InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Gift of a Curse ❯ Chapter 12

~ This chapter is dedicated to my best friend Haylee (Monkey_Go_Cheezy). Please check out her awesome story `From the Clique', I promise you won't regret it!

 

It's also dedicated to my favorite cousin Haley (Inugirlfan1). Check out her awesome stories as well!

 

Last, but definitely not least, this whole story is dedicated to the people who take time out of their day to read my work. I'm quite aware it's not the best and I have much room for improvement. Most are very generous in the reviews and I like getting the criticism good or bad! You really don't know how much it helps. ^_^ ~

 

Gift of a Curse

 

Chapter 12:

 

<><><><>

 

Inuyasha's ears twitched slightly as he gave the neko-youkai a cursory examination. “So… you thought I smelled like that bastard Sesshoumaru and decided to seek me out eh?”

 

“Don't insult Lord Sesshoumaru in my presence half-breed!” Kaori hissed, her ears flattening against her head. Banished or not, she would never allow anyone to insult the inu-youkai.

 

“No need for fighting!” Kagome cut in with a shrill voice before sending Inuyasha a pleading look. He glared back at her, determined to be the victor, but after a few moments gave in.

 

“Keh…”

 

“Arigatou Inuyasha.” The miko said softly as her gaze returned to Kaori. “Onegai, let's talk over some lunch.” The cat demon nodded, offering a faint smile. Inuyasha turned, leading the way to their hut on the edge of the village followed by Kagome and a reluctant Kaori. The youkai glanced about nervously as she walked.

 

Once inside the hut Kagome handed Kaori a cup of tea and then seated herself beside Inuyasha at the low table, feet beneath her. She took a small sip of her own tea, staring down into her cup after she had placed it on the table before her. “Kaori-san, how do you know Sesshoumaru?” Inuyasha looked away, seemingly uninterested in the whole discussion, but he listened attentively.

 

“I worked for him… at the castle. I was on my way back from a…” The cat demon paused for a moment, her tail twitched, “Visit. That's when I came across you and the hanyou.”

 

“I have a name ya know.” Inuyasha growled, but he was paid no heed.

 

Kagome continued to smile. “You mean you quit?” Kaori looked down at the hands in her lap quickly.

 

“The lord… eh… required no more need of my services.” She mumbled.

 

“What was that?” Kagome asked, unable to hear.

 

“She said she was sacked.” The hanyou said with a smirk. Kaori sighed standing up. She bowed lightly to Kagome, but made no indication Inuyasha was even there.

 

“Arigatou for the tea. I'll be on my way.”

 

“Wait!” Kagome said jumping up. “We… we need to ask you a question. Why is there a… a human woman at the castle? Why hasn't she ever been… er... harmed?”

 

“A woman you say? There are many women that work at the castle.” Kaori said curtly and made her way to the door. Kagome frowned.

 

“She means a human woman wench.” Inuyasha growled. The cat stopped in her tracks, she turned around swiftly.

 

“How do you know of her?”

 

“Ano… Inuyasha has seen her a few times. Each time she seemed to be unharmed.”

 

“Yes… there is a human woman there. She's been there for nearly 20 years now, taken in at a very young age. As to why she remains unharmed… I am oblivious.”

 

“20 years…” Kagome murmured.

 

“The lord obviously doesn't want her to leave the castle as well. Little know she is even there.” Giving them that bit of information, Kaori left the hut.

 

<><><><>

 

The demon slayers were spread out in the clearing around Naraku's hut. Most sat around idly chatting, some bent over weapons that were need of repair or sharpening. Only a few were at work training there skills I preparation for the upcoming battle. The day that that battle would take place they had yet to find out.

 

The sun beat down relentlessly with only an occasional lone cloud blocking out it's intense light. “Father, how much longer will we wait?” Sango asked with a sigh.

 

“It won't be much longer.” Her father assured her as he looked up from the katana he was at work repairing.

 

“Is this one all right sister?” ago turned to Kohaku who was holding up a blade of grass. She smiled and nodded.

 

“Hai. That one should do nicely Kohaku.” He grinned and placed the blade of grass between his thumbs and palms. He held his hands to his mouth and blew creating a shrill whistle.

 

“I never was able to do that…” Miroku said with a small laugh, sitting beside her. “My friend had tried to teach me once, perhaps if I had had a beautiful teacher such as you Sango-”

 

“Please, Houshi-sama.” The taijiya muttered, “Your false charm is wasted on me. I find it hard to believe you're a man of the cloth sometimes…”

 

“You wound me.” Miroku said dramatically as he clutched chest. Sango rolled her eyes.

