InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A new beginning, a new hope ❯ To have the Cake or Eat it (Part 4) ( Chapter 41 )

The hanyou physician drew back as he witnessed the demon lord slam open the door screen to the library before vanishing into it. Sesshoumaru struck two balled palms hard on the study table sending a cloud of dust into the air. Still, that wasn't enough for him. His crimson strips took on a brownish purple as he heaved several long suppressed huffs.

 

“My lord.” Jinenji was staggered back speechless when without warning and with a loud exasperated growl, the youkai overturned his chair with a violent left swing, then the heavy weighted table with his right, delivering both items to extreme opposite corners or the room, crumbling into nothing but oddly shaped parts and fragmented rubble. With added splints of white light behind him as he transformed, Sesshoumaru cometed toward the wall, pounding his fist vehemently into it. The sheer enormity of his enhanced youki took down several towering shelves coupled with hundreds of ancient scrolls buried within.

 

In his heart, the demon lord understood Rin too well to know the real reason behind this uncompromising persistence of hers. There could only be one who was at fault.

 

Himself.

 

If he hadn't been so…so proud and spiteful against Inuyasha, if he hadn't despise hanyous all his life and insisted on only pure breed mates and heirs, perhaps then, Rin would have accepted his decision with a more open mind. Knowing her as he did, if there was the remotest chance that she could bear him a full fledge youkai pup, she wouldn't have second thoughts about it, even if the price to pay was too dear.

 

And now, all those mulishly declared discriminations in the past, they were all coming back to him in the most devastating and destructive manner, one that cost him his heart and every bit of happiness he'd ever owned.

 

“My lord, please calm down. This will not help in the situation.” The hanyou watched observantly as Sesshoumaru showed a slight wince. “You left hand is still young. You must be careful with it.”

 

Something in that last statement caused the youkai lord to spend a couple of seconds examining his new left arm, the one that had been severed by his half brother during his own vengeful spree, the one that the hanyou physician had assisted to accelerate re-growth. Though fully regenerated for almost seven years, this new limb had never been quite the same as his original, especially when he attempted to exert too much force on it.

 

Nevertheless, Jinenji couldn't have done a better job with it. It was definitely far superior to his past experiences fixing on unsuitable and disproportioned limbs by other youkai breeds.

 

“Let me take a look.” The hanyou physician held up Sesshoumaru's left palm toward himself as he cleaned the convulsively inflicted wound briefly. “Does it still bother you during rainy days?”

 

The demon shook his head. “Not recently. Not anymore.” At that, he cringed slightly, realizing the reason why. Rin. She had been religiously helping him massage on it almost every night, saying that it would encourage better blood circulation.

 

Gosh, how can he be without her even for a day?

 

“Is there really no other way out of this?” Sesshoumaru whispered, his amber eyes pleading in the rarest and most humble manner.

 

“There is one more, actually more of a gamble.” Jinenji brought forward an aged thread bound book, flipping to one of the pages. “We can attempt to mold the character of the pup while it's still in the developing stage. We can tame it, bringing its destruction to the minimal.”

 

“Tame it?” A single hope lit in Sesshoumaru's heart. “What do you mean?”

 

“My lord, I must say that this method is by no means easy. It requires a lot of patience and sacrifices. Every little things counts.” Jinenji traced his fingers through some of the lines from a slightly torn page. “Firstly, from this day forth, the lady must take on a diet of only fruits and vegetables. Actually, to be more exact, there should preferably not be killing of any sort within this whole compound. When the pup senses blood and violence, it kindles the inborn malice in it. We should try to avoid that.”

 

Does this mean everyone in the household has to be off meat? The youkai pondered upon the possibility. He had better make Jaken clear anything once alive from the kitchen and store.

 

Just then, a gentle knock brought his attention to the entrance where the miko stood.

 

“Sesshoumaru, Jinenji-san, Rin-chan is still not taking her medication. I tried to coax her to at least eat something but she wouldn't. She's so cautious and wary of us now and I'm worried.” Kagome brushed away a drop of sweat from her temple. “What should we do?”

 

“My lord, that's the second most important thing. The lady CANNOT be late for her medication. That is no longer a luxury we can afford to be careless of, judging from her present condition. If ever, I must warn you, she were to be off the dosage for three consecutive days, nothing can save her, not even when my sensei was still alive.” As he spoke, the hanyou physician was speedily mixing a portion of the honey with a variety of other ingredients not known to the both Sesshoumaru and the miko. “Also, depending on her daily condition, there would be a need to make certain alternations to the dosage. I've decided to stay through till her full term to take care of that part.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded in the deepest appreciation.

