InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In a Different Light ❯ A Worthy Mate ( Chapter 16 )

In a Different Light

Chapter 15: A Worthy Mate

According to his father's scrolls, there were two ways to bind a mates' souls together, ensuring the longevity of their union. One way was specifically for humans, and the other would work for a human or a demon mate. But, having read the scrolls so long ago and not paying much attention to the information contained within, Sesshomaru had little recollection of the specifics of either ritual. And, knowing Rin, if he disclosed the existence of such rituals, she'd have several questions, which, at current time, he was in no position to answer. So he made the conscious decision to wait until he'd thoroughly researched the subject and could answer any and every question Rin may have. Until then, he would simply have to keep her . . . distracted.

He felt a shiver run through her body as a particularly cold breeze blew through their campsite. He pulled the sleeping female a little closer to him, wrapping her snugly in the fur of his pelt. They'd returned to camp after they'd both . . . relieved a little tension, and he was now sitting in his usual spot with Rin nestled into his side.

Quite honestly, he'd never considered the possibility of taking a life mate. He'd planned on following his father's example and procuring a suitable mate in his later years, producing the required heir to continue his bloodline, and then getting on with his life as he best saw fit-expanding his territories whenever possible and securing its borders from attack. The union between his father and mother had been an arranged one. It had very little to do with . . . love and everything to do with prestige and power. His mother, Sora, had been well-respected and highly thought of in her circles, and his father, Toga, was already well on his way to becoming one of the most feared demons in all Japan. His father would conquer the lands, then his mother would step in and oversee their governing. It was a perfect match as far as the other lords and ladies were concerned. They were an unconquerable team, and all their territories flourished under their joint reign.

Furthermore, they were undeniably devoted to one another, as duty and honor dictated, and both his parents had been quite . . . amicable towards each other during the stint of their union. But it was clear to anyone with eyes that their only lasting bond resided within him, Sesshomaru, their only child. And as far as he knew, they'd mated only once, and they had no genuine interest in each other beyond land boundaries and the battlefield.

When his mother died, his father observed the proper period of mourning, and then he'd met . . . another.

Rin mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, then fell silent, slipping back into a peaceful slumber.

Though Sesshomaru had somewhat limited contact with Izayoi, InuYasha's mother, he knew enough about her to recognize that she was the complete opposite of his mother. While his mother had been rather . . . cold, in both temperament and demeanor, InuYasha's mother, in his opinion, was too warm and friendly, overly trusting and welcoming. She was no less faithful to his father while he lived, but she was weak and unschooled in the ways of war and battle. She was a constant liability. If his father wasn't fighting with the other demon lords and ladies to keep possession of his own territories, he was battling with the armies of his 'noble' in-laws, simply trying to keep his life mate by his side.

Yes, his father had marked Izayoi as his life mate, and had he not died, Sesshomaru assumed that the two of them would still be living . . . quite 'happily' together.

But, from his father's failings, Sesshomaru learned one thing-mating for . . . love . . . was to be avoided at all costs. His father's union with his mother may have been . . . loveless, but it was productive and unshakeable. His union with Izayoi had brought nothing but strife and struggle, death, destruction and decay. It was best to spend your passions in your youth, getting them out of your system and clearing your mind, then you could settle down with a sensible match with someone of your status, and spend your later years in comfort and complacency, watching your pups grow older as they saw to the lands you'd left them.

And Sesshomaru had been well on his way to doing just that.

He'd already lined up several . . . acceptable potential mates, and after traveling for another few centuries, he'd planned on claiming one of them. But then the Fates intervened ...

By demon standards, he was still quite young, and the majority of his passion was far from spent. Yes, within limits, he could control it, put a cap on it, and store it away . . . But it was still there, still very much a part of him, still seeking an outlet for expression. He felt just like everyone else, and he would even say that he'd . . . loved before.

Of course, he'd long since put away the foolish notion that he . . . loved every female he bedded down with. He hadn't made such a feeble declaration since he'd turned 100. It was his... shame to admit that it had taken him that long to realize that not every female willing to mate with him necessarily had . . . feelings for him.

His father had been somewhat . . . lax in his schooling in the ways of women, and so there were some lessons he had to learn for himself-the hard way. Truthfully, some females were only interested in his title, and others were only excited by the prospect of gaining part of his lands. They had no real interest in him; they merely saw him as the means to an end. And why he'd found this so . . . surprising, he wasn't quite sure. It was, after all, how his parents came to be mated. His mother wanted his father's lands, and his father wanted a suitable mate to produce him a strong heir.

It was good enough for them, so why not for him? He often wondered.

Perhaps it was his pride that kept him from completely agreeing to such an arrangement. As if his individual merits weren't good enough to attract a worthy mate, as if he needed his title and his lands to sway them to his side, as if he, himself, weren't worthy of . . .

He scoffed inwardly. He was young, strong, attractive and fearless. Even without his lands and title, any female should be pleased that he tolerated their presence, that he allowed them to gaze upon his perfection. But, no. They were greedy, guileful . . . gullible.

A slight smirk appeared on his face as he recalled the number of females who had thrown themselves at him in hopes of gaining his favor . . . How pointless, he chided. He wasn't one to repeat the same mistakes twice. If they thought he saw them as anything other than the easy marks that they were, they had overestimated themselves and underestimated him. He came to a quite logical conclusion after his 100th year: if they intended to use him to get at his title, to lay claims on his lands to satisfy their lusts for status, power and prestige, then he would use them to satisfy his own lusts . . . And he had. Many times. But they were nothing special, nothing unique. To him, they were all alike, so why should he treat them any differently?

But . . . there were exceptions to every rule. And Rin . . . wasn't like any female he'd ever met.

