Chapter 8:
Many days passed by without incident, Lord Sesshomaru never went far from Rin but kept watch from a distance. The villagers didn't approach her, not that they did before. Sesshomaru watched her help Inuyasha's wife and saw her rebuild Miroku's house all with ease. Though she appeared calm, the slight twitch of her finger every minute or so said otherwise.
Rin went off alone into the woods and Sesshomaru silently followed her.
Rin ended up back at the same spot he had first seen her, where she fought the figures.
She appeared to be searching for what he could only assume was her red dagger. Which he had. As he was about to make himself known he saw her head snap to the left with her eyes closed. When she opened her eyes again, they were pitch black and she took off towards the left.
Sesshomaru noted that she was faster than Inuyasha but not faster than himself. He silently trailed behind her. Up in front of her was a deer, Sesshomaru watched as she brought it to the ground and easily snapped its huge neck.
"Sorry I'm hungry." she mumbled.
She reached for her at the holster on her hips, closing her eyes when she realized her dagger wasn't there.
She appeared to turn on her heel to take off again back the direction she came but Sesshomaru stepped out from the wood line.
Rin turned and immediately went into a defensive pose. She dropped it instantly when she recognized who he was.
She bowed to him, "Ah Lord Sesshomaru, you scared me."
Sesshomaru said nothing and held her dagger out in front of him, Rin's eyes filled with delight.
She smiled brightly and went to retrieve it from him, "Thank you Lord Sesshomaru."
Rin turned back to her deer and began skinning it, once done she sorted the meat into little pouches before getting up and looking for sticks.
She started the fire with two rocks and turned back towards him, "Hungry by chance my Lord?"
Sesshomaru just stared at her and she grinned.
"If you don't eat human food, what do you eat?" she asked.
"Energy," he replied.
Rin blinked at him, "I would've thought the moon. Care to keep me company?"
Sesshomaru walked over and sat down by a tree, extending out his long legs as Rin ate.
"How are you, Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked once she had finished off her portion of the deer.
"Fine. You?" he countered.
"I'm alright." she said looking at him.
Rin saw on his face he didn't believe her and just kept holding eye contact until she cracked.
Slowly the smile fell from her face, "I'm having a hard time being back here. It doesn't feel the same. Everyone is lovely but when you haven't had the company of many people for years and then suddenly do, it feels exhausting."
"I don't want to stay in the village, I'd like to travel again with you. Of course, if you'd allow it." she answered
"Do as you wish," he said, leaning his head back against the tree.
Rin continued on, "I do want to stay here for a bit longer, I'd hate to leave so suddenly."
The woman stood and pulled out her dagger and attached a string through the small hole on the handle. Rin widened her stance, keeping the string in one hand and dagger in the other before throwing it at a huge oak tree. She hit the target and pulled it out catching it again, taking a huge chunk out of the tree.
Sesshomaru watched as she repeatedly did this, he noted she didn't even break a sweat and hit the mark every time.
"What is that dagger made of Rin?" he commented.
She pushed some of her hair out of her eyes, "I'm not sure, they gave it to me, it was a twin set. I know it's stronger than any human made dagger. It is unbreakable I believe."
Later on, Rin headed back towards the village, but Sesshomaru stayed staring at the damage she caused the tree. It was impressive, he had no doubt that if she wanted to cut the huge tree in half with that small dagger she could.
Suddenly, the wind shifted and Sesshomaru got up. It smelled different. With his acute hearing he heard an odd sound and darted off towards it. It was eerily familiar, he also smelt his half-brother as he got nearer. Sesshomaru came from behind Inuyasha who had his blade drawn.
In front of him were three figures in black, not unlike the ones he's seen previously when Rin had appeared. The only difference was they didn't wear masks and looked surprisingly normal, or they would if it wasn't for the blue blood coming from their minor wounds.
Sesshomaru took a position to the right of Inuyasha, he didn't draw his sword but kept his hand on the hilt glaring coldly at the three individuals. They looked beaten and kept a spread-out formation. They had a variety of weapons; one had a sword strapped to his back with his hand steady on the hilt, ready for any attack.
The other two were steps behind him, one with a red tipped ax and the other with a scythe gripped tightly in her hand.
Inuyasha broke the tense confrontation, "Who are you?"
The one in front sneered at him, "We want no trouble."
Inuyasha barked out a laugh, devoid of any humor, "Your appearance says otherwise."
"I could say the same for you." He replied gruffly.
In a flash of red, Rin appeared directly in front of the leader of the trio.
Inuyasha tried to speak but was cut off by the leader, "General!"
The man jumped back into line with the other two, hands behind their backs and eyes to the ground.
Rin didn't look pleased by their arrival, "I am no longer your General! Why are you here, was I not clear?"
He kept his head low to the ground, "Your orders were clear General. I wouldn't have come to find you if it wasn't of importance. I ask you to please hear me out."
Rin growled out with clenched teeth, "Speak."
"General out of all 5000 soldiers only 2000 of us remain, we smashed the portals as directed but one is unaccounted for. It was my duty to ensure they all were destroyed but I have failed. An entire formation was killed with one survivor who returned to that place. I believe you understand where my thoughts have headed." he said solemnly, head falling lower to the ground.
Sesshomaru noticed how Rin clinched her hands, Inuyasha held his blade tightly in his hand at their interaction.
Rin laughed coldly and before anyone could do anything grabbed the man by his neck and threw him to the ground. He was alive but not moving, Rin turned her gaze to the other two, the female in particular.
.
"Raise your heads! Who?" she ordered coldly.
"General I-"
"Who. is. the. traitor" the power in her voice had them almost shaking.
The other woman clenched her eyes shut, "Nanami General."
Rin began to laugh, the coldest sound Inuyasha had ever heard from the woman. It was terrifying, Rin placed her hands on her hips and looked up at the sky and continued to laugh.
As quickly as it started-it stopped, Rin leveled her gaze to the shaking woman with spite in her eyes.
Inuyasha noticed her nails had extended into black claws as Rin pointed at the unconscious man she'd previously thrown, "Get him up."
In unison they said, "Yes General!"
Rin turned around and looked between Inuyasha who still held his sword and Sesshomaru who was leaning against the tree observing her.
Inuyasha eyed her warily, "Who the hell are you?"
Rin sighed, "Inuyasha you can go, I have it covered here. They won't go near the village; you have my word."
"I'm not going anywhere. Forgive me if I misunderstood…General," he mocked, "But if this traitor of yours made it back to that place, then she could come back with more, you expect me to allow that? No, this forest is way too close to my home."
"I understand Inuyasha but you will do no good here, you should enact a barrier around the village if possible as a precaution." Rin warned.
Inuyasha didn't look convinced, "Once I'm done here, I will tell you what I know, I promise."
Inuyasha turned to Sesshomaru, "Why does he stay?"
Rin spoke before Sesshomaru could, "He's the Lord of the West, this involves his territory. Please go back to the village, I will tell you what I know when I have more information."
Inuyasha grunted in obvious displeasure but lowered his sword and left towards the village anyways.
"I will be waiting for you Rin," he shouted.