~.~The Beauty, The Beast, and The Human~.~
The Flower Shop – Night of the New Moon - Almost Sunset
"Rin", Jinenji called.
"Yes Jinenji", she answered.
"I am going to have to leave you to close the shop. I trust you'll be fine on your own", he said hastily.
"Yeah you said to close at sundown, and that's in a few moment's", she said giving him a concerned look.
"Hey why are you in such a hurry", she asked watching him scamper about.
"Rin, I can't explain but I must be going upstairs now. I will see you in the morning", and with that he hurried to the back of the shop and up the stairs leading to his room.
I wonder what's with him. He seems in an awful big hurry, and why can I all of a sudden smell Sesshomaru's scent on me?
Oh no, my ointment, it must have stopped working. I must see Mari right away. I can't go back to Shippo's apartment and risk getting him sick.
Rin went to lock up the shop and put the 'closed' sign on the door. She then walked to the back of the shop heading for the stairs. When she was upstairs she began quietly walking in the direction of Mari's room when the sound of whimpers and the smell of tears suddenly caught her now very sensitive ears and nose. She stopped at the door the sounds were coming from.
"It's Jinenji, I can smell him very clearly and he's…..crying", she whispered to herself.
Funny I don't recall my hearing and sense of smell being this keen, even with my demon powers.
"Jinenji, are you okay", Rin called from outside the door",
"I'm fine Rin, I'll see you in the morning", he sniffled softly but not so softly that Rin couldn't hear it.
"Jinenji, can I come in please? I just want to see for myself that you are really okay", she said with concern laced in her voice.
"No Rin, I don't want you to come in and the door is locked, so I'll see you tomorrow alright", he said between sobs.
"Well okay", she called. "I guess I'll have to do this the hard way then", she whispered to herself.
Rin extended her sharp demon claws preparing to pick Jinenji's locked door.
Hmm, now this is strange. My claws have gotten longer. What the hell is going on around here? And I can smell Sesshomaru like he is standing right here next to me.
Rin began picking the locked door and when it finally gave, she entered the room. Immediately when she entered she noticed a beastly looking creature huddled in the corner with his back facing the door.
It's Jinenji. I can smell him, but what has happened to him. Why does he not want me to see him?
"Jinenji, what's going on with you", she asked easing closer to his hunched over form.
"Please go away Rin. I don't want you to see me like this", he cried keeping his eyes closed so as to not see her reaction to his hideous form.
"No Jinenji, I will not go away. You are my friend and it doesn't matter to me what you look like", she said placing her clawed hands against his huge back.
"You mean you're not afraid of me", he asked questioningly.
"No Jinenji, now look at me please", she asked in a soft voice.
He wiped away his tears and turned around to face her. When their eyes met Rin reached out to dash away some more of his tears but when she did he pulled away as if he were afraid of her.
"Jinenji, what's wrong", she said sensing and seeing his fear.
"No Rin you don't understand, you're a….you're a…a demon", he said pointing and backing away further into the corner.
"Have your eyes deceived you my friend because of your sudden transformation. I am no demon. I am human Jinenji", she said cautiously.
"No, you're not. I'll show you", he said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her into another room.
"Look, see for yourself", he said as he turned her around to a full length mirror in the room.
When Rin gazed into the mirror at her reflection, she could not believe what she saw. Was this some kind of cruel joke and why was she not laughing. Rin stared at herself in the reflection of the mirror for a long moment before she spoke. Her hair has turned the shimmering color of silver. She had two magenta stripes on each of her cheeks, and a beautiful purple blue crescent in the center of her forehead.
"No, this can't be happening to me. Why do I look like….the female version of Sesshomaru", she said and before she knew it she was shedding tears of her own.
"Rin you look so…beautiful", said Jinenji as he gazed at her reflection in awe.
"No Jinenji, my mate looks like this, and I don't want to look like him because there's nothing beautiful about him. He's mean and heartless and…..and I don't want to look like this", she said as tears streamed down her delicate pale cheeks.
