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As the rain plummeted cruelly from the heavens, Rin pulled her woolen scarf tighter in an attempt to shield herself from the strong winds. Even when she was under a shelter outside a provision store that was closed, it had proven to be anything but adequate. Pushing away her bangs now stuck willfully to her temple, the girl tried hard to locate the one who had asked her to wait for him there.
And this was by itself no easy task. Because of the heavy storm, the streets were in a sea of chaos. People were running for shelter, vehicles hooting impatiently at one another not having the slightest idea what had caused the jam ahead.
Finally from afar, Rin spotted the familiar silhouette. It was weaving athletically in and out of the crowd and coming steadily her direction. She rubbed her hands together furiously to gather warmth, blowing her own heat into them which turned out to be nothing but whiten puffs of thin mist.
Reaching her side, Sesshoumaru immediately circled his coat around the girl, pressing her against his chest.
"You're freezing up…" He intoned with genuine concern as he held up her icy hands in his rubbing them, then handing her a hot cup. "Here, have some warm soup. You'll feel better."
Seeing that the girl was struggling with heavily trembling hands, he assisted her, steadying her palm so that she was able to take little sips from the cup. When she finally looked at, he noted her immensely worried ambers. "Sessh, what's going on? The weather was so fine this morning."
"I just heard news that Typhoon Akitoki had struck in the neighboring regions and heading this way quickly." His voice was slightly shaky in the cold. "We have to try to get out of here now."
Nodding her head in approval, Rin followed the boy's lead to the train station. As they made their approach, something intuited them that things were just about to get worse. There was already a crowd there but instead of going into the station, they were in fact dispersing from it. As the two reached the ticketing office, they found out in dismay that it was closed. There was a notice at the counter and going up to it, they realized what had happened. Due to the upcoming typhoon and the heavy rains, many roads had been blocked by obstructing lumber and rumble and for the safety of the passengers, the trains had ceased operation till further notice.
"No way! It can't be!" Rin shook her head as more worrying thoughts came up in her mind. They're stuck here! What if mom finds out that we're not home? Will she suspect anything? She turned frantically to the one beside her, tugging him. "Sessh, what are we going to do? We can't go home."
Noticing how terribly pale his girl had become, the boy made an instant decision. "There's nothing we can do but to look for shelter. There's no point for us to wait here." He pulled out a handkerchief and dapped on her drenched cheeks. "You need to be somewhere warm."
After a torturing half an hour going from one full-house restaurant to the next overly crowded one, then the next, the young lovers reached their last option, a simple cafeteria but it'll do. Entering through the glass door, Sesshoumaru was greeted by one of the counter staff.
"Do you have a table for two?" Even as he implored, he had made a quick scan around and he knew already the answer.
"I'm sorry sir. We're full at the moment but we can put you on the waiting list. It'll take about an hour or so."
Gesturing a plain 'no' with his hand, the two made their exit. "Sessh, everywhere's full because of the typhoon alert, where can we go?" Rin covered her mouth as she squeezed a few times.
Watching his girl on a blink of falling ill and how cold and hungry she must be by now, Sesshoumaru concluded that they had only one option left and this wasn't even an option, it's a must. "Rin, there is one more place." He beckoned the girl to look at the direction he had pointed. "I saw a hotel on the way here. It's just a little distance away. We can check into a room there."
"A hotel?" A little startled ay first, the girl soon flashed a concerned gaze at him. "Sessh… i-is it appropriate for us to do that?" Even though it wasn't the first time she was sharing a room or even a bed with Sesshoumaru, their intimacy had remained privately to themselves and to the close circle of friends whom they trusted. They had never shown themselves as a couple in public. And by checking into a hotel, registering their names and being seen going in and out of a room together, what kind of scandalous thoughts would be put into the minds of the people who witnessed them, the hotel staff, the other visitors at the lounge and lobby, what would they think of them?
"Don't think too much into it. We haven't an alternative." He pulled her along, not at all reconsidering his choice. "There, we can both get a hot shower, dry ourselves and order in room service. Then, we'll decide what to do from there. You're going to catch a cold if you don't get out of those wet clothes of yours."
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In the hotel room
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As the hot water from the showers flowed down her hair, to her chest and back, Rin closed her eyes, reveling in this heated sensation chasing away the chills. She lifted her face toward the source, letting the fluid lash down her cheeks and down her throat.
