InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ True Companion ❯ Acceptance ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from InuYasha. WANT!! WANT SESSY…..plushie, yes plushie. >_>….<_<….>_>

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Jaken buried his face into Sesshoumaru’s fur stole, watching the scenery pass them as he ran hurt Jaken’s eyes, everything went by so fast. Jaken wasn’t sure what had caused his lord’s unusual behavior, but he supposed it had something to do with the smell of smoke in the air. Sesshoumaru and he had been some ways from where they were to meet with Rin and Ahun when they smelled the smoke in the wind, but that was far to the south from the meeting place. Never the less, Sesshoumaru began running after catching the scent, and Jaken had barely enough time to grab Sesshoumaru’s fur before they were gone.

Perhaps Sesshoumaru-sama is scared Rin was hurt. Jaken laughed at himself. Sesshoumaru-sama scared, like that would ever happen. No, Sesshoumaru-sama was not scared. Concerned…yes, concerned would be an adequate word. He must be concerned that something may have happened to Rin. That human girl can cause so much trouble for Sesshoumaru-sama. Who knows why he kept her all these years? Jaken nuzzled his face into the fur again but this time his nose caught a new scent in the wind, blood…and something else, death? The scent was fainter than the smoke, feeling old, but it definitely was coming from the meeting place. Sesshoumaru’s keener nose would have picked it up long before Jaken. Perhaps there was reason to make haste.

Jaken looked up to Sesshoumaru’s face, but it was as cold and expressionless as ever. What was going through his mind, was he scared? Could he be? Jaken shook his head and buried it into the fur again. No, of course not…but then he had not seen his lord run this fast since before Naraku was defeated. There had been no reason, so why does he now?

Jaken tried to clear his mind of the preposterous thoughts but something was still nagging at him…why was the scent of blood coming from where Rin was supposed to be? She was surely all right, Ahun was with her and would protect her is something should have happened. Jaken scoffed at himself. Rin will probably be there singing and dancing, holding flowers she will have picked for Sesshoumaru-sama. What a foolish human. With this speed we will arrive soon enough and will understand the strange smell. Maybe something did attack her and Ahun killed it, that would explain it. Of course, that is it. Who ever would dare attack a servant of Sesshoumaru-sama? Jaken felt assured with this thought and let himself wait for them to arrive without worries.

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru stopped. Jaken pulled his face from the fur and was overwhelmed by the scent of blood and death. He slowly let go of the fur and walked to Sesshoumaru’s side gazing at the scene before him. Ahun’s body lay split in half and both heads lay separated from his broken body. His blood soaked the ground a dull brown meaning he had been left like this for some time, but if that was true where was Rin?

"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said in his cold voice.

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Bring his heads over."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Jaken hurried to bring Ahun’s lifeless heads to his body, which Sesshoumaru was pushing back together. When Ahun’s remains were back in order Sesshoumaru removed Tenseiga from its sheath and Jaken could see it pulse in his hand. Sesshoumaru’s move were fast and swift and as he replaced the sword to its sheath Ahun’s body fused together again and life stirred in his veins. Ahun’s heads jerked awake and he twisted and turned in frenzy.

Sesshoumaru placed a hand on one of Ahun’s heads calming him. "She is not here." Both heads lowered and Jaken could hear a small whimpering beneath their muzzles. Sesshoumaru mounted the beast. "Jaken, we’re leaving."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken said quickly scurrying up Ahun’s tail.

Sesshoumaru directed Ahun in the direction of the smoke that still permeated in the wind and they lifted of the ground flying at an unbelievable rate. Jaken figured that was more Ahun’s doing than Sesshoumaru-sama, though he was sure both wanted to find Rin, Ahun had become so very attached to her he needed no incentive to hurry.

