The next two days made Rin anxious to get back home. She wandered if Kagome was looking for her or if she even knows that she's alive. She thought that Sesshomaru might tell her for her. She sighed. Then a familiar scent filled the air. She could sense Sesshomaru half stalking her as she wandered around. She still can't get over that she got to see him as a little boy. He's so cute! He's a bit of a spoiled brat but cute! Then she thought of an idea. She sped around the corner to sneak up on him. When she did, she gave him a surprise push. He gasped at her. She had fun playing around with him.
"Gotcha!" she chuckled. He saw him pouting but could tell that he was struggling to hide his smile. Inutaisho appeared with a smile.
"I see that you two are getting along," he noted. She smirked.
"Yes, we are. He's just too stubborn to admit it, right?" She ruffled his hair again. "It won't be long before the council summons me again. It doesn't look like Mikaru will return." Inutaisho nodded.
"My Lord! My Lord!" shouted a warrior guard.
"What is it?" he commanded.
"There's a demon attacking our castle entrance!" Inutaisho and Rin locked eyes.
"Let's go," Rin bolted for the main gates. When she got there she saw, Mikaru's murderous eyes searching for someone.
"Come out, Come out, Inutaisho! We have unfinished business to settle!"
Rin emerged into view. Her swords at the ready. He looked shocked to see her here still.
"You again! I have no time to deal with a new time warrior!" Rin posed to charge.
"We're time warriors, we have all the time in the world," she growled.
Mikaru charged at her. Their powers hit with great intensity. Rin gritted her teeth with effort. They swung and attacked each other. Rin could hear Inutaisho running up to help. Mikaru kicked her away from him. She went flying as Inutaisho jumped into battle. Rin sat up, whipping the blood from her mouth. This guy was tough. She stood up to charge again. Inutaisho punched Mikaru as Rin reengaged in the battle. With Inutaisho and Rin attacking him, Mikaru was struggling.
"You can't defeat us alone, Mikaru! Leave before you embarrass yourself again!" mocked Rin as she attacked. Mikaru made a power burst that knocked Inutaisho and Rin away.
"I will not be mocked by a woman!" he screamed.
"It's hard to handle getting beaten up by a woman, huh," she mocked. He growled at her. He made to charge but he saw that Inutaisho had his other warriors with him. Mikaru saw that he was out numbered. He prepared to leave.
"There are other times that I can fulfill my goal, wretch!"
"Bring it on, Mikaru!" With that he disappeared. Rin relaxed as the warriors swarmed to clear the area. She sheathed her swords. Inutaisho walked up to her.
"He seems cocky to attack on his own," he noted.
"He didn't think that I would still be here," she said.
"What did he mean by there are other times?" he asked. She kept staring at the spot that Mikaru disappeared.
"It means that he can try to attack you in different time periods," she said, "this time he's not going to hold back."
She heard a bell like sound around her. She turned her head to look for the sound.
"What is it?" Inutaisho asked. She wasn't sure but saw that the white light portal had appeared close by to her.
"What's this?" asked Sesshomaru stepping beside Rin. Rin looked at her portal.
"I think the council wants me back."
"But….," he started to say. He didn't want her to leave. She knelt down to his level.
"It's alright, Sesshomaru. It's time for me to go."
"Will I see you again?" She put a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh yes, but not in your near future, I bet," she said, "Goodbye Sesshomaru." She kissed him on the forehead where his crescent moon was. "I'm glad to have met you, Sesshomaru." She turned toward Inutaisho.
"I bet that we will meet again sometime later on in time," she said to him. He nodded.
"We will be here." With that she stepped into the white light into another time stream.
Sesshomaru in the present was wandering the woods alone. He waited for Rin's scent to return to him. He wandered what part in time that she went to and what happened to her. He remembered the events from the past, but Rin was never allowed to tell him of her adventures. Then he saw that familiar light. He watched as his Rin stepped into view. When she saw him, she bolted toward his arms.
"Oh, Sesshomaru! I missed you," she said with happy tears. He held her close. She clung to her present Sesshomaru, strong, tall and beautiful. She longed to be with her love again. She looked at him in the eyes.
