"Success is not the measure of a man but a triumph over those who choose to hold him back." - Bill Clinton
Sesshomaru stared up into the face of his boss and sneered. The boss laughed and folded his arms over his chest, shaking his head.
"Poor naive Sesshomaru," he said, a laugh brewing in the back of his throat.
"Damn you Ryukotsusei," Sesshomaru hissed reaching for his gun. (A/N: It only seemed fitting that I used Ryukotsusei since he was part of the reason Touga died in the 3rd IY movie. So Jolie you were right.)
Before he could get his fingers around the metal object, Ryukotsusei stepped down on his fingers, practically crushing the bones.
"Did you really think that you could get away with defying me, Sesshomaru?" Ryukotsusei said crushing down on his hand harder. "I'll teach you to think like that."
"You bastard," Sesshomaru growled, using his other hand to grab hold of the gun.
Cocking it back, Sesshomaru pointed the barrel at Ryukotsusei's face, he pulled back the trigger and released a spray of bullets into his face. Blood trickled down his forehead landing on the floor as he fell backwards onto the hard cement floor. Sesshomaru wasted no time once the weight on his hand was released getting up. Scooping Rin's unconscious form into his arms, he sprinted off through the building not daring to look back. He knew Ryukotsusei wouldn't stay down for long and that his flunkies would be after them as soon as they found the bastard.
As Sesshomaru ran through the building, opening various doors to find an exit, he occasionally looked down at Rin who was still sleeping soundly in his arms.
"One way or another," he thought trying another door then rushing off to the next when it showed no sign of an exit, "I'm going to get her out of here alive even if it's the last thing I do."
He jetted down the long corridor of doors, trying each one to no avail. Not too far behind him, he could hear the sounds of heavy boots hitting the floor as about 8 men came rushing after them.
"Damn," Sesshomaru thought picking up the pace, "they've caught up already."
A sudden sting in his arm ripped him from his inner thoughts. Glancing over at his left arm, he saw the crimson liquid flowing down his arm where the bullet had hit him. Grimacing at the slight pain it caused, Sesshomaru again sped up, making a break through a window which landed him inside the Green House that surrounded the old worn building they had been in. Zipping through the maze of greenery, he was able to lose the assassins that were behind him.
"Damn," Juuroumaru snarled as he looked through the window Sesshomaru jumped out of, "we lost them."
"The boss isn't going to be too happy about this," Hakudoshi, one of the eliet assassins said walking up and standing beside Juuroumaru.
"Tell me something that I don't already know," Juuroumaru said sucking his teeth in irritation then turning to make their way back to Ryukotsusei.
Sesshomaru continued to run through the maze of shrubbery until he was certain he had put enough distance between himself and the remaining assassins that he had not already killed. Sitting on the ground with Rin still in his arms, he glanced around to make sure that it was safe. After the confirmation, he grabbed the end of his shirt and tore a large piece off of it, enough to cover the wound in Rin's shoulder. Carefully using his claws, he pulled the bullet out of her flesh without hurting her. Taking the cloth, he wrapped it around her shoulder tightly so that the bleeding would stop. After tying it, he let Rin's head rest against his chest as he leaned back on one of the tall oak trees they were sitting by. Falling into a light sleep, he stayed alert for any movement around him.
"Any word from your brother yet," Kagome asked for the hundredth time that night.
"Not yet," InuYasha said glancing up from his phone screen. "He might be in the middle of a fight with the assassins as we speak."
"How do you know he won't need help," Kirara asked sitting down on one of the lounge chairs in the large living room of InuYasha and Sesshomaru's pent house.
"I don't know that but the bastard is stronger than hell," InuYasha said glancing over at her. "But it wouldn't hurt if he had a little help."
"I'll use my nose to sniff him out," Kirara said standing up. "If I can find his scent or even Rin's, that should be enough to get me to him quickly and we can finish off these assassins faster and get Rin out of there."
"I'll go with you Kirara." Miroku said standing up.
