Hello, hello, hello. So very hyper right now, but I'm still happy to be updating at long last.
Really quick, I have few notes and comments.
Let's see, for those of you who wanted Hiten to die or feel any number of painful and debilitating pain, this chapter is for you.
For those who want to know what went on between Sesshy and Kagura, this chapter is for you guys as well.
For those who can relate o the soap opera comment in last chapter, I'm giving you guys a smile. I'm not a big soap opera fan but when I'm feeling down, watching anyone of them can make me laugh and brighten my day. Those who watch them for the love and drama aspects, more power to ya' and thanks for the support.
That said, thanks goes to:
TinckerBell, wolfite, choco-coco (loved your story), Jade Summers, Lowlands' ceres, SG, Obsessive Starchaser, Naoko2 (Ah, such a delightful scene it would be :drools: alas, there is no Sesshy beats up Hiten just yet, but Rin does get some stress relief and I would love to have Kagura walk in on them in an intimate moment :jots down note:, Moonglow gal, Tigeris (I will keep you in mind when beat-up Kagura time come :grins: about Sesshy telling her the truth…well this chapter is for you), Orlisgurl4everB, KitKat07 (lol I've seen Days of My Life as well, the ladies at my former job adored it. If I write a book, it's going to be a fantasy novel with romance in it. I don't have the guts to make a really smutty cover and I really wouldn't want to but a little love in the picture sound just peachy. Thanx.), DRAKE220 (Thanx, I remember you telling me once that the puppet and the girl was your favorite story), dangerous-beans, Blue Ookami (awwwww:blushes:), immortalbreeze04 (I first saw passions in my graphic class, the episode I saw was really funny but the concept in it are neat), The J-Man (you just had to ask :P lol thanx anyways), hm (hope you don't mind fantasy novel 'cause that's what I would write), Shiranai Yukino (I buy a lot of my anime from Singapore through ebay. I agree that it's silly to arrest suicidal people but maybe they do it to keep them from doing further harm to themselves in a short amount of time.), evil squeede (:bow: thanks for not slapping me, I have lots of fun putting in those little Sess/Rin moments), chandra16, Kerichi (No wringing for Sess but plenty for Rin. If it's soapish then I want the good kind and not the annoying kind so this makes me happy.), lyerial (All credit for grammar with the exception of last chapter and a few other scattered chapters, goes to my wonderful Beta Rikou Suiyou, she is very gifted. Thank you for making me smile, I try really hard when it comes to my writing and my heart is gladdened by such king comments on my writing style.), Rin Amaru (:more blushing along with a happy smile:), New fan (hmmm, you might be on to something…I do have another story in mind but I can think of a way to combine your idea with mine and make something fun.), friendlyreader (- woah, someone's pissed, but it good 'cause that's what I wanted. As for how Kagura can pull off her various atrocities, it all boils down to money, influence, and lots of connections. I'll go through her methods next chapter.), aishiteru-inu (:sniff: you're so :sniff: good to me :sniff:), CometsChaos, Tsume Yamagata (meows in happiness. I'm loved, YAY!!!!), Haruya (Rin just might, but for now I'm settling for letting her beat the snot out of Hiten, 'kay?), indigo chipmunk, RosieB (Very true, he does view as a child sometimes because of the age gap but I assure you that all of that's going to change. I don't have the heart to put you guys through too much.)
Extra Special, Super Duper, Ultra Thanks goes to:
Rikou Suiyou for being patient with me (I don't think you were being mean at all, it was another case of me beating myself up for being inconsiderate. I could never be mad at you). In case you guys didn't know, she's my Beta and the person I have the utmost respect for because she does an excellent job and puts up with me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thread Bound
Chapter Twelve
The Path to Corruption
"Hide beneath my wings, little dove," said the Pompous Peacock as he searched the sky for his fiancée.
The Demure Dove quickly complied and not a moment too late, for soon she heard the harsh laughs of the Cackling Crow and one other bird.
"Why, hello love," said the Cackling Crow in her most unpleasant voice. "It has been far too long since last we saw each other."
"Of course, of course," replied her intended. "And who, may I ask, is this that has come with you?"
"Ah," said an unsavory voice, large yellow feet coming into the Dove's view. "I can introduce myself. Many names I am called, but you may address me as Ravenous...Ravenous the Raven. I am an acquaintance of Lady Crow here; how do you do?"
"Very fine," replied the Peacock, shifting ever so slightly, body tense against the little Dove's. "I would like to know, however, why you decided to visit me today, dear Crow. We shan't be married for a while yet."
