InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A new beginning, a new hope ❯ The Wedding Present ( Chapter 26 )

Kagome turned from her position at the kitchen hood when a loud edgy grunt sounded beside her. It was so familiarly Inuyasha's style.

 

It is so early in the morning and he's already irritated, she sighed to herself.

 

Apparently, her hubby wasn't the only one in a quirky mood. Her eight-year-old was behaving super hyper and her eyes were lit with an over enthusiastic vivacity. The hanyou seemed to have detected something of great interest and in the next moment before she could even start to interrogate her, the kid had skipped out of the room.

 

“The air is really bad today.” Inuyasha let out a boorish scowl, rubbing as he wiggled his nose at the same time.

 

Kagome opened her mouth, attempting to seek some form of explanation but the riddle was disclosed as three figures emerged from the door way. She almost choked on her toast.

 

It was Rin together with Keiko clinging to her with impish keenness as usually. But beside them, there was also… Sesshoumaru!

 

It seemed that Keiko was experimenting some new multiple braiding technique on Rin's hair despite her consistent protests and the demon lord did not tolerate long before coming to her rescue. Impassively, he removed the leeching kid with both his domineering grip as well as his half accusing stare. Placing the hanyou kid back on her chair next to the equally speechless Sota, he elegantly strolled back to Rin and proceeded to assist her to disentangle the complicated twists, smoothening out her tresses with his claws.

 

The youkai looked as if he didn't even care that all these were done in full view of everyone in the room. Rin, on the other hand, was not that cool. Her cheeks felt so hot that for one moment, she thought it was going to burst into flames. Still, she was beaming with such contented elation that it was hard for anyone not to notice the drastic change in their relationship.

 

No, it can't be. Kagome's mind had made a pretty logical deduction in her place. Don't tell me that….they have reconciled? Rin and Sesshoumaru?

 

However, that was the most plausible reason. If not, why would they be together, so boldly to all and so openly exhibiting their affections to each other?

 

“Ohayo everyone!” Rin was the first to break this awkward stillness.

 

“Rin-chan, Sesshoumaru, what a err… surprise!” Kagome knew she would be the only one capable of making some polite conversation at this moment. She pulled in an extra chair to the table. “Don't just stand there, come in and have a seat. Breakfast's ready.”

 

This is definitely an unexpected family communion, Kagome thought as she did a quick scan at the members residing at the table.

 

Rin nodded, extremely grateful for this generous show of hospitality especially toward the demon lord. She, of course, had the luxury of recollecting all the past confrontations and conflicts between these two Inu-brothers. No doubt, this long term family squabble had really put Kagome and perhaps herself, in the near future, in a rather difficult and tense position. She wished with all her heart that Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha could one day live in peace with each other. That would be her first and most prioritized task as his wife, she agreed internally, having a hunch that it'll not be something Sesshoumaru would be too pleased with, no matter how much he loves her.

 

Sota watched with a hint of a pinch in his chest as Rin tended to the demon lovingly.

 

“What can I get for you?” Kagome held up a cup as if signaling to Sesshoumaru.

 

“Tea?” Rin assisted immediately as she gazed into his amberish eyes.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded.

 

“Kagome-san, let me do it,” Rin took over the cup and went about the simple task. She felt so blessed, just wanting to attend personally to his every little daily needs, much like any dutiful wife would do.

 

But when she returned to his side, she was taken by surprise that Sesshoumaru was at the same time… preparing her breakfast for her! Her wide hazel eyes followed him as he placed just the right personalized proportion of cereal and milk into her bowl.

 

How did he know that I like it this way? She laughed to herself. Looks like there's more to her husband-to-be and she'll have to take time to rediscover this gentler side of him.

 

**************************

 

After breakfast, Rin managed to catch Sota in his room. He was about to start his daily practice routine but stopped once he noted the girl at his door.

