Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 12
Amusement
-So it is true. My son has already arrived.
The young girl kept herself in a lowly bow.
-Yes, my lady. He has arrived at the palace two days before. He brought a human and another demon with him though.
This caught the Lady Mother's attention. It was normal for her son to arrive with a new demon, normally as a servant or as a guest. But a human? What human could possibly have the honor or the misfortune of accompanying Sesshomaru?
There was a face in her memories. It remained hazy like covered in mist though.
She shrugged and decided to just find out who the new addictions were. She dismissed the servant and changed into a new made kimono. It was blue embroidered with white dragons at the large sleeves and hem. She liked to dress simple but still elegant.
She delicately sniffed the air for her son's unmistakable scent. It always felt like a needle piercing through her heart. The boy was just like his father in so many ways. She smiled sadly at the thought of her fallen mate.
Such a lovely fool he was.
She took a deep breath and her cold mask was back in her face. She walked through the halls and she followed the scent until it got stronger at the entrance of the palace's garden. She frowned.
He barely goes to the garden anymore. He's always so busy and grumpy.
On the bright side it could mean that the fresh air and the sweet scent of the flowers would do him some good.
The scent got stronger and stronger until she could see his silver hair shining under the sun. That's when she noticed…
…her son was lying on the ground.
…her son was lying on the ground on top of someone.
…her son was lying on the ground on top of someone, who by scent was human.
She crossed her arms.
-Sesshomaru!
She swore she never saw him get up as fast as he did now.
-Mother.
She narrowed her eyes in defiance at his cold look. She huffed and stuck her head proudly high.
-Is that the proper way to look at your dear mother, Sesshomaru?
His right eyebrow slowly rose. She rose her left one in return. They glared at each other for a moment until he decided to break the silence.
-This Sesshomaru hopes you didn't come here to merely glare.
Lady Mother cleared her throat.
-Of course not. I heard of your return and came to greet you.
She took a peek at the girl still panting in the ground with a somewhat dazed look and had to cover with her sleeves the huge grin she just couldn't contain. Her eyes were gleaming with devilish amusement.
-…if you're not too busy, that is.
She had to giggle when her stoic son stepped slightly to the left as if to cover the sight of the woman on the ground. He then glared at his mother as hard as he could but that only elicited more silly giggles from her.
This Sesshomaru sees mother gets madder the older she gets.
Indeed.
He bowed his head. She was still his mother.
-This Sesshomaru is glad to see you once more and well.
She stopped giggling and bowed her head in return.
-The feelings are mutual, my son. Perhaps you could introduce me to your…friend…later?
He narrowed his eyes once more but nodded.
She liked how things turned out between Sesshomaru and her. When he visited her for the first time in two hundred years they, honestly, weren't in the best terms. She still cared for him as much as a mother could. She truly felt like her world crumbled when it was most likely for him to be imprisoned in the Netherworld for eternity. Her only son. When he got out and saved that girl she swore to herself that she would make amends for the time lost and try to be a good mother.
It didn't start as a pleasant conversation but soon enough he learned to forgive her and was now acting almost like nothing ever happened. It filled her with unexplainable joy every time he glared at her for she knew it didn't hold the deathly intent as before.
She couldn't help but peek at the human once more. Her brown hair and, no doubt, brown eyes were awfully familiar to her.
More importantly, just what was her connection to Sesshomaru?
Human or not she would salute in respect whoever melted her son's icy heart.
She turned and walked away, a smile spreading in her beautiful features.
He was like his father in so many ways.
Rin couldn't do anything but just lie there. She still could feel him.
She tentatively licked her lips.
She still could taste him.
It all had felt so surreal. To her, it was the impossible turning possible. The untouchable turning 'oh so touchable'.
Her heart was still thundering inside her. That moment had been truly something she had never experienced before. She hesitantly raised her fingers and touched her lips. She suddenly realized.
My…my first kiss.
Well, it could be barely called a kiss. It was just a brush of lips. But his lips touched hers. That had to count as a kiss, right?
Oh, she desperately wanted so. There was no one she wanted her first kiss to be with than him.
She blushed and silently chastised herself. She sounded so wanton. It was most likely just an accident. Their faces were so close back then.
She sighed sadly. Of course it was an accident.
And thank god it was interrupted. She was sure that she would kiss him back fervently regardless of race, stature or wealth if it had lasted a second longer. She tried to catch her breath and she absentmindedly stared at the cloudless sky.
I never noticed the sky was so…blue.
She giggled at her silliness. Oh the things that man could do to her.
She smiled.
