Chapter 13
Sesshomaru soared high and swift through the crisp morning chill. A red dawn peaked over the horizon, lighting Rin's unconscious face a ghostly hue. She had not spoken and hardly moved since leaving their campsite outside of the tree demon's ruined village. Her life was fading. He could feel it slipping through his fingers like water. He cradled her body against his chest armor with one arm, and with the other he held out Bakusaiga.
The demons had not relented almost since he had taken to the sky. All the weak and pathetic demonic beings that could fly rose up to meet him when they sensed Rin's approach. Sesshomaru had no time to waste on them. He obliterated groups of the creatures at a time with a swing of his sword and then barreled through their evaporating remains without so much as a glance backward.
He was heading for a place that could only be found by smell. His father had disguised their ancestral property that way, and now his mother took full advantage of the secrecy, secluding herself not only from humans but most of the demon world as well. But Sesshomaru had become a more familiar sight there ever since leaving Rin in the human village. It was where he went to have clothes and other gifts made for her. The servants had always been obviously displeased to have their efforts wasted on a human recipient, but they were loyal to his ruling family, and did not complain in his presence. However, it seemed that one of them-and Sesshomaru did not know who-had not seen fit to leave it at that. Their audacity at attacking Rin made his blood boil. He would root them out like a weed. Of course he had considered the possibility that his mother might be the source, but as much as she was annoyed by her son's relationship with the human girl, she had never seemed to despise it to this extent. However, he would make sure that she helped him find the perpetrator. Of that he was certain.
About mid-morning he finally caught the scent that alerted him he was getting close. It was the scent of the dog demon clan, his mother in particular. As he approached the all but invisible barrier around the property, he sheathed Bakusaiga and wrapped his other arm around Rin as well so that she was completely covered in the fabric of his sleeves. Then without slowing he hurdled down into the barrier. It felt like diving through thick liquid. The demonic energy pulled at him, reducing the speed of his descent until he at last broke through and cratered down to the ground. He landed so roughly that the stone paving beneath his feet cracked. He usually made a more graceful entrance, but at the moment he just didn't care.
A nearby guard suddenly jumped at the sight of him and hurried over. Like all the vassals serving in defense of his clan's land, he wore leather armor and bore a long staff with a crescent moon-shaped blade at the top. "Lord Sesshomaru!" he exclaimed somewhat nervously. "We were not expecting you! How may I be of service to you?"
Sesshomaru took a cursory glance around. He had arrived near the entrance of the palace, at the top of a long stairway that led to the main courtyard of the palace. From here he could see the throne his mother liked to sit upon when she was entertaining (or more accurately, toying with) visitors. It was from here that she had summoned the hell hound that took Rin to the underworld on her first visit here. But now the throne was empty. "I demand my mother's presence. Now."
"Y-yes my lord," the servant replied with evident reluctance. His brown hair fluttered as he trotted off into the palace proper. As a low-ranking member of the dog demon tribe, he maintained the same pointed ears, claw-like fingernails, and long life span as his higher-born brethren, but the similarities ended there. He did not have the silver hair of his patron's family, nor their face and arm markings. Not to mention nowhere near the level of power.
Sesshomaru followed him only as far as the courtyard, where he waited for his mother with tangible impatience. He did not often encounter her on his trips here, and that was on purpose. Rarely did he feel the need to share words with her, but now that he did it was for something much more crucial than anything before, including information about Tenseiga. Luckily, he did not have to wait long. The lady mother appeared from inside the palace and approached him with a scowl on her face.
"Sesshomaru...I understand you demand my presence?" she asked sourly. "What is so important that you've come to see your dear mother about it? ...And what is that ungodly smell? You reek of human blood."
Without a word he lowered his right arm, uncovering Rin's still form.
His mother wrinkled her powdered nose in disgust. "What is that? I thought you didn't desire human blood anymore. Don't tell me you've changed your mind again. Not after all you've had us do for that human child of yours. ...Oh no. That's her, isn't it? If she's dead, you have no one to blame but yourself. I told you I couldn't bring her soul back from the meidou a second time. You didn't have to drag her all the way here and stink up my palace just to hear that."
