Chapter 9: The Reveal

Everyone left the masquerade except for Rin and a few others that by the stories that they were telling, were there for the same reason she was. Inuyasha had leapt off the roof of the dojo and landed on Sensei's head. Another girl got caught making out with her boyfriend in the teachers' bathroom, and two demon brothers had gotten into a fight with each other and broke one of the statues on campus.

She made her way over to where the cleaning crew was. Toga was directing with some of the other teachers. She noticed that Sesshomaru wasn't there and was glad. He was the last person she wanted to see.

"Students and staff, I'll be giving you each a task for your cleaning duty this evening. If you do your duties well, we could have this room cleaned in under an hour," Toga said with a jolly smile on his face.

He went down the line of students giving them their jobs. Two demons got the task to eat the leftover food. A fire lit in their eyes. The masculine boys devoured the food lickety-split and the leftover plastic cups, plates and silverware. She was shocked that they remained so slim, despite the smorgasbord they just ate. They should have had puffer bellies.

"Miss Rin and Inuyasha, you'll be given the task to supervise as well as sweeping and mopping. I know you will work great as a team."

"That's easy, Pops. Rin and I will have everything done in under an hour. Come on," Inuyasha said as he grabbed her wrist and ran to the other side of the room.

"Inuyasha, be careful I'm in heels! Please at least allow me to take them off." When they came to a stop, she stepped out of her black stilettos. Her feet danced slightly from the ache of wearing them for so long.

"I don't see how you girls can wear those damn things. If I was a girl, my ankles would be broken. Alright, let's get to work. The faster we get this done the faster… hey what's that in your hand?" His eyes narrowed in on the card she still held.

Forgetting she had the piece of paper in her hand she answered him, "it's a note. I was going to head out to meet the mysterious guy who gave it to me. But I was stopped before I could walk out the door."

Inuyasha picked up the piece of paper from her hand. "Mysterious guy?" He sniffed it right in front of her, "you have no idea who gave you this, do you?"

"No, that's why I want to finish my duties here and get out to the dragon farm before it gets too late… wait! You sniffed the paper! Ddo you know who it is?" she wondered curiously.

"Yes. You seriously didn't recognize who you were dancing with?"

She just shook her head no.

"One, I'm not going to tell you. I'll leave that a surprise. Two, what happened to Dai?"

"He… umm, he found out I'm not meant to be his. His true mate was a human girl named Ayumi." They both walked around helping to clear the tables and giving orders.

"Well that sucks. Did you know that when a demon turns twenty, the male no matter if they're full or half demon is able to pick up their mate by scent or sight? For me, I knew Kagome was mine even before I turned twenty. I actually don't care for one's scent. I prefer their personality and who they are. I have a feeling, that guy," he pointed in the general direction where the farm is. "He's meant to be your mate. He just didn't want to say it in front of anyone. You'll be in for a surprise when you find out who he is. Just give him a chance is all I'm going to say."

"Really?" She suddenly felt lightheaded. "That's just weird. I don't even know him and what if we have nothing in common? I'm not a demon. I can't just be with someone because they smelled me and liked it."

"You can always say no," Inuyasha said as they removed the brooms from the closet and began sweeping up the floor before the mops came out. "But you may not want to."

"Why?"

"Rin, did you feel anything when you kissed him?" He knelt down with a dust-pan for her to sweep the garbage into.

"No, that's good trash!" One of the trash eating demons dove onto the floor and scooped it into his mouth.

"That's just gross," she pointed down at the boy who released a monster of a burp. "I felt something, but what happens when you stop feeling that? My parents have been married for a long time and they fight sometimes and they told me the sparkling lenses come off after a few years and then it's hard-work. A good feeling isn't enough."

"Kagome and I fight all the time," he said proudly as he headed over to a supply closet and handed her a bucket.

"I'm not filling this up in this dress," she passed it back to him.

"We also make up very nicely," a sheen of red spread on his cheeks.

"Okay," she sighed, "I'll go. Hurry up, he's going to be gone before we're finished and my feet hurt."

"Excuse me princess," Inuyasha walked past her to fill the bucket with water.

Not even half an hour later they had the cafeteria spotless and the tables back in place for classes on Monday. She slipped her heels back on, regretting it as her arches were starting to hurt.

"Miss Rin, thank you for helping out." The headmaster told her.

"It's no problem," she said, turning around to face him.

"I'm sorry I kept you from a certain someone. But I have a feeling they'll understand. You are free to leave now and enjoy the rest of the evening," he said.

She had a feeling who the mysterious guy was, at least she thought she did. "Yes, you too as well."

"Oh and Miss Campbell?" Toga took her to the far side of the gym. "I don't need to warn you about the kind of power that Takahiro Endo's father has as the President of Japan. In the future, please report any harassment to the office, instead of handling it yourself. He'll be returning soon and if there is another incident even if it's provoked the consequences will be much more severe for you. Best to avoid him."

