PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU START READING THIS CHAPTER: IT WILL START GETTING REALLY DARK/VIOLENT FROM THIS POINT ON, MORE THAN IT HAS IN MY PAST CHAPTERS. Just wanted everyone to know beforehand so it won't take anyone by surprise :).
Review Corner
sessxrin3: glad you liked it! I wasn't planning on Rin going immediately over, I wanted to add a little angst and drama before they both head over to Inukimi, but they'll go I promise! :) thanks for the review!
Hattaru: I really took your review to heart when I read it :) and I think I like the direction you were pointing at. While Rin DOES love Sesshomaru, there still is the trust issue that they'll have to rebuild again or Rin will always been worried that he'll dump her somewhere else. I really tried to push my story in that direction rather than have her run to Sesshomaru all happy and forgiving. Thanks for the review!
Rickashay: Aww, and I thought I was being so unique with Inukimi taking Rin in...care to share the other stories that incorporate that idea? I really loved the idea when it popped in my head and I'd love to see it in action in other stories too :) thanks for the review!
CutieSOS: haha I think power thingie is a great name too :P well Sesshomaru will want to take Rin back, but I going to try to add some more drama in my story by making her resilient to him. He did leave her in a human village for four years against her will, so the trust between them is broken and will take a lot of work to be regained. But it'll be fun :) thanks for the review!
Phyrestorm: haha loved the enthusiasm in your review :) and I actually didn't have the plan to make her powers any different when I started this story, but the story seems to have a mind of its own and that's where it took me. Thanks for the review!
Angel-VII: Haha well Rin has only been around Sesshomaru all her life, who's always cold and emotionless, so she doesn't really know what to think of both men who wear their hearts on their sleeves in a matter of speaking lol. It was my plan from the beginning, since I always felt like Rin wouldn't be able to really see any other man like she saw Sesshomaru. Loved your review! :)
Sesshrin devoter: glad you like the new icon :) I do too, it's soo cute! While I do agree with that fact that the age to marry was so much younger during that time, it still felt strange to alter that for my story. So I believe I have the same problem as the other writers you spoke of do ^.^ but thanks for the review and it's so nice to hear from you again!
Cassie: aww glad you love my story :) I love hearing that, it makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside.
Daddy's special request: glad you like it, hopefully you'll like where it's going too :) thanks for the review!
(Divider)
I can hear her heart beat...Shippo thought as he turned his light green gaze towards the woman standing beside him. Her long brown locks traveled in the direction of the wind as strands of it framed and caressed her pale face. No matter how much sun she got, or how many hours she spent working in the fields Rin's pale complexion never seemed to change. He liked it though, this consistency that Rin seemed to have. It made him feel safe in the fact that he trusted her, and that she would never change.
Her dark chocolate eyes overlooked their village with an accepting light sparkling in her chocolate eyes, an emotion he wished he could feel for the village. He had never felt like he could call their village home. Home in his mind was somewhere with his loved ones who showered him in unconditional love. If only things...could be like they used to be...Shippo thought somberly as he reminisced on when he was still a young boy traveling with Inuyasha's group. It had been the closest thing to a family Shippo had ever had, and he missed it terribly. He missed the acceptance he felt from everyone, and how normal he felt traveling with them. Never had he felt hated or judged for being a demon while he traveled with Inuyasha and Kagome, or from the others.
"Shippo?" Rin's soft voice called as her hand rested gently on his arm. Shippo blinked out of his thoughts and noticed that his eyelashes were covered in moisture. He had been crying. Rather than brushing the tears away with his sleeve, he turned his head upward as he stared at the clouds overhead. A sad smile appeared on his lips as he felt a tear streak down his cheek.
"It's nothing...just remembering things," he murmured as he kept his eyes fastened on the clouds and refused to look Rin in the eyes for fear that he'd see pity in those dark depths. I don't need her pity he thought bitterly, I need...I need her love. There, he had said it, even if it wasn't out loud, he had still admitted it.
"Would you like to tell me about it?" Rin asked and Shippo noticed that she hadn't let go of his arm yet. Unable to keep his eyes off of her any longer he turned towards her and was surprised when she reached out with her kimono sleeve to wipe away the tear streaks from his face. Her touch was gentle and her eyes were soft in understanding and warmth.
Since finding out that she could no longer become a miko Rin had changed into the kimono that she had worn the day she had been dropped off at Kaede's. He recognized the designs because they mirrored the ones that were on Sesshomaru's kimono. His crest...his mark, he thought as he continued to stare at Rin with his mouth slightly a gap. Back then the kimono had been a little too large for her thin frame, but she had matured and grown into them. That fact didn't go unnoticed by Shippo, and he couldn't help the gulp he made when he felt his body heat up and lustful thoughts fill his head.
This...fascination with her had only started a few weeks ago, and he was unsure what could've triggered it. Rin hadn't changed anything about her, other than her kimono, but he was sure that a piece of clothing couldn't be causing such a reaction out of him. Her hair cascaded down her back like always, she had dropped the side ponytail a few days after arriving at Kaede's, and her body hadn't changed other than grow fuller in some places.
Her body...he thought as he remembered that day he had saved her from Daichi. The day she had been fully exposed to him for the first time, and what seeing her transformation had done to him. She had looked...perfect to his virgin eyes. He had bathed with Kagome and Sango before, but at such a young age he hadn't even reacted to the sight of their naked bodies. But to Rin...he had felt "tingles" of a sort coarse through his body and stop at his groin. Something had come over him, and for a moment he completely forgot about Daichi, until he saw him retreat after Rin had harmed him with her powers.
It took all he had to keep focused on the battle with the cat demon when he kept picturing Rin's naked body. He felt horrible and sick because she saw him as a brother but...he wanted to do things to her. Every night after that attack he fantasized about caressing her body and stripping her bare for his eyes alone. He had imagined kissing her lips, her face, her neck, and her breasts as she sighed underneath him begging for her release. Begging for him.
"Please stop Rin," Shippo murmured as his hand came up to gently brush her hand away. Her eyes widened slightly in confusion before she let her hand drop to her side. She adverted her gaze and stared at the ground, but Shippo didn't miss the slight hurt he had seen in her eyes. He wanted desperately to embrace her, but knew that he could no longer do that without wanting more. He could no longer innocently hold her for comfort like he used to. It would be too much, she'd be too much to handle if he grabbed her now and wrapped his arms around her like he wanted to. He hated seeing Rin hurt or upset over anything, she was too happy of an individual to cry. But most of all, he didn't want to be the cause of those tears.
"Forgive me," Shippo whispered and Rin's eyes shot up to his face in surprise before she cocked her head slightly to the side. "For what?" she asked back. He pulled a small smile before gently cupping her chin and angling her head so they could look into each others eyes.
"For upsetting you. I know that you care about me, but I-" Shippo was cut off by the sound of a loud demonic bellow and screams coming from the village. Both Shippo and Rin turned towards the village in shock and horror when their eyes found the source of that bellow.
