Rain and Fire
Chapter 15: A Minor Mystery Revealed
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Sesshoumaru sighed, and looked over at Rin's sleeping form. He had managed to calm her down enough to get a decent amount of food into her, and he was a bit proud of the fact. At least, it meant that she was starting to get over the fact that she may never see her half-sister again.
He leaned his head back against the wall. What was the point of staying in the village anymore? It wasn't as if it was helping Rin any to stay in there. She'd be better off at home. He'd already sent Jaken away, because the toad had been starting to get annoying, but Rin...
His golden eyes drifted over to the girl again. It really would be best for her if he sent her home...
Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked over at him. She managed a weak smile.
"M-Morning, Sesshoumaru-sama." she whispered.
"Are you feeling better today, Rin?" he asked.
She sat up, and rubbed her puffy red eyes. "A little."
He nodded. "Rin, I'm going to have Rydia take you home."
"What?!" she exclaimed, all signs of sleep gone from her face as he told her the news. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I don't want to go home!"
"Rin, it's for your own good. I have a feeling that it's going to get a bit more dangerous around here, and I don't want you underfoot." he said, narrowing his eyes a bit.
She frowned, and crossed her arms. "I'm always underfoot, aren't I?" The bitterness in her voice wasn't masked at all, and Sesshoumaru realized he should have worded it a bit better.
He sighed. "Rin, I didn't-"
"If you didn't mean it, then why'd you say it?" she snapped, making sure to keep the venom there.
"Because..." Sesshoumaru sighed again. "Because I don't want you to get hurt."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm not going home."
The lord growled. "Rin, you don't have a choice. I'm going to get someone to take you home, right away."
"And what are you going to do?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest.
"I'm going to stay here for the time being. Hiei's going to need help with Mizu." Sesshoumaru said.
She stood, and angrily brushed herself off. "Mizu this, Mizu that. Isn't anyone worried about Yakumo, and what he's doing right now?"
"We're all worried about Yakumo's plans." Sesshoumaru said, his eyes narrowing. This girl was starting to make him very mad.
"Well you certainly don't seem like it! We've been here for a week now, and all anyone's done is talk about that stupid girl, and what kind of power she might have!" Rin exclaimed, clenching her fists.
Sesshoumaru stood as well. "Rin, you need to calm down. You're exaggerating things just a bit, don't you think?"
"Exaggerating?!" Rin exclaimed. "You listen to me!" she poked him in the chest, "My sister, whom I haven't seen for years, finally comes back, only to disappear again not six days later! Then, some other girl comes around and everyone focuses on her, acting as if nothing ever happened! As though Rain was just some small price to get this new blue-haired girl who can't even speak!! Don't you dare tell me to calm down when nobody's even lifted a finger to help Rain! Or to even find out what happened to her! And now you're trying to send me home?! Away, where I won't be able to try and do something, since nobody else will?!"
Sesshoumaru couldn't take it anymore. If he didn't do something soon, these strange new feelings would surely drive him mad...
Rin didn't know what was happening. One second, she was screaming at Sesshoumaru, and the next she was sitting in shock, his lips pressed fiercely against her own. Her eyes widened as she tried to comprehend.
Why...? Why was he kissing her? What-
He pulled away, but kept his hands on her shoulders. She stared up at him, unable to say anything.
"Rin, it's for your own safety. I don't want you to get hurt." he said. How could he be so calm?
He suddenly let her go, and stood. He walked over to the door, and stopped. "Pack your things. You'll be leaving this afternoon."
She finally snapped out of her daze when he started to leave the room, and she called after him. "Sesshoumaru-sama, wait!!"
He stopped, but didn't meet her questioning gaze. Although he wouldn't admit it aloud, he was almost...afraid to do that.
Rin paused, unsure of what to say. Why had she called him back? So many emotions were coursing through her, and she didn't know which to follow. Was she in love with him, or just shocked at his actions? She felt tingly all over, and it almost reminded her of when she slept on her arm, and the pins and needles would shoot through it when it was moved. Only this was all over her body...
"I..." she started.
Hiei suddenly came up, a frown on his face. The strange blue-haired girl was trailing behind him, the ever-present smile lighting up her face.
"Sesshoumaru, I need to talk to you." he said.
The lord nodded. "And I had a favor to ask."
Mizu blinked, then aimed her angelic smile at Rin, who couldn't bring herself to return the gesture. She was much too confused to do so.
Sesshoumaru started to follow him out, but stopped before he did. He glanced back at Rin. "Be ready by the time I get back."
