How do I start? Well firstly I want to apologize for taking so long to update. I was lazing around and doing tons of brainstorming and this chapetr finally began to flow for me. I apologize for advance because I term this chapter the "boring" chapter but I spiced it up as much as I could. Also, I apologize if Sesshoumaru sems a bit OOC, but please put yourselves in his place and imagine what it must be like to contemplate losing the most important person in your life.
Two more notes. I know you all are wondering about how Sessh's childhood was that he needed a padded room so I'll tell you that it was only installed after his first suicide attempt. He and his father had a relationship born of misunderstanding and you have to understand that, even though his father didn't hate him, he DID ignore him during the most important years of his child's development and by the time his first wife was dead, there was a massive chasm between the two of them because Sessh became self-sufficient during his neglection.
Also, about Iyazoi hooking them up and sending Rin to the doctor to test her virginity...well, if they have to go to court they have a defense. The only thing that Kagura and crew could possibly come up with is that Sesshoumaru was cheating with Rin. However, since that is utter bull and he technically can't be charged with infidelity if he never slept with her...hence the testimony from a doctor. As for the wedding, that is partly Iyazoi being manipulative and partly to make Sessh look more moral in that he waited until marriage to do anything with Rin (of course that is also bull, since he's been with a good number of women before but that was then and this is now ).
In case you're wondering why I do so much explaining, I want all loose ends TIED because I'm planning on a sequel. Maybe I'll do a spinoff explaining the twisted brother/friend, master/slave relationship between Onigumo and Naraku as a gift to my wonderful Beta and anyone else who likes this take on the two of them, but that's it.
BIGGEST THING TO REMEMBER: I'll warn you now that if You take this chapter, as well as last chapter, at face-value...prepare to be surprised by the end of the next two chappies.
Now for the thank you's that I've been neglecting these last two chapters:
FIRST AND FOREMOST: To Mushi who has offered multiple times to draw a picture for this story and I never got to you...it's been eating me up that I was so rude in that I didn't reply and now I can only hope that you're still reading this so that I can let you knoe that I am thoroughly honored at the offer and if you don't mind my asking than I would love to see your visual representation of Sesshoumaru, modern day or not. I am so sorry :bows repeatedly:
As for the rest of you guys who were nice enough to threaten me to update:
Thank you:
afloodfornewyork, Shii, AngelAnita, The Anime Freak of Inuyasha, airdreanna, hibi,
mimo, West FullMoon, agrias-101, Moonglow gal, RenkonNairu, werewolfpixie, UgLyDaRkFaErIe547, New fan, sarah, imagine-me, Korosuminna, Silverslykitsune, Vik Vik, Mini Nicka, RangerDo'Urden, ChAnDrA16, deity of death, Moon Phoenix, Obsessive Starchaser, Spirit Demon, miyako14, wolfite, Bob the Kiwi Dictator, babegalanime
Special thanks to:
Rikou Suiyou, The J-Man, Sioned, Taiki, Tamashi-no-Hikari, Cammy Rammy, Eien-Neekyou, Athar-Luna, aishiteru-inu, Comets Chaos, friendlyreader, evilsqueede, New Fan, Mushi, Xyjah, RosieB, drake220, Haruya, Baka-Chan10000, Youkai No Rin, Retta, SakuraBaby, Lunas Star, Taishoku Kurayami, TinckerBell, chel bel, alien jin (don't worry about no reviewing for so long honey), Kerichi, Starr Bryte, Theanimefreak, Riath, Tony, and LuneTigre
Thread Bound
Chapter Nineteen
The Truth That Sets Us Free
Part One
An unpublished tale by Ringo Fujisawa.
Immigrant from Japan to London (lived: 1881, died: 1915)
Earlier work from the year 1899.
Title: The Brother Who Was Left Behind Or The Sad Tale of a Selfish Prince
"I have a tale to tell—a sad tale, a painful tale, a tale of failure. It is a tale that I do not wish to complete. So, I will tell as much as I dare... Do pay attention if you please."
Once upon a time (yes, it was a long time ago), there lived two brothers. One was beautiful and proud and everything that a person could wish for, everything one would want. But he had a flaw (all princes do, you know)...AHEM.
No more interruptions.
As I was saying, there were two brothers, one who was wonderful—no repeating myself here—and the other who was in so many words...not no quite so wonderful.
