InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Pearl ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

The Pearl

 

Disclaimer: I don't own it, but it sure owns me.

 

Chapter Seven

 

Even though I seem not human, a mute shelf

of glucose, bottle blood, machinery

to swell the lung and pump the heart—even so,

do not put out my life. Let me still glow.

~Dudley Randall, To the Mercy Killers

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Rin would not look him in the face.

 

Shouji was circling her at a measured pace, drawing closer with each revolution. He chuckled darkly. “You failed to bring me the Tokijin,” he stated matter-of-factly.

 

Rin set her jaw and straightened her spine.

 

He continued his orbit around the girl, slowly closing in. It gave him a wicked sense of glee when he drew close enough that she began to tremble.

 

“It does not surprise me,” he continued. “Had you succeeded, I would have counted your Sesshomaru as a lesser man. But, as much as he may care for you, he cares for himself infinitely more.” The demon then shrugged, and gave a lop-sided grin. “Heh. But I guess you of all people knew that.”

 

The girl flinched at this, and he saw a tear slip hurriedly down her cheek.

 

He stopped in his tracks half a yard behind her back. “I suppose you think these to be your last moments, then,” he murmured in a low, cold tone.

 

She clenched and unclenched her fists again and again, but she still refused to look up or make any sound. He would not be allowed that pleasure; she was determined of it.

 

Shouji took a step forward. “I will further suppose then, that it might bring you some comfort if I were to tell you hope is not lost in earning your little bauble back.” His lids fell heavily over his eyes, and the sides of his mouth curved a hair's breadth.

 

The girl sniffed. The general smiled. He had her undivided attention.

 

Another step closer and the demon had his mouth next to Rin's ear. Her lower lip quivered.

 

“There is another way,” he whispered, then slowly took a step back. He'd caught her on his hook, and she would follow hopelessly on his line. “Come,” he ordered.

 

The muscles in Rin's stomach clenched. After what had happened with Sesshomaru, she was certain she did not want to live. The pain that burned within her chest made each breath a desperate gulp for air. But in order to die, she had to have the pearl, and in order to have the pearl, she had to listen to whatever it was Shouji wanted. She turned, and followed.

 

He led her from the front foyer into the first main antechamber, where he had first held her captive. A doorway in the back led to a corridor that offered no openings until it joined with two other walkways at an angle with each other. Shouji maneuvered left. From what Rin had gathered from the layout of the house, she was going to meet up with a wall from the courtyard within the house. She swallowed, knowing that beyond that point there would be little hope of her being able to run. The halls were too narrow, and offered no escape until the end had been reached. But she followed, hoping that her new mission would be fruitful. If she had the pearl, she wouldn't have to worry about running away. Even if he was lying, and going to kill her once they stopped, it would be fine.

 

The demon was taking his time, letting the gradual constriction of the walls wear down on his follower. The more desperate and despondent she felt, the better. It only served to further his intent. The more she wanted to die, the harder she would work to live and make it happen.

 

His clawed hand suddenly caught onto the wall facing the house, and pulled a seemingly invisible door open. Rin's eyes were wide and she blinked in amazement. The door led into a small dark room with nothing in it, as much as Rin could see. Shouji walked to the center of the room, then bent down and pulled at a door in the floor, opening a dimly lit staircase underneath the room. The girl had to wonder if Shouji had designed his labyrinth of a house on purpose, or if it just happened accidentally as he added more to it with his growing wealth.

 

The staircase ended in view of a wall with a door, apparently to yet another room. When Shouji opened this door, he stepped aside and let Rin pass through first in a mock show of chivalry. She walked inside and waited for him to close the door and direct her steps further. The room was completely dark; moving without a set of eyes to see for her could be dangerous. But the demon did not intend to leave, for he strode about the room, gradually lighting lights. As he walked, he talked about his house.

 

“I grew up here, you know,” he bragged. “This was my father's house. He was one of the greatest generals who ever lived in the East. When he died, it became my house.”

 

Rin had to squint as her eyes became adjusted to the lanterns' glow. From what she could see through her teary vision, the walls were sparsely decorated, aside from a silk painting and a bucket hanging on the wall directly ahead from the door.

 

“Of course, I added some of myself to the architecture, but most of it remains as it was when I was a boy.” The demon explained everything dryly, fluttering his wings and making the lights flicker. “My father was…quite a man. My mother could never be enough for him, though she did try. He killed her needlessly. After all, she gave him a son and heir. And that certainly didn't stop him from taking a few concubines. Some of them he kept for many years,” Shouji said wistfully, as if remembering something entirely pleasant.

 

As the fires caught fully and grew, there appeared to nothing else but what she had seen on the wall. Rubbing her eyes, Rin swiveled her neck to take in her surroundings fully.

 

Her blood immediately froze when she looked to her left. No, she pleaded, not this…

 

Shouji grinned, making sure to show as much of his fangs as he could. He side-stepped over to her, and then bent at the waist to fully view her facial expression. When she could see him from the corner of her eye, she flicked her gaze down to his face. Rin's cheeks were red, and her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. Shoujii's grin widened.

 

“He had to keep them somewhere,” the demon explained coldly.

 

Wedged against the left wall was a large sleeping pallet, with a generously stuffed futon on top. A thin blanket was sloppily pulled over it.

 

Rin immediately gagged, and clutched her stomach to try and control her fear induced revulsion. She was gritting her teeth while weeping softly; her eyes squeezed shut tightly, refusing to look at the bed.

 

“Now,” Shouji purred, “do you know what you must do?”

 

Rin spun on her heels to shove herself directly in the demon's face. “I would rather DIE!” she screamed, ripping her throat raw.

