No matter how much I love the Inuyasha series, as do us all, I have no ownership of anything Inuyasha.(sigh)
Please excuse me for the delays in my submissions...I'm having Internet connectivity problems right now. I'll try to do the best i can so please bear with me!
Chapter Thirteen
Once all are inside Shippo sits as the head of the table, waiting until everyone is seated and waiting, watching him.
"Well?" Inuyasha asks rather testily. Kagome slips her hand into his, silencing him with a squeeze of her hand. Rin leans against Sesshoumaru's arm, suddenly feeling the need to be near him. He slips an arm around her shoulders.
"It was about a week ago. I was searching around Mount Fiji when i saw a lone woman walking through the woods toward the mountain. She was dressed as a miko. I followed her. On the mountain she met with a demon. I couldn't get a name at first. I was able to find out that the miko is working for the demoness, and that she is the one who has placed the curse on Rin. The miko's name is Mitsuki. I wasn't able to catch any more information about her. The demoness is another matter." Shippo sighs, leaning back in his chair slightly.
"The demoness is a direct descendant of Ryukotsusei. She said her name is Riya." He states simply, sharing a glance with Inuyasha. The half dog demon's hand slips down to Tetsuiga and he grips the hilt hard. Sesshoumaru straightens a little, his body tense.
"Are you sure about that?" Sesshoumaru asks tensely. Shippo nods.
"She said so herself. She was boasting about how she would take revenge on you all...that whole bit."
"What does she look like?" Inuyasha asks. Shippo leans forward, frowning slightly as he thinks back.
"She is tall, about Sesshoumaru's height. Her hair is gray, almost silver. Her skin, from what i could see, is a light shade of gray. Blue eyes. She has a small thing on her forehead, it looks like a mask almost but i wasn't close enough to tell. And she was wearing armor, the ancient kind like you used to wear." He says, nodding toward Sesshoumaru.
"Were you able to learn anything else about them?" Sesshoumaru asks. Shippo shakes his head.
"They didn't meet long. The demoness left suddenly. I tried tracking the miko but i lost her in the snow storm about two days ago." Both the sons sit back, contemplating this information.
"That would explain father's reaction." Sesshoumaru says quietly. Inuyasha nods. Kagome seems quite unnerved by this news so Rin, who has no clue what they are speaking of, remains silent.
After drilling Shippo more, the group splits up, Kagome and Inuyasha heading outside as Rin and Sesshoumaru head up stairs, retiring early for the evening.
As they lay in bed that night Rin slides a hand down Sesshoumaru's arm to his hand, threading her fingers through his. His nose brushes the back of her neck lightly, his warm breath against the back of her bare neck comforting.
"What is such a big deal about this Riya demoness?" Rin asks quietly. Behind her Sesshoumaru tenses slightly.
"The night that Inuyasha was born, our father died." He says quietly. "He died from wounds he got while fighting Ryukotsusei. He was able to defeat him, in a way, but father died that night."
"What is Riya?" Rin asks.
"She is a dragon demoness, like her ancestors I'm assuming." Rin is quiet a time and Sesshoumaru shifts closer to her, sliding his arm further around her and cradling her into the warm curve of his body. "What is bothering you, my love." He whispers in her ear.
"You lost your father to this dragon demon." She says quietly. "I fear that i might lose you to her." Sesshoumaru gently rolls her onto her back and he leans over her, his gold eyes sincere but firm in the pale moonlight coming from outside.
"Even at his worst, i could have easily defeated Ryukotsusei. His descendant has no chance against me. On top of that, Inuyasha and father are here as well. It would be impossible for her to defeat all three of us." She merely nods then looks away. "Rin?" She sighs, her eyes closing slowly. Thinking that she is going back to sleep Sesshoumaru rests his head on her shoulder, his face close to her neck.
"I think i should go away for a time." She says softly. He frowns, lifting his head to look at her but she keeps her gaze away. "My being here only makes matters worse."
"What do you mean by that?" She finally looks at him now, her dark brown eyes meeting his.
"This curse on me is not only weakening me, it is weakening you as well." He stares at her as her hand reaches up slowly, trailing down her face. "I don't know if anyone else can tell, but i can. This is taking a toll on you as well." He shakes his head, his silver hair slipping off his shoulder to pool on her chest.
"I'm fine." He insists. She shakes her head at him, no smile on her face.
"When was the last time you slept a full night? Or eaten a decent meal?" She asks. He scoffs lightly.
"I'm a full demon, i don't need as much sleep as everyone else." He states, slightly irritated that the weakness he knows that is eating him is so evident to everyone else. Rin seems to sense this, nodding in agreement as if she can read his thoughts.
