[A/N] First order of business: an apology to my readers for the LONG AS HELL WAIT for that update. I don't want anyone to think this story has gone on Haitus, because it has not. Updates will just be a little farther between. But have faith! Second order: One part of my lateness has to do with my inspiration taking a drastic turn after my trip to Paris. I was inspired to write a dark and very graphic oneshot called 'Bastille du Sang'. I urge all my readers to read it and tell me what they think so at least the wait will not be for nothing. But be warned! It is EXTREMELY graphic. Well I hope you enjoy!
Ningen Impossibilities
Chapter Thirteen
Jube Deido ran down the corridor of his burning palace. His only goal was the large doors at the end. He could hear Shippou running behind him, yelling for him to leave and he would get her, but Jube couldn't. His walls were wilting in the fire around him and the smoke was making it hard to breathe. A solider steeped into the hall from a collapsed wall, from what country, Jube couldn't tell anymore. The Lord opened his mouth, letting his natural poison eject from his throat as he scooted by the screaming youkai. He would let Shippou finish him off. Jube ran past several other soldiers, his natural speed and agility helping him greatly. He was so close, yet it seemed to take him forever to reach the doors. He had to get her, he had to save her, she was all he had left.
He threw the doors open and called her name. He couldn't smell her at all but he knew she was there. He ran through the antechamber looking through her closets as he went. As he rounded inside her inner chamber he saw her body there and his heart stopped. He shook his head, nearing her still form. This couldn't be happening again, not to him, not again. But it was there in front of him, burnt flesh and blood adorning the floor and a body almost unrecognizable save the corner of her face that displayed the light green eyes and dark brown skin he had inherited. He sank to his knees and held her dead form. She stank of the same rot that had coated his mutilated father. His body shook and subconsciously he sensed Shippou enter the room. Things were not making sense to him. She could not be dead, he had promised her, promised her that he would protect her after his father had left. He had promised her. He shook her disfigured flesh calling her name. There was no way that she was dead, he had made a promise.
Shippou pulled him by his shoulders as heat licked at them both. His palace was burning to the ground and Shippou was asking him to leave his dead mother to burn with it. He struggled but the Kitsune was stronger than him. Shippou hoisted him over his shoulder and Jube screamed and clawed to get back to her. She couldn't be dead, he had to take her with him, he had made a promise. She was looking at him and his last sight of her was her one green eye, accusing him. How could he break his promise?
Rin jumped forward and swung the zanbatoushe had borrowed from the Western armory, killing five youkai at once. Her Lord ran behind her as she literally cleared a path for him. His army followed several meters away as both Rin and Sesshoumaru charged the enemy forces. Arrows rained from above and the Western Lord moved expertly to avoid them. He had one goal: to find Hibina and kill him as quickly as possible, but as he had expected, the Southern Lord was not here. The armies clashed on Eastern land as the West tried to push them back to the South, but Sesshoumaru had to be impressed, Hibina's army was well developed. He growled, he was having to defend himself too much. He wanted nothing to do with petty foot soldiers. "Rin." He said.
She was there instantly swinging her zanbatou to kill as many as possible, as fast as possible. The challenging part of what she was doing was not defending herself or killing the enemy. It was keeping up with her Lord with a heavy ass weapon, and arrows she was dodging almost instinctively. Rin pushed forward killing another five with one swing. This was what she did, this was who she was, this was where she belonged. Rin ran forward surging in front of her Lord as she leapt and slammed the blade into the ground sending shock waves forward. She ran, jumping forward and stopping short as Sesshoumaru kept a steady pace. He could see the general leading this platoon and although Rin was clearing his way with amazing speed, she was still going slower than he wanted. "Rin, there." He commanded and the ward saw where his eyes were locked. She slid to a stop in front of him, bracing the extra long weapon as he pushed off and soared through the air like an arrow himself. He cleared over a sea of soldiers and he unsheathed Tokkijen, blasting the enemy. landing on top the blood and bones, he faced the leading general who drew his sword. Sesshoumaru could tell by the youkai's eyes that expected to die. He sheathed Tokkijen and swung his arm around him decapitating the general and the converging enemy as they tried to corner him. Sesshoumaru began moving again as arrows descended on him. He looked up with annoyance, they were too far up for him to do anything about, but someone was going to have to get rid of them.
