(Edited Version)
Sesshomaru stood at the base of the cave. He ceased beating at the barrier. He could feel her calling for him. It was the strangest sensation. It was almost as if the sensation had words. Her voice was practically screaming inside of his head. She was in danger. His eyes darted to the sword, it was shaking in the ground. The white tooth shaped blade vibrated. She's done it. "Awaken Hebisaiga," he called to the sword. Awaken, go to her, save her. He gripped the wall of the cave, he felt his own yoki rising in the sword.
"Sesshomaru move, I'll break the barrier!" Inuyasha ran up behind Sesshomaru. He slid to stop digging his toes into the dirt, leaving claw marks.
Before he could, all eyes moved to the angry golden dog hilt, the sword gleamed green, similar to the light of Bakusaiga. The hilt changed positions, the claws reached into the air as it flew from the ground. It slammed into the barrier causing a lightning storm as the sword fought against the barrier. The ruby eyes of the dog blazed red near blinding.
"Wait," Sesshomaru held his arm up. He could sense it the katana was going to break through the barrier.
"That's Rin-chan's katana!" Sango gasped. She had her Hiraikotsu slung over her shoulder ready to break the barrier. "What is doing?"
Finally, the sword broke through the barrier, in a rush it flew up the tunnel casting a green glow as it did against the brown walls of the castle. Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango and Kagome ran after it.
"Oi, Sesshomaru, what did you do to that sword?" Inuyasha yelled as they ran up the twisting path.
"Do not ask Inuyasha, see the might of Hebisaiga, made from the rubies from my father's grave and smelted from the fang of the great Sesshomaru. She calls the sword, it has awaken," Sesshomaru flew into the air. He didn't need the glow of the sword to find her, her blood was in the air. So was his, in the distance he could hear Kohaku screaming in pain.
"So arrogant," Miroku rolled his eyes as they all ran up the winding path.
"Neh, Inuyasha, why didn't you ever have Totosai make a sword for me!" Kagome scolded him as she ran next to him up the harsh terrain.
"You use a bow," he laughed.
"Where is Sesshomaru-sama?" Sango asked Inuyasha.
"He flew ahead, I can smell Rin's blood. Kohaku is somewhere near the top, he's hurt, or hurting," he glanced back at Sango, "we have to hurry."
Rin felt her hand vibrating, she felt something flying towards it. The bear demon was about to clench down on her neck when she felt the sword in her hand. With the cry of a battle-hardened warrior she swung the sword out of the sheathe at the bear. Out of the sword flew a green light. A whip that lit meters into the corridor. It pierced the hide of the bear demon. It screamed in pain. The blow was not enough to kill it. Instead its' eyes turned red in fury. It howled as its body swelled with height in the cave. During the seconds the whip lit the cave, Rin saw what was before her. The path ended several meters up. High above her, Kohaku was suspended by the arms and legs with thick ropes that glowed magenta. "Kohaku!" She screamed, he was almost out of sight, a purple barrier blocked the way.
Rin's eyes widened, when she took in the sight of the bear Yokai, "I have to stop it before it transforms all the way!" She took the powder from her Haori and threw it at the bears face, the container broke, the bear demon growled in pain. She would have the advantage no matter how big it was. The bear swung blindly at her face, she rolled scraping her knee on the ground. It slammed it's paw down, she jumped out of the way. Rin's hand was shaking with the power of the yoki from the sword. The whip, how did I release the whip? It looked like Sesshomaru-sama's!
She swung the sword again, it vibrated in her hand, sizzling against her skin. It slammed into the cheek of the bear, knocking it over. In anger, it howled. It opened its' mouth and vomited hordes of large brown bears. Not again, not again! I can't fight them both…my strength is your strength. I can do this. She told herself, she raised the sword one more time and swung it with all her might, an even larger whip came out eliminating the first wave of bears. The mother bear spewed more. She jumped on the wall, leapt over the next wave and focused her attention on the growing bear. The bear swung its' arms wildly, the next thing Rin knew was that she was flying through the air, her back crashed against the wall of the other end of the cavern. Pain to flushed through her body, she screamed, then fell. The path was winding, there was no middle, and it ended hundreds of feet below where Rin was falling.