(Divider)
"Sesshomaru," his mother snipped as she walked into his chambers. Scrolls of all kinds were scattered across his desk and there were crumpled pieces of parchment that cluttered the large room. Inukimi scolded at the mess before turning her cold eyes to her son. "What are you doing in here?" she asked as she made her way over to him, gracefully stepping over the mess as she walked.
"Looking over marriage proposals and lands that each demon lord owns," Sesshomaru replied and Inukimi couldn't mask the slight shock that appeared on her face at his answer. "What of your human girl?" she didn't hesitate to ask. Sesshomaru kept his head on the present piece of paper as he spoke, making sure that his mother couldn't read his expression.
"I have left her in her village for too long. She has adjusted there, and seems happy. I will not be the cause of her misery for my own selfish desires," he answered. His thoughts flooded back to the time only a month ago that he had gone to visit her. It had been a long time, but he had been...overeager to see her. Using the word overeager already seemed out of character for him to say, but he was unsure of what other word to call the feelings he had felt at seeing Rin again. He had felt strangely alone for the first time in centuries. While he always welcomed solitude, recently it had become a quite bothersome and unwelcome emotion.
As he pondered why he was in such a state of melancholy his thoughts turned to Rin and he was hit with flashbacks of her smile and her happy words that described her feelings of him....
(Flashback)
Lord Sesshomaru!" a fifteen year old Rin called to him as he brought his golden gaze up from a recent kill to spot the young girl running towards him. His jaw and claws were covered in blood and he knew it was dangerous for her to come near him in such a state. Any demon went through a "killer's high" after a kill and their appetite for blood intensified, which was why humans never attack a demon who just made a kill.
But there was no fear in Rin's eyes, or hesitation in her footsteps as she approached him. He wasn't sure if it was plain ignorance of the danger, or she was foolish enough to trust him. He lightly growled in warning when she was within striking distance, but her footsteps never wavered. Without waiting for his permission she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug.
He shut his eyes tightly to keep his need to kill in check at the feel of her body against him. She doesn't know the danger, she doesn't understand! He thought as his claws cracked and he felt his fangs enlarge in his mouth. "Rin," he managed to choke out through his demonic stage.
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru!" she exclaimed before pulling back to smile up at him, her arms still intertwined behind his neck. Her happy smile and bright eyes never faltered even though he was sure that his eyes were blood red and his fangs easily visible. Not to mention the amount of blood that was still coating his face and claws. Even in this form...she still is so accepting, Sesshomaru mused as he took in the girl before him. Her hair had been kept the same length as in her childhood and rested at the edge of her hips, and the tiny side ponytail was still a hairstyle she preferred even at her mature age. Mature, at least by human standards. He was over six hundred and thirty years old and was still considered a teen among other demons.
"You're a mess!" Rin giggled, bringing him out of his thoughts and he was even slightly more surprised at her actions when she reached up to wipe away the blood from his face. Her hands were gentle, and it felt more like a caress than an innocent cleaning. Her eyes softened as she continued on her work, and didn't seem to mind that she was staining her brand new kimono.
"There!" she smiled and took a step back to survey him, "good as new," she added with a huff of self pride. Sesshomaru no longer feared that he would hurt her when she continued to smile up at him in adoration. Something about her aura calmed him to an almost disturbing degree. Whenever she appeared he felt at peace with his inner demon. No matter the situation or the danger that could befall her, it always seemed that Rin could calm him before he lost complete control.
"Why do you not fear me Rin? Do you not understand the danger of my other form?" Sesshomaru scolded, more in hopes of protecting her the next time than actually hurting her feelings. Rin stared at him for a moment before turning her back on him to look at the setting sun.
"Do you see the sun Sesshomaru?" Rin asked and continued to keep her back to him. "Yes," he answered a little impatiently. Why was she asking such an obvious question? Who could not see the sun other than the blind?
"Everyday it comes up to warm the planet and promote life. But when the sun sets, no plants or animals fear that it will never return again, because they know that it will come back the next day. Flower petals stretch out to accept the sun and do not shrink away when it goes, because they know and trust that the sun will be there to warm them again," Rin explained before giving Sesshomaru a sideways glance.
At that moment Sesshomaru was taken a back at the beauty of his ward. Her brown hair shimmered in the sun light and her eyes held so much knowledge that it seemed almost too much for a fifteen year old human girl to have. Her lips pulled back into a gentle smile and her features softened to such a degree that Sesshomaru didn't seem able to look away.
"Well it's the same way I feel about you, Lord Sesshomaru. You are the sun that I know will always be there to help me keep on living no matter what. The sun will never disappear, and neither will my trust for you," she stated as her smile widened and she gave a happy giggle before raising her arms above her head. She closed her eyes and twirled around before she began to hum. The silks of her kimono moved effortlessly with her body as she danced, the last rays of the sun outlining her features each time she turned her face towards the sky...
As his flashback ended he was brought back by the sound of a familiar happy giggle. Almost as if being summoned by the sound he walked towards the edge of the village only to spot Rin a few feet away. His chest clenched with an unknown pain and he ignored the slight discomfort he felt as he took her in. She had grown slightly since the last time he had seen her playing her game with the fox demon named Shippo.
Her body had filled out even more than before, and her face had hardened slightly. He could only assume it was due to her miko training. He had heard from the old priestess of her plans to remain pure to protect the Jewel once the old priestess passed into the next life. His jaw clenched at the idea of her promising such a thing. Did she feel so pained at being left there that she refused to marry any man? Had he broken the trust she had given him that she had promised would always be there, no matter what?
Annoyed at all this uncertainty he felt over a mere human woman he took a step forward to make his presence known. But before he could call out to Rin he saw another make his way towards her. The young demon slayer boy jogged to her side and took her in a light hug before beginning to converse with her. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at the way he noted Rin's smile and laughter that emitted from her lips at whatever Kohaku had said.
A possessive growl tore from his lips, but he easily masked himself away when he saw the demon slayer's eyes narrow and the boy give a quick survey of the open field they were standing in. Foolish boy, if you cannot sense me than you are not fit to watch over her Sesshomaru thought icily as he continued to mask his physical appearance and his scent from the couple a mere few feet away.
Though he could've walked right up to them without a problem, he couldn't help the pause he made at the sound of Rin's chime bell laughter. She's happy...here, he thought as his eyes lowered and he let out a sigh. I can deny her nothing...if she enjoys it here in the village protecting other humans, than I shall not force her to leave he thought, though didn't deny the fact that he was disappointed at the turn of events. He had hoped to have Rin's bright eyes and wide smile directed at him at least one last time...
