A/N: Rappa is another word for ninja, the stealth mercenaries of feudal Japan. Interestingly, they did refer to themselves as "grass" as a code word.
Others in the Sea
Plodding along with Jaken at her side babbling something about prospective holdings on the coast, Rin listened with only half an ear, still distracted from Sesshomaru's advice.
He certainly didn't mind elaborating on the gory details either, she thought sullenly.
But as anxious for his input as she had been, Rin couldn't bring herself to disclose this latest development – Or would that be regression? – with Kohaku to even Sesshomaru. She knew the unvoiced hopes the daiyokai pinned on her friend. And that's all he is, Rin reminded herself ruefully. Kagome used to giggle about courting, Miroku opined on his favorite pick-up lines, and, whenever he wasn't off taking a fox magic exam, even Shippo asked if Rin had "gone to level two yet."
Geez, if you think about it everyone but Kohaku was betting on Kohaku! How can he be so thick? So blind? So what about the other girl?
But, no matter how much the emotion welled up inside, Rin couldn't tell her closest confidant. It felt like tattling. She knew Sesshomaru well enough that he would strong-arm whomever necessary to get what he wanted, to make everything go according to plan. But you can't plan for two people to fall in love. The least I can do is be the good friend Kohaku says I am and be happy for him.
It was this true and sure ideal that Rin kept close as she and Jaken neared the back of Sango's house, Kohaku's unofficial training site on his breaks. At that moment, moral high ground might have been her last salvation.
I'll tell him, then. If I can say it outright that I'm happy for him, I can start to change my attitude.
Head held high, Rin marched around the last corner. "Hey, Kohaku!" she hollered, feeling stronger and more confident. But when the taijiya whirled around to face her, the concrete resolve crumbled away. His kosode hung loose and it was all the tongue-tied girl could do not to stare at the sweat that trickled over his collarbone and slicked down his exposed chest.
"Uh…" Breathe, woman! Breathe! "Lord Sesshomaru's here," was all Rin managed, trying to avert her eyes from the clinging shirt.
If it's possible to be jealous of a piece of cloth, then I am wickedly so. "Training?" She tried to sound casual, cool, apathetic…everything Lord Sesshomaru is that I'm not.
"Yeah," Kohaku answered with a puff as he swung in the great kusarigama that Totosai gave him some five years ago. Although the weapon was nearly as large as the Hiraikotsu, Kohaku caught it deftly one-handed. "You know how my visits are kinda short here, so I gotta stay at the ready."
"Mm-hm," Rin agreed, not quite sure what she was nodding at.
The small, green imp at her side reminded her. "Enough of your idle chatter and girlish gawking already! Lord Sesshomaru's time is not to be wasted making cow-eyes at a boy!"
And YOU are the reason why I'm still single! While she could only glare daggers at Jaken, if she had the authority, Rin would have liked to have squished him right there. As she grew older it became considerably harder to shrug off the imp's barbs, made all the worse by Jaken's knack for poor timing.
"And you" – the Staff of Heads swung in Kohaku's direction – "had better not keep m'lord in further suspense. He specifically requested your audience, boy, and I could think of no higher honor than – hey! Don't walk away when I'm talking!"
"He's doing as you instructed, Master Jaken." Rin rolled her eyes. "He's getting a move on."
"Aren't you coming with?" Kohaku asked, looking at Rin.
"I think he wants to keep it private." Rin felt herself backpedaling as she talked. " 'Sides, I got some stuff to do. Kagome said she wanted to quiz me on digestive herbs and I have to, uh, review. C'mon, Master Jaken, let's go!" Without giving him a chance to protest, Rin scooped up the blustering imp in one arm and waving good-bye with her free hand. "See you around!" It was a stupid, shallow cover, but not without some truth. Mercifully, Kohaku didn't pry and went along in the direction Rin came from.
Usually she spends these days stalking me. Kohaku hoisted the enormous chain-and-sickle over his shoulder, fingers drumming the grip. Now what's her deal? Man, girls are strange…Kohaku shook his head, glad that Sesshomaru would probably have a less confusing topic to discuss.
oOo
"Another woman?" the dog-demon repeated.
Back straight, face forward, Kohaku nodded. And he was suddenly relieved to have his professional weapon on hand. Usually Sesshomaru sparred with him, tested just how much his travels had improved his skill and handling of the great kusarigama. This new hurdle was completely unexpected.
The stammer of his boyhood inflecting his speech, Kohaku felt his tongue go dry. "Yes, I've been, ah, with her for a-a while now."
Although they were about the same height now, Sesshomaru managed to make Kohaku feel smaller, tilting his head and looking at him from the corner of his eye. The expression bordered on disgust.
What's that supposed to – ? "I-I mean kept company, m'lord!" Kohaku waved his hands defensively. "And a-as for marriage…" The slayer swallowed, trying to control his breathing. If he was going to propose it to Miyoko in the near future, then he was prepared to say it to anyone else, including Lord Sesshomaru. "I plan to marry her."
If this latest revelation perturbed Sesshomaru he gave no inclination, he couldn't have looked more serene than if Kohaku had said Rin instead. His composure was perfect. But the taijiya knew otherwise as the air around them heated to a placid inferno.
