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Suffering and Rebirth	By : scattered-dimensions Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 8846 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters. This is for fun not monetary gain.

Chapter List
- 21
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- 23
STAFF OF TWO HEADS!
Shippo bounded to Rin’s rescue while Jaken kept the slithering snake youkai at bay. InuYasha was busy hacking away at the enormous clan leader. They had been traveling through the Western lands for over a week and the closer they had gotten to Bokuseno, the more opposition they encountered. This was the second attack today.
“Shippo, look out!” Rin cried.
Shippo’s head snapped up staring directly into the cottoned mouth of one of the larger serpents. Its fangs dripped with venom causing the ground at Shippo’s paws to smoke. He smirked and pulled out a toy from one of his pockets. He waited until his opponent descended before leaping into the air.
SPINNING TOP!
His tool of illusion expanded instantly drilling the snake’s head into the soft forest floor. Shippo landed next to Rin and grabbed her hand pulling her toward Ah-Un. He urged her up on the dragons’ back as fast as he could.
“Only land when it’s safe.” He told her before patting one of the dragon’s haunches.
She didn’t have chance to argue before Ah-Un took flight whisking his charge into the safety of the clouds. There was a crack of a branch behind him and Shippo turned, his eyes flying wide and his paws propelling him backwards. There were ten…Count ‘em ten!... snakes slithering in his direction.
Shippo scrambled in reverse until he found the courage to turn his back on the rhumba. Their tails rattled to life signaling their commitment to the chase. Shippo bounded over roots and sidestepped a tree blocking his path. He jerked Jaken up by the back of his robes and lugged the dumbfounded toad behind him.
“InuYasha!” Shippo yelled risking a glance over his shoulder while Jaken struggled to keep up.
He saw the hanyou slice through the clan leader’s head like molten butter, a geyser of green blood spurted forth, and gore rained down on the treetops. InuYasha landed in a crouch, Tetsusaiga held out at a tangent. He stood upright grasping the fang’s frayed hilt in both hands pointing it directly at them. Shippo heard a snap and felt his tail begin to burn. He yelped and pumped his legs harder. Jaken stumbled and Shippo growled in frustration.
“Move it, slimy, or I’ll leave you as snake bait!” Shippo yelled and Jaken’s flippers found immediate purchase.
Shippo let go of Jaken the moment he passed the tip of Tetsusaiga and skidded to a halt behind InuYasha, his chest heaving and his hands braced on his knees. Jaken was leaning heavily on his staff, sweat beading on his brow.
InuYasha widened his stance, his toes digging into the soggy moss. He raised his nose to the air and his ears swiveled on his head. Shippo looked up and saw Ah-Un flying directly overhead, Rin looking over the saddle with large eyes. InuYasha growled and lifted Tetsusaiga. Ah-Un ascended into the clouds again.
“Kaze no Kizu!”
The demon fang dropped forward and a swath of golden youki cut through the air rolling over itself to reach their enemies. The serpents were reduced to dark shadowy outlines in the brightness of the attack, parts of them began breaking apart until the energy faded and nothing was left.
“Keh.” InuYasha sheathed Tetsusaiga. “Alright, you can land now.”
Ah-Un touched down just behind them and Rin slid off the saddle. Her feet set into a run the moment she touched the ground. She ran up to Jaken and pulled him into a crushing hug. The kappa squawked and tried to shove her away.
“I was so scared for you, Master Jaken.” She said setting him down.
“I’m a demon, Rin. Nothing can harm me.” Jaken replied smugly smoothing the wrinkles out of his robes.
“Guess you didn’t need me to save you, huh?” Shippo asked smartly slapping the toad on the back.
“Save?…You threatened to leave me behind!” Jaken yelled pointing his staff at the kitsune accusingly.
“Look at my tail! I’m gonna have to cut out the burnt parts because of you, slow poke!” Shippo fussed pulling his singed tail around for emphasis.
“That’s not my fault. If you hadn’t…” Jaken started.
