InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Twilight's Embrace ❯ Mist of Sages ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 2- The Mist of Sages

"Ah-un! Behave!" Rin giggled. She bathed the two-headed dragon in a river, but it was moving too much. It deliberately splashed water on her, and snorted as if laughing.
"Rin! Are you nearly done yet?" Jaken came out from a bush.
She placed her hands on her hips and glared at Jaken. "If you want me to finish faster, maybe you should help me bathe Ah-Un! I still need to catch some fish for lunch, you know." Her stomach grumbled. The provisions Kagome packed for her ran out about two months ago. Since then she's been hunting her food just like the old times.
"Where is Sesshomaru-sama? I thought he might be here." Jaken surveyed the area.
"He left a while ago."
"To where?"
Rin stomped her foot in the water. "HOW should I know? He never tells us where he's going anyway. Can you just be PATIENT and wait for him to come back?"
Jaken was taken aback.My, she's so grouchy. Must be that time of the month again…
"Hmph! Fine."
After drying Ah-Un, Jaken decided to help her catch some fish from the river.
"That is the third fish you've missed to catch! What happened? You used to be so good at this." Jaken observed. Rin glanced at the bucket, a lone fish still wriggling.
"Well, I haven't been catching fishes lately, not even back at the village."Not by bare hands anyway.She should've thought of bringing a small net with her. It would be so much easier than using just her hands.
"OH-OH! Pay attention! Here's another one." Jaken attempted to catch a fish swimming towards him, but when he missed, it ran towards Rin.
"Get it! Get it!"
She quickly tried to grab it… but it swam right between her legs and escaped.
Jaken smacked his face in disappointment.
Rin sighed. She DEFINITELY needed to go to a village soon and get some supplies to make hunting easier for her. She's tired of eating plants and mushrooms. Village life, Kaede's cooking and Kagome's "ninja-food" for eight years took a toll on her hunting skills.
o-o-o-o-o-o
Her prayers were answered a few days later. They were walking along a path when Rin gasped in glee.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin called.
"What is it?"
Rin pointed down to a village below them. "May I go down that village and get some supplies?"
Sesshomaru halted and gazed towards the direction she was pointing at.
"Do as you wish."
"Thank you, my Lord!" Rin jumped from Ah-Un and scratched both of the dragon's head.
Jaken ran in front of Sesshomaru. "Erm, Sesshomaru-sama, since I can't go with Rin to that human village, MAY I go somewhere too?" He fidgeted.
"And where do you plan on going?"
He cleared his throat. "We are nearby Mount Kasumidake, my Lord, and I'd like to visit some old friends! I promise to return tonight."
Sesshomaru stared at Jaken. For the first time, Rin and Jaken will be leaving him, instead of HIM leaving them.
"Go ahead." Sesshomaru turned around and proceeded to walk.
Jaken threw himself behind his master. "Thank you for your kindness milord!"
Rin pulled a brown cloak around her. "Well then! I'm OFF! Take care of Ah-Un, Master Jaken!" She handed the dragon's reins to him, and ran off towards the village.
o-o-o-o-o
"I think this is fine! Thanks!" Rin traded with the merchant for the small fish net.
Wow this is thriving village.She thought while observing the different merchant stalls. She saw travelers like her, browsing also.
She took a folded paper from her kimono and went through the list of things she needed to buy.
Aha! Only dried goods then.It's good to have handy meals in order to last longer. At times, their journey gets rough and there's nowhere to find food. And as much as possible she wants to avoid mushrooms. And stealing.
She was humming to herself when she finally spotted a stall with dried fruits.
"Hello! Do you have dried meat and fishes also?"
The merchant smiled at her. "Yes of course! How many would you like?"
After dealing with the merchant and thanking him, she turned around and started walking. Rin noticed a band of monks not too far from where she was. Theylookedfamiliar.
Two village men approached them, and she couldn't help but overhear their conversation.
"We heard that foreign demons are settling in the east. Would you be able to do something about this, Master Unggai?"
