Chapter 18
Rin spent the majority of the day reeling over the fact that Inuyasha was going to have to fight Sesshomaru. Rin knew Inuyasha was strong, and she'd seen Inuyasha hold his own against his elder brother, but Rin didn't think that Sesshomaru was using his full power.
With this fight he absolutely would. Simply because he could, and he wouldn't risk showing favoritism to Inuyasha. Sesshomaru is going to be brutal, Rin had no doubt about that. The only hope was that Inuyasha could keep up.
Rin relaxed when Sesshomaru said that no swords would be used, this was a show of brute strength not swordplay. Then as she was leaving, she remembered something vital. How could she forget? Sesshomaru had the ability to turn into an actual giant (acidic venom spitting) dog.
Lost in thought, Rin bumped into a demon in the corridor. This demon fell to the floor in an ungraceful heap. The bright pink kimono scattered around her in a less than elegant pose.
Rin gasped and tried to help her up, but the fallen woman slashed her claws out at Rin. Barely giving her time to step back before razer-like claws made contact with her face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." said Rin remorsefully.
The female demon had her hair done up with elaborate pins and ribbons. When she fell some hair came loose around her face but even so, she was undeniably beautiful. Even as she glared with hatred at Rin.
Two purple, angry eyes stared back at her, "You."
Rin shot back, "Me?"
The demoness bawled her hands into fists at her sides, "You're that woman."
Rin narrowed her eyes at the demoness's tone, "I am a woman. You are?"
The demoness bared her fangs as she spoke, "I am Lady Nezuko, I'm a healer here and you would do well to bow!"
"I don't bow to you." Rin replied.
"I'm the future Lady of the West. You're that woman who I healed in Lord Sesshomaru's chamber. Who are you?" she hissed.
Rin scoffed, "It's none of your business who I am."
Nezuko seethed and fangs enlarged, "None of m-None of my business?! Did you not just hear me say I'm the future Lady of the West?"
"Oh, I think everyone in this castle heard you." Rin looked past Nezuko's head, "Lord Sesshomaru, is this your future wife?"
Nezuko gasped and turned around toward Lord Sesshomaru. Rin noticed his eyes turning red as the woman approached him.
Nezuko reached out her hand and Sesshomaru's icy voice rang out, "Touch me and you will lose your hands."
Nezuko immediately withdrew and took a few steps back, "M-My Lord, I was sent by your Lady mother. I am your betro-"
Sesshomaru growled at the mention of his mother, "You are my nothing. I gathered that you were sent by my mother by your presumptive actions. Get out of my palace and go back to my mother. If she sends any female here again, they will be returned to her in pieces."
Nezuko was shaking and Rin couldn't blame her. She hoped Sesshomaru never looked at her with such visible hatred and disgust.
"I-I.." Nezuko stuttered in fear.
Sesshomaru eyes widened a fraction, "Leave"
Nezuko, with tears in her eyes, ran right past Rin and didn't stop until she was out of sight.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes tightly and Rin watched dark green energy waves literally pulse off his body.
Rin fidgeted and couldn't help herself, "So does that happen often?"
Sesshomaru's red eyes snapped open to look at her. Rin held up her hands in 'I surrender' motion.
He pivoted on his feet and mutter faintly, "More than you'd think"
Rin sped up to follow after him.
The next day came quickly, Rin still slept in Sesshomaru's bed and was reluctant to leave it. It was like sleeping on a cloud and the fact that he didn't use it often was tragic.
Rin noticed a box sitting by the dresser and pulled herself from bed to see what it was. Written in beautiful letters was her name, so she opened it quickly. Sesshomaru had got her new attire and she was thankful that they had been pants instead of a traditional kimono.
Rin just couldn't go back into wearing those types of clothes after so many years. It didn't suit her anymore. The white kimono had pants which lead her to assume it was a male's, she dared not to assume it was something of his because it was far too small to wrap around his large body.
