InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Captive Soul ❯ chapter 33 ( Chapter 33 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters.

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Chapter 33

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The miko turned from him with a smile, heading for his room. "Come with me, Sesshomaru."

He followed the woman to his room, halting behind her as she stopped by his bed. With her close proximity, he now could detect her base scent underneath the clothes that smelled so much like Rin.

For some reason, his instincts were telling him something was different about her this time. She had expressed a desire for him to bed her but her scent told him otherwise. She did not smell like a female who wanted pleasure. Her actions and words were confusing him. This woman who had wanted to bed him and kill him before now wanted to do neither. What did she want?

Her tone, sweet and low, purred as she turned and gestured to his bed. "Sit, Sesshomaru. I think we need to have a talk before engaging in any activities."

He obeyed her order and sat down on the bed but looked away.

She stepped in front of him. "Look at me, youkai."

Reluctantly, he slowly switched his attention from the wall to her waist.

"Look at my face."

Again, he obeyed her demand and looked up to her calm and curious features, inwardly smirking at the large black bruise around her left eye almost hidden by makeup.

She smiled with a tilt of her head while reaching both hands to his face.

Warm palms cupped both his cheeks as she asked a very strange question. "Tell me, youkai, if I ordered you to enjoy my company, would you.....enjoy it?"

He gritted his teeth, trying to curb his rage at the feeling of this woman's sickening touch. "Yes, it would be an order. I have to obey every order my master or my master's blood kin gives me."

By her scent, she seemed quite pleased with his answer. "Tell me how you would enjoy it? Would you receive gratification from it?"

Sesshomaru did not know what this woman was wanting. Why was she asking him such unnecessary questions? Why didn't she just get this over with? Relaxing his jaw, he replied, "Yes, I would like it if you ordered me to do so. I would have to. My body would respond to your every touch." A new emotion, something akin to apprehension began tugging at his insides. Suddenly, he wanted very much to leave this room and run from this female. What if she made him...want her while they were mating? The very thought made him want to vomit.

Her smile widened as her warm hands left the heated skin of his face and fell to his collar. She gazed at his restraint in wonder. "That is most interesting."

While her fingertips wisped along the collar's edge, she asked another very peculiar question. "Tell me, if I ordered you to make me your mate for life, could you?"

His heart began to pound. "No."

Her smile began to fall. "Tell me why not."

The dog demon swallowed heavily, the feel of metal, warm against his throat. "The only way I could make you my life mate would be to mark you with my fang. I cannot do this. My collar does not allow me to intentionally hurt you or my owner."

She frowned at his reply. "That poses some problems. Tell me, was the miko who subjugated you powerful?"

He gave a single nod. "Yes."

"Was she immortal?"

"Yes."

"I see."

Her gaze went from his restraint to his hair. Absently, she picked up some of the strands and began rubbing them in-between her fingers. For the first time since he had met her, Sesshomaru detected the scent of sadness coming from the miko.

The woman sighed heavily while lightly playing with his hair. "What I would give for it......to have him back with me."

With a strained short laugh she shook her head slightly. "He didn't want me. Even after I gave him everything. I gave him everything and still...he left. Now, he avoids me..."

She smiled wistfully and looked back at him. "I have changed my mind, youkai. I no longer wish for your services. I will leave now."

With that last statement, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving a very confused dog demon sitting there with a raised brow.

Sesshomaru stared at the doorway, his mind a blank as to what just happened. "Weird witch."

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Rin took a deep breath while sitting in the car in her driveway.

She swallowed several times, trying to get rid of the ache that haunted her heart.

After she was sure it had diminished enough, Rin opened the door and got out of the car.

"Rin?"

Rin turned to see Sango and Miroku walking up the driveway. Miroku's car was parked halfway on her yard and on the street. She smiled at the approaching couple. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

Sango rushed up and threw her arms around her in a tight hug. "Rin! I was so worried when Kagome told me about Saturday night. I couldn't believe everything you went through!" Letting go, Sango stepped away from her but still lightly held on to Rin's hands. "I am so glad that you are okay."

"We both are, Rin." Miroku walked up beside Sango with a relieved smile. "Kagome told us yesterday about what happened at the Banquet."

