Chapter 23

It took Inukimi some time to prepare the ritual but once everything was ready she began immediately, a wary eye on the approaching sunrise.

Rin stood beside Inukimi, looking out over the crystal blue lake in front of them. Inukimi had taken them farther out into her personal garden, into a secret grove she had obscured from prying eyes. Inukimi warned Rin Sesshomaru would sense any surges of power so she quickly masked their presence and did her best to make the levels of power seem normal, counting on the fact that it had been centuries since Sesshomaru's last visit and hoped it would take him some time to remember the levels of energy that permeated the realm.

Standing there, with a gentle breeze brushing her cheek, Rin quietly looked out over the tranquil lake and found acceptance for her decision. She owed him everything. No matter what, Sesshomaru needed to survive. He had tied their souls together to save her. He had saved her life countless of times, the least she could do now was follow through with Inukimi's plan. If things went awry and she did in fact die…at least she had been given this week to be with him as she had always dreamed. It wasn't nearly enough time for her, but it was a gift she had never expected. She loved him too much to condemn him to an eternity of caring for her should she lose her sanity and possibly risk his own safety in the process. Sesshomaru was never one to shirk his responsibilities. She refused to be a burden to him. To be a constant threat to him. It was likely in her mind broken she would attack him and possibly kill him if she got lucky. She just couldn't allow that.

"We're ready to begin. Step into the lake." Inukimi said.

Rin looked at her with trepidation. Taking a deep if shaky breath Rin tried to relax her muscles and move. Seconds turned into minutes and Rin felt herself tremble in fear. Every time she tried to take that first step into the lake, that first step to her probable demise…she was frozen in place. Rin closed her eyes as tears fell to her cheeks. She was so pathetic. Sesshomaru had placed himself in danger for her more than once with no hesitation…yet here she stood gripped in a battle between her decision and self-preservation.

Rin hated herself in that moment. Why couldn't she take that step? It was all good and fine to have grand ideas of sacrificing herself for Sesshomaru…but now, sheer terror held her immobile and she despised herself for it.

Rin jumped when she felt a light touch at her elbow. She turned to look at Inukimi who stood beside her and gave her a gentle smile. "The fear that grips you now is natural. The drive for survival is embedded in us all." Inukimi paused as if struggling to continue. "I would not have chosen you as a mate for my son. But that would have been a disservice to him. The risk you take now is grave and not something any other I would have chosen for him would have even considered let alone attempted. My son chose well."

Rin smiled with gratitude at Inukimi's admission.

Inukimi squeezed Rin's elbow and gently nudged her forward.

Taking a deep breath, Rin gingerly removed her footwear before she stepped into the lake. To her surprise the water was warm around her toes. Walking slowly and finding her steps in the soft wet ground below the surface Rin glided in deeper into the water. Her Kimono's hem absorbed the water into its fabric and it slowly spread upward to her chest, the now wet cloth becoming heavy and burdensome to her. She was now chest deep in the water when she turned and looked at Inukimi on the shore, awaiting further instructions.

Inukimi looked at her and said nothing. The silence became almost deafening for Rin. She opened her mouth to speak when suddenly the ground beneath her feet disappeared. Rin attempted to tread the water but her kimono was so heavy she was slowly dragged deep under water. Rin held her breath for as long as she could until her lungs literally burned. Panicking, she frantically tried to swim to the surface but the more she struggled the lower she sank. She was being dragged down into a deep and cold black abyss, the water surrounding her, freezing the blood in her veins. The desperate need for air was too great and Rin involuntarily opened her mouth sucking in great gulps of water as her lungs filled with the liquid.

She was dying. Rin felt herself drowning and her only thought was something had gone wrong. Inukimi had explained to her the risks, but this was nothing like what she had expected. Something had gone terribly wrong, she was dying but she didn't feel the presence of Kitsune. There was no battle for possession of her body...there was only death.

Rin's frantic struggles slowed as she became exhausted. Though her mind continued to struggle for life, her body was slowly losing the battle and giving up. Rin wished fervently to have the strength to save Sesshomaru when suddenly her starving lungs absorbed the water within her, and breathed it as if it were air. Rin gasped painfully for breath and her lungs continued to filter the water surrounding her in and out as if they were gills. Rin felt a hysterical giggle escape her throat. She had wished for strength and suddenly she could breathe easily under water. She had tapped into Sesshomaru's power again as if it were her own. Relief nearly sagged her body. Rin slowly opened her eyes and froze in shock.

Kitsune floated in the water before her as a transparent apparition, staring at her intently. A scowl suddenly crossed her features and she bared her fangs in anger. "Die!" She screeched.

