InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Strength of Love ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Sesshoumaru...-pouts-....again

The Strength of Love

NOTE: I see Sesshoumaru wearing his swords and armor when he is patrolling his lands, but not at home. I picture him taking it off because even samurai took off their armor. It really doesn't matter, but for this section of the story it does. I just wanted to tell ya'll because my friend pointed out that she thought he was wearing his swords and armor...

Note: This has also been revised.

Rin tried to move but something wasn't letting her. She opened her eyes to see Kohaku lying on top of her like she did the day he died.

"Kohaku? What are you doing here?"

"Rin!" he exclaimed with tears in his eyes.

"What's going on?"

"Rin! You need to wake up!"

"What?"

"Rin! You are going to die if you don't wake up!"

"Won't Sesshoumaru save me if I do?"

"Rin! He cannot save you! You need to save him!"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand!" She was starting to panic. "Why can't he save me?" She grabbed onto Kohaku. "What is wrong with Sesshoumaru?!"

"Rin. He needs you."

"How do I get back to him?!" she cried hysterically.

"Just open your eyes, Rin. Open your eyes."

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Rin opened her eyes like Kohaku had told her and saw that a piece of the roof was over her abdomen. She tried to get it off, but it wouldn't budge.

"Kohaku! I can't get it off!"

"Try, Rin. Try," his voice told her.

She put her hands on the piece of wood and with all her strength she slowly lifted it up. Moving her body to a sitting position she lifted it high enough that it toppled over to the other side. She quickly stood up, but then fell back down from the pain radiating from her stomach.

'I have to get up. He needs me,' she thought with determination on her face. She stood up, but slowly this time and surveyed what used to be her bedroom. 'Where is he?'

She heard a loud bellow from downstairs. "Sesshoumaru!"

As she ran down the stairs she saw the remnants of Inmetsu all over. 'At least I don't have to worry about him finding me,' she thought with relief. The relief was soon over as she felt the pain come back. Her legs buckled and she fell down the remaining couple of stairs.

She was trying to get up, but it was useless. The pain wouldn't let her move.

"Get up Rin! He's in the study! You need to save him!" Kohaku's voice once again came to her. "You need to get there soon!"

"I'm coming my Sesshoumaru," she said softly. Gritting her teeth from the pain she steadily stood up. She heard a low growl in response which made her run to the study, following the trail of blood.

She got to the door and screamed in horror. He was leaning up against the wall in front of her. His head was drooped to the left as his chest slowly moved up and down. His white haori had been stained red as well as the floor around him.

He lifted his head and looked at her as she ran over to him and fell by his side. She ripped off the sleeve to her kimono as she had done with her son and wiped his face clean of the blood.

"My...Rin," he said with each breath. He lifted his arm to touch her cheek. She took it before it got there and put it back to his side.
"Save your strength," she said between the shots of pain running through her. She was about to lie down until she thought, 'Kagome! Kagome can help him! I have to get him to her!'

"Lord Sesshoumaru! Where are you Lord Sesshoumaru?!"

Rin closed her eyes, 'Where was hethis whole time?!'

"Jaken! Get Ah-Un! We are going to get him some help!" He looked as if he was about to make a comment about how she was bossing him around, so she continued. "JAKEN! He will die if we don't!"

He ran out to get the beast as she tried to get him off the floor.

"Sesshoumaru, I know you are hurt, but I need you to help me. This small body cannot do it on its own. We are going to get you help." She felt his body move to help her. "All right. We need to stand up. Jaken is going to get Ah-Un close as possible, but we need to leave this room."

She put her left arm around his back as she put his arm around her neck. Rin pushed with her legs as best as she could as he tried to get his feet underneath him. His feet successfully made it underneath and they pushed up together. "Now we have to walk out the door."

As they walked towards the door Jaken came running in. "I got him! He's right outside the door, Rin."

Rin smiled inside because it had been years since Jaken called her by her name. This happiness was short lived as she felt Sesshoumaru's legs weaken beside her.

"Sesshoumaru. You can do it. Outside that door is Ah-Un. Outside that door is Kagome. Outside that door is your life." She paused as the pain surged through her weakening body. "Outside that door is me."

She felt him regain his strength and the walked carefully out the door. Once they reached Ah-Un she pushed him gently over the dragon. Then she moved his right leg to the other side and moved his torso up next to her body with Jaken's help after she sat on Ah-Un's saddle. Rin took the reigns and turned him to fly out the hole in the roof.

"Protect the servants, Jaken!" she commanded as she flew out of the castle.

'Hold on Sesshoumaru,' she cried resting her head on his red hair.