(End Flash back)
"Sesshomaru," his mother called, her voice soft but Sesshomaru detected the icy warning underneath her calm tone. She must've been calling his name a couple of times without an answer to get such an angry response out of her. He mentally shook his head to escape from his thoughts and from his memories as he stared back at his mother.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice just as smooth with a hint of agitation, "I'm doing as you asked and looking over possibilities for a mate,"
"I'm sure you won't be looking at those scrolls after what I have to tell you. It's about Rin," Inukimi replied icily, exerting her dominance over her son. Sesshomaru's eyes bled red at the obvious challenge she was presenting. The knowledge that she had something to say about Rin was the only thing that kept him from leaping at her throat. He set the scroll down on his desk and closed his eyes for a moment to get himself under control before golden eyes met and Sesshomaru stood.
"Tell me what you know about Rin,"
(Divider)
"Shippo, wait!" Rin cried helplessly to the red headed boy a couple of feet a head of her, "it's too dangerous!" she screamed with all her might as tears pricked her eyes, but the fox demon didn't even seem to register her voice. He kept running towards the village, and towards all the burning houses that were disintegrating into dust.
People were running, screaming through the village as demons seeming to come out of no where began burning houses to the ground. Rin heard screaming of men being eaten alive and the blood curdling cries of women getting raped. Children were screaming for their mothers and fathers, while others brave enough were clashing their swords against demon claws. All the sounds seemed to be surrounding her and Rin stopped mid-run to cover her ears. She fell to her knees with a sob as she closed her eyes and willed it all to go away. The devastation seemed all too familiar to her as she imagined the fateful night her family was brutally murdered.
The men's screams she heard from the village reminded her of her brothers, who were tortured to death by the bandits. The womens' shrieks reminded her of her mother's rape, and the clashing of swords reminded Rin of her father fighting to protect the rest of his family even as he sobbed as his beloved was raped and killed. Rin held her hands against her head harder as she let out a scream of rage and despair. Rage at the loss she was forced to bear so many years ago, and at the loss so many others would feel after tonight.
It isn't fair! Why must I continually suffer like this? Rin thought angrily as she felt tears begin to streak down her face. Why did everyone that she felt close to have to die? Why, when she tried so hard to make people happy, did she end up hurting them? "Make it stop, please make it stop...Lord Sesshomaru," Rin breathed as she calmed herself down. Though he was not there, Rin couldn't help the small plea she made. Lord Sesshomaru always could stop her pain, always knew how to stop her reoccurring nightmares. Just saying his name seemed to relax her, and she was able to breath levelly again.
Lord Sesshomaru, lend me your strength, Rin begged inwardly as she let her hands fall and got to her feet. She closed her eyes for a moment before they shot open with determination burning in her dark depths. She would fight these invading demons and save her village. Rubbing her face with her kimono sleeve, Rin erased the evidence of her tears and hurried down the hillside into the village.
Her feet seemed to almost fly over the ground as she dashed into the chaos of smoke, screams, and fire. Her eyes darted back and forth as she tried to look for landmarks that struck her as familiar to let her know where she was in the village. She continued to run through the streets until she spotted Kaede's home a top the hillside at the edge of the village. Her heart soared in hope when she saw the old priestess warding off demons with her arrows. Wanting to help as much as she could, Rin ran towards Kaede and was thankful when the priestess shot and purified a demon that had almost sunk his fangs into her arm.
"Rin! There is an extra bow and some arrows in my hut. Grab them, quickly!" Kaede ordered as she she grabbed another arrow from the ground. Rin nodded at her before running into the hut. It was virtually untouched by demon attack and everything looked in order. Rin was thankful for at least that much. Kaede had become a second mother to her, and she didn't know what she would've done if she had been killed.
Rin spotted the bow near the fire pit in the middle of the room and made a run to grab for it. Her eyes fell on a barrel of arrows a few feet away and grabbed it before shifting it over one shoulder. With her weapons in tow Rin ran back outside to find that Kaede was being overwhelmed by the demon attack and steadily running out of arrows. Grabbing a hand full from her barrel, Rin dropped the arrows near Kaede's feet before running down the hillside to try and ward off other demons attacking the rest of the village.
"Rin, it is too dangerous! Stay here!" she heard Kaede yell after her, but Rin paid her no mind. If it were possible to save at least some lives tonight, than Rin was going to take the risk of losing hers. Reaching behind her, Rin grabbed the tail of an arrow and quickly knocked it and aimed for the chest of a nearby centipede demon that was coming close to biting a young boy's arm off. Feeling her powers swirl around her, Rin let the white aura surround her arrow before releasing it.
The arrow shot with striking precision right through the demon's heart. It gave out a scream of rage before it disintegrated. The young boy looked up from the ground into Rin's eyes before making a mad run for her, grabbing her untouched arrow on the way over to her. He stopped a few steps away from her and presented her with the arrow. With him this close to her Rin was able to recognize him, "Haru," she whispered in shock, remembering him as the little boy who always tagged along with her and Kaede to collect herbs for medicine. Before her now, he was barely recognizable, his face was covered in mud and scratches and his clothes were torn.
Rin's eyes softened as she walked over to him and embraced him in a tight hug, knowing that the little boy must be terrified. He stiffened at her touch before she felt his body shake and a sob tear from his lips.
"Thank you," he murmured and pulled away to look at her, tears on the verge of falling down his cheeks. Rin's eyes softened further and she nodded at him before taking the arrow he provided. "Stay close to me," she ordered and the little boy nodded before running beside her as Rin searched for the next demon.
It didn't take long, a large ogre demon stood before them holding a woman captive in his large hand. "Sister!" Rin heard Haru cry as he reached out a hand towards the woman. The woman's eyes turned from the ogre to the boy and they welled with tears before she motioned for him to run.
"Run Haru! Run now!" she screamed at him, but he stubbornly stood by Rin's side and refused to leave. Not wanting to waste anymore precious time Rin took the arrow Haru had given her and knocked it against her bow. The ogre stared at her for a moment, as if curious rather than scared of her actions. Rin called upon her powers once more and surrounded her arrow with it's white light before letting it go.
The ogre barely had time to react before he disintegrated and Haru's sister fell to the ground. She coughed a few times, but was able to stand when Haru ran to her side. Rin felt her heart ache when she saw them embrace and whisper words of comfort to one another. If only one of her brothers had survived all those years ago and she didn't have to run on her own as what was once her family disappeared in flames and under rubble.
"Haru, take your sister and find a safe place out of the village! Take as many survivors you find with you!" Rin yelled over to the young boy. He nodded towards her in understanding before grabbing his older sister's hand and pulling her along side him. Rin watched them go for a moment before returning to the task at hand and knocked another arrow when she felt the presence of demonic aura.
A large lizard demon appeared from behind a nearby hut and made a jump for her, but Rin was able to hit it before its body hit the ground. She then spotted a large bear demon making it's way towards a family huddled a few feet away and grabbed her fallen arrow before knocking it and aiming at the Bear's head. But just as she was about to shoot she heard the desperate screams of Haru from behind her.
