Chapter 13:
Sesshomaru removed his hands from hers and brought them to her cheeks, he wiped her blood red tears carefully with his clawed thumbs. His cold heart broke at the pain in her eyes, his gaze softened, and he threaded one hand behind her ear into her soft gray hair.
His other came around her waist pulling her closer to him, as she practically collapsed against his tall frame. She felt so small in his arms, her height not even reaching his shoulder as he let her stain his shirt red again with her tears.
Limping up from behind the trees was Tagushi, he stopped walking as he looked at the state of the two and then to the dead woman on the ground.
"Return to the camp, inform Inuyasha that the war will begin in three days." he ordered, his voice cold and harsh with anger in his red eyes.
Tagushi hesitated for a moment before bowing swiftly, "Yes my Lord."
Then he turned and took off back toward base, limping slightly.
Sesshomaru pulled Rin closer to him and the green light enveloped them both as he teleported them away from the area.
Rin felt her feet be taken out from under her but couldn't find it in her to care as Sesshomaru tightened his hold on her. When her tears finally stopped, she looked up at him and found he was already staring at her with the most forlorn look she'd ever seen on his beautiful face.
His eyes were blood red and his demon markings that were usually smooth red lines line looked stretched and strained.
"I'm sorry." she muttered looking into his eyes.
His gaze turned angry as he peered down at her, "Do not apologize."
As he spoke Rin noted that every tooth was sharpened, his fangs noticeable longer. His voice took on a distorted tone. It reminded her of the calm before a big storm. Lord Sesshomaru sounded dangerously close to losing control, forcefully calm but with an edge. Rin didn't know what to make of it, she'd never seen him this angry.
Hesitantly, she reached up and traced the edge of his demon marking. Wanting desperately to give him some portion of the comfort he's given her time and time again.
"Are you alright, my Lord?" she uttered softly.
His breathing was heavy, as he continued to stare at her. Sesshomaru placed his hand on hers, stopping her movement but kept her hand against his warm cheek.
"I'm angry." was his response, still holding that distorted tone.
His eyes slowly closed as he inhaled deeply, after several minutes he opened his eyes again. This time they were the glowing golden orbs she was accustomed too.
She removed her hand from his cheek and stepped out of his loose hold.
Rin held his gaze still, entranced as his demon marking straightened, "I brought them here."
"Good," he replied harshly.
Rin stared at him in confusion, trying to grasp how bringing 20,000 enemy soldiers to the West held any semblance of good.
Sesshomaru, sensing her thoughts said, "I'm unable to enter there. Now they're coming to me, it will be the last thing they ever do."
Rin didn't know what to say to his simple explanation. It was comforting that he didn't blame her, but she was still concerned about the outcome of this unavoidable war.
She didn't want anyone to die but the blue blood under the Igami control seemed too far gone to try to reason with. Sesshomaru's intensity in his conviction left very little room for doubt, he knows he will come out of this on top. On some level so does Rin but it will not be without sacrifice. Losses will be heavy, but the demon lord knew this already.
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru," she said as they turned and made their way back to the Eastern front.
Two days later everything was set into motion. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Rin worked tirelessly to put in place precautionary measures in the event the Igami's did breach past the imaginary line they'd drawn on the western map.
The surrounding area had already been cleared of both humans and demons. Inuyasha sent the half demons, particularly the ones who could pass as humans into the human villages. When the humans refused to leave the area, the more 'unique' looking demons jump in to play and had the area cleared within the hour. Upon decree of the Lord of the West the demons as well were cleared and pushed deeply into the West. Far from the long stretch of land that the war was to take place.
All of the portals together made an almost straight line along the map in the war room. It was decided that when the enemy come through, they would all enter into one area. All of the portal keys were destroyed except one, so the advantage was on their side. The goal was to let them all through and attack from all sides, boxing them in and killing them all.
The blue blood would remain in battle formation at the front of the fight while the demons stayed hidden in the thick trees to the left and right of the miles of clear terrain. Ready to attack from both sides when the enemy got into place. Another advantage was the Igami's utter lack of knowledge on demons, to the point they believed and still believe Rin was a demon when they captured her initially.
The half demons would be placed behind the portal and attack from the rear. Once they'd all come through and gone ahead to the designated areas, they would be unable to escape or turn back the way they came.
20 demons and 20 blue bloods adapted in the art of not being seen would locate who had the portal device. Their only goal was to locate and destroy.
