Rin spent the night crying. Not even Miria's pleas or Lord Adam's commands could summon her from her bed.
She had chosen to go to sleep hungry and now she was paying for it.
Getting up, Rin felt the bile in her stomach rising to lodge in her throat as she fumbled around to find the correct door to the bathroom. The nausea was overpowering, rendering her almost breathless that she had to force herself to pause; pressing a hand against the wall and the other over her chest.
She wanted to call for him; knew he would come in an instant and yet…
No. He had made his decision and now she would have to make hers. At daylight, she would have to decide whether to stay here as a ward of the Southern castle, or make herself a home in Cove Viridian as she originally intended to.
But that's for later. Her stomach contents were threatening to upheave that instant. Dragging herself to the nearest doorknob, she turned it, hoping that it was the right one.
No.
She barely caught the arms of the Daiyoukai before her when her body began heaving on its own; the force of her nausea emptying itself on the floor before her.
"My Lady!" Strong feminine hands held her up; a cloth coming up to her lips to wipe away the mess. Rin felt her body wrapped by a blanket of some sorts before she was carefully lifted off the ground.
"I want some peaches…" she muttered, curling into Miria's arms; her tummy rumbling off in disagreement. She didn't know why she was feeling so ill. Was it something she ate?
/
"How is she?" asked Lord Adam later that morning when Miria stepped into his chambers. "Still vomiting?"
"I don't think her body can cope," said Miria. As was expected. Not many hanyous survive infancy not because they were weak but because their mothers died before they were due or at childbirth.
And for the child of an Inu Daiyoukai as royal and strong as Lord Sesshoumaru…
Miria knew it was more merciful to either kill her or the baby now. Already she could sense how strong the boy was in his mother's womb; growing from an embryo into a beating clump of cells within hours. In six months, Rin would have a healthy Hanyou ready to make its entrance into the world.
But it was not her place to tell the Lady what to do. She didn't even have the right to inform her that she was pregnant for the laws of the Daiyoukai decreed that only the father of the child could do so – an act of imprinting that formed a bond with the child akin to what the mother shared with her baby. A Youkai child that was not imprinted by both its parents will die.
And in the absence of the father… well, then Miria was going to have to find the next best thing.
"My Lord, I may need to travel for a bit to find someone who knows what to do to soothe Lady Rin. My trainings as a warrior do not equip me for such… tenderness."
"Will you be long?"
"Two days."
Lord Adam looked up from his own bowl of medicine and cringed. "Be swift."
"Yes my Lord."
/
A quiet chill greeted Sesshoumaru the moment he landed in the courtyard of his own castle; servants remaining in the shadows, peeking out at him in fear. News it seemed, had travelled faster than he did; the wind bringing forth the news that the human pet he kept at his side was no longer a welcomed companion.
The only person who did not fear his dour mood was the silver-haired Daiyoukai leaning casually by the internal gates of the castle; her arms folded over her chest in disapproval.
"It seems you leave one battle only to jump into another," she chided, trailing behind him as he stormed past.
"It concerns you not."
"Don't you dare speak to me like that! I have doused fires for you for an entire fortnight!"
Indeed, she had gathered reinforcements for him without hesitation, even when he knew what a struggle it must have been with his mother around.
"That was your duty as Lady of the West, if I recall."
"That was before I heard you will have a son."
"I do not have one."
She came to a stop right in front of him; hand stretched out and pressed onto his chest. "Turn back and get her. There has to be another way."
Sesshoumaru bared his teeth and snarled. "Leave me."
"No."
"Do you wish to die?" Though in all honesty, Sesshoumaru couldn't bear to lift his sword anymore.
"No, seriously Sesshoumaru!" Chiyoko began pacing back and forth in front of him, blocking his advances.
She was truly testing his patience.
"We must see grandfather immediately!" she suddenly announced. "If anyone can change these stupid laws, it would be him."
