Well then, I finally got to type this chapter up. I am super duper ultra supremely sorry (served of course with a good helping of remorse) for taking so long to update this fic. I know you guys are ready to kill me for being so late. I have discovered that I hate working. I just had this feeling that I should have typed this up last Monday but noooooooooo I had to go and play a game, thinking that I would have time on Tuesday since we didn't have any scheduled cleanings on that day (what was I thinking smacks self). Ten nasty apartments and a busy weekend later, here I am. Feel free to slap me for taking so long.
Okay, to answer a few questions.
1) No, I will not have Sesshy offer his house to Sango and Miroku.
2) You guys all guessed where Rin will be staying hehehehe wink No bedroom time now but I might put in a cute little scene later, nothing really hetai though 'cause this is pg-13.
3) If a guy can go around outside in skimpy bikini briefs then Sessh is more than okay to answer the door with nothing but a towel on. Besides, I put that in there to show how ready he was for her to show up or call (really, honest I didn't enjoy writing that cough, cough)
Thanks to:
Kawaii gurl-11, Blurry, Aya792, RosieB, Obsessive-Starchaser, hm, evil squeede, Lea, Maggy d, geckogirl33, CometsChaos, New Fan, and anhimals
Special thanks to:
Chibi Kirara aka Random Plushie, LuneTigre, The J-Man (You finally reviewed punk, good thing you're my friend hmph…just kidding thanx a bunch), Chandra16, Nikkler, Haruya (no, your reviews aren't too long, I am quite flattered that you take the time out to type so much), Tro the Voice of Reason (wow, 2x's than a bunch, glad you like), Queen of Stupidity Land (you've graduated from princess to queen, meow???), friendlyreader (meowwwww purrrr tempting, so very tempting), Blaque and Wight (awesome name and the review wasn't too shabby either), Wolfite, aishiteru-inu (you're right, you are my biggest fan and I'm so happy that you review my story everytime, makes me feel all fuzzy inside –or is that the soda hmmm- thank you thank you thank you, it really does mean a lot to have regular reviewers who can put a smile on my face so easily), drake220 (heavens no, that would be out of character, glad you liked), Adrian Winter, Rin Amaru (I'll read and review as soon as I can, I haven't forgotten you, Diana-sama, Tigeris, Sayori-chan, Shiranai Yukino (where do you live i.e. state, country, city Hope I didn't offend. Refer above to answer your question about why Sessh didn't get arrested for going around half naked, also there are peepholes, so lets just say that he looked out of one before opening the door), Naoko2 (Thank you, I'm not that bright sometime but hey whatever works), KitKat07 (I really need to read more of you story, I'll do it next chance I get 'kay? I am seriously considering becoming an author who can illustrate her own books), Sess Rin Cute!! (Aww shucks, you're gonna' make me blush. Thanks for reviewing two times and for telling me that my goodies are cute. It means the world to me and lets me know that I'm not boring you guys with my rambling.
Extra Stuff: "Sess Rin Forever!!!"
That felt good.
Disclaimer: By the power invested in me I pronounce that I have no control whatsoever over Inuyasha or his affiliates, namely his wonderful brother and the adorable girl who travels with him. I am poor so please don't sue.
Thread Bound
Chapter Eleven
The Provision Made
Together they walked, the puppet and the girl, side by side, hand in hand until at last they reached a wild river.
"I say, sir," said the girl, her pretty face in a frown, "how should we cross? I cannot swim and you would float away. Should we give up now even though we've come so far? Should I return you to your previous owner? Should we chance death for the sake of freedom?"
"Silly girl, stupid girl, idiotic pretty girl," exclaimed the puppet as he waved his wooden hands at her, "across we go, ever forward, ever forward together. Think, think my little twit. Think, think, think…"
"Forgive me sir but I'm afraid that isn't my strongest point," said the girl, "I am merely human and a peasant at that. I can smile so easily when it hurts and laugh when my heart aches but I cannot ever tell you the secret I hold or share the pain I feel. I do suppose that makes us alike."
"Alike? ALIKE?!" his wooden teeth clacked together comically as he pushed her towards the water, harrumphing and muttering the whole way, "in no way shape or form are we alike, little fool. I am a world apart from you child. Why take this river, you have but to hold onto me and that will be enough weight to hold steady so that I can float us both across. Rely on me and all will be well. Foolish, foolish girl."
