Okay, so I may have lied LOL. This is not the last chapter, but second to last =D. I started typing this chapter as soon as I finished chapter 2 of my other fic. I'm on the role ;]. Anyways, lets just go straight to the story. Thx to all that reviewed. Please enjoy-AF
Chapter 10- Bleeding Love
When Rin woke she knew instantly she was no longer in the dark, miserable, wet and isolate cell she had become accustomed to waking up in. Her surroundings were transparent and in motion; swirls of purple and white danced together to create an unreal effect.
Her legs were weak, but after a few moments of stumbling and falling she found herself supported on them. Small, shuffle like steps lead her in no particular direction. She wasn't even sure if there was a such thing as direction in this strange world.
Every direction she looked in all turned out to be similar; the endless swirling and light colors lead to no where in particular. For the briefest of moments, Rin thought she was dead. A bright light was suddenly apparent; The tattered woman used her dirty arm to protect her light sensitive eyes.
Being in the dark for however long she was sitting in that cell (she had lost track of time) made her body jerk slightly at the now unfamiliar energy. Slowly, she used squinted eyes to peer over her torn sleeve. Her mouth became slightly agape; her arm dropped completely and she stared openly into the light.
A man shirtless man, with a sculptured chest and pale skin, still submerged in the bright light. It slowly dissipated, and his features became more prominent. Long black hair caressed his back side until it tickled his thighs; bright yet solid black eyes was what made him seem like a dark god of some type.
He was watching her moments carefully, monitoring her every foot step that brought her wrecked self closer to his profound beauty. She found herself mumbling, over and over over again, but the words were unclear to her. When she was an arms length from the hard gazed man, she suddenly made sense to herself. Rin became bold. She pushed her words further out of her mouth, to become clear and understandable.
"Where is this place?"
As if her question was what made him aware, he looked around the space of color and swirl. His pupil-less dark abysses landed back on her.
"This, is your subconscious Rin. You control this world."
My world?
Confusion bombarded her mind then; the colors around them darkened and began swirling angrily around each other.
"You effect the surroundings that we grace. Concentrate. Where do you want to be?"
Rin let her eyes roam the mystery man. She squeezed them shut then. A soft breeze stretched lazy fingers along her cheeks and brought a warm sensation through her body. Her eyes reopened. They were standing on a grassy hill top; below them the green pasture ran on seemingly forever. Above them, the sky was a bright pink. Flowers were popping out of the ground and speeding through there's life phases in mere seconds.
No sun existed in this place.
Another breeze hit her face, and Rin suddenly felt as calm as the silent man behind her seemed.
"Why am I here?"
She turned around, seeking the answer she asked from the dark appearing man. Was he even a man? A monster, perhaps?
I am no monster. And we are here because you have lost hope. Your demon body has thrown your human out of command, and pushed you back to this place. It seeks to be set free and find your mate, but you waste your time as if failure already touches your soul.
So he could read her mind. She wondered who exactly was this...being.
"There is no hope now. I have failed the mission, and Sesshomaru will not have me. I may as well die in that cell for all it's worth."
The location suddenly changed, and they were standing in the mist of a volcano eruption. The force of the heat created wind pushed their hair back and started a sound of whipping strands. Lava, hot and molten and fiery, made its way between the two; leaving a trail of hardened rock behind. The air was piquant .
"You're foolish to think that even if this mission of yours was true, that Sesshomaru could have the power to reject his chosen mate. You subdued him before, you have seen the ability of fate. Why do you doubt?"
Tears cleared a streak of dirt from her cheeks. They fell in quiet, heavy drops that made the ground seethe on contact.
"I...I don't know."
Everything went blank for a moment; nothing stretching around them but complete whiteness. Then, the roar of a waterfall sounded. The grounded seemed to paint itself brown with the rocks of the riverbank, and the blue of the water showed her reflection.
"Who are you?"
He said nothing, only staring at her with those ebony devoid eyes. They seemed familiar, yet different. As if he had cut the eyes from someone she knew and kept them for himself.
You know who I am
Yes. She did.
"Yurin?"
He didn't answer, but Rin knew it was the furry beaver she had met in the forest that faithful day.
