"Where to, young lady?" The bus driver looks at me with bright eyes before facing my phone screen.
"Ah, that's right by the law school. Won't take more than fifteen minutes to get there. Although from the looks of it, I doubt you're meeting someone for a study night." The driver smiles warmly and I nod back with a small smile of my own.
On my phone, I type that I'm meeting a friend but I just got out of a party.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll get you there safe." The old man seems nice enough so he doesn't question anything further. After paying the bus fare, I make my way to an empty seat.
Trying not to cry is out of the question. I bet my eyes look like I'm buzzed, the way they must be swollen and red. Processing all of the information that came towards me today left me completely drained. The sudden realization that I am getting engaged to Kohaku, Sesshomaru's surprise proposal, and my mama's indifferent attitude towards my feelings for Sesshomaru, left me exhausted but not without energy to search for Sesshomaru.
Right after my mama left my room, I gathered all my courage, wiped my tears and headed out to search out Sesshomaru. I vaguely remember my mother yelling something about disowning me, but I don't care at this point. She had said enough.
As I watch the passing scenery through the murky bus window, I clutch my phone close to my chest. In my panic, I sent Sesshomaru over 60 messages and haven't received a single response. A part of me feels silly for sending him so many texts. Another part is just eager to see him again to clear the silly misunderstanding. Yet, another part is disappointed that he acted so damn prideful.
The slightest vibrations from the moving bus leads me to believe that I received a text message, but there are none.
The sun is setting and I can see stars blinking into life in the sky. I sigh heavily and despite snuggling into my jacket, I can't seem to find any warmth. I feel guilty for not telling him about this ridiculous marriage arrangement, and furious at my mama for not telling me about the stupid engagement ahead of time!
I see happy couples getting on and off the bus and I can't help but imagine if there would be a future like that for Sesshomaru and me.
By the time the bus driver announces my stop and I get off, the sun has fully set.
The cool night air bites my skin through my flowing silken skirt, freezing my legs, and my feet hurt walking in these stupid high heels. In my hurry, I didn't care to change into a pair of sneakers or any functional walking shoes for that matter, but it's too late for regrets now. Reminding myself of my goal, I push forward towards the large green building across the street from the law school.
A cool breeze soothes my swollen cheeks and I tuck the strands, escaping the clutches of my hairdo, behind my ear.
As I approach the building's driveway, two boys stare at me long and hard as we pass each other. From their outfits, their hairstyles stand out the most. One has silver mohawk and the other has a full head of short silver hair with a thatch of black hair growing from the front. Their looks leave me feeling queasy but I brush it off and enter the lobby. Quickly finding Sesshomaru's name on the tenant's list, I dial his buzzer and patiently anticipate his voice.
But there's no answer.
I send him a text informing him that I'm outside and to open the door so we can chat.
I wait for a few minutes and try the buzzer again.
Again, I meet with no response.
There is a sinking feeling in my heart that perhaps he has left the city without me, but I push those thoughts aside. Before I know it, I have to wipe my eyes to clearly see the buzzer dial pad.
"Are you lost, sweet thing?" someone whispers in my ear. I jump around in panic only to see the boy with the silver mohawk from earlier. "Why don't you come cozy up with us until you find your way back, hm?"
I shake my head and wish desperately for Sesshomaru to show up.
"Aw, what happened, sweetie? Cat got your tongue?" The other boy snickers at me, baring his almost elongated fangs.
Demons!
As they close the gap between each other and come closer to me, my heart races in fear and anticipation of what they plan to do. I've never been to Sesshomaru's residence before and I didn't come prepared with a plan to defend myself.
I push hard against their chests to squeeze away from in between them but someone grabs my wrist harshly.
"Ginta! Now what did I tell you about your manners, hm? If you don't be a gentleman, you'll scare the ladies away."
His voice is gentle but the roughness with which he pulls me against the wall is anything but.
"You're right, Hakkaku. But I can't help it, ya know. When I see such a sweet little thing like this miss here, I just lose control."
The aura emanating from the boy in front of me fills me with fear. I shut my eyes and fill my mind with images of Sesshomaru coming to my rescue.
"Oof!"
One of the boys grunt. When I open my eyes to see a head of silver locks, my heart rejoices, but upon seeing the two doggy ears, my energy depletes.
"Why you dog!" The boy shoves me to a corner and dives in to punch Inuyasha.
Inuyasha easily evades and takes both boys down in a few swift moves. After cuffing them, he reads them their rights.
"And that's Officer Taisho to you!" Inuyasha mutters something else under his breath, which is likely a string of curses, before he comes to me and lifts me up easily.
"You okay? Did these boys do anything to hurt you?"
I shake my head.