"I thought you said this was a bad idea." A voice shocked her to turn around, instantly spotting a very naked Sesshoumaru standing just a little behind her. " But I see you seem to be enjoying this." Gently, he turned her fully to stand in front of him as he flipped her soaked tresses to the back and off her shoulders.
"Hey, you're supposed to wait for your turn." Half giggling and slightly embarrassed, Rin pointed an accusing finger, poking at his chest. This was the first time they had ever shared a bath together.
"And you will bear to see me freeze outside while you're indulging in this … luxury…" His lips hinted a wry grin as if he was testing her.
Instantly contrite, the girl brought him closer to the reach of the shower streams wishing innocently to share it with him. "Better?"
"No…This is best…" With an adequate force, he pulled her flush against his bare chest, positioning and letting the water run freely on both of their bodies at the same time.
"Y-You're… terrible… Sessh..." Her voice ended in a whisper just as his lips was pressed onto hers, locking her into a sweet kiss.
After a hot bath and a quick meal, the young lovers rested in the soft comforts of the king sized bed as they watched the storm get fiercer through the blurred windows. Sesshoumaru pulled the cover higher over Rin's slight bath robe and his own. "Are you feeling better? Still cold?" He implored as he lifted her chin to meet her eyes. Though no longer shivering nor sneezing, the girl still looked rather unsettled. He was confused. "What's wrong?"
"Sessh… I'm… I can't help but to be worried." Rin pulled herself up to his level, eyeing him with a real sense of urgency. "Mom and uncle…will they…"
But he intercepted her even before she could finish. "Aunty and dad won't be back until tomorrow night. Even if we need to stay the night here, as long as we get back before they return, we'll be alright." He comforted as he stroked her hair.
"B-But what if…" She stuttered but was interrupted thus again. Without warning, Sesshoumaru had jumped up and flipped himself over on top of her, pressing both her shoulders into the soft sheets.
"Gal, how many of such chances do we get, to spend some quiet time together, do you truly wish to spoilt it with endless nonsensical worrying?" He gazed deep into her hazels as if half begging and coaxing her.
Rin took a glances at the flawlessly handsome face above her and then around them. Indeed, though not too posh, the room was nonetheless cozy and tingling with a supple romantic mood. Perhaps, she was thinking too much… or rather, they weren't left with much a choice to begin with. With a soft sigh, she flashed him a sweet smile, then relaxing into the pillows.
Seeing that he had won an upper hand in the short debate and not wanting to give her time to mull it over, Sesshoumaru lowered his mouth to hers, brushing only teasingly at first and as she responded, he sank into her for a longer deeper kiss.
"Now, that's a good girl…" He moved to whisper in her ear before he sealed other kiss to her. And this time, he let his tongue run through her inner cravens, reveling in the sweet familiar taste of her, the one that he had gotten so addicted to and could no longer go without. It was no longer just mere indulgence but a need...much like breath. No matter how many times they had made love before, he just couldn't get enough of her…and that would remain a mystery to him forever, he guessed …as he pressed into her lips furiously wanting more.
Not wanting to wait another agonizing second, Sesshoumaru's hand moved down to pull on the knot of the girl's robes. Kissing her affectionately at her throat and drinking in her scent of fresh soap and shampoo, his other hand spreading the folds revealing her fair skin to his eyes…
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At Izayoi's place
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Throughout her entire trip, Izayoi's heart wasn't at all in the right place. As she took out the clothes and toiletries from the luggage, her hand instinctively reached out for her phone. Maybe, she should call them, the kids, make sure that they're at home and alright. But even if they're hoe, Sesshoumaru and Rin, that didn't mean that nothing's going on between them. But still, she concluded that talking to daughter would somehow help to lessen the stress she was feeling at the moment.
Just as she was about to dial the number for the Inu-residence, the Taisho exited from the bath, speaking as though seriously into his own cell. "What do you mean you have not settled that issue with the Takashi Company? I thought I had specifically instructed you to do so before I left?"
Izayoi only had to heart those sentences before she wished to make her own call again but before she could do so, the Taisho had hung up and moved to her side, tugging on her hand, beckoning her to listen to him. She clicked off her cell and turned around.
"Yoi, I'm so sorry. Something has come up at the office, something I have to deal with right away." He had the most apologetic look on his face as he spoke. "I'm afraid that I can't stay for the night. I have to get back now. Do you want to stay here for another night, since it's been such a long since you've returned to visit your mom?"
