Chapter 11
I do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha however the House on the Hill the village and it's inhabitants are mine
Lady Rin
Sesshomaru returned to his group at the protected spot he had left them. Rin brightened immediately as he returned as always. Jaken muttered to himself upset that Sesshomaru had left him for so long with the girls. Catherine regarded him with cool interest.
"She knows," thought Sesshomaru, "The Witch, she knows something is up."
"Come," said Sesshomaru taking a large wicker box from A-Un's saddle, "I have a gift for the ladies."
"Nothing for me?' frowned Jaken.
"You will get yours later," chuckled Sesshomaru.
Catherine lifted the wicker lid, to her amazement in the box she found two exquisite kimonos; one for a woman, one for a little girl. They were made of fine silk embroidered and appliquéd. Both were brightly colored and embroidered and woven with gold. The women's kimono included an elaborate robe that Catherine guessed went over the Kimono. In a silken bag there were hair ornaments; combs and clips and other adornments. There were even shoes. Catherine was a little dismayed by the fact that the shoes were the thong sandals. Even though they were beautifully crafted she had not yet gotten the hang of walking in them. There were white silky socks at least, she was happy about that.
Rin's eyes grew round in wonder as Catherine took out the elaborate child's Kimono.
"Oh Rin," said Catherine, "You'll look so beautiful in this!"
Rin's face dropped, "It is too fine for me. It is the Kimono of a noble lady, not an orphan."
"You are not an orphan anymore!" Said Sesshomaru. The girls turned in surprise to see him standing close by. "You are my ward and you will be a Lady in my court. I am The Lord Sesshomaru and you are now Lady Rin. Do not forget this! From now on you are a noble and will dress and act accordingly!"
"Yes my Lord," said Rin quietly bowing as Sesshomaru walked away.
"Oh Rin," said Catherine smiling, "this is a good thing. This is cause for celebration! Nobles are only nobles because someone powerful says so! Who is more powerful than Lord Sesshomaru!"
Rin brightened immediately. Soon both girls were giggling and unpacking the box.
"See that you both bath before you dress in these cloths!' said Sesshomaru as he left."
Catherine pulled her face and pantomimed Sesshomaru giving orders causing Rin to laugh.
To Jaken Sesshomaru said, "Make sure their hair is done nicely, especially Catherine. See that her hair is neat and off her face."
Soon the girls were dressed and ready. Sesshomaru was pleased by how good they looked. Rin was adorable in bright colors that complemented her. Her black hair shone, her dark eyes sparkled. In her face was a hint of the woman she would someday be.
"Someday she will be a great beauty," thought Sesshomaru smiling to himself, "A consort fit for an Emperor."
Catherine was a vision! The colors Sesshomaru had picked for her complemented her coloring; a silk Kimono with a background of peach and appliquéd flowers in white and cream with green leaves, an over robe in a complimentary brocade with a slight train. She smiled at him and opened her fan expertly. He thought that a lady and her fan must be a universal thing. Her hair was up off her face displaying her slender neck and fine features. The sun on her hair made it glow deep gold. Sesshomaru thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful and graceful. His plan was good and not a moment too soon.
With his strong right arm he lifted both girls onto A-Un's saddle instructing them to sit side saddle. Catherine sat in front of Sesshomaru who straddled A-Un and Rin in front of her. Jaken scrambled on to the back. Sesshomaru held the reign in his right hand his arm coming in front of Catherine and Rin holding them.
'Don't be afraid," he whispered gently to Catherine as A-Un lifted off the ground Bourne by the flames at his feet.
Over land and hills and villages they flew until the ocean came into view. Catherine saw a neat little village nestled by the shore. On a hill overlooking the village sat a large house. Though the style did not match a palace as Catherine knew one she thought it must be a palace of Japanese design. To her surprise, this was where Sesshomaru brought A-Un down, to a courtyard toward the front of the palace. A young stable boy whom Sesshomaru had already trained to handle A-Un ran out and bowed. Sesshomaru dismounted, lifted the girls down and spoke quietly to A-Un before giving the reign to the boy.
A group had assembled all bowing to them. Sesshomaru turned and addressed the group. "This is Lady Catherine of the Far Western lands and my ward Lady Rin."
A dignified man flanked by two children around Rin's age approached. Each child carried an elaborate bouquet of flowers. One approached Rin, one Catherine giving them each a bouquet.
The man bowed, "We welcome you to our humble village and pray you will be happy here."
Rin looked puzzled and dismayed she glanced at Catherine who knew what she was thinking because she was thinking it too. "We are being ceremoniously dumped," she thought.
She gave Rin a smile to reassure her and Rin smiled back. Catherine became aware that everyone was looking at her expectantly.
"You touch our hearts with your warm welcome," she said. "I know we will be very happy here."
Catherine looked over at Sesshomaru who seemed quite pleased with himself.
"The dog!" she thought and meant it quite literally.
