Unexpected Love
Disclaimer: I do not own any Inu-Yasha characters. This story is pretty close-minded mainly
revolves around Sesshoumru, and Rin other charcters may or may not pop up randomly. I
do however own all rights to my own character. Enjoy! ^_^
Chapter One: The Begining
Tranquil, peaceful and quiet. It was dark this night. The sky was darker then usual.
The moon shone full and brilliantly against the solid black of the sky. It's bright silver rays
provided the only light for the nocturnal creatures that dwelled within the dense forest below. Stars
littered the sky like cherry blossom pedals falling from the trees during the Spring. A subtle wind
blew throughout the forest, rustling the leaves of the many trees. The silence of the forest was only
broken by the soft hooting of a nearby owl. Yes, it was a wonderful night. The comforting silence
was shattered as a blood-curdling scream echoed throughout the forest. The many birds perched
within the tress flew skyward in a hurried rush.
If you were to walk into the dense forest you would come across an open field. The once
lush green grass now shone black with the blood from at least six demons within the moonlight.
Their blood soaked the ground and speckled across the rough bark of the trees surrounding the field.
After the long scream faded from the air the body of a young male demon collapsed to the ground,
his head being sliced in two as the last ounce of life faded from his form. Within the mist of the
chaos and blood shed stood a woman. Her slender body was hunched over upon it's self. Her
breathing was short and ragid. Exhaustion was slowly trying to overcome her. The blood from her
enemies mixed with her own stained her pale ivory skin. The wind picked up yet again blowing her
long, thigh waist, dark blue hair about her frame. Still fighting to regain her breath she tilted her head
skyward, her eyes closed allowing the soft wind to calm her nerves. She quickly caught her breath
and stood up straight.
Protruding from her back were two large, breathtaking silver wings. They hung at her
side slightly dragging the ground due to her still prominent exhaustion. Gathering what was left of
her strength she pulled them in toward her body and pressed them against her back. Her eyes still
closed, she relaxed her muscles as her wings disappeared into her body leaving no trace that
they ever existed behind. She opened her eyes revealing their icy blue color. Turning her head
slowly to the side she smiled weakly "There's one......" she said softly, her voice was lovely to
the ears of all but it was laced with her pain, and exhaustion. Wincing slightly she began to
walk farther into the forest, using the near by trees as support. She suddenly came to a stop,
a small smile gracing her features as her icy blue gaze landed on a welcoming hot spring.
Walking to the edge of the hot spring, she sighed and began to undress. Her short black
skirt slide passed her hips with little effort, she laid it on the bank before pulling her top off. Her top
was just as simple. It matched her skirt in color, had no sleeves and showed her well toned
stomach. Her outfit didn't look dirty due to it's color but when she put her shirt into the water, to
rinse whatever blood might have been on it, the water changed from crystal clear to blood red. She
did the same thing with her skirt before hanging both articles of clothing up on a near by tree to
dry. Walking back to the spring she carefully sat down on a large rock that laid partially in the
water. Leaning over carefully, to avoid reopening her wounds, she pulled her slipper-like shoes
off and set them on the bank before sliding into the hot, soothing water.
She cringed slightly as the hot water rushed across her wounds. Working through the
sharp pain, she began to wash herself, rinsing the blood, tissue, and thicker objects from her
body. Once clean she leaned back against the same rock she previously sat on and let the
water sooth her aching body as her clothes dried. Her eyes slowly began to drift close as her
body and subconscious slowly subdued to the relaxing current of the water coxing her into sleep.
Her exhaustion didn't allow her to debate the promise of sleep as her eyes finally drifted closed.
Back at the clearing of death and horror stood a tall figure. Long silver hair blew freely
against the wind. The figure was dressed in noble clothing, long white pants, fitted loosely against
long legs and a white kimono-like shirt covered a well scalped chest. Red, tipped the sleeves of
the shirt and covered the majority of the left side in a simple design. Wrapped around the slender
waist of the figure was a long brilliant yellow and dark blue sash. Deep golden eyes scanned the
carnage. The figure was clearly male, a very powerful male. Deep magenta markings, like two
elongated triangles marred his pallor. The moonlight gave him an aura of silver light that made this
man seem godly. His eyes narrowed slightly before he turned and headed in the direction of the
hot spring.
Following close behind the man was a young girl and a loud toad demon. The little girl
had long brown hair and matching eyes. She was dressed in a simple kimono and skipped
through the field following the man into the forest. The carnage did not seem to bother her much
as if she was used to seeing such things. The ugly toad demon ran clumsily after the girl. His
giant yellow eyes widened with surprise and fear as he looked at the numerous bodies of the
demons that littered the field. The ugly creature stopped to stare at all the carnage, 'Who could
have done all of this?' he wondered to himself. Looking up he noticed that the two he had been
following had disappeared from sight. Screeching he ran after them.