Rin swam backwards instinctively trying to put distance between them. Kitsune bolted forward and fisted the lapels of Rin's kimono and shook her. "Whore! His powers live within you when they should have been mine. He was mine! You spread your thighs for him, you lured him to you and now you are bonded?" Kitsune screamed.

Rin shoved Kitsune away from her and was shocked to see the power she wielded as she easily thrust Kitsune a good 10 yards from her in the lake.

Kitsune barreled backward before she steadied herself and shot forward like a rocket through the water back towards her. Remembering Kohaku's training, Rin glided to the left and Kitsune missed her by scant inches. Shrieking in anger, Kitsune continued to try and grab Rin but she kept evading her.

Kitsune stopped and glared at Rin. "You not only ruin my plans and steal my destined mate. But now you think to rob me of my rebirth?"

Kitsune raised her hand towards Rin and suddenly the water she had been easily swimming in froze around her, trapping her in its icy grip. Unable to move, Rin stared at Kitsune in rising terror.

Kitsune smiled back in satisfaction. "You may have Sesshomaru's powers within you, but you are still only human. You have no knowledge how to wield such power. They are wasted upon you."

Gliding forward, Kitsune began to systematically chip away at the block of ice encasing Rin with her claws, playing with her as a cat would a mouse. "Poor little human. Inukimi should have prepared you better."

Startled, Rin looked at Kitsune who only laughed at her expression. "Yes. I'm well aware of Inukimi's plan. That you honestly believed you could defeat me is laughable. It took one of the greatest demon slayers we've ever known along with both sons of the great Inu Taisho to destroy me in life. And you thought you could take me in death on your own?"

Kitsune shook her head, smugness pouring from her. "Your body will be mine. Your spirit will be consumed by mine and Sesshomaru will be locked to my side for all time as it should've been all along."

Kitsune growled, "I will make him pay for spurning me so many times. For preferring a weak little bitch of a human over me. Over his own kind." Kitsune trembled with fury and to Rin's horror began to pull out her own hair. "His father betrayed us all by allowing his human to birth him a son. A stinking half-breed. Sesshomaru isn't even a half breed, but he still fell and now his mark is all over you." Kitsune's ramblings trailed off as she was lost in her own thoughts before she snapped back towards Rin. "If I didn't need your body I would tear you limb from limb and keep you alive so you could feel every excruciating detail. I would send you back to him piece by piece after I bathed in your entrails and mashed that face he so adores into fine powder." Kitsune laughed maniacally and sped up chipping away the ice encasing Rin. "I can just picture him trying to piece you back together. That fucker deserves all the horrors of this world and the next. I offered myself to him and he dared to spurn me? I will make him pay. He'll pay, pay, pay, pay!" Kitsune continued to rant hysterically.

Kitsune's obsession with Sesshomaru having followed her even unto death. Rin cursed herself for her weakness, for her fear…but more for not trusting in Sesshomaru. Because she wanted to save him from having to stay by her side with her insanity as his father did before him with his mate, she instead condemned him to an eternity of being bound to Kitsune, who's obsession had turned into a hatred so deep it had driven her to madness.

Kitsune broke the ice around Rin's head. She yanked Rin's head back painfully and leaned in so her face was level with hers. "Inukimi sent you for the vial didn't she? Would you like me to give it to you?" Kitsune laughed with glee only to stop as suddenly as she had begun. "I knew Inukimi searched for it. I couldn't afford her to find it after the trouble I went through to steal it. Your human body shielded it well. From Inukimi and even Sesshomaru himself." Kitsune pulled Rin's arm palm up away from her body at a painful angle. Rin gasped in pain and Kitsune gleefully pulled a little harder, popping Rin's shoulder from the socket.

Rin cried out but Kitsune's entire focus was on the length of Rin's arm. Rin looked down in alarm and screamed in horror as a tiny bubble formed at her elbow, just beneath the skin and slowly became bigger until it was about the size of a nickel. Kitsune pressed it forward, down Rin's arm towards her wrist. Suddenly Kitsune used her claw to deeply slit Rin's wrist down the length of her arm. Rin screamed in pain and Kitsune used her claws to shred Rin's skin to pieces as she dug into her arm and removed a round vial that was filled with a silver mercury liquid. Rin's arm dulled to a painful throb, but even as she watched, the open folds of her skin merged back together and knitted closed completely healed.

Kitsune watched Rin's regeneration and snorted in disgust. "You possess Sesshomaru's ability to rejuvenate? Good to know. I don't have to treat you as delicately as I have been."

