CYCLE OF RIN
CYCLE OF RIN
By Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Author's Notes: I must apologize once again for such a long absence. I LOST MY HEAD…what else can I say? No excuses; just a serious case of writers block then life got in the way again and again. A compound crisis made it impossible to update any sooner.Is it September already?! So…onward!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The Fang Cross
Rin walked slowly with Kagome moping behind Sango and Shippo, her eyes kept on the ground as she walked. Miroku and Inuyasha walked behind them keeping extra distance between them as they neared the temple. The only temple close enough that would keep demons away from Rin was a mile away.
Kagome chewed on her cheek, furious as to the out come of the meeting with Tenmari. Still, the demon had not stayed long enough to try claiming Inuyasha. Nor did she seem interested in taking Inuyasha with her. Her stomach twisted with agony at losing him.
Sango fumed over Miroku's 'helping' hand in the mess. Shippo said nothing, knowing that silence was best in these times. The demonslayer was pondering the next step, and Miroku's punishment. The monk would get it soon enough. Probably when they reached the temple.
"The fighting's begun." Miroku stopped in mid-thought.
The aura was unmistakable. The demons amassed in the next valley were on the move. The energy created by the number of demons hoping to battle Sesshomaru was incredible. He knew the battle would be unimaginable for Sesshomaru to win. There were far too many of them to defeat them all in one battle.
"I feel it too." Inuyasha felt sick. "A part of me hopes they all kill each other."
""The aura's different." Sango put in. "You feel that?"
"Yes." Kagome agreed. "We need to get to the temple quickly."
"Some of those demons may come after Rin thinking that Sesshomaru's too busy to defend her." Sango pointed out. "We need to make it quick."
"Let's go." Rin agreed. "We can come up with a plan once we get there."
Inuyasha led the way.
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Rin saw the gateway to the temple left ajar. No one currently resided in the temple since the odd occurrences around the countryside. Most of the priest and priestesses were out on house calls. But, the ground was blessed and would provide a shelter. If demons did come after her, they would have a difficult time getting to her there. Sesshomaru had enough to worry about without having to think about coming to her aid.
Would the baby keep her from fighting off the enemy if the child deemed the enemy stronger than Sesshomaru?
Miroku and Inuyasha skidded to a halt at the gateway into the temple. They motioned that they would take a quick look then signal whether it was safe to enter. Though all knew no demon could enter a sacred temple, there was no reason not to take precautions. Both disappeared through the gates.
Kagome and Sango stood around Rin with their backs to the temple's wall near the gates. Shippo clung to Sango's shoulder in anticipation of being allowed to enter. At his young age, there was no telling if he could enter the temple. It depended upon the temple and the strength of the sacred spells protecting the place. Either he was hanging with Inuyasha and the others or he had to sleep outside.
No demon auras were felt approaching the temple. Perhaps they were safe. Still, Rin knew that these times were different than before. Demons would be willing to risk a little more to gain the advantage she provided should Sesshomaru be defeated.
Her throat tightened at the thought of Sesshomaru…dying. Her heart skipped a beat that this out come could be possible. One demon against an army of demons? Did Sesshomaru have a chance at winning? Rin choked down her fear, knowing that senseless thoughts would only lead to defeat if she allowed herself to dwell on it. Sesshomaru was a powerful demon. Few could rival him in her eyes. No…Rin felt confident that Sesshomaru would prevail over all of them.
"Kagome!" Came a familiar voice.
"Totosai!" Kagome smiled and waved at the aging demon.
Rin looked up to see his cow floated quickly through the air. In fact, it appeared that he was in a hurry. Did he have something to tell them in the midst of the war breaking out? His staff rested against his shoulder but the little demon seemed to be shaking.
The cow landed near Kagome at the base of the temple. Totosai slid off his transport and adjusted his staff accordingly. He eyed the stairs of the temple and thought better of climbing them. He sat down on the dirt at the bottom and waited.
"What do you want now?!" Inuyasha growled as he came out of the temple gates. "It's all clear. Looks like the priests won't be back for a while."
"Heard about your little problem with Tenmari!" Totosai landed in front of Kagome, Sango and Rin. "Came to hear about everything's going on. There's a whole mess of fighting going on in the next valley over. It's getting bloodier now that the stronger demons are knocking off the weaker ones. What a free-for-all!"
The three women smiled at the old demon getting off his cow.
"Yeah, yeah." Inuyasha grumbled. "Whose he been talking to?"
"News sure does travel fast." Shippo whispered to Sango.
