Kitsunehime: And here is variation two! Wai!
Rin: *reading over variation one* You made me sound so . . .
Titian: Snobby? Stand-offish? Just plain weird?
Rin: . . . *sweatdrop*
Inuyasha: What exactly is Ebon Rih? And why is Lucivar looking at me funny?
Kitsunehime: Because that's the territory he rules in the books.
Inuyasha: . . . Oh. Keh!
Koryu: Then what's Amdarh?
Kitsunehime: Another territory. Can't remember who rules it though.
Shippou: Does it really matter?
Kitsunehime: No. Someone do the disclaimer for me and I'll give you a maple sugar candy. (I swear those things taste so good!)
Shippou: Ooh, me! Pick me! Me me me me me me me!
Kitsunehime: *sweatdrop* Ok, go ahead.
Shippou: Kitsunehime-sama doesn't own any of us, though she would happily role-play anyone. So please don't sue her!
Inuyasha: Suck-up.
Kagome: What did you just call Shippou?! Osuwari!
*Bam*
Kitsunehime: You just squished my stash of butter toffee! Oh well, here you go, Shippou. *hands him a box of maple sugar candy* Try not to get too hyper on it.
Shippou: Candy candy candy candy candy candy!
Everyone: *sweatdrop*
To Rule the Darkness
ch. 26, Variation Two: Reunion
For some, the time passed quickly, for others, it crawled. Whatever pace it really went at, it didn't matter. An unexpected, yet much welcomed, personage appeared after two weeks of waiting.
Rin was locked up in her room again, like she was wont to do ever since those tainted youkai attacked, so she didn't hear of this until Inuyasha ran up and pounded on her door, but Sesshoumaru came back.
Fahleing was lounging around in the entrance hall when someone knocked on the door, so she went to open it. "It's you!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, me," Sesshoumaru stated laconically. "Move aside."
"Arrogant bastard," Fahleing muttered, complying. "You should go say hello to Rin."
"What I do is none — " He was interrupted by Inuyasha pounding on his back.
"Loosen up or no one will like you."
"Do I care?" Sesshoumaru said stiffly, regarding his half-brother. He wondered why Inuyasha was being so friendly.
"Took you long enough," Sakuya sniffed. "Poor Rin's been so worried about you."
"Where's Kanoe?" Inutaishou asked.
"I left her at the cottage outside the grounds. She wouldn't come any closer." Making a show of being disgusted, he peeled Inuyasha's hand off his shoulder. "What is with you all?"
"Just glad to see Rin's object of affection back where he's supposed to be," Youko said glibly. Sesshoumaru just looked at him like he was crazy. When he turned back around, Inuyasha was gone.
Rin, in her room, was quietly contemplating a small, round mirror, watching the light reflect of the surface, when Inuyasha walloped the door. Getting up, she opened it. "Something the matter, Inuyasha?"
"You'll never be able to guess," he declared with a huge smirk. "Sesshoumaru's downstairs, just waiting for you." 'Or maybe not . . . Well, he had better be! The dumbass . . . '
Rin's eyes widened until Inuyasha feared they would pop out. "Sesshoumaru . . . " she whispered. Then what he said fully registered. "Sesshoumaru!" she cried ecstatically, nearly knocking Inuyasha over and practically flying down the staircase.
Inuyasha rubbed his bruised arm and chuckled. The greeting scene between his estranged brother and Rin . . . That was something he wouldn't miss for anything – Except maybe a lifetime supply of ramen. He hurried after her down the stairs.
Rin burst out through the side doors and just about floored Sesshoumaru. For those first few seconds, he didn't know who she was. Then he realized it was Rin. Then he realized he was going to run out of air.
"Sesshoumaru! Mother Night, what took you so long?! You . . . you . . . you stupid jerk!" she cried, failing to notice he was turning blue.
"Air . . . " he managed to squeak out. Rin didn't hear him. He was now turning purple. 'Great, this is how I'm going to die, from oxygen deprivation?'
"Rin," said a dry voice. "I think he needs to breathe." Inutaishou was looking on the proceedings with much amusement.
"You know, I never thought I'd see him turn odd colors," Shippou commented. Inuyasha snorted in agreement.
"Ah . . . " Rin looked really embarrassed and let go of Sesshoumaru's neck. "Gomen nasai, Sesshoumaru!"
He rolled his eyes and rubbed his throat, then held opened his arms to her, this time for a gentler hug.
"I'm sorry for taking so long, " he said softly. He buried his nose in her long hair, inhaling deeply. 'It's been years since I last caught her scent . . . '
Despite Inutaishou's glare, Inuyasha couldn't help a slight snicker. After all, his – usually – cold and uptight brother was displaying quite some emotion.
Shippou, Souta, and Kohaku made gagging noises and turned away as Sesshoumaru leaned down and kissed Rin, seemingly oblivious to all the spectators. Kagome, Sango, and even Sakuya were sniffling with sappy smiles on their faces. Fahleing turned away, but not before Inuyasha could see a slight smile tugging at the edge of her lips. Koryu, like Inutaishou, was looking on the scene with a healthy dose of amusement. Miyu and Youko unobtrusively sidled closer together, ostensibly affected by the display of affection on Sesshoumaru and Rin's part.
For Rin, it was like the comforting embrace of the Darkness, Sesshoumaru's kiss. In that moment, she wished time could just stop, so she could keep enjoying the sensation of his lips on hers.
This kiss was similar, yet much different, from that kiss he gave, shortly before he left. It was soft and gentle, words not usually associated with the man known as the Sadist, but still sweet and passionate. This time around, that ever-elusive undercurrent of a much deeper, darker heat was much more clearly evident.
Sesshoumaru could feel himself becoming aroused and fought to control it. Each moment became harder and harder though, and he was forced to break it off. Either that, or be severely tempted to take her, tight there in the entrance. Then he noticed their 'audience.'
Rin noticed too, and flushed a highly interesting shade of red. Even Sesshoumaru turned slightly pink.
"Ahem," Inutaishou coughed, hiding a smile. "If you would like to continue, please do so in a bedroom. Otherwise, Rin, will you still be making your Offering to the Darkness in two weeks?"
"Yes."
Gomen nasai! I know I said I would have this up in a day or two, but well . . . Ok, this is a really sucky excuse but . . . I have succeeded in getting myself hooked on role-playing. So I've been doing that a lot . . . Oh, never mind. I'm going to try to regularly update this and all my other ongoing stories, so each chapter may take just a bit longer. Thank you!
Ja!
