Cycle of Mating
Summary: On the first day of the mating season, every demon and half-demon must go out into the world and find their future mate. It's been a tradition passed through species for thousands of years. Now the humans are more openly involved in certain mating's. Including the almighty Sesshomaru, prince of the Western Lands. During the next few months few months of the mating season, both he and his human mate must go through the trials and the forces of the demon council. Consequences are dire to them both if neither go through with what was destined for them. The question is, will Sesshomaru give up everything to get out having a human mate? Or will he accept it?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters.
"..." as for talking
"..."as for thoughts
Italic: Flashbacks and letters
Bold: Demon's instinct or demon talking
Bold/Italic: Demon's language, humans do not understand. (Will explain later)
Chapter Nine: Unsolicited Advice
Wednesday Morning: Dearily Residence
Morning came just hours after Rin entered her home and went to sleep. She didn't realize how late it had gotten before she got home, nor did she realize that her morning alarm didn't go off. On a normal day, she'd be up at the crack of dawn, finish getting ready for school before her little cousin even got up. But today was different. No alarm went off, no shuffling noises throughout the house witnessed.
Rin laid peacefully in her bed, surrounded by her infinite pillows, and her soft and fluffy comforter. Her curtains still drawn close from the night before when she closed them, but somehow the sun still managed to shine through. She buried her head underneath her pillow and yawned.
After getting home so late last night, she knew it was a bad idea. After all she lost a few precious hours of sleep she could have used after the night she had at the Sadamoto's. But her late night wasn't as bad as being driven home and baby sat by a man that ignored her. The same man, no demon that threatened other students with his demonic presence to prove a point. That same demon also marked her as his property and isn't letting her forget it.
Although she thought the drive was more than peaceful, the night scene beauty radiated off the deep blue sky. But the drive became awkward the moment she entered the vehicle. The awkward silence and the back and forth staring contest from him, she didn't know which to believe was worse.
A knock tapped on her door and creaked open. Rin sighed as she looked up, her hair standing up in certain angles and static from the pillows caused her hair to frizz as she raised her head. When she finally opened her eyes, the sun blinded her. She could hear her aunt walking toward her window to open the curtain when she groaned.
"No…It's too bright." Rin groaned as she squinted her eyes at her alarm clock. As soon as she saw the time she mentally cursed herself and jumped up out of her comfortable position. "Holy crap, Aunt Mimi I am late for first period!"
Rin threw her blankets off of her and jumped out of her bed running to the bathroom. "Darling calm down, it's okay." Mimi announced as she followed Rin to the bathroom where she watched her struggle to turn on her shower. "I turned off your alarm this morning."
"Why would you do that?" Rin questioned as she put her hair up and started to brush her teeth. She didn't realize that putting her hair up exposed the mark on her neck. Mimi gasped only before getting back to her nieces question.
"Because I received a call from Sookie this morning, she apologized for keeping you out so late. I just figured, it's been a while since you went out and had fun, why suffer by getting up tired for school." Mimi smiled as she stood right next to Rin while she brushed her teeth. "I am free to drive you to school, don't have to be in the office until noon. As for your school, I've already called them and let them know you'll be coming in late."
Rin finished up with her teeth, she rinsed her mouth with mouthwash before looking up into the mirror. The bruise she had on her cheek barely showed now, it was like a light purple with black circles around it. She hoped it would go away soon, but this was better than the black bruise she had yesterday. She pulled down her shirts collar to look at her shoulder to see how it's healing, unfortunately for her, that wound is still swollen and black. The bruise hadn't let up and isn't showing any signs that it will anytime soon.
"Your shoulder is still pretty swollen, didn't you say the nurse took a look at it?" Rin nodded her head as she straightened her shirt.
"Yeah she did. She told me to take it easy, hold off on the competitions for a semester. It's just the bruise doesn't look like it's getting any better, nor does the pain. But it's okay." Rin said with a smile. "I should shower, I'm already late for first period, and I don't want to be late for second as well."
Rin turned the other way to start undressing, she waited until she could her aunt's footsteps leaving. But they didn't. Mimi stayed in the bathroom, when Rin turned, she could see a concerned, yet partially happy expression on her face. "Before I leave you to get ready for school. I must ask, as your guardian, your aunt, as your friend. You've been marked? Does that mean you've found and learned who your future mate is?"
She sighed as she turned to look her aunt in the eyes, "To answer your question, yes, I've been marked. I don't fully understand why he did it, I just know he did."
