InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Concrete Rose ❯ First Step ( Chapter 4 )

Concrete Rose

 

Chapter 4: First Step

 

 

 

 

Rin walked back up the hill from the hot springs. She was braiding her damp hair when she heard a rustle in the bushes. She turned around, trying to see who it was. The darkness did not show anyone lurking about. She heard the bushes rustle behind her on the other side. Whirling, Rin managed to slap herself in the face with her braid.

 

“ Ow.” She mumbled. The rustle was heard again. Rin saw a shadow in the trees. Frowning, she stood up straight and put her arm behind her back. “ Show yourself!” She yelled into the trees.

 

The presence Rin had felt around her landed almost silently. Obviously, it wasn't silently enough. Before the being could say or do anything, Rin had him on the floor, straddling him, and pointing the tip of one of her sai at his throat. Rin's eyes softened as she realized who it was.

 

“ Koga...” She whispered. Koga smiled up at her. Rin got up off of him and took a step back. “ You really shouldn't do that, you know. I could've really hurt you.” Rin said. Koga shook his head.

 

“ You weren't serious about killing me. I could tell by the way you were holding your weapon. The most you were going to do was give a warning about your lord and their not liking other youkai around his castle.” Koga said, crossing his arms. “ Plus, I'm pretty sure I could take you on.” As soon as he finished that sentence, Rin had her sai against his throat again. He stared down the tip into her eyes.

 

“ You were saying?” She said. Koga swallowed hard and took a step back. Rin put her weapon away. “ You know, you really shouldn't be out here. I just took a bath trying to get your scent off of me. Now, Sesshomaru will definitely smell you. You may as well have just signed your own death warrant.” Rin said. Koga scoffed.

 

“ I hardly think so. I think I could take him on if push came to shove.” He said. Rin laughed.

 

“ You really are very full of yourself, Koga. Did you know that?”

 

“ It comes with being the leader of the wolf youkai. Arrogance is something I have the right to have.” Koga said. Rin nodded somewhat. Then she heard a door open. Looking back at Koga she beckoned him to the woods. Koga looked confused.

 

“ Someone's coming.” She whispered, barely audible. She knew if it was Sesshomaru, he would not be happy, given Rin's attire. Koga nodded and jumped into the trees. Rin turned around just as Kimi walked up to her. She smiled at Rin.

 

“ You shouldn't be out here this late, Rin. You know Sessy wouldn't like it if something happened to you.” She said. Rin shrugged.

 

“ Well, I suppose he has a point. He still fails to realize that I can take care of myself just fine. He's so overprotective sometimes. Come on.” Rin said. She started to walk past Kimi. Kimi was looking up into the trees. She sniffed the air and looked at Rin.

 

“ You might want to use this.” Kimi dropped a bag of salts in her hand. Rin looked at her with a questioning expression. Kimi sighed. “ They mask scents on your body. Dissolve them in some water before you see Sesshomaru and rub it on your body. He won't know the difference. If you must know, you reek of another youkai. Sessy will smell it and demand answers. So, you don't HAVE to use it...” As Kimi finished, Kai walked out.

 

“ You two should not be out here so late. Kimi, inside. Suki is waiting to pack you some things.” Kai said, motioning to the castle. Kimi nodded, then looked at Rin. She smiled and headed off. Rin looked at Kai. She had a knowing smile on her face.

 

“ What?” Rin asked innocently. Kai just shook her head. “ Well then, good night, Kai.”

 

“ Good night, Rin.” Kai said. Rin nodded and went to the castle, leaving Kai standing alone. Koga watched the female inu-youkai from the tree. She turned and looked up at the tree. “ Good night, Koga.” She said. Koga breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“ Good night, Kai.” He said quietly. Kai nodded and walked off.

 

Inside, Rin was rubbing the oil made from the salts on her skin. They smelled horribly. If they worked, then she wouldn't have to worry about Sesshomaru giving her twenty questions.

