POISON | Love Her
Chapter 11
Signals Crossing
'Thoughts'
Flashbacks
Original Publish Date: 4/3/2017
A/N #1: This chapter is somehow longer than the last. Oops. Fair warning!
Rin stirred from her sleep, feeling a hand run down the length of her body and warm breath tickling her ear. "Rin." A deep voice called her to leave her slumber, but she protested, until a pair of lips trailed down to her neck and fangs gently latched onto the junction at her shoulder, drawing a soft moan from her.
"Sessh...?" She questioned, her voice still groggy and too tired to pronounce his full name. The strong arms that encompassed her tightened, lining her body with his perfectly. She gasped in surprise when she felt his hardness pressed against her. That woke her right up. Rin swallowed thickly, "Sesshomaru?" She tried again, this time turning around to face the daiyoukai.
She swore he was fully clothed when they slept. Certainly, it would not be something she would forget if the daiyoukai climbed into her bed with only a pair of boxer briefs—He stole her lips, as if to silence her thoughts, and she felt whatever little resistance she may have had disappear when his tongue brushed beside hers. She let the daiyoukai push her back down on the bed when he rose above her, slipping between her legs. Her arms draped around his shoulders as he settled against her, never breaking their kiss.
Rin moaned when he grounded his hips toward her's, her hands tangling in his hair as her legs wrapped around his slim waist, trying to feel more of him against her, but clothes separated them and she whimpered realizing it was not enough, her body only burned hotter in anticipation. She broke their kiss, breathless, "Sessh, please..."
His mouth moved to her jawline, leaving a trail of nibbling kisses as he moved down her neck, he growled, "Tell me what you want, Rin."
His hand made its way to her tank top and pulled up, baring her chest to the cold air. Rin squirmed helplessly under his touch as he cupped her breast, his dangerous claws teasing her nipple. "You... I want you." She managed to say, but that wasn't enough.
"Want me to do what?" The daiyoukai asked, before he dropped his head further, his mouth catching her neglected nipple between his sharp fangs. She couldn't think, only wanting him elevate the growing desire burning in her core.
"Ahh, I.. Ah..." Rin tried to speak, but she couldn't find the words in the haze of the pleasure he caused. She could only beg. "Please..." She squeezed her legs harder before grinding her wet core against him, earning a low groan from the daiyoukai. Suddenly, he grabbed her hips and pushed them back down to the mattress, a heated red started to tinge his gaze.
And she woke up.
Rin froze in her spot, realizing everything was just a dream and she was completely alone in her room, wrapped in the boa of his fur with her legs clenching it. Mortified that she was probably dry-humping the thing, she quickly pushed it aside and sat up, trying to ignore the wetness pooled in her nether regions. 'Oh gods, what was that?' Its not that she never ever had those kind of dreams before, but they were so rare and far between... and never one so intense. 'Cold shower. Now.' She thought, nearly flying into the bathroom. 'Oh god, oh god... What if someone smelled that?' "Can they?"
... His claws skirted down her open back and she pushed against his shoulders to no avail. "… and smell. I can detect your excitement."
"That's right." He confirmed that day freaking one of meeting him. She sincerely hoped he was on the other side of the castle, far enough to not catch a puff of anything. 'Or... Maybe... He did and he is on his way to take care of you~' Her mind teased, bringing with it another rush of—she dumped herself under the cold water that felt like ice prickling her skin. 'Calm down, Rin.' "Let's forget about all that."
-:-
Having successfully washed away any dirty thoughts and scents off of her (she hoped), Rin now stealthy moved through castle, determined to get to Saiten in the training room and get out before being confronted by anyone... particularly Sesshomaru's mother. She... wasn't ready for that yet, especially if she was as bad as Sesshomaru put it. 'Too bad I have no clue where she is...' And her scent must stick out like a sore thumb being the only human in the vicinity.
"Ah, Rin, I see you were able to get here just fine." Saiten greeted her as she walked into the wide, large room. It seemed some other personal guards were sparring amongst each other and she tilted her head, curious.
"Hey Saiten...?"
"Yes?" The youkai was gathering his things.
"Can you train me? I had a friend teaching me some basics before I got here..."
The man cleared his throat, "I would not mind, Rin, but I would need Lord Sesshomaru's okay first."
She gave him a puzzled look, "Why?"
He seemed... uneasy. "He is your Alpha. It would be... unwise to put you in harm's way, even if it is just training and sparring, without his approval first."
"That seems silly, the training is for my benefit." Rin commented but the youkai quickly changed subjects,
"You wished you leave the castle grounds, correct? May I ask where?"
Rin let the change slide, "I saw a large forest and a pond far from here, near the base of a mountain... Can you take me there? Being from the city, I don't get to enjoy those sights as much as I would like..."
The youkai frowned, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Rin, I cannot take you there without Lord Sesshomaru's permission as well. The forests are inhabited by more wild, baser youkai."
"Saiten, I'm trying to get out of here. I don't want to see her yet." Rin finally admitted in a low whisper. "Anywhere, please."
The man looked surprised, then put his hand on his chin, a concentrated look on his face. "Hmm... Alright, follow me."
-:-
Rin was not the only one avoiding the Lady Mother...
Sesshomaru sat in his second study, one further from his main one in a quiet, empty hall on the 3rd floor of his home. He knew he would not have peace for long, but enjoyed it while he can. He cursed the wagging tongues of his servants, undoubtedly how his mother find out about Rin so quickly, and would kill whomever told her.
'The miko has escaped the hospital she being treated in. We were able to track her down and claims the anti-youkai police force cannot be trusted, she has yet to cooperate with any mikos that have approached her from the start of her stay to now. She also claims they will capture her and torture her for information. She seeks asylum.'
The daiyoukai narrowed his eyes at the report, 'Torture her?' He rose from seat, burning the report in a small, lit fireplace. He leaned on the mantle, 'She was adamant of concealing her reiki.' He had not known she was a miko until they're encounter at the shrine. 'Why work at a strip club when she could get a top-paying position easily in the force with some extra training? What makes her believe the mikos will harm her?' They were the only ones in the city who could provide her some reasonable protection if Ryūkotsusei decided to go after her.
'Rin would be happy.' The daiyoukai sneered at the thought, he would not be granting a mortal enemy of his people a place in his home simply because the woman would be more content here. The human already caused a bit of stir within his people... He had to consider the dragon might try to pull information out of the miko about his cooperation—it would jeopardize his people outside the dome, and Naraku's people as well.
Not that he gave a damn about the spider, but his youkai race was already fleeting, they could not afford more pointless death. He had already received several reports that the few human-run business within Ryukotsusei's territory had been flushed out, their owners, and any youkai patrons that tried to protect them, killed. Ryūkotsusei's rhetoric of killing humans and their 'apologists' meant youkai were not excused, and hanyous will surely suffer the most, all over again.
They will fight, they will fail, and the image of youkai as mindless beasts will be refreshed in the older humans who have seen this decades ago and be firmly implanted in those who have yet to experience it... The dragon was not the first, and he doubted he would be last. How was it that despite how long individuals of his race lived, they were doomed to repeat history time and time again?
The smell of jasmine mixed with the sharp bitterness of poison interrupted his thoughts and he knew his peace was done.
"Aha~! Here you are." He did not bother looking up as he walked back to his desk. "Now, my son, where is that girl of yours? Introduce me! I have waited long enough." He did not bother responding. "Are you keeping her from me?" The question was ludicrous and she knew it. As if he would go through the trouble of locking Rin out of sight. The older woman sighed, "Will you continue ignoring me?" He planned to. "Oh, stop acting like such a child. I'm not going to harm her, you know that." Physically? No, his mother was not the fighting sort. Her talent was mending someone's will to her own. "Do you know where she is?"
"Rin is allowed to wander the base grounds as she sees fit. She could be anywhere here."
"You let her off alone? Aren't you worried one of our own might mistake her for a snack?" He did not dignify that with a response. There was no youkai foolish enough to attack Rin while his scent marked her, and for any who decided to, Saiten will dispose of immediately. The woman sighed dramatically, "Why are you so cruel? It has been a year since we last saw each other, are you not happy to see me?"
"Not in the slightest."
Instead of being offended, the woman smirked, then let out an airy laugh, "I suppose I'll just have to track her down myself." She waved as she turned to leave, "I am so very curious to know how she has gotten along accepting your beast and-"
His voice cut her off, "You will not discuss personal matters with Rin."
His mother shrugged, ignoring his veiled anger, "Fine, but youattempting to hide all this speaks volumes." She said, before leaving.