The eldest, who just so happened to be closer to perfection than most other men, had everything a person could want, but alas he was not happy. He lived in a palace with no one to keep him company except for his rather foolish younger brother.
Now you might ask the question: Did these two get along?
The answer is a resounding, "No, no, and no again."
They fought and they fought and they argued and argued just a bit more until, at long last, the younger was driven away into the cold storm of winter.
For a while, no more than a month or so really, the eldest son rejoiced in his new found freedom. How could he not? His young, annoying brother was gone at last and he had no one to irritate him, or disobey him, or...talk to for that matter.
Yes, it was only one month before he began to feel regret. No, no, it wasn't regret it was...loneliness. He began to miss the boy.
It came slowly at first. He would sit in front of his fireplace, sipping gently at his wine, watching, waiting, and listening for the familiar sound of his sibling's voice. For, thought he, his dear brother had nowhere else to go, surely he would have to return.
Before long, he would take short walks around his lands, searching for any sign of the less-than-perfect half of his blood. The winds were cold and the deep chill from walking through the endless hills of snow settled into his bones.
Still there was no sign of the little one.
Dejected, he returned to his home and lounged before the fire, drinking his wine in larger doses and eating very little.
Sleep became a distant memory, and bit by bit, he ceased eating until all his meals consisted of that heady product of the vine, served in a gold chalice. He was alone...so very much alone...and it was then that he began talking to himself. Sometimes he heard whispers from the corners of his room and he would huddle into his chair, sunken eyes shutting against the fear.
Days passed before stretching into months as he sunk deeper and deeper into his despair. And then...
That is as far as I go. For the hour is short and I grow weary of this tragic tale. My audience seems to be rather fond of morals, so here is one for you:
Beware, my darlings, of doing things at the last minute. It is far too late for a brother to act as brothers should after the worst of betrayals.
Don't believe me? Then perhaps you should question the corpse of the perfect brother as it sways from the tree form which he hung himself. And if, perchance you should happen a across a young man who reminds you of the deceased, do be wary of his not-so-perfect body, his not-so-perfect face...and his oh-so-perfectly-wicked smile.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ten years ago at the Takahashi School for all levels of education...
"Oy, minna...have you heard...?"
"Heard what? Is there something cool happening?"
"Hai, you know the Queen?"
"The Queen?"
"Yeah, 'the Queen.' She's the prettiest girl among the first years at the high school."
"Ah, that girl. What about her?"
"Well have you heard? She has her sights set on the Prince?"
"The Prince…you mean that stuck-up jerk who's a senior?"
"Shh, not so loud. Kami, don't you know the walls have ears?"
"Gomen, gomen...keep going. So, what's up with those two?"
"Well, I heard that the Prince isn't as perfect as everyone thinks he is."
A snort sounded. "Tell me something I don't know."
"Let me finish. Anyways, I heard that the Prince is some kind of mental case. You know what they say: 'Smart people have to give something else up to get such a good mind.' Word is he has to take pills for it. It's some kind of emotional problem."
There was laughter all around. "He thinks he's better than us. He thinks he can hide the truth. I say we show the whole world who he really is."
There was a chorus of agreement.
"Don't you agree with me..., my dear little brother?"
The boy in the corner gave a start and pressed himself further into his niche, almost as if he could magically melt into the scenery and avoid the three pairs of eyes—one of which belonged to a young man who could have almost been his twin.
"Well...?" His half-brother raised a dark brow at him.
"Ye...yes, of course I do. I trust my best friend and brother more than anything," Naraku let out a nervous laugh and held his hands up in an almost pleading gesture.
Onigumo narrowed his eyes briefly at him before a genial smile touched his lips. He then half-sauntered over to his sibling.
"That's so nice of you," he chuckled when he reached a distance of two feet from his brother. "My cute little brother agrees with everything I say. So I guess you agree that I deserve the best, that I deserve the most beautiful girl in school...don't you, Otou-chan?"
If possible, Naraku pressed himself harder into the side of the building, shirking away from the dark gaze of his brother, the brother who wasn't as loved as he himself even thought HE was actually legitimate.
"Yes, onii-sama, you deserve her. The prince has no right to touch what belongs to you."
