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: 26
Year 1308...
Setsuna Castle...
It had taken him over a week to get here, riding Kirara, and he was surprised. Discovering the true identity of Sesshōmaru had been a terror though. The yōkai taijiya had never feared any breed of yōkai, they were proficient in all manners of exterminating vermin, it was their profession, however, the discovery of an inuyōkai; not an inugami, possessing a human female, was startling. And worse, Sesshōmaru was renowned as the most lethal, ruthless, cruel, brutal warrior in the inuyōkai packs of Shikoku-jima, and the recent events had had the inuyōkai expanding their territories, making them as far north as Setsuna!
Muhai was unsettled by this mark of aggression, though he didn't know what to make of Sesshōmaru. Sesshōmaru had made his way into the Taijiya village for three days, and trust Muhai, they had tried to kill the beast. The monster however had never retaliated, merely flicked off their attacks like they were insects; and Muhai had hated that. He had despised the inuyōkai for hovering over Rin, and he had hated the beast for acting as Rin's guard and none of them could do or say anything about it. Monks could not purify the daiyōkai, and the creature was far too crafty and dangerous to fall for any traditional trap or attack. The daiyōkai was both too powerful and too crafty, which unsettled Muhai as he listened to the rumors of Sesshōmaru for the first time ever and met a yōkai that finally lived up to it's reputation.
But none of that was really bothering Muhai, no, what was bothering him was the beautiful girl now plaguing his dreams and thoughts.
Rin.
Cold and dignified, she was the furthest thing from what her name meant! Rin had seemed so bright and alive! So carefree, wild and happy, she was also stunningly beautiful, he had never seen such beauty. He had found that she was with the inuyōkai packs though, near Setsuna.
Rin, such a simple name for a beauty unlike any other he had seen. She had a beautiful heart shaped face, large brown eyes that seemed to be alight with mischief, and her lips seemed in an eternal, gentle smile. Clearly she was a lady of gentle breeding, she was so slight, slender, delicate, it was stunning perfection! And she moved with the grace of a crane, she was stunning. He would free her from her bonds, enslaving her to the yōkai! He was certain his concubines and wife would welcome Rin amongst their ranks, she was more than worthy of him if she could speak to the Shikon no Tama and not be tempted to use it.
Naturally arriving in Setsuna he had contacted Takemaru, he had trained with Takemaru as young lads. He was a bit surprised to be received directly into Setsuna, on the morning of the wedding.
"Muhai!" Takemaru smiled as he walked out to greet him.
"Takemaru!" Muhai smiled as they bowed their greetings and smiled.
"I did not think you would be here for this day," Takemaru chuckled as they both started walking into the shiro.
"I can't say I am, I did not know you were wedding finally!"
"Not all of us can be like you with a harem on hand, some of us actually have to fight wars," Takemaru chuckled when they arrived in the study and seated themselves. A maid brought them tea and bowed as she left.
"It is not a large harem," Muhai defended.
"I heard you had a son," Takemaru said changing the subject. Muhai chuckled, his friend had always been squeamish about the idea of a harem. Takemaru could've been a great lady's man, if he had not been so hung up on one onna, Izayoi, since his childhood.
"I did," he smiled as he sipped his tea. "And I hear you are wedding that beauty, Izayoi-sama."
"Hai," Takemaru smiled.
"All turned out well for us then," he chuckled.
"Hai, but I must ask, if you did not come for the wedding, why are you here?"
"I met a strange onna and I heard she was here," Muhai explained.
"Oh?" Takemaru tilted his head a bit an waited for an expansion on that explanation.
"An onna named Rin," Muhai clarified. Now Takemaru's eyes had a cunning, and calculated look to them.
"Rin?"
"Hai," he nodded.
"I see, this is matter for after the wedding, though I must ask you to stay," Takemaru explained swiftly.
"I would be honored," he said earnestly.
"Good, I will speak with you about this at the end of the week?"
"Hai, a man naturally wants time with his new wife," Muhai chuckled.
"Hai," Takemaru mused. "I have waited for this for a long time."
"You deserve it," Muhai replied. And he meant it, for a change. Takemaru was a man who deserved good things in life, he had fought hard and long, this wedding would be a good thing for Takemaru's life, to balance the tragedy he had suffered at the claws of yōkai.
"I will have a maid show you to your quarters, the ceremony will be in a few hours, I would be pleased if you joined us at the reception," he said without pause.
"Hai," he smiled. Perhaps he would get a chance to see the lovely Rin, who would be his wife; even if it was the last thing he did. Muhai would not leave without this onna, she was too pure and perfect to not desire, and any child from her would be a true gift! One which would only strengthen the Taijiya if she could pass on her gift for holding yōkai weapons.
"But I insist if you see Rin, leave her be, she is Izayoi's attendant for now, we will discuss your interests in her after the week," Takemaru instructed.
"Very well, I will leave her be, but one cannot fault a man for having a conversation with a pretty lady," Muhai mused.
