Now for the characters:
Narasake - Narasake is "the leading mind of medicine" in Sesshoumaru's castle and also happens to be the taiyoukai's aunt on his father's side.. She, like Sesshoumaru, is an inu youkai and has been previously mated, yet her mate passed away quite suddenly (No, she didn't kill him off...) and a while later, she has come across another. She has three children from her first mating, including Suikosu (who is in effect Sesshoumaru's cousin) who happens to be the youngest of the group. Narasake is a rather serious person and will literally tie a person down if they refuse to rest (Note the constant threats she sends Sesshoumaru's way..). Narasake looks to be about thirty, but she's really much older. (My batteries just died in my CD player..Now I have my CD player that plugs into the wall! I went from listening to .hack/ to The Hunchback of Notre Dame...I love when they sing in Latin..) Please tell me what you think of her! (Name pronunciation : Nar-uh-sah-key)
Rin - Rin is still eighteen and has just now met Sesshoumaru, her mate to be. To be honest, she is attracted to him physically, she just doesn't care for his 'attitude' or the way that he acts towards others. Perhaps she'll be able to whip him in to shape!
Sesshoumaru - Sesshoumaru's still Sesshoumaru and while I'm talking about him, I'd like to clear things up. Sesshoumaru had yet to meet Rin because it would have been awkward for both parties. Honestly, what adult looks at a child and says, "Hey, one day I'm gonna marry that kid." Probably few.. While Rin aged over the thirteen years, Sesshoumaru really didn't (At least in appearance) so it just would have been awkward to meet her while she was still too young to be mate material. He doesn't really plan on having much to do with Rin, as he isn't in total agreeance with the fact that the mating was prearranged... Perhaps his views will change...
Gysei Nobuyuki - Here he is, my favorite made up in the whole wide world! Gysei came about due to a roleplay that I still actively participate in. Since his creation, which was meant to be temporary, his character has grown and developed even if he hasn't. Gysei looks like a kid, but that's just the way he is and will be. He's exactly one day younger than Narasake, he just looks a lot younger. Gysei is rather sporadic and has no shame whatsoever. He is rather short, 5' 2 3/4'' (My height..), and his appearance can cause many to think of him as being much younger than he really is. He and Narasake make an odd couple, but you gotta love 'em. PLEASE tell me what you think of Gysei! I dressed up as him for Halloween last year and even sprayed my hair blue.. Oh yes, also I advise you to pay close attention to the early conversation between Narasake and Gysei! Secrets are held within... (Name pronunciation : Geese-eye)
Suikosu - Suikosu is becoming a larger character than I had planned and just so you know, he looks more like his father than his mother. He's in this chapter to provide Rin with some much needed information and still holds a bit of hostility towards her.. Perhaps that will change... (Name pronunciation : Sue-ee-koh-sue)
Now for the glossary of terms:
inu - dog
youkai - demon
hai - yes
Shoji screen door - A Shoji screen door is a wooden door that has a paper like covering that is decorated with paintings. If anyone has a better way of explaining it, please don't hesitate to say so!
futon - A futon is like..well it's like a sleeping bag, kind of, except its a bed. There is no bed frame, it goes right on the floor and I've heard they're comfortable.
kaibutsu - monster
kun - the male form of -chan (Just a way to address a person that you have a close relation to, like a friend)
hentai - pervert
kimono - A kimono is the traditional Japanese costume and is somewhat like a bathrobe, just a bit fancier and probably a lot more expensive. Just watch Inuyasha, it's what all the well-to-do women wear! I hope this definition didn't offend anyone..
ningen - human/mortal
And now on to the fan fic!
Ikiau / To Meet Somebody by Chance
It had been a short, yet difficult trek to the infirmary that lay within their final destination. Despite Sesshoumaru's annoyance, h was escorted there by his guard. No one from their party held any clue as to what had so mercilessly assaulted him and therefore they were forced to seek assistance from none other than the inu youkai's aunt, Narasake, who happened to be the leading mind of medicine there.