"I didn't realize that your courtship was serious enough for him to finally lay his mark. From what you told me, you weren't sure who he was." Mimi expressed her thoughts to her niece, she was only concerned that the demon was taking advantage of her, controlling everything about their relationship. "I mean one day your attacked by a demon gone rogue, same day a new student at your school saves you, after he unknowingly tracks you down. Next day you think you know who he is, then you come home and you're marked."
"At first I wasn't sure. Maybe I was a bit sure, didn't want to believe it, I questioned myself why he would want anything to do with me. But then I was invited to that dinner with Sookie and it started to make sense. I'm still left with unanswered questions, but it's only a matter of time before I figure it out." Rin explained.
Mimi came closer to examine the mark up closer. She could tell from the fading bite marks that the mark is fresh. "As strange and awkward as it was, I learned Sookie had no idea, she knew nothing about it. I don't even think she even knows about the mark right now, after dinner I kind of just vanished out of sight. Her former mate set this dinner up to lure me out."
"And why would he do that?" Mimi stood against the door, waiting for an answer, when Rin didn't answer she decided to say something else. "Inu Taisho is not able to reveal any mating to the other until they know and understand it themselves. I'm sure the council would be very upset if he set this up to bombard you with this."
"He did it because…" Rin took a deep breath. "Because he's their son!" Rin paused without knowing how to phrase it, how to put it in the exact words she had been hoping to find. "Their son is my future mate. I kind of knew, but only after I put the pieces together before the dinner. As for the mark, he actually feels threatened by a kid at school. You remember Hitoshi?"
Mimi grinned, "That kid is still being a nuisance." Mimi shook her head as she could remember the day Rin introduced her to Hitoshi. It was summer and they were enjoying a nice day at the park and he bumped into them and caused Chiyo to fall over in the mud. "I can see why he did what he did, but I don't understand why he would take that step to mark you when no trust has been established or a pure connection has been made. It was smart of him to do so, but also very selfish."
"I know it's…"
"Just tell me something Rin, he's not controlling you, not trying to control how this mating goes? When he marked you, you willingly agreed?" Mimi asked with much concern in her voice. She wanted her niece to be happy but also in control of her life. There are quite a few demons that take advantage of their human mate because they are weaker than them. Mimi only wanted to make sure Rin wasn't going to let that happen.
She exhaled, "I agreed, willingly. He held no control over me. I know demons demand submission, but I've made it perfectly clear, I am not willingly going to submit, especially not this early on." Rin smiled.
Mimi nodded her head as she started to walk out the room to let her niece shower. Rin undressed and hopped into the shower. Within fifteen minutes Rin was finished, she turned off the faucet, and grabbed her towel hanging on the rack. Once she drenched the excessive water off of her body in the tub, she headed to walk back into her bedroom and into her closet.
She ravished through her closet, looking for an outfit to wear to school when she crossed a thick, long sleeved sweater from the back of her closet. The sweater was designed for it to hang off of the shoulder. She grabbed it and a pair of blue jeans and a pair of brown leather boots that would reach three inches below her knees.
Rin threw her outfit on her bed and walked over to her dressed to get her panties, a bra and a pair of socks. She picked out a white lace, strapless bra and a pair of matching white undies. Once she had everything she wanted to wear, she let her hair down and walked to her bathroom to put her towels away, and started on her hair and make-up. She decided on just scrunching her hair and using light make up, just enough to cover the black lines under her eyes from exhaustion.
After she was finished with that she got dressed. She pulled a black tank top out of her dresser and threw it on before putting on her sweater. Straightening out her outfit, she grabbed her bag and her books on her desk and searched for her phone underneath her mountain of pillows.
"RIN!" Mimi yelled from the kitchen, "Are you ready?"
She grabbed her phone, threw it in her bag and left her room. On normal day she would make her bed and make sure her room was in order. But she was already running late for class, she didn't have time to do so. Hurriedly she entered the kitchen where she found her aunt sipping on coffee and reading the morning newspaper.
"Good you're ready, I just got a call from the office, and they need me to come in sooner. Are you ready, I'll drop you off on the way?" Mimi said as she sat her mug down in the sink and grabbed her keys.
Second Period- 9:10 a.m.
Aria sat in her Demon History class staring up at the clock in hopes that the time would go faster. She viciously stared at her phone sitting across her on her desk every five minutes hoping to see if he had any missed calls or messages coming through from Rin. None. After not seeing Rin in the courtyard this morning, then not in their first period either, she begun to worry.
