I do not own Inuyasha
Ch. 1
Rin woke up to the sun rising. It didn't help the fact that she went to bed late the night before.
Then she remembered. She felt the reason wrapped around her in a warm embrace. Her eyes shot open to see a shirt covered chest, rising and falling in a slow rhythm.
She looked up to see Sesshomaru's still sleeping face. He looked so relaxed and so vulnerable. She would have loved to just stare at his face like this, but unfortunately the call of nature was starting to make itself known.
Rin very gently maneuvered herself out of Sesshomaru's arms and legs that entangled hers and made it to the bathroom without disturbing him.
While in the bathroom, Rin looked at her reflection in the mirror and noticed that her complexion was more vibrant than the day before. She smiled at herself in the mirror and exited the bathroom.
Rin leaned against the doorframe and looked at…dare she say it…mate. They weren't official yet, they spent the night just holding one another, reconnecting what their souls almost lost.
She then moved back into the room and went to one of her suit cases and grabbed some clothes she decided to wear for the day. She turned when she noticed her camera sitting on the side table. She turned to Sesshomaru and then back to her camera. She smiled and took her camera out.
Very deviously, she took a couple shots of Sesshomaru sleeping. She smiled again and set her camera back down once she was done, grabbed her clothes and went back to the bathroom to take a shower.
While in the shower, Sesshomaru started to stir from his slumber. He rolled onto his back and opened his eyes to see a ceiling he didn't recognize. Then it came to him and he turned to look outside.
That's right. I'm in Paris. With…
He turned to look at the other side of the bed, but to find that Rin was not there. Then he noticed that the shower was going. For a moment there, his body was ready to go into panic mode, but she was still here, so he calmed down.
Sesshomaru swung he legs off of the bed and stretched his worn out muscles. The past three days had worn him out, plus being in a different time zone didn't help either. It was currently ten o'clock in the morning.
Shaking himself, he got up and decided to order room service for them both. He knew he ate very rarely because he was a demon, but he thought Rin would appreciate it if there was food waiting for her when she got out of the shower, which now promptly was turned off.
Sesshomaru spoke quickly in French on the phone to order the food and once he was done he went to inspect his suit case. He was a little unsure what he would find packed in there and it looked like it was packed to the max.
Sesshomaru just shook his head over his irrational fear and went to his bag, grabbed it and heaved it onto the bed. He promptly opened it and started to take out items to assess what he had.
Two pairs of tennis shoes, the only ones he owned, five pairs of jeans, along with five pairs of polos and t-shirts, a sweater, and ten pairs of socks and boxers. Sesshomaru was impressed that his father and step-mother managed to find these many regular clothes among all of his suits.
Sesshomaru grabbed a polo, jeans and boxers just as the bathroom door opened to see Rin drying her hair with a towel. She smiled when she saw him awake and walked over to him.
"Good morning, Sesshomaru," she said, now standing in front of him.
"Good morning, Rin," he said in return, grabbing the towel from her hands and dropped it on a bed post. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
Rin then leaned up and gently kissed him on the lips. Sesshomaru closed his eyes as her lips alone sent shivers up and down his spine.
knock, knock, knock
They broke apart and Rin said, "Who is that?"
"Room service," Sesshomaru said simply and made his way to the door, but Rin stopped him.
"You're not dressed," she said simply and he let her get the door. He heard Rin talk in French just as fluently as he did and the door shut. He went out, still not dressed, and joined her where she had set the food. They both ate in silence, but it was comfortable for both.
Sesshomaru was the first to finish and he simply just watched her eat. Once Rin was finished, she looked up at him and stared back. After a moment she broke eye contact and asked, "What would you like to do today?"
Sesshomaru took a moment to think and then said, "I'd like to see your bridge."
Rin smiled as he got up and went to the bed and grabbed his clothes and headed to the bathroom and when she heard the click of the door and the shower turn on, she stacked their plates together so it was easier for the maids to clean up later.
She went to the bedroom and grabbed her tennis shoes and put them on. Then to kill a little bit of time, she refolded all of Sesshomaru's clothes and put them into the dresser that was in the room and put his now empty suitcase in the closet. The only thing she left out was his sweater, socks, and shoes.
