I don't own Inuyasha.


Chapter 10: Subjugated


The moment after Rin had placed her lips to the goblet, the fight between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru halted. So similar to Rin's reaction, a burning pain had inflicted Sesshomaru's chest. In the midst of attacking Inuyasha the demon lord was forced to stop, feeling a discomfort far greater than he felt before. Sesshomaru's sword struck the ground as he fell forward to his knee, using the blade as leverage to keep himself up.

Inuyasha on the other hand, didn't know what to do when he saw the invincible Sesshomaru suddenly buckle. "What's wrong with you?" Inuyasha cautiously lowered his blade, rather than continuing his attack.

Sesshomaru clutched his chest, heaving in breaths. "This… pain." He spoke to himself, feeling worse with each second. Something's wrong, he thought, his eyes going back in the direction of the well. The first time Rin tried to go through the well without me… I felt this and the second, when I was about to kill her. But it was different, he knew, much more traumatic this time.

A violet light began to grow, swarming around Sesshomaru as Inuyasha took a careful step up to him. The young hanyou looked as if he had never seen something so impossible.

"Stay back!" Sesshomaru growled at his half-brother, still holding his chest in agony.

WHAT is this! The demon lord felt something gather within him in the pit of his stomach, an electrifying shock tingling his entire body. Clenching his teeth tight, he fought back the urge to yell as the sensation burned him.

"Sesshomaru…." Inuyasha ignored Sesshomaru's warning and came up to him.

Eyes flashing to bright crimson, Sesshomaru began to lose control of his yokai. He could feel his claws growing… his limbs changing to his true form. I can't stop it! Sesshomaru thought in fear, seeing now he was in a situation he had never experienced before.

Rin awoke with a loud gasp, was that a dream? She had seen Sesshomaru beginning to change, losing control. Shaking her head, Rin rubbed her eyes open and tried to dismiss it. Looking around her, wherever she was, the room was completely covered in darkness. Rin felt a rough rocking all around her as she sat up in some kind of bed, wearily removing the thick soft cover tucked around her to stand up. Barely making it to her feet, Rin shrieked when a stick or some kind of cane pushed her back down. On instinct, she smacked the pole back, struggling to get up to run.

"Relax," Rin heard an older man's voice as the stick no longer held her to the bed. "You're such an anxious girl, but there's no reason to be like that."

"Who are you?" Rin crawled back onto the bed, squinting her eyes to try and see in the darkness. "Where's that bastard Kazuma, did he take me somewhere? As if giving me some weird shit wasn't enough!"

Rin realized now, after seeing this occur more than once, these… beings, demons… whatever, seemed to have some kind of power over the shadows. The man's cold blue eyes and fair, angular face appeared. Dressed in a black matte kimono, his casually sitting form came into view, as did the red velvet lounge chair he was propped on. Annoyance fumed within Rin when she saw the well-dressed man several feet away, holding an elegant, polished staff in his hands.

The entire room appeared around Rin, just like she had seen Kazuma do once before in Sesshomaru's armory. Her eyes were wide as she looked around, seeing an extravagant bedroom on what looked and felt like a large ship. The bed itself was built upon a two-stair platform, overlooking a circular lower level where a tall and narrow fireplace was crackling. Carved to represent waves crashing onto shore, the stone mantle was more a piece of artwork than furniture. Beside the fireplace were two glass doors stained with red and black diamonds, leading to a small balcony overlooking the choppy ocean. Surrounding the room were long oval windows revealing the early evening outside, consisting of dark grey clouds and a storm of whistling winds.

The older man pushed his waist-long hair over his shoulder as he slyly eyed her. "You already know my name and the matter of where you are… obviously, you're on my master's main ship."

Why do all men in the past have to be notorious assholes? Rin looked at him curiously as she got up from the bed to see him closer, and have such long hair…

"Your master? The man who must've brought me here." Rin guessed, hazily remembering what happened before she blacked out. "Had black hair… dark eyes… wears a mask like a backstabbing jackass?"

The man arched a thin, white eyebrow. "The demon who brought you here was my master."

"Demon?" Rin said his words in confusion. Kazuma's a demon? She thought, seeing now, it would explain the odd powers.

"How could you not realize such a thing…." the man remained in his lounging position, covering his eyes with his clawed-hand to appear disappointed. "Humans and demons are so easy to distinguish."

"Tell me who you are." Rin glared, watching to see if he'd make a move. "And where the conveniently missing Kazuma is!"

Grinning, the mysterious white-haired man thumped his staff and Rin felt an electric jolt like lightening come up from the floor, shocking her. With a gasping yelp, Rin jumped back on the bed, giving the man a surprised look.

