CYCLE OF RIN
By Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Author's Notes: …
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Battle Fury
The abandoned temple remained quiet as the morning transitioned to the warm afternoon. The group remained on edge despite the diminishing demon aura's as it appeared that more battles erupted nearby and appeared to dissipate just as quickly. Time was closing in on the 'window' of opportunity for the Demon Bearer's ability to transfer parentage to her child. No one really understood what that meant but Totosai reminded them every hour from the front gates where he sat on his cow.
Kagome frowned sitting on a thick cushion in the center courtyard to take advantage of the beautiful day. "What's he waiting for exactly?"
Inuyasha shrugged not caring either way. "Not like he's made her a special sword or anything." Totosai was weird, even for a full demon. "He's got his logic…which doesn't make sense to anyone else."
Kagome looked to her husband and frowned. Checking her watch, it was approaching one fifty-eight now. Taking a deep breath, she let it out and continued with reading the book she brought with her to fight off the boredom of the days. If only she had the Shikon Jewel, Inuyasha and her could escape to her time and close the Bone Eaters Well forever. Pausing, she wondered if she should bring Sango and Miroku with her.
At two o'clock, she felt the tingle. Inuyasha was already on his feet, drawn by something on the southern horizon. The ripple effect was unmistakable. Powerful demons just met their end, but their auras were absorbed into the winning demon instead of dissipating. Sango and Miroku exited the temple building, KiRaRa turning from small domestic cat to her demon form as she walked, having been drawn outside as well. Sango stood at the top of the stairs as Miroku descended them, their eyes on the horizon in the distance.
Inuyasha was first to speak. "You felt that too, right?"
Nothing on the horizon indicated anything had just occurred this afternoon battle-wise. Kagome looked to Sango and Miroku then back at the horizon. Rin was dozing at the moment off to her left in their sleeping room.
Miroku nodded with his brow furrowed in concern. "The sudden disappearance of numerous demon aura's?" He glanced at Sango who now stood at his side. "The sheer number that suddenly vanished is…"
"Like they're being wiped out in droves." Kagome said dreading the eventual outcome.
Sesshomaru or whoever the winning demon was would come looking for Rin eventually. They hadn't exactly come up with a plan to keep her protected from Sesshomaru. Not that anything either of them said or did had any affect. Drawn to Sesshomaru because of the Cycle, Rin had to obey the curse. No matter how it tortured Rin.
"They're being absorbed, all of them." Inuyasha corrected. "But the aura's haven't diminished."
Miroku agreed. "They're coalescing."
They heard Totosai's voice call out above the gate. "Rasengan's got to be making its move!" He appeared over the temple wall on his flying cow now. "This temple won't keep anyone safe much longer!"
Kagome had to ask. "What do we do?"
Miroku stepped forward. "Rasengan is after Sesshomaru. Now's the time to make a run and get out of this valley."
Sango disagreed. "We should find Sesshomaru and back him up." She looked to Inuyasha. "I'd hate to state the obvious…" She looked to Inuyasha. "…but he may need Tetsusaiga before this day is out."
Inuyasha and Miroku exchanged glances of surprise.
"How you figure that?" Inuyasha growled already deciding that he would let Sesshomaru die in battle if it came to that for what he did to Rin.
Sango defended her suggestion. "If Rasengan is gathering demon aura, he's preparing to attack Sesshomaru with enough strength to overpower him. However, with both Tenseiga and Tetsusaiga in battle, they can defeat Rasengan."
Miroku understood. "Your father knew this might occur in your lifetime, Inuyasha. He left you these swords to force you two brothers to work together. If the swords are used side-by-side, they can theoretically defeat Rasengan."
At that moment they heard the muffled cry. Kagome and Sango ran towards women's quarters where Rin was resting. Her bulging tummy was growing larger and larger each day which required additional resting time. Inuyasha and Miroku skidded to a halt behind Kagome and Sango when the doors burst open unaided.
Rin, in her sleeping kimono, was being dragged across the floor boards seemingly by her feet. Yet neither of them could feel any aura around her as she was pulled across the floor boards. Desperately trying to lock a grip on anything to prevent further advancement, Rin struggled to fight whatever force pulled her from bed. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, her heartbeat pounded in her ears, fear was beginning to grip her. So was the need to free herself growing impatient.
