InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The step daughter ❯ Brighter skies? ( Chapter 3 )

Part 3: Brighter skies?

 

 

A/N: Not much to say, I have to go post the next chapter of Special Delivery after all lol. Now thanks to my dear reviewers:

 

Soojinyeh

Foxfire7

Ngoc Chau

Kaze Tsukai No Kagura

 

Teadelle (Here's your update )

 

On Medianiner,org

 

Golden Tuna (Ah if you give them a chance you'll see that Sessh/Kagura stories can be a great read. In any case I'm glad you chose to read mine.)

 

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, and only the plot.

 

“Talking”

`Thoughts'

 

 

“So is this the part where we're supposed to have a conversation? Or maybe you try to get to know me?” Rin scoffed just after sitting down in Kagura's car. Now that her father was not near them, she finally felt free enough to speak as mockingly as she wanted to Kagura. `If I play my cards well, I bet that damn witch will leave daddy tonight.'

 

“Hum don't worry. You are Sesshoumaru's daughter, so I wouldn't be surprised if talking was not your forte.” The wind witch retorted as she drove towards the closest shopping center. `Though she isn't wrong, now would actually be the best opportunity to get to know the brat, and be friends.'

 

“So what grade are you in?” Kagura asked unsure of what exactly she should be talking about with Rin. `School is a sure subject, right? It's not like she'd be able to turn it against me as well…'

 

“I'm thirteen years old…” Was the only answer the teenage girl gave in a condescending tone., implying Kagura should easily guess what grade she was in. “Now I don't think we should be talking about me. I want to find out more about you… you know, to see if you're actually good enough for daddy or not.” Rin said masking her grin. What she truly aimed to do was to get more ammunition against the wind witch.

 

“Really?” The older demoness smiled pleased, sure her plan was working. “Well there's not much to say about me. “I'm not close to my family… not that I want to murder my siblings on a daily basis like in the case of your father and uncle Inuyasha…”

 

Rin forced a chuckle at Kagura's words, which surprised and pleased the latter, encouraging her to keep talking. “Well I'm an artist. Mostly a painter, though I do enjoy sculpture as well.”

 

“Really? I'm really interested in art, and I never heard about you…” Rin interrupted Kagura.

 

“Maybe it's because I go only by my last name, Kaze.” The older demoness replied dryly before remembering her plan, and forcing a small smile.

 

“The name still says nothing to me…”

 

“No surprise, I don't paint picture books for kids.” Kagura scoffed before adding “If you want to see an example of my work, you can stop by the city hall; I worked on the wall in the hallway.” The wind sorceress said extremely proud of her work. It had taken her months, but she had enjoyed every minute of it. It had also been the place where she had met Sesshoumaru. `I never could have thought by a dropped paintbrush could lead to meeting the love of my life…'

 

“Wall painting? And you call yourself an artist?” Rin snorted as she turned her head to the side, golden eyes rived on the street walk.

 

“I did a damn fresco, not wall painting. Using techniques similar to the ones Michelangelo used in the Sistine chapel!” Taking a deep breath, Kagura tried forcing herself to calm down, lest her plan fail.

 

“And right about now he must be rolling in his grave at hearing you compare the two of you…” Rin muttered under her breath.

 

“Did you say something?” Kagura asked pretending not to have heard the mocking statement. Her anger was only shown in the way she made a sudden sharp right turn.

 

“Nothing at all.” The teenager grinned before asking “Well so you finished that fresco, and what are you working on now?”

 

“I'm not working for anyone right now. I'm taking a break and am going to focus on painting a collection for my own enjoyment. I was thinking of doing some winter landscapes…” `Which was why I was so excited at the prospect of going to a mountain cabin for a week…'

 

“One of those again?! Ah when will dad ever change?...” Rin lamented, sighing in exasperation.

 

“Huh what do you mean?” Kagura averted her eyes from the road to look at Rin.

