Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko
Nothing Without The Other
Chapter 25
Sesshoumaru was on his feet and blocking the door before Rin took more than five steps toward it. He caught her arm with his hand and held her firmly, noting she directed a blank face and narrowed eyes she seemed to reserve only for enemies at him. She did a very fine job of keeping her anger, and pain perhaps, well hidden, but he knew better. He was only slightly disappointed that she had opted to run, again, before talking things through.
"Inuyasha, read the scroll that is on the table, Rin and I will return shortly."
Rin dragged her feet as he led her out the room and down the veranda. She was raging on the inside and felt the air in her lungs burn from the heat. Her shoulder - specifically near where Sesshoumaru had marked her - pulsed and throbbed painfully. If she had not been so blinded with pain and betrayal, she would have lashed out at him, would have slashed his calm look into pieces.
Sesshoumaru pulled her into their room quickly and turned her to face him. "Yamero."
Her eyes flew open in anger. "Stop what? I haven't done anything yet, but I might be tempted if you don't take your hands off of me."
When she pushed his hands away, he merely grasped her again, using his quick reflexes to maintain his hold on her. She began to struggle against him, fighting to be free of his hold. He did his best to keep her from hitting him, but the angrier she became, the more pain overwhelmed him. He knew she was angry and hurt not because she was fighting him, but because he felt what she did and every emotion was currently stabbing into his shoulder.
Sesshoumaru finally managed to pull her tightly against him, trapping her hands between their bodies and leaving her only to squirm. "Rin, yamero!"
"You bastard!" She shouted as she tried to wriggle free. "I hate you! I hate you!"
"Damare." He snarled painfully. "Don't you feel that? Damn it, Rin, this is not the way I wanted you to learn why we use markings."
She glared at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Look at my right shoulder," he looked at her seriously before loosening his hold on her.
Rin flashed him look of severe annoyance before sliding his haori over his shoulder. A surprised gasp escaped her lips when she saw that his entire shoulder was bright red, as if someone had struck him ruthlessly and without ceasing. She quickly forgot her anger and stroked his shoulder lightly, trying to make the pain go away. He pushed her kimonos over right shoulder to reveal her own red shoulder, and leaned down to kiss the marking he had left.
"Wakaranai," she whispered.
"A marking connects one mate to another. Should an emotion be strong enough, I will feel what you feel. In this way, I will know if you are in danger or need me in some way," he explained, fixing her kimono for her. "Or, as is the case right now, when you are not happy with me. I feel that I have hurt you and made you angry by not advising you of my intentions."
Her temper flared as she remembered why they were in this predicament and she pushed him away. "How could you just decide that we will not have children without allowing me -"
"I never said we will not have pups," he cut her off. "I said I do not want you pregnant, meaning at the moment."
Rin glared at him. "It was not your decision alone to make. Not to mention you still should have told me before Kagome and Inuyasha arrived."
"I know."
"You know?" She stared at him in confusion. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you ask me if that is what I wanted?"
Sesshoumaru tucked his arms in his sleeves. "You want a family, I know that and I cannot deny you. I can only stall, and that is what this Sesshoumaru will do until I feel it is safe for you and our future pups."
She paled. "Safe? What do you mean? Is something wrong with me? Does someone want to hurt me already? What -"
"Yamero," he said softly, shaking his head. "This is why I did not tell you. You worry too much."
"Sesshoumaru, this is not the time for -"
"Damare," he cut her off again. "I only wish to explain myself once, and since it involves Inuyasha and his family, I thought it best to wait until they arrived."
Rin walked to him, placed her hands on his chest, and looked up at him. "Sesshoumaru, onegai, is everything alright?"
"Hai, Rin. I am simply preparing us both for what might come, but there are no guarantee that something will."
"But you think something will," she said.
"Hai."
She sighed. "I bet you regret making me your mate."
Sesshoumaru slid his hands from his sleeves and pulled her into his arms. He lifted her up so they were eye level and pressed his mouth firmly to hers. Slowly he teased her mouth open as his lips brushed hers. He slid his tongue over hers before sucking it into his own mouth until her taste filled his belly. Then just as slowly as it had begun, he took his time ending the kiss and planted small kisses on her lips as he put her back on her feet.
"Never say or think that again."
She blushed brightly. "Hai, Sesshoumaru."
"Ikou."
"What is the issue with this Shunsuke guy?" Inuyasha asked. "Are you reluctant to renew your alliance with him?"
Rin sat behind the table next to Sesshoumaru and looked over the scroll. "Lord Shunsuke? Is he the one bringing the unusually large party?"
"Hai, Rin. Lord Shunsuke seeks a very different method of forming an alliance. Specifically through his daughter," Sesshoumaru added.
Kagome touched a finger to her cheek. "I think I understand. I learned in history that it was common for kings to marry their daughters to princes of other kings in order to unite their lands. I didn't see that though, is it in another part of the scroll?"
"Iie, its here, but stated in a very underhanded manner," Sesshoumaru pointed out.
"So this guy wants you to take his daughter as your mate? Keh, he obviously doesn't know you very well."
