A/N: Sorry for the wait people. Having a hard time choosing what to type. To help with this, I will be posting a poll on my FF account. It will have a list of all of the stories I have in my head right now, and after most everyone has voted, I will write them in the order of demand. PLEASE vote :-)
Enjoy the story!
Rin watched in horror at what she saw. She was hiding in some bushes at the edge of a clearing. A waterfall rushed nearby, but she didn't notice any of that.(A/N: has anyone else noticed that I am addicted to waterfalls and people dying?) Sesshomaru-sama was standing in the clearing with another demon, and he was severely wounded. A large gash went from his left shoulder, across his chest and all the way down to his hip. There were trails of blood showing everywhere he and the other demon had fought. His kimono was stained and there was also a small puddle of blood at his feet.
The demon across from him was also wounded, but not quite as badly. It held aloft a bloody mace, and it was looking evilly at Sesshomaru.
"Give up, insolent pup! Your life is not worth that of the young human female. Give me the girl, and we can both be on our way."
Sesshomaru only raised his sword a little higher, a sign of challenge in the demon world. He'd be damned if anything were to happen to Rin. The monster shrugged its huge shoulders and swung its weapon again. Sesshomaru blocked it, but the force of the blow threw him backward, making him hit a nearby tree. The demon used the opportunity and lunged at the spot where Rin was hiding.
Rin closed her eyes and awaited death, but it never came. She looked, but she immediately wished she hadn't. Sesshomaru stood infront on her, with the demon's claws going straight through his chest and out his back. The demon roared in frustration, and pulled his arm away from Sesshomaru. He went to swing again, but Sesshomaru was too quick. He swung his sword and an energy wave erupted from it. The demon disintegrated into dust before them.
Suddenly, Sesshomaru felt very weak. His knees buckled beneath him and he fell to the ground. Rin gasped and knelt next to him. His breathing was shallow and blood still spilled from his body in thick gushes. Rin rolled him from his side to his back and inspected him. He seemed to be in pain, his face was pale and his jaw was clenched shut.
Rin stared at him for a second before coming to a decision. She peeled away chunks of his broken armor and set them aside. She opened his haori, and reveled the wound. It looked pretty bad. Rin took her own kimono and ripped strips from the bottom. Taking a few of them, Rin ran over to the river and wet them. Then she ran back to Sesshomaru and began to wipe away the dried blood.
"Why do you even bother, Rin?"
The girl was so startled by the voice that she jumped and dropped the cloth in her hand. She looked at Sesshomaru, who was awake and staring at her. She hesitated a moment, then she answered him.
"I bother because I care, my Lord. I do not wish to see you hurt like this."
Sesshomaru stared at her for a minute. She must know that he had already lost too much blood, even for a demon such as himself. He was slowly dying, yet here she was, bandaging him up and pretending that he was going to live. Maybe she really did care for him more than he had anticipated. He nodded at her to continue her work, then he closed his eyes and slipped into sleep. At least, death wouldn't hurt so much.
Rin picked up her fallen rag and set back to work. After the wound was somewhat clean, she took the dry strips of cloth and placed them over the gash. When she was done, she closed his kimono and set about making a fire. Soon, the makeshift camp was nice and warm. Rin sat beside Sesshomaru-sama and watched him. He seemed...peaceful.
Rin had never seen him like this. Sesshomaru-sama usually had a look of complete apathy on his face, unless, of course, a demon opposed him, then he usually looked quite angry. Never had she seen him show any other type of emotion. It was...surprising for Rin. She found that she liked this new side of him. She only wished that it would stay. Reaching out, she brushed his silvery bangs from his face.
What would happen if...she was too late? Rin shook her head. No, that wouldn't happen. It couldn't happen. She needed Sesshomaru-sama. She loved him. If he died, she would have no one. Sure, she had friends in Inuyasha's village, but every she had ever really cared for had been taken away from her.
Her family had been murdered by bandits when she was six, and she had been moved to he grandmother's village. When she was seven, though, her grandmother had died, leaving Rin mute. The village shied away from her muteness, and thought her to be possessed. They beat Rin and made her live in a filthy makeshift shack. They used her as a servant girl, and beat her more when she didn't obey or do a good job.
