Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in any way shape or form. The beautiful manga and anime belong only to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own the idea of the Lying Games or the figure of A from the Pretty Little Liars. Those ideas belong to Sara Shepard.
Summary: When seventeen year old Rin Fumiko began her first year at Shikon University, she didn't expect to be to be courted by the powerful and dangerously sexy Sesshomaru Takahashi. She didn't expect to fall in love. And she damn sure didn't expect to get caught up in her lying games. As Rin tries to keep a mind-blowing secret from him, she's also trying to keep herself and her friends safe from an unknown figure with ties to her past. Who is this stranger? Why is he after her and her friends? And what will happen when Sesshomaru discovers the truth?
Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy! Guess what? I'M GOING TO SPELMAN COLLEGE THIS FALL! IT'S AWESOME! I finally get to leave DC and we're already working on my financial aid. !
Anyway, last chapter was pretty intense, huh? And poor Kira! Well, what happens next? Or is the question: who's next….?
Family Ties
Rin gasped breathlessly as she shot up out of the bed. She glanced around her, breathing heavy. She could still hear Kira's scream in her head, feel her own throat burning as she screamed. The room was unfamiliar. It was too big to be hers, way too big.
It was comfortable looking and Rin felt strangely at home here. The walls were ivory with dark chocolate bordering and dark wood seemed to be the theme of the room. The dresser and the armoire were dark wood along with the bed posts. The floor was the same dark chocolate color, only it was shiny and well-polished. There was an elegant fireplace to Rin's far right beside a bookcase and to Rin's left, there were double doors to a large balcony.
Rin glanced down and felt the softest and plushest ivory blanket she had ever felt. Ivory sheets slid across her skin like silk and the bed felt like a cloud beneath her body. Rin winced at the faint yet throbbing pain on the side of her head, but pushed the blanket and sheet off her. As soon as her feet slid to the floor, Rin was overcome by a wave of dizziness.
"Ohhh…" She moaned and swayed on her feet, hand on her head as she tried to walk towards the door, which seemed really far away at the moment. Just as she reached one of the bed posts at the end of the bed, Rin found herself leaning heavily against it. Her legs felt suddenly weak and her body was strangely tired and her head really hurt. She closed her eyes trying to remember how the hell she even got here. A gust of wind blew past her and when Rin opened her eyes, she gasped.
Sesshomaru.
"You're finally awake," he commented. Rin blinked a few times, never registering when he started walking towards her. But he did seem closer.
"Where…how?" She couldn't even get a full sentence out. Rin pushed herself off the post and swayed again. She could feel the ground leaving her feet again, but fell into strong arms. Sesshomaru scooped her into his arms, frowning down at her.
"You fainted and the noise caused a commotion last night. So, I brought you to my home," he answered and carried her to the bed. Rin's eyes widened as she remembered what happened.
Awesome party.
Kira getting hurt.
Demon attack.
She was in Sesshomaru's house.
But back to more important things like…Kira was hurt.
"Kira!" She cried and tried to crawl back out of bed. "Where is she? Kira –
"Is at the hospital," Sesshomaru reassured her. "She lost a lot of blood, but she's alive. That idiot mate of hers is actually good for something." Rin gave Sesshomaru a puzzled look. "The amount of blood she lost should have killed her. But the blood of your intended heals you and that goes both ways. We were able to slip his blood into her without the hospital knowing it."
Instinctively, Rin gave Sesshomaru a warm smile and he avoided her gaze, not wanting to give in to the warmth and emotions that were slowly piercing his heart. Instead, he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the icepack. Rin didn't even see an icepack in the room let alone near him.
"Stop trying to move. You might have a concussion." Surprisingly, Rin followed Sesshomaru's command and even pouted at his comment about stupid humans and fainting spells. He pressed the icepack against the side of her head and Rin flinched, hissing at the pain.
When she opened her eyes, she caught in Sesshomaru's eyes the tales of worry and…guilt? He felt guilty? Why? He saved her. He took care of her. He always did.
"Thank you," she said quietly and Sesshomaru nodded. This time, he didn't bother hiding his concern. With his free hand, he reached up to Rin's face and stroked her cheek with the tips of his claws. A trail of heat followed and Rin blushed, feeling the butterflies in her stomach. She tilted her head at Sesshomaru, confused. "Don't you ever get sick of saving me?"
"Never," he admitted and Rin's heart skipped a beat. Her breath caught in her throat as Sesshomaru's claw left her skin. She was still slightly dizzy and her head still hurt and all she could think about was kissing him again. "But I didn't save you this time. She did." Both eyes turned to the door as Rei walked in.