Rin was next to him instantly destroying anything and everything within ten feet of her Lord. Sesshoumaru stood still and thought. He put his fingers in his lips and blew a shrill whistle that hurt even his own ears. Waiting a moment, he grabbed Rin's wrists and jumped to catch Au-Un's reins. He pulled the dragon up and used his whip to deflect the barrage of arrows, but they were becoming too much. "Kill them." He said simply and Rin surveyed the sky around her. There had to be at least two hundred in the air above both armies and spread wide in the sky. She dropped the heavy zanbatou and unsheathed Ijo. With a leap she was on the first one, stabbing it through the chest and running the sword down until it was nearly in half. She pushed off the body to fall onto the next one. An arrow pierced her shoulder but she barely noticed as she went from youkai to youkai.
She was stuck on a raven-youkai that was falling fast and too far from anyone else for Rin to jump. She leapt toward Sesshoumaru who, like her, was busy dispatching foul youkai. He extended his whip to coil around her gauntleted arm and swung her back up into the air. Two more arrows thumped through the parts of her thighs unprotected by her armor. She only noticed when they got caught on one of her victims armor and broke off. She pulled them free from her feeling the blood flow freely from her shoulder and thighs and retreated back to Au-Un, leding him toward Sesshoumaru who was currently falling freely. She caught his arm and pulled him on behind her at the exact same time that he swung Tokkijen and decapitated an unsuspecting hawk-youkai. He had three jagged marks that told of a meeting with some talons and his cheek bore an angry healing cut of a near miss with an arrow. She pulled Au-Un to the Western forces as she and her Lord began tearing into the enemy raining down on the West.
"I don't believe you!" Kia cried, covering her ears with her hands.
Hibina paced around her. "But it is true. She has bewitched Ishan and now she has betrayed you to your father. They are looking for you as we speak."
Kia shook her head. "Rin wouldn't – she knows that it would ruin – Rin wouldn't! She says that she does not want Ishan!"
"Look at him!" Hibina took her by the shoulders and tugged her around to see Ishan slumped against a mat on the floor. His white eyes half lidded and his body too drugged for him to fully comprehend what was going on around him. "I saved him just as she was going to steal him away! Ishan told me of your love and Rin wants it for herself. Surely you can see Kia, you can see how she is jealous of your pure love.."
Kia let this process in her mind. "Jealous of our pure love." She repeated.
"Don't you see it?" He shook her lightly. "Don't you see it in his eyes? She has bewitched him and he won't recover."
Kia's eyes filled with tears. "He won't recover? My Ishan is gone?" Her voice rose with hysteria.
"Not yet Kia." Hibina said soothingly. "There is still one way to save him." Kia's brows furrowed and her gaze dropped to the floor. "You know don't you? The only way to save your pure love, the only way to save your Ishan."
She nodded slowly. "Rin must die."
"No." he said lightly tipping her chin up so that his deep bloody eyes met with her bottomless blue pools. "You must kill Rin. Only you can do it Kia, if another kills Rin, Ishan will remain under her influence for all time, doomed to want her until his last breath."
She was beginning to shake. "No, I can't kill her. I have known her since I was so little! We-we used to play together, Rin is-was my best friend!"
"And look at how she has repaid your friendship, your loyalty! She has taken your lover from you and betrayed you to your father. She is no friend of yours Kia, she has only pretended to be." Kia huddled within herself, her hands covering her face as she shook her head. How could she? How could she kill Rin? Even when she went to confront her in the East, she had never intended to kill her, she hadn't even been really trying to hurt her. She was angry and needed somewhere to vent and she knew Rin would not be so easily injured. But killing her? Taking her life? How could she? Her frame was shaking with sobs and she could feel herself being pulled into a warm embraced. Kia sniffled and took in his scent, he was comforting. "I know that it must be so hard for you to face the truth. I'm here for you Kia, here to tell you, here to show you what is false. You see it don't you? See all the lies she has fed you, the betrayal she has offered you? You know it is what you must do. You know it is the only way to save him, to save your pure love."
