AN: Many thanks for the reviews, follows and favs.
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"You really don't have to do this" Rin said softly as Miki helped her tie the plain obi around her thin waist. Rin was wearing a careworn kimono- which might have been silk- she had never felt such fabric before. Maybe except Sesshomaru's white ensamble so long ago…
The color indeed had faded to the barest blushes of pinks. The cranes surprisingly detailed and embroidered with gold thread gone dull with age.
"But I do, you cannot continue to wear that kimono, why its three inches too short on you!" the elderly woman chastised. A hot blush of shame creeped over Rin's cheeks, but she said nothing.
"Also where is that lovely lacquered comb I left you Rin- chan?" Miki added sometime later, deftly finishing off the obi. Before putting Rin to sit on a cushion to begin styling her hair.
Rin's mouth dried out remembering last night, she swallowed loudly "Sesshomaru-sama may have removed it from my room" she replied, as Miki's gently began to comb out her hair with an ancient looking ivory comb.
Seconds later as if on some invisible cue- Sesshomaru announced his presence at the entrance to her room.
"You may come in Sesshomaru- sama!" Miki called cheerfully.
The screen door slid back revealing Sesshoumaru in a sinful hakama and haori in cream and white. He bowed to them, pasting Rin with a hot glare
"You look lovely Rin. You have my sincerest thanks for letting Rin borrow one of your kimono's Miki- san" he inclined his head in respect.
"Oh not borrow, it is hers. The gods know this hasn't fit me in decades" Miki replied looking at him with bright brown eyes. A knowing smile on her wrinkled lips, before she pinned up Rin's glorious amount of hair into a beautiful, if old fashioned style.
A simple kanzashi of sakura blossoms appeared and she set it in Rin's hair, before declaring herself finished. Rin rose nervously- trying to control her shaking limbs.
Something about this kimono made her jumpy- however she matched well with Sesshoumaru. She wondered then if it had been merely coincidence..or….
"Sesshomaru-sama" she began evenly "do you have the lacquered comb that went missing in my room last night" she nearly choked on the last few words knowing how that would look. She glanced quickly at Miki to see that the wizened face remained cheerful- apparently she understood the strange relationship between her and the inu-youkai in front of them.
"I do" something dark and glistening flashed in his hands before he stepped close. Close enough that Rin inhaled the scent of amber and spices- the scent that drove her to distraction. Before the lacquered comb was placed in her hair.
"It suits her doesn't it Miki-san?" he commented stepping back to admire the pretty picture that Rin painted. Miki nodded- rising surprisingly smoothly from the cushion.
"It does- though please be careful with it- this is the one item I cannot give you. For it was a wedding present from my husband"
Panic filled Rin "Oh no- please I couldn't wear it!" she cried reaching up to take the comb from her hair. Sesshoumaru stopped her, his fingers curling around her slender wrist igniting a fire low and deep in her belly.
"We will take good care of it won't we Rin?" Sesshomaru answered for her, before she pulled her wrist from his grasp. A flash of irritation filling her face as she briefly made eye contact with him. He wanted to laugh- how he loved her fire. It aroused him, he would willingly walk into it again and again if only to see those lovely eyes flash daggers at him.
Not only that, beneath the scent of herbs and roses- Rin's own private smell of floral musk was high. He wouldn't dare admit it aloud but he enjoyed it. What an interesting bride she would make- not only that it would bring him great pleasure to funnel all her anger in another entirely delicious direction…
As if the elderly woman had read his mind she laughed "No doubt you will" she crossed the room to place a small hand on Rin's arm.
"Please do not worry, Rin-chan. You are a beautiful young woman and as such need to wear items to bring that out. Isn't that right Sesshomaru- sama?"
Sesshomaru chose once again to entirely sidestep her question "If that is all Miki-san, we will be leaving now. Rin has an appointment with her new music teacher. But before that- I think a little shopping is overdue"
Rin flashed him a look, was he really going to make her learn to play music? Actually she wasn't adverse to the idea- she liked such things. But having never had a hobby- Rin thought it would be interesting to say the least. Outside the door she slipped on her sandals, following Sesshomaru-sama mutely down the hall. Mind furiously working at his sudden change in attitude towards her, when she suddenly stopped.
Sesshoumaru turned after a moment "Don't think that I will participate in any of this if you are going to continue to try and set me up with a match"
The Lord of the Western Lands let out a short bark of a laugh "Not at all Rin. I'm trying to socialize you- by societal standards you are nothing more then the same feral child I saved outside your village over a decade ago."
Rin flinched at his words- but her spine stiffened "You are one to blame for that- you hate humans" she growled
A ghost of a smile touched those sinful lips "I do- but as your benefactor I must look out for your well being. You need to be exposed to situations that women your age are familiar with. No doubt you tire of the company of youkai"
Rin felt her hands clenching and unclenching. To be honest she hated them both- while the villagers had tolerated her after her parents death they never did anything really to save her. To lift her from her lost and destitute state- in the case of youkai it was only Jaken and Sesshoumaru who had ever taken care of her. While the others were only looking to take adtange of Sesshoumaru and use her as a bargaining chip.
"I tire of both species- but I believe I can till tolerate the company of you and Jaken a little longer" she replied imperiously, tamping down the bitter feeling of loneliness that choked her.
Admiration seemed to briefly flare in those hypnotic golden eyes "Very well then- we have an appointment with a kimono maker. Please let us hurry" and with that he turned and she followed him out of the inn.
