I Do Not Own InuYasha
Unmei no Akai Ito
運命の赤い糸
The red string or red string of fate.
...
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance
I: 5
Year 1573...
Somewhere outside of Sannohe Castle...
Rin reluctantly opened her eyes, panic seizing her as she felt her lord's emotions flood the bond, fully waking her as his worry, his rage, his desperation pulsed into her mind. But her own panic didn't dampen at the sight of where she was. She was with humans! The terror that laced through her had drawing on his reserve of calm as Rin slowly got up, the melon she had been stealing was right beside her, which had her noticing the boy.
The boy was a little older than she, she didn't like how quiet he was, he hadn't even moved, or looked at her, and every instinct and encounter with humans raced through her mind. He reminded her of her eldest brother who had been about his age, still, she was uneasy, she had been beaten up by boys his age, they were very strong. Standing she darted for the door, when the boy finally looked at her.
"No! You Can't Go Outside!" he stated.
"I have to get back," she stated flatly, she would go back to her lord, now, he would be furious if she was not there. Throwing open the doors she was startled at the sight of so many ferocious yōkai, which all turned when she had opened the door, and the hunger almost tangible. Then again... slamming the doors shut on them she frowned. That was a bad idea.
Human or yōkai? She pondered.
She'd chance a single human than a horde of yōkai, her lord would be here for her soon, she could feel it as he waged battle. His mind was so clear and calm now that she was conscious, she could sense it as a relief to him, and his renewed vigor to fight.
"I told you not to go outside," the boy said dully. She glared at him as she clenched her jaw and pursed her lips. "If you do they'll tear you apart."
She didn't like him, she didn't like how calm he was about this, and she did not like that he was a human and he had a weapon by him.
However, he was her eldest brother's age, and she felt she should be nice and friendly, maybe the boy was a prisoner like she! Yes, that was the only reason he was here! Perhaps he had the weapon as a dare; 'escape if you dare'. She had seen human bandits do that with prisoners and women before, allowing them a weapon and the illusion of protection only to shatter it with superior skill. Rin though did not have a weapon, and she did not like that. She never really had a weapon before, but she did have small knives she had used to skin animals and fish, Sesshōmaru-sama had gotten it for her rather graciously over the winter. She didn't have now though.
She didn't like this.
Sighing she surrendered to the fact she'd have to wait for her lord to finish with his battle and to gain favor with her fellow prisoner so perhaps she could persuade him in an escape attempt.
"Who are you?" she asked as she cautiously made her way over to him. She remembered that Kagura yōkai stealing her, and she knew that yōkai was enamored with her lord. Perhaps this was all a poll by Kagura to gain her lord's attentions! If so, that would not end well, at least, Rin did not think it would end well for Kagura.
The boy didn't answer, which was a bit discouraging, but she wasn't going to be dissuaded just yet. She was certain she could get this boy on her side.
"Where you brought here against your will, like I was!? We could run away together!" she offered hopefully. Now the boy looked at her, but there was something wrong with his eyes, they were dull, glassy, like the eyes of the dead.
"My job is to guard you," he replied.
"Oh," she sighed dejectedly. She would have to wait for her lord, he would be here soon. In her experience he was timely about rescuing her, and she was certain that it had something to do with their magic link. "I see."
Sitting down she pondered other ways to get herself out of this predicament, she was certain she could at the very least get herself away from the danger.
"Oh! You didn't tell me your name! You can call me Rin if you want!" she offered. If she could not gain him as her ally to escape then she could attempt to be nice to him, he didn't seem to want to be here anymore than she did. "How old are you? And how come you're a guard here? Does it mean you're a yōkai like the others? Tell me what do you like to eat!? Do you like melons?"
He had a blade which would be perfect for breaking the melon and her stomach was beginning to rumble. Since living with her lord, she had never been hungry, not for a single day or night, her lord saw to her every need! He was a good lord, a good alpha as he seemed to think himself.
"Yeah… I guess…" he replied, looking completely befuddled at her talking to him. She smiled a bit, her mama always said to be nice and respectful and people would return the sentiments. "You sure talk a lot."
He was a dweeb.
"I know," she mumbled into her knees. She had been silent for so long she found comfort in having a voice again and her lord's attention to listen to her, even if she annoyed him like Jaken could. "But I get scared when I'm not talking," she admitted the weakness.
She wondered when her lord was coming for her, she could feel the heat of the battle intensifying, and his irritation at something. She didn't know how long she could stay here; she didn't feel safe! She wanted to go home!
Sesshōmaru moved around his brother's obliterating attacks, could InuYasha not see that was not a wise move!? It did not matter though, Sesshōmaru was just as relentless as his brother as he moved to cut the hanyō spider down, he would restore his name and reputation, he would not be a pet to anyone's personal strife against anyone!