Before she could protest, he was gone. She sighed, and sat back down on the floor. Why was her heart hammering in her chest so wildly? Had Rain been right about him?
Was he really...her special someone?
--- --- ---
Sesshoumaru followed Hiei outside, and a bit away from the hut that Rin was in. Sesshoumaru was trying his best to focus on Hiei's words, and not on the fact that he had just kissed Rin.
"Mizu said something strange, and I need to know where Rydia is." Hiei said, shoving his hands into his pocket.
"The last I saw her, she was with the others." Sesshoumaru replied. "I'm not sure where she is now."
"Alright." he replied. "Now, you mentioned something about a favor...?"
Sesshoumaru blinked, then shook his head. "Nevermind. You're much too busy with Mizu at the moment."
Mizu smiled at him and said, "Sesshoumaru-sama, love?"
He blinked in surprise, and Hiei looked back at her.
"Love?" Hiei repeated. "Where did you hear that word, Mizu?"
She just smiled at him, and looked at Sesshoumaru. He stared at her, then snorted. "What would you know about love? You were born a few days ago. You can't even form a complete scentence."
Mizu was unaffected by the harshness in his voice. "Devika. Love, Devika."
Hiei sighed. "That's right. She keeps saying 'Devika', though I have no idea what that means."
Sesshoumaru looked over at him. "Devika, you say?"
"You know what it means?" Hiei asked.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I do."
"Well? Explain. She can't." He jerked a thumb at Mizu, who was preoccupied with a butterfly that had flown by. She was chasing it like a child.
"Devika is...a hanyou. She's half demon..." Sesshoumaru said. "Though I don't know much more than that. There was a big deal about her for a while, then she just seemed to fall off the face of the earth."
"Half-demons aren't so rare. Why would there be a big deal about one little girl?" Hiei asked, folding his arms over his chest. Sesshoumaru's golden eyes followed Mizu as she ran around the village, chasing her butterfly.
"I'm not sure, Hiei. I'm really not."
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"Oh, Devika?" Rydia asked, blinking. "How'd you two hear about her?"
Everyone was gathered around the dining table in the main hall of the village, each wanting to hear about this 'Devika' that Mizu kept talking about.
"Mizu mentioned the name." Hiei said.
"Oh..." Rydia looked over at the door, through which she could see the girl playing with the small cat demon, Kirara, who belonged to Sango.
"Well? Who the hell is she?"
Rydia looked back at Hiei. "A hanyou."
He snorted. "I knew that already, baka."
"Well, what more do you want to know? She's a hanyou." Rydia sighed, and looked over at the others. "Though she's been dead for a few years."
"She's dead? Then why the hell is that woman talking about her?" Youko asked.
She shook her head. "Well, it's possible that Mizu knows her. At least, knew her before Devika died."
"Look, I just want to know what the hell is going on." Hiei said with a growl. "Tell me everything you know."
Rydia giggled. "Impatience! It's not a virtue, you know."
"You guys can keep researching your 'Mizu', but some of us can't be bothered with such things." Youko said, crossing his arms.
Mizu came skipping in then, before Hiei could reply to that. She walked over to Youko, and plopped down beside him. He frowned, and narrowed his eyes at her. "What the hell are you looking at, wench?"
She stopped smiling, and blinked. She looked over at Hiei, then back at the silver fox. She furrowed her brows, showing confusion form the first time. "Vah...se? Ka...tana?"
Surprise flashed across the faces of Hiei and Youko in unison.
"What did you say?!" the kitsune exclaimed.
She blinked again. "Say...vase, katana."
Kouga raised an eyebrow. "That mean something to you guys?"
Hiei and Youko exchanged glances, then the former frowned. "In a way."
"Explain." Sesshoumaru said.
Hiei sighed. "I guess...that's why this all began, isn't it?"
Youko nodded. "Yup."
Hiei seemed to notice the strange looks everyone was giving them, and decided to elaborate. "Youko and I hate each other for a reason. You see, when we were little, we were best friends. But then, one day..."
"One day, we were outside playing, and Hiei let me use his katana. It was his very first one, hand-crafted by his father. I was swinging it around, and accidentally hit a large boulder, and the katana broke."
"I was so angry that I decided to get even by breaking Youko's first steal, a vase that he took from the local temple." Hiei said. "Ever since then, it's been a constant hatred."
Aura pounded her fist on the table angrily. "You two idiots have been fighting for centuries over a fuckin' katana and vase?!"
