CYCLE OF RIN

By Lady JenDragon

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own the Inuyasha characters. That honor belongs to wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.

Authors Notes: I'm glad I've had such a good response to this story. For those reading my other story, having issues with my old computer these last few weeks. Broke down and bought a new computer so hopefully I will be able to update the other story soon. Well, enough of that. Onward…

Chapter 2

Return of Sesshomaru

Amber eyes watched the group of demonslayers take out the weak Lion demon with mild interest. His white hair hung around his shoulders, his face absent of expression. A blue crescent moon adorned the center of his forehead. White bangs shadowed the remaining brow, cut just above his red-lined eyes. Dual purple stripes, angled downward, highlighted both cheeks. Sesshomaru lowered his eyes to the ground then back up to the demonslayers.

The exiled continent demon never attacked so blindly, especially against meager humans. But then, Risu never thought before he attacked once provoked. His behavior disturbed this Sesshomaru. Unfortunate he happened upon this battle so late. That did not excuse Risu's carelessness. And the Lion demon paid with his life. Another victim of the Shekon Jewel's lure. A demon of pure power did not require the Jewel to keep his reputation.

Five demonslayers against one demon, a rare sight these days. A useful tactic. Four demonslayers distracted the demon while the fifth circled around and finished Risu off. Her leap attack was extraordinary for a Human, particularly a woman. Obvious to him that herleadership served the team well. She was an intriguing sight to find one so strong for such a weak species. He would not admit that she felt familiar to him. 'Nonsense.' He corrected himself silently. This Sesshomaru did not bother with humans.

"Nice work, Rin!" The male demonslayer congratulated her.

Sesshomaru's attention darted back to the leader. He then shifted his eyes around the team of slayers. One of the male demonslayers slapped the tall, black-haired woman on the shoulder. The woman who showed tact and speed few possessed. Her hair pulled into a tight braid on top of her head. She went to work immediately on the corpse, her face hidden from him. If this indeed was Rin, her transformation into a human woman completed in his absence, proved more surprising. Her curves formed with maturity, years of gradual metamorphosis changing the body of a child into a woman.

His eyes did not veer from her, searching for some remnant of the child. 'Could it be Rin?' The Rin he knew all those years back. 'Why do I question my own memory? Is it because I am…satisfied that Rin survived?' Yet, her scent did not match that which he remembered. She survived being left on her own. Sesshomaru searched the woman looking for familiar features. Her hair no longer held the side tail on the right side. There was nothing of the Rin he once knew. Innocence forever lost.

"Thanks. Let's get this corpse buried and the seals put in place." Came the demanding feminine voice. "We need to be quick."

Her voice was direct yet warm. Sesshomaru turned his head to look down at his minion Imp, now, by his side. The green demon, Jaken, gripped the two-headed staff firmly in his hands, using it to lean against. The Imp's eyes widen in surprise, staring in Rin's direction.

"L…Lord Sesshomaru…, is that really Rin!" Jaken asked in a whispered, exasperated voice.

Jaken was beyond shocked at the changes in Rin. Surely, he did not expect to ever see the Human girl again. Not after she was abducted that rainy night seven years ago. He was a bit surprised by Lord Sesshomaru's decision to walk away. He often wondered what prompted his Lord to abandon Rin and never look back. Did his master regret his decision? Lord Sesshomaru had been staring in her direction from the time it took to locate his master to the time when he arrived by his side.

"I…I can't believe how much she's grown." Jaken continued.

Sesshomaru returned his concentration to Rin. Jaken was indeed correct. Rin grew into a woman these last seven years. Even beautiful…for a Human. Coincidence that he met up with her once more? Fate often played games. However. Now was not the time to think about Rin's metamorphosis or fate. This Sesshomaru came here for a purpose.

The Lion demon, Risu, proved not to be the new scent he traced from the Western Lands. He felt sure the newly arrived demon was nearby, the scent lingered stronger in the air than before and increased in potency in Rin's direction. Sesshomaru's eyes veered over the dark field behind the slayers working fast. He detected no movement among the waving grass blades. The demon proved far more cunning and elusive than any indigenous demon of these lands. A challenge he had not met in the many years since Father died. He looked to the grass as the evening breeze swept past. Jaken's eyes were upon him, anxious for some answer.

"Apparently, she has finally grown." Sesshomaru finally responded, lifting his eyes.

Sesshomaru watched Rin pull the demon's innards, peering at the bloodied guts, looking for something specific. Another woman walked over to and squatted beside Rin, pulling the flesh off Risu's bones. The three male demonslayers dug a large hole nearby to bury the corpse. There in the moonlight, the five demonslayers worked as a team. A curious pastime his ward decided upon.

