Congratulations Keleos, you're my 300th reviewer (at least, I'm pretty darn sure), so the last installment in mysterious is dedicated to you! And thank you everyone else for your awesome reviews – I'm already close to 350 reviews, more than I ever expected. That being said, I'll dedicate the next chapter to 350th reviewer!
As for a soundtrack...try listening to "My Immortal" by Evanescence
vitreous adj. 1. Pertaining to, resembling, or having the nature of glass; glassy. 2. Obtained or made from glass. 3. Of or pertaining to the vitreous humor. Latin vitreus, from vitrum, glass
Inu Yasha and all characters within are property of Rumiko Takahashi.
Vitreous
chapter XXI: mysterious pt. 3
As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.
- Albert Schweitzer
Light streaked through the large French revival casement windows, signaling the coming of dawn. Shadows danced across the room, as rays of light pierced the leaves of the large trees outside. The life in the room had stilled, for the moment. Rin gave an exhausted sigh as she looked down at her lap where Sesshoumaru's head was currently taking residence. With much effort, she lifted her hand from her side and brought it down in his hair, running her fingers through it lightly.
Normally, the mere thought of the intimacy of the act would cause Rin to blush horribly, but she had exhausted her embarrassment hours before. Now, she just felt completely drained of any capable thought or feeling. All she could think about and challenge her brain to focus on was how peaceful he looked right now, at that very moment.
Wasps of Rin's hair slipped past her ear, causing her to take her other hand and brush it out of her eyes. She sighed again, hating to disturb him, but knew that she had to take advantage of the quiet. Sesshoumaru had been quite active throughout the night. Though at times he slipped out of consciousness, he made up lost time as soon as he woke.
"I desire you as well."
Sesshoumaru then leaned down and kissed her open mouth, not able to wait any longer. He then completed the task that Rin had sought, and opened the door – pushing them both into the darkness.
Rin stumbled backward, though Sesshoumaru caught her by wrapping his arms around her. Regaining her footing was hard considering she was practically swooning at the moment. Sesshoumaru took the opportunity to literally sweep her off her feet, never breaking the kiss. Rin found it harder and harder to resist his insistence, and tried to remember why she couldn't enjoy the moment like she always had in her dreams.
The reason presented itself soon enough, as Sesshoumaru made his way to the bed. He leaned over to lay her down when suddenly he launched himself onto her, breaking the kiss. Rin shrieked, startled, before she discovered that he had blacked out again. Struggling to get out from underneath him, Rin realized that his massive size and considerable dead weight were too much for her. She did the only thing she could think of at the moment.
"JAKEN!"
Jaken heard the meager cry for help and scurried back to his Lord's chambers. The sight he saw made him gasp. Rin's dress was currently around her waist while his master was currently laying on top of her. The whole sight was completely vulgar and caused him to freeze up.
"Jaken, you have to help me! He passed out again. We need to get him to bed."
Jaken let out an audible sigh of relief and went forward to assist the younger girl. While he normally would have put up a fight about following a mere slip of a ningen's orders, he remembered the look in his master's eyes when he bid him to retire. They were blood red and wild, ready to kill anyone who approached the girl. Obviously Lord Sesshoumaru valued something in the girl, and until his lord deemed otherwise, the girl was under his protection.
Jaken reached out to try and lift his lord's limbs when a low rumble in Sesshoumaru's chest caused Jaken to jump back and Rin to gasp. Sesshoumaru propped himself up with his arms, taking the majority of his weight off of Rin. However, what caused the young woman to gasp was not Sesshoumaru's newfound consciousness, but the expression on his face as soon as Jaken touched him. His eyes widened and he immediately bared his fangs, turning his head to growl at Jaken, before letting out a warning bark. Jaken tripped over himself as he tried to bow and grovel, begging forgiveness and pin the whole thing on Rin.
Sesshoumaru let out another bark and growled out,
"Leave us. I do not wish to see your face again before the sun rises."
