Feudal Affair

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter XV

Sesshoumaru measured his steps, each one drawing in the distance to his mate and his child. The little girl's screams rang out in the grasp of danger. But even as he looked into Kohaku's eyes, there was uncertainty. His sister had nearly commanded him to take the child's life and yet he'd hesitated. Even the way that he held Kisata now spoke to his reserve. The way that Kohaku looked to his sister for guidance let him know exactly who his target would be first. Sango had given him an ultimatum, choose his mate or his daughter or risk losing both. She knew his weakness, what he feared more than anything. Rin could no longer be spared by the power of Tenseiga and yet the thought of bringing back a dead infant was unsettling, an image that he'd never be able to rid himself of, the image of Rin's cold lifeless body in the Meidou was almost too much to bear. Even as he looked into her face now, the tears that stained her cheeks, the pain that she felt, forced into a position of watching her child being threatened only made him angrier.

"What's wrong? Can't make a decision?"

Sango clinched her jaw as she twisted Rin's arms, pinning them behind her back with her knee. Placing her hand under Rin's chin she forced her head back threatening to break her neck in one move.

"Sango…"

"Enough Kohaku. She's not even yours anymore. If given the chance, Sesshoumaru would walk away with her and Kisata. Is that what you want?"

"No…I…"

"Then one of them has to die!"

…

"I can feel Kisata's demonic aura now." Kagome pointed in the direction that she could feel it coming from. They were close.

Inuyasha cringed at the scents that he was picking up on already. If his nose was right, he feared that they were already too late. It wasn't hard for him to guess what would happen next and he was sure that the four weren't having a civil chat about the weather. Sesshoumaru would act first and ask questions later.

"There they are!"

Inuyasha and Kagome cleared the trees where they could see their friends in what looked like a stand-off. As they neared they were suddenly stopped and thrown back. Inuyasha growled as he realized they'd hit a barrier.

"Sutras?" Kagome looked up to see the small papers floating midair.

"What the hell Miroku?!"

"I'm sorry Inuyasha. I can't let you and Kagome go any further. This has to be decided by the four of them."

"Do you want Sango and Kohaku to die?! Because that's exactly what's about to happen."

Miroku seemed solemn at the words but held his ground.

"I'm doing this at Sango's request. She is aware of the risk and I cannot convince her otherwise."

"You do realize I can break this barrier with my Tessaiga?"

"I have no doubt. My intentions are only to stall you until a decision is made. And I'll put up however many barriers I have to until that happens."

Kagome shook her head at the level of insanity, "Miroku, your children will lose their mother and uncle, all for what? Revenge?"

"Honor."

"Red Tessaiga!"

…

Rin could feel the hold on her neck becoming more lethal. Even the thought of fighting back was stalled at the thought that Kohaku still held Sesshoumaru's child in his hands. She would refuse to let Sesshoumaru save her over their daughter. In some ways she'd accepted this fate a long time ago. Being at Sesshoumaru's side would have meant constant inescapable danger and yet she would have been willing to risk it if he'd let her. Even as the tears continued to escape she could see his face. Sesshoumaru had made his decision and he hadn't waited for her to mouth the words. He'd sheathed Bakusaiga finding it unneccesary. He hadn't made the decision that she'd wanted. His movements were a blur. Rin's arms were freed, her neck out of Sango's grasp as she heard Sango's scream from behind her. She'd turned to see a familiar hold as Sango fought against Sesshoumaru's grasp on her own throat and she heard Kohaku gasp.

"Sango!"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as he turned to Kohaku. It was as he'd expected. Kohaku's hesitation left room to choose.

"Kohaku, it would seem that your sister gave both of us a decision to be made. I made mine."

"Sesshoumaru, don't kill my sister…please!"

"Kohaku…kill…her." Sango fought against being strangled, Sesshoumaru's grasp tightening at the command.

"No…No! Please?! I'll return Kisata safely to Rin and the two of you can go! Just don't kill my sister."

"Kohaku…!"

"Sango enough! Just let it go! I have and I don't want you to die for my sake."

Kohaku looked down into the baby's face even as she continued to cry. Over the last two days he'd held the little girl, attempting to comfort her and she'd already had him wrapped around her tiny finger. He'd prided himself on calling himself her father. He wasn't able to kill the child, even if it meant doing so would hurt Sesshoumaru. He took a breath as he looked to Rin. The way the tears filled her eyes as she sat on the ground, the emptiness in her at the sight of her daughter in his hands at the thought that he was capable of killing an infant was disappointing. This whole ordeal shouldn't have ever started and it had to end.

