InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ That Which Shines Brightest ❯ 11: Hiding in the Darkness ( Chapter 11 )

That Which Shines Brightest

 

 

 

Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

 

Yukino pulled her knees closer to her body under the blanket and listened as the trees behind the small hut whispered amongst themselves. The setting sun had seen an end to serenity, and with the shadows of the evening, an unsettling breeze had begun to swirl through the village. The irori which had been necessary last night became doubly so tonight, and Yukino had already tended the flames several times to make sure the fire did not go out.

So tired, she mulled despairingly, and yet she had yet to get one wink of sleep.

Again the wind moved tenuously outside the hut, and Yukino listened to it, heaving a despondent sigh.

I should have gone with Onii-chan.

The miserable thought rose in her mind for what was probably the tenth time. But I needed the sleep more, she forcibly reminded herself just as she had each time the traitorous words had popped into her head. Her lack of sleep had been the deciding factor for staying behind in the first place. Yukino had hoped to catch up on what she'd missed the night before while her brother was gone.

Only that hadn't happened.

Instead, she'd found herself wasting the remainder of the afternoon obsessing over her brother's absence and worrying that Shirogane's feeling were growing for Kagome now that he was finally spending time alone with her. Of course, Yukino knew she only had herself to blame for that since Shirogane had pushed her to go -- he'd even seemed angry when she'd adamantly refused.

But truthfully, as exhausted as she was, she hadn't felt up to being the third wheel on her brother's “date” with Kagome. And there was also the possibility that he might try to bring up last night while they were at home. She was certainly in no condition to deal with that; her thoughts were too scattered and fuzzy from lack of sleep - not to mention that it would have been doubly uncomfortable having that dreaded conversation with him, not knowing what the outcome would be, but still knowing she would have to make the return trip with Kagome nevertheless. The pressure would have been enormous -- too much for her physically and emotionally as things currently stood.

Knowing that this was her only opportunity to rest before facing her brother had made it seem like a solid plan at the time. The only snag was when Shirogane and Kagome had actually left together. Her doubts had begun to creep in then, and her mind refused to shut down, keeping her awake despite how exhausted she was.

She began agonizing over the “what if's”, her imagination torturing her with images of her half-naked brother entangled in a lurid embrace with Kagome, much like the one he'd shared with her the night before.

It was a sickening thought, but one that also filled her with a sense of impotent self-fury. Onii-chan would never do that, she vehemently reassured herself, and neither would Kagome. -- At least not now, not when they'd only just met …

Trying to put it from her mind, she ruthlessly attempted to squeeze every thought concerning her brother from her brain -- however, ruthlessness was not her forte and she found it virtually impossible to do; something she should have considered from the very beginning. Still, she refused to give up, knowing she desperately needed rest. But after laying in semi-darkness for an hour and a half without so much as achieving a fitful doze she began to suspect that it wasn't going to happen. When another forty five minutes passed and she was still staring at the ceiling, her suspicions were confirmed.

Feeling listless and depressed, she'd finally risen and staggered blearily from the hut. Kaede-bachan, who'd been strolling by, had taken one look at the dark circles under her eyes and suggested that she take a nice relaxing bath and try sleeping again. Yukino had seized upon her suggestion immediately.

In all actuality, she'd felt desperate enough to run naked through the woods if she'd thought it would help. Not that she really thought it would, of course, which is why she didn't try it. But a bath - that was an idea worth testing, even though she'd nearly frozen once already today under the cold waters at the falls.

She'd assumed she would again be bathing in frigid stream water, which, while not as unappealing as the “running naked through the woods” scenario, it did come a very close second.

Fortunately, she didn't have to travel far for her bath, or even brave the numbing coldness of nature. Kaede-bachan showed her the nice little ofuro that Inuyasha had built right behind his home, and borrowing a pale blue, cotton yukata*** from one of the village girls, she was able to take a leisurely soak, complete with steaming, hot water. She'd even stayed in the ofuro an extra long time than was normal for her, hoping the heat and quiet atmosphere would help to soothe her frayed nerves.

It hadn't.

Disappointed, immeasurably fatigued and still keyed up emotionally, she'd returned to her hut to eat the small meal Kaede had provided for her and then had laid back down on her mat, determined to try to sleep anyway, a sense of impending doom beginning to creep over her as she contemplated her brother's return and her exhausted mental state.

Staring idly into the irori flames Yukino wondered what time it was. Out of habit she glanced at her wrist before she remembered that her watch was broken. The quartz crystal had gotten cracked yesterday when Lokki had pushed her down the stairs. She heaved another heavy sigh. The exact time didn't really matter - she could tell just by the darkness beyond the small window and the deep shadows around her that it was late.

He'll be coming back soon.

The thought only made her anxiety grow and with a slight groan she squeezed her eyes shut once more.

Sleep! she silently pleaded with her brain.

Her eyes were only closed for a few seconds before they shot wide open once again, the sound of a particularly strong gust of wind as it moved around the corners of the small hut startling her. Not only was it intense, but something about it struck her as odd, and Yukino tensed while listening to the bamboo covering the door flap violently against the wall as the wind pushed it inwards into the room.

Its motion somehow frightened her and she sat up, watching the bamboo shudder and tremble violently for a few seconds until the wind died away and the shade settled back into its normal position leaving nothing but dark shadows in the flickering firelight. Thinking it was over, she prepared to lie back down but stopped when a sudden chill shot up Yukino's spine. She felt as if she was being watched, but the room was empty except for her.

Her eyes moved apprehensively to the little window then, and she was almost afraid to look at it, afraid she would see a face framed within its small square. But there was no one there; just the obsidian veil of night and nothing else. Feeling paranoid now, her blue eyes skittered back to the bamboo shade. It remained unmoving, but still she couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone.

Then the wind moved again, quieter this time, and Yukino glanced at the back wall of the hut, realizing why the other violent gust had sounded so odd. The whisper of movement among the leaves of the trees; there had been none.

It was like the wind had moved only around her hut and nowhere else, she mused uneasily, her fingers tightening against the blanket. But such a thing was impossible! she assured herself, and then almost jumped out of her skin when a voice whispered close to her ear.

“Hello.”

With a startled cry Yukino whipped her head around to see the familiar face of her brother. He was crouched on her mat on his hands and knees, leaning towards her just a few inches from her face, and Yukino wondered how he'd gotten into the room so quickly without being heard.

“You startled me!” she exclaimed breathlessly, putting her hand over her pounding heart. “How did everything go with with - Kagome? Did you get everything you needed?”

Her eyes flitted to the doorway behind him. Where were the supplies? She looked for signs of them, but saw nothing; not one single solitary item, and her unease began to steadily rise. Her gaze returned to Shirogane who didn't seem the least bit interested in answering her questions. Instead he cocked his head to the side and let his eyes slowly roam over her face and then down her body, examining her yukata in great detail.

“Did you miss me?” he idly asked, leaning forward, a strange smile stretching across his mouth, as he lifted a finger and lightly traced the v-shaped opening to her yukata, touching the skin between her breasts.

A strange prickling sensation crept up the back of her neck, and Yukino pulled back, retreating away from him, her hand clutching defensively at the opening to her neckline.

“What are you!?-“ she began and then stopped and abruptly changed it to, “are you feeling all right?” The question had barely left her lips before she found herself trying to evade the groping hand reaching for her shoulder and an alarmed look widened her eyes when his smile broadened as she flinched.

He swooped forward then, his mouth crushing hers and a wave of revulsion erupted in the pit of her stomach.

This is not Shirogane!

That was the only thought that registered as she beat her hands against his chest, trying to make him let go.

His rough fingers pulled their way through her hair at the nape of her neck before settling against her shoulders, as the suffocating kiss finally ended. Yukino drew in a sharp breath, trying to stifle the cry caused from the pain of his hand biting cruelly into her burned shoulder as he held her firmly in place.

“I'm better than all right, Sweetness,” he replied in a low, mocking voice, jerking her up against his chest, and Yukino thought her heart would sputter to a halt in fright. “I'm incredible. I'll be perfect when you tell me what it is I want to know!”

“L-lokki!” she breathed in a choked voice. Her eyes dilated in shock as a sharp jab of pain snaked down her arm when the pressure of his fingers increased.

“Shhh!” He placed his index finger over her mouth, his eyes dropping hungrily to where it brushed against the fullness of her bottom lip. “Smart and beautiful, Sweetness. I'm impressed,” he murmured leaning down to let his tongue slide along her bottom lip, a low, mocking laugh rising in his throat at her look of revulsion. “So how do you like my new look?”

“You beast!” she hissed, pushing against his chest, but his grip was too tight for her to break, “There is no way I would ever believe you're my brother!”

“Oh? Perhaps a different look would suit your tastes?” he inquired mockingly, “how about this then?”

Yukino watched, her eyes widening in disbelief as the face in front of her wavered and grew two dog-ears. Even his clothes seemed to have changed, becoming bright crimson, though beneath her fingers they felt much the same, giving her the impression that he had mastered some kind of illusory magic. His voice when he again spoke had altered as well, and he now sounded just like Inuyasha.

“Is this any better, Sweetness?” he asked with a raised brow, toying with her, his eyes insolent as they stared at her.

“How did you get here? What do you want?” she demanded with a bravado she was far from feeling, fear steadily rising inside her like tidewater. She pushed against his chest again, trying to twist out of his grasp, and grimaced at the pain she caused herself, anger flaring in her eyes when he laughed at her discomfort.

