Guys, thank you so much for your kind reviews! I'm SO sorry it took me so long to update. Life happened at every corner it seemed.
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Komako dropped off an outfit in the restroom. "Let's get going quickly this morning. You need to come to my office." Rin pulled the shower's tinted glass door, "Eh?" "There's an outfit there on the door handle. You'll have breakfast at my office, though." She added as an afterthought, while checking her nails.
Rin turned off the water as soon as Komako left. A cold draft entered the room from the door previously left ajar. It made Rin all but run to get dressed. 'So lucky! They never get too cold or too hot!'
Rin met Sesshomaru's mother downstairs; dressed to the nines and fumbling for her keys. "The earlier the better. The train actually runs in a timely fashion while it's still early."
Komako departed her brownstone home, opened the gate, and began to walk impossibly fast in 6 inch stilettos. Her nude wool coat flapped in the wind as they approached the train station.
The sign above them read, '72nd street,' and A, B, C were each highlighted in blue, orange, blue, respectively. There was some smaller writing, but Rin skipped it in favor of catching up to Komako.
His mother swiped her metrocard twice, allowing Rin to enter behind her. Afterwards, she looked around the almost empty train station before checking her phone - 6:37am. Rin shrugged, and waited for the train to arrive. A gust of wind preceded screeching, which alerted them to its arrival - they promptly entered the cart, and sat down.
"We're getting off in two stops to transfer," Komako directed. They got off, hopped onto the Q train, before transferring again to the 4. Rin's head began to spin, but insistent clacking heels kept her attentive enough to continue following. Growing concerned, Komako held her hand, and they exited the station on what read "Wall Street."
Rin admired the beauty of the city as Komako walked and responded to some emails, before reaching a huge beige building. The front desk staff let her through with no questions. Rin thought it odd, and an assistant offered Komako coffee, she declined before asking, "Have you ordered the fabric I asked for?" "Yes," the young man responded, "It arrived yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Taisho."
She gave a 'hn' of approval before dragging Rin past an office, tons of fashion magazines aligned on racks, and a showroom; to eventually approach a fitting room.
"Stand up and take off your dress; I need your measurements." Rin stood on the elevated podium, and Komako immediately set to work. "Christoff," she called out, "Bring all of us some breakfast, would you?" "On it, ma'am." She wrote the measurements on a notepad, before pulling several bundles of pristine silk. "I made you wear that dress because it's easy to slip on and off, which we will be doing quite often today."
Rin had so many questions, What did she do for a living? Komako trifiled through some manuals, before settling on the one she needed. She unclipped the binder, and pulled out the pattern she needed to cut. "Sit down, I'll direct you as needed." She all but demanded, but she was just 'passionate' Rin realized, and meant no harm by her sharp tone.
"Well," she thought, "could definitely see the apple didn't fall too far from the tree."
In about 40 minutes, Komako cut out all the pieces she needed for the pattern. Rin helped her carry all of the parts over to her sewing machine, before watching nimble fingers with long nails intently sew up all of the parts of what seemed to be a skirt with an extra long tail. She put down her tools, and took the skirt over to a mannequin. She exited, washed her hands, and went back to work, taking more silk for what could only be described as a bodice. Her hands moved quickly, and the dress seemed to start taking form. Komako sent Rin outside, asking for her privacy.
She knew it would be his mother making arrangements for the dress; but making it herself?
Rin felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Overcome by emotion, and needing to distract herself, she flipped through the magazines while shrouded in a slip. Feeling quite exposed in the empty lobby, as a few rays of golden sunlight began to pierce the blinds.
In the nth magazine (as she'd lost count) she flipped through, she found the answer she sought:
"Komako Taisho, leader of the fashion powerhouse Ikezuza is on her way to beating out top designers such as Issey Miyake, and Yohji Yamamoto. Based out of NYC, Taisho incorporates elements of traditional Japanese clothing and modern fast fashion with astounding fabrics and techniques, even going as far as incorporating origami into some works…"
Rin read the article in disbelief.
"What?" The young man returned, inclined his head, and before he could knock on the door, Komako stopped him. "Share, just remember to leave some for me."
The assistant sighed as she closed her door, then set to opening all of the breakfast items and taking a seat across from Rin.
"Special client?" he asked. Rin nodded, "Mhmm, you could say that."
He nodded, "Modest despite being lavishly rich? That's a rarity." He chuckled, then helped himself, and Rin opted not to respond.
It was weird, remembering that his family was loaded at every turn. He probably figured her being a 'prominent client' due to the urgency in which Komako worked, but he was sure going to have a heart attack when he found out the true reason why she was there.
The guy watched her for a moment, before excusing himself to some other tasks. She hoped it didn't get too busy; considering she didn't fancy crowds.
After what seemed like hours, she was called back into the fitting room. Rin bowed slightly at Lady Komako - who simply waved her off. "I need to ensure the measurements are correct. But, you cannot see the rest until the finished product." Rin didn't know whether to be apprehensive, but thought about it for a moment.
'Well, she is a wonderful dresser.'
Resigned, she agreed mutely, which pleased Komako. The dress was plain, but breathtaking in its own right. The iridescent silk shifted from ivory to gold in the dim light. The bodice drew her in tightly, and the skirt was long enough to make her appear as though she didn't have any feet. It was a tad long, but she figured his mother was accounting for heels.
After a moment, Komako stepped off before asking her to try on some heels. She straightened herself out after putting them on. She tapped her pen to her lip, "I'll have to add final touches, but the form appears...pleasant."
After some fine tuning - his mother placed some pins in the dress before asking her to take it off and place it on the mannequin.
'Well, at least that was done.'
Rin nodded, unsure of what else to do with herself. His mother sighed, "Sesshomaru will be here to pick you up soon, Rin."
Rin nodded before putting on her dress, and his mother added as an afterthought, "There's going to be some more clothing I'll be tailoring for you. So I'll need you to stay with me for a few days. In the meantime, I sent Sesshomaru with some instructions to prepare for the wedding."
Rin felt her stomach drop, 'So, this is true? We're really going through with this?'
Komako returned to her work, before instructing Rin to wait in the foyer. Rin bowed lowly, and she paused her sewing before looking at Rin over her cat eye frames.
"Hahaue, Thank you. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Any mother would reject someone like me." Komako gave a small "hn," before resuming her stitching, "It is my pleasure, young lady. Go, both you and Sesshomaru have much to do? No?"
Rin gave a slight smile before turning on her heel with a wave. Komako pushed herself from the seat, in an effort to not ruin the pristine Ivory silk. She faced the windows overlooking the city, while her tears fell harder, 'Rin, you deserve this and so much more.'
00000
Rin waited for Sesshomaru, briefly feeling guilty about waiting for a ride.
She had functional legs! It really wasn't unnecessary to wait on everyone, but then again, hell if she knew what to do with herself.
Rin didn't know how they were going to execute the wedding, or what the to-do-list for the wedding even was. After some time, the elevator door dinged, and out stepped Sesshomaru - looking bright and fresh. "Morning."
Rin smiled, "Morning."
"How was the fitting?" He asked as he extended a hand. Rin looked at his hand for a moment, "That's a stretch from avoiding holding hands in front of Aka?" she asked with a slight chuckle. He scoffed, and took her hand anyways, helping her to stand. "I'm not invalid, you know."
He didn't respond, opting to link arms with her.
They entered the elevator, and Rin responded to his question as an afterthought, "The fitting was neat, but a tad awkward. I didn't know your mother owned a couture house."
He met her eyes, before answering lowly "It was a surprise for me, too." Rin laughed while supplying, "I guess there's never an age limit to finding your passions?" Sesshomaru didn't acknowledge her for a long moment, debating his answer. He didn't know how to say it, and faced towards the elevator door, avoiding her glance; before muttering his response. "It was what she wanted...to make your dress for a long time…"
Rin's brows furrowed, "How…?" She dropped her handbag on the floor of the elevator, and her world turned to swirls of color.
XXXXX
Lady Komako stood outside of the Shiro of the skies, looking particularly livid. First Sesshomaru landed, then Ah-Un landed. His mother gave her a dirty look, clenching her fists. "Why did-"
Lady Komako gasped, looking at two innocent inhabitants sitting behind her.
Jaken jumped down first. "Komako-sama, I hope you've read our correspondence. This - this is why we've returned." Sesshomaru faced his mother fully, "Mother, Rin needs to be somewhere stable."
