*A/N - Found some time this weekend to get this done a lot sooner than expected. As always, thanks for reading and reviewing! I love hearing from you guys. Going to focus on getting Chapter 9 done by the weekend. For now, hope you enjoy Chapter 8!

Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. Just my own.

Warnings: Language, violence, gore *


Chapter 8 – Facing Demons

"So if you don't mind me asking, how did you end up with a powerful demon lord?" It was obvious Haruto had been fighting his desire to ask that question for the last hour or so. They were trudging through some fairly deep snow at this point. Rin kept up exceptionally well, to the point Haruto was struggling to keep up.

"I met him outside my village when I was a little girl. He saved my life." She replied with a warm smile. It was a smile that could melt even the deepest snow and the coldest ice.

"What about your family? And the villagers?" Haruto insisted almost in shock.

"My family was murdered by bandits when I was very young. The villagers were killed by wolves, though whether they were alive or dead I still would have left with him. They were cruel people. For a long time I trusted demons more than I trusted people." Rin admitted, her bright grin fading into a small, sad smile.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Rin." Haruto said quietly. "There are good people out there."

"I know." She gently brushed her hand against his arm reassuringly. "I've found many good people as I grew up. I lived in a human village for my adolescent years. Though I truly only dreamed of traveling with Lord Sesshomaru again, my time in the village was good."

"You enjoy living such a dangerous life?" He whispered the words painfully. Rin scrunched her brow in confusion.

"It's not dangerous, not with Lord Sesshomaru. He protects me." Rin argued, not realizing right away how foolish that sounded.

"It seems to me that you protect yourself and others more than he protects you."

"He protects me if I need him to. Obviously I didn't need him to." She snapped.

"Well where is he now?"

"You don't know the story so you couldn't possibly understand." Rin's bright face dampened into a distraught frown. He wouldn't understand. He couldn't. Lord Sesshomaru had too much on his plate. She couldn't possible expect him to be there at all times. But if he can't be around to protect me than I have to be able to protect myself. I must get stronger. I must turn into a demon.

"I didn't mean to upset you, Miss Rin. I just find it strange. Don't you ever just think about settling down with someone? Don't you wish to marry and have children and have a life?"

"I have a life, Haruto, and it's with Lord Sesshomaru. I do not wish to speak of this any longer." She increased her pace to get away from Haruto's never ending questions, pulling ahead a few paces. She lowered her head so that her hair hid her sullen face. Of course she thought about children. She thought about settling down and enjoying a quiet life, but in her dreams that life was always with Lord Sesshomaru. What if that life wasn't possible? What if she did belong in a human village, living a human life?

No! I will succeed in this ritual and I'll become a half demon. Then everything will be ok.


Hideki watched the exchange between the two humans as he traveled from tree branch to tree branch silently. Sneaking out of that damnable temple was easy. Causing a little chaos between his sister and brother had caught the attention of everyone there and allowed for him to slip out the back window. Tracking the woman and her escort was even easier. Their scents mingled together in the air and the foot tracks they left in the snow made it easy for even the dullest of animals to follow.

The woman went from her normal cheery self to absolutely miserable in the span of a few questions. It made Hideki overwhelmingly curious. It was obvious that demons weren't the only ones to question her odd relationship with his father. The humans disagreed with it as well. The amount of pressure she must have felt from both sides was sure to be crushing her. Why did she stay when everyone around her disagreed with this union? Did she truly love his father so deeply that she disregarded everyone around her?

Hideki sneered at his train of thought. He felt an emotion prickle at the back of his neck causing his temper to flare. He could only compare it to something similar to admiration. The woman was an outcast, much like he was in his own family, yet she continued fighting for what she wanted and for what she believed in. Hideki cringed as the thoughts flashed in his mind briefly. She truly was strong.

"Bah!" He spat while pausing on one of the branches. She's a despicable being. She murdered Mother, she corrupted Father, and she's ruining everything… He continued moving from branch to branch, keeping up with the pair.