Sesshomaru took them on a tour of the Palace introducing them to the servants on the way. Catherine was surprised by Sesshomaru. He seemed practically friendly with the people here and they seemed to genuinely like him. This palace was beautiful and it was theirs? Sesshomaru showed them around with something close to pride. The gardens bloomed with colorful exotic flowers and the air was full of perfume. He introduced them to an aristocratic older woman named Lady Yoko.
"Lady Yoko will serve as a surrogate Grandmother; she will teach you etiquette, tradition and how to read our language. She will chaperone and help you, Catherine with the books for running this house." Said Sesshomaru.
Lady Yoko bowed smiling benignly but her eyes were bright and sharp.
After the tour Sesshomaru led Catherine and Rin to a grand dining room. Simple and elegant like the rest of the house. They knelt at a low table as servants brought dishes of strange foods. They brought a plate of fish and presented it to Sesshomaru.
"From the bay," said the man who Catherine guessed was the chef.
To Catherine's surprise Sesshomaru picked up the sticks by his plate and expertly used them to take a piece of fish. He ate the fish and complemented the chef. He then served fish to Catherine and Rin. Rin picked up the sticks and used them as well as Sesshomaru. Catherine tried the sticks but they kept slipping. She looked up to see Lady Yoko regarding her smiling benignly.
Later after dinner Sesshomaru took Catherine aside. "You are pleased with the house?" he asked.
"It's overwhelming," she said, "A palace really and very beautiful. I am grateful, I know Rin is too" She looked out over the garden to see Rin sitting sadly by the coi pond in the garden. "You are not planning to stay here with us are you?"
"No," said Sesshomaru, "my business would frequently put you in danger. I will, though, visit periodically to be sure you are well. There are rooms on the west wing which will be kept for me when I visit."
"We will both miss you very much," said Catherine, "I will be alright, I am an adult but Rin is a child who looks to you as her father."
"I have never claimed the position of father to her," said Sesshomaru.
"None the less, it is the position you have. Rin has been abused and abandoned in the past. She is terrified of being abandoned again. You need to reassure her."
Sesshomaru became unreadable, "She will be fine."
"No she will not, she needs reassurance from you."
"It is not my concern," he said.
"Yes it is, you gave her life back, you are her father and she loves you."
"You try my patience woman! Is not a palace enough for you!" he growled.
"I am fine," said Catherine, "Rin needs you!"
Sesshomaru turned and left without a word. To Catherine's relief he headed straight toward Rin in the garden.
Rin became aware of Sesshomaru's presence. She was used to the way he would quietly just appear. She quickly wiped her eyes and looked up at him.
"Tears Rin? Do you not like your new home?" Said Sesshomaru quietly.
"It is very beautiful my Lord, you are very generous." Said Rin.
"And do you not like the little white horse I purchased for you? He said.
"I love her," said Rin, "I will name her Snow."
"A fine name for a horse," he said, "Why do you cry?"
"Because I'm afraid I will never see you again," Rin said, a tear fell down her cheek despite her best effort.
"I shall return on the first full moon of each season," said Sesshomaru. "You have my word. Have I ever lied to you?
"No my Lord." Said Rin quietly.
"Then do not cry for I shall return. Come with me."
Sesshomaru led Rin to the west wing. He opened the screen to a large room. It was bare and simple with a highly polished floor made of a rich brown wood. On the wall was hung a large picture painted on stretched gold silk.
"These are my rooms; they are to be kept for my return. Jaken's room is next to mine, he likes it so well I may have trouble getting him to leave." Rin smiled at that and Sesshomaru led her to the painting. "This is one of the few things I brought from my father's Castle in the mountains. It is a picture story of my family." He pointed to a white palace at the top right. "This is the palace of my mother's clan the white dog clan of the far north." He pointed to the center, "the black castle of my father. This is my grandfather, this is my mother and father and this," he said indicating a small child with white hair and gold eyes, "is me."
Rin gazed at the picture with wonder, "Your mother is very beautiful." She said.
"Yes," said Sesshomaru, "she was." Come, this is the other thing I brought from my father's palace." He took her to the other side of the room and slid open a screen revealing shelves. Rin saw a bed roll, a basket like the one their cloths had come in and a polished black lacquer box. Sesshomaru opened the box and took something out.
"This is the whistle my father gave to me when our clan was destroyed."
Rin looked up but Sesshomaru did not go into detail. "When he left me alone, I had this to call him when I was in danger. He slipped the cord it was attached to over her head. "So I give this to you. Use it only if there is danger and I will come immediately. Go ahead, try it." Rin blew into the whistle. There was no sound but Sesshomaru put his hand to his ear. "You cannot hear it but I can wherever I am. When I hear it I will come. I will leave tomorrow, I expect you to mind Catherine and Lady Yoko. Study hard so you can be a lady in my court."
"Yes my Lord," said Rin.
The next morning Rin and Catherine said good bye to Sessshomaru and Jaken and began their new life in the Palace.