Jaken bolted, babbling praises about his lord's mercy, leaving the two alone once again.
Rin gulped as Sesshoumaru turned his predatory gaze back on Rin and purred,
"I do not share what is mine. I suggest you refrain from calling out another's name while in my bed, or else I'll have to punish you…"
Rin blinked back a tear as she recalled how Sesshoumaru had looked at her at that moment. She had waited so long for him to look at her as a woman, that she forgot the most important thing. It all meant nothing if the heart wasn't in it and Rin was pretty sure that Sesshoumaru's heart wasn't what had been interested in her last night. A horrible blush filled her cheeks. She knew that he wasn't thinking with his heart last night.
She needed a shower. She felt completely exhausted and more than a little dirty. The air was stale and Rin felt a desperate need for fresh air. Suddenly the reality of the situation hit her. In her lap was one of the most powerful taiyoukai to ever exist, completely naked underneath a crimson sheet made of Egyptian cotton. His white comforter was strewn on the floor where Rin tossed it, in need a good wash. Perhaps now that the sun was rising, Jaken would get in the room and help. If that was the case, then she needed to shower now. Trying to move Sesshoumaru proved to be another problem. Rin tried to lift his head gently from her lap, but his nails dug harder into her thighs. Rin smiled a little. He was so peaceful when he slept.
Like an angel…she thought dryly. Somewhere in the course of the night, Rin's image of Sesshoumaru had changed. No longer was he a Guardian Angel that could do no wrong. He had fallen in Rin's eyes, become something more vulnerable, more tangible. Someone who needed saving.
Rin leaned over and kissed his forehead gently, causing him to relax his hold on her.
I guess it's my turn to save you…
…
Rin stopped the shower and grabbed the white towel that was hanging on the rack. It was the most glorious shower she had ever taken. Normally, she preferred baths to Western style forms of bathing, but Sesshoumaru's private bath had a separate shower and amazing water pressure. The stinging sensation from different areas of her body, still raw from the night, weren't enough to deter her from the bliss that the shower had given her. Plus, the shower proved to be the perfect solution to cleaning herself; she was in a hurry after all. Who knew how long the pillow she had substituted herself with would last.
Rin walked out of the bathroom and went straight to his closet. Sesshoumaru had destroyed her dress last night so she didn't feel the least bit guilty stealing a shirt from him. Selecting a plain white oxford shirt, she peeked at the label (Ayame's influence was strong indeed) and gave a grin. Armani, go figure.
Rin dropped the towel and shrugged on the shirt. The room had certainly gotten cooler since she had opened all the windows. She turned around to pick up the fallen towel when she gasped. Sesshoumaru was sitting up in his bed, staring at her.
"ACK!" She screamed, throwing the towel in the air. Sesshoumaru winced slightly at her tone, but otherwise remained still, his gaze steadily on her. Rin noticed at once that that red in his eyes had completely receded.
"Honto ni sumimasen Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin cried, bowing toward him. "I didn't mean to yell, you just frightened me." I really hope you didn't see me naked…
Sesshoumaru just blinked and turned his head away. He had the biggest headache in the world and the small person bouncing around and chirping in his room wasn't helping. His limbs felt like lead and his stomach definitely felt uneasy. Something was amiss. Wasn't he just at his brother's wedding?
Half-brother…he thought mildly.
"D-Do you feel better?" came a quiet voice that pierced his thoughts. Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered back over to her direction.
"I can get you something to eat…but considering how you must be feeling, I doubt anything I bring you would sit well."
"I don't eat human food," Sesshoumaru sniffed, looking away again. Rin rolled her eyes. He was acting like a child, and she certainly had seen him eating "human" food before!
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes in response. "What's that smell?"
Rin bit her lip. "You don't remember?"
