Chapter Twenty One

Departed

"Lord Sesshoumaru…." Rin whispered out faintly. She whimpered as she forced her eyes slowly open to peer around the room. Darkness was all around but one presence remained that filled her with uneasiness.

"Poor little one…your master has failed you…"

Rin felt a shiver run down her spine as she turned her head to the side and saw a cold gaze meet her in the darkness. Menacing brown eyes directed to her and finally a beautiful woman stepped closer. Looking much like an angel of death with her glowing deadly companions about, Kikyo kneeled before the girl. She started calculatingly as the girl trembled beneath the touch of her hand as she stroked her sweat-soaked hair.

"W-where is Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin muttered out hopefully. "He promised he would come back…"

"He's in no hurry girl. His heart has found another one to cherish even more than you…soon" Kikyo mentioned. She gently lifted Rin's hand, strumming her fingers along the dry, bruised skin. "Dear child…he will be a father soon and have no need of you…" she encouraged.

Rin's big eyes watered with disappointment. "You are lying…Lord Sesshoumaru likes having me around" she insisted.

Kikyo smirked lightly and pulled Rin up lightly by the arm till the child sat up in bed. "That may have been true at a time but he'll move on. They all do. He will have to." Kikyo flicked her eyes subtly to the bed where Rin's blanket remained unmoved, not a single wrinkle out of place from where she sat up.

Rin's lip trembled as she looked down at herself. Turning her arms around she saw the disease gone and her color had faded. She gasped meekly as she stared at her motionless form back in the bed, still lying as she had when she slept.

"Let's go for a nice trip Rin" Kikyo whispered, pulling the girl down into her arms quickly. Rin stumbled forward, gripping hold of Kikyo's clothing.

"B-but I want to see Lord Sesshoumaru. I want to say good bye! Can't I stay?" she pleaded.

"Don't worry, where we go, your master shall soon join us…"

"This isn't a good idea" Inuyasha retorted bitterly, scrunching up his nose. He eyed Kohaku again, sitting silently away in the corner nursing his wound. The smell of the boy was hurting his somewhat new nose.

Sango frowned deeply and reached for the stone clenched tightly in the kappa's hand. "But we can't just do nothing! He's bleeding out! Heal him now and worry about the consequences later!" Sango beg only to have her hand slapped away by Jaken the next moment.

"Keep away you foolish girl! Your brother is beyond saving, he is a cohort of Naraku's now!" Jaken exclaimed.

Miroku grabbed Sango lightly by the shoulders as he noticed her frustration growing. "Relax Sango; we will take care of this. But perhaps they are right. Healing Kohaku with the Meido stone in this state will not help him."

"But he is hurt now! He can not wait!" Sango gripped her hiraikotsu from her back and glared back to Jaken. "I will take care him myself if anything happens."

Jaken rushed back, moving behind Inuyasha. "You will do no such thing! Lord Sesshoumaru and I have dealt with Naraku's minions before. He can not be trusted!"

Sango huffed lightly, throwing back her hair and turning back. "If you won't help Kohaku, then I will find someone who will!" She rushed over, grabbing the boy carefully by his good arm and shuffled him up. "Kohaku, come."

"Sango! You just can't leave-"

"And why can't I? We've done our business here. Your friend is safe, the stone is returned and Naraku should have been killed" Sango gave a parting look to Inuyasha. She was not fond of demons but he had not been a bad one to get to know. "I hope things work out for you Inuyasha…"

Miroku looked nervously between the two, conflicted with this separation. He pouted lightly, grabbing Inuyasha's hands tightly in his own and facing the hanyou. "If not for the circumstances I would happily have you bare my children. I hope to see you again my friend. But I will follow Sango and be sure Kohaku is taken care of."

Inuyasha grinned haphazardly and nodded. "You won't be missed you perverted monk. Shippo will you be leaving too?" Inuyasha asked; looking down to the child that had contently kept Kirara entertained throughout the adult discussion.

"I think I'll stay here with you. Who knows what troubles you'll get yourself into with me help you" Shippo declared proudly.

"And what help have you been exactly, brat?" Inuyasha growled lightly.

Miroku chuckled and kneeled down to ruffle the boy's hair. "Be good and keep a careful eye on him Shippo. Inuyasha is only going to be a bigger pain in the ass when that baby starts growing" he teased.

"You would certainly know a lot about asses!"

The two chuckled at Inuyasha and gave a parting hug. The hanyou could only grimace as he watched three of his friends leave again. He hoped he would see them all again soon.

"What should we do now Inuyasha?"