They traveled for hours up the slow rising slope. Just as the sun began creeping down the mountain line, they reached the base of the Immovable Pass. A very thin valley was carved out between the two mountains. The dangerous trek would eventually lead to the icy sea up north, but that is not where they were headed today.

Hideki stared at the near ninety degree angled cliff that the two had stopped in front of. The human man had taken out some metal looking spikes and some rope, tying the two of them together. For some reason this bothered Hideki very much. A low growl erupted from deep within his chest as he watched the man delicately wrap the rope around the woman's waste, his hands brushing along her clothing as he did so. He strained to hear what they were saying.

"Sorry, Miss Rin. I just want to make sure it's secure, just in case you slip, I'll be able to hold you up. The spikes will help us climb. Once we reach the top of this cliff, there is a fairly steep path that we can take to the top." The man said as he adjusted the rope around her.

"It's ok Haruto." She reassured.

"Put these on your feet. They are wooden spikes. They will help you grip the icy ledges." He pulled some weird slip on shoes for her. The bottoms had rows of sharp little points.

After a few more moments of preparation, the two were making the climb up the side of the cliff. Hideki watched for a moment or two before he went to find his own way up.


Rin smashed her foot into the icy ledge, feeling the spikes wedge into the solid mass quite nicely. She then tested it by putting a bit of weight into it. When it held, she pushed the rest of her weight against it and lifted her foot, grabbing onto a rocky piece jutting out from the side above her. She had climbed her fair share of random objects, but nothing covered in a layer of ice.

Step by careful step she scaled the cliff side. Just as she was getting the hang of it, she put a little too much weight on a loose piece of ice. She released a startled gasp as she held onto the rock beneath her hand for dear life. Haruto was right below her, scaling up the mountain as fast as he could to help her.

"Here, Rin." He said hastily as he grabbed her flailing leg and placed it against a very small ledge of rock. It was extremely thin, but at least it was enough for Rin to steady herself.

"Thanks." She breathed. She heard a clanging noise beneath her. Too afraid to look down, she simply stood frozen against the wall awaiting Haruto's lead. Soon she felt his gloved fingers against her leg once more, guiding it to the metal stake he forced into the wall. She was thankful for the sturdy footstep and then continued up the side.

After an hour or so of careful climbing, Rin had reached the top of the cliff. She peeked out over the top, checking for any immediate dangers, and then heaved herself over the ledge. She sat in a heap as she looked out over the distant horizon. It certainly was beautiful. Snow covered trees were bathed in the rising moon light. The snow reflected the light in bright waves, making everything as visible as if it were daylight. She could see for miles all around, her eyes locking onto the castle, now sitting eerily quiet after the destructive invasion.

Haruto's hand appeared suddenly and Rin took it, assisting in pulling him onto the ledge. He collapsed next to her, streams of frozen breath floating in the air as he heaved in and out. "You ok?" He asked with a smirk.

Rin nodded and then smiled. "That's the first time I ever scaled a snow covered cliff. I should have brought Ah-Un. He could have flown us up here." She giggled.

"Who's Ah-Uh?"

"Oh he's a friend." Rin replied sheepishly.

"Another demon I presume?"

Rin nodded, tearing her eyes away from him. She hated feeling like this. She hated feeling ashamed of having closeness with demons. It seemed she could only ever have one or the other and never both. Why did demons and humans have to hate each other?

"Rin." He whispered her name while cupping her cheek with a gloved hand. The snow on his glove quickly melted away against her burning flesh. "I just very much wish I could show you the good in people. Demons are…different. Someone as lovely and caring as you shouldn't have to suffer so."

Rin ripped her face away from his touch. "I am not suffering. I am happy. I am cared for. And I am loved. Demons are not these evil heartless creatures you make them out to be!" She scolded.

"My experiences with demons are very different from yours then." He whispered harshly. "Come on, we are almost there." He stood on his feet and reached out his hand towards Rin. She hesitated only a moment before taking it and then following him up the ledge.

