Because of You
Chapter One
A Sesshoumaru/Rin Fanfic
Rated M: For sex and language.
Disclaimer: All rights and licenses to the official creators and companies of "Inuyasha". This work of fan fiction is not for profit.
Author's Notes: There may be some inconsistencies from the original Manga and the Anime/Movie versions. Please allow some leniencies for artistic license. Any glaring mistakes may be brought to my attention, but please do so in an appropriate manner.
On the spellings: My personal preference for spelling "Sesshoumaru" is with the elongation to be "ou" rather than many versions that have it as "ō" ('o' with the "-" above it). Also, Japanese words will not be in italics, since words in italics are stressed, not shown as a language difference.
This story was written for fun and I hope you will enjoy reading it as I enjoyed writing it.
"It's been a while, Sesshoumaru."
Turning to the voice, Sesshoumaru watched as Sango traversed the path with a pack of children running around her. The children, ranging from the six year old twin daughters to the baby strapped to its mother, all looked like a mix of the monk and the warrior. Sango herself looked a bit older, as humans did over time.
"You look the same," Sango commented.
Of course he looked the same. He was a Daiyoukai. He wouldn't age the same as they would. Maintaining his youthfulness was a given for the next few decades, then perhaps in a century or so, there might be a noticeable change.
"Sesshoumaru-san!" The twins ran up. They didn't fear the imposing youkai. His golden eyes narrowed lightly to their calling. "Are you looking for Rin-neechan?"
"Ah," he intoned his confirmation.
"She went to the forest today."
"Rin-neechan took Tatsuya-san."
"Nee, Sesshoumaru-san, where's Jaken-san?"
The girls and the three other children ran around him looking for his imp companion.
Sesshoumaru looked at Sango as she walked past. "Tatsuya?"
"You'll have to find out on your own. Come along, children. Say goodbye." Sango left without any other help.
"Goodbye, Sesshoumaru-san!" The chorus of children sang as they scampered after their mother.
"The forest," Sesshoumaru murmured beneath his breath and turned to face the trees.
Her scent was faint in his mind. It had been too long since he visited. Though he thought he would never forget her scent, Sesshoumaru woke earlier that day in a panic. Dreams were rare for him. And the one that drove him to the human village was a memory of Rin.
In his dream, he was missing his left arm, a sure way for Sesshoumaru to recognize his unconscious state, and he was cradling Rin's body. She was dead. Again. And Tenseiga laid, thrust into the ground, useless to him.
Nothing compared to the loss of Rin's life. Without Rin, what good was anything? Gaining Tenseiga's ultimate power was no trade for the girl in his grasp.
Sesshoumaru woke. He knew she was safe. Rin was in the care of capable individuals. Loath to admit it, Sesshoumaru believed his worthless brother to be the kind who would help her if needed. And there were the others.
He knew, and yet, he still worried. In the darkness of his room, Sesshoumaru conjured up her image. Rin was no longer the tiny eight year old girl. She had grown over the five years since she started living a peaceful life in the village. The baby face roundness smoothed to soft curves around her smile and wide eyes. Her height was still short for her age, as Sesshoumaru thought she might never make up for her malnutrition from the time before he met her. Rin ate better when she didn't have to hide from abusive villagers, but there were some things she couldn't make up now.
But that memory of her, wearing a summer yukata he brought her, was nearly a year old. It was six years since he left Rin in the care of the Miko, Kaede. Try as he might, the events of recent months gave Sesshoumaru no chance to travel and see her.
Focusing his memory on Rin, he could hear her voice, but it was a younger Rin. Could see her smile, on a younger face. And he couldn't fully recall her scent. One he promised himself to remember so he could always find her.
Sesshoumaru embarked for his journey immediately. He left Jaken a note telling of his departure and to not ruin any of the plans that were underway.
Even pushing his own limits, most of the day passed before Sesshoumaru arrived. At least the sun was still up.
Leaping to the sky, Sesshoumaru inhaled, trying to find a familiar scent in the woodland below. After a few minutes, Sesshoumaru landed on a tall tree. He had pushed himself to travel quickly. Now, doing such a simple task was draining him of all strength. Deciding on if he should return to the village to wait for her, a scent filled his mind. It was like a veil had lifted and he could see the world anew.
"Sesshoumaru-samaaa!" A crystal clear voice like a bubbling mountain waterfall called up.
