Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko

Nothing Without The Other

Chapter 11

"Oh, here Rin. Feel this."

Rin placed a hand to Saori's pregnant belly and resisted the urge to squeal with delight when the child inside playfully kicked at her hand. Something inside her stirred and she felt oddly jealous. Ignoring the strange feeling, Rin looked up at Saori with curiosity.

"How..how exactly does this happen Saori-sama?" She blushed in embarrassment. "I mean, how do you become pregnant?"

Saori laughed lightly. "My dear, sweet, innocent Rin. Sometimes I forget that you did not have a normal childhood. Akane has asked me that question a million times over."

Rin frowned. "I was not aware of how much I missed, how much a mother was supposed to teach her children."

"Do not fret Rin. You mustn't regret your circumstances. But come," she slowly rose to her feet and gestured for Akane to carry the basket full of clothing. "We'll sit and talk about it over mochi and miso soup."

Rin eagerly followed after Saori and prepared the meal under her direction. Grateful for the help, Saori relaxed and slowly explained, and with some necessary details, the actions involved that led to a woman becoming pregnant.

Rin blushed a deep shade of red. When she had been in heat, Fumiko had briefly explained mating, but she left out that the action was essentially meant to bear children and not just for pleasure. She bit her lip and gathered the courage to ask what she had not been too much of a coward to ask before.

"Does it hurt? That is, giving birth and..and.."

Saori smiled. "I am afraid that giving birth is quite painful, but it is entirely worth it. And as for intercourse, for some women the first time is painless and for others it isn't. But that is only the first time. The act itself is very pleasurable."

The image of she and Sesshoumaru in the forest months ago flashed briefly across her mind. Rin blushed again as her body warmed at the thought. Had Sesshoumaru not been in control, she would have experienced this pleasurable act and may have even been with child by now. Not that she wanted to mate with him, let alone have his children and she was sure Sesshoumaru felt the same way. Or at least I think I'm sure, she thought.

"I envy you, Saori-sama. And Ichigo as well." Rin admitted.

"Why is that?"

"I shall probably remain a virgin forever. I'll never marry and have children of my own."

Saori laughed. "Where do you get this nonsense Rin?"

She frowned. "Sesshoumaru-sama will not allow any humans on his estate and I am to much of a coward to live in a human village. Not to mention humans and youkai alike believe hanyous are a disgrace."

"I wouldn't jump to such conclusions quite yet Rin," Saori advised her, remembering what she felt when she witnessed the brief exchange between Sesshoumaru and Rin. "Lord Sesshoumaru could change his mind."

Rin shook her head. "Not very likely. In all my years of traveling with him, we never visited the Western Lands. It was only until I became a hanyou did he take me there. Humans are simply not welcome."

"He has already changed his opinion regarding hanyous."

Rin arched in eyebrow. "What are you trying to say, Saori-sama?"

She sipped her tea. "It would not surprise me if Lord Sesshoumaru wanted to take you as his wife and if you accepted such a proposition..." she added casually.

Rin laughed nervously. "Don't be silly, Saori-sama. Sesshoumaru-sama would never..I would never..."

"Sweet Rin, you think I didn't notice how he looks at you? You think I didn't notice how it makes you nervous?" She leaned over and squeezed Rin's hand. "A mother is very intuitive."

She shook her head again. "That isn't the reason why he looks at me so, Saori-sama. There is something that troubles him ever since I began to change, something that makes him uncomfortable and in turn makes me uncomfortable."

Saori gave her a weak smile and patted her hand. A young woman should explore love on her own, no matter how oblivious she was. She would interfere no more. "I'm sure you're right Rin. I knew something was wrong and now I understand. But do not give up hope, you will have a family of your own someday."

Rin nodded and gathered the dishes in silence. She washed them slowly, her mind too preoccupied with the shaky prospects of her unknown future to hurry her along. Would she ever be as lucky as Saori and Ichigo?


"You were quite difficult to catch this time," Eiji admitted as he walked with her to the village.

She looked up at him, to breathless to form a smile. "I am accustomed to your game now."

"This wedding you're going to, it is not for you is it?" He asked.

"No. My friend is getting married," she said. "I'll probably never wed."

"When we met, I thought you were mated to that inu-youkai."

Rin frowned, wondering where this idea about she and Sesshoumaru had originated. "Why would you think that?"

He looked over at her. "In rare cases, a demoness adopts certain characteristics from her mate after the mating ritual. You are clearly a hanyou but your features resemble a full youkai and that of your Lord Sesshoumaru."

"I assure you that is not the case. And while we are speaking of Sesshoumaru-sama, I must inform you that I cannot see you tomorrow. After the ceremony I must return to him so we may continue our journey to our next destination."

He nodded his understanding. "I will try to see you again soon. Is that alright?"

