InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bring Me to life ❯ On the Way ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: If I said I owed it, lawyers would sue, and I can't afford that. So NOO!!! I DON'T OWN IT!!

Read me, Read me, Read me, Read me…

On the Way

As Rin entered the woods, sunrise began. The soft veil of light that penetrated through the treetops illuminated her way. The humid, crispy leaves on the floor made a gigantic rug for the forest floor. Rin traveled further in the woods when she heard a small noise.

"Who's there?!" Rin asked, as a reflex. Immediately, Rin's claws were dripping poison. Rin began to slash some bushes apart, when from out of nowhere came out a youkai. It's body mass wasn't much more bigger than a horse, but for what it was, it was massive. Its eyes were glowing, thirsty for blood. This was a familiar sight for Rin, for it was a wolf youkai.

Rin observed the bulk creature with anger and fear at the same time. Fear; because it was this kind of demons that had once taken her life, and in another occasion almost bit off her shoulder. But more than fear, anger. She was mad at it because of so many times they had plagued her mind with endless nightmares; because it was a fear she had never overcame. In a second, her own eyes flashed scarlet red.

With a flash, Rin effortlessly slashed the wolf youkai in pieces; chunks of flesh and bone bathed in blood were scattered through the forest floor. Rin took some steps toward one of the many mounds of bloody flesh. The stench was terrible, the mix of blood and poison intoxicated Rin to the point of almost passing out. She would have, if it weren't for some growls heard from beneath the bushes. Suddenly, the growls became more and more intense, and the whole pack of wolves came out. Rin rapidly counted about seventeen wolves, but they charged immediately. Rin's reflexes were good enough to wipe out about three or four of them, but they kept on coming. Rin's skills were fine, but just to fight a mere horse or cow, for Haneto had to teach her; against wolf youkai she was quite defenseless. But she still had one advantage; speed. Rin escaped the scene as fast as she could, dodging the wolves' bodies or attacks. She still was dizzy from the stench before, but kept on going. Turning her head to see if she had lost the pack, she didn't notice what was in front of her.

BANG!!!

"Huh?" From the floor, Rin slightly opened her eyes to see a tall man standing in front of her looking down. Because of the light's angle she couldn't see him too closely.

"Are you all right?" he asked. His voice came kind, a bit worried.

"Umm… yeah, I think so." she replied, still unable to see the man's face.

"Well I- Damn wolves!!!" The wolves were starting to catch up with Rin's scent. They were about to attack, but they halted at the sight of the man.

"Release her!!! She's ours!!" one of the wolves growled. Apparently some of these youkai could speak. Still, he stood no different than the others, but he was bigger and had a distinguishing black mane.

"And why should I?! She's as much mine as she is yours!!" Rin blushed fiercely at the comment. `His?! I barely met him!!!'

"WHAT?! You dare defy me!!!" The wolves started to turn more violent, but the apparent leader controlled them. "For your information, this wench here slaughtered some of my best warriors!! She deserves to be punished!!!" The man didn't bother to take a glance at Rin. "If you are not willing to give her to us, then we will take her by force, even if that means taking you down, punk!!"

Rin was about to say something when the man stood forward. "Very well then."

The man, who by the show of his skills was a youkai, confronted the wolves all by himself, and in a matter of seconds, the whole pack was dead. After finishing to clean some of the chunks of flesh, he walked up to Rin, who was still lightheaded. The man crouched down, reaching her eye level. He looked at Rin straight in the eyes, and said, "Are you okay?" Rin was quite taken aback by the sight of the man in front of her; he was really handsome. He wore a cape, velvet black on the outside, golden on the inside. The collar was like a scarf (A/N: I don't really know if they existed then), golden, attached to the cape. His kimono was red, the wide borders also golden, also like the belt he was wearing. In the belt, he held securely a black sword. His pants were dark gray, and his shoes were black. If she didn't know he was a youkai, she would have guessed he was a human male, about twenty-four years old. But he wasn't; when she looked closely, he had ears on his upper head. Pretty similar to those of an Inu youkai, but these were different. His long hair was violet, fixed in a red band, and his ears were of a deeper purple. His eyes were ruby red, gazing intensely at Rin.

Realizing she was staring, Rin apologized between her teeth, somewhat nervous.

"Umm, are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I think so…" Rin's face was still cherry red. "…Thank you, …for saving me."

"Don't worry, its not everyday a beautiful girl like you falls onto one's lap!"

"I- Do- …" `A beautiful girl…?' Rin's face flashed about ten shades of red before settling on the one it was. "Don't say that…! You're making me blush!!" Rin turned her face another way so he couldn't see her shaded face.

"Why? It is the truth! Shouldn't one always say the truth?" A simple smile touched his lips.

"Yeah… but… I…" If possible, her blush turned even worse.

"Calm down, calm down," He looked for her face circling her. "Just tell me, what's your name?"

