Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 17
Scared
-Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty! Ready or not, here I come!
Shippo turned around and giggled. He loved this game! It has been so long since anyone played it with him. He began searching in the bushes, behind the trees and crawled in the soft grass sniffing to pick up her scent, always giggling.
-I'm gonna find you, Rin-chan!
Rin giggled and pressed her body against the wall. She held her breath when the kitsune was very near to her. Shippo sniffed and snickered when the scent was very strong. He jumped and landed right in front of a startled Rin.
-Ha-ha! Found you!
Rin turned and giggled.
-Yes, you did, Shippo-chan.
That's when the kitsune saw a big shadow behind Rin. Of course, a shadow needs a body. Shippo frowned as he saw the shadow's form contort and embrace Rin's in an almost loving way.
Soon enough the owner appeared in the form of Sesshomaru.
Shippo's eyes widened and he stood a few seconds there frozen. Rin arched an eyebrow still oblivious. The demon lord then said boringly.
-Boo.
-Eeeeee!
Shippo yelped and latched himself on Rin's fast breathing chest. The young woman turned around and almost had a heart attack.
There stood the one she most yearned and feared to see. She knew he was confused and wanted answers. But she couldn't bear to lose him. He was her everything.
She gulped.
-Lord Sesshomaru…
He searched her eyes for something. She shivered as he ran his eyes through her body as if examining, searching…for something.
She tightened her lips and put Shippo down.
-Rin-chan?
She begged with her eyes.
-Please, Shippo-chan, can you leave me and Lord Sesshomaru alone for a little bit?
The kitsune looked at both of them and nodded before running away towards the rest of his group.
She sighed and took an uncertain step towards her lord.
His expression softened slightly.
-Do you wish to speak with this Sesshomaru?
She could only nod. Her breath hitched in her throat. She couldn't chicken out now!
Oh, please, don't look at me like that…
He nodded, his long bangs hiding his eyes making Rin sigh in relief and disappointment.
-I couldn't help but wonder what Sango-chan needed to talk to you about.
His fingers twitched but his eyes remained hidden. She could feel a drop of her sweat rolling down her neck. It captured him, invited him to taste her and feel her.
"Look in her eyes."
He saw her eyes sparkling with unknown.
"Feel her skin heat."
That pretty blush in her cheeks was undeniable and he slowly raised his hand to caress the hot flesh.
"Admire her awe."
She mindlessly closed her eyes and her small full lips parted in a silent moan.
Burned by the forbidden fire, he snatched his hands away from her cheek and gritted his teeth.
The bliss faded. She berated herself. How could she fall in her own trap? He knew. She gave him the answer.
They stood there in awkward silence. She silently waited for him to growl and tell her to leave.
-I think we both know.
She nodded, bewildered that he sounded so calm.
Bangs still hiding those beautiful eyes, he passed through her and entered the palace, sparing her no more words.
She frowned in confusion. What did that mean?
The sound of the heavy doors closing echoed in the strangely silent garden and made her knees weak.
I'm scared.
Somehow she preferred the yelling and banning to this.
He wasn't there. Making her shiver with the way he ate. Lady Mother never ate like him. She adopted the 'proper' ways, as she says. She used her chopsticks with precision while her son would growl in frustration and snap them in two with the mere pressure. He was patient. But he had his limits.
Lady Mother mockingly said it was in his male blood.
He would glare at her for such remarks. If he were there.
She was on the verge of tears again. Maybe she deserved it.
He had done everything for her and only asked for her to be a good girl and don't bother him in return. She couldn't even do that right.
Lady Mother sensed her sadness and shook her head. She grabbed the human's hand across the table and squeezed it.
Rin looked up startled. Lady Mother seemed so understanding. She wished she could be like her. Strong and graceful. Lady Mother would never let herself break down.
The Lady gave her a tender fanged smile.
-I know what you're thinking. Everyone has their weaknesses, Rin.
Her eyes widened. Was she so easy to read?
-Mine still lingers deep in my heart.
Rin nibbled in her lip, a habit she recently picked up.
