Chapter 2
Author's notes: Due to popular demand, I have decided to add to what was basically a one chapter short story. I usually don't do that, and I hope you enjoy the second chapter as much as the first.
Special thanks go out to Jen, for polishing this! I don't know what I'd do with out you! Glomp tackles you! ;p
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Kaede sighed. She was getting too old for this sort of thing in her humble opinion and she was happy Kagome was around to help her deliver the baby. I wonder if Rin was busy tending to another one of Aki's "illnesses." The old miko smiled at the thought.
"Thinking about Hana's baby?" Kagome asked.
They were on their way back to Kaede's hut after along afternoon of helping one of village women have a baby. The old miko had asked the younger over for some tea and Kagome had heartily agreed. Since she had gotten married, Kagome found she did not have the time to visit the woman she thought of as her grandmother as much as she would like to. Not that Inuyasha was a demanding husband, but he did take up a lot of her time since being with him was "more fun" than it had been eight years ago when they hunting jewel shards and Naraku. Then there were their girls. While they were precious to her, they were still a handful, and it was nice to escape from the pressures of motherhood if only for an afternoon.
"No, I was actually thinking about Rin. She wasn't around when I left and I was wondering if the child was with Aki."
Kagome nodded. "He likes her a lot, but I got the impression that Rin wasn't all that crazy about him." Like me and Hojo…
"True, but then she's had a rather unusual life, so perhaps she only just warmed up to him now," Kaede said.
"Maybe…" Kagome said airily.
The old miko's hut was just up ahead, and both women exchanged glances when they noticed the thin plume of smoke rising up from the roof. As they approached the hut, Aki stepped out of the shadows.
"Kaede-sama!!" he cried, his eyes wide with shock. "Rin's in there with… with, with that youkai!!"
"What youkai?" the old miko asked as Kagome looked upwards, half expecting Sesshomaru to come swooping down out of the sky like some avenging angel.
"The one that's always here, bringing her stuff! I think he's put a spell on her!! They've been in there for a while!! She's in there all by herself!!"
"I'll go see what's going on," Kagome volunteered and the old miko nodded. "Aki, will you stay here with Kaede-baachan?"
Aki nodded wordlessly in reply as the Kaede fussed over him.
Kagome hurried towards the hut, although, she knew Rin was safe with Sesshomaru. Standing just outside, she called out, "Rin, may I come in?" She chuckled inwardly at the soft growl she heard before Rin answered, "Yes!"
Pushing aside the bamboo door curtain, Kagome entered the old miko's hut. "Oniisaan, Rin," she said, earning an annoyed look from her brother-in-law, while Rin did her best to stifle her giggles. "Everything okay?"
Rin nodded in reply, while Sesshomaru stared blankly at her.
"I was just wondering as one of the villagers was concerned about you being alone, Rin." Kagome looked pointedly her brother-in-law, hoping the fifteen year old would catch her meaning.
"But I'm not alone, Kagome-sama, Sesshomaru-sama is here with me," she said, pointing out the obvious.
"I think that's what they were concerned about."
"Why?" Rin asked as a puzzled frown settled over her features.
"Because…" Kagome trailed off helplessly when Sesshomaru unexpectedly finished for her.
"Because you are a woman now and not a child and this Sesshomaru is a man." He shifted his gaze from his intend to his sister-in-law.
"I'm afraid he's right, Rin. I know you've spent time with him before as well as Jaken, but-"
"But why is that bad when Sesshomaru-sama said he'd marry me?" Rin asked. I'll never understand all of these stupid, human rules.
"Excuse me?" Kagome sputtered; her eyes wide as she struggled to digest that little nugget of information.
"I said, Sesshomaru-sama-" the fifteen year old started to say.
"She heard you, Rin," Sesshomaru stated, quietly amused by the parade of expressions that flitted across Kagome's face.
"Oh…"
Kagome nodded. "I'm sorry, it seems so sudden."