-:-
"Hey, Saiten..."
The youkai seemed to increasingly get more nervous every time she wanted to ask a question, "Y-yes, Rin?"
"Are my questions making you uncomfortable?" Rin asked, frowning as they walked out the inner grounds gate to a large patch of green that looked like a park. She didn't think her questions were personal in any way, but maybe she was missing something...
"I don't mind, Rin, its just..." Saiten stopped at the edge of the path, looking out toward the playground. "There are some questions that you should ask Lord Sesshomaru instead. Questions of pack, status, or our culture... I imagine he would wish to personally educate you on these things."
"Is that an Alpha thing or-" Rin laughed, "I just did it. That's a question for him, right?"
Saiten smiled at her understanding, "Yes, but I'll gladly answer any questions you may have about the base."
Rin watched the children play, taking note of the differences between her human experience and youkai. One big difference is that some of the children were in their true forms, cheetahs, wolves, tigers, lions, racoons, and a... 'Llama?' were darting across the plains, chasing and hunting each other. "How many youkai live here?"
"Oh, about 20,000."
That was much less than she thought considering the sheer size of the base, but judging on how the little ones played, one youkai needed much more space than one human. "...How many hanyous?"
"12."
"... And humans?"
"One."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Wow... Minako said she hadn't seen any, but this place is so huge..."
"To be fair, we have had a couple of humans on base throughout the centuries. The last human here before you passed on about 50 years ago... Ah... let's go this way." Rin began to noticed they weren't staying in one spot for longer than a few minutes and Saiten kept choosing areas that were more and more crowded as if...
"Are we being followed?" She whispered, holding on to the back of the youkai's leather jacket to not lose him in the sea of demons clamoring the market.
"You are perceptive! Yes, by the Lady Mother."
Rin frowned, "Is she going to be mad that you are leading me away?" She didn't want Saiten to get in any trouble.
Saiten gave her a smile, "No, in fact, you can say she is enjoying herself too much. Hunting is a satisfying-"
"I'm not prey." The human countered, stopping in her tracks. She was a bit nervous, yes, but she wasn't afraid of her.
"I apologize, do you wish to stop and wait for her to find us?" She hesitated but nodded all the same. Meeting her so far out from the castle, and Sesshomaru, was probably not the best idea, but she was not going to keep running! 'It will be fine. She can't be that bad, right?' "Let's pick a quieter spot then." The two sat in an empty a bench far off from the bustling market, waiting for the inuyoukai to appear.
Rin noticed the sound of people around her grew quiet and she glanced over her shoulder, seeing the wide berth opening in the crowd. 'That has to be her...' Sesshomaru looked very much like his mother, 'They have different markings...' She noticed the moon and the eyeliner-like sweep was the same, but she had one, short, curvy stripe, high on her cheekbones, just under her lemony eyes. She was shorter than Rin thought she would be and noticed she also had a boa, draped over her back and supported by her bent elbows. When Saiten rose from his seat, she followed, and he bowed so did she.
'I'm suppose to, right?' The human fidgeted, 'Sesshomaru never cared.' Her mind made the point that Sesshomaru was acting like a normal, human when those little things would have mattered the most. 'Well, she must outrank me... She's his mom.'
"My Lady." Saiten greeted.
"Saiten, I was enjoying the little chase. I'm so sad to see it ended so soon." The older woman pouted, and Rin caught the slight flush in Saiten's cheeks before he replied,
"I apologize, my Lady... but my escort caught on and wished to stop and meet you."
Rin took the cue to smile at the beautiful inuyoukai, "My name is Rin. It's a pleasure to meet you, my Lady."
"Now, don't be so formal. Inukimi is fine." The daiyoukai's smile seemed mischievous, "Saiten, will you excuse us? I would love to get to know this little human my son has brought."
"Yes, my Lady." He bowed at both of them and promptly vanished into the crowd across the street from them. 'How does he do that?' Rin absently thought before the daiyoukai's voice directed her attention back,
"Have you eaten? I'm famished."
"Ah, no, not yet."
"Good. Saiten, fortunately, lead you to this side of the base. My favorite brunch place is nearby. Come, come."
The restaurant seated them in the middle of a private empty room, and Rin looked over the menu. Everything sounded awesome but she noticed, like the cafe from yesterday, everything was made with youkai meat and dairy. That wasn't a problem for her to eat, it just meant it was impossible to finish even half a plate being so incredibly dense. Minako specifically told her to avoid any youkai offal as it has an excess of vitamins and minerals for a human, any straight coffee or espresso as the beans are cultivated from a special strand that had as much as quadruple the caffeine per oz, and no more than one glass of youkai wine or spirit though that she already had experience with.
"Two pancake flights. Sweet potato, carrot cake, white chocolate chip, blueberry, strawberry and red velvet." Inukimi ordered for them both. "Anything else would probably be to heavy for the human."
She was thankful as she wasn't sure what would be best this time around. She didn't want to waste food.
"Yes, my Lady." The waiter walked off to the kitchens.
"Now, tell me..." The daiyoukai smoothed out the cloth napkin on her lap, settling herself in her chair before giving her a seemingly polite smile, "How do you meet my son?"
'Crap.' Rin thought, having to tell such a proper-looking lady that she worked at a strip club was embarrassing... 'It was going to come up...' The human sighed, not looking at the daiyoukai as she replied, "A gentlemen's club." That always made it sound a tad bit better.
It gave the inuyoukai pause before she sipped her water, as Rin watched from the corner of her eyes as the Lady Mother processed the information. She then asked, putting her glass down. "Where?"
"At Shikon."
"You worked there... as a stripper?"
"Yes, I was one of the top ladies, I guess you can say..." Rin explained unsurely, not wanting to seem like she was bragging.
"Hmm, interesting. My son meets there occasionally with the other lords, correct?"
"Yes, he does."
"And how long have you known each other?
"A few months."
There was a moment of awkward silence as the lady seemed to openly scrutinize her every pore. Thankfully, the waiter came in, setting two long plates with three pancakes of the ordered flavors on each. Her nose twitched at the sweet smell, unable to hold back her smile at how awesome they looked. But she held back. 'She must be the one to eat first, I think...'
"What are your intentions with my son?"
Rin shifted in her seat, ignoring her growling stomach. "I am helping him with... an issue he has with another lord." 'That's vague enough, right?' She thought, knowing Sesshomaru didn't want his mother to know any details about the jewel.
"Oh..." The Lady picked up a fork, and took a bite of food. She gestured for Rin to eat as well. 'YES!' She tried not to seem to eager as she took a piece of the red velvet pancake. 'Its so fluffy!' The human was happily enjoying the sweetness when the daiyoukai asked, "Does that involve fondling each other in your room?"
Rin nearly choked, covering her mouth with a napkin until she got the food down safely. "No... I... That's not..." She had no idea what to say.
"I am very curious as to why my son needs a human with no standing to deal with an opposing lord."
Her free hand fidgeted with the hem of the napkin draped over her lap, "You will have to ask Sesshomaru, my Lady."
The daiyoukai smirked, "Already has you covering for him? How sweet." Rin was going to object but Inukimi continued speaking, "You seem rather young." The older woman chuckled, "And still a virgin. How strange that he hasn't just taken you... Ah, but you said you are helping him something important? He can't scare you off while you are still of use to him." Rin nearly winced at the woman's words, but she continued on, "But to bring you here, put you in our hall and scent-mark you? That implies he intends to keep you around. He even sleeps in bed with you!" She growled, "Do you know the last time he has slept with his family?"
"Ah... no..." Rin squeaked, noticing the daiyoukai was getting increasingly agitated. Family must be sore subject for her as it is with Sesshomaru.
"When he was still a pup! Looking about 8 in human years." The Lady shook her head, "His own half-brother knows nothing about pack because Sesshomaru never gave him that type of necessary affection a growing inuyoukai needs, and it shows. But you..." Rin stared wide-eyed listening as she continued her rant, wanting to crawl in a hole when a painted claw pointed at her. "He wrapped you in his fur and curled up with you, in your bed, not his, and I'm sure that wasn't the first time. So I ask you again, Rin..." Her lemon-gold eyes narrowed dangerously, the human swore she saw a flash of red. "What are you intentions with my son?"
Rin swallowed hard, trying to gather what words to say. "I suppose..." She licked her lips nervously, "I suppose that depends on Sesshomaru. I... I am just here to help, my Lady. I can tell you that have no ill intentions. Sesshomaru has given me so much... I just wish to repay him in any way I can. I would do nothing that wasn't in his best interests..."
