A/N: Hi everyone, this is a short chapter as I initially wanted to combine it with the previous one. But the cliffhanger at the end just necessitates a cut before the next scene.
So enjoy! And I love love love all your reviews! You guys are awesome :)
/
Rin had been watching the raindrops against her window; their downfall mimicking her tears. She had promised not to cry anymore but it was all the weather's fault!
Now she was feeling all sore and miserable. Her breasts were tender, her back almost killing her and don't even get her started on her ankles! While Kagome's bitter potions had been bearable and helped with the nausea, Rin had wondered if it was not causing her pains instead.
Just what in the world was going on with her? Nobody seemed to think it strange, so Rin figured it had to be a bug of some sort.
That was before she felt an alien force resonating from within her – a consciousness of somewhat pushing against her mind and down an invisible thread that tug at her heart. Rin had initially figured it was her hormones and the sickness causing the hallucinations but then she heard him.
First he had called her name but then he said something else –an exclamation and then a reprimand in words she understood as clearly Youkai.
Rin was still confused when she heard a soft knock on her door.
"Rin, it's me Inuyasha. It's time for dinner."
"I don't feel hungry." It was a lie. Rin was ravenous but she was so afraid that if she left the room, whatever it was that had connecting Sesshoumaru to her for those precious seconds would disappear.
"Don't make me come in there and toss you over my shoulder," he warned. "You know I'll do it."
"No really Inuyasha I'm fi –"
Her door flung open; the white haired hanyou holding a spatula in his hands. "Out. Now."
"You're such a bully!" she rasped but did as instructed. Such underhand methods! Storming into her room with sauce covered utensils!
But her sour mood lightened considerably when she spotted a toddler crawling on the floor with what looked like rice and curry all over her chubby face.
"Hey beautiful," she cooed, picking up the child and rubbing her face with a clean handkerchief. "Kagome, I think Shiori's had enough now."
Kagome laughed as she took her baby away, exchanging the child with a warm of plate of food in front of Rin. The scent of the herbs were so welcoming that Rin even forgot for a moment why she was adamant on leaving Seurri; her mind set on polishing the plate in a second. She didn't even complain when Kagome gave her another helping.
"How are you feeling today Rin-chan?'"
Rin swallowed then pouted. "I don't know if it's just me but it's been getting hotter everyday these past week."
"Perhaps it has to do with how you're feeling," said Kagome, nodding slowly, putting a hand on her forehead just in case.
"I know what would make you feel better. Why don't you show us around, Rin? Inuyasha and I have never been to the Southern lands before."
Inuyasha looked like he was about to protest but a stern look from his wife sent him mumbling away about finding Miria and waiting at the castle gate.
/
Kagome opened her own umbrella, hoping to block as much of the sweltering sun from her baby's eyes. Hot as it was, she knew that Rin was probably burning up much more than usual thanks to the little extra body demanding nutrition.
"Ne, Inuyasha, why don't you make yourself helpful and carry Shiori for a bit?" Rin looked like she needed some company and knowing how sharp her husband's ears were, Kagome didn't wish for him to eavesdrop.
He may have grumbled a little but she saw the joy in his eyes when he took his little girl in his arms. She only wished that Sesshoumaru would look at his child with that expression.
Skipping slightly in front, she joined Rin, walking side by side.
"So, tell me, how's the rebuilding going? Do you need help?"
Rin smiled, angling her head towards her. "Are you planning to stay for long?"
"As long as you want sweetheart," she replied, curling an arm around her shoulder warmly.
"We have a group of red wolf Youkai currently helping us with the reconstruction. Thanks to them, we've had some excellent minerals and rocks from the sea." Rin smiled slightly as she turned to Kagome. "But I just hope we would never have to test out its strength."
Kagome nodded. She had heard of the casualties of course; news travelling fast of the catastrophe plaguing the south. If not for their baby, perhaps she would have come, lending the human girl some support.
"But how are you doing Rin? You know I'm here if you need to talk."
Rin's reply was to pat her hand gently. It seemed strange now that the little girl that she last remembered was now an adult, and what more, about to become a mother.
Time seemed to pass so quickly for humans, Inuyasha would say. Although, ever since mating, she had noticed that she hadn't aged much. She still looked as youthful and radiant as her fifteen year old self. Perhaps Rin too might age slower now that she's mated to a powerful Daiyoukai.