“Such a strong spirit you have, Sweetness. You remind me of the beautiful Sigyn***,” Lokki complimented, his hand coming up to hold her face still as he stared intently at her. “I can see why he likes you so much.”

His thumb stroked her jaw as he continued to stare at her, a strange bittersweet smile tweaking his lips. It was so at odds with what she was used to that it made her blink at him in confusion.

“Who?” She didn't understand his words, or the sudden caressing feel of his fingers. She was used to his cruelty, so this sudden softness was bewildering, for he was touching her almost reverently. “Who likes me so much?” she reiterated.

“Lokki,” he replied softly.

That only bewildered her more.

“But -- you're Lokki, aren't you?” she asked, uncomprehendingly.

“He is me and I am him,” he replied cryptically, the strange smile finally fading. “Enough idle talk, Sweetness. Where is the Tama?” he wanted to know.

“I don't have it,” she stammered, feeling all at once that this Lokki was even more dangerous than the one from before. “Onii-chan took it with him.”

A cold look of displeasure swept across his countenance and again the face in front of her wavered, becoming one that she was familiar with associating with Lokki. Only his eyes were wrong; they were light grey instead of the ominous black they used to be.

“What happened to your eyes?” Yukino gasped in shock.

“His eyes are grey. Dominion over flame and shadow; he shall rule the darkness,” came the enigmatic reply.

“Whose eyes are grey?” She felt the need to understand his strange riddle, unable to decipher it on her own, but he spared little time to explain it to her, hauling her to her feet.

“Lokki's eyes,” he replied curtly as he started dragging her towards the door. “I am him and he is me.”

“Stop!” she demanded, trying to pry loose the fingers encircling her wrist. “Let me go!”

“I'm afraid not, Sweetness,” came his harsh reply as he swung around and grabbed her close. “I came for the Tama, but since it's not here, I'll take you instead.”

The tidewaters inside her burst, fear and panic flooding through her. All at once, Yukino began struggling in earnest.

“You won't make it all the way through the village,” she warned caustically, dragging her feet across the floor. “Don't think I'll just go quietly without making some noise!”

“You will go quietly,” he told her in a seething voice, “unless you would like to see what other new tricks I've learned. I can put them to good use against your new found friends unless you keep your mouth shut as we leave this village! I've already told you that you are mine, and I mean to make it so.”

Before he pushed back the door hanging, he once again assumed the image of Inuyasha and he grasped her by the arm, and dragged her forward, his voice a harsh whisper as he warned, “You will be as silent as a tomb, Sweetness, or I will kill them all.”

 

 

 

 

Rin adjusted the laundry basket against her hip and ambled slowly up the street, listening with half an ear as Suzu warbled a note or two. Her mind was a jumble of confusion, filled with thoughts of Sesshoumaru-sama who'd remained behind at the bridge when she'd paused to get her things from Jyaken and take back the little bird who was now perched so attentively on her shoulder.

Of Atsuji, there had been no sign. Only Mizuna, his temperamental sister, had remained, along with Jyaken of course; both anticipating the return of Sesshoumaru-sama. Together, but separately, they'd stood on opposite sides of the bridge, neither wanting to share the same space or breathe the same air; or at least that's what Rin surmised from the hostile way they were exchanging glares.

But then, they'd glared at her too - or at least Mizuna had. Jyaken's had been more of a disgruntled stare, something Rin was more familiar with, for even as a child that was how he'd always looked at her whenever Sesshoumaru-sama had spared a few extra minutes for her that had somehow excluded him. There was no real malevolence in Jyaken's gaze or in his heart. Of that, Rin was certain.

But with Mizuna, it was different, Rin slowly reflected. Mizuna's hostility was completely different than Jyaken's- and the sheer animosity in Mizuna's eyes as she'd crossed the bridge made Rin shiver. Her willingness to strike Rin down had been completely without reservation. And Rin wondered if the added hostility was because Mizuna disliked the fact that her brother had become friends with a human. If that were so, Rin wasn't sure how to diffuse the situation, other than trying to shun Atsuji's company just to satisfy his sister's ire. But for some reason that solution saddened Rin, thinking that as helpless as he was, Atsuji really needed all the friends he could get.

Again Suzu warbled a note or two, this time leaning her soft, feathered head close to Rin's cheek, and her actions drew Rin away from her troubling thoughts.

“I know, you're hungry,” she smiled softly, raising her free hand to stroke Suzu's breast. “As soon as we get home, I promise I'll get you something to eat.”

As she finished speaking, Rin heard the sound of approaching footfalls coming from the opposite direction and she narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the faces of the vague shadows approaching her. With a smile she raised her hand in greeting as she recognized one of them as the lively red-head, Yukino. But then her hand dropped sharply to her side as her eyes moved to Yukino's male companion. The man stood next to Yukino, clutching her arm in a vice-like grip, and Rin's own fingers tightened around her basket as she slowly bent to set it on the ground while she rapidly thought about what she should do.

“Suzu, go find Inuyasha,” she breathed quietly to the bird. “Go get help.”

Without a sound the little bird fluttered away from her shoulder and Rin slowly straightened up, her arms reaching behind her back in a modest pose as she smiled in greeting.

“Good evening,” she murmured, her eyes sharp as they swept over Yuki's wooden expression and terrified eyes. As unobtrusively as possible, she wrapped her fingers around her bow, which she had slung across her back to make carrying her basket easier, and calculated how long it would take to reach for an arrow. “I hadn't expected to see you out and about tonight, Yuki-chan, or at least not until your brother returned.”

Rin's eyes didn't miss how the fingers holding Yukino's arm tightened nor how Yukino started, flinching ever so slightly.

“Oh well, I - I -- I was feeling restless and couldn't sleep, so Inuyasha suggested that we go for a walk,” she improvised nervously.

“Inuyasha, you say?” Rin echoed, watching Yukino nod emphatically before her eyes slid to the man standing next to the red-head. “I hate to tell you this, Yuki-chan,” Rin began grimly, bringing her bow out with an unexpected swiftness an arrow nocked against its string before either of the other two could react. “But that is not Inuyasha -- though I suspect you already know that.”

“What are you talking about,” the man spoke up. His voice surprised Rin and her confidence momentarily faltered at just how incredibly like Inuyasha he sounded. “Of course it's me. Who else would I be?” he asked, with a scornful gesture.

Rin's gaze wavered, but she kept her arrow steadily fixed upon him. Could she have made a mistake? She'd seen Inuyasha sitting in the tree waiting for Kagome's return as she'd crossed the bridge. There was no way he could've doubled back to the village without her seeing him, was there?!

But his resemblance was uncanny, she thought uncertainly. Her gaze trailed over him once more, from his amber eyes and silver hair down to his crimson kimono and hakama and then it snagged at his waist when she realized what was missing and her uncertainty evaporated like morning mist beneath the sun.

“I don't know who you are, but I do know you're not Inuyasha, no matter how much you may look and sound like him,” Rin stated emphatically, “You don't carry Tetsusaiga, so you can't be Inuyasha, for he is never without it.”

A broad smile broke out across the man's face and he abandoned all pretense then. “Another pretty, clever girl,” he noted with a throaty laugh. “My, my, I guess it's my lucky night.”

“Let her go,” Rin demanded, drawing back on her bowstring a little more, seemingly unaffected as a gust of cold wind swirled around her, tangling her hakama around her legs and blowing strands of dark hair across her face.

“You won't shoot me,” the man taunted in a low voice, his face wavering and his hair darkening, becoming the man that had been responsible for pulling the Ijin from the Shikon no Tama. “Shooting me will only give me more power, and I don't think you're willing to chance that, pretty girl.”

Rin's mouth tightened into a grim line at the smug sneer adorning his lips.

“I'm willing to take one shot, just to test it,” Rin retorted defiantly, “I'm not above shooting you in the head just to see how well you can absorb the energy from my arrow; that is IF you can absorb the energy from my arrow, since it will purify most things it strikes.” She pulled back a little further on her bow string and tipped the aim of her arrow upward just a notch, silently urging Inuyasha to hurry and arrive all the while. “Are you going to let her go, or do you feel like having your thoughts aired out? I am considered to be an excellent shot, and at this range I don't think I'll miss,” Rin let her voice trail off suggestively and watched his sneer transform into an ugly looking snarl.

Suddenly Lokki shoved Yukino away from him and she stumbled, completely unprepared to be freed so suddenly. But then he raised his hand, his palm facing outward his fingers curled towards Rin, and her mouth dropped open as she watched him gathering the darkness there in the form of an undulating sphere. Before Rin could react he hurled it towards her and she belatedly tried to twist away to avoid it.

She was unsuccessful and it slammed into her shoulder, driving her back. Her arm was thrown out at an odd angle and she heard a pop as her shoulder separated from the joint. Pain exploded through her, a loud cry of anguish welling up inside her as she went skidding across the ground, tossed like a rag doll by the dark energy. Dimly she was aware of a piercing wail rending the air, and as she managed to focus her eyes on the ground pressing against her cheek, she realized it was coming from her. Immediately she swallowed the sound, the pain spiraling out from her shoulder, up her neck and down her back, turning her stomach inside out so that she wanted to retch.