"Why? Sesshomaru-sama has been asking me for a while… I think." Rin looked helplessly at the dour taiyoukai who nodded ever so slightly at her in reply. "He did give me a lot of presents," she added. "And didn't you say that when a boy likes you, and wants to marry you, he'll give you presents? A lot my friends in the village got presents from boys, and they gave presents back and now their married. Well, the boys did ask my friends' parents… but I don't have any and all Sesshomaru-sama has is a mother…" Rin rambled on.
"Oh… Well, I guess if you're engaged," Kagome said and at their blank stares she added, "I mean betrothed, then I suppose it's alright for you to spend time alone together…"
Rin smiled happily.
"So when …?"
"When what?" Rin asked.
"When are we going to formalize it. What is the human custom for such things?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kagome stood there like a fish out of water, her mouth slowly opening and closing, as she silently mouth "human custom" over and over again, before finding her voice. "Well, if Rin's parents were here to approve, you would spend the night with her until a child was born…"
Sesshomaru raised a delicate eyebrow in surprise. "That is all?"
"Well, yes, but…"
"But what?"
"Well, since she doesn't have any parents and while Kaede-baachan has been acting as her guardian here, I'm sure she would approve if that's what Rin wanted. Well, ummm…"
"I haven't got all day, woman."
Kagome nodded. "Well, when Sango married Miroku, Kaede said a blessing and they shared three cups of sake. And when I married Inuyasha, we did the same and Miroku also said a few blessings and the day before that we took all the presents our friends here in the village gave us to our home and well, uh, that custom seems to be catching on here."
Sesshomaru nodded.
"So where are you two going to live?"
The taiyoukai frowned when the two women looked at him expectantly.
"This Sesshomaru believes Rin wishes to remain here."
"With Kaede-baachan?" Kagome said in surprise.
"Yes. Is there a problem with that?"
"Uh… I don't think so…" He's not serious, is he? Poor Kaede-baachan… "But wouldn't you rather have a place of your own where you can be alone?"
Sesshomaru thought it over. "Rin said the old woman would miss her if she wasn't here."
"I guess she wouldn't mind, especially since you're newlyweds and probably ummm… wouldn't have time for her." I can't believe I said that… Kagome thought as she rubbed her forehead tiredly.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her. "Did you not say we would normally spend time together until a child is born?"
"Yes…?"
"So from what this Sesshomaru has seen, the only ones with a big hut are you and my brother, and the monk and taijiya. Therefore no one spends any time alone in order to produce this child."
You can't argue with that logic, Kagome…"Well, yes, but…"
"But nothing. This Sesshomaru has decided to remain here. It has been Rin's home and she is happy here."
Kagome sighed as the briefest of smiles flitted across the taiyoukai's lips.
"I can stay here, Sesshomaru-sama?"
He nodded in reply.
Rin smiled. "Kagome-sama? Do you know where Kaede-sama is?"
"She's outside, Rin."
"Good! I want to tell her!" The fifteen year quickly go to her feet and before either one of the other two could react, she left the hut.
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"Kaede-sama!" Rin cried happily as she ran over to the old miko and Aki.
"Everything alright, Rin-san?" Aki asked.
"Yes!! Guess what, Kaede-sama?" Rin said, bubbling over with erxcitement.
The old woman smiled. "What?"
"I'm getting married!"
It's about time… Kaede thought.
"What?! You can't!!" Aki said angrily, correctly guessing who the husband –to- be was.
"Why not?" Rin snapped back.
"Because! He's a youkai and you're not and people don't marry youkai!"
"So? Sesshomaru-sama is very kind and he's a good man and he would never hurt me!"
"He's not a man! He's a youkai! He put a spell on you!! Help her, Kaede-sama!!"
They looked at the old miko.
Kaede, who had hoped Rin would choose a village boy to settle down with, none-the-less understood the fifteen year old's choice. "Aki-san, if don't mind, I would like to speak with Rin alone."
