12

Chapter 3

In a distant, a swarm of bees were hovering the cave as Sesshomaru and Rin walked out of it. An image of the two was reflected off a pearl white mirror held by feminine hands. The young lady had long white hair and black jade eyes. She had two white flowers that set behind her ears in her hair. She wore a bright white kimono that matched her hair. She was an incarnation of Naraku, and had the ability to take your soul with her mirror. She was very beautiful but equally deadly. She lacked any personality or emotion. The fact she lacked a conscious, was what made her so dangerous.

A deep chuckle was made as the man with long flowing black hair and deep red eyes stared at vision displayed by demoness's mirror. The bees were his eyes when spying on his enemies. "Kanna, is the young woman with Lord Sesshomaru, Rin?"

"Yes"

"Well, I cannot believe that Lord Sesshomaru has kept her around for this long. Is it possible that he cares for her?"

"She is rumored to be more beautiful than any female demon." Kana's voice was soft and monotone. She lacked any emotion in her voice.

"Is that so." Naraku began to go into deep thought. Lord Sesshomaru falling in the same footsteps as his father. He gave a smile. "This may work to my advantage."

"But what of Kohaku", asked Kanna, "he no longer bears the jewel shards."

Naraku thought to himself for while. So the boy survived after I snatched the jewel shards from his back. He then stared back at the reflection again. The young woman with Sesshomaru was in clear view. He could feel Onimgumo's heart pound harder in his chest. Damn that human part of me! Onimgumo was the human part of Naraku, the only side of him that displayed any sign of emotion. This truth pissed him off more than anything in the world. Naraku was only half demon and his human trait was that he possessed the heart of a human. There are certain times when Naraku transforms into a human just like Inuyasha does during the new moon. He preferred his demonic form and hid during his time of weakness.

The human voice began to speak within his head. But what about the young woman? Naraku made an evil smile. You may be worth something, Onimgumo. He could feel the plan unfolded inside of his mind." Forget Kohaku. He is dead to me." He got up and walked over to the stairs that lead down to a dungeon. He reached the bottom and saw the woman that he needed to put to good use again. She was chained to the wall, staring at him with hate within her purple demonic eyes. "Well, Kagura, I may not kill you after all."

"What do you want?" she hissed at him. She was loathing the sight of him. Her freedom was so close and he ripped it away from her.

Remember Kagura, I hold your heart in my hand and with just one squeezed, you are dead for good. So don't be stupid again! Now, I need you to get me the lovely girl that travels with Lord Sesshomaru."

Her chains feel to the ground as she was freed. Kagura feel to the floor in exhaustion of being restrained for so long. Naraku knelt down beside her and grabbed her face with his hand. He squeezed her chin hard and glared her down." Do not fail me! I will be watching your every move, so do not make the same mistake again." His hand then transformed into a long extension of his true demon form. The limb wrapped itself around her neck and squeezed. "You remember the last time you betrayed me."

Kagura's eyes widen with fear. She did not want to die just yet. "Yes..." She struggled to get the words out as she gasped for air. "Damn you...Naraku...yes." He finally let her go and she fell to the floor gulping for air. You bastard! How dare you? She stared up at him quaking with a mixture of fear and anger.

"Good." That was all he said as he climbed back up the stairs. Kagura glared in his direction. She began to feel her demonic power returning. Damn him! I shall gain my freedom! She reached to her hair and yanked out a feather that she wore pinned in a ponytail. She made her way outside and threw the feather up toward the sky. It transformed into a huge feather fit to ride for flying. Kagura hoped on top of it and disappeared into the night in search for Rin.

The river was beautiful and Rin wanted to jump in it right then. She looked around her surroundings and absorbed every little thing she saw. There was a field of flowers growing along the edge of the river. The trees were blooming with little purple petals. There was a spring waterfall down further from them. I cannot believe my own eyes! Did Lord Sesshomaru find this place himself while I was gone? Did he bring me here because he wanted to show me this? Rin looked over at him but his face remained unconcerned. No, he wouldn't. It is unlike him. Her heart dropped with the thought.

