A/N: I know this isn't at a frequency we'd all prefer, but so far it's consistent. Thank you all for staying with the story. Your kind encouragement and patronage keep this all going.
Hooked
Unfortunately for Kichiruka, hangovers often went hand-in-hand with hang-ups and the stars were already out by the time he arrived at Rin's village.
She's probably asleep by now. It would be better to take care of this in the morning when everything was clear and fresh and he didn't have to start off with a moody Rin woken in the dead of the night. He should go.
No.
Shaky, spotted hands planted themselves firmly on the bank, twisting blades of between fingers that, finally after months of practice, no longer had any discernable webbing.
If I can't do this now, how am I supposed to stand up to her guard dog?
But if he woke her up…Did he really want an angry Rin at this hour?
I could always watch her sleep.
Kichiruka nodded. Sounded like a plan to him.
He checked his surroundings once more. Then paused to notice a female figure standing near his stream. And saw straightaway she was too tall to be Rin. She looked a little familiar, though. The sea demon squinted, trying to get his night vision to work.
Miyoko? What're you doing out here?
She stared at the night sky wistfully, pacing up and down like she was in deep contemplation. But the motions looked more agitated than pensive to Kichiruka. Maybe he should go ask what was wrong?
Quit procrastinating!
Eventually, Miyoko sat down. Whatever was on her mind was settled. Kichiruka prepared to hoist himself out of the brook when a second silhouette slipped from the trees, startling the first. A man's form, it physically outclassed the girl's and, grabbing her arm, violently dragged Miyoko to her feet.
"Ayu," the man hissed. "What a surprise."
Miyoko thrashed in his grip, trying to get around the hand that stifled her screams. She knew this creep. They'd been in the same training group and he had replaced her on the first kill mission.
"Always wondered where you got to." The hand on her face tightened and chilling paralysis made Miyoko wonder if he would break her jaw with the next twist. "You know we always take care of our own." A knife flashed in the moonlight.
Kichiruka didn't waste time with a warning. He spun the conch staff once and took aim at the assassin's wrist. Miyoko glimpsed the sparkle of moisture shimmer in the air. The next moment, the male rappa staggered backward in pain.
Clutching his withered wrist to his chest, he wailed long and loud. What the hell had this little runaway done to him? He looked up and the spikes of what appeared to be a mace pressed to his throat. He followed the staff up to a set of glowing eyes. Greenish like an animal's that reflected light in the dark, the inhuman gaze impossibly glared out of a mock mortal form. Yokai.
"That would be my prey, short-life," the demon enunciated with cool, collected menace. "I'd prefer my dinner not be interrupted further. If you don't want to be next…Get lost!" Kichiruka's voice shook the trees and rattled the would-be assassin's bones.
Feet scrabbling, the rappa dashed for the cover of the foliage, the searing pain in his wrist a sharp reminder to cross this location and its demon-claimed brook off his itinerary.
Kichiruka tracked the man's haphazard flight until he disappeared from even the keenest earshot.
He turned around to check on Miyoko. "You okay?"
She laughed a little, odd and jerky. "So long as you're not going to eat me, right?"
Kichiruka knelt to her eye level. On another day he would've flashed a wide, toothy grin and clicked his teeth near her ear. But the tremor in her voice trumped his taunt. It was said, after all, that there is always a little truth in every jest.
So she doesn't trust me?
Kichiruka's spikes quivered. The prejudices and fears Master Tensai had warned of were very real. And I never did tell him about the first miko over the summer. With the exception of Rin, Kichiruka had kept the bad run-in to himself in hopes it was simply that. He'd always minded his distance from humans – he'd never seen too many before outside of a well spun yarn. Arrogant, greedy, selfish, weak, stupid…But when he met Rin's neighbors they weren't that bad either. Sure, they had been wary of him, but the water demon accepted that he was an outsider. But, now that he thought about it, they feared him, too. Were they all the same? What about Miroku and Sango and Kagome?
He looked back toward the forest.
And not all of them are well intentioned either.
Clamoring up on wobbly legs, Miyoko cleared her throat. Kichiruka turned around and his eyes were still glowing. Ashamed, she had to look away. Kohaku was still helping her out in this area. It was easy to talk to yokai in domestic settings with other people, but out here, alone at night. But would I have preferred my former "colleague"?
"He came alone," she realized abruptly, glancing back to the forest, "which means he could've just been passing through."
"Does this mean they'll keep looking for you again?" Kichiruka grimaced. This certainly wasn't something he'd expected to deal with tonight.
"After your display, I hope they're smarter than that." Miyoko smiled in his general direction. "You're awfully sympathetic for a demon."
What was that supposed to mean? Kichiruka straightened. "With humans I never really had anything to go by until I met Rin…she said that they were dangerous when they were frightened." He looked at Miyoko. "But that cretin…he felt pleased." Kichiruka ran his hands up his arms as if he had experienced the sensation second-hand. "Are not all humans good?"
"Think of them like yokai," she suggested.