Sesshomaru gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his contempt in check. "She is not dead," he growled heavily, taking a quick mental check of the soft sound of her shallow breathing. "But she was cursed. By someone from our clan."
At this news the lady mother raised her eyebrows with interest. "Oh? And how did you come to that conclusion?"
"For the past three days every demon that comes near her has had the uncontrollable desire to kill her; every demon except members of the Dog Demon Clan, including the half-breed Inuyasha." He did not need to explain any further. While Sesshomaru and his father were powerful in demonic energy and sword skills, his mother was more talented in the arcane arts. She would know precisely what the exclusion of a certain type of demon would mean.
Her frown returned. "Really." She was quiet for a moment, pursing her lips thoughtfully. Finally she said curtly, "Bring her here." She turned, pigtails curling in her wake, and strode over to her throne. She motioned for Sesshomaru to lay Rin down on the platform, much as he had when he brought her out of the meidou. He knelt down and gently let her body slide onto the wooden surface, trying not to aggravate any of her bandages. His mother then stepped forward and scanned over the girl with critical golden eyes. After a few seconds she held out one hand, palm facing downward, over Rin. The little human's body suddenly took on a faint purple glow. The Lady Mother slowly moved her hand from Rin's head down to her toes. Then finally the glowing ceased as she gave a quiet sigh and replaced her hands inside her sleeves.
"She is indeed cursed," she announced. "Although it doesn't take magical talent in order to see that." She glanced silently upward. Sesshomaru followed her gaze. Until that moment he had failed to notice the mass of demons hovering in the sky. They were trapped outside the palace's barrier, masking their scent and sound. As the same type of worthless creatures that had pursued Sesshomaru on his way here, they posed no threat. There was no way they could make it through the barrier. Still, the daiyoukai narrowed his eyes and gripped Bakusaiga's hilt with one hand.
His mother went on, unperturbed, "Furthermore, the spell is set to expire over time." Sesshomaru looked back down at her quickly. Did that mean that Rin's curse would be lifted automatically? The other demon smiled wryly as she glimpsed him through half-closed eyes. "That is to say, it will expire her. If no demon can get to her first, then the curse will eventually devour her from the inside out."
Sesshomaru glared at her, despising her for playing with him even at a time like this.
She continued, "From the feel of it, I would say she doesn't have long left. Maybe a day at best."
Sesshomaru clenched and unclenched one fist, desperation gnawing at him ever more persistently. "What must be done?"
His mother remained silent for a few excruciatingly long seconds. "Usually a curse this complex is not something that can just be removed," she said at last. "At least not very easily. I have never worked with this spell before, however, so I cannot be sure. The only one who would know for certain is the demon who cast it." She paused and then said thoughtfully, "There are only three from our clan besides myself who have the skill to perform a spell of this caliber."
She then did something that caused Sesshomaru to flinch internally. She knelt down and pulled back one of the bandages on Rin's right arm, exposing a particularly deep cut. Almost immediately, blood seeped into the wound. The Lady Mother dipped one dainty fingertip into it and then replaced the cloth covering. She brought the red dew drop up beneath her nose and breathed deeply. There must have been something in that scent, some magical trace that even Sesshomaru was not practiced enough to detect. After inhaling twice more, her golden eyes snapped open. She briskly stood and called, "Sousuke!"
At once a guard appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He bowed low at the waist. "Yes My Lady?"
"Bring Captain Hisao to me at once."
The lesser demon hesitated. "Of course... However I am not certain he is on the property at the moment—"
"I said bring him to me!" Sesshomaru's mother barked with sudden vehemence. "I do not care what you have to do to retrieve him, just do it now!"
"Yes your ladyship," the guard replied quickly. He hastened away, disappearing around a corner as soon as he could.
