No matter how much I love the Inuyasha series, as do us all, I have no ownership of anything from Inuyasha.(sigh)
Chapter Two
Lord Sesshoumaru is adjusting the swords at his side when demonic auras suddenly explode through the trees, the scent of the cat demons almost instantly permeating the entire area. Mentally he frowns slightly, scenting the air around him as he scans the trees. Definitally a threat to Rin. His mind made, he starts heading back for the trees. Then he hears her scream.
Rin screams and pulls at the paw, the cat demon's claws digging themselves deeper into her shoulder. The cat demon above her laughs, shaking her slightly. Blood mixes with the water around her as the cat demon shakes her again, its claws digging deeper.
"Tonight we feast on the flesh of this girl." She says, using her grip on Rin's shoulder to throw her away from the rock wall, Rin landing near the shallow end of the pool directly in front of the first cat demon. The other two circle the water rim, meeting the first as it approaches. Rin rises onto her hands and knees in the shallow water, her injured arm held against her middle. She tries to back away, further into the water but is halted by the leader of the cat demons landing squarely in the water behind her.
"We shall kill her swiftly before he returns."
Lord Sesshoumaru leaps through the trees as fast as his will allows him, his anger boiling as he catches the scent of Rin's blood mixing in the wind with the cat demons scent. The demon within him rages to be released but he holds it back, reaching the pool as his hand grips the hilt of Tokijin.
Circled by them now and her blood dripping down her shoulder and arm into the water Rin trembles where she kneels, squeezing her eyes shut and fighting the pain and numbness spreading from the wound in her shoulder. Her fingers had long sense gone numb.
Lord Sesshoumaru will come. He always does. He will come and save me.
"None of your friends will reach you in time." One of the cat demons whispers. Rin's eyes fly open and she looks up quickly, her head spinning from the motion. The cat demon smiles at her, resting its paw on the back of her neck and forcing her head down. "Your death shall be quick though, I'll grant you that."
"Rin down!" Instantly recognizing her lord's voice Rin drops onto her stomach in the water. A sword flashes through the air directly above her, two of the cat demons death cries rending the air. The third cat demon immediately jumps at the demon lord, catching him off guard and sending him back a step. Seeing the chance the leader of the cat demons lashes out, its paw hitting Rin squarely in the throat and sending her catapulting back into the deeper part of the water before leaping at the demon lord.
Lord Sesshoumaru swiftly dispatches the cat demons, staring down at the corpses at his feet as he sheaths his sword at his side.
"Rin." He turns toward the pond after not getting a response, frowning at his ward's silence. "Rin lets…" His voice dies as he stares at the pool.
Rin crouches in the water, the pool around her stained with blood. Despite her state of undress before him she struggles to rise, her entire body trembling. Blood flows down her shoulder freely from the gashes in her shoulder and upper arm, coating her shoulder almost down to her waist. Thin trails of blood trickle down her neck.
"My lord…" Rin manages, looking up at him. For the first time that he can remember fear grips him as Rin staggers. Without a second thought he leaps forward, landing with a tremendous splash in the bloodyb water near Rin, catching her as she falls.
"Rin?" She doesn't respond at first, her brown eyes hazed with pain.
"I'm sorry, my lord." She says quietly. He scowls, angry more at himself than her.
"Stupid girl. You have nothing to be sorry for." He says his tone gentle as he cradles her against him. Her arm continues to hang limply at her side as he carefully carries her to shore. He can hear her heart beating wildly in her chest, staggering as her breathing wheezes with every breath.
Remembering the state of her undress Lord Sesshoumaru carries her to her clothes, quickly snatching up her kimono and wrapping it around her as best he can with her leaning against a tree near him. Once it is tied securely around her he goes to pick her up once more but she backs away a step, smiling up at him as she presses a hand to her shoulder.
"I can walk my lord." He scowls at her, studying her pale complexion and trembling hands.