Intent on clambering to her hands and knees, she tried to move her left arm and brace it against the ground, and immediately another cry was ripped from her throat as white hot pain lanced through her shoulder. Before she could do anything else, she felt strong fingers grab her by her arm, and a dark boot caught her beneath her ribs.

With a yank and a kick, Rin was forcefully whipped about. She landed with a jarring thud against the ground on her back. Her body stiffened with pain as Lokki stepped over her and crouched down in a straddle, his forearms resting against his knees, his hands hanging languidly in front of him as he stared down into her strained paste-colored countenance.

“I hate to be the one to break it to you, pretty girl, considering your skills, and all that,” he drawled with a sarcastic smile, “but you missed.” With a soft, sneering laugh he leaned down, his fingers sliding between the layers of her kimono, groping around her chest as he stared intently into her eyes, his face becoming distorted with anger.

“Get your slimy hands off of me,” Rin choked in a voice wracked with pain.

“Now where the hell is your Tama?” Lokki hissed doing just the opposite of what she'd demanded as he let his hand curve around her breast, wrapped as it was in its binding. He felt severely frustrated at having been thwarted for the second time from receiving something to enhance his powers.

“I don't have it, as you can plainly feel -- the real Inuyasha does -- ” Rin retorted, “now get off,” she seethed furiously.

Lokki's eyes narrowed at the defiance in this thin slip of a girl's eyes. There was no fear at all. Just an anger and a brazenness that he found intriguing. Not even the bold Yukino could manage to keep her fear from showing in her eyes. But this one -- either she didn't realize with what kind of power she was dealing with, or she had no fear of dying whatsoever.

“Perhaps that is my intention, pretty girl -- to get off,” he purred, leaning closer. His hand squeezed her breast, his thumb moving in a circle over her nipple, and he watched as Rin's eyes widened and filled with wariness.

Rin had no idea what his words meant, but there was no mistaking his tone or the intent of his hand, and she tensed as she felt him grope along the edges of her bandages where the strips of binding cloths met her skin. He's going to try and take them off, she thought in panic. But there was little she could do, except watch him as he smiled gloatingly at her.

Then from the corner of her eye, Rin saw a sputtering light as an arrow came flying towards them and Lokki quickly released her, dodging and rolling away from her as it went whizzing directly through the space he'd been occupying.

Still crouching low to the ground, Lokki swore softly. Turning his head, his eyes searched the shadows for where it had come from. There stood Yukino, and in her hand was Rin's bow. She must have picked it up after it had been ripped from Rin's hand when he had hit the dark headed miko with his energy sphere.

Slowly rising to his feet, his lips quirked into a reluctant half-smile, forgetting about Rin for the moment as his attention shifted back to his original prey, Yukino. He watched her stand her ground with only an empty bow to defend herself with despite her terror, and his smile widened. The little bitch had guts; he had to give her that, he thought appraisingly.

She was poised, a hand halfway to her mouth in a gesture of surprise next to the wall of one of the huts about fifteen feet away. He couldn't see the expression on her face, for it was hidden in the shadows, but he didn't need to see it to know that she was scared. He could taste her fear from where he stood. It thrummed through him like a living, breathing thing.

He was always aware of her emotions when he was near her. He reveled in the exhilaration of her uneasiness when he goaded her or threatened her, of feeling her heart pound when he touched her unexpectedly.

He bet her heart was pounding now.

He wanted to get close enough to feel it for himself.

 

Yukino couldn't believe that the arrow she'd fire had turned to light. True, it had sputtered somewhat like a roman candle, but still - nothing like that had ever happened in her archery class at home before! Plus she'd almost accidentally hit Lokki when in truth she'd been aiming for the ground near his leg. All she'd really been trying to do was draw his attention away from Rin whom he'd seemed bent on torturing.

Well her plan had worked all too well, for he was now advancing purposefully in her direction, a strange smile that looked akin to admiration twisting his features.

“You should leave now, Lokki,” Yukino advised in a quavering voice, “while you still can.”

“Bravo, Sweetness,” Lokki's rough voice commended, and he clapped his hands at her a few times. “But idle threats fail to impress when all you hold in your hand is an empty weapon and no place to get more arrows,” His voice was soft and silky as he sauntered in her direction and his eyes glowed with a dangerous light. “So what were you planning to do to back up your strong words, Sweetness?” he taunted coming to a halt a few feet from her.

“Maybe she was waiting for me, you worthless piece of trash,” Inuyasha said from behind him.

Immediately Lokki spun around and saw Inuyasha strolling towards him, his sword drawn, and Lokki's smile widened.

“If you're planning on using that to fight me,” he laughed nastily, “it will be a short battle, and it won't end in your favor!”

He punctuated his words by raising his hand, and drawing more darkness into a sphere as he had earlier, but Inuyasha was able to react quicker than Rin, and when it came spinning towards him, he deflected it harmlessly away with Tetsusaiga, flicking a scornful look at Lokki afterwards.

“That's pretty pathetic. Were you thinking you could beat me with a flimsy ball?”” Inuyasha snorted. “--your aim really sucks too!” he added with a grunt as he rushed towards the dark headed man, his sword down, planning to use his fist to hit him.

Lokki just watched, waiting patiently for him, unflinching and unmoving, and Inuyasha momentarily hesitated before his fist connected squarely with his opponent's jaw. Lokki's head was snapped sideways and he staggered a few steps back, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

Oh hell…

Immediately, Inuyasha realized his mistake as Lokki straightened, a triumphant smile curving his lips as his tongue snaked out to lick the blood away.

No blood. That was the first rule with Lokki. Hadn't Shirogane said it would only make this bastard stronger?

No wonder the little turd had just stood there and waited for me to hit him, Inuyasha seethed, warily backing up a step or two as Lokki again drew darkness from the air and compressed it into a sphere, hurling it towards Inuyasha, but this time with greater force.

Inuyasha again deflected it and felt his teeth rattle, the muscles in his shoulders aching from the jarring sensation. It had become a lot more difficult.

Thanks to my own damned thoughtlessness, he groused acerbically to himself.

Again Lokki raised his hand and drew another fistful of energy, holding it for a moment in his palm before sliding a satisfied smile in the hanyou's direction as he eyed Inuyasha's taught expression.

“A few more and I think my aim will be much more effective, and your ability to parry will be quite diminished, eh, Inuyasha?” he chuckled evilly, “So why not make a bargain with me now? Give me the girl, Yukino, and maybe I will leave you and the rest of the village in peace instead of scattered in pieces?”

“I don't make bargains, so do us all a favor and shut your yapping!” Inuyasha snarled.

Lokki just shrugged indifferently. “Have it your way. I'll still take what I want, and then some,” he promised darkly before rearing back and lobbing the ball at Inuyasha.

Lokki didn't bother watching as his nemesis deflected it and it crashed into the wall of a nearby hut, almost demolishing it completely. He was busy pulling another one into his hand, quickly preparing to tire Inuyasha out so he could do exactly as he'd said: take what he wanted and be done with it.

But before he had time to launch this one, it was shattered by a piercing light that engulfed his palm with a burning sensation. It pulled at the darkness surrounding his soul as well and he could feel it weakening him, drawing at his consciousness, trying to separate him from his stronger self.

Lokki's eyes widened and he drew back his arm, his head swinging around, enraged to see the two mikos, Rin, and Yukino standing together. They were actually proving more troublesome than Inuyasha, he mused, grinding his teeth as a red haze filled his eyes.

Yukino was supporting Rin's left arm allowing the injured miko to steady her bow since her left shoulder made her arm all but useless and impossible to move.

“You should learn to fear me, foolish girl,” he seethed, “now, you'll pay for your brashness.”

Rin watched as Lokki raised his hand and began summoning more darkness, the process slower this time. It seemed her purity arrow had diminished his ability to create dark matter.

“Hurry!” she urged, searching the deep tamoto*** of her left sleeve for a barrier ofuda***, not finding one before she knew she was out of time. “We must move away!”

But already it was too late. Lokki had hurled the sphere at them, and Inuyasha was on the opposite side of him, too far to try and deflect it even though he was sprinting madly in their direction.

Rin heard Yukino's piercing scream in her ear, just before the dark ball of energy was in front of her. She fell back a step or too, almost losing her balance, feeling the energy bearing down on her. Using her hand, she tried to push Yukino away from her, wanting to shield the red-head, before the dark mass impacted against her. And then a long, poison whip slashed with precision accuracy just inches from her face and the darkness disintegrated, becoming dispersed back into the shadows of the night.

“Once again, Inuyasha, you have failed to carry out the simplest of tasks,” Sesshoumaru-sama hissed with displeasure as he slid to a halt in front of Rin just a few heartbeats ahead of Inuyasha, the two of them forming a protective barrier and partially blocking Rin's view of Lokki.

“Shuddup, you!” Inuyasha growled ill-temperedly, shooting a nasty look at his brother. “I didn't exactly see you being the first one to arrive!”

Taking exception to his half-brother's words, Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as he slid Toukijin free from its scabbard. The minute Toukijin was unsheathed, Rin who had been watching the two brothers, let her eyes flicker in Lokki's direction, and the lascivious grin on his face sent a chill down her spine.

Intent on warning him, she took a step in Sesshoumaru's direction.

“—W-wait, Sesshoumaru-sama—“ she stammered, and with one eye, Sesshoumaru flicked a sharp look over his shoulder at her until Inuyasha interrupted her and then he turned away.