They quickly began seeing the dark black smoke that had filtered into the wind, it billowed up concealing its origin from them. Sesshoumaru instructed Ahun to lower to the ground, forcing them to enter the cloud of smoke. Jaken covered his nose but failed to keep the smell from his senses. Jaken wasn’t sure he would be conscious if he remained in the smoke too long but luckily Ahun found ground and moved as far from the smell as he could in the confined area. Sesshoumaru and Jaken dismounted, looking around they found they were in a clearing in the middle of the forest, but from its appearance it seemed like a deserted camp, but then where did the fire come from?

"Hello, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands," a voice from behind them spoke. All of them turned to see a young demon standing with a perverse smile on his face and a bladed staff in his hand. "I see you noticed my invitation, and you even revived that beast I killed." He looked at Ahun and tilted his head in a silent laugh. "I suppose she knew you would."

Sesshoumaru’s brow narrowed but he showed no other reaction. Jaken knew better than to trust his face, Sesshoumaru must have been seething inside. "Where is Rin?" Sesshoumaru’s voice gave away even less than his face.

"Oh, the human? Strange one that woman, arrogant as they came. To think she talked to us as if we were the inferior beings. A human superior to a demon, not to mention a woman superior to a man, my brother had to teach the woman her place."

Jaken backed away as he heard a low growl escape from Sesshoumaru’s throat. He must be madder than Jaken thought. "Where is Rin?"

A second demon appeared from the forest and joined the first. They appeared the same age, but being demons appearance meant nothing. He had a sword sheathed at his side and looked very similar to the first, except he had red eyes where the first had black. The new demon laughed heartily at Sesshoumaru, but neither answered the question.

Jaken had just about enough of the demon’s disrespect. "How dare you speak to Sesshoumaru-sama in such a way! Answer him now, you low class demons!"

The red-eyed demon stopped laughing but kept an unnerving smile. "Can he not smell her? She is right in front of his face." He pointed to the fire next to them.

Jaken looked as hard as he could through the smoke but could not see anything. "What is this you speak of? Tell us now or…" Jaken stopped in mid-sentence as he saw a figure in the smoke, slowly swaying back and forth. "That cannot be! Rin could not survive that smoke!"

"You never asked if she was alive," the red-eyed demon said laughing once again.

Sesshoumaru brought out Tokijin and made a slow sweep causing the firewood to scatter and the fire to dissipate. Jaken stared at shock as he noticed the firewood was not wood but human bodies. Slowly the smoke traveled into the wind and away from the figure it once concealed. Jaken could hear Ahun howl in its muzzles as they received the first clear view of the body hanging before them.

It was Rin, why else would they make it such a spectacle, but to be honest, Jaken couldn’t tell by her appearance. Her face was cut and beaten, one eye swollen shut the other closed looking peaceful, the only part of her body like that. She was completely naked though it was hard to tell, her entire body was covered in soot and blood. She hung by her hands, one of which appeared ready to rip from her shoulder. Cuts, bruises, and claw marks littered her once fair skin and a large wound ripped open her stomach. On her side and legs black burns scarred her innocent flesh. There wasn’t a part of her that Jaken could see that hadn’t been marred in some way save for that one eye, closed so peacefully on her face.

Sesshoumaru said nothing but moved to her hanging corpse and with a flick of his fingers Rin’s body fell into his waiting arm. He laid her on the ground untying her wrists and bringing her arms to her sides. Her left arm did not want to lie properly and Sesshoumaru had to force it down.

Jaken hesitantly approached her lifeless body and found something even more disgusting than her appearance, her scent. To be more precise, the scent that was on her, no, not just on, in her. The scent covered her completely almost masking her own scent. Jaken recognized the scent as the second demon, and if Jaken could recognize it, Sesshoumaru must know what it is, and what it means.

Sesshoumaru stood and unsheathed Tenseiga, once again Jaken could see it pulsing in his hand. The black-eyed demon watched them intently. "Is that how you brought the beast back to life?" Sesshoumaru did not even acknowledge the question, he merely swung at the messengers of the otherworld, though only he could see them.

