***I do not own InuYasha or any affiliated characters**

Chapter 1

When the early morning light came through the window of the small tower, Rin blinked and mumbled her annoyance. Not that she disliked the sun; she simply disliked her place in life.

She was an orphan, but hadn't always been. Her father had died when she was very little, and after her mother had remarried, she too had passed away. Rin was only eight when it happened, leaving her in the clutches of her step father Naraku along with his horrible daughters Kagura and Kanna. Before her mother was even cold in the grave, Naraku had sold or given away all of her belongings.

"I cannot afford to keep you as well as my daughters, so you can either stay working as our servant, or you may live on the street."

Originally she had chosen the street, but one freezing night in December had forced her back to her home again.

That was almost nine years ago, and now Rin was soon to be seventeen. Not that anyone remembered her birthday, she was just happy to know that soon she could be married and leave this place forever. Well, as soon as she found a decent man that is.

Sitting up, she brushed her dark hair from her face and pulled it up into a lopsided ponytail. It was still chilly despite the coming summer. Most of the trees had flowered with small buds.

Putting on her apron, she descended the stairs to the kitchen and began the work she did every day. The warmth from the fire warmed her cold hands as she set the water to boil and began to prepare breakfast for the household.

On the floor above her she heard the sounds of the household waking for the day. The loud sounds of their walking was soon accompanied by the demand of the bells that hung over the mantle. The three that went to the rooms chimed loudly.

With a sigh, Rin shook her head. She soon had the three trays balanced carefully, beginning the tricky trip up the grand staircase of the mansion home. At the first door she paused to tap lightly on the dark well carved wood.

"Enter." Said a deep voice from the far side. Rin steeled herself as she entered her stepfather's room.

"Ah, Rin, how gracious of you to come so promptly." He said in his oily voice, casting an illusion of gratitude that did not ring true. She offered him a false smile.

"Be happy here, or be a beggar." His words still rang in her mind every time she looked at him.

As she set his tray upon the side table, he reached out and took her wrist in his. Rin had to fight the urge to cringe away from him.

"Rin, my pet, you should fix your hair straight; it would be more appealing."

She swallowed and pulled her hand free, stepping back while trying not to lose her balancing act with the remaining trays.

His eyes wandered over her for a moment as he scrutinized her appearance. "Hmm… perhaps not. I truly doubt anything would do that." He said with a small laugh, waving her away.

Silence was her only weapon and defense, as she had discovered in that first year under his thumb that speaking only made him angry. She had learned to hold her tongue.

At the second door, Rin had to wait for several moments before Kagura called for her to enter. She stood in her robe in front of the mirror, a fan in hand as she practiced making small talk with the nobility. On her wall hung a large painting of the royal family, a velvet curtain pulled dramatically to the side.

It was her most treasured possession and Rin was surprised that she had it visible. She couldn't help looking at the royal family; the king, his second wife, and his two sons all in beautiful clothes, a smile on each face with apparent happiness. Rin never knew where the king's first wife was, many claimed that she died while others said she had left the king to return to her own kingdom.

The two princes stood tall and very noble, each with the silvery white hair of their father's bloodline. The eldest son had the markings on his cheeks and brow that were similar and yet different than his father's. The second son had none, and people said it was because the second wife was not as noble as the first wife.

The eldest son was considered the more handsome of the two, but to her they were both good looking in their own way. Rin imagine that was because Sesshomaru came with a title and, after his father's passing, the crown as well. His face was long and his expression stern and uninviting.

The second son was younger by several years though she did not really know exactly how many. He was rumored to be an easy going young man; he charmed his way into most groups and was quickly a favorite among the courtiers. He looked relaxed and more open that the elder prince.

Kagura's small laugh pulled Rin's eyes away from the handsome princes. Kagura had a mocking look on her face and her red lips pursed as she lay one finger against her cheek dramatically. "I don't suppose you have ever seen the royal family before, have you?"

Rin didn't answer as she set the second tray down. She had met them, once when she was very little her parents had run into the royal family on an outing. She remembered the crowned prince being shy, hiding behind the queens full skirt as their parents introduced each other. She liked him then, Rin wondered if she would like him still? He had been gone from the court for several years.

Kagura sighed dramatically and walked to stand before the painting. "The Crowned Prince Sesshomaru is returning this week from his duties on the northern borders, and I intend to…." She paused and winked at Rin. "Convince him of my worth as his future wife." She pulled the cord that held the curtain back.