"Rin…" By know, she was `forced' to look at his face. She couldn't help but stare at him straight in the eyes. Time seemed to stop for a moment; both gazes were locked on each other. There, scarlet met russet. Any expression was wiped off their faces. Finally, Rin continued, "What's yours?"

"Nekosu." The smirk reappeared on his lips as he drew away from her. "What are you doing in this forest? It's not common for anyone to be around here."

"Actually, I'm crossing the forest because I have to travel to the western lands. The only way I know is by crossing this forest. What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm here on my way to the village, but I'm just really looking around. I don't have anything to do really. But, why are you going to the western lands? I hear those territories are very dangerous." Nekosu's attitude was sort of jokingly careless.

"I have to return to my lord's home." she said shyly.

"Oh. Well, why don't I escort you to your lord's home?" he was smirking friendlily, holding out a hand for her. Rin blushed a little again.

"Oh, no… you don't have to! I know the way there--" Nekosu cut her off. "But apparently your skills aren't that sharp for you to make it there." Mockingly, he held out his hand more insistently.

"But… I-" He cut her off again. "Don't say another word! I will escort you to the western lands whether you like it or not!" His expression was mocking, making Rin laugh out loud.

"What's so funny?"

"You!" `Oh, well. I guess having him along can't be that bad, company never hurts… besides; he'll entertain me along the way…'

"Hmm… Nekosu?"

"Yes?" His eyebrow arched a bit.

"What kind of demon are you? I mean; you're not an Inu youkai, that's for sure. …What are you?" Rin's curiosity had already gotten the better of her.

"Oh, well I'm a Neko youkai. I'm sure you've heard of us, but our kind is sort of rare. You don't see a neko youkai everyday running around. Jeh! You are an Inu youkai, am I wrong?"

"Hai. Well, I guess it's decided. You'll accompany me to the western lands."

Nekosu took in a breath of air, "Weeellll, let's go! No time to lose!!" Rin laughed out loud at his strange behavior.

"…" `Now I might be able to get to Sesshoumaru-sama's castle faster… Jeh, he sure is eccentric… I wonder how will he react when he knows exactly were we are heading… I just hope he doesn't freak out.'

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A few weeks had passed since they had met; it was dark already and they had settled a small camping site. A small fire was lit and they were sitting by it. The chemistry between Rin and Nekosu had grown better from all the time they had spent together, yet they had spoken only of Nekosu's past. Nekosu had told Rin that he been an orphan since he could remember, and he had only been traveling from place to place, living off people's charity. The sword and clothes he owned were a gift from a woman he had helped in the past. Silently, he scanned Rin's attractive features, one by one. He always used every opportunity he had for doing this. Rin was looking at the fire, lost in her deep thoughts, her eyelids half dropped. She was sitting, her knees to her chest and her arms around them. `I wonder… Will she… I just wish…'

Rin stared blankly at the crackling fire, unaware that she was being observed by a certain neko youkai. `Soon I will be with you, Sesshoumaru… oh, Kami how I've missed him! It has been ten years since I last saw him… and I'm just three days away from the castle, but I can't wait that long!! Please, let these three days pass quickly! I can almost see him…' The memory of the night before she left the castle still haunted her mind. The moonlight accented his features, his skin tone looked glorious under it. His silver hair flowed gently from his face, to his shoulders and waist, finally to the bed. His bed had four pillars, one at each corner, made of fine wood, decorated with small hints of gold details. The sheets of the bed and pillows were white, the color contrasting with his skin. Finally, the amber in his eyes glowed in the darkness with an intensity like no other. `Kami, he looked so good!! Just good enough to…' Rin's mind portrayed the most explicit thoughts of him she ever had, for she was not as `innocent' as one may think. Rin mentally slapped herself. `How could I think such things of Sesshoumaru-sama?!!! …How will I ever face him…' Rin was blushing fiercely at her train of thoughts, and hid her face in her knees.

"Umm… Rin?" Nekosu's voice was shy, not really wanting to disturb his companion.

Rin snapped out of her thoughts as she heard the youkai's voice. "Yes?"

"I was wondering, because in all of the time we've been traveling, I never have gotten an opportunity to ask you who was your lord… I just thought I wanted know about him, or her."

"Oh yeah. It must have slipped my mind. It's a he actually," Nekosu felt a sudden sting of jealousy. "His name is Sesshoumaru."

Nekosu's face went pale at the sound of that name. "…W-What?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Sesshoumaru." Rin looked at her partner curiously.

"Your master is Se- …Sesshoumaru!?! The Lord of the Western Lands, Sesshoumaru?!" Nekosu had heard of the youkai lord's awesome power. His jealousy grew intensely.

"Uhh, yeah."

"So… you're that girl that left him about ten years ago, right?" Rin was hurt by the comment about she leaving him.