They walked along the bank as Jaken pulled Ah Un's reign to keep the dragon walking. The two-headed dragon knelt down to drink from the river. The moon made the water sparkle like liquid diamonds. I hope Lord Sesshomaru stops here for the night.

"We will stay here for the night." Sesshomaru stated as hewalked over to the bank of the river. His ears caught hold Rin's grumbling tummy. "Jaken fetch for food in the river."

"Lord Sesshomaru, the girl can get the fish herself!" A rock came flying at his head and Jaken fail to the floor. "Yes, Lord Sesshomaru, " he groaned.

Rin made a giggle. She grabbed her hair and sniffed it. She realized it was time for a hot bath. "Lord Sesshomaru, I will be gone for a while to bathe."

" Do as you wish." Sesshomaru replied without a second glance towards her.

After minutes of searching, she found a place between a couple of rocks for a hot spring bath. She untied her kimono and it fell to the grass. She wore a slayer uniform Sango got her underneath her kimono. It was black and skin tight, it lacked the protective armor of a regular demon slayer uniform. Rin had a nice muscular toned shape due to the hard training Sesshomaru put her through since she was child.

She recalled the last time she took a soak, the look of shock on Kohaku's face when he caught her naked. She was a little shocked herself that she enjoyed his eyes upon her naked form. He claimed it was accident but deep inside she wondered differently. She knew little of many things of the opposite sex but she was well aware of lustful looks men gave her. She fought many bandits, thieves, and male demons that would say distasteful comments to her in battle. Their eyes would have that same look, as they would attempt to kiss her. A bandit did successfully achieve a kiss but before she could recover, Sesshomaru had already killed him that instant.

Rin pulled off her slayer uniform and sank deep into the water. The hot spring was only waist deep but it was enough to get the job done. She sank her entire body into it. She leaned her head back and soaked her hair. She scrubbed her scalp and body. She then decided to just sit there and soak for a while. Her mind went into daydream about how a real kiss would feel like. The bandit's kiss was awful and disgusting. But she so desired the experience. She often recalled times when she had seen Inuyasha and Kagome kissing. They were in love. They made it look like magic. Rin began to feel a little jealous towards the couple. She often wished that someone would love her like that in return. Rin sighed as she set up to sit upon the huge rock next to her. She loved to let the wind dry her body and hair. She lay on top of the rock with her hair spread out all around her. The wind was blowing nicely and little harder than usual. She reopened her eyes and saw a woman that she thought she would never see again.

"Kagura!" Rin leaped off the rock and landed with a huge splash in the water. Kagura was sitting on top of her feather glaring down at the girl.

"Well, haven't you grown? Naraku calls for your services. It would be best if you don't fight. I would hate to scratch that pretty face of yours."

Naraku! Rin was shocked. What does he want with me? She had no idea what he would want with her. She jumped out of the water onto the dry land. She reached for the two sai that was lying next to her clothes. Kagura jumped off the feather onto the ground not far from Rin. The demon yanked out her fan that controlled the wind as a weapon.

" So it is a fight you want." The wind around Kagura began to grow with intensity. She took notice of Rin's weapons. " So Sesshomaru got you some toys to play with. He must of grew tired of saving your life"

"Shut up and fight!" Rin got in her defense stance with her two three pronged weapon in her both of her hands in front of her. Kagura whipped her fan about her as the wind began to stir violently.

"Dance of the blades!" she yelled. The wind began to form deadly blades that could cut a person in half in a matter of seconds. Rin jumped around the blades with flips in the air. She eventually landed on top of a rock.

"You are going to have to do better than that."

Kagura had a look of surprise on her face but she whipped her fan again. "Dance of the dragon!" The wind around them began to form two tornados like whirlwinds. This time Rin jumped into the winds. Her sai began to glow an earthly blue. She then braced the weapons in her hands and sliced the two whirlwinds. The wind seemed to lose itself and disappear. Rin landed on the ground where the winds used to be in a cat stance.

Kagura eyes flashed with anger. "You bitch!" She then looked up and saw Naraku's insects hovering above them both. Damn you Naraku. You must have underestimated the girl. Why didn't you just come get the girl yourself?