"I saw you! You were smaller but I saw you! Now I see what you mean by me first meeting you," she said to him with his hand to her cheek.
"I don't know if the elders ever told you that you are not supposed to discuss where you were in time," he accused childishly. She rolled her eyes.
"They probably did when they gave me this power and knowledge but I don't care. I'm just glad to be home again," she said against his chest. He chuckled.
"I bet that this whole thing must be overwhelming for you," he said. She nodded.
"You have no idea," she groaned, and then she remembered, "Does Kagome know about anything? The last time I saw her was when I was taken by that demon of Mikaru's."
"I told her what I could. Let's just say that she knows of your new appearance," he said pushing her hair behind her shoulders. His face close to hers as if he was asking her permission. Her face closed the gap between them as they kissed. She kissed him like she hadn't in hundreds of years. He welcomed her desire. How she longed for him while she was away. She made to untie his sash. He froze.
"Are you ready, my Rin?" he asked her. She didn't hesitate.
"Yes, I love you Sesshomaru. There is no one else that I would rather be with."
He growled as she undressed his armor. It made a loud clang as it fell. Rin was amazed at how heavy the armor sounded against the Earth. He had removed both of their weapons and her sash that held her kimono closed. She pushed his kimono down his sturdy arms. She moaned at the fabulous sight of his chest again. He chuckled. Her kimono fell to the ground.
"I love you, Rin," he said as they knelt to the ground. Her tights were kicked down her legs. Rin grew scared as he made to untie his pants.
"You are my first, Sesshomaru," she whispered against his lips. He went to her neck.
"I know."
"How do you know?"
"Because you told me that when you became my first years ago," he said as he took off his pants.
They were both together on the ground. Their arms were around each other. They explored each other's bodies. Rin tested every muscle he had with her hands. How she longed to touch him. She felt his muscles move as he did. He in turn explored her chest with his mouth and fingers. He teased her with his teeth as he worshipped her body. Then he positioned himself to pierce her. Rin grew nervous underneath him. A palm went to her cheek. Sesshomaru's other hand rubbed her from her ribs to her thighs.
"This will hurt but only for a moment, my love."
She gripped his shoulders. As he entered, she grunted. His lips went to hers again. Her claws dug into his back as the pain grew. The pain was there but it turned into pleasure pain. Her legs opened farther for him as he moved his hips. They made love under the moonlight with love and desire. He was so gentle with her. He worshipped her body like a goddess. She made sure that he knew how much she loved and adore him as they moved as one. She was gasping for breath with a smirking Sesshomaru holding her against him. He left his mating scent on her. She was his and only his. Other demons would stay away with his powerful scent fuming off from her skin. She sighed, snuggling up closer to him. He smiled as he let his mind fall into darkness.
"Mommy? Mommy!"
"Oh, god! Rin!"
The water rushed around Rin as she fought to get out. She watch helplessly as her mother drowned in front of her. Rin grunted with a whine in frustration and fear as she tried to get out. She screamed as the water rushed over her head.
"NO!" cried Rin sitting up with sweat running down her face.
She panted from the nightmare. Her hand ran through her hair. Sesshomaru was startled awake from her cry. The kimono that covered her chest fell to her lap. He sat up with his hand combing her hair. His lips kissed her head.
"Shh, it's alright, my love. It was only a dream. Only a dream," he whispered softly against her ear.
"It feels so real every time," she whimpered. As his hand combed her, his other arm pulled her close.
"You must remember that it happened in the past. You are safe right here with me," he purred. She sighed as she relaxed. She nestled her head against his neck. "I thought that you would become at peace with this new power with you to help the dreams, but perhaps I was wrong."
She sighed, "I don't know why it keeps haunting me." He pondered.
"Perhaps that the back of your mind is trying to tell you something."
"Like what?"
"Hard to say, perhaps a key moment that you are missing that your mind wants to tell you."