"My pure love." She murmured into his chest. Yes, she had to save her pure love. She had to save Ishan.
"You must kill Rin to save your pure love, Kia. You must kill Rin."
"Kill Rin." She repeated. Yes, she had to kill Rin to save her pure love. She had to kill her best friend, who she had thought had been her best friend. All those years were lies. The rumors were true, Rin was just a monster in a ningen's body, trained by the ruthless bastard of the West. "Kill Rin." She repeated with more determination. She would kill her and save Ishan, save their pure love.
Shippou laid Jube against a tree and fell onto his back. He had never run so far so hard in his entire life. He was soaked from crossing the small river that led Southern territory into Eastern. The sun was setting but the battle, not far off, did not seem to be slowing. He was almost positive that Sesshoumaru and Rin were there but he needed to be sure. He turned his attention to his friend. The snake-youkai had not spoken since they had abandoned the palace. He sat, slumped against the tree, his light green, normally slitted eyes, wide against his brown skin. He was in shock, no doubt resurfacing the images of his parents' death over and over in his head. Shippou only had to look to see that she had been killed the same way, if not by the same person, as his father. The Kitsune sighed, they were in a tough fix and he needed to find Jube shelter. He could not, would not let Gankanki get his hands on the Ukaraha throne. He picked himself up and kneeled in front of the Isle Lord. "Jube," he called. "Jube!" Slowly the eyes slid toward him and shrank to their normal size. "Where are you?" Shippou asked.
He looked around confused as to how he had gotten there. "The South?"
"Wrong, the East. There is a battle further in and we have to get you to the Western camp, it's the only place you're safe." Shippou spoke slowly.
Jube nodded. "But how are we going to get there? Cross in the middle of a war?"
A smirk lit the kitsune's face. "Of course not, she's going to come get you. Stay here." He instructed.
"Come get me? Who?" But it was too late. Shippou disappeared. Jube paced around jumping, in spite of himself, at almost every sound. Embarrasingly he wasn't one of the more powerful or even remotely strong Lords. He was agile and a good runner with good defensive poison, that was about it. He wandered around the trunk of the tree for about almost an hour until he heard running coming toward him. He knew it was Shippou but just to be sure he readied himself to run. Shippou came to vision and right behind him Rin.
"Lord Sesshoumaru offers you his protection as an ally of the West." She spoke formally. "Follow me please." Rin turned back the way she had come and Jube looked around but Shippou was already gone. Rin was fast but he kept up with her easily. As they neared the dying skirmish Rin didn't even try to skirt around Southern troops. "Stick close to me Lord Deido." She said quickly and Jube ran right behind her. Rin dodged the fighting more than she literally cleared a path. While the night was taking over it was clear to see that both sides had dwindled, but the West had only lost a third of their men while the South had lost half. Sesshoumaru had already sent word for two more battalions to be sent as they prepared to storm the South, but the Southern warriors were proving to be more resilient than remembered and the West had not gained a mile. She escorted Jube safely to the Western camp and placed him in a tent where Shippou waited. She had no idea where her Lord was but she thought it best to find him. During a time like this it was prudent she be his shadow and follow his every move.
Sesshoumaru pulled sluggishly at the cords keeping his armor on. He was more battle weary than he remembered in a long time, but he felt good. He didn't care for sitting complacently and idling, battle always brought the best out of him. His tent opened and he knew the only person who would enter without his permission was Rin. Even Nanjo announced himself. "Here, let me help you." She took off his armor and he laid onto his bedding in exhaustion. She was the only one he would allow to see him in this state of…normalcy. It was a complicated feeling, enjoying the fact that he could relax around her and yet knowing he should not, knowing it was somehow, in some way, wrong. He turned on his side and watched as Rin twisted herself to take off her armor.