His name definitely rang a bell in her memory.
"We must see them for ourselves before I can say anything to you, young man. Rumors are only rumors until proven otherwise." The old man replied.
Rin remembered this old man! When she was younger, he and his acolytes saved him from the monster who abducts children. She disliked him though because they attempted to hurt her Sesshomaru-sama when he came to save her.
The monk and his followers were heading her way, so she moved to the side to let them pass. But before they could walk by, Master Unggai glanced at her, stopped in surprise and clearly stared at her.
Yikes.
"Young lady, have we met before?"
"I… uhm…" She didn't know what to say. Should she run?
The old man continued to scrutinize her until recognition dawned on his face. "You… were that child back then! The abducted child who follows that demon…Sesshomaru was it not?"
She fidgeted uncomfortably.
"How you've grown! Tell me, do you still follow that demon?" After asking the question, he noticed the supplies she was carrying, and the travelling cloak she was wearing. "I see." He sighed.
"Actually, I just began following him again recently. I was living in a village for eight years to be familiarized once again with humans, as my Lord wished." Somehow she felt the need to tell him this. After all he cared about her well being in the past seeing Sesshomaru as a threat to her.
The monk was surprised. "Then why did you return to him?"
"I wasn't happy." She answered truthfully.
The monk closed his eyes. "I will never get why some people associate with demons."
She shrugged her shoulders.
He gave her a piercing stare. "You are a young lady now. A very pretty thing, and no longer a child. I hope for your sake that he is not takingadvantageof you."
Her eyes widened in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Once again, Rin surprised the monk. He could see her innocence bright as a day. His expression softened. "Nevermind. I shall go, then. Come." He addressed his followers.
Rin smiled. "Thank you for saving me from that demon. I hope we meet again someday."
Master Unggai gave her a small smile in return and left. The old man seemed nicer now than before. She wondered what happened.
A girl who turned out to be a kind, thoughtful young lady even growing up with a Demon. This world is too strange.Master Unggai thought to himself.
o-o-o-o-o
"Where is everyone?" She muttered to herself. She already finished setting the camp in the forest, and was sitting in front of the fire she made. Sesshomaru and Jaken were still not around. Dusk had already fallen. While her recently caught fishes cooked, she maintained her pistol by oiling it. She hadn't used the weapon at all.
She sighed. She wished to have Ah-Un as company at least. Being alone here in the forest was…creepy. Feeling extremely tedious, she pointed her newly polished pistol at a small tree branch, then fired. A loud bang ensued.
"What do you know, I missed." She mumbled grudgingly.
"What in the world was that racket Rin?" Jaken emerged from the trees with Ah-Un.
"Finally you've returned!"
"What were you doing!" The small demon tied Ah-Un on a nearby tree and sat near the camp fire. He was carrying two jugs which he placed heavily on the ground.
"I was just making sure my pistol still works."
"You better cut it out, or we may attract unwanted attention. Specially Sesshomaru-sama is not here." Jaken eyed her weapon. "…Pistol? I have never heard of that."
"It's a small gun. This came from the future, Kagome gave it to me. For self defense." She lifted her skirt and placed the weapon back to its holster.
"Isn't that an insult to Sesshomaru-sama? Are you implying that he CAN'T protect you?"
She rolled her eyes. "I don't see how it's an insult. Plus I never had to use it anyway." She eyed the large jugs. "Master Jaken, what are those?"
He grinned. "This is the legendary Sake called the Mist of Sages! The taste is so heavenly both to humans and demons, and once you try this, you'll be enthralled!" He tossed her a sakazuki (small, saucer-like plate). Rin was old enough to drink anyway.
She grimaced. "I don't like sake." She remembered trying it for the first time during a gathering in the village. And gagged at the taste.
"Nonsense! You wouldn't say that after you have tried this!" Jaken poured her a drink.
Rin eyed the liquid suspiciously, then sniffed it. The smell wasn't offensive at all. She watched Jaken pour himself a drink, and raise his sakazuki. "To Lord Sesshomaru!" He exclaimed.