Rin’s body seemed to pulse as her flesh pulled together healing the cuts and wounds that mutilated her body. The swelling disappeared and the bruises faded and then Rin took air to her lungs again.

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Rin could feel warmth in her body and strength in her limbs. A dream. It must have been a dream. Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama would never let harm come to me as long as he is near. He is near too, such a wonderful smell. I don’t need his sense of smell to know his scent. So strong, so overpowering. Yes, it must have been a dream.

Slowly, Rin opened her eyes to find Sesshoumaru staring down at her. She smiled up at him. She was right, he was there. Suddenly he began removing his haori and laid it over her body. Rin did not look down at herself, she couldn’t…she just couldn’t look at herself. A dream! It has to be a dream! She shook her head, her smile faded, and her body began trembling. Then she heard a sound that made every nerve in her body freeze, Akki’s laughter.

"Did you miss me, Rin? Once Niisan takes care of Sesshoumaru we can play some more." Rin involuntarily grasp Sesshoumaru’s arm and dug her nails into it causing him to stare at her. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was sure Akki could smell it. "What, all that time you told us Sesshoumaru was going to kill us, but now that he is here you tremble. Have you realized he isn’t strong enough?"

Rin’s breath quickened and her nails pierced Sesshoumaru’s demon skin. Why? Why am I so scared now? Why am I terrified when Sesshoumaru-sama is right here? Why do I shake when I know Sesshoumaru-sama will protect me?

Sesshoumaru reached down and carefully picked Rin up carrying her to Ahun. She released his arm only when Ahun reached over to nuzzle her letting her take a strong grip on his black mane. "Jaken," Sesshoumaru said as he turned back to the two demons, both still smiling. "Take Rin away from here. I will be there shortly."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama." Jaken hurried and took hold of Ahun’s reigns. "Let’s go."

Rin sat trembling on Ahun’s back still staring at Sesshoumaru. Her eyes would not leave him, if they did they would have to look somewhere else, like Akki, or her dirty body beneath Sesshoumaru’s beautiful white haori. Even when she could no longer make out the figures on the ground Rin continued to stare. Suddenly a cyclone of wind appeared and just as quickly disappeared only to be replaced by a bright light.

"What…What’s happening!" Rin screamed as she watched the light expand and seemingly take shape.

Jaken gave a slight laugh, apparently trying to quell her fear. "Do not worry, that is Sesshoumaru-sama. I am actually surprised to see that he has decided to change form, but then again he seemed very furious at them."

"What do you mean, change form?"

"Did you think that human-ish form is the true Sesshoumaru-sama. Don’t be silly, Sesshoumaru-sama is a great dog demon, so of course his true fo…"

Rin didn’t need to listen to the rest of what Jaken said, what she saw explained it all. The most gorgeous of creature appeared in the clearing, no, it seemed too grand for the clearing and appeared too perfect to be real. A giant white dog, Rin’s eyes would not leave it. Sesshoumaru-sama, that is your true form. It is truly as beautiful and amazing as your other form, only even more so, though I know not how that is possible.

Jaken seemed to have realized she had not listened to him and was now also staring at Sesshoumaru. "You have never seen him in this form, he takes it very rarely. This battle will end quickly, let us be off, Sesshoumaru-sama will not like it if we have dawdled here."

"He is missing a leg," Rin said as she looked more closely at the beautiful creature quickly diminishing from her sight.

"Of course he is. He does not have his left arm because that half-breed brother of his, InuYasha, severed it from him when he was in that form. It makes him no less a danger to his enemy."

"He is still perfect." She pulled his haori tightly around her and breathed in his scent. Perfect. As she looked down at the haori she couldn’t help but see her legs, which were still covered in soot and blood. The sight made her ill as she remembered what caused the blood to stain her body. She gripped Ahun’s mane so tightly he whined and Jaken took notice of her.

"Rin, are you well?"

"Ground," Rin said holding the sickness in, "I need on the ground."