She sighed in resignation before bending down to look him in his painted eyes.
"And suppose we reach the other side, sir, what then? Can you tell me what is in your heart?"
"Never."
"What is on your mind?
"Heavens no."
"How you feel and why you are so very lonely?"
"No, no, and no."
"Then I'm afraid sir that we really are very much alike."
It was the sound of His voice that awoke her, pulling her from the welcoming darkness born of denial, prompting her to return to a reality that was unwanted and unneeded. Except…He was there in that reality and she needed him in much the same way he seemed to need her. So it was for Him that she allowed pale lids to drift upwards, revealing soft brown eyes that immediately turned towards the source of the voice she so adored.
Almost as if she were a different person, a stranger, Rin examined the clean lines of his back, watching the play of muscles beneath a black, long-sleeved shirt with a fairly high neck, though not quite approaching turtle status. His long, platinum colored hair was pulled back with a simple black hair tie and he had on black slacks that accentuated his long legs, which ended in black oxfords. All in all he looked…preppy in a morbid way and if now had been the proper time she would have laughed at the picture he made.
For the first time she noticed that he was talking on the phone and judging by his tense posture, he was angry with the person on the other line. His voice was calm but she had learned enough to know when his usual unhappy mood deepened into something akin to anger. What she saw now went beyond even that and she felt a tiny tremor, glad that she wasn't on the receiving end of this new emotion. Sitting up, she realized that she was lying on the couch in the living room instead of the den and swung her feet down, wondering how she got there in the first place.
Sesshoumaru turned to face her, swiftly hanging up the phone and making it to her side in the space of a few seconds. Golden eyes searched her face before a hand was extended to help her up. Surprised at this unusually courteous gesture she placed her hand in his, marveling at the ease with which he pulled her smaller frame up. Another second passed in which each examined the other, making sure that nothing had changed during the time of her faint.
Was that a hint of satisfaction she saw when he ascertained that there was no lasting harm on her person? Was that relief he read in those expressive eyes whenever they met his? Each nodded almost imperceptibly before speaking.
"What a pain you are," he said guiding her towards the front door, "fainting just because you saw a house burning. I had no idea that you were so weak."
Translation, don't do it again and worry me, idiot she thought stifling a smile. "At least I don't go around moving unconscious girls, who knows what you did while I was asleep. I mean, you were half naked when I got here."
"Oh, I know exactly what I did in the ten minutes that you were out of it," he turned the knob flashing a smirk at her, knowing full well that they both needed this bantering to keep her spirits lifted.
"And what was that?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," he licked his lips and headed for the car parked in his driveway.
"Pervert," she muttered before following. I just have to keep my mind off of the shop and everything's going to be okay. Everything's fine. Sango and Miroku are fine. It takes more than that to kill those two. Yes, everything will be alright. Everyone's safe. She recited it over and over in her head, doing her best to ignore the massive orange glow on the horizon coming from the direction of her home.
She didn't realize that she'd stopped in the middle of the driveway until she felt a hand her arm and turned to face her employer.
Sticking a smile on her face, she said with as much conviction as possible, "I'm al…alright just a bit tired that's all."
The raised eyebrow he gave her indicated that he didn't believe a word she said, but he gave no reply, opting to push her into the passenger side of his car before getting in and starting up the engine.
They drove in silence for a few minutes and she could feel her anxiety gaining weight as her mind replayed the image of Kirara's Tails burning on the T.V. screen. She rested her head against the window and traced a finger in concentric circles, not really caring that she was smudging the glass. Her tracing went to tapping and she drummed a steady rhythm against the window, ear pressed tight to listen to a muffled beat of her own design.
She knew that Sesshoumaru was watching her from the corner of his eye and closed her own, shutting him out and focusing on making noise, distracting herself from the pain that was trying to make its way into her heart.
A large hand covered her own, stilling the slender fingers and she opened her eyes to meet his intent gaze. They were at a stoplight, allowing him to use both hands, one to silence her immediate protest with a finger and the other to move her hand from the window to her lap.
"Stop moving, Rin, you aren't helping anyone by letting yourself get nervous."
She nodded before saying quietyly, "distract me Sesshoumaru."