 

“And lastly, we should try not to agitate her like we did today and she should not exert herself in any way. I hope, through all our efforts, the pup will inherit a compassionate and gentle nature, much like the lady herself. Then, there is a high chance that it too will not possess the heart to harm its own mother.” Jinenji heaved a concerned sigh. “I wish I can guarantee you results but the truth is that I'm not completely sure myself. This is the first time I'm encountering a situation like this. But gauging from the intensity of youki the pup already possesses at one and a half months, I'm most worried that it may not even be an ordinary Taiyoukai. There is no telling in the limits of its powers. Do not forget, it will fuse with the Shikon-no-tama. But at this point, that's the best we can do.”

 

“For now, that shall be sufficient then. We will proceed with what you have suggested.” Sesshoumaru knew he would never be able to convince Rin to give up the baby. Neither had he the heart to force it on her. Then, there is no other way. He would have to bet everything he had on this one chance.

 

“Kah, no killing eh?” That familiar grunt echoed in even before Inuyasha entered the room. Inelegantly, he inclined against a wall while rubbing his occasionally twitching nose with his fingers somewhat irritably. “Ooi, Sesshoumaru, I'm sure you've sensed it too. There has been a strange evil aura hovering about the western regions and wherever it moved, I smelt nothing but blood and jyaki. I seriously doubt it is anything friendly.”

 

Yes, his brother was right. Even during the journey back here, he had picked up the heavy stale stench of rotted flesh belonging to numerous youkais, leaving an awful after taste still lingering in his throat. It was just that he had been so caught with Rin's condition that he hadn't the time to dwell much into it.

 

“Kah, leave it to me. I'll check it out.” Without waiting for a reply, Inuyasha waved to Kagome before exiting, preferring to disappear out of the window instead of the door. He was the best person for this job since Sesshoumaru's full concentration should undoubtedly be on his mate.

 

“Inuyasha, be careful.” The miko forced a quick smile. “Err.. did you happen to see Kei?”

 

There wasn't a response. Her hubby had leapt off.

 

“Then my lord, you should hurry. Like I said, the lady cannot be late for this medication. I'm sure only you are able to convince her to take it.”

 

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

 

Sesshoumaru came to a halt right after he took a step into the chamber, noticing how Rin was just sitting there in a daze, as though lost in a certain musing. Still, he spat at himself inwardly coz there wasn't a doubt that she had spent a better part of the time they were briefly apart crying her heart out. The scent of her tears was everywhere.

 

A hushed gasp escaped her lips as she realized that she was been watched. Nervously, she inched away from him as he paced toward her. Still he caught up, reaching to grab one of her cold sweaty palm.

 

Another gasp followed, this time different from the first.

 

“Sessho, what's this?” Rin was speaking to him and Sesshoumaru was pleasantly shocked that she would. “Your hand, why is it bruised? When did you hurt yourself?”

 

The youkai merely smiled. Even after all their disagreements and the mind boggling dilemma presently tearing their relationship apart, she was still so easily flustered and worried about him, over the most trivial things.

 

“This is nothing. It'll probably heal in the next hour or so.” He was smart to take full advantage of this brief switch in her mood to pull her into his arms, feeling her chest against his, resting her head over his shoulders. “There's nothing that can hurt me more than seeing you like this. You know that?”

 

At those tenderly spoken words, the girl relaxed significantly, her own arms cruised to embrace him. “I'm sorry, Sessho… for saying those nasty thing to you. I…”

 

“Shh… hush no, it's alright. You don't have to explain. I understand.” He felt her erratic breathing. Rin was sobbing again. “If you keep crying like this, we're not going to get a happy pup.” He attempted a playful tease and it apparently worked, to his surprise.

 

Rin breathed a slight chuckle, sniffing up the last bits of her tears.

 

He shifted the girl from his chest and sat her before him, observing as she met his eyes with over joyful curiosity.

 

“Are you saying that we are keeping the baby?” She couldn't help the ecstatic tone.

 

He flashed her a helpless smirk. “Can I not let you? Anata? Will you not hate me for life?”

 

Rin tried to hide a grin. “No, don't be silly. I can never hate you.”

 

I love you too much, a tiny voice continued in her mind.

 

There was a brief silence, both lost in their individual thoughts.

 

Sesshoumaru placed the prescribed dosage carefully in one of her hands, closing her fingers round it.

 

“Jinenji has a way to help keep both you and the baby safe. But before I tell you about this, you'll have to finish this. He said you cannot be late.”

 

Rin paused as if still apprehensive and taking time to consider. Sesshoumaru caught that without fail.

 

“Do you not trust me? Have I ever lied to you?” He supported her chin up to gaze into her lovely eyes as he let off a clipped laugh, forgetting for a short moment the priority at hand. “Have I ever told you that you have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen? I get lost in them all the time.”

 

Rin laughed bashfully, slapping gently on his lap with her other free hand.

 

“Remember what you promised me on our wedding day?” Even between jokes, he reminded himself his immediate task. “You said you'll be by my side always and I trusted you. I will not allow you to break that vow.” At that note, the youkai forced a smile, trying hard to control that pain still throbbing in his chest, the fear still ever existent, ever haunting him of the dim unknown. But he had to be strong. He had to support Rin when she needed him most. Now. “If you do not take your medication on time, not only is it bad for you, it will not be any good for the pup as well.”