"No, they cannot be faulted, but only a conversation, Muhai, nothing else. Now excuse me, I must prepare for my wedding."
Rin walked through Setsuna, free of duties and responsibilities, she would not be attending to Izayoi during the ceremony, for she was too while and 'disrespectful' to be a public attendant. Rin was not rude by yōkai standards, she'd be weak if she conformed to the human's culture. Walking into her quarters she dragged a hand through her hair she wondered if she could track Tōga down or if she was better off staying here and waiting for him. Either way she didn't want to be here in Setsuna right now. Putting Bakusaiga against the wall she started undoing her obi while she contemplated going to go for a bath for herself. She was feeling sticky and like she should be leaping out of her skin.
She paused when her doors were pulled open, the hairs on the back her neck stood up which had her fingers slipping into her sleeve to grabbing her kaiken handle. She spun fast as she slashed high, for a shoulder, the body was faster and stronger than her though as he caught her wrist knocking the kaiken from her grasp. She spun into him, using her elbow to hit for his ribs, and slamming her heel down on a foot as she threw her head back in hopes to catch a chin. The arms caught her waist and lightly tossed her onto the futon she had out, she snarled until the body was over her, and a firm, calloused hand over her mouth as gold eyes stared at her with a level of pure indifference.
"Rin," he greeted.
"Kami Sesshōmaru," she gasped as she shoved him off her, he smiled slightly as he landed on the other half of her futon. She propped herself up to glare at him. "I thought we didn't do surprise attacks anymore!"
"No," he answered propping himself up as he toyed with a strand of her hair. There was a playful air about him, which had her smiling as she stared at him; he was so rarely playful or carefree. There was raunchy laughter outside her quarters, which had her tensing, Sesshōmaru didn't seem concerned as his gold eyes watched fusuma.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" she bolted up and tried to escape again.
"Rin," he started.
"We're in human territory!"
"I came for you," he answered as he tugged her down to him, and she gasped landing on his chest.
"Me!? I can't leave!"
"Come with me," he murmured softly. She noted he wasn't wearing his armor, which was odd, but he was completely relaxed beneath her.
"And where would we be going?" she asked propping her head on her fest while laying against his chest.
"My mother's shiro," he answered.
"Why should I go with you?"
"Otou-sama is out," he said, his claws trailing over her spine. "You have no duties for a few days."
"Mmm, you think I'm free?"
"Hai, the humans are mating, you will not be needed."
"So you've thought this through?"
"Hai, and we can hunt a boar," he said.
"A boar?" she questioned witting up as she picked up the discarded kaiken.
"Hai," he nodded.
"Is this a boar boar or a yōkai boar?" she asked retying her obi and securing her fusuma to stay closed.
"Yōkai," he said.
"Alright, but I want a bath," she muttered.
"We have a hot spring," he said.
"You should have started with that!" she teased as she darted over to grab Bakusaiga. Sesshōmaru was up, snatching her up before she could grab a spare kimono for wherever they were going to be.
"I need a kimono!" she gasped when they took to the night sky.
"Hai, at Tsuzuki Castle," he said and she groaned as she tangled her fingers in mokomoko and could only watch the world zip by. The stars were stunning in the early night! The sun was still dying, but the stars were twinkling beautifully.
She watched the night darken and the stars brighten, she giggled a bit, even as she shivered. Sesshōmaru landed in a tree, his mokomoko slid around his front, around her.
"Arigato," she murmured.
He hummed as his nose traced her temple.
"It's a beautiful night," she said staring at the sky.
"Hai," he agreed. "Hold on," he murmured as he leapt over the water. She knew they were heading for his mother's shiro, but she had never actually been this way to the shiro. Yōkai, kami, spirits, they all resided in overlapping realms which crossed over the mortal plan, humans couldn't stumble through these realms often, but Rin always seemed to be able to with ease. Kagome and Sango had always had troubles with it, as had Kohaku and Miroku had also had troubles if they had to cross the boarders between realms. But for a human, Rin never had these issues. She saw the flux in the night and her lord leapt into it, there, floating high in the clouds she saw the shiro she had spent much of her childhood in.
Sesshōmaru landed on the floating island, keeping her in his arms before he used his speed and she gasped as they landed outside the hot springs.
"You cannot go that fast!" she hissed as she tried to regain her balance, the world was not caught up with her yet. He chuckled softly, then he placed a light kiss on her lips.
"Go, I'll go get the kimono and supplies," he promised taking Bakusaiga from her fingers.
"I'm not going to be skewered if someone sees a human?" she asked.
"No," he promised. He was gone a second later. Rin blinked at this, she knew that the hot springs were an open part of the compound; open for the pack. However, if Sesshōmaru said it was private then…
Shrugging off her kimono and carefully folding her clothes up she put the kaiken on the pile before hastily slipping into the springs. A shiver of pleasure clawed it's way up her spine, and she moaned lightly as she submerged. It felt so good to have the heat seeping into her bones.