Kitsune held up the small rubbery vial and smiled at Rin. "Bottoms up." She gripped Rin's jaw and forced her mouth open as she dropped the vial into Rin's mouth and closed her mouth tightly. Rin tried to struggle away but Kitsune held her securely. The small rubbery vial hardened against her tongue until Rin felt she was holding glass.

Kitsune smiled evilly. "Now here's the fun part." She slammed her fist into Rin's jaw, forcing her to bite down on the glass vial and thus shattering it into her mouth. Rin screamed in agony, but with Kitsune's hands clamped onto her jaw and mouth, it was nothing more than a pitiful whimper. Kitsune forced Rin to swallow the liquid from the vial. Her blood flowed down her throat along with the shards of glass slicing into her tendons and muscle. Rin closed her eyes and fervently wished the glass gone from her mouth and felt instant relief when it disappeared from her already healed mouth.

Rin tried desperately to wish the fluid she had swallowed out of her body but to no avail. She could feel it flowing through her veins, cold and icy and merging with her blood cells. The liquid vibrated throughout her body, a soft hum as little shocks buzzed through her.

Kitsune smiled. "Do you feel it? How does it feel?"

Rin felt her mouth drop open as euphoria and a deep languor settled into her skin.

Kitsune eyed her in envy. "Inukimi had this vial locked away so deep and far she forgot she even possessed it until I took it." Kitsune smiled at Rin and shook her head at her gullibility. "I needed insurance in case she ever tried to betray me or if I needed to force her hand. I know her much better than she thinks. Little did she know the vial was actually hidden within you."

Kitsune laughed aloud when a shudder ripped through Rin and she smiled stupidly at Kitsune, lost in her own little world. "I was warned when I had this liquid examined that it would effectively drug the user." Kitsune smiled to herself as she slapped Rin hard across the face but Rin only smiled back. "I assume Sesshomaru's father wanted his little pet to at the very least feel pleasure if her body couldn't stand the demonic powers. Enjoy my final gift to you human. That of blissful oblivion. Sesshomaru will finally be mine. And I'm going to make him suffer for every tear I ever shed over him."

Kitsune palmed Rin's face between her hands. Electricity spurted from her hands into Rin's temples as she slowly infused her spirit and power into Rin's body. Despite the euphoria consuming Rin, the intense pain woke her and she screamed in agony. Kitsune merely laughed at her and poured more of herself into Rin's body. "Sesshomaru will never be rid of me. He will learn to love me!"

Rin's eyes rolled to the back of her head and blood began to pour from them. Kitsune leaned forward and licked the blood from Rin's cheeks, her demonic laugh surrounding them when it was suddenly cut short as Kitsune gasped in sudden pain as a great force suddenly pushed into her chest and she was blown backward through the water, instantly losing her connection to Rin.

Silver tendrils surrounded Rin before hands gently cupped her face. The silver tendrils drifted away and Sesshomaru's face was revealed. Rin smiled and reached out in her drugged state and pulled at one silver tendril that was Sesshomaru's hair floating in the water around them.

"Are you alright?" Sesshomaru asked her with concern even as he quickly examined her. Realizing he would get no answer from her in her condition Sesshomaru gritted his teeth in frustration. Rin's fear had awoken him instantly but it had taken much longer than he had expected to unravel his mother's shields and locate Rin. When the first ripple of her agony had ripped through him he had ceased all attempts to be gentle with his mother and had blasted through all her blocks and delaying tactics. Inukimi had cried out in pain but Sesshomaru had ignored her and pulled on his connection with Rin to locate her quickly.

Sesshomaru attempted to pull Rin with him to the surface when he realized a block of ice encased her body. He had been so focused on finding and healing any injuries on her he had completely missed the ice. Cursing under his breath, Sesshomaru waved his hand and the ice instantly melted away. Cradling Rin in his arms he quickly swam for the surface. Once there, he tried to take them to the shore but something blocked him from removing her from the water completely. He examined every avenue he could but could not separate her from the water. Suddenly her eyes opened and her pupils were completely black. She opened her mouth and a scream the likes of which he had never heard burst from within her and bright light flared from her gaping mouth like a beacon into the sky. He was thrown from her side as if a big hand had slapped him away. Sesshomaru landed agilely on his feet on the shore but when he would've gone back for her Inukimi quickly intercepted him. "Stop!"

"Out of my way." Sesshomaru growled at her, blaming her for the entire situation.

"Kitsune managed to pour her powers into Rin. The combination of Kitsune's powers and your own are too much for Rin's body to withstand even with the liquid. Her body is rejecting them both. The power is eating her from the inside out. I saw this before with Izayoi." Inukimi said quickly before he evaded her. "No one could've predicted how long her human body could've survived even with the vial."

