Chapter 15
Needless to say, Inuyasha was not amused by the prospect of being woken up before the light of dawn by a toad demon standing within mere inches away from his face. Jaken didn't even have to shake him. With the privilege of harboring canine demon genes, all Inuyasha required was his extremely talented nose. He could track a flea five miles away without even trying if he was familiar with the scent. His brother's little pet was no exception.
Upon catching the familiar stench of pure annoyance at its finest, Inuyasha furrowed his brow in irritation. He didn't even have to open his eyes to know that he was currently the object of study. "What the hell do you want, frog?" He growled through his just woken up haze.
Silence was Jaken's only reply.
Inuyasha peaked through the protection of his eyelids. He then sprang free of his quilted prison at the sight of plate sized yellow eyes gazing intently at him. "Damn it, Jaken! What the hell?" He shouted before his brain had the chance to filter the fact that it was early in the morning and his mate and son were also in the room still fast asleep.
By the time it had registered, Kagome was up and wide awake grabbing for her bow and quiver of arrows. She was in the process of loading one up when Inuyasha dove at her. He spent a good ten seconds trying to wrestle the weapon out of her determined grasp. "Inuyasha! What's the matter? Is it Ehren? Is he hurt? Are you? Wha..?" Kagome paused upon seeing the silhouette of the little toad demon in the darkness of their room past Inuyasha's naked shoulder. She squinted/narrowed her eyes in Jaken's direction. "Jaken!"She snarled.
"Mother?" A small voice questioned in the darkness behind the annoyed priestess.
Kagome's maternal instincts kicked in fast and she turned away from her husband to reach for her son, who was currently rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "We didn't mean to wake you, baby. Everything is alright." She grabbed for Ehren and brought him into her arms for a hug.
Inuyasha's heart warmed at the affection in the room, but it soon cooled when he remembered that there was a fourth member in their room. With no warning, he let go of Kagome's weapon and one of his arms shot out to grab Jaken by the collar of his brown robes. He hoisted him up into the air, making them eyelevel. "The hell are you doing here, imp?" He growled through clenched teeth, trying desperately to stay calm in front of his son. Kagome, of course, was used to seeing him lose his mind to rage when provoked, but Ehren was lucky enough to have only ever seen him get slightly angry.
It was Jaken's turn to speak, which didn't come easy because Inuyasha was currently in the process of choking the life out of him with his own robes. "Lord Sesshomaru sent me to bring you to him! It is a matter of great urgency!"
Not believing him, Inuyasha narrowed his honey colored eyes and growled once again. "Do I look stupid to you?"
"As a matter of fact…" Jaken began but was abruptly cut off.
"Don't answer that!" Inuyasha snarled in the imp's face.
"Listen, you stupid fool, Lord Sesshomaru requires your…" Jaken flinched before finishing his statement. "…help!" He shuttered a little inside at the thought of his master needing the help of his half blooded brother. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't true!" By this point, Jaken was holding onto the hands that were holding onto his robes for dear life. "And for goodness sake, put on some clothes!" He managed to shout at Kagome, who was still holding onto her son. For some reason, Kagome had decided to wear an extremely skimpy looking rose colored satin nightgown that was no doubt a present from the future she had originated from. The sight of it brought heat to the imp demon's face.
Golden eyes flared angrily, making Jaken regret having been forced into this quest by his master.
Inuyasha released Jaken's robes, sending the imp straight down into the wood flooring beneath them. "Huh! What does he want so early in the morning, anyway?"
Jaken stood up and began to rub his smarting backside when he gave Inuyasha a death glare. "Rin sprained her ankle. For her safety, Lord Sesshomaru must not be seen bringing her back inside, otherwise he would have done it himself. Her being in this new body is turning into quite a pain!"
Kagome, a little more annoyed by Jaken's clothing remark than his disruption to her sleep cycle, released her son and turned to glare at him. "Miho sprained…I mean Rin sprained her ankle?"
Jaken nodded.
"Rin?" A young male voice asked shyly.
Everyone turned their attention on Ehren, who was busy staring at Jaken with confusion written clearly in his eyes.
His golden orbs studied him for a moment and then traveled over father to rest on mother. "Are you talking about the younger woman with the raven hair that goes down all the way to her backside?"
Inuyasha nodded.
Ehren continued. "You mean…that really was my aunt?"
