Trusting (to) Love

08-31-05

Authors Note: This is most of all I have written and it will take slightly longer to get the next chapter out, adding to that, I just started a new job today, only part-time so I should still have some time to write. Let me know what you think about this chapter.

*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*
Chapter 3 - The Will


Rin inhaled and the soft scent of forest filled her lungs, she burrowed deeper into the pillow. She didn’t want to wake up. She didn’t want to return to reality, to hurt and to pain. She just didn’t want to move, she felt comforted here, in this soft bed. ‘Bed?’ Rin opened her eyes; it was almost dark, but she could still see. She sat up and looked around. ‘Where am I?’ Rin studied the room. There was a computer on the wall at the end of the bed, a bookshelf next to it, stuffed with books and movies, a table-end with a TV on it next to that and then the closet. The bed was in the corner; there was a dresser with a stereo on it next to the bed. There was a balcony door on the far wall, and another door on the other side of the dresser. There was also an alarm clock on the dresser; it was 6:00 pm. Rin inhaled deeply, the entire room smelled of the forest, but the bed smelled the most like it. This was Sess’s room.

Rin got up and looked out onto the balcony. Sess was there, staring off into the night. She quietly walked out the open door to him. She could tell he was deep in thought.

The balcony was mostly bare; there was a plant on the far side by Sess’s window, and a chair, other than the door to Sess’s room and the door to her own there was nothing else out here. Rin looked to Sess, he was still just standing there, so Rin walked up beside him. He turned and looked at her. “You’re awake.” He stated.

Rin nodded.

“Are you OK?” There was no concern showing in his eyes or in voice.

Again Rin nodded. She turned from his stare and looked out into the night sky. It was beautiful. The stars were bright and beautiful. The moon was just past its first quarter. ‘Less than a week.’ Rin continued to stare at the moon, wondering what would happen.

“You are a half demon.” Sess was still looking at her, waiting for her reply.

Startled Rin looked to him. “I found a picture of your family, it had your father and brother in it.”

It was true, Rin’s father was a demon and her brother was a half demon. Her brother looked like a half demon too, with all that gold hair flowing around him, and the fuzzy ears atop his head, and the fangs. How could anyone not notice? But she didn’t look like a half demon, nor did she have any of the powers of one, at least not most of the time.

Sess turned back to the night. ‘So it really is true then. Rin is a half demon, not a human. That could mean something.’ He looked up to the moon. ‘Only just past its first quarter; damn. I won’t see her other form for some three weeks. No doubt it will be worth the wait though.’ Sess closed his eyes, he could smell her, she smelled so good. She didn’t smell like a demon at all, just human. But then his brother didn’t smell demon one night of the month either.
He could hear her heart, beating steady. She wasn’t afraid of him. That was new to him. Everyone was scared of him save Father and that mutt, even Kagura was scared; today he had scared her nearly to hell and back. Yet this woman was strangely comfortable with his presence, comforted even.

Rin turned and walked around Sess and over to her bedroom door and opened it. She walked in to see her stuffed animals on the window seat, they were arranged along the wall and piled in-between the two windows, they had been placed almost with care. She walked the rest of the way into the room; Sess followed and watched her from the doorway. Her blanket had been placed on the bed, her books and movies on the shelf, her figurines placed throughout the room; everything had a place and had been placed there. Everything was put somewhere except her clothing, those had been left for her to take care of. Now the room seemed more like home.

Rin turned to Sess; Rin paused and stared at him. Sess stared back at her. She then smiled her ‘Thank you’ smile.

“Who said it was I?” He questioned her, ‘She doesn’t know it was me, and she won’t know either.’

Rin walked over to him, this was the man that was cold to the world, cold to his family, cold to everyone he met, everyone except her it seemed. She stopped nearly standing on his toes and looked straight up into his eyes and raised an eyebrow, imitating him. She watched the hint of amused surprise flicker in his eyes, nearly undetectable. She waited.

Sess stared into her eyes, he didn’t want to lie to her, but he didn’t want to tell her the truth either. What was he suppose to say?

Rin smiled smugly and turned back to her room. It was true that he, Sess, had gone through her belongings and placed them throughout the room. It hadn’t been difficult, it seemed the room had been built and furnished to house Rin and her belongings.

Rin walked over to her bed and sat down. Most of her work was done, her room was put together and all she had to do was put her clothes away. She was glad that Sess hadn’t gone though that part of her life. What with the thongs and bras and secrets, she just didn’t need him putting those away for her. It was stuff she didn’t need him seeing.

Sess turned around and began to walk away while Rin was still sitting on the bed looking for all the world like she wanted him to stay.