Rin had hoped that things would be different with Sesshomaru. That she could finally be happy. But, things were looking shady. Tears came to Rin's eyes at the though of the chance that her Lord, who had taken care of her since he had rescued her from the wolves when she was eight. She had traveled with him for a year, then she had stayed in his brother's village for several years. When she was sixteen, she had begun traveling with him again.
Over the years, Rin had grown to care for her stoic master, and eventually fell in love with him. She dreamed of a time when they might be together, when he might love her back. Seeing Sesshomaru hurt like this though, threw her dreams away like old trash. Tears slowly began to stream down her face.
If he did die, she would have nothing else to live fore. She would be completely alone once again. Rin didn't want that. She laid down and rested her head on Sesshomaru's chest.
"Please don't die on me, Sesshomaru." she sniffed and closed her eyes. "I love you."
"Do you mean that?"
Rin's eyes flew open and she immediately sat up. Sesshomaru was staring at her again.
"Forgive me, Sesshomaru-sama, it was out of my place to-"
"Answer my question, Rin. Do you mean what you said?" He said it stronger this time, hoping with every fiber of his being that she had.
Rin stared back at him, fear twisting her stomach into knots. "I...yes." She hung her head. "I meant every word." She looked back up at him, believing that he would hate her for it. Demon/Human couple were though to be lower than dirt. Baring half-breeds was punishable by death. Sesshomaru's own father had left his mother for a human princess and sired a half-breed, his younger brother Inuyasha.
Ever since, Sesshomaru had hated humans in their entirety. Rin had grown up hearing how he wished for them to disappear from this world altogether. Why he kept her around was completely beyond even Sesshomaru's knowledge.
Rin expected to see rage on his face, but instead she saw something completely different. He now faced the sky with his eyes closed. Then, something happened that nearly made Rin's heart stop. Very, very slowly, a smile stretched across his face. Rin had never seen him smile before. Never. It just wasn't something that her lord did. She had learned once from Jaken, his old vassal, that whenever he smiled, it meant someone was about to meet an early death.
Rin hung her head in shame. He did hate her. He hated her and he was going to punish her for her insolence. Rin felt her heart grow cold and shatter into a hundred pieces. Sesshomaru-sama, her savior, her light, the only person who had cared for her since her families death, was going to kill her. Tears ran down her face and she choked back a sob.
Rin felt a hand on her cheek and she flinched away, scared of what the claws on that hand might do. When she did this, Sesshomaru was surprised. Didn't she just admit that she loved him? Why was she scared of him? Why did she cry? Was she ashamed of her love for him? Or, could it possibly be that she was afraid of his reaction?
Sesshomaru had realized that he loved the girl a long time ago, back when she was still only a pup. At first, he had thought it to be a fatherly type of love, considering the fact that he had raised her since she was eight and a half. But, when she became older, he realized that he had been wrong. He loved the girl more like a mate, and began to think about a life with her.
Sesshomaru thought back to their travels. Jaken had long since left his service, but now Sesshomaru realized the message he had sent the kappa, and from him on to Rin. She thought that he would hate her because he hated his father for mating a human.
She thought that he believed her to be nothing more than an experiment to test the power of Tenseiga, the sword left to him by his late father. Rin believed that he would kill her. Sesshomaru suddenly felt the uncontrollable urge to right her wrong ideas. Slowly, and quite painfully, he sat up and pulled her into an embrace.
"Rin," he purred.
Rin gasped and froze. Sesshomaru was...hugging her? Why? Had she not just disgraced him and his entire family line? He was the last pureblood in his family other than his mother, he needed to mate a demoness. Yet, he was embracing her? Reluctantly, Rin pulled away from him. She stared him in the eye.
"Why-"
"Because I love you as well, Rin." he smiled that somewhat creepy, yet kind of beautiful, smile again. He reached out and pulled the completely shocked Rin back into his arms.
Rin, being pressed against Sesshomaru's chest, listened to his heartbeat. It was growing slowly fainter, and slower. His breathing slowly shallowed and it seemed like it took him an effort to breathe. Rin suddenly fully realized that he was dying. The pain and loss of blood from the wound was making him delirious. Rin shook her head and, with eyes full of tears, she pulled away from him again.
