Hi my beloved readers!
Thanks for the reviews, PMs, following and favouriting! I hope all read my response in PMs….
Thank you SapphireEyesInTheSky for your constant reviews.
Thank you, guest reviewer Elizabeth for sharing your sweet words with me. It is I, who should thank you for taking the trouble of reading my story and even reviewing it positively. I am indeed HONOURED to have instilled the inspiration in you…. I am glad to be part of the sustainers of sessXrin fandom. Do plzzz tell me when you publish your fiction. I'm eagerly waiting…
Thanks to the guest reviewer Merry Mary for reviewing this story and also for the recently added chapter 21 in the prequel 'Friendship and Love'. Thank you Merry Mary for your kind words and for pointing out the mistake…. It was really useful. I'm honestly ELATED that my sessXrin fics are your most favourite…. Thanks a bunch!
Sorry if the adventure of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru is meeting its climax. I wanted Rin's delivery time to collide with Sesshomaru's final ordeal with the Lord of the Heaven…. That's why it is ending sooner than possible….
I am so very sorry for the harsh cliffhanger!
I know you all will be biting nails and breaking heads from the very start of this chapter… please don't worry…. Just wait till the story is complete. I assure you, you will not regret waiting... JUST TRUST ME! I will not disappoint you…
"Lord Sesshomaru! Where did you go!?" Jaken screeched.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha called.
"OH-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO! LORD SESSHOMARU!" the screeching Jaken was scurrying hither and thither in panic.
Even the God has disappeared! What's going on!? Inuyasha was beginning to feel that something really bad was to happen.
"SESSHOMARUUUUU…." Inuyasha's desperate call echoed in the cave.
"Sacrifice your life…. Your wife will have the Nectar and survive. You will be banished to Hell while, your wife and child will remain on Earth"
Sesshomaru was relieved of the pang of impending death of Rin and his pup. But a new pang tormented him; the pang of parting from his family forever.
"This is the only way to prove your worth to be granted with the Nectar"
Even if they survive… I cannot be with them!?
It had only been few months after their marriage; but Sesshomaru had to leave behind a pregnant Rin; for many months; not even a word about her to him and about him to her; and now the pup and her are to die; if they have to survive Sesshomaru had to die; pitiable.
Sesshomaru was confounded when the similarity smacked him. Even his father, the former Lord of the West had sacrificed his life for his human mate who was giving birth to their half-breed pup; and his father even hadn't a chance to glance at his newly born pup, as how Totosai informed Sesshomaru of what the forlorn Izayoi had once told the demon blacksmith.
Is this what life is all about!? Sesshomaru was dejected.
"You may leave, Sesshomaru. You are an immortal. You have a very long span to live. Why bother about a human's life which will eventually end in only few decades, if not now? You might as well remarry a demoness. She will be an immortal. She will also give birth to a full-fledged demon as your Heir"
Sesshomaru's eyes fired at the God in rebellion.
The innocent-looking God was still wearing his warm smile.
"No thank you", Sesshomaru said in the coldest civility. How dare he say such things about Rin's life! So what if he is God?! How dare tell me to remarry!
Then Sesshomaru realized that the God was only pointing at the arrogant attitude he once had.
She would not have been in this unfortunate situation, had she chosen the human prince (A/N:- refer the prequel "Friendship and Love") for a mate. She would have been safer with him…. Sesshomaru began to regret even mating Rin, due to this ill-fate.
"You'll always be with me…. 'forever and ever' "
"I promise"
Sesshomaru's assertion and promise to Rin replayed in his mind. (refer the Epilogue of the "Friendship and Love")
Rin…. I am very sorry…. I had vowed to provide you a life much superior to the life your admirer, the Human Prince would have provided you, in all aspects. But I have failed to keep that vow for I shall no longer live to fulfill it. I have failed to keep my promise to you…. I have failed YOU!
"I shall sacrifice my life…. If you promise immortality to Rin and my pup", Sesshomaru said firmly.
"… are you sure about this, Sesshomaru? Once you give up your life, there is no turning back. You will lose your current demonic strength, power, status as the Lord of the West, for eternity. You will end up as a helpless being in Hell. Do not make an imprudent choice"
"I have made my choice. I will not change it for the world." FIRM AND PROMPT!
"….Very well then. Prepare yourself to depart this life, Sesshomaru"
Sesshomaru stood silently; inwardly content that Rin and his pup will survive. Rin will become an immortal.
"Any last wish, Sesshomaru?"
"…" Sesshomaru thought for a moment, "I wish to see Rin". What else would he wish for at a time like this?
The God's smile broadened, "As you wish"
A big glowing light appeared in front of Sesshomaru. That light widened and formed a bright hanging screen in front of the demon lord. His eyes widened and breathe got caught at the sight before him.
His beautiful mate was sitting in a meadow; staring at the sky; she had a heavy belly. She was smiling. But he couldn't tell whether she was really happy.
Suddenly Rin exclaimed, "Oh!", Rin looked down at her belly and began rubbing it. "My dear pup… Kicking me are you? Why are you angry? (Ringles) Is it because your father hasn't come yet to see you? Are you bothered about where your father had gone?... or when he'll return? (Rin Ringled initially, but then she slowly stopped it; she knew she's faking it. She became melancholy and sighed. After few moments, she took a deep breathe, let it out and shot a refreshing smile) Awww! Don't be mad. I was mad at him too, for his long disappearance… But the anger didn't last for even a day!... (Rin blushes) Hey pup! Whatever your father does, it is only for a good cause. Even if he has left us behind, he must be in a more important task, this very moment also!... But he can't stay away from us for too long. He will surely return to us… and very SOON! I PROMISE, HE WILL!"