Rin touched the spot on her foot that had been zapped, feeling a light throbbing. "You jerk!" It'll hurt every time I walk, Rin flinched as her fingers touched the welt forming on her heel, wonderful. "I'll cut your hair!" She remarked in a snappy tone.

The lounging man loudly sighed at Rin, "My master won't come, busy as he is. I was only instructed to look after you."

Rin's face twisted in greater anger and then, disbelief. "How predictable." She held a venomous tone.

"Well, it's predictable," he imitated her voice, slowly getting up to walk over to the bed, "because you attract trouble like it's your job." Rin stayed where she was as the lean, tall demon sat on the opposite side, far from her. "And my master has some ends to tie up… before dealing with you." His feline-like eyes narrowed at her. "So try not to bother me and behave until he comes back, got that Rin?"

"You seem to know who I am pretty damn well." Rin leaned forward on her hands, giving him a dark look. "Who are you? Other than Kazuma's little bitch?"

Rather than showing an ounce of aggression, the attractive man slightly smiled, his thin lips stretching. "My dear Rin, can't you tell? I'm Ringo."

Rin felt the blood leave her face. "Ringo? The… the…." She couldn't seem to find the words, "cat?"

Ringo laughed, his head rolling back as he momentarily lost control of his own amusement. When he stopped and looked back at Rin, his smirk showed sharp white fangs. Blinking rapidly, Rin could see black markings spread across his skin, appearing under his eyelids and chin like magic. Rin's eyes glanced up at pointed elf-like ears so similar to Sesshomaru's.

"Yes." Ringo told her with no sign of hesitation as the glamour melted away.

"This isn't possible." Jaw dropping; Rin had said her thoughts out loud. "You're a fucking cat. I fed you cat food!"

Ringo held a calm expression in comparison to Rin's baffled one. "There are more important questions, Rin. Trust me, you don't want to know how I dealt with cat food."

Rin rubbed her temples. I thought I was crazy before… but this—this is ridiculous. She gave the human-like Ringo a hard look. I can't believe I'm talking to Kazuma's cat.

"I think something strange is happening to me…" Rin shook her head as she felt a slight burning sensation in her stomach, "I feel like I'm on the verge of exploding." If only I could slap something, Rin thought as she stared at Ringo's cheek.

"Don't be so dramatic." Ringo clawed his chin, scratching his white scruff. "Soon you'll be a full blooded demon in less than a month... you're feeling the transformation as you absorb a particularly powerful yokai. Too bad, it's a dog."

"Ew gross! I don't want to change into a dog!" Rin became rigid, "I'm not okay with any of this!" Her hands clenched into fists against the bed, "I can't let this shit happen." I don't care if it'll kill Sesshomaru, solving my problems in the process… Rin took a deep breath, knowing very well she still had another demon to deal with, other than that motherfucker Kazuma.

Ringo glanced at her in surprise, his inhuman blue eyes wide. "I don't understand. Unlike humans, daiyokai nearly have an infinite lifespan." The demon tried to make her understand. "My master is determined to give this to you as a gift,"Ringo shrugged, "and I liked the idea."

"You expect me to believe what you say?" Rin rolled her eyes and snorted in doubt. "Kazuma lied to me! He can shove his determination and his gift up his ass. I don't want to be like you awful people, I want to go home, to my time. Kazuma wants to use me against Sesshomaru for some stupid reason. I'm sick of being pushed around."

"My master has his reasons and he chose not to tell you." Ringo didn't falter in his loyalty for Kazuma. "Nothing you say or do will change what must happen. Stop being difficult and face it."

Rin creased her eyebrows, causing little wrinkles to appear on her forehead. "That fucking jerk… he had this all planned out." She felt her nails furiously dig into the skin of her palms. "Using me like a toy to get rid of a demon or whatever the fuck. Yeah, I'll admit Sesshomaru's an asshole… but it's not like I'm alright with killing the bastard to take his yokai—I barely know him." Rin paused a second in thought. "Actually I don't really know Kazuma either, less than even Sesshomaru. Makes it impossible to pick a side…" Rin crossed her arms and looked at Ringo expectantly.

"There's no side to pick, Rin." Ringo scolded her as if she was a child. "You belong to my master and him alone."

An annoyed growl came from Rin's mouth, "oh yeah?" She tightened her lips as she jumped up from the bed, walking over to the glass doors of the balcony.

Ringo began to stand up and follow her, as if he knew very well what Rin intended. "Don't be foolish…" he began to say until Rin placed her hand on the curvy silver handle.

"There's so many ways to be a fool, Ringo. Is this foolish?" Rin swung open the door and a rapid gust of wind blew inside. A strike of lightening appeared in the dark clouds masking the sky. Only a second later thunder roared, feeling as if it shook the entire ship along with the white-tipped waves.

