"Simply Love Me"

Chapter 8

Darkness Ensues

Rin finished changing from her wet clothes into some new ones and ran outside to meet up with Kohaku. She saw him standing there at the bottom of the steps, smiling at her. Sesshoumaru wasn't there.

"Where did Sesshoumaru-sama go?"

"He left when you went to change."

"Oh," Rin said a little disappointedly, feeling a little hurt that he wasn't there to say goodbye to her. Where could he have gone?

Kohaku tried to cheer her up. "He seemed busy, so I wouldn't worry."

" Thanks Kohaku. Shall we go now?"

"Yes," Rin said, putting up a bright smile.

"Let's take a walk through the forest first, if that's okay with you."

"Sure."

He followed down the to the northern trail. The air was pleasant and sweet smelling to them and it was nice to walk in nature's path. They stopped by a stream, breathing in the scent of the trees. The early morning sunlight shone through the cracks in the trees. Rin looked around for the little deer but it was nowhere to be found. Some sparrows were perched on the branches, watching the two closely. Kohaku bent down and cupped some water in his hands. "Come, let's have a drink." They refreshed themselves with the icy cool water.

They sat down and began talking about Kohaku's travels. He told her he made his fortune when he went on an expedition on one of the lost islands. There were many demons there and he had almost gotten himself killed. But the treasure was vast and he'd come home a very rich man. He bought a large mansion when he came back and told Rin he'd like someday for her to visit.

"So, Rin. What has been going on with you these past years?"

Rin got up and walked over to a boulder by the stream. "Nothing of particular, actually. After the defeat of Naraku, I was sent to live with Kagome and Inuyasha, since Sesshoumaru wanted to go on extensive travels. I would be in the way, with him always looking out for stuff, and me so I had to stay. He came back just about a week ago, and we've been together ever since."

"Sesshoumaru? I remembered him, he was always so cold and distant."

"He's changed so much, Kohaku. He's beginning to care again; his heart is melting, I can feel it. But I've always known him to be kind, he did save my life you know." There was a glow in her eyes and face as she said this.

"Rin," Kohaku said quietly, coming to her and taking her hands in his. "When I first met you, I felt something. We were both orphans, and very lost I think. I thought we had a special bond, don't you think?"

"Yes," she whispered, her eyes curious. "What are you saying?"

"I've been thinking of you during my travels, Rin. Seeing your sweet smiling in my mind, it comforted me when I was blue. The first time we met, when you were kidnapped, I-I felt something in my heart."

"I-I'm glad that I helped you somehow."

He smiled, "Rin, I am in love with you."

"W-what?" She looked at him in shock.

"Yes, I've been in love you ever since we first met."

"You, you are not serious?"

"Of course I am, I could never have been more so."

"Kohaku, I-"

"Shhh," he put his finger on her lips, silencing her. "I have and always will. So, my dearest Rin, will you honor me by accepting my proposal for marriage?"

Rin's lips trembled and she wrenched her hands free of his. "Kohaku, I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because-"

"It's because of him, isn't it?"

She looked down at her feet, unwilling to face him anymore. "Yes," she whispered, almost in pain. "I can't marry without love, Kohaku."

"So you do not love me?"

Her brown eyes burned into his. "I love you, Kohaku, but as a brother. I don't love you like I do Sesshoumaru."

"I see, and tell me, does he care for you the same way you do for him."

Rin smiled at him tremblingly, "He has to, Kohaku, he has to."

Kohaku's pupils grew dark, and his eyes bulged out of his head. He bared his teeth and his hair stood on end. His voice came out in a hiss, like a snake. He seemed to change into another person right in front of her eyes. She started to back away in fear from him.

"You? Why would you think he cared for you? He is just using you as his paramour!" Kohaku said angrily.

"What are you talking about?"

"He doesn't love you! He is a powerful demon lord, why would he want anything to do with a human like you? You are just a toy to him, once he is tired of you, he will throw you out and have nothing to do with you! You setting yourself up to be to heart broken, Rin."

"It's not true, he does care; I know he does!" She wrung her hands desperately.

"You're acting like a whore, Rin, throwing yourself at him like that. I thought you knew better. He doesn't love you like I love you, he is just using you like a street whore."

"Stop it!"

"Love is blind, Rin. And you're the blindest of them all. Can't you see he'll never be anything more than your lover?" Kohaku's eyes blazed. "I bet you he's laughing at the pub with his demon friends right now about how fast you threw yourself at him like that."

"Stop it, just stop!" Rin covered her ears, trying to block out his heated tirade. She wouldn't look at him anymore. This was getting more frightening by the minute and he seemed to change even more.

"Ah, ah!!!" Kohaku yelled, making Rin open her eyes. He was writhing, his expression painful. "Get out of ME!!!" He clutched his head, groaning.

"What is going on with you?" She came to him, worried. "Kohaku, are you all right?"

"GET away from ME, Rin! It's INSIDE of me!" He put his hand forward to stop her from going further. His voice changed to a hiss again. "Shut up, you idiot, you're mine, Rin!"

Rin gasped, he was possessed! Green saliva leaked out of Kohaku's mouth and his face turned a deathly pale. He lunged at her, growling. Rin shrieked and turned to flee from him. He grabbed the back of her obi sash and flung her down to the ground. She struggled to get up but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back to the ground with him.

"Let me go!" she screamed, his nails had grown long and sharp and now they scratched her legs mercilessly. She tried kicking him in the face but he kept dodging her. Snow was beginning to fall. "Come to me, my pretty," Kohaku hissed. He turned her around to face him and loomed over her.

"You're not Kohaku!"

He smiled sadistically down at her frightened face and bent to kiss her. His breath was foul, smelling of dead fish. She felt like puking. She bit him hard on the lips and he pulled away from her, blood spilling down his chin. He slapped her hard across the face, releasing her hands. She took this moment to reach for a rock nearby and hit him roughly on the head. He growled viciously and gave her a blow to her head that sent her reeling backwards.

"Get away from me, whatever you are!" Rin cried desperately. He had pinned her arms down above her head with one hand and she couldn't kick him. She was so helpless. She couldn't move.

"You're mine now, little birdy. I've wanted to get a taste of you ever since I saw you walking by here yesterday." He caressed her scratched, bared legs and licked his fingers of the blood, "Hmm, delicious, my sweet, delicious." She spat at him and cursed his name.

"When Sesshoumaru comes, he will cut you into a million pieces," she threatened him.

"I wouldn't worry about that. I made sure he won't ever be coming back," he lunged his face down and bit her on the ankle. It stung so badly, like a thousand needles piercing through her skin that she cried out in pain. "That's it, scream for me, my sweet." He scratched his fingers down her outer robe, slicing it open. The cold air brushed her skin and she shivered. "I'm going to have fun with you today." He dragged her slip up higher and higher to her waist, exposing her skin. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "He won't be coming."

She felt tears running down her face right now, and she let out an anguished cry. He spread her legs open with his knee. She tried to close them back up but his hand on her neck stopped her. He squeezed her throat tightly, whispering, "If you want to live, you have better not move a muscle." She couldn't breathe.

Oh, gods, just let me die, she thought, tears still flowing freely on her face. Her mind was so jumbled up and she couldn't think straight. She heard his gasp from far away and saw a figure with long white hair slash his neck. Kohaku fell down in a heap and twitched convulsively. Something green came hissing out of his mouth and sped away into the sky.

"Rin? Rin? Rin!"

She heard her name being called faintly by a deep masculine voice. Everything was blurry, and she was so dizzy. Her eyes closed to the impending darkness and she knew no more.