“Well, my dear,” Ren said smugly as he entered the room. Striding straight up to Rin, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, his wolfish smile fixing on Kagome instead. “Have you shared the good news with her yet?”
Stiff with surprise, Rin looked to Kagome, at a loss. Just as desperately, Kagome stared back, her confusion turning swiftly to rage.
“Get your paws off her!” the miko growled, reaching for her apprentice.
But the samurai captain kept his hold, and Rin made no move to free herself from him.
“What,” Kagome exploded, some of the fight draining from her at Rin’s strange reluctance, “what in the gods’ names is going on?”
The girl lifted her downcast face, her brown eyes still faintly sheening. “I…” she began, faltering. “Forgive me, Kagome-chan…”
“What my beloved means to say,” Ren cut in smoothly, tipping Rin’s face back to his by the chin, “is that we are to be married on the morrow.”
Kagome gaped at him, too stunned at first to speak. This news hit her with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the gut. Seizing Rin by the arm with a wrench that nearly pulled it from its socket, Kagome glared daggers at him.
“The fuck you are…” she snarled.
White as a sheet, Rin gasped as she shrugged Kagome off and retreated to Ren’s side. “…It is true, Kagome-chan. We are to be married, as he says.”
“You can’t be serious,” the miko fumed, her voice lowering at Ren again. “How dare you threaten her into this…”
“No one has threatened me!” Rin cried out, a little color returning to her cheeks. Her dark gaze flashed to Kagome’s. “This is my decision, Kagome-chan, and you must accept it.”
Looking at her, standing so defiantly at Ren’s side, Kagome deflated. Calmly yet miserably, she searched Rin’s flushed, angry face.
“This can’t be what you want, Rin-chan. I don’t believe it.”
The younger priestess seemed to shrink a little. Her expression tinged green as she grimaced away.
“Rin,” the samurai ordered her, clear and hard, “leave us now.”
Kagome could only look sullenly on, as Rin glanced to him before fleeing the room. In her wake, Ren stepped forward, as Kagome advanced upon him.
“You,” she seethed, grabbing him by the haori. “What the hell are you playing at, you bastard?”
Ren smiled coolly as he broke her grip. “I’ve given you ample time, Kagome-sama, to accept my proposal. I have great plans for this holy city of yours. As Lord of Edo, having a priestess at my side seems only fitting, wouldn’t you agree? Say the word, even now, and I will take you instead of her.”
“Go fuck yourself,” Kagome snapped.
Ren’s eyes glinted like amber in the lamplight. “Then it would seem you leave me no choice.”
“Don’t try to play this off on me—you’ve been sniffing after Rin from the start!”
“I won’t deny that I’m not displeased with this outcome,” Ren said with a chuckle as he turned. “No offense to you, Kagome-sama, but ‘blushing and virginal’ is rather more to my tastes.” At the doorway he paused, smirking back. “Now, if you’ll be so gracious as to give my marriage and lordship your blessing, I’m happy to let you reside in Edo. Otherwise, I am turning you out. I want no quarrels with Sesshoumaru-sama, and my sweet little wife will make sure the peace is kept, with or without you here.” Ren’s parting smile was like a knife through the ribs. “So, decide now, priestess—submit to my edicts or else be on your way. The choice is yours.”
With that, he stepped through the open door, and out into the night.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Damn, I had a feeling it would be something like this! Poor Kagome and Poor Rin! Although will Ren be equally pleased if he discovers that Rin is not entirely “virginal”? This villainous turn is really only reinforcing Kagome’s belief that you can’t rely on anyone but yourself—Kohaku and Sesshoumaru (both her would-be protectors) being MIA when she actually needs them. Where the hell is Sesshoumaru? I really hope this defection costs him. Interesting that Ren thinks marrying Rin will protect him from Sesshoumaru’s wrath—wouldn’t Sesshoumaru just kill him if he doesn’t approve or sees Ron’s unhappiness?
I hate to say this, but I really hope Kagome makes the self-sacrificing move and takes Rin’s place in this twisted marriage. She could redeem herself for all of her cruelty against her accolade, and secretly kill Ren in his sleep or something. With Kohaku gone, she could return to her status as widow and de facto leader.
“Although will Ren be equally pleased if he discovers that Rin is not entirely “virginal”? ” – 😉
Loved hearing your thoughts on this scene, Alex! Seriously, where’s a guy when you need him? lol
Kagome really is in quite the pickle here – hope you enjoy how things play out for her next…! Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful weekend <3
Kagome is going cut Ren’s dick off. That solves everything in my opinion. It’s only a matter of ⏳
Bahahaha…you’re killing me, Blackberry XDD
<3
(he deserves it tho!)