The Lady leaned further in the table and squeezed her hand harder. Her eyes were warm and vulnerable.
-Do not make the same mistake I did.
Rin gulped.
-What was it?
Lady Mother sighed longingly.
-I let my love go. I was arrogant and foolish. I was defeated.
Rin gaped at the demoness.
-H-how…?
-Are you defeated, Rin?
She clenched her jaw. Was she? She thought she wanted this to go on because she had nothing to lose. Did that mean she was defeated?
It left a bitter taste on her mouth.
-Are you going to let it go?
She frowned and squeezed Lady Mother's hand back.
-No!
The demoness nodded and her smile widened into a nasty grin.
-Then teach a lesson to that stubborn son of mine. Show him there is still hope.
Rin's determined glint reappeared in her eyes and she excused herself. She hastened to her bedroom leaving Lady Mother grinning.
The Lady almost felt like patting herself in the back. Hopefully, there would be the day she saw a genuine smile on her son and got her much deserved grandchildren.
She sniffed.
It was the least he could do for his suffering mother.
-I'm glad you're here, sister.
Sango smiled at her brother. She had missed him too.
-Me too, Kohaku. It was still mean of you to leave without saying anything. If you wished to see Rin that bad why didn't you say it?
Kohaku blushed and looked at his sister beneath his eyelashes. She giggled and patted his head. He grunted.
-So you know my secret. Big deal!
Her smile faded.
-It's not that much of a secret with the way you look at her.
Sesshomaru would never look at her like that.
She sighed. Rin's sadness still clenched her heart but the slayer was sure that Rin would thank her later when she was married to Kohaku, happy with normal kids and truly loved.
She just needed to give the final push.
-So, Kohaku, have you thought on how you're going to confess to her?
Her brother smiled dreamingly. Oh, yes he did. He couldn't wait. But he frowned.
-I remember seeing Rin looking quite devastated this afternoon. Do you think something happened?
Sango's eyes hardened.
-Don't worry, it was just a childish fit.
He really tried to focus on his work. He really did. But he was constantly haunted by her delicate face.
When they were at the garden, he couldn't bear to see Rin like that. So he left.
But he regretted it. He should have said something…anything. He needed to wipe that expression from her face.
He was so used to her smile. To her laugh.
How could this happen? Since his father died he had fought this same thing to never happen. He trained his emotions to perfection.
He…he was crumbling.
He smacked his fist on the desk nearly breaking that one too. He turned around and glared at Tenseiga leaning against the wall with Bakusaiga.
He growled.
Is this some kind of revenge, father?
If it was…it was working.
It was not the same. This bitch couldn't even compare to her. She moaned loudly like the whore she was when he thrusted into that spot in her.
So different.
She would cry, beg him to stop, fight him and only moan when it was inevitable. She was so fiery and not boring.
It was always exciting to fuck her.
He didn't even allow the demoness to orgasm as he released his seed in her. He the collapsed on her making her gasp for air. He calmly searched for the katana near his bed and sliced her throat in one unexpected strike.
He closed his eyes reveling in the sound of her dying. Her choked gasps. The sound of her drowning in her own blood.
He smiled. He wished it was her.
But she left.
He got up, naked and bloody, and ordered his servants to clean the mess while he bathed.
That Isamu was proving to be so useful. He could already feel victory in his tongue as he bathed in the dog lord's blood.
Isamu said that Naomi was in the western palace too. How lucky of him. He could have the human and that fiery demoness in one go.
Terrific.
He just needed to plan the next invasion considering the western's strategy spots and everything would go nicely.
He just needed to keep Sesshomaru busy so he wouldn't interfere with anything.
Takeru would be perfect for the job.
Akio sighed as he washed his long blond hair.
It was a necessary sacrifice.
Kohaku was heading to his bedroom. As he passed a heavy looking door he heard soft cries coming from it. He stopped and a chill ran through his spine. Whoever was there was in great pain.
Where did this door lead to?
He tried to open it but it would budge. It was heavily reinforced.
A dungeon perhaps.
