Chapter 7: Drunken Kiss
Sango was quick to laugh at a hilarious joke that Miroku pulled on her. She had been laughing it up all night since they arrived at the Grape Vine. Once she recovered, she looked to Rin and said, "I didn't know you're friend was so funny."
Rin was going to object by saying that Miroku was nowhere near the friendship level, but who was she to kill Sango's spirit? All four were gathered in a seated booth in the back of the Grape Vine. Soft music flowed through the air along with light conversation and cigarette smoke. Rin watched as Miroku playfully draped an arm around Sango, whispering something in her ear; no doubt it was perverted. She giggled, encouraging his actions.
Rin only crossed her arms, frowning while Sesshomaru looked off elsewhere.
Suddenly Sango announced that she wanted to get to the dance floor. Miroku slid from the booth, allowing Sango a way out. He took her hand, gently pulling her to him.
"If you'll excuse us," he said.
Sesshomaru and Rin watched as the two disappeared in the smoggy environment of other people, their bodies pressed closely together.
It was just them now, all by themselves; alone. Rin idly tapped her fingers against the table while Sesshomaru uncontrollably crossed and uncrossed his arms. Finally unable to stand the silence, Rin said, "So…"
"So what?" Sesshomaru finished for her.
"How do you think they're getting along?" she asked, scanning through the crowd to find Miroku and Sango swaying to the soft music and Sango throwing her head back in delight; no doubt at another one of Miroku's corny jokes. As long as her friend was happy, that was enough for Rin.
"I honestly don't care," was Sesshomaru's response.
Rin gave him a hard look. "Is there anything that you do care about? Like your parents maybe."
With sarcasm he replied, "I don't know, I haven't told them lately."
She rolled her eyes up toward the ceiling. "So you've never showed your gratitude to your parents while growing up? You wouldn't even thank me for the coffee I brought you."
He scoffed. "Of course I have, haven't you?"
Rin suddenly grew quiet. If she knew that question was going to be thrown back at her, she wouldn't have bothered asking in the first place. Already, she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Rin just knew that this was going to be a tough and awkward conversation. She played with her hands before saying, "Well not really."
Before Sesshomaru could say anything, a waiter approached them, asking for their drink preferences. Sesshomaru had ordered wine. Once it arrived, he requested that the bottle stay. Each one took turns pouring however much they wanted into their glasses.
"So what were you saying?" Sesshomaru suddenly mentioned, not forgetting what Rin had brought up.
Rin was caught off guard. She didn't honestly think that he would bring the topic back up. But since she had already started, why stop?
"Well my mother wasn't a real saint by any means."
Sesshomaru then became quite interested. "How so?"
She gave him her attention, still unsure of whether to share this type of fragile information with him. Besides the only other people that knew about this were Kagome and Sango.
She took in a deep breath. Just go ahead and tell him, Rin. You've got nothing to lose now.
But before she could get another word out, Sango and Miroku came strolling back towards the booth, Miroku's arm wrapped firmly around her small waist.
"Hey, Rin," she said, a smile in her voice.
"Hi," Rin responded.
"Listen," she began, but was distracted when Miroku proceeded to nibble on her ear. "I'm going to head out with Miroku, is that okay? You won't be lonely will you?"
"Uh…no I'll be fine."
"Hmmm…okay. See you later."
Rin watched as her best friend along with Sesshomaru's made their exit. He was quick to give his attention back to her. "So," he said. "Continue."
XX
"My dad was a pretty decent and stand up sort of guy. He was practically my role-model growing up. My mother was a completely different story altogether. It wasn't until I got older that I finally realized why my dad left her the way he did. My mom was a serious gambler; she would bet anything she could get her hands on." And then Rin scoffed. "We almost lost our house twice because of her out of control addiction."
Rin sighed, recalling her own mother's dangerous habit.
She chuckled to herself to ease the feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. "Later on my dad sent me to live with some other relatives so he could help my mom clean up her act. I bet he wishes he could have tried harder, because it obviously didn't work. Over the years I was constantly hearing stories about my mom through my grandmother."
In just two minutes, this is how much he had told her. In two minutes, Sesshomaru could summarize everything she said in perfect detail too. Instead he listened.
"By the time I hit high school it was like she dropped from the face of the Earth; haven't heard from her since."
She picked up her glass, taking a swig, the wine ran down her throat like velvet. This had already been her third glass, and Rin couldn't recall the taste of it, let alone the name. Sesshomaru, too, took it upon himself to indulge in the frugal activities, but since he was the designated driver, two glasses were just fine.
