Last updated: 1/31/2016


When Sesshomaru landed, Rin immediately stepped away from him and turned her face away. Her bare feet burned on the cold stone of the outcropping where they stood. She surveyed the area, trying to identify where they had landed. Snow covered patches of ground between the trees, dirty and melting in the daytime. Very little green vegetation remained on the ground, and the trees bore few leaves.

The Western lord brushed past her without a word, and she turned to watch his retreating back. She saw that he moved towards the remnants of what must have been a rock slide, and from the unusual arrangement of the rubble, it seemed that some demon had used the rocks to build a shelter at some point in the past. The opening was just taller than she and twice her arm span. From her angle, she could not guess its depth.

She took a step after him then stopped abruptly. A situation like this had once been normal, she realized. She'd spent many nights huddled in a cave with her lord and Jaken, chatting endlessly in one-sided conversations and eating what she had gathered. It had been so easy then. She'd never needed to question her lord's motives or fear him. He'd protected her and made sure she was comfortable and happy. Things had been innocent and simple then. There had never been a problem between them, but now, as she watched him go, she could almost see the tension stretched out between them. He had once been her safety and comfort, but since his return from the war, she'd felt nothing but unease around him. His eyes were never entirely calm anymore, and his actions were unpredictable and strange.

She hugged herself in the cold and looked around again. The air seeped through the thin cotton of her clothes and made her toes numb. The light wind moved her hair across her cheeks and made them flush. The large trees that stretched over her cast sharp shadows over the rocks.

She worried for Katsuo. He'd been injured, and they'd still left him to fight the rebel troops alone. Rin knew he'd been a general for many years and was a very capable warrior, but with the emotions that she'd sensed from him lately, her confidence had begun to wane. She felt for him through her mark but could not locate the connection between them. Were they too far from one another for it to work? No one had ever explained the mark in detail to her, and now, these questions poured out of her mind without answer. The silence only heightened her worry.

A sudden explosion caused the sleeping forest to come alive. Screeching birds darted from their hiding spots to crash into new ones. Rodents ran panicked zigzags up the steep slope, and animal cries rose up all around her. Startled, Rin spun to face the direction of the sound and spotted black smoke seeping up into the sky from several miles away.

Realization hit her. Was it possible that they were in the mountains to the north of the palace? Why were they so close?

"Rin."

She turned at the sound of Sesshomaru's voice. He sat just inside the cave with his head leaned back to rest on the wall. Noda was laid out on the ground before him, near the opposite wall. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she crossed the distance with even steps. She had to trust that Sesshomaru knew what he was doing.

As she entered the cave, she felt Sesshomaru's eyes on her, and she was careful to keep her own eyes down. She knelt at Noda's side and pressed her hands to his forehead and neck to check his temperature.

Remembering their interaction just the day before, her skin prickled under Sesshomaru's gaze. She'd been extremely bold the last time they'd seen each other. Was he mad at her? She imagined that he had to be. She'd overstepped her bounds and made them both uncomfortable. Would he speak to her about it now that they were alone? Would he scold her? A part of her felt that being alone with him was inappropriate now, and unease settled deep in her stomach.

"Lord Sesshomaru, why are we here?" She kept her tone low.

He did not reply, and when she finally dared a glance up at him, he had a hand over his face, hiding his features. It was a motion she had never seen him do. It puzzled her, but when he did not move or acknowledge her question, her attention returned to Noda. She pulled aside his shirt collar to examine the wound there and was surprised to see that it was now just a pink mark, similar to a fresh scar. The healing abilities of demons still amazed her. Last night, they hadn't even known if he would make it, and now, he was nearly healed.

Another explosion shook the cave and fear raced through Rin. The attacks sounded close. They could not be far from the palace. She worried for Katsuo, Mai, and the other demons occupying the palace. Was the Eastern army winning the battle? She tried again to reach out to Katsuo through their mark, but still, there was no reply.

Needing to keep busy, she stood to exit the cave, trying to calm her racing heart. "I'm going to gather wood for a fire to keep Noda warm."

