Chapter 10: Nightmares

Kagome and Inuyasha had been staying at the Palace of the Western Lands for three days and so far, no word had come from Sango and Miroku. During this time, they hardly saw Sesshoumaru- the tai-youkai kept to his study for most of the day, and any free time he had, he spent at the bed-side of the unconscious Rin. By now, word had spread through the Palace of the tragedy that had befallen their master: his girl-ward tortured, his sword stolen. Some of the servants remembered Inuyasha from when he was a baby, but none dared to speak to him for fear of incurring Sesshoumaru's wrath...it was well known how much Sesshoumaru disliked his half-brother.

The one who was treated with great respect and fondness by all the servants was Kagome. They addressed her as Kagome-sama, and saw to her every need. They all knew that she was the miko Sesshoumaru was counting on to save Rin. She even reminded them a little of Rin herself, she had the same lively manner and kind heart.

"Eeeeyaaaaggghh, I can't stand this anymore." Inuyasha scratched himself as he sat in the garden. "Nothing's happening which is usually bad news. We should have told Sango and Miroku where this blasted palace was. They're probably trying to find us."

The hanyou was worried about all sorts of things...Naraku...Miroku and Sango...Kagome...Rin...Kagome especially...But in characteristic fashion, he tried to hide it.

"Keh, I vote I pop back to the village and check on them, whaddaya say, Kagome?"

Kagome sat by his side, taking in the sights of the beautiful garden. She was worried about Miroku and Sango, but she was also increasingly worried about Rin as the days wore on, the Orochi poison was taking too long to come out of her system, she didn't know if Rin would survive another week. Although her other injuries had improved, and even her fever gone, Rin seemed to be in some sort of death-sleep. What Sesshoumaru would do if Rin died, Kagome couldn't begin to imagine. So often she had gone to Rin's room to pray or give medicine, only to softly turn away when she saw the shadow of the Tai-youkai sitting by Rin's bedside. Rin's coma was no longer peaceful, often she tossed and moaned, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Miroku and Sango are good fighters, Inuyasha. I'm sure they're all right. If Naraku had returned, I'm sure we'd feel his shouki around here. My shikon energy isn't reacting to anything, except Sesshoumaru of course, he is a tai-youkai."

"Yeah, but I can't help feeling we should keep in touch. They don't know where to find us, and we can't rely on that twit Shippou to protect them, not when he's busy chasing every village girl in a skirt..."

"Why don't you make a trip back to visit them? It should take you only a few days there and back. Kaede and Shippou are probably worried to death about us too. Then we can find out what's been happening with tenseiga."

"Eh? Aren't you coming too?"

"Not while Rin's so sick. I'm worried about Rin, Inuyasha. She's taking too long to come out of the poison. She's not even in a fever anymore, so there's no reason why she should be in that coma."

"Eh, I'm worried about that girl too."

"Lately, she's taken a turn for the worse. The poison seems to be giving her visions and dreams, she's lost deep in that world."

"She's hiding from something...She needs something to bring her out of it."

"Hiding from something...You may be right, the trauma she faced, maybe she just doesn't want to wake and face reality again." Kagome pondered on Inuyasha's words. "She needs something to live for, as if to jerk her out of her torment."

Inuyasha poked at the fish pond with his toe, scattering the fish. "Well?"

Kagome looked surprised, "Well, what?"

"You're the miko, you should know something that will wake Rin up. You'd better think fast because this palace is starting to stifle me. Besides, I have a really bad feeling about Naraku and Tenseiga."

Kagome frowned. "Yes, I'm sure Naraku will use it to revive himself, what's taking him so long I don't know. But Rin's life is a priority. Anyway, we'd hear from Miroku and Sango once Naraku has surfaced. They would find a way to tell us, Shippou could sniff us out if it really came to that. If only Rin would wake up. I myself don't feel too good these days, the nausea is becoming worse."

"Don't tire yourself out nursing Rin, maybe it's that that's getting to you." Inuyasha started to blush, "I think you should go back to your time and get yourself checked out by the doctor...you er...you never know what could be wrong with you..."

"Inuyasha, how would you feel if it was me lying there in that coma?"

Inuyasha gulped. "Sorry."

Kagome went back to thinking about Rin. What could possibly break her out of her coma? Though Kagome renewed her prayers over Rin and prepared fresh medicines for her, the girl's death-sleep was no longer silent, she was having the most terrible nightmares. Often she would cry out for Sesshoumaru-sama, or just weep till dawn.

