A/N: chapter bomb part 2 of 2
I…don't know how to preface this. Have fun? Feels warning
Rin woke with a beam of soft, warm sunlight on her face for the first time in months. She moved her hand to cover her eyes feebly, wincing. She felt the press of a bandage on her wrist as it touched her forehead. "huh?"
"oh, good, you're awake," an old woman's voice said from beside Rin, and she was shaded as a stranger bent over her with a damp cloth. "you gave us all quite a fright last night." Rin cracked her eyes open to see a kindly old woman hunched over her, smiling gently.
"where am I?" Rin asked, confused. "ah! Where is Sesshomaru-sama? Is he here?" she tried to pin her ears, but they didn't move. She reached for her head and found nothing on top of it, then found her normal, human ear, and started to cry in relief. It was finally over. The sun was up, and she was still a human.
"that youkai who brought you here, demanding we heal you?" the woman asked with slight amusement. "he left at dawn, but said he would be back very soon." She patted Rin's hand gently. "you're in the village just to the south of the Amaterasu shrine. You're safe, and you're going to recover." Rin shifted, trying to sit up, only to let out a sharp curse at a sudden awful pain in her lower back. "stay down! I said you'll recover, not that you were already healed!"
Rin's eyes watered in pain as the woman carefully checked to make sure she hadn't torn her stitches. She sighed in relief and relaxed again. "you just rest, I'll fetch you some water and something to eat," the woman soothed, getting up and leaving her for a few moments.
Sesshomaru returned to the village late in the morning, carrying a few medicinal plants he'd managed to scavenge from the garden of his former enemy. The drug had taken its time wearing off, but he was finally feeling back to his old self. He had hoped to be back before Rin woke, but it seemed he hadn't managed as he heard her sweet voice through the walls of the healer's hut. He met the woman as she left to fetch things, startling her a bit. "she's awake and asking for you, milord," the woman stated, holding out her hands for the herbs.
"is she able to be moved yet?" he asked softly, handing over the herbs. He'd stayed by Rin's side until dawn, when it was obvious the curse was broken and that she was going to survive and recover fully. He had even rested himself, somewhat, completely exhausted due to the lingering effects of the drug.
"you can see her, but I want to make sure she can eat and drink before I allow her out of my care." Sesshomaru bowed slightly in thanks and stepped into the hut, pushing the door screen out of the way. Rin smiled as soon as she saw him and made the mistake of trying to sit up again. She suddenly let out another loud and very rude curse, then turned beet red, ashamed at her mouth. He couldn't contain a quiet chuckle, both at her foul mouth and her shame at displaying it.
Rin's ashamed blush softened to one of pleasure as Sesshomaru seated himself beside her, nearer her head, and began to idly brush her bangs from her face with a gentle hand. "I…I thought I lost you…" he murmured softly after a moment, his hand on her head stilling. "I kept searching after that day—I was so ashamed I had turned you away. I was a fool, Rin, and I apologize."
Rin shook her head gently, offering a small, sad smile. "it's not your fault. And it's over now, anyway. I'm here. There's no need to worry any longer." He hummed softly, sounding doubtful, noting her injuries. She sighed at that. He was right, she was in bad shape, she could feel it.
The woman returned with food and water and Sesshomaru insisted on being the one to help Rin eat and drink. She was embarrassed again that she needed the help, but accepted it. After she managed to finish everything, she felt quite drowsy. "rest, my dear Rin. When you wake again I will take you back home."
Rin fell asleep rather quickly as Sesshomaru went back to gently stroking her black hair, admiring its inky color. She turned her head to the side, letting out a soft snore, and Sesshomaru saw the two tiny scars on her neck, just under her ear. He remembered biting her there, months ago, but had no idea such a slight wound would scar, especially when it had stopped bleeding almost as soon as he'd left it. He frowned in confusion, feeling the scars had some significance but not knowing what it may be. Jaken would probably know more, and he could ask the faithful imp once they returned home. Something drew him to touch the markings, and the moment he did he flinched back, surprised at a sharp, lightning-like tingle through his body from his hand. Rin sucked in a sharp breath and shivered slightly as she woke again, looking up at him in confusion.
