The Courting of Rin

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Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters.

Translations: koi = come (command)
ima = now

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Chapter 4: Journey

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Sesshoumaru sat in his study, blankly staring at the cluttered
mess of half opened scrolls and scattered parchments.


He frowned, his mind wondering over the subject of Rin's courting as
a shallow late afternoon breeze snuck in through his open window.

The inu youkai had never let the thought cross his mind that someone
would want to court his Rin.

It was Sesshoumaru's belief that Rin traveled with him, she stayed with him
and only him and all other youkai knew this fact to be the absolute and
unchangeable truth.

He did not believe that anyone would dare come between him and his ward.
No one would have the audacity to issue a challenge trying to take what
belonged to him. Along with that belief, he also held the conviction that Rin
desired to stay with him, he was her, "Sesshoumaru-sama."


But Rin had accepted the swan youkai's request at courtship.

He growled. It had to be a swan youkai. If it had been any other youkai,
Rin would have certainly refused the absurd notion immediately. But it had
been a Hakuchou, the youkai species known to be the most docile, noble,
loyal, and... beautiful. Rin instantly recognized Sunoo's inner beauty. Sesshoumaru
let out a long sigh. Even he could see the brilliance of the swan youkai's
untainted soul, sticking out like an ivory dove amidst a midnight cluster
of black-birds. Sunoo's radiance completely outshone Sesshoumaru's presence.
He was nothing but a mere shadow to his ward now; a raven shadowed
by the wing of a swan.


This very day was the eve of the full moon's night.

During the last thirty days, he silently watched his sweet, young ward and her
courtier in brooding silence.


Rin had become quite attached to the Hakuchou. Every day, she eagerly awaited
his arrival at the palace gates. She would frown when he did not appear in the
morning and light up when he arrived at midday. The swan youkai did not
allow the sun to set without seeing Rin.


The couple would spend hours talking or simply sit quietly together under
the blossoming sakura tree. At times they would laugh and play like little
children. The Hakuchou lord would pick Rin up in flight and she would giggle
till her cheeks flushed with merriment.



There was one thing that bothered him, Rin's scent. Within the
last few days, her scent had changed. Her base essence had mellowed into a
fragrance that resembled the sweetness of honey. It tingled his senses
whenever she came near, making his mouth water in anticipation, but he
could not determine exactly what he was anticipating. Bothered by
his reaction to his ward's new smell, he pushed the strange occurrence
out of relevance, attributing Rin's change in scent to her rising emotions
concerning the Lord Sunoo.


Another sigh escaped his lips. Rin was feeling..... emotions for
the swan youkai. Deep, pure and.... happy... emotions.


And tonight, under the full moon's light, the Lord
Sunoo would kneel before Rin and ask to be her lifelong mate.



Suddenly, Sesshoumaru did not want to think anymore.
It was getting late and he had somewhere to be.



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A faint, curt knock brought Rin out of the fairytale in her hands. She quickly
put the book on the table next to the bed and stepped to the door.
Rin felt as if she was about to burst. Sunoo was due anytime now. A part of
her was nervous, excitedly nervous. He was coming tonight to ask for her hand.
She had no idea what she was going to say, maybe the butterflies in her
stomach would speak for her.

Gripping the handle, she opened the heavy wooden door to find her protector
standing there. A warm gaze of gold caught upon her clothes and hair before
freezing to ice. He spoke in a tone colder than the winter wind.
"Rin, it is time to leave."

Her Sesshoumaru-sama turned.


Confused, Rin held out her hand, "But...."


She glanced at the open window on the far side of the room. Late afternoon
was falling to early evening. Tonight.... Sunoo. How would he find her if
she left the estate? "But.... I..."


Her protector's steps echoed down the hallway, "Do not tarry, Rin. Koi. Ima."

Sighing, Rin frowned in defeat then dropped her gaze to the stone floor before
trailing in behind her Sesshoumaru-sama.


As they stepped through the castle gates, Rin peered up at the evening sky.
She looked to the west, noting the sun would set soon. For an instant, she
glanced toward the garden. Sunoo promised to meet her tonight under the full
moon by the ancient sakura tree. This night..... he was suppose to ask her.....

Despondently, Rin sighed and looked at her protector. His long
silver hair swayed with the gentle breeze as he walked ahead, the
silky strands of pearly white glittered in the late evening glow. He moved with
elegance, tall and calm. His unearthly form flowed in the radiance of immortal
beauty. For as long as she could remember, her protector had always been
this way, quiet with the refined grace of royal lineage and the ethereal stance
of pure nobility. Yet, she knew, somewhere in his stoic, rigid, silent demeanor,
there resided something special, something akin to warmth. She did not know
what it was, but it lay hidden within so deep that she doubted anyone else knew
it existed, but Rin knew it to exist. She knew it was as real as the rain and was
as warm as the sun.

Rin's quiet glance of contemplation eased into one of curious observation.
For the first time, she noticed... how tall he really was.... how his sure and
steady gait pronounced a commanding masculinity.... strong, powerful, and.......

She swallowed heavily and tried to look somewhere else. Those were not the kind
of thoughts she should be having for her protector, her keeper, her.....

A strange feeling pulled at her insides. What was this? She did not understand
what this sensation was. It was as if a feeling that had always been there
suddenly decided to surface for the first time. It wanted her to look
at her protector again... to see... to admire... to gaze at the one that
had always been there for her. To find, by any means necessary,
that something special hidden deep within his soul, to touch it, to
hold it...... to take it....... for her own.


Rin closed her eyes and shook her head. No. No. This was madness. A part
of her wanted to touch him differently, innocently yet not so innocently.
What was happening to her?

It happened again. While squeezing her eyes shut and walking at the same time,
she accidentally bumped into his warm, soft form, her nose cushioned by his
boa, her hands reaching out to steady herself before she stumbled and fell
against him, wishing her hands would find anything else to hang on to except his
body but there was nothing else. Her hands found his sides, "Ooops."

She began to back up but was stilled by his right hand seizing hers,
pulling it forward to rest on the tie of his blue and yellow belt.
His voice came low and deep, "Rin, we are flying tonight."


Rin opened her eyes. They widened with shock. What? They had not flown
together since she was a child, right before she began riding Ah and Uhn.
No. Right now was not the best time for her to be clinging to her protector,
not with these strange and new feelings emerging.

Yet, before she knew it, they rose, flying high above the ground, far from
the estate.

His hand held hers tightly, "Remain still, Rin."

Rin swallowed again. He was so warm, and he smelled so good. Without thinking,
she inhaled deeply, trying to capture and hold his scent. It was spicy and
inviting, a bold masculine fragrance, something close to cinnamon but deeper,
richer, with a dark hint of male musk. This newly found scent compelled her
to mold against him, which she did, unconsciously, her cheek resting
against his back, her hands wrapped tightly around his waist. She smiled, not realizing
the hand gripping hers had gently squeezed once.



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Oh, I just love fairy tales, wish I could do review responses, but I am sick.
I will get to them next chappie. scarecrow.