Hey, how's it going? Important notice: there has been a change in the end of chapter four. You can re-read it if you want, but the only change was that Sesshoumaru did NOT decide to bring Rin on the journey to his mother's. Rin was left behind. If you read chapter four after I adjusted it, then there is absolutely no point in you reading this notice. Moving on…
Questions:
Witching hour25 wants to know if there will be a change in the point of view to show the change in Sesshoumaru. Maybe. I don't know – do you? Hey, I'm making this up as I go.
XXsimplehardcoreXX is asking if Rin will start talking now that we know she can. Well, you'll just have to see.
No tears left to cry is asking when I'm going to explain about Sesshoumaru's mother. What is there to explain? Why she was banished from the castle? Hmm… we'll see.
Kimochi - feelings
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"Sesshoumaru," the light voice of his mother greeted him cordially.
"Haha-ue."
She slowly turned away from him and wandered down the path to her gardens. He obeyed her unspoken command to follow.
What a cold way to greet her only child after two centuries. Even Izayoi would never think of treating Inuyasha in that way.
He pulled himself out of his thoughts. What made him willingly think about Izayoi? She didn't even deserve his time of day.
"It has been a while," his mother said to a bush.
Won't you even face me when you speak to me?
She turned and looked him dead in the eye. "You seem very… stressed, my son."
I just remembered why I hate this place so much.
"Are you so saddened to be back with me?"
Yes. I hate the way you read my mind. Not even Chichi-ue knows me that well.
The lady raised her delicate eyebrow. "You and I are very much alike, Sesshoumaru," she said, walking aimlessly down the path.
What joy.
"Haru!" she called out. A servant practically ran up to her. "Bring refreshment for myself and my son." The servant bowed and silently hurried away. In this castle, words were very rarely spoken that were not made by the mistress or any guests. And with her super-sharp ears she could hear every footstep that echoed on every stone.
The two of them continued down the path slowly. It was a hot day, and the insects buzzed around them in an irritating way. Every so often one would fall to the ground, dead by a burst of poison.
She is twice as bloodthirsty as me.
"Tell me, Sesshoumaru," his mother said abruptly. "How does the west fare?"
"It is prospering."
"And?"
"That is all I am at liberty to mention."
"Come, Sesshoumaru. Am I not your father's wife? Do I not have a right to know?"
"Forgive me, Haha-ue, but although you are my father's wife he has renounced your title."
She scowled briefly, an ugly look marring her pretty little features as Haru arrived with a cup of water and one of sake. She offered the sake first to Sesshoumaru, who took it and drank it, and then the water to her mistress. The lady looked annoyed by her but said nothing other than, "Have my son's chambers prepared."
Haru bowed again and scampered away like a frightened mouse.
Come to think of it, Sesshoumaru remembered hearing a rumor that any servant had to first have their tongue cut out before working here. Is my mother that paranoid of gossip? Before he could stop himself, he asked, "Are any of the servants literate?"
Shooting him a sideways glare, she answered, "No. May I ask the purpose of your question?"
"In case they sneak a look at the papers I brought," he lied, knowing she wouldn't be deceived.
"My son should know better than to leave important scrolls unlocked in a room," she said.
He let it go, not wanting her to read too much into it.
I just discovered your greatest weakness. But what are you so afraid of being discovered? Is it the reason you live here in this castle, and not with my father? Or is it something else?
"What are you thinking of?" she asked pointedly, her eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly. He knew to tread lightly. He didn't understand how someone so short tempered could justify being an inu. She should be a neko.
"The gardens don't look much altered." Hopefully the comment would not be seen as a way of escaping answering, but as a response.
However, his mother knew him too well for that. He was fighting a losing battle, and he knew it.
"The rose bushes were only planted last century," she replied. "It is much altered."
Kuso.
"Sesshoumaru," his mother abruptly turned to face him. "You are extremely stressed. You must tell me what is troubling you. Am I not your mother?"
