Inuyasha, Inuyasha/Rin Left Behind (I'm Broken)#10
Title The Road to Recovery
Author landofthekwt
Rating PG-13
Prompt I'm Broken
Pairing Inuyasha/Rin Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Word Count 5086
Warning Sex and Violence
Summary Inuyasha recovers while Kagome tries to influence Sesshoumaru to allow Rin to return to Inuyasha’s side
When Inuyasha awoke the sun was shining in his eyes. He involuntarily raised his hand to block the sun. It was then he noticed the other person in the room. Not Rin, but he had smelled this woman before.
“Where is Rin?”
The women clucked her tongue at him “ You are foolish. You are lucky that Lord Sesshoumaru did not kill you for touching what is his. Rin was exhausted so I had her carried to her bed. She will be at the Lady’s call to help take care of Toga and Kasumi. The Lord has never released her from that duty. She was allowed to return to your village to care for the old miko.”
“I do not understand. All I did was carry Rin back from Edo Castle. I carried Kagome that way all the time. Why would Sesshoumaru object.?”
“Because carrying a person in that manner creates intimate contact between the parties. If you were to touch the Lady like that Lord Sesshoumaru would not hesitate to kill you. He thinks of Rin as his daughter. The idea of your touching her in such a manner without his permission is taboo. For both your sakes you need to stay away from her while you are here. You absolutely must not touch her.”
Inuyasha thought about what she said. “ Rin is my friend. Nothing more. Kagome was my wife before she left me for Sesshoumaru.”
The healer looked at him with disgust “You really are a fool if you believe that Rin is nothing but a friend. I saw her draped across your chest when I came in. No friend devotes herself to healing another to the detriment of her own health. All I ask is that you refrain from anymore foolishness while you are under my care or Lord Sesshoumaru will finish what he has started and I will not have enough of you to put back together.”
Rin awoke to the sound of a familiar ringing of a bell. She thought that she had left that nightmare behind when she left the Western Shiro. Standing at the end of her bed was her old nemesis grinning at her
“Rise and shine lie a bed, the Lady has need of you in the nursery”
Rin was bolt upright in a second. She was back in her old room in the Western Shiro. The last thing she remembered was keeping a vigil at Inuyasha’s bedside. How had she returned to her bedroom?”
“What about breakfast?”
“Breakfast was finished hours ago. The kitchen is making lunch right now. You do not have time. I was told to bring you now. The Lady needs you now more than ever.”
She waited as Rin hurriedly dressed in the hated uniform. She thought that she had left all of this behind forever. She had no desire to return to Kagome’s side. It was her jealousy that had caused Kagome and Sesshoumaru to send her back to the village to care for Kaede in the first place. Now Kagome had two children by Sesshoumaru. Twice as many reminders that Sesshoumaru was Kagome’s not hers.
She was shown her way to the nursery. There she found a nurse maid already caring for the children. Kagome looked up and smiled. “ I missed you, Rin. You left in such a hurry that you did not have time to see Kasumi. Would you like to see her now?”
Rin took the little girl from Kagome. She might be angry, but she could never be angry at this little girl. As she looked at the little bundle of joy in her arms, she realized something that had never occurred to her before. In some part of her, she wanted to be a mother.
Before she had been jealous of Kagome because Sesshoumaru had chosen her and she had borne
Sesshoumaru’s child. This was something deeper and more primal. At the moment she had no father candidates, but she did know that someday she wanted to be a mother.
Amazingly, this had never occurred to her before. She had been helping Kaede birth babies since she was eight. Helped Sango raise their five children. Even her brief experience with Toga had been positive.
While she was not going to go out and have a child just to have a child, the discovery that she wanted to be a mother too, was thrilling. Perhaps it gave her something in common with Kagome. A bond that could overcome the jealousy that had tainted her feelings toward the former miko Kagome interrupted her train of thought with a question.
“Where is Inuyasha? I thought he came with you. I would have thought that he would want to see his niece. He is still Toga’s champion. The boy idolizes him. He would be thrilled to see his uncle.”
Rin stared at the floor what was she supposed to tell Kagome. That Inuyasha was fighting for his life because Lord Sesshoumaru had put his fist through Inuyasha’s belly. While she did not blame Lord Sesshoumaru.Sometimes she got mad enough at Inuaysha to do the same thing, Kagome had been Inuiyasha’s wife.
Rin remembered that once before Lord Sesshoumaru had put his fist through Inuyasha’s belly and Kagome had to patch him up. How would she feel now that history had repeated itself.
She knew that the first fight had been about Inuyasha stealing Tessaiga from Lord Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha probably deserved whatever he got.
She was not sure what led to the present confrontation between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. They had not fought each other since the death of Naraku. Inuyasha had mildly acquiesced when Kagome walked away from him.They had not even fought when Rin broke off their friendship over Kohaku. Why had this happened now, while Kagome was giving birth?
Finally, Rin summoned the courage and words to respond “ He is at the healer’s with a belly wound. It may be some time before he is well enough to come here.”
Kagome took the baby from her and stared at her trying to find the meaning behind her words.
“A belly wound. Who could give Inuyasha such a wound that would incapacitate him” Kagome mused to herself. Suddenly everything became clear to her. She might not know why the wound had been inflicted by she certainly knew by whom it had been inflicted and how it had been inflicted.
“I must go to him.”
Rin put her hand on Kagome’s shoulder. “ Do you think that he would want you to see him when he is in this condition?”
“ He always let me bandage his wounds when we were on the quest. I have seen him in this. Last time he was injured like this he shoved me down a well to protect me. I worried all the time until I was able to come back to him. How can I not go to him now?”
Rin pointed out “ Now is not the time. You are Lord Sesshoumaru’s mate.Your place is with your daughter. I thought you observed the traditional month long confinement with Toga before you came to my mogi. Are you going to break with that now?”
Kagome was stumped. It had not occurred to her that she could not go to see Inuyasha. She would have to break confinement to do so. Sighing she acquiesced. Any visit to Inuaysha would have to wait until he was well enough to visit her. She could only visit him after confinement was lifted.
