Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

A/N: Thanks for all of your encouraging reviews!

The True Master

Part IV

Rin appeared utterly exasperated, "I don't understand."

"This is not exactly how I wanted to go about it," Sesshomaru eased over onto his side, pulling the pregnant woman close, "I thought… maybe, we could enjoy each other's company first." He eyed her tear stained face, "Obviously not," and wiped them away with his thumb. "Mate, this Sesshomaru has been watching you for a long while now… I only regret not being able to come sooner."

"How…?"

"Hush, Rin," he said firmly, "You must listen, and this will be difficult for you to understand." Rin noticed the gentleness in his features fade away, leaving behind the grim stoic-ness of the mask the outside world had grown to know on him. She also noted he was naked, too, but the sudden color that lit her face was ignored.

"I was murdered," he said calmly.

"Wha…?"

One of his slender fingers pressed to her lips, effectively silencing her. He smiled ruefully, "I was murdered. It was not an accident."

"But Tenseiga," she murmured against his finger, "You gave it to me! It would've protected you!"

"That only means whomever did this knew I would ensure your safety before my own well being," he seemed to ponder his own words, "They were hoping I'd use the souryuuha, with my obvious ignorance to mythical creatures… you recall, I'm sure, the day I met you?"

"Yes," and the blood-curdling look he'd given her, the deep snarl that had warped his handsome face into what could have only been his enraged inner demon-self. Her very first sight of him, and she'd been entranced ever since.

"Certain circumstances occurred, in which the Half-Breed took me off guard in the extent of his power, and the Tenseiga sent me to you. Injured as I had never been before, but alive."

Rin frowned at his words.

"The pup inside me is half-demon, Sesshomaru," she stated curtly.

A clawed hand gently rubbed the area where his child grew, "I know, it's a habit that must cease, I suppose. My heir shall never hear the utterance of such a word." Then he was serious again, "But likewise, this is the case. I was taken off guard for yet a second time, however without the assistance of my father's fang, the hydra succeeded." His scowl deepened, "It was my ignorance that truly did it, but that creature was sent to intervene with our journey to Edo."

"Why?" Rin was in outrage, brown eyes flashing. Someone had been plotting to kill her mate? She would find who, she swore it!

"I do not know," he admitted, "But all that matters now is that you are alive. You survived, and for that, this Sesshomaru is honored to call you his mate."

Honestly, must he act so noble? If he were real, as he claimed to be, then instead of all this conversation he would just… her blush grew hotter.

"How do you know all this?" she asked timidly. After all, he'd been gone for days now.

Sesshomaru rested his head back into the pillows, content just to look at her. "I have spent a reasonable amount of my afterlife among the gods."

Rin's eyes bulged, "You mean the Kamis?" Extraordinary!

He nodded earnestly, "Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun, and her brothers, Tsukuyomi of the Moon, and Susanoo of Storms."

"Sesshomaru-sama…" This was honor beyond all else. According to legend, all the Emperors of Japan claimed to be direct descendants from the Sun Deity, hence ensuring their right to power. But to actually see the goddess herself… Rin was envious of her mate.

"Susanoo appeared first," he began, "He revealed to me it was not my time to die, that I was murder, as I suspected. As long as my body remains un-cremated, my soul would wander the earth as a restless spirit. Though this Sesshomaru would rather not admit, Susanoo pitied my fate, and established that I spend this one night to return to my beloved, to hold you again." The daiyoukai ran a claw down her cheek. "As soon as you awaken, I cannot return."

Stinging fear shot through her body. No! She wasn't going to let him leave her again! "Stay," she said firmly, grasping his shoulders tightly.

"I cannot," he kissed the white knuckles of her hand. "The Kamis have been tremendously generous to the likes of this Sesshomaru, if I intrude on their hospitality for longer than necessary, Amaterasu will not hesitate to send me to Hell." His amber eyes stared at her hesitantly. "Susanoo has composed a proposition, however. If I accept, I may come back, permanently. But perhaps that is not the best decision for you."

"Sesshomaru-sama!" she exclaimed, "I want you back! Your pup needs you! Accept his offer, and come back to me. Do you realize," her voice lowered, "That the Chief Minister of the Council, Reizo has proclaimed Inuyasha my new mate and lord?"

There was a long moment of silence.