Then she proceeded to do the same with hers, at least the ones she would need. She didn't think that they would stay in a hotel room for very long.
She heard the shower turn off in the bathroom as she put her suitcases in the closet. She closed the closet and grabbed her camera from the side table and put it back into its bag, smiling a little.
She turned around just as the door to the bathroom opened up to show Sesshomaru drying his hair with his towel.
Sesshomaru walked into the room and saw the room tidied up and the suitcases gone and put away. He also noticed a pair of socks, shoes and his sweater laying on a chair.
He quietly went to them and grabbed his socks and shoes, placing his used towel over the arm of the chair. He went to the bed next and sat down and put his socks and shoes on. All the while he felt Rin's eyes on him, waiting patiently for him to finish.
To be completely honest with himself he was afraid to break the silence. He had to think of something to say. Anything at all. The silence wasn't awkward, but comfortable. It was just not filled. Mostly because he didn't know what to say.
He turned to Rin once he finished tying his shoes he turned towards her and found her looking at him, a small, contented smile on her face, holding his sweater in her arms.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
He simply nodded his head and stood up, walking towards her and took his sweater out of her arms and promptly put it on. She waited a moment and then turned around to head towards the door. Sesshomaru caught her hand in his before she could take two steps.
"Rin," he paused to wait for her to look at him.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?" she asked, stepping towards him, closing the space between them.
Sesshomaru didn't answer. Rin looked into his eyes and saw the answer. He didn't have to tell her. It was plain as day. She smiled in understanding.
Rin took his hand in hers and started to lead him out of the hotel room, grabbing his wallet, her purse and the room key and left.
They were now outside, staring at the slightly overcast sky.
Rin turned to Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru turned to Rin.
"This way," she said, leading him by the hand, turning to their left and walked in companionable silence. Sesshomaru looked around at the buildings. The architecture was exquisite.
They came to the corner and turned right. He could already see the river. It did not take them long and were crossing Quai Voltaire, and taking a left. Sesshomaru followed, all the while looking at the scenery.
The river itself, well looked like a river. Of course Sesshomaru knew it had significance to Rin so he didn't say anything. Until they hit the bridge. As they turned the corner, he looked up to see two statues at the head. Statues of women, the nipples prominent.
Whoever sculpted those were really perverted, Sesshomaru thought, but looking at the detail, they were really exquisite works of art. He felt Rin stop beside him and moved them to the edge of the bridge.
"So this is it," she said, gesturing to the bridge, "Pont du Carrousel."
Sesshomaru turned so he was facing the flow of traffic. He turned to his right and looked down and saw archways to a very long building that didn't seem to end. Then he turned back to Rin, who was looking expectantly at him.
He nodded his head and leaned against the side of the bridge, slowly rubbing his thumb on the outer part of her hand. Rin didn't expect as much from him, but sidled up close to his side, noticing how just the stroke of just one of his fingers was sending tiny shivers down her spine.
Sesshomaru naturally accommodated her, putting his other hand resting on her waist. He put his nose into her hair, taking a deep breathe in, letting her scent envelope him. He was, what was the word…nirvana.
They both stayed like that, not a care in the world and ignoring anyone that passed by, all of them looking shyly away from the couple. They weren't even kissing, but it was the fact that they were so contented to be in each other's arms, it was only respectful not to disturb their moment.
Sesshomaru finally decided to break the silence between them. He was afraid that he might give the wrong impression that he wasn't interested in what she had to show him in this city that she loved so much.
"So…why this bridge?" he asked, parting slightly to look down into her face. She took on a thoughtful look.
"I'm not entirely sure," she started, looking at his chest, "Maybe it's the fact that it takes me to one of my favorite places or if you look over there," she pointed down the river, where Sesshomaru saw two towers, "those are the bell towers of Notre Dame. Every hour on the hour the bells ring which should go off," she looked at her watch, "in five, four, three, two, one."
It was distant, but he heard them just the same with his demonic hearing. The bells were resonant. Twelve rings representing that it was noon.