But before she could take a step, Sesshomaru seized her wrist. She bristled at the contact and turned back in protest, but stopped instantly at the sight of him. His face was covered in a light layer of perspiration, and his eyes were closed. He breathed deeply.

Panic swept through her. "Lord Sesshomaru, what's wrong?"

He swallowed but did not reply. "Lord Sesshomaru?"

Again, he was silent. Growing more concerned by the second, she sat back on her heals to survey his face and body. In an instant, she spotted the thin hilt protruding from his upper arm. Blood had saturated the surrounding cloth. After a moment, Katsuo's words came to mind, and she understood his behavior.

"This was poisoned," she whispered, reaching for the throwing knife, but Sesshomaru intercepted her with an unsteady hand and grabbed her wrist. She looked to his face for an explanation, and though his eyes were open now, his expression gave no indication of his mood.

"I will be fine," he said as he suddenly withdrew his hand. He pulled the dagger from his own arm and threw it away from him. It flew out of the cave and clattered away on the stone outcropping. Sesshomaru pressed his fingers to the wound to stop the bleeding, but his movements were slow and uneven. His head swayed just the slightest, and Rin returned her attention to him.

"Is this why we are still so close to the palace?" she questioned. He offered no answer.

Rin sat back on her legs, feeling useless. She looked down at her hands, still red from Katsuo's blood. It was so uncomfortable around him now. Her heart raced, and it made it worse knowing he could sense it. The chain around her neck felt heavy, and the charm was cold against her breast. She had the urge to fiddle with it but forced herself to remain still. The last thing she wanted was to draw his attention to it.

"Calm yourself, Rin."

His voice startled her, and she looked up quickly to find his golden eyes on her face, less than a foot above her. His expression was cool, resembling the one he normally wore, but after witnessing how quickly his eyes could change, she was still uneasy.

They stared at one another for a moment, each silently examining the other. Her heart seemed to beat in her throat, and she swallowed before looking away to take a careful breath. She thought to put distance between them, but a part of her, an old part of her, still found a strange comfort in his closeness. Since he'd left in a rage before the ceremony, it had crossed her mind more than once that perhaps she'd seen him for the last time. She had acted rashly that day when they'd been alone, and each time she thought it, she was overcome with embarrassment. To be suddenly alone with him now made her uneasy, and also, strangely relieved.

Mai claimed that Lord Sesshomaru had fled to avoid the pain of seeing her mated, but given his reaction to Rin's kiss, she could not have been right. It sounded ridiculous that Sesshomaru would ever feel that way.

Realizing that she thought of such things in his presence, her face suddenly flushed. She tried to calm herself before he sensed her shift in emotion again, but her mind spun with the last several days, and she was unable to stop herself.

"Lord Sesshomaru, why did you come back?"

The question was unplanned and came out in a harsh whisper. Embarrassed by her boldness and realizing that she did not truly want the answer, she lowered her face and blushed deeper. When had she become like this? She bordered insubordinate now. Her heart hammered, and she knew he could sense it.

She was surprised by his quick response. "Ah-Un sensed the rebels in the mountains."

It did not fully answer her question. She looked up at him, but his gaze remained fixed on the opposite wall.

"But why did you leave at all?"

Although it was whispered again, her voice was steady this time. She kept her eyes level at first, wanting an answer, but when he turned his eyes on her, she looked down. His eyes held a hint of annoyance now, and she realized she'd pressed too much.

"Rest, Rin."

Sensing the end of his patience, she stood and settled against the rocks opposite him, eyes still downcast.

They sat in silence as the sky blackened and the rumbles from the battle continued to roll up the mountain, Noda's even breaths the only sound between them.


As night fell, the explosions decreased in frequency and then finally fell silent. Sesshomaru had not moved much in the hours that had passed, but he no longer showed signs of illness. His eyes were closed now, and he seemed to be resting. Noda remained unconscious on the cave floor.

