CYCLE OF RIN

By Lady JenDragon

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own the Inuyasha characters. Yeah, yeah..save it for the crying chat room! Onward!

Chapter Five

The Day After

Rin felt warmth under her head, covering her body. She was inside someone's home. A fire roared in the center, the smell of food waking her from a deep sleep. Deep sleep was typical after an intense battle. She had been exhausted after her clash with all those demons. What actually happened last night?

Sesshomaru. He had taken her to some old demon after the Cycle took hold. The past two years found her fainting with every on-set of the Cycle. Perhaps it was aggravated by her Human Cycle closely coinciding with the Demon Cycle. They were still a day apart. However, she was sure they would be coeval by next month. And no one knew what that meant.

Her ears registered the voices discussing her condition. Her friends had come to her side. She felt so drunk without the headache that accompanied the escape drink offered. Every muscle felt tight, even achy. The battle last night must have been severe. Her body never ached so much. Even the pain of the Cycle had subsided.

"How many did I get?" Rin fluttered both eyes open.

Miroku's outline came into blurry focus. Why could she not focus her eyes clearly? This never happened previously. The Cycle had changed somehow. What was different?

"At least fifty." Miroku remembered the demon pieces littering the forest floor. "Welcome back. It seems even Sesshomaru had trouble with you."

"Sesshomaru?" Rin frowned. "I didn't fight him."

Rin did not remember battling him. Nor had she seen him since she escaped the hut. Not that it meant anything. The Cycle made her forget the battles sometimes. Sometimes she awoke in the middle of the battlefield where the smell of dead demons usually made her sick.

"What I meant, he was watching us from the forest. He didn't even engage you in battle." Miroku smiled. "I think he didn't want to be seen by us. Appears Sesshomaru was interested in watching you fight."

"Did Kagome get the shards?" Rin sat up.

What interests Sesshomaru had were not her problem. That part of her life was over. If he tried to attack her, she would defend herself with skill and tact.

"Yes." Miroku nodded and smiled. "Did you see Sesshomaru? Do you know why he was there?"

"No. He's a demon, susceptible to the scent of the Cycle just as the others." Rin replied. "I can only assume he was there for that reason only."

"You have a point there." Miroku glanced up as Inuyasha arrived.

Inuyasha's white hair fanned around his shoulders as he pushed through the bamboo door. He squatted beside Rin and smiled down at the young demonslayer. The amber of his eyes reminded her of Sesshomaru. Why was she constantly thinking of Inuyasha's older brother?

"Hey kiddo, how do you feel?" Inuyasha asked, smiling.

"I got fifty this time." She put up a weak smile.

'Fifty less demons in the world,' she consoled. Rin shuddered at the thought. The memory of Sesshomaru came back to her. Kagome often told her about the future where she lived. She mentioned that demons no longer existed in the future. That was only 500 hundred years from now. Did the demons find a new home or did they die out like Kagome believed?

"A big improvement from last time." Inuyasha patted Rin on the shoulder.

"Yeah." Rin looked to the window, tired from her battle. "When they're trying to kill you, it gives one an incentive to fight harder."

Inuyasha only looked at Rin, her pale face and tired eyes made him worry. He lowered his eyes to the floor of the hut. He would have to tell Rin eventually that he'd been away to find out more about the Cycle was only a guise, that being around her tested his sexual urges. But he found the temptation tolerable since he was only a half demon, plus he had Kagome to concentrate on to help him.

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THREE WEEKS LATER

Rin walked through the forest, walking at the back of the group. She eyed her four demonslayers teammates. They seemed awfully preoccupied since the battle. No one spoke a word since the last attack by a weasel demon. It appeared that the creature singled Rin out of the group, forcing the others into a shed and locking them in while Rin diverted to help a drowning child. It took far too long for the four demonslayers to escape the structure, finding the demon battling Rin alone and with gusto none had seen in a demon before.

Hiroshi and Natomi exchanged quick glances. Weasel demons were not the kind to openly attack a group. Many of the demons these last two weeks proved far too interested in Rin to not to realize something was going on with their leader. Neither wanted to start a conversation but Rin proved more astute.

"Okay! What is it?" Rin said impatiently. "Natomi, Hiroshi, you two have this weird look between you. What's going on?"

