Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 22
Confess!
She was so tired.
It was the third time she almost dropped her face to her breakfast. And the others were sending her weird looks.
Her lord was more subtle but he seemed, dare she say, curious?
She wasn't used to be the centre of attention but she was so exhausted she couldn't even blush in embarrassment.
Who knew dreams could be so unmerciful?
She could still feel her lover's touch.
Everywhere.
She sighed heavily and tried to clear her blurry mind and even blurrier eyes.
Just. One. More. Bite.
As she raised her chopsticks for that one final mouthful the pace was incredibly slow which earned her all kinds of amused glances. Inuyasha's cheeks were puffed and his face was red with the strain of holding back his laughter.
They all knew she was struggling to remain awake but she was too stubborn to admit it.
Almost there.
Just when she was going to bite down…
-Rin.
Her eyes widened and she gasped loudly. She dropped her chopsticks startled and pouted at the mess.
Inuyasha couldn't take it anymore and fell off his seat laughing like an idiot while Kagome glared at him.
Jerk.
Rin thought.
She raised her head shyly to meet his eyes.
-Yes, my lord?
He seemed thoughtful for a moment.
-It is obvious that you are tired. Did you not sleep well?
She gulped and looked down at her plate.
-I prefer not to talk about it here, Lord Sesshomaru.
He hummed but nodded. He got up and bent down to whisper in her ear.
-You're going to sleep some more after you're done eating. Then meet this Sesshomaru at his study. I want to know what ails you.
Her eyes fluttered, dazed. Her love was so close.
She weakly nodded and he left with graceful strides.
Looking around she saw Kohaku and Sango with their usual death glares.
Rin was surprised with herself with how quick she accepted this.
She saw Miroku who remained completely oblivious and Shippo with his usual innocence.
She saw Kagome with a smile Rin didn't know if it was good or bad.
And when she met Inuyasha's eyes he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. He knew that she was flustered.
She wanted to punch him in the head for that.
She ate the rest of her breakfast determined and went to her much needed sleep.
The heavy door opened with a screech. Naomi glared at it.
Someone should fix that door.
Her eyes widened as she saw in the darkness the silhouette of a big male dragging a defeated looking smaller one. She gulped. The bigger one then spoke.
-You're Naomi, right?
She could only nod, still weakened.
-I am Masaru, Lord Sesshomaru's general.
Her heart sunk. What business a general had with her?
But to her surprise the male knelt by her and started to release her from her chains. She gasped in relief as the ones in her wrists and neck opened. As soon as she was free she raised her hand to rub the sure-to-be-there mark on her neck.
She heard a faint whimper and she gasped as the smaller one replaced her on the chains. Forgetting the general she crawled weakly towards the new prisoner and smiled sadly as she saw hazel eyes once again.
-So…you couldn't escape?
Masaru narrowed his eyes at her, slightly suspicious.
-Do you know this inu, demoness?
She ignored him.
Isamu returned her smile.
-We both knew…that this wouldn't last long.
He took a deep breath.
-I just regret that he found out like this.
Naomi couldn't reply since she found herself being dragged away by an impatient general. She felt really bad for the councilman since she knew very well that he wasn't the least an evil one.
She screeched in pain as her eyes met light after kami knows how much time in the darkness. She rubbed her eyes and fought the tears already spilling from her eyes.
Masaru sighed, feeling a little guilty for not warning before and he awkwardly caressed her back.
-Come, demoness. Lord Sesshomaru wishes to see you.
Her heart sped up in fear with just the mention of his name. The things he had done to her to get answers, even if understandable, were beyond painful and she didn't want to go through that again.
She reluctantly nodded and followed the big, armored male.
She let her eyes roam through the halls. The simple hard walls were decorated with paintings, war trophies and some impressive furs of terrific foes. She couldn't help but stop in front of one of the paintings.
Masaru sensed this and stopped too. Seeing what she was admiring he smiled.
