CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

Mikage

"Naraku is alive?" growled a stentorian voice behind me. The deep tone lingered in my mind, that...implacable name striking me again like a bell. My eyes studied the man on the ground, looking for any available answers. But with none found, I could only ask myself, who was Naraku?

Sesshomaru-sama's angular face parted the rain as he came beside me. With a single hard arm, he moved me out of the way. His cooling skin pressed against my collarbone, and with a sharp thrust, I was pushed aback around a couple feet. Only his arm stayed there, barring my entry to Suikotsu. In the darkness, his sharp, amber eyes remained smoldering, leering at Suikotsu. I watched in astonishment as his leg muscle contracted, and he brought a firm foot crashing down onto the specter's armor.

Then I felt it.

A singular pair of warm hands clutched at my leg, heating up a small area of my chilled skin. Little tiny breathy sobs and small mutterings sounded, mostly incomprehensible. Rin.

Whirling around, I picked up the petite girl. Her dainty body lurched, shaking with sobs that were ever growing in volume. It didn't take much effort to raise her upper half over my shoulder- because as soon as I did, I brought my footsteps backwards in quick succession away from the scene. But once she was there, her doleful mood echoed in my ears, bringing sadness to my face as well.

"It can't be... He's dead..." she moaned.

Grey slashes of fluid ripped through the air as another rumble filled the forest. I saw Lord Sesshomaru's back illuminate, threadbare kimono revealing the aftereffects of the wounds. From here, Lord Sesshomaru's bellows demanding the mysterious man's location could hardly be deciphered. But they were loud; and Suikotsu's agony could be seen as the dog lord pressed on.

I ran my hand down Rin's back over and over again, attempting to bring her some contentment. But her ribs continued to rattle with her grief.

"Rin... Listen." I brought the girl before my sight, watching as she rubbed her eyes. "I know this'll be difficult. But, whoever this awful man is, and whatever he did, I promise I can protect you from it." My vision fell down her defeated body, hunched shoulders and weary eyes. Her brown eyes cleared only a bit, allowing me to add a quiet, "I promise.".

To my surprise, Rin launched herself at my stomach, wrapping her arms around my waist. Her body was beginning to run cold, as her wet skin rubbed against mine. Her cheek was pressed firmly against my collarbone, the soft flesh spreading a bit over it.

I felt as more hot tears fell down my kimono, sending a shiver through my body. What had this man done? Rin had gone from sobbing to bawling now. Her small hands were scrunching against me, begging me to return her embrace. And so I did.

Around us, the trees crackled with the heavy smacks of the rain. The clouds above were a typhoon, raging and rampaging about each other in what appeared to be a dance. And so the weather continued, even as two long fingers were lifted into the air. Even as a maliciously-intended laser of pure acid was raised, sprouting from the fingers of a dog demon.

I watched Lord Sesshomaru's face wrinkle in his pure rage, as the rims of his eyes became darker, the irises threatening to dye themselves red all over again.

"Fine, then, vermin. Shall you so desire to stay silent, you will. For rest of your miserable days as a corpse!" he roared, stripe of ballistic light crashing down on the man's neck. I flinched, teeth grating against one another. For the split moment that the horrible ripping sound occurred, my muscles froze, tensing like so many other times today.

Rin's consistent weeping only became louder. I brought shaking fingers through her long hair, my own jaw trembling as though it were freezing. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the plausibly headless man, to take my eyes off the paling grass behind Rin's head. To even look at the enraged canine lord. All I could do is feel as an unsettling heat seeped into my eyes. Witness my vision smudging. Feel as my strength was finally cracking. All of this.

The forest.

Gakupo.

Mother.

Rin.

Sesshomaru.

The Band of Seven.

And the merciless slaughter of this man I had the sad misfortune to stumble across in such a way.

"Milord! Lady Mikage! Where are you?"

Jaken's raucous voice ricochetted off of the trees above me, filling my ears with gravelly shouts.

A smoother voice snapped back.

"They're down there, imbecile!"

Rin sniffed not even bothering to look. I felt her chest heave again as I continued running my hand through her wet hair. It was soaked, knotted and scraggly to the touch, and squeezed water out onto my fingers every time they passed through.

I heard soft footsteps scrunching through the grass before me. Even so, I kept my sights steady on the ground. I didn't want to look either. I didn't want to see the ruby red eyes glaring at me, lips pulled back in a horrible snarl.

