Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko
Nothing Without The Other
Chapter 33
A second battle raged early the next morning. Sesshoumaru noticed that the fools had wizened up a little as they hurled pikes at the archers, targeting them extensively and nearly exclusively. Fear for Rin's life had taken hold of him almost immediately, but when he turned and saw her, Tenseiga's white protective shield shimmering around her, he was calmed. Tetsusaiga's sheath was also doing an excellent job of protecting the miko, but he was not pleased when he saw that many of the archers had been hit.
He took his anger out on his enemies, forcing them to retreat sometime after noon.
"There was something strange about this attack," Hideki pointed out during his meeting with the two Lords.
"Keh, there was something strange about the enemy," Inuyasha corrected. "Something was really off about them."
Sesshoumaru tucked his hands into his sleeves. "I agree. Were there any hostages?"
"None, my Lord," Hideki answered. "Perhaps are soldiers skills are too affective."
"You can never be too affective," Inuyasha said. "Maybe we should have a separate squad out there to take hostages, that's it, that's all."
"Inuyasha is correct. Hideki, see that it is done," Sesshoumaru ordered.
"Hai, Lord Sesshoumaru, right away."
"I also need you to deploy a one of our smaller units to protect our archers. They have proven too affective to be left for slaughter."
Hideki leaned across the table, writing these things down. "Is there anything else?"
"Send one or two people to investigate our enemy's headquarters. Jaken."
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!" He stood up immediately.
He turned his attention to the toad youkai. "You will accompany them. When you have learned all you can, burn the entire camp to the ground."
"Understood. When shall we depart?"
Sesshoumaru rose to his feet. "If and when the enemy returns, that should leave their camp relatively weak and their leader somewhat unprotected. If he should die in the fire, all the better."
Knowing that this meeting was over, Hideki and Jaken dismissed themselves to recover and prepare the troops for another battle.
Kagome entered the tent with Rei in her arms. "Is everything alright?"
Inuyasha ruffled Kazuo's hair. "Hai, we just had a few things to address and rethink our plans."
Rin handed Ito to his father. "Don't you think it was odd that they retreated so quickly?"
"It is," Sesshoumaru told her. "We are sending someone to investigate the camp."
"Chichi-ue!" Kazuo called, pulling his head back inside the tent. "How can cows fly if they don't have wings?"
"Cows can't-" Inuyasha cut himself off when he realized he knew of one cow that could fly. "Toutousai."
They quickly filed outside just as Toutousai landed. "Well isn't this nice! The whole family is here."
"Spare us your humor, Toutousai," Sesshoumaru advised. "What brings you here?"
"Certainly not that horrible attitude of yours!" Toutousai spat.
"Onegai, Toutousai, lets not argue. A lot has been going on," Rin told him.
"I know exactly what has been going on!" He huffed. "Why do you think I came here?"
"Keh, we're waiting for you to tell us, old man," Inuyasha said.
"Inuyasha-sama!" Myouga hopped from Mou Mou and landed on Inuyasha's nose, immediately sucking his blood.
Inuyasha swatted the little flee. "Great, just what we needed. What are you doing here? Don't you know we're in the middle of a war? I'm surprise you aren't hiding."
"That's exactly why we came after the fighting was over!" Myouga said, puffing himself back up.
Toutousai inspected Rin closely. "I had to check on Rin here, make sure that hound over there is treating her right," he cast Sesshoumaru a wary glance.
"I'm fine, Toutousai," Rin told him with a smile. "I have my youki in control and everything."
"I see that, which is why I brought you this," he told her, holding up a sword. "I made it especially for you."
Rin stared in surprise. "Toutousai...I don't know what to say. Did Sesshoumaru put you up to this?"
He snorted. "As if I would do anything for that ungrateful pup."
Sesshoumaru sent him a look that made him hide behind Rin.
"Ah, anyway! Here you go!" He handed the blade to Rin.
"Arigatou."
Rin felt something hot travel through the sword and up her arm, jumping off her flesh like bolts of lightening. Her whole arm seared with pain, but when she tried to drop blade, she found that it seemed to be attached to her hand. She vaguely heard Sesshoumaru call out to her, barely saw the faces that surrounded her as she collapsed to the ground. Then it was dark. Dark and silent.
The sword was long and thick at the hilt. It curved and thinned out, leaving a dangerous looking tip at the end of the blade. The tip was being dragged across the ground and it was so sharp that it cut into the surface with ease, seemingly melting it away until it evaporated in a green haze. Then it was lifted just inches from the ground as its bearer raced across the field.
In one swift and powerful swing that forced the bearer to a stop, a thick, green substance shot from the blade, traveling in one smooth arch as it headed steadily toward the figures charging at it. They stopped abruptly and immediately collapsed to the ground, clutching at themselves and gasping for breath as the poison ate away at their flesh.
Then the mysterious bearer turned to the side and leapt into a tree. It bounded from one tree to the next as it approached a new wave of strange figures. As a green cloud built around the sword, the bearer jumped into the air, sword twirling above it's head, and released the cloud over the approaching crowd. It burst open, spilling poison rain on those beneath it. Everything in it's path melted away.
The figure landed smoothly on the ground and twitched it's wrist, transforming the blade into a plain looking, battered katana. Rin's subconscious recognized the small hand as hers, recognized the obi the sheath hung from as hers. And as the figure returned the sword to its hilt and looked over at the destruction it had caused, Rin recognized those eyes and knew without a doubt that it was her.
"Rin! Rin!"