Kagome blinked. "What are you talking about, love?"
"I…I went outside a little while ago and saw her walking out of the house. She tried to tell me who she was, but I thought she was just playing a mean joke on me or something." Ehren looked down at his hands which he was wringing nervously. "I threatened to tell on her because she made me mad…but I only said it to scare her. I came back in and went to bed. I didn't think she was actually telling me the truth."
Kagome narrowed her eyes at her son and put her hands on her hips. "What were you doing outside this late? And why didn't you wake me up and say something? Honestly!"
Inuyasha chuckled to himself before he became the voice of reason and went to his son's defense. "He's his father's son, Kagome." He shrunk two sizes when his mate's eyes rounded on him.
"Don't give me that! Where are those prayer beads when I need them?" She growled out loud to herself.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Buried twenty feet underground so you can't sit me anymore." He turned back to his son, who was watching him closely. "We were going to tell you in the morning about Rin, squirt. I'll go and see what Sesshomaru wants, and while I'm gone, your mother can explain what's going on. Deal?"
Ehren hid his smile from his fuming mother and nodded.
Jaken, who had his arms folded in impatience during this whole exchange sighed with relief once Inuyasha got up and dressed.
After a few minutes, both exited the room, leaving an extremely ticked off mother with her terrified son.
(In the forest)
Rin clung to the front of Sesshomaru's robes when Jaken returned with Inuyasha. She wondered if their relationship had improved over the last few decades of her absence but wouldn't know until they confronted one another without the threat of Kasumi or Hisoka looming around.
Inuyasha made it into the clearing and paused at the display before him. Sesshomaru was on the ground, cradling a human woman on his lap and he did not have a look of disgust on his face. In fact, Sesshomaru looked more at peace now than he had ever seen him before. It was a little unnerving to say the least, but he kept his opinions to himself. "What's going on, Sesshomaru?"
Above Rin's head, she heard her Lord respond without any sort of malice in his voice. "The plan is effective immediately. I need for you to take Rin inside and protect her at all costs until is it time to leave."
Rin glanced over at the half demon, fascinated that he did not appear to resent his brother at all. They really must have changed over the years. Usually, Inuyasha would have drawn his sword by now.
Inuyasha stared his brother down for a few seconds before he nodded in agreement. To what, Rin didn't know. The half demon took a few steps in hers and Sesshomaru's direction. He was going to have to carry her back into the house.
From what her lord had told her, she could not been seen being hauled back to bed by a complete stranger. Even though Kasumi had already set eyes on Sesshomaru, Rin knew from Miho's mind that Kasumi was not the kind of woman to let someone as frightening as the great demon lord come within a few feet of her without knowing his clear intentions first. As much as Rin hated being taken away from him, she had to agree that it was for both of their benefits that she been seen with Inuyasha and Kagome rather than Sesshomaru and Ura.
URA! Oh gods! Do they know of each other now? Have they met yet? Do they get along at all? Do they like each other despite the big bad older brother? Rin looked around wildly and found Ura standing quietly off to the side. She caught her eye and smiled. "Inuyasha, do you think I would be able to come back with you and see that Rin is alright?"
Just as Inuyasha was in the process of pulling Rin out of Sesshomaru's grasp, he looked up and shook his head in Ura's direction. "I'll make sure that the women are aware of you both after the sun comes up, but right now, she can't afford to be seen with anyone but me and Kagome. Don't worry though. If all else fails, you can just break the door down." There was obvious humor in his voice, which melted Rin's heart. So they do know each other…There is so much that I have missed. I can't wait to catch up.
The following daystarted out horrible once Kasumi and Hisoka learned that Miho had sprained her ankle. The official story behind it was that Miho had been sleepwalking down the stairs and Inuyasha was the one who woke her in mid walk, causing the young maiko to miss a step and tumble to the ground. Kagome and him both got her back to her room and Kagome played nurse maid while Inuyasha went back to sleep next to his son.
The story fooled the women, but Rin knew just by searching Miho's memories that Kasumi would no doubt attempt at interrogating her more if given the chance. That woman could always tell that Miho was hiding something if in fact she was. Only…this particular secret was something that, if discovered, might land the maiko in permanent isolation for being insane. How often does the reincarnated soul of anyone recall past memories and assume their previous identity.