Her leg tapped vigorously as she listened to her teacher's lecture on the importance of demon history. She could tell from her teacher's rambling that everything and anything she needed to know was what was written on the board and not in the small stories she told to make the notes more understandable and interesting. Aria took her eyes off of her phone for a moment and decided to look up at the board to start writing some of the stuff down before the teacher decided to erase it and start on a new subject.
She didn't even notice the door in the far back corer of the classroom opening and closing as someone slowly walked through with their books in their hand. Rin walked in with her bags and books and of course a late note from the front office in her hand. She looked down at her friend and smiled faintly.
After handing the note to her teacher, she took her seat behind Aria and quickly took her notebook out to start jotting down the notes. Aria wasted no time to text Rin to see if she's okay. Rin's phone buzzed in her bag just as she sat down and she knew exactly who it was.
From: Aria
Message: Are you okay? You missed all of first period.
Time: 9:13 a.m. December 04, 2014
Rin ignored the message for the first five minutes to try and catch up, but set her pen down to check her phone once her phone beeped nonstop. She knew her phone wouldn't stop beeping until she messaged her back. Quickly she messaged her back and stuffed her phone back into her bag.
1854 Equality between the Species
The teacher talked about how humans knew all about demons, they knew they walked among them for years without even knowing if they were human or demon. For a long time they feared anyone new they met because they weren't sure if they were humans or a demon in disguise. Around that time, 1854, demons had perfected the act of camouflage, they learned to better hide themselves by walking amongst humans in secret while looking like one.
Even though the humans were aware of demon's existence living with them, they didn't understand what they wanted. Most humans feared demons, they grew up thinking that demon's only wanted to take over. They didn't know that long before that time, demons were comforting certain humans, helping them escape their harsh living, but also helping them understand an uncertain connection that they were feeling and making for months.
When numerous seventeen, eighteen year olds would go missing within a month, but reappear six months later, humans started to believe that their children were being kidnapped by monsters that hide in their shadows. It wasn't until a brave seventeen year old girl came home with her mate, proclaiming that wasn't kidnapped, nor murdered like most villagers thought, she'd ran away to be with him, since she knew her parents nor would the others understand how she felt. Her parents banned her from seeing him even though they were already mated, ceremony and all. All the villagers believed the demons wanted to control them make them look like puppets while they pulled the strings to their life.
As for the girl's parents, when they demanded she stop seeing him, they also voted to have the demon killed at day break. This caused her mate to become angry, which caused the appearance of the council that year.
The council appeared in 1854 to convince humans that it was their plan to bring equality to the lands, not take over them. It took rebellion from most of the girls that were secretly seeing their mates and the few humans that believed they had nothing to worry about, for the village human council to finally agree to demon and human equality.
Rin continued to write the notes down in her notebook, the teacher stopped talking about the history and demons and begun explaining the mutual connections that mates make during the first day they meet and how it expands over time. She made sure she paid close attention to this lecture to try and understand the connection her and Sesshomaru have been making these last three day.
Before she knew it, the next bell had run and her class dismissed. Rin quickly packed up her things and arose from her desk only to bump into Aria while leaving. "Aria!"
"Why were you late this morning? I was worried about you." Aria said in a partial panicked voice. She always worried over the smallest things.
Rin grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the classroom to walk to their next class. They had five minutes to get to their next class without a penalty for tardiness. "Aunt Mimi turned off my alarm this morning before I got up so I can sleep in."
"And why would she do that? Shouldn't she be encouraging you to go to school?" Aria asked as they passed the courtyard.
The courtyard filled up fast with the passing students trying to get class, some included a few of the newer students standing by the fountain talking. They seemed to be discussing something important, something that couldn't be discussed in the roaming halls with open eyes and ears listening and seeing everything. Sesshomaru stood amongst the group as well, eh stood in the middle, silent as usual. But he was very alert, his eyes wondered, almost as if he was looking for someone.
Rin looked over at him, once their eyes met she hurriedly turned away, her face lightly up with a bright red blush on her cheeks. She didn't realize that Aria noticed it and watched as Sesshomaru's attention closed in on only Rin. Rin completely turned around, grabbing Aria arm, and dragging her away from the courtyard with the thought of what was going on between Rin and Sesshomaru lingering in her mind.
Lunch- 11:35 a.m.
Third period ended and everyone who was scheduled for the first lunch headed to the snack bar to order food or the cafeteria that not many people hung out in. While others drove off campus to get take out and fast food. Aria sat at the water fountain waiting for her group to arrive. Rin told her she would be late meeting up with up with them because she wanted to get her assignments from her first period teacher since she missed her class.