Sesshoumaru didn't know if there would be any good coming out of it for Junichi was an Ancient. The life and drama of his kin were no longer his concerns. His intervention during the siege of Seurri was already an abnormally.
An Ancient never comes out from seclusion more than once in centuries.
Grabbing a hold of Chiyoko, he flipped and tossed her behind him like an annoying scrunch of paper. Sesshoumaru needed to clear his mind.
Even as he walked towards his only place of solace, he could sense her getting back onto her feet and trailing behind. To her credit, Chiyoko remained silent as they entered the garden housing his father's cherry tree.
Perhaps it was the comfort of knowing that his father had once been in the same position as him or perhaps he just wanted to prove to the old man they were nothing alike – but whatever it was, Sesshoumaru paused underneath the sakura blossoms and looked up into the night.
"There are laws upon these lands for a reason," he whispered, keeping his eyes on the starlight. Even his father knew that or he would not have been born. Who was he to bend the rules?
"Are you ready, for what it means to be the Lady of the West?"
Before she could answer, he raised a finger. "I will, produce an heir with you, as expected of me. But beyond that –you must be ready for a rewardless life. Rin will always be first; her needs and her place above yours in all respect."
Chiyoko took a step back; one hand on her chest. He thought just as much. She, like the many others had not thought about this before making the journey to his castle.
"But you've banished her from these lands have you not?"
"She is still my mate and her every cry compels me to her side."
"And your son?"
"I do not have one."
Sesshoumaru caught a flash of sadness in her eyes before she turned away.
"I… Well, if that is what my Lord wishes of me then I will," she whispered before disappearing into the darkness.
Sesshoumaru hated the hurt in her voice but it was a choice he needed to make. Looking up into the shadows of the cherry blossoms once more, Sesshoumaru made a wish for the first time in centuries.
"I wish you were here Father… I don't know what to do," he confessed into the night. "If we lived in another time, another place, then maybe… I could have loved Rin as she wanted me to."
/
Chiyoko kept her eyes on him from the comfort of the shadows. He knew she was watching him and yet he had remained rooted; eyes fixated on the stars above as his forlorn form took the shape of a man mourning his loss.
She knew it was a privilege for Sesshoumaru would never do anything without a purpose. It was probably her first entitlement as his cousin, and second as the future Lady of the West.
If she had to be honest with herself, Chiyoko would have gladly welcomed the title if not for the fact that Sesshoumaru had picked up a human companion over the years. And it didn't help that Rin was gentle and kind –something the household staff constantly reminded her. Be it Keane's cold reprimand every time she took something that belonged to Rin, even if it was by accident or Nahia's tearful lament that Rin had made her a better cook and that her best dishes were now human-approved.
The inhabitants of the Western castle had already chosen their Lady; it was only their Lord who was not aware of it.
And for god sake Sesshoumaru! For a full grown Youkai, he was very much an infant when it came to women. Did he think mating with a human would bear him nothing? It might take Youkais decades to even get pregnant but humans were different. Everything about their shorter lifespan made it possible for them to accomplish so many things within a short time –and that included the throng of children she often saw waddling after their parents in the human villages.
And what was he thinking leaving his pregnant mate all alone to raise her baby? And what of the son if Rin were to die?
Balling her hands into fists, Chiyoko slipped further into the shadows and headed straight for the forests west of the castle. What she was about to do next would probably earn her a lifetime of banishment from her own family but Chiyoko wasn't intending on letting her cousin make a mistake he would regret for life. She cared about Rin and if Sesshoumaru was planning on being stupid, then she at least would be his temporary conscience.
She only hoped that the distance would help mask her absence long enough before Sesshoumaru realised she was missing. She wasn't sure why it was necessary to maintain such secrecy but the Daiyoukai had kept to her word.
"You came."
Turning on her heels, Chiyoko came face to face with the Daiyoukai warrior, aware of the exhaustion marring her otherwise flawless features.