I am no longer a child, Haha-ue. Whatever problems I have I deal with myself.
"It is nothing important."
"How could 'nothing important' put your mind in such turmoil?"
What do you know of my mind?
"But perhaps you have merely been working too hard?" she mused thoughtfully. "Not to worry; here you will be waited on hand and foot and you won't be required to lift a finger for anything of any importance."
I hate doing nothing.
"I hope your father didn't give you work to do while you are here?"
"Iie. I brought work with me."
"Nonsense. You mustn't do it if you are so strained. I'm sure it can wait half a year."
At that point he had just taken a sip of sake and nearly choked on it. Half… a year?
"Well, after not seeing you in over two centuries did you really think I would permit you to come only for a few days? You will stay six months at least." She began walking back to the castle before stopping and saying one last thing. "Oh, and Sesshoumaru. Do leave the maids alone. Exercise a little restraint while in my castle. You are my son; that makes you perfectly capable of holding yourself back."
He almost returned to his true form at that.
"Don't be angry, my son," she added before leaving him. "I merely don't wish my grandchild and your heir to be a bastard belonging to a servant."
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Therefore, Chichi-ue, I would ask that, in a month's time, you send word requesting I come home for some work that is necessary for me to take care of. I would be much relieved to leave this place as soon as possible, and Haha-ue will not permit me. Sesshoumaru.
Touga looked up from the letter. Izayoi and Inuyasha were continuing eating and, due to his eldest son's absence, Rin had resumed her place in the kitchens. But he had a feeling he would be looking for her soon.
While he felt pity for Sesshoumaru, he still scented sickness on the letter after three weeks. It would probably be a bad idea to bring him back to work so in this condition. But if he wasn't happy in his mother's castle…
So he was resigned. Rin would go to Sesshoumaru, and if he was still unwilling to stay he would return home.
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Rin almost sighed with relief when the forest ended. She usually liked forests, but after dark they became… spooky. Of course, Inu no Taisho-dono had set a guard to protect her, but even so. Guards only had eyes on one side of their heads. But… had Sesshoumaru-sama been the one protecting her, she wouldn't have felt so afraid. Sesshoumaru-sama was invincible.
She approached the large castle with the horse-youkai guard slightly behind her. No doubt he was glad to arrive at the destination; because of the long distance he had had to carry her most of the way – something not particularly comfortable for either of them.
"What do you do here, human?" came the harsh voice of a woman. Rin turned to face her, and saw how unnaturally beautiful she was – and how much she resembled Sesshoumaru.
This must be his mother.
Pulling out a letter, she bowed and gave it to the lady. The demoness snatched it and tore it open, scanning her eyes over it quickly.
"Very well; if my husband sent you then I can do little to oppose him. You will most likely find my son in his chambers. Haru will show you."
The servant came up, bowed, and began leading Rin through the extensive palace.
Sesshoumaru was trying to relax in the indoor baths when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," he said, sinking deeper into the water. Haru entered.
"Forgive me, my lord, but a young human just arrived at the castle from your father," she explained. "She carried this letter for you." She handed him the paper, and he took and read it.
Since you are so against remaining at your mother's castle I sent Rin to you and only ask that you stay another two weeks as a minimum. Then, if you want, I will ask for your return.
He frowned to himself and scrunched the paper up in his fist. The stupid dog of a father! What could Rin do that would possibly ease staying here? Although… he had missed her scent. It was nice. But at the moment he couldn't smell it because of the steam in the bath that was toying with his nose. Perhaps it would be better to have her here. And it was only for two weeks. On the other hand, he hadn't missed home at all through hating his mother's palace. He had… perhaps missed training with his father. But he hadn't missed working, Izayoi, and especially not Inuyasha.