"Inuyasha," Kagome scowled at him. "This is serious."
"Inuyasha is actually right," Sesshoumaru countered. "For Lord Shunsuke to offer his daughter to a Lord that many in the court find irresponsible, and one that has had little experience in running an estate, is very strange. It leaves me to assume that he has some hidden agenda."
"Demo, Sesshoumaru, why would they consider you irresponsible?" Rin asked.
"It is often customary for young heirs to explore the world and gain power before taking over his father's duties," he explained. "It is what I have done for some 300 years, however, when Chichi-ue died, it was expected of me, as the only heir, to take over. Instead, I continued my journeys, leaving the Western Lands relatively unintended."
"So some Lords have less respect for you?" Rin assumed.
"Hai."
Inuyasha read over the scroll once more. "Judging from all these people, he seems to expect you to accept his offer, even though he isn't coming right out and saying he wants to give you his daughter. Can't you just pretend like you didn't get it?"
"I can, and that is what I intend to do. But that is not to say that there will not be repercussions," Sesshoumaru added.
"Keh, all this gives me a headache."
"Demo, Sesshoumaru, why is this a threat to my safety?" Rin asked. "Why does it involve Inuyasha and Kagome as well?"
"I have no doubt that Lord Shunsuke will be offended, but as Inuyasha mentioned, he assumed I would accept. Perhaps he thinks this arrangement will increase my social station or maybe he sees it as an opportunity to take over my lands. However, if he considers me weak already, the announcements I intend to make at our meeting will only reinforce that in his mind."
"Wakaranai," Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru, then at Inuyasha when he banged his fist on the table.
"Think about it, Kagome. This entire family is completely out of place in a strictly youkai world," Inuyasha announced, finally piecing everything together. "You have a hanyou brother no one has heard of and his human mate who also happens to be a miko, a natural enemy of youkai. Added to that, Sesshoumaru has taken a hanyou as a mate when he obviously could have chosen a demoness with power and prestige."
Rin frowned. "I don't imagine many in the court will approve."
"They may not, but most know they have no choice. However, should one Lord be convinced that my so called weaknesses will decrease the value of any alliances I have with him, it is his right to convince the court to have me replaced or find some other way to change the course of my actions."
"Keh, are you saying we could have a war on our hands?"
Sesshoumaru regarded Inuyasha seriously. "It is possible."
"Sesshoumaru," Rin turned to him. "I understand why you don't want to have children now."
"Nani?" Kagome looked at Rin in surprise. "Why not?"
"You and Rin will probably be targets, thats why. Its a good thing you already had Rei," Inuyasha turned to check on his daughter.
"Demo, how can you be sure all this will happen?" Kagome asked.
"I am not as unexperienced as many Lords believe. I did spend time under Chichi-ue learning what my duties would be. I know exactly how ruthless these Lord's can be, Chichi-ue made sure of that. I am assuming this to be the worse case scenario, but I will not rule it out as impossible."
"We will have to find escape routes," Inuyasha said thoughtfully, already drawing plans in his head.
"Hai, we will do that during the border patrol."
Rin rose to her feet. "Iie. I will not leave, I will fight with you."
"Me too," Kagome stood as well. "Rin-chan has proven she is capable and I am no stranger to battles myself."
"Keh, if you think I'm going to let that happen-"
"This isn't a debate, Inuyasha." Kagome leaned down to pick Rei up. "I'm fighting with you and thats final."
Sesshoumaru rose to his feet and stared down at Rin. "Is that how you feel?"
"Hai, it is our only option," she said to him. "If we fight along side you, we can prove our might and no one will be able to question your power, and judgement, ever again."
He let a rare smile grace his lips. "You surprise this Sesshoumaru. If I did not know any better, I would think you were raised to know how the court works."
"You can't be seriously considering letting them fight! Its absurd!" Inuyasha shouted.
"Inuyasha, if you keep yelling you will wake Rei," Kagome rocked her daughter lightly.
"This is wrong, Sesshoumaru," he responded with a growl.
Rin went to pick up Rei's blanket and ushered Kagome out the door. "We'll let you two talk some more while we get some food."
"Good," Sesshoumaru sat back down. "Rin."
She turned back to face him. "Hai, Sesshoumaru."
"We will resume your training as soon as I return."
Rin smiled and nodded. "Wakatta."
Yamero: Stop it / Damare: Silence/Shut up / Wakaranai: I don't understand / Wakatta: I understand / Ikou: Lets go / Hai: Yes / Iie: No / Demo: But(correct me if I'm wrong, lol) / Nani: What /
I'm so sorry I've kept you guys waiting. I have just been so distracted w/visiting all my family/friends since came home from school. I knew this would happen, thats why I wanted to get the story done ASAP! Anyway, I won't make any extended comments because I'm trying to edit the rest of the chapters so I can upload them as soon as possible!
I love you all and thanks for your comments and support! Thanks for reading and ejoy! Oh yeah, and sorry for any typos. I've just transferred my stuff from my pc to my mac and I'm still learning to work the program I'm using now.
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