No matter how much I love the Inuyasha series, as do us all, I have no ownership of anything Inuyasha.(sigh)
Chapter Seven
"So, not that i'm not happy to see you again, Shippo, but why are you here?" Shippo sits back in his chair, crossing his ankles underneath the table and stabbing a thumb at Inutaisho.
"You pop sent for me." Sesshoumaru raises an eyebrow at the kitsune for refuring to Inutaisho like that but the dog demon didnt' seem to mind. "He said he could use some help and asked me to come stick around the shrine for a while." The four look to Inutaisho and he nods.
"I did call the kitsune here. I wanted someone that could stay here around the shrine all the time. I can't stay here forever, i have the southern borders to look after. I dont doubt your capabilities, you two..." He adds in quickly at Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's dark looks "...but i wanted another here just in case." Inuyasha mumbles something under his breath and Sesshoumaru only rolls his eyes.
The miko kneels over her fire, poking it lightly with a stick to keep the flames alive against the cold of the higher elevations. Only the crunching of snow behind her lets her know that someone approaches. Glancing up she sees her mistress gliding across the snow.
The demoness stands tall, quite regal looking and slim, her long, flowing steel gray hair nearly down to the ground and bound in a long, tightly woven braid. Cold eyes study the miko as she turns, bowing low before her mistress.
"Do you have everything you need?" The miko rises, sitting up and keeping her eyes from looking up at her lady.
"Yes mistress." Though she cannot see it she knows the demoness nods.
"Good. Be ready. I have some final things to take care of then we shall be ready. Rest up, you will need your strength to fight thier miko. She is powerfull. It will take some time to finish what i have to do. Be ready when i call." The miko nods, again bowing low.
"Yes mistress." And with a flurry of snow, she is gone.
Despite the constant lookout the three dog demons and one kitsune keep, the next few months are peaceful. Few demons make any moves to attack humans or the shrine, each beaten soundly and quickly.
As time progresses, though, Rin grows slowly but steadily weaker. Four months into the pregnancy Rin spent most of her time in the house, hardly ever stepping outside. Sesshoumaru is a constant shadow to her, watching over his mate with increasing worry. Inutaisho returns from the southern borders every few weeks to check on things. Shippo, having made himself home on the shrine grounds, is a silent reminder of the threat that still looms. unseen.
One day Inuyasha and Kagome are out in the garden, enjoying a warm cloudless day when they see Sesshoumaru guiding Rin out into the garden with them. Her hands shake slightly as she clutches Sesshoumaru's hand and she walks slowly, head down from the glaring sun.
Inuyasha rises from where he sits beside Kagome, the young miko sliding over on the padded bench to make room for Rin. She sits down in the shade, smiling at the others.
"So, look who came out to join us." Inuyasha remarks, no harshness in his voice. Rin chuckles.
"I couldn't pass up a beautiful day like this." Kagome leans over and pats the demonesses hand lightly.
"It will do you good. We're glad your out here with us." Sesshoumaru seats himself on a stone beside the bench, Inuyasha leaning against a tree nearby as they continue thier conversation.
While they are talking Inuyasha keeps shooting worried glances at Rin. The female demon appears exhausted, dark circles under her eyes only accentuated by the paleness of her skin. Her arms look incredibly thin despite the somewhat large bulge of her belly. One hand rests against it, the other thin hand resting on the arm rest of the bench. Her hair hangs limply down her back, woven into a loose braid. Her ears twitch slighlty but show hardly any life.
After several minutes Sesshoumaru glances around him, spotting a small but bright flower behind him. Leaning back he plucks the delicate flower, studying it a moment before slowly bringing it up to hold before Rin. She stares off into the distance, not seeming to notice it until Sesshoumaru touches her hand. She had not moved or spoken since before she had come out to the gardens and now she states distantly out into space, her eyes almost looking glossy. Sesshoumaru leans close, reaching to take her hand.
"Rin?" She doesn't respond at first, then turns to look at him slowly. She forces a small smile.
"I'm all right. I think i will go take a short nap upstairs." He nods, about to rise when she pats his hand.
"Stay here, it's all right." He nods reluctantly, watching as she slowly rises.
Sesshoumaru watches her go, rising to his feet swiftly when Rin falters. She stops, weaving slightly on her feet and Inuyasha pushes himself away from the tree.
