Chapter 86 - Focus

Sesshomaru moved through the thick fog, thoughts entirely focused on Rin and the details of how to extradite her safely from her captors. Typically, he did not care about peripheral damage during battles. But this was different. It was Rin. He couldn't just lay the two mercenaries out with an all out attack, and risk harming Rin in the process.

The scent of the mercenaries grew stronger, and Sesshomaru knew he was getting close. The sweet scent of lilac entwined with the smell of foul decaying human flesh — made his stomach twist with rage and disgust. Now, having fully assessed exactly where they were headed to set a trap, Sesshomaru took to the air. He was careful to keep hidden within the thick fog, completely out of sight of the undead humans below. If they explore any further up the mountain, I will not be able to access them due to the barrier — I have to prevent them from taking her any deeper into the sacred barrier.

As silent as a shadow, Sesshomaru mirrored the mercenaries from above, by scent alone. Finally there was a slight break in the fog and Sesshomaru spied the briefest glimpse of Rin. The larger of the two mercenaries — the one he had not yet seen — held her under his arm like a puppy. She seemed to be awake, but hung limply, like a rag doll… as if she'd given up fighting. The sight made his blood boil with rage.

"Hurry up Jakotsu, we need to be as high on the mountain as possible before he tracks us down." That was the larger mercenary with wicked looking metal claws. The one who was carrying Rin.

So. Jakotsu is the effeminate mercenary, the one I battled before.

Shifting his focus back to the human girl, Sesshomaru attempted to prod her thoughts gently. I'm here Rin. He thought in her direction. For a moment, he believed that she hadn't heard him. But then, he saw her head lift a fraction of an inch. Her brown eyes were dull with exhaustion and anxiety, but they searched the fog all around.

Lord Sesshomaru?

Relief like he'd never experienced swelled in his chest, hearing the soft sweetness of her voice in his mind. The yokai lord clung to the sound, burning it into his memory. For the moment he didn't answer… it would be only seconds before he revealed himself fully. Intent on preventing their climb up the mountain, Sesshomaru dropped down to a cliff ledge twenty feet ahead of the duo. They will go no farther. His gold eyes blazed with intensity and fierceness. Already the barrier pressed down on him with a crushing force, if they went further he would be unable to move at all. It was not just pressure, it was pain. The barrier sizzled and burned his skin with white hot fire, but it didn't matter — Rin did.

"Suikotsu… it's too quiet." Jakotsu stopped and turned to glance behind, "He's not following." Most of the smaller mercenary's kimono was missing, leaving him in the remnants of his armor. Likely the human hadn't had an opportunity to replace them since Sesshomaru's blows the day prior. "I guess the barrier is too strong for even Sesshomaru."

Suikotsu, who was several steps ahead of Jakotsu, stopped in his tracks. "Huh." From his perch, Sesshomaru knew that the larger mercenary had spotted him. "I wouldn't say so." Suikotsu said to his companion. The yokai saw the slight tightening of the man's arm around Rin, making the demon grit his teeth for control. The canine inside him fought to surface, but he refused to relinquish his analytical mind. This situation would require extreme control, and precision, to ensure Rin's survival. His dog form was a total loss of control to primal instinct, the risk was too great.

Both the mercenaries and Rin turned to look up at Sesshomaru, standing on the rocky ledge above their heads. The yokai's posture was rigid, battling the barrier already, and soon to be battling the dangerous men below. His eyes though, were entirely focused on Rin. As she looked at him, light returned to her eyes. The joyful glow that Sesshomaru found himself addicted to.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried, still dangling from Suikotsu's arms. "You've come!" The smile on her face, despite her present predicament, was dazzling. It was as if the only thing that mattered to her, was Sesshomaru coming for her.

I will always come for you, Rin. He thought, less to her and more to himself. Sesshomaru couldn't risk speaking aloud, the first moments were critical in a battle. Assessment, strategy, focus.

"He cut us off." Suikotsu snarled, holding tighter onto his captive.

"Damned wretch." Jakotsu said, as he walked up beside his companion. "You're a demon, but the barrier isn't even affecting you." Sesshomaru said nothing, but reached with his right hand and deliberately slid Tojikin free of his obi. The smaller mercenary made a sound of disgust. "Then maybe THIS will!"

Jakotsu, grasping his own snake sword, lashed out with a blur of white hot energy at the ledge that Sesshomaru stood on. Before the blow could land, Sesshomaru had leapt away, the rocks where he had stood only a fraction of a second before crumbled beneath the power of his opponent's blade. He landed on another boulder to the left, a second strike lashed out, he leapt again. The barrier pressed down on him like burning hot gravity, making Sesshomaru's movements slower and more cumbersome than usual. His third leap away from the lashing sword had him land on the pathway itself, a few yards from the two mercenaries.

As his feet touched the rocks, Jakotsu's sword came close enough that he felt the heat on his fur. Sesshomaru sliced at the snake sword twice, flinging it away, but not before it sliced through his hand -- his only hand. Hot blood dripped down Sesshomaru's skin, crimson against alabaster, and fully visible to his opponents.