"…"
He ignored her as he thought. He couldn't remember anything past a certain point. He had been at the reception. He danced with Rin, but her scent was too strong so he got away. He drank a bottle of sake that Kagura had given him…then he danced with Kagome, then Kagura? Something about loud music…a club? Kouga's boisterous laugh…
Either way, he didn't remember how he got home, and certainly didn't remember any strange smells. In fact, his sensitive nose was burning. Sesshoumaru longed to pinch the bridge of his nose, or at least rub his temples, but he couldn't move.
Rin didn't know what to do. She certainly couldn't tell him the truth, but she couldn't lie either.
"I'm not sure which smell you're referring to."
It was the truth in a way. He did have superior sensory skills.
Sesshoumaru was past thinking about smell and realized something more important.
"Why are you in my room wearing my shirt while I am naked?"
Rin's eye twitched as she tried to get her way out of that explanation. Damn Sesshoumaru for not remembering! It was his fault in the first place. Rin took in a shuddered breath as she tried to remain calm. He had been sick last night, of course he doesn't remember.
But I remember…Rin thought desperately as tears threatened to fall. But she would be brave. She could feel his confusion as clear as day. At least he didn't seem angry that she was wearing his shirt, merely annoyed as hell that she was there in the first place.
"Because you need a bath," Rin blurted out. Another half-truth.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes further. Was she implying that he was unclean?
"Are you implying that this Sesshoumaru needs to bathe himself?"
Rin rolled her eyes again, causing Sesshoumaru to grit his teeth. Didn't she just say that?
"No, I'm implying that you need to be bathed. You are in no condition to be left alone, especially when you are running a fever."
"This Sesshoumaru does not get sick."
Rin nodded. "I agree…I believe it is something more that a mere hangover."
Sesshoumaru's lip twitched at her response.
"Elaborate."
"Sesshoumaru-sama, don't you think it's strange that you- " Rin cut herself off. He didn't remember so of course she would have to tell him things that he would never believe.
"Don't you think it's strange that you don't remember anything from last night? I don't think you consumed enough alcohol to justify your odd behavior. Your eyes were red and you were very…protective of me at the club. You wouldn't let anyone else touch me at all. Then there is the fact that your body is infused with poison. Kouga told me about it awhile back. I have been thinking about it. Simple alcohol poisoning seems rather absurd. Your body's venom should be far superior enough to keep you from ever having that reaction. And your reaction in itself isn't normal. I've only seen Ayame drunk once (what a frat party that was) and she didn't have any problem with keeping her youki in check. You acted more like you were…high or something. I mean, you were like…I mean, the way you acted…" Rin's eyes widened and she blushed like a tomato.
I'm reprimanding him like I'm his mother…oh I'm so stupid! Besides, who knows how much he remembers since he wouldn't answer my question.
Sesshoumaru knew she wasn't lying, from whatever he could comprehend from her babbling. Rin had never lied to him before, and never would. It wasn't in her nature. She was one of the few pure people that he let near him. Inu Yasha's wench being another. However, from what she was implying, he had succumbed to her body's cry and was apparently "high" while doing so. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as he sniffed the air again. There were scents that he didn't recognize, but the one that he was looking for was no longer there.
Rin was no longer in heat.
Sesshoumaru felt his blood run cold, though he didn't let it show. However, Rin could feel his emotions going haywire as his eyes darted around the room to take in the situation better. Rin cringed for not doing a better job of cleaning up.
Sesshoumaru looked at Rin again, who was standing there in just his shirt. Her long hair was still damp from the shower and was slowly turning the white shirt translucent. The golden locket Sesshoumaru had given her a few years ago now gleamed back at him with the morning light. The vision of her was practically blinding. Sesshoumaru willed his body not to betray him but found it to be a losing battle.
It can't be…
"Take off that shirt and change into a different one."
Rin blinked at his order but figured that it might be one of his favorites. The last thing she wanted to do at the moment was agitate him. Rin walked back to the closest and pulled out a light pink Alexander McQueen shirt before arching an eyebrow. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but notice that her movements were slightly stiffer that usual.