Sess nodded his head to her and closed her balcony door on his way out, he peaked one last look at her through the glass before walking back to his own room. ‘So Rin really is a half demon, that’s interesting. Father must know, he knew Rin’s father. Why didn’t he warn us about that before she came? He had told us she was coming. Or rather, told us his childhood friend’s orphan daughter would be living with us. Not another half demon would be moving in.’ Not that he minded having this one around.
Sess returned to own room and closed the balcony door. The room was darkening and the stereo was still playing music, he turned it off. He could still smell her. Her soft scent reached out and grabbed his senses. He sat down on the bed and buried his nose in his pillow. ‘If only it would linger until tonight. If it doesn’t I might need to get her in here again.’ Sess slowly pulled himself out of his thoughts and walked out of his room only to see Rin in her room putting her clothing away. She hung up her shirts, skirts, slacks and dresses. Her jeans, socks, bras and panties went on the bed to be put in the dresser later. Sess scanned over some of the items and imagined her wearing them. She had one short black dress that would probably stop just above mid-thigh on her. It had a red ribbon that tied just under the breasts and it had spaghetti straps. She also had a bra that was strapless, half red silk half see through red lace, she had as well, a red silk thong that would match it. ‘Oh, she would look good in that.’ Sess watched her finish putting everything in her closet only to turn to put more in the dresser when she saw him.

“Dinner should be ready soon.” Sess provided. It was the only explanation that he could come up with that would explain why he had been standing there watching her. Rin nodded her head and slid the suitcases under the bed, and finished putting her clothes in the dresser while Sess waited to lead her downstairs.

Rin followed Sess back down the hallway and down the stairs. Now that she was to live here Rin started looking around and noticing the little things. Like the pictures on the wall of Sess when he was about 4 and Inuyasha 3, Sess was scowling and had his arms crossed while Inuyasha was on the ground poking at a bug. Rin smirked, and continued her search. There were feudal era weapons hanging on the wall in the front hallway, they were swords. One looked beat up and sorry, its blade had nicks everywhere and its hilt was of old leather that had dried and frayed. Another sword looked well kept and cared for, it would have been identical to the first had the first been taken care of. The third and last sword was amazing; it gave off a powerful energy that was probably the reason as to why the sword was so high up on the wall. Its hilt was red, and it had a leather string tied through the end of it, the blade was longer than the others and slightly wider. This sword was definitely heavier and required more skill to wield.

Reaching the base of the stairs Sess turned into the hallway and Rin slowly followed, peaking into rooms as she went. To her left was a library, the door was open and she could see Inutashio sitting at the computer working. Rin turned toward the hall and looked into the other room, it looked to be a den. There was a fireplace, sofa, a basket-like chair, along with a display unit that held pottery and other items that she couldn’t make out.

Rin turn into the hall and walked forward, she could see straight out the sliding doors out onto a deck, beyond the deck was a pool, beyond that was a grassy yard only to be interrupted by a line of trees. The grounds looked to be huge, one could get lost in that forest.

The end of the hallway found Rin beside the kitchen, there was a table in a semi-formal dining area, and that table was laden with food. A woman, from the looks of her a housekeeper, was placing a casserole dish in the center of the table. The housekeeper looked to be in her 40s and of the happy sort. The smell coming from the kitchen and table was making Rin’s mouth water.
Someone laid a gentle hand on Rin’s shoulder. Looking, Rin saw that it was Inutashio. “After dinner may I speak with you in the family room?” He asked, gesturing towards where Inuyasha and Miroku were playing a video game on the TV, past the pool table in the formal dining area. Rin nodded her head.

“Well then, let’s eat. BOYS! TV off, come and eat.” Inutashio called out to Inuyasha and Miroku. The boys got up and turned off the TV and walked over to the table.

Inutashio sat at the head of the table, Sess at the other end in front of the windows, Inuyasha at his father’s right, Miroku next to him, and Rin on Sess’s right. Dinner was a talkative event through Inutashio, Inuyasha, and Miroku.

Before Rin had even lifted a bite to her mouth Miroku started speaking, “Dear Rin, you are so charming and lovely, I apologize for my behavior earlier today and hope you will forgive me.” Rin looked up startled before slowly nodding her head. “Wonderful, now will you do me the great honor of bearing my child?”

Before Rin could blink Sess hit Miroku upside the back of his head making him land face forward in his plate of food.
Miroku came up from his plate with a disgruntled look on his face and licked his lips. “I apologize again, I didn’t know you were already spoken for.” Miroku stood up and walked to a door on the end of the hallway that happened to be a half bathroom.

Inuyasha was snorting into his cup, trying not to laugh outwardly. While Inutashio was grinning and explained, “Don’t take the offer to heart m’dear, Miroku asks every beautiful woman that, and each time his head gets a little harder.”

