Chapter 8: Catch If You Can
"Which road are you taking right now?! I'm heading there!"
"Unnecessary. I can take care of this." Sesshomaru stepped on the gas while Rin held on her seatbelt for dear life.
"Dumbass! Don't get yourself killed and LET ME HELP YOU!" Inuyasha's angry voice filled the car.
"As I said earlier, I will be fine." He turned to look at Rin. "Is there anything else you wish to say to your friend?"
She gulped and hoped to Kami that this wasn't a final farewell or some sort… "Gome, I'll see you soon okay? I miss you lots. Try to be nice to Inuyasha." Rin could hear her sobbing on the other line.
"Please PLEASE be careful! I need to see for myself that you ARE alive." Kagome couldn't bear the thought of losing her again. "…and Rin?"
"Yes?"
"Happy 18th Birthday. Let's celebrate it when we finally can."
Stunned, Rin tried to remember the current date. Was it her birthday…? Of course she forgot. But that small detail was irrelevant.
"Sesshomaru, no matter what protect her."
The handsome Demon glowered at the cellphone. "I listen to no one." He disconnected the line, leaving the dead dial tone.
Rin frowned. What was HIS problem?
Just then, the Lamborigni swerved violently to the side barely missing a what looked like a cannon shot from the car behind them. Rin turned and saw that a guy with metal body was perched on top of the Sedan and shooting cannons from his shoulders.
"Damn Ginkotsu." Sesshomaru cursed while expertly maneuvering the car to avoid the incoming shots. "…Get your head down!" He uncharacteristically yelled at Rin seeing that she was stupidly rising from her seat.
"Sorry!" And she lowered herself as far as she could go.
He pressed a button from the steering wheel and the roof of the car went down.
"Rin, open the glove box." He commanded.
Her head still lowered, she did what he asked. Her hand nervously scrambled inside and pulled out a black weapon. She handed it to Sesshomaru.
"Who knew that I'd be depending on human weapons." He muttered darkly while cocking the gun.
Rin watched him with a kind of fascination. He looked so frightening yet sensual with his composed but deadly expression.
Sesshomaru suddenly grabbed and placed her hand on the steering wheel. "You steer." He told her.
"Wh-what?! I don't even have a driver's license! What are you planning to do?!"
"You don't need a license. Just listen to me carefully." And with that, Sesshomaru let go of the steering wheel, unbuckled his seatbelt and turned his body around. A foot remained on the gas pedal.
They swerved for a bit until Rin managed to straighten it out. Her left knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel tightly. And her hands were shaking. Christ! Please don't let me and my amateur driving be the cause of our death!
Sesshomaru aimed his gun at the Sedan's front tire. One shot and the right tire popped. He watched in satisfaction as the Sedan lost control for a bit, but it was able to recover. Ginkotsu fired again.
"Steer to the RIGHT!" He yelled at Rin.
Rin yanked it hard and Sesshomaru almost lost his balance. He felt the cannon whip by his side and it exploded precariously close to the car.
"Woman, for fuck's sake don't get US killed!" He grounded out.
"I'm trying!" Holy crap! She never wanted to go through this EVER again. She knew being with Sesshomaru would be exciting… but this KIND of excitement was not her ideal cup of tea. She heard a loud continuous gunshot that sounded like a machine gun. Just then the windshield in front of her shattered, showering both of them with broken glasses. "Eeeek!"
Sesshomaru temporarily ducked and waited for the gunshots to cease before he rose again. He saw Renkotsu perched on Ginkotsu and he was drinking from his jug. Next second he spat fire, much like a flamethrower.
"LEFT RIN!"
She pushed the steering wheel and felt the heat on her right.
Sesshomaru aimed his gun at the sedan once again, and with unparalleled precision, he hit the remaining front tire.
That did it.
The sedan completely lost control and skidded. It rotated and then crashed into the trees on the side. Sesshomaru took a deep breath and sat back down, taking over the steering wheel and sped away.
Rin was trying to regain control of her breathing. She slowly turned to say something at him but was shocked to see his shirt soaked. "You're bleeding!"