"No."
Rin put it back, giggling slightly that he wanted to keep his pink shirt all to himself. She then pulled out a black shirt that Sesshoumaru approved of. Not sure if Sesshoumaru wanted her to change where she was, Rin hesitated. He seemed so cold with her.
"Change."
"Yes Master," Rin chirped out sarcastically, biting the inside of her cheek as she let the white shirt slip from her shoulders. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as he stared at her back. There were claw marks raked into her flesh. Did he do that?
Rin quickly put on the black shirt and buttoned it up before turning back around.
"I'll get Jaken to come in and help you."
Sesshoumaru could feel his head pounding. The last thing that he wanted was for his servant to worsen his mood with his insufferable squawks. Besides, where was the useless toad now? Some devoted retainer.
"I don't need help." Sesshoumaru frowned before he shifted under the sheet. He winced marginally as he tried to shift his body over to the side of the bed.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
She still looked so innocent and lovingly toward him. He couldn't stand it. How could she still hold affection with him when she must have been subjected to such horrible things last night? She had told him that his eyes were red. It wasn't that he couldn't remember – it was that his inner beast wouldn't let him remember.
"Fill the bath." Even though it was more like a small pool.
"I already did so when I took a shower. I thought you may be in need of it when you awoke."
She was already assuming the role as lady of the house with no questions asked. What in the hell was going on? Why wasn't she afraid of him? He wasn't a fool, even though he couldn't remember, it didn't take a genius to put the pieces together. But he was ashamed. He, Lord Sesshoumaru, was too ashamed to confront the girl before him. He had not felt as such since he was a young pup under his parents' care. It was humiliating. Yet…he knew that she didn't hold it against him. It wasn't in her nature to hate. Instead, he hated himself. A self-loathing filled himself, as he knew that what was manifesting between the two was forbidden. Still, he knew that while he certainly couldn't change whatever it was between them, he could take control now and refuse any further progress.
This Sesshoumaru is above such trivial things as love and friendship.
Still, the pain in his head, the soreness of his body, it was not something he could bear. And did he feel sick? What the hell was wrong with him? He had been in drawn-out battles and still come away feeling better. Rin's prowess must have been formable indeed. He never felt this spent after taking a female youkai to his bed. He doubted it was her human capacity that made the difference. It was her. He had to admit, however grudgingly, she had been the cause of his major character changes over the past few years. He hadn't apologized or thanked anyone since his mother! Instantly, his mind turned blank as an overwhelming urge to kill swept through him, replaced by the vision of Rin standing near him, now dressed in his black shirt that held fast against transparency but still looking completely alluring and absolutely forbidden. Suddenly, the need for shedding blood passed and was replaced by a dull pounding in his ears as his own heart throbbed in pain.
She was young, eager to please, one hundred percent mortal, and to top it off – not his fiancée. No, this was not a hang over; this was insanity. For what he was about to say, he would gladly pin it to this lapse in reason.
"Help me in." Kami, it pained him to even suggest that he couldn't get to the bathroom on his own, but the truth was, he was barely hanging on a thread and asking Jaken to help him, when the kappa could barely help himself, would prove to be less than intelligent. Besides, if she wanted to play house, then he would show her why he remained single.
"B-but you're naked!"
"Surely this is not the first time you have seen this Sesshoumaru naked." He was trying to bate her into giving away something. Anything. His pride demanded that he didn't ask, that he was always in control of every situation and that this particular set of circumstances just needed further reconnaissance.
"No, it's not." Rin refused to think about the matter further and walked over to his side of the bed and stood expectantly. Sesshoumaru just looked at her, making her squirm. Rin immediately slung his arm over her shoulders and shifted her body upward to help raise him in order to break the tension. Her eyes suddenly became fascinated with the ceiling as she moved to help him into the bathroom.
