InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sedition of Will ❯ The Bitter Rain ( Chapter 8 )

Sedition of Will

“The Bitter Rain”

 

Stupid. Stupid! Stupid girl! Rin fled through the rain without direction. She didn't care where her feet took her so long as it was as far from the cave as she could manage. What had come over her? Of course Lord Sesshoumaru would react that way. Hadn't he always insisted his hatred of humans? He'd tolerated her over the years, but that was over now. She'd overstepped a boundary so severe; there was certainly no going back now. Rin could not recall a time she felt so ugly. He'd even shoved her away as if he couldn't get away from her fast enough. Mud clung to Rin's legs and clothing, but she didn't care. She ignored the hair plastered to her face and just kept running, though her lungs felt like hot coals were burning her insides. She had to flee this horrible feeling of absolute rejection. Of total worthlessness. Her foot caught on a twisted root and she pitched forward tumbling roughly on the ground where she fell in a heap. She curled onto her side and sobbed. Rain pounded down on her, splashing fresh streaks of dirt onto her cheeks, but she didn't care. Rin couldn't chase the image of Sesshoumaru's menacing look of disgust from her mind, like it had been branded to the inside of her eyelids. She crawled toward a large oak and crumbled at its trunk, hugging her knees to her chest. Burying her face her hands she tried to smother her shame, tears slipping through her fingers and becoming lost in the rain water. She could never go back. Not now.

 

She didn't know how long she sat there. When she first heard it she was barely aware, as though she'd imagined it. The crunch of gravel moving. Slowly she realized it was not her imagination. Rin definitely heard the sound of splashing, separate from the typical sounds of rainfall. It sounded like footsteps. And they were getting louder. She remained perfectly still as they drew near. Like a rabbit might, she froze, hoping whoever or whatever it was passed by without noticing. Rin's heart was pounding. The footsteps suddenly ceased and all that could be heard was the roar of the storm. She peeked out from between her fingers and saw two black boots attached to two legs looming in front of her only, a few paces away. Had Sesshoumaru come to berate her? Or worse? Slowly she moved her hands from her face and looked up.

 

This was not Lord Sesshoumaru.

 

Leering above her was a man Rin had never seen before. No, not a man. A demon. He had short spiky black hair and wore rough fur armor. He looked strong and his arms were crossed boldly in front of him. He wasn't an ugly demon, but his face was twisted in a cruel smirk that made Rin's stomach turn.

 

“Well little girl, what are you doing out here alone in the rain. Care for some company?” He asked in a grisly tone, extending a hand to her, clearly inviting him to take it. His claws were caked in dirt and other filth. Rin opened her mouth but only a small sound came out. She lowered her eyes and tried to look complacent.

 

“No…thank you. I'm just waiting for someone.” She replied softly.

 

“Is that so…” It wasn't really a question and he sounded amused. Rin decided not to offer further explanation in hopes he would just leave. She didn't look at his face but Rin could feel his eyes passing over her body.

 

“And just who are you waiting for?” He asked, drawing his words out lazily. Rin pinched her eyes shut. She couldn't very well say who first came to mind. Before she could think of something to say she felt a clawed finger slip under her chin and lift her face, forcing her to look at him. The stranger wore a toothy grin that had an underlying quality that Rin didn't like.

 

“You know, I don't think anyone is coming.” The demon mused. His words dripped with ill intent. If Rin's heart was beating quickly before, it was racing now. Her hands twitched in her lap with unease. There was a hand around her wrist pulling Rin to her feet. The stranger leaned in close to Rin's ear and spoke in a husky whisper: “In fact, I think Lord Sesshoumaru has abandoned you.”

 

Rin shoved at his chest and bolted in the opposite direction. Behind her malicious laughter echoed. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and each of her panicked foot falls cracked like thunder in her head. Her mind screamed at her feet, ordering them to move faster. Whoever that demon was, he knew about Sesshoumaru and he certainly didn't seem to be friendly. Behind her she thought she heard the sound of brisk breathing but she couldn't be sure with the deafening roar of the rain. Something caught her ankle again and she crashed forward into the mud. That root again? No, a clawed hand. It wrapped around her foot, dragging her backwards. Rin clawed at the earth trying to resist but he was too strong. She was flipped over and stared right into the face of the sneering demon. His eyes glowed yellow and his face was warping and changing. Thick black hairs were sprouting down his cheekbones and his breath stank of sulfur. Rin's heart pounded and as he dragged her towards him and the scream that had been withheld since the demon first appeared ripped from her throat. She tried to struggle to her feet again but he pushed her down, curling his lips up in a cruel grin, exposing a row of yellowed fangs. Realization struck Rin like a bolt of lightning. This wasn't just any demon, this was a wolf demon!