"Sesshomaru-sama, you are not yourself! You need a doc-"
This time, Sesshomaru didn't silence her with words. Rin's eyes grew wide, completely shocked now. Was Sesshomaru-sama really...kissing her? Rin's first thought was that she was dreaming. But, if it were a dream, she might as well enjoy it as much as she could. She closed her eyes and began to return the kiss. After a few more seconds Sesshomaru pulled away from her.
"Am I still crazy, Rin?"
Rin opened her eyes and stared at him. She opened her mouth but, suddenly she couldn't speak. It dawned on her that he truly did love her. The demon she had loved since she was a small girl, the only creature that had ever truly cared for her since her grandmother's death, returned her feelings. And he was dying. The irony of the situation washed over her, and she couldn't contain it. All at once she felt joy, sorrow, hope, fear, love, anger, and hate.
Rin was happy that he loved her, yet she was sad that he was dying. She hoped that he would somehow live, yet she was scared because she knew that he wouldn't. She was angry with the fates for steeling every shred of her happiness. She loved him with all of her heart, yet she hated him for leaving her so suddenly. All of this brought tears to her eyes, and it was too much. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his chest, and cried.
Sesshomaru pulled her closer and held her tightly. He knew everything that she felt, humans were so easy to read. He almost felt the same way, but he also felt pity. This little human had gone through so much, and she deserved none of it. She had faced nearly every disaster imaginable, yet had never done anything wrong. This made Sesshomaru pull her even tighter.
"I'm sorry, little one."
They stayed like that for a while. It seemed like they were trying to draw each other into themselves. After a few minutes, Rin's tears dried up, and she felt completely hollow. It seemed like her soul was fading in time with the demon holding her, problem was, she was never going to get them back. Rin closed her eyes and listened to His heartbeat, then realized with a start that he was asleep.
Sesshomaru was too weak to keep sitting up for long, and lost the energy to even stay awake. Rin laid him back down and looked at his face. That peaceful look was mocking her. It was so beautiful, yet so hard to look at all the same. He looked like he hadn't a care in the world, yet his eyes, the had looked sort of...sad before.
Rin couldn't take it anymore and laid down beside him. She took his arms and wrapped them around her, clasping his hands in hers. He pulled her closer in his sleep, pressing her back to his chest. He buried his nose in her hair and muttered something incoherent. Rin's sorrow grew at this, and she closed her eyes. She longed for the blissful ignorance of sleep. After a few more moments, she finally got her wish.
"Rin."
The said girl mumbled in her sleep and rolled over. Sesshomaru tried again, louder this time.
"Rin."
Realizing that he was calling her, and hearing how suddenly weak he sounded, Rin sat up and stared at him. Sesshomaru looked her straight in the eyes.
"Remember what I say now. I love you, and I will always be there for you. I promise." His eyes became very sad and his hand came up and brushed the tears from Rin's face. Her own hand came up and covered his, holding it to her cheek.
"Sesshomaru?"
He coughed and blood began to spill from his mouth. His eyes caught hers again.
"I promise." he whispered, and the light from his eyes faded into nothingness. Rin began to panic. She dropped his hand and grabbed his face, turning it to face her.
"Sesshomaru!"
A wind picked up and Sesshomaru turned into dust. As he did, the wind snatched it away, and the dust dissolved into air. The last to go was his hand, which seemed to be reaching for Rin. Soon, all there was left was his empty, blood-stained haori, and his bloody boa.
"No," Rin whispered, tears blurring her vision. "Sesshomaru." her voice gained volume, and suddenly, her sorrow hit her full force. She struck her fists on his haori, as if trying to strike the creature who left it, and screamed as loud as she could.
"SESSHOMARU!"
Then she collapsed, unable to contain her broken heart, and cried.
"Sesshomaru. Don't leave me." she whispered. "Come back...come back...Sesshomaru."
She didn't know how long she was there, all she knew was that her love was gone. And she wasn't going to get him back. So lost in her sorrow, poor Rin never noticed the man picking her up, wrapping her in the bloody kimono, and walking away with her into the forest.