"What's happening to me?!" Rin called out, groaning in a whiny tone that she couldn't find anything to latch onto around her. "Someone…help me…!"
Kagome and Sango ran forward to aid Rin. Within five feet, they were propelled backwards as Rin approached the steps down into the courtyard. Inuyasha and Miroku also attempted to reach Rin, finding themselves flung halfway across the courtyard, landing hard on their backs. Undaunted, they got to their feet in time to watch Rin reach the top of the stairs.
The force holding her ankles wasn't demon in nature, Rin discerned. Her eyes widened as she approached the top of the stairs. There were five stairs down into the courtyard. Five moments of pain and bruising! Her fingers fought frantically for any crack, crevice or elevated plank edge. Nothing helped her stave off her nearing the stairs.
Rin whimpered anticipating the impending injury. "Hold on…" She pressed a hand to her bulging tummy where Sesshomaru's child was growing at an alarming rate.
Suddenly she was flung airborne around the waist, her hands and legs flailing as zoomed away from the temple, now far below her and growing smaller and smaller. Winds blew around her wildly as she was propelled high over the trees, finally losing sight of the temple. Fighting panic, Rin tried to focus on where she was going. South? Yes, towards the foothills at the base of the Southern Mountains.
Was this part of the Curse of the Cycle? Rin tried the breathing exercises Kagome taught her for birthing to calm her mind down enough to think logically. The Cycle was nothing more than her body's response to demon blood toxins that allowed her to bear demon children. Was this the final battle between Sesshomaru and Rasengan then? Was she summoned by the Cycle to prepare for the victor of this final battle?
"I'm being forced to watch the final battle." She feared Sesshomaru walking into a battle he was ill-prepared to handle. "To know who will claim me."
Rin doubted Sesshomaru would look upon this battle as a threat. His lineage being what it was, his father being the feared, loved, and famous Dog General, and the known strength of his clan, Rin would never have considered Rasengan a threat until now. With her body on the line, Rin hoped Sesshomaru would win.
"What would I do if he actually lost?" Rin felt herself begin her descent towards the large open meadow at the foot of the mountains.
Her feet landed softly on the thick grasses as if she slid off KiRaRa's back. Her heart began to calm, returning to a normal rhythm. There were no other demons nearby yet she didn't feel like she was alone. Rin rubbed her tummy since the child within her began to actively move around.
"It's okay little one." Rin felt the child was the only thing keeping her sane at the moment. "We'll make it through this."
She hoped the confidence in her voice didn't betray her. This pregnancy was making her crazy…literally. Her ability to create logical thoughts was difficult the past few days. Now the looming battle between Sesshomaru and who knows what else loomed before her, she faced more stress and anguish than when Sesshomaru claimed her the first time.
"Keep your head." Rin ordered herself then sighed. "I hope that's possible."
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Immediate action was taken in the temple. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku used KiRaRa in full demon cat form to fly off in the southerly direction after Rin. Inuyasha had already taken off on foot after Rin, with Totosai on his cow, chasing Rin's invisible abductor. Being a half-demon afforded him speed no human had to chase down an enemy. Inuyasha considered Rin to be part of the family since she came to them once Sesshomaru abandoned her. They would hopefully be able to track Inuyasha and reach Rin in time.
Sango frowned at what she saw below her. "I don't feel a thing, Kagome!"
The forests and meadows were bright and sunny. Not an indication of an impending battle, or any that already taken place, could be felt. The valleys around them felt of death and great demon losses. Yet, below them, not a sign a that battle ever ensued between demons had occurred.
Kagome nodded. "Me either!"
"Rasengan's waiting for Sesshomaru to appear." Miroku was sure that was Rasengan's plan. "Collecting that much demon aura to add to its own…it wants to make sure it can defeat Sesshomaru in battle."