Komako stared back at Sesshomaru in disbelief, before all but running to the pack animal. "What happened to you?" She demanded. Rin recalled hanging her head down in shame. Before bursting out into sobs, "I was ashamed….I was so ashamed."
Komako clenched her chest through her juni-hitoe, before letting out a wail that shook the very walls of the mansion.
XXXXX
"Rin." Sesshomaru's voice steadily grew concerned as he continued to call her name out, and he picked up her purse before pulling her out of the elevator. Rin felt a massive headache come over her, and tried to unravel the significance of the children seated behind her in the flashback. She couldn't see their faces, or understand why she felt ashamed. 'Why was Lady Komako wailing?'
She snapped from her reverie to see hazel orbs pinning her, and allowed him to simply guide her to the car. "Is everything alright?" He asked as he started the engine. Rin nodded absentmindedly, "Yes, Sesshomaru-sama." 'I promised I'd leave the past be…'
Rin returned to her cheery disposition with an inner pep-talk. "Komako-sama insisted we have a big list for today. Where do we begin?" Unconvinced, Sesshomaru sighed, "My mother set up a cake appointment, another with a calligraphist. Those two are first, and we'll go through the rest as scheduled." Rin smiled, and allowed herself to enjoy the pleasant turn of events.
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It was barely 11am, but yet they stood inside the second floor of the pastriesseur. The couple was motioned to follow upstairs by an older woman, while another younger woman greeted them by the doorway. Her smile was so large that her eyes were closed shut and she didn't exactly "look" at them as she greeted them. Rin squinted, feeling as though she recognized the burgundy haired girl.
The girl sat at the desk, and prepared to extend a hand - but Rin cut her off with a knowing smirk, "Amani. I presume you to be?" The pastreisseur laughed nervously as she took a double take at her printout, "Shigeto, and...Rin?"
The girl dropped her papers and squealed as recognitization dawned on her, "Rin! How are you!?"
Rin's face lit up, and Amani barely took a moment to breath before lunging across the desk and giving Rin a bone crushing hug.
Sesshomaru pinned Rin with a questioning glance, and before Rin could respond, Amani interjected. "I was so shocked when I received a request yesterday afternoon for a bridal consultation! I was actually upset, since it was so last minute. But the woman spoke to me on the phone and said it was urgent and I thought I recognized the names, but wasn't too sure. Mashallah! He has a way of doing things, huh?"
Rin grabbed Amani's hands, "How's Matthew? I didn't know you owned a bakery?"
"He's doing good! He left on Thursday! I was so sad cause' he went back to Wyoming. But, Allah have mercy, if this works out, I'm leaving NY for good! No more train hobos, no more pot-in-the-crab mentality. I mean, I'm going to miss the money, but at the cost of home? Easy trade off!"
Rin squealed, "I'm so happy for you!" Amani started to ramble, "He owns a farm, and I've always wanted to live in the midwest and cater to barn styled events! I mean, imagine a farmhouse for my bakery?" Amani then spaced out, clutching her cheeks while she blinked wistfully. Sesshomaru cleared his throat, and Amani coughed, "Oh, I'm so sorry about that. We should get to business, considering you know...we're crunched for time."
Sesshomaru turned to Rin who had a sheepish smile, before addressing the young woman. "You know more than you're letting on?" Amani nodded slightly, "Heh, not so much that I know, but I see why I was told to just pick the flavors and already given the designs for the cakes."
Sesshomaru's face demanded an explanation. Rin had no idea if Amani knew the entirety of the scheme, and was just as confused.
So she started with her part. "You didn't get to meet Matthew, Shigeto-san," Rin erred on the side of caution, "but he's Naera and Dion's older cousin! Well, when you left the hotel, Naera, Dion, and Matthew hunted me down and we all escorted him to his first date with his online girlfriend! They thought it was a catfish, so they wanted as many eyes to witness the reunion as they could muster..."
He blinked, and Amani continued, "I was that online date! Well, Matthew and I went for dinner, and you know kids - being blabbermouths told me about the," she whispered, "Green card wedding. So now I know why I was told it was urgent!"
The water Sesshomaru had been drinking went down with a slight hiccup. "How much do you know?" "That this is a rushed wedding and that you," She pointed with a fingerbang," aren't quite human! But it's all cool, we of Islamic faith believe that the earth is shared with Djinns, spiritual beings that inhabit the form of humans and can be good or evil. So it's nice to finally meet one! My grandmother swears up and down she's had encounters with them, but now I have a story for my own children!"
Rin was flabbergasted, gaping at how quickly the information spread. She silently admonished herself for oversharing, but Amani smiled brightly, "Don't worry guys, your secret is safe with me. Plus," she continued, pointing her thumbs at herself, "this is going to be the most badass cake you've ever tasted!"
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Moments later, Amani's mother returned with multiple flavors of cake. Amani opened her notepad and scribbled the flavors presented and wrote yes or no at the top of the page. "Here are salted caramel, chocolate cappuccino torte, southern hazelnut praline, cafe latte, and for fun, cookies and cream!" She pointed to each one, described what it contained, and the popularity amongst her patrons. "We also have berry flavors, but during the winter these are more popular. Funny considering most berry harvests are in the winter, but then again; most berries are exported and it's winter there while it's summer here. Sometimes I forget berry harvesting isn't domestic"
Sesshomaru was thankful for Amani blabbering mostly to herself, which provided a well needed distraction from the fact that she knew so much. If she knew, then how many countless others would the hell-child run her mouth off to.
The human woman continued going on about the appointment as though everything were...dandy. Rin was laughing and smiling with the girl, until the pastry-chef went off on a tangent; going on excitedly about what she assumed half-djinn kids were like.
Rin nervously rang some hair around her finger upon hearing her go on excitedly about their equivalent of half-demon children.
For a brief moment, a blur of red and silver flashed through her mind, and her headache returned for the second time that day as she tried to decode the image. Amani continued, all the less knowing to Rin's predicament. He noted her discomfort, but pushed it aside to sample different flavors.
"Oh that reminds me! I was told to make you guys choose three flavors, because I was told you're anticipating 250 guests." Sesshomaru and Rin looked at each other, aghast. "250?" Sesshomaru repeated. Rin blinked in disbelief. Amani shrugged, "I guess it's a shocker for you too!" With a blink, Sesshomaru motioned towards the cafe latte, and Rin agreed. "I like this one a lot," she started, "it isn't too sweet! Plus, we could all use the pep-me-up considering, Rin giggled nervously with furrowed brows, "the wedding is less than a month away..." Amani nodded, "I was told the target date was December 31st, so we're talking 2 and a half weeks away, actually!"
That was news even to Sesshomaru. Rin's eyes flew open, "New years EVE?"
'Oh, great going Amani!' She chided herself upon seeing Rin's despondent expression and visible slouch. The pastry chef then nodded, "I know it's really close...So, I think we should go with both coffee flavors to keep everyone going."
Rin nodded again, agreeing that they would need barrels of caffeine to keep them going. Amani cringed at poor Rin's expression, before quickly jotting it down.
"Do you guys like the salted caramel or hazelnut praline?" She asked; a feeble attempt at most to lighten the mood.
"The cookies and cream is good, but this seems to be a really refined wedding with upscale guests!" Rin blushed, "Both are really good!" "Then both it is," Sesshomaru affirmed. Rin smiled brightly at him, and Amani winked at Sesshomaru before muttering lowly, knowing he could hear her, (as Djinn were believed to have exceptional hearing) "I know love where I see it!" Rin didn't hear the comment, but smiled as Amani went on to talk about how pleasant of a couple they were.
Amani's mother made it up the stairs, before commenting offhandedly in Arabic, "I've never heard you having so much fun with your guests?" Amani laughed, and responded to her mother in their mother tongue, "God has a way of working things! I met her just last week, and look! Her fiance is a Djinn!"
The woman took a double-take, and all but beelined for Sesshomaru, looking right into his face. Her mother proclaimed herself to be an esteemed reader of people. She grabbed his face, turning it from side to side, before proudly proclaiming in English, "He is not evil! Nor is he an incubus!"
The woman stood upright, adjusted her hijab and smiled proudly to herself. Amani and Rin shared a knowing glance from the awkwardness, "Well, looking like that, he might as well be?" Amani supplied, to which Rin coughed and sputtered. Sesshomaru, on the other hand - was horribly offended that someone could take such liberties with his body. He appeared vexed at best, but Rin knew he'd eventually drop it.
