Chapter twenty-one

The duo walked in utter silence as they came across a clearing in the dense woods. Sesshomaru noticed the dazed expression of the woman next to him and stopped abruptly.

"We stop here," he said, eyeing Rin over his shoulder.

The woman's eyes didn't look up at him, she merely nodded and began to gather firewood. After making her dinner, Au-Un had found them, and he was settled down next to Rin. Rin leaned back and ran her hand over the demon's scales. She began to drift off from both physical and mental exhaustion.

It pained him that he couldn't help her in the way she needed him, he usually had an answer for all her questions but not this time. Rin, his Rin was going to change very soon. A hybrid type of change and he wasn't sure what to expect or even tell her. The Lord wasn't sure of what she'd become but he knew she'd possess great power.

Sesshomaru remembered her father. Melek was a true sight to behold. He was strong, immensely so. Stronger than any creature he'd come across to date. Their battle lasted three days, the most Sesshomaru had ever had to push himself and he very nearly died. Every battle with a worthy opponent you learn something new. Sesshomaru learned that even though Melek pushed him farther than he'd ever gone in a fight, he could go even farther if necessary.

It is understandable that the Najeh would fear her and loathe her due to her parentage, but no one would hurt her as long as he remained present. They hadn't attempted to infiltrate her mind since he dragged her out and he was thankful for that.

Sesshomaru was new to entering people's minds, but it was a trait of his clan and only very few could do it. Most would never attempt it. During his youth at the school for young lords, they taught how to protect your mind from attacks. To stop people from reading your thoughts or overtaking your mind, purely defense. The offensive of the mind was not taught nor allowed.

Sesshomaru thought about infiltrating her mind himself, something he'd only ever done once to save her. Even so, it was dangerous because to get inside her mind he left his own wide open.

Most could not do what he had done but the Najeh were masters of mind control, even in small numbers.

The Najeh that were left attempted many times to regain control of the continent during the beginning of his father's reign but every time they were crushed. Demons evolved since their time of rule as well as grew in numbers, it was useless to try now. Their goal was to kill Rin, nothing else.

His Rin was nothing like Melek, not even in appearance which he wondered if that would change too. If she'd come to look in Melek's likeness, it was a possibility. Still, she was half human…

The Yokai Lord decided he'd mention the idea of going inside her mind tomorrow and thought no more of it.

Early Morning…

Rin didn't sleep well but at least she slept some.

Sesshomaru watched her eat the berries she'd collected for breakfast, as the once happy human remained quietly lost in her thoughts.

Once she was done, he continued to watch her stare at the ground and hold her head in her hands. Lost to whatever rabbit hole her mind had gone down.

"Rin."

No response.

"Rin."

Again, no response.

'So, she's ignoring me.' Sesshomaru thought as his eyes narrowed.

"Ka-Rin" he said slowly, as he dragged out her full name.

Rin's wide eyes looked at him in shock, "Don't call me that my Lord."

Sesshomaru leaned forward on his knee, "Come here Rin."

Rin looked irritated with him still, but she approached him nonetheless, "Yes Milord?"

Her foot tapped absentmindedly on the ground as she stared at his armor.

"Turn around." He spoke.

She did so.

"Sit" he commanded.

"My Lord I-" she started.

"Sit down," he ordered her.

Rin huffed but plopped herself down with her back towards him.

The demon Lord hands found her tense shoulders and began to knead the skin. His sheathed thumbs made steady work of her upper back. Rin was visibly relaxed and sighed in content at his actions. She could feel her tight muscles coming undone with his strong hands as he targeted the knots in her shoulders.

"I have a proposition for you." He murmured, still working out the knots in her back.

"Mm." was her only response. Her head hung forward with eyes shut.

"I could enter your mind as I did before." he said simply.

"Oh?" was her slurred response.

After several moments, her slouched over body suddenly stood straight. As if she'd finally recognized the words he spoke.

"You can do that?" she meekly responded.

Sesshomaru nodded, "Yes. It's difficult and it could be dangerous."

"I'm always in danger, my lord."

"No," he continued, "Dangerous for both of us. This is different from physical battles."

Rin scooted until she was crisscross in front of him.

"How so?"

Sesshomaru gazed at her, "Many things. Going into your mind leaves our bodies defenseless. More so it will link our minds temporarily."

Rin remained silent, patiently waiting for him to continue. She was nervous and didn't want to place him in any danger, but she was beginning to get desperate, and she believes he knows that too.

"That vague my Lord, what happens when our mind's linked? Would it be like before when you got me out?" she questioned.

"No, this would be different. I entered your mind, but I never established a link with you. That is why you couldn't see or hear me until I pulled you through the veil to my side. If it's done correctly, we will possibly be able to sift through your memories, even ones you don't remember. Again, it is dangerous because if you get overwhelmed you could essentially cast me out and I'd have no way to pull you from inside your mind. You'd be lost."

