Lord Sesshomaru was taking a walk through the forest nearby his castle when he heard something which caught his attention. The most beautiful female voice reached his ears. She was singing a sad and delightful song. He moved towards the source of the sound as if he was hypnotized. Without even noticing, his movements became furtive, he moved carefully, not to frighten the girl.
He reached a clearing, he could hear a stream softly murmuring, he could smell the water, but then he noticed the song had stopped. Sesshomaru entered the clearing and saw the owner of the voice, she was slim and tall, that was all he could tell, she was wearing a long cape with a hood which covered her face, he could not feel a demonic aura coming from her, nor could he smell her.
–Who are you? Show your face.–he commanded.
–Who wants to know? –answered the hooded figure.
–The lord of these lands. –he replied.
She seemed to consider it for a second. Finally she dropped the cape, revealing not only her face but also her demonic aura and her scent. She was stunning, the most beautiful demoness he could have ever imagined. Her eyes were of the purest blue. Her skin was white as snow enhancing the two black stripes in her cheeks which matched her knee-long ebony hair. She gave off a refined and sophisticated air. She was also an Inu-yokai.
Although just looking at her would have been enough for any man drop his jaw Sesshomaru didn't even change his facial expression, he kept his emotionless mask.
–What is your name? –asked Sesshomaru with a cold tone.
–Why would my name be important to The Lord of the Western Lands? –she asked calm as a lake.
–I need not explain myself to the likes of you. –was all she got for an answer.
She smiled, a radiant and angelical smile. –My name is Sora, pleased to make your acquaintance Lord Sesshomaru. –she said slightly bowing. She had heard many stories about the heartless and ruthless Demon Lord of the Western Lands, it was even rumored he had killed his own father. –Now, if you excuse me. –she said while gracefully picking up her cape and disappearing in a whirlwind of sparks.
Sesshomaru looked at the place where she had stood. There was something different about her, something he found extremely appealing. Yet she was gone and he had no way of finding her.
He returned to his castle, with the image of the gorgeous Sora bathed in moonlight stuck in his head.
As he woke up the next morning he was determined not only to see her again, but also to make her his. The day went by slowly. He tended to his usual affairs, barely listening and not paying attention at all.
–Is there something on your mind milord? –asked Jaken
Sesshomaru didn't answer; he just kept looking at his garden. Jaken exchanged confused looks with the old woman coming in through the door, hoping she could help his lord.
–Ok kid, you are gonna tell me what's wrong this instant! –said a very angry old lady.
–Nothing is wrong Kame. –answered Sesshomaru annoyed. Since his mother had not been the most loving person, he had developed a very close relationship with the old wolf demoness, who had served in the palace from his grandfather's time as a housekeeper. She was the one living person on the world who could question him without risking her head.
–Why the dazed look? –she insisted. She had never been a mother, but she loved Sesshomaru as one. She approached him from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder lovingly. –What's bugging you child? You know you can tell me anything.
–I met a woman last night. –he answered laconically.
–Do you like her?
–She is dazzling.
–Did you hurt her? –asked Kame knowing Sesshomaru sometimes got a little too excited.
–I did not touch her.
–How come? Girls usually throw themselves in your arms.
–She did not.
–Is that what's bothering you? That she showed no sign of being attracted to you?
–I will have her. –said Sesshomaru, emphatically.
Kame smiled to Sesshomaru. –I'm sure you will. –that poor girl had no idea of what was to coming her way; Sesshomaru would never take her by force, but he knew more than one way to seduce a woman, just like his father. Then she left to do her shores.
His little talk with Kame gave him confidence.
The sun was setting. He quickly got up and went to the clearing where he had seen Sora for the first time, something told him she would be there.
He found her in the clearing, sitting on a rock, looking at the stream.
–You came back. –she said without looking at him.
He didn't answer, just walked to her side and sat next to her on the rock. She had been waiting for him. Maybe she hadn't been as disinterested as he thought.
–I love looking at the river. It can be powerful enough to take the life of one hundred men, yet when it's peaceful it's so beautiful. Unchanging through time, God only knows how much it had witnessed. –she said, as if it was never meant to be heard by anyone.
Sesshomaru took her chin with his index and made her look at him in the eye. He leaned forward to kiss her.
–Please don't! –she said gently pushing him away.
