CYCLE OF RIN
By Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: You know the routine…yada, yada.
Author's Notes: Once again I'm plagued by long periods between updates. I'll stop apologizing since it's going to happen again. I'm within 4 months of graduation and I must spend all my time on school. You'll just have to forgive me for taking so long. But, I'll be back. Hopefully before a couple months. Until then, read and enjoy this next chapter.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Future Unknown
Bright auburn shone in the sunlight, the long tresses allowed to fall freely around squarish shoulders. The red lines that accentuated her large eyes fringed by reddish lashes were not affect by the bright light. Her silken green and white kimono hung creaseless on her tall trim frame. The sword earrings clanked with high-pitched clinks as she walked. The gold bracelets spiraling around each wrist in thick twists were in forms of dragons and snakes. Her black handmade shoes turned brown from the miles she traveled to reach her destination. Black shiny armor was tied into place with a deep maroon sash at the waist.
Kensaia walked with authority and confidence. No demon could defeat her in conventional battle. Every battle entered, she came out the victor. She worked hard to achieve her status and would not allow some old demon to tarnish it.
"He will pay dearly." She shook her head. "Coward."
As soon as she could find the damn demon, her revenge could be dealt with and forgotten. But the demon was not at home when she arrived. So, she set off in search of him.
Most likely off to find ingredients for another sword he had been hired to create. There was only one place the Swordmaker would mine his metals. The Valley of Demons. A place no one dared to enter for its inhabitant was a giant serpent named Rioukotsu.
But, the news of Inuyasha's defeat of the serpent some years ago made her wonder if Totosai continued to extract his metals from the same spot now that its location was no longer protected. Most demons were creatures of old habits. Some were more difficult to break than others. For a skilled metalist, material sources were highly guarded and never shared.
Common sense told her to check the Valley first then find the other Swordmaker. That proved to be a fruitless side trip. The caves and valley remained abandoned. No one dared entered the area. Even in death, the serpent demon still caused fear in lesser demons. That journey ended, Kensaia arrived to find the Swordmaker in his owns lands.
However, she wanted to arrive before noon rather than arriving later in the evening. She wanted to catch him off guard. If Totosai knew she was coming, he might take off and go off into the forest to hide. A frightful old demon indeed. But, she found his home empty for some days. How would he know of her arrival if she decided upon the journey only a week ago? Did he have more than just metal skills?
But that was not all she had come to accomplish. There was another task that required her immediate attention. One she put off long enough. The thorn in her side would soon be disposed. Now it was time to face the bane of her existence.
Sesshomaru.
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Amber eyes studied the deep gouges in the earth were indeed a gentler crescent shape, like the emblem of the Eastern clans. The crescent-shape Katenomaru did not inherit. The Western clans crescent shape was more curved, almost forming the complete circumference of the moon. The shape his father did not inherit from grand-father either.
Each end of the gouges curved to a tight point or apex. The marks were decisive and meant to kill on the first attempt. Of which the attack succeeded over and over. Rasengan was not a sword that killed in large numbers like Tetsusaiga.
"You see, my Lord." Jaken bowed as he pointed at the valley riddled with dead demons. "Just as I said. Rasengan left a very large mess in its wake."
Sesshomaru stood at the end of the valley, Jaken by his side. The white kimono and dog demon sash flowed gently on the light breeze. His long white hair flickered on the air, occasionally rustling in the stronger wind. He stood straight and aristocratic. Despite the smell of death, Sesshomaru made no move to travel among them. He did not need to observe the damage closely to understand its meaning.
"Indeed." Sesshomaru spoke quietly.
Indeed his minion did speak the truth. However, even Jaken did not see the obvious difference in the path of the damage. Though Rasengan was tainted with the blood of a Hell Dragon, the sword also exhibited behavior not seen before. The mystery of Rasengan's disappearance thousands of years ago, in addition to its sudden reappearance in the hands of such an unworthy opponent, lured him to see for himself the damage reeked by the ancient sword.
