CYCLE of RIN

By Lady JenDragon

Disclaimer: Don't own it, I'm done.

Author's Notes: Sorry for the long wait…again. School got finished and then the Holidays crept up and pounced on me. Happy Holidays to Everyone! Ok, took me a while to brainstorm for the next few chapters. Wanted to create something a bit more meaty but this will have to do. Wanted to get more action in here as well. Anyway, there's the whole thing with time constraints. School's starting again. Ug! I feel this chapter is a bit short for my liking. But it moves the story a forward. Enjoy anyway. Working on the next chapter as well. Hope to have it up soon.

And to the wonderful reviewer that asked a good question: Yes I stole the name of Katenomaru's sword from Naruto. Rasengan. It was the closest name to what I intend to do with this sword and was my main motive for borrowing the name. Plus, I don't know much Japanese so I'm only left with stealing. But, since I'm a big fan of Naruto I don't think anyone will hold it against me. Haven't seen it in English. I'm almost afraid to even watch the dubbed version since I find the Japanese voices unique and cannot fathom finding a suitable English match. Have a story going on for that one too. I do love being busy!

Okay, you can read now.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The Second Swordmaker

Rin stood frozen beside Sesshomaru, staring at the elderly demon Koi. His bulging eyes only centered on the Dog Demon. Judging by Sesshomaru's silence, both understood that there was the distinct possibility that this sword could kill…

'Me!' Rin screamed in her head.

But the child within her stopped her from dying before, Rin reasoned. Would it not stop a sword this time? Did the sword have some magic power over the curse of the Demon Bearer? Koi appeared to know more about the history of demons and what she was supposed to do about these situations now beginning to arise. Irritatingly so. Learning that her body desired Sesshomaru, the demon she served as a child, hurt her more than any sword. But she accepted her place. Could she not learn to accept that the possibility existed and find the solution to not 'die' by the sword's owner?

"Rin, you must stay away from all demons." Koi warned. "The child within you only provides some minute amount of protection. But, it won't matter against powerful demons like Sesshomaru. There are some who know that you will only respond to strength. Your child will drop its guard around such strength. These demons may try to harm you any way they can if you decide they aren't worthy."

"Cowards." Rin shrugged. "They can challenge me all they want."

She would take them all on. The thought of another demon touching her made her sick. Her stomach seemed to wretch at the very idea. Rin frowned, concentrating on not doing just that right now.

"It is not you who will be challenged." Sesshomaru shifted his eyes to Rin.

Rin stared at Sesshomaru cautiously. Why was he the only one who needed to battle? Should she not have some say in this? She had not thought Sesshomaru would need to be tested. His strength and tenderness convinced her once their relationship began that he was the strongest demon. But that could be just bias, Rin reasoned silently. Admittedly, this determination was not because of her. The child within her, so small and just developing, controlled all that happened between them. Ultimately, it was the demon blood poisoning that brought them back together. And decided everything. She was just the carrier. This annoyed her.

"I have no say in any of this?" Rin narrowed her eyes. "Only Sesshomaru gets to fight?"

"I'm afraid so." Koi nodded. "This has been the way of the Demon Bearer for thousands of years. All have followed the same path."

"But none were human?" Rin asked, pointing out the difference.

"No, no other human has survived any demon poisoning let alone carry a full demon to term." Koi agreed. "However, you have followed the behavioral patterns past Demon Bearers have shown, Rin. I surmise that you will wait to discover who the strongest demon truly is and make him the permanent father of your child."

"How is this possible?" Rin did not want to hear anymore yet her curiosity got the best of her. "How can the child…become someone else's if it started out as his?"

"The nature of the Fire Dragon of Hell." Koi moved to the human, taking her hands in his bony ones. "A creature of constant change and unmatched magic. Its blood properties are not fully known but it alters anything it touches. No demon is completely immune to this dragon. Most demons change as a result of becoming infected if they even survive. This lack of knowledge makes it difficult to understand why you survived. There a very few Hell Dragons, especially ones that surface among humans."

"Am I to understand that past Demon Bearers have run into these dragons?" Rin queried.

Another demon could become the father of her child. The thought sent chills down her spine. How could she think another demon could be stronger than Sesshomaru? He was all she knew. Sesshomaru defeated all of his opponents with such grace and elegance of a seasoned master. Who could possibly rise up to challenge him?

"Yes." Sesshomaru answered this time. "Their half-breed nature saved them from death."

"But you forget that there are other magical demons as well, Sesshomaru." Koi interrupted. "However, the Hell Dragon is the most magical."

"I don't understand." Rin shook her head confused.

"There are properties of human blood that are similar to demon's." Koi ignored Sesshomaru's cold stare over divulging demon knowledge to a human. "Those similarities allow demon's and human's to occasionally create a half-breed. In the case of the Hell Dragon, the demon dragon blood mixes with another's and changes its blood chemistry to stabilize. Volatile stuff that blood is once removed from the body."

"Is this why most do not live?" Rin understood the basic explanation. "This blood attempting to control mine, it did not find a way to compromise with the…host?"

"You do understand." Koi smiled toothily. "You've taught her well Sesshomaru."

