InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bitter Blood ❯ Chapter 10

Bitter Blood

Chapter 10

Rin was awoken the next morning by a knock on her door. "My lord?"

Dokumi slid the door open and stepped inside. "No, my lady, it's just me."

She fell back into her bed. "You do know it's not necessary to check up on me every morning, now. I'm well enough to dress myself and get out of bed."

Dokumi smiled. "Of course, my lady. Old habits just die hard."

She pushed the covers back and swung her feet onto the floor.

"Did you sleep well, my lady?"

She stood and stretched. "No."

"I see," she said. "Perhaps I should prepare a sleeping draft for you tonight."

"No," she said. "I shall sleep on my own, or not at all."

"As you wish."

Rin went to her wardrobe and pulled out her new robes.

"May I help you, my lady?"

Rin sighed. "As you wish," she said.

She took her under kimono and held it as she undressed. She then took the fresh kimono and draped it over her shoulders. "You still look down, my lady."

She glanced over her shoulder at her. "Should I look otherwise?"

"I just see no reason for you to be so sad. There are many women who would give anything to be in your position."

"Except you," Rin said.

"Pardon?"

"You hate the indoors," she reminded her. "You long for the 'open areas and wide spaces' of your home."

Dokumi nodded. "I do," she continued to dress her, wrapping the kimono tightly about her body. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden today?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't think so . . . I'd like to have a word with my lord."

"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow. "What about?"

"I believe I was too short with him yesterday. Instead of talking things through, I lost my temper and started yelling." She lowered her eyes. "It was, rather, bad behavior. Nothing at all like that of a lady. He was quite right to remind me to whom I was speaking."

She laughed to herself.

"You disagree?" Rin asked.

"It's not my place to say," she said.

"It hasn't stopped you before; why stop now?"

She walked over to the wardrobe and retrieved her second layer. "I think it's a bad idea to pursue the subject any further."

"Oh?" she said. "Why's that?"

"What good will it do?" she asked. "Do you think he'll suddenly change his mind and accept you as his mate again?"

Rin shrugged. "I see no harm in trying."

She fastened the second layer around her waist. "You must truly have a low opinion of yourself, my lady. To beg for the company of a man."

"I love my husband," she countered. "I see no shame in 'begging' for him."

"And that's exactly why he takes you for granted," she said. "He can do no wrong in your eyes, so he may take as many liberties as he pleases."

"He does as he wishes, with or without my consent. The wife should be subservient to the husband. His needs SHOULD come before all else."

She removed the top layer from the wardrobe. "And what of your needs, my lady?"

"I'm doing this because of my needs," she said. "What was it that you said in the garden? You don't miss what you have till it's gone?"

Dokumi nodded.

"Well, I miss it," she said. "And I intend to do everything within my power to get it back. No matter how it may debase me. I will not lose my husband to any ONE or any THING."

She smiled thoughtfully to herself. "You know, my lady. Some men simply don't find women with children desirable."

She glared at her. "Why do you tell me such things?"

Dokumi shrugged. "I only want you to know what you're up against. Men are fickle creatures, my lady. Just because they wanted you once, doesn't mean they'll want you again." She finished adjusting the top layer, then stepped away from her. "You do look lovely, though. Perhaps you CAN sway him."

There was another knock at her door. "Lady Rin?" It was Jakken.

"I'll be down for breakfast in a moment," she replied.

"This isn't about breakfast," he said through the closed screen. "Our lord would like a word with you in his study."

She couldn't help but smile. "Right away," she said. "I'll be with him right away." She turned and gloated to Dokumi.

"Just like a little lap dog, aren't you?" she asked. "He calls, and you come."

Rin laughed to herself. "It's my pleasure to come when he calls." She brushed past her and made her way downstairs to the study.

Now was the time to set things straight. Now was the time to make her feelings known--calmly, reasonably, rationally. She would put on her facade, and she would behave as expected. She would sit down with him, and she would REASON with him.

That had been her problem yesterday. She'd responded emotionally instead of rationally. And that simply wasn't the way to go with her lord. He respected logic, not lunacy.

Now was the time to state her case. She had to remain calm and cool, keeping her composure. She'd speak coolly and clearly, meeting his gaze head-on. "We must present a united front to our son," she'd say. "And we will not appear united if we are in separate rooms, my lord. You cannot raise a secure child in an insecure home. And, right now, I'm feeling most insecure. Moreover, I can't be a good mother to our son if I don't feel his father is being a good husband to me. Now, let's reconcile and put all this bad business behind us . . ." Then she'd make him remember just how `desirable' he'd once found her--children or no children.