"That's enough for you, little servant. Too much class and you may pass out!" She laughed rudely at her own joke and Rin curtsied, repressing the urge to shake her head at Kagura before leaving.

At the third door, Rin knew to not bother and wait for an answer. Kana never said much to anyone. She sat on the bed with a book in hand, clearly very engrossed in the story it told. She waved toward the small table by the window, as a way of telling her where Rin should set the food. Of all her step family, Kana was the easiest to get along with, but only because she never said much and rarely demanded anything of her.

She was pale, not in the pretty way but in a might possible be sick way. She was small and childlike, shorter than even Rin and very petite. Her hair was such a pale blond that white would be a more proper term. She never dressed up, never put on makeup or jewelry, well almost. When her father demanded it she would make an effort but it was rare. Rin offered a curtsy and closed the door.

At the third door, Rin knew to not bother and wait for an answer. Kanna never said much to anyone, making her like her stepsister in a way. She was a pale girl who always had a mirror with her; a small silver one that Kagura had once said used to belong to their mother.

Rin began the second part of her daily existence. The many chores of the household were hers alone to take care of, from the laundry to the scrubbing of the many floors.

As luck had it, she did not have to care for the yard or the stable and the many animals it held. Not long ago, Naraku had hired a boy to care for all of that. His name was Kohaku and he came and worked during the day to help support his older sister, since both their parents were dead. He was a nice boy and was only a few years older than her, and even though they never spent much time together, he always said hello and smiled at her.

The only chore she got any pleasure from was when the afternoon was coming to an end she would go and gather wood for the home.

She had to get so much that it was a constant job to keep ahead. There had to be enough to keep the mansion warm through the winter.

While it made her tired, she enjoyed the quiet of the forest and the many flowers she found. On this beautiful spring day she already had two bundles that were ready to be taken home, but since the daylight still lingered she used her precious stolen time to gather a bouquet of flowers for her parent's grave.

She sat on a large rock with her flowers in hand, her bare feet kicking slightly; her shoes disregarded for the moment. She gazed at the distant towers of the palace that peeked above the trees. She considered running away again, but she didn't know where to go. And so, with a depressed heart, she let her dreams of freedom fly away like the birds.

The tranquility of the meadow was suddenly broken by the sound of a deep laugh. Rin turned to the intruder and was surprised to see several boys standing at the edge of the tree line.

At the sight of them she cringed inside; she knew who they were. It was Koga and his gang. They liked to terrorize the town with their dogs, making the other boys avoid them, or in some cases, try to join them.

But it was how they behaved toward the girls that made her worry; they had a history of ruining a girl's reputation with "tussles" in the barn or out in the forest. She had never had a run in with them since maturing because she was always working in the mansion.

"Hey, look!" One of them yelled, pointing to her as she tried leaving before being spotted. Holding her bundles of wood closely, she continued to walk away, hoping they would lose interest.

In a surprisingly short amount of time, the leader, Koga stood before her. With his hand on his hips and a large grin on his face as he blocked her path.

"Now, who do we have here? All alone out in the forest." He said, using his hand to raise her chin higher. "What's your name, pretty?"

Rin didn't say a word and jerked her face away, stepping around him. The other boys laughed and she quickened her pace, seriously considering dropping her bundles of wood and running for it. She knew that not far from here was a ruins of a long gone time, and it was like a maze to any who didn't know it well. She was sure she could lose them there if she needed.

His hand caught her arm, pulling her into him and making her drop the bundle. Rin glared up at him, almost breaking her silence to scold his rude behavior.

"Don't run like a frightened fawn, pretty…" He paused looking at her again. "I know you!" Koga laughed. "You are that servant girl that Naraku keeps around to wait on him and his two hag daughters."

The others laughed as she tried to pull free, but he was stronger than her. "Your name's Rin, isn't it huh?" When she didn't answer, he glared. "What's wrong with you? Did Naraku pull your tongue out?"

Her heart was beating fast and she was beginning to feel afraid. In desperation, she kicked out at him, hitting with surprising accuracy on his crotch. He cried out and curled over on himself, letting her go in the process. Rin did not wait for another chance; she fled as fast as she could with the angry cries and barking of the dogs following her.

She didn't pause to see if they followed, she simply ran, thinking only of the safety that the overgrown ruins could provide her. The sharp pain of rocks and twigs against her feet caused her mind to recall her last pair of shoes, which lay forgotten back by the rock.