With uncharacteristically sharp movements, the Lady Mother seated herself upon her large throne. "I don't know what your stake in this is Sesshomaru," she said in a dangerously quiet tone, "or what you hope to gain. And I could not care less whether that human whelp lives or dies today. But you have exposed a traitor in my household, and treachery is not tolerated."
Sesshomaru shared her sentiments at least as far as Hisao was concerned. But even more than vengeance, he wanted answers. He would not allow Rin to die, no matter what it took.
They waited in rigid silence for what seemed a very long time. His mother was usually much more talkative than he, but at times like this when her anger was aroused, she donned the same mask of calmness that Sesshomaru had come to perfect over the years. Each demon was a model of stillness, a frown frozen on their faces. But behind that exterior, ruthless fury raged, waiting patiently to be unleashed. It took all of Sesshomaru's will power to uphold it this time. He was keenly aware that every second they waited for Hisao to arrive drew Rin closer to her last breath.
At long last, the guard whom had been sent on the errand came back into view from deep inside the property. A second demon followed behind him.
Now that Sesshomaru got a look at him, he remembered who Hisao was. He did not recall having any contact with him in about the last 200 years, but he did know that this demon had been in service of his father for a least a century before his passing. He was the captain of the palace guard, and higher bred than any of his underlings. His hair was white, eyes gold, and while he lacked any markings on his face, he did have some on his wrists, which he displayed proudly by making sure that his sleeves tucked into his bracers instead of falling down to his hands. Like the other guards, he carried a tall scythe with a crescent moon-shaped blade.
As they approached, Sesshomaru watched him closely. When Hisao was close enough to the throne to see the small girl lying on the platform beside it, he made the tiniest of pauses in his steps. His expression remained passive, but even from here Sesshomaru could see a sort of twitch in his movements.
He's the one! he thought as rage broiled inside him like a pot ready to overflow. He had not felt such intense hatred since before Naraku's death. Only years of practiced self-control stopped him from reverting to his true form and lunging for Hisao right then and there.
The captain came and bowed before the throne. "My Lady," he said calmly. "And Lord Sesshomaru, what an honor. Forgive my tardiness; I was on a patrol route when you summoned me."
"Hisao," Sesshomaru's mother said in a heavy tone. "You have served our clan for many years, and have obediently carried out my commands. ...It is of no concern of mine if you terminate a human occasionally. I don't even care why you do it. But this time, you overstepped the boundary." She gestured to the unconscious Rin. "You knew this one was significant to my son. This is an insult to my line directly."
Hisao looked up as if shocked. "My lady!" he exclaimed. "I would never do anything to disgrace—"
"Her blood has your scent!" she interrupted furiously, jamming her finger with the now-dried drop of blood into his face. "Did you think I wouldn't recognize traces of the magic I taught you to wield?"
The demon guard remained silent for a moment, clearly weighing his options. Sesshomaru kept one hand tight on Bakusaiga's handle, staring daggers at the traitor from behind.
Finally Hisao stood up straight. "Please understand," he said quietly. "I meant no insult. It was never meant to be traced back this far. She was supposed to have been killed quickly by another's hand, leaving no trace that our clan was involved."
That was all Sesshomaru needed to hear. He drew Bakusaiga and rested its point on Hisao's back, in-between his shoulder blades. "Tell me how to lift the curse," he demanded.
The guard glanced over his shoulder, an unsettling smirk twisting his lips. "And why would I do that Lord Sesshomaru? Aren't you going to kill me either way?"
Sesshomaru pressed his sword harder into the other's back, piercing neatly through his chest plate. "You can die slowly, or you can die quickly. I would be satisfied with either outcome. The choice is yours."
Hisao closed his eyes and turned his face away, and for a moment Sesshomaru thought he was surrendering. But then with uncanny speed he whipped around and slashed his scythe at Sesshomaru's chest. For an untrained (or human) warrior that would have been a fatal blow, but Sesshomaru was not called a daiyoukai for no reason. With equal speed he brought Bakusaiga in front of him and knocked the scythe aside with the resounding clang of metal.
They both quickly jumped back several paces and glared at one another, weapons at the ready.