 

“Well dad really seems to have a weakness for broke artists. I mean why can't he for once fall for someone that would be a perfect match for him, like an accountant, a lawyer or a doctor…?” Even though she had decided to pretend becoming friends with Kagura, to lure her into a false sense of comfort, in order to destroy her easily, Rin could not help but send the wind sorceress a few jabs.

 

Knowing that commenting on Rin's insult would only encourage the young half panther youkai, Kagura decided to let it slide this once; however, she could not, despite her efforts, ignore the bit of information about her boyfriend's past dating experience.

 

`He's so tight lipped about his past that I can't keep but want to find out about it; especially about who used to share his bed…' the wind witch mused to herself, her fingers unconsciously tightening on the grip of the steering wheel. “Say Rin what kind of artists are you talking about?”

 

“Well let's see there was that sophisticated French photograph, she was beautiful, but she dumbly thought daddy was going to follow her back to France. She was the one who wanted to put me in some fancy all girls' boarding school in Paris. Dad dumped her so fast she didn't know what hit her. Then there was this Yura, that weird painter I still wonder where he got her. She was all wrong for him...”

 

“Yura?!” Kagura interrupted her, anger now clear in her crimson eyes. “Are you sure she was named Yura?” She asked her step daughter.

 

“Of course. Unlike you I am young and have a great memory… She called herself Yura of the hair. In truth I am sure that with time her obsession for dad's hair would have made him dump her; I only helped speed up the process when I told him I hated her. After that, dad wasted no time getting rid of the creep.” Rin explained a satisfied smile on her lips as she fondly recalled the events all too brightly.

 

`Sesshoumaru never told me he dated Yura!' Kagura fumed. She was extremely disappointed in her boyfriend for hiding that he had been involved with Yura, who Kagura was well acquainted with. Her thoughts were pushed away when she noticed they had arrived at the shopping center.

 

“That's the place?!” Rin asked shaking her head in dismay. “My mom would rather die than come to such a place. Do they even have designer stores?! So that's where you shop? No wonder you look like you do.” She added as she got out of Kagura's car, a scowl still present on her face.

 

`Damn that kid.' Kagura growled to herself even if she did her best not to show her aggravation. “Firstly designer clothes are not the only things a girl can wear to be beautiful. Secondly I look great, and lastly I am trying to save money since Sessh and I are planning to move into a new house soon, and that I intend to pay half of it.” The wind sorceress thought, and hoped her last statement was going to shut Rin up for a while.

 

“What do you mean?” Rin asked after taking a sharp breath. Her father had lived in his current house for years, and had never shown any indication of seeing anything wrong with it. `Had it not been for HER I am sure he would not even think about moving.'

 

“Well the reason we are moving is that we need more space to set up a new room…” Kagura suddenly interrupted herself to rub a hand over her eyes.

 

“Whatever.” Rin sighed pretending not to care. She did however add “Since you have to pay half, it seems that daddy will have to lower his living standards. How bothersome for him… not that I care as long as I still get my own room.”

 

“Of course Rin dear.” The wind sorceress smiled wryly as she walked towards the entrance of the shopping center. Suddenly she staggered, and felt a little lightheaded.

 

“What's with you?” Rin asked brilliantly hiding the worry she felt inside. `Hmpf if she's sick chances are dad will get whatever bug she has, so I better keep an eye on her health as well… That woman is really annoying.'

 

“It's nothing.” Kagura gave her a half smile. `Just another reason why I feel like suing my doctor. Had he given me the right pills I wouldn't find myself in such a predicament!' “I just am a little sensitive to bright lights lately. I thought I was over it, otherwise I would have put my glasses on sooner.” She explained as she fished for her sunglasses inside her purse. “There all's good now.' She added after placing them on her nose.