"What must I do, Yurin? I'm locked up, and Kaso has no doubt issued war against Sesshomaru. Yurin? Yurin, what must I do!"
She looked at him, wanting help, feeling lost, and so defeated. The world began to fade, but it was none of her doing.
The mark. The mark with set everything back to as it was, back to make it all right.
The floor seemed to be disappearing, the ground slowly giving way to the collapsing world.
"The mark? I don't understand! What's happening?"
She cried out as the ground was snatched form beneath her; Yurin seemed to disappear.
You human heart has battled the demon's control of your body. Your going back. Remember, Sesshomaru can not and will not deny fate. Make it as it was, Rin.
Rin shot up; the chain that held her firmly to the wall snatched her back when she tried to go too far. For a moment she sat, confused about where she was. When it dawned on her that she was in her cell, she let out a dejected sigh.
What would she do now? She had no means of releasing herself from the unbreakable shackles that confined her. At that thought the metal holding her leg shined brightly, turning a raging red before shattering into pieces.
Go now. Time is against you. You have until sunrise.
Silently, she thanked Yurin. She scrambled to he feet, running to the cell's bars. They did the same as the chain had; in a blink of an eye the metal was nothing but a shredded mess on the ground. It wasn't hard to find the door that led up form the dungeon. He eyes could see nearly perfect in the dark now.
Her sore but determined body carried her up the long twisting staircase as fast as the pain would allow her. Somewhere in the castle, something rumbled and shook violently. She lost her footing for a moment; her hands wildly reached out and by chance caught onto a stone that jutted out of the wall.
She shook the shock off, and continued to move upwards. There was a table at the door that rested at the top of the staircase. Ami and Misaki sat, waiting patiently for their new master to wield them again. Rin picked the swords up tenderly; she ran the cold metal across her cheek before setting them back down.
She walked across small landing and grasp a spare pair of hakama and hoari. Just her luck. She took no time at all in shredding her clothes that had been reduced to rags, and putting on the fresh attire. Tearing off a bit of the fabric form the end of the hoari, Rin wet it with water that dripped in one corner and wiped her face and hands as much as possible.
Another piece of cloth was teared of to make a makeshift ponytail holder. Satisfied with her quick clean up, she strapped her weapons on her back and prepared to open the door and step into the hall. It was eerily empty.
Her bare feet carried her silently down it and into the next one, using an odd sense of direction she never before possessed. Strangely the entire place seemed deserted. She crossed what looked to be a dining room; one hand reached behind her to pull of Ami if necessary.
She caught the sound of a wall being brushed against, and took off in the direction. A shadow moved against her; detecting her silent advancement and trying to make a run for it. Her hand shot out and caught the man by the shoulder.
Using strength she just learned she possessed, Rin slammed the man backwards and onto the floor. The demon moaned in pain, and glared at her with his sharp and bent fangs exposed. Unfazed, she unsheathed Ami and held it painstakingly close to his throat.
"Where is everyone? Speak quickly before I slit your throat."
He seemed repulsed by her words, but the fear in his scent was more then satisfying.
"Kaso marched his army to Shikyo Valley; that's where the greatest battle of our time is going to take place."
He laughed; a rough, deep throaty sound that unsettled Rin's stomach.
"Sesshomaru will be blown away."
He continues laughing, letting the ugly noise grow until Rin could not stand it. Withdrawing her sword, she kicked the demon hard in the stomach. He sputtered and gripped his abdomen at the sound of cracking ribs.
She turned her back to him, and searched around for the door until she found it, open, giving her a view of the outside world. It was raining. Dreary drops of water came down relentlessly on her head. It was dark and gray; the sky a deep charcoal color. To the west, a dark reddish swirl broke up the blackness of the sky.
The woman took off running; her heart beating in her chest and her eyes narrowing against the rain. Yurin's words echoed through her head.
Time is against you. You have until sunrise.
She wondered what he meant, but decided she didn't want to come close to finding out.
V
They were coming, Sesshomaru knew this. The rain was unforgiving; his pale hair stuck to his face like snakes. He had traded in his usually all white apparel for a black set; the emblem of the west still in scarlet going down his hoari's arm.