"Rin…" Ringo threatened, his staff in an unsteady hand. I'll be severely punished if she does anything reckless, he thought. "Stop this now!"

The wind blew Rin's hair across her face, whipping it back and forth as her heart pounded. I can't become a demon, her mind raced; I'd rather die.

"I won't become a demon and I'm not killing anyone!" Rin struggled to speak above the storm. "No one can make me..." her words fell to a whisper so only she could hear, "I'm not a fucking puppet…"

Spinning around, Rin ran out onto the small balcony being taken over by the increasing waves. Slamming the door shut so hard she thought it would break, the waves had already soaked Rin to the bone. Her torso leaning over and arms wrapping around the top of the balcony railing, the rocking of the ship had caused Rin to lose her footing. Strong splashes came at her face in whips as she fought to hold on.

Eyes squinting from the saltwater and arms struggling to hold the railing, Rin looked out to what looked like mountains of white and blue, stretching for miles and miles. It's beautiful… Rininwardly said to no one in particular. She wasn't able to look away from the sight, her expression mixed with fear and awe until she heard someone in the back of her mind, calling her name.

Rin… the tone was deep and calm, concerned.

Sesshomaru! Rin batted her eyes against the storm, realizing the voice belonged to him. Another freezing splash hit the balcony with great force, causing Rin's shaking hold on the railing to slip. Intensely shivering, she couldn't feel anything as her body was pulled in with the wave, towards the ocean. The coldness had shocked her… limbs numb and voice frozen, Rin felt it impossible to move. Where is he? She thought of Sesshomaru, why do I hear him? Rin barely held her breath in time as the ocean crashed over her, is it because? I drank from the goblet…

Water had spread and the world felt like ice, too cold to think or move. Her skin and lips were as blue as the depths of the ocean carrying her further and further.

Where are you? Rin heard Sesshomaru again. Why can't I catch your scent?

Unsure by what she was experiencing, Rin was almost certain this was her death. I'm dying… at the bottom of the ocean.

Her body spinning with the waves, Rin's eyes opened as she fought to breathe the last moments of air bubbling from her lips. The flaring burn in Rin's chest caused her to cough and choke. With eyes blurring to the point where Rin thought she was hallucinating and about to close them forever…. someone grabbed her. Her gaze shot back open before giving into death, her own hands grasping her throat, fighting to breath again.

Sesshomaru? Rin noticed the white hair first until she saw his face. No, Ringo, he had been the one who saved her, not Sesshomaru. The demon was already swimming to the surface with impossible speed when Rin had realized she was no longer being tossed through the towering waves.

Breaking the surface, air flooded into Rin's burning lungs. Still in Ringo's hold, he lifted Rin from the water and tightly into his arms. "That," he hissed between clenched fangs as they both shivered, "was more than foolish. I applaud you, Rin. I overestimated your intelligence before, what a fatal mistake."

Rin felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness as Ringo flew from the water and to the top deck of the ship. Saltwater flung across the slippery wood, thrashing with the waves as he carried her inside. She was mumbling nonsense, her head rolling back and forth until they were back in the same room as before.

Lowering Rin to the lounge chair next to the fireplace, Ringo slapped her across the cheek.

"Ah!" Rin awoke with a cough, fingers touching the stinging face. Her voice felt raspy and strained, as she glared. "I almost died and you smack me."

The fire created an eerie red glow throughout the room as the day darkened. Ringo's face looked older than usual from dark light of the room. Getting up, he grabbed the thick soft blanket from the bed before throwing it over her. Rin peeked up at him when she saw him sit at the foot of the lounge, looking into the blazing fire.

"My master will kill me," Ringo explained to her, his hand uncomfortably touching his wet kimono. "If you die."

Rin shivered again as the coldness seemed to go all the way down to her bones. "I don't know what came over me." Just like Ringo, Rin stared into the fire, taking in as much as possible from its' warmth.

"You were just acting stupid… a human flaw called a "death wish," I think." Ringo wrung out his long dripping hair, as his cold words affected Rin more than he thought.

He had surprised her, causing Rin to glance at Ringo defensively. "I wanted to escape!" Rotating away from him, she curled up into the blanket, facing the heat. "I'll have to convince your master to stop this..." Rin's eyes began to grow heavy.

A clever grin appeared at the corner of Ringo's mouth. Being turned from Rin, he knew she couldn't see it. "Good luck with that." As Rin's breathing grew deep and steady, Ringo leaned over, his hand drawing back a piece of fallen hair. Tucking it behind her ear… the grin faded from Ringo's face. Maybe it'll end as you wish, he thought of her suicide attempt, his eyes steadily going back to the fire.