The clothes he got her were perfect. The pants are black and were like those used for combat, the material was soft and slid against her skin like silk. The top had long sleeves, so Rin used her dagger to cut them off, exposing her arms and numerous scars. The top also had black shell-like armor built into it that wrapped all the way around.
Armor wasn't what she wore, it also slowed her down, but this type was lightweight and she barely noticed it. Two black shoes, similar to Sesshomaru's, were also included. How he knew her shoe size is a mystery. There were other similar articles of clothing. Rin blushed at the underwear and didn't dwell on it too much.
Rin found a smaller box at the bottom and grabbed it. Gasping when she saw it was a necklace, a beautiful necklace made of strong linked silver. The pendant was a small crescent moon, it had a unique design and Rin clutched it to her chest as tears came to her.
She doubted he knew how much it meant to her, the moon. Not only was it his symbol but in the other realm the moon was her only reminder of him in those dark times. Looking up at it after a battle, hoping he was looking up too. Wiping her tears, she slid the long chain over her head and the moon fell down to her navel.
Sitting in Sesshomaru's office while he went through stacks of paperwork seemed to be Rin's favorite pastime. They talked sometimes but other times she just watched him.
His eyebrows would scrunch together when he read something he didn't approve of and the muscle in his jaw would clinch tightly. It was obvious he did not like paperwork, but he was diligent. Always read the entire page before flipping to the next.
When he'd catch her looking at him, she would quickly pretend to look out the big glass window behind him or pretend she was reading the book in her lap.
"To be convincing you should turn the page." he stated, with a bored tone.
Rin brought the book up to cover her face as she laughed slightly. Rin brought the book down only showing her eyes and they had a staring contest, Rin lost.
The calm atmosphere did not last very long though. The door to his study was promptly torn apart by a green wave of energy.
"Sesshomaru!" yelled a feminine voice.
In a very uncharacteristic way, the Lord of the West groaned loudly and leaned back into his chair. He kept his stare on the busted-up door as a woman who looked very similar to him came barreling through it in a fit of rage.
Lady Inukimi could rival Sesshomaru with the glare she gave him at the entrance to his study. Rin was shocked, it had been a long time since she'd last seen his Lady mother.
Rin's chair was elevated to the left as Inukimi came up and slammed her hands down onto Sesshomaru's desk with a loud smack. Her sharpened nail cracked the wood underneath but neither seemed to notice this.
They glared at each other and said nothing. Rin peeked her eyes over the book and watched the tense exchange between them. Sesshomaru kept his arms crossed and glared up at the woman who gave birth to him.
Inuyasha came into the room and froze, "Oh no, there's two of them."
Inuyasha quickly headed back out towards the entrance, Sesshomaru was the first to speak.
"What do you want, mother." he said coldly.
Inukimi didn't respond, only kept eye contact with him.
Inuyasha halted and turned his head to hear better, "Mother?!"
Both Inukimi and Sesshomaru completely ignored him or didn't hear him at all, and when Inuyasha looked like he was going to say something else, Rin shook her head quickly.
When he glanced at her, she put her index finger over her lips indicating not to say a word. Knowing any interruption would only make things worse.
Inuyasha raised his eyes and looked back at the almost identical pair in curiosity. The half demon leaned back against the wall and watched the silent duo, Rin also turned her attention back to them too.
"What do you want?" he said without any emotion. Rin saw him biting the inside of his cheek so hard, she feared his teeth might break through the skin.
Inukimi stood up abruptly, "You've answered none of my letters Sesshomaru."
"Nothing was worth responding to." his words as fast as a whip.
"Lady Nezuko came crying back to my palace, the girl could hardly speak, she was shaking!"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, "Who?"
Inukimi swiped her hand out, knocking all the papers and various other items onto the floor.
Sesshomaru looked at the papers scattered on the floor, to his now empty desk, and back to his furious mother who was breathing heavily.
Sesshomaru slowly smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"Oh. Her." he said calmly, his terrifying smile still etched onto his face, "Did you not get my other gift?"
Inukimi's face scrunched up in confusion at his words, "What?"
