8

"Satomi, I don't think this looks right," Rin said with a wrinkled nose as her origami really didn't look like a crane. Wrinkled and short neck, it was more like a sad duck and it made Satomi stifle a laugh. Origami had been a past time for the last couple of days. Days running together as Sesshomaru seemed to grow more nervous and less around Rin and even her. Since that day the lords came… and she wondered if they said something or if she went too far with her bursting in. Seemed like a good idea at the time for whatever reason.

"Well, lets try again and it will look better," she said finishing hers that looked absolutely perfect. "Maybe a frog?" Rin nodded exuberantly with a grin as they found some green paper. "Okay, now let's start this one nice and easy, and no wrinkling that paper this time." Rin laughed as they continued their play. Human games were new to Rin, she had watched some play but was never invited. Satomi was teaching her new human oddities all the time.

Deciding it was probably best to not tell Rin about their relation for now, Satomi was happy like this. This was basically doing what she would normally do for a little sister, just with only herself knowing that. Rin was so deprived of normal human interaction that Satomi could tell things confused her. Talking about the world and how different people were, who different people were, and what she did traveling around. Her free-spirited life was not normal, but then neither was Rin's of being carted around by a demon lord.

Half way through the frog origami, there was a commotion in the hall from a voice she had all but forgot about. Jaken was asking every servant it sounded where his master was before he burst into their room doors. He looked out of breath and slightly worse for wear. His sleeves covered in burns, he was leaning heavily on his staff for support. He had fought, but who and where? Satomi's hair stood on end.

"Mi Lord is he not with you?" he asked breathlessly, looking around. Satomi could imagine he already looked in the study.

"No, he has been in his study for days now. You are not well, please rest," Satomi said as Rin stood up running over to Jaken.

"No, you silly girl, I have to find Lord Sesshomaru! There is an attack coming and they are ruthless. I escaped with barely my life. I will not have him taken by surprise."

However, with the clanking that sounded from the open window, it sounded like they already did. Suddenly, a woman appeared in the same window and Satomi stood before Rin and Jaken defensively. "Who are you?" she asked narrowing her gaze as she looked around the room for a weapon. They hadn't started her training, but she could at least take from what she knew years ago. The woman was tanned and had black hair that reached the center of her back tied in a ribbon. Her clothes were fare from modest as far as normal standards and hugged her curves with black leggings that reached her knees and dark blue top that was longer but was still tight with slits up to her hips. She smiled innocently, but there was malintent behind her eyes.

"You're the wench who hurt my comrade," her features became less amused and serious as she stepped forward, moving with a certain prowl about her. Satomi moved Rin behind her further, moving an arm to barricade against any advancement. "My name is Hibiki, but I suppose it doesn't really matter," she said as she moved the pike that was her weapon into both of her hands. "You'll be dead soon for what you did." Moving suddenly, Satomi narrowly dodged diving down with Rin and running out of the room as the pike exploded with lightning all around the area of impact. A note to self to avoid that was made as she grabbed Rin's hand and pulled Jaken off the ground much to his dismay.

"Unhand me, girl! I will not be handled this way," Jaken exclaimed as he hit at her arm, she ignored it as she continued to dodge the hits head on. Satomi was fast on her own, but she was left without a weapon and two individuals on her person to protect. As much as Jaken didn't like her, this Hibiki looked like she was going to kill more than just Satomi. Making their way down to the main floor, there was scattered burn holes and fires slowly spreading as everyone ran outside. Where was Sesshomaru? They were running out of space and time to run.

"Stop you're moving, you annoying human," Hibiki yelled, obviously getting frustrated. Behind her, Satomi could feel the energy building up behind her before a blast exploded, sending her flying with Rin and Jaken. Jaken was wrenched from her hands as she pulled Rin close to her. They both collided into some high bushes on the outskirts of the estate. Feeling her body ache and her ears rang, she had no choice but to keep moving although she could feel blood slowly dripping down her body from her head, arms and legs. Rin was unconscious, so she carried her quietly as Hibiki sent out more explosions in their direction. Soon she would have no where to hide, but she couldn't fight not knowing if Rin would be hurt from these loose cannon explosions of lightning. Where was Sesshomaru?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Mother, you called?" Sesshomaru said rather annoyed with the interruption of his plans. He was making some headway in all the time he spent avoiding organizing any scrolls with information from the North. Also… the deity who had helped his father all that time ago. Trying to understand just why it was necessary and how to go about defeating the enemy the most efficient way. Surely, his father could have found a way to not involve the deity, but there was nothing. No proof he knew a deity or worked with one to quell the North. Just that there was a long battle that wasted most of the North and somehow the demon was purified, which would be strange unless there were priests or a deity. Other than that, no mention was brought up.

