InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Hidden Strength No Longer ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Previously:

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow at the new scents that were cascading out of her just then. “What are you thinking about?”

“Ha ha…um nothing of importance! Just thinking about all the dances that I do know is all. Ha ha!”

“Your embarrassment and blush are endearing to me Kagome; I suppose I might just have to keep you this way for many times to come.” With that stated Sesshoumaru lowered his head and did what he had been dying to do all night; he captured her lips with his own.

Chapter 2:

Rin walked hand in hand with Shippo through the gardens once more as the moon was at its peak in the sky.

“Congratulations yet again on your promotion Shippo! You really deserve it.”

Blushing slightly from such a compliment, “Thank you m’lady. You look lovely as well in you Kimono tonight.”

“I wore it for you, I knew that it would compliment you in your uniform.” she stated bashfully.

Shippo’s eyes widened at that comment but then soften as the realization settled in.

“Do you know who Lord Sesshoumaru is going to get to replace you as my personal guard; can’t have the Captain of the guards following me around all day after all.” she finished with a sad laugh.

“I can still be your guard and fulfill my responsibilities as the captain. There is no reason why he would need to replace me, besides I already know all your hiding spots; it would take too long to show them to someone else.” Shippo stated as a pain of jealousy stabbed his heart at the thought of never being able to spend so much time with Rin and someone else doing it instead.

“HA! You think you know all my hiding spots!” she smiled mischievously.

“Is that a challenge m’lady?”

“Oh Ship stop that already, call me Rin.”

Stepping closer to her, he rubbed his right hand against her left cheek, “You didn’t answer my question…Rin.”

She watched as he slowly started to lean his face towards her and knew that he was about to kiss her. “Yes!” she replied as she closed her eyes, waiting for the contact to finally come.

“Who is out here at this late hour?” squawked an angry Jaken.

Shippo stepped back away from Rin and noticed her stiffness. “Why are you so tense? It is only Jaken.”

“I guess it is really late, I should be getting back inside now. Care to accompany me to my room, who knows if I might try to hide on the way there!”

Shaking his head at the young woman in front of him he chased after her fast retreating form, opposite of Jaken’s entrance.

The two rounded the corner of the hall that held Rin’s room only to have Rin in the lead. “Why do you always let me win Ship?” Rin panted as she stood in front of her door.

Thoughts started to run through Shippo’s mind as he listened to her say his name while out of breath, impure thoughts. “It’s what a gentleman is supposed to do, is it not?”

Bashfully Rin played with her hands as she nodded in understanding. “Well then I guess this is it for tonight.” she asked as she raised her eyes to look him eye to eye.

Nodding Shippo bowed to her and took her left hand in his and kissed the back while replying, “Good Night M’lady.”

“Good Night Ship!” Rin stated as she mustered up all her courage to stand on her tip toes and give him a quick peck on his cheek before she entered her room blushing beautifully.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome were walking by the hall as they were saying good night to one another, however only Kagome saw the exchange and smiled.

“And what pray tell do you find so amusing at this hour?” Sesshoumaru looked down at her while noting that Shippo was standing in front of his ward’s room. ‘She must have been in the garden again.’

“Oh it was nothing really.” Kagome stated lamely before turning her attention back to Shippo. “G’night Captain!”

Startled Shippo turned then and paled when he saw the two people there. ‘Did they see what just happened? No I would be dead if Sesshoumaru had seen that, but my mother did; it is good to know that she can still get that stupid little I-know-what-you-did smirk!’

“Good night m’lord, Lady Kagome.” he stated formally while bowing.

The frown on Kagome’s face did not go unnoticed by either male, but she did not feel that she deserved the right to call Shippo on it.

“Come it is late and you must get some rest. We will stop at my room first so that I may pick up the item needed so you may get some restful sleep.”

Nodding her head she slowly followed after the demon lord and wondered what he would have for her to sleep better, much less in his room. ‘I know one thing that would be in his room that would help me sleep better…bad thoughts, no I will NOT go down that road. Sesshoumaru and I will NOT be doing THAT!’

Quirking his lips and inhaling Kagome’s scent again he wondered what she had just been thinking about as they entered his bed chambers.

“So what is this?” Kagome asked as she held a bag similar to a pillow.

“It is full of hops; Hotaru told me that it would be required to help you sleep at night.” Sesshoumaru stated as he opened her chamber’s door.

“Why…why did you keep it all this time? How did you know that you would be able to give it to me?” she asked, a bit taken back by the fact that he still had the item seven months later.