 

` Anything to avoid that,' Rin thought to herself. Then a knock came at her door.

 

“ Rin, are you decent?” An icy, but soft, voice said through the door. Rin gasped quietly and continued rubbing the oil in her skin furiously. She hid the salts and the bottle and wrapped the white robe around her. “ Rin?”

 

“ Yes? You may enter.” She said, trying to look natural. The fact was, she was very nervous.

 

Sesshomaru slid the door to the side and entered the room. Rin's room was filthy. She was not the cleanest of people when it came to tidiness, but she hated being dirty. Rin noticed his disapproving eye of her room. He sighed and looked over to her. Her hair was still wet and she was sitting in an awkward position.

 

“ Are you not uncomfortable?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Rin looked confused for a moment, then realized what he was talking about.

 

“ Oh. No, I'm not. I feel just fine.” Rin said, shifting a bit. Sesshomaru nodded. The truth was, Rin was sitting in a very painful way.

 

` So much for looking natural,' she thought disdainfully.

 

“ You wanted something?” She asked him.

 

“ Are you that eager to get rid of me?” Sesshomaru asked. Rin immediately shook her head.

 

“ No, Sesshomaru. It is just that you are not one to linger in conversation for very long.”

 

“ Well, I'm not going to break with tradition yet. I will be traveling to Toutousai's in the morning. That female is coming with me.” Sesshomaru said with just a hint of malice in his voice. Rin knew that the “female” he was referring to was Kimi. She nodded, then remembered something.

 

“ I will be leaving also.” She said quietly. She knew that he hated her last minute trips. She prepared herself for a scolding.

 

“ You know I hate it when...”

 

“ ...I don't let you know ahead of time. Yes, I know Sesshomaru. I just need to check up on Inuyasha's pup. You know, to see if all is well. Plus, I DO have friends, you know.” She said quickly. Sesshomaru stared at her a moment longer. Then he realized that her room reeked of something sour.

 

“ What is that smell?” He asked. Rin looked at him for a moment, wondering if the salts had worked.

 

“ I do not have the keen sense of smell that you do, Sesshomaru. I do not know what you are talking about.”

 

“ It smells like... I don't even know what it is. It is a wonder that you can even walk around this pigsty. Clean up this room before you leave tomorrow, Rin. Kai will be accompanying you.”

 

“ But, Sesshomaru...”

 

“ It is not up for discussion, Rin. You will not be traveling alone.” With that said, Sesshomaru left her room. Rin realized that it was probably for the best that he mentioned that. At least now she wouldn't have to lie about Koga. Smiling, she looked around her room.

 

` Well, I might as well start now,' Rin said, picking up her clothes.

 

Kimi was sleeping soundly when Sesshomaru walked in her room the next morning. Kimi was obviously not an early riser and she would be plenty mad with him for interrupting her slumber. Sesshomaru walked over to her. Before he touched her, Kimi mumbled something incoherent. She kept saying it over and over. Sesshomaru drew his hand back and listened more closely to what she was saying.

 

“ Michiko...cavern...scythe...Raiden...” She kept repeating those four words over and over.

 

“ Michiko?” He whispered. That was apparently enough to wake up Kimi. She sat up quickly. Her wide green eyes stared at him. The cover fell off of her. The thin cloth covering her was sticking to her with sweat.

 

“ What the hell are you doing in here? The sun's not even up.” She whispered harshly, trying not to wake the whole castle. Sesshomaru grabbed her by the hair and pulled her effortlessly off of the futon. He let her go and Kimi hit the floor hard.

 

“ It is late. We need to get going. Be at the gate in five minutes.” Sesshomaru said. Kimi glared maliciously at him, rubbing her head.

 

` Stupid prick,' she thought angrily. As he left the room, Kai walked in. Kimi noticed that her hair was in utter disarray, something that Kai is not known for. Kai always looked neat and clean, a far contrast to Kimi and Rin. Kimi raised an eyebrow at her ruffled appearance. Kai smiled. Kimi then realized something.