A sword of sleek design with gold hilt and the blessing by a magical demon earned Rasengan's rank as a sword of honor. Knowledge of the sword's existence leaked out and many demons came looking for it. The arrival of the Demon Bearer and Rasengan's role in the fate of the last half-breed to hold the title made the sword more desired. Demons of every family stampeded to obtain Rasengan. Those who possessed it did not remain its owner for very long. No one knew why.
Its secrets remained hidden to this day.
Sounga was forged by the predecessor of the current Swordmaker and responsible for Rasengan. At least that was the generally accepted story by most demons. Some believed the Second Swordmaker molded Rasengan and unleashed it as an answer to Sounga. No one knew the identity of the Second Swordmaker. However, such an abomination as Rasengan was interesting enough to make the effort to find out more about the demon behind the sword worthwhile. Sesshomaru knew he would find a most challenging opponent in this other Swordmaker.
Totosai's work was indeed commendable, his hand over Tokijin's hilt as if to remind him of the asset it took sometime to convince the old demon to agree to create specifically for Sesshomaru. The elderly demon proved difficult and stubborn but eventually he relented. Not unlike his little brother. The one person Totosai sought when he fled from his cave and flames to hide behind.
But, he had no time to think about visiting a Swordmaker, Totosai or Inuyasha. Rin needed attending very shortly. Sesshomaru sensed the impending battles to come in the next few weeks. It would provide him the chance to face off with many demons and increase his reputation among the demon clans. Instead of traveling his lands to defeat the strongest of demons, they would come to him.
An added bonus of his association with the Demon Bearer.
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The cool of the forest was not noticed by the three figures sitting around in the shadows away from heat of the afternoon. The male figure sat against a tree, amber eyes stared transfixed on the peeking sunlight through the leaves of the trees blanketing the grass forest floor.
Katenomaru had an eerie smile on his face. Kaori was not sure what this meant. One thing was certain; her brother had not fought at his strongest against the youngest son of the Dog General. And Inuyasha proved a worthy adversary. As did Tetsusaiga. Still, it bothered her that Katenomaru favored his sword more than standing up for the clan's honor. Why had he not used the sword's full strength? She would get no response from Katenomaru. Her brother answered to no one since he acquired Rasengan.
Folding her arms and tired of watching her brother brood over his little sword, she glanced at Mayuki. The youngest sibling sat on a shaded rock, her face turned to the forest westward. Was she concentrating on searching for the auras they felt half an hour ago?
"Inuyasha has proven to be a most valiant opponent." Katenomaru interrupted the silence of the forest. "It will be interesting should we meet again."
Kaori frowned, her thoughts interrupted, then turned to face her brother.
"You almost lost that fight." Kaori pointed out, getting to her feet. "If those humans hadn't interfered, I would've finished him off. What game are you playing?"
"Game?" Katenomaru asked, his eyes suddenly going cold. "You think I'm playing games, Kaori?"
He smiled at Rasengan, twisting it about in his grip so the light off the blade flickered brilliantly in the small patch of sunlight. He did love this sword. It brought him power he realized he possessed his entire life. Why Rasengan only showed this to him now confused him. The sword seemed to have a conscience of its own. Not evil like Sounga, Rasengan's relative of sorts. Both swords came from the same lineage of swordmakers. So, what would unlock Rasengan's true power? He felt the sword hold back against Inuyasha and Tetsusaiga.
Confrontation with the Demon Bearer?
The human appeared devoted to Sesshomaru. He knew the woman traveled with Sesshomaru as a child in her past. There was little he did not know about the Human named Rin. Still, that did not account for her ability to resist Rasengan. Legend told of the swords continued draw of the Demon Bearer. That she would seek the sword at some point if they were in the same area. But, the woman did not yet appear. 'A lie of the legend?'
"Yes." Kaori responded confidently, breaking Katenomaru's concentration. "You never intended to unleash Rasengan's full power on Inuyasha."
