Disclaimer: I've said it before, but to appease the Copyright Gods I must say it again: Don't own Inuyasha, don't make a profit from this.
Chapter 8
Sleep would not appear without Rin at his side. Sesshomaru knew this and resented the fact. Whenever he was away the fear that she was in danger, or sick, or scared kept sleep at arms length. And now that he was home, his body expected her to be within reach. It was the way things went. Restless, Sesshomaru stood and slowly made his way outside into night's embrace.
Even after what had happened, Sesshomaru did not regret fighting the Demon Alchemist. It had taken him nearly ten months to find Juryokan. Ten long months to track down the escape artist just to fight him. Many times when it seemed Sesshomaru had found the Potion Master's lair, Juryokan was gone, tracks fresh enough to frustrate Sesshomaru and old enough to prove that he couldn't have caught him no matter the effort. All his tireless work paid off, however, when the Demon Alchemist made a stupid, stupid mistake.
He assumed Sesshomaru was just another demon.
Still walking, the Lord of the Western Lands recalled the meeting with the secretive and evasive Juryokan and the epic battle that ensued.
...
"Juryokan, I am here to fight you."
After months of tracking and finally finding the demon in a secluded part of the Northern Wastelands, Sesshomaru was not in the mood for preamble. Instead he faced the towering monster before him, ready for anything. The Demon Alchemist was resting at the entrance to a massive cave that served as his home, arm slung casually across his upright leg. Even sitting, Juryokan out-heightened Sesshomaru, standing at least fifteen feet tall, with a chest as broad as Sesshomaru was wide. Adorned in no armor, he wore only a dark brown tunic with a black belt firmly tied about his waist, pouches lining its surface and bulging to the brim with various herbs that Sesshomaru did not recognize. Red eyes were set in a square and stubbly face, one lone scar forging a path across his left, messy bangs hiding most of the damage. Long black hair was twined in a tight braid that reached his middle back, brushing the medicinal belt at his waist. What he found odd, however, was Juryokan's lack of weaponry. Besides the pouch, the demon bore no offensive or defensive weapons.
Instead of rebutting, Juryokan spoke in a rumbling voice so calm and clear."So, you are the one who has been following me these past months. I am patient by nature, but this has grown quite wearisome. That is why I allowed you to find me. I do not wish to fight you. If you insist, however, I welcome you to my home and to your death." The beast stood, a hulking demon that loomed over Sesshomaru, his massive shadow nearly touching at Sesshomaru's feet.
Before he could draw, Juryokan called out to him, "We shall fight like warriors, with claws and teeth. I know what you desire, demon, but I will not forfeit it if you wish to fight as a weakling."
Distaste at Juryokan's insults welled inside Sesshomaru, but he bit his tongue. After seeing his opponent cast aside his belt, he followed suit, all but his claws and fangs at his disposal.
A nod from Juryokan. "Another thing, demon. If you win, I am at your services. However, if I win.." His voice tapered off while he pondered his spoils. Crimson eyes scoured Sesshomaru, then the pile of armor at his feet, then back to the waiting demon. "It is your arm that I shall earn."
His arm was at the heart of many's desires, it seemed. So soon after his left was regrown with the emergence of his Bakusaiga, this demon now demanded the same limb. Sesshomaru did not fear this. He knew of his capabilities, knew that he would never lose to this Alchemist. Such a dangerous wager only meant greater rewards for the victor.
"Yes..yes, that is it. I can make many potions from your arm." Juryokan was already planning, eyes running hungrily over Sesshomaru, an eerie light playing in them. "It will be perfect! You are the only remaining Dog Demon, are you not?"
"Do you wish to fight or stand here all day talking?"
All hell broke loose then. Before Sesshomaru could even blink, Juryokan was on him, too agile for even Sesshomaru's swift gaze. One-handedly, he raised the Dog Demon in the air and smashed him into the rocky earth, other clawed hand ripping into his stomach with a flaming claw. Blood flew and flesh burned as the Western Lord reared up and delivered his own claw, an acidic one that raked across the demon's mangled face as he continued to pound Sesshomaru into the dirt.
Nothing. No response from the enemy except to shred into Sesshomaru's entrails with his burning claws.
No time for shock, the dog demon smashed Juryokan's face with his foot, trying to get out from under him. For all this accomplished he might as well have been tickling the ogre. Tired of this, the Alchemist reached his hand up once again, a fireball burning on his hand, and brought it downwards.
But the Western Lord was gone, having twisted out from under him in time. A distance away, he began lashing at the beast with his poison whip. Catching Juryokan around the throat, he attempted to bring him to his knees.