“Oy, Sesshoumaru,” he called impatiently, “you can't use that on Lokki -”

“Actually, I was thinking of using it on you,” Sesshoumaru retorted silkily, but his eyes moved contemptuously towards Lokki and in a smooth, liquid motion he sheathed Toukijin. “But it can wait until I finish with him, since you seem incapable of defeating him on your own.”

Without another word, he stepped away from Inuyasha, the strong night air catching his hair and winding it around his face and shoulders. He seemed unbothered by it as he continued to moved forward, but Inuyasha impatiently brushed at the silver strands that blew into his own eyes caught by the same breeze as he stomped after his brother, his jaw muscles working overtime as he gnashed his teeth together.

“Oy, you got fleas in your ears?” he called out to the back of his retreating brother, intent on catching up with him. “I said you can't fight him like an ordinary enemy!”

“Stay out of this Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru warned, his normally smooth and controlled voice harsh as he turned and shot a fulminating glance at his brother before continuing onwards towards Lokki.

Uh oh.

Rin bit her lip as she watched the two brothers, afraid of what the outcome might be. Turning her head, her gaze sought Yukino's, her eyes, wide and full of misgivings.

“Help me aim my bow one more time,” she pleaded with the red-head, “Sesshoumaru-sama is very powerful. We can't let him get close enough to strike at Lokki.”

Yukino inclined her head and together the girls shuffled a few steps forward. Rin waited until Lokki's attention was completely absorbed by Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru-sama before she nodded again indicating her readiness. Moving carefully Yukino stepped up behind Rin to help support her arm as Rin began raising her bow. Immediately the pain exploded in her shoulder but she didn't hesitate, her eyes staying focused on the three men in front of her. Gritting her teeth, she tried to let Yukino bear most of the weight as she struggled to keep her arm steady, the slightest movement still excruciating, making her break out into a sweat.

“Hold it a little higher,” she whispered in a strained voice, nocking an arrow tight against the bow string, her eyes following Sesshoumaru. He was drawing closer to Lokki despite the interference of his brother, getting ready to pounce as he broke into a run the last few steps before reaching Lokki, his claws extended.

“Your arm is trembling terribly,” Yukino breathed, “are you sure you won't miss and hit Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha?”

Rin felt beads of sweat begin to trickle down the sides of her face. “I won't miss,” she grimly assured, “but it needs to be a little higher still,” she rapidly concluded after checking her sight. Her voice was almost as taught as the bowstring and little pinpoints of light were beginning to explode in front of her eyes from the pain. Yukino deftly made the adjustment and Rin strained to see. “Now!” she breathed as she released the arrow and felt Yukino release some of the tension on the bow as it swung around, the string touching Rin's left hip.

The blazing white arrow sped away from them. It was the only thing Rin could see before it too succumbed to the darkness closing in on her senses, and she stumbled back against Yukino before sliding insensate to the ground, the throbbing in her shoulder thrumming in time to the loud din in her ears that was drowning out the sound of Yukino calling her name.

 

Sesshoumaru heard the whistle of Rin's arrow over his shoulder a few seconds after he'd reached for Lokki, but he didn't flinch. His amber gaze remained fixed on Lokki's throat. That was his goal. He wanted to rip it out, to watch as the bastard's life blood covered the ground. But he knew there could be no blood. So he would settle for the next best thing: strangling the life out of him, watching him wreathe to the very last, as the air was crushed from his body for what he'd done to Rin.

With his teeth bared in a feral snarl, his fingers tightened around Lokki's throat and he felt a moment of surprise when the human didn't struggle. Next to him, Inuyasha's insistent braying continued as Sesshoumaru felt the bones in Lokki's neck give way and blood began to trickle from Lokki's mouth. Just like Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru's eyes widened when he saw the blood and he knew he'd miscalculated when instead of writhing, the human smiled triumphantly.

Lokki reached up and grabbed Sesshoumaru's wrist, his grip, incredibly strong. But before Lokki could gather any more strength from the damage done, Rin's arrow struck him in the shoulder, and his smile was replaced by a disconcerted look. It was a feeling Sesshoumaru shared as the flesh beneath his fingers began to melt away like sand sifting free from his fingers, and Lokki's body became an evanescent dark vapor hovering suspended in front of him.

Thunderstruck, Sesshoumaru watched speechless as an abrupt strong wind washed it completely away, dispersing it into the darkness of the night.

“What the hell was that?” Inuyasha breathed, perplexed at the sudden howling gust as he stood next to Sesshoumaru. He looked around as soon as he managed to comb through the curtain of hair hanging in his eyes that the unexpected wind had whipped into a frenzy.

“That was a man possessed by more than just a youkai,” Sesshoumaru speculated meditatively after a long moment.

Turning on his heel Sesshoumaru headed purposefully toward Rin, but pulled up short when he heard footfalls approaching rapidly from behind and Atsuji went bounding by him, making a beeline in her direction. He was followed by two more of Inuyasha's friends; the young kitsune Shippou, and the young taijiya girl with a dark pony tail who seemed a rather odd sight.

On one shoulder sat a flame eyed cat Sesshoumaru had seen as her constant companion on previous occasions and on the other was the little grey bird that Rin had collected on their return from Inuyasha Forest. She was the same bird that had come zooming up out of the darkness shortly after Rin left with her and she'd constantly fussed at Inuyasha until he'd jumped out of his tree by the stream to head back to the village.

Sesshoumaru's eyes briefly studied the face of the taijiya before drifting to the tall youkai next to her. He couldn't remember the girl's name, nor did he feel inclined to spend energy trying to recall it, as irritated as he suddenly felt. Atsuji was kneeling down, and Sesshoumaru watched, his irritation increasing, as the wretched pup gingerly scooped Rin off the ground.

“You're a little late,” Inuyasha grumbled, sheathing Tetsusaiga as he turned and began strolling towards Atsuji. “We could have used you a little earlier, you know.”

“Really?” Atsuji asked, beaming, but then his expression crumbled at Inuyasha's flippant reply.

“Yeah, we needed a nice, solid shield for the girls, and you make one helluva a wall,” he ribbed with a snort of laughter. “Of course Sango's Hiraikotsu would have worked just as well, but without all the dramatic flair,” he added as an afterthought, focusing on the taijiya whose hands where busily roving over Rin's body.

“Inuyasha, don't be so cruel,” Sango softly chided, and then glancing into Atsuji's face murmured, “Take her to Kaede-bachan. It looks like her shoulder needs to be treated.” Then she shifted her brown eyes to Yukino and asked, “How about you, Yukino-san? Are you all right”

All eyes focused on the red-head who was busy peering off into the dark, murky spaces between the trees just beyond the row of huts, afraid that somewhere, just a few feet away, Lokki was lurking about.

“I- I'm fine,” she stammered pulling her arms around herself as the wind cut right through her yukata. “Rin suffered far more at his hands than I did-“

“Maybe so, but you're still not fine, ” Inuyasha contradicted, eyeing the stiff set of her shoulders, and the dark circles beneath her glazed eyes.

Reaching out, he took her by the arm, drawing her from the small circle they'd formed just as Mizuna came rolling up out of the darkness. The youkai woman stopped short from them, closer to where Sesshoumaru was, preferring to watch at a distance with a haughty tilt to her chin rather than sully herself with the presence of human interaction.

“We should get you inside where it's warm, and then you can tell me what happened,” Inuyasha murmured.

Ignoring Sesshoumaru and his betrothed, Inuyasha pulled Yukino past them, noticing that the young red head had yet to stop shivering. He had to admit it was a little breezy, but after a quick assessing glance at Yukino's face, Inuyasha began to wonder if her shivers weren't from something more than just the cold.

 

Within a matter of minutes, everyone had melted away, save for Sesshoumaru and Mizuna, and she watched as he moved forward to retrieve a solitary zori*** from the ground. A ripple of emotion moved across his normally serene face, and Mizuna didn't have time to properly analyze it before it was gone.

What am I doing, that I have been reduced to retrieving footwear like a common servant? He was utterly disgusted by his own actions. Still he couldn't make his fingers turn loose of the article, and he suffered a moment of extreme humiliation knowing that Mizuna was standing there, curiously watching as he struggled with his pride. He turned his back to her, towards the path Atsuji had taken and let his legs propel him forward.

“Sesshoumaru!” Mizuna called in a slightly acid voice.

She was displeased that he would just turn and leave her standing there. He'd done the same thing earlier without so much as a by-your-leave, right in the middle of their argument regarding Atsuji shortly after Sesshoumaru had witnessed Inuyasha slide out of the tree and take off towards the village in huff. She'd come looking for him just so they could finish what they'd started and already he was again ignoring her.

“--Surely now you can see how imperative it is that you speak with Atsuji. You must tell him to leave this place!” She hastened to catch up with her betrothed, making a sharp gesture with her hand as she looked up into his face. “He held that shrine maiden like she was a tennin***. It's the same way my father holds one of his horrible human servants after becoming disillusioned with his concubines and he's wallowed in a night of too much drink! Have you ever seen it, Sesshoumaru?” she spat, her breasts heaving. “A youkai and a human rut? -- It's enough to turn your stomach!”

Her words made Sesshoumaru pause, as if he found the image just as repugnant as she did. But his face showed no signs of acquiescence.

“I believe I have already told you once tonight that I do not serve as your counselor. If you wish to control the actions of your family, Atsuji included, then look to your father for guidance; not me, for I will give you none.” His reply was succinct and he watched her rear back, a resentful gleam in her eye.

