Now we begin embarking on the new relationship. :)
Before we continue, I just want to give a shout-out to Gin (kokoronagomu)! I was so happy to see your reviews because I always love hearing your input! I never thought about including InuKag's children in this complicated SessRin relationship…hmm…I will definitely keep that in mind when the time comes!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 6: New Beginnings
The day after Rin and Sesshomaru began their courtship, they went to meet Jaken and A-Un. Sesshomaru had parted with them a few meters away so he could talk to Rin privately, but now it was time to meet up with them again.
Rin lightly held onto Sesshomaru's arm as they walked through the forest. She and Sesshomaru had been ready to leave first thing that morning, so she left a note for the others in her house. She wasn't quite ready to tell anyone else aside from Kagome and Inuyasha about her relationship with Sesshomaru, so she felt it was better to be a little vague with just a short note.
As Sesshomaru and Rin walked, Rin gazed around at the trees in the forest.
"Kagome told me that if you cut a tree down and count how many rings are on the inside of the trunk then you can tell how old the tree is," Rin commented. "She knows a lot of stuff that people in this age don't know because of how advanced her original time is." Sesshomaru nodded.
"There are also advanced things in our present day compared to several centuries ago," he replied. "Things like medicines and house-building were much more primitive." Rin thought for a moment.
"Sometimes I forget that you've been around so long," she said. "How old are you?" Sesshomaru appeared to be counting in his head.
"It has been a little over six-hundred years since I was born," he replied. Rin's eyes widened. "Wow," she replied. "And I thought twenty-four was old." Sesshomaru smiled his small smile again. Rin was quickly growing to love it.
When they reached where Jaken and A-Un were, Jaken was quick to begin his shrill scolding of Rin.
"Why did you make Lord Sesshomaru take so long in returning to us?" he shouted. Rin laughed and tried to hide a blush.
"Hi, Jaken," she replied cheerfully. "It's good to see you." Her happy responses to Jaken's yelling always got him to shut up. She knew that Jaken must care for her deep, maybe very deep, down, so she never got upset or offended by what he said to her.
"Rin, where would you like to go?" Sesshomaru asked like always. Rin thought for a moment. "Do you think we could go to my old village?" she asked. "I'd like to visit." Sesshomaru nodded and they set off.
Sesshomaru didn't act different toward Rin in front of Jaken. He was as reserved as ever, and Rin appreciated it. She didn't want Jaken to make a big deal about everything. Rin and Sesshomaru were in a happy little bubble, and she didn't want Jaken to pop it.
The trip to her old village was a long one, so they stopped when night fell. They'd been traveling all day with just a few breaks to eat, so Rin was incredibly tired.
Jaken fell asleep almost immediately, and A-Un quickly followed suit.
Instead of leaning against A-Un to sleep like she usually did, Rin went over to where Sesshomaru had settled against a tree.
"Can I sleep beside you tonight?" she asked as she sat down next to him. Sesshomaru nodded.
"If you please," he replied. Rin leaned back against the tree and felt herself blush when Sesshomaru put his arm around her and gently pulled her head onto his shoulder. Rin nestled against him and smiled. "Thank you," she said as she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, they all set off again. Rin knew it would only be a few hours until they reached her village and she felt a sadness set in her heart.
She wished that her parents were still alive. While she was happy in her current village, she knew something would always be missing without them.
As soon as they landed in her old village, she saw the empty remains of her childhood home. The village had been abandoned, so Rin was sure no one had been here in a long time.
The sadness she'd tried to keep at bay suddenly surrounded her.
"Um," she began. "I'll be back soon." Sesshomaru nodded at her and she walked into the center of the village where she found the old house she used to live in with her family.
She walked through the doorway and found everything in shambles. Just like I remember, she thought to herself. Rin sat in the middle of the house and looked around. There was hardly anything left. All she saw were remnants of old futons and old kimonos. She reached out and picked up the clothing.
"Hi, Mother. Hi, Father," she said as she rubbed their old kimonos. "I haven't come to see you since I left all those years ago. I'm sorry. I wish I'd come sooner." Rin choked back tears and tried to continue speaking.
"But I'm here now, and I want to make it count," she said in a wavering voice. "You'll never believe how my life has turned out. When I left the village, I died. I was gone, but I was rescued…"
Rin went on to recount everything that had happened to her in the last fifteen years. She hoped Sesshomaru and Jaken wouldn't mind how long she was taking. Well, Sesshomaru wouldn't mind. Jaken on the other hand would probably be cross with her.