The man came to a stop at the edge of the hot spring. His gaze drilled into the face of the
woman that laid just feet from him in a deep sleep. He looked over to his followers as the screaming
of the toad demon reached his ears. The little girl stood in silent awe at the woman, surprise visible
in her innocent eyes. Glaring at the weaker demon he moved his eyes back on the woman in front
of him. 'A woman?' he asked himself. He could smell the exhaustion, blood, and remnants of
fear that covered both her and filled the air surrounding the hot spring. 'She's the one who killed the
demons?' He couldn't deny the fact that this woman was indeed to reason for the carnage he just
saw but she seemed so weak in this state. More so, he thought, then she should, even after the
battle she just faced.
The small child walked over to the woman who remained sleeping silently in the water, and
knelt down beside her. The man watched her carefully, curiosity coursed through his body although
from the outside you would never know. She leaned over and pushed the woman's long dark blue
hair away from her face gently. Surprise still visible in her eyes she smiled a small squeal of
happiness escaped her throat. "Ceres-San!" She scream. The woman woke with a start and blinked
clearing the sleep from her vision before looking over to the small girl. Silence filled the air as
realization came to the woman now know as Ceres. ".......Rin-Chan?" she asked softly. The girl's
smile widened at her name and nodded. "Yes, yes it is Rin!! Ceres-San remembers me!!" She said
with pure delight before locking her arms around Ceres' neck. A small smile graced Ceres' face as
she wrapped her arms around Rins small form, "I have missed you my dear Rin...." looking up she
took note of the man and toad demon who stood on and watched the scene unfold in front of them.
Pulling the girl from her embrace she asked her quietly, "Rin-Chan.....who are these people with
you?"
Rin sat up and look back at the two demons before looking back at Ceres and smiling.
"They're my friends! That's....." she pointed to the man "Is Lord Sesshoumaru and that...." she
pointed to the toad demon "Is Master Jaken!" The one known as Sesshoumaru just continued to
watch the two silently no emotion visible within the depths of his golden eyes. Jaken scoffed at
the two and turned his back to them muttering something about stupid women. 'Odd companions'
Ceres thought as she scanned the two. Her eyes drifted back to Sesshoumaru. She locked eyes
with the static demon. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw his eyes, and tears began to
well up within the depths of her own. "Azreal......" she said softly. There was something strange
about this man, something that reminded her of happier times in her past and, at the same time,
brought back the horrors she had locked away.
Sesshoumaru noticed the look in her eyes and lifted a delicate eye brow in question. She
noticed the look and drew her gaze from him and back to the small girl in her arms. "I'm glad to see
you have made some friends little one.....Let me get dressed and I will build a fire for us to sit by. It
is getting cold out. We can at least stay warm no?" She asked the girl. Rin nodded and stood up
"Yes! I will help!" With that Rin ran off into the forest looking for wood to use for the fire.
Sesshoumaru looked over at Jaken "Watch her...." he said, his voice was deep and as smooth as
silk to the ears but hidden within it was the promise of death for any who disobeyed him. Jaken
nodded and ran after the girl leaving the two demons alone. Ceres took note that the man would not
leave and sighed. Standing she stepped out of the water and walked over to the tree that still held
her clothes.
The moonlight made her pale skin glisten and shine with unearthly beauty. She got dressed
quickly, sliding her skirt back up and over her hips, and pulling her shirt over her head and passed
her large but firm breasts. Walking back to the spring she slipped her shoes back on and walked
toward the direction Rin ran off avoiding the gaze of Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes
to follow the strange woman until she was out of his sight. He looked around the small clearing and
took a seat under a large tree using the firm trunk for support against his back and waited for the
return of the others.
Ceres caught up with Rin and helped her gather fire wood before walking back to the
hot sprint. Picking a relatively dry spot, Ceres began to build a large fire with Rin's help. Once
complete the small group huddled around the fire, all except Sesshoumaru who seemed to have
left the small group and disappeared into the depths of the forest. Rin sat next to Ceres and decided
to strike up a conversation with her old friend. "What have you been doing Ceres-San? I have been
traveling all over with Lord Sesshoumaru and Master Jaken! I have seen many places!" Ceres
smiled at her excitement. "Well Rin-Chan, I have been traveling as well.....I'm looking for
someone....special to me......" Rin thought for a moment before nodding her understanding. "I have
missed you Ceres-San....." silence filled the air for a brief moment before Ceres spoke up "I'm sorry
I left you Rin.....I thought it would be best for you to remain in a village.....safe from the dangers of
my life....."
Rin eyed her with a soft expression. The girl's soft brown hair glimmered in the pale
moonlight, partially obscuring her face, darkening her eyes a bit. "I understand. You're not to
blame for anything...." the girl's voice faltered for a moment, cracked as if it caught in her throat.