Rin blew into her hands to warm them and then wrapped her arms around her drawn-up legs. The temperature had plummeted in the last hour. Her thin clothing offered little protection, and the stone against her back and legs stole her heat quickly. Her stomach turned over and growled again. She'd not eaten the entire day, and her hunger had become almost unbearable.

"Lord Sesshomaru, may I search for food?"

In the dim light, she saw his eyes open. He seemed to think for a moment before responding, "You will not find much here."

She breathed out a puff of breath, shivering. "May I look?"

In response, he rose to his feet and stooped in the short cave opening.

"Remain here," he commanded, and as an afterthought, removed his boa and dropped it across her. His steps were even as he moved across the rocks and dropped off into the darkness. The confidence in his movements soothed her, and she leaned back, pulling the fur closer to her. It retained some of his body heat, and she pulled it over her torso and tucked the ends under her feet. It did not cover every part of her as well as a blanket would, but she was grateful for the warmth it offered.

In the silence, she again thought of Katsuo. The attacks had stopped, but she wondered who had come out the victor. Her mark remained quiet even now, and she feared what it could mean.

There was a stirring before her, and she raised her head to see Noda sit up slowly. Wincing, he pressed a hand to his forehead and released a soft groan.

"Master Noda?"

He turned to look at her, unsure of his surroundings. He recognized her, but it did nothing to sooth his confusion. "Lady Rin? Where are we?"

"In the mountains that border the palace."

He frowned at her, perplexed. "The mountains?" he repeated before immediately asking, "Where's Katsuo?"

She dropped her eyes and pulled her knees closer to her chest. "I don't know."

He moved suddenly, and it drew her eyes up again. He sat on his haunches, looking at the cave walls carefully. His hand moved over his chest as he did, checking for injuries, and then over his waist for his sword or dagger, on high alert.

"How did we get here?"

Lord Sesshomaru appeared at the entrance, and defensively, Noda twisted about on the balls of his feet when he sensed the sudden presence. Upon seeing his former lord, he lowered his hands slowly, his eyebrows coming together as he processed the information. "Lord Sesshomaru," he addressed. His eyes moved over Rin again, wrapped in the Western lord's pelt and then he asked again, more slowly, "Where's Katsuo?"

"Calm yourself, General. I have done nothing to Katsuo."

Sesshomaru's tone was sharp, and Noda proceeded carefully. "Lord Sesshomaru, what's happened?"

The Western lord was silent. He ducked into the opening and handed Rin a handful of strange, pealed bark before settling back against the wall. The wood was bitter and cold, but she chewed it silently. "The rebels attacked the Eastern palace," Sesshomaru finally replied. "It's been burned."

"What of the soldiers and Katsuo?"

Sesshomaru did not respond, and there was silence. Rin was soon lost to her own thoughts of the palace attack when she noticed Noda's eyes on her. She froze. She'd only known him briefly before the war, but only while in Katsuo's presence. She realized then that she did not really know him and shied under his gaze.

"Rin, can you still sense him?"

It took her a moment to understand. She moved her hand to her shoulder, lingering over the mark, but there was nothing. The connection was silent. She swallowed, suddenly afraid again. "I don't know." Tears burned her eyes. "Is he—?"

"No, if he'd been killed, you'd know," Noda responded, relief evident in his voice. He looked to Sesshomaru. "We must find him. He cannot lead an army again."

"He is his own lord now."

Noda glanced at Rin then back to Sesshomaru, his expression growing angry. "You mean to leave him?"

"He knows the consequences."

"He had no choice!" Noda's energy began to rise in the cave. "There was no one else to lead the army. If the East is lost to the rebels, then the war was for nothing. What of all the men that we lost?"

Sesshomaru matched his energy but said nothing, meeting his eyes evenly. After a moment, Noda's senses came back to him, and he calmed himself. He stood and stooped over under the low ceiling, still holding Sesshomaru's gaze, irritated. Suddenly, he turned and stalked towards the opening of the cave, his steps not quite even.

