(Divider)
Alaster was resting in his room when a pounding came on his door. He opened his eyes before pushing himself up on his bed.
"Come in," he called flinching when his wrists burned, the injury he received from that woman still felt fresh. The door opened and a frightened troll demon came in looking around the room nervously.
"I'm sorry to bother you," it stated with the usual scratchy voice of the troll, "but I found the hiding place of Elder Sesshomaru,"
Alaster's eyebrows rose at the news, "I compliment your tracking ability,"
"Completely by accident actually," it stated. Alaster arose from his bed giving the troll his full attention.
"No matter, where is he?" he asked.
"He is staying at an abandoned home at the opposite side of the city from here," it told him.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive, I lost a fellow comrade to him. He was simply trying to feed on a human girl when Sesshomaru came out of no where and killed him," the troll said.
"Sounds about right, thanks for the information," Alaster stated. The troll bowed its head on the floor in respect before disappearing from sight.
"This has gone on for far too long. The girl must be destroyed," Alaster stated, then adverted his eyes to the right, "Kagura, come out from hiding," he added.
Moments later the wind sorceress appeared from the shadows, her exceptional beauty hidden behind her fan.
"I need you to distract Sesshomaru for me, while I get the girl," he stated.
"It'll be my pleasure," she said.
"She has bewitched him somehow. When she is destroyed maybe he will come back to his senses," Alaster murmured.
(Divider)
Sesshomaru sat by the edge of the town atop a hill overlooking the large river that separated the city from the next. He sat there thinking, thinking of how strange he felt.
Rin was a woman yes, but a human woman. The key word was human, so why did his feelings seem unchanged. He still desired to protect her, and keep her by his side. Was it still curiosity? Or something more?
"Don't think too hard, you might hurt yourself," a coy voice stated from behind him. He sat up straighter his eyes narrowed as he waited for her to state her purpose there.
"Not even a hello for your dear friend Kagura?" the wind sorceress asked, Sesshomaru could practically hear the smile on her lips.
When he didn't respond to her she sighed and moved to sit down beside him.
"Don't you think you've spent enough time hiding from home?" she asked gazing up at the stars. Sesshomaru continued to look ahead not bothering to look at her.
"You know its getting kind of tiring talking to myself," she added turning to look at him with a raised brow.
This time he looked at her.
"There's no need for me there. Alaster would not permit me back," he stated. Kagura smirked before it broke into a grin.
"He sent me here to get you so you could come back. He needs you there, he says that you're the only one who could lead the demon house after he passes," Kagura replied.
He turned away and looked up at the stars thinking about Rin, how would she play in all this if he went back?
"Of course you'd have to give up your human pet," Kagura added as if reading his thoughts.
"She isn't a pet, besides now she'll never be safe alone. I can't go back," he stated.
"Fine, go back to that little human. And when your out here hiding her from us, think about how she cost you the leadership of the house," Kagura spat before taking off. Sesshomaru didn't bother to chase her, instead he decided he needed to head back to Rin.
He didn't understand yet what role he was supposed to take with the human, but he decided that he should let her continue on staying under his protection.
(Divider)
Rin decided a while ago to give up on just sitting around and got herself up with the intent on going on as if she always had without a bodyguard. Who needed him anyway? She could stay out here without worry of being detected. Sesshomaru had said that this place was too far for any demon to find, at least for a couple days.
When Rin made it to the kitchen she opened the closet to survey what was there, which wasn't much. She decided on a can of fruit and as she reached up for it she was startled by a voice behind her.
"We meet again my dear," he said, his voice sending chills down her back. She knew who he was without needing to turn and see his face.
"Did you think you could get away with injuring me, the great Elder of the Demon house?" he persisted when she did not say anything.
Rin set the can back before taking a big breath and turning to face the dragon demon.
His eyes blazed as he took her form in, his face menacing.
"Your aura is not strong in this realm," he pointed out continuing to look over her.
Rin felt her legs begin to shake, but she had to do something to bide time, so she could think.
"I do have power here, I just hide it well. To keep my enemies on their toes," Rin stated and raised her chin hoping he wouldn't call her bluff.
"You're bluffing," he answered without hesitation.
Not good.
"How dare you say that! If I wanted to I would have you tied down like you were the last time. But this time there wouldn't be any room for pity, not when you go and insult me!" Rin cried feeling silly but knew if she showed any fear he'd kill her right then.
She noted happily that the anger in his eyes faded slightly and worry appeared on his face.
"I hope you intend on leaving me alone, or face my wrath," Rin warned feeling stronger and stronger.
Sadly it wasn't meant to last, for in the next moment she was grabbed by her arms from behind and roughly thrown on the ground. It knocked the air right out of her as she gave out a cry. She looked up to see a troll hovering over her its mouth spread out in a wide grin with long sharp yellow teeth.