Jaken hurried to fulfill her request and before Ahun even landed Rin slid off and began heaving upon the ground. There was nothing in her for her body to release so she knelt there, her stomach convulsing and her insides hammering against her skin, begging for escape. Jaken cautiously approached her shaking form, but Rin paid no attention to him. All she wanted was for the memories to leave her, as if she stayed there long enough her body would let her force them from her mouth and she could leave them on the ground.

Slowly, her convulsing stopped and she rested there on the cool ground trying to stop her trembling. Ahun and Jaken stood nearby but neither made a move towards her. Rin breathed in and out as deeply as she could, she knew she must have been a sight but she couldn’t stop her body’s reactions. A light shown over them then stopped behind her. She didn’t turn to it, but her body began shaking even fiercer and she no longer controlled her breathing. Footsteps approached and Rin could see both Jaken and Ahun move away. Even though she knew neither would do so for anyone but Sesshoumaru she was still afraid.

"Rin," Sesshoumaru’s voice was calm and surprisingly soothing. "Let us go."

Rin forced herself to sit up but she could not look at Sesshoumaru. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama." She took a few deep breaths and brought herself to stand, Sesshoumaru did not move away. Rin could feel his eyes on her and it only made her stare even more intently on the ground.

Ahun approached them and Sesshoumaru helped Rin mount before getting on behind her, Jaken taking a seat behind him. Sesshoumaru took hold of the reigns and Ahun left the ground heading to the north. Rin’s body still shook but as she felt the soft fur of his stole she began to calm. She laid her head against the fur remembering the sight of him in his true form, the beauty and majesty of it. Sitting there thinking of him Rin fell asleep.

Her mind watched his true form in her dreams and the more she stared the less she saw till all there was white. It consumed her, suffocating her. No, not white, red, blood red. It covered her, stained her. The blood stained her body. She couldn’t breathe. She was suffocating. He was suffocating her. His red eyes staring at her. His cruel laughter filling her ears. His hand covering her mouth. She couldn’t breathe!

Rin kicked and struggled against him. She lashed at anything. She needed air. She bit his hand and felt him release her. She screamed and struggled against him.

"Rin."

No! Don’t call me!

"Rin."

Shut up! Don’t say my name!

"Rin! Stop it!"

Only Sesshoumaru-sama can order me! Shut up!

"Rin! Wake up!" Sesshoumaru’s voice was strong and harsh.

Rin’s eyes shot open. She had fallen off the side of Ahun and the only thing holding her was Sesshoumaru who pressed her tightly against Ahun to keep her from falling. She stopped struggling and Sesshoumaru pulled her back up and held her securely against his. Rin lowered her head and felt her face flush. She had no idea if she had screamed that out loud or if she had simply acted from the nightmare, either way she was completely embarrassed.

"Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama."

He did not speak but neither did her release her. She looked around and found she didn’t recognize this land. She brought up what little courage she had left in her to look at Sesshoumaru.

"May I ask, Sesshoumaru-sama, where we are headed?"

He looked down at her for a moment then back to skies ahead of them. "To a bath house."

Rin was shocked at first, but when she looked down at her hands and legs she knew she needed to bathe. It was just that he had never taken her to a bath house before, usually she just bathed in a hot spring or lake.

"When will we arrive there, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Just a little further."

Rin nodded and laid her head against his fur again. She thought back to her time captured, trying to think more clearly, more rationally, less emotional. As she recalled the things Akki said something began nagging at her.

"I have been trying to think of the perfect way to start our time together, and I finally decided."

Rin brought her broken courage up one more time. "Sesshoumaru-sama," she stopped unsure of what she even wanted to know. When she did not continue Sesshoumaru looked down to her, waiting. "Does it mean something if…" she stopped again, for some reason becoming very nervous about asking.

"If what?"

"If…if a demon bites someone…on the neck?" Rin felt Sesshoumaru’s grip around her waist tighten. It did mean something.