–I promise you will never regret it. –said Sesshomaru. He placed his hand behind her head and pushed her towards himself. He gently kissed her on the lips; as his free hand moved to her shoulder, gently caressing it with his thumb. Sora's body shook violently as he pulled her closer. She place both her hand in his chest, Sesshomaru noticed she was crying.
–I'm sorry. –she sobbed. –I just can't do this!
Sesshomaru was surprised by her reaction. Other girls had been scared on their first time, but he could smell she wasn't a virgin. That left two possible explanations. –Are you in live with another man?
Sora shook her head against his chest, she started crying even harder. That left only one choice. Much to his surprise, Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her. He held her tenderly until she stopped weeping.
When she calmed down she looked at his eyes. –Thanks. –Was all she said.
–I will not allow anyone to harm you, you need not be afraid. –He said. "What on earth is wrong with me?" he thought "Why the hell should I care?" Yet he did, he felt he had to protect her, he felt rage. He wanted to rip apart whoever had hurt her. He felt something else he had never felt, a strange feeling that overwhelmed him and clouded his thinking.
Without saying another word he took Sora in his arms and returned to his palace, she did not protest. He took her to his room and set her on his bed. –Sleep. –ha said to her. –I promise I will not touch you.
She took his hand and leaned back. She slept all night holding Sesshomaru's hand. He didn't even wink. He spent all night trying to explain to himself what the hell was wrong with him. The sun found him just as confused.
He rose from the bed gently laying Sora's hand on the pillow. She looked beautiful when she slept.
As he walked out of his room he bumped into Kame. She could smell the scent of a woman on him, she could also smell he had not been with her. "He's probably going to be in a bad mood all day" she thought. –Good morning Milord! –she said with a broad smile.
–Good morning Kame. –answered Sesshomaru much to her surprise. –We have a guest, would you please tend to her personally and prepare a room for her? –Shocker! He wasn't in a bad mood at all, maybe this girl was different.
–It will be my pleasure. –she answered as he kept going to his study. "I have to meet this girl" she said to herself.
Guessing the girl would still be asleep she went ahead and prepared the room adjacent to Sesshomaru's for her. She put new sheets in the bed, even though they were clean, she put fresh towels in the bathing room and sent someone for women's clothing to the storeroom of the palace. After everything was clean and perfumed she went to the kitchen and made breakfast for Her lord's mysterious guest.
Kame walked into the main room in the palace a few hours later. She prepared a bath for the girl and set the tray with food near the bed.
–Morning! –said the girl, still from the bed, scaring her half to death.
–Good morning miss, I thought you were asleep. –said Kame, still surprised.
–Sorry if I startled you. –said the girl politely.
–Oh! Don't worry about that. Did I wake you dear? –she asked a bit taken back, she always took pride on being very quiet. "her senses are very sharp"
–It's ok, I guess I should have been awake already anyways. –she said with a gracious smile. –Is that for me? –she asked looking at the food.
–It is. My apologies. –said Kame a bit embarrassed. It would have passed unnoticed to many, but Kame noticed she had not pointed, nor had she asked where her host was. This girl was very well educated.
–Do you always apologize this much or am I making you nervous? –said Sora with a smirk, sitting down to eat.
–Well quite frankly you do miss. –answered the old woman.
–Sorry. –said Sora with a smile.
–Don't be. –said Kame noticing she had not touched the food. "she's waiting for me to leave" thought Kame. It was one of the most strict etiquette rules to never eat in the presence of a stranger in the bedroom. –I will be back in a couple of hours, there is a bath ready for you if you wish to take one. –said Kame.
–Thank you very much…
–Kame.
–I'm Sora, nice to meet you. –said the girl with a smile.
–My pleasure. –answered Kame. "She seems very sweet" thought Kame "but she is hiding something". She left.
Sora found herself alone in the room, she ate slowly some fruit and got up. She didn't have much of an appetite. She didn't even need to be able to read minds to know Sesshomaru had figured her out completely.
She undressed and found the bath chamber. It was a beautiful place. The walls were made of white marble, as was the floor and the hot spring. Everything was so wonderfully crafted you could barely see the lines between the blocks. She got into the perfumed water, flower petals were floating all around her. She felt truly relaxed for the first time in very long. The hot water was soothing. She took a deep breath and submerged herself in the water. All of a sudden she realized where she was, she blushed deeply when she thought of who usually used this bath. She got out as fast as she could and got dressed.
