Hi! New one-shot where Inuyasha feels the need to convince Sesshomaru about his hypocrisy.
Inuyasha opened his eyes and saw Kagome's dark locks, her back to his chest as he held her close. He kissed her shoulder and got up for the day. Moving about their house quietly to let Kagome sleep a little longer. He filled the pot with water from their reserves and set it over the cooking fire which was cold. He placed a few cut logs and started a fire.
Inuyasha liked his routine, it was simple, it was nice and quiet. Most men, human men, would have found it mundane and boring, there was no adventure.
Inuyasha had survived for so long on his own, he had plenty of adventures that he enjoyed the quiet moments that he now had.
An hour later he was spooning out the porridge into two bowls. He found the seasonings that Kagome made with Rin. Rin taught Kagome all of the natural foods in the woods and which ones were poisonous. Kagome was excited when she realized that some of her favourite seasonings could be found in the woods. She had even convinced Rin to try and harvest them. Jeniji had been kind enough to allow Rin some extra space in his garden to grow the herbs.
Inuyasha liked the mizuna, it added the nice peppery taste that tickled his senses as he ate it. He glared at the crushed and dry chili peppers that Kagome enjoyed in her porridge. He took a pinch from the jar and laid it atop of the porridge, mixing it in.
He tidied up as he let the porridge cool down for a few minutes. He then knelt down beside Kagome's sleeping form. Her lips parted as she breathed softly in sleep. He pushed dark locks out of her face. He smiled and ran the back of his hand across her cheek.
"Kagome, come on time to wake up, breakfast," he told her gently. She stirred and mumbled about not wanting to take more exams and rolled over to her other side. "Kagome, I made you your spicy porridge," he added.
"Mhmm?" Kagome hummed out.
He rubbed her arm and shoulder and she rolled onto her back, dark lashes fluttering open. She smiled softly up at him and stretched her arms, chest rising as she arched her back to complete her stretch. "Good morning," he hummed out.
She smiled, "Morning Inuyasha."
He loved his quiet mornings and seeing Kagome wake up each morning with a smile on her face.
Inuyasha followed his nose after returning from a job with Miroku. The two parted at a fork in the road with Miroku waving to Inuyasha before turning in the direction of his home.
Inuyasha found two scents that didn't surprise him that were together: Kagome and Rin. The two had become close since Kagome's return. Kagome told Inuyasha once that Rin was like a little sister, not just because of Rin's petiteness, and Inuyasha couldn't agree more but he would not, could not voice the sentiment. It was too out of character for him.
He found the two in the woods collecting herbs. Rin was visible in her pink kimono with leaves and flowers richly decorating the silk. Kagome was visible too in her red hakama and white haori. The two were chatting aimlessly as they collected roots and herbs.
"Rin, is this shiso?" Kagome asked as she pulled a plant free from the dirt with its roots.
Rin turned and smiled as she saw Inuyasha before she walked over to Kagome. She knelt down and took the plant. "Kaede uses this for cooking sometimes," Rin said with a nod and plucked a leaf, placing it in her mouth and chewing the leaf before nodding. "It's good."
"I finally found one today that isn't poisonous!" Kagome laughed softly.
"Lucky you then," Rin laughed with her. "Hello, Inuyasha," Rin added with a smile.
Kagome gasped and turned to see him standing by a tree not far behind them. "Hello Inuyasha, welcome home!" She said as she stood up and walked to him.
She had learned he didn't like to show too much public displays of affection and she accepted that.
Inuyasha smiled at Kagome and then scented another scent coming toward them. He frowned and looked deeper in the woods. "Sesshomaru is coming here," Inuyasha huffed.
"Really?" Rin asked as she stood up and tucked her hair behind her ears and he could hear her beat skip a beat. He wondered if the dusting on her cheeks was there already or if he imagined that she blushed at the mention of his brother's name.
Kagome quickly hopped over a fallen branch and stood before Rin. "I'll take your basket back since mine is empty save the one herb. Go on, spend some time with Sesshomaru," Kagome said with a smile.
"Uh...wait what? She's getting too old to be left alone in his company when he visits," Inuyasha protested as Rin took off with a quick thank you and a call to Sesshomaru that she would come to him.