It was a heavy blow his brother landed on the spider that shattered half the palace and half the hanyō's body which had his venom and poison dripping dangerously from his claws and liquifying the air around them. Naraku seemed to be able to sense his coming defeat and moved to treat, keeping his voice haughty and dark as he chuckled about his own defeat. Sesshōmaru just needed one hit! That was all! Then he'd squash that spider like the bug he was! Just as he had Ryūkotsuse and the Panther King! He would annihilate that which threatened what was his!
"Sesshōmaru-sama! I shall withdraw for now," Naraku declared.
Sesshōmaru's inner beast rebelled at the thought of prey escaping, especially this spider who had threatened his mate. He had killed armies for such an offense, he would not tolerate this measly hanyō to do the same without retribution!
"You Fool!" He snarled, feeling his inner yōkai surfacing in their dual fury about the threat on their mate! "Don't ever think you can escape my grasp!"
"Sesshōmaru-sama, rather than transforming and hunting me down shouldn't you be rushing to the side of that young mortal girl?" Naraku cackled and that ominous statement froze him.
Rin, Naraku had her, he had, her, and Sesshōmaru… swiftly he began to sift through their bond, removing the unnecessary emotions, and thoughts, he looked past her confidence in him and his eyes snapped hers wide open as he was greeted by the sights of her prison. This was the first time he had done this with the pup since taking her under his care, but there'd been many times he and the woman had shared sight and senses to find the other. Rin was munching on the sweet melon, he sensed her uncertainty and her certainty, and he looked at who was with her. A boy, small, young, perhaps a little older than Rin herself, definitely larger and more muscular. Rin sensed she was in danger, but she also didn't have a strategy out, he sent reassurances he was coming and that she should submit to her captor, keep herself alive until he got there.
He informed her to try to glean information about her location for him so he could find her more easily, he could instantly hear her questioning her companion then as the young boy grabbed her forcing her to drop the melon she had been eating as they ran. Sesshōmaru saw the night sky then, and the wide field.
His senses snapped back to now when he heard Naraku's voice again.
"Your companion, Rin, is with the boy, Kohaku," Naraku informed him.
Sesshōmaru scented his brother's trepidation and worry at that statement, which meant there was a threat in the boy, a real on. FUCK! He thought, he'd have to get to Rin, now. The pup was not the woman, she would not be prepared to defend herself.
"InuYasha! Even you should understand the implications!" Naraku taunted.
He could feel the tension in him as his inner beast now turned it's attentions on keeping a link with their mate through the bond. He was scenting the air for the scent of fresh rain, that scent which was so uniquely Rin that he could usually find anywhere. Nightmares and some of his sweetest dreams, were all bound to that scent, he could find it!
He would find it! And he would find her!
"Huh," InuYasha grunted in disbelief at the air clearing, Sesshōmaru's poison killing the miasma now in full fury as the night's air now filled what was once nothing more than toxic fumes. "He's gone!?" InuYasha announced.
Sesshōmaru said nothing, his poison did the work, clearing the air, and he scented it for his mate, sensing her on the move now, he had to find her! He had to find her right now!
"Hey Sesshōmaru!" InuYasha bellowed, which grabbed his attention momentarily as he glanced at his brother and resumed his focus to find Rin. "Did Naraku take somebody as a hostage? A friend of yours' named Rin?"
Rin? Friend? Hardly, she was his life! His heart, his soul, his moon, his stars, his wonder, his joy, his life! Friend was not even remotely close to a word he would use…
"Let go," he whispered to his mate's ear.
"I can't," she moaned as his lips trailed over her pulse and thoat.
"Let go Rin," he growled the order, feeling her shudder beneath him.
"Sesshōmaru!" she screamed, and he snarled in delight at her actions as he felt her fall apart in his arms.
Rin was everything, she was so much more than the world could ever find words to describe a lover, companion, friend, even an empress.
He scented her, his head snapped over to where her scent was on the move, wafting over the air, he ran for her. He could feel her confusion and her terror, he saw the change in her companion as the boy's eyes turned on her with lethal intent. He screamed in her mind for her to run, he was coming, she screamed for him though as something snaked around her ankles and the world was torn from his senses in the bond as she hit the grass. The fury of his beast and himself had them tearing through a mountain and the forest, scenting InuYasha's pack not far behind him as he went for her.
He landed just as the boy lifted his weapon with deadly intent. The boy though didn't go through with the threat on his Rin's life, no, instead the brat turned on him. His blade raised at the ready and the chain binding him to his weapon.
"Oh? You turn your blade towards me?" he asked quietly. The boy fell into a defensive stance then, and Sesshōmaru threateningly revealed his claws. InuYasha interfered though, sending the brat sprawling on the grass. Now he scented it, the stench of Naraku's poison filling the boy's veins.
The impostor miko informed him that his mate was fine, however he was livid right now.
"You heard her! The girl's fine! So let the boy go!" InuYasha attempted to reason.
"Stay out of this InuYasha," he warned indifferently. He watched the boy gain his feet, and could sense the stench of Naraku's yōkai presence filling the boy. "It is useless to interfere, this boy seems compelled beyond reason to die at my hand."