"Well, our little human finally wakes from her beauty sleep," Rei said with a grin. "Or do you still have some more fainting spells for us?" Her joke was one-sided. Rin blushed with embarrassment and Sesshomaru's eyes turned into slits. It seemed hypocritical for him to get angry. He had just commented about Rin's faint a second ago.
But she's ours, his demon argued. No one gets to talk about our mate but us, mother or no mother.
Sesshomaru agreed but wouldn't say anything. Starting a fight with Rei in front of Rin would only frighten her. But the warning growl escaped him anyway.
"Thank you," Rin said to the woman, bowing her head slightly. She could feel the tension rolling off of Sesshomaru in waves, so she decided to simply ignore Rei's comment.
"Ignore my mother," Sesshomaru told her. "She's acting like a brat because she chipped a nail." Rei glared at Sesshomaru who simply glared right back before removing the icepack from Rin's head. He walked over to the computer desk – which Rin had missed – and pulled open the mini fridge beneath it, sticking the pack inside. Rei turned her attention back to Rin with a smirk.
"Well, I've gotta say. You actually have nice manners for a motherless child."
Silence filled the room. Sesshomaru clenched his fists and growled loosely, the anger pulsing inside of him. Rin stared at Rei for a long time before her eyes glazed over icily.
"I'm pretty sure the entire world knows that my mother is dead. I don't need you to remind me that," she spoke. Her voice was cold, colder than Rei thought it could be. She smirked even more inwardly. Maybe the girl wasn't as weak as she thought.
"And if I decide to continue to remind you?" Rei inquired and Rin could feel her hand itching to hit something. Or someone. But she composed herself and clenched her jaw.
"Then you'll be exactly what the dictionary refers to you as," Rin snapped. "A bitch."
Sesshomaru would have probably surprised both of them and laughed, but the situation was too real and too dangerous. These were two women at war, one in particular being his mate. While one side of him – the dominant side – wanted nothing more than to protect her, another side told him to let her handle herself.
Otherwise, she'd never be able to.
And in this world, that's exactly what she needed to do.
"I don't think you know who exactly you're messing with, little girl," Rei threatened after chuckling. The human had guts, that was for sure. She might not be so bad after all, she thought. Rin's eyes narrowed at her.
"I am not afraid of you," Rin exclaimed. Rei raised an inquisitive eyebrow before taking action.
Before Sesshomaru could react, Rei practically flew before Rin and wrapped her slender fingers around the younger female's throat. Without effort, she hoisted the girl out of the bed until Rin couldn't feel the bed beneath her feet and squeezed. Rin had practically lost her breath and with her semi-concussion still around, she could feel unconsciousness creeping up on her.
Sesshomaru acted quickly. In seconds, Rin collapsed onto the bed with a sharp intake of breath as Sesshomaru slammed his mother into the bedroom door. Rei groaned at the sharp pain and tried to shove him away. But Sesshomaru surprisingly overpowered her and squeezed his own hand around her throat. She struggled for a few minutes before glaring at her son as he growled viciously in her face.
"Never. Touch. My mate. Again," he snarled and Rei – for the first time – consented. She relaxed in Sesshomaru's hold, smiling to herself as she closed her eyes.
So, his true strength came out for the girl's defense? Interesting. Rei definitely took a mental note of that for her next discussion with the council. She opened her eyes and grinned at Sesshomaru when he began to release her. Not to mention taking a breath because he seriously had had a tight grip on her throat.
"Hmm…the little bitch actually makes you stronger, pup," she teased her son and he growled again. He was the only one allowed to call his mate a bitch. She was HIS BITCH, damnit!
"Get out," he growled.
"With pleasure," Rei purred and opened the door before turning back around to stare at Rin, who had scooted to the top of the bed the minute Sesshomaru saved her. Rei almost felt sympathetic as she noted the bitter tears in Rin's eyes. "By the way, you are definitely your mother's child. Just weaker."
"You know nothing about me and my mother," Rin snapped as a single tear fell. Rei laughed.
"I know a lot more about your mother than you do, little girl," Rei told her and was fully out the door when she turned back around. "And I know even more about you." With that, the door closed.
Sesshomaru stood there with his hand on the wall, trying to reign in his demon and control his emotions. Fucking woman. Grabbing his mate like that. Insulting her that way. Sesshomaru had the right mind to sink his claws into Rei's stomach and throw her into the forest. Stupid bitch.
"Sesshomaru?" Rin called and he turned around.
Immediately and without his control, everything melted inside of him. The tears in her eyes made him and his demon want to coddle her, which should have pissed him off but it didn't. Her voice was quiet and actually scared, the opposite of what Rin said she was.