Sesshomaru rushed forward. He could smell the bear, hear it laughing. He did not need to follow the path he could smell Rin's blood. He flew into the air until he felt something tight wrap around his leg, it tugged harder than he expected at first almost pulling him down. A green glow snaked around his ankle and clinging desperately to the hilt of the sword was Rin. He quickly flew back down and wrapped his arms around her waist. The warmth felt familiar, his mouth was pressed into her neck, her scent…he flew back up to the corridor, I've missed her scent, bravery, strength of heart. She's mine. The thought startled him as he landed on the patheway. Carefully Sesshomaru set her down on the path, "Rin, are you alright?"
She held the sword he had gifted her in one hand and her side in the other, "yes." She fell against the wall, leaning on it heavily, pushing away the pain she felt in her back. He caught her before she hit the floor. Sango knelt down by Rin. Kagome rushed ahead at the bears charging them, she sent holy arrow after arrow at them taking them down one by one.
"Sankan Tesou!" Inuyasha yelled leaping into the air and hacking away at the rest of them.
"Rin, are you injured?" Sango helped her stand.
Rin shook her head, "I'm fine," she pushed herself up.
"Oi, Sesshomaru get rid of these pests, Kaze no Kizu will bring the mountain down on us!" Inuyasha clawed at the never ending sea of bears coming at them.
Sesshomaru stood up, he pulled the white handled Bakusaiga from its sheathe, "Bakusaiga!" He yelled. Green energy released like waves of lightening from his katana. The bears sizzled in his power and were reduced to nothing to pieces. He sent another wave at the mother bear, ending her life before she could finish transforming. The cave became dark and dank. The only light emanated from above from the pale magenta ropes that held Kohaku. He immediately looked up towards the barrier.
"Wait Sesshomaru-sama," Rin called him. He turned to her, she looked exhausted, her face was cut and bleeding, so was her arm. Sesshomaru touched his own arm, he could almost feel her pain. "Take me with you," she limped towards him.
"You're injured, stay behind, " he dismissed her turning back towards the barrier above. He hated to admit it, Kohaku still held a soft spot in his heart. For the few weeks the boy traveled in his company and cared for Rin, Sesshomaru still felt a primal need to protect the man that was suspended above, screaming in agony.
She shook her head, "no, take me with you," she grasped his wrist, the cave was too dark for anyone to see her thumb tenderly slide along his skin, "let me finish what I started. Don't shame me by asking me stay back. Please, I can still fight." Her brown eyes begged him to take her with him.
There was no times for words, he reached a hand out to her, her pain was visible when she stood. "I cannot bring you back again should you die," he whispered quiet enough so only she would here.
"I know, just take me with you, please," she leaned against him.
Sesshomaru knelt to the floor, much in the manner he had seen his brother do, "stay behind me. There is something more to what is happening here." Rin held onto Sesshomaru's shoulders. He felt the warmth of her cheek against his. Strangely it felt like it belonged there. He allowed his nose to brush against hers. Their lips sparked with electricity as the corners touched.
"Leave it to me, I'll break the barrier. Kongo Soha!" Inuyasha yelled, they all watched as the adamantite shards flew towards the barrier, they stopped just short. Then fell. "Damn, there's no way up there."
"Ahhhh!" The sound of Kohaku screaming in pain came from the top of the cavern.
"Kohaku!" Sango yelled. "Where is Kirara?" The cat demon would be so helpful in that moment.
"It's too far away for one of my arrows," Kagome called, "Inuyasha can you get closer?" Suddenly Kagome looked up again. The bright white light that was radiating off of Kohaku's stretched body. She knew that light, it had existed within her, within, "the light, you have to get up there now, Onisama. That's Kikyo's light. That's why I sensed something similar to the Shikon No Tama. They are trying to make another one!" The faint sound of chanting could be heard radiating down the walls of the cave.
"They are trying to make another one by taking Kikyo's light from Kohaku!" Miroku exclaimed, "how do we get up there?" Miroku glanced around trying to find somewhere he could climb up.
"There is no way up, this was done on purpose," Sesshomaru grabbed the collar of Inuyasha's haori, "you'll have to get down without help." He flew into the air with Rin on his back and Inuyasha kicking wildly against Sesshomaru's grip.
"We should look for Kirara," Sango said, "he could have at least told us where she was. We can't get up there without her. Let's go, Kirara!" Sango called turning down a tunnel. Miroku followed her.
Rin hugged Sesshomaru tightly. Her legs wrapped tightly around his hips, one hand held around his shoulder. He kept one hand beneath her against her bottom. She blushed when she felt his thumb slide down the inside of her thigh. Kami, he smelled amazing. She had never been close enough before to smell the curve of his hot neck. He smelled like the forest, like pine trees and freedom. A freedom she still craved.