It was another hour or so of hiking before they reached the peak. The air was thin up this high and Rin struggled with each chilling breath. Her breathing completely stopped, however, when she laid eyes on the beautiful white bird sitting perched on a lone stone in the center of the clearing.

"There it is." She whispered.

"Rin?" Haruto's brow scrunched in confusion as she began making slow steps towards the creature. It crowed while twisting its head from side to side, gauging the threat of the approaching woman. Each step she took, the crow bounced nervously, cawing at the intruder. She was a few mere steps from it when she began reaching towards it, its beautiful white feathers blowing slightly in the wind. Its beady black eyes gazed at her in wonder.

And then, like a sudden stream of lightening out of nowhere, the bird took off in a flurry of wispy feathers. Rin's eyes widened in shock as for just a single moment she caught the absolute terror in the eyes of the bird and when it finally moved from her view, the source of its fear was revealed.

"Goro?" Rin backpedaled immediately as a proudly smirking general stood behind the stone opposite of Rin.

"What a coincidence I should run into you here, my Lady." His smile was so malevolent. She could read his intentions from a mile away. "What a wonderful place for you to have a terrible accident."

"You wouldn't dare." She growled forcefully while unsheathing her swords. "Lord Sesshomaru would kill you in an instant."

"Lord Sesshomaru would only know what he'd see right in front of his eyes." Goro pulled one of the white crow feathers from his pocket and showed it to Rin with a teasing flick of the wrist. "He would see his precious human lying at the bottom of the cliff with a pretty little feather clinging in her lifeless hand. All because she wanted to be a demon."

Rin frowned as she continued to back away. Haruto's brow was drawn with worry as he listened to the dog demon in front of him. "Even as a disgusting half breed, you still would not be good enough for Lord Sesshomaru." He spat. "I'm sick of you human filth corrupting my Lords. You weaken them with your pathetic nature and despicable existence. I will end you."

"Haruto, run! Go now!" Rin barely got the words out before Goro was upon her. She jumped out of the way, flying to the snow. She focused her energy into the swords, feeling the buzzing sensation of lightening jump across her already worn flesh and onto the metal blade. She pointed it at him, willing the green lightening to strike him down. Goro grinned wide as he held up his hand, the white feather centering his palm. The energy was absorbed and then dissipated around him.

He laughed maniacally as he made slow steps towards Rin. "I know all your tricks, little girl. You can't stop me this time."

"Leave her alone!" Haruto shouted as he charged Goro with one of the spikes he was using to climb with. The spike sunk into Goro's flesh behind his shoulder. He turned slowly to face the human, his grin only widening as he pulled the spike of metal from his shoulder blade.

"Pathetic." He whipped his hand in one quick movement, sending Haruto back several feet and knocking him unconscious.

"Haruto!" Rin cried as Goro turned his attention back to her. He slowly made his approach, as Rin crawled backwards in the snow, reaching the face of a rock and pinning her back to it. Goro reached down and wrapped a clawed hand around her throat, lifting her up into the air. She grabbed at his arm, slashing and clawing in desperation as he slowly tightened his grasp.

"What is it about you that he finds so captivating anyway?" He stared at those round chocolate eyes that were quickly dulling with the lack of oxygen. Her lips, already blue, were turning a terrible white. He moved his head right against hers, their lips nearly meeting. "There is nothing special about you." And just as he was about to drag her to the cliff side and toss her over, a sharp burning pain assaulted his back and neck. He cried out as he dropped her to the snowy ground. She coughed and sputtered, trying to regain her composure. She looked up and saw little Hideki clinging to Goro's back, slashing at him with his poison claws and biting at his stab wound.

"Get off of me you little brat!" He shouted as he reached back and grabbed a hold of his hair, wrenching him over his head and flinging him into the stone.

"You'll pay for hurting her." He sneered.