"I didn't leave him!! He was the one who told me to go!" Rin was a bit pissed by now.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to anger you!!" *sighs* His voice came out shyly again. "Just tell me, what happened after you-he told you to leave?"

Rin expression softened, now she was completely expressionless. "My aunt and uncle died when the carriage that was taking us to their palace was trashed by a gang of bandits. After that, I met an old tailor, whom I lived with for the next ten years. Now, I am traveling back to him, Sesshoumaru." Nekosu was surprised at how easily she had resumed her last ten years, which seemed to be quite painful.

"But why?"

"…"

That answer even she didn't understand completely.

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

Rin and Nekosu were almost at the borders of the castle grounds. The last one of the forests was finally clearing, as the daylight filtered through the forest's treetops. Their journey had come to an end.

Nekosu had decided that he had to tell Rin of his newfound feelings now, or forever regret it. He had recently realized that he had grown accustomed to his companion's presence, too accustomed for his own liking. He had fallen in love with her. He couldn't stand any longer the thought of her leaving her side. Regaining all of his courage, he finally spoke.

"Rin?"

"Yeah?" Rin turned to face her friend, and was a bit surprised at his determined expression.

He was standing upright, close to her. His hands were in fists, somewhat quivering. The violet bangs on his face blocked a bit of his eyes, but she still could see the ruby red eyes glowing under them. "I …have to tell you something." He sighed, the continued, "I'm sorry… I know we just met nearly a month ago… but, when I'm with you …or when I look at you …my very soul trembles… When I think that soon you won't be with me any more, I can't help it, I become insanely desperate. Desperate because I won't be able to see you… touch you… feel you…" Nekosu cupped her face and pulled her closer. "I'm sorry, I love you."

Rin couldn't quite grasp what she was hearing. The pleading words she had just heard had left her speechless. As Nekosu pulled closer, Rin didn't pull away. All she could do was stare at the scarlet red eyes that stared back at her chocolate ones. When their lips met, Nekosu began to devour her lips slowly and lustfully, wanting more. Since she wasn't pulling away, the passion of the kiss began growing. Rin felt shivers down her spine as he slipped his tongue in her mouth. She responded to the heat of the kiss to some extent, and then she realized what she was doing. Gasping for breath, she pulled away; she could see his ardent red pools, burning for her.

"I'm sorry, but I can't." Rin finally said, after her breathing went back to normal. `He just kissed me, exposing all of his feelings for me, yet I could only think of Sesshoumaru. That is not fair for him…'

Nekosu's eyes flashed hints of extraordinary pain. "W…why?" his voice was trembling.

"I have to return to my lord… I already told you." Rin was avoiding his fervent gaze at all costs.

"That's just an excuse," Nekosu grabbed her by her upper arms, forcing her to look at his fiery eyes. "What's your real reason?"

"I…" Rin tried to avoid his eyes again.

Nekosu's eyes were now covered by his bangs. The jealousy and pain he felt now were completely manifested. "You love him don't you?"

"…" Rin couldn't help but blush at his affirmation, for it was her entire truth. Nekosu's grip on her arms shuddered a bit, and then he let go of her.

"Why? How can you?! He left you at life's mercy, forcing you to leave with these strangers at the age of eleven! He hasn't even searched for you in all of these years!! If anything, you should hate him!" Nekosu's voice was more of a plead than anger.

Rin's voice came softly, as she looked directly into his eyes. "How can I hate him? How can I not love him? He brought me back to life when I died, then took care of me… He never tried to take advantage of me; he always saw to that what I wanted, I had… I owe him my loyalty with my life. That is why I am returning to him. Now tell me, how can I not love him?"

Nekosu couldn't win against Rin's reasoning. Nekosu's breathing was labored, "I understand. I'm sorry." Nekosu gave Rin the most painful smile he had ever had to give in his entire life. His existence suddenly seemed meaningless, but he decided he was beaten.

"Thank you." Rin gave him a sincere smile, before he took off. Rin could see Sesshoumaru's castle in the distance.

`Sesshoumaru, I'm finally here! Now I know… I love you with all my being… Midoriko was right; I really can't stand being away from you… I wish you could be here with me right now… Now that I understand it all, I can finally be with you again!!' Taking a breath, Rin took the last road she had to follow to reach the castle.

End of Chapter Eight

A/N: kumi: doooooonnneeee!!!!

sesshy: finally!! You sure are slow…

kumi: just for that, you will suffer!

sesshy: nooooo!!!

kumi: ohhh yeah… unless… right here, right now… (looks at Sesshoumaru seductively)

sesshy: hell yeah!! Good bye 10- year-long celibacy!!

rin: NO YOU DON'T!!!! you people are animals!! Can't you control yourselves?!

kumi: I can, but he can't!

sesshy: (looking at rin) grrrrr…

rin: (blushes)

kumi: ha! I am evil!! PLZ, REVIEW!!!