Author's Note: O_O IT'S . . . DONE . . . Ya'll don't even know how much I struggled on writing this chapter. I just . . . I couldn't motivate myself to write this one scene, and the chapter was longer, and I suck at trying to write when I don't want to and- T^T It was SO HARD. I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG. I hope it being nearly twice the length as my previous chapters appeases you guys. Once again, I'm so sorry it took this long to update, I just REALLY struggled with this chapter. Anyways, on that note I do believe I should say (though you probably can already tell) I am not good at updating on schedule. In fact, I tried once to stick to a schedule when it came to updated on this story and it went south fast. So . . . I'll just let you know now, I'll update when I'm done writing and the intervals between the updates aren't going to be consistent. OK. So. THIS IS WHERE THE AUTHOR'S NOTE GETS IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT TO THE STORY SO READ HERE. If you noticed, below I have changed the whole POV language thing. That's because it is FUCKING ANNOYING to try and keep up the whole bolding one language and not for the other. So. I have changed the story a bit for now and in the future. The Lupine and Vampir in this story will both speak a general language when speaking to one another. However, they both still have their own languages and will still use them occasionally. Yeah. So, I'm sorry about the change but it was a pain to try and keep the language thing up. Anyways, ENJOY THE STORY. Sorry for taking so long. =_='

"SHARED."

"LUPINE."

"VAMPIR."

"SHARED MENTAL."

"VAMPIR MENTAL."

9

The ears atop Rin's head twitched twice as her chocolate doe eyes peaked open from under her bangs. She blinked, mind groggy with the fog of sleep and blood loss. Rin did not recall exactly how she had fallen asleep but something in her mind told her that the reasons were far too embarrassing to recall. Frowning slightly in confusion, Rin lifted herself off the floor, the fluorescent mineral around her illuminating her in a light blue glow.

She yawned as her mind slowly worked on remembering the actions that took place before she fell unconscious. The image of silver ribbons and golden orbs flowed through her thoughts and Rin's heart clenched.

"Sesshomaru," she whispered, not yet understanding the depth in the name that had appeared in her thoughts.

"Sesshomaru." She tried again. "Sesshomaru-" Rin gasped.

The memories of her being taken from her village, riding with the general, Sesshomaru drinking from her and her trying to mate with him crashed through Rin's mind like a tornado.

"O-Oh my." Rin stuttered, her face a bright red. Her memories of the past few days now restored, Rin looked around the cave bottom, suddenly very aware of the presence of the Vampir General. Or the lack thereof. Rin's face fell. Where was Sesshomaru?

"General?" she called around the cave. No response. Rin swallowed the knot in her throat before she glanced upwards curiously. The blue light from stone seemed to reach up the sides of the walls, desperately fighting against the darkness of the long shaft leading upwards. Rin paled slightly, the knowledge that her brother was somewhere far above her was both terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. The face of her brother flashed quickly through her mind. His large, lopsided grin, his sparkling blue eyes, and his long black hair. The sudden need to cry stirred in Rin's heart. Biting her lip Rin held back her feelings. She needed to focus; she needed to find Sesshomaru.

Taking a deep breath, Rin pivoted her body to inspect the area around her more thoroughly. It was only then that she noticed a hole in the cavern wall. It was rather large, actually, and as Rin inspected it further she began to question how she had missed it in the first place. The hole was the entrance to a tunnel way that seemed to go on forever.

"Did he go in there?" Rin questioned to herself. Though, while she said that, Rin was really wondering if the General had abandoned her. Rin suddenly became very conscious of her venerable state. Her hands and feet were burned raw, her legs broken, and she was in serious need of blood. Without the Vampir General, Rin realized, she would die.

"This is no good." Rin swore to herself. She had no idea what to do, and even if she did Rin wouldn't be able to go through with her plan; she couldn't move. The Lupine princess really wanted to cry now. Lying back on the ground, Rin closed her eyes, her only option now to wait for the General to return. That was, if he ever did return.

Mind reeling with worry and questions, Rin didn't notice the large black shadow that began emerging from the opening in the wall.

"Did he really leave me?" Rin questioned, her bad habit of speaking to herself now emerging as she fretted.

