A. N.-

Thank you everyone for such lovely reviews. I was waiting to hear those from a long time. You people motivate me and keep me going. So here is the next chapter. Plz enjoy some romance between sessh n rin.

CHAPTER 7

After that night Kohaku never came back. Sango who was also an officially trained martial artist was appointed as Rin's new bodygaurd. From Sango , Rin came to know that Kohaku had been sent far away for some important work and wouldn't be coming back soon.

It was some traditional Japanese festival . Everyone in the mansion was preparing for celebration and the ceremony held at the end of the day. Sesshoumaru had sent a kimono to be worn specially on that festival for Rin. When she opened the packet , she was awestruck at Sesshoumaru's choice. It was black in colour , Rin's favourite, and had red cherry blossom tree with petals flowing diagonally. It was made of a delicate silk cloth with slightly thin material. Rin thought- how does Sesshoumaru know my favourite colour? Or is it a simple coincidence?

She was struggling to tie the obi and also keeping the smooth silk cloth of kimono from falling down her shoulders. Sesshoumaru was passing from the corridor and couldn't help but peek through the slightly opened Rin's room door. He saw her struggling and went inside without knocking.

Rin felt someone's cool breath on the back of her neck. She looked up in the mirror and saw Sesshoumaru's reflection. She squeaked in surprise and jumped. She turned around and said,'' You know doors are kept shut so that people could knock first and don't intrude on other people's privacy. '' Sesshoumaru said in his monotonous tone,'' The door wasn't closed and I am a lord , I can go anywhere I want in my house.'' She was not paying any attention to his last words but was in deep thinking and muttered, ''But I closed the door properly...'' When she looked up , Sesshoumaru was again staring at her bare neck and shoulders. She noticed his intense gaze, blushed because of embarrassment and tried to cover up quickly.

Sesshoumaru asked,''Why didn't you call a maid servant to help? '' Rin was slightly taken aback with this forward question and answered, '' What? No... I don't need anyone to help me. Of course I know how to tie a kimono. It's not that difficult and also all the servants are too busy with decoration and ceremony. '' She looked in his eyes and he was staring blankly towards her like he didn't believe a word she said. She immediately dropped her eyes to the ground because of the awkward situation they were in and was turning to face the mirror, when Sesshoumaru let out a sigh and held her from the waist. He didn't allow her from turning around.

He slid his hands further to reach the back of her waist. His manly arms wrapped around Rin's slender torso. He was hugging her gently and carefully like she was made of delicate porcelain, like she was a very precious thing and he would break her if he exerted even a little more pressure. Rin was astound at this action of his. She tried to push him slightly and break free. She asked with nervousness, ''Wha... What do you think you are doing? '' But Sesshoumaru wasn't ready to let go. He pressed his lips at her ear and spoke softly, ''Let me help you Rin.'' A pleasant shiver ran down her spine. She stopped resisting and let a cool breath out. She was feeling so comfortable and safe in his arms. His voice was very soothing. She closed her eyes and melted in his arms. Their bodies were pressed like a jig - saw fit. Like they were made for each other. Sesshoumaru tied Rin's obi while his eyes were closed. He was inhaling her scent as much as he could while pressing his face deeper in her hairs. He then noticed how her proximity tend to calm him down and how sweet her scent was. Rin liked the way Sesshoumaru's hands skilfully moved around her back. How strong and muscled his arms were. Her heart was beating fast and her face flushed red like a tomato.

When Rin opened her eyes from this exotic dream , she saw Sesshoumaru standing at the room's door. He said ,'' The ceremony is about to start, come down fast.'' Rin nodded and turned towards the mirror. She saw a beautiful obi tied at her back. She again turned bright red at the thought of what happened just then and muttered under her breath, ''Pervert! '' with a smile. Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears picked the word and he smirked.

At the ceremony , the hall of mansion was decorated beyond explanation, providing all types of hors-d'oeuvres and many types of tea and sake for the guests. All aristocrats and noblemen from Western Lands were invited. Their ladies were looking astonishingly beautiful with fancy kimonos and hand fans. Rin met Kagura and she eyed Rin from from top to bottom. ''Better!'' She complimented Rin but with contempt in her eyes. Everyone was enjoying and Rin got to converse with few ladies as well. No one knew that Naraku, a nobleman invited to the mansion, had his eyes on Rin from the minute he entered. A young girl servant came to Rin and said,''Miss Rin! Someone is waiting for you in that room. He is calling for you.'' The girl pointed over to a room diagonally across the hall. Rin thought-who is it? Has Kohaku finally come to greet me on this festival? Why has he called to meet me in that room away from the party?