Amani's mother then slapped her shoulder, and warned her about thinking such 'haram' thoughts. Sesshomaru felt so out of place and awkward - considering his looks were compared to that of a soul sucking sexual spirit, all while Rin struggled to keep her composure.
00000
The two arrived at the calligraphists' shop, and were ushered into the back of the shop by a young boy, who couldn't be older than 10. He groaned, before clasping his hands, "My dad will be with you soon! Please feel free to help yourself to some water or soda!" Rin flexed her eyebrows, as if to say, 'Wonder what's the deal.'
Sesshomaru shrugged, deciding to help himself to a can of Sprite. Rin watched him drink the carbonated drink with fascination, never imagining him to drink...well...soda. The man all but ran in, while fixing his kippah atop his head. Rin blinked at his hat, and Sesshomaru didn't understand the significance. "Forgive my bluntness sir, am I ruining your sabbath?" The man, who could be no more than 40 laughed. "You are good! I am a converted christian, but my wife's father wants to visit after we close shop! They're Jewish, so you can understand the appearances we try to keep around here."
Rin lips formed a small 'o' of understanding, before turning briefly to Sesshomaru, motioning she'd explain afterwards.
"You are here for wedding invitations? I can help with that! I was already told which card to use, time, date, and place. We just need a personal touch from the lovely couple."
Somewhere in the front of the shop, Sesshomaru heard a woman nag, "Stop talking so much to the couple! You're making it more awkward than it already is, Yashtov!" He gave a nervous grimace, before mouthing 'sorry.'
Sesshomaru's expectant stare got the man moving quickly, "This is the card I was instructed to use, and I already drafted a few samples! Tell me which one you like, or if you prefer we can make another."
Sesshomaru looked through the provided catalogue of cards, and Rin flipped through the drafts. The two gave a knowing look.
"What do you think, Rin?" Rin blushed upon realizing they both had the same idea without verbalizing it, "Not to be rude, but I'd like to make one!" Sesshomaru looked at her, and watched as she took an ornate card, scribbling a draft of what she wanted. In the middle of the card, it stated 'You are cordially invited to Rin and Shigeto's wedding ceremony, where we will celebrate the dawn of a new year, and a new life in each other. Your presence means the most, and we greatly appreciate your support during this new chapter."
On the left side, Obrigado was written, and on the right, in Japanese Kanji was written Arigatōgozaimashita. Rin then drew a bouquet of daffodils and peonies on the right, and the left, a combination of different orchids. He recognized peonies and daffodils bloomed in Japan in December, so he figured it must be the same for the bouquet she drew on the side written in Portugese.
The calligraphist squinted intently, before asking what she'd written. Rin felt herself slump in the chair again, and it was Sesshomaru's turn to have a smirk. "My handwriting isn't so great..." Sesshomaru understood it just fine, and took her card, alongside another blank. He rewrote what she'd drafted in a neater fashion. The calligraphist's mouth hung open, as his penmanship surpassed even his own.
Rin looked over his forearm as he rewrote the card neatly, with his own flair, and also scripted both of their names as, 'Rinako Tetshara-Taishou, and Shigeto Taishou.' His script was beautiful and he flared the letters with such grace and refinery that she couldn't help but feel a tad bit of envy. He was unable to transpose the images in the same way she had, and he asked for her to 'correct' his drawing of peonies and daffodils, but Rin liked it as is! She took the card from him, and drew the bouquet of orchids on the Portugese side, resembling Brazil's native flora. The girl smiled, and so caught up in the moment, she didn't realize when the calligraphist was handing her colored pencils. She smiled, and carefully colored on the gleaming silver and gold cardstock. The calligraphist watched them create the pretty card, and admired the connection they had. Rin finished up, and handed it to Sesshomaru.
He smiled, and asked the man to refine the card. The calligraphist shook his head, "Sir, I couldn't. This is a masterpiece on its own. What right do I have to ruin another artists work?" Rin smiled brightly, adoring the card with all her heart.
Yashtov gave them both a wink, before assuring them he'd keep the essence of the card when he edited it digitally and printed it off, as he couldn't forge Sesshomaru's handwriting. "I'll be sure to send you guys a pdf for approval before the week is out." Yashtov waved them off, and Rin thanked him kindly.
Rin climbed into the passenger seat, "Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama." He waved it off as nothing, but Rin felt her heart swell.
"Next off, the menu. Perfect timing?"
Rin blushed hotly again, she was pretty hungry. It was around 3 when they got to the restaurant his mother guided them to. The restaurant was still three hours from opening, but they were expecting them.
A young man lead the way, and a girl of carribean descent slid into the private dining room with them. "Good afternoon, the name is Eliasa. I presume you to be Rin," she shook her hand, "and Shigeto?" She shook his hand, before pulling out a laminated binder with several meals lined up.
"I was informed you wanted a 6 course meal?" Sesshomaru nodded, already knowing it was his mother's specifications afterall. "Well, as you may already know, the six course contains appetizers, soup, palate cleanser, entree, salad and dessert." Rin raised her hand lowly, and the woman turned to her, "Yes?"
"We are having a ton of cake, is there anyway we could change the desert to a meal item?"
Eliasa rubbed her chin for a moment, "Well, this is usually done for the seven course meal. But considering this is a wedding, an exception can be made. Instead, we could have an altered 6 course, where instead of desert we end with fruit, cheese, and wine. That way, your guests will talk and indulge before the cake. Or, if you so choose, we can still serve an alternative refreshment - a mint sorbet. Lightly sweetened to cleanse their palettes for the cake."
Sesshomaru interjected, "We will sample both, to make an effective comparison."
Eliasa agreed, before relinquishing her laminated binder to them. "I'll give you some to read through. I will be with my chefs in the back. If you need anything, my assistant, Chen Zi, will be with you." As Eliasa left, Chen Zi returned with glasses of champagne. Rin politely accepted, and Sesshomaru continued to go through the menu. The restaurant, Puerto Veijo, already had pre planned menus, but offered custom menus. Rin seemed overwhelmed looking at the nearly twenty pages of 5 course menus, not even to mention the binder's other divided sections which indicated 6, 7, 8, and even a 9 course menu.
"Oh, my head is spinning" she said mostly to herself, "Half of this stuff I can't even pronounce." Sesshomaru continued to read through it, before giving her a summary of each page. Rin tried her best to listen, before blanking out.
"Sesshomaru-sama. I think I may have to trust this to you. I think I'm too hungry to think. Better yet champagne on an empty stomach." Mirth danced in his hazel eyes as he motioned for Chang Zi. The chinese man returned, and listened intently to Sesshomaru's request. "
00000
"Hahaue was not kidding when she said we'd be busy." Rin commented with no real ire.
The two arrived at their wine tasting appointment, something he'd gladly take the reigns of. When they entered, a french woman greeted them. She took them to a private room, and asked them about the menu. Rin described the dishes, and the printout she'd received from Puerto Veijo, as well as Amani's bakery. The woman nodded, and recommended wines for each course, as well as ones best suitable each cake.
Sesshomaru immediately put himself up to taste each of the wines, knowing Rin probably had no alcohol tolerance. An associate provided a pewter pail for him to spit in, but finding the act disgusting - he simply slid it aside. Rin didn't understand the significance of the pail and shrugged it off. The woman, Margot, poured a sample, which Sesshomaru swirled, elegantly sniffed, and took a minute taste of. It was beneath him to use the damned pail. Margo watched him take a minute sip, "Mr. Taishou, in order to truly capture the essence of the aftertaste, it's best you expectorate the wine." Sesshomaru simply remained impassive, "I find it...unrefined for one such as myself, Mrs. Grevioux." Rin resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose at the thought of spitting and...washing the spit pail. Yikes!
"Mrs. Tetsuhara, do you care to try?" Margot inquired. Rin wanted to decline, but the look she was pinning her made her feel as though it was expected. Rin smiled softly, "I would, Mrs. Grevioux." The woman poured her a glass, "White wine is well known for pairing with fish, and I think that being this one only has a 12% alcohol content by volume, it should be suitable for everyone." Rin nodded, and took barely a sip of the wine. The woman left the room then to search for another selection from her recommendations.
"Rin, you don't have to drink any." Rin nodded, "I understand, but, I do wish to participate though." He sighed, "If at any point you feel odd, stop."