Rin pulled herself out of thinking about how right it felt being held by Sesshomaru back to her sword. She gripped the golden dog hilt tightly in her hand. She forced herself to consider what she had just done. The whip was similar to Sesshomaru-sama's. She had this sword for five years, never before did it do more than cut. It was sharp and deadly, but it had never flown, never thrown a whip. What did he give me? She didn't understand.
As they came to the magenta barrier that lit shadows on the walls of the caves, all eyes widened. Monks dressed in brown robes with golden staves surrounded Kohaku. His body was suspended by thick ropes brown ropes that glowed rose colored. What looked like pink and purple lightening entered his body and exited white. He writhed in pain. His face contorted.
"Kikyo's light," Rin murmured. "Sesshomaru-sama we have to help him."
"We will. Break the barrier Inuyasha," Sesshomaru shook Inuyasha who was still wobbling in his grip. He picked his brother up and turned Inuyasha's face towards him, "I will return for the Miko, if any harm comes to Rin," he gave Inuyasha a good shake.
"I'll get Kohaku," Rin primed herself. "Hurry, Inuyasha, if they take Kikyo's light from Kohaku, he'll die!"
Without warning Sesshomaru threw Inuyasha towards the barrier. Tetsusaiga boiled red, he slashed down the barrier. As he fell he caught himself on the side of the cavern using his toe claws and Tetsusaiga to slow his descent. He pushed his legs off the wall to propel himself towards the monks that surrounded Kohaku. The air was full of Kohaku's desperate pleas for help. Sesshomaru flew to the balcony and let Rin down. His eyes blazed in fury. She didn't understand his eyes, for a moment she thought, no it couldn't be. She felt something strong, an attraction, fear, concern. No time to be distracted. Rin took a deep breath, she jumped over one monk and landed near the ropes. She slashed at the ropes holding Kohaku. The sword was repelled. She focused on the feeling of heat within the sword. She threw the green energy whip at the ropes. It snaked around one holding Kohaku's arm, and was immediately repelled. "Sesshomaru-sama, quickly bring Kagome, ahhh!" She screamed. One of the monks grabbed her from behind and threw her over the railing. She flung the whip out, it flew up and looped around Kohaku's left ankle. She dangled beneath him. "Hang on Kohaku! Sesshomaru-sama go!" Rin urged him. She felt a fury that didn't feel like it was her own. "I'll be okay," she said to him, "go. Believe in me."
He snarled agreement then flew down to get Kagome.
Sesshomaru returned quickly with Kagome dangling from his tail. The monks threw sutras at his face. He batted them off like fleas. He scoffed, a waste they are not even worth the use of Bakusaiga. Rin knew he wouldn't use the sword, not yet. He could hit her, or anyone else. The sutras were wasted on Sesshomaru-sama. He flew over the balcony, dropped Kagome in a pile and flew leapt towards Rin, "stop, Sesshomaru-sama. Unless you want to see the girl you care so much about die before your eyes. If memory serves, if she dies, she cannot be brought back by Tenseiga again." The lead monk came forward. His face was blackened by the shadow of his hood.
Sesshomaru's eyes bolted to Rin.
Rin didn't understand what the monk meant until she looked at one of her legs, there was a sutra on it.
"One move and I will activate that sutra before you can get to her, and she will burn from the inside out," the monk heckled.
"Dammit," Rin shook her leg.
"Now that everyone is here we can truly begin." The monk's eyes were glowing red, he had fangs and she thought she saw scales running down from his eyes. "Years ago, the Shikon No Tama was taken from this world. Now we have what we need to bring it back, we have a Miko," he looked at Kagome, "we have enough demonic energy to power the transformation," his eyes flashed between Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, "and we have human souls to spare. The most important human hanging over there. She will ensure the purity of the stone, before we can defile it and he carries the vast soul of the dead Miko Kikyo."
"Why would you need it pure before you defile it?" Rin asked them. Her muscles were getting sore in her arm. It felt like she was stretching. She tightened her grip on the sword.
Sesshomaru had eyes only for Rin, he could tell she was getting tired, her hands were slipping. Hebisaiga do not let her fall. He urged her katana.
"In order to create something so powerful the intentions have to be pure. So we sacrifice a young maiden," the monk laughed, they all did, there were twelve of them in all, with more demons hovering above.