"I learned it through Kagome." Rin corrected Koi avoiding Sesshomaru's gaze. "She has explained much about the advancements of her people."

Then Rin felt the shift in her stomach, her hand covering her abdomen. She turned to face the west window. Some distant power drew her to walk to the window. Her eyes shifted to the tree line, watching the horizon for something. What was she waiting for to appear?

"You feel it, don't you?" Koi followed behind Rin. "Rasengan knows where you are. It wishes to seek you out."

"It found me?" Rin asked mesmerized by the lure of this aura asking for her attention.

"Yes." Koi glanced over his shoulder at Sesshomaru watching Rin. "Legend has it that a pregnant woman was within distance of the sword when it was in its final stages of formation."

"Totosai?" Rin asked softly.

"No." Koi sighed. "The maker is only known as the Second Swordmaker. The creator of Rasengan is the descendant of the maker of Sounga. I believe you remember that sword."

Rin knew the sword from her childhood. It almost destroyed the lands if Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had not stepped in to stop its effort and thrust it into the pits of hell. A long time had passed before hearing about it again. What kind of person was this second Swordmaker? One who continued to make weapons of such discord?

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The field disappeared in the bright white light as both swords clashed for the first time. Kagome squeezed her eyes closed to escape the blinding light. An arm slipped around her waist dragging her backwards as a slender hand covered her mouth. Kagome's scream caught in her throat. She would not be able to help Inuyasha!

'Where are Sango and Miroku?' Kagome watched helplessly.

Inuyasha dodged a blind attack, using Tetsusaiga's sheath to save himself. Whatever this Rasengan sword was, it certainly was a nuisance. Reminded him of another sword he battled in the past. Sounga. His father's evil cursed sword that few demons could possess and now rested in the depths of hell.

"You see Inuyasha!" Katenomaru spoke loud enough to be heard across the battlefield. "Tetsusaiga's power has been matched!"

"Whatever!" Inuyasha brought Tetsusaiga over his head and slammed it down before him. "WINDSCAR!"

Four yellowish claws of power traveled from Tetsusaiga's tip towards Katenomaru. Another Dog Demon came to tell him all about his unworthiness. 'Well, we'll see about that!' Inuyasha's eyes widened as Tetsusaiga's Wind-Scar dissipated before destroying the rival demon.

Katenomaru, on one knee, kept both eyes on Inuyasha as he got to his feet.

"Shall we start again, Inuyasha?" Katenomaru smiled. "I have yet to show you Rasengan's true power. I certainly hope you've learned to do more with that Backlash wave of yours."

Inuyasha suddenly felt doubtful. Katenomaru made it seem that his sword Rasengan could rival the Backlash wave. Was that possible? Totosai would not make another destructive sword equal to Tetsusaiga. The old demon only made the Tetsusaiga because it had the benevolent twin Tenseiga. Plus, there was his father's reputation to consider as a factor for Totosai's decision to take on the project. He would have to pay Totosai a visit one of these days.

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Jaken stared wide-eyed at the horror lying before him. The lush of the valley was marred by the smell of death and the decay of bodies. Demons, by the hundreds, littered the valley floor, the once green region now brown and blackened.

A serious battled took place here. His task, to find out more about the demons flocking to find Rin, would not be compromised by this little side visit. Ah-Une grunted beside him, disturbed by the scene. Jaken agreed with Ah-Une. Rin was in serious trouble.

"Yes." Jaken said thoughtfully. "I know its Rasengan!"

He raised his nose at Ah-Une's grunting. How could he mistake the signature mark for any other sword? Tetsusaiga and Tokijin both had distinctive damage paths left after a battle. Many demons liked to leave their mark on their defeated opponents. That was how reputations were made and destroyed.

Then the scars in the ground caught his attention. The slight curve of the deep gouges made him shiver. Suddenly his eyes widened. 'Could it be?' Jaken's breath caught in his chest. If it was what he thought, he should return to Lord Sesshomaru immediately and warn him.

"Let's go!"

His master must be told! Yesterday.

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The battle was going well for Katenomaru, Kaori reasoned, annoyed that she was forbidden to interfere under any circumstances. His skills had improved immensely with the intense and excessive training over the past three years. But still, his power was not on the same level as Sesshomaru of the Western Clan, at least in her opinion anyway. Nor did Katenomaru have the reputation Sesshomaru possessed.

Kaori did not feel the air separate until the last second before the weapon made its appearance. She left the miko behind to die, landing a hundred feet away on the edge of the field. Mayuki watched Katenomaru from some place behind a thick tree, staying out of the fight and out of sight. Kaori breathed a deep sigh, unsure how she felt about this new addition. Hardly a threat but the demonslayers skill was well known. Association with Inuyasha made anyone a point of interest.

Kagome felt relief as Hairaikotsu swirled and spliced the air just above her head. Sango must be nearby but keeping her position hidden. This would give her time to get her bow and arrows. Miroku must be nearby as well.

"Didn't think we'd ever get here!" Miroku ran past Kagome.

He threw several sutras at Kaori, two of them landing on the demon's arm around Kagome. They burned, forcing Kaori to release drop her arm, releasing Kagome. She took off after Miroku. Sango would be here shortly after her weapon. First things first, she needed to get to safety.