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: 35
Year 1581...
Edo, Japan...
The resounding impact of their collision had trees being uprooted and thrown about, Sesshōmaru glared at Kohaku.
"What do you think you gain boy?" he snarled throwing Magatsuhi away from him, Kohaku smashed into a tree. Sesshōmaru slashed his blade through an onslaught of spiritual blasts and drew Tenseiga to slice upward through Magatsuhi's aura which had the spirit howling in pain.
"You respect power, and only power, power is how I will get Rin!" Kohaku spat stumbling away from him. Sesshōmaru's mokomoko twitched in annoyance.
"Rin is not a thing," he snapped furiously. Rin was not some plaything to be claimed or some weapon to be used, she was a living being with thoughts, emotions and actions that were all her own. She was not bound to them, and she was not his to give away!
"You will never take me as a serious suitor for her!" Kohaku screamed and Sesshōmaru caught the kusarigama with his fang, twisting the blade and chain up before nailing it into a rock.
"Even with the strength of Magatsuhi I would never permit you to court her," he spat out. "One so weak of character as to resort to becoming nothing more than a mere vessel for power is the most pathetic of all," he stated firmly as his claws slashed through Magatsuhi's vessel's armor. "To need others to take what you want is weak!" he snarled.
"You would never fight fair!" Kohaku stated.
"Why would I fight fair to relinquish my mate to one as pathetic as you?" he demanded, and saw Kohaku recoil with Magatsuhi as he released a fraction of his true power.
"Yes… Sesshōmaru, that's it, let your power come to me!" Magatsuhi purred through his host which had Sesshōmaru snarling as he slammed the boy into the ground and felt the earth shatter. Kohaku raced off, and Sesshōmaru tore after him as they continued battling, tearing up through the skies.
Tsuzuki Castle...
Miroku was startled when a set of hanyō appeared, they were two familiar looking females though. The first was tall, very slender with tanned skin which was a vibrant contrast to her pure white hair and startling violet eyes. The second was slightly shorter, a bit more filled out too, her hair was a deep violet, almost black, with brilliant green eyes and exposed fin-like ears.
"InuYasha-sama!" the violet eyed one greeted with a bow as he and Miroku came to a halt.
"Big brother!" the fish eared one giggled darting up to InuYasha and hugging him.
"What the!?" InuYasha barked.
"Shiori?" Miroku gasped finally recognizing the quiet onna. She did not look like the child he had last seen, she looked like a refined lady instead, despite her simpler garb and obvious uniform.
"Hai!" the white one smiled. "Ai, you should get off him now," she said firmly.
"Gomen, I'm just so happy to see you!" she smiled stepping back.
"What are you two doing here!?" InuYasha sputtered remembering Ai.
"Sesshōmaru-sama was an old friend of my father's, and he rescued me before I could be sold into slavery," Shiori explained. "I am Rin-sama's first attendant!" she smiled. He was a bit surprised to think that Shiori's father and Sesshōmaru-sama could've been friends, but then he didn't know that much about Sesshōmaru-sama or Shiori's father.
"Rin-sama?" Miroku asked. He knew Rin spent falls and winters with Sesshōmaru-sama; something he was firmly against given Rin's sweet disposition. And because pretty much everyone in the group was against it but couldn't sway her out of the arrangement they never actually asked about her time with Sesshōmaru or where she went with him. Miroku was startled to see that Sesshōmaru-sama had not only employed two hanyō, but Rin was Rin-sama here as if she were the Lady of the House or something.
"Hai, what else would she be?" Ai asked with a mischievous giggle.
"Your brother is more and more confusing," Miroku informed him.
"Tell me about it," he rolled his eyes.
"How did you get here, Ai?" Miroku asked.