Finally, she spoke “Rin, go to the healers and let me know how he is doing”
Rin replied “I thought you wanted me to resume my duties with Toga When I awoke I found myself back in my old room, facing my old boss, and back in my old uniform.”
“I will have to admit, Rin. Having you around to help with Toga while I was pregnant was helpful. Being the only other human in the castle gave me someone to talk who really understands, but I don’t want you to feel that you are trapped here. What do you want to do right now?”
“I think my place is by Inuyasha’s side.”
“Then go there.”
Rin bowed to Kagome and raced off to the healers. When she arrived, Inuyasha was sleeping. The healer had obviously changed the bandages. Having nothing to do she resumed her vigil at his side.
She wondered about Kagome’s statements about treating his wounds. They really were closer than she had ever been. When Kagome heard that Inuyasha was injured she had wanted to rush to
his side.
Could Kagome really still have feelings for Inuyasha? Rin suddenly felt slightly jealous and confused. Why should she care about Kagome’s feelings for Inuyasha? She never had before.
She only felt jealous about Kagome’s relationship with Lord Sesshoumaru.
From what Kagome intimated. Inuyasha often found himself in need of medical assistance. She had given him first aid, but not the kind of aid the healer had given him. When she returned to the Sunset Village, she wanted Kaede to really teach her how to be a healer not just an assistant.
Where had those thoughts come from? She had hated being at the Sunset Village because being there separated her from Lord Sessshoumaru. She had only returned to help Grandmother Kaede in her convalescence.
Was she now thinking of a vocation in the village? If she did, she would be separated voluntarily from Lord Sesshoumaru. Was this what she wanted.? Her presence at Inuyasha’s bedside confused her even more.
She wanted to be here. Not at Kagome’s side. Not even at Lord Sesshoumaru’s side. They both had someone else. Inuyasha had no one else to care for him. That was why she stayed with him after the healer brought him here. Maybe that was why she felt lost when she awoke in her old room.
The healer walked in and saw her. Not good. She had Rin carried away the night before for this very reason. Lord Sesshoumaru had caused these injuries because the hanyou had dared to touch what was his. She had separated them to avoid further trouble. Now she was back. Lord Sesshoumaru would have to be told.
Inuyasha woke up, saw Rin and panicked “ Rin, you should not be here.”
Rin was confused “ Why not?”
“Sesshoumaru”
“What about Lord Sesshoumaru?”
“Sesshoumaru attacked me:”
“Why would Lord Sesshoumaru attack you? That makes no sense.”
“Two reasons. You were kidnaped because I failed to protect you. In Sessshoumaru’s eyes I am still your guardian. Next to Kagome and her children you are the most precious thing in his life I agree with him. I have no excuse for my failure. The second thing did not even occur to me until he mentioned it. I carried Kagome on my back all the time. When you needed a ride to get back to the Sunset Village I offered my back to you without a second thought. To Sessshoumaru it meant that I touched something precious to him in an intimate way without his permission. I am not about to apologize to him, but I do owe you an apology. I should never have allowed you to be kidnaped Once I promised to protect you and I failed. I only hope that you can forgive me.”
Rin opened her mouth. She knew that Lord Sesshoumaru had caused Inuyasha’s injuries, but she did not know why. They had been fighting over her. It had never occurred to her that two demons might fight over her. She had always known that Lord Sesshoumaru was very protective of her. She had always known two things. That he would always come back for her and that he would always save her.
The idea that he would attack Inuyasha for the reasons Inuyasha mentioned would never have occurred to her. She certainly did not blame Inuyasha for her kidnaping. She had been kidnaped so many time before that it did not phase her anymore.
They all should have known better than to trust Hana. Hana had been a fool. She had ended up just as much a prisoner as she was. The Hojo had treated her well once they realized what was going on. She would not mind back to Edo Castle and being treated like a princess.
As for touching Inuyasha, it did not even occur to her that it was wrong in Lord Sesshoumaru’s mind. She had never ridden on Inuyasha’s back before, but she had been on Ah-Un’s Lord Sesshoumaru did not object to them or even on the fire cat.
Neither she nor Inuyasha had even viewed what they had done as intimate at all. Looking back maybe he had touched her in places that no man had touched her before, but the touches were all innocent with no hint of intimacy.
She put her hand on his arm. “ I don’t blame you for my kidnaping. Don’t think about it anymore. I am sorry that Lord Sesshoumaru injured you for that. I do not know where he got the idea that it was your fault, but I will have to set him straight.about that. You are my friend. I love Lord Sesshoumaru, but I do not want him killing my friends of my behalf.”
Inuyasha sighed “ We just need to be careful, I guess. It never occurred to me that Sesshoumaru would be so angry about something so innocent.’
Rin replied “ I am just upset that you were hurt so bad because of me”
Inuyasha scoffed “ Don’t worry about me. These are just flesh wounds. If he really wanted to kill me, he would have pulled my heart out or taken my head off.”
Rin angrily retorted “Don’t say stuff like that. I saw your injuries. I was the one who gave you first aid and washed the dokkasou off so that you could be bandaged. Your guts were all over the ground. I was worried. Kagome was worried when she heard. She wanted to come see you, but the rules of confinement prevent her from leaving for the first month.
The mention of Kagome furrowed Inuyasha’s brow. She had patched him up so many times. It had almost been a badge of honor that he sat while she bandaged him. A sense of closeness. A sense of intimacy,.
The news that Rin had been the one to patch him shocked him. Some of the old familiar feelings that he had felt toward Kagome transferred to Rin in that moment. Kagome would never patch him up again. He had been happy to see Rin by his side when he awoke, but he never dreamed that she had been the one to first bandage his wounds. Involuntarily, he reached out and touched Rin’s hand.
It was just at that moment that the healer burst into the room followed by Sesshoumaru. “ See I told you she was here.”
Sesshoumaru stared at Rin for a moment and then simply said “Come, Rin”
Rin turned and looked at him in confusion.” Why? My place is here”
Sesshoumaru seemed surprised by her refusal. “Your place is with Kagome. She needs you now.