Almost relived to hear that, Izayoi immediately shook her head. "No, Sho, I'll go back with you." Yes, it would be best if she could get home, check on the kids and make sure they're nothing but fine, both asleep in their own rooms. Then, everything would return to normal again. Everything would be perfect as they should be.
"Okay then, you'll pack and I'll get the car." Inu-no-Taisho's voice disappeared through the entryway and Izayoi only nodded.
When he was out of sight, the middle-aged mother quickly dialed the number of the Inu-house, fully hoping and believing that she would heart he sweet voice of her daughter, putting her heart at ease even on her return journey. But no… the phone rang and rang and rang… and no one answered….no one.
Where are the children? Izayoi got more worried as the call went to the answering machine. If they're not home, then where are they? At their friends? She peered at the clock on the wall. It was seven in the evening. Perhaps, they were out for dinner. She consoled herself repeatedly, trying to laugh it off.
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At the Inu-house
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Inu-no-Taisho gave his bride-to-be a slight kiss on her lips as he bade herself goodbye. "Dear, I'll probably have to work through the night. Don't wait up for me. I'll be home tomorrow morning."
Izayoi nodded as she pulled the luggage into the house but the Taisho stopped her, as if wanting to talk to her more. She turned to gaze at him but he was … laughing…. "Yoi, look at you! Only a day from the kids and you're so worried about them already. They're all grown up already you know." He had noticed her queer behavior and had guessed correctly.
The mother forced a smile. "I-I….I just missed them I guess…"
They waved farewell and Izayoi rushed into the residence shouting out loudly. "Rin! Sesshy! Are you home?"
There was no answer.
"Rin! Sesshoumaru!" She scurried up the stairs to their individual rooms, then to the private living area, then to the roof terrace. They were not there.
The children are really not home. Izayoi sank into the couch as she heaved a sigh of concern.
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In the hotel room
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Shifting slightly so that she was turning in an angle, Rin nudged herself up from her sleeping position. As lightly as possible, she moved Sesshoumaru's hand, which was steadfastly holding her to him even as he slept. With gentle fingers, she smiled as she pushed his silvery bangs off his temple and stroked his long hair. She admired his sleep-soften features with a loving grin. Sesshoumaru, he looked so much less dangerous, so much more peaceful when he was asleep.
He looks so exhausted, she thought to herself with a chuckle, knowing exactly the reason why. Perhaps it was really due to the fact that they were alone in a foreign place, or just because he was merely IN the mood, he had been so wild, passionate, almost out of control. He had domineeringly demanded that she screamed out for him as he took her again and again. Rin self consciously reached to touch her throat. And he had given her so many love bites, some of which were dangerous obvious even with a tightly buttoned blouse. Damn! How was she going to hide these bruises from her mom and even her friends when she got back? Sessh… what was he thinking?
Rin watched as the storm persisted outside, the eerie howling of the winds tingling at her ears. She took a glance at the clock. A little past nine. She touched the area next to her heart. It was beating most erratically. Something wasn't right. Something didn't feel right. Even when Sesshoumaru had logically pointed out that they would be safe if they were to return the next morning, something… something just intuited her that things would not happen as he had predicted. Their luck was going to run out sooner or later and the girl had a terrible feeling at the pit of her stomach… it was going to be this day. Sesshoumaru and her… they had left on the trip together and their neighbors had witnessed them leaving the estate. And even when they didn't plan to, they had stayed in a hotel, seemingly for an innocent enough reason at first… but in the end, they DID make out.
And the girl wasn't sure if it was the notion of going to a hotel or that her mom had trusted her to be alone with Sesshoumaru when she made her trip to the South, but the guilt and remorse she was feeling at this very moment… was overwhelming and it was killing her. She had never felt this way before. It was an awful awful feeling she wished she could just pluck out of her heart but she couldn't. What was it? Was it truly guilt?
Rin shook her head violently. No, she loved Sesshoumaru and there was nothing out there that could ever make her doubt that. And it definitely wasn't out of a moment of folly, a moment of weakness that they had made love…so many times. It was more than that. To her, it was never just a joining of their bodies, but the joining, the connecting of their very souls. He was her soul mate and he had admitted to her too… that she was his.
She flinched slightly as a warm hand grazed to her slender waist, pulling her like a magnet to a pin. "Baby…. What's wrong? Why're you up?" He kissed her lazily, smiling a bit as his lips cruised past the purple patches on her fair skin.