"Now I'm twenty-four and I've begun a courtship with Sesshomaru," she continued. "I've loved him for a very long time, and now we're finally together." She sniffled. "I'm happy. I try to be as cheerful as I can because I know I was very fortunate to have my life turn out this way. The only thing that's missing is you." Rin's tears finally overcame her, and she buried her face in the old kimonos.
After a few minutes, she pulled herself together and wiped her eyes. "I'll come back again," she promised. "I don't know when, but I will." With that, she stood up with the kimonos still in her arms and left the house.
Jaken and Sesshomaru were still where she left them, and she tried her best to hide that she'd been crying.
When they saw her coming, she put on a bright smile and held up the clothing. "I found some old kimonos from my parents," she announced. She could tell Sesshomaru knew she'd been crying; he'd probably smelled her tears like he did the previous night, but he respected that she needed her space, and she loved him even more for it.
"Why would you want to keep those old things?" Jaken said. "Look how raggedy they are! They're practically falling apart!" Sesshomaru's eyes flashed at him.
"Jaken," he said in his don't test me voice. Rin smiled and ignored Jaken's comment.
"They're what I have left of my family," she said with a smile. "I'm glad I found them."
Rin requested they return to her current village soon after so she could try to salvage the clothing as best as she could.
Before they had even reached Rin's house, they were bombarded by Kagome and Inuyasha. Well, Kagome bombarded them. Inuyasha just trailed behind her with a deep frown on his face.
"Hello, Rin!" she greeted cheerfully. Kagome then turned to Sesshomaru. "Hello, onii-san!"
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha growled in unison at Kagome's greeting. Rin was embarrassed almost immediately.
"How dare you address Lord Sesshomaru in such a disrespectful manner!" Jaken screeched. "Of all the audacious…"
Inuyasha cut him off by stomping on him. "You wanna keep talking to her like that?" he asked menacingly. "You won't like what'll happen." Kagome quickly pulled Inuyasha away so Jaken was free to refill his empty lungs with air.
"Why, you!" he shouted. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.
"Jaken," he said. "That is enough." Jaken sputtered.
"But, Lord Sesshomaru!" Before Jaken could shout anymore, Inuyasha had brought his foot back and kicked Jaken to the high heavens.
They heard a shout for a moment, and then Jaken was gone. Inuyasha smirked, and Rin found herself a little irritated. She knew Jaken would be fine, but of all the days for Inuyasha to cause a scene...
"A-Un," Sesshomaru said coolly. "Go retrieve Jaken." A-Un gave a silent nod and flew off. Sesshomaru then turned to Inuyasha.
"If we were not in the presence of women," Sesshomaru began, "I would tear you apart limb from limb." Kagome rolled her eyes but Rin just remained silent.
"Like you could!" Inuyasha shot back. The half-brothers locked eyes in murderous glares.
Rin finally couldn't take it. She'd always hated this rivalry between Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, and she thought that maybe her relationship with Sesshomaru would soften his heart toward his brother. Apparently not, she thought to herself.
Before the yokai and hanyo could lunge on each other, Rin gently put a hand on Sesshomaru's arm. It was light and had no real power in it, but she could tell it had a heavy effect on Sesshomaru.
His eyes instantly shot to hers, and at first she was afraid that she'd angered him. An apology sprang to her lips, but Sesshomaru set his hand atop hers before she could speak.
That surprised her even more than the fact that he'd completely taken his attention off of Inuyasha. It was all on her now.
Subtlety was a strong suit for Sesshomaru, so Rin knew that this small exchange wasn't some big show or anything.
But she knew it was obvious to Kagome and Inuyasha that there had been a shift in the new couple's relationship. That much was certain.
No more than three seconds had passed by, but it felt like an eternity for Rin. Finally, Sesshomaru's eyes broke away from hers and he turned back to Inuyasha.
"Do not touch my vassal," he said simply.
That was it. No threat, no punch, no snarl.
Rin could see the obvious shock on Inuyasha's face, but she could also see the knowing look on Kagome's. That's when Rin recognized a parallel between her relationship with Sesshomaru and Kagome's relationship with Inuyasha.
Kagome had taught Inuyasha how to be gentle. Rin had heard countless stories from the Shikon Shard-hunting group about how different Inuyasha had become as he and Kagome grew closer during the first year they'd met.
While Inuyasha was once untrusting, coldhearted, and power-hungry, he was now a noble and usually fairly nice hanyo who wasn't afraid to help people when they were in need, nor was he afraid to speak openly about how he felt about Kagome.