The healer will tend to Inuyasha.”
Rin persisted “It is my fault that Inuyasha is in this condition. I need to stay by his side until he gets better.”
Sesshoumaru seemed to be fighting a battle within himself. Finally he spoke “No”
Rin did not move. Sesshoumaru wondered what he should do. He had never forced Rin to do anything. She had always followed him unquestioningly. Finally, Inuyasha spoke
“Rin, you really should go. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for you than I already have.”
Rin listened but she was already listening to the sound of her own drummer. “ This is not about you. Lord Sesshoumaru has always let me do what I want. My heart is telling me that I need to be here now. Kagome actually urged me to come here because she could not come due to her confinement. If I tell her that Lord Sesshoumaru ordered me to go, it will upset her.”
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were confused by her words. Sesshoumaru wanted her as far away from Inuyasha as possible, but was unwilling to say that in front of Rin. Rin was right that he was unwilling to force her to do anything.
Inuyasha was torn. Rin’s presence was comforting. She was the only person he could call friend in the Western Shiro. At the moment he was at Sesshoumaru’s mercy. If Sesshoumaru wished to kill him now or take Rin away he would be unable to help her.
In the middle of the silence the healer spoke “ Lord Inuyasha needs to rest now. His healing will go faster if he sleeps. I have something to help him sleep.”
Rin looked at Inuyasha who smiled at her and shooed her away. “ Go tell Kagome how I am doing. I will see you again when I wake up.”At last she released his hand and walked out of the door whispering “ I will be here when you wake up.”
The healer bent down to give Inuyasha some of the sleeping potion. As Inuyasha drifted off to sleep., Sesshoumaru stared after Rin. Rin had done what he asked without him forcing her to do so, but he saw trouble in the future. When Rin wanted something she persisted until she got what she wanted.
Rin returned to find Kagome feeding Kasumi. Kagome looked up and smiled. “You weren’t gone long”
Rin muttered something that Kagome could not hear and took her place beside Kagome. Kagome looked at her wondering what she had said to offend Kagome. Finally, she decided to take another tack.
“So how was Inuyasha”
“Still badly injured. He won’t be able to move for sometime. The healer wanted him to sleep so I had to leave.”
Kagome listened to her words. Not knowing whether to press the subject or not, but she wanted to know how Inuyasha had come to be in this condition.
“Did he say why Sesshoumaru did this to him?”
Rin looked sharply at Kagome. She had hoped that Kagome would give this a rest. This was a matter which was between her and Sesshoumaru. She was not sure where Kagome’s loyalties lay.
She had been Inuyasha’s wife, but she was now Sesshoumaru’s mate.
“Apparently, Lord Sesshoumaru was upset that I was kidnaped and that after I was kidnaped Inuyasha carried me on his back to the Sunset Village.”
Kagome absorbed the rather clipped version that Rin presented. She had seen Sesshoumaru angry before. If not for her intervention, Sesshoumaru would have been killed for his attempt on Rin’s life. She decided that she needed more information.
“I did not know you were kidnaped.”
“Hana a miko who was helping out after Kaede was injured turned out to be a Hojo spy from Odawara trying to recruit mikos to help against the youkai being created on the battlefields of Musashi. She arranged for Hojo ninja to kidnap me and take me to Edo Castle. Once she was there she herself became a prisoner. Inuyasha came after me. Between his threats, my threats of retribution from Lord Sesshoumaru and the negotiation by Akitoki Hojo, we were paroled by the castellan. Hana left with Kohaku and Akitoki Hojo. Inuyasha offered me his back to ride back to the Sunset Village. I didn’t see the harm in it having ridden on Ah-Un for years. Inuyasha told me that Lord Sesshoumaru blames him for my being kidnaped since he is my guardian. He also said that Lord Sesshoumaru was particularly offended that Inuyasha had touched me in what Lord Sesshoumaru felt was an innocent manner.”
Kagome nodded. Inuyoukai could be so protective of what they thought was theirs. Sesshoumaru certainly was protective of Rin. Almost like a daughter. For Inuyasha to fail to protect her and touch her without permission was certainly worthy of punishment in Sesshoumaru’s eyes.
She was partially at fault. It was at her urging that Sesshoumaru made Inuyasha Rin’s protector. He had threatened Jaken for his failings in this area, but had only knocked him out. Sesshoumaru had not killed Inuyasha, but she knew how severe an injury evisceration was having seen it first hand.
“What did Inuyasha say?”
“He blames himself for my kidnaping and does not fault Lord Sesshoumaru for punishing him for that failing. What he does not understand is how carrying me on his back could be considered an intimate touch.”
Kagome laughed. Of course Inuyasha would not understand. She had ridden his back so many times and craved the touch of his hands on her thighs. A young girl’s fantasy which Inuyasha never really understood.
To Rin, Inuyasha was just another mode of transportation. Like Ah-Un. She had been reluctant to travel on his back at first, clinging to her bike until Inuyasha finally destroyed it. Sesshoumaru must have seen the way they clung to each other. It was closeness that she missed, but she had to give it up when she left Inuaysha for Sesshoumaru.
She needed to talk to Sesshoumaru. He simply could not behave in this manner. She had her way of persuading him to do anything for her. The idea of Inuyasha and Rin surprised her. She thought of them as uncle and niece just as Sesshoumaru did. For a moment she felt a twinge of jealousy, but she shook it off. She would not stand in the way of happiness for either Inuyasha or Rin.
“ I will talk to Sesshoumaru about Inuyasha.”
Rin thanked her. Maybe being a friend to Kagome might have benefits. Rin had always been more of a follower of Lord Sesshoumaru whereas Kagome could influence his behavior. Inuyasha was her friend. She certainly did not want him to suffer because of her.
Sesshoumaru finally arrived at the nursery. Kagome looked up at him and smiled. “Rin, Could you take Kasumi outside for a few minutes. I need to talk to my mate”
Rin started to protest, but Kagome silenced her by handing her Kasumi and shooing her outside.
When the door was shut, and Rin was out of earshot., Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru.