"Miria." From the slightly bent angle of her wing arch, Chiyoko knew she must have been flying at breakneck speed for the past twenty hours or so. Yet, to suggest rest to a Daiyoukai would be purely insulting.
"We must hurry."
Chiyoko nodded. From her letters, Miria had grown increasingly worried that something of this nature would come to fore the moment she became aware of Rin's pregnancy. And with her banishment from the Western lands, this was the only safe grounds she could land on without being persecuted.
However, it was where they were heading to next that intrigued Chiyoko. Miria had insisted that she could not explain the situation in writing but had to show it to Chiyoko in person. As it had to do with Rin, Chiyoko had agreed.
Following closely behind, Chiyoko tried not cringe at the speed in which Miria was moving; her own stamina of no match for the warrior as the flew southeast without stopping for the next few hours.
It was only when they came to a tiny hut at the edge of a human town did Miria stop.
"Why are we here?" hissed Chiyoko, trying to catch her breath. "This is the house of a Miko is it not? Is the pregnancy becoming complicated?"
The other Daiyoukai just ignored her, rapping on the bamboo door.
"Inuyasha… it is me, Miria," she whispered.
It only took another two knocks before the door swung opened and a strong pair of hands pulled them both inside; wild golden eyes glowering down at them. "What in the world are you doing making a ruckus in the middle of the night?"
Even in the semi darkness of the house, there was no mistaking the characteristic markings of the Inu youkai –white hair, golden eyes…
Chiyoko found herself backing towards the door. Just who was this?
"Inuyasha, you have to come with me. Rin is pregnant."
Chiyoko caught the flash of red in his eyes before it resumed its golden glow.
"Keh. And what has that got to do with me?"
From the back of the room, Chiyoko heard a rustling sound before soft footsteps came towards them.
"Inuysha? Why can't you be quiet? I'm trying to – oh. Miria-sama? And… this is?"
It was then that Chiyoko blushed at her lack of manners. "Please, I mean no harm. I'm Chiyoko –"
"I know who you are. My question was why," interrupted Inuyasha, glaring at both the Daiyoukais before him.
This time, it was Miria who spoke, her weary eyes looking from one to the other.
"Inuyasha, Kagome, Rin is unwell and I do not know any healers who could…" Miria shook her head; thumbs rubbing her temple. "She needs to know what's wrong with her and I can't… but you can."
"Just what in the world are you talking about Miria?" asked Chiyoko. This hanyou was a healer? He looked like he could kill them both with a single thought at the moment.
With a long sigh, the warrior Daiyoukai whispered. "Well, you two are technically cousins. Say hi."
Cousins? Surely…
"But your mother –she was human," gasped Chiyoko.
"Yes."
"Then… how?"
Inuyasha simply looked at her, his voice lowering into an unintelligible growl. "My brother is stupid…" he replied, in lieu of an answer.
Chiyoko kept silent as she watched as the silhouette of the human Miko move about in the dark, throwing what sounded like wood into the fireplace. A strike of matches and warmth and light flooded the room.
And there stood Inuyasha – much taller, long silvery hair down to his knees and golden eyes identical to that of Sesshoumaru.
"Keh! Did you think I was to look human? Stupid. If not for the sickly scent of Rin on you, I would never have opened that door."
Chiyoko was so stunned she didn't even know what to say. Oh to record this in her books would have made her dreams! No one in her family apart from Sesshoumaru had met with Inuyasha, much less recorded anything about him! Who would have thought that such an anomaly could happen?
"So will you come?" asked Miria. "The child must be imprinted."
Chiyoko looked up at Miria and gasped. "That… that's why he kept insisting he doesn't have a son! Why that bastard! He was planning on letting the baby die!"
Miria however was shaking her head. "Lord Sesshoumaru would have killed that baby himself if he wanted to. But… he knew I would come here."
"And I suppose he hoped I'll do it? Just do as he wishes?" The hanyou didn't look very pleased at the idea; his eyes glowing angrily at both of them.