The sounds of pursuit still followed her as she saw the stone walls coming into view. Rin ducked around the closest wall, seeking a path that she knew well. She hoped that they would fail to find her in the maze before she escaped out the far side and made it home.

"I just saw her!" One yelled, making her pause for a moment and change direction, suddenly ducking under a partially fallen arch and down the remains of a hall. She burst out into the light of day and ran right smack into something hard.

For several seconds she wondered who moved the wall, as that is all she can think of that would be in this spot. But no…it is too soft to be a wall. A hand came to push her slightly back and Rin looks with shock at what… or rather who it was that she ran into.

~*Several hours before, in the palace*~

Looking out of the window of his father's private study, Prince Sesshomaru glared at the distant forest and tried not to care about what his father was saying. Ever since he had returned, his father had been giving him nothing but grief at his apparent lack of interest in the fairer sex.

"When I find one that is interesting, I will let you know." Sesshomaru said with a sigh, turning to the window again as his father began another long explanation as to why he should be married at his age, which only irritates him further.

"Damn it, son! As the first son and heir, you are obligated to marry and produce an heir in return! If you continue to refuse, I will be forced to arrange a marriage for you. Is that what you want? Because you know that would mean a union with the princess Sarah from the eastern kingdom!"

"She is very fond of you" piped up the small woman at his father's side.

Sesshomaru sighed and shook his head. That poor girl had fallen for him long ago, and unfortunately for her, Sesshomaru did not feel much for her. She was a sickly woman and he greatly doubted her life expectancy.

He inhaled deeply, willing away the headache that threatened to bloom, as he tried to drown out the sound of his father's voice. Having just arrived from defending the kingdom at the northern border, he was reminded why he volunteered to leave in the first place. The palace was an oppressive place for him whereas the battlefield was exhilarating. All of the pomp and drama that a royal court caused irritated him, and the presence of his father's current love and their obnoxious son bothered him as well.

Not that Izayoi was a bad wife or queen, she was in fact a sweet woman, in her own way. It was more his half-brother InuYasha that bothered him. The brat had no manners and always pushed Sesshomaru's buttons, forcing the limits of his well know control.

But the worst by far was the constant gaggle of women who followed him like lost puppies, hoping to attract his attention. They all disgusted him with their foul smelling perfume and false interest in him as a real person, when in truth he knew it was the crown he would one day claim that attracted them like flies to a corpse.

"Are you even listening to me?" His father demanded as he pounded on the desk with his fist. In truth, he had not listened. But rather than irritate his father more, he turned to the desk with his hands clasped behind him and nods.

"Oh… well then do you agree to Izayoi's suggestion?" The question perplexed him and he tried to recall what had been said over the last few moments. He looked from his father to the excited looking face of his father's wife.

How bad could it be anyway? He asked himself before nodding. "Yes, it is fine." Sesshomaru replied with a shrug.

His father raised a brow. "Really?" There was a look of disbelief on his face.

Izayoi gives a small clap, and with a quick kiss on her husband's cheek, she goes to Sesshomaru's side and smiles up at him. "Oh, thank you, your highness! I will not disappoint you, this will be the most elegant series of balls ever put together!"

Wait, what?!

His mind demanded, but with that she almost ran from the room.

"Well, son, I am surprised that you agreed. You must really not care to court women if you would let her plan these balls to find a suitable woman."

Sesshomaru almost choked on his own tongue. "I didn't think…" He stopped and shrugs. What was the point, anyway? None of the many noble women who line up for the place of future queen are worth it to him anyways, so what is the harm?

"So you agree to find a bride at the balls or allow me to arrange the marriage between you and Princess Sarah?"

"Wait, I did not agree to such terms!" Sesshomaru said angrily.

"What? You just said you did."

"No one in their right mind would agree to that"

"So you were not listening then?

Damn… "I simply misunderstood what she wanted to do"

"Well, what would you have me do?" His father demands in return. "The court expects you to be married and producing children, and at the rate you are going, your brother will have children long before you bother to find a girl!"

Sesshomaru's eyebrow rose at the words, "Indeed… and when are we expecting such a joy?" He was for once truly interested in his half-brother; what woman had fallen for the uncouth prince?

"Her name is Kagome and she had been at court for several months before they fell in love. Their wedding is only being held off because of you. Oddly, it was Izayoi who demanded that they wait. It is her opinion that the eldest should wed first." He said, standing with several papers in hand. "I have been lenient long enough, either you find a bride by summer's end or I will choose one for you and it will be Sarah!"

