InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful: An Adventure in Parenthood ❯ InuMochi ( Chapter 13 )

I DO NOT OWN SESSHOUMARU OR RIN

 

A/N: All of the mythology in this chapter is REAL. Inumochi are a REAL thing in Japanese mythology, as are Inushikigami (paper dog demons) and the thing about Rin feeding Sesshoumaru giving her control over his instincts to force him to be forever bonded to protect her is REAL. Male Inuyoukai/Inugami were said to only be TRULY happy/fulfilled once they found a human woman to protect and bind themselves to… Rin is OBVIOUSLY the one that Sesshoumaru is bound to in canon, and if he follows mythology it means he will be with her for the rest of her life, never letting another male near her - or until she exercises him. (This is yet another of the many MANY reasons I `ship them. It follows REAL Japanese mythology.)

 

He literally won't ever leave her alone. He will HAUNT her. (In Japanese mythology Inuyoukai/Inugami were protective, but also very possessive and many women sought to drive them away because they would kill human would-be husbands. They were known to be powerful, but DANGEROUS to try to control.)

 

 

 

Rin blushed and nodded. “I intend to, My lady. Rin loves Sesshoumaru-sama very much.”

 

Rin's blush deepened at the memories surfacing of what had occurred when she'd conceived Shinnoumaru, who was currently shoving away from his mother's chest and wriggling down to get close to the water.

 

Loosing the color in her cheeks from the memories, her attention was diverted to her rather wriggly little son, trying to get away and explore on his own it seemed.

 

Rin laughed, watching as he lowered his little nose to the surface, taking a deep inhale of the strange new scents, but because he got a bit too close he sniffed up a bit of the bath water. The annoyed looking puppy immediately snorted and shook his head roughly, now starring down at the water looking venomously angry, the tiny pup gave his most imtimidating growl.

 

So much like his father… Rin mused, wiping his little nose off and comforting him. “Did my little man get some water up his nose? We can't just go sniffing everything like that now can we?” She cooed, grabbing some soap from the edge of the tub and balancing a now defeated Shinnoumaru on her shoulder while she worked up a lather.

 

Careful of his little ears Rin bathed her son and resumed her talk with Sesshoumaru's mother. She had many questions, about what the lady had said.

 

“What did you mean… `bitch'? What is that?” Rin didn't quite understand everything about how Inuyoukai packs were run. Sesshoumaru talked very little about such things, and all Rin did know was that he was the alpha male, his mother the alpha female and she was his mate. Until now there was no need to understand anything beyond his instinctual desire for her to show submission to him on occasion. Rin did not mind, as her submission never included anything that one would deem… humiliating.

 

“I believe the human word would be… Inumochi.” The lady brought a tapered and well manicured claw to her chin as though pondering. “I suppose this means that Sesshoumaru has become more Inugami than Inuyoukai…” She sighed, dropping her hand and making a small splash in the water, “I suppose it was expected… So much like his father, yet still surpassing him.”

 

Inu… Inumochi…?!?

 

Inumochi was a word used to describe human women who had gained control of an Inugami… A protective and possessive dog spirit. These… inumochi were said to be incredibly powerful, and to have control over their demon guard and attack dogs… The relationship could only sour if the woman later decided to reject the spirit; if that happened, the fierce loyalty turned easily to obsession and the Inugami would refuse to leave the woman alone; effectively haunting her. He would kill males that came near her, children from other mates, and in general could only be made to leave through exorcism.

It is a good thing I do not ever plan to try and leave Sesshoumaru-sama… I still wish to be with him forever!

 

“But… I don't understand? How… how did this…Why did he choose me?”

 

The lady chuckled, reaching for Shinnoumaru from Rin and pressing her nose to the pup's, who looked crosseye'd at his grandmother over his muzzle and snorted unappreciatively.

 

“It appears, little human, you are in need of a history lesson. Do you not know the history of the Inuyoukai race?”

 

Rin shook her head in the negative.

 

“Long ago, there were no Inuyoukai… Only Inushikigami. These were the spirits of mortal dogs, who were catured, buried up to their necks' and left to starve to death with a bowl of food just out of reach. The dog would die hungry and wanting, so whoever was the first to feed the dog's spirit would have such great gratitude from the dog's soul that it would then be able to be captured by the human and used as a protection or messenger spirit.

 

“It was only after many generations that a few of these Inushikigami were able to become powerful enough to break free of their human masters and to live on their own. It was these that were the first Inuyoukai. Eventually we evolved so that there were even Inudaiyoukai - like my late mate and Sesshoumaru… However, even as much as they evolved, Inuyouakai retained the trait of being bound to serve humans. The only difference now was that an Inuyoukai could choose his master.

 

“Tell me little one… Upon meeting Sesshoumaru, did you offer him food?”

 

Rin's eyes became wide. Yes… Yes, she had fed an inuyoukai. Rin nodded silently in shock… She hadn't even realized. Just then she remembered…

 

“But… He refused all the food I left for him! He said he didn't want human food!”

 

The lady chuckled, “No doubt he did not wish to accept food from a human for fear of being ensnared… But tell me, you say you left him the food? Was it ever still there when you returned?”

 

A light clicked on Rin's head then. No. It never was… It was always… gone… I always had to bring more food then next day!

 

He was eating it!

 

Rin chuckled, mumbling under her breath, “That sneaky bastard…”

 

The lady nodded her agreement bemusedly, “Well then… After you offered him food, and he ate it for three days… Did his behavior change towards you?”

 

He asked about my bruises. Rin again nodded.

 

“No doubt. And though my son hated humans… Jaken tells me that when Sesshoumaru smelt your blood, he turned around. My son, who purports to hate humans and wish them dead… He turned around. He could not help himself you know,” the lady snickered behind her hand, the other still stroking the pup, “it was no instinct. He was drawn to protect you then and now and from this day forward. He will never stray… He can't.”

 

“You know, my dear… The true question was never `why did he use tenseiga'… The true question you should have been asking was `Why did he turn around when he smelled your blood in the first place?” The lady now sighed, stifling a yawn and handing Shinnoumaru back to his mother, the pup also looking tired from splashing in the tub. “And, I believe… Inumochi-dono… You have your answer.”

 

The lady rose languidly from the tub, ringing the bell to re-call the servants in to dry and dress both her and Rin. Rin on the other hand took a few more moments before rising awkwardly out of the tub to stand and wait for the servants, putting Shinnoumaru down on the floor to let him shake himself dry. She was still rather… shocked at the new understanding of the relationship between her and Sesshoumaru. She was actually… dear kami in the heavens… She was his… She was his mochi… his… master.

 

The lady gave an over the shoulder glance, when the first of the maids entered, looking down at Rin with cool, calculated eyes. “You have possession and control of a very, very powerful weapon when you hold the heart of my son… I trust you will not misuse him.”

 

There was a heartbeat where Rin could feel a flare of youki, and even Shinnoumaru whined and scampered to hide behind his mother's legs, tucking his tail between his haunches and lowering himself to the floor, resting his head on his paws and looking down submissively.

 

“Never.” Rin asserted.

 

I love him too much to ever take advantage of such a position…

 

The lady laughed manically then, making the maid who had begun to dry her startle a bit. “Of course you won't, Rin-dono…” Her voice dropped down to threatening once more, “You value you life.”

 

Rin gulped, but nodded. “I understand, my Lady… I will do all I can to ensure Sesshoumaru is nothing but… happy.”

 

Again the lady became sincere in tone and countenance, “As he will do for you… From now, things between you will change. Be ready for it, ne?”