Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Everyone was in the great hall, waiting to greet the Lord. He's back. Those words echoed in my mind, blocking out any other thoughts. Joy was all I felt, as if I was being reunited with the only person to claim my heart, which I was. Nothing could destroy my happiness, or so I thought. Just the sight of her had me halting in my steps, wondering what the hell she was doing here. I knew it wasn't good. I would be the first to greet everyone. Just my luck. I had to greet them no matter how much I didn't want to. With that, I lifted my chin and braced myself.
"Mornin' Lady Rin." Hikari, my personal maid, greeted as she walked to me. Maybe she had felt my unease as she neared me. She is very perceptive after all. I sighed and looked at her.
"Now Hikari, haven't I told you to drop the title? Please just call me Rin." I reminded the dark haired neko woman. She is one of the few half breeds allowed in the castle. She is also one of the only ones who know I hate putting a title in front of my name. It just didn't feel right to me.
"Yes M'lady." A grin was present on her face, and I growled at her playfully.
"Hikari." My voice was stern but she just giggled and looked towards the nearing group.
"They're almost here, M'lady. Who is that?" I knew she was referring to her. Kagura. The wind demoness.
"It's Kagura. She was one of his detachments." Hikari bristled at my words.
"What is she here for?" I shook my head. I had no clue as to why she was here. He must have his reasons for her being here.
"I really don't care, I'm just happy that he's back." My reply had her laughing. We got so carried away with our conversation that we hadn't even noticed that they had finally reached us. I could only stare at the man who'd left me here, my love for him overwhelming me. I longed to embrace him but knew it would be improper. Kagura had a smirk on her mouth as she looked from me to him. I knew what she would do before she even moved. As soon as her lips touched his the blood drained out of my face. Anger filled me. Hikari and all those near me took a step away from me and the menacing aura I emited. She was just asking for her death. When he did nothing to stop her, I knew he was never going to fulfill his promise. I guess he never intended to. I just watched as she finally broke the kiss, her lips lingering.
"Kagura shall become my mate in two months time. You all shall address her as Lady Kagura." He informed everyone though he was looking at me while he said so. "Rin." I was furious but knew I had to greet him.
"It's good to have you back." I forced a smile.
"Girl! You must address him as Lord Sesshomaru! You should know this by now!" My eye twitched at the familiar criticism. Jaken was with him, of course. I looked down and gave him the same forced smile.
"Master Jaken, bug off." His eyes went wide.
"You insolent child! How dare you treat to me in such a manor! You will-" His ranting cut off when he saw my eyes narrow into slits. I turned and started walking away.
"Rin, you will not speak to those in a higher station than you in such a manor." Sesshomaru's voice was frigid.
"Sesshomaru, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell me what to do. I don't really take well with orders or criticism." I turned and started walking away, ignoring the bewildered looks I received. I had to get out of the castle for a while.
"You were not dismissed." I stopped and turned my head slightly to look at him.
"Since when did I need your permission to leave?" I asked softly and walked out.
My walk had taken me to a nearby village. It looked as if it was going to be a busy day. I smiled as I watched some children run in-between their mothers, playing a game of tag. I was too busy watching them to notice where I was heading and walked right into a wall. Only it wasn't a wall, it couldn't have been. Walls don't grunt or mutter profanities when they topple over.
"Sorry!" I got up and helped the man stand. I was so embarrassed. As I picked up several of the items he had been carrying, I looked at him from the corner of my eye, studying him. He was handsome, dark chestnut hair, matching eyes. He was as nice looking as Sesshomaru. He was big too. Very muscular.
"No problem." He replied. When we got the last of his things, he straightened up and smiled. "It was my fault, I couldn't see where I was going." I shook my head.
"I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going." I informed him. "Do you need any help? I'd feel better if I helped you."
"You sure?" At my nod, he grinned. "Alright, just follow me."
We started walking in the direction I had just come from.
"My name is Takeshi Saito." He introduced himself. "What's yours?"
"I am Rin." I answered back in reply. It went silent for a moment.
"I've never seen you around her before, did you just move here?" His question broke the silence between us.
"Iie. I don't live in the village. I live-" I broke off. I wasn't sure if I should tell him I live with Sesshomaru. "I live in the forest." It didn't feel right lying to him. Well, it was half a lie, after all Sesshomaru's castle was in the forest.
"Why would you live in a forest filled with demons?" He was shocked, I heard it in his voice. I giggled.
"Don't worry, I can protect myself." They also know not to mess with the ward of Sesshomaru. I added that last part to myself. He looked doubtful.
"How old are you?" He asked as we neared the outskirts of the village.
"I will be seventeen." I answered.
"Ah. But that doesn't explain why you look so short." I gasped in horror. He was making fun of my height. Sure, I still wasn't very tall, just 5'2, but hey, I couldn't help it.