"Why is this so important?"

His father pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Really son, sometimes I greatly question allowing you to go to the northern border. I have obviously failed to teach you anything about politics.

Sesshomaru shrugged.

"You should have remained here." The king glared but did not push the question farther "You are my son and the heir to this realm. Yet you spend as much time as you can at the war, fighting!"

"I enjoy the fight and the strategy you know this"

"That may be so. But one slip up, one bad fight or even just a fluke accident and you could die, and with you the blood line of our house. You know that the house of Ryukotsusei is vying for their chance at the crown. The Court would see you produce an heir before you die of old age!"

"How touching that they care for my life so much"

"They care about keeping the royal line intact; you can die whenever it suits you but first have a child!"

"And if I refuse?" Sesshomaru demanded.

"Then you will force me to name InuYasha the Crowned Prince!" His father said, his voice raising.

"You wouldn't dare!" Sesshomaru said a glare crossing his face.

"Try me, boy! I am still king and the right to choose my heir is mine alone!"

"Well, if it is for the crown, then have it your way. Unite our kingdom with Sarah's." Sesshomaru said.

After all, his parents had an arranged marriage and it wasn't so bad…

"Oh no, son, not a chance. You already agreed to Izayoi's plan for the balls, and I will not tell her different. Besides, who knows? Perhaps you will find a woman to your liking at the summer balls."

Turning to his father, Sesshomaru raises one brow. "That, I doubt very much father." Angrily shutting the door behind him, he stalks down the long elaborate hall.

Sesshomaru stormed out into the courtyard and called for his horse. His frustration was raising and the need to ride fast and long to clear his mind overcame him. As he rides from the gate, at his side, his squire Jaken follows at a distance as his lord fumes in silence.

Damn his father and his foolish ideas. And damn his meddling wife for such a ridiculous idea! The thought of being paraded around the ball room floor like a prize disgusts him. The thought of all the fake women that will be pushing and shoving their way to him in an effort to become his choice literally makes his skin crawl.

"My lord, how long do you intend to ride?" Jaken calls from behind him.

Sesshomaru slows his pace and takes in his surroundings. They are now deep in the forest and he feels the need to ride drift away. It has been replaced by a need for quiet to re-gather his calm and collected state of mind again from the mess of the afternoon.

Even though it has been several years since he last rode this far, he knows that not far away is the ruins of an old castle. It once stood as a proud fortress long ago as the seat of power in this land. But his great grandfather had wanted a new palace that was more elegant and closer to the sea, and so it was abandoned to let time slowly wipe it away.

It would be quiet there, he knew. Knowing that no one will bother him amongst the ancient ruins, he turns to enter the deeper part of the forest to seek solitude. Telling Jaken to stay back with the horses, he enters the ruins alone.

For several hours, he sits in the quiet of his own mind and thinks about the turn of events in his life.

First, he would be damned if he let InuYasha take the crown! That much he had solved.

Second, as much as he disliked the thought of being stuck with the many women of the court, marriage was not completely unwanted.

And so, he had concluded that he would suffer through the balls in the distinctly unlikely hope that some woman would stand out above the others as worthy of the place at his side.

And if no one stood out, he would marry the Princess Sarah. She wasn't unlovely, after all, she was just a sickly girl who was so very proper that it was annoying.

The peace and quiet of the forest was suddenly disturbed by the distant sound of calling and the barking of dogs. A glare came to his face as he listened to the sounds as they approached. Several feet could be heard running loudly through the mazelike ruins that he sat at the center of.

In exasperation he stands and seeks the cause of the sounds, wishing only for peace and to be left alone.

"I just saw her!" A voice yells. Turning toward the voice, he approached the falling remains of a hall and was surprised when someone ran into him.

Looking down at the head, a lopsided ponytail is falling out in a cascade of long dark hair. He pushes the person away and looks down into a frightened face. Her wide eyes are a lovely dark brown and beneath the smudged face, pale skin can be seen. For several seconds she just looks at him until recognition shines from her eyes and her hand comes to her mouth as she gasps.

Two men skid to a stop at the entrance to the hall, their eyes wide as they take in the sight of the Crowned Prince with his hand on their prey's shoulder. With a start, the girl turns to them and quickly hides behind him.

***End Chapter***