"True, true," she said. "But alas I heard that you've been having a special visitor everyday, love, a certain little dove that enjoys being here. Ravenous and I found it to be most intriguing and so we came."
"As you can see, dear, there is nothing here, so you would do well to leave this place and take Sir Raven with you."
"Silly boy," laughed the Raven. "Do you think she is as slow witted as that; that the lovely Lady Crow cannot see your betrayal?"
"Perhaps, but I am well aware of hers; she would do well to remember that."
"And you would do well to remember, dearest Peacock," cackled Lady Crow, "that I own this castle, this gilded cage that you are so very fond of. I gave it to you and I can easily take it back...just as I could take everything from Miss Dove, the bird you are so fond of. For though you are so beautiful and so very clever, I see everything and I know all while you hide in this pretty cage. There is not a one who can escape me, and certainly not you, for do you not know, my dear, that I will never let you love anyone else?"
"Calm down, Sango dear. I'm sure that Rin is just fine," Miroku said, giving her his most reassuring smile. Sango looked up at him from within the barrier of his arms and he was taken aback by the hint of tears in her beautiful eyes.
"Now, now, a strong woman like you shouldn't cry. Rin's a survivor...just like you, and I have a feeling that she's alright."
She turned and watched the various activities of different policemen as they went from desk to desk in the police station, trying to figure out if the massive fire was an accident or a deliberate attempt at murder. They had escaped unharmed and she had to thank Miroku for his weird gift of knowing when something bad was going to happen. He did say that one of his ancestors had been an exceptionally powerful monk and she was never more grateful for the blood flowing through her husband's veins than she was tonight..., though they'd only had enough time to get the most valuable and sentimental items out before the store went up in flames.
His arms tightened around her and she felt the weight of his head settle down on top of hers, his fingers twining tightly about her slender hands.
"Is something else bothering you Miroku?"
"Perhaps. I'm thinking about the phone call we got earlier."
"Do you mean the man who called himself Rin's employer?"
"Yes, I have a hunch as to why our home was attacked."
"Attacked? How can you be sure that it wasn't an accident?"
"Dearest Sango, I watched that strange man who just happened to be loitering in front of our house, in a hot suit, in the middle of summer. I also saw him talking on a phone not long after Mr. Denial called here, asking for Rin. Next thing I knew, he was gone."
"What does that have to do with anything and why in the world have you come up with such a rude name for Rin's employer?"
"The man likes her...if 'like' is the word, enough to warn her about any strangers hanging around, namely tall, dark men wearing expensive suits in this ridiculously lower middle class part of town.'
"I'm afraid I'm not following you. What does this have to do with Rin?"
"Most likely nothing, dear, in fact I would say that it has less to do with Rin, who we both know is as sweet as they come, and more to do with her...employer."
"And you surmised this because...?"
"She told me once that he is a very wealthy man with a huge house and a shadow hanging over him constantly. To get someone mad enough to burn down an entire city block and leave not a trace takes money...to meet and anger someone with that amount of money means that you have to be on the same level status wise."
"How do you know?"
"I've been around enough wealthy people to know what they are like, how angry they can get over silly things. I did live quite a pampered life before father died, but most of the money he left me went to paying off his debts. In fact, Mr. Denial's family name sounds very familiar. I know I've heard that name, Toyotomi, before." He pursed his lips together in thought and fell silent, leaving her to wonder just how many pieces of the puzzle he might have already put together.
Had it been a few weeks ago, Sesshoumaru was quite sure that he wouldn't have given a second thought to the fact that Rin's house was burning down along with everything she owned. He certainly wouldn't have had the rather odd urge to hold her as close as humanly possible and kiss the tears away from her soft cheeks before caressing her lips with his own. The other kisses he wanted to bestow upon her were not quite so innocent though, leaving him to wonder if she would be the second woman to make him lose control, albeit in a more positive and certainly more gratifying way. Perhaps she would also be the second woman who he could tie himself to, once his divorce from Kagura was put into effect.
"Love" was a foreign concept to him and so he settled on the word "like." He liked sweet Miss Hattori; he liked innocent and intelligent Rin who hadn't a care in the word. He liked that she played the game in a unique way, taking his various barbs, insults, and constant flirting and giving back double in kindness and sheer common sense, with a tang of wildness. If she weren't already an adult he would have dubbed her as being very precocious.
Now, however, was not the time for such thoughts. Rin had stiffened in his arms, instinctually knowing that the man before them was an enemy and yet...unsure of how to react, therefore keeping her silence. He knew very well, though, that if it turned out to be Hiten who was responsible for her recent state of poverty, she would snap out of it and do her best to throttle the smiling man and he...he would aid her in any way possible, both for her and his own grudge against the arrogant man.