"Rin found us," Ai answered. "Shortly after Hōrijima was destroyed and you returned to your village we were found by a strange human girl and her kappa," Ai giggled. "The kappa was teaching her to swim, I thought they were playing and asked to join, and eventually we were all playing and Sesshōmaru-sama appeared and asked if we had anywhere else to be, we said no so he brough us here!" she giggled. "Kimi-sama was so kind as to see to our clothing and shelter while providing us with education and food! We never left!" she smiled.
"I heard about Asagi," InuYasha said softly.
"Hai, she was happy though, at the end," Ai replied.
"Let me get this straight, because your were playing with Rin, Sesshōmaru-sama just brought you here?" Miroku sputtered.
"Hai, of course I became Rin-sama's fourth attendant when she started needing us."
"Why would she need attendants?" Miroku asked.
"Rin's Lady of the West," InuYasha supplied. "Sesshōmaru just confirmed it four days ago," InuYasha informed him.
"NANI!?" Miroku bellowed.
"You didn't think Sesshōmaru-sama would keep Rin-sama as a pet, did you?" Shiori asked him.
"I hadn't thought about it," he admitted.
"Kimi-sama is ready to see the Edo refugees," a new voice said which had him looking up as an inuyōkai appeared, she had reddish hair and amber eyes, she had two marks visible at her wrists. Miroku was uneasy as he walked after her and through the halls of the magnificent castle. He was surprised at the elegance and finery of the building. Its ancient elegance was well maintained and cared for, it was very stunning. They walked into a massive garden and he was stunned.
"I apologize for the wait, but I just arrived home myself," Kimi-sama said.
"Do you even know why we're here?" Miroku asked.
"I can hazard a guess it has something to do with the ominous aura that filled the air and was the reason for my sudden summons to return," she informed them.
"A miasma filled Edo," InuYasha said.
"As Edo is technically in the Onikuma territory I would not normally be involved. However you're mine now, InuYasha which makes your pack and their territory mine, so for now, I will provide refuge, and farming materials, along with food and shelter for the refugees, and medicine as needed. When the matter is resolved I will work on compensation and restoration, and provide supplies as needed, if needed for the coming winter," she said.
"That's…" he blinked.
"I'm glad this matter is resolved, I will have Jiu, Ai, and Shiori see to your relocation within the yōkai realm, I advise you to keep a weary eye on the pups you have in your group as it is a long trip over a cliff, and not a lot of time to save them. There will be an inuyōkai guard to help keep pups on land," she said.
"Is that necessary?" Miroku asked.
"You're not prisoners, but as Rin has aptly demonstrated to us human pups have a lot of energy and not a lot of self preservation," Kimi said. "I would rather us not have a pup dead."
"That's understandable," Miroku decided.
"The guard will be discreet so as to not disturb the humans, or upset them," Kimi assured him.
"Very well," he conceded. He just wanted the people from Edo to remain calm, being guarded by inuyōkai wouldn't be calming, and it would agitate many people. He knew they had trouble with InuYasha and Shippō but for the most part accepted them, however these people were just farmers and they had never been so thoroughly outnumbered by yōkai.
"Good, I will have the girls prepare to escort you. InuYasha, I have a wing for your family it will be near the human refuge," she said.
Year 1308...
Tsuzuki Castle...
Tōga scented blood when he woke with his courtesan, he knew that if it was Rin or Sesshōmaru, Kimi would be right here. So if it wasn't them…
Getting up he dressed as he walked through his home, and found Kimi speaking softly to one of the maids who was cleaning the source of the blood.
"What happened?" he asked walking towards Kimi who dismissed the maid who bowed and hurried away with her basket of blood.
"Sesshōmaru's mate got in a battle against the Yōkai Taijiya," she answered.
"Is Rin alright?" he asked.
"She is in Sesshōmaru's care right now," she said as she motioned for them to walk.
"But she's alright?" he persisted. He had grown fond of Rin in the last few days while training her, she was a good fighter and a determined to learn, determined to win too. She hadn't been afraid to take hits or to hit back as hard as she could, so he found her endearing. Especially now that he had gotten to know her. Rin was actually interesting.