Kagome nodded to herself and waved to Rin's back before turning to Inuyasha. "What are you talking about? Sesshomaru is a gentleman despite what Rin wants," Kagome snorted out as she placed the shiso into the basket that was overladen with roots and herbs. She lifted it up and Inuyasha moved quickly to take it and shouldered it for her. Kagome smiled and kissed his cheek as she grabbed the empty basket.
"And what is that Rin wants?" Inuyasha warily asked Kagome.
Kagome shook her head with a smile. "Sisters secret. Sorry Inuyasha," Kagome said as she took his hand as they walked back to the village.
There was a small sense of dread that things were going to change and he wasn't going to like it whatsoever.
Kagome was organizing the herbs at Kaede's as most of them were Rin's herbs but Rin always overpicked in order to share, most especially with Sango who did not have the time or patience to go picking herbs.
Kohaku even tried to pay Rin for the additional herbs, roots, and plants she picked for him. She always made him go fishing with her as payment.
Inuyasha sat with his arms and legs crossed. The sun was beginning to set and Rin was still not home and it annoyed him more so because Kagome forbade him from searching for her. Even Kaede agreed with Kagome.
The two knew something and he didn't like it.
"We found some wasabina, Kaede. Rin likes a little spice right? Or is it you?" Kagome asked as she laid out the bunch of young leaves.
"Rin eats it as part of a salad sometimes," Kaede said with a nod.
Kagome nodded as she divided the bunch between three flat baskets.
"When is Rin going to be home?" Inuyasha asked as he stood up and looked out the window.
"Inuyasha, Rin and Sesshomaru are meeting to discuss her future and her decision," Kaede said.
Inuyasha remembered how his brother told him years ago that it was Rin's decision to follow him during the fight against Naraku and three years later he told Kagome the same thing.
"And should she choose again it will be of her own free will. Rin's choice is hers alone to make," Sesshomaru said as he walked away, steps silent on the grass of the forest.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe it was time already for that conversation. Would Rin stay, marry a villager, marry Kohaku even, and settle down and have a family? He knew Rin loved children as she was close to Sango and Miroku's children. They would be devastated if Rin was gone one day because she left to travel with his brother.
"How old is Rin now?" Inuyasha asked as he continued to stare out the window.
"She is older than she looks, Inuyasha, she is nearing seventeen years old," Kagome spoke up.
"But she's so little," he complained.
"Why don't you come sit down, Inuyasha," Kaede said and he turned to see Kagome sigh in relief in not accidentally saying the words of subjugation on Inuyasha with a single word ill used.
Kagome had gotten creative by using words like 'join me', 'settle here', and a few others that sounded weirder than 'sit' but at least he didn't slam to the ground.
"Nah, I'm good," he huffed and turned back to the window. "Sesshomaru can't possibly love Rin, right? The idea is ridiculous. Even Rin loving Sesshomaru is just... well she loves everyone, what would be different about Sesshomaru that would make her want to leave us?" Inuyasha asked aloud and received no response.
The air was thick and Inuyasha wondered if the two women knew more than they were letting on.
He only had to wait a little longer as he finally saw them in the distance walking toward the house. He quickly sat down by the fire, picking up the bowl of stew Kaede was waiting for him to finally pick up and eat.
"I guess Rin is almost here?" Kagome teased beside him.
"Shut up," he huffed out, shoving spoonfuls into his mouth with the two women laughing quietly.
A few minutes later the curtain panel of bamboo was moved aside and Rin entered with Sesshomaru, a bouquet of flowers in the crook of her arm. She smiled at the three of them as she stood before them.
"Welcome back," Kaede said to Rin with a nod.
"I'm home," Rin said with a smile. "Sesshomaru-sama and I have some news to tell you. It's also for Kagome and Inuyasha to know, so this is good," Rin said with a smile, the same dusting of pink returning to her cheeks.
Inuyasha chewed slowly on the beef in his mouth and swallowed slowly. "Yeah, what is it?" He asked.
Sesshomaru stood perfectly still beside Rin. His amber eyes alit by the light of the fire. He towered over Rin in height, Rin came up to his chest level. Sesshomaru's eyes were fixed on Inuyasha as if he sensed his unease.
"We have decided to marry," Sessshomaru stated.
Inuyasha felt his mouth go dry.
Rin and Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru and Rin. When did this happen? Is this a pity marriage? Does he feel obligated to marry her because she was once his ward? He's never shown love for anyone!