The daiyoukai stared at her for what seemed like hours, the tip of her nose twitching. 'Its only been half a minute.' She tried to reason, willing away her apprehension. Then the Lady just shrugged, before continuing her to eat. "Very well." Rin blinked, watching the older woman just munch on pancakes—"Eat! You need some more meat on those bones."-as if she didn't look like she was about to murder her a minute ago. She reluctantly picked up her fork again and joined, wary of any other question that she may ask.
"Do you have any family?"
"No, not anymore..."
"Oh, I apologize. What happened to them?"
"My mother died years ago in an accident. My father was killed recently due to a territorial dispute between Naraku and Ryūkotsusei." She spat the dragon's name with more venom than she intended and the Lady quickly picked it up,
"Does that have anything to do with what you are helping my son with?"
"Not really... Just what drove me to him."
"I see... Are you enjoying your stay here so far?"
Rin smiled and replied before taking another bite, "Yes, this place is very impressive."
"Are you planning to bed my son?"
She almost choked, again. She had a feeling the daiyoukai kept waiting until she had food in her mouth to ask a shocking question on purpose. Rin felt her cheeks burning up, "What's with these questions?"
The daiyoukai looked as if she didn't ask anything strange or inappropriate. "Him having sex with a pack-mate when he has no mate has implications."
"What kind of implications?" 'Everything Minako said couldn't have been true... She was speculating, wasn't she?'
The woman looked surprised, "Surely, Sesshomaru has spoken to you about this. You have known each other for months you said."
"No... He was in a human disguise for the majority of that time. I've only learned more of inuyoukai in the past couple of days..."
"My goodness, and he almost took you last night. What a brute." The Lady looked torn between laughter and disappointment. "I suppose that is not too surprising. That involves speaking and being open with one another, two things that my son despises. How do you like the food?"
The two finished up without further embarrassment on Rin's part.
The Lady then insisted they go into the castle together with arms linked as they made their way to Sesshomaru who was likely in his study. Something about wanting her to get more comfortable with inuyoukai behavior, as the Lady emphasized involving a lot of touching, a lot of openness about relationships despite the alpha's demeanor... and some barking.
"Barking? I can't-"
"Don't worry, little Rin, no one here expects you to do that." The female daiyoukai laughed.
Also to assure her son that she had no ill will towards her and acceptance of her presence in the family home, but once they found him, the suspicious shifting of his eyes between them told her that back-fired. Inukimi let her go, "Must you always look at me like I'm up to something?"
"You always are."
"You are wrong. We simply had a chat over brunch and I returned her in one piece and not at all frightened or threatened..." She countered, gesturing to Rin, "Right?"
"She's telling the truth..." Rin agreed. There was a moment she was concerned, but in the end, it was just a mother trying to make sure her son isn't being taken advantage of. She can respect that. The Lady Mother really didn't seem as bad as Sesshomaru made her to be. It really could have gone over a lot worse.
"Very well..." Sesshomaru said, but she could tell that the daiyoukai still had his reservations, and if she could tell...
"You are impossible." His mother gritted before turning away and walking off in a flurry of fur and angry struts. Rin frowned, and couldn't help but feel a little bad for Inukimi.
"She really didn't do anything..." Rin reiterated, but the daiyoukai just continued on with his paperwork without another word. She sighed, dropping herself on the seat across from him, "She seemed sad that you don't do that cuddle thing with her, though, or your brother."
"Half-brother." He corrected, still not looking up from his papers. "And I'm far too old for that nonsense with them now." If that was true, why would his mother be so upset? The book didn't mention any age limit either, and he didn't have his own children to care for...
Rin silently watched the daiyoukai, as his golden eyes scanned the papers in his hand with his usual stoic expression, his silver hair spilling over his shoulders and the back of his seat. He wasn't wearing a tie, amazingly, and the first few buttons on the top of his shirt were open, her eyes zeroing in on the bit of exposed collarbone as her mind took her back to when the moonlight highlighted his chiseled torso. Blushing, she quickly squeezed her legs together, hard, and tried thinking of anything else but a shirtless Sesshomaru.
Talking should get her mind off it. "Aren't your mother and your brother are part of this pack?"
"Half-brother, and no."
"No? I thought family is part of pack?"
"I never accepted them after my father's passing."
Rin blinked, now she was just confused. "I thought family was unconditionally part of it..."
"It was just my father, his wife, Izayoi, and I. My mother was estranged with my father at the time, and was kicked as he feared for Izayoi's safety. Inuyasha was born on the day of my father's death."
"Oh..." She wanted to ask more, 'What would Inukimi do to Inuyasha's mom?', but was afraid to press too hard and have him shut down. 'I'll have time to ask more about that later.' "Have you heard anything about Ryūkotsusei?" That seemed like a safe subject for him.
"No. He has gone dark since the shrine. Security has heightened in his districts, and his headquarters is barricaded."
'That's pretty ominous.' But Sesshomaru didn't seemed worried about it at all. 'He does that with everything.' She began playing with the hem of her skirt, thinking if she should ask her next question... The discussion with his mother earlier did bring it back to the forefront of her mind. "After he is handled... what then?"
"The jewel is sealed."
That's not what she meant. "I-I mean..." Rin pursed her lips, now tugging on her skirt nervously. "Do I still stay here? Do I go back to the city? Or...?"
"Do as you wish."
'Not-a-straight-answer number one...' "Do you want me to stay?"
"If it pleases you."
'And two...' "Let's say I wanted to nip you because you are annoying me, what would be the appropriate place?"
"The ear." Rin got up from her seat and made her way around, the daiyoukai seemed to be too absorbed into whatever he has reading to notice her. She felt the muscles in his shoulders tense when she placed her hands on them, and she nipped him, right at the tip of his left ear. She felt the vibration of his low growl through his clothing as he looked over his shoulder to her. "What are you doing?"
"Nipping you for annoying me."
"That was not a nip."
"It was!" She didn't want to bite too hard.
The daiyoukai turned with his swirling office chair before grabbing her and pulling her onto his lap. She squeaked, "Ah, what are you-"
"This is a nip." She felt a quick, sharp pain in her ear from his bite and whimpered, shrinking away from him. 'That hurt!' "This is what you did." He softly nibbled her ear, causing her to sharply inhale at the sensation, and gave a comforting lick to the spot his fangs pinched. 'There was no tongue in what I did!' She thought in protest, but allowed the daiyoukai to nuzzle her neck, shivering when her mind brought back her wicked dream.
Abruptly, Sesshomaru pushed her off of him and turned back to his work.
Rin frowned at the daiyoukai's back, but decided to drop it. She already felt a bit... excited... and that was just what she was trying to avoid a moment ago! As for nipping, next time, she'll bite harder. She'll make sure of it. For now, she had more important things to ask! "...Can Saiten train me?"
"No."
"Oh... Can you? But you seem busy all the time."
"No."
The human crossed her arms over her chest, "Why not?"
"You don't need it."
"I think I do..." Rin mumbled, looking down to the hardwood floor as she walked to his side.
"Are you suggesting I cannot protect you?"
"No." Rin responded immediately, trying not to smile at the daiyoukai in case he took further offense. 'Of course he would take it like that...' She knew by now how to get him to agree with something. Pleading didn't work, anger would just make it worse, but the daiyoukai seemed to not like it if she looked disappointed or sad... "It makes me feel better. Please?"
He glanced at her. A long exhale escaped from his nose before he replied, "Fine. I will. You start after the Wild Hunt is over."
Rin smiled, "Thanks!" The daiyoukai made no comment. She took the quiet time to wander his main study, her fingers running along spines of shelved books for anything interesting, then admiring the elaborate workmanship of the fireplace mantle. Anything to keep her occupied, ignoring the tingling want in her fingers to run them through his soft mane. Her eyes drifted to the portraits of impressive landscapes that decorated the room, they seemed to be all in the same style. 'I wonder who painted those?'
The daiyoukai was the one who broke the silence this time, "Your friend will be seeking asylum here. Inuyasha is bringing her in when the festivities begin."
"Friend...? Kagome!?" Rin gasped, running back to Sesshomaru's side that instant when he nodded, "Asylum? Is she alright? What happened?"
"She believes she is in danger. I'm inclined to agree. It would not be wise for future relations with the traditional mikos to leave her unprote-" Rin cupped his face and kissed the daiyoukai right on the lips, bubbling with joy. Kagome was fine, and she was going to be safe and be with her!
