I Do Not Own InuYasha


Aienkien

合縁奇縁

A couple strangely but happily united;

Uncanny relationship formed by a quirk of Fate;

The mysteries of attraction and relationships or bonds between people


II: 11


Year 1308...

Setsuna Castle...

Izayoi was subjected to another restless night, she could not settle her mind, she was tossing and turning.

In her dreams she was running, she was running through a very beautiful garden, it was green, and the rain had just ceased falling, there were a thousand birds singing, and the late spring was warming. It was beautiful, it was unreal, the level of care and detail. She chuckled as she ran softly, holding her kimonos as she ran, her feet were bare for her rare moment of pleasure, she could hear the water. There was something otherworldly about this garden, it was unlike any she had ever seen.

But she was focused as she chuckled and ran, she was running for some reason, there was a playful urgency to her running, which had her laughing.

"I got you!" a gruff voice laughed as a set of strong arms enveloped her, she squealed a bit as he swung her around. She gasped finding herself with her back pressed against a strong chest which rumbled lowly when he breathed. There was also a set of strong arms enveloping her, which made her feel safe, made her feel loved and warm. Izayoi leaned back on the man, she chuckled.

"It's so beautiful here," she breathed.

"It's yours," the voice said, which had her frowning slightly.

That was not Takemaru's voice, tilting her head back she stared in horror as a playful dream warped into a nightmare. The man holding her was a yōkai! His eyes were gold and his hair was drawn up in a silver tail, there was a fang caught on his lip, and he grinned rather ferally which had her slipping from his grasp.

"No…" she whispered.

"What is it beloved?" he asked.

"No!" she shrieked as she threw off her duvet and sat up on her futon, her chest heaving, her heart pounding painfully in her chest, and a thin coat of sweat on her skin. A groan escaped her in a rather unladylike manner as she fell back on the futon.

She couldn't rest, she looked at her room, the dying candle light illuminated very little in a warm orange glow, which had her sighing.

That, of all her dreams had been the most intense, she could not understand it. Slowly extracting herself from her futon she decided a late night walk was what she needed. Pulling on a heavy robe to ward off the night's chill she picked up the small candle and slipped out of her room to the gardens. Izayoi had spent many years in Setsuna, it had been her second home, but the destruction of her father's own home had forced her intended to take her in, for which she was grateful. Takemaru was a very kind and generous man.

Still, these vivid dreams which plagued her made her question a union with Takemaru and if it was wise.

Walking on the engawa she paused when she saw a small form sitting against one of the posts. Izayoi inhaled sharply, she could never explain it, she knew she should but she simply could not, but she felt compelled to help and trust the girl Rin. There was something so small, so vulnerable and yet powerful within the small woman, she felt she should aid Rin. Though Takemaru was less inclined, Izayoi had persuaded her intended to let her hire Rin as an attendant for her, though she kept Rin in a guest quarters. It felt… wrong, to put Rin with the other servants. There was something regal and commanding about Rin, like a warrior to be paid her dues, she was a force, a typhoon, and yet she was gentle, she was elegant like a blossom, and she felt; as silly as this seemed Izayoi could not shake the sense; Rin felt royal. There was something about the girl which was like standing with the Empress or before the Emperor, it was this awe inspiring sensation.

"Couldn't sleep?" Rin asked, which had Izayoi jolting a little as she frowned at the girl. The girl chuckled. "Don't worry, I couldn't either."

"Is that why you are sitting here in the rain?" Izayoi huffed.

"I like the rain," Rin chuckled. "But no, that is not why I am sitting here, I came here to think about my problem and how to go about achieving a solution. And you my lady?" Rin asked.

"I have been having very strange dreams lately," she admitted as she took a seat beside Rin. The rain was cool on her bare feet as they dangled over the garden floor.

"Oh? May I ask what about?" Rin asked.

"They are unclear," she lied.

"Izayoi-sama," Rin said softly. "Do these dreams… involve?... someone who is not Takemaru?" Rin asked sagely.

Izayoi sputtered as she bit the inside of her cheek to try not to answer.

"I see," Rin said softly with this knowing tone.

"I do not know why," Izayoi admitted as she stared at the garden. She didn't dare to look at Rin, or to let Rin see her shame. "I have been dreaming of a man though," she said.

"Mmm," Rin hummed.

"Tonight I saw the man I dream of is a yōkai though," she whispered.

"I used to have dreams like that," Rin said softly.

"You did?" Izayoi stared at the young woman who lifted her hand to the rain.

"I did. Since the time I was very little, I would dream of a very beautiful, very sad silver man," Rin admitted. "I told my mama about him once."

"You did?"

"Yes," Rin said softly.

"What did you do about them?" Izayoi asked.

"I found him," Rin answered.

"What!?" Izayoi hissed.

"He is my lord, I am his Rin, I was always going to seek him out, it just took a bit of time," Rin admitted.

"These dreams are possession," Izayoi stated. She hated the dreams; she hated the restless yearning they inspired within her.

"They are, but not the kind you believe," she said softly.