"Sessh…" She tugged herself free, then pulled him up so that they sat straight and facing each other. And with a concern and stern look, she shook her head. "We have to get back home… NOW. I-I have a strange feeling. Something isn't right… please…"
A deep frown surfaced on the boy's face, making him just not in the mood for a snooze any longer. "Rin…." He shook his head in protest, disbelievingly as he regarded the window. He pointed at it rather accusingly. "Look outside. Does it seem possible that the train is back in service to you?"
But the girl tugged on his hand hard, desperate. "If the train isn't working, we'll… we'll take a cab back from here. Onegai… Sessh…"
The boy freed himself of her hold, this time letting his anger and frustration flare. "Girl, do you know how much it'll cost to take a cab back from here?" He folded his arms, his ambers cold, harsh. "Rin, you're being unreasonable."
"But…But I-I…" Before the girl could say another word, her cell phone rang and she almost jumped up with a start.
Coolly and not thinking too much into it, Sesshoumaru picked up the mobile, looking only at the panel for the indication of the identity of the caller but not answering it. He squinted. "It's… from home." He intoned, wanting to flip up the phone and answer.
"NOOOO…." Rin snatched over her cell and with shaky and fearful hands, she clicked the off button, then scrunched up into a tight ball. Her eyes wavered and peered around aimlessly, nervously as a myriad of the most horrible thoughts circled her mind.
A call from home… MOM! Mom is home! She's home and she couldn't find us! She'll get suspicious and she'll know about Sessh and me! What are we going to do?
Noting with dismay the horror on the face of his girl, Sesshoumaru became increasingly worried and unsettled. He moved closer to her, attempting to touch her and probably sooth her a little. "Rin…" He knew exactly what was on her mind.
"Sessh…" Her voice was deathly, lifeless. "That was from home. It's mom and uncle. They're back and they can't find us. They'll know about us. They'll get suspicious and eventually they'll know." Terrified tears began to well up reddening her hazels. "Mom is waiting for us. They'll know… everyone will know… What are we going to do?"
The boy rolled his eyes stubbornly, spitefully. "Then let them know! I've said before and I repeat for the final time. I don't care a damn who gets hurt. I just want you by my side and nothing, no one is going to stop me."
Rin shot him a look of disbelief and confusion as she shook her head. "Sessh… does it really mean nothing to you that people get hurt, people we love. The ones who're going to ruin our parent's happiness, something that they both deserve, are the two of us! Don't tell me that it really doesn't matter to you a single bit!"
Sesshoumaru bit his lips, silenced as he regarded her with a complicated expression on his face. He had put up a strong front but his Rin had seen through it all. She knew him. It wasn't that he didn't care… but then… what choice did he have? Roughly, he pulled her to him kissing her in desperation as he hissed. "If I was afraid of what's to happen, I wouldn't have chosen you in the first place. I wouldn't have picked you." He forced kissed her again, and then again as he felt her tears fall down her cheeks. When he finally let her go, Rin was practically sobbing. She was moved, afraid, confused, guilty all at the same time. But the boy waited patiently for her reply.
Stifling her sobs, Rin looked up at him, totally unsure and trembling. "Sessh… mom's waiting for us… She's waiting for us…"
That was, to the boy, the most unassuring and yet, most telling words from his girl. He shook his head, his heart filled with numerous emotions he couldn't name and he intoned seemingly plainly. "Go." He pushed her to the edge of the bed, picking up her bath robe and gesturing her to put it on. "Go home…"
"Sessh…." Rin's eyes were full of questions. Why did Sesshoumaru change his mind so suddenly? What was on his mind?
"I said go." This time, he said it more firmly. "Because I know…how you feel about Izayoi-san…your love for her. I…I understand." He assisted her up and fetching her dried out clothes from the hangers. With solemn eyes, his gaze pierced her like a knife but his voice was as nonchalant as ever before. "Just tell Izayoi-san that you've been out late. I'll go back tomorrow. They won't suspect anything if we didn't go back together." He handed her some money. "This is for the cab fare. Now, go!"
The girl hesitated at the door for a moment. She turned, taking one last look at the one she had grown to love so much, the one she had shared her bed with just mere moments ago before this tragic turn of event. She wanted to speak to him some more, to know that he's feeling alright about her departure but she knew it already in her heart. Sesshoumaru, he wasn't alright. He was hurt… he was hurt by her soft, weak character.