 

“Sota, can I have a word with you?” Rin waited till Sesshoumaru had left before taking this opportunity to speak to Sota. She hoped that he wouldn't find out about her offer to further her studies, at least not today, on their wedding night. Well, it wasn't that she intentionally wished to withhold the information from him. She just didn't want him to harbor any sense of guilt, thinking that she had made a tremendous sacrifice to be with him.

 

“Sure gal, come on in.” Sota still appeared ever so congenial even when he was probably the crestfallen and heart broken soul in the Higurashi shrine now.

 

Rin sat on the side of his bed, peeling bits of skin from her fingers, not knowing how to begin.

 

Sota could tell.

 

“You have decided, haven't you?” He helped her with it, sounding rather composed. “You have agreed to marry him?”

 

Please say no, a muted voice chanted in the young man's head, though he knew in his gut it was highly impossible.

 

“Yes,” Rin's answer disintegrated any fragmented bits of hope left in him and Sota felt in that instant he almost couldn't catch his breath. “And I… I…”

 

“You won't be going to London with us either?” He might as well finish it all for her. It was already so damn obvious.

 

“I'm sorry.” Rin didn't really know what she was apologizing for. But she guessed she had let him down in some way. Sota was always encouraging her to go for challenges and that she would one day become an accomplished musician if she persevered. Moreover, he was forever there when she needed him and now, she felt like she was repaying that kindness by abandoning him, leaving him to go to London on his own.

 

Sota gave a soft pat on her shoulder. “What's there to be sorry about, silly? You've made the right decision and I'm happy for you, really.”

 

And that was the truth. He had admitted to himself that throughout these five years spent with her, though bubbly and chirpy, still, he had never once seen the girl smile and behaved so unreservedly in public. She was so explicitly displaying the magnitude of her love for the demon lord.

 

“Sota, thanks for everything. I don't what to say.” Rin then remembered something. “When are you flying off?”

 

“Mid February. When school re-opens in spring, there's gonna be a concert for all the students in this exchange programme.” Sota spoke as he pulled his chair nearer to Rin. “Hey, why don't you play too? I mean, you're not going, but you can still play for it…err… that is, if you're coming back.” Yet another cruel probability dawned on him. Perhaps, she wouldn't ever return in the first place.

 

“Sure, I'd love to!” Rin showed on form of hesitation. She wouldn't give up any opportunity to perform. “We've discussed about this, I mean, Sesshoumaru and I. He doesn't mind that I continue learning the violin. We just have to work out some logistical details, that's all.”

 

Sota nodded in approval. The demon lord had indeed kept his side of the promise. He would now keep his. He unhurriedly reached for a paper box ornamented in the festive color underneath his bed and handed it to the girl.

 

“This is something for you, a gift,” He started. “Your Christmas present.”

 

Rin's eyes glowed in childlike excitement. “What's in it?” She proceeded to unwrap it.

 

It was a musical box.

 

A familiar piece sounded as Rin opened its crystal lid. It was the Salute d'amour.

 

As the melody went on with the dancing ballerina twirling her faithful rounds, Rin let her eyes drift shut as her memory was led back to the night where Sota had played it for her in the yard.

 

She couldn't wait to show it to Sesshoumaru and tell him the love story hidden behind this enchanting tune. She was sure he'd be equally charmed by its romantic notions.

 

“Thank you. It's beautiful. I love it very much.”

 

Sota returned only a silent grin.

 

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Rin was desperately trying to finish packing for her trip home when she heard a knock on the door. It was Kagome.

 

“Let me help you with this,” she offered, moving to settle next to the girl and started folding some of the clothes scattered on the bed. She also noticed that the demon lord was no longer here. “Sesshoumaru?”

 

“Oh, he has gone back home,” Rin explained while putting a stack of musical scores into her suitcase. “He's making some preparations for the ceremony tonight.”

 

A slight bush instantly flashed across her cheeks.

 

“Ceremony?” Kagome's curiosity was aroused.

 

“Yes, our wedding ceremony.” Rin gave her a shy contented smile.