"Okay," she said somewhat deflated. He should leave me alone, she thought to herself as she headed outside. It was a chilly August night. She wished she had brought a light cover for her shoulders. Taking off her heels again, she broke out into a run to the farm, praying that he was still there even if it was an hour since they'd kissed. As she ran, she tried to remember all the male demon students that he could be. But then she remembered that many of them already had mates. What did this guy want with her?

Fifteen minutes later she arrived at the farm to find him and A-Un. His clawed white hand stroked the long brown muzzles. He fed them both green apples as his ears perked up to the sound of her walking up. Turning around, he said, "you finally arrived." He still wore the black mask that was obscuring his face. "I was getting the impression you wouldn't show."

"I'm sorry. I had to stay back to help clean up. But I'm here now," she walked up to him. "Will you tell me your name?" She had to bend over to catch her breath.

"You'll find out soon, but first we need to get going," he said, coming up beside her.

"Going? Where are you taking me?"

Without asking, he lifted her up bridal style and set her side-saddle on the double headed dragon and took his seat behind her. As he grabbed the reins he said, "it's a surprise. I thought you would like to see a better view of the city. Hold on," he kicked the sides of the dragon.

A-Un took off high into the air gaining speed so quickly that Rin had to hold the front of her dress down. She thought she heard a slight chuckle from him. High above the city, she could finally see how beautiful it was from above. The bay was visible and filled with ships lit up with colorful white lights. "Beautiful isn't it, Rin?"

She wasn't surprised that he knew her name, but she still couldn't figure out who he was. "Yes, it's very beautiful." The cool air blowing against her skin made her shoulders shake. She felt him shifting from behind her, then a thick cloth material was draped over her shoulders. It was his black blazer.

"Don't want you to get cold," he rubbed her shoulders with his hands, leaning over her to press his chest into her back.

She smiled that he was kind enough to try to keep her warm. Dai never did anything close to this. But this guy knew exactly how to treat her, she allowed herself to lean against his chest, yawning. It was already past midnight and she had spent most of the night dancing.

"Are you tired?" he asked while they hovered over the city.

"Very," she yawned again. "It's been a long day. Sorry, I shouldn't be leaning against you."

"You can lean against me," the demon told her. He ran his claws through the longer loose ends of her hair. "Go to the lookout," he yanked the reins, redirecting A-Un.

"When are you going to tell me who you are?"

"Soon," he wrapped an arm around her as the dragon began to descend from the skies. She decided to have some fun and turned forward straddling the dragon despite how it lifted the dress over her knees and flashed some thighs. She held her arms out to the sides letting the wind whip her hair. His hands came up her sides, then down the length of her arms. They tickled her shoulder blades then intertwined against her fingers. She turned her head back to him, their mouths just millimeters apart. His mouth came down to hers again. It was even more warm and inviting than it had been before. She kissed him more deeply, fairly certain that he had started panting. He pulled back with a slight smirk on his face just as the dragon landed with a thud.

He got off first and offered her his hand. She stumbled slightly, sure that she had just popped a blister on the ball of her foot. They were by a cliffside lookout near the school where a fountain with fauns dancing, were spitting water into a small pool. "This is gorgeous. Is it near the school?"

"Not far," he trudged up to the fountain. The blue water was lit with white lights below. "It's quiet here."

She followed, still wearing his blazer, but now her feet were getting cold. She joined him sitting on the lip. As she gazed at him, he seemed vaguely familiar. His breathing was becoming more rapid, "close your eyes."

"Okay," she whispered, shutting her lids. She heard the tie come loose from behind his head and plop in the water. She held her hands nervously in her lap. She tucked her feet closer to the well for warmth, when she felt something fluffy and warm cover them. Her eyes bolted open and she stumbled off the fountain, away from him, "you? Really?"

"Rin," Sesshomaru stood holding out a hand with a desperate wide eyed expression on his face. "Let me explain!"

"No! Why should I let you explain? You promised you would stop stalking me! What is it with you? Why can't you leave me alone?!" She shrieked at him and tried to break into a full-blown run, tossing the jacket into the fountain.

"Because you're my mate dammit and I can't!"

She stopped in her tracks, "really?" She lowered her eyes, "why me?"

"I don't know why… shit I thought I had this planned right," he ran his hand through his hair. "Just come sit with me?"

"No," she folded her arms beneath her breasts, trying to fold her shoulders in to stay warm. Her teeth started chattering. "I'm so cold," she muttered under her breath.

"Let me warm you," he held his hand out to her.

"No, just stay back okay," she held up her hand. Her heart was starting to pound and a sheen of sweat broke out on her skin.

