Hey, me again. It's taken me a little longer to get this one up, and I don't really know why. This is the first time today that I have been on the computer, and its almost nine-thirty. Wow, something must be wrong with me . . . . I must be getting sick. Anyway, on with the story, and this is the chapter where I expect a ton of reviews. To those who have diligently reviewed my story, thank you so much, you will get a shout out at the end of the story! I luv you all!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Naraku, or Koga, much to my dismay.

Chapter Nine

Night Calls Out the Demon

Their training continued well into the month following Naraku's return. Sesshomaru was inwardly impressed with Inuyasha's progress. Had he not been the half-breed he was, Sesshomaru would have probably seen the warrior that Inuyasha could be sooner.

Once they were done for the day, they would all sit and eat dinner, and the others would talk while he observed. He watched tonight as the friends interacted.

Sango and Miroku sat close together, and she reached around back to grasp his behind in her hand. He reached back and removed her hand, and leaned down to kiss her neck and whisper in her ear. His blush could be seen over the firelight.

Inuyasha roared with laughter. "Now you know what it feels like, don't you, Monk?"

Miroku only glanced at him indignantly before turning back to his wife.

Suki was sitting in Kagome's lap, and Kagome was braiding her hair. The girl squealed.

"I'm gonna look pretty, just like Mommy."

"Yes, you are, Suki," Kagome said, tying the end. The girl ran off, stifling a yawn as she went off to bed. The older woman watched after the girl a little sadly. Sesshomaru understood. She was aging, and because Inuyasha aged slowly, he figured he had all the time in the world to sort out his feelings for her. Yet she would grow old. She was already in her late twenties, and still they were only friends. Close friends, Inuyasha claimed. The kind of friend with whom you do not become romantically involved.

He saw him turn to Kagome, and ask for more food. And not very nicely.

Then he saw something he had only seen a handful of times, and each one was equally rewarding. The first incident where he had witnessed it, he had used all of his restrain to not laugh at the sight.

"Inuyasha," she said, warning in her voice. He stopped, and looked down at her with wide eyes.

"No, no, not that," he said, reaching out to try to cover her mouth with his hands. "You wouldn't do that to me, would ya, Kagome?"

"Inuyasha," she said again, this time in a deceptively singsong voice. "Sit!"

He hit the ground face first, his arms out at his sides. He began to swear furiously. "That hurts, ya know? Try it sometime."

"Don't make me . . . ."

This time he succeeded in clasping his hand over her mouth. She could only moan angrily at him as he used his weight to bring her down to the ground. Her hair was flung around them, as well as his, and he only laughed.

Until he looked down at her eyes. They were not furious . . . they were . . .

Oh, damn, Inuyasha thought. Their bodies were flush together, their arms and legs entwined. It was as if he was just noticing . . . .

"No more 'sit'?" he asked, sitting back up.

"No," she said, her voice a little raspy. "Be nicer to me. I don't think you'd know what to do without me."

"Feh," he snorted, leaning back against the wall behind him.

Later that night, Sesshomaru leaned back against the wall of the hut he was given. He had trained himself to live with as little sleep as possible.

It was late. No villagers bustled about. No children played in the fields. No one was there.

Except for her. He could smell her, the fear in her soul, and the bitter smell of her frustration. She paced along her hut every night, building her strength, except for tonight. Tonight, he heard her slide the door open, heard her walk quickly from the village and into the forest.

He raised his head, knowing what dangers lay in the forest. She should know herself, and her life was one great testimony to that fact. There were demons, bandits, wild animals, and the plotting of Naraku. He could target her again, knowing that she was weak and that she was Sesshomaru's one weakness.

He followed her, yet he knew that she had stopped somewhere ahead of him. He heard the sound of her feet rushing over the ground, the sharp intake of her breath, the salty smell of sweat.

When he broke through the brush, he paused, taking in the sight of her.

She held her Ni-Kiba before her, her feet running over the harsh ground of the clearing. She swung her sword to the side, neatly slashing at the invisible enemy. Ducking back, she twisted the weapon in her hand and thrust back, gauging the adversary behind her. Her body twisted, and she flew up, kicking out with her leather-clad foot.

He had trained her well. He knew her capabilities, her strengths and weaknesses. Yet this was different. She was here out of anger. She was here to prepare for battle. He could sense the waves of hatred that flowed off of her aura. He had no trouble guessing who she saw in her mind as she slashed at the air.

The demon slayer's clothing suited her, he thought. She had probably stolen it when everyone thought she was sleeping.

He smiled. A slight up tilting of the corner of his mouth as he watched her fight at thin air. She was angry. She was furious. She would, this night, lose these emotions.

Stepping forward, he made sure to snap a twig easily beneath his weight, and watched in amusement through his cold eyes as she stopped. His mask was steely, and held no hint of the smile that he had held only moments ago.

Turning to him, she let her sword fall to her side. She caught her breath, looking up at him with sad eyes.

"Lord Sesshomaru," she said, bowing her head.

"Rin," he said. "You hold hatred in your heart."

"Yes," Rin answered, not even able to hide it. She raised her eyes to his. "I want Naraku dead. I want revenge on what he did to me."