 

“Now now pretty thing, it will all be over soon.” He rumbled huskily. He leaned down with exaggerated slowness and his long snakelike tongue slid from his mouth and began lapping at her neck. Rin shuddered in revulsion and tried to squirm away, but strong arms held her fast. She clenched her eyes shut and felt around for something she could grab. Her hand touched something smooth at her side and she grasped it. Kumiko's sandals! She gripped her numb fingers in the thong and raised it high in the air. The wolf demon raised his head up again, reveling in the smell of her fear. Sparks of anger flashed behind her brown eyes and she thrust her hand downward, striking him on the temple with the shoe. He faltered to the side with a look of surprise and she struck him again, this time square in the face. It landed with a loud whack and he dislodged from her body, slumping the side. Rin shoved him the rest of the way off and scrambled to her feet. Zori still in hand she fled the stunned wolf demon. Somewhere behind her she heard an enraged bellow. Ahead of her the forest thickened into gaunt trees bent with age. If she could only reach the denser woods she might be able to find a hiding place. Faster, faster! Suddenly her leg was burning with intense pain and she had the sense she was falling. The wolf's claws were digging into her thigh and she jerked to a halt. Rin swung around and tried to catch him again with her sandal but he caught her wrist in his iron grip. His nose looked broken and he glared at her with unveiled anger. He began squeezing the slender bones of her arm and she cried out in pain, dropping the leaded zori.

 

“You bitch!” He hissed. “I was just going to kill you, but now you're really going to suffer.” He grabbed at the collar of her robe tugged at it. Rin's obi held fast but the front of her kimono was ripped open exposing her chest. Her eyes widened and she resisted. The wolf sneered and reached his hand back, striking her cleanly across the face with an open palm. Rin stumbled and fell to her side. She tried to push herself off the ground but her muscles no longer obeyed her frantic commands. Rin felt a heavy weight on top of her and the burning at her thigh intensified.

 

“Please…don't..” she cried desperately. So many old fears flared, mingling with her new ones, and materialized in the form of hot tears. Suddenly the ground seemed to tremble and her ears were ringing with an ear shattering roar. The weight was ripped from her and she sheltered her face with trembling hands, sure the earth was about to swallow her up. The wolf was snarling and a sickening crack filled the air, then all was silent. Something bumped against her wounded leg, shooting fresh spikes of pain up her body and she whimpered. Rin felt light headed and she opened her eyes slowly, meeting the feral grimace of the wolf only a few feet away. She cried out in fright but she was then aware that the wolf's body was no where to be seen. The glow in his eyes slowly put itself out and the severed head was inanimate. Rin was having difficulty holding her head up and the corners of her vision were becoming fuzzy. She was only vaguely conscious of the dangerous amounts of blood pulsing from the open gash on her leg. Rin felt strong hands lifting her off the ground and her head rolled back. She barely had the strength to keep her lids open, but she forced herself to meet her fate fully awake. Waves of pure white engulfed her and she gazed up into two golden eyes that burned with intensity.

 

“Lord…Sesshoumaru…” Her voice was weak, and his eyebrows furrowed with apprehension.

 

“Do not speak.” He commanded.

 

“The wolf..”

 

“Dead.” He cut her off. Rin sobbed in relief and buried her face in his fur mantle. He could smell the salt of her tears. But even more so, he could smell the overpowering scent of her blood. A laceration on her leg was oozing red at an alarming rate. Sesshoumaru placed a gentle hand on the back of her head and held her frail body to his chest as he leapt into the treetops.

 

Sesshoumaru had been having trouble tracking her through the woods, adding to his frustration. The rain scattered her trail and confused his nose, but the moment the slightest pin prick of Rin's blood touched air he locked onto her. He was also painfully aware of another demon's scent lingering. Sesshoumaru did not miss the musky scent of the other youkai's excitement. He snarled with fury and tore through the woods, ripping trees from their roots as he searched. A trail of destruction followed in his wake. He had to find Rin, and he had to find her fast. That other demon sought to make prey of Rin in more ways than one. And to make matters worse, this was all his doing. Only after the fact did Sesshoumaru realize how badly his panic would have looked to Rin. He could not blame her for running off. Any self preserving creature would have. He had to find her. He certainly did not her to die in this miserable forest because he lacked the ability to control himself. No, he must find Rin.