 

The young general merely laughed mockingly. “But you can't,” he reminded her cruelly.

 

The girl stomped her foot furiously. “Then I'll kill YOU instead!” she roared, fists clenched at her chest.

 

“With what?” he snorted. “Your bare hands? Tell me, are you going to beat me to death with those delicate little fists of yours, or will you rip my head off with your flat, dull teeth?”

 

“Whatever it takes,” she growled. And at that moment, with her whole heart, Rin believed she could win. The anger in her blood burned away any common sense or doubt she had, leaving only blind rage. She had to believe she could win.

 

Without warning, the demon's hands shot out from his sides and grappled on to the girl's biceps. A sharp squeeze, followed by a loud crackling and grinding, and Rin stifled her cry of anguish by chomping down on her lower lip. He let go, and she fell to her knees, unable to move her arms to stop herself from then falling to the floor.

 

“Now,” Shouji spat, “as you lay there and recover from your shattered bones, let me explain something. Do not think for a minute that I will stay my hand from breaking each and every inch of your body. Unlike your precious Sesshomaru-sama, I am free from any emotional attachment to you. And trust me, sweet lady,” he leered, licking his lips, “the challenge only makes it more fun for me.”

 

Rin groaned. The damage had taken a little over a minute to knit back together, but the pain from it lingered in her memory. Being away from the pearl was beginning to take its toll. If he broke enough of her at once, it would take a much longer time than she was used to for her to heal, which meant more time spent helpless and in pain. She was determined to never let him hear her scream, or let him see her as weak. If that happened, then he would have her at his mercy. How can I survive? she desperately wondered. Sesshomaru…

 

No. He would not come. He had washed his hands of her, and she was truly alone for the first time since her family had died. What had she to live for then? Myself? No. Rin laughed bitterly. What kind of life waits for me now? An eternity of wandering alone. If she only had the pearl…

 

Perhaps, he would hold true to his promise and give it to her. Or she could find a way to work him up enough to kill her himself. There was still a glimmer of hope, but only to die. Death would be welcomed gratefully.

 

Rin stood and lifted her face to the demon. He smiled in triumph, before he grabbed her in a crushing embrace against his body and kissed her.

 

Her lips were bleeding from the bite of his fangs, and the taste burned her tongue. Rin shuddered when she could feel his hands on her waistband, unknotting the thin ties. Shouji yanked her pants from her body and ripped through her shirt before embedding his claws in her back and pulling them down through her skin. Rin was weeping in despair, and the demon ate her tears in delight. She regretted not running away. He might have killed her for that. But she knew it was never his intent to kill her now. She was only delaying the inevitable in playing along. This is what he had planned for from the beginning. She was a pawn on his side of the board, captured before even realizing it.

 

No, she thought, that's not it at all. I knew there was no coming out of this. I was just too stubborn to let myself see it happen.

 

As Shouji pinned Rin's body underneath his own, her eyes widened with understanding. Housenki had lied. She was nothing more than a doll, with a demon yanking at her strings. The pearl had deceived her with its promise of eternal life.

 

This is what it is like to die and live at the same time, she realized, feeling the familiar creep of Death's frigid breath in her blood. But Death was only teasing by this; it would not take her. Rin's body went limp, having given up resisting. It had always been futile. Why had it taken her until now to realize it?

 

This is what it is like to live a life that is not your own.

 

~*~

 

He chained her to the wall in the corner, leaving her with a bucket for her wastes and not a stitch of clothing. She wasn't sure how long it had been since she was first put down in the room. When he was with her, she pulled herself as deep into her mind as possible. When she was alone, she tormented herself with the ghosts of her memory, forcibly reliving each horrible moment to weep from the futility of it all.

 

He was always cautious. Two or three servants always preceded him into the room. She hurled the bucket at them. She kicked and punched. She even managed to strangle one to death with the chain. But in the end, for all her fighting she was left weakened and defenseless. He would take her into his arms then, and do as he pleased.

 

His voice haunted her. Her skin still crawled with the memories of his touch.

 

Groaning softly into her back, he dug his claws into her hips and pulled his body away. Then he squeezed his fingers further into her skin, listening to her muffled tears.

 

“Don't want any hanyous now, do we?” he whispered, before pulling her against him once more.

 

Rin swallowed her scream. No one would have held it against her, but she did it all the same.

 

She had tried not fighting the servants, opting to save all of her strength for when Shouji finally arrived. He broke her pelvic bone the first time, and pulled all four limbs from their sockets on the second. Rin still persisted.

 

It wasn't for the hope of escape that she fought for. Even if she did manage to run, she would only run to kill herself. She fought because the demon had no right to treat her as he did. She knew in her soul he should not be able to easily get away with the things he forced upon her, against her will. Each second she was with him was a battle to defend what little of her honor remained. For that and that alone would she fight; for that alone she would also weep in the dark after the room had emptied.

 

“C'mon,” the demon taunted. “I can smell your tears in the mattress. Why do you insist on being so dignified with me?”

 

Rin turned away as best she could, gritting her teeth with fury.

 

Shouji grinned wickedly. “I find your little weaknesses to be quite arousing,” he mocked.

 

She had tried to bite his nose off. He knocked her out by cracking his skull against hers, and when she woke an extra chain had been added. Its purpose was to force enough weight upon her so that she could barely lift her head. It worked.

 

As hard as she tried, Rin could not provoke the moth demon into losing his temper for more than a second. He would take any anger he felt out on her as it came, and never once did he threaten to take her life. She was afraid she had become too useful to kill.