She thought about it for a minute. She tried to think about every part of the event that she could remember but she couldn't think of anything that she might have missed. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Perhaps, in time, when you finally discover what your mind wants to, then you might be at peace at last." Sesshomaru laid them back down on the ground, covering them up with his kimono. She nodded as she went back to sleep.
It had been four days, since Sesshomaru had told Kagome what he could about Rin. She had heard what he said to her but wouldn't be able to believe it until she saw it for herself. She wanted to see Rin so bad. She missed her cousin. Inuyasha looked at her with sympathy.
"Kagome, I'm sure she's fine. She's with Sesshomaru anyway." She nodded her agreement at him.
"Yes, but I still can't help but worry about her."
"Well come to think of it, he didn't really give us a lot of information to begin with," noted Sango.
"Sango's right. It's like he was withholding things from us," Miroku added.
"Something definitely doesn't feel right," commented Shippo. Kagome's face dropped. She had just realized the same thing.
"Grr, way to make things worse here, you guys," growled Inuyasha. The others looked guilty.
"But, I'm sure she's safe Kagome," Sango tried to mend. Kagome gave a small smile.
"You're probably right." She continued to follow her friends on their journey.
The last few days with Sesshomaru had been a blessing for Rin. They were like newlyweds. She missed this Sesshomaru so much that he made her forget about her troubles and time warrior duties. Sesshomaru seemed to think so as well. One night, they sat down by the campfire. Rin remembered something that she had never asked him since she got back.
"Sesshomaru? I've been meaning to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Exactly, how long was I gone in this time?" He thought about it for a moment, trying to remember.
"I believe that you were only gone for a day. I knew that you would return in a short time as you had told me in the past."
"It still confuses me when you talk about the other me," she chuckled. He smiled.
"It is confusing at first but you get used to the different time streams."
"Did I ever tell you how long it will be before I have to leave again? I know that Mikaru can't be attacking at this time period."
"You had once told me that the elders needed time to pin point his location. They don't want you to go to a separate time period than he is. It would be counterproductive." She gaped at how much he knew.
"Wow, you know more than I do." He smiled.
"I do know you pretty well." Then a look of mischief flowed over her face.
"Have you ever seen the future me after you first met me?" He caught his breath. His face turned red.
"I will not lie to you. I have seen the future you." She sat in front of him with serious eyes.
"Did you and I do anything?" He swallowed his embarrassment. "I'm waiting." He rolled his eyes.
"It's not like I technically cheated on you," he noted.
"That doesn't answer my question," she prided. He sighed. He held her hands in his.
"Do you remember the night that you had a nightmare and you wandered into the woods angry?" She nodded. "After I had sent you back, you appeared in the woods. I followed you until you stopped walking. Please understand that I loved you as you then and the you that you are now, but I hadn't been with this you in over 250 years. You and I made love in the woods." Rin's eyes fell. He groaned.
"Rin, I didn't cheat on you. You must know this," he tried to mend. She looked up to him.
"It's not that but the fact that I didn't make love to you in human form that night is kind of haunting me now." He put a hand to her face.
"When I told the future you of the events of that night, you commented that you remembered that very night. I knew that you were not ready. What happened happened for a reason. I never want you to ever feel obligated to do anything that you are uncomfortable doing. When you gave me the signs that you were not ready, you never hurt my feelings or my love for you. Remember that." She smiled at his wise words.
"In a way you sound like a father." He rolled his eyes. "I'm glad that I found someone like you. How do I deserve such a man, my love," she added. His face drew closer to her.
"You deserve all the happiness and pleasures of this world. I am honored that you found me worthy enough to love. Never degrade yourself for anything," he said.
She sighed as their lips almost touched. Then the mood broke when the white portal appeared before them. They separated from their almost kiss.
"AW! Freaking A!" Rin growled to the heavens. Sesshomaru was equally frustrated. She was so distracted that she didn't hear the warning call.
"You must go now, my Rin. Mikaru is waiting. I am waiting." She stood with him, holding hands.
"Tell me something first. Did you love me back then?" she asked. He smiled.
