Chapter 8:
Life is just one damned thing after another
-Elbert Hubbard
Later That day, Rin, Aika and Kirimi swam in the large pond, the pond was far, far away from the castle and surrounded with high rocks and some trees. They were still inside the barrier, the castle grounds were quite large. It was 30 acres as Lord Sesshoumaru recalled it. Kirimi was enjoying herself in the pond while Rin and Aika sat near the little water fall.
"Will I be going to that banquet, Aika?" asked Rin
"Maybe, but I don't know if the eastern nobles would want a human in their presence" replied the servant
"Oh, it's okay if I don't go" smiled Rin
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Well, I respect other people's wishes"
"And yet you had a fit in front of Lord Sesshoumaru"
Rin was stunned at Aika's words "Well, if it's something I don't believe in or something unfair"
Rin pouted and sank into the water, only the area above her nose wasn't cover in water.
Aika laughed "Well, Maybe that is true, you're really just when it comes to decisions"
Rin looked at her, Aika gave her a side glance and laughed. Rin didn't understand the joke to it but she let it go. Rin dove in the water. Letting her thoughts manipulate her. Why is Lord Sesshoumaru having some guests over at this time of year, there is nothing to celebrate. What is the occasion? Is it a meeting?. Rin shot up, gasping for air. She looked up at the sky, the sun was out and there were no clouds in the sky. There was no lesson's today. It was Rin's day to relax.
Rin looked around "Where's Kirimi?"
Aika awoke from her gaze at the trees and shrugged "isn't she swimming with us?"
"Kirimi!" called Rin, "Kirimi!"
Rin got out of the water, she put her blue and red kimono back on, along with her barrette and dagger. She called Kirimi's name, still no answer. Aika quickly ran out and put her flowery kimono back on, she was squeezing the water out of her hair. Rin was doing the same thing. Rin kept calling for Kirimi, Aika soon joined too. They were in the forest, heading away from the pond and castle.
Rin came out the trees, into a small clearing. Rin was speechless. Someone was there, crouching to pet Kirimi. She didn't know who but he looked familiar. He looked at Rin and got up. He had two blades crossed behind his back. He step closer to Rin, She attempted to take a step back but Kirimi ran towards her, panting. She jumped onto Rin's shoulder and gave her a lick on the cheek.
"Oh There you are Kirimi" exclaimed Aika, "What is it Rin?" Aika followed her gaze to the young man, Aika blinked "Excuse me, who are you? And How did you get in the barrier?"
The young man was dazzling, he had green eyes but his left eye was scarred. His hair was short and was orange with blank streaks. He wore a black and orange striped fur fest, his voice was kind and gentle like "My name is Toshiaki, leader of the tiger demon tribe, i'm here to make an Agreement with Lord Sesshoumaru"
"I see" replied Aika, she looked at Rin "Rin, are you well?"
Rin had definitely seen him before, that scar on his left eye is really familiar to her. She shook her head and smiled at him "I'm sorry," she said "My name is Rin, and this is Aika"
Toshiaki walked towards Rin, he stopped and bow, grabbing her hand and kissing it "Pleased to meet you, Miss Rin"
Rin can feel her face warm up. She cleared her throat and smiled.
Sesshoumaru sat on a sakura tree branch, and attempted relaxed his mind, that kiss Rin had given him earlier that day. He can never stop thinking about it. Not for a second. Can it be that Sesshoumaru has fallen in love with a Human? Rin's words echoed in his head "Weakness?? Love is a powerful emotion, with it you are strong not weak..." Sesshoumaru sighed and looked up. Love? A Strength? he pondered. He remembered the times he rescued Rin from various situations. The first time was from the wolves. The second was Naraku, he had Kohaku kidnap her and tried to hold her as a hostage and kill her. The third Time was falling to her death, while trying to find a cure for Jaken. There were some other times when Rin got into trouble and Sesshoumaru had to save her.
Then he remembered what his half brother Inuyasha said while fighting off Sounga, the sword of hell, his father's sword "When someone has something to protect, his power grows stronger..." the word stronger echoed in Sesshoumaru's head, he has noticed his power grow when protecting Jaken and Rin. Father,.
The wind blew into Sesshoumaru's face, there was a scent in the air. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, This scent, it can't be. Sesshoumaru Got up and sniffed the air. "It can't be" Sesshoumaru heard a startling scream "Rin!" he yelled. He jumped off the tree and ran towards her, she wasn't that far away, he can smell her. He saw her servant Aika, laying on the ground he stopped running, there was blood "Aika, where is Rin?" he saw Rin's dagger lying beside Aika.