They tasted many wines throughout the evening, the entire tasting nearly taking three hours. Sesshomaru had chosen all of the wines, except for two non-alcoholic wines Rin took a liking to. She'd commented that children and designated drivers may attend, and by having these, they wouldn't feel left out. Sesshomaru agreed without a doubt, and added it to the final lineup.
The french woman bid them a good evening, and Rin respectfully bowed back. He was concerned - she didn't smell drunk - but sure seemed dazed. They linked arms, and entered the vehicle. "Are you alright?" The girl felt warm inside, "uh-huh." she sighed, before looking at the time, "Oh, it's already 9:34?" He noted her odd behavior, and decided it would be best to simply head to his mother's home. Rin's hand landed on his, feeling oddly warm. "Music?" she asked. 'She could just turn it on herself'
He took a moment to look at her, her face slightly ruddy and eyes cast afar. 'Definitely drunk.'
"What do you want to listen to?" She stared out the window for a long moment, "Musiq Soulchild - So Beautiful." She all but slurred. 'Hell am I in for?'
Reluctantly, he commanded the bluetooth to play the song. Rin gripped his forearm not on the steering wheel so much tighter. Conveying an emotion he wasn't so sure he could pin. Rin let go, and let the music soothe her. She pushed her hair back. She chuckled to herself in her mild stupor after the first song finished, "Mmm, DJ, can you take another track request?"
He'd humour her again, "Couldn't hurt?" Rin giggled, "Jill Scott - He loves me." He commanded the bluetooth once more, and the girl smiled, before singing along. After a moment, he realized she knew the entire track word for word, and decided to turn off the music. She sung quietly to herself, carrying a better cadence than the track. But, then again, he could be personally biased.
"You keep me on my feet - happily excited, by your cologne, your hands, your smile, your intelligence..." She sung softly, before trailing off. Allowing sleep to overtake her. Sesshomaru gripped her hand a little tighter and kept his eyes on the road. The traffic was ridiculous, but he didn't care. Even her presence while asleep was a soothing balm to his soul.
It wasn't until around 12 when they had finally gotten to his mother's home. The clubbers really backed up traffic. He parked, and carried her up the stairs. His mother sat on the dining room table, sketching out some designs in procreate, and opted to remain silent. She watched him for a long moment, as he kicked off his shoes and then placed the girl down on the couch before taking a moment to take off her shoes. He simply strewed them at the genkan, and the girl stirred for a moment. She smiled, and while he was leaned over her - pressed a soft kiss to his jaw, before blushing and dozing back off. He kneeled beside her frame on the sofa stunned for an eternity.
Lady Komako simply collected her items and silently excused herself. Sesshomaru kneeled there for what could have very well been hours, before placing the throw on her and excusing himself upstairs. He couldn't help but stare at the moon for hours on end, before his mother knocked on the door.
"Yes?" He intoned silently.
"Sesshomaru, I take it your day went well?" He didn't answer, and his mother sighed before cutting to the chase, "You do realize my decennial celebration is nearing?"
"What of it, Hahaue?"
"I wanted the girl to stay with me until then. That is, if it is fine with you?"
He shrugged, unable to admit to himself he'd miss her terribly. "Hn."
"When will you take your leave?"
"Tomorrow evening." His mother excused herself and closed the door. 'Well, at least it would give him time to make some preparations of his own.'
00000
Rin opened her eyes the following morning on the sofa. She got up, and began searching for her phone. "I could've sworn it was in my pocket!" she huffed.
Lady Komako's chuckle caught her attention, "I put it to charge this morning."
"Oh thank you, Hahaue," Rin beamed, before her eyebrows hit her bangs, "Wait, morning?" "Rin-chan," she cooed, "It's 10 to 1." "ITS 1PM?" She all but shrieked.
Komako laughed, "You were pretty tired from what I hear, you seem to never sleep." Rin nodded, "Yeah."
Komako sighed, "Well, whenever you are ready, there's brunch warming in the oven for you and there's clothes in the upstairs bathroom for when you're ready." Rin thanked her silently, before wondering where Sesshomaru was. As if reading her mind, Komako laughed, "He's out on an errand. He should be back soon."
Rin openly gaped at the woman as she sauntered off. After kneeling crouched by the sofa for an extended moment, she got up to take a shower. As she walked up the lavish winding staircase, she adored the way the sunlight from the large windows illuminated the crystal chandelier, leaving iridescent rainbows reflecting off the walls and staircase. She basked in the warm light for a moment, before heading up the stairs to where she believed the guest bedroom was situated.
'It looks so different here in the morning.'
True to her nature, she opened the door to the wrong room. "Awh, inferno! [Hell]!" She ducked, and rushed to close the door - it wasn't her business snooping around the woman's house.
As if by magic, Komako was behind her. Rin jumped, "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize...I was going the wrong way." Komako chuckled lightly - "It's fine, why don't you come and see?"
Rin paused and allowed his mother to lead the way. 'É como se ela quisesse que eu viesse aqui?' [It's like, she wanted me to come here?]
If the crystal rays downstairs were breathtaking, then this room was a slice of heaven. "It's so beautiful." Rin awed. Komako smiled, "You think so?"
In the bedroom beside the guest room, sat a lacquered cypress altar, adorned with crystal spheres and obelisks of all kinds. Geodes, agates, quartz, obsidians, citrine, the list went on. Two full body length amethyst geodes sat beside the altar, and a blue crescent moon was painted on the wall. On a gold hook in the center of the large crescent, sat the meidou stone. Rin gasped upon recognizing the stone, and remembered laying on the stoop besides his mother's throne - with it laying heavily upon her chest. Komako sat on the teal velvet bench facing the altar, watching the girl's awe.
"They are beautiful, aren't they?" Rin smiled softly, "They are gorgeous, Hahaue." As if lost in thought, she stared off for a moment, before facing her fully. "Feel free to take any one of your choosing."
"Hahaue, I couldn't."
"I insist, take whichever calls to you." Rin looked around the altar, and a beautiful yellow citrine sphere caught her eye. "I couldn't. These are worth a fortune." Komako ignored her protests, and took the baseball sized citrine off of it's golden dragon stand. "Take, Rin." Rin grabbed the crystal with reverie, before falling beside Komako on the velvet bench. The sunshine yellow of the crystal pulled at her heartstrings for a moment, and with closed eyes Komako searched the girl's soul. She struggled briefly, until a bright sunshine toned light emanating from her solar plexus nearly blinded her.
A warm breeze enveloped both of them, and Komako opened her eyes slowly. In the girl's hand, the crystal orb levitated. Her hair fluttered back behind her, and her dazed, blank stare radiated orange threads in her iris. After a moment, the crystal settled back down in her hands, and Rin came to. Her awareness came to her slowly, reeling from the blurred reel of memories that replayed in her mind's eye.
"Komako-sama, Thank you. It feels so...soothing." She trailed softly as she hugged the crystal to herself.
Methodically, as if suddenly possessed, the girl leaned the citrine on the furs shrouding the altar, before kneeling before her soon to be mother-in-law. Rin looked at Komako with resolute, pleading eyes. "Hahaue, I'm assaulted by these memories." She motioned to herself wildly, "I feel as though there's something missing in me. Like I'm incomplete without knowing the past. I promised Sesshomaru-sama that I wouldn't prod at this any longer. But I can't. I need to find it, even if it's just for myself." She grabbed Komako's bejeweled hand, "Can you help me, Komako-sama? Please help me." Tears pricked at Rin's eyes. Komako folded her other hand on top of Rin's, "Rin, it's best if you leave it be." she answered simply. Rin begged, "Please, I'll do anything."
Komako turned away from Rin, as a knot built up in her throat. 'I can help, but I refuse.'
"Rin, I can neither help nor prevent you. If I were to intervene, it could drive you to madness. Nevertheless, I strongly dissuade you regardless." Rin sobbed at her feet, and she pulled her head into her lap, stroking her hair. After some time, her tears lessened. "Child, your feet are going numb; are they not? Clean yourself up. Whether you remember or not, we will cross that bridge when we get there. Sesshomaru might be here soon, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to greet him like...that." Rin nodded, trembling. "Yes, Hahaue."
Rin bowed in a traditional dogeza, before making her exit quietly. Komako cleared her throat to garner Rin's attention.
The girl turned back by the door, still disheveled.
"You are forgetting something." Komako commented offhandedly, before pointing her chin to the crystal. Rin smiled nervously, shuffled to the crystal, thanked her with a short bow.