Rin worried for his health and stood, dropping Sesshomaru's boa to the ground. "Noda, where are you going? Are you well enough to move?" He did not respond, and she went after him.

Her human eyes had a hard time seeing now that night had completely fallen, but there was enough moonlight seeping through the trees for her to at least make out his figure moving across the outcropping. "Noda?" she called out to him again. This time, he stopped, and she approached. He turned to her suddenly.

"Rin, do you feel comfortable with Lord Sesshomaru?"

The question surprised her, but her lack of an immediate answer surprised her further. She remained silent, staring at him.

Noda sighed and rubbed his face. "I need to find my family and make sure they are safe before I seek out Katsuo and the army." He paused, thinking. He continued slowly, "But I can't take you with me. As much as I don't want to leave you here, I cannot protect you as he can. If I were to put you in any unnecessary danger, Katsuo would never forgive me."

"Lord Sesshomaru will keep me safe," she finally said, hoping to ease his worry.

Noda raised his face the barren trees, thinking. After a long moment, he looked at her again. "Rin, you must keep your distance from Lord Sesshomaru. You are no longer his ward. You are the mate of another lord, and you must be careful that no lines are crossed. Do you understand? Already, this is inappropriate, but it should be overlooked given the circumstances.

"Rin, make sure you are not alone with him. When I reach Katsuo, I will have him send a letter explaining everything, but for now—!"

"Lord Sesshomaru is not dangerous." Her voice loud, insistent, but not quite a shout.

Noda stared at her silently, stunned. She was just as surprised, but continued softly, "He would never hurt me."

Irritation showed on Noda's face. "Maybe not, but he is selfish, as much as he tries otherwise."

Rin's head began to pound. What game were they playing with her?

"What is this agreement between Lord Sesshomaru and Katsuo? Why can't Katsuo be an officer anymore? Please, be straight with me. I'm tired of riddles."

"I cannot tell you, and even if I were allowed, I don't know everything. It's best that your mate tells you the story when you next meet."

The last war had spread over years, many long years, and Rin's heart sank in her chest when she realized it may be the same again. It could be years before she saw Katsuo again. She could not speak.

Noda sighed. "But I must go now. I suspect that Lord Sesshomaru will return with you to the Western palace where you'll be safe. Once there, do as I've said. We will send word soon, I promise."

He turned to walk away, but realization struck Rin, and she called out to him, "Wait! You have no weapons."

Her eyes began to search through the dark for the thin blade Lord Sesshomaru had thrown. It was too dark for her eyes to make out the details of the stone surface beneath her.

"There's blade here somewhere. A masked man hit Lord Sesshomaru with it during the attack."

Noda turned and scanned the surface before moving several feet to her right and smoothly retrieving the blade. He examined it for a moment, silent and tense.

"This is from the North."

Rin frowned at him, not understanding. "It was from an Eastern rebel that attack Katsuo and me. Lord Sesshomaru was struck when he found us."

Noda shook his head, turning the blade over in his hands. "No, this is definitely from the North. The crest is in the hilt, and it is heavier than an Eastern blade would be."

Rin frowned, confused. "Why would the North help the rebellion? Aren't they allied with the West?"

Noda tucked the weapon away. "Lord Karashima has been eyeing the East for many years. He hoped to expand trade. With all of the craftsmen here, he saw a large potential market. We knew this, but when we asked for his aid during the war in exchange for a portion of the lands and certain rights, he refused. I suspect now that he intends to take the land while we are unorganized to avoid the trouble of agreements."

She remembered the man. He had been at the ceremony, draped extravagantly in red silk and jewels. Even then, she'd sensed that something about him had not been right. She shivered at the thought of how close he had been. He'd been at the palace just before the attack.

At her silence, Noda stepped forward to gain her attention again. "Rin, don't worry yourself. We are capable of stopping the rebellion. We will regroup and put an end to this quickly. Return to the West, and I promise you will hear from Katsuo soon."

Rin nodded silently, exhausted by all that had happened. Sensing that the conversation had ended, Noda gave a quick bow and left the outcropping, falling somewhere into the darkness. She did not hear him hit the ground.