That kind smile never left his face as Onigumo slammed his fist into the wall next to Naraku's head hard enough to leave a crack in the concrete blocks. Naraku whimpered.
"You're lying, Naraku. I don't like liars, and I particularly despise people who call me a liar."
"But I didn't..." He cut off abruptly when the hand next to his head moved to stroke his hair and he had to fight not to flinch away.
"Oh, but you did. Didn't I tell you we were friends? Didn't I tell you I would never hurt you? You're afraid of me; you thought I was going to hit you just now...But it was all in your feeble little mind. Your actions speak for you...or maybe you want to be hit, maybe you LIKE getting hurt. Maybe I'll oblige you."
"Please Onii-sama, please don't."
"Did I also tell you that I hate cowardice? But...since we are best friends, I won't hurt you," his little brother relaxed and his smile twisted into something more malicious.
"No I won't hurt you; that task belongs to Bankotsu here."
It was amusing to see the way he tensed back up and even more so to see his rare display of backbone in trying to escape from the alley that they had dubbed their "hang-out spot."
He made it three steps before Jakotsu caught him and dragged him back their mutual "friend."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The sun was harsh on her face and she turned, trying to avoid the bright invasion, before a hot lance of pain shot through her back. Her muscles locked up and she gasped. Dry lips opened in a silent cry of agony as the events of the night before played themselves out in her mind. The thought of letting out every scream that she had forcibly repressed was tempting, so very, very tempting, but she sucked it in and comforted herself with the thought that, with everything that had happened since she failed with Sesshoumaru, her small bits of pride remained intact.
It was that thought that made Kagura smile. Her pride, it seemed, was the only constant in her life. Pride kept her eyes dry and her mind sharp when her sister died. Pride kept her heart from breaking and her defiance firm when Onigumo took her in and used her..."assets" to make business deals and partners, building a large part of his empire on her body. Pride kept her from letting Sesshoumaru go, even though she had cheated on him for years. Funny how her pride became something cruel where her ex-husband came in.
She knew, long before she ever met Sesshoumaru, that Onigumo wanted him dead. The fact that he had plenty of money only delayed the inevitable. After all, her cousin's late father had held a grudge against both the Toyotomi family and the family of Toga, Toyotomi's new wife. She was supposed to be killing two birds with one stone.
How ironic that she allowed herself to have a few years of freedom with a husband who was easy to manipulate. How ironic that she enjoyed manipulating him. Then again, perhaps it was because there was something childlike in his willingness to trust her that she began to feel something for him. That's when it all fell apart.
He came to her one day and, in her eyes, declared that he didn't want to depend on her emotionally anymore. He found a dream, he found something that would let him break out of the shell she had built around him, and when she argued that he didn't need something like that, he gave her a look that made her fear him.
Fear was a catalyst for so many things, and her world fell apart in a few short years as she realized that her heart had been far more involved with the former Sesshoumaru—the one who relied on her—than she wanted. She regretted the day she ever introduced him to her lover's brother-in-law, Shippo, who was the head of a major publishing company. Her hopes that he would try and fail were dashed when he became a rousing success and his first book topped the charts. She wanted him to fall from his dream and be discouraged, but the opposite happened, and she felt a bit of her protective pride falling away.
Bit by bit it happened. From his success, to his realization that she was using him for his money, to his accursed patience, to his request for a divorce, to him being enamored of that girl, to his step-mother—the unprecedented variable, who forced her to give him the permanent separation he desired—each, act chipped away at her pride until the very last, which shattered it completely.
Wasn't it even funnier that he never knew why she did the things she did? That of all the lies she fed him, her feelings first feeling had been the most honest? And wasn't it a laugh that the only one still standing was the man she hated the most? The man who tortured her because the one man she had somewhat cared about decided that he needed freedom?
She let out a bitter laugh and set about the tedious task of dragging herself upright. And even now he had the audacity to try and use her to complete his plans. He wanted her to use their failed marriage to ruin Sesshoumaru when she knew that even when he was aware of the fact that she was cheating on him, he had foolishly clung to their marriage vows. Few people get the chance to exact revenge on the person who has hurt them the most, but given a choice between hurting her ex and screwing Onigumo over...the latter thought made her almost giddy.
But how? she wondered, and as she pondered how she should go about it, her solution opened the door to the torture chamber and walked over to stand next to her.