Sesshōmaru selected her kimono, and garb, he picked up a few things for her to clean herself with and had a bath in the neighboring bathhouse started. Rin would not remain in the hot spring long, he knew that, and then she would desire a bath. She was peculiar this way, but he had it prepared, and the attendants dismissed. Rin had never liked bathing attendants; she had told him that she was more than capable of washing herself.
Walking out of the bathhouse, which was warming her bath, he saw his mate propped up against the rocks, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. He chuckled, the crazy onna would drown herself one day if he wasn't careful. Sesshōmaru leapt to a nearby rock and watched her carefully, when she started turning too pink he went to wake her.
"Rin," he murmured softly.
"Mmm," she moaned as he brought his hand to her shoulder to keep her from falling into the water and drowning.
"Time to bathe," he said.
"Five more minutes," she murmured.
"No," he said as he reached into the waters and pulled his mate out, not caring about getting wet he had her fully awake and startled as she seemed to not know what to do with her arms, and her doe eyes were bewildered and startled.
"Sesshōmaru!" she shrieked.
"Hai?" he raised a brow as he walked her into the bathhouse.
"I'm naked!"
"I'm aware," he assured her as he set her into the bath. She shivered a bit, her arms wrapping around her breasts as she eyed him uncertainly.
"What are you still doing here?" she demanded, shivering slightly.
"Keeping my mate company," he said as he traced a claw over her mark, letting her feel his affection for her. She shivered again but relaxed.
"No funny business," she warned.
"Later," he dismissed. He would seduce her later. For now, he just wanted her company.
"Later?" she sputtered.
"Hai," he kissed her softly as he dragged his claws through her hair. She turned around and seemed to forget her nakedness and wet state as she kissed him back with her enthusiasm and inexperience. Sesshōmaru pulled her closer, his tongue exploring her mouth and she fervently returning the kiss. She tasted like honey, and something uniquely Rin, he could happily devour her and this flavor, he would live his life very happy life with just her. She gasped a bit as he dragged his claws through her hair, pulling her closer to him, her fingers curled into the silks of his own clothing. Rin moaned when his claws traced over her spine, further arching her out of the water and closer to him. Sesshōmaru pulled away when she was gasping for air, the tips of their noses still touching.
She looked like a little vixen with her thick lashes and hooded look in her eyes. Her lips were red, swollen, and her cheeks flushed, she looked delectable.
"Later," he promised as he nipped her bottom lip again and touched his nose to hers, letting her sink back into the water with a bewildered look in her eyes.
Somewhere near Shikoku-jima...
It was the night of the new moon, he knew what this signified, he knew where he should be racing off to, but he couldn't. There was this ache in his heart, and this sadness welling up; he wanted to tear off to go chase it, to make sure it couldn't exist, and yet he couldn't move.
Tōga sat there staring at the new moon's spot, and let the sorrow wash over him. It wasn't his, he knew that much, but it felt so resigned and real he couldn't escape it. What was happening to him? He had accepted that the dreams were getting unusually vivid since learning the onna's name, Izayoi, such a lovely, and unusual name; but now this…?
He looked down at the pearl in the palm of his hand and closed his eyes. His own sadness was for the son he had failed, for the onna who was here to do what should've been his task, and for his pack. Sō'unga would be mocking him if he bothered to listen to the fang that was slowly killing him. Sesshōmaru would be shocked to know that, Tōga thought to himself.
It was only on nights like tonight though that he felt it, could feel it, could feel the consuming pain. The mighty Inu no Taishō, if only Sesshōmaru knew how weak he really was. Thousands of years of having Sō'unga draining his power and life and he could feel it now, and the mysterious sadness he was feeling had him dwelling upon this conundrum.
He was only five thousand years old, rather young for a daiyōkai still. His father was well over ten thousand, though everyone had forgotten his precise age; same for Shikoku. Tōga was only five thousand years and he could feel himself dying, could feel the fang draining him, devouring his soul and yōkai energy as quickly as he could replenish it. And the mysterious sadness wasn't helping his overall morbid thoughts.
Was he fated to die soon? He wondered.
Was Rin's quest tied to his death? Tied to his failures as a father? He wondered if she had noticed how she referred to him when she spoke of her time. Was this to be his penance, secure Rin's quest to save Sesshōmaru? To become a grand orchestrator of schemes in fate for her.
He didn't know.
Fǔ Yáng had not been an enlightening talk either, Fǔ Yáng had just reiterated that Tōga was the failure here and Rin was here to fix this problem. Sighing Tōga looked at the moon again, and was startled when there was a slash of pain and discomfort through his psyche, which had him dropping from the tree in shock.
Setsuna Castle...
Izayoi felt disgusting and sore as she silently let the tears roll down her cheeks and she stared at the new moon. Her husband's seed was spent between her legs with her blood and now he lay beside her softly snoring in a deep slumber.
Kami that had been humiliating and now she hurt, she wanted to disappear!
Instead she could only stare at the silhouette of the moon.