 

“Well before she decided to go away with Menomaru, mom was supposed to take me shopping for the upcoming 'Start of the New Year school dance'. It's my first year attending, so it was supposed to be a big deal... and well I wouldn't want to have dad with me, he wouldn't understand anything about fashion and stuff… and since it's such a big occasion, I need some advice and stuff…” Rin explained turning her head away, not willing to let Kagura see her face.

 

“Hum if I didn't know better, I'd say you have a guy you're trying to impress at this school dance of yours…”

 

“No! Of course not!” Rin denied her cheeks flashing red due to the image of her classmate Kohaku that suddenly popped up in her mind. `That damned witch! What is she insinuating anyway?...'

 

“No need to explain. Been there, done that; I was thirteen too, you know, and it wasn't this long ago.” Kagura chuckled. `Is that a way for the mean brat to tell me she sees me as a replacement for her mom? Did I finally get recognized as a decent step mother? Guess Inuyasha was right, a little shopping was all that was needed!' Kagura thought excitedly.

 

“So where do we start? What do you need? A dress? A hair cut, or maybe some make up?”

 

“Hum I don't know… Why don't you lead the way Kagura? I'll follow your lead on this one.” Rin said a grin revealing her sharp teeth on her lips, and mischief burning bright in her amber eyes

 

“Okay, then let's pick up a dress.” Kagura beamed proudly as she walked towards one of her favorite stores

 

“Hum actually I had an idea when it came to what I'd like to wear… A dream dress sort of thing..” Rin pointed in the other direction towards a very expensive store.

 

`Damn of course she'd have to have expensive tastes… oh well it is her dream dress…' The wind sorceress sighed as she walked after Rin.

 

 

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When she parked her car and walked inside her house, carrying several bags, Kagura was still sighing heavily. Her plan to make Rin like her had made her use her credit card a lot more than she had anticipated. `Oh well if that helped in the brat getting to know me, and liking me, than it was worth it.'

 

“Did you buy the whole mall?” Sesshoumaru asked a smile on his lips as he went to the door to greet Rin and Kagura.

 

“No. Only what your little angel wanted.” The wind sorceress reached up to kiss him before she walked over to the kitchen to get herself something to drink. Once satisfied she went up to her bedroom to change into something more comfortable. Just as she started undressing, she heard heavy voices coming from downstairs. Surprised she hurriedly went to join Rin and Sesshoumaru.

 

“What's going on?” Kagura asked in shock at seeing Sesshoumaru's usually closed off face red with fury.

 

“This Sesshoumaru should rather be asking that.” At his words Kagura groaned `He only starts with the “this Sesshoumaru” crap when he's really pissed off…'

 

“You young lady are grounded!” He pointed towards Rin whose eyes narrowed before she answered “I didn't do anything wrong! She did.” The teenager pointed towards Kagura.

 

“You are as much to blame as she is. Now go up to your room. I will call you when I have decided what to do with you.” He waited until Rin was up the stairs to turn towards his girlfriend.

 

“What in the hell were you thinking?!” He roared looking at Kagura with a look filled with fury, one she had never seen him with.

 

“What are you talking about? And what's with all the screaming?” She shot back at him.

 

“So you really do not realize what you have done?”

 

“Telling me would be mighty helpful.” She snorted.

 

“Where to begin… You said you were taking Rin shopping, and she comes home with a designer dress. The dress she previously asked her mother and me to buy, and we refused. A girl her age has no use for a dress that costs 350 dollars!” The dog demon said angry Kagura had not thought of that.

 

“Yeah well how in the hell was I supposed to know about that?!” Kagura retorted angry at his words. “Your daughter picked the dress not me.”

 

“Fine. This may not have been completely your fault; however, you took her to have her ears pierced! You signed the parental release.” He said both shocked and angered by what the wind sorceress had done.

 

“So what? You make it sound like it's a big deal. Rin told me her mom was supposed to take her during her Christmas break, but since she left with her boyfriend, she didn't get a chance to. Besides all the girls her age have their ears pierced, and Rin really wanted to…” Kagura explained what had taken place.