"Come and get me you wind witch!" Rin stood up and twirled her sai in her hands. The insects swooped down towards her, with their stingers aimed and ready."Naraku's poisonous insects!" She slashed at them. She saw more of them coming in huge swarms toward her. She slashed and diced the best she could. Her sai began to glow but the stingers absorbed the weapon's powers. Dammit! This is not happening! Where is Lord Sesshomaru? These insects are getting too hard for me to handle alone.

Kagura took this pause as time to attack with her wind again. She yanked up her fan and whipped it around again. This time she used her dragon dance to its full potential. Rin sliced at every single bee that came her way. The sai was not able to tap into its power; it was getting harder to keep the bees at bay. She saw in the corner in her eye, the whirlwinds coming towards her. Waves of panic come over her. She then felt an arm wrap tightly around her waist, yanking her up off the ground in great speed. She looked up to find herself in the arms of Inuyasha. She gasped as she saw Naraku's insects headed right towards them. He lifted his glowing nails and sliced at them.

"Iron reaver soul stealer!" he yelled. The bees feel onto the ground in pieces. Rin found herself switched around upon Inuyasha's back as he continued to slice Naraku's insects into pieces. She held onto him tightly around his neck with her sai in her hands.

"Well Rin, where is your great protector?" asked Inuyasha as he jumped towards a tree. He pounced hard and landed on top of a huge branch on top of the tree. Rin still held onto him. She refused to let him go. She couldn't at this moment.

Inuyasha was beginning to get irritated and a made a growl under his breath. "Why are you still on my back? Get off would you?" Rin felt her entire body turn red her along with her face.

"I cant!" she yelled.

"Why the hell not?"

Rin was mortified. She didn't know what to say. Inuyasha was getting more irritated by the minute.

"Say something would you!"

"I'm naked!" Rin blurted it out before she could stop herself. Dammit! Her mind went in circles. She rambled on about Kagura and the reason why she had not attempted to clothe herself just yet.

Inuyasha's dog-ears dropped down in agitation. He mumbled a curse underneath his breath. Rin was mortified that she was naked on top of Sesshomaru's younger brother's back. He hated Sesshomaru brother with his entire soul. They fought like sworn enemies whenever they are around each other. She knew that if Sesshomaru saw her like this it would be disastrous for Inuyasha. Rin thought of a plan and thought it up fast.

"I am growing tired! Inuyasha release the girl or you will meet your deathly fate!" yelled Kagura. She was standing a distance from them with her fan between in her fingers. She was growing irritated by the minutes. She wanted to get this task over with so that she could get back to her plan of ridding herself of Naraku. She did enjoy toying with Inuyasha though. Naraku you can do this yourself! She looked up to see demons of all forms flying towards Inuyasha and Rin. He must have summoned them. He doesn't trust me after all! Kagura began to ponder her time left in existence. It will not be long until he rids me for good. I have got to make this look good.

Inuyasha was watching Kagura. "Humph! I don't know why but I am beginning to think Kagura is holding back on us." He could feel his suspicion grow. What is going on? He then looked up and noticed a swarm of demons flying towards them. He grasped his sword Tetsaiga in both hands.

"Hold on!" He yelled to Rin as he leaped from the tree towards the demons. She did what he said and squeezed tight onto him. Inuyasha raised up his sword as it glowed a golden color as he slashed it across the sky. "Wind Scar!" He yelled as the sword used its energy to disintegrate the demons. They were destroyed instantly by the sword's wind energy.

Kagura threw her fan up in her hand. "You are so irritating! Why don't you just die?" She swooped her fan around once again. "Dance of the blades!"

The wind blades skidded past the two opponents cutting Inuyasha on his arm. Rin wasn't touched but she saw Inuyasha's forearm oozing slightly with blood. She gasped at the sight. She knew then that she had to get to her clothes or just fight naked in front of him. She made her decision. She jumped off his back instantly. She could no longer sit by and allow Inuyasha be defeated.

