In small village during the Taisho era, was a small city near the mountains. Where there stands a mansion on top of it. In this mansion, there were only demons. Demons who took the form of humans, and only very few knows of their existence.
And the Lord of the mansion was never the kind of demon who liked to interact with humans.
His name was, Sesshomaru.
He didn't think he would be interacting with any humans at all. For he was never fond of humans, because they are weak and fragile creatures. And his hatred for humans grew when his father died protecting a human, and his half demon brother.
Little did he know that everything is about to change. For a human baby was left in front of the gates of his mansion. "What is thatthing?" He asked his servant Jaken as he came upon the basket with the baby.
"It appears to be a baby human, my lord." Jaken answered as he went near the basket to inspect the child. Sesshomaru squinted his eyes as if evaluating the child's life.
"Leave it be." Sesshomaru turned away from the baby and as soon as he turned, the child cried abruptly. Breaking the overwhelming silence of the mansion. Just who would leave a child in front of a mansion in the middle of a winter night?
What kind of sorcery is this?
Sesshomaru looked back and saw Jaken carrying the baby in his arms trying to calm it down in order to restore peace to his master's ears.
"Take it to the mansion."
"Ye- What my lord!?" Jaken surprised by his master's sudden decision, who was not even bothering to look back at him again. Jaken quickly followed his master's orders. Jaken brought the child inside, following Sesshomaru from behind. "It seems like this human child's name is Rin, my lord." He told Sesshomaru as he saw a paper inside the basket, claiming that they named the child Rin. And demanded it to stay that way.
"Rin?" Sesshomaru made sure that he heard it right.
"Yes, my lord." As soon as Jaken answered he went on his way like nothing ever happened.
Sesshomaru, knowing that all of his servants did not know how to take care of a human child. He hired a human to take care of this baby. "Oh, she's such a cheerful child!" The nanny exclaimed as soon as she held the child.
"And it's also a girl!" Not only the nanny was captivated by the said 'cuteness' of this human child, but even some of Sesshomaru's servants are even playing with the child. Time passed quickly, and the child learned to crawl, walk, and even speak.
And it was never the same without her in the household.
"Lady Rin?" A servant called about her in the hall.
"Lady Rin! It's time for your studies already!" The servant called once again searching through the places where Rin could've hid. Until, the servant saw a tiny, little feet just under the curtain, which had given a way to where Rin was.
"I found you!" The servant lifted the curtain and she saw Rin with its overly cheerful smile all over her face. She giggled and ran as soon as the servant found her.
"Lady Rin! Lord Sesshomaru will be angry if you don't study!" The servant warned her that made Rin stop in her tracks.
"You're not even wearing your shoes, young lady!" The servant said with authority and Rin just went over the servant, in order for the servant to put her shoes on.
"Come on now, your teacher is waiting." Rin quietly grumbled as she followed behind the servant.
"When is Lord Sesshomaru coming back?" She asked the servant while fiddling with her fingers behind her back.
"Tomorrow, maybe in the afternoon."
"Tomorrow, really?" Rin repeated as she put that alluring smile on her face.
"Yes, that's why you need to follow. Since Lord Sesshomaru's coming back tomorrow." Rin started hopping after hearing the words of the servant, slowly beaming with joy that her Lord Sesshomaru is going home tomorrow.
"She's certainly fond of Lord Sesshomaru.." The servant muttered in her breath as she followed Rin to where she was going.
As soon as they reached the study, Ms. Asano had already prepared the lessons and immediately started the class.
"Did you understand everything, Rin?" Sara asked her student as they finished the lessons for today.
"Yes, Ms. Asano!" Rin answered in a gleeful manner and Sara smiled back at her.
"Okay, I'll be back soon. Okay?" Sara arranged her things, and Rin just watched and helped her teacher arrange the things.
"See you soon, Ms. Asano!" Rin waved goodbye to her teacher and went back inside as soon as the silhouette of her teacher disappeared. It was already night and still she was brimming with energy.