Kagome hated how that sounded. KiRaRa roared as she increased speed towards the foothills of the Southern Mountains, following Inuyasha's aura from the ground. Kagome knew the demon cat would follow Inuyasha where ever he led them. Where the hell was Rin being taken to? Was Rasengan really involved even though neither of them could feel the demon aura of the sword any longer? Where was Sesshomaru? Would Sesshomaru be there when they found Rin? She hoped the battle didn't start without them being there!
"Sesshomaru, you better not lose!" Kagome gritted through her teeth.
Sango patted the hands around her waist, Kagome's face in her back, anxious at her private thoughts. At that moment, KiRaRa descended towards a meadow, Sango balancing the weight of Kagome and Miroku to keep upright until they landed. Checking Kagome's watch, they lost only thirty minutes from the time Rin was taken to the time they found her once more. Sango could see Rin standing with Inuyasha now, clearly shaken from the experience, crying on his shoulder. KiRaRa landed softly near the pair, Miroku jumping off first to help Sango then Kagome off the demon cat.
"Rin!" Kagome ran to the young woman. "You're not hurt?!"
Rin pulled away from Inuyasha, tears in her eyes. Tears that she never felt until seeing Inuyasha's concerned face upon finding her. Kagome hugged her tightly followed by Sango. Rin was scared, with every right to be just so, and didn't hide the fact. Rin felt like she wasn't alone at the moment and sighed deeply.
Inuyasha checked every direction, alternating every fifteen seconds. "Careful, whatever it was wanted Rin here for a reason."
"To lure Sesshomaru, no doubt." Sango took Herykotsu from Miroku since he carried it being the last passenger on KiRaRa. "We're ready for anything now."
"I didn't feel any demon pulling me!" Rin informed her friends, trying to erase the memory of being airborne without control from her memory. "I don't know what it was that brought me here. I've never felt this kind of gripping force before in my life."
Kagome patted Rin's hand. "We'll worry about that later."
She looked around wondering why Rin was brought to this meadow when no one else but them was here now. Taking her bow into her hands, Kagome pulled an arrow and readied it between her fingers. Inuyasha had Tetsusaiga out and Miroku loosened his beads in case the Wind Tunnel was required for immediate use.
At that moment, they all turned when the aura arrived at the meadow's edge. Sango, Miroku, Kagome and Inuyasha created a semi-circle in front of Rin, backing her up to the cluster of small trees behind them. Wasn't much of a defense, but if an attack was thrown, the trees would take the brunt and give them enough time to evade without injury.
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Katenomaru walked into the meadow, finding the presence of the Demon Bearer, surrounded what he assumed were her human and half-breed friends, encouraging. The mixed group of humans and half-breed were of little concern to him at the moment. He couldn't feel the mighty Sesshomaru approaching just yet but he felt confident the demon would show himself soon. His fellow clansman would eventually show up to defend his right to keep the Demon Bearer for himself.
Odd that a human was the Demon Bearer this time, he watched sunlight glance of Rasengan's blade. He flit his eyes from the Demon Bearer to Rasengan and back to the Demon Bearer. But this human was indeed a strong candidate and swelled at the tummy with Sesshomaru's pure demon child. Halflings were normally the Demon Bearers and often forced into the position when the time was proper to birth a full demon. The legacy of the Demon Bearer held true thus far. However, humans were deemed too fragile to handle the stress of bearing a demon child. Would she die easily in birthing?
"She will provide me with many demon children if she does not succumb to her fragility." Katenomaru felt confident in his defeat of Sesshomaru this time.
The eastern and western dog demon clans kept their interactions limited, preferring to ignore one another. Many lives were lost in the ancient days before the two factions separated. And now that he brought the east and west back together again, Katenomaru wanted to leave his legacy behind. Once he had an army of little demons running around, he would slaughter every western clan member and claim their lands as his own.
And would start with Sesshomaru.
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Miroku didn't like the look on Katenomaru's face. A member of the eastern dog demon clan, he lacked the polish as Sesshomaru did. Something Miroku was learning was an advantage to Inuyasha's brother. While a full demon, Sesshomaru exhibited an understanding that humans and demons shared a symbiotic relationship in the world. While demons deemed themselves above humans, humans were still looked to as an ally when needed. Hence the reasons why human miko's and priests were needed to bridge the gap on occasion. Most priests and miko's viewed their roles as preventative in nature rather than on the offensive.