"Well, I would say I was surprised, but I unfortunately am not," Keade said with a smile. "All the gifts were a give away of your intent, Sesshomaru."
He hated my mother! He hated me for being a hanyou!
"Congratulations! We're finally going to be sisters!" Kagome laughed gently.
"I know! It'll be so wonderful!" Rin smiled as she responded. Her cheeks were still pink, but her smile stretched across her face with such excitement that she practically glowed.
He hated father for falling in love with a human.
Hypocrite!
Hypocrite!
"Hypocrite! You are an asshole too!" Inuyasha shouted and then stood up with his fists balled up. He was ready to punch his brother in the face but the tang of salt in the air stopped him as he blinked and saw tears threatening to spill from Rin's eyes.
Sesshomaru turned to Rin and cupped her cheek as she shook her head.
"Inuyasha, do you have to be such a jerk?! You are supposed to be happy for your brother!" Kagome shouted up at Inuyasha and pointed to Rin. "Apologize or I'll use the word!"
Inuyasha huffed and crossed his arms. "I'm congratulating Sesshomaru for marrying Rin out of some weird sense of duty to her. She would be better with a human, her kind, like Kohaku-" he started.
"Sit! Sit! Sit! SIT!" Kagome shouted and her breath heaved in her chest as she stood up, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
Kaede sipped her tea and sighed heavily at the new crack in her wooden floor.
Inuyasha groaned and looked up to see Rin's bouquet on the floor, his brother and Rin were gone.
"Inuyasha...how could you be so cruel to Rin? She's been in love with Sesshomaru for some time. He clearly loves her too! Why can't you believe he changed?!" Kagome shouted and ran out of the house in her tabi and no sandals.
"You can have Rin's futon for the night," Kaede said gruffly."
"Yeah…" he huffed out quietly laying on the floor where he was commanded. He sighed softly and felt a confliction of emotions, part of him felt guilty while another felt justified...which brought more guilt into his heart.
"Kohaku it isn't funny," Inuyasha growled out quietly. He glanced at Miroku writing a letter with a small smirk on his lips. "Don't smirk Miroku!"
"I'm writing the letter for you since your penmanship is awful, I'll smirk if I want to," Miroku said as he dipped his brush again into the ink.
"Y-you said that I-I should marry Rin?" Kohaku howled out in his laughter, laying on the floor and wiping his tears. "Kami-sama!"
"Sango originally thought you two would be nice together," Miroku spoke up.
Kohaku's laughter died and he sat up, arms and legs crossed. "No one gets our relationship, I love her platonically as much as I care for Sesshomaru-sama," Kohaku explained.
Miroku nodded and set aside his brush to rest as he lifted up the letter. "Sesshomaru -I really hate leaving out the honorific-" Miroku started.
"It's from me to my brother, keep going," Inuyasha snapped.
Miroku rolled his eyes and nodded. "Sesshomaru, I believe we need to have an honest conversation. I would like to meet you at the Goshinboku in three days. I would also appreciate it if you would return Rin home, Kaede is elderly and needs Rin to do chores and work for her. Rin is the midwife of the village, Kagome's hands are simply too big. Inuyasha," Miroku sighed out. "Sounds like you. Kohaku knows where to find Sesshomaru, he'll get it to him."
"Where is Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked Kohaku.
Kohaku clapped his hands together and bowed his head. "I cannot say, I was sworn to secrecy until the appropriate time!"
Miroku chuckled. "Here, go on now," Miroku said as he rolled up the rice paper parchment carefully and tied it before giving it to Kohaku.
Kohaku hopped up and took it. "I'll be back," he said and slipped on his sandals by the door and took off.
Inuyasha blinked quickly. "Didn't Sango take Kiara to visit the village of demon slayers with the children?" Inuyasha asked Miroku, his eyes narrowing. "You know where Sesshomaru and Rin are! They have to be close if Kohaku is going by foot!"
"Maybe or maybe he found Shippo?" Miroku suggested with a shrug.
"I hate you sometimes," Inuyasha huffed.
Miroku laughed at his childish response.
Inuyasha loves Rin. He wants her to be happy. He wants her to fall in love, get married, have kids, and grow old. He knows he's been lucky to have watched Rin grow before his eyes after his brother left him in his village under Kaede's care.
