RETURN MY LOVE
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
(A/N: Thank you for your encouragement. Sorry it took me a while to update what with a full-time job, being a mom, being a wife and …just being…..in general. Life happens. LOL. Fair warning. This is a longer chapter and do forgive me if it seems slow-moving as I lay the foundation and provide a frame of reference. Also, I will try to keep the characters …well…in character as much as possible. So enjoy! )
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Chapter 2: MYSTERY
Perched high above ground and at some distance from them undetectable to human senses, Sesshomaru silently watched the couple behaving tenderly with each other. A frown deepened the smooth white forehead but the demon lord was totally riveted to the scene. It was like picking at a gaping wound and making it worse by the moment, but the dog demon could neither resist nor desist.
He simply could not turn away.
But what he was witnessing was enough to make his claws itch to destroy something, anything.
He, the great lord of the Western lands, who stood victorious and calm against all adversaries, was sickening for love of a simple human girl.
Sometimes these damn keen senses gave him much more than what he wanted to know.
This was definitely one of those times.
He didn't care to know that her affections were directed at some one else.
He certainly didn't want to hear her soft laughter tinkling at something said by the half-breed. It could only be something inane and absurd coming from that idiot.
And he never, ever wanted to see her exchanging kisses with anyone else even if it were only an innocent peck on the cheek.
Those sharp golden eyes, nose and elfin ears easily detected the unmistakable affection those two have for each other. Their soft words whispered through the quiet night air. The male hovered protectively close to the young girl as he prepared the fish newly caught from the nearby stream that apparently was part of their dinner.
Sesshomaru inhaled and felt a sharp pang somewhere in the region of his heart. Jealousy flared throughout his body and like a flame, it scorched his soul.
Why would she do this?
Did she mean to make him suffer for his transgression?
She damn well succeeded if that were truly her intentions, wounding him to the point that he wanted to retreat momentarily to privately lick his wounds like a dog that he was. He could barely leash his anger and frustration.
Those soft touches, those gentle looks, those loving smiles she was casting to his half-brother rightfully belonged to him.
Only to him.
Never in his life had any creature stood between what the demon lord wanted and his possessions. Although many have tried, it was all in vain. Sesshomaru did not easily part company with things he considered as his.
How careless of Inuyasha.
The hanyou must have desired an early demise. Surely, Inuyasha would have understood, better than anyone else, the possessive streak that permeated in their shared bloodstream. It was their inescapable nature as canines to protect and preserve their pack at all costs.
But wait. Something was not quite right.
Sesshomaru lightly lifted his face and sniffed the air. No, he could not detect even a slight hint of malice in the girl's sweet, delicate scent.
She was affectionate to the half-breed because she actually and truly meant it.
No artifice, no subterfuge in her actions.
Those were her unmistakable character prints, her undeniable trademarks. Her innate traits.
It was true. Those two simply radiated contentment.
Contentment.
Feh ! What a meek and mild word that was, not worthy to be spat past his lips. Why would one settled for contentment when they could find that one love that transcended time and space, that one love which was as deep and intense as the blue waters of the ocean, that one love that could exhilarate the soul to the highest of heavens.
Gods, he was waxing poetics in his mind, the muscle in his jaw tensed making his impassive face even more foreboding. Sesshomaru made a wry face, a mirthless smile crossed his icy features.
I am getting ridiculous!
His low growls of deep agitation and perturbed thoughts must have alerted even the inferior senses of his hanyou brother since Inuyasha suddenly stiffened his back and straightened his shoulders as though preparing for battle. The honey eyes, indicative of kinship to the demon lord, lost their softness and presumed a sharpness as he scanned the area, nose wrinkling in disgust as he sensed the approaching presence of the Taiyoukai. Although the two brothers had come to a reluctant truce and a guarded respect for each other over the years, it did not mean that they would automatically embrace each other with joy.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha's voice floated in the stillness of the forest. "Baka, you might as well show yourself and come meet us." The stark whiteness of his hair flicked impatiently against the billowing sleeves of the fire-rat kimono as he raised his head and hollered at the yet unseen intruder while his ears twitched aggressively.
Inuyasha's nostrils flared slightly as the scent of his older brother became more obvious. So it was the demon lord.