"As far as I know, I will send for a human healer if there's a need for one," she said.
"Have you seen her?" he asked.
"Tōga, go near Sesshōmaru with his mate as she is right now and he will likely kill you," she warned before walking away.
His ears twitched when the sun was setting, and he heard a small, distinct chime in the air.
Setsuna Castle...
Izayoi stood in her private quarters and eyed the bells Rin had given her. There was little doubt in Izayoi's mind that the Inu no Tashio would know what had happened to Rin. Which was why she was hesitant. Picking up the bells she slipped them in her sleeves as she thought it over as to what she should do, she wanted to make certain that Rin was alright.
And this was why she was in her private gardens, while Takemaru dealt with clean up and looked at the bells again, she didn't know if she should or shouldn't do this but she didn't want to be kept in the dark about her friend. Rin hadn't seemed very Rin like after that battle, looking rather dazed and confused about what had happened. There was also the matter of the blood on Rin, and Izayoi just… she wanted to make sure that Rin was alright.
Biting her lip, she hesitantly rang the bells.
There was a flash of light in the dying day and she blinked as she found herself staring at a set of gold eyes and a heavily armored inu daiyōkai whom she had seen attack Rin several times. She pressed herself against the post as she eyed him warily.
"You rang?" he said tersely.
"Rin, where is she?" she demanded.
"Sesshōmaru collected her and took her to Tsuzuki Castle; my home," he answered.
"And how is she?" Izayoi inquired.
"I don't know," he admitted.
"How can you not know?" she asked sharply stepping from the post to glare at him furiously.
"Because as it stands now if I go near Sesshōmaru's mate he will happily try to kill me," he spat out.
"I would to," Izayoi muttered.
"Really?" he glared at her.
"Hai," she nodded.
"I'm not maliciously evil, I was a furious father," he retorted.
"You threw a small human girl into a tree," she snapped.
"Fine, I'm not perfect, but I'm no longer trying to kill her," he grumbled.
"And that makes it alright?"
"No, but it is a factor!" he insisted.
"All I want to know is how she is," she stated firmly.
"If I find her and speak to her I will inform you of her health," Tōga said firmly.
"I can accept that, but you better find out how she is!" she warned.
"You know I'm not actively trying to kill her," he reiterated.
"I will believe you when she's actually safely returned to Setsuna."
"To be honest I wouldn't bet on Sesshōmaru returning her, ever, she's his and he's more inclined to keep her safe than to return her to where she was hurt."
"And yet he brings her around you," she retorted.
"If you knew my son you'd know that's more of a threat to me than to her," he muttered before disappearing in a flash of light.
Tsuzuki Castle...
Rin roused when the moon was high and she found herself wrapped around Sesshōmaru's mokomoko with claws running over her scalp. It reminded her of after the daimyō, when her lord had broken Kaede's and his agreement regarding her living arrangement and he had brought her to this very room after thoroughly seen to it that she was bathed, clothed, and taken care. He had sat with her and listened when she had talked, but they hadn't expanded on what had happened to her, she hadn't wanted to, and when she dreamt of it she remembered the vividness, Sesshōmaru-sama was always there. An ever-faithful watch dog protecting her from her nightmares, chasing the nightmares away.
"Sesshōmaru-sama?" she turned.
"Rin," he replied, she turned slightly to see him reading a scroll. Sesshōmaru looked down at her, and she shifted slightly, not relinquishing mokomoko from her grasp. "Are you hungry?" he asked.
"No," she answered.
"Tea?" he asked.
"Hai," she mumbled.
"I'll be right back," he promised as he carefully extracted himself from mokomoko and got dressed a little. Then he handed her a light robe which she pulled on, he ordered the tea from an attendant outside the room. She waited until he returned to the bed before she reattached herself to the mokomoko and buried her face into the fur as she peeked up to assess him.
"Rin," he sighed.
"I don't want to talk about it," she murmured firmly.
He nodded as he sat beside her.