She pulled away from the stunned inuyoukai just enough to say, "That makes me so happy! Thank you!" She had just realized what she had done. 'You were making out him just last night on your bed and now you have a problem?' Her mind scolded but she brushed off that piece of logic. "I, er, s-sorry." She started sheepishly as she let go of his face, moving further away but he grabbed her before she could run off and hide in utter embarrassment.
Rin gasped at the unexpected urgency of his kiss, being pulled once more into his lap. She finally relieved the urge of her hands in his perfect mane, marveling in the feel of the silky-smooth tresses between her fingers. Her passion lit up as the vibration of his pleased growl rumbled her body, pushing her deeper in his kiss and urging her to take control. She moved down from his lips and nibbled down his exposed neck, the near-inaudible groan from the daiyoukai encouraging her.
A dark unexplored corner of her mind convinced her to go on, pulling his head back by the hair to gain more access to his neck. She let her blunt teeth scrape his tough, flawless skin and hissed when his claws pinched her skin as he pulled her impossibly closer. When she looked back at his face, that stoic expression was gone, replaced a look that was eerily similar to her dream...
And that unknown part of her found she enjoyed being someone who could break the chains of his control.
The rest of her mind slammed the brakes at the thought in disbelief, catching up with her body, with her surroundings. 'What am I doing!?' She thought, her eyes flickering to his throat that he just allowed her ravish with zero complaint, with not even a bit of objection. "I..." She tried to start, suddenly hyper-aware of her heart pounding, of her breathless voice, of her body over his. Was it him losing control or her? 'What is wrong with me?'
Sesshomaru furrowed his brows as the red receded from his gaze, perhaps catching her change of mood in her scent, "Rin?"
She smiled at him, temporarily ramming the thoughts away to try to make her grin convincing as she could, using the moment to sneak out of his lap. "I shouldn't distract you, you have so much work to do!" She ignored the confusion flickering in his eyes and started to leave the room, not turning back at all. She couldn't look back. "I gotta let Minako know about Kagome! Bye!"
-:-
Two Days Later
"These are new, aren't they?" Inukimi commented as she stood in front of two paintings on the right side of his study. "When will you be giving this artist's number? I want a piece for my living room."
"She's dead." The daiyoukai replied, his gaze flickering to the paintings momentarily.
"What a shame." Inukimi sighed, then turned to face him. "You're being very peculiar as of late... That girl's scent has gotten stale on you, is that the problem?" Sesshomaru shot his mother a side glare before returning his attention back to his scout's reports.
He already had a tense business meeting with some youkai small business owners that were nervous about the attacks on their human-friendly establishments in the morning, coupled with the knowledge that those same strikes were going to continue. Tonight. Ryūkotsusei's men were planning three attacks somewhere in the east and south districts.
Naraku implicated that the mikos employed by the city seemed not be too concerned about it, going as far as to purposely delay the Slayer's response time to up the count of injuries and casualties during these attacks to fuel the ire boiling between species. He did not know how much he could trust the spider's word, he would gain nothing from lying about it, but perhaps the miko could shed some light on this regardless.
Speaking of Rin's friend... now it also seemed Inuyasha would not be able to hold off on bringing in the miko till tomorrow night under the guise of the festivities, as they were being tracked by Slayers. A minor inconvenience, but now it meant more of his men will be aware of the miko's status before she is allowed in, instead of just thinking she was simply human, something he had wanted to avoid.
And, yes, he begrudgingly admitted to only himself that perhaps all that would have seemed less stressful if Rin was not avoiding him for some inexplicable reason.
His mother wouldn't drop it, speaking with that grating voice she used as if she knew something he did not, "That poor girl. You know how human virgins are, don't you? Have you never had one? So scared and unsure but still wanting so much. Oh, and the lack of a mother all this time... No one to confine in about her feelings and about boys. I can't imagine how overwhelming having a daiyoukai's desire must be to her weak little mind and body."
"Do you have no one else to bother?" The daiyoukai questioned. While her words seemed to make some sense, coming from her made them untrustworthy. How quickly she warmed up to Rin, despite her being human and getting a spot in his pack before her, was highly out-of-character.
"I could bother the girl, I suppose. Would you prefer that?"
"Leave her."
"Yes, yes, I'll leave the little bird alone. She already has to deal with you." The older woman said as she waved her son off. He gave a short glance, that was far too easy. "Lord Ryūkotsusei's men are attacking establishments going against his ideals, according to my own scouts. Is there battle looming on the horizon?"
"If he is foolish enough to attack what is mine." Which he already had when he killed Rin. He felt his mother standing next to him and looked up at her, a strange look in her lemony eyes that he couldn't place.
"Your last battle with Ryūkotsusei was a close one... even with Inuyasha's help."
"You don't believe I can kill him again?"
She gave him a small smirk, "Oh hush, I know you can." Her frown returned and the woman cocked her head to the side, "That doesn't mean I don't worry, my son."
He didn't respond to her, feeling her words were hollow as they always had been. She was worried over the security of her sanctuary in the mountains, not him. He rose from his desk, "I have business to attend to. You will have to find another to toy with." He said in parting, leaving his study to search for Rin.
-:-
Rin let out a long sigh, staring up the blue-tinged clouds of the sky above. Her back laid flat against the manicured grass, arms and legs spread open as the sun warmed her skin from the slight breeze. She was bored. Bored out of her mind. Minako was too busy in the kitchens, Saiten was busy with security around the festival. She was too afraid of Inukimi making some kind of inappropriate comments about Sesshomaru.
And what about Sesshomaru...? Well...
'I can't see him again.' Rin was already embarrassed by the thought. Each passing day, she got worse, the dreams got worse. She would wave if she saw him passing, but never stopped, was locking her doors at night to sleep alone (though she still kept his fur on her bed), and hasn't entered his study since he gave her the news about Kagome...
When she wasn't dreaming, she was daydreaming. Her unoccupied mind quickly liked to remind her of the last time she was in his study and would drift off into not-so-innocent thoughts of being on top of the inuyoukai in more... intimate way.
It didn't help she couldn't control the way her body heated up when seeing him, remembering his hungry kiss, or the way the moonlight accented his abs, or the feel of his lips against her neck, or how nice it felt to be on his lap, or wonder how he would feel-'And I'm doing it again!' She vigorously shook her head, trying to physically push the naughty thoughts away.
She could see Yura wagging a disapproving finger at her, telling her to man up and go get him and that she desperately needed to go get laid if she was reduced to only be thinking about sex. The image did draw a small giggle from her, but she couldn't help but think there was some truth to it...
'No, no, I'm fine...' She just... She needed distraction, almost hoping that the dragon would show up again to get her mind off of things.
"I can't wait till Kagome gets here..." Then someone can be bored with her, plus get her mind off a very attractive daiyoukai. The sound of rustling got her attention, there was a large youkai with orange-tanned colored skin riddled with scars, his large blue eyes glanced at her before he hurriedly finished tending the garden. She lifted off the ground and introduced herself, "Hi! I'm Rin!"
"Hello... I'm Jinenji." The youkai seemed tense, so she dropped to her knees with his wicker basket between them with a smile.
"I've never seen a youkai like you, can I ask what kind you are?"
"I, uhm... I'm not youkai, I'm hanyou..."
"Oh!" 'Is that why his wounds scarred? Sesshomaru doesn't seem to have any scars, I think...' "What do you do here?"
"I tend the herb garden... for both the cooks and for my healing practice."
"You're a herbalist?" The hanyou nodded. "I've never seen a sick youkai, or one never heal."
Jinenji hummed in understanding, "Many of my patients are children who played too rough or eat something they shouldn't have... Occasionally, the wounded soldier who needs to heal faster or has been poisoned."
"Is modern medicine bad for youkai?" She certainly never saw a youkai take pills either...
"It is more complicated. With so many sub-species... in a pinch, a veterinarian may be able to prescribe something if they treat the youkai as an animal..." Jinenji stood, towering over, well, everything. "But many youkai don't like that comparison." He grabbed the basket filled to the brim with freshly picked greens, "I must go to separate and store these. It was nice speaking to you, Rin."
"Same here..." Rin watched the hanyou leave, heading to a shack not too far from the garden. She got up, stretched, and sighed, realizing she was bored again.
"I need a job." She mumbled, making her way back inside the castle. She really did. Aside from having nothing to do until Ryūkotsusei shows up on radar again—if Sesshomaru would let her do anything... or even tell her- she also had no money of her own to do anything outside of the castle walls, not wanting to dip into her savings from the party.
The human wasn't going to ask Sesshomaru again, 'He already gave way, way, way more than enough to me.' But where would she find a job and would the daiyoukai let her? 'Probably not. He would take it as him not providing enough like he did when I asked to be train. Oh, well, at least Kagome is coming and some events start tomorrow.'