"Hatred is not wise. It serves no purpose other than to cloud one's mind."

"Yes, My Lord," she said, acquiescing too quickly.

"You have no intention of cleansing yourself of this?" He pulled Tokijin from his sheath. "If you are to hold hatred in your heart, it will not be there for long."

Swallowing slowly, she watched as he prepared himself to fight. Anticipating the attack, she fell back, allowing Tokijin to slice neatly at air as she rolled and caught herself. Swinging up, she blocked his attack with her own sword. The sound of metal scraping gave pause to the forest.

"What are you waiting for, Rin? Take your anger, your frustration, on me. Lay them at my feet."

"Why?" she whispered. Her heart beat fast against her ribs, and her breath came out in short gasps.

"It has no place in your heart. Let me take this burden from you."

"Yes," she said, thrusting up, running at him. He dodged her attacks, sidestepping her thrust to his stomach.

How long the battle raged, she knew not. It seemed as though they were locked in an eternal struggle that neither could win, neither could lose. The steel of the swords rang loudly in her ears, the crunch of the cold ground beneath her feet, the sharp wind as it blew in her face and caught at her hair. She hadn't even time to wipe the sweat from her eyes as her weak body nearly gave out. Her body had not fully recovered from her possession, and now was being taxed for not healing before beginning her training. Yet she refused to give up, refused to submit.

She swung upward, and when blocked, she swung down. He flew at her, knocking her off of her feet. She watched as he stood back and waiting. Quickly, he shed his cumbersome pelt and armor. His white hoari caught the moonlight, and he looked as much the angel she had thought him to be when she first laid eyes on him.

Though her muscles ached, and it hurt to draw breath, she got up slowly. She cried out, and again brought down her sword toward him. This time, she caught his shoulder, and blood trickled down his arm.

"You are not going easy on me, are you, Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked, watching the silky red blood stain his hoari.

"Never," he said, pushing forward and aiming Tokijin for her heart. She caught the broadside of his sword with her hand, shoving it away like an annoyance. Sweeping down, she went for his legs, but he only jumped, effectively evading her attack.

He flew up, and she caught at his sleeve, pulling herself up into the air as he left the tree tops behind. She sheathed Ni-Kiba, and used hand-to-hand combat tactics. She hit at his chest, and he threw her into the air.

The drop to the ground seemed to take forever. She could see him above her, so far away. Time seemed suspended as she fell, her body weightless and free. The stars beyond him sparkled down at her, and she hoped that whatever fates that guided their lives would look down on her now.

The trees fell past her, and she waited, anticipating the pain . . . .

That never came. One strong arm encircled her, pulling her against him as he landed deftly on the ground.

She set her feet down, feeling the earth beneath her. She then felt his arm fall away from her.

Pain laced through her body. She felt the cut that had previously lacerated her flesh, and she looked down. His Tokijin in hand, he had caught her hip, and blood spilled from the wound. She staggered back, realizing that it had happened before she had even fallen through the air.

"Why?" she asked. "Why are you doing this to me? Is not my pain enough without your turning on me?"

"Haven't you figured it out?" he asked, sheathing his blood-stained sword.

"No," she said, her weak legs finally giving out. He untied the sheath from his hip and threw it to the ground beside his discarded armor. Then he pulled her up from the earth.

"There is a hot spring nearby," he said, nodding off in its direction. "You are tired. I should not have allowed you to overexert yourself this night." Gathering his things, he led her through the thick forest until they came upon the steaming pool.

He left what he had by a tree and stepped next to her.

"Wash yourself and we will go back to the village. You need sleep."

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru," she said, averting her eyes from him. Could he see the misery behind their black depths? Could he see how she wanted to be relieved of this pain?

"Rin," he said, hooking a clawed finger under her chin.

"Yes?" she asked, her eyes unable to focus on anything but the man in front of her. His thumb grazed her cheek, sending chills down her spine, and her breath hitched in her throat.

"Do not let Naraku crush your spirit."

"I don't know if I can ever be the way I once was. I feel raped," she whispered, tears stealing down her face. "He allowed his minions free reign over my body, and they took it upon themselves to look into my soul. To find my deepest, darkest secrets and play with them. I cannot forget what he did to me."

"No, Rin. You will never forget," he said. "But I can make it right."

His lips covered hers, and she gasped against his mouth. He pulled her into his embrace, his strong arm encircling her small body as she trembled. More tears escaped her eyes, though they were no longer of sadness and pain. She reached a tentative hand up, and slowly slid it into his silky, white tresses.

He pulled her close briefly before releasing her.

She felt him pull back, and she let him go, although hesitantly.

"Go," was all he said as he turned away and disappeared into the forest.

Sighing shakily, she looked at where he had just been and reached up to touch her lips. Had that just happened?

Her first kiss, she thought. This had been her first kiss, and with the man she loved, to say the least. She smiled, her whole heart lighting her face. Her eyes lost the cold, glassy stare that had been present for the last few weeks. Her cheeks were dusted with the faint blush that had often accompanied her childish fantasies. She felt so free, so light and able to love.

He had healed her heart with a kiss.

Ahhhhh!!! Told ya it would be good!!! So, please review, double please!!!