“Shut it. Everyone’s okay, right?” InuYasha asked his golden eyes scanning the little group.
There was a round of nods.
“Good. Now, get the hell on that dragon. We’ve got to get out of here before more show up.” InuYasha said crossing his arms.
Shippo turned taking Rin’s proffered hand. He snickered at the look Ah-Un was giving their rough leader. Rin covered her mouth with her finger and made a shushing motion, her lips tilting into a smile. The two demons climbed up on the double dragon after Rin and they followed InuYasha who had his nose to the air again.
“This way.” He waved and took off through the trees.

They landed on the ledge of a rocky outcrop surrounded by thick, jungle like growth. InuYasha was busy testing the weight of a boulder near the entrance to a cave.
“Why are we stopping here? We’ve still got another couple hours before nightfall?” Shippo asked curiously.
“No moon tonight, remember?” InuYasha grunted rolling the mammoth rock towards the entryway.
Shippo hopped out of his way and watched as InuYasha came to a stop leaving a gap large enough for Ah-Un to slip through. He dusted his hands off and walked inside. He stopped at the darkened entrance and looked over his shoulder.
“You coming or what, runt?” InuYasha asked and Shippo nodded once lighting his hands with foxfire.
The cave was decently sized and enclosed on all sides. There was one area that had water dripping from the ceiling. Roots and vines covered the walls here and there, but otherwise it looked relatively vacant. Shippo sniffed the air and wrinkled his nose. This place hadn’t been used in a very long time. The mold had gotten out of control.
“Where do you want me to set the fire? A lot of this stuff could burn and over there is too damp?” Shippo asked seriously.
“Hold on.” The hanyou said scratching his head in contemplation.
InuYasha walked over to the curved wall near the mouth of the cave and began pulling up the creepers and the stubborn roots leaving a light layer of dirt behind. He piled up the brushed near the back of the cave and poked his head outside.
“Oi, toad, bring ‘em in.” InuYasha ordered.
Shippo heard Jaken grumbling under his breath as he led Ah-Un inside. Rin was suspiciously absent and InuYasha noticed immediately, his frame going rigid and his hand flying reflexively to Tetsusaiga. Shippo extinguished his hands and ran up to his friend before he could take a step.
“I’ll go get her.” Shippo didn’t wait for InuYasha’s permission before he left.
Rin wasn’t far off and he could smell her tears on the wind. She tried to keep it hidden from everyone, but Shippo knew. He never said anything and Jaken was just bad at comforting the girl, something the kappa knew all too well. He kept his beak shut most times and Shippo was grateful. He probably would have kicked him square in his bald, green head if he would have upset Rin any further.
She was taking Sesshomaru’s absence hard and some of it was because of the vague answers she was getting about Kagome’s village. They still hadn’t told her exactly what the significance of the well was and Shippo didn’t know why InuYasha wouldn’t let him put the girl’s mind at ease. Rin was convinced something terrible had happened to her Lord, but any time Shippo would try and tell her differently, he wound up with a headache and once he was knocked out cold.
Stupid InuYasha. For a half demon he had pretty good hearing.
“Rin?” Shippo said getting the forlorn girl’s attention.
She sniffled pitifully and her hands rose to her face. She swiped at it frantically as a sob broke free and she hit her knees, her head bowed and her shoulders shaking unable to control her emotional upheaval. Shippo didn’t know what had caused this sudden uprising. She’d never been this upset before. If Jaken said something…Oooh, he was going to be hurting for the rest of his life.
“What’s wrong?” Shippo asked placing his hand on her shoulder.
“I kn-know th-this pl-place.” She stuttered.
“What do you mean?” He asked curiously.
“L-Lord Sessh…” Her explanation broke off as a heartbreaking sob clawed its way from her throat.
“It’s okay, Rin. You don’t have to tell me.” He sympathized rubbing her arm.
