Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of the gang.
Rin was horrified. Fujiwara was imploring her to betray her lord! Lord Sesshomaru's faith her had already been tested when she kept hers and Kagome's plans from him. That was lying but now she was being asked to consider theft...something bandits did. Those same people who slaughtered her family. If Fujiwara had come to her and asked her to speak with her lord on his behalf for some of the elixir, Rin would have done so without hesitation. She had no intention of stooping to such a low level as stealing.
"What you are asking of me, sir, is reprehensible! I will not reward Lord Sesshomaru's kindnesses to me over the years by going behind his back and taking something which is not mine. You should be asking my lord for this." Rin shook her head and stepping away nervously.
Without thinking Fujiwara reached out and grabbed Rin's arm, stopping her.
"My lady, you do not seem to understand what I am telling you. My race of demons is not the first to be fading from existance. Time, enemies and mating with humans is causing the full blooded demons of ALL races to vanish. Soon we will be nothing but a fond...or not so fond, memory. I am taking the kinder and less timely route here by asking for the elixir rather than eradicating your entire race! Your kindness and fairness in dealing with demons is known, my lady. I am hope you will act in the same manner with myself and my kind!"
"You are hoping I will do something underhanded and steal from Lord Sesshomaru. I tell you again, I will do no such thing. I thank you for your help in dealing with the Northern Lord--"
"Aye and for that help, my lady, I do feel you perhaps owe something to me in return!"
Rin stared at Fujiwara in stunned silence. Nothing came without a price...just as Lord Sesshomaru had said. Fujiwara and his companion had aided in the battle with Bassarious in the hopes that just such a moment would come. If she refused, it stood to reason that should she require Fujiwara's help, he would turn a blind eye to it. If she helped him and took a few drops of the elixir, Lord Sesshomaru would have no cause to trust in her and could possibly banish her from his and, eventually, their child's life.
"He never need know, my lady. My word to you, he shall never hear it from me that you handed me any of that elixir." Fujiwara swore feverently.
"I gave you permission to speak with Lady Rin, Fujiwara. I never once gave you authority to touch her."
The snake demon was slow to release his grip on Rin. He had her only a heartbeat away from agreement. He knew it. Sesshomaru stood impassively in the doorway, his amber eyes cold and forboding. Someone was daring to touch what was his. The look on Rin's face was one of fear, dread and almost something akin to sorrow. As she took a few cautious steps away from Fujiwara, Rin dropped her gaze from Sesshomaru's. Now the inuyoukai lord's eyes narrowed. Her scent of wildflowers had grown stronger. She was frightened.
"Your time is up, Fujiwara. Rin. Come here."
Rin did not hesitate. Quickly she came to stand behind her lord or, to be more correct, pressed against his back. Sesshomaru could feel her fingers digging deep into the length of pure white fur that draped over his shoulder. Although he had not been present in the room, Sesshomaru knew all of the conversation between his mate and the demon. He was furious with Fujiwara for putting Rin in such a position but he was also gratified that Rin had chosen to remain loyal to him. When Sesshomaru had chosen her as his mate, he had chosen very well.
"Please...Lady Rin. Think on what I have said."
With that Fujiwara bowed respectfully and quit the room. Rin wasted no time in telling her lord what had happened but before she could trully begin, Lord Sesshomaru raised his hand to silence her. She felt her heart sink. As she stood in silence her lord walked a slow tight circle around her before coming to a stop directly behind her. His voice came so soft and sudden in her ear that Rin couldn't help but jump.
"Give it to him, Rin."
"W-what!"
"Give Fujiwara his drops of the elixir. I have no use for debts. Either owing them or having them owed to me." Sesshomaru replied as he watched his mate turn to face him.
"My lord, no. He was willing to go through deceptive means to obtain it. Why should he be allowed to have any?"
"Consider it...an experiment, Rin. Before you or the girl, Kagome, ingest it I wish to see its effects on a demon."