Kagura started laughing at the sight. "You've got guts young lady, I give you that! What would Lord Sesshomaru say if he saw you like this?"

"I advise you to never let his name leave your lips ever again, or I will rip them off your face! You are not worthy to speak Lord Sesshomaru's name!" The woman annoyed Rin. Kagura was nothing but a puppet for Naraku. Rin realized that the woman did speak one truth. What would she do if Lord Sesshomaru saw her like this? She struggled with that thought.

Inuyasha removed the cloth of the fire rat and through it at Rin. He wore it over his other clothes. He wore a white linen long sleeved shirt and red wide ankle linen pant. The fire rat cloth protected anyone who wore it from getting burn in extreme heat or fire.

"Put it on!" That was all he had to say and Rin through the cloth own in seconds. It only reached the tops of her thighs but it covered enough for modesty sake.

"Thanks!" Rin then twirled her sai around her fingers. She was ready for whatever Kagura threw at them.

Where the hell is she? Sesshomaru was growing inpatient with the girl by the moment. He could care less of what happened to the girl. He just refused to have her death on his conscious. If something were to happen to her it would be because she was the cause of it. He then began to recall seeing Rin in the arms of Naraku's old minion, Kohaku. His blood boiled at the thought. The boy had grown up and along with that grew courage. That human dared to challenge Sesshomaru. Kohaku must not have value for his life. A scent began to fill the air; Sesshomaru caught a hold of it. Naraku's scent, thought Sesshomaru, and blood. A image of Rin's lifeless body went through his head and his blood began to boil again. Naraku dared to lay a hand on Rin.

Sesshomaru ran in the direction of the scent in great speed. He slashed and diced at everything in his way. He took out every tree branch and leaf. The scent was getting closer the further he got; Sesshomaru then gained more speed on his pace. He finally reached the scent's destination. He decided to stay back for a while and observe. He watched as Rin reflected off Kagura's wind blades as Inuyasha threw his wind scar at the wind witch. The demoness dodged the wind scar with her fan. The wind ricocheted the wind scar right back at Inuyasha. The half demon jumped out of the way just in time. "Damn you, Kagura!" he yelled as he landed back down on his two feet. Rin ran up beside Inuyasha, with her glowing transforming sai, Kagura's wind blades to use and through them back at the wind witch. The blades danced around her but only managed to tear the sleeve of her flowered striped kimono.

Sesshomaru just stood by and watched as Inuyasha and Rin gather composure as Kagura started laughing. "Well. Well. It seems we have an audience with us." Her statement caused the both of them to turn around. Rin seemed to jump out of her skin at the sight of Sesshomaru while Inuyasha grumbled instead.

"About time Sesshomaru" replied Inuyasha, "You have such great timing!" His statement was as sarcastic as he sounded.

"It seems you just attract trouble, little brother." Sesshomaru glared his little brother down. He looked over to Rin and took notice of what she was wearing. "Father's cloth of the fire rat, something else father saw fit to leave you."

Inuyasha smirked. He pointed his sword at Sesshomaru as if ready to strike him down right there. "Sesshomaru, I would rather fight you!" Inuyasha had a tight grip on Tetsaiga. He would love to strike that demon down at the stop he stood. Sesshomaru then grabbed for hisToukijin The blade had a bluish tent to it even in the moonlight. Rin kept her eye on Kagura but the witch seemed to be enjoying the brother's quarrel. Her fan tapping on her thigh, her eyes seemed to display a sense of thoughtfulness. Rin took this opportunity as a weakness.

Kagura saw the young lady in the corner of her eye. Clever, she thought, but not clever enough. Just as Rin was about to charge at Kagura, a form dressed in a white baboon jumped right in front of her. The figure was tall and intimidating, built broad like a man. The eyes of the baboon mask glowed a purple color, as a deep laugh came from inside of it.

Rin felt her heart stopped at the sight. Her body was paralyzed with fear. She could not believe her eyes. She could not say a word or even breathe at that moment. Her gut seemed to flutter as her mind went blank. It seemed like she stood there frozen for hours. Naraku! That name screamed inside of her head.