According to Kagome, it doesn't. The only example of something similar to Rin's situation was when Kagome had experience several flashbacks of Kikyo's life. But not once did Kikyo take control of Kagome's own body. This was something that the priestess knew was unheard of, or so she thought.
While Kagome sat beside Rin's bed musing to herself, Kasumi and Hisoka had Rin/Miho cornered and were busy reprimanding her like she was still a small child.
"Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have jeopardized your future with that little stunt!" Hisoka nagged her until Rin was sure that her ears were bleeding.
Kasumi soon joined in on the fun. "Not to mention the fact that we had to send a potential patron away to come back at a later date just so that you could have time to heal. This is unacceptable, Miho! Your debts to this house are vast, and this is the time where you begin to pay them off!"
Rin, who was sitting next to her vanity with her foot elevated on a stool could find very little to say in her own defense. She dug around Miho's brain searching for help and came up short. She didn't want to open her mouth and blow her cover. But if she didn't say something, she would have to listen to more nagging. If she allowed that to happen, then Rin would have to slap someone.
"I didn't do it on purpose, Kasumi! I was asleep and the next thing I know, I'm on the bottom of the staircase with a swollen foot!" That was her story and she was sticking to it.
Kasumi's eyes flared at her words. Her anger was written all over her face. "Don't take that tone with me! You have never walked in your sleep before, so there has got to be another explanation as to why you have blatantly risked your future as a successful Geisha! Out with it!"
Hisoka jumped to Miho's aid. "That is enough out of you, Kasumi! If falling down the stairs is what caused her sprain, than I have no reason to doubt it! There is nothing we can do about this now, so let it go." The older woman sighed heavily before dropping the ball on the currently disabled teenager. "As for you, Miho…until you are healed, you will be locked inside of your room day and night."
Rin's face must have paled considerably because she caught Kasumi trying to conceal a smirk that had flashed over her lips. I'll be a prisoner in this house for a week at least! "But that isn't fair! I did nothing wrong!"
"I have already decided. There will be no argument on the matter. Do you understand me?" Hisoka, who had been the voice of reason, was now the prison guard, here to carry out the cruelest sentence next to a beating.
Rin caught her bottom lip between her teeth to keep herself from yelling several very colorful expletives that would have damned her to an even more hellish punishment. Instead, she closed her eyes and nodded with a jerking motion to inform the two women standing just a few feet away that she did indeed understand, but that she also despised them for the harsh treatment.
"Very well, then." Hisoka had turned to leave with Kasumi in tow when she stopped and looked Kagome, who had been quiet during this whole argument. "Lady Kagome?"
Kagome had heard everything and felt a deep hatred toward to two older women, but hid her feelings like pro. "Yes?"
"You were the one who helped dress her wound and ease her pain. I will allow only you in to look after her. I would like you to inform me of her healing progress."
Kagome nodded in agreement, making a smile appear on the older woman's lips.
"Thank you." Was all Hisoka said before she and Kasumi disappeared out the bedroom door.
Kagome sighed heavily and turned to look at the furious looking woman sitting by the vanity. She stood up and strolled over to Rin's side. "Don't look so surprised by their reactions." Rin managed to say before Kagome could open her mouth.
Kagome sighed once again and shook her head. "You shouldn't be in a place like this, Rin. We need to get you out of here." The priestess crouched down next to the injured woman and placed one of her hands on Rin's while she looked into her bitter dark brown eyes. "Don't worry. I promise you right now you will be free within the next few days."
"What am I going to do, Kagome? I can't sit in this room like a prisoner! I need to see my friends! I want to see Lord Sesshomaru! How am I going to know what is going on if I can't see anyone other than you?"
"You know I would tell you everything that was happening! Please stop worrying!" Kagome squeezed Rin's hand and smiled when Rin squeezed back. "And don't you worry about not seeing Sesshomaru. He's outside your window right now, waiting for my signal for the all clear. Excuse me." Kagome stood up and walked over to the windowsill. She unlatched the lock and pushed it open, then stuck her head out and whispered some words that were incoherent to Rin. A few seconds later, Kagome returned and winked at her before she too left the room.
"Um…what's going on?" She asked no one in particular.
Her question was answered once a bright ball of light appeared outside her open window and molded into the frighteningly tall figure of her Sesshomaru. When he fixed her with his eyes, her heart stopped and her breathing hitched.