Rin smiled at them both. "I am okay, you two. No need to get upset. Sesshomaru was there as was his half brother. They, along with Kagome's help were able to stop Naraku."

Sango let go of her hands then grasped Miroku's right hand with her left one. "Rin, we are going to the park today. We have lots of food. Do you and Sesshomaru want to join us? It will be a nice picnic. We'll be having it by the lake."

With a deep sigh, Rin almost declined the offer but then paused. Maybe a day in the park under the sunshine and shade would be a good idea after all. She was hungry and it was almost lunchtime. She hadn't had breakfast and she did not know if Sesshomaru had eaten yet or not. He might enjoy going as well.

Smiling, Rin nodded. "Sure Sango, that sounds great. Come on into the house. I have to tell Sesshomaru. He may need to get ready."

Miroku and Sango followed her to the front door. Rin unlocked it and went in, her friends trailing behind.

The downstairs shower was running.

"Sesshomaru must be taking a shower, Sango. You two can have a seat while I go ask him if he wants to go."

Rin walked down the hallway and stopped at the bathroom door. Steam seeped out from the cracks. She knocked. "Sess, it's me, Rin."

The door was pulled back instantly. She had no time to think as a strong hand pulled her into the steam-filled room. Rin squeaked. "Sess!"

The dog demon wrapped two arms around her while shutting the door in the process.

Unable to suppress her mirth, Rin giggled out a whisper as his very wet chest pressed against her back. "Sess! We have company!"

A rough voice breathed against her ear. "So?"

Rin squirmed in his hold. "So...we can't.....you will have to control your urges."

"Oh, do I?" he smoothed out.

She slapped at the hand that began traveling up to her chest. "Yes, you do."

Sesshomaru let out an aggravated breath and let go.

Rin backed up from him as much as she could in the small room. The steam was starting to clear. Looking him up and down, she thanked the stars he was wearing a towel. She didn't want Sango getting an eyeful. Actually, he needed a robe. The thought of Sango even looking at his chest irked her to some degree.

Grabbing the large blue robe from the hook on the door, she handed it to Sesshomaru who was now quirking an eyebrow at her. "Here, put this on."

Shaking his head, Sesshomaru smirked while taking the robe from her hand. "Afraid someone might see something?"

Rin narrowed her eyes at his amusement. "Maybe."

His smirk widened as he stuck his hands through the terry-cloth sleeves. "Jealous?"

Letting out a grunt of irritation, she put her hands on her hips. "Your're barking up the wrong tree. I would never stoop so low as to become jealous."

The dog demon lifted one finger and tapped the side of his nose.

"OOoooooo....you..." Rin ground out.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Rin sniffed haughtily. "No fair. That nose of yours doesn't play by the rules."

He shrugged his shoulders a little while tying the belt to the robe. "Just not by human rules."

Rin rolled her eyes then smiled. "Okay, okay, Sango and Miroku are going to the park for a picnic. They have asked us to come along. Do you want to go?"

"Do you wish to go?"

Rin gave a small nod. "Yes."

"Then we shall go on this...picnic."

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Inuyasha sat in his hard, uncomfortable apartment chair while staring out the large window of his bedroom. He thrummed the clawed fingertips of his right hand on his right blue jean clad thigh while scratching in-between the buttons of his light blue shirt.

Now that his assignment was over, he had nothing to do. He was bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.

It was a Monday and that made the day even more pathetic. Even though the bright sunshine brought every color in the world alive, he didn't feel alive. In fact, he felt dispirited about everything;

Sesshomaru's undaunted egotistical attitude veiling the undeniable emotional change in personality,

the mind blowing mystery over what really happened to his half brother for the last five hundred years,

how his father would react to Sesshomaru's sudden comeback from the land of the dead,

Kikyo's incessant irritating calls and visits, along with her constant begging to resume a relationship that he had had to end several months ago,

her tears as she pounded on his door.......

It was all very difficult to cope with ....and he felt his heart at times give way.... trying to comprehend the magnitude of emotions that seemed to invade his half demon side, the side that was always impervious to emotion of any kind.

He was becoming disheartened, stressed and discouraged....

discouraged about everything....

everything except....