Big mistake. Grabbing a hold of the whip as effortlessly as if it was a rope, he yanked with all his might, sending Sesshomaru flying, forcing the stunned demon to maneuver out of the way of Juryokan's flames. Skidding across the ground, Sesshomaru regained balance and launched himself at the demon, fangs bared.
And then he was gone. Just like that all fifteen feet of him was non-existent. Whirling, Sesshomaru was blindsided by a giant fiery hand grasping his face while the other clutched him in the air. Feeling the snap of his facial bones, the Dog Demon brought his claws down, ripping into arms that were as large as tree branches, making Juryokan to drop him. With a mighty blow, the Western Lord forced his claws into his enemy's chest, only to be crippled by a blow to the back of his skull.
In a flash, Sesshomaru was out of reach, unleashing another poison whip, only to rush again and strike. This time he contacted, but still no pain emanated from Juryokan. One after the other he struck, blood pooling the ground. Strangely, the Hell Master shut his eyes, even as the ground drank of his blood.
With a roar he let loose a wall of fire that even Sesshomaru could not evade. An explosion shook the very earth as the tai-youkai was lit ablaze by his own acid and thrown into the air like a rag doll, then caught by claws from below that yanked him downwards and broke him against Juryokan's knee. Twisting around and burying his fangs into his enemy's throat, Sesshomaru tore the jugular from the beast as they fell, twisting his neck until it snapped, then was crushed under the immense weight of his fallen opponent.
Sesshomaru heaved, pushing the mass of bones and muscle off of him. He prayed he had not killed the Demon Alchemist. He needed him alive..
A lethal blur, the beast rose and enveloped Sesshomaru in his arms, crushing him alive, then suddenly lighting them both ablaze.
A shattering roar and Sesshomaru could take the burning no longer, body rippling, bones crunching as he shifted into his deadliest form of all. Flinging him away, it became two monsters battling in their true forms. Sesshomaru, the Dog Demon and Juryokan, the Bear Demon.
A white dog demon faced off against an even larger demon bear, a pitch black one shrouded in red mist, clawed hands twice as large as Sesshomaru's and eyes just as wild. Both roared their dominance before the white blur slammed into the black mass, shaking its balance. Enraged, talons came down and buried themselves in Sesshomaru's side, earning Juryokan a resounding howl that shattered the setting darkness.
For days this went on, the elder and the younger in a battle for the ages, until finally both were unable to go on. Morphing back into their normal forms, both lay there and attempted to get up, their life-blood escaping from the many wounds each other had dealt. For the first time since the beginning, Juryokan spoke, and it was a weakened laugh. "You truly are your father's son, Sesshomaru."
The latter had no desire to converse with the former and wearily rose to his feet, clothes shredded and burned, body on the brink of exhaustion. A steady flow of blood made its way from his stomach, each heartbeat forcing more and more out.
"It is over, Sesshomaru."
A silent nod and the Western Lord crumpled into sleep, as did the demon Juryokan.
Sesshomaru had fought in many battles, had conquered many opponents one -on- one. But Juryokan's brute strength blew him away and left him a bloodied mess. It was overpowering, overwhelming, nearly impossible to defeat. What Juryokan lacked in speed, which was not lacking at all, he made up in strength and skill. His fire capabilities were honed beyond comprehension and more than once resulted in Sesshomaru exploding on impact. Healing abilities held no exceptions, the speed of recovery astounding as Juryokan never used artificial means to do so, instead allowing his immune system to adjust to the pain. As a result, he healed nearly as fast as he was harmed. All this and more Juryokan later divulged, including his self-administrations of potions to feel minimal pain and his near immunity to any poison or acid, yet another perk of being the Deity of Potions and Elixirs. And with such a lethal body, why fight with measly weapons? It was because of all these terrible attributes that the battle was hellacious to an uncharted degree. All this, in lieu with Juryokan's experience, made him nearly immortal.
Later the Potion Master confided in Sesshomaru of his battle record. 734-2. In over five thousand years he had only lost twice and would have had more victories if he did not choose to live as a recluse.
"What is it that you desire Sesshomaru?" These were the Potion Master's words a few hours after the battle. Both were worse for the wear, but Sesshomaru refused any treatment. Injuries from such an epic victory should not be healed as it showed a weakness of spirit. The dai-youkai had won and would show his scars proudly, though Juryokan warned him a side-effect of his cursed flames would be a drastic decrease in healing.
They were resting in the recluse's home, night having fallen for the fourth time of Sesshomaru's arrival. As promised, the Alchemist was going to grant Sesshomaru the gift of one potion as the spoils of his hard earned win.
"I wish to have an elixir to make a human like that of a demon in lifespan."
Slightly surprised, he answered, "I have never received this request before. It can be done, but it will take time. Leave me now."
