A/N:
Last chapter summary: Hasu and Takashi used the Shoheki Star to take the Red Baby Phoenix statue, injuring the fur ball guardians of the barrier that hides the statue. Sesshomaru noticed a map with various symbols on Kaede's desk. Rin and Sesshomaru kissed in their bedroom, but Sesshomaru left aburptly to the woods.
...
Chapter 14: The Guardians of the Rainbow Phoenix
As soon as a small arc of the sun rose over the horizon the morning after, Sesshomaru walked back to Kaede's.
The place was quiet.
Rin's window was closed, so was the front door, but Rin's scent on the front yard was afresh, leading down the village path.
Following the scent trail, Sesshomaru arrived at the hut where Rin's adoptive children lived.
The place reeked with the scent of Rin's blood and some strange demons.
Immediately pushing the door down, Sesshomaru stormed inside.
Gozu and Mezu lay immobile on the floor. As soon as they saw him, their eyes it up, but they were unable to speak.
A flying fur ball jetted from the floor up to the level of Sesshomaru's face. It wings flapped incessantly, keeping it afloat, while it was puffing air towards its unnaturally long ears to keep them from covering its face.
The fur creature aimed an arrow at Sesshomaru. "Go away or I'll shoot you."
Taking only a brief moment studying the creature, Sesshomaru raised his hand, flexing his claws.
"No, Sesshomaru-sama, please don't hurt him," Rin voice came from behind the flying fur ball.
Sesshomaru striked the fur ball lightly, sending it teetering a little to the side.
Rin came into view, sitting with her back leaning against the wall, her arm stretching out. Another similar fur ball, looked to be injured, was latching on her arm, sucking on her blood.
Sesshomaru dispatched his whip, hurling it toward at the fur ball on Rin's arm. The blood sucking creature split in two halves, both thudding on the floor, lifeless.
The other fur ball retaliated, shooting an arrow at Sesshomaru.
Rin lunged forward, shielding Sesshomaru from the arrow which then pierced into her back.
"RIN!" Sesshomaru screamed. His arms coiling around Rin's waist, he made a circling maneuver to put Rin in between him and the fur ball.
His gaze darted briskly all over her body. Seeing no wounds anywhere on her, he knitted his brows.
With sparkling eyes, Rin smiled at him. "I'm alright. They can't hurt me."
"How?"
"I don't know. They just can't. But will you please revive him, Sesshomaru-sama." Rin pointed at the halves of the dead fur ball on the floor.
Sesshomaru turned and unsheathed the Tenseiga. The other creature got in front of him, raising its bow again, sending pouting and moist glares at Sesshomaru.
"Step aside," Sesshomaru commanded.
"Don't hurt my Bani or I'll shoot," returned the fur ball.
"Your Bani is dead," said Sesshomaru. "Now, step aside."
"It's OK. Sesshomaru-sama will revive Bani for us." Rin walked toward the fur ball and held its bow down." Just step aside like he said."
The creature obeyed Rin.
Sesshomaru revived Bani.
The latter woke up shortly after, wiping his eyes. "Ouch. That hurts a little bit."
The other fur ball flew up to Bani. They held hands and air-danced in circles, chirping unintelligibly, their wings flapping frenziedly.
"Hato, I'm completely healed!"
"Yeah." Hato giggled like a baby giggling. He pointed at Sesshomaru and the Tenseiga. "He healed you with that sword, Bani."
Bani zipped toward Sesshomaru. "Thank you, he dog demon." After the appreciation completed, Bani latched onto the Tenseiga and hugged it.
Rin giggled. "His name is Sesshomaru."
"Now, get off the sword," Sesshomaru said.
Bani jerked away from the sword at the command, flapping his way back to Hato's side.
"Who are you? And how is it that you cannot hurt Rin?" asked Sesshomaru.
"We are bat demons, the guardians of the Rainbow Phoenix. We can't hurt Lady Rin because she had no malice against us when we tried to hurt her. So our arrows have no power against her."
'Hmph! How interesting?'
"I was injured last night by someone who came to steal the red baby phoenix statue. We fled to this house and met these kids and Lady Rin." Bani pointed at Rin. "I was injured and needed blood. Lady Rin let me suck her blood."
"You look like cute rabbits," said Rin after she inspected them more thoroughly.
"We are half and half, Lady Rin. We refer to ourselves as bats. But for you, you can call us whatever you want to because you're our new master."
"Master?!" Rin wrinkled her nose and knitted her brows along with a doubtful grin.
Hato started to play with Rin's hair, tangling it with his active hands and wings. Rin caught Hato and pretended to discipline him by stroking his ears. He giggled, his legs swinging back and forth while his ears were being stroked.
"What is the Rainbow Phoenix?" asked Sesshomaru.
"It's a legendary bird. Whoever has the power to conjure it will have its protection for all humans in his house from all harms caused by any weapons of this world."
"There are 7 baby phoenixes. When they unite, they will have the power to call upon the Rainbow Phoenix."
"Some powerful demon is breaking down our barriers and stealing our baby phoenixes. We must go to the other barriers and warn the guardians there."
Rin walked toward Gozu and Mezu and knelt down beside them, touching their heads.
"They will be back to normal in a day or two, Lady Rin. Unless in dire situations, we only immobilize our enemies long enough for us to flee and relocate our phoenixes."
"Oh," said Rin.
"We must get going now. Thank you again, Sesshomaru-sama and Lady Rin."
"Be careful you two. Sesshomaru-sama can't revive you the second time."
After Hato and Bani were gone, with a chastising tone, Sesshomaru said, "Rin, you cannot let anyone do harmful things to you."
"But that's what you do. You put your life in all kinds of harm to protect me. There were times you walked into death traps for my life."
"I'm stronger than you, Rin."
'And because it's you, Rin.'
"I might not be strong, but I could still use whatever power I have to do what I could to help others."
The girl, as gentle as she was, was obstinate when she had her mind set on saving someone's life. And she didn't seem to discriminate against anyone when she tried to help them, cute fur balls or terrible looking dog demons.
After all, when they first met, he displayed his monstrous red eyes and his fangs along with a threatening growl. It didn't faze her. She was determined to nurse him back to health. Then she went on and tried to save others risking her own life in the process. He had to rescue her during her own rescuing missions.
Destiny must have set it up so she could meet him. He was the only one with enough power - and ironically patience - to pull her out of the troubles from her life saving antics.
But the more people she saved, the more euphoric her scent became.
Sesshomaru sat down beside Rin next to her kids who were another example of her life saving missions.
Cradling Rin onto his lap, he spread his mokomoko on the floor and smoothed out the wrinkles. "Lie down and rest your head on my lap, Rin. We'll stay here until the kids regain their mobility."
Rin fell asleep shortly after she lay down.
He stroke her hair gently.
She must have been tired from all the recent confusing events. She might not even have slept well the night before after he abruptly sped away during their kiss.
...
To the generous people who had reviewed.
To 677: Thank you so much for your review. There is a big problem with them uniting, so it might take me take me a little while to take the story to that point. I hope you stay with me.
To sorrellkaren: oh ok I will pm you. thank you so much for allowing that. I am very shy and don't want to bother people who reviewed but only say thanks to them here. But beware, I'm a chatterbox when it comes to Rin and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha as a series. So you got your warnings.