 

She had, perversely, found her place in the world.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Takako was a woman of fine breeding, but was first and foremost a demon. In her entire life, she had only killed three people: an overly amorous human samurai, a low level carrion feeder, and the man she was first betrothed to.

 

Looking at Sesshomaru as he stood in the rubble that was once a wing of his house, she was tempted to bump the list up to four.

 

It was always her habit to wait and watch for Rin each night the girl was away. Kyoshii chided her for it, but he always smiled when his wife returned to bed, heralding the child's return. Both dog demons loved the girl as a daughter, and felt true peace in their hearts so long as she was safe.

 

Four days, and still no Rin. She had promised to take only three. This lateness was the first Takako could ever remember. She didn't sleep the night before, because she didn't want to accidentally miss Rin's return. No sight, no sound and no word from the girl came. Worry would be the least severe of the emotions the couple felt.

 

Then, on the fourth night, the demoness saw the girl galloping towards the house. Takako was relieved at first, and relaxed enough to smile. But something was not right; the horse was not Kado. The saddle she was using was far too big. Rin would know better than to ride so haphazardly. Gently padding out to the front gate, Takako watched the girl intently, looking for any good or ill signs. The horse was discarded like a toy, and Rin made the final approach on foot. It looked as though she was going to use the side door, signaling her return from a mission. She was home, and it was done.

 

For a few minutes Takako merely stood and held her breath, listening. Something still wasn't quite right with what she had seen. Quickly she felt like a paranoid old woman, and scolded herself for being so suspicious. Rin had come home in one piece, hadn't she?

 

Hadn't she?

 

Takako had to be sure. Twirling around in a flurry of silk, she flew into the house hurriedly and skidded across the bedroom floor. Falling to her knees, she shook her husband roughly, waking the demon up with a start.

 

“What is it?” he groaned, squinting his eyes.

 

“Rin's home,” Takako breathed.

 

Kyoshii smiled. “That's good,” he yawned, and started to lay back down.

 

But his wife would have none of it. “No, no,” she insisted, “it isn't good. Something's wrong!”

 

This jolted any holds sleep may have still had on the general. He quickly rose to his feet and helped Takako to hers. “What do you mean?”

 

“I don't know, I don't know,” she cried. Her hands were fumbling against his shirt, trying to straighten out the fabric. “Just get dressed, we've got to go see what's wrong.”

 

“Shh, alright,” Kyoshii soothed. He walked over to his dresser and began pulling out a long shirt. The pants he was wearing would do for now, he decided; out of habit, he also began tying on his armor.

 

Takako was frantic. “We don't have time for that!” she hissed angrily.

 

“What are you talking about? Of course we do. Just calm down; you need to get dressed too. Here,” he said gently, walking towards her. “Let me help you. It's alright.”

 

She was shaking; how had she gotten herself so worked up? Managing to sloppily pull on a plain kimono, she let Kyoshii straighten her out while she braided her hair. Centuries of practice made her fingers dance through the tresses, and by the time she was finished her clothes were properly tied and fitted.

 

Kyoshii pulled his wife into a tight hug. “I don't know why you're so worked up,” he murmured, “but I know you must have a reason. Whatever it is, she'll be okay.”

 

Takako could only nod, and squeeze her arms around her husband. For a moment, she allowed herself the warmth of the embrace, letting it steel her nerves. With a heavy breath, she stepped back and looked pleadingly at Kyoshii. “May we go?”

 

It was a long walk to the fortress from their house. Rin always rode her horse. The General rarely ever visited; any messages could be sent to him, and any troops needing guidance could be best served in the field in front of his house. Both of them smiled wryly as they found the bare trail in the grass made by Rin's comings and goings.

 

They were just about to the front gate, when the whole world spun into chaos. Like a shot, Rin was galloping away on her borrowed horse, screaming as if hellions were on her back. Takako cried out to the girl, but was drowned out by the sudden explosion from inside the fortress walls. Alarm bells immediately sounded, and torches flickered on in a chain reaction.

 

“Let me in!” the general bellowed.

 

Fortunately, the guard manning the gate was seasoned enough to recognize the honored general's voice right away. The doors were pulled open, and the young captain ran down to greet his commanding officer.

 

“What is going on?” Kyoshii demanded.

 

“I don't know yet, sir,” the captain replied, walking briskly forward. He escorted the general and his wife through the second and final gates, into the main courtyard of the Western palace.

 

Soldiers were buzzing about, all running back and forth from the back garden. Above the house, a billowing cloud of smoke curled into the night sky, forming an ominous cloud overhead. The threesome rushed over to where all the activity seemed to be centered. The scene that greeted them was enough to make even Kyoshii gasp in shock.

 

An entire wing of the house had been demolished. Splintered lumber covered every inch of ground; some of it was even embedded into the wall surrounding the garden. As for the garden itself, it was in ruins. Every tree had been leveled, and smaller plants had been ripped from the ground, roots and all.

 

In the middle of everything, Sesshomaru stood, looking for all the world like he had just been wrestling Death before the walls came down.

 

The demon lord was raging, and everyone was too terrified to get close, much less ask what had just happened. His eyes were red and wide, staring blankly through the three walls surrounding his fortress and thousands of yards beyond that. Everyone could see that he was fighting a full-on transformation, and was only barely winning. The dog demon's face had elongated into a more canine appearance, and needle sharp rows of fangs gnashed themselves on air. His back was hunched over, surging against his inclination to fall onto his arm and legs. Even worse were the gale force winds his demonic powers were raging within, picking up any litter in range and sending it back into the air as projectile weapons. Only Jakken was brave enough to get close, but he kept a healthy distance.

