Disclaimer: I don't own Inyuasha, I don't own my house, I have no car, and my feet are protesting.
AN: Bold faced, underlined, bold and underlined, ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, and other letters mean that the characters are talking in a different language. This may play a big part, but I don't know yet.
AN: Here I am, sick little ole' me, trying to fix a fax machine. And I type a chapter for my loving fans! Go Me! I wrote this a long time ago, and I was just too lazy to put it up. Isn't that pathetic when the author says, Damn, I'm just too lazy to update.
Chapter 11: Threat Arises, Opportunities Emerge Part 1
The rain had stopped the next day. The early morning sun had dried the earth, inverting heat into the rich soil. With the sun higher in the sky, birds had come out to sing a welcome to the new, warm day. The house was bustling with workers trying to make up for the previous day's lack. Well… everyone except for one.
Her hair had still been wet when Rin had gone to bed the previous night, damp from the run to the village she had done after her confrontation with Lord Sesshomaru. When she was back in her room, the rain had stopped so she opened a window, letting the crisp, cool air carry away the musty air that had accumulated throughout the day. She started a fire and sat, thinking about her conversation with Yukio.
In the village
"You shouldn't be out here," said Yukio almost dragging the wet Rin under the awning of his home.
"I came to apologize about last night and not enjoying the star festival with you," said Rin quickly, shivering from the cold.
"Its fine," said Yukio, taking a blanket to wrap her in.
"No it's not," said Rin defensively, "I promised to watch the star festival with you, but I got lost. And now I want to apologize and give you back your knife." She pushed the metal object into his hand.
"Rin, you didn't have to come down here in the rain to give me back a knife," said Yukio, "I could have gotten it at any time."
"But I wanted to give it to you now and now I must go," said Rin as she handed him the blanket back. "Bye Yukio!"
"Bye… Rin," said Yukio softly, thinking of how sweet a person Rin was.
END
A shiver coursed through Rin as she laid out the kimono Lord Sesshomaru had given her. Rin quickly went under the covers before the cold had set too far into her bones, forgetting her damp hair and the cool breeze coming through the window.
When she awoke the next day, Rin felt nothing but the splitting pain in the head and the desperate yearning of heat. When she tried to rise, her world turned into a sea of shapes and blurring colors spinning around her head. She couldn't even reach for a log to throw on the dieing embers of the fire she had made the night before. All she could do was close her eyes and will her stomach to calm itself against the rising nauseous feeling expanding throughout her entire body.
"WHERE IS SHE?!" shrieked the green toad as he paced in front of the doors.
"I don't know Master Jaken," said Misa hurriedly. Rin was late. 'She's never late,' thought Misa.
"Do you think someone should check on her?" suggested a slightly apprehensive Ai.
"When I want your opinion Ai," said Jaken testily, "I'll give it to you."
"She's probably feeling the effects of last night," murmured Amarante in a voice everyone could here quite clearly.
"What do you mean?" asked Misa leering at the antagonistic fox demon.
"Well, she came in so late, and she was wearing clothes that were utterly soaked through and through. And they were so strange, compared to the plane ones she usually wears, so I assume she got them when she went to visit someone in the village," said Amarante, feigning innocence.
"You mean some "man", don't you Amarante?" spat Ai.
"Well, if the shoe fits," said Amarante smirking.
"You would know about those shoes too well Amarante," said Misa.
"Oh you know as good as I do that Rin is just a little tramp," said Amarante dropping her façade.
"Now Amarante…"snarled Ai, the air beginning to crackle with all the anger floating around.
"ENOUGH!" shouted the shrill Jaken.
"Jaken!" shouted Lord Sesshomaru over the voice of the screaming toad.
Everyone seemed to snap back into their proper attitude at the sound of their master's voice.
"Yes My Lord?" asked Jaken meekly.
"What is all the commotion at this time of the day?" asked Lord Sesshomaru, eyeing the toad and 3 women sternly, more for their conversation than their actual noise level.
"It's nothing my lord, just one of the servant's hasn't made it to their chores yet," said Jaken, smiling nervously at Lord Sesshomaru.
"Well, why don't you check on the servant you are making such a disturbance over," said Lord Sesshomaru as he turned around, heading back to his room.
"Why didn't you people think of that?" asked Jaken accusingly.
'I'm surrounded by idiots,' thought Lord Sesshomaru.
"I'll check on her," said Maro as she came from the opposite direction as Lord Sesshomaru.
"Yes," said Jaken, his hand on his large chine, "That would be best Maro, as you seem to be the only one of Lord Sesshomaru's servants that is competent."
"Does that include you Jaken?" snarled Misa, her eyes dark with anger.
"Ummm…. Back to work!" yelled Jaken as he ran into the kitchen.
"Stupid Toad!" spat Misa as she headed out the door.
Maro chuckled at the sight of the young demons reacting to Jaken's attitude. Maro made her way down the hallway towards Rin's room.
"Maro… Maro…" called Ai as she raced down the hall towards Maro.
"Yes Ai?" asked Maro.
"Let me accompany you to check on Rin," said Ai quickly.
"I suppose I could use the help," said Maro as she continued on her journey.
When they reached Rin's door, Maro paused for a moment.
"Do you hear that?" asked Maro quickly, sounding distressed.
"Hear what?" asked Ai.
"Oh, this isn't good," sighed Maro. With that she opened the door to Rin's room.
"Oh, it's so cold," said Maro as she threw a log on the dieing embers engulfed the log, spreading light throughout the room.
"Oh Rin," said Ai as she caught the sight of Rin, lying on the floor, her breathing eradicate, a cough racking her body.
Maro knelt next to Rin, putting her hand on Rin's forehead. "She's burning up with fever," said Maro quietly. "Ai," said Maro, getting the demon's attention. "Please go to the kitchens and get me a kettle, water, and cups."
"Yes Maro," said Ai as she rushed to the door.
"Oh Ai," said Maro quickly.
"Yes?"
"Will you tell Lord Sesshomaru what condition Rin's in?"
"Yes Maro," said Ai, running out the door to fill the old woman's bidding.
Sesshomaru put down his work, feeling restless. 'I wonder if Rin's out working today?' thought Sesshomaru to himself. He headed toward the window. He looked towards the outside, seeing the gardens void of all life save for the plants.
'She is not out there?' thought Sesshomaru, surprised. He looked to see if she had traveled to the village after she had done some weeding. But all the gardens were still infested with weeds. There was a knock at the door.
"Enter," said Lord Sesshomaru, still peering out the windows.
"My Lord?" asked Ai.
"What do you want?" asked Lord Sesshomaru.
"I was commanded by Maro to inform you of Rin's condition."
Lord Sesshomaru meet the words with silence.
"She has a terrible fever, her breathing is constricted, and a cough rakes her body," said Ai, "That's all I know. "I'll make sure to tell Maro to come and give you and update when she is ready to," and she scurried out of the room.
"Rin…"
Lord Sesshomaru threw open the doors to the gardens and left, heading towards the mountains.
To be continued…
I only did this so I could give you something to read while I typed up the second part. I'm on my 9th hand written page, and I have 10 more to go. I know it's short, but you'll get more later tonight if I have my way, and if I don't, It'll be Friday, if I'm not being too lazy.