Moonlight Silhouette
for disclaimer, etc. see chapter one.
Chapter Nine
-00-
Violet swirls of energy crackled down the clashing swords. Both of the opponent's faces were feral, teeth bared.
"I killed you!" Inuyasha growled.
"Perhaps that would be enough for you but I do not give up that easily."
"Why'd you go after Sesshoumaru anyway?" Inuyasha grunted as he swerved away from Ryokotsusei's blade.
"He seemed a fair opponent to test my new strength on. But I defeated him in the end." Ryokotsusei smirked.
"That's what you think." Inuyasha swung at the demon and Ryokotsesei blocked him almost lazily. "He's not dead!"
"What?" Ryokotsusei let down his guard momentarily and barely managed to get out of Tetsusiaga's way.
"You didn't kill him!" Inuyasha met his opponent's sword once again.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha," Ryokotsusei said with a cold sneer, "I have to go and kill your brother."
"Keh! I'm a good enough opponent!"
"A half-demon against the great dog demon and Ryokotsusei? I'm wasting my time with you!" A bolt of electricity ricocheted off the demon's sword and sent Inuyasha flying backwards. In a blinding swirl Ryosotsusei transformed into his demon form and bounded off into the trees.
"Coward!" Inuyasha yelled after the white form, "Come back and fight me!"
-00-
Afternoon slowly gave way to balmy twilight when Lord Sesshoumaru's eyes bolted open.
"What is it my Lord?"
Lord Sesshoumaru leapt to his feet. "It is him, his scent..." He said softly. I stood next to him.
"How much longer do we have?" I asked. I knew it would not be long, Lord Sesshoumaru was tense, ready to spring into action.
"Not long. He moves fast." Lord Sesshoumaru's eyes were alert and sparkling. I extracted the antidote that Sango had given me from my pocket.
"Please, take a little bit of this." I said, handing the bottle to him. He eyed it and then took a short sip, handing it back to me. "Thank you." I said softly. He raised his head, scanning the area.
"Rin, leave this place." He said in a hard voice.
"No!" I took his hand, "I won't leave you my Lord." He inexplicably drew me closer to him.
"Rin," He said, very quietly, he seemed to almost be struggling to get the words out. "Rin..without you I would be dead." He looked down at the ground, "Thank you." He almost whispered. I smiled.
"I was just paying off a debt that was long overdue." I said softly. He raised his eyes to mine and I felt the intensity fill the air around us, weighing it down. His eyes looked deeply into mine as if searching for something. His face seemed to move closer to mine, his lips...
A crash came from the trees far behind us. He spun around, pulling his hand away from me. His looked into the trees, eyes widening marginally. "Stay back Rin!" He said and I retreated into the trees up ahead, a little ways off from the clearing.
I gasped as a monstrous white form appeared. It was almost identical to Lord Sesshoumaru's demon form, except this one seemed more wild. He had none of my Lord's serenity that he somehow managed to take with him during his transformation. His eyes were red and brimming with hatred. And he had all of his limbs.
In a swirl of light the demon faded into a tall human. His face still had it's wild quality with feral eyes and a twisted expression. He growled and his mouth twisted into a mocking smirk.
"Ah, Sesshoumaru. I see you survived our last meeting. Now I get the satisfaction of bringing you down again." He laughed and the sound made my stomach jolt. Lord Sesshoumaru was not in any condition to fight such a formidable opponent. I saw his hand fly to his Tokijn.
"Shall we play with our swords first?" the demon's mocking lips curled into a sardonic sneer, "Son."
Lord Sesshoumaru tore his hand away from his sword and in a move of incredible speed, slashed at the demon with his claws. But the demon only laughed sharply and side-stepped the attack. In the blink of an eye the demon counter attacked, swiping at Lord Sesshoumaru. My breath caught as my Lord leapt out of the way just in time.
It seemed as though the two were engaged in a deadly dance. Each would avoid the other's claws with intricate steps. But Lord Sesshoumaru was getting tired. I could see the sheen of sweat on his forehead and his movements were becoming slower, almost clumsier.
