Oh what an amazing dream.
I dreamt I had been attacked but Sesshomaru saved me and brought me to his room, tending to my injuries and even sleeping by my side.
I even got a kiss!
My lips feel swollen just at the thought!
Ahah! Oh what a dream!
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But it's time to get up now. Time to get up and get back to work…
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I'm…
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I'm not in my little, dark cell.
I'm in a wide, bright room with windows and a bed and… and him.
The master, Sesshomaru.
Stood by the window…
Looking at me.
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It hadn't been a dream.
"Good morning Rin."
"G-g-g-good morning my lord."
His eyes.
Oh wow… in the sunlight…
"You don't have to call me that."
"What?"
"My lord. You can call me by name."
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Oww! Ok, not dreaming. He really is asking me to… call him by name? Not even Jaken gets to do that. But he's looking at me… waiting. "Lord Sesshomaru."
I swear the side of his lip just twitched up.
Was that a smile?
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But it soon vanished.
"Rin, there is a bath ready for you next door. Go and wash if you wish."
A bath!?
The servants get to have a bath now and then but I'm a slave and a human. I'm lucky if I get a second hand bowl of water.
Seriously, I haven't had a proper wash in… three months, not since I fell in the pond and made the best of it.
So whatever Sesshomaru is playing at, if he is offering me a bath, I'M GOING TO HAVE IT!
"Thank you my lord." He looked up. "I mean, Lord Sesshomaru."
He's still for a moment and I thought he was giving me permission to leave but when I did take a step, he moved and walked over.
He stopped right before me and I froze, looking up. He's at least a head and shoulders taller than me. Never noticed that before.
But…
His hands are on my neck.
No…
They are on the tassels!
He's… he's undoing the cape!
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But I don't think he plans to kill me.
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I think… he's…
Taking into account all that's happened… him saving my life… tending my wound… asking me to call him by name….
I can't be sure on the kiss and love you thing, it might have been a dream or blood lose but… those other things I was sure of and…
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The cape's gone and I feel… fine. I'm not in pain and I feel alright.
With the cape over his arm, Sesshomaru nodded. "Go and wash Rin."
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I'm free.
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What am I going to do now?
I could leave. Couldn't I? Mass said that without the cape I was free, I wasn't the master's slave… I could do as I wish… even leave.
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I could go home… see my mom… my family…
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But I don't want to.
I've wanted to… ever since I got here but now that I have the ability… I don't want to.
Why?
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Wow, now that is a bath! Oh it looks sooooo good!
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Ohhhhhhh. Blisss!
Oh take me now, I'm in heaven!
Woowwwwwww!
It's smells like… peaches? I dunno, it's wonderful.
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Umm, wonder what this is…
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Smells good. But… better not mess. I've no idea what they are for or…
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That's my shampoo… and tooth brush…
I left those in my bag this morning…
And there's my razor. God, I need that!
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I guess Sesshomaru had them brought up… or brought them up himself.
But I'm thankful they are there, I can use them now.
~#~
Oh now that was a bath. I haven't felt this clean in ages! Hell, even before I left home I wasn't this clean!
Every bit of me feels better now. Oh, if the water wasn't cold I would stay in here longer. But it's freezing so I time to get out.
Oh even the towels are fluffy and warm and…
I could get use to this!
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Ok, I left my clothes right here… folded up and neat and… right here. So where are they now?
Where…
Are…
My…
Clothes?
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I didn't see anyone come in but… I was having such a good time in the bath… someone could have slipped in. Especially how silently a demon can move.
So someone's taken my clothes?
Why?
To embarrass me?
But there is no one out there but Sesshomaru.
Unless he's the thief. But why would he take them?
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Unless… he wants to… see me without them.
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Ok that is embarrassing but… I'm not… worried.
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Well… only one way to find out.
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"Umm… Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Yes Rin?"
"Do you… do you know where my clothes are?"
"I had them taken away. They are the clothes of a slave, which you are not anymore."
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So he did mean to free me and he did take them. But… "Umm… what am I to wear then?" I looked at the fluffy white towel around my chest. "I can't really walk around in a towel." I laughed nervously at my joke… noticing how he was walking over to me…
And placed a hand on my wet shoulder as the water dripped off my hair.
"It's quite flattering on you."
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He's flirting.
Oh my god, Lord Sesshomaru is… flirting with me.
Why does that sound so wrong?