"Uhh.. yea!" Rin followed. She quickly drank before she started hesitating again. And to her surprise, the taste wasunbelievable."Sugoi, Master Jaken! This is amazing!" To her, it tasted like sugar, flowers and… all the things beautiful in life!
Jaken laughed. "I told you! The taste of this sake varies with its drinkers. There is no way someone would not like this Sake."
She poured another drink. "How does it taste like to you?"
"Well… it taste like my mother's spiced soup." He suddenly burst into tears. "Oh how I miss her! If only she was still alive…"
She sighed. "Here." She handed him one of the grilled fish.
Rin raised her drink once more. "For Jaken's mother!" Rin giggled.
o-o-o-o-o
Sesshomaru flew swiftly back to where he had parted with Rin and Jaken, aware that it was well past midnight. His encounter with thePantherTaiyokai took longer than he expected. Landing gracefully on his feet, he caught the fresh trail of Rin's scent and followed it.She must have fallen asleep already.
He did not expect to see her leaning against a tree by the cliff. Alone.
"Rin."
She looked up at him quietly.
"Where is Jaken? Did he not return yet?" He was riled. Leaving Rin alone for too long? Violent thoughts filled his head as he pondered a fitting punishment for that little…
Rin stood up slowly and he noticed that she wobbled. Looking at her face now, there was somethingoffabout her.
"Ohhhhh… so now you decided to come back, after making me wait, Sesshomaru-sama." She glared at him.
Sesshomaru was extremely surprised at her sudden brashness, yet he maintained his blank demeanor. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I meant what I meant." She puckered her lips.
He scrutinized her face. She appeared to be flushed, and staring into her hazy eyes he smelled the unmistakable scent of sake.
"You are intoxicated." His eyes narrowed.His Rin was drinking.And since WHEN?
"No I am not drunk."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
Then out of the blue, she began crying.
He was utterly confused with her. Sesshomaru placed his hands on her shoulders and gently shook her. "What now?" He never had to deal with adrunk humanbefore.
She looked up at him, eyes filled with tears. His heart tugged at this sight.
"I decided that I'm going to confront you about my feelings. I'm tired of always being this happy Rin that you knew as a child, but truthfully, I am hurting every time I see your handsome, amazing face! And knowing that this Rin will never have you and…"
His voice and breath was stuck in his throat. "You do not know what you're sa-"
"…what hurts the most is that you find me repulsive because of my humanity. It doesn't matter that you saved me from the past, and that I was loyal to you and always thought about you…"
"Rin."Repulsive? He said no such thing to her! And she was mistaken. She was HYSTERICAL.
She paid no attention to him and babbled on. "…but because Rin is human, I deserve to be a lesser being than Jaken, but my Lord is too kind to throw rocks at me or be abused as well even though all I did waslove you."
"RIN!" He was incensed.What in the world?Abused?At hearing word "love", his chest tightened strangely yet he ignored the unfamiliar feeling.
"…I believed that I've given up on you, but day by day by day I still hope and yearn that someday I can be important to you, even though I'm just a pathetic human. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth even knowing that I'm nothing but a burden that probably just better off dea…"
Sesshomaru lost it. He had no idea what kind of Demon-Kami had possessed him to do it, but in an instant he gruffly grabbed Rin's waist closer to him and…kissed her to silence.
He felt her stiffen in surprise, but it was hard for him to pay attention to anything else once he felt her lips against his. It was sowarm… and it made him experience yet again, strange feelings he was unfamiliar with. She softened against him and wrapped her arms in a tender embrace. He started to get a bit carried away, but when he tasted the sake, he immediately pulled away.God what was he thinking?
He looked upon her face, and it blew him away. Her incredibly stunning large, brown eyes were full of adoration, eyelids fluttering, she gazed at him with her lips still parted. It took most of his will power to release himself from her arms and take a step back.
"Be silent when I tell you to be. I have never thought of you as repulsive, unworthy being. You mean considerably MORE than that to me."