"Sis?" He calls to her, a nickname he had started calling her shortly after Shippo had arrived. She doesn't respond, only turns toward them. Her eyes lock on Sesshoumaru and she raises a hand out to him, opening her mouth as if to call him before her body suddenly goes slack, Rin collapsing to the ground like a puppet's whos strings were cut suddenly.
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are there instantly, thier cries of alarm alerting the kitsune across the yard. Shippo comes running as Kagome rises, bolting to where Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are kneeling over the prone Rin. Inuyasha steps aside to let Kagome in and Kagome immediately presses her fingers to Rin's neck, checking her pulse.
"Her pulse is weak." She says, more to herself. She lays her ear against Rin's chest as she places a hand gently on Rin's forehead. Her brow furrows immediately and Sesshoumaru's heart skips a beat.
"Her lungs sound strained and her temperature is through the roof." She glances up at Sesshoumaru. "We need to get her upstairs now."
The demoness watches, content as the miko does her work. The miko, hand folded together and eyes closed, continues to chant in a language unknown to the demoness. The miko's shield around them prevents even the snow from falling on them, the fire crackling merrily before the miko despite the dark deed the miko performs.
After several minutes the miko finishes the chant, her hands relaxing to lay in her lap.
"Is it done?" The demoness asks. The miko nods.
"The first is completed." The demoness nods.
"How long will it last?"
"Five days." Smiling, the demoness lays a clawed hand atop the miko's head gently.
"You've done well, miko Mitsuki,."
"You honor me, mistress. I do my best to serve you." The demoness nods, backing away slowly.
"We will give her one week after the five days end before begining again. No need for her to die. Yet." Miko Mitsuki nods as her mistress fades into the flying snow.
Inutaisho arrives at the shrine that evening and changes, walking slowly across the grounds toward the home. Almost immediately he senses the heavy mood in the air around the house. He knocks briefly before letting himself inside.
His son's and Shippo look up as he comes in and he immediately notices the absence of Rin and Kagome.
"What's happened?" Sesshoumaru rises, motioning his father to follow.
Once they are at the bottom of the stairs. Inutaisho immediately notices how strained his son looks, more so than usual.
"Is it Rin?" Inutaisho asks. Sesshoumaru nods.
"She wanted to come outside this afternoon so i took her out to the gardens. After a while out in the gardens with Inuyasha, Kagome, and I she said she wanted to go back inside but she never made it back into the house. She colapsed before i could get to her." He explains as he climbs the stairs. "I would appreciate it if you would look in on her." Sesshoumaru says quietly, stopping outside her door. Inutaisho nods once, laying his hand on his son's shoulder reassuringly.
"I'll see what i can do."
Once he shuts the door behind him he studies the pair at the bed.
Rin is sitting up, proped up with several pillows behind her back. She is wearing only a simple, long night shirt, the blankets thrown back so she lies uncovered. Kagome sits on the edge of the bed, holding a large damp washcloth against Rin's skin, shifting it from her forehead to her cheeks to her neck and back. When Kagome meets his gaze he is slightly alarmed at how grim she looks.
"She has a high fever." Kagome whispers as Inutaisho approaches. Inutaisho kneels at the bedside, taking one of Rin's hands. Her skin, even to a demon such as him, radiated intense heat against his fingers. He leans forward, running the backs of his fingers down Rin's temple. The demoness opens her eyes slowly and her eyes are glazed over.
"Inutaisho." She says, her voice weak. He smiles slightly.
"Hi kid." Her eyes drift closed again and her head tips to the side. Kagome sighs, letting the washcloth drop.
"She's been slipping in and out of sleep since we brought her up here." She says worriedly. "I've tried to get her fever down but nothing seems to be working. I'm afraid that if this keeps up..." Her voice dies and she sighs. Inutaisho rises, turning toward the door. "Inutaisho?" He glances over his shoulder as he opens the door.
"I know someone who could help. I have to find her though. I'll be back soon." Kagome nods, picking up the washcloth again as Rin begins to toss in her sleep.
Inutaisho shuts the door behind him, his eyes closed as he leans back against the door and rubbing his temples. He lets out a sigh, his thoughts on what is behind him in the room.
I have never seen a demon take fever like this, especially this quickly. Something is very wrong here. He thinks as he straightens. When he opens his eyes he sees his son standing before him. The look on Sesshoumaru's face tells all and Inutaisho sighs again.
"I won't lie son. I have no idea what to do. I'm going to go find an old family friend, i think she still lives in this area. If i find her and bring her here, she might be able to help. I can say this, there is something very wrong here. Someone is behind this."