Surprisingly this kimono maker was just down the street, Rin noticed it mostly because Jaken was standing outside . Impatiently pacing back and forth
"Good morning Jaken" Sesshoumaru said politely as they approached the diminutive kappa, inclining his head in respect. Jaken bowed murmuring his good morning before going directly to Rin. Staring at her up and down with a critical eye.
"You look good girl- I thought this would be the best kimono for you to wear among the lot"
Rin's eyes widened "You picked this out?"
Jaken nodded folding his short arms over his chest "Of course I did. It was the only one of Miki-san's that would go with your porcelain pink coloring"
Rin flushed deeply as Sesshomaru ducked into the shop- returning moments later with a pretty young woman.
"This is my ward Midori-san, I was hoping you have something ready made for such a delicate frame" he began
Midori assessed Rin slowly "I may- please come in"
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What proceed for next hour or so was Rin being poked and prodded within an inch of her sanity. Midori and her associates putting her in one kimono after another. Each more elaborate then the last and each time parading her outside into the luxurious private dressing room for Jaken and Sesshomaru's pleasure.
Gods! She wanted to pull her hair out, when Midori revealed the half a dozen yukatas that her associates were pulling from their cedar boxes set into the elegant shelving. She stood up now dressed in a plain robe "No- no more!" she exclaimed feeling on the verge of tears.
There was tittering laughter and Rin turned to see that Sesshoumaru had pushed back the elaborate screen that separated this room from the dressing area. Drinking in the dangerously translucent cotton of her robe, instead of cowering Rin turned to face him fully. Defiantly jutting her chin out
"What are you doing here?" she snapped
"I was growing impatient- you are making Jaken and I wait too long " a wicked smile touched the corners of his mouth, as his eyes flicked briefly down to her breasts. Heat filled her cheeks and Rin had the sudden urge to smack him- to wipe that smile off his face.
Boldly she took a step forward "Why don't you leave then Sesshoumaru-sama? You were the one who brought me here to be subjected to this… torture" she spat the last word.
Sesshoumaru laughed softly "I don't think this is torture. I am quite entertained"
Wicked, wicked youkai! Rin counted to ten in her head- trying to bite back the curse that was on the very tip of her tongue. Instead her hand whizzed out to smack his face. With the speed of lightning he caught her wrist. Bringing her hand roughly to his lips, placing a insolent, lingering kiss on the back of her hand. Behind her the girl's sighed and Rin's face flamed- trying to tug her hand away.
However Sesshomaru was in no mood to release her, as he nipped the sensitive flesh at the tips of her fingers. Slightly calloused from their years of wandering.
Heat was building in her, a soft moan bloomed from her throat when he took her longest finger into his mouth and suckled. His eyes holding hers, filled with such a dark promise of pleasure.
Rin's lips parted in a silent moan unconsciously pressing her thighs together to stop the sudden, foreign ache there.
"Ahem" there came a delicate cough " I believe it would be best you release the young woman Sesshomaru- sama" came Midori's patient gentle voice. Yet beneath that was a hint of steel that made Sesshoumaru withdraw her finger from the heat of his mouth release, before releasing her hand. Rin pulled away as if he burned, dropping her hand to her side.
He gave little bow "My apologies ladies- I will got outside and wait patiently" with a wicked grin he turned and let the screen drop...
Frozen to the spot- heart pounding hard Rin stood there staring at the brightly colored patterns of the finely slotted bamboo screen.
"Rin-san" came Midori's coaxing voice, breaking Rin from the terrible jumble of her thoughts. The young woman turned- embarrassed "I am sorry Midori-san. I didn't- didn't" word failed her when she looked at all the young women around her. Some of them were whispering behind their hands, others were blushing.
Rin's hand curled into a fist, she was tore between wanting to both kiss and punch Sesshomaru. Actually she would be content to break his beautiful nose if she had the strength to do it. Apparently she did- now that she wore the Shikon Shard. That gave her a sense of deep satisfaction, her embarrassment evaporating she nodded. "I suppose we should finish up then"
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"Kagura what have you managed to glean?" Naraku asked as Kagura the Wind Sorceress trailed into the luxurious bedchamber. One that Naraku called home in the Imperial Grounds. He was having tea with another one of the incarnations Hakudoshi, the beautiful deadly child that had spilt from the Infant.
Kagura hated them all, but she hated Hakudoshi more. Especially the smug smile he wore on his beautiful face, his long white hair whispering over his thin shoulders.
"My spies have told me that Sesshomaru has reentered Edo. With the mortal girl and the kappa youkai."
Naraku grinned "What brought him here? He must be quite desperate" he asked toying with his cup of tea.
"Apparently the girl that follows him is very ill-or was. She is recovering now..." Kagura replied in a bored tone, secretly hiding her joy to know that the Lord of the Western Lands was here in the capital. One more chance for her to see him...
"Well get to it- I want that Shard, Kagura. If you have to kill someone- do it quietly. I cannot have my name sullied here."
Kagura bowed to the both of them "As you wish Naraku-sama"
"Don't let that heart flutter to much Kagura-chan" Hakudoshi teased mercilessly "we know you have such a soft spot for Sesshomaru"
Choking on her rage Kagura turned- hating them all. Hating everything- she would never, ever give Naraku that Shard. Even though Naraku held her heart in his hand- she would not bend to him... Even as his laugh followed her down the hall.
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