He rested a hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her thoughts.
-A fine battle. He made his father very proud that day.
Her eyes softened as she watched the young but determined inu looking at his sire with adoring eyes as he knelt before him and presented the three heads of a bird demon, a bear demon and an ice witch. He was covered in blood and gore but for some twisted reason it only made the scene more special and beautiful.
-Those three were the leaders of a band of aspiring revolutionaries that plotted against Inu no Taisho's reign. They had been in hiding for three years until Lord Sesshomaru volunteered to deal with the pests.
Naomi looked curiously at the general, no longer intimidated by his big size, silently asking for more.
Masaru tensed a bit as he found this demoness very beautiful, a slight blush tinted his cheeks.
He cleared his throat in an attempt to regain his nonchalant composure.
-He revealed a cunning and superior intellect, the strength of a warrior and a right but unmerciful judgment to all of the western lands and of course his father.
She inspected the painting once more, taking in every detail. The softness of their features, the daylight on their ethereal looking bodies.
But as she saw the former lord's eyes the pride was definitely there along with something else. Something much stronger and dominating.
Inu no Taisho's eyes looked almost…sad as he gazed at his firstborn. Pity too.
It confused her.
-Why does he look sad?
She muttered. She looked at Masaru with questioning eyes.
His featured hardened and his mouth thinned. She frowned. Clearly she had stroked a nerve.
He sighed heavily.
-The former lord was wiser than you could ever imagine.
He turned and resumed the walking. She followed but the confusion was still there.
She realized she knew absolutely nothing about her lord or these lands.
They stopped in front of two large doors. His famous aura just across them. Masaru sighed.
-Look, whatever is discussed behind these doors do NOT mention what we have been talking about that painting earlier and that also means the lord's past.
Masaru shivered visibly and Naomi arched an eyebrow.
-He is…extremely…sensitive about it.
She nodded and with a final glance, Masaru left her.
She knocked and readied herself.
-Enter.
She opened the door and closed it quietly behind her. The room was well lit and his unique scent was everywhere. It made her uneasy since she couldn't see him.
She whipped her head around trying to catch a glimpse of her lord but it was like he wasn't there. Which was a lie since his aura caressed hers with every step she took forward.
And the fact that he told me to enter.
She frowned.
Urgh, I'm not in the mood for his games.
-AH!
She jumped startled as an elegant, striped hand with long claws rested on her shoulder with a firm grip. His chest rumbled behind her back with amused growls. She twirled around to face his usual emotionless face but there was a faint line on his jaw that told her he was stressed.
She cleared her throat and bowed low.
-My lord wished to see me?
He hummed and raised her chin so she could look in his eyes.
-You will be disappointed if you are expecting an apology.
Her eyes widened as she realized she didn't even thought about it.
He slightly tilted his head and smirked.
-Think of it as a warning should you ever feel the 'need' to betray your lord. However, this Sesshomaru is pleased that you remained loyal.
She could not help the little smile that escaped her lips. She could see it in his eyes.
He trusted her. Even if it was just a tiny bit.
-I shall always remember your words, my lord.
He hummed once again as if deep in thought. Her breath hitched and quickened as he raised one finger and traced the mark on her neck with a claw, cold eyes apprehensive.
-This will not do…
He muttered.
She was a bit afraid. Her instincts were screaming at her to run for having him so close to such a vital spot.
-W-What do you mean, Lord Sesshomaru?
Sesshomaru just loved to tease. He was amused at the expressions running across Naomi's face. He could read her like a book.
He gave her more space but remained tracing the mark.
-This Sesshomaru wants you to hide whatever marks you have in your body that resulted from the time you were captive. Especially in Rin's presence. I will not have her worrying over you or bothering me with useless scolding at a time like this.
She smiled and nodded.
She had missed Rin.
-If she asks you, you will say that you have been in training which is what you will do starting tomorrow. You will be trained as a bodyguard as well as a personal servant for Rin.