Tiring of the combat, Lord Sesshoumaru drew Tokijin. In a flash the enemy drew his sword-a slim, deadly-looking blade. "I quite like this new body of mine." He said.
The swords clashed in a harsh cacophony of metal. Every time the blades met violet sparks shot across them, dancing on the surface.
"Enjoying yourself?" The demon said silkily, pushing my Lord's sword away.
"Bastard." Growled Lord Sesshoumaru, swinging Tokijin again. The demon swung at Lord Sesshoumaru, cutting his arm.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" I cried as he fell back slightly. The demon turned to me, questionning.
"A mortal?" His mouth curled into a smile, "Hmm. Must run in the family eh?" He laughed cruelly in Lord Sesshoumaru's face. I clenched my fists and watched as Sesshoumaru brandished Tokijin once more.
"What enchantments brought you back?" He hissed, breathing heavily, "What enchantments gave to my father's body?"
"There is much you do not know of the netherworlds." The demon said, "But perhaps you can find out?"
Lord Sesshoumaru cracked out his energy whip and, catching the enemy off-guard, slashed at his chest, leaving a shallow gash.
"Fool!" The demon spat, swiping the whip away. I dug my hand into my pocket, closing my fingers around Sango's dagger.
"How dare you!" I cried, unsheathing the dagger and whipping it at him.
"Rin!" Lord Sesshoumaru said, eyes widening.
The demon side-stepped the dagger easily, then glided towards me. He reached out, closing his hand around my throat.
I gasped and choked as he lifted me off the ground. Gurgles escaped from my mouth and I saw Lord Sesshoumaru's eyes become wild, desperate. He aimed a blow at the demon's arm but he simply swerved away. Cruel laughter met my ears as darkness began to eat away at my vision. In a last ditch attempt to free myself I slapped at his hands but he only laughed.
"Let her go!" Sesshoumaru growled with rage and suddenly the demon was pitched forward onto his knees. I fell into a heap on the ground, coughing and clutching at my throat.
I saw dark blood drip onto the ground. Lord Sesshoumaru had struck the demon's chest. The enemy gasped but quickly got back to his feet leaving me forgotten.
"Smitten, pup?" He growled. He struck out with his sword and Lord Sesshoumaru met it with his Tokijin.
Still gasping for breath I reached out on the blood-slick grass and snatched up the dagger once more. The demon heaved Lord Sesshoumaru's sword away with such force that my Lord was sent flying back onto the ground. The demon spun and faced me.
"Don't play with weapons little girl!" He hissed, twisting the knife from my hands so that the blade cut deep into my palm. He squinted at me when I cried in pain, "You're a pretty mortal. Who are you anyway, his whore?"
Lord Sesshoumaru leapt to his feet, tense. The demon turned to him with a sneer, "Your mother would have been proud." He said in a cold, mocking tone. Lord Sesshoumaru growled with rage;
"You know nothing about my mother!" He yelled in a terrible voice. The swords clashed once more, violet and blue sparks flying in the savage faces of both opponents. My Lord's eyes were burning with fury, he wasn't going to waste any more time.
"You're fighting better now." The demon grunted, "Trying to protect your little whore?"
"You would do well to keep your mouth shut." Lord Sesshoumaru said icily.
"Hmm. Strong silent type?" The demon was panting now and blood was running down from the wound on his chest in dark rivulets.
"I detest those who fight with their mouths." Lord Sesshoumaru brought Tokijin down on the demon's sword arm. He didn't miss. I inhaled sharply and felt my stomach turn as the bloodied limb fell to the grass. The demon howled and fell to his knees. He blindly struck out, cutting into Lord Sesshoumaru's thigh. Blood spilled out from the wound but it didn't seem like a bad cut.
"How..how.." The demon panted, looking down in astonishment at the space where his arm used to be.
"Hn. Not quite so self-assured anymore." Lord Sesshoumaru gave a slight smirk and raised his sword.
-00-
AN: Thanks for reading n.n