"Did one of them bite you on the neck?" She didn’t answer him. "Rin?"

She nodded. "What…what does it mean?" This time he did not answer but instead looked ahead, though there was nothing there to be seen. "Sesshoumaru-sama?" If he did not want to answer she wasn’t sure she wished to know, but at the same time she had to know what Akki had done to her.

"It is to claim a mate." Rin began shaking again, she had not expected that. "Demons claim mates by marking them on the neck, by biting them. Most likely he thought it would be a fitting insult to claim you as his."

Rin wasn’t sure what her body was doing, it had gone numb. Her mind wasn’t sure how to understand his words. He hurt me. He destroyed my honor. He defiled my scent. And now…now…he claimed me. He took me from Sesshoumaru-sama. How can I look at Sesshoumaru-sama? How can he stand me so close to him, with that creature’s scent on me? Why did he bring me back? Why did this happen to me? How can I live knowing that bastard took me from Sesshoumaru-sama?

Rin felt herself becoming sick again but held it in. She did not want to do anything more to burden Sesshoumaru. She did not want him to leave her, though she felt she didn’t deserve to be with him. She remained silent for the rest of trip and often tried to leave Sesshoumaru’s grip for she didn’t want to soil him with her presence (it was bad enough she was soiling his hoari) but he keep a tight hold around her waist.

The sun began to rise to their side and for the first time Rin realized she had no idea what day it was, she hadn’t even realized it was night. In the distance Rin could see a village and even further from that was a grand castle. With a gentle pull on the reigns Ahun began to descend towards the village. Rin pulled her chin as tightly against her chest as it would go and lifted the haori to cover as much of her face as she couldn’t without completely hiding, she did not want people to see her like this.

Ahun landed at the edge of the village and Sesshoumaru directed him to enter, which shocked Rin since if Sesshoumaru ever entered a village he usually left Ahun behind. If Sesshoumaru’s action shocked her then the village left her completely in awe. It was inhabited by demons. Rin’s shame and fear gave way to curiosity and she lifted her head to look at the people. There were a few humans, though they appeared to be servants to the demons and every once in a while a demon would stop in the middle of the road and bow to them. Of course, they must have been bowing to Sesshoumaru, but Rin had never seen anyone really act that way except her or Jaken. Then again Sesshoumaru didn’t keep company with anyone else, at least not around her, so maybe this was…normal.

Sesshoumaru stopped Ahun in front of a large three-story house and Rin could see the steam and feel the warmth of the hot water from her place on the road. It was a very soothing feeling. Sesshoumaru dismounted as a demon woman came out of the bath house. She was very frail in appearance but Rin felt the woman could probably kill her in an instant if she so desired. Her long light blue hair fell around her body as she bowed. "Sesshoumaru-sama, it is always a honor when you come. How can we be of service to you?"

Sesshoumaru motioned for Rin to come to him and she quickly complied pulling the haori tighter now that she was no longer shielded from the people by his body. "Tend to her, and get her new clothing."

The woman looked up and Rin and her eyes went wide in shock. Rin wasn’t sure if it was because of her appearance, her human scent, or the scent of the demon on her that caused the reaction, but since she only had control over one she curled into the haori even more. At Rin’s show of modesty and shame the woman’s expression quickly changed from shock to concern. She rushed over and took Rin by the shoulders leading her into the house. "Oh my, you are quite a sight. Well, clean the body and cleanse the soul, I always say. Let us find you some proper clothing and get that blood off you. My name is Saka. What is yours?"

Saka’s grip on Rin’s body was forceful yet gentle, almost motherly and Rin slowly began to relax. "R…Rin."

Saka smiled again, this time showing several sets of fangs, though they didn’t scare Rin. "It is a pleasure to meet you Rin. I must say I was surprised to find you were human. I did not expect that of Sesshoumaru-sama. How long have you been with him?"

