Fluffy Love Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Battle in Moonlight

He chuckled then threw back his head and called to the others.  Rin cringed at the near ear-shattering sound.  He began to move back into the forest with her in tow and immediately she began to struggle in his grip, fingernails clawing uselessly against the coarse fur on his muscular arm, her heels swinging wildly in the air.  His grip on her suddenly tightened, choking off her breath.  Black spots danced before her eyes as she gasped for air.

“Stop struggling, foolish human, or I’ll rip open your throat right now,” he growled in her ear.  Something large and sharp pressed against the side of her throat and, eyes wide, she stilled her movements and he loosened his hold.  He broke into a light jog, breaking a path through the overhanging branches of pine and cedar, her body bouncing in his arms as limply as that of a rag doll.  The trees parted, revealing a small clearing.  She took a deep, shuddering breath as he slowed to a walk, trying desperately not to vomit.

Several large, dark shapes entered the open space, neatly parting the tall grass the swayed in the light wind.  Five pairs of beady red eyes glowed in the darkness.  The moon suddenly broke free of its cloud cover, revealing the creatures that had been pursuing her and sending an icy chill down her spine.  Their bodies were gigantic: tree-trunk legs and arms, torsos three-times as thick as the limbs, calloused fingers the circumference of saplings.  Their heads were those of boars, with long snouts and small, deep-set eyes.  A pair of tusks sprouted from the sides of their mouths, curling into wickedly sharp points that gleamed in the moonlight.  Long shaggy fur, matted and filled with hundreds of burs and nettles, covered their bodies from head to toe.

With a grunt, her assailant tossed her to the ground.  She landed hard on hands and knees, whimpering slightly as she pushed herself to a seated position.  She didn’t think she could stand; her whole body was shaking violently with fear.

“So, what do you think we should do with her?” the one who had captured her asked.  He towered above her and above his compatriots as well, the moonlight glinting off of the many chips and scratches on his gigantic tusks.  

“We could eat her,” the shortest youkai in the group piped.

“Baka. That was the plan in the first place,” the leader snapped.  The others sniggered.  

“Well then, how should we do it?”

“We could boil her.”

“Humans don’t taste as good boiled.  I say we spit and roast her.”

“Let’s eat her raw; I like to feel ‘em squirming in my teeth.”  Grunts of approval rose around the circle.  Rin whimpered and shrank back as the leader stepped in closer.

“Don’t be so unfriendly, hime,” he said, moonlight glinting off of narrowed eyes and wiggling claws, “we’ve been watching you for a long time.”  The others sniggered and she craned her neck around, eyes widening.

“That’s right,” one of the others piped up.  “We’ve been watching and waiting for you to cross that blasted barrier.  It’s a pity that you didn’t bring any of your servants with you.”

“Yeah, there’s barely a mouthful for each of us as small as you are,” said another, bringing another round of laughter from the circle.

“But I much prefer a pampered princess over a common laborer,” said the smallest one, a wicked grin on his face.  “Less gristle and more flesh on your bones.  Much prettier too.”  Rin jumped, a small scream issuing from her throat as he suddenly loomed up over her, one sharp nail pressed into her chin.  He tilted her head back and studied her face, a low growl of pleasure rumbling in his throat.  

“Can I do the honors and slash her fine white throat?”  He looked over his shoulder at his leader.  The large youkai opened his mouth to reply but stopped, one massive hand suddenly darting upwards into the air, catching something.  He opened his clenched fist, revealing the broken halves of a long, sturdy arrow.

“Ha! We’re certainly not going to be going home hungry tonight!” he crowed, tossing the arrow aside and turning to look over his shoulder.  

Rin felt tears sting at her eyes as she saw the warm light of torches glowing between the tree branches.  Shouts rose and a small volley of arrows whirred through the air to land several feet from the edge of the circle—a warning.  The armored forms of the manor’s small battalion of soldiers emerged from the trees, bows aimed and ready to fire again.  Atsutane, weighed down by old-fashioned and bulky samurai armor that looked like it hadn’t been worn in many years was in the forefront, rusty sword thrust into the air and shouting commands.  The tears streamed down her cheeks as she caught sight of the other palace servants, bearing hoes and rakes and other makeshift weapons (was that Megumi waving a broom savagely in the air?); it seemed everyone had come to her rescue.  

Jaken soon appeared, mounted on his pony and looking considerably uncomfortable in his own ill-fitting human armor.  “Don’t shoot!  They have my daughter!” he screeched, shaking a clenched fist at the line of bowmen.  He shot Rin a desperate look; without the human head staff there was little he or this ragged bunch of servants could do to save her from a group of powerful youkai.

“Jaken-sama!” she screamed, but was cut off as she was jerked roughly from the ground by the boar nearest to her.  Sharp fingernails wrapped themselves around her throat and foul air brushed against her cheek.

“Don’t get so upset, hime, we haven’t forgotten about you,” he hissed. Rin gave a strangled cry and began to kick and claw at him.  His claws pressed tighter into her neck and she ceased struggling immediately.  “Good girl.  There’s no need to fuss; your father and his servants will soon be joining us for dinner.”  He chuckled loudly in her ear, sending a wave of hot breath reeking of spoiled meat and death over her face.  Her stomach twisted dangerously, and if not for the fingers wrapped tightly over her throat she would have vomited.  

The leader looked over the straggling band of people making their way through the trees, threw back his head, and laughed loudly.  “Well, well, hime, it seems you were worth the trouble after all!  Hey, do you have a good hold on her?” he called to his comrade.