"I heard a curious rumor, and I wanted to hear it from you," she said tilting her head to the side as she stood from her elongated chair. She was always a very blatant woman and yet very honest with her feelings. Sesshomaru inherited her blatant nature, and yet he felt he could not convey his emotions the same. His father was far more charming, he knew that much and yet it seemed like a wasted effort to try to attain that mindset. He lived for power, or so he thought until three years ago when he almost lost Rin. There was more than just power now, he had a purpose and he wanted to hold onto that purpose. "Is a deity living in your care?"

She almost sounded shocked, more surprised as Sesshomaru did not respond. "It's true isn't it? How careless. You are the Demon Lord of the West and you harbor the one being that could destroy you without a second thought?!" She almost sounded mad at him, an emotion he had not heard from her before. There was a moment of silence before she composed herself and sat back down shaking her head. "Your father thought he was invincible too. He was stronger than any demon I have ever met, you as well, my son. Toga was charming and powerful, and you are is only rightful heir. The half demon protects his human companions, and the reality is that he could not control the West even if he wished. If you were to die, although it breaks my heart to think of it, this land would go into turmoil. Wars and bloodshed would ensue, and that young girl you wanted so badly to protect would suffer."

She sighed as Sesshomaru knew what she said was true. Every word of it he already played in his mind. If he died, many would fall. Perhaps that was why his father could afford to risk his life to save that human woman, he had an heir. His mother tended to not fault either of them, just simply a strange fascination that led to a great leader's end. But he could not let go of his hate for so long. Power was all he wanted because that was the one thing that would keep him from being like his father who died for something he saw as so pointless. But now there was that deity who was now plaguing his mind. Yes, she is Rin's older sister, yet there was something else. Kissing her that night was strange, he could see into her past and the pain. Even stranger was, he didn't hate the sensation. That part made him wonder if maybe after all his talk of power and the journey to attain it if he was like his father after all.

"I am aware. If there's nothing else, there's other matters I must attend to," he said turning around before he could feel her aura change. He didn't have to turn around to know she was smiling. The woman acted coy, but he knew her better than that.

"I can smell her even here. Have you been intimate with her? You don't seem the type to be romantic, so did you by chance grant her powers?" Her voice raised in pitch in curiosity and he would blush if he didn't have the self restraint. The woman really did know how to get under his skin. "I suppose that would be a 'yes'. Then I suppose whatever comes next you can only blame on yourself." Dismissive as usual… he was starting to get a headache. "A tale of warning, my son. Deities are not gods, yet they have powers that make priestesses seem rather dim. Since you have involved yourself, I will tell you this. As an ally, they could prove to be most valuable. As an enemy, I fear you would not have the strength needed to kill one. They are not always pure of heart, they can be rather ruthless if they feel wronged. That makes them unpredictable, even worse than a demon."

"Was it true father was involved with a deity during a war with the North?" He turned back around as his mother thought for a moment and then pointed a finger towards the sky as a memory hit her.

"There was a tale that one allied herself with his cause because a strong demon killed the one she loved. To be with this man, she offered her life in return to give your father all the power he needed to kill the demon. He never spoke of it, but he did say that he learned his compassion from a goddess's tale many years before we had met. Sounds like him, but it was never really documented since it was before he gained any fame."

"I see," he said before he sensed something was wrong. "I must go." Without giving explanation, he jumped from her palace in the sky and the cloud appeared beneath him. Flying with all haste, he came across his estate quickly and saw the flames. He could smell Rin's blood, and his eyes turned a deep red. If the deity had any sense of her life, she would be hard at work to prevent this. A sword flew in front of him, causing him to stop completely. A male demon with a sword that would be solid then turn to water returning to his hand dared to stop him. Turning to him with a snarl, the demon whistled in amusement.

