Review Replies;
Rachelandthecupcakescrusades - Well I gotta say that that was a fairly good review lol!! Don't worry if it's short or not, I love them all, even if it's just like 'me likey!' lmao! Glad you like the story this far, and hope you enjoy this next chapter! It is extremely long.
Erilin-chan – Glad you liked the last chapter!! I am afraid that this fic is gonna be overwhelmed with O.Cs but I am doing my best to add them in slowly, but as you'll see in this chapter its not really working too well…It's a struggle with Sessho Rin stories cause all the people we know of from the anime is like Jaken and Rin, and well Sessho's mom in the manga. But I really wanna show the characters personalities and make them have depth but there is gonna be a lot of them. I worked really hard on Inunochi's character and as for Akira she came in perfectly but she has an important past that will be shown soon. I think I might add in a bit inu and kags but I won't be able to for a while. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
adeaneri – thanks for the review!! Much appreciated, and hope you enjoy this epic chapter!!
Apologies yet again for the late update, exams have been taking their toll on my person of late.
Enjoy!!! The next chapter is practically done. It is a continuation of this scene. But the chapter was about eight thousand words so I choose to cut it in half. It will be out within a day or two.
Lost Grace
Chapter 4: Inunochi's plot, Midoriko's power unleashed Part 1
Rin streaked down the hallway of the palace, panting heavily. She was SO late. 'Oh gezzz…I am sorry Lord Sesshomaru…'
Ever since her dramatic beach encounter with Inunochi and Akira only a few hours before her brain had been working on overdrive; thinking about what happened and replaying the scenes repeatedly over again in her mind. She respected Akira very much for her quick wit and fearlessness when pitted against someone like Inunochi. Rin made a mental note to not ever piss her off for she was sure that she'd never be able to hold her own in a battle of harsh tongues, and most definitely couldn't fight her physically for even if she was part human she was still part demon.
A soft smile played on her lips as she turned the corner again. She was sure that the sounds of her feet pounding on the palace floors would definitely be heard by all the demons in the Western Lands. She took a quick glance out a window as she passed to get a glance at the place of the sun in the afternoon sky. She could tell it was almost 4 o'clock, she was 45 minutes late.
The reason for her lateness was perfectly understandable, well to Rin anyway. After Inunochi had left Rin stayed and talked with Akira for endless hours. The hanyou was ridged, though she did lower her walls for a bit, probably because she knew that a human girl could do her no harm. The she-solider had spoken freely with her about this and that. Rin asked her about the Western Land's general make up, the format of the army etc. When she asked about her family Akira told her that she had half sister, Chicka who was a pureblooded demon. Akira also explained that her sister was the only female who ranked higher in the army than she did herself. The hanyou seemed at peace when speaking of her mate, Yuudai. He was the second highest ranking in the military. Her half-sister Chicka was mated to Susumaru, the only one of higher status than her own mate. Her guard prevailed again though when Rin continued to ask about her family. She became increasingly testy when asked about her parents, and her human ancestry. Akira refused to give away anything. It was then that Rin realized how much time she had wasted. She had bolted back to the Palace. She ran to her room to get changed out of her improper, short, slightly low-collared dress that she had been wearing at the beach. In her room she had been surprised to see that three different dresses had been laid out on her bed already.
'Emi…' she remembered thinking lightly. Emi was one of female household workers and was addressed to be Rin's caretaker.
Emi, as her namesake portrayed was blessed with immense beauty. She was fairly good natured and was an extremely charming gossip that would naturally know all the goings-on of the palace. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that she'd know of her appointment with her Lord.
The dresses that Emi had laid out for her had each been over the top. They had been fit for demonesses such as Inunochi, not a human ward. She looked down at the one she was now wearing. It had been by far the least extravagant. She wore it because she absolutely hated dressing up. This outfit made her feel the most at ease. For Rin, to dress up make her feel uncomfortable, superficial and fake. Her dress was strange, it wasn't a typical kimono. Contrary to most that were fixed, straight and unbending to the ankles this one was more liberal. It flowed out from her belted waist and she could even stretch out and run just as she was doing now without the need to be confined.
The upper half of the dress was a kimono style with stitching up the sidings, a traditional high collar but at her waist it flowed outwards. It was silky, and billowed around her with excess material to between her knees and ankles. She supposed it came from another land. She loved it, it made her feel free.
