InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Evil Eye, The Serpent's Tongue ❯ Into the East, Land of the Dragons ( Chapter 29 )

At daybreak, the 6 of them headed out. 3 youkais, a human, a miko and a hanyou. In the end, it was decided that in order to make good time, the demons and half demons would run full speed, carrying the humans on their backs. To make better speed, Jaken was tied up in Kaede's hut.

 

Kagome rode on Inuyasha, and Miroku on Shippo, since Sesshomaru wasn't about to allow a human to ride on him, and he didn't feel right about having Rin carry a monk that, from all impressions, wasn't to be trusted around any women.

 

Miroku was also glad to ride on Shippo's back, as, judging from Rin and Sesshomaru, should his own body get the better of him, he had the feeling that they won't be using a boomerang to knock sense into him

 

Sango. He thought, shifting to a more comfy position as they rode the air currents. We will get you back…by the gods, I will never touch another woman if that means getting Sango back. He paused, and then smiled. Unless I have a good feeling that they want to bare my children.

 

^&^&^&^

 

“How come I could never ride in your arms? Why did I have to ride on that dragon?”

 

Sesshomaru glanced over at Rin, his face still. That girl…she may appear to be a demoness, but her mind and emotions are still human.

 

“because it is unfitting for a demon lord to carry a human.”

 

“What about now?”

 

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. “You are not getting tired already? You have my strength Rin, so I find that hard to believe.”

 

“No, I mean would you carry me now, as I am?”

 

Sesshomaru sighed. “Rin, it is undignified for a lord to carry a woman, even if she is a demon.”

 

“And even if he cares about her?”

 

Sesshomaru turned and glanced at her as he adjusted his speed. “What are you blabbering about?”

 

Rin smirked. “When Kagome threatened to kill me, you were ready to save me. I have never seen you try to save Jaken, or any other servant. Hell, you actually hurt them yourself!” She looked at him. “And another thing. When I was only a little girl, you allowed me to get away with anything. I could play all day and ask you any question, and you never said a word.”

 

Sesshomaru shrugged. “There was no need. You were but a child.”

 

Rin sighed, and the demon lord sensed something was troubling her. However, he couldn't care about it in the slightest

 

Then why am I still thinking about her…I mean it! He shook his head. It is merely the change. I am use to Rin being a little girl, picking flowers and arguing with Jaken. I am not use to her being an adult, and a demon for that matter! He glanced at her, Rin's face not showing any sign of emotion. She is learning well to conceal her emotions…she shows promise.

 

However, a part of him, a tiny, quiet part, long dormant, rose up at that moment, and, for a second, the great lord missed the little girl that use to smile at anything he did. Somehow…no matter how mad he was…he could never stay mad at that Rin.

 

But isn't she that Rin?

 

He closed his eyes. He had to phrase this just right. Most people assumed Sesshomaru was heartless. This wasn't the case. While he may not express emotions like the girl, Kagome, or even his lousy half brother, he still had emotions. He had merely learned that in order to be a good lord, one must hide such things as happiness, fear and even anger, if they wished to rule with a strong hand. That is why before he said anything, he made sure there was no way someone could read it as an emotional statement.

 

Finally satisfied, he glanced at Rin, till she caught his eye. “Rin, I am curious. While you have gained age and skills, which I understand…I am not fully aware of how your mind was shaped.”

 

The comment was a simple and open one. It made it seem as if he was giving away a vital weakness, that he didn't know about something, while at the same time not taking direct interest in the answer.

 

“I am not sure, I have a few theories…what do you think?”

 

Sesshomaru frowned inwardly. She has my intelligence…meaning she knows all my mind games as well as I do.

 

Rin had noticed his slight change and smirked to herself, deciding that she had won that spar and to answer his question anyway. “From what I can figure, the jewel made me as I would be if I were raised the same way as I had currently been being raised before the change.”

 

That gave the lord something to think about. This Rin…was the result of him raising her? He glanced at her again and tried not to frown. For some reason, it bothered him that the cold woman that liked to play with his head and fluster him so was a byproduct of following him.

 

Why should it bother me though? He thought. It will make her strong…powerful. She will be a great warrior through what I gave her. If I had not come along, what would she be like?

 

Deep in his mind, the little voice, that part of him that was more prone to emotions, smirked at the lord.

 

Are you afraid she would have been happier if you had not raised her?

 

Sesshomaru scowled. He did not like people doubting him, let alone himself. Why was the voice now popping up all of a sudden? He had thought it had died a long time ago. Why did it choose now to appear?

 

Because I'm right.

 

^&^&^&^

 

The group landed a small distance from the castle. Naraku's misawa was no where to be found, which gave the area a spooky feeling. With Naraku…you knew what to expect. But with these beings…

 

Miroku looked at his hand. “I wished I still had the wind tunnel. Though I am glad of it's curse is gone…I have a feeling it would be of use.”

 

The palace was carved right into a mountain, the entire outer wall stone. Above the wall rose a Mutli-leveled castle, the great wall surrounding the polished stone that, as the sun hit it, made the palace have an unearthly glow. A massive gate stood before them, the marks of battle still lining it's surface, but it had been restored by Ryu when he had taken back his home. The mountain was filled with caves that, had they been able to walk into them, the group would have found grand living quarters as well as Dojos, dining rooms and ballrooms. It was a castle to rival the Palace of the Crescent Moon in the west.

 

Kagome turned and handed Miroku a small bottle. “You remember the plan…get to Sango and Kirara, and dump this on them. It will make them stop, and stop Neko's Evil Eye. You have to convince them to come back.” Miroku frowned, looking at the bottle that was half filled.

 

“What about us?” Rin asked. “I assume we are no going to stand on the sidelines?”

 

“Sesshomaru, Rin…take on Kagura. She is the last of Naraku's servants, unless Kanna is still alive, and will be the most cunning and adaptable. Inuyasha, you take Neko. I will try and talk sense into Ryu…he trusts me. Shippo, you will help me. You are unaffected by Ryu's fire spells, so he will be forced to use his strength. Your fast, and together, we might be able to take him down.”

 

The group nodded. They weren't happy about the situation, but had all agreed to try it Kagome's way first. As they finished planning, they heard the gate of the castle lower, and their opponents arrived.

Kagura appeared first, followed by Sango, a massive Kirara by her side. The cat was nearly 8 feet tall, and 15 feet long. Her eyes were burning red, and she growled, Sango placing a hand on her partner's head. They group could sense that each was now sporting 3 shards each, making their lives a bit more hellish in this battle.

 

Ryu and Neko were in the rear, both shedding their robes they had stolen. Only Ryu and Sango had weapons: Suohdanna and the cat o' nine tails, respectively. Ryu and Neko each had 3 shards as well, and their bodies had increased in size just a bit.

 

But what everyone noticed were their foreheads. Upon each member of Ryu's crew was the image of an orange half sun rising long a line to represent the earth. On Ryu and Neko's cheeks, wrists, chest, eyelids and legs, two smooth violet lines to show their ranking as lords of the land.

 

Ryu smiled and bowed. “Welcome to East, domain of the Dragon Lords.”