It was a trap! Rin cursed herself for not thinking of it sooner. She had to save everyone. They came here because of her and Kohaku. "Maiden?" She called, "you think I'm still a virgin?" She felt the dog on the hilt moving, her eyes widened as it twisted around her hand, the tail looped on one side while the paws and head looped around the top of her hand, sealing her hand to the sword. It did not stop the pain in her arms from supporting her body for so long, but she knew now she wouldn't fall if she lost her grip. Kohaku stopped screaming, his eyes were pleading with her. "Kohaku and I have already made love," she said confidently, her stomach blanched at the admission. He's going to be so angry.
"What?" The monks voice became angry.
"What?" Sango, Miroku, Kagome and Inuyasha's mouths fell open. Rin hadn't even noticed that Sango and Miroku hovered near her on the back of Kirara.
"What?" Sesshomaru's eyes blazed as he stared at her. Rin felt flashes of jealous and rage.
"That's right," Rin swung herself up and landed on top of Kohaku. She straddled his hips. She bent over and gave him the most passionate kiss she could manage. "We've made love every day since the full moon last month," she boasted proudly rocking her hips against him for emphasis.
Sesshomaru saw red. He glared at Kohaku. He was going to kill him, how dare he touch her.
"Rin that hurts," Kohaku flinched and then caught sight of Sesshomaru staring at him with hatred.
"Sorry," she whispered in his ears. She ran along the ropes that bound him and jumped onto the balcony. "I guess that ruins your ingredients."
The lead monk screamed in annoyance and quickly turned from a monk into a snake Yokai. Miroku ran to Rin and touched the sutra on her ankle releasing it. "Take these Rin, you are there target," he gave her red beads to wear. "And I certainly hope you were lying, or after this, Sesshomaru-sama will have Kohaku's head."
The snake demon lunged for Rin, and was immediately faced with Sesshomaru, he forced it back with his whip before he drew Bakusaiga, "no," she grabbed his arm, "let me take this one." Sesshomaru backed away and nodded his head half raging and the other half in acknowledgement. It was not like him but he finally understood what she had been asking for years, for him to trust her, to have faith in her. "I believe in you," he said next to her ear.
Rin was hit with a wave of sadness, it almost hit her core, she couldn't understand it, why did she feel sad? Sesshomaru flew to the ceiling and lay a fatal blow to the demons above their heads, while the rest made quick work of the monks that were turning into Snake Yokai.
Rin charged the lead monk. His head had already transformed into a slithering serpent. Long fangs dripped with venom came flying at Rin. She jumped out of the way, flipping backwards. Rin slashed threw the whip around the snakes neck. The scales sizzled with the power of the sword. The snake lunged at her again, intending on swallowing her body whole. She slid to the side on her knees at the last moment. The snake's tale beat at the sides of the cavern, sending debris flying. The mountain trembled with the fury of the snake. He's going to bring the cave down on our heads! The snake bent over and smelled her, "you smell of defilement, your purity is gone!"
Rin giggled, she technically was still a virgin but it wasn't like anyone hadn't felt her up. Rin glared, and slashed at his face again. It was then that she noticed a talisman over the right shoulder. She hit it with the whip but it didn't generate enough force to destroy it. She drew more yoki from the sword until she felt her insides churning from the power. She aimed at the talisman again, this time shattering it from around the snake demons neck.
Kagome nocked her arrow. She let it fly at the bonds that held Kohaku. Kohaku was caught by the neck by a furious Sesshomaru, "I should let you fall."
"She was lying," Kohaku choked through the hold on her neck, "I promise I didn't. We…"
Sesshomaru's grip tightened.
"Sesshomaru! Let him go!" Inuyasha screamed at his brother from the balcony. Tetsusaiga was raised at the ready.
"I did not give you permission to touch her," Sesshomaru's eyes were flaring red.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango called and aimed it directly at Sesshomaru.
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha called, aiming it directly at Sesshomaru. He lithely dodged it with Kohaku still caught in his claws. The snakes were destroyed. Miroku stood ready with Sutras as the four fought against Sesshomaru to save Kohaku.
Rin looked at her friends and smiled, now was her chance. For years she had wanted to leave the village, to live her own life. Rin leapt over the railing while Sesshomaru was distracted, she used her whip to catch pieces of the wall and slow her descent to the path below. She landed on her feet and fled to the entrance of the cave. Free at last.