"Lady Rin!" he screamed and she quickly turned around to see a large cougar demon cornering Haru, his sister, and a few other children Rin assumed he had found. She felt herself break out into a sweat as she tried to think of where to shoot. She wouldn't be fast enough to shoot one demon, call upon her powers again, and shoot at the other. She needed to make a choice. She let out a cry of despair as she looked between both demons and was about to give up when she heard the sound of chains making contact with skin and a loud growl of anger from the Bear demon. Turning, she spotted Kohaku's weapon tied around the Bear's legs and it was immobilized as Kohaku came at him with his sword.
Thankful that Kohaku had that demon under control she turned around and shot at the cougar demon without further delay. The large cat disintegrated right as it's front paw came up to rip off Haru's head. The little boy had his eyes tightly closed, but when the attack he was expecting never came he opened them only to see that the threat was gone.
"Lady Rin!" he called happily in thanks and Rin smiled at him before motioning him to go. He nodded at her before grabbing his sister's hand along with a little girl's hand who stood next to him. The other children followed quickly behind the trio and Rin had her arrow aimed as she kept them in her line of vision, in case another demon decided to pounce. Luckily the children were able to make it to the edge of the village and Rin watched as they ran up the hill next to Kaede's hut and out of sight.
At least they'll be safe for now, Rin thought as she loosened her hold on her bow. A motion that she soon regretted when she heard the loud familiar shriek come from behind her. Tensing her muscles she pivoted around only to see Daichi a few feet away in his human form. A large smirk spread across his face as his eyes traveled down her body.
"I never realized that you were the girl that traveled along with Lord Sesshomaru years ago, until I saw his crest on your kimono. While I do prefer this kimono to your miko uniform, you would look much better wearing the mark of the East," Daichi stated calmly as he took a step forward.
"Don't come any closer Daichi!" Rin warned as she pulled her arrow back and aimed at the cat demon's chest. "My, my, but my name does sound heavenly coming from your lips," Daichi murmured in pleasure as he ignored her warning and took a couple steps towards her.
"Did you bring all these demons here?" Rin asked angrily as she pulled her arrow back even further and began collecting her aura around the tip. The cat demon faltered at the sight of her white aura, but composed himself and flashed her a toothy grin.
"And what if I did?" he asked and spread his arms wide, "I couldn't simply allow that fox pup to defeat me without a retaliation. His victory was a fluke, and I have come to prove that fact as well as pick up a prize for my efforts," he added and nodded in her direction when he talked of his "prize" he had come for. Rin's eyes narrowed at his words before pushing more of her power into her aura.
Daichi was able to take human form, a task that only the most powerful demons could conduct. Which meant that Rin wouldn't be able to get by with using the amount of power she had been using against the other demons. Holding her bow steady and ready to release her fingers, Rin let out a hiss of surprise and adverted her bow when Shippo's fox form appeared from behind a cloud of smoke and made a mad grab for Daichi. His large jaws clamped down on the demon's shoulder and whisked him away into the heavy smoke in the blink of an eye.
Rin's jaw tightened slightly in anger that Shippo was wasting his time with the cat demon when she could've just disintegrated him, but had no time to argue when she heard a high pitched scream coming from a nearby hut. Holding her bow ready for attack, she quickly ran over to the door and pushed the curtain hanging at the entrance aside. A woman was huddled against a corner with her newborn cuddled to her breast as she stared horrified at the bird demon before her. Rin hurriedly knocked her arrow and shot at the demon, disintegrating him on the spot.
The woman let out a breath of relief before sending Rin a thankful smile. The woman's baby stopped it's screaming and stared bewildered at Rin for a moment before falling fast asleep in it's mother's arms. "Come," Rin urged softly and the woman hurried to her side as Rin took a hold of one of her arms, "Head for the forest and wait there until the attack is over. It'll be safer than staying here," Rin added and the woman thanked her repeatedly before jogging towards the direction Rin had pointed. Rin watched her go until she was out of sight and hurried on.
The sight that befell her when she finally reached the middle of the village was horrifying. Demon and human corpses a like spread across the ground and walls of huts. Their blood intermingled and created a dark river that seemed to swirl around the village square that signified the middle of the village. Rin let out a horrified gasp as she frantically searched for survivors, but couldn't seem to stray her eyes away from the body of corpses.
"Rin!" she heard Kohaku scream and she turned towards the demon slayer as his body became visible when he emerged from a cloud of smoke. He waved his weapon in greeting and let out a loud cough before reaching for his mask strapped to his shoulder. He hastily fitted it over his mouth and tied the straps around the back of his head before letting out sigh of relief. He then reached over his other shoulder and grabbed for another mask that had been tied there.
Without asking for her permission he stepped behind Rin and fastened the mask over her mouth. Rin couldn't stop the large sigh of relief that emitted from her at the ability to breathe freely again. "Where did you get this second mask?" Rin asked, her voice slightly muffled from the mask. "My sister gave it to me when I saw her last. She had made it for me and said I should use it if someone I care about is in danger of poison or smoke intake," Kohaku replied and Rin couldn't help the small smile and softening of her eyes at the mention of him caring for her.
"Now c'mon, there's no time to waste!" Kohaku called as he intertwined his hand with hers and pulled her along side him.
(Divider)
"Welcome Lady Inukimi and Lord Sesshomaru. It's been a long time since I've seen you my lord," Akihito greeted with a solemn smile as the two dog demons entered his corridor. Sesshomaru merely huffed at him in slight agitation while Inukimi gracefully bowed.
"Yes Akihito, it has been a long time since my son has been in my castle. Though I simply could not keep the information you gave me about his human to myself. I need you to tell him the girl's future," Inukimi replied, her cold eyes dark and calculating as she surveyed the older man.
Sesshomaru couldn't help the doubts that filled his head as he stared down at the human. He was a pathetically frail man that was unable to even stand any longer due to his aging body, and yet his mother somehow found him useful to her. He had heard of the man countless times from Inukimi, and about the powers he supposedly controlled.
A fortune teller, that's what his mother had labeled him as on multiple occasions. She had mentioned that he had been able to accurately predict the death of his father and the results of many demonic wars that the West had gone through. He had tipped her off when it was beneficial to fight, and when it was better to comply to an opponent's demands. But he's human, Sesshomaru thought angrily, he has no powerful aura nor peculiar scent that would pertain to his unique abilities. The human could be working for one of their life long enemies, or being bribed by them to ward off his mother's forces. Yet his mother kept the human there, and even gave him his own servants to care for him.
"Ah yes, you do have a mouth on you my lady," Akihito smiled and Sesshomaru was slightly surprised when his mother returned it. Akihito adverted his eyes from Inukimi and switched his gaze over to Sesshomaru before continuing. "Lady Inukimi has told me about your human girl that you have been considering bringing here. I strongly suggest that you do so, quickly," Sesshomaru tensed at the urgency in the man's voice and couldn't help the redness that had started to appear in his eyes at the hint of Rin being in danger.