He is not the kind of man who… should try and flirt.
But… he's trying with me.
"Is something wrong Rin?"
I looked up at him as my hand covered my mouth.
I can imagine the idiotic grin on my face. I so nearly laughed at him. "No, no everything is fine. I was just hoping for some clothes."
"There is something for you to wear over there."
Phew, at least he wasn't expecting me to wear a towel all day!
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But if I'm completely honest… one layer of fabric between us… it wasn't a completely… horrifying thought.
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"Is this for me?"
"Yes."
"It's beautiful."
It really was. I have no idea how to explain it. It's like… a soft, silk shirt with long tight sleeves, a floor length loose skirt that just hands on my hips and a very long transparent wrap to go around my shoulders. Almost reminded me of the sari I tried on in India.
All of it was white with a blue ribbon at the edges but the thing that got my attention most was the pattern on the white.
Red hexagons.
With flowers in the middle.
Beautiful, don't get me wrong but…
Looking at it I can't help but realise that this is the same pattern that Sesshomaru wears.
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"Lord Sesshomaru?"
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That cold face. It just melted. He smiled broadly and nodded. "It suits you."
I can't look at him while he's smiling.
"Rin, you are no longer my servant, you are free to do as you please. However I ask that you stay here, in my room where I can keep an eye on you."
"Keep an eye on me?"
"Keep you safe and make sure no harm comes to you. As I said, you are free to do as you please but that is my request. There are books for you to read or I can find something else to help keep you entertained."
My eyes looked over the room. "Would… would you mind if I tidied up a little?"
"You may do as you please, Rin."
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Sounds funny when I think about it, that I want to tidy up. But… after so long cleaning and tidying… I wanted to. So I picked up things from the floor, found homes for them and sorted his books so the covers could be read, picking a few out as interesting. Once I made his bed I went to the books and began to read.
Well, he said I was free to do as I pleased, now I can do as I please.
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"Rin."
"Yes my… Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Would you mind running an errand for me?"
"Not at all."
Actually the book was really exciting at the moment but a chance to stretch my legs would be nice. I walked over to him and he held out a letter.
"Go and find Jaken, deliver this to him. On your way back, would you bring some food for us?"
Us?
That sounded odd.
But I liked it.
"Of course."
"Don't be too long. Do not make me worry."
Again, that sounds odd but I like it. Maybe he was serious about caring for me.
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Letter in hand I began the long walk down the stairs to the main part of the hotel, soon finding the annoying shrill I'd learnt to fear and looking for the source. It feels unnatural, like I should be running from Jaken but no, I'm looking for him.
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There he is, yelling at some of the other servants in the kitchen. Well, that kills two birds with one stone.
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"Oww!" I grabbed my hand and rubbed it. That dam stick!
He's glaring at me.
"Where have you been you stupid human? You are on thin ice as it is! I have a good mind to take you to the master and let him deal with you!"
I frowned but then I held in a smile. I didn't think that was possible but his eyes went even wider. "Where did you… get those clothes?"
My hand smoothed down the wrap on my shoulders. "The master gave it to me."
"The… master… gave them to you!"
"Yes, and he asked me to give you this… and get him some food."
He opened and read the letter then looked up at me…
His face was different, paler, more a sick green than the dark green he normally was. "Well… umm… don't let me keep you."
Alright, if that's all he has to say…
But now that I think about it… everyone is looking at me funny. Or looking at my clothes. Was it because the master had given them to me?
My mind was telling me it was something to do with the pattern.
The pattern these clothes shared with Sesshomaru's own clothes.
Was it some kind of message? That in wearing the same pattern, it was saying I was… his?
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Food in hand, I headed back up to Sesshomaru's room, knocking and kneeling before entering.
Epp, he's growling.
"Don't do that anymore Rin."
"Do… do what, my lord?"
"Knock or kneel. It's unbecoming of you now."
Now? "But, nothing's changed. I'm still the same as I was."
"You are not."
"Then what am I now?"
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"My lord?"
He looked up from his desk then back down.
I guess even he doesn't know.
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Well, if he has nothing to say to me, I'll go back to that book.
~#~
Umm…
"Good morning Rin."
Already? Come on, it can't be morning. I only just closed my eyes!
"Good morning Lord Sesshomaru."
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And he's up. I haven't even opened my eyes and he's out of bed, off for his wash then he'll change and… get on with his day. He won't care if I stay in bed an extra hour or half an hour or if I get up right now.
