Title: Lords and Ladies

Summary: Lord Sesshoumaru is getting married and not to Rin.


Rin looked to her feet. They were small and delicate, but perhaps weak, like the rest of her. They were chilled by the cold wooden floor. It was shiny and beautiful, like all the other floors in the castle. Sesshoumaru's castle was furnished with only the best of the best. That's what Sesshoumaru always had, the best. That was Rin's problem, she was a human, quite less than the best.

Rin walked across the spacious room and opened a rice paper screen. Behind it was a mirror and some of Rin's belongings. She studied her reflection. She was a pretty young woman. Her skin was a luminescent pale pink; her eyes were a warm reflective brown. Her lips were full and supple with youth's rosy glow. She had been told by more than one young man that her body was a man's dream, but that was the problem, the man she wanted, wasn't a man at all, he was a demon.

What beauty she had to offer could never stand up to the beauty of a demoness. They were tall and lithe with the elegance of a willow, and yet had the strength of a hundred men. They had flawless facades and bodies of an incapable sort, with breasts the size of melons on a frame the thickness of a pole. No human could hold a candle to this. And so Rin could hardly blame him for his choice.

Rin opened her ornate wooden chest and fingered the contents. Her hand passed over dozens of silk kimonos whose price she couldn't fathom. She stopped a second on a grass-stained small one with orange and white circles. It had been her first gift from Sesshoumaru and certainly not the last. She continued on till she reached the very back of the row and pulled out an incredibly ornate white kimono with an embroidered pink flower design and a pink obi.

Rin laughed at the fact she could hate something so beautiful. It was everything she couldn't be, perfect, gorgeous, and priceless. It had been another gift from Lord Sesshoumaru, another reason she should love it for, but she despised it so. It was because Sesshoumaru had given it to her to wear on a very special occasion, his wedding to Lady Tomaki.

Lady Tomaki arrived as the cherry petals first began to fall, Rin's favorite season. At first, Rin had not had a clue why she was here and why everyone was putting up with her petulant demands. She soon ruled everything but Sesshoumaru himself, including Rin. She moved Rin to a smaller room far far away from Lord Sesshoumaru. Lady Tomaki made sure Rin had nothing to do with anything. She let Rin know exactly how welcome she was, not. Rin had decided to wait it out, surely her Sesshoumaru-sama would drive this mad woman out before long as he had done with many demons.

To Rin's horror Jakken had shown up at Rin's little room with a black eye and lesions. Rin knew Lady Tomaki had done it. The little toad told Rin not to worry about him, that what she needed to worry about was herself. He told her that Lady Tomaki was here to marry Lord Sesshoumaru and become his mate, that the only reason Rin was still alive was because Sesshoumaru himself had told Lady Tomaki not to lay a finger on Rin.

After mourning her losses Rin vowed not to take it to heart until Sesshoumaru himself told this to her. Unfortunately, a few weeks later she had heard a rap on her door. She looked up to see none other than Lord Sesshoumaru step through the entryway. He looked no different than always, perhaps more impassive. He took in her emaciated frame.

"You should eat." He said almost angrily.

"Perhaps I would if I were still welcome in the kitchens." Rin said sarcastically in an unusual show of attitude. She saw a flash of something pass over Sesshoumaru's eyes. He did not rise to her challenge and instead approached her.

"It is the time in my life to produce heirs, heirs to the throne of the western lands." He looked her intently in the eyes.

"There are other ways to do that! What about love?" She said as she slid to the floor. She hadn't even noticed she was crying.

"Love is a foolish human emotion." Sesshoumaru said. He hated it when Rin cried, and she was crying more than he had ever seen her, he could smell her pain. He laid a package on the futon and walked to the door. Just as he reached it he paused "It will be during the first snows. You will be The Lady of Honor. Tomaki doesn't like this, but I demand it of her." He said unusually softly. "In that box is the dress you should wear."

That meeting weeks ago had sealed her fate. At first, of course, she had wanted to flee. If Sesshoumaru didn't want her than there was no point in hanging around. But as usual, her heart won out and she knew she would stay and do whatever Sesshoumaru asked of her, even if it ended her life.

Rin stroked the luxurious silk. It was the very finest money could buy. She could hardly imagine what Lady Tomaki's dress would look like. The wedding was later that evening. It was a thing that plagued Rin's mind, how would she let her dreams go? She looked out of the window, snow was falling, and she had best get dressed. Rin slid the silk over her bare skin.

She examined herself one more time in the large mirror. She guessed it was about as good as it was going to get. She took a deep breath and entered the 'royal chambers', or what used to be the salon before Tomaki came. She had lain silk and flowers all over the place. The air was sickeningly sweet. Rin coughed as she saw the occupants.

Lady Tomaki was lounging on the sofa. As Rin had predicted, she was draped in yards and yards of embroidered silk. Her white silver hair was being brushed by another demoness. In fact, there were three other similar demonesses in the room. Rin noted with resignation that Tomaki was prettier than the rest.

"Look, it's the little skank." Tomaki purred to her friends. Rin tried not to act hurt.

"Why on earth does he keep the brat?" One of her companions asked. Rin shrunk against the wall.

"I don't know. She serves no purpose. I suppose she might service that hideous little toad." Tomaki said as she and her cohorts gave way to howls of laughter. Rin shivered at the thought of her and Jakken.

"She has to be in the ceremony?" The tallest demoness asked.

"Unfortunately." The shortest demoness replied.

