Well, good afternoon everyone :) Is this a third chapter?!
I seriously sat down to write this at 8am and now it's 12:40 and I'm finished.
Something is wrong with me. Maybe I have the flu. LOLLLLLLL
enjoyyyyy
Chapter 31: For What's to Come
The enclosure of her tiny room had never felt more comfortable; more safe. The cobwebs swaying in the corners, the natural cracks along the wood of the ceiling, the beauty in the simplicity of her humble abode, the quiet peacefulness of a day holding her to no expectations. Rin refused to look anywhere else but the one particular spot she had been focusing on since Kaede-obaa-sama and Cesaria-san had carried her to her room nearly five hours ago.
If she moved, she would hurt.
Lying perfectly still, Rin felt her most intimate of areas, as well as her chest, neck, and cheeks pulsating as if her heartbeat was quaking her entire body. She slowly closed her eyes, willing to find sleep after finally overcoming the pain enough to do so. Sesshoumaru had done this to her. But she was no fool. Had he really been as unbridled as he'd seemed, she'd be dead. Especially after what she said to him. Without a trace of sympathy, she threw the death of his father in his face to prove a point that was, given the situation, best avoided. Rin understood exactly where his mind was.
He was hurting.
But, he was also nothing short of twisted. And instead of seeking comfort like any normal human would, he sought sadism to cut out the emotional pain—probably just as any other demon would. She sighed heavy. Was this surprising? Sesshoumaru-sama choosing cruelty over comfort? She nearly laughed at the stupidity of the question but she stopped short, knowing her ribs ached too much for her to spare the unnecessary movement.
Either way, she would never be pushed around again. Perhaps he could overpower her and hurt her physically, but she was never going to give into him mentally, nor spiritually. She had grown resilient over the last year, and she was don't letting the threat of physical pain bend her will.
In this way, Rin was strong. Stronger than she could have ever believed herself to be.
Slowly, as the buzz of morning servants became more and more apparent outside of her door and down the halls of Kodachi, Rin lulled off to a much-needed sleep.
Sesshoumaru, vision still bright red from the previous encounter, reached the palace gate in a matter of minutes. He walked precisely, fluidly—as if nothing were ailing him. The only giveaway was his eyes, which remained glazed crimson even as the guardsmen and servants took their usual bows before him. In recent days, their regard for the eldest son of InuTaishou had increased ten-fold. For it was finally decided after two, long trying months—it was official. As of that evening, he had been crowned the new, Supreme Ruler of the West. And while under any other circumstance this would have brought the young daiyoukai immense pleasure, it had befallen by the worst act of betrayal.
Two guardsmen bowed and opened the large entrance doors as Sesshoumaru ascended the steps to the foyer.
Despite all of the things Sesshoumaru should have been contemplating in that moment, all of the things he should have been reassessing, his demonic nature wouldn't allow it. It was in these few moments of utter chaos that Sesshoumaru truly lived up to his name—killing perfection. For nothing could break his discipline when it was set on killing something… not even Rin, or so he had thought.
He had drank to grow numb when his allies had brought upon him an unexpected reception for his ascent to the throne that same evening. Nothing within him wanted to handle the most important alliances and relationships of his lands so soon after the negotiations over InuTaishou's will and councilmen had come to a close. The first night when he thought he could finally rest, he was expected to be his father, so he met the expectations with all but sheer perfection.
It was his responsibility, after all.
But once all of it had ended and he had finally settled into his dangerous, inebriated thoughts, Sesshoumaru fell on the need for release; for bloodshed.
That's when he thought of her: the last tie he had to his father and his senseless games.
And with his inhibitions stripped after so much absinthe—after the lack of true closure for his father's absolute and forever absence—he knew that watching as his demon ripped her from every recess of his life, from his heart, from this earth—would bring him the utmost pleasure. Perhaps it would rip his father out of his thoughts as well.
But when he saw her after those two long months, something had instantly changed. The desire to destroy her left him. He was almost ashamed standing in that room with her, looking into her innocent, uneasy eyes. Eyes that begged him to find solace with her peacefully. But it wasn't enough. Not entirely, anyway. And for all of this, he was at a total loss.
Why didn't he just kill her?
Not even when she yelled at him with accusatory defiance, insulting his character—something that would have made him lop off anyone else's head, he still didn't do it.
No one who has ever enraged him in such a way has lived to tell about it, and yet—
Before he could finish the thought, his half-brother ran up to him with a more pressing matter.
"Hey," the hanyou said with a wavering voice, "We uh, we brought in those scroll keepers from his old hideout that you requested. And we traced the scent back to that demon slayer chick. She's in the holding room now."
Sesshoumaru gave a look of pure contempt to Inuyasha as his focus shifted back to the matters at hand, and his eyes cultivated a fresh shade of red.
When he had come across the body of his father and that whore, a thick miasma had shrouded the air. It was in their bones, seeping into the deteriorating innards of their already decaying bodies. True, Ryukotsusei's scent covering the wounds ensured he had inlaid the worst damage, but—
Naraku had undoubtedly been the one to finish it.
And how the bastard could have possibly known the correct time to strike was, currently, beyond Sesshoumaru.
But not for long. The demon slayer who broke into Kodachi that night was the sole connection to the deceased Kohaku, and thus, Naraku.