"Me too," Sango said, "I come from a long line of taijiya and if this band of assassins are all demons like you say they are, then I'm more than capable of handling them as well."
"This is going against my bastard of a brothers orders but it's taking him longer than usual to finish this off." InuYasha said standing up. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to lend him a hand, let's go."
"But wait," Kagome said grabbing his arm, "do you have any idea where they are?"
InuYasha nodded, his golden eyes flashing.
"Where?" Kirara asked, her red eyes scanning the hanyou in front of her.
"Our old place," InuYasha said leaving the pent house with the rest following after him.
"What the hell do you mean they got away and you can't find them!" Ryukotsusei yelled in Jurroumaru's face, causing him to shrink back a little.
"The bastard jumped through the window and out of the Green House," Juuroumaru said. "He didn't leave a trace."
"Must I do everything myself," Ryukotsusei roared, his blood coloured eyes glowing with anger.
"No sir," Hakudoshi stepped in, "give us one more chance. I promise we'll find him. Then we'll kill him and that little bitch of an onna he has with him."
"You had better," Ryukotsusei seethed, "because if you don't I will personally see to your demise, do you understand that?"
"Yes sir," they all said in unison.
"Go and find that incoherent dog and kill him," Ryukotsusei ordered. "I want his head brought back to me as confirmation that you have completed your task. Do not fail me again."
"Yes Boss," they all said disappearing out of the room.
Sesshomaru woke an hour later when he felt Rin shift on his shoulder. Opening his golden eyes to glance over at her, he saw her looking up at the sky through the glass. His hand found hers and lightly touched it causing her to glance over at him and smile.
"Are you still in pain," Sesshomaru asked, his eyes holding so many emotions at once it was hard to sort them all out, all except one.
"Not so much anymore," Rin said trying to shift into a more comfortable position.
Bad idea.
Pain racked her body again causing her to gasp to suppress the scream. Sesshomaru placed a hand on her back and slowly helped her sit up in a full seated position. Rin sighed, then looked up at the demon beside her.
"Thank you," she whispered giving him a small smile.
"For what," Sesshomaru asked, staring into her deep chocolate coloured orbs trying to figure out what she meant. "You've been in nothing but danger because of me. There is nothing to thank me for."
"But there is," Rin said laying on his shoulder and looking up through the glass dome. "You could have let them kill me, hell you even could have killed me yourself but you chose differently. You chose to save me. If it weren't for you, I would have been long dead all because of the love I once felt for you so many years ago."
Sesshomaru's breath hitched. She had loved him many years ago? So his feelings weren't unrequited back then. If only he had known that sooner.
"Rin," Sesshomaru started but was stopped by Rin lightly placing her finger to his lips.
"You don't have to speak," Rin said smiling a soft smile, "I already know everything. Juuroumaru and Kageroumaru already told me. It's a shame we had to find out like this and not under different circumstances."
Sesshomaru stared at her, completely awe struck at how calm she could be at a time like this.
"Sesshomaru," Rin said suddenly pulling him from his thoughts.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru said glancing down at her.
Rin was about to speak again until they heard shouts coming from behind them.
"Dammit," Sesshomaru said standing up as he took Rin into his arms. "They've caught on to us."
"How close are they?" Rin asked burying her head into the crook of his neck.
"Too close for comfort," Sesshomaru said starting to run again.
Wind rushed past as he sprinted trying to find the exit.
"They're close," Juuroumaru yelled, "let's go get them."
The group of assassins picked up the pace catching up to them quickly. Sesshomaru shot a glance back and growled. Using one hand, he reached for his gun. Cocking it back, he shot, hitting one of the assassins dead square in the forehead killing him.
"One down," he thought turning a corner then stopping and putting Rin down.
"What are you doing," Rin asked looking up at him.
"Hide," Sesshomaru said pushing her towards a line of rose bushes. "Stay there and be completely silent."
"What about you?" Rin asked crouching behind the bush.
"I'm going to kill these bastards then I'm going to get you out of here." He said turning. "Be silent and just wait until I give you the signal to run."
