Spring was Rin's favorite season. She loved picking flowers, all of their bright colors and wonderful scents never ceased to bring her joy. After the long barren months of winter, the world woke up and became beautiful again, as if it were some sort of magic spell. Each year she awaited the buds, knowing that the dark and cold would never last. No matter what, the bright flowers would always come.
Even now, amidst the dark lifeless forest with clouds of miasma creeping through the underbrush, she believed that the flowers would appear.
The others were worried, she could see it on their faces. Kagome and Miroku walked close to Sango, one hand always on their weapons, and they refused to let the slayer walk, insisting that she sit atop Kirara with Risu. Inuyasha ran ahead of the group, scouting the area ahead and coming back to them every five minutes, twitching and growling as he went. Even Lord Sesshomaru seemed agitated, his eyes narrowed and looking around, while he guarded the rear of the group.
Only one member of their group seemed entirely unbothered.
"Onee-san!" Futeki squealed, "Le' go! Iunna walk wi' Papa!" the little hanyou squirmed in her grasp, but luckily he didn't use his full strength and Rin was able to keep him from escaping.
"I'm sorry Futeki," Rin said, adjusting her grip, "But Lord Sesshomaru wants us to stay near Kagome and Sango…" Neither Rin nor Futeki had any fighting abilities, the best way to keep them safe was to have them with the center of the group where they could be protected. Futeki was too young to understand though, he didn't seem to sense the danger and every time Rin set him down he ran off to sniff bushes or trees or anything he could see.
Up until yesterday the forest looked normal, but all at once it was plunged into darkness and there were hordes of demons around almost every tree. Inuyasha had said that Naraku was doing this to slow them down; Rin could not let Futeki wander off now.
"Bu' iunna walk!" the boy pouted and continued to squirm. He had been taught not to use his claws or teeth on humans, especially not his adoptive sister, but that didn't keep him from throwing a tantrum.
"Here," Kagome fell back and walked next to Rin, "Let me take him for a moment, I'm sure you want a break." Rin graciously accepted and handed the hanyou to the miko. Futeki continued to struggle and growled softly.
"Hey there, it's time to settle down," Kagome gently scolded the boy, "If you don't learn to control yourself I may need to make a subjugation-rosary, just for you." Up ahead Inuyasha's ears twitched and he glanced back in horror while somewhere behind Sesshomaru 'hmph'd' and flexed his claws, but Kagome only giggled while Futeki blinked in confusion.
"I don't think Kohana would like if you did that," Rin commented.
"No," Kagome shook her head, "Probably not. But she's never needed a rosary to make someone listen to her, her stubborn will is enough to send someone to the ground." Rin smiled and Miroku chuckled softly at the miko's joke about their friend, but a booming snarl in the distance cut off any chance of lightening the mood, and the group grew solemn again.
Rin glanced out into the shadows and dark mist. Figures crept around in the distance, and the tree branches stood still. There was no bird-song or chirping of bugs, only howls, strange clicking and the sound of their own footsteps. She shivered.
Was Kohaku alone in this?
Kagome could sense his jewel shard, that's how they'd been tracking him for the past few weeks, and not long ago she'd told them that they were close to finding him. Naraku must be close to Kohaku too, otherwise he wouldn't have attacked the forest and sent demons out here do delay them.
I hope he's ok, the young girl thought. She was thankful to have Lord Sesshomaru, Kagome and Inuyasha and the rest here with her. She hated to think that Kohaku would have to be out here fighting for his life alone. He must be lonely and scared, the kind young boy who was her friend didn't deserve that.
We'll find him she thought, he'll be safe again with us, and then we can go find Kohana and Ronuku.
They continued walking for a while when Inuyasha suddenly stopped. Growling, he unsheathed the Tetsusaiga, Sesshomaru already wielding his Bakusaiga.
"Get back!" The hanyou yelled to his companions as a horde of demons descended upon them from above. He immediately leapt in and began hacking at them.
