Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I respond to all reviewers with profiles so long as the function permits (ie. if I have not replied to your review, please check your account settings that allow for private messaging). Since I'm off for this summer I try to update about twice a week…maybe a little more frequently this coming week with a certain festival underway. ;) Last order of business, "Sparring" may be found here: fanfiction . net/s/4698199/1/Sparring (please remove spaces). Thank you!
Chum
"Did you do something stupid again?" Tensai drawled from behind his desk, not once glancing up from the tablets he poured over. He could have been inquiring about the weather.
"No." Kichiruka scowled at the jellyfish that canopied his teacher's study. When he returned to the ocean he hadn't been much in the mood for sulking alone.
At the harsh tone of his typically lighthearted pupil, Tensai looked up. Kichiruka's mouth was taut and his brows furrowed deep. He's truly upset. This is a development. Clasping one hand over the other, the sailfish rested his chin over them and analyzed this new posture.
"What?" Kichiruka snapped, feeling his teacher's stare burrowing into his back. "Is it so difficult to believe that I might not be the most foolish creature on this earth?"
On another day, Tensai would have thrashed his student for taking such a tone, but the older demon harbored his own theories. "I thought you said you had an appointment with your coach this afternoon? That you would a be while?"
There was only a terse grunt for an answer.
Selecting an empty vial from the stony shelf beside him, Tensai popped off the stopper, then quickly recapped it as several air bubbles escaped. Before they could flee much closer to the surface, Tensai waved a heavily webbed claw and beckoned the bubbles' return. They banded together, sharing the air amongst them. As a closed fist turned into fanned fingers, the bubbles merged into a singular sphere and expanded accordingly.
"This is your coach, is it not?"
"Huh? Move over." Kichiruka shouldered his way over to stare into the sphere that hovered just above Tensai's palm. The mists inside cleared to reveal a small of image of Rin in a meeting room of sorts. The demon abruptly looked up at his teacher. "Wait a sec, have you been spying on me?"
Tensai shrugged. After their first five years together, the older yokai had given up on keeping tabs on his pupil. Kichiruka was already fully grown when they'd met, so Tensai granted him the privacy owed to any other person. "Just the first time you left for the inland. Huh, and you got caught in a human net of all things! I had to make sure you weren't washed up on some bank gasping or skewered through. Humans do do that sort of thing, you know."
"You don't say." Kichiruka's voice dripped sarcasm. And it's not always with a spear. He looked back into the sphere. The green toad thing was still hanging around, but the demonic nobleman was gone.
"She's got a room for the night?" he asked aloud.
"That's not where she lives?" Tensai snorted. "And here I thought you had at least the sense to select a coach of similar class."
She's really considering…? "I gotta go."
"Kichiruka?" Tensai stared at the rift his student left on transition – still swirling like a vertical whirlpool. All this fuss for one mortal girl…? Oh, dear.
Reaching under his desk, Tensai found another vial that had nothing to do with lectures and took a deep swig.
oOo
"I can see why so many clamored at the chance to meet you," Takeda said as a servant poured a second round of tea then drifted soundlessly from the room. "You are a fine young lady."
"I just abide by ordinary custom, but I thank you, Lord Takeda," Rin answered in the most polite fashion, softly and just a little self-deprecating. So, this guy was hung up on Sango while I was still thinking about Kohaku. Rin smirked mirthlessly. There was a certain irony to it.
But if Takeda's still interested in Sango why would he be interested in me? Turning the question over in her head curiosity won out and Rin asked, "How did you come to seeking a bride?"
He chuckled, it was noticeably more conservative than Kichiruka's bray, but Takeda seemed to relax a little more. "Oh, you know how counsel and advisors start to get on you. One moment you're in prime of your life and the next you're supposed to be obsessing over your legacy and finding someone to have your heir." "I ignored them thoroughly for quite some time. Then one of my men returned saying there was this young lady in Musashi who I was told kept company with yokai…"
Rin saw an expression flicker across Takeda's face that said she wasn't exactly whom he was expecting.
"And what a find it was!" he said with canned enthusiasm. "I think a union of our houses would be favorable, don't you agree?" Takeda surveyed, subtly shifting the topic.