Youko growled. "Hey, it was my first steal. You wouldn't understand."
"Ha! I understand how stupid you are." she said. She looked over at Kuronue, who sat beside her. "Right, Kuronue-kun?"
He nodded. "Sorry, Kurama, but it is a bit stupid."
"Keh." Youko replied, crossing his arms and sitting back.
Mizu smiled at him, and he raised an eyebrow. "The thing that bothers me is...how did she know? I've never told a soul about that..."
"Me neither." Hiei said. He looked over at Mizu. "How did you know why we were fighting?"
She pointed at her head. "Here!"
"Yes, but how?" Hiei asked.
"Hey...she must have telepathy!" Rydia exclaimed.
Huo pulled her into a hug, grinning from ear to ear. "Mizu-chan's got telepathy!" Mizu smiled, and hugged him back. Hiei frowned, but didn't say anything.
"Well, as I was saying, Kuronue, Aura and I have no reason to stay here." the kitsune said. "We'll be heading back to the lair this afternoon."
Sesshoumaru looked over at him. "Then could I ask you for a favor?"
"What kind of favor?" Youko asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I'd...I'd like you to take Rin with you." the silver lord said.
"Rin? That human brat? Hell no."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, and refrained from ripping out the kitsune's throat. Rin was not a brat. She was...Rin.
"Well, I'm heading back as well. I'm the leader of the wolves - they'll fall apart without me there." Kouga said. "And I wouldn't mind dropping Rin off on the way."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "But if she comes to harm in any way, you won't live to regret it."
Kouga snorted. "Fine, whatever."
"Devika?" Mizu asked, looking over at Rydia. Her arms were still locked around Huo's neck, and his arms were around her waist.
"Oh, right!" the pink-haired girl exclaimed. "Hiei-kun, you want to investigate Devika, right?"
He nodded. "Yes."
Rydia grinned. "Okay! Well, we'll have to wait 'til tomorrow. I'm too tired tonight."
Hiei sighed. "If we have to."
Youko stood. "I guess we'll be off now." Kuronue, Aura and Kouga stood as well.
"Me too." Kouga said. He looked over at Mizu, then back at Hiei. He narrowed his navy blue eyes. "The second you hear anything about my woman, you let me know, got it?"
Hiei narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, 'your woman'?"
Kouga snorted. "She's my woman. We're going to be mates. She's the only one for me."
Hiei growled lightly, but nobody heard him - that is, other than Sesshoumaru.
"Well, I'll be off!" he said, walking out the door. "I'll see you all later."
Youko walked out the door as well. "Let me know if...if you need any help with Yakumo, Hiei. I'll...do what I can."
Hiei nodded, and the kitsune left as well. Kuronue and Aura followed him out, leaving just Sesshoumaru, Hiei, Rydia, Mizu and Huo. The silver lord stood.
"I'm going to go get Rin."
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Rin sat on the floor of the hut, staring at the ceiling. Her heart had finally returned to a normal beat, no longer hammering against the wlls of her chest. The tingles were gone...all that was left was the feeling. That strong, unidentifieable feeling.
Happiness? Shock? Sadness? Or...love?
She shook her head. "Why would Sesshoumaru-sama love me? He's a demon, and I'm a human. I'm just...I can't even begin to compare with the females of his species. It must've been a trick. Sesshoumaru knows exactly how to make people cooperate with him..."
She sighed, and put her hand over her heart. "If it's a trick...it hurts a lot."
A few stray tears rolled down her cheeks, and she pulled her knees up to her chest. It must've been a trick. That's why he hadn't said anything...he'd just left with Hiei. He acted as if nothing had happened...
She heard the door slide open, but she made no move to see who had entered. It didn't matter to her.
"Rin?"
She pulled into herself some more. If Sesshoumaru saw that she was crying, then he'd...what would he do? Scold her? Tell her she was being childish? Or...just something?
Before she could think of an excuse for why she was huddled into the corner with her face in her knees, someone's hands gently pulled her arms away from her face.
Sesshoumaru was kneeling in front of her, his face emotionless as always. "You were crying."
She blinked. "N-No I wasn't."
It was only because she had known him for so long that she saw the frown he made. "Yes you were."
She wondered why he wouldn't let go of her wrists, but didn't comment on it. "It's just...I was upset about Rain again."
He didn't look like he believed her. "Rin, I can smell when you're lying to me."
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter anyways."
"Tell me. Why were you crying?"
