RETURN MY LOVE
Disclaimer: Do not own Inuyasha….
Chapter 9: REVENGE
(A/N: Finally, chapter 9! Thank you for all of the reviews to "encourage" me to continue. This story started out so simple in my outline sketch but it grew and grew and has been kicking my muse's bottom as I desperately try to give you all something fresh and not the normal run-of-the-mill fanfics. Thanks again for your patience).
Lyoko was fuming in anger when she inadvertently discovered from the servants that the human girl's departure was nowhere imminent. Apparently, the girl was under order to wait for her hanyou's return to resume their travel plans. That could not have been too soon for Lyoko to see the day when the ningen would leave the grounds for the girl's dreadful presence had been ruinously impeding her chance in capturing the lord's attention. Unfortunately, she was unaware her attempts were never destined to come to fruition regardless of how much she tried for his eyes had already been turned away from all females except for this one.
It was futile but Sesshoumaru had his own dark reasoning in not outright dissuading Lyoko to give up her useless scheming.
The demoness was personally disgusted that Sesshoumaru seemed uncharacteristically lax to let a human run rampant inside his territory. Could it have been a bad habit that went unchecked and untethered? It was hard to imagine the lord to be anything but disciplined in all areas of his life. Surely, he had not grown oblivious of the stench of human inside his domain? She had heard rumors of a human girl that traveled with Sesshomaru years ago but no one outside the castle walls was able to substantiate that claim or even knew what happened to the girl. The Western Lord was a zealot where his privacy was concerned. He answered to no one about his actions and was ever ready to challenge any slander, libel, malignant gossip or otherwise against him. Unless he wanted to share his inner thoughts, which were improbable, the lord remained through and through, a distant and cold creature. But of course, Lyoko was wise enough to never publicly dare to criticize the Western Lord for that aberration. All she could hope to do was to covertly remove any and all obstacles in her path.
Still, Lyoko detested the girl heartily since her pride was grievously insulted the last time the girl was within her vicinity. After all, those were just mere scratches the girl received but the lord was coldly furious at her for inflicting them. They were just only superficial wounds but perhaps the lord carried his duties as a host a little bit too extravagantly. After all, the girl was human and belonged to his detestable half-brother, so Lyoko would have thought that it would have brought a sardonic amusement to him to see the girl being toyed with.
It was just as well that the human seemed to prefer her own solitude. She never sought out either Lyoko or the lord for companionship. In fact, she went out of her way avoiding them both if possible. That did not prevent Rin from being a thorn in Lyoko's side because despite both female's efforts to do the opposite, that human girl never seemed far from his side for some inexplicable reasons.
Never did it cross either female's mind that this was purely at Sesshoumaru's instigation. He shamelessly manipulated every opportunity to keep Rin trained in his sight and hearing.
Her curiosity about the girl deepened. It loomed uppermost in Lyoko's mind as she attempted to eliminate this unknown element. She could not hope to neutralize her enemy if she did not know them. And considering Lyoko's single-minded purpose, this girl was her enemy and as a foe, she was never to be underestimated.
Lyoko had lived long enough to witness too many battles lost due to complacency and egotistical pride. She would not make that mistake.
To build up her arsenal, the princess launched her own investigation. Her most trusted servants had fanned out and their sole mission was to find out all they could about this stranger who landed on the lord's doorsteps. More importantly, the burning question was why he had not rigorously done anything blatant to rid the girl from his grasp. Especially with her being Inuyasha's girl should have been more than sufficient incentive for him to extricate Rin and send her packing.
When possessing power and wealth as Lyoko commanded both, she did not have to wait long before things were revealed. Her people had dug deep and wide. When the news of their findings reached the demoness, she was not pleased and she found herself facing a limited number of options as she contemplated what to do about the girl, Rin.