Once they'd entered the abode of the Western Lord, Rin had been struggling to keep up with the others. Many people were moving throughly the hallways at their arrival and she finally had become separated and lost.
Now wandering a random hallway, which looked extremely similar to all the other hallways, the frustrated teen sourly glared ahead.
Nearly at the halfway point, she found herself flat on her face, having tripped over something in the middle of the floor.
Rin wordlessly pulled herself to her feet before turning to see what dared to interrupt her while she was in so foul a mood.
Sprawled out upon the ground lay what appeared to be a youthful youkai. Standing, the boy would probably come up to the tip of Rin's nose.
She knelt down beside him, brushing his soft bluish gray hair from his face, so that she could see if he was all right.
The boy looked to have been beaten up, the area around his right eye was swelling and his bottom lip was busted. His bright clothing had grown a bit dirty and the collar of his blue overgarment and pale yellow undershirt were wrinkled as though someone had grabbed them.
"Great...someone else who needs help and I can't even find the infirmary..." She gently shook him by the shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"
He didn't so much as budge.
"Hey, kid."
Still no response.
She sighed heavily and seated herself beside him. "Someone has to come by eventually.." she muttered, cupping her chin in her hands.
A sudden hand on her knee caused her to tense up and lash out at the perpetrator.
The boy was now awake and hunched over, his face again covered by his hair.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, putting an arm around his shoulders. "I thought you were someone else... Are you okay?"
He looked up to her, his bottom lip now bleeding once more, due to her having hit him there, while tears collected in the corners of his eyes.
Rin frowned before giving him a full hug. "It's okay, everything'll be all right!"
"No it won't..." he suddenly replied in a quiet and juvenile voice.
"Of course it will." she replied, trying to calm him.
He just wordlessly shook his head, a downcast expression on his face.
"Who hurt you?"
"I can't..." he began.
"Gysei!" someone shouted, cutting him off.
He froze before slowly turning, pulling free from Rin's embrace in the process.
"Hai, Narasake?" the boy prompted.
A woman with dark, silk-like hair and silver colored eyes strode up to him, pulling him up by the arm.
"What are you doing out here in the middle of the...who did that to you?"
He gave her a puzzled look.
"I mean, who was it that hit you?" She then gestured to his face.
"Oh!" he exclaimed before frowning at her. "But you said..."
"What did I say?" she prompted, giving him a stern glare.
"That I was supposed to say.."
Her look hardened.
"Oh! Um..I...uh..got on the wrong side of one of the...um...soldiers?"
"Then let's go get you fixed up."
"In the infirmary?" he prompted hopefully.
"The infirmary!" Rin exclaimed, causing both of them to jump. "Could you tell me where that is?" she pleaded, clasping her hands before her.
The one dubbed Gysei stuck his hand in the air. "I can!" he exclaimed.
Narasake sent an annoyed look at him before walking off.
He stared after her, leaning to the side as he followed her with his eyes. "That was close!" he said with a sigh of relief.
"What was?" Rin asked, more than a little nonplused.
"I thought I was going to get it!"
"Get what?"
"Narasake's wrath!"
"Her wrath?"
"Yep! She can get real cranky when she's on her time!"
"On her time?"
The small demon visibly frowned and leaned towards her. "Don't you understand?" he asked.
"I think I might."
"You might! You're one of them! Don't deny it! Narasake has a time too, except she's not a human! She doesn't leak like you!"
Rin gave him a look of pure mortification.
"She's in heat!" he shouted. "Now do you understand ? I'm her mate, I know these things!"
"Aren't you a little...young?"
Now it was Gysei's turn to look offended. "I didn't think thirty hundred years was too young."
"Th-Thirty...hundred?"
"You sound kinda like an echo!"
'This entire thing's going to take some getting used to.' Rin thought glumly. She sighed heavily. "Hey Gysei, is it?"
"Is what?"
"Your name."
"Hai, I'm Gysei Nobuyuki!"
"All right. Gysei, can you show me how to get to the infirmary now?"
"Want the scenic route?"
"I want the quickest route."