Flying at top speed, Sesshomaru felt an uncontrollable shiver go down his spine, spreading throughout his body. How am I so cold? His eyes darkened in thought, while at the same time, he was sure he'd heard Rin's words in his mind... an expression of confusion filled his eyes as he landed in front of his great stronghold. She was dying, drowning… I could feel it. Sesshomaru immediately ceased his wandering thoughts, enraged with himself for having to think twice about the weak, imposturous human somehow connected to him.

Resisting the mysterious drive to shake from coldness and worry, Sesshomaru walked through the front gateway of his home with an expression set to kill. Several noble yokai bowed their heads to him in respect, scuttling out of the lord's way in fear of his temper and superior power. Paying no attention, Sesshomaru went to the main hall of his home and just as he had left it, the fortress was in perfect working order, as strong and secure as ever.

Heading into the gold foyer where two grand staircases stood, Jaken came running in the room, yelling his name.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" He cried out repeatedly, bowing at the demon lord's feet. "I beg for your forgiveness… I betrayed you without knowing. There's no excuse for my ignorance, believing that awful human and her vile lies! I'll accept any fate you offer me."

He must be talking about the wench, Sesshomaru thought of Rin. "We're leaving." He instructed the little toad demon. "Prepare A-un."

Jaken's eyes widened at Sesshomaru before he eagerly nodded. "Yes, of course! Right away, my lord!" He squeaked before running down one of the hallways in a rush.

Sesshomaru briefly closed his eyes, focusing on the ache still residing in his chest and stomach. A deep growl rumbled in his throat when he remembered he had lost control of his yokai, involuntarily changing into his daiyokai. Becoming a colossal, acid-breathing, blood-eyed canine with white fur, in front of puzzled Inuyasha. Sesshomaru would've ripped his brother apart in unknown blinding rage, if he hadn't realized the disappearance of Rin's scent.

When Sesshomaru had gone back to the well, Rin was already missing. Not even her scent was traceable in his daiyokai, as if she had vanished into thin air. From his experience, Sesshomaru knew it had to be someone masking her scent from him. That, or she went down the well again. His eyes narrowed in the thought, Nono light had come from the well and for some reason… I hear her somehow. She has to still be here, in this era—someone must've taken her.

By the time Sesshomaru and Jaken left with A-un in tow, it was well past dusk. The last rays of sunlight were already fading as they reached the far outskirts of the forest, quietly walking under the flush trees. Sesshomaru held a stoic expression, his face unflinching as he paced forward. On the outside it appeared as if he wasn't afflicted by anything… that he was still his old, unconquerable self. But no matter how much he tried to ignore it, the ache in his body caused his breath to deepen, my yokai is weakening. Regardless of still having great power, Sesshomaru could feel his great demonic strength wavering. Suspiciously the same time as the human's disappearance… it has to be the bitch's fault, Sesshomaru quickly blamed Rin, she did something to me… He couldn't dismiss the fact every time he was around the girl, a similar occurrence to this had happened.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken was sitting on top of A-un who walked next to Sesshomaru. "Are we not patrolling the western lands?" He asked when he saw they were heading southeast towards the coast.

"No, Jaken." Sesshomaru commanded with a cold look. He was tried of all the questions and having been asked another, he felt his patience slipping. The fur around his shoulder began to unravel as the wind picked up around him.

Over the course of the night they flew through the dark sky as Sesshomaru kept his senses on full alert, however, his nose found no trace of Rin. He began to grow restless and finally explained to Jaken what he was up to.

"We must find the human woman who looks like Rin." He told Jaken who almost fell asleep on A-un. "It may be a matter concerning my yokai."

Jaken shrieked at Sesshomaru's words, remembering once before Naraku had tried to absorb his lord's yokai. But the self-made demon who stood as Sesshomaru's enemy didn't succeed and eventually, lost his life confronting both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. This can't be good, Jaken realized, for him to tell me… it's a blow to his pride and strength.

"Your YOKAI?!" Jaken eyes shifted back in forth in worry, "but my lord, who would be able to do such a thing to someone like you? Surely, the human woman has nothing to do with this…."

Sesshomaru remained silent as he looked ahead, for her sake, you better be right, Jaken. "A demon held the chalice." He said, remembering the masked figure holding onto Rin. "He spoke directly to the woman. No formality."

Jaken was trying to listen to his lord with a calm ear, for he knew Sesshomaru had to be furious inside. "How…" The toad demon began to speak until he suddenly understood. "Oh…" His eyes widened, "He reincarnated… Rin. And seeks to steal your yokai through her?"

Sesshomaru's jaw tightened as he stared ahead, hate filling his golden eyes. "The demon will die, as will his human pet."

"But Lord Sesshomaru," Jaken waved his hands at the tall silver-haired demon. "It could be Rin, couldn't it?"

Sesshomaru seemed to have to tell himself more than his servant, "Rin's gone."