Authors Note: So this should be the halfway point, and at least two more updates will be out today.
Update Occured: September 19th 2016
Sesshomaru awoke three days before the begining of the ceremonies, and his head was already pounding. Every morning he was accosted by women, trying to get in his good graces. Before mating season had come, he had been free to stay or leave and travel his borders. The daiyoukai knew that leading his state was just as important as defending it, but politicians were so demanding. While he traveled he need only worry about himself... and Rin.
Rin had been an issue in her youth, before she re-learnt speech. The young girl needed almost everything done for her, before Jaken had taken it upon himself to teach the girl how to survive. Then the child had grown into a teen, and he had to leave her in the human village. Rin had always been dependent on her lord to keep her alive. But as she grew into her teens she slowly could take care of herself completely, and her body was changing from a child's to a woman's and she needed a woman to guide her through the process.
That is not the reason why you abandoned the young woman, Sesshomaru. You desired her. Sesshomaru cursed his inner demon, it was too early in the morning to be exploring his feelings for the young girl.
She was just a child then, I could not have wanted her.
But you continued to return to watch her as she grew, you even killed off her most charming suitors.
She never wanted them! Sesshomaru was astonished by the possessiveness that filled his inner thoughts and a ruh of heat through his veins. His inner demon merely cackled before Sesshomaru continued. I was eliminating a problem. And they all knew that she way MY ward, they should have come through me before they asked her themselves.
But that is still no reason to kill them all Sesshomaru, merely deny them what they want and continuing on your way would have been the better option.
By now Sesshomaru had made it to the dining hall and was growling to himself as he sank into his seat. No one in the room should have sensed his inner turmoil, but Rin seemed to see him coming and already had a steaming cup of tea prepared for him. The young woman (That's right woman, Sesshomaru, another growl was let loose but Rin paid it no mind) smiled cheerily at him and wished him a good morning. He gave her his normal Hn back and that seemed to brighten her smile even more. The pair had developed a routine, that everyone seemed to know but never spoke of.
Rin had taken on her men and would go about her day as usual, with the added responsibility of taking her lord his tea before midday. Sesshomaru spent most of his time in his office, situated between his and Rin's chambers. Before lunch he would meet with his generals and other advisors to work out any new policies for the state After lunch he, unfortunately, had to deal with the many demonesses vying for his attention. Between the headache causing monsters (I mean ladies), he would watch Rin train his men. He was looking out for her safety and making sure that she was properly taking care of his men.
Do not lie in your own head Sesshomaru, you watch the girl because you care for her. She can take care of herself, you know that. She does these things only to please you.
But there was no time for him to argue with his demon today, as he had been doing for the past week. His men were leaving him to his peace this morning until right before midday. They would be deciding on the order that the women would be tested then. But just because his men were leaving him alone, did not mean that the families of the girls were as well. Everyone knew that the choosing would be done today, and with there only being two spots per night, every one was trying to be put as soon as possible.
Many different demons were shuffling in and out of the office by the time the meeting would occur. By that time the flowery smell that always wafted into his office from Rin's chambers was gone (not that he missed it or anything), replaced by the mixed smells of dozens of was the most feared demon in the West, and he had assumed that it would drive away at least some of the applicants, but it seemed to just attract more of them. He assumed it was the appeal of a stronger generation, and his mother had always pounded the rhetoric into his mind that he must continue with the best. His advisors trickled into his office as he pushed Lord Raukon from his office with a low growl, while the wolf demon continued to ask for his daughter to be tested first. The assembly of dog demons was finally complete upon the arrival of General Makoto, who was late due to an issue with his trainees.
All of the men knew the look on Sesshomaru. He was sitting straight backed, his clawed hands clenched into fists. His face held a sneer and the men could feel his aura as it pulsed with anger. They had all gathered around his desk, and waited for his command to speak. The daiyoukai was currently pinching his nose, and attempting to take some deep breaths. At least Rin will be here soon with my tea. That woman knows how to make a good cup of tea. He finally leaned back in his chair and looked towards one of his advisors to start.
"Well My Lord, there are currently twenty demonesses that remain at the castle that want to apply." Sesshomaru inwardly groaned and the advisor took a moment to let the number sink in before continuing. "We can have this all over in about ten days, if nothing goes wrong. All that is really left is to determine who should be tested first, and get them out of the palace as soon as possible. Your mate should be among the bunch of women that are currently here. If she is not..."