 

Only one thought pounded in Takako's mind, and it was her concern for Rin's welfare. Obviously Sesshomaru's rage had something to do with the girl's return and hasty departure. Had she been injured? Was she okay? What had caused their lord to become unhinged like this? Had he done her harm?

 

Ripping herself away from Kyoshii's side, the demoness ran towards the raging dog demon. “Sesshomaru-sama!” she screamed. “What happened to Rin?!”

 

As if a magic spell had just been uttered, Sesshomaru sucked in his breath and staggered. The winds began to calm slowly, and the air felt as if gravity had softened its pull. Gradually, his features returned to normal. He shook his head, repeating the words that had jarred him back to reality. What happened to Rin? Had he done something to her? He couldn't remember; the demon blood roaring in his ears made it hard to think. It was at that moment that his legs, which had been exhausted under the strains of his condition, gave out.

 

Takako was there in the nick of time to catch Sesshomaru as he fell. Of course he pushed himself away from the woman and stumbled forward, before successfully pulling himself to his feet once more. The world was coming back into focus, and his thoughts turned from waves, to ripples, and then to calm. What happened to Rin? Now he remembered.

 

She was waiting expectantly for his answer. The state of her heart hinged on what he had to say. “Please,” she begged, “is she well? Where did she go?”

 

“Go?” Sesshomaru rasped. He lifted his head to make eye-contact with the lady before him.

 

The demoness nodded eagerly. “She left,” Takako explained. “Please, tell me why she's gone!”

 

Sesshomaru straightened his spine and schooled his features into a fearsome scowl. “This Sesshomaru is no longer concerned with the whereabouts of that girl,” he snorted. “She is no longer welcome back here.”

 

She heard everyone gasp before she realized what she had done. Looking down to her hand, she saw it had come down at an angle from a location farther up, that location being Sesshomaru's face. He merely stood there in silence, glaring at the woman.

 

Kyoshii rushed forward and grabbed his wife. “What are you thinking?!” he demanded. “You dishonor yourself with this foolishness!”

 

“I don't care!” Takako screamed, then pointed a clawed finger at the demon lord. “Don't you see? He's run Rin off! How can I sit still and let this happen?!”

 

“She stole the Tenseiga,” Sesshomaru murmured darkly. “She claimed it was needed in a bargain with General Shoujii.”

 

“A bargain?” the demoness gasped. “For what?”

 

“Nothing of consequence,” the demon lord snapped. “It doesn't matter now. She is not coming back.”

 

Kyoshii tightened his grip on his wife, sensing her body beginning to wind itself up. “There's nothing we can do,” he tried telling her.

 

“Yes we can! We can go after her!” Takako cried desperately.

 

“No one is to go after her!” Sesshomaru yelled. “She is a thief and a nuisance, and there is no need for her here. There never was a need for her here, and this Sesshomaru is glad she finally realized it.”

 

“You LIAR!” Takako shrieked, lunging forward. Kyoshii barely managed to contain her, and got a swipe across his back from Takako's claws for his efforts. Sesshomaru merely looked on apathetically.

 

“General Kyoshii,” he sneered, “see that your woman is reminded under whose house you serve.”

 

“Your mother would never stand for this!” Takako cried bitterly as she was being dragged away.

 

“My mother would have killed Rin, and you know it,” Sesshomaru hissed. He turned sharply on his heel and stalked back into his house, signaling that nothing more was to be said on the matter. In his wake, soldiers began to move in and clean up the chaotic mess.

 

She nearly missed it, but she was positive it was there. Before he had pulled his eyes away from hers, a look of pure sorrow fell over his face, continuing on its fluttering path to the ground. Only for a second, yet she understood; he knew his mother would be ashamed of the way he treated Rin, human or not.

 

The demoness stopped struggling and let herself be led home. There, she spent the rest of the night in her husband's arms, sobbing for her poor lost daughter.

 

“She's still alive,” Kyoshii whispered, wiping tears away from his own eyes. “Let us hope this is the worst that can happen.”

 

~*~

 

Following Takako's departure, Sesshomaru stormed into his house, kicking rubble aside as he went. True to form, Jakken was in tow; however the faithful retainer remained silent and pensive, waiting for the opportune time to address his master. There had been little Jakken could gather from the information that had been given. According to his lord, Rin had taken the Tenseiga and run. But why? Rin would never do such a thing. And why had it effected Sesshomaru like it had?

 

Damnably, the dog demon's feet pulled him to the girl's room out of habit. Realizing where he was, Sesshomaru ripped through the door and stepped inside. The back wall had a few holes in it, but was for the most part intact. The sun was gradually rising, allowing enough light to see. Her room was a mess, or at least he thought so. Clothes were strewn about everywhere. If he was inclined to think romantically, the colorful array might appear to him like a gently rippling pool caught in the sunlight. But he was of a war-like mentality, and because of that his eyes quickly caught sight of the small arsenal in the corner.

 

There were three swords of graduating lengths, two spears, a trident, a well worn bow with a quiver of six arrows, two small powder kegs, and a sickle on a chain, all hanging or leaning in a haphazard manner. Narrowing his eyes, Sesshomaru stalked over and immediately snatched the sickle.

 

Kohaku had given this to her, just like he had made the clothing she always wore on her missions. With a sneer, he recalled how accommodating the young demon slayer had been in his brief stay at the palace. Like a perfect gentleman would, he insisted on escorting Rin back home from his village, and like a perfect lady would, Rin had allowed it. Of course Sesshomaru didn't care that a demon slayer was tagging along after his ward, touring his house with learned eyes. The odds of the boy coming back to kill anyone were slim, and the odds of the boy surviving for more than two minutes if he returned were slimmer. Besides, the boy had this crazy idea that he owed Sesshomaru for the times the demon lord could have easily killed the boy, but didn't. Sesshomaru had merely stayed his hand because it would infuriate Naraku to do so. And yet the way he acted would lead one to believe that it was Rin who had spared his life, and not her guardian.