Can’t wait til Kagome decides to leave and comes back with Sesshomaru to kill Ren. Or maybe Kohaku & Kags will team up and smash Ren’s face in 😤
I like where your mind is at, mim! Haha! <3 Thanks for sharing!
God how I love how useless Kagome’s powers are against humans, because it makes Ren just so incredibly threatening in this way that is so fraught and tense and infuriating! Part of me is thinking “I would love Kagome to sic Sesshoumaru on him” (umm, can Rin REALLY keep Sesshoumaru from tearing Ren’s spine out? Doubtful?? Especially if he views this as coercive or suspicious?) but the bigger part of me is fuming trying to figure out how Kagome can best him on her own without relying on anyone to save her!
“…but the bigger part of me is fuming trying to figure out how Kagome can best him on her own without relying on anyone to save her!” – Yep! It’s like she’s just an ordinary mortal in this situation XD
So glad you’re enjoying the predicament that she’s in here! Great to hear from you, adlyb & hope you and yours are doing well <3
I kind of wish Kagome would accept Ren’s proposal, because if she did, Sesshomaru would kill him. Especially if he came back and discovered that she was held captive and forced into it to save Rin. I’m actually surprised she’s not thinking along those lines, because you’ve written her to be a little conniving. Even if Sesshomaru doesn’t come back before she gets married, he will come back eventually. I would actually love to see could go May marry Ren and her surprise him on their wedding night with the fact that she is Sesshomaru’s “lover”. Even if Sesshomaru doesn’t come back anytime soon, Ren would be terrified.
And while it’s obvious she feels as if he has washed his hands of her and left her to rot, I think a part of her knows he’s going to, eventually, have to come back to her; even if she won’t admit she wants him to. Although that does make me wonder what Rin is doing, because she has made it clear that she understands how much Kagome means to Sesshomaru, and I wonder if she is setting up Ren to be killed by him. If Sesshomaru shows up and discovers Rin was forced to marry him because he was keeping Kagome locked away, he will also kill him. I do find it interesting that Ren thinks Rin will keep the peace with Sesshomaru simply because he is her husband, it really shows his narcissistic side that it hasn’t even occurred to him that Rin would rather be a widow than his wife.
“Even if Sesshomaru doesn’t come back before she gets married, he will come back eventually. ” – yep true enough! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on these latest developments! Really enjoyed hearing your take <3
Hope you're doing great & enjoying the weekend <3
Turning Kagome out of Edo plays right into Sesshomaru’s plan so I predict no action by him. Where would she go if not West? It’s all so deliciously diabolical with everyone scheming to gain and hold onto power. And we all know power means control. Such great themes, Char. I’m loving every chapter. <3
” It’s all so deliciously diabolical with everyone scheming to gain and hold onto power.” – yay so glad to hear it!
Thanks so much, Mearasama! Hope you enjoy how these power plays unfold from here <3
I knew something wasn’t right with Rin in your last chapter. Welp.
“Tinged green” hmm green with envy or disgust? How did Ren manage to coax rin into this?
Ren bough Miroku(and Sango), the villagers love him, and now he has Rin under his thumb. Kohaku is might bend too..Kagome is without allies =, but I don;t think she’s powerless yet!
*bought
*”Kohaku might bend”
*ignore the equals sign 😭
*and the ;
this is what I get for typing on my phone. Doh!
Yep you guessed it! 😊 Hope you enjoy how Kagome deals with the situation from here! 💕
I 100% agree with you about work as it’s been killing me too, but I’ve FINALLY caught up on Control!! Woohoo!
I feel like my heart breaks for Kagome with every update. I’m starting to see more of her humanity now. She gave off powerful, heroic priestess vibes before….now she’s more vulnerable and powerless. I guess you could say she lost control. I feel in my spirit that Sesshomaru will be back soon and Kagome’s faithful dog may have something to do with it ( I refuse to give up on my suspicions of Ikiryou lol). I also think Kohaku is coming back soon in some way or another. I just can’t believe that Miroku and Sango would take care of Kagome after “That Night” and then abandon her while she spirals. Miroku knows more than he lets on; why else would he tell Kagome to go West?
Loving the updates as usual Char. I’m sad to see “Control” wrapping up, but excited for any future projects you have planned! And don’t worry about taking your time to update. I’m sure everyone here would agree that they’re worth the wait ~
Hey Lee! So glad you’re all caught up <3
"I feel like my heart breaks for Kagome with every update. I’m starting to see more of her humanity now." - yay so glad to hear it! Kagome sure has been through the ringer (although at least some of it is her own doing lol)
Loved hearing your thoughts on the story so far! Hope you enjoy the rest of the tale - we do still have a ways to go, although it's safe to say we're headed toward the end now 🙂
Thank you for the well-wishes & best wishes to you as well! <3