She didn't put on any paint that Emi had left out for her out on her face, mostly because she didn't know how to apply it correctly. She had never used it before. She knew that she probably looked ridiculous without it because of the formality of her dress but she didn't care, and she was sure that her Lord wouldn't either. Not knowing what to do with her hair she just let it down. She deeply regretted it now, she was sure it was tangling from her frantic running. 'Why am I suddenly caring so much about how I look?' she thought, frowning slightly.
She had also had shoes laid out for her. She refused to wear them. She hated shoes. They made her feet feel as though they were being suffocated. She was clumsy and always tripped and fell while wearing them.
She skidded as she turned down another corridor. She tripped clumsily and whacked soundly into the wall from her surprising speed in conjunction with the slipperiness of the wood floor. She pushed off the wall with unintentional gracefulness from her already extended arms.
She smirked lightly, and bit her lip to keep from laughing at herself for being such a klutz. She was in her Lords corridor at last. She continued at a delicate, dignified pace until she reached his door to his library that was at the end of the corridor, a ways away.
She knocked evenly.
"Come in Rin." came the level voice of her Lord.
She pushed the door open.
The room was much larger than it looked from the outside. She was sure that she could fit three or four of her bedrooms into this one. Not that her room was small, in fact, she felt quite spoiled by its grandeur.
Her Lord was facing towards her, seated at a large chair at the far end of the room close to the window. He looked tired…well that is if he could ever look tired. He was clearly worn by all the problems he had encountered since returning to the West.
She closed the door behind herself and made her way to Sesshomaru. She suddenly felt foolish for how dressed up she must have looked. She fought down the heat rising in her face that would have made her already flushed cheeks from running even more pronounced.
She came in front of him.
"Sit down." he said. He was eyeing her with a faint scrutiny.
She did as she was told and sat opposite of him.
"This is Emi's doing?" he asked levelly.
Her eyes widened in surprise. She bit her lip and fought to keep eye contact with him. "Yes." she replied quietly.
He nodded still eying her apparel.
"I am sorry." she apologized again in voice so quiet voice that only a demon could hear it.
He raised a questioning eyebrow. "For?"
"…being so late." she said breathlessly.
He frowned and looked out the window behind himself. 'She is late. I didn't even notice.' He turned back to face her. "That was your reason for pounding on the millennium old floors on your way here was it?"
Her eyes widened. 'Is he…angry? No, teasing me?? No, this is Sesshomaru we are talking about here.' She nodded. "Well…yes."
He nodded in response. "You have noticed Akira I trust."
Her face darkened. "...yes but why didn't you just tell me about her?" she quipped angrily.
"It should be obvious." he said, placing a pile of documents on the table in front of him. "It was part of your training. You'd sense her eventually, although you weren't able to get loose."
Her jaw dropped. "What? You expected me to loose her??" she asked, placing a hand down on the table that separated them with more force than she intended. "But she is half demon my Lord!"
He frowned slightly at outburst. "No you weren't. It was to test your capacity. And she three quarters demon."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh whatever, same thing." she scoffed, slumping back in her chair. "And how do you expect me to have any skill with stuff like that without any training? I am not some demon slayer or priestess my Lord, I do not possess natural talent in the area of combat. I have to be taught."
'She doesn't realize who she is then…' If possible he looked slightly amused but it was gone it was gone instantly. "Akira will be your instructor, though it will be delayed."
"What?" she exclaimed, almost jumping out her chair. "That is what we came to the West for isn't it? And why don't you train me Lord Sesshomaru?"
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I thought it would be clear why I can't. Neither would be able to perform the duties necessary."
Her eyes widened. 'What...? But the way he said it…he can't teach me because...it's because he can't hurt me…and I wouldn't be able to attack him??' she nodded. "I understand."
"I am not going to be present either. Understanding that I cannot always be in the vicinity during those situations is the way you will obtain success."
She nodded again, seriously. "But then why must the training be put on hold my Lord?"
He took her in, observing her profile, trying to size her up. "It is going to be your decision however considering how drastically you've altered your disposition since we arrived here, it would be effective to present yourself at a succession ceremony of the new sovereign of the Southern Lands."
Her eyes widened. "Being presented in demon court my Lord??" she asked quietly.
He nodded. "The Lords congregate once every hundred years."
'Oh, I get it. I'll be dead before the next one…' She lowered he gaze. "What does it mean to be presented to them?"