When Rin stepped back into the cave, Sesshomaru watched her out the corner of his eyes. She realized then that he had been listening to their conversation but could not bring herself to be embarrassed anymore.

"Lord Sesshomaru, may I sleep?"

Without a word, Sesshomaru pushed himself to his feet. He wrapped her in the boa from the ground and scooped her into his arms. He stepped out of the cave with her, and in an instant, they were surrounded by the familiar yellow glow of his energy. As they took to the air, Rin somehow knew they were returning to the West. It brought her comfort, but also sadness as she realized that she was leaving the lands that she had just begun to call home.

The wind brushed against her face as they flew, and surrounded in the warmth of his arms, she drifted to sleep.


Katsuo winced as a soldier wrapped his chest and shoulder with some bandaging that they'd managed to salvage after the attack. His ribs had been reinjured, and his shoulder still pained him from the wooden splitter. He surveyed his men again.

They sat amongst one another in the darkness of the woods, shoulders drooped forward, eyes turned downward. No one spoke. The rebels had targeted the soldiers' quarters first, and many men had died in the blaze.

A handful of servants had survived the attack. They followed the army, helping to carry whatever food and supplies they could gather. He was glad to see that Rin's servant, Mai, had survived, but she made sure to put as much distance as she could between the two of them. He was still unsure of her recent dislike of him, but it was hardly important now.

The soldier finished his chest, and Katsuo stood. He felt eyes on him and turned to find Daisuke looking at him from nearby. They met eyes, and Katsuo returned his irritated gaze as he pushed past him. The Southern general blamed him for the loss of life, and he'd been sure to make it clear.

Katsuo recognized that Daisuke was his senior by several years, but the man's disrespect was becoming unacceptable. Regardless of age, Katsuo was of higher standing and just as experienced in war. With each interaction, he wanted nothing more than to send the man back to the South, but now that war had begun again, he neither wanted to disrespect the Southern Lord nor lose the only experienced officer he had. Regardless of the man's opinions, he was the only man Katsuo had to rely upon, and only this kept his temper in check.

Katsuo regretted the loss of life, there was no question, but even now, after analyzing the situation again and again, he was not sure what else could have been done. If the army had left earlier to explore the mountains as Daisuke had wanted, they may have discovered the rebels before the attack, but if they had not, then the palace would have been left vulnerable.

He thought of what may have happened to Rin and Noda had that happened and found that he was attempting to weigh lives against one another again. He pushed the thoughts from his mind. He could do nothing now but move forward with the men he did have. He could not change the past. He'd learned that well enough already.

Ah-Un approached Katsuo as he walked. The demon lord stopped to allow the beast to examine him, eyeing him suspiciously. "Are you angry with me as well?" he asked in a hollow voice, expecting the animal to try to bite him, but instead, it brought its heads forward and pressed them lightly into his chest. Katsuo, surprised, touched both heads softly. "Are you a friend now?" he asked, rubbing down their necks. The simple motion brought him more comfort than he could have imagined, and he was suddenly grateful that the beast had decided to follow them from the palace.

"He's worried about Rin."

Katsuo turned to the green imp as he approached. Jaken used his staff to walk, leaning on it heavily. One of his eyes was blackened, and his clothing showed signs of being burned.

The Eastern lord returned to rubbing the beast as Jaken joined them.

"Do you think he could find her?"

"With so much smoke in the air, I don't think so," Jaken replied, leaning against the animal's leg and breathing heavily. "I'm sure Lord Sesshomaru returned her to the West anyway. He wouldn't keep her in danger."

Katsuo remained silent, and when Jaken looked up at him, he found the lord's expression dark.

"He's angry with me," Katsuo stated, no question in his voice. He did not look down at the imp, eyes focused on the beast in front of him.

Jaken remained silent for a moment then sighed, "Yes."

