Chapter 4
The beginning of a new life
When Rin returned later in the afternoon, Inuyasha was glad to see her walking like she was floating on a cloud. She was transfigured with joy and it seemed that her will was very powerful now. Jaken accompanied the girl and he guessed that she would leave soon. "Very well, very well, Sesshoumaru has made the right decision," he thought. He smiled when he saw Kagome hugging the girl, in answer to the good news.
The wind brought him the smell of Rin. It was as if a lightning had nailed him to the ground. But ... but ... how Rin reeked of Sesshoumaru! Not only was the smell of her brother omnipresent, but he could even detect scents such as extra hints and traces of saliva from the essence of Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha blushed as he understood the situation. A feeling of anger came over and he walked angrily towards the source of the problem.
- Sesshoumaru!
His brother was sitting, leaning against the trunk of a large cherry tree. He did not even turn to watch Inuyasha.
- What did you think, Sesshoumaru!
- Inuyasha. How many times must I repeat to you to mind your own business?
- This is my business! You left Rin in our care for ten years and now you think you can do as you please? She's not a whore, for god s sake!
Sesshoumaru stood up quickly, his body straining to cope with Inuyasha. Tension rose and the two brothers picked up their swords.
- Shut up! Do you want to die that much Inuyasha! I will take no advice from a bastard!
- Really! Even from the ones that are certainly soon to be born, Sesshoumaru?, Inuyasha shouted.
His brother dropped his sword and jumped on Inuyasha. He leaned against the cherry tree, holding him by the neck. Poisoned nails dug into the skin of the hanyou. Under the impact of the attack, cherry blossoms petals fell from the tree and fluttered around the enemy brothers. The silence continued, until the hoarse voice of Inuyasha added:
- You have always despised me because I was a hanyou. Will you despise your children, Sesshoumaru?
- NEVER! Since they will be mine and those of Rin! You hear me, stupid? And I will kill anyone who dares insult them, Inuyasha!
The grip on the hanyou's neck tightened, but Inuyasha smiled.
- Okay, that's what I wanted to hear, he managed to say, not without difficulty.
His brother released him and stepped back. Inuyasha continued, choking:
- I never thought I d see the day you would love someone, Sesshoumaru. With the exception of your glorious person, of course.
If looks could kill, the one that Sesshoumaru gave him at that time would certainly have finished him. But Inuyasha doesn t care. He knew what he wanted to know: his brother would adequately protect Rin.
- Still... You're going a little fast, Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru's eyes grew serious suddenly.
- Rin is human. Her life is short. I have no time to lose.
- Oh... Well... You're right, this is out of my hands now. But if she comes back to me in tears, I warn you, Sesshoumaru, I'll kill you!
-xxxxx-
Kagome saw her love coming back, closely followed by his brother. The situation seemed a bit more tense than usual, but at first glance, no one seemed to have been seriously injured. She sighed. Inuyasha went immediately to her and took her a few steps further, holding her hand.
- You knew...him and Rin...?
- Of course, Inuyasha, I'm not stupid. She came back with disheveled hair, marks on her skin and even her kimono...
- And it does not shock you?
- Inuyasha! She is no longer a little girl! You have no lessons to teach your brother! I remember that not even a minute after I came out of from the well, you...
- Hey! I know, I know!, he replied, blushing like a young man, scratching his head, uncomfortable.
- Sesshoumaru-nii-chan would never have gone this far if he was unsure of his feelings for her. So stop being the protective dad and let her go, Inuyasha.
- Grrr... It's all right. It annoys me, but I understood. I just want her to be happy, Kagome.
- But she is, Inuyasha.
- This idiot is so imbued with himself...
- Inuyasha, you're unfair to Sesshoumaru-nii-chan. He has changed because of her, you know.
- Mmm.
- Like you, you changed thanks to the love you had for me and Kikyo.
- Mmm... But I was initially less stupid!
- Inuyasha!
- Yes, yes... I ll calm down, he said, breathing deeply. But it's not easy with these mixed scents floating all around the village!
- Hihi... It reminds me of our first year...
Inuyasha looked at Kagome, who blushed, thinking of their memories. He smiled as he recalled his favorite. She had been with him for seven years now. Their two children were the cutest of the universe and he had every intention of keeping her close to him as long as possible. He put his arm on her shoulder and pressed her against him.
- Kagome... Why don t we slip away quietly and change our mind, and the smell by the same occasion?
Kagome looked at him and threw a mischievous look at the kids playing happily with those of Sango. She quickly took Inuyasha s hand and led him into the house. He followed her and they stopped talking.
-xxxxx-
Jaken tied up the last bag on the back of Ah-Un. Rin left the house and faced Sesshoumaru. "At last!", Jaken think. He was happy to see the little one return. Since she had left, Sesshoumaru-sama s mood had darkened and he suffered the consequences. He was aware that the return of Rin would make things easier for him.