"Okay!" He then began off down the hallway with Rin pushing herself to keep up with is quick strides.
It didn't take, the not so young, Gysei too long to lead Rin where she wished to go.
Once they had arrived and passed through the Shoji screen door, Rin went immediately to where Sesshoumaru was. She found him staring silently at the ceiling, as though he were pretending that the rest of the world no longer existed, and laying quietly on a futon.
"Hi! I hope you're feeling better!" she said as she seated herself beside him.
He made no move to show that he had even been aware of her arrival.
"Hellooo?" She waved a hand in front of his face.
After a moment or so, his golden gaze shifted to her face.
"Hi, I was beginning to think you were stuck or-"
He cut her off. "What led you to believe that I was unaware of your sudden presence?"
"Well you didn't say-"
"I fail to see why I should assure you that I heard you. It is not as though I am deaf, nor you, mute."
"It's something called common courtesy." she retorted, glaring at him now.
Gysei wordlessly watched them before taking Rin by the arm and pulling her aside. "I don't think Narasake would like it if you verbally assaulted one of her patients." he said, his expression nothing but serious.
"It isn't like I'm trying to.." she replied, frowning slightly.
"Coulda fooled me..."
"Don't make me verbally assault you too."
"I get enough of that already." he said, releasing her from his hold.
"That and more..." she murmured in disapproval as she glanced over his face.
She gently clasped his hand and led him off towards one of the many futons that littered the large area.
"Sit down." she commanded, pointing with her free hand to the futon.
"Why?"
"I'm going to help you."
"Are you a trained medical professional?"
"No, but it isn't like you need an amputation."
"You're gonna amputate my head!" He shot out of the room before she could so much as think up a reply.
Rin blinked, staring at the spot he had previously occupied. "I suppose that could have gone better..." she mused as she glanced around for him.
Almost as soon as he had left, Gysei was returned via Narasake, who carried him under one arm bearing a slightly annoyed expression as well. "Gysei, you are impossible.." she muttered, though there was a fondness in her tone.
She placed the small demon beside Sesshoumaru on another futon and began to clean off the dry blood from his lip and chin.
Narasake's eyes gradually traveled over towards Sesshoumaru as she worked. "How are you feeling, Sesshoumaru?" she prompted.
"I'm fine."
"Others would disagree."
"I am entitled solely to my own opinion."
"Um...excuse me..." Rin began meekly, having stood silent until now. "What happened?"
"Do you mean to Sesshoumaru?" Narasake prompted, now idly rubbing the place behind one of Gysei's ears. Meanwhile, Gysei was leaning towards her, steadily going lax.
"That feels nice.." he murmured, sounding oddly as though he were purring. (Don't freak, his mom was a cat demon, dad was a fox demon)
"Yeah..." Rin said slowly, giving Gysei a questioning look.
"When he bit the kaibutsu, he wasn't aware that its blood was its final line of defense."
"What do you mean?"
"It's blood contained a hazardous element that is extremely lethal if untreated."
"So he's going to be okay now, right?"
"So long as he waits for the Gnemon Tree leaves to finish working."
"What do they do?"
"They will rid him of the toxin that is currently within his system."
"Oh!"
"All he has to do is sit there until I say otherwise."
"Narasake..." Gysei whined.
"What?" she demanded in an aggravated tone.
"Quit it...you're making me sleepy. I don't wanna sleep yet.."
"I don't remember asking you, Gysei-kun." she retorted, scratching a bit more firmly now. "Besides, I believe that it's high time you gave everyone compensation for the way you were acting earlier."
"I...didn't know someone was under the balcony when I tried to fly off of it." he said in his defense.
She sighed heavily before replying. "You shouldn't have been trying to fly regardless.."
He scowled, trying halfheartedly to pull away from her in the process. He drew away slowly, but quickly enough to throw off her scratching.
Almost as soon as he'd freed himself, she made to catch him, managing to achieve obtaining a tight grip on his arm. Her grasp was a bit too tight, however, her knuckles white due to it.