"Rin."
'He is going to give me a heart attack one day.' Rin thought, calming her surprised nerves as she turned to face the daiyoukai... the one she had been avoiding. "Y-yes?"
"Come with me." She noticed his command was curt and his body was rather stiff as she followed the daiyoukai to the back of the castle. Not that he wasn't usually curt and stiff, but he seemed more so than usual.
"Where are we going?" He didn't respond, or even glance back at her. Rin frowned, then began to hear a man and woman arguing as they walked down a hall.
"Why are you being such a brat?!"
"Brat!? You were the one complaining all the way here!"
'Kagome?!' That was her voice, but wasn't she coming tomorrow? The other must be... Sesshomaru's brother?
"Because you were being a pain in the ass!"
"I was not!"
"Yeah, you wouldn't shut the hell up!"
The two entered the room with the shouting couple, and Sesshomaru spoke, "Yelling is not bringing her in quietly, Inuyasha."
"Tch, you should have warned me she had such a big mouth."
"I do not-" And the woman laid her eyes on Rin, her previous anger forgotten. "RIN!" The two ran into a hug, the miko in near tears, squeezing her tight, "Oh god, I thought you were dead, Rin. There was so much blood when Sesshomaru took you away..."
"I'm fine now-" Rin started but stopped to laugh at Kagome's perfectly bewildered expression.
"What? You're—Oh my god!" The miko bounced in place in excitement, then embraced her again, "You're talking!"
"Sesshomaru helped me." Rin said explained, flashing the daiyoukai a quick smile but instead of the usual hint of softness, his gaze was as placid as it was with everyone else.
The dog-eared man raised his thick brows, his golden gaze shifting between them both as he crossed his arms, "Oh, did he?"
"Inuyasha..." The daiyoukai said his brother's name in a warning tone.
"Yes, he healed me." Rin answered, ignoring Sesshomaru.
"How?" Kagome asked, "You are speaking perfectly, its crazy!"
"Did you use Tenseiga on her?" Inuyasha questioned his brother, who narrowed his eyes in response.
"That is not your business."
"Why can't he know?" Rin asked the daiyoukai, not understanding what was going on.
"So you did?" Inuyasha started, "When was the last time you used that thing? I'm surprised it wasn't rusted into its stealth." It didn't surprise her to learn he rarely used it, he didn't seem the type.
"Why are you here early?" The daiyoukai asked, ignoring the hanyou's comments.
"Because we had a Slayer Unit riding on our ass since yesterday. This morning, a miko joined them. I wasn't going to stick around until they made it impossible to leave." Inuyasha explained, before jutting his chin at Rin's direction. "So, why'd ya bring her back?"
The daiyoukai didn't hesitate before replying, "She is assisting in the matter with Ryūkotsusei, along with the miko." While she was well aware that was the reason, hearing it come from him is a such a biting tone made her wince internally.
"Oh, she's the guardian chick? Why didn't you just say that? Jeez." 'So, Inuyasha knows everything?' That did surprise her. Weeks ago, he didn't want the hanyou involved at all. Seemed that whatever Sesshomaru said, he trusted his brother to some extent, at least more than his mother who was still in the dark. Inuyasha took a quick sniff in her direction, and scoffed, "Are you sure that's it? Smells like you've slept with her—Hey! OW!"
Kagome pulled on the hanyou's ear, "You're so rude! You can't just say things like that!"
"Ah, Kagome, he doesn't mean-" Rin tried. She really did.
"LET ME GO, WOMAN!" Inuyasha yelled, then a small whimper escaped him when Kagome tugged harder.
"Not until you apologize!" The miko growled, "And my name is Kagome! KA-GO-ME!"
Rin sighed and looked at the daiyoukai, who eyes were narrowed into a death glare. 'Uh oh.' She quickly grabbed her friend, causing her to finally let go of the hanyou. "Let me show you around! You won't guess who else is here." And dragged her out of the room, down the hall with the miko trying to gain her footing.
"Ah, Rin? What?"
"You were getting Sesshomaru angry."
"It's not my fault his brother-"
"You were both being ridiculous!" Rin exclaimed, "I've never seen you get so mad before..."
"Ugh, he just—UGH! He is impossible!" Kagome hissed, falling in step with her.
"How? Weren't you only with him for a day?"
"That was more than enough for the rest of my life." The miko said with finality, before she sighed and switched subjects, "So who else is here?"
"Minako!"
"No way!" Kagome cheered.
"Yeah, she might be too busy to see us though, with the festival and the food and the shows starting tomorrow..."
"Festival?"
"Yup! You are just in time for some youkai celebration!"
Kagome laughed, "Really? I've never been to one. What are we celebrating?"
Rin was bringing Kagome up to speed about the current festivities on base when Jaken approached them. "EHEM." The two humans stopped talking and looked down at the short youkai. "I'm here to lead the new human to her room."
"My name is Kagome." The miko grumbled, but they both followed all the same. 'This must be the guest hall.' Rin thought as they entered a separate wing from her own. "Wow, this is beautiful. Thank you!" Kagome said as she wandered around the guest room, not noticing the imp already ran off. "Where are you staying, Rin?"
"Ah..." Rin blushed, "I'm not in this hall, I'm across the main room with Sesshomaru-"
"So what Inuyasha said earlier-"
"He didn't mean sex!" How many times will she have to yell this?
"Oh..." Kagome scrunched up her face, "He shouldn't just be shouting about that stuff regardless. That's private between you two."
"I don't think anything is private between inuyoukai considering how strong their noses are." Rin said with a shrug.
"I guess so..." A sly grin appeared on the miko's lips, "Any new developments between you two?"
"N-no. He is really busy all the time..."
"You sound disappointed."
"You don't have any clothes! You can borrow something from my closet—"
"Rin..." The miko said with a hint of warning.
Rin sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I... I've been avoiding him the past couple of days..."
Kagome looked concerned as she joined her, "Did he do something?"
"Nothing unwanted..." Rin mumbled under her breath, but the miko still caught it.
"Then why are you avoiding him?"
"Because I'm turning into Yura."
Kagome laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "If you want him that bad... I'm surprised how nervous you are, we used to tease men for a living, you know, just a few days ago. Remember?"
"Yeah, I know, I know... but he is different."
"I'll admit, if I was mute my whole life then someone gave me my voice back, I would see them a bit differently..."
"Its not just that."
"What do you mean?"
"He brought me back from the dead. His blade resurrects people."
"Oh... Oh my god..." Kagome squeezed her hand, her expression worried, "So you were dead?" She nodded. "How did that... feel?"
"First it was cold and dark... then it was really bright... I was at home with my mother... We talked for a bit... and I woke up here. It all happened so quickly, it didn't feel that much different than a nap really."
"That's amazing, Rin... Does it bother you that he did that?"
"No, no..." She shook her head, "Why would it? I'm so grateful..."
Kagome sighed, dropping her back on the bed with her arms spread. "I wish someone cared enough to do something like that for me..." Rin giggled. "What?"
"I thought that would be something you'd say." Rin replied, "Plus, he already said why he did it, and it wasn't that."
"I mean, its not like he absolutely needs you at this point, right? Ryūkotsusei has the jewel, now they need to get rid of him somehow." Kagome shrugged, "Doesn't seem like much you can do since its going to be fighting from now on once he comes out of whatever hole he is plotting in. So, he must have other reasons for bringing you back."
Rin didn't consider Kagome's words for long, "I don't think its that deep." She said, with a soft chuckle. "Also... I think he is mad at me."
"For avoiding him?"
"Maybe... He seemed off with me today."
"You know what you have to do, right?"
"Talk to him, I know... After a quiet dinner and a few drinks..."
-:-
But fate wasn't letting that happen as she planned because now that Inuyasha was here, it meant everyone had dinner together and, as pack, she was essentially required to attend. At least she was able to bring Kagome with her...
"Can you pass the rice, please?"
The hanyou sneered, "Here you go, woman."
"I have a name, you know."
But that may have been a bad idea.
"I'll call you woman if I feel like it, woman."
"I guess I'll call you baka since a name seems so difficult for you."
"I'm not an idiot!"
"Then use my name!"
"Do you two need a room? We have many here." The female daiyoukai cut in, making them both look at her in shock.
The hanyou gave her a disgusted look, "Like I'd touch her."
"Like I'd want you to!" Kagome looked offended naturally, "And you didn't seem to have a problem groping my thighs earlier!" Inukimi raised her brows at the proclamation, looking at her Inuyasha with laughing eyes.
