"Talking"
Thinking
'Whispered(like in songs)'
'Singing'
I feel better now that I'm not stuck with the chapters. Hopefully this trend will continue. Do not own the characters of Inuyasha, or the song Hear Me Out by Frou Frou.
Bursts into tears
Three weeks have passed and everything was going remarkably well. Sesshoumaru left on a couple occasions in search of the miserable half breed Naraku who has hidden himself once more from our heroes. Because of this, the bond between Rin and Taki has been strengthened to an even greater extent. Taki would almost consider Rin to be her little sister; Rin likewise now sees her as a big sister, if not even maybe a mother.
As well as her relationship with Rin, her feelings for Sesshoumaru (or the one's she tries to keep veiled) have also changed. Whenever he would go off on his trips in search of the vile villain, his absence would make Taki's heart clench with a sudden intensity; one that she found hard to write off as mere friendly familiarity. Then he would return and her fluttering heart would ache once more but this time for a different reason. Her crush was rapidly dissolving, wavering over the line to obsession.
Regardless of this, she would never tell him. If she were to confess, she was positive the outcome would be far from pleasant. Her infatuation would remain where it was; tucked deep in her heart.
On this particular day, Sesshoumaru had returned from scouring the land in hopes of finding and killing Naraku. Eyes closed he 'rests' propped up by a tree, one knee up with his right arm slung over it. Rin and Taki are playing nearby, Jaken close by on a fallen tree branch; futilely trying to ignore their laughter.
"No, Ah, Stop." Taki gasps. "I can't. Breathe. 'Huff'" Rin mercilessly tickles her until tears spring from her eyes. Stopping she glances at Jaken, noting the 'I'm mad' look on his face.
Wiping her eyes, Taki asks "So what now, Rin? What would you like to do?"
Idea forming Rin whispers her plan to her. A small sarcastic 'Gasp' of surprise can be heard, before the girls gather their 'supplies' for their devilish little trick.
Jaken clearly not seeing the mischievous looks, can only cry out in indignation as Rin launches herself, much like a cat toppling the toad over. "I've got you, Master Jaken!" she yells before depositing her gift over his head; a pink pretty wreathe, made entirely out of flowers.
Giggling the older girl watches as he tries to rid himself of the degrading adornment, Rin smiling triumphantly when he fails in his endeavor.
Eyes suddenly bleary, she blinks; two rivulets of water leak out to trace a path down her cheeks, and then drip off her chin. Confused Taki places a hand to her face only to be met with two more jets of liquid.
Why…am I crying she questions mentally as even more droplets cling to her face before joining the others on the forest floor. Tears not stopping, only becoming harder, she can vaguely hear someone gasping only to realize it's herself attempting to retrieve more oxygen.
Now weeping fiercely, she can hear Rin's distressed question. "Are you alright Taki? Please, what's wrong? Taki! Please answer."
"I. Can't. 'Sniff'. I Don't. 'Gasp'. I don't know…" is all she can manage to sputter.
Running to her side Rin begs for her to 'please stop', even Jaken the perpetually incompetent seems worried.
Putting her hand over her mouth, she tries to still the emotional tirade, choking and coughing while at it. "I. Can't breathe." She stutters, beginning to waver with the lightheadedness.
Opening her drowning orbs, she is startled to see Sesshoumaru walking in her direction. Coming closer, she flinches and closes her eyes, fearing what may happen.
Instead she can remotely feel the silk of his haori touching the crown of her head. Peering up, Sesshoumaru is standing directly in front of her looking at her with a pointed gaze. Simply standing, staring down at her, he makes no move to touch her.
Before rational thought can arise, she grabs onto him, clinging to his haori.
Sesshoumaru-sama.
Just when he thought she couldn't perplex him any longer, that he had figured her out and his curiosity had been quelled, she suddenly bursts into tears, washing away his assumptions with them.
He knew she was 'unusual'. More than once had he witnessed her peculiarity.
She was dressed indecently when first he found her, though she was and still is pure. She often talks to herself or breaks out in song for no special occasion. And not once has she ever disrespected him, or been angry with anyone, this Sesshoumaru included.
And now suddenly she is crying, for no reason that I can find…
All of Taki's weight was now being supported by the Dog Lord as her knees buckle and she collapses more fully into him. The regal Taiyoukai lifts her momentarily so that he may sit leaning once more against a tree, this time with her secure on his lap.
Torrents of water still seeping profusely from the girl, she can only bury her head deeper in his firm chest, before exhaustion overcomes her frail body.
(Hours later)
Stirring lightly, the sleeping maiden wakes to a near searing warmth. Soft fabric delicately touches her cheek as she carefully opens her eyes, meeting white and little else. Startled she jerks until the events of the day come to the forefront and she settles once more.
