Baaaaack ^^ I liiiiiive. So sorry about the lack of updates, but the brain, it likes messing with me. I like this chapter, little rushed in some parts I feel though, and a little slower-paced in others. Tell me honestly what you think please, I'm officially a review addict ^^;
AN - I do not own InuYasha
Rin slumped against the stainless steel oven, simultaneously removing the bandana from her forehead. She sighed lightly, checking her watch. She grimaced when she read 11:23. She had spent three hours cleaning the kitchen and had barely made a dent in the other chores her new master had ordered her. Getting gingerly to her feet, Rin stepped lightly over to the fridge and pulled out the sandwich ingredients and put the kettle onto boil.
Throughout the next half hour, the only sound in the massive kitchen was the chopping of Rin's knife, preparing the vegetables and meat for her Master's lunch. Her sandwich pieces were organized on a plate, a small selection that she hoped would please the demons pallet. Tea was next; all she had to do was pour it from the kettle to the tea pot and let it steep. Rin opened the cupboard where the tea was stored, thankful for the instructions that Jaken had left her in preparing the tea; with the variety of herbs and tea leaves, it was all too easy to mess up and create and awful tasting brew.
A gentle aroma filled her nose, not sweet per say, but gentle, subtle in its favors. Rin sniffed the tea; her nose tingled slightly at the smell. It was pleasant but…it was missing something. Rin put a finger to her lips, her eyes perusing the list of ingredients that sat on the shelf. Her gazing stopped at a jar labelled "lavender petals." Picking up the jar, Rin took of the lid and sniffed them, smiling when she realized that they were still fresh. Plucking only a small amount, Rin opened the lid of the kettle and hovered her hand over the steaming water. Rin bit her lip; if she did this, she could lose her job, and on the first day too!
"Is the lunch ready girl!" Jaken's screeching voice came in through the door, complimented by the loud banging that startled her into accidentally drop the flower petals into the tea.
"Oh good! It is," Jaken exclaimed excitedly, practically jogging over to where Rin stood, frozen in shock.
"U-um, no wait! Master Jaken I-"
"Be quiet silly girl!" Jaken snapped at her, effectively cutting her off, snatching the top of the pot from her hand and balancing the tray of tea and sandwiches before exiting out of the swinging door, leaving Rin standing by the counter in shock. Closing her mouth, Rin turned to the jar of lavender, still-open on the counter-top. Closing the lid, Rin replaced the jar in its proper spot and swallowed thickly. She was fired; there was no question about that.
Looking down at her list tucked safely in her apron, Rin unfurled it with shaking hands and scanned the remaining chores. Her brow creased in concentration, her deep breaths calming her down slightly.
"He won't fire me over tea, would he?" Rin thought, "Either way, I won't give him any other reasons to get rid of me, not today."
Determination set in her mind, Rin folded the list back in her pocket and took the same door her superior had left .
"Your lunch sir." Jaken's voice came from the door, balancing a tea tray with a small platter of sandwiches for him.
"Thank you Jaken, place it here." Sesshomaru said without looking up from his work, gesturing to the right side of his desk. Placing the tray carefully down on a side table, Jaken took the sandwich plate and placed it to the side of his Master's arm. He then set up the strainer over the tea cup and poured the brown liquid from the pot, slightly confused at the tiny purple flower petals being caught in the tea. Jaken's eyes widened even further when he noticed that the stupid girl had put something else in his Master's tea.
"Jaken," his master's stern voice cut into his thoughts, causing him to jump slightly.
"Y-yes, Sesshomaru-sama?" Jaken asked, his voice quavering.
"My tea?" Sesshomaru asked, looking over at Jaken with piercing amber eyes.
"W-well, ummm," Jaken stuttered, his gaze switching from the cup of tea in his hand to his Master.
"Now," Sesshomaru commanded, either unaware or uncaring as to his servant's worries.
"Y-yes Sir…" Jaken muttered, defeated as he gently placed the cup and saucer above the plate of sandwiches before bowing low; at the wave of his employer's hand, Jaken scuffled out of the room, desperately searching for the maid who had messed up his Master's drink.
Sesshomaru heard the door shut and Jaken's feet padding down the hallway seemingly in a great hurry. He shook his head, his eyes returning to the papers stacked up against his desk, various contracts and letters from other companies urging him or a business deal. Sesshomaru sighed, rubbing his temples. The whole idea of him working from home was based on the concept that it was going to be relaxing, not swamping him with even more work then he already had.
Setting down his pen Sesshomaru absentmindedly reached for the cup by his right arm, his thoughts to mixed up to even register the aroma before taking a sip. He paused when the taste of the liquid hit is tongue, his eyes opening at difference. Pulling the cup away from his lips and gently sniffed it. It was different then his normal, but what was it?
Testing the tea once again, Sesshomaru took a bigger drink of the liquid and let it sit on his tongue for a moment before swallowing, trying to determine what that taste was. Whatever it was, it wasn't revolting; it was actually pleasant to his sensitive pallet and nose.