'She seems so much nicer than what I remember. She always seemed so aloof.' Rin thought briefly.
Komako watched the girl exit, before dusting her drenched lap. 'Well I've got some divination to perform.'
'Now that the girl has taken the crystal, I will be able to tap into her psyche at any time. Furthermore, it will help her find herself. I may not help you overtly, Rin-chan, but it's up to you to find it.'
With that, Komako meditated, and drew her hands together in prayer - calling upon Rin's lifeblood. Now, she could work in peace. Pink smoke billowed from the altar, shrouding Komako, and blending with the turquoise and navy curtains that billowed by the window.
00000
Rin sat in the shower, suddenly feeling weak. Her body felt as though it would fall beneath its own weight. Unable to do much else, she scrubbed her body lethargically before exiting the shower. She barely managed to drag on the outfit Komako-sama chose for her, and drug herself downstairs for breakfast. She plated the quiche, brioche, and pickled vegetables for breakfast and ate slowly. 'Why do I feel so tired?' She thought back to the crystal, and remembered the flow of power she felt surge from it. 'Perhaps it took something from me?'
00000
Komako allowed herself to enter the void of Rin's psyche. It was warm, and bright like her. But as she continued to walk through the girl's subconscious, she came across a locked door. Komako yanked at the door, and it refused to budge. With a short incantation, the door flew open - and she was all but sucked into the void. Her physical body entered a trance-like state, unable to move; similar to REM sleep but - while awake. Her lashes fluttered as she felt herself pull into a dark room, similar to a movie theatre. She continued to recite her mantras, and slowly; faded images came to her. One by one, before gaining traction rapidly - and starting exactly where she wanted. Rin's childhood.
XX Rin's Memories XX
Komako saw a small child with tousled hair running through a vast field. It was overgrown with native flora and saw people in the field. She lowered herself spiritually, to hear the commotion presented.
"Daddy!" The girl screamed, and a man knelt down, "Rinako! Have you been a good girl?" The child squealed excitedly as he tossed her around. A beautiful woman walked up from behind "Naohiro, I see Rin's so excited, she forgot her poor mama." Her mother faked a sad face, and the girl wrestled her father, tumbling into her mother's embrace. "I missed you ma! How long will you be staying?" Her mother's eyes grew sad, "Just the weekend, sweetie. Daddy's gotta work on Monday." Rin looked sad, "Why can't I come with you?" Her mother shot the man beside her a dirty underlook, "Well sweetie, we'd have to talk this over with your father."
XXXX
Rin played outside with her friends, before coming inside to a run down colonial styled tenement. The door on the first floor was wide open, and Rin yelled out her entrance. Her grandmother stood by the stove, her hair wrapped in a scarf, and an apron adorning her waist. "Riniah, wash your hands and come help me." Rin did as she was told, and her short legs took her over to the older woman. "Roll the coxinha" Rin rolled the teardrop shaped croquette and her grandmother stepped back, "Fry it." The girl was afraid of the hot oil, and the older woman yelled at her. Whimpering, the 7 year old dropped the croquette in the hot oil, which splattered on her little fingers. The woman walked up beside her, "Well done, Riniah. Getting burned is the first step to being a good cook. Like your mother, myself, and my mother before me." The little girl gave a watery smile, and helped her grandma fry the rest of the mixture.
XXXX
She was older then, perhaps 10. She got on the bus, and debated with her classmates about something or the other. She sighed, "I'm not good at math." Her friends looked at her as though she grew a third head, "If you're bad, then we're dead for the exam!" Her friends giggled, but she looked graven. She got off the bus, and walked to her grandma's house. Her father looked down his nose at her, pushing a yellow report card in her face. Her mother rounded her father's stiff frame, "Rin, it's not like you to get c's math. Is everything okay?" Rin took out her notebook, "I'm confused, and the teacher gets angry when I ask for help." Her mother clucked her tongue, "Let's figure this out." They sat at the worn dining table, and her mother stared at the notes scribbled in her daughter's notebook before pulling a sheet for herself and asking for a pencil. Her mother looked at the problems, and began calculating in her head, reciting the answers to Rin. "How do you do that, ma?" "Ah! Constanca didn't get a full ride scholarship in Mathematics and Aerospace Engineering for nothing," her mother laughed as she referred to herself in third person, while tapping her temple, "Rin when you think of math, what do you imagine?" "Numbers eating me alive." she pouted, "Well, instead of letting them crunch you, you should be crunching them. Let me show you how." They worked for a while, and within the hour, the girl was able to simply look at the equation, sit still for a moment, before reciting an answer. Her mother laughed, and made it a game. The faster she could recite the correct answers, the faster they'd be back for their next visit. Some time elapsed, and the girl brought home an A in calculus.
XXXX
Rin was 12, and had returned from school. "Grandma!" the girl grew concerned upon not hearing any sound, "Grandma?" Her fear turned into terror, "Grandma Lucinda?" The girl rounded the corner, to see her grandmother slumped over between the living room and bathroom threshold. She shook the woman violently, "Wake up! Wake up! Please Grandma! Wake up!" Her bookbag fell off her shoulder and laid scattered in the living room. The girl's wails alerted the next door neighbor, who came running in with her son. "Mrs. Sabelia, grandma wouldn't respond!" The neighbor knelt beside the unconscious figure, touched her, and then screamed bloody murder. "JOACHIM CALL THE AMBULANCE!" Joachim ran out of the unit, to theirs and promptly called for help. "What's going on? Why isn't grandma responding? Mrs. Sabelia, please?" The woman dragged Rin by the shoulder, and stood outside until police arrived. "Rin, Lucinda has left us for a better place. A place without suffering." Rin cried until her little heart couldn't take it anymore.
XXXX
Rin moved into her parent's flat in the capital, Brasilia. Her father was working day in and out, and her mother was tutoring students at the university. The girl laid down in the master-bedroom as her parents argued in the living room, "Didn't I tell you I didn't want you working?" "You don't want me doing anything is what, Naohiro! You are suffocating me, can't you see that?" "I'm not doing a damn thing but taking care of you and your daughter." "My daughter? You make her seem like a burden!" A shouting match ensued, and her dad left - slamming the door on his way out.
XXXX
Rin made new friends at her new school, and the children agreed to a friendly futbol match. Rin wore green men's oversized basketball shorts, blue kneesocks, and a neon yellow athletic shirt. She kicked the soccer ball over the net, and the girls cheered - effectively declaring they'd beat the boys. Everyone came running over, congratulating her. The boys demanded a rematch, and as Rin proclaimed she'd simply beat them again - her father came dragging her off the park's field. "Why are you dragging me?" The girl demanded, and her friends looked on, terrified - victory forgotten. One of the boys, not recognizing her father - kicked the ball at him. Naohiro fell, and promptly hissed at his daughter to get in the car. Rin refused, and for the first time - her dad hit her. Fuming and hiccuping, the girl silently slid into the backseat while her father cursed out the children.
The next day, a girl from the team asked "Rin, what happened?"
"I can't play anymore guys, I'm sorry." Rin said sadly, before walking home.
Her new friends grew worried, but left the matter alone.
XXXX
"Why can't she play, Naohiro? What in the everloving hell is your problem?" Constanca yelled. She'd just returned from the school giving both the children, and their parents - a heartfelt apology. "I wouldn't have her running around like she's Tarzan's daughter! She should learn some respect for herself. She needs to study, not play stupid games." "There's more going on here. Rin is an exemplary student. Nothing but A's! I can't understand you, do you want to cage her up!? For Christ's sake, she studies and has no outlet!" "I should," he scoffed, "can't have her running around wild like her mother now, can I?"
Rin didn't have her own room, so, she locked herself in the bathroom and cried.