Sesshomaru's proverbial hackles quivered. This mortal woman was the singular foil in his plans. Were it not for her, Kohaku would not feel duty-bound to any other female except Rin. Killing seemed extreme and, diplomatically speaking, it would leave undue tension between him and Kohaku. Sesshomaru did not want to lose the asset of the lands' first taijiya from his favor…he had worked far too hard to break such a fine weapon.
"Kohaku," Sesshomaru spoke in light, measured tones.
The demonslayer gulped. "Sir?"
"You do not wish to marry Rin then?"
Under his kosode, Kohaku could feel fresh perspiration trail down his back and wondered just how much his scent betrayed him to that canine nose. If I say no, he'll take it as an insult. Kohaku wasn't ignorant of Rin's importance to Sesshomaru. Offering marriage with one of his own "family," Kohaku reasoned, was Sesshomaru's greatest display of trust and allegiance. But why me? He should know I consider him a friend. What's matrimony got to do with this? Kohaku inwardly sighed. Dragging feelings and love into this matter was not something the pragmatic daiyokai would permit, but…That's the truth. "I cannot give myself to one lady if my heart already belongs to another," he finally answered, privately pleased with his smooth return.
Kohaku's relief was short-lived.
"Why not?" Sesshomaru didn't even bat an eye.
Kohaku twitched. He'd more or less forgotten that monogamy was not necessarily a priority among dog-demons. "Human women do appreciate it and men are much in the same way."
Magenta eyelids fluttered as the information was processed. Sesshomaru recalled a certain monk, now Kohaku's brother-in-law, as having a wandering eye and a body willing to follow. But even that houshi has married now, too, he considered. "And yet you are a fitting choice." The daiyokai's tone was mechanical, denying any misconstrued flattery and stating only fact.
While Kohaku fumbled for a reply, Sesshomaru had already shifted his attention. His ears detected a low humming and his nose caught a sudden rift in the air.
Shuriken.
Faster than Kohaku could register it, Sesshomaru caught the kunai knife, his hand closing around it just inches from his throat. Dropping it, his free hand stretched into rake of claws, prepared to rip at the low shadow that rustled through the tall grass.
"No!" Moving faster than he could think, Kohaku wedged himself between the two; the double-bladed sickle fanning before Sesshomaru and one arm pressing against Miyoko, a second blade drawn and ready in her grip.
Kohaku turned to the more lethal of the pair. "Please, don't, m'lord," he implored. Although his eyes were still trained on Sesshomaru, Kohaku respectfully gazed at the space near the demon's pointed ear rather than directly in his eyes.
Glowing claws lowered. "Explain."
"Lord Sesshomaru, I present Miyoko, my, uhhh, the girl I was talking about," Kohaku stammered. Ushering Miyoko a few paces back, he informed her, "This was the special master I was talking about."
Miyoko felt her face heat up, but she relaxed visibly. "My apologies, Lord Sesshomaru! I didn't know you were the noble ally of whom Kohaku spoke so highly." She bowed deeply. "It is an honor and privilege to meet such a great demon on friendly terms."
Looking down his nose at her, the daiyokai pointedly directed his question to Kohaku. "What is she?"
"Umm, the lady I mentioned?" Kohaku supplied as if hoping this were the correct answer.
Amber eyes narrowed. I know that. Sesshomaru sniffed audibly, his nose wrinkling as traces of gunpowder and poisons revealed their hidden locations on the woman's person.
"A simple village girl," Miyoko volunteered, her voice even. "No more than the grass beneath your heels, my lord."
Grass, eh? "Rappa then," Sesshomaru pronounced, looking at Kohaku to gauge his reaction.
To his mild surprise, the demonslayer nodded assent. "I know she is a spy, Lord Sesshomaru. Our professions happened to cross paths one night." Straightening, Kohaku stepped forward. This time, there was no uncertainty in his eyes. "I think we make a good combination."
Unbidden, Sesshomaru's gaze wandered to the fallen dagger at his feet. Young and strong…he sighed inwardly. It wasn't Rin, Kohaku had just found another. And they are fit for each other.
"As you please, taijiya." Sesshomaru's decision delivered just as steadily. "Rin will marry another."
"Marry another?" Miyoko gaped, hurt and confusion flickering across her face. "You mean Rin was your betrothed?! I thought you said she was like a kid-sister to you."
"She is!" Kohaku blurted. And regretted the words the instant he saw Sesshomaru's expression.
In a rare moment of astonishment, Kohaku saw those golden eyes widen, but it took him several seconds more to realize the shock wasn't m him. He swung around and the sight Kohaku caught made him feel lower than the dirt under daiyokai's boots.
A hand pressed to her mouth, Rin choked back a sob, but refused to let herself cry. I'm not as upset as I look…I think. I'm happy for you, Kohaku! I'm happy you can find someone for yourself! But young man's words and the plain honesty that gilted them cut Rin to the quick. Lord Sesshomaru, just let him off the hook. I'm happy! Dammit!
The words never did form between her inarticulate splutters. And, like the "kid" Kohaku thought she was, she ran.
"Rin!" Kohaku made to dash after her, but his arm caught in Sesshomaru's vice grip.
Giving a single, sharp shake of his head, the daiyokai stated pointedly, "She is none of your concern."
Kohaku felt shame and sorrow twist his innards and Miyoko shot him a baleful glare. But why was it his fault? He never agreed to anything!
Of all the other fish in the sea…why me, Rin?
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A/N: As always, reviews are most appreciated!