InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Gift of a Curse ❯ Chapter 13

(EDITED)

 

I added A LOT more detail and tried to slow the rush. Especially near the bottom.

 

1-2 more chapter(s) after this one and the story is over!

 

Gift of a Curse

 

Chapter 13: “Know that when the last petal falls . . .”

 

(Please excuse anything rushed, I'm sleepy. No, the characters ARE NOT crazy. )

 

Warning: This chapter contains Sess/Rin fluff.

 

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A gust of frosty wind tugged at her winter kimono, blowing wisps of midnight hair before her face. Her footsteps sounded as soft taps on the stone beneath her feet as she walked slowly across a large balcony she'd discovered only weeks before. Rin leaned over the side, the soft sigh escaping her lips appearing as a white cloud. The firelight from a torch hanging nearby flickered, making shadows dance. She tilted her head up, breathing deep and gazing up at the moon hanging in the charcoal sky.

 

The young woman had come here often to think over the past days. She enjoyed the feel of the air against her skin as one season slid gradually into another. `Maybe it will snow soon…' she thought with another sigh.

 

Hearing the clink of Jaken's staff hitting the ground she inwardly groaned. The tapping stopped and she knew he was standing behind her. “What do you want?” Rin growled without turning around to look at him, her face pulled into a scowl. If Sesshoumaru had not of saved her, she'd be burnt toast.

 

“Humph!” He squawked angrily waving the Staff of Two Heads about. “You are not allowed outside after dark you ungrateful human!” Jaken glared at her back, his tolerance for this creature had dissipated long ago.

 

She rolled her eyes. “Says who?”

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru!”

 

Rin remained silent. After a pregnant pause the imp turned away and left. She listened to his low grumbles and the clink of his staff hitting stone as he moved farther away. “Baka,” she muttered departing from her balcony. Mind lost in thought, her feet did the work, carrying her to her own rooms.

 

The young woman took an idle glance at what had once been a hit dinner. Deciding to go without it, she made her way to her room and dove into the bed. So many things had changed recently…

 

Eloquent kimonos, large meals, and even most of the servants she'd encountered had been friendly. Unlike the thin clothing, small meals, and silent, distant servants she had always encountered before. And Shippou had popped up unannounced every now and then over the past few weeks. `Why does it even bother me?'

 

`You stopped hating this place?' A voice in the back of her head suggested.

 

`You really like that demon lord?' Another supplied.

 

`Or maybe you just like his hair?'

 

`Shut up!' Rin mentally screamed. She groaned as she pulled a pillow against her face. `I'm arguing… with myself!' She thought mournfully.

 

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Sesshoumaru growled. He ignored the urge to hurl his sword across the room and let it shatter to pieces upon impact with the wall, and settled for leaning it up against the wall instead. “Too slow,” He muttered quietly as he left the training area and made his way to the library.

 

`Not much longer and you'll be a weak human,' His mind taunted. It didn't help the demon lord's mood in any way that could be considered positive. `Only a few petals are left and you choose to disregard it.'

 

`This Sesshoumaru disregards nothing.'

 

`Hn. You're ignoring the fact that human doesn't love you.'

 

`...'

 

`If you turn into a ningen, the power-seeking youkai of the castle will slaughter you for your position. They won't allow a human to rule them.'

 

`Of this I am aware.'

 

`And you do nothing? If you told the girl she'd be inclined too. She likes you that much at least.'

 

`I am aware of this as well.'

 

`And you do nothing?'

 

`I don't want her love that way…' Sesshoumaru frowned slightly.

 

`It seems you already are a human. You are weak. You'd let that petty human kill you if that is what she wanted.'

 

`Demarinasai.' He passed up the door to the library, deciding he would rather be outside in the fresh air where he was more comfortable.

 

Easily escaping out the nearest window Sesshoumaru took to a steady walk around the castle grounds. No longer could he pick up the scent of those nearby, or see objects clearly in the dark. Slightly unnerved by the sudden realization of his losses, he drawled to a stop.