Kagome came out of the South Building holding hands with Inuyasha, she was laughing at something he said to her, they both looked comfortable with each other, beyond happy. Aria stared at the jolly couple, she had high hopes that her friend would take it slow with Inuyasha, but on the other hand, she wanted her to be happy. She knew that Kagome hasn't been as happy like she is now since her last real and serious relationship with Hojo.
When Kagome noticed Aria looking at her, she waved and whispered something to Inuyasha before walking off to meet her friend. She stopped halfway from the courtyard and Inuyasha. She turned around, ran back over to him and kissed him before turning back to meet Aria.
Suya came walking out of the library with books stacked in her arms. Takashi came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and whispered sweet nothings into her ear. She giggled, but unexpectedly dropped all of her books. He kissed her neck, but she pushed away to try and pick up her books. Takashi kneeled down to help her gather her books that scattered a few feet around them. He offered to store them into her locker until lunch was over, she was more than happy to accept his help. Just as he went to walk away with the books, she gave him a kiss on the cheek and left to join her group.
Sango sent out a group message that she would meet up with them during gym, she had some stuff to deal with for Miroku. Ayame came skipping through the courtyard with her lunch in her hand, both she and Suya joined the group sitting at the fountain.
"Hey Aria, where's Rin?" Suya asked as she opened her bag lunch.
Kagome's face froze up as she looked at everyone. "She's grabbing her assignments from Mr. Gyro, she missed his class and was a bit late for second period." Aria answered but unsure if she should bring up how weird Rin acted during their walk to class. "Honestly she was acting a bit weird earlier. She said Mimi let her sleep in, which is not her at all. But what struck me as weird was when we were walking to third period…" She stopped to take a few bits out of her carrots before continuing.
"How is she acting weird?" Kagome asked, her face gave off that's something was wrong ad that she knew something.
Aria rose an eyebrow, "Kind of the way you're acting now." Kagome mentally shrunk into a ball. "I mean we passed the courtyard during third period passing, she took a look over to the new students Sesshomaru was amongst them, once their eyes met, she turned and blushed. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She pulled me away before I could ask what's going on with them."
"Maybe he has a crush on her. Rin is liked by a lot of the male population here at the school." Suya said as she bit into her apple. "We all are, so why wouldn't he like her?"
"There's something else, I can feel it. It's like he's drawing her to him." Aria said as she put her index finger against her lip. "If their mates, why not come out and say it. He joined this school three days ago and has spoken two words to her, but manages to help her with the Hitoshi situation. A strange demon he is."
Kagome decided to finally speak up, but not about what Inuyasha told her last night. "You are aware he is the Leader of the Demon Council's eldest son, he's one of the most prideful demon's there is."
"We're all prideful, but this is more than that." Aria growled as she noticed him sitting on the roof tops observing everyone. "The point is, maybe there is something going on between them and she didn't tell us."
With every thought racing throughout her mind, she couldn't stand there and keep what's truly bothering her. Kagome knew more than she let on, she didn't want to say anything to their friends especially since she promised Inuyasha she would keep it to herself. But they deserved to know as well.
"I mean she did have that dinner with Sookie last night, she's probably exhausted from the festivities."
"Festivities? What are you talking about Kagome?" Ayame asked.
Aria looked at her, a questionable look shooting out at her. "If you know something Kagome, you need to spill. NOW!" She growled.
"It's nothing…" Her head started to sweat as she dropped her water in the fountain, but as she went to reach for it, Aria snatched it from the water and held it hostage. "Fine, it's not nothing, but I promised I wouldn't say anything."
"Promise who, Inuyasha, you just met him and you've known us for years, whatever you know, you have to tell us."
She sighed knowing that she couldn't keep it a secret. "You must promise you won't tell Rin, not even a word. It'd destroy her." The girls nodded their heads in agreement. She took a deep breath before starting her story. "As you know last night Rin went to that dinner with Sookie as her guest. Well I was invited to go as well by Inuyasha, I don't know Rin would be there. Turns out Sookie's former mate is Lord Inu Taisho, the council leader, he is also Sesshomaru's father and Inuaysha's. Sookie is Sesshomaru's mother. Let's just say it was more than an interesting dinner."
Yesterday
"So tell me, how long have you guys been living in Tokyo?" Kagome asked, her feet tapping on the wall as she rolled over on her back to stare up at Inuyasha who sat across from her.
Inuyasha chuckled as he thought about the question. Kagome was so young and beautiful, yet she yearned to learn more about him. He never have been opened to sharing his life with anyone, expect one. His former lover, over hundred years ago. "We've been here for over a hundred years." Kagome gasped, not expecting him to be so old.