The hanyou's face turned red, "How else was I going to carry you over the wall?! You're the one wearing that ridiculously short skirt!"
'Are these two serious?' Rin thought, watching him bicker with no shame. At least the Lady Mother seemed to think it was hilarious, but Sesshomaru clearly felt the opposite, an annoyed tick in his jaw.
"Literally any other way—ah!" Rin pulled Kagome close to her, whispering harshly,
"What are you doing?!"
"He's being-"
"Who cares?! Just ignore the baka when he's baiting you."
"I can hear you-"
"Shut up." Rin snapped at the hanyou, whose eyes grew wide and ears shied back at the growl... and surprising herself as she actually hadn't heard her angry voice yet. She was trying to channel Sesshomaru, so judging by the looks of their faces, it probably worked? She turned back to Kagome and tried to whisper lower, but she knew they would catch it anyway. "Its your first night here... and you've just been annoying the man of the house since you got here." She hoped she didn't have to explain why that was such a bad thing... She knew the miko was better than that.
Kagome suddenly blushed deeply, mortified, "Oh god, you're right." She pulled herself away from Rin and bowed her head toward Sesshomaru. "I'm... I'm so sorry for all the yelling! That's incredibly rude of me. And I never properly thanked you earlier so, uh,... Thank you for letting me stay in your beautiful home a-and for helping Rin!"
"Hn." Was the only response the miko got, and the only one Rin knew she was going to get, but the other woman didn't understand that yet... And Rin elbowed Kagome when she saw that temper flare back up in her eyes before the miko said anything to the youkai lord.
Trying to direct her attention away, Rin asked, "Kagome, can you pass the pork?"
"Oh sure, here."
"Were you able to talk to Sango and Yura at all?"
Kagome sighed sadly, "No, that one insisted we were being watched and wanted to come here right away."
"We were." Inuyasha spat, before taking a large bite of meat.
"They must be worried..." Rin frowned, ignoring the hanyou, "I wish we can tell them something, anything..."
"Oh? Why have you shut these humans from their companions, Sesshomaru? Surely a pack member has the ability to contact whomever she wishes..." Inukimi asked her son, an innocent curiosity in her voice.
"It doesn't concern you, mother."
Rin frowned at the hurt look that flashed across the Lady Mother's face and she knew she couldn't stay silent, "It is for the best, Inukimi. We don't want to put our friends in danger. That's all." Sesshomaru threw her a cold glare and the female daiyoukai just hummed in understanding, continuing her meal.
Thankfully, the rest of the dinner was normal chatter, mostly between the women, with Kagome successfully not yelling at Inuyasha... by completely ignoring every single thing he said, rude or not. "That's not what I meant." Rin whispered, but Kagome just shrugged.
Once they were all finished and rising from the table, Sesshomaru left without a word as Rin stared at his back until he turned the corner, out of sight. The Lady Mother let out a dramatic sigh, "How about I take these two..." The female daiyoukai started, linking her one arm around the miko and the other around the hanyou, who both looked rather lost. "And you, little Rin, figure out why my son has been brooding recently, hm? He certainly won't speak to me about it."
"O-okay..." Rin watched the daiyoukai pull away the confused Kagome and flailing Inuyasha with ease. She took a deep breath and decided to follow Sesshomaru, hoping he hadn't gone off too far... and that the mojitos during dinner would help her out once she got to him.
-:-
Rin totally lost him.
'Or did he lose me on purpose?' He had to know she was following, right? "Sesshomaru?" 'What did his name mean anyway? That's too elaborate-sounding to not mean something.' She then realized not only did she lose him, but she lost herself. 'Where am I?' "I'm such an idiot." The human muttered, keeping to her right-hand side as she went through the maze of hallways, hoping to end up in the main lobby at one point.
"If you would just stop acting like a scared little virgin, Rin, you would not be in this situation right now..." Staying on her right-hand was not getting her anywhere. She was clearly in some part of the massive castle she had yet to wander in. "Okay, let's try left..."
'And now I'm outside... still don't know where.' "Sesshomaru...?" 'Nothing.' She noticed a gravel path-way leading into a wooded area and decided... "Why not?" Rin trotted down the path, swaying a bit with the wind. 'Man, its getting cold... I wonder how long this place has been here...' She gasped when she hit a red bridge, the one she could see from her bedroom window. "Not lost anymore. TAKE THAT,CASTLE!" Though the castle could argue she had to leave to find out where she was...
Was she talking to a building? 'Too many mojitos.'
The human hummed softly as she leaned over the wooden railing and looked down into the gently-flowing river below, momentarily transfixed by the vast stars that reflected onto the water. The shimmering couldn't help but remind her of... "Sesshomaru..." She dropped her head onto the crossed arms, "I'm so hopeless."
What was she going to say when she got to him anyway?
'Apologize...!' "How?" 'I'm sorry I've been running away from you these past couple of days. I know you brought me back from the dead, then trusted me into your family-pack-youkai-thing and all, but, you see, I'm just a weak-willed human who can't control her sexual desires around you...' Her face scrunched up, "That's too long." 'Do I really have to explain all that much?' "He is probably going to ask why." 'I would... but I don't know know why. In the end, its just a bunch of random excuses.' "I'm such an idiot."
"You have made a habit of conversing with yourself."
"AH!" Rin jumped back at the deep voice, hand on her chest, "You! You have to stop doing that."
"You called. Repeatedly." The daiyoukai seemed annoyed.
"I..." The human gulped, "How long...? What did you hear?"
"A few words. Nothing intelligible." Sesshomaru replied, smoothly walking to stand beside her.
"I'm sorry." Rin, not-so-smoothly, blurted out. She didn't know what to follow up with that, so she was going to let Sesshomaru take it wherever it needed to go for him to stop looking at her with that indifferent expression, like she was someone else entirely, like someone that didn't matter one bit.
"For?"
"Avoiding you... I'm sorry." She couldn't look at him, but god, she wanted to touch him. She choose to pick at some peeling paint on the railing as a poor consolation.
"Why?"
"I, uhm..." She was still working on that. "I don't..." There was a few seconds of silence Rin didn't notice as she still assembling words in her head.
"The room next to your friend's is ready. You will sleep there from now on."
'What?' When she looked back, he was already walking away. "What?" Rin quickly caught up to him, standing in his way. "W-why?"
"It is clear you no longer wish to be-"
"No." Rin interrupted him, which she knew he hated, judging by the dangerous narrowing of his frigid golden gaze, but she had a feeling of what he was going to say, and no... "I've haven't backed away from anything. I want to stay in this."
"I do not care for your words. Your actions say otherwise."
"Its just... hard to be around you. I didn't mean-"
"Then you no longer need to force yourself."
'I totally screwed up.' Rin thought, regarding the daiyoukai's silent anger as he made a move to go around her. 'Did I word that wrong? Oh god, let's just start from the top.' "W-Wait!" She stepped in his way again, pressing her hands against his chest, "I'm sorry for avoiding you, you haven't done anything wrong at all. I'm just... an idiot." She sighed, 'Help me out, mojitos.'
"I like your company, Sesshomaru... But its hard to be around you... because every time you are near me, I want to touch you, and so its so freaking hard not to." Her hands were still on his chest, and she pulled them away and hid them under her armpits. "Because every time you look at me, I never want you to look away. And my stupid head can't stop thinking about you, and its stupid and frustrating and, and it just..." She made some waving motion with her hands, unable to find the words to continue that train of thought.
"You know, some of this is hard to figure out without a youkai nose or hearing... If you don't say something, I can't just... sniff your emotions out like you do with me..." She was rambling. "And Ijust need to... stop... talking..." Cue the face in her hands, she just couldn't keep going.
"Rin." 'Nope. Can't look.' She felt his hands on each side of her waist and she was thankful her blushing face was already hidden... but she didn't see the nip on her ear coming.
"H-hey!" She growled, now looking up at the daiyoukai who... was laughing at her! 'Not literally but...' Amusement clearly lit up Sesshomaru's gaze, and while she found it infinitely better than the previous coldness, she also did not like being made fun of! "S-stop laughing at me!"
"I am doing no such thing."
"I see it in your eyes." Rin explained, feeling a bit whimsical now that the mood was light, as she finally gave into the want of touching him, choosing to run her hands through his hair. Right now, she saw many things flickering through his golden gaze, though one stood out the most... And she met him halfway, relishing in the feel of his lips against hers, realizing just how much she missed it in just two days. She pulled away to shyly ask, "I don't have to go away...?"
"That was never an option."