Once again, Naomi nodded.
-Hn. Call for a servant, they will lead you to your new quarters.
He then turned around and sat at his desk resuming whatever he was doing before.
-You're dismissed.
She bowed and hurried to leave.
She woke up and her mouth widened in a huge yawn. She grunted when there was a 'crack' sound when she closed her mouth.
Urgh, I hate when this happens.
She rotated her lower jaw until the weird feeling was gone.
She then remembered that she was to see her lord to discuss what disturbed her sleep and she groaned.
What the hell was I thinking? Am I really going to discuss my erotic dreams with Lord Sesshomaru?
She wrinkled her nose and glared at her reflection.
I hate myself sometimes.
With a long sigh she just figured to get this over with while she had the guts.
She walked languidly towards his study not anticipating at all whatever conversion they might end up with.
She heard his voice even before she knocked.
-Come in, Rin.
She opened the door and saw him sitting at his desk writing in a particularly long scroll.
She fought the urge to laugh. He looked so serious and determined as he help the scroll with one hand and wrote with the other. The other end of it was bent over the desk and sprawling on the floor. She raised her foot not to step on it and sat on the chair in front of him.
After a moment of silence, Sesshomaru folded the scroll and placed it in the pile of the other ones.
His eyes met hers and she blushed. She promptly looked down.
-So Rin…you know you can tell anything to this Sesshomaru. I will not have you roaming my palace barely conscious. You must understand that while it is peaceful inside, outside evil lurks.
She nodded and bit her lip. She raised her head and fiddled with her fingers.
-Do you dream, Lord Sesshomaru?
He blinked.
He dreamed alright.
But this Sesshomaru dreams like a dog.
He felt something that he was sure he never felt. It was a bit suffocating like he felt disapproval for an action that he could not avoid.
He was embarrassed.
He didn't want to tell his ward that his dreams majorly consisted in chasing small creatures in the forest or digging holes. There were times when his dreams approached a rational side and held some meaning but they were kind of rare.
When he was dreaming he was what he really was. Period.
Besides, they have been getting pretty weird with his sexual frustration lately.
So he chose to avoid the question.
-This Sesshomaru believes that his dreams have no relevance in this conversation, Rin.
She smiled weakly and rubbed the back of her neck. Her blush deepened and he raised an eyebrow.
-Have you been having troubling dreams?
She unconsciously batted her eyelashes in a seductive manner and he could barely suppress the lusty growl rising in his throat.
Heh…I wouldn't call them troubling since they feel so good.
She just did the same as her lord. Avoided the question.
But her answer left a rather awkward environment around them.
-I've been thinking a lot lately…about…some things that have been happening.
She looked at him knowingly.
His mouth felt dry for a second. He was not pleased at all with the turn of events. He was not ready yet to discuss such a delicate matter that held their unique relationship in its grasp.
Human. Human!
His subconscious taunted.
Her breathing quickened and her heart raced. This is it. She was going to tell him and vocalize what he already knew. She was going to tell him what she had told Kagome and Inuyasha.
Looking up at him she saw his confused expression but she knew that there could not be a chance such as this ever again.
She took a deep breath and held his hand (that was resting on the desk) on hers. He looked at her blankly as she reddened even more.
-I love you!
He was startled by her confession and he quickly tore his hand from hers like he had been burned.
She succumbed to despair, she covered her face with her hands and cried as she took his reaction as a disgusted rejection.
He watched as his not so little anymore Rin crumbled before his eyes. His heartbeat was frantic in his chest.
Only one thing stupidly on his mind and the only one thing he wanted to cease right now.
Rin is crying!
Author's Note: I'm so sorry it took longer than normal. Inspiration abandoned me until it returned to me yesterday and I was finally able to finish this chapter. *giggles* Sesshomaru dreams like a dog. *whispers* You tell no one!