XXXX
Rin came home from school, hungry as ever. "Rin, do you want seconds?" her mother smiled. Rin nodded excitedly, "Well, I'm sure glad your appetite is so good. You'll be my strong, intelligent little girl!" Rin giggled, and her mom took her plate, adding seconds. Her mother handed her the plate, which she accepted gratefully. Her father returned from his brooding in the living room, snatching the plate and slamming it down at the end of the table. Constanca's hazel eyes widened in disbelief, and her kinky hair swayed with the movement. "Jesus Christ, Naohiro. What now!? I'm begging you, what now?" Rin felt so low, and lost her appetite, opting to sink into the chair. "You need to curve her eating habits, Constanca. Look at her, she's getting fat!" "Fat? Naohiro, what the hell are you trying to accomplish? Starving her? That's all you're going to do; because you sure can't stop her from maturing." "You're taking away from the goddamn point. Rin stand up, now." Rin pretended she didn't hear. "Rin, don't you dare listen to him." Her father dragged her up and out of the chair, earning a yelp. Rin rubbed her sprained wrist, refusing to look anywhere but at the tiled floor. "You don't see this? Look at this! Her skirt should be the same length all around - not long to her knees in front and above her knees in the back. She could stand to miss a few meals. She's going to be inviting all the wrong kinds of attention." "If you look at her and think she's fat, you have a problem Naohiro! Why don't you take her to get her skirt tailored like a good father rather than picking on her during the hardest times of her life?"
From then on, her father monitored her intake like a hawk.
XXXX
Her father entertained his work buddies, absorbing himself in work - sometimes, he even took business trips - she thought them odd, but never questioned it. Rin was relieved though, as it was mostly just her and her mother now. She helped her with the university students, and sometimes, her dad wasn't home for weeks. It was the most peace they'd felt in some time.
XXXX
Naohiro stormed home. "Fucking bullshit! This is fucking bullshit!" Constanca saw his demeanor, and panicked, before waking Rin up. "Rin. Go to the store for me, will ya'? Go buy me some bread, and something you'd like for yourself." The girl rubbed her eyes from her midday nap. "Ma?" "Go!" her mother all but barked. Rin dragged on her sandals, and an umbrella. Before scurrying out of the apartment like a mouse.
It rained hard, thunder clapping and lightning illuminating the sky. A knot of dread unfurled in her stomach. After a half hour, she could stand it no longer. She ran home, and felt the world narrow to her turning the knob to their apartment. She dropped the groceries, and the fruit cup she'd brought in the hallway. Her father was heaving, and broke the glass liquor bar her mother used for decoration, as well as her decorative charger plates. "They fucking laid me off!" He was pacing around, and punched the wall. Rin's eyes met her mother's through the gap in the door. Her mother pleaded with her, and with that - Rin ran, not even bothering to pick up the fallen goods.
It was the first time the police were called to her home. She stood in the rain, and watched as the blue and red lights swirled.
XXXX
Four days of never-ending terror. 4 days her father was on a rampage. Throwing things and shoving any unfortunate soul who inadvertently crossed his path. The girl took her sketchbook and tore it up. She'd taken up drawing, hoping to appease her father as a child. But he called it a waste of time, the very thing he taught her was a waste of time. She was a waste of time.
XXXX
Her dad left home, and she begged her mother to leave him. "Mama, please. Leave him! We can find a way!" "Rin, I'm not leaving your father." "If he acts like this, he'll kill us! He will beat us someday! I don't like this man, this man who once paraded around like a dad!" "Rin, give him one more chance." "One more chance might be our last!" the girl yelled at the top of her lungs, betraying the wisdom her little form held.
XXXX
"I'm sorry for my behavior, Constanca. Rin." Constanca reluctantly accepted. Rin outrightly refused an apology in her heart, but faked a half smile before hugging her dad. "How'd about we start over, fresh, in Japan? I can find good work there." Rin held her head down, and her mother refused to sigh, considering his erratic behavior. "It could be a good thing, but we should put more thought into this." He laughed, and clapped his wife's back, dismissing her with a muttered "Where's the spontaneous girl I once knew?" Constanca grimaced.
XXXX
Rin threw her first tantrum.
"I'm not going to Japan! You'll have to drag my dead body!" Constanca snarled, while yanking at her husband's shirt "Rin do not say such things!" Her father manhandled her on the kitchen floor of the now empty apartment. "I guess I'll have to drag your dead body, then. Watch me." Rin screamed, a premonition pawing at her stomach. Her mother only accepted due to his insistent coercion, afraid that he'd snap after the storm quietly brewed. "Kill me then!" The girl was tall for her age in comparison to her father, standing at a mere 4'10 to her father's 5'5. Her father landed her a hit meant for a man on the street, and not his daughter. Rin retaliated, and punched him square in the jaw - enough force to give whiplash. Her father laughed, and before Rin knew what hit her - she saw black with white floaters, and the fading sound of a scream.
He shook his hand, "She's going to learn some respect. This was your fault Constanca."
Her mother gripped the kitchen knife in the hand behind her back, before dropping it into the sink. Who would care for Rin? She couldn't give in - she couldn't kill him. She watched when he left, and immediately cradled a sobbing Rin in her arms.
Komako winced.
XXXX
Two weeks later, Rin sat on the plane - the perfect image of refined girlishness. She sat by the window seat, and watched her home disappear from under her feet. 'This was it', she surmised. Her mother sat between herself and her father, she was grateful. She acted as though she forgave him, and that all was fine and dandy. But it wasn't, she heard the snarky remarks he flung at her mom. Like now, for example.
XXXX
At her mother's insistence, they took photos in the city. Her father wasn't pleased she had her hat on backwards, and called her a delinquent. But the girl didn't take the bait. She smiled along, despite hating every bit of the arrangement. Japan wasn't the problem, it was the reason why he wanted her there. He'd called her 'loose' and 'fast', and insisted that her culture was a bad influence.
XXXX
They settled into the new apartment. Rin eyed the floor with mild distaste, but was careful to hide it from her father. He wasn't home, but she still schooled her expressions. "Ma, I heard what that man said on the plane." "Stop calling your father that man! He is your father, and you will respect him as much." Rin willed herself to calm, "I heard what dad said on the plane. Are you going to leave him now, ma? We could survive on our own. We don't need him to provide for us." Constanca looked into her daughter's face, before pulling her for a hug and kissing her head. "Yes. Yes I will."
XXXX
"I'm going to meet my mother, and sister. Constanca, Rin. I expect you both to be on your best behavior." Rin resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and maintained her composure under a cool facade. "Yes, dad." "Rin, I almost forgot, I brought you a gift." Rin's alarm bells went off, and her father handed her the brown paper bag. Rin gratefully accepted, with a small 'thanks.' "They're good for you, make sure to take them and use the cream, too." Rin nodded. When her father walked off, she opened the bag - 3 pill bottles, and a cream was in the bag. She dumped the contents onto her futon. "Glutathione? Transino-white? Diet enzyme tablets? Tranexamic acid cream?" Rin knew enough Japanese to make out the Kanji. Yeah, he gave her whitening cream, pills, and to add salt to the wound - diet pills too."
She used them, as long as it'd keep him off her back.
XXXX
Constanca grew concerned, Rin looked pale. Too white; definitely not the child she birthed. She rummaged through the girl's storage bin, and found the pills and cream. She gasped, the diet pills said diet in English, and well the whitening cream - despite not having much English aside from white, it did show tan magically fading into white on the packaging. She'd have to confront Rin.
XXXX
Rin refused to answer where she got the quasi-medicines. She neither denied or accepted any responsibility for them. Instead, a hollow shell of her child sat before Constanca. At that moment, she knew.
The moment he walked through the door, Constanca pelted him with the medicines. "So this is how you wanted it, huh?" Naohiro refused to look up, instead muttering, "I'm just giving her an upper hand here. Any father would want their child to feel accepted." She scoffed, "No, Naohiro. You want to be accepted."
XXXX
Rin and her parents took the train, and people openly gawked at the trio. Some even asking, "What's it like living with lions roaming about?" Rin wanted to open up the earth's crust and seal them away there, but alas. She could not, as she didn't want to make a scene. So, she beared it.
XXXX
They arrived at her paternal grandmother's house. She met her aunt, who smiled sweetly at them, but immediately spoke about them like they were the dirt of the earth. "You bring this slut to your mother? Naohiro, you should've just up and left them. Tell the girl you're going for a cigarette or something." Naohiro cut his sister a dirty glare, and Rin regrettably, understood it all. But all eyes were on them, so unfortunately - she couldn't tell her mom. "So this is your plaything from Brazil, Naohiro? Ah, a morsel straight from a lewd magazine." his mother laughed. In English she spoke to Rin, eyeing her distastefully, "Go play with your cousins, sweetie."
Rin politely excused herself after her mother confirmed with a wave of the hand. The three girls promptly gave her a verbal lashing, and cut a lock of her hair. They said she was like a shaggy dog. She never told anyone. Till this day, a lock of her hair sat at her ribs, rather than falling to her hips like the rest of her hair.
