Chapter Thirty Two

Sesshomaru ran, the entire way, back to the castle. The mark on his neck burning like fire. Rin was in trouble. His heart constricted again as he pushed his legs to move faster.

"Gah!," he gasped as he ran, a fresh new scorch blooming out from his mark. Rin needed him. She was calling for him. Desperately. But he was too slow.

'No no no no no. This can't be happening. Rin you have to hang on. I have to get faster. I have to be. She needs me." He sped up again. As fast as his legs could possibly carry him, almost colliding with a tree before he cursed and in one long jump was above them. He raced over the tree tops as if they were solid ground. Moving like the wind. The castle was in sight, but it was dark and lifeless. Definitely not the way a castle under siege should look. Suddenly Amaris scream pierced the air and then there was nothing again. He crept, swiftly and silently through the halls, pausing outside the girls room to listen, but he heard nothing. He threw the main door open and checked every room. But there was nothing. Another scream. This time a man. Closer, Sesshomaru realizes it was coming from his rooms. He burst through the door to find nothing but a bloody heap, Rin standing in front of the girls holding a knife. She was hurt. He could tell. But Amari and Izayoi...they looked. No. His eyes widened and his sword clattered to the ground. He approached her slowly, hands extended so as not to startle her.

"Rin, darling. Put the knife down," he extended his hand but instead of putting it there, she let it clatter to the floor. "Did he-"

"No," she whispered. "It didn't get that far."

"Aunt Rin?," Izayoi looked up to her with tears in her eyes. "I'm afraid."

"There's nothing to be afraid of," she clutched the girl tightly to her side. Sesshomaru took in the sight of her. She had some defensive wounds, nothing too major. But her Kimono was hanging in shreds on her body. Anger flashed across Sesshomaru and that's when his ears registered another heartbeat. Suddenly he had the man in one hand, dragging him across the room and jumping from the window with an "I'll be back".

For hours, the castle grounds were filled with nothing but the sounds of blood curling screams. Rin flinched as another wave began and stroked Izayois hair.

"Don't worry, sweetie. Your uncle Sesshu is taking care of it."

"Are we safe?"

"Of course."

"Ugh! What's taking so long! All that screaming is getting on my nerves. Why doesn't he just go ahead and finish the guy off?"

"Sometimes your uncle gets a little...angry. He can be very brutal when the need arises." Her mind flashed back to the many victories she'd watched him obtain. Yes, Sesshomaru could be brutal when brutal was needed. Once the girls were finally asleep, Rin crept quietly out into the courtyard. Where Sesshomaru and two other InuYoukai were still beating the intruder to a bloody pulp. Rin shuddered when she got close enough to make out his pleas and realized that he was begging for death.

"Sesshomaru! Just kill him already and get it over with! It's been hours!," she scolded.

"But Rin-"

"But nothing! You've been gone for days, come home."

"I am home," he rolled his eyes and flicked his wrist again, slashing his whip across the mystery mans face this time.

"Come inside...please."

"Please...just...kill...me." He begged and it was then that Rin realized just what kind of demon he was. And who he was.

"H-hakkaku?" She asked in a small voice.

"You've grown you nicely," he managed weakly. "Shame the old dog taught you how to fight. I would have had fun with yo-" suddenly his head was ripped from his body and thrown. Rin looked rough her husband who's hands were dripping in blood after what he'd just done. He was fuming, that was it for Sesshomaru. The last comment.

"Sesshomaru?," she said timidly.

"Rin go wait inside. I don't want you to see this."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to send him back to where he belongs. In pieces," he growled. "Now go!," he boomed at her and tears sprang to her eyes before she bolted back inside. She stumbled through the dark hallways, not wanting to go back to her room just yet. Wondering why. Hakkaku had always been nice to her when she was growing up. Hints too. Even Koga turned around after Kagome had given him a lashing. So why? Oh yeah that's right. They had to be enemies now. She was a dog demon. But it still begged the question of why. Why send Hakkaku ? Especially alone?

"Surely Koga had known it wouldn't end well," she said aloud to nobody but herself.

"He did. But then again. Hakkaku was just a distraction," she gasped and turned. "Hello Rin. We're going to have some fun tonight. And then I'll finish the job we started thirteen years ago. Before mutt face out there brought ya back," he growled and grabbed her, clamping one hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream, and lept out the window into the night.

...

Welllll at least you know who's behind it :)

Until next time!

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