"Why can't I just move on with my life? Isn't it enough that I'm an outcast? Isn't enough that I don't have a family and will never have one now? Haven't I gone through enough pain? Why is fate picking on me? I've never done anything wrong to anyone, but out of the blue I meet a handsome demon, and he ruins my life in one night! I'm tired. I'm just so tired", she sobbed as she turned to Jinenji who hesitantly enveloped her in his huge deformed arms and held her while she wept.
"Rin, this is how I look in my human form because I'm a half demon. I turn this way every new moon. I hate that I look like this. I'd like to be beautiful like you….. all the time", he smiled over her shoulder sadly.
"Jinenji, right now you are the most handsome man I know. You're not selfish, or arrogant, or full of pride. You have a sweet, kind, and gentle heart. Why, when I first came here I knew you could smell the hideous scent of my rejection but you never backed away from me, in fact you came closer. You and your mother let me stay here until I could use the ointment, even though I knew you were feeling the effects of my condition. Not once did you attempt to avoid me, but you accepted me just as I was. Beauty is just skin deep, but the beauty of the heart is where it counts", she said looking into his bulging blue eyes.
"Rin, your words are too kind and you don't know how happy my ears are to hear those words come from such a good friend. You've seemed to have changed my life in only a few short days. I'm glad that fate was not totally cruel to you because it allowed us to meet and become friends", he smiled down at her.
"Thank you Jinenji, but I need to see your mother. I think the ointment has stopped working", she said with worry in her voice.
"No I'm pretty sure it's working, I have not smelled you all day", he said in an attempt to ease her concern.
"Hmm, well why is it I can smell my mate's scent so strongly on me. You think it's because I turned into a demon", Rin asked questioningly.
"Nope, it aint got nothing to do with that", Mari's scratchy voice said from the doorway.
"Well, what could it be then", Rin said with concern.
"It's because your pregnant, and it seems with a boy too", Mari smiled clutching her robe.
"What", Rin said just before she passed out in Jinenji's arms.
Inuyasha and Kagome's Home –Night of The New Moon – Almost Sunset
Inuyasha came up behind Kagome and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. He began to nibble sweetly on her ear as she washed the dishes in the sink.
"Yasha, don't you see I'm trying to wash the dishes", she giggled as he nipped her earlobe gently with his teeth.
"Yeah, so what's that got to do with anything", he said gruffly as he began licking the outer rim of her ear slowly with his tongue.
"Well I'd like to get them done now as opposed to later", she said a little breathlessly.
"You don't have to stop on account of me", he whispered in her ear, and he swept her hair gently away from the back of her neck and kissed its ivory skin lightly.
"Yasha, you shouldn't tease me like this", she said as she closed her eyes and relaxed her body against his, forgetting all about the dishes.
"Oh I'm definitely not teasing you baby. I mean to follow through with everything I'm going to do to you tonight", he said against the back of her neck, and sending shivers down her spine.
Inuyasha swung Kagome around to face him causing water slosh everywhere. When she looked into his eyes, she saw him in all his human glory naked as the day he was born.
"Yasha, you're naked…in the kitchen", she exclaimed a little taken aback by his nudity.
"Yeah and you will be too in few seconds", he said looking at his hands waiting for his claws to extend so he could rip off her sundress.
Kagome laughed out loud when she saw what he wanted to do but couldn't because of the new moon.
"Aww fuck, no claws tonight. Well I'll just have to improvise and teach you not to laugh at me", he said as he reached into one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out a pair of scissors.
"Laugh at me now Kagome, I dare you", he said as a harmless teasing threat.
Kagome covered her mouth with her hands in order to keep her laughter from escaping and even though she didn't laugh, he cut her dress off of her anyway.
"Oh look, now you're naked just like me" he said and lifted her into his arms only to place her on the countertop.
"What are you doing Yasha", she asked with wide eyes.
Inuyasha grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and sat it in front of her.
"What does it look like babe? Its dinner time and I'm starving", he said as he sat down in the chair and spread her legs apart.