"Liquid? What vial?" Sesshomaru demanded.

When Inukimi hesitated Sesshomaru stepped forward and placed his hand on the side of her head as he ruthlessly took the information he needed from her mind ripping through her mental blocks as if they were confetti. Inukimi screamed in pain but it was over as quickly as it had begun.

Sesshomaru's teeth snapped together in a snarl. "You knew this could happen and you still allowed her to go through with this idiocy?"

"We were both determined to save your life." She said weakly as she determinedly used all her strength to close her mind which he had inadvertently left open and raw.

"Not at the expense of hers!" Sesshomaru yelled. He suddenly felt something, the tether that tied him to Rin weaken within him. Horrified Sesshomaru turned back to the lake.

The knowledge he needed lay there within Inukimi's memories. His father had created that vial to save his mate but to also weaken his tie with her so her death would not take him immediately as well. Should the worse occur he had needed only a few hours after Izayoi's death to avenge her.

Sesshomaru knew the liquid was successfully weakening his tie to Rin.

"She's dying." Inukimi whispered behind him.

Sesshomaru blanked at her words. His eyes went back to the water where Rin lay and the bright light now burst from her ears and eyes. "The only reason you are still breathing is the true regret I hear in your voice." Sesshomaru growled, "Rin would disapprove my murder of you."

The sound of Rin's screams pierced their eardrums, interrupting Sesshomaru with the sound of her torment.

Sesshomaru pushed Inukimi aside and took a determined step into the lake towards Rin. He would not be defeated so easily. Even by this.

The moment he stepped into the lake he was hit with a force so awesome it threw him back again forcefully. He slammed into Inukimi and they both fell hard onto the shore.

Grimacing they both struggled to their feet when Kitsune's ghostly spirit suddenly appeared before both of them. "She's mine!" She screamed before hitting them both with another wave of her hand. Prepared this time, Sesshomaru easily blocked the power.

Sesshomaru glared at Kitsune. "Stop wasting my time."

Kitsune bared her teeth at him. "Stay out of my way!

Kitsune's shrieks annoyed Sesshomaru and he simply raised his hand and closed his fist snuffing out Kitsune's spirit. With a cry of denial she disappeared.

Inukimi stared at him disbelief and a touch of fear. "Even I have trouble exorcising spirits yet you accomplished it with nary a blink of an eye." Inukimi said shocked at how quickly Sesshomaru had dispensed with such a powerful spirit.

"She was already dead."

Inukimi opened her mouth to speak but Sesshomaru's fierce glare her quieted her immediately. "I don't require your assistance any more than I needed Rin's."

Sesshomaru quickly dove beneath the surface of the lake and was able to grab Rin and pull her towards his chest. He covered her lips with his mouth and pulled as much of Kitsune's powers into himself as he could. He methodically catalogued what Kitsune had been capable of and absorbed what he could use and the rest he simply redirected to strengthen his own abilities. The bright glow slowly dimmed until Rin's skin changed back to its normal hue. When he was done he had them both rise above the lake until they were able to stand on the water.

Rin slowly opened her eyes at the feel of Sesshomaru's hands gently smoothing her hair from her face and cried out in joy when she saw him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly, almost fearful he would be ripped from her arms. Sesshomaru held her back just as fiercely in return.

It took them both a long moment before they were able to ease their grip on each other. With a quick downward sweep of his hand he dried them both then offered her his hand as they slowly walked towards shore.

Inukimi awaited their return and sighed with resignation, clearly seeing Sesshomaru's condemnation in his eyes.

Sesshomaru stared at his mother and attempted to walk around her not trusting himself to deal with her at the moment.

Inukimi shrugged negligently and said to his back as he walked by. "I do not care if you're upset. I knew Kitsune had that vial but I couldn't locate it. The quickest way to get it was from Kitsune herself which we needed to keep you both safe."

"You should have come to me first."

"You would have never agreed. You're too besotted with the girl to think clearly. Just like your father." Inukimi said with disgust.

Sesshomaru turned around and took a menacing step towards Inukimi. She couldn't help stepping back, awed and suddenly fearful of the rage she could see seething in her son. "Never interfere in my affairs again." Sesshomaru warned quietly. "This will be your only warning. Heed it well." He vowed menacingly.

Inukimi hesitated a telling moment before she nodded her head respectfully. "As you wish."

"It was my choice." Rin interjected not liking the tension between Sesshomaru and Inukimi.

Sesshomaru's head whipped around and pinned Rin with a deadly glare. "We will discuss your part in this duplicity in private."

Rin bowed her head and Sesshomaru scowled as he tried to control his temper.

