-Disclaimer- I do not own InuYasha

Chapter 9: The Influence

The next morning came with Rin rushing into Icis's room pulling her out of bed, "Lord Sesshomaru is leaving we have to say good-bye!" Rin yells as they rush down the halls and straight outside to the court yard.

Sesshomaru stood at the gate with the guards at either side looking like statues as Rin dragged a sleep-ridden Icis right up in front of him. "Rin fetched Icis to come say good-bye too!" Rin cheers grinning from ear to ear and Sesshomaru's eyes seem to glint with amusement.

"This one sees such." Icis raises her hand to cover a jaw cracking yawn and Rin looks up to her with a toothy grin.

"Say good-bye Icis!" Rin caws excitedly.

"Good-bye Sesshomaru-sama. Return safely." Icis says monotone her eyes dull and face cold, colder than usual. Sesshomaru nods his acknowledgment then turns and he was gone.

"Want to go play?" Rin asks looking up to Icis hopefully.

"Maybe later Rin. I don't feel well at the moment." Icis says wanting to go back to her room and sleep the day away.

"Do you need Rin to take care of you?" Icis looks down to Rin and smiles warmly, "You wish to care for me?" Icis asks bending to look eye to eye with the cute little girl who nods vigorously.

"Then you had better run!" Icis cries and Rin squeals turning tail and dashing into the castle yard for cover. Icis laughs happily chasing after Rin letting the child think she was outrunning her. Soon the nearly grown pups were out chasing them about also.

Icis falls to the ground laughing outright as Rin crawls on top of her giggling and supposedly 'pinning' the teen. Rin sighs collapsing onto Icis's chest the child cuddling into Icis making Icis flop an arm over her holding her close.

"Thank you Rin." Icis says softly looking down to the small girl lovingly and Rin looks up to her curiously.

"What did Rin do?"

Icis gives a sad smile. "You made me feel better. You were here for me after I had a bad dream and even worse thoughts and you made it all better."

A brilliant smile breaks out over Rin's face and she hugs Icis fiercely. "I love you Onee-sama!" Rin cries and Icis's eyes widen and her mind goes blank.

"I…"

"It is alright onee-sama; Rin can hear you without words. It is what you do." Tears well in Icis's eyes and she pulls Rin to her tighter.

"I'm sorry Rin. I will try to be better...for you."

Dinner came around and Rin sat swinging her legs grinning at Icis as she ate her rice with earnest. Icis watched Rin sadly her eyes showing care but not knowing what exactly to do about the situation. 'Rin loves me like her older sister and I don't know what to do…' Icis moves her food around with her chop sticks rummaging through her mind.

'I shouldn't get close to her. I always end up bringing nothing but pain. Rin doesn't deserve pain; she's had enough of that in her little life.' "Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin cries jumping up from her seat and rushing to the demon lord and hugging his leg.

"Go finish your meal Rin." Rin nods and returns to her seat picking at her food not really hungry just to please Sesshomaru. Icis sees their interaction and her stomach drops her mouth drying as she looks away.

'Sesshomaru should be the one she loves not me. He can care for her and protect her...from me.' Icis gives a breathy whimper and stands up not in the mood for eating anymore. Sesshomaru watches after Icis as she leaves the dining hall after bowing to him in acknowledgment her face solemn.

Icis sat under the cherry blossom her mind buzzing with discomfort and uncertainty. "You are troubled by something." Sesshomaru's deep voice says ripping Icis from her thoughts. Icis looks up to the tall youkai her eyes dulling with the thought of how she must seem perfectly human and normal to Rin.

"Rin does not understand what I am." Icis says her voice soft but sounding hollow of any depth of emotion.

"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru asks watching Icis closely seeing the displeasure flash in her eyes.

"Rin told me she loved me, called me Onee-sama. I am not...capable of giving what she requires." Icis says a bit darkly.

"This one does not see the error of the situation." Icis's brow furrows with uncertainly, "No...I suppose you don't." Icis says her eyes darkening with her heavy thoughts.

"Icis the lack of faith you have in yourself is pathetic." Icis's jaw tightens with his words the sting of them throbbing in her chest but she remains silent turning her face away.

"If you do not find my weakness appeasing then you should be rid of me." Icis growls standing and walking to her room, "Just as everyone else has."

Sesshomaru watched Icis leave her form rigid and her aura radiating hurt and a stress that he doesn't understand. 'There is something much larger bothering Icis and she refuses to let such be known.' Brow furrowed Sesshomaru returns to the castle making his way to his study.

Panting Icis stumbles into her room leaning on everything she could find on the way forcing herself further until the dark interior of her room envelopes her. Pain knocks the breath from Icis's lungs as she bites her tongue holding in the whimpers as her nails dig into the stone of the walls.

'What is this? Is this what Sesshomaru's blood has done to me? Does it decide to kill me now?' A surge of pain floods Icis's body sending tremors wracking her frame as she slides to the floor her skin feeling like it is tearing itself from her body. A monstrous rage fills Icis and she growls low in her throat her nails lengthening to dangerous claws fitting for a youkai itself.

'Oh God his blood intensifies the influence!'

"Icis!" Rin cries running to Icis's side sending fear through Icis. 'How did I not hear her coming?'

