InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A new beginning, a new hope ❯ The Gift of Life (Part 1) ( Chapter 31 )

It had been close to a week since the evening where she thought it might be her last. Rin silently eyed Sesshoumaru's back view as he sat at his table against the window, appearing to be engrossed in his reading. The Shikon no tama, it had certainly done its job to protect her from that dangerous encounter with her demon husband's jyaki. A demon dog eh? A Taiyoukai? That was what he was, Sesshoumaru. They were both awakened from the heat of passion, reminded once again their vast differences.

 

It had been forcefully etched into his mind, she mused rather disheartenly. The youkai apparently was avoiding any form of mating with her, not extending beyond his still ever tender kisses and caresses.

 

Rin understood the root of this queer behavior fully well. Sesshoumaru, he was afraid to hurt her again. It was made so obvious to her whenever she tried to lure him into further intimacy, which he blatantly refused.

 

Still, he made sure to explain his stand rather patiently to her, coaxing her into giving her body more time to rejuvenate and heal from the last invasion of his jyaki.

 

Rin blew a sigh.

 

Though not turning from his sitting position by the silken screen, his enhanced youkai senses had definitely picked up that girlish muted yet audible sound from the direction of the bed. He knew Rin was suffering in silence. Neither in all sanity did he wish to reject bedding her. Look at her, smelling so intoxicatingly sweet as always and how that flawless skin of hers glittered when under lighting. It took every bit of his soul to resist himself from just jumping up and forcing her down on that mattress she was now lying so seductively in.

 

But he couldn't. Rin needed time to recover and it was his sole responsibility as her husband to see through that.

 

Right, he affirmed himself, balling his fist tightly; he's definitely way above just lusting for her body. When it comes to the safety of his most beloved woman, the demon just refused to rely entirely upon the powers of the infamous stone. Yes, he was paranoid, he admitted, overly and unnecessarily worried, like what Rin had voiced out for several times now within the short span of that few days.

 

Was he truly? He debated, giving his mentally weary eyes a rest from the glaring sunlight penetrating through the translucent curtains. The girl seemed more than perfectly fine after just one day, though he knew her soreness needed a little more time to ease off. But other than that, she was up and about, much like always. His jyaki had not affected her, it seemed.

 

He pressed his palm on the table, lifting himself up and started toward her.

 

“Are you better today?” He rested his palm on one of her shoulders, then sliding it across her nape to the other as he settled beside her in bed.

 

“I'm fine, and that was four days ago.” She was counting out loud, hinting her slight frustration at his nagging, after which she was contrite almost instantly.

 

Damn it! She chided. How can she be so insensitive to his feelings?

 

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.” This time, she began with a much softer tone. “It's just that…”

 

“It's alright. I understand.” Sesshoumaru merely rubbed on her chin.

 

Rin turned up to regard him, still feeling apologetic. His eyelids were lowered and his expression grim.

 

“Rin….” His amber eyes met hers as he sieved out some loose strands of her hair lacing them through his claws.

 

“Hai?” She waited.

 

“I need you to promise me something.” He never left her eyes, indicating to her just how serious the matter was.

 

“What is it?” Rin had sort of guessed what was on his mind though.

 

“I need you to promise me that you will not keep things from me.” His brows twitched with an aching pain in his heart as those terrible images resurfaced themselves in his head.

 

“But I've never… I…” Rin felt indignant for a moment, not comprehending the meaning behind his request.

 

“No, that was not what I meant. I wish you would tell me honestly if you're in discomfort or when I'm too rough on you or causing you undue pain.” His remorseful face told her plenty. He was still greatly bothered by what happened the other day.

 

Rin knew she was partly to blame for his breach of her limits. But, she never wanted it to turn out like this. It was supposed to be a special experience for him especially, a pleasant memory to be remembered. Indeed, it was a memorable one for both, though not coming close to being pleasant.

 

“I… promise…. I'm sorry. I'm at fault too…” Rin had just begun but Sesshoumaru had already caught her by the lips, sinking into a lengthened acknowledging kiss with her securely in his arm.

 

One thing led to another and they soon found themselves shaking off whatever bits of clothing stuck to their skin. Rin held her breath expectantly. Is Sesshoumaru finally going to….? It didn't take long for that query to find its own answer.

 

“I'll be very gentle. I promise.” After those last trailing syllables, the couple was back to normal, though Sesshoumaru chose to keep his word. He was careful not to force himself into her, turning a deaf ear to her “more” and “faster” spurs, keeping his thrusts at a rather measured and unhurried pace.

 

When they both reached an eventual climax, he squeezed her into the tightest most possessive hug ever. He was so clenched with the fear that he wasn't going to have her slick warmth at such close length again. He almost killed her for god's sake! Sesshoumaru wrestled with this still strange emotion pinching him. Yes. Fear. He knew it was fear, fear of losing her forever.

