Upside down
Battle raged around her as Rin dashed about the village, trying to find anyone with authority. Youkai of various kinds snarled and growled around her. Despite the chaos, it looked as though the villagers had it under control. It was comforting to see nothing but snake bodies lying in the streets.
"Evacuate the young! Shiro-san, take the guards to the west; more are approaching!" A tall inu youkai shouted orders to another soldier. He wore a brown pelt across chest and his tail swished behind him. His long dark hair was pulled high into a knot. He wore sturdy armor, and a flowered crest adorned his clothing. He was a one of Sesshoumaru's soldiers.
Rin stepped in front of him, garnering his attention. His unnatural yellow eyes sharpened and focused on her.
"A human eh? Is this what's next?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Are you in charge here? What's going on?" Rin asked, her face grim.
The youkai made a show of taking a deep breath, as to smell her. Rin knew that he had smelled her long before she showed herself.
"You are of Sesshoumaru-sama's pack. I am honored. I am Saburou the village chief. Is our Lord on his way?"
"He will be, but not for this battle. We have been following the snake's trail, and unfortunately this is not the first village to be attacked."
"Hm, we have heard. The village to the south of us, escaped to warn us of their approach. Together, we will make a stand."
Rin nodded. "Where can I help?"
The chief stared hard at the small human woman before him. He had heard rumors of the child that had once followed his Lord around, but he had never seen her before? What help would a mere human be in a war against youkai? Perhaps his Lord had sent her here, and it would anger him to deny her.
He turned to the left, motioning for her. "Follow me; the west end is losing its ground."
Rin ran to keep up with Saburou as he hurried through the village. People were shouting and screaming. Children were grabbed up and carried off to safety. This was the chaos they were expecting to see at the other abandoned towns, yet it had been too late for them.
After running down alleyways and between buildings, they appeared in a large clearing filled with fighting. Youkai of varying differences were working together to drive back dozens of snake demons.
A lone youkai stood in the middle of the fray. His skin was golden copper, and his eyes were narrowed into diamond slits. He did not have the same body as the rest of the snakes. He looked human in appearance, instead of his lower half being a long snake tail. He remained motionless as soldiers clashed swords around him. His forked tongue flicked out into the night air.
"Finally! Someone of that dog's has decided to appear! I cannot express to you how disappointed and infuriated I am that it is a human that stands before me on this battle field!" The youkai bellowed. The fighting stopped abruptly. The snakes stopped and stepped back toward their leader. The villagers regrouped together near their chief.
Saburou stepped forward, but Rin grabbed a hold of his arm. "Wait. He is not a normal snake youkai."
The chief looked back at her. "What?"
"Come here, little girl. I wish to show that dog my appreciation." The youkai drawled. The snakes parted, allowing their leader to walk through.
"He's a Naga." Rin said, gripping her sword.
Saburou refused to give the strange youkai a moment to attack. He leaped into the air, and came down, sword swinging.
The youkai threw up his arm and caught the blade full on. The sword dug into the naga's skin.
Saburou's eyes widened, shocked. The naga's free arm reeled back and he stabbed his hand through the chief's chest.
Blood spewed from his mouth.
The naga smirked, and tossed the inu youkai off his arm. The villagers cried out and ran to help him. The general watched with amusement as the pitiful youkai dragged their chief back to safety. A glimmer of light caught his eye.
The naga looked down. "What!?"
Rin crouched at his feet, and launched herself upward. She stepped on his chest on her way into the air. He snarled and yanked on her ankle, catching her in the air. Rin twisted around and slashed her sword across the arm that Saburou had cut, slicing all the way through the injured arm, severing it.
She fell and rolled away. The naga screamed, holding his bleeding stump.
The snakes hissed their displeasure at their leader's weakness. She looked around her as they began to advance on her.
"No! She is mine to kill!" The naga roared, pushing the other's away from him.
His youki exploded around him, sending debris and other youkai flying. Rin lifted her arm up to protect her face.
In the dark, rose an enormous cobra. Its hooded head rose ten feet into the air.
The ground was swept out from under her legs. She hit the dirt fast, knocking the breath out of her. Something wrapped itself around her ankle and was dragging her to the massive naga. Rin rolled and waved her sword around; trying in vain to cut off what had a grip on her.
Her stomach dropped as she was suddenly in the air and upside down. The world spun, and her chest heaved in panic.
"Sso tiny... Doess he not think uss a threat?" The giant cobra asked.
She could only see his red eyes, and gleaming fangs. If only she could sit up enough, she might be able to slice through him. Or maybe he would just eat her before she was able to save herself.
"What is your name, naga? So that when I have taken your head, all will know that it was I who killed you." Rin yelled dangling by one foot.
The naga hissed. "Arrogant human! I will tell you sso that your last breath will be sspent ssaying my name." His terrifying face loomed in close to hers. She could smell his putrid, poisonous breath. "My name isss Kaliya."
Her world was suddenly upright, when she felt the end of his tail start to coil around her body.
