CYCLE OF RIN
By Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: You know the routine…yada, yada.
Author's Notes: Well… the next chapter has arrived. There's really not much to add. If this chapter isn't my usual tribute to drama, I apologize. I didn't want to have another repeat of the last little period between chapters. Besides, these next couple of chapters are just transitions for the story line to take the focus of Rin's woes of pregnancy and what Sesshomaru will eventually decide to do with her. Those who know or knew people during a pregnancy, it can be a unique experience and the subject could take a few more chapters. Alas, that would not be as interesting as introducing more villains. There's loads I wish to do with the story line and I'm still getting crazy ideas as we go along. I'm estimating about 30 chapters in this story line total. That's just a rough number right now. Guess I had more to say than I originally thought. Okay…now you can read.
Chapter Sixteen
Marry Rin, Sesshomaru!
Koi stood on his porch, if it could be called that, in the front of his hut. His gray kimono wrinkled horribly from these past few days of non-stop note taking and studying the scroll literature. Since Sesshomaru brought the human to him, there was much to record for the future.
The morning sun shone brightly. A deceptive cover for the events about to unravel within the next month, he mused. Demons began to arrive from near and far. Word spread quickly that the demon bearer recently re-appeared. Any demon of power would come to try their luck.
In the end, it would be the Humans choice.
Suddenly he found a small hand wrapped around his small neck, cutting his breath off. He choked as his feet left the wood planks of the porch. His eyes veered to the side. Rin stood with her arm extended, his elderly demon frame dangling. Green tinge in her eyes indicated that she felt the demon activity.
"You have a lot of explaining to do." Rin said icily.
Koi rolled his eyes. The fourth time someone tried to choke him by dangling him off the floor. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and now Rin for a second time. He was older than all three put together. They could hardly teach him anything new.
"F…felt him, did you?" Koi choked out, his hand on her wrist.
He smacked her wrist, the action forcing her to drop him. He landed softly on the porch, straightening his kimono. Koi knew why Rin came to find him. And it was not about Sesshomaru.
Rin felt no pain associated with his slapping to release him. She kept her eyes on the elderly demon as he made his way back into the tiny hut. The damage she inflicted on the structure on her first visit were nothing more than a memory. Rin followed the demon into his home.
'Not him." Rin frowned. "But I did feel something."
The interior of the old structure remained unchanged. The center table and stool remained covered with books mainly. Any of the bottles she saw last time were gone, stowed on one of many shelves adorning the walls. The bed remained in the same place against the wall opposite the door.
"Another demon then?" Koi refrained from smiling.
"I think so." Rin did not know who else to ask. "But…there's more than one. I chased one for some distance before losing it…a male one."
Rin could only describe the past twenty-four hours as unusual. She felt the movement of many auras around her. She detected no scents on the air but knew living creatures were close by. And they were not Human. She discovered this morning that demons milled around the country side, sometimes in groups or alone. Why were they seemingly congregating?
"A side effect of your poisoning, I'm afraid."
Koi walked to the center table, rounding it to face her. Rin followed him to the table, standing across from him. He pushed an open book towards the human. Her eyes stared down at the pictures drawn meticulously by hand onto the page.
"Why am I feeling them?" Rin did not know how to feel with all of these new sensations, finding the pictures in the book before her unhelpful. "I've never felt them before."
"The child you carry is responsible for that." Koi pointed at the bottom corner. "As the demon bearer, you will experience demons in ways no other human ever has. Additionally, the magic of the Hell Fire Dragon blood in your veins gives you the added ability of demons."
"You mentioned this before." Or something like it, Rin vaguely remembered.
"It's a lot to take in all at once." Koi noticed Rin's swelling bosom. "Sesshomaru hasn't been to see you?"
"Not recently." She shrugged. "He's been avoiding me."
"Most certainly not because of you." Koi smiled weakly. "His duty. Sesshomaru tries to resist his part in your condition. He forgets that he is to take care of you now."
"It's working." Rin chewed her lower lip anxiously.
She missed him. Not because she wanted his company but because she wanted to feel his lips on hers again. Rin wanted to put her arms around him and feel his warmth. The passion they shared their last night…she wanted that again.
"Call him to you." Koi shrugged.
"What?" Rin's eyes widened.
"Call him." Koi trained his eyes on Rin. "You have the power now."
"The power." Rin repeated.
The demon Koi mentioned that the power of demons was at her disposal. He stared at her as if expecting her to know how to manipulate this power. Nothing obvious came to her how to proceed. Did all demons know about this power? Or was it exclusive to the stronger ancient demon clans only?
A part of him smiled that the young girl appeared so innocent outwardly. She could not fathom how to call upon Sesshomaru. Still, he could feel her aura. Since her pregnancy, her aura generated a demonic signature. Strange for a Human even with the Hell Fire Dragon magic in her blood, Koi theorized. Perhaps the Human named Rin was poisoned with more than just a minute fraction.