"I do suppose he hates my kind. I would not be surprised if he decided I was not worth the time or effort." Rin continued, not noticing the massive creature that began drawing closer to her. "I also tried to m-mate with him. Anybody would want to leave after that kind of experience." Rin's ears twitched at the sound of the creature's movements, passing it off as water dripping onto the cave floor. The creature was now within arms reach.

"I guess he really does hate me." Rin whispered, her eyes finally opening. Rin froze when they met with feral crimson ones. The breath left her as the large dragon-like creature glared down at her hungrily. A moment passed between the two before –in a swift, invisible movement- the creature swung at Rin. It's massive paw, as big as her abdomen, connected with her side and Rin went flying across the cave into the wall. (AN: She's having a pretty rough time, huh? ^ ^')

A cry of surprise and pain erupted form Rin as she collided with the stone. Blood exploded from her mouth at the same time and Rin had to struggle to keep herself from choking. The dragon watched with a wild look in its eyes as Rin attempted to sit herself back up and crawl away with her broken legs. A gleam of excitement seemed to shine through its ruby irises. Rin gasped as the dragon leapt at her, its large paw coming down on her legs, quelling her attempts at escape. Tears exploded from Rin's eyes as she threw back her head and screamed.

The blood-curdling cry echoed through the cavern and the dragon growled in a predatory response. Hiccups and sobs poured out of Rin as the dragon leaned down towards her face, its jaw open and its large canines shining in the light of the blue stone.

"Dragon's Strike."

Suddenly, a blinding blue light burst into the cave and Rin covered her eyes with her arms in response. The dragon above her screeched as the sudden oncoming energy wave engulfed it, tearing it away from the person of the Lupine Princess and slamming it into the opposite wall. The deafening SMACK caused Rin to wince as she slowly sat up, pulling her arms away from her eyes. She watched as the dragon's body slowly stopped moving and the cave was again returned to silence.

A light sound of boots striding against the ground caused Rin to look towards the opening in the cave, her eyes wide. When, trough the shadows, the gleam of silver ribbons met her eyes, Rin released a breath she didn't know she held. Sesshomaru entered the cave with his eyes focused on the dragon and his natural glower put in place.

"General." Rin breathed out in relief. Sesshomaru turned to her before striding over, his sword Tokijin gripped tightly in one hand and long, brown objects in the other. Rin recognized them as sticks.

"Princess," Sesshomaru addressed, though no form of respect was held in his tone. Rin smiled lightly. The Vampir General kneeled down next to Rin, his sudden closeness causing her to blush. "Hold on to This Sesshomaru's shoulders." He commanded. Rin nearly choked in shock but seeing his serious expression complied. As she leaned close to his chest she couldn't help but think how pleasant his natural smell was.

"This will hurt." Sesshomaru spoke quietly to her as he positioned the sticks alongside Rin's legs. In that moment, she knew what he was doing but she didn't have enough time to prepare herself before Sesshomaru pressed the sticks in close and began wrapping them. The pain of the bone being set jolted through Rin's body.

She let out a small cry of pain and gripped Sesshomaru's shoulders tightly, biting her lip to hold back more cries till blood entered her mouth. Tears began falling down her face. When Sesshomaru was done with the first leg, he gave Rin no obvious indication he was until he had started on the next one. The same reaction came from Rin and lasted even after he was finished as he allowed her to rest on him.

"You and This Sesshomaru cannot stay here long. To leave this place This Sesshomaru will require your assistance. The same applies to you in this situation."

Rin nodded slightly into Sesshomaru's chest, timidly wiping the tears away form her cheeks, her ears wilted and her tail void of motion.

"I understand. However, I ask that you let me sit for a few moments longer. I- my body- is not ready to go yet."

Sesshomaru said nothing which Rin interpreted as an 'okay' before she allowed herself to settle her head on Sesshomaru's chest. They stayed like that for a few more moments while the air around them became awkward. Rin remembered very clearly what had happen just before she had passed out; she knew Sesshomaru did also. She could feel his heated gaze on her. So, while Rin was not ready, physically, to be moved, she pulled away from Sesshomaru's chest and nodded at him none the less.