“Hai, leader, she’s not going any—” He stiffened suddenly, his words trailing off into a wet gurgle, his grip on her waist and throat loosening.  Rin landed on hands and knees and looked confusedly back at the creature.  There was a thick ripping sound and the shiny tip of a sword suddenly emerged from his belly.  Rin shrieked as thick gluts of blood began to pour from the wound.  The sword disappeared and the youkai, eyes rolling wildly in his skull, sank to first to his knees then to the ground, revealing the owner of the sword.

Rin gasped.  “Se…Sesshoumaru-sama,” she murmured as she stared upwards at his finely chiseled features, sent into ghostly relief by Toukajin’s swirling violet aura.  He regarded her silently, expression unreadable.  He disappeared from view suddenly, reappearing on her left.  One of the boar youkai howled in agony, clutching at the spurting stump that had been his arm.  Rin gave a small shriek and scooted away from the staggering youkai and the widening pool of blood at its feet.  Sesshoumaru’s sword sliced through the air with barely a sound and the creature dissipated into nothing, one last scream cutting through the air.  

“Rin.”  Shaking, she looked up into those hard golden eyes.  “Stay here.  Don’t move.”  He lowered Toukajin to his side, shrouding his face in darkness, but not before she caught sight of the confused look on his face.  That look.  It was so achingly familiar.  She had spent nearly half a year away from him but that one look made it seem like only a few days.  She lifted a trembling hand but he was already gone to engage another one of the boars in battle.  She watched silently as one after the other fell under the sharp edge of the glowing sword. Sesshoumaru’s silvery hair whipped through the air, his clothing billowing as he leapt and darted about the clearing.  

The pound of hooves woke her from her daze.  Jaken cursed as his armor caught on the saddle and he was thrown to the ground in a heap.  Immediately he was at her side, scaly hands gripping her shoulders, checking to see that she was unharmed.

“Sesshoumaru-sama,” she said numbly, her head twisting to the side so that she could catch another glimpse of the dog youkai.  

“It’s all right, Rin.  You’re safe now.”  His voice trembled slightly and suddenly he pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Jaken-sama?”  At the sight of the tears in the corner of his large eyes she broke down, wrapping her arms around his small form and bursting into relieved tears.  Jaken patted her back gently, whispering comforting words. A loud shout rose from the edge of the clearing, and they looked back in its direction.

Sesshoumaru stood facing the leader of the boar youkai.  The motley group of soldiers and servants of Usagi Manor were spread out along the edge of the clearing, bows and other weapons at ready.  Both youkai suddenly disappeared.  There was a loud clash of tusk against sword and they appeared again, the boar landing between Sesshoumaru and the servants.  Bright violet waves of evil aura spun around Toukajin’s shaft as Sesshoumaru lifted the sword above his head.

Rin gasped and leapt to her feet, knocking Jaken to the ground.  Ignoring her sore muscles, she broke into a run towards the two battling youkai, Jaken’s screeching protests unheeded.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, no!” she cried.  She could feel the sharp pricks of pine needles ramming into the soft soles of her feet, but she couldn’t stop.  Atsutane, Moe, and the others were all in danger.  If she didn’t make it in time they would all be killed by Toukajin’s blow.  She forced her aching legs and feet to move faster.  

The youki gathering around the sword was growing in both size and intensity, a near blinding light.  Sesshoumaru slowly pulled the sword down, ready to strike.  The leader of the boars bellowed and followed suit, falling to a crouch and brandishing his tusks.  In slow motion, she saw Toukajin start its deadly swoop.

Rin propelled herself between them and turned to face her master, her arms outstretched.  “Sesshoumaru-sama, stop!”

The momentum of the sword halted immediately.  “Rin, get out of my way,” Sesshoumaru shouted.

“No!  You mustn’t hurt these people!” she cried.

“Rin, move now!” His eyes flashed a dangerous shade of crimson and she flinched, but made no movement to do as he commanded.  He snarled and leapt forward, sword extended before him, bearing down on her with frightening speed.

Rin trembled, tears coursing down her cheeks.  This punishment was suitable for such a disrespectful servant.  She understood now why he had sent her away.  He must have found her so annoying; she was always in his way.

“MOVE!” he roared, sword raised to strike.  A loud bellow rose from behind her and she turned to see the boar youkai mere yards away, charging her, tusks gleaming sharp and deadly in the moonlight.  She screamed, a sudden understanding sweeping through her mind as she watching the creature bear down on her.  Her body was paralyzed by fear.  Even if she could move, she wouldn’t be able to get out of the way in time.  Sesshoumaru was yelling, but his words were completely drowned out by the heavy clomp of hoofed feet and the boar’s bellow.

Sesshoumaru’s hand struck her with the force of a freight train, knocking the wind from her lungs and sending her flying to the ground several yards away. Gasping and coughing, she pushed her self to hands and knees only to fall over again as Toukajin shot into the ground several inches away from her head.  Eyes widening, she whipped her head around.  The two youkai were draped in darkness, separate forms indistinguishable in a vicious embrace.  Slowly the clouds drifted from the moon, revealing their tangled bodies.  Rin gasped.

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  What happened to the Fluffers?  Why is Rin so upset?  You're gonna have to wait a day or to for me to finish with this last chapter, but the wait should be well worth it since the last chapter is the lemon.  *Busily starts scanning smut-fanfiction for inspiration*