 

Wedding? Kagome pondered upon its implications. “That's very… sincere of him.”

 

Rin nodded and returned to her task as Kagome continued to observe her. Somewhere in her heart, she was still fearing that the girl could be forced to return but it was clearly not so.

“You know, this room will always be available for you.” But would Sesshoumaru allow her to return? Kagome had her apprehensions.

 

“I will definitely come back often. Arigato, Kagome-san for everything you've done for me.” Rin held Kagome's hand, feeling indebted to her for life.

 

“You are not mad that we've brought you here against your will?” That was another matter still bugging the miko. She had to let it off her chest.

 

“Of course not.” Rin assured, her innocent laughter filling the room. Then, she added in a more solemn tone. “If not for what you've done, I think, I'll never become who I am today. And perhaps, even Sesshoumaru too. You're the one who had united us. Thank you so much.”

 

Kagome smiled. Rin was forever so sweet and thoughtful. The miko was also kind of glad that technically, no matter who she chooses, the girl would still be her sister-in-law. Kagome had always wished for a little sister, well, Sota's not that bad either. But still, it just wasn't the same. She could never have little girlie talks with him.

 

“I'm really happy for you, Rin-chan. I can see he treats you well.”

 

“Yes, he's very sweet to me.” Her voice emerged only as a shy whisper.

 

Sweet eh? Sesshoumaru? Kagome still could not relate that word to the youkai whom she had once known, especially when hunting down and slaying his half brother was previously his favorite pastime.

 

Well, she can't deny that there's some truth in the fact that Sesshoumaru had changed dramatically. But exactly by how much? That was what she wasn't confident of. He obviously no longer rejects the idea of having a human mate. But what about hanyou children? Hasn't he always show downright disgust with Inuyasha's existence, which he had voiced out countlessly as a pinnacle of disgrace? So, what about his own children with Rin?

 

“Rin-chan, don't mind me for saying this. I hope the two of you have talked through everything before making a decision of this sort. I mean, Sesshoumaru, hasn't he always been concerned about… you know...” Kagome was aware that such issues should remain privately between the couple and she was intruding into areas that stretched beyond the boundaries of politeness.

 

But still, she couldn't stop herself from finding out. It was her decision to bring Sesshoumaru here and it was indirectly her too who brought Rin here five years ago. The strong sense of responsibility in ensuring Rin's happiness had been a weighty burden in the miko's heart since then. Playing the big sister role, she wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything or anyone were to hurt Rin.

 

Rin identified what Kagome was getting that without much effort. It was reasonable for her to have doubts about the youkai lord. She had her own fair share of those, she recalled her endless mental struggles. But it all came down to only one word… trust… she trusted Sesshoumaru. More than that, she trusted in her own judgment.

 

“I understand your worry, Kagome-san. But we've discussed it already. And more importantly, I trust him.” Rin sought to put the miko's mind at rest.

 

Kagome felt better after that last statement but she noticed that Rin herself had become suddenly quiet and deep in thoughts.

 

“Is something bothering you?” She implored earnestly, moving in closer to the girl.

 

“Kagome-san, how do you cope with this sort of marriage, I mean, with someone of demonic blood?” Rin brought up the only thing that was still hounding her.

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome was a little clouded.

 

“Knowing that you're human and that you're unable to be by his side forever, how did you overcome that?” She needed to confide with someone who has a somewhat similar experience. Perhaps, the miko could give her some helpful advices.

 

Another smile streaked across Kagome's cheeks. If the depth of Rin's affection for the demon lord was no different from hers to Inuyasha, then she understood the girl's query pretty well.

 

“It was hard at first. I wish so much for him to be happy but there's little I can do.” Kagome had only begun but Rin was already nodding profusely as strings of silent tears dampened her cheeks.

 

“I feel so helpless,” the girl choked out between her sobs.

 

“What does Sesshoumaru say about this?” Before she revealed anything else, she wished earnestly to confirm this.

