Disclaimer: Greetings all! I know it's been quite a long time ::bows head in utter shame:: but at last I have returned. I must of course give you the usual speech about how I do not own Inuyasha etc etc, which of course you know. What you DON'T know is that I have successfully acquired Sesshoumaru's DNA and will soon own an army of clone Sesshoumarus! Or just one or two for my own personal enjoyment. I am a selfish creature...
Rin was fascinated by the steam that curled off the tea sitting nearly untouched on the table in front of her. Vaguely, she realized that she would not be nearly so captivated if she weren't exhausted, but that didn't seem to matter so much as she watched the ethereal mist twist and twine through the air, folding over itself in the currents of a draft as it rose before fading away into nothing.
She knelt at a small table, dressed in a luxurious kimono that her hostess, Lady Airi, had graciously provided. Rin had brought no clothing save her traveling garments and her fighting gear, in her haste never thinking that the potential kidnappers of her children might offer her refreshments at any point. Analytically, Rin knew that the rich deep green of the kimono suited her, its beautiful and subtle patterns picked out with gold thread, but she couldn't really bring herself to care. She was weary and heartsore, frustrated and battling her rising panic as she found herself without direction and without a clue as to where her poor children might be.
A sudden shape passed before her eyes, and Rin barely managed to suppress a startled flinch as a servant passed carefully in front of her with a kettle, pouring tea into the barely touched cup to keep it fresh. Rin took a breath, even a flinch would have been disastrous. The cats who were their hosts were first and foremost predators, and though they were playing at the being civilized at the moment Rin could feel the tension that pooled barely restrained just beneath the surface.
Next to her, Arata crouched warily. His midnight fur was raised slightly, the inky black color seeming to swallow the light around him. His nine tails rippled restlessly at his back, the tips lashing back and forth.
Raising the cup to her nose to breathe in the subtle flavor of the tea, Rin glanced to her left to see Lady Airi reaching for her own cup, and as she lifted it to her lips Rin saw the razor sharp claws that she couldn't seem to keep completely retracted, a sign of her own agitation. Her other hand was hidden in the folds of her own kimono, a golden masterpiece that set off the flashing highlights in her tawny hair, but the gentle folds garment did nothing to hide the tenseness of the woman's shoulders. Glancing around the table, she saw the cat lord, Daiki, watching Sesshoumaru suspiciously out of the corner of his eyes, while her stoic mate simply sat, seemingly unconcerned. His arms were tucked into the sleeves of his kimono, but Rin could feel his power pulsing ever so slightly, ready to be used in an instant.
Without warning, the doors to the hall flew open and a lithe female cat swaggered in. Rin's eyes narrowed as she took in the creatures clothing- what little there was was stretched tight, displaying taut muscles that curved and swelled in a way that suddenly made Rin wish she could slap the smug look right off her face. Tiny plates of armor interlocked to cradle the females breasts lovingly in a thin band that left her shoulders and torso bared. A belt hung low on her hips, from which more plate swung to form an armored skirt, though the plates themselves were barely long enough to accord the creature any modicum of decency. What's the point of the armor if everything is exposed? thought Rin waspishly, silently imagining all the vital places a blade could strike unimpeded. The female swept her eyes admiringly over the cat lord before turning them to Sesshoumaru with great interest. She moved forward, the long steps rolling her hips perhaps a bit more than necessary as she eyed Rin's mate boldly.
Rin gritted her teeth, refusing to show any outward reaction, though she couldn't stop her gaze from flickering over to Sesshoumaru. She was quietly relieved to see that he did not seem overly impressed by the display. Beside her, Arata pressed closer to her leg.
"Chou," greeted Daiki, and the female turned to him with a casual bow.
"Sire," she responded, her voice a sensual purr. "What would you have of me?"
"Chou is my lieutenant, and an expert tracker. She will accompany us on our search," said Daiki to Sesshoumaru. The daiyoukai nodded his consent even as Rin took a deep breath to forbid it. She clamped her mouth shut, unwilling to openly contradict him, even as the decision sat like a stone in her stomach.
"We will leave as soon as you are ready," Daiku said to the Rin, and she and Airi rose from the table immediately. Rin followed as the lady led the way to her chambers so that Rin could change clothes once more. Arata paced behind her, a silent, dark sentinel.
Stepping behind an elaborate screen that stretched across a section of the room, Rin disrobed with more force than was completely necessary. Off to one side, Airi watched her with intelligent violet eyes, completely ignoring the barrier that was supposed to offer Rin some level of privacy.
"So territorial," the youkai observed, amused despite her worry. "She would not keep him for long. She gets bored easily."
Rin narrowed her eyes as her jealousy roared through her blood like fire. At her feet, Arata grazed past, a feather light touch, but she took no notice of it.
"She lays a single claw on him and I will rip it off," she snarled, startling a peal of laughter from the demoness.
"I can offer no guarantees," said Airi, drifting over to a table and examining the knick-knacks resting on top of it, obviously growing bored. "Cats seek that which will bring us pleasure, and will keep it so long as it amuses us. It is in our nature."