Her right-hand man was tasked with orchestrating and organizing their spies to unravel his puzzle and he did not fail her. It seemed that Rin had been Inuyasha's companion for the last six months when they began to travel together. But there was much more to this amiable front than meet the eyes. Uto was able to trace back further into the girl's background. Apparently, she had resided in a human village further north and had left it recently. She had left the village on her quest to find the missing pieces of her past and her search led her into the hands of the lord's half-brother.
Literally, they had ventured to the lord's domain to "debut" Rin so that the dog lord would be able to scent his half-brother's intended. The visit became protracted when Inuyasha was called away to help hold off demon attacks on his friends' villages. Further diligence on Uto's part revealed Rin as none other than the former ward of the lord. The circumstances of their separation were not widely known and Uto ran into a dead end. Regardless of the reasons, the girl Rin had inadvertently come full circle. She was under the sphere of influence of the Western Lord once again. Providence must have laughed at the irony of the situation. It was probably most fitting to have the girl returned to the place where it had all begun and in the presence of the very same demon who had restarted the cycle of her life. Uto lost no time communicating this back to his superior. This morsel was going to earn Uto some big favors in her eyes.
Lyoko greeted this latest revelation with some sense of fatalistic calm. So this Rin was his former ward but Lyoko did not think the girl was fully aware of this fact. Lyoko could only scent a natural shyness on the girl's part in prolonged exposure to the dog demon. Yet, it might have just worked in the demoness's favor that Lord Sesshoumaru showed no urgency to reveal this past particular relationship to anyone and especially to the human girl herself. Any demon worth his salt would never have wanted to broadcast his affiliation with humans or even worse that he cared to some degree about these said humans. Sesshoumaru had probably consigned that unfortunate time of his life to oblivion never to be recollected.
The demoness was certain his reluctance to reveal this knowledge was because he must have realized having a human ward had placed him in a precarious situation with his subjects. His hypocrisy would know no end if it became public knowledge that he did care for a tiny human. She, who had no great miko powers, no great skill and really possessed no great beauty to turn anyone's eyes, could not have possibly captured the complex creature that was Sesshoumaru.
The chit was just a mediocre nobody, not really worth a second glance. Compared to her own accomplishments and blatant beauty, Lyoko knew she eclipsed the human female easily. Her regal bearing and background provided the most proper of pedigree that others would want to claim. So why was it that Lyoko's inner unease remained unabated? Why did his penchant for the plain child surpass her own looks and standing? It was not so overt but Lyoko's instincts screamed it. The lord's inescapable attraction to that mousy creature was maddeningly absurd.
Female intuition was a damnable nuisance.
Fortune was on Lyoko's side though because the stupid human seemed to have no inkling. She seemed to go out of her way avoiding both the lord and Lyoko. The girl obviously saw herself as an unwanted guest, extra baggage in the lord's domain and preferred to keep her own counsel. It is just as well that I don't see that girl all the time, or else I might to shred her to pieces. With that relishing thought, Lyoko turned her devious mind and continue to plot Rin's downfall. Didn't Uto mention a human healer to whom Rin was greatly attached?
This sounded a very intriguing possibility.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Uto was summoned to capture the old healer and bring her to the edge of the forest of the Western lands.
Poor Aya.
Her captors were not the gentlest of creatures but thankfully, they did not kill her outright when they took her unceremoniously from her home in the dead of night. She was transported rather quickly to the large encampment and was made to drink some awful stuff daily that reeked strongly of the pungency of rotting vegetables. Whatever little view she could obtain when they allow her to have her private time, Aya could see the shadow of a grand castle in the far off distance and could only speculate her location. However, her captors were careless with their conversation and she was able to discern this had something to do with that lovely child, Rin.
Aya wondered how Rin was mixed up in all this? Was her search for her past successful? Did she have enemies? Aya could not believe one as kind and loyal as the girl could have been involved in anything shady. She prayed Rin had not fallen into the wrong hands. It was dangerous for a young girl to be traveling on her own and it had worried the old woman to no end when Rin embarked on her journey. Aya bit her lips anxiously, her ears intent on garnering more information.