Rin blinked in confusion, "W... What?! You just said a room-"
"That was a lie."
"I thought the great Lord Sesshomaru doesn't lie." Rin teased, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It seems when dealing with a 'scared little virgin' as you put it, it can become necessary. Is that why you have been avoiding me? Have I scared you?"
"You... You said you didn't hear everything!" She exclaimed, skipping his question.
"I didn't hear what you didn't say."
"I... You..." She was at a lost with words again and simply turned around, "I'm going to bed..." But she didn't hear his near-silent footfalls behind her and she looked back to him still standing there... and the human pouted. Rin walked back to slip her fingers around his and pulled him with her, "... with you."
"Were you requesting I be more vocal with you earlier?"
"Yeah-" Rin squeaked when the daiyoukai swept her off her feet and jumped from the dirt path to her balcony in one leap. "Like a warning there would have been nice..." She said, laughing as he set her back down.
"Unnecessary." He opened her balcony door and she slipped inside.
"Fine, fine... but for more, uhm, personal things, it would help..." Rin elaborated, pulling out more comfortable clothing from her dresser. She glanced back and the daiyoukai took the cue to turn his back to her as she started changing.
"You ask me to be more outspoken... but you were the one avoiding me with no explanation."
'Well, he is right.' Though, she didn't want to admit it. "B-Because I don't know what you are thinking! You can smell my emotions all over the place and its not fair. You know when I'm angry, sad, happy or... the other thing with just a quick whiff!" She pouted, slipping into a large t-shirt that stopped mid-thigh. "And its embarrassing! How do you deal with someone else knowing you want them without having time to think about it?"
"If its mutual, we fuck." Rin nearly slipped when she turned around, not expecting such a blunt statement from Sesshomaru, at least, not worded like that. He raised an eyebrow at her reaction, "Is something wrong?"
"N-no." She should have known it would be no big deal to the powerful daiyoukai... "Don't you have to be careful, as royalty I mean? Don't others try to take advantage...?" 'Rin, he probably kills them.' Her mind stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"They are dealt with." 'He kills them.' "But most are not so foolish. A night with me is more than enough to quell their desires."
Rin started giggling, she found something funny in the arrogance in his tone, "Is that so?" She asked, closing the distance between them as she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and kissed the daiyoukai without thought. She shyly swiped her tongue along his bottom lip, asking for permission. She felt a low rumbling under her hands as the daiyoukai deepened the kiss, and when he pulled her body against his, she realized she got herself in the very position she was trying to avoid for the past couple of days.
Kissing him, in her room, and now with just a t-shirt and undergarments on. She shouldn't keep tempting a daiyoukai the way she was. What if... what if he truly lost complete control with her constant teasing?
Sesshomaru was the one who pulled away, his passive eyes boring into her own, scrutinizing as if he was trying to understand something. Did her scent leak her emotions out again? She was starting to get jealous, and irritated, of his nose. His clawed hand came up into her black hair and she let out a relaxed sigh at his touch, "You still hesitate. Are you ashamed of your desires?"
"N-no." 'Who would be ashamed of wanting him?' "I just..." She took in a shaky breath, her mind hitting her with bits and pieces of her father. The thoughts of him she was constantly trying to deflect with thoughts of Sesshomaru, which she tried to deflect with thoughts of the dragon, which she tried to deflect with absolutely anything else. Her mind was a complete mess, trying to avoid anything that made her feel too strongly whether it was positive or negative.
It would help if she tried to clear some of her plaguing thoughts, she knew, and tried with the one right in front of her. "You won't..." Rin licked her lips nervously, "You won't hurt me... right?" Her voice sounded so small and pathetic, it instantly tore her confidence and made her feel ridiculous.
"An alpha does not harm his packmates." The daiyoukai answered, his hand moving to her cheek.
"A father isn't suppose to harm his daughter either..." Rin mumbled, her eyes dropping to the hardwood floor as she halfheartedly swiped his hand away. A bleak, scared part of her mind wanted to snap at him, that this instinct stuff was crap. That if he followed pack rules so well, why were his mother and brother exempt from that? What guarantee was there for her if there was nothing for them?
When she looked back at his hard eyes, she realized that she didn't keep that in her mind and had voiced every thought. It immediately dragged her heart down to her stomach, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry." Rin whispered, hugged herself as she looked away from him again.
"If you knew my mother for as long as I have, you wouldn't be doubting my decision to keep her outside of this. You..." He paused, as if reluctant to continue which was a bit shocking coming from him. "...are different from them. I did not give you life again to abandon or harm you, Rin."
"I know... its for sealing the jewel." 'And that's fine.' She tried to convince herself, despite the sharp pain she felt when voicing it. 'That's how he is. And its fine...'
How did they end up here? Now, she couldn't look at him again, but out of shame, not stupid, shy embarrassment. She knew these feelings were irrational and all in her head. Sesshomaru hadn't done a thing for her to fear him, or to think he would hurt her or discard her. In fact, he had proved all the opposite... She just wanted to forget it all. "I'm tired." Her voice was shaky and she mentally cursed, she was going to cry, again. "Why am I so weak with you?"
'Its not fair.' The human pressed the heels of her palms in her eyes, 'Stop it, Rin. Stop being so damn needy.' She berated herself, 'No one wants someone like that...' The daiyoukai grabbed her wrists and pulled them away from her face, "Do not hide from me." He pulled her towards him, foreheads touching with his nose rubbing against her's, like that night after the party.
"S-sorry..." Rin whispered, wanting to look anywhere else but she couldn't, with his eyes straight ahead and his face so close to hers.
"Stop apologizing." He gave a short, quick lick to her right cheek where a tear had escaped, and she couldn't help the smile that twitched the corners of her lips. 'I don't think I'll ever get used to that.' She thought, the action caused her feel better almost instantaneously.
It made her think of him as puppy who was comforting their owner and she found it adorable, and she will absolutely never ever let him know that. She felt his hands rest on her hips and her hands stayed on his chest as she let out a content sigh, enjoying his closeness. 'This youkai stuff must be rubbing off on me...' And the human found that she didn't want to share this with anyone... ever. "Do you... I mean... Are all packmates usually treated like this?"
"... No."
Rin frowned at his hesitation again, "Then how am I being treated?"
The daiyoukai let his lips brush aside hers for a moment, "As you should be." Before locking them in a soft, fleeting kiss. And it hurt, a strong emotion nearly strangled her heart and she couldn't place what or why. When he pulled away, it was too soon. She wanted more. "Do you wish for me to stay?" She nodded, not trusting her voice. "Then I will return shortly."
It felt so cold when he pulled away, and it was deathly quiet when he left. 'I'm being dramatic.' She swallowed hard, using the silent moment to get a wrangle on her emotions. 'He's just going to change probably.' "I'm such a mess." Rin made her way into her bed after turning off the lights, ignoring the comforter as usual to curl up with the boa instead.
"Hm... I left Kagome with your brother and mother, do you think she will be fine?" Rin asked when she heard the lock of her bedroom door click, suddenly remembering about her poor friend who she completely ditched.
Sesshomaru sneaked into her bed and nipped her earlobe-"Hey! Ow!"-before correcting her, "Half-brother."
"That's just too annoying to say all the time." Rin complained.
"Your friend will be fine if she can endure my mother's relentless mocking and questioning." Sesshomaru replied, dismissing her objection. "However, judging by her lack of patience with Inuyasha, she does not stand a chance."
Rin rested her forearm over her eyes, groaning in exaggerated despair, "I'm so going to hear it from her tomorrow." The daiyoukai made a noise of agreement before making himself comfortable, Rin instinctively turning to face him as she yawned before settling beside him.
"Are you going to watch any... of the shows or... anything tomorrow?" She asked, her voice becoming groggy as that familiar hand tangled in her dark tresses, fingertips rubbing her scalp softly.
"There are things I must attend to in the city, I will likely not return until the next day."
"Oh..." Rin frowned, disheartened by the news while simultaneously thankful she spoke to him before he left... and now not wanting rest to not cut their time short. She tried to ask what business he had but her words were a jumbled mess as she fought her heavy eyelids. She felt this sort of warm pressure over herself, something like being wrapped tightly in a comforter straight out the dryer on a cold night, despite only having his arm over her.
'Is he doing this...?' She thought, hearing his gentle command to sleep and her tried mind compiling almost instantly.
-:-
"My ass hurts." Yura complained as she changed into her casual clothing.
"You were very clumsy today." Sango chuckled, closing her locker.
"Can I crash at your place again...?" The youkai asked with a pout.