The irony of hearing the same words that Kagura had said a week ago, didn't escape him, but he nodded all the same and resumed driving when the light changed again, leaving one arm resting on seat behind her,
Rin could feel the comfort in such a simple gesture and relaxed slightly.
"How should I distract you then, Rin? Do you expect me to say words of comfort? To tell you that what you saw was a lie and that your home wasn't burning down?"
Ignoring the mild sarcasm sheasked in a neutral tone, "how did you know that it was my home on the television?"
"…I had reason to call you today and the owner told me the name. I knew it was your home by the way you reacted."
"And you know how to get there because…?"
He heaved a sigh, "I made a call to my idiot brother and asked him how to get there, you do owe me for the time I spent talking to that fool."
She could feel a blush trying to surface, over the past week she had learned exactly how strongly the two disliked each other and couldn't resist the elation she felt that he would talk to "Inuyasha the Hated Sibling" on her account. The edges of her lips curled up slightly.
"Was that who you were talking to on the phone when I woke up? You seemed to be a bit upset."
His hands tightened on the steering wheel and she wondered if her life was about to end here and now when he replied stiffly, "someone that you will likely never meet head on again."
"Again?…Was it that woman from last week?"
Silence fell once more for a full minute before he gave her a tiny, "yes."
"Why? I'm sure she had nothing to do with my house catching on fire. Are you sure you didn't just miss her?"
He hit the brakes so hard that she nearly flew from her seat and turned to face her. "Are you really that naïve? What would possess you to suggest that I would ever bring myself to even consider desiring the company of that disgusting thing? I thought we were clear on my opinion of her. If you ever tell me that I want to be with that lying, hypocritical, filthy, back-stabbing succubus again I will terminate your employment with me…Am I understood?"
His eyes took on a frightening intensity and she recoiled slightly, nodding.
"Answer me out loud Rin."
"Yes, sir…I mean Sesshoumaru."
Those golden irises remained on her for a few seconds more before he returned to driving. The rest of the trip was completed in silence and she found her nervousness getting the best of her the closer they got to her home. Even the vast amount of time that she had spent prepping herself for the sight of the store couldn't diminish her horror at the scene presented to her when they rounded the last corner.
The fire had grown in the time it took for her to wake up and get here. Nearly the entire block was a blazing inferno and she got out as soon as they stopped at the end of the street. They walked the rest of the way due to the massive number of civilians and firefighters running around, forcing their way through the crowd with Sesshoumaru in the lead, his hand tightly gripping hers to keep her from getting swept away.
At last they reached the bonfire that used to be Kirara's Tails, suddenly breaking free of the swell of people, and Rin felt herself getting weak. Everywhere she looked were twisting fingers of flame, reaching towards the heavens as if praying for rain to come and end their torment, much the same way she felt. She caught a policeman who was herding people away from the blaze.
"Sir, do you know where the owners of this store are?" she struggled to keep the panic out of her voice.
He blinked at her from beh
ind thick glasses before frowning slightly in thought.
"I'm afraid that you'll have to move miss. This is where the fire started and right now it's burning the hottest. As for the owners, I haven't heard anything from them but I did hear that there was a young girl staying here and that she never came home, maybe you know her?"
How can you be so calm at a time like this she wanted to scream, but she forced the urge down and said, "that would be me."
"Oh, then I guess we can call off the search," he blinked at the tall figure behind her, obviously curious as to why he was hovering so protectively over the girl before shrugging and moving away.
She let out a breath and forced her eyes away from the fire because looking at it caused a mist to form over her eyes. A mist that had nothing to do with the brightness or intensity of the flames and everything to do with the pain she felt at seeing her only home and all of her possessions going up in smoke.
"Don't cry Rin. At least you're still alive."
Her mother's words came back to her and she found herself whispering the words to herself in a quiet litany.
Don't cry. Don't cry. You're still alive Rin and hopefully your friends are too.
Her feet carried her over to where the crowd was the thickest and she felt a comforting warmth at her side, indicating that He was there, a silent promise that he would stay by her side.
Slowly, so very slowly they scrutinized every face in the crowd, she was looking for her friends and he was looking for a man in a suit with sunglasses.
There was no sign of them.
Don't cry.
They went on from each group, searching endlessly for their respective people.