XXXX
"You've been written off the will, Naohiro. Neither you, nor the slut, nor the little bastard in tow will receive a dime of the family inheritance. Mother should've never sent you abroad to study, since you can't keep your playthings...as well, playthings." Aunt Konoha snickered as the attorney took his leave. Her father was agitated, and ushered them home. He then took a salaried job, and became increasingly more violent.
XXXX
"Naohiro-san." Constanca breathed silently, before speaking in broken Japanese - as he insisted, "I'm leaving you, and I will be taking Rin. I have procured a position with the ESA. My dreams of being an aerospace engineer have finally come to pass. I will support you, and you will be welcomed to visit. But, we depart tomorrow."
Blood boiled in her father's eyes, "What?" "I have gotten a position with the European Space Agency, I'll be relocating to London with Rin." He began to break the dishes, flipped the table, and when he didn't get the fear he wanted, he picked up the catholic candle Constanca lit from the kitchenette. He threw it, and the glass shattered, against the wall. The flame seemed to disperse, but after a moment of nothingness - a fireball flared - incinerating her father instantly. Rin screamed, and Constanca pulled Rin to her chest as the fire spread. She felt the door to see if it was hot, the doorknob burned and her mother snatched her hand back. Flames began to lick from under the door, and the fire began to envelope the apartment. Constanca began to pray the 'Hail Mary' and prayed for God to spare Rin. The girl clutched to her mom, and cried. They heard banging at the window, and the bars broke. With only the strength a mother could possess, she pushed Rin towards the window where the firefighter caught her and dragged her out. "MY MOM IS IN THERE! PLEASE HELP HER!" Constanca grappled at the window, but the popping of glass snapped Rin's attention from the window. The firefighter's walkie-talkies bellowed an alert, and by the time the scaffold was pulled away from the building, it collapsed in ashes. Rin screamed hysterically, and the firefighters tried to calm her.
She was too hysterical, they said. So she didn't speak for three years.
They couldn't call her hysterical anymore.
XXXX
Rin was made to grovel by her aide worker, who begged for the family to take her in. It was their fourth attempt. After the second, they didn't seem to take no for an answer. Konoha turned her back with a sneer, and her grandmother watched the girl grovel with a smirk.
That night, before she left. Her uncle complimented how 'exotic' she was, and fondled her uniform's skirt.
It was a long skirt; but long skirts didn't repel sick, twisted, men; she learned.
XXXX
The girl's home was not much better of an option. The employees cared less, and tormented the children. Some worse than childhood bullies. Rin was too hollow to care.
They said she was too expensive, and dropped her from the state's medical plan. A blessing in disguise, really. No more sedatives. But, at the same time - it left her homeless.
XXXX
Rin sat on a bench, astride street slush from snow and sleet mixing with the dirt and gravel of the city. The girl could bear the cold no longer, and hopped the turnstyle of the train station. She rode the trains up and down throughout the city, dozing on and off.
A man got on the desolate train, and slid next to her. "Hey, you're kinda cute." He was her father's age. Her eyes widened in fear, and he drew closer to her. "If you want a warm bed for the night, you can come with me." Rin's face spelled terror, and the ride between stops seemed like an eternity. She watched the beams of the tunnel pass the window, and she prayed he wouldn't advance any further. At that moment, the train conductor opened the door. "What's going on here?" he demanded. "Oh, just spending time with my niece, right?" Rin's eyes spelled terror, and she shook her head - hoping the train conductor would see her. The train conductor sighed, and closed the door. Seconds after, the train stopped at an undesignated station for the express route. The guy followed her as she darted from the train, before wrapping his arms around her shoulder. "Hey sweetie, lets get us a late night bite and talk this over, I'm sure it's an offer you can't refuse." Rin stumbled beside him, scared beyond belief. They reached the top, and passed some apartment complexes, then rounded to a cafe. Police lined the area, and he lost his grip on her, he stepped back and when he turned she was gone. "Fucking bitch!" He seethed.
Rin watched him from atop the fire escape, and he took off running in the direction from whence they came.
After that, she didn't take the train anymore. Opting to sleep on roofs.
She saw him sometimes after that too, but always darted before he could make her out.
XXXX
The cold grew to be unbearable, and roofs spelled death if she slept too deeply. In a desperate panic, below zero - she knocked on a church door. "Someone, please help." Her fingers turned blue, and her body was numb. Before they could open the door, she passed out on the threshold.
They kept her until the worst part of the winter tided over. She could provide no identification, so in February, she received her last notice - and slipped out discreetly. She could tell they were annoyed by her presence.
XXXX
The weather cleared up - she took to sleeping on roofs again, and heavily wooded areas. She decided to take a chance sleeping at school, since many of the areas she felt safer in were so far away. Her student fees were due, and she found herself resorting to petty thievery.
It got the dues paid, but with sleeping at the school came another onslaught of problems.
"You're so cute," he said, "the perfect daughter's best friend fantasy." Her biology teacher cooed, Rin looked over his shoulder at the picture of his wife, daughter, son, and their little cat, too. His hand grazed her knee, "I could give you a little biology hands on, if you'd like. You wouldn't fail my course anymore." Rin felt anger in her stomach, "You've been failing me on purpose. I need another teacher to review my work" she wrote on the whiteboard on his desk.
"Oh this?" he smirked, "Easy." He took all of her assignments and placed them in the sixteen page shredder.
"It's a shame you are as dumb as you are cute." His knuckles brushed her thigh, and she shoved him.
She failed the course.
He always looked nicer in his family photo, anyways.
XXXX
Rin walked through the streets of Shibuya, and a man stood taking photos. He turned, and snapped a photo of her without consent. "You're gorgeous," he smirked, "Would you like to try out for an athletic wear magazine? It's a new trend in Japan." Rin shook her head 'no' mutely. He grabbed her by the arm, insisting they go to his apartment. People saw, and instead of helping - looked away.
"Take it all off. The agency wants to know what they're really working with" He mentioned as he shoved her into the dingy apartment.
Rin back away from him.
He edged closer, and she snatched the lamp from the low table, and broke it over his shoulder. He fell, and too scared to grab her bookbag, she simply left it, scattered on the floor.
After that, her bookbag became a 7/11 tote.
XXXX
She rummaged through the garbage bin behind a large retail supermarket. They trashed tons of unspoiled food. She took her helping of plastic wrapped fruit, vegetables, and pantry goods. 'It's a shame they waste so much good food' she thought sadly.
XXXX
The pattern cycled on; creeps, finding a place to sleep, bathing in the school sink, and finding something to eat. Day in and day out until she graduated.
Komako did not understand how she pulled it off.
It was summer, and the girl picked up a newspaper to fan herself. Her eyes widened, "Mei Tadano: Looking for a roommate." The girl excitedly read the listing, "I live in a less than desirable area. But rent is cheap. College student friendly!" Rin scoped the area of where she said she lived, and deemed it not too bad, it was a roof over a head if she'd give her a chance. With the last few quarters in her pocket, and the dingy 7/11 tote she lived out of, Rin walked to the nearest payphone.
00000
Every emotion, every pang of anguish; felt so real. Each period of mourning, grief, and shame overpowered even the strongest of the strong.
Komako passed out.
00000
Rin heard something bang upstairs, and she all but shot up from her seat in the dining room. "Hahaue?" Her feet lead her up the stairs in a panic, "Hahaue." She yanked at the door, and it didn't budge. She despised locked doors.
Determined, she ran back to the dining room to get a steak knife. She was determined to pick the lock and break it, if need be. During her fumbling, she didn't hear Sesshomaru enter beside her. Clawed fingers splayed besides the door knob, silently requesting it. She looked up at him, before handing over the offending object. Sesshomaru used the end of his index finger's claw, and with a slight jig - opened the door effortlessly. The two both laid eyes on the floor before them, and saw his mother laying on the floor. Some of the crystals from her altar tumbled off, a few candlesticks fell, hit the altar, and had dents. Worst of all, her spices tumbled over; and a few of the glass jars broke - leaving a mess in her furs and fine carpet.
Sesshomaru knelt by his mother first, and her eyelashes fluttered before she clenched her scalp. "Don't look at me like that." She huffed, and rolled onto her side in a sitting position. Rin couldn't help herself though, "Are you sure you're alright?" Komako cleared her throat, "Could you excuse yourselves? I'll be out momentarily."