With everyone knowing their places, they began to rest in preparation for the bloody war to come.
Sesshomaru had disappeared for several hours, no one knew where the demon Lord had gone but by the time he had returned Rin was the only one, minus a few guards far off, to remain awake.
It was dark, she sat alone with her knees brought up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them tightly.
"Rin." said Sesshomaru softly, announcing his arrival.
"Hi." came her whispered remark.
Sesshomaru's eyes were far better adapted in the dark and he noticed every detail of her worried appearance.
After giving it much thought he decided to sit down close to her, it was colder at night, and she had faint goosebumps appearing on her pale arms. It didn't help that she wore a tight black tank top that showed off her scars and a fair bit of her upper chest.
He turned away and let his momoko wrap around her shoulders, she was close to his side. Rin leaned the back of her head against his shoulder to look up at him.
She squinted, "I can only see your eyes."
"Good we won't be fighting in the dark then."
"Yes." she said softly.
Rin leaned against him and sighed heavy; she loved being this close to him. She hardly had the courage to hug him, only going as far as grabbing his hand when she was a child. Now she leaned against his strong chest with ease.
"Thank you." she whispered.
"What for."
"I know you don't like to be touched, thank you for comforting me anyway." said Rin sweetly.
That very thought had crossed his mind often since she'd come back. He wanted to tell her that it didn't bother him, that she was the only one he'd let touch him or be this close to him.
After the time they've spent together, his thoughts on Rin took on a drastic change. Sesshomaru didn't mind her touching him or being so close to him that when she left his side his scent was still lingered on her.
His own demons smelled him on her but made no comment, only stared at him oddly when they thought he was unaware. Many have grown to respect Rin and her soldiers for the prowess and strength, he dared to think that even the demons and half demon befriended one another to an extent.
The streak of possessiveness over Rin was always there but it was changing into something more than just fierce protectiveness, something Sesshomaru began to fear. It is no secret that dog demons are loyal and protective over those consider to be their people but his reactions to Rin are something more than that of a Lord and ward.
After many late-night conversations with her she'd become a friend to him, someone he trusted, and he trusted no one like he did with her. Sesshomaru felt a connection with her and by the way she responded to him, he knew she felt it too.
Demons have many mates in life but not dog demons, his father was the exception, but his parents never were a love match. Although, the demon society was outraged by his father marrying a human it wasn't so much because Izayoi was human. It was because it disgraced his Lady wife, Sesshomaru's own mother.
It had made sense that he married Izayoi, he had chosen her as his life partner and never accepted his mother as such.
Sesshomaru knew his mother could care less what his father did, she had many lovers after he died but only for her own amusement. She never chose a life partner from Sesshomaru's understanding and both his parents made it clear to him at a young age, they both couldn't stand each other.
Dog demons chose only one life partner and Rin fit ever characteristic he could've wanted in one. Loyal, strong, beautiful and kind. Yet, she didn't understand what it meant in demon culture to be a demon's life partner.
By her scent alone he knew she was untouched, the thought drove him mad with a need to claim her in some way. An instinct from his heritage. Sesshomaru saw how the creature leered at her body, and it made his blood boil. He was trying to override the need to claim her and the need to keep her at arm's length, lest he do something rash.
She was walking a delicate line with him, and he wasn't sure she knew what that meant, so he kept quiet and remained close to her. There would be time when all of this was over.
Rin had felt his shoulder muscled tense up, his glowing gold eyes turn to a glowing crimson. Her only indicator that anything was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint what. She began to shift away from him but was roughly yanked back to his side, the force of it making her almost fall on to his lap.
With shocked eyes she looked up at him, "Did I do something wrong?"
Sesshomaru held back a groan at the innocence of her questions and bit his lip harshly.
"No Rin." he said
"It's cold out, "he added as an afterthought.
Rin not fully understanding leaned back against him anyway and when she felt him relax, she closed her eyes. Rin listened to his erratic heartbeat and rubbed her hand over his chest soothingly.
An almost purr-like noise was released from his chest and Rin found she liked that sound very much. It was unusual but she could tell it, he was content. It was so different from anything she'd ever heard, and she cherished being able to soothe him in some way to whatever turmoil he was going through.
She didn't ask and just continued on until her eyes shut heavily closed unaware of the chaos, she unintentionally was wreaking havoc on great Lord of the West.
I loved writing this chapter! The comfort and sweet moments before the battle 3 R !