"A hundred years, you're much older than you look." Kagome laughed as Inuyasha continued.
"You forget my dear that demon's age differently from humans. A hundred years to us, is like ten to you humans." Inuyasha explained.
"But you're only a half-demon, does it still work that way? How old are you really?"
Inuyasha nodded his head, "It works the same. I'm over two hundred years old." Kagome gasped at a loss at how old he really was. "Does it scare you how old I am?" She shook her head, but unsure whether she feared his age or feared dying before he did. "Once we are mated you will age just as slowly as I do. You'll gain that ability being mating to a demon."
"And once you die, will I grow old and die like I normally would."
"I'm not sure, I've never met another human aside from my mother that was mated to a demon. I don't believe you would grow old for a long time. My mother has walked on this earth for over two hundred years and has no grey hair." Kagome smiled as she tapped her foot on the wall trying to think of another question to ask. One came to mind, but she didn't think it was her place to ask.
Inuyasha could tell she held back what she really wanted to ask. "You seem like you cherish being around your family."
"Being the half-demon I am, most of my father's side of the family doesn't accept me because of my human blood coursing through my veins. I learned to just stick by myself." Inuyasha explained, "My father isn't like the others, most demons hate humans, but he doesn't. He's tried to toughen me up to step up to others, but it's not worth my time."
"What about your brother?" Kagome curiously asked, she didn't know how to present him in a conversation, she just wanted to know if she should be worried about her friend. "He doesn't seem to care for anyone, much less your family."
"Sesshomaru…he's very self-absorbed. He's part of the reason I stayed away during my teen years. There's this deep hatred he has for humans that I don't understand."
Kagome nodded her head, "But he's going to be mated to a human, shouldn't he…"
"I know what you're going to ask Kagome. He doesn't care. Sesshomaru's the heir to my father's throne, he will inherit everything, the western lands, the company and anything in his way will be destroyed." Inuyasha stopped himself before he revealed too much to Kagome. But from the look on her face, she knew he had more to say. "A girl like Rin deserves more than what that bastard could ever give her."
He turned around, he hoped she wouldn't ask anything more about his brother. Lying to her was not an option, but telling her the truth would be the death of him. He feared telling her, but also feared that once she knows, once she knew the truth about his father's agreement with Sesshomaru over Rin, she'd waste no time in telling her best friend. Knowing that if he was in her same position, and his best friend's heart and future were at stake, he'd want to tell them, he'd want to be notified if it was him.
"The truth is Kagome, there are things I cannot simply tell you, not only is it dangerous information if anyone learned that I told you. But there's also things I want…no should tell you!"
Kagome shivered at his statement. He wanted to tell her something, but couldn't. All she hoped for with him was for him to be honest with her, she wanted that more than anything. He last few relationships were nothing shy from honest, she dealt with dishonesty, cheating, lying throughout her entire high school years. It's time she got the truth from a man she cared for and would soon be forever bond to. "If this mating is going to work Inuyasha, I need you to be honest with me. Whatever you know about my friend or about your brother that concerns her, I should know." She said with a concerned tone in her voice. "You may not know this, but Rin's gone through hell and back. Her parents were murdered in front of her eyes when she was seven. She has since been afraid of connecting with anyone, she feared they may hurt her. It's been eleven years almost since their death and there's not a day their not on her mind." She told the story about Rin's parents I hopes that Inuyasha would let her in on whatever is going on. "It seems Rin has let her guard down with your brother, she feels close to him for whatever reason that may be. I want to know whatever can hurt her so I can prevent it."
"That's just it Kagome, there's nothing you can do to prevent this from happening to her." He grinned, knowing if he wanted to be with Kagome and open his life to her, honesty would be best for them. "If I tell you something, can you promise me this does not get back to her, nor anyone for that matter?"
He sounded serious, enough that his voice rose as he spoke to her. Kagome's curiosity probably got the best of her when she asked about his brother, but she feared for her friend. It was no secret that Kagome loved gossip, she loved spreading the gossip, telling the secrets of others and learning of news ones. "Tell me."