"Hai, of course," she answered with a smile. "Goodnight Eiji."

"Goodnight Rin," he said before turning to disappear into the forest.

Rin walked slowly back to the house, contemplating her ever changing relationship with Sesshoumaru. Though she could not deny that his actions toward her had crossed the line of friendship, it was difficult for her to imagine their relationship going beyond what it was now. She could attribute that to the fact that there was so many things unsaid and unexplained, things that she hoped to have explained once she talked to Kagome.

But what constantly affected her was the fact that she did not understand her own feelings. The intimate moments that passed between she and Sesshoumaru did not make her uncomfortable. She quickly learned that the sensations generated by those moments were simply strange and unnerving, so much so that afterwards she wondered if she was supposed to feel that way at all. Before she could fully explore the meanings of those sensations, the moment either dissolved into a fit of bickering or left her at a complete loss for words. Why did he cause her to feel that way?

She looked up at the nearly full moon. The sky was clear and sprinkled with millions of sparkling stars. It was a beautiful sight, but the brilliance of the night did nothing to console her tired thoughts.

"Rin."

Could the fates really be so cruel or was she imagining things?

Rin turned her head and watched Sesshoumaru approach her. "The fates are cruel," she said with a sigh.

He stared at her intently. "What do you mean by this?"

"Nothing," she said as she turned to face him completely. "Is something troubling you?"

He simply watched her for several moments, trying to gauge his own reaction to her. He had not seen her since he had spoken with Tadaki, since he realized that he...It was still difficult to believe that he, Lord of the Western Land, was in love with a simple human woman. He was cold, calculating, and independent, a powerful inu-youkai who protected no one but himself. So why did he feel he needed her so much?

"The fates are cruel," he told her.

"Some how I think we're talking about the same thing," she said, brushing the hair from her face.

"Are we Rin?" He stepped forward, closing the space between them, and tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, please," she took a step back.

He cupped her neck and placed his other hand on her hip to pull her closer to him. Her heart raced and he felt her breathe heavily against his face. He brought her as close as his armor would allow and leaned forward until their lips were just inches apart.

"You call this Sesshoumaru heartless and when I show you affection, you act as though I've done something wrong."

She squeezed her eyes shut to escape the piercing gaze of his golden eyes. "This is wrong, this is unnatural! You shouldn't be doing this."

A powerful hand gripped his heart tightly. "Look at me!" He shouted. "Tell me why you think this."

"I..I don't know," she shook her head and tired to break free of his grasp.

Sesshoumaru crushed his lips against hers, eagerly seeking to invade her mouth. She placed her hands on his cheeks in a poor attempt to push him away, but he persisted with a fierceness that matched her own. He scrapped his teeth against her button lip and when she gasped in shock, his tongue darted into her mouth as he deepened the kiss.

Slowly she began to relax and returned the kiss with equal passion and urgency. Her hands slipped down to tangle in his hair and in response, he slid his hand up to fondle her breast. He pulled her head back and placed hungry kisses on her exposed neck. A shaky moan escaped her lips and she trembled in his arms. Satisfied, he gentled his touch and fought to calm his own desires.

"Is this what you mean Rin, is it wrong for me to want you? Is it unnatural?" He brushed his nose against her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her arousal.

"I..I can't think! Please, let me go," she pleaded. "I don't want this."

"Your eyes are golden Rin," he told her, adjusting her so they were eye level. "You want this as much as I do. Is that what you find unnatural? That you want me?"

"I don't know..I don't know what I want," she cried in obvious confusion.

He growled, his anger suddenly building, and pushed her away. "You want that foolish cheetah from China, I saw you with him last night. You went to see him again, that is why his scent is all over you."

"What?" Rin stumbled backward, trying desperately to keep her footing.

Disgusted with himself and the fowl youkai, Sesshoumaru turned away. "Go. You are to meet me at the cavern as soon as the ceremony ends tomorrow. No arguments."

Rin slowly turned and walked away, too confused to do anything but obey. She was sure sleep would not come easy as a single thought repeated itself in her head. What the hell just happened?


Okay! I'm updating today because I won't be updating this weekend. I'll be on my spring break far, far away from computer. So I hope everyone is satisfied with this chapter (finally some kissing right?) and will wait patiently until next weekend for the next chapter! Thank you very much for the reviews! I love you all! (Sorry if there are any typos!)

About Eiji - A curious character he is and he will definitely stir things up. Already we can see a bit of how Sesshoumaru feels about the situation (and:or competition)! Rin doesn't quite understand what he's implying, but that is understandable because she doesn't even get Sesshoumaru just yet. We'll be seeing more of Eiji later, not enough for any lemony goodness between he and Rin, but enough to...well, there will be just enough him to do enough. ;)

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