Authors note:

Okay so a fun fact in this chapter is Sesshomaru's mother's real name. I've never seen it listed anywhere, but her official name is Inkimi. I only found out by watching The Final Act with subtitles on. It clearly lists her name when she speaks. Kinda cool! :)

I was trying to imagine what Sesshomaru would have done with three days — they really do skip quite a bit of important time in the anime. Which, yes, InuYasha and Kagome are important. But more Sesshomaru is always better!

I'm hoping to upload a chapter every day or two. It helps keep me inspired and rolling. I may miss a day here and there if work is especially busy.

Chapter 5 - Nightmares

Sesshomaru was a soul possessed. With the need to be — the ultimate, the best. In his own mind, he could not achieve that goal, without either possessing, or destroying the Tetsusaiga. His father's ultimate weapon. The sword of swords. Proving his worth. Not only to himself, the memory of his father, his mother… but the entire world. There would be nothing and no one who could stand in his way.

Now, in his very hand he held the solution to all his problems. Determination to commission the sword he would need to defeat InuYasha, the burning drive, overcame all rational thought. All he could hear ringing inside his head, were his mother's criticisms. A snarl escaped somewhere deep in his throat. No more.

It was sunset when finally he arrived at the defiled swamp, where he knew he would find Kaijinbo. The banished swordsmith who had formerly apprenticed under Totosai. Cruelty was the foremost characteristic of Kaijinbo, who had slaughtered human children to make his creations more powerful. The foremost reason that he had not brought Rin to this place. The other being the toxic environment. Kaijinbo lived next to a swamp, one that had formerly been a pond. It had become toxic when the swordsmith threw the leftover demon parts, and human bodies, into the water to fester and decay. Sesshomaru under normal circumstances, would not have gone himself, other than to make initial arrangements with Kaijinbo.

They arrived as the sun was setting, making the trees look like they were ablaze with the orange glow. The air was filled with the stench of decaying flesh and rot, causing Sesshomaru's sensitive nose to burn with the scent. Had he been weaker demon, he would have retched, the smell was so intense. With deliberate intent, he walked to the bamboo covered doorway. As if afraid of his very presence, the bamboo flapped open before them. Just inside, the very ugly, and very drunk Kaijinbo reclined on a mat on the floor. The necklace hanging across his chest was crafted from children's skulls.

"Who're you?" He growled as Sesshomaru stepped within, not waiting for an invitation.

"You are Kaijinbo, I take it. The smith who forged too many deviant swords and was banished by his master Totosai."

The demon sat up, watching Sesshomaru with beady eyes. "Totosai you say? The sound of his name is still enough to make my blood boil."

The yokai lord found everything about the smith repugnant — but he needed him. With one smooth movement, he dropped the heavy severed demon head at Kaijinbo's feet.

"How about it Kaijinbo. I would have you forge a sword for me, with the fangs of this demon."

The smith sneered as he leaned forward to examine the offering. "Don't take me for a fool. I cannot forge a sword out of something that is already dead."

Towering above him, Sesshomaru withdrew Tenseiga from its sheath and held it aloft. Both Jaken and Kaijinbo shifted away slightly, fear in their posture. The yokai's eyes narrowed in the direction of the smith, liquid gold molten and dangerous. Though he was not actually looking at Kaijinbo, instead he watched as the minions from the underworld become visible with Tenseiga in his hand.

I can see the messengers from the netherworld.

In one smooth stroke, he sliced through them, dissolving them into nothingness. They screamed as they vanished into the air. On the floor before them, red light returned to the eyes of the demon. The head, would die again quickly, but he had little doubt that Kaijinbo would be able to make quick use of the fangs. Lifting his gaze, Sesshomaru could see the shocked expression of the swordsmith as he gazed upon the revived demon head.

"The demon's head has come back to life!" The swordsmith touched the ugly flesh, as if offering it a gruesome caress.

"Allow me to explain something Kaijinbo. This sword, Tenseiga, was forged by the same master who banished you some time ago. And the fangs of the demon I laid here before you broke Tetsusaiga, a sword that was also forged by Totosai." Sesshomaru assumed that the realization, would be the last key to convincing Kaijinbo to forge a sword for his purposes.

"Incredible." Kaijinbo stroked the demon's head longingly. "Yes! These fangs will form a powerful sword." His beady eyes cast up to where Sesshomaru stood over him. "I will forge you a sword mightier than the Tetsusaiga and the Tenseiga!"

That was all that that Sesshomaru needed to hear. "Very well. You will be compensated. I will send for my sword in three days." As he walked from the hut, and put distance between himself and the foulness of the swamp — Sesshomaru had expected to feel relieved. He was getting what he wanted, a powerful sword without comparison. Yet, it wasn't relief that he felt. It was something… else. An unknown sensation in his chest.

"Let's go Jaken." He said, already lifting into the sky and away from the foul air.

"W-wait my Lord! Don't leave meee!"

Sesshomaru's sleek form cut through the cool night sky with no resistance. But his thoughts were far from his body. He had not touched Tenseiga since the night he resurrected Rin. Great pains had he taken, to ensure the sword didn't further ensnare his mind and influence his clearheadedness. Additionally, he had also carefully ensured not to put himself in close proximity to Rin, when at all possible. Thinking perhaps the sword reacted to her presence. Why was it that every time he used Tenseiga, he had the distinct feeling that he had lost something… some internal barrier. The carefully crafted wall to keep himself withdrawn from life around him.