"An initiation into adulthood. You would not be the sole one."
"But I'll be the only human." she mumbled.
"…yes."
She hesitated. "My Lord…is it okay that you're doing this?? It doesn't seem common when humans are brought to ceremonies such as this."
"No, but this Sesshomaru has yet to gain anything from tradition."
She looked up at questioningly. "Are you sure??" she asked quietly.
"This Sesshomaru is always sure."
'My Lord…' she though fondly as she continued to beam up at him with fierce loyalty. She felt a smile tug at the sides of her mouth. She could hardly contain her giddiness. She was back to her childhood self again. "Then yes. I would like that very much my Lord. This is my home so I might as well be in attendance at the coronation of the new Lord of the Southern Lands." She was very anxious and nervous but she was so happy that her Lord would give her such an opportunity. "What do I need to do? How do I prepare? When is it?? Who is going to be there??" She clasped a hand over her mouth at the outburst of questions. She could feel heat rising in her cheeks for being so immature. "Sorry my Lord but when is it taking place and where?"
He seemed unfazed from her revert to her childsh form again. "Lady Katsuo will be coronated five weeks from now."
Her eyes widened in faint surprise. "Lady, my Lord?? But aren't the laws of succession always to a male heir??"
He nodded. "However demonesses can become the successor should the previous Lord specifically designate them for the duty above all others or if there are no male heirs left."
"So what happened to her?"
"The latter."
She lowered her eyes in respectful mourning. "How?? What happened?"
He eyed her curiously. He didn't understand why she was so interested in affairs such as these. He supposed it was because of her human nature. Life was of much more value to them than demons. "The South dissimilar from the West. Within the South there have been seven assassinations. The most recent was that of the Southern Lord."
Her jaw dropped. She was instantly mortified. "Oh…that's terrible…but still I don't understand my Lord. There are revolts in the West too. Does that mean that the Lord there brought a human back to the Southern Lands as well?" she asked lowering her gaze for a second time.
'What foolishness she possesses.' he thought, his eyes widening at the unexpectedness of her words. "Don't say such silly things."
She smiled lightly. "That's the second time you've said that too me my Lord." she said quietly thinking back to the time he had first said it.
She had been abducted by a demon who had taken many other children away from a nearby village. The demon had captured her and held them all captive. She remembered how the other children had thought she was strange after she told them she thought that humans were scarier than demons. Her eyes softened remembering the monks who had saved them from the demon. She had refused to go with them back to the human village from which the other children had been taken. 'I remember saying to one of them, 'I can make it on my own…I never want to do back to a human village…' and Lord Sesshomaru, I realized later that he had heard it all from the forest. I remember that I asked him after he saved me that if he'd always remember me if I died one day. 'Don't say such silly things,' he had replied.'
She recalled it as thought it were yesterday. It was quite possibly her fondest memory.
He frowned slightly.
"But I don't understand my Lord. What is the reason for it then? I know there are problems in the West and it is because I am here, or else why would you have had Lady Akira following me? I do not wish to be a burden to you in any way. I want to help, that is why I need training so you don't have to be troubled with my shortcomings as a defenceless human."
Sesshomaru was taken aback by the bluntness of her words but he held his façade of indifference. "Your place in the Western Lands is not in jeopardy. Do not question it." He said levelly. "As for the Southern Lands I do not presume to take interest in their affairs."
She smiled up at him. "Okay then my Lord, how do I prepare for the initiation??"
"Emi, Akira and Jaken will be you're informants."
She nodded. "Okay, then who is going to be there?? Am I going to be taught about the makeups of all the different Lands, customs, etiquette, things like that?" she asked levelly.
"Again you will be taught this from those three."
Her eyes danced happily. The last time he had talked so much had been probably years before. She was going to take this opportunity for all it was worth. "Have you been busy my Lord?"
"Yes."
"Then while I am not being trained, allow me to assist you in your work, please."
He closed his eyes. "If you so choose."
"Okay, I will definitely." she said softly. "Is there anything else you had to say to me my Lord??"
"Concerning your antagonization of many of the Western Lands inhabitants…"
She humphed sulkily and scowled. "Well if you expect me to sit back and listen to people criticize you they have another thing coming." she said in a huff.
'They insult her honour and race, she stays indifferent. They insult me she rants for hours.' He seemed slightly amused again, though as all things to do with him it was only faint "I assure you that this Sesshomaru if fully capable of looking after himself."