Which Sesshōmaru was fine with as this was the boy who had dared to threaten his mate, he would take much joy in destroying the threat this boy posed to his mate. The brat moved for his mate and his reaction was faster than it ever had been as he lunged for the boy, catching the throat and lifting the boy into the air away from Rin. His weapon discarded on the ground beside her unconscious form.
Rin's form was limp, and that had him panicking as he glared at the boy, digging his claws a little into the whelp's throat. This puppet would perish if Rin's unconscious state remained as such, he would perish for having harmed what belonged to Sesshōmaru!
He had to figure out how to make this whelp suffer more for harming what belonged with Sesshōmaru. But how? The boy showed no signs of suffering or pain, and his eyes were the eyes of a dead human, a milky film over the brown.
Suddenly Rin's heart rate started speeding up and he could feel her ungracefully awakening, he would have to act fast. Kill the dead boy now or stave off that quest in favor of his mate awakening without seeing him covered in blood. He did not wish to terrify the pup so he decided to drop the boy, for now, when he figured out how to make the boy suffer then he would kill Naraku's puppet, and Naraku as well.
Kagome skidded over the unconscious girl, there was something different about Sesshōmaru right now. This wasn't like her previous encounters, where there was this bitter sorrow about him when he fought InuYasha and her, no, this was unbridled, true, unhampered rage. His yōkai strength was suffocating; and unlike the first time she had encountered him, it was clear he wasn't holding back, it had InuYasha's ears flat against his head as he tried to keep the façade of being in control in place.
There was something about Sesshōmaru right now which struck her as great, this was the warrior, the one everyone seemed to revere and seek to follow. This was who Sesshōmaru actually was, he was not whoever had attacked her and InuYasha, not the petty, whiny teenager she remembered encountering throwing a lethal temper tantrum. No, this was who he was, and he was very dangerous.
She was startled when the girl woke with a low moan of reluctance as her face scrunched up. Kagome noted the many sadistic, purple scars that littered this small girl's exposed skin, including a deep one which looked a perfect, wine colored crescent moon on the nape of her neck similar to the mark on Sesshōmaru's brow.
"Sesshōmaru-sama!" the girl exclaimed with glee, her eyes were bright with happiness Kagome had never seen another creature possess at the mere sight of the monster which was Sesshōmaru. Sesshōmaru though didn't rebuff the girl or scorn or even look at her with disgust, he seemed to be assessing her carefully.
"What happened Kohaku?" the girl asked just as Kohaku ran off.
For the first time Sesshōmaru strung together more than a few mere simple sentences and Kagome was surprised to hear the leader he was for the first time since meeting him. He had mercy, he had compassion, but he also spoke with cold logic. It was startling, he turned and looked at the girl, again.
"Are you well Rin?" he asked her softly, his voice no less cold but there was patience tempered in it as he assessed her.
"Yes my lord!" she giggled as she left Kagome's lap and trotted up to him. Sesshōmaru merely inclined his head before turning to walk towards the forest.
"Goodbye!" Rin called out excitedly as she trotted after Sesshōmaru, seeming to fall in step with him as if it were her natural place. Kagome was too stunned to say anything as she and InuYasha watched the pair walk off and disappear into the shadows.
"That… I thought… I… doesn't he hate humans?" Kagome asked InuYasha when the befuddlement of what she had just witnessed started wearing off.
It was days later when they were sitting at camp, just her, InuYasha and Shippō by the fire when Myōga appeared to talk to them.
"It was really odd," she admitted to the flea as she stroked Shippō's head. The young kitsune was having troubles sleeping since having parted from Sōten.
"And what was the human girl's name?" the flea asked.
"Ran, Rei, Ren… I don't know!" InuYasha declared in frustration.
"Rin," Kagome said softly. "Her name was Rin," she informed Myōga.
"Rin, you say!?" Myōga sounded excited about this information. "Are you certain he called the human Rin!?"
"Yes, Rin, he actually called her by her name," Kagome remembered, he hadn't done that for anyone else, not even his father or InuYasha.
"Praise Kami! I must inform Tōtōsai of the return of our Inu no Taishō" Myōga was so excited about this development that he was lost in his own babblings, leaving her and InuYasha more confused than before. They lost Myōga as he darted off into the night. She merely looked at InuYasha who gave her a blank look of confusion.
"Did you think it was odd?" Kagome asked him softly.
"Who knows with that loser," InuYasha scoffed. Kagome though worried her lip. She had thought Sesshōmaru hated all things human and hanyō related. He always seemed to gaze upon her with the utmost contempt and hatred.
But this time… this had been different. Kagome didn't know how. It just was, and that scared her.
Sesshōmaru hadn't been like before, there was something about him which was clearer, harsher, more decisive, and it was something to fear. She couldn't explain it. But she feared for Rin to remain in his presence, she was just a little girl, who knew what he wanted to do with her!