Aki was not pleased to hear that, but he acquiesced without a fuss. "I'd better go, I'm sure my father's looking for me. Bye, Rin-san, Kaede-sama."
"Bye, Aki-san," the old miko replied.
"Bye," Rin said softly.
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"Sesshomaru-dono."
"Miko-san."
An awkward silence hung in the hut like a living thing. Kagome cleared her throat drawing everyone's attention. "Kaede-baa-chan, as you know, Rin-chan wishes to marry my brother-in-law."
The old miko nodded. "And…?"
"Well, ummm… I approve."
"I see." Kaede smiled. "Sesshomaru-dono, I know you have taken very good care of Rin before and I have no doubt you will continue to do so." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "But surely you must be aware there are some who will not be happy about this."
"This Sesshomaru is aware of her peasant status, but it is irrelevant."
Rin looked down at her hands, which rested in her lap, and slowly unclenched her fists. She hated being spoken about as if she were not in the room. She knew the people they had encountered while she was a child, roaming the western lands with Sesshomaru and Jaken, frowned upon her for being with him. And she was not so stupid that she did not know that much of the tension between the dog brothers was due to the fact that the younger was hanyou. But if Sesshomaru was willing to overlook those problems, then so was she. Besides, she knew just how bad humans could be and the thought of spending her life with one of them was intolerable. If Kohaku had treated her as more than a friend and little sister, she might have been willing to try forgetting the horrors of her childhood and settle down with him. But she knew deep in her heart, that she would never feel safe with him, despite his being a taijiya and more than capable of dealing with some malicious humans. The only one who made her feel secure was her beloved Sesshomaru-sama and he was the one she had wanted to grow old with.
"…any children you may have, how will you treat them?"
Rin looked up at him, just as Sesshomaru was about to answer.
"This Sesshomaru is not so young and foolish, Miko-san; he will treasure them as much as he treasures Rin."
Kaede smiled. "I can see you think very highly of her and as a result, my workload had been lightened. Thank you, Sesshomaru-dono." Between you and your brother and the monk, the number of youkai in the area has gone down…
"You're welcome, Miko-san."
"Where will you being living, once you are married?"
The fifteen year old tried hard not to hug herself. She was so happy Kaede approved. Now if anyone in the village gave her a hard time, she could always tell them the old miko gave them her blessing.
"Rin wishes to remain here with you, and since this Sesshomaru has duties which will take him away from this place, he believes it would be best if she were to continue as before."
Kaede chuckled. "And the thought of spending time in the company of two human women when you return doesn't upset you, Sesshomaru-dono?"
A brief smile tugged at his lips. "This Sesshomaru is now in the company of three human women and has suffered no ill effects."
"I see. Then if this is what you want, Rin, you have my blessing."
"Thanks, Kaede-sama!" Rin leaned over and hugged the old woman.
"Congratulations, Oniisaan. I wish you much happiness together," Kagome said.
Sesshomaru merely nodded at her in reply.
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Two weeks after her decision to marry Sesshomaru, rumors flew about the village like dry leaves on an autumn day. Despite the whispering behind her back, Rin went about her day as if nothing had changed. Sesshomaru still brought her the occasional gift, he still spent enough time for Jaken to visit with her, and he still kept the area around the village youkai-free. The only thing that had been altered was her friends' attitudes. Some ignored her to the point of looking past her and acting like she was not there, while others refused to talk about her betrothal, gently changing the subject whenever she brought it up. In fact, the only one willing to discuss things was Aki, who felt duty-bound to try to talk her out of it.
Some of the villagers also tried talking her out of it, while others arranged for her to meet their unmarried sons. A few others cursed her for associating with a demon and they loudly demanded that Miroku get rid of Sesshomaru, lest he prey on their daughters as well. So instead of discouraging her, the villagers' actions only served to remind Rin of something she had learned the hard way when she was just a little child; people were "bad" and they only cared about their own needs, with their biggest need being restricting the number of hanyou in the village to one. Rin had the feeling most villagers were not happy about Inuyasha living there, but they at least tolerated his presence since he was more a less a permanent fixture. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was a newcomer as well as a taiyoukai with the potential to destroy the place should the mood hit him. The fact that Sesshomaru had helped save the village during the final battle with Naraku was apparently lost on them.