She sighed and leaned back in the chair. "I know that but that not that's not it my Lord. It just isn't right. Your strength should not be in question just because I am here." she said looking sideways. "I will keep acting like that as long as there are those who oppose you." she said defiantly.
"There have been those who have opposed me for a millennium. The only recognition I need of is my own." he said levelly.
"I know but still I can't help it my Lord." she mumbled.
He nodded. 'I must ask her to make sure.' he thought, throughoutly disliking what he was about to do. "What do you want Rin? Would you prefer it here or in a human village?" he asked levelly.
She chocked in disbelief, her eyes widening in absolute mortification. "What? Do you wish to rid yourself of me because of the falling out that my presence has caused?" she sounded worried. "My Lord I never want to go back to a human village!" she exclaimed looking extremely distressed. "Demons have more sense than humans anyway….humans kill each other without sense, for no reason. They are ignorant to everything out of the ordinary. Demons would never be so foolish." she said quietly.
His eyes widened slightly. 'Am I the cause of such prejudice against her own race?' he thought. "You may stay wherever you so choose."
She nodded, still a little upset. "The only way that I would return to humans is if you request that I do so."
He nodded. "Then tomorrow you will begin preparing for initiation."
She inhaled sharply. 'So…I guess he wants me to stay.' Her eyes softened. "Thank you my Lord."
"That is all." he said, returning to his work.
Her happiness was hard to contain. She nodded and made her way out of the room, doing her best not to jump from excitement.
She could feel her heartbeat in her ears. She closed the door of the library behind her with a great exhalation of breath that she didn't know she was holding.
'Bedroom?' she thought wondering where to go. She walked down the corridor with a huge smile planted on her face. She saw the turn where she had ran into the wall on her way to the library a while before, just ahead. She sighed and leaned back against the wall. 'Lord wants for me to be initiated into the world of demons…' she thought beaming. She slumped down and sat down against the wall, bringing her knees up close to her chest. She sighed closing her eyes.
"What you so happy for girl?" came drawling voice.
She inhaled sharply, her eyes snapping open. She glared up at the tall figure. He was smirking down at her, hardly giving her enough space to pull herself up from a sitting position. "Why aren't you with the other elites? Don't they have training at this time?" she snapped back to the demon. She had seen him as she passed the shojis before but didn't know his name.
His eyes flashed with delight. "You're reputation precedes you girl. Inunochi told me you were not a normal human brat, but rather a very bright one, which compared to us demons, would still be on the verge of ludicrous asinine." he said smoothly. "Don't ever forget your place girl."
Her eyes darkened dangerously. She pressed her back up against the wall. He was giving her no room to move from the corner. "I guess you mean I am being compared to those such as you, after all only those who are in possession of such ludicrousness in the first place would be so bent on a death by opposing one who is under the protection of Lord Sesshomaru." she said levelly. 'Good one Rin.' She thought, thinking that what she said sounded eerily like something Inunochi would say. She took a quick glace back down the corridor of where Sesshomaru was in his library.
He moved faster than her eyes could follow. A hand was instantly beside her head, blocking her escape path. "Don't even think about it." He said leaning down so that his face was inches from her own. "I am warning you to loose the attitude. Such arrogance should only be held by those who possess power."
She glared daggers up at him. "What do you want?"
His eyes darkened on her form. "What are you to Lord Sesshomaru?" he asked.
"Is that all?" she asked fighting to keep her cool.
"Yes."
"I am his ward."
He smirked again. "I highly doubt that." he said. "Are you his concubine?"
She bit her down on her tongue to keep from gasping. Her eyes widened and she pressed her back up against the wall. "…no…" she said the fear evident in her voice. The way he was looking at her was unnerving. 'Is that what they all think? That I am Lords whore?' she thought, biting her lip. "I swear."
With his free arm he grabbed her own. "Who do you think you're fooling? It is only a matter of time before Sesshomaru falls and then you will left to the discretion of those who think humans are lower than dirt." he said darkly. "Go back to your home. Go live with humans, you don't belong here. No matter what, even if you really are his ward, a relationship between a demon and a human has never worked, both end up disgraced in their inevitable death."
She bit down hard on her lip to keep it from trembling. Her eyes told the world that she was hurt by his words. "You're wrong." she mumbled.
He seemed amused by her anger. He chose to take pleasure in destroying her just as Inunochi had told him to do. "Do you know how Sesshomaru's father Toga died?"