"Huweeeeee!" Rin ran through the halls while pretending that she's a bird, until she reached the living room. And to her surprise, Sesshomaru was already there. Who was sitting in a wine colored fainting sofa that came from the continent.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" She exclaimed and went to him as fast as her little feet could.
"You're not wearing any shoes." Sesshomaru remarked as soon as Rin was near him and tastefully sips his cup of tea, while Rin just gasped at the realization.
"I forgot.." She answered unsurely, and soon enough there are servants next to Sesshomaru holding Rin's shoes at their hands.
"Sit." Sesshomaru ordered Rin to be seated in the sofa and Rin following her master's orders, sat as her master stood up and kneeled in front of her.
"Next time, learn to do this yourself." Sesshomaru said while gently tying Rin's shoes, and Rin just smiled as to seeing Sesshomaru is home again.
Sesshomaru stood up for he was done putting Rin's shoes on her. "Lord Sesshomaru, everyone said you're going back tomorrow!" Meaning by the word everyone, she really asked every living person in the mansion.
"I arranged things quickly so that I could go back now." Rin continued smiling to her master's answer. She can't help but put up a smiling face every time she sees Lord Sesshomaru.
"Did you do that for me?" She asked, expecting something out of the ordinary. At such a young age, she was already that fond of Lord Sesshomaru. Although everyone thinks that Rin's view of her Lord would change once she knows of Sesshomaru's true identity.
But she didn't even care to think about it.
"No." Sesshomaru responded and walked away. Disappointing our dearly beloved Rin.
"Lord Sesshomaru, are you going to bed?" Rin followed behind Sesshomaru, not letting him out of her sight. Sesshomaru is almost and always gone every week. And he only comes back whenever the said business he attended to, was done.
"Yes." Sesshomaru without any second thoughts.
"Can I sleep with you?" Sesshomaru stopped at the question and looked back to see the adorable little Rin playing with her fingers behind her back.
"No." Sesshomaru, once again, answered without any hesitations, and started walking.
"B-But I keep having nightmares.." Rin said in a descending tone of voice, which made Sesshomaru stop walking. And this time, he couldn't say no for an answer.
"Fine."
Sesshomaru answered without even looking back at Rin, and the little girl just followed behind him like a puppy. Soon, Rin has finally changed into her sleeping clothes. So does Sesshomaru.
"Lord Sesshomaru, can I ask you something?" Rin asked while looking to the ceiling, and then looking down to the floor.
"Why are you sleeping there?" She asked innocently, while seeing Sesshomaru just looks at the ceiling.
"I want to." Sesshomaru answered and turned the other way, not facing Rin.
"Does it feel uncomfortable?" Rin questioned again and Sesshomaru just replied.
"No." Rin was curious as to why Sesshomaru felt that the floor was comfortable, that she went down and tried it herself.
"Rin, what are you doing?" Sesshomaru asked Rin that was already lying next to him.
"I'm trying the floor, Lord Sesshomaru." Somehow surprised by that unusual reply, Sesshomaru turned around and faced the child.
"It would be good if we could see the stars, Lord Sesshomaru. It would be so beautiful!" Disregarding Sesshomaru's look at her, she just continued to swim through her imaginations. In which, Sesshomaru did not understand what was even beautiful in the stars.
"Aw, I wish I could go see the stars." Little Rin wished and quickly glanced at Sesshomaru since he suddenly stood up.
"Lord Sesshomaru? Are you going to the bathroom?" Rin asked her Lord Sesshomaru, and also stood up as she saw Sesshomaru going to the terrace. Sesshomaru opened the door, letting a cold, night breeze in.
"Let's go." Sesshomaru held Rin in his arms and jumped up in the sky. At first Rin was closing her eyes shut. Afraid that she's going to fall or maybe something even more dangerous, until Sesshomaru said something.
"Open your eyes, don't worry. I'm here." Trusting her Lord Sesshomaru, Rin slowly opened her eyes. And there she saw, hundreds- no, thousands- no, maybe even millions or billions of stars as far as her eyes could see. The moon was so near that made her feel that she was almost close to touching it.