 

Sesshoumaru suddenly came to a halt and bent down on one knee. He picked up a small object out of the mud and sniffed it. Rin's sandal she's been wearing earlier. Her scent was still very fresh and there were small depressions in the mud the size of her bare feet. Mingled around her small tracks were the larger boot prints. And they appeared to be leading…suddenly the forest was alive with the sound of Rin's frightful scream. The scent of her blood filled his sensitive nose and he surged forward in the direction of her distress. Sesshoumaru broke into a small clearing just as a scruffy looking wolf demon reached back and slapped Rin, sending crashing her to the ground. He roared in unbridled rage and Toukijin hummed at his side, eager for bloodshed. He did not deny his sword's lust for vengeance this time, and drew it from its sheath. His battle cry caught the attention of the wolf who turned to face him, snarling in annoyance. It was over in instant. Toukijin clipped his neck and a faint look of surprise passed over the wolf's face just before his head separated from his body. His body crumpled and the head rolled a few feet away. Rin was trembling in a heap nearby and the ground was pooled in her blood, mixing with the dirty rainwater. Sesshoumaru sheathed his demonic sword and knelt beside her, lifting her into his arms. Rin's clothing was tattered and her eyes were having trouble focusing, but her gaze finally locked with his. Relief washed over him when she smiled up at him weakly. She was not dead. Yet.

 

Gathering Rin up, Sesshoumaru carried her into the treetops, silently weighing his options. Her leg was bleeding badly from where the wolf had sunk his claws into her and there wasn't much time. Fresh anger coursed through him. He would have liked to make that dirty wolf suffer more but there were more pressing matters. The girl in his arms made a faint sound and he felt her life force wavering. There simply was not time to bring her back to the cave. He settled in the high branches of a tall oak. The large limbs overhead blocked the majority of the wind and rain. This would have to be sufficient. Gently he set her down and moved to inspect her injuries closer. He forced himself to ignore her exposed breasts from her badly torn clothing. Sesshoumaru peeled back her robe from the bottom, exposing the angry wound. Rin winced in pain and he moved as carefully as he could. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she cried out softly as he exposed the ragged gash along the outside of her thigh. The cut looked deep, even to Sesshoumaru. Were the cut on his leg it would have already begun mending and would be gone entirely in a few hours, but this was Rin. The blood was beginning to clot but dirt crusted the torn flesh. The wound would have to be cleaned if there was to be any hope of her survival. Sesshoumaru placed a hand on Rin's forehead, brushing aside her matted bangs.

 

“Try to remain still.” He instructed quietly. He slipped his hand from her face and slid it under her thigh. He raised his other hand hesitantly, glancing at her frightened features. She was trying to disguise her terror. Sesshoumaru held his breath then began to scrape the mud from her wound with his sharp claw. Rin cried out and bit her lip, clearly in anguish. Her hands writhed at her side but she stayed still for him. Sesshoumaru's brows were creased in concentration. He hated to cause her deliberate pain, but it had to be done. It was his miscalculation that had put her in danger in the first place and he would not risk it again. Finally he gouged the remaining fragments of grit from her cut and removed his claws. Rin was taking shallow gasps of air and he was surprised she hadn't passed out from the pain alone. Rin truly was amazing even by demon standards. He untied the yellow and indigo sash from around his waist and began wrapping it around her thigh carefully. Her leg seemed so light in the palm of his hand as he secured the makeshift bindings snugly. She was watching him through glazed eyes.

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru…I'm…so sorry…” She said faintly, covering her face with her hands. She had cried so much she wasn't sure how she still managed more. Sesshoumaru said nothing in reply and covered her exposed leg with the hem of her torn kimono. He had much he wanted to say, but he didn't trust himself with words right now. And it was probably for the best at the moment. She was shivering visibly. He didn't know if she trembled from the cold, from her attack, or something else entirely but he could smell the salt of tears. Guilt tugged at him and he would have liked nothing more than to brush her tears away, but he wasn't sure if he could consol her. Not after what he'd done. She may still fear him, and reasonably so, but he had to set that aside for now. He watched her face cautiously as he gently picked her body up. He turned with his back to the tree trunk and settled down, her slight form curled in his lap. She stiffened and he thought she might cry out and resist, but she did neither. Instead she just lay rigidly in his embrace, her face hidden from his view. He wrapped his warm fur mantle around them both and willed himself to gaze straight ahead. Ever so slowly he felt her body relax in his arms and her breathing assuming the steady rhythm of sleep. He stayed awake for the remainder of the night, staring out into the darkness.

 

A few miles away two red eyes blooming with anger watched the transgression. Kagura sat high on her airborne feather, too livid to even note the rain soaking her clothing. The wind sorceress snapped her fan shut and sailed away. The wolf youkai had proved useless in this simple task. She pushed back her anger and was determined not to let it cloud her judgment. This opportunity was lost, but there would be more. As if Sesshoumaru could keep a fragile human by his side without eventually destroying her. Kagura gave a haughty laugh and disappeared into the night.