Without a moment of hesitation, Sesshoumaru dropped out of the tree and landed in front of the waiting girl. He took in her gently smiling face, her long hair tied back with a simple strip of fabric, and her clothes; a yukata he brought the last time with a simple pattern made with the smoothest cotton. Rin's scent filled him with nostalgia, calm, and familiarity.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, it's been a while. Have you been terribly busy?" Rin shifted her basket of herbs on her hip to reach for his hand. Her hand was small, warm, lightly calloused from work, but still fragile in his. He wrapped his fingers, lightly enclosing their hands together on instinct.
"Why aren't you saying anything, Sesshoumaru-sama? You look tired," Rin shook their hands to try and get some sort of response from him.
"I've missed you, Rin."
Her smile lit the clearing at his simple words. Rin didn't need much else from him beyond his short sentences. Sesshoumaru didn't waste words. He reached up with his free hand to pet her head when he froze, his nose flaring ever so slightly and his eyes narrowed. His hand gripped her fingers and he pulled Rin to his side as he stretched his claws.
"Wait, Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin leaned into him and turned to the approaching footsteps. "It's Tatsuya-san."
Sesshoumaru's eye twitched at the name. But at the same time, he liked how Rin pressed against his side and didn't move as a man emerged.
"Rin-chan!" Panic was evident as the man saw Rin in the arms of a silver-haired youkai.
"Tatsuya-san, I'd like to introduce you. Sesshoumaru-sama, this is Tatsuya-san, who came to the village last autumn to work with the farmers who needed help. Tatsuya-san, this is Sesshoumaru-sama. The one I mentioned before."
The man was brave, staring down a Daiyoukai, but he made no attempt to call Rin away from what he perceived as a danger. Sesshoumaru could smell the fear coming from him.
"I thought you said he hasn't visited you recently. And I've been here nearly a year and this is the first time I've heard of a visit." Tatsuya was clearly testing Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru-sama is very busy. He visits when he can," Rin defended her savior.
Tatsuya failed to realize that he was, in fact, testing Rin's loyalty, not Sesshoumaru's. The man looked in astonishment at Rin, then glared at the Daiyoukai before replying. "It's getting dark. We should head home, Rin-chan."
Rin looked at Tatsuya's outstretched hand, then to her side where her hidden fingers were locked with Sesshoumaru's.
"Are you able to stay for a little while, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin looked up hopefully, but didn't beg like she wanted to. She had missed him and even if it was short, Rin wanted to be by his side.
"For a little while."
Beaming happily, Rin stepped away and revealed their hands as she led him through the trees. Sesshoumaru watched Tatsuya's hand drop as Rin called back to him.
"Come, on Tatsuya-san, or you'll fall behind."
Expertly navigating the foliage, Rin led Sesshoumaru through the dimming light as she chatted lightly.
"Is Jaken-sama with you today? Did he get swamped by the children? They do love playing with him," Rin inquired and looked back for Sesshoumaru's answer.
"I came alone."
"You look tired, are you alright?"
Rin felt the soft squeeze on her fingers to reassure her, but there was no verbal reply. So, he was tired, but he would be fine. Sesshoumaru would never admit it aloud, but he knew he had to convey the truth to her. She squeezed back and gave him a smile.
Tatsuya shuffled behind them, an expression of clear disapproval on his face. Normally, he would have hidden it. But Rin gave him no attention, so he let his mask fall away.
When he first arrived at the village, he was a dusty, poor, unwanted youth who was despised in his hometown. When a letter came, asking for assistance from a nearby village, there were dozens of other men his age capable of the work, but none of them volunteered. Instead, nasty rumors grew about how it was the perfect time to get rid of the unwanted bastard child that was freeloading off their town.
He left to the sound of celebrations.
After a few days of solitary, and thankfully uneventful, travelling, Tatsuya arrived. The first person he saw was Rin. She was playing in the fields. There was a baby in her arms and a whole army of children around her. Everyone wore flower crowns. And everyone was smiling.
"Rin-neechan, there's someone there," one of the older girls ran to Rin's side and pointed to him.
"Don't point, Midori-chan. It's not polite," Rin told the girl. The finger dropped and Rin called out to him, "Hello, traveler, how fares the road?"
Tatsuya stuttered to a halt. How long since he was treated without malice? This young maiden called to him in friendly politeness. He answered uneasily. "All is well, miss. Though perhaps you know how far to the next village? I am travelling there to aid the farmers with their work."
"Oh! Wonderful! We hadn't gotten any news from town. We're happy to have you," Rin hopped up, scattering flowers from her lap. She danced through the long grass to reach the road. "My name is Rin. We're not far from the farms. We can take you."