"What do you know about Rin?" Sesshomaru asked, his darker demonic voice overtaking his monotone one. Akihito didn't even flinch at the sound of his inner demon, and seemed even more comfortable around him. As if calling on his demon was something he had expected, and it calmed him that he had been right.
"If you leave her there, she will surely die," he answered solemnly and Sesshomaru snarled at him before making a mad grab for his robes. "Why should I believe you?" he growled at him and Akihito placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Because you're reacting...like this," and he motioned to Sesshomaru's face and hand that was holding his clothes in a death grip. Sesshomaru outwardly flinched at the show of emotion and let the man go before taking a step back. Akihito fell to the ground roughly and let out a grunt of discomfort before rubbing his back.
"Do you have no respect for your elders? This body isn't what it used to be..." Akihito grumbled, but Sesshomaru openly ignored him. Akihito glanced at him for a moment, as if expecting an apology, but then let out a sigh. He started squirming on the pillow that was underneath him until he was comfortable before continuing.
"The fox demon, Shippo, has angered one of the lords of the East, the one named Daichi. He is a cat demon who has just recently inherited his father's kingdom. He had been traveling Westward to try and observe his enemies to plot an attack, but was distracted when he spotted your human," Akihito stated. Sesshomaru kept his emotions in check and continued to keep an emotionless, slightly bored expression on his face. Even as he was silently fuming at the mention of Daichi being distracted by Rin. By the way the old human emphasized 'distracted' Sesshomaru knew that it wasn't an innocent curiosity in her, but a much darker more dangerous desire for her.
"He was immediately attracted to her and demanded that she become his mate. When she refused he intended to force himself on her, but was interrupted by Shippo. The two demons began to fight and Daichi was beaten and sent running with his tail between his legs. But Daichi will want to retaliate, and won't come alone. He'll end up summoning forces to attack the village and make them suffer before taking Rin captive," Akihito paused for a moment to search Sesshomaru's gaze, but when he found nothing he continued,
"He will fail, eventually being defeated and killed by the fox demon. But all will not be well for your human. Driven by the thrill of such a victory, Shippo's demonic powers will surge and he will no longer be himself. He will give in to his demonic power to defeat Daichi and will end up succumbing to it completely. Once he returns to his humanoid form his senses will pick up Rin's fertility and, unable to resist, he will rape her and kill her," Akihito stated darkly as he continued to study Sesshomaru's expression.
"What will you do Sesshomaru?" Inukimi asked curiously, but Sesshomaru did not answer either. In fact he had barely registered that they were awaiting an answer from him. Rin, he thought as he down casted his eyes for a moment, dare he try and capture her from the life she had made for herself so she could survive? She'll fight me, hate me for taking her, and I will not stand for that, he thought angrily. He knew that leaving the girl in a human village would stir tears, loneliness, even depression but to suddenly sweep her back into his care would only reopen the hope that he had seen in her four years ago.
He and Rin could not be together, he would not repeat his father's mistake. But he also knew that he could not ignore Akihito's warning either. He had lost Rin once, and the pain in his chest had been so astronomical that he could not even fathom having to go through it a second time. Especially because he had a way of preventing her death, a way to allow her a few more years of life.
"I suggest you make a decision soon, or you'll be burying the girl's corpse," Akihito promised in a matter-of-fact tone, a trait that many demons possessed that surprised Sesshomaru. His warning was enough to get Sesshomaru's feet moving. No matter how much Rin would hate him, spite him, even want to kill him, any of those options were better than a dead Rin.
(Divider)
"Kohaku, look out!" Rin cried out as the demon slayer pivoted on his foot to slice his sword through a cockroach demon's head. The corpse fell to the ground at his feet and Kohaku quickly jumped over the body to clang his sword against a dragon demon's claws. Rin turned her head away from Kohaku's masterful skills at demon killing to shoot at a bird demon that was flying straight for her. It let out a shriek of pain as it disintegrated and her arrow fell to the floor. Rin dashed for the fallen weapon before knocking her arrow and shooting at a cat demon that was galloping towards a few villagers.
The fighting continued as Kohaku and Rin inched slowly through the village trying to save as many people as they could. Rin was proud at all the lives she was saving, but couldn't get the sight of human corpses out of her mind. One body in particular wouldn't leave her thoughts, the body of a young woman that she had found murdered in her own hut.
Rin hadn't recognized her, but the sight of her had been enough to cause the sensation of tears to prick her eyes. She had been sprawled across the floor in a pool of her own blood. Her legs had been spread apart so far that it looked like they were dislocated from her hips and there was a dark stream of blood coating her inner thighs. Rin had to hold in the need to sob at the realization that she had been raped by her attacker, and it didn't stop there. Her chest had been ripped open far enough that Rin could see the inside of her ribcage and that her organs had been removed, or eaten. The smell alone was enough to cause Rin to grab her stomach and cover her mouth to prevent herself from vomiting. Not wanting to see that horrifying image any longer Rin had ran as fast as she could away from the hut.
Rin had even killed the ogre demon that had exited that hut, only a moment after he lifted the hay curtain away from the woman's hut. If only I came a bit sooner! I could've saved that woman's life...Rin thought as tears of sorrow and guilt streamed down her cheeks.
Rin's mind returned to the present at the sound of Kohaku's calls and turned just in time to shoot at an ogre demon that had been close enough to lope off her head. After its body disintegrated Rin hurried to Kohaku's side and the demon slayer took her in a swift hug before spinning her around so they stood back-to-back as demons from all around surrounded the two.
"You've been doing great Rin, just a little bit more and I think they'll surrender," Kohaku stated hopefully from behind his mask and Rin could only nod. She could only hope that they'd leave, but if they were under Daichi's orders they may be more frightened of their lord than them.
The group of demons grunted and growled at the two, and Rin knocked her arrow before trying to think of which target to hit first. If she hit one, then she was positive that they'd all pounce to fight for their fallen comrade. Rin continued to contemplate what to do when she saw Kohaku's arm reach up and begin to spin, signifying that he was going to try and cut off all their heads at once with his weapon.
"Wait Kohaku," Rin called and Kohaku let his arm relax as the weapon fell softly to the ground.
"Do you have a plan, Rin?" he asked and Rin turned towards him with a confident smirk. "No, but I have an idea. If it doesn't work I'm going to need you to fight off as many demons as you can, because they're going to be angry," Rin replied and Kohaku's eyes narrowed, but he gave her a swift nod.
"You can do it, Rin," he told her confidently and turned his back on her to face the group of demons still vastly approaching them. Rin let her bow and arrow fall to the ground as she closed her eyes and focused her attention on each demon's aura. A moment later she felt the pull of her powers and slowly opened her eyes to gaze at the few demons in her line of vision. Their aura's swirled and spun around their bodies in an array of colors as she focused on them all. The auras began to slow in their motions before they began to twirl and swerve towards her as if summoned.
