CYCLE OF RIN

By Lady JenDragon

Disclaimer: I don't own the Inuyasha characters.

Chapter Eight

Bitten

Sesshomaru dipped his head then released her immediately, his own anger shakey. He threw Rin backwards easily, wiping his mouth with his acquired hand. His body felt the primal need, the taste of her blood only solidified his heightened desires.

Rin landed on her side, skidding to a halt in the dirt. She rolled over, confused. Why hadSesshomaru released her so quickly? Could he not bring himself to harm her? Sesshomaru held her so close, he was ready to rip her apart. 'Damn, so close.' She noticed her sword nearby, grasping it off the ground, Rin got onto her feet. She would make him kill her! Then the pain registered.

Blood oozed from the fresh neck wound, injury rocked her senses as the result of his attack ceased her body. Pain spiked hot from her neck. Rin swiped her hand over the torn fabric, ripped by Sesshomaru's fangs, covering the puncture wound. He bit her deeply. Rin's anger flared once more. 'How dare he!'

"You bit me!" Rin gritted through clenched teeth. "PAY!"

He would not be allowed this humiliation. Her own abilities were empowered by the demon blood coursing through her veins. She had energy to do some damage to a demon. Hell, she had killed dozens of demons at once in the past few years.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Rin's sword clutched in both small hands. Fury flared, his entire being glowed hot. Why did she continue to challenge him? 'Thoughtless on Rin's behalf indeed.' His eyes burned deep crimson as his rage boiled, clouding his judgment. Once the battle was won, he would reap his rewards.

Her attack came fast, came furious. Sesshomaru neglected to account for the demon blood in her veins contributing to her physical strength. Rin did not possess the power of a demon, yet, she came at him like those of his equal. Once again, she surprised him. He spun twice, catching her neck in his much larger right hand. Sesshomaru lifted her off the ground by her throat.

"Twice you wage your blade in defiance!"

"Then…k…kill me!" Rin choked out.

Rin's eyes watered in Sesshomaru's tight grip, locked on his. 'Please, make him kill me!' Her grip on her sword hung slack at her side, surrendering to her chosen fate.

Suddenly, Sesshomaru's eyes widened with realization, his fury dispelled quickly. His eyes changed from crimson to amber, his anger completely gone. Sesshomaru dropped Rin from his grasp and staggered back. It was there in her eyes the entire time. Rin played his anger to force an attack. She wanted him to end her misery. Did she not understand her position? Rin stared up at him, her watery eyes conveyed her utter disappointment. His body shuddered from his own desperate need.

Rin choked in air as she landed on the ground hard too weak to keep her feet, rolling onto her back. 'It should've worked.' What happened? Had he figured out her plan? Immediately, her hand went to the wound on her neck. Why did he not kill her! Rin cursed her failed attempt, forcing her body to sit up. He would never hesitate to kill a Human. Why had he stopped? Rin felt hot tears of anger stinging her already watery eyes.

Sesshomaru underestimated her on every level, his demon logic against her human simplicity. He assumed Rin would never become his opponent. Her scent reeked of desire for him, ensuring he would come to find her. She planned it perfectly. Using all the knowledge she knew to attempt to die in battle. Without surrender, without compromising. None of the other demons would have done in her plan. Only him. His well known detest of Humans used against him. Her ignorance almost worked.

"You are neither dying nor transforming, Rin." Sesshomaru's voice was gentle. "I will not kill you."

Rin did not want gentleness, choking back the tears of failure. She wanted death! Why would he stand there and let her suffer? Anger rose inside her. The mighty Sesshomaru could not kill her?

"Do you despise me so much to condemn me!" Her voice quivered with rage.

"Condemn?"

"You've marked me!' Rin got onto her feet, turning her face up to him. "Do you not realize what this means! What you've done to me!"

Sesshomaru took a step back. Blood burned through her scent and took hold of his senses. His eyes shifted to the wound on her neck, the torn material over her skin. She winced in pain as she swiped a hand over his deed, holding the bloodied hand out towards him. When had he bitten her? He could smell the fresh blood oozing from the wound, the need within overpowering the scent of blood. Rin was right, he had condemned her instead of protecting her. 'Protect her?'

"Kill me!" Rin demanded.

"I will not." Sesshomaru responded evenly.

Sesshomaru could not, would not kill her. Her death made little sense to him. Seven years separated them. But, Rin hadn't grown to hate him like he expected. Sesshomaru looked into the forest ahead of him. New scents permeated the air.

"Coward." She retorted. "Can't even handle a little human."

"Your words are empty." Sesshomaru eyed her.

"You hate Humans!" Rin turned from him. "Why should I be any different?"

Rin picked up her discarded weapons, placing them back into their sheaths at her waist. If Sesshomaru would not kill her, she would find someone who would.

Suddenly, the forest came alive with the sounds of cracking trees and splitting bushes. Rin spun to face the on-coming assault. Demons, hundreds of them, were coming for her, the first wave emerging from the forest's edge. Mostly weak demons but, at least, she could burn off some steam. 'Ah, right on cue.'

Sesshomaru watched Rin confounded. Was the pain of the Cycle so miserable to make death more desirable than life? His eyes lifted to the forest as the trees fell to the side. There seemed to viable solution to Rin's predicament. Except one. Sesshomaru moved and retrieved Tokijin with his right hand off the ground.

Demons launched themselves from the forest edge towards Rin.

