Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko
Nothing Without The Other
Chapter 5
The week went by slowly. Every morning Sesshoumaru and Rin made the short trip to their makeshift training ground in silence. Despite the growing cold, they nearly spent the entire day outside by the river. Just before sunset, they retired to the estate, leaving in the silence that had carried them there that morning.
Sesshoumaru watched Rin closely throughout, noting the sharp change in her attitude and demeanor. He was quickly reminded of the picture he had acquired from the monk at the exterminator's village. She was as cold as the strongest winter, distant as the next summer, and emotionless as he was, if not more so.
It was, he reluctantly admitted, as boring as she had suggested.
A part of him wanted to laugh at his foolishness. What youkai found amusement in bickering with an outspoken female? Perhaps it was simply in his nature to fight for male dominance over a female he considered weak or even strong. Rin was certainly determined to test and question his dominance. And he, without considering the consequences, was determined to assert his dominance.
He glanced at her as they walked back to the estate. Her hair was tied loosely at the base of her neck and her hands were joined together at her lap. She wore a blue kimono with an elaborate black pine tree decorated across her chest and back. She had chosen to tie the black sash in a simple knot as opposed to the large bow she seemed to be so fond of. Her cheeks were slightly pink from the cold, reminding him that she was still very much human. But then he remembered the stars on her forehead and wondered why they made him want to smile.
Rin stared ahead, forcing all her attention on the ground in front. She could feel Sesshoumaru's eyes boring into her once again. She had caught him several times during the week staring at her with that strange want in his eyes. It was strangely unnerving. Sesshoumaru rarely gave her much of his attention. She could not help but wonder what caused him to take such interest in her. Perhaps he was not pleased with her transformation like she had thought from the beginning.
"Don't dawdle Rin. You look very cold."
She glanced up at him quickly before increasing her pace. "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Perhaps you should wear more under garments," he suggested, still watching her closely.
"Two is enough," she said.
He stopped abruptly and stared at the site where several servants were currently constructing another building. Rin paused with him and looked up at him questioningly. For a long moment he said nothing as he watched. Then, just as abruptly as he had stopped, he turned his attention to Rin and met her eyes.
She looked away and watched as two youkai carried a large piece of wood to be erected in the ground. "May I ask what they are building?"
"Separate quarters for myself. There will be six rooms, one bath house, a small garden, many trees," he said, envisioning it all in his mind.
"Many rooms for one youkai lord, but as such, you deserve all you want and more."
Sesshoumaru recalled Jaken saying something similar to that in attempt to be overly polite. "Should I decide to begin a family of my own, they will stay there as well. For reasons unknown to me, Chichi-ue desired that he and his family be near his guest."
Rin looked back at Sesshoumaru in surprise. Was he freely supplying information about his father? "Did you...find that strange, my Lord?"
He met her eyes again. "I did, but I suppose I should not. Chichi-ue was not boastful, nor did he wish to flaunt his status. He favored an estate only large enough to house members of the court."
"The court has grown," she assumed.
"Hai, it has," he said as he resumed walking. In the far distant another building was being constructed. "That building shall be used to house meetings and other large events."
She followed after him. "What will become of your old room and floor?"
"Guest rooms."
Rin nodded her understanding and fell back into silence. Since their last argument, she had allowed Sesshoumaru to do all the talking, though he rarely spoke to her. When he did, she tried her best to cut the conversation as short as possible. But her curiosity had gotten the best of her at the mention of the new additions and his father.
So lost in her own thoughts, she did not realize Sesshoumaru had stopped until she crashed into him. She quickly stepped back and gently rubbed her forehead. Her second instinct was to say something foul, but then she remembered her place. She looked up at Sesshoumaru and noticed he was surprisingly stiff. Was there danger about? Surely not. This was the Western Lands after all. No one would dare attack while the Lord was present.
"What is it, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
He turned slowly and once again met Rin's eyes. There was the slightest hint of concern in them and he wondered if she realized what he had just discovered as well. He inhaled deeply and caught the new scent once again. For the briefest of moments his vision blurred before he gained control of himself. Somewhere deep inside his head, where his mind still clung to the idea of Rin being a child melted like a victim of his poison.