She lifted her head and began wiping her face with the backs of her hands again. Her nose was red and her eyes were beyond puffy. There was no way Shippo would be able to help cover it up this time. InuYasha would know, though he suspected that the hanyou hadn’t missed one single tear the girl cried. He was more observant than people thought and Shippo had the knots to prove it.
“No, I have to…talk about it. Lord Sesshomaru…used to bring us here…during the hunt…for Naraku.” She hiccupped.
“Is it a safe area?” Shippo asked his eyes lifting to the evening sky.
“Mm-hm. He’d stay in the cave with us all night. We came here a lot, but when Kagome…”
Now it was Shippo’s turn to get emotional.
He was fine until someone mentioned Kagome or if they would stop for the night, or meal breaks, or breaks for Rin to relieve herself, or when he would look at the blue sky, or when InuYasha would be nice, or when InuYasha was being mean, or every time Rin brushed her dark, waist length hair until it shimmered just right in the sunlight like his beloved mother figure’s used to.
He blinked rapidly forcing his tears into submission.
“I’m sorry, Shippo. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Rin apologized and Shippo gave her a smile though he didn’t really feel it on the inside.
“We’ll get them back…InuYasha needs us inside. We got chores to do before the sun sets.” Shippo said changing the subject his gloom replaced by the duties he had to perform.
“Why before the sun sets? We’ve never had to do that before.” She asked confused and Shippo gave a nervous chuckle.
“Might want to ask InuYasha that one.” He said walking through the entrance ahead of her.
“Ask me what?” The hanyou confronted, his hands pushed into his sleeves.
“What you need us to do.” Shippo answered before Rin could open her mouth.
She shot him a glare and he shrugged. Shippo wasn’t taking this lightly. InuYasha was going to turn human tonight and that meant Shippo would have to step up as the group’s protector. He didn’t want this conversation to take place until that boulder was closed. There were too many demons lurking around these parts and he didn’t know if any were specifically after InuYasha or not, but it couldn’t hurt to take extra precautions. It had been a very trying week after all.
“You got one hour to bring back everything we need for the night. Once that rock goes into place, nobody leaves. I’ll get dinner. Ah-Un stay with Rin at all times.” The dragon nodded its heads and growled in understanding then InuYasha left.
“I’ll get the firewood and you can get the water, Rin. It’ll be easier for you with Ah-Un’s help. We’ll set everything up after we’ve brought it all back. Jaken, you’re with me. I’ll need you to help me carry the wood. It’ll cut down on time.” Shippo ordered reveling in his unofficial role as second in command.

There wasn’t much discussion around the fire during dinner. Rin kept glancing up at InuYasha only to avert her eyes the moment he looked her way. It must have really got on the hanyou’s nerves because he snapped at her, something he rarely did. She didn’t look at him again and considering their current predicament, Shippo didn’t say anything. InuYasha was always testy on this night of the month. He’d overheard Kagome telling Sango once that it was like he had women troubles. Whatever that meant.
InuYasha retreated to the very back of the cave and laid Tetsusaiga against his shoulder as the change came over him. Jaken’s beak fell open and his eyes bulged to unnatural proportions as he watched InuYasha’s white dog ears retreat to the proper place of a human’s and his hair darkened along with his eyes. Rin remained silent, just watching with a knowing look that shocked Shippo.
“You knew?” Shippo asked quietly and Rin nodded.
“I figured it out when you told me to ask him instead of giving me an outright answer.” She whispered with a breathy giggle.
“I can still hear you guys.” InuYasha grumbled from the shadows.

Rin took a seat next to the now human InuYasha. He looked away from her, his brown eyes scanning something on the opposite stone wall. Shippo took up a sentry position at the sealed cave entrance fully prepared to do anything necessary to keep everyone safe. InuYasha had taught him well.
“Does it hurt?” Rin asked.
“Some.” InuYasha grunted.
“How do you feel?” She continued.
“Human.” He replied tersely.
“Oh. Are you tired?” She pried and InuYasha growled weakly.
“You gonna keep asking me a bunch of stupid questions?” He inquired irritatedly.