“He will only indulge Atsuji in this as well you know, since he has a soft spot for humans, just as your own father did,” she informed him, with a knowing look in her eye. “But I know you dislike humans as much as I do!”

She was exacerbated when her arguments still continued to draw nothing but silent refusal on the issue. Why would he not relent, she silently fumed? He had seemed so lenient when she'd first met him, letting her go where she'd wanted, do what she'd wanted. He'd even turned a blind eye to the occasional affairs she'd indulged in. At first she'd thought this was a sign of permissive tolerance on his part, but now she was beginning to wonder if it was just sheer indifference; that in reality, he could care less about what she did.

“You were infuriated when your father mated with a human, so I know you cannot be happy about the alliance that my brother is forming with that, that,… girl! If they were to mate, then that would mean there would be more hanyou in your family!!” Mizuna railed, further pressing the point.

“Enough!” Sesshoumaru almost yelled, his amber eyes cold and glacial. “I will not discuss the actions of my father with the likes of you,” he declared softly, almost menacingly, and Mizuna felt her cheeks burn brightly at the slight slur he placed on the word `you'. “Atsuji is your brother. Learn to deal with him on your own terms, Mizuna. Do NOT try my patience any more with this topic, or so help me you will sorely regret it,” he warned.

Mizuna stared mutinously at him, her hands fisted at her sides. The likes of me? she percolated in outrage. What the hell did he mean by saying that? I'm his betrothed, by the gods! Not his sake server!

“So what do you suggest I do, then, Sesshoumaru-sama to get my brother to abandon this place?” she challenged waspishly, “I have no desire to remain here for another day longer than necessary just to watch my fool of a brother rut with an ugly human!”

Sesshoumaru curled his claws tighter around the rush weave of the zori to keep from throttling Mizuna and it creaked in protest. He managed a negligent shrug turning away from her to continue walking towards his original destination.

He refused to let her words weave any more obscene mental images in his mind, muttering back over his shoulder, “If you do not wish to see your brother, then you're free to leave. That would be the obvious solution. No one is forcing you to stay. If you're concerned that your father will chastise you for leaving your brother unattended, then rest assured I will keep an eye on him. Protecting Atsuji is, after all, part of the treaty I made with Gyousei.” he calmly pointed out seemingly oblivious of her stupefied expression that his suggestion to leave without him had wrought.

“You're staying here?” she breathed incredulously, still standing where he'd left her for a second or two before following him.

“Yes.” It was a simple reply spoken in a tone that implied the answer should have been obvious, but nothing Sesshoumaru ever did was obvious to Mizuna. And this was even less so, leaving her reeling in confusion as he approached the door to the hut.

“But…why?” she demanded in helpless frustration, when she was unable to discern his reasoning given how much he disliked the human world.

“I have unfinished business here, much of which concerns my brother,” he replied coolly, “and until I'm satisfied with the way things are, then I will remain here.”

Mizuna watched Sesshoumaru flick the bamboo door hanging back and enter the hut, his words ringing in her ears as she trailed slowly after him. Satisfied with the way things are…

What things?! she seethed. What could Sesshoumaru possibly have to be concerned with in this village? She hadn't been able to pry that information out of her brother earlier, as hard as she'd pushed him for it. All he would tell her was that Sesshoumaru's brother resided in this village and that once a month, Jyaken was sent to monitor Inuyasha's coming's and goings and then report back to Sesshoumaru. It sounded plausible, but Atsuji's voice had gone flat, like it usually did when he was lying…

But that didn't necessarily mean that he was lying, for it had been flat the entire time he'd been talking to her, partly due to the fact that she'd been insisting he return home, something he'd adamantly refused to do. And for the first time in his life, she'd been unable to bully, threaten, or cajole him into doing what she wanted him to do.

All because of that stupid little shrine maiden, she internally raged as she slapped the bamboo shade aside and steamed across the threshold to stand beside Sesshoumaru.

It was extremely crowded inside the impoverished dwelling, and Rin was awake now sitting cross-legged, close to the irori. The little, grey bird had switched company and was now perched upon the miko's bared, right shoulder. Her kimono was pulled low, exposing the upper part of her breast bindings, a livid bruise blossoming along the ridge of her left collar bone amid some very old looking scars and more recent looking scratches that seemed to extend beyond her shoulder and across her chest. These scratches matched the ones criss-crossing her face and an old witch of a woman was standing next to Rin examining her.

At the thwapping sound of the flimsy bamboo shade hitting the wall, the old crone turned her faded brown eye in Mizuna's direction, as did everyone else and Mizuna raised her chin and stared defiantly back.

Still furious at the little dab of a girl who was the center of everyone's attention, Mizuna said the first words that popped into her head, “Such ugly scars, for as young a human as you appear to be.”

Satisfaction curled through Mizuna as she noted the startled look on the shrine maiden's face before it became stained with color, and the hostility level in the room immediately rose a notch or three; all of which seemed to be directed towards her; but Mizuna didn't care.

“Yes, they are very ugly,” Rin agreed softly, her lashes sweeping against her cheeks, feeling very vulnerable, very flawed and ugly. “I was attacked by wolves when I was a child - if it hadn't been for Sesshoumaru-sama's life-giving sword, Tenseiga, I wouldn't be here today,” she finished gratefully, a shy smile directed towards the youkai lord standing proudly erect next to Mizuna.

Mizuna seemed stunned for a moment, her face frozen as if it were carved from jade, then she shot an accusing look first at her brother and then at Sesshoumaru.

It was this girl, this human that Sesshoumaru had interest in. Not Inuyasha! But -- why!? He'd saved a human - brought it back to life … but why on earth would he want to? Why would he even care?

The answer to that remained elusive, and a poisonous rage exploded inside her knowing that her betrothed was linked to this human's past, while seeming to still have an interest in the pathetic girl's current welfare. Mizuna's gaze flickered down to the sandal in Sesshoumaru's hand, then to the bare feet of the little miko and her rage increased two-fold. He was showing more consideration for this little trollop than he did her, his own betrothed!

That was NOT going to happen! She was the lily of her clan! No man could resist her, and she would make sure that Sesshoumaru did not stray from her side, no matter what it took!

“How fortunate for you, Sesshoumaru carries that otherwise useless sword” she cooed, a sleek smile curving her lips, “and yet, `tis unfortunate at the same time. Had you been stronger, like a youkai, you would not have needed Tenseiga to revive your pitifully frail human body. Nor would you be marred by the ugly scars you are now forced to bear. `Tis a pity indeed,” she sighed, pretending not to hear her brother calling her name in a strangled voice. “A human such as you would probably not even survive the thrill of the Hunt should a youkai wish to --“

“Mizuna!” Sesshoumaru castigated, his head jerking sideways, directing a narrow glare of warning down at her.

He turned, intending to seize her by the shoulder and remove her from the room at almost the same time that Atsuji bounded forward, heading purposefully for his sister. Sesshoumaru was again beaten by the younger youkai as Atsuji grabbed Mizuna by the arm and dragged her backwards through the door with a gibbered apology to everyone in the room. Rin gaze left the floor and she watched Atsuji and his sister, her eyes clashing with Mizuna's, seeing the malicious gleam there before the bamboo shade swung back into place.

The Hunt? What was that? Rin wondered, bewildered, her eyes flickering to Sesshoumaru then, who stood rigidly next to the door. Unexpectedly she found his amber eyes trained unrelentingly on her, glowing with a smoldering rage, and she hurriedly looked away.

Was he still upset with her? she wondered gloomily, because of what she'd said in the forest? What must she do to make him forgive her? Did the answer lie in being more like his betrothed? The dark clouds of gloom descended even heavier upon her at the thought, and she was unable to suppress the wish that Sesshoumaru had picked someone different to be his mate. As beautiful as Mizuna was, she seemed far too…venomous.

“Shippou, go fetch some of Rin's herbs for me,” Kaede-bachan sat back and spoke up for the first time after finishing her examination, “Sango, please go to the stream get some fresh water for me.” She handed Sango a canister, and then turned back to Rin training her one good eye on the young miko's face as the room cleared leaving only Rin, Sesshoumaru and the old priestess. “You got hit pretty hard, eh? Your bone has left its joint,” she grunted disapprovingly, “Didn't Inuyasha teach you how to dodge, child?”

Feeling slightly embarrassed to be scolded so openly in front of the man she'd idolized since her childhood days, Rin slid a furtive glance through her lashes at Sesshoumaru as he left the door and sauntered towards her and Kaede-bachan. She lifted her hand and tried to shield the scars on her shoulder as he got closer, not wanting him to see them. Her movement upset Suzu who still perched on her right shoulder and she flapped her wings and chattered admonishingly at being dislodged.

“Well I did try, but my feet couldn't move fast enough,” Rin explained apologetically, trying not to be so aware of Sesshoumaru-sama. She concentrated on Kaede-bachan as the stout woman lumbered towards the corner of the room to bend down with a grunt, and Rin bit her lip. “I'm terribly sorry, Kaede-bachan,” she mumbled, and the old woman turned a startled face in her direction.

“Whatever for, child?” she asked querulously, half bent forward, her hand poised out in front of her, in the middle of reaching into a tansu in the corner.

