lFeudal Affair

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter XIII

Rin tried to quiet the whimpering even as she lay Kisata beside her long enough to wash her face in the stream. She'd wanted to wash away any evidence of the tears she'd cried. It'd given her an excuse to get back out of the house. Even after Kohaku had allowed the anger to settle they'd sat across from one another, silent, staring at the walls as if they could fix the problem. All Rin could see was the scattered beads, the last few shreds of kimonos she'd never wear, the blurred vision of the man who'd been her friend and now the man she called her husband. There was no way to bridge the divide. She'd opened up an ocean between them, too vast and too wide to overcome. Every tear she cried seemed to add to it. Rin could only imagine where Kohaku's thoughts were. Had he wondered why she'd married him anyway? Why have the affair? Why try to create something that would never be? She dipped her hands back into the stream cupping the water as she splashed it against her face. She watched the sunset as she brought Kisata close to let her nurse. Satisfying the child's hunger seemed to keep her content for the moment.

...

"Lord Sesshoumaru...Milord?" Jaken sighed as Sesshoumaru ignored him. He was sure that something was wrong. As of late the dog demon hadn't spoken on anything but rather had left him behind on multiple occasions.

As much as Sesshoumaru hadn't wanted to say good-bye, it was only fair that Rin have a chance to piece back together the life that she'd had and somehow try to make things work with Kohaku if only for the child's sake. His presence would only get in the way of that. It was hard to go against where his heart wanted to take him. The physical distance would never take away the feelings but it was a place to start when the emotions had settled deep into his soul and threatened to tear their way back out at any given moment. He couldn't succumb to it again. Every step away from Rin was a lost laugh or smile, the loss of her touch, the loss of her light.

Jaken crashed into the back of Sesshoumaru's leg as he stopped abruptly. The imp looked up at his lord following what he was looking at. It wasn't uncommon for Sesshoumaru to glance into the night skies, sometimes getting lost in the stars and the moon for long periods of time. The moon was in fact beautiful tonight. It's glow lit the skies and every creature from miles around must have been able to see it.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes to block out the light. Moving forward was no option. It was a necessity under the pressure of a broken heart.

...

Rin looked into the face of the sleeping child. She placed a gentle finger along the cheek. The baby yawned at the touch, stretching her small arms and legs. Her dark hair covered under the blanket, tired brown eyes blinked up at her mother. Rin smiled kissing Kisata as she rocked her gently. As much as she'd hoped the infant would be half-demon she would let Sesshoumaru's words remind her never to be disappointed with the baby's humanity. She admired the full moon even as it's light hid the nearest of stars. She knew that Sesshoumaru was most likely watching the sky too, no matter where he was. It was only natural that he would distance himself again with the outcome. He needed the time too to adjust to what their life would be like knowing that they could never really be together again. The baby's cries disturbed her thoughts as she looked down and attempted to quiet the child only to notice a small speck on Kisata's cheek slowly growing in size. Upon further inspection she became angry pinching the small nuisance and removing it.

"Myoga what are you doing?"

"My apologies Rin."

"How dare you! Kisata is just a baby. And human too. Don't tell me you've started preying on the defenseless?"

"Human?"

"Yes. You couldn't tell Kisata is human?"

Myoga scratched his head taking another look at the baby in Rin's arms. He found it a bit strange. Her features were certainly human but he'd been so tempted by her blood. And he couldn't deny that the taste of it was eerily familiar.

"You're sure the child is human?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Myoga didn't hesitate to take another sip of Kisata's blood.

"Myoga, stop it!"

"I'm sorry Rin, but I know youkai blood when I taste it. Humans just aren't that decadent."

"What?!"

"Does your mate not know of this?"

"Why would he? Kohaku is human…"

"Not Kohaku. Lord Sesshoumaru."

Rin blushed. "How do you know about that?"

"Well, on some rare instances when I'm able to take a sip of Lord Sesshoumaru's blood and escape with my life, though still delicious mind you, it's occasionally on the lighter side. The only human he's ever around is you. Meaning the two of you... well let's just say that Kisata tastes like Lord Sesshoumaru."