"Doesn't it bother you?" Rin asked incredulously. Airi turned to look at her curiously, absentmindedly playing with a shiny bauble that she had picked up from table.
"Why on earth would I be bothered?" she asked with a small smile. "He has his toys, I have mine, and when we want, we have each other. I am beautiful, I don't want for attention." She laughed a little. "Cat's don't generally mate for life. Not all dogs do either."
"Sesshoumaru and I have" Rin snapped. Airi simply shrugged.
"As you say," she said before turning back to her bauble.
Rin muttered under her breath as she finished pulling on her slayer uniform, hands skimming over her weapons lightly. She was so angry, still hurt and angry with Sesshoumaru for wanting to leave her behind, angry with Chou. As her fingers fluttered over the hilt of her sword, the metal felt cold beneath her fingertips, as if she were feverishly warm. Her anger pulsed in her blood and she lifted her hands to her head where she could feel an intense pressure building. Next to her, she felt Arata suddenly still, his acid green eyes narrowing. She closed her own eyes as the pressure continued to build, tingling throughout her body, flashing through her blood. Trying to ease the tension in her head, she gingerly massaged her temples, but it was no use. The pressure continued to grow until she began to sway, becoming dizzy.
A sharp pain shot through her foot, replacing the dull ache. Rin wrenched her foot back in shock from where Arata had dragged his claws down her flesh. As soon as she wrenched free, the bakeneko streaked out from behind the screen in a flash of darkness.
Airi peered over her shoulder at the commotion, but dismissed the cats behavior, seemingly unaware of the damage he has caused to Rin. Rin studied her leg. Long scratches showed on the flesh, and though they were painful, the cat had not drawn blood, which the other demons would smell. Rin had been more surprised than actually hurt. Thankful for small mercies, Rin glared after the cat as she stepped around the useless screen, feeling hurt and betrayed.
Following the lady back down the hall towards their mates, Rin glanced over her shoulder to see Arata slinking along behind her, his tails low and ears laid back against his head. His eerie acid green eyes were filled with worry as they watched her every move. Her anger slipped away, replaced by confusion. Something was clearly wrong with her little shadow. Rin tilted her head just the tiniest bit, and without hesitation Arata accepted the silent invitation, leaping effortlessly from the ground to her shoulder and arranging himself around her neck, a familiar presence that was at once comforting and cold, the duality of the spirit cat. She knew his darker side, the one that gloried in chaos and walked the line of death, but she also knew the loyalty of the bakeneko was unparalleled, and he lived his life with a determination she had never seen before. That both sides loved her completely, Rin had no doubt, just as she loved and accepted every aspect of him, so why had he attacked her?
In front of her, Lady Airi slip open the door and Rin blinked as the bright sunlight blinded her for a moment. Eyes adjusting, they tracked automatically towards her mate, who was looking down to where Chou was standing very close to him leaning, seductively against a tree. In her peripheral, Rin noted Lord Daiku standing not far off, and Ah-Uh grazing patiently nearby, ready to fly. She noticed, but her eyes were on Chou, who had clearly positioned herself just so against the tree, ensuring that the sunlight falling through the leaves would flash against her hair and cast teasing shadows across her body.
In a heartbeat Rin's rage returned, flooding through her so quickly she couldn't catch her breath for a moment. Her hands began to shake, and her vision narrowed until all she could see what the female youkai gazing up at her mate.
Through the tunnel vision, Rin could see every detail of the female, the tiny hairs that dusted her arm, the intricate links of her armor, like tiny scales on a snake. When the creature smiled up at her mate, she saw a tiny chip in one of her fangs, and an almost invisible scar just above one eyebrow. Below that, Rin could sense the blood that coursed through Chou, almost see the veins that spread just below her flesh, carrying life throughout her body. Rin's anger pulsed and, without her eyes, Rin could see Chou's heart, beating just a little faster in excitement as she contemplated the possibility of her next conquest. Rin watched the heart beat, her fury filling her, and suddenly saw a bright light deep in the creature's heart. Instinctively, angrily, Rin reached out toward the light.
Ten tiny pinpricks in on her collar bone broke the spell, enough physical sensation to startle her out of her stupor. A whisper of a voice in her ear, the sound like wind through dead branches.
"Mistress, you mustn't," Arata murmured in her ear.
His eyes bored into hers when she turned to look at him, pulling her into their strange green depths. "Cease this," he implored.
She blinked, feeling as if she were fighting her way out of a deep sleep, and Arata leaned in to butt his head gently against her jaw in relief. Rin focused on the feel of his glossy fur, surprisingly soft for such a dangerous little beast, glad that he had pulled her free from whatever had been happening. Glancing over at Lady Airi, she realized that what had seemed like an interminable amount of time to her had taken less than a breath before Arata pulled her back. Only a step behind the demon, Rin stepped away from the door, and Sesshoumaru turned towards her an instant later. She could see that he, too, was still angry about their fight, but when she went to his side and leaned against him subtly, she felt a tiny pressure as he leaned back, and it reassured her. She met Chou's eyes boldly.
"Need something?" Rin asked flatly, and with a tiny smirk the demoness peeled herself away from the tree and swaggered towards the cat lord, who was conversing quietly with Lady Airi.