Out of curiosity she walked fast and reached to open the door. When she went inside instead of Kohaku she saw a man , a spider demon in his 40s standing and smiling there. Rin didn't recognize him and said ,''Sorry. I got the wrong room.'' He called from behind while coming close to her, ''No. No. Miss Rin! I wanted to meet you.'' Rin was confused,''Me? But why?'' He continued, ''You see , Miss Rin, I am quite fond of beautiful things. And I think you are very pretty. What are you doing in this mansion? You should come with me and adorn my place. I like you very much.'' Rin's suspicion grew stronger as she noticed wickedness dripping from his face. Before she could escape he was tightly gripping her hand which had started to hurt her. The whole portion had become red.

''Get your hands off of me!'' Rin screamed and tried to smack him in his face but he caught her fist and said,''You lowly human! How dare you? You shouldn't have done anything of that sort. Don't you know who I am? Now get ready for your punishment. '' He raised his hand to slap her for defying his order and for this act of disrespect. But couldn't do it. Someone else was holding his hand and that person was Sesshoumaru! His eyes were a colour of blazing crimson red . Sesshoumaru asked,''What are you doing here Rin? Go back to the party!'' Rin cried,''He called me here and misbehaved with me!'' Sesshoumaru again repeated,'' Return .. back.. to .. the... party!'' ''But .. but... he...'' Rin fumbled for words to specify while tears rolled down her cheeks. Sesshoumaru seethed ,''I don't want to know anything. It was your fault to come here without anyone's consultation.'' After hearing this Rin couldn't stay there. She ran away from there while crying to reach her room. Sango followed and saw Rin already throwing her things in a bag . She asked in horror,''What are you doing? Where are you leaving?'' Rin muffled, '' I .. I .. am.. going home.'' Sango said,''You can't just leave like that! you are not allowed to go out of this mansion without Lord Sesshoumaru's permission. Lord Sesshoumaru has done so much for you and your mother. Think about it. What Lord Sesshoumaru just said was to save you. He couldn't create such commotion on this auspicious day. Nobleman Naraku is an influential person and in front of all those people present in the party, he could have proven you wrong easily. The matter would have then gone to the four Lords of four Lands , who never show mercy on a human. And even Lord Sesshoumaru wouldn't be able to save you then. '' After hearing all this Rin calmed down a bit and said ,'' I will not return to the party. Please leave, I want to be alone.''

Next day in the morning , Sango came to Rin and informed her that last night , while on the way to his house , Naraku was killed .It all looks like it was an animal attack which consisted a powerful group of animals from whom he could not defend himself in the woods. This matter is not getting much importance as he was not liked generally among his peers and people. He never reached home last night and his body was found in the nearby forest. Sango also gave her a hint that all this was Sesshoumaru's doing. Because there was a gossip going on in the mansion about how Naraku was angry with Sesshoumaru for insulting him for a mere human girl. And how Naraku attacked first on Sesshoumaru and got himself killed instead so brutally.

Rin immediately ran to Sesshoumaru's office and reached inside short of breath. She said,'' I am sorry. I didn't believe you and almost created a mess last night. But it wasn't necessary to slay him like that.'' Sesshoumaru spoke,''After the way he treated you? It became necessary. '' Rin got a warm fuzzy feeling in her heart and felt gratitude towards Sesshoumaru that he cared for her. She then noticed a map and small symbols made on it of footmen, ships and flags on his office desk but it seemed somehow wrong. She asked,''Are you planning for an attack somewhere? '' she didn't even stop for his answer and continued while pointing with her finger,''Then on this area , why don't you use the turtle formation?'' Sesshoumaru looked at her in confusion that what she was talking about and then at the map and of course The Turtle Formation suited very well in the condition. He asked,''Where did you learn all this?'' She answered, ''Just some books and movies.'' And asked,''Why don't you use bombs and guns?'' Sesshoumaru replied,'' Because we honour our pride and our strenght combined with our swords are enough to bring the heads apart from our enemy's bodies.'' Sesshoumaru stood up and took Rin's hand while strong the finger mark prints on her hand. Rin immediately remembered about the bond and asked,''How is Kagura? I am sorry I brought this up on her.'' He said,''Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault. And don't worry about her , she will be fine. Its you I am worried about. ''