Aika got up, painfully "Taken from a tiger demon named Toshiaki! Hurry M'Lord!"
Sesshoumaru didn't hesitate, Aika's wounds were not bad, they can still heal. He ran towards Rin scent, he can hear her scream his name, and another voice "He won't Come! You just a mere Human!"
"Lord Sesshoumaru HELP ME!"
Sesshoumaru caught up to the tiger demon, he was carrying Rin on his shoulder. They were outside the barrier, he was taking her away. Sesshoumaru's Nails glowed green.
"I will go get Lord Sesshoumaru for you, Lord Toshiaki" offered Aika, she turned to walk away
"Oh That won't be necessary" said the Tiger Demon
"Oh?" asked Rin "Why is that?"
"Because, I only came for one thing, it is not the land, or power nor gold" he fixed his eyes on Rin, and smiled coldly "It's You"
Rin gasped, "Aika Run, Now!"
"But Rin!"
"Go!"
Aika ran off, Toshiaki ran after her, he took out one of his blades, he sliced her waist, Rin screamed out her name, Aika fell to the ground. "I knew it! You are the tiger that attacked me over a month ago!"
"Yes, and this scar is the scar you gave me, it ruined my flawless face, but when I saw you, I knew I had to have you. But that dog demon came, nearly killed me"
"Well, i'm going to finished the job" threatened Rin, she took out her dagger.
Toshiaki laughed "That fish knife will not harm me," he ran towards her knocking the dagger out of her hand, he picked up Rin, Rin shrieked in hopes Sesshoumaru would come. Rin struggled to get out of his grasp, "Let go of ME!" she said.
"I don't think so," he ran towards the barrier. Rin kept screaming, soon they were out of the barrier. Toshiaki stopped, Rin stopped screaming Lord Sesshoumaru's name. There was a whimper, Kirimi was in front of Toshiaki. "You done well..."
More barking, and growls "i don't care they saved your life, I don't need you anymore, you can go do what ever you wish"
Rin was heart broken, Kirimi? Was serving under Toshiaki? Rin was angry at Kirimi, "Kirimi, was your servant?"
Toshiaki laughed, "Yes, everything went according to my plan, except for the demon attack, that part was just luck"
Rin kept trying to get out of his grip "Let Me Go!"
Toshiaki kept running "Lord Sesshoumaru!" cried Rin
"He won't come! Your just a mere Human!"
Rin had deja vu, the demon in her dream, was him! Her dreams were trying to tell her something. "Lord Sesshoumaru HELP ME!"
There was a green whip, "Lord Sesshoumaru!" cried Rin,
Toshiaki turned and growled "You Cannot Have HER!" he yelled, he dodged every move Sesshoumaru was making, Sesshoumaru was being careful not to hurt Rin. They jumped at a high distance, Sesshoumaru slashed Toshiaki's arm, causing him to drop Rin, Sesshoumaru quickly flew to Rin, catching her. He landed Softly to the ground. Putting her down, "Run to the barrier, Now" he said "Yes M'Lord" she said. Rin ran towards the barrier.
Sesshoumaru looked up, Toshiaki was on a tree branch, grinning. "So, you definitely have feelings for that girl"
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes
"Too bad for you, you will never see her again" he took his other blade, forged in with the other, making a two bladed naginata.
"I will not be killed by the likes of you" growled Sesshoumaru, If only he had his tokijin, he would kill the tiger demon with one blow. Sesshoumaru's finger nails glowed green again, he waved his hand in small motions, making the poison whip spin around him. He slashed at Toshiaki, but he block it. Toshiaki jumped spinning his naginata, he came down in Sesshoumaru's direction, Toshiaki tried to slice him in half, but Sesshoumaru was too fast, Toshiaki's naginata hit the Earth, causing the area around the blade to break apart.
Sesshoumaru smiled and whipped the Tiger Demon. The poison whip strike the demon's back, the poison stung Toshiaki's back, Toshiaki jumped up, again spinning his naginata trying to cut Sesshoumaru in half. But Sesshoumaru kept blocking his attacks "Hm, pathetic" said Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru charged towards Toshiaki, his claws glowing green.
"Poison Claw!" he yelled, he clawed at Toshiaki's chest, leaving blood scatters everywhere. Toshiaki back spring away from Sesshoumaru, He was breathless, while Sesshoumaru didn't break a sweat. "I see you haven't recovered from out last battle, Toshiaki"
"Feh, I can still take you"
"So be it, it will be the last thing you'll ever do. You shall never lay a hand on my Rin again!"