 

“Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?” Rin quivered in the midst of her last convulsion into him and the demon was drawn back to this present sensation of her inner walls contracting against his softening erection. He simply loved to feel her erotic tremors, this most private bodily surrender solely to his ownership. Yes, it was a part of her only he had the right to behold and he gleamed smugly just thinking about it.

 

“Nothing.” His breath gliding passed her hair, sending little pecks at the same time down the side of her neck. “I love you.”

 

“I love you too… forever…”

 

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Christmas had come and gone and the New Year ought to have begun for at least two weeks now in Tokyo city, Rin counted the days. The days seemed to just whisk pass when spent in the company of the one she loved. In fact, just a couple of days ago, they had just celebrated their one month anniversary, well, mostly in bed. The girl blushed, her head angling at the vase of flowers by the bed. Sesshoumaru had presented them to her, though she hadn't the faintest idea where he managed to get so many of them--- the moon's flower.

 

She packed her violin back into her case with great care, hopping then onto the bed to make some notes and adjustments to the scores. Sesshoumaru waited till she had completed her practice before entering the room. He would do that and sometimes, he would sit in, listening to her. This classical music thingy, it was starting to grow on him, he must say. Rin even found him giving her some interesting comments to improve on her pieces.

 

He has such sensitive ears, Rin thought to herself as she traced his long strides to her side. She had seen him flinch when she makes the slightest errors in intonation now that he was more familiar with what she was practicing on.

 

“Have you taken your medication?” He implored as he sat next to her, immediately leading to a clear pout on the girl's face.

 

“Not that again.” Her brows creased deeply. “Do I have to take that every other day?”

 

“Yes. You have to.” He headed purposefully for a container, bunching up a small portion of dull yellow herbs into a cup then following with some hot water. When he finished, he handed it to the fretting girl. “It's good for your headache.”

 

“Well, I think aspirins are much better.” Rin offered her opinion; trying to sway him or buy herself some extra time to perhaps make an excuse to escape from the room. Of course, the demon had anticipated all these.

 

“I do not believe in those pills from the other side of the well.” He placed the glass in her palm. “Too much of those are not good for you.”

 

“Well, at least, you only take them when you have a headache. This horrid tasting … whatever... that Jaken-sama brought back from nowhere, I have to take them almost always. Feels like I'm already sick.” Rin attempted to put the glass away without Sesshoumaru noticing but like real it's possible. The demon was predicting her every move with much expertise.

 

“These herbs are from Jinenji's gardens. Onegai…” Rin gave in to that final word; she couldn't bear to hear him plead. The great demon lord of the west was now begging her to take her medicine. What would other demons think about that if they got to know about it?

 

Still, she hadn't a reoccurrence even of the slightest hints of a migraine since she started on this prescription. Perhaps, Sesshoumaru was right about this. It was effective in its own way. Or maybe, it was just pure coincidence. This whole visit back to her own time had been really relaxing, not one thing capable of inflicting her with any mental pain.

 

Taking one deep breath, she pinched on her nose and swallowed as quickly as she could. She cringed as the bitterish fluid flowed down her throat, almost throwing it out in the process.

 

Sesshoumaru took the cup away from her, quite satisfied with his accomplishment though pretending not to notice her contorted face.

 

“Hey, where's my other score…” She got up with a start, flipping over the pillows and blankets, sending them flying everywhere. “Maybe, it's still in my luggage.”

 

Rin strolled toward the rectangular case, opening its lid and rummaging through her mini make shift library. Her eyes lit at the sight of a crystal object concealing itself at one corner--- It was the musical box. Instantly forgetting what she was originally there for, Rin half trotted back to the bed where the demon was now regarding her with amusing curiosity.

 

“Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru, look at this,” Rin rested it in his palm as she snuggled inward beside him. “Sota gave it to me. It plays this melody called the Salute d'amour which is itself a love story….”

 

“I know.” The demon's clipped reply took her by disbelieving surprise. “It was written as a declaration of love.”

 

“How did you…..” Rin's jaws fell wide, watching as Sesshoumaru leisurely strolled away and back with a tiny squarish case. This brief mention of the young man's name had reminded him about something that he was still keeping with him, something that ought to have been presented to the girl long ago.

 

Coolly and soundlessly, he peeled open its lid, retrieving the glittering ring from within and lifting up her finger, he slid it through.

 

“I should have given this to you on our wedding day but…. ” He placed a kiss on her temple. “Do you like it?”

 

“I love it. It's beautiful….” Rin lavished him with her lips on his, then reached to meddle playfully with the silver round her finger. She smiled, as if clinging on a certain deduction. “Was it Kagome-san who gave you this idea?” Yes, this practice belongs to her sister-in-law's world, not the feudal era. Sesshoumaru can't have come up with this himself.

