At Your Command, Sesshomaru-sama
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InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Rin
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Category:
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Rin
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
5
Views:
5,261
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter 5
© Salome Wilde, 2008
At Your Command, Sesshomaru-sama
Chapter 5
“Rin, stay back,” Sesshomaru commanded over his shoulder. Rin obeyed, instantly, though she held her staff in battle position and remained crouched, prepared to defend herself if necessary.
Sesshomaru turned back to his opponent, a flying snake-headed yokai thrice his size, and vaulted into the air to meet its attack. The snake’s doubled tail lashed out in two directions to encircle Sesshomaru’s waist. While one tail quickly ensnared him, the other met with Sesshomaru’s outstretched claws. The green trail of Toxic Flower Claw bloomed from the nailbeds and directly began to melt the yokai’s flesh. A wail came from the creature’s throat as its long, slender tongue desperately sought Sesshomaru’s throat. Rin watched in fascinated horror as Sesshomaru was strangled at throat and waist and began to drop toward the earth with the writhing, disintegrating snake beast attached to him. Again the fiend screeched as Sesshomaru’s claws hacked into its body across his chest. By the time her master and his opponent reached the earth, the snake yokai was a mass of liquefying flesh.
Sesshomaru lightly touched down, then stepped away and called Rin and Jaken to him.
“Brilliantly fought, Sesshomaru-sama!” Jaken gushed. “You are indeed mighty—and so swift! The weak creature was hardly upon you before you had destroyed him! No one can stand against Sesshomaru and win! Isn’t that so, Rin?”
Rin slipped her staff into the sheath on her back and smiled benevolently upon the obsequious Jaken. Softly, she answered him. “Yes, Jaken, there is no one as powerful as our master. We are privileged to serve him.” Her tone was flat. Rin grabbed Ah-un’s reins and led him behind her as Jaken continued to sing Sesshomaru’s praises.
Sesshomaru turned back and faced his followers. “Jaken, the path into the glade is now clear. Go on ahead and find food for yourself and Rin.”
“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama. Come, Rin.”
“No, Jaken. Give Jaken the reins, Rin.”
Rin nodded and obeyed, her heart beating fast. Jaken silently took Ah-un into the forest, glancing back at the pair a time or two as he went.
When the protective little yokai and dragon had vanished from sight, Sesshomaru spoke. “Rin, do you wish to be released from my service?”
Immediately, Rin understood what was being asked of her and why. Winter had turned to spring without a word being said about the night he had taken her, but it had never been far from her thoughts. Rin wrestled with guilt, shame, sadness, and frustration. From his lack of desire to understand what she had done with Kikyo and why to her body’s response to his savage use of it, Rin could find no peace. And now, suddenly, she faced banishment—or so the question felt to her burning heart.
“At your command, Sesshomaru-sama,” she said, squaring her shoulders and facing Sesshomaru as bravely as she could.
Sesshomaru looked down at her. His expression was impenetrable, as it always was—but for that one, life-changing night. “Come sit with me, Rin,” he said. She complied.
She unstrapped her staff and placed it behind her. Master and vassal sat, facing one another, crosslegged and backs straight. Rin looked into Sesshomaru’s eyes for a moment, then dropped her head. She let her long hair, once again, comfort and protect her.
“I will not command you to leave me, Rin.” Sesshomaru’s voice penetrated her veil. “You are more mine than any other being has ever been. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” Rin said, mechanically. She did not need to be reminded that he had marked her as his property that night.
“No,” replied Sesshomaru, “you do not.” He reached his hand forward to touch her, but then withdrew it. Instead, he continued, “Raise your eyes and look at me, Rin. We will not have this conversation again.”
Rin did so, brushing her hair from her face and pushing out her chin proudly. “Yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” she replied, sensing the importance of what surely would be a final exchange between them. Tears began to slip from her eyes.
Sesshomaru did not acknowledge the tears, but continued to speak. The speech in itself was strange coming from her stolid, still master, almost always a man—a demon—of few words. “Jaken follows me because he wishes to. I have had no other adherent until Tenseiga returned you to life and bound you to me as a child. But hear me, Rin: you were bound anew when I marked you…in ways you cannot comprehend.”
Rin nodded, mesmerized by his eyes and his voice if traumatized by his words, reminding her of her shame and his deed. The tears still formed, but she neither wiped them nor looked away. She longed to feel a warmth or softness coming from him as he calmly declared her his claimed possession, but that was a wish for something as impossible as being able to stop herself from breathing.
After a long pause, Sesshomaru said simply, “I wish you to understand, Rin.”
Rin did wipe her eyes then, drawing her arm across them hastily to clear them. She looked intently at Sesshomaru. He had never explained himself before, had never expressed a desire to have her know his intentions or motivations. His tone and expression did not alter, but in his words was hope. Quietly, Rin replied, “Then I will do my best to understand, Sesshomaru-sama.”