Koi knew he tread on fragile ground. Many demons would snub another demon if they aided a Human. But he needed first hand experience with the unprecedented Demon Bearer being a full Human. And that required interaction with Rin. He shook his head.
"I don't believe I'm condoning this." Koi sighed heavily. "But, it can't be helped. Concentrate on what you wish to call upon, Rin. You must know clearly what it is you want. Only then can you call what you seek to you."
"I see." Rin understood.
She closed her eyes when a smile crossed her lips. Sesshomaru's amber eyes appeared in her minds eye. His long silver hair flowing in the breeze around his face. 'This part won't be difficult.'
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The memory bothered her. Kagome sat at the breakfast table with Rin beside her. Rin kept quiet, poking her food with her chopsticks, uninterested in eating. Unusual for Rin since her bottomless appetite continued to amaze everyone during her pregnancy. Kagome knew there was a problem. A big problem…called Sesshomaru.
"What is it?" Rin did not look up but could feel the tension between them.
"Well…" Kagome wanted to ask before Rin left on her mission.
"Kagome, what do you want to know?"
Rin knew this was coming. Kagome could see the young woman expected it from her expression. Unlike Sesshomaru, Rin did not try to hide her feelings when she was around people who genuinely cared about her. Difficult for her to accept once she came to live with them. Rin eventually opened up to them. And Rin talked often. It was her way to unload the burdens on her mind. Rin often discussed her missions upon her return. But her heart remained closed tight.
"You seem a little down lately." Kagome watched Rin closely.
"Dealing with Inuyasha's older brother does that to me." Rin leaned back, her muscles felt warm and tingly. "I've faced my feelings…but I don't know what to do from here."
"Has he done something?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Oh…I see." Kagome let a small smile touch her lips. "It's what he hasn't done that's got you all worked up."
"What?" Rin tried to act astonished but failed.
"Sex. He hasn't touched you for what…two weeks now. At least?" Kagome smiled slyly. "That's Sesshomaru for you. Bet he's trying to prove that he can defeat his natural instincts to mate you every time he comes to feed."
"Every week." Rin rolled her eyes, patting her growing bosom. "Nothing."
"He'll cave." Kagome concluded confidently.
All men caved eventually, whether human or demon. Did not matter what species you came from, Kagome realized then. It was the nature of men to act on their attraction to a woman. Was it built into their genetics?
"You think so?" Rin shifted her eyes to look at Kagome.
"Know so." Kagome had smiled. "All men fall to a woman, Rin. Except for those that like other men."
"Men like men?" Rin frowned at this.
"Never mind." Kagome shrugged then smiled at Rin. "Anyway, Sesshomaru's in denial. Once he realizes that he can't defeat it, he'll come calling. It's inevitable."
That was where Rin's last breakfast with her ended prior to Rin's departure on the mission. Rin had been gone for almost a week now.
Kagome did not know what came over her. This was all Inuyasha's fault. He would pay for this later, she decided. Telling her all about Sesshomaru's reaction to his taunts put ideas in her head. With her bow and arrows, she had gone off looking for his older brother just to get what bothered her about this whole mess with Rin off her chest.
And find Sesshomaru she did. He seemed to not notice when she stepped out from the forest ahead of him. Walking towards him, he still paid her no attention. This irritated Kagome. Sesshomaru actually seem pre-occupied today. His pale face appeared expressionless as usual but his eyes were trained on no particular object as he walked towards her.
"Marry her, Sesshomaru!" Kagome said loudly.
Sesshomaru stopped in mid-stride, shifting his eyes up to her face. Kagome felt nothing from him in the form of anger. He regarded her for a moment then continued on his way, passing her without giving her another glance. Kagome would not give up, fisting her hands tightly.
"You heard me, you jerk!" Kagome folded her arms defiantly. "Marry Rin."
This made Sesshomaru stop again. Was it the 'you jerk' art that did it? She smiled at that. Kagome unfolded her arms, ready to take him on if necessary. Sesshomaru would not harm her knowing Inuyasha would come looking for revenge if anything happened to her. He faced her, his amber eyes meeting hers.
"Marry?" Sesshomaru repeated quizzically.
His brother's woman seemed adamant today. Marry Rin? Take a human for his wife? 'How absurd,' he thought. This Sesshomaru will do nothing of the sort. The decision was final.
"Don't act stupid. I know you aren't." Sesshomaru did not seem interested in marriage, angering Kagome more. "You've taken everything from her, Sesshomaru. Haven't you given any thought about that? No…probably not. Men are so dense. Hello…you abandoned her as a child and now she carries your child. At least give her some dignity back."
"You believe Rin has lost dignity?"
"Carrying your child, everyone knows how it works." Kagome took a brazen step forward. "She's just another wayward woman, used by a demon. Considered worthless. Most of the people she considered friends have abandoned her because of you."
