Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. I also do not own the song Who Knew by Pink.
Please forgive any and all grammar or spelling errors!
Don't forget to review and let me know what ya think! Also please read short A/N at end of chappy.
Celestial Butterfly
Chapter Four: The Bridge and the Flood
Brilliant colors for bright ambers and gold highlighted the early morning sky. The sun had not even peeked above the horizon and yet Izayoi knew it was going to a long day. She hugged her silk robe to her body and turned away from the window. The room was softly lit and a bit chilly for her tastes.
"Sesshoumaru?" Inutaisho inquired from his place at his desk.
Izayoai slowly walked over to her husband's large oak desk where the latest tabloid rested. Her eyes brushed across the paparazzi photos on the front cover. They were angled just 'right' so that it looked as though Kagura was pregnant. And of course, the bright yellow headliner questioned that very idea.
Baby on the way?
Her stepson shifted in his chair tearing her attention from the magazine. Sesshoumaru remained cool as ever, but that was what she had to come to expect from him ever since he was little. His outward perception showed no indication that he cared about the potential problems the article could bring to the family, let alone the pain it would cause a particular female.
"You of all people, father, should know better than believe what those mindless idiot print."
Izayaoi rolled her eyes and returned to the window. It was obvious Sesshoumaru did not understand what Inutaisho was asking…either that or he chose to ignore the implication. The paparazzi were often mindless idiots but their leads did often times have a small hint of truth in them.
"None the less, there is damage control to be done," Inutaisho frowned, standing from his seat, "Starting now…Since your arrival was premature by a day, I must ask you and Kagura to remain out of sight or spend the day off the grounds. I will not have you causing a disruption today."
Sesshoumaru corked an inquisitive eyebrow, "I assure you that any disruption will but no fault of mine."
Inutaisho's face turned a soft shade of red indicating his annoyance at his eldest son. Izayaoi took it as a sign to clarify to Sesshoumaru why it was important for him to be unseen.
"Homecoming is tonight and we currently have a house full of teenagers. Rin has been looking forward to tonight for some time now. What your father is asking is of you, is not to make your presence known until after the kids leave for the dance. I assume you can imagine how her night would be if she knew you and your wife are here at the mansion…"
Something dug into his heart at the mention of Rin's name. Something that annoyed him but at the same time left him feeling more hollow than he had been these past few months. His hard gold orbs bore into his stepmother's eyes. He couldn't deny the small flicker of emotion that came with the thought of seeing her again.
"Very well," he responded quickly, standing to the leave the room quickly. He grinded his teeth, emotions were not a luxury he could afford or allow.
Slamming the door on his way out, Inutaisho and Izayoai could here his heavy footsteps echo through the hall. Izayaoi sighed sadly, taking a seat the chair Sesshoumaru had just been sitting, "I do not know which one is hurting more…her or him."
"Neither do I," Inutaisho replied with a heavy heart.
Inuyasha walked sleepily into breakfast hall. Nearly the entire room was made of windows rather than walls, allowing the morning sun to illuminate room rather than using synthetic lights. Rubbing his eyes, Inuyasha yawned and scanned the room. He perked awaked at the instance his sights fell on Kagome sitting on a stool at the island counter. She sat in her skimpy pale pink pajama shorts and white tank, eating a collection of fruits and reading a magazine of some sort. As far as he knew, everyone was still asleep so he was slightly surprised to see the object of his heart up so early.
The gang stayed over at their house the night before so that Saturday could be spent entirely getting ready for the much anticipated homecoming dance that evening. The girls of course, had to visit the hairdresser, the nail salon, the tanning salon but not forgetting to get the facials and the pedicures and everything in between. The guys, on the other hand, planned on spending the sum day playing Halo 2 then getting dressed about ten minutes before leaving for dinner.
He took in the full length of her exposed legs causing a small but sly smile to spread across his lips. Slowly and as quietly as he could, he snuck over to Kagome, stopping directly behind her. He reached out with both hands and gently slipped them around her thin waist. She jumped at the unexpected contact, which in turn resulted in her back being pressed firmly against her apparent attacker.
"Inuyasha?" she whispered in a breathy tone turning her head slightly to the side, "What are you…?"
"shhhhhhh," he huskily whispered after bringing his warm lips against her flushed ear, "something you know we both have been craving." With that said he softly brushed his lips down her neck, his smirk growing with every teasing stroke.