Her arms were sore from swinging random weapons since sunrise and she just couldn't seem to find the cords under the plate on her back. Hands pushed her own away as Sesshoumaru reached under her armor to unhook the cords. Rin sighed in relief as it fell away. It was not the place of a Lord to deal with his own armor, especially not another's, but Sesshoumaru had never really followed any protocol he didn't find convenient. "I have found a small stream that leads to the ocean, if you wish to bathe." During a war bathing was usually put on hold but she knew he didn't care for remaining covered in sweat, blood and grime.
"Are you planning to bathe with me?" He asked reaching for a fresh kimono and a brush.
Rin blushed slightly still not accustomed. "No my Lord." She was near the tent entrance and she was far more covered in blood and grime than him. She held a fresh robe in her hands.
"Why not?" He asked walking closer to her.
"It would be inappropriate." She stated wanting to shove propriety into the dirt.
He nodded. "As my guard it is your duty to stay by my side." He grabbed the robe out of her hands and Rin pinked at her ignorance. Of course she could not be seen carrying clean clothes when she should not be bathing with her Lord. She was only his guard and it had to remain that way in public.
"Of course." Rin bowed and Sesshoumaru left the tent, her robe under his clothes.
The stream was a little warmer due to the weather and it stayed that way even though it was night. Sesshoumaru disrobed and submerged himself easily, grateful for water to cleanse himself. Rin perched atop a tree, listened for intruders and tried to remind herself that now was not the time to arouse herself by gazing at her naked Lord. She knew now was not the time to want her Lord and she didn't dare ask or provoke him at a time like this, she didn't think she could stand if she was denied. So she sat there and waited until her Lord had dressed. He stood with a fresh kimono on and she jumped down into the stream directly, divesting herself of clothing there. She shook her head and ran her claws through her mated hair, caked with blood and dirt and sweat.
When she surfaced, it was to find her Lord leaning against a tree right in front of her, head upward watching the stars. Like this he seemed so tangible, different from the inevitable entity that ruled the Western Land. Rin rose and walked toward him to collect her robe. Slowly his eyes met hers and traveled down her body following the paths of water as they rose over her breasts, down her torso to collect in the short dark hairs at the meeting of her thighs. She reached out and took the material from him, donning it as she began to walk back towards camp, pausing a few feet away she before falling a little behind him.
"My Lord, Jube Deido waits to hear from you. Shippou says he is still reeling slightly from his mother's murder. Apparently he has no other family to connect him to his throne. Shippou thinks challenges will come soon and he is positive Lord Deido will not be able to defend his place as Lord of Ukaraha."
Sesshoumaru mused this. "As long as he is an ally of mine, he will remain where I want him. His place is in Ukaraha, but before this war is over, I will see that it is expanded into the South."
Rin thought for a moment. "After Hibina, who is in line for the Southern throne?"
He waved his hand. "I do not care." As they returned to their tent Rin donned an outer Kimono of bright yellow and black before fetching Jube and Shippou, bringing them directly. Sesshoumaru's eyes connected with Jube, who looked more like a lost child than ever. Rin bowed and prepared to leave, but he stayed her. "Your palace has fallen and allies of the South have taken Ukaraha?" He spoke with is usual subtle power with a hint of detachment.
Deido closed his eyes momentarily. "I believe so, I was not able to stay long enough to see how long my army could have held off the enemy but, I do not believe it was long before they were defeated."
"Then you will make your camp with the West and wait until the war is through." Sesshoumaru's choice was final.
Jube bowed. "Of course, Lord Sesshoumaru."
The Western Lord turned to Shippou. "You are his general?"
The Kitsune looked to Jube, who was lost in his own thoughts. "Yes, I suppose I am."
"Then I leave it your responsibility to take him to Inuyasha and guard him there." The pair was ordered to leave before dawn.
Rin stared at her hands after they had left and she could feel the eyes of her Lord on her. Sesshoumaru watched her fiddle and furrow her brows. "You are at unrest." He said by way of asking how she was.