"Thank you." I mouth to him, and he seems to nod in understanding.
I glance at the duo, feeling secure knowing that they are now bound and unlikely to move.
"How long have you been here?"
I spread my hands open to indicate ten minutes and, again, Inuyasha nods in understanding. Immediately after, I point to Sesshomaru's buzz code. The way in which Inuyasha's eyebrows furrow and the casual manner in which he disconnects his gaze and the short string of more curse words later, I conclude that he knows something.
With shaky hands I reach for my phone in my jacket pocket and barely type out the phrase that has been haunting me since earlier this afternoon.
Is Sesshomaru here?
I can hear them whispering... talking about me... talking about us...
They mean well - I know - but somehow I just can't seem to muster the strength not to eavesdrop.
It was so wrong of him!
The asshole... you don't leave your mate behind like this!
The poor thing; she's terribly in love with him...
They may have called out to me but I can't be sure. Maybe a moment maybe several minutes later Kagome's warm brown eyes meet mine.
"Rin, are you sure you don't want something to eat? We have your favorite - instant ramen." Kagome jokes, but it's lost on me. The honesty and comfort in her voice would have done wonders to pull me out of my doldrums in the past but not today. Not after I learned that Sesshomaru had left town shortly after he came to see me. Not after I learned that he may have left the country indefinitely. Not after I learned that the man I loved so deeply was gone.
Shaking my head and clutching tighter to the large mug of hot tea, I wonder how things had come to this.
Why did I not rush after him instead of letting myself get trapped at home?
Why did he not wait for me?
Did he really have no faith in me? In us?
It was such a stupid little misunderstanding but I could have cleared everything had he only... waited...
"Oh, Rin!" Kagome wails gently in her usual motherly tone. Taking the mug out of my hands, she places it on her coffee table and wraps her arms around me.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. We're both so very sorry."
That phrase does it for me. I break down in heavy sobs right into Kagome's chest.
Stupid Sesshomaru! The idiot!
Stupid Mama!
Stupid Sesshomaru, I hate him so much!
Not caring for how desperately I'm clutching onto her shirt or how I shake my head from side to side, coming to terms with the fact that Sesshomaru left me without saying a single word was painful. Whatever control I had from the moment Inuyasha told me that Sesshomaru left the city, was all lost.
How could he have done this?
Didn't he know how much I love him and what I would do to be with him?
Yet, no matter how much I try to bring myself to hate him, I simply can't... I am still in love. My foolish, stupid heart. I curse the day it fell in love with Sesshomaru!
"Is she safe?" I immediately answer the phone knowing Inuyasha was calling to report about Rin's whereabouts.
"You selfish asshole! You have a lot of guts to the act the way you did especially with your destined mate. And, why the hell can't we ask Dad for help? He probably knows those Tajiyas and their connections." Inuyasha asks too many questions for my liking, but I do not want my father involved. At least not at this point.
"The Tajiyas belong to the organization that hunts down pure blood demons like Father and myself; they go by the name 'The Silent Sword.'" I swear openly. Partly due to the pain in my now severed arm and my newly gained injuries, but mostly from the hurt of knowing I had to leave Rin. "When they found out that Rin and I are in a relationship, they attacked me and threatened to attack Rin for being with me; she's considered a traitor in their eyes. The last thing I want to do is get either Rin or Father involved."
"The Tajiyas and the Silent Sword?" Inuyasha paused. "That doesn't make sense, Sessh. If they hate demons so much, why would Shippo be at the engagement party? From what I heard from Rin, he and Kohaku have been best friends since their senior year in high school. He's quite close with the family."
"He must be a sell-out and under the Tajiya's protection," I speculate. Although, the possibility of Shippo being a sell-out to his own kind wouldn't be unusual. For a long time, the Demon Council were in arms with my father when he mated with Inuyasha's mother. I never thought it was because they suspected him of supporting the Silent Sword. Now it seems to be a reality.
"Oh man. I've heard myths about them but I had no idea they were real!"
"I thought the same, brother, but it seems they are very much real. Well, at least their purification spells are very much real." I look at the space where my left arm would usually rest, only the stub from my bicep remains. "I'll have to get some proof but I need time."
"Okay, but take it easy and for kami's sake, let me know if you need any help. I honestly didn't think there would be groups like them who care about how things were done in the old days. Shit! To threaten Rin as well, those bastards. That girl's nothing but a saint."
"Apparently, the Silent Sword doesn't seem to think so." A sharp pain stabs me in the piece of flesh now hanging from my shoulder, and moving the phone away from my face, I curse. "Inuyasha, you and I both know that I did this for Rin's own protection. I - Argh! Kouga, could you not drive like the baka you already are!"