He watched from afar, while Rin was talking to his master. She had become very pretty, Jaken thought. Her hair was now longer, and even though she looked so tiny next to Sesshoumaru-sama, her presence was enhanced by her particular aura. She seemed to bring harmony to both of them. Sesshoumaru, cold faced as ever, his gaze fixed on her, was the embodiment of power. Rin, smiling with her wide honest eyes, stood near him without embarrassment whatsoever. Strength and fragility, youkai and human, silence and joy... These two were definitely made for each other. Jaken nodded, thinking about the times the little one had been brought back to life. Sesshoumaru did not know yet at these moments, but Jaken knew: he had felt it. Yes, yes, from the very beginning, he knew that Sesshoumaru-sama loved Rin.
Jaken saw the whole village gathered to greet Rin. Soon Inuyasha and Kagome left the house and made their way toward her. Sesshoumaru lifted his head and wrinkled his nose as he smelled the couple getting closer. Jaken did not understand why, but Inuyasha flashed a triumphant smile and he also noted that the miko Kagome suddenly blushed.
It was the old Kaede-sama who came forward first. She hugged Rin tightly in her arms, now without letting out a few tears.
- Take good care of him, Rin.
Sesshoumaru was surprised to hear such words, and he raised an eyebrow. Rin smiled when she saw him react. She answered the old priestess:
- Yes, I promise. And then, take care of yourself, Kaede-sama. Thank you for everything.
They hugged again, then Rin said farewell to Kagome. Meanwhile, Inuyasha approached Sesshoumaru.
- Be nice to her okay? Rin is a good girl.
- You annoy me Inuyasha.
- Oh! But you too!, replied his brother.
They remained silent for a moment while the children bid their farewells to Rin, followed by Sango and Miroku.
- Rin is my most precious treasure. I'll never hurt her, confessed Sesshoumaru, without looking at Inuyasha.
The hanyou looked up at this big brother who kept a straight face, even though he had just pronounced such a romantic sentence. He nodded, but said nothing more. He then saw Makoto going to Sesshoumaru. He immediately felt the tension rising in the body of his older brother. The young man stood before the youkai and said, his face red:
- I... I... I cannot believe it, but if that's what Rin wants...
Makoto pointed a finger at Sesshoumaru and almost shouted:
- Take care of Rin, otherwise, otherwise...
Rin walked over and grabbed Makoto s arm.
- Thanks, Makoto. Do not worry. Sesshoumaru-sama will watch over me.
The young man looked at her with sad eyes. He would have preferred her to breaks his arm rather than see her go away with a demon. But Rin was like that, she never did anything like everybody else. He sighed and squeezed her tightly in his arms. Sesshoumaru clenched his fist and took a step forward, when Inuyasha stopped him with one hand. Makoto added:
- Keep on training, right? Maybe you ll end up willing to spank this youkai!
Rin smiled and Makoto retreated quickly as Sesshoumaru was coming closer. But Rin s peaceful face prevented him from going further. She gave him a wink and walked up to Inuyasha. She couldn t come up with any words for him. Of all, he was the one who most resembled the definition of a father to her. He had the comforting presence of Sesshoumaru-sama and her attachment to him was very strong. She knew he wanted to protect her and he had jealously watched over her during these last years. Tears filled her eyes when Inuyasha hugged her. He whispered with a lump in his throat:
- You are always welcome here, even if you come with him, you know.
Rin smiled through her tears. She could find nothing better to say than:
- Thank you, Inuyasha.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then she went to Sesshoumaru-sama, her real home. All in all, this interlude in the village had given her the opportunity to sew links that felt like the closest thing to a family. She smiled while saying goodbye one last time. It was spring, the leaves of cherry blossoms swirled all around them. The sun warmed her face and the presence of Sesshoumaru-sama lit her heart on fire. He turned back and started walking. And she followed him.
-xxxxx-
It had been a hot day and they had come a long way. Rin, walking most of the time alongside Sesshoumaru, spoke to him or sang while Jaken held Ah-Un s bridle. It would probably have been faster to fly riding the two-headed horse, but Sesshoumaru didn t see any reason to go faster.
It had been only a week since Rin had joined back the group. Yet everything fell in place as the in old days, when she was travelling with them. Rin was quick to find some food whenever they took a small break, and they slept next to the firecamp. Of course, a few things were different, as had noticed Jaken. Sesshoumaru-sama and Rin were often away together. Nothing could separate them now. Jaken was getting ready to sleep. He was not worried, as they had gone nearby next to the river. He did not see them, but he could hear them. He had soon realized that he shouldn t go look for Sesshoumaru-sama and Rin when they moved away like that. Jaken rubbed the top of his head, remembering the beating he had received as he inadvertently interrupted them the day before yesterday ... Oh ... how unhappy Sesshoumaru-sama had been. He would not repeat the same mistake today. He turned away, leaning against the trunk of a tree, and fell asleep.