"That's right, just one step in front of the other…see? We're almost there…alright now, just ease into the tub…" Rin kept babbling to think about the absurdity of the situation. She was talking to him as if he were a small child! Kami-sama, she really was turning into a mother hen!
Sesshoumaru felt his body sink into the steaming milky water and he felt himself relax into it. Rin must have put bath salts into the water, for the air was laced with the smell of minerals. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply when he was jolted back into reality when he felt hot water descend upon his head. Before he could further investigate, the smell of his shampoo permeated the room and nimble fingers began to massage his head. That was the last thing he remembered before he drifted off to sleep.
…
When Rin finished with washing his hair, she decided enough was enough. She couldn't just act normal after what happened last night, as much as Sesshoumaru seemed to want to. She wouldn't push the inevitable conversation about where last night put their relationship (Oh kami, like they even had one!) since she was too scared to think of what he might say. However, she couldn't just pretend it never happened either! It pained her to touch him, knowing that underneath the surface of the water lay the most attractive creature she had ever seen. Rin's hands ran up the sides of her arms as she closed her eyes and remembered how he had held her close. Rin could feel tears welling up in her eyes again and forced them back once more.
"Sesshoumaru…?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. Silence greeted her, causing her to check and realize that he had fallen asleep to her touch. Smiling as only she could, Rin got up and left the bathroom. She plucked up the comforter up and made her way downstairs to the laundry room, remembering the location from her stay at the mansion years ago. She vowed to strip the bed of its sheets later; she planned to hit the kitchen once she got the wash going.
…
Sesshoumaru woke up with a start as he felt water seeping into his nostrils.
Wha…
His eyes darted about before he realized where he was. He really had to stop doing that. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. It seemed that the blackouts really were a side effect of poisoning gone wrong. Now that his head was clearing, it made sense. He had been poisoned once before.
Mother…
Sesshoumaru clenched his fists before standing up abruptly. His body clearly wasn't prepared for the action, for he warbled and slipped, practically falling head first out of the tub.
Sesshoumaru managed to walk away from the incident with his pride intact (after all, no one saw him), and leaned heavily against the wall, leaving a trail of water as he reached for a towel and made toward his closet. Shrugging on a t-shirt with his alma mater splashed across the front, he finished the look with underwear and ratty sweats from when he used to run track. Exhausted, he made his way back to his bed, which was only comprised of sheets at the moment. Sesshoumaru sneered as his imagination pictured what must have happened on said sheets. It was disgraceful more than anything else. She was a child, someone that he had been appointed to protect financially. Over the years, he had to admit, if only in the deepest recesses of his heart, that he had grown fond of his unusually bright charge. However, he didn't feel a sense of friendship with her, nor a romantic notion such as love – as he previous noted, he had no use for such things. He was the ice prince of the business world, about to close a multi-billion dollar deal by marrying Kagura! Love had nothing to do with it.
Still…he felt the bond. He just didn't understand it. He didn't want to. He didn't want her. Sesshoumaru climbed into bed before he gingerly sniffed the sheets. Now that his senses were slowly returning to normal, he could gauge the situation better. He picked up the scent of old blood and something else among the throng of scents that accosted his nose that made his eyes widen. Following his nose, he found a spot that confirmed his worse fears.
It may be that I must attend another wedding before the year is through… Sesshoumaru thought grimly.
…
Rin felt a little more normal after breakfast. She washed her dishes, not wanting to put anyone else. Her head was still to far in the clouds to remember the dishwasher. Suddenly, her eyes went wide as realization struck her.
Oh kami…no!
Hurrying to finish the dishes, Rin quickly made her way to the hallway were her purse had fallen from the night before. Rin fished her phone out of the bag before flipping it open and pressing the redial button. Ayame immediately answered.
"RIN! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Rin pulled the phone away from her ear, Ayame's screams way too loud after a night of no sleep.
"Gomen Ayame-chan…I'm at Sesshoumaru's…" Rin whispered back. It seemed to do the trick, as Ayame's voice instantly imitated her whisper.