Sesshomaru nodded, and as he did, Rin could have sworn she saw pleasure in his eyes. Had her words pleased him? With all her heart she hoped so. Though she had come to fear him since that night, she had not stopped loving him. And his declaration that he wished her to understand him was a gift she would treasure always, even if he abandoned her after this day.
“Rin, I was wrong to mark you as I did. I could not bear the scent of another on your body, but I could have sent you away instead. I did not. I gave in to weakness in myself that night. This is why I must allow you to leave me now. You are evidence of my weakness, the giving in to animal instincts that lessen me.”
Rin’s face flushed at these words. So, she was not only a marked object but a hindrance! She would go. That moment. And never look back. She would not remain, knowing she was the slightest encumbrance to the greatness of Lord Sesshomaru! She rose and spoke to his seated form, though his eyes did not rise to meet hers. “I did not know, Sesshomaru-sama. Believe me. Had I suspected that I might ever be a detriment to you, I would have left immediately. Forgive me, please, and know that if you ever have need of me—though of course you will not—my life is at your command.” She bent to retrieve her staff, then began to walk away.
Sesshomaru remained seated, unmoving, his eyes looking out through the glade, the sunlight dappling the grass and the wind cool and crisp through his hair. Rin paused to look back at him, one final time, her magnificent master, her savior, and, however, painfully and tragically, her lover.
And then it struck her: he was not saying what she thought he was saying. She had not comprehended at all. It was not an accusation but a confession. Sesshomaru had bonded himself to her that night. He had given up control and taken her, yes. But he, too, would suffer now if she left him. He had opened himself up to her that one beautiful night, its memory nearly obliterated by the more recent and painful experience, that night when he had let her kiss his lips and hold his shaft in her hand and her mouth, had stroked her hair and let her sleep at his side. That night had meant more even to him than to her, more because while she gave her heart, he surrendered his will.
Returning to Sesshomaru, Rin bowed low. “I understand now, Sesshomaru-sama. Truly, I do. And I wish to stay with you. Whatever may come.” She came to her knees and laid her head upon his thigh. He did not move.
“I will never take you that way again, Rin.” It was both promise and confession. “You will not be harmed by me or by any other.”
Rin nodded into his robes, eyes closed, treasuring his vow, trusting him entirely once again. And she thought to herself, Perhaps there are other ways, Sesshomaru-sama. Perhaps…
-END-
At Your Command, Sesshomaru-sama
Chapter 5
“Rin, stay back,” Sesshomaru commanded over his shoulder. Rin obeyed, instantly, though she held her staff in battle position and remained crouched, prepared to defend herself if necessary.
Sesshomaru turned back to his opponent, a flying snake-headed yokai thrice his size, and vaulted into the air to meet its attack. The snake’s doubled tail lashed out in two directions to encircle Sesshomaru’s waist. While one tail quickly ensnared him, the other met with Sesshomaru’s outstretched claws. The green trail of Toxic Flower Claw bloomed from the nailbeds and directly began to melt the yokai’s flesh. A wail came from the creature’s throat as its long, slender tongue desperately sought Sesshomaru’s throat. Rin watched in fascinated horror as Sesshomaru was strangled at throat and waist and began to drop toward the earth with the writhing, disintegrating snake beast attached to him. Again the fiend screeched as Sesshomaru’s claws hacked into its body across his chest. By the time her master and his opponent reached the earth, the snake yokai was a mass of liquefying flesh.
Sesshomaru lightly touched down, then stepped away and called Rin and Jaken to him.
“Brilliantly fought, Sesshomaru-sama!” Jaken gushed. “You are indeed mighty—and so swift! The weak creature was hardly upon you before you had destroyed him! No one can stand against Sesshomaru and win! Isn’t that so, Rin?”
Rin slipped her staff into the sheath on her back and smiled benevolently upon the obsequious Jaken. Softly, she answered him. “Yes, Jaken, there is no one as powerful as our master. We are privileged to serve him.” Her tone was flat. Rin grabbed Ah-un’s reins and led him behind her as Jaken continued to sing Sesshomaru’s praises.
Sesshomaru turned back and faced his followers. “Jaken, the path into the glade is now clear. Go on ahead and find food for yourself and Rin.”
“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama. Come, Rin.”
“No, Jaken. Give Jaken the reins, Rin.”
Rin nodded and obeyed, her heart beating fast. Jaken silently took Ah-un into the forest, glancing back at the pair a time or two as he went.
When the protective little yokai and dragon had vanished from sight, Sesshomaru spoke. “Rin, do you wish to be released from my service?”