 

“I do not care for your explanation. Rin is a child and does not know better, but you should realize that there is a reason why at her age she did not have holes in her ears.”

 

“Oh my does Rin have an illness or something?” Kagura asked fear gripping her chest.

 

“No nothing of the sort. It is only that her mother considers ear piercing a form of mutilation or whatever and did not want Rin to go through with it. She has been telling me so for years, ignoring Rin's incessant demands. Now Touran will have my head… She will probably give me hell for that…” He closed his head already imagining the tongue lashing his ex wife would be sure to unleash on him. `I just hope she won't revise our custody agreement because of that.'

 

`Damn that brat. She played me. She knew how her father would react, and probably thought we would argue and break up. Ha I will NOT play into her schemes. I'll simply ignore that little voice telling me to give Sesshoumaru a tongue lashing of my own. No, we must stick together against that annoying little girl.' Kagura thought finally understanding Rin's plan. `No wonder the brat was this pleasing this afternoon!'

 

“I'm sorry. I should have asked you before buying her such an expensive dress, or having her ears pierced. I know it's not much of an excuse, but I've been under a lot of stress lately with work and everything, and this hasn't helped you know!” She pointed to her midsection. “Anyway I only wanted to please your kid, and be a good step mom that's all. If it means so much to you, we can bring back the stuff tomorrow, and if she doesn't put anything in the holes, her ears are going to close over very soon…”

 

Instead of saying anything Sesshoumaru walked over to his girlfriend and enveloped her in a firm hug. “No I am the one who is sorry. Going off on you like that is unacceptable. I know that teenagers can be hard to look after, and by not even giving you any indications, or guidelines on how to deal with Rin, I am sure I have made things harder on you.”

 

“No… it wasn't that bad….” Kagura started, but he interrupted her by pressing a hard kiss to her unsuspecting lips.

 

“Do not worry yourself about it anymore. No need to bring anything back to the stores, Rin can consider all you bought her the only Christmas presents she will receive from any parent. I will talk to Touran later on and explain everything… She may scream at me, but my ear drums will survive…” Sesshoumaru stated with a sigh as he placed feather light kisses over his beloved forehead.

 

“Isn't that a little harsh for Rin?…” Kagura asked. Even if she thought the teenager deserved a punishment, she did not like the idea of having contributed to her not receiving any presents from her parents. `Then again my abused credit card would beg to differ…'

 

“I have been told for years that I have spoiled her too much, but I hope that a little punishment will make her reflect on her actions, and realize that she cannot get away with everything. You had no idea that her mother and I had refused to buy her the dress she wanted, or that she was not allowed to pierce her ears; however, Rin knew what she was doing.” The dog demon sighed heavily as he walked away from his girlfriend.

 

“Let the matter be closed for now. I have something to tell you. Considering that Christmas is only a few days away, I figured giving you your gift now would be fine.” The dog demon a grin on his lips reached over for a small wrapped package placed on a side table in the living room.

 

“Is this what I think it is?” Kagura asked hopefully eyeing the little square box. `He's going to propose?'With this thought she shredded the colorful paper and opened the box. At seeing its content her smile almost fell. “A key? It better not be some nonsense about possessing the key to your heart or whatever…” She said trying to joke despite her disappointment. She had truly thought he was going to ask her to marry him.

 

“You know me well enough to know I would never utter anything so ridiculous.” He scoffed. “It it the key to the cabin we rented. I picked it up on my way home. If we leave soon, we can be up in the mountains by night's fall.” He smiled at Kagura's suddenly misty eyes.

 

“Really? We can go? But what about your job… and Rin?” The wind sorceress asked even if she could not mask her joy.

 

“I am cashing in all my long accumulated sick days, and Rin will of course be joining us. So what do you say?”

 

“How soon can you get packed Sessh?” She smiled up at him before giving her boyfriend a long passionate and loving kiss.