"Touchy touchy," Hayate said with a smrik. "My sister is handling the women and I figured us men could have a chat up here. That woman of yours is fast, but its only a matter of time. Her blood is becoming more prominent, wouldn't you say?" Sesshomaru could smell Satomi's blood, although it had a sweeter smell to it than the usual metallic aroma. Looking down, he could see the woman demon throwing attacks as she killed his guards one by one. Satomi was doing her job, although it seemed the deity had yet to come out completely. The women in his life were just not in his favor today it seemed.

"I suggest you run. I'm not in the mood for mercy today," he said moving one hand into a claw position as his fingers started glowing.

"Not my style," Hayate said with a smirk as he readied his sword and went full board for Sesshomaru. He was fast, but Sesshomaru was faster. The whip lashed out over and over and Hayate was just barely able to dodge. The sword materialized when a strike would almost hit him. Over and over until Sesshomaru had enough and pulled out Bakusaiga and shot a powerful yoki wave towards him. Dodging that as well, Sesshomaru was starting to wonder if this demon was just buying time. "Wow, you really are something! Demon Lord of the West really suits you, but our master wants something done and it's better to just get it done than go back with nothing."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Girl, you are starting to piss me off," Hibiki called out as she walked towards the open court yard trying to sense either girl's aura. However, there was nothing. Strange, but she knew they couldn't be dead, their screams being burned alive would have sounded by now. They didn't look all that tough, but this was proving difficult to accomplish. Kinoko's struggles would not be in vain, this wench would pay dearly.

Satomi hid and formed a shield around herself and Rin. There was a voice that kept trying to come through her mind, but she could only think of protecting herself and Rin. She felt her head splitting with a headache trying to avoid it. There was no time to think of how or why, just that she had to do this. Blast after blast was wearing on her and her wounds were not shallow. Near the top of her hairline there was a gash, her arm had a sharp piece of wood that punctured, and her leg had numerous cuts lining the outside of it from taking the brunt of the first blast as she went down. Her strength was leaving her, and she could feel the do or die moment fast approaching. Looking down to Rin, she could only feel disappointed in herself.

Satomi… Satomi! I can help you…

The voice came through, and she could only recognize it as her own. A feeling that called for her to close her eyes came and all she could do was oblige. Seeing a glowing figure with gold hair and blue eyes before her, she looked in wonder. This woman had been in her dreams before, just recently. A statue-like figure that would simply look towards the moon and then look back when Satomi would wake up. This time, the woman was reaching out towards Satomi and talking with her.

I can help you. Please, let me give you my strength so that you can protect them. We don't have much time and your body will soon give out.

A crystal the shape of a crescent moon formed and made its way to Satomi. Reaching out for it, it glowed with her touch. This is my power for you, we will talk again soon.

Waking up, she felt the crystal in her hands now. With a tender white light, it absorbed into her chest and she could feel her body warming up. Her wounds were healing, and she became more aware of what was going on. Time seemed to slow down as she stood up and formed a barrier over Rin alone. There wasn't a doubt it wouldn't hold up, and that made her wonder just what she could do now.

Hibiki saw her and aimed her pike the blast came at Satomi. "There you are!" she could hear before simply putting her hand out and extending it to the side. The blast followed, looking up at it her eyes widened as she saw Sesshomaru and a male demon fighting above her. Both stopped and looked to her. Hayate was in shock and Sesshomaru seemed to be waiting, curious even. Looking back to Hibiki who looked shaken up from the diversion of the blast, Satomi walked towards the clearing.

"What the hell are you?" Hibiki called out as she saw the power difference. It was not even a challenge. If she were to engage, she would die. Defy Jirou and she would die. The bodies lined the grounds from the guards that tried to fight back. Satomi looked at them all, so many innocents if she was only strong enough to protect them earlier… instead she ran like a feeble animal. The thought made her tear up.

"Crying now? Just what game are you playing at," she said before Satomi suddenly appeared before her. Satomi felt an anger she never felt before surge through her. Reaching out, she touched Hibiki's collar bone gently before looking up with tears streaming down her face.

"They didn't have to die."

An immense pain shot through Hibiki as she screamed in agony. Her skin burned so intensely, she was out of breath and on the ground. However, when she glanced down at her skin there wasn't even a wound for all that pain. This wasn't a human, this was something far worse, something from hell.

Sesshomaru went to Rin and the barrier around her disappeared. Only one minor cut on her arm, but she was unharmed otherwise. Hayate went to his sister and held her in his arms as she was in obvious pain. "What did you do to her?" he asked helplessly as she continued to whimper in his arms.