Rin looked at the older woman and smiled slightly. For as long as Rin could remember she had dreamt of her lord, it was of her first memories. She had told her mama, her mama said that the silver man was a protective spirit watching over her. Her mama hadn't been wrong in that sense. Many years of asking though Rin learnt that Kagome had had dreams of InuYasha long before they met; though she had never comprehended or known that.

According to Kimi it was a bound between True Mates, a window into one's mate's life, a chance to see with a soul when all the other senses were failing. Rin didn't entirely understand it, but dreams were merely a looking glass into the actual eyes and heart of their bonded True Mate, it was a step in the bonding process. Not that it had ever mattered to Rin, she had long since resigned herself to the fact she would love only one man, and he was Sesshōmaru. Whatever form that love took was whatever form it was, but he was it for her, in whatever capacity that would be.

"You dream of that monster coming and stealing you away, pretending to love you!?" Izayoi demanded.

"One thing to know about a yōkai, my lady, they do not pretend whatever emotion it is they display, you can rest assure that whatever emotion they follow or feel is felt to the fullest and with the deepest devotion a human cannot comprehend, it is consuming, like drowning in a tsunami or burning in the sun, it is felt to the fullest."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I have felt it. But I doubt you and I dream of the same yōkai, so tell me about yours," she said softly. Rin doubted anyone dreamt of Sesshōmaru how she dreamt of her lord. Except maybe Jaken and she did not want to know what the kappa dreamt of in regard to their lord. Sesshōmaru probably did not wish to know either.

"Who do you dream of?" Izayoi demanded.

"I dreamt of my lord, when I was a little girl, long before I met him."

"And afterwards?" Izayoi asked.

"I did not dream of him because I was with him," Rin explained. She would dream of Sesshōmaru when they were apart, but it wasn't like before their magic link was formed. Before it was always just him, and just her, they didn't do much. She remembered dreams where they would sit together on an engawa, or she would play in a beautiful shiro's halls, or they would just be together under a large magnolia tree. The dreams were not important, what had been important was Sesshōmaru, he was always there, and there was something sad and tired about him, something lost.

"I see."

"Who do you dream of?"

"I do not know," Izayoi dismissed. "He is very handsome though, with eyes that are gold as the sun, hair white as fresh snow, and marks the color of plum blossoms," she said softly.

"I see," Rin nodded.

"What does it mean?" Izayoi asked.

"They are just dreams until they should come to fruit Izayoi," Rin said softly. "It does no one any favors to dwell upon them until the time is right," she admitted.

"That is maddeningly unhelpful! I want them gone, I need sleep," Izayoi sighed in exhaustion, as she rubbed her brow.

"I have a remedy, some tea," Rin offered.

"Nothing aids what ails me," she murmured.

"I will make you the tea my mother made me," Rin said standing. Offering Izayoi a hand she watched the older woman eye her hand warily before accepting it and getting up. Walking through the halls of Setsuna they found the kitchens where Rin started to prepare the tea. She did not do a tea ritual, she had never had patience for the beauty of process of such a ritual, she merely wanted the tea.

"What do you mean by the dreams coming to fruit?"

"From my understanding, according to my lord's mother, the dreams cease when you meet the one you dream of, though that is not in my experience."

"What is your experience?" Izayoi asked.

"Yes there is peace, the dreams are no longer all consuming, when apart they're there, like a comforting blanket," she admitted. Rin had always found comfort in dreams she had of Sesshōmaru when he was away, there were times it was like she could see through his eyes. But that was absurd, she knew it, no connection was ever that strong according to Kimi.

"I see, how do you find comfort in such thing?" Izayoi asked.

"For me it just is," Rin replied. Pouring them both some tea she assessed the older woman.

"Why are you here Rin, what keeps you here?"

"I seek answers from the Shikon no Tama," Rin sighed. "What keeps me here is my lord probably, I do not know what to do about him right now. He is a most vexing of creature, very infuriating and quiet."

"Your lord is here!?"

"Yes," she replied. "He is here, but he is not yet my lord. I will admit it is best not to dwell on this conundrum, it will make your head pound as if you had beaten your head against a mountain."

"I see, and why is that?" Izayoi mused as she settled back sipping her tea.

"My lord's brother's mate calls it 'time travel', I am not from when this time is happening, merely a far-off future," Rin explained.

"Really!?" Izayoi blinked rapidly.

"You must think me mad, my lady, but then I think me mad at times since arriving here," Rin chuckled.

"Not at all," Izayoi said. "I… I had heard tales of such occurrences happening, though they were from the West."

"I see, well, perhaps I will find my answers in the West," Rin admitted blandly.

"Well, the Shikon no Tama is in the Taijiya village in the north, no one knows where, but that is where the Shikon no Tama is," Izayoi admitted.

"I see…" Rin mused. She would need to investigate that, perhaps the well had not needlessly spat her out in a random time. Perhaps an actual connection to the accursed jewel was what was needed, and perhaps that would reveal it's secrets as to how to save her lord.

She hissed a bit as she slapped her neck at the sharp pinch there and frowned.


Year 1581...

Edo, Japan...