"Your fears are unfounded." Sesshomaru turned back towards the path he had been walking. "Rin has no need for such shallow friends. Nor have you abandoned her."
"You think you're just going to reap the benefits of this curse Rin's under and get away with it?" Kagome narrowed her eyes. "That she'll give you demon children until her body's no longer useful to you? Then what? You'll abandon her like you did the first time? Have you even considered Rin in all of this?"
Sesshomaru faced Kagome once more.
"You go too far, miko."
The fact bothered Sesshomaru was the ambiguous nature of the solution. He simply did not know what to do about Rin. However, this Sesshomaru was not prepared to make that statement to his brother's woman. Times were too dangerous in the coming month.
"Struck a nerve, eh?" Kagome challenged.
Sesshomaru felt a slight tug on his aura. He narrowed his eyes then shifted them to the surrounding forest, turning his head to scan the vicinity. Kagome watched him closely as he passed over her with his eyes. Kagome glanced around as well. Had she felt the shift in the air surrounding him?
Without warning, Sesshomaru transformed into a flash of white light before Kagome, disappearing over the trees.
"If Sesshomaru thinks he's getting away with this…" Kagome placed her hands on her hips angrily. "He's got another coming."
He's going to marry Rin.
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Mayuki in her pure white kimono walked ahead of Katenomaru and Kaori. Her small pale face showed no expression nor did her eyes wander around the countryside. It was odd to find this many members of a single clan together in one place.
"Why have you decided to take on Sesshomaru so early brother?" Kaori did not bother to look at her twin brother Katenomaru. "He knows you're here."
Her blue hair hung swished as a breeze swept past them. Her white with blue-patched flowers kimono defended against the increasing wind. She placed a slender hand on her sword sheathed at her waist by a red and green sash tied into a bow. The furry boa wrapped around her neck moved with every step, hung over her shoulder to her ankle.
"I take it your visit wasn't welcomed after all?" Katenomaru asked with mild amusement.
The only East Dog Demon Clan member of the group walked with a stately gait dressed in his white kimono and red sash around his waist securing his armor and sword in place. Blue waves decorated the kimono at the cuffs and both shoulders. The white furry sash hung slack off his shoulders. Both ends hung loose just past his knees and swished with every step. His hair hung loose with small locks tied by a ribbon behind his pointed ears. Many demons told him he resembled his father. Katenomaru frowned upon this correlation. He wanted to make sure his reputation never tarnished like his father's.
"The clans of the west and east have never been on speaking terms." Kaori hid her disappointment. "Sesshomaru has no doubts that you have come for the Demon Bearer. The woman has a history with Sesshomaru."
"She traveled with him over the course of five years in the past." Mayuki added from behind. "It seems Sesshomaru does have a small heart. To allow a human to live let alone travel with him meant she held some special gift."
"The reason she is the demon bearer." Katenomaru concluded.
Kaori stopped walking.
"Could Sesshomaru have known about the girl's future then?"
"Doubtful." Katenomaru turned to face his sister. "No one knows when the Demon Bearer will appear. It was nothing more than luck."
"Katenomaru?" Mayuki smelled Humans ahead. "Why do we head for a Human village?"
"I want to visit a relative of Sesshomaru's." Katenomaru allowed himself to smile openly. "I wish to introduce myself."
Kaori smiled at that. 'Liar. He just wants to meet the only person who could hold Sesshomaru off in battle. And then defeat him.'
Maybe learn a few things from the half-breed in the process. Her brother Katenomaru was no fool. Sesshomaru of the Western clan traveled these lands looking to battle only the strongest demons. His journey was well documented by his faithful servant and other demons he passed along the way. Word eventually got back to the Eastern clans. No doubt Katenomaru knew his opponent would, indeed, be strong.
'Stronger than Katenomaru, perhaps?' Mayuki added.
She knew how Kaori thought but kept her opinions silent, eyeing the siblings before her. Kaori proved to be a bit jealous and overly possessive creature where males were concerned. And she especially wanted Sesshomaru for herself. Had wanted the Son of the Dog General for many years now. This would be a difficult time for the Demon Bearer since the Human had Sesshomaru's full attention.
The three continued on their journey in silence.
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His breath caught in his chest momentarily as his journey came to an end. The bright transport light dissipated as he turned back into human form. His knees buckled instantly, falling the Dog Demon to his knees on the floor before Rin, sitting on the bed where she lay sick on her first visit to this place.
Sesshomaru did not expect to appear in Koi's hut. Nor did he expect Rin to be waiting there for him either. Her cheeks were flushed pink against the pale of her skin. Her kimono hung loose on her shoulders, the swell of her bosom called out to him.
Rin just sat watching him from Koi's bed, her arms by her side. Her eyes were wide and glistened in the minimal light from the windows. She appeared to be just amazed that he arrived here. Only one explanation could be made. Sesshomaru had been summoned…
By Rin.