Chapter Three
Sesshoumaru stood alone a few miles away from the village, clenching and unclenching his fists. He wanted to fly away from this place- to escape, to go so far and so fast that wind would have trouble catching up with him, so that his own thoughts would have trouble catching up with him. His feet, however, seemed rooted to the spot. He couldn't seem to move because it would mean going away from Rin's scent…from Rin herself. He breathed deeply instead, recommitting her scent to memory and trying to come to terms with the fact that she would no longer be his.
Suddenly, his hand flew to Bakusaiga's hilt, his eyes glowering in irritation. Crippling injury awaited this particular individual who was fool enough to intrude on this sacred time- these precious moments where he was saying goodbye.
"Put it away, idiot," snapped Inuyasha, walking into view.
"Go away," said Sesshoumaru coldly.
"Yeah, you wish, asshole. You have some answering to do."
Sesshoumaru simply looked down at his brother, fixing him with a deliberately dispassionate gaze.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Again, Sesshoumaru declined to answer, deciding to look the other, further irritating Inuyasha.
"Look here, I'm not going to let you fuck Rin up. She doesn't need to take your bullshit."
"This is not your concern."
"The hell it's not! Rin's been with us for ten years; she's like family now. So I'm not just going to let you walk away from her, leaving in tears. What did you do?"
"You would do well not to imply that this Sesshoumaru does not have Rin's best interests at heart."
"This is to do with that Tadahiko kid," said Inuyasha, realization rounding out his words. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, he continued, "Yeah, seems like he's only around Rin these days. But you already know this," He passed Sesshoumaru a sidelong glance after his last comment. Taking stony silence for assent, Inuyasha sighed. Working out what might have transpired between Sesshoumaru and Rin, he said quietly, "You told her to stick to the boy and the village."
"She received this Sesshoumaru's blessing."
"Are you sure about this? Do you realize what you're doing? Because if you do, you should know-"
"Yes," bit out Sesshoumaru repressively, causing Inuyasha to raise his eyebrows.
"Okay, already. Just checking," grouched Inuyasha.
The two brothers then stood in silence, contemplating the events that just had taken place and what they might mean for their respective futures. The sun was low in the sky and would dip below the horizon soon. With another sigh, Inuyasha was just about to grunt a farewell and walk away when both youkai whipped their heads in the direction of a scent that was growing stronger very fast. Recognizing it immediately, Inuyasha took several steps back in alarm.
Fire in her step and murder in her glare as she burst through the foliage, Kagome's voice promised far worse as she lowly grit out, "Sesshoumaru,"