 

Sesshoumaru felt the rising of his last inner torment. He hadn't been truly honest with her, especially the part about his brief conversation with the young musician.

 

But what was stopping him in the first place, he posed the question back to himself? It is insignificant; Sota's feelings toward Rin and it wouldn't affect them in any way. The girl wouldn't change her mind, she couldn't, they had already wedded. He had won. But if they hadn't, would she have preferred that noble boy over him if she'd known the depth of Sota's love for her?

 

The truth was that the demon lord felt insecure. Still, he made it clear to himself that he needed to put an end to this self inflicted misery. He will tell her today. Everything!

 

“No, it wasn't her.” He filled his lungs with a calming jolt of air. “It was the boy.”

 

“Sota? He gave this to you?” The girl shook her head, confused. “But I've never seen the two of you speak. How did he…. Why…?”

 

Now it was the demon's time to shake his head as he shot her an incredulous look coupled with a smirk.

 

“I can't believe you, my love. Are you truly so blind?” He nuzzled the sides of her pale pink cheeks. “How the boy feels, the attention and gifts he showered on you. His affection for you …is no less than mine.”

 

The seriousness in his tone was countered by the over-spilling chuckles from Rin.

 

“Sesshoumaru, not you too??!!? Sota and I, we're not like that… he just look upon me only as a younger sister. That's all.” Gradually, her face turned more solemn, flipping through all that had happened between her and the young cellist and as more fragments flooded into her mind, she became more doubtful.

 

“This ring was meant for you. It was in his possession long before we spoke.” Sesshoumaru outlined the shimmering curves. It was difficult for him, this overly gracious act of revealing for the young man what he hadn't the courage to put voice to. “There can only be one explanation… He had prepared it for himself … to propose to you.”

 

As his last statement rang through her mind, Rin's hand trailed down to open the musical box in the palm of the other. At once the soulful tune lingered in the air, bringing her back to that fateful night where Sota had played it for her. Bits and pieces of the overlapping events that evening hit her like a wakening electrical bolt. His nervousness, this specially selected piece, the sweet sentiments behind it….

 

In her frenzy, she let the box fall onto the soft silken covers. Sota was proposing to HER! That was the reason behind his unrest! The story was meant for her, the ring, this musical box, everything! Rin felt like slapping herself HARD for her obliviousness. How blind she was, like Sesshoumaru had said, how she had ignored all the seemingly brainless blabbers by Yumi. She was the one with the eyesight problem.

 

“What did you two talk about? Sesshoumaru, I wish to know.” Rin choked out and the demon instantly detected her agitation. Anxiety seeped into his chest, like a mass of air that refuses to be released. Normal breathing seemed near impossible.

 

But he had decided, and thus he ought to stick with it.

 

“He asks of me to be hopeful and that your memory lost was the only thing that was hindering our reunion. He only requested that I give careful considerations for you before making a choice.”

 

Sota's speech that afternoon was refreshed in his mind. “If you truly decides to love her with all your heart, to give her all the happiness that she deserves, then give her this. You have my blessings.”

 

The demon lord recollected something else, something important.

 

“He asks me to remember some daily rules, and that it will come in handy.”

 

“Rules?” Rin's eyelids had become too heavy to be lifted with ease.

 

“Little things, actually. First, that you love cereal in the morning. I should learn to prepare the right proportion and mix. Second, that you will never bring an umbrella. If it rains, I would have to fetch you from school or you will walk in the rain and end up with a bad cold…..”

 

Sota's voice echoed again in the demon's head as he repeated them to Rin.

 

“ …. Third, the girl needs to be on her own from time to time. She'll appreciate if you grant her that space though she can never bring herself to demand for it. Fourth, always get her supporters when she has a performance. She'll be really shy about it but never let that get in your way. I believe her heart longs for them to come. Fifth, she has great talents for music, just that she needs a little more polishing. Always encourage her not to give it up…”

 

“Stop…. Don't … say … anymore….” River of tears were running down Rin's cheeks, uncontrolled and ceaseless, something in her heart pounding heatedly.

 

Rin's reaction nullified all of Sesshoumaru's reassurance to himself. He wished that all these would mean nothing to the girl and that she would be just as composed as the day he had transformed in front of her very eyes. But it wasn't so. She was hysterical and her pulse in a total clashing mess.

 

He gave her time to calm down and stifled her sobs, his expression grave and crestfallen.

 

“If you wish to change your mind…. I….” He started but was met with a strong retaliating stare by Rin.

 

“What?!!?? Change my mind? Sesshoumaru, what are you talking about?” Rin brushed the remains of the moisture accumulating on her cheeks.

