Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Frkkn copyright.
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A/N: Wow…it seems like it's been AGES since I've been here! Three years…wow. So sorry for the loooong wait! But I'm back. As a little treat, I have made this chapter just a wee bit longer than the rest. :) Enjoy!
~ Sky
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Chapter 7: Ceremonious Induction
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'This isn't happening, this isn't happening, this ISN'T happening, THIS ISN'T HAPPENING, THISISN'THAPPENING!'
Panic rose from the pit of her stomach to the base of her throat, constricting her air passages and forcing her to breathe harder. Cold sweat broke through her ivory skin as she continued the same incantation in her head. What the hell was going on? Her mind screamed at her to stop walking forward, but her body was still moving at its own will. Rin looked down again at the necklace dangling between her mounds. 'Kiori…you traitor…'
Wasn't Kiori supposed to protect her? Why wasn't it doing its job? She placed her hands around the crystal once more. "Kiori! You better be having a bipolar mood swing and turn back now!" Again and again, Rin attempted to tug at the crystal and pull it above her head. But the same barrier encased her each time, forbidding her to take the necklace off.
Sesshoumaru watched blankly with mild entertainment. He didn't quite understand the change in the necklace's advances anymore than she did, though this feat certainly amused him.
Rin kept moving forward until he commanded her to stop. She was far enough to be able to look up at him, but close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body. Sesshoumaru began to slowly circle around her, the same way a shark circled prey before the kill. Rin could feel his eyes wander over her. He made a complete 360 before he stopped in front of her again. They stood like that for what seemed like forever, enveloped in a silence that was neither comfortable nor awkward.
"Spin three times."
The sudden timbre of Sesshoumaru's voice finally cut the silence, including the small trance Rin found herself in. It snapped her back into reality.
"What…?" she asked incredulously, dumbfounded at his statement. The command was so curt and sudden, it nearly made her laugh. To her amazement, and much to Sesshoumaru's disappointment, nothing happened.
The demon lord's right brow creased ever so slightly in annoyance. He tried again. "Spin three times."
Once again, nothing happened.
Deep inside her chest, Rin could feel her heart nearly skip a beat. Was Kiori finally turning back to normal? She wasn't understanding any of this! A few days ago, Kiori wouldn't even let Sesshoumaru touch her. Now today, Kiori let him get so close as to be so intimate with her. And now, it was picking certain commands at which to follow? Not only did her heart start beating faster, but now, Rin's head was spinning, trying to put the facts together.
His pride and patience were being tested. Angered by another degree, Sesshoumaru tried a different tactic. "Touch yourself."
As soon as his words became fully registered in her head, Rin felt a rush of embarrassment and anger started to boil at the realization of his command. 'There's no way!'
But once again, nothing happened. The apprehension that Rin felt at his words sunk back down to a great wave of relief. Her tensed shoulders relaxed and slumped. Thinking that Kiori was returning to its normal state, Rin scoffed and let a coy smile play on her face. She had a few words of victory ready to spew at him. "Ha," she softly proclaimed with a waivering sigh, "it seems as though Kiori doesn't work anym-" Before she could finish her sentence, Rin felt a strange pulse vibrate through her arms. Her eyes blinked open in wild fervor as she stiffened her entire body. Her arms started rising on its own accord as her hands made its way slowly up her ribcage to her breasts. Rin immediately recognized it was Kiori's doing and desperately tried to lower her hands to no avail. 'No…!'
She tried to stop her hands, heat rising to her cheeks as one hand nonchalantly fiddled the hardening bud underneath her clothing. Rin looked away from her hands and shot a tear-fllled glare toward the stoic demon lord watching her. "Stop this! Stop it, please!" Rin felt humiliated beyond belief. The thought of sexual acts was always gossiped about between the concubines and maids of Naraku's castle, but Rin had never actually witness it for herself. Nor had she ever acted upon eroticism. Although she had no idea what she was doing, her hands masterly pleased herself. But she pushed the pleasure to the back of her head, desperately trying to lower her hands. How could he just sit there and watch? The tears in her eyes became hotter, threatening to spill over.
Sesshoumaru remained passive. He eyed the necklace warily, sensing something amiss with its odd behavior.
"Stop it, please," Rin pleaded once more.
Sesshoumaru ignored her pleas. His nose picked up the salty scent of tears coming from the raven-haired human in front of him, yet his cruel nature did nothing to quell her tears. There were more pressing matters than her lowly human feelings at this point.