Lord Akio ran through the forest. He didn't know what, but something was wrong. Could his stepson have gotten in trouble again? Could a demon be invading on his territory? Could it be mere human bandits? Maybe all three? Whatever it was, Akio was going to find out soon.
"SESSHOMARU!"
The dog lord stopped in his tracks. Sesshomaru? As in his stepson, Sesshomaru? What could be wrong with the boy? The voice that said his name...it sounded so heartbroken. What could possibly be wrong? Akio turned mid-step and ran in the direction the scream came from. A knot of fatherly worry winding in his head.
Soon, Akio came across a clearing. A terrible odor suddenly assaulted his nose. It smelled heavily of death, sorrow, and blood. Sesshomaru's blood. Why? What had his stepson done? The next thought that came to mind gave Akio the chills.
"Fumiko is going to have a heart attack."
Akio drew his attention to the middle of the clearing. A young human female lay there, covered in blood. She seems to be unconscious, but her eyes were open, tears pouring down her cheeks. Akio tilted his head to the side. The girl smelled a lot like Sesshomaru. But, didn't he hate humans? So, why was she crying then? Akio shook his head. His head was overloaded with questions.
Walking closer, Akio noticed several things about the scene before him. For one, she was laying on a very bloody, silvery silk kimono top. The fact that it looked too much like Sesshomaru's haori was doing nothing for Akio's nerves. The girl was clutching it like a lifeline. As if it would somehow save her.
Second, was the fact that the girl was indeed very pretty. Akio had heard rumors of his stepson traveling with a human child, but Akio had thought them to be just that...rumors. Never had he imagined that Sesshomaru would keep the girl around, forget about ever dying for one. She had long, silky, black hair, chocolate eyes and lovely tan skin. She looked like she could be some kind of nymph, yet her rounded ears marked her as human.
And the third, and most unsettling, fact was that she was whispering Sesshomaru's name over...and over...and over. It was like a mantra in the poor things head.
Akio looked around the clearing once again. Whatever had caused all of this was either dead or long gone. He looked back at the girl. She seemed...lost. Like she didn't know what to do anymore. Akio leaned down next to her. She smelled heavily of flowers, tears, blood, and, oddly, Sesshomaru. She had the answers to his questions.
As gently as he could manage, Akio wrapped the girl in the haori and picked her up. She clutched the bloody kimono and leaned against his chest. Akio stared at her. Something at the back of his head told him that she had gone through many hardships. How he knew this, he had absolutely no idea. He turned forward and began to walk. His and Fumiko's estate was not far from here, it would only be a days walk. Fumiko would be able to help. She knew Sesshomaru better than anyone, even Sesshomaru himself. Hopefully, she would know who this young girl was.
Rin awoke to the feeling of warmth. She was in large bed, in a large, lovely furnished room. She was wrapped in fur quilts, and she felt clean from head to toe. She hated all of it almost immediately. What reason did she have to be comfortable? Why did she have to live, while everyone else dies? Why did she have to suffer so much? First her parents, then her grandmother, then her Sesshomaru. Her Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru...
Rin felt the ache where her heart should be grow slowly and painfully. Big, fat tears washed down her face, an expression of pain taking over her features. What had she ever done wrong? Was it something from a past life? Or, was she supposed to suffer? Did someone hate her for some reason? All that Rin knew was the overwhelming, all-consuming heartbreak that resided within her. Nobody could comfort her, make her feel better. The only person who could was gone forever.
Rin rolled over and pulled one of the blankets closer around her, trying to remember the wonderful feeling of his arms around her, when she noticed that it wasn't a blanket at all. It was Sesshomaru's haori, freshly washed clean from all of the blood and tears that had already soaked it. An image of him flashed before Rin's eyes and she brought the cloth up to her face.
Yes. Even deep down below the scent of soap and water, was the foresty scent of the silk's master. Rin took a deep breath, trying to ease her loneliness, but she only seemed to make it worse. More tears fell from her eyes and she closed them. She thought with all of her heart the words she wanted so desperately to ask him, to tell him, to hear him say. Rin longed to feel safe in his arms again, but it simply wasn't meant to be.