 

The Daiyoukai was silent as he glanced around, his breaths inaudible over the soft chirping of crickets in the night. His golden hues came to rest on the silhouette of a young woman leaning over the railing of a balcony. She seemed oblivious to the world as she gazed up at the heavens, clearly lost in her own thoughts. “Rin…”

 

Even without his sense of hearing as acute as it should have been, he could make out the sound of her pleasing voice, but failed in recognizing what it was she said. Not long after she turned about, disappearing into the dark outline of the castle. His gaze dropped to the grass. “…”

 

He knew what he wanted, but to get what he wanted… would he really have to sacrifice his own life?

 

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Rin woke up slowly. She wrapped her blankets tighter around herself, trying to ignore the cold the nipped at her nose without mercy. After a few moments she gave up, hurrying to dress and eat the breakfast that was already laid out for her. She ate the hot stew, grateful for it's warmth.

 

With a subtle glance out her window before rushing to the library, the amount of sunlight pouring in confirmed it was midday. `How could I have slept so long?'

 

She counted the number of doors along the wall until she came to the right one, a soft smile gracing her features as she entered the large book-filled space. Rin ran her fingers along the spines of books, stopping at a newer looking one. She pulled it from the shelf and sat down to read.

 

After flipping a few pages the young woman frowned and returned it carefully to its spot. “What's wrong with me?” She muttered as she took to pacing up and down a hall for a few moments after leaving the library. The purple glow from the ever-lit torches was its only light. “I feel like something is… wrong.”

 

“You wish to know what is wrong here!” A voice cried from behind her. Rin whipped around to look fiercely down at Jaken. “You!”

 

“Damare, toad.”

 

“Why you-” Rin cut him off, pushing him roughly to the side as she walked past. “Where are you going!” Jaken demanded.

 

“Where I wish too,” She snapped in answer. Jaken almost pursued her, but the pain he'd received from his Sesshoumaru-sama after trying to harm her before was not easily forgotten. Grumbling, he stalked off to annoy some other unsuspecting innocent person.

 

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The hours passed slowly and at sunset, Rin found herself leaning over the edge of her balcony watching the fiery sun dip below the horizon. She stood there silently, the light fading as stars began to show themselves, twilight arriving. She rested her chin on her hands letting her eyelids droop shut; a soft sigh escaping parted lips.

 

The young woman was a bit startled when she felt a presence beside her, as if it had appeared from nowhere. But she recognized the familiar feel of warmth and welcomed it. Opening her chocolate hues she turned to look at the demon lord beside her.

 

He could kill her quickly and easily, perhaps without regret. Or he could draw it out and make it painful, and she used to expect him to do it without warning every time they met. But now she felt more comfortable with him, more comfortable then she ever had with anyone else.

 

Sesshoumaru was looking out over the land; so far making no move to even show he realized Rin was standing there next to him. He was deep in thought, his furrowed brow gave that away easily enough and for once, she could see something in his eyes. Sadness? Sorrow? “Sesshoumaru-sama, what's wrong?”

 

“Sesshoumaru.”

 

“Nani?” She asked, bewildered.

 

“You needn't call me lord.”

 

“A- Alright.” Rin turned to look out over the balcony once more. They stood together in silence, Rin closing her hues and leaning a bit of her weight against him. Her eyes snapped open, startled, as his hand snaked around her waist to pull her nearer him, her back leaned up against his front.

 

He leaned to rest his own back against the stonewall behind him, looking up at the stars. Rin was stiff, holding her breath without even knowing it, her heart beating faster in her chest. “Rin,” Sesshoumaru said in his usual calm voice.

 

“Yes?” She said softly in answer.

 

“Are you happy here?”

 

“I suppose so…” the young woman murmured.

 

“Though not truly happy…” He chuckled softly, as if the idea had been a joke. “What do you want?”