 

The demon angrily embedded the curved blade in the wall and growled. There was no doubting that Kohaku had fallen in love with Rin. Yet every opportunity that presented itself was rejected on her part, and the young man left with every intention he had for her crushed. At the time, Sesshomaru thought Rin's reaction was out of her dedication to her new calling; getting romantically involved would seriously jeopardize her performance as a killer. But images swirled about Sesshomaru's mind, remembering the polite smiles and courtly manner Rin had treated Kohaku with. All of this was opposed to the hearty laughter and warm conversation she had always given to him.

 

Stepping to the side in order to examine the trident, he nearly slipped on something lying on the floor. Looking down he searched for whatever it was that annoyed him; under his bare feet he found Rin's white training uniform. Stooping down, he picked both pieces up and examined them carefully. The shirt was ripped and stained from the night she fought with Katsuro. Sesshomaru clenched the material in his fist; yes, there was another male hot after Rin's affections.

 

When she first attached the affectionate “kun” to the general's name, Sesshomaru nearly laughed. The thought of a gangly teenage girl referring to a virile demon warrior in such a cutesy manner was truly a fine joke. But the young dog demon had allowed it. He continued allowing it as Rin grew older, and as the name grew less and less cute. Now it was affectionate, and implied fond friendship between the male and the young female. Rin wasn't naïve to the ways of men, but she wasn't what one would call experienced. Listening to the soldiers tell of their romantic interludes gave Rin a good idea of what a man would like to happen when alone with a woman. Part of this information was applied to her work, and enabled the quick, clean kills she was well-known for. The rest of it was stored in her mind as a warning, so she would be prepared should any of these actions be returned to her in kind.

 

Sesshomaru was no fool when it came to the leisurely pursuits of soldiers. As a callow youth, he had partaken in many of them, but never to an over indulgent degree. His father made him focus his energies on fighting and educating himself, so that he could become a fit heir to the Western Lands. Katsuro was well-known for his affairs, and for that Sesshomaru was always guarded towards Rin when she was training. Despite everything the general had said to contradict any attraction he felt, his eyes did not lie. Katsuro was quite brave to leer at Rin while she was in the company of her lord; Sesshomaru wished now he had done something about it.

 

But Rin was either totally clueless or purposefully ignorant. Perhaps a little of both; her reaction to Katsuro's advances was startled self-defense. Either way, she had rejected him, just as she had rejected Kohaku. Come to think of it, just as she never let her eye stray too long on any male, lest the look be returned. He was the only one…

 

Shit, Sesshomaru thought slumping forward in self-defeat.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama?” Jakken inquired tentatively.

 

The dog demon leaned forward and propped himself by his arm on the dressing cabinet in front of him. His hair covered any view of his face, and for that he was grateful; if Jakken saw him as anything else but stoic, he feared the toad actually might laugh at him.

 

“Jakken,” he replied, acknowledging he had heard the request and was signaling the go ahead.

 

The imp was standing by the bed, petting a kimono he found laying amidst the heap. If Sesshomaru had bothered to look, he would have recognized it as the little pink and red one she had worn on their trip to Totosai's forge. The master may have been ignorant, but the faithful retainer was swimming in memory, barely surfacing to splash along the shores of the here and now.

 

“Rin is gone,” Jakken sighed, and he wasn't sure if he meant it as a question or a statement. Whatever the case, Sesshomaru made no motion to acknowledge either.

 

It was times like this that the dog demon was starkly reminded of why he had kept the toad in his service for so many years. It was times like this that spoke of Jakken's character beyond the groveling and the humiliating displays of inferiority.

 

“When are we going to get her back?”

 

The words stung in his chest like a branding iron. “We,” the toad had said. Rin belonged to Jakken too. She belonged to Takako, and Kyoshii, and even Kado. She belonged to him as well, but he tricked himself into thinking she was his alone.

 

“I can't,” the demon rasped in the informal first person. His defenses were breaking down; he had been wrong, terribly wrong in forcing Rin off like he had. She had given him something he had never even considered himself capable of giving in return. Until now. He had wronged her, and he was sorry.

 

“Why not?” Jakken quivered. His grip on the kimono tightened.

 

“Because she is dead.”

 

“Dead?!” Jakken wailed. “How is…why has…who?!” He was sputtering as fast as his head was spinning. Rin dead? But she can't die. She just can't.

 

Sesshomaru straightened his posture and made eye-contact with his servant. Even Jakken was a complete mess. His hat was missing, as was the Staff of Heads. He was hugging a piece of cloth and looking to his master with watery eyes for reassurance.

 

“Shoujii has the pearl,” the demon lord explained coolly. “Rin may already be dead.”

 

“But you don't know for sure!” the imp cheered triumphantly. “That means there's still a chance to get her!”

 

That's right, Sesshomaru realized, there's still hope. I don't deserve a second chance, but she does. That much I can give her.

 

Sesshomaru fixed his features into a mask of boredom. Secretly in his heart, Jakken jumped for joy. Action was on the horizon.

 

“Gather three battalions and have them make ready to march. See that they are well equipped. Also have them ready a fourth battalion to be waiting, should there be need for them.” It was a start; he knew it would take at least a day for all of this to happen, but it was one foot in the door. Sesshomaru was taking wide steps out of the room and back down the hallway. From behind, Jakken was scurrying along and panting wildly in efforts to keep up.

