Me: I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! (Notices angry reviewers holding rotten fruit and the like.)
Angry reviewers: WHERE WERE YOU! (angry reviewers then begin chucking rotton fruit at me.)
Me: can't we-(duck) talk-(dodge) about-(roll) this?
Angry reviewers: NO! (continue to chuck rotten friut and the like at me.)
Me: Alright, I know I should have updated but I-(gets hit in the face by a veeeeeerrrrrrrry squishy pear.) EWWWWWWW!
Me: Ahhhhh! The fruit, too rotten! AHHHHHHH! Please let me explain! (notices angry reviewers pick up pitchforks and torches.) Ohhhhhhh, that's not good. (begin to run for my life.) read the chapter (gasp) I'll explain (cough) at the (gasp) end. (whesse.)
To Live Or Let Die?
Kirika lead Sesshoumara through the twists and turns of a long forgotten forest, Rin's dying body held securely within her arms.
They had run throughout the night and beat the dawn with speed born of fear. Both fearing what could happen if they failed to reach their goal in time. Finally, after what seemed like hours of fear driven running, their goal loomed ahead.
To the untrained eye, the cave seemed unimpressive and uninteresting. None would warrant such a lonesome looking cave to hold anything of value within it, and so many would pass by its entrance and continue walking. Not bothering to waste the energy needed in order to spare it a second glance.
None the wiser as to the knowledge that was stored within its depths. This was exactly why Kirika had chosen this particular cave. So that the knowledge passed down to her, would be kept safe.
"This way," She said without looking back to see if Sesshoumaru was there, having already caught his scent.
"Hurry." She added when she heard nothing move behind her.
Sesshoumaru followed, choosing to ignore her perceived lack of respect in view of the importance of their journey.
Kirka walked through the entrance of the cave without stopping, Sesshoumaru looked up in time to see her disappear from view. He entered the cave a moment later, squinting his eyes slightly as they adjusted to the black pitch.
"Over here." Kirika said as she lit a torch with her attack, illuminating a rock shelf bearing three large scrolls.
"I need you to hold her while I read." She said motioning to Rin and then to the scrolls. Sesshouomaru made no motion of agreement, he simply took Rin out of Kirika's arms. Her arms freed from their burden, Kirika picked up the middle scroll on the shelf and began to read.
Her eyes moved side to side and her lower lip moved slightly up and down from time to time as she rapidly read the scrolls contents. Searching for something, anything that could save Rin's life. Her eyes widened as they came to rest on one part of the scroll.
'There has to be another way,' She thought, searching further down the scroll. There was none.
"I found something." 'If it saves her, then so be it.'
Sesshouomaru narrowed his eyes slightly. Silently demanding her to speak.
"It could save her, but. ."
"Go on." He demanded, his eyes burning. Kirika looked away from his intense gaze.
"If she received a transfusion of blood from someone strong, then she could live." Sesshoumau knew that Kirika was talking about him. He looked down onto Rin's face, a smear of blood running down the corner of her mouth. A mouth that he had grown so accustomed to see smiling.
Wordlessly accepting Kirika's unvoiced question, Sesshoumaru laid Rin on the floor and sat down beside her, staring expectantly up at Kirika. She smiled wanly as she sat down beside them, having gained a new respect for Sesshoumaru.
"There is one possible effect of this." She said, her voice low and cautious.
"If she lives, she will no longer be a human," Sesshoumaru's gaze pierced through her, "but a hanyou." Sesshoumaru closed his eyes in thought. Could he save Rin only to have her dammed forever?
"Is there no other way to save her?" He asked, his eyes still closed. Kirika sighed.
"No." Sesshoumaru shook his head, he couldn't condemn Rin just so he could be happy.
"However," Kirika said, a thoughtful expression taking control of her features.
"If we both gave her our blood, then there is a chance that she could become a full youkai." Sesshoumaru opened his eyes. A clouded expression on his face.
What should he do? He didn't want Rin to die, but her didn't want her live condemned either. What if she didn't become a full youkai? What then? How could he ever face her? Knowing that he condemned her to the life of a hanyou? But what if she did become a youkai? What if he let her die because of his fear? How could he face her in the afterlife?
No, in the end, the choice had already been made.
Sesshoumaru nodded and held out his arm. Kirika reached over and pulled back his sleeve. Using her claw she cut open a wound on his arm. Opening Rin's mouth, Kirika let Sesshoumaru's blood flow down her throat.