She was unsure If she wanted to voice her opinion. "My Lord how will we stretch ourselves to cover Ukaraha as well? There would be holes in our defense."
Her Lord stared at her for a moment and Rin felt herself flush. "Rin, Ukaraha is not a priority, simply something that will be done before the war is over." There was a long silence. "Kian has contacted me, it seems his daughter is missing." He said without care.
"Kia? She is most likely wherever Ishan is."
"I did not feel it was relevant to divulge that information. He has suspicions that she is somehow mixed in this war though he cannot figure out why, or so he has told me."
"Has he asked you to locate Kia?'
"Yes." He looked at her.
"Does that mean I shall look for her?"
"As of now, she is a higher priority than Ishan."
Rin opened her mouth and Sesshoumaru raised a brow. She closed it again, stood and bowed. "Of course my Lord." She left and alerted the guards of their vigil. She had to rest or fighting again tomorrow would be most difficult. Even now she could hear the clash of soldiers farther out. Sesshoumaru was ordering them to continue until the rested were sent to relieve them and with a new battalion due in the next day or so, it looked like the West would win this battle. But Rin could see it no other way, her Lord had never lost a war. Ever. Her tent was near enough to protect him but fat enough for peace of mind and privacy and Rin found that sleep came easy to her.
Kia raced through the thick night. It was a long way to where she needed to go but she gathered if she continued at this pace, it would be no time at all. All she had to do, was avoid the fighting and she would take care of that little traitor. Once and for all.
Suzari let his head rest against the sturdy dark wood of his enormous book case. Yosai paced up and down, idly waving her fan back and forth in an effort to calm herself. He sighed. "Yosai, love, that will not make him come any faster."
She sent him a look that could have withered the sun. "Yes. I know that."
She continued pacing and Suzari wished, not for the first time, he had just told her the truth in the first place. "Rin will be busy protecting her Lord and fighting the war. You cannot expect her to drop everything and do as you ask. Even I cannot expect that." He said solemnly, his rationale winning the desire in his heart.
Yosai exploded. "Don't you tell me what I cannot expect! If you would have just told me! If you would have just let me know where my son was, but you decided you could handle it, you decided to keep me in the dark. So now I am doing the only thing I think will help. If anyone, can find him and bring him back, it is her." She squeezed her eyes shut to stave the torrential flow of tears she knew was waiting. She had not cried yet since hearing of her son. There was a knock at the door almost a half an hour later.
Suzari sprang up. "Enter." He called, anxiety lacing his voice.
A lithe Kitsune youkai entered. He bowed before Yosai specifically. "I have the news you requested. Lady Rin assures you she will do everything in her power to see Ishan brought back to you." Lady Sashine sank against the nearest wall, her legs giving out until she was on the floor. The messenger was up immediately bracing her as Suzari stared ahead. "My Lady? Are you ill? I suggest you rest, your nerves are most likely taking a toll."
Yosai ignored the Kitsune, her eyes raising slowly to her husbands, the tears pouring. "She'll bring him back."
Suzari did not look away, his hope was tight in his throat. "She'll bring him back."
Rin polished Yijo, her mind in a whirlwind. These last two days were distracting and confusing. Every morning, in the dark before dawn, she would rise and run a large loop in search of a sign of Kia. She would dress for battle and fight all day, always keeping an eye out for Ishan. The West was thirty miles from the Southern border, a distance that could be covered in half a day. It looked as if although it was progressing slowly, the West was winning this war. She knew her Lord was upset with her, the promise she had made to Lady Yosai was of direct conflict with what he wanted her to do. She had not disobeyed him, but she was undermining him, and for that Rin was on edge. Currently he was in his tent, servants dressing him for battle since he had no desire to see Rin at the moment. For some reason, in the back of her mind it was confusing, but Rin did not feel so hurt or shocked, more aware in a sense that she was in no danger of being exiled or even dropping permanently from his good graces. Instead she readied herself to dive back into battle and prove that she was an invaluable asset to her Lord.