"Their deaths didn't have to happen. If she wanted to kill me she should have when she had the chance. Now, I don't care if it's fast or slow. I plan on making sure you know their pain and my own," Satomi said looking at him with a determination he had never seen in any demon before. "If you wish to fight me, I will happily show you just what you're dealing with." Extending her hand out, a weapon in a white and pink opaque light formed. A massive battle axe extending past her own height and a large blade that was as large as her torso. He marveled before moving in front of his sister. "Hibiki, go report. I will handle this woman."

"But brother… I…"

"Now!" Disappearing, Hayate knew he would either die here or be punished with Jirou for failing to kill Sesshomaru. This woman would pose an even bigger threat being Sesshomaru's ally. Their plans would have to be changed. "Well, then let's see what you're made of."

"Let's." Satomi swung her battle axe with ease, defying what would be thought of as a heavy weapon. Hayate could feel the force of it even as he bounded out of the way. This was not human, but he couldn't place just what kind of demon she was. It felt pure…and yet the emotion from her eyes were not in the least. She wanted blood.

The most he could do was play defensively, much like with Sesshomaru, but her moves were much more out of instinct than a fighting code like Sesshomaru seemed to have. Even during their fight above, he could tell Sesshomaru favored certain moves with the whip than others although he wasn't completely predictable. This woman was far more dangerous as far as he was concerned.

Sesshomaru watched with his mother's words in mind. Satomi was dangerous, if she used such attacks with him, he wondered how long he would hold out. She was a deity, but their powers were unknown for the most part. She could absorb demonic energy, she could now form a weapon although before this she seemed hesitant to even fully fight from her personality and yet now looking at her she seemed so calculating and also wild with her intent.

Her axe swung faster than he could keep up and that was saying much. Suddenly, he could smell blood, Hayate's blood. An arm fell at her feet as she dropped her head to look at it and then to the demon. He was gripping the shoulder in agony before disappearing as she was about to give the finishing blow. Her axe vanished, and her hands fell limp to her sides.

Looking back to Sesshomaru, she walked towards him with such sadness. He was truly confused and nervous. The fear that she would turn on him crossed his mind and yet she seemed so human now. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything. I don't know what's happening to me," she said helplessly as she looked at her hands. A part of him felt the need to reach out, but he couldn't somehow. Looking to Rin in his arms, she reached out and it took all of Sesshomaru's self-control to not pull her away. Perhaps he did unleash something worse than he bargained for, even he feared what could come of her now. "All I wanted was to keep her safe and then the voice gave me her power… do you know what's going on?"

"It's the deity," he said simply. "She must have given you a part of the powers of a deity to protect yourselves." Living up to the promise, which he found comforting that he wasn't on her bad side. Not that he had a reason to be. For a moment, Satomi looked like she would faint and then suddenly her hair turned gold and eyes blue.

"Poor girl, I think I gave her too much. The wounds would have killed her otherwise, it took you long enough to get here for visiting your mother. Had a nice chat I presume?"

How she knew was beyond him, but he knew now he would have to keep on his guard even more.

"Oh, I'm not here to threaten you. I will need more of your energy, but now is not the time. This power is but a taste of what I can do. Once she absorbs it all, I will disappear and no longer be useful because she is the intended deity. I am simply here to guide the process of her journey until her body can handle all it is capable of, to try and simplify my reason to exist. I wouldn't fear her, she is loyal to your cause and to keep her sister safe."

"You say that like I should be eternally grateful," he said narrowing his eyes to her.

"I'm saying you have one of the most powerful beings in your service. You sought power and now you have it just to fear it." Swiping her hand, the damage to his estate was reversed and the guards rose from the dead. "So long as you remember her cause and do not hinder it, you have nothing to fear but your own insecurities, my dear. Now, I will put this poor girl to bed and I suggest you let this one rest as well." Sweeping her hand over Rin's body, her cuts healed instantly, and Satomi walked to her room passing by the guards and servants.

Sesshomaru held Rin for a moment standing there unsure of what to do for the first time in a long while. She called him out for the power, but he knew she spoke the truth. To use the deity for his own ends sounded like something he would have done without question once but looking to Rin and back towards Satomi who was just leaving his line of sight, he found it hard to put into words why it bothered him now.