Sango nodded in agreement. It could not have been more than an hour ago when they left Tenmari and Sesshomaru.
"We felt the battle going." Miroku commented to Totosai. "Sesshomaru certainly s busy."
"Sesshomaru?" Totosai raised his eyes to the monk. "Eh. Sesshomaru isn't battling those demons. In fighting is what they're doing. Flew over myself. Idiots. Well, what do you expect from such demons."
"What do you really want, Totosai?" Inuyasha folded his arms.
"You got something to eat?" Totosai scratched his head.
Shippo rolled his eyes. Kagome and Sango dropped their shoulders. Inuyasha looked sideways to Miroku. So, that was what the old demon wanted more than anything else. To eat. Kagome certainly was popular for those who wanted something tasty to eat. All those amazing things she brought back with her from home? Shippo found himself drooling in anticipation.
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A couple of hours later, they sat on the stairs to the temple with a fire blazing in a ring of rocks at the bottom. Kagome and Inuyasha sat next to one another on the bottom step. Sango and Miroku sat with Shippo between them listening to the old demon Swordmaker two stairs up from the fire. Rin was not allowed off the top stair in case they had to get in doors quick.
Her appetite seemed to be tamed this evening. All afternoon, she wondered if Sesshomaru was immersed in battle against his many foes. Or if he was lying in a ditch wounded somewhere? Could he possibly be dead? Her heart gave a leap and nearly stopped at the last thought.
No…Sesshomaru was smart, cunning, tactful and immensely patient. He engaged in battle with the opinion he could defeat any foe. All who came at him in battle was considered a challenging opponent unless the demon proved too weak to stand against the son of the Dog General.
How many times had she seen the disappointment in his eyes once his opponent turned out to be weaker than anticipated? Sesshomaru thrived on battle. He wanted to prove his place as a powerful demon and desired to surpass his father's reputation regardless of whom he faced. Totosai looked at her and said something but she did not hear his words except for: "fang cross".
"The what?" Rin frowned.
Rin stared at Totosai, her meal momentarily forgotten.
"The Fang Cross." Totosai repeated. "The crossing of Tenseiga and Tetsusaiga at the peak of battle. If you can handle both swords at the same time. That kind of power is virtually impossible to control without such disciple. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's father was no fool. He calculated the Demon Bearer's arrival during the lifetime of his sons and sought a way to give them an extra edge."
"How do you use it?" Inuyasha wanted to know.
Inuyasha wanted to how to use a multitude of weapons and if Sesshomaru could not handle Tetsusaiga then he could get an arm-up on his brother. He knew Rin would want to know as well but for different reasons. Though she showed little love towards his brother as a woman and demonslayer, she did seem loyal awfully to him. She had ever since Sango began training her as a demonslayer. How strange that Sango appeared to never hear of such a crossing, her expression appeared perplexed as the rest of them.
"Each user is different so the Fang Cross behaves differently." Totosai slurped his Ramen soup.
"Which means, he doesn't know." Inuyasha lifted his nose in the air. "Probably the crossing of the two swords doesn't even exist. You're just making it up!"
"I made the swords myself!" Totosai brought his staff down on Inuyasha's head. "That kind of power was designed specifically to mimic each user. Only certain users can bring forth the Fang Cross, namely the Demon Bearer. Sesshomaru cannot hold Tetsusaiga for more than a few seconds. Inuyasha has never bonded with Tenseiga. So you see, only one user can bring forth the Fang Cross. The Demon Bearer…since she possesses traits of both Humans and Demons."
"But, I've never held either sword." Rin pointed out, remembering to eat.
Suddenly her appetite came roaring back. Her growing belly told her to eat more…lots more. Though the child was no more than a small swell on her abdomen, Rin felt the influence of the child more and more. As Totosai spoke, her momentary lapse in eating seemed as if the child was listening just as intently as the others. Was that possible?
Kagome never mentioned pregnancy being so interactive between mother and child. Her tummy growled again. Rolling her eyes, she resented being a slave to her body. She already went through a basket of apples and a whole loaf of bread Kagome showed her how to make this afternoon. Still, she needed more. That, and she felt the urgency of seeing of Sesshomaru again.
Rin wanted him here with her and not for protection.
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Mayuki watched the group from the forest edge. So, the Swordmaker knew of the Fang Cross having created the swords himself. The swords were of renown even now. Still, knowing the swords were split between the sons of the General did provide minimal comfort.
Nothing could be taken for granted.