"Sessho?"

He had closed his eyes, bending his neck so the long silver strands of his hair fell forward.

"Mate…?" She was worried now, and placed a hand on one of his bare shoulders.

"Listen to me," he said firmly, slowly lifting his face to her, the amber of his eyes tinting crimson. "The hanyou may be able to assist you, but do not let him believe Reizo that he must be the lord," Sesshomaru sighed, "If you wish to bring me back to this life, I can only assume my brother and his miko will try to help you in the difficult parts."

"What exactly do I need to do, Sesshomaru-sama? If Susanoo has offered you a proposition, then tell me!" Her large eyes were shining with vigilance, eagerness, life. The warmth and cheerfulness that had fled her after his death was slowly flooding back into her.

"Susanoo is willing to do a favor," he said, running a hand over her very pregnant belly. "Not for me, as I am youkai, but you." He readjusted his position beside her. "You can ask him for one wish."

"Of anything I desire…?" Rin brushed his striped cheeks questioningly.

Sesshomaru nodded. "In exchange, Susanoo asks you retrieve the blade Kusanagi No Tsurugi, the Grass Cutting Sword, which was stolen from him five hundred years ago."

Rin blinked, obviously confused. "Sesshomaru-sama, the sword Kusanagi belongs to the Human Emperor, it is a legendary object! Do you suggest that I raid the Imperial Palace?" She chuckled at the thought. "That is ridiculous."

Her smile faded when she realized the inuyoukai was serious.

"But Milord!" she protested, a little exasperated. "That's impossible! How can I, a mere human, a woman, and pregnant at that, steal from the Emperor? It's treason! I'll be killed!"

"Not that sword, Rin," he said patiently, grasping her hand. "Susanoo wants Kusanagi, the one that is five hundred years in the past."

"And how do you propose I retrieve this sword, Sesshomaru-sama, when I am here, in the present?" Honestly, she had thought his explanation was to be half way reasonable! Maybe she really was just dreaming…

"I believe that is where the miko and my brother may assist you. The hanyou claims to possess the capabilities of time travel, perhaps he is lying, and it is really the girl's power. However, it is worth a try, for my sake, to ask them."

"Kagome-chan does not talk of her powers, but I will ask, Sesshomaru-sama." She kissed his lower jaw. "If it is only a sword Susanoo yearns for, in exchange for your life, then he shall have it!"

He liked the confidence that radiated from her like a demonic aura and, glancing down at the pup, Sesshomaru suddenly realized, she was indeed about to deliver! If Rin succeeded in this task, he should be back before she ever went into labor. The thought brought him inexplicable happiness, but he hid it well behind another stoic mask.

But he reached out to cup her right breast in one large hand, running his thumb over the rosy peak until iy stood, begging for more of his touch. Sesshomaru leaned over her, encasing them together by the curtain of his silver hair, planting the lightest of kisses on her lips. "I've… missed you, my mate."

Rin responded by opening her mouth to him, allowing the cool, moist flesh of his tongue to enter.

"Have you thought of a name?" he murmured between kisses, gripping both her shoulders, pressing her tightly to him. "It is almost time."

"Hm… no…" she was too focused on him to worry about anything else, and fisted large handfuls of his, wanting him deeper, inside her. "Stay," she breathed, sending a tremor racing down his spine. He may not have been in a physical body, really touching her, but it was real enough for him to want her…

A sharp, painful jolt shot through Sesshomaru, piercing through his consciousness like an arrow. He hissed menacingly, baring razor fangs at Rin, his claws holding her just a little too tightly.

"Sessho-?"

"My body," he growled, stiffening around her, scenting the air.

"What?"

"My body!" His eyes turned crimson. "Someone is disturbing my body!"

~oOo~

Reizo stepped from his hiding place, into the moonlight, leaving behind the dark confinements of the miko's hut and its inhabitants. They all slept so peacefully, especially the lady Rin. She he had ensured was deep in a blissful slumber, before slipping away, pulling on the hood of his cloak to hide the luster shine of his silver hair. Reizo had been afraid, also, of the half demon that also resided here, fearing he would hear of his midnight departure and decide to investigate. But upon checking on him as well, he found the hanyou was out cold with no hope of rising. How very excellent.