"Yeah, of course..." The two were quiet until they left the club, walking beside each other to Sango's apartment. "Do you think they're okay...?"
"They have to be..."
Yura began chewing on her bottom lip, "The others aren't. They're gone. We haven't seen or heard from Ryūkotsusei or Sesshomaru. Everyone's gone dark."
"I know." Sango fiddled with her keys, then both entered the building.
"You're being pretty cool about this." Yura sniffled, blinking away the water in her eyes.
The human sighed, defeated, "I know they're okay."
"How?" Sango didn't answer but Yura saw her pursing her lips, something she did when nervous. "You've seen them?!"
"No... but I know Kagome was stable in a hospital, then she ran off... and Sesshomaru took Rin away. I don't think he'll hurt her." The human grabbed two sodas, ignoring Yura's bewildered expression.
"How do you know? When... Why didn't we see her?"
"I can't..." The human was looked torn, "I can't tell you how I know, but Yura, please believe me, they are fine." She passed her a soda and the hair youkai accepted it with a frown,
"We've been working together for years, Sango..." Her magenta eyes pleaded with the human, "I don't want more secrets."
Sango fiddled with the tab of her open can, "I can't." She said with finality, "It could put you danger... and we are both in enough as it is."
"What do you mean?" Yura asked as Sango sat beside her on the couch. The human turned on the television and flipped through the channels until she got to one giving live news coverage of an attack committed in a human-youkai relations facility on the east side.
"That's within Ryūkotsusei's territory..." The hair youkai mumbled, watching the flames that engulfed the building roar into the sky as a water-youkai fire fighter flew over the blaze, trying to contain it. The news caster mentioned that 7 government employees and 2 Slayers were seriously injured. There were 3 casualties, one being the only full-youkai that worked at the department, and 2 human employees.
"It is..."
"You think he did this?"
Sango sneered, "I know he did this."
"He talked big all the time about overthrowing humans, Sango." Yura started, unsure, "ALL THE TIME. Since before you were born. What is different now? Why would he suddenly decide to take action...?"
"I don't know..." The human shrugged, her hard brown eyes not leaving the TV screen. "I think only Rin, Kagome and Sesshomaru know the answer to that."
"What's that got to do with us?"
"We were her only friends, we are the last ones who saw them..."
"You think he is going to come after us?"
"I don't know... but it wouldn't surprise me."
Yura took a sip of the carbonated drink before asking, "Is that why Naraku has been at the club a lot more recently?"
"I was thinking that maybe..."
"Kuromaru hasn't replaced Rin and Kagome yet... He did it quickly before."
"He might be busy with whatever Naraku is asking for. Bankotsu came in today and left before you got there. It looked like serious business, not play." Sango pointed to the screen, "And this isn't the first attack... just the one that was too big to cover up..."
Yura furrowed her brows, "How do you know that?"
"Its my job..." Sango replied, her voice just below a whisper. She cleared her throat, "I think you should take that vacation you were talking about. Just in case. It would be safer."
"Are you kidding? First of all, Kuromaru will kill me. Second of all, no. You're acting weird. Rin is gone. Kagome is gone. I don't need to repeat all this." Yura slammed her drink down on the coffee table, "The only thing I'm going to be doing in my free time is finding out what the hell happened to everyone, possibly strangling that dragon in his own beautiful hair if need be. Pfft, maybe even Sesshomaru. I swear if they have been together this whole time and still haven't laid with each other, I'm going to kill them all. AND then, only then, will I finally take that trip back to Spain. Maybe."
"Spain? I thought it was Italy."
"Don't change the subject!" Yura hissed, getting up to her feet. "You're going to tell me what you know and how and then we are going to find the girls and kick whomever ass we gotta kick."
The human shook her head, "Its not that simple."
"Yes it is!" The hair youkai crouched in front of her friend, with her hands on the human's knees. "You just open your mouth and say something like 'I'm a super-secret spy and I know everything about everyone' and then you tell me what you know and with our combined powers, we find our friends, we kill the bad guys, and then we all will be happily together again!"
"Your spirit is endearing, Yura, but you don't have the power to kill Ryūkotsusei nor can we find Sesshomaru to find Rin. Maybe Kagome is with them now, if that's true, they are a lot safer than us."
"... So you are a secret spy?"
"I didn't say that."
"It was the only part you didn't counter." Yura said, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood back up.
"It was so ridiculous, I didn't think it was necessary." The human explained, rolling her eyes at the youkai.
"Mmhmm, sureee." Yura said, clearly not believing her.
Sango fought the urge to roll her eyes again, "Yura, seriously..."
"I don't want to keep sitting around, waiting..." The hair youkai started, pacing around the front of the TV, "I did for Kikyo, I did for Kagura... I just can't sit here! I just can't keep working, living like whatever!" Sango quietly watched Yura rant, her gaze shifting from the aggravated youkai to her bedroom as if weighing her options. "I don't want to lose anyone else... I have to do something! Especially if that stupid dragon is trying to rile people up! He's going to-"
"Yura."
The youkai huffed at being interrupted, "What?"
Sango stood and began heading towards her bedroom, "Follow me."
Once in the room, the human began pulling the ends of the covers that wrapped under the bed. Yura raised a brow, "Its not like I never thought about it, but you could at least serve me some youkai wine first, maybe?"
Sango flushed at the hair youkai's suggestion before exclaiming, "S-stop being such a pervert!"
Yura began laughing heartily, a hand on her mid-section, "Are you actually blushing? You're so cute!"
The human growled, "Would you focus!? This is important!" And she pushed the mattress up from a concealed side handle and let it fall against the opposite wall, revealing that the entire of the bed frame was actually a safe.
"Why do you need such a big safe...?" Yura asked, watching with interest as Sango inputted the combination.
"Can't let anyone find this, can't let it out of my reach either." The human replied. The safe clicked then popped open, and Sango pushed up the heavy lid before propping it up with a metal pole.
Yura gasped, "What? Is that-"
"Yeah..." Sango reached in and pulled the cloaked boomerang from the safe. She unzipped the heavy-duty cloth, and smiled as she ran her hand down the smooth bone of Hiraikotsu. "Its been awhile..."
"So..." The youkai pointed to a Slayer insignia printed on the sash that was wrapped on both ends of the weapon, "You are totally a secret spy."
The human gave her an exasperated look, before grabbing a folded outfit that was also in the safe and what appeared to be armor plates. Kirara, having heard the commotion, skipped into the room and jumped onto Sango's shoulder with an excited meow.
"I have a pretty good idea where Ryūkotsusei might strike next. Hopefully we'll see some of Sesshomaru's men there too. We leave now, we'll get there in time." Sango took a deep breath, before looking straight into the hair youkai's eyes. "There is no doubt that this is extremely dangerous... But I can't keep sticking to the shadows and I could use a partner... Wanna come?"
Yura placed her hands on her hips, "You really got to ask? Hell yes! Let's go!"
End of Chapter 11
A/N: I kept writing as I was unhappy with the chapter as it was, to see if I would be okay with where it was going anyway. I needed a buffer between the last chapter and the next one, and I was having such a damn hard time with the flow here. Perhaps I'm being too picky and ridiculous.
But its done, finally, and the next two shouldn't take all that long since I know exactly kind of point per point what I'm going to write (for once _).
For those who prefer something a bit (a lot) faster in terms of, uh, lemons, I'll be posting up a new Sess/Rin fic soon. C:
Also, I apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes. I've re-read this chapter a million times, I think I got them all...
Cpsullivan2: Ooommmggggg, I forgot about that fic and I loved it, and now I'm sad because the author seems to be totally MIA. I can't believe how long its been, I remember reading it as it was being updated. D:
Shiinalover101: I hope you enjoyed comic-con despite the lack of sleep! Hopefully you can enjoy this chapter without sacrificing rest since I decided to actually upload it at a reasonable time, lol.
akwardllama: I totally agree, we ain't there yet. And by the way, your name totally got me to include a llama in the random bit with Rin watching the children. I was like... 'I need another 4-legged animal, something different... That's it. A llama.'
C00lkatt: I don't want to comment on anything, as I don't want to hint or spoil anything but... Thanks for the feedback!
Mirja: Oh no, you're making me blush. XD I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, hope you like this one as well!
Sxs1000: I did, because at the time, I could not think a different surname for the life of me and I thought that would fit, lol.
+ LaniDG11, FumiRevive, LilleyBelle, Celestial Cat, Guest #1, IloveSxS, GoddessDana, Happytello98, and Guest #2 - Thank every single one of you for reviewing! :D