"I am ready."

Sesshomaru frowned at her slightly before turning around and offering Rin his back.

"Get on."

Rin blushed at the command and was about to question Sesshomaru before she considered the alternate options of being carried either like a sack or like a bride. Biting her lip nervously, Rin wrapped her arms around Sesshomaru's neck and pulled herself close. His slender arms found their way to Rin's thighs as he cupped them, careful no to get too close to her injured calves. While Rin was charmed by his consideration, she was also extremely embarrassed by how close his hands were to her rear. Her feet and hands ached through the bandages.

~ . . .~

The Lupine princess stayed mute while Sesshomaru carried her through the tunnel. Her chest was pressed tightly to his back and while she rested on him Sesshomaru listened intently to her breathing. Unbeknownst to Rin, the general was quietly wondering on how she was fairing. He had been unable to return in time to keep the dragon from attacking her and that made him painfully aware that her previously injured body was even more so now. Rin, however, tried her very best to ignore the dull ache that throbbed from where the dragon's attack connected. Her eyes were, instead, focused on the luminescent rock that encased her and Sesshomaru as they walked through the tunnel.

"It's almost as if we're in a fairy's palace." Rin whispered in awe. Sesshomaru glanced back at her, his pace not faltering as he watched her eyes glitter. Rin's tail was wagging slightly in excitement.

"It is a maze." He spoke. Rin looked at his face as he did, a small gasp leaving her when their eyes met. Instantly, Sesshomaru tore away and Rin flushed red.

"A-a maze?" Rin asked, trying –and failing- to keep the picture of Sesshomaru pressed against her wrist out of her mind. The General tried to ignore the princess' shy blush when he glanced back to her.

"Yes, a naturally formed one. However, this Sesshomaru believes that another exit exists besides the one we fell into. The sticks that this Sesshomaru found for your legs were from a dragon's nest. The creatures must have retrieved them from somewhere."

"Are we to wander until we find that exit?" Rin asked, eyes wide. Sesshomaru hummed.

"Assuming that this endeavor will take more than a day, what will we do for food?" Rin wondered out loud. As soon as the words left her mouth, however, she regretted it. Sesshomaru snapped his attention forward, his eyes training ahead of them so as not to look at Rin. The princess blushed in embarrassment as the memory of Sesshomaru feeding from her became the only thought that processed in her head.

"I probably should not have asked that, huh?" Rin mused. Sesshomaru stayed quiet.

Biting her bottom lip nervously, Rin leaned forward lay her head on Sesshomaru's shoulder. The man tensed slightly at the action, but –remembering Rin's injuries and probable fatigue- he said nothing as he allowed her to rest on him. The two of them fell into silence as they began exploring the twists and turns of the maze, the only sound being that of Sesshomaru's boots on the stone.

"Why . . ." Rin glanced up at Sesshomaru as he broke their silence, "do you remain impassive to my actions?"

Rin's eye widened.

"What?" she whispered.

"How can you not hate me?"

Brown eyes slowly began to soften as they looked to the stern porcelain face of the Vampir. Rin smiled slightly.

"Sesshomaru," The man tensed as the princess referred to him without his title, "we Lupine are very in tune with the emotions of others, did you know that?"

The man remained silent, but the air around him told Rin that he was aware.

"It definitely," Rin paused, "makes our people quite the cry-babies when it comes down to it. However, I think of being able to sense other's emotions as a gift."

"I believe," she said softly, "that words cannot fully express what a person's heart really is trying to say. More than anything else, Sesshomaru, I don't want anyone to die. Everyone has something that they want to say but can't; something they want to give to the world. When you can feel people's hearts, feel their pain, their sadness, their joy, there is no way you can wish death upon them. This is both for my people and yours. I just want . . ." The golden orbs of the General widened when he felt the liquid soak through the cloth covering his shoulder. "This war," Rin sobbed, "I want it to end."

The air around them grew quiet –save Rin's sobs- as Sesshomaru slowed his pace to a stop. He stood there, his mind plagued with the thoughts of his father, his hatred towards the Lupine, the Great Betrayal.