Standing up from his desk, Sesshomaru strode over to the tray where the strainer lay and examined it. His finger dipped into the mass of herbs and leaves and sought out a tiny purple petal. Sniffing it as he did the tea, Sesshomaru paused as his senses became aware of the tiny flower's name. Lavender.
Replacing the tea strainer, Sesshomaru picked up his cup once more and swiveled the remaining brown liquid in the cup, musing his next step. On the one hand, his servant had blatantly disobeyed his instructions, on the other, she hadn't done anything horrible. Draining the cup, Sesshomaru placed it on the tray, his thoughts now on the young maid currently folding his laundry and cleaning his household.
He scowled, thinking of that morning when she had reached down to pick up the breakfast dishes, her scent had hit him like a wave, intoxicating and irritating at the same time. It never happened around other women, even the ones he had dated, but her scent had let him craving it, wanting more. His teeth grinded together, he hired a maid to work, not to distract him.
Rubbing is temples, Sesshomaru stared out his large windows overlooking the garden, his father's pride and joy. His house was once a union of his father's and mother's, one of the only good things to come out of their arranged marriage. In the beginning of their marriage, his father had tried his best to make it work, giving his new wife a beautiful garden in the courtyard, filled with various flora, circular walkway, and a beautiful fountain filled with rare koi. Sesshomaru and his father, however, had been the only two ever in the garden, his mother absolutely hated it and refused to step foot in "that filthy place" as she put it. About two years into their marriage, his father started to waver and his mother, fearing for the loss of her income, had conceived an heir for the empire, and for a while, it had satisfied his father. However, that was all his father seemed to be with them, satisfied.
When Sesshomaru was five, his father and mother divorced, his mother fighting more over jewels and money then she did him. Even though he had been forced to split his time between his mother and his father's new family, which at the time consisted of him and a pregnant Izayoi, he always felt like unwanted, his mother had wasted no time in letting Sesshomaru know he had failed in keeping their father to stay with them. Turning away from the window and his memories, Sesshomaru returned to his work, settling in for an even longer day.
The ladder wobbled slightly at the addition of Rin's slight weight, her fingers gripping the sides of the ladder until her knuckles turn white. Gulping down her fear, she proceeded up the ladder, taking one cautious step at a time. Gripping the feather duster in her right hand, Rin flicked her wrists in circular motion, ridding each spider of his home and removing all the dust, revealing a shining gold surface.
Examining her work on the section of the chandelier, Rin returned to the floor on slightly shaking legs, she wasn't all that keen on heights. Steeling her courage once more, Rin moved the ladder to the other side of the lights, her mind repeating Jaken's chastisement he had given her in the laundry room.
He had run in the middle of her second load of laundry practically fuming, screeching at top volume about how had screwed up the Master's tea and how she should be fired on the spot. Rin did her best to explain how it was all an accident, but Jaken cut her off by saying that neither he nor the Master cared for petty excuses. After his little spiel, Jaken left the room in a huff, the incident at breakfast obviously forgotten.
Rin stepped up to the top rung, placing her two feet on the step and bent over with the feather duster to sweep up the last few cobwebs off the glistening lights. Rin's feet gently lowered her figure down the tall ladder, one step at a time. She had only made it down three steps when she slipped.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips, squeezing her eyes shut and preparing for the worst. She felt her fall cut short by a strong pair of arms holding her petite frame. Feeling the wind being knocked out of her body, Rin flung open her eyes to the sight of her employer standing over her, his eyes staring at her own.
Rin remained there, frozen in his arms, her heart only speeding up after her fall. She opened and closed her mouth, trying desperately to find her words.
"S-Sesshomaru-sama, I-I uh…"
"Are you unharmed?" Sesshomaru's smooth voice cut through her words and thoughts, his eyes tracing up and down her body, telling himself that it was purely to see that she was unhurt.
"Y-yes sir, I'm so sorry sir! I d-didn't mean to…I-I mean…" she trailed off, unsure of what to say in the situation, a blush creeping onto her cheeks and her heartbeat speeding up even faster than it already was.
Sesshomaru merely stared at the beautiful flushing young woman in his arms, her hands creeping up to her mouth, unsure of where they should be. He felt her body shift in his arms and, almost reluctantly, he set her down on her feet gently, his hand remaining on the spot between her shoulder blades as he steadied her.
Rin felt the ground beneath her feet and a hand on her back keeping her balanced. Her face felt warm as she looked up at Sesshomaru, his head tilted slightly and his eyes questioning.
"U-umm, th-thank you sir," Rin said quietly, her eyes breaking the contact by looking downward. She felt humiliated as she gulped down the lump in her throat, fearing her termination.
"See to it it doesn't happen again," Sesshomaru said coolly, removing his hand from her warm back and strode past her quietly. It wasn't until he reached the double doors that lead to the garden that he paused and said , "Thank you for the tea."
Well? worth the wait? Big big thanks to all my reader and particularly my reviewers, I love you guys so much, keep being awesome^^