The old healer would have been heartsickened if she knew there were some truths to her conjectures. Lady Lyoko certainly had plans for this wizened human female. The old woman was the perfect bait to pull Rin away from the lord's presence.
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
Rin woke up early on that particular morning to the sunshine dappling through the window slats. The warmth of the early sun caressed her face as she flung the shade wide open to smile brilliantly at the golden rays. Her room was bathed in the soft glow and it promised to be another beautiful day ahead.
Perhaps this day would be the day Lord Sesshoumaru will allow her to rejoin Inuyasha. The thought made her smile widened into a full blown grin. Really, she was getting better each day, critically assessing her reflection in the small mirror on the table. An abundance of good food and rest were definitely catalysts in quickening her recovery.
Unfortunately, the dog lord was the one who seemed to have a mental shutdown whenever the name of Inuyasha crop up in their conversations. But Rin was confident that once she presented him with the irrefutable proof of her well-being, there was no reason to delay the inevitable. Taking a few deep breaths, Rin inhaled and exhaled the crisp clean air. Her day normally started with a daily stroll in solitude. The soothing routine helped to center her thoughts and raised her mental stamina to maintain equanimity before beginning her day. She was determined to seek his audience. Rin knew she had the element of surprise on her side for she had rarely sought out his presence. Rin thought cheekily. Rin had done well to make herself as unobstrusive and had kept out of the well-oiled operations of the castle's inhabitants and their lord. But this would be a first and she felt a strange exhilaration coursing through her vein as she waited. She knew she would have several hours to mentally prepare for their eventual meeting since the maid had informed her that Lord Sesshoumaru was away until later that day on a domestic business. The maid did not seem to know much more and Rin did not feel right prying for additional information. It truly was not her place but she could not help but hope that there were no dangers to the lord.
Rin dressed quickly and was out in the edge of the east end of the garden where the sun was most prevalent. She could almost taste the wonderful scents emitted from the floral abundance and gazed around her enthusiastically. So many colors, so many hues. The garden had to be her favorite place in this beautiful but strange castle. There were no jealousies, no bickering, no whining in this little spot of hers. Just the simple pleasures of life in one small corner of her world. Hers? Rin stopped midstride, completely baffled at the yearning that flitted through her mind. Since when did she think it was hers? Ridiculous that an unbidden thought of her wished that it was to be brushed aside quickly. She could not see Inuyasha and herself settling inside this castle even though it was big enough to ensure that they would never need to run into the lord unless they deliberately sought him. The sheer size of the castle could have easily housed several Inu generations, Rin stifled a nervous giggle at the turn of her thought. So silly. As if that ever would happen. She scoffed at herself.
She meandered slowly around the path, stooping at times to smell a particularly fragrant flower. She wanted to pluck some of them for her room but thought that would have been rude since she had never asked the owner and no one in the castle had given her permission to do so. Oh well, they were just as lovely out here.
The calm atmosphere was shattered as an arrow whizzed past her ear and lodged itself in the trunk of a spreading willow tree that was the garden's focal point.
Rin's defensive instincts kicked in and she assessed the area surrounding her quickly but did not find anything suspicious. Whoever that shot the arrow had quickly melted away into the shadowed part of the garden. But who had dared to trespass the lord's grounds unannounced and uninvited? Another quick scan to ensure no suspicious movement, Rin slowly approached the arrow and deftly pulled off a small parchment wounded tight around the stem.
She unfolded the paper and revulsion edged into her features.
We have your healer. Meet us at the edge of the forest at the southern section of the castle.
Not hesitating, she made her way to the edge of the forest, grateful that by force of habit, she was prepared for any and such adventures at anytime and anywhere.