They entered a small changing room and Rin was given a white robe, which she quickly changed into. "Around 11 years now." Rin smiled as she remembered her first meeting with Sesshoumaru. "I was an orphan and he took me in."

Saka’s surprise returned. "11 years? I suppose Sesshoumaru-sama has changed a bit, he never could stand humans before." She quickly turned to Rin. "No disrespect to you, of course."

Rin suppressed her laughter but not her smile; it felt good to smile. "It’s ok. Jaken-sama often says he can’t figure out why Sesshoumaru-sama keeps me around. He tells me I’m useless and childish, and that I need to grow up."

"Oh, that’s awful of him. If Sesshoumaru-sama has chosen to keep you around then it is not for Jaken to say anything."

"Don’t worry, if he says anything really mean Sesshoumaru-sama will glare at him or worse. One time, I don’t even remember what I had done to get him so riled up, but he told me to go away cause my scent was disgusting hi…" Rin’s voice trailed off and her smile faded. My scent, yes it is disgusting now.

"Are you ok, Rin?" Saka asked coming over and placing her firm but gentle hands on her shoulders.

Rin was silent, trying with all her might to stifle her tears, and to Rin’s comfort, she succeeded. She nodded to Saka who decided to drop the subject and lead Rin to one of the rooms across the hall. As the door slide open Rin felt warm steam meet her skin and relax her muscles. Saka led her to a large bath and had to hold her arms in order to keep her balance while climbing in. The hot water enveloped her body giving her a sensation of pure bliss as she lay there motionless. Rin didn’t even realize Saka was still in the room until she started to gently scrub Rin’s legs free of dirt and blood. Rin didn’t object, she didn’t even feel embarrassed or modest, after all she had been through this felt like heaven.

After Saka had finished cleaning one leg and was moving to another a question popped into Rin’s mind. "Saka-sama, how do you know so much about Sesshoumaru-sama? What kind of village is this? Why does everyone show so much respect to him," Rin paused then realized what she had said, "I mean, I never saw a town actually show Sesshoumaru-sama the respect he deserves."

Saka looked up from her work and lifted a single eyebrow in a confused way. "You mean you have been with Sesshoumaru-sama for 11 years and you have no idea where you are right now?"

Rin lowered her head to hide the blush in her cheeks. "I suppose Sesshoumaru-sama may have said it and I just forgotten, I am only human. Perhaps I should try…"

Saka held up her right hand and patted Rin’s leg reassuringly with her left hand. "Forgive me, I sometimes forgot how different Sesshoumaru-sama is from InuTaisho-sama."

"InuTaisho…sama?"

Saka nodded and returned to washing Rin’s leg. "InuTaisho-sama was Sesshoumaru-sama’s father. He was of the greatest and most noble of demons, as is his son. Sesshoumaru-sama looks so very much like him at times I place his father’s ways onto him. InuTaisho-sama would have brought a companion to this place within 11 years, but I suppose if Sesshoumaru-sama himself never returned why bring someone else here."

Rin hoped she didn’t look as confused as she felt. "I don’t quite understand."

"Did you see the castle to the north of the village?" Rin nodded. "That belongs to Sesshoumaru-sama."

"What!" Rin cried out, yanking her leg from Saka’s grasp and thrusting herself so her face was near Saka’s. "But, Sesshoumaru-sama has never said anything about a castle…especially one so grand!"

Saka couldn’t contain her laughter so she let it out full force. After a moment she composed herself and gently pushed Rin back against the bath. "To be more precise, it is the castle that belongs to the Lord of the Western Lands, who is last I heard Sesshoumaru-sama. It had belonged to his father before him and he had lived there for as a child but soon he left and seemed to prefer wandering to the castle. After InuTaisho-sama’s death Sesshoumaru-sama came back less and less, nothing left tying him to it, I suppose." Finishing her legs, Saka moved to wash Rin’s arms and torso. "He hasn’t returned in several decades, so it is understandable that you had never known of it. Those of us in this village are completely loyal to the Lord of the Western Lands and so centuries ago we built this village should our Lord ever need us."