Sesshoumaru was leading hard. His soldiers fed from his impatience as he dispatched youkai by the droves and pushed for the border. He was determined to break Southern ground by noon and the Western forces, driven by centuries of victory, leapt forward following blindly behind the white haired dog. In front of all was Rin. Sesshoumaru could barely keep his attention on her for long at all. She seemed to be everywhere at once, ripping through the enemy at his back and on his sides. It was as if she never tired, but Sesshoumaru knew better. She pushed herself for him and for that, it was hard to stay angry at her at all. He loathed to say it but the thought was there, he had come to depend on her and if she hadn't been there, things would have been very different.
Rin was flying. Her eyes were moving just a fraction too fast for her mind. She was watching her Lord from all angles, watching herself and destroying anything that didn't have the Western seal on its breast. He was fighting, moving with methodical swiftness and an easy, yet eerie sort of grace. A spear ran for him through the thick of the crowd of soldiers and Sesshoumaru seemed not to notice. Rin was locked with another youkai, she kicked out her leg, breaking the spear in two, the broken piece still going for her Lords abdomen. But Sesshoumaru was no longer there, he pressed forward, oblivious to his near death or indifferent. Rin ran to keep up with him, more determined than ever to keep him safe. Mighty he was, but not immortal.
Hibina growled in frustration as he paced back and forth in his large roof-less throne room, letting the cool breeze try to cool his temper. They were too close, far, far too close. What the hell was that little sprite doing? Why hadn't she already killed Rin? Was she dead?
"Easy." Gankanki spoke with his gruff voice. "You are liable to cook me if you heat this place up anymore."
Hibina sighed and sat. "Yes, sorry." He said sounding anything but.
"Ukaraha will be mine soon, you can move there. They will take your palace, that much is obvious."
The reminder made Hibina grind his teeth in pure annoyance. "Yes, that is a good idea. I thank you." He made a mental note to kill Gankanki as soon as he was Lord of the West.
Kia doubled back and headed for the border. It was night, deep, deep night and she felt in her water-based blood that the moon goddess would grant her, her one request. She pushed forward running faster and soon she entered the camp. They were joyous, so sure of victory celebrating around a large fire. Kia kept low, glad that her elemental blood let her blend easily in nature. She kept her eyes and sense open until she spotted Rin. The insufferable human-turned-youkai was lounging next to her Lord, drinking something and talking earnestly, a smile on her face and her swords just out of reach. She briefly pondered attacking now but she knew that would only end badly for her. She crept around the camp finding the Lord Dog's tent and biding her time there.
Kia knelt and steadied her breathing and did not have to wait long. He waltzed in, too sure of himself and his safety and the slight hesitation was all she needed. She sprang up, both of her hands near his neck, palm up, where she commanded water to revolve there so fast that it became sharper than any sword. It would be so easy for her to flex one finger and his head would roll. She could see his golden eyes burning into hers filled with indignation and rage. But then he had always had eyes like that, she remembered that even when she was a little fledgling. "Sit," She said. "even if you killed me now it would not save you. In fact it would assure your death, the ring will contract and you will lose that one appendage that won't regenerate." He stared at her for so long she was sure he was going to be difficult until he turned and sat facing the door, his back straight and proud, and he completely silent. They both waited, Kia above him her hands frozen and her mind whirling, Sesshoumaru seething and trying to contain himself, lest he cause his own death.
It did not take long. "My Lord," could be heard right before Rin poked her head into the dark tent. She went silent with shock, the candle shaking in her hand. "Kia?" She asked stepping forward slightly.
"Stop." Kia barked and Rin seemed to see her Lord's predicament.
Her eyes flashed. "Release him." She bit through setting the candle down and flexing her claws.
Kia was still and quiet for a while. "What happened to us Rin?" She asked, catching her off guard.
Rin's eyes flickered from her Lord to Kia. "You happened. You let whoever it is convince you that I was trying to take something away from you. There is no reason for this Kia, if you just stop this I am sure Lord Sesshoumaru will forgive you. Things can go back to the way they used to be." It was clear from her Lord's face that, that was a lie.