Sesshomaru backed up his chair and stood at his full height, forcing his mother to look up at him.
"Come now mother, don't play coy. I sent back your little spies. I even gift wrapped each limb for you." Replied the demon Lord innocently, as if talking about a new kimono.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Inuyasha's mouth drop open at Sesshomaru's cruel words.
Inukimi's eyes went wide, "You did what?! You insolent boy! Always so disrespectful, I sent Nezuko here to be your wife!"
He rarely spoke of his mother but the distaste for her was blaringly obvious to anyone with eyes. Although Rin had only met her once, His mother was a very composed woman but right now she looked ready to fight her own son. Rin had spent enough time with Sesshomaru to see the many sides of his personality and his 'unique' way of dealing with problems.
Sesshomaru raised his voice, "Mind your own business!"
Inukimi screeched at his tone and launched herself at Sesshomaru, they both busted through the window behind him and went spiraling to the ground in a tangle of claws.
"Oh Shit!" shouted Inuyasha, who was quick on their tails. Rin followed after, jumping over the desk and out the busted window.
They landed a small distance away from where the two were enthralled in green whips and poisonous claws. Sesshomaru was on his back with Inukimi sitting on his chest as she brought her fist down aimed at his face at lighting speed.
Sesshomaru moved at the last moment and her fist cracked against the ground, splitting the area his face had been moments ago.
Inuyasha and Rin glanced at each other in shock, not sure what to do in this situation. Sesshomaru threw her off him, she landed graceful and bounded back towards him. This time she did not miss and clocked Sesshomaru so hard in the jaw his face snapped in the other direction.
He bared his fangs, "Mothe-"
Sesshomaru didn't finish his sentence because she came at him again. This time he caught her fist and twisted it behind her back and grabbed the other one. Sesshomaru forced her arms back and grabbed them in one large hand.
Inukimi bucked her head back and got him again in the nose, he growled and reached down to grab one of the yellow ribbons on his waist. After tugging it out of his waistband, he began tying her wrists together as she shouted all sorts of foul words at him.
By this point the guards had come rushing out. Sesshomaru looked up and located Juuki. With Inukimi's arms tied up he grabbed both of her hips and lifted her, before launching her at Juuki. Juuki caught her and didn't let her fall.
"M-My Lady?" he stuttered out looking between them.
Sesshomaru spit blood onto the ground and glared at the squirming woman in Juuki arms.
"Juuki, it would appear my mother is unwell. Escort her back to her palace and do not let her back here until the trail." Blood was dripping down Sesshomaru's nose and smeared onto his teeth, "Kill her if you have too."
Inukimi's eyes turned red, "You're as arrogant as your father!"
Inukimi bit Juuki and he let go with a yelp, she managed to get one of her hands free and came back for Sesshomaru.
Rin moved faster, grabbed her closed fist before she could get another step towards him and pushed her back several places.
"Do not hit him again." Rin said coldly.
Inukimi looked at her with rage, "I am his mother!"
Rin's eyes went black, "You are his mother and that's the only reason you are alive. Do not take another step."
Inukimi moved back at the change in Rin's demeanor and stared at her oddly, only noticing her attendance to the family brawl. This allowed Juuki a moment of surprise grab Inukimi's arms. Giving a quick look of gratitude before teleporting away.
The Lord of the west turned back around and began marching back to the palace.
Inuyasha and Rin began to jog to catch up to him.
Inuyasha was the first to break the silence, "So that's what father meant."
Sesshomaru stopped abruptly, causing Rin to collide with his strong back. Sesshomaru didn't seem to notice and punched Inuyasha so hard he went flying back.
"What the hell Sesshomaru!" he shouted from a distance.
Sesshomaru then teleported away.
Rin cursed slightly before jogging back toward the palace.
~.~
So lovely reader, there was a lot in this chapter. From a nosy Inuyasha to the appearance of Sesshomaru's mother. When writing this I already had it in mind to bring in Inukimi and take a different spin on her relationship with Sesshomaru. Let me know what you guys think.