Rin stood ready as the first wave launched from the forest's edge. She pulled her weapons from her waist, arms outstretched to her sides, tense in the anticipation of another battle. She blinked, the demons suddenly skidded to a halt. The lust in their eyes was unmistakable. Why had they stopped?

"Sesshomaru…" One weasel demon moved ahead of the others and bowed. "We did not know you'd already claimed her."

Rin turned to find Sesshomaru close behind her, Tokijin in his extended hand. His eyes were deep crimson, his silver hair flowing behind him in the wind. Then it sunk in why he would not kill her. He was ready to defend his claim with full power.

Suddenly, everything made sense all at once. All of her attempts to get him to kill her…were just a game to him! Her own body betrayed her without her knowledge. 'No, no, this wasn't supposed to be happening!' This was not what she wanted. Rin turned to run from Sesshomaru, finding his left arm around her.

Sesshomaru launched into the air with Rin tightly under his arm, rising high above the trees. Her eyes could only stare at the ground falling away fast below. Where would he take her now?

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Kagome skidded to a halt. Both hands over her mouth, her eyes widened. Rin struggled in Sesshomaru's grip under his left arm, her face flushed with exertion. He had succeeded in acquiring her for himself. Damn him!

"Fight him, Rin!"

Suddenly, Sango and Miroku burst through the forest, running to Kagome. They both noticed her worried face, turning their eyes to the sky.

"Kagome, what is it?" Miroku asked cautiously.

"Sesshomaru has Rin!" Kagome pointed west. "They went that way."

"Come on!"

Miroku led the way, Sango and Kagome followed blindly.

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Rin felt the hum in her body, the need in her hips churned, in response to the warmth of Sesshomaru at her back. This did not turn out like she wanted. His arm held her tight against him as he descended back into the trees. She failed to locate herself once he landed on the forest floor. He flashed through the trees, emerging in a clearing.

Three hut-like structures occupied one corner of the clearing, in various stages of disrepair, abandoned some time ago. The bamboo door hung open of the center hut, there were no windows on this side she could see. Sesshomaru crossed the clearing in a blur, entering the first hut they came to.

The bright moon shone through the slits in the roof. Rin tripped over the raised floor when Sesshomaru released her suddenly. She barely kept her feet, climbing onto the raised floor, pushing herself up against the wall farthest from him. The more space between them, the better. There were too few places to go. An old mattress lay off to her right near the corner and the fire ring in the center of the raised platform. He planned to absorb her demon powers, what little she possessed, here. It was not supposed to be this way. Not with him!

Rin stopped noticing Sesshomaru watching her slide along the wall. Was he playing with her? She did not know what the next step was. Would she find an opening? Her hand passed over a loose board at her back. Pushing her fingers through the opening, her hand fit through. 'A way out!' Slowly, she wriggled the board to loosen it more. Sesshomaru's gentle voice disrupted the silence.

"There is no escape, Rin."

Rin's anger flared at his words. She was demonslayer! If she made no stand now, everything she accomplished meant nothing.

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Koi reached the area where he last detected both Sesshomaru and the Human woman, slightly out of breath considering he carried a thick book with him. All he found were a bunch of demons milling around. Some fought one another, others began their return to where ever they lived, some decided to just sit and brood. His mouth hung open, surprised by the number of demons she attracted to this location.

"No doubt about it." Koi rubbed his chin. "Sesshomaru has her now."

His eyes panned towards the sky at the bright moon coming up over the horizon. Darkness was upon them. Soon, very soon, history would be made should Sesshomaru succeed this night.

"Or I should say, Rin has Sesshomaru now."

Koi turned and found a towering angry half-demon standing in his way, arms folded across his chest. The younger dog demon brother of Sesshomaru! Had to be Inuyasha; the fluffy ears on his head, long white mane, amber eyes and the Fire-rat kimono were proof enough as to the identity of the half-demon attacking him. Inuyasha was not to be taken likely from all accounts. Though only a half demon, he proved to be a strong opponent. He survived countless attacks from his brother, Sesshomaru. The book he carried dropped to the grass, forgotten momentarily.

"I've been looking for you!" Inuyasha growled.

"Oh…oh really?" Koi backed away. "Why would you be looking for me?"

"I'm told you know what's going on." Inuyasha took a step towards the elderly demon.

"Me…" Koi waved him off. "I know…I know nothing!"

Inuyasha closed the distance between them, his hand circling the demons neck. His anger and his patience were peaked. He wanted answers even if he had to kill someone to get them. He could not let harm come to Rin.

"Now TELL ME! What's happening?" Inuyasha growled out. "I can smell Rin from here!"

"L…let m…me…breathe." Koi choked out.

Inuyasha dropped Koi to the grass. His eyes veered to the bright full moon rising above the horizon. Rin condition would worsen once the full moon approached. It meant something would happen this night. Whatever that was, Inuyasha could only guess. He knew enough that demons often performed rituals during full moons to increase power. What did it have to do with Rin?

"Tell me!" He demanded.

"She's mating!" Koi rubbed his throat as he stood up. "What else!"

He coughed several times under the watchful stare of Inuyasha. The half-demon would not be easy to convince. Though part human, he had many demon qualities that require finesse on his part. Koi needed to be mindful of his words.

"It can't be that simple!" Inuyasha growled.

"Why not?" Koi looked into Inuyasha's amber eyes.

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed at the old demon. It could not be that simple. Rin would not behave this way if she were after a mate. Humans did not behave like demons in that arena. Besides, why would Rin be after Sesshomaru?