"Ne Rin-chan, can we get something to eat? I'm so hungry!" complained Inuyasha from a few steps behind them.
"But you just ate!" shouted Kagome. Honestly, he ate more than a pregnant woman! She was about to give him a piece of her mind when Rin patted her shoulder with a laugh.
"I'll bring you both somewhere special. But first, I'd like to check on something."
Something turned out to be a group of flaming haired wolf Youkai.
"My Lady, what brings you here today?" One of the burly red wolves greeted her; his eye darting at Inuyasha suspiciously.
"Masaru. I'm glad to see you're well. Have there been enough supplies for the workers?"
"Miria has brought enough… supplies, to build another village." The wolf coughed slightly before looking away.
Kagome found herself sneaking a look at the Daiyoukai standing not too far from Rin. She had been so quiet that Kagome had almost forgotten about her.
"I simply did as you instructed my Lady. Nothing more," said Miria bashfully.
"Your generosity is much appreciated," replied Masaru before turning to Kagome. "And who might this lovely Miko be?"
"Ah! I'm Kagome, and that's my husband Inuyasha and our daughter Shiori. We're here on a vacation of sorts." Kagome knew that the wolf Youkai could probably scent Rin's pregnancy and could guess the real reason for her visit for he nodded and bowed low.
"Welcome to Seurri. There's still a bit of work to do but I think we'll get there. The northern walls are fully rebuilt and now we're looking at the communal spaces to at least house the homeless."
"I'll handle the administration," assured Miria when she saw Rin's face crumbling somewhat at the thought of families awaiting their homes. "Lord Adam has given permission to utilise the royal pantry, so rest assured they are all fed and clothed sufficiently my Lady."
Nodding slowly, Rin then looked up at Masaru and smiled. "Would you like to come for lunch with us? I was planning to take Inuyasha and Kagome here to have soft-shelled crabs down by the pier."
The red wolf –if it was even possible –had gone an even brighter shade of red.
"Of course my Lady. It would be my honour. Let me see if the Princess would like to join us as well."
When he was gone, Inuyasha immediately released what was obviously his pent up annoyance.
"How come we have to share lunch with wolves? Dog demons don't work well with wolves – you know that Kagome," he whined. "And you Miria! Do you need me to poke your eyes out or what? Keep that tongue in!"
The three women glared at him but only one smacked him on the head.
"Now Inuyasha, Emiko is the Princess of the East. I know you can't hold your tongue around me and I love you for that… but, please, try not to get yourself beaten to a pulp around her."
"Please! As if I'd lose to a wolf!" he boasted but bit back his voice when the Eastern princess appeared.
"Lady Rin! I'm surprised you're still here!" The princess nodded her head slightly at Rin before smiling at Inuyasha and Kagome. "I would have thought you'd left with Lord Adam to the West."
"I could ask you the same too," replied Rin with a smile. Kagome thought it was admirable how her face betrayed nothing when every Youkai around her could scent her sadness. She only wished that she would allow someone to share that pain with her.
"I have no taste for such ceremonies. Only father has gone, so I'm free to do as I please. I'll stay and help with the rebuilding first. Besides, it looks like I'll be coming here quite often."
Turning to Masaru, she nodded, gesturing for him to speak.
"We have thought over your offer and we accept my Lady," said Masaru. "We will stay and make our home here amongst your people."
"That's wonderful!" Hands clapped together, Rin gave her brightest smile. "It is the most we could do for you after all your help defending us."
"As I recalled, you fought just as hard alongside us," said Masaru, returning her smile.
Inuyasha on the other hand almost choked on his own spit at those words. Kagome however was less obvious. Sesshoumaru it seemed either trusted Rin enough to care for her own life or was reckless when it came to his mate.
Just like now, he was leaving her in the hands of others, when he should never have left her side.
/
Chiyoko hung the white dress by her window and stared at the silken material. Lady Elisa had gifted her the kimono with the warning that she not taint it with her stupidity and weakness. Even though she was family, Chiyoko was still deemed less of a royal than her son.
Pretentious witch!
At least tonight, she would have her own mother to keep her company. Aika would never have told her she was stupid or weak. There was no shame in preferring to keep your nose in books!
