuya's voice from behind her. "Along with the illusion of Naraku I showed you."

The master of illusions was grasping his left arm, which had been severed by some unknown force - perhaps Kagome's spiritual arrow when Sango couldn't see. She didn't know and her mind was full of chaos as she tried to come to terms with what had happened. Even with his arm amputated, Byakuya had no problem spelling out the truth to help her out.

"You were willing to let Rin die if it meant saving the monk's life, right?"

Sango's heart thundered in her chest. Was he right? The answer was as simple as it was obvious: yes.

"It doesn't matter how you spin it." Byakuya taunted, sounding far too gleeful for someone who had just lost his arm. "You were weighing human lives against one another."

Sango closed her eyes; Byakuya was right. In her fear for Miroku, in her terror that he was about to be lost to the Wind Tunnel that was on the brink of tearing open completely, Sango had been willing to sacrifice Rin to save Miroku. And the worst part was, if she had to do it all again with the real Naraku, Sango wasn't able to say she would choose differently.

"Demon slayer Sango, you have just slain yourself." Byakuya murmured and Sango's eyes flew open, wild with self-hatred.

"Adamant Strike!"

Byakuya hastily dodged out of the way as Yuki's whip of adamant streaked past, threatening to take off his head. Sango and Byakuya looked up to see Sesshomaru and Yuki had arrived, the half-demon perched on Sesshomaru's left arm where he carried her against his side.

The demon lord's face was an expressionless mask as usual, at least as far as Sango could tell, but Yuki's was contorted with anger as she glared viciously at Byakuya.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Yuki!" Kohaku called in a mix of relief and fear; his eyes darted to his guilty sister while Sango stared at the newcomers with apprehension… and acceptance.

The pair however only had eyes for Byakuya who called cheerily, "You're after the wrong person, Yuki. I know you heard our conversation."

"Yes, and you know what I think, Byakuya?" Yuki snapped, her hands tightening around her twin swords. "I think your twisted tongue deserves to be cut off! Ice Mage!"

Byakuya darted out of the way before he could be impaled by the stream of ice and he floated back into the for corner of the little cave they were in.

"Always so angry." He murmured as he drifted toward Naraku's flesh. "Goodbye, Yuki. This is likely the last you shall see of me. Like did your mother."

Yuki's eyes flashed ice-blue, but it was Sesshomaru's attack that blew apart Naraku's flesh where Byakuya had been seconds before he disappeared as the flesh opened up for him to escape.

Both Sesshomaru and Yuki could smell that Byakuya wasn't dead, but they had a slightly more pressing matter.

Yuki sheathed her swords angrily while Sesshomaru turned to stare imperiously down at Sango. The demon slayer had been silent the entire time but she made no effort to run or hide or defend herself as she stared up at Sesshomaru and Yuki.

"Sesshomaru, Yuki. I make no excuses." Sango said grimly. "And I don't care if you intend to rip me apart."

Yuki frowned unhappily while Kohaku protested, "Sister! What are you saying?"

He turned pleadingly to his new guardians. "Lord Sesshomaru, Yuki, Rin is safe! So, please-"

"I tried to kill Rin!" Sango interrupted sharply, and the self-loathing was as clear as the lack of remorse. Sango felt guilty, she was sorry she'd caused Rin to fall into danger - but she couldn't be sorry she'd done it for Miroku. As wrong as that was… her heart knew the truth. And she wouldn't lie about it; least of all to the people who deserved the truth the most.

Seshomaru's expression never changed as he just stared back at Sango's defiance while Kohaku begged desperately, "My sister was deceived by an illusion!"

"That doesn't change the fact that I tried to sacrifice Rin." Sango interjected firmly.

"Sister!" Kohaku cried, trying to get her to stop but Sango shook her head.

"I won't try to justify it or beg for my life." She lifted tearfilled and determined brown eyes back up to Sesshomaru and Yuki. "But I want you to wait until Naraku's been defeated and the Wind Tunnel curse on Miroku has been lifted!"

She focused her attention on Sesshomaru as she finished, knowing he would be more difficult to convince. While Yuki was clearly not happy with Sango's moment of weakness, she was also a friend who would at least understand the reason for Sango's weak choice and be more forgiving. Sesshomaru on the other hand was neither forgiving nor a friend - but Sango was desperate that she save Miroku. It was what had driven her to make the decision she had, no matter how difficult, and she was determined to see it through. After that, she didn't care if Sesshomaru ripped her to shreds - as long as Miroku was alive.

"Sister…" Kohaku whispered worriedly, watching his sister and Sesshomaru with apprehension.

Sango didn't look away as she stared up at her judges, waiting for her verdict.

Yuki glanced at Sesshomaru as the dog demon simply stared down coldly at Sango. He was angry, she could easily see that and in truth, Yuki was too; but he was not cruel. Yuki knew that: just as she knew he could, however grudgingly, understand Sango's motivations.

A sudden burst of pale pink light shone through Naraku's flesh and Yuki looked up at it.

"The Shikon Jewel's pure light..." She murmured before she and Sesshomaru exchanged glances.

The smell had changed; they could smell Naraku in the direction of the light. This was no illusion.

Sesshomaru turned them quickly in the direction of the smell while Yuki called over his shoulder at the others, "Come on!"

"Huh?" Sango gasped, unable to believe what she had heard.

