InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lifeless Love ❯ Chapter 1

Lifeless Love

Summary: Rin, a young woman of 19, moves into an old home on the outskirts of Tokyo. Its been said to have been deserted for years, but a silver-haired man and a woman's fiery spirit seems to be an exception to that... even if they is already dead. Kagu/Sess/Rin - Inu/Kag - San/Mir

Chapter 1: Blood

"Even in the desolate wilderness, stars can still shine." -Aoi Jiyuu Shiroi Nozomi

(Author notes at end of story, along with a glossary for the Japanese words.)

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"So this is how it ends." He stated calmly. The corners of his mouth turned up in a smirk. "Somehow... it doesn't... surprise me..." It was becoming harder to speak, each breath he drew shallower then the last. Ocher hues closed for a moment as he attempted to sit up, but failed and just relaxed against the hard floor to await death's grasp.

Long silver hair lay beneath him, bearing the crimson color of blood as if it had always been there. His alabaster skin was soaked with the color, making it almost impossible to see the twin magenta stripes adorning each cheek or the perfect navy-blue crescent moon on his brow. A young woman leaned over him, peering down at him absently. "I thought it would be harder... you had such a reputation Sesshoumaru." She smirked. "But apparently you were no match for the wind sorceress."

"Heh..." He chuckled lightly, "I was foolish, and... now I will die because of it." Sesshoumaru's eyes opened to look into her red ones. "But... I'll make sure... you suffer as well, Kagura." She let out a tortured cry as pain erupted through her.

"You- you bastard..." The inu-youkai pulled his claws from her back. He gave a small grunt as she fell limp on top of him. Then his own eyes slid closed once more, never to open again. His smirk faded, and he lay still. His chest rose and fell for the last time and his heart gave one last beat before becoming silent.

<><><><>Tokyo 2005<><><><>

A young woman of nineteen smiled to her friends as she gave one last wave, standing at the front door of her new home. "Jaa ne Kagome-chan, Sango-chan! Arigatou for helping me unpack!"

"Anything for you Rin!" Kagome called back as she started her car and drove off. Rin watched the vehicle until it was out of sight before sighing and turning to her new home. Finally, after weeks of work, it was ready to be lived in!

It was a large home, especially considering it being so close to Tokyo. Two floors, three bedrooms, a large kitchen, living room, and dining area and it was even affordable on her low income. 'Then again... I spent tons on paint and things...' She thought entering the living room. 'And all those accidents...'

Accidents. There had been quite a few, but that was expected of an old home. Ladders toppling over for no reason, things going missing, sudden cold drafts. Rin was confident that everything had an explanation even if she couldn't find that explanation herself.

She tossed a lock of ebony hair over her left shoulder, chocolate hues wondering around the room for a few moments. Rin glanced down at her watch. It was just past 8 o'clock. "I think I'll turn in for today..."

Making her way up a flight of steps she walked down a narrow hall and turned into the largest of the bedrooms. She changed quickly, setting her alarm and climbing into her bed. Rin's eyes drooped and she fell asleep, exhausted from working so diligently at putting the finishing touches on her new home. 'It's all worth it.' She reminded herself before drifting off into a dream.

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Chocolate hues snapped open as she landed on the floor after rolling off her bed. "Eh... thought I was falling off a cliff." She murmured standing up, untangling herself from a blanket in the process. "It's cold in here... strange, it's the middle of summer." It was still dark and according to her watch five 'til midnight.

Becoming suddenly thirsty she left her bedroom and began making her way down the stairs to the kitchen. Rin stopped mid-step as she reached the bottom of the flight of steps. "Oh my Kami-sama... what is that smell?" Her hand pinched her nose closed, but she could taste it with each breath. It grew stronger the closer she moved to the living room.

She stopped walking again. It felt like she'd stepped in something sticky. Rin looked down, but it was too dark to see so she knelt. It was a dark puddle of... something. The smell, the repugnant smell was growing stronger. Her stomach was doing flips. Reaching down she let the tip of her index finger dip into the wet substance before bringing it to her nose. Blood. Blood! She jumped back, wiping the blood on her shirt and letting out a small squeak.

"Oh god... where did it come from?" Her left shoulder suddenly went numb and it felt as if... as if something had settled beside her. Rin wanted to pull away, but was frozen to the spot saying silent prayers. `Please, oh gods I'm just dreaming.'

"Such a waste!" A woman's sharp voice screamed from beside her. It seemed to have come right out of the air. Rin jumped away, finally able to move her limbs. The feeling returned to her shoulder.

"W- who's there?" Rin stuttered. Silence. Had she imagined the voice? "The smell... it's gone." She looked down at her finger, not even the smallest remnant of blood remained. The young woman took a step forward; the puddle of blood was gone as well.

'Ok. You imagined the whole thing Rin. Go to your room, lie down, and tomorrow you'll find out this is all some stupid dream or... or... maybe even a prank.' Following her own advice she made it to her bed and laid down, pulling the covers up just over her nose. She closed her eyes, but just as she was falling asleep she could swear she heard a man's soft chuckle echo through the house.

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“You scared her,” Sesshoumaru said blandly hovering just inches above the sleeping young woman. He looked down at her mildly inquisitive.

 

Kagura shrugged. “It gets so boring here with you. I just wanted to have some fun.”

 

The dog demon raised a brow. “We wouldn't be here at all if not for you.”

 

Kagura frowned looking away. “I did what I thought was best at the time. I followed his orders.”

 

“Do you regret it?” Sesshoumaru asked her expressionlessly. Kagura turned to study his face, but as usual it didn't portray any feeling.

 

“Yes, I regret it.” She laughed softly as if someone had told a joke. “I thought I wanted freedom so much, I didn't see that you had been offering it to me all along.”

 

“. . .”

 

Kagura idly opened and closed her fan that bore the same colors of her kimono. “Did he… did he ever die? It's been hundreds of years… surely he has.”

 

“I wouldn't know,” Sesshoumaru stated simply knowing that she referred to him. The bastard who was ultimately the cause of his death. It was sickening to think about.

 

Rin groaned turning in her bed. She pulled the covers closer about herself. Sesshoumaru's gold depths bore into Kagura's crimson ones for a moment longer, and then he was gone leaving her spirit to linger a bit more within the room. “You don't know how lucky you are…” Kagura muttered to Rin before taking leave herself.

 

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NOTES: Yes the chapters will get longer. Hope you weren't too confused. I'm writing this story for my own enjoyment so that means: I still ant reviews and will die happy if I get them, but will be all right if I don't because this story is for me!