Heres the next chapter, enjoy!
The two made their way quickly down the hallway, stopping at every intersection to check for danger, Sesshomaru silently killing every demon in their pathway. Luckily Sesshomaru had an excellent memory, and remembered where the exit was, it was getting Rin there safely that was the problem. He did not even care about his swords at the moment, he would track them down later after Rin was safe. They finally reached the large open part of the cave. Sesshomaru peered out, it was empty, quiet, too quiet. He could sence life and subtle movement, but saw nothing. It was a trap, it had to be, but even so, he could see the entrance of the cave, just on the other side of the clearing. He was going to have to chance it, Rin was with him now, he would protect her.
"Rin." Sesshomaru kept his voice low, almost a whisper.
"I believe we are walking into an ambush, stay close to me."
Rin nodded, and held tight onto his sash. Preparing for the inevitable, they made their way out into the open. They didn't make it even 15 steps when he saw them, figures surrounded them in the shadows, just like before. He wouldn't let himself be cornered this time, wrapping his arm around Rins waist, he made a flying dash for the exit. He came to a dead stop as a giant snake came into view from the darkness, it darted in between him and the exit. He set Rin down behind him, and rose his dagger at the ready,
when a familiar laugh echoed throughout the cave. He growled low as Doku lept down from the snake, Tenseiga and Bakusaiga both by his side. Impossible!
"You certainly are full of surprises, Sesshomaru. Your time with Rin was meant to break your will, not let you escape. No matter."
Snake demons emerged from the shadows around them, Sesshomaru held Rin close, and readied his dagger. Doku just laughed again.
"Really Sesshomaru? A Dagger? A demon slayer one at that! I certainly wasn't expecting this! At least I know how you managed to free yourself now. Bravo for surprising me."
Doku clapped while a murmur of chuckles echoed around him, that was it, Sesshomaru had had enough.
"You will die here Doku. And I will take back what is mine."
"Oh? And what are you going to do? Stab me with your little dagger!? Hah!"
"If that is what it takes" Sesshomaru hissed.
Dokus eyes narrowed into slits.
"Fine then, lets see how well you do without your precious swords. Men! Grab the girl!"
Sesshomaru coiled Mokomoko around Rin as the demons circled around them, looking for their chance to grab her. Normally he would wipe them out in an instant, but if he slipped up even once while lashing out, they could grab her, there were simply to many of them. His instincts took over, and he focused his yokai to his fingers to form his poison whip, but instead, his yokai rushed from his fingers, to the dagger he was holding. The dagger began to glow a bright green and poisonous lightning sparked from the blade. Interesting. He held the dagger above his head, and before the demons could retreat, lightning rushed form the blade and flew out in all directions. What demons were not ripped in half by the force of the lightning, fizzled and melted away from the poison, only Doku and the giant snake remained alive. What Sesshomaru did not expect, was for Doku to laugh.
"Oh very impressive! A blade made from thunder demon bones! How did you manage that? I think i'll be taking that dagger from you too! But first."
Doku pulled Tenseiga from its sheath, and Sesshomarus eyes widened.
"Lets see how you deal with round two!"
Doku raised the sword high to revive his fallen soldiers, and as it began to glow a soft blue Sesshomarus anger spiked, no, Sesshomaru would never allow him to use Tenseiga! Before he could bring the blade down to the cut demons of the otherworld, Sesshomaru flung his dagger at Doku. The dagger flew straight and fast, piercing Dokus wrist. Doku cried out in pain and dropped Tenseiga.
"Damn you!"
Sesshomaru saw his chance and lept towards Doku, slashing downward with his claws, Doku lept back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Swiftly Sesshomaru grabbed Tenseiga and flung it back to Rin, landing it inches away from her.
"Rin, grab Tenseiga, erect its barrier."
Rin did as she was told and grabbed the hilt of the blade, instantly, a barrier surrounded her. Good, she was safe, now he can focus all his attention on this vile snake demon. Sesshomarus pupils narrowed into slits and his eyes bleed red. Doku glared right back at the demon lord. Grabbing the daggers hilt, he removed it from his wrist, leaving a gaping hole in its place. He scoffed and tossed the dagger aside, in favor of his second blade. With a sinister grin, he grabbed the hilt of Bakusaiga, and drew the blade. Sesshomaru took a cautious step back. How? How was he holding Bakusaiga? The blade made it very clear earlier that it was not to be wielded by anyone but its master. It was then he noticed the red colored beads wrapped around the hilt.
"So thats how you wield my blade, you suppressed its yokai. But with no yokai, it is just that, a blade."
Doku grinned.
"Not as much a blade as you think!"
Doku swung the blade at Sesshomaru, and a spark of Bakusaigas yokai rushed towards him, he barely had time to dodge it. The blast as strong as it was, was also pitiful coming from his Bakusaiga, not even a fraction of its power. Still dangerous though, if he were to be hit by even that small a blast, he was finished. Doku laughed maniacally as he rushed Sesshomaru, swinging the blade, as blast after blast burst from Bakusaiga, Sesshomaru narrowly avoiding each blast. Doku glared, Sesshomaru was just to fast for this plan, time for a new one. Sesshomaru saw Dokus eyes dart over to Rin and he grinned.
"Lets see whats stronger, Tenseigas barrier, or Bakusaigas yokai!"
Doku unleashed another blast form the sword, and Sesshomaru watched helplessly as it struck the barrier protecting Rin. No! It seemed like forever for the dust to clear, but once it did he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. The barrier still stood, and Rin was still ok.