Immediately, Rin understood what was being asked of her and why. Winter had turned to spring without a word being said about the night he had taken her, but it had never been far from her thoughts. Rin wrestled with guilt, shame, sadness, and frustration. From his lack of desire to understand what she had done with Kikyo and why to her body’s response to his savage use of it, Rin could find no peace. And now, suddenly, she faced banishment—or so the question felt to her burning heart.
“At your command, Sesshomaru-sama,” she said, squaring her shoulders and facing Sesshomaru as bravely as she could.
Sesshomaru looked down at her. His expression was impenetrable, as it always was—but for that one, life-changing night. “Come sit with me, Rin,” he said. She complied.
She unstrapped her staff and placed it behind her. Master and vassal sat, facing one another, crosslegged and backs straight. Rin looked into Sesshomaru’s eyes for a moment, then dropped her head. She let her long hair, once again, comfort and protect her.
“I will not command you to leave me, Rin.” Sesshomaru’s voice penetrated her veil. “You are more mine than any other being has ever been. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” Rin said, mechanically. She did not need to be reminded that he had marked her as his property that night.
“No,” replied Sesshomaru, “you do not.” He reached his hand forward to touch her, but then withdrew it. Instead, he continued, “Raise your eyes and look at me, Rin. We will not have this conversation again.”
Rin did so, brushing her hair from her face and pushing out her chin proudly. “Yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” she replied, sensing the importance of what surely would be a final exchange between them. Tears began to slip from her eyes.
Sesshomaru did not acknowledge the tears, but continued to speak. The speech in itself was strange coming from her stolid, still master, almost always a man—a demon—of few words. “Jaken follows me because he wishes to. I have had no other adherent until Tenseiga returned you to life and bound you to me as a child. But hear me, Rin: you were bound anew when I marked you…in ways you cannot comprehend.”
Rin nodded, mesmerized by his eyes and his voice if traumatized by his words, reminding her of her shame and his deed. The tears still formed, but she neither wiped them nor looked away. She longed to feel a warmth or softness coming from him as he calmly declared her his claimed possession, but that was a wish for something as impossible as being able to stop herself from breathing.
After a long pause, Sesshomaru said simply, “I wish you to understand, Rin.”
Rin did wipe her eyes then, drawing her arm across them hastily to clear them. She looked intently at Sesshomaru. He had never explained himself before, had never expressed a desire to have her know his intentions or motivations. His tone and expression did not alter, but in his words was hope. Quietly, Rin replied, “Then I will do my best to understand, Sesshomaru-sama.”
Sesshomaru nodded, and as he did, Rin could have sworn she saw pleasure in his eyes. Had her words pleased him? With all her heart she hoped so. Though she had come to fear him since that night, she had not stopped loving him. And his declaration that he wished her to understand him was a gift she would treasure always, even if he abandoned her after this day.
“Rin, I was wrong to mark you as I did. I could not bear the scent of another on your body, but I could have sent you away instead. I did not. I gave in to weakness in myself that night. This is why I must allow you to leave me now. You are evidence of my weakness, the giving in to animal instincts that lessen me.”
Rin’s face flushed at these words. So, she was not only a marked object but a hindrance! She would go. That moment. And never look back. She would not remain, knowing she was the slightest encumbrance to the greatness of Lord Sesshomaru! She rose and spoke to his seated form, though his eyes did not rise to meet hers. “I did not know, Sesshomaru-sama. Believe me. Had I suspected that I might ever be a detriment to you, I would have left immediately. Forgive me, please, and know that if you ever have need of me—though of course you will not—my life is at your command.” She bent to retrieve her staff, then began to walk away.
Sesshomaru remained seated, unmoving, his eyes looking out through the glade, the sunlight dappling the grass and the wind cool and crisp through his hair. Rin paused to look back at him, one final time, her magnificent master, her savior, and, however, painfully and tragically, her lover.
And then it struck her: he was not saying what she thought he was saying. She had not comprehended at all. It was not an accusation but a confession. Sesshomaru had bonded himself to her that night. He had given up control and taken her, yes. But he, too, would suffer now if she left him. He had opened himself up to her that one beautiful night, its memory nearly obliterated by the more recent and painful experience, that night when he had let her kiss his lips and hold his shaft in her hand and her mouth, had stroked her hair and let her sleep at his side. That night had meant more even to him than to her, more because while she gave her heart, he surrendered his will.
Returning to Sesshomaru, Rin bowed low. “I understand now, Sesshomaru-sama. Truly, I do. And I wish to stay with you. Whatever may come.” She came to her knees and laid her head upon his thigh. He did not move.
“I will never take you that way again, Rin.” It was both promise and confession. “You will not be harmed by me or by any other.”
Rin nodded into his robes, eyes closed, treasuring his vow, trusting him entirely once again. And she thought to herself, Perhaps there are other ways, Sesshomaru-sama. Perhaps…
-END-