"You have lost yourself, Lord Sesshomaru," Hisao snarled bitterly. "Just like your father before you! I could not sit idly by while our clan fell into ruin!"
"Tell me how to lift Rin's curse," Sesshomaru repeated. Out of the corner of his eye he noted how pale and still the girl looked on her place upon the platform. He also saw his mother lean back in her throne and clasp her hands inside her sleeves. She might be content to sit and watch the entertainment unfold, but Sesshomaru knew time was short. "Tell me now."
In response, Hisao growled again and dashed forward. Sesshomaru matched his pace. Their weapons met in several rapid, precise blows. The lesser demon was surprisingly skilled at wielding such a long rod so quickly. On a different day, Sesshomaru might have enjoyed crossing blades with an opponent who may actually pose some competition, but today was not that day. He increased the strength behind each swing, forcing Hisao to adopt a defensive stance. But still the other kept up with apparent ease.
The combatants came to a pause as their weapons locked. "What's the matter Sesshomaru?" Hisao sneered, uncomfortably close to his face. "Why not use Bakusaiga to disintegrate me?"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, but did not grace him with an answer.
"You won't kill me," Hisao went on. "You can't. I'm too valuable to you alive."
In response Sesshomaru let demonic energy flow into Bakusaiga so that the blade sputtered with green sparks. A surge of power burst forth, blowing Hisao clean off his feet. But after a moment the guard just picked himself up and laughed. "An empty blow. You won't use its full power. Not so long as the only hope of saving your precious little brat rests with me."
Sesshomaru was not fazed. "A traitor who is so clearly outmatched is in no position to bargain for his life."
"Oh, but I think I am. That human girl is out of options, and expiring fast. You kill me, and you ensure her death. Or we could strike a new deal. Grant me my freedom, and I will tell you how to save her."
In one brief moment, all the knowledge of what Rin had endured because of this demon before him flashed through his mind. Her forced attack from Kirara. Watching as her village crumbled around her at the hands of Rikuto. Her abduction and mistreatment. Her captivity at the tree demon palace. The life-threatening injuries she received there. All that time she spent scared and alone, waiting to be rescued. Sesshomaru's resolve swelled tenfold. "There will be no deal," he said venomously. "You will tell me what I need to know."
He did not give Hisao a chance to answer. He lunged for his enemy sword first. The guard captain met him head on. They each fought with skill honed over centuries of practice. But Sesshomaru had an advantage over Hisao now. He knew that he most important thing to the traitor was preserving his own life. He had gone to extraordinary lengths to try and ensure that Rin's death was never traced back to him. Actions that he perceived to be for the good of his clan may have driven him to create the curse in the first place, but now that his attempts at secrecy had failed, he was not willing to die for his cause. And a man like that only needed to be brought to the point of desperation before he would fall back to the only remaining option for saving his skin. Sesshomaru intended to use every tactic necessary to get him there.
He attacked Hisao from all sides, moving so quickly that he would only be perceived as a blur to an inexperienced eye. Bakusaiga was in constant motion. It struck from many different angles, but each time it was met by the rod of Hisao's scythe. The demon was able to spin his weapon around himself so swiftly in a propeller-like fashion that it formed a virtual shield through which a blade as thin as Bakusaiga could not hope to penetrate. Sesshomaru felt a small twitch of annoyance as he thought about how handy Tetsusaiga would be right about now, but he could not afford to dwell on that. Instead he adopted a different technique.
He shot up into the sky, swapping his sword to his left hand, and then slashed at Hisao from above with his Poison Whip. The bright green string of demonic energy caught in the demon's spinning scythe like a fishing line. The tangled mess disrupted his pattern, and the weapon was wrested from his hands. Sesshomaru lost control of it as well as his Poison Whip faded away, but he had no problem letting it go careening down the long staircase and out of sight.