Rin noticed the demons that were being affected turn their heads this way and that in confusion and fear as their auras began leaving their bodies and circulating around Rin. One boar demon let out a squeal of distress before pivoting on its hooves and headed in the opposite direction. The other demons watched the boar run before growling and grunting amongst one another cautiously. A few more that Rin hadn't even taken aura from hightailed it out of the circle and headed for the hills in shrieks and squeals of distress and fear.
Rin focused on a few more demons next to the ones she had auras from and began calling their auras to her. Purple, green, yellow, and red streams of light began swirling and twisting around her body in a slow dance as the demons surveyed her in shock and confusion. Rin's light show seemed enough to scare the rest of the group because a moment later Kohaku and Rin were standing in an empty clearing.
Rin waited a second longer before relaxing her body and allowing the demon auras to scatter and return to their owners. The ribbons of light dispersed in a flash and it almost looked like shooting stars of all colors shot out from Rin's body as she fell to her knees, completely exhausted.
"Rin!" Kohaku cried before kneeling next to her and pulling her to his chest, "are you alright?" he asked worriedly as he moved a stray strand of dark brown hair from Rin's face. She looked up at him with a weak smile before nodding. "I'll be alright, you go on a head," she urged and Kohaku stared down at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I won't leave you here, unprotected," he stated and Rin could only smile at his devotion, it was quite admirable.
"I can protect myself, Kohaku," Rin stated and gently brushed his arm with her fingers, "I'm more worried about all the others that are still in the village. They need you more than I do," Rin replied and Kohaku's face fell and she could see that he agreed with her and seemed bothered at realizing that fact. His eyes hardened for a moment as he studied her face.
"I'll leave you here for now, but I'll be back to get you if we don't meet up again," he promised and Rin nodded. He gently let go of her before standing and, with one last look at her, he ran towards the village.
(Divider)
Sesshomaru could smell the smoke from miles away and he growled in disgust when he pinpointed the source of that smoke. It was coming from Rin's village, and it seemed to be engulfing the area and the people within. He quickened his strides and ignored the sounds of demonic cries that kept echoing around him. At least they're leaving, he thought as he heard the cries from multiple demons turn from challenging to distress. Though the demons seemed too weak to be dangerous, the sheer number of them that he sensed caused a feeling of unease to run through him. Even the weakest demons could overtake a powerful kingdom if their numbers were big enough. It wouldn't matter how many warriors and priestesses they had in Rin's village, if he didn't get there in time Rin would be killed if not by Shippo then by an ambush of demons.
He stopped just short of the village when the smell of human blood began to overtake his senses and he had to take a moment to collect himself. The only positive that ran through his mind was that he didn't recognize Rin's blood. His eyes suddenly became engulfed in red when he spotted the fox demon in full form fighting against a cat demon also in full form. The two large demons clawed and snapped at one another, though Sesshomaru saw that the cat seemed to have the upper hand in this fight.
He ignored the demons as he ran inward into the village, his eyes frantically searching for Rin. His senses were on high alert as well for her aura or scent, but everything became more difficult the more inward he got into the village. Smoke filled his nostrils and altered his eyesight and blocked others' auras from easily being detected. A bear demon came at him from the left and he easily sliced the demon open. A young woman ran out of a nearby hut a second later, seeming to have been waiting for the bear demon to pass, and the flash of brown hair caught his eye as he hastily grabbed for her arm.
Sesshomaru easily spun her around to face him and was slightly agitated when he noted that the girl looked nothing like Rin. She let out an exasperated scream before Sesshomaru pushed her angrily away and she took the moment of opportunity to run. He continued heading towards the middle of the village but was stopped again when he spotted the young demon slayer boy fighting off a couple of demons. The boy may know where Rin is, it'd be more beneficial to find out what he knows than run aimlessly around, Sesshomaru thought. Altering his path he quickly summoned his poison whip before circling the attacking demons with it and slightly tugging his wrist back. The demons were instantly cut in half and their separate parts fell to the ground in a harmless heap of limbs.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Kohaku cried out in relief after the danger was gone and gave him a small wave, but Sesshomaru didn't return it. A couple humans let out screams of fear from behind the demon slayer before running away as fast as their human legs would take them. Kohaku watched them run into the forest and out of sight before turning to face Sesshomaru, but flinched when the dog demon used his demon speed to appear before him.
"Have you seen Rin?" he asked in monotone, making sure to mask away his anxiety. The demon slayer took a moment to answer before replying, "Yes, she's at the outskirts of the village. We made it to the other side and she told me to go on without her. I'm trying to find more survivors," he answered and pointed to where the "outskirts" were. Sesshomaru didn't respond, merely continued on with his demonic speed in the direction Kohaku had pointed. The boy had told him what he wanted to know, so he no longer needed to protect him.
Once he got further away from the fire and the smoke he picked up Rin's scent and was relieved to sense that she was not seriously injured. He picked up his pace anyway and was able to find her in a matter of seconds. The girl tensed and sat up defensively before recognizing him. Her dark eyes widened in surprise before she stood up on shaky legs.
"Lord...Sesshomaru..." she murmured, still staring at him as if he weren't real. He kept his emotions in check and continued to hide behind his emotionless mask as he surveyed her. She was no longer wearing the miko kimono, rather she was wearing the kimono he had bought her right before he had left her in Kaede's care. Her body had grown and she seemed to fit the kimono perfectly, rather than it be a little too large for her small frame. A swell of pride circulated in his chest at how well she wore the crest of his land, and how well it seemed to suither.
After a moment Sesshomaru realized that Rin hadn't ran to him, or even smiled. Had the downturn of her village affected her that much? He took a step towards her, wondering if she was waiting for him to make the first move. But then she did something that puzzled and enraged him, she shrank away.
"What are you doing here?" she asked icily and he didn't miss the way she tensed up and narrowed her eyes at him. He growled loudly at her and felt his eyes bleed red. He never took demands well, and Rin's tone was definitely pushing some dangerous boundaries. "Watch yourself, Rin," he warned darkly and he noted the slight fear that shined in her eyes which only fueled his anger more. Rin had never been afraid of him, so why was she so distrusting and afraid now? Had she been mistreated or taught to fear demons while under Kaede's care?
"If you've come to take me back, than you can just turn around now," she replied sternly, though he caught the tightness of her voice and the pleading in her eyes for him to stay. His anger lessened and his eyes returned to their golden hue before his eyes narrowed slightly.
"You do not wish to return with me?" he asked nonchalantly and Rin hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding her head.
"I have to protect my people. They will continue to die unless I do something, and I will not go with you until I know they are safe," she answered, a strong determination in her eyes surprising Sesshomaru. He knew that as a child she had been a bit headstrong, but it had doubled in adulthood.