It was well into the night now, Sesshōmaru rest against the well, his head back and his eyes closed as he focused on breathing. The Tenseiga was resting on his shoulder, he had his right arm resting on his bent knee. He was seeking her out through the bond, but he was finding it to be a maddening void. Something he despised because it meant she was not here. He did not care about what his father's will was, Rin was down this well, and when she returned she would need him. Slowly his claws curled into a fist as he cursed the kami and the fates for this.

There was a sound which had his eyes snapping open as he threateningly uncurled his claws at the new comers.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Myōga appeared on his wrist which had him growling lowly as Tōtōsai appeared riding Mō-Mō. He said nothing as he between the two of them; they had been his father's most loyal of servants and the protectors of his father's will. He wanted them both dead, they both knew it which was why they tended to steer clear of him, contacting him through Bokusenō when they absolutely had to. Sesshōmaru felt his claw twitching with the desire to skewer them.

"Sesshōmaru-sama," Tōtōsai bowed his head lowly. "The final part of your father's will is ready to be executed."

"I do not give a damn what my father wanted," he snarled lowly which had the flea fleeing to a safer perch as Sesshōmaru glared at them.

"I believe that you will want to hear what is to be done," Tōtōsai said as he got of Mō-Mō then.

"Father deprived me of everything of value long ago, I do not need his help or final faux act of a will and fatherly kindness to keep what is mine," he growled lowly.

His father had made a fool of him, had treated him as a second son, insulted his rank and his accomplishments from the time he was a mere pup. And upon his death, the fool had entrusted his final will and action to be carried out by the flea, the smith and the tree! His father had stolen everything from Sesshōmaru the moment Sesshōmaru failed his mate and could not retaliate because his father's harlot was pregnant and in danger. Instead of doing the thing a good alpha would do, which would be removing their mate and pup to safety, Tōga had had no qualms about sacrificing Sesshōmaru's mate so Izayoi and InuYasha were safe with humans.

"You will want to hear this," Tōtōsai declared.


Kagome moaned lowly and quietly as she rocked her hips. She and InuYasha had returned to the village hours ago, and it was well into the night, Kagome would curse and scream but she hurt to much to utter a sound. She wanted her mom! She wanted her mom right now!

She did not have her mom, instead she had Sango, Kaede and surprisingly, Sesshōmaru's mother. That had been an unexpected twist for Kagome. The pain was a rippling rolling pain which seemed to ripple from her back, to her pelvis, up and over her hard belly. Kagome had not found a comfortable position, though she had found a spot right now that didn't hurt. She was gripping the lip of the platform in Kaede's hut, holding on as she bent her knees and moved her hips. The building preasure hurt, and she wanted it over, she whimpered as another wave of pain began rolling over her, Kaede and Sango were making her tea and talking softly because about two hours ago she had screamed for silence.

It was only Kimi who made a noise and it was a deep rumble, Kimi was standing beside her, her claws sliding through Kagome's hair rather maternally. She was stunned that the daiyōkai was here, but she hurt too much to argue.

"You are doing very well, girl," Kimi murmured. "A strong spirit for a human, the pups will be strong too."

"It hurts!" Kagome whimpered.

"Let me see how far you are Kagome," Sango said standing. Kagome was reluctant to move but accepted Kimi's aid to move a bit. Sango helped clean her up and checked how far she was. By her count, Kagome figured she was getting close, she had to be, she didn't know how much more of this she could take!

Oh Kami!

There was this rippling, paralyzing pain again, it rolled through her body, making her legs tremble, her knees weak, and her hips ache as she whimpered. Leaning against Kimi she found herself clinging to the woman's fur, and feeling the claws through her hair was distracting.

"I want InuYasha," she whimpered. She wanted InuYasha so she could 'SIT' him into the next century for doing this to her! She wanted a hospital! She wanted a doctor! Mostly! Mostly Kagome wanted her mama!

"You are doing very well, now let us lay you down," Kaede instructed. Sango was there, Kagome could see they were talking with Kimi but she couldn't tell about what because it hurt!

Another rolling pain speared through her, tearing through the belly and her cervix, and she bit her lip hard to keep from crying out. Kami this hurt! She wanted this kid out of her! She wanted it right now.

"Now Kagome, on the next contraction I want you to bear down," Sango's voice said.

"I can't," she weapt, she hurt so bad! She had been doing this since this morning.

"You can and you will human," Kimi snapped in a voice of authority which had Kagome staring up at the woman, her chest heaving. The pain started again, and now she didn't silence the agon as she screamed.


Year 1308...

Somewhere in Shikoku InuYōkai Territory, Japan...

The moon was high when he felt the flea's minuscule presence.

"I have found the girl, my liege!" Myōga declared.

"Good, where is she?" Tōga snarled lowly as Myōga spat out her blood.

"She hides amongst the humans, she is under the protection of Setsuna no Takemaru," Myōga supplied.

"Good, keep an eye on here, I will deal with her in a bit."

"Of course master," the flea said before disappearing. Tōga stared at that small drop of blood on his hand, her scent was one he had long since committed to memory, but to smell it again…

Tōga snarled lowly. He would deal with Rin the moment she set foot outside the human compound.