"No I cannot. I have come for only one reason. Release Ishan from his spell."
"What?" Rin was thrown back.
"Release Ishan!" Kia yelled and the ring around Sesshoumaru's neck seemed to come closer to his skin. He didn't move a muscle or say a word.
"Kia, I do not know what you are talking about." Rin took a small step forward, her hands in front of her.
"Stay back!" She yelled. And Rin could see her distress was causing the ring to expand and contract erratically. She stepped back. "Just give me back my Ishan! He said I had to kill you, he said it was the only way but," She was crying now, but her arms were still as stone. "I don't want to. Just give him back!"
"He?" Rin asked softly.
"Hibina. He was too smart for you to fool when you had already fooled me and trapped Ishan. He saw through your plan, he tried to save Ishan!"
"Kia, Hibina is using you!" Rin tried to reason.
"Liar!" Kia shrieked in an ungodly pitch. Rin hoped it didn't alert anyone, she didn't need any distractions. "You took him, give me back my love," She growled. "or I'll take yours."
Rin could see in her mad blue eyes that no amount of reasoning would do. It hurt her deeply, but she knew, she was going to have to kill Kia. She let a thick hearty laugh bubble out. "My love?" Rin repeated sarcastically, causing both Kia and Sesshoumaru to look at her in confusion. Rin laughed again, sounding convincing even to herself. She would have to time this just right. "My love? Take him." She said with a shrug.
Kia stared at her for a moment in shocked silence. "I don't understand, you don't love him?"
"Ahh, Kia, you always were a little naïve." She sauntered forward as if Sesshoumaru's life meant little and plopped down in front of him. A twisted smirk lit her face and Sesshoumaru's eyes widened considerably. "Come with me Kia," She let her claws elongate and traced the planes of her Lord's face with the pads of her fingers. "Once I become Lady of the West I will help you find a way to free your Ishan."
Kia's brows furrowed as she struggled to take in what was happening. "You want me to kill him?" She asked.
Rin shrugged again and inside her heart dropped to her stomach as his face showed his feelings of betrayal. "Or I could kill him." She snaked her claws around her neck and Kia widened the ring to accommodate her. Rin pressed herself further until her body touched his, her arms around his neck and the ring wide enough to fit both her arms. "Besides, it would be so much more satisfying if I did it."
Kia shook her head slightly. "I still don't understand. All those years, you truly seemed to love him."
Rin chuckled. "And you won't understand." She gazed up at her friend and moved her arm with such swiftness that Kia never actually knew what happened. Rin, feeling the easiness of her claws cleaving through Kia's neck, wrapped her hands around her Lord's just as the ring contracted. She pushed her youki into her hands, trying to break the ring before it cut through her but once it was in her skin the pain made it hard to concentrate. Rin was unused to tapping into her demonic energy, she had never really had to before. Rin felt the water bite into her bone and she slumped against her Lord her world fading in and out but her will keeping the water from slicing through her hands and decapitating him.
She felt warmth around her upper arms and opened her eyes to see his bore into hers. Rin seemed to remember why she was enduring this anyway. It was for him, everything was for him and if there was ever a time he needed her it was now. His eyes, only his eyes begged her to be strong. She bit her lip, unlocking her fingers as she pushed outward. The pain was unbelievable as it sensations of having her hand slowly cleaved apart ran up and down her spine. She closed her eyes and she saw his face, memories, far too many memories of him. How could she let him die?
Rin yanked her hands back, breaking the ring and the force of it driving her to her feet. She stumbled back; her hands clutched in her stomach as she doubled over and sank to the floor trying to get a hold of the pain racking her body. She could feel her body trying to heal itself but it wasn't happening fast enough. Suddenly his arms were around her and her palms were being dragged from the sanctuary of her stomach. She let her lids flutter open and gasped as his tongue licked at her deep wounds and she felt odd drops of moisture fall onto her face and neck. She remembered as she sank into unconsciousness, his eyes being more golden than ever before, and curiously bright.
[A/N] Read and Review!!