She pulled his arm away a few seconds later, and then cut open her own arm and held it over Rin's mouth. A few minutes passed before Rin's heart could be heard beating stronger. Within a few hours, her breathing steadied and her heart was beating strongly. Again they gave her their blood.
By the end of the day, Rin's wounds had healed and her heart beat strong, but still she had not woken. Agonizing hours of worry passed over them until the night came upon them once more. Still Rin had not woken.
Kirika and Sesshoumaru both kept watch over Rin, fear laying claim to their minds every time she moved. Hope lighting within them every time she fidgeted. Still, Rin did not wake.
It was well into the night now, the moon hung high, its silvery shadow slowly creeping its way into the cave. Sesshoumaru and Kirika had not stirred one inch sense that morning, both fearful and hopeful though they would not reveal it, of what could still happen. The only consonance to their unspoken fears beating strongly and regularly every minute.
Suddently, Rin's heart began to beat faster than before, her breathing went shallow. Both Sesshouamr and Kirika leapt forward, fear gripping their hearts.
"What's happening?" Sesshoumaru demanded, his stoic voice laced with fear induced urgency.
"I don't know!" Kirika answered truthfully, the same fear gripping her. Sesshoumaru, narrowed his eyes at her, daring what she said to be a lie. Kirika met his glare with one of her own, wishing that she was lying. The moon's light touched Rin's feet.
Rin eyes suddenly flew open as she gasped for air.
"Rin!" Kirika shouted, panic plain in her voice. The moon's shadow reached halfway up Rin's body.
Rin gasped again, and arched her back. As the moon's light touched her hand, claws appeared. The moon's light continued to move up Rin's body, causing changes within her at every part of her it touched.
As it traveled up her arms, two diagonal purple strips formed on her wrists. As the light began to touch her hair, black turned to silver. Rin gasped again as the light reached her face, fangs forming within her mouth and her eyes turning green. As the light of the moon covered her completely, Rin's body erupted in a green mist.
The mist swirled around her, seeping into her body through every opening. As the mist dissipated, Rin's body began to glow. The brightness of the glow growing as the mist disappeared. It grew brighter and brighter, until its light filled the cave, lifting Rin off the ground.
The last of the mist went into Rin's body, causing the already bright glow around her to explode in a burst of blinding light. The blast lasted for a few minutes before diminishing.
"Rin," Kirika said again, gathering the girl into her arms as the glow around her faded. Rin's eyes squinted slightly before opening.
"Kirika?" She said in a drowsy voice. Kirika smiled and hugged Rin close to her.
"Where's Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked turning her head slightly, searching for him.
"He's here," Kirika said, turning her toward him. Rin smiled happily as she saw him.
Kirika quickly released her, watching with a small smile as she ran to Sesshoumaru and without hesitation of fear, placed both arms around him in a hug.
For a moment, Sesshoumaru did not respond, but then he quietly placed his hand on her back, returning her hug. Without realizing it, Kirika's smile softened. It was strange in a way, to see Sesshoumaru return Rin's hug, but it also seemed right.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, what happened to me?" Rin asked as she pulled away from her hug. For a fleeting moment, sadness filled Sesshoumaru's eyes. It gone in an instant, but Kirika still saw it.
"What do you remember Rin?" He asked, his voice calm, betraying none of his emotions. Rin, furrowed her brows together in concentration.
"I remember, a strange youkai asking about you and Kirika, I remember he got mad when I wouldn't tell him, and then, I remember feeling pain and then, now."
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, and sighed slightly. A troubled expression crossed Kirika's face. Both didn't want to tell her what had happened, how close she had been to death. They didn't even want to remember it themselves.
"You, fell asleep." Kirika said.
"Oh," Rin said, apparently satisfied with that.
"Are we continuing our journey now Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked looking up at him.
"No, we are returning to the castle first." Rin smiled wide, obviously pleased with the present prospect.
"Let's go." He said while standing and walking out of the cave.
"Yes Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin said, a smile on her face as she grabbed Kirika's hand and ran out of the cave, following Sesshoumaru.
A/N
Me: (hiding behind a large rock) Okay, here's the deal. (crouches low to the ground to avoid pitchfork) I didn't update because I was caught up-eck!(rolls on ground to put out fire from torch.) caught up in work. I will try to update again as soon as I can so plea- AHHH!(starts running for my life again as angry reviewer/mob begins to chase me again.) AHHHHHHHHHH! Please review! I said I was sorry! (runs into the sunset with angry reviewers still chasing me.)
Hello again button. long time no see.