He was highly suspicious of the necklace now. There was no damn manual or guide to help him work Kiori. Nor did his ancestors leave him with at least decent instructions to follow about the necklace…or at least warnings. No. Ino was supposed to know what to do. But she wasn't here. Fate was obviously cruel and unforgiving and decided to punish his wrongdoings of the past by giving him a mortal to deal with.
Guess he had to figure things out on his own. Time to test theories.
Although it was amusing to a degree to watch her please herself, a deep and unsettling twitch lodged itself in his stomach. He could tear people apart with no remorse, rip heads without a second thought, kill entire villages in one foul mood, watch whores dance in disgrace at political parties…even kick helpless puppies to the side of the street if they were ever in his way…yet not one of those instances made him feel this sickening guilt in him. Not one instance even came close to making him feel like a monster. And yet, this tearing human girl in front of him dare glare at him with tears…making him feel like the monster he was being. Was it because she was under his complete control? Because she was helpless to even act on her own? Or was it because he was losing touch with his full demon state that he was feeling so…weak? Weak enough to acknowledge that other beings had…emotions? Yuck.
Closing his eyes and sighing in irritation, Sesshoumaru lifted his poisonous hand, baring it in the air for Rin to see. "You may stop pleasuring yourself at the moment."
Rin hastily pulled her hands back down to her sides, her brows furrowed in anger while her tears burned her eyes, refusing to fall. Before she could even think to move, Sesshoumaru was upon her, bringing his poisoned hand close to her chest.
"What are you doing?" She stepped back in surprise, knowing that there would be no way to avoid contact with that hand. She threw her arms up to try to protect herself as best as she could, waiting for the searing pain of the poison. But once Sesshoumaru's hand was a hair's breadth away from touching her, bright light exploded from the crystal and encased her in Kiori's protective barrier, electrocuting Sesshoumaru's dangerous claw.
The demon lord didn't even hiss at the pain, cocking an eyebrow in what it seemed to be revelation instead of annoyance.
Rin opened her eyes when the crackling sound of electricity had stopped. She looked down at the blinking crystal, realizing that Kiori had once again protected her. None of this made sense at all. But she was no longer going to stick around to test what worked or not. Wasting no time at all, she crouched in a fighting stance. Sesshoumaru barely had time to register what Rin was doing before she turned at inhuman speed to bolt toward the double doors.
The hot tears burning her eyes finally spilled over as she ran to her only escape. She got a hold of the handle and managed to open the door by a slit before a flash of white, red, and silver banged the door shut again. With a yelp, Rin released the door and fell backwards, keeping her brows furrowed in anger and her glare just as dangerous as his poisonous hands. He was standing between her and the door, one arm extended to keep the door shut. Tension rose between them, neither one refusing to look away. After a few moments, Sesshoumaru put his arm back to his side as he advanced toward her.
"You stay the hell away from me! Damned dog!" Rin crawled back while she was still facing the ominous dog demon looming before her.
"I think I'm starting to get an idea of how Kiori works," Sesshoumaru responded, brushing off the insult. He was not quite done with the testing of his theories. And this interaction was almost exciting. Almost.
"I don't give a damn in all the seven hells about what you think! I am NOT going to be used as your damned specimen…OR a play toy!"
A low growl rumbled deeply in Sesshoumaru's chest before he lunged at her. Rin scrambled to get up and her eyes desperately roamed the room to find anything she could attack him with. She ran to the wall near the stained bay windows and grabbed a sword off the wall. She barely turned around before the weapon was knocked out of her hands and she was brought around to the front of his desk in a streak of silver. He moved so fast, it took her a moment to realize she was leaning over his desk with an annoyed demon lord pinning her from behind. He leaned in close to whisper in her ear, "I will do with you as I please. Whether I make you my prisoner or, the gods forbid, my common whore. You will be anything I want you to be. Understood?"
Angered, Rin reached over for several parchments and books on his desk and threw them back at him. "The hell I will! Damn you to hell, you -" her protest was cut off as Sesshoumaru grabbed her wrist and painfully pinned it to his desk, while his other hand wrapped around her waist, sliding upward until he held a handful of her soft breast. Rin gasped sharply, so surprised at the situation, her brain stopped functioning and her heart stopped beating, before it started ramming again at a frantic tempo.
"What are you…" Rin racked her brain to formulate at least one question, at least ONE protest. But her mind went fuzzy the moment he circled his index finger around her nipple. 'No, no, NO! I cannot give into this. Come on, do something! Anything!'
Sesshoumaru brought his mouth close to her ear and his warm breath intensified the nerve endings in her breast, making her far more sensitive to the touch. The action made her elicit a quiet moan. 'Ugh. Anything OTHER than a moan!'