Rin ducked her head and wrapped her arms around her knees.
“Sorry.” She said meekly.
InuYasha sighed in resignation.
“Me, too. I just hate this. It ain’t your fault, kid.” He said patting the top of her head.
Rin just nodded and remained silent. Ah-Un sauntered over and laid down next to the two humans. They nuzzled the top of Rin’s head and she smiled reaching up to give them both a pat on their unfettered muzzles.
“I’ve never seen a hanyou transform before. I’ve read about it, of course, but the descriptions were very vague.” She stated quietly.
“Satisfied?” InuYasha asked sounding offended.
“It’s rather remarkable, you know. I’ve seen Shippo transform and Hachi, Miroku’s friend, but this is something very different. I wonder what Lord Sesshomaru would look like if he were human.” Rin mused.
InuYasha’s head swiveled to look at her with large eyes right before he barked laughter.
“What?” Rin asked her eyes wide in surprise.
InuYasha waved her off and wrapped his other arm around his middle, his chortles becoming painful.
“What’s so funny?” Rin asked bewildered.
“Rin! Don’t say such things. Lord Sesshomaru would never become human. He’s a strong and powerful demon, even more so than his father. Saying that he would become mortal is a great insult.” Jaken admonished from his seat next to the fire and InuYasha’s laughter died instantly.
That was another thing they hadn’t told Rin. She knew bits and pieces of the whole story, but InuYasha had thought it best to keep her in the dark about most things especially about the fact that Sesshomaru was probably mortal. Shippo knew the hanyou didn’t want to worry the girl any more than he had to and was so determined that he would be able to get the well to work again that he never considered the possibility of this conversation ever coming up.
The way Rin was staring at the human version of InuYasha didn’t strike Shippo as passively curious. She’d caught on to the dense hanyou’s slipup. Shippo cringed internally.

The recollection of Noriko’s words crashed into InuYasha like a tsunami. He looked over to Rin who was watching him intently, no doubt wondering why his mood had changed so quickly. He pushed his hands through his hair and sighed heavily.
All this needed to come out eventually and now was probably the best time. The cave was sealed and there was nowhere for Rin to run off and get hurt if she got upset. Scratch that. When she got upset. It wasn’t like he was in the shape to go chasing after her.
That, however, was a double edged sword. InuYasha would have nowhere to run either to escape the inevitable emotional thunderstorm he was about to invoke. Rin being upset was bad enough, but Jaken’s reaction was bound to be the worst. Human hearing or not, the toad could get painfully shrill when it came to his lamentations over his beloved Lord.
“There’s a few things that I need to tell you.” InuYasha started looking down at Rin’s open face.
He slapped himself mentally. This was going to be harder than he thought. InuYasha looked towards Shippo instead. The kit nodded his approval. He should have listened to the little fox from the beginning.
“What is it, InuYasha?” Rin encouraged her voice so trusting that it made InuYasha feel three inches tall.
“We know exactly where Kagome and Sesshomaru are, but I don’t think you will like what I gotta say.” He began and Rin’s brow furrowed her face taking on a guarded expression.
“What?! How dare you withhold that kind of information?! I should…” Jaken screeched shaking his staff in InuYasha’s direction.
“That’s enough, Master Jaken. Let them speak.” Rin said authoritively, her time with Sesshomaru showing through.
The kappa’s beak snapped shut and InuYasha gulped. He hadn’t been expecting that. It kind of reminded him of Kagome, who would sit him into oblivion at the drop of a hat for next to nothing, and Sango, who was married to the perverted monk, but still slapped him around for his wandering hand. Then there was Kiyou who loved him and would get so angry at him when he tried to protect her saying it was her job to destroy Naraku. Were all women like this? Kami, he hoped not.
“We told you they are in Kagome’s village and that’s the truth, but Kagome lives on the other side of the Bone Eater’s well.” Shippo explained carefully his eyes darting back and forth between InuYasha and Rin.