"Do you want to redeem yourself?" she asked without looking up, instinctually knowing who it was.
"Yes," he replied.
"Than do as I say."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Souta, I want you to contact the police and tell them to tighten security around the Houshi Ballroom tomorrow night for the party. Then contact my doctor and set up a physical examination for tonight. Tell her that I don't care when she has to go home because this is too important. Next call the judge up and tell him that if we can have a wedding tomorrow morning, I'll seriously consider making him the Chief of Justice," Iyazoi mentally ticked the needed arrangements off in her head, wondering what she was forgetting.
"Oh yes, and tell the stubborn child of Toga's loins that he needs to make up with 'big brother' Sesshoumaru A.S.A.P. because I won't allow him to miss out on what will probably be the happiest day of his Onii-chan's life."
Souta quickly scribbled down his notes and went off to make the calls while she leaned back and massaged her temple, a habit that was rapidly becoming second to breathing with all of the stress she was going through. Why am I doing this again? she pondered. Oh, because I love him of course, silly me.
A thought occurred to her, a very brief one and nothing of importance really, but she sighed for the hundredth time and picked up the phone anyways. I'm sure it's nothing, she thought as she contacted Kaede, an old friend of the family who was both an aunt to her children and worked in the records department of city hall.
The phone rang a couple of times before an elderly but firm voice answered with a gruff, "Hello?"
"Hello Kaede, this is Iyazoi."
"Ah, hello my dear, how are you doing?" There was no mistaking the joy in the voice on the other line.
She smiled and replied, "I'm fine, how are you?"
"Not bad for an old lady. What can I do for you today?"
"I have a favor to ask of you. You remember my step-son, Sesshoumaru?"
A chuckle sounded as Kaede replied, "Of course I do, he's quite...unforgettable."
"I know what you mean; he is a rather unique individual isn't he? But, as I was saying, I have a favor. It would seem my foolish child has finally fallen in love, for real this time."
"He has, has he? I take it he finally got rid of that witch he was married to?"
"Yes, I saw to that personally, and good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. His new love is a sweet little thing called Rin Hattori. I know it's a formality but could you please run a background check on her? I'm sure every thing's fine, but you know how I am."
Another chuckle. "I sure do. It's not a problem. I'll get back to you tomorrow with what I've found, alright Iyazoi dear."
"That's fine, you can bring it to me at the wedding tomorrow."
"Wedding?"
"Yes, they're getting together tomorrow if he was successful in asking for her hand. I'm sure he's convinced her by now. After all, he can be charming when he wants to be."
"Don't I know it. A pity those moments are far and in between."
"True. Anyways, I have a few more matters to take care of, so I'll see you later."
"Alright, see you tomorrow, dear."
The line went dead and she sat back, replacing the phone on its cradle. This was one of those times when being who she was became both a blessing and a curse. She could get things done but she wasn't allowed to go out and make the arrangement herself because her father had many enemies among the Yakuza, the largest threat being the Miyazawa family.
Sesshoumaru, don't you dare screw this up.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Who do you think is going to die, Inu," Kagome murmured, walking around the table to rest her hands on his shoulders.
"I don't know Kagome. I just don't know. This is one of those times when I actually want Frosty to be here. Weird crap like this is made for weird guys like him, and he's about as odd as they come. He's the smart one in the family, not me. Dad was always telling me to "be like Sesshoumaru," or "Sesshoumaru can work this or that problem out so why can't you." Kami, I freakin' hated him for that. Why is a jerk like him some sort of genius, huh?" His voice turned angry. "I don't give a crap what kind of emotional handicaps he has, he needs to learn that he's just as human as the rest of us, not some sort of god!"
His wife blinked at his outburst before a tiny smile touched her lips. Bending forward, she allowed her hands to slide down his arms, until she was draped around him in a loose hug.
"Inuuuu," she breathed into his sensitive ears, knowing full well that he was weak against that particular attack.
"What?" he grumbled, trying halfheartedly to pull away from her.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say you're jealous of him."
"AM NOT," he huffed, and she smiled when she realized that he probably didn't know that his face had settled into a pout.
"Really?" she purred, tightening her grip on him and nuzzling his cheek affectionately.
He shuddered and weakly tried to pull away. "Stop it Kagome, it's distracting."