Yet he'd found it necessary to use Tenseiga today. His plan would not have worked without it. So why now, did he feel so… with a sound of disgust that was lost to the wind, he pushed such thoughts aside. Feel. He did not feel. He was a yokai. Yokai did not experience the humanness of feeling. He would not be moved.

It was the wee hours of the morning, when they were finally nearing the place they had left Rin. Sesshomaru felt something, a pulling frantic sensation deep within. He was attempting to figure out what exactly he was sensing, when a high pitched scream of terror broke the silence, and sent sleeping birds flapping wildly into the air.

With a burst of speed, Sesshomaru cut toward the trees, where they had left Rin. Jaken somehow lost grip on his master and went tumbling, escaping Sesshomaru's notice. Instead his senses were entirely focused on the point where he could smell Rin. His body blurred, appearing like a streak of lighting in the sky. Then, suddenly, he was standing beside A-un. Dust puffed around his feet at the force of his landing.

Eyes narrowed, he briefly scanned the area, but sensed no other presence. Satisfied, he dropped his gaze to Rin, who was curled on a blanket against A-un's side for warmth from the night chill. Her eyes were closed in sleep, but she trembled, fingers white with tension as they clutched the thin blanket. For a moment, Sesshomaru was rendered speechless at the sight of her visible pain. A nightmare? She whimpered in her sleep, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. He cast around, about to yell at Jaken to care for her — but then realized that the imp must have been thrown some distance.

Another cry escaped her, this one muffled, as she pressed the blanket to her face. A dark stain appeared as it soaked her tears, he could taste the salt in the air. At his side Tenseiga came alive with sensation, and Sesshomaru stood in silence, torn. Finally after long agonizing moments, he reached down to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Rin." He hoped his tone was gentle. He'd never been in a situation to comfort another being. It seemed unlikely that he would be good at it. She didn't awaken at his touch, so he lightly squeezed her shoulder. "Rin." He said, louder. This time her eyes flashed open, tears pooling in them and dampened her dark lashes. Blinking, appearing confused, she looked up at him, then wiped the tears from her eyes with one hand.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Her voice qwavered, thick with tears. One traced a pale track down her cheek.

He hardly knew what to say, but found himself speaking anyway. "I heard you call me." Truly he hadn't realized it until after he had spoken the words. Was that the sensation he felt before, her call to him? It had been a compulsion beyond restraint. But she hasn't been awake. Could she have called to him in her sleep?

Brave Rin, offered him a smile through her wet lashes. "I'm glad you came back." She looked down at the dampened blanket in her hands. "I… I was dreaming about my family. I dreamt about the night they were taken and killed. They… they told me to run away and hide, and I did." She paused, taking a heavy breath. "But I could see what the thieves did to them from the place I was hiding." A fresh tear traced down her cheek. "They killed my family. Then they laughed about it."

Sesshomaru didn't know what to say. Yokai — like any being — experienced pain. But speaking of it was not permitted. Feeling it, even less so. At least, not by his mother. Perhaps Toga would have been more understanding, the great dog demon seemed far more free with his feelings than his mother, Inkimi, had been during his youth.

"You're safe now." He said finally. Somehow, the words seemed hollow in the face of so much grief.

Rin nodded, and smiled, a soft sad sort of smile. "I know. But I… I still miss them. I miss how my mother brushed my hair, and my father would hold me and tell me stories. My brothers teased me, but they looked out for me too."

All things that he could not provide for her. Sesshomaru felt a distinct pang, at the sensation of helplessness. He could protect her now, but he could not right the wrongs of the past, erase the immense pain she'd experienced. Or even offer her the comfort she needed.

Silence stretched for long moments. Finally, Sesshomaru moved to sit cross legged against the tree, which was a couple feet away from her and A-un. Reaching over, he took the blanket from her hands, and laid it between A-un's front paws, folding the damp side so it wouldn't give her a chill. As if understanding his intent, Rin stood and moved to the sheltered space, curling up and laying her head on the dragon's paws. With a deep sad sigh, that seemed to come from her soul, she closed her eyes. A moment later, they opened again, as the softest fur she'd ever experienced enveloped her.

Sesshomaru leaned back against the tree, looking every inch a godlike statue, eyes closed. But his plush, soft mokomoko enveloped her shoulders, making her feel safer than she'd ever felt. Smiling, she curled into the warmth, and breathed another sigh - this one lighter, as she slipped into a much more peaceful sleep.

When Jaken came upon the scene, some time later, he was astonished and speechless to see the mokomoko wrapped around the sleeping Rin, with the yokai lord sitting a few feet of respectful distance away. Sesshomaru's eyes flashed open, a warning glare in the gold depths. Mumbling, Jaken waddled over to the discarded saddle of A-un, and plopped himself down.

"Well now I've seen everything! It's as if that girl means more to him than me! His loyal servant of many years!" The complaining dissolved into irritated ranting, and possibly some tears.

Sesshomaru huffed in silent amusement, hearing the rant. Jaken never learned to keep his squeaky voice down. But that didn't make him wrong. Somehow this girl was, very important to him. Nothing he knew in life could tell him why. Although, he could have sworn that Tenseiga whispered "destiny" to his internal thoughts. Destiny. He huffed again, this time with derision. No such thing would rule his fate.