"Sorry Rin, you have to take him back," Kagome said as she returned Futeki to the little girl and grabbed her bow. She shoved the children next to Kirara and took a defensive position next to her, firing arrows at their attackers.
They'd been through this several times that day alone, the first couple of hordes being immediately wiped out by Sesshomaru's Bakusaiga, but each horde seemed to change its tactics from the last. This one descended the entire group at once, taking the fight to close quarters of every member of the group. The Inu-Daiyoukai could not destroy all of the demons at once without risking harm to the others, and was forced to take out several bits of the horde at a time.
Kagome used her arrows to purify any that got too close, while Miroku used his sutras and staff to cover the other side. When several leapt at Kirara from the front, Sango swung her Hiraikotsu in an arc and took them out before they reached the cat. Kirara flattened her ears and glanced at her mistress, then immediately snarled and swatted demons away with her claws.
"Sango," Miroku called out between attacks, "You musn't fight right now!"
"I'm fine," the slayer yelled back, swinging her Hiraikotsu again, "I can handle this much!"
Rin held Futeki and ducked behind Kirara. She was scared, the demons screeched and howled, their claws and fangs flashed as they flew by. She flinched whenever any flew directly towards her, but Kagome and Miroku managed to keep them at bay.
Futeki's tail was tucked under himself and he whimpered, but whenever any demon flew too close he flashed his little fangs and growled. Rin held him tight.
The clearing was darkened by the writhing mass, but when Rin looked up she noticed a dark cloud descending upon the group.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha snarled, "He's filling the area with miasma!" He turned back to the group, "You guys need to run! Get out of here!"
"What about Kohaku's trail?!" Sango yelled, "We'll lose it!"
"Just go!" Inuyasha swung his sword again, slicing through several demons.
Kagome nudged Rin and the girl quickly hauled herself onto Kirara's back.
"Kagome," Sango pleaded with the miko, "Can you sense him right now?! Which direction?"
"I can't tell, I can sense him in this forest, but I'm not sure which way."
"Quit yapping and go!" Inuyasha roared. Kirara swept her claws at another demon as Kagome mounted the cat as well. Unable to take any more passengers the cat took off, Miroku racing alongside them. Several of the demons took pursuit, Kagome continued to fire her arrows. Behind them, Sesshomaru was able to use his Bakusaiga's attack and wipe out all that remained of the original horde, but were quickly replaced with those flooding in through the miasma cloud.
Kirara gained speed, but tried not to outpace Miroku. The monk was having little trouble keeping up, though he slowed when he had to deflect an oncoming demon attack.
Sango's eyes desperately scanned the forest, but the attacking demons and miasma clouded any sign or trail of her brother. Her fear and grief showed on her face.
There was a low rumble, and before any of them saw what was happening, a giant serpent-like demon burst from the ground and head-butted Kirara's belly. Her passengers were flung into the air, scattering them amongst the trees. As they screamed, the cat looked horror-stricken and bolted after Sango before she hit the ground.
Rin hit the ground next to a tree and skidded into its roots. She yelped as the dirt and bark tore her arms and legs, and from the sting she knew she was cut. Standing quickly, she felt a tremor of fear when she stood and saw no one.
"Kagome? Sango?!" She was met only with the snarls and wails of the battling demons. Panic flooded when she realized the little white-haired toddler was nowhere either.
"Futeki?!" She yelled, but was not answered. She continued to call out his name as she took off in search of her little hanyou brother.
Futeki can't be alone! I have to find him, she thought desperately, if I don't Naraku's demons will-
Her thoughts were interrupted by a snarl, and when she glanced back she saw two blood-drenched demons staring at her with hunger and delight.
Rin screamed.
She sprinted through the bushes, thorns tearing at her already bruised limbs. Her lungs burned, but she could hear the demons in pursuit, closing in on her with every second. Tears streaming, she leapt over a dead tree but stumbled as she crossed it. Her leg twisted in pain, and she fell to the ground.