Rin closed her eyes and felt the water move over her skin as Saka washed her. After all this time I still know very little about Sesshoumaru-sama, but then I am only a human. Saka’s cloth brushed her lower abdomen and hips. Just a dirty human.

"May I ask you a question, Rin?"

Saka’s voice snapped Rin from her thoughts. "Y..yes, of course."

"Are you mad at him?"

Rin stared at her very confused. "At who?"

"Sesshoumaru-sama."

"How could I be mad at Sesshoumaru-sama? Why would I be mad?"

"For whatever happened to make you covered in blood and reeking of demon heat."

Rin’s hands began to shake and not even Saka’s firm hold could stop them. "I could never hold anger against Sesshoumaru-sama, without him I would not be alive." Rin turned her face away from Saka and forced back her tears. "I blame none but the ones who did this, and Sesshoumaru-sama has punished them for their actions."

"Thank goodness."

Rin looked at Saka with unsure eyes. "Why do you say that?"

"You were very frightened when you got here, and I was worried you might blame Sesshoumaru-sama. That would be very sad indeed, for he seems much…gentler than the last time I saw him. I can only guess you are the reason."

Rin closed her eyes to try and digest what Saka had just said. Gentler…gentle at all seemed unnatural for Sesshoumaru-sama, but he was gentle when he held me on Ahun. Rin shook her head. Even if that is true, it can’t be because of me, I’m just a human. Sesshoumaru-sama dislikes humans, even I know that. And now, I’m even less than human, I’m nothing more than…than…a demon’s whore.

Rin slowly slid her body into the water until her face was beneath the water. She didn’t care that Saka was still washing her, she just had to stop the stinging in her eyes. When she finally re-emerged water trailed down her face but she was sure by her reaction Saka could smell the salt in her tears.

Saka didn’t say anything but she moved up to Rin’s face and wiping away the dirt and tears. When her face was cleaned off Saka pushed Rin forward and began washing her hair. Every once in a while Rin felt Saka’s claws cutting chunks of misshapen hair and tossing them to the side. Soon after warm water started running through Rin’s now short hair and down the back of her head. Saka carefully pulled Rin’s hair back so the water fell over more of her face.

As the water splashed over her cheeks and mouth Rin body suddenly tensed and her eyes shot open. Without thinking she opened her mouth to scream and water poured in choking her as fear coursed through her body. Her ears filled with Akki’s cruel laughter and Rin yanked her head out of his grasp and struggled to get away from him but he pulled her back and held her tightly on the shoulders. She flung her arms behind her trying to get him to let go but Haku appeared and grabbed her hands in one of his own.

Rin screamed as she looked into his black eyes. They seemed to be reflecting the moonlight for she could see a small glimmer of gold in them. No, not a glimmer, the color filled his eyes…not black, but gold, a beautiful gold. Rin stopped screaming and her breath locked in chest.

No, no, I couldn’t have mistaken Sesshoumaru-sama for one of them. I couldn’t have screamed at him! I can’t be afraid of him! I can’t be afraid of him!

Sesshoumaru let go of her hands, and after giving a nod to Saka he left the room. Rin closed her eyes and shook her head furiously.

I can’t be afraid of him! I don’t want to be left behind! I don’t want him to leave me alone! I can’t be alone again!

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Ok, so, there ya go, for anyone who was annoyed I didn’t give nice fun gory details of the demise of Akki and Haku, I miss it to, but think of it this way, you can make it up yourself. I see Sessy’s white paw coming down on top of Akki and hearing a thick SPLAT as he gets squished like a cockroach. MWA HA HA No for real, it has to be through Rin so she doesn’t get to see and neither do we.

Next chp we have some major psychological problems for Rin. How will she deal with her feelings of shame and fear? Will Sessy be able to help her or will he send her away? I wonder….. -_-