CYCLE OF RIN

By Lady JenDragon

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Author's Babblings: I know a lot of you have been anxiously awaiting an update. Well, here it is! I'm finally happy with it in this state. Took a little longer than I expected. ENJOY! I know I did!

Chapter Seven

RIN

vs

SESSHOMARU

A form streaked across the open meadow, the dying grass reduced to splattered clumps across the ground. Rin skid to a halt in a cloud of debris and dust. Someone blocked her path on purpose. She barely glimpsed the white form before stopping, flexing her hands in anticipation. Yes, a demon had found her. And he was strong. She knew him, Rin grunted mournfully. The dust finally settled…

Sesshomaru.

The Dog Demon stood before her, the white of his form clashed with the dark forest behind him. His eyes held an edge to them she had never seen before. Lust. He got a hold of her scent and sought her out. 'So, he came too.' Like she would surrender to him! No demon would take her power! Pain shot through her, Rin cringed. This pain would not get the best of her this Cycle! Channeling her thoughts, she took calculated breaths to let the pain pass through. Miroku's lessons began to show results for all the work she put in to learn the techniques.

"Rin." Sesshomaru sensed the inner turmoil.

Sesshomaru studied her. Rin was not aware of what she wanted, confused by her body's behavior. She fought hard to stop the pain inflicted on her without knowing its cause only to be consumed by the result. Ignorance was a difficult teacher. He could smell her from ten miles away. And more demons were drawn to her scent while they played this game. Her scent changed slightly. He clenched the newly acquired left fist from a minor human-form demon, adjusting to its presence.

Rin was winning against the demon blood in her veins. Sesshomaru could smell it. How was that possible? Demon blood was more potent than Human. He took a deep long breath into his lungs. Rin filled his senses, making it difficult to reason. 'Damn her!' Her scent proved overly intoxicating. The more Rin denied the needs her body wanted, the more primal signals she gave off. It was hurting to be so close to her without touching her. This Sesshomaru would not give in so easily.

"Get out of my way!" Rin narrowed her eyes.

The blood raged through her. Yet, the sight of him made her body feel necessity unlike anything she had ever known. What was this? She had no knowledge of the next step. The pain within her threatened to engulf her, blacken her life with misery. Rin dismissed her thoughts as too logical. She needed a solution, not reasoning.

"Koi will help you." Sesshomaru offered illogically.

Rin felt fury build within. 'The mighty Sesshomaru offer aid? What a laugh.' No, he came to absorb her power. Just like all the others. Typical demon! She would not let the weak conquer and maim her. No demon would absorb what power she possessed.

"You lie!" Rin's voice had a hint of laughter. "Sesshomaru offers aid to no one, especially a human!"

Sesshomaru let her statement, meant as an insult, pass. His own blood boiled beneath his pale skin. His heart pound in his ears, his eyes watching her lips move with little care for the words she spouted. He fisted a hand tightly to remain in firm control. Rin was human and ignorant. He did not expect her to understand.

"I offer a choice." Sesshomaru's faint crimson eyes remained expressionless. "That is all."

The need to touch her grew with each passing second. The wind whipped around them, her hair flowing on the strengthening breeze. He wanted to possess her. His instincts were becoming impatient. Their time alone together would be short lived. Other demons were fast approaching their position.

"Keep your protection." Rin retorted, placing her other hand on her sword.

Sesshomaru narrowed his amber-red eyes. The slight pink edging her eyes indicated the demon blood fought back, gaining the upper hand for the moment beneath her skin. Her human cycle relented, tired from the inner battle. Rin's eyes began to glow redder as her anger increased.

"This Sesshomaru made no promises." Sesshomaru reminded her.

"It was implied! I believed in you…almost respected you!" Rin yelled angrily aided by the demon blood in her veins. "I needed you!"

Rin could not think straight, the sight of him difficult to resist. Wild and crazed emotions played with her mind. He caused irrational thoughts to linger pointlessly. Rin realized Sesshomaru was here for one purpose. Her eyes widened. 'Yes, that was the answer!'

"My role was not to be your guardian." Sesshomaru countered. "Your ignorance was your only flaw."

"Your arrogance kept me ignorant." Rin retorted. "Easy to do on a child, isn't it?"

Sesshomaru took a deep breath in, his aristocratic sensibilities insulted. How dare she accuse him of keeping her ignorant! He fisted his hand, clenching his teeth. Anger seethed, threatening his desire to remain civil towards Rin. Apparently, she would not see any level of logical reasoning. Her mind focused on one thing and one thing only.

"You are not expected to understand."

"Once again your aristocratic arrogance rears its ugly head." Rin did not want him here anymore. "Get out of my way! You mean nothing to me!"

His presence confused her mind and her body. Rin did not understand her own thoughts. She wanted him here yet she feared what that meant. This demon…abandoned her when she needed guidance the most. How could she even consider him…suitable? 'Suitable…for what?' Rin did not know her own needs at the moment. The Cycle did the weirdest things to her, she cursed.

