A/N: Allow me to present the second installment of Rin, For Short. I'm pretty sure that the next chapter will be the last but- who knows! We may all be in for a surprise. Enjoy!
Diss-claimer: I don't own anything worth mentioning in this story. Though, in retrospect, I'm probably better off for it.
Chapter 2: On the Highway to Hell
"No."
"Actually, son, I wasn't questioning your attendance, I was informing you of it."
"No."
"Your objection is noted and dismissed. Now, do see if your brother has been informed about the ball aswell and, if not, make him informed and get ready."
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and resisted the urge to bitch-smack his father. This had really been a sucky homecoming. If he'd known he was going to get bullied into matrimony he would have never bothered to return. He needed to vent. He needed to kill something.
Where is that idiot Jaken?...Damn marriage, damn love and damn all those simpering women waiting to get their hands on my-
"Oh and Sesshoumaru, just one more thing, son."
"What is it, Father?"
"Do not try to escape. I have this place as tight as a flea's ass and there is no chance of you getting far without murdering anyone- and I won't have you shedding blood in my kingdom. It's high time you settled down. I would like to see some grandchildren before my time is up."
"Father, you are almost immortal. Just what exactly is your rush?"
"Oh..er..yes, that. Well..." And so his father muttered some nonsense.
There is something else to this, Sesshoumaru thought, The old man has a bet going on with my imbecile half-brother…Yes, it all begins to take shape now. I'll be damned if I let them use this Sesshoumaru as their toy. "Never mind. I wouldn't dream of running away from my duty." Unlike some people.
"Hmmm, touché. Off with you. I shall see you at the ball."
Sesshoumaru bowed and walked away. The Inu no Taisho sat smugly on his throne. This was one bet Inuyasha was going to lose. Everything seemed to be going his way. In fact, he counted…10…9…8…
The smell of scorching porcelain.
7…6…5...
Maids and servants running for their lives, screams of bloody murder.
4…3…2...
CRASH! There goes another one of my chandeliers.
1… Poor Jaken…
"JAKEN!"
I say, the Taisho thought, the boy is becoming damned predictable.
A few hours later, Sesshoumaru was still a tad…unhappy. But maybe 'unhappy' is too nice a word. Pissed. Yes, that's it. He was downright pissed. An encounter with Inuyasha had not done much to appease his nerves, in fact, it managed to aggravate him even further, as it often had a habit of doing. Come now, who's surprised?
Inuyasha had just been in the process of busily explaining to his fiancé, Lady Kagome, just why an education in this day and age was really unnecessary for a woman. In return, Lady Kagome had kindly offered to give her fiancé a very up-close-and-personal geography lesson, helping the Prince get formally reacquainted with the earth.
Inuyasha was still busy getting reacquainted when Sesshoumaru stormed through the courtyard.
"OSUWARI times infinity, you patriarchal baka!"
"What tha- OOOOMPH!
MAKE OOOMPH
IT SPLAAAT
STOP SMAAASH
PLEASE! WHAAAM"
"Oh, hello Sesshoumaru!" Kagome chirped brightly, her smile never faltering. This caught Sesshoumaru a bit off guard.
So heartless, so cruel, he thought, I like that in a woman. She is a better addition to this family than Inuyasha could ever be.
"When your worthless fiancé is finished making craters in my soon-to-be courtyard, inform him that there will be a ball tonight. Were you aware of this?"
"Ah yes, the ball!" Kagome smiled, running a few fingers through her air, still ignoring the cries of agony lingering through the foliage. "We were just informed. We'll certainly be ready in time- I'll have Inuyasha patched up and ready for action faster than you can say OSUWARI!"
Aaaaaaaaaaghhh... came the moans. So cruel, so young...
Sketchy was the only word that Sesshoumaru could use to describe his future sister-in-law. No one really knew where the Hell she was from and why, with all the fine kimonos in the land, she still chose to wear a raggedy 'skool yuneeform' and, after some time, no one particularly cared. Sesshoumaru took a few seconds to wonder just what it would be like to live in Kagome's world. He wondered whether or not he could actually get away with bumping his family off over there. No one would have to know. Such were the temptaions...
Sesshoumaru acknowledged her with a slight nod and walked off to...do something...somewhere, as Kagome beamed merrily at the excitement of tonight's ball and Inuyasha crawled to a dark corner of the Earth where he could cry for his future in peace.
"A BARRIER! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? OOOOH, THAT'S SO CHEAP!" Rin yelled, infuriated at being trapped within the premises, banging her head into an invisible force field whenever she tried to run out.
"Now dear, stop doing that or you'll give yourself a concussion. Then we'd actually have to hire the help instead of having such diligent forced labor, as we do now," Naraku said charmingly as she, Kagura and Kanna sat perched atop an elegant black feather. It was black to match the evening-wear, of course. Who needs a palanquin when you can fly?
Kagura was wearing a lovely red and black kimono which, Rin had to admit, was one of her best pieces of work. It set out Kagura's beady little red eyes. As for Kanna...sigh... almost everything was wasted on that girl. Except for mirrors. Rin had heard Naraku telling Kanna all sorts of strange stories about the castle being adorned with the biggest mirrors in the world, finally getting the girl to crack a small smile and blush. Mirrors, my ass, Rin thought. Wasn't Kanna in for a surprise.
"Later, loser!" Kagura called out before flying off. And before Rin could retaliate, Kagura flipped her the bird…yes, the middle one, the only bird that is worth mentioning, and they were gone.
Rin's frown slowly melted into a malicious smile as she watched the feather fade into the night and leaned back against a tree in the yard. Gee, she thought, I hope I didn't leave –too- many stray needles on that kimono. A funny business, this sewing is.