"I had loved you since the day I first saw you. I was too young to do anything. You were my Lady Rin, my one and only love." She smiled at the answer. Squeezing his hands one last time, Rin stepped into the white light.
A seventeen year old Sesshomaru stood beside his father at the battle field. They stood at the hill, watching Mikaru and a few warriors march toward them. Sesshomaru tried to sense her presence but there was no trace of her.
"I do not sense her either, my son," Inutaisho scanned the area for her. Sesshomaru sighed. "Perhaps she is unaware of the upcoming events," his father suggested.
Sesshomaru looked worried. It had been 200 years since they first met and she is not here when they need her. Then as if on cue, the white light that Sesshomaru had seen years ago appeared close to them. He looked at the portal with longing eyes. A figure was walking toward him.
"Rin?"
She stepped out from the portal, which closed immediately. She had stood before them unchanged from when they had last met. She grinned. She bowed to Inutaisho. She widened her eyes. Sesshomaru looked very pleased to see her. He looked almost 16 instead of 20. They were about the same height now. He stood next to his father with pride. He wanted to look strong for Rin. Inutaisho suppressed a chuckle.
"Sesshomaru? My you have grown. The woman must be fighting over you," she mocked turning her gaze toward the approaching enemy, "I see that I'm just in time." Sesshomaru's heart raced at the sound of her voice again. Rin hid her grin. He was blushing.
"He arrived recently. Our scouts had seen him appear and gather these forces. We aren't sure how he had managed to gather these troops."
"He has taken followers and conquered armies from his time. He won't stop until he has killed you and Sesshomaru."
"Are we that important in the future?" Sesshomaru asked. Rin looked at him.
"You have no idea, hun," she winked.
Sesshomaru's face turned red. The trio stood with other forces behind them preparing. Rin headed down the field with the dog demons behind her. She unsheathed her sword. Mikaru looked shocked and angry that Rin was here.
"Attack!" shouted Mikaru as they ran toward the trio.
"Mikaru's mine," Rin said meeting her sword with his. The father and son were battling with the others. Rin was scared to fight but had to trust the knowledge of past generations of time warriors to help and protect her.
"How do you know when to come? Tell me?"
Rin grunted as he knocked her away. She struck at him again.
"I am under no obligation to tell you anything!" she quoted her Sesshomaru.
They fought for what seemed hours. Inutaisho and Sesshomaru almost had their enemies finished. Rin was sweating from the effort. Mikaru roared as his aura pushed her and the others back several feet. Rin's face and body was dirty with dirt and bits of her blood from his cuts.
"ENOUGH!" he cried.
His time warrior aura surrounding him. His vanished. Everyone jumped up, searching for him. He appeared next to Inutaisho. He made to strike him but Inutaisho had blocked it. Rin round house kicked him away. He punched her and made to strike again but Sesshomaru stepped in. Sesshomaru prepared to fight but Mikaru vanished again. Rin calmed down to sense him. She moved away from the two. Her eyes closed, letting her knowledge guide her. In a brief second she whipped her arm back and chopped her hand against Mikaru's neck, who appeared seconds before. He keeled over, taking a few steps back as he tried to breathe. Rin faced him in a fluid motion to kick him in the face that sent him flying. He landed on the ground away from them, clutching his broken nose. His eyes red with fury. He growled as he stood up.
"You will pay for this, demon's whore!" he screamed at her. She smiled at him.
"This demon's whore is about to send you to the netherworld."
He revealed his bloody face as he laughed.
"If I die then I will not go alone!"
He summoned his time warrior power to his sword. Rin made to do the same. Rin saw his face shift. He's planning something. Her gaze tensed on him. Inutaisho was battling the rest of Mikaru's men. Sesshomaru was ready to back up Rin from behind Mikaru. Mikaru smiled. He raised his sword, making Rin prepare for him. Instead of charging at her, he sent an energy ball at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru, being caught off guard, blocked the energy ball, but his sword seemed to instantly age into dust. He had no sword. Another energy attack from Mikaru, knocked Sesshomaru to the ground. Then Mikaru threw a ball at Rin, making her jump farther away from him. Sesshomaru was trying to get up from the unexpected blow.