Kagome's heart raced and her body, from head to toe, tingled with an unfamiliar and extremely fierce desire. Her mind told her, no…screamed at her that it was wrong to want Inuyasha as badly as she did. Her brain reminded her of the numerous reasons why she had no right to yearn for his affection. Yet her heart quivered and ached for his touch. Electricity ran rampant through her veins in every spot where his skin touched hers.
Inuyasha was about to continue his ministrations of feathery light touches when his eyes fell on the previous object of Kagome's attention.
All playfulness dissipated as a frown etched its way onto his face. He straightened up as he loosened his hold on Kagome. Turning his head, he looked out one of the bay windows and noticed that the lights of the ice rink were on.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked for the second time within minutes as she spun on the stool to face him.
He took a minute to clear his mind of thoughts that accompanied the article she had been reading, "Is Rin up?"
"Yeah, she was eating breakfast with me then she said she had things to do and left. Why?" Kagome responded obviously confused at his sudden change in mood.
His eyebrows burrowed together, "No reason, um were you talking or anything before she left?"
"I..ah…I mentioned that I guess you might be an uncle soon. But other than that we were just talking about getting ready for homecoming."
"I see," he replied, his mind obviously preoccupied, "well I will catch you later."
And with that he left the room at a hurried pace leaving behind a baffled and terribly disappointed Kagome.
You took my hand
You showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
ah huh that's right
I took your words
And I believed
In everything you said to me
yeah huh that's right
The cool hair whipped her dark tresses wildly. The sound of her blades against the ice gave her a small comfort, though she knew not what to think or how to feel. She had not a single tear left to cry; yet her heart desperately wished she did. She closed her eyes while her arms lifted from her body willing her being to just fly away. Away from the pain of losing him…away from the fresh wound of knowing that he was going to be having a family…with someone else.
She was supposed to be the one to have his children.
If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Coz they're all wrong
I know better
Coz you said forever
And ever
Who knew
Inuyasha walked into the rink, his own heart battling new emotions. The strongest being the failure he felt upon not being able to take Rin's pain away…the failure that he couldn't protect her from further harm from his bastard of a brother.
Taking a seat at the top row of seats, he watched her angelic form spin and twirl. Her face, from what he could see was void of emotion. Not an expression he was used to seeing on her. He could tell that she was skating harder than normal. Her movements were more rapid and precise.
He hurt for her…and wished more than anything…even more than he wished for Kagome…that somehow he could take her pain away, that some how, in some way he could make it all better.
For her, if he could…he would turn back time…
Remember when we were such fools
And so convinced and just too cool
oh no no no
I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you a friend
I'd give anything
Rin continued to push herself as her thoughts became more expressive. Her long dark hair whipped violently behind her. The fresh crisp feel of air on her face helped to cool the warmth of her cheeks. She fought against the ever-rising feeling of pity through at the same time her mind struggled to understand why her heart couldn't completely let go of him. Why did it still hope that she would wake up one day and realize it all was just a nightmare? Why did it still wish that he would come to her and tell her that it was all a mistake…that he really did love her? Why…
"It's over…" she whispered sadly, bowing her head.
When someone said count your blessings now
'Fore they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
But they knew better
Still you said forever
And ever
Who Knew
She was beautiful…
God, how he missed her…
The music had caught his attention as he walked down towards the beach. His wife had been convinced to leave the manor until late afternoon so he was free to seek solitude. However, as he passed a fairly new build of the estates, the melody coming from inside sparked his curiosity.
Now he found himself only a few feet from the woman that would forever own his heart. The woman who was unlike any other, and the only one he had ever let close to him. He stood in silent awe at her gracefulness and her beauty. Ice-skating had always been one of her favorite pastimes particularly when something was bothering her.
I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened
Feelings that he had fought to control these past months began to stir deep inside his isolated soul. He did not think it would be this difficult seeing her after all this time. But he did not take into account the fact that the last time his eyes befell his heart was that last morning they spent together just a few days before she found out that he was going to marry Kagura.
He thought that giving up Rin was the hardest thing he had ever done, but watching her now, being so close to her…yet so far was immeasurably more difficult.
If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Coz they're all wrong and
That last kiss I'll cherish
Until we meet again
And time makes it harder
I wish I could remember
His soul yearned for the 'what if…' it desired the life he would have had with her. His being longed to hold her, to relish in the false fact that she would be his forever. He wonder, though, not for the first time, how he was going to make it. How would he be able to watch her find someone else, move on, and leave him behind? How was he going to be able to live the rest of his life eternally apart from her?