"Got you."
Strong coils wrapped themselves around Sesshomaru before he could react, pinning his legs together, and his arms to his side. The giant snake hissed out a laugh as it squeezed him harder. Sesshomaru inwardly cursed, Doku never intended to break Rins barrier, he intended to distract him. Sesshomaru began to struggle, he tried to pull his arms free to no avail, he flexed his claws best he could but the snakes skin did not cut, he seeped poison from his claws but the snake did not melt away.
"What?..."
Doku laughed, as he began to slowly walk towards the struggling demon lord.
"By the way Sesshomaru, have you met my pet? His name is Hissaki, and his scales are infused with obsidian. One of the few things on this earth your claws cannot cut through, nor can your poison destroy."
Sesshomarus body froze as he felt Bakusaigas blade press against his throat, the blades yokai tingling against his skin, this close to him, he could feel his blade hum in protest, Bakusaiga was fighting Doku just as much as he was. Doku chuckled.
"So the question remains, Sesshomaru. Do I kill you now, or do I make you watch as I kill your little human? That barrier of yours is of no consequence to me."
A cold shiver went down his spine at Dokus threat, slumping his shoulders, he did something he had never done before, he bared his neck in surrender.
"Doku, do not hurt her. Please."
Doku grinned.
"She really has made you soft, hasn't she?"
"You have me Doku, you've won, you have no need for her any longer."
He watched as Doku held his head high in triumph, a shit eating grin across his face. Doku leaned in closer to Sesshomaru, their faces inches apart, he pressed the blade closer to his neck.
"Say it again, Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru stared wide eyed, into Dokus deep red ones, before finally breaking eye contact, lowering his gaze.
"I admit defeat Doku...you've won."
"...Hah...HahahahHAHAHAHAHA!"
Doku threw his head back in crazed laughter. There at his mercy, the great demon lord of the west had admitted defeat, to him! Sesshomaru felt his pride sizzle into nothing, Doku had actually bested him, planned ahead of his every move, he had a snake made out of obsidian for fucks sake. The ONE thing he can't destroy! He would normally never submit to an enemy like this, but he would do anything to keep Rin safe, even if it cost him his pride. Doku leaned back forwards to Sesshomaru, his grin still on his face.
"You know, I like this feeling, maybe I'll keep you and your girl alive after all, I have more of those restraint beads, maybe i'll keep you like this, under my command, at MY mercy."
Dokus voice was dark, his eyes had a crazed look to them. He felt the blade pressed closer to his neck, a sharp pain where it pressed, he winced, the blade had cut into his skin.
"Then again, I REALLY want to kill you."
He felt Doku grab the back of his head, a fistful of hair, and yank his head backwards, exposing more of his neck.
"What to do...what to do. Oh I know, maybe I'll have you beg for your life next, Ooooh that sounds like fun."
"Get away from him!"
Dokus whole body arched up as he screamed in pain, dropping Bakusaiga to the ground. Rins voice caused Sesshomaru to jerk his heard towards her, gods please tell me she didn't leave the barrier! But there she was, behind Doku, her hands still gripping the dagger she had plunged into his side. Doku slowly turned his gaze to Rin, glaring down to her with a look that could kill.
"You...INSOLENT girl!" He hissed.
In one fell swoop he brought his hand up and smacked Rin across the face with a deafening slap, she fell to the ground.
"Rin!"
Doku grabbed the dagger and pulled it out of his side, tossing it to the ground. Sesshomaru began to struggle to free himself again as Doku growled and stalked towards the girl.
"I was thinking about letting you live, girl. But you've just sealed your fate. I'll make Sesshomaru watch you die, for the final time."
Rin looked up at Doku, her whole body frozen in fear, Doku slowly reached down for Bakusaiga, and Rin, in one last ditch effort, lunged for the blade, and grabbed it, just as Doku did.
"You little..."
In one motion he pulled the hilt away from Rin, out of her grasp, and held the blade high.
"Rin!"
Sesshomaru shouted desperately as Doku began to laugh, his eyes so set on poor Rin, that he failed to notice the yokai beginning to spark and sizzle from Bakusaiga.
"Time to die girl!"
Doku forced a blast of yokai from Bakusaiga, but instead of comming from the blade, it came from the hilt. Doku eyes widened in shock as yokai surrounded him, his eyes fell to Rin again, and his heart caught in this throat. The beads, Rin was gripping the small red beads in her hand. Doku shouted a curse, and tried to throw the sword away, but it was to late. The yokai engulfed him, and in one final scream of agonizing pain, Doku was incinerated. The sword falling to the ground once more. The cave fell silent, then a low growling hiss filled the air. The snake!
"Rin, get awa-aah"
Sesshomaru gasped for air as the snake squeezed its coils around him, he couldn't breathe.
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
The snake whipped its head to face her as she screamed, she held Bakusaiga in her hands.
"You let him go!"
The snake let out a vicious hiss and reared his head up, ready to strike.
"Ri- gaaassp Ru-haa"
Darkness started to tint Sesshomarus vision as the snake squeezed harder, he couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't speak. He saw the snake rear up as his vision began to fail him, he saw a blur strike downwards and then stillness. His vision darkened, and before that darkness took him, he felt a surge of yokai and a blinding bright light...Bakusaiga...
Sesshomaru succumbed to the darkness.