"You are just like your father. Another filthy human lover." Goro snarled the words, his clawed hand acting out of pure anger and instinct to strike the young pup right in the heart. His hand hit flesh much sooner than expected, though. His eyes widened in shock first, but then in pure joy as he saw his fingers knuckle deep into the woman's stomach.


"No. No! No, damn it, you aren't supposed to save me!" Hideki shouted as he watched Rin fall in a crumpled heap on the ground. Her eyes were wide with shock as her life force poured from her wound.

Goro grinned wildly at the scene as he lapped at the blood on his hand. "She is certainly tasty. Now to finish the job." He raised his claw again, aiming it for Hideki. Hideki glared defiantly as he held his flat palm over the woman's injury. She desperately made little mewling sounds, begging him to run, but he would not. He would not run from this despicable creature named Goro.

Silence followed. The wind halted, the creatures were quiet, and everything around him seemed to stop. Hideki could see the dark shadow moving along in the snow, creeping up to Goro's feet. As soon as it reached him, the darkness swirled up into a cloud, slicing along Goro's skin. He jumped away in panic, blood seeping from the fresh wounds. The shadow followed, chasing Goro towards the ledge.

"What the fuck is that thing!?" He growled. He swiped his claw at it, but only managed to cause more injuries to his skin. "This isn't over pup. I'll be back for you next." And with that he was gone.

The shadow moved back towards Hideki, this time taking shape into a creature. It solidified into a dark mass, its back slouching and its limbs at an impossible length. Its face began to form with white eyes and the formation of lips and a nose. Hideki watched as it stood in front of him and that familiar saying popped up in his head. "'I am the wind that blows, the tree that grows, the flame that burns, the river that churns; I am the sun that is bright and the dark that is fright,'" His voice was ragged and tired, but the creature in front of him straightened and then his lips upturned slightly.

"For I am the Shadow and the world is my sight." The creature finished the saying. Its voice was low and vibrated the air as it traveled. The words hung in an echo and it was the strangest sensation Hideki had ever felt. "What brings you to me, young one?"

"I need to save the woman first." Hideki felt panicked as Rin had fallen unconscious. He had no idea how much blood she could lose, but he knew that humans were extremely fragile. The shadow approached and gently picked Rin up, carrying her towards a cave at the far end of the clearing. Hideki then looked to where the unconscious male still lay. He scoffed angrily before relenting. He trotted over and grabbed the man's arms, dragging him through the snow to follow the shadow demon.

The cave was actually quite homey with a warm fire blazing in a center pit, several pieces of furniture organized neatly about, and a warm bed where he placed the woman. Hideki plopped the human down against the wall carelessly and then quickly moved to Rin's side. His frenzied gaze moved between her face and the shadow creature working to repair her injury. Her skin had gone pale and her breathing was shallow.

Hideki was in pure panic. He replayed the images in his head. When he saw Goro's hand wrapped around Rin's throat, he fell into an absolute rage. He had no idea what came over him, but the need to protect this woman from that despicable general overwhelmed all of his senses. Then she did the unthinkable. She saved him. She actually saved him. Not only did she save him, she nearly lost her life for him. She could still lose her life.

Hideki dropped his head against the side of the bedding, near where her head rested and growled. How could this woman show him such loyalty? How could she actually put her fragile life on the line for him? He hated her! She knew that! Was she just trying to make up for killing his mother?

"It will be alright, young one. She will live and then you can discuss all these motives with her. Though the wind tells me she was merely trying to protect you because she didn't want to see you hurt." The shadowy figure spoke as if Hideki had said his thoughts aloud. He looked up at him, his face twisted in a mixture of despair, confusion, and anger.

"I need you to summon my father." He replied in a quivering tone.

"I can do that, just after I finish fusing her skin back together…there! Now here is a paste. Rub it on her wound, which should help complete the healing process." Shadow handed him a wooden bowl with a green pasty substance in it. Hideki sniffed it, scrunching his nose in disgust, but did as he was told and spread it gently on the woman's injury. Her skin was so soft and fragile. It was a wonder she survived at all.