He had to! There was no one else alive who had enough of Sesshoumaru's bloodline to allow the baby to live.
"Inuyasha…" the Miko approached him, one gentle hand on his arm as though trying to calm the beast within. Chiyoko could scent that she was the hanyou's mate and by the slight swell of her hips, it looked like she too had recently had a child. She understood.
Turning to the two dog demonness, the Miko Miria referred to as Kagome gave a kind smile.
"I can help Rin," she offered. "Where is she now?"
"Not far from here. In the Southern castle," answered Miria
"And… I'm assuming she is pregnant with –" Something like amusement flashed passed her eyes even as she kept a straight face.
"Yes. If we leave now, I think I can make it to Seurri by dawn." Miria turned, offering her back – something Chiyoko found most surprising, considering that a Daiyoukai would never bow down so low to be a transport for a human!
"Keh! Move aside. I can carry my own mate," scoffed Inuyasha. "But I'm not going anywhere until I've knocked some sense into that stupid Sesshoumaru!"
/
Sesshoumaru had his face to the stars when the overwhelming scent of a familiar Youkai intruded his senses – no, not demon. Hanyou.
This was not a good time. Sesshoumaru had too much on his mind for this unwelcomed presence. Sitting up, he scanned the periphery from his cherry tree; one hand on his offensive sword.
But then –
Tenseiga? The sword was throbbing; the blade giving off a soft glow.
Leaping off the branch, he stared into the darkness, simply waiting for the intruder to appear. When the Hanyou materialised, Sesshoumaru almost tripped on his own footing. Father?
Long white hair tied in a single ponytail and the coveted sword – Tessaiga –clasped by his side. No, that was not possible.
"Why are you here?" he demanded. "It is no business of yours in these lands… Inuyasha."
So much disdain and disgust poured into the last word. Inuyasha however kept advancing, sword drawn; pointing it towards him – the beautiful pearlescent glow shimmering in the dark.
"You come to my castle and wish to fight me?" Sesshoumaru was livid. How dare he! "Do you have a death wish?"
Ignoring Tenseiga's constant cry at his sash, Sesshoumaru drew Bakusaiga, aiming a quick downward slash onto his silent opponent. The electric charge of his father's sword sizzled against them as the two brothers collided; each pressing down on his sword with equal strength.
It was only when the static got too much that a flash of heat and light exploded between them, knocking both on opposite sides to the ground.
This was his chance! Flipping back to his feet, Sesshoumaru charged forward; eyes red as he sent all his power down the shaft of his weapon, bringing Bakusaiga into a downward thrust to severe Inuysha's head.
Sesshoumaru missed by a split second; the Tessaiga slammed upwards to block his attack. Not wanting another static explosion, Sesshoumaru swung back, aiming low this time, sending a blast of fire towards the Hanyou.
Caught off guard, Inuysha took the blast cutting deep into his shins causing him to drop to his knees.
"You bastard…"
Wanting to end this senseless battle, Sesshoumaru brought his sword high up, ready to bear all his might down on this intruder.
"I have no time for social visits. Now die."
He slammed his sword down hard but a strong, electric force sent him flying backwards; the heated charge coursing through his body in sharp stabs of pain.
When he could open his eyes, Sesshoumaru saw that Tessaiga had created a bubble around Inuyasha – eyes of gold watching him curiously and almost sadly.
"Why you…" he managed to croak. This man defiled the sword of a thousand cuts with his weakness. Sesshoumaru was the rightful owner of Tessaiga!
When Inuyasha remained silent, Sesshoumaru slowly pushed himself back up, staggering as he used his sword as support.
Tenseiga? The stupid sword wishes to fight. If Bakusaiga could not even penetrate Tessaiga's protective globe, what made it think it was worthy? Still, he sheathed his offense sword and drew his healing sword without hesitation.
"Why have you come here?" he demanded. "To lay a claim on the throne? It's too late for that."