"I SAID GO!" He bellowed out when he noticed that she was as if waiting at the doorway, indecisive and lost. And that unfeeling tone worked perfectly. With tears flowing endlessly, Rin turned the door knob and left the room.
Rin's narration
Sesshoumaru had so graciously accepted that I'm a coward, that I'm weak and timid. I'm not like him and can perhaps never be.
I didn't have the courage to stand up for our love, for him like I should…like he did for me.
And that's me… always retreating at the smallest scent of danger, betraying Sesshoumaru's love for me completely… leaving him behind like that fully knowing that he was hurt….
In the rain, the girl waved for a cab frantically as her tears still wet her cheeks uncontrollably. She had failed the one she loved, the one who loved her. And before she knew it, a yellow taxi stopped in front of her and as she was about to get in, something came to her mind, something she had said before.
Sessh… I promise you that I will be strong from now onward. So, wo yao he Sesshoumaru yong yuan yi qi… I want to be together with Sesshoumaru forever….
And there on that very spot, she stopped, froze as if pondering. Impatient and not knowing his customer's wishes, the cabby's brows furrowed especially when the rain kept on pouring into his vehicle, wetting the seats and cushions. "Ano, Miss, are you coming in or not?"
His voice of urgency alerted the girl, waking her from her musings. Swallowing hard and tightening her fist into a ball, Rin closed her eyes for only a moment before she made a decision, a decision she knew she could live with. "No, I'm sorry. I've changed my mind."
With that, she slammed the door shut, running back from the streets into the nearest shelter.
Rin's narration
No. I can't leave Sessh like this…. I can't because I know… that he'll never do the same to me… never…
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In the hotel room
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Even as Sesshoumaru tried his very best to go back to sleep, he knew he couldn't. He tossed and turned uncomfortably in the sheets, his heart in a mess. Rin had left on her own and even when he was immensely worried about her safety, about the mere fact that a girl like her were to take a long journey cab back home, he was more concerned about the bitterness, the hopelessness they had felt before they parted. He had felt so powerless to stop her, stop the one he loved from leaving in a frenzied attempt to cover up their relationship.
He sat up as a sudden realization struck him. Rin, she had looked so lost, so afraid. What if… what if she finally decided to change her mind about being with him? She was retreating little by little and with her mom's wedding coming up, will she decide to give him up? Will she decide to sacrifice her happiness for her mother's?
Feeling in the pit of his belly an awful feeling he couldn't ignore, Sesshoumaru hopped out of bed and into his clothes, then charged out of the room like bullet. He had to find her and prayfully… he's not too late!
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In the midst of the chaos, the pertinacious downpour and the howling winds, the young lovers made their attempt to stand up for the one they loved. Rin was desperately rushing through the crowds, pushing as she went along to make her way back to the hotel room. Sesshoumaru dashed into the streets, wildly looking for that petite lithe figure in the wet darkness. But there were just too many commotions, too many people running in all directions, too many jams, cars….
And then it happened.
Squinting her hazels as if not able to believe her very eyes, Rin spotted that familiar muscular silhouette under the dim street light across a very busy road. It was Sesshoumaru!
"Sessh!" She cried out at the top of her voice, trying to reach above all the noise. "Sesshoumaru!"
And either truly hearing her calls for him or merely just by instinct, the boy halted in his tracks. He turned staring straight at her even when they were separated by a sea of never ending traffic. The young lovers stood for a long moment, exchanging their conversation, their emotions only through their eyes. And just as Rin was about to attempt to cross the road to his side, the boy shouted to stop her. "Rin, don't! Wait there! I'll come over!"
The girl watched as he maneuvered his way skillfully to her side and when he reached, he held onto both her arms tightly, shaking his head. "Gal, what are you doing here still? Why aren't you on the cab? You're so silly!"
Rin bit her lips as tears began to gather at her eyes once again. "Sessh… I can't leave you behind…" She sniffed a little, brushing her tears again. "But I can't live a lie anymore. I don't want to."
Sesshoumaru's lips curved in a slight smile as he pulled her into his embrace. "Yes, let's not live a lie anymore." He took in a deepen breath, then letting it out slowly as if in thoughts. "Rin…" He made sure that he was looking straight into her eyes when he spoke. "Can I… tell Izayoi-san? Can I ask her for you, for you to be given to me?"