........"Kagome." The name whispered from his lips before he had even realized it. He found himself wondering about the young woman. Perhaps she did resemble Kikyo in appearance, but that is where the similarities ended. No single word could describe her. She was strong, intelligent, loyal, and.....kind... Yes, that is what it was. A calm sort of kindness shone from the incredible depths of her pool grey eyes. And her powers! It took his breath away just thinking about it, the way she had fought against Naraku, so powerful and confident, the alluring strength of a warrior maiden with the graceful refinement befitting a skilled priestess.

Inuyasha smiled. She was beautiful too, with a beauty all her own.

A knock at his door yanked Inuyasha out of his contemplation over the raven-haired female.

"Yea?"

The door swung open and a grinning Shippoh strolled in. "Hey Inuyasha! What's ya up to?"

The hanyou leaned the chair back on its back legs, teetering back and forth. "Not a darn thing."

"Bored?"

Inuyasha smirked. The fox demon always did know his mood swings. "Yea."

With a flip of his bushy reddish orange tail, Shippoh bounced hard on the bed, grinning at the ceiling. "Want to go out? Cruise the town square? See if we can find some lovely ladies?"

Actually, Inuyasha already had a lovely lady on his mind. "Nah. I think I have something else in mind. I have to go see someone."

Shippoh snickered, "Inuyasha, that someone wouldn't happen to be a young female miko, would it?"

The hanyou let the chair fall forward as he sat upright. "Maybe."

Sitting up with a widening smirk, Shippoh ribbed his long time friend. "Can I come?"

Narrowing his eyes at the little prankster, Inuyasha shook his head. "Not on your life, buddy. The last time I let you around one of my dates, the girl ran off in terror when you transformed into a large pink ball and began biting on her head."

"Aw come on, Inuyasha! It was just a little bite. I hardly slobbered at all."

"Yea, and remember what she did when she calmed down and came back?"

Shippoh gulped. "Uh....yea." The fox demon rubbed the base of his tail when a shock of the memory flashed across his green eyes.

Inuyasha suppressed the urge to laugh out loud. His female companion had returned and given Shippoh a good hard tug on his tail. It was the first time he had ever seen a full grown fox youkai jump so high.

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Early afternoon light shaded the spacious front yard. Inuyasha noticed how green the grass was as he pulled up in the driveway.

He parked the car. For a few moments, he simply sat and stared at the two story house, trying to build up his courage.

After taking long deep breaths, he calmed his pounding heart. Why on earth was he so nervous?

Getting out of the car, he pulled the drivers seat forward then grabbed Tetsusaiga from the back seat before shutting the car door. Inuyasha didn't know why he took the sword everywhere. He just felt naked without it. While carrying his fang in his right hand, he strolled toward the house.

Upon nearing the front entrance of Kagome's home, the half-demon noticed something quite strange, the door was slightly ajar. He stopped a few feet from the entrance and swiveled around, surveying the immediate area cautiously. His observations caught on Kagome's car. It was empty but the back door was wide open.

The soft early summer wind brought him her scent, jasmine mixed with deep despair. What was going on? A small, quiet quivering voice whispered from inside the house. Concerned, Inuyasha quietly padded in up the front step and pushed on the door without sound, opening it wide enough for him to slip in.

The living room looked the same as it had before. Silently, he closed the front door, making sure the click did not resound throughout the house. Gripping Tetsusaiga tighter in his now sweating fist, Inuyasha took one step forward then paused when those faint whispered words floated to his senses once more. He looked to his left, the voice was coming from the direction of a half open sliding wooden door. It was Kagome's. The dusty smell of ancient paper and aged bound leather drifted out of the room, almost overpowering every other smell in the house.

Quietly, he stepped up to the door and listened. The faint whispered murmuring began to form choppy, slightly choked words. "Can't....can't let her do this. Got to be a way...."

A loud thud echoed in the room, sounding as if someone had slammed a heavy object on the floor. "Got to be...another way.."