InuYasha held his breath waiting for Rin to speak. She blessedly turned those assessing eyes on the kit giving him a modicum of relief.
“How is that possible?” She asked seriously.
“Kagome was born 500 years in the future. She traveled back through time because of the Shikon jewel that was embedded in her body. It closed up again after Kagome returned. We think Noriko’s spiritual powers sent them back through the well.” Shippo explained and InuYasha watched as Rin’s eyes narrowed familiarly.
‘Yeah, definitely too much time spent with his ass-wipe of a half-brother.’
“InuYasha can’t get through like he used to. It’s sealed up. Bokuseno might be able to help us with that if he knows anything about the spell Noriko cast. We didn’t mean to lie to you, Rin, honest. We just didn’t know how you would handle it.” Shippo said nervously taking part ownership of the omission that rightfully belonged to InuYasha.
Rin pursed her lips and her brow furrowed. Jaken took several steps back until his retreat was impeded by the cave’s wall, once there he attempted to flatten himself against the stone. InuYasha nodded watching her closely. He didn’t like the toad’s reaction.
“So, you’re saying that Lord Sesshomaru is 500 years in the future with no way back.” She asked in a calm, controlled manner.
Shippo’s head bobbed in affirmation. InuYasha didn’t need his youkai senses to tell that Shippo was beyond edgy.
“What type of bewitchment was it? A hex?” Rin asked again, her tone turning dark her brown eyes brooding.
“Depends on how you look at it.” InuYasha muttered and Rin gave him a look that sent shivers down his spine.
‘Wow. She has that down to an art.’
“She said it was meant to strip his youki and leave him mortal.” Shippo blurted in a panic giving InuYasha an apologetic shrug and everyone turned expectant, wary eyes on the petite girl in their company.
Rin’s face contorted in anger and she stood abruptly, her fists clenched at her sides, and her entire body shaking violently. She stomped out in front of InuYasha blocking his view from everyone else and reared her foot back. She kicked InuYasha square in the shin, her boot making a muffled thud against mortal bone. The hanyou yelped and grasped his leg.
“What the hell, Rin?!” InuYasha yelled rubbing the targeted area that was starting to bruise already.
“That’s for lying to me! This whole time I thought Lord Sesshomaru was seriously injured because he hadn’t returned from this far away village of Kagome’s, but I knew she’d take care of him and they would come back!” She shouted waving a finger in the hanyou’s face.
InuYasha sat there and took it cradling his bent abused leg to his chest. If he had his dog ears, they’d be flat against his skull by now out of shear shame alone. He hadn’t expected to feel this shitty about lying to her. He honestly thought he had done the right thing, thought that he had been protecting her.
“Now I find out that I may never see him again because I’ll be long dead! I deserved to know something like that! He’s my fath…How could you?” Her voice dropped to a whispered sob on the last broken sentence.
InuYasha opened his mouth to say something, but she threw up a hand to silence him, her bottom lip quivering ominously. She stalked away to sit next to Jaken and Ah-Un followed loyally giving InuYasha sympathizing looks. Shippo scurried close to Rin, his face openly repentant.
“Rin, we’re sorry.” Shippo tried, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t touch me.” She seethed shrugging it off.
Rin laid down on her side facing the stone wall and allowed Jaken to pet her hair comfortingly. Shippo retreated back to his post, his tail drooping dejectedly.
“You’ll see him again, Rin. I swear.” InuYasha said solemnly.
The only reaction he got was a shake of the head from the kappa and the heart wrenching sounds coming from Rin. Nothing else was said that night.

A/N: Poor Rin. InuYasha really is a baka (albeit a warm hearted baka) and he’s pulling ol’ Shippo down with him. *sighs & shakes her head*
Thank you Luminari_Lilium for your heartfelt words about Noriko. ^_^ Even though she’s my character, I can’t help but hope she gets what’s coming to her. Is that wrong?
I also appreciate all my voters and readers.
Next chapter is all Kags & Sess.
Until next time,
~scattered-dimensions~
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Suffering and Rebirth