“I understand that while I was busy giving birth, you were busy playing with Inuyasha.”
The silence was deafening. Sesshoumaru had just come from Inuyasha’s room. He did not want to deal this anymore, he just wanted to take comfort in his wife’s arm. It had been so long. The baby had made it impossible for some time. Now she was free and had Rin to take care of the baby, maybe they could have some time together.
“What did you hear?”
“Rin is under the impression that it is her fault that you stuck your hand through Inuyasha’s belly”
“Rin did nothing wrong”
“So it was Inuyasha’s fault?”
“Rin was kidnaped on his watch.”
“Rin gets kidnaped a lot. I was kidnaped a lot. Rin never blamed you for her being kidnaped. She was never afraid because she knew that you would come for her. I was never afraid when I was kidnaped either because Inuyasha always came for me. That was the only thing that kept me from making a wrong wish inside the Jewel From what I have heard Inuaysha went after Rin and brought her back. Isn’t that worth some kind of recognition?”
Sesshoumaru knew he was not going to win an argument with Kagome, but he continued nevertheless. “ We are not talking about what happened before we mated, we are talking about now. You were the one that asked me to make Inuyasha, Rin’s guardian. I did so against my better judgment Rin could have been killed. Any of the ninjas or the soldiers at the castle could have decided to kill her.”
“From what Rin told me, she was never in any danger. Hana kidnaped her because the Hojo needed miko to deal with the youkai being created on the battlefield. Once they reached Edo castle Rin used the threat of you killing them all to talk her way out of the castle”
“But.”
“This is not about Rin being kidnaped, is it?”
Sesshoumaru turned his back to her. He might put on that stoic face, but she could always read his true feelings. In fact it was her understanding of him that made him fall in love with her. He had always been an enigma to his father, mother, and even Inuyasha but not to her.
“Was it because he touched Rin?”
“He has no right to touch Rin. She is mine.”
“ You would have her walk all the way to Sunset Village from Edo Castle”
“ She should have ridden with Kohaku on the nekomata. Then this would never have happened.”
“You cannot control everything Rin does”
“Yes, I can”
“No, you gave up that luxury when you left her in Kaede’s care. We agreed that she needed to go back to the Sunset Village because she was unhappy with her role here as babysitter for Toga. “
“I thought you liked having her here to take care of Toga.”
“I do. Rin is a wonderful girl, but she has a life of her own. She had to take care of all of Mirokua and Sango’s children. Now we want her to take care of Toga. It is not fair to her. She has a life of her own. That is why I tried to match her with Kohaku. It would have given her a husband and a life of her own. I admit now that I was meddling even if I meant well. If she is interested in Inuyasha, you should not interfere., even if you don’t approve of him.”
“But Rin is too young”
“Rin is seventeen. I was nineteen when we started seeing each other. Most girls in this era are married by fourteen and have children by sixteen. Sango was not unusual. She just waited until she was sixteen. Rin was ready for marriage when Kohaku came along because she saw herself as an old maid. You broke up my match, but Inuyasha took the blame. It caused Rin and Inuyasha to split up for a time. Now they are friends again. Neither sees it, but they are becoming closer. Both of them saw Inuyasha carrying Rin on his back as innocent. Which it was. Why not let develop naturally”
“Because it is Rin and Inuyasha”
Kagome threw her hands in the air. “ Just promise me that you won’t put your hand through Inuyasha’s stomach again.”
“Hn”
“I will take that as a yes. Rin, you can bring Kasumi back in.”
Rin returned and placed Kasumi in Kagome’s arms “Go back to Inuyasha. I will send lunch down to you.” Rin looked at her incredulously, but she left when Kagome shooed her away.
Sesshoumaru gave her a look, but Kagome stared him down.she knew that she had won for the moment. Rin would be allowed to be with Inuyasha. The more time they spent together the more natural their relationship would be.
Sesshoumaru had not been wrong in questioning Kagome’s presence on Inuyasha’s back. It had been the start of her own relationship with Inuyasaha. There was no denying that the closeness between the two bodies was sexually stimulating.
Sesshoumaru’s eyebrow disrupted her reverie. She gave him a coy smile. “ I’ll get the nursemaid
for Kasumi. Let’s see if we can’t work out your frustrations in a less violent, but just as stimulating manner.
Rin practically ran to the healers. She was disappointed to find Inuyasha still asleep, but sat down by the his bed to resume her vigil. The healer came in with a tray of bandages, healing salve and a bone. She scowled when she saw Rin.
Rin anticipated her question by stating “ Lady Kagome gave me permission to be here.”
The healer nodded and tried to get Rin away from the bedside so that she could do her work.
“Healing youkai is no place for a little human girl.:
Rin persisted “ I have been healing humans at the side of a miko for nine years. What could be so different?”
The healer smirked at her “ Watch and learn.” as she smacked Inuyasha upside the head. When he opened his mouth to complain, she shoved the bone in it and said “ Bite down on the bone, this may hurt a little.”
Rin winced as the healer stripped off the old bandages and applied the salve to wounds before rebandaging it. The healer was right. That had to hurt. She would have passed out from the pain.
It was clear that Inuyasha felt the pain, but it was more irritating than anything else.
The healer was just turning to leave when horns blared all over the castle. Rin looked up at her
“What in the world is that sound “ The healer continued out the door stopping only to spit out the vituperative “Invaders”
Sesshoumaru and Kagome had just finished their third round of lovemaking. Both of them were basking in the glow of a bond renewed. Sesshoumaru was right. It had been too long. They needed to find some way to provide for him during late pregnancy. The sound of the horns stirred
the daiyoukai instantly Kagome and their children would have to be protected from whatever had dared to breach the sanctity of the Western Shiro.
After arranging for Kagome, he put on his armor and hurried to the place where his soldiers had cornered the invaders. The soldiers parted as he strode toward the menace. The sea parted until he reached the central courtyard where he saw a large nekomata surrounded his troops.
A young man in taijiya garb was being restrained by several soldiers while a young woman in miko garb was bound and gagged at his feet. The man looked up when he saw Sesshoumaru.