"You don't need to panic," he said calmly as he pulled his jacket out of the fountain and shook it out before hanging it on a nearby tree.

"I'm not panicking!" she yelled at him.

"Your heart is racing. I can hear it from here," he waved a finger at a pointed ear. "You would make this difficult," he reached into the fountain and washed the pale paint off his face revealing his markings. "You're the one I am supposed to be with. I…" he exhaled in frustration. "...I told you I'm not good with emotions. I wanted you to see something beautiful and to explain," he turned his back on her. "I'm sorry. Your scent overcame me at the start of the year, that is why I kept following you around. Then you started dating that damn leopard hanyou and it took all my strength not to rip his throat out from jealousy. I wanted to spend tonight," he continued keeping his back to her, but his feet fidgeted nervously, "getting to know you. The real you. Not the defensive one or the one that has panic attacks when she gets scared. You. I wanted to get to know you."

"And then? Why is it so cold tonight?"

He finally turned and boldly approached her. "You're going to get sick and you aren't dressed for the night," he held a hand out. "Let me warm you."

She roared in frustration to calm her nerves and then conceded. Her feet felt like ice-cubes. He led her to a blanket that was pinned down by the cliff. He sat first and offered to let her sit between his legs. She brought her knees up to her chin. She could see the mokomoko this time. He brought it to wrap around her. She refused to lean into him this time. "This doesn't mean I consent to being your mate." There was something calming about his arms, the way they held her and the steady rhythm beating in his chest she could hear.

He only sighed from behind her. "I should have known you would make this strenuous. I'm sorry for making you so uncomfortable at the start of the year." He lifted her fingers to his mouth, rubbing the tops, and blowing on them, "how did you get so cold? Lean against me."

"Hazards of being human," she leaned against his chest finally, too cold to protest. He rubbed her shoulders in return. "So what happens now?"

"Well, it depends on what you want. If you choose you don't want to be with me, I will use considerable effort to prove myself to you."

She snorted.

"You still maintain the right to reject my advances and if you would give me the honor of getting to know you better, we court. Or something similar to it. We date until," he shifted, obviously uncomfortable.

"Until?"

"You didn't read about our mating habits?"

"You mean sex? Great we haven't even talked about dating and you already want to have sex with me?" She tried to bolt again only to have him gently grab her shoulders and his mokomoko to tighten.

"Yes… no… yes, why do you have to be so challenging?" He loosened his tail and his grip as she relaxed again. "We aren't having sex right now."

"Good, because you're the last person I would have sex with anyway." She stared off at the view. The lights looked like firecrackers lighting up the sky. There were many tall buildings lined together and the faintest scent of a wood burning stove filled the air.

He growled low at her, annoyed, frustrated and so much more. "I brought you here to explain. The least you could do is listen and ask questions."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Do I have to decide now?"

"No," he said quietly in her ear.

"How can you already want to have sex with me? I don't even know you."

He bit the inside of his cheek, "truthfully, when I first discovered you were meant to be mine, I wanted nothing to do with you. Our interactions in the last several weeks have opened my eyes. You fascinate me and yes I do want to have sex with you. But it can't happen unless I mark you."

"Mark me?" She had heard of it before, but had never seen a real one.

"Here," he caressed the juncture of her neck and shoulder. His breath came out in shudders.

"This is really hard for you isn't it?" She could feel his breath beating at her skin, just by her neck. It made her skin prickle and a warmth pool between her legs.

"You have no idea. The yearning is too strong during love making. I wouldn't be able to stop myself. If we become intimate, it can only be if you'll live the rest of your life with me."

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't feel good, my teeth and fangs will pierce the skin as my demonic energy enters your body. It will tie our souls together. It will give off my scent, letting other demons know you belong to someone and it will protect you from the youki of those that would seek to harm you. I will be able to sense your emotions and location from our connection."

"Will I get to live as long as you?" That part sounded exciting.

"No," he quipped. "That's just a myth people made up because it sounds romantic," he caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"I thought you hated half demons."

"I do. They're a disgrace," he stared up at the sky thinking, "one I would have to get used to."

She exhaled again, breathing in the cold night air, "how long do I have to decide?" Her mind was racing. This didn't sound like the typical date, it sounded like a marriage proposal, and she was only eighteen! How was she supposed to say yes now?

"As long as you need," he sniffed the top of her head, relaxing as he did. "It's nice to have you so close to me."

"You aren't so bad yourself," she shifted against him, finally feeling relief from the chill and the panic that had built inside of her. "So you know, you can't go all stalker on me again if I do date you. I still want my independence."

"You have my word," he said quickly.

"I thought you weren't allowed to date your students?"

"Exceptions can be made in our case. But that means in public we are to show some discretion. No on-campus public displays of affection or on-campus dates. You may spend the night in my dorm, but I may not in yours."