Rin nodded then sat behind the bush, watching through a hole just below her head. Sesshomaru cocked the gun back and stood ready for the attack. Soon after, gunshots filled the small area they were in as Juuroumaru and his band of assassins appeared. Sesshomaru aimed while dodging the coming bullets and pulled the trigger, firing shots that countered the shots coming at him.
Rin watched in horror as stray shots flew over her head. The blood that spilled across the rose bushes scared her. She watched as Sesshomaru fired, dodging most of the bullets, some finding their way into his skin. Blood dripped down his arms leaving trails along the ground where he stepped.
"This is going nowhere fast," Sesshomaru thought firing another shot, killing one of the flunkies that happened to get in the way of the bullet. "If I don't get Rin out of here soon, she may end up getting killed. I can't bare to let that happen."
Another shot was fired and found it's way into Sesshomaru's skin. He cried out in pain, his golden eyes taking on a blood red colour. Then glass broke from behind him. Turning slightly as he dodged more bullets, he saw his brother and all of Rin's friends loaded with weapons, firing at the assassins that Sesshomaru was facing. They easily took out all of the lower class assassins and rushed to his side.
"What are you doing here," Sesshomaru hissed at his brother.
"Well you were taking too long so we came to help," InuYasha said loading his gun with ammo again. "Where's Rin?"
"She's safe," Sesshomaru said loading his gun as well then glancing back at Sango, "Sango right?"
"Yes," Sango said walking forward.
"I want you, Miroku, and Kagome to take Rin and get out of here," Sesshomaru said motioning for Rin to come out. "Go some place we'll be able to find you later. Kirara will phone you once we're done here."
"Got it, c'mon Rin," Sango said taking her arm gently and then making her way out with Miroku and Kagome behind her, guns still drawn as they neared the window they came in through.
"What do you want us to do," Kirara asked walking forward.
"You two take care of these two," Sesshomaru said turning, "I'm going after Ryukotsusei."
With that he sprinted off, making his way back into the old abandoned mansion where he smelled Ryukotsusei's scent the strongest, his father's old study. Kirara and InuYasha turned to Juuroumaru and Hakudoshi, guns aimed and began firing. Bullets ricocheted off the hard glass sending them flying in different directions, hitting plants and burning them.
"This isn't working too well," Kirara said loading her gun again, "I think it would be best if we used our claws."
"You've got a point," InuYasha said dropping the guns and running at the shocked Hakudoshi.
Kirara followed in similar action, pouncing on Juuroumaru and clawing out his throat. Blood spilled all over the concrete as he reached for her, digging his long claws in her leg causing her to cry out. Anger flashed in Kirara's eyes as her talons dug into his jugular, ripping it out then spitting it on the ground. Juuroumaru fell to the ground, dead.
Wiping the blood from her mouth, Kirara glanced over at InuYasha who had just finished off Hakudoshi. He glanced over at her then nodded answering the silent question. Together, they both ran out of the Green House and after Kagome and the others.
"We're being followed," Miroku said when he saw something running up towards the car, bearly able to make out what it was.
Kagome glanced out the window then sighed, "It's Kirara and InuYasha!"
"Sesshomaru's not with them?" Rin said glancing out the window.
"Nuh uh," Kagome said pulling over.
InuYasha and Kirara opened the doors to the Excursion and jumped in while Kagome took off again.
"Where's Sesshomaru," Rin asked when they were settled.
"He went to go take care of Ryukotsusei." InuYasha said strapping on the seat belt.
"Oh no," Rin said, her large brown eyes growing in width. "What if he gets hurt? What if he's killed?"
"Believe me Rin," InuYasha said, "if anyone gets hurt and or killed, it'll be Ryukotsusei. Sesshomaru isn't one to be brought down so easily. Besides, he has a score to settle with Ryukotsusei and none of us should interfere in that."
Rin sank back in her seat, tears brimming her brown eyes as she sent out a silent prayer that Sesshomaru returned safely.
Sesshomaru knocked over the door of the study and stood facing Ryukotsusei who had his back to him.