"Don't be stupid girl. I don't need you wasting my time with your pride." He says harshly, more than he intended, as he wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her against him. Realizing he had never touched her this way before he glances down at her, his scowl attempting to hide his uncertainty. She looks up at him, her equally uncertain emotions read clearly on her face. He sighs, about to release her when he feels her hand grip the edge of his armor.
"I do not want to waste your time my lord." She whispers, her voice trembling. Something inside him clenches, an emotion unknown to him surfaces, and he looks away from her, scowling more as he shifts his arm around her waist.
Back at the camp Jaken instantly starts barraging Rin with questions, which are quickly silenced by Lord Sesshoumaru's foot to the back of his head. Jaken sits to one side, mumbling under his breath and watching as Lord Sesshoumaru sets Rin down gently by the fire. Rin huddles near the fire, and though she does not voice her pain the demon lord can see her body trembles. The smell of her blood and the slight taing of the cat demons on her drives the demon within him to near madness but he holds it in check, turning to Au-un. The demon watches silent, four eyes following it's master's movements.
"Ah-un." The two headed demon immediately rises, without a word it lies behind Rin, its tail curling around her. She leans back against it, eyes closed. Her hand is still pressed to her shoulder, blood still oozing from her wounds and staining her kimono.
Lord Sesshoumaru stands opposite the fire from her, his impassionate gold eyes watching her as she inhales sharply, pressing harder against the wound. She blanches, clenching her hand as she holds her breath.
"Rin, what are you doing?" Master Jaken asks as he approaches her.
"It won't seem to stop bleeding." She says quietly. Master Jaken glances up at Lord Sesshoumaru approaches, kneeling before Rin. He stares at her hard a moment before reaching out slowly, pushing Rin's hand away from her shoulder. She says nothing, letting her hand drop.
"Show me Rin." She complies, carefully pulling aside her blood soaked kimono to reveal the four long gashes in her shoulder. Faintly he can smell a taint in her blood. Poison. After a second Lord Sesshoumaru rises.
"Jaken, remain here with Rin." Master Jakin nods, planting himself firmly on the ground beside Rin as Lord Sesshoumaru turns away.
"Where are you going my Lord?" Rin's trembling voice asks quietly. He doesn't spare a glance her way as he begins to walk away.
"The half breed is nearby. I can smell him. I will return before daybreak." Without another word he rises into the air, heading for the setting sun.
They are out in the fields, enjoying the warm night when they sense it. Inuyasha is the first; picking up the scent of his half brother on the evening breeze but it is Kagome that sees him first, drifting toward them through the darkening sky. She grabs Inuyasha's arm as he pushes her behind him, his hand swiftly resting on Tetsaiga's hilt. Kagome's eyes widen from where she stands behind inuyasha, stunned at Sesshoumaru's clothes. The front of his clothing, usually so immaculate, is stained heavily with blood. They both watch silently as Lord Sesshoumaru lands before them, the trio regarding each other silently before Sesshoumaru sighs.
"I did not come to fight, little brother."
"Then what are you doing here?" Inuyasha practically growls. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrow but he disregards his brother's tone, instead turning to Kagome.
"I require your assistance miko." Inuyasha glances back at Kagome, shocked, and then turns to glare suspiciously at Sesshoumaru.
"What do you want?" Kagome asks hesitantly. The older brother scowls slightly.
"You have healing abilities?" He asks. She nods.
"Sort of." Inuyasha's hand relaxes slightly on the hilt of his sword.
"So I take it that blood on your kimono isn't yours." Sesshoumaru glances down, taking in the sight of Rin's blood on his clothes. He seems slightly surprised when he sees it, contemplating it a second before looking back at his brother.
"No, it is not." Kagome nods, releasing Inuyasha's sleeve.
"Wait here please." Instead of commenting on the disrespectful idea that the demon lord would do what a human said he merely nods.
"Do not waste time." He says nonchalantly, turning away as Inuyasha follows Kagome back to the village.
"What are you thinking going with him?" Inuyasha exclaims. Kagome shushes him as she packs her large backpack with medical supplies from her era.