Hisao merely glared up at him and then leaped in to the air. The only members of the dog demon clan that could fly were the Lady Mother and Sesshomaru himself, but Hisao and several other members were quite good at jumping great distances, much like Inuyasha. He came at Sesshomaru claws first. The daiyoukai dodged to the side, and was mildly surprised that the blow actually only missed narrowly. Unlike the half-demon, Hisao's speed was still up to par with Sesshomaru's, even while jumping. But while gravity took him back toward the ground, Sesshomaru pushed forward. He swiped Bakusaiga across his enemy's defenseless back just before he reached the ground.
Hisao stifled a cry, spinning around as Sesshomaru touched down. His claws barely missed him once more. Instead of trying again however, he surprised Sesshomaru by turning and jumping for the closest rooftop. He did not stop there, but kept moving rapidly from roof to roof and tree to tree in an unreadable pattern. The daiyoukai did not know what he was planning, as he did not appear to be making a great effort to escape altogether. But there was not time to dissect his reasoning, so Sesshomaru took off in pursuit of him.
He cursed his enemy for his damnable speed. Every time Sesshomaru caught up with him in one location, Hisao was suddenly somewhere else. He could never quite get close enough catch him with Bakusaiga. Frustrated, Sesshomaru put his sword away. He again brought two fingers up to his cheek and then lashed out with his Poison Whip. With its greater range, the attack clipped at Hisao's heels.
Unhindered despite the scratch, the demon kept up his chase. Sesshomaru slashed at him time and time again, relentlessly sending the slicing energy snapping out to the spot that Hisao appeared to be heading for. After several minutes of this, Hisao had finally obtained enough hits to leave a trail of blood flying in his wake. Then Sesshomaru scored a cut on his left shin so deep and precise that his opponent faltered at last. Hisao's body jerked as he landed on the ground just a short ways from the Lady Mother's platform. Sesshomaru saw his chance and took it. He whisked Bakusaiga back out of its sheath and bore down on Hisao from above, aiming for the area just to the right of his heart; a blow that would cause him excruciating pain, but not kill him. Not yet.
He could feel his blade tearing flesh as his feet made contact with the ground—and then a searing pain exploded in his gut. For just as Sesshomaru reached Hisao, the guard had spun around with a dagger in hand and planted it up to the hilt into Sesshomaru's middle.
For a moment both enemies froze, eyes locked in mutual surprise, their weapons stuck into each other as blood gushed out over their respective armor. Then they both jumped backward, taking the blades with them. Sesshomaru scowled, but would not give Hisao the satisfaction of seeing his pain. He stood up straight as ever, ignoring the red liquid gathering in a pool beneath his feet. So that was his plan all along. The random pursuit around the palace had been but a distraction for him to retrieve a hidden dagger from somewhere on his person so as to catch Sesshomaru off his guard. Hmph. He was a fool if he thought one dagger strike would be enough to kill this daiyoukai. He had certainly endured worse wounds than this before.
The same could not be said for Hisao, however. The many cuts he had received left him bent, clutching at his shoulder and breathing hard. He glared at Sesshomaru with fresh hatred. "Be careful My Lord," he rasped, adding particular vehemence to his words. "You wouldn't want to spill too much of your precious blood."
Suddenly Sesshomaru's mother, who had remained still as she silently observed them, lowered her hands on to her lap and hummed, "Ah..."
Hisao shot her a glance that Sesshomaru could not read. Then with reckless abandon he rushed at Sesshomaru once more, giving a primal cry and holding his dagger before him. But his speed was affected by his injuries. Sesshomaru easily side stepped his enemy and then met him with another slash on the back from Bakusaiga as he fell passed him. Hisao collapsed onto his knees involuntarily and for a few seconds remained there, still as a statue.
Standing over him, Sesshomaru pushed the tip of his sword into the back of Hisao's neck. "Tell me how to lift the curse."
Slowly, Hisao looked back over his shoulder at him. The demon's eyes were wide and wild, and blood trickled from one corner of his mouth. He stared at Sesshomaru for one long breath, and then said decidedly, "If I am going to the underworld either way, then I am not going alone."
