Hired Love

It has been two years since Rin was kidnapped by the Shichinin-tai. She was now 17 years old still living with her father, Lord Sesshoumaru of Western Japan. Every day of those two long years Rin missed being in the company of Bankotsu, the leader of the Shichinin-tai. She had fallen for the mercenary and he in turn had fallen for her.

The only thing Rin had to remember him was the two maniac twins, Haru and Karu. She had gotten close to both of them, especially Karu. They had begun to see each other away from prying eyes.

That is where our story begins...

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Rin burst from the bushes laughing her head off. "Karu, I mean it, STOP!" He laughed.

"I'm not doing anything!" Karu walked out of the underbrush smirking.

He rushed forward and grabbed her around the waist. Rin screamed as he started to tickle her ruthlessly again. Together they fell to the ground with Karu on top of her. Their laughter died down as they started into each others eyes. Her brown and his black. They were already close but his face seemed to be getting closer. "Karu," Rin whispered.

"Hai," his breath on her face made shivers run down her spine.

"What are you doing?"

Karu's hand moved up from her waist to her face and moved a piece of hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. "Proving something," He answered and pushed his lips against hers.

Rin gasped and pushed him away. "Karu, what ..."

"I told you, I'm proving something. I'm proving my love for you."

"Love? Karu I can't I love ..."

"Oh yeah I forgot," Karu sat up in disgust. "You're in love with oo-aniki."

He stood up and turned away from her. Rin sat up and looked at him. She could tell that he was hurt and angry. "I'm sorry Karu but if he ever found out ..."

"He wouldn't be able to do anything about it." Karu said, not moving. "Knowing him he would be glad that you didn't fall for some perverted asshole who wanted you for nothing but sex. He'd be happy that it was me and not someone who just wanted you for your position and killed you on the first day after ..."

"Karu that's not funny!!" Rin interrupted.

"I know but really, Rin, think about it." He finally turned to face her. "You yourself said that it would never work, being with Bankotsu. You said that ..."

"I know what I said Karu but it doesn't mean I can betray him!"

Karu stepped closer to her again. "And what if you never see him again? Since you are Lord Sesshoumaru's daughter the only time you would be able to see him again would be when they're fighting each other."

"What about you?" Rin snapped. "Would you betray your best friend by going for his woman?"

"It's better seeing her with someone than watching her suffer after leaving the one she truly does love."

Rin looked down. It was true. She suffered badly after losing Bankotsu. The whole castle knew it. Sesshoumaru knew it though he did not know that she loved the mercenary. He merely thought she was still affected by her kidnapping and frightening experience.

Karu lifted her face to look at him. "Rin ... I love you. I know that you love Bankotsu and that I can't stop you from that. But consider this. If you do not find a suitable mate for yourself, Sesshoumaru will find someone for you. You turn 18 in less than a year and it's time for you to get a mate. What would you much rather have? A guy who you barely know or a youkai who loves and cares for you just as much as Bankotsu does?"

Rin pushed into his chest. "I've started having feelings for you. I'm confused. I know I still love Bankotsu but I know that you are the better option right now ... But no matter what I do, father might be angry with me and ... oh Karu I just don't know."

Tears started pouring down her face as she hugged Karu harder. The youkai pulled her close and nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek. "Dear, Rin," he whispered. "I can't tell you what to do but I suggest that you ..."

He didn't get to finish his sentence for Rin had lifter herself on her tippy toes and kissed him. Slightly taken aback, he blinked. At the same time he pulled Rin closer and held her tight. When they broke apart he said nothing. He just put his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes. They seemed the happiest they've been since he first met her. "I knew you could make the right choice." He smiled.

"This doesn't go to my father yet. I don't want him to know."

"I understand."

Karu let her go from his grip and led her back towards the castle, his fingers entwined with hers.

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About three weeks later it became a well known fact among the soldiers Karu and Rin were together. This was what proved to Rin how well the soldiers could keep secrets. Word of the relationship never got close to Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears.

That was all well until one day when the two were walking together. They were working on going somewhere where they were out of sight from the castle when a servant came to them. "Lady Rin, Captain Karu," He said and bowed. (Karu and Haru had been quickly raised to Captain after he proved his skill in leading and fighting) "Lord Sesshoumaru wishes to speak to you both."

The two exchanged nervous looks. Did he find out? How? They followed the servant up to Sesshoumaru's study and knocked. "Enter," They heard him call.

Together they opened the door and walked in. Sesshoumaru was examining some papers and took him a few moments before he took any notice of the two in his office. "I have a few questions for both of you and a an order to give to Karu." He said, standing. "First: what the hell is going on between the two of you?"

Karu cleared his throat trying not to laugh. Rin blushed slightly and giggled a bit. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Are you two just going to laugh or are you going to give me an answer."

"My lord," Karu straitened his face and looked at the Tai youkai before him. "Rin and I have fallen into the hands of love."

"Is this who you choose for your mate, Rin?" Sesshoumaru now turned to Rin.

Rin blushed a darker shade of red. "Hai," She said quietly.

"So it will be," Sesshoumaru turned back to his desk for a minute. "I was considering as a possibility anyway."

The two looked at each other and smiled. "But now is not the time to plan anything of that sort." Sesshoumaru whipped around again.

For the first time Rin's life she heard something like worry in his voice. He was about to tell them something bad. "As you should both know by know I am going to war against the southern lands ... again." He said. "Unfortunately Lord Tahmakie has learned something from my previous attacks. I do not have the skill to defeat him. I have hired people to train the army."

He fixed Rin with a hard stare. "I have hired the Shichinin-tai,"

Rin gasped silently. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open slightly. She could feel Karu's eyes on her. "I want you by Rin's side while they are here, Karu." Sesshoumaru continued. "I do not want her alone while they are on my lands."

"But ... why?" Rin spluttered quietly.

"Try to understand, daughter," Sesshoumaru now turned to her completely. "They have skill that I do not have. Once they teach the army they will never come near this place again."

"My Lord, no offence, But do you really think that they are best for the job?"

"Do you know any other mercenary who is willing to cooperate, Captain?"

Of course, Karu did not answer. But he did say; "I want you to know that I am friends with Bankotsu, their leader. We grew up together. That doesn't just go away."

"I am asking you to protect Rin, not end your friendship with the mercenary. Anymore questions?"

A moment passed in silence. Sesshoumaru turned away again, obviously telling them that they could leave. As soon as they were out of the study, Karu pulled Rin up the stairs and out of Sesshoumaru's hearing range. "Nothing's changed," he whispered.

"How do I know that anymore?" Rin looked up into his eyes. "You also said that I wouldn't see him again."

"I didn't expect him to hire any of them! But ... Rin listen to me. You can't go back to him. Sesshoumaru would only let you be with him over his dead body!"

"I know!" Ron snapped. "Stop acting like I'm head - over - heels for him. I'm with you now and I know that."

Karu smiled and hugged her. "I'm sorry. I'm worried, that's all."

Rin didn't answer. She was also worried what would happen when Bankotsu came back. Karu kissed her head gently. "Try to get some sleep to night, love." He whispered, turned and headed for the barracks, where the soldiers slept.

Rin watched him walk away. She sighed and went into her room. She took out the diary where she recorded her adventure with the Shichinin-tai. She flipped to the day where she was letting Bankotsu sleep away his fever in the underground cave. At the time she never recorded it down as a part of her adventure, but she had sketched a picture of him sleeping. His shirt hanging open the slightest bit and a peaceful look on his sleeping face.

Rin sighed and tucked the book back where she always hid it. From there she pulled a sleeping kimono on and tucked into her bed and fell asleep.