“Lord Sesshoumaru tell your men that I work for you.”
Author landofthekwt
Rating PG-13
Prompt I'm Broken
Pairing Inuyasha/Rin Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Word Count 5086
Warning Sex and Violence
Summary Inuyasha recovers while Kagome tries to influence Sesshoumaru to allow Rin to return to Inuyasha’s side
When Inuyasha awoke the sun was shining in his eyes. He involuntarily raised his hand to block the sun. It was then he noticed the other person in the room. Not Rin, but he had smelled this woman before.
“Where is Rin?”
The women clucked her tongue at him “ You are foolish. You are lucky that Lord Sesshoumaru did not kill you for touching what is his. Rin was exhausted so I had her carried to her bed. She will be at the Lady’s call to help take care of Toga and Kasumi. The Lord has never released her from that duty. She was allowed to return to your village to care for the old miko.”
“I do not understand. All I did was carry Rin back from Edo Castle. I carried Kagome that way all the time. Why would Sesshoumaru object.?”
“Because carrying a person in that manner creates intimate contact between the parties. If you were to touch the Lady like that Lord Sesshoumaru would not hesitate to kill you. He thinks of Rin as his daughter. The idea of your touching her in such a manner without his permission is taboo. For both your sakes you need to stay away from her while you are here. You absolutely must not touch her.”
Inuyasha thought about what she said. “ Rin is my friend. Nothing more. Kagome was my wife before she left me for Sesshoumaru.”
The healer looked at him with disgust “You really are a fool if you believe that Rin is nothing but a friend. I saw her draped across your chest when I came in. No friend devotes herself to healing another to the detriment of her own health. All I ask is that you refrain from anymore foolishness while you are under my care or Lord Sesshoumaru will finish what he has started and I will not have enough of you to put back together.”
Rin awoke to the sound of a familiar ringing of a bell. She thought that she had left that nightmare behind when she left the Western Shiro. Standing at the end of her bed was her old nemesis grinning at her
“Rise and shine lie a bed, the Lady has need of you in the nursery”
Rin was bolt upright in a second. She was back in her old room in the Western Shiro. The last thing she remembered was keeping a vigil at Inuyasha’s bedside. How had she returned to her bedroom?”
“What about breakfast?”
“Breakfast was finished hours ago. The kitchen is making lunch right now. You do not have time. I was told to bring you now. The Lady needs you now more than ever.”
She waited as Rin hurriedly dressed in the hated uniform. She thought that she had left all of this behind forever. She had no desire to return to Kagome’s side. It was her jealousy that had caused Kagome and Sesshoumaru to send her back to the village to care for Kaede in the first place. Now Kagome had two children by Sesshoumaru. Twice as many reminders that Sesshoumaru was Kagome’s not hers.
She was shown her way to the nursery. There she found a nurse maid already caring for the children. Kagome looked up and smiled. “ I missed you, Rin. You left in such a hurry that you did not have time to see Kasumi. Would you like to see her now?”
Rin took the little girl from Kagome. She might be angry, but she could never be angry at this little girl. As she looked at the little bundle of joy in her arms, she realized something that had never occurred to her before. In some part of her, she wanted to be a mother.
Before she had been jealous of Kagome because Sesshoumaru had chosen her and she had borne
Sesshoumaru’s child. This was something deeper and more primal. At the moment she had no father candidates, but she did know that someday she wanted to be a mother.
Amazingly, this had never occurred to her before. She had been helping Kaede birth babies since she was eight. Helped Sango raise their five children. Even her brief experience with Toga had been positive.
While she was not going to go out and have a child just to have a child, the discovery that she wanted to be a mother too, was thrilling. Perhaps it gave her something in common with Kagome. A bond that could overcome the jealousy that had tainted her feelings toward the former miko Kagome interrupted her train of thought with a question.
“Where is Inuyasha? I thought he came with you. I would have thought that he would want to see his niece. He is still Toga’s champion. The boy idolizes him. He would be thrilled to see his uncle.”
Rin stared at the floor what was she supposed to tell Kagome. That Inuyasha was fighting for his life because Lord Sesshoumaru had put his fist through Inuyasha’s belly. While she did not blame Lord Sesshoumaru.Sometimes she got mad enough at Inuaysha to do the same thing, Kagome had been Inuiyasha’s wife.
Rin remembered that once before Lord Sesshoumaru had put his fist through Inuyasha’s belly and Kagome had to patch him up. How would she feel now that history had repeated itself.
She knew that the first fight had been about Inuyasha stealing Tessaiga from Lord Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha probably deserved whatever he got.
She was not sure what led to the present confrontation between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. They had not fought each other since the death of Naraku. Inuyasha had mildly acquiesced when Kagome walked away from him.They had not even fought when Rin broke off their friendship over Kohaku. Why had this happened now, while Kagome was giving birth?
Finally, Rin summoned the courage and words to respond “ He is at the healer’s with a belly wound. It may be some time before he is well enough to come here.”
Kagome took the baby from her and stared at her trying to find the meaning behind her words.
“A belly wound. Who could give Inuyasha such a wound that would incapacitate him” Kagome mused to herself. Suddenly everything became clear to her. She might not know why the wound had been inflicted by she certainly knew by whom it had been inflicted and how it had been inflicted.
“I must go to him.”
Rin put her hand on Kagome’s shoulder. “ Do you think that he would want you to see him when he is in this condition?”
“ He always let me bandage his wounds when we were on the quest. I have seen him in this. Last time he was injured like this he shoved me down a well to protect me. I worried all the time until I was able to come back to him. How can I not go to him now?”
Rin pointed out “ Now is not the time. You are Lord Sesshoumaru’s mate.Your place is with your daughter. I thought you observed the traditional month long confinement with Toga before you came to my mogi. Are you going to break with that now?”
Kagome was stumped. It had not occurred to her that she could not go to see Inuyasha. She would have to break confinement to do so. Sighing she acquiesced. Any visit to Inuaysha would have to wait until he was well enough to visit her. She could only visit him after confinement was lifted.