Since Kagome's arrival to the feudal era, as she called it, it appeared that demons and humans were beginning to accept their roles as caretakers for one another even if neither wanted to admit it. Sesshomaru also interacted with Kagome more than other humans, though why, Miroku hadn't figured out just yet.
Inuyasha growled, tightening his grip on the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "Katenomaru has Rasengan."
Sango nodded, Herykotsu at the ready. "We won't get much notice once the battle starts."
"We're not his target." Kagome noted the partially readable expression on Katenomaru's face. "He's amused we're trying to keep Rin safe."
"He can't claim her until he kills Sesshomaru." Miroku stated slightly hopeful that both demons would die in the stand-off.
A demon was a demon after all. With Rin's condition, she couldn't just kill herself or the demon child she carried. After birth was another matter entirely. However, if Sesshomaru did survive and become victorious of this battle, who knows how much more he would demand from Rin.
"That ain't gonna happen!" Inuyasha would do anything to help Sesshomaru this time around only. "Of the two, I'd take Sesshomaru over Katenomaru any day."
"Your confidence and assurance is unnecessary, little brother." Sesshomaru spoke evenly from behind the group.
Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha swung around to face Sesshomaru, his eyes on Katenomaru. When the hell did he arrive? Neither of them felt his aura on the approach. Rin had spun around with the others but she didn't meet Sesshomaru's eyes. Not that he looked at any of them at the moment, except his opponent. When Rin glanced up at him again, her bulging tummy currently had his attention. She could sense he had the ability to feel the child moving within her.
Sesshomaru, satisfied with Rin's present condition, walked past the group towards Katenomaru. His opponent began a slow, practiced walk towards him, Rasengan already unsheathed. The poor dueling etiquette of other demon clans insulted his sense of nobility. Unsheathing Tokijin, Sesshomaru would begin his quest to keep Rin and the child his. He stopped at the thought that he, Sesshomaru, no longer relegated Rin to the title of Demon Bearer.
'When had Rin become important to this Sesshomaru?' He pondered more than just her importance.
Not when the Cycle lured him to Rin forcing a face-off between them, creating an unexpected reunion that permanently connected her with his clan. The memory of the times when Rin's hormones easily persuaded him to use the possessives "I" and "me" so readily had been corrected now that his offspring grew inside her. The Cycle influenced him to allow his demon instincts to take control and destroy all others wishing to claim Rin as theirs.
'The legend was proven wrong due to a mere human.' Sesshomaru remembered.
The third month that would allow another demon to claim Rin and transfer parentage had come and gone. And now, he stood waiting for the eastern clan to challenge him.
Across the meadow, Katenomaru sensed Sesshomaru's hesitation, assuming it meant he was unprepared for battle. How wrong his dog demon cousin would discover, launching his attack too early. There were options to end the battle quickly. However, Katenomaru must believe that Rasengan would give him the power he needed to bring this Sesshomaru to his knees.
"Cleary mistaken." Sesshomaru easily evaded the first attack.
Katenomaru, slightly off-balance, recovered, pivoted and took aim then lunged. No matter in which direction he attacked from, Sesshomaru out maneuvered him with a simple evasion technique. That only served to anger Katenomaru more so, his confidence in his abilities beginning to waiver.
"Come, Katenomaru." Sesshomaru walked towards his ill-trained opponent. "You are not qualified to handle Rasengan."
Katenomaru pointed Rasengan at Sesshomaru, his eyes sparkling with anger. Sesshomaru considered his cousin with mild concern that Katenomaru would survive this encounter with the western clan. His attention shifted to Rasengan, the metal of the blade shimmering in the sunlight. But it was not a reflection from direct sunlight he was seeing. His golden eyes realized that Rasengan was not so much a sword but…
The meadow was engulfed in bright white light.
Kagome, Sango and Miroku covered their eyes. Rin tried to hold out but eventually covered her eyes as well. KiRaRa seemed annoyed with the light and took to the sky, disappearing from view. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were the only two who remained unaffected by the dispersal of light.