"I would sometimes stay here for hours just to hear them go off and when I knew it was late, I would stay for one more hour to hear them again. It's a beautiful sound, isn't it?"
"Yes it is," Sesshomaru quietly said, "What is the other place?"
Rin then turned and pointed to the archways on the other side of the river.
"Through the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and to your right is the Louvre," she said turning back to him.
"And the bridge itself?"
"Let's see," she said, taking on another thoughtful look, "construction started in 1831 and it was inaugurated in 1834. Named by King Louis-Philippe at the time. The statues were made by Louis Petitot. They represent Industry, Abundance, the City of Paris, and The Seine," she continued to explain. She gave him every full blown out history significant detail of just one bridge and what he heard there were thirty-seven total in this city alone.
He listened patiently, just letting her talk her heart out, until she had nothing more to say, leaving them once again in companionable silence. They both looked over the railing and just listened. Sesshomaru eventually closed his eyes and let the flow of the river calm him.
"What is the river saying to you?" Rin asked quietly.
"I thought you said that is between you and the river," Sesshomaru said just as quietly.
Rin smiled, "Yes I did."
Sesshomaru opened his eyes and turned to her.
"If you really want to know," he said, turning her head, leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was such a soft kiss, once Sesshomaru parted from her, it left her wanting more. She turned her body and recaptured his lips.
Sesshomaru received her enthusiasm and returned it, making people passing by, once again, avert their eyes, but one set slowed and stopped.
"Rin?"
Rin's eyes shot open and parted from Sesshomaru and looked at the person in question.
"Sango?"
"W-what are you doing here? I thought…? And who…?" Sango said, walking up to them, a bag in her hands.
"Well plans sometimes change and I would like you to meet Sesshomaru," Rin said, gesturing to Sesshomaru.
"Um, pleased to meet you," Sango said, looking inquisitively at him, obviously confused at this new development.
"Like wise," Sesshomaru said, wondering who the woman was.
Sango then turned back to Rin who had a slightly sheepish look and a blush on her face.
"Rin you have some explaining to do," Sango said, hands on her hips in a motherly fashion.
"Um, to be honest, it could take a whole day to explain…so um, could I talk to you later…maybe…?" Rin started to dwindle at the last part the harder Sango's stare got. Sesshomaru noticed and it was time to step in.
"You are expecting?" he simply asked.
Sango turned her once hard stare to a surprised one on Sesshomaru. She looked down at her barely visible baby bump.
"Um, yes, in fact I am. In fact, I was just coming back from a doctor's visit and had an ultrasound" Sango now smiling from ear to ear and digging inside her purse.
She pulled out the sonogram and handed it to Rin. Rin looked at it and stared.
"Am I looking at what I'm looking at. Are you…?" she said, looking up at Sango's beaming face.
"Yes! Twins! My first pregnancy and it's twins!" Sango squealed. Sesshomaru slightly flinched at her exuberance. Rin handed back the sonogram and Sango looked at it fondly.
"Well, congratulations. How is Miroku handling this? Speaking of Miroku, where is he?" Rin commented and asked, looking around for the once lecherous man.
"Oh, he found a shop and told me to go on ahead while he looked around. I think he needs some mental prep time now that we know that we are having twins, so…" Sango explained looking back the way she came.
"Don't worry, he'll get used to the idea," Rin reassured. Sango just sighed and turned to Sesshomaru.
"So, let me guess, your last name is Larrabee?"
"Yes it is," Sesshomaru answered promptly.
"How is your brother Inuyasha? I heard he was engaged to be married?" Sango quickly flashed her eyes to Rin and then back to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru noticed, but didn't let it faze him and it appeared it didn't faze Rin either.
"He is doing well. Last I heard he and his intended decided to elope because she is expecting," Sesshomaru said, now receiving wide eyes from both women.
"Kagome is expecting?" Rin asked. Geesh Inuyasha works quick.
"Yes, but it is only natural. Kagome is Inuyasha's mate," Sesshomaru turned to Rin when he said this, noticing it take on an 'oh' look and then it changed back to her confused look.