Inuyasha slowly walked up to the door and looked into the room. There, sitting in the middle of the floor, was Kagome. Hundreds of old brown books were surrounding her. Many were open. Several scrolls were piled up next to a chair by the cold fireplace, most of their red ribbons ripped off. The young miko was hunched over a very large book in her blue jean lap, wiping at the corner of her eye while flipping through the yellowed pages. She sniffed once as the scent of tears lingered in the air and one small teardrop fell from her left eye and splattered on the cream color of her blouse.

Desperation hit him next, an unyielding assault of despair to his now overly heightened senses. "Kagome?"

As if she had been shocked, the young woman jumped then jerked her head in his direction. She seemed to relax when she realized it was he. "Inuyasha! You startled me..."

She shook her head, turning her attention back to the book in her lap and began flipping through the pages once more. "What do you need?"

Inuyasha stepped into the room. "What are.... you doing?"

The young miko abruptly grabbed the book in her lap and pitched it across the room. It thudded against the nearby wall. She snatched up another book from the pile at her side and flung it open in her lap.

What was wrong with her? Her frantic behavior was starting to bother him. Inuyasha slowly stepped closer and sat down next to her, laying Tetsusaiga on the wooden floor beside him. "Kagome."

As her grey eyes darted back and forth over the yellowed pages, her strained words whispered hesitantly, almost as if she were talking more to herself than to him. "It's cursed. Sesshomaru's restraint is cursed. Anyone who...removes it....will ....I can't let her do it.... I can't allow my sister to do this....There has got to be....another way...." Her words tapered off into a silence filled with the rustling of brittle parchment.

"Kagome...." Inuyasha reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. The reaction was immediate. The young woman stopped her frenzied scanning and shut her eyes tightly, her profile contorting in weary anguish. She sobbed once. Two tears dropped, splashing on the ancient paper of the old book in her grasp. "I can't find another releasing spell. I can't find another way. What am I going to do?"

Inuyasha swallowed heavily as he grieved with her tears. He did not know what was going on, but he felt the need to reassure the young woman. "Kagome, it will be okay, I will be there. I will protect you and Rin. Nothing bad will happen while I am there."

The young miko's features lightened as she sniffed once, opened her eyes and lifted her head to stare at the window on the other side of the room. "What did you say?"

"Uh...I will be there?"

Her eyes began to widen, a light of realization dawning in their depths. "No, the other part."

"I will protect you?"

A smile began at the corners of her reddened lips and traveled all the way up to sparkle in her clear grey eyes.

She turned her head to look at him, the smile brightening every second. "Inuyasha, you are a genius!" Without warning, the captivating female grabbed both of his shoulders, pulled him forward, and gave him a hard quick kiss on the lips. "I love you! I simply love you!"

The woman quickly let go of him, excitedly jumped up then ran to the wall of books on the other side of the room.

Inuyasha sat there, staring, heat in his cheeks, gaping.

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Sesshomaru buttoned his blue jeans then attached his weapons to his belt while standing in front of the dresser mirror.

He proceeded to walk over to his bedroom door and open it.

Rin was waiting there with a small smile. "Ready?"

The inu youkai gave a curt nod.

His future mate grabbed his hand and pulled him down the stairs.

The human male named Miroku and the female Rin called Sango were standing close together near the front door.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the couple turned to them. Sesshomaru trained a steel hard glare at the houshi. The human's smile fell into an apologetic grimace.

Sango did not seem to notice the male's interactions as she smiled. "Are you two ready?"

Rin nodded. "Yep"

They followed the human couple out the door and to the shaded car.

As Miroku got into the driver's side, Sango opened the door to the front passenger's side.

Just as Sesshomaru was about to grab the handle to the back door, a small youkai cat, the one from before, stuck her small striped head out of the lowered car window and licked his hand.

The dog demon frowned at the icky feel of feline saliva on his skin. "Rin."

Rin giggled and reached for the small two-tailed youkai cat. "Isn't she so cute?!"

Sesshomaru let out a silent sigh while watching Rin snuggle the little furball under her chin. Lucky snit.

With the bushy feline cuddled in her arms, Rin opened the back door and slid across the back seat. Sesshomaru adjusted his weapons and followed, sitting close to Rin.

During the ride, Rin laid her head on his shoulder. The little cat curled up in a fuzzy ball on Rin's lap, enjoying being rubbed and petted.

