Chapter Seven

She didn't shout, nor did she flinch. Her body had anticipated the blow before he even touched her. She felt strong arms around her as they fell to the ground. Rin took a few seconds to marvel at his warmth. Sesshoumaru had never done more than hold her hand…up until she had traveled to the past…or had she? Rin didn't care, though. All that mattered to her at that very second was the powerful demon arms that were wrapped somewhat protectively about her upper body.

And then they landed.

Sesshoumaru released her so fast that she almost thought that it had all been some crazy dream. The thirteen year old shot up from the ground and twisted around wildly in search of him, but all she saw was a frazzled Jaken swinging his Staff of Two Heads and shouting his brains out at her. "RIN! Get down!" A burst of flames erupted from the staff and headed in her direction.

Rin did as she was told, but not before she felt something shoot past over her head, making her hair whip out all around her. "AH!" She dropped to the ground while grabbing for the wild stands. "Master Jaken! Help me!" Rin felt the heat of the flames lick the back of her neck and she winced in pain. "Lord Sesshoumaru!"

From the corner of her eye, Rin watched a huge ball of light fly past her over to Jaken. The imp demon shouted some more as Sesshoumaru appeared at his side and scared him. "My Lord! What should we do?"

"Stand down!" Sesshoumaru snarled while snatching the still fiery staff out of Jaken's grip with little effort. "Stay down, Rin. Don't move!"

Rin nodded, hoping that he saw it but didn't think he had time to notice. She lifted her head slightly as the flames died above her head, and she studied the great dog demon's icy features. His eyes were still crimson red, and his stance was menacing as he stood, legs parted slightly to steady himself, with poisoned claws bared and a hand only inches from his Bakusaiga. "My Lord?" What exactly is behind me? She could feel a new presence at her back and could feel its eyes watching her, but she was absolutely afraid to defy her Lord's command and try and have a look at it.

Deep, loud growls from behind made her shake uncontrollably as she watched Sesshoumaru's eyes.

The demon lord was eerily calm while gazing past Rin at a monstrous black bear demon that had stalked the young girl since she had wandered into the forest. The giant bear looked down at the girl with hungry violet eyes. Its massive height casted Rin in its whole shadow and was displaying its dropped jaw full of yellow razor sharp fangs. Its intentions were obvious from its overpowering scent.

Sesshoumaru prepared to pounce. "I will give you only one chance to leave. I suggest you take the hint before I kill you."

Rin dared to defy Sesshoumaru against her better judgment. The shaking thirteen year old couldn't contain her curiosity and turned her head to glance back at whatever it was that was breathing putrid and hot fumes at the back of her neck. Without thinking, she shrieked. "AH!" Before she knew it, the foreign demon had reached down and snatched her from her crouched position.

Sesshoumaru didn't hesitate. Before he dove for the two, he caught wind of the beast's only words. "So young, but so lovely…I must have you…!"

Rin squirmed in its unbreakable grip and shoved with every ounce of strength that she could muster. "STOP! RELEASE ME!"

The great dog demon's attack was swift. Rin felt the unmistakable stroke of Sesshoumaru's claws against the arms that bound her and she was soon freed to tumble to the ground.

Jaken shouted at her again. "COME OVER HERE AT ONCE, YOU FOOLISH GIRL!"

Rin didn't need to be told twice as she nearly flew over to the crazed imp demon. "Master Jaken!" She ducked behind him, not caring that she was at least now three times his size compared to when she was eight. Rin always felt protected by Jaken despite his small frame.

Jaken huffed angrily as he planted his feet firmly while he watched Sesshoumaru battle. "Without my staff, I can only stand guard for you for so long, Rin. Stay close to me."

Rin nodded to ensure Jaken that she understood and then she turned her attention to the battle scene that was playing out in front of them

Sesshoumaru leaped up into the trees as the bear demon rounded on him and took a swing. Missing its mark, it spun wildly in Rin and Jaken's refuge and started to stalk them with a malicious gleam in its eye. "Beautiful girl…must have…" Its bleeding arms outstretched at them as it inched closer and closer.

Rin whimpered in disgust. "Master Jaken, what is going on?" She asked rather loudly in the imp's sensitive ear.

Jaken started backing up, pushing the thirteen year old backward also. "Bears have just as much of a keen sense of smell as dogs do. You must have attracted him unintentionally when you came looking for us." The imp paused his movements and bent forward to snatch up the Staff of Two Heads that Sesshoumaru had discarded after he shot flames in Rin's direction on accident. "Vile beast!" He slammed the staff into the ground and another wave of flames erupted to blast in the bear's face.

Instead of backing off, the bear kept coming. In fact, the flames only seemed to make the bear that much angrier as it swung it's arms out to knock Jaken off his feet.

Jaken went flying, leaving Rin to cower in fear with her arms covering her head. "Ah! Lord Sesshoumaru!" The frightened teenager scanned the surrounding forest but saw nothing but trees, dirt and the bear demon that had taken advantage of the situation.