Yeah, he really hated his mother.
Rin lay back on the amazing, head-enveloping clouds Sesshomaru called pillows when Sesshomaru finally sat beside her. She reached up to his face, fingertips brushing against the skin under both of his eyes. Sesshomaru closed his eyes, feeling the tension inside of him fully disappear. When he opened his eyes, they were golden. Rin didn't think he even noticed that they had turned red. She smiled softly.
"How much do you really know about me?" She asked. Sesshomaru chuckled.
"A lot more than you know." Rin smiled more and, with Sesshomaru's face in her hands, brought him close to her, kissing him gently. Sesshomaru's left hand fell to her waist as he relaxed against her, pressing his lips against hers more. Rin pulled back breathlessly, lips still lingering against his. She smiled at Sesshomaru's closed eyes and pressed her forehead against his.
"You know so much about me," she whispered. "How can I feel so close to you when I know nothing about you?" Sesshomaru opened his eyes and lifted his hand to run his fingers through her hair, surprising Rin again by his tenderness and affection.
Who would've seen this coming from the teacher that could make you want to pee in your pants with just one look?
"That's what happens when you're with your intended," he replied simply. "But you will know me, Rin. Soon." Rin grinned.
"Promise?"
"Go to sleep, Rin. You need it." She climbed under the blanket and sighed in exhaustion. Her head still hurt a little and her body was ready for slumber. But she pouted at Sesshomaru.
"Stay," she begged. Rolling his eyes and chuckling, Sesshomaru lay on the bed, not getting under the covers. Smiling, Rin leaned over and laid her head on his chest contentedly.
"Sleep now, Rin. I'll take you to see Kira when you awake."
Oooooo
"Impressive, human. You managed to get my coffee smelling like crap and my papers drenched in it," Rei growled at the human, who obediently cast her eyes downward and actually had the gall to appear apologetic. "These are my designs for the next show! Do you know how long these took me!"
"I am so sorry, Mrs. Takahashi –
"I told you not to call me that!" Rei yelled and Minako Fumiko flinched, shutting her eyes tightly before raising them to meet Rei's.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Nakaruma," Minako said quietly. Rei glared at the younger woman before snatching up the wet papers and discarding them into the waste bin.
"And what the hell were you doing anyway, Minako? Daydreaming about that little brat of yours?" Rei taunted. Minako rolled her eyes.
"No," she snapped. "I…received a call this morning…and I got distracted. My apologies. If you want, I can re-sketch your ideas and make you a new pot of coffee before your meeting." Minako hurriedly turned around and started walking back towards the kitchen before Rei called her.
"Minako," she started off softly before taking a stand. "What's going on with you?" Minako shook her head furiously, tucking black silk behind her ears.
"Nothing, ma'am." Rei steadily walked to the younger woman and observed her.
Minako was a nice height, around five feet and five inches. After having her baby two years ago, she was still curvy, but slim. Her skin had actually picked up a light tan and it made her hazel eyes look that much more beautiful. Her black hair was straightened now, not its usual curliness. And it made her look older. But what was getting Rei was the wisdom in Minako's eyes. She seemed as though she knew something and whatever she knew made her stronger. And Rei didn't know if that should make her happy or not.
"You're lying, girl. So, tell me. What could have distracted you so much that you
"There's your Mommy," another female voice exclaimed happily. A gurgle of happiness filled the room and Minako hurriedly turned her eyes away from her boss to her little girl giggling happily at her. Rei backed away as this strange woman walked into the room with the baby. Minako's child, she thought.
"Rin!" Minako exclaimed and scooped the child from Sakura's hands. Sakura beamed at her sister, green eyes sparkling. The little girl gave her mother a sloppy little kiss and Rei, despite her conversation with Minako, found that incredibly adorable. Sakura ran her fingers through her tousled dark brown hair before her eyes fell on Rei. The two just stared at each other and Minako looked up.
Oh shit.
Minako honestly did not like where these looks were headed. The hostility in both women's eyes was evident and the sudden tension in the room was palpable. Minako even silently cursed her sister for her aggressiveness. She knew how Sakura was with demons and this would not end well if she didn't speak up.
"Sakura, this is my boss, Rei Nakaruma," she said pointedly, staring her sister down. Sakura's eyes softened slightly and she ran her fingers through her hair again. "And Rei, this is my little sister, Sakura." Rei smiled cordially and extended her hand towards the human, even though she wanted to throttle the girl. The human had stared at her like she was going to attack.
And Rei was not one to turn down a challenge.