"it's all right, Rin. Try to rest." She closed her eyes again trustingly, drifting off once more, and Sesshomaru stared at his hands in surprise. what was that? Such an intense feeling…and not a bad one, he wouldn't say. He definitely had to ask about the scars as soon as he could. What was even more bewildering was the fact that he seemed to have missed his usual cycle for the Running, which was this very week. He didn't feel any of the usual instinctive urges. The only urges he got were protective ones towards Rin, and a powerful need to claim his territory and defend it.
By the time Rin woke again, the sun was heading toward the horizon, and she found herself cradled in a strong set of familiar arms. Unsettled by the intense feelings he'd experienced, Sesshomaru had decided to leave early with the healer's permission, assuring her he had his own healer at home who would take over. Rin blinked up at him, smiling softly at the view of his sharp jaw and the pink stripes across his cheek, and his pretty golden eye. He noticed she had woken and looked down, offering a tiny smile back to her. They passed under the archway of the garden wall and Rin smiled wider as she realized they were home at last.
After carrying her upstairs and pausing for a moment, he turned slightly and gently laid Rin in his own futon, in his room. He told the healer what had happened and the man told him there was nothing more he could do to heal her faster. Then the youkai lord called in his faithful servant, the scars at the front of his mind.
Jaken took his time exclaiming over Rin with ecstatic joy, until even Sesshomaru was a little embarrassed by his carrying on. "jaken," he said shortly, getting the imp's attention, "I need you to look at those marks and tell me what they are." He stilled immediately and looked at Rin's neck closely for a few moments.
"well, Sesshomaru-sama, I do hope it was you who left this mark," he began.
"and what is that supposed to mean?" Sesshomaru growled impatiently.
"you DIDN'T leave that mark?" he squawked in alarm, earning himself a swift lump on the head.
"yes, I did. Now what does it mean, you stupid creature?!" the inuyoukai demanded with a growl.
"er, well, milord…that's an InuYoukai's mating mark, if my memory serves me right."
Sesshomaru's eyes went wide with surprise, and Rin's were as well. She looked up at him questioningly. "did…you mean to do that, Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked him timidly.
"no, it was certainly an accident—" seeing the hurt in her eyes, he quickly clarified, "it was a happy accident! I'm glad it happened."
"it may have been an accident in execution, milord, but in order for this mark to appear you both had to be willing to be mated, and have intent to be paired," Jaken stated matter-of-factly. "I'd say this has been the root of all your recent problems, and they should be easily resolved now. If you like, I know how to break the mark—mmph!" Rin had reached over and pinched the imp's beak shut, hushing him. "why would I want that?" Rin asked softly, gazing up at Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru waved one hand, dismissing Jaken without another glance in his direction. "then…you want this? You wish to stay by my side as long as you may live?" he asked her, gazing into the cinnamon depths of her eyes. She nodded. "I want to be with you forever, mates or married or whatever you want to call it. I want to be with you, and only you… if you want me."
An intense feeling suddenly overwhelmed Sesshomaru and without another thought he gently brushed Rin's bangs from her forehead. "I claim you, Rin, as my one true mate, from this day into eternity." He bent to kiss her forehead and she hissed in slight pain. When he sat up once more, he smiled widely—for on Rin's brow rested the perfect crescent moon, marking her as his own for all to see. He began to trace it with the pad of one finger and Rin smiled wider as she felt the shape he was tracing. She suddenly felt much better, not realizing their much closer link allowed her to heal much quicker and more easily. He shifted to lay down, gathering her into his arms and telling himself she would never be without his protection as long as she lived. He nuzzled her gently as she relaxed, finally able to enjoy the scent that so soothed him once more.
For a few long, blissful moments, the world was simple and right, and Sesshomaru did not have a care in it. He simply lay in his bed, listening to his love breathe as if it were the sweetest music on earth, and closed his eyes.
A/N: this concludes arc one of the story! tune in next saturday for the beginning of the second arc!