 

What do you want? She pondered his question, gazing idly down at the magenta strips on his wrist in the flickering light. She breathed in, and he breathed in. And they both breathed out. Their chests lifted and fell together in rhythm. Her head rested against him, and she was happy for the warmth he provided against the cold air.

 

“To be free. Live in a village… like a normal woman would,” She answered finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

 

Sesshoumaru was silent. Something in him began to ache. He wanted her to stay, wanted her to be with him, but he couldn't be happy with that unless she wished to stay with him. “Then go.”

 

“What?”

 

“You are free. I'll take you to a village in the morning.”

 

Rin whipped around to face him. She caught his gaze, grinning broadly. “Sesshoumaru… thank you.” He gave a slight nod of the head.

 

Standing on the tips of her toes, she pressed her lips softly against his cheek. Pulling away she rushed from the balcony, leaving him staring after her, the feel of her lips still clinging to his cheek. `You're doing it for her,' He reminded himself. `For her…'

 

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Rin placed her hand against the stone of the castle taking a deep breath. “Sayonara…” she muttered with a small laugh. “I've waited so long to get away from you, escape from you… but you were my only home.” She pulled her hand away and turned to face the silent Daiyoukai standing nearby.

 

“You are ready?” He said blandly looking ahead into the looming forest.

 

She nodded. “Hai… I'm ready.” She let out a small gasp as he scooped her up and took off at a quick run at the same time. One arm was wrapped securely around her back, the other under her legs. She could feel he tips of his claw grazing her skin. “Could have warned me.”

 

He didn't answer, or even make any move to show he'd heard. Rin sighed resting her head nonchalantly on his shoulder, chocolate hues watching his long, silver hair in the onrush of air. She blinked in surprise. `His hair was lack for a moment… no. I'm being stupid.'

 

The inu-youkai leapt over a fallen tree and darted through vines. He was moving reluctantly, wanting to make his last time with her last longer, even if it was only to be a moment longer.

 

Sesshoumaru came to halt on the edge of the forest and let Rin slide from his arms. She found her footing and took in her surroundings finding them to be on the outskirts of a village, just out of view of the working villagers. “Go to that hut.” Sesshoumaru said coolly nodding to the one belonging to half-breed. “They will watch over you.”

 

“Hai.” Rin said looking at the hut for a moment. She turned her attention back to the Daiyoukai. Staring up into his hues, she searched frantically for something to say. Some way to say… goodbye.

 

Instead, he was the one to do it. Removing something from the protection of his armor. With his free hand, he took hers and opened it then gave the silver-petal rose to her gently. Rin looked down at it, wrapping her fingers around it gingerly and then back up at him.

 

The demon lord struggled to keep still, to keep his face stoic. He wanted to reach out and pull her into him so they could stay like that forever, but he knew he couldn't. He wouldn't. “Keep it,” He said in his monotone voice, “And know that when the last petal falls, I am dead.”

 

Rin's world came to an agonizing halt. Her mouth was dry and her hands trembled. “But Sesshoumaru.” She began feebly, but he was already gone. She could just hear the fading sound of his footsteps as he rushed off. Leaving her. Forever. “There's only one petal left…” she finished in a murmur and slumped to her knees, tears flowing down her cheeks.

 

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Sorry this was a suckier chapter. Hope it wasn't too bad anyway. Thank you all reviewers! I love you all. (sniffle) Now there will only be one chapter after this unless I decide on an epilogue. I'd be expecting one if I were you. ^^ Now some means of contact have change so I need to fix those…

 

AIM: mountvernongirl

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E-mail: mountvernongirl@aol.com or raygirl1991@yahoo.com (Checked once a week, mount one checked everyday.)

 

Demarinasai: Be quiet

Damare: Shut up

Inu: Dog

Youkai: Demon

Daiyoukai: demon lord or king

Ningen: Human or mortal

 

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