"I will explain more later," he said, saying this into her ear, so Sango didn't hear.
"Okay, so I'm guessing it never would have worked between…"
Rin just shook her head no, a smile dawning her face, "Like I said, I'll explain later. It's more complicated than that."
"Oh," Sango said then looked down at her watch, "Oh I didn't realize so much time has passed! I have to go. It was nice to see you again Rin and it was nice to meet you Sesshomaru. Rin call me when you get the chance," Sango said in quick succession, turned and left.
"Well, you have met one of my other best friends," Rin said, scratching the back of her head. Sesshomaru just simply looked at her slight embarrassment, then watched her look at her watch.
"Oh Sango was right, time sure has flown. It's already three o'clock," she looked up at him, "Ready to go?"
Sesshomaru nodded his head and took her hand and they walked off the bridge, but once they crossed Quai Voltaire, Rin stopped. Sesshomaru turned and quirked an eyebrow in question.
"Do you need anything at the store?" Rin questioned, now remembering that it's almost that time of the month.
"I could use a few things," Sesshomaru admitted.
"Okay, this way then," she said turning around, Sesshomaru following behind. It was some distance away, but they made it to a convenience store.
They never left each other's side, even when Rin went to the aisle with all the feminine products. They paid for their purchases, well Sesshomaru did, and they left to walk back to the hotel.
Once they made it back to their room and closed the door, the overcast clouds that were lingering all day, let loose. It started to rain.
"I am really glad we didn't get caught in that," Rin commented, with Sesshomaru silently both took off their shoes and took care of the stuff they bought, mostly bathroom commodities.
Sesshomaru kept close to Rin at all times. He watched her put her feminine products away, while he did his own. She didn't seem to mind the fact that he was practically hovering with every move that she made. She left the bathroom and went to the closet and grabbed a bag and started to rummage through it, taking out a cord and eventually a laptop, well cushioned between clothes she didn't feel the need to unpack.
Sesshomaru watched her set her laptop on the coffee table. In front of that was the T.V. In the corner was an oak wood desk. The hotel room was exquisitely furnished, nothing like you would find in America. He sat down next to her as she plugged and turned on her computer.
"May I ask what you are doing?" Sesshomaru asked.
Rin turned to him at the question and looked at him for a moment. Then she turned her head downwards, a slight blush appearing slightly on her face. Sesshomaru waited patiently for her to answer his question.
"Well I was wondering…to be honest it seems to be really early…in our relationship to be asking this, but…do you want to start looking for…an apartment?" she finally asked, now wringing her hands and biting her bottom lip.
Sesshomaru thought is quite endearing that she thought to ask him. True it was early in their relationship, but living in a hotel just would not do.
"Of course Rin," Sesshomaru said in affirm, while taking her hands gently in his and with his right hand lifted her head and smoothed out her bottom lip.
"Thank you," she said quietly, then she turned back to her computer, still holding his hand, and quickly typed her password one-handed. The first thing that popped up was a window with nearby wifi connections. Rin clicked the only one that didn't require a password and that was a guarantee that internet was going to be slow.
Sesshomaru watched her the whole time and then he realized something. He didn't know next to anything about her. Sure he knew that she loved Paris, she was into poetry, she loved photography, intending to pursue a career in it, but other than those things, he knew next to nothing about her. So he decided to question her.
"What is your favorite color?" he asked.
"W-what?" Rin was bewildered by the sudden question and looked at him. He looked serious and also looked like he was not going to ask again, already waiting for her answer. Rin turned back to the computer, waiting for the internet to load.
"Well, to be perfectly honest, it really depends on my mood. Blue has been a dominant color for me, but I would have to say right now, it would be amber," she said looking at him, his eyes were the dominant feature in her vision.
Sesshomaru was humbled by this revelation.
"Now what is your favorite color?" Rin asked, turning the question back at him.
"Well…" Sesshomaru paused. He wasn't sure of the answer and it was such a simple question too. Rin started to type something in the search engine, waiting patiently.
"I would have to say…white would be my main color. Sometimes it may shift to either purple or blue and even brown," he answered.