"It was okay though," Rin went on. "I never asked about my mother, because from what I heard from while growing up, I didn't want to know."
She fell quiet for a while. Sesshomaru wasn't sure if she was finished or not, that's how long the silence lasted. Rin finally came back to earth, letting out a few shaky breaths. From where he sat, it seemed as if Sesshomaru could see the thin layer of tears cloud her vision. She wasn't upset when talking about her absent mother, so what was triggering this sudden emotion? Maybe it was the frequent rush of the wine starting to talk.
Rin quickly wiped her eyes that threatened to be overcome by tears. She told herself that she wouldn't cry, but she was anyway; quietly.
For some unfathomable reason, Sesshomaru allowed his hand to guide gently up her back and down again.
"I don't know what drove my mom to that horrible lifestyle," she went on. "I feel like I could have helped her in some way." Her body began to shake, and it took everything that Sesshomaru had to not just give her comforting words, but to hold her instead.
God! he thought. The vulnerability of women!
Especially this woman; Rin, who had done nothing wrong to this man, yet he still pushed her aside. She no longer wanted to continue. To try and even out what had just been said, Sesshomaru took it upon himself to speak about his own upbringing; how he was the eldest half-sibling of his idiot brother, and that his parents were decent people.
To lighten the mood even more, he spoke about past girlfriends, but he wouldn't dare go too far, revealing information that shouldn't be told out loud.
Rin gave a slight chuckle, finding a tinge of humor in this. It wasn't long until she announced that she was ready to leave. She slightly tipped over when trying to stand, but fortunately Sesshomaru caught her in his strong, sturdy arms.
"Careful," he advised.
"I'm allrighhttt," she said, her words slurring.
He guided her from the booth and through the faces of people, their eyes boring into them. It wasn't until the night air greeted them, that somehow both felt rejuvenated; able to finally breathe. Rin's tears had finally subsided, but he couldn't say that about her buzz.
She teetered over to his car, knocking up against it, ready to fall over. Sesshomaru went to the driver's side, unlocking the door, and the passenger's. To Rin, it felt exhausting hoisting herself into the car, but she managed anyway.
Sesshomaru went behind the wheel, starting the car and finally backing out of the parking lot. It wasn't until they paused at a STOP sign, that he asked to know where she lived. With incoherent words, Rin managed to tell him. Fortunately he was able to understand just before she fell asleep.
XX
"Hey," came a male's voice. "Wake up."
Rin stirred in her slumber, her head pounding as she slowly became fully awake. She suddenly remembered that she was with Sesshomaru.
"We're here," he announced.
"Okay," was all she could say.
They both got out; Rin with much needed help. He balanced her all the way to her front door, lifting her slightly as he needed to hoist her over the steps that lined the walking path. She lazily leaned against her door.
"Thanks," she said. "I guess you're not that bad after all."
"Don't thank—"
But his words were cut off when he suddenly felt the touch of Rin's lips on top of his. With aggressive force, she pressed harder against him. Sesshomaru gently pushed her away.
"Rin—"
No use.
"Rin! What are you doing?" he demanded.
"I don't know," came her reply. Then she looked up at him with smoky eyes. "But I like it."
Once again their lips met. All the while, Rin was toying in her pocket, fishing for her keys. When she finally took a hold of something that was slick and metallic, she retrieved it, unlocking her front door. Both stumbled inside, Sesshomaru now giving into his urges, accepting Rin's kisses. They crashed onto the couch, toppling over one another, their hands hot and heavy, exploring one another, tasting each other.
"Oh, Sesshomaru!" she moaned.
He heard her voice, husky with lust was enough to turn him on, but it was something else that stopped him; the state that she was in; pure drunk.
Sesshomaru pulled himself away from her.
Rin innocently asked, "What's wrong?"
"You're drunk, Rin" he explained.
She pouted. "No I'm-hiccup-not."
That's what she may have said, but that's not what he smelled on her breath, and in his car.
He got to his feet and made his way to the door. "I have to go alright?" Sesshoamru was already at the entrance. Rin was quick to follow.
"Sesshomaru."
He sighed. "Look, Rin. You're drunk so I'm not about to do anything with you."
She frowned, then gave a disappointed look.
"Just sleep it off and you'll be fine in the morning," he told her.
He opened the door, stepping into the darkness. He looked back and the last thing he saw was Rin retreating to the back of her house.