"Lord Sesshomaru, it's beautiful!" Rin exclaimed after finally taking everything in, and after a few minutes. Sesshomaru wondered why Rin has stopped talking about how beautiful everything she sees is. He looks at Rin only to see her comfortable and sleeping face.
He saw her smiling in her sleep, and Sesshomaru can't help but also put a little smile on his face.
Sesshomaru flew back to his room, closed the door, and he puts Rin on his bed. Covering Rin with a blanket, and going out of his room to let the little girl sleep.
"Lady Rin, wake up!" A seemingly gentle voice woke Rin up from her sleep.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" For it was guy's voice that she heard. While still rubbing her eyes, she heard a faint chuckle from the one who woke her up.
"No, silly, it's Kohaku." Kohaku?
"Kohaku? You mean, Kohaku!?" She finally turned up and opened her eyes to see a smiling Kohaku in front of her.
"Kohaku, you're here!" Rin jumped at Kohaku because of pure joy and excitement because she saw him again. Although, Rin is a normal child, she was never allowed to go out in town alone.
The only time she will go out is when she accompanies Lord Sesshomaru. And the third time she was out there, that is when she met Kohaku. Kohaku is a son of a merchant. His father is known by Sesshomaru since they are the ones who provide human food for Rin. After knowing each other, they became close, close enough that Kohaku often visits the mansion to play with Rin. Sometimes, he comes with his sister, Sango. Though, that only happens when she has something to tell Sesshomaru.
After tumbling at the floor from jumping at Kohaku, Rin is on top of him. "I thought you said you won't be able to visit me this week?" Rin asked Kohaku, since she's kind of wondering what kind of circumstances allowed Kohaku to visit her.
"We went home earlier than expected from the continent. As soon as the boat docked, I thought that I should visit you. That's about it, I think?" Kohaku explained to Rin and just let out a smile right after.
Rin was also about to speak, when suddenly the door opened. Revealing a stunned Sesshomaru thinking what happened that led to Rin being on top of Kohaku.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Good morning!" Rin greeted Sesshomaru with a smile. As young as they are, they probably don't have any idea what they're doing right now. But regardless, it was still inappropriate.
"Um, good morning, Lord Sesshomaru?" Kohaku said, doubtingly. Well, Kohaku rarely speaks to Sesshomaru. Since Sesshomaru is not exactly the type of person- demon who is approachable.
"Go outside, I need to use my room." Sesshomaru went in the room, with woman following behind him.
"Oh? You have child?" The woman looked at Rin, asking who Rin was to Sesshomaru. Since, the woman knows Kohaku is a son of a merchant. Rin helped Kohaku stand, while somehow eyeing the woman behind Sesshomaru's back.
"She's a human, Kagura." Sesshomaru answered Kagura's question, that made Kagura nod and say.
"I see."
On their way to go out of the room, Rin kept glancing at the woman and Lord Sesshomaru. And she wonders why she is with him.
"Kohaku, what do you think they're doing?" She asked Kohaku to see if he knows any idea of what is happening. This is the first time she ever saw a woman near Lord Sesshomaru. Besides some other servants, her teacher, and some people she clearly knows of.
"I don't really know, but I know Lord Sesshomaru's going to be mad if you miss breakfast." Rin gasped and ran through the hall to go to the dining room.
Kohaku just laughed light heartedly and followed Rin from behind.
"What did you do at the continent, Kohaku?" Rin asked while playing with her food.
"Nothing much, Father and Sango usually takes care of the work. They were doing that merchant stuff or something." Kohaku answered in between putting the food in his mouth, and still, Rin is playing with her food.
"Lady Rin, don't play with your food!" The servant scolded her, and yet she did not pay attention since her mind is elsewhere.
Until Sesshomaru made his way into the room, with Kagura still following behind him.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin quickly went over to Sesshomaru and hugged him, glancing behind to look at Kagura who was hiding her face behind a magenta colored fan.