Rin spent a good amount of time with him though before Kagome's return, and after that they all spent time together, just a little less. Inuyasha's time was spent more with his wife, a natural progression in life.
Now, he paced in front of the Goshinboku. He had taken Rin to the tree many times when she was younger, helped her climb its limbs and sit with him, both munching on an apple as they talked.
He loved her because she was the sister he always wanted. The sister he knew he deserved to have and protect.
Rin was petite, barely coming to his shoulder. Kagome and Sango looked down at Rin and Rin always shrugged her head as Kohaku and Shippo grew and grew. Rin looked like a woman physically, her height was just deceptive.
Kagome had once told him that Rin was most likely malnourished in her formative years in early childhood.
He asked if it was Sesshomaru's fault or his own. Did they not hunt enough meat for her? Sesshomaru was probably an asshole who made Rin collect her own food and she did have some skill at stealing and foraging.
Inuyasha saw his childhood in Rin.
He was going to protect her until she was married to the right man.
He hoped Sesshomaru would show up so they could have an important conversation regarding Rin and marriage.
Inuyasha sat on a tree limb and waited patiently for hours until finally as the sun began to set, darkening the woods dramatically through the dense foliage.
"Inuyasha, I wonder why you requested to have a word with me," Sesshomaru said coolly as he approached. Amber eyes almost glowing in the darkening woods.
Inuyasha snorted as he leapt off the tree limb and walked toward his brother. "I think you know why I requested this conversation," he snarled softly. His fists tightened and clenched.
Sesshomaru tilted his head in curiosity. They had no open conflict since Naraku's defeat, minus the time that Rin had gotten a bad cold and Sesshomaru showed up with some herbs for Kaede to use. Inuyasha argued that his medicine was the correct one to use, he had even made a large batch of the liver stew. Miroku, who had been sick and staying at Kaede's, glared at them both, demanding that they take it elsewhere as he and Rin both needed rest, not stress.
"What is it now Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked him with a heavy sigh.
"You!" He hissed out in response. "You're a hypocrite! I won't let you marry Rin!"
Sesshomaru's jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. "Why are you being so hostile? Are you not happy for your brother?"
"You are marrying a human! You hate humans! You hated my mother! Now you love Rin?! And what about hanyous? I am a hanyou, the result of our father and my mother creating me! Are you just not going to consummate your marriage to Rin, leave her womb empty?" Inuyasha raged at him with his words. "She deserves a family to call her own! To be loved and cherished after everything she's been through Sesshomaru. You can't give her any of that. You are not kind, you are not loving, you can't be a father to hanyou. You're too regal, to uptight and she's just Rin… Rin is Rin," Inuyasha huffed out.
Sweet, kind, warm Rin who loves those close to her.
Sesshomaru's eyes were emotionless as he stared Inuyasha down. "Perhaps it is because Rin is Rin that I have changed into the youkai before you. The one who understands that they were ignorant, arrogant, selfish, and cruel. I will say this only once in your life so you better listen closely: Rin is the only one I will ever love. She showed me the hypocrisy you have so adequately explained in your own words. We will have hanyou children and I will love them as much as I can in what capacity I have," Sesshomaru explained.
"Do you really love Rin?" Inuyasha asked Sesshomaru with a heavy sigh.
"When she was young, it was both easy and hard to leave her here. However, these past few summers, it has been agony to leave her side. I wish to be close to her always. I will love her beyond her death and I will treasure the moments I have with her. Does that satisfy your curiosity?" Sesshomaru asked, his own fists clenched.
Sesshomaru the quiet and vain daiyoukai was confessing his heart and desires to him, Inuyasha, the hanyou and shame of their father's legacy.
Sesshomaru's eyes shut for a second before reopening and taking a step to him.
Inuyasha stood his ground until Sesshomaru was just a few feet away.
"I am sorry for the harm that I have done," Sesshomaru said tightly, but his eyes were clear and warm even.
Inuyasha nodded silently.
"Rin wishes to remain close to the village after we marry. I agreed," Sesshomaru added. "Your letter was somewhat persuasive."
"You aren't taking her away?" Inuyasha asked incredulously.
"I have studied that humans fare well when they are sheltered with ready sources of food. Kaede has fared well because of these circumstances," Sesshomaru answered. "Rin is also attached to several people here and I would not take her from her family," he added.