Something flashed in his brother's eyes as he slowly got up; wound fully healed.
"Rin."
A single-worded answer holding more importance than anything else at the moment –
Sesshoumaru found himself launching full bodied on top of his brother, claws reaching downwards to choke the life out of him.
"What of her?" he roared.
As if on cue, both swords blasted a blinding flare of light, pushing both of them apart.
Finding himself on his bottom once more, Sesshoumaru bared his fangs but did not move closer.
"You made your mate cry Sesshoumaru." The accusation was on the mark.
"She means nothing to me," he replied, knowing it was the most important lie he ever told.
"She bears your mark... Carries your child and yet you say this?" Eyes of gold stared at him from across the grass patch.
Fool! Did he think it was easy for him to let her go? And who was he to judge him anyway?
"I am not Father. He made a mistake of bringing a weakling to this world!" he replied instead.
His brother propped himself up; eyes still staring at him as he took a step closer. "I am stronger than what you think and you know it! And so will your child."
"It matters not. My duties are to these lands first..."
Inuyasha suddenly stopped in his tracks, sheathing Tessaiga as he looked down at him.
"I came here hopeful but it seems Father was right about one thing –Sesshoumaru could never love. That was why he gave you that sword," he spat.
Sesshoumaru refused to acknowledge that. What does this half-brother of his know anyway? He who gets to live a happy carefree life... Free to choose whom to love.
"And you the weaker one –why did he give you Tessaiga?"
There was no answer to that, he knew. Inu no Taisho did as he pleased; whatever the reason. Getting to his feet, Sesshoumaru looked across at his brother –saying the words that he would regret for the rest of his life.
"I have only one request," he whispered. "That you raise your nephew… as your own."
Sesshoumaru heard the soft exhale of disbelief.
"Eh Sesshoumaru? You think you're above everyone but that young woman? Her laughter is warmth and her heart –pure." He stepped closer, looking at Sesshoumaru with disgust in his eyes. "You discarded her and yet she bears no grudge. You don't deserve her love."
No, he didn't… that was true. But Sesshoumaru had enough.
"I have nothing more to say to you. Leave before I run out of patience."
Inuyasha gave him one final look before disappearing in a flash, heading towards where he came from.
Sesshoumaru should have gone after him.
But instead, he turned back towards the cherry tree, his thoughts lost on the memory of long black locks, soft skin and that smile meant only for him.
/
Rin woke up in the middle of the night with a strange desire to eat raspberries. Holding a candle in her hand, she went through Lord Adam's kitchen like a cat hunting for mice. It was ridiculous how much she needed to eat those damn berries. Rin didn't even like them! They always made her cringe with their sourness and left red stains on her tongue.
In a few hours, the markets should be opened and if she was lucky, someone might sell berries –but…
She wanted them now.
Pacing the room, Rin tried to think if she had seen any bushes in the garden with berries. It was spring – there had to be berries everywhere!
"Oh! Of course!" She had planted the seeds herself, loving the bell-shaped flowers of the blueberries. They might not all bear fruits now but it was worth a try. She could just pop in and then back within half an hour.
Satisfied with her plan, Rin draped her coat over herself and stepped out into the cold night, grateful that there were no guards by the staff entrance.
She almost congratulated herself on making her exit unseen –Sesshoumaru would have scented her within seconds if this was back home.
"No! I need to stop thinking about him!" she chided herself, wrapping her coat tighter around her. Now where were those berries?
There! Giggling to herself, she crouched down and started to feel under the bush for the round and hard fruits. Grabbing a couple, she popped them straight into her mouth, revelling in the extreme sourness of the unripened fruit. How could something so terrible taste so good? Rin didn't care. She needed more. Patting around for more, she felt frustrated when her hand continuously reached for petals and leaves.
So focused in her search that she hadn't noticed the silent stranger landing behind her.
"Hello Rin."