"Honto ne? I can't believe you, you sly gal!"
"Eh! It's not like that…really. Sesshoumaru was very…" Rin paused, doubting that Sesshoumaru wanted it broadcasted that someone was out to get him, "…drunk last night and needed help getting home. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner."
"I've practically got a search party going for you!"
"I'm really sorry! Look, I have a favor. Can you pick me up? I don't know where Jaken is, Sesshoumaru is…sleeping, and I doubt that he would like it if I stole one of his cars. I haven't exactly had time to apply for a license since I turned 18."
"Sure! I'll have Kouga swing by now…" Ayame covered the mouthpiece to tell Kouga to change their route.
"Eh? Kouga? What are you doing with him at…" Rin glanced at the clock, "6:42 in the morning? Hmm?"
Ayame blushed.
"Anou…it's not like that! We were really worried! Suddenly you, Sesshoumaru, and Kohaku went missing! Now, I can understand if Mr. Too-sexy-for-his-cummerbund left without a word, but it isn't like you! Then I tried to call, but it just kept ringing! Souta called Kohaku who also got really worried, saying he you said you would tell someone that he had to go to the hospital. Sesshoumaru wasn't picking up his phone either. So EXCUSE me for being a best friend and worrying about someone I care about…"
Rin scrunched up her face and quickly said goodbye to Ayame. Then Rin burst into tears. It was nice to know that someone cared about her and wanted her more than just one night. In fact, it felt damn good.
Suddenly, Rin felt very tired. She grabbed her purse and cursed as she realized that her shoes were still in Sesshoumaru's room. Thinking that he must still be in the tub, she crept up the stairs and down the hall. She stood outside the room and was about to open the door when she heard noises from within. It seemed that Sesshoumaru had woken up and was currently reprimanding Jaken for something. Not wanting to discuss the situation further, knowing Jaken would want a full report, Rin decided to get her shoes later. After all, it wouldn't really match her I'm-just-wearing-a-man's-shirt look. She headed back downstairs, fully intent on waiting for Ayame outside.
…
The air was tense. Kouga fixed his eyes to the road, and Ayame kept sneaking glances back at Rin, but not sure what to say. Rin, for her part, was sitting awkwardly in the backseat, her cheeks stained with embarrassment at her current state of dress without a proper explanation. Her face was slightly scrunched, as if in pain, and her hands fiddled with the locket.
"Rin…d-do you just want to go back to the shrine?" Ayame asked softly. She still couldn't erase the forlorn look the girl had on her face when they arrived to pick her up. When she had heard that Rin had spent the night at Sesshoumaru, she was relieved and a little envious. But everything changed as she saw that her friend obviously wasn't happy. Ayame was burning with curiosity, but felt that it was inappropriate to bring up such a delicate subject in front of Kouga.
"Hai."
The car was engulfed with silence once again.
…
"Thanks Kouga, I really had fun last night," Ayame smiled as she made to close the car door. Rin was already making her way up the shrine's steps. Kouga gave a grin.
"Me too babe. Look, I'm sorry it had to end so abruptly…but now that you're living here, I'll take you out on a real date, ok?"
Ayame blushed slightly as her smile got wider.
"I'd like that. Look, um, call me okay? Later. And, see if you can talk to Sesshoumaru. Get his side of the story. I'm going to try and talk with Rin, but I don't think she's really up to it right now…"
Kouga nodded, understanding.
"Yeah, just take care of her. I'll call you tonight."
Ayame closed the car door and watched as Kouga drove off, taking her heart with him.
That man…Ayame shook her head of such girlie thoughts. She was above that kiddy stuff! Besides, she has to go comfort Rin.
Ayame bound up the steps taking them three at a time.
…
Rin burst out of the bathroom, feeling better than she had all morning. There was just something about being in a place where she could properly tend to her feminine need of being clean and taken care of. Ayame sat on her bed, expectantly.