"Stop! Do not kill that girl! She is Sesshoumaru's ward! You will bring his wrath down on all of us!" Saburou cried out from the crowd below. The poor chief was held up by two others, and how he was still alive was beyond her. She turned her attention to the skies for any sign of Kohaku. There was he? Hopefully he had not been foolish enough to join in the attack.
"That is precisssely why I want to kill her!" Kaliya sneered.
Her world tipped over again. Wind rushed by her, before she was forcefully slammed to the ground.
Rin saw nothing, but blackness for a moment. Every sense was blanketed in pain. When she opened her eyes again, the world was upright. It was safe to assume that she had broken some ribs if not more bones. Breathing was now difficult. Her sword was long gone.
She spit blood. "You asshole."
The coil tightened around her thighs, then her hips, and mid-section. Rin brought her forearms tight against her chest, before he wrapped around her chest.
Tears leaked from her eyes, but fury burned in them. She couldn't breathe. Her chest hurt so much, she knew she must be dying. Just a little more...
She gasped for air.
"What wasss that? Are you trying to ssay my name? So sssweet." He mocked. His body squeezed her tighter.
The spring action mechanism in her arm guards popped open, releasing the four sharp blades on each arm. She pushed her arms away from her body, slicing into him.
He hissed and reared back. White hot pain tore through him. Rin pulled her arms up and burst out of his hold, taking chunks of him with her. She pulled her legs free, then jumped down to the ground, wobbling trying to stay upright. Her arms trembled as she held up her bladed guards to defend herself.
The snake soldiers cried out with shock before racing to destroy the human who dared injure their general.
A large scythe swept through them, cutting them in half as it circled around. Blood sprayed as bodies fell dead to the ground.
Kohaku caught his weapon as it came back to him. "Rin!" He screamed.
The remaining snake soldiers stopped to stare at horror at Kohaku sailing through the air on a dragon.
"Taijiya!" They pointed and screamed. The villagers had won. There was no way they could win with a slayer against them.
Kaliya was still alive, but momentarily stunned. Large portions along his body had been cut out due to her escaping. He was too damaged to hold his form any longer.
Youki blasted outward sending dirt into the air, returning him to his more human-like state. When the dust cleared, Kaliya fell to his knees. Blood poured from the gaping holes left by Rin.
"I will kill you! Tell that dog that we are coming for him!" He roared. His chest spasmed and he coughed blood into his hand. His eyes widened. How could this have happened? A foot soldier snake appeared to his left and helped him stand. "Call a retreat. There will be time for this later." Kaliya ordered.
Rin ambled over to the lifeless arm, and picked it up.
"Bitch!" Kaliya screamed at her.
"This is mine now!" She shouted at him. "Next it will be your head!"
The snakes approached her as if to steal the arm back, but they stopped the moment Kohaku raised his arm to throw his weapon.
Kaliya roared. "I will destroy you!"
Soldiers surrounded him, and pulled him back into the dark of night.
Rin watched in disbelief as the snakes vanished. Her arms dropped to her sides, shaking with exhaustion. She stared at the disgusting arm. Was it over?
Kohaku jumped down from Ah-Un and ran to Rin's staggering form.
"Rin!"
His heart nearly burst from relief. He had arrived just in time to see her claw her way out of the giant snake's hold. He understood now why her arm guards were so thick. He still thought they were ugly, though.
She turned her head to see him approach. "Kohaku? Are you alright?"
Kohaku laughed. Her face was becoming purple and swollen, and already she couldn't see out of one eye. Blood dripped down her face, and her bottom lip had been busted. He would not be surprised if she had some broken bones. Yet despite her injuries, she was concerned for him?
He put his hands on each side of her face. She was alive. Her eye shined bright amongst the dark red blood on her face. She fought for her life and lived. She was strong, fierce, loyal, smart, caring...
Kohaku didn't think twice, and leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against hers. The surprised look on her face melted and she closed her eye. She tasted of copper, and he couldn't remember the last time he had felt so happy.
Her hand had came up to grasp his sleeve.
"K..Kohaku?" she asked once he pulled away.
Even while covered in blood, snake gore, and holding a severed arm, he found her beautiful.
He wrapped his arms around her, resting his head down on hers.
"I am so glad you are alive." He whispered.
She groaned. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and she could feel the pain in her chest. A few ribs were broken. She had been lucky that she had not broken her arms or neck.
Kohaku pulled back and held her at arm's length.
Rin furrowed her eyebrows, and looked indignant.
"You're just happy now that Sesshoumaru-sama won't have to kill you for letting me die." Rin quipped.
Kohaku smirked. "You bet."
She tried to smile, but her split lip hurt too much. She dropped the dead arm and brought her hand came up to hold her head. Her vision was starting to become blurry. She stared hard at his shoulder, trying to focus. Why was it red? Using one arm to hold her side, she poked at his shoulder with the another. Her finger tips came away red. His clothing was saturated with blood!
She jabbed him in the chest. "You broke your stitches!"
"I'm sorry, I..."
She stood on her tip toes and kissed him. Kohaku closed his eyes and sank into her kiss.
"Thank you." She whispered against him.
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Author's note: Yup a long chapter. This was supposed to be split up, but I decided against it. The next few chapters will focus on the Fox wedding! Thank you for all the reviews!