Chapter Two
Rin twirled her body amongst the flowers while Sesshomaru watched her, amused how easily Rin becomes happy from just the sight of them. He leaned back against a nearby tree and sighed before looking up at the sky and feeling the wind against his skin as it soothed him. It was a way to relax him after his busy schedule of his studies and preparing himself to take over the throne after his father. At first, he disliked the thought of taking over as his father's heir when his passion is to travel and find his own way to succeed his father. But after some time, he had no choice but to become the heir because he did not want Inuyasha to take over. He thought of how the Lands of the West may fall by his half-brother, and he did not want that to happen.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Rin's giggling. He turned back to look at Rin laying on the bed of flowers. He sighs and shakes his head at Rin's carefree attitude. He had wished to be like her, to be free like she is. But then again, she is still a mere servant who had to abide to his orders. She was able to be free like this because of his leniency. Though he was cold to others, he could never be cold to her and he did not understand why.
He sighed and mentally waved away the thoughts before standing up. He looked over at the clouds above him one more time before staring back at Rin. She was giggling and laying on the grass as if nothing worried her.
"Rin," Sesshomaru called. Rin instantly sat up and looked over at Sesshomaru. "It's time to go back."
Rin smiled and stood up instantly before running up to Sesshomaru and grabbing his hand. He looked over at her hand interlocking with his before he held her hand firmly against his. They walked together while Sesshomaru made sure Rin walked beside him. They walked as equals for the first time. He was sixteen at this moment.
Now, he is nineteen. The man right now is much colder and meaner than his past self, but the only person he ever acknowledge even now is Rin, his personal servant. They had grown closer, and Rin knew Sesshomaru so well that she could tell the difference in his emotions even under his cold demeanor. Rin had always been loyal and loving to her master and lord. Sesshomaru wasn't the only person to have acknowledged her. Inuyasha, his stepbrother, had taken a liking to her with his favorite nickname for her being "Rinny". Sesshomaru's father and stepmother had taken a liking to her as well. Sometimes, Izayoi, Sesshomaru's stepmother, would ask for Rin to make her hair or choose flowers for the rooms. Inu no Taisho, Sesshomaru's father, would allow her to read in his study room when he was present, and they would have a lively conversation about certain books they had read. Sesshomaru was the one who taught her to read, and Rin excelled in it due to Sesshomaru's merciless lessons after Rin said she wanted to read.
Most servants loved the lively Rin and even some visiting nobles liked her as well, but it didn't mean everyone loved her. She also had enemies within her status, envious that she was greatly cared for and bullied her with bruises and words. But in the end, Rin endured the harsh treatment with a small smile on her face even through the pain and the hurt. Her enemies didn't last long though because when Sesshomaru started seeing bruises on Rin, his eyes saw red and they almost looked red too as if he was about to kill. Sesshomaru questioned her about the perpetrators who had done this to her, but Rin never gave out names and just merely smiled at Sesshomaru for caring about her even though he denied it. Oh, but even then, it did not stop Sesshomaru from finding out. And when he did, the perpetrators wished they never done harm to the girl who was always beside Sesshomaru, not even nobility could get away with Sesshomaru's cruelty if Rin was ever harmed.
But then, things started changing when winter came. Sesshomaru had returned from three weeks of traveling through the Lands of the South. This time, Rin did not go with him. When Rin heard about his arrival, she was ready to welcome him but noticed a beautiful woman beside him. She wore strange clothing of a distant land. Her lips were red as blood while her eyes were a lighter shade of such redness. She wore three green-beaded earrings on each ear while her hair was medium length worn in a high ponytail as two feather stuck out from her hair. Rin found her to be a perfect beauty, and she noticed how her and Sesshomaru seemed to be a perfect couple. Something inside Rin stirred from those thoughts. It was a painful knot in her stomach that she seemed not to be able to rid of, but she shook it away. She still had to greet her beloved master.
"Sesshomaru! Welcome back!" Rin excitedly greeted him after the greetings made by Inu no Taisho and Izayoi and during the spat between Inuyasha and him.
"Rin," Sesshomaru greeted with a slight nod, ignoring the remarks made by Inuyasha. Rin smiled brightly at him, making the visitor stare at her oddly before looking back at Sesshomaru questioningly. Sesshomaru did not take notice of the strange looks made by the visitor and instead looked over at his father and stepmother.
"Father. Izayoi. This is Kagura from the Lands of the South. She is the daughter of a Duke and the future mate of my choosing," Sesshomaru stated. Everyone gasped and Rin's eyes widened at the sudden news. She could feel her own heart throbbing painfully against her chest and the knot that used to be in her stomach became stronger and more painful.
The one called Kagura merely smirked at their expressions but she hid it behind a feathered fan, making herself look as if she was being shy. Only one person noticed and that was Inuyasha as he growled at her hidden grin.
"Are you sure, Sesshomaru?" Inu no Taisho asked. His eyes boring the young lady as if he did not trust or like her.