With a heavy heart, Rin went about her duties as if nothing was wrong. Plastering a smile on her face, she would listen to what everyone had to say, while keeping her own thoughts on the matter quiet. Only Kaede knew the depth's of the fifteen year old's sadness, having gotten it out of her, one tearful night, and it worried her. She knew all too well Sesshomaru's feelings for the girl, despite his cold formality, and she had the impression that if things continued the way they were, it was only a matter of time before Sesshomaru became aware of Rin's unhappiness and the cause of it. Kaede shuddered to think what would happen if the taiyoukai decided to go on a murderous rampage in order to extract revenge on the villagers for upsetting his Rin.
Sesshomaru, however, surprised them all by showing remarkable restraint. He simply spent the next two nights listening to Rin pour her heart out in the darkness. On the third night, Kaede left a plate of mochi or rice cakes, out for him before going to sleep, setting in motion the next step in their engagement. Once it was known that Sesshomaru was accepted by the old miko as Rin's future husband, Kagome and Inuyasha brought over a Yuino gift of cuttlefish and kelp, to symbolize male virility and female fertility. As the days passed, more villagers brought similar gifts, ending with a beautiful fan that Miroku and Sango gave to Rin one afternoon when she brought her children over to see the fifteen year old. From there it was a simple matter to choose an auspicious day for the wedding.
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At last the day arrived with a rustle of dried autumn leaves. Kagome and Sango came soon after breakfast to help Rin get dressed in the red kimono Sesshomaru had given her as a final wedding gift. The red silk garment was whisper soft and decorated with the tri-pattern honey-combed sakura blossoms that were Sesshomaru's crest. Once she was dressed, they helped Rin fix her hair up on top of head, before taking the short trip to the shrine for the short wedding ceremony.
It was a strange ceremony to say the least. There was a mix of Buddhist prayers and Shinto blessings. The bride and groom both drank the traditional three cups of sake, which were poured by Sango's twins. Accepting the first cup from Hisui, Sesshomaru was reminded of when he had met Rin, and how she had offered him food and water. He looked over to see Shinju pouring sake for his brother and his wife. A few blessings later and the first cup was shared between them. Sesshomaru then recited his marriage oath and another cup was drunk. After reciting their marriages vows and drinking the final cup of sake it was over. Rin was now his wife.
They held a feast for the village in celebration and Sesshomaru noted wryly that those who were the loudest in their protests were the first ones there. Still, it was pleasant to sit by Rin's side and know that she was now his to treasure as freely and openly as convention would allow.
Rin looked up shyly at her husband. She felt happy that her childhood dreams were coming true, and yet, she was afraid. It was one thing to have fantasies about one's wedding night, it was quite another to finally come face to face with it. Sesshomaru looked back her, quirking his eyebrow. She smiled in reply to his silent question and he briefly nodded.
Kaede sighed into her tea cup. This was the life her older sister, Kikyou, had wanted, but never had the chance to experience. Looking around, the old miko watched as Kagome reached out to discretely place her hand on Inuyasha's. Perhaps you did get your wish, Onee-sama, and while it may not have happened the way you would have liked, it did come true…
"Keh… I can't believe my idiot brother actually went through with this," Inuyasha said softly as Kagome gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Why not? It's painfully obvious they love each very much."
Inuyasha snorted in amusement. "My brother love anything other than himself?"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gently chided. "Of course he loves her. I think if he didn't she would have married some village boy and forgotten him."
"Yeah…?"
Kagome smiled. "Yup."
"All I can say is when they do have pups, he'd better treat them better than he ever treated me," Inuyasha said, leaving the "or else" unsaid.
"He will, my love."
"Keh!"
