Bound by Privilege
This story is not for profit. It is purely fanfiction. I don't claim ownership of the manga or anime Inuyasha, Yashahime, the original stories, or the characters Rumiko Takahashi or Takashi Shiina created.
Chapter 30
The lights of the cameras flashed as they'd stopped along the path of entry to the venue. Sesshoumaru smirked feeling the squeeze of Rin's hand in his. This was nothing new to her, easily stopping to pose but relaxed enough to remind them that this was a sporting event rather than some grand ball. The media seemed to throw verbal jabs at one another to get their attention. The repetitive call of their names and eventually their team name would bring them directly to the host as Inuyasha and Kagome made their way ahead. The excitement of having a new team among the top ten in the Rings, their beloved pop star Luna as a handler, and her love for Sesshoumaru and his inexplicable fighting ability led to curious questions and an anticipation they might return to the Rings in another fight. They'd both answered the latter carefully but were sure the media would not be rested until they gave a certain answer. Even as they were prodded for a better response, Sesshoumaru could hear one of the photographers calling for him to kiss the lovely Luna who seemed to be attached to his side like glue as his hand wrapped her waist. Almost immediately the rest of the photographers seemed to be on board, readying their cameras and hopeful for the rare photo opportunity. Rin's smile hadn't faded as he looked deep into her eyes, reading the easy encouragement from the slow bat of her eyelashes and the heaviness of them as her smile grew and she didn't seem to miss a beat even if his heart did as he lifted her chin and kissed her. The flash of the cameras was no interruption, fading into obscurity as he lingered on her lips. Rin made it so easy for him to get lost on her but he would have to pull himself back to the present, if only to keep them moving forward.
Entering the venue, Rin looped her arm through Sesshoumaru's. If there was an uneasiness there, Sesshoumaru had yet to show it.
"You're moving through this like it's natural. If I didn't know any better, I would say you were some prince in your past life."
"Learning this life has its challenges but between the fights and the streets, I think I was well prepared for anything."
"It seems that your heart was too."
"Hey lovebirds, we've got our opponent."
Inuyasha and Kagome returned to their side. Rin was taken aback by Kagome's frown.
"What's the matter Kagome?"
"I'm not sure how this will affect our plans but we're scheduled to fight with Suikotsu and So'unga."
"What?"
Inuyasha turned to Sesshoumaru, surprised by the response and questioning what he knew about the fighter.
"Who is this guy?"
"So'unga was on Takemaru's team. He had to be the last trade for Kirinmaru."
"So what, trades happen all of the time."
"My initial thought was that Takemaru had gotten So'unga killed and replaced him with Kirinmaru when I didn't see him when Rin and I were at the mansion. He became Takemaru's lead when our father died."
"Well, as it turns out, he's alive, well, and ready to fight and so am I."
"His true form is built with a sharp armor. Like Kirinmaru, he has a deadly attack known as the Dragon Twister. If you get hit with it, I don't think there's any amount of healing that Kagome can do to help you. I'm sure that if it wasn't for the Ring's barrier, So'unga could wipe out anything within a few miles radius."
"Not a problem."
"Inuyasha, don't take him for granted."
"Huh, you don't have to worry about me."
"Where does that leave your mom?"
"I know exactly where to find her and I may not need my sense of smell to do it."
Rin nodded as Sesshoumaru looked up toward one of the box suites. It was likely that if his mother was going to be anywhere, she would be there just before the fight.
Despite Sesshoumaru's ease when they'd first entered the venue, Rin was sure she could feel Sesshoumaru's nerves starting to intermingle with her own. Maintaining the facade of calm and attention to the fights as the occasional cameras panned their box was becoming challenging. She was suddenly appreciative of the large screen located across the way. It was easy to pretend that's where they were looking. Another glimpse would allow her to catch her breath. Even without his heightened senses, Sesshoumaru was already well ahead of her. Satomi was unmistakable, leaning with her back up against the glass, she peered over her shoulder toward the Ring, then in their direction. Her gaze was steady and it was apparent that she knew exactly who she was looking at. For Sesshoumaru, the moment, seemed like hours before his mother let the current fight between a crane and ogre demon steal her away again.
The sound of the siren at the crane demon's triumph put their feet into motion. Sesshoumaru kept his movements fluid through the crowd as Rin's ability to maintain the pace without seeming rushed appeared to be a gift. He was grateful at the suggestion of placing bets on Team Fang allowing him to casually pass by the guard on the floor as Rin proved her celebrity able to mingle with anyone and provide a necessary distraction as he accessed a restricted area. The door was ajar allowing him the opportunity to peer into the room without entering. The elite among handlers and betters crowded the space, celebrating the end of the fight as the main event was only moments away and new wagers were being made. His mother sat at one of the tables, smiling and making polite conversation while also hinting at the odds between Inuyasha and So'unga. Like a moth drawn to a flame, her vision skirted the emergency exit door where he waited.