 

“Is there anything else, Sesshomaru-sama?” he cried eagerly.

 

Sesshomaru slammed down his feet to stop and locked his legs together. Rigidly, he turned to face his retainer. “You will stay here and see that the repairs go quickly. This Sesshomaru will bring Rin home--” dead or alive “—and it is your responsibility to see that her room is made ready for her return.”

Jakken was too excited to reply, and instead gave an eager squawk as he sped off in the direction of the barracks.

 

He knew he might be too late to save her life, and for that he would never forgive himself. But he could not go on living knowing that he could have reached her side in time.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Tonight, he slept with her. In order to do so safely, he fastened a yoke over her neck and bolted it to the floor. The rest of her body remained on the bed, limbs tied together at the wrists and ankles. Thus, he slept soundly beside the broken girl, while she remained awake through the night, diligently trying to escape. Each time he woke up and turned to find her struggling, he laughed.

 

“You are truly one of a kind, Rin-chan,” he praised, before sinking his teeth into a particularly tender piece of her flesh.

 

Rin raised her head as best as she could and spat. “Don't call me `chan',” she hoarsely insisted.

 

Shouji edged his teeth in further, then lifted his head and spat Rin's own blood into her face.

 

That had been three hours ago.

 

Everything about her positively reeked. That was the one thing she never struggled against, when the servants came to bathe her. Actually, it was more of the servants bringing her a bucket of cold water, some soap, and a sponge, so she could bathe herself. Food was refused. Any sort of comfort offered to her, like a blanket or a pillow, was also turned down. Baths helped her to forget—helped her wash him away.

 

He was awake again.

 

Groaning, he lifted his body onto his hands and knees for a good stretch. Rin's muscles twitched jealously, and the ache in her body flared anew.

 

The demon kissed her tenderly, then nuzzled her cheek with his nose. “Good morning, Rin,” he murmured softly. Unhinged by Shoujii's emotional manipulation, she began to struggle once more. He merely laughed, before his claws found her stomach and raked them across her skin.

 

“You're always so grumpy in the mornings,” he chided giddily. “Why can't you just once greet me back, hm?”

 

“Before I die, I will kill you!” Rin shouted bitterly. Her answer was a hard punch to the gut.

 

“Before you die?” Shoujii whispered darkly, “Haven't you died already?”

 

She coughed up something, and struggled to spit it out of her mouth. Not without a great deal of pain did she manage to turn her head ever so slightly and expel the thick and foul substance. She was struggling to catch her breath after the blow to her belly, but the coughing had turned into dry heaves.

 

“Oh dear,” the demon gasped, “I think I hit you a little too hard. Here, let's try this.” And then he reached above her head to pick up a key off the floor and unlock the collar. Rin felt her spirits lift, even though she knew she was too weak to use her freedom to fight back. Right now, all she wanted to do was curl into a ball and sleep. Her heart sang when she heard the key click into the lock; but he didn't turn it.

 

“Almost forgot,” he laughed, placing his hands down on her shoulders. “Hold still.”

 

Rin couldn't stop her screaming as all of his weight pressed down into her, shattering the bones. Her mouth flapped open and closed like a fish's, and she whimpered intermittently. She had been effectively reduced to a defenseless infant. The collar was unlocked, and Shoujii gently dragged her down so she could lie on the mattress better. Her hands and legs started shaking from the strain her body was under, but she found herself slipping in and out of consciousness despite it all.

 

“Shhh,” Shoujii consoled, stroking the welts across her belly. “I just wanted to hold you for a bit. I didn't think you'd consent to that quietly, but I'm sure you'll come around.” He curled his naked body around hers, pushing until she curled into a fetal position.

 

“There,” he sighed, “that's better. Why don't you try to sleep? I'm still a little drowsy myself.” Shoujii yawned in a slow, large gape, and then settled his mouth at the center point between her shoulders, neck, and spine. “Just sleep,” he murmured.

 

But she had blacked out already.

 

~*~

 

“Get her up!”

 

Rin opened her eyes to greet a deluge of light and feet. Weak and starved, the additional chain around her neck became a burden too heavy to bear. At first, she couldn't tell if it was daylight or torches that illuminated the room. Where was she? It was hard to remember. She realized she had fallen asleep out of exhaustion, but she didn't know when, and for how long.

 

“Clean her up and put some clothes on her.”

 

Rough hands were yanking her from off the ground—clawed hands. Demons, she dimly realized. It was starting to come back to her. She had been sleeping next to a demon in the night. And he had…

 

The chains were unlocked and thrown aside; the ghostly weight of a metal collar haunted her skin. Her hand immediately clasped her throat searching for something she knew would not be there. But she still hoped.

 

“What's going on?” she hoarsely whispered. She was being pulled onto her feet and yanked into a pair of pants and a shirt. A cup of water was forced to her mouth and splashed across her face when she couldn't swallow fast enough. Rin struggled to take it all in though it stung her tongue, which had dried out from want of moisture.

 

Shouji grabbed Rin by the hair and lifted her face to his. “Your Sesshomaru-sama has decided to storm the castle,” he gritted angrily. “And you need to look presentable enough for me to use you.”

 

“Use me?” Rin shuddered.

 

The demon fisted the girl's hair tightly, scratching her scalp with his claws before he yanked his fingers through the matted mess. He then smiled confidently, and caressed her cheek. “He can have his precious sword back,” the general sneered, “and anything else he wants for that matter. Just as long as I can keep you. And if I know him at all, you won't be anything greatly missed.”