Not that I will, I'm still sleepy.
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Hard to believe it's been a month. I've been sleeping and spending most of my time here, in Lord Sesshomaru's room, with him, listening to him work, reading my way through his collection of books.
I wouldn't call it luxury. It's not what I would call luxury. My idea of luxury would be sitting in a fine large bed with a wide screen TV and lots and lots of ice cream. But for the hotel, I was being spoilt and living in the lap of luxury.
Alright, Sesshomaru still had me do the odd chore or errand for him, getting things or delivering messages and the first thing I did after getting up was make the bed but… everything was optional now.
The cape was gone. I was free to do as I please and go where I wanted. I spent a bit of time in the stable with the Pegasus. I spent a while in the gardens now and then. But mostly I sat in the corner with a book, watching him.
But by far the best thing about my new life was that, no matter what time, if the sun was in the sky or if the moon was about to set, if I climbed into bed, ten seconds later I would feel him join me, his arms around my back and his chin in my hair. I'd wrap my arms around him and… drift off.
When I chose to wake up, he'd say good morning, I'd reply and then he'd get up and the whole day would repeat itself.
The only time he spoke to me was when I woke up and when he wanted something done. And I liked it. I liked to be with him. I liked just sitting in his presence, reading my books. I liked following him around. I liked catching a glimpse of him when I was out on my own. I just liked him.
Maybe more than liked.
"Rin, would you go get our lunch?"
"Of course, I won't be long."
Our. Us.
Never mine or yours. Always us.
He always spoke for me as well as himself.
As if we were a couple.
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"Rin!"
That voice. It almost made me drop the tray of food. And there he was, stood before me. "Mass."
He was panting, as if he had been running. He stepped over and grabbed my arms tightly. "Rin, where have you been! I've been so worried. I heard rumours, I heard…"
His eyes had fallen to my clothes.
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I still wore Sesshomaru's pattern. And I watched as his face paled and his eyes darkened. "You… you're…"
"Mass, I can explain."
"Explain? You are free of your slavery, you are free of him… and yet you wear his mark? You wear it… proudly?"
Oww! His grip is so tight! "Mass, you're hurting me!"
"No more than you are hurting me! I love you Rin and yet you go to him! Why, Rin, why!"
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Why indeed. Why when Mass was the one to look after me. The one who soothed my pain, who made me laugh and made me smile… why was it Sesshomaru I felt warmer with?
Lord Sesshomaru was more of a shadow on my time here, protecting me from a distance, just ensuring no true harm came to me. He was the one who saved me, the one who forgave me and I'd taught how to use a camera. The one I set my heart fluttering with a single glance… a single breath or word.
What took Mass months to do… in his bold, jumping movements, Sesshomaru had done in just a few simple gestures.
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He had stolen my heart. "I love him Mass."
"What?"
"I love Sesshomaru."
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"You can't mean that Rin. He's a monster! Look at what he did to you? He made you a slave, he beat you! He doesn't care about you! Once he has had his fill he will just dump you back where you were. He is a cold heartless beast with only two thoughts in his mind for you; pleasure then dinner."
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I don't like him insulting Sesshomaru, it's making me angry. "Don't talk about him like that."
"What?"
"Don't talk about him like that." I found the strength to look back at him and push him away, avoiding the broken bowls and spilt food from when I'd dropped the tray. "I won't have you speak about him like that. Sesshomaru has given and done so much for me that I will never be out of his debt. I love him Mass. And that is all there is to it."
He let go and stepped back, his mouth open before closing it. Then his eyes shifted over my shoulder.
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"Lord Sesshomaru!"
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His face is blank, just… stone and blank. I'm not even sure who he's looking at, me or Mass. Then he moved his eyes, focusing on me.
His hand lifted towards me.
I took it without a second hesitation. And he hugged me to his chest. I'm sure he whispered my name but… I can't be totally sure. I just held him tight and my confession to Mass sank in.
I love him.
I love Lord Sesshomaru.
The demon who had held my life in his hand… and I am in love with him.
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He pushed me back and I looked up.
But he's not looking at me. His arm is still around my back but his head is turned to look over at Mass.
"Time for you to go back where you belong."
Mass frowned…
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Then vanished!
A/N: Dun dun DERRR! Cliff hanger! Well, until tomorrow everyone. Don't forget to review!