"Go find Sesshoumaru. He'll want to get back to Rin for sure."

"No need, he has found us" Jaken declared. As if on cue, the three shuffled lightly as the ground began to shake. Birds shot out of the trees like missals and the trees parted into two as the great dog demon came pouncing out. He growled out and bowed down before them, tossing his snout back up toward his back.

"He wants us to get on?" Jaken questioned. He was utterly shocked as his master never allowed him to ride him like a house much less any other person. Even Rin had gone without the pleasure. His master must be in a great rush. He nervously did as was directed; following after Shippo and Inuyasha who were less conflicted to do so.

Inuyasha marveled at the view from above and held the ends of Sesshoumaru's fur carefully as the dog demon started off. His stomach churned uneasily the moment they were sent bouncing about. He winced and held on tighter as Sesshoumaru picked up speed. He swallowed the sudden urge to upchuck the moment they reached the clouds. Simply staring down was no longer an option at that point.

"There it is" Jaken exclaimed, pointing ahead to the castle in the clouds. "That is the home of Inukimi."

"Who is that?"

"Master Sesshoumaru's mother."

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he gulped. "H-his mother?" He could not even fathom the type of person who brought up Sesshoumaru in their father's absence. Nervousness sent in, making him all the more nauseous. He had to make a good impression on her no doubt; she was going to be the grandmother their child after all.

"I thought we were going to see Rin?" Shippo asked.

"Inukimi has been looking after her while we were away. My lord refuses to admit she has been a great help to us."

It brought some comfort to the hanyou thinking that this demon was a kind one. If she could care for a human child in Sesshoumaru's stead then she would be a loving grandparent, he hoped.

The three yelped as they came to hasty landing along the palace courtyard. Inuyasha slid off Sesshoumaru quickly, crouching on his knees as he succumbed to the overwhelming feeling. Shippo winced lightly, hearing the gapping sound as he climbed down as well. "Is he going to be fine?"

"It is nothing to worry over. Inuyasha has much more to endure before long" Jaken insisted.

Sesshoumaru merely shook his head in a disdained manner and changed back. He didn't waste a moment concerning with the others before he marched quickly ahead for the entrance.

"W-wait up master!" Jaken exclaimed, rushing after the demon. "What has happened?" Despite knowing Sesshoumaru owed him no reply he was hoping for an exception since the situation seemed so direr.

Jaken had been right to think the situation was critical. As they came stumbling after Sesshoumaru down the hall and finally into Rin's room, the presence had taken a dark turn.

"Sesshoumaru…?" Inuyasha peered inside, noting the stale quietness in the room. He felt a tightening in his chest as he watched the silver haired demon kneel down to a bed, solemn faced and terribly reserved. He had never seen Sesshoumaru so…odd before.

Sesshoumaru breathed out deeply and gripped the cold hand of the girl. He gritted his teeth tightly and pulled her up close to his chest, feeling her limp form against him. "Rin…" he growled, burying his head lightly into her shoulder.

"My lord…" Jaken muttered as he watched. "We're too late…" he whimpered nervously.

"She's dead?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Give me the stone" Sesshoumaru scowled.

"But my lord!"

"Give me the stone!" Sesshoumaru growled back, baring his fangs and his eyes narrowed. The kappa jumped back with a fearful yelp before sheepishly pulling out the stone and handing it over.

Sesshoumaru laid her back down carefully and placed the stone around her neck. His eyes flitted uneasily about, waiting for something to happen-anything at all. But no light shined. He tightened his fist and glared back at the two. "It's broken. What did you do?!"

Inuyasha tensed up, leaned closer to the door.

"It's not broken."

Inuyasha jetted back; stumbling against the wall as he turned behind him. A beautiful woman with cold eyes and a high ponytail stood there in the door way. It was unmistakable this woman was the mother of the demon he had come to like. But she looked nothing like the kind soul Jaken had insinuated before. In fact she looked furious and irritated.

"Then what is wrong with it" Sesshoumaru growled darkly. "Why isn't it working?"

"The stone does not revive the dead. It opens a portal to the underworld to bring back their soul" Inukimi explained.

"Then Sesshoumaru can just go there and bring her soul back right? He has the Tensaiga" Inuyasha pointed out.

"That won't work…her soul isn't there."

"Then where is it?"

To Be Continued….

AN: Sorry again for the delay. I am studying abroad in China right now and won't be back until July. I currently have no internet connection and trying to set it up but I won't have constant access until next week so updates on all my fics will be slow. I'll keep writing though! Hope to hear from you guys soon.