Sesshomaru glared at Rin, the woman stood unflinchingly. Her eyes now had an eerie deep red glow around the edges, growing maroon. A fringe of green began to form. The demon blood was taking full control, giving her courage she may not possess as a human. His eyes diverted as her hands gripped her three identical weapons, Tri-sairaikotsu's. 'A foolish decision.'

Rin's attacked fast, throwing her Tri-sairaikotsu's simultaneously. They hashed through the trees, cutting branches and leaves, barreling towards Sesshomaru along the ground from three different directions. He leapt out of the way at the last minute easily, setting down on his feet gracefully in the place he last stood. His hands remained tightly fisted at his side. Sesshomaru wanted to remain in conscious control of his own actions and reactions.

'Damn!' Rin's brow furrowed in disappointment, she was not even an effort to him. That would have to change in the next few seconds.

"There will be no battle." Sesshomaru spoke unhurried. "I will not fight you, Rin."

She spun around, catching her weapons zipping through the air behind her. As if he really ever cared about her! Rin launched her Tri-sairaikotsus again, bending down on one knee. The weapons swirled the dead and dying leaves up from the ground around the Sesshomaru, blinding him from her view. Pulling a sutra from her waist, she held it in both hands out in front of her.

"REPEL!" Rin yelled.

An invisible shield burst forward in a flash of blue-green, tossing up the settling ground coverings, ripping plants from the ground as it propelled towards Sesshomaru. Rin smiled devilishly as her shield sutra crashed into the Dog Demon. 'That'll teach him to underestimate me!' She spotted two important objects on the ground. Rin pulled another sutra from her waist, this one with a different symbol than her first.

"Here." Rin said evenly, the objects obeying her command immediately.

Off balance from his response to Rin, he found his safety at a disadvantage. Blinded by the wall of leaves, Sesshomaru attempted to evade her sutra by launching his body airborne. Too late, the sutra shield hit him hard, throwing him into a tight spin. He twisted in the air, barely landing on his feet, sliding to a stand still, legs severely bent for balance. He rose to stand his full height, his eyes a deep crimson.

Rin smiled, the look of sheer rage changed Sesshomaru's usually expressionless pale face. Here, she believed a more intense battle would be needed. 'That was a first.' He did not show his inner emotions often. Rin succeeded in awakening his rage with a simple sutra. Holding both objects tightly, she crossed them in front of her. This would seal her fate.

Sesshomaru steadied himself, walking towards her. The look in her eyes was unmistakable. Rin meant business, the smile she wore shown on purpose. She dare attempt to best him! 'A mere mortal?' Sesshomaru's anger turned red hot. The scent of her saturated the air around him, driving him to satisfy her desire for battle. Her scent overpowered him. He had gotten too close. Sesshomaru staggered momentarily, regaining his composure. Straightening his back, his eyes glowed red, the purple stripes on his cheeks turned jagged. Then, his eyes widened.

Rin held in each hand Tokijin and Tenseiga crossed in a X-shape at mid-blade. 'How?' She stood meters away once she launched the sutra. He patted his waist to verify their absence. This Sesshomaru underestimated her ability and her intention.

"You will pay for that!" Sesshomaru growled.

Why was she provoking him on purpose? She knew his temperament. Then again, she also knew a good opponent knew the weaknesses of their foe. His eyes flared a deeper crimson. Rin would not be allowed this humiliation. Her games were over!

"Bout time you came out to play." Rin smiled wider.

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Kagome ran fast through the forest. She jumped a log lying on its side, her heart racing in her chest. She saw Sesshomaru heading for Rin's position. 'Not a good sign!' Any demon after Rin was drawn to her by the Cycle, judging by the affect the Cycle had on Shippo even from that great distance. And Miroku assured her that Sesshomaru was in the area.

Sesshomaru was not one to offer a helping hand. Nor was Inuyasha's brother one to be deterred once he made a decision. But, it was Rin. Maybe, just maybe, he still felt something towards Rin. The little voice in the back of her mind said not to trust that minor connection. Sesshomaru did abandon Rin seven years ago. If she meant anything to him, then why did he leave her behind?

Her instincts urged her to move faster. Inuyasha would not be back until after the Cycle passed and both Sango and Miroku had gone off in different directions to look for Rin. Neither of them knew where Rin went after she broke free from the chains. Using her common sense, she followed the nearest demon she came across though she had trouble keeping up with his pace. Still, Kagome felt on the right track. Someone had to make sure Rin was safe.

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The demon hut appeared as if the front entrance of the structure had never been destroyed. Koi's small residence seemed on the brink of bursting with the number of scrolls opened, read and discarded hap-hazardly onto the floor, tables, chairs, the bed and on any available surface. A bony finger scratched his scalp through the piled white hair on his head. The center table cleared of potions and equipment, his eyes bulged out over two scrolls spread before him.