Finally, she spoke “Rin, go to the healers and let me know how he is doing”
Rin replied “I thought you wanted me to resume my duties with Toga When I awoke I found myself back in my old room, facing my old boss, and back in my old uniform.”
“I will have to admit, Rin. Having you around to help with Toga while I was pregnant was helpful. Being the only other human in the castle gave me someone to talk who really understands, but I don’t want you to feel that you are trapped here. What do you want to do right now?”
“I think my place is by Inuyasha’s side.”
“Then go there.”
Rin bowed to Kagome and raced off to the healers. When she arrived, Inuyasha was sleeping. The healer had obviously changed the bandages. Having nothing to do she resumed her vigil at his side.
She wondered about Kagome’s statements about treating his wounds. They really were closer than she had ever been. When Kagome heard that Inuyasha was injured she had wanted to rush to
his side.
Could Kagome really still have feelings for Inuyasha? Rin suddenly felt slightly jealous and confused. Why should she care about Kagome’s feelings for Inuyasha? She never had before.
She only felt jealous about Kagome’s relationship with Lord Sesshoumaru.
From what Kagome intimated. Inuyasha often found himself in need of medical assistance. She had given him first aid, but not the kind of aid the healer had given him. When she returned to the Sunset Village, she wanted Kaede to really teach her how to be a healer not just an assistant.
Where had those thoughts come from? She had hated being at the Sunset Village because being there separated her from Lord Sessshoumaru. She had only returned to help Grandmother Kaede in her convalescence.
Was she now thinking of a vocation in the village? If she did, she would be separated voluntarily from Lord Sesshoumaru. Was this what she wanted.? Her presence at Inuyasha’s bedside confused her even more.
She wanted to be here. Not at Kagome’s side. Not even at Lord Sesshoumaru’s side. They both had someone else. Inuyasha had no one else to care for him. That was why she stayed with him after the healer brought him here. Maybe that was why she felt lost when she awoke in her old room.
The healer walked in and saw her. Not good. She had Rin carried away the night before for this very reason. Lord Sesshoumaru had caused these injuries because the hanyou had dared to touch what was his. She had separated them to avoid further trouble. Now she was back. Lord Sesshoumaru would have to be told.
Inuyasha woke up, saw Rin and panicked “ Rin, you should not be here.”
Rin was confused “ Why not?”
“Sesshoumaru”
“What about Lord Sesshoumaru?”
“Sesshoumaru attacked me:”
“Why would Lord Sesshoumaru attack you? That makes no sense.”
“Two reasons. You were kidnaped because I failed to protect you. In Sessshoumaru’s eyes I am still your guardian. Next to Kagome and her children you are the most precious thing in his life I agree with him. I have no excuse for my failure. The second thing did not even occur to me until he mentioned it. I carried Kagome on my back all the time. When you needed a ride to get back to the Sunset Village I offered my back to you without a second thought. To Sessshoumaru it meant that I touched something precious to him in an intimate way without his permission. I am not about to apologize to him, but I do owe you an apology. I should never have allowed you to be kidnaped Once I promised to protect you and I failed. I only hope that you can forgive me.”
Rin opened her mouth. She knew that Lord Sesshoumaru had caused Inuyasha’s injuries, but she did not know why. They had been fighting over her. It had never occurred to her that two demons might fight over her. She had always known that Lord Sesshoumaru was very protective of her. She had always known two things. That he would always come back for her and that he would always save her.
The idea that he would attack Inuyasha for the reasons Inuyasha mentioned would never have occurred to her. She certainly did not blame Inuyasha for her kidnaping. She had been kidnaped so many time before that it did not phase her anymore.
They all should have known better than to trust Hana. Hana had been a fool. She had ended up just as much a prisoner as she was. The Hojo had treated her well once they realized what was going on. She would not mind back to Edo Castle and being treated like a princess.
As for touching Inuyasha, it did not even occur to her that it was wrong in Lord Sesshoumaru’s mind. She had never ridden on Inuyasha’s back before, but she had been on Ah-Un’s Lord Sesshoumaru did not object to them or even on the fire cat.
Neither she nor Inuyasha had even viewed what they had done as intimate at all. Looking back maybe he had touched her in places that no man had touched her before, but the touches were all innocent with no hint of intimacy.
She put her hand on his arm. “ I don’t blame you for my kidnaping. Don’t think about it anymore. I am sorry that Lord Sesshoumaru injured you for that. I do not know where he got the idea that it was your fault, but I will have to set him straight.about that. You are my friend. I love Lord Sesshoumaru, but I do not want him killing my friends of my behalf.”
Inuyasha sighed “ We just need to be careful, I guess. It never occurred to me that Sesshoumaru would be so angry about something so innocent.’
Rin replied “ I am just upset that you were hurt so bad because of me”
Inuyasha scoffed “ Don’t worry about me. These are just flesh wounds. If he really wanted to kill me, he would have pulled my heart out or taken my head off.”
Rin angrily retorted “Don’t say stuff like that. I saw your injuries. I was the one who gave you first aid and washed the dokkasou off so that you could be bandaged. Your guts were all over the ground. I was worried. Kagome was worried when she heard. She wanted to come see you, but the rules of confinement prevent her from leaving for the first month.
The mention of Kagome furrowed Inuyasha’s brow. She had patched him up so many times. It had almost been a badge of honor that he sat while she bandaged him. A sense of closeness. A sense of intimacy,.
The news that Rin had been the one to patch him shocked him. Some of the old familiar feelings that he had felt toward Kagome transferred to Rin in that moment. Kagome would never patch him up again. He had been happy to see Rin by his side when he awoke, but he never dreamed that she had been the one to first bandage his wounds. Involuntarily, he reached out and touched Rin’s hand.
It was just at that moment that the healer burst into the room followed by Sesshoumaru. “ See I told you she was here.”
Sesshoumaru stared at Rin for a moment and then simply said “Come, Rin”
Rin turned and looked at him in confusion.” Why? My place is here”
Sesshoumaru seemed surprised by her refusal. “Your place is with Kagome. She needs you now.
The healer will tend to Inuyasha.”