"I will go and spread the word. Remain here and tend to the injured in the meantime." Shadow commanded as he made a slow trek out of the cave. His limbs moved at an agonizing pace, but he slipped into his shadowy form once again and his speed increased to a blurring pace.

Hideki didn't respond. He couldn't. He just remained in his position, staring at Rin's delicate features. Her breathing was slightly less labored and the color of her skin was slowly returning. He pulled the blanket delicately up her trembling form and then slunk down against the wall, pressing his forehead to his knees and doing everything he could to keep down these awful foreign emotions he was feeling.


Empty. All these never ending caverns were empty. The only signs of life were these ridiculous traps that sprung up every once in awhile. This was a mistake. He should have stayed at the castle. "Lord Sesshomaru?" Kenchi whispered while looking around the cave. "Do you hear that?"

Sesshomaru grunted, affirming that he did hear it. It was a rumbling from the rock. It sent vibrations running up the soles of his feet and up his spine to lift the very hairs at the back of his neck. It was a warning. "We are leaving." He commanded as he turned on his heels.

"B-but Lord Sesshomaru! We are so close!" One of his warriors protested.

"Yes, they must be down here, my Lord." Another joined in the protest.

In one swift motion, Sesshomaru cut the two protesting demons down. The others looked on, some in shock, and some in curiosity. "There is no mercy for traitors." He growled.

"Traitors?" Kenchi asked as he looked at the remains of the two demons. Then he paused. A fog, one he didn't realize had settled over his senses, lifted. Then the two that were once his comrades morphed into odd purple creatures with wide crimson eyes and toothless mouths. "Mimic demons…" Kenchi growled.

Sesshomaru snarled in absolute rage. That rage quickly turned to panic when his senses picked up on a waning life force in the distance. Rin…

As fast as he'd ever moved in his life, Sesshomaru rushed through the caverns back the way they came. If he were lucky he'd reach her by morning…


"What a disgusting creature Goro is." She was sitting cross legged in front of Rin. "How dare he try and harm my child." Rin sat patiently while listening to Kimiko's rant. She was a seething ball of anger and frustration that was easy to see. Rin was dying to point out the fact that Kimiko had harmed her children plenty of times, but she thought better of it at that moment. "He very nearly killed you."

Rin snorted. "I thought you'd be happy about that."

"Then I'd no longer be able to torture you in your sleep." She smirked from her position in front of Rin. "And I'd also truly be gone for good. At least this way, I can still see them even if it's from your eyes."

"What will you do when they remove my bindings?" Rin asked intuitively. She knew Kimiko's time was limited, so truly why would it matter if it ended now or three weeks from now?

"You're quite an intelligent creature." She relented. "Traversing your mind has taught me a few things about you. I feel you are an honorable being that does not deserve death, at least not at the hands of Goro. Though you should know, I find it disgusting that you were actually distraught by my death. I tried to kill you, baka, yet you felt misery from protecting yourself."

"Taking a life is never easy, especially one as important as yours."

She snorted a laugh. "Lord Sesshomaru measures everything in power as many demons do. If you are not strong enough to protect yourself or to see through a challenge, then you are not worthy of him. I challenged you to die and you defeated me. That makes me unworthy in his eyes. That and we hated each other." The explanation fell from her lips, one that Rin did not ask for but perhaps always wanted.

"So you lied about him loving you?"

"Are you really surprised? We are not all honorable creatures like you." She rolled her eyes. "I would have killed him eventually to take his kingdom if he wasn't always gone and his precious warriors weren't always watching me like a hawk."

"If you were going to kill him anyway, then why kill me first?"

"Because I was afraid he'd find a way to void the contract to be with you and I'd lose everything. You were a threat to my kingdom so I felt I needed to kill you first, then allow him to finish his conquest of the lands. Then I would finish him off and take over everything! Of course I didn't get that far. Things like this happen when one becomes too greedy."