She was the piece he was missing.
"Rin. Rin, are you listening?" The softest voice of Kaede that she had ever heard, caressed the injured Geisha's ears.
Rin regained focus of the porcelain cup of hot green tea that she held elegantly in her lap. She was upright, seated carefully on her zabuton while Kaede and Urasue readied a surprise meal of grilled tuna, pickled daikon, carrot, miso, and steamed rice with toasted sesame upon a small, low-rise table.
"Yes," Rin managed to say despite the trouble, "But I don't understand why."
"How could you not understand why?" Urasue-obaa-sama spoke up, but also very tenderly, "Look at you. We cannot allow any more Geisha or Maiko to be hurt, it is in our best interest to restrict the dog demons now that InuTaishou has passed on."
"It isn't, though…," Rin's voice rasped as the bruise on her neck throbbed, "With Izayoi-sama gone as well, turning away the dog demon clients will leave Kodachi penniless. They were our main source of income. I don't even know how we will do once… once is his bid money has been used."
Kaede and Urasue looked to one another for a moment, confirming the answer in their eyes before Kaede-obaa-sama spoke, "We simply cannot allow the threat of something like that happening again. We owe it to ye, child, to instate these rules. We will make it somehow."
Silence overcame them as Rin clenched her cup.
"I am so very… grateful for that consideration, housemothers, but…," her eyes kept focus on the traces of green herbs in her cup, "Sesshoumaru-sama did what he did because of things neither of you are aware. I was not… submissive like that which is expected of a pleasure woman last night. In the moments and words he and I shared, I genuinely didn't care if I lost my life or not."
The housemothers sat straighter than before.
"Sesshoumaru-sama and I have a strange connection. I don't really know what it is, but…," Rin sighed, "That dog demon messenger had mentioned court affairs were being finalized before they notified the public. I can imagine that Sesshoumaru-sama hasn't been able to close his eyes, let alone mourn his father, throughout that time."
Kaede and Urasue nodded lightly, understanding the plight as Rin continued, "His actions were inexcusable. Please do not mistake me for a fool. I just have this feeling that… that he was simply grieving, yet unaware how to do so without violence, because that's how he is used to handling everything."
"But I will assure you…," Rin looked up at them, "…given his personality and the things I said last night, I should not be here right now."
"…We will think it over," Kaede-obaa-sama responded, now addressing Urasue, "But we shan't make a final decision until Rin is fully healed. We all feel attacked, but decisions as dire as these must not be impulsive."
Rin blinked in her agreement while Urasue nodded in hers.
"Then," Urasue began, "Onto other matters… That of the heir to this house."
"Izayoi-sama… is gone. That means the heir has been lost," Rin murmured, a sudden rush of emotion for her lost mentor flushing into her tired face.
"Aye," Kaede responded, "My Urasue and I are not meant for this world much longer, child. So I must digress… should the dog demons be permitted to return, including that of Sesshoumaru-sama under good terms, the only sensible choice… is for you to fill the spot of Izayoi."
Rin nearly laughed, "You would consider someone so willing to flee the place you wish her to be in charge of?"
"Under the circumstances, yes," Kaede replied, "Sesshoumaru-sama is now the Supreme Ruler of the West. Should his business be kept and should ye be right on his outburst, ye would do well to capture his sponsorship as Danna."
Rin bit her lip angrily at that word. She didn't want to even think of anything regarding—
"Wouldn't you be better suited to keep me as a Geisha, then? Geisha have Danna. Women of business do not," Rin bit sarcastically.
"So young and stupid," Urasue snapped, "Call it what you want. In this world, women must be sponsored by men. Rather you call them Danna, husbands, or the like. Women suit their needs, and the men give in return."
Rin nearly hissed at the response.
"And the three of us know ye are not suited for the world of Geisha," Kaede said, "Ye are talented, yes. But your beliefs, your spirit… They are far too tumultuous. Like flowing water."
Mild, cinnamon eyes returned to the swirls in her tea.
"What ye did last night is what any housemother should do for those under her protection. Ye were made for such a role. Izayoi had heart and soul within her. But she was quiet and could not find a foothold unless her beloved InuTaishou was present with her. Likewise, Kikyo is too power-oriented, too focused on perfection and honor. Kagome, too soft. Too gentle. Too lost in a fairytale to take the matters of such a position seriously. Ye, however… ye have the horrors that ye need to withstand the bad, ye have felt want and cold, but ye also have the kind spirit to run Kodachi with promise."
"You overestimate me," Rin said.
"Maybe," Urasue replied curtly, "But we will be the ones to assess that throughout your training."
"Ye will heal first, child, and then ye will take up your role as Geisha once more," Kaede commanded, "We shall revisit the topic of dog demons and should ye and Sesshoumaru-sama get back on decent terms, we will have this talk again."
Rin nodded, not really knowing how process it all. Running a Geisha house… would that provide a less cruel life? Or were all paths of life cruel beneath the surface? She was starting to believe the last. And what's more, could she and Sesshoumaru-sama ever get back on decent terms?
"…Til I heal, then," Rin said, not really trusting any of it would come to pass.
eeeeeep! Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone! I hope you're enjoying the back to back updates. Work has been slow.
And ya'll know this is how I work. I update super quickly and then I go stagnant for months.
HA! Here's to finishing the story!