"Do as you wish, but I will accompany you," Sesshomaru stated and his eyes narrowed when he saw Rin's mouth open to object. She shut her mouth immediately when she recognized his warning and quickly adverted her eyes. "If you wish to come, then I cannot stop you, my lord," she murmured and turned her head away to expose her neck to him, signaling her submission to his decision. He didn't reply to her, but was secretly pleased that she hadn't forgotten how to act around demons even though she had been around humans for some time.
At the sound of a scream Rin's head shot back up and her eyes widened as she quickly looked around for the source of that scream. Sesshomaru merely turned his head to the right, already finding and pinpointing the source. He sensed a demon nearby and quickly jumped into the air when he realized that the demon meant to attack Rin next.
A large muskrat demon screeched loudly when it spotted Sesshomaru's form above it and it quickly tensed its muscles before moving to strike. Sesshomaru couldn't help the small smirk that spread across his lips at the weak demon's foolishness, for what could such a measly demon hope to achieve? It seems this demon desires an early demise, he thought with a satanic smile before his claws sliced through the muskrat's body. After the corpse fell to the ground Sesshomaru spotted movement out of the corner of his eye and cracked his knuckles in anticipation. His body relaxed a moment later when he sensed that it was merely a human, a human woman no less, making her way over to Rin.
"Hinata!" Rin cried in surprise before catching the woman as she nearly fell to the ground. Sweat coated her forehead and she began to shake in Rin's arms as the younger woman struggled to hold her upright. By Rin's distress and call of the human's name, Sesshomaru could only assume that Rin knew this woman. Sesshomaru turned his head away and began to survey the area for further threats as Rin continued to comfort the woman she called Hinata.
"Oh Rin, I thought that demon was going to kill me!" Hinata exclaimed exasperatedly and her knuckles turned white when she tightened her grip on Rin's kimono sleeves. Rin's expression turned from shock to worry as she gently rubbed the woman's back and began to whisper words of reassurance to her.
"No! Nothing will be alright Rin! Our village is destroyed and people are dead!" Hinata screamed and pushed Rin roughly away before pointing an accusing finger at Sesshomaru, "and you brought another demon here! I wouldn't be surprised if this whole massacre was your doing! We all knew you hated humans as a child, Lady Kaede said so! It'd give you enough incentive to send your demon pets after us!"
"Hinata..." Rin murmured as tears began to appear in her dark eyes, "First he isn't my pet, it's more of the reverse really...and how can you say that? I've worked so hard to be accepted in this village. I've risked my life to save all of you!"
"You've planned this all out, haven't you? You send down an attack and then "save us" afterward to win our acceptance! Well, it's not going to work, I'll tell all of the villagers what you've done!" Hinata screamed before running off towards the edge of the village. Sesshomaru turned on her and appeared before the stick of a woman, blocking her way out. She let out a shriek of fear and shrunk so far down that Sesshomaru was sure the back of her head was touching dirt.
"Let her go," Rin whispered tightly and Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her.
"You will allow this human to ruin your name?" he couldn't help but ask, he was truly curious.
"Yes," she answered just as quietly, her bangs hanging over her head, hiding her eyes from his view. He turned a bored eye towards Hinata before walking away from her while running his clawed hand through his hair. While he was no longer blocking her only exit, he didn't hesitate to send her a warning glare that proclaimed that even though Rin wanted her alive, he didn't. Hinata watched him uneasily before turning completely around and hurrying towards the outskirts of the village, and to safety.
Sesshomaru didn't miss her momentary stop at the edge of the forest though, to look back at Rin with sad eyes. He wasn't sure if it was regret or pity he saw in her eyes, but either way he couldn't help a warning growl that escaped his lips. A warning that proclaimed, "get away or you won't ever see the light of day." She gave him a terrified glance before turning around and hightailing it into the safety of the forest.
"Why...does everyone hate me?" Rin asked in a choked breath once they were alone again, and Sesshomaru couldn't mask his surprise at such a question. "I try so hard to win over people's acceptance, but I'm never allowed to stay long enough to win their affections. My family was murdered by bandits, people from my birth village beat me, the villagers here are going to start thinking ill of me, and you," Rin paused to bring her head up to stare straight into his eyes, "you left me here,"
"Leaving you here does not signify that I hate you Rin," he replied logically, catching the hidden meaning behind her words.
"Why else would you leave me here when you know full well that I hated humans?!" Rin screamed at him before biting her lip with slight regret shimmering in her eyes, but she didn't look away or summit to him.
"It was too dangerous for you to travel with me," Sesshomaru answered and could feel his baser instincts kick in at the sight of her directly challenging his position of authority. If she didn't show any signs of submission soon, he would be forced to put her in her place. He had never needed to do such a thing to Rin before, for she had always been a very submissive child, but he assumed that all this built up emotion inside her now was fueling this rebellious act.
"That's not true, you could've left me at the castle. Jaken's mate would've gladly watched over me," Rin replied angrily, "I'm tired of your excuses, tell me why you really left me here. Did you find me so repulsive or bothersome that you had to dump me somewhere? Did you think that I would-"
"Enough!" Sesshomaru ordered, his demonic voice coating his human based one. Rin flinched at the sound of his deeper, much darker voice that seemed to echo around the clearing they were standing in. His could feel the blood coursing through his body and around his eyes. He was losing control, and he was losing it fast.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." Rin murmured as she stared at him wide-eyed, but straightened her frame and stood up confidently. She was exuding dominance and by the seriousness of her gaze he knew that she wouldn't submit or shrink away. She's blatantly waving her challenge in your face! You must show her who her alpha is, the darker, demonic voice ordered and Sesshomaru clenched his jaw to hide the fact that his fangs had grown out and were almost demanding the taste of her flesh, the taste of her submission. Her kimono had fallen slightly off her shoulder and the exposed skin looked especially delectable to Sesshomaru's blood red eyes.
The yearning to sink his fangs into her bared shoulder was almost impossible to ignore, almost. Sesshomaru would never submit to his inner demon, he was the one in control. Never would Rin come to harm under his protection, which included protection from himself.
Sesshomaru had been so preoccupied with his inner battle that he didn't even realize when Rin was merely a hairsbreadth away until he felt the gentle touch of her hand against his cheek. His eyes widened slightly before his dark green irises landed on Rin and he bared his fangs at her in warning. She didn't even flinch.
"I've angered you my lord, forgive me," she pleaded before closing her eyes and a moment later Sesshomaru felt his demonic warfare within himself cease. He was suddenly at peace and he felt his fangs retract and his vision clear. When their eyes met again, chocolate met gold as she gave him a weak smile before collapsing against his chest. His clawed hands instinctively grabbed a hold of her arms to steady her as she laid limp in his arms.
"I didn't realize that it would take so much to...calm your demonic power. I'm so exhausted," she murmured before closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest. Her entire body seemed ready to collapse and he could sense that the little energy she had left was barely enough to keep her conscious. He surveyed her silently for a moment before lifting her up in his arms and cradling her against his chest.
