Chapter Twenty-Three: The hunt

Previously: "Each breath seemed to reveal a new layer of its unsettling aroma. Rin barred her fangs and began to turn back towards the hut to find her mate."

*MATURE CONTENT*

Rin glanced around as she neared the hut, her senses on high alert, her emerald eyes narrowing as she tried to pinpoint the source of the odor.

Each breath seemed to reveal a new layer of the sickly-sweet undertone, Rin's instincts screamed danger. She knew that whatever was approaching was not to be taken lightly. With a deliberate motion, she bared her newly acquired fangs, her body tensing in preparation for what was to come. Her hand drifted down to the dagger she had on her and her grip tightened on the sharp blade.

In that moment, Sesshomaru's presence materialized beside her, his figure seemingly melding from the shadows themselves. His golden eyes met hers, a silent acknowledgment of the imminent threat. Without a word, they shared an unspoken understanding.

Rin began to turn back towards the hut, a subtle movement that communicated her intention to seek safety and gather more information. Sesshomaru's hand on her arm halted her, his touch grounding her with a mixture of reassurance and authority.

"We face this together," his voice was low, his tone a quiet reminder that they were united against whatever approached.

Rin's gaze met his, and in those golden depths, she found the unwavering resolve that mirrored her own. With a nod, she prepared herself for what lay ahead. If they were to defend themselves, they had to confront this threat head-on.

Rin had a lingering feeling in her chest as he allowed her to stay and fight, in a way Rin felt he was acknowledging her new strength and validating her prowess.

The bushes and tree leaves rumbled as the first figure emerged from the shadows, its form twisted and grotesque. Its eyes eerily black and hollow, and its movements were crooked like. More followed, their forms emerging with an eerie grace all of their eyes were trained on Rin.

Her emerald eyes narrowed as she assessed the approaching threat, the Najah or more precisely their puppets. The very creatures that had tormented the surrounding habitants to get to her. The same creature that invaded her mind and attempted to kill her just for being born who she was. The ones who held her prisoner when she was young, she didn't have all of her memories, but the smell was unmistaken.

Sesshomaru's presence beside her remained unwavering, his aura one of controlled power. He unsheathed Bakusaiga, the blade gleaming in the dim light as he held it at the ready. Rin mirrored his action, her dagger catching the glint of the moon's rays.

The Najah closed in, their whispers growing louder, their voices of twisted thoughts. "Sesshomaru, the Wardog of the West," they hissed. "Karin, the abomination."

Rin's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and defiance. She had no intention of allowing these creatures to harm her nor get near her mate. Rin knew Sesshomaru could defend himself, but they were here for her, and she was the reason they came for him too. With a swift motion, she lunged forward, her blade meeting the first Najah with a resounding crunch. After that they all attacked at once, screeching and clawing out at the pair. They were easy to take down but being imitations and they recovered quickly.

The battle was fierce and unrelenting. Rin and Sesshomaru continued to fight side by side, their movements harmonizing as they cut through the Najah with precision and purpose. Rin's transformation had granted her not only physical strength but an instinctual understanding of her abilities. She wielded fire with finesse, sending torrents of flames to engulf her adversaries.

Sesshomaru's Baksaiga glinted as it cut through the air, each strike calculated and deadly. Once he stuck, they didn't get back up, showing just how powerful his blade is. He had an injury to his right arm, but it seemed to fade into the background as his focus sharpened on the task at hand. Sesshomaru quickly switched to put his sword in his left hand, Rin marveled at his strength. Showcasing his dual ability, if anything his strikes were fiercer with his left hand. Together, they fought like a well-practiced duo, their movements a dance of fire and steel.

The Najah were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless as they pressed the attack. Rin and Sesshomaru were surrounded, their backs against each other as they fought off the onslaught. Rin's dagger sliced through the air, meeting the claws and fangs of the Najah with a ferocity born of desperation.

One particularly large Najah lunged at Rin, its claws extended to strike. With a swift sidestep, Rin evaded the attack, but the creature's tail struck her side, leaving a searing trail of pain. She gritted her teeth against the agony but refused to show them her pain, pushing through the discomfort with a determination that burned as brightly as the flames she commanded.

