InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Exhilarating ❯ Fulfillment ( Chapter 15 )

Info: Okay, me and the quick edit thing have come back onto good terms. .... for now. (glare) And I thank the people who gave me reviews, I really do. Heh. And it's Marchan and mine's fifteenth chapter! (party) Huzzahs upon huzzahs! n.n Oh, and I've slight changed the way the characters think. O.o; I'm skipping the little mini-quotes, and just putting their thoughts in italics. Why? No bloody clue....

Disclaimer- I don't own Inuyasha. Myah, and I don't know if it'd be a good idea if I did... o.o;;;

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Exhilarating Chapter 15 - Fulfillment

By: Tenshi and Marchan

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The light flickered in her dark eyes, as if the fire was within them, itself. She watched it with a passion, not wishing to look up and see whatever expressions Kagome and Inuyasha held in their faces while the two spoke with Sango and Miroku. They had come back from the Kagome's time, and both houshi and ex-taijya were glad to see them. Which was quite an opposite feeling for Rin, who had wished only to see the hanyou, and not the miko.

She watched the group outside from the door of the hut, sitting in the entry way's path. Rin had not wanted to get too close to the reminiscing four, and they didn't force her. Especially not Kagome, despite how much of an effort the older woman made to at least try and be kinder to the teen. Rin had ignored her attempts, however, the stubbornness of Sesshoumaru obviously having rubbed off on the girl.

Despite her being a ways away from the group, on the hut's porch, she could still hear the crackling of the fire as it burned into the night air. She was trying everything she could to block out the conversation, fearing that she would hear something she wouldn't want to. It was getting increasingly harder, however, her attention span not being very much to begin with. Even the inane ramblings of the twins, Aki and Mya, would have been good enough for her; however, the two were already asleep and dreaming.

Lucky them. Rin could only wish this was a dream she was stuck in, forever spinning in an alternate reality that would take only a brief second to awake from. But, no, it wasn't a dream the girl could easily escape; Inuyasha could not be hers. It appeared that he had finally made up his mixed feelings, and that he had not chosen Rin. Instead, it was Kagome for him. ...lucky her....

After a few more moments of staring nonchalantly at the flickering blaze straight ahead of her, Rin couldn't resist glancing up at the four speaking. Her chocolate eyes stopped on Inuyasha's form, her gaze blocking out anything else beside him. Oh, if only it were he and her, alone. Just like before. Then, she would be the only one he spoke to, gave attention to. The only one he gave his precious smile.

She saw with her knees up against her chest, resting her back against the framing of the door, as her arms hugged her legs tightly towards her. The wound across her side had become a dull ache, Rin only paying any mind to it if she thought of it, something she tried to stray away from anyway.

Her head lay upon the tops of her knees, her hands not far below it, as she soon found herself staring, languidly, at Inuyasha. Rin didn't even attempt to break her gaze away. That was, not until the dog demon noticed her staring and looked back. A sharp intake of breath, and then a quick turn of the head was Rin's reply, her cheeks coloring a light shade of red. The hanyou arched a brow, nonplussed, then brought his attention back to where it was before: anything but Rin.

He'd been trying to keep as little contact with her as he could, hoping she would sooner or later forget her feelings and completely go back to Sesshoumaru. However, that thought still bothered him. Why was he allowing-no, practically pushing-Rin to go back to his stupid, elder half-brother? Had he lost whatever trace sense of logic he'd had before?

If anything, he was more aware. More aware of the way it should be; the way it used to be. Inuyasha wanted them all to go back to the way it was before, with Rin happily frolicking with Sesshoumaru, and with Kagome being the only one he wanted by his side. The only one he wished to be with.

But, what if that's not the way it was supposed to be? He shook his head, dispelling those thoughts. Fate? Hah, when has fate ever been so kind as to bring him someone like Rin? No, he had found Kagome on his own. Or, in truth, she had found him, literally.

Finding the odd urge to look up, into the midnight sky, the hanyou found himself stared at by a crescent moon, so similar to the one on his brother's forehead. Damn. Why were there reminders everywhere? Even the sky leered at him, making its own comments and cursing his torture on Rin. Each star looked like a little, scornful, gleaming eye, glaring down at him. Was he truly making the wrong decision?