"I would very much like to know why you are here, Hiten". Sesshoumaru broke the rather uncomfortable silence, shifting to let Rin's gaze fall on the handsome man.
Hiten whistled mockingly as her tear stained face and puffy eyes came into view. "Isn't she a lovely sight. I think you and such an ugly creature really deserve each other."
Words like those would have made another girl burst out in tears anew, but he had to suppress a smile when Rin put her head down and he felt her hands tightening into angry fists against his thighs. Hiten had absolutely no inkling of what Rin's personality was like and he was not in the mood to hold her back if she lost her temper. Yes, Rin was a very sweet, kind person, but she had the temper of wild cat. He would never forget the day she punched Kagura out, or the times she got really frustrated with him.
"How can you say something like that so casually," she asked quietly, a sure sign that she was well on her way to getting pissed. He knew that her emotions were already running high and Kagura's lapdog was just throwing gasoline on the fire.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve? You poor thing," he replied in his most sarcastic voice, reaching out to lightly stroke her hair.
Sesshoumaru was tempted to throttle him right there, but opted to wait. Hiten had a very sadistic bent when it came to kicking people who were down and he was quick to dig his own grave. Rin was frustrated and hurting, who was he to deny her the vengeance and stress relief that she would get from beating him down.
"I would suggest that you not be so familiar with her, Hiten. She has been through a lot today and it would be best if you don't pour salt on a wound."
He took the bait—hook, line, sinker, and all.
"My, I've never known you to be so caring of others, Sesshoumaru. My Lady Kagura would be offended if she could see how low you've fallen. The Great Sesshoumaru certainly has low standards if he's consorting with unattractive, impoverished children who cry because their disgusting little hovels burn down. She's an artist, isn't she? Surely she can see the beauty in a good bonfire. We did her a favor by getting rid of that rundown store."
He noticed the possessive way Hiten said the words "my lady" and mentally snorted. This fool actually had the audacity to act as if Kagura was his?! Not that he wouldn't mind foisting her off on this pretty boy, who also happened to be her current fling, but she was still his wife and he took exception to reminders of her unfaithfulness. Insolent whelp thinks that he has something on me?!
Another part of Hiten's speech caught his attention though.
"What do you mean 'we did her a favor'? Are you saying that you had some part in this destruction?" He felt Rin's hands tighten further, and exercised every bit of will power he owned not to let a smirk surface at the younger mans stupidity. In actuality, he knew full well that Hiten and his idiot brother had everything to do with starting the fire but couldn't resist the temptation of heightening the already tense situation.
Just a little more.
True, he could have easily diffused the situation by ignoring Hiten, guiding Rin to the car, and taking her somewhere far away. On the other hand, he could give into his more chaotic bent, give her a gentle nudge over the edge of her anger, and let her exorcize her frustration and pain on Hiten's pretty face. The latter of course, was doing a spectacular job of angering her, and who was he to deny her the release she so craved, especially since he had determined long ago that Kagura's little pet deserved to burn, die, and suffer for the rest of eternity as punishment for being so annoying and now...for making Rin suffer.
If there existed a conscience in his somewhat twisted heart he was sure it wept at his decision, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to care. Pity, he thought, feeling the beginnings of an 'oh-so wicked smile' curling the corners of his mouth.
Naturally these wonderfully malicious thoughts flew through his brilliant mind seconds before Hiten voiced the words that spelled his doom.
"Well, I was just saying that dear brother Manten took a particular dislike to that store and decided that the world would be better off without it. Who am I to deny him one of his few joys? He does so enjoy the sight of a rousing fire and I merely supplied the means to give him what he wanted. It's not my fault it got out of hand."
There was a second of complete silence in which Sesshoumaru felt something wet seeping through his pants leg and realized that Rin had her hands clenched so tightly that she was beginning to bleed.
"So you helped him, this Manten, to take my home away and make my friend suffer?" Her voice cracked and he knew that it wasn't from the tears. That smile widened by yet another fraction.
"Aren't you the smart one? Are you going to cry some more and hide behind Sesshoumaru? Guess he's the only thing you have since there's nothing over there for you anymore." He swept his hand towards the blaze and gave her his most patronizing laugh, obviously thinking that she was hiding the tears that would have been streaming down a normal girls face.
Her head snapped up and, though he couldn't see her face, she must have had a very fierce expression because even Hiten backed up, his smile faltering.