Rin held his gaze, "How is this dangerous for you?"

"The mind is a fragile thing Rin, if I die while inside your mind or during this process your life is forfeit." he said.

Rin shook her head at him, "My Lord, why are you even willing to do that!?"

"Because I want to know as well."

"Yes but-" she started.

"Rin, I care for you deeply. You scream in your sleep, people go inside your mind to kill you and I can't stop it but I can strengthen your mind for the battles I can't fight for you. I'm willing to do this because I believe it will work or at least unlock what's been buried in your head."

Rin nodded in understanding.

"When?" she murmured.

"Tonight." he responded, rising up.

Sesshomaru offered his hand to her which she gracefully took. Rin brought the backside of his hand to her lips and placed a small kiss there.

Once she dropped it, she gazed up at him longingly.

"You're a kind person my Lord."

It was quick when he entered her mind, she didn't even register the pain or process it. Sesshomaru had inserted his claws into my fingertips, not unlike how he initially saved her but now Rin is shadowed by darkness. No sign of the bright white clothing Sesshomaru wore nor his stunning golden eyes.

Rin hesitantly walked forward into the darkness, but it got her nowhere, it didn't even feel like she had moved.

"Hello?" she said loudly, "My lord are you there?"

"Do not yell Rin." came his raspy reply.

Worried, Rin began to ask if he was okay, but he cut her off quickly.

"I am fine."

Rin nodded, wondering if he could even see her.

"I can see you." came his demonic reply, "Everything here is out loud, we are in your head."

As Rin gazed out into the darkness, two huge eyes came into view. Both a beautiful golden color with red rims and they blinked at her, almost patiently waiting for her to slow down her heartbeat at their beautifully frightening appearance.

"Think back to when you were a child, the earliest memory you remember, and I will go from there unlocking pieces."

Rin did as told. Thinking back on the sweet buns her mother used to make and how her sibling would run around the hut throwing mud at each other. As she did so it was as if it was playing out before her, she was unable to be seen but she was in that memory.

"Rini" called her mother from the far side of the hut. Rin looked closer at the mother she hadn't seen in years and smiled sorrowfully at the woman who couldn't see her. Younger Rin ran up to her and hugged her legs as she played with her hair.

"Rin. I'm going farther back now. Whatever you see, remain calm." came Sesshomaru's spectral reply.

The image in front of her played in reverse and continued to go faster until all she could see were flashes and blobs. Suddenly it stopped and she was in her same hut but this time there was nothing inside it. A loud bang was heard near the entryway, and a woman pushed into the door carrying a young child of about four on her front in a makeshift carrier and a small baby on her back in a similar fashioned carrier.

As her face became known, Rin could see it was her mother again but a few years younger. She walked towards Rin and went through her as if she wasn't there. Rin's mother slowly sat down and lowered the sleeping children on the floor next to her, she used the cloth baby carriers as bedding for them both.

"You poor child," came her sullen voice, "I will raise you as if you were my own. I will love as if you came from my womb." The woman kissed the sleeping child's head as tears pooled from her cheeks to the younger Rin's forehead.

The image froze as Rin began to process what those words meant. Her breathing became sporadic, and she shut her eyes as the memory began to blur in front of her, completely distorting it.

"Rin, breath." came Sesshomaru's warped voice. He sounded very far away at this point.

"Rin! You have to calm yourself." he urged as his voice faded in and out.

Rin tried to slow down her breathing, as she did so the memory in front of her came back into focus.

"My mistake my Lord, are you alright?" she responded.

Sesshomaru lightly groaned, "I am fine but for this to work you have to try to stay calm, remember I am with you and nothing will hurt you here."

"How?" she asked.

"If you wish to stop, we will but if not, don't overexert yourself."

Rin took a deep breath, "I'm ready to continue."

Sesshomaru hmed, "I'm going back a bit farther."

Screaming everywhere, but I couldn't find the source yet. The memory image hadn't popped up yet, but the screams of terror were loud before it got eerily quiet.

Slowly, a stone wall with chains came into view. At the bottom of the wall sat a tiny child with dark black hair. Heavy chains were around its wrists, ankles and waist. A torn-up dress, too small for the child, was covered in blood and torn at the shoulders. Suddenly the child looked up, matted hair stuck to the child's forehead and bright, glowing green eyes appeared to be looking through Rin at something behind her.

The child looked anything but friendly as a man wearing all black approached cautiously.

"Hello little monster."

The tiny child bared its fangs and hissed out at the man; eyes trained on his black shoes as he got closer.

"Do you want to talk today?" he asked.

To be Continued