He was ready. He knew this is what would become of the night days ago, when Rin left. He had sat with his army; waiting, waiting. Their waiting was coming to a close. Shikyo Valley was a large sparse field; dozens upon dozens of battle have broken out here over the course of time. Now, it was his turn to mark the old soil with fresh blood.
The marching was faint, but he heard it. They would be here in less then an hour. A familiar scent reached his nose, despite the rain. Though very faint, he knew the scent of his general well. Said man stepped up the hill that looked over the valley like a spectator's booth.
Sesshomaru hesitated, keeping his emotions in check in regards to the ultramarine eyed man. He ached for his mate to be by him, safe, and not in the manipulating clutches of his enemy. Kanori was to blame, just as Anna had been before he ended her life.
Kanori came to stop some feet behind him. The sound of the rain pounding down was all that filled the silence.
"Lord Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru stared up at the dark sky, letting his eyes trace the dark crimson stain that seemed out of place. Even the sky knew of the impending bloodshed that would take place this night.
"Where were you, Kanori."
Silence again. The man behind him shuffled.
"I had some business to take care of. I apologize for not telling you my Lord. Please forgive m-ouff"
Sesshomaru looked into the surprised crystal eyes that born into his face. Kanori's hand griped the shiny metal that protruded from his belly; his face twisted in agony when his lord ripped out the offending weapon.
He fell to his knees, hands pressing hard on the gushing wound.
"She will never be yours for taking, Kanori. You would have done good to know that. Nevertheless, the situation is too far gone now. You have placed my mate in potential danger, and for that you will never be forgiven."
Kanori seemed to freeze, but his face stayed neutral. He looked up with no emotion in his eyes or face now.
"Will you kill me, my lord? Is that the fate of your general?"
The Taiyoukai scoffed; his arm moved to secure the sword back at his hip. He turned away from the injured man, returning his gaze to the stars.
"You better pray that she comes back without so much as a broken nail, Kanori." He turned his head slightly, giving him a look only a stone cold killer could muster.
"Because if she does, I will rip you, piece by piece, until you resemble powder. You will not die until every single one of your bones shattered to dust."
Solders were suddenly there, gripping the former general by his forearms and dragging him away; Leaving Sesshomaru to wonder where Rin was at that exact moment.
He was brought out of his thoughts as a horn vociferate into the darkness, the battle cry reaching his ears and those of his soldiers behind him. The great lord grasped his sword and drew it. His arm stretched out to showcase the whetstone of his power. The rain hit it harshly, sending diluted drops of red down the blade and onto the ground.
He watched, calmly, as his numbers marched out onto the field that the hill overlooked. Perfect, in synch with one another, with looks of pure destruction upon their faces. He jumped down, and landed gracefully on the sliding mud.
Kaso appeared then, his own army marching behind him. They stopped, suddenly, still 100 feet from the dog's troops. All was silent. The field was getting more and more muddy.
Across the field, Sesshomaru could see the cocky grin on Kaso's face. His red eyes were wide with excitement. The two lords met in the center of the field; each had a tight grip on the sword that gleamed in the water.
"Last chance, Kaso."
The other demon uttered a dark laugh. He grinned then, glancing at the sky before looking back at Sesshomaru.
"Are we gonna start this thing before or after sunrise?"
Sesshomaru, never taking kindly to insult, lunged first; his arm swung his blade cleanly through the air that Kaso occupied not a second before. He spun around and his sword connected with Kaso's. He pushed him back and the two lunged at each other again.
Battle cries ignited from both sides of the field, and the ground rumbled with the running soldiers. The gap between the two was sucked away and there was a deep quiet before the two armies collided. The air filled with the clang of metal and the cried of those who had fallen.
The first of the blood split and stained the ground.
They were pressing swords against one another; Kaso leaned in close and chuckled.
"By the way, thank you for that little gift you sent. I thoroughly enjoyed her."
Of course, Kaso had not touched Rin, but any reaction he could extract from the demon lord was worth the little lie. Sesshomaru drew his sword back and kicked Kaso square in his chest. The red eyes man let out a gruff noise before landing on his back.