"You...you sick, twisted, scum sucking, WHORESON!!" She ended with a yell, standing up. There was an impression of muscles bunching up before one of those long, slender legs that he so admired shot out in a graceful arc from the ground up, landing where it would do the most damage.
The lapdog sang a very high octave, hands darting to protect the delicate part from further damage, and even Sesshoumaru mentally winced. Kagura wasn't going to be getting her other use out of her pet anytime soon; heck, he might not ever be able to have kids when she was through with him.
The injured man attempted to sink to the ground and curl up into the much vaunted fetal position, and Rin—sweet, loving, adorable, slightly tomboyish, pissed-off Rin-hooked the delicate fingers of one hand into the collar of his expensive suit, yanking him away from the safety of the ground while her free hand curled itself into a fist with the middle knuckle extended out (A.N. Getting punched by a fist like this hurts like $%#).
The look on his face was priceless: eyes wide and mouth gaping open in surprise, before her fist connected with his finely sculpted jaw and her employer could have sworn that he heard something crack. The first was followed in swift succession by a second and a third and he found himself fascinated that someone so small could lay out so much damage. Rin, he surmised, was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen when she was angry like this: her movements fluid, exuding strength and determination, and he was entranced by the exquisite poetry of her limbs.
True, there was the almost sick joy he got out of visualizing Hiten's demise, but since she was doing them both a favor he contented himself with sitting back and letting her work all of the negative emotions out of her system. He had learned long ago learned that destruction could be terrific stress relief.
Alas, judging by the growing crowd of bystanders and whispers of "call the police over here," he surmised that his fun would have to be put on hold and sauntered casually over to Rin, who was straddling the prone form of her tormentor and holding his torso up by the front of his formerly white dress shirt. His face was a mess and there was an odd whine coming from his throat that he guessed counted as speech.
"Don't you ever come near me again, jerk," she said before Sesshoumaru detached her hands from his shirt.
"It's time to go Rin, unless you feel like spending the night in jail."
She looked around at the shocked faces before looking up at him, guilt crawling over her features. The look on her face reminded him of the way cats stared at their owner when they knew that they had done something bad, and he gave her a tiny smile before helping her to her feet.
"I lost it didn't I?" she whispered as they got into the car and hightailed it out of the neighborhood.
He nodded in response and she sighed. "I really need to control my temper. Hopefully no one recognized that it was me, but that doesn't change the fact that I nearly killed a complete stranger."
"Don't feel bad about it Rin."
"And why not?"
"Because I was about to kill him myself." He said it with such a straight face that she couldn't help but laugh.
She felt lighter after that and with the relief came daring. Lightly, she laid her head on his arm and placed a hand over his larger one.
"Thank you, Sessh."
"For what? I'm not some kind of philanthropist if that's what you're thinking."
"I know, but...I felt just a little bit stronger because you were there. You also offered me a place to stay and that makes me happy."
"Don't be. I'm a selfish person Rin. I offered it to you out of a very self serving wish."
"And that is?"
"Free labor whenever I want it."
"Brat," she punched his arm lightly, knowing that he was joking in that weird way of his.
"Tell me, though Sessh..."
"Yes?"
"I won't leave you if that's the reason why you're keeping it from me, but I want to know everything. Who was that terrible man? What was up with that letter we found, and who exactly is Kagura? What's her relationship to you?"
He tensed up completely, before letting out a long breath. She did have a right to know, didn't she? She had a right to know why she was being hounded like this. Why she was being attacked...and why she had every right in the world to abandon him.
Almost as if in a trance he began, "It was at a funeral that she and I met. Perhaps that should have been a sign that things between us were destined to end in failure."
Flashback
"Why did you drag me here, old man?" Sesshoumaru growled, detaching the strong fingers that clamped around his arm. He was twenty-three and thoroughly irritated with the whole affair. He couldn't understand why his father insisted on him attending the funeral of a man who meant as much to him as the fine dust covering his shoes.
"Quiet, son. The Houshi's are very close friends to us and it is only right to pay our respects to them."
"Respect is a foreign concept to me. You would have done better to bring that obnoxious brat with you instead of the black sheep of the family."
Inutaisho sighed in irritation, before grabbing his son's arm again and pulling him in the direction of the ornate urn decorating a ridiculously decked out table with a shrine in the background.
He jerked his arm away and stopped. "Don't touch me, old man, or have you suddenly decided to recognize me as your son and show the love you denied me all these years? I'm leaving. I don't belong here and you know it." He turned away from the surprised faces of his father and the people around him and moved towards the exit, brushing aside anyone who got in his way.
