Okay! Here's the long awaited chapter in which we meet Rin's mother, and Sesshomaru suffers from teleportation.
The second I stepped through the portal, my stomach lurched, my head spun, and I felt like a semi-truck had run me over. Twice. Owww...
"Sesshomaru! Are you alright? How many fingers am I holding up?" Rin crouched above me, holding up a finger. Or is it three? When did I end up on the floor.
I tried to speak, but the only thing that came out was a groan. Rin giggled, then helped me sit up. "Just give it a sec. Your brain mind hasn't caught up with your body yet. Just really bad whiplash."
"Hn." I glared at nothing in particular, rubbing my head with a hand.
"Hmm, I wonder..." I felt Rin's hand on my neck and a sudden burning, then a rush of strength. Jumping to my feet, I offered Rin a hand up from her crouch. She smiled. "Glad to see it worked."
I raised an eyebrow as in took my hand. "What worked?"
She glanced to the side, and let out a sheepish laugh. "N-nothing major, just a simple spell. It doesn't work quite right with some demons." Rin looked back at me then, her face totally serious. "Okay, when we go in, you must keep your eyes to the ground, and don't make eye contact with anyone. Stay behind me, and don't speak. Got it?"
I frowned. "Why?"
"Some priestesses aren't exactly then biggest fans of demons, and I don't want a fight to break out. A lot of the people in there," She motioned to the castle thing, "Are elitists. I can take em, but it won't be pretty. My mother included, so be careful around her."
Then with a kiss to my cheek, and a small smile, she turned and strode forward, the doors that I could swear weren't there a second ago, opened without any movement of Rin's that I could see.
Then, it was like Rin herself changed before she strode into the complex or whatever. Her head was held high, he step confident and she had an aura about her that said 'bow, then get the hell out of my way or face unbelievable pain'.
The inside of the complex was just as breathtaking as the outside, if not more. It was far larger than it looked, the main door leading into a courtyard that was abundant in the elements. There was a large fountain in the center that was covered in an intricate rune design. the water in the fountain was glowing every color of the spectrum, flowing in almost an array of light. The liquid, since it obviously wasn't water, flowind from the fountain in several directions, each a different color, and ending in a pool that represented an element, with a tree in said pools, that also, you guessed in, reresented the elements. Like the bright red tree, that at first glance was onn fire, sitting in a motlen pool of... stuff. The color of thee tree looked like flame itself, but the tree itself held it's shape, the leaves not even rustling.
All of the elements had their own tree and pool, and as I looked up, I realized that the fountain wasn't built against a wall, but the enormous trunk of the onyx tree with multi-colored leaves that I's seen from out side. Lush silver-hued grass covered the rest of the space in the courtyard, with onyx halls framing it. The walls themselves had ornate designs that swirled and diped, but it wasn't overwhelming, everything seemed to just flow.
People, elves, were everywhere, dancing, sitting, singing, and just talking to each other. The compound had been built so that even there were most likely hundreds of elves, it wasn't at all crowded. Their pure power was portrayed in the way they held themselves, with a grace, a flowing movement that was so inhuman, and so far beyond even that off a demon. The elves had varying hair, eye, and skin colors, their cothing that of every ancient and modern human and demon civilazation, and others that I assumed were purely elven.
No one seemed to notice us enter, and really didn't seem to care that we were here, but as I trailed after Rin, who seemed to give off an even more powerful aura than any of the other elves her. She walked with purpose, her strides long, but not overly fast, as if not to seem rushed. But then I realized that was just how Rin normally walked. I realized that Rin wasn't giving out vibes on purpose, that most of the other elves did the same thing, but it didn't seem to affect each other. I realized that I was the only one who felt like cowering in the presence of, well, any of them, and that this was what Rin looked like without any barriers or enchantments to make her seem more normal. For the first time, I truly grasped how powerful Rin and her elusive race was.
The elves weren't hiding, like some thought, they just didn't care enough to get involved. If they really wanted to got out in the human world, they could do so. Hell, they could probably conquer the entire world in a single day if they felt like it.
I gulped, and hurried after Rin, keeping my eyes close to the floor. If these elves were as bad as Rin had hinted, then I didn't want to cross them. Then I realized how much of a total wuss I was being, tagging after Rin like some slave. But even so, I couldn't stop doing so. I had thought, before, that I was as powerful as anyone got, but damn, I knew better now. Somehow, I knew anyone of these elves could smite me with a look. So I behaved.
It wasn't long before we left the courtyard behind and headed deeper into the complex, down the twisting and turning maze-like passageway. The farther in we got, the number of elves around us dwindled, till we were alone. Torches that burned with multi-hued flame hung floated with us, the light bouncing and reflecting off of the deep black walls and floor, creating a really creepy vibe.
After a while we stopped in front of double doors, huge and imposing. Rin didn't even pause as she flicked her hand, threw them open and strode in.
"Hey, mom!" After a walk through such a place, the relatively human abode we entered we entered was shocking, as was Rin's casual language. But then again, she had grown up here, hadn't she?