Sesshoumaru held her in his arms, desperately trying to shake her from her sleep. Her breathing was slowing, her heartbeat fading. Sparks passed between her hand and the sword she gripped, robbing her of her life force. He had tried to pry it from her, but it seemed to be molded to her flesh. He felt the sword pulse along with Rin. She sat up quickly, gasping for breath, and dropped the blade. He picked it up and immediately tossed it away.
"Daijoubu?" He asked, searching her face for any sign of pain.
"H-hai," she took another breath, trying to steady her voice. "I'm fine, I'm okay. Don't."
When she grabbed his shoulder, he looked back down at her. She knew what he was about to do.
Sesshoumaru shot Toutousai a fierce glance before helping his mate to her feet. "What happened?"
"I..I was dreaming," she said, leaning on him for a moment until she was sure her legs were steady.
"Rin. You almost died."
"Actually," Toutousai called out tentatively from behind Inuyasha. "She would not have died. Her body was just adjusting to the youki in the blade and vice versa."
Rin saw his eyes tinge red. "I'm fine, Sesshoumaru. I just feel like I awoke from a long, satisfying nap."
Kagome handed her a bottle of water. "What did you dream about it?"
She took a short sip and scrunched her face up in confusion. "I..I don't remember. Only flashes of it come to me. There was a sword and it was melting the ground with only the slightest touch."
Toutousai approached Sesshoumaru cautiously. "Now before you get all angry, you should know that this is a very good thing and that I expected this to happen."
Sesshoumaru turned to him with a snarl. "Your sword almost killed her."
"The sword is made of your claw!" He shouted. "Your youki cannot kill her since it's your youki in her veins."
"Dokkasou..." Rin whispered.
Sesshoumaru turned back to Rin slowly. "What did you say?"
"Dokkasou? Isn't that your attack?" Inuyasha asked.
"Damaru, you worthless hanyou," he ordered, closing the space between he and Rin. "Tell me exactly what you remember."
"Dokkasou!" Toutousai answered for her. "It is the swords technique."
"Is that what you saw?" Sesshoumaru asked her.
Rin rubbed her temple, trying to recall the dream. "I'm pretty sure. Maybe..maybe if I hold it again, or you show me."
Not wanting her anywhere near the blade just yet, he took a step back and shot a stream of poison in Toutousai's direction. The old man jumped to side, barely managing being melted into a pool of flesh and organs. A tree a short distance away took his place and as the poison ate away at the bark, it evaporated into green smoke.
Rin took a deep breath as images flashed through her head. "That's it, that's it exactly."
Sesshoumaru held up his right hand, watching the green youki dissipate as he relaxed it. "When did you take my claw? And why from this hand?"
Realizing his life was no longer in danger, Toutousai picked up the sword and handed it to Rin. "I sent Myouga here some time ago to keep an eye on you two. When he informed me of your growing relationship, I thought it would be best if Rin had a suitable weapon if she is going to be your mate."
Sesshoumaru turned to Toutousai, flexing his fingers. "Are you suggesting that this Sesshoumaru is incapable of protecting his mate?"
Toutousai scowled. "Don't be so quick to take things so personal. You live in a ruthless, greedy world. A system in which humans and hanyous are not welcome in the sphere of power. I think this war proves that."
"So she needs a sword for the same reason I do. To even the playing field between hanyous and full youkai," Inuyasha suggested.
"Yes, yes! It's nice to see you using your brain, boy!"
Inuyasha raised his fist. "Watch it old man."
"Nani? Where am I?" Toutousai looked around in feigned confusion.
Myouga bounced from Inuyasha's shoulder to Rin's. "I took the claw when you and Sesshoumaru-sama were sleeping in the garden. I had no preference for my choice, I merely wanted to get out of there before he woke up and killed me."
"Keh, how do you not notice your claw is gone?"
Rin looked over at Sesshoumaru, trying desperately not to blush at the recalled memory. "Should I test it out?"
"I would wait," Toutousai advised. "Concentrate on getting used to it's feel first, though I would not be surprised if you could master Dokkasuo already. For Tsurugidoku to have revealed so much to you so quickly proves that a strong relationship between sword and master already exists."
"Tsurugidoku?" Rin said.
"Hai," he said, rubbing his stomach. "Where can I get some food around here?"
"For once, I'm on Toutousai's side. Lets eat," Inuyasha demanded.
Sesshoumaru held Rin at bay and waited for the others to disappear. "Are you sure you are okay?" He asked, casting a wary glance at the sword.
"Gomen ne, Sesshoumaru. I did not mean to frighten you. I am fine, really."
"I do not need your apologies." He scoffed.
Rin leaned into him, smiling against his lips. "Will this do?"
Sesshoumaru growled and pulled her against him, ignoring the horrid sound their armor made as it scratched against each other. He kissed her greedily, hungry for her taste. She parted her mouth, taking in his tongue and waging war on it with her own. He trailed kisses over her face and to her ear, nipping at it as he inhaled the seductive scent of her arousal.
"Rin," he breathed, teetering on the edge of his control.
She gave him a short kiss on the cheek before slipping from his arms. "I know, I know, and I love you two."
Sesshoumaru watched her walk away to join the others. He was more anxious and determined as ever to get this entire war over and done with.
--/-- Damaru:Be silent --/-- Daijoubu:Are you okay? --/-- Hai:Yes --/-- Iie:No --/-- Nani:What --/-- Dokkasou:Poison Claw (Sesshoumaru's attack) --/-- Tsurugi:Sword --/-- Onegai:Please --/-- Arigatou:Thank you --/--
Rabid Anime Gurl