It was when he was nearly to the parking lot that he felt a soft touch on the back of his jacket and turned around to blast whoever had the audacity to put their hands on him.
He turned and blinked.
Hazel eyes, drew him in as the red bow of a mouth twisted into an amused smile, making him feel as if she were laughing at him. He felt a surge of...something and she took his hesitation to introduce herself in a most interesting way.
Before he knew it, her lips were pressed boldly against his, soft flesh molding to fit the tight contours of his unsmiling mouth. Unconsciously, he twined his hands into the black glory of her hair and even when she pulled away, she pressed a finger to his lips to keep from following hers.
"Interesting, so very interesting." Her voice was like silk against his ears and she whispered next to the lobe, "Miyazawa Kagura...but since I like you, you may call me by my first name. The Nishikado fountain tonight at 8 would be a lovely meeting place, don't you think?"
For the first time, he was thoroughly overwhelmed and found himself fascinated by this woman, barely managing to get out his name before she melted back into the crown without a backward glance.
He brushed trembling fingers over his mouth.
Yes, perhaps coming here hadn't been a complete waste of time.
End Flashback
Rin felt herself becoming increasingly uncomfortable at the mention of the other woman's antics. She herself would never be so bold with a man she didn't know, but it seemed as if that was his type of woman. If so, then who did she think she was? A simple minded cleaning girl with nothing much in the way of looks or a life she thought sadly.
"Why aren't you with her now? What happened between you?"
"We married soon enough, but a woman like her gets easily bored."
Flashback
She was everything he admired. Strong, clever, beautiful, knew how to get what she wanted, and had a wonderful amount of stamina as he discovered on their honeymoon.
Sesshoumaru admired his wife and she adored the fact that he belonged to her and her alone. He was like a gem to her, something rare to be shown off, at least for the first two and a half years. But then he began to mature. He wanted to become more, he wanted to break out of the shell that he'd lived in for the greater part of his life, and suddenly she changed...or maybe it was just that the true Kagura emerged.
It began with mood swings—she was happy to be around everyone else but him. She was affectionate and kind to everyone else but him. She gave her smile on her joy to everyone else but him. They clashed again and again in the privacy of their own home but it always ended in the bed. Instead of trying to really work the problems out they settled things by indulging in a more gratifying lifestyle, bickering constantly, which sometimes turned into her striking out at him physically.
He never retaliated with equal violence though. No, he just sat and tried to understand where he had gone wrong, why she was fighting against him so much. That's when she started to attack him in subtle, more public ways. She referred to him as her "prize", sometimes her "burden", and even once as her "Shackle".
It had hurt so much that he began to retreat more and more into himself. That's when she simply began to address him a "coward", "spineless", and any number of terrible names.
He realized then that he hated her.
Not long after, she began ignoring him altogether, and he began to suspect that something was going on behind his back.
He would never forget the night he came home and found a stranger in bed with his wife. She hadn't even bothered to break off her rather passionate kiss with the other man, simply waved at him to go away.
That was the closest he ever came to crying, killing them both, or simply taking a gun to his head and ending the pain.
End Flashback
Her hands flew to her mouth in shock and she blinked away the tears that threatened to spill over.
"Is that why you tried to kill yourself again?" Her voice was frightened.
He didn't reply until they pulled into his driveway and the car fell silent. "Part of the reason. She kept on with the betrayal for months until I filed for divorce. We are married in name only until she signs and I was so very tired that day when she sent it back unsigned that I thought it was time to set myself free."
He bent forward and rested his forehead against the steering wheel, long silver hair hiding his face from view.
Slowly, she leaned over and embraced his arm. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry for not having the ability to correct the problems of the world Rin. Then again, it wouldn't be you if you didn't."
He removed his arm from her embrace and transferred it to her shoulders.
"Stay with me Rin."
She nodded and snuggled closer to him, drifting off to sleep quickly, worn out from her emotional turmoil.
He lifted his head to look at her sleeping face, a smile playing with the corners of his mouth, before he pressed two fingers to his lips and transferred the indirect kiss to hers.
They would figure out a plan tomorrow, but for now he took solace in the warmth of the only person he could bring himself to care about.
No cliffie this time, darlings, but I just might make up for it next chapter by introducing yet another element into the story, namely tying the short stories at the beginning of each chapter in with this fic. Please review and I warn you that I might not be able to update until the end of next week or the week after that, lots and lots o' work coming up for me.
Also another quick note, if anyone here is a Sonic the Hedgehog fan, my friend The J-Man has a cool fic called "West Island Chaos" and I know he would love to see what people think of it, so head over there if you're interested, 'kay? Luv ya' lots.