 

“Demon slayers!” Everyone stopped his or her work, eyes moving to the man who had just walked out of the hut. “Let me assure you, soon we will engage in battle with the lowly youkai at the castle.”

 

Sango's father stood, sheathing his blade. “Naraku, you know the time we spend waiting will cost you?”

 

“All who survive will be paid fairly.”

 

“Then there will be many to pay.” Sango's father said with a grin and the demon slayers broke out in cheer.

 

<><><><>

 

(A/n Ever heard that thing: `Who do you turn to when the one who made you cry, is the one who dries your tears?' Or something like that anyway. I sort of see that kind of fitting in here.)

 

Despair. Guilt. Confusion. Hatred. Sympathy. Love. All could be seen in the daiyoukai's eyes as he looked down at the young woman crying her eyes out beside him. He wouldn't say anything with contempt or scorn, for even if he would never lower himself to such a display, he couldn't say she didn't have the right too. Sesshoumaru continued looking down at her grimly.

 

Rin was ashamed of herself. As much as she wanted to be as far from him as possible, she didn't want him to leave her side. Unsuccessful in stopping her flow of tears, she kept her face hidden. `Stupid, stupid, stupid . . .' continually ran through her mind without end. `So stupid...'

 

Even with his sense of smell becoming duller with each passing day, he could still barely make out Rin's scent through the smell of her salty tears and such. What could he do? Tell her it would be all right? Or that he was sorry? For some reason Sesshoumaru highly doubted that would work in comforting this human in any way. Then again, what did he know about humans other then how weak and frail they were? Quite frankly, not much.

 

How had she found out? The most likely answer was Jaken. And indeed, that imp would be nothing more then a smear of green guts when Sesshoumaru was through with him. Or perhaps he'd throw him in the dungeons and let the brainless youkai down there eat him? Either way, Jaken would be done for. But that was of no importance now.

 

“You can… go. You don't have to… stay here.” Rin mumbled. Her tears had subsided. An uncomfortable silence settled over them, and it seemed to press in at the Daiyoukai from all sides.

 

“Hn.”

 

She frowned, her heart heavy and face still hidden away. “You'll stay? Even after I insulted your person?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“I don't understand…” She muttered softly, “Why I don't hate you. Any sane person would in my place…” He remained silent and she gave a chuckled lightly, laughing at herself. “You even killed my only friend…”

 

“The cat demon?”

 

“Of course. Who else could put up with me?”

 

“She lives.”

 

“What?” Rin sat up, her face still red from crying. “Kaori... is alive?”

 

“Hn.”

 

“You mean you didn't kill her?”

 

“Hn.” Rin smiled, grabbing him around the middle in a friendly embrace. She pulled back quickly, determined not to glance in his direction.

 

“Gomen. I was just so… surprised.”

 

“…”

 

Rin blushed, staring down at her hands. Perhaps he really wasn't so heartless… no. Perhaps no one was more heartless. “Why do you keep me here.” She demanded.

 

Sesshoumaru looked down at her, deciding whether or not to answer her question. “I must.”

 

“Why?”

 

Looking down into her pleading eyes, he found it impossible to ignore her. “To protect you.”

 

“Protect me! What-”

 

“I must protect you, to protect myself…”

 

“I don't understand.”

 

He frowned slightly, looking away. “You wouldn't.”

 

“You could try to explain you know!” Rin cried angrily, “It's my life you've ruined!”

 

“If you die, I die.” He said simply as if it explained everything. Rin fought the urge to scream at him. She couldn't run this now, not when she was so close to finding out that looming mystery.

 

“Why is it that way?”

 

“Your mother…” Sesshoumaru said with disgust, “placed a curse over me to make it so I was unable to harm you.” He stood, looking down at her for only a moment before moving to leave.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

The inu-youkai paused for a moment, and then left the room.

 

<><><><>

 

Days slid into weeks and Rin fell into a routine. She would get up in mornings, sometimes wonder about the castle, but usually ended up at the library. From there she would curl up with a book and read until it was time to head back to her rooms. Lately Sesshoumaru would occasionally join her in the library, but he did not read or even try to start up any sort of conversation. From what Rin could tell he was simply thinking.

 

Rin lowered her book to peer over the top of it at the Daiyoukai sitting on the other side of the massive room. She cleared her throat, but he didn't move. “Eh… Lord Sesshoumaru?”

 

He `hn'ed but still did not look in her direction. “I'm reading a good book… have you read anything good lately?”

 

“No.”

 

`Not much of a conversationalist…' She thought with a light sigh. “Ever read this book then?” She waved it about a bit in the air. He didn't even spare it a glance.

 

“No.”

 

“You should you know. There's a man in this book that reminds me a lot of you.”

 

Sesshoumaru quirked a brow, turning to look at her. Rin smiled to herself. `Got his interest now… too bad that was a lie.'