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It was only later that evening when he and girl had returned to their makeshift camp that Inuyasha was certain as he detected the unique scent pinpointing Sesshomaru's encroaching proximity.
Inuyasha figured that it would not be long before his half-brother would find them.
Good.
The hanyou smirked, fangs widened in a flinty smile and his stance became locked in an unknowingly defensive position.
The sooner this was done, the sooner they could each go about their business once again.
Not exactly knowing how Sesshomaru would react upon yet seeing another human in sight, Inuyasha swung his gaze back to the slender girl. He motioned to the girl and taking the gesture, she rose from the fireside and glided gracefully next to the hanyou to be folded into his embrace as they waited expectantly for the brother to show himself.
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The wind shifted slightly before an eerie stillness seemed to settle in their surrounding. Then a vision in white descended on them from a white ball of light that streaked across the horizon before stationing quietly in front of them.
(A/N: The description below was slightly inspired by Michael Tang's Spirapride's picture of Sesshomaru in DeviantArt. It is one of the best Sesshomaru pix I've ever seen. It is incredible…what a grim, angry looking demon but just oozing with masculine sexiness and a baddd-boy attitude !)
When the orb of bright light dispersed, it revealed a majestic tall, lean figure of the Inu Taiyoukai. Long, long strands of silvery hair shimmered and waved gently in the soft moonlight turning it to a blue-silver halo. All the light of the night seemed to be gathered up and pulled into this nimbus making this creature glow in such an unearthly and unreal manner. In contrast, hard golden eyes stared at them uncompromisingly and without expression. The angular face was even more pronounced with two maroon stripes jagged along each lean cheek. A blue crescent moon perched proudly in the middle of the high, intelligent forehead and pointed elfin ears clearly set him apart as a full-blooded demon. His white flowing robe dotted with small, intricately embroidered cherry blossoms was anchored by a purple and yellow obi. A spiked armor completed the elegant creature's regal aura. Elegant, tapered claws never strayed far from the two swords that hung by his waist. The hand seemed relaxed but, somehow, the human girl sensed the power and the lightning quickness behind the assumed nonchalance and she shivered slightly at the sheer potent maleness of this being.
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Rin eyed the figure in wonder, her breath fluttered in the back of her soft throat. For one brief crazy moment, she felt a flash of recognition for this incredible creature. It was unsettling to say the least; she was sure that they had never set eyes on each other before.
He was too magnificent to be forgotten or be dismissed so easily from mind.
Feeling her gaze on him, the demon lord held her stare and a spark of awareness flooded her body, suffusing it with unexpected warmth. Mysterious golden eyes were intensely trained on her as though willing her to admit to something and beckoning to him. Rin was privately glad that Inuyasha had her anchored down by his side, otherwise, it would be all too easy to yield to the unspoken demands of those strange eyes.
The silence stretched on.
So unnerving.
Impossible, I had never seen him before. It probably was the resemblance Inuyasha shared with his half-brother that made her feel oddly connected to the demon lord. She shook her head slightly trying to clear her stray thoughts, the motion making the cloudy waves of black hair cascaded and bounced gracefully on her small back.
He was most assuredly beautiful in a majestic way. Inuyasha was not joking when he described Lord Sesshomaru, although his words were acerbic and pointed rather than complimentary. Obviously, not much affection transpired in the hearts of the brothers, she surmised. The lord's demeanor and posture positively exuded ice and unrelenting ruthlessness. It seeped through every pore of his body. Not a single trace of compassion seemed to exist in the lean, powerful frame or in the molten eyes that glowed eerily in the darkened night. Rin remembered a feeling strangely vulnerable when her eyes first met his gaze across the twilight. It was only momentary but she thought she saw something flickered deep in the golden orbs before she finally and deliberately broke eye contact and felt deeply relieved when the intense gaze swung to focus on Inuyasha. Rin shivered and unconsciously stepped closer to the hanyou not knowing why she suddenly sensed a threat to her happiness with Inuyasha, as though an invisible gauntlet had been flung onto the ground in front of them by this demon lord.
Stop being so melodramatic. He was probably yet disgusted at the presence of another human infesting his lands. But surely we would not dwell in this strange land for too long.
