Rin awoke at the sound of her mahogany screen swinging open. She sat up rubbing her eyes to see Lord Sesshomaru standing there decked out in his armor.
"Rin get up and get dressed. I will be expecting you in the gardens in half and hour." He said as he turned and strode out of her room.
'It's morning already?' Sighed Rin as she pushed her blankets aside and slid out of bed. She walked over to her armoire opened it and plucked out a grass green kimono. She shut the doors and retrieved her armor off of the brass hook fastened to the second door. In less than five minutes flat Rin had changed kimonos and adorned her armor. She then walked over to the small side table that stood next to her bed. She pulled the first drawer open revealing a necklace that had a small onyx dog dangling from the silver chain. 'This necklace allows me to channel my new abilities. Kami knows I'm going to need it against Lord Sesshomaru. Thankfully it seems to have a stronger effect on dog demons.' She thought as she remembered how much stronger she got when she wore it while sparring Kanori. 'I think Dysuki would kill me if she knew that I took this from that demon she killed a few months ago. Thought Rin as she walked back over to the desk grabbing her obi tying it around her slender waist. She then retrieved her sword sheathed in its scabbard and slid it into her obi. A small gleam caught her eye as she noticed her dagger lying on the desk next to the small wooden box. She smiled as she picked it up aware that it was coated in Lord Sesshomaru's blood for the second time. 'This has proven to be very effective.' She thought as she drew her sword and clicked the dagger back in its place inside the hilt. Rin then placed the sword back in its scabbard and walked over to the large chest in the corner. 'I bet Lord Sesshomaru does not know about the wide range of weapons I have in this trunk. I think I will enlighten him.' She smirked as she opened the lid and peered inside. Rin withdrew a set of three throwing knives and strapped them to her arm, leg and hip. She then dug around until she found a whip, which she curled tightly and placed behind her back. 'It's time to show my lord how much I have learned in his absence.' She thought as she held her head high and marched out of her bedroom and down to the gardens.
Sesshomaru walked out onto the veranda the wind playfully tugging at his hair. He observed the rays of light that started to shine in the early morning sky. He turned his head at the sound of footsteps behind him. He admired the armor that fit tightly to Rin's womanly body. She stood facing him her stance expressing the confidence she held. 'So she is ready to do battle is she? I remember how easily she put my young soldier to the ground yesterday. I will not go easy on her. She will learn nothing if I do.'
"Rin. Let's go."
"Coming my lord." She replied.
They walked together in silence, their strides in perfect harmony. Sesshomaru led them to the clearing where their first battle had taken place. He looked over at Rin and took his place across from her.
"Prepare yourself Rin." He said coldly as he unsheathed Tokijin and pointed it at her.
Sesshomaru then rushed at Rin, in an attempt to throw her off guard and put her on the defensive. Two seconds later, the clash of steel was heard throughout the grounds as Lady Rin and the indifferent Taiyoukai of the West locked swords in a battle of wills.
Employing the speed he was so renowned for Sesshomaru rushed at her once again, swinging Tokijin towards her, only to catch the sleeve of her kimono, shredding it. She retaliated by kicking him squarely in the stomach hard enough for him to fall over backwards. Sesshomaru, spotting a weakness in her defensive position, quickly capitalized off the falling momentum of his body and rolled onto his back as he latched onto her kimono, easily tossing her into a tree almost fifteen feet away.
Sesshomaru quickly rolled to his feet, noticing that Rin had gotten up and was running towards him. He sent a wave of energy from Tokijin knocking her down, pining her underneath him, with his blade at her throat.
"My point." He said, as he looked down at her a smirk on his face.
"You cheated!" She screamed as she felt around for the throwing knife attached to her hip.
"This Sesshomaru does no such thing." He said glaring at her.
"You used the demonic powers of your sword against me. Since I am not a demon I can do no such thing. You already have the upper hand by being a demon, you don't need the power of that sword." She exclaimed, as she looked up at him frustration swimming in her eyes.
"Indeed." He said as he stood up sheathing Tokijin. "From now on I will use a human blade, but today I will use only my hands."
"That sounds more like it." she said as she got to her feet. She could feel his demonic aura pulsing out from around him. 'Lord Sesshomaru will be shocked when he finds out that I have learned to sense demonic energy. I can also manipulate it back at the demon in which I stole it from.' She said to herself as she suddenly felt his aura spike and then disappear. 'Shit. He's behind me.' She turned just in time to reflect his glowing whip with the blade of her sword.
'How was she able to predict my movements? It's almost as if she could sense me.' He thought as he flicked his wrist sending another whip of energy coursing straight towards Rin.
She blocked his attack then looked down at her sword. The glowing poison was running down the blade dripping onto the forest floor. Before she could react she felt the wind rush out of her as she flew in the air and smacked the ground with a sickening thud. Rin could feel her sword fly out of her grasp as she smacked the dirt. She winced in pain but jumped up quickly unaware of Lord Sesshomaru's next move. She silently cursed herself for her lack of attention.
"Your focus is on me not on your blade." He said as he drew his hand back for another strike.
Rin shot her hand behind her back and pulled out the whip still curled tightly in her palm. She ran towards Lord Sesshomaru her hand still hidden behind her back. He released his whip striking the ground beside her as she jumped dodging it.
Before he knew what hit him he felt a searing pain rip across his face and down his neck. He growled as he lifted his hand and touched his cheek. He then brought his hand before his eyes and stared at his fingers covered in blood. He looked up at Rin angrily suddenly aware of the long braided whip she now had clutched in her left hand. 'Where in the hell did that come from?' He asked himself as he started advancing towards her. 'It is time to put her in her place.' He said as he leapt into the air and came flying down landing right in front of Rin. He kicked out his right leg hooking it around her ankles and brought her slamming backwards into the ground.