"Why do you think Sesshoumaru would want medical help?" She asks Inuyasha. He shrugs, scowling.
"I don't know. It's not like he'd need it." Kagome sighs, hefting her back onto her back.
"Exactly. It's not for him." Inuyasha frowns.
"That girl?" Kagome nods.
"You stay here." Inuyasha leaps up, shaking a clawed finger at her.
"Like hell I'll stay here while you go off with him alone." Kagome sighs.
"He's had the chance to kill me dozens of times before. I don't think he will." Inuyasha scowls at her, following her toward the door.
"Don't even think about it, you stupid wench." He growls. Kagome immediately turns to him, hands on her hips. He stops dead in his tracks, suddenly afraid.
"Inuyasha…." She growls. He holds up his hands as if to ward her off, swiftly recognizing the tone of her voice.
"Kagome…I…"
"Sit!" She turns, leaving the hut as Inuyasha's pained groan echoes from the home.
Kagome hesitates on her way back to Sesshoumaru, suddenly unsure. To late to turn back she sees that Sesshoumaru has already spotted her. She stops beside him, glancing up at him wearily. He catches this and sighs.
"I would not profit any from your death miko." He says quietly, almost reassuringly. Strangely relieved Kagome nods, following the demon lord into the forest.
After several minutes of walking Kagome finally gathers the nerve to speak.
"You're not the one who needs my help, are you." She states. Cold golden eyes glance back at her before he responds.
"No."
"It's Rin, isn't it?" He nods.
"Why me?" She asks, ducking under a tree branch.
"I caught Inuyasha's scent not far away and knew you were there with him. Rin cannot be moved so I am bringing you." He says simply. Kagome nods, deciding not to ask anymore.
The inside of the forest is dark, and after stumbling several times Kagome hesitates, reaching back to pull her flashlight from her backpack. As the light beam pierces the darkness Sesshoumaru rounds on her, his hand gripping her wrist so swiftly she yelps in surprise, dropping the flashlight. His golden eyes refract the light of the flashlight, gleaming in the darkness, almost matching the frightening light green flow at his fingertips. They stare at one another, Kagome's heart beating wildly in her chest before he releases her grip.
"What is that?" He asks.
"It's called a flashlight. It's something from where I live." He doesn't question her, merely kneels down, and picks up the flashlight, handing it back to her before turning and continuing through the woods.
"Hurry miko." He states, the stunned Kagome following him.
Master Jaken sits opposite the fire from Au-Un and Rin, watching her. He doesn't speak, glancing up at the lightening sky occasionally before looking back at Rin again.
The young woman hadn't moved in some time, only the slight rise and fall of her chest indicating that she's still alive. As Master Jaken glances up at the sky again Rin moans, shifting against Au-Un's side. The two headed demon glances back at her as rolls slightly against him before slowly sliding to the ground on her side. Master Jaken jumps up, rounding the fire quickly.
"What is it Rin?" She reaches up, clenching a fistful of his brown kimono in her white knuckled grip. He can feel the heat coming from her skin as her eyes open slowly. Sweat beads her skin as she glances around behind Master Jaken.
"Lord….Sesshoumaru….."
"He has not returned yet." Rin's hand suddenly releases him and he stumbles back in surprise as Rin suddenly cries out, rolling onto her back. She lets out a pained cry, writhing on the ground as if in agony. The scent of fresh blood suddenly taints the air as Rin uses both arms to push herself to her feet, reopening her wounds on her shoulder. Master Jaken has to duck to avoid her as Rin stumbles toward the woods, feverish and half conscious from the poison eating at her from inside.
"Rin!" She hears Master Jaken yell at her as if from a distance but she ignores him.
I'm dying. I can't die yet. Please don't let me die before I see him again. Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you!
Rin stumbles on a tree root, falling hard onto the forest floor. Her wounded shoulder wrenches against another root and Rin screams, merciful darkness capturing her.