"Ah Sesshomaru," he said reaching for something when Sesshomaru shot causing him to retract his hand from the unknown object.
"You killed my father and the ningen right in front of me and you tried to have Rin, an innocent onna killed as well," Sesshomaru said taking a step forward. "You don't deserve to live beyond this second."
"Would you honestly kill an unarmed man?" Ryukotsusei chided turning to glance back at him, his red eyes clashing with Sesshomaru's golden ones.
"You're not unarmed bastard," Sesshomaru said. "At least not yet you aren't."
"You're right," Ryukotsusei said turning and firing a gun he had in his hand, "I'm not unarmed."
Sesshomaru easily dodged the bullet and fired back a shot of his own. Bullets flew through the small room destroying the priceless vases that were left behind and paintings of his father and Izayoi that hung upon the wall.
"You're fast," Ryukotsusei said, "I'll give you that much. But you're not fast..."
Before he could finish the last part of his sentence, Sesshomaru was in front of him, his hand wrapped tightly around his neck cutting off his air supply.
"You killed my family," he said sending a blow to Ryukotsusei's stomach causing him to cough up blood. "You threatened to kill my brother."
Another blow to the stomach was sent and more blood spewed from his mouth landing on the white carpet beneath their feet.
"You threatened to kill Rin, an innocent onna who had nothing to do with this," he said jabbing his entire hand through his stomach causing more blood to fly from Ryukotsusei's mouth. "Then you threatened to take my life and so to make amends, I'll take your life as a sign of apology."
He dropped Ryukotsusei to the ground watching him as he crumpled up and held his hand over the bleeding hole in his stomach. Crying out in pain as he looked up, he found Sesshomaru's eyes behind the silver mask.
"Won't you spare me?" Ryukotsusei asked, tears streaming down his blood stained cheeks.
"Did you spare my father," Sesshomaru barked. "Did you spare Izayoi? Did you even think about sparing Rin, or her friends, or my brother, or ME for that matter? Did you ever think that maybe you were making a mistake?"
"No," Ryukotsusei whispered.
"Exactly and so I will not spare you," he said as his poison whip collided with Ryukotsusei's head, lopping it off. "And now you will never again bring harm to anyone one."
Leaving the room, Sesshomaru removed the silver mask, dropping it on the floor to rid himself of his past, then placed a bomb on the door. Setting it to engage in 5 minutes, he hightailed it out of there, making sure that no one was still there as he passed through. Returning to the Green House, he saw the bodies of Juuroumaru and Hakudoshi sprawled out, blood covering them both. Planting a bomb in there as well, Sesshomaru left through the broken glass where InuYasha and the others had arrived through earlier.
As he ran down the empty streets, he heard the boom of the mansion exploding, shaking the earth beneath his feet. Stopping, he turned to watch as his old home burned to ashes, a single tear running down his blood streaked face.
"Goodbye forever, Father," Sesshomaru said watching the structure burn to the ground along with all the paintings and items his father left behind, the only things he had, had left of him.
Rin woke in the motel room with a start. Glancing around the dark room, she clutched the blankets to her chest, looking out the window as a shadow passed by. Getting up from the bed, she wrapped the robe that Kagome had packed due to smart thinking and walked to the door quiet enough so not to wake the others. She placed her hand on the door and looked out the peep hole. Something silver passed through her line of vision and she gasped.
Pulling the door opened, she stepped out to see Sesshomaru standing by the door the boys were in about to open the door when he heard her. He turned and looked at her, his golden eyes locking with her brown ones.
"Sesshomaru," Rin breathed taking a single step forward.
"Rin," Sesshomaru said stepping toward her, his hand stretched out to touch her.
"You're alright," Rin cried as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest.
Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks as she felt his arms wrap around her, pulling her closer to him. Glancing up, Sesshomaru leaned closer to her until their lips touched and their first of many kisses was shared.
A/N: And that's it. All that is left is the Epilogue which will be posted soon. I can only hope that you all enjoyed this story and I thank you all for staying with this story. Until next time, adiós.