 

An explosion sounded just south of the room, most likely at the outer wall. They weren't wasting any time; in a moment they would be at the front door.

 

“WALK!” Shoujii ordered, then yanked Rin behind him up the steps and down the hall.

 

She was too dizzy, too tired, and too frightened to keep up. The demon ended up dragging her across the floor by her arm, all the way through the house and through his front door, onto the platform outside. True to form, hordes of soldiers were pouring through the front gate, overwhelming anything that fell under their path. From their midst came Sesshomaru; the dog demon charged towards his foe.

 

He looked so different to her, and she had to wonder just how long it had been since she had last seen him. His clothes were completely white, without any pattern or decoration. The breastplate he wore was the same, but the fur pelt he carried over his shoulder was gone, and an armor sleeve had taken its place overtop his clothing. His hair was tied up in a high ponytail, making him look much older, if that was at all possible.

 

He didn't look at her.

 

“Sesshomaru!” Shoujii greeted arrogantly. “And what do I owe the pleasure of this visit to?”

 

“You have something that belongs to this Sesshomaru,” the dog demon growled.

 

Shoujii grinned wickedly. “Oh?” he replied nonchalantly. “And what exactly would that be? The sword, or the girl?”

 

Rin was still being held by the arm, while the rest of her body trailed limply behind across the floor. It was all she could do to keep her head raised, looking for any sign of recognition from her lord. Not once did his eyes ever stray from the moth demon's face. He may not have chosen to look upon her, but she quickly realized he was scenting her to quietly determine her state of being. Rin felt her face flare red when she saw Sesshomaru's features reveal his disgust.

 

The rival general chuckled. With great show, he hefted Rin up onto his hip, resting by her torso. Her head lolled back down as the vertigo got the best of her. Now the only clear view she had was of two sets of boots.

 

“You really missed out on something here, old boy,” Shoujii sneered. Then he leaned in closer. “Confidentially, she's the best I've ever had,” he taunted.

 

“Where is the Tenseiga?!” Sesshomaru demanded, brandishing Tokijin forward.

 

The moth demon released his hold on Rin and let her flop onto the wooden platform in a heap. He was still laughing; if she were to never hear a sound again, it would be his maddening laughter. Her whole body was shaking. Embarrassingly she realized that she was close to either throwing up or passing out; neither one would help her in the present situation. A pitiful groan managed to escape her lips, and Shoujii tapped his heel into her ribs to silence her. The force of the small kick turned Rin onto her side, where she could see Sesshomaru from between the moth demon's legs.

 

He still would not look at her.

 

“You can have the Tenseiga, and you can burn this whole place down for all I care,” Shoujii challenged. “When all is said and done, I'm going to leave here unharmed, and I'm taking her with me.”

 

The dog demon was still sniffing the air, searching for something else. It was hard for him to smell much of anything, now that the house had been set on fire. Perhaps if I cry, Rin thought bitterly, he will smell my tears and then look at me.

 

“Nothing will stop this Sesshomaru from killing you,” the dog demon snarled. “Prepare yourself.” At this, he spread his legs and bent both knees, coiling his muscles to spring into a run. Tokijin raised and fangs bared, Sesshomaru smiled dangerously.

 

Shoujii wasted no time in his attack. The poisonous webbing spewed from his mouth and spun towards its target. But the dog demon merely sheathed Tokijin, extended his hand, and waited. When the silken snake touched his arm, Sesshomaru let the poisonous gas he housed in his claws spray freely. The moth demon watched in horror as his primary defense mechanism was liquefied in the air where it hovered.

 

Shit, he thought dumbly. Didn't know about that. If he was to have the upper hand at all, the fight would have to be with swords alone. Pulling himself back into safety, the moth demon drew his sword and then charged. Sesshomaru effortlessly parried the first blow, and the two were drawn into a heated match for dominance.

 

Not once had he looked at her.

 

Damn him! Rin cursed to herself. I hope they kill each other.

 

“Heh, so this is the Tokijin, eh? I should have had her go back for it,” Shoujii jeered. He artfully dodged a bolt of the sword's pressure, and gave a token nod of respect. “I was too busy with the girl to try out your other sword, but I'm fairly certain that even this one would hold my interest for very long.”

 

Sesshomaru was fighting sloppily. The majority of his strength and poise was being funneled into keeping his demon blood under control. He had promised himself to show no emotion towards Rin whatsoever, in hopes that Shoujii would leave her in favor of fighting him. His whole body felt as if a giant weight had been lifted when he saw her there, alive. But what he had smelled, and what he was hearing now made controlling his rage an all-consuming task. Still, they were far enough away from Rin that she would not be caught in the fray. For that he could at least be thankful.

 

Rin in the meantime had crawled down from the platform to avoid the rapidly spreading fire from the house. Grappling her way towards a clean patch of grass, she then flopped face down and heaved an exhausted sigh. From where she lay, the two fighters were still within her line of vision.

 

“You're weak!” Shoujii shouted. “You should have used her in the bedroom instead of the battlefield! You sent a human to fight a demon's war, and look where it got you!”

 

The arrogant bastard seemed to think fighting was a conversational art. Sesshomaru relished in the youthful exuberance of his opponent. He knew a kill-shot was still out of range due to the moth demon's agility, but he could still get a clean swipe across the chest. If he had smelled right, the pearl was somewhere about that area, and hopefully it would fall free and safely to the ground.

 

A clean diagonal cut, and Shoujii's breast-plate was cracked apart. Underneath the armor, his shirt ripped. A glint of silver caught Sesshomaru's eye, and he watched the necklace shake loose from its pouch and hit the dirt. Now he didn't have to hold back, for fear of damaging the pearl.