A stronger scent flared his senses as wind swirled around the field. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. The scent came from the dead demon's direction. Was the new demon watching Rin and the others across the field among the safety of the forest? This Sesshomaru would have detected the creature by now if it chose to hide so close. His senses were off. That was unusual for this Dog Demon. The new demon must be powerful enough to mask its location from another demon. 'Utter foolishness. Impossible.' Sesshomaru concluded

"W..why are we here, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken asked quietly.

Jaken did not want to draw the attention of the demonslayers. He sensed Lord Sesshomaru curiosity about Rin's transformation to human womanhood. But there was something else in his master's eyes. Jaken blinked, turning back to the dead Lion demon. He kept the small happiness of Rin's survival to himself. She must have learned her skill from another. Probably from the demonslayer Lord Sesshomaru's brother often kept company. He concluded Rin had been slaying demons for some time. Had the child escaped her abductors quickly after they departed camp?

"The new demon is close."

Jaken gulped. "Should we really go looking for it, Lord Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru was not one to wait or be kept waiting. If the new demon was watching nearby, his responsibility to confront any demon trespassing on his lands required his immediate attention. The demonslayers were unimportant at the moment. This Sesshomaru did not stray into Human lands, treading his domain with concentration that went with his title.

"This new demon proves difficult to track. It is powerful. There is a scent I cannot identify from the direction of the demon corpse." Sesshomaru stated coldly. "It has a faint familiarity."

"Fa…familiarity?" Jaken did not like the sound of that. "Have we crossed its path before without realizing it, my Lord?"

"The coward's path does not describe this new demon." Sesshomaru agreed.

"Like Naraku?"

Sesshomaru nodded and walked out into the open and towards the assembled demonslayers, who were beginning to bury the demon's body. He strode forward with elegance, unhurried steps, his manner stately. His long white hair swirled around him as the wind swept across the field. Jaken hesitated before following his Lord into the field, lifting the Two-Headed staff above his head to avoid snaring it in the long grass. He did not understand why Lord Sesshomaru chose to reveal himself to demonslayers.

'Was it because of Rin?'

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No one noticed the moon's white light dim then brighten once more. Beams radiated then twinkled in a halo around the moon's fringe. The stars disappeared and reappeared in a split second. The moon winked several times above the quiet landscape. If you blinked, you missed it. Humans and demons alike failed to recognize the sign. Except one.

An elderly demon stood outside his little hut in the center of a clearing. His home strategically placed to deter a sneak attack, he turned to scan the remainder of the sky. His eyes bulged from his head, white hair piled on his head. His mouth gaped open, his gray kimono wrinkled for it had not seen a washing for some time.

"I never thought I'd see it!" Came the strained elderly voice.

He was a sorcerer demon. Owner of knowledge few demons possessed. There were some secrets no other possessed but laid no claim to them. That would draw unwanted attention. No, it was his potions and concoctions that drew demons from far and wide. Koi, the demon sorcerer. The only one who knew what the moon's twinkling meant. The only soul who watched the moon twinkle this night. Taking his eyes from the sky, he rushed into his hut to research his books for all he could find on the matter.

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Torimasa jerked his yellow bandana-clad head towards the demon approaching in a slow stride. He had seen the demon out of the corner of his eye. This was a confident demon, dressed in white and red, the white hair flowing behind him in the evening air. His pale face was unreadable. The demon did not seem to care that demonslayers worked nearby. Whoever he was, this demon appeared more powerful than the Lion demon they were burying.

"Psst!" Torimasa signaled his friends.

Hiroshi and Maiko joined him, grabbing hold of their weapons. They formed an attack V-formation, standing close together, ready to do one more battle. Natomi rushed over to join the men, pulling her own weapons, digging her heels into the soil.

"He looks like a strong demon." Natomi commented.

This demon seemed familiar to her, like she'd heard of him before. Natomi was positive she knew of this one just by the description of him; very tall, taller than most humans, handsome in the face that would make most females stop even if he was a demon and he possessed a very aristocratic air about him. 'Oh yes, Inuyasha's older brother. Sero…no, that wasn't it. Sang…no that was Sango. Sess…it was there…Sesshomaru!' Yes, that was his name. Sesshomaru. Kagome, Sango and Miroku often talked about a few run-ins they had in the past with him.

Rin stopped working, glancing over his shoulder. 'Why were Natomi, Hiroshi, Maiko and Torimasa forming a closed V-formation?' That meant only one thing. Damn! Another demon had sensed the death of Risu and came so quickly? They worked fast and completed their mission in less than twenty minutes. A record for her team. Apparently, the demon did not hide its presence, allowing her friends to ready themselves. Had to be a more powerful demon heading for their position. Gripping her weapons and pulling them from her waist, she got to her feet. Rin started to turn towards the direction from which the demon approached.

