Chapter IV – Frozen
Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, the characters, the plot etc., but I own Koe.
A.N.: See, I've hurried. And I've tried something new. Has to do with the title.
Long threads of water hit the ground, causing a feeling of endless sadness in her. They reminded her of tears falling down her sisters face the night her life ended. The endless flow of tears, when Koe had told her how to get into the woods without being caught, when she had told her to run and not to look back, when she had told her not to worry...
"May the stars guide you into a better future than us." The words still echoed inside her. A better future... With a short sigh she reached into the rain, wincing as the cold water hit her hand. She felt the rain. "Everything that can feel is alive." Another phrase echoed inside her head. So she was alive. Her family was dead, destroyed, put to dust. She was alive. But if that was a better future, then why was heaven crying? And time stood still.
Short shivers ran down his spine, as they finally reached the cave's center. The fog had vanished, but still the air seemed to get more and more solid with every step they made. It felt like walking against a wall, like some strange power blocked their way, unwilling to let them pass. His master didn't even seem to bother. Neither the air nor the biting cold seemed to harm him. Cold... he took a look at his fingers, but quickly turned away again. So it was no illusion. He took a second look, while trying to move them, but it was useless. No motion... no emotion... the cold had started it's work on his body and mind.
Was that why his master had asked her to stay away? To keep her from freezing to death? A vile grimace shortly crossed his face. If only that stupid human child was gone... And time stood still.
Cold blood ran down her cheek, although she didn't really care. If it hadn't been such a magnet for demons, like light for moths, she wouldn't even have realized that one of them actually had hit her. It was hard to realize anything at all without senses – one of the few disadvantages of being dead already.
She let her gaze wander through the fog in front of her, then stopped as she came across a small, black-haired figure. "You here?" She asked bitterly. "Where's your master nee-chan? And why the hell are you crying?" her voice had already decreased to only a whisper, when faint sobs joined in. "You shouldn't have to cry, you know." Tears came running down her pale cheek, although she didn't feel anything. The just kept flowing, merging with the blood and rain that already ran down her face.
As to keep her from falling down on her knees, a demon's call broke through the silence – the only thing she was able to feel now that she was dead: Demons and their approach. She turned around to leave and lead them into another part of the valley, but then stopped, as she recognized the coat her sister wore. "Good girl... good demon." A great smile stretched across her face. "Farewell, sister." And time stood still.
Numerous thoughts came to his mind, as they finally reached what he had been looking for: Kumori. It had been ages since they'd met for the first time. They had both been young, assertive and bored, searching for a challenge... the fight ended in a draw. The first time he hadn't won. The first time someone had been strong enough. For a few years competition went on. They kept fighting each other, "accidentally" destroying whole villages if there wasn't enough room for them to move. The people there didn't even bother them. Just humans.
A short grin appeared on his lips. Nothing had changed after all those years. Kumori still slaughtered humans and he didn't care... well... except for Rin. Actually, he wanted to curse himself for even saving her life the day she died. He was a demon, one of the most powerful demons. He had never expected anyone to be worthy being saved by him. And he hadn't really meant to change that either, but she – a simple, pathetic human child – had dared breaking his habit just by that single smile that haunted him every night and every time she looked into his eyes. Rin, the human child with the demonheart.
He smiled again. Considered her sister had risen from the dead not much of a surprise, although the difference was easy to see. Koe was a fighter, a warrior. Whoever had awoken her, he must have had some sixth sense for strong-minded people, who were quite easily able to become as strong as any usual demon. In that way Rin was just a tiny light next to the flame of her sister, although they were equally strong-minded. Rin just didn't have her sister's strength.
For a few moments anger and disappointment rose inside him. Rin had the same strength in character, but she didn't know how to... Of course... The anger and disappointment vanished. Of course she didn't know how to turn that strength of mind into the strength of her body. After all even most demon children needed someone to teach them how to use their powers most efficiently. How should she know then without anyone to teach her?
Shaking his head slightly, he faced the white creature in front of him again. Rin was a problem to deal with later on, when this was over. For now it was time to pretend he hadn't met her, to pretend he was still the one he had been half a century before, and to hope it would work...
A.N.: Wow, look at that! Less than a week for updating