“Well, Chihaya's baby is due any day now and Tatsuki's leg still hasn't healed properly and needs to be looked at. Then there's Chisato and her sisters out there on the edge of the village on their farm by themselves, waiting for her husband to return…” Rin's voice faltered, and she knew from Kaede's blank look that the old woman didn't understand what she was trying to say. “It's so much for one person to do by herself,” she stammered, fidgeting, “and I know how stiff your joints are in the mornings now…” again she trailed off miserably. “I guess what I'm trying to say is I just always wanted to be here to help you - I certainly never wished to be a burden.”

Anything else she might have thought to add was stranded in midstream, the flow her words drying up as the drape of Sesshoumaru-sama's kimono sleeve brushed against her bared skin and she realized just how close he was standing next to her.

Rin was completely disconcerted when Kaede-bachan's raspy chuckle filled the room after a moment as the old woman finally realized what Rin was worried about.

“You have helped me immensely and you are never a burden, Rin-chan,” Kaede assured her gently and then she added dryly, “but you know, I'm not that decrepit yet. If I know you,” she added wryly, “I'm sure you'll be helping me more than any normal person could despite your injury. But don't worry, there is always Shippou and Sango to help when needed, and now that Kagome is back, I'm certain she will help too - also there is her new friend, Yukino-chan, too, so I have plenty of help. You are worrying needlessly over me, child, so don't.”

Kaede-bachan turned away then, beginning to sift through the contents of the tansu, and Rin frowned in dissatisfaction, startled when Sesshoumaru moved even closer and crouched down. His beautifully shaped ear was level with her nose and if she turned her head just a bit and looked down, she could see the texture of skin beneath the crimson slashes on his face, and see the sweep of his lashes almost touching his cheeks as he concentrated his gaze downwards. As immersed as she was in studying his profile, it was with a start that she realized he had carefully placed something in her lap.

Of course…why else would he be that close? she told herself, but then her heart, which was already beginning to thunder violently in her chest beat even harder, working double time to push the blood into her face when he turned his head, bringing his face even closer to hers. He brought his hand up to her shoulder, deliberately sweeping her fingers away as his eyes traced the deep silver gouges of scar tissue left by the fangs of the wolves that had attacked her as a child. Then he lifted his gaze to her face, and Rin held her breath, bracing herself for the anger she'd seen just moments earlier in the depths of his eyes. But all she found was kindness.

“Never be ashamed.” His voice was low and gentle, for her ears only, and his thumb brushed lightly against the scars and scratches, sending a chill along her skin before he dropped his hand away. “Especially because of another's callous words. The child that suffered these scars sought to offer me life in her own way when I was suffering. I have not forgotten that, nor will I ever forget.”

Rin looked down at her lap and saw the zori then, and felt her heart swell with emotion. Even though his betrothed had been the one to hurt her, he was trying to shield her from the pain. His kind consideration overwhelmed her.

“Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Her voice quavered as she spoke, and she tightly gripped the zori, unable to look at him, humiliated at how easily she became discomposed by his simplest actions.

He stood then resting his hand briefly against the top of her head before drifting away. It was a gesture of comfort that one might bestow upon a child, Rin mused dully as Kaede moved back in their direction, a long scrap of cloth she'd fashioned into a sling in her hands. The old woman shuffled past the tall youkai, unintimidated by his overpowering presence and slowly took her place next to Rin, waiting for Sango and Shippou to return, noting that Suzu was becoming restive.

She'd left Rin's shoulder and was flitting about, picking at some of Kaede's things.

“There is nothing for you there,” Kaede grumbled, and then “stay out of that!” when the little bird grumbled back.

“She's hungry,” Rin explained apologetically calling to the bird who again settled against her shoulder after a little more chattering that sounded distinctively like twittered muttering. “Please be patient a little longer. I will feed you when we get home,” Rin told her softly, rubbing a finger down her breast, unaware that she was being watched very carefully by a pair of amber eyes.

A few minutes later Shippou and Sango returned and Kaede mixed the grounded herbs with the water, heating it to make a strong opiate. Pouring it into a cup, she handed it to Rin who seemed rather reluctant to drink it.

“No fair, Rin,” Sango teased, “you feed it to me whenever I'm wounded, so you can't very well resist when it's your turn to take your own medicine!”

“That's right!” Shippou piped in.

“At least not without a lot of protest,” Rin observed with a weak laugh, putting the cup to her lips and taking a big swallow.

After a few minutes the drug began to work, and Rin felt her senses dulling. Then she heard Kaede-bachan ask her, “Are you ready?”

Trying to focus on the older woman she nodded. Kaede-bachan clambered to her feet then. Shooing Suzu from Rin's shoulder, she motioned for Sesshoumaru to take the spot she'd vacated beside the young miko as she stepped behind Rin, her warm hands feeling along Rin's shoulder. Pressing against it, she tested it, searching for the joint, sending little trickles of pain along Rin's shoulder and neck. Before Rin realized she was going to do it, Kaede used her thumbs and with a jerking motion sent the bones back into place with a horrible crunching motion.

With a garbled cry Rin stiffened, her vision blurring as she slumped forward against Sesshoumaru who put a steadying arm around her, holding her close as her breath came in great gusts while she tried to keep the tears pooling in her eyes from spilling. Her shoulder throbbed intensely, and she hated to think what it would feel like had she not taken the medication before Kaede had reset the joint. After a long moment, she weakly straightened up, moving away from the warmth of Sesshoumaru-sama's arm, dimly aware that the cup was being pushed into her hand.

Rin obediently swallowed more of the bitter opiate with a grimace before the sling was tied around her neck to keep her arm and shoulder immobile. She was only vaguely aware of the others speaking about the battle with Lokki, but the pain made it impossible for her to concentrate on what they were saying. She willed the opiate to do its job, wanting the throbbing to dull, knowing that it would adversely affect her dulled senses even more, but uncaring at this point, almost unable to bear the sharp stabbing sensation running through her neck and arm. Keeping her eyes focused on the furry pelt wound around Sesshoumaru's arm, she concentrated on breathing in and out and after a few minutes she sighed in relief as the drug began to work its magic.

 

Kaede's keen eye kept a sharp watch on Rin as she patiently waited for the opiate to do its work and as soon as Rin's eyelids began to droop her gaze slid thoughtfully to Sesshoumaru. She considered asking him if he was capable of carrying Rin with just one hand, but then realized it would only insult him. So instead, she told him where Rin lived and watched as he lifted the young miko with ease, seemingly unflustered when Suzu buzzed around his head, looking for a place to light. Sesshoumaru's head pivoted with the bird's movement watching her for a few seconds and waiting patiently for her to settle upon his shoulder before he turned and carried Rin from the hut.

With a dry snort, Kaede watched them leave and then began directing Sango and Shippou and their task of cleaning up, her mind dwelling on the noble youkai and his young charge. Such a proud and haughty façade; but she understood why Rin thought so much of Inuyasha's brother, for it was obvious to see that he thought much of Rin as well.

Sesshoumaru briefly paused as he left Kaede's hut, noting with satisfaction that there was no sign of either Atsuji or Mizuna. Atsuji had probably dragged his sister a good distance away, fearful that she would again invade the old miko's domain and upset Rin with her venomous tongue, and for once, Sesshoumaru was grateful to the boy. He didn't feel like dealing with Mizuna's narcissistic temperament at the moment.

He was more than content to lift his gaze and let it drift among the crystalline sparkles blanketing the velvet darkness of the sky while the silence of the evening washed over him, mingling with the warmth of Rin's body against his chest. Together they acted as a balm soothing away much of the tension in his shoulders brought on by the barbed tongue of his bride to be. Bringing his gaze back down, he traced the sweep of Rin's lashes against her scratched up cheeks, noting too, that despite her sleep laden countenance, there was a furrow of discomfort between her brows.

Perhaps her shoulder hurt too much to let her fall into a deep sleep, he mused. And as that thought struck him, her eyes creaked open to gaze at him, restless and full of pain. She didn't speak, but gazed up at him, and he was unaware that from her vantage point his face was framed in starlight. With a frown, he looked away, cognizant of the fact that she was still watching him, and he wondered what she was thinking, for when Rin's body was still and she was silent, it meant her mind was busy.

“I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama,” she mumbled, “I don't mean to be a burden.”

Her words surprised him, and he tried not to let it show. That was the second time tonight she'd said those words.

“You're not,” he simply said, his dry gaze flickering to the bird that had just nibbled on his ear. She was peering expectantly at him and he raised a quizzical eyebrow as she quirked her little beak at him and chattered a few notes.

“But I'm taking up your time, when I'm sure you had planned to return home… or else you'd much rather be spending time with - with Mizuna-san,” Rin pondered these depressing thoughts aloud over the sound of Suzu's chatter.

Even to her own ears she sounded miserable, and Rin turned her head away. Giving in to the weight of her heavy lids, she closed her eyes. She wasn't surprised when Sesshoumaru-sama didn't respond to her. His boots crunching along in the dirt and the odd note or two from Suzu were the only sounds in the growing silence. -And is it any wonder that he doesn't respond!? ­she mused drowsily, Sesshoumaru-sama was never one to suffer fools lightly and what she'd said had been extremely foolish -- Of course he would rather be with his betrothed!!

“I wouldn't.”