 

To the demon lord's immense relief, Rin nodded and slowly lifted the cup to her mouth and cleared out all its contents.

 

The rest of the evening that followed was a private time enjoyed between the two. They had their belated dinner of an assortment of fruits as Sesshoumaru related all the instructions the hanyou physician had specified to the girl.

 

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

Two weeks had come and gone since the night the demon lord made the most perilous gamble in his youkai life, one that carried with it the greatest penalty if he lost. This decision had taken an obvious toll on Sesshoumaru. On the front, he had successfully played the role of a caring husband and father-to-be, acceding to every frivolous request made by his pregnant wife, though few. But every late night as Rin slept in his arms, he would simply watch her soundlessly as apprehension and dread intensified masking his every other emotion. It was as if he was stepping on land mines, not knowing when would be the last day he would see her wake so beautifully beside him. All these pressure, he felt, was killing him slowly but surely.

 

But at least one good thing came out of it. Rin, her condition was improving. She had better appetite and was gradually gaining healthy weight, though the bulge of her belly could still easily go unnoticed as one which carried a new life.

 

Sesshoumaru helped the girl to the shaded pavilion in the garden after an afternoon stroll as Keiko toyed with the kois swimming in the pond with a stick.

 

“Are you tired? It's getting too hot.” He knelt to Rin's seated level, clearing away the sheen of sweat lining the edge of her cheeks. “Perhaps we should retreat back to the chamber.”

 

“Rin-chan, come. Let's play catching.” The little hanyou intercepted them as she skipped to the girl's side, innocently attempting to yank her out of the chair.

 

“Keiko, don't. Rin-chan cannot run around. Be good. Go play yourself.” Kagome let go of the vegetarian cook book in her hand, even when she was reluctant to be interrupted in her planning of Rin's dinner that evening. She had come up with the most brilliant recipe she'd sure Rin would be delighted. The miko rushed forward just in time, plucking her kid from the girl next to the slightly concerned youkai. “Rin, Sesshoumaru is right. It's really hot this afternoon. You'd better get back into the house.”

 

Rin nodded, agreeable. Deep in her heart, she knew everyone had her welfare in mind, though she was feeling nothing but fine.

 

“I'm feeling perfectly fine. Don't worry, Sessho.” She only chirped when they were alone in their chamber, leisurely sprawling on the bed.

 

“Then you wouldn't mind me doing this.” He hissed, suddenly pouncing to her side and pressing a slick wet kiss on her lips. Yes, he was fully aware of her frailty. But damn, it was so hard to resist her. It had been just too long since the last time they did anything close to this.

 

Rin squealed with a hint of a gleam in her eyes.

 

“What are you doing?” She heaved breathlessly between his continuous kisses round her neck. “I thought we're not supposed to. I thought…”

 

The demon lord wasn't at all listening. He was already in the midst of loosening her kimono into a low deep `V' while licking the hollow of her collar bone, tickling her to a more audible shriek. “I've consulted Jinenji. He says it's alright if we're careful.”

 

“What? You asked him?” Rin was embarrassed as she envisioned the sensitivity of such queries mouthed out aloud. “But that's so….”

 

She was silenced, her lips forced to seal with his as he delve his tongue into her mouth, tasting her at every corner he had preferred.

 

“Do you not want to?” His breathing had become heavy round her ears. “Do you not miss me?”

 

Rin giggled into his mouth as she kissed him back with equal passion.

 

“Of course I do. Make love to me, Sessho. Now?”

 

“I'll be really gentle, I promise, and slow.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you alright? Am I hurting you?”

 

“… no… faster?”

 

“No.”

 

“…please?”

 

“No.”

 

“… Sessho-chan?”

 

“Don't be naughty; I'll never fall for that again.”

 

“…”

 

“Rin?”

 

“Sessho.. I can't.. I'm..”

 

“Hold on to me tightly… Anata.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“I love you… forever…Sessho-chan…”

 

I love you too…

 

 

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Hiya,

 

How's that for an implicit lemon? Haha

 

Leila-chan: I checked out your site. Cool, your hubby's romantic and funny. I can tell..

 

Christal: You're so sweet for volunteering to send me gum. It's ok. I have a whole fridge filled with gum. My country's probably the only one I know in the world that bans selling gum but not eating or possessing it. To me, it's kind of cute actually.

 

James: You reviewed! Can I take it that you're feeling better? Who's Kiki? But then again, our James has no lack of lady fans and stokers. There's baby and Kiki and honey bee… who knows what's next? Rofl Sorry, I'm in a cheery mood. Christmas's round the corner and I'm about to start the next chapter on Demon of my heart. I'm becoming a schizophrenic soon.

 

Okay, now for more serious stuff, this chapter's a breather for all. But what's with the evil aura and what disaster awaits Sesshoumaru and Rin? Is it going to complicate matters?