"You kissed me" was all she said in amazement.
He remained silent.
Suddenly, her lips turned up into a mischievous grin. "Then prove it. That I'm not disgusting to you."
He was perplexed. Hadn't he proven himself many times? By protecting her and treating her better than… than all the people he had known in his life save his father.
"How?" His mind was working slowly.
She gradually closed the distance Sesshomaru put between them, and oh, those eyes of hers were suddenly filled with desire.This woman is unforgivable!
"Rin, you must stop this foolishness at once!" He raised his voice yet it shook, and it stunned him.
"You don't want to." She smiled at him seductively.
Where the HELL did she learn being like this? Wasn't she always so… innocent?Intoxication turned her around...
Once she started dropping her kimono around her shoulders however, his breath hitched, and he lost the façade he always wore. He was appalled, yet intrigued. His demon seemed eager to see more, yet he did not want to take advantage. The proud Sesshomaru, who was always in control and never had any doubts with his verdicts, was feeling uncomfortably indecisive.
The look on his face must have encouraged Rin because her alluring smile became wider and her hands began to reach for her obi…
But he stopped her hands, his face livid. Heneedsto frighten her. With all his might he ignored the tight feeling in his stomach. "I told you to stop. You have disobeyed me many times now. Do you really intend to anger me?"
She looked disappointed.
Good.
"Why must you always want to be in control? Why don't you loosen up a bit?" She pouted.
"You are telling this Sesshomaru what to do, Rin?" He challenged.
She stared at the ground. "No. But I just wish you're a bit more likeKaname.Show how you feel and all… I've never even heard you laugh even once." She mumbled.
He only heard one thing.
"Kaname? Who is this Kaname you are talking about?" He felt insulted. Being compared to someone he does not know? Must be one of herhumansuitors…
Her eyes visibly widened in shock, and her hands flew to cover her mouth. "Rin needs to sleep." She attempted to walk away rather unsteadily.
He didn't expect this reaction from her. She acted as if… as if she was hiding something from him. And he wouldn't have ANY of it.
He grabbed her arm and forced her to look at him. "Who. Is. He." His face was intimidating and livid. She flinched.
"He's a friend of mine."
"Enlighten me."
"Well… I can't. I already broke my promise by telling you about him. He's supposed to be my secret friend." She moped.
He exhaled in exasperation. "There will be NO secret. As your Lord, I am to know everything." And DAMN right he will.
She regarded him for a moment. "I've known him for five years. He gave me advice when I was lost. He saved me a couple of times too when I got in trouble. Hmm… what else…" She smiled contentedly.
Another unfamiliar feeling coursed through him. And he did not like it.What the hell?"Why was I not told about this?"
She yawned. "Because no one else knows about him but me. Not Kagome, not Inuyasha…"
Sesshomaru's mind was filled with questions, and different emotions. Yet his face revealed nothing. He thought hard trying toidentifythe goal of this Kaname fellow. Someone who asked Rin to keep their relationship private from everyone including HIM! Why? And the worst part was, his Rin listened to that man!
Realization dawned on his face. "He was the one with you, the one you were speaking to before we left the village."
"Yes."
He was instantly infuriated. Sheliedto him back then! She had never lied to him before. But what concerned him the most was his inability to catch the scent of thisKanameand feel his presence on that day. Something was not right. Yet something was clear to him; whoever he was, Kaname was NOT a human. To Sesshomaru, this man is danger.
Rin yawned again, lost her balance and started to fall to the side. He caught her, and she was unconscious. He had many questions but he's given up on them as of right now. She was still intoxicated.Nevertheless she WILL answer to my questions when she awakens.He thought while observing her sleeping form.
o-o-o-o-o
Rin felt the ground beneath her moving… shaking… Her head pounded. She reached out hoping to find something to cling to until this earthquake subsides… only to feel something extremely rough, and scaly.
Hey eyes snapped open and she raised her head, only to drop once again when nausea hit her hard. She was on Ah-Un, and they were already moving. She saw Sesshomaru moving slightly ahead of them as always.