"Send her in," he ordered Haru. She looked surprised – he was bathing, after all – but bowed and hurried to obey. Rin appeared in the doorway, and the first thing he noticed was that her obi was tied at the back rather than the front. For traveling, he supposed, so men did not think she was a common whore. A trace of her scent reached him, and he just barely managed to stop himself jumping out of the water and shoving his nose into her neck… or other places… to smell more.
Restraint, he chanted to himself. Make her come to you.
"Come," he ordered, taking care not to sound over-eager. She walked to him with an air of hesitancy, and his arm snaked around her waist and tugged her obi loose. Stupid knot, being at the back. Her cotton traveling clothes hung limply on her, and he raised himself out of the water slightly to push them off her shoulders onto the wet floor. Once she was naked he pulled her down and she fell with a splash, throwing her arms around his neck in her panic.
Oh, he was going to enjoy this.
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Sesshoumaru's eyes slid from side to side, his head never moving, analyzing his opponent's stance. She was perfectly still, about to run and perform a forceful attack using her speed, so it would be better for him to dodge than block.
As he anticipated, she suddenly sprinted toward him at her full speed. He leaped high into the air, a split second before she pushed herself off the ground to meet him. Kuso. Now he had to block, and they both knew it wasn't enough. Her sheer velocity was enough to split the katana in his hands, and half of it fell to the ground. Weak human weapons. Dropping the hilt he attacked with his claws, but she was too fast and dodged easily, managing to slice open his arms in the process. He paid no attention to the cuts; they weren't deep. Realizing he couldn't hit her up close, he jumped backwards to put some distance between them and his poison whip shot out of his fingers.
She dodged easily and while his arms were flung vulnerably away from his body she had her katana at his throat before he could blink.
"You lose again, Sesshoumaru," his mother said. His face stayed emotionless as he turned away from her and walked off the training arena. She followed him.
"That was one of the many openings I could have taken," she continued. "You really must stop leaving your body vulnerable; had I been a true adversary you would easily have been dead."
Sesshoumaru was silent, listening to her criticism. Rin was standing on the sidelines holding his haori, and he took it off her to cover his bare chest before going back inside the castle. She followed him to his chambers and went into her sleeping room for a moment, returning with a bucket of cold water and a cloth. He was sitting on the balcony when she reappeared, and turned his head to look at her. She was already busy soaking the cloth and wringing it out before gently wiping the cuts on his arms.
He should have stopped her; it was entirely unnecessary as he would be fully healed in a few hours. But… it just felt so nice. And she was so gentle it was like very fine powder running over him. She looked up at him, expecting reprimand, and before he knew what he was doing he brought his face down to hers and kissed her. Her scent and taste were the only things on his mind as his lips traveled slowly down her chin and neck.
I feel… so contented. As usual my mother was right; I have been stressed. But now… with Rin I'm at ease. I feel normal again.
Going back to her mouth Sesshoumaru kissed her again more passionately, his tongue delving into her and touching hers.
This feels nothing like any other time I've used her. I've always harmed her in some way, even if it was only a grazed lip. But now… I have no intention of hurting her. And I don't know why I ever did.
He pulled her closer, realizing her arms were around his neck clinging to him tightly. She moved according to his will, but also of her own.
The knock on the door brought him to his senses. What was he doing? He was acting as if… as if he cared for a slave! He was acting like his father, like Inuyasha!
With a growl he pushed her away roughly and stood up, going inside breathing heavily – almost panting. Flinging the shoji open, he all but shouted, "What?" at the servant.
Trembling at his foul temper, Haru bowed and silently handed him the letter that had just arrived from his father before scampering away to safety.
He scrunched the letter in his fist and threw it across the room before storming out, slamming the shoji closed. His feet made loud thuds on the wood as he made his way through the castle. His mother joined him outside, and with a mere glance ordered him to follow her. Outside the grounds she began her henshin, and he did likewise before they began running fast. He was slightly smaller than her, perhaps by a head (in this form rather than the human size), showing that she was still more powerful than him.
