InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Eternity ❯ Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, or any characters from that show. So sad.

 

 

Rin lay there a few more minutes, trying to let sleep reclaim her. She was, of course, sad that Sesshomaru had gone, but she was still a bit giddy from the whole thing. But she was awake, and so she got up. She walked over to the kimono, running her hand over the smooth silk. I will wear this today, she thought, and we'll see what happens. She carefully slid it off the rack, as if it would break. She slid it on, and then looked around for something to tie it with. A servant came forward, and she just about jumped. It always creeped her out how they always knew when you needed them before you asked. It was like they were always watching her. She blushed a little, thinking about what that would entail should she succeed with Sesshomaru. She shook it off though.

 

By this time, the tanuki-yokai was just finishing tying her obi. She began to bunch it up for a bow, and Rin had an idea.

 

“Um,” she said, feeling awkward that she didn't know the racoon's name. “Could you tie it differently? Like… you know… with the ends down long?” She bit her lip.

 

The little raccoon woman smiled just a little bit and nodded. They both knew that how you tied your obi was more important that most people thought. The bow she usually wore was meant to make her look cute. But what she had suggested was supposed to make her look attractive.

 

The raccoon disappeared for a moment, coming back with a little stuffed piece to support the obi. She tied it around her waist, tucking the ends under the front of the obi, and then arranged the back so that the ends crossed over. She patted Rin's arm and made to leave.

 

“Uh…” Rin stopped her. “May I ask what your name is?”

 

The raccoon stopped and turned around. “My name is Suki, Rin-sama.”

 

Lady Rin; now that was new to her. Was that how Sesshomaru referred to her when she wasn't around? She supposed she was a young woman now.

 

“Suki… don't you mind that I'm human?” It was a question that had been bothering her for some time.

 

Suki chuckled happily. “Of course not, my lady. `Tis not such a thing as your lord makes it out to be. It's just… for Tai Yokai, the hanyous are a bit more obvious. Stronger Youki will do that, you know? For us lower demons, it's hardly a problem. And for foxes and raccoons, those of us who can transform, it's common. The little tykes can figure out how to make themselves look completely human better than we can.” She shook her head as if this were funny.

 

“Besides. When Lord Sesshomaru went a-hunting for servants, he made to pick those that were only human-friendly, so as to keep you safe from harm.” She smiled, patting her arm once more.

 

“I suppose that makes sense…” Rin thought.

 

Suki smiled and chuckled again. “Would you like to put your hair up?”

 

Rin smiled. “That would be great!”

 

The raccoon helped her to pile her hair into an elegant bun, and fished out a comb from somewhere to secure it.

 

“I don't have any pins to give you, but you look pretty enough as it is.” She looked Rin over, nodding with approval. “Now go out and see if you can't cheer up that sullen dog, will you?” she shoved Rin towards the door playfully, making Rin giggle.

 

As Rin walked through the house, she carefully decided what she would say. She had it all figured out by the time she got to the courtyard, and slid open the door. All of the words rushed out of her head, and she slowly felt a blush come to her cheeks. Waking up next to him without a shirt on was somehow less than seeing him practice without it. He moved as if unreal, through the motions as if he were fluid. A slight sheen of sweat shone on his skin, accented by the golden morning light. Suddenly he stopped, aware of her presence.

 

He turned slowly. Kami, he thought, She still smells like that. Is she going to smell that way all the time now?

 

Rin cleared her throat, nervous because of the intense look he regarded her with. “Uh… what do you think?” she held out her arms and twirled a little.

 

“It looks nice,” he said absently. She didn't smell like that last night, though. Maybe it's just the mornings… I can stay away from her in the morning… right?

 

“Sesshomaru-sama… do you think I'm pretty?” The words came out of her mouth before she could think about them.

 

He stared at her. How was he supposed to answer that? He was so distracted by the way she smelled he was having difficulty thinking of an ambiguous answer that wouldn't hurt her feelings.

 

Rin shifted uncomfortably. He was simply staring at her… why didn't he answer? “I mean…” she was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. “I mean, for a human, that is.” She stared at her feet.

 

Sesshomaru let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. “Perhaps it would be better if you asked a human that question,” he said non-commitally.

 

“Oh.” Rin said quietly.

 

Sesshomaru wiped his blade and sheathed it, shrugging on his shirt and walking towards her. “Would you like it if we had company here?” he asked quietly, remembering that she had said she was lonely.

 

“I suppose that would be nice…” She did not look up.

 

He nodded. “I'll send Jaken to invite my half-brother and some of his friends to come and visit. I'm afraid I must go away for a while…” she looked up at him quickly, and he looked away. “There is something… I must do…”

 

“I see.” Rin said quietly. Without another word she turned around and ran back to her room, and he could smell the tears welling in her eyes.

 

Sesshomaru sighed deeply, sitting down on the porch with a little less grace than usual. He had to get out of here. He had to get away from her, so he could think. Otherwise, he was afraid he might do something… rash. He ran his hand through his hair, thinking. If only his father were still alive…. Of course, he would be laughing. Sesshomaru had tried to kill him when he found out about Izayoi, and had threatened to attack her. He'd gotten pissed at that, which had made Sesshomaru angrier. Now he understood his father's ire, though.

 

Sesshomaru's mother and father had never gotten along very well. Oh, they loved each other, and they had great chemistry. But they fought. A lot. And sometimes, it got bloody. Mostly, they fought about him. He said Sesshomaru needed to learn to be compassionate, needed something to fight for, blah, blah, blah. She said he was making him soft, and that he needed to hone his instincts more, to detach himself from his emotions. Eventually, his father left. His mother got her way. But when Sesshomaru had found her crying one day about something (which was incredibly rare) that was the end of the line. He confronted his father, and from then on there was a rift between them that did not heal before his father's death. If anything, it made it worse. The fact that that woman had caused his death was the main reason he had hated InuYasha in the first place.

 

Instincts or Emotions? He asked himself, wondering whether he should take his mother or his father's advice. Of course, his mother's lack of advice had almost gotten Rin killed. He fingered the sword at his side, and wondered if he would ever be able to tell Rin the truth. Probably not. He wouldn't want her to feel trapped, or as if she owed him a debt. So, instincts or emotions? With despair he realized that both were telling him they wanted the same thing.

 

Rin.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AN:

Short chapter, I know. I'm sorry. But there is good stuff in the next chapter, and I'm sure you'll like it. Blah. That is all I have to say. Tee hee I like making Sesshomaru awkward…. *skips off laughing maniacally*