Rin wrapped the haori all the way around her and buried her nose in it. She imagined again the feeling of his arms around her, his voice when he admitted his love for her, his beautiful honey-gold eyes when he promised to always be there for her. Always. And just before Rin slipped into unconsciousness, she spoke the words that plagued her mind.
"You broke both your promises. You can't ever be here for me. You left, and you can never come back. I thought you would never abandon me again. You lied to me. You have just torn everything from me, yet I still love you. I love you more than I can bear. And the more you love someone," she choked. "the more it hurts when they leave forever. I hope you always know that I love you with all of my heart, but sometimes...I wish I didn't. It hurts too much. First when I thought you could never love me when you were here, and now when I know you love me and you are gone forever. I'm sorry." And, again, poor Rin cried herself to sleep.
The next time Rin awoke, it was to the sound of voices. She sensed a presence behind her, two in fact. Wishing to remain undisturbed, she evened out her breathing and stayed perfectly still as she listened to the two people behind her.
"Do you know who she is?" a man's voice asked. It sounded older, wiser than most demon's voices.
"Hmmm. She looks like the small girl my son once traveled with. Her name is Rin, I believe. She has grown remarkably. I am surprised she is even human." This time it was a female's voice. And a familiar one at that. Too familiar.
"Were you able to find anything about Sesshomaru's whereabouts?" the man asked again.
The woman sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. He died protecting this girl from an opposing demon. The demon nearly ripped his whole chest out and he bled to death. It seems he was much more like Inutaisho in many ways."
"What should we do with the gir-, um... Rin now?" The man asked again.
"We will keep her! What else would we do, Akio?" the woman seemed hysteric. "My son died protecting this child, and so it was obviously his wish for her to live on! In love and respect for my boy, I am going to do whatever it takes to help her! I don't give a damn what species she is!"
"I know, Fumiko, I know. I understand and agree whole heartedly. Sesshomaru wasn't my son, but I love him as my own anyway. I was just implying what we should do to comfort her. When I found her, she was covered in blood and tears. And a few of them not her own. Sesshomaru probably would have made her his mate if given the chance. And, considering her state of mind at the time, she probably loved him as well. When she awakes, she will be as if the life and soul was sucked out of her. We need to find a way to mend her heart before she finds a way to join Sesshomaru."
Rin felt her eyes sting. She was in Lady Fumiko's palace. Lady Fumiko was Sesshomaru's mother, and that also meant that she was where Sesshomaru had spent his years growing up. This castle was crawling with stories about him, stories that would make her already tattered soul fray more. And on top of that, these people wanted to help her. That was something rare for Rin, and she felt a lump form in her throat. Rin managed to remain still, but she was unable to hide the tear that fell down her cheek.
"Akio!" Fumiko scolded. "Watch what you say around her! She is not as asleep as you may think, she merely wishes to be left alone. You probably just hurt the poor thing more!"
Footsteps were heard and Rin felt a hand on her cheek. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at the demoness in front of her. Lady Fumiko looked a lot like Sesshomaru. Too much like him. She had the silver hair, the gold eyes, the crescent moon, the angle of the eyes...it was too much for Rin. More tears spilled down her face as she stared up at the Lady.
"You poor girl. So young for such a tragedy."
She pulled Rin into a hug and Rin, who was so filled to the brim with emotion, let her. But, can one really blame her? She has gone so long with no shoulder to cry on, with no guidance whatsoever. She had to learn her way through instinct ever since she was small. Everyone she had ever loved had died, leaving her with no one. Even her wonderful Sesshomaru, in their few short moments of passion, hadn't been able to assuage her thirst for the love only a family could give. And now, someone was opening their arms for her, so she took the opportunity and savored it, for it has been a long time since she felt this. The comfort of a mother's arms.
They sat there for hours, with Rin attempting to release all of her pent up emotion on Fumiko's shoulder, and Fumiko trying to comfort her. Akio watched for a moment, then he left the room. He walked up and down stairs and through long, endless hallways. Eventually he came across a part of the palace that hadn't been used in a while. Akio walked and walked until he came across a special door. It had a wooden sign above it, written in messy handwriting only an impatient 5-year-old could manage.