They ran for miles. Sesshoumaru followed her until they finally arrived back at the castle. When reverting to their human forms he felt a lot calmer.
"My son," his mother said. "What could have caused you to be so livid?"
What, indeed.
"I caught myself acting like Chichi-ue," he said simply. I can say that, but… although it's true, it's not really the whole reason.
"You mean in regard to his whore?" she raised her eyebrow.
Kuso. Why did she have to be so perceptive? He averted his eyes and glared at a nearby bush.
"Perhaps it is time you had a mate," she walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders. "It would surely do you good and it will mean that you can stop relying on those pathetic human concubines. I will send a few of my friends' daughters your way."
Perhaps she's right… it surely would be an advantage to send Rin away. Of course, I could do that anyway but… I don't want to. I want her scent to stay with me.
"I have one request, Haha-ue," he said. "I will not be part of an arranged marriage. I wish to choose my mate myself." He lowered his eyes while adding the last part; he was somewhat embarrassed to admit it out loud. "I… would not have myself treat a woman the way Chichi-ue treated you. It is shameful indeed to be replaced by a human whore."
She raised her eyebrow again before – to his utter shock – pulled his face down and kissed both cheeks. This unexpected – and totally impromptu – display of affection left him stunned into motionlessness. His mother parted from him and spoke as if nothing had happened.
"I am relieved that you are turning out to be more responsible than him at such an early age," she said, turning and walking casually into the building. "You will make a much better ruler than him, with your level of development. In fact, you would do a better job now than he could ever hope to."
Her words gave him something to think about as he went back to his chambers. Rin was still there, sitting on the balcony almost exactly where he had left her. She stood quickly and bowed at his entrance.
"Leave," he ordered. After a fleeting glance at him, she smiled. He almost took a step backward under the force of it, but the feeling was quickly overwhelmed as she obeyed his command, going to her sleeping chamber and closing the door.
Sesshoumaru went to the balcony again and stood staring out into the gardens.
Chichi-ue says I am immature, yet Haha-ue considers my development greater than his. Who is right? I respect Chichi-ue's thoughts and judgments because he is my sire and he has taught me a great many things. But, that being said… he doesn't know me as well as Haha-ue, who can all but read my mind. And he did say that Inuyasha would be a better daimyo than I, so he is not always right. But even so… whether he is right or not, I must still grow to fit into his image of mature regardless.
He heard the sheets rustling in the room next to him as Rin prepared for sleeping.
If I follow Haha-ue's advice and take a mate, I must send Rin away. I suppose that would be a good thing… What am I thinking? Of course it would be a good thing. I have no need of humans and, as Haha-ue says, I shouldn't be dependent on them. Not that I am. I could easily do without Rin if I wished. Or any slave. But… her scent.
As she settled down to sleep, he could hear her murmuring, "Sesshoumaru-sama" quietly.
His heart skipped a beat.
When she first came, I would beat her. Since I saved her from that youkai she acts as if she adores me. I don't know what changed but, if I'm honest with myself, I'm glad it did. Snapping into a "logical" mode, he countered, Because if she still feared me, she wouldn't pleasure me as much and I wouldn't be feeling as natural and calm as I have been.
Remembering a letter had arrived from his father, Sesshoumaru went inside and picked it up off his futon. After flattening it out and opening it he quickly scanned his eyes over the kanji. It was the promised request that he come home to assist in matters necessary for him to be present for. It was a quick note, and nothing in it would give his mother suspicion that the "matters" were non-existent.
I feel much better, but I don't think I want to stay with Haha-ue any longer. I have had a break, and now it is time to return to work. Plus I want to train with Chichi-ue again. At least he does more than criticize me.
Lying on the futon, he stared at the ceiling and made up his mind. Yes, I wish to return home.
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Haha-ue – mother (formal)
inu – dog
neko – cat
henshin – transform/change
daimyo – feudal lord
Yay, I got my writing spirit back! I kinda lost it for a while. Anyway, please review!