"I do not think that we should worry about that now. Better to deal with it if the issue arises rather than worry about something that will more than likely not happen." Another advisor had stepped in to quiet the other. Sesshomaru had yet to memorize the men's names, but normally he left the dealings to them, and when he returned from his trips the men had switched out or died and been replaced. Really no point in learning them now. My mate will deal with these affairs.
"Alright, that issue aside, how early do you want the women to leave after they have been denied? I want to announce this when the list goes up so that the families have time to prepare." Sesshomaru did not have to give this a second thought.
"I want them gone by the next morning. The palace is already in disarray with so many different servants and I want the palace back to its old ways." The advisors nodded, and the oldest of them spoke up.
"So we should work on the actual list." The men gave Sesshomaru a nervous glance and they started to bounce around names.
Across the palace, in a small kitchen, Rin could be found taking a whistling pot of tea off the stove and prepping it for the men that accompanied her lord. She knew the importance of today and had made sure to supply enough tea to last them the entire meeting. As she walked through the halls she reviewed in her head the procedure she needed to do. The servant that had delivered Lord Sesshomaru's tea before gave her very specific instructions.
She was to take the tea, being as quick and quiet as possible, to the door of his office. She would place the tray on the ground outside the sliding door, again making no noise. The only sounds that Rin was allowed to make was to knock three times at the door and then leave. Moving quietly was of no problem to Rin, for the past five days she had perfected the routine and learned how to avoid any squeaky boards.
As she approached the room she heard the men's voices floating down the hallway. And the extra large tray that she carried today caused her to move slower, I mean it's not my fault if I hear them. They know I am coming. Rin quieted her breathing and concentrated on missing the squeaky board and listening in on the men.
"Are you sure that you want Lady Mizuki and Lady Emiko on the third day?" Rin tried to remain calm and slowly bent over to put the tray down.
"Yes, the sooner they are gone the better." Rin was laughing so hard on the inside, but she would have to wait to let them out. So my lord wants them gone as bad as I do. The tray was successfully on the ground and she had reached to knock when General Makoto's voice raised.
"I believe there may be a problem with your ward, Lord Sesshomaru." Rin froze, her hand centimeters away from the door.
"Why is that, Makoto." Lord Sesshomaru's voice held an angry tone and Rin smiled. He's defending me!
"Well, I was looking over the documents that your father left with the old rag that is running the ceremonies." There was a pause and Rin swore she heard a growl come from her lord. "I mean no disrespect my lord, but upon looking at the documents there is a clause that says that any wards of the state have to be tested first." Rin didn't think that her world could have changed any more that what had already happened, but things kept leaping at her. She swore the smile that lit up her face was as bright as the sun. "But it doesn't say that normal humans can apply. The miko seems to be an exception since she has powers in her blood. No one knows exactly how the statue works and when I asked the old dog, he said it was up to you whether she should be tested." There was a pause in conversation. Even the birds seemed to stop singing as Rin's life was about to change.
"She will not be tested, ever." And with six small words, Rin's world shattered like a pane of glass. Before she could stop herself she had knocked on the door, and the men inside jumped. She knew that staying any longer would have given her away, and she rather her presence be known on her own terms. She was up and gone down the hallway before Makoto reached the door. He watched the human run down the hall, smelling the salt of her tears for a brief moment. It took everything in his being for him not to break out in maniacal laughter.
"Who was it, General?" Sesshomaru's growl reached his ears and brought him back to reality.
"No one my lord, just some servant dropping off your tea. It seems your ward was not available today." He turned, holding the tea tray. "I heard that she was having her group do extra training today, that might be why she was not here." Sesshomaru nodded, and the men sat back down, drinking their tea and talking politics.
Rin had ran to her men's barracks, as they spoke over affairs of the state. They were sipping their tea as she broke down on the run. The advisors were laughing at the latest antics of the northern wolf tribe, as her men caught wind of her tears and ran to comfort her.
Sesshomaru's demon growled at him, something is wrong with our woman. But the man ignored him. The last time something had been wrong with her, according to the demon, she had had a small argument with Haruko about the training regimen. So he ignored the pull ,knowing that nothing was really wrong. Little did he know that his ward was collapsed in the barracks, surrounded by her men, as her world fell to pieces.