Her heart raced like a caged bird, and she shook as she tried to scramble up.
I don't want to die again!
The monsters howled in victory as they raced to end her, and Rin braced herself. The demons suddenly wailed in pain, and the little girl looked up to see a whip of light crack across the faces of her attackers. In the blink of an eye, Sesshomaru leapt forward and tore them apart with his claws, deeming the vermin unworthy of death by his sword.
"Lord Sesshomaru," Rin cried, relief flooding as her savior once again protected her.
"Rin," he said, helping the girl to her feet and assessing her injuries, "Can you stand?" She nodded.
"Lord Sesshomaru, Futeki is missing!" She blurted out, panic returning, "I lost him when the demon attacked Kirara! I can't find him anywhere!"
The daiyoukai's eyes narrowed, and with the briefest of nods he picked Rin up and dashed off into the forest. Trees, shrubs, and demons flew by so quickly that she could barely tell what they were. In what seemed like only a few heartbeats, Sesshomaru came to a stop at the edge of a clearing.
A mass of demons and tentacles writhed in the center, something beneath them emitting a high-pitched snarl. Wasting no time Sesshomaru set the girl down and began tearing the mass of demons apart. The mass ignored him, focused on their prey beneath, but they were shredded effortlessly. The daiyoukai tore through them and quickly revealed what lay at their core.
White tail fluffed out in anger, Futeki stood over something defensively and bared his fangs. The toddler bled as he struggled with a tentacle that wrapped around his throat and grasped at his head. Claws ripping at his attacker, the child showed no fear and his amber eyes faintly glowed red.
Sesshomaru's own snarl drowned out the boy's and his claws severed the tentacle. Sensing defeat, what was left of the mass ripped away from the child, ripping out a chunk of his hair as it fled. Futeki, possessed by other-worldly rage took off in pursuit, but was lifted by his father.
Rin stared in shock as the child howled and trembled, intent on pursuit and unware of his surroundings. Sesshomaru lifted his son and stared him directly in the eye.
"Futeki," he said quietly, "Cease this behavior at once." His voice seemed to reach the boy as Futeki's snarling quieted and he slowly quit trembling. Blinking, the red faded from his eyes and they returned to their usual golden shade. He stared at his father, a wave of fear crossing his face.
"Papa!" He suddenly cried out. Sobbing, he flung himself at Sesshomaru's shoulder, and the daiyoukai silently held the child.
Futeki Rin thought, Was…was he becoming a demon? The girl remembered hearing of Inuyasha's transformation into his demon form when he was unarmed and cornered, could the same thing happen to the little boy?
Before she could ask, a voice called out and Kirara entered the clearing, Sango and Risu safely atop her back. Inuyasha appeared, carrying Kagome on his back, and Miroku appeared a moment later. Except for Sango, all bore light wounds, but none any worse than what Rin suffered.
"We're all here!" Kagome called out in relief as Inuyasha set her down, "Is everyone ok?" She glanced worried at Rin and the sobbing Futeki who now had a bald spot on the side of his head.
As Sesshomaru informed them of their situation, Rin glanced back at the clearing. She spotted a small object, the thing Futeki had been guarding when they arrived. Curiously she walked up to it and picked it up. It was a hard yellow disc, almost like bone, indented on one side so that it was bent. Rin held it up and she realized that it fit over her shoulder.
A shoulder pad…kind of like armor….just like…Kohaku's armor!
"Kohaku!" Rin gasped, "He was here!"
"What?" Sango called out in surprise. Inuyasha leapt to Rin's side and took the shoulder-pad, before sniffing it.
"He was here all right," Inuyasha grunted, sniffing the area, "And by the smell of it less than a day ago."
"We found his trail again!" Kagome cried, as Sango looked hopeful.
We've almost found him! Rin thought happily.
"Right," Inuyasha nodded, "We're close now. Let's go."