At the familiar voice, Rin turned around slowly and caught sight of golden eyes and a long whit hair. At first her heart almost did somersaults at the thought of Sesshoumaru appearing before her but as he came closer, she saw the two tufty ears that belonged only to…
"Inuyasha…" she whispered, albeit sadly. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think? I'm taking you back in. Stupid girl! You shouldn't be out here in the cold." His hands moved automatically to her shoulders, turning her towards the castle. "And I got your goddamn peaches."
At the sound of the sweet offering, Rin perked up, allowing the Hanyou to guide her back into the warmth.
"How did you know I was here?" she asked, the moment they entered through the kitchen.
Her question however was answered by another familiar sight.
"Kagome!"
"Miria came looking for us. She said you were feeling rather ill." Kagome motioned for her to take a seat in one of the stools. "Wait here. I have something for you."
The Miko returned moments later; a bowl of hot something was in his hands. Rin winced at the bitter smell and flared her eyes wide open when she brought it closer to her.
"No, that is revolting!"
"This will help, I promise." Kagome urged the liquid against her lips. "If you're good, I promise we'll have those peaches."
Rin didn't like bribery but her tummy didn't care at the moment. This poison was standing between it and the sweet drug of the fruit. Rin found herself sipping at the foul-smelling bitterness and forcing it down by holding her breath.
"What is that?!" Rin stuck her tongue out, seeing a coat of green over it.
"It's to help with the sickness," she assured her. "Now come. We should get you to bed. There's someone I want you to meet tomorrow."
"Kagome?" Inuyasha stepped forward; a hand on her shoulder. "I'll show her to her room. You go and rest first."
Rin watched something transpired between the two but Kagome eventually gave in, giving her a hug before promising to catch up in the morning.
Alone, Rin felt Inuyasha come closer; his hands crossed over his chest as he stared down at her.
"You carry his scent well Rin." He feigned a cough as though the words he was about to say made him uncomfortable. "In many ways, you remind me of my mother. She could not smell it of course, but she wore father's mark like a medallion."
Perhaps it was the softness in his voice that spoke of loss or simply her own emotions taking over for Rin trailed her eyes back to his face and smiled.
Inuyasha pointed to her neck. "But, I must say that Sesshoumaru is selfish for claiming you like this… when he cannot promise you the same happiness that my mother had."
Rin knew it was true and yet she didn't want to hear it. Looking into the kind golden eyes before her, Rin felt herself smiling.
"I'm glad you and Kagome are here Inuyasha. Will you two be staying?"
"Of course. We're here to take care of you."
/
One week later…
"Rin, are you sure you will be fine here?" asked Lord Adam as he fixed the final piece to his ceremonial suit. "You know the invitation is extended to you as well now that you're the Southern princess."
"Lord Adam…"
"Father."
Rin let out a long sigh. Ever since he had adopted her as his own, Lord Adam had been most possessive over her wellbeing. Surely he could see that attending this crowning ceremony would cause her much grief?
"Father, perhaps you could simply send my regards and my well wishes to the Lord and Lady of the West."
Lord Adam looked at her disapprovingly but made no further comment, slipping his sword into the scabbard by his side. Turning to Miria, Inuyasha and Kagome, he gave a curt nod before dropping a light kiss on her forehead.
Rin watched her adopted father clamber into the horse-drawn carriage for his journey Northwest, his kind eyes on hers as the door closed. She knew it had to be equally difficult for him to go as much as it was for her to stay.
But it was for the best.
She kept her eyes on his entourage until they were a speck in the horizon; the breath that she had been holding found its release slowly as she flicked a stray tear away.
"I can still bring you if you want," whispered Inuyasha from behind her. "After all, I didn't get an invitation either."
Rin didn't turn but kept her gaze out the window.
/
One a week till the crowning ceremony and the castle had been decorated in colours of the West –the royal red and yellow splashed across the gates and walls. Banners holding the Arceneaux crest also graced the corridors and never ending music filled the halls.
