InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Returning to the Path of Sesshoumaru's Eyes ❯ A Dream-Like Trance ( Chapter 14 )

A Dreamlike Trance

 

 

 

“Lady Rin! It's time!” exclaimed her maids. They excitedly chattered as they layered Rin in the traditional Heian wedding robes. Twelve layers of the finest silk adorned her body, all in shimmering blues, purples, greens and purples. One maid applied rouge to her cheeks, a thin layer of sparkling green paste ground from beetle wings to her eyes, and a red tint to her bottom lip. Her hair was combed through with soft wax until her long hair was full and thick. Her thin, silver crown was more like a jewel-encrusted headband that ran across her forehead and settled just above her ears. The sides were adorned with sakura blossoms, and silver flutters. Finally, a thin silver veil with petals sewn into the precious fabric was placed over her head, hanging down to her hands in the front and far behind her longest skirt in the back. The ladies all stood back, and smiled. The head maid-in-waiting stepped forward with a silver mirror. “You do indeed look like a lady of the moon, Lady Rin. Just like your betrothed requested!” She grinned with pride at her handiwork and placed the round silver glass into her hands. Rin took the delicate object, and took a look.

 

“What I see in the mirror is a bride. But there is no Rin. Today, Sesshoumaru's Rin must die.”

 

The maids led her out of the room towards the center of the village. Even though Rin's future husband was not the village leader's firstborn, they were a favorite of the people and by overwhelming request; their marriage ceremony was to be public to all. To all the young ladies in the village, Rin's chance marriage was a fairy tale, and very rare in the annals of feudal Japan. Their courtship had been heavily romanticized and elaborated upon.

 

However, Rin did not spare time for thoughts of the courtship she held with her future husband. Instead, her mind was still frozen in a moment she lived in long ago. She was numb “with love struck apprehension” as the maids called it, but Rin was barely aware as they walked down the wooden hallway of the castle towards the village center, basking in the light of the sun.

 

 

 

She took small, shy steps to him, and sat under the tree nearest him. There, she watched him while the sun traveled through the sky. When he was done, she got up and bowed in respect whilst holding out her gift. He stepped forward and eyed her slender, bowed form. After a long moment, he took the crown, and through it up in the air and struck it with his poison claw. Rin looked up with alarm as the petals floated down on them. “My Lord?”

 

He was looking down at her with his stoic expression, yet there was something in his eyes trying to say more. “Rin, you don't need to create these for me anymore. You never had to. I always feel you.”

 

“Is there anything I can do to please my Lord?”

 

Sesshoumaru leaned forward when the flowers gave them momentary cover from the rest of the world. Rin leaned forward to hear him whisper his confession, and smiled.

 

“Rin, you are my destiny. No matter what happens, never forget it.”

 

“Rin?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Do you accept this man as your partner?”

 

“Yes. I do.”

 

A roar was heard behind her, startling her. She then realized that it was the crowd of villagers. She was married, and now it was the time to leave the world of Sesshoumaru behind, on her own accord.

 

 

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“Lord Sesshoumaru? My I join you?”

 

The ice lord stared ahead blankly at the village ahead. There was a celebration going on, and he knew exactly what had happened. He had no clue as to how she ended up here, but nonetheless he was glad to see her safe and well taken care of. He let his mind carry to the miko in his presence, eyeing her from the side. “You are Kagome, correct?”

 

He didn't need to turn to see the startled look on her face. She had never been addressed by her name from him before, but he held a deep respect for her after watching her for the past decade. She surpassed Kikyo's spirit, the monk's patience, guarded her heart more carefully than the demon slayer, and he almost reckoned that her powers could give Inuyasha a run for his money.

 

Kagome smiled. “Thank you for calling me by my name. I am humbled.” She stared off towards the village, and then realized something. “Lord Sesshoumaru…are you going to join our venture into the village?”

 

“I cannot.”

 

Kagome eyed him suspiciously. “With all due respect, Lord Sesshoumaru…don't you mean you will not?