Rin listened to the screams of their child dwindle as Kohaku placed the baby into her arms. Kisata's expression relaxed as she held the baby close to her heart.

"I'm sorry..."

"Thank y…"

"...it started with you. It ends with you."

Sango's body fell limp to the ground as Rin felt her body begin to shake as the blade was slowly pulled from her back. She reached forward as Kohaku backed away from her, the blade dropping in front of her coated in her own blood. Kisata's cries entered her ears again as Kohaku's name was called. The world around her became a twisted confusion of shouts, noise, and blades clashing. She wasn't sure how Kagome and Inuyasha knew they were here. Another clash of blades sounded off and even as her world began to tilt Kagome kept her from reaching the ground. Her body shivered even as she refused to let go of Kisata. Their little girl was still again. Rin felt the need to save her words and instead grasped Kagome's hand and placed it over the baby.

Kagome could see Rin fighting against the wound.

"You're okay. I can heal you. Rin...?" Kagome knew the words weren't convincing enough as her own tears gave her away.

Even as Kagome placed her hand over the wound to use her power she knew that it was fatal and Rin had been brought back more than once by healing powers. There was no way for her to escape death this time.

"...It's...okay..."

"I was the one that sealed Kisata, her aura. I'm sorry. I just wanted to save her, save you, and Sango...this wasn't supposed to happen."

Even though she didn't speak, Kagome could see the faint smile. A sign of Rin's gratitude for what she'd tried to do. Kagome watched her shift her gaze toward Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. It was a shame that they'd gotten into a fight in this way. Just as Sesshoumaru had tried to kill Kohaku, Inuyasha had blocked his blade turning the irate dog demon against him. But Kagome knew this was no time for the two of them to be fighting, Sesshoumaru needed to be with Rin and they needed to be with their friends.

"Sesshoumaru!"

Inuyasha was prepared to defend himself. He knew Sesshoumaru was furious that he'd intervened in his killing Kohaku but two deaths were already enough. Sango and now Rin. The wounds were too deep and Kagome wouldn't be able to heal either of them. Was it enough for Kohaku and Miroku to mourn for a sister and wife? Sesshoumaru had dealt with the loss of Rin before and he would have to inevitably deal with her loss again. Inuyasha relented as he watched his brother fall to his knees only supported by Bakusaiga. There was no blow from Tessaiga that would have made that possible. Sesshoumaru had succumbed to the grief of losing Rin. The moment passed before Inuyasha watched his brother take Rin and Kisata into his arms.

It wasn't easy for Sesshoumaru to turn his back on Kohaku. The demon slayer hadn't even tried to escape. Instead he and the monk kneeled over his sister's dead body. Was it enough to exchange a life for a life? Kohaku's death wouldn't bring Rin back and maybe Kohaku had lost more, a wife, a sister, and now he would have to live with that. He let his energy surround them, taking them away before landing at the beach. Kisata's whimpers were low and solemn. She was aware that she was losing her mother. Rin opened heavy eyes as she looked into Sesshoumaru's face and listened to gentle waves crashing against the shore.

"We've been here before." Her voice was low, fading.

"I promised to protect you and I failed you."

She could see the tears in his eyes as she shook her head.

"No. You've always protected me. Kisata...is yours to protect now. I love you, I always will...in this life and the next."

Sesshoumaru kissed her even as the return of Rin's kiss faded. He kept their embrace even when she could no longer hold it. Kisata's cries seemed to echo the pain that he felt, the passing of her soul. There was nothing that could replace her. The fear of losing her had become real. Sesshoumaru questioned how he was supposed to live with the thought of knowing that despite every effort he'd still lost her. If he'd known this would be her end he would have taken the risk of bringing her with him, he would have let fate have it's way if it meant her happiness. He felt the heaviness of the blame he placed on himself. He'd convinced himself that he wasn't being selfish but he was when he'd denied her request to be with him. He hadn't really questioned her broken heart, the way she would feel having to live a life without him. He'd pressured her heart under the same circumstances he never wanted to face. Now, he would have to face a world without Rin and yet she'd left another precious life to protect. He hadn't the words to tell Rin her faith in him was too great. Even so, he took Kisata into his arms. Her cries faded as he studied her beautiful face. She seemed to reach toward the horizon with the rise of the sun. The markings on her cheeks became darker and a crescent mark appeared on her forehead. Her aura strengthened to what seemed nearly full demon and he felt a strong energy reach out from her and surround them in an embrace.

A/N: This was a tough chapter to write. Again, my thanks for all of your support reading and reviewing!