 

Unbeknownst to either of the fighting demons, Rin had seen the necklace fall as well. It was as though merely seeing it gave life to her ailing body. Her eyes were fixed on the pearl, and nothing was going to stand in her way of reaching it. Madly scrambling across the battlefield, Rin dove forward when she was close and reached. The cold metal in her palm was sweeter than any lover's touch.

 

She had the pearl in her hands again, finally. Immediately she could feel the life rush back into her bones, warming her skin and firing her pulse. It felt good to be alive.

 

But only for a moment. She could see him just ahead, fighting with Shouji.

 

There was a flat rock off to her left. As she crawled over, her hand snatched a sword from a fallen soldier. She used the blade to cut away the ends of the necklace, leaving only the setting intact. Idly, she wondered if she would cross paths with the soldier on the way to hell, and if he'd ask for the sword back. She would hold it tightly then, just in case.

 

“Rin!” Sesshomaru shouted. It was the first time he acknowledged she was there. She didn't look.

 

Laying the pearl carefully on the rock, Rin searched frantically for another blunt object. She was desperate to smash it to dust and be done with it all. Fumbling through the grass, her hand found a small stone. It would have to do.

 

“RIN!” Sesshomaru yelled. She gritted her teeth in anger.

 

The first strike was clumsy, with the stone slipping down the slope of the pearl fluidly, instead of landing squarely on a surface point. Holding the pearl then with her left hand, she began pounding steadily at it with her right. She was hoping to start just one crack; pearls were soft, and if she could make that first weakness appear, the rest would finish itself. The pain was blinding her with a white nothingness, but her hands were so determined in their task that eyes were not needed.

 

From the corner of his eye, he could see her. Rin's face was twisted with anger and hurt, and all of it was directed at the white stone she pinned to the ground. She was beating on it with every ounce of strength she could spare, determined to smash apart what they'd worked so hard to build.

 

No, Sesshomaru realized sadly, I already destroyed it for her. She's just finishing the job.

 

He had to make it in time.

 

“She hates you,” Shoujii sneered, jumping back from the arc of Sesshomaru's sword. “She'd rather die than be with you!”

 

The dog demon snarled.

 

Rin cried out in anguish. Why won't the damn thing break?! Already, she was frantically pounding with all of her might, not caring that both of her hands were bleeding, or that her bones were breaking. A high pitched squeal stilled her motions for a second. A crack had finally appeared on the pearl's surface. Waves of pain flooded down her spine, but she was too far gone to notice. With renewed strength, Rin began beating the stones together once more.

 

Shoujii howled with delight. “You've failed!” he cried gleefully. “You can't kill me and save her at the same time! What are you going to choose?”

 

Sesshomaru roared in anger. It didn't matter if his demon blood took over now; Shoujii was no longer a potential threat to Rin. He needed to kill the bastard as quickly as possible.

 

“I don't have to choose!” he cried, barreling forward. Shoujii thrust his weapon out and Sesshomaru caught the point in his left shoulder. And he kept coming.

 

He had wished it to be slow and painful, instead of quick and clean; still, this would be enough. Tokijin came across and sliced right through Shoujii's middle. When Sesshomaru pulled his sword away, the moth demon fell in two parts to the ground. On his face was a smile, ever arrogant to the end.

 

Sesshomaru couldn't hesitate; his victory was incomplete. Throwing Tokijin aside and pulling Shoujii's sword out of his shoulder, he bounded towards Rin in a desperate run.

 

She looked at him.

 

He was there in another second, and heaved a sigh of relief to see that the pearl was not completely broken. But again, it was his poor judgment that caused him to lose her.

 

Rin took the pearl into her hand and swung her arm forward, screaming in anguish. Her palm impacted against Sesshomaru's breastplate with a loud thud, coupled with a high pitched squeal of scraping metal. He could hear the pieces as they rained down along the surface of his armor. The pearl had been broken.

 

Her face was one of exhausted happiness, and she closed her eyes as she gave a pitiful laugh. Before his eyes her skin was turning an ashen grey, and a waxy sheen covered the surface. Rolling her eyes back, Rin fell limply to the ground, dead.

 

Sesshomaru dropped to his knees. She can't die, he insisted. I promised her she couldn't die. His hand darted to her throat, and he ran his fingers along her neck in a frantic search for a pulse. There was nothing. He grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her roughly. Still, no response. He screamed at her, swore, cursed, and pounded at the dirt beside her face. Not even a death rattle in reply.

 

His transformation was excruciatingly painful; it felt like his body exploded into his larger dog demon form, ripping skin and muscles apart. Sesshomaru had not fully assumed his true person since Inuyasha cut off his arm. Three legs or none, it did not matter. With the greatest care, he slid his tongue under Rin's body and gently pulled her into his mouth. His mind was fixed on a single location, and nothing short of Hell opening up the ground beneath his feet was going to stop his flight.

 

Housenki.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

A/N: This chapter is officially dedicated to Botan, my quasi-beta, my unassuming muse, and my best friend. Yes, I am well aware “vocabularic” is not a real word, but it is mine all the same. I am comforted knowing you will forever giggle at the weird S&M basement, even when I'm not there. Thank you also for teaching me that horses should be let alone, and how to break jewelry with finesse.

 

Secondly, I dedicate the story thus far to my faithful (and dare I say enthusiastic) readers and reviewers. Ask Botan—I cry like a little girl whenever I get a glowing review. I couldn't be happier, thank goodness. I especially appreciate the people who wrote those charming missives. Wow. I never thought this story would get such notice, and for that I am truly humbled.