He blinked. "That man wanted to eat you?"
"No…" Miyoko scratched her head. Kohaku would be better at putting this in words a demon could understand.
"Like yokai, but with less sense?" he tried interpolating.
Miyoko scratched the back of her neck. "Yeah."
"So…speaking of less sense, what're you doing out here all by yourself in the first place?" Kichiruka chuckled uneasily. "I sure hope you weren't planning to meet that guy here."
Miyoko tried to follow Kichiruka's attempt at laughter and the rocky transition he offered. "No, no. Kohaku and I…we had a spat." She looked back at the stars. "Maybe it was fortuitous. If I had stayed in the village right now I might not have been the only one in trouble." Taking a couple of steps closer, she patted Kichiruka's shoulder. "Thank you." Surprisingly, Kichiruka's yoki didn't batter out at her and just maintained its general smoothness. He wasn't posturing like earlier and, if she drew on her memory, Miyoko could construct the usual blue of his eyes. I wish I weren't so awkward about this. "Forgive me. Until I met Kohaku, the only demons I really dealt with were people. I never expected to consider any yokai as friends."
Kichiruka nodded. That seemed to be the going consensus.
"And Kohaku…he gets a lot of things. Just wish he'd speak up a bit more, the idiot." Miyoko huffed, then remembered she wasn't exactly alone. "Eh, sorry for spewing"
Kichiruka laughed a little. "Well, I hope everything works out…" he offered awkwardly.
Miyoko nodded. "Just because you fight sometimes, doesn't mean you stop loving the person." She smiled. "I take it you're going to go see about Rin?"
"You say it like she's pretty upset with me." Miyoko glared at him and Kichiruka threw his hands up defensively. "Is she?"
Miyoko fought down the urge to clock him right there. Apparently being yokai wasn't a factor – men were dense no matter what their species. "Then you must have really screwed up because she's been acting like you dropped off the face of the earth! Get rolling, mister!"
Kichiruka back-pedaled in the force of her tirade. "And what would you want Kohaku to do?"
"Show up and begging for forgiveness," she advised flatly.
Sounds one-sided. Kichiruka smirked. "Better get going then."
She snorted, following. "Yeah, it's my turn to say sorry."
The water demon laughed and Miyoko hurried after him, back toward home.
oOo
It took a while, but once Rin managed to fall asleep she tumbled into a deep slumber. Sesshomaru had taken her out for a practice. No excuses. She sparred and the dog-demon lectured her for striking too hard. But the exercise got her blood circulating again and she felt tomorrow wouldn't be so bad. Even without dazzling blue eyes that knew how to tease out smiles.
She stirred from a dream when something prodded her side. Her eyes flew open and locked with glowing chartreuse.
Catching her breath, Rin exhaled slowly as she recognized the luminescent gaze. "What do you want?" she demanded.
From where he knelt beside her, Kichiruka blinked. "Want?"
"Oh, so it's okay for you to go off and disappear without a second thought."
"Rin, it's only been about three days…" Kichiruka scooted backwards.
"I thought you'd left, you jerk!" Rin sniffled and she tried not to let her voice quaver. She was angry, not sad or sorry or even relieved. That's how he should be feeling. "You could have at least called."
Kichiruka looked at his conch staff and then at the earrings that Rin had carefully set atop the clothing chest in the corner.
"I told you I needed some time."
"Time?"
"Yes, time," he said patiently. "I never asked you to die for me."
With Sesshomaru's vow still echoing in her ears, Rin cringed at Kichiruka's candor. Mostly because, when you got right down to it, Sesshomaru was going to do what he wanted. And I can't guarantee his safety. Curling up with her chin on her knees, she looked at the demon askance. "So…what took you so long to conclude?"
With an exasperated huff, Kichiruka stared off into a corner. "I tried being smart about it. But it was proven to me that to be wise and in love exceeds the might of men and yokai." He kept quiet as his teacher's most recent lecture replayed through his memory. But when he heard Rin draw breath to speak, Kichiruka shrugged carelessly, a lazy smile working the corners of his mouth. "I decided to give up trying."
The plain honesty in his words melted whatever reservations Rin had left. She smiled. Then smirked and joined his joking. "A regular fool, then?"
"I have to be if I think I stand a chance with Lord Sesshomaru as an in-law."
Rin snickered. "Y'know, Inuyasha's his half-brother and so far nothing bad has befallen Kagome."
"Oh yeah, real vote of confidence that I'll need a miko's power to survive." Still seated with his legs crossed, Kichiruka folded his arms and rocked backward, staring at the planked ceiling. "So…Lord Sesshomaru's brother is –"
"Half-brother," Rin distinguished. "They're both still pretty touchy about it."
Kichiruka winced. Great, so even if I'm friends with Inuyasha it doesn't buy me any points. Hell, it could get him pegged a notch or three lower in the Western Lord's book. This was doing nothing for his nerves. Tugging on a silver bang, Kichiruka tried analyzing the situation from a different perspective. "Lord Sesshomaru's half-brother is hanyo, and he's married to a human. And then there's you…" He laughed. "In that case, a demon like me will be welcomed with open arms if Lord Sesshomaru's standards are dropping."