-

Rin couldn't sleep. She had gone inside her hut before the rest, not being a part of their group anyway, intent on sleeping. Her plan, however failed. She was still awake, even when she could hear the fire outside being doused, and when the sounds of gravel being crunched underfoot disappeared farther and farther away. Darkness was her shroud, the only thing giving light to the room being the dim, night sky beaming through the window.

Her eyes flickered onto the eyelash of a moon that hung overhead, its shape reminding her even more of Sesshoumaru. What did she suppose he was doing? Did he care she was gone? Did he even know of it? And if he did, was he looking for her? Rin closed her eyes, trying once more to fall asleep. All she succeeded in doing, however, was seeing the golden glimpse of Sesshoumaru's eyes, before the scene flitted away in her mind. With an exasperated sigh, the girl turned over under her covers, pulling them up further over her shoulders. She glared into the darkness, a scowl beset on her face as she did so.

Rin had decided to stay because she wanted to make sure Inuyasha and that miko weren't together alone. That, and because she wouldn't get very far anyway. It hurt when she took a step on uneven ground, and running from a crazed youkai would be a different matter, entirely. And then, despite her want to keep the hanyou and miko separated, she failed miserably, mostly because it seemed like Inuyasha was ignoring her. Was he...? A look of confusion darted across her eyes. He wouldn't, would he?

Right...?

Finally, the girl couldn't stay still any longer. She had to do something, other than fail at sleeping. Sitting up, rapidly, Rin pushed the blankets that covered her off, before heaving herself onto her wounded feet. They shot, at the sudden weight, but Rin ignored it, trudging out the door. She had no clue what she was doing, but her legs were carrying her wherever she felt like going.

Or didn't, as Rin soon realized, finding herself walking into the hut that Kagome and Inuyasha were sleeping in. Yet, she did not try to stop herself, not hesitating in her movements until she was at the entrance. Did she dare go in? He would most likely hear her, wouldn't he?

She rolled her eyes. Those things on his head aren't just for decoration, Rin. Deciding against her better thoughts, the girl stepped inside, making sure that the flap that was the covering of the door didn't swing about wildly behind her as she went in.

Then, there he was. If his silvery hair wasn't grand enough during the day, at night it was just stunning. The sliver of a moon, despite its size, shone through the open window in such a way that it made Inuyasha look ethereal. It was a beauty she thought only Sesshoumaru possessed, however it appeared that the hanyou had also gained the trait. She crept over by his side, standing on the side opposite of the moonlight, not wanting to ruin the picture. Kagome slept under the shade of the wall, her sleeping form just missing the silver light of outside.

Rin's gaze narrowed at the sight, an envy striking up of the elder woman. Not only did she have Inuyasha, but Kagome also had a very intriguing look about her. A beauty that went beyond the looks of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, merely because it wasn't entirely physical.

Hn... The girl turned her attention back to the hanyou before her. He hadn't stirred since she'd walked in, making her thankful. Rin knelt down beside his form, wanting nothing more than to stay beside him just this once. However, her curiosity got the better of her as she found her hand reaching for the silver-white mane that was his hair. Rin paused just before touching it, trying to fight against the feeling, but the urge stayed strong. Just this once.

However before she could do anything more, a clawed hand shot up and grabbed her wrist, though not tight enough to hurt. She nearly cried out, but halted herself, seeing it was Inuyasha's own grip. "W-why are you awake...?!" she hissed, pulling her arm away from his grasp, the hanyou sitting up as she scooted back.

He stared at her, not answering her question. "Why are you in here?" Inuyasha merely asked, his amber eyes seeming more gold than anything, due to the moonlight that managed to slip into the room.

She turned away, deciding not to answer as well. Instead, she thought up another question. "Why... did you come back?"

"I didn't want to." Rin winced, mentally, before looking back up at him. His eyes held an indifferent gaze, the hanyou not fumbling to keep eye contact like she felt she was doing at the moment.

"But... then...."

"Kagome insisted." He ran a hand through his hair, a thing the dog demon didn't do very often, if at all. "She wanted to see Miroku and Sango, and I guess I sort of did, too."

