Inurella

Chapter 13: Late night confessions

***Sesshoumaru's Lair***

It was late evening and Rin had settled back into her room. Jaken and the other servants were preparing them a feast in celebration of Rin coming home. Rin and Sesshoumaru were in the dining hall waiting for their meal and Rin was telling Sesshoumaru all about her time at school and what she learnt.

Sesshoumaru was intently listening to Rin speak all about her time at college. The classes, the teachers, the homework and the boys.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at the thought of Rin gallivanting around with boys.

He tried to keep it to himself but it kept burning a hole in the back of his mind.

"Rin" Sesshoumaru said loudly.

Rin jumped at the sound of his menacing voice. "Yes My Lord?"

"Tell me about these…"boys" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her.

Rin stared at Sesshoumaru confused. "Nothing really to tell" Rin said laughing nervously.

Rin and Sesshoumaru both jumped at the sound of the doors suddenly opening.

Jaken and the servants came bustling through the double wide doors with trays and plates of delicious food.

They came in and put the plates of food in front of Sesshoumaru and Rin. There was a quiet awkwardness in the air. Then the servants left them in peace, while Rin and Sesshoumaru stared at their meals in silence.

Rin cleared her throat. "So what's new with you? Any plans for the weekend?" Rin asked hoping to change the subject.

Sesshoumaru finished chewing his food. "Well my brother has informed me that there is a ball tomorrow. I believe mother and father are trying to marry off Inuyasha so he can take the throne before me".

Rin put her fork down. "A ball?! Oh how wonderful! Are we going My Lord?" Rin asked with bright eyes.

Sesshoumaru looked down at his plate. "No, 'we' will not be going. I will be going alone, but only to make an appearance and then I will be coming back home as soon as I can. I won't have you appear before my family, they must not know about you. I have a reputation to uphold."

Rin stood up from her seat "How dare you be so selfish! All you care about is yourself! Did you ever think for just a moment it would be nice for me to get out and be a regular girl? Put on a beautiful gown and dance with my most cherished person? Instead of always being under your protection from your family? I know it's my choice to come and go as I please, but I would like to come and go where you are My Lord. All I wish is to be by your side. All you care about is your reputation, you don't give a damn about me!

Rin wiped away her tears. "I will go with or without your blessing My Lord". With that she turned around and went to her room.

Before Sesshoumaru had the chance to say anything she was running back down the hall. Leaving her food untouched.

Sesshoumaru sat in silence in the dimly lighted room. Sesshoumaru had one of the servants take the rest of the meal to her, he did not want her to go to bed hungry. He got up from the table and left to go to his room.

Was he really that selfish? He hadn't thought of it like that. Surely she must understand that he cannot be viewed as a human-loving demon like his father!

Sesshoumaru poured himself a glass of wine. He stared at it through the light of the fireplace.

The words "Human-loving" kept popping into his mind. What did he feel for Rin, his human companion? Was Rin not a human? Yes, she was, very much so. And had he not loved her? Sesshoumaru winced at the thought of loving a human. Not because he didn't love, but because it was expected of him to not love. He was a full-fledged demon. He was not supposed to be kind, soft and gentle. He was a demon after all! But is that all he wanted to be? Could he not be like his father and love both demons and humans?

Sesshoumaru's mind raced with all these thoughts. He drank the rest of his wine and fell asleep.

***Meanwhile in Rin's room***

"Who does he think he is?" Rin said as she paced back and forth. "Telling me I can't go to the ball. Well he has another thing coming, because I'm going. I don't care what he thinks". Rin said to herself with determination with a touch of nervousness.

Rin gulped at the thought of an angry Sesshoumaru. Maybe she was the one who was being selfish? She didn't think at all about his feelings. She just snapped at him during dinner when she just got back from school.

Rin's determination slowly faded away. She all of a sudden felt guilty. She had saw the look in his eyes when she had yelled at him. Maybe she should talk to him more about it, rather than yell at him. Maybe they could come to some sort of agreement or compromise. Because she couldn't be cooped up in this castle forever.

Rin walked silently down the hall to Sesshoumaru's chambers. She could see the light of the fireplace flicker from under the door frame. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. But there was no answer. She knocked again and still nothing. She quietly opened the door to have a peek inside and noticed Sesshoumaru asleep on the couch with an empty glass of wine on the floor.

Rin gulped. She knew her Lord didn't drink unless he was depressed about something. A little tug in her heart made her walk into his room.

She quietly picked up the glass and put it on the table next to the couch. Sesshoumaru had his head leaning on his shoulder. His whole body slumped to the one side of the couch. He looked so sad, but peaceful. Beautiful actually.

Rin noticed a little piece of hair tucked into the corner of his mouth. She couldn't resist. She gently slid her finger over his cheek to pull the hair to the side.

Suddenly Sesshoumaru jerked and grabbed Rin's wrist. Rin immediately stiffened as he made her jump.

Sesshoumaru noticed it was Rin and relaxed his grip, but didn't let go.

He looked at Rin with longing eyes. The shadow of the fire illuminated her face, body and hair as it flickered all around them.

Rin gulped as she stared into her Lords eyes. She started to blush, as she had never been this close to him before. She had always imagined it, but had never acted on it. She knew he hated humans and that he only tolerated her, for reasons unknown to her, but she had always accepted it, as long as she could always be with him.

Sesshoumaru let go of Rin's hand and turned to look the other way. "What are you doing in here?" Sesshoumaru said gently.

Rin blushed some more. "I…I wanted to….apologise."

Sesshoumaru turned to look at the beautiful blushing woman before him. "I see. Well then I suppose I too, owe you an apology." Sesshoumaru looked away again as he felt his face becoming warm. It was surely the heat from the fireplace.