"Rin you have to leave me." Icis tries to convince through clenched teeth not looking at Rin knowing her eyes were changing colors.

"But you are hurt!"

"Rin please just...it's not safe, I'm not safe. Please go." Icis begs clenching her fists trying to hold it all in tears from the pain welling up in her eyes.

"Rin will go get Sesshomaru-sama!"

"Yes go get Sesshomaru." Icis pants attempting to send the little girl away in time to escape. Rin nods and dashes out Icis's room leaving the door wide open for a passing servant to catch sight of Icis and gasp hurrying in.

"Miss Ic-."

"Out!" Icis snarls her eyes raising to glare at the servant her red irises and enlarged pupils leaving no room for argument.

Sesshomaru heard Rin's frantic heart beat and smelled her fear and was out in the hall in seconds Rin clutching onto his leg.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Icis is sick! She told Rin to go away and get you!" Rin sobs her tear stained face buried in his pant leg. Sesshomaru puts a hand on Rin's head comfortingly.

"Icis did not wish for you to be in her room?" Sesshomaru questions sending more tears to Rin's eyes.

"Rin made Icis mad; Icis must hate Rin!" Rin cries.

"Icis does not hate you Rin." Sesshomaru assures then looks to a servant who was looking on worried her fear also tangible.

"My lord...Miss Icis has..." The servant falls silent her frame trembling.

"Spit it out woman." Sesshomaru growls.

"She has lost her mind." The servant spits out still shaking with fright.

"Take Rin to her rooms." Sesshomaru orders passing both frightened females and straight for another.

Icis felt Sesshomaru's oppressive aura radiating down the hall toward her making her frantic mind whirl all the more. Jaws aching Icis crushes her teeth together not allowing the sounds of agony escape as she forces herself to her feet. The room spins as Icis tries to throw herself toward her balcony. 'Outside. I have to get outside. I can't let this happen in here. I can't let Sesshomaru see this.' Bile rises to the back of Icis's throat as she feels the anger roiling off of Sesshomaru as he approaches.

Claws sink deeply into the walls as Icis slips repeatedly dragging her toward the balcony. Finally Icis stumbles out onto the balcony leaned against the railing her pants harsh and labored with every movement bringing more and more pain. 'What is happening anyway? My surge of power has always been uncomfortable and easy to ignore and push to the back of my mind but this...this cannot be what I am experiencing. This is like being caught on fire and burning to death as someone dismembers your body and keeping you alive just to witness their wickedness.'

"Icis." That voice. Everything in Icis freezes as that voice sounds behind her and the tremors in her body cease to just one constant thundering buzz.

'Why? Why did he have to come? Why did Rin have to see me and run to him?'

"Turn Icis."

Fists tightening Icis lets out a low growl not wishing to even breathe at the moment and Sesshomaru wishes for her to turn?

"Leave." Icis pants out her voice dark and thick with restraint.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrow and he approaches Icis but hesitates when an immense aura radiates out toward him from Icis warning him.

"Your power?" Sesshomaru questions and Icis tenses.

"No. Something more. Your blood has done something. The surge...or influence has never…" Icis snarls bending at the waist to grip the railing in her claws viciously.

'His blood made me stronger and more like him. Maybe it also brought more of my power to the surface. I have fought my power for so long...I cannot accept it now. I could go mad and destroy the entire Western lands in one enormous blow.'

Breathing shallowly Icis slowly releases the tension in her body. 'But this will not pass, not this time.'

"You said you would stand by me and not let me fail," Icis says glancing to Sesshomaru her glowing blue eyes stilling him on the spot, "but I want your word that if I even seem to be slipping in the smallest way...you end my life."

Sesshomaru stood as he was behind Icis the power raging within her whipping her hair about and brushing against him.

"Give your word Lord Sesshomaru." Icis snaps her teeth elongating viciously.

"You have this one's word." Sesshomaru replies softly and Icis nods her acknowledgment.

"I need to get away from your castle. I do not wish for your home to bear any amount of damage. The people inside are yours to protect not mine to destroy." Sesshomaru gives a stiff nod and then Icis was gone forcing him to dash after her following the trail of her aura.

In a large clearing well away from anything of importance Icis stands with her back to Sesshomaru as she breathes calmly.

"Do not hesitate. If I lose the ability to control my own strength I will destroy everything." Icis warns.

With a deep inhale Icis holds her breath then lets it out slowly releasing the restraints on herself slowly. Waves of power flow over the clearing caressing Sesshomaru the force growing stronger with every new wave that is released.

For privacy and fear of others interfering Sesshomaru places a barrier around the clearing closing himself in with Icis as she becomes less of the girl he found near death and more of the dark kami the elder told him of.

A burst of an aura explodes from Icis pressing itself against Sesshomaru forcing him back a few steps at the intensity. Icis seems to glow slightly surrounded by the familiar blue of her eyes the same color swirling about his arm creating bone and flesh once more. The trees inside and outside of the barrier shiver with the amount of power before it recedes completely leaving Icis to sway in its place. Icis sinks to her knees trembling and breathing haggardly as Sesshomaru walks to her side wary of the slightest indication she was not in control any longer.

….

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