Rin's brow lifted in slight surprise, immensely touched by his offer. "What? Tell mom? Are we really telling?"
The boy knew that if he didn't explain himself to her now, he'd never have to do it again. "Rin, what I've said before, it's not entirely true. It's not true that I do not care that people get hurt because of us… that we're the ones who might end up ruining our parent's marriage…" He heaved a long sigh. "But I need you… I need you so much… so hopelessly… so helplessly that I can't let you go… I can't…And even if we have to hurt someone, it has to be done."
Finally, a gentle smile adorned the girl's cheeks. She gazed at him, her heart wishing to pour out how she felt for him after he had shared his. "Sessh…. I feel the same too. I need you so much… I LOVE you so much…I'm so helplessly, so hopelessly in love with you."
For the first time that night, Sesshoumaru chuckled light-heartedly and elegantly, nodding approvingly. "Then, it's settled. We'll go back together. We'll face them together… and whatever that comes with it."
And the girl couldn't agree more. She nodded as he matched her lips for a long passionate kiss.
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In the Inu-house
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Taking a deep breath, the young lovers pushed open the door to the apartment and sitting there in dim lights waiting or them… was Izayoi. Even before they started to explain themselves, Rin could already tell by the looks on her mother's face. It was colorless and downcast, listless…she was suspicious …definitely.
The girl gulped silently as her mother stood up from her sitting position, taking a brief look at the lock on the wall. "Do you children know what time is it now?" She asked though her voice was totally lifeless. She lifted her chin, staring straight at her own daughter first. "Rin, I want to hear the truth."
Rin swallowed almost audibly, her own voice slightly shaky. "Mom, I'm sorry. Sessh and I… we went to visit dad's grave together and we were caught in Typhoon Akitoki. So, we came back late." She admitted with al honesty as the boy remained relatively composed.
Izayoi took in a lengthen breath, obviously not entirely convinced and she had her reasons. "Then, why didn't you answer the cell when I called you earlier on?" She matched the girl's eyes, trying to examine her and determine for herself the truth.
Rin's head dipped as she answered, knowing that she couldn't lie to her mother any longer. Moreover, they had decided to come clean to their parents. "That's because… Sessh and I… we went to a hotel."
At that, Izayoi's eyes flared with a mix of extreme devastation and fury. And letting all these untamed emotions take over her completely, she madly charged forward without thinking and swung one tight slap to her daughter. "RIN! How could you do something like that!"
Rin held onto her burning bruised cheek as tears ran fast and free. In his shock that the girl's mother had actually struck the one he loved, Sesshoumaru moved swiftly to stand in front of Rin, protecting her from any further assault. Half taking a brief look at Rin's cheek, he turned to Izayoi. "Aunty, if you wish to hit someone, please, hit me instead. I'm the one who insisted that Rin goes to the hotel with me."
Izayoi shook her head, totally disbelieving and confused. Her heart just felt so emptied out… She felt so betrayed. She began to fling her hands wildly, her gaze accusing as though they shot daggers. "How could you two do a thing like this? Don't you know that you're about be become siblings?"
Rin tried hard to stifle her sobs, gently removed the boy's concern hand on her shoulder. Bravely, she stood out from behind the boy, stuttering between sobs. "Mom, I know you're going to be mad with me and it'll hurt you….but still… I want to tell you this…. I … love Sesshoumaru… I love him."
Retreating a little at that last comment by her most beloved daughter, the middle-aged mother's heart sank to a new low. She shook her head continuously, her eyes misfocused and lost. She couldn't believe what she had just heard, what she had just done to Rin… She hit her. She had never hit her before even when she was still a kid.
Slowly, she took one step back from the two, then another hesitant one, then another. Then, with a deep sigh, she turned without an extra word and started walking up to her room.
Rin's narration
Mom, scold me, shout at me, hit me again… please… if it makes you feel better…. I deserve it….
The girl watched as her mother made her way up the stairs, half staggering in unsteady steps. She wished that she could help her but she knew, now was not the time. She was the last person her mother would wish help from, the last person she wished to see, to talk to…
"Izayoi-san…" Sesshoumaru finally spoke. He didn't wish that Rin's mother go away without knowing the entire truth, without knowing how far they'd come from in this relationship. Izayoi, she needed to know this.