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Feeling her misgiving and putting it down as nervousness in meeting his rather overwhelming half-brother, Inuyasha rubbed her arm gently and smiled comfortingly into worried deep sherry-brown eyes. Relax, his eyes assured her, I can handle my brother. Besides, he has no interests in either of us. This is just a matter of courtesy to introduce you and we'll go our separate ways again. Still, Rin could not completely tamp down on her suspicion that the older brother might be a force to be reckoned with and she edged even closer to the hanyou.
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Damn him. He will have to wipe that stupid smirk off the hanyou's face.
He dared to touch her.
Sesshomaru's mind snarled silently, eyes narrowed dangerously as he watched the easy manner in which Inuyasha draped his arm carelessly across the girl's slender shoulders. The wind sighed gently and shifted the silver mane as the long strands glided gracefully around the lithe physique of the demon lord. Finely sculpted brows drew together into a straighter line and his lips thinned imperceptibly, while the crescent half-moon on his forehead almost seemed to throb painfully.
How he would have the greatest pleasure to knock that arm away from her!
Better yet, he could cut it off with his Toukijin and thus return a long and overdue favor when that stupid boy cut off his left arm. A slightly evil smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he found sardonic, unexpectedly quirky humor in this thought.
It would only be that what hanyou deserved.
We shall see how this game is played out.
"So, is this the ningen the reason for your return from your travels?" Cold, unemotional voice asked the hanyou as Sesshomaru flicked another quick look to the slight girl standing next to his brother, while harshly pulling his wandering thoughts together and schooling his features back into their familiar, indifferent mask.
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To his blasé eyes, she had grown even lovelier in the time they were apart. But Sesshomaru had to admit, it was never the outward beauty that captured his attention so long ago. It was the inner fire and strength she possessed that had him mesmerized and intrigued. When they first met, she was totally unafraid and undeterred by his reluctance to have her nearby and he was captivated by her unquenchable optimism for all things and despite everything. For all of his heartlessness and icy exterior he chose to show to the world, Sesshomaru was an intensely private creature who felt things rather deeply and he knew that the girl child saw through the icy façade rather quite early on in their acquaintance. He was surprised at her perspicacity in so young a child. She had found the proverbial chink in his otherwise impenetrable armor. For him to recognize such kindred spirit especially in a human girl, it was galling to his sense of propriety, of his perception on whole order of the universe.
For how could a human and a demon see "eye-to-eye" on anything much less get along without killing each other? Because it was so bizarre…. so unacceptable, it made him emphatically suppress the importance of her to his existence for the longest of time. But now, now he wished to own those qualities for himself, to know that he could bring her happiness and watch the dark eyes light up even more. Sesshomaru wanted the joy she had brought him just being near him.
No wonder, Inuyasha may be a stupid oaf but he apparently knew better than to pass up a chance to possess such a rare treasure. The eternal hopefulness, the gentleness of her soul, and the serenity of her voice had caused a hardened, stoic lord to crumble. What chance would a half human like Inuyasha have to withstand against such disarming arsenal of appealing qualities.
Ironically, Sesshomaru came to the full realization that he, the mighty ruler of the West, was an even worse kind of baka than his half-brother because he did deny her; he did let all that was wonderful slip through his hand.
But maybe, maybe the fates were kind enough to give him a second chance with this lovely creature.
He will not fail this time.
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When brown eyes locked with golden ones in what could have been eons or just mere seconds, Sesshomaru's mind was seared of this new image of Rin in his mind. Long ebony hair shone and waved in the glow of the firelight, making the mysterious auburn streaks dance and reflect deep in the flame. The lightened streaks were, no doubt, from endless hours spent in the brilliant sunshine. Like a lover, her tresses clung to her form adoringly.
So, she had let it grow out again. The wavy locks seemed to have a life of their own, drawing attention to their sheen and softness as they fluttered in the light breeze of the night. Creamy complexion beckoning a person to touch and experience the softness for himself. Smooth, vulnerable cheeks bloomed with just a hint of a blush as she eyed the demon lord warily. Slender body hugged close to Inuyasha as though seeking shelter from the onslaught of a formidable storm. Sesshomaru knew well that the girl considered herself only as average in terms of looks. Never had she put much store in that aspect preferring to dwell on the other things more interesting than herself as she had told Jaken in the past.