Toshiaki got up, pointing one end of his weapon at Sesshoumaru, he sprinted towards Sesshoumaru, Then a large dog demon attack Toshiaki from the side, knocking him aside. The dog demon was almost as tall as Sesshoumaru and at least 7 feet long, but with a familiar scent. It was the small dog demon Rin found dead, he heard Rin calling her name a few times earlier today, "Kirimi?" Sesshoumaru said, Kirimi looked at him, baring her teeth, eyes glowed red. She pounced back beside Sesshoumaru, and howled at the Tiger Demon.
Toshiaki got up, his shoulder was wounded "You Traitor"
Sesshoumaru blinked, he looked at Kirimi, "You served this man?"
Kirimi whimpered, he knew she hates Toshiaki now, and she regretted serving him from the start. Her emotion told him the whole story "Well then, I will not kill you. For Rin has grown found of you. Even though you two just met today" Kirimi barked. Her head turned to Toshiaki who's eye glowed Red, Kirmi's fur looked like blue fire, she bared her teeth at the dog demon, her eyes glowing more blood red.
Kirimi Pounced at Toshiaki, Sesshoumaru had his poison whip ready. Kirimi clawed at Toshiaki. Toshiaki growled loudly and sliced Kirmi's back, she fefll to the ground, then Sesshoumaru whipped the Tiger demon, several times. After a few moments, Toshiaki collapsed on the ground. Sesshoumaru ran to him, his nail's glowing green, then a light surrounded Toshiaki, the light turned into a ball and flew away at a fast Rate. He walked to Kirimi, who was back to her normal size, she has fainted but that wound in back will take some time to heal.
Rin went through the barrier, she hoped Lord Sesshoumaru was okay, but how did Toshiaki get in the barrier? Then Rin thought of Aika, she got attacked. Rin ran fast towards the place where Aika was cut. "Oh Aika!" she hissed. She kept running, not looking back. Rin finally got to the clearing, Aika was there, to Rin's suprise, Kazuhiko-Sensei was there too. He was trying to bandage Aika up. She was saying she's fine its just a cut. But Kazuhiko-sensei kept trying to bandage her up.
"Aika, who did this?" he asked
Aika looked into the lion demon's dark yellowy orange eyes, she sighed "a tiger demon, he wanted Rin as his mate, she refuse, I went to go get help and he attacked"
Kazuhiko's eyes widened "What's the name of the Tiger Demon?"
"Toshiaki, why do you ask?"
"Aika," he buried his face in her orangy hair "thank gods you weren't killed,"
"Kazuhiko?"
The Lion demon looked at the lioness panther demon, his ear's pricked and he looked at towards the direction Rin was standing in. She stepped out, Aika tried to get up "Lady Ri-" Aika gave a painful gasp.
"Aika, Don't get up" she said, Rin rushed to her side.
Kazuhiko got up, and walked away "Wait!" yelled Rin, "Sensei, I will not tell a soul about your feelings towards Aika,"
Aika Blushed, Kazuhiko turned to face Rin, his Expression was hard and cold "Kazuhiko-sensei, I can tell you love her, I shall leave you two alone so you can talk to each other." She slowly lift Aika, who squinted at the pain on her side, and slowly dragged her to a tree. Rin whispered in her ear "Good Luck." Rin smiled at Aika, Rin turned and started to walk away from the two.
Rin soon found herself by the pond, She sat down. She was in a half sitting half laying down position. She let the sound of the water fall sooth her thoughts. She thought of Lord Sesshoumaru, was he okay? What's going to happen? Rin Sighed and looked up.
"Rin,"
Rin caught her breath, she turned Sesshoumaru was standing a in the forest holding something. "Are you well? Did that Pathetic excuse for a tiger demon hurt you?"
Rin shook her head, Sesshoumaru walked towards her. She looked untouched. Sesshoumaru sat beside her, he gracefully handed her the object he was holding.
"Kirimi?" Rin stroked the small dog demon's fur, she was breathing but her back was cover in blood. Rin crawled to the pond, she washed away some of the blood away, she needed a kaki leaf to stop the bleeding she looked around for a kaki tree. She found one, it was almost as tall as Rin, but it still had leaves. She plucked a few. Rin found two rocks one big and one small one, Sesshoumaru watched as Rin began smashing the leaves together, to form a green goopy substance. He watched closely as she placed it on Kirimi, Kirimi flinched. Rin took a leaf she save and placed it on Kirimi.
"I see you learned well from that old woman" commented Sesshoumaru
"Thank you, she taught me a lot about medicine and herbs. If you want I can show you some"
Sesshoumaru blinked, and raised an elegant eyebrow. "Maybe" he said.