Rin shook her head trying to understand it. If Myoga was right about the baby there was still something else eating at her.

"If Kisata is half-demon why does she appear human?"

"Good question. By the taste of her blood, Kisata is a strong half-demon leaving the question as to why there aren't any demonic markings or characteristics. Despite her strength though, she has a very weak demonic aura. It doesn't make sense."

"Sesshoumaru said there was no demonic aura. He wouldn't have missed that."

Myoga thought on it longer before questioning Rin again. "Were you in any danger when you were pregnant with Kisata?"

"Someone threatened my life and hers. I was afraid that if she'd been born half-demon she and I would have been killed."

Myoga jumped up and down on the blanket seeming to have come to a conclusion.

"Your will to protect Kisata masked her aura while you were pregnant with her."

"That's not possible. I'm only human. I have no power to speak of."

"That's where you're wrong. How do I explain this? Lord Sesshoumaru is a powerful pure demon. It would have been impossible for some of his demonic energy not to pass to you during your relations with each other. Your body harnessed that energy and Kisata's energy in the way it needed it most. In this case that meant hiding Kisata's aura to protect her."

"But, when I was around Sesshoumaru, I wasn't afraid for my life or Kisata's. Why couldn't he pick up on her aura then?"

"Your human body was already using what energy it could to protect the baby. It wouldn't have managed to sustain shifting aura on top of that. I can't imagine her growth was painless either."

"Not her growth. Her movements were painful though."

"Exactly. Every movement expended energy and caused your body to work harder."

"Still, Kisata doesn't have my energy anymore to protect her. Wouldn't she appear half-demon outside of me?"

"Yes. And that is what I don't have the answer for. However, you did say that Sesshoumaru did not pick up on any demonic energy even when she was first born. Without a doubt he would be able to pick up on it now. It's possible Kisata was able to harness the energy for a few days but that's a stretch for an infant. Whatever is going on, you must get to my lord immediately. Time is of the essence and I doubt that Kisata will be able to hold this human form much longer."

"I don't know where Sesshoumaru is. Can you find him for me?"

"I will go quickly. You must hurry to a place of safety until I am able to return with Lord Sesshoumaru."

Rin nooded as her heart raced retreating to the cover of the trees, an attempt to distance herself from the village but the moment Kohaku realized she wasn't where he'd seen her only a moment ago, he would come in search for her. She pulled the blanket over Kisata to keep her further covered although the child's appearance had not changed. Brown eyes still met hers as she attempted to wiggle her small arms free. Dark strands still peaked from the cover of the blanket. The moon's full glow still reflected a human child. Rin could feel the tears that stung the back of her throat as she swallowed them. Crying wouldn't do either of them any good right now. She tried to focus on what Myoga told her. The actions during her pregnancy were making sense now. Kisata's movements had been painful as her body tried to adjust, she hadn't found Sesshoumaru by conincidence after Sango had threatened her. Kisata had taken her to him because that was where she knew they were safe. The way that her movements calmed when Sesshoumaru was near was indicative that she already knew her father or at least sensed his energy.

The crunch of leaves under foot caught her ear as she stilled. She could feel her body beginning to shiver, Kisata's whimper only made her more aware never wanting to take her eyes off her. Even as Rin quieted Kisata, she attempted to do the same with her breaths and her steps attempting to bury them in the shadows of trees but the moon was no help to them now. The whistle of the wind and odd shadows of the night played tricks on her even as she tried to remain calm. It would do them no good to get lost.

'Sesshoumaru.' She could hear herself calling to him again in her head. He wouldn't fail her. Myoga would find him and he would get here in time. They would leave this village behind. Kohaku would have a new chance to find true love when she had nothing left to give. The silence around them became eerie and she started to wonder if she was hearing things. A strange whistle of the wind picked up before she could hear the destruction of trees behind her. Rin couldn't stifle her scream as danger approached.

A/N: Peace, Love, and Happiness! More to come soon ;)