Feudal Affair

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter IV

Rin let her fingers brush carelessly along the leaves of the bushes and the trees that she passed by on the unused path. She paused to let the breeze catch her hair, the strands crossing her face. Bending, she plucked a flower from the ground. Gently, she pulled the petals from the stem humming a tune from her childhood. Discarding it, she rubbed the petals between her palms. Entering a clearing, a gust of wind picked up and she released the petals to the air. She kept her gaze on their journey until they disappeared against the sky.

Rin dipped her fingers into the lake, playing at the water, generating ripples that started small and grew until they died into the body of water. She wondered why something so small could cause something so large. Rin frowned as she looked into the reflection. She knew that the person she saw wasn't who she was. The lies and the deceit were not supposed to be a part of her. She hated the secrecy and the hiding of what was always supposed to be her life in the first place. Rin drew her hand through the water again, distorting the reflection. It wasn't fair that Kohaku was caught in the middle of the mess that she'd made. He'd always been a loyal friend, helping her in any way that he could. He wouldn't have ever turned his back on her yet she'd done so without thinking twice even willing to abandon him if Sesshoumaru had agreed to take her with him.

Sesshoumaru watched her as she dabbled at the water. Her fingertips nearly caressing it. The young woman had a certain allure that drew him. Her scent mixed into the aroma of flowers was becoming. The way her hair fell across her face, the petite curves of her frame that he knew so well beckoned his presence again. The fact that Rin had the ability to summon him when she pleased should have been an annoyance and yet it was a reprieve. The wait was again over. Sesshoumaru welcomed every call, every moment that she demonstrated her need for him. But within that need, he saw frustration and anger. The young woman that he loved was at war within herself. He could fix it. He could stop the war if he gave in to what she wanted despite what would inevitably be excruciating. Still, throwing away her life for him didn't make sense. He remembered the moment she'd asked him if he'd always remember her when she died. Even then he was sure that she expected him to be strong, to be able to weather such a storm, move on, and make it look simple when all she was asking was that he keep her life somewhere in his thoughts. She was asking too much. He would falter under the weight of such a storm. The thought of losing her then was the same as it was now. The pain of it felt worse than anything physical he'd ever endured from any of the many battles that he'd fought in his lifetime. There was no comparison to the grief and sorrow that would be associated with her passing. The thought of trying to live with it for the amount of time he would most likely survive her frightened him. He knew that Rin's death was inevitable but he wanted to convince himself that he could survive it, possibly be at peace with it, if her demise was not untimely.

Despite how quiet his footsteps were, Rin noticed them as he approached. Standing, she barely had a chance to turn before she was in his grasp. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. They found comfort in each other, words unspoken as they held each other in a prolonged silence that the two of them seemed to understand.

Sesshoumaru was pleased with Rin's ability to find the ease of being in his arms, to let the issues fade, as he carried her into the water. Much in the way she'd played at the water's edge she let the water play itself over her skin. They found their hideaway behind the curtain of a waterfall. He searched her most vulnerable spots, laying claim to each one as she pushed for him to lose himself in her. The rush of the falling water ahead of them faded as she moaned into every touch. She knew every inch of his body and where every marking began and ended as she grasped him tighter, her fingers pressed into the skin of his back in an effort to keep control of her own body.

Rin was surprised by the sudden interruption in Sesshoumaru's movement. Before she could question it he placed his finger to his mouth as he focused on listening to the footsteps along the water's edge. Rin furrowed her brow in concern knowing their vulnerability. She stilled herself as Sesshoumaru remained quiet but focused. She recognized the troubled expression he wore at the moment. His senses rarely failed him but she could tell that this was unfortunately one of those rare moments. They were submerged and surrounded with water, the waterfall was too close and too loud to hear lighter footsteps and if the trespasser was human he wouldn't be able to sense any aura. Rin took a quiet breath as the threat passed noticing Sesshoumaru's expression fade and the tension leaving.

"Are you okay?"

Rin nodded. "Could you tell who it was?"

"No."

"Do you think they saw anything?"

"The footsteps halted for a moment but it's hard to say if they were looking for anything. Who else uses this path?"

"I'm not sure. It's out of the way for most."

"..."

"Hey, don't worry about it."

"You're sure?"

Rin gave him a quick peck on the lips hoping to erase the concern in his eyes.

"Kohaku isn't supposed to be back for a few days yet. We're okay."

Rin bit her lip as she looked Sesshoumaru over, drawing a smirk as he questioned her.

"Where were we?"

"You can always start from the top again if you like."

...

Rin smiled to herself as she walked back into the village. Despite their interruption they'd still enjoyed each other letting the danger only add fire to their passion. She leaned back against a tree watching the hustle and bustle of people nearly losing herself in a daydream before she heard her name being called.

"Rin"

She tried to hold back a laugh as she saw Kagome wave as Inuyasha tried to walk with their two children attached to his legs.

"I'm glad that I caught you. Would you mind watching the kids for a little while today?"

"Sure. Where are you two headed?"

Kagome blushed a little before Rin nodded knowingly.

"Hmm got it! Try not to bring back more."

"Thanks, we owe you!"

She watched the children running about and attempting to tag each other. Both of the girls boasted Inuyasha's ears, the dog demon so easily dominant as fangs peaked out of grins. Rin shook her head at the thought that crossed her mind as she wrapped her arms across her stomach. It had taken Inuyasha and Kagome a few years to actually have the first of the girls and they were with each other all of the time. She convinced herself that the possibility of pregnancy was there but the likelihood was less so from the occasional romp and she tried not to dwell on it. The moon pushed it's way into the sky as Kagome and Inuyasha returned. She'd said her good-byes before passing through the quiet of the village and making her way back to her home. Rin lit the last candle sitting along the table. She was immediately surprised to find a familiar weapon resting at it's place and just beyond it, an even more familiar face distorted by the shadows of the flickering light.

...

The high moon reflected off the water as Sesshoumaru returned to where he and Rin had met that morning. Something about the footsteps seemed familiar and despite his dulled sense of smell the human had come from Rin's village. He waited to pick up the old scent slightly following it until it strengthened and stopped him in his tracks. He knew exactly to whom the scent belonged now. Yes, Kohaku was still supposed to be out of town but that made no difference.

...

Rin fell to her knees as she placed her hand against the sting of her cheek. She felt the tears building unwilling to defend herself.

"How could you do this...?"

A/N: As always my thanks for reading/reviewing!