"You have been getting less than usual, even for you. I know it's because of me." He stares down at her, reading between the lines. His eyes suddenly widen and she nods. "I know that they are going to use me against you. What better way to cripple the mighty Sesshoumaru then to use his mate and son?" He stares down at her a moment, then a slow smile spreads across his face.
"A son? Are you sure about that?" She scowls at him.
"Don't try to change the subject." His smile fades. "The end of the week is coming soon. i think i should be gone by then." He shakes his head, his grip on her tightening slightly.
"You don't have to go. It is safe here." She shakes her head but he continues. "What would happen to you if this miko Mitsuki found out that you had left the shrine? She could curse you to death." He says quietly. Rin contemplates this then nods.
"I will stay here at the shrine then." He nods, sighing and stroking her skin lovingly.
"I wish i did not have to leave you." He whispers. She smiles up at him.
"You're brother and father need you. I will be waiting here when you return."
The next morning Rin stretches in her bed, her arm sweeping the mattress beside her to find it empty. Realizing that Sesshoumaru was probably already up she listens intently for him. Realizing she can't hear him anywhere in the vicinity she bolts upright in the bed, throwing her robe on before running from the room as fast as she can.
Downstairs Kagome yells at her to stop but Rin ignores her, bolting out the front door.
No sooner does she step outside she runs into a wall. Looking up hope flares in her, then dies when she recognizes Inutaisho. Desperately she clutches his shirt.
"Where's Sesshoumaru?" She demands. Inutaisho circles her shoulders with an arm, guiding her back into the house.
"He and Shippo left early this morning to go take a look around the mountain. Inuyasha and i are staying behind to watch over you and the shrine. There's nothing to worry about." He says reassuringly as he sits her on the couch. "How about some tea?" He asks idly, heading for the kitchen.
Kagome, not saying a word, sits on the arm of a chair nearby, watching Rin intently.
Rin ignores her, wrapping her arms around herself and rocking slightly from side to side, the sense of foreboding and danger not leaving her.
This is wrong. Something is wrong. Something is going to happen. The thoughts race through her mind. Her entire body trembles and she can feel a cold seeping into her.
"It's happening." She murmurs, withdrawing into her self. The room around her spins slightly but she ignores it. She can feel a pull on her mind, on her very soul, pulling her relentlessly into the waiting darkness.
Dimly she sees Kagome move, coming toward her but as if in slow motion. Rin stands, weaving on her feet. "It's happening again."
"What is?" Kagome asks her but she can't hear it now. Darkness is grabbing at her, a cold, numb feeling spreading through her body.
"They're coming." She whispers before she lets the darkness take her.
Kagome crying out startles Inutaisho, the tea cup had been holding crashing against the floor and shattering as he leaps across the room and into the living room.
"Kagome?"
He stops, shocked to see Kagome kneeling over Rin, the young demoness lying prone of the floor. Kagome presses fingers to Rin's neck a moment, then rises, shaking her head and backing away.
"No."
"No what?" Inutaisho asks, bending down beside Rin.
"She has no heartbeat. She's not breathing." Kagome says quietly. Inutaisho, after checking himself, suddenly grabs her arm in a bruising grip.
"Leave her there. Do not move her no matter what. Call the midwife Suiki. Tell her what has happened." He demands, turning to the door.
"Where are you going?" Inutaisho turns, his face grim.
"I'm going to get my son."
Outside, Inuyasha is startled by his father's voice calling for him, shaking slightly at the tone.
"What?" He demands from where he sits atop the shrine entrance. Inutaisho gestures back toward the house.
"Get in the house and stand guard over Rin until Suiki gets here or I return." Inuyasha immediately jumps down, meeting his father half way.
"Has something happened?"
"The miko Mitsuki is using the curse on Rin." Inuyasha frowns, hesitating.
"Is she all right?" Inutaisho shakes his head.
"She's dead. I'm going after Sesshoumaru. You stay here and guard them." After recovering from his shock Inuyasha bolts for the house, Inutaisho changing and swiftly taking to the sky, heading straight for the great mountain.
Inuyasha busts in through the door, stopping short. Kagome has Rin's head in her lap, stroking her hair slowly. Rin lies prone on the floor, Inuyasha's keen sense of hearing not picking up a single sign of life.
"Kagome?" She looks up at him, tears streaming from her eyes.
"She was fine one minute and suddenly she just collapsed." She whispers as Inuyasha kneels beside her.
"Let me take her." Kagome shakes her head, leaning over Rin slightly.
"Your father said not to move her until Suiki gets here." Inuyasha nods, sitting on the floor beside Rin's body.
Slowly he reaches out, his hand resting atop Rin's child still within her, his eyes closing slowly to focus his hearing on her body. After a minute he slowly withdraws. Kagome watches him, her body shaking with sobs.
