And here's chapter seven! I regret to say that there might be a two-week wait on the next chapter…this week is finals weeks and I actually have to do some schoolwork ^^ but thanks so much to everyone who's reading the story! I really appreciate it!
Because…
Chapter Seven
Suddenly, there was a rustling in the grass behind her and a second later Jaken stepped out. She flushed, wondering how much he'd seen. In the next instant, she was sure of one of two things- either he was a very good actor, or he really hadn't seen anything.
"Rin, you look a bit shaken. Look at your hair, it's all tangled. It's covered in leaves and sticks. What were you doing, lying in the ground? And your yukata…"
She quickly yanked up her kimono back over her shoulder and tried to look natural, but her blush gave here away.
"I'm fine, Jaken sama," she said.
He glanced at her suspiciously. "Then where is Sesshoumaru sama?" He asked. The thought that there might be an attraction between his master and the human had been lingering a lot lately, but he decided not to pursue the subject- besides, the mere thought of Sesshoumaru loving a human revolted him.
"I don't know where he is." She glanced away, and he knew she was lying. Before, when anyone had mentioned Sesshoumaru sama, she saw the tall, cold, elegant youkai warrior who she'd loved from a distance for so long.
But now the picture that appeared into her mind was the warrior lying in the grass with his soft skin and his white, flowing hair everywhere and covering them both. Him letting her finally, finally touch him and kiss him everywhere. No one would ever believe it.
Part of her wanted to run after him and hug him and never let go, but she had a feeling that the moment was lost forever and he would probably push her away.
Her elation was fast-fading as she thought about Kagome again.
She's dead. I just know it. She's dead and Sesshoumaru sama didn't try to resurrect her.
She thought he might be been trying to make her mad. Maybe it was all part of his plan to make her return the village. For something was finally making sense to her- he didn't want to feel anything for her. She didn't know whether he loved her or not, but those kisses hadn't been empty…had they?
Her thoughts meandered over to Inuyasha. He loved Kagome, she thought sadly. She felt so much empathy at that moment that she felt herself tearing up. Sesshoumaru sama hated him because he was a hanyou, but he was nothing a person who'd been created by a human and a youkai. So then, she thought, what if I had Sesshoumaru's child? Would he hate him, too?
In the mottled struggle for something to made sense in her brain, suddenly something broke through, as clear as day. There was something she could do.
The plan was kneaded like fresh dough. She felt electricity running through her veins as she considered the prospect of it. Yes, it was perfect, simple, yet perfect.
At the same time, it frightened her. First of all, why was she so excited about this one little act? This act of deception and redemption tore at her soul. She was deceiving Sesshomaru sama. But this, this seemed acceptable at this time.
He had deceived her, so it seemed only natural that her turn was next.
Taking it was easy.
When Sesshoumaru sama was injured, his wounds usually healed fast as he was a youkai. Rin knew this. But she also knew that soon after he was injured, he would usually fall into a deep meditative trance and no one, human or youkai, could rouse him. She figured that he'd probably allowed himself to do this here because there were no youkai for miles around, and he certainly did not see Rin, his human, as a threat.
He'd already exposed her weaknesses to her. There were few of them-Sesshoumaru sama was almost perfect in ever single way.
So as she was gliding through the tall grass with a heavy dread draped over her, she wondered if this was fair.
She was taking advantage of his trust, and there was no simple way of putting it.
But had it not been for the image of Inuyasha's tortured, heartbroken face implanted in her mind, she would have turned back.
When Rin reached Sesshoumaru sama, she stopped. Asleep, he looked just as beautiful as he did when he was awake. Beautiful, yet deadly.
She tried to swallow the pounding heartbeat in her throat as she kneeled down. Rin could not bring herself to do it. She wanted someone else to reach their hand out and take it for her. It was not that she was frightened. She knew full well that he could, and would, kill her if he ever found out about this. But death did not frighten her, only the prospect of displeasing her lord.
Always he'd taken care of her, but now, it was time for her to do one singular thing one her own. But why, why did it have to be this?
So many conflicting emotions raged inside her like a battle between nations. Hesitant from love- it didn't want her to do this. It wanted her to stay as his obedient little Rin, loving and cooing and petting him, all the while ignoring her innermost doubts. And then there was the angry, thrashing, throbbing, alive thing inside her. It wanted her to take it with her own two hands and then slay him while she was at it. And below all that was the driving force- pity for this youkai's half brother.
She sat there until she could no longer take it anymore- she felt if she didn't act, she would drive herself mad. Quickly, she pulled down his armor a little where she knew they were hidden and snatched them out- one, two three shining pieces of metal, and immediately bolted, terrified of glancing back.