"My lord?" she knocked on the door of the study.

"Come in," his voice sounded as cool as ever.

She slid the door open and stepped inside. "You wished to see me?" she asked.

"Please sit."

She took a seat in the companion chair before the fireplace. Sesshomaru sat directly across from her, an Oriental rug between them. The study was where he came to be alone. It housed a collection of weapons and armor, and rare collectibles from other lands. A portrait of his father in demon form hung over the fireplace.

"I'm afraid I dealt rather harshly with you yesterday," he said. "I was ill prepared for that conversation, and things didn't progress as they should have." He looked her straight in the eye, his voice unfaltering as ever. "I apologize if your feelings were hurt."

She smiled on the inside, but kept her face still as stone. "I bear my lord no ill will," she said.

They were silent for awhile.

She was now unwilling to speak, fearful of jinxing anything he might otherwise say. Her husband was a reserved man.

"I do not wish to have any more children," he said. He stared at her, fingers interlaced, doubtless waiting for an emotional outburst of some type--be they tears or profanities.

She chose neither. "May I ask why?" she said.

"One is sufficient," he said. "Daichi will make a fine lord one day, and I find siblings both undesirable and unnecessary. I think it best that we concentrate all our efforts into the one child."

She mirrored his calm demeanor.

"Secure children come from secure homes."

She involuntarily laughed. He was using her own words against her.

"Did I say something funny?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Not at all," she said.

"Then we're agreed," he said. "It's best for all parties concerned that you keep to your chamber, and I'll keep to mine."

"No," she said, "we're not agreed." She rose to her feet and walked the few steps to stand directly in front of him.

He stared up at her. "Is there a problem, Rin?"

She could feel her pulse quicken, her heart pounding.

He was so close . . . The feel of his hair, the touch of his skin, the warm flesh beneath the cool silk . . . She desired him, and she intended to make that desire known.

"Why do you stare at me with such a look?"

She allowed a slight smile to cross her lips. "It is a look you should know well." She caressed the side of his face.

"Stop this," he said.

"Why?" she asked. "Do you no longer desire me, my lord? Are your thoughts no longer filled with new ways to seduce your young bride?"

His gaze remained steady.

"Should I take your silence for acquiescence, my lord?" She knelt before him. "Or will you rebut me?"

He gave no reply.

She undid the tie at her waist and opened the top of her robes. "Touch me," she said.

"I cannot."

She pulled her robe down to her shoulder, tossing her hair back, exposing the mark he'd made on her neck.

His eyes went immediately to the spot.

She reached out and pushed the hair back from his face. "My lord is beautiful," she said. "I find no fault in his thought or action. And I feel no disgrace throwing myself at his feet." She kissed his forehead. "He is worth any burden I may have to bear, and I bear it gladly."

He pushed her away from him and snapped to his feet. "You will stop this."

She completely disrobed and stood before him.

He looked away from her.

"I do not blush before my lord," she said. "My body goes flush in anticipation of his embrace."

"I will not."

She took a step towards him, closing the former distance between them. "My lord has needs, and I am here to fulfill them."

"Those needs are no longer your concern."

"My lord will always be my concern."

"You should be looking after our son."

"Dokumi is the nursemaid; I am the wife."

"I cannot give you what you want."

"I simply want my lord's company. His flesh pressed close to mine."

"I will not back down."

She caressed the side of his face and let her hand fall along his neck.

"Do not touch me!" he smacked her hand away.

She reached up and kissed him. "It is my right," she said. "Your body is as much mine as mine is yours."

He slapped her, knocking her to the ground, the sting of the blow bringing tears to her eyes.

She stared up at him, blinking in disbelief.

"You were warned," he said. He picked up her robes and threw them at her. "Cover yourself."

She glared up at him. "I will not."

His eyes narrowed, his face quite stern.

"I am not a child! I will not be scolded and told to go to my room!"

He advanced on her. "Have it your way."

She raised her arm, thinking to block another blow.

"Sit there on the floor and freeze." He stepped over her and left the room.

She watched as he slid the door closed behind him. She then stood, pulled on her clothes and went down to breakfast.