Carrying her would conserve some of her energy and thus keep her conscious for a little longer. It was the logical reasoning behind him holding her, for he would never do such a thing unless it was necessary of him to do so. Her wavy mass of hair cascaded down her back and tickled the skin of his forearm, but he ignored the sensation as he slowly began walking towards the forest.
I cannot leave her in the care of the humans hiding within the forest, and I cannot carry her through the village. I must take her back with me, it's the only way she'll stay safe, he thought to himself. Rin had been the only reason why he'd fight to save a human village, and now that he had her he had no other reason to continue fighting for it.
"No Sesshomaru...go back," Rin whispered, her eyes still masked by her lids, though he didn't miss the fact that she had dropped his honorific title. Hearing her whisper his name with such familiarity caused something to stir within him, and he rather liked the feeling.
"You are too weak to fight anymore, and I will not risk your life for petty humans," Sesshomaru replied, making sure to make it clear that there was no room for argument. Of course, Rin ignored it.
"I'm a human," she pointed out with a wry smile, "and Kohaku, Lady Kaede, and Shippo are still in that mess. I can't let them continue fighting and possibly die. I don't know what I'd do without them,"
Sesshomaru looked down at her and didn't care that she noticed he was blatantly staring. Rin had directly stated that she hated humans, and yet she wanted to put her life in danger to save the ones in her village. Why? Why would she think in such a contradicting way?
"What will you achieve by saving them?" he asked nonchalantly. Rin gave him a grim smile before replying, "Absolutely nothing,"
"Then why?" he couldn't help but add.
"Because, when my family was murdered I wanted someone to come and save me. I wanted someone to hold me and tell me everything was going to be alright, but no one came. No one even tried. The village that took me in only looked after me for a few months before I became a nuisance and they enjoyed beating me more than caring for me," She explained as she stared at the ground, seeming uncomfortable with meeting his gaze as she spoke.
"So you think that you can give salvation to them, salvation you needed as a child,"
"Yes, I do not want others to suffer like I had to," she murmured solemnly.
"I can not leave you in the forest with the other humans. If they believe Hinata's words, then your life will be in danger. It is too dangerous for me to carry you back into the village, you'll get in the way if I need to fight off more demons," Sesshomaru replied.
"I can fight. I've been fighting for awhile, Lady Kaede trained me well," Rin answered defensively before she winced and grabbed her arms before giving out a light cry of pain. Sesshomaru's arms distinctively tightened around her at her show of torment.
"It doesn't matter how much fighting experience you have, if you're injured then you can not fight," he replied sternly and wondered why it didn't bother him that he sounded like a concerned and somewhat peeved mate.
"But I-" Sesshomaru silenced his previous ward with a look before his senses picked up a familiar scent and his head turned upwards instinctively towards the source of that scent.
"My lord!" Jaken's shrill voice cried from above as the toad demon descended from the sky on Ahun. The two headed dragon let out a loud roar of greeting as it neared the ground. Though Sesshomaru had found the toad a bit annoying at times, he couldn't complain about Jaken's sudden appearance this time.
"Master Jaken!" Rin cried out in surprise before a wide grin spread across her face, "it's been much too long!" she exclaimed, seeming to suddenly have gained a lot of energy and spunk from some unknown place inside.
"Rin! You had this old toad worried about you! When I heard from Akihito that your village would be attacked I saw it fit to do my part to protect you," Jaken replied as Ahun landed gently onto the ground. The two heads studied Rin as a large demonic purr emitted from their mouths as he recognized Rin and his large dragon tail began to wag in excitement at seeing the young human again.
"Jaken I am in need of your assistance," Sesshomaru stated and Jaken's face perked up in anticipation.
"Anything my lord!" he chirped loyally from Ahun's saddle.
"Watch after Rin while I go in search of her comrades and fellow villagers," Sesshomaru replied and noted how Jaken's face fell at realizing that he would be charged with babysitting duties. Sesshomaru rather enjoyed how some things never changed...
"Yes, my lord," Jaken sighed and jumped off the dragon's saddle as Sesshomaru approached the mount and gently rested Rin across the large saddle so she rested against the back of one of the necks of Ahun's two heads.
"Please Lord Sesshomaru...let me go with you. I want to fight off these demons too," Rin murmured, though seemed to realize that by barely being able to sit upright she could be of no use to him.
"Your place is here foolish girl, like it always has been!" Jaken cried out exasperatedly.
"Like always..." Rin murmured and seemed lost in thought at the idea.
"You will remain with Ahun and Jaken until I return," Sesshomaru instructed and Rin closed her eyes before giving him a soft smile.
"Whatever you say my lord," she murmured before she seemed to almost effortlessly fall into slumber. Deeming her sudden lack of energy on pure exhaustion Sesshomaru didn't press the issue and used his demon speed to enter the village once again. Sometimes he wondered if all this effort was really worth it...
(Divider)
"Master Jaken," Rin called moments after she was sure Lord Sesshomaru had left. The toad demon gave a start before turning to look up at her. "Yes?" he asked rather hesitantly, already seeming suspicious of what she desired.
"I want to go to Lady Kaede, she lives on the other side of the village near its edge. We can fly Ahun over there," Rin stated weakly as she continued to rest all of her weight against the dragon's neck Sesshomaru had placed her on, though Ahun didn't whine or fidget under her so she assumed he didn't mind.
"You heard Lord Sesshomaru! He wants us to stay here," Jaken fought back instantly.
"He didn't say that in those words. He said he wanted us to stay together, so if we fly over to Lady Kaede we'll still technically be together, won't we?" Rin asked sweetly and couldn't help the smirk that spread across her face at Jaken's surprise.
"Well I suppose that would still...but I'm positive that Lord Sesshomaru meant that he wanted us to stay here, even if he didn't directly say it," Jaken replied and Rin gave him a slight pout that she had used as a child to get her way.
"But Master Jaken!" she whined and noted that her childish cries still had a powerful affect on the toad demon. His face grew hot before he rolled his eyes and glared up at her, "even as a "mature" human you still act like an insufferable child!" he groaned, but quickly climbed on Ahun's back when Rin situated herself better on the saddle and allowed him to sit in front of her.
"You're like a little kid Master Jaken!" Rin chirped before affectionately patting his head, both noting the obvious size difference between them which hadn't been so apparent when they had first traveled together about ten years earlier.
"Just be grateful that I'm risking my neck for you girl," Jaken grumbled as Ahun quickly lifted from the ground into the air.
"Fly towards the East Ahun!" Rin called and the dragon grunted before heading in the direction instructed.
"I'm starting to wonder if you're even hurt at all..." Jaken mumbled, noting the spark in her eyes and the way she was able to carry herself confidently. Could she have been...faking?
(Divider)