That innocence, that lack of self-centeredness intrigued him. All her actions had always been focused on the comfort of the creatures around her. He had never met anyone who was not self-serving until he met the girl child. What she didn't realize was that her allure came from the beauty within. That it emanated and manifested itself outward to make her countenance even lovelier and more ethereal. That was the spell she cast on him.
Her simple mode of dress was designed purely for convenience. Even with the boyish trappings, it could not completely disguise her delicate form. The plain kimono was split up to the waist and the pair of hakama underneath only emphasized long, coltish legs seeming to stretch forever. The legs finally culminated into a tiny waist that the Taiyoukai could easily span with just one hand. He remembered that she could barely reach his chest several years ago. Now surely, her head would topple near his shoulder.
Sesshomaru suppressed the instinctive urge to reach out and touch her for himself. First to assure himself that she was indeed not a figment of his imagination after such a long separation. Second, it was to satisfy a baser need to see whether or not she felt delicious as she looked. It had been too long and he was starved for the sight, sound and touch of this young woman.
Yet outwardly, he pointedly continued to ignore the girl after he had briefly locked gazes with her as he came into their presence. Kami knew what would happen to his resolve if he should let his eyes linger too long on her or had she shown the slightest inclination of recognizing him. Inuyasha or no Inuyasha, he could not and would not lose control until he solved this mystery.
"Yeah." His brother replied and Sesshomaru had to gather back his stray thoughts and concentrate on the hanyou again. "We met accidentally while she was battling some inferior demons and I thought I joined forces with her." Inuyasha glanced down at the lovely girl beside him and grinned widely. "Don't let her fool you with all that fragile air. Rin is as tough as it gets. She would make a worthy enemy." He turned and winked affectionately and nuzzled his face near her cheeks. His antagonism with his older brother momentarily forgotten.
"Inuyasha, please." Rin admonished him gently but her naturally rosy lips curved softly into a slight smile as the corners tilted at his teasing. "Please don't make Lord Sesshomaru think badly of me on our first meeting."
Out of the corner of her eyes, she thought Sesshomaru's body gave a slight jerk.
The girl wondered what could have caused the lord to be so tense, so brooding. Her sight and scents must be totally offensive to him and he was having a difficult time dealing with it. Her human senses were not as acute as a demon but Rin thought it was bizarre in how she seemed to zone on him and his feelings so easily and quickly.
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His name sounded so sweet in her voice.
'Lord Sesshomaru, Lord Sesshomaru, Lord Sesshomaru, Lord Sesshomaru…'
Those words echoed in his head, intoxicating his senses as it invoked his memory….
Visions of her as a young child calling out to attract his attention when she found a new species of flower in the fields, of her as an adolescent laughing as she teased Jaken mercilessly, of her as a young woman warm and excited beneath him, of her moaning his name softly in their first passionate kiss. He shuddered slightly at the sensual reminders, achingly and vibrantly aware of the flood of desire that wanted to take over his senses yet again.
This had been a hell of a shocking day even for him and he could feel the need to lash out at something to vent his helplessness of the bizarre situation he seemed to be caught in.
Ironically, the only thing that made him maintain some semblance of his reason was that there was absolutely no recognition, no lingering remembrance in the girl's tone. To the girl, it was as if he meant nothing more to her than as Inuyasha's older and estranged half-brother. In a twisted way, Sesshomaru was profoundly glad that not a glimmer of recognition radiated from the girl.
Had she expressed even a minute nuance that she knew him, it would have meant that no distance could have separated her from his touch.
Though her mind did not recognize him, however, his senses were wordlessly alerted to the increased pulse, the slight bloom of color in the smooth cheeks, and the quickened breathing from the girl. These signs told him that she was not totally immune to the demon lord's presence.
Oh yes, my Rin. You should be wary. I intend to bring you to your senses. I don't know what game you are playing but I will get you back. You are mine. Sesshomaru vowed to himself, straightening his stance as though readying for a fierce battle and looked even more intimidating.