"Hmm," was all Sakura gave her and Rei retracted her fingers, balling her hand up at her side. This was why she hated a lot of humans. They were rude and pissed her off. And to think that InuTaisho finally had the balls to leave her for one! The nerve!
"Anyway," Minako diverted the conversation awkwardly and turned her full attention to her little sister. "What are you doing here? I thought you were studying and watching Rin until I got home."
"I was. And then I got hit with some urgent business." Minako narrowed her eyes at Sakura.
"And what is so urgent that you couldn't watch your niece? And please, save me the boyfriend and baby mama drama? Or have you already moved on to another?" Rei smirked and decided to walk back to her desk, knowing that she would still hear the conversation.
"Ha-ha, very funny," Sakura commented dryly. "And this has nothing to do with my personal life, even though I would think that my sister would know that she's one to talk." Minako rolled her eyes and bounced Rin in her arms, who was very distracted by her necklace.
"Whatever," Minako said. "What's the issue?"
"Family business," Sakura pressed and Rei watched the shift in atmosphere. The emotions on Minako's face changed quicker than Rei could blink. The girl was first shocked, then enraged and then sad. It was oddly captivating and by the time Minako set her face in a knowing expression, Rei was curious.
"I see," Minako said quietly and glanced down at her baby girl. Rin smiled up at her, as if she knew her mother needed that. "And they couldn't wait until later to get you?" Sakura smiled softly.
"Look, I am so sorry. This was not on my agenda. But Daddy said that this was extremely important and you always said you didn't want Rin anywhere near the rest of the family, so…" Sakura trailed off and shrugged.
"Of course. Thank you." Minako took the baby bag off of Sakura's shoulder and Sakura hugged her leather jacket to her body.
"Look, I'll even take Rin tonight when I get back. You and lover boy could have your little night to do…whatever you two lovebirds do. I don't even want to know the details," Sakura joked and Minako smiled.
"Yeah. See you tonight." Sakura nodded and kissed Rin's cheek, who erupted into a fit of giggles. Sakura walked to the front door of the office before turning back around, brushing her hair back from her face. She stared intensely at Minako.
"You're going to have to tell her one day," she told her big sister and Rei pretended like she was not paying them any attention. "I get it. You see her as your precious little pretty girl, this innocent little child. But I see potential and I see a girl who's going to grow into a strong woman. It's time you start realizing it. Otherwise, she's going to hate you for keeping secrets. You hated it when Mom did it to you."
"I know that, Sakura. Thank you," Minako said and Sakura walked out the door.
"That was completely unnecessary and you know it," Sesshomaru said as he walked into the living room. Rei blinked, coming from her thoughts and smirked at her son.
"So what if it was? I didn't kill her, did I?" Sesshomaru glared at his mother as she stood.
"That's not the point –
"No, it's not the point," Rei snapped and walked up to her son. "The point is that you care for her, but you don't want to. You want her – long for her even – but you refuse to acknowledge that. You know everything about her and yet you don't want her to know the real you. Pretty soon, dear, the hot and cold game is going to end and you'll wind up without your mate." Sesshomaru growled loosely at his mother.
"You know nothing about us," he told her and Rei smirked.
"Maybe, but I do know where she comes from," Rei said and Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her, lost. "She comes from a family tainted by secrecy and lies. Trust me, after having her mother work for me, I know. And while I never did find out what that secret was, I do know that I see it in Rin, even though you don't."
"Mother, why are you so tied into this?" Sesshomaru asked. Rei sighed.
"Because when I look at Rin, I see potential and I don't her to lose that. And if that means being hard on her and basically making her hate me, then so be it." Sesshomaru watched Rei walk towards the kitchen.
"Potential for what?" Rei stopped and turned to her son slightly.
"Potential to be great. She's bigger than you, Sesshomaru. Bigger than the both of you and what you can create together. I see that now," Rei said and was going to keep walking and then stopped. "And her mother did too. That's why she's dead."
Oooooo
"About time you woke up, gorgeous," the nurse said, fixing the IV in Kira's arm. She blinked a few times, feeling disoriented. She was in a strange white room, her shoulder hurt, and her body felt leaden and she could scarcely move. And the nurse sounded all too familiar and haunted Kira with the unforgettable scent of cinnamon and warm vanilla. "Don't try to move too much, dear. You've been asleep for three days."
"Where…?" Kira questioned, eyes squinting at the bright light. She was so tired, but she didn't like this place. It was too bright, too much. The nurse still was looking at her and Kira could only make out the very dark hair.