With astonishing swiftness, he leaped to his feet. Sesshomaru prepared for another ill-conceived attack—and was startled when Hisao instead lunged to the side. An arrow of ice zipped through Sesshomaru's veins when he realized where he was heading. Hisao must have used his last ounce of strength to propel himself toward the platform, because he was there in an instant, claws swiping for Rin's throat.
Sesshomaru did not think. He let his instincts take over as he dove behind the monster attacking Rin and plunged a powerful hand straight through his chest from behind. This time he did not worry about avoiding the heart.
Hisao stopped short with his claws just inches from the child. He gave an unintelligible gurgle and a twitch, and then went limp. Sesshomaru discarded him in disgust. The guard fell to the ground in a heap, quite dead.
Sesshomaru assessed Rin's motionless form just to be sure she had not received any new injuries. But as he did, a new sense of despair edged its way into his mind. He had just killed his only chance at finding out how to save her. Necessary though it may have been, she was now doomed regardless.
Just then his mother cleared her throat. "Well, that was interesting. I really thought he was going to take it with him to the grave, but he must not have been as clever as I imagined. He lost his wits in the midst of his pain."
Sesshomaru looked over at her quickly. She glanced at him sideways with a toying smile twisting her lips. "He gave you the answer when he warned you not to spill your precious blood. The spell resides in her blood, and was cast by a powerful member of the dog demon clan. However, the blood of a more powerful dog demon might just force it out."
Sesshomaru's heart rate increased. Could there really be a way?
"You have obviously proved yourself the superior demon," she continued, "so if a few drops of your blood were to mix with hers, it would probably do the trick. Still, it's risky at best. There's a chance her body would reject it all together, hastening her death." She leaned back in her throne with a huff. "I certainly wouldn't have designed it that way."
The daiyoukai looked back at Rin. He would have to take the chance. It was the only one she had left. Without a word, he gathered her up in one arm and strode off into the palace grounds.
A few minutes later he was kneeling down beside her in a secluded room devoid of furnishings inside the property. He did not know what form this curse would take when it left her body. Just in case the magic manifested itself into something tangible, he wanted to make sure it could not get away. Thus, an enclosed space was best. Sesshomaru took just a brief moment to consider the child laying before him on the cold tatami mat floor, knowing full well that what he was about to do would either save her life or destroy it. Reluctantly, he unwrapped the same bandage on her arm that his mother had disturbed earlier. Blood once again beaded up in the cut like water flooding a crevasse. Sesshomaru quickly held out his own wrist just above her. Before bringing Rin here, he had hastily cleaned all remnants of Hisao's blood off of his hands so that he could be sure not to defile Rin with it. Now, with one claw from his other hand, he cut a slit in his skin just deep enough for blood to flow freely. He then turned his arm over so that it would drip straight downward. He watched impatiently as it clotted together and then finally fell in three big drops.
Sesshomaru then withdrew his hand and watched Rin intently. For a few seconds nothing happened as the red and red oozed slowly together on her arm. But after that Rin's face scrunched into a grimace of pain and she involuntarily whimpered. All of a sudden a burst of wind and shadow burst forth from her wound. It looked like a thick darkness engulfed her body before condensing on her arm like a rag absorbing liquid. Then something shot up into the air. It looked like a small, snake-like creature made of shadow and smoke. Its red eyes shone like round embers and when it opened its mouth it produced a high-pitched screech. It wriggled its way free of Rin in a matter of seconds and then swiftly tried to make its escape.
Sesshomaru was faster. The instant it was completely detached from Rin, he swiped his claws into its unstable essence. Surprisingly, there came a sound like ripping paper. With a final squeal, the creature arched backwards and then just dissipated into smoke and ashes that rained down upon the floor. At that same moment, Rin took a deep breath in. He watched quickly as her face relaxed. She gave a long sigh and moved her head to the side. Slight color bloomed on her cheeks, replacing the deathly pale. Instead of deceased, she now looked to be asleep, her chest rising and falling peacefully.
