InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Things Never Meant to Be ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Things That Can Never Be

Chapter 8

Rin ducked her head beneath the warm waters of the bath, then scrubbed under her nails. She was so dirty from rolling around the forest floor . . . The things those men wanted to do to her.

She shook the thought from her head.

That was in the past. This was the present. There was dark and cold and bloody. Here was warm and bright and pristine. How she'd managed without this place for so long, she didn't know.

She ran her fingers through her hair, then dunked her head one last time. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her as she stood up. She hummed a wordless tune as she made her way to the changing room. She smiled when she saw what waited her there. Her lord was true to his word-a new kimono. A white one with red fans all over it. The seams were stitched in gold, as were the handles and outlines of the fans. The lining was done in a vibrant shade of pink, and it seemed to be made of the finest silk.

She finished drying off, then pulled the kimono on, securing it in place with the matching obi-a red one with one fans and the same golden embroidery. It was a perfect fit, and she couldn't imagine a better gift. She tied her hair back in a bow at the nape of her neck, then made her way to the dining room.

"Good morning, Rin," Jakken greeted her.

"Good morning," she said quietly. She was careful not to be too loud or too chatty. She now knew how annoying that could be.

He set her plate on the table. "Well, I must say you look a sight better than you did earlier."

"Thank you," she smiled politely.

"And you're so quiet," he continued. "And reserved. No tearing through the hallways, slumping down at the table. And what about all the singing you used to do? And the flowers?"

She picked up her chopsticks. "I've barely been back an hour," she said.

"So, you will start running and singing and picking flowers?" he raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head. "Probably not," she said. "They seem like such silly things to do, now."

"Why," he said, "I do believe you've grown up a bit."

"I don't know if I'd call it `growing up,'" she said. "I just realized life isn't all fun and games."

"Yep," Jakken said. "That's growing up."

She laughed to herself. She wasn't about to tell him how she'd wanted to turn cartwheels in the courtyard or go skipping through the hedge maze. Especially since he'd seemed to have gained a higher opinion of her.

"So, did you have many adventures outside the castle?" he asked.

She shook her head. "None that I'd like to talk about."

"Now, that is a change! You'd usually want to rattle on for hours about nothing in particular."

She shrugged. "I guess I just want to keep more things to myself, now."

He nodded. "A wise choice."

Wise? At first he called her quiet and reserved, and now she was wise?

"Well, don't just sit there," he said. "Eat, eat! You're probably half-starved."

She smiled again. For the first time in weeks, she actually had an appetite. She cleaned her plate in minutes and asked if she could have seconds. Jakken obliged her and refilled her plate. When she finished that one, she scooted her chair back from the table and sighed. "I can't believe I ate so much," she said.

Jakken laughed at her. "I could tell you were hungry the moment you walked through that door."

"I was," she nodded. "I just didn't realize how hungry I was till I started eating."

He cleared her plate from the table.

"Jakken?"

He turned to face her. "Yes, Rin?"

"Thank you for taking care of him," she said.

"Me?" he said. "This is the first time I've seen him in months. He left right after you did."

She tried to hide her surprise.

He covered his mouth. "Maybe I should start keeping more things to myself, too." He disappeared into the kitchen.

So . . . her lord had been gone all this time. Had he actually been following her? Or had he simply been kept away by pressing business elsewhere?

She sighed. It was pointless to wonder about it. He'd never tell her about it, and she'd never ask him. She yawned and stretched. They'd been traveling all night; it was only natural for her to be tired. She pushed herself up from the table and made her way upstairs.

A nice nap, that's what she needed. A nice nap in her nice warm bed in her own room. She reached the top of the stairs, stepped onto the landing and walked the few feet to her room. It was so good to be home . . . She slid the door open and stifled a scream.

"My things . . ." She stepped into her room and marveled at the emptiness. Her bed had been stripped. Her wardrobe was empty. All the drawers in her bureau had been cleaned out and left to hang open. All her trinkets, all her dolls, everything was gone . . .

She sat down on her bed. Yes, she'd taken a few things with her when she'd left, but not everything . . .

"This is no longer your room."

She stood and turned to see Sesshomaru standing in her room.

"You'll be staying in my chambers from now on," he said. "Does that trouble you?"

She willed her knees to stop knocking. "I . . . I . . ." Apparently there was a crack in her new-found facade.

"May I come in?" he asked.

She nodded her assent.

"I had all your things moved to my chambers," he said. "So, your belongings are quite safe, you see."

She nodded again.

He stopped by her bed. "Do you like your new robe?" he asked.

Speak, she told herself. "It's lovely," she finally said.

His eyes narrowed. "Yes." It seemed that he wanted to say more, but, of course, he didn't. "Are you tired, Rin?"

As he advanced, she found herself instinctively retreating. "Not really," she lied.

"I see."

She was surprised to find she'd backed herself against a wall.

He stopped directly in front of her and looked down at her. It was exactly as before in the forest.

What question would he ask her this time?

He extended his hand and stroked the side of her face.

She stood stock still and stared off to the side of the room.

"Am I so repugnant to you?" he asked. "Can you not look me in the eye?"

She swallowed hard. "My lord is forward," she said. "I'm still quite shy."

He ran his thumb across her lower lip. "Will you reject me, then? Am I not a suitable companion?"

She couldn't stop herself from shaking. Couldn't steady her voice, or slow her racing pulse. "My lord is perfect," she said.

"No," he said. "Your lord is imperfect." He sniffed her hair.

"My lord thinks too little of himself," she said quickly. "I find no fault in him."

He moved his hand from her face to her neck, gently brushing his fingers against her exposed flesh. "Why do you tremble?" he asked.

She closed her eyes for courage. "My lord makes me tremble."

He breathed hotly against her face. "Not in fear, I hope."

"No," she said.

He pulled her close to him and ran his hand down her back.

"My lord . . ." She leaned into him and returned his embrace. "What can I do for you?"

He grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. He hardly seemed the same man. His amber eyes shone brightly; his entire face seemed to glow. An unearthly, warm glow-a pale blue color that seemed to eclipse the stripes on either side of his face.

Was this his demon light?

She met his appraising gaze. "What do you think of me, my lord?"

He released her.

"My lord?"

He stayed a moment longer, then turned to leave.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard his footsteps retreat to other parts of the castle.

So . . . she was to share his chambers from now on . . . "Interesting," she remarked and went back downstairs.