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Night was coming across the sky as she pulled on the reigns to tell Ah-Un to go down. Everyone in the village started screaming as he landed at the entrance.

"Go Ah-Un! That hut over there!" she pointed "He's fading!" He seemed to know what she was talking about as he started to Kagome's hut.

"KAGOME!" she screamed hoping Kagome would hear her through the other screams.

Kagome raced out and looked at her then Sesshoumaru slumped over in her arms. "Inuyasha! Help Rin move him into the hut!"

Rin could tell he was a bit hesitant so she screamed at him. "He's going to die!"

"Keh! Why should I care?"

"INUYASHA!!" yelled Kagome from the hut. "HELP HER!"

Rin got off of Ah-Un as Inuyasha reluctantly went to help her. They brought him inside the hut and laid him down in front of Kagome.

"Can you save him?" Rin asked with concern in her eyes.

"I'll try all I can," answered Kagome.

Exhaustion finally kicking in Rin collapsed beside him. She leaned in and kissed his crescent marking. "You can make it, my Sesshoumaru." She breathed in deeply as the pain returned. She held her stomach hoping the pain would go away.

"What's wrong?" asked Kagome.

"It's nothing. Help him," she said looking at her. "I'm not as important as he his."

"What good would it be if I save him and not you?" she asked. "Emiho! Help Rin!"

"Yes, Mama."

Rin watched as Kagome's eldest daughter walked to her and helped her to another room. She lied down as the pain came back, full force. 'Live, Sesshoumaru. Live.'

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"Sesshoumaru!! You're alive!!"

"I am alive because of you," he smiled.

She blushed, "Thank you. I...I..." She wanted to finish the sentence, but a sharp pain came from her abdomen and she doubled over with pain.

"Rin!"

"Sesshoumaru!"

"What is wrong?"

"I don't know." She could see him reach for her and she reached back. The space between their hands became more and more until Sesshoumaru disappeared completely.

"SESSHOUMARU!!!"

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"Rin! It's ok!" said Kagome.

"Kagome," she said flatly. "Where is Sesshoumaru?"

"He's still in the other room. I managed to fix some of his wounds. He's not up yet. I'm glad you are, though. I thought you weren't going to make it, Rin."

"I was fine," she said brushing off the last comment. "Is he going to make it?"

"I don't know," said Kagome to the floor.

Rin moved to sit up but the pain was unbearable and lied back down. "I still hurt. Why do I still hurt? I thought you fixed me."

"Rin. We had to open you up and let some of the blood drain from your stomach."

"I don't understand."

"You were bleeding on the inside, Rin. If you weren't here sooner you would have died."

Rin looked at the pain in Kagome's eyes and realized how close she was to loosing her life, but that didn't matter as much as Sesshoumaru did. He was her life and if he died then there was nothing for her. "I need your help. I want to be by Sesshoumaru."

"Rin. You need to stay still. The incision could open and you could bleed to death."

"I want to see him!" she said becoming irate.

"Rin. What happened there? I saw the claw marks. I know they are from him. What did he do to you?"

"He didn't do anything. It was my fault. Now, I want to see him."

"No, Rin. You need to stay away from him."

"Kagome," she said closing her eyes as her breathing became intense. "I want...to see...my Sesshoumaru...NOW!"

Just then Emiho walked in with what looked like a cup of tea.

"Drink this. You need to rest," Kagome said moving it towards her.

"No." She went to move her hand to hit it out of the way, but couldn't. She looked down at her body and saw Emiho holding onto her arms.

"You need to drink this Rin. It will make you feel better."

"I will drink it if you will let me see him when he wakes up," she pleaded.

"Fine. Now, please, drink it."

Rin drank the tea. After giving the cup back to Kagome the walls of the hut started to drip. "What is going on, Kagome?"

"You need to sleep, Rin," she said sounding like she was a million miles away. "Sleep and then you can see him."

"Sesshoumaru...."

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Rin woke up and looked around. 'Where am I?' She stared to sit up, but the pain kept her down. 'I'm at Kagome's. Sesshoumaru. I want to see Sesshoumaru.' She sat back up, this time ignoring the pain. 'If I can't sit up, I can't see him.' She started to stand up, but her knees started to shake and she sat back down. 'I guess I will crawl to him.' She smiled at the thought, but did it anyway.

Rin crawled into the next room and up beside him and leaned on her left arm. 'You look peaceful for once. I wonder what you are dreaming about.' She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and then lied down on her side with her head in her arm by his shoulder. She moved her other arm to put her hand in his.