"Don't worry about any of it," her voice became almost cheerful. She sighed lightly and folded her
small hands in her lap. She wanted to ask Ceres of her parents, but knew not what to say. For an
instant, a silence overtook the small campsite, and a frigid breeze sliced through the trees - it
stung Rin's cheeks. "It's cold," Rin said, instead, and pulled about her a small pelt of speckled fur.
She was almost swallowed up in the bounds of thick silk that made up her kimono. Ceres sighed
and looked away from the little girl. She was right. Ever since the death of Azreal, the thought of
revenge delighted her. She had no friends except Rin. She had never felt love for another or from
another. Her life was indeed truly sad. Would she really die never knowing what it felt like to love and
be loved? Would she sacrifice her only friendship for the sake of revenge? She did not want to but
she also did not want to hurt Rin in the end either.
The smell of salt hit her nose; it was slight but still very much there. She did not mean to
hurt her, she only wished to protect her. Ceres forced her gaze to the girl once again and grief
overtook her. The girl was wise beyond her years and seemed like she could sense or feel her
hidden emotions. She tried to smile but could not. Rin gazed at the fire and smiled to herself.
"Would you like to play......" she began, but she was interrupted by the form of Sesshoumaru,
stepping from the darkness. His slender fingers were dripping with thick black blood. ".....a game?",
Rin finished lamely. Ceres opened her mouth to answer but before she could, the strange man
interrupted. Sesshoumaru looked at the women, his eyes glowing yellow slits in the darkness. The
daiyoukai knelt beside the crackling fire. His eyes flickered with an indeterminate emotion - and Rin
looked away. His voice was a low, guttural snarl, "Someone....." he looked to the youkai-girl, "is not
pleased with our approach."
He growled lowly, and his eyes sparked with what seemed like bloodlust. "There were five
hebi-youkai henchmen. I dispensed them easily. Certainly Matthias would not send such trifling
servants to affront this Sesshoumaru. Could it be, wench, that you've lost you're element of
surprise?" His eyes narrowed upon her. Perhaps the Eastern Lord - a youkai wiser in the ways of
intrigue than she - had sensed her approach? Sesshoumaru's death-gaze stilled upon her,
unwavering, as he waited her response. Ceres listened closely to his words and her eyes darkened
at the mention of the attack. Hearing his accusation she glared up at him and scoffed, "I am no
fool.....even one such as myself can sense your power, I know full well that five mere hebi-youkai
could not hope to defeat you but then again the one who sent them has also underestimated me...."
she sighed and looked down at the flames of the campfire.
It was true that five hebi-youkai were easy enough to handle on her own but Matthias'
attempts on her life have become almost constant and she had grown weaker from lack of sleep,
food and her body had lost most of it's strength from the constant battles she faced day in and day
out. She heard the strange man stand, "Come Rin it is time we left....." Rin nodded and stood up
slowly before walking over to Ceres and giving her a brief hug. Ceres stood and watched the girl walk
away from her. She was not paying much mind to the demon lord who stood mere feet from her. Her
attention was drawn to him, however; when he told her she could go along. She looked into those
eyes that reminded her of her beloved brother and nodded slightly. Hesitating, she watched the
small group jump through the trees and shrugged. Spreading her magnificent wings, she thrust them
towards the ground using the force to lift her into the air.
The group moved on, ephemeral and sprite like figures in the night. AhUhn sliced through the
forest canopy with the lithe grace of a serpent, the eerie jingling of its' reigns - and the nymphish
laughter of the girl upon its back - following in its gusty wake. The great dragon purred in commune
with the girl. A small group of tribunal servants followed far below, hurried on by the croakish voice of
the toad demon Jaken. Sesshoumaru far headed the group, an ephemeral streak of silver in the night
sky. Ceres followed the groups ahead of her, keeping a safe distance so she was free to think
without interruption. She allowed her mind to wonder to her previous behavior towards the strange
man. 'Why did I react that way? A lot of people have his same eye color....' she sighed inwardly and
knew that the eyes had not been what threw her; the scent that covered his body had been the true
cause. "Sesshoumaru was it?' she asked herself as her gaze landed on the man. 'I have heard that
name before but....where?' She searched her memories and after a few minutes, she found the
answer. Her brother had mentioned him once before, he was the lord of the Western lands.
She re-called him talking about their fathers' plan to kill said lord many years ago. He wanted
his lands and his power and at the time, Sesshoumaru was about Azreal's age. Azreal had
respected the old lord of the west and dedicated his life to him so he refused to let Matthias kill
Sesshoumaru. With this realization, she began to wonder if this was the reason for Azreal's death.