 

 

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“Daddy there's no TV here! What is Rin supposed to do for entertainment?” She asked her father as she cast a dubious look around the small wooden cabin she had been dragged to.

 

“You are still grounded for lying to Kagura.” He reminded her. `It is my first time disciplining her, but I think I am doing a decent job.'

 

“But…” The teenager started, but a hard look from her father made her close her mouth.

 

“Tst tst Rin be careful you're mask of the perfect angel is slipping. Wouldn't want your dad to see what kind of person you really are, would we?” The wind sorceress leaned to whisper in Rin's ear the instant Sesshoumaru had turned around to tend to the fire in the living room.

 

“Whatever.” With an angered huff Rin ran to her bedroom, taking the time to slam the door shut behind her.

 

“Hum. Looks like somebody's not very happy right now… “ Kagura commented as she walked towards her boyfriend. She settled on the armchair closest to the fireplace to look at him fanning the flames.

 

When she was sure she had his full attention she added “Sessh I've been meaning to ask you about something.” Kagura smiled at him. “Rin told me about you and… Yura.”

 

Sesshoumaru twitched at her words, and could not prevent himself from running a hand through his long silver locks, a natural reaction when he heard Yura's name. Instead of answering he simply stood up from his crouching position over the fire, and walked away from his girlfriend not wanting to start an argument.

 

“Hey how come you never told me you dated that tramp? I'm talking to you Sessh. Don't you dare walk away from me!” The wind sorceress growled despite her amusement at seeing the great Sesshoumaru retreat from her. She then followed him to the bedroom that they were going to share for the next week.

 

 

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Rin tossed and turned in her small bed, which she found not comfortable enough to her taste. She was after all not used to spending time in a place as quiet as the cabin. For miles away all she could hear were the sounds of nature. Letting a groan escape her throat, Rin finally stood up. To show her protest at being grounded, she had decided not to join Sesshoumaru and Kagura for dinner; however, she had not been able to refuse the plate of food the wind sorceress had brought her, to the latter's delight.

 

`That witch is so infuriating!' Rin thought as she left her room. `I need to up my game if I want to get daddy rid of her. I am sure there must be some incriminating evidence in her stuff.' Rin grinned as she hurried down to look into Kagura's purse, which the wind sorceress had left on a table in the living room. As soon as she put her hand in it, she took out a large bottle of pills.

 

`What are those? Vitamins?' Rin wondered looking at the bottle of pills she had found. `That might not be a good enough proof to get rid of her.' Then she thought back to her father's behavior ever since she had gotten here. `He's so protective of Kagura… and he kept talking about `her condition' and there's the fact that I saw him touch her belly… and she threw up last morning…' Rin's face suddenly whitened as she put the different pieces of the puzzle together. `Kagura's pregnant!'

 

Simmering red hot anger suddenly coursed through her veins. Ignoring her father's words of warning against the surrounding wilderness, she ran up to the bedroom she had been assigned in the cabin and picked up a backpack. After filling it with some clothes, she carefully left her room and walked down the stairs. A look of pure anger and hatred appeared on her face when she heard muffled sounds of laughter courtesy of Kagura coming from her father's bedroom as she walked past it.

 

`That witch. It makes sense now. That's why she's so confident daddy will stay with her… and that's why dad hasn't gotten rid of her yet… well no matter, I'll show her he cares about me the most.' Before walking out the door, Rin did remember to pick up a lamp torch and a map of the mountain. A smile appeared on her lips when she saw on the map the route leading to the shuttle taking the visitors to the bus station she had noticed at the bottom of the mountain.

 

`What a piece of cake. By the time they notice I'm gone, I'll be far away from here.' Rin chuckled as she opened the door of the cabin and silently slipped outside.

 

 

To be continued…

 

A/N: Looks like somebody's not happy. Will Rin's plan be successful? We'll see what happens next time in what will probably be the last part.