"I have . . ." Sesshomaru started hesitantly. In his eyes, a slight cautiousness flickered. A cautiousness put in place as if he was about to speak his true heart for the first time in his life. "I . . . have killed many of your people, Rin."

The girl gasped slightly through her tears at his use of her name. "I have slain many on the battlefield. I have tried to kill your brother and yet you still wish me not to die?"

Rin shook her head; no.

"Why? I have hated your kind all of my life, I . . . have only wished death upon you."

"Then why?" Rin hiccupped, "Why did you not kill my people when you took our valley? Why did you give those children blankets when they were cold? If you hate our kind so much, Sesshomaru, why did you resist drinking my blood so long?"

Sesshomaru tensed.

"You . . . are not a bad person, Sesshomaru," Rin smiled through her tears, "I can feel it: your kindness that you keep locked up inside of your heart. It's just, somewhere along the way, you lost your ability to show it. Something broke in you."

The image of his father, face a deathly pallor, being carried away in a coffin flashed into the General's mind. Sesshomaru's eyes darkened slightly before he began walking again.

"I cannot forget what you have done." Rin spoke, her voice low and her sobbing ceased. "The pain you have caused to those I cherish is not one to be forgotten. However, I know that we, too, have killed many of your people, and that is why I hold nothing against you. In war, even kind men such as yourself become the object of hatred. I can forgive you, General, however, I can never forget."

Sesshomaru closed his eyes as a smile graced his lips.

"That is how it should be."

After that, they fell quiet. Neither one speaking for several hours.

~ . . . ~

"Princess," Sesshomaru's eye caught the twitch of the woman's ear in the corner of his vision and he frowned. She was asleep. Letting out a slightly elongated breath, Sesshomaru sighed. The General had no idea why he had felt the need to tell the woman on his back any of his true thoughts when they talked hours before. He wasn't entirely sure why he had cared what the woman thought of him in the first place. All Sesshomaru knew at that point was that he found the Lupine Princess to be exceedingly intriguing. He had no idea why. Maybe it was because he wasn't even aware of her existence till he found her in the Wolf Valley a few days before. Had Naraku known of her? Sesshomaru mused. He shook off the thought. It didn't matter. Either way, he would take her to him. It was his duty, and no matter how much he was afflicted by the woman's personality, he would complete it.

"Princess," Sesshomaru prodded again, speaking louder as to wake her. The woman made a small stirring noise before she nuzzled herself deeper into Sesshomaru's shoulder. The place where her cheek met his shoulder was warm. The General tried to ignore that.

"Rin."

Her eyes snapped open, slightly startling Sesshomaru –though he didn't show it.

"I-I'm sorry. I fell asleep." The Lupine Princess slurred groggily. Sesshomaru found her slightly disheveled appearance along with the tiny trail of drool from her mouth both disgusting and humorous at the same time. Either way, he would have to get rid of his shirt.

"This Sesshomaru intends to free his hands. He will set you down, are you prepared?" Sesshomaru asked. His voice was more that of a command that an inquiry.

"Huh?" Rin mumbled, still drowsy, "Ah. Y-Yes, please do whatever you need to, General."

Sesshomaru hummed before setting Rin down on a near rock, making sure to avoid touching her calves to anything. It was only then that the princess seemed to notice that instead of being in the usual, compact path of the maze, they were in a large, spacious air pocket. Behind her was the way they came from, and on the opposite side of the cave two paths laid before them. Two options. However, Rin could only tell this because of her Lupine vision. It was when she noticed this that she too noticed the lack of the glowing rock.

"Where are we?" Rin asked. Sesshomaru cast the Princess a look and Rin instantly understood that he didn't know either. Turning away, Sesshomaru strolled over to a nearby collection of sticks. Rin frowned. Where they in a dragon's nest?

"An abandoned one." Sesshomaru supplied. He hadn't had to read her mind to understand what she was wondering. Although, it was quite entertaining for him to watch her think that he had. Rin was flushed a deep crimson.