“It is written in the stars that I would be able to assist you and give this much need herb to you, or why else would it have been given to this Sesshoumaru in the first place.”

‘Arrogant as always!’ Kagome started to bow her head only to be stopped.

“There is no need for that Kagome. As of this moment we are equals. Go and get some rest.” Sesshoumaru bowed much like Shippo had to Rin.

Clutching her left hand to her chest as the feel of his lips on it still lingered, Kagome found herself being hopeful yet again.

‘This is the second time he has kissed me. First it was while we were dancing not so long ago and now this…by the gods does he know what he is doing to me?’ Kagome questioned as she leaned against her door inside her room.

She dressed in her sleeping jinbei and placed the bag of hops on her bed before laying down herself. ‘What if I have another dream of Sess…there is no WAY I would be able to face him tomorrow…I can’t go to sleep.’ she thought sleepily as the hops started to work her conscious mind to sleep mode.

Sesshoumaru woke the next morning confused; he didn’t know if he should be happy that he didn’t have an erotic dream of Kagome or not. ‘It’s only like I have had one for seven months and now that she is finally here in my palace they stop.’ he sighed when he realized that he was actually looking forward to the dream after all.

Slowly he rose and dressed in his usual attire and began his morning ritual. After all he had much to think on; Rin would need a new guard, Shippo would have to be told what his new duties were, Kagome would have to start training and preparing Rin for becoming a woman, and at last he would have to shift through the courting papers of other lords and minor lords asking for young Rin’s hand in mating/marriage.

“Today will be a long day indeed.” he sighed again.

As he walked down the hall to his study he came across Jaken as always waiting patiently for his lord by the study’s door.

“Jaken I need to summon Shippo to the study and once we are done I will have need to talk to Kagome. See to it that they are up and don’t leave me waiting.”

“Your humble servant will do as told, my Lord.” Jaken stated as he bowed and then walked away to do his lord’s bidding.

Five minutes later a very annoyed Shippo walked into the study. “Excuse me for being late m’lord; Lady Rin wanted an escort to Lady Kagome’s room. She did not wish to be alone with Jaken this morning.”

“It is alright this time. Rin is one of the reasons I have brought you here.”

‘Shit, did Kagome tell him?’ Shippo wondered worriedly. Standing to attention and doing his best to not show any emotions like his lord taught him he inquired, “What would you like to discuss sir?”

“Now that you are the captain you will no longer be able to fulfill your duty fully with Rin, I need a new guard that can be entrusted with her safety.”

“But Lord Sesshoumaru I assure you I can do both.”

“No! You will devote your full attention to being the captain of the guards. I expect a list of qualified guards by the end of the day on my desk; I will also need one for Kagome as well.”

“Lord Sesshoumaru, I think I must inform you that my mother…I mean Lady Kagome does not and will not want a guard. She would likely purify them once they annoy her enough; I’m still waiting to see how long Jaken will last in her presence!” Shippo laughed.

Nodding his head in understanding he decided to let the issue of a guard for Kagome go for now. “Very well for now I will let the issue with her being guarded drop. Have a seat while I tell you of your new duties and requirements expected of you.”

Kagome had just woken not too long ago and was stepping out of her indoor bath house when Rin knocked on her door to come in.

“Lady Kagome it is Rin, may I come in?”

“Of course you can Lady Rin.” Kagome stated as she wrapped a kimono over her nagajuban. “Can I possibly get you to help me with the obi, Lady Rin?”

Giggling at the older woman she stated, “Of course, though please Lady Kagome just call me, Rin!”

As Rin walked towards Kagome she noticed that she had the kimono wrapped the wrong way and simply tried to fix it when Kagome jerked away from her in sheer terror.

“Lady Kagome, what is the matter? I was simply trying to fix your kimono you have it wrapped the wrong way. Are you ok?”

Kagome tried to shake the flood of memories off as she tried to consol Rin that she was indeed fine. “What…what is wrong…with my kimono Rin?”

Cautiously looking at the taller woman for any signs of panic again Rin simply stated, “You are suppose to fold your kimono with the right side wrapped around your body then fold the left side, the way you have it as right over the left is only used in burials my lady.”

Kagome inwardly laughed at that, ‘I guess it is fitting that this is how I have been wearing my kimono for seven months since I have felt dead all this time.’

“Thank you Rin, I did not know. So can you help with the obi too?”

Rin nodded again and slowly approached the demigoddess while looking for any signs of panic at the same time. ‘I should ask Lord Sesshoumaru about this.’