"The sword wouldn't allow him." Mayuki responded in Katenomaru's place. "Tetsusaiga's main power source is pure attack. Katenomaru's sword is not. Rasengan needed to test Tetsusaiga's power to determine whether it is a threat or not. Once Rasengan decided the sword held no attack greater than its own, it lost interest. And thus, the battle ended."
Katenomaru smiled at his youngest sister. So, his suspicions were right after all. Rasengan was indeed a powerful sword. Its power could not be tested against the likes of Inuyasha after all. Then again, his father taught him that power often came in weak forms and that these forms should be identified then conquered. That was the true path to power.
"Ah, my youngest sister understands the sword best." Katenomaru nodded his agreement with his father's words.
"Tetsusaiga isn't strong enough for Rasengan?" Kaori frowned at this.
So why was Rasengan testing other swords? She heard of the sword from the legends many powerful demon families discussed within her own clan. Many demons lost their lives in pursuit of it. Suspected of being created around the same time as Sounga, the power of Rasengan was never truly known. Only that the sword destroyed the last Demon Bearer, a task no one thought possible. Demon bearers were considered undefeatable because of the magic involved. Hell dragons were notoriously dangerous on the surface, lethal to any demon. And Rasengan accomplished something no other weapon could do.
"In conventional battle, no." Katenomaru smiled. "But then, I'm not after Inuyasha, the wielder of Tetsusaiga."
"Sesshomaru and Tokijin." Kaori asked quizzically.
"Exactly." Katenomaru rose to his feet. "You're catching up, Kaori."
"And the Demon Bearer." Kaori added quietly.
Mayuki's small frame sat in silence, seemingly ignoring the exchange between the two older siblings. Hands, pressed into her lap, spine erect with ears alert for any demons in the vicinity. Young amber eyes widened suddenly. Power unlike anything she felt before reached into her chest, nearly robbing her breath. Mayuki stared intently to the west, her eyes capable of turning the life blocking her way transparent. The aura emanated from the west.
"Another has come!" Mayuki got to her feet.
"There are many who will seek the Demon Bearer." Katenomaru responded evenly.
"No…" Mayuki's voice went soft. "The intent is to kill."
Mayuki turned to face Katenomaru, her small hands at her sides.
"To kill Sesshomaru." Mayuki finished.
Kaori and Katenomaru exchanged a quick glance between them.
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'Doubt.'
'Unsure…what to do.'
'Where am I to go from here?'
Dark eyes tried to focus on the interior ceiling of her hut. Sprawled out over the thick mattress Inuyasha made in her loosened demonslayer uniform, she anguished over these new emotions. Rin felt the turmoil within her raging like a chaotic storm. 'Were turmoil and chaotic good descriptor words to use?' She could not give this restlessness a name. No one was here to guide her, tell her what could be affecting her. Neither Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, the elderly demon or even Jaken were near by. A part of her wished Sesshomaru would appear. Yet, she knew he would never answer such trivialities.
Rin placed her hand on her abdomen. She felt the hard concave curve of her small protruding stomach. In the preceding months, she did not believe herself with child, finding no evidence of its existence except by those who could sense the demonic aura. Even when she was saved from certain death those several times, her mind still did not wrap completely around the significance of her condition.
Her eyes widened, sending her sit upright.
RASENGAN.
That sword! It…she could feel it. The desire to seek it called to her, luring her towards its location somewhere in the west. Within a few miles of her new home, Rin sensed. If she listened carefully, the sword's subtle high ringing sounded like a summoning bell. Yet, a part of her could ignore its beckoning. Like a trained soldier in battle.
Then she felt another presence. This one was strong and decisive.
Sesshomaru?
No, she knew Sesshomaru's aura. This was certainly different, more alluring than the demon who claimed her currently. Odd, why should she suddenly think of Sesshomaru as that? Rin frowned. She never thought about Sesshomaru like that before.
The child within her? Or was it the sword calling out to her? There was too much to try to sort out at the moment. All she wanted to do was sleep suddenly robbed of all energy. Rin curled up on her new bed, pulling the covers over her. In an instant, her eyes closed falling into a deep sleep.