The dog demon inhaled deeply, catching the scent he wanted so much to hold within his senses. Vanilla. Rin always carried that sweet fragrance. As he indulged in that delectable essence, Sesshomaru caught the tiniest hint of difference far deep within. It was small, almost undetectable, but he had noticed it just the same. The dark alien tint festered in the far reaches of her base scent. It brooded there, a splinter of despair hidden beneath a whirlpool of forced happiness mixed with a wave of that feeling Rin always had for him, the feeling she called love.

His elegant brow furrowed slightly. Could he be imagining it? No. He did not think he was. He knew Rin too well. He knew her scent by heart. Something was definitely hidden underneath. The thought occurred to him that Rin might be intentionally keeping something from him. That idea became more plausible the more he reflected on it. What could Rin be deliberately hiding from him? What was it she deemed important enough to bury so deep inside that not even his sharp senses could detect without great effort? He briefly wondered if it had something to do with her and Kagome's private conversation.

The car stopped moving. Rin patted his hand. Reluctantly, he climbed out of the fog of thought to acknowledge the young female sitting beside him with a single blink.

She smiled up at him. In that split second, he searched and found what he was looking for. Beyond the striking happiness of her smile, far beneath the clear brown pool of her spirit, but very close to her own heart.... There it was, as plain as the sunshine that now splashed across her face as she stepped out of the car.

Sadness.

Cold, quiet, dark and deceptively immense.

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Sesshomaru followed Rin with slow, sure steps, the distance widening between them as she ran on ahead towards a very large body of water with waves of darkened blue.

The two-tailed cat trailed along behind him, meowing in her demon tongue the same disturbance in Rin's scent he had detected as well.

His future mate ran underneath a huge shade tree and stopped. Her smile reached out to the lapping water.

A minute later, he halted near the trunk of the tree, standing quietly.

Cool wind, bouncing off the never-ending waves, rustled the leaves above and whipped around them in a silence of whispers.

Sesshomaru gazed at the lovely maiden who stood a few paces in front of him. Her peach skirt flapped lightly as the breeze played about her small form. Long dark brown hair danced merrily with the wind, fluttering against her back. Mentally resisting the urge to run his fingers through the silky strands, Sesshomaru remained motionless under the swaying shadows of the tree's shade. "Rin."

The young woman turned around. A softened smile alighting in her calm features. "Yes, Love?"

Her sweet smile stayed his wondering spirit. No, not now. The question could wait for another time, but at this moment, this beautifully hushed moment, they would enjoy just being here, together.

Her brow furrowed slightly in a line of concern when he did not say anything further. She walked towards him, a smile rising from the look of concern. Bright brown eyes slowly looked him over as she approached, almost as if she were branding his image into memory. A warmth encircled his hand. He peered down at the now softly smiling female.

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Rin turned from his gaze to see Sango and Miroku approaching. Miroku carried a large picnic basket and Sango held a large cooler by the handles.

Sango set the cooler down under the shade of the tree and smiled. "I think this will be a good spot."

Rin nodded as Miroku placed the basket down and spread the large yellow blanket over the green grass. "It's perfect."

Tugging on Sesshomaru's hand, Rin grinned while pulling him down to sit next to her on the blanket. He complied, his features betraying nothing. Actually, Rin was getting used to Sesshomaru's new demeanor around other people. The dog demon became expressionless every time they met with anyone. His stance became rigid and tall, his gaze icy and distant. But for some reason, the change in personality around others did not bother Rin. She was getting used to it for she could feel his warmth from deep within the coolness of his golden gaze.

His warmth for her.

Rin inwardly sighed.

Some day he would realize he loved her.

Some day he would voice it out loud.

Some day....

Kirara jumped into her lap, begging with her cute little mewls that she wanted the same attention she had gotten earlier in the car.

While stroking the two-tailed cat, Rin looked over to Sango and Miroku who were stealing glances at each other as they both picked food and plates out of the basket.

She switched her attention to the left and found Sesshomaru watching her intently. Rin smiled and mouthed silently. "Like what you see?"

A flicker of mischief shimmered in the dark honeyed gaze as he gave an almost unnoticeable nod.

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