 

“He told me to have faith in him.” Rin repeated what the youkai had said that night, at the same time, cleaning off the reminisce of fluid on her face. She would have to rinse it thoroughly later, she reminded herself of Sesshoumaru's youkai senses. He would surely pick up the scent of her tears.

 

Kagome sighed. She had seen and asked enough.

 

Rin and Sesshoumaru, their union was meant to be. Sota will never succeed in finding even a crevice between them. There was just no place for her brother in Rin's heart. Just like herself, she remembered how her classmates in high school used to push dates with Hojo-kun to her and how he would consistently shower her with gifts even after they had graduated. But she had not once considered the prospects of even minutely accepting his pursuits. There was simply no room for that. There could be no one else except Inuyasha. Rin was a perfect mirror image of herself and with that, the miko made up her mind.

 

“Rin-chan, I have a gift for you,” Kagome reached into her side pocket. “A wedding present.”

 

Another present? Rin wondered appreciatively.

 

“Kagome-san, there's no need. You don't have to…”

 

“This gift is special and it has a significant impact on your life with Sesshoumaru.” The miko held up the Shikon-no-tama, the sacred jewel.

 

Rin held her breath as she regarded this well-known item that had been a trigger to numerous bloodsheds both in the demonic realm as well as among human warlords. She had heard that Kagome and her gang had successfully returned the jewel to its original wholeness. But this was the first time she was seeing it, and at such close range.

 

“You're not going to give the sacred jewel to me, are you?” Rin was bemused as ever. “I have no use for its powers.” The girl scanned through in her mind all the demons fighting to increase their strength with its fragments.

 

“Listen to me first, Rin. The jewel not only makes a youkai stronger, it's also able to grant its owner wishes.” Kagome appeared to be extremely serious. “It has granted mine.”

 

“Your wish?” Rin began to gain some interest in the topic.

 

“Yes, to be with Inuyasha, to be by his side through his life.” The miko finished as she placed the jewel in Rin's palm.

 

“Throughout his life? Does that make you a youkai as well?” Rin examined the crystal ball intently, simultaneously toying with the aspects of this new discovery.

 

“No, I'm still human. But my life force is pegged to Inuyasha. I will live as long as he does.” Kagome put her hand on the girl's. “And now, I hope it can grant yours as well.”

 

The miko further explained, “The jewel still possesses powers and perhaps, it will exhaust itself after you use it and disappear forever from this earth. If that happens, then, there'll be no more battles being fought for it.” She then passed the girl a wink. “Moreover, there's no better purpose for it than to complete and perfect love, isn't it?”

 

Rin was lost for words. She couldn't believe that she could possess a youkai's lifespan, enough for her to stay faithfully by Sesshoumaru's side through his ages.

 

“And all I have to do is to wish for it?” Rin managed to find some words.

 

“Yes, but you have to think carefully. You can even choose to become a full fledge demon or even have a lifespan that way surpasses Sesshoumaru.” Kagome warned gently. “Whatever it is, bring it with you home and do what you wish with it. Moreover, you'll require its help to pass through the well. With Sesshoumaru around, I doubt any other demons would dare lay a hand on it.”

 

“And you, Kagome-san, don't you need it too?” Rin's concern wasn't unfounded.

 

Kagome chuckled light-heartedly. “Strangely enough, or maybe I've absorbed part of the jewel's powers, I do not need it to travel through the time passage any further.”

 

Rin was close to tears again. She was touched by such a sweet and well thought of gift.

 

“Arigato, Kagome-san. I can't thank you enough.”

 

“Silly gal. We're a family after all, aren't we?” Yes, the miko mused. And we're both so hopelessly in love with those stubborn dogs.

 

Rin couldn't wait to relate this wonderful news to Sesshoumaru. Perhaps, he would prefer a demoness as a wife, then she wouldn't think twice to become one. The most perfect part of all this was that she would now be able to bare him pure breed children.