When the demon slowed down she closed her eyes again to feign sleep. She heard a door opened, then was roughly dropped on the ground. She struggled not to cry out, but could not prevent a small, painful groan that rumbled in her throat. She was fearful that the demon noticed, but relief washed over her when she heard footsteps fading in the distance. When the door slammed shut, she sighed in relief, but kept her eyes closed.
" Rin? Oh, thank the gods you're alive!" A voice spoke from behind her, and it was familiar, very familiar. Suddenly, she felt herself being picked up by her shoulders and being cradled in someone's arms. At this, she opened her eyes.
" Ka..turu?" She stuttered in disbelief. " Why are you here? And where are we?" She attempted to sit up on her own and release herself from his arms, but when pain struck her sides she decided against it.
" It's master Shiku." Rin froze at the name he spoke. " When I left the other night he came upon me. I didn't even see it coming. Next thing I knew, I was here. I don't know where we are." Rin processed his explanation, but something seemed…wrong. She wasn't sure what, but something didn't seem right about it.
Her eyes narrowed as one thought crossed her mind. " How did he find me? And how did he know about my Lord?"
Katuru stirred slightly. " He must have smelled you on me. Then followed your trail. He could easily sense a powerful demon as well."
Rin ignored her pain as she pushed away from him. She stood abruptly, but regretted the movement and gripped her sides in pain. Katuru moved to help her. " Don't touch me." She spoke to him in a cold tone that he had never heard from her before, causing him to halt in slight fear.
" What's wrong Rin?" He tried to find her eyes for an explanation, but she was hunched slightly in pain and her eyes were shut tight. She suddenly glared at him, her eyes filled with anger and disgust, causing him to lean backwards away from her.
" What did you tell them?" She more demanded than asked the question.
" What do…"
" Don't lie to me!" She cut him off with her shout. Katuru lowered his eyes in shame. " Tell me!"
A silent moment passed. " I, I couldn't stand it anymore Rin. That spell he held over you made you helpless. I couldn't stand what he was doing to you. So last night when I left, I sought out master Shiku. When I found him, I told him I knew where a jewel shard was. I would only tell him where if he agreed to bring you back. And when I told him he could report it to The Master and take all the credit, he couldn't refuse."
Rin's eyes widened a bit. " You didn't…" She trailed off, not wanting to acknowledge the last part.
" I told him that it was Sesshomaru that had the jewel shard. And that he could use you as bait." The sound of skin slapping against skin bounced off the walls of the small hut. Katuru's face was turned to the side, his cheek burning red. Rin stood panting, her hand raising again to slap him once more. She paused, her breath becoming calm once more, and slowly lowered her arm back to her side. She fell to her knees in front of him.
" Why…" She spoke softly. " Why did you do that, Katuru? You know they are going to take us back underground and make us their slaves again."
Katuru looked up and into her eyes. " I'm so sorry Rin. I, I just couldn't accept that I would never see you again, and that you would be taken by that…demon." He spoke the last word with utter disgust. A single tear escaped his eye, leaving a small wet trail down his face.
Rin reached out and gently brushed the tear away, then cupped his cheek in her palm, stroking it with her thumb. " Katuru. My Lord has cast no spell over me. He has never forced or taken anything from me. I follow him and stay with him on my own free will, and in return he protects and cares for me. He has saved me countless times, and though he may seem cold and harsh, he has always been so gentle with me. So you see Katuru, I follow him not only freely, but because I love him as well." Katuru took in a sharp breath when she spoke the last part. His eyes immediately burned with anger and he grabbed the hand on his cheek roughly into his, causing Rin to wince slightly in pain.
" Have I not protected you as well!" He screamed at her, causing her wince even more at the loud noise in her ears. " Have I not cared for you! Watched over you! Saved you life! I have done all these things as well! So why Rin! Why do you not love me instead of him!" His breath came in short, rough pants. When she did not respond, he scoffed then grinned. " You're so pathetic Rin."
Rin looked up to him at the sound of his harsh words. Her face was stained with several tears. " I'm sorry Katuru." She kept her voice at a whisper. He released her just as roughly as he had grabbed her. He stood and walked to the one window in the hut that was covered with bars, but the outside could still be seen. He looked out of it.