Rin fidgeted at the proposal and unnecessarily smoothed her yukata.
He made note of her unease. "How discourteous of me. I apologize for asking such a taxing question after you've had such a long day."
"Oh! No, Lord Takeda, it's my fault for being so slow to act." Rin hated this pussyfooting around – maybe I got just a little too used to the candor Inuyasha's company – but it would give her time to think. Except what was there to think about? All I'd be doing is moving from Point A to Point B and wind up being just as stifled here as there.
"Spend the night." The lord's eyes were set and sincere, brooking no refusal to his hospitality. "Your judgment will no doubt be much refreshed after a night's reprieve."
I guess…
Outside, arms crossed at the wrists, Sesshomaru leaned against the wooden railing. He stared out the garden and the protective barricade beyond. Takeda must have made point of leaving the daiyokai to his peace since for once there were no poky courtiers or side-glances from servants to disturb him. Sesshomaru was left to himself – Jaken wandered off to inspect the grounds on his own – and he could listen with ease to the conversation inside, letting the humans proceed with their excessively decorated form of tail sniffing without worrying about his imposing presence.
Still gazing straight ahead, the dog-demon's ears perked at the light sound of laughter. Takeda's.
If Rin chose this man she wouldn't be too far from Kohaku's village. And very much still in my vicinity. Yes, there would be worries, but at least the concerns would be domestic and the dog-demon wouldn't have to keep his nose on high alert to pinpoint wherever his venom was being called upon.
She could stay here, with a spouse, and be content. But is that the same as happiness? In the years since Tenseiga's first "test subject," Sesshomaru's knowledge of humans had broadened somewhat beyond the negative attributes he knew so well. There was generosity, loyalty, and compassion. Through the time Kohaku spent with him and his encounters with Inuyasha's clan he observed that, like canines, humans also preferred the company of a pack. And mates. The daiyokai thought of Kohaku and his rappa fiancée, the affection they exchanged – mildly nauseating as he and certainly others must have found it. But they were content and romantically happy, prepared to someday have a family and spend their lives together.
Then the ruckus of Kohaku's sister and the monk's family came to mind with all its screaming, shouting, and fracas. Sesshomaru shook his head to clear the thought. One step at a time. First he wanted Rin to find such a relationship. Then any amount of chaos is tolerable. Though he was beginning to grasp that this reaction could not be planned.
But is any true bond ever forged?
He certainly never expected a little human waif to trail after him like a lost puppy or to find something along the lines of respect for his half-brother.
So we search for the best possible character with the best possible situation.
Sesshomaru couldn't say that he liked Takeda, but he could find no reason to revoke the match. The lord was established, his borders were secure and the neighbors were on as good terms with him as his own subordinates. And he's – the demon weighed the title in his mind before deeming it quite appropriate – a gentleman. Sesshomaru particularly appreciated the fact that Takeda was capable of courtesy without infirmity.
I suppose…it is the positive side of neutrality, the daiyokai conceded.
So when Rin stepped out to tell him she would be staying the night he had no objection.
"Do you want him?" Sesshomaru remembered to purge the eagerness from his voice.
"I'll have to think about it." Rin propped her elbows on the fencing and Sesshomaru scooted over some to make room. Keeping his gaze straight ahead, he studied the conflicting emotions in her scent. "I'll make my decision tomorrow morning," she decided.
Locking eyes with her, Sesshomaru nodded assuringly. He would be there. "Jaken," he barked, calling in his retainer across the courtyard. A jerk of his head in one direction signaled they were to depart.
The imp blinked up at the third member of their party. "And Rin?"
Plucking his cap away for a second, she pecked the imp on the head, much to his garbled curses. "See you tomorrow, Master Jaken."
Takeda's accommodations were lavish. And still Rin had trouble getting to sleep. Just the thought of getting drowsy was proving to be a task to say nothing of the answer she'd have to dredge up in the morning. Again and again she replayed how tired she must be, how early she rose, how long the ride was…How betrayed Kichiruka looked at me.
She flopped restlessly from one side to the other, each feeling hot and lumpy. Flipping from her back to stomach, she only succeeded in tangling the sheets. She gave up and just set her head against the stiff pillow.