Rin stood, eyeing Komako in disbelief, "Okayyy.." With one last concerned look, she turned on her heel. Komako refused to look at her son, who still knelt beside her. "I'm not asking you again, Sesshomaru. Leave." He refused to move, "What caused you to exert so much power?" Komako's brows furrowed, and her fingers glowed green with her own dokkasou, before lashing out at him weakly. He simply shifted, and the attack served to simply melt the mirror behind them. His eyes didn't leave his mother's seething face, "I need a moment, Sesshomaru. Let me recollect myself."
His mother was one of the strongest clairvoyants to walk the earth.
Sesshomaru made his exit rudely, all but slamming the door behind himself. Komako slowly picked up the fallen items, chanting lowly to herself as she did. She held the candlestick to her chest, before snapping and throwing the said item to the ground. With the room only half-cleared, she excused herself. She needed to forget, even if it was just for a moment.
00000
The three stood on the train platform, his mother prattling on about something. 'A furniture auction or the other?' He could really care less. "There's a specific reason why I don't take the train." Rin smiled, "Oh it's not that bad, I think you're being," she pinched her pointer and thumb together, "a bit dramatic." He gave her one sharp look, before redirecting his glance to his mother, "I am not...her." Rin closed her eyes with a serene smile, "But the apple never falls too far from the tree, so it seems." The train came blazing in, and the trio got on.
"Stand clear of the closing doors, please."
Several other people sat on the train, some standing - most appearing to have either left Sunday sermon, or on their way to attend. The cart was on the fuller side, but not exactly packed, either. The pulled to a halt, announcing it's stop. A few got off, but the emergency exit between carts slid open - and a family of 6 came through. Moaning some awful sob story, begging for money by waving an ethnic hat about. The tourists, poor fools they were, fell for the act instantly. Sesshomaru simply turned his face, and Komako continued reading her e-book. Rin gave them both a pleading look, "We should help them." If they could appear more occupied, they did - feigning ignorance. The man and his wife, who was cradling a baby - stopped and gave the trio a nasty glare, before shuffling off and begging for more.
Rin sighed, saddened by their callousness. She followed half heartedly as they got off, walking to some museum, it seemed. As they entered, people were inspecting different antiques - appraisals. People were there appraising their antiques. Past the showroom, there seemed to be a conference room with seats lined up. "The silent auction will begin within 20 minutes, please be prepared to take a seat" a woman announced over the intercom. Rin ignored the appraisers, and took a glance into the room. Some seats at the front were reserved with names, while others seemed to be free for the taking. Waiters and waitresses passed by with drinks and hor'd'ovuers. She politely declined, and watched as Komako had taken interest in an antique jewelry set someone was appraising. "Oh, it was my great grandmother's," the woman laughed, "It's been passed down, and none of us expected it to have any real value." Rin turned her attention from the jewelry, surprised to see cameras lined up, zooming into the participant's faces and interviewing them after each appraisal.
"Oh my God, Antiques Roadshow?" Rin gasped as she gave a little jig. Komako held a slight smile in her eyes upon noting Rin's delight. Sesshomaru seemed to be keeping a reign on his poor mood, feigning pleasure every now and again. Rin ignored his displeasure, and dragged him from booth to booth to look at the old items. "Oh, how old is this?" She asked upon looking at an ivory dresser. The appraiser smiled, "Well, judging by the engraving on the back - it seems to be an original Walter Espina dresser. It's rare that we get spanish furniture here, especially such well maintained items. If we look at the Ivory top, we can see that the dresser hasn't been altered, aside from the replacement claw foot on the front right." The appraiser took a step back, "judging from the pearl handles, we can easily say this dresser was made between 1658 to 1672. This very well may have been one of the last few pieces of Espina's that has made it till this day."
Rin clasped her hands in front of her stomach, barely containing her excitement...about some old piece of furniture. Despite it all, Sesshomaru found himself amused to watch her engage in conversation over the antiques.
At that moment, everyone lined up for the silent auction. Komako went in, offering the option for them to stay or simply go. Rin decided to stay, and watch the silent auction unfold. Sesshomaru, with nothing else better to do, joined.
00000
The trio left the train station, walking to his mother's house. With a frown, he checked his phone - realizing he'd have to hightail back home to Schenectady. Rin and his mother engaged in some conversation, briefly talking about the antique necklace that went for three hundred and six thousand. Rin ran up ahead, opening the gate to the brownstone, and skipping up the stairs in the cold night. As she turned and looked beneath the stairwell - the same family that was begging was walking up the stairs to open their door.
Her mouth hung open in the cold air, freezing her teeth. The wife shot Rin a dirty glare, before jutting her shoulders out, "What are you looking at?" Rin was too appalled to say anything, instead looking at Sesshomaru at the bottom of the stairway, and his mother who ascended the stairs in a look that could only be interpreted as, 'Are you SEEING this? I know I am not CRAZY?' Komako looked over her shoulder at the family, cut her eyes, and opened the door - leaving a stunned Rin outside who continued to openly gawk at them. Sesshomaru passed her, and as if in a cartoon - snatched her into the house before kicking the door closed with his heel.
She closed her mouth before her brows hit her bangs, throwing both arms out in an exasperated manner, motioning towards the neighbors. "They are STEALING from people who really need it! We need to do something! This is wrong, unethical, and EVIL!"
Komako all but shrugged, "Some just detest working."
Rin's arms flailed comically, "THEY ARE STOPPING THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT FROM GETTING!" Now her blood boiled righteously, "THEY -"
Sesshomaru put an end to her tirade by opening the door, "Would you like to tell them something?"
"Actually," she wrapped her pointer finger around her thumb, "YES!"
Before she could walk out the door, Komako caught her collar, "Actually, No. I have to see them everyday and I'm not kicking up more dirt with them." Sesshomaru and Rin looked at each other before Rin acted as their delegated mouthpiece, "More dirt?"
Komako sighed, "Long story, they've called police to this residence on multiple occasions claiming I was hexing them." Without missing a beat, Sesshomaru reiterated, "Were you?"
"I don't have time for such pettiness."
"You are the embodiment of pettiness, hahaue."
She shrugged, "But I wasn't, whatever it was; they were the ones manifesting it into existence."
00000
"Rin, I need to ask you a favor." Komako asked as the girl gathered her items, "Could you stay with me for the remainder of the week? I have several fittings planned, and I was hoping you could stay until the ball."
The girl sat astride the bed, not really wanting to say yes - but seeing his mother's plea, and remembering her request during the dress fitting, made her reconsider. Despite not outrightly asking, she knew she really wanted some companionship. Furthermore, his mother was making her dress and gave her several articles of clothing during her stay. "Sure" She replied brightly. As if reading her thoughts, Komako gave a solemn smile, "You don't have to, if you don't want, Rin. You're obligated to no one."
The girl smiled, her eyes appearing worn, and more mature than Komako could've fathomed. "I don't mind, Hahaue. It's been a long time, and I feel as though I recognize you without truly knowing you." She paused, "I hope to become reacquainted."
Komako felt a small smile tug at her lips despite herself, before tilting her head in the girl's direction. "Let me speak to Sesshomaru for a moment."
00000
"Sesshomaru, I spoke to Rin-chan, and she says she'll stay with me for the week. Will you be alright?" Despite not outwardly showing any emotion, his eyes betrayed him. "It is fine." He stated blandly. His mother sat down on the sofa, before motioning him over. "Sesshomaru, even if you aren't on the best terms, you should tell your brother about this."
"No." he shot back cruelly, not even entertaining the idea. "It's not about you, or him, even. Think about his children and how torn they were when she died. They lost their mother, and her also. Give them some semblance of closure." His body language remained defensive. "It isn't my duty-"
"They'll resent you, and don't come crying to me when you spark bad blood with them. Especially Shiori."
His eyes clenched painfully, before acquising, "I'll resolve it in due time, Hahaue. Just not now." Komako sighed, "Well, suit yourself. I'll see you on Friday." He mirrored her expectant stare, "And I presume you'll tell me then what you've seen?"
Komako's breath hitched in her throat, "Yes, Sesshomaru. Then."
He took his leave, and when he looked up behind him, Rin sat on the windowsill waving at him with a slight smile. "Call me when you get home" she laughed cheekily, while shaking her hand's imitation of a telephone. He nodded, before turning on his heel.
Now that Sesshomaru has reunited with Rin, it seems as though he cannot bear to remain without her.
Fin: Preparations in Tow