Lord Sesshomaru leaned more forward to watch the exchange as Rin questioned his mother's main purpose, that took a sense of bravery, hopefully she would survive.
He watched his mother set down her cup before resting her hands on the table, "What makes you question that this is a test, young one. An interview over an informal tea is socially acceptable…"
Rin answered with a kind smile, "True, but our situation is very different here, you want to see how each of the ladies would react to each of the questions, to see if they can handle themselves in a calm manner even if the questions are uncomfortable for their status and training. Reading people is also a skill that experienced leaders, such as yourself, aquire over the years with wisdom. You wanted to see if their personalities and social experience would not only meet your standards, but to see if they can make their own decisions when faced with difficulty."
"Bold words, and true as to why I conducted this interview, but it still doesn't answer why this is a test?" Inukimi smirked into her tea cup.
Sesshomaru gripped his hands as Rin took a sip of her own tea as well before answering,
"It seems that you are looking for ideas for your final test, because otherwise you wouldn't be looking for both their strengths and weakness all over again."
Lady Inukimi smiled and poured them both more green tea and started her own list of questions that she had set aside for Rin only.
"What do you think about my son, lady Rin?"
Rin tilted her head to the side in confusion, "What do you mean? I've never met him, only what the ladies gossip about him in the courtyard."
"Do you believe them?"
Rin shook her head, "I don't listen to rumors, too many details, and not enough facts that follow…"
Inukimi raised a brow before taking a quick sip, "Do you want to marry my son?"
Sesshomaru was really pushing himself towards the curtains edge to hear and see Rin before she answered.
"I have to be honest with you, I don't."
...
Lady Inukimi heard a thump and groan quietly come from where her son was stuck, and held back a knowing smile.
"…and why not, little Rin, is he not good enough for you?"
Rin shook her head, "No, if anything I'm not good enough for him, you are aware that I have a dark history with my family's passing….and I have never met your son so I cannot be a judge of character to see if I can easily accept him or not, even he would have to decide in the end wouldn't he? You made these arangments with all of us ladies coming here in the first place so why put us through your tests and trials to prove ourselves if we never get to know your son as a person?"
...
Sesshomaru was released by his mother earlier as soon as lady Rin was finished, while he questioned why she didn't keep him around for the other interviews, he didn't mind leaving early to think. He thought much about what new feels were passing through him by what lady Rin was doing to him in the last two days. He knew he was a selfish being and always took what he wanted whenever he wanted something. But this seemed like a more delicate situation than just going in and slaying whomever deserved to die. Lady Rin was very different, which was good for him, but she didn't really want him.
He took off flying when the guards' backs were turned, even though he was free to do whatever he wanted, he didn't want them reporting to his mother about all of his activities.
The dog demon flew over layers of fog and midst before descending to the bottom of the mountains, it was much quieter in the clearing than where his mother would nag him.
Settling down on a patch of grass under a tree, he pondered and thought about what would be the best course of action would be.
After hours of sitting in puzzlement, with memories of Rin's laughter and kind words, he made his choice and quickly transported in a green sphere flying towards the East in the region of Endo.
…
Rin quietly removed her shoes, socks, and outer robes so that she was only wearing two modest layers. Carefully, she peeked outside her tent to see if anyone was awake early as she was, to her credit there wasn't a soul awake in the courtyard or any of the tents.
Sneaking out in her bare feet, she crept past the guard that was dozing and dashed towards the castle gardens on the west side.
She knew she was pushing her luck, but she couldn't spend all of her free time inside her tent. She had gone to the bathhouse that day with Yuki, but strayed far from the other ladies and maids due to their teasing and foul words against her human body.
Rin gave a quiet sigh as she lightly skipped in circles around the koi pond the garden had to offer. It was in the peaceful moments like this she could practice her dancing and enjoy herself without the others knowing. She had developed this habit of hers since she turned thirteen where she could act as childish as she wanted to without any scolding.
As her bare feet enjoyed the soft grass, she breathed in the sweet smells of the flower bushes and blooming trees. A light breeze blew through the branches of the sakura trees, causing the petals of the blossoms to flow around her form as she continued to move with light footing. Jumping high in the air she stradled a full split with her legs and lifted her long sleeves like birds wings. She continued to prance around the garden's green lawn in delight with her long hair catching a few of the blossoming petals like a flowing cape.
Rin found herself softly laughing as she continued to twirl and leap a few feet off the ground to spin as if she were back home in her favorite field full of wildflowers, alone and with no one to bother her.
It wasn't until her left foot had slipped on a bed of wet grass that she started to fall straight towards the stream carrying water to the pond, she was ready to brace herself for the impact but it never came.
It was in a split second she felt something different hit her, but it was soft and warm, it wrapped itself around her back and waist before her face was covered with something softer and kinda reminded her of the puppy that would visit her.
Her bare feet were touching soft grass again, yet she was still covered with the warmth wrapped around her.
"Are you hurt?" A deep baritone voice asked her as she sank her face deeper into the soft fur to breath in its piney smell.