"It's just a scratch."
"But we should-"
"I am fine."
Stubborn mutt. It didn't look like he was going to die from it, so she huffed and crossed her arms.
When they arrived at the wide parking of the busy airport, Sesshomaru continued to drive until he reached a secluded area near a small building. He parked and a small man approached the door on Sesshomaru's side.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" The small man opened the door and his huge, buggy eyes were filled with tears. "…you're really alive! I thought Inuyasha was making it up… but you're bleeding and what happened?!"
"Now is not the time for this Jaken. Let's go." Sesshomaru got out of the car and Rin did the same. Jaken got the luggage out of the car's trunk and lead the way inside the building.
This was the private unit of the airport, that much Rin knew. The lobby was completely empty of people. Not even employees.
They continued to walk past the waiting room into a hallway that led into an open area, where a small yet impressive jet was waiting.
Jaken turned around to face Sesshomaru. "As you wished, I will be the only one accompanying you and I'm very-" He stopped midsentence, finally noticing the girl next to Sesshomaru. "Who ARE you?" He asked, surprised.
"Er, hi." Rin said awkwardly.
"Not now, Jaken." Sesshomaru walked towards the stairs leading to the plane's entryway.
o-o-o-o-o
The soft hum of the plane was oddly relaxing to Rin. She sat self-consciously in one of the comfortable, few seats, and waiting for Sesshomaru who was taking care of his injury somewhere. She felt tired but relieved that they got away from the earlier incident. Her question was… the future. What were they supposed to do in Hokkaido anyway?
The plane began to move on the runway and start its ascent when Sesshomaru came back and sat next to her.
"How are you feeling?"
He spared her a bored glance and answered "Fine" before looking away.
She didn't know what else to say. Rin continued to look at him wondering if he was in the mood to answer her piling questions… but she ended up mesmerized with his demonic markings and how it suited his attractive face.
They were both silent, and… alone. And this time, he wasn't busy driving. Her face began to turn pink and she ended up pointedly staring at the back of her hand feeling embarrassed. Why was she staring at him again?
Suddenly, the tension between the two of them was almost palpable. Rin could feel the heavy electricity in the air, and every nerve on her body came to life. It took her a moment to realize that it was anticipation.
Cautious to be unnoticed, she peeked at him.
And was astonished to see his handsome face slightly menacing… and his intense, tawny eyes were focused on hers.
"Ridiculous." He murmured darkly.
She had no idea how it happened. He was too quick for her eyes. Within the next second she ended up on his lap, his lips crushed against hers. He held both of her wrists behind her with a hand, and the other was buried in her thick, brown hair. The kiss was absolutely mind-blowing. It was all him and his probing tongue. Her initial shock was quickly replaced with undulated passion and instinctively responded to his need.
However, as quickly as it came, it was finished. She was back on her seat, her hair ruffled and face flushed. Her breathing was heavy and she was absolutely confused. Everything that happened just a few hours ago… the phone call, the chase and her uncertainty of the future was thrown out of the private plane's window.
Next thing she saw was Jaken walking down the aisle, missing what happened (thank Kami). He offered them two wine glasses half filled with a red liquid, which Sesshomaru accepted.
She couldn't get over how unaffected and perfect he looked while she was currently trying to fix her disheveled hair with her fingers. Her heart was still racing in her chest. The smug expression on his face made her stomach clench favorably.
When Jaken left, Sesshomaru handed her the glass. She accepted it while trying her best to glare at him.
"Stop doing that." Her voice didn't come out as powerful as she she'd like it to be.
"Doing what?" He replied innocently while elegantly spinning the long necked glass in his hand.
"You… erm… doing what you want without asking. It's impolite and not fair." She blushed.
"You did not like it?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
She opened her mouth to lie but closed it again. The truth was she loved it. His mercurial attitude was sexy as hell.
o-o-o
Sesshomaru's flawless control turns into a myth when near her. It's her fault. Moments ago she was sitting timidly next to him before her whole demeanor changed. She started blushing and the scent of her goddamn desire suffocated and teased him. He understood now that it will be a challenge to keep his hands off of Rin. Strange that he found the human nearly irresistible. He convinced himself that once he completely tasted what she had to offer, he would be free of whatever grip this little human woman had on him.