Kagome lay in Inuyasha's arms naked on the kitchen floor. She reached up and brushed his black hair away from his handsome face.
"That was incredible", she said gasping for breath.
"Did you expect anything less Kags", he asked cocking a dark brow at her.
"No of course not, it's just that I love having sex with you when you're human. You're more sensitive to my needs", she teased.
Inuyasha rolled over on top of his mate gazing into her chocolate brown eyes.
"Kagome, if you could do it all over again, would you still become my mate, even after all that you know about me", he asked seriously.
Kagome reached up and caressed his face gently with her small delicate hands.
"Do you even have to ask Yasha? I'd do it a million times over. I love you and now we're going to have a baby. Nothing could make me happier than I am right now at this very moment, having you as my mate and the father of our child", she smiled.
He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her flat tummy and then rubbed his nose in the softness of her flesh there. Kagome giggle at the action and sank her hands into the thickness of his dark hair.
Inuyasha captured her hands in his and held them captive above her head.
"I think I'm now ready for dessert", he said as his dark eyes bore in hers.
Inu Taisho and Izayoi's Mansion – Night of The New Moon – Almost Sunset
Inu Taisho sat quietly on the bed while his mate Izayoi sat at her vanity brushing her long shinny dark tresses.
"Inu dearest, is something wrong? You've been awfully quiet ever since you got home", she said without stopping her task with her hair.
"Yes Izy darling, it's Sesshomaru, he's mated", he said nonchalantly.
Upon hearing what her husband had just said, Izayoi clumsily dropped her brush and stared at Inu Taisho in disbelief.
"Are you sure dear? Did he show or tell you", she asked in surprise.
"Yes darling, I'm sure and no he didn't show me or tell me, but I could faintly smell the scent of his mark. He's tried in vain to cover his mate's scent. I don't know why just yet, but I suspect that it must have happened just before he came home and he refuses to tell me about it", he stated sadly.
"Darling are you sure you're not assuming things just because you desire to see him mated", she said as she got up from her vanity and walked over to her husband. Her pink silk gown and robe rippled like water as she walked. Izayoi stood in front of her mate and placed her hand under his chin tilting it up to face her.
"Honey, Sess has mated and I know it. He's just so damn stubborn. I finally told him about you and me, and how we came to be mated. I also told him how worried you have been for him and you know he said", he asked as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist and laid his head against her abdomen.
"What dearest", she responded as she undid the tie that held his beautiful silver locks in high ponytail on top of his head. She slowly ran her fingers through it and watched it cascade softly around his broad shoulders, then pool around his waist onto the bed.
"He said and I quote, 'tell Izayoi I'm sorry for causing her to worry'", he said into her stomach and she giggled slightly from the vibration of his deep voice.
"Oh my, something is going on with him that's for sure", she said in mild shock.
"I know and I plan on making him divulge his secret. I have plan Izy. I'm going to make Sess date at least one woman a year until he confesses. I already have a date planed for him this Saturday with Kagura Kato. I think I'll get the whole gang in on it and together we will crack that tough exterior of his. The next date I'll let, no make, Inuyasha pick for him. Then after that I'll get Miroku to pick one, then Sango, and then Kagome, and then you my darling. It'll serve him right for keeping secrets from his pack", he smiled and kissed her stomach through the silky fabric of her gown.
"Inu dear, maybe you're going a little too far. Sess may have a good reason for doing what he's doing. It sounds to me like maybe he's in denial like someone else was when it came to me. Sess is a rational young man. He can take care of himself I'm sure", Izayoi said while twirling his hair around her index finger.
"I just want him to be happy. I'm tired of him picking up and wondering around Japan when things get to be hard. He can't live like that forever. This will be for Sess's own good. I just wonder who this mystery woman is. Where he is hiding her or even why is she choosing to hide? It just does not make sense. Oh well, I'll get to the bottom of things some time or another, but enough talk about Sess. I want to lie next to my beautiful mate", he said as he got up and lifted her into his arms.