"It's his happiness or mine. I cannot afford to lie to Kagome, I can't afford to lose her like I lost Kikyo. Sesshomaru has never considered nor even admitted we were siblings, the same blood he had coursing through his veins ran through mine too. Every chance he got he denies, why should he get the chance to be happy? I don't think he owns even one emotional bone in his body, much less feelings for a girl like Rin." Inuyasha thought to himself. He snapped out of it as soon as Kagome rolled over on her belly to crawl over to him, she placed her hand on his lap and stared at him. Her chocolate eyes filled with curiosity and nervousness. "But if I tell her, I'd destroy the very connection that brought them together, it'll not only ruin theirs, but mine as well. Considering Rin would be cast away, never to engage in conversation or associate with anyone connected to Sesshomaru. Which means Kagome and her friends as well."
"This is sensitive information Kagome. You want my honesty, I need yours as well. You cannot spit one word about this to anyone, not only would it ruin Rin's connection with my brother, but it's also erase everything Rin has gained from being with him." She didn't understand what he meant. "Promise me?" She nodded her head. "I've told you that Sesshomaru is self-absorbed, he cares for no one. The human race means nothing to him, their like insects to him. Before we came to your school, he refused to find his mate, which resulted in our father threatening him with a very unhappy ultimatum." He took a deep breath, not knowing how to word it without it sounding as bad it already does. From the look on Kagome's face, she seemed disgusted and she hadn't even heard the worst. "Our father told him he will either find his mate, go through with the mating and connect with her or lose everything. I don't know what Sesshomaru's true intension is when he's around Rin, but right now, he could care less about her and their mating, he's only agreeing to it because his title is at stake."
Kagome gasped at the information. She knew it would be something big, but she didn't expect this to be it. How could she not tell Rin? "He's using her to keep his stupid title?" she shook her head, "You want me to keep this a secret from her, she's my best friend, I could never…"
"You have no choice Kagome, you have to."
"But…Rin doesn't deserve that, she's been through enough, this would hurt her, and especially if she finds out I knew all along. How can you ask me to keep this a secret? I can't do that to her. I know I promised, but…" Kagome teared up a bit, her eyes averted to the door where she heard a sudden knock.
Inuyasha lifted her face when she dropped it. Wiping her tears away, he wiped his thumb across her lips. "If my father found out I told you or if Sesshomaru found out, we'd both be in grave danger. My father is a forgiving man, he'd be angry, but Sesshomaru is like no other demon you've come across. Your life would surely be in danger and if you were to spill even a single word to Rin about this, he'd come for you."
"He'd kill me over the truth?"
"He would never get close enough to you to inflict harm, I would never let him lay a finger on you. I promise I can protect you." Inuyasha promised he would protect her. But he knew he wouldn't be able to handle Sesshomaru's wrath if the information was leaked to Rin from either him or Kagome. He'd protect her with his life. After all he was given another chance at love, another chance to protect his woman and keep her safe. "You must not tell her, if she were to find out, you must promise it won't be from us. Do you understand?"
Her eyes watered as a servant opened the door, "Master, Lord Inu Taisho has requested your presence in his study immediately, and he says it's urgent." And with that the girl walked out leaving Kagome staring at Inuyasha with fearful eyes. He wiped her eyes once more waiting for her promise to stay silent.
"I won't say a word to her. I promise that!"
Present Time
"That bastard is using her!" Aria screamed, her voice echoed throughout the courtyard, even the birds could hear her from the trees. They flew away trying to get away from a war that has been waged. Aria's palms begun to burn as her face turned red with anger. Her brows lowered while her fangs showed as she looked over to the roof Sesshomaru had been sitting on. "That despicable, worthless dog thinks he can defile Rin and she'd be okay with it." Suya grabbed Aria's hand only to be burned by her touch.
"You must calm down Aria!" Suya snapped, others around were starting to stare and after hearing Aria's roar through the premises caused Sesshomaru to disappear. She looked back over to Kagome, she wanted the full story. "Are you sure that's exactly what Inuyasha said, there's nothing else that could have been misinterpreted?"
Kagome nodded her head, "That's what he said. Inu Taisho told him to choose to lose his title or complete his mating with Rin." Her fingers tangled together. "That's not all though." Aria glared at her, her face showing signs of her calming down, her hands cooled off, but her anger still rose. "Have you noticed how Rin's been clinging onto her sweater, if it'd fall off her shoulder, she doesn't hesitate to pull it up, she's hiding something." They all shook their heads. Only Aria got to see her in second period, but Rin sits behind her, so she didn't get to glance at her long enough to notice anything. "Last night after dinner, she went missing, well Sesshomaru found her and…he marked her."
"He did what?" Suya said as she noticed Aria's demonic aura increasing.
"From what she told me, it was to keep Hitoshi away from her. It's like he's threatened by him."