As soon as she released the whip and slashed him in the face Rin knew it was all over. She could sense the rise in his aura as she felt his anger start to build. 'I think hitting him in the face might not have been a good idea, he looks really pissed off.' She thought as she suddenly realized that he stood inches from her nose. Before she could register what was happening she felt her body slam into the ground once yet again.
Sesshomaru watched her fall and in seconds he was on top of her pinning her to the forest floor. He looked down at her hoping to see or sense any type of fear. He growled in frustration when he realized that he couldn't sense any emotion from her. 'What is she thinking? Why can't I sense her emotions?' He asked himself as he adjusted his left hand in the grass.
Rin soon felt Lord Sesshomaru's body pressing against hers as she glanced up trying to regain her focus. 'He's got me this time unless I put my new powers to the test. I hope this works.' She thought as she slowly started to gather his demonic energy and tie it in with her own.
'What is this Sensation? It feels as if my demonic energy is being pulled away from my body. Is Rin responsible for this?' He asked as he locked eyes with her.
'Finally I have all the energy I need. Now all I need to do is fuse it together and send it back at him.' Concluded Rin as she noticed that Lord Sesshomaru was staring down at her, his handsome face holding a peculiar intense expression. 'He is on to me. I must find some way to distract him.' She stared back at him looking deep into his golden eyes. What she found there shocked her. She could see the flames of confusion flickering inside. She tore her eyes away feeling her heart jump in her chest. 'Why does he have to look at me that way? He is making it hard for me to injure him.' She thought as she noticed a tiny golden chain hanging around his neck. 'I bet that necklace holds the key to my box!' She deducted as she inconspicuously raised her hand and tried to grab for it. To her dismay a clawed hand reached out and grabbed her wrist stopping her in mid air.
"You didn't think that it was going to be that easy did you?" He asked as a small smile played upon his lips.
'Is he smiling? He is actually smiling. Wow. I never thought I would see this. Damn does he look attractive!' She thought as she stared at him for a few more seconds.
"Answer me Rin." He said his smile disappearing.
"I guess not Lord Sesshomaru." She huffed. "You didn't think that it was going to be this easy did you?" She questioned.
"What do you speak of Rin?" He asked raising his eyebrow slightly.
"Defeating me." She said as she released the pent up energy she had been harboring. Rin watched as she saw Lord Sesshomaru go flying off of her and into the tree behind her. She quickly got up on her feet and located her sword before he could register what hit him.
When he finally realized what had happened he looked up to see the tip of Rin's blade stabbing him in the throat.
"My point." She said as she backed away from him letting her lord regain his composure.
He glanced up at her his mind reaming with an endless sea of questions. 'How in the living hell did she pull off a stunt like that? She used my own demonic energy against me. How is this possible? Humans cannot handle a demons energy, yet here Rin did and threw it back at me.' He pondered as he rose to his feet. Sesshomaru was about to start questioning Rin when a foul scent filled his nostrils.
"Demons are approaching." Said Rin taking him by surprise as she took a fighting stance.
"How do you know this?" He asked wondering how she knew demons were in the area.
"I can sense their demonic energy." She said as she walked over to him taking her place at his side.
"Who taught you to do this?' He commanded.
"Nobody. I started manipulating my own energy and once I had mastered that I started seeking out and trying to control demonic energy as well. Finally after months and months of training I have become able to sense human energy as well as that of a demon. The limits to my ability are few in number. For example I cannot sense anyone who is not within a mile of my person." She said as she looked up at him waiting for her words to sink in.
"I see. Prepare to battle Rin." He said as he glanced up at the sky. 'How dare these insolent fools trespass upon my lands.' He thought as a deep growl escaped his throat as he unsheathed Tokijin and stood waiting for the bastards to appear.
Within minutes the small clearing was swarming with at least a dozen low life bird demons. 'These birds have very similar features to the buzzards that roam the forest.' Thought Rin as she watched one of them swoop down closer to her and Lord Sesshomaru.
"We have come for the girl." Said the biggest and ugliest of the bunch.
"Like hell you have!" Screamed Rin as she charged and slew the closest bird demon in her eyesight.
"You impudent wench! How dare you kill one of my brothers! You will die for this!" The leader screamed as he signaled to attack.
Soon birds were swarming everywhere and Rin was doing her best to kill every damn one of them. She saw Lord Sesshomaru standing a couple of feet away defeating them with ease. "Lord Sesshomaru look out!" She screamed as she saw a jet of poison fly out of the bird demons mouth that was closing in fast behind him.
Sesshomaru turned around and quickly dispatched of the pathetic demon. He looked over at Rin just in time to see the master bird demon sink its claws into her shoulders and begin to lift her from the ground. He felt his heart skip a beat as he realized that she was in immediate danger. "Vermin." He hissed as he leapt from the ground and soared towards the disgusting bird. He quickly sliced the demon in half catching Rin in his arms. He landed back on the ground and sat her down next to his feet. Sesshomaru swung Tokijin letting off a giant wave of blue light incinerating all the remaining demons at once.
"Are you injured?" He asked as he sheathed Tokijin and squatted down beside her.
" My shoulders are burning like hell my lord." She said as she winced in pain.
"Let us return to the castle so I can assess your injures." He said as he picked her up and started walking towards the grounds.
Rin began to feel dizzy as she wrapped her arms around Lord Sesshomaru's neck. 'I can't believe that he is carrying me.' She thought as she rested her head against his shoulder. ' I guess he cares for me more than he lets on.'
I hope everyone is enjoying the story! The next chapter will contain an unexpected twist! I have really felt like writing lately, hence the four chapters in four days! I already have some great ideas in mind for chapter 5! Please review and let me know what you think of the story so far! Until next time...