"Come with me!" The demon growled while he reached down to grab for her again.

Rin saw him coming and scrambled for safety while crawling on all fours until she managed to find Jaken, who was out cold in a small heap. "Master Jaken?" She grabbed for the collar of his robes and started shaking him as hard as she could. "Master Jaken, answer me!" The sound of twigs snapping and heavy feet stomping nearly startled her out of her skin as she leaped over the unconscious imp for protection. "This is defiantly not good." Rin stared wide eyed as the bear demon got closer, at which time Jaken decided to wake.

The dizzy imp lifted his head and placed a hand over his eyes to settle his brain. "What on earth?" He froze his thoughts to process the rumble beneath his body. "Why is the ground moving?" He removed his hand from his eyes and stared wide eyed as a giant black bear demon lowered its massive head down to look him eye to eye. Jaken's jaw dropped. "Uhhh…"

The bear roared.

Jaken and Rin scrambled, desperate to escape. The two didn't last long on their feet before a thick black arm swung out a second time and tripped them both. Rin went sailing in the air to the right, and Jaken to the left and both slammed into the ground at opposite ends of a clearing.

This time, Jaken stayed conscious. "RIN!" The imp moved quickly to right himself and dodged for his staff that was lying a few feet from him. I have to stop him before he gets to Rin! Lord Sesshoumaru would murder me if anything happened to her! Snatching the staff, Jaken planted his feet firmly and stood tall…well, as tall as his three feet would allow, and positioned the staff in the bear's direction.

The massive black bear roared at him again, but didn't keep his attention on him. Not caring if the small toad demon would strike at any moment, the bear demon whipped its head around and locked his violet eyes on the unconscious teenager. He sniffed deeply, mouth watering and took a few steps toward her.

"Touch her and you will DIE, you filthy beast!" Jaken shouted, allowing extra emphasis on the word die. To prove his point, he stopped the staff into the ground again and pointed at the still clueless bear. Jaken hit his mark. "HA!" He laughed triumphantly as the bear reared back and howled as his thick fur erupted in flames at his back.

Jaken stopped laughing the second the bear turned and ran for him. "AH!" Holding onto the Staff of Two Heads, the imp demon did the only thing he could think of that was right. Jaken planted his feet again and aimed his staff, ready to strike for a third time when the right moment came. He closed his eyes and hoped his calculations were correct. "Prepare for the flame of the Staff of Two Heads once again, you vile demon!"

The ground beneath Jaken's small feet moved as red hot fire erupted from the staff. The heat of it nearly singed the skin of his face, but he kept his eyes closed out of fear that what he might see may scare him to the point of abandonment.

"Fall back, Jaken!"

The imp knew that voice well. "Lord Sesshoumaru!" He called out happily and did what he was told. Jaken popped his eyes open and saw a beautiful sight.

Sesshoumaru exploded from within the tree tops and aimed his body at the wailing bear demon. Grabbing for Bakusaiga, he unsheathed it and slashed downward effortlessly into the spine of the flaming creature before him.

The bear was instantly obliterated and his remains were scattered into the surrounding area.

Not wasting any time, Sesshoumaru landed gracefully on the earth next to Rin and couched low on one knee and lifted her into his lap with one arm. Careful to avoid touching her with the blade of his sword, he returned it safely to its sheath and took his now free hand and hooked it beneath Rin's knees and hoisted her up with him as he stood back on his feet.

Jaken ran over to them and struggled to catch his breath. "That was absolutely astounding, my Lord!" He clutched at his chest as his lungs desperately craved more air. "Lord Sesshoumaru, what shall we do now?" He looked up into his lord's face and was almost frozen by the coldness that oozed out of Sesshoumaru's honey gold eyes as the demon lord studied the unconscious human in his arms.

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment while he scrutinized Rin's bloodied face. The young woman had suffered a slight gash near her left temple and was bleeding freely onto the shoulder part of her white kimono. "Where is Ah-Un?" Sesshoumaru's voice was full of venom.

Jaken nearly cowered from the icy tone in his lord's velvet voice. "I…um…I'm not sure, my Lord, but rest assured that I will find him immediately!" The small toad demon took off, leaving Sesshoumaru and Rin alone together for the first time since their meeting in Rin's hut not long before.

Author's Note: Here I am again with a new chapter! I hope you all have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it because I had a really hard time trying to figure out an animal to make into another demon with a good sense of smell. A bear just seemed like a good, intimidating fit.

Anyway, guess what everybody? I will be 24 years old on Sunday! Hopefully, I shall have a new chapter up for this story as well as chapter 26 for A Small Twist of Fate before then, or maybe even directly on my birthday!

Alright, well I am going to leave you with this lovely chapter, and please feel free to let me know what you think, if you'd like! I love hearing feedback, but I'm not a fanatic about it! Have a wonderful rest of your day guys!

Much love and appreciation,

OliviaAR