 

He scoffed. It was a bitter, angry, and dismissive sound, but Kagome knew better. Closing her eyes, she reached into his aura and felt a sadness that jutted through her throat and pierced into her heart. “My God....I cannot even breathe, it is so painful…is this what he feels?” She followed the source of her pain, and opened her eyes. “The bride…” she whispered just loud enough for him to hear. “Rin.”

 

Sesshoumaru stared ahead, refusing to allow a change in his face or posture to confirm her thoughts, yet Kagome knew. “Do not resign yourself, Lord Sesshoumaru. As strong and as powerful you may be…you still cannot predict what the future holds.”

 

Sesshoumaru turned to face her, and Kagome froze in fright. He was seething angry and it frightened her to the core. “You should take your own advice before you give it, Kagome. I know very well what you plan to do.”

 

Kagome hung her head. “You've called me out on that one, that's for sure. Do you still want some time to yourself? I can come up with a reason for us not to enter the village if that's ok. I'll just say….that you'd scare the villagers, and there aren't any of the herbs around that I use in my concealment spell.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded his approval. He distantly heard the miko promise to return soon with food and sake, but his eyes remained on the bride and her new husband. The vibrant spring burst with warm breezes and carried the sound of wind rustling through fully blossoming trees. The earth was rejoicing in rebirth, yet he felt as he remained as cold as winter. There, he kept himself in his own dreamlike trance.

 

 

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Kagome ventured into the village with Miroku and Sango, and smiled on her way. “Why shouldn't we celebrate a little? We've barely taken a break in the past ten years.”

 

Miroku grinned. “That's for sure.”

 

Sango gasped. “Oh the bride looks so pretty.” She squinted her eyes to get a better look, “Wow, she's wearing all twelve robes, too. That's gotta be a little warm.”

 

“So tell me, Kagome. Why can't Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru follow with us?” inquired Miroku.

 

Kagome winced, hating to lie. “Well, you see, Se- Inu- Sh- uh…They might scare the people, especially if they're drunk. But we can take away or own alcohol and food anyways. So eat a little and then put the rest in your sacks.”

 

They all nodded in agreement, except for Miroku. He just eyed Kagome suspiciously. After all, earlier she stated that none of the herbs for her concealment spell could be found. And yet, Miroku clearly saw at least two of them on their way into the village. “Something's up, Kagome…what are you hiding?”

 

 

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Rin and her new husband sat at the center of town under a canopy to shelter them from the sun. There, all the villagers and noblemen of many provinces kissed her right hand, then bowed in respect to her husband. The receiving lie took hours, with several small breaks as so Rin and her new husband could sip the sake and rice cakes delivered to them. Soon the sake took effect, re-entering her from the state of horror to the state of pleasant numbness again. Finally, after the receiving line finished, Rin and her husband stepped out into the town center again, receiving cheers. Nothing woke Rin from her shock until her husband wrapped his warm, strong arm around her. “I love you, my dearest Rin.”

 

Unable to cry, she whispered back, “I love you, too.” “My dearest Sesshoumaru…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN: Yes, this chapter was much shorter. But it's very compact for everything that happens. Now we're going to take a break from and have some funnies in the next chapter. I'd love to see some more reviews my way, wherever I get more reviews I will update first. I am also accepting fan art. I'd like to put a cover on this story at media miner and a few other places where I post this, and I'm also curious to see what you guys think grown-up Rin might look like. Many thanks to Inuyasha-fiction, you guys are seeing this chapter first.

 

Extra Note: I know there are some of you threatening not to read anymore if certain things don't happen, etc…but I am writing this story because I don't want to write the same thing too many people have already written. Rin is human, with human faults and partaking in the styles of her time. Shaved eyebrows, blackened teeth, whitened skin, waxed hair, and crushed beetle wings are all part of a lady's beauty regimen back then. A profitable marriage for the sake of security was ideal, if not necessary. Back then honor was a higher moral than love. The reward will be sweeter if the trials are greater, hrm? So bear with me and have faith that, yes, this is a Rin/Sesshoumaru story.