"I doubt even Sesshomaru knows what he's dealing with." Koi said hoarsely. "Most likely he's using previous knowledge of past demon carriers to deal with the Human."

For the first time in ten thousand years, a situation stumped him. A demon of many talents and possessor of all demon knowledge, Koi realized this event with the Human named Rin proved unparalleled. Unprecedented before his time. An ancient scroll off to the side caught his attention. One that had not been opened in a very long while.

Koi reached out and grasped the scroll carefully. The emblem of the Dog General sealed the scroll. How had he missed this? The Great Dog Demon entrusted many scrolls to him prior to his death and had been turned over to Sesshomaru upon his request. Except this one, lying forgotten at the bottom of a musty old trunk.

He unrolled the scroll until a black ink drawing was fully revealed. Koi dropped the scroll, watching it roll again. He sat in shock. Why had he not realized the culprit sooner?

"Rin CAN kill Sesshomaru!" Koi babbled.

He scurried out of his chair, searching for his traveling pack. 'The Human is indeed more potent than the half-breed.' Koi grunted, his aging form aching in every joint. Sesshomaru needed be told about the nature of Rin's true condition. If he was not already engaged in battle.

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Rin smiled as she rose onto her feet, Tokijin and Tenseiga crossed before her. She wanted Sesshomaru angry beyond his aristocratic control. Taking his swords from him was the quickest way to his rage. She breathed deeply, the feeling of success rippled through her body.

"You will pay for that!" Sesshomaru growled.

"Bout time you came out to play." Rin's voice sounded silky.

'Got him!' There was more to his sense of honor she could play into later. She wanted him completely out of control. Could she keep this up? Rin dropped his swords flagrantly, enraging him more. He hesitated, fisting his hands as his body shivered with untold anger and rage. Hands? When had he acquired a left arm? On his way here? No matter, Rin pulled her own sword from its sheath, sealing his perceived humiliation. Sesshomaru, the son of the great Dog Demon General, would not stand for a mortal defying his superior power after all.

"Rin, your actions anger me." Sesshomaru growled.

His eyes narrowed at the woman. Rin understood that he was not to be angered. It took sheer will not to transform and deal with her. Her ability to rouse rage he only felt towards Inuyasha angered him more. She knew his honor stood wounded. This Sesshomaru could not let this humiliation go unpunished.

"Have you gotten weak in your older age?" Rin asked innocently then offered. "Perhaps Inuyasha could give you a few strength lessons with Tetsusaiga?"

'Perfect!' His eyes conveyed his heightened rage at her mention of Inuyasha. Or was it something else? His anger edged over to rage at the mere mention of age, not Inuyasha. She had not expected him to respond so eagerly. Sesshomaru, well demons, she corrected, did not age like humans. Rin doubted Sesshomaru formed another wrinkle on his pale face since she was eleven. She struck a chord he did not know he had.

"Enough!" Sesshomaru stood incredulous.

He heard enough. Age and Inuyasha in the same statement! She dare compare him to a half-breed! His already heightened rage turned to white rage, requiring all the strength he had not to transform into his demon form. There would be no turning back for Rin now. She passed her limit with him!

Rin dodged his outward swipe with his poison claw. There was not much poison on the tips. His claws appeared white, not like the other times when he used it in battle when green poison oozed out in large amounts. He was not taking her seriously, barely keeping his anger towards her in check. He wanted her to pay but he still held back.

Rin jumped out of the way as Sesshomaru lashed out with his whip from two fingers on his right hand. She pivoted, striking forward with her arm. Her blade made contact with his claws. The clang echoed into the forest. They danced around the meadow, evading each other, like a choreographed dance.

She hesitated on purpose. Suddenly, her sword flew from her hand. Rin ducked, evading his out stretched hand. But, she proved too slow. Rin barely missed his other hand, reaching for her neck. With a single kick, she doubled over the Dog Demon and put some distance between them jumping back from him. Sesshomaru stood his full height. Without hesitation, he ran at her with blinding speed. Rin waited, Sesshomaru appeared as a white blur, counting to five before making her first move. Alas, her timing proved off. Sesshomaru blocked her escape, Rin chose to twirl three times to get around him. Her speed was enough to elude him one more time.

Sesshomaru calculated Rin's offensive tactic accurately, as expected. She blinked, finding herself facing Sesshomaru's angered pale face. He gripped her by the waist pulling her against him, her breath crushed out of her. One large hand reached into her hair, gripping her soft tresses then pulled her head back. Rin's eyes widened, slightly watering from the shock of being held firm against him. Being so close to Sesshomaru made her warm, very warm. The red of his eyes were all she saw as he bent his head down, his fangs bared. Her heart fluttered. Would he do it?

'Would Sesshomaru kill her?'

Author's Babbles Again: So...would Sesshomaru kill Rin? A question I often ponder. I LOVE character studies!