"Look at me."

To my astonishment, I heard a voice untainted by evil. It was just the same, typical, toneless voice of him. Hesitantly though, I obeyed, directing my eyes at him. Rin's wails decreased a bit in volume at hearing the voice of the dog demon.

My eyes ran up slowly, a bit worried about what I would find myself looking at. What facial expression he had in store for me- only to find myself looking into calm, golden irises. His pale skin was wet, shining on the cheekbones and bottom lip. His dark eyebrows held no anger.

"Yes?"

I spoke cautiously, holding the girl tightly within my grasp. Her breathing was steadying, pressing against my chest at the same moments in which I inhaled. My speech sounded thin, cracked with worry and my own energy merged with the devastated girl's.

"Why did you save her?" quizzed the man, studying me. His eyes passed momentarily to Rin, then back at me. "If I am correct, you didn't even know her. So why?"

I hardened my jaw, letting out a long breath.

"She needed someone. And if I was the only one that knew, well..." I shook my head quickly before resting my chin on the human girl's head. "Of course I would come." My voice became lower, barely escaping a whisper. "Who am I kidding? I would have come anyway."

"...I see."

Behind him, Yuuhi finally landed, barely missing the body of the mercenary. Her lavender fur was slick against her body, deep violet, almond-shaped eyes examining the situation. It was at times like this that the cat looked truly full of wisdom. With her broad shoulders loose, neck held high in curiosity. And then, as though a string had been snapped, she whipped her head back as far it would go to glare at the imp seated on her back.

"You are SO lucky she isn't hurt, toad!" she hissed, dish-shaped ears flattening.

The sight of the two bickering again brought a small smile to my face. Things, for the moment at least, were normal. Under my arms, Rin squirmed; so instinctively, I let go. I was shocked to see her eyes suddenly as bright as when I first met her.

"Rin...?" I started, my confusion entering my voice.

Around us, the rain had begun lightening, and the murky grey of the forest was lightening to a more, cloudy color. Even the birds had begun chirping and squawking again.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" she called, turning around. Sesshomaru-sama raised a single brow at me. I couldn't do anything but shrug. I was just as bewildered at her sudden mood change as he was.

"MI-"

"Shut up will ya?!" erupted the cat in the background.

Rin plastered a grin on her face, bouncing with happiness. When she finally stopped, a small tooth could be seen, biting her lip in anticipation.

"Lady Mikage said that she'd protect me! She promised!" announced the girl. All attention turned to the twelve year-old instantly. Jaken's huge yellow eyes, Yuuhi's amethysts, Lord Sesshomaru's orbs of amber. And here I was left over here, face flushing in embarrassment.

"U-um... I-I-"

My explanation was cut short by the girl yet again.

"Can she join our group, Lord Sesshomaru? Please?" Rin begged, bottom, shiny lip sticking out in a plead.

"R-Rin!" I stammered, face practically burning now. Lord Sesshomaru shot an aggravated glance at me, eyes narrowing.

"Was this your idea, Mikage...?" he inquired, lips lowering into a suspicious frown.

"N-no-"

"No, Lord Sesshomaru, it was mine! Just now!" Rin chimed, mouth beaming.

From beneath Yuuhi's gigantic paw, Jaken cried in protest.

"Absolutely not, Rin! Lady Mikage has no reason to! Besides Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't-" Yuuhi stamped her toes over his face, lowering the imp's berating to mere unintelligible mumbles.

I buried my face in my palms, feeling more stupid than ever. I could even feel the heat radiating from my cheeks.

"Rin," I began. "I didn't mean-"

"I know, but if you're in our group you can protect me with Lord Sesshomaru! And I can have a girl to talk to," Rin exclaimed. Her brown eyes twinkled in excitement.

"B-but..." I objected, trying to form a formidable argument.

"Pleeease, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin implored. She now even had her hands clasped together. This was humiliating. Even though I didn't suggest it in the first place, I couldn't help but feel guilty for the way I worded it.

Lord Sesshomaru turned his back to us, shoulders slightly stiffened in irritation.

"Do what you must."

"DidyouhearthatLadyMikagehesaidyoucancomewith!" Rin yelled, her words jumbled together like one.

I let a huge gust out of my mouth, falling backwards into the wet mass of grass. What was I supposed to do now?