"Yes, father," Sesshomaru answered. He turned away from them all and looked over at a nearby servant and ordered him to take Kagura to the nearest room from his. He then turned his attention to a still shocked Rin.
"Rin, come," Sesshomaru ordered. Rin blinked twice before walking behind Sesshomaru. Rin felt uneasy but she let the feeling go. It was then she finally understood she fell for her Prince but knew the relationship will never happen between a servant and master.
Rin tried her best really to please Kagura because Sesshomaru chose her as his, but Kagura seemed to not like her well. She lectured her for calling Sesshomaru by his name instead of his given title, and she lectured her for having the audacity to consider herself as an equal to Sesshomaru. She also bullied her with hurtful words that made even Rin's smile falter. Things like Sesshomaru will get rid of her when Kagura was to marry Sesshomaru even though they did not have a date for the marriage at all. The bullying had gotten worse through time, but there were no physical abuse just mental abuse.
"Please, Miss Kagura. Please stop," Rin cried as she kneeled before the noble daughter while her hands covered her ears and she shook her head.
"You did this to yourself, you wretch. Do you think Sesshomaru would ever care for such a lowly girl like yourself? Look at yourself in the mirror. You are scum. Dirt beneath Sesshomaru. Your tattered clothing is the sign of scum. You are a servant only. Do you know what Sesshomaru told me when I asked what your relationship with Sesshomaru is? He told me you are just a mere servant. Not friend. Not comrade. Just a mere servant. I asked him why he was interested in you. Did you know what he said? He said that you entertain him, that you are a mere interesting object that he only wants to figure out. And when he's done, he will throw you away. That's what he says."
"You're lying!" Rin cried out.
Kagura merely chuckled and had gotten closer to her and whispered into her ear, "You are just a mere object to him. He does not see you as a person. Remember that, you lowly rat."
It was then that Rin decided to push her, and it was at that time Sesshomaru saw only Rin pushing Kagura to the ground. It was then that Sesshomaru betrayed Rin because of Kagura. A betrayal that cost him a great deal and not only did he lose Rin but relationships within his family changed.
"You bastard," Inuyasha yelled when he barged into Sesshomaru's room early in the morning. Sesshomaru groaned and sat up, glaring at his half-brother.
"Inuyasha, leave," Sesshomaru ordered curtly. Inuyasha did not listen and stomped towards Sesshomaru, holding up by his bed clothes.
"How dare you send her to Naraku," yelled Inuyasha.
"If you do not leave, half-breed, you will leave me no choice but to hurt you," Sesshomaru stated before he grasped Inuyasha's wrist tightly that held him. Inuyasha was no weakling, but Sesshomaru had more experience than him, and he could feel himself losing energy against Sesshomaru. His fingers slowly let go before Sesshomaru pushed him onto the floor with Sesshomaru standing up and looking down on him.
"You are still as weak as ever, I see," Sesshomaru remarked snidely. Inuyasha growled before pushing himself up.
"Why did you do that to Rin, huh? She doesn't deserve such punishment to be sent to Naraku," Inuyasha said, his eyes looking hurt at the thought of Rin being beaten by the hands of Naraku.
Naraku was known to be a harsh man, and he was also a slave trader. Some nobilities send their servants to be taught by him. Those servants come back changed from being rebels to obedient servants.
"She pushed Kagura, my soon-to-be-mate. I have allowed her to act freely for too long and she became disobedient. Kagura and I decided it best for her to be taught to serve as an obedient servant," Sesshomaru answered, "I know about Naraku, and I allowed him to do as he pleases just as long as Rin acts accordingly."
"You idiot! I may have disliked you as a person, but I never thought you were such an evil bastard. Rin only did one thing wrong, and you send her away for one little offence? Do you know what Naraku does to female servants? He rapes them. Miroku told me about Naraku from a servant of Naraku's who was on his death bed. He confessed that all the female servants were raped countless of times not only by Naraku but by other men too," Inuyasha told him.
That was the first time Sesshomaru gaped in horror. His mouth parted a bit and his eyes widened a small fraction. Inuyasha glared at him and punched him in the stomach.
"You've sent Rin to her death, Sesshomaru. I'm getting Rin back. And if anything happens to her, I will not forgive you," Inuyasha said darkly, turning around as he finished. He was about to take a step, but Sesshomaru grasped his arm. Inuyasha turned back to look at him. Sesshomaru turned back to his expressionless self which Inuyasha had disliked so much. Inuyasha used to look up to him so much, but his cold demeanor and his cold words to him had made Inuyasha dislike him. This stunt, though, had made Inuyasha not only hate him but be disgusted with him.
"I am coming with. Rin is my responsibility," Sesshomaru said. Inuyasha responded with a click of his tongue in disgust.
"You won't be long," Inuyasha whispered enough for him to hear. Sesshomaru ignored his statement as they hurriedly made their way to the horses. By horse, it was a three-day journey to get to Naraku. Hopefully, they would save Rin on time.
But sometimes, the prince cannot always save the damsel in distress. If only they were knights in shining armor.