"Oh, so you're finally awake you impudent child! Do you know what time it is? It's almost sundown!" Jaken waved the staff of head in front of him.
She blinked slowly, noticing the lumps on Jaken's head.
What HAPPENED to her?Her head hurts so bad, and her body felt like lead.
"You kept drinking to the point where you're completely wasted! Seriously human, have you no common sense and control?"
Oh. He was right. She tried to remember what happened… but the last thing she recalled was singing with Jaken and prancing around the campfire.Then… nothing.
She must have fallen asleep after…
"…and you ended up somewhere, and Sesshomaru-sama had to bring you back to the camp!"
Or not.
"What? Where was I?" She asked, aghast.
"How am I supposed to know! You said you were going to pee, and you never came back, and I've fallen asleep…" He glared at her. "You don't remember anything?"
She tried to think again, but her headache was getting worse. "No, I don't remember." She hoped she didn't get herself in trouble last night while intoxicated. Never again.
"I'm not surprised you've forgotten. You were completely out of it after finishing a whole carafe of sake!" Jaken looked ahead and was aware that his Lord had stopped walking. "Er, something wrong milord?"
He ignored the imp and walked towards Rin, who was still sprawled, back facing the sky, on Ah-Un. She looked dreadful.
"How are you feeling?"
"Terrible." She felt like she was going to puke. "Sesshomaru-sama, I'm sorry if I caused you problem last night. If I ran into a demon or something…" She mumbled.
She did much worse than run into some dangerous demon.He thought. But he was not sure whether he liked the fact that Rin had forgotten everything last night… including the kiss and her attempt at seduction.
"If you don't mind me asking my Lord, what happened?"
He only stared at her. He could tell her many things that happened last night… but only one thing really mattered to him at the moment.
"You told me about your friend, Kaname."
She visibly gasped and freaked out, then grunted in pain. Sesshomaru sighed.
"You shall tell me more about that person once we reach my manor and after you have rested. Drinking to your heart's content had not been a very bright idea." He turned around and continued walking.
No it was not.She agreed and inwardly kicked herself.
And… did he just say Manor?
"Master Jaken, where are we going?"
"Weren't you listening? We're going back to Sesshomaru-sama's palace."
She blinked. "We're not going to travel anymore?"
Jaken huddled his staff. "Seems like whatever Sesshomaru-sama's objective was, it had been completed. So we're going back now."
o-o-o-o-o
"We're here!" Jaken announced in his annoying sing-song voice.
Rin raised her head cautiously to avoid that nausea again. All she saw was a green field.
"I don't see any castle."
"Heh. Silly girl. Watch."
She peeked between Ah-un's head, and watched her Lord stop in front of… nothing. Suddenly, the air in front of him was distorted, creating an opening for them.
Oh. A barrier was concealing the castle.
Sesshomaru strode inside, followed by Jaken and Rin. They kept walking until they reached a massive gate. Rin got up from Ah-Un despite her headache and sat side saddled. She heard a rumbling noise, and watched in awe as the great gate slowly opened.
Through the gate she saw many demons retaining their human forms; just like her Lord. But what caught her attention was the edifice… it was amazing.So this was the Lord of the West's palace.
As they passed by, the demons bowed to pay their respect. "Welcome back, Lord Sesshomaru."
He ignored them.
"Welcome back, my Lord. I trust that your travel went well?" A demon approached him. Rin could tell that he was no ordinary youkai. She was astonished by his resemblance to Sesshomaru, the crimson stripes on his face, the crescent mark on his forehead and the silver hair. Except his hair only reached his shoulders and not as long as her Lord. He looked like a formidable warrior with his armor.
"Uncle." Sesshomaru acknowledged. "Your presence here must mean mother is here as well."
The Inu-Taiyoukai nodded. "Indeed. My sister awaits you at the hall."
"SESSHOMARU!" an unfamiliar voice bellowed.