Containing the emotions from seeing golden eyes that met his was becoming more difficult to manage by the second. She'd taken a moment to glance at her surroundings, nodding, smiling at the room, and answering one of the betters with the wisdom necessary to give him the best chances at winning. His mother sat still. Sesshoumaru remembered this level of calm even in situations that seemed completely out of her control. He would have to wait a while longer before the crowd around her burst into excitement at the announcement of Team Fang and Suikotsu's Deadly by Design allowing her the cover to disappear during the cheering toward a win for high-priced exchange. As quickly as he'd turned back to spot her, she was gone. His heart skipped out of disappointment. Had she wanted to avoid this meeting here? Was it too dangerous? The questions rested as he left the space and felt his mother's embrace as he rounded the corner. The last time he'd hugged her, he'd only stood a little taller, but now he towered her. Despite the difference, her embrace and scent were everything that he remembered. It was forever a comfort and irreplaceable love. Even as he faltered to get her name out, her voice broke from its calm, the tear-filled joy of seeing her son again.
"Sesshoumaru!"
"Mom..."
"You've grown so much. I tried to follow your fights when I could as soon as I knew you were doing so in the sanctioned rings. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you, how proud your father would be."
"This feels surreal. I'm just glad you're alive. I didn't know what had happened to you."
"Of course, Takemaru wouldn't tell you what happened to me. It's the reason that I still have to be careful. Your being here makes me think that Kirinmaru alerted you about the trade."
"You mean Takemaru's trade with Suikotsu with you and Kirinmaru's family, yes."
"Then you realize that Takemaru traded So'unga for Kirinmaru?"
"I can only imagine Takemaru wanted a fighter who rivaled father."
"That's not the only explanation. Takemaru traded So'unga for the same reason that he allowed your father to die in the Rings."
"What do you mean?"
"Soon after you left, your father became consumed with being able to overpower the band. I believed it to be a mistake of your father's good nature to instruct So'unga on how to go about the process as well. While So'unga was less successful at the time, your father's abilities continued to grow. Takemaru realized what Toga was doing, training to have his full senses and powers beyond a handler's control. Toga was becoming too dangerous for Takemaru to keep around and if the band couldn't be his point of control, no matter how many guards he kept around, Toga had no reason not to slaughter all of them. Sesshoumaru, knowing that your life would be your own, I agreed that I didn't care if Toga and I had to run for the rest of our lives. What we cared about was you. You were safe from this world. Neither, your father nor I realized that his fight with Ryuukotsei would be his last. Takemaru used skills that purposefully made it harder for your father to survive in the Ring. Takemaru called it a handler's mistake of being overconfident in his fighter's abilities for the sake of the show. In reality, he sacrificed your father as an example to create fear among the rest of the team that if they tried to escape his control and weren't successful, they would be next to die. After the loss, you can only imagine that I was heartbroken. Losing you and Toga nearly destroyed me. When Takemaru started to entertain the thought of going after you I did everything in my power to pay off the debt, even handing over your father and my rings and offering to fight but it wasn't enough."
"In the end, Takemaru couldn't prevent his death but he'd replaced So'unga out of fear of losing control of him, just as he was losing control of father."
"Yes, and I fear there is little time."
"Little time? For what?"
"Takemaru may be dead but Suikotsu and handlers like him are still alive. So'unga plans to wreak destruction..."
Satomi's words were interrupted as screams rang out among the crowd and Sesshoumaru pulled her with him into the hallway where he could see Rin, frozen as she peered down at the ring. The guard she was speaking to was sprinting down into the crowd.
"What happened?!"
"A handler's worst nightmare."
Rin whispered, to remain calm and answer as Sesshoumaru came to her side. It was only moments ago that she'd felt that their ability to find Satomi had come easily and Suikotsu being scheduled to fight at the moment would be advantageous to Sesshoumaru's attempt to separate his mother and escape without much of a problem. Her conversation with the guard had quieted as Inuyasha and Kagome stepped onto the Ring floor next to Suikotsu and So'unga. The announcer addressed the usual rules and bid them a safe fight. Suikotsu turned from So'unga to approach the handler's platform. The next events, Rin tried to clear from her mind as Suikotsu was stopped in his tracks, a state of shock lingered with his mouth agape and eyes wide, unblinking and terrified as their light dimmed with sharp tentacles retracting through Suikotsu's throat and back into Sounga's arm. The crowd had erupted into screams and she was sure that like the rest of the crowd, she was trying to understand how So'unga had access to his powers when the band was still in place and the barrier of the Ring was still down. Even from a distance, she could feel the blue of So'unga's eyes deepening and burrowing into the crowd, his smile was becoming wild as fangs peaked over, rivaling the untamed dark strands of his hair that reached out in all directions. This demon seemed to already be beyond reach and what was worse was that their friends stood in his path as he declared the end of every handler's reign.
A/N: Thank you for continuing to read and review! I'm doing my best to get back on track!