Suya stopped Kagome, she wanted further explanation and to understand why he did it. "Humans aren't subdue to the ownership mark like demon's are, why would he think that'd work?" Suya asked, knowing she wouldn't get an answer.
"It's because whether Hitoshi is human or demon, Sesshomaru must do everything to keep another male from coming near his mate. It's true that humans cannot be reprimanded for touching a woman with a mark, but humans flee when they learn of it. Sesshomaru probably figured if Hitoshi cared for his life, he'd stay away." Rin joined the group in their little discussion about her. She walked over just as they started talking about her mark.
Kagome looked at her and cowered, she knew Rin would be angry that she told them without waiting for her. "Hey Rin, are you okay, you missed first period?"
"I'm fine, Mimi let me sleep in, I didn't get home until late last night, but I don't even have to tell you that since you left the same time as me." Rin grabbed her salad out of her bag and sat down next to Aria. But Aria got up and walked away. She needed to cool some steam. The wind blew at the girls causing Rin's sweater to fall, and like Kagome said, without hesitation she pulled it up only after she exposed the mark everyone wondered about.
Suya took interest in it, since Aria walked away, she felt she should figure out what is going on. "IS there something that you would like to tell us?"
The mark on her neck was clear as day, the swelling around the teeth marks were going down, but the silver crescent moon shone clear for everyone to see. Suya stared hard at the outline of the mark and the bite marks that looked like they were turning to scars. As much as she hated to admit it, the mating mark embraced her skin like a new tattoo. She could tell from the teeth marks that it was beginning to heal but she could also tell the mark was fresh.
Unknowingly Rin scratched at the mark only to wince at pain. It wasn't really pain she felt, more like pleasure. It felt empowering, enticing and overall pleasure. A mild moan slipped her lips as she took her focus off her mark and back at her friends. "What do you mean Suya?"
"Don't toy with us Rin, you know what we were talking about as soon as you walked over here. Kagome told us what happened at the Sadamoto Dinner last night. And considering your lack of concealment, Kagome's story is more than true." Suya pulled her hair back, she immediately heard a gasp from her. "Tell us, what's going on?"
In order to change the subject, Rin tried using Aria's walking out to do so. "Why is Aria so upset?"
"That's not important, don't think changing the subject will shut us up." Suya stood strong on wanting to learn the truth.
"It's not what it seems!" Rin defended herself as she put down her salad and begun packing all her belongings up. She looked over at Kagome and shook her head. She knew Kagome would be the first person to open her mouth about things she knew nothing about.
Kagome finished her yogurt and set it down next to her to grab another from her bag. "It's everything that it seems Rin…" Before she could continue Rin stopped her.
"It's obvious they already know because of you Kagome." She snarled.
"I'm sorry I told them without waiting for you. But we're your friends and I knew you would've waited until the inevitable. And that's not fair for us, we tell each other everything."
Rin laughed, she stood up from her spot on the fountain, "That's honestly not your choice to make, this is my business. I would have told the rest of you eventually. Only reason I told you was because you were there, I didn't understand it, just needed the support of my friend. Did it ever occur to you that I didn't bring it up because I wanted to understand this myself, which if you haven't realized yet, I'm still trying to." Rin raised her voice which caught the attention of Sesshomaru who repositioned himself at a close by tree. His eyes were closed, but once he heard Rin's voice he decided to check what was going on.
"Rin, I'm only curious as to why you let him mark you. I mean, you just met him three days ago, have you even said a word to him aside from the football field? He clearly ignored you and waited until his father set a dinner up to own up that you're his future mate…"
Rin turned to Kagome and grinned, "You couldn't have even saved a portion of the story for me? Thanks Kagome!" and with that she walked away without even answering Suya's question.
"Wait!" Kagome said as she tried to run after her, but Suya held her back, telling her to let her go.
After leaving the group, Rin headed toward the library. She realized that Hitoshi was following her and Sesshomaru leaped from the branched onto a close roof top to follow them both. "Rin wait." She turned around at the sound of someone else's voice other than Kagome's, but immediately regretted it.
When she went to continue on her journey to the library, he grabbed her arm and forced her to come to a full stop. "Hitoshi, I'm not in the mood, I'd appreciate if you just left me alone." His eyes looked into her own, but stared at both of their hands when she snatched her arms away. He got a glimpse of the wrist with a vibrant mark that used to brace her hand. It wasn't there anymore, no mark, no scar. He smiled when he noticed only a faded version of what remained of it.
"Your mark is gone. I knew whatever you were holding onto wouldn't last. Your human, you belong with your own people, not with a demon who would never respect you." Hitoshi preached what he believed. He was one of those people that believed humans and demon shouldn't be together.