The smooth, resonant sound of his voice was unexpected. It made her head turn, her eyes springing wide open, and their gazes clashed. Two simple words, said so matter of factly, but there had been such a soft expression in his eyes in that brief second when he'd been looking down at her before his gaze slipped away that it made Rin's heart feel funny. Not knowing how to respond, she hid her face against the soft fur pelt along his shoulder and she missed the small smile that tweaked his lips that her childish act provoked.

“Your bird,” he remarked quietly, a restrained note of impatience tempering his voice. “…she keeps biting me.”

Rin burrowed deeper into the fur and Sesshoumaru's smile widened just a bit as she mumbled, “I'm sorry Sesshoumaru-sama. She's hungry, and she thinks you'll feed her.”

“I see,” he murmured, looking askance at the bird who seemed to be getting rather testy because she had yet to see one sprig of a mushroom presented to her.

“I promise I will feed her… I'm really sorry if she's bothering you,” Rin mumbled, again burrowing just a little deeper, the warm spot against his chest and shoulder becoming a little warmer.

Sesshoumaru grunted noncommittally, having finally arrived at their destination. Turning to the left, he pushed past the bamboo door shade and entered the hut Kaede had indicated was Rin's home. It was mostly dark inside, the fire in the irori having burned down to embers. Suzu finally left his shoulder and headed towards an empty bowl sitting on the corner of the kotatsu and hunkered down with a plaintive chirp to wait. Sesshoumaru ignored the sound as he carried Rin over to where two mats were separated by a small space on the floor and wondered who shared the hut with Rin.

“Someone lives with you?” he couldn't resist asking, making sure his voice held only the vaguest note of idle inquiry.

“Sango,” she replied in a thick voice, pointing to the mat that belonged to her and he turned towards it. “When I first came here, she invited me to stay with her. She was used to having a brother… and a father… living in the same house…and being alone was hard for her. And I had just left Sesshoumaru-sama and Jyaken-sama and I thought - I thought—“ Rin paused, her voice becoming awkward, sounding just like an abandoned child, remembering how lonely and bereft she'd felt when she'd first come to the village when Sesshoumaru-sama had left her and not returned, “ I didn't want to be alone either. So I agreed to live with her and it has worked out well for both of us,” she finished as he gently laid her on her mat.

He prepared to stand back up, but stopped when she started to sit up. Putting his hand out, he put it in the middle of her chest and pushed her back down. It wasn't hard to do. She didn't have much strength.

“What are you doing?” he asked her quietly, noting that her skin felt flushed with heat.

“I'm going to feed Suzu,” she replied after a moment, trying to drag her fuzzy thoughts together.

Her brown eyes followed his hand as he brought it up and smoothed the tendrils of hair away from her brow. It felt nice, his fingers drifting through her hair and her eyelids drifted closed as she savored the feeling for just a moment, a small sound somewhere between a hum and a sigh escaping her lips.

“You have a fever,” he told her placidly as his fingers swept across her heated brow. “Tell me where her food is and I'll get it.”

“In the corner,” she mumbled, her bleary eyes peeping open as he rose gracefully and drifted to the corner of the room, “Not that corner,” she corrected, when she saw him standing in the wrong corner, long strips of white cloth trailing from his hand, a look on his face that clearly stated he didn't think he had what constituted as the requirements for Suzu's meal. “That's the wrong… Those are my breast…. Those are my bindings…” she stammered sleepily.

He didn't really need to know that though, she thought, mortified despite her sluggishness.

“Which corner?” he asked in an aloof voice as he put the bindings back in the small hitsu*** he'd found them in.

Rin pointed again and watched Sesshoumaru glide across the room, noting that Suzu was watching him too, and that she got excited when she saw where he was going.

“Daikon radishes, mushrooms or dried persimmon slices?” Sesshoumaru-sama inquired in his sleek voice.

“Mushrooms,” Rin mumbled, watching him carry them to the table and dump them in Suzu's bowl.

With a cheerful sound, the little bird dipped her head down and Sesshoumaru snorted to see how quickly she devoured the food. Then without another word, he began drifting towards the door, preparing to leave.

He's not going to say goodbye. Rin didn't want him to go, for this could be the last time she might see him for a long time.

Please stop! She wanted to cry. But she couldn't. She could never ask him for that. She had no right. She was just a human, and he was…

“Sesshoumaru-sama!”

He didn't pause, but raised an inquiring eyebrow at her as he continued towards the door and so she hurriedly pushed the first words past her lips she could think of, desperate to have him stay for just a while, just for a few minutes, to share his company like she used to, when she was a child, when a bond of companionship existed between them.

“Wh-what is the hunt?”

“That is nothing you need ever concern yourself with,” came his dismissive answer as he continued towards the door.

She must think of something else or he would be gone - perhaps for another ten years, perhaps even longer this time. Perhaps he would even by married by the time she saw him again.

That thought caused such a horrible pain that she felt it might crush her heart.

Two more steps and he would disappear outside and she didn't know how to stop him, what she could say that would make him turn around and stay. But then she did the unthinkable, her heart burdened by the pain of losing him forever and she blurted out the question before she even realized it.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, why did you choose Mizuna-san?”

Immediately his face became enshrouded in ice and her heart felt like it was going to sputter to a halt, a she stared fearfully at him. She'd gotten her wish, but at what cost? Sesshoumaru-sama had indeed stopped moving; he'd stopped dead in his tracks as a matter of fact, his eyes hard and cold as he glared at her.

Full of remorse, Rin put her hand up to her mouth, almost terrified of saying anything else, terrified of what might come out next, but she knew she must at least try and apologize for her impertinence.

“S-sesshoumaru-s-sama… I'm t-terribly sorry!! -- I had no right to ask. I beg you, please, d-do n-not be angry --” she whispered brokenly, and while she spoke, his face if anything became even more glacial.

Unable to finish her sentence, she rolled away from the door, away from him, jarring her shoulder in the process and almost gagged from the pain that swelled to an almost unbearable level. She closed her eyes against it, waiting for the throbbing to ebb. The next time she wearily opened her eyes it was to stare blankly at the shadowed wall facing her, knowing that he was gone.

The room seemed to be colder and darker without him even though it really hadn't changed at all, and a hard shiver crept up her spine. It was followed by another. And then another, and Rin woozily realized that her fever must be climbing from the shock of her injury. She needed to stoke the fire in the irori, came the dim thought through the clouds of mist fogging her mind.

Carefully shifting onto her back, she slowly sat up and then gritted her teeth as another hard shiver shook her frame. She waited for it to pass before she pushed herself to her feet, taking a few shuffling steps forward, pulling her right arm closer to the left one resting in the sling across her chest to try and draw some warmth to her body as she suddenly began shivering in earnest. Her teeth were clacking together constantly now as the cold air circulating around the room enveloped her.

Feeling utterly miserable, Rin glanced towards the dull orange glow of the irori in front of her, and as she stared at it, it doubled and began to spin, like she'd just drunk too much sake. With a groan she closed her eyes and stopped moving, afraid that if she tried to go forward, she would pitch head-first towards the floor and re-injure her shoulder.

So she stood there, the cold air wafting around her, swaying and shivering like a hollow reed in the throes of a storm.

“I hate sake,” she mumbled miserably between gritted teeth.

“Oh?” A smooth voice challenged quietly next to her and her eyes shot open to find Sesshoumaru-sama standing there with a cup in his hand, his eyes still seething with anger. “I would think as a miko, you would revere the drink as sacred since it is much favored by the gods… and used for kensen***”

Rin blinked in confusion at him, automatically taking the cup from him when he held it out to her.

“I - I -“ her mind was too clouded to come up with an answer, and she could only stare blankly at him, mesmerized by the luminous silver of his hair and how it glowed despite the lack of light in the room, and his amber eyes, hidden beneath heavy lids as he waited for her to finish what she was saying. “You came back…”

Her voice had a note of uncertainty about it, like she almost couldn't believe he was standing in front of her.

Sesshoumaru tilted his nose imperiously, his brows soaring as he eyed the cup.

“Drink it.” He ordered, in no mood to be indulgent.

Rin's eyes wandered down to the dark liquid and she lifted the cup to her lips. Despite his brusque command, Sesshoumaru was amazed that she didn't even want to know what she was swallowing. Her trust in him was so implicit that she obeyed him without hesitation. She handed the cup back to him, still half full, her teeth clacking together, and he took it from her with a frown.

“I don't think I can drink anymore,” she told him in all honesty, “but thank you for bringing it for me.”

Sesshoumaru didn't say anything while he bent to set the cup on the ground. Foolish girl! He wanted to chide, her. Asking impertinent questions that she had no right to ask, and then turning around and blindly trusting him… it was maddening to have her infuriating him one minute, and then turning his anger inside out and making him feel things he should not feel for a human -- or a youkai for that matter -- the next!

But perhaps, he reasoned, all of his other thoughts coming to a halt, she didn't need to ask what was in the cup. She was a miko and a healer after all and should be able to identify most draughts by the color and taste, shouldn't she? So it wasn't necessarily a matter of trust at all. It could have been her innate knowledge that had kept her silent.

Having reached that conclusion, Sesshoumaru was able to hang on to the tail end of his anger. As he rose, he put his arm around her and turned her around, heading her slowly back in the direction of her mat.

“So you knew what was in the cup, did you?” he asked coolly.

“Er, no,” she replied fuzzily, stumbling a little, wondering if he was making fun of her.

So she didn't know, he mused with an irritable snort.