A sudden lurch in her insides halted her. Rin frowned at her body's odd behavior. Not in the six years of slaying had her senses been so refined. In the last hour, the air changed. She tasted fear and scents previously undetectable. Natomi and Hiroshi were anxious to hide their outer fear and Torimasa gripped his weapon harder. She could sense them without looking at their expressions. She heard their knuckles cracking from the pressure they exerted on their weapons.

She turned to face the new demon. Perhaps, it was a more diplomatic demon than those they previously came across. She fought to hide her reaction to the sight that greeted her. Her breath caught in her chest, her heart seemingly pound harder, all of her insides twisted over and over. Time seemed to stop around her. Rin stood frozen.

Sesshomaru.

Of all the demons to show up, it had to be him. She could not think straight. Her blood began to boil. Was she still angry? Rin shook her head. She could spend all night contemplating his reasons for revealing himself to a team of demonslayers, however, she knew he did nothing without purpose. For that, he would use any and all means to get the answers to his question.

'Why is he here?' Sesshomaru did not scavenge off other demons. Rin refrained from frowning. Trained to keep her cool in intense situations, her face remained unreadable. Rin grip loosened on the handles of her three 'Kotes'. She sheathed her weapons at her waist. Sesshomaru would see any weapon as a threat. His dislike of humans was well known. Her eyes veered to her friends. They were mesmerized by Sesshomaru's beauty, even for a demon. Natomi was silently assessing his appearance, pleased by what she found.

Rin was not ready for the emotions raging through her. Seeing him again brought new feelings she had not yet faced, reasoning his abandonment with logic. That did not diminish the anger, betrayal, disgust, and rage she felt. Hate him or not, no point in allowing her friends to be slaughtered by Sesshomaru's hand. They were prepared to attack, weapons at the ready.

"Stand down!" Rin commanded.

Sesshomaru changed little these past seven years. His amber eyes were devoid of emotion, his unhurried stride gracefully calculated. The long white mane had grown, his hair still reached past his knees. Perhaps he cut it to maintain its length. His porcelain face would not exhibit his inner thoughts, flawless in form and figure. The five years traveling with him taught her how to understand him.

Rin wanted to hate him with all her being. But yet, she could not muster up the precious energy to waste on such negative auras. A tiny part of her felt glad to see him. Rin fought her inward feelings, pushing them to the back of her mind with sheer will. A pain burst forth within her. She did not meet Sesshomaru's face, her own body demanding attention. Why was this happening now? Why did she have to suffer twice?

With great reserve, Rin forced herself forward. The pain stabbing her in the abdomen grew more acute, and would grow worse as the night grew older. Walking became more difficult. Her body tired from battle. She would be in full Cycle by midnight. That was going to take a lot out of her. Focus, she thought, positioning herself between her fellow slayers and Sesshomaru. Her former master was here for a purpose. Nothing more. Sesshomaru held no interest in her friends. Rin realized his eyes were fixed on her alone.

"But, he's a demon!" Maiko called out, pointing at the tall demon with his weapon.

Rin shot Maiko a glare over her shoulder. He lowered his weapon and silenced his protest. His eyes watched the demon stop ten feet from Rin. The demon's amber eyes trained on his leader. Maiko did not like the look of this demon. Did Rin know him? She did not talk about her past around the others. She kept to herself most of the time.

None of her team knew about her previous relationship to Sesshomaru, a powerful dog demon. And Inuyasha's brother. Rin did not want to explain to her friends that she once traveled with Sesshomaru. That he once he brought her back to life after she had been slain by wolves. None of that mattered now. Rin needed to focus. Why was she having trouble staying focused? She could smell the fear Hiroshi, Maiko, Torimasa and Natomi had for their leader. They did not want to lose her.

"Do you have a death wish?" Rin challenged her friends.

They were courageous people but that would not matter against Sesshomaru. Unfortunately, she was the only one in her group who knew just how powerful he was. He was not to be challenged, not tonight. Only Inuyasha proved capable of surviving Sesshomaru's attacks. Battles Inuyasha managed to have while she was away from the village. She only witnessed the aftermath of their fights when Inuyasha returned with fresh wounds.

"We meet again, Rin." Sesshomaru locked his gaze on Rin.

Sesshomaru did not realize her beauty increased with diminishing distance. She no longer was missing a tooth, her permanent teeth replacing the temporary teeth that fell out every now and then. She made no move to greet him nor did she allow her emotions to show. Rin stood between her demonslayers and him to prevent any altercations that could arise. A pointless gesture. Her demonslayers were of no interest to him. This Sesshomaru did not entirely understand why he decided to reveal himself to Rin at this moment. Was he curious about Rin's reaction to seeing him again? Or was it more?