He was quick to jump up out of the way of Sesshomaru's angry swing that would of took his head clean off. He was obviously angry; his eyes teetered dangerously between a golden wheat and a deadly red.
Sesshomaru growled.
"You've guaranteed your excruciating death today, Kaso"
V
She was coming. She was so close. The sound of metal hitting metal and tearing through bodies made it seem like she should have been in the middle of the vicious battle, not miles away. She jumped to another thick tree branch, hardly catching her breath before grabbing for the next branch.
She broke the tree line and landed on the soft ground. The rain had stopped. She searched the dark skyline for any sighs for sunrise, but found none. The dark red swirl in the sky was close now. She took off again through the open field, hoping, praying.
A light in front of her made her slid to a quick stop and look up. Yurin's pale body hovered above the ground, as if he was too good to the touch the wet mud beneath. She cocked her head at him, slightly annoyed that he was halting her process. There was no telling when she sun would rise.
"Yurin, what is it?"
His black eyes bore into hers.
Sesshomaru will not win this war on his own.
Rin licked her lips, processing the information quickly. In her mind her mate's face appeared. She couldn't imagine someone as up front and determined as Sesshomaru losing anything.
"Why?"
An explosion sounded from somewhere in the distance. She didn't feel the ground shake until a few moments later. She was close.
Kaso has a trick up his sleeve. It will cause the end of the great Lord Sesshomaru if you do not stop him.
The woman huffed, but listened intently. She recalled during the times Sesshomaru and she spent together, he had told her once or twice of the back door tactics the North often used to win against other powers.
"So tell me, what is Kaso planning to do?"
Have to ever heard of a Siren?
Rin thought for a moment, the name ringing several bells in her head. She remembered learning about something called Sirens in her Greek mythology class back in her present time during college. She nodded when the complete memory and definition came to mind.
"The Sirens were three sea nymphs who lured sailors to their death with a bewitching song. They were formerly handmaidens of the goddess Persephone. But when the girl was secretly abducted by Haides the god of the underworld, the sirens were given bodies of birds to assist their search for her. They eventually gave up and settled on the island of Anthemoessa.
"The Sirens were later encountered by the Argonauts who passed by unharmed with the help of Orpheus, the poet drowning out their music with his song. Odysseus also sailed by, bound tightly to the mast, his men blocking their ears with wax. The Sirens were so distressed to see a man hear their song and yet escape, that they threw themselves into the sea and drowned.
But what does that have to do with Kaso? That's Greek mythology, nothing like that would exist in Japan."
Yurin shook his head.
Kaso has something similar to the deadly sirens. A beautiful women by the name of Seirenes will play the role a Siren had long ago. Her voice is bewitching, and no power of man can stop the spell it will cast over him. Sesshomaru will not suspect trickery on a degree this high; he will be spell drawn before he realizes. That is when Kaso with kill him.
Absorbing all of the words Yurin had injected into her mind, Rin felt a second skin of anger and determination settle over her body. She was his only hope of surviving, as much as he didn't know. She would not fail him this instance.
"I see. Thank you, Yurin. You have helped me much in the last few months. I have a debt to you."
But he was gone; nothing but field and dark sky's replacing the spot he had once occupied. She gathered her strength, and pushed off of her heels. Her pace was quick and even; her jaw set and her eyes narrowed in concentration.
She followed the increasing sounds of obvious battle. Down the clearing was a huge and impossibly steep hill. When she reached it, she stopped to assess it. Another explosion rocked the ground, and Rin thought of Sesshomaru stopping cold in his fight to listen to Seirenes.
Her clawed hand dug into the moist earth, and her other hand followed suit a few inches higher. Her foot kicked in a foothold, and soon she was moving up the hill with increasing speed. She was nearly to the top when she felt a gush of air rush by her.
She crawled onto the landing; upward eyes caught hold of a mystical creature. Her face was of staggering beauty, framed by luscious looking black tresses. Her upper body was nude; the creamy color of her skin free for anyone to gaze at.
Feathers stuck to her body along her lower half, including the broad wings she expanded inflight. Her mouth opened, and Rin gasped in horror. Her eyes scanned the blood soaked field frantically as she ran down the incline; when she caught sight of silver she screamed his name.