At the sudden knock on her door, Chiyoko almost jumped, wondering if Elisa had perhaps heard her complaints and was about to punish her severely.
"May I come in?"
No, that voice was too masculine for the Queen Mother.
"Sesshoumaru? What are you doing here? You know you're not allowed to see me until the wed –oh forget that. I'm coming!"
Grooms were not supposed to see their brides a week before the wedding. But then again, there was no denying that their union was anything but contrive. She knew he would look right at her during their vows as though she was worth nothing more than the earth beneath their feet.
Opening her door, Chiyoko was genuinely surprised to see Sesshoumaru's face flushed with excitement. She hadn't seen him in that state since…
Well, since they were children. His father had just ascended the throne and Sesshoumaru had been so over the moon that he had rushed to her room and dragged her out to tell her all about it. Chiyoko wondered what happened to that spirited little child. Has his hatred for humans as a result of his father's mate turned him cold?
"Chiyoko, come! You must help me." He tugged her by the wrists and yanked her out of the door. "I know father left a lot of his works in the library but I just don't know what they are! I've looked through all his letters, the files… nothing!"
Chiyoko was too confused that she kept tripping over her own yukata as they half ran, half flew across the halls into the forgotten chambers of the castle. Here was a section that had been banned to everyone and left to decay and dust, as the memory of the Daiyoukai who once filled the rooms with light and laughter.
"What exactly are you looking for?" she wheezed as dusted cobwebs caught in her face.
"Inuyasha."
Sesshoumaru finally stopped in front of the grand library of his father's personal collection. The burst of emotions she had just seen earlier was gone – replaced by a cold front as they entered the room.
"You think he wrote an account of his other son's birth?"
Sesshoumaru turned to her; a strange look on his face. He seemed to want to say something but at the last minute, turned his head away and began to pull out random books from the shelves. Chiyoko didn't know why the sudden interest in his brother. She was aware that Inuyasha had come and seen him before leaving for Seurri. Had the Hanyou said something that made Sesshoumaru reconsider his stupid decision?
"Sesshoumaru… I cannot help you if you do not tell me what you want me to help you with."
He ignored her; his attention focused on books and files written two hundred years ago during the birth of his half brother.
"Fine, then I'll go… if there is nothing I can do."
She was halfway through the door when he grabbed her hand, tugging her backwards.
"No. Please." Desperate eyes of gold. "Stay."
Chiyoko rolled her eyes at him. So he knew the right words to say – just that he said it to the wrong woman.
"I know your father wrote a lot but I never thought he'd have this library all to himself," she admitted. By law, every Dog demon general had to part with their histories and works upon their deaths, to be safeguarded in the family library. Sure, some had managed to hide a few valuable books to be kept in their personal treasure trove but all these…
They were magnificent.
"Did you know that your father was multilingual?" Chiyoko bent to pick up a book Sesshoumaru had discarded. "I'm amazed at how many of these he had written. It's mostly poetry."
"I can't read that scribble! Did Father do that on purpose? So no one could find out?" He slammed his fists against one of the shelves, causing a mountain of dust to cake over them.
Chiyoko kept silent. Goading him for an answer was pointless. Her cousin would tell… when he was ready.
"These books here are very specific Youkai scripts," she replied instead, flipping the pages. "I'd say they look almost as if someone with webbed fingers wrote them. See the swishes and flicks? It's characteristic of someone holding his brush against the wrist rather than –"
"Just read it Chiyoko."
Chiyoko felt her face flaming. There was no way she was going to go through everything aimlessly!
"I will ask one last time Sesshoumaru. Or this conversation is over." She snapped the book shut, sending a gust of dust flying upwards.
The Lord of the West simply snarled at her; baring his teeth in defiance.
"Fine. Then go. Find me when I am needed," he growled.
For the wedding. She understood.
God was he stubborn! Why wouldn't he just tell her? With a sigh, she sat down amidst the pile of books and looked up at him.
"Is it for Rin?"
That did it.
Shoulders slumped, the Daiyoukai took a seat next to her.
"I spoke to him."
"Who?"
Golden eyes looked up into hers; the truth almost unbearable for him to accept.
"My son."
/
A/N: Oh? What's this? Sesshoumaru's admitting to his son? But I thought I was the one he loved? Sigh… alas, this is but a dream.