 

“Perhaps if we hadn't wedded, you will have preferred him over…..then, you may do as you like.” He was still directing his gaze to the mattress, shunning her.

 

Rin guessed the underlying meaning.

 

“How could you say that? I can't believe that you're even suggesting that I reconsider about us…” The girl was hurt. His words had cut an open wound. “I love you…. I love… only… you…. always.”

 

“Rin… if you had a chance to choose again…. I'm saying if the young man and I are on equal grounds….” Sesshoumaru was stuttering. He needed to know. “Will you… perhaps….”

 

“NO! NEVER!” She didn't even wish to hear the last of it. She heard enough of this nonsense but she forced herself to soften her tone. “Do you have so little trust in me? I told you…. I love only you. Right from the beginning, even if I could change my mind a thousand times, it will still be you and there can be no….”

 

Her unrestrained explanations went on until it was silenced by a kiss filled with every pent up emotion as he embraced her. The last of his turmoil dissipated, the air cleared. He heaved a rather relieved sigh.

 

Yes, how silly he was, to have doubted her. He was actually doubting himself.

 

They broke off shortly after and Rin fell silent as if wresting with some options. This time, Sesshoumaru granted her that space, just stroking her hair and soothing her--- just as he had promised Sota he'd do.

 

“Sesshoumaru… I need to go back…. I need to see him.” Rin was afraid of another misinterpretation of her intentions. “Sesshoumaru, please don't be mistaken, I'm not…. Please understand….”

 

“Don't explain…” He put a halt to her jittery insertions. “You don't have to explain… I understand.”

 

“You do?” Rin threw him a genuine appreciative glance.

 

His approving nod set her mind at ease and she rested against the comforts of his ever stately chest, feeling so protective and safe in it. Today, she had discovered two things, one of Sota's love that she had taken for granted for too long. She had to speak to him and make amends, though still having no ideas how. At least, she should thank him. He'll always be that special brother no one can replace.

 

The other, deemed more important to her, was about Sesshoumaru. Never had she thought that someone as perfect, intelligent and powerful as he can experience such insecurities. She knew it only proved how significant she meant in his life. She swore to herself that she'd put him first place, even if it costs everything she owned, including her life.

 

She turned, facing him with a smile.

 

“It's a great idea to visit no matter what. I miss Keiko…” She giggled just thinking how the little hanyou would react when she sees her. “I know you adore her too.”

 

Sesshoumaru looked away from that pair of cheery grinning irises for a moment. Then, he surrendered his true opinion.

 

“I would like her better if she hadn't inherited so much of her Oto-san's irritating traits.”

 

Rin chuckled. Looking at her own wrist, she recalled the demon's gift.

 

“And oh… I can finally give Kagome her share of this family heirloom. She would be very touched, I know. It would mean a lot to her, as for me.” Rin noticed that Sesshoumaru wasn't responding swift enough again.

 

“Sesshoumaru, tell me honestly, do you still hate … Inuyasha?” This was a question hounding her mind for the longest time. And who else could ask him that other than herself? She had to do something to patch the family up.

 

After a long, long pause, he finally shook his head but Rin wasn't satisfied with just that. She wanted to find out more since she'd already begun.

 

“Did you even hate him in the first place?”

 

Sesshoumaru's loud sigh clipped with a laugh echoed through the chamber.

 

“Nothing seems to escape your sharp eyes, my love?” He brought her under his arm. “You are almost right to say I do not hate him …. But his guts disgust me… especially when it's backed with the utter lack of talent and strength. He swings our father's precious sword no different from a log. His existence is a pinnacle of disgrace to the family.”

 

Sesshoumaru sounded so serious and firm Rin just burst out laughing at his perfect bland of witted sarcasm.

 

“I don't believe you meant all of that. At least, I felt that Inuyasha-sama had advanced through the years. He had become much stronger.”

 

Sesshoumaru did nothing to rebut that and Rin knew immediately it was quiet consent. That had always been her husband's style, bland and impassive on the outside.

 

But, she of all people had seen the real him. He had the most passionate spirit in him, even when he refused to admit or disclose.

 

“We'll leave tomorrow morning?” He suggested while reaching to bunch up a handful of her kimono from her knee.

 

“Hai… but what are you doing?”

 

“You'll know in a while….”

 

She gave a squeal, finding herself been pushed down into the sheets by his muscled torso…

 

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Hope you've enjoyed the story so far… and thanks for all you wonderful folks who reviews. It was really encouraging…

 

I'm crossing my fingers for more reviews…

Anyway, in part two coming in about two days'time,

 

Rin was behaving strangely. Only Kagome and Inuyasha were able to solve the mystery.

 

And what has this got to do with the Great Demon Bees from the west???

 

Will Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha finally fight hand in hand like all brothers would for a common goal??