The Life After

6/23/06

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters of Inuyasha. I do not own Naraku, Inutaisho, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Jakken, Rin, or Ah-Un. Rumiko Takahashi is the wonderful creator and owner of said characters, manga, and show. I do not make money off of her characters or this story. This Disclaimer applies to this and all following chapters.

Author's Note: I love this chapter! It's so sweet. Look, I know Lord Sesshoumaru would very unlikely do all of these things. But not only is Rin's new scent messing with his head, but she has also opened his heart up to knew posibilities. Sorry, if you are still looking for the "good" chapter in this, it is NOT this one. Oh this one's got a very mild lime in here, but nothing major. I have, however, already started the "good" chapter and I promise that it is Chapter 7. The very next chapter. Which will be posted soon. I am nearly done with the story, and I do not like to keep any avid readers waiting, so the chapters should be up in two weeks at the very absolute latest. Sorry to keep you waiting.

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Sesshoumaru was growling fiercely, his eyes blazing red, as he entered his castle. The maids and servants ducked out of his way, even Jakken hid himself behind a door. Sesshoumaru's mind was racing. How could she run off like that? Did she not realize the immense danger she put herself in? He looked down at Rin who was asleep in his arms His eyes regained their golden glow as he looked at her. He whisked her up two flights of stairs and laid her gently in his bed, slamming the door shut behind him. He brushed the hair from her cheek, sitting down on the edge of his bed. Was Shen right? Did she go to him by choice? Of course not! he shook his head, He was using his demonic energy to hypnotize her. He was going to mark her as his mate. How dare he?! Rin belongs to me! He gasped at the thought. What was happening to him? She was only a mortal. Still how could he have treated her so badly in the meadow, and why did she smell so sweet all of a sudden? He swept from the room, determined to buy her a gift to make up for his maltreatment.


Rin woke up in her own bed. Her head hurt and her thoughts were still consumed with Master Shen. She shook her aching head, trying to get the wolf demon out of her mind. She sat up and noticed something on the end of her bed. It was a beautiful blue-purple kimono decorated with glittering pink silk sakura blossoms and petals. A pink sash, the same color as the flowers, lay on the bed beside it. On top of the kimono was a note. The stuffed toy Sesshoumaru she had bought years before sat on top of the paper. She picked up the toy, holding it against her chest unconsciously. The note had only two words written neatly on top of it, “I'm sorry.” She recognized the handwriting as Sesshoumaru's. Not because she had seen his writing before, but because she felt it. Those two words meant the world to her. He had never admitted to being wrong before. Memory of the previous night dawned on her. Perhaps he wasn't the one who was wrong. From what Master Tuu-Yen had told her, demon males imbedded their demonic energy in their mates before marking them with a bite. This ensured the females' loyalty for life. That was what Master. . . no, no longer my master, she thought, That was what Shen had tried to do to me. I would have been forced to be in love with him forever. It was a terrifying thought. Still, Sesshoumaru had been rash for throwing out all the men in the castle. “Tuu-Yen certainly wouldn't have harmed me,” she sighed, tying the sash around her waist. She had put on the kimono while she had been thinking.

“Quite right.” Rin did not turn around; instead she lowered her eyes to the ground. How could she face him after all that had happened? “However,” he continued, and she could feel his breath against her shoulder, “he was very happy to return to his home.”

“You did not banish him?” she whispered to the floor.

“The only one I banished was Shen. The others were allowed to return home. They were glad to be leaving.”

“You do not trust me.”

“I did not…,” there was a terrible silence that brought tears to Rin's eyes. Finally the dog demon spoke again, “I am s…sorry. I should have trusted you.” Rin looked up towards the wall in front of her. “but you should not have run away. You put yourself in terrible danger! You would have been bound to Shen for eternity! Is that what you want? To be bound to that filthy demon?”