Rin hoped that she would be able to do the same for Sesshomaru. Rin loved him no matter what, but it would make her heart soar if she could help Sesshomaru learn to be more open and less coldhearted towards others. She thought it was a good sign that Sesshomaru had become that way with her.
Then again…it had taken fifteen years. She'd have to work on it.
Kagome locked eyes with Rin, and she smiled. Rin could practically read her thoughts; they were the same as her own, but Rin was pretty sure Kagome's head was in a much more idealistic world where Sesshomaru would immediately change because he and Rin were now together.
Rin had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. That's not what had happened with Inuyasha, and she sure as heck knew that wouldn't be the case with Sesshomaru either.
But to know that Rin had such an influence on him…that he cared enough about her to not want to make her upset…that meant something to her.
Inuyasha's look of shock began to recede as Sesshomaru reassumed his typical cool expression.
Finally, Inuyasha laughed.
"Well, Sesshomaru," he began. "It looks like you took my advice…and it seems to have gone over well." Rin's cheeks went up into flames and this time, she actually did have to physically restrain Sesshomaru from taking a swing at Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shrieked.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin shrieked.
The two women looked at each other when they heard their similar reproachful scolds.
Kagome giggled, and Rin couldn't help but follow suit. Their men found no humor in the situation; they only continued to glare at each other. Finally, Rin figured Kagome got the hint.
Kagome took Inuyasha's hand and began to lead him away.
"We have to go now," she called behind her as they left. "We'll see you later."
Once Rin was alone with Sesshomaru, she put her hands behind her back and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry, Lord Sesshomaru," she said sincerely. "I didn't mean to…" Rin was cut off by Sesshomaru.
"Rin," he interrupted. Surprised, Rin looked up into his eyes.
"You needn't apologize to me," he said. Rin was confused, but she didn't dwell on it.
"Okay," she said uncertainly. "Um, I'd like to take these to my house. Then we should go find Jaken and A-Un." Sesshomaru nodded curtly, and they set off.
Rin's head was full of conflicting thoughts. She wished that she knew what Sesshomaru was thinking. Rin knew that they had come so far in the time they'd known each other, but there was still so much to learn about the yokai she loved.
By the time they reached Rin's house, Rin was fairly quiet. She didn't know if Sesshomaru noticed, which would be odd because he was an expert on quiet and Rin was typically fairly outgoing.
Silently, she scolded herself. Give him time, she thought. He's come so far…change isn't instantaneous. With that, Rin took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
They went inside and Rin gently set the clothing next to her futon. She spread it out to she could properly assess any damage.
Aside from the designs and colors being extremely faded and a few holes here and there, Rin found that the clothing wasn't as bad as she expected. She'd been worried that it would fall apart if she tried to do anything with it.
"Wow!" she exclaimed excitedly. Her woes were forgotten for the moment. "The clothing isn't nearly as damaged as I thought it would be."
She gently rubbed the fabric with her thumb and felt tears spring to her eyes again. She squeezed her eyelids shut to keep the tears from falling again. Rin had cried enough for one day.
A gentle hand settled on her shoulder. With one glance, Rin saw that Sesshomaru had sat down next to her. Rin smiled.
"Lord Sesshomaru…" she began.
"Sesshomaru," he interrupted. Rin just looked at him. Uhh…
"Rin, you do not have to refer to me as your Lord anymore," Sesshomaru said. "You may just call me Sesshomaru." Rin's eyes widened. O, my…
Rin set her hand on top of Sesshomaru's. It would take a while for her to be comfortable with referring to him with no title, but she was beyond touched by his compassion.
"Okay…Sesshomaru," she said. She'd been right. It was a little weird. "Thank you for taking me to my old village. It meant a lot to me." Sesshomaru gave her one of his small smiles.
"I want to make you happy," he replied. Rin couldn't help the pleasant surprise that filled her. She was even more surprised when Sesshomaru leaned forward and kissed her.
It was a short, sweet kiss, but Rin's face still reddened at his gentleness.
In that moment, Rin realized something.
She shouldn't try to change Sesshomaru, nor did she want to. All she wanted was for him to be happy, and she wanted that happiness to be with her.
And now, they were happy.
And Rin didn't want anything to change.
To be continued…
Ah, the honeymoon phase. Such a lovely place. Too bad change is inevitable...
Also btw I have no idea how to approach the whole yokai aging thing. I know that Inuyasha is roughly two-hundred in the manga so I tried to sort of take that into account for Sesshomaru's age. I'm literally guessing about his age though lol so my bad if it sounds inaccurate. Feel free to correct me. I'll have to look it up…eventually.
Much love. :)