She felt as if somehow, this were all too easy.
Something was amiss. Sesshoumaru felt it the instant he opened his eyes. For one thing, Rin's scent had almost totally disappeared- the only traces of it were the residue left on a few grass stalks.
The wind blew it over to him, and for a moment, he stared at the rippling seas of grass, smelling the wind. After a few seconds he realized with much disgust at himself that he was memorizing the scent of Rin.
She'd gone, then, back to a village. A part of him didn't believe that she would actually do it, but she had always obeyed his every wish. And now she was gone.
A profound sense of relief swept over him. Now he wouldn't have to deal with her plaintive eyes, her smiling face, and her intoxicating scent ever again.
But…
Something still did not seem right. Rin was gone, yes, but there seemed to be something else missing, something…
His hand traveled down to the space under his armor where he had kept the three pieces of the sacred grail.
Empty.
The wind blowing matter-of-factly around him seemed to mock him- all around, empty spaces, not a trace of who had been there.
Rin.
It had to be; she was the only one for miles who knew of his existence in this place.
Damn her, he thought with fire in heating up behind his eyes. It was her, then. Rin had stolen the wishing cup.
The lake she stopped at was several miles away from where Sesshoumaru sama had been. It was almost dusk now, and the few stars that were in the sky played across a navy blue backdrop. She made sure she was a safe distance away before she cautiously demounted Ah and Un, grail in hand.
She'd discovered, on the ride there, that the pieces, when fitted together, melded with a strange sort of magic.
Just seeing that simple act sent a tingle of fear through her.
It made her realize what she would be doing- soon, she would be getting herself intertwined with the ethereal world of magic, one she'd never before been a part of. It was mere experimentation, child's play with something she knew nothing about.
Not only was she dealing with magic, but it would be she, she, Rin, who would be facing death and defeating it with this power.
The thought sent a shiver somewhere deep inside- what if the spell didn't work? What if only Sesshoumaru could use this cup and get a wish granted?
With all this in mind, Rin approached the lakeside and gazed at her reflection hesitantly.
She looked scared- like a small child. Her eyebrows were knitted in concern, and she was biting her bottom lip. Was this what Sesshomaru had seen all this time?
This naïve, strange looking little girl?
She was disgusted with her reflection. Of course Sesshoumaru did not want a human, and especially a weak one like her.
But, for the first time in her life, she was completely, totally, and utterly alone. If she could make it this far on her own, she could do this. She would.
Angry at her ineptitude, she plunged the cup into the sparkling water and brought it up to her mouth.
Her heart was hammering so hard that the cup was shaking.
For a suspended moment, she stared at the object in her hands. Then she dumped out all the water.
"I can't do this…I'm sorry, Inuyasha…" she whispered, "but maybe you can."
Blackness, utter and total emptiness. Inuyasha did not think that he would be able to feel anything ever again. Kagome was dead.
Then, a light flickering against the walls of his cave, and in a moment, a figure filled the door, illuminated with light.
Through his dulled vision, he saw a girl. A girl with long, black hair and sparkling eyes. The word that sprung into his head just then was angel.
"Inuyasha?" She whispered, taking a step foreword.
The bottle of sake in his hand fell to the ground with an ear-splitting clatter.
"You're back," he said softly, his eyes fixated on her. "Kagome. You're back."
The girl held up a golden grail to him. "Here. For you. Wish for anything, anything you want."
"Kagome," he rasped, his words barely making a sound. He stumbled over to her and collapsed against her, folding her into him.
"You have it." Inuyasha released her and took it out of her hands. "I'm going to make my wish now, Kagome." He said this was a passionate urgency. Time was cruel; time might steal her away again, so he must do it before it was too late.
Her eyes filled with panic. "I'm not…I'm Rin. Rin!" She backed away a few steps, smelling something pungent and familiar. It was a people smell, one that she remembered vaguely from taverns. Spirits, that terrible, reeking smell that deluded and possessed men and turned their minds around. Something in the back of her mind urged her to escape, but her feet seemed to be rooted to the spot.
It was too late. As Rin watched in horror, he gulped down the contents of the cup and formed words. The words seemed to be slow, in some foreign language. She did not comprehend their meaning, only stared in dim shock at his moving mouth.
"I want you to stay with me forever. I want us to never be apart again."
La…it's almost midnight, and I have school tomorrow. Ha ha ha. All so I can finish posting this chapter on time. But yes. Maybe I should sleep. Sleepy good. Until next chapter…
x~Aurora chan