Miroku and Sango's Home - Night of the New Moon – Almost Sunset
"Sango darling, that meal was fantastic", Miroku said as he pushed his now empty plate aside.
"I am so glad you liked it Miroku", she blushed at him from across the table.
Why hasn't he made a move on my rear end yet? The one night I want him to
and he does nothing at all. Maybe I should take matters into my own hands!
"I shall do the dishes my darling", he said scooting his chair from the table and collecting their empty plates.
"I can do those Roku. I really don't mind", she said as he grabbed their plates.
"Oh no my Sango, you cooked therefore I shall clean everything up", he smiled at his wife as he piled the dishes on the countertop and turned on the water to start the task.
Besides I read somewhere that it turns women on to see their men do housework. With some luck, this may just help me get lucky.
"Well, if you insist babe", she said watching his masculine form from behind.
Damn he looks so good over there at the sink, and he has his hair down. If only he knew what it does to me to see it loose, I'd probably have to resort to getting him to cut to keep his hands off of me.
"Sango my darling, I've been thinking", he said as he began to wash the dishes while starring out of the kitchen window. "I will not be touching your rear anymore from this day forward", he finished solemnly.
"Why Miroku", she said in a sad tone of her own. "You don't find me attractive anymore now that I'm pregnant", she asked as tears swelled in her eyes.
"That's not the case darling and you're just in your first trimester. You haven't even begun to expand at the waist. Your nose hasn't changed and nor are your feet swollen the size of a blimp yet", he said and slowly turned his head to see anger on his wife's face.
"What are you trying to say", she said through clenched teeth with a red face.
"Sango dear you misunderstand me. I simply mean that I know it angers you when I caress your bottom and I want you to have a stress free pregnancy. I am willing to do whatever it is that I need to do to ensure your happiness my love", he said softly while continuing his chore.
Sango's angry expression turned into that of love and adoration as she slowly got up from the table and began to rid herself of her clothing unbeknownst to Miroku, who was staring out of the kitchen window at the back yard.
She eased up behind her husband and ran her hands through his shoulder length midnight colored hair.
"Roku you'd do that for me", she asked softly.
"Of course my love, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you", he replied closing is eyes and loving the feel of her hands in his hair.
"I'm so happy you said that, because there's nothing I wouldn't do for you. Now dry your hands and turn around Miroku Mori", she whispered in his ear from behind.
He did as he was instructed and when his eyes fell to her bare skin, he had to brace himself against the countertop to keep from tumbling over from the shock.
Damn, if doing the dishes gets me this reaction, tomorrow I shall vaccum, and the next day sweep and mop, and the next day I'll do the laundry!
"Sango tell me, are my eyes deceiving me or are you really naked in our kitchen", he said hoping he wasn't imagining what was before his very eyes.
"No Roku, I am actually naked in our kitchen standing in front of you", she teased. "Now are you just going to stand there or are you going to make love to me", she sighed.
Miroku took Sango into his arms and kissed her passionately. They sank to the floor in that very spot caught up in the heat of their desire and Miroku forgot all about the dishes and his abstinence from groping his wife's rear end.
Sesshomaru's Condo – Night of the New Moon – Almost Sunset
Sesshomaru stood shirtless wearing loose sweat pants and slippers on the balcony of his eighteenth floor condo. His silver hair blew in the wind as he gazed out over the darkening sky. The city seemed to come alive as the noise from pedestrians and automobiles increased.
His condo held the perfect view of the Tokyo Skyline and the varying colors of lights from apartments, hotels, condos, and offices never ceased to capture his attention. But the Tokyo skyline was not dominating his thoughts at the moment. His thoughts were of the human woman Rin, who was now his life mate.
Rin I can only pray that you are okay. Are you in some sort of danger? Do you need me like I seem to need -.
Just then Sesshomaru felt weak, so weak he could barely stand. He took slow steps back inside of his condo, almost nearly crawling on the floor to get to his bathroom. When he got there it took almost all of his power to stand before the mirror that seemed to mock him nearly every night since his return.
Why do I feel so weak? I'm the most powerful yokai in all of Japan besides my father. I should not feel this weak!