Rin considered his answer for a moment and then Sesshomaru asked another question.
"Favorite music?"
"Again that depends on my mood. Today it would have to be the classics of the 40s and 50s. Tomorrow it could be country music. How about you?" Rin answered.
"Jazz," was all he answered with. "Favorite movie?"
"Oooo, that is a tough one. I think at this moment in time and this is going to sound a little cliche, An American in Paris," she said smiling.
"I believe I have not seen that one. When was it made?" Sesshomaru questioned, not being able to remember the movie mentioned.
"Well it was made in 1951, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Coran. It's a musical and one of Gene Kelly's best, besides Singing in the Rain which he made a year later," Rin explained.
"Oh, now I remember. Yes I have to agree with you on that one," Sesshomaru commented. Rin smiled during the pause in the questioning to go back to her computer to see the web page up. She went to the part that said APARTMENTS and clicked it.
There was a long list.
They both scanned through and started looking a two bedrooms. There wasn't much to look at. They were tiny and tiny.
Rin shook her head, not liking what she saw. Sesshomaru didn't like the selection either. He would really like to try and find a penthouse or something similar.
"Maybe we should go to a realty place and see if they can help," Rin suggested, shutting the laptop and leaning back on the couch. Sesshomaru leaned back with her, draping his arm behind her head.
It was silent for a moment, until Rin got the urge to ask the one question that has been bothering her since the night before.
"Sesshomaru?" He grunted for her to continue.
"When did you know?" she asked, turning her head so she could look at him. He stared intently at her for a while.
"I have known since I was ten years old," he answered, letting Rin absorb the answer.
"You were ten? I was a baby when you were ten. Is it even possible to know that young? I thought you had to hit puberty for that realization to hit," Rin said, trying to rationalize what he said. It was slightly baffling.
"It is unconventional to know so young, but I knew you were mine. I felt the bond between us when you were still in your mothers womb," Sesshomaru explained, looking away.
"That must have been strange for my mother," Rin commented, still baffled.
"It was indeed."
Then another question came to Rin's mind.
"If you knew, why didn't you…you know, make contact," Rin whispered, wondering why it took him so long.
Sesshomaru sighed.
"To be completely honest with myself and to you, I was afraid."
"Afraid?" Rin questioned.
"You must understand. I was ten. I had yet to know anything about mates, let alone the 'birds and the bees'. When you were born, I took one look at you. Your mother offered to let me hold you. I panicked and took off. I kept my distance ever since, even when my father finally explained everything to me," Sesshomaru explained, still looking away, ashamed of himself.
"That's why you didn't touch me when I came in from that storm," Rin commented, thinking over what he just said.
Sesshomaru just nodded his head yes.
"You know I was hoping that you would make contact," Rin said, making Sesshomaru turn his head and quirking his eyebrow.
"It was just instinct back then, but whenever you were near, I felt a slight pull toward you. I knew since you were a demon, you needed to make the first move. It would be your way of establishing dominance. So I waited. When you took over the company, that sensation quite nearly disappeared," Rin confessed.
"About that same time, that is when I started to look towards Inuyasha, but still in the back of my mind, I knew I belonged to one person in the world and that was you," she continued.
Sesshomaru looked at the woman beside him. He was so ashamed of himself. He made her wait and then when he did make contact, he rejected her in the worst possible manner when she confessed her love for him. He still thought that he didn't deserve this beautiful, independent, successful, outspoken, patient, kind, loving woman. She was also forgiving.
He didn't deserve her, yet she took him back.
"Rin I-" but he didn't get to finish his sentence, nor did he see her move, she moved so quickly. She crashed her lips onto his. His body shuddered.
Just as quickly as she started to kiss, he started to return it. It was very heated and he smelled her arousal spike. He nipped her bottom lip making her gasp. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, making her moan.
It was then that he started to push her down and to tuck her underneath of him. She wound her arms around his neck, threading her fingers into his hair, effectively scratching his scalp. Sesshomaru groaned and effectively grinding into her in response.