Children did not go into heat, but Rin certainly was. Though it was just beginning, it still called to his most primal instincts. He was not prepared for it at all, since Rin's body had not under gone such changes in his presence. Rin, he realized finally, had grown up in more ways than one after she left him. She was truly a woman.
"Sesshoumaru-sama? Is there something wrong? Why are you looking at me that way?"
He snapped back into reality. No, she was not aware just yet. "Nothing. Go to your room Rin, it is getting cold."
Reluctantly, but without question, she did as she was told and disappeared from his sight, leaving Sesshoumaru to prepare for the worst.
It was not too horrible, Sesshoumaru told himself as he watched Rin return to the estate. Only once had he pictured himself pouncing her blindfolded form to the ground and shredding that fine kimono until there was nothing left so he could pin her arms above her head and have his way with her. Just once. He had made it through the entire training session and only thought about it once.
Should it matter that the one fantasy lasted the entire morning?
Certainly not, he convinced himself. He had kept himself, for the most part, under strict control. His attraction did not show, his desire did not taint the air. By the time Rin sensed that she called to his body, she would no longer be in heat.
And oh how she called. Unlike many demonesses he had encountered, Rin's scent was rather... pleasant. It was not overbearing or overwhelming. It was potent, but in very subtle way. The scent was sweet, almost like spring flowers, and fresh like the first snow. Her virgin body heated his blood and called to his instincts to mate. She was a temptation, a prize to be claimed, an enemy to conquer...a virgin.
It was that reason alone that made it so difficult for him to resist when he should have been disgusted by the very idea. She was still human after all, and he never considered taking a human. But he would be foolish to deny that the youki he sensed in her caused him to overlook that detail. Had she not know her for what she really was, he may not have allowed her to walk away. To be the first to touch, to taste...
He pushed the idea aside and calmly returned to his estate. Her scent lingered everywhere, but he ignored it as he entered his study. Only when he became engrossed in his work was he able to abandon all thoughts of Rin. And so he was lost to the world until sunset came and a servant knocked at his door.
"You may enter."
Yumiko pushed the screen aside and bowed to her master. Quickly and quietly, she lit the lamps in the study.
He frowned inwardly when he realized this was not right. "Where is Jiro? Is this not his job?"
"Tetsuo sent him and the other servants were sent to their quarters for the remainder of the evening. Fumiko, Kimiko and myself shall see to your needs, my Lord."
"Why as he done so without consulting me first?"
"As head of the servants, he took it upon himself to see that your previous orders were obeyed, my Lord. Rin-dono's body is calling quite loudly..."
He set down his pen and looked up. "Has it gotten that bad?"
"Hai, my Lord. Rin-dono has sensed the change herself. She has not left her room since her return this afternoon," she recalled as she moved to stand outside the door. "She fears she cannot control what her instinct calls for."
"Of course. She has not gained complete control over her youki. Did someone...explain what is happening to her?"
"Hai. Fumiko explained almost immediately, my Lord. Rin-dono seems to be very uneducated on the manner of mating. As a virgin should be, my Lord," she added when Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes.
"See that she eats and has a bath," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Hai, my Lord, right away."
It was quite late when Sesshoumaru retired to his room. As Yumiko suggested, Rin's body was calling quite loudly. Tetsuo would be awarded for taking the initiative to remove the servants from the estate for the remainder of the night. Such weak youkai would surely give into their instincts and take full advantage of a demoness in heat. Once faced with an aroused youkai, Rin would also give into her instinct to mate.
He passed her door and inhaled sharply only to immediately regret doing so. The blood rushed to his loins faster than he could even attempt to control. He took a deep breath and went to his room. After removing his armor, he collapsed onto the futon. After several moments, he finally relaxed his body. Exhausted by the effort, he soon gave into sleep.
How long he slept, he did not know, but it ended all to soon. The moment his senses came to attention, they were assaulted most viciously. Rin's scent hung heavily in the air and he could hear the racing beat of her heart. He could all but taste her arousal as he sat up. He looked at his door, and though it was still closed, he saw her standing there. They remained unmoving for several moments and then without warning, she turned and rushed away.
When he realized he was panting lightly, he quickly relaxed until his breathing returned to normal. Still it was not enough. His blood was too hot, his body too tense and there were only two things that could put an ending to the wretched throbbing in his loins. Rin or a dip in freezing water.