Gysei winced before giving her a wide-eyed look.
She released him rather suddenly, a surprised expression on her face.
"Gysei, I'm-" she began.
Tears welled up in his eyes before he turned from her and fled.
Narasake faltered a moment before going after him, leaving Sesshoumaru and Rin alone for the time being.
"What was that all about?" Rin prompted, her eyes searching Sesshoumaru's for an answer.
"I believe that they had an argument a few nights ago." he replied simply.
"About what?"
"Ask them."
"I can't do that! That'd be rude."
"This suddenly bothers you?"
"Ha, ha, ha." she said dryly, crossing her arms. "That wasn't funny."
"What caused you to believe that it was meant to be?"
"I don't think I'm ever going to understand you." Rin retorted with slitted eyes. "If this whole mating thing's like marriage, then we're lacking communication already."
He didn't reply and simply settled himself down against the futon that he rested upon.
"Tired?" Rin questioned, taking note of this.
He held his silence and she scowled at him. "Would you please answer me?"
"Is it not obvious?"
"I'd just like to know.."
"I am beginning to wonder if Narasake may have given me more than simply Gnemon Tree leaves."
"Like what?"
"Horsetail or something similar."
"So, horsetail makes you sleepy?"
"It is a cure for insomnia."
"Oh...so it must do that then."
"One might suppose so." he answered as his eyes began to drift closed.
Rin quietly watched him, a thoughtful frown touched her lips.
"Hey, Sesshoumaru?"
His slight change in expression told her that he was listening.
"Do...do you think this'll all work out? You know, this whole mating thing?"
"That remains to be seen." he replied before succumbing to the fatigue that plagued him.
Rin drew her knees to her chest and sat there for a bit, quietly watching him as multiple thoughts chased one another through the expanse of her mind. She wasn't certain about how long she'd sat there, but when she began to grow uncomfortable, she finally stood and left the still room.
Once more the many halls provided her with little company as she traipsed through them, seeking sanctuary from the loneliness that had begun to grow suffocating. Rin felt trapped in this strange and unfamiliar place, seeing herself as little more than a prisoner facing solitary confinement. She knew no one here and the same could be said for anyone knowing her. Sure, she had run into a few of the residents, but she couldn't exactly say that she saw any of them as lifelong companions just yet.
She paused as she heard hurried footsteps coming her way and barely had time to leap out of the path of the oncoming Gysei.
He dove behind her, laying upon the floor once more with his chest having as he fought to catch his breath.
Rin stared down at him in question before asking, "What in the world are you doing?"
He got up and glanced down at her chest before offering, "Admiring the view?"
She gave him a puzzled look before directing her attention downward. The expression that she bore morphed into another of unease as well as anger. The tear the kaibutsu had made in the back of her kimono had caused it to fall forward and to show a bit more than she wanted seen.
Rin slowly rose her eyes to him once more and he wisely began to back away from her.
The next thing to be heard was a loud smack as well as a scream of "HENTAI!".
Gysei now gingerly held a hand to the red print on his face, a slight pout upon his lips, meanwhile, Rin held her kimono up with one hand, grabbing his with the other.
"Look," she said indignantly, "you're going to show me where I can get a change of clothes, all right?"
"What'd you hit me for!" he demanded angrily.
"Do I really need to explain that to you?" she prompted, now regarding him with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Didn't you ever hear the saying 'don't shoot the messenger'!"
"I'll shoot whoever I want if their eyes wander!"
"You shouldn't dress like that if you don't want someone lookin'!"
Rin growled in frustration before releasing him and beginning off on her own, not thinking that he'd ever do as she requested.
"You're going the wrong way.." he mused aloud, watching her.
"Then why don't you help me go the right way?" she demanded in a strained voice.
"Promise you won't kill me on the way?"
"I'll try not to."
He frowned slightly at her. "Promise?"
"Fine, yeah, whatever!"
He beamed and began off with Rin trudging along behind him.
It took them nearly an hour to reach their final destination.
"I thought you said you knew where you were going!" Rin said, glaring daggers at the back of Gysei's head.