Suddenly Rin whirled around and buried her face in Sesshoumaru's kimono. He could feel her tears soaking through the fabric as she whispered, “Thank you for saving me, my lord. I am sorry I disobeyed you.”

Sesshoumaru looked down at her gently. Slowly he wrapped his arms around her. The top of her head barely came up to his shoulder, though he towered over most creatures. I have not held her since she was a child, he thought, but why is it so different this time? He sighed deeply, then pushed her gently away from him. He lifted her chin with a clawed finger, “Do not cry, Rin. I do not want you to be sad. If you are sad here…you can leave. You are free.”

Rin shook her head defiantly, “No, my lord. My life belongs to you. Besides, I am happy here.”

He stared down at her for a minute; then reached into his kimono and pulled out a perfectly intact sakura blossom. “Here,” he picked up her hand with his free one and placed the flower gently in her palm, “This will go nicely with your kimono.”

Rin looked up at him and gaped. He turned his face from her, looking rather flustered for his usually emotionless countenance. She gently wove the flower's stem through her hair tie. It did indeed sparkle brilliantly in her hair, complementing wonderfully with her new kimono. “How do I look, my lord?” she bowed respectfully.

The words echoed in his head, and he turned back to her. Her face was still lowered to the floor. A memory wisped around her words. When they had first come to his castle together, he had given her a new kimono then as well. She had asked him the same question. He had brushed her off then, but she had grown wise. He surely could not get away with it as easily. He searched frantically through his mind for some answer. Finally he chose the only thing he could, the truth: “You look beautiful, Rin.” She rose her eyes to meet his own, which were surprisingly still facing her. He had not turned away. He did not deny his words. She blushed as brightly as her kimono.

“Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru,” she whispered.

Gingerly he reached out his arm, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek. In a swift motion, he lifted her under her arms and sat her on her bed, thus bringing her face up to his level. His eyes were inches from hers. She had not been this close to him for years. She began to shake with uncertainty. Silently she cursed her body for betraying her fears.

“Are you frightened of me, Rin? Do you think I will hurt you?” he asked, not letting her eyes move from his. He never missed a beat. He knew when she was frightened or joyful or sad. Did he sense the longing that was racing through her; this sudden need for him that she couldn't explain or even begin to satisfy?

“No, my lord. I am just frightened that I am not good enough for you. I am only a mortal; a lowly human. What good can I do you?” she whispered as she tried to turn her face away.

He caught her cheek in his hand and held her gaze steady, “Do not say that. You are amazing. Human or not.”

“But I am worthless to you.”

“That is not true.” Before she could argue his lips were pressed against hers. Her eyes widened, then closed. She leaned closer to him, returning the kiss. His tongue brushed against her lips. Parting her lips, she hoped that was what his tongue had been asking for. Her question was quickly answered as his tongue searched every corner of her mouth. He ran it against her teeth and over her own tongue. Rin pushed back against his tongue, wanting to search his mouth as well. He backed off submissively, and she ran it over his own sharp canines, delving into his warm mouth. As they pulled back, parting from the kiss, Sesshoumaru whispered, “You are everything to me.” Instantly he realized what he was doing. He stumbled backwards, her eyes suddenly frightening him with their intensity. It was her scent; the smell of her in heat was too much for his demonic nature. He had to get away, lest he hurt her as he feared other men would. He disappeared without a sound.

“Lord Sesshoumaru?” she gasped, hopping down from her bed. Part of her wished he hadn't left, but another was frightened of what would have happened if he had stayed. She was glad that he had kissed her, that he said such wonderful things, but she was frightened that she would not be able to pleasure him. Stupid human body, she hissed inwardly, If only I was good enough for my lord. She sighed, lying down against her pillows.


Neither Sesshoumaru nor Rin reported to lunch. No one questioned their absence. The news of Sesshoumaru's anger the previous night had spread through the entire castle. Jakken suddenly had an errand to run with Ah-Un, and the other servants were conveniently out of chores, thus had headed to their homes. The castle was silent as night fell.