"Then you recognize that we are her family?" Inuyasha asked his older brother somewhat incredulous of everything that had left Sesshomaru's mouth.
"I know you have treated Rin well," Sesshomaru said tersely as if the fact annoyed him somewhat.
"But why Rin? Why do you want to marry her? I need to know because I don't want her in a loveless marriage or for her husband unable and unwilling to express himself," Inuyasha huffed out.
Sesshomaru's shoulders tensed. "Follow me," Sesshomaru said and turned his back to Inuyasha, walking further into the forest.
Inuyasha pouted and followed after his brother.
Inuyasha was surprised several minutes later to see a manor in the middle of his woods. He usually didn't go this far but to see a small manor in the woods did slightly shock him. The scent and sound of a small stream not too far north of them.
"I had this home built for Rin no kimi. We will have our privacy, she will have her family," Sesshomaru said as he continued to walk to the manor.
Inuyasha heard and saw the shoji door open onto the porch. He saw Rin exit, holding a basket of cloth. She sat down on the pillow on the wooden porch. She settled her supplies down and pulled some cloth free. Inuyasha watched her lay it across her lap before opening a container of sewing supplies without her ever looking in their direction.
She looked content, in the woods, in nature, where she loved to be, yet she was safe and sheltered.
"You made her a home," Inuyasha bewilderedly stated.
"I understand your apprehensions of me marrying Rin no kimi. She is beloved by many, but most especially by me. My treatment of you in the past was abysmal and I cannot turn back time, but know that my children will never experience that because I will be here with Rin no kimi," Sesshomaru explained as stared at Rin.
Inuyasha looked at his brother, he could see a small smile on his lips as if completely satisfied that Rin was his beloved and that they were going to one day have children.
"Sesshomaru, you are still a hypocrite but you aren't so vain anymore. However," Inuyasha stated as he pointed at Rin. "Rin has to come home. You two are not married! If you lain with her before marriage, I'll strangle you!"
Sesshomaru snorted and looked at Inuyasha. "She has been sleeping in a spare chamber, nothing untoward has happened," he retorted.
"Good!" Inuyasha huffed out, tucking his arms into his sleeves.
"If you want to know the extent of my love for Rin no kimi, you should know I have relinquished my title of the West. I cannot marry her otherwise," Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha felt his jaw slack. His anger disappeared at the hypocrisy that fueled his interpretation of his brother. He knew how long and hard Sesshomaru had worked on his title, his lands, and planning for an empire. To walk away from their Father's title proved that Sesshomaru was serious about Rin.
Inuyasha sighed softly.
How could I doubt him now? He's been more open than he's ever been. Rin's changed him for the better.
He watched as Sesshomaru walked to the porch. Rin lifted her head up from her project and smiled. They had a quiet conversation and Rin nodded. She tidied up her work and stood up, going inside the chamber and returning quickly. Sesshomaru lifted Rin down and they walked together to Inuyasha. Another door slid open and Inuyasha saw Jaken standing there to watch them.
"Hello, Inuyasha," Rin said with a smile.
"Hey, sorry to take you away but you are needed and you are not wedded," Inuyasha said with a shrug.
Rin nodded and smiled before looking up at Sesshomaru. "The home is beautiful, I cannot wait until we are here together as husband and wife," she told him bluntly.
Inuyasha saw Sesshomaru's ear tips pinked. He turned around, kneeling, letting Rin to clamber on and he hooked his arms behind her thighs, fists closed. He took off running before Sesshomaru could get the last word.
He heard Rin giggle into his whipping hair in her face.
He couldn't wait to tell Kagome that Sesshomaru blushed because of Rin. He was slowly warming up to Rin and Sesshomaru getting married. He wondered if he would have nieces and nephews that had dog ears like him.
He wondered if his own children would have dog ears or if the demonic blood would be too little for any demonic strength.
He wondered many things that would be all of their future and it made him feel a sense of happiness that he hadn't felt before. Miroku had once told him that through the pain and hardships there was always hope and something good at the end.
Inuyasha thought he was simply happy to know Rin would be close, she was important to him and everyone else. Then he realized, after years and years of disdain and tension between him and Sesshomaru, there was finally a chance to have his older brother.
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