“Then why did you thank me for it?” he asked with a mockingly raised eyebrow, a thread of amusement tempering his voice as he watched her lie down on the mat, her body trembling as it tried to warm itself. She started to turn her back to him, but he squatted down, his fingers ensnaring her wrist, holding her in place, his seething expression demanding a response.

“B-because…” she sputtered through chattering teeth, wanting to lift her blanket and pull it closer around her shoulders, but couldn't because her hand was still locked in his grasp. “--b-because… I didn't want you to be mad at me anymore…” She said it softly, her expression shamefaced, and his amusement died an instant death.

She was such a child, thinking that she could fix things so easily, he scornfully told himself … but he found the last vestiges of his anger dwindling away, for as impudent as her question had been, there was nothing in her demeanor to sustain it.

“I had no right to ask you such a question, Sesshoumaru-sama,” she whispered quietly, in between violent shivers. “I'm not sure why I did … I only know that as a child I had hoped… that you would …find someone to fill your life with smiles - someone that would make you happy and keep you from being lonely. And as beautiful as Gyousei-san Mizuna is, I do not think that she makes you smile… I promise that I will say nothing more, so I beg of you, do not be angry at me anymore,” Rin pleaded wearily, closing her eyes, as she trailed off into silent shivers.

Sesshoumaru let go of her wrist and pulled the blanket up, carefully tucking it around her shoulders, his hand trailing up to her brow, smoothing back a few tendrils of hair before he lightly pressed the backs of his fingers against her forehead. He was disturbed at how very warm to the touch she felt. Rising to his feet, he turned and headed for the irori where he quickly attended to the fire.

The frailty of humans.

His eyes lingered on the splash of feverish color running across Rin's cheeks as he bent and picked up the discarded cup and carried it over to where she lay. Another reason to eschew them. Their lives were like a glimmer of the wishing star that streaks across the sky. There one minute and gone the next. What good did it do to get attached to something If, in the space of a few breaths, it would only wither and die? a hard cynical voice demanded.

But he could not quiet the concern rising in him on her behalf. She had been his to watch after as a child, and he supposed that she should be his now. His thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he felt riotous emotions tug sharply at him as he reached this conclusion.

Possessiveness, satisfaction, that same gnawing hunger that had begun to stir in him while he'd been in the forest… and something else he couldn't quite define…

With a frown he pushed them all away and slowly moved forward, collapsing cross-legged onto the floor next to Rin in one graceful motion. She'd stopped shivering, a sign that her fever had stopped climbing, but now she seemed to be in the midst of a deep slumber and she didn't stir, not even when he again brushed his fingers against her temple, noting that while no longer rising, her fever still had not begun to abate. Perhaps she needed to drink more of Kaede's medicine, he mused, looking at the cup he had placed next to him. Softly he called her name, and still she remained motionless, the opiate for her pain pulling her into heavy sleep.

Leaning over her, he slid his arm beneath her head and shoulders and slowly lifted her until he could slide closer to her. Her eyes creaked open, barely revealing the dark color beneath the heavy veil of thick lashes.

“Sesshoumaru-sama?” she mumbled sleepily as he propped her at an angle against the soft fur mantle covering his shoulder and chest.

“You need to drink the rest of Kaede's medicine,” he told her holding the cup out in front of her, making her take it despite her resistance. “You're fever is not coming down.”

“I can't,” she protested, her words slightly slurred as he pushed the cup into her hand, “my head is spinning.”

“Like sake,” Sesshoumaru murmured in comprehension, his fingers again brushing against her temple, feathering through the dark strands of hair that lay there in a soothing motion. “Just a little at a time,” he coaxed.

Rin made to raise the cup to her lips and then groaned and turned her head, feeling nauseous.

“I can't!” she breathed.

“Just a little,” he reiterated softly, “a small amount, Rin. I'll stay with you until you finish. I'll even answer your question…but you have to finish what's in the cup.”

Sesshoumaru couldn't believe that he'd just pandered to her, bargaining his personal business over a few mouthfuls of weed filled liquid. He thought he could sink no lower but he was wrong.

“N-no, Sesshoumaru-sama, you really don't have to tell me,” Rin mumbled diffidently, knowing that he disliked those who probed into things that did not concern them. And it was very obvious that his love life did not in any way, shape or form concern her.

“If you did not want to know, then why did you ask me?” The question had a slight edge to it. “Or were you perhaps just trying to rile my temper?” he asked silkily.

“N-no! I would never purposefully make you angry!” she immediately replied shaking her head emphatically, her hair rubbing against his chest and releasing a strong wave of her scent, that immediately wafted to his nose.

He tried not to breathe it in, but it was impossible not to, just as it was impossible not to want to lean closer to her, to bury his face against her neck and breathe deeper. He needed to get away from her, he realized with sharp clarity, his canine instincts sensing the danger she posed to his well ordered existence, but he felt incapable of leaving, as if he was already shackled to her by some invisible bond that had been forged ten years ago, a bond that was not meant to be severed.

“So you want to know, then?” he asked, his eyes on the untouched liquid in the cup, realizing his pride had just sunk a notch lower as he actually stooped to ask her such a question.

“Y-yes,” she replied timidly, her voice beginning to sound sleepy again, “I did want to know, b-but not at the cost of angering you.”

“Well the cost will be one cup of medicinal broth,” Sesshoumaru replied smoothly, “sipped slowly, of course,” he paused for a moment and then added, “I will start when you start.”

After a few seconds, Rin hesitantly raised the cup to her lips and took a small swallow, and Sesshoumaru made a slight sound of satisfaction.

“Atsuji's father, Gyousei is a very powerful Taiyoukai, very much like my father was,” Sesshoumaru began. “His clan spans many generations, but he has not been, er, discriminating with whom he shares his bed, so his seed has spawned many children. Over time he has learned that many who bear his blood do not yield the same mastery of sword, nor do they seem to be inclined to try to rise to the heights that their father has reached among the youkai, preferring to spend their time pursuing more entertaining pastimes….” Sesshoumaru paused lost in thought for a moment, his mouth suppressed into a thin line of disapproval before continuing, “This has greatly disturbed him, especially since his first born and most favored son seems to be inept at most everything Gyousei has tried to teach him…”

Sesshoumaru again paused watching Rin take a sip from the cup before she mumbled woozily, “Atsuji?”

“Atsuji,” Sesshoumaru affirmed grimly. “Knowing my father from long ago and having heard of my reputation, Gyousei approached me, and offered me a treaty: a union between our houses, the hand of his eldest daughter and equal dominion over his clan. In return I offer my protection to those of his clan should the need arise, and I also ensure that should Mizuna fail in her duty to protect her brother, that the boy doesn't squander his foolhardy existence on the sharp ends of some greedy oni's talons. Of course, Gyousei is relying on my Tenseiga if such a thing like that were to happen - which is one of the main reasons why he chose me in the first place - because he does not fully trust the skills of his eldest daughter to protect his first born son.”

“So you entered into the engagement knowing that you were protecting all of those people?” she asked querulously.

Sesshoumaru was hesitant to answer that question, knowing how she would interpret it, but she was pushing him for an answer.

“Neh, Sesshoumaru-sama, isn't that true?” she reiterated sleepily.

“Well, yes, but that's not--” he began, about to clarify his answer but she didn't give him a chance.

“You are always so kind, Sesshoumaru-sama,” she sighed contentedly.

“No,” he disagreed, watching her put the cup to her lips once more and then hold it away and turn it upside down to show that it was empty. “I am not as noble as you think I am, Rin. My reasons for the alliance were purely selfish.”

Rin turned her head and looked at him, her warm brown eyes clouded with sleep. “Tenseiga knows you're noble,” Rin's lip protruded into a slight argumentative pout. “It is a sword of immense strength - one that holds the Balance of Life and Death within its blade, thus it is a Sword of Compassion. If you weren't noble then I don't think it would have chosen to call you Master.” Still facing him, she pressed her cheek against his shoulder, her countenance taking on a childlike quality as she let her eyes drift close, her face tilted towards him. “The heart with so much to give - that is you, Sesshoumaru-sama,” she sighed. “Tenseiga and I have shared that secret for a long time. I just wonder when you're going to realize it yourself…”

She was asleep, and he could only stare at her, his mind in utter turmoil at the things she'd said. He'd dismiss it as utter absurdity if his heart was not beating so out of rhythm from her tantalizing scent. The differences between her and his betrothed were laughable. Mizuna was everything she was not, so why did he feel like he'd made an incalculable error?

Impossible!

He never made errors of that magnitude… !

And yet he wanted…

Raising his hand, he cupped the back of her head, his fingers unwinding the cord that kept her hair pulled back, releasing a wave of her scent as her hair drifted free. After a brief internal struggle he rested his cheek against her forehead and took a deep breath, his eyes drifting half-closed as her scent ensnared his senses

So much to give, she'd said.

There was none he wanted to give to, he scornfully assured himself. And yet… He couldn't stop thinking of it as he sat there, holding her.

His greatest mistake…

 

Yukata** a light cotton kimono

Sigyn*** Norse goddess of the Aesir, she is mother to Narfi and Vali and is known as “the Faithful”

Zori**** Sandal

Tennin*** Buddhist angel

Hitsu*** Storage chest

Kensen*** Food and drink offering made to the goods in a Shinto ceremony

Tamoto*** The sleeve pouch of a kimono sleeve

Ofuda*** Talisman or charm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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