Rin watched Sesshomaru for several heartbeats before speaking, "You think it will be like a poison to demons. You think instead of granting immortality it will kill them."
"It is a possibility."
----------------------------------------------------
"So...once your pal is done talking to Rin does this mean you'll be leaving me and Sesshomaru the hell alone?"
"InuYasha!" Kagome warned.
Masahiro smirked at the hanyou. Both stood a few paces apart in similar stances, arms folded over their chests. Kagome would rather the two just stood there in the uncomfortable stoney silence but they seemed determined to provoke one another. The minutes seemed to drag by since Fujiwara had vanished inside with Sesshomaru. One couldn't help but wonder if the Lord of the Western Lands had grown tired of being followed and had simply chosen to do away with the snake demon.
"If the girl is unable to help us, we will be forced to seek other means to obtain our goal. In which case, halfdemon, we will be lingering on for a bit longer." Masahiro said with a sneer.
"Just what does Rin have to do with this goal of yours?" InuYasha demanded.
"It would appear she is going to have nothing to do with our goal," Fujiwara answered as he emerged from the great hall, "We will have to go with our second option, Masahiro. Come. We have lingered here long enough."
With that the demons departed without another word. InuYasha scowled at their retreating backs. Something was going on that made his ears twitch. Fujiwara seemed harmless enough but it was his short little friend that had the hanyou on edge. Masahiro was arrogant, cold, almost cruel. That one would bear watching. InuYasha looked to the doorway to the gardens as Sesshomaru appeared with Rin close on his heels. The brothers' eyes met and neither said a word but rather they both looked once again to the distant forms of the demons.
"You gonna follow them or do you want me to?" InuYasha asked in a low voice.
"Follow them if you wish. They had their second plan already formed before coming here. You'll learn nothing by listening. Watch them closely." Sesshomaru responded.
InuYasha nodded before crouching down, "Come on, Kagome. We have some hide and seek to play."
"Right." Kagome climbed onto her mate's back before looking to Rin and giving her friend a reassuring smile.
"Will you trully have me give them the elixir and allow them to take it?" Rin asked her lord as they watched InuYasha and Kagome vanish into the distance.
"Their second plan involves the Tetsuseiga. The fools know they can never hope to possess it and yet they still will seek to persue it. I would know just how they intend to take hold of the sword."
"You did not answer my question, my lord."
"You will give them the elixir, Rin. It makes no sense. If they cannot use the Tetsuseiga, what possible use could it be to them? Only InuYasha can wield the sword. If they believe they can somehow manipulate him into using the sword on their behalf, they are bigger fools than I first thought."
"Let us hope they never take it from him. Tetsuseiga is what keeps InuYasha's demon blood in check. Without it, he would become an uncontrollable killer. He would kill and keep on killing until everything is dead. Humans, demons, animals, it wouldn't matter." Rin shuddered.
"And considering that humans outnumber demons, such an outcome might work in the demons favor. Once the humans have been eliminated, they will simply destroy their perfect killing beast," Sesshomaru frowned, "But no. They would have no control over who InuYasha killed. It would be too random for their taste. They want something they can control, contain, manipulate. As a half human, InuYasha holds compassion for that race, he is compelled to protect it. His demon blood is what gives him the strength and endurance to wield the Tetsuseiga."
"Perhaps they wish for the elixir to remain immortal so they might have a halfdemon child with a human and hopefully that child can use Tetsuseiga? They will need to live a long time in order to train and raise the child to do such a thing."
Suddenly Sesshomaru's eyes lit with a deadly fire. The demons watching Rin as he and InuYasha battled the stone ogre, their determination to speak with Rin.
"Unless that child has already been conceived and the elixir will merely be used to keep them living long enough to see the human race eradicated and their race revitalized. They are not lingering to see how Tetsuseiga is used. They are watching to see which of you will conceive first. Kagome or yourself."
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I am SO sorry for the lack of updating! My big thanks to the creator of computer viruses. To quote Stewie Griffin: YOU SUCK!