That is until a deep baritone is heard from beside her.
"You have awakened." Forgetting momentarily whom she was sitting upon, the maiden soon becomes lost in his molten gaze, before once again he speaks, destroying the (more specifically her) moment.
"If you are quite through gawking at this Sesshoumaru, remove yourself from his person immediately."
Blushing deeply at the many implications of that sentence, Taki nearly flies out of his arms (yes two) and off of his lap, landing square on her butt none too gracefully.
Oh my god, just how long have I been 'there'!? I hope to Buddha I didn't drool on him or say something embarrassing in my sleep!
Recovering minutely she is able to right herself to her knees before she dares looking at him again. When she does he is thankfully looking elsewhere, seeming far away.
Bowing low to him, she apologizes (for what she is not certain). Nevertheless it seems the right thing to do, given the circumstances.
"Gomen, I am deeply sorry Sesshoumaru-sama for any inconvenience I have caused."
"Your apologies are not needed girl; simply do not do it again." His statement leaves her befuddled to say the least.
Staring at him blankly, she searches her mind for the answer to his vague command. Coming up empty she queries "Umm…what is it exactly I'm not to do…again."
Annoyed gold orbs turn to her blue-green, before answering "Do not abruptly start weeping on this Sesshoumaru for no reason. It is bothersome."
Turning from her once more she is left yet again at a loss. What exactly does that mean?
A pregnant pause fills the dead, then he adds "Except, there was a reason, was there not?"
Barely hearing the implied inquiry she observes his sidelong glance meaning he expects an answer. In her near month long journey with the Demon Lord, never had she been asked a question of this magnitude. Heck, she'd hardly been spoken to, little lone asked a question; particularly one about herself. What was she supposed to say? How was she to respond?
Thinking it over, carelessly the words come out unheeded by their master.
"It's because of my mom, because she is no longer living. She died, quite a while back actually and still I miss her each day. There is not a day or night that goes by that I don't think about her."
Breathing a sigh to impede the tears she is sure will come, she explains further her situation.
"She died when I was seven and since then it's been just my father, brother, and I. Needless to say it was hard for all of us, but I think by and large it hurt me the most. She was my friend as much as she was my mother, I told her everything.
Since her death I realized that on that day, not just in that month, I would cry unexpectedly no matter where I was or what I had been doing prior to. It took me a couple times before I consciously thought it was because of this, but subconsciously I knew. "
Tears trailing old paths, she continues till no more words escape her.
"She was my friend Sesshoumaru-sama, I loved her so much. It hurts to know that I can't ever be with her again!"
Shaking immensely, her harsh cries consume her remaining thoughts.
Partly bowing, she murmurs weakly "s-sorry" before retreating, bumping past the thick trees around them.
Staring after her diminishing form, the Dog Lord is left with her lengthy response, repeating tediously in his head. 'Hm' he breathes, and then resumes his far off state.
-------------------
Elsewhere, after much time to cool, the girl is seated upon a hilltop gazing at the sinking sun. Still saddened she is far from 'okay' but now with her current surroundings its hard not to express oneself.
'I join the queue on your answer phone and all I am, is holding breath
Just pick up, I know you're there. Can't you hear?
I'm not myself.'
'Oh, go ahead and lie to me, you could say anything
Small talk will be, just fine.
Your voice is everything, we owe to love
And it all depends on you.'
'So listen up, this sun hasn't set.
'I refuse to believe that it's only me feeling'
Just hear me out; I'm not over you yet.
'There's love on the line, can you handle it?'
'So how do I do normal?
The smile I fake, the per-ma-nent way
Cue cards and fix-it kits, Can't you tell?
I'm not myself.'
'I'm a slow motion accident
Lost in coffee rings and finger prints
I don't want to feel anything, but I do
And it all comes back to you.'
The figure hidden in the trees remains unnoticed, but not un- curious.
'So listen up, this sun hasn't set.
'I refuse to believe that it's only me feeling'
Just hear me out; I'm not over you yet.
'There's love on the line, can you handle it?'
'So listen up, you get me straight
Just hear me out, don't make me wait
I'm not myself, I can't take this
Love's on the line; is that your final answer?'
'I join the queue on your answer phone, and all I am, is holding breath
Just pick up I know, you're there…'
Sighing, Taki shuts her eyes, head bowed to her upright knees, and goes to sleep, never noticing the silent Lord nearby.
Oh wow, this is by far the longest chapter I have had, at least it seems that way to me. That's pretty cool. Then again I had high expectations for this chapter; I had a goal in mind, which I managed to reach. Well have fun to all who are bothering reading and as always R & R! And have a pleasant Valentine's Day.