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Inuyasha watched his brother suspiciously, his own eyes narrowing as he sensed a swirl of youki energy pulsing from the demon lord. Sesshomaru had exuded some strange vibrations that were oddly unsettling. But the hanyou could not decipher the root causes. Perhaps his brother was clenching his nose at the stench of yet another human in his presence. All Inuyasha was concerned at this moment of introduction that Sesshomaru had better not say anything demeaning to Rin or he would have to put his hash to right. His hand strayed to the Tetsusaiga involuntarily.
"Inuyasha." The golden eyes pierced the hanyou with a withering glance before his voice address the hanyou in a totally disinterested manner. "You need not draw your sword." He inclined his head to acknowledge his peaceful intent.
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The years had seen a slight transformation in the brothers' relationship. They no longer automatically went for each other's throats whenever in close vicinity. Sesshomaru no longer desired the Tetsusaiga when he realized the fang kept the hanyou's demon blood sealed and controlled. He realized this a long time ago. Their father, wise demon lord that he was, entrusted Tetsusaiga to Inuyasha and the Tenseiga to his heir, Sesshomaru. Perhaps the old man knew without a doubt that the two would hold a natural animosity to each other; he made it almost virtually impossible for one to slay the other. After countless battles, the brothers began to see the futility of it and avoided each other, seeking their own ways and their own destinies.
Inuyasha….
How he used to detest that name.
Sesshomaru deeply resented Inuyasha when the pup was born. He was the direct product of his great father and a frail human woman. His intense dislike was primarily due to jealousy and hurt when his father seemed to have forgotten about Sesshomaru's own mother so quickly after her death and found her replacement so rapidly. For all his emotionally repressed mannerisms, the sheer unorthodox manner of his father's second mating made Sesshomaru balk at what he felt was offensive to traditions and customs of their clan. To add insult to injury, when Inuyasha was born, his father risked his very life to save the mother and her newborn.
Such sacrifice, such weakness, such foolishness.
Sesshomaru had been angry that his father did not falter in his single-minded desire to protect his weak family and that anger transferred itself to the half-breed baby who had inadvertently stripped Sesshomaru of what he held most dear.
Apparently, history seemed to repeat itself with Inuyasha's new love. It if weren't so pathetic that the great demon lord also desired this same girl, Sesshomaru felt he would have chuckled at the damnable irony of it all. The resentment became pity when Sesshomaru realized that Inuyasha was a young fool who let his emotions, his feelings get the better of him. It made him so much less efficient as a warrior. Such rashness could only lead to an early death on the battlefield.
But apparently, Inuyasha appeared none worst for the wear upon his arrival back to his native soil. Surely, there were some changes he detected in the boy. New lines of cynicism etched a little bit more strongly in the younger son's eyes. A new layer of world-weariness cloaked his body like a second skin.
What didn't kill you will help you learn and that was what probably happened to the boy. All demons worth their salt must go through a self-enlightenment process as they seek to define their purposes in this world.
Sesshomaru himself certainly did.
Sesshomaru had heard rumors preceding the return of his half-brother. Inuyasha had purportedly found the "love of his life" and was now showing her his roots. Although he was not obligated to present her to his elder brother, when push came to shove, Inuyasha was a closet traditionalist. Rin often teased him about it.
Sesshomaru often wondered about the other females whose scents clung to his brother in his younger years and was extremely skeptical that Inuyasha, being half-human, would have been able to settle down with one life mate. Humans were never really known as faithful creatures and the demon world despised them for such fickleness. However, being the dog that he was, he was highly curious to see this person who apparently could pull Inuyasha away from his first love, that strange miko.
Imagine his silent dismay when the lord saw the girl in question.
Inuyasha had come back from his far-flung travels with a purpose. And what a distracting purpose the girl was, he should have known.
Sharp claws flexed automatically as Sesshomaru bent his powerful brain trying to decipher the mystery before him. Although, he did not know what game was being enacted out and by what rules, Sesshomaru felt the familiar exhilaration shot through his body like a stimulant as his senses became focused on one objective.
A chase. Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles under the large hem of his haori's sleeve and felt the adrenalin kicked in.
The thrill of this challenge engulfed him.
But this time, this time, he so coveted the prize that he was just about willing to do anything, anything at all to gain it for his own.
TBC
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