Rin persisted “It is my fault that Inuyasha is in this condition. I need to stay by his side until he gets better.”
Sesshoumaru seemed to be fighting a battle within himself. Finally he spoke “No”
Rin did not move. Sesshoumaru wondered what he should do. He had never forced Rin to do anything. She had always followed him unquestioningly. Finally, Inuyasha spoke
“Rin, you really should go. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for you than I already have.”
Rin listened but she was already listening to the sound of her own drummer. “ This is not about you. Lord Sesshoumaru has always let me do what I want. My heart is telling me that I need to be here now. Kagome actually urged me to come here because she could not come due to her confinement. If I tell her that Lord Sesshoumaru ordered me to go, it will upset her.”
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were confused by her words. Sesshoumaru wanted her as far away from Inuyasha as possible, but was unwilling to say that in front of Rin. Rin was right that he was unwilling to force her to do anything.
Inuyasha was torn. Rin’s presence was comforting. She was the only person he could call friend in the Western Shiro. At the moment he was at Sesshoumaru’s mercy. If Sesshoumaru wished to kill him now or take Rin away he would be unable to help her.
In the middle of the silence the healer spoke “ Lord Inuyasha needs to rest now. His healing will go faster if he sleeps. I have something to help him sleep.”
Rin looked at Inuyasha who smiled at her and shooed her away. “ Go tell Kagome how I am doing. I will see you again when I wake up.”At last she released his hand and walked out of the door whispering “ I will be here when you wake up.”
The healer bent down to give Inuyasha some of the sleeping potion. As Inuyasha drifted off to sleep., Sesshoumaru stared after Rin. Rin had done what he asked without him forcing her to do so, but he saw trouble in the future. When Rin wanted something she persisted until she got what she wanted.
Rin returned to find Kagome feeding Kasumi. Kagome looked up and smiled. “You weren’t gone long”
Rin muttered something that Kagome could not hear and took her place beside Kagome. Kagome looked at her wondering what she had said to offend Kagome. Finally, she decided to take another tack.
“So how was Inuyasha”
“Still badly injured. He won’t be able to move for sometime. The healer wanted him to sleep so I had to leave.”
Kagome listened to her words. Not knowing whether to press the subject or not, but she wanted to know how Inuyasha had come to be in this condition.
“Did he say why Sesshoumaru did this to him?”
Rin looked sharply at Kagome. She had hoped that Kagome would give this a rest. This was a matter which was between her and Sesshoumaru. She was not sure where Kagome’s loyalties lay.
She had been Inuyasha’s wife, but she was now Sesshoumaru’s mate.
“Apparently, Lord Sesshoumaru was upset that I was kidnaped and that after I was kidnaped Inuyasha carried me on his back to the Sunset Village.”
Kagome absorbed the rather clipped version that Rin presented. She had seen Sesshoumaru angry before. If not for her intervention, Sesshoumaru would have been killed for his attempt on Rin’s life. She decided that she needed more information.
“I did not know you were kidnaped.”
“Hana a miko who was helping out after Kaede was injured turned out to be a Hojo spy from Odawara trying to recruit mikos to help against the youkai being created on the battlefields of Musashi. She arranged for Hojo ninja to kidnap me and take me to Edo Castle. Once she was there she herself became a prisoner. Inuyasha came after me. Between his threats, my threats of retribution from Lord Sesshoumaru and the negotiation by Akitoki Hojo, we were paroled by the castellan. Hana left with Kohaku and Akitoki Hojo. Inuyasha offered me his back to ride back to the Sunset Village. I didn’t see the harm in it having ridden on Ah-Un for years. Inuyasha told me that Lord Sesshoumaru blames him for my being kidnaped since he is my guardian. He also said that Lord Sesshoumaru was particularly offended that Inuyasha had touched me in what Lord Sesshoumaru felt was an innocent manner.”
Kagome nodded. Inuyoukai could be so protective of what they thought was theirs. Sesshoumaru certainly was protective of Rin. Almost like a daughter. For Inuyasha to fail to protect her and touch her without permission was certainly worthy of punishment in Sesshoumaru’s eyes.
She was partially at fault. It was at her urging that Sesshoumaru made Inuyasha Rin’s protector. He had threatened Jaken for his failings in this area, but had only knocked him out. Sesshoumaru had not killed Inuyasha, but she knew how severe an injury evisceration was having seen it first hand.
“What did Inuyasha say?”
“He blames himself for my kidnaping and does not fault Lord Sesshoumaru for punishing him for that failing. What he does not understand is how carrying me on his back could be considered an intimate touch.”
Kagome laughed. Of course Inuyasha would not understand. She had ridden his back so many times and craved the touch of his hands on her thighs. A young girl’s fantasy which Inuyasha never really understood.
To Rin, Inuyasha was just another mode of transportation. Like Ah-Un. She had been reluctant to travel on his back at first, clinging to her bike until Inuyasha finally destroyed it. Sesshoumaru must have seen the way they clung to each other. It was closeness that she missed, but she had to give it up when she left Inuaysha for Sesshoumaru.
She needed to talk to Sesshoumaru. He simply could not behave in this manner. She had her way of persuading him to do anything for her. The idea of Inuyasha and Rin surprised her. She thought of them as uncle and niece just as Sesshoumaru did. For a moment she felt a twinge of jealousy, but she shook it off. She would not stand in the way of happiness for either Inuyasha or Rin.
“ I will talk to Sesshoumaru about Inuyasha.”
Rin thanked her. Maybe being a friend to Kagome might have benefits. Rin had always been more of a follower of Lord Sesshoumaru whereas Kagome could influence his behavior. Inuyasha was her friend. She certainly did not want him to suffer because of her.
Sesshoumaru finally arrived at the nursery. Kagome looked up at him and smiled. “Rin, Could you take Kasumi outside for a few minutes. I need to talk to my mate”
Rin started to protest, but Kagome silenced her by handing her Kasumi and shooing her outside.
When the door was shut, and Rin was out of earshot., Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru.
“I understand that while I was busy giving birth, you were busy playing with Inuyasha.”