"Rin-chan," Tatsuya looked into her smiling face as he repeated her name. He felt as if a balm spread over his wounded soul. "I am called Tatsuya."
"Tatsuya-san," she confirmed. Calling to the children, "Come along everyone. Let's take Tatsuya-san to Godo-jiisan."
The children scrambled up into line. Two girls with black hair. One boy with brown hair. Another girl, another boy. Then a white haired boy and a black haired girl with what looked like pointed dog ears.
"Alright, everyone's here. Let's move out!" Rin called and the children swarmed out, running along the path in front of them.
"Um, I know we just met, but," Tatsuya walked beside Rin as a stampede raged ahead of them on short legs, "are they yours?"
Rin laughed. It was like rain falling on a lake.
"Oh, dear, no. I'm watching over the two sets today. My friends are quite busy today and it was best for me to take all the children while they work." Rin pointed out, "The white haired boy and the girl with the ears is one set. The others and this baby is another set."
"That's a lot of children for two families," Tatsuya mumbled to himself. He hadn't been wanted and he was an only child. Seeing this large group of youngsters getting along was foreign to him.
"Their parents love each other very much," Rin said, but gave no other explanation. Instead, she changed to Tatsuya's least favorite subject. "So, you came from town? Is your family coming out later or are you just here for temporary help?"
"It's just me. And I'll stay as long as I can be of help," Tatsuya replied meekly. He wasn't built for labor. He was only good at minor tasks because he didn't have the energy to spare for hard work. All his food was stolen scraps and scavenged things from the nearby woods.
"Don't let yourself get too caged in by Godo-jiisan. He'll cling on to you if you give him too many allowances," Rin laughed. Pointing, there was a building on a small rise, not far from them. "It's there. The main village is just a bit further along this pat. I think Godo-baasan is already cooking dinner."
Cheerful smoke came up from the chimney hole of the building.
"No time to waste or all the food will be gone before you even get there. Kouta, Genji, come help Tatsuya-san carry his bags. We have to hurry."
"Okay, Rin-neechan!" The two eldest boys wrangled Tatsuya's modest luggage from him and sprinted down the road.
"Come on, we're almost there," Rin chirped and hastened her pace.
Godo-jiisan greeted Rin heartily and clasped Tatsuya gratefully on his shoulders. Never in his life did Tatsuya think he would be welcomed and wanted.
Now, as he trudged through the forest, Tatsuya felt the old feeling of abandonment creating a hole in his heart. He watched as Rin smiled, but not at him. Saw her holding hands, but not with him. Heard her laugh, but not with him.
This tall, white-haired stranger was taking Rin away from him.
They broke through the trees and Rin finally turned to look back at Tatsuya.
"Tatsuya-san, thank you for your help today. You should hurry home, it's later than we thought."
"That's okay, Rin-chan. I still have to carry this back for you. Godo-san will set some food aside for me, so I don't have to worry about rushing."
"It's not okay, Tatsuya-san," Rin chided as she let go of Sesshoumaru's hand to grab the basket from Tatsuya. "You have lots of work tomorrow. Go home, eat, and get plenty of rest."
"But-"
"No buts! Honestly, you're more trouble than Genji. And he's not even five," Rin huffed, pushed the basket into Sesshoumaru's arms and stormed towards the village.
With Rin's back to both of them, Sesshoumaru turned his head to look once more to the man.
"Stay away from Rin-chan," Tatsuya hissed.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. Interested in Tatsuya's protective nature, he took a sniff. It wasn't just fear from intimidation, there was an odor of anger flowing from the farm boy.
"She isn't your play thing, so stay away from her. Rin-chan isn't something you can possess and play with and discard as you like." Fury gave Tatsuya courage.
Sesshoumaru blew air out of his nose, cleansing the stench of Tatsuya from it. Of course he knew Rin wasn't to be possessed. He turned to follow the girl, his strides easily catching up to her in the open fields. He knew because it was simple. Rin possessed him.
Author's Note: It seems as if surnames isn't something that they use in the Manga, but I didn't want to bother making names for the farmers. So Godo-jiisan and Godo-baasan have the same name, because I'm lazy and they don't reeeally matter. I hope you excuse me on that.
Also, I only named a few of the children: Miroku/Sango have Midori and Akemi (twins), Kouta, the daughter, the son, and the baby (stays genderless. Because I couldn't decide). Inuyasha/Kagome: Genji, and daughter.