Rin sighed, really not wanting to have this conversation. It wasn't that she didn't trust Ayame…it was just, her problem was a whole different ball game. Rin secretly wished that it were Kagome in her room. She missed the presence of her older sister dearly when it came to advice sometimes. After all, Kagome was Rin's role model, embodying everything that Rin wanted to be. Plus, she had experience with men. Ayame, for all her good qualities, was just about at experienced as Rin had been before last night. In fact, Rin knew that was true, though Ayame had been acting like she was the love expert ever since Kouga had kissed her in Africa.
"Feel better?"
"Yeah, I took some medicine for cramps." Ayame nodded her understanding. She personally didn't experience a monthly cycle, but knew that wasn't a pleasant experience. Rin tossed her underwear in the garbage as she made her way over to sit on the bed next to Ayame.
"Want to talk about it?"
"I'm still in shock to really understand what happened myself…" Rin started, looking down at her lap. In truth, she wasn't sure if this was the best conversation to have with Ayame, considering the girl's experience had only been a step above her own (well, before last night). "I'm just really exhausted and would like to sleep. I haven't slept a wink all night."
Ayame's eyes widen at the subtle hint and her own cheeks blushed. Rin was like her little sister and to think that she became a woman before her…
"I understand. But look, when you're ready to talk, I'm here for you okay?"
"Mmm…thanks Ayame-chan."
Rin didn't know if she ever wanted to talk about the incident. But the night had led to many questions that were left unanswered. Rin wished that Kagome were here next to her, instead of Ayame. It was an awful thought, but really, Kagome was the most compassionate person she knew, and understood Rin unlike anyone else. She had known the girl ever since she had been born. Rin vowed that she would talk to Kagome as soon as she came back in a week from her honeymoon. Originally it was supposed to be for a couple of weeks, but Sesshoumaru had needed Inu Yasha at some big meeting. Inu Yasha had freaked, thinking Kagome would kill him, but then Sesshoumaru offered him a paid vacation for Christmas for any location in the world. After that, Inu Yasha had to grudgingly admit that his brother gave the coolest wedding gift.
Ayame stood up, kissing Rin on the forehead before she tucked her friend into bed.
"Rest up and take care of yourself."
Rin nodded and watched Ayame leave the room, before closing her eyelids wearily.
Sleep…
Ring
Ring
Rin's eyes flew open and she moaned. She had almost fallen asleep but no. She flipped open her cell phone, thinking that Ayame forgot to tell her something. After all, it was only 8:12 in the morning.
"M-moushi moushi?"
"I must speak with you."
Oh crap…Sesshoumaru.
So ends our little trilogy of the mysterious! Although I personally think things just got even worse for our heroine. Ah well. Can I just say I am stunned by the amount of reviews? Seriously? WOW and THANK YOU. Oh, so I was wondering, if you leave reviews, tell me what your favorite Inu Yasha fan fic is. I've been reading ones that have depressed me lately, especially when the author is like "I don't like Inu Yasha anymore…I refuse to finish, even though it's a cliff hanger." So…let me know guys!
Reiycheru: otsukimi can be broken down to "o" (polite form) "tsuki" (moon) "mi" (eye) In this case it refers to the tradition of moon viewing when the moon is full. It's not as popular as it once was in Japan, but I figured this was a more traditional family. Rumiko Takahashi stresses how the new moon is Inu Yasha's weak point, so I figured that the full moon would symbolize power for the Taishou clan. I think the reason that Sesshoumaru wears a crescent moon though is so that we recognize the shape of the moon.
Denarius: I apologize for the capitalization or the lack of. It actually is a tribute to a favorite book of mine that did not capitalize its title. It does bother me when people just don't properly punctuate a story though. I certainly love my spell checker. And thanks for the awesome words. I'm so happy you feel that way. It's funny. Before I wrote this story, I couldn't picture them as a couple either. Then I had to in order to keep the plot moving. Ha ha.