She felt the warmth on her head as she opened her eyes. She sat up and looked at Sesshoumaru looking at her and smiled.

She leaned in and whispered, "Hello, my Sesshoumaru," before kissing him on his cheek.

As she lifted her head back up she felt his hand leave hers and she saw him lift his head. She felt his hand move her head back to his and felt him kiss her on the lips. She closed her eyes and a single tear fell.

His hand went back into hers and their lips separated. A smile moved onto her face. "My Sesshoumaru."

"You are all right, my Rin," he said, his voice raspy.

"And so are you."

"Rin!" gasped Kagome as she came into the room, breaking the mood.

"You said I could see him," Rin said, sounding like a child that was caught doing something she shouldn't have.

"But you shouldn't have moved. I would have gotten Inuyasha to move you."

"That's all right. I couldn't wait," she said with a smile, looking at Sesshoumaru. She saw a small half smile appear on his face as well.

She looked back at Kagome. "Is he going to be all right now?"

"Yes. His demon blood heals him quick. As I have said before, it is you who I'm worried about."

"I'm not worried. I will be fine. I'm with Sesshoumaru."

"That may be, but you still need to take it easy. I brought some soup for you two."

Rin moved slowly to sit up and helped Sesshoumaru do the same. They took the bowls from Kagome and started to eat. They sat in peaceful silence eating as Kagome walked into another room.

Rin gasped and dropped her bowl as the pain returned. She hugged her stomach and winced.

"Rin."

"I'm fine. Just give me a second." Slowly the pain went away and she picked up the bowl.

"Here. You need this more than I do," said Sesshoumaru handing his bowl to her.

"Thank you," she smiled and started to eat the rest of his soup.

"I am sorry Rin. I did not mean to hurt you," he said looking at the doorway in front of him.

"It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was. If I had not let my emotions get the best of me then you would be fine. I should not have changed."

She looked up at him. "If you didn't let your emotions get the best of you then you wouldn't have saved me, Sesshoumaru."

"That may be so, Rin, but I am the Lord of the Western Lands. I should never show my emotions."

"Even for the one you love?" she asked knowing what is answer was going to be.

He looked her in the eyes, "Especially for the one you love."

She looked away and set down the empty bowl as the tears started to run.

"Rin."

She turned around, looked into his eyes, and cried, "Don't ever hide your emotions for the one you love!"

He looked at her lovingly, "If I do not then they will find you, like yesterday."

"I don't care! I would rather die having everyone know our love than live with no one knowing how much you care about me!" Her tears came freely as they glistened in the sun beams that came through the window. She closed her eyes to get rid of them.

She felt his arm wrap around her and bring her close. Then she felt his head come near her and rest on her right shoulder. She could feel his heart race against her chest and heard his breathing become labored.

"I love you, my Rin," he said in a soft low voice.

"I love you too, my Sesshoumaru," she answered as she felt his tear fall over her lips.

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A few months later Rin was sitting in her newly fixed bedroom in front of her mirror. 'I cannot wait until this evening, even though I don't understand what is going on. I'm glad he healed as fast as he did. He wouldn't have been able to quell the fears of his allies if he wasn't. I think that is what he was worried about. Now, the Lord of the Eastern Lands is the one he is worried about.' She smiled. 'I only know that because I was eves dropping. I know he knew I was there, but he didn't say anything.' Her smile went away. 'I am scared. I hope that nothing happens to him again. I know nothing will. He carries those swords around him all the time. He says they will protect him so it won't happen again.'

The sound of steady footsteps coming down the hall interrupted her train of thought.

"Rin?"

"Yes Sesshoumaru?"

"May I come in?" he asked shyly.

She giggled, "Yes, Sesshoumaru, you may."

"I would like to show you something," he said coming in.

"All right," she said hesitating for a second. "What?"

"Please come with me."

She stood up and walked towards him as he turned around and walked out the door. She bowed her head and walked behind him. 'What is going on? Where are we going?'

She heard him stop, but it was too late. "Umph."

"Rin. Come."

She walked to his side then looked up. They were standing in the doorway to his room. The room, which usually looked sad and dark, was bright and cheerful. The bed was covered with a bright blue silk sheet with bright red pillows. There was a table and a mirror like the one in her room with a silver brush on it like the one he gave her long ago. All around the room there were pink and white flowers in vases that played off the dark wood and made the room smell like heaven.
She closed her eyes and breathed in, taking the scent in her nose. As she exhaled a smile appeared on her face and her eyes gradually reopened. "It's beautiful. I love this room. It smells like you."

"It is our room," he said standing regally.

"You mean you actually want to be in the same room as me?"