She did not know but she was going to find out. She thrust her wings harder picking up her pace to
catch up with the demon lord in front of her. Once she reached him, she worked to keep his pace
and talk at the same time. If he knew about her father then this had to be the same Sesshoumaru
and that meant that she was a little closer to revealing the truth of her brothers' death.
As Ceres approached, the daiyoukai's eyes were downcast. His thoughts were on the
ningen-girl, and his expression was dark. He listened to her laughter from below - and straightened
as the youkai-girl approached him. She flew to his side and asked, "I heard you mention a man
named Matthias earlier....so you know of him?". "I know of him," Sesshoumaru answered guardedly,
after a protracted silence. Why was this trifling moron not in the back with the servants, as he'd
asserted? His expression was empty, however, and did not yet belie his annoyance. "You ought
know more of Matthias than this Sesshoumaru," he snidely asserted after another long silence. He
smelled the Eastern Lord on the girl - she was his close relation. Perhaps a bastard child born of
some rogue youkai-maiden now searching for her father? Sesshoumaru could not doubt the
possibility.
Matthias was an arrogant twit with a spirit more human then youkai - only his greed
surpassed his self-conceit. He'd warred for years with Sesshoumaru's great father in hopes of
usurping the hold of the great dogs over Kyushu. It never happened, of course - and never would.
Sesshoumaru was convinced of the superiority of his power over Matthias, and he would kill the
arrogant moron in one fell swoop if he so much as sensed a move of dissension. He now sensed
unrest in the older youkai - but it did not yet border on martial dissent. Sesshoumaru stared forward,
his eyes empty. The moonlight cast dark shadows over his pale face and deepened the color of the
ancestral markings that marred his pallor. Far below them, Rin began to sing. Her little voice lilted
along the breeze and reached them somewhat distorted. Sesshoumaru's eyes changed, almost
imperceptive. "How do you know the girl?", he asked, his silvery voice low and dark. Still he stared
ahead, expressionless.
Ceres blinked in surprise. She did not expect such a question from the silent Lord. Smiling
She looked down at the child and listened to her singing, "I knew her grandparents.....long before
she was born.....back when I was about her age....her grandparents helped me. I was raised by
them and when Rin's mother was born we were raised together like sisters despite the fact that I
was youkai and she was ningen. When Misa had grown up and married I was still there protecting
her....." the memories flooded her mind as she continued with her story, "When she became with
child I was very happy for her.....When Rin was born I helped raise her, her mother was very ill
after giving birth so the extra help was necessary.....After Misa had recovered completely I left
our small family....I heard a rumor that my true blood family, my brother Azreal, had been murdered,
so I left to find the truth. When I returned I found that Misa and her husband had been murdered.
Rin was but 4 years old.....for a year we traveled together but my life became far to dangerous
for me to keep her with me. I found a small village and placed her in the care of the headman....
I checked on her often, I didn't notice the abuse until the wolves attacked the village...."
Looking away from Rin she let her gaze travel back to Sesshoumaru "I smelt her there,
amongst the chaos, I smelt her fear and her blood.....I assumed she was dead.....I am very
relived that she is alive and well, and for that I thank you....." Sesshoumaru met her gaze and
nodded. He now understood the connection between the two women now traveling with him.
What he did not understand was how she was connected with Matthias. He recalled her mentioning
Azreal. He knew Azreal, when he was younger he saw him often normally at his castle in the west
and almost always standing next to Sesshoumaru's father. Azreal was Matthias' son....realization
dawned on him as he stared into Ceres' eyes. "You said you are Azreal's sister?" He asked. Ceres
nodded and sighed "Yes, my mother....died when I was younger and my......father" she said this
word with more hatred then the daiyoukai could have ever believe she had within her "Hated me....
only my brother cared for me....when Matthias started plotting against the Lord of the West,
Azreal left the Eastern kingdom ruled by our father and went to help the Western Lord."
"He told me to hide and that he would come find me.......after 50 years he never came back..
that was when I heard of his death......." Sesshoumaru listen to her story and nodded his
understanding. He knew of Azreal's fate but wondered if she was aware of the truth. "Do you know
who killed your brother?" Sesshoumaru surprised he was so interested. But Azreal was one he once
considered a friend so he allowed his curiosity to overcome him. Ceres looked away from him and
nodded when she finally spoke her voice was laced with so much malice that even Sesshoumaru
shivered slightly "The same man who has always tried to kill me, the same one who attacked me
in the clearing, the same man who sent the hebi-youkai.....Matthias.....our father...."
Author's Note: Well that was chapter one. This will be the first story I attempted on my own. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm working on it while I'm at work since I'm moving right now and I don't have a computer at home. I'll write as fast as I can and I welcome all comments both the good and the bad. I would love your ideas! Thanks!