"No, I'm fine, I-" Rin's eyes widened when she realized that someone was there and addressing her, she was caught!
Looking around with open eyes she found herself encased to a tall body with strong arms and a furry white pelt that seemed to rub more against her face on its own. Her breath against the pelt seemed to make it shiver slightly and the chest her hands were braced against rumbled with a familier low growl.
Swallowing a hard lump of air, she lifted her head to glance up at the man who had helped from falling down.
She let out a soft gasp as she looked to see a tall handsome man with two red stripes on each of his cheeks and a blue cresant moon on his forehead half hidden among his silvery white bangs. His hair was very long, much longer than hers, and was silky as it draped halfway on her shoulder with hers by the wind. His face was as stoic as Inukimi's, but had a softer edge to it when he gently loosened his grip around her waist, but still held her close. His familiar golden eyes were very focused on her as she went still as a deer and found herself locked in his gaze. She wasn't afraid, but why was she nervous? Was it because he was a powerful demon, or because he was good looking? She wasn't one to feel that easily intimidated, but she couldn't stop the butterflies in her stomach.
Why wasn't she saying anything? And for that matter, why wasn't he? Who was he?
…
...
Lord Sesshomaru had never felt this frustrated by anger towards his younger brother, and towards the lady he now finally held in his arms. He had just returned from the Endo village where his brother's welcome was heatedly open with many questions regarding Rin's wellbeing.
It was shocking enough that he learned that his own mother had come to the village of Endo to personally pick Rin telling her that her title was of worth in the demon world, and that she also was paying her guardian and friends to keep her longer; but that Rin had willingly left of her own free will to help his half-brother's family because his wife was one of her close friends.
When Inuyasha had first smelled him coming, he and Kagome feared something had happened to her since she wasn't with him, hence why they were very demanding in the beginning. They were shocked that Inukimi had arranged for a competition among females to become his wife, and said that they didn't care for the extra gold as long as Rin was safe and happy wherever she wanted to be.
In a way, Sesshomaru was also angry at himself for never visiting the village long enough to even meet Rin as she was growing up, nor even knew where she had originally come from when he had first met her to begin with.
According to Kagome, she was entrusted into miko Kaede's care since she was ten years old and was considered mute for a few years due to the traumatic experience of watching her parents become slaughtered by wolves after bandits had robbed them on the road threatening to kill them.
She had grown up learning everything she could from those around her with an eager and curious mind that never seemed to rest. Rin was also considered a family member in Inuyasha's household since she enjoyed looking after their children (as well as the other children of the village), and ever since she was thirteen she had been asked for marriage contracts with several males due to how beautiful and pure she was. However, she never accepted due to her age and the fact that she was never interested, and having overly protective guardians like Kaede and Inuyasha kept the men from ever stealing her away.
What made him extremely upset was learning that the demon slayer's younger brother, Kohaku, was hoping that as soon as Rin was sent home (if she was never chosen) he had plans to propose to her as a childhood friend. He had even sounded confident that she would say yes because they were good friends for many years, and because he was inheriting a new wealth from a deceased relative.
The dog lord had only felt envy towards Inuyasha growing up because he had more freedom during his banishment than he did, but now for the second time in his life he was jealous over a human boy whom was planning to take Rin away.
The thought alone made Sesshomaru unwell, so he gave his farewells to the families before forming himself into a glowing orb to lift into the evening sky. Disgusted with himself, he had immediately flown straight back to the castle to clear his head in the palace garden.
He had positioned himself into one of the tallest trees, unable to understand his confusion. Was he fooling himself into thinking that he actually had any feelings towards Rin? If she loved that slayer boy so much, why did she even risk coming here? Is that why she refused him to his mother, even though her explanation was sound, it still meant she wasn't interested.
She was selfless and caring to those around her, he knew this from personal experience, but he couldn't imagine her going to that full extreme of sacrificing the feelings of a loved one to gain a higher position. No, it wasn't in her character. Maybe he was just being selfish into thinking that she wouldn't resist him as other females did. This was one of the reasons why she stood out from among the rest, and why he was becoming more interested in her.
The lord had been sitting up in the tree thinking for a while till his nose caught the scent of Rin coming into the garden to play and dance around with a carefree smile on her face.
He found himself completely entranced by her movements he couldn't look away nor say a word as the moonlight graced her figure as it fluidly glided around the trees and bushes to smile as the breeze caused the blossoms to cling to her long flowing hair.
The fact that she was more beautiful with less adornments made her even more breathtaking to him as he continued to watch her with baited breath as she lifted her long legs and arms in the air gracefully as if to reach the stars themselves. She had become a lovely night bird with her long hair following her billowing sleeves as they enhanced her movements. But her lovliest feature had to be her bright face as it cheerfully enjoyed the exercise and elements falling around her as if she were in her own little world where nothing could harm her.
Yet, she was almost harmed, she had slipped on a wet spot and her head was falling towards the sharp rocks lining the stream filling the pond.
Sesshomaru found himself using every bit of instinct to use his demonic speed to reach her before her head was struck. Never had he felt so, startled and fearful, in his long life. Nothing frightened him in the slightest, and yet seeing Rin almost become injured felt like it took years of his life out of him.