It was on one of these nights that Kagome found a screaming Rin.

"Hidoi...hidoi!" Rin panted, "So terrible!"

"Rin, wake up!"

But the girl would not wake. That night her screams were so terrible that Sesshoumaru-sama himself came to her side.

"Leave us." Sesshoumaru spoke to Kagome. "I will stay with her till dawn."

Kagome faced Sesshoumaru, "We have to find a solution for this, or she is just going to get worse. The venom is already out of her system but there are things in her mind and spirit keeping her prisoner, and until we free them, Rin will worsen and die, not of the venom, but of sickness of the spirit."

Kagome took a deep breath and continued.

"Sesshoumaru...I have been thinking about it for some time. I really think we must perform a Kamioroshi to call Rin back from the land between death and life. She is trapped in the underworld, neither in heaven or in hell."

"We will speak more in the morning."

Kagome bowed and left the room, seeking out Inuyasha.

"Kamioroshi?" Inuyasha exclaimed, "You've only done that twice before...once on a village woman who was possessed by a fox spirit, the other on Miru when she swallowed a hallucinogenic mushroom... if you don't manage it well on Rin, Sesshoumaru will kill you!"

"I am sure Rin will survive it, she is young and strong."

"Is there no other way? Maybe she will just get over it."

Kagome shook her head, "Rin had a near-death experience. Her spirit is still trapped between both worlds. Her nightmares seem real to her, reality is tenuous. We are still fighting to bring her back to us fully."

"Do you think Sesshoumaru will appreciate all this you're doing for him?"

"I'm not doing it for Sesshoumaru, I'm doing this for Rin too!"

"I still think it's a bad idea."

"Inuyasha...will you support me?"

"Keh...do I have a choice?"

"No!"

Inuyasha sighed and put his arms around Kagome. "At least spend the night with me first, tomorrow will be a rough day."

Kagome buried her head in his silver hair, "Like you had to ask."

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A Kamioroshi was a 'soul-calling', something like a séance, and Kagome never performed it unless absolutely necessary. It was used to call back the souls of people trapped between life and death, usually after they had gone through a very emotionally traumatic experience or had been deathly ill. The risks were great, and although her two previous patients had come through succesfully, Kagome knew that the price of failure was depression, madness and even death.

Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome set up her incense and candles beside the futon of the sleeping Rin. Incense burned as Kagome chanted over a rosary which would protect Rin while her soul was being called.

The miko put the rosary around Rin's neck and explained, "This will keep her safe. I have blessed it."

Sesshoumaru's impassive face did not show his nervousness. But the fact that he had insisted on overseeing the Kamioroshi was an good indication to Kagome that the tai-youkai was worried about Rin.

Kagome held Rin's cold hands in her own. The sweet incense of jasmine and sandalwood filled the room. The incense had been made from the flowers of the Goshinbuku tree itself. For a long time, Kagome said nothing, to the sleeping girl. Softly, the miko began praying the familiar words learned from Kaede-bachan, who had learned them from Kikyo-sama herself.

"Rin-chan, can you hear me?"

"Yes."

It had been more than a week since he had heard her voice. He must admit that at some points in the last week, he had feared he might never hear it again. The voice that came from Rin was Rin's, and yet not Rin's. To Sesshoumaru, it sounded small and frightened, like it had when she had first begun speaking to him after he had resurrected her with tenseiga. Although his Rin was fully grown, clothed in fine silk and with the graces of a fine young princess, at that moment, she looked to him no more than a raggedy child of seven begging to hide in the soft folds of his hakama.

"Where are you?"

"I do not know."

"How do you feel?"

"Frightened."

"What are you frightened of?"

Rin's brow furrowed, "Bandits."

"What else?"

"Wolves. Being alone and abandoned, Naraku and - "

"And?"

"Sesshoumaru-sama never coming back."

"I see. Rin, describe what is around you."

"All these things. I can hear wolves in the dark, bandits are around me, Naraku is here, and I have been here before..."

"What do you mean?"

"I was brought here by the jaws of wolves, but as I was flying towards the light, Sesshoumaru-sama called me back over the river, and I left for a while. But now I am back here, as I always knew I would be. There is the river around me, and that wonderful light in the distance, but I cannot go to that light this time, I know I must cross the river. Still, Naraku blocks it. I cannot escape. I cannot go forward, I cannot go back... and... Sesshoumaru-sama is not coming this time."