 

“ You smell of Sesshomaru. Are you two...” Kimi's voice trailed off. Kai looked confused for a moment. Her eyes beckoned for Kimi to continue, but Kimi looked as if the words tasted funny coming from her mouth. Realization hit Kai in the form of a smile.

 

“ Are we `that?' Oh heavens no, Kimi.”

 

“ Then why do you reek of him?” Kimi asked, standing up. Kai watched her as she walked to the closet. Kimi turned towards her. “ Well?”

 

“ Oh. Well, we have this agreement that whenever we want sex, then we have it. There is no feeling in it. It is simply for pleasure.”

 

“ Doesn't that make you a concubine?”

 

“ No, it does not. A concubine generally doesn't want to have sex, but it is her job to do so. I do it because I want to. I do it on my own free will and, despite Sesshomaru's demeanor, he is still a male. No matter how he tries to deny it, he cannot go a long time without having sex. He'll go crazy. Believe me, I will never mate with Sesshomaru seriously. He's a prick and we wouldn't do too well with each other. I am merely doing this to keep him sane and for my own enjoyment until I find a mate of my own or he does so before me.” Kai said. Kimi nodded, still not fully understanding their “agreement.”

 

“ Whatever you say, Kai.” Kimi said. Kai smiled.

 

“ I would hurry if I were you. He does not like to be kept waiting.” Kai turned and walked out of the room. Kimi smirked to herself.

 

Exactly six minutes and thirty-three seconds later, Kimi sauntered up to the gate. Sesshomaru was standing there, looking somewhat impassive, but his eyes showed that he was in no way happy with her. Kimi stopped two feet in front of him and looked up. He glared down at her.

 

“ I said five minutes.” Sesshomaru said. Kimi shrugged.

 

“ Sorry about that. Unlike you, I like to have at least a little time to my...OWW!!” Kimi yelled. Sesshomaru and thumped one of her ears very hard. That was pretty much the most painful thing in the world to Kimi. She rubbed her ear and looked up at him maliciously.

 

“ Next time, I will pull it. Do not test me on this trip, girl. I will not tolerate your insubordination and smart ass comments this entire time. I want this to be quick and painless journey.” Sesshomaru said sternly.

 

“ Whatever you say, Fluffy.” Kimi said sarcastically, flouncing past him. Sesshomaru pulled Tokujin out in one fluid motion. He grabbed her long braid. Kimi closed her eyes at the pain. When she realized that she was alive, she opened them and looked at the ground. Her eyes widened.

 

Sesshomaru put Tokujin back under his belt and smirked inwardly as he watched Kimi's eyes widen in horror. Her hand moved to her back. Half of Kimi's braid was gone. Her hair now stopped at the bottom of her back. She glared up at Sesshomaru.

 

“ Next time, I will shave it completely off. Now move.” Sesshomaru turned and started to walk. Mumbling a select few words, Kimi followed obediently.

 

Rin tied the saddle and reigns on Ah-Un later that morning. Kai walked up behind her. She had a questioning look on her face.

 

“ And what exactly do you think you are doing?” Kai asked. Rin whirled around. She smiled innocently.

 

“ I'm going to see Inuyasha and Kagome. I thought I told you that yesterday.” Rin said. Kai nodded.

 

“ You did. But, you also said that Koga was going with you. Somehow, Sesshomaru believes that I am going with you when, in fact, I am not. Tell me, great miko Rin, how is this possible? What would make Sesshomaru think that I am accompanying you on this venture?” Kai asked. Rin just shrugged.

 

“ I don't know where he could've gotten that from, Kai. I'm sure Sesshomaru is just assuming that you were coming.” She lied.

 

“ Or, there is also the FACT that you did not mention Koga going along with you.”

 

“ That too.”

 

“ Whatever, Rin. By the way, where is that wolf youkai anyway?” Kai asked, looking around. Rin shrugged.