Reizo lifted his face to the moon, allowing the light to illuminate his pale features. This was the night. He would finally fulfill his master's orders. Everything was going exactly as he had been told.

"The fang…" he murmured, casting his electric blue eyes skyward. "Where is the fang? Oh, but with the body, of course." He grinned broadly. With the use of demonic strength and speed, Reizo needn't take the stone staircase all the way to the top of the temple; he cleared them all in a single bound of his powerful legs.

"The fang," he sniffed the air. "I can smell its aura." He heaved the wooden doors open, sweeping his eyes around the room of the shiro before spying the alcove that was located within the far corner. His nose led him through there.

"Ah!" He lit up in excitement. "Why, hello there, Sesshomaru-sama!"

The body of the deceased demon lord laid on a futon, decorated with the most gorgeous flowers the inuyoukai had ever seen. The only personal possessions that belonged to the daiyoukai rested on his chest: Bakusaiga and Tenseiga.

Reizo strode forth, gazing down at his lord with an air of cheerfulness.

"So," as he knelt down beside him, leaning one elbow on the futon. "Tell me, Sesshomaru-sama, how are you fairing, living with the dead?"

He waited approximately five seconds for an imaginary answer.

"Now, now, enough of that foul tongue of yours! So vulgar," Reizo chuckled darkly. "It had to be done. If you want someone to blame; then be it your father, Toga-sama." He sighed. "The lord was a fool, almost as immense a fool as you are, Sesshomaru-sama, but not quite." Brushing his silver bangs back away from his eyes, "How does it feel, to know that it is your father's arrogance that you are dead? A shame, really, he did not think my master would achieve his revenge in one way or another. Toga-sama may be dead, but his son lived, my master would not have that. He only regrets not being the one to kill the mongrel. And you, Milord, I took care of you quite easily. Your father might've perished in the same manner had it not been for that damn girl." Reizo's blue eyes brightened. "I met your lovely wife today, Sesshomaru-sama. She's exactly the weak little scrap of a ningen I envisioned you to mate with." He leaned onto his other elbow. "I imagine that you must miss her terribly. No matter, she shall join you in the Underworld soon enough. I shall first cut out the abomination that grows within her womb, and the three of you will be burned together. Is that not romantic?"

He waited for the response he knew would not come.

"If only your sword was as sharp as your tongue, Sesshomaru-sama." Reizo pulled off his hood, rising onto his knees. "Perhaps then you might have survived the hydra. And speaking of sword…" His eyes landed on Bakusaiga, gazing at it longingly. "I am very tempted…" The inuyoukai reached out; hovering a clawed hand over the hilt. "Mine…"

"No!" he told himself sharply, pulling away. "No, I must not! My master wishes for Toga's fang. The fang…" He looked to one side. "The Tenseiga." Suddenly he was thoughtful. "Master says it really can resurrect the dead. How extraordinary, exactly why I must destroy Tenseiga." His gaze drifts back to Sesshomaru's face. "We cannot have you coming back to life and starting trouble now, can we? You'll only get in our way."

Reizo paused a moment.

"Enough of this! Give me your fang!" He grasped the hilt tightly, tearing it mercilessly from Sesshomaru's dead hold.

Immediately rejecting the wielder who was obviously not its master, and sense its impending doom, the Tenseiga emitted a bright, burning white power, scorching the offending clawed hand that held it.

"DAMN!" Reizo quickly tossed the sword away from him. Tenseiga soared across the alcove before hitting the opposite wall, falling lifeless to the floor.

"Damn," he panted, clutching his injured hand. The pale skin had swollen an ugly red color, incredibly painful no matter how little he moved it. "My master will not be pleased."

"Hey!" a voice called from the main entrance of the shiro. It matched that belonging to the hanyou. Impossible, he had been sound asleep not ten minutes ago!

"It's Reizo!" that was Lady Rin.

"Rest well, Sesshomaru-sama," he hissed. "I know you have something to do with this. I'll be back."

Still nursing his claw, Reizo kicked the nearby glass window out, shattering it loudly before leaping out to be engulfed by the darkness of the night.

A/N: To all you people out there who are history freaks like me, this story is LOOSELY based off of the tale of Susanoo and Orochi, and is NOT always historically accurate, because I change certain things. Hope you all enjoyed. Sorry if it all doesn't make sense yet.