The mother stopped as if allowing the boy to speak. "Izayoi-san, I understand your anger and confusion…but I wish you to know… to know how much your daughter had suffered because she didn't want to destroy the happiness that you have. She had suffered so much because she always puts you first place…before herself…before her own happiness. I know we are in the wrong. But please… understand how we have felt along the way, how Rin had felt… her wish for you to be happy above anything else…"
From the wooden steps, Izayoi's lips quivered as she tried to stop her tears from falling to no avail. And for a prolonged moment, she stood there, motionless and not speaking. "W-We'll talk in the morning." She swallowed a thick lump in her throat. "I-I need to rest… and think about things…"
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In Rin's room
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The girl got up from her bed for the door when she heard a gentle knock. It was Sesshoumaru and he was holding onto a cold pack in his hands. She forced a chuckle. "I didn't know you could knock."
Under normal circumstances, the boy would have taken his full revenge for such insolent words but that night, he merely narrowed his eyes as a corner of his lips twisted slightly. All these disappeared almost instantly when he noticed her slightly swollen cheek. "How are you feeling? Does your cheek still hurt?" He gestured her to her bed and settled her down, then kneeling in front of her, wanting to thoroughly examine her wound. With light fingers, he flipped her hair back and placed the cold pack onto her cheek, finding that Rin had flinched slightly at the touch.
"I-I'm alright." She tried a smile that didn't work on the boy. "Really… It doesn't hurt as much as it did just now."
He shook his head, didn't want to believe her as he had assessed her cheek. It must have hurt and still hurting. "I'm so sorry. I should have been the one taking that slap." He held up one of her hand, rubbing and soothing it as if to sooth his own guilt. He had failed to protect her from harm. He had failed her. He spat at himself bitterly that Rin had to be the one taking that blow from her mother. It really should have been him.
"Hey…" Rin's smile widened, trying to comfort him as she stroked his hair. "I know things look bad now but…I feel so relieved. For the first time, I feel so light. I no longer feel confined because I'm not lying to my mom anymore. I've told everything that I've been hiding in my heart for a long time…and I'm really happy."
Sesshoumaru couldn't agree more. In the midst of all that ugly confrontation, he still had felt a swell of pride for his girl. Rin had stood up for their love. She had confessed so courageously without fear. She had said she would be strong…and she was. He lifted her chin, placing a slight kiss on her lips. "Rin, don't worry. No matter what happens, no matter if everyone's against us being together, I'll convince them. I'll do everything to convince them that we have to be together. They'll have to give in….because I won't."
Hearing that, Rin circled her arms around the one she loved as they shared in a warm endearing hug…one that spoke more of their love for each other, their determination to be together…than anything else….
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Hey everyone,
Gotta end here for the moment but yes, the battle had begun. So, what will Izayoi's decision be? What more must the two endure… when Inu-no-Taisho and Kaede got to know about this?
Well, if you're thinking gory, then I say you're wrong. Since the beginning till now, no one in the story had been really nasty and evil, isn't it? Hehe… it is a big hint that this story is never meant to be the tragic dramatic kind…
And also, just thought you might like to know that there'll only be 30 chapters in this story, meaning that it's going to end soon.
Thanks for all the lovely reviews.
kagome2004: I'm glad you've liked it so far
Hinata-chan: You've gone to Mediaminer too? Wow. Thanks but actually, I've left a summary at the first chapter in Mediaminer explaining that this story is partially adapted from a manga Akuma de sorou. But many parts are changed, mainly because I wanna spice it up a lot! In the original story, Sesshoumaru has a brother who came back on revenge on Rin.
mysterious advisor and riceball909: Well, actually, I just took time to revise the story and uploaded many chapters at once. I've written those few chapter quite some time ago but only posted it on Mediaminer. But chapter 27 is the actual place I've stopped. So, I guess from this update onward, perhaps everyone has to wait a little longer for chapter updates.
Tammy: You're such a sweet sweet person. I was really touched when I read your review cos its true, some of the lines in there are mine and in Mediaminer, the other place where I've posted the fic, someone just read the first chapter and concluded that I copied the whole damn thing (even though) I made it very clear that it was a partially adapted fic. I was so upset by that. So, thanks…luv ya…
Shinoryu: I'm happy you've like it so far. It's gonna end soon though…
Charmedforever911 and nisec: Thanks for the encouragement…deeply appreciated. has so many cool and sweet people.
Kaiya Sara: well, if you've watched Devil does exist, I hope you like my adaptation of the story. In that manga, they've been together for such a long time but they seldom hugged or kissed. It's such a pity….