"Why are you here?" Rin kept her voice even.

'Show him no emotion', Rin repeated in her head. She clenched her fists as another spasm of pain tore through her. Damn, the new Cycle was stronger than the last one. Her eyes watered, forming tears. She blinked them back. 'Keep up the pretense', her brain scolded. This was going bad to worse. Focusing on Sesshomaru's face, she found it easier to push the pain from her mind.

Sesshomaru detected the slight wince in Rin's left eye. Had Rin suffered a wound during the battle? She was in pain. Risu had not made contact with Rin at any time during the attack. He watched her defeat the Lion demon with little effort.

"There is an unusual scent on the air." Sesshomaru lifted his nose to the air, sniffing silently. "A new demon has arrived."

Rin waited, he said nothing more. Sesshomaru had come to investigate the new demon. It should have clicked that if Inuyasha was looking for the new demon, so would his brother. She shifted her gaze to Sesshomaru's waist where Tojikin and Tensaiga were sheathed beneath his missing left arm. Jaken kept behind his master to avoid her glare, making small noises every now and then. Only the Staff of Two-Heads stood visible.

"We know." Rin returned her gaze to Sesshomaru's stark face. "We're looking for him. Demons everywhere have been more restless lately."

Sesshomaru watched Rin for several moments before responding. Rin still held her poise in spite of the event that separated them seven years ago. If she felt anything, she showed nothing. She would know not to show emotions. Not to him. This Sesshomaru would not expect anything less.

"Have you discovered where this demon resides?" Sesshomaru shifted his eyes to the other demonslayers.

Each made eye contact with Sesshomaru as he panned to each demonslayers face. In turn, they placed a hand over their weapons, waiting for a signal to come. The other woman, shifted on her foot. He could smell the fear and courage from the team. Rin taught them well not to show it outwardly.

"Rin!" Natomi called out. "You know this demon!"

Rin did not have to look at her friends to know they were surprised by her informal conversation with Sesshomaru. Discussing another demon with a demon was unfathomable to them. Surely, they would figure out that she knew Sesshomaru prior to tonight.

"Yes." Rin admitted, turning her question to Sesshomaru. "If that is all you came for, you'll be disappointed. The new demon isn't here."

Sesshomaru's face never twitched or flinched. Rin resented him for not rescuing her back then. He could see it in her eyes. There was more kept in the depths of her eyes this Sesshomaru wished to discover. Admitting that his curiosity had gotten the better of him, Sesshomaru knew that was the only reason for his meeting with Rin.

"Do you still feel abandoned?" Sesshomaru asked evenly.

Backing down was unacceptable. Sesshomaru never changed, Rin thought. Had she really expected him to? Her heart knew that answer was no. Sesshomaru changed for no one, keeping his emotions locked up. The road to supreme power was a lonely one, so Sesshomaru believed. Rin changed in the five years she traveled with him. She became a liability, unable to defend herself during a battle. In his eyes, she was just another useless Human. However, no matter how reserved he behaved, how cold he appeared, she could not stay mad at him. Why could she not find the will to hate Sesshomaru?

"The past is in the past." Rin pulled several seals from her waist. "There is nothing here for you now."

With that, Rin turned from Sesshomaru to continue her task, pulling a dagger from her waist once more. In his eyes, she was just another Human. Oh, yes, that hurt to learn as a child. Growing up fast and needing to learn not to be so trusting of everyone you met were the harder lessons.

Sesshomaru sucked in a silent breath as Rin turned her back to him. A defiant move indeed. Normally, this Sesshomaru struck down the human displaying such poor manners towards him. Rin purposely challenged him. Rin wanted to bait this Sesshomaru. 'Did she think he would act upon such blatant ignorance?' Sesshomaru pivoted, walking away from Rin and her demonslayers. He had the answers he was looking for. There was no new demon to be worried about.

Jaken gaped, staring up at Sesshomaru. His eyes widened as his mater turned on his heels and strode back the way he had come. Rin purposely turned her back on Lord Sesshomaru to prove her independence. Such actions were met by death normally. Yet, Lord Sesshomaru let her live. Did Lord Sesshomaru feel that he owed Rin something? He blinked then began trailing after his master.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken called after him. "Don't leave me behind, my Lord!"

The wind kicked up around Lord Sesshomaru, flaring his hair up around behind him. An interesting turn of events, Sesshomaru toiled. He looked up into the darkness greeting him as he entered the forest. Jaken trailed after him, allowing his master to continue with his silent thoughts.

'A new demon indeed.'