Many days later and Sesshomaru was on his way back to the girl who made it all worthwhile, who hung he stars and the moon, who he would give his very existence for.
...
Rin was now immortal in the sense that her lifespan matched that of a full fledged demon. She could die, as any demon could, but would be virtually untouched by time.
"She will live as long as you do," Juryokan had said.
The wind whispered through the dark, delivering an unbecoming scent. The air reeked of salt and pain.
A part of him knew she'd be in the woods. Maybe that's why he'd sought her out. Rin was his drug, his salvation, the antidote to the poison in him. She was all that turned him good and all that kept him so. Life without her would be no life at all.
Brooding eyes parted the night and rested on the young woman hunkered against a boulder. The usually observant girl was too lost in her own misery to notice his silent approach. It wasn't until he settled next to her that she jerked her eyes upwards. "Lord Sesshomaru, should you be, I mean are you.. Uh.." When words were short in coming, she fell quiet, eyes downcast. Sesshomaru could never quite recall the exact moment when Rin went from a loud and boisterous child to an awkward young lady. He missed the times when she would babble on about anything and everything, unafraid to speak her mind. Unlike nowadays when she shut down after mumbling and stammering.
"I apologize Rin. I should not have yelled," Sesshomaru said aloud. At the moment his gaze was on hers, gauging her reaction at his uncharacteristic apology.
A spurt of surprise followed by, "No my Lord, it is my fault. I'm sorry Sesshomaru-sama for upsetting you," was her response.
The question that had nagged at him all night came out then, in the midst of the stillness. "Are you embarrassed of me, Rin? To be the heart of my affections?"
If she was surprised before, she was dumfounded now, blush curling across her cheekbones at the word 'affections'. "Of course not my Lord!" Beautiful doe eyes were on him, hands fidgeting on her kneecaps. A split second later her eyes widened with comprehension. "My Lord, you thought I was embarrassed of you earlier?"
She said it with such shock, Sesshomaru felt stupid for ever having such a thought. Why would she be abashed of him? He had allowed logic to be replaced by emotion, allowing ignorance to rule reason. A nod from the tai-youkai and he asked, "Why did you pull away? Do you not desire me?"
An endearing blush spread further across gentle cheeks as Rin looked away, a cold wind sweeping the ground, almost as if to cool the warmth flooding inside. Her chest was near bursting with all the love it contained, every drop of blood singing of the adoration in her soul. Voice soft, she said, "Yes my Lord, but I am only human." She stopped, picking her words carefully. "And, well, I did not think you would want Inuyasha to see us..like..that."
The demon spoke carefully, phrasing his words to soothe her worries. "Inuyasha's feelings are irrelevant to me. As for you being unworthy, that is nonsense. If you were beneath me, why would I make you immortal?"
He could tell her heart had hoped that the mystifying liquid was the key to immortality. The answer to "being with him forever." The fact that she never thought it truly attainable was there too, displayed in the wide eyes that slowly lit up her face. Mouth slightly parted, she asked slowly, "I have the years of a demon now, my Lord?"
Another wind took to the skies, rustling through his tattered clothes. Standing, Sesshomaru offered his hand down to the girl rapidly becoming overjoyed. Leaning up eagerly, grasping his hand, she rose to her feet, whole face exuberant, shining more lustrously than the beaming stars above. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she told him over and over, "Thank you my Lord. Thank you.." Memories from the past came then, the same words once spoken relived in that moment, of another time when the worries she bore were those of a child. Hand stroking her hair, Sesshomaru leaned down and pressed his face into the nest of brown silk, inhaling her essence, other arm around her waist, her hands snagged in the fabric of his kimono.
Feeling his bandages dampened by tears, Sesshomaru slid his hand under her chin and lifted up. Rin had cried enough for her lifetime. Pressing his lips to hers, he heard her gasp, felt both hearts come alive under their clothes, both minds explode with pure ecstasy, their spirits take to the endless sky that they would now share forever. He felt her arousal, her joy, and her surrender to him, as he hoped she felt his. Tugging her closer, he felt her arms encircle his waist completely and for once his mind was at peace. The demon was not concerned with appearances, or being strong, or protecting something precious. For once in Sesshomaru's life he was content and nothing more was needed.
It had taken hundreds of years, but Sesshomaru was finally and truly happy.
...
Author's Note:
Okay guys, a quick warning about the epilogue. It's not EXTREMELY lemony, but has certain traits that would qualify it as a lemon. So if you don't like that sort of thing, I'll let you know now that it is Sesshomaru and Rin years from now and that they have a daughter named Sayuri, with another one on the way. :))
Sincerely,
Angels and Immortals