Inutaisho, using his nose, follows his son's scent. He makes swift time, reaching the mountain within an hour but it still takes another hour to find his son. He finds them on the eastern side, the opposite side from the shrine.
Sesshoumaru watches as his father descends from the clouds, a chill running through him at his father's expression. Dog's expressions vary little, but when they did, it was chilling. Beside and slightly behind him Sesshoumaru sees Shippo shiver.
"You're dad doesn't look happy." He comments dryly as the demon lord lands.
"Sesshoumaru, get back to the shrine, now." Dread instantly fills him.
"What's happened?" Inutaisho takes a moment to change before answering.
"Their making their move." He says, striding forward. "Mitsuki has already taken Rin. I'll stay here with Shippo and..." His sentence is cut short as Sesshoumaru steps forward, grabbing his father's arm.
"What did you say." He demands. Inutaisho does not try to get out of Sesshoumaru's grip.
"Mitsuki has taken Rin. She's dead son." Sesshoumaru's eyes widen and he backs away.
"No." Inutaisho nods.
"Kagome was there. She said that Rin said 'They're coming' then suddenly collapsed to the floor. Kagome and Inuyasha are there with her, but you need to go, now."
A low, menacing laughter suddenly stops them. The three turn, Shippo making a sound of surprise as they spot the demoness not to far away.
Her long steel gray hair is braided, her slim, elegant body donned in the armor of battle. Thin lips draw back to reveal fangs as she smiles widely.
"I knew hiring that priestess was a good idea." Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru instantly tense, Sesshoumaru's eyes glowing red in wrath.
"You." He growls, the twin stripes on his face growing ragged. His hair whips in a wind that isn't there, his demonic power suddenly exploding through the area. Even Inutaisho has to take a step back. The demoness merely smiles wider.
"It seems I have upset you." She says mildly. Sesshoumaru growls, immediately launching into the change. Seeing no other choice, Inutaisho does as well.
Sesshoumaru, in full dog form, crouches low, ready to leap when Inutaisho blocks him.
Get back to the shrine now. Inutaisho tells his son. Sesshoumaru nearly leaps over his father in anger but Inutaisho's next message stops him. Didn't you notice. The miko that cursed Rin isn't here. She may attack the shrine. Even with Inuyasha there, Kagome may not be able to take Mitsuki and it will take time for Suiki to get there. Get back to the shrine NOW. Inutaisho insists. After a moment Sesshoumaru nods, leaping up into the sky and heading west.
The demoness Riya watches him go but does not try to stop him, instead regarding Inutaisho in delight.
"I was hoping on slaying all three of you at once but I guess I'll have to do it one at a time." Riya comments dryly. Inutaisho barks out a laugh and crouches. Riya smiles, sliding into a fighting stance.
Inuyasha is sitting on the floor with Rin. Kagome is in the kitchen when she senses her. She immediately drops what she's doing and runs into the living room. She stops in the doorway, staring in horror.
A tall miko stands in the living room, one hand held out over mid air. Inuyasha lies crumpled on the floor beside Rin's body. The miko regards Kagome with disdain at first, than interest.
"So, you are the one I've heard about." Her voice is smooth, her speech clearly that of an educated woman. Kagome backs up a step.
"Depends." The miko smiles.
"Oh, you are the one all right. The reincarnation of the miko Kikyou." Kagome scowls and the miko laughs. "I knew it."
"So what if I am?" Kagome asks. The miko regards her a moment.
"I was kind of hoping on encountering someone of Kikyou's power and ability, but it seems that even her reincarnation cannot measure up to a tenth of Kikyou's ability." Kagome's eyes narrow and she raises one hand, palm out.
Before she has the time to summon up her spiritual power, the full impact of a shield hits her, sending Kagome flying back and hitting the kitchen wall hard, sliding down to sit slumped on the floor. The miko regards her a moment then smiles.
"You should have known not to try and take on the miko Mitsuki."
Mitsuki looks down, studying Rin a moment before smiling, extending her hands over Rin's prone body.
"Come. Arise my puppet." As she speaks Rin's body twitches, sitting up slowly as Mitsuki's hands twitch, rising. "Follow me." She says quietly, guiding Rin's body to her feet. Slowly Mitsuki guides Rin toward the open door.
Hi. Sorry it took so long for the update. College started today and I've had kind of a writers block to contend with. (lack of sleep will do that to you). Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and i'll get the next one to you all soon!
BTW, just a heads up to everyone, if you are interested I have created my own home page (it's a Myspace but that counts right? Lol). If you would like to see it, feel free to. The link to it is on my main page. If you have trouble finding it let me know. thanks!