Jaken was taken aback."Such disrespect!"He whispered. The Inu Taiyoukai's upper lip twitched. Sesshomaru however had no reaction whatsoever at the approach of another demon.
"What took you so long? I didn't expect to beat you in reaching your own castle!" He stood in front of Sesshomaru and the difference in height was discernable. Rin observed this Daiyoukai, and… and he looked like a giant panther Demon. He was colossal and extremely built. He wore no armor. In fact, he was not wearing anything aside from his hakama. From head to his torso he was a black panther covered in fur, whiskers and all. And from the waist down he resembled a human.
He looked straight at Rin.
"Oh now I remember. You did say you were travelling with a human girl. Slowed your pace, eh?" He grinned widely and approached Rin.
"I am Kuruhyouga (Kuryowga), it's a pleasure to meet you and my, what a sight you are! Are you sure you're not some Goddess roaming this world?" He kissed her hand.
"I- uhm…" Rin perceptibly blushed. His flattery was unexpected.
The panther tilted his head. "Yet look fatigued, my lady."
Before she could reply though, Kuruhyouga turned towards Sesshomaru once again, who was at the moment, just observing them.
"Sesshomaru you lustful dog, have you not allowed this maiden sleep at all!"
Jaken gasped. "HOW DARE YOU-"
Rin was just completely mortified. "That is not the reason! It's not-"
In an instant, Sesshomaru had swiped at him with his claws moving too quickly, but Kuruhyouga, despite his massive built, was able to move quicker by evading his attack.
"My, touchy touchy. Wanna go at it again, boy?" The panther grinned in anticipation and poised for an attack. To Rin, it sounded like they've fought before…
"THAT is enough, Kuruhyouga." The other Inu-Taiyoukai intervened. "Lord Sesshomaru, I don't understand why you invited this mangy cat to dwell in this castle."
"Sakemaru, I DO NOT have mange! How dare you?" He retorted.
Sesshomaru straightened up. He did not regret bringing him down from the mountains to serve under his family once again. "He proved to be useful and loyal to my father, and he's an exceptional warrior as well. That is why."
"Surely you won't endure his constant disrespect?" The Inu-youkai frowned.
Sesshomaru started to walk towards the castle. Jaken and Rin followed. "If he is able to avoid my attacks when I lose my patience, I will tolerate until I "accidentally" kill him."
Kuruhyouga snorted.
"Jaken, take Ah-Un to the stables." Sesshomaru carried Rin off the dragon. Jaken bowed and quickly left.
"Do you prefer to be carried inside?" He stared at her.
She blushed. "I feel a bit better now my lord, I can walk." She couldn't look at his face in nervousness.
Sesshomaru could hardly believe that the woman he was carrying was the same person who had tempted her last night. He set her down and she straightened her kimono clumsily. Once inside the palace, two female-demon servants showed up.
"Tend to this lady and see that she has everything she will need."
The servants bowed deeply, grabbed Rin's arms and guided her. "This way, my lady."
When she entered her room, it was nothing short of magnificent! It was huge, with red tatami flooring, ornate decorations on the wall and colorful vases. There was a huge mirror, and a wide futon in the middle.
"What would you like to do first my lady? Bathe? Eat? We'd be happy to assist you." One of the demon women asked.
"I'd like to be left alone first, actually."
Both of them were horrified, as if Sesshomaru would punish them.
She smiled. "I'll call for both of you when I'm ready and in need of something."
They nodded and bowed. "As you wish."
When she was alone she removed the silver rods that were holding her hair up. Her hair cascaded in a beautiful spiral. Rin opened a window, and was amazed at the exquisite garden before her. She couldn't wait until she can go out and stroll around the grounds… well if Sesshomaru would allow it. Actually, she'd prefer if she walked with him.
She sighed. She remembered that she's going to have to speak to him about Kaname sooner or later. What is she going to tell him? Everything of course… like she had a choice. She just hoped that he wouldn't be too uptight about it, and she shouldn't be nervous about it too. Chances are, she might not even see Kaname anymore. But some part of her still wanted to see her old friend once again.