"I'll be going now. I'll tell you about it some other time." Kagura plucked a feather from her barrette and threw it in the air. Kohaku and Rin wore faces of awe for seeing this the first time. The feather grew enough to let at least two people ride in it.
"See 'ya." A casual farewell from a rather intractable woman before she flew away.
"Hm." Rin looked up to see what kind of face was Lord Sesshomaru was making. Is he going to miss that girl?
Many other thoughts lingered in Rin's mind, but was cut off when Sesshomaru finally uttered words. "Rin, finish your food." Seeing as Lord Sesshomaru was paying her attention again.
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!" She smiled happily and followed just what Sesshomaru said. Kohaku just watched how the events unfolded, and as it turns out, he learns something.
That gentle face he briefly saw at Lord Sesshomaru's face, was solely because of Rin.
"Do you really have to go so soon, Kohaku?" Rin asked her friend as they are finally saying farewells to each other. Apparently, Kohaku has still a lot of stuff to do that he left back at his home. That is why her sister, Sango, already went to get him.
"Don't worry, Rin." Sango patted Rin's head and steadily kneeled in front of her.
"He'll visit after he's done." Sango smiled reassuringly. It's hard to see such a cheerful child sulking because you're leaving. And Sango is also somewhat close to Rin. "I'll bring Kagame and Kagami with me next time." Consoling the little bundle of joy worked effectively for Sango.
"Really? I get to play with them!"
"Yes, of course. So, for now, just study hard. Okay?" Rin nodded with a quiet yes coming from her mouth.
"See you tomorrow, Rin!" Kohaku waved goodbye at Rin from afar before running towards his sister who was already ahead of him. Rin just watched them leave, up until she doesn't even see their shadows. Then she goes back into the mansion.
"When is Ms. Asano coming?" Rin asked the servant who was watching her, asking if she has anymore to do today since her friend is gone.
"Lady Rin, today is Saturday. There are no studies for today."
"Oh." Rin was somehow sad, because at noon, Lord Sesshomaru also goes away for some kind of business she doesn't know about. It'll be quiet again.
"Byakuya, is your sister Kanna with you?" She asked, asking for a playmate. Because usually, after a day, Sesshomaru goes somewhere again. He never stays for too long. And when he does stay, all he does is sleep and drink tea during the afternoon.
"She already went home, milady. But look over there, it's Jaken." Rin looked to where Byakuya pointed his fingers and there she saw Jaken, who was with Lord Sesshomaru. They were casually walking through the garden, which was quite unexpected. Because Sesshomaru was never a person who adored flowers. But even so, he still visits more often than before.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Have you come to pick some flowers?" Rin rushed towards Sesshomaru as soon at she started speaking. It always made her so happy when Lord Sesshomaru is surrounded by flowers.
"Rin! Do you not know how to not interrupt when Lord Sesshomaru is thinking?" Jaken scolded her which took the smile off her face.
"Are you troubled, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin looks up to Lord Sesshomaru and in return, looks at her too.
"No, Rin. I'm fine." Sesshomaru replied and turned to Jaken. Giving Jaken a chillingly cold stare. He spent already too many years at his Lord's side, and yet, Sesshomaru chooses to favor a little human girl over him.
Jaken was somehow hurt at the idea, but he is the one who certainly knows what place does Rin have in Lord Sesshomaru's heart.
For Sesshomaru does not really show emotions like humans do. For he doesn't have a human heart. And slowly, but surely.. It is becoming evident that Rin's existence will make a difference to his Lord's well-being.
"Look at all the flowers, Lord Sesshomaru! Aren't they beautiful?" Rin smiled as she picked some flowers from the garden.
"For you, my lord!" She smiled as she had given Sesshomaru the flowers she picked. Sesshomaru did not know if it concerned him, that Rin was not afraid of him. It never really did seem to matter to him. But it is one of the questions that always comes into his mind.
"Jaken. Ready the carriages."
"For what, my lord?" Jaken asked, and Rin was just smiling. Already knowing what Lord Sesshomaru is planning to do.
"We're going down the village."