"That's the idea, Inu," she gave him a peck on the cheek, working her way towards his mouth.
"Now isn't the time for this, I have too much to think about."
"Now...is the perfect time for this. You need to relax because you're getting yourself worked up over a dream. As you said, not even two minutes ago, thinking is not your forte. Since that's the case, I think you should go to the person who is strong where you are weak. I think this animosity between you two has gone on for long enough and I also think that you two would be unstoppable if you would get over you petty differences."
"But..."
She held up her hand in an obvious gesture to shut up, "And...I also think that you should call him in a few hours and see what you two can come up with."
"A few hours? Why not now," he asked, not bothering to disagree with her on the idea of calling "the Prince" A.K.A. Sesshoumaru, even though the idea bothered him.
"Because," she placed a sweet kiss on his pouting lips, "your wife thinks we need to start working on providing our precious Taro-chan with a little brother or sister since one child obviously wasn't enough to settle you down."
He stared wide-eyed at her as she leaned back and gave him a rather seductive look.
"But I have to go to work."
"Call in honey. I'm off today and it doesn't matter because my boss disappeared somewhere."
"Are you sure you're doing his just to have another kid?"
She gave him that smile again and wandered over to the bedroom door, opening it into the half-light within before leaning against the doorway.
"Are you sure you don't want to find out, my grumpy love?"
His answering blush was cute.
Golden eyes darted from her to the briefcase propped against the door leading outside and back again.
A smirk touched his lips and he followed her into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Maybe, just maybe he would make that phone call...later of course.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"You've been here before, haven't you, Rin?" Sesshoumaru inquired as he got out of the car and shut the door.
"Of course," Rin replied as she stretched her tired body, completely unaware of the admiring stare he gave her as he appraised her taut muscles and the way her lips parted in a contented sigh. She blinked owlishly, a tiny drop of moisture gathering in the corner of her eye as her sigh turned into a yawn, and he wondered if he would ever get past the "she's so cute when she does this or that" stage because his exact thought at the moment was, She's so cute.
She's corrupting me bit by bit. It was almost enough to make him worry...that is until she smiled at him and almost pranced over to take his hand and led him up the steps to his half-brother's front door.
"Don't just stand there, Sessh, let's get this show on the road." The little pout she gave him made that 'she's so cute' voice pop up into his head again, and he breathed a heavy sigh. He really needed to build up some kind of immunity to her charms before he became her personal yes-man. Then again, some husbands were exactly that—a sycophant completely driven by the demands of his wife. Much like Inuyasha, he thought. Memories of just how controlled Inuyasha was by his harpy of a wife brought a rather sadistic smile to his lips.
"Yes, let's 'get this show on the road' as you put it," he said with just a hint of tightness to his voice. In all honesty he didn't want to be here. Correction, he didn't want to be within line of sight or even within twenty miles of "the brat's" home. In fact, why stop there? If he could forget he ever had a little brother, life would be perfect. The only reason he was here now was because Rin wanted him to talk to Inuyasha.
Even now, he still found it hard to try and understand where she had gotten the ridiculous notion that she loved him from... Then again, why had he allowed his personality to deteriorate to the point of actually caring about someone besides himself? And he couldn't possibly forget about the additional sin of feeling that he needed, not just wanted, the constant interruption of the small woman before him into his semi-structured life.
A girl who attempts the impossible, defies me at every turn, and entices me while doing it, he mused silently as she stopped in front of the door and rang the bell. I must be losing it, was his last thought before a slender arm was wound around his own, and a warm, curvaceous body hugged itself close to him. His brain shut down except for that one part where he stored all of those less than pure thoughts about his fiancée.
"Are you that bothered by the thought of seeing Inuyasha, Sessh?" She lifted long lashes to look up at him with guileless eyes and he felt the worst kind of cad for thinking dirty things about the girl in front of him.
He averted his eyes and attempted to move away, but she responded by pulling him closer with one hand while ringing the doorbell again with the other.
"Sesshoumaru...?"
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and gently, but firmly, dislodged her hand and held her away at arms length, holding her still with a not so steady hand on each shoulder.
"Sessh...?" she attempted to touch his face, but he squeezed her shoulder almost painfully and shook his head before meeting her gentle gaze, willing her to read the pent up desire there.
