Chapter One: The Eyes In The Darkness

Lord Sesshomaru?….Lord Sesshomaru? Rin called wandering through the darkness. Where is everyone? She wondered as she walked through the castle. It was a new moon and the castle was as still as a grave, and dark as a hole.. Suddenly she felt a strong presence behind her and turned around. All she could see were large glowing red eyes, and they were coming closer and closer. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her but tripped. As she fell she turned around to see the eyes on top of her. She screamed and then all was gone.

Rin awoke drenched in her own sweat and tangled in her summer sheets.

"Wha…? Oh" She sighed, as she sat up. It had only been a dream. It was still dark but she could sense the sun rising. She faintly heard the sounds of the servants, demons, and humans alike, preparing the castle for morning. Mmm She thought smelling the air. Breakfast.

"Rin." she heard a distressed Jaken call. She looked over and saw his bright yellow eyes peaking through her door. "Are you alright, I heard you screaming in your sleep again."

"Master Jaken!" she exclaimed, throwing a pillow at him. "I told you to knock before entering!" She quickly covered herself with her sheets. The summer air was getting hotter and hotter and less and less clothing was needed for sleep. She had been naked this time and it still wasn't enough as she had awoken drenched in sweat.

Jaken blushed and shut the door. She could hear him grumbling something about "Ungrateful wretch…only looking out for her…."

She rolled her eyes and got out of bed still wrapped in her sheets. A quick look in the mirror told her it was time to bathe. She looked around for her outer Yukata which she had stripped off last night as it became hotter, but it was nowhere to be seen. She even looked under the bed. She sighed. The servants must have cleaned my room last night while I was sleeping. She shuddered. The thought of someone in her room other than Lord Sesshomaru while she was sleeping disturbed her. Speaking of Lord Sesshomaru. She looked at her window. Sure enough there was another gift wrapped in scented paper for her. She smiled and ran to it holding it to her nose to inhale the scent. Then she gently opened it and smiled. This time he had gotten her a book. It looked old and slightly worn but she would treasure it no less.

Suddenly there was a knock at her door. "Come in." she said still slightly dazed and flipping through the book. When the door opened she looked and abruptly stood up. "Good morning Lord Sesshomaru" She said with a big smile.

"Good morning Rin. How do you like your gift?" He asked.

"Oh. I love it! Thank you so much Lord Sesshomaru." She ran to hug him and to her surprise he did not hug her back. "Lord Sesshomaru?" She looked up at his face. His head was slightly turned away from her.

"Rin. Where are your clothes?" He asked.

"Oh!" She gasped looking down at herself. Her left breast was slightly exposed. She quickly covered herself with the sheet. "I think someone took them to be washed while I was asleep." But he didn't seem to be paying attention to her. He was sniffing the air. He gently brushed her away then walked to the window.

"Someone was here." He stated.

"Lord Sesshomaru…"

"Prepare yourself for breakfast." He ordered. Then walked out without a backwards glance.

Rin sighed. Baka. She thought to herself. She went to the window and looked outside. The sun had risen and the garden sparkled like diamonds where the sun hit the dew drops. So beautiful. The garden she looked at was built just for her as a gift for her ninth birthday by Lord Sesshomaru. It was a private garden as it was built in between two buildings. The Main castle which mostly catered to the needs of Rin and the sleeping chambers of a few trusted servants, and Lord Sesshomaru's private wing. Directly across from her window was another. The window of lord Sesshomaru's sleeping chambers. Sometimes when she felt lonely she would come sit on the balcony and stare out at the stars or maybe the gardens and occasionally would catch a glimpse of her Lord through his window. And sometimes He would come out onto his balcony and watch the stars with her. Or sometimes just watch her. Many times she would sit in her garden during the day or take a walk at night, and she would look up to see him watching her. Sometimes he even joined her. And twice this month she had come out onto her balcony to find him sitting there on the rail. She only sat and talked to him while he mostly just listened and stared at her with a puzzled look on his face. The second time she asked him "What's wrong my Lord?" but he had only shook his head and suggested she go to bed. When she lay down she looked out her window only to find the billowing curtains and the empty balcony.

Another knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts and she turned around with an annoyed "Come iiiiiiiiin." The door opened and a bright pair of green eyes attached to a very tiny cat like frame stared her down this time. "Oh. Takara, come in." said Rin.

"Princess Rin? Are you ready to be bathed?" She asked timidly.

Rin gave the woman a bright smile and said "Of course." Before following her out the door still wrapped only in her sheets.