 

“You know. Quiet, clam, boring.” She wasn't sure what she expected his reaction to be, but she sure wasn't expecting him the corners of his mouth to turn up in a small smile.

 

“Boring?”

 

Rin nodded, smiling herself. “Hai. The man in this book never does anything, and neither do you. I mean… you never do anything profoundly interesting.”

 

“And you do?”

 

That caught her off-guard. “Humph. If you think I'm so boring why have you been coming in here lately?”

 

“I've come here often to think for many years.”

 

“How old are you by the way?” Rin asked raising a brow.

 

“…”

 

“Really old then. Guess that is the reason your hair is the color it is.” He remained silent and, desperate not to let their conversation slip away so soon, Rin glanced down at her book. Her eyes landing right on the word dance. “Do you like… dancing?”

 

(A/n Yes here it is. Yes, it would never happen, yes it's OOC. Sue me okay?)

 

“No.”

 

“Ever tried it?” She inquired with a smile.

 

“No.”

 

“Great!” Rin leapt up from her seat, letting the book fall carelessly aside. “We can learn together!” Sesshoumaru didn't move. “Come on, surely it won't kill you to try something new?”

 

“…”

 

The young woman crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you scared you won't be able to Lord Sesshoumaru?”

 

“No.”

 

She shrugged, “How can I believe you when you refuse to show me otherwise?” Sesshoumaru sighed inwardly. He currently had two basic choices available. Humor her, or tell her flat out that was the worst persuasion method he'd ever seen?

 

The inu-youkai stood up. “This Sesshoumaru fears nothing.”

 

(A/n *Kill the following part of this chapter*)

 

Rin stepped forward slowly to stand in front of him. She became silently glad he wasn't clad in armor. `Oh great… now what?' She thought I despair. `I have no idea how to dance… I've only read about it!' She looked down at her feet.

 

Sesshoumaru sighed silently as he looked at the clueless girl. “…” After hesitating a moment he wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. Rin blushed scarlet, but looked up and timidly placed her arms around his neck before lowering her head to gaze at his chest, wishing she'd never started this.

 

He took the lead, and after a few minutes Rin fell into time with him. “I thought you said you had never danced?” She muttered.

 

“I never said I didn't know how.”

 

Her blush deepened, and she lifted her head to look up into his face. Their gazes locked and soon they were standing still, the dance forgotten. “Gomen!” Rin cried suddenly after a few moments. She stepped back turning away. Her eyes found a window, golden sunlight signaling sunset poured in. “Oh! I've got to go eat before it gets too cold…” She grabbed her book. “Jaa ne!”

 

Sesshoumaru watched her rush from the room. His sense of smell was weakening. She'd only just left the room and already he could scarcely detect her scent. Not much longer and he wouldn't be ale to catch it all.

 

<><><><>

 

“You said we were to attack soon Naraku.” The taijiya leader said angrily. “We have other villages in need of our abilities!”

 

“If we attack now we will die. I have been informed the perfect time to strike is nearing. Have patience.”

 

“We have been patient.”

 

“Then continue to be.”

 

<><><><>

 

Notes: All right many notes. I think Sesshoumaru was really OOC in this. Sorry about that. I really am! As for the dancing part? I don't know. I recently read a Beauty and the Beast remake (courtesy of Haylee) that was wonderful even though it didn't have the dancing part. But… that's my favorite part so as OOC as it is, I had to find a way to stick it in there!

 

PLEASE REVIEW!

 

Onegai: Please

Gomen: Sorry

Youkai: Demon

Inu: Dog

Neko: Cat

Hai: Yes

Jaa ne: Later. (Something like that.)

Hanyou: Half demon

Miko: Priestess

Katana: (Pretty much a sword)

Houshi: Monk

-sama: Suffix meaning `lord' or `lady'

-san: General suffix to show respect. `Mr.' `Mrs.' `Miss.'

Arigatou: Thank you

 

 

A/n: Author Note(s)

OOC: Out of Character

 

PLEASE REVIEW!!!! O.o

 

Q: Is Jaken supposed to be the clock dude?

A: Well… he is to mean to be the clock so I'll say no. I like the clock dude.

 

Q: How much longer will this story go on?

A: Not too much longer…

 

Q: You doing the dancing scene?

A: ^_^

 

Q: Naraku, the slayers, the villagers, and Miroku?

A: Yes. Naraku has hired all of them to attack the castle. He will be kind of leading all of them I guess and the villagers. Really I just threw Miroku in there for a bit of San/Mir. He has no wind tunnel in this story. ^_^

 

Retta: Wow. *blush* Thank you! I know it's really not that good…o.o…