Rin’s eyes were wide and bewildered as she again nodded her head and brought a bite up to her lips. As she chewed she looked to Sess only to see him completely composed and eating his own food.

After about thirty seconds Inuyasha gave up trying not to laugh and wound up laughing while trying to swallow a gulp of milk and had to splirt it back into his glass. Inutashio joined in on the laughter as well. After a minute or so both the men were able to get their laughter under control only to have Miroku walk out of the bathroom at that moment. They burst out laughing again and Miroku gave a sheepish smile and pinkened slightly before taking his seat.

Dinner from that point on only had a few snorts and snickers into glasses, and one game of footsies under the table where Miroku tried to run his foot up Rin’s leg and missed, instead running his foot up Sess’s. Sess had growled slightly and stomped on the offending foot. Miroku, realizing his mistake, blushed and returned to his food, not to cause another disturbance for the rest of the evening.


The dinner table had been cleared, the housekeeper had left, Inuyasha and Miroku were upstairs, and Sess had disappeared out of the side door of the house. While Rin found herself sitting on the couch in the family room waiting for Inutashio to speak.

Inutashio was pacing and trying to gather his words while holding an envelope that looked to have been overly stuffed with papers or something.

“Your father and I met when we were young boys. He had gotten into a bit of a scrap. He’d stolen a paddleboat and took it out onto a lake by himself and lost his energy to peddle while out there. I was out there myself with my Father and we came upon him. I offered to help paddle him back to shore, we talked and when I discovered that he hadn’t paid to take the boat out I helped him slip past the people working the activity. We were friends ever since.” Inutashio hadn’t stopped pacing.

“I was best man at your parent’s wedding, and when Toshiro was born I was named sole guardian, same was done when you were born. I have a few pictures of myself with you and your brother. If you would ever care to see them, you need only to ask.” The last part of this was said while Inutashio looked straight at Rin.

“As sole guardian you and your brother would have come to me had something happened to your parents. Sadly, something did. I am sorry that it took so long for the authorities to locate me and send you on your way. I have had the house cleaned and packed and all the possessions in the house are yours as is the house, also your family’s bank accounts are yours too. I have already received the insurance money from your family’s death; it’s in a bank account here. Everything belongs to you; you can do anything you’d like with it. Sell it, save it, even destroy it if that is your wish.”

Inutashio ended his speech and waited for a reaction. There was none.

Inutashio resumed pacing, “I have copies of the wills, the police report, and of the 9-1-1 phone call. You may have them if you wish. I haven’t read the report or listened to the call yet.” He handed Rin the overstuffed envelope.

Tears were in Rin’s eyes as she took it. She slowly opened it and pulled out the contents. Her parent’s wills, her brother’s will, the cassette, and the police report. Taking a deep breath she picked up the police report. Leafing through it she caught words like: shots fired, tied up, blood, and raped.

Rin closed the packet and slipped everything back into the envelope. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes; she sniffed.
Inutashio sat down on the ottoman. “I’m not going to say that I understand what you are going through, I just wish there was some way that I could help you get through it. I welcome you to my home and hope that you will soon see it as your home too. You’ve met my family, and I know that we will never take the place of your old family but we will love you as much as you let us. I hope you can find peace here and that you will learn to trust us. Maybe once you’ve spent some time here you will speak again.”

He didn’t touch her, only offered the comfort he could though words. Rin closed her eyes and drew in a breath, held it, and let it out. She blinked her eyes a few times to clear the tears before opening them again. She nodded her head and looked down at the envelope. She opened it and sifted through the papers before pulling out the police report and handing it to Inutashio. He took it and Rin stood up and carried the rest out with her.

Inutashio looked at the packet in his hand and steeled himself for what he knew he was going to find inside. He opened the packet and started to scan the page.

A 9-1-1 call was made from the address 5814 Lincoln St. Gunshots and conversation could be heard on the call. Police arrived 14 minutes after the call was made. Shots were heard outside the residence, the house was entered, gunmen were ordered to drop their weapons, they ran, shots were fired, gunmen killed, officers injured. Rin was found in the front hall closet, Sakura was still alive but died before medical help could reach her; Michio and Toshiro were dead upon arrival.

Inutashio was shaking. He didn’t want to know the particulars of the incident. His best friend had died trying to protect his family from harm. He had failed, his family was killed before his eyes and his daughter had watched the whole thing in fear that she too would soon die.

Inutaisho stood and walked into the library, placing the document in his locked filing cabinet where it wouldn’t be disturbed. ‘That poor, poor child, how am I suppose to help her overcome this when I can’t even read all of what happened?’

*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*3*

Review! I demand! *winks* I hope you liked it.