The fresh morning dew on the grass was for once ignored by the girl as she hurried to the eastern section of the castle. The wild, untamed part of the forest rose to meet her view as she crossed the manicured landscape of the castle grounds. She could feel her heart beat galloping rapidly inside her chest. Aya. Anger and worry were equally felt as the girl bit her lips together, trying to stave off her anxiety.
Rin could only guess at the creature behind this crime. Surely Lyoko did not feel threatened to stoop to this level?
Walking as fast as she could, Rin came to a stop in a middle of a clearing when she saw ahead of her a bounded and gagged Aya by herself. Rin, anticipating a trap, approached the woman cautiously while concern deeply etched in the dark brown eyes.
"Aya-san. Are you all right?" Rin kneeled down and began to attempt to gently untie the bonds from Aya's hands and feet and the rags from her mouth. "Who did this to you?"
She saw Aya's eyes nodded but then widened fearfully before she had a chance to reply when a soft, chilly laughter was heard behind her.
"Such devotion." The owner of the voice sneered. "No wonder we are fooled by you humans." Her meaning was quite clear.
"I should have known that this was your doing." Rin turned around swiftly, placing herself directly between Aya and Lyoko. "Why do you persist that Lord Sesshoumaru feels something for me? Can't you see that he hates my kind? It is only under duress that I am staying under his roof."
"That woman was only bait to get you away from his eyes. She is no longer necessary to me." The demoness eyed the young girl, contempt written in those flashing blue eyes.
"Don't lay a finger on her." Rin's voice was soft but deadly. She planted hands on her hips, stance rigid and proud. "This does not concern her. I ought to kill you for trying to involve innocent bystanders in your crazy scheming."
"Kill me?" Lyoko laughed, a terribly screeching sound when it was not disguised in fake honey in front of Sesshoumaru. "How do you propose to do that? You are but a mere human." She snapped her fingers and two burly demon guards appeared instantly beside her. "You should be the one to beg for mercy."
"Let Aya-sama go and you can have me." Eyeing the approaching figures that Lyoko had summoned, Rin quickly became aware of Lyoko's intention. She would have to use her brain to get them both out of this sticky situation as quickly as possible. Forcing herself to calm, the girl realized she had to fight with her wit. Her voice gentled down, almost soothingly hypnotizing. "That's what you really are after, isn't it?"
"True. But dead people don't tell lies." The demoness smirked evilly.
Rin saw she was at a dead end and she could not hope to save Aya if she were to engage in fighting. "Listen, you can have me and I will cooperate fully if you release Aya-sama."
"I have no need to strike a bargain with you since you are at a disadvantage." Lyoko had to reluctantly admire the girl's persistence. The girl had some gall to dare making a deal with the demoness. Humans were such foolish, vain creatures.
"How are you going to disguise our deaths? Aya's village would find out what happened to her and will seek her out and Inuyasha will have your head on a platter."
Lyoko laughed at the courageous words the human girl spoke. True, there will be gossip as to why the healer had vanished into thin air. But this was the feudal time and mysterious things had happened that after a while, the humans seemed to be desensitized to such odd occurrences. With time, the healer would have been a faded memory. As for the girl. Yes, once Inuyasha found out, Lyoko could expect the hanyou to seek revenge but he was only a hanyou that she could easily defeat with her father's vast empire backing her up. The only one Rin forgot to mention was Sesshoumaru. He was the most powerful demon in the lands. It would not be good to cross him. She was after all his former ward.
However Lyoko was ready with her plans to cover her tracks so well that no one would be wiser.
"My dear, you don't think that I have not thought this through already?" A smooth eyebrow raised mockingly over brittle blue eyes. "I am a poison demon and can create and disguise scents with my poisons. No one would be able to trace you here and no one, not even the great Lord Sesshoumaru's beautiful nose would be able to seek you out." Lyoko nonchalantly observed her finger tips. "It is really too bad that it had to end this way. But I covet his lands, his wealth and the lord himself and you are just an obstacle in my way." Lyoko spoke almost casually and saw Rin flinched under the weight of her words.