Rin downed her glass. Once she finished it, she took a deep breath. "I have a proposition to make."
"A proposition?" Sesshomaru repeated inquisitively.
"I'd like to negotiate… the deal you offered a while back." She tried her best to look serious as possible, even though she was a bundle of nerves on the inside.
He leaned his back on the seat and ran a hand through his silver hair. His lips quirked into a half smile. "And what would this be, Ms. Yamanaka?" He answered in his formal, businesslike tone.
Wow. So this is theTaisho, Sesshomaru of West Holdings Corporation.
She cleared her throat. "You are clearly attracted to me, correct?"
His eyebrow twitched, but his face remained impassive. "You could say that. You are beautiful."
Her heart did a somersault at his compliment, but she tried not to show it. "But you refuse to be… loved. You warned me not to fall in love with you. What you want is a no-strings-attached-strictly physical-relationship. Like… sex and nothing more."
He figured that he should answer her straight and honest. "Correct."
"And may I know why, before I start negotiating?" She asked carefully, watching him.
He sighed. "I am a demon Rin. Such emotions are lost to me. I do not love and cannot reciprocate. I cannot promise you anything else but…" His finger lightly traced the back of her hand. "…a night that will make you feel incredible things you never knew existed, and show you what you and I are capable of."
His words. Why are they so appealing? Oh Buddha help me! She shivered from his touch but pulled her hand away from him. "It's not nice to seduce your client during a meeting, Mr. Taisho."
The urge to laugh was almost overpowering. However he managed to keep his face straight. "I apologize." He placed his hand back on the armrest.
She stared at him thoughtfully. "So that's your reason? Because you think you're not capable to love?"
"I know I can't." He replied coldly.
"Alright. Here's my proposition. I'll accept your deal but…"
He exhaled impatiently. "I cannot do it, Rin. Even if I say 'yes,' I won't be able to keep my word and you will only get hurt. This is useless-"
Rin raised a hand to silence him. "Let me finish. I'll accept your deal if you promise me that… you'll try."
"You want me to try and love you?"
She bit her lip. "Well, when you accept my changes about the deal and er… besides the physical stuff…" She blushed. "…I also want us to get to know each other. I want to know more about you. And then be like a normal couple on dates. And when it doesn't work out then it doesn't."
Sesshomaru shook his head disapprovingly. "You are aware that your 'negotiation' is actually a gamble?"
Rin lowered her head. "I know." Two things could happen, they could fall in love with each other and live happily ever after, OR she could fall in love with him (if she wasn't already), but Sesshomaru would never feel the same way for her. In the end she'll have a broken heart. Indeed, it was a gamble for her heart.
"I see." He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "And the time frame?"
"Er, excuse me?"
"This deal is synonymous to a contract. And every contract has a set amount of time before it becomes void."
Oh. So she was going to try her best to make him fall in love with her, but there's a freaking time limit?! It's HORRIBLE!
But it was a challenge she was willing to accept.
Inspired, she answered. "How's three months?"
Sesshomaru stared at her pensively for quite a while. "That is acceptable."
She nodded. "So… is it a deal? Will you try?"
"I have nothing to lose in this contract, Rin. I promise I will try. But you can still back out."
"No. I'm certain. This is what I want."
o-o-o-o-o
Next Chapter: Hokkaido
A/N: Ramblings
Search "Grip Jaken's Version" on youtube. Its Rin, Sesshomaru and Jaken (their original Japanese voice actors) singing the opening song to Inuyasha but titled 'Sesshomaru.' I almost died laughing when I found it! My goodness it was worth it. xD Let me know what you guys think! Here's SOME of the lyrics LOL
Sesshoumaru: "And now, what we've all been waiting for!"
Jaken: "It's time for Sesshoumaru!"
Rin: "I have no idea what Shikon shards are!"
Sesshoumaru: "I will kill Naraku with my Toukijin!"