"I have her down my lord. Take her now!" it said.
The dragon demon looked from the troll down at Rin before a smirk spread across his lips, all worry gone from his eyes. He walked over to her and bent down on one knee his red eyes still blazing but this time with revenge.
"If you are as powerful as you say, this troll should be no trouble for you," he stated as Rin bit down on her lip, frightened for her life.
"Have nothing to say? Smart girl," he added when Rin said nothing. She looked away thinking that Sesshomaru could appear, but would be too late for her.
"She might not have something to say, but I do!" a male voice called, and suddenly the dragon demon was tackled down by a large figure with silver hair.
The troll stood up with a surprised gasp for its comrade and Rin used it as her chance to get away. She made a break for it to the right, she didn't even need to the troll was too into the fight going on between the two men.
"That's what you get for taking Rin!" this time the voice came from a woman, a familiar voice.
"Kagome!" Rin called spotting her friend throwing her fists around directing the fight.
"Oh Rin! I was so worried about you! When you didn't show up for class I knew something was up. I told Inuyasha about it and he was more then happy to help me search for you," Kagome explained putting her fists down to give Rin her full attention.
Rin smiled, touched that Kagome, a woman she barely knew, was so worried about her to go and look for her. And bring help, a smart decision.
Kagome shared her smile before turning back to the fight at hand. Inuyasha was trying his hardest to keep the dragon demon at bay. Rin could tell that he wouldn't last forever out there. If only she could do something, something to help.
It turned out she didn't have to, for in the next moment another joined the fight, Sesshomaru. He had come through the open window in a blur, Rin hadn't recognized him until he had the demon pinned to the ground.
"Alaster, come again have you?" Sesshomaru asked digging his claws into the other man's arms. He only growled in response trying to pull free.
"Elder Sesshomaru, stop this madness," the troll demon begged coming up to break the two up.
"Stay out of it, it isn't your fight," Inuyasha stated tackling the troll down to give Sesshomaru more time.
"A half demon!" it yelled once it got a good look at Inuyasha, "I thought they were killed off generations ago," it added before throwing Inuyasha off it.
Alaster turned away from Sesshomaru for a moment to get a look for himself before a smirk appeared on his lips.
"So, this is your dirty little secret Sesshomaru? I never knew you had any siblings," Alaster stated. Sesshomaru took that moment to send a glare Inuyasha's way, but regretted it when Alaster used the distraction to his advantage and threw Sesshomaru off him.
"I'll have to spread the news, half-breeds aren't allowed to live," Alaster smirked before disappearing from sight. The troll looked away from its own fight to see its lord gone, and so it too disappeared.
"And don't come back!" Inuyasha yelled while he crossed his arms a proud smirk on his lips.
Sesshomaru turned to his brother with a scowl, "How could you have been so stupid? Did I not tell you to stay away from the world?"
Inuyasha glared at him and was about to walk up to him, but Kagome grabbed a hold on him and held him back.
"If it wasn't for us, Rin wouldn't be alive right now. Alaster had his troll minion pin her down, and was going to kill her," Inuyasha stated fighting against Kagome's hold.
"Inuyasha please, calm down," Kagome murmured her hold dwindling.
Sesshomaru stole a quick glance at Rin before continuing to glare at his brother.
"You've put yourself in danger Inuyasha. Alaster will tell the whole demon population about your existence," Sesshomaru stated.
Kagome pulled Inuyasha back slightly and stood in front of him.
"Don't get mad at him. It's my fault, I convinced him to come and look for Rin with me. You should be yelling at me instead of him," she said.
"And I can never thank you enough," Rin added hoping to soften Sesshomaru with that knowledge.
Sesshomaru's expression changed from a scowl to indifferent.
"Keep on your toes, you'll probably need to move now that demons will be on the hunt for you," he said. Inuyasha nodded and stopped fighting Kagome.
"Let's go," Inuyasha stated, Kagome nodded but stayed behind when Inuyasha walked out.
"Be careful Rin," she said before hurrying after Inuyasha. Rin nodded to her back with a sad smile, her body still shaking slightly from the whole ordeal.
Sesshomaru turned back to look at her, his indifferent expression changed into one of worry.
"Are you alright?" he asked taking a step closer to her. Rin nodded for a moment, then shook her head biting her lower lip. When he took another step closer she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her head in his chest and let the tears fall from her eyes.
"I was so scared," she whispered. Sesshomaru didn't say anything, but wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly.
"I thought you wouldn't come back, and I lost all hope," she added.
"I won't let him get that close to you ever again. I'll protect you," he stated.