Now, how to get out of here...?
Two solid hours of banging, scratching, singe-ing and singing later, Rin admitted defeat, certain that the jaws of life couldn't pry the damn barrier open. Having worn herself out thus, she did the only thing that a sensible teenage girl would do in that type of situation.
"WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- "
"Be silent you impudent wench!"
Funny, that voice sounded really familiar. And annoying.
"Who's there! Show yourself and please let me out while you're at it!"
"Shut up, girl. I'll get to everything in my own sweet time." Suddenly, with haphazard sparks gravitating towards an ominous center, a small form began to materialize. A small green form with...yellow eyes.
"And you are...?" Rin asked suspiciously. Whatever she was looking at, she didn't like it and it was no secret that it didn't like her back.
"I, you wench, am your Fairy God- Imp. My name is Jaken and that's Lord Jaken to the likes of you."
"Oh really," Rin retorted, unconvinced, "then why the Hell are you all bruised and beaten up? Get in a gang fight or somethin'?"
"Hardly. I do have a day job you know. I can't go about imping aimlessly all day, not that that's any of your business. Let's get down to work you filthy maggot."
"Huh? In case you haven't noticed, I'm trapped here."
"Aha! And that's where you're mistaken! There's nothing that a little magic can't fix." Just like that Jaken pulled his magic staff out of the air. NO, the one with the two heads. NOOOO, ew…pervs, sod off... We are talking about the Staff of Heads. Cringe.
"And I half expected it to be a wand," Rin said with appreciation.
"Never. What do you take me for.. So, you want to go to the ball, yes? We'd best hurry, I hear that a fight between the princes is brewing and the Lady Kikyo has also shown up. I think Lady Kagome pinned her to the tapestry with her arrows. We wouldn't want to miss all the action."
"We wouldn't?"
"No. Besides, I have damage control duty tonight."
"Right," said Rin, only half understanding. "Wait, if you don't like me, why are you helping me out anyway? What's in it for you?"
Jaken sighed. He had been warned that this was not going to be easy.
"Wench, I have two words for you: community service."
Rin's eyes opened in an understanding 'oooh.'
"Now, I will be able to provide you with proper attire, transportation, and several other tidbits however, I will need several things in return."
Here we go, Rin thought, I knew a freebie was too much to hope for.
Jaken counted off. "I shall need: two proofs of identification- one being government issued- a passport and library card will do, a fingerprint, your signature at the bottom of the page indicating that you are indeed the person receiving the help of your designated Fairy God-Imp (it's a regional thing), and your promise that you will leave the ball at the stroke of midnight."
Rin paused as she was looking through her wallet for the correct forms of identification. Homeland security had gotten really tight lately...
"Why midnight?"
"Because…" Jaken fumbled.
"Because...?"
"Because, you wench, that's when all the good programming on Adult Swim comes on and I'll be damned if I miss it because I have to baby-sit the likes of you! Happy now?"
"Alright alright! Sheesh...forget I asked." Irritable little thing, isn't he.
"Where was I? Ah, yes. You will turn into your normal filthy self at midnight so you had better heed my warning. Now, may I present, your transportation: AH! UN!"
To Rin's surprise a large, two-headed dragon-beast came tromping along happily. It eyed her with enthusiasm- a little too much enthusiasm, which kept Rin hoping that it hadn't just secured its next meal. Instead, the creature(s) came up to her and licked her face. Sketchy, Rin thought, but cute nevertheless.
"Now the kimono!" Jaken took a step backwards, tapped the bottom of his staff twice on the ground and Rin's raggedy orange and beige work-kimono slowly transformed itself into a beautiful black and silver one, complete with flying crane threadwork (for all you kimono buffs), matching silver obi and...what's this? Glass sandals...?
"Wow," Rin said, not a little taken aback, "this is hot... I love it! You've really got an eye for fashion!" Though you'd never think it, she added in her mind. Glass sandals- a real step up from tatami.
"I do, don't I?" Jaken stated, marveling at himself, completely impressed with his work and ability to, once again, turn an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. But that is another fairytale, for another time.
"Well, be on your way now, before it gets too late. You have everything you need, correct?"
"Kimono, check. Transportation, check. Midnight curfew, check. I think I'm ready for liftoff!" Rin said happily as she elegantly glided to a sitting position on top of Ah-Un.
Ah-Un began trotting off as Rin turned back to wave at Jaken.
Suddenly, OOOOMPHH! Rin came crashing down as Ah-Un continued on his way. She looked up from the ground and cursed.
"Damn it all to Hell!" She smiled weakly at Jaken who was still gawking at his masterpiece, ruined. "Ehehee..oops, I forgot. Could you ah...maybe undo this barrier that my stepmother put around the house? Yeah...Thanks..."
Rin, despite the few scratches, bruises and burn marks that she had intercepted from Jaken's staff, was on her way to the ball, a mere hour and 23 minutes later.
At the palace steps, Rin stared in awe (as did the guards who were staring at her) at the sheer grandeur of the place. It was so rich it was almost disgusting. The flight of stairs was long...really, really, long. One step at a time, she told herself and slowly started to ascend. 500 huffs and puffs later, that last step seemed so close. In a haste that had been unheard of in the castle ever since Prince Inuyasha's ex-fiancé Lady Kikyo had decided to resurrect herself, Rin scrambled for the end of her nightmare. As such, she effectively managed to tangle her feet up in the bottom of her kimono, gracelessly thumping and sprawling at the top.
"Mother fucker…" Rin grumbled, dusting herself off.
So much for an elegant grand entrance.
A/N: Thanks for reading! As always, reviews are love, people, reviews are love.