Deciding it was best not to go past Rin's room, he transformed into a ball of light and dashed out the window. He materialized on the veranda and was once again hit by Rin's scent. He followed it quickly, realizing that she had not returned to her room when she left his door. He cursed her foolishness. Did she not realize how tempting she was? Every youkai within days from his estate could probably smell her!
Her scent led him to the incomplete building that would soon be his private quarters. He could sense her hidden in one of the finished rooms, but dared not come to close.
"Rin," he called instead.
She groaned and shouted angrily at him. "Go away!"
"You're attracting unwanted attention. Come inside."
"No!" She breathed heavily, as if struggling to stay in control. "Just go away!"
He growled and took a step forward, anger getting the better of him. He tired of the woman telling him no. "You will come from there."
There was sudden movement from inside. One of the boards fell from its place and crashed to the ground. He saw her out the corner of his eye, just as she dashed off into the forest. Again he growled and gave chase, though some voice inside his head protested against the action.
He caught up with her easily enough and blocked her path. She skidded to a halt and nearly collided into him. He caught her by the elbows and shook her fiercely. His mouth opened to speak, but no words escaped once he caught sight of her eyes. They shown a bright gold and sparkled with flecks of brown - the complete opposite of her normal eye color. He found himself lost in their brilliance, captured as if in a trance.
For several moments they did nothing but stare. Her eyes dropped and fell to his lips. It heated his blood better than any cup of warm sake ever could. Rin sensed his heightened arousal and lost herself to instinct. Before he could stop her, her arms wrapped around him and her lips were pressed to his.
It was so wrong...so...wonderful, Sesshoumaru thought as he pulled her closer to him. Her body seemed to mold to his and heat at his touch. It was so wrong. No creature should taste like morning dew and...he fisted his hand in his hair and pulled her head back...rose nectar. Her disheveled hair should not feel like silk, her slender curves should not have been etched in his memory. Her legs should not be fighting to wrap around his waist, his name should not sound so wonderful on her lips.
"Rin..Rin..stop this," he demanded as he struggled to pry himself from her hold.
Her hands slipped past the opening of his haori and her lips found his neck. "No," she whispered, her voice full of lust.
Sesshoumaru growled and concentrated on his anger. He did not like to be told no, though she sounded positively sexy when she said it. Concentrate, he demanded. He quickly turned around and began walking deeper into the forest.
Rin growled playfully as she was pushed backwards. "Deeper into the forest away from prying eyes," she said, nipping at his ear.
His claws dug into her hips as he once again fought for control. "Keep your wicked thoughts to yourself, virgin," he sneered.
"Not for long, Sesshoumaru," she said with a grin and kissed his lips once more. He stopped for a moment and returned her kiss urgently. Before he could prevent her from doing so, she had her legs firmly wrapped around his waist. It was that action that had him breaking this kiss again and moving once more.
"Damn it Rin, stop this at once," he said as he glared at her.
"Hnn, why should I? I know you want me, I can smell it," she inhaled his neck and bit him as if the scent made her terribly hungry. "The way you kiss me, the way you've been looking at me. I know what it means now, and you cannot deny it. Take me Sesshoumaru, it's what you want. Why fight it?"
"Spoken like a true demoness in heat," he told her and without warning, jumped into the river.
Sesshoumaru winced as Rin's scream and stream of curses pierced his sensitive ears. Had the water done anything to sedate his desire to mate, he would have found the situation extremely humorous. Maybe after she left, when her nipples were not peaking at him from her white under garment and the moon was no longer glistening on her skin, maybe he would laugh. He doubted it. Somehow he knew, the memory of this moment would only make him want Rin all over again.
He fell back in the water, cursing the fates to the darkest pits of hell.
(hands over the chapter and hides from sesshomaruhasafluffytail and machanbanlover) I completely forget to add this chapter earlier today, so sorry for the wait!
jschu25 - Sesshoumaru doesn't really have much to hide, he simply didn't want to tell Rin. And even if there had been any info about Inuyasha, I don't think Rin would really care that much. But sorry if I've disappointed you!
goddess123452003 - Muchas gracias! Thanks for adding this story to your favorites!
Forever Tiger,Shampoo-chan - Hope this was saucy enough
Thank you for all the reviews/compliments! I really appreciate it and it's so encouraging. Hope I didn't disappoint with this one.
Rabid Anime Gurl