"Yes. We will be mates. It is only right we stay together in the same room."

"Well, I just thought..." her voice trailed off as she walked closer to the table with the brush. She picked it up and noticed her name engraved on it. "Is this the sa-"

He nodded his head. "Like I said before, I followed your scent to the village. There was a man selling it along the way." He changed is tone. "It had your name on it. It should not belong to anyone else."

She set it down and walked over to him, "Thank you."

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She looked at herself in the mirror. The white cranes on the background of flowers stared at her. The flowers looked like shimmering jewels and the cranes like shinny pearls as they played in the setting sun. She turned around as Sesshoumaru walked in. He was as attractive as ever. What was usually red on his white haori was now a deep green and his breast plate was sparkling from the same sun beams that made her shine.

"Why are you wearing your armor?" she asked naively.

"I am wearing it because I am a Lord." He reached for her hand. "Are you ready?"

She took his hand and took a deep breath and as she pushed it out said, "Yes, my Lord."

He smiled with pride and they walked out of her room and down the stairs to the great room. When they reached the room she looked in shock that the only people there were a few of the servants she befriended, Jaken, and the man that was going to perform the ceremony. Her shock soon faded when she felt the reassuring touch of Sesshoumaru leading her into the room. Her heart started to beat faster as they reached the man in the front.

The ceremony passed by quickly. She was surprised how that part was like any other wedding ceremony, but she soon realized that was about to change when the man, Kento, told Sesshoumaru to pull down the neck of her kimono to expose her right shoulder. Her heart that calmed as the ceremony began started to beat uncontrollably. Her chest moved up and down as he came closer, exposing his teeth.

"It will be fine, my Rin," he whispered when his mouth reached her ear.

He licked her shoulder where it met the neck and she closed her eyes waiting for his bite. She remembered the talk they had a week before.

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"I will bite you, but it should not hurt. This will make you mine and mine alone. It is called marking. I will be marking you as my mate so the other demons will know that."

"Do I have to mark you?"

"Only if you want to."

"What...what about...about our life together?"

"What do you mean, Rin."

"You have lived many years and will live many years after I die."

"Yes."

"Oh."

"When we mate you will be able to live as long as me."

"I will!"

"Yes."

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She felt him put is fangs into her skin and she gasped as if she pricked herself with a needle. After he pulled them out he licked her skin again.

"Do you want to mark him?" Kento asked her.

"I...I..."

"You do not have to, Rin," said Sesshoumaru calmly.

"Can I do it later?" she asked. 'I'm scared to do it in front of these people.'

"You are supposed to do it now, wo-" Jaken piped up, but stopped as Sesshoumaru turned his heard and growled.

"You can do it later if you want," he said as he turned his focus back on her.

She looked into his eyes and studied them for a second. She closed her eyes and thought, 'I want to do this.' She opened her eyes and opened his haori to expose his left shoulder. She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes again. She stood closer, watching out for the spikes, and brought her mouth to his shoulder and dug her teeth in. A little bit of blood trickled out so she lapped it up as he did. She noted that his blood tasted sweet, like something forbidden. She smiled as she backed away from him, keeping her eyes locked on his.

"The ceremony is complete," announced Kento.

Rin turned to Sesshoumaru, who was looking at Kento, and kissed his cheek.

She looked back at Kento to thank him as a couple of tears dripped down her cheek.

After they ate dinner with Kento he went to the room he was staying in, leaving the newly mated couple alone.

They walked out into the garden. The smell of the dew covered flowers seeped into Rin's nose. She smiled and looked up at the star filled sky. 'This is what I wanted for so long.' She reached up and touched the kimono that laid over the mark. 'We are mates.'

Suddenly a shooting star ran across the sky. "Make a wish!"

"Hmm?"

"Make a wish!"

'I wish to make my husband and mate the happiest he can be. Gods, please bless me with a child and an heir for him.'

"What did you wish for?" he asked.

"I'm not supposed to say what I wished for, silly," she said playfully pushing his arm. "If I do then it won't come true." She looked up at him coyly. "What did you wish for?"

"I will not tell you. If I tell you then it would not come true," he said looking out at the garden. She laughed. "What is so funny, my Rin?"

She leaned against his arm. "Oh, nothing."

He moved his arm and pushed her away. She was about to complain until she saw him take off his armor and set it down on the path. He pulled her back to him and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him and rested her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. She breathed him in to capture the moment she didn't want to end.

"Sesshoumaru? Are you happy?"

She felt him kiss the top of her head, "Yes I am."

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes, Rin?

"Let's go to bed."