"I don't come here often!"
Rin clenched a fist as though she were about to hit him, yet refrained.
Gysei knocked on the door frame of the room and soon Rin was in new clothes, however, Gysei had been taken by the crew of seamstresses who were dead set upon making him something new to wear as well. Obviously, the fox demon hadn't been lying when he said he hadn't been there in a while.
Rin idly smoothed the fabric of her attire as she walked along, a growing smile upon her face. She'd made it through an attack by a monster, gotten new clothes, passed Gysei off and now she could go and sleep the night away. Wait..where was she supposed to sleep..? The young teen slowly ran her palm down her face, now looking as though on the verge of tears. "No.." she said slowly. "I'm not going back..if I ask him for help, he'll never go away...there's gotta be another-" She caught sight of Suikosu as he crossed the hallway and a mischievous look came to her face.
"Oh, Suikosu.." she called in a sing-song voice.
He glanced towards her before speeding up.
"Hey!" she angrily exclaimed as she sped off after him. "Please, wait!" she said in a despairing voice.
Suikosu slowly came to a stop, heaving a sigh as he did so. "What do you want, ningen?"
She finally caught up with him and grabbed a hold of his arm to make sure he didn't start off again. She took a moment to catch her breath and finally spoke. "can you please tell me where I'm supposed to sleep?"
"How should I know?"
"You live here, don't you?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I know where you're supposed to stay. I can show you were Sesshoumaru's room is though."
"What good'll that do me?"
"It's better than nothing, besides, it's getting late anyway, you can either take it or leave it, ningen." he said, stifling a yawn in the process.
Rin sighed dejectedly as a slight blush colored her cheeks. "Fine, I'll steal his room for the night."
With Suikosu's help, she found Sesshoumaru's room and soon was fast asleep.
And now again for the glossary of terms:
inu - dog
youkai - demon
hai - yes
Shoji screen door - A Shoji screen door is a wooden door that has a paper like covering that is decorated with paintings. If anyone has a better way of explaining it, please don't hesitate to say so!
futon - A futon is like..well it's like a sleeping bag, kind of, except its a bed. There is no bed frame, it goes right on the floor and I've heard they're comfortable.
kaibutsu - monster
kun - the male form of -chan (Just a way to address a person that you have a close relation to, like a friend)
hentai - pervert
kimono - A kimono is the traditional Japanese costume and is somewhat like a bathrobe, just a bit fancier and probably a lot more expensive. Just watch Inuyasha, it's what all the well-to-do women wear! I hope this definition didn't offend anyone..
ningen - human/mortal
Well, there's chapter two, hope you enjoyed it. There are a few parts in it I'm not completely happy with but hey, them's the breaks. Now onto the reviews..
RahneSinclairDacosta - Thanks very much! It's always nice to receive a good review! What'd you like about it?
Angellaggaine - Thank you very much! I'm glad to see that people like the new version as well. I tried to make it a little bit more 'mature' (Just tried to upgrade my writing abilities actually) and I suppose it's working a little bit.. I still can't keep out the humorous tendencies..I like those...but it's going to become a lot more serious down the road. I know how I want this fan fiction to end and I think it'll throw everyone for a loop.. There's much more than just a mating here..
SmilesFade - -Hugs back- Thank you very much, I'm glad to hear that you think it's good! What do you like about it?
HypeRazNChocobOGoddesS - What an interesting screen name.. Lol! Thanks very much for your constructive criticism! I know absolutely no Japanese and must rely on the horrid internet for guidance.. Hopefully I will get around to revising my fanfic to be...more...more.. grammatically correct? More Japanesely correct...? . Never mind.. I am taking your advice to heart..I just have to get around to making myself make changes. Where did you learn that stuff? Hopefully an online site that I can visit...? If anyone has any comments on my story referring to the way it is written, I don't consider them flames, I consider them much needed help! Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Thank you all for the reviews! I hope that you like my story and review again! Oh yeah! I also hope that you look at my one-shot entitled InuYasha's Musings!