Rin mustered up as much strength as she could manage and pushed herself up to try to twist out of his embrace. Sesshoumaru just easily flowed with her until her movements resulted with her lying on her back on top his desk. His skilled hands brought her arms up until he could pin both her hands above her head. Rin gasped at the new position. He had hiked up her summer kimono from her mid-thigh to just below her hips so he could place himself standing between her legs.
She was at a loss of what to think, let alone say. His golden stare entranced her and the candlelight played with the mischief dancing in his eyes. The sinfulness of their position made its presence known to Rin as heat rose to her cheeks. The embarrassment was enough to knock some sense into her. She scrunched her eyebrows together and her mouth twitch in what seemed to indicate that she was going to protest. Before she could say anything, a loud grumble reached their ears. The demon lord on top of her kept his intense stare on her face as her face became even more red than she thought was possible.
Her stomach grumbled in protest once more. Without a word, Sesshoumaru slid off her and straightened his hakama. He then turned and started walking toward the door.
Rin sat up on her elbows and stared at him in bewilderment. 'The nerve of that…that-URGH!' She was at such a loss of words due to the current change of events that she couldn't even think of a well-suited insult to call him. She plopped back down on the desk, massaging her temples and blowing out a stressful breath.
"I've figured out the trick to Kiori," Sesshoumaru said, still walking to the exit.
Embarrassed and annoyed at herself for a multitude of reasons, Rin closed her eyes and breathed deeply before hopping off his desk. "And what, may I ask, have you figured out exactly," she questioned back sarcastically as she straightened out her own kimono.
Sesshoumaru didn't even look back nor pause in his wake. "Kiori only responds to any action it deems suitable enough to get us into bed together. It only protects you otherwise from harm and danger." He reached the huge double doors and opened it, giving her a side-glance. "Count your blessings that Kiori knows when you're in trouble."
He opened the door wider to reveal a waiting Jaken right outside. "Jaken."
The imp hastily bowed in respect. "Yes, m'lord?"
"Bring the girl back to her room. Fix her something to eat."
Jaken eyed Rin with distaste before bowing again to his master. "As you wish, m'lord."
Sesshoumaru began walking away. "Clean the mess in the office. Then call Ayako and the other maids to get the girl ready for tonight."
"Yes, m'lo - wait, what?" Jaken asked in disbelief. His eyes opened in a frenzy and he jolted upright from his bow. "Wait, m'lord!" He ran after Sesshoumaru. "You're going to bring her out tonight?"
Rin's curiosity suddenly peaked and she ran across the room, clinging to the door to watch Sesshoumaru's retreating back, with the green imp trying to catch up to him.
"That's complete insanity, Lord Sesshoumaru! I don't think it'd be very wise to -" the imp stopped in his tracks and shut his mouth when Sesshoumaru ceased his walking. Rin watched in awe. Sesshoumaru didn't say a single word, nor did he even look at his ward. And yet, Jaken had shut up and bowed again. "Yes, m'lord. I understand."
It wasn't until then that Sesshoumaru continued walking. As soon as he was out of earshot, Jaken turned his heated gaze at Rin. "Wench!"
Rin didn't even bother responding. She moved away from the door and moved toward the direction of her room. Jaken was still going on his little tirade about how he couldn't believe the duties Sesshoumaru threw on him. "I can't believe I'm babysitting this ugly excuse of a child!" he spat.
Rin simply stomped on his foot as she passed.
Jaken cried out loudly. "GAWWWWW! You heathen girl!"
"Hmph. Serves you right, toad."
"Why, you - ! You will be dealt with soon enough! And then I will get the last laugh! I will -"
Rin tuned Jaken's grating voice out of her head. She played back the scene she saw earlier over and over in her head.
"You're going to bring her out tonight? That's complete insanity, Lord Sesshoumaru!"
What was going on tonight…?
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"INCOMPETENT BRATS!"
Rin seriously had to cover her ears at this point. She couldn't take it in any longer. "Jaken…there are seven hells for you to choose from. Go to one of them NOW."
The maids all stopped their bustling to look at her, including Ayako.
"Did you hear what she just said to Master Jaken?"
"I sure did."
"Does she get punished for that?"
"Do we get punished for that?"
"Someone had to say it."
"SILENCE, all of you!" Jaken screeched. "If SHE isn't ready in time for tonight, Lord Sesshoumaru will be having my head along with all of yours! I have no idea why he's even going to allow her to be there, but make sure you all do your jobs right!"