"Now you want me to spend the night? Why don't we just do it now?"

"Are you always this sarcastic?"

"Are you always a frenzied beast?"

Another growl emanated from deep within his chest. "You are testing my patience."

She yawned, her mouth widened and spreading, "sorry. I had to clean up and my feet hurt. This is a lot to think about. Can we talk about something else?"

"Is your wrist healing?" He held the injured limb in his hand.

"It's better. Sesshomaru," she couldn't deny the warmth of his body, or the way it felt so comforting. "Who are you? Really?"

"A judo teacher, in grad school. I like quiet, nature, and battle when it comes. I've spent a long time cultivating my skills. I've known A-Un for a while now. Who are you?"

"An artist at heart. I like adrenaline rushes. That's why I stunt double in movies. I like free falling the best. It makes my heart-race. I like nature too. It's what I like about running by the trail in the morning some days instead of going to the dojo. Will you love me? You know scent isn't enough for humans, we need love."

"I can't answer that yet," he combed his hands through her hair. "I told you I'm not good with emotions. Honestly, we only met a few weeks ago. Can you give me time to develop this emotion?"

"As long as you can give me time to be comfortable with this." They both became quiet as they gazed over the lookout at the city. Her muscles relaxed in his embrace as she breathed in his scent. It was strongest within his mokomoko. She caressed the fur, this time noticing a stark change in his eyes as she did. "Does that feel good for you?"

He nodded.

This time she pulled his mouth down to hers, licking the roof of his mouth. He held her tightly, dipping his tongue into her mouth in return and tasting the cherry blossoms. He pulled away to see dark circles forming around her eyes. He ran his thumb beneath her eyes and went back to observing the scenery. "Take your time deciding," their lips met again for a moment before she too became pensive. "For the record you kissed me."

She only snorted in return and leaned into his shoulder. "Thank you for bringing me here."

He wasn't quite sure what her answer was, but as time wore on he felt her melt into his embrace. Her body became like putty in his arms and when he glanced down again at her face that was snuggled into the fluff of his mokomoko, it was red cheeked, and fast asleep. The last kiss had sent warmth surging through his veins. He didn't want to let her go tonight, so he hefted her off the blanket they were sitting on and told A-Un, "go back to the farm."

The dragon snorted at him in reply, the other head almost seemed to laugh.

"I want to hold her a little longer, go on." He lifted a hand and slapped their backside to get them going. He flew leisurely through the air, until he landed outside his dorm. He carried her up the stairs and down the hall to his dorm and set her on his giant bed. She looked tiny on it and didn't stir. He changed his clothes that night to shorts and a T-shirt then climbed in bed next to his future mate. He wanted to take the fancy pins out of her hair and wipe the makeup off. She didn't need them. But holding her for the rest of the night would be enough, for now. She curled into his chest in her sleep and muttered something he couldn't make out. "I'm sorry," he said again as he kissed her cheek. "You deserved better than this."

Rin started to wake up just as she felt a clawed hand rubbing her cheek. She opened her eyes to find Sesshomaru laying right next to her with his chest against her back. Her eyes widened wondering how the hell she ended up back in his room, let alone in his bed. She pawed at her body, making sure she was still clothed. She didn't know if she should try to leave without waking him up or wait till he was awake. He was quite handsome in his sleep. His face gave off the same glow as the moon.

She gazed out the large window by the far wall of the room, seeing that it was still pitch black outside. The alarm clock on his nightstand read two o'clock in the morning. Then suddenly images flashed through her head, hands grabbing her, heat, pain, and something else. Her breathing became heavy. Her heart raced realizing she was in bed with a man she barely knew. The panic made her jump out of bed and trip over her feet trying to find the door in the dark room. "I need to get out of here," was the only thing going through her mind.

She hit the floor with a thud, fumbling in the dark for the door handle and half whimpering while she did. The scuffling noises woke Sesshomaru from his slumber. The table side lamp was switched on and he gazed down at her with an expression of concern on his face, while rubbing his tired eyes. "Rin?" He said her name, alarmed. He got out of bed and approached her.

She backed herself up into the corner of a wall and brought her knees up to hide her face. She wrapped her arms around her legs holding herself. She didn't want him to see her tears. Everything was happening so fast that she thought she was going to lose consciousness. The vision of being in that place was replaying over and over in her mind. She didn't see or hear Sesshomaru lowering himself in front of her, "Rin, remember to breathe like before."

She was visibly shaking, teeth chattering, and this was the worst she'd felt in the past two years.

"Rin, let me comfort you." He rested his head on top of hers.

She just shook her head.

"Please, allow me to comfort you." His palm caressed the side of her face.

"Please… don't touch… don't touch me." She rocked back and forth, "please… don't hurt me."