Chocolate eyes perused his own amber orbs and she blinked, understanding coming to her in increments that were clearly displayed on her innocent face.
"Rin...perhaps we should avoid touching quite so much until after the wedding."
It was heart wrenching, even for him, to see the hurt in her eyes mixed with the knowledge that he might be right to ask such a thing of her. Then again, neither knowledge of his predicament nor her understanding of his own version of morals—what little he did have—could have prevented her from asking the fated question, "Why?"
He decided to break down just a bit in order to touch a finger to the sweetly curved lips that he was most thoroughly addicted to. She pursed them against his skin, a beautifully sensual thing in its simplicity, and he remembered again why he needed to keep a little distance between them. It wasn't because he wanted to, no; it was because with every wall around him that she broke down with her gentle touches and honest words..., with every crack that appeared in the shell around his heart, he felt his inhibitions slipping. He wanted to be with her in the worst kind of way, but he didn't want to jeopardize what they had, not when they were so close to having their wishes fulfilled. Those were the thoughts behind his answer to her question.
"Rin," he said as he pulled his hands away, abandoning all physical contact for the moment, "I think you know why."
"I think that maybe I do, but could you indulge me just once in this? I want an answer from your own lips, Sessh. It isn't healthy to assume that I know everything that goes on in that head of yours."
He smiled a bit at that. And here I was thinking that I didn't need to constantly explain myself, especially to her.
"If I indulge you anymore, I'll spoil you to death..." Even the frown she gave him was cute, but he gave her no indication of his thoughts before continuing, "...but, since you ask me so nicely, I'll put it to you straight. I want you, not just as a fiancée or a trusted friend but as a..." It was a struggle for a man who had been as "physically" active with women as he, to explain to a much younger woman—a virgin at that—that he wanted to lock the two of them into a bedroom and stay there for a day or two, all without blushing, which he refused to do in front of her again. And thusly did his self confidence put a gun to its head and commit suicide. It had nothing else to live for after his pride died ages ago, his author's mind thought wryly.
"Do you have your head in the clouds, Sessh? Am I embarrassing you or something? What do you want from me?"
Oh, nothing really. Just you prancing around the way you do with nothing on but a smile. Heck, let's toss a bed into the picture and you can guarantee my cooperation in anything. I hate it when that woman is right. The woman in question being his meddling step-mother and the way she had called him a total pervert or maybe a male nymphomaniac, in so many words of course. Tangent, tangent, flashed through his head and he realized that she was still waiting for an answer.
There was a slight movement of the curtains lining Inuyasha's living room, but he paid them no mind as he said simply, in as direct a voice as possible, "I really want to...the reason I want to stay away from you is because..."
"You want to sleep with me?" she finished for him quite bluntly, somehow keeping a straight face on, and he nearly fell down the stairs.
It was out of the blue, it was out of character, it was so...not like Rin, and he fixed her with an annoyed stare. "If you knew what I was trying to say then why in the world would you ask me that foolish question?"
"I never said that I knew what your reasons are, only that I thought I might know. I figured that my suspicions were correct when you kept stumbling over your words. Not only that, but..."
"But...?"
"Sessh, do you realize that whenever you start talking about something sexual you never look me in the eyes."
"What do you mean? I can't help but look at you when it comes to things like that."
"Don't put words into my mouth if you please. You look at me alright, but not at my face. What you stare at is something, well two somethings, about nine or so inches down and sometimes you get what I like to call the dirty-old-man look on your face. Pretty childish of you, don't you think?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he grumbled and once again he noticed a slight ruffling in the curtains in sight over Rin's head. He frowned at them before she drew his attention back to her.
"You know, Sesshoumaru, I think that you sometimes forget that I became an adult the moment my mother passed away and that I've been living alone and taking care of myself for years, way before I met you. You are the most intelligent person I've ever known and about as dense as they come sometimes. And you know what?" Her eyes turned flirtatious and she bent so close to him that he wondered if she was trying to steal a kiss from him as she finished off her sentence, "I love that about you. It means you care." She moved away again before letting out a blush that she had to have been holding in for a while because it turned her red from the roots of her hair to the neckline of her shirt.
So she says, he thought before twitching the corners of his lips up into a smile. It would seem that he had found yet another facet of her personality to enjoy. Angry Rin, Happy Rin, Sad Rin, and now the Bold, Adult Rin who still blushed when she put on her front. Yes, he would enjoy all of them.