Rin nodded nervously and smiled at him, knowing that was the closest she would get to a full blown apology from him.

Rin got up to leave as she couldn't trust herself to speak.

"Rin" Sesshoumaru said with his deep voice.

"You may come with me to the ball, on one condition" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.

Rin sat back down next to Sesshoumaru with the brightest smile he had ever seen. "Anything M'Lord"

Sesshoumaru scratched the back of his head.

"You let me take you shopping to buy that beautiful gown you want to wear" Sesshoumaru said quickly as he didn't feel fully comfortable being so generous.

Rin thought she would burst from happiness and flung herself around Sesshoumaru's shoulders.

Sesshoumaru immediately tensed up at the touch.

Rin got off of him right away. "I…I am so sorry M'Lord. I was just so happy I…"

Sesshoumaru relaxed and cleared his throat. "That's quite alright" he said adjusting his clothing.

Rin got up to leave. "Thank you My Lord" and before she left she gave him the cutest curtsey she could muster.

Sesshoumaru once again felt flushed in the face "Damn I need to turn that fireplace off".

***Naraku's Mansion***

Kagome stared out the window and peered at the castle. "I screwed up big time didn't I Shippou?" Kagome thought out loud.

Shippou hopped up on a dresser near Kagome. "You know Kagome, you're 18 now. You don't have to follow your stepfather's rules." Shippou explained.

Kagome turned around and giggled. "I know Shippou, I'm not scared of Naraku….it's Kikyo I'm worried about."

Suddenly they heard a knock on the door. It was Kagura.

Kagura walked in. She had the dress they made in the attic last night in her hands.

Kagome looked at Kagura suspiciously. "What are you doing?"

I'm not going to let Kikyo ruin your chance for happiness Kagome. You are going to that ball, even If I have to stay behind and hold back the beast." Kagura said as she winked.

"What about your happiness? I'm not going without you." Kagome put a hand on her shoulder.

Kagura sighed. "Ok well let's find a way to go together then."

"Deal" Kagome said enthusiastically.

They sat in Kagome's room, coming up with a plan to go to the ball and not let Kikyo or Naraku know about it.

They decided to let Naraku and Kikyo go ahead and leave for the ball. While the two girls upstairs got ready for the ball in the attic. Neither Naraku nor Kikyo would go up to the attic anyways. Naraku hated dust and Kikyo will be too worried to wreck her dress climbing the ladder to the attic. Kagome and Kagura collected all the things they would need to get ready and put them into the attic before anyone noticed them.

They both fell asleep, dreaming about the ball that was to come the following night.

***Prince's Castle***

By this time Miroku and Sango had made up and couldn't keep their hands off each other. It was kind of sickening to watch. They were like two newlyweds. Inuyasha was happy for them both, but he really couldn't be around them for too long before he got nauseous from all the groping and mushy-talk. In fact it made him blush and a little envious.

Inuyasha was still upset he hadn't found the girl he saw at the market. He spent all day praying she would be at the ball. He couldn't concentrate at all. His mother kept bombarding him with trying on suites, ties, shoes, . Asking him about what music to play, what foods he wanted. Honestly he didn't care about any of that. He just wanted 'her' to be there.

It was getting late in the day and the ball was tomorrow night. Everyone made last minute preparation. The Queen was running around like a maniac and the King stayed out of the Queens way. He did not want to get on her bad side around this stressful time.

Inuyasha thought it would be a good idea to talk to his dad before the ball. He walked to his father's study and knocked on the door.

"Come in" The King answered.

Inuyasha stepped in.

The King got up from his seat "Ah, Inuyasha, come in! Was hoping to speak to you"

Inuyasha sat down. "Oh?" Looking nervous.

The King also took a seat by his son next to a giant fireplace surrounded by books. Which wasn't really a safe place for them, but who's to argue with a King? "Well I thought I should give you "the talk". Inu-no-taisho said seriously.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Keh! Dad, I think it's a little late for that. I'm 20 years old now."

His father chuckled "I know I know, but I'm talking about a different sort of "talk".

Inuyasha looked confused at his father.

The King leaned forward "I'm talking about 'love" son." Inu-no-taisho said as he patted Inuyasha's knee.

Inuyasha looked relieved. But not sure what to say.

The King lit a cigar and took a few puffs. "I heard from a reliable source that you may be in love?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Oh, umm…well. I don't quite know how I fee….wait who did you hear this from?" Inuyasha asked intently.

The King laughed. "I have my spies" he said as he winked.

"Great" Inuyasha said sarcastically.

The King leaned forward again. "So tell me about this girl"

Inuyasha reluctantly agreed to tell his father about the girl he saw in the market place and what had all happened that day. He could always easily talk to his dad, he was an easy going kind of guy. Inuyasha liked that about him.

The King nodded throughout Inuyasha's story, and had laughed many moments that made Inuyasha feel embarrassed.

The King whistled "She must be some girl, if she got that kind of reaction out of you!" he said smiling at his son.

Inuyasha blushed.

"Don't worry son, every woman in the kingdom has been invited to this ball. If for some reason she doesn't show up. There has got to be someone who would know her at least."

That didn't make Inuyasha feel any better.

Inuyasha got up to leave. "Thanks dad, I think I'll go to bed now."

The King nodded at his son. "Go get some rest, you'll have a big day tomorrow."

Inuyasha went to leave the room.

The King snapped his fingers. "Oh I forgot to mention. If you don't pick a girl before the last stroke of midnight. I will pick one for you" Inu-no-taisho said sternly.

Inuyasha gulped and never prayed so hard in his life.