Rin barely heard what she was saying. She was caught in a trance, staring at the black floor in front of her, thinking on one of Kimiko's statements. "What is it you're thinking about, little Rin? Don't make me go digging around that head of yours to find out."

Rin raised her eyes to meet Kimiko's. "If Lord Sesshomaru measures everything in power than why is he so determined to take mine away?"

Kimiko's smirk fell slightly into a sad looking smile. It was one Rin was well versed in. "I could tell you it's because he views you as an object of his power, of his pride, but that would be another lie wouldn't it? No it's not that at all, but I'm not one to spoil anything. He needs to be the one to tell you why and he should have the damn decency to as well. All I can say for sure, is it's because you're different." She stood up, raising her eyes to look out into the distance. "You have a sparse amount of time to think about it. Soon you will have to decide. Regardless of what you decide, just know that I am glad it was you that replaced me and not some other wretched demon broad."

She turned and started walking away, only pausing when a squeaking noise burst from Rin's throat. She smirked while turning her head just enough for Rin to get a side glance of her. "We are all flawed creatures one way or another, little Rin. No matter how powerful, how intimidating, how vicious, or how kind a creature is, they are always with fault. You can try and change who you are time and time again, and this fact never changes. This fact is the only defense I have against my regret. I do not wish to deal in 'what-ifs', but spending so many mindless hours in your head produces a limitless amount."

Rin just watched her as she seemingly rambled. Why was she telling her these things? "So many things could have been done differently. I could have taking so many different paths. Would the outcome be the same?" She whispered the question painfully.

"Bah, spending too much time in a human's head does funny things to a demon. Your emotions are intoxicating. I will be glad when this whole nonsense is over and I can make my journey to the afterlife." She focused forward again, moving at a leisurely pace in the darkness. "He's come for you." This time Rin made no move to stop her. Her mind was in a whirlwind of questions and indecision as she felt her soul being pulled out of the haze.


"You should sleep, little one." The Shadow's raspy voice suggested from his seat at the table. Hideki had pressed his back against the wall nearest to the woman and hadn't moved from that spot for the four or five hours they had been there. Shadow had checked over the human male, who was still unconscious but well enough. Goro had knocked the human's head hard against a rock when he backhanded him. It was a wonder the man still had his teeth.

"I am not tired." Hideki mentioned idly as he spun the white feather he took from Goro in the scuffle, between his thumb and forefinger. He stifled a yawn as his aching body begged for rest.

"I promise, young one, that I am no threat to you." The creature made a gesture that Hideki could only compare to a smirk.

Hideki ignored the creature, continuing to observe the feather thoughtfully. This is what she wanted so badly. This was what she needed to make her transformation. This was going to be what cast her out of his life for good. Baka…

He sneered at the feather while placing it safely in his pocket. His father would not suspect him to carry such an object. A war was brewing inside himself. He was trying so hard to bury this feeling she was evoking. It was like an obsessive whirlwind, a desire to protect this woman for his father, a desire to keep her as she was. This feeling was infuriating. She was garbage. While he could not truly condemn her for being a murderer, as his mother would have done the same, she was still an enemy. She was turning his father into a pathetic excuse of his former self. She was a threat to him and his family.

He grimaced to himself once again. How pathetic he sounded, making excuses to hate this human when it should come naturally. They were despicable creatures undeserving of even the slightest bit of his attention. Why was he struggling so much to hate her? Was it because she saved him?

"There is quite a conflict showing on your features, young Hideki. What has you so troubled?" the Shadow attempted again.

"Nothing that concerns you." He spat.

Shadow laughed quietly to himself as he continued whatever work he was doing at the table. "Pure hearts are very hard to resist. You'll understand one day." He chuckled. Hideki merely shot him a menacing glance before a new energy caught his attention. It formed at the mouth of the cave, blocking the moonlight from entering. Hideki sighed in relief as his eyes lay on the man he was waiting for. "Father."