Natomi turned to face Rin beside Hiroshi. Torimasa and Maiko stopped a little farther ahead, hoping to remain distant from the conversation. This was the first time they, as a group, felt the need to bring recent odd demon behavior to Rin's attention. She, apparently, had not noticed and said nothing about discovering why the demons were so active.

"Well…" Natomi started. "Back there. It seemed the demon was…after you with…some kind of vendetta. We all noticed."

"It means nothing." Rin shrugged it off. "It may have sensed that I was a weaker target and decided to take a risk."

Not more than usual, she thought. Rin narrowed her eyes at Natomi. The younger slayer had trouble speaking her worries out loud. There must be something on her mind, Natomi did not often speak openly.

"You aren't the weakest of the group." Hiroshi put in. "It seemed to have waited for you specifically. It looked…"

"Like?" Rin stopped

Her friends were worried over nothing. This was not the first time demons attacked them out of the blue. She admitted that the weasel demon did not appear to be interested in the rest of the team. Actually, the stupid demon ignored them altogether. But it meant nothing. No one knew what made demons attack one person and not another. They were just as difficult to figure out as humans were. Hardly trivial. Why were they so bent on this?

"Like it couldn't wait to get a hold of you." Hiroshi turned his eyes away from Rin.

Natomi looked to Maiko and Torimasa. Neither offered any encouragement. There was nothing more to say. Rin did not seem interested in another possibility of why a weasel demon would attack a group of five demonslayer unless it had a death wish. But the demon proved too eager to be suicidal.

"I know it's been tough the last two weeks." Rin spoke evenly. "We haven't recovered any shards. Perhaps, we need some down time."

Natomi rolled her eyes then turned and continued down the road. It was hopeless. Hiroshi followed Natomi, meeting up with Torimasa and Maiko. Rin began to walk after her friends and fellow demonslayers. Did they notice something she had not? Shaking her head, Rin scolded herself for doubting her abilities.

What did bother her was the coming Cycle. There was no time to think about demons and their recent increased attacks. She felt apprehensive about its…affect on her. Not one to worry about the future before it arrived Rin wondered if she should attempt to go find that elderly demon again. If the Cycle proved more ferocious than last month, the agony would be unbearable. Was she strong enough to face it? Did she have a choice? In her mind, she knew the answer to that.

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Miroku found Rin sitting beside the hut, seemingly unable to move. Was she afraid of the coming Cycle? She was more on edge lately, allowing her demonslayers to visit their families. Rin did not seem concerned about finding Jewel shards. Very unlike the young woman he had grown to know and respect. He smiled down at her, a thick blanket in his hands. Sango insisted he take it with him to question Rin.

"Rin?" Miroku asked in a quiet voice so not to startle her.

Rin had not heard Miroku, her thoughts on Sesshomaru. Why could she not get him out of her mind? When he left her that night, her life as she knew it was over. Sesshomaru did not stray into human territory. Rin figured she would never see him again, not ever. But now that she had, an inner battle rose from the depths and threatened to engulf her whole.

"Rin?" Miroku asked again, bending over to wrap the blanket around Rin's shoulders.

She jolted, surprised someone was here. Rin had not heard Miroku walk up behind her. Strange that Sesshomaru's recent visit proved to disturb her normal routine so easily. Had others noticed as well?

"Thanks." Rin turned slightly to look over at Miroku.

Miroku kept silent as he sat beside her. She was tormented by seeing Sesshomaru again. It was just as Kagome said, 'you never forget the people you grow up with'. Rin grew up beside Sesshomaru as they traveled for five years. What she knew about Inuyasha's brother, Rin kept to herself, avoiding the question when asked. He sighed. Women were difficult to figure.

"What are you doing here?"

Rin pulled the blanket tighter around her, finding her fingers cold. The warmth from the blanket began to spread through her. She smiled weakly. Someone cared about her. It wasn't hard with this crowd. They grew on you fast.

"Thinking." She sighed deeply. "I've only got a few days before it comes again. I'm worried that it'll be worse than last month. I attract more demons every time it seems."

Miroku knew of no other possibility to help Rin through these times. Sango indicated that the two Cycles were to occur at the same time this month. Shaking his head, Miroku found himself at a true loss of action. Her condition stumped all of his kind, even the priestesses were puzzled. No one knew how to proceed. Shippo had gone off to inquire throughout the demon world. Even Inuyasha went off every now and then to inquire where he could find someone to talk with him. Unfortunately, no one seemed to know anything about it.