Katsuo stepped away from Ah-Un, but it followed him, wanting to stay close. Jaken scrambled to support himself with his staff as the beast shifted away, cursing at it softly. Katsuo ignored the imp and crossed his arms. He pressed his lips together while he thought.

"I have broken our agreement, but I don't know what will happen now," Katsuo shared with Jaken. He knew the imp had limited knowledge of the situation, and he could see that the servant listened intently, trying to piece together what details he could.

"Lord Sesshomaru made me promise that I would not take command again if Rin and I were mated, for fear of putting her in danger, and I agreed to keep her safe if trouble found us." He paused, swallowing. "But so far, I have not upheld either."

He shifted. "I do not know what exactly he intends to do now though. He threatened that I would never see her again if I broke the agreement, but that was before we were mated. We are bonded now. He cannot keep us apart."

Jaken listened intently, then unsure if he was allowed more information, asked quietly, "Did you know he would give you the East?"

"No!" Katsuo said, frustration making his voice harsh. "Nor did I intend for him to give her to me. I wanted to court her when we returned to the palace. I wanted her to choose me, to fall in love with me slowly. I didn't want a forced marriage or lordship. I am ashamed by what I've had to do. I've scared and confused her when all I've wanted is for her to be happy."

Katsuo took a moment to compose himself. He stood straighter then looked at Jaken again. "But it seems that my hands are tied again. I must put an end to this rebellion before I can address this conflict between Lord Sesshomaru and myself. For now, at least, she's safe."

"How is she fairing?" Jaken's concern made Katsuo smile. "Is she scared? Was she harmed in the attacked?" Sometimes, the imp tried to pretend he didn't care for the girl, but during times like this, he could not bring himself to hide it.

Katsuo shook his head. "She escaped unscathed, but as for her mood, I do not know. I blocked our connection when Lord Sesshomaru took her from the palace."

"Why?" The question resembled a squawk. Katsuo hesitated, wondering again if he'd made the right decision. He crossed his arms.

"I do not want to worry her with what she may sense from me. This mark is new to me as well, and I still do not have complete control over what I send to her," Katsuo replied evenly. "Don't worry yourself though. She is safe."

Katsuo turned to leave, tired of the conversation. As he walked away, Ah-Un followed, and he patted the beast for a moment as he moved. He focused his eyes forward, intending to escape for a while to regroup his thoughts and emotions before deciding their next course of action. His heart felt raw.

He had not been entirely honest with Jaken about blocking his bond with Rin. Although he was concerned that she would be able to sense his uncontrolled emotions through their bond, he also wanted to give her some time to think on her own without his influence. After spending some time back at the Western palace and seeing Sesshomaru, maybe she would know what she wanted when they saw each other again.

He did not get far before Jaken limped after him, calling out, "How can you know she is fine?" He sounded angry.

Katsuo stopped, drawing his brows together. He had not expected this reaction. He turned back to face Jaken. "What do you mean?"

"Just because she is safe does not mean she is fine," the imp replied evenly. Katsuo had already considered this and found that he had no answer. Jaken glared up at him as he approached. "She does not deserve this neglect. She will worry about you. She will think that you have cut her off for something that she's done."

"I will write her then," Katsuo said, irritated. Jaken had no right to tell him how to interact with his own mate.

Jaken huffed at him and turned away, intending to stalk off but limped instead. Any other time, Katsuo would have found it amusing, but as he watched Jaken move away, he was overwhelmed with guilt. He knew that the imp was right. He knew he should comfort Rin through their bond and help her through these scary times, but he also knew that he could not.

He spun on his heels and walked away from camp. Ah-Un followed again.

He did not need the bond to know that Rin was upset with him, but with all of the recent events, he could not risk her sensing his emotions. He knew that it would only worry her to feel his mind as he prepared for and navigated battles. Also, knowing how she would respond, he could not risk the distraction of her own emotions entering his mind.

He would write her, as he had done during the war, but he would not communicate through their bond. Alone with Sesshomaru, this was the perfect time for her to explore her emotions, and without their bond influencing her, he only hoped that she could reach a decision quickly.