His family and the heads of the other Daiyoukai clans had begun to stream into the castle bit by bit over the past week, taking residence in the many spare rooms of his abode.
Sesshoumaru had never felt so sick.
"Sesshoumaru! You should look more lively. After all, it is not every day that you get crowned as Lord of the West!" chided his mother as she sashayed into his study to pry open his thick drawn curtains.
"Don't you have guests to entertain, mother?"
As she fussed over his long hair, Sesshoumaru flicked her hands away, standing up and walking towards his window.
"They are not the ones getting married. You are," she snarled, grabbing him backwards and into the chair. Taking fistful of his hair, she run a comb through it until she was satisfied with the tamed locks. "Your ceremonial attire is by the wardrobe. Try it on!"
"It'll fit," he replied, flicking his eyes lazily to the pure white kimono with golden sakura petals down the sleeves.
"Chiyoko will be trying on her kimono today too. I must say I'm impressed you didn't kill this one."
"She's family."
Elisa pursed her lips haughtily. "So is Inu no Jiro. Last I heard you tried to kill him."
Sesshoumaru kept silent, knowing that his mother intended to goad him into telling her what happened at Seurri. But he refused to waste his breath reminding her it wasn't her concern. Neither was his decision to wed Chiyoko.
Lifting his eyes to meet hers, he frowned. "Last I heard you tried to marry him."
To his pleasure, his mother went rigid as she let go of his hair. After fussing a little more with his non-existent tangles, she gathered her skirts and left without a word.
Alone once more to his thoughts, Sesshoumaru drew the curtains close, shrouding the room in darkness. There was no need for light anymore where his mind wished to go.
Closing his eyes, Sesshoumaru reached down along his mating bond and opened his psychic eye. Here, he would watch her, feel her, hear their heartbeats…
Today, like every other day, Rin was crying.
Sesshoumaru knew he was the cause of her tears and yet there was nothing he could, would do. Why hadn't she called for him? Didn't she know he would be there in a heartbeat? He had left her with the human Lord yes, but he had not denied this bond they shared; her mark on him was still visible and unhidden from those who dared to look.
It was only the child that was a concern to him; its existence must be hidden from his family at all cost. Sesshoumaru didn't know why he had even allowed the Hanyou to live.
Perhaps it was his way of leaving Rin with something concrete of him.
But he knew that wasn't it.
Rin.
Her crying had stopped and in its place was a sour punch of emotions that tasted a bit like anxiety. His mate was trying her best to push him out, block her feelings and thoughts by slamming something painful down the mating bond.
Then he felt the kick.
Kenta!
He didn't know why he chose the name but perhaps it was suited for an intangible conscience that was so strong and vigorous. Sesshoumaru didn't even realise he had addressed the child directly until he felt another kick, this time softer.
Your behaviour is unbecoming.
Not a kick this time but a whole set of gibberish senses flooding through the bond. Sesshoumaru was almost unsure what to make of it when another wave of emotions came crashing through before the bond snapped shut suddenly.
"No, wait!"
But the bond was closed, for now. Had Rin sensed him or was that a deliberate act by the child?
Such insolence.
And yet, such strength! For something that was barely formed, his mind was definitely not human. Perhaps his half-brother had imprinted on the child as he had requested; the biofeedback allowing the child to grow and mature.
Sesshoumaru didn't know why but he suddenly got up, pushed the curtains apart and sprinted to Chiyoko's room.
Had his father felt the same? What did it mean?
Inu no Taisho must have left scrolls, notes, diaries… something!
/
A/N – Sorry this took a bit longer! I had to do some rewrite of the original chapter as I felt it was too soon for Sesshoumaru to regret. For this chapter, I've also introduced Inuyasha and Kagome but I felt their entrance was too abrupt but since it's post canon, of course we assume Rin is comfortable with them.
Thank you everyone for your reviews in the last chapter! It totally made my day! Lots of brownies to all of you. Hope you enjoy this next instalment!