Chapter 59 - Falling

High above the meadow of bright green grass and flowers, the sun shone bright and warm, casting its face down upon the earth. Birds sang, bees buzzed through the air doing their busy work. Amidst all of this beauty, two figures clashed, ignorant of it all.

The two brothers battered at each other. Rage fueled Sesshomaru, each time the blades met, electric energy crackled and flared all around. Time passed, neither of them showed any signs of relenting. Had it not been for the Tetsuaiga, Sesshomaru could have easily overpowered his brother... but the immense power of his father's blade gave the hanyo an advantage. One that he should not have had. The sound of clanging steel rang through the meadow, energy slashed through the air as they struck again and again. Even amidst the battle, his anger didn't abate... Sesshomaru didn't feel the rush of a battle well earned, which only angered him more.

He was so engrossed in battle, that he neither heard or smelled Rin flying on A-un above. Though he should have. He had no idea she was racing to a dangerous mountain cliff to try and save Jaken's life, from the poison of the samiyosho.

InuYasha finally loosed the windscar at his older brother. Sesshomaru leapt into the attack, and slashed with Tojikin, easily diffusing the energy of the powerful move. The single stroke cut a path for him through the energy. The look of shock on InuYasha's face was worth it. Sesshomaru squarely hit his brother with Tojikin, not harming him, but casting the boy to the ground. Tetsuaiga went flying and landed with the blade stuck in the dirt. By the time the smoke cleared a moment later, Sesshomaru stood over InuYasha, Tojikin pointed directly at the hanyo's neck. For the first time, InuYasha looked appropriately afraid... and angry.

I have finally proven to him, I am the better swordsman. He has only won in the past, because I allow it. Sesshomaru's eyes were narrowed and hard as he looked down at his brother. Prey to his mercy. "I win this time. Are you prepared to die, InuYasha?"

The half demon scoffed. "I don't care about my life. Kill me and ger it overwith!"

"Indeed." And still, he lies to me. He doesn't want to die. Every warrior, must be prepared, to die in battle at any moment. We must live with no regrets.

"Wait!" Cried Kagome as she ran forward. "Do you want to know where to find Naraku? Then head for the ox tiger. Someone sensed Naraku's presence heading that way!"

"Kagome! Shut up!"

"In the direction of the ox tiger?" Sesshomaru's gaze shifted between InuYasha, still at the point of his sword, and the girl. It must be true, if he doesn't want her to tell me. "That's all I need to know, thank you." He turned away, sheathing Tojikin. Thank you? When had he ever said thank you? Perhaps it is because she reminds me of Rin. "You are fortunate this time InuYasha."

"Wait Sesshomaru!" InuYasha called after him as he walked away. "Why are you after Naraku?"

"I have a score to settle." He walked in the direction that the samiyosho had been flying, hoping against hope to find some lingering traces of the other insects. He searched the ground along the human path for some time, but found nothing. Absolutely nothing. Now, with time and distance between himself, InuYasha, and the insects, his anger had abated somewhat. Rational thinking returned.

I should return to Rin. Turning, he glanced up at the sky. It was nearing sunset. Surely they waited for me in the woods. Letting out a deep breath, he rose into the sky, heading back toward the forest where he had left them. It wasn't until that moment, that he realized something was wrong.

It wasn't a scent, or anything visible, nothing tangible. He felt it, somewhere inside. His eyes swept the horizon. There was the forest to his right, a village to his left, and the mountain ravine straight ahead at some distance beyond. Though he could place nothing on it, somehow, his eyes locked on the ravine. Rin. For a moment, he hovered, undecided. Then, against his better judgment, he angled toward the ravine. He was nearing the mountain, when he caught a whiff of lilac on the wind. What is she doing here? The setting sun cast long golden rays across the mountain.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, and his mind. Sesshomaru blurred into a beam of light, racing through the canyon, searching for her. A heartbeat later he spied what looked like a piece of fabric, falling from the cliffside.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" She screamed, the sound filling the canyon and reverberating as she fell.

No!

The light flashed, as he dove after her, into the dark shadows of the sharp canyon rocks. His arm closed around her an instant before her head hit the boulders. His heart pounding, Sesshomaru's light flashed up to the top of the cliffs, where he reformed into his humanoid body. Clutched to his chest, in his right arm, was the small unconscious body of Rin. For a long moment he simply stood there, gold eyes on fire in the reflection of the dying sun, as he gazed down at the girl in his arms. Her eyes were closed, but her chest moved with breath.

"Rin." He was shocked to find his voice did not sound normal. It was thick, and gruff. Carefully, he pulled her closer. "Rin. Wake up." She made no reply, but shuddered in her sleep, and turned into his chest, as if seeking comfort in the softness of his mokomoko. His chest thudded painfully. Had I been a moment later... he could not even finish the thought. An imagine of her body, laying broken on the rocks filled his mind. But it didn't happen. He reminded himself firmly. Her breath was hot against his fur. For the first time, he realized she held something in her hand. It was familiar, an herb for demons. "Sinensel berries?"

Suddenly everything made sense. Jaken. He pressed his lips together and glanced again at the setting sun. He won't have much time left. Gathering Rin as close as he dared, without crushing her against his armor, he flew down to where A-un waited in the crags below. Sesshomaru gently lay Rin in the saddle. This time he didn't curr his impulse to carefully brush stray hair from her pale cheek. When he pulled his hand away, he took the plant from her sleeping grasp.

"I'm flying ahead. Bring Rin, carefully."