Sesshomaru's sword flashed as he swiftly dispatched the Najah attacking Rin, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her injury.

Rin pressed a hand to her side, feeling the warmth of blood beneath her fingertips. "I'm fine," she retorted, her voice laced with stubborn resolve.

Sesshomaru's gaze held a mixture of pride and frustration, another silent acknowledgment of her strength. Together, they pushed back the Najah, slowly gaining ground against their relentless assault. As flames and steel clashed, the very earth seemed to tremble beneath their feet.

With a final surge of effort, Rin and Sesshomaru unleashed a coordinated attack, a whirlwind of fire and metal that decimated the remaining Najah. The forest fell silent, the air heavy with the acrid scent of burned foliage and the echoes of battle.

Rin's chest heaved as she looked on analyzing the damaging aftermath of the struggle.

"You fought well," Sesshomaru's voice was low, a rare compliment that warmed Rin's heart.

Rin managed a smile, her emerald eyes meeting his. "As did you," she responded, acknowledging the partnership that had guided them through the chaos.

As the moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the battlefield. Rin and Sesshomaru stood as a united front, the echoes of their battle fading into the night. They had faced the Najah and emerged victorious this time but Sesshomaru knew this was far from over.

They were all puppets here, their bodies disappearing into thin air. They were stronger than the average demons and he knew well the strength of Melek, and he had fought a Najeh long ago when one wandered into the Western lands. They were very far off from being considered weak, and he knew he'd have to train Rin.

Inuyasha had done well at teaching her how to wield a weapon and defend herself, but she needs to learn offense now more than ever, as well as using all of her senses.

They decided to leave the hut to a more secluded area, one farther west near the coastline. Rin had stated how she wished to see the sea and so that's where he'd take her.

"Rin, come." said Sesshomaru as he held left hand out to her. Once her hand was placed in his, he pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her, careful not to touch the wounds on her side.

Instead of flying, a green aura began to surround them, and they were transported to the edge of the west. Once he let her go, she gasped in awe at how beautiful the place was. It smelled of salt and fish.

The sun had still not yet come out but with her demon eyes, she could see better than she ever had before. There was no one else there as she glanced around. Rin unfastened the bow of her kimono and let it slip off her shoulders onto the ground. She looked down to see her wound, but it had already healed, leaving dried blood in its place. She marveled at it and ran her fingers over the closed skin.

'Oh, how this would've helped me in the past.' she thought as she reminisced on her travels with the demon Lord.

Sesshomaru watched her lustfully as she inspected her closed wound, she healed fast and that brought him comfort but as he gazed upon her body, different thoughts began to invade his mind. He wanted her bare before him, to claim her in the fashion of a demon, something he couldn't do while she was human.

"Do you want to swim, my Lord?" she asked as she kept her eyes on the water that sloshed peacefully onto the sand.

"Hmm." he grumbled, "the creatures of the sea are out."

He approached her from behind, placing his hand on her shoulder and lowered his head by hers. With his index finger he pointed far out past her sight of view. Rin had to squint to see it, but she saw the tentacles and jagged fins surface then go back beneath the water.

Rin turned her head to him in awe, "Your eyesight is impeccable."

*Mature Content*

He lowered his arm and wrapped it around her hip bone, with one swift motion he turned her to face him. So fast she gripped onto the top of his armor to steady herself and looked up at him in shock. Yet, he said nothing and lifted her up by her hips with ease. Rin wrapped her long legs around his waist, and he turned in the sand and began walking.

Rin giggled at his antics and began to kiss her neck softly. Eliciting a low growl from him as he quickened his pace slightly.

Rin smiled. Within seconds they were a great distance from the sea. Sesshomaru tapped her leg, and she loosened her legs from his waist. His tight grip remained on her as her feet touched the ground. She then began to loosen the cords that held his armor, and he lifted it over his head, roughly throwing onto the ground.