The maids returned to their work. Rin was currently receiving the pamper treatment of her life! Whatever was going on tonight, it was mighty suspicious. After her "meeting" with Sesshoumaru earlier that day, there was a hot tray of food waiting by her bedside when she got back to her room. But not sooner had she taken the last bite and put the chopsticks down before the riot started. Several demonesses rushed into her room with equipment, tools, and beauty supplies in hand with an irate Jaken barking orders in tow.
Without warning, she was stripped of her summer kimono and dragged to her feet, nearly choking with the last morsels in her mouth. They pulled her to the bathroom and for the second time that day, she was dumped into the waiting tub. She sputtered wildly before several ladies tended to her hair and skin. When they finished bathing her, they immediately dried and combed her hair in such haste and roughness, Rin nearly teared from the pain. The rest of her body was dried and buffered with several oils and lotions before they wrapped her in a clear thin plastic.
All they threw on her was a plush robe before setting her in her room again. This time, different demonesses tended to her hands and feet. They painted her nails with a moon-hue of white, matching her toenails as well. They earned a few giggles from Rin as they worked on her feet and scrubbed her heels.
They powdered her face gently and painted her eyelids with a silver powder that contrasted beautifully with her chocolate-colored eyes. Ayako took great care in applying a cold, black liquid around the rim of Rin's eyes, and a small brush dipped in the same black liquid was applied to her eyelashes.
Rin's hair was pulled up into a high, elaborate bun with the rest of her long hair pulled through the bun's opening to cascade down her back. When they were finished with her body, another woman walked in her room, carrying a sparkling silver and white gown. For a moment, Rin was unsure of what the material was used for, but it sure was really pretty. She gasped at it. "What is this?" she asked in astonishment to no one in particular.
"Why, it's your dress, silly," Ayako responded, a loose smile gracing her face.
Rin snapped her eyes away from the dress to look at Ayako incredulously. "My dress?" She looked back at the beautiful material. "But, how do I put that on? Is that even a kimono?"
Ayako giggled at Rin's bewilderment. "This dress came from the mainland. Our Master Sesshoumaru has a special trade with one of their western lords. Their style is, well, different there."
Rin touched the material as though it were delicate glass. "You don't say…"
Ayako dismissed the rest of the entourage, leaving her alone with Jaken and Rin.
"Make sure you hurry it up, Ayako. It is about to start," Jaken grimly ordered before making his way out the room.
"Yes, master Jaken," Ayako replied. As soon as Jaken walked out the door, Ayako turned to Rin and gently pulled her to her feet. "I was given instructions to properly educate you about why Lord Sesshoumaru has chosen to bring you out tonight."
At hearing Ayako's words, Rin completely forgot about the dress for a moment in time. She focused her gaze on Ayako. "What's going on?"
"Word has gotten out a few days ago that Lord Sesshoumaru has discovered Kiori. It is tradition to hold a ceremony once Kiori and its guardian is in possession. You will be presented tonight as a claim on Lord Sesshoumaru's behalf. No one outside Lord Sesshoumaru's kingdom knows that you are human. The wielder of Kiori is supposed to be a Phantom Dog Demoness of the Eastern Tribe. But you are human, and not Kiori's proper guardian. I was instructed to tell you that that is kept secret. Are you following me so far?"
Rin grimaced, but nodded her head in understanding.
Ayako continued. "Only a few other lords from different tribes know of Kiori's existence and our curse. They will be attending tonight, as well as a few elders from different dog demon tribes. As you are aware, there are enemies of our lord who wish to take the power for themselves. But most of them know not of the tradition, nor of the procedures. And that is one of the main factors that keep most of them away from trying to steal it. But the fact that you are not the rightful guardian will break the system they imagine it to be, and they will act out upon it; they will challenge the system and try harder to take you. Lastly, the fact that you are human will definitely create unimaginable havoc. If word ever gets out that the guardian is human, they will see you as frail and easily breakable, so they will ALL try to kidnap you as a way to receive the power passed down our the Inukami bloodline."
"Why, then, present me tonight at…a celebration?" Rin questioned. "It'll make it THAT much more easier for Sesshoumaru's enemies to recognize me and such…right?"
"Because of tradition. And because, you are a claimed stake of Lord Sesshoumaru…" Ayako trailed off.
"'Claimed stake' of Sesshoumaru? What in the seven hells does that mean?" Rin whipped around to face Ayako. "What am I? A piece of meat?"
"It has always been that way, miss - "
"Rin," Rin corrected.