Rin elbowed him in the ribs sharp enough that Kichiruka tipped over. "Not funny," she growled. But maybe he's got a point. What were the chances Lord Sesshomaru would permit a demon? It would be one less human to have to claim affiliation. And having Kichiruka around was as good as having constant protection.
Oh heck, I just want him around. Summer had slipped away and Rin would have to wait until spring again if she wanted to travel in safe, sane conditions. But the prospect of waiting out winter in the little village she'd known all these years wasn't so bad if a certain water demon kept her company. The prospect of having Kichiruka around anywhere set Rin's spirits to soaring. She glanced his way as he still sat there, head tilted to one side and more or less playing out scenarios. If his calculated joking was anything to go by, Rin wanted to think he was serious.
She sighed inwardly. Now that just doesn't make any sense. But a piece of her hoped and wondered: Would he really want to come with me?
"Kich'?"
"Hm?"
"I decided I don't want to be alone when I do it."
In the dark, fluorescent eyes glinted mischievously. "Yeah, it's usually more fun with two people."
"Kichiruka." Rin gave him a look. "I meant, when I start traveling, for myself and my own experience. wherever I go and the whatever I see…I want to share it with you."
The water demon chortled softly, wuffling her ear with his lips. "You'll tire of me."
"I won't live that long." Rin laughed when she said it.
"Then me neither," Kichiruka decided.
His surety set Rin at ill ease, but she let it go. "I thought your hang-up was getting killed?"
"It's not a big deal if I get to choose when."
Rin smirked. "For a demon that sounds like such a human thing to say."
Kichiruka shrugged. "A commonality."
The smile on Rin's upturned face was too much to resist. He offered one kiss, gentle and apologetic. And it was the second that assured him he'd been forgiven. Rin worked his mouth open and she rose like the tide to meet him. For Kichiruka it was easy to get lost in it all – darting, testing, teasing. He gently drew back before he got swept up in the undertow.
My life to possibly spend a lifetime with her…sounds fair. Just please make it true. Kichiruka wasn't sure if he could endure having any more precious people lost to him.
The crescent moon shining through an open window hung high in the midnight sky. He pulled Rin's blanket closer to her, tucking in the loose ends at her sides. "It's still a while before morning."
Rin felt her face flush. Her eyes followed Kichiruka's hands as he undid the string that tied the buttons on his vest together. But he stopped there.
Folding his garments, Kichiruka then flopped on his back against the floor. Rin was still sitting up. Had he overstepped some boundary in the make-up ritual? Best to ask. "Is it all right if I stick around?"
Rin stared at him, a little dazed. How could he just kiss her like that and simply want to sleepover? "Um…yeah…"
"Thanks." He undid the topknot and shook out the long, dark silver hair that usually fanned out behind him like a tailfin. The three sharp spikes atop his head held their place while the rest pooled out beside him. In the moonlight Kichiruka's hair shone like steel.
He noticed the way Rin was gawking. "You can touch if you want," he offered, completely understanding the need for tactile comprehension.
She snorted, quickly stuffing her hands into the sleeves of her sleepwear. "Why? You plan to just tease me for the rest of the night?"
Kichiruka tipped his head to one side. "I'm sorry?" Did he somehow manage to screw up again?
Rin shook her head. C'mon, he can't be that stupid. Kichiruka's naïveté was endearing and irritating all at once. "Never mind then."
Sharp yokai eyes didn't miss how Rin unconsciously licked her lips.
Oh.
With an impish grin, Kichiruka sat up half-ways, propping himself up on his elbows as if he were striking a pose. Rin's suspicions were confirmed when in lower tones he drawled, "Are you asking for another sample of all the wicked, lovely things I want to do with you?"
Damn, I didn't know he could talk like that. Rin flinched and hoped Kichiruka couldn't see her blush. Gathering her own composure, Rin managed to smoothly return, "Sounds like you've been hanging out with Lord Ichikawa lately."
Glow-in-the-dark green eyes rolled theatrically. "Please. I'm behaving." Kichiruka's voice returned to its lighter pitch. "I think Lord Sesshomaru would prefer it if I met him with a relatively clear conscience, don't you?"
Rin giggled. Clown or courtier, Kichiruka was still a gentleman. Rin burrowed deeper under the blankets. "So…you'll stay?"
He stretched on his side, still smiling. His hands sprawled out toward Rin and, if he reached out, he could fluff Rin's bangs with the tips of his fingers. With a shudder and a smile, her reaction sent a reciprocating shiver up his spine.
"Stay, huh? I'll follow." And because he meant every word with barely contained delight, Kichiruka laughed. "You see, Rin dear, it's pretty simple." Catching the moonlight, his eyes glinted their true blue. "I'm hooked."
.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Reviews are appreciated.