-xxxxx-
When Sesshoumaru had finished dressing, he found Rin asleep, his long fur scarf wrapped around her. He stood looking at her. She, who lived each day of her life so intensely, laughing, talking, smiling ... Her sleeping face was so peaceful. Only sleep gave her this relaxed, motionless look.
Sleep and death.
He remembered very well of the little girl he had found, lifeless, on the road. That time, the only thing he could see on her face was a mix of pain and astonishment. He hated that, even if he knew her so little at the time. He knew that Rin was made to smile. The same smile he had seen so often when she brought them back food.
He clearly remembered the dead body he had tried to revive in the Underworld. She was relaxed in his arms as if she felt secure, confident. But she was already gone. Her eyes did not turn over to him when he said her name. She remained motionless.
He remembered very well. He remembered too well. The shock he felt understanding that he could not do anything to bring her back. He then thought that his thirst for might made him lose what was the most precious to him. That this game he was playing with himself for power was not worth the life of Rin. He had dropped Tenseiga. Something trembled inside. Something in him had died.
He had returned to his mother carrying Rin and his sword, now stronger than before, but at what cost ... He had said nothing while putting the little body gently on the ground. He could not speak anyway. His throat was knotted. Rin lifeless, was Rin no more.
It was his mother who brought her back. When he saw Rin's eyes open, he could not help leaning over her to make sure she was really there. He felt as if he was the one breathing again, that his own body let go off the suffering in him. She said his name, simply. He had touched her sweet face, telling her that everything would be fine. "Yes, all is well now that you're back, Rin," he had thought.
He touched the face of woman sleeping in his fur scarf. He preferred her awake because she drove his dark thoughts away, but he understood that she needed to sleep. She was so fragile, so human, and yet she was everything to him.
"When Rin is dead, I hope Sesshoumaru-sama will not forget her...", she had once said. These words had nailed him down. He had answered: "Nonsense ... " He had then just saved her from the clutches of a youkai kidnapper. When he had arrived on the scene, a Buddhist monk had already freed the children. But Rin was struggling in the arms of the savior to escape.
Sesshoumaru was concealed in the forest, hesitating. It was probably better for her to return with humans. He took so little care of her. He let her find her own food, he endangered her by bringing her with him in his adventures... It was better for her not to follow him. They were not part of the same world, the monk was right.
Rin had shouted that she felt good in the forest. She was doing fine. She kept struggling. Sesshoumaru stood motionless. He heard her say, firmly: "Sesshoumaru-sama will come for me, Sesshoumaru-sama will come for me! " He closed his eyes. Indeed, he had come. He would have let Jaken and Ah-Un die without any hesitation. He would have been satisfied with the death of his brother. There was no one he would regret. No one but Rin. A human. A little girl. How had he gotten there?
And then she had screamed his name. She had yelled for him to come and get her. As he thought about this today, he was still amazed at how quickly his hesitations had left him when he heard her calling him. She was but a child and yet she already knew so well how to make him obey...
He had emerged from the forest. He had realized the presence of his brother and his companions, not very far. Would he therefore expose his weakness for the human to Inuyasha? He who sought to become ever more powerful could not let Rin go, even when she was not in danger... How ironic.
He had neutralized the monks who sought to eliminate him with a demonstration of his true strength, relying partly on his true form, revealing the demon within him. He could have used his sword, but he had favored his youkai nature. Was it to scare Rin by showing her what he really was? So that she could see the deep rift between them?
He could not have let her die. But he could let her go to a human village. If that was what she desired.
That evening, he had given her the choice. Without waiting, he had started walking towards the woods. Rin had followed him without hesitation. Then she had stopped, held by the monk. He had kept on walking, but for a moment he held his breath. Then her short, quick steps had resounded behind him as she caught up with him. He threw her a glance... She was smiling. He did not understand her motives... Nor did he understand how she had managed to become the only weakness in his so carefully built armor.
"When Rin is dead, I hope Sesshoumaru-sama will not forget her..." How could he forget the woman who had chained him so? How could he forget the only exception he made to his strictest rules? How could he forget the only thing in this world that was more important to him than his desire for power? How could he forget the pain of her departure, a pain he already knew?
And now that she was closer to him than before... Now that he knew the joy of getting lost in her arms, the happiness of drowning in the emotion of her eyes, the simple peace that her presence gave him... Now that he knew all that... Would he even survive?
So... "No, Rin. Even if Sesshoumaru wanted to... He could not forget you."
He took the young woman in his arms, sat against a tree and covered her with the fur. She snuggled closer against him and leaned her head against his shoulder. He felt her regular breathing down his neck and her warmth gradually calmed his thoughts. Soon only the serene quietness of a couple embracing in the moonlight remained.
"No, Rin. Even if Sesshoumaru wanted to... He could never forget the only person he ever loved."
Sorry for the delay! I will try to post the chapter 5 faster! Thanks a lot for your reviews. Myriel