He found himself thankful that he not only was he able to save her from a potential bleeding skull, but he was finally getting a chance to hold her close.
The dog demon was also annoyed and close to reprimanding her for being careless. If a demon had hit his head on the rock, they could heal in a day or two. She was more delicate as a human and could possibly die!
It was her face rubbing into his monmoke tail that kept him from scolding her, and instead tried to think of what to say to her now that she was finally seeing him in his humanoid form. It was hard to focus with her hands and head resting on him, and her curvaceous body so close to his causing him to slightly growl in pleasure. He had to loosen his grip on her or else he might give into the temptations of keeping her there, he didn't want to frighten her more by explaining that he was the puppy in her room all this time.
At least, not yet…it was already embarrassing…
After inquiring if she was well, she had started to answer with her sweet voice until she had stopped talking to look up at him.
Sesshomaru tensed up waiting to see what her reaction would be, and wondered if she would recognize him.
Instead of fear, she was gazing at him in a state of awe. He was used to this since he was a highly ranked demon of noble birth, but seeing her looking at him in wonder made him appreciate her even more.
As both of them tried to find something to say, Sesshomaru enjoyed her close presence and the ability to admire her with a different set of eyes.
It was in that moment, in the dark still silence of the garden, that the lord of the west promised himself that he would do anything to make lady Rin his.
…
Rin, realizing that they were standing there for a long time just staring, decided to end it quickly by trying to jerk herself out of his arms to bow in apology. However, the demon's arms were loose but still too strong for her to break from his close hold.
She could feel her cheeks redden in embarrassment of her situation, and the fact that this demon had already caught her not only in the garden alone, but also dancing about like a child…so embarrassing…
Instead she bowed her head and lowered her hands to her sides, even if they did tingle whenever she brushed against him. She had never felt this kind of connection with a man before (demon or otherwise) but something about was familiar and yet strange too. He was dangerous, she could tell, but the softness in his eyes seemed to tell her to believe otherwise.
Either way, she needed to behave herself and not throw herself at him if she didn't know him.
She cleared her throat, "I-I'm sorry sir, I realize I should be in bed, but I need fresh air….really! I-I'll leave you to you peace now, my apologies…"
As she turned to allow herself to run off away from him, his hands seemed to tighten on her waist again, only this time he was right behind her, pressing their bodies closer so his mouth could brush her ear as spoke to her, causing her to gasp at the sensations.
"This one, will not deprive you of your joy of freedom since he sympathzes with you. Be more careful next time, lady Rin."
Rin gasped, at not only the tingling of his breath or low tone he used when speaking to her, but that fact that he knew who she was made her even more surprised.
How did he know? Who was he to know? He looked like Lady Inukimi, so…it couldn't be…
Gulping more air she turned to face him as he lowered his arms and took a step back to give her space.
Looking up at his stoic mask, she bowed formally at the waist, "You have me at a disadvantage sir, as you know my name, but I don't know yours."
He raised a pale, yet elegant, brow at her as if she was simply asking because she already knew.
Nodding his head curtly, he addressed her in a monotone voice that was still deep enough to send shivers down her spine.
"This one is called Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands of the line of Inu…which I'm sure you figured out."
Rin's face turned even more red as she looked down at her feet, nervously toeing some grass.
"May I ask what you are doing here?"
"No."
Rin nodded, "I understand, it's none of my business…um…am I in trouble for being here? Of course I am, why wouldn't I be, I mean I'm here in the dark, no shoes, probably looking messy right now.. thank you for helping me, but I can handle myself, really…oh well, I'll leave you be and-"
She was surprised that a clawed finger had stopped her ranting, and look up to see that Lord Sesshomaru had moved quickly in front of her to lean forward so that he was now inches from her face to be able to look at her straight in the eye as he spoke.
"You are allowed to continue your visits, meet this Sesshomaru again tomorrow at this hour, and he will keep watch over you as you enjoy your small taste of freedom."
Rin found herself surprised that not only was the lord Sesshomaru this close to her again, but that she was also nodded her head dumbly to his request without protest.
In a flash as he came he was gone in a second, with the tingling feeling of his touch still lingering on her lower lip.
Touching it with her own hand in fascination, she quickly grew shocked at what had just transpired before her, and wondered if she could continue to carry herself in the next coming weeks without more problems.
Quietly she dashed through the corridor to the courtyard in the east wing to find her tent and leap inside as if a demon was hot on her heels.
Panting she stumbled over to her futon to find a ball of white fluff waiting for her by the cushions, smiling she realized that it was only Maru (not Fluffy) and he look so adorable while sleeping she couldn't help but smile as she cuddled up next to him to rub his soft head.
He woke up and gave her a small push of his snout, encouraging her to grin as he softy whines for her attention.
"Oh, Maru, you would not believe what just happened to me…"
She was surprised that the puppy listened to her with rapt attention and wide red eyes as she recounted everything that she experienced meeting lord Sesshomaru.
...