That is when he kissed her, his tongue circling hers with such passion she felt her knees go weak. Never breaking the kiss, he pushed his top off his shoulders as Rin fumbled with his trousers.

She desired him many times but not like she did now, she wanted him badly and quickly. Once he stepped out of his pants and pushed her farther back until her back was against soft wood on what she'd only imagine was another hut. He grabbed her roughly and within seconds her back was against something soft, but she paid it no mind, her focus on the demon above her.

Sesshomaru released her mouth and kissed down her jaw then to her breasts, he sucked on her right breast and used his hand for the other rolling her nipple between his fingers. His hand slipped down between her legs to find her moist center. Rin buried her hands into the sides of her head as he slipped two fingers into her.

'So tight' thought Sesshomaru as he worked down her body until he was between her legs.

His golden eyes watched her come apart in his hand and when he blew on her most sensitive part, he watched the goosebumps dance across her skin. Her smell was intoxicating his senses as his lips closed around her nerves between her legs. She moaned loudly as he continued to move his tongue and finger faster.

"S-Sesshomaru.." she moaned.

She attempted to remove his head, but he clasped her wrists in his iron grip and didn't let go as kept hitting the same spot that made those sweet sounds come out of her mouth again and again.

Rin came fast and arched her back with the feeling that made her toes curl and mind go blurry. The pleasure she felt kept intensifying, but he didn't. Long legs began to tighten around his head uncontrollably as he attacked her sensitive bud. His long fingers kept hitting a spot deep inside of her that made her body shake and moan uncontrollably.

The woman's stomach started to tighten again with the familiar feeling, Sesshomaru bit lightly on her nub causing her body to jump with a feeling of pain and pleasure that sent her over the edge. A strangled sound came from lips, her voice she hardly recognizable and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. While she lay there in a light coat of sweat, the demon Lord kissed and sucked back up her body in slow motion.

Rin kept her eyes shut, still recovering from his previous advances. He kissed her nose, both eyelids as he placed himself between her legs and pushed into her slowly. Rin wrapped her arms around his neck as her body accommodate his large size. Sesshomaru pushed in and out of her in a slow pace and Rin greedily ran her hands down his hard body in awe at how he made her feel.

Rin nibbled on his neck causing him to growl in approval, she felt his cool breath by her eye.

"I will not go easy on you." he whispered.

She was no longer human; he couldn't hurt her as easily as before. He would no longer hold back on her, demons were rough lovers…primal and possessive.

Without warning he pulled back and roughly pushed back inside her in a controlled movement, hitting the very spot his fingers discovered in her moments before. Rin's voice got caught in her throat.

One of his arms wrapped around her back and gripped her opposite shoulder, pushing her breasts against his chest. He kept her still as he continued to forcefully push in and out of her. Rin nails dug into his back as he held her close against him. Incoherent words spilled from her lips as her body tightened around his member in sweet agony. He let go and threaded his fingers with hers, keeping her hands pinned beside her head as he continued to thrust through her orgasm. Her half-lipped eyes began to shine a vibrant green against his now red ones, giving into his demon side.

Rin was flipped onto her stomach, hissing as he painfully sheathed himself inside of her from behind. One of his hands wrapped around her neck, forcing her to tilt her head back as he brutally pounded into her body. Her breast bounced every time he pushed farther inside of her. Her legs jerking at how hard he penetrated her each time.

Once he released his grip on her neck, he trailed his hand up her spine and pushed her top half onto the bed. Her face fell onto the soft bed as a loud wanton moan at the pleasure she felt at the new position.

Sesshomaru leaned over and sucked on her neck, he felt his fangs elongate he plunged them into the side of her neck injecting his venom, making her come completely undone in his arms. More incoherent words tumbled from her lips as he released inside of her.

After several moments he released her neck and pulled out of her as her body spasmed, he held her in his arms. He turned over onto his back and kissed her forehead as she rested his head on his chest.

He watched as the two fang marks healed and his venom moved under her skin to create a crescent moon.

Rin's breathing remained heaved, "What was that Sesshomaru?"

He kissed her lips, "A promise."