'Sesshomaru'
Akio pushed open the door and walked into the room. This was the room that Sesshomaru had grown up in. The walls were pale blue, as was some of the furnishings. The others furnishings were draped in gold. A medium sized bed lay in a corner next to a whole wall of almost every kind of book you could imagine. A pile of toys, a messy, half-painted-on easel, and an over stuffed armchair took up the rest of the room. On the far wall, a door opened up into the lush garden.
But Akio was not here to admire the layers of dust coating the old nursery, he was here to speak to the demon spirit that was staring at him from across the room.
"You know what has just transpired?" the spirit nodded. Akio's eyes narrowed at him. "Then you should know why I'm down here."
Sesshomaru thought for a minute, then he answered. "I would've thought you to understand. I love Rin, regardless of the fact that she is human." he turned to look out the window. "I know her, can practically read her like a book. If I let her see me, then it would crush her. Humans cannot speak the language of the dead, I will just be a floating image to her." Sesshomaru seemed to gaze off into space. "Something to torture her." he whispered.
Akio shook his head. "Telling her that you loved her is what is torturing her! I can only begin to fathom what she has gone through, and you just overflowed her cup with more heartache."
"It is true what you say, Akio. But I made a choice, and even then she tried to deny it." Akio raised an eyebrow. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "She said I was insane from pain and blood-loss."
"She may have been right." When Sesshomaru glared at him, Akio put his hands up in defense. "I am just trying to make a point here. You never think about everything before you act. Yes you think about the key points, but at the same time you ignore many important facts and little details that also need assessing. And I, having taught you since you were no higher than my knee, know this much better than you do, Sesshomaru."
"I know. You remind me every time I come home."
"Because you always forget it as soon as you leave! Listen, just think this one through for a few weeks. Maybe even talk to your mother. In fact, you will talk to your mother because she is going to hunt you down if you don't. Wait a while and see if Rin is ready. Or, if necessary, don't show yourself at all."
With a final glare toward the spirit of his stepson, Akio left the room. Sesshomaru turned and stared out the window. A large knot of guilt welled up inside his stomach. What Akio didn't know what that Sesshomaru was already to much aware of what he had done. He had gone upstairs some time ago to check on Rin, and found her awake. He had been about to show himself to her when she had spoken. And her words cut him where no blade could.
"You broke both your promises. You can't ever be here for me. You left, and you can never come back. I thought you would never abandon me again. You lied to me. You have just torn everything from me, yet I still love you. I love you more than I can bear. And the more you love someone, the more it hurts when they leave forever. I hope you always know that I love you with all of my heart, but sometimes...I wish I didn't. It hurts too much. First when I thought you could never love me when I had you, and now when I know you love me and you are gone forever. I'm sorry."
After that, Sesshomaru had been to afraid of upsetting her more to even enter the room again. He had hid in the quiet abandoned nursery for 2 days. How much had he truly hurt his poor Rin? Even now, he could smell her tears running free like a stream. Sesshomaru held out his hand and a small collection of water droplets gathered there. They were Rin's tears. Immediately he felt her overwhelming sorrow and loss. In that moment, Sesshomaru swore that he would never again hurt her like he had. Even, if it meant never seeing his Rin ever again.
Fumiko watched Rin sleep with a motherly gaze. The poor girl had cried for several hours before dozing off. What horrors had she been through? What cruel tragedies had life thrown at her? Even with all of those tears she had spilled, Rin still seemed as if there were still so much she had locked away. How much could a single human go through in one life?
Her thoughts were interrupted by her mate walking into the room. She turned to him.
"Did you find him?" Akio nodded. Fumiko frowned. "And what did you say to him?"
"The usual. I think he listened this time though. He seemed...different...than normal."
"I am not surprised he has changed. He was gone a long time, Akio, two hundred years. He is no child anymore."
"Trust me, I know that fact well." Fumiko stood and laid a hand on Rin's forehead. After thinking a moment, she walked to the hallway and turned to a passing mouse-demon maid. "Sajrah, call some of the other maids to carry on your work. Should Lady Rin wake up, you shall be her lady's maid. Tend to her every need and tell her that she is invited to diner in the dining hall at sundown. But, until then, have her rest."