"What are you doing, General?" Rin asked, her eyes wide in wonder. Sesshomaru didn't respond –as per usual- before he pulled the tucked hem of his white dress shirt out from his pants. Rin went speechless as Sesshomaru pulled the hem over his head, stripping the shirt from his body in a swift movement. Cheeks flushed a furious red, Rin couldn't stop her eyes from glancing at the General's perfectly chiseled abdomen, nor the two sets of magenta stripes that rode on either side of his hips. They matched the ones on his cheeks and wrists.

Sesshomaru ignored the slight ogling the princess gave him as he began wrapping the shirt around a stick he had picked up. From what he understood, the girl must have only had interactions with her family and that maid that could speak Vampir. She had probably never seen a man undress. So, he decided to ignore the staring, despite his slight unease, and continue to craft his torch.

Shirt wrapped firmly around the edge of the stick, Sesshomaru then turned to a puddle of water in the corner of the cave. He approached it, effectively increasing the princess' curiosity of his doings. He dipped the clothed end of the stick into the liquid before wringing it slightly and bringing it to his lips. He blew delicately on the liquid-heavy cloth and it instantly burst into flames, effectively completing his torch. Rin gasped.

"Oh my," she whispered in awe. Sesshomaru walked back over to the stunned princess. "I wasn't aware that you possessed magic fire-breathing abilities as well, General!" she exasperated, "I was only told rumors of you having that enchanted sword, Tokijin!" Sesshomaru's eyes sparkled in amusement, though his face stayed neutral.

"This cave is filled with Houou." Sesshomaru explained, bending down to offer Rin his back again. "It is a special flammable liquid that we Vampir use to make our torches. It won't ignite when it is in puddles or when it is in its solidified form. Only when it's strung along cloth will it light; one only has to use their breath to heat it. It glows when in its rock-like state."

"So that's why these caves glow? It's filled with Houou?" Rin mused, wrapping her arms around Sesshomaru's neck as he hoisted her up. Sesshomaru hummed.

The man then turned towards the two paths that lay before them and began walking towards the one on the right. He didn't think much of the princess behind him stiffening until she whispered sharply.

"Sesshomaru,"

The Vampir glanced back at his passenger, slightly thrown-off to see her staring upwards at the ceiling. His golden gaze following hers, Sesshomaru stiffened when he, too, saw the object of Rin's attention.

"It's . . ." Rin began, eyes glittering, "beautiful."

The woman's skin was a beautiful unearthly pale, her long tussled hair a silken gun-metal grey; this matched her ears and tail. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips slightly parted as she slept. Her hair cascaded over her body like a waterfall over stone. Upon the ceiling, it looked as if she belonged there. Like she was made to sleep upon the rock forever, blessing all that happened upon her and managed to take her in.

Sesshomaru said nothing in response as his eyes ran over the painting of the naked Lupine maiden on the ceiling, her body illuminated by the glow of the torch.

"Someone . . . really loved her." Rin whispered, her senses picking up on every emotion coming from the portrait.

Sesshomaru wasn't as in-tune with emotions as Rin –or for any Lupine for that matter- but even could tell that whoever had painted this had taken care to make this woman as beautiful as possible. Even for a Lupine, the Vampir General could not deny that she was celestial.

"This is not . . . for our eyes." Sesshomaru said, tearing his gaze away from the painting and beginning to walk again. Rin's eyes moved from the picture to the man she clung to, her eyes wide in amazement. She was surprised that Sesshomaru had been able to sense that from the portrait. As beautiful as it was, the entire time Rin observed it she couldn't help but think that this painting wasn't meant for her to see -or anyone to see, for that matter. It gave off an air of possession. Almost as if the one who painted it was telling all that the maiden was his and his alone.

"Yes," Rin agreed quietly, having to resist looking back up at the enshrinement. When she faced forward, though, her face morphed into that of surprise.

"General!" Rin exclaimed. Sesshomaru stopped walking, barely inside the entrance to the right path, to look back at Rin.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice calm and smooth. Rin's face lit up as she looked at him.

"The left one!" she said happily. Sesshomaru's brows drew in at Rin's generalness. "Go back." She spoke, eyes sparkling in the light of the torch.

"I could smell it from the left path."

"Smell what?" Sesshomaru questioned, starting to grow impatient.

"The air!" Rin cried, "The outside air!"