"ENOUGH!" roared Sesshomaru as he felt some wetness on his cheek. A bead of moisture had rolled down from his eye. But he was heedless to that.
Such faith! Such Hope! And he is on the verge of crashing it down to dust. What will Rin do? How will she live her immortal life with such misfortune!
The vision before him vanished to nothing. Lord Indira's eyebrows were arched in surprise.
"Even if I (i.e. God) go and tell her anything, she would not believe me over you, it seems…. No wonder you are prepared to sacrifice yourself for such a girl. I am really impressed by your wife. Such faith and chastity! Befitting a noble woman of a Royal family (i.e. Sesshomaru's family)… It is indeed a pity that such a virtuous, young girl has to become an immortal widow"
Sesshomaru visibly flinched at the last word. Guess Sesshomaru is living the worst part of his life that even God is rubbing salt to his wound.
"Let us not wait any longer and endanger their lives. Give her the Nectar while you take my life", Sesshomaru said.
The God was not offended by the commanding tone; obviously, because he is God.
"Yes"
Huge light began encompassing Sesshomaru as the darkness in the background started disappearing.
Sesshomaru heard Jaken and Inuyasha calling him.
"Inuyasha. Jaken. Take care of Rin and my pup", Sesshomaru gave his last command in the most confident tone he could muster.
They couldn't see Sesshomaru but could hear him.
"Gaaaa..….h!" Jaken beaks broke at the command.
"S-s-sesshomaru?!" Inuyasha was flabbergasted. What does he mean by that? Is he….. is he going to-to…..
Ah-Un groaned in agony and started crying.
"LORD SESSHOMARU! Please don't leave us, Milord!", Jaken cried.
"Sesshomaru! Wait! Don't be such an idiot! We'll give the Nectar I have, to Rin! She'll surely survive! SESSHOMARU!"
Sesshomaru's light filled form became finally visible to Jaken and Inuyasha. It was hanging high in air, above their heads.
Sesshomaru heard what they had said. He felt warm deep inside, even at the last moment of his life. Particularly at Inuyasha's words – his willingness to sacrifice the Nectar for his older brother, without giving it a thought. That Inuyasha! Sesshomaru smiled!
"Please listen to me!... BROTHER!" Inuyasha begged of Sesshomaru with such desperation that he couldn't believe his own ears. Did-did I just say that?
It is the last moment. Chuck off this worthless pride and ego! Sesshomaru said his last words, "Inuyasha. Jaken. Ah-Un…. Thank you"
With that Sesshomaru's form reduced to a small glowing light.
Forgive me, Rin…. I LOVE YOU…
*POOF*
GONE!
The cave became dark as before.
No Sesshomaru. No God. No beaten up beasts. All that was on the ground was Tesseiga, Tenseiga and Bakusaiga.
"OH LORD SESSHOMARU! LORD SESSHOMARU!" Jaken's eyes flooded with waterfall. He actually thanked me! So he WAS happy with my humble services, ALL ALONG! And now…. Now he's NO MORE!
Jaken wailed in misery. Ah-Un was weeping as if the world has come to an end.
Inuyasha was shaking; gritting his teeth; fists clenched.
"ARRRRGH!"
*THUD*
He hit the ground with his bare fists. The ground lightly shook. His temper was out of control. "SESSHOMARU! YOU JERK! WHATWERE YOU THINKING?... You have sacrificed you life to get the Nectar for Rin? What have you done!"
Inuyasha recalled those months of travel with him; their cold war; direct quarrels; those times when they fought together against demons; very few moments they conversed as brothers; played as siblings.
Inuyasha's eyes fell on his own Nectar, "….and I didn't even get a chance to thank him".
Feeling of regret filled his body.
We were only beginning to get along as brothers and….. you had to DIE! Besides my mate and pups, you're the ONLY ONE as family for me, after our father and my mother died…. And I have lost you….. Sesshomaru…. Inuyasha shook his head violently in frustration Forget about me! What about Rin? What will I tell her? That he's dead?
Inuyasha reminisced moments with the sweet Rin. Such smile!... it is bound to die for eternity! Inuyasha felt his eyes burning with unshed tears close to spilling.
"boo….hoo….(A/N: Jaken is sobbing) The history HAS repeated itself!... Like his father, Lord Sesshomaru has sacrificed his life to save his human mate and half-breed pup!... *WAILS*!"
All of a sudden, they felt blinding light filling the cave again.
"What's going on!?" Inuyasha yelled.
CLIFFHANGER!
Now that Sesshomaru's gone, what will Inuyasha, Jaken and Ah-Un will do? What does future hold for poor Rin and the pup?
Stay tuned until next time ;-)
The Next chapter will be last one….
And before you guys throw rotten tomatoes, eggs, stones and footwear at me I'd like to tell you to that even if Sesshomaru is gone, we must hope….like Rin…. Yes! We must always harbour hope in our heart; when the going gets tough, our hope should only get stronger. Never in our life should we lose our hope; keep hoping….and some day you will finally get what you hoped for….
Most of you would rather have the Inu Bros defeat the Lord of Heaven by physical strength. But having the God defeated so, by the demons would be too illogical. So I have made Lord Indira surrender to the Inu Bros in a different way, which made more sense to me. Further justifications will be given in the next chapter… I hope you can tolerate this.
Plzzz don't get mad at me or curse me, plzzz hope for the best for Rin and Sesshomaru. Keep trusting me… I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!
Plzzzz review….