 

“ I told him to be here around midday. That is when I plan on leaving. Now, I'm starting to worry about Kimi and Sesshomaru. I wonder how long he can go without killing her.” Rin said, looking off in the direction of the gate. Kai smirked and held up her hand. She walked over to Rin and sat down the missing half of Kimi's braid.

 

“ Obviously not very long.” She said. Rin looked down at the red and white braid.

 

“ He cut her hair?”

 

“ Yep. But, I give it about three days and her hair should be as good as new. She might have that trait of the thunder youkai. I'd say her hair is now around the top of her ass. You know how long her hair is. Not as long as mine, but all together pretty long.”

 

“ Why don't you cut your hair, Kai? You've banned me from doing it to mine.”

 

“ Yet, you still do it. You just don't do it noticeably, but you leave a trail, great Rin. I do not cut my hair because it is a trademark of mine. It also makes a great weapon too.” Kai said. Rin shook her head just as Koga appeared.

 

“ Ready?” He asked. Rin turned to him and nodded. Koga looked over at Kai and tilted his head in recognition.

 

“ Be careful Rin. Koga, if anything happens to her, I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands. Have a nice time.” Kai said sweetly. Rin mounted Ah-Un and shuddered at the thought of Kai killing someone.

 

“ Bye, Kai. If Sesshomaru makes it back before I do, tell him that I decided to stay a while longer and told you to come for me in three days.” Rin said, looking back at Kai. Kai opened her mouth in mock shock.

 

“ I cannot believe this, Rin! You expect me to LIE to our Lord Sesshomaru about your whereabouts?” Kai said sarcastically. Rin laughed.

 

“ You won't be lying, Kai. You will just not be telling the entire truth. You will be leaving out...”

 

“ ...all the things he will question me about anyway. Whatever you say, Rin. Get going so that you can at least be there by sundown.” Kai said.

 

Masoto lounged in a tree. Yukiko walked up and looked at him.

 

“ Shouldn't you be doing something besides sitting there?” Yukiko asked. Masoto opened one eye and glared down at her. He sighed and stood slowly. Stretching, he jumped down from the tree and landed behind Yukiko. She turned around quickly, hitting him in the face with her braid.

 

“ Why did you disturb me, Yukiko?” Masoto asked her. Yukiko crossed her arms.

 

“ We can't pick up the brat's trail anywhere. For all intents and purposes, it appears that she has just disappeared off of the face of the earth. There hasn't been any sign of her for weeks now.” Yukiko said, sighing. She looked out over at the other thunder youkai. They were all chatting around separate fires and eating. Masoto sighed.

 

“ Maybe you aren't looking hard enough, Yukiko. Where haven't you checked?” Masoto asked, sounding annoyed with her. Yukiko narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

 

“ We haven't been to the Western Lands.” She said. Masoto looked at her with a questionable look.

 

“ Why on earth would she be in the Western Lands? She knows not of our plans for Sesshomaru.”

 

“ But she is a half inu-youkai, Masoto. I would not totally rule her meeting with Sesshomaru out, Yukiko.”

 

“ Sesshomaru cannot even stand his own brother, who is a hanyou. Why would he take a second look at Kimi? Have you forgotten what a cold bastard he is, Masoto?” Yukiko asked. Masoto looked thoughtful for a moment.

 

“ You do have a point. Nevertheless, we will continue searching here. We leave in two hours.”

 

“ Yes, Masoto.” Yukiko said, turning on her heel and walking away.

 

Kimi walked alongside Sesshomaru, looking very peeved. She had not made a single sound since Sesshomaru had chopped half of her hair off. Her hair had unraveled and was now hanging loosely down her back. Looking up and over at Sesshomaru, he seemed to be in his own little world. Sighing, she decided to break the awkward silence.

 

“ Are you going to be silent this entire trip, Sesshomaru?” Kimi asked. Sesshomaru's face did not flinch, nor did he make any sign that he even heard. Kimi sighed.

 

“ I see no point in talking. I have nothing to say to you.” He said icily. Kimi rolled her eyes and shook her head.