"Let's see how mighty you are after I dispatch your future lover!" he sent his sword straight for Sesshomaru's heart at lightning speed. Sesshomaru was almost standing when he saw the sword come at him. He didn't have time to get out of the way.
"NO! SESSHOMARU!" Rin cried. Inutaisho had just finished the last enemy when he saw what was happening. Even he couldn't stop the attack. Sesshomaru stood to meet his end. He closed his eyes in waiting, showing no sign of fear. Everything had happened all at once. The sound of the sword piercing and blood spattering was heard for miles.
"WHAAAAAAT?" Mikaru cried.
Sesshomaru opened his eyes. They widened as far as they go.
"Rin?" he gasped.
Rin was holding onto him with Mikaru's sword in her back. He looked up at Mikaru. The moment Mikaru had thrown the sword; Rin reacted by throwing her sword at Mikaru. She had managed to teleport in front of Sesshomaru to take the blow. Mikaru pulled her sword out of his stomache. He gasped for blood in complete shock of how quickly this happened. Inutaisho withdrew Sounga with his dragon twister. Mikaru was too weak to do anything. He chose to vanish from the scene before the attack hit him. Inutaisho sheated his sword as he ran toward Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru held onto Rin as his father approached. He pulled the sword out of her, making her grunt in pain. Her blood scent was overwhelming him.
"Rin!" Sesshomaru shouted. She managed to lift her head to look at him. Blood was trickling down her chin. "Why did you do that, Rin? Why?" She smiled.
"You are more important then you realize, my brave Sesshomaru," she muttered. She lost consciousness in his arms. Inutaisho felt her vitals.
"RIN!" Sesshomaru cried.
"She's alive, son. We have to return to palace. We have to help her while we still can."
Sesshomaru lifted her in his arms. He growled toward the sword on the ground. That monster dared to hurt her. Sesshomaru would not rest until he paid with his life. He raced with his father back to the palace.
Sesshomaru was sitting on a chair just outside Rin's room. Once he brought her to the palace, the doctors took her away to help her straight away. They were working on her for hours. The suspense was killing him. He wanted to know that she was going to be ok. His head rested in his hands. He heard someone sit beside him. His father's strong hand rested on his shoulder.
"She'll be alright, my son. Fear not. She was doing her duty. She knew the risks."
"I know, father, but I can't help but feel responsible for her having to take the blow for me. I feel useless. I'm not sure that I can be the demon that I was meant to be."
"Son, there are times where we feel that we may not be the man that we want to be. That is part of life. What happens to us now and later, happens for a reason. Rin knows that you will become a great demon and for that I am proud to have such a son," his father sighed.
"It's not only that, father. I care for her."
His father looked at his son.
"I know, son. I'm sure she knows as well."
"I have cared for her since we first met many years ago. She didn't like me for my title or pedigree. She liked me for me. I had never had such a friend before. She brings peace to me. It feels like she's the empty piece of me that I've been missing."
Inutaisho smiled.
"My son is in love. I wondered when I would see the day."
"Is this love, father? I have never felt this way about someone before."
His father wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"It may be, my son. My only advice to you is to follow your heart." Then Sesshomaru frowned.
"What if she already has a mate, father?"
A doctor popped his head out, "You may see her now, my Lords. She needs rest and will be in pain for a while. We have done all that we can."
"Will she be alright?" Sesshomaru asked him.
"My Lord, we are not sure. The rest is up to her."
Sesshomaru brushed past him into the room. Inutaisho decided to wait outside the room. When Sesshomaru saw her, he froze. She looked pale and ill from blood loss. Her torso was exposed but was covered with her bandages. The sword had gone right through her. It had just barely missed her heart. Her arms had various cuts and bruises from the battle. She had black under her eyes from exhaustion. She shifted on the bed and groaned from the pain. He moved immediately toward her. He put a hand on hers. He could feel her muscles spasming from pain under his touch. She moaned.
"I'm here," he whispered. Rin sighed.
"Sesshomaru."