Rin gasped out loud, never having felt such a sensation before and returned the favor. It was such a natural reaction, it made her go still.
Sesshomaru moved from her mouth to look at her for a moment. Rin noticed a red tint coming into his eyes. Rin realized in that moment, that if they didn't stop, they would be doing something Rin wasn't particularly ready for.
"Sesshomaru, I'm not ready," she said quietly and that is all that it took for Sesshomaru to realize what position they were in. The red tint went away and he moved backwards, stood up and left the room, leaving Rin confused on the couch.
She slowly sat up and waited for his return. During that time, her stomach growled. She sighed and took up the hotel phone and called in room service.
Sesshomaru walked back in a few moments after she hung up.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine, I just didn't expect…that to be…," Rin tried to explain. Sesshomaru walked over to her and took his spot next to her again.
"Neither did I. I hadn't expected to lose control like that," Sesshomaru said. "I am going to tell you now Rin. I will not do anything you don't want me to, but the day that we officially mate will be a day of my choosing. I also have to get approval and let the demon council know of that date."
Rin nodded and leaned against his shoulder.
knock, knock, knock
"Who is that?" Sesshomaru asked as Rin stood up to get the door.
"Room service," Rin answered and opened the door to usher in the woman that pushed in the cart with two trays of food. Rin politely thanked her in French, tipped her, and closed the door once she left.
"I ordered some roast beef sandwiches. Nothing major," Rin said, placing the trays on the table. Sesshomaru came and joined her. Their small meal was a silent one. Slightly awkward, but not overly so.
After they finished, they both looked out the window. It was still harshly raining and didn't look like it would let up. Unconsciously Sesshomaru took ahold of Rin's hand, and Rin returned it. It was slowly getting dark.
Rin sighed, getting Sesshomaru's attention. His eyes were starting to droop.
"Let's go to bed," Rin quietly said, standing up, Sesshomaru following suit. While Rin went to the bathroom to change, Sesshomaru undressed in the bedroom.
Once Rin was done she stepped out of the bathroom in sweat bottoms and and overlarge t-shirt. She looked at Sesshomaru already laying on the bed in a t-shirt and his boxers. He had his arm draped around to support his head to prop it up. His other arm draped across his stomach. His legs were crossed.
His relaxed position wasn't what caught Rin's eyes though. It was the tattoo he had on the arm that was propped up. Rin walked up to him to take a closer look.
The tattoo was no bigger than her hand and was placed close to his armpit. It was black and tribal, the only color was the eyes; red. It was some sort of animal, but Rin couldn't tell. She went to touch it in wonder, but Sesshomaru's voice halted her.
"It's a dog demon in it's true form," he said, opening his eyes to look at her.
"When did you get it?" Rin said, now understanding the shape of the animal. She had seen pictures, but never really seen it in real life.
"I got it…," Sesshomaru sat up and put her in between his legs, "when I graduated from college. Mind you it took some coaxing from Koga and four shots of whiskey to get me to do it."
Rin giggled and tried her hardest to imagine it, but it was not possible.
"Here let me see it again," Rin said lifting his arm. The detail was very good. She expected even in his drunken state at the time would have had no less than perfection when depicting a dog demon in it's true form. She set his arm down and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Sesshomaru nuzzled his way into the crook of her neck and then very fluidly leaned back and flipped them so that they were laying side by side.
Rin giggled as they landed, his hot breath on her neck lolling her eyelids closed.
"Sesshomaru?"
He grunted. He was already half asleep.
"Would it be possible one day you would be able to show me?" Rin asked and then she yawned.
"One day maybe," Sesshomaru said. He knew what she was asking for. Sesshomaru's true form. Doing this would strengthen their bond even more.
"Mmm, thank you," Rin said, relaxing fully into his embrace and finally falling asleep.
Sesshomaru followed soon after, letting her scent enter his nose, relaxing into slumber.
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A/N: Well there you have it. My first chapter to Finding the World. I hoped you liked it. I tried to be as accurate on where their location was. I referred to a map of Paris and I had help from Wikipedia.
I'll try to update as soon as possible but until then, READ AND REVIEW!