She looked up at him bewildered.
"Because of his human mate."
'…what…?' she thought. She was scared. She could feel her heart beat in her ears. She didn't know how she'd ever get out of this one.
"He, the greatest dog demon ever to have been was brought to ruin from his human mate. It brought disgrace to both their names within their native races. He died in saving Izayoi and Inuyasha, and he was far stronger than your dear Sesshomaru." He said smiling. "He will fall just as his father, as well you."
"No!" she exclaimed, feebly. "It's not true, can't be…"
He took a step closer, closing the nonexistent distance between them. She moulded herself to the wall. She could feel the heat of his body, smell his powerful demon scent. She could feel his warm breath on her exposed neck that was making everything even more uncomfortable and worrisome. It took all her self control not to shutter. Her breathing was faint, eyes wide and fearful for what he might do. 'Help my Lord…' she pleaded inwardly.
"He will fall, he is weak. Sesshomaru is not fit to be the leader of these lands, just like his father."
She slumped against the wall shaking her bowed head, her loose hair brushing his chest and falling over her eyes. "Its not true…no…not true…no…" she was mumbled incoherently under her breath.
Tsumaru looked down at the girl, whose fists were now clenched. 'What the hell am I supposed to do now? Inunochi told me to break, her but how and why? I don't feel like getting killed by Sesshomaru any time soon, though I probably have sentenced myself already by what I have said and done to this girl. I don't understand what Inunochi wanted me to do. She said that I'd trigger something, and I'd know what it was when it happened, but what am I supposed to be waiting for?' he thought. 'How much farther am I supposed to push her?'
She raised her head, her face struggling to not crack. "I don't care what went on with Toga and Izayoi but I am not leaving here!" she exclaimed. "This is my home! I am not leaving my Lord and I am not going to a human village!" she said forcefully. "And if you think you can scare me away and convince me otherwise you are only fooling yourself." she said angrily under her breath. 'What is this feeling…' she thought as she felt something come over her. The power from the anger was overwhelming as it coursed inside of her. It was foreign, as though some great power was now possessing her, telling her to fight.
She struggled in vain to push him away from her.
His eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't you dare." he threatened.
But she would have none of it. She continued to struggle, occasionally pushing him back slightly from a newfound force. "Let me go!" she protested. "Lord Sessho-!!!!" she gasped as she was forcefully hit in the gut. The wind was knocked out of her.
He easily grasped either one of her hands in his own before holding her arms together above her head with one of his own. "I warned you." he grumbled.
He slapped her.
She gasped sharply before slumping over limply in what looked like defeat before suddenly she tensed up. She had finally had enough. She snapped. Her body began to glow bright pink and Tsumaru was suddenly pushed back a couple feet by the spiritual force that surrounded her. She fell to the floor gasping for breath, looking as though she were in complete shock, before slouching over from absolute exhaustion. The pink barrier stayed around her, subconsciously protecting her from anyone else who would do her harm while in the passed out state. Her cheek was already bruising over as were most likely her stomach and her wrists were on the verge of bleeding by how he had manhandled her.
"What the?" Tsumaru was looking at his arms as some sort of currents passed through them before making there way all through his body. It was extremely uncomfortable and was even bordering on painful. 'Shit, she was so weak before she pushed me away. I hardly used any strength and she looks as though she's been mauled. Humans are so frail! Damn that Inunochi. Is that why she wanted me to attack the girl, so she could tap into her powers? ….that almost felt like I was being purified…' he thought worriedly looking and the slumped over girl who he presumed was unconscious.
It was then he heard the sound of feet pounding from either side of the corridor. "Damnit…"
O-O-O-O-O-O-O
Important reminder!!
Tsumaru is the guy from the second chapter. He was with Inunochi before Sesshomaru and Rin came to the West.
Okay well what do you think is gonna happen?? lol it will be out soon.
Why didn't Sesshomaru save her?? Well let's just say he had a few problems of his own to deal with.
I have in-depth character profiles next chapter for all O.C. introduced thus far in the fic as well & how their all linked together.
Next update will be definitely be within the next three days, depending on how many reviews I get…
Just kidding, I like reviews but I won't be holding you hostage for them yet!!!!!
Tell me how I did with Sessho, did I keep him in character?? It was hard having him talking so much lol!!
Much love,
temariXshikamaruluva