The silence was deafening. Sesshoumaru had just come from Inuyasha’s room. He did not want to deal this anymore, he just wanted to take comfort in his wife’s arm. It had been so long. The baby had made it impossible for some time. Now she was free and had Rin to take care of the baby, maybe they could have some time together.
“What did you hear?”
“Rin is under the impression that it is her fault that you stuck your hand through Inuyasha’s belly”
“Rin did nothing wrong”
“So it was Inuyasha’s fault?”
“Rin was kidnaped on his watch.”
“Rin gets kidnaped a lot. I was kidnaped a lot. Rin never blamed you for her being kidnaped. She was never afraid because she knew that you would come for her. I was never afraid when I was kidnaped either because Inuyasha always came for me. That was the only thing that kept me from making a wrong wish inside the Jewel From what I have heard Inuaysha went after Rin and brought her back. Isn’t that worth some kind of recognition?”
Sesshoumaru knew he was not going to win an argument with Kagome, but he continued nevertheless. “ We are not talking about what happened before we mated, we are talking about now. You were the one that asked me to make Inuyasha, Rin’s guardian. I did so against my better judgment Rin could have been killed. Any of the ninjas or the soldiers at the castle could have decided to kill her.”
“From what Rin told me, she was never in any danger. Hana kidnaped her because the Hojo needed miko to deal with the youkai being created on the battlefield. Once they reached Edo castle Rin used the threat of you killing them all to talk her way out of the castle”
“But.”
“This is not about Rin being kidnaped, is it?”
Sesshoumaru turned his back to her. He might put on that stoic face, but she could always read his true feelings. In fact it was her understanding of him that made him fall in love with her. He had always been an enigma to his father, mother, and even Inuyasha but not to her.
“Was it because he touched Rin?”
“He has no right to touch Rin. She is mine.”
“ You would have her walk all the way to Sunset Village from Edo Castle”
“ She should have ridden with Kohaku on the nekomata. Then this would never have happened.”
“You cannot control everything Rin does”
“Yes, I can”
“No, you gave up that luxury when you left her in Kaede’s care. We agreed that she needed to go back to the Sunset Village because she was unhappy with her role here as babysitter for Toga. “
“I thought you liked having her here to take care of Toga.”
“I do. Rin is a wonderful girl, but she has a life of her own. She had to take care of all of Mirokua and Sango’s children. Now we want her to take care of Toga. It is not fair to her. She has a life of her own. That is why I tried to match her with Kohaku. It would have given her a husband and a life of her own. I admit now that I was meddling even if I meant well. If she is interested in Inuyasha, you should not interfere., even if you don’t approve of him.”
“But Rin is too young”
“Rin is seventeen. I was nineteen when we started seeing each other. Most girls in this era are married by fourteen and have children by sixteen. Sango was not unusual. She just waited until she was sixteen. Rin was ready for marriage when Kohaku came along because she saw herself as an old maid. You broke up my match, but Inuyasha took the blame. It caused Rin and Inuyasha to split up for a time. Now they are friends again. Neither sees it, but they are becoming closer. Both of them saw Inuyasha carrying Rin on his back as innocent. Which it was. Why not let develop naturally”
“Because it is Rin and Inuyasha”
Kagome threw her hands in the air. “ Just promise me that you won’t put your hand through Inuyasha’s stomach again.”
“Hn”
“I will take that as a yes. Rin, you can bring Kasumi back in.”
Rin returned and placed Kasumi in Kagome’s arms “Go back to Inuyasha. I will send lunch down to you.” Rin looked at her incredulously, but she left when Kagome shooed her away.
Sesshoumaru gave her a look, but Kagome stared him down.she knew that she had won for the moment. Rin would be allowed to be with Inuyasha. The more time they spent together the more natural their relationship would be.
Sesshoumaru had not been wrong in questioning Kagome’s presence on Inuyasha’s back. It had been the start of her own relationship with Inuyasaha. There was no denying that the closeness between the two bodies was sexually stimulating.
Sesshoumaru’s eyebrow disrupted her reverie. She gave him a coy smile. “ I’ll get the nursemaid
for Kasumi. Let’s see if we can’t work out your frustrations in a less violent, but just as stimulating manner.
Rin practically ran to the healers. She was disappointed to find Inuyasha still asleep, but sat down by the his bed to resume her vigil. The healer came in with a tray of bandages, healing salve and a bone. She scowled when she saw Rin.
Rin anticipated her question by stating “ Lady Kagome gave me permission to be here.”
The healer nodded and tried to get Rin away from the bedside so that she could do her work.
“Healing youkai is no place for a little human girl.:
Rin persisted “ I have been healing humans at the side of a miko for nine years. What could be so different?”
The healer smirked at her “ Watch and learn.” as she smacked Inuyasha upside the head. When he opened his mouth to complain, she shoved the bone in it and said “ Bite down on the bone, this may hurt a little.”
Rin winced as the healer stripped off the old bandages and applied the salve to wounds before rebandaging it. The healer was right. That had to hurt. She would have passed out from the pain.
It was clear that Inuyasha felt the pain, but it was more irritating than anything else.
The healer was just turning to leave when horns blared all over the castle. Rin looked up at her
“What in the world is that sound “ The healer continued out the door stopping only to spit out the vituperative “Invaders”
Sesshoumaru and Kagome had just finished their third round of lovemaking. Both of them were basking in the glow of a bond renewed. Sesshoumaru was right. It had been too long. They needed to find some way to provide for him during late pregnancy. The sound of the horns stirred
the daiyoukai instantly Kagome and their children would have to be protected from whatever had dared to breach the sanctity of the Western Shiro.
After arranging for Kagome, he put on his armor and hurried to the place where his soldiers had cornered the invaders. The soldiers parted as he strode toward the menace. The sea parted until he reached the central courtyard where he saw a large nekomata surrounded his troops.
A young man in taijiya garb was being restrained by several soldiers while a young woman in miko garb was bound and gagged at his feet. The man looked up when he saw Sesshoumaru.
“Lord Sesshoumaru tell your men that I work for you.”