Sesshoumaru stared at the door, wondering if Inuyasha was even home before he decided to knock. His knuckles had barely grazed the wood when the door flew open and there stood Inuyasha with a heavy robe on and a thoughtful look on his face. A frown touched the elder brother's fair brow as he decided that Inuyasha had answered the door entirely too quickly and he cocked a brow when he saw a faint flush on his brother's face.
"And exactly where were you the other two times we rang your bell, Inuyasha? I see that you still have yet to learn any manners. Then again..." He wrinkled his nose at the smell of sweat exuding from his otouto's body—that smell, along with his flushed appearance and a faint sheen to his skin, gave him a very good idea of what his sibling had been up to when they arrived.
"Then again...what, Frosty? If you have something to say then spit it out."
They were interrupted by a throaty voice that he barely recognized as Kagome's calling out from somewhere in the house, "Inuuuuu, who is it? Tell them to go away and come back to bed."
They both cringed, but it was Sesshoumaru who recovered first and arched a brow at Inuyasha, "Pardon me, was I interrupting something? If I'm disturbing you, I'll be more than happy to leave you and the harpy to get back to doing things that I'd just as soon NOT imagine you doing for fear of losing my mind."
His younger brother's face turned murderous and he spat venomously, "You lost that years ago, before I was ever born. Don't get pissy with me just 'cause you aren't getting any."
Sesshoumaru's lips compressed into a tight line before an indulgent smile blossomed on his face and he cocked his head to the side before sliding an arm around Rin, earning a puzzled look from her.
"Any you would know that...how Inuyasha? I don't recall stopping to give you the time of day let alone tell you about who I've had in my bed."
"Don't screw around with me, Jerkface, I heard you..." he trailed off, eyes widening as he realized that he had just admitted to eavesdropping on his conversation with Rin.
The mystery of the moving curtains is solved, he thought triumphantly before allowing his smile to melt into something evil.
"My dear, little brother...do you mean to tell me that you left your wife right in the middle of IT to spy on your hated big brother and his fiancée like some sort of nosey female? I never knew you were such a pitiful lover. Kami, how does the harpy put up with you?"
Inuyasha flushed in embarrassment and cast his eyes downwards before mumbling something that he couldn't quite catch.
"What was that, brat, something about you being a sad excuse for a man? Why, I couldn't agree more."
The shorter man growled and forced a glare onto his face. "I asked what you were doing here."
"Me, I'm here because Rin wants to know about the truth," he stated, watching Inu closely to see what his reaction would be.
"The truth?" Inu murmured, a guarded look coming into his golden eyes. Oh, he's hiding something alright.
"Yes, the truth. Izayoi mentioned something to me about not remembering something and I've been having these weird flashbacks lately. By the way, it's rude to make us stand out on your porch. I'd appreciate it if we could be seated...for Rin's sake." He would never admit to needing anything from Inuyasha, not as long as there was breath in his body.
Golden eyes darted back and forth between Rin and his brother before he let out an almost imperceptible sigh and held the door open for them to enter.
Closing the door behind them, Inuyasha leaned against the wood for a brief second before looking at them and motioning for them to take a seat.
"Look, I'm not particularly decent at the moment and neither is Kagome, so can you two give us a few secs to get ourselves together?"
Rin gave him an understanding smile while Sesshoumaru merely rolled his eyes and gave him a nod coupled with a snort. The younger sibling forced himself not to react even though he was itching to plant a fist in that so-called perfect mouth of his.
He made his exit and braced himself, for how he knew Kagome would react to the news that they had to stop for company.
Sitting on the couch out on the living room, Rin took in her surroundings, noting that not much had changed. There were still pictures everywhere and that same vase filled with either dead or dying flowers. Off in the corner she saw the play pen that Inu had built for Taro to play in and in the other corner was the table where Kagome worked on repairing the clothes that Inu, invariably ripped one way or the other.
Will Sesshoumaru and I have a home like this? Will we have children of our own? The thought made her cheeks heat up for what seemed like the hundredth time and she edged just a teeny bit closer to her koi, but not so close that they touched. She didn't want him getting annoyed with her again...Speaking of which...