"There you are!" Came Kaori's whispering voice. "I've been looking for you everywhere."
Mayuki turned to face the elder sister.
"You've been missing for a few days." Kaori. "Come on, brother's waiting for us. The demons have begun their senseless battles against one another before facing Sesshomaru. Only the strongest demons will survive. Katenomaru wants to be ready to face them down before finding Sesshomaru."
Mayuki nodded in agreement.
Kaori turned away from the temple where the Humans and a demon conversed on the steps separated by a blazing fire. Though the Demon Bearer was sitting there, she would be protected by the temple's spiritual power that lingered from the priests that temporarily left for house calls. There would be no reason to lying in wait just outside.
After some time, Kaori wondered what happened to Mayuki. Even for her sister, she was unusually quiet this evening. Typically the youngest sibling kept to herself but often discussed their brother to some length when he was not present. She was certainly different tonight. Perhaps, she was worried for their brother.
With good reason.
Katenomaru was waiting for the demons to finish one another off then face down Sesshomaru on his own. Well, it would appear that way. Kaori and Mayuki would wait in the forest for an opening during their battle. Once Sesshomaru was defeated and he claimed the Demon Bearer for himself. Kaori would claim Sesshomaru for herself. The only reasons she agreed to this whole farce.
Mayuki stopped in her tracks then turned towards the temple. Kaori did not seem to notice continuing on without her. A small smile formed on her lips as he eyes veered sideways.
Lifting her nose to the air, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply taking in the fresh, humid air. There was much to learn in the coming hours. The Demon Bearer's state had altered once already today. The Human Demon Bearer certainly tested the knowledge of the past.
The scrolls were specific in the behavior of the Demon Bearer. And true to form, the Demon Bearer behaved as expected. With the exception of today that is.
Mayuki opened her eyes and rested them on the forest. Only time would tell what this unusual Demon Bearer would change. There was nothing in the scrolls on Humans or the possibility of Humans becoming Demon Bearers. No, today proved to be far more eventful than expected.
The time for choosing the final father was fast approaching. Mayuki should be ready for that moment. Katenomaru knew little of what waited for him.
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Sesshomaru stood on the top of the mountain looking down into the valley. He could smell the death of hundreds of demons coming from below on the wind that blew up from the valley floor. He found little interest in the battles between inferior demons. No. He wanted to know the source of the aura he felt recently. The unknown demonic aura he found had no possible attachment to any of the local clans.
It was certainly not a member of the dog demon clans.
He could not discern which type of demon the aura belonged. Perhaps a spy demon waiting for the right moment to attack him, when the opportunity was most appealing? Sesshomaru would wait to face such a deceptive opponent and defeat such a cowardly creature.
This Sesshomaru detested demons that took the lowly route to win a battle. Cowards were not respected in battle.
Another scent made him lift his nose into the air. Rin called to him, her body craved him again. His hunger had grown since last he fed but it was not an 'immediate' requirement to curb his appetite just yet. Though her mind was angry, her body showed him just how much she wanted him to take possession.
'Perhaps it was best if this Sesshomaru waited until after battle to return to Rin.'
Still, there was an urgency to her scent that made him pause for a moment. His hunger began to grow for the nectar she carried. But more, she wanted him to simply be there. Once she called him to her that found him on his knees before her. This time her call was one of request. Not demand.
'That could change.'
Sesshomaru knew that a woman, Human or demon, could be dangerous. If the scrolls were correct, he would be in for far worse behavior during the remainder of her pregnancy than anything he could experience now.
Rin's behavior certainly kept true to the scrolls thus far. However, she no longer resented him as she did in the beginning. Rin finally relented to her position and altered her behavior appropriately. He knew she detested his visitations with the exception of the last. Alas, Rin always submitted to him upon his arrival despite her verbal protests.
A small smile came to his lips momentarily.
As a demonslayer, to be possessed by a demon was considered an abomination. Some would have committed suicide so soon after becoming physically possessed. Rin tried twice only to find the child she carried prevented her from carrying out her wish. He admired her for trying.
Still, he enjoyed the victory of becoming the father to the Demon Bearer. One claim his father could never make. At least once, Sesshomaru had surpassed his father's reputation and his legacy. Few would dare claim that he was only following in his father's footsteps. For once, he set himself apart.
Lifting his nose to the night air once more. Sesshomaru knew the time had come to test Rin. The scrolls were specific in their direction and what the results would mean. A visit would put the course of the next few days in order. His future depended on what he would learn tonight.