"You are crazy. I am not in your way." She raised her palms up, trying to get Lyoko to see the sincerity of her words, her face earnestly pleading as she tried to keep the tremor from coloring her voice. She could not break down in front of the demoness. "I just ask that you spare Aya-sama and you can do as you wish with me. If you do this, Lady Lyoko, you cannot think that this is an honorable way that Lord Sesshoumaru will condone."
Lyoko was amazed. That human believed that Sesshoumaru possess a conscience. "Bah! You have put him on the pedestal, my dear. Given the same circumstances if his possessions are threatened, I believe the great Sesshoumaru will react the same way and probably with deadlier intent to remove his obstacles." Her voice mocked the girl's artlessness.
"That is not true." Brown eyes grew indignant at the slur on the lord. "He can be ruthless but never without provocation." The words escaped before Rin could stop her impulsive tongue. How in the world did she know that? Rin was surprised at her vehement defense of the lord she barely knew. Sesshomaru hated obstacles but that was because they were in his ways. He was not one to seek out needless slaying or to destroy mindlessly.
She knew this. Somehow, she knew this for a fact as certain as the rising of the sun and the setting of the moon.
Her conviction in him was so strong and unwavering that it even surprised Lyoko.
"Still defending him, I see." Lyoko was starting to get bored. "No matter, it will be over rather quickly, I promise." With that, Lyoko signaled for her guards to attack the two humans.
They pressed the young woman by attacking her weak point, Aya, knowing that she would have the most difficult time watching not only for herself but for Aya as well. Actually, Rin did not watch out for herself as much. Her body began to feel the cuts of the swords from the guards, exposing herself more to keep the same thrusts from hitting Aya. Her human strength began to wane in the effort of keeping them both alive.
The healer was sad that she was too old and feeble to help Rin. Rin tried hard to keep Aya safe but the odds were against her. Facing the demoness and her two minions did not stack too much favor in Rin's corner. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Lyoko flicked a quick snap of her hands and the two opponents fell back at her command.
"Tch. Tch. You really are no opposition, are you? How pathetic that it was not even enjoyable." Sounding bored from playing cat-and-mouse with the girl, Lyoko turned to one of the minions and issued an order to unbound Aya. "Set her free but first, erase our scents from her person."
The minion bowed his head dutifully and cut the ropes to unbind Aya.
The older woman stretched her tired muscles feebly while her eyes were wet with tears as she turned them to Rin.
Rin nodded her head, fully intending to keep her end of the bargain. She came quickly over to where Aya was kneeling on the dirt and wrapped her arms around the older woman. "I am so sorry that you were involved in my problems. Please, Aya, return to your village and you will no longer be disturbed by them." Rin emphasized the last sentence as though to forcibly remind Lyoko of her promise.
The demoness in question snorted. How stupid that girl was worried about an old woman than to worry about her own neck. Lyoko found it irked her in some unexplained manner.
"Enough of the sentimentality. Old woman, disappear from my sight before I change my mind."
Rin let go of Aya and gently pushed her away. She will be all right. Lyoko was probably too vain to get rid of Rin right away. She had no doubt the demoness was plotting ways and means to make the girl pay for apparently foiling her plan to catch the lord's eyes.
Definitely, Rin could think clearer of her escape plans if she didn't have Aya to worry over.
Rin motioned to Aya to head for home but the woman tried to cling to the younger girl as though afraid for the girl's safety.
"Sshh, Aya." Rin assured her when she saw tears of worry filled the old healer's eyes. "Hush. It will be all right." Her voice soothed, her small fingers squeezed Aya's shoulders gently before extricating herself from the tight grip that Aya placed on her.
The group watched the old woman trudged slowly into the forest and eventually disappeared from sight.
"All right. You are mine now." Lyoko turned back to face Rin once again with ill-intent plain on her face.
TBC