"Rin, love!" A melodic voice that sounded much like Rin's, if not a bit deeper, called out, followed by a woman who could easily pass for a demoness in the buisness track. Her voice and the way she held herself reminded me of Rin, but that's where the similarities ended. She had short, chin length A-line platinum blonde hair, a slim face and figure with pointed ears (like all elves, I assume), and bronzed skin, like she had spent a lot of time in the sun, which was streaming in through the windows, which made no sense, since I was sure we were underground. "How come you haven't brought any friends over? I did set this up how it is for that purpose. The exit over there is also relatively close to your school." Rin's mom pouted, her irredescent purple eyes sparkling in mirth.
"Friends? Uh, well, this is Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru, this is my mom, Iren. Happy? Now, cut the crap, what all do you know about dad?"
The change was instantaneous. Iren's smile dropped of her face, her eyes lost their sparkle and the woman looked weary. She sigh and waved her hand. The place that was previously the light, elegant home of upper class demons and humans was now more of a gothic manor, and her expensive suit changed into a black flowing grecian-style dress. "So you do know then."
Rin frowned. "Of course. Doesn't everyone?" She then blinked. "No one else knows do they?"
"No. How did you find out?"
"He's been gone for so long, it's not hard to notice."
"He could have been out on a mission."
"He failed to send a flower."
"Is that so? Is it really such a big thing?"
"You know he always does."
Iren narrowed her eyes, then sighed once more. "Alright. What do you want to know?"
"Anything. Everything. Something that'll help me find him."
"You don't think I'm already looking? I've got nothing! There's a barrier so think, I can barely feel him. Whoever has him is doing a good job keeping him subdued. Lots of fire, some lightning. He's hardly concoius enough to tell me anything! But we do know he's being kept in some sort of warehouse. Obviously, considering the fact that he's an elf, he could be anywhere in the world, and there are a lot of warehouses in the world, love. It's tough."
"What about demons? Imps can track anything, right? Or what about a succubus? Bitches, all of 'em, but they can find anything with a penis. Or the greater demons? Sesshomaru has a good nose on him. Don't you?" That last question was directed at me. My eye twitched. Had she just refered to as a bloodhound?
"I am not a dog, but yes, I can see what I can do." I spoke up, only to earn an odd look from Iren.
"It talks? And it has snark? Rin you should put that thing in line." Iren pursed her lips, and put her hand on her hips. "You've claimed it, so put it to use, and and put it in line."
Rin rolled her eyes. "He's not a slave. And of course he talks, he's not a lesser demon. Duh. He's a friend."
Iren rolled her eyes at this. "How far are you going with this charade? He's a demon, a tool for our kind to use, and you've claimed him, meaning he serves you. There's no other way about it. Stop toying with him."
"I'm not toying with him, he really is a friend! And Lorreala wouldn't agree withb what you're saying."
"Why oh, why would I care what some demon has to say?"
"She's a goddess! Our goddess, or do we not follow Morana anymore?"
"She's a demon! Scum. Simple as that. Now really grow up. What do you think you can do that I can't?"
"Well, have you talked to Pheobe?"
"Of course."
"Trichia?"
"I must've had a death wish, but yes."
"Onsa?"
"Who do you take me for?"
"De'Droica?"
"Now you're just being silly."
"Lorreala?"
"What's with you and her? Twice now you've mentioned her, what's the big deal? She's an exile! Do you think I would ask her? She's a traitor!"
"And the demon of truth. You could summon her."
"Someone of that power? I don't think so. I really don't have a death wish."
"You know she's complacent. She lets humans summon her even."
"Myths. Lies."
"So you're telling me that you can't do anything to help me?"
"I've used all my resources, and haven't found anything. But he'll turn up eventually. Elves outlive every other race. He won't die so easily. And I'll never stop searching."
"I still have things I can do. I'm trained to track, to use the earth and shadows to my benefit. Is there anything you can do to help me? If not, I'll go talk to Lira."
"Try Pheobe and Trichia. Maybe there's something they can tell you. And I won't give you the manuscripts to summon Lorreala. I won't let you risk so much." She stood tall her face hard.
Rin smiled faintly at her mom. "Alright. Thanks for the help."
Iren softened, stepping forward and hugging Rin. "If you find something, tell me. Don't rush in on your own. If your father can't handle it, I don't want you to try. Promise me you'll stay safe."
"I will." RIn hugged her mom back for a second, before Iren drew back.
"Well? Why are you still here? I have things to do." Iren was back to the same aloofness she had before, but she cared. She was like my own mother. Pretends indifference, but really does care underneath it all.
Rin smiled at her. "Fine, fine. We're gone." Rin grabbed my hand then pulled me through a portal, just realizing a second too late that I don't teleport on a normal basis.
Tada! it took me a while, but I couldn't get it to turn out the way I wanted it. Arg! Anyways, I finally settled for this and I think it'll do. Hopefully. Tell me what ya think please!