"I wish I could offer you more comfort, Rin."

"It's okay. You've gone out of your way to help me enough as it is." Rin tilted her face to look at the sky. "It's more than anyone else has done. Perhaps, it's meant to be this way."

The sky appeared different tonight. This Cycle was going to be the hardest to get through compared to the others. Fear was threatening to engulf her logic. Would this be her last Cycle? Would she die in battle?

"Don't say that!" Miroku didn't hide his concern. "Rin, we're going to find a cure."

"There is no cure." She whispered. "We would've found one if there was."

"It's taking longer than any of us expected. Don't give up on us, yet, Rin."

Rin shrugged. No need to fight Miroku too. All the spiritualists seemed convinced she would become a demon before long. No one knew how much time was left before the demon blood transformed her. Some surmised she would die outright once it took full control, others believed she go on a rampage of the country-side. That was almost seven years ago. Their opinions did nothing to alleviate the thoughts of her unknown future. A fear she never had to face until now.

Her mind went back to the conversation with the old demon. He said that she was not dying but he offered nothing more. Was he being truthful? And his soup did help with the pain. Rin felt torn between a desire to find a cure and ending the misery haunting her. Another Cycle was upon her. She would make up her mind after the next Cycle. If she survived.

Miroku found himself without words. He resigned himself to just sitting beside Rin and sharing a quiet moment. All he could do was offer to be there if she needed his guidance.

"You think that old demon you told me about can help you?"

"No luck finding the hut?" Rin shifted her eyes to the monk.

"No, not in the area that we found you last month." Miroku added. "He could be hiding to avoid us. He may not want to help you, Rin."

"I figured as much." Rin turned her eyes to the sky. "He said I wasn't dying, Miroku. What does this mean if I'm not dying?"

"I'm not sure." Miroku began, rubbing the back of his neck. "But if the demons are any indication, they know something we don't."

"Am I turning into a demon?"

"You've shown no physical changes, Rin, even with the Cycle now occurring monthly." Miroku placed a hand on her shoulder. "I doubt you could turn into a demon just from blood poisoning. There's no precedent for it."

"Which means it's a possibility." Rin sulked.

Which also meant there were no answers. Just like before. Why did it seem that everyone wanted to watch her but no one offered true comfort? She should just run away, maybe throw herself off a cliff somewhere to end it all. 'I'm no coward.' Rin folded her arms across her abdomen tighter. One thing she should do. Once the Cycle came, she should go find some answers. Perhaps in her heightened state, she could bully what she wanted to know out of someone.

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Sesshomaru stood on the cliff, his amber eyes unfocused on the world spread out before him. No, his thoughts were of one person. Rin. Now, she came into his life again. Perhaps, he had done the wrong thing, leaving her to fend for herself seven years ago. It would have been kinder to kill her and end it. An act he would never commit. She mattered too much to spill blood.

Her scent permeated the air around him blinding his calm logic. The Cycle appeared stronger than last time, calling to him even at this distance from her. When the moon rose this evening, he would seek her out. Just as he had done last time. It angered him that he became a slave to his desires so easily. But there was little choice.

Rin did not understand the Cycle or its meaning. Faced with the worst possible choices, neither decision came without its side affects. One thing was clear, he would have to defend her in the end. 'When did you become so weak?' His question surprised him. His attention shifted to Jaken standing at his side.

"Jaken, we are leaving."

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru." Jaken said following his master without question.

Jaken halted when he realized what direction Lord Sesshomaru turned towards. Were they headed for Rin? He could detect the Cycle on the evening breeze. Did Sesshomaru wonder how the girl was fairing? Or was there something he wanted to do? Jaken did not know how to handle this. Never one to question his master's actions, Jaken felt sure the Cycle called out to Lord Sesshomaru. Jaken was also affected but knew he had no chance against a demon like his master. Only the strong demons cold survive taking Rin on in a full fledged battle.

Author's Notes:I hope you're enjoying the story so far. This is my down chapter, where nothing really amazing happens, sort of an-inbetween. Now the fun's going to start. I couldn't get on FanFic for a few days otherwise I would have updated sooner. Computers...oi!