She didn't care about his title, or have any interest in his lands other than how many flowers she could pick, how many trees she could climb, how many rivers and lakes she could swim in. She was innocent and trusting, warm and welcoming. But unlike InuYasha's mother, she could fight. She could defend herself if the need arose. She wasn't a doormat to be tread upon; she had a warrior's spirit . . . like his mother. Rin was a fighter. She again shifted in her sleep, further burying her face in his fur.

He smiled inwardly as he glanced down at the calm features of her face. Did she even pick flowers any more? Or climb trees? It seemed as if it had been years since he'd seen her do either of those things . . . He'd have to ask her about that when she woke up.

But, no, he never expected to find a life mate, someone worthy of spending the rolling centuries with. He would take a mate as his father had, and if she died, he doubted that he would even notice. He would do as his father had and observe the proper period of mourning, and then continue on as if nothing had happened. But if Rin died . . .

He shook the unpleasant thought from his head and willed the knot in his chest to disperse. Rin would not die. When they returned to the castle, he would study his father's scrolls and ensure that her place was always beside him.

Yes. That's what he wanted-Rin always by his side. She alone was worthy to hold that position. She alone was worthy of the title, of his lands, of . . . his love.

He gave an uncharacteristically satisfied grin. She alone was worthy, and there would never be another.

He let his eyes drift closed as he listened to the soft, even inhales and exhales of his intended. When was the last time he'd let a female share his bed? Sleep beside him, with him?

Yes, he would let them . . . entertain him, but he wouldn't dare close eyes while alone in the same room with one of them. They would kill him as soon as his guard was down. They were vicious, cunning opportunists-women who would do anything to get their way.

But Rin . . .

"I want to make you happy, not . . . miserable."

His grin grew as a sudden warmth flooded his chest.

"I-I don't wish you to have bad feelings towards yourself . . . especially because of me."

He pulled her a little closer, squeezed her a little tighter. No, Rin. No bad feelings.

"Are you trying to molest me in my sleep?"

He glanced down at her to find her eyes still closed, but a wide grin plastered across her face. "You should be quiet before you wake Jakken or Ah-Un." he said softly.

"What time is it?"

"It's still hours before sunrise. Go back to sleep."

She continued to smile as her eyes remained closed. "Have you slept any?"

"No. I am not tired."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. "Even after . . . amusing me?" she asked.

"I did nothing out of the ordinary for the beginning of Stage Three, and I didn't expend any unnecessary energy. Everything was perfectly proper."

She chuckled softly to herself. "Is that why no kissing?"

"I kissed you plenty," he countered.

"Not on my mouth," she replied lazily.

"That comes later."

She pulled herself closer to him, snuggling deeper into his warmth. "And what else comes later?"

"Many things," he promised.

"Will I get to see you naked?" she giggled.

Jakken grumbled something unintelligible, then rolled over in his sleep.

"If you keep up this line of questioning, you will wake up Jakken and Ah-Un."

"Then just answer the question, and I'll stop asking."

"Yes," he finally said. "You'll get to see me, and I'll get to see you."

She giggled again.

He restrained his own amusement to a slight smile. "Now, behave yourself and go back to sleep."

She nodded, then seemed to drift off again. "Sesshomaru?"

He glanced down at her to see her eyes still closed and a peaceful smile on her lips. "Yes?"

She yawned rather loudly, then blinked a few times before settling her head back on his shoulder. "Thank you," her voice came out gravelly, groggy from her need of sleep.

"For what?" he kept his tone even, but he was . . . a little confused. What did she have to thank him for?

"Rin?"

She gave no reply.

"Rin?"

Silence. She was asleep again.

Yes, he swore to avoid mating for love at all costs, and yet . . . here he was. Here she was. Here they were . . .

Because of his little excursion to . . . settle things with his brother, by the time they returned to the castle he'd only have two days to prepare for the lords and ladies who'd be coming for the council meeting. At that time, he would have to formally introduce Rin and announce that he'd taken her as his mate.

Now, while under his roof, honor dictated that they treat one another civilly. There were to be no insults, no threats of violence and no actual violence. And in several centuries of holding these yearly gatherings, no one had ever broken with decorum . . . even after his father had introduced Izayoi.

No. Everyone was too hell-bent on maintaining their honor to attack the host or another guest while in his home. So, they would all grin and bear it while in his presence, while beneath his roof. But once they passed through his castle gates . . .

Such foolishness. To think that they could unseat him simply because he'd chosen a mortal mate.

His father had been old and unprepared, but Sesshomaru was neither. He would not surrender his lands or relinquish his title, and if anyone dared raise a hand to his Rin . . .

He drew in a deep breath and forced his boiling blood to recede. They would not, he decided. They will not. The land is his, the title is his, and she is his. If anyone tried to take any of those three things . . . he'd treat them to a fate worse than death.

Rin yawned and stretched, reaching her arms out, then returning them to their locked position around his waist. "For being with me," she mumbled quietly then fell back asleep.

He smirked to himself as he mentally pieced together the last six words she'd spoken.

"Thank you. For being with me."

Yes, he'd been well on his way to following in his father's footsteps, entering into a union that was just like his parents-loveless, productive and unshakeable.

But then the Fates intervened . . .

******************************************************************* ****

Brief Author's Note: For those of you not in the know, Toga is the actual name of Sesshomaru and InuYasha's father. I picked up this little tidbit from the cast list of The Sword of World Conquest, as published by Anime News Network. InuTaisho, loosely translated, means "leader of the dogs." It's a title and not their father's actual name.

Thanks for reading and reviewing, and I hope I didn't disappoint.

theMaven :)