"Psst! Rin!"
She sat up to the sound of gravel pecking outside the room. Wiping some stray grains from her eyes, Rin never realized she must have fallen asleep. Couldn't have been long, it's still dark out.
The gravel hit again and this time a rock sailed through the open window.
"Ow!"
Outside, Kichiruka smacked a hand over his face. He would miss the huge panel and just make it through to clunk Rin on the head.
"Mmm…Kich'?" She stumbled from the room and out to the planked veranda.
"Down here!" came the loud hiss. Claws hooked into timber, the water yokai hung on to the wooden railing, his weight supported on the elbows while the rest of him from the knees down trailed into the surrounding pond below.
"Kichiruka?" Rin was wide awake now. She looked down to see a pair of luminescent eyes; reflecting whatever moonlight there was they glowed an unsettling bright green. Then when they blinked with a quizzical innocence and Rin relaxed a little. "What are you doing here?"
"What's up with you?" Kichiruka whispered accusingly. "I thought you wanted no part of any of these guys."
"Yeah, well, the purpose is to find a match," Rin countered defensively giving little thought to her own initial purpose.
Sharp ears flinched. "So this is it? You're sure that this is the freedom you sought?"
There was a sharp inhale as Rin drew breath to deliver a speedy retort, but nothing came out. Her mouth closed with a click of teeth.
"And you already love this lord?" Kichiruka pressed.
Rin frowned. The words "that's not important" died stillborn in her throat. She finally came up with, "…I think I could grow to love him."
"Love never seemed like something you're supposed to think about." Kichiruka stared at his claws for a moment; the webbing looked heavier than he thought he'd gotten it down to and the dark spots on his hands more pronounced. Where do I think I'm going with this?
A lantern flickered inside and someone called out to Rin. Even though it was still a ways down the open-air corridor, the approaching light lifted the darkness just enough to bring out the true-blue in Kichiruka's eyes.
"Do what you want."
Then, without another word, he dropped into the pond.
oOo
After that night, Kichiruka dedicated his waking hours entirely to texts and training. It kept him busy and Tensai pleased. Neither of them mentioned the surface or any of Kichiruka's dealings with it.
With his due diligence, handling the conch staff came more naturally. He wasn't fumbling for the right stance or words anymore. At least when he picked it up now Kichiruka felt more confidence – and disappointed he hadn't polished his skills like this sooner.
"Do you even know how to use that?" the months' old question still echoed in memory back from when he'd first received the staff.
Kichiruka remembered his answer well, a shoddy, hedging, "Its secrets will reveal themselves to me in due time."
And now that he got a couple of them down…Well, I can't show them to you now, can I, Rin?
Scarcely a week had passed before Kichiruka wondered what sort of perversion bid to him to return to the brook. It wasn't out of habit. He was much too aware of the circumstances to simply forget. But when the gnawing to just "check it out" continued, he caved. With more than a little reluctance, the water demon envisioned the long cattails of the stream bordering Rin's village and forced his body to relax. When he opened his eyes, everything was as it was. Bright, sunny, warm – a perfect summer's day.
On his first trip inland, early in the spring, he'd run into Rin. It was suddenly strange being here without her and, even though birds chirped in the trees and a pair of rabbits raced out across the field, it was terribly empty. Dipping under, Kichiruka swam a little farther upstream…until he bumped into a net. Refusing to get entrapped again, he pushed it away and poked his head out of the water. And, just like the first time, there was Rin. A string of fish in her lap, she held a cleaning knife in her hand, appearing just as bewildered as Kichiruka felt.
"You came back."
The water yokai blinked and brown eyes returned his blank stare. Neither was certain who'd spoken first.
Recovering quickly, Rin shrugged. "Takeda has a bit of a history with this family in my village. I pointed out it wouldn't be a healthy match for him," she said primly. "Besides, I'd miss my friends here."
She reached into the brook and, finding his hand, squeezed two of Kichiruka's fingers.
When Rin leaned in he could smell the sweet, salty perspiration on her skin. Somehow the ocean no longer carried the same scent of home as this girl did. She was better.
Gently curling his claws, Kichiruka squeezed back.
.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Reviews always appreciated!