And he doesn't even realize it.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
It is for the best that it stays that way.
She opened her eyes and yelped when she met golden ones.
She was certain that she was blushing so hard that her whole body was red. She blinked.
Oh…that's so awkward.
How could she face him now? Would he talk to her about it? Or would he pretend that nothing happened?
He took her hand and helped her up effortlessly.
-My mother wants to see you. Change into something suitable and meet us in the main hall.
Well, looks like it was the latter option. Of course…what was she thinking?
Her voice was pathetically weak.
-Y-yes, my lord…
Curses!
How could he let himself lose control like that? That certainly was NOT happening again.
Stop it. She wanted it as much as we wanted it.
His eyes widened and his hands gripped harder the desk he was leaning onto without noticing.
She didn't! She can't!
Why? Because of your pride? Learn with her…
Sesshomaru frowned. Learn? What could possibly a human teach him?
The desk couldn't hold on much longer and with a loud snap it broke in two pieces. The demon lord stared passionlessly at the remains of the furniture and ordered a servant to clean up the mess and replace it with a larger desk. He then headed straight on to the main hall.
Lady Mother calmly sipped her tea. She couldn't wait to meet this human.
The large door opened and with them came Sesshomaru and the woman from before. She had her head bowed and followed slightly behind her son. They stopped in front of her and she nodded for them to take a seat.
Her son was the first one to speak.
-Mother, this is Rin, my ward. This Sesshomaru is sure that you remember her.
Her eyes widened. Of course! That's why she was so familiar.
What a pretty woman she turned out to be.
Still she felt a bit weary. By what she had seen they didn't seem to have a ward-guardian relationship. She could be mistaken. Rin hesitantly met the Lady's eyes and gave her a little smile.
-It is an honor to meet you once more, my lady.
Such fine manners. At least she was raised well.
How pleasant.
-Likewise. So tell me, Rin, do you like your lord's home?
She could see her son's body tense from the corner of her eye. She frowned.
Rin looked down and nervously fidgeted with the sleeves of her kimono.
-Of course, my lady. This palace simply takes my breath away. I am most fortunate to step this floors.
Humble yet flattering. She still had so much to ask this girl. And it was fun to watch her son's reactions to anything Rin said.
She never had seen him so responsive like this.
-Do our vassals treat you well?
Rin almost dropped her cup while Sesshomaru's broke in his hand. She wanted to laugh at him so badly but restrained herself. He merely stared at his mother with a blank look.
-How careless of me.
She huffed at her son's behavior.
-Indeed.
Rin felt so out of place. Lady Mother looked at Rin and smirked.
-Well?
Rin met her eyes but looked down a second later.
-T-they treat me accordingly.
She raised an eyebrow. She could hear Sesshomaru's low growls.
-Really?
-Mother, can we change the topic?
She sipped her tea to hide her smile.
-Of course, my son.
They spent some time talking about random things. Rin would nod and give her opinion if not somewhat shyly once in a while. This human was actually pleasant to be with. She never spoke out of place yet she was honest. Even if she behaved like a perfect maiden there was defiance and boldness in her eyes every time she didn't agree on something. It made her even more interesting.
The doors opened and there came a servant who silently delivered a message to Sesshomaru and left. The demon lord read the scroll and sighed. He muttered.
-Well, that's a shame.
Rin was curious.
-May I ask what is it, my lord?
He nodded.
-It seems your teacher was attacked on her way here. She couldn't make it.
Rin immediately saddened.
-Oh.
If it was not for my ignorance that demon would still be living. I'm such a nuisance.
Lady Mother was instantly interested.
-Do you require a teacher, Rin?
Rin looked up and blushed in embarrassment.
-Uh… yes. I need tutoring in demon costumes.
The lady stared at the girl for a while. Then she happily said.
-I'll teach you then.
Rin almost spit out her tea while Sesshomaru watched his mother suspiciously.
-Are you sure, mother?
-Why not? I'm surprised you didn't teach her yourself considering how…protective you are.
Sesshomaru growled and narrowed his eyes.
This Sesshomaru will keep an eye on you, mother.
-Well, Rin, seems like I'll be your new teacher.
-I'm sure you will.
-Oh, shut up, Sesshomaru. This is for her best.
-Hn.
Rin stared helplessly as mother and son glared at each other for all they were worth. She inwardly sighed.
Oh…kami…
Author's Note: That's Lady Mother to you! XD I don't know if I captured her personality well considering she shows up only once in the manga so there's not much about her. But my impression of her was this cunning and sarcastic woman who likes to annoy her son but still loves him. Hope you liked the chapter! :3