"At the least this whole endeavor wasn't for naught." Inukimi dared to utter. "It appears the serum worked for Rin."

"Leave us." Sesshomaru said to Inukimi.

After a telling pause, Inukimi unused to taking orders from anyone in her own realm, thought it best to obey considering the smoldering anger Sesshomaru was visibly holding in check. "I'll leave you two alone." She bowed her head slightly in deference to Sesshomaru before she vanished.

Sesshomaru instantly pulled Rin into his arms and kissed her.

Taken aback, Rin compliantly wrapped her arms around his shoulders for support. He pulled Rin to the ground with him and continued to disrobe her. Stunned by his aggression and her own passionate response Rin pushed at his chest. "Wait." She said with a gasp.

Sesshomaru raised his head from where he had been nibbling on her neck and the anger in his face startled her. "You conspire behind my back. You sneak from my bed like a thief in the night and willingly put yourself in danger and now you think to deny me your body?" He growled.

Stunned, Rin lay frozen for a moment.

Sesshomaru released her and stood, cursing under his breath as he strode away, angrily raking his hand through his hair.

"I-I wasn't denying you." Rin said helplessly as she rearranged her clothing. "I never conspired-"

Sesshomaru slashed his hand through the air as he cut her off. "What do you call making plans with Lady Mother to leave me?"

Shocked, Rin's eyes widened in horror. "I wasn't leaving you I was only-"

"I know what your reasons were." Sesshomaru interrupted her again. "Should I thank you for your noble sacrifice?" He said derisively.

Rin's mouth gaped open. Sesshomaru wasn't just angry.

He was pissed.

Sesshomaru walked back to her and though he pulled her up by her arm impatiently, she absently noted his touch was still gentle.

Rin felt tears fall to her cheeks. "I just wanted to protect you." She said miserably.

"Am I so weak in your eyes that I need human protection?" He snapped at her.

"No!" Rin denied.

"Liar!" He roared at her before he released her as if touching her disgusted him. "If you trusted in me as you claim you wouldn't make deals behind my back that could get you killed!"

"I did it for you." Rin insisted.

"No one makes decisions for me. Ever. I have given you more leniency than anyone or anything. But that stops now. I am your master. You will obey me."

Rin shivered at his words. The heat that had remained banked in his eyes flared briefly, suppressing the anger that still smoldered in their depths.

"You will never place your life in danger again. Least of all for me."

Rin shook her head in regret. "I can't help it. I love you." She whispered, aching with the knowledge that despite his anger she couldn't lie to him.

Sesshomaru bared his teeth and leaped at her. A startled squawk left her lips as he tumbled them both to the ground again. His claws raked down her kimono, shredding it to ribbons. He fondled her breasts and Rin gasped in delight. He pinched her nipples roughly, bringing them to peak before he covered her breasts with his mouth. Rin held his head to her breast as he suckled and nipped at her breasts. Feeding off of his passion, Rin pushed at his clothing until she was able to reach his skin. She raked her fingernails down his back and had the pleasure of feeling him shudder against her.

The flames and desperation shot higher between them as they kissed, fondled and licked each other everywhere. She boldly reached between them and guided him to her core. When he rammed into her Rin cried out in ecstasy. Their joining was fierce and electric and left them both gasping for air when they shuddered against one another helplessly in completion. It had been hard and swift and Rin couldn't help the small smile of satisfaction that touched her lips at Sesshomaru's loss of control.

Rin lightly caressed his face and was surprised when he turned away from her and rose to his feet, clothing himself in the process. When he finally turned back to her Rin felt something in her chest tighten painfully at the anger that still resided in his eyes. She was almost glad he had left her to sit up on her own because his following words shattered her.

"I don't want your love. The claim is an excuse for your foolish actions. I only require your obedience." Sesshomaru said coldly before he turned and vanished.

Rin bit her lip miserably and tried to pull together the tattered remnants of her kimono. He said he didn't want her love. Not only that but he left her alone sitting on the dirt like a dog. She felt used and discarded. What they had just shared suddenly felt dirty and ugly. It had been love on her side but it had been a claiming for him. A way to display his dominance of her. To punish her. Her body and her feelings had betrayed her.

A soft sob escaped her and the sting of rejection consumed her. Rin pulled her knees to her chest and huddled into herself as clouds instantly opened up above her and rain poured down, brought on by her tears. Rin shivered in the cold and smiled grimly. The serum must have worked. She was miserable and the weather was matching her mood. She would have to learn to use these powers soon and she doubted Sesshomaru would be willing to be the one to teach her anymore.

Rin had only wanted to save him. To repay him for everything and it had all backfired so badly. Rin bowed her head and let the rain mingle with her tears and anguish.