"What are you reading?"
"Shikoku's records about Midoriko, a human of unusual spiritual powers," he said.
"Midoriko and Watatsumi?" she asked pulling herself up a bit, holding mokomoko still.
"Hai," he replied.
"Why?"
"To learn."
"What do you want to learn?" she asked as she tried to peer at the writing but her human eyes couldn't see in the dark. Sesshōmaru put the text down and lit a candle before handing that to her, she peered at the writing. The script as elegant, she had always envied the elegant writing of Sesshōmaru's kin and himself.
"Bonds," he answered.
"Huh," she nodded.
"Rin?"
"Hm?"
"When are you going to Honekui no Ido?" he asked.
"I think soon, I just need a minute," she admitted tiredly. A light knock on the fusuma had Sesshōmaru putting his reading aside.
"Come in," he ordered. Rin saw the maid walking in, it was Yuki!
"Arigato, Yuki," Rin murmured as Yuki put the tray down and smiled at her.
"Get well soon, my lady," the maid said before walking off.
"This smells good," she admitted and noted the small snack beside the tea, which was surprising. Sesshōmaru didn't respond as he pulled the tea to them and poured her a cup, which had her sipping it carefully, the warmth was wonderful!
"Rest," he ordered as he picked up his book.
"I need supplies for going down Honekui no Ido," she admitted.
"We will arrange it, just not now, rest," he repeated gently. She nodded at his order and smiled.
Year 1581...
Edo, Japan...
Shippō slammed into Sōten before they could be hit by a pulse of evil which had her grunting at the impact as they went sprawling onto the ground and he looked up.
"Hold still!" she ordered as she moved out from under him and the skies darkened before lightning raced through the skies, striking down in a massive bolt and upturning the earth, he threw out kitsunebi which raced after the lightning turning everything else to ash.
"I haven't had to do that in a while," Sōten said as she stood.
"Me neither," he admitted.
"Come on," she gestured. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Shippō!" he smiled.
She stopped in her tracks as her ruby eyes widened and she stared dumbly at him.
"Shippō?" she questioned.
"Hai, been a while," he smiled broadly. This was the first time in eight years that he felt at peace despite everything that was going on.
"Kami," she whispered. Shippō was surprised to see that she hadn't recognized him but they hadn't run across each other since the last time. There were high energy explosions over head which were startling, more so than the thunder and he looked up to see pure energy forms of yōkai colliding, he was pretty sure that the blue was Sesshōmaru while the dark red was whatever had come from that well.
"Later, we have to help him," Sōten decided as she took to the skies, offering her hand. He took her head as they raced back over the trees, there were so many yōkai fleeing now, they weren't even trying to fight him or Sōten as they ran. There was an earth rattling shattering hit into the ground and Shippō paused as they hit the clearing when he saw Sesshōmaru pinning Kohaku.
"What the hell!?" he sputtered.
"You don't deserve her Sesshōmaru!" Kohaku shouted.
"That's it, give me your power!" another voice emerged from Kohaku's mouth and Shippō caught Shippō as he saw Sesshōmaru become engulfed in light, shooting up into the air and before Kohaku could react Sesshōmaru came crashing down with Tenseiga slicing through Kohaku and whatever was possessing the taijiya.
Kohaku gasped as he collapsed and the malicious evil took to the skies before aiming itself at Sesshōmaru.
"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Sōten screamed as her powers started activating, he threw out the kitsunebi went lacing through the lightning to slam into the coming evil which had it disappating.
Sesshōmaru turned to look at them before grabbing Kohaku and walking towards them. Tossing the human at their feet Sesshōmaru snarled lowly.
"Take him to Tsuzuki Castle prisons, I will be there shortly," he ordered.
"Hai my lord," Sōten responded.
"Leave," he dismissed as he walked away.
"What the hell happened?" Shippō sputtered as he hoisted an unconscious Kohaku up and Sōten offered him a hand before they took to the skies.