" It doesn't matter anymore." He spoke more calmly now, and she stared curiously at his back.
" What do you mean?"
" Sesshomaru may be strong, but any demon is useless against time. The Master will easily defeat him."
Rin gasped. " No. You're wrong."
Katuru chuckled lightly. " Think about it Rin. I'm sure he had no trouble taking you. I'm sure Sesshomaru stood helpless as you were kidnapped and brought here. I'm sure he's probably even dead by now. " Rin hung her head to where it was hidden in the shadows of her hair, but her sniffling gave away that she was crying. " What? No. Why is he here?" Katuru spoke with shock and Rin looked up quickly. She rushed to the window.
There he was. Sesshomaru. He was walking grace and nobility. His hair flowing gently in the breeze. Rin smiled brightly at the sight. " Lord Sesshomaru!" She shouted with excitement, but could speak nothing more when Katuru quickly clamped his hand over her mouth.
Sesshomaru looked up at the sound of Rin calling out to him. It was still daylight out, and he was well aware he was not supposed to arrive until nighttime, but he never was one to follow by someone else's rules. The sight he saw angered him greatly, but he kept his neutral face. He saw Katuru glaring at him while gripping onto Rin and capturing her mouth with his hand.
Rin struggled to pull away his hand and when she succeeded she lurched forward in a useless attempt to get closer to Sesshomaru, even though there was a wall and a good distance between them. " Lord Sesshomaru! Be careful! It's a trap! Run, mmph." Katuru cut her off when he clamped his hand over her mouth again. By the time Katuru looked back out the window, Sesshomaru was gone. Katuru scanned the area with panic, but couldn't locate him. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a whip and felt a painful burn going up and down his spine. " Ah!" He yelled in pain. Releasing Rin in shock he turned to see what had happened, as did Rin.
Sesshomaru was behind them now, his emerald, poison whip was now receding back into his hand. " Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried out and quickly ran towards him. She was pulled back roughly, halting her movements, and pulled against Katuru, who was now gripping her arms tightly.
" Don't come any closer!" Katuru shouted.
Sesshomaru grinned at him, the simple smile causing a shiver go down Katuru's still burning spine. " Fool." Sesshomaru's whip reappeared and struck one hand, and then another, causing him to release Rin. She ran to Sesshomaru and hid behind his back, peaking around to look over at Katuru.
He stood there, grasping each of his hands in pain. " Rin." His voice was filled with so much sadness that it caused her to fill with sorrow herself. " Why don't you love me Rin." He began to cry and fell to his knees.
" Pathetic." Sesshomaru said carelessly, then turned to exit the hut.
" Katuru…" Rin called quietly. Sesshomaru stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. She began to cautiously walk over to Katuru's crouching for. She knelt before him once more and grabbed his chin with her fingers. She gently lifted his head to hers. " I do love you Katuru." She then placed the most tender kiss upon his forehead. Both Katuru and Sesshomaru's eyes widened. Sesshomaru turned his head and left the hut. Rin went to follow him, but Katuru grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
" Don't leave me. Please." He begged while pulling her into his chest. She hugged him back for a moment, then gently pushed away and stood. " I will always love you." Another tear fell from her eye. She turned and slowly walked out of the hut, leaving Katuru crouched on the floor.
When she arrived outside, she closed the door behind her, then saw Sesshomaru ahead of her standing with his back to her. There was only silence. A gently wind flew past them, and Sesshomaru's hair followed with it's flow. She lowered her head " I…" She started to talk, but couldn't find the words.
" If you wish to stay with him, you may." He spoke for her. She looked up to him. A small smile grew on her face. She walked to him, then around to stand in front of him.
She cupped his face in her hands. He remained still, but his eyes captured hers. " I will always stay with you…my Lord." She began to lift herself closer to him, bringing her warm lips mere inches from his cold one's.
Suddenly, he pushed her away and behind his back. She was filled with painful rejection until he drew his sword, signaling someone else's presence. A low chuckle sounded around them.
" You're early Sesshomaru."