Instead of putting on the clothing Kame had brought for her she put on her own. A long skirt open on both sides up to the thigh, the top was a sleeveless armor which covered he bosom and showed her perfect waist, they were both black, the belt and the borders of the top were heavy silver. She put a Black silk kimono with a complex pattern of silver flowers engraved in it. She tied the kimono and looked at herself in the mirror. A tear ran down her cheek. She braided her long hair and arranged the cute bangs on her forehead.
She sat near the window looking at the sky. Kame came in about one hour. –I'm sorry child, have you been waiting too long for me?
–No. –Answered Sora. She seemed to have been lost in thought.
–Sesshomaru-sama said you were free to walk around the palace. You don't have to stay here. –said Kame with a pleasant smile.
–Thank for everything Kame. I know this may sound strange, but you remind me a lot of someone I haven't seen in a very long time. –she she said with a sad note on her voice.
–Well I hope it is a pleasant memory then. –answered Kame.
Sora smiled for an answer. –Excuse me. –she said leaving the room.
"Someone really hates being lockewd up" thought Kame.
Sora found her way to the garden through the laberinthine hallways of the palace. She found a nice shady tree near the walls of the palace. Nobody would go there unintentionally. She had a lot of thinking to do. She closed her eyes and leaned against the tree.
–Hi! Are you a friend of lord Sesshomaru? –asked a childish voice.
–I am. –she answered, she was so deep in thought she had not felt her coming, she had completely dropped her guard, she felt so safe in this place. Much to her surprise she was being interpelled by a human child.
–Nice to meet you, I'm Rin. –said the girl with a wide grin.
–It is my pleasure. –answered Sora amiably. –My name is Sora.
–Sora-sama, nice name. –said the girl sitting next to her.
–You can just call me Sora. –She said with a smile, she like this girl, she irradiated happyness, and she needed some hapyness at the moment.
–Ok! Sora onee-sama. –said Rin still smiling.
Sora couldn't avoid a chuckle. This girl was too cute. –Does your mom work here sweety?
–My mom and my whole family were killed by bandits, Sesshomaru-sama saved me and brought me here. –she anwered without losing her smile.
"That was unexpected" thought Sora.
–Girl get back here this instant! Don't bother Lord Sesshomaru's guest! –yelled Jaken at Rin.
–It's ok, she's not bothering me, she is quite adorable. –said Sora to the fuming little imp.
–My apologies miss. –said Jaken bowing. His eyes went wide when he saw her.
–It's ok, I really needed some company. –said Sora with a small smile.
–If she does not bother you I will take my leave then, excuse me. –said Jaken bowing again and leaving.
–You have very nice hair. –said Rin to Sora when they were alone. –Can I braid some flowers into it? I promise it will look beautiful.
For and answer Sora turned around and started undoing her braid.
Rin was ecstatic, she ran around the garden looking for flowers, she came back with four different ones. –Which one do you like best? –she asked.
She was holding four exotic flowers. A crimson red one which looked like a rose but was much larger, a purple one consisting in many diminute flowers around a central one, a yellow one which looked like a star and a white one, a lily.
–I like this one. –said Sora taking the white one from Rin's hands.
Rin grinned. –That's Sesshomaru-sama's favorite. –she said happily.
Sora blushed.
Rin went back to the bush and got another white flower, she started working on Sora's hair, in a few minutes she was done. –There –she said proudly. She had braided just and inch of her hair, but had done it in such a way that the two flowers were at the top of the braid, one on each side, and the hair holding them was graciously rolled.
It's really pretty, thanks! –said Sora smiling.
–I'm sure Sesshomaru-sama is gonna love it. –stated Rin.
Sora blushed at the thought.
–I don't think he will notice. –she said to the girl.
–Of course he will! He always notices everything.
Sora decided not to try and explain the child why he wouldn't notice it, too complicated for a twelve year old to understand.
–Do you think he doesn't like you? –asked Rin looking truly concerned.
Sora was at a loss, not knowing what to say. –He doesn't. –she finally said.
–Don't say that, you are very pretty.
–I don't mean physical attraction, I meant…
–Love? –inquired Rin.
–Yes. –answered Sora feeling nauseous. –I have to go. Thank Sesshomaru-sama for me. –She walked to the nearest gate and left.
–Was it something I said? –mumbled Rin. She had to find Lord Sesshomaru and tell him Sora had left.