Moonlight Silhouette
AN: This chapter was a nightmare. I wrote almost the whole thing and then my computer froze before I could save it. I had to restart my computer and the whole chapter was gone. So I've re-written it as closely to the original as I could. Sorry for the delay.
Chapter Seven
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I carefully lifted the bandages from Lord Sesshoumaru's chest. My face broke into a wide smile as I saw that his wounds were indeed closing up. All that was now left were long crimson scars.
"How do you feel, Lord Sesshoumaru?" I asked him, placing my hand on his wrist. I felt his warm skin tense under my touch, but he didn't withdraw his hand.
"I feel fine." He said softly.
"Do you think you can stand?"
He placed his hand on the floor to steady himself and got into a standing position. He stood for a moment then took an almost tentative step forwards. He turned to me.
"Rin, we're leaving." He glided over to the other end of the room and picked up his belt, securing it aroung his waist. He took his torn and bloodied tunic and pelt.
"No, my Lord!" I cried, "You're still too weak." He had put the ruined tunic on and then flung the pelt over his shoulder. He took a step towards the door and I flung myself in front of it. "We can't leave!"
He placed his hand on my shoulder and I could feel his claws digging into my flesh, "Don't you understand?" He hissed. For the first time I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. It wasn't much-a glint of uncertainity-but it was there.
"He's going to come here isn't he?" I asked softly, hearing my voice waver. His hand tightened on my shoulder and a small gasp of pain escaped my lips. His hand fell back to his side.
"Yes." He said shortly.
"Why not stay here longer then? You haven't quite recovered yet."
"We need to get away from here. They are already moving the villagers away, preparing for an attack." His eyes locked me in a gaze that was nearly impossible to pull away from.
"Shouldn't he be here by now though?" I asked softly.
"I wounded him." Lord Sesshoumaru didn't elaborate.
"Why not fight him here?"
"I cannot fight here. Inuyasha will interfere. This is my kill." He said, eyes flickering with intensity.
"Why didn't you and the spectre fight to the death?"
"We could not." With any other person I would have been able to read the real answer in their eyes, but Lord Sesshoumaru's amber orbs which had been so close to boiling over a moment ago were now locked. I had to use my imagination to get to the real answer. Had the spectre left Lord Sesshoumaru for dead? If he had he must have underestimated my Lord.
It struck me suddenly why Lord Sesshoumaru needed to leave. He would be safer. He knew that he wouldn't be able to fight in his condition and that the spectre would arrive soon. I could see the anxiety in his eyes. I stepped aside.
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"Ah-Un!" the oni appeared moment later out of the thick forest behind the hut. I saw Lord Sesshoumaru stagger slightly as he walked towards me and his hand flew to his chest. I winced. He was much too weak to travel, but what choice did we have?
"Lord Sesshoumaru, please ride Ah-Un?" I said, taking his arm. He nodded, gently removing his arm from my hands.
I turned my head back towards the hut where a familiar figure was making her way to the hut. "Sango!" I waved her over to where we were. She ran over to us, grass swishing over her feet.
"You're leaving, good." She said, "I was just coming over to inform you of the...evacuation."
"Where are the others?" I asked.
"Kagome's gone home and Inuyasha has gone to fight the beast," Anxiety registered all over the demon slayer's face. "Miroku is still helping people leave. We're going east of here." She said. "I would have gone to fight with Inuyasha but the villagers need me."
I hoped that Lord Sesshoumaru hadn't heard her words. But he was staring over at us with a piercing gaze.
"Damn." I muttered. Now he would want to beat his brother to the battle!
"What is it?" Sango asked. But I just shook my head, not here.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us Rin?" She asked, casting an unsure eye into the forest.
"I wish I could." I sighed, "But my Lord would never want to and I have to stay with him." Sango nodded, pressing her lips together.
"Here then, take this." She extracted a small bottle from the pouch on her belt. "The rest of Kagome's antidote. You may need it." She gave me a small smile. "What about food and such?"
"There are some provisions and blankets in Ah-Un's pack." I said, "We'll make do."
"Yes, I suppose you always do."
"Thank you so much Sango, my Lord would have died without your help. And remember to thank the others for me. And I hope we meet again soon."
Sango took my hand, "I'll always help you Rin. Good luck-with everything." She glanced over at Lord Sesshoumaru who was sitting haughtily astride the oni. "One more thing." She said. She unclipped one of the sheathed daggers that was at her belt and handed it to me. "I've no idea why Sesshoumaru doesn't arm you." She said. "You're a survivor, Rin, you'll be okay." She embraced me quickly.
"Thank you." I whispered, feeling the weight of the weapon in my hands. With one last smile she turned away.
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I thought Lord Sesshoumaru would say something cruel about Sango. Or tell me I didn't need the dagger. But he didn't. I seated myself in front of him, feeling his strong arm close around me and take Ah-Un's reins.
I don't know how long we were flying but land below us blended into a mass of green and brown as the powerful oni surged over the treetops, through the clouds. I could feel Lord Sesshoumaru's body against my back, tensed. His hand was closed so tightly around the reins that his knuckles had taken on a white tinge.
"Where are we going?" I finally asked. I had to yell to be heard over the rise and fall of the wind but I was used to it.
"Farther southeast." The opposite direction of the spectre. He was pretending that he hadn't heard Sango's words about Inuyasha. At least my Lord knew what was best for him-sometimes.
I dropped my eyes, looking down at a small field below us. A few children ran through it and a couple adults were sitting in the shade of a large tree, no doubt watching over the children. A normal, calm day. The villagers down below us weren't running away from an evil, bloodthirsty spectre. One of the children pointed up at us and I waved to her.
"Higher, Ah-Un." Lord Sesshoumaru said irritably. The children faded to tiny specks as the oni soared higher.
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We touched down in a quiet forest clearing, only the rush of a nearby river and the whisper of the wind could be heard. Lord Sesshoumaru nearly collapsed after he dismounted. But his pride allowed him a few more seconds on his feet. He leaned against a tree, sinking into the thick mass of grass and wildflowers. I sat a little bit away from him, leaning against a tree opposite my Lord.
I saw his narrowed eyes glance furtively around, then when he saw nothing but the forest his eyes slid shut.
I hardly ever saw Lord Sesshoumaru sleep, but he had been doing it all to often in these last few days.
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You think you can kill me again? Don't you understand the power of evil?
"Come out and fight bastard!" Inuyasha cried, brandishing Tetsusaiga. The area around him was as silent as ever but it was seeped in a strong evil aura. The scent of the spectre was crashing around him. But he couldn't see it. "Where are you!" He growled, whirling around.
He only sensed the silent presence behind him. He turned and his breath caught. He was face to face with his father. But the face was twisted with malice, fangs bared and blood dripping from the white points. The demon's robes were also stained crimson and his golden eyes glowed with twisted anger.
"Are you going to fight me, half-demon?" The voice was not gentle, it was deep and mocking. "Are you going to kill me?"
"You know I will!" Inuyasha swung his sword. The demon made no counter-attack but instead swerved out of the way easily.
"You may say that, but you'll find it hard to kill your own father! In more ways than one. Your feeble brother certainly did."
"Yeah, well I'm a lot better than Sesshoumaru!"
"You will never have true power, half-demon. At least your brother had cruelty on his side."
"Enough talk!" Inuyasha swung again but the demon side-stepped the blade.
"You make me laugh, to think you could defeat your father and the great Ryokotsusei combined?" The demon drew an unfamiliar blade.
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Thanks for reading -