He gasped. She was saying his name in her sleep.
"Yes, I'm here. It's alright."
She sighed painfully as she became silent. He gritted his teeth. That monster did this to her. He will make him pay. She started panting from the pain. The sword that went through her had his power overwhelming it. His power sent a massive shock wave through her body. If Sesshomaru had taken the blow, then he would have died. Rin's training and power saved her from instant death but the after effect was taking its toll on her. She spasmed under his touch as if he was electrocuting her. He sat in the room with her for days, hoping, praying that she would be okay. The doctors came in to check on her but couldn't help her with most of the pain. He growled in frustration as she tossed and turned in her sleep. His father came in once in a while to check on her and to keep Sesshomaru company. When he came in one day, Sesshomaru was asleep in a chair. Sesshomaru looked tired from staying up with her and not eating much. He saw Rin groaning in pain as she slept. He got a rag wet in a bowl of water by her bed. He wrung it and folded it. He carefully laid it on Rin's hot sweaty forehead. She sighed her thanks to him. He sat down on the bed next to her with a hand on hers. He heard his son's breath as he slept.
"You saved my son, dear one. I am forever grateful to you. With what you have told me about his future, I know that you and I can frame him into a great being. I know you love him now and I the future. I know he loves you right now. I'm glad that he met such a fine female like you. He deserves all the love he can get. I pray that you recover. We need you. He needs you. Please come back to us." He bent down and kissed her head. He gently stroked her cheek before he left the room.
Sesshomaru was walking casually through the woods. He couldn't remember how he got there or why he was there. There was no one around. He kept walking when he heard a musical voice that he loved so much, call his name.
"Sesshomaru," the voice called to him. He stopped in his tracks. The voice echoed all around him. He turned his head to try to hear where it was coming from. "Sesshomaru." The voice seemed clearer. He picked up on the scent and followed it. His heart fluttered, he actually beamed in eagerness. He bolted through the woods to find her. "Sesshomaru." The voice was getting nearer and nearer. He used his demon speed to go faster. Then he found the scent. He stopped beside a tree. "There you are, Sesshomaru," she said from behind the tree. He stepped around the tree. He could do nothing but gap at her. Rin was lit up like an angel. Her beautiful kimono made her even more enchanting. Her hair was flowing this way and that with the wind. Half of it was put in with hair chop sticks. She stood there with a smile and a authoritative manor. Her arms opened to him to come. "Come here, my love." He smiled brightly at her. He didn't worthy to be in her lovely presence. It seemed like it was taking hours to reach her. He was ten yards away from he saw a figure behind Rin. She continued to smile at him. The figured cleared into the form that was Mikaru. The moment Mikaru came into view, he stabbed Rin with his sword. Rin gasped as the sword went all the way through her.
"NOOOO!" shouted Sesshomaru.
Mikaru laughed as he vanished. Sesshomaru caught Rin in his arms before she could hit the ground. Her eyes were wide in shock as blood drenched her kimono and the area around them. The forest around them turned into a dark room with a white light around them. Her blood made the floor turn red. Sesshomaru was gasping in shock and fear as he cradled her in his arms. His hands were covered in blood.
"No, please! Don't leave me! Please!" he cried. Her bloody hand reached up to touch his face. She panted from the pain. He held her hand up to his face. She managed to focus her eyes on his face.
"I…I love…" her eyes closed. Sesshomaru watched in horror as her hand slipped from his grasp.
"Rin?" Her hand fell into a puddle of her own blood. He froze with wide eyes.
"How can you become a great demon, when you can't even take care of the woman you love? Why does she have to come to your aid every time? Why can't you defend yourself?" Mikaru's voice echoed around him.
Her lifeless body disappeared but her blood remained. Sesshomaru was on his hands and knees with his eyes to the floor. He clenched his fists in the blood puddle.
"You're weak. You are weak now and you always will be. You are worthless." Sesshomaru lost her again and he couldn't save her this time.
He was too weak to help her. He was too weak. His clothes and hands were stained. The stench was overwhelming. He grunted in frustration.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he cried to the heavens.