"You're at the hospital, dear. You suffered a very bad injury. Lucky for you, your friends brought you here just in time," the nurse told her before smiling down at her. Kira tilted her head curiously, staring up at the woman. She sounded extremely familiar, but her face was so blurry.
"Rin…Kenji…" Kira lifted her heavy arm and rubbed her temple slowly. She remembered the party, remembered singing. Everyone had been complimenting her about her voice, how good she had sounded. She even saw Rin's costume and felt jealous. Then she remembered the bathroom and being pushed against the wall and Kenji kissing her. And then running away and crying and then hearing something in the bushes.
"Hello…is anybody there?" Kira called, dropping her headband. The bushes rattled and a chill went down her spine. But Kira walked towards it anyway, thinking that she'd see a puppy. Puppies were harmless, right?
Just as her heel made that last click, something lunged out of the bushes. It was black and shapeless and horrifying. Kira gasped and took off running. Before she could even turn the corner, something grabbed her legs and Kira fell on the ground, scraping her chin. It tugged her body backwards and Kira screamed loudly, praying somebody heard her.
"You're not going anywhere, girl," it growled at her. Kira her head to the thing and screamed again, louder. That was the scream that Rin would hear. It chuckled at Kira. "I know what you are, bitch. And you're going to die today." Kira's eyes widened.
Nobody knew that. It was impossible. She made sure of it. Her mother made sure of it. Her skin paled and Kira glanced around her, looking for anything to help.
"Let me go, damnit," she yelled and reached out to claw at the demon's face. Instantly, it howled at her and released her legs, clutching its face. It had three scars. She scrambled to her feet. Kira stared down at her bloody fingernails in surprise and horror. What the fuck?
"You bitch!" It growled and lunged at her. She gasped as sharp teeth tore into the flesh of her shoulder. She could feel the scream rising, but couldn't hear anything. All she could hear was the pounding feet approaching from somewhere. All she could feel was the searing pain of skin, tissue and even muscle being ripped into. With no strength left, Kira fell to the floor. The last thing she saw before her mind went blank was someone coming from around the corner.
"Wait," Kira called weakly as the nurse walked towards the door. The woman stopped and the room became clearer to Kira. She sat up weakly. "Wait…please…" The woman turned around and Kira gasped sharply, eyes widening.
Hazel eyes. Silky black hair in soft waves. Smooth tanned skin. That soft, knowing smile.
"Get some rest, dear. You're going to need it," the woman spoke softly and Kira let out a shaky breath. There was no way in hell this was real. She was dreaming.
"No…you're…you…Mrs. Fumiko?" Kira questioned. The woman in question smirked before taking a step back.
"Go back to sleep, Kira. Something tells me that you're going to have a long year ahead of you," she said and turned around, soft waves swishing with her. The woman disappeared into the hallway in thin air. Kira just stared.
There was no way in hell that had just happened. Mrs. Fumiko was dead and Kira refused to believe that she saw a ghost. But the woman had felt so real to Kira. No other woman smelled like that in her life and the warmth the woman exuded when she had been close let Kira know that she had been real. Maybe Mrs. Fumiko had a look-a-like?
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand and Kira turned to it, but then felt this cold liquid enter her system. She gasped and glanced down at her arm to see the new IV the nurse had put into her arm a few minutes ago. Suddenly, she felt tired again and her hand went back to feeling heavy again.
"Kira!" Another voice called to her and Kira blurrily turned her eyes back to the hallway to see a fair-skinned figure with dark chocolate hair running towards her. Her eyes felt heavy and she blinked a few times before everything felt faraway, even the voice.
"Rin…" she whispered as she fell into unconsciousness again. Rin sighed breathlessly as she reached the door. She smiled sadly at Kira's body, happy at least to hear the heart monitor. As long as she knew her best friend wasn't dead. Rin walked into the room and stood beside Kira.
"Thank God you're okay," she told the sleeping girl and ran her fingers through pink locks. She knew once Kira got out she'd want to wash her hair. Rin giggled at the thought before Kira's phone buzzed again. She picked up, curious.
Kenji wouldn't call. He'd been here all day, Rin had been told, and was forced to go to the dorms by his grandmother. And she damn sure didn't call. Her phone was still charging at Sesshomaru's house – palace, really – and all she had done today was go back to the dorm and put some actual clothes on.
Rin sighed as she flipped the phone and read the new text, hoping that it would at least be Kira's mother. The woman was on some business trip in Hawaii, but she knew that she would definitely freak out hearing that her daughter was in the hospital. But that wasn't what Rin read. She gasped and dropped the phone, skin paling and her heart beating frantically.
Get ready cuz you're next, pretty girl.
Unknown