"Yes, my Lady." Sajrah curtsied and scurried off down the hall. Fumiko turned and walked the other way towards the other end of the castle. Eventually, she entered a grand throne room and sat there. Reaching over to a table at her left, she rang a small bell and a young boy appeared.
"Malo, head to the nearest town and hire a tailor. Bring back some new silks as well."
"Yes, my Lady!" The boy nodded and took a small pouch of coins from Fumiko. He then ran as fast as he could out of the door. Akio, who had watched the ordeal with the maid as well, watched the kid go with interest. He raised an eyebrow at his mate. Fumiko merely sighed.
"If Rin is going to stay with us she will need certain necessities. I must say, my old yukata is a little big on her, she will need some new kimonos. And she will also be moved to a different room. One overlooking the gardens. Yes, that would do nicely." Fumiko seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. She snapped out of it and shook her head. "We must keep her active if she is to keep her mind off of Sesshomaru."
Akio nodded his agreement. Rin would need the comfort of distraction soon as she found consciousness. It was necessary for many reasons. Especially if she ever wanted to see her Sesshomaru again.
Rin awoke feeling empty and...light. It seemed as of a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She vaguely remembered Sesshomaru's mother, Fumiko, wrapping her arms around Rin and letting her cry. Rin had cried about everything she had been too scared to cry about before. She cried for the death of her parents, the death of her grandmother, the pain the abusing villagers had inflicted upon her, the pain of the wolves teeth in her flesh, and for the loss of her Sesshomaru-sama.
Rin felt relieved, like a part of something had disappeared from her chest. But, the rest of it was still there, and it liked to make itself known. But, laying around crying was not going to bring him back, so Rin slowly stood and made started her way to the door. She was immediately stopped by a servant girl.
"Please Lady Rin, Lady Fumiko instructed that you rest." She gently tugged Rin's arm until the sad girl complied and curled up on a plush couch. The servant girl helped her, then stood and bowed to Rin.
"Lady Rin, I am Sajrah, your ladies maid. I shall tend to your every wish, you need just ask and it shall be yours."
"If only she could give me exactly what I want, but that is impossible...Sesshomaru..." Rin thought. She gave Sajrah a half-hearted smile. "Thank you, Sajrah. You need not call me 'Lady', for I have never gained the title."
"But, you have earned the title. You are the young Lord Sesshomaru's intended life-mate, it would be very disrespectful if I did not use the title."
Rin stared at the young servant girl. She was...Sesshomaru's intended life-mate? But, Sesshomaru had never...done anything to make that...he barely ever even touched her...she should have a mark... Rin reached up with a shaky hand and felt her neck, and her blood ran cold. She felt a small raised lump on her shoulder/ Exploring it a bit, she found that it was crescent shaped. She suddenly felt very dizzy.
"Forgive me, Rin-sama! I forgot-"
"It's alright, Sajrah. I must get used to the idea, if I am ever to live without him...without-"
Rin felt her tears again, but shook her head to clear it. Maybe if she ate something, she could sleep again. Her stomach growled its agreement. Rin looked at the girl in front of her. She opened her mouth to speak but Sajrah cut her off.
"I sensed you were to wake soon, so I sent a servant boy to the kitchens. I didn't know what you would favor so I had him bring chicken rice and some sushi. I hope that is satisfactory, my Lady."
Rin smiled again, a little brighter this time. "That would be wonderful. Thank you, Sajrah."
The maid blushed. "It was nothing on my part, my Lady. I simply have sharp senses."
A servant boy arrived a few minutes later with a tray full of chicken-rice, various sushi, and some fresh spring water. Rin ate slowly, so as to not overload her aching stomach. While she ate, she was informed that she was invited to dinner at sunset with Lady Fumiko. She also learned that she had been at the palace for a whole week. When she was done, the boy gathered the tray and left. Rin lay on the bed again and soon felt herself drifting off into sleep. The last thing she heard before she slept was Sajrah shoving logs around in the hearth, trying to coax the warm glow to a lively blaze.