"You wish to find your monk as well, do you not?" Sesshomaru asked, glancing back coldly at Sango for a moment.

Sango stared, still somewhat stunned that Sesshomaru had so easily spared her even if only for the moment, but Sesshomaru was already moving again. Yuki clung onto him as he sped off while Kohaku, still carrying Rin, followed quickly. Sango took off after them as well, only pausing to reclaim her Hiraikotsu from where it had been imbedded in Naraku's flesh.

"Don't blame her." Yuki murmured quietly as they flew toward Naraku. "She wasn't right but don't blame her."

Sesshomaru glanced down at Yuki before his eyes faced forward again. Clearly, overlooking Sango's mistake and forgiving her were going to be very different things. Not that Yuki entirely blamed him… she had a feeling it would be a while before she could face Sango without some resentment.

"Rin?"

Yuki looked over at Kohaku's relieved sigh in time to see Rin sitting up as she finally woke up.

"Kohaku?" The child asked in confusion as she found herself in his lap.

"It's alright now." Kohaku reassured her and Rin looked around before her eyes landed on Sesshomaru and Yuki.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Yuki!" Rin called in surprise and joy; she'd missed the dog demon while he'd been gone chasing Magatsuhi.

Yuki managed to send Rin a grin before her eyes darted up as Naraku's body suddenly began spurting miasma at them again.

"Miasma." Yuki hissed, covering her own mouth with her sleeve and turning toward Rin and Kohaku. "R-?"

Yuki broke off as she saw Sango press her own gas mask over Rin's face, protecting the little girl from Naraku's poison.

"Sister?" Kohaku asked as Sango tied the mask securely on Rin, who stared up at Sango in surprise.

Sango just stared back sorrowfully and she murmured genuinely, "Rin. I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Rin asked, confused by the repentance she could see in Sango's eyes.

Sesshomaru watched the exchange silently with Yuki as Sango turned away from Rin and urged Kirara on faster, calling to them as she surged past them, "I'm going on ahead!"

"Sister!" Kohaku cried while Yuki called back to him sharply, "Kohaku, get your mask on as well! The miasma is stronger than it's been before, it'll kill you soon if you don't wear protection."

"But what about my sister?" Kohaku cried in fear and Yuki could only shake her head before she looked up at Sesshomaru.

He caught her look but he answered grimly, "A-Un will not be able to keep up if we go faster."

Suddenly, their way was blocked as sharp spikes shot out of Naraku's flesh, criss-crossing to form a wall that blocked them from following Sango.

"Wha-?" The children gasped as A-Un pulled up beside Sesshomaru, who just scoffed.

"So, he doesn't want us to catch up to her." He murmured and Yuki frowned.

"We have to catch up - Sango won't last long without protection." She said worriedly.

"You're already worried for her? You really don't hold a grudge." Sesshomaru commented flatly and Yuki scowled at her lover.

"If something happens to Sango because you let Naraku drag this out just to spite her, Sesshomaru-" She warned.

"You'll do what?" Sesshomaru challenged, although his hand moved to grasp his Bakusaiga at her threat.

Still, Yuki was never one to back down from a challenge. So at Sessohmaru's words, Yuki's frown deepened and her blue eyes narrowed. Leaning up, she whispered in his ear so the two children couldn't hear and Sesshomaru's eyes widened.

He drew his sword swiftly.

"Bakusaiga!"

In the depths of Naraku's body, Jaken looked around in terror as flesh sparked and burned down all around him.

"What is it this time?" He cried in fear. As if being all alone after becoming separated from Shippo and Kohaku wasn't bad enough, then the miasma had turned absolutely deadly and difficult to breathe in even for a demon. Now this… whatever it was.

And whatever it was, was causing the very flesh beneath Jaken's feet to disintegrate.

"EEHH!"

Jaken screamed as he threatened to fall to likely his doom, when suddenly Sesshomaru flew past the hole his Bakusaiga had created and continued to create in Naraku's body.

"Jaken?!" Yuki cried when she spotted the imp demon but he only had eyes for one person.

"Lord Sesshomaru!"

Jaken sobbed ecstatically as he hopped across pieces of Naraku's shredded flesh with sudden energy and purpose before he launched toward Sesshomaru joyfully… and Sesshomaru's foot stomped down on Jaken's face. Jaken cartwheeled back to land on A-Un while Sesshomaru flew on, unperturbed.

"Master Jaken, you were here?" Rin gasped while Kohaku wondered, "What have you been doing?"

Yuki meanwhile shook her head at Sesshomaru.

"You are a cruel demon, Sesshomaru."

"You drove a hard bargain, half-demon." Sesshomaru answered, making Yuki's lips quirk.

All humour dropped however as thick, black tentacles came streaking down toward them and Yuki glared while Sesshomaru's jaw clenched with annoyance.

"Naraku, you continue to struggle." Sesshomaru muttered as he drew his sword once more. "Bakusaiga!"

The green energy shot through the tentacles, severing them and causing them to burn even after they were cut off while the parts of Naraku's body that were touched by the energy or any of the disintegrating body parts that collapsed as a result of Sesshomaru's attack began to burn as well.

Sesshomaru sped through the hole that was created as a result of the destruction his Bakusaiga continued to wreck inside Naraku's body and their group flew out at last into the central cavern where Naraku had been hiding the entire time.