Chapter 87 - Blood

The sting of the blow surprised Sesshomaru. With the exception to his battle with InuYasha, he could not remember the last time he'd been wounded in battle. It's the damn barrier. Landing in a defensive crouch, he was careful to maintain his fiercely focused expression. They could not know how difficult it truly was for him. Already Sesshomaru could feel the exhaustion pressing, as the barrier siphoned his demonic energy at an alarming rate.

Rin's sharp eyes never left him. When he landed, the hot crimson blood dripping across his forearm, she inhaled sharply in concern. "My Lord! You're wounded!"

Jakotsu chuckled darkly, stepping back to block Sesshomaru's direct line of sight to Rin. The motion made Sesshomaru's hackles rise. "I thought so. Your skills have been dulled by the barrier."

The daiyokai gave no response except a slight narrowing of his gold eyes, they glittered in the foggy light dangerously. Jakotsu let out another whiplash attack, Sesshomaru blocked and reversed it with an easy parry. Blocking attacks took much less energy than an offensive approach. But defense would not save Rin. How long can I keep this up, at the rate that the sacred barrier is draining me? Another lash went at his feet, which Sesshomaru narrowly avoided with a sidestep.

"I will kill you Sesshomaru! I wonder how delicious your blood is?" Jakotsu chuckled. "Not as good as InuYasha's I'm sure…"

Rin cried out, struggling against Suikotsu who stood in the background, not yet participating in the battle. "Lord Sesshomaru!" She tried to push away at the mercenary's arms to gain her freedom — but her size and strength was no match for the adult assassin.

Suikotsu lifted his metal claws to her throat, instantly causing her to still her movements. "Be quiet!" He demanded.

Sesshomaru couldn't prevent the growl that rumbled deep in his chest, it rattled as the canine fought against his control. No! We cannot risk her safety.

"Your pride is truly astounding." Jakotsu taunted. "Especially since you can barely even stand." Grinning like a maniac, the rouged mercenary lifted his snake sword for an attack. "All thanks to the barrier!" The energy sword lashed out like a whip again. Sesshomaru didn't even try to side step the move.

You've become predictable. You rely on long distance attacks. But you won't be able to face me in close quarters. Twirling Tojikin, he wrapped the snake sword's jointed parts around his own blade and jerked it firmly. With a surprised cry, Jakotsu was pulled off balance and flipped over Sesshomaru's head, since he refused to release the handle of his sword. Instead Jakotsu cried out as his skinny body went flying through the air — his trajectory taking him away from the barrier. Perfect.

As soon as Jakotsu hit the ground Sesshomaru moved, striking at his feet with Tojikin. Jakotsu scrambled to the side, barely evading the blow. Rocks splintered beneath the power of Tojikin. You have no control in close combat. As the mercenary sidestepped, Sesshomaru leapt to follow him, staying on him like a hawk on prey. He slashed, Jakotsu ducked, and leapt away. Sesshomaru followed again, leaping and slashing, Jakotsu backflipped backward and landed in a crouch several yards away, glaring with hatred at the demon lord. Sesshomaru was carefully herding him further down the mountain.

Sesshomaru took the pause to take a breath. His lungs and skin felt like they were on fire, his hand burned as blood flung freely with every lash of his blade. Almost imperceptibly he noted that his hand was quavering where it gripped his sword. Too slight for his opponents to notice… yet. He tightened his grip on Tojikin, stilling the faint movements.

Suddenly Jakotsu called out to his partner. "Hey! Suikotsu! Make sure you don't move away from the mountain!"

"I don't need to be reminded Jakotsu." Came the irritated reply from behind Sesshomaru. "You just concentrate on your end and get rid of the menace. Make it fast, because I'm just itching to slaughter this little brat."

"Nhh!" Rin whimpered, her words barely a whisper. "Help… Lord Sesshomaru." The fear in her voice was palpable. Sesshomaru didn't have to turn, to hear the sound of the metal claws shifting… moving them closer to Rin's neck. Rage gave him an unexpected surge of energy. Perhaps my last. I must make it count.

"Don't do anything funny." Jakotsu said, clearly believing they had the upper hand with his sword casually slung over his shoulder. "One wrong move from you and the kid is dead, you got that?"

There were long moments of silence, Sesshomaru didn't move or speak aloud, his eyes remained locked on Jakotsu. But his thoughts were on Rin. Formulating on the best possible use of the last reserves of his energy. Rin… when he falls. You need to run away.

I won't leave you Lord Sesshomaru! Even her thoughts quavered with fear, in a hushed whisper.

You must go! Do not stop, do not look back. If things did not go as he planned, Sesshomaru did not want Rin to see the carnage of his potential death.

Feeling confident, the mercenary lackadaisically sauntered toward the yokai. "It's funny." Jakotsu began. "It's but a matter of time, if you think about it."

"Is that what you think, huh?" Get ready.

Jakotsu was childishly predictable. He had sauntered closer, but remained several yards distant, for his preferred whiplash attack. The mercenary lifted his sword arm, pulling it back for the same attack he had used the entire time. Sesshomaru watched, amused, and allowed a smirk to tilt his lips as he narrowed his gold eyes at Jakotsu.

"Why you arrogant wretch! What's so damn funny?!" The effeminate mercenary's rouged lips were pulled back in a snarl of rage. "You're hardly in any position to be laughing!" He lashed out with his snake sword, the energy sizzled toward the demon.

But the place Sesshomaru had been standing was now empty. The yokai lord leapt into the air, aiming straight for Jakotsu and his snake sword. Using his right arm, he threw Tojikin backwards as he took flight. He didn't have to even look to know where his target was, and know that it would hit Suikotsu through his right lung. Jakotsu gasped as Sesshomaru rushed the smaller male. Tojikin hit Suikotsu dead center with a wet metallic sound. Simultaneous to the hit, Sesshomaru aimed for Jakotsu with deadly accuracy. The snake sword — though dangerous — did not make his path waver. Sesshomaru felt the blade slash through his mokomoko, cutting deeply and flinging his hot demon blood into the air. But his mark was set. Sesshomaru's poison claws lashed out as he flew into Jakotsu, body slamming the smaller human. His poison tipped claws sank deep into the mercenary's chest, saturating the demon's hand with blood as Sesshomaru grappled, attempting to find Jakotsu's heart. The mercenary cried out in pain, coughing up blood as he landed face first into the blood soaked fur of Sesshomaru's mokomoko. Though the mercenary's, collapsed body blocked his view, Sesshomaru heard the sound of Suikotsu falling to his knees from farther behind.

Rin. Go! Now!