"It doesn't matter!" she exclaimed, more tears rolling down her face. Her mind screamed at him. I'm crying because it hurts! That trick you played on me hurts!
Her eyes widened once more when he leaned forward and kissed a tear that had trailed down her cheek. "It does matter."
She squeezed her eyes closed. "Why?"
It was Sesshoumaru's turn to be surprised. He pulled away enough so he could see her face. "What?"
"I asked you why it mattered." she repeated, relaxing a little. She wanted to sound as mature as possible, and that meant she had to stay calm.
He was quiet for a moment, before sighing. "Rin, it matters because I care."
"Tricks." she muttered, opening her eyes again. However, she wouldn't meet his gaze. She just stared at the floor.
"Tricks?" he repeated. "What are you talking about?"
"Tricks! When you...when you kissed me, it was a trick to get me to listen!" she exclaimed.
He blinked. "You...thought that was a trick?"
She frowned. "I know it was a trick. What other explanation is there?"
"Maybe...maybe it might be that I love you?" he said.
She blushed furiously. "Wh-what?!"
"I said, 'it might be that I love you'." he repeated.
"B-but-!"
He cut her off with a kiss, and all she could do for a second was let her eyes widen in shock. But then, the shock just...went away. She closed her eyes, and cupped his face in her hands. Was this really happening? She had thought it was only possible in her dreams...
Was she really kissing the lord of the western lands, Sesshoumaru? Or was she going to wake up?
He pulled away, and she opened her eyes.
"You need to go, Rin. Kouga and the others are waiting." he said quietly.
Her eyes watered up again, and she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Please, Sesshoumaru-sama...don't make me go."
He sighed, and hugged her back. "I just want you to be safe."
"I'm safe here, with you." she replied with a sniffle.
He buried his face into her hair, and didn't reply for a second. How could he? She was begging him to let her stay, but his heart was telling him it would be better if he sent her home, where she would be safe...
But would she really be safe? It was just Jaken there...
No, what was he thinking? The Hunters and Yakumo were after Mizu, not Rin. She'd be out of harm's way were she at home, at the manor. Yes, that was the right decision.
But...
He pulled away, and looked into her tear-filled brown eyes. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Alright. You can stay here."
A true smile lit up her face. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru."
He stood, and walked outside. He went to the entrance of the village, where the others were waiting.
Kouga raised an eyebrow at him as he approached, but Sesshoumaru cut him off before he could say a word.
"I've changed my mind. Rin would be safer here, with us." he said.
Kouga closed his mouth, and nodded. "Okay. Well, see ya later then!"
Mizu came running up just then stopping before them. She walked up to Kouga, and held out a necklace made of flowers. He blinked at her, and she nudged it towards him.
"Kouga!" she said, holding it out.
"What? You wanna give it to me?" he asked, pointing at himself.
She nodded excitedly, and put it around his neck. She then skipped over to Youko and put one on him as well. He frowned, but didn't say anything. Aura and Kuronue each got their own, and Mizu smiled at them.
"Sayonara!" she said. She looked thoughtful, then said, "Sah...say...safe...trip!"
Kouga blinked, then smirked. "Well, hopefully it isn't 'sayonara'."
She kept smiling, and Youko snorted.
"I'll see you later." he said. He took off down the path, and the others followed. Mizu waved after them, and Sesshoumaru chuckled. This had turned out to be quite the eventful day...
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Author's Notes: Are people losing interest? Or are they just on summer vacation?? LOL.
Anyways, for all you Sess/Rin fans out there, there was some - actually, a lot - of fluff between them in this chapter! Yay! The question is, what will happen when Rydia finds out? Dun dun duuuuuuun.........
TPM-girl: If I told you, I'd have to kill you!! LOL.
Chibi Lady: Well, like I said, I didn't think anyone liked it. I may post it again later.
Story Weaver1: I'm really really sorry!! I may repost it later, if that makes you feel any better. I really do like Mizu-chan. She's adorable.
miyako14: It would be interesting.....LOL
ren: Yay! New reviewer!! Thanks for reading!!
Coodle: Yes, Rain was very cool....
iluvshiei: LOL. Well, everything will be explained in the next chapter. At least, most of it. Then it won't be confusing! Yaaaaaaaaay!!
Cricket-chan: You just wait. The next chapter and the following one are the craziest yet.
SarnaKiro: [eyes go wide] Nooooooo!! Not the Teletubbies, please!! Here, an update!! Just keep them away!! LOL