"You don't know what you're talking about Hitoshi." Rin snarled as she threw her salad into the trash. She couldn't eat it peacefully at the fountain with her friends, nor could she escape their overbearing questions and now still she wouldn't be able to eat in peace with Hitoshi bothering her. "I'll just starve." She screeched, she pushed him out of her way only to stop and boldly say in a stern tone, "Just do us both a favor Hitoshi and go bother someone else."
"Rin you used to like being with me. We used to be friends, we got along and now you're different, why are you so cold now?" He asked with worry in his tone. Rin angrily brushed her hair to the side and pulled her sweater down to expose the mark resting on her collarbone. She noticed Sesshomaru on the rooftop watching, he looked ready to pounce, but she hoped once she exposed her mark that it'd keep him at bay until she could get rid of Hitoshi. But once he saw the mark, the human quickly pulled her closer in an unwelcoming embrace to examine the mark. "Rn, you've been hurt. You should get this checked out immediately!"
She pushed him away and backed away from him. "God, you're such an idiot Hitoshi! Do you not pay attention to anything in Demon History Class? Are you that naïve to think that humans and demons aren't meant t comingle in the same world? Do you really think that messing with a girl whose destined to be with a full fledge demon is wise? Please tell me, what do you think you're going to get out of this aside from a broken heart and probably a few broken bones?"
"If this monster has threatened you in any way, we can talk to the principle, have them expelled immediately. Just say the word and I'll go there myself." Rn started to laugh as Hitoshi stood there unamused and even more confused at what Rin stated.
"Do you hear yourself Hitoshi?" Rin got the courage to start walking away. She stopped at the entrance to the door. "You're a fool to think you can compete, you're not dealing with a normal person, but a powerful demon that won't think twice before ripping you apart. Save yourself the agony and just leave me alone. I don't wish for any harm to come to you, we're no longer friends, but I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"I'll take that chance, if it means protecting you. You don't understand how much I care about you."
"It's your funeral. I won't stand around to see you walk straight into a blaze of fire." And with that she walked away.
After School
The last bell of the day rang and everyone dashed out the classrooms and into the parking lot. They either waited for their ride, hopped into their cars, or walked home with their friends. Rin kept her distance from her friends, she avoided them during gym, wouldn't even look at Kagome in their last class. She just wanted to hurry home and stop answering insane questions that didn't concern them. Aria kept messaging her throughout their last class, when she finally messaged back, she just told her she would explain everything when she felt ready to.
She hoped that Kagome could have kept what happened last night to herself. But if it wasn't about her then she had to make it about her some other way. She was still in shock what Sesshomaru did.
Rin tossed her books in her locker just as Aria came walking over to her. "Whatever it is Aria, save it. I'm not in the mood." When she turned to walk away, Aria grabbed her hand.
"I'm not here to bug you about it, I said I would wait until you're ready. I honestly wanted to make sure you were okay. I walked off before I could make sure you were good."
Sesshomaru waited by his car across the lot, he motioned for Rin to follow, she just wanted to say something to Aria first. "Thanks for worrying, I'm okay. I'm just trying to adjust to this, I'm okay, but confused at the same time. Honestly I just want to figure this out, it didn't help that my friends were down my throat about it." Rin stared over at him, she could tell from his face that he was becoming more than impatient. "I have to go."
Aria noticed it as well. "Wait, why are you going with him?" Rin frowned, all she knew he came over to her during gym to let her know he would give her a ride home. "Up until yesterday, he ignored you, and now he's treating you like a puppet. He say's jump, you jump, please tell me why you are submitting to him?" Aria eyes filled up with tears. After learning what Kagome brought to her attention, she wasn't sure how she could keep such information from her best friend. She knew Kagome was okay to keep it from her, but she didn't have the heart to tell her either. "I know as women we are supposed to submit to our mates, but this early on and with how he treats you. How can you be okay with this?"
"Because I am, I didn't submit to anything, surely not him. You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine." Rin said with a smile while wiping her friend's tears away. "I have to go, Sookie is picking me up at my house to take me somewhere."
Aria nodded her head as she watched Rin run over to Sesshomaru's car. As soon as she got in he sped off.
End of Chapter
Authors Note: I had like a little bit left of the original chapter left, but this one started to go a little long, so I'll stop it right here and continue the rest on the next chapter. Sorry for the wait.
Thank you for reading Cycle of Mating.
Read and Review.
Lady Siyana