"Geez. This is what I get for saving your ass, huh? I should have left you how I found you at the residence being beaten up by those hired goons!" Kouga is a loyal friend but a shitty driver. Settling the phone to my ear, I swallow thickly before speaking.
"I need you to watch over her until I can sort things out. As long as I'm out of the picture, Rin will be safe and that's what's important now."
"She is safe with us, but she ain't happy, bro. It's killing her that you're not with her."
"I know, and that's why it's important that I tread very carefully. The last thing I want is for anyone to lay a finger on Rin." I press down on the deep cut on my leg, the blood is seeping through the bandages and will likely need a change soon.
"Promise me, Inuyasha, that you won't tell her anything about what happened tonight. For Rin's safety, she must remain clouded to this knowledge until I can find a way to make her mine."
"How the hell do you plan to do that? How do you know that Rin won't fall in love with Kohaku?"
"I'll keep you... posted... " I take a deep breath to not pass out from all the injuries. I vaguely hear Kouga yelling to hold on and booking through several red street lights. "Inuyasha. Your word?"
"You have my word. I'll protect Rin," Inuyasha confirms and I feel my lips tugging into a small smile.
"Thank. You. "
"Don't forget to call me tomorrow, Sessh, or I swear I'll send the entire precinct out to hunt you down..."
Inuyasha's words become more and more distant and my eyes begin to lose focus. My hand no longer has the strength to hold the cell phone, which easily drops to the car seat. Again, I vaguely hear Kouga muttering some curse words before the car comes to a harsh stop and my body tumbles easily to the side.
As my world begins to go blank, the only thoughts on my mind are those of my beautiful Rin and her innocent smile, her softness, her love for me...
"Is she sleeping?" I ask, as Kagome turns off the light and shuts the guest room door.
"Yeah, finally. The poor thing just couldn't stop crying, hon. I feel so bad for her." Kagome leans into me and I wrap my arms around her. Kagome is already in her nightgown and we both lay down on the bed the minute we walk into the bedroom.
"So when are you going to spill?" Kagome's eyes light up.
I raise a brow at my inquisitive wife. As customary, she didn't buy into the lies I fed her earlier when I brought Rin home.
"I should have known you'd catch on."
Gingerly, Kagome tip toes to the bedroom door and shuts it. Sitting cross legged on the bed, she faces me with expectantly. Kami, how I love this woman.
"Babe, you have to promise you won't tell Rin anything."
"I promise, Yash! Now, please tell me. Sesshomaru couldn't possibly be the ass I thought he was. Only Rin could have the power to change him. It just didn't make sense that he left without good reason. Something doesn't add up."
"Come here." I open my arm and Kagome lies down beside me, snuggling into my side.
"Earlier today when he left the party, he was upset and angry that Rin had been promised to Kohaku. That wasn't enough to steer him away from fighting for Rin. He knew he had to take a different route to win her is all."
"Kaede can be difficult. Her history with demons isn't a mystery. In fact, she's been quite vocal about it in the past," Kagome adds. I grunt. I know too well about Kaede's sister and her tragic end.
"When he reached his residence, he was attached by the Silent Sword-"
Immediately Kagome gets up and faces me with wide eyes. "No way! I thought they were a myth!"
"I don't know, Kags. All I know is that he was beaten up pretty badly, and the two thugs had used enough purification spells on him to get him on his knees. Let's not forget the physical force. They cut off his arm."
Kagome covers her mouth and shakes her head. I lead her back to bed to my side.
"Somehow he managed to call me, and by the time I got there, Kouga was also at the residence, fighting off the goons. We both managed to finish them off. I got rid of the bodies but Sessh was badly wounded. To keep things on the down low, Kouga is taking Sessh to his fiancee's place to get him healed."
"Oh my god, Yash." Kagome puts her arm around me and scoots closer. "I knew there was no way Sesshomaru would give up on Rin so easily. And that Tajiya family, ugh, I've heard they're not an easy bunch. The leader of the clan is a crafty and skilled demon hunter from a lineage of slayers and the eldest - his daughter - is following his footsteps, which is why I was so surprised to hear that Kohaku decided to become an accountant."
I kiss Kagome's forehead and rub her arms soothingly. "They threatened to hurt Rin if he kept in touch with her. That's why he's looking for a way to not only protect Rin, but also keep her safe. He wants us to protect her but we can't tell her anything, babe, promise me."
"I won't jeopardize my friends, Yash. I love Rin like my sister."
Kagome kisses my cheek and yawns. "I'm sure he'll make it through just fine. Let me know when you hear from him, hm?"
I nod my head, agreeing with her, and before I know it, Kagome falls fast asleep in my arms.
There will be more to come! ^_^
As always - feedback is appreciated. *hugs and kisses*