The morning sun peaked through the silky curtains in the stone tower. The covers on the bed fell to the floor along with a white kimono top and hamaka. Sitting up, Lord Sesshomaru grunted, the sunlight searing daggers into his eyes. From the corner of his eye he could see brown hair peaking out from under the covers. His breath caught in his throat; "Could it be her?" he thought. Gently tugging the covers off the sleeping girl, he let out a sigh. He forgot that it was mating season. If she got pregnant, good; if the child was a boy, good. There would be no need for the girl after that. But, if the child was a girl, then she would be disposed of and the mother would return to her job as a servant in the castle.
The girl shifted in the bed and rolled over, slowly opening her eyes. A small gasp escaped her mouth at the sight of the majestic Lord. "I- I'm-"
"You should go now," Sesshomaru interrupted her. "I'll check up on you in a few days."
She nodded and slipped out of the bed to retrieve her kimono off the floor. Gazing upon her nude body, Sesshomaru noticed the bruises. From the top of her right shoulder blade to the base of her spine, a thin red scratch mark beamed like a fire light on her pale skin. He looked away; all humans were weak and frail, especially the females.
"Uh- umm…" she started to speak after slipping on the white fabric. Sesshomaru looked up, waiting. "Did you need me for something else?"
"No. That's all. You may leave now."
As she closed the rice paper divider behind her, Sesshomaru laid back on the pillows, lost in thought. "I did it to her," he said in a soft voice to the soft breeze coming in from the window. "I did it… but she didn't deserve to die."