Rin stayed silent. He didn't want to come back...? He didn't... doesn't want... She stood, exiting the hut as quickly as she could, not caring if the door the wavered after her leave. Another sound of the door flipping open, and she knew Inuyasha had followed her out.

"Don't come near me," she warned, stopping in her tracks, the footsteps behind her halting as well.

"Rin..."

"Don't...!" Rin whirled around, a glare in her darkened gaze, made only dimmer by the night sky, much unlike Inuyasha's gaze which was brightened from the moonlight.

His shining eyes narrowed, Inuyasha stepped closer anyway. "Rin, why are you here?"

She pretended to ignore him, turning her glare to the side, while keeping her face straight ahead.

"Rin."

"Something happened. And..."

"Dammit, that bastard didn't hurt you, did he?" Inuyasha seethed, grabbing her by the shoulders. Rin gasped at the contact, but didn't move from his grasp. He had more than noticed the bandages all over her, and the scent of blood that wafted from her side. "Is that why....?!" Despite his forced words, he tried to keep them as hushed as he could, so as to not wake anyone else.

She shook her head. "Never."

He released her, stepping back, throwing his glance to the side. He'd just realized what he had done, and slightly regretted showing concern at all. "Tch. You give him too much credit."

Rin furrowed her eyebrows, her glower returning. "I do not. Maybe you give him too little credit...!" she returned.

"Listen, I've known the guy way longer than you, I think I'll know a little more about him, don't you?!"

She frowned, crossing her arms in front of her, while leaning more of her weight onto the foot in front of her. "Well, I've spent more times with him, than all your years of knowing him combined....!"

He rolled his eyes. "That doesn't account for anything-"

"And why wouldn't it?"

"Because!"

"So then why do you care?!"

"Just... because...!!"

Rin closed the distance between them, her arms still folded across her chest. "And what is it that suddenly made you worry about my well-being...?!"

"The fact that I think I love you!"

The two stared at each other in silence, before both turned their eyes away, a blush coating both individuals' expressions, as well as a scowl.

Finally, Rin spoke. "Do you... really mean that?" Suddenly, an arm found its way around her neck, pulling her into Inuyasha's chest.

"Keh."

She smiled, and reached her arms around him. "I think I love you, too."

-

The next morning, Kagome awoke with a loud yawn. She smiled at the sight of the sun beaming through the window, but it faded when she looked over for Inuyasha.

"Huh. Guess he's already up," she muttered, stretching her arms out before standing. The woman cracked her spine, with a swift leaning motion to the back, and then continued on outside, the morning feeling crisp on her form. She gazed around, before seeing Sango standing with a horde of children around her. Kagome quickly approached, weaving in and out of the bustling kids, with a kind smile. Sango nodded a good morning.

"Hey, have you seen Inuyasha already...?" Kagome asked, attempting to sound as nonchalant as she could. For some reason, there was a faint, concerning feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she brushed it aside. "He hardly ever wakes up before me, so I'm afraid that the villagers carried him off or something," she laughed.

Sango shook her head. "Nope, haven't seen him." She placed a finger on her chin in thought, an odd look in her eyes. "Ironically, I went to go check on Rin-chan and she's apparently already left." A smile glazed her features. "That girl... so keen to get back to her 'Sesshoumaru-sama'...."

However, Kagome didn't return the smile. Sango blinked, nonplussed. "Hm? Kagome....?"

Kagome turned around, quickly, before stating, "I have to go now." Without waiting for an answer from the former taijya, Kagome was running off, a look of worry framing her expression. Not again, Inuyasha... I thought we were fine now....!

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after notes: Meow. (claws air) I had a hard time writing this chapter.... -.-0 Why? I don't know. I seem more concerned about writing my new story, All-Girl's Sasuke. Which, by the way, you should check out if you happen to be a Naruto and shounen-ai fan....! (giggles madly) If you're wondering who the darling, not-commonly-seen couple of that story is ((and you fall under both categories)), it's Sasuke and... dun-dunn-dunnn.... Haku! Myahahaha!

Review....!!