Once the obi was tied and in place the two ladies walked out to one of the many gardens and sat beneath a cherry blossom tree.

“What is it that you came to talk to me about today Rin?”

“Oh…it’s nothing really. I just wanted to see you and talk about whatever, just to get me out of my room I suppose.”

“Oh, so this has nothing to do with you and Shippo last night?” Kagome raised that perfectly sculpted eyebrow at the now blushing Rin.

“You saw us?” Kagome nodded. “Did Lord Sesshoumaru?”

Kagome frowned and replied, “No he did not see, nor will I tell him. Does he not approve of the two of you?”

“No one knows that I have feelings for Captain Shippo. I could only wish that he felt the same…”

“I assure you he does. I spent many years with him as his mot…as his care giver; I can assure you that it is love in his eyes for you.”

Rin wondered why Kagome stopped herself from saying that she was Shippo’s mother, she already knew that Shippo called Kagome that anyways.

The two ladies sat in silence as Kagome finally remembered that she was going to be training Rin to become a lady.

“Rin, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”

Shaking her head Kagome continued, “Have you started to bleed yet, you know between your legs?”

Rin again shook her head wondering why she would ever bleed there. “Why?”

“Unfortunately it comes with pain and it is a monthly cycle that all females go through. It is the signal of you entering womanhood. Lord Sesshoumaru has asked that while I am here to talk to you about it and to teach you of the responsibilities that becoming a woman will entail. However, I don’t wish to start it today and especially not somewhere as public and open as this garden.”

Blushing Rin simply nodded her head in agreement as she noticed Shippo approaching with an angry look on his face.

“Captain Shippo good morning!” she smiled up to him.

Shippo bowed and informed Kagome that Sesshoumaru had need of her in his study. She thanked him and left Rin and Shippo to sit under the cherry blossom tree.

“What’s wrong Ship?”

“It’s nothing, everything. Lord Sesshoumaru has told me to find a replacement guard to watch over you. He also showed me a list of visitors that I am to keep an eye on when they come to visit with you and him.”

Taken back by what he just said she cautiously asked, “Why would anyone be coming to visit with me?”

“They are going to be your potential mate Rin. Lord Sesshoumaru is going to decide who you will mate or marry.” Shippo yelled out of anger.

Tears welded in her eyes at the thought of her being given over to someone that she did not love. She knew it was inevitable but still a small part of her thought that Sesshoumaru would allow her to choose her future. “Who will be my new guard?” she asked detachedly.

Shippo lifted hurt filled eyes at her and stated, “There is no one here I would trust you with but myself. How can I leave your safety in the hands of people I don’t trust?”

“Could Lady Kagome be my guardian? She will be teaching me how to become a woman and therefore will be spending a lot of time with me.”

Considering what Rin had stated Shippo nodded, “That might be acceptable, I will have to clear it with Lord Sesshoumaru if moth…Lady Kagome can be your guardian.”

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what Rin?”

“Why do you no longer call Lady Kagome your mother? She was so sad this morning when she went to call herself your mother but stopped and said that she was your care giver instead.”

Not knowing what to say he replied, “I no longer need a mother and when I did she abandoned me. I guess I am just a little hurt still by it but I don’t mean to cause her pain. I promise you I will sit down and talk to her today.”

Somewhere in a strange new land

“What is this place Kanna?”

“This is the WorldYou declared that you thought of yourself worthy enough to be with me, so now it is time to prove it. This is uncharted territory and you must find me by the next full moon or you must concede that you are unworthy to mate me. There will be many obstacles on your way that you must over come or you will fail. Do you still wish to continue with this challenge?”

“Of course and when I find you, I will make you scream so the whole world knows how WORTHY I am of you!” Koga smirked seductively towards the earth nymph.

Blushing slightly Kanna whispered, “Let the challenge begin.”

Everything around Koga started to shift and blur until he found himself on a cliff with an ocean on his back.

‘Huh good thing I inhaled and marked that place’s scent to memory. I will have to find it within a month after all.’ “Now this can only be worse if Kagura was here.”

“Did you call mutt?” Kagura’s airy voice laughed on the winds and pushed him over the cliff to the awaiting water below.

“Think again if I am going to be this easy on you.” Kagura declared as she watched Koga hit the crashing waves.


Author’s Notes:

Another chapter up…hope you all like and please feel free to read and review. Sorry for the delay but I at least updated right. In the next few chapters the new villain should start to show his/her true colors ANY GUESSES yet!!!! LOL

Pandora