Sesshoumaru's jaw twitched. She was remembering her death as a child. He hadn't realised how much that experience had horrified her, or the terrible things she must have seen in that underworld before Tenseiga called her back to life.

"Can you try to come over the river?"

Beads of sweat broke out on Rin's brow. "I cannot. Naraku is there. I am too weak to walk. I am lying here in the dark, hoping they will not notice me..."

"Rin-chan, I want you to..."

"They have seen me!" Rin gasped suddenly. Beads of sweat rolled down her face, soaking her kimono. Under her closed eyelids, Kagome saw her eyeballs move frantically all around.

"Rin..."

"The bandits have caught me, they ride on wolves to bring me to Naraku."

Kagome was expecting this and did not interrupt.

"Naraku has a sword. Sesshoumaru-sama's sword tenseiga. He is looking at me. He asks, where is the other one? I do not know!"

Sesshoumaru's ears perked up.

"He is searching for it. I tell him I do not know! But he does not believe me!" Rin was crying now, the tears spilling out from under her closed eyelids.

"What is it?" Kagome said quietly.

"Another sword even more powerful than tenseiga. He is searching for it in that place of darkness, searching, always searching...he calls it Souunga."

Kagome drew a sharp breath...that cursed blade of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's father! It was sealed somewhere in the underworld and that bastard Naraku was trying to find it! Sesshoumaru must have heard too for the tai-youkai growled softly. Kagome pushed those thoughts out of her mind and concentrated on Rin who was speaking again.

"I see them now..."

"What?"
"Bodies of the dead. The bandits are dead, their flesh rots. The wolves are dead, but their skeletons move. All listen to Naraku. There are other dead bodies. A river of blood and corpses behind him, and he is searching for it!"

"Rin, I want you to leave that place." Kagome said firmly. The miko picked up a small golden bell and lit more incense. "You have no place among the dead, return to the living. You are wearing a kotodama rosary and are protected." Kagome rang the bell loudly.

Rin's hands went around her neck. "Yes... there is a blessing around me, a powerful blessing! But it is not enough...I cannot cross the river of the dead!" Rin wailed and raised her hands to her hair, tearing at it. "He guards it and asks me for the sword!"

"Rin, you can cross that river. You are protected by the rosary."

"No!" Rin shook her head. "Naraku is hurting me with tenseiga!" Rin clutched her stomach. "It hurts so much, and yet I cannot die. Sesshoumaru-sama! Where are you?"

Kagome rang the bell, louder this time. "Rin, cross the river. Come towards the bell" She was beginning to get worried, the girl was deeper in the underworld than she had imagined at first. These kinds of fears might trap her forever.

"It is so painful, he has cut off all my fingers! Sesshoumaru-sama does not come to save Rin!"

The tai-youkai rose to his feet, his protective instincts aroused, the guilt that Sesshoumaru felt overwhelmed him.. Rin was curled into a tight ball, drenched with sweat and tears. "Sesshoumaru-sama, why do you not come to save Rin!" Rin was crying out now in genuine distress. "I am suffering and you do not come! You have abandoned me. You failed me."

Kagome had not expected this level of trauma- the girl seemed resigned to hoplessness. She needed something now to call her out of that terrible in-between land. Kagome glanced nervously at Sesshoumaru- they both knew that the Kamioroshi was on the verge of going wrong. Sesshoumaru looked at Rin's small face for a moment and took a small breath. "Rin, come here."

The girl lay silently.

Sesshoumaru tried again, more authoritatively this time. "Rin, come here."

There was a long silence as Rin lay deathly still.

"H-h-..." Rin's lips parted slightly as a breath came from her. This was no simple sigh or mad rambling, the girl was trying to respond.

"Rin, Sesshoumaru called you back, didn't he? Can you hear him?"

"He is calling you, isn't he?"

"H-Hai."

"Why don't you cross the river and go to him. He did not abandon you, he is waiting here."

Rin moaned. "So-hard-to-move...I will lie here forever."

"Get past Naraku. Go towards Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose, "Rin, I said come here." his deep voice called to her again.

Kagome clasped her hands over her mouth. It was more than she had hoped for, she hadn't even been sure the Kamioroshi would work!

"H-H-Hai...S-S...Sess..."