" - and that tradition cannot be changed," Ayako continued. "I'm sorry. But I don't have enough time to explain all the details right now." Ayako moved toward the bed where the dress laid. "I'm truly sorry that you were thrown into this. But please, Rin…it is important. You are now carrying out Ino's duty. You are key to saving our clan. Will you please?"
Amethyst met chocolate as Ayako pleaded to Rin, trying to convey the dire situation through her eyes. Rin stared listlessly for a few moments before slowly turning her head forward. She just had to play the Ino card, didn't she? Closing her eyes, Rin sat down unceremoniously at the edge of the bed and sighed. "So what do I have to do? Pretend that I'm a dog demon and that I'm the rightful guardian of Kiori?"
Ayako clapped her hands above her chest and smiled brightfully. She picked up a bottle of perfume made to hide Rin's scent and replace it with a dog demoness' scent and sprayed it all over the raven-haired girl.
Rin coughed as Ayako exaggerated the amount of perfume she needed. "Oh, and yeah. Pretend to be Sesshoumaru's bitch and let him claim me?" Rin sourly added, leaning back on her elbows and turning her face to Ayako.
Ayako kept the gentle smile on her face and paused her spraying. "Lord Sesshoumaru will further instruct you once you are introduced into the ballroom."
Rin opened her eyes slowly. "Ballroom? The ceremony…is a ball?" She settled herself down in stress, careful not to mess up her elaborate hairdo. "Oh, Kami. Ino…you owe me BIG for this…" she quietly proclaimed to the heavens.
Ayako finally put down the perfume bottle. She picked up the elegant ballroom dress and prepped it for Rin to put on. "Thank you, Rin…"
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"So are the rumors true, Sesshoumaru-san? That you have found the famed Kiori and its guardian? Why, I can't wait to see what a beauty the wielder is!" Boisterous laughter came from the short, burly man. A couple other aristocrats and lords joined in.
"Yes, let's hope she's a beauty! I heard all the past guardians were unbelievably enchanting!" another lord said.
The Lotus Demon Lord of the East, Kenji, clapped a hand on Sesshoumaru's shoulder. "Should she be as beautiful as all the past legends say about the other guardians, you are one lucky dog, Lord Sesshoumaru."
More laughter burst from the circle of men.
"Hn," was the only response Sesshoumaru gave the men.
"Oh, don't look so grim, Sesshoumaru. This is the Induction Ball! You should be quite happy to have found your guardian. Such a shame that it's needed though. What a curse laid on your bloodline, eh?" Kenji jeered, placing his arm around Sesshoumaru's shoulders in camaraderie.
Sesshoumaru merely glared at Kenji. They were introduced as friends when they were younger, but Sesshoumaru never took a liking to the clown of a man. He turned his attention from Kenji, down to the dark figure standing behind him. "Who are you?" he gestured to the stranger.
Kenji turned his attention away from a group of young demonesses passing by to look at the man Sesshoumaru referred to. "Oh, this fellow? Why, no other than the great and mysterious Lord of the North who never comes out to these things except every few decades, eh, mate?"
The dark figure stepped forward and extended a hand toward Sesshoumaru. The dog demon king merely looked at his hand for a moment, before deciding to extend his own. The two lords shook hands in greeting.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Lord Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru could feel malice and ill-intent in the stranger's aura. It was sickening. He was definitely one of those power-hungry aristocrats that thrived off the pointless suffering of others. He took back his hand in disgust. "How did you get in here?"
"Whoa, whoa, Sesshoumaru-san!" Kenji nervously joked. "Don't worry…he's with me."
Sesshoumaru never took his eyes off the stranger, even as he questioned the Lotus Demon lord. "Kenji, you know the importance of keeping this bloodline limit a secret. Why have you invited a stranger to the ball without first informing me?"
Kenji put both hands on Sesshoumaru's shoulders. "Don't worry, friend. My business partner here is most trustworthy. Who knows? Someday he could be a reliable partner for you as well."
"I doubt it," Sesshoumaru replied.
Kenji lowered his hands. He was at a loss of words to say.
Sesshoumaru kept his glare focused on Kenji's 'friend'. "And what might your name be?"
The stranger smiled coldly, his red eyes glinted with evil. "I'm the new Lord of the North. Naraku."
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A/N: SOOO! Wow, I admit, that took some time to crank out. Three years sure made me rusty, haha. But don't worry. I promise I won't make you guys wait that long again for the next update. I'm truly sorry about that though. Life seriously changed and twisted when I got to college. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter though! Until next time!
Ja Ne!
~Sky