But I keep you memory
You visit me in my sleep
My darlin' who knew
He turned, stopping only for a second to take a final glance at her. He had sacrificed both their happiness in order to protect her. The only hope was that she would move on and find happiness again, even though, it would kill the last living part of his heart. He would survive. He too would go on with his life, living in his memories, and remembering a time when she loved him. And as the years pass along, his memories would the only proof that he did once have a beating heart.
My darlin' my darlin' who knew
My darlin' I miss you
My darlin' who knew
Why couldn't her heart just accept that, especially now, when apparently his wife is going to have his child…
The reason was simple…she still loved him. Despite his betrayal and the wounds that accompanied it she could not bring herself to hate him. She couldn't stop loving him even after all that had happened.
'Damn you, Sesshoumaru,' she silently cursed, 'I will get over you…I will figure out some way to stop feeling the way I do about you…somehow'
Who knew
Digging her skate into the ice and using the other foot for balance, Rin abruptly stopped, her breaths labored…a strange sense washed over her. It felt as if someone had been watching her.
Footsteps on the stairs, confirmed that fact and she spun just in time to see Inuyasha step onto the ice.
"Good Morning," she offered, half-heartedly, tears brimming in her eyes. Through crystalline eyes, she watched him unsteadily walk closer to her.
Inuyasha offered a small smile, but said nothing. Upon reaching her, he simply took her in his arms and held her shaking form to him. It was then that she finally let all her pain escape, the strength she found in skating slowly dissipated as total realization hit her like a sack of bricks. Kagura was having his baby…
The day had gotten better. Rin sat on her bed, careful not to wrinkle her dress. She glanced at the picture of Inuyasha and her down on the beach and smiled. As Sango and Kagome bustled around the room, her thoughts slipped to Inuyasha's speech to her that morning.
"Rin, don't let yourself backtrack, you are halfway done creating your bridge to get over the river of tears you have cried for him. You can't let this stop you from rising above the pain and getting on with you life. Yes, I know it hurts like hell and go ahead and let a few more tears run, but don't stop building your bridge. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for, and you will overcome this…I have absolutely no doubt about it."
He was right. His faith in her gave her courage to stand back up and hold her head high. Skating only gave her a temporary escape from her pain, however, she needed to finish reconstructing her heart. While she had been skating she had momentarily found the strength to defy her grief. She let that strength fade too easily. Inuyasha helped her to see that fact. And she decided that she was not going to let that happen again. She would get over Sesshoumaru, no matter how long it took, she was going stop dwelling in the past and that 'what could have been.' She was going to start new…beginning tonight.
Rin's warm brown colored eyes slid off the picture and onto her clock. She sighed. Everyone was ready…well almost.
Rin was ready. The guys were all set, however, killing each other with rocket launchers and needlers, held their attention for the time being. Sango was fussing with her hair for the ninth time within a twenty-minute time span. Kagome on the other hand was near the breech of a panic attack due to the fact that she could not find her other earring.
Rin sighed again with a small smile, stood, and quietly left her bedroom. Her long black dress sparkled as she stepped a few feet down the hall to remind the guys that it was time to be heading out. After doing so, she adjusted the strings of the halter and realigned the ribbon of beads on her dress so that it rested just under her breast.
Heading toward the stairs, she made her way down to the main foyer, her heels clicking gently against the marble along the way. Her hand glided down the railing while her mind contemplated whether she should have worn her black gloves. Deep cinnamon eyes looked up from the gaze at her feet.
She stopped dead, her breath dissipated - taken away by what befell her eyes.
Her heart sank even though it began pounding wildly in her chest. Her fingers griped the railing for support just as her mind searched pointlessly for an anchor to help calm all the emotions that had come rushing into her soul…and her heart.
Then cinnamon met amber and the world froze...
I don't get to update very often because I lack the time to write.
I will start working on the next chapter and will post it when I am able to finish it.
It is my hope that this summer I will be able to finish Rivers of the Heart and Celestial Butterfly. This summer will be the first time that I don't have to work or go to school. So other than going to VA for the summer, and spending time with my bf…i will have lots of time to write.
Reviews are always appreciated…
Until Next Time…