"You, brat." Tomaki addressed Rin. "Sesshoumaru insists you be in the ceremony. Just don't mess anything up, or it will be your life. Sesshoumaru may be attached to you, but he needs me." Tomaki told Rin as she flexed her claws.

After some time the demonesses began lining up. The squattest demoness shuffled Rin to the front of the line and pushed her out the huge doors. Rin had never been in the room beyond the doors. It took her a few minutes to gather herself, but then she looked around.

She was frozen with fear. She was in a cavernous room, but that wasn't what was scary. She was surrounded by demons. Hundreds of great demons had come to pay homage to the son of the Western Lands. They were all there, bear demons, cat demons, dragon demons the size of a house. Rin took a gasp of air in and found him.

There was an aisle all the way across the room. At the end she saw him. Sesshoumaru was standing in full armor at the end of the aisle. He was looking at her ever impassively. Rin gulped and proceeded forward. All demons' eyes were on her. A particular nasty demon dropped a gobule of acidic drool in her path. She stepped over it and marched forward towards the nearest thing to safe she had, Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru could smell her fear. He knew they all could. He also knew they were all wondering why he was allowing a human to be the Lady of Honor. To be honest, so was he. She approached him with a surprisingly steady gait. He no longer smelt fear, but more of a dread. Rin finally met him. She was about to say something, but was interrupted by the master of ceremonies, a wizened tree demon growing into the temple wall.

"Sesshoumaru, dost thou give thy word that this woman is indeed a virgin?" The tree boomed out.

"I do." Sesshoumaru said as he looked at Rin. She flushed.

"Lady of Honor. As a virgin, dost thou give thy blessing to the fertility of this union?" the ancient being echoed through the room.

After receiving a long look from Sesshoumaru, she moved up to them. With surprising confidence she replied:

"As the Virginal maid, I offer up my blessing to this union." She said hollowly. Sesshoumaru looked at her with surprise, how had she known the ancient words? Instinct perhaps, but why would a human have it?

"Good, than may the procession continue."

Rin watched as all three demonesses walked down the aisle to line up beside her, opposite Sesshoumaru. Rin didn't really focus, in fact she felt like passing out. That was, until her attention was drawn to the back. Lady Tomaki entered the aisle. She was gorgeous as Rin predicted. Rin felt like a dagger was being twisted in her stomach. It only got worse when Tomaki reached Sesshoumaru and entwined her fingers in his.

"The Lord Sesshoumaru, son of the Great Inutaisho, may he rest in eternal pyre, Lord of The Western Lands, has come here today to offer his seed to Lady Tomaki, Daughter of the renowned Daifuku, Princess of the Eastern Estate. Does anyone of you here reject this union?" The great tree bellowed.

Rin's heart thumped in her ears. She could swear her heart was in her throat. She could see the way Lady Tomaki was petting her Lord. She met his eyes once again and she snapped. She broke the line and stood before the great tree, looking to his gnarled face for strength. Everyone's eyes were on her. Lady Tomaki looked horrified.

"I do!" She screamed with all her might. A general cacophony let out.

"You little Bitch! How dare you! And just a human!" Tomaki hissed. Rin backed up into a corner.

Tomaki's eyes turned red. Rin fell to the ground beneath her, pressed against the wall. Rin stared death in the face. Rin knew that. She also knew that death was a better fate than watching the man she loved marry Tomaki. Rin closed her eyes and waited for the end. The sound of ripping flesh filled her eyes. Warm blood splashed her face.

After a couple of seconds Rin realized she had not felt any pain. She slowly opened one eye. She was highly relieved to see Sesshoumaru standing over her, looking down. After giving him a smile straight from her heart, she remembered there had been blood spilt. She swiveled her head around to see Lady Tomaki's corpse giving way to bones, such as the way with dead demons.

"Oh my, Lady Tomaki!" One of the demonesses cried as she came in between Rin, Sesshoumaru, and the corpse.

"I'm…sorry…," Rin said slowly as she tried to think of some consolation, even if she wasn't actually sorry. As Rin tried to approach her, the demoness turned on Rin and drew her claws, but before she could make a move Sesshoumaru had moved in front of Rin.

"Do not harm Rin, I have told you all this before. As you can see, the consequences shall be dire." He said in a ruthless voice meant for all the demons there.

Fortunately, there were few upset by this, their loyalty lay with the Inutaiyoukai family. And besides, few dare even think they could contend with Sesshoumaru in battle or wits. Their hate for humans was deep, but their wish to live was deeper. Sesshoumaru had the strength to back himself up, so they were willing to accept this, though the cacophony in the temple didn't give this away.

Sesshoumaru looked down upon the girl. She was bloodstained and bruised, but she was still smiling at him with that smile. He didn't say anything, but Rin was pretty sure this was some sort of a turning point. She was here in a lion's den, surrounded by demons that were excited by the spilling of blood, but Sesshoumaru stood careful guard over her. He had sacrificed the thing he held dearest, his pride, for her.

"Rin." Sesshoumaru said calmly.

"Yes?" She answered proudly.

"Why did you object?" he asked coolly.

"Well." She said thoughtfully. " I just didn't like Lady Tomaki…and I guess…other reasons too." She flushed pink.

"Why do you care about the woman I marry? You are a human." He asked frankly.

"Cause I care about you. Human or not, I would rather die than see you mated with that wretch." Rin said bluntly.

"I see." Sesshoumaru said calmly as he looked into the havoc that surrounded him. he took a deep breath and surrendered to something, "Well, come on then Lady Rin, we should return to the castle. We should let Jakken know there will be some changes in the plan." Sesshoumaru said as he looked down at her with a faint trace of a smile on his face.