"Rin," he said her name softly and she looked up at him, wondering what was on his mind and thoroughly delighted when he placed a gentle finger beneath her chin and caught her gaze with those eyes that made her heart flutter and her insides twist into complicate knots of longing—although she could not have said what it was that she wanted.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru?"
"I meant what I said earlier, this will be the last time I do this until the wedding. Just this once, may I kiss you?"
She looked at him, at his clear golden eyes-filled with an apprehension that was completely unlike him, then his faintly pink-tinged cheeks with their smooth contours and softly rounded edges, and lastly at his soft, warm lips. The lips that could be as sweet as honey yet more demanding than the worst of task-masters were pursed slightly, the corners tugged down just a bit in silent contemplation.
"Are you afraid, Sesshoumaru?" she asked, knowing that a man such as he had the sort of pride that was strong against many things but cursed with a weak spot that could shatter the entire thing in an instant.
The look he gave her at her intrusive question was nothing short of incredulous, but it was gone in an instant and his fine lashes lowered over his unusual irises as he bent forward to touch his lips to hers gently, smoothly rubbing his skin across the exquisite poetry that was his Rin before snaking his tongue out to lightly caress her full bottom, lip which parted to allow him to deepen the kiss that neither of them wanted to end, knowing as they did that what Inuyasha would tell them could possibly make or break the fragile strength of their bond.
They drew away with matching sighs of regret and he answered her question at last with an almost shy smile and a whispered, "Not any more."
And then his cold mask slid back on as Inuyasha re-entered the room, but perhaps that is an inaccurate statement. It wasn't a mask that he put on, his coldness and his bitter tongue, no; a more realistic statement would be that he was only capable of becoming something else when he was with Rin. Only with her could he do what swallowing those sleeping pills-ages ago it seemed-hadn't, and that was to know freedom.
Drawing away fom her, he turned to face Inuyasha and Kagome as they approached his perch, keeping his hands folded in his lap and wishing silently that he wouldn't lose Rin over what they were about to tell him.
The couple seated themselves across from the couch and he couldn't help but notice the way Kagome refused to meet his eyes, nor could he ignore the stiff way she sat and the almost desperate manner in which she clutched at her husbands arm. So she knows as well.
He was further surprised when she, not Inuyasha, was the first to speak up.
"Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha has told me what you want and I confess that speaking to you now, even after ten long years, I can't help but feel my old feelings returning and I'll let you know now that it's taking every ounce of strength I have not to come over there and throttle you."
He raised a brow at her words spoken in a tight voice. Peaceful Kagome was threatening him?
"It would help if you could tell me exactly why you feel that way. What have I ever done to you?" he replied coolly.
She looked at him and he was taken aback by the anger, no, the fury burning in the depths of her normally soft brown eyes.
"Do you even realize that for you to have done what you did...and then, for you to forget her..." it almost came out as a sob, "do you realize how much you dishonor her death by not even bothering to remember her?! Sesshoumaru, are you telling me that you don't recall how she died? How painful it must be for me to question her murderer."
Murderer? So I did murder someone? He was getting annoyed with the way she was going on and on without getting to the point. With the exception of Rin, he couldn't stand it when people wasted his time by turning all emotional before telling him the meat of the matter.
"Woman, will you spit it out already?" he growled and he saw Rin giving him a disapproving glance from the corner of her eyes.
"Kami, don't you...I've kept this inside for so long...how can I "spit it out" as you so heartlessly put it? Why have I defended you to Inuyasha when you don't even have enough gratitude to treat us better or enough decency to remember my sister?! How many times I've tried to believe that it was just an accident? Even Inuyasha kept telling me to believe that it was a mistake."
Sister? He ignored the rest of her tirade and focused on that one word. An image cropped up of a young girl, a young Kagome to be precise, grabbing onto him and yelling "murderer" at the top of her lungs. Then he saw her again, looking up at him with dead eyes and a halo of blood around her head. Dead lips twisted and drew up into a gruesome smirk of triumph.
"Sister..." he said quietly before locking eyes with Kagome, "what about your sister? What did I do to her?"
The tension in the room grew and he felt as if he would drown in it any minute before she replied coldly, "You killed her. You murdered my sister, Kikyo."
(To be continued in part 2)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I'll have the next part up as soon as I can. Please Read and Review and thank you again for the support.