Rin's eyelids fluttered, and she turned her head towards the sound of Sesshoumaru's voice. "H-Hai...Sesshou...maru...sama..."

"The kamioroshi is finished," Kagome said quietly, "Arigatou Sesshoumaru. Your help was invaluable." In all her experience as a miko, she had never seen a Kimoroshi patient respond to anyone but a miko, there had to be some deep bond of obedience between Rin and Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru and Rin were still looking at each other.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, you came to save me," Rin whispered, her voice was hoarse from disuse.

"I was nearly too late," Sesshoumaru said, running a clawed hand over Rin's wet brow. "I made you worry."

Rin shook her head, "Iye, Rin knew you would come. Rin is sorry she doubted you. G-Gomenasai."

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes flickered with emotion for a second, "Rin, it is I who..."

"Do not say it," Rin turned away, "Do not say it. I do not want to know that."

"Rin-chan," Kagome addressed her gently, "Don't work yourself up."

"Rin, it is hard for me to say but I..."

"Iye, don't say it, Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin is sorry she doubted you. Of course Sesshoumaru-sama would come to save Rin!"

"I think you'd better leave her for a while," Kagome said to the tai-youkai who looked more and more uncomfortable with RIn's strange behaviour. "What she needs now is a good rest."

"Hnh." Sesshoumaru stood, his white robes swished about him gently as he walked. Rin listened to the familiar rustle of silk and a pain shot through her heart. She had doubted Sesshoumaru-sama. How could she have done that? Of course he would save her, and he had.

"We will talk more in the morning, Rin." Said the tai-youkai, as he shut the shoji screen.

"Rin-chan...I am Kagome, Inuyasha's miko friend, do you remember me?"

"Of course, Kagome-sama. You were in Takemaru's castle with Rin many years ago when he captured us."

"We were all very worried about you, Rin-chan. You have been unconscious for a week and you nearly died of Orochi poison. Sesshoumaru has hardly left your bed-side."

"Sesshoumaru-sama gave up Tenseiga for me, didn't he?"

"Mm." Kagome nodded, as she lifted a bowl of water to Rin's lips, "Drink this. Your voice is still hoarse."

Rin drank obediently, "I told him not to, you know. I wouldn't have minded dying, now Naraku can come back."

"Rin-chan, do you remember any of the things you saw when you were unconscious?"

Rin frowned, "Not really. It was a very bad, dark place. But I don't remember."

Kagome decided not to mention anything about Souunga, it would simply distress Rin further and it was the last thing she needed right now.

"I wish Sesshoumaru-sama had not given up Tenseiga," Rin said, closing her eyes.

"Rin-chan, Sesshoumaru-sama would do anything to save you." Kagome said sincerely, "He cares for you greatly."

"Too much." Rin said, almost sadly. "Sometimes I think it is too much. I am only a human girl, I have caused him so much trouble."

"Rest now. You will feel much better in the morning." Kagome patted Rin's hand. "You are still very weak and have to take a lot of rest and medicine."

Kagome left the room, thinking about what Rin had said about Sesshoumaru. The girl seemed to feel that she was somehow inferior to youkai, no doubt that was due to years of listening to Sesshoumaru's bigoted views. But then again, it was clear that Sesshoumaru and Rin's relationship went far beyond that of simply youkai master and human servant. He had given up Tenseiga for her, that was a real blow to his pride. No master would giveup his sword for a servant. The way he had spoken to her and caressed her...Kagome smiled to herself. She was pretty sure that Rin was absolutely wrong about what regard her Sesshoumaru-sama held her in, and unless she was much mistaken, Sesshoumaru was going to have trouble keeping the truth from Rin much longer.

"What are you smiling about?" Inuyasha demanded, "How is Rin?"

"Rin-chan is awake at last, the Kamioroshi worked," Kagome said happily putting her arms around Inuyasha and giving him a big kiss.

Inuyasha turned bright red, "What's up with you, wench? Can't this wait till tonight?"

Kagome giggled, "I suppose." Kagome suddenly regained her composure and began speaking seriously. "Inuyasha, Rin saw things in the border between the the world of the living and dead...Naraku has Tenseiga and he is looking for Souunga."

"Souunga?" Inuyasha exclaimed, "That bastard thinks he can use chichiue's sword? Keh!"

"This is serious, Inuyasha." Kagome said, flicking a white hair out of her dog-demon's golden eyes. "If Naraku gets hold of Souunga..."