Sesshomaru felt a great weight roll off his shoulders. He could only sit and stare at her for a couple minutes as the deep gloom that had grown in his heart for the past few days gradually lifted. She's safe... he thought. She's finally safe. She had endured more than any child should ever have to. But endure she had. Before he could think about it twice, he reached forward and felt her forehead. Thankfully, her skin did not feel as cold as it had earlier. He absently brushed a few strands of her black hair out of her face. She may have been free of the curse, but she still needed proper medical attention. After another lingering moment, he rose and left the room, closing the sliding doors behind him. He needed to find someone still loyal enough to him to tend to her. Which, considering that he had just publically executed the captain of the guard, he did not expect to be too difficult a task.
As he rounded a corner into the rock garden to head for the servants' quarters, he came to a stop. His mother stood there, waiting for him. He looked at her silently, not particularly interested in speaking first.
"Well?" she asked after she had considered him.
"It is done," he replied. "The curse has been removed."
She nodded slightly. "...I suppose I know better than to ask if you would like someone to tend to your wounds."
"This is nothing. She is the one who requires treatment." He hoped that concluded their conversation, but she made no move to step aside and let him pass. His mother fixed him with an intense gaze.
"I hope you realize what I've done for you today Sesshomaru," she said weightily. "I was not thrilled when I first learned of your strange interest in caring for the human child, but I brought her soul back from the underworld for you, and I allowed you to demand that clothes and other supplies be made for her. I thought surely this was just a phase that you were experiencing; that you would eventually come to your senses if I just left you be. But now you have cost me one of my oldest and most powerful servants. Hisao may have acted apart from my wishes, but he was not entirely incorrect. You do seem to have lost yourself. That human is not your child."
"I have taken Rin as my daughter," Sesshomaru said with finality, completely unashamed to say it out loud.
His mother's eyes widened. "Oh really. And have you given any thought to how short human lives are? Even if she remains in good health for all her life, she may live 60 or 70 years at the most. And what about you? Will you still be protecting her when she is an old woman?"
Sesshomaru was fully aware that Rin was mortal. Regardless, he would continue to offer her provision and protection for as long as she needed. If necessary, to the end of her days. He still needed to decide just how involved in her world that would make him. Being with him constantly had put her in frequent danger, but being separated from him had put her in danger as well. He would have time to dwell on where the happy medium resided while Rin recovered.
In any case, he knew that he wanted her to have a happy life among the humans she had come to love. When she was old enough she may even choose to marry one of her own and carry on as humans normally did. That thought was actually a fairly new one for Sesshomaru. He could not imagine that any man would be worthy of her, save perhaps for Kohaku, who had willingly followed the daiyoukai into the meidou to help save Rin. However, that was an issue to be addressed in later years. For now, he simply responded, "I was not aware that a caregiver's affection was dependent upon age."
The mother who had not told her son that she cared for him since he was half her height scowled at the pointed remark. He continued before she could retort, "It does not matter in the least to me if you disagree with my adoption of an unrelated, non-demon child. However, even you can no longer say that Rin and I do not share blood."
And with that he strode around her and went on his way. The Lady Mother sighed and shook her head as his footsteps faded away. "Such a stubborn boy...just like his father." With a shrug she headed off to speak with the head of her household servants. It would be less than a century until the object of Sesshomaru's fatherly affection was removed from the picture anyway. She supposed that as long as he had made up his mind, they all might as well indulge him.
Author's Note: I finally finished! I apologize for how ridiculously long this chapter took me to get out...I wrestled with it for a long time. At first I was going to do a completely different scene that involved Kohaku coming to the village and discovering that Rin was gone so that I could tie up the loose end about Kitashi. I tried writing it about four different ways, but no matter what I did nothing would come out right. I realized that it would take too much away from the main action, and that it was more important that we get back to Rin and Sesshomaru, so I scrapped what I had and started over.
Anyway, vengeance is finally served! I hope you enjoyed it. There is still one chapter to come that will wrap things up and provide a bit more closure. Thanks for reading so far!