"I may kill her before this is over," Rin breathed quietly, the sound barely enough to reach Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears. Rin felt more than heard him snort.
A moment later Daiku turned to announce that they would begin the search where his children had been taken, and with a cool nod Sesshoumaru followed him into the air, Rin vaulting in the saddle on the waiting Ah-Un trailing only a second behind.
Arata had slithered from her shoulders the second she mounted, and now crouched in his normal position tucked tightly against the inside of her leg. The wind tore at her as they flew, and as usual she placed one hand on Aratas side to help steady him. He cracked open one eye long enough to peer up at her before shutting it again against he wind whipping past. Rin longed to talk to him, ask him about what was going on with her, but the speed they were maintaining made it impossible. Determined to get him to talk at the first opportunity, she urged Ah-Uh to greater speeds, pacing the streak of light that was her husband.
After only a few moments' travel, the party dipped below the treetops, coming to rest in a small clearing.
Ah-Uh alighted nimbly between two trunks as the other demons landed and Rin carefully slid to the ground. Immediately, Daiku crouched down where a section of the ground had been torn, resting his claws carefully in the deep ruts that proved his children had struggled. Chou sidled up to Sesshoumaru, glancing at him coquettishly from beneath her lashes.
"Care to help me search?" she purred. Sesshoumaru did not acknowledge her, turning and disappearing into the trees as if she had not spoken. Chou pouted, glaring after him for a moment before sniffing and turning to storm in the opposite direction.
A somewhat grim smile on her face, Rin turned in a different direction, searching the ground and foliage for any clue. Search as she might, she could find nothing. Walking deeper into the wood, she turned and crouched, looking expectantly at the undergrowth. A moment later Arata slithered through, so smoothly that the leaves did not even rustle against his midnight fur. He sat a little ways away, his nine tails curled tightly around his feet and his haunting eyes watching Rin warily.
"Would you care to tell me what's going on?" she inquired quietly. Something was happening to her, and the bakeneko knew what it was.
"That is for you to say," Arata said quietly. "Why have you stopped controlling your powers, mistress?"
Rin looked at him, uncomprehending.
"I have never had any powers," she said, thinking the cat was addled. He twitched an ear at her, his tails flickering in annoyance.
"You have had power since the night the young lord and lady were born," said slowly, as if to a simple child. "When you died. Again."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Rin demanded, outraged. Arata flicked both ears forward, looking baffled.
"Why would I have to tell you about your own powers?" he hissed incredulously. When Rin just looked angry he narrowed his eyes at her. "Did you know you have ten fingers and toes?"
With a growl, Rin started towards him tripping on a tree root a second later.
"Don't hex me!" she snarled, furious.
"Don't blame me for your ignorance," he replied archly. Rin snarled at him again before reigning herself in sharply. She had better control of herself than this!
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, forcing the anger away from herself. Arata was right, it wasn't his responsibility to tell her anything, he was not obligated to do so. Rin too often forgot that her little friend, though he loved her, was still a cat, and would always act like one.
Anger under control, Rin opened her eyes to see that Arata too had relaxed his posture.
"I apologize," she said quietly, crouching and folding her arms around her knees. She rested her forehead wearily on one knee. "What should I do?"
Arata crept forward and brushed his tails gently against her hand. When she still didn't look at him he rested his front paws on her shin and stretched up to snuffle against her cheek, whiskers tickling against her. At last she glanced up at him, weariness written clearly on her face.
"If you were controlling it by instinct mistress, we will find out how to do it on purpose," Arata said, the encouraging words sounding strange whispered in his sinister voice. "I will help if I can."
"I don't know if I can deal with anything else," Rin murmured against his soft fur. "I just want my children back."
Without further comment, Arata hopped up onto her shoulder and she stood, headed back towards the others. Pushing her way through the leaves of a bush, Rin could hear her companions in the distance.
Daiku was pacing in agitation around the clearing.
"There should be something here! A track, a scent, something!" he snarled. Chou was peering at the ruts in the earth.
"There should be residual scent traces anywhere that the enemy touched," Chou muttered as she approached. Sesshoumaru had also returned, his gaze snapping to Rin as soon as she appeared.
The cool of the shadows vanished as she stepped into the sunlight. Breathing deeply, she lifted her head to the sky, allowing the warmth of the sun to sink into her and relax her muscles. Opening her eyes, she glanced up at the endless expanse of blue above her.
She froze, eyes widening, and Sesshoumaru turned his gaze up a second later, the same thought dawning on him at the same moment.
"There wouldn't be a scent marker if they never touched the ground," Rin said. "The children were all taken where there was a break in the trees."
"Someone flew in to take them?" asked Daiku. "Who?"
"The only other demons who knew my children would be vulnerable," Rin said coldly. Beside her, Sesshoumaru's eyes were the color of blood.
"The tengus."
A/N: Hmmm, the plot thickens! As always, comments sustain me as I ponder and puzzle my way through yet another chapter. Please tell me what you think! Comment, message, Morse Code, I care not, so long as I hear from all of you, my lovelies. In the mean time, I offer you much love and skittles.
~ShadowS