She watched him and Kaso shoot away from each other, and Kaso turned and disappeared. She was running hard, screaming for him not to listen and to cover his ears. His face was half turned to her, but a melody rang out then.
He paused, and Rin saw his eyes glaze over. The music continued; a soft, irresistible sound that had all the men of the battlefield slowing to a stop. Soon, nothing filled the air but Seirenes's magical voice.
To Rin, it was just another song. But to the men gaping on the field it was an enchantment they could not fight. She watched, choking back a moan, as Sesshomaru dropped his sword and fell to his knees.
She was still running, gasping, trying to make it to him. That was when Kaso appeared again, a liquid oozing from his ears. Of course, he would have the things necessary to block out the beautiful song. Over head the human bird circled around Shikyo Valley.
Kaso drew his sword. A victorious crackle escaped his throat; his arm swung then. The brilliant metal coming around quickly to meet Sesshomaru's neck. The sound of tearing flesh filled the air, and blood kissed the ground.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion; Kaso's grin of success slowly became one of surprise. Rin gripped the blade that went half an inch through her torso. Blood from her hand dripped onto the blade and then to the ground.
In one quick motion, she yanked the weapon out of her side and squeezed the cutting edge of the sword. It shattered; shots of white and silver shooting everywhere around them. Catching Kaso in his surprised stupor, Rin gripped her side and brought her leg up to met his face.
The force of her kick sent his body flying backwards in the air until he hit the ground and slid on his back further away. She knew she didn't have much time before he would be back on his feet and charging. There was no way she could take Kaso by herself.
Her eyes frantically searched the ground, and lit up. A bow and a quiver of arrows laid not too far from her. She crawled out, and quickly collected the weapons. A quick glance told her that Kaso was starting to get up, but slowly.
His angered growl sent shots of fear through her body. In a fast motion she was on her feet, the quiver forgotten and she aimed the drawn arrow into the sky. Her power consumed the arrow then, making the bow and her person appear to be engulfed by blue flames.
She close one eyes, moving her arms with Seirenes's movements in the sky. Kaso was on his feet now, picking up his sword and making short steps towards her. His beaten up face showed bared bloody fangs that protruded from his mouth.
Rin closed her eyes, and let the arrow go. She was sudden gripped by the arm and thrown to the ground. Her eyes opened to reveal the angry demon lord standing over her; his eyes were circles of molten fire. He was readying to kill her. His blade lifted and shot down, and Rin found herself remembering the intimate night she had shared with Sesshomaru.
I love you...
The blade tore through the skin and flesh of her stomach. Her cry dies in her throat, and she watched through blurry vision as Kaso grinned nastily. Behind him, she watched the Siren fall slowly to the ground. She had hit it. A smile took over her lips.
She almost didn't see the blur of white as Kaso was pushed off of her, his sword forgotten and left behind in her gut. The world was bleeding white. Her eyes captured the sight of Sesshomaru digging his hand into Kaso's chest and ripping out the very organ that kept him alive.
A defeated roar left his mouth as his knees hit the ground, and he was dead before his face hit the muddy soil.
Sesshomaru's face came into view then, his pale skin marked with cuts and dirt. Rin attempted her best smile, and weakly lifted a hand to trace his cheek. Around them, the battle was raging again, but none seemed to take notice of the Lord and his dying mate.
His golden eyes took on a sad hue; his hand gripped hers tightly and she could barely make out what he was saying to her. In the horizon, the darkness was being lifted; the sun was fighting it's way up over the hills.
Yurin's words came to her then. She exhaled shakily, wondering what surprise the sun would bring. Her head was turned to the side; Sesshomaru's face disappeared and the sight of the rising sun replace him. The rays where reaching out now. The shadow being pushed back as the light took over.
It was so very close to capturing them too, when a sharp pain had her gasping. Her mate came back into view, his mouth moving but the words never reached her ears. Blood slid down his chin from his mouth, and Rin wondered faintly if he was trying to tell her he loved her.
The sun hit them.
Everything in the back ground faded away, and bleed white. Even Sesshomaru's tight hold on her began to fade as everything went dark.
Don't worry, it doesn't end here. Review please-AF