 

“ Why are you so antisocial anyway? I find it hard to believe that YOU raised such a sweet girl like Rin. I find it even harder that when you met her that you just didn't kill her on the spot. If I was Rin, I would've left you there to die.” She said snidely. There was another long silence after those words. Kimi shook her head again, but her ears perked when she heard him speak.

 

“ Then that makes you very different from Rin.” He said simply.

 

“ How is that?”

 

“ Rin, although her help was unnecessary, wanted to help this Sesshomaru. She had no one else and apparently she saw something in me that she liked. Children are very naïve.”

 

“ So why did you allow her to follow you around after you revived her? By the way, why did you even revive her?” He did not answer her right away. After about two minutes, it finally came.

 

“ Why are you questioning me about my relations with Rin?” Sesshomaru asked. Kimi narrowed her eyes.

 

“ Why can't you just answer the question?” Kimi countered. Sesshomaru growled lightly and continued walking in silence. Kimi smiled to herself as she realized that she'd gotten the last word in.

 

Sesshomaru stopped walking abruptly and Kimi ran into him. She looked up and saw that they were at a clearing. Looking around, the trees were in an almost perfect circle. She sniffed the air. A hot springs was near by. She could smell the sulfur. Sesshomaru startled her by turning around quickly.

 

“ We will stop here for the night. Tomorrow, the pace will be quickened. I want to get to Toutousai's this century.” He said. Then he turned to walk off. Kimi raised an eyebrow.

 

“ Where are you going?” She asked. Sesshomaru did not answer her and just kept walking. Kimi rolled her eyes and looked off in the direction of the hot springs. She smirked to herself and headed off in that direction.

 

Kimi came to another clearing as she headed through the trees. She smiled at the sight before her. Stripping her clothes off almost at record speed, she stepped in the water. In her relaxed state, she did not hear or see the presence around her. It would be too late when she realized what it was.

 

Sesshomaru stalked his prey quietly. The two deer were just sitting quietly, minding there own business. Before Sesshomaru could strike, he felt something pulse at his side. He looked down and saw that Tenseiga was glowing blue and pulsing.

 

` Why is it pulsing?' He asked himself. He immediately made his kill and went back to the clearing. Kimi was nowhere in sight. Sighing, he tried to follow her scent. Before he caught on to it, a scream was heard.

 

Kimi hurriedly put her arms in her kimono. Two male thunder youkai were advancing on her quickly. She backed up into a tree.

 

“ Who are you and what do you want?” Kimi asked, looking quite scared.

 

` Where the hell is Sesshomaru when you need him?' She thought angrily. One of the youkai looked at her with raised eyebrows.

 

“ Are you sure this is her, Ringo?” One of the asked. The one named Ringo squinted at Kimi. Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and turned her around. Kimi winced as her arm twisted behind her back. She fell to her knees. Ringo tore at her kimono, revealing her back. Kimi had an elaborate pattern of red and blue markings on her back.

 

“ Yep. She even has the sacred markings.” Ringo said. Kimi fought in his grasp.

 

“ Yukiko should be very pleased that we found her. You hear that? You caused Yukiko a lot of trouble a while ago.” The other one said. Ringo laughed. Kimi turned her head to the side.

 

“ Who the hell is Yukiko?” She asked. The two youkai exchanged confused glances. Ringo twisted Kimi's arm harder. She screamed in pain.

 

“ You nearly killed her. I think she'll want to get a little revenge for that. Get up.” Ringo yanked her up off of her knees. Kimi stood begrudgingly. Before she turned around, she heard a twig snap.

 

“ I suggest you let her go.” A cold voice said. Kimi's heart skipped a beat when she realized whose voice it was. She breathed a sigh of relief.

 

Sesshomaru stood behind the two youkai. They turned around and looked at him smugly.

 

“ Who the hell are you?” Ringo asked. The other youkai's eyes widened in realization as it hit him who he was.