Kohaku smirked. The door was kind of hidden. Does Rin know of it?
Who knows what kind of atrocities Sesshomaru did behind those walls.
With a determined nod he ran to his bedroom to get his lock picking tools. He glared at the lock and made sure no one was looking. He had to at least give it a try.
Finally, he heard that click and the door opened with a loud screech. He blinked. His lock picking skills were not the best but that was…kind of easy.
He didn't like it.
The cries got louder and he gulped. He had to go on now that he started it. Sesshomaru would probably be pissed if he knew what he was doing. He had to be quick.
He remained crouched and walked through the cells. Most of them were empty but seemed to be recently used. Seems like Sesshomaru didn't like to keep his prisoners for long.
Maybe he ate them.
Brrrr…
When he reached the last cell his eyes widened. He saw a beautiful demoness bloody and beaten. She was the origin to those heartbreaking cries too. She kept repeating the same thing. That she was a failure.
-You're not a failure.
He didn't know why he said it but there was something about her that told him she was anything but that. She seemed to be brave and strong.
The chains that bound her moved as she raised her head to look at him. Her ethereal blue eyes stole his breath away but they seemed to be in so much pain.
How could Sesshomaru do this to such delicate maiden?
-Y-you're a human…
Her eyes widened.
-You s-smell a lot of Rin.
She snarled and tugged at her chains nearly breaking them. He started to feel a little fear.
Maybe not a such delicate maiden.
-I w-won't let you h-harm her!
She screamed. Kohaku smiled. So she knew Rin. She seemed to care about her. He raised his hands.
-I would never hurt Rin.
Sensing no lies she relaxed a bit. The human didn't seem to have bad intentions.
-You s-shouldn't b-be here.
His lips tightened.
-What's your name?
-Why d-do you care?
When he said nothing she gave a choked laugh.
-Naomi.
That name seemed familiar. He remembered Rin saying something about not seeing some Naomi for a while. Rin seemed to care about her.
He smiled.
-What happened to you?
She grinned showing her fangs.
-I t-tried to have a life b-besides pain.
-That doesn't seem a reason to be in a dungeon.
-I-it's for safety m-measures.
He raised an eyebrow.
-Are you dangerous?
-T-to my enemies.
-Why are you here?
Her head dropped and she coughed more blood. He grimaced.
-I'm a s-suspect.
-Do they have proof?
-…no.
He gritted his teeth.
-That doesn't seem fair to me.
Her growl echoed in the cell making him jump.
-You shouldn't be here.
He nodded and got up. There was something nagging him and he said it before he could think about it.
-I promise you'll get out of here.
She seemed surprised but didn't say anything.
She looked so beautiful. She always did. When she was sleeping she looked like an angel.
He never thought of any demoness like he thought of her.
He even lowered himself to watching her, crouched in the sill of her window.
-That's creepy, son.
He was so lost in his thoughts he nearly fell out of the window. He managed to catch himself and only jumped startled.
Lady Mother was crouched at his side giggling and he glared at her from the corner of his eye. She scoffed.
-What did I tell you about looking at me like that?
He growled.
-Shouldn't you be in bed, you old hag?
She made an insulted expression.
-Why, you ill mannered whelp! I still feel as young as I was five hundred centuries ago!
He turned his head to look at her and raised an eyebrow.
-You're not fooling anyone, mother.
She pouted.
-You're a mean son.
She sighed.
-So…have you talked to her?
His expression softened and he looked at the sleeping beauty.
-Well…this Sesshomaru has talked to her but there was not much said.
Lady Mother smiled.
-There is not many like her.
His jaw clenched.
-How can you be so calm about this?
She caressed his shoulder in a comforting manner.
-I just want to see you happy.
She jumped and he saw her walk inside the palace probably to sleep.
He continued to look at Rin, his eyes pained.
Would I, mother?
Author's Note: Lady Mother to the rescue! Nyah! I'm inspired! Must be a compensation for that nasty writer's block. I love how my brain works. xD Aww thank you all for the reviews you guys are A-W-E-S-O-M-E.