His eyes immediately fell to his mark and he watched as the yellow daisy sprouted a small bud near the middle of it long stem. He watched in awe at the bud but he also noticed how it did not bloom.
What the fuck does this mean? I must tell father what's happening to me and tell him what I've done to my life mate.
What the hell am I thinking? He must not know about my mate, not after I've ridiculed Inuyasha for being a….half bread, not after I've despised Izayoi for being my father's human mate! I'd be a hypocrite in their eyes. This is all my father's fault. Had he told me the real reason he mated with Izayoi, I would have come to accept her and my brother!
There you go again Sess. You are so quick to lay blame on everyone but yourself. You are the one who caused our mate to suffer! You are the one who continues to make her suffer by not finding her and helping her! She needs you right now and the only thing you can think of is yourself. Well I'm done trying to talk some sense into you! If you want to continue to be stubborn and bullheaded about our mate, I won't waste my time arguing with you about it anymore! But mark my words Sess; your suffering will be far worse than hers!
Sesshomaru gazed at his mark now watching the constant cycle of it bloom and wither while the bud stayed in place. The next cycle of the bloom caught him off guard as he watched the pedals suddenly turn from yellow to silver, the exact color of his hair.
Now, what the hell is going on? I must be losing my mind. It is the only way I can explain it. Rin is driving me insane. I guess it's what I deserve for doing what I've done to her.
Sesshomaru was so deep into his thoughts of Rin and his mark that he barely noticed his hair changing from silver to dark chocolate brown. His claws were no longer sharp weapons at the ready, but instead short nails were in their place. His magenta stripes on both cheeks vanished. The beautiful purple blue crescent that sat perfectly in the center of his forehead was now gone along with the magenta stripes at each of his wrists and his waist.
When he finally pulled his eyes away from the mark, he looked at himself in the mirror. Starring back at him through the reflection was not the deadly and infamous Taiyoukai of the Western Lands but it was merely a weak human man.
What the fuck is happening to me? I'm…..I'm a...a human!
~.~Don't Forget To REVIEW Please!~.~
A/N: As usual I'd like to take this time to thank everyone who reviewed my story and I am so happy that I've got over a hundred of them so far. Hooray!
So, what did you guys think of this chapter? Human Sess? Pregnant Demon Rin? Beastly Jinenji? Whoa that is just too much going on in one chapter!
And now I'd like to shout out all of my reviewer of the previous chapter! Yay!
***Shy takes deep breath and says reviewers names all at once***
To: WYMamataro; HollowAngel18; jolie; pammaloza; mustacheman; Y; tkplover; .13; icegirljenni; Sunset'90; darkhearted angels; and everyone who read it, story alerted, and favorited! You guys are all the best!
Q/A's from the previous chapter
To: jolie. I think Sess's father will be mad as hell when finds out about the rejection mark but yes; we'll have to wait and see what happens. I think your other questions got answered in this chapter but if not, ask again and I am more than happy to answer.
To: pammaloza. I sent you a private massage to answer your question but if by chance you didn't get it, the answer is I'm not close to finishing this story yet but when I do get close I will be sure to let you know.
To: Y. Yes Sess passed out in the bathroom. I know that was OOC of him but I had to do it to him because when Rin put the ointment on for the first time she passed out from the pain, so naturally when Sess touched his mark he had to feel what she was going through.
To: tkplover. I'm afraid the flower story only made its way into the story as a reason to get Rin hired at the flower shop, luckily it is not foreshadowing. As for the man who purchased the flowers, he was just extra in the story. He has no real value or meaning. Sess remembers the demon mating ceremony he just refuses to acknowledge it at this point because he does not want to love Rin.
To: Tsukimori. Kuchiki13. That is how the fates work in this story. Because Sess and Rin are mated they are destined to love each whether they want to or not. Oh and never mind the potty mouth. LOL
To: Sunset'90. Just wanted to say I appreciate you appreciating me. LOL!
~.~ Don't Forget To REVIEW Please!~.~