Nothing. From the group at one end of the street to the group closest to the car, there was nothing.
Don't cry.
They're still alive.
There was a plain white envelope sitting on the hood of the car when they got back and in a beautiful hand was written "Rin Hattori."
Sesshouamaru tensed behind her, knowing full well whose handwriting it was and praying that it wouldn't bring an end to their time together. Not now when he knew that he needed Rin in his life. He didn't want this "game" to end as so many others had.
She picked it up slowly, wondering if it would give any indication as to the whereabouts of her friends, and opened it, scanning the contents quickly.
There were many things in the letter.
Don't cry.
Many painful things…
Don't cry.
Many deliberately hurtful things…
Don't cry.
Things about Sesshoumaru that he should have told her…
Don't cry.
Rin turned her back on him and began walking towards one of the benches, she needed to get away before she did them both harm, before she let the pain free, before he saw her break down.
Don't cry.
She could stand being homeless.
She could survive no longer having a scholarship as indicated by the letter.
She could even stand no longer having a job to go to and losing every bit of art that she's ever worked on.
Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
But she felt a pain in her heart when she read the last line: "Stay away from my husband. Stay away from my Sesshoumaru."
He was following her, she knew it just like she knew that he had picked up the letter and read it for himself after she let it slip from numb fingers.
Weaving her way through people who gave her odd looks, she sat and cradled her head between her hands, taking deep breaths and trying to ignore the man standing in front of her. She refused to look at him, knowing that such a thing would be her ubdoing.
"Is it true Toyotomi-san," she asked, afraid to use his first name.
It hurt to see the way she distanced herself and he ran a hand through his hair, not caring
for the moment that his emotions were displayed for everyone to see.
He hadn't wanted this conversation to take place so soon.
He stalled, "Rin, is there somewhere else you can stay?"
"Please, answer the question."
"If not then I have a place for you. I will employ you myself."
"Tell me the truth. Please Toyotomi-san."
"Don't call me that Rin. Please don't," he hated how pathetic he sounded.
"Fine then…Sesshoumaru…Sessh. Please," her voice wavered and she cleared her throat a little, "please tell me the truth. Are you married? Did you lie to me or should I say, kept the truth from me?"
He sighed gently before placing both hands on her shoulders, "what would you do if I said yes?"
"I would do the right thing."
"And if I said no."
"…"
"Rin, would you stay with me? Would you stay even though so many others have walked away from my life?"
He was manipulating her, he knew it and hated himself for it. But, he couldn't bear the thought of her leaving so soon before he could explain everything, so he bent down close to her and said quietly into her ear, "won't you stay with me Rin until you have a place to liven in."
"Stop it," she said weakly, hating the effect he had on her senses.
"I want you to stay," he sat down, pulling her into the circle of his arms, tucking her head beneath his chin.
"I can't think right now Sesshoumaru," she said, her resolve weakening quickly under this new attack.
"Don't think, my sweet little Rin," his voice was hypnotic in its gentleness and promise of protection.
"Look at me and tell me that you want to stay. That you won't leave."
She could feel herself trembling and yet it was stilled just as quickly by the steady beat of his heart and his solid warmth and his soothing voice, all of which cast a spell of longing on her. So with a heavy heart she lifted her head because she was so very tired of holding everything in, because she was so tired of the loneliness that haunted her, because she wanted to be close to the person she was beginning to love, because they were each facets of the same jewel…she lifted her head up, met the eyes that she so adored, and let the tears flow freely…closing her eyes when she felt his hands upon her face and his soft lips on her cheeks just barely caressing the corner of her mouth.
I love you she whispered in her heart because she knew with an unusual clarity that it was not yet time to tell him that particular truth.
He had not answered her question.
"Well isn't this sweet," came a voice that was most unwelcome.
Sesshoumaru raised his head to glare at the man before them.
"Hiten," he growled, tightening his hold on Rin.
CONFRONTATION!!!! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!! cough, hack :ahem: What's going to happen next DUM DUM DUUUUUUUUUM!!! Next chapter we get to find out what happened to Sango and Miroku, what happened between Sessh and Kagura, and will Sessh wring Hiten's cute little neck or will Rin beat him to it (is it me or is this sounding like a soap opera -. Hmmmm. Please review.