"Hey! I'm not short! I'm just vertically challenged!" I was outraged, and he was laughing. I stuck my tongue out and he just laughed harder. "Well, how old are you?"
"I'm twenty-one, kid." I growled. Now he was making fun of my age. He was just asking for a painful death. As I thought up of ways to torture him, I heard squeals of delight.
"Daddy! Daddy, you're finally back!" I saw a boy and a girl run towards us. I got a good look at them. They both had his dark hair, but mist-like eyes. They were apparently identical twins. They looked to be around four. I could tell that they would be heartbreakers when they were older.
"Mizu! Hinote! Come look at what I got you for the festival." He had a full out smile on his face as the children tackled him to the ground, squeezing the life out of him. I giggled at the sight of them. When they had all calmed down, the children looked at me with wonder.
"Daddy, who is she?" The girl asked.
"Kids, this is Rin. She helped me bring all this stuff home." The children clung to him.
"Is she gunna be our new mommy?" The boy wondered. Identical looks of embarrassment showed on our faces.
"Iie. She's just a friend, Mizu." He answered politely.
"Can she go to the festival with us?" They asked, less shy now.
"Well I-" He was interrupted with their pleas.
"Please! We'll be really good!" Their voices begged at the same time. He sighed and looked at me, his eyes pleading with me. I smiled.
"I'd love too. When is the festival anyway?" That explained why it was so busy in the village.
"Tomorrow night. Hinote, Mizu, got take some of the stuff inside please." He asked and they ran off to do his bidding. "Rin, you don't have to go."
"It's alright. I want to. I never get out anymore." I noticed that the sun was setting. How had several hours already gone by so fast? I sighed and looked back at Takeshi. "I have to go. What time does the festival start?"
"At sunset and lasts until midnight. Do you need me to walk you back home? It can be very dangerous at night." I shook my head and started walking away. "Are you sure?"
"I'll be fine." I called over my shoulder.
"Bye!" I smiled and waved back at him.
"M'lady! Where have you been?! Lord Sesshomaru has had us searching everywhere for you!" Hikari cried when she saw me walking to my room. I pondered this.
"I was visiting one of the surrounding villages." I replied and headed inside. Hikari followed me in. "Will you help me find something presentable to wear for tomorrow night?"
"Lady Rin, Kagura is demanding that Lord Sesshomaru punish you for your insolence this morning." I raised an eyebrow at this but didn't really care.
"And this matters because?" I walked to the closet and pulled out a kimono. Hikari snatched the kimono out of my hands.
"It matters because you are my friend Rin, and I won't watch you get beaten." I looked into her eyes and noticed tears pooling in her eyes. She only said my name without the title when she was very serious and distressed.
"Don't worry Hikari. I shall be just fine." She smiled sadly and sighed.
"What are you dressing up for anyway, Lady Rin?" I giggled.
"I was invited to a festival." She squealed and started pulling out kimono's, examining them for a second only to throw them in the reject pile. "Oh kami! I've let loose a monster."
"Perfect!" She held up a very dull blue one in front of me that had the design of a darker blue dragon that wrapped around the kimono. "I'll do your hair in an up-do for tomorrow night." I giggled.
"Alri-" My answer was interrupted by a cough in my doorway. It was one of the guard demons that had just returned. "Hai?"
"M'lady. Lord Sesshomaru demands your presence in the great hall." He didn't move to leave and I knew he was my escort. Hikari looked at me, and understood.
"Hikari, will you please place the kimono on the bed and put the others back in the closet?" At her nod, I walked out the door and headed towards the great hall with my escort trailing behind me. I knew Hikari would enter the great hall in a few moments.
When I entered the room, every eye turned to look at me. The room was filled with almost every demon that worked in the castle. Sesshomaru sat upon his throne, with Kagura on the right arm rest. He looked bored.
I walked until I was only a few feet away from where he sat. "You asked for me?"
"Do not use such a tone with me, Rin." I smiled pleasantly.
"What tone?" He growled at my response and I lifted a brow. "Is something wrong Sesshomaru?" Several demons gasped at my defiance.
"You were not dismissed this morning." Hikari entered to hear my giggles, and stood beside me.
"Oh. That. Well, I am a human after all. I am not perfect, unlike demons." My sarcastic answer caused his growl to deepen.
"You shall be punished severely." I plastered a demented grin on my face.
"Ohh, shall you beat me until I am an inch from death? Shall I be killed?" My questions left Hikari pale.
"You should die from your insolence, human." I smiled.
"Go ahead. Kill me. It's not like I haven't died before." Hikari gasped, I had never told her that.
"Leave my sight, you shall be punished later." I shrugged. It mattered not to me. I turned and walked away. I reached the door and stopped with my hand on the handle.
"Never make a promise you don't intend to keep, Sesshomaru." I pulled the door open and walked out, Hikari following me. I knew he knew what I was talking about because he growled. I didn't know if I could ever forgive him for choosing her over me.