 

“ You're Sesshomaru, aren't you?” He asked. Ringo looked at his friend. Sesshomaru did not respond. His silence said enough. He narrowed his amber eyes and moved his hand towards Tokujin.

 

“ This Sesshomaru dislikes repeating himself.” Sesshomaru said. Kimi watched the two youkai. They looked hesitant. In the blink of an eye, Sesshomaru sliced down at the other youkai next to Ringo. Ringo immediately began cutting off Kimi's air. He watched as his friend's lifeless body fell to the ground. Sesshomaru looked at him. “ Release her.” He said.

 

“ If I let her go, will you let me live?” Ringo asked. Kimi was breathing very hard now. Her wheezing was starting to get on Sesshomaru's nerves. Probably because it sounded about ten times louder than it would to Ringo.

 

“ Let her go.” Sesshomaru said simply. Ringo took a step backwards and then let Kimi go. He started to run away. Kimi was on the ground, panting like there was no tomorrow. She leaned back against the tree. Sesshomaru was still watching the young thunder youkai run away. Then he noticed Kimi.

 

Kimi was leaning against a tree, rubbing her neck. Her hair was in disarray. Her kimono was torn and hung off her shoulders now. Sesshomaru walked over to her. Kimi looked shamefully up at him. Her hair hung in her face.

 

“ Is there a little something you forgot to mention in the travel brochure?” He said quietly. Kimi sighed deeply.

 

“ I honestly don...” Before she could finish, she realized what Sesshomaru had just said.

 

“ Did you just make a joke?” She asked, smiling. Sesshomaru looked away from her.

 

“ I have no idea what you are talking about. This Sesshomaru does not `joke,' as you so adequately put it. Get up and head back to the clearing so you can get some proper clothes on your back.” He said. He started to walk off.

 

Kimi stood up, rubbing her shoulder. There was small cut on it from Ringo. She looked off in the direction that he had run off to.

 

` I wonder who he was,' she thought to herself. Then she hurried back to the clearing to change clothes.

 

Sesshomaru was sitting next to a tree. He had built a fire and the deer was roasting over it now. Kimi looked around for her sack. She got another kimono out and began put it on. She walked over to the tree Sesshomaru had settled in.

 

“ Um, Sesshomaru?” She said. Sesshomaru looked down at her. For the first time, she had said his name without a hint of malice or sarcasm in it. This meant that she wanted something. Kimi sighed when she realized this was as good as an acknowledgement as she was going to get from him. She took a deep breath. “ I just wanted to thank you. You know...for saving me.” She practically whispered. Sesshomaru heard her loud and clear. He had clearly not expected her to go so far as to thank him. Kimi looked up at him. Sesshomaru inclined his head. Kimi nodded and walked away to prepare to eat.

 

` She will one day be the death of me. We need to get to Toutousai as soon as possible before that youkai can come back with reinforcements. What could he have possibly wanted with her?' He thought idly.

 

Ringo ran up to Yukiko. She was sleeping against a tree when he shook her violently. Yukiko opened her eyes and glared at him with all the malevolence she could muster.

 

“ Ringo, you had better have a good reason for waking me up.” She said in a deadly tone. Ringo nodded, trying to catch his breath.

 

“ I do, my lady. I have found Nariko's daughter.” He said. Yukiko stood up immediately, her eyes now wide.

 

“ Where? Why didn't you bring her with you? Where's Tikal?” She asked, looking over his shoulder. Ringo shook his head.

 

“ She is with the lord of the Western Lands. He killed Tikal, but he let me go.” Ringo said. Yukiko suddenly looked very sick. She stalked over to Masoto's sleeping form.

 

“ What?” He asked groggily.

 

“ We have trouble. The girl has united with Sesshomaru. This complicates things.” She said. Masoto shook his head.

 

“ No, Yukiko. This makes our plight easier on us. You'll see.” Masoto said with an evil glint in his eye. Yukiko, not knowing what he could possibly mean by his statement, nodded.