Chapter Thirteen

The sun blazed, even past the point of descent. Orange and purple hues lingered in the heavens, creating an arc to light their way, and before the last radiant beam disappeared beneath the darkening skies, they caught sight of a magnificent scene.

High mountains reached beyond fluffy clouds, and there sitting at the base of those looming mountains rested a palace that could have put the notorious Naraku's own to shame.

Sesshoumaru's palace was huge, with various buildings and servants running around like ants as they approached. Rin was speechless as she noticed that in the center of all the buildings was a modest hot spring, hidden within a garden that nobody seemed to be in. "Master Jaken?" She asked timidly.

Jaken was still rubbing his bruised head at Ah-Un's tail when he heard the young woman speaking to him. "What?" His response was filled with annoyance.

Rin, being her old self, ignored that annoyance and continued. "Is that where I will be living?"

"Of course, you foolish girl!" Jaken snapped at her. "Where did you think you were going to live? In a barn?"

"No. I'm just surprised, that's all. I assumed there would be more demons surrounding Lord Sesshoumaru's home than what I'm seeing now."

Jaken rolled his eyes as he looked down toward the palace. "What makes you think that those creatures down there aren't demons?"

Rin's eyes widened. "You mean all of them are demons?" She motioned toward the servants that were now assembled in two lines, awaiting their landing. "There are no humans here at all?"

Jaken looked at her strangely. "Rin, you are the only human that has EVER been allowed here."

Unsure of how to respond, Rin turned her attention toward Sesshoumaru, who had already reached the ground and was walking toward the grand entrance to his castle. On either side of him, demons of all sorts had bowed low to the ground as he passed them. "Master Jaken, should I bow to Lord Sesshoumaru like them?" Rin asked as Ah-Un's flaming claws touched down upon a marble walkway.

Jaken hopped down and began walking in the same direction as Sesshoumaru, getting the same greeting from the demon servants as his lord. "Don't be foolish, Rin. If Lord Sesshoumaru wanted you to bow before him, then you would have learned the moment you stumbled upon him nine years ago." He turned back toward her before he reached the palace door. "Are you going to stand there looking stupid, or are you going to follow me to find your rooms?"

Rin took in a breath before moving to step down from Ah-Un. Before her feet touched the ground, a woman dressed in an all white kimono, with short black hair appeared in front of her and extended her hand for Rin to take hold of. "Allow me to assist you, my lady."

Startled, Rin paused to study the woman. She was taller than her, with fare skin and a well defined grace. Her eyes were a clear emerald green, and there, plain as day on her forehead sat a reverse crescent moon in the center of her long bangs, which resembled Sesshoumaru's except for the direction. "My lady?"

The woman nodded while keeping her hand extended. "I am Aya, my lady. I was informed of your arrival and I am in charge maintaining your rooms." Her smile was kind, which unnerved Rin that much more. "I know you must be overwhelmed by all of this, which is why Lord Sesshoumaru chose me to assist you with whatever you needed."

Rin thought for a moment. She's a demon, I know, but she looks so much like a human, it's almost strange. "You have the same mark as Lord Sesshoumaru?" She wasn't being mean, or accusing. She was just curious.

Aya's smile brightened. "I was given the honor of baring the crescent moon by Lord Sesshoumaru himself. He trusted my judgment over healing herbs, and keeping the rooms stocked with fresh clothing, armors, weapons, and other various items. You never know what your next day is going to bring you."

Rin returned a smile and gave her hand to the woman, who accepted it with grace and helped her to the ground. "Shall we follow Master Jaken before his head explodes?" Aya tilted her head into the disgruntled toad demon's direction, who was standing in the doorway aiming eyes filled with what looked like daggers at them.

Rin giggled. "Yes, I suppose so." They both strolled toward the palace entrance and ignored the nasty looks Jaken was giving.

(Later that evening)

Wow, Rin mused to herself as she stood at her window, which over looked the garden and hot spring. The stars are so brilliant here, I feel as if I can see them all!

It was well past midnight. The clouds had dissipated above the palace and all Rin could see was a night filled with shimmering stars. No moon was visible, but rays of light could faintly be seen just below the horizon, indicating to Rin that it would emerge soon to offer aid to a better view of her surroundings. Turning her attention from the sky, she glanced across the garden.

Just beyond the spring, and pair of shadowy figures appeared from behind a corner and made their way toward her. She could see that one shadow was significantly smaller than the other, and was brandishing a club like stick. Master Jaken? The two figures strolled slowly for a few minutes before disappearing around another corner. Strange. I wonder who the taller demon was...

Rin shrugged her shoulders and soon abandoned her post at the window to locate her night clothes.

Her rooms were large compared to her hut in Kaede's village. In fact, her rooms could most likely hold up to five huts if she were to test that theory. Several lamps had been lit with flowery oils, which reminded her of the garden just outside, casting the room in warm and fragrant light. Her bedding had been laid out in the corner nearest her window so that she may view the stars before sleeping, with a mattress stuffed with feathers for comfort, which was covered by a lavender shaded blanket, and a down stuffed pillow to rest her head. Just at the foot of her bed sat a beautiful painted glass chest that held her night clothes and undergarments.

"It is well past midnight, I feel sure." She spoke to no one but herself. "But I'm not tired…I think I shall sneak a late bath." She rounded on her glass chest and rummaged through her clothes in search of another gift Kagome had given her. "Ah ha!" In triumph, she yanked a single piece of cloth from the contents of her glass chest and smiled. "What a perfect time to try my new bathing suit!" The piece of cloth she was holding was anything but modest, but it was very pretty. It was solid white, which shimmered in with the light of her lamps like the dew in the morning sun, and around the bosom, the fabric was ruffled slightly, which emphasized her breasts the second she shimmied herself into it. "Wow!" Another blush found her cheeks as she noticed how exposed she felt wearing her new bathing suit. "The whole palace should be sleeping by now…"

Feeling sneaky, Rin walked over toward her vanity mirror and grabbed a fresh towel before stopping to study herself. Look at yourself, Rin. You actually resemble a woman. Oh! She froze as she noticed a purple scar peeping out from beneath her bathing suit. Oh, Lord Sesshoumaru…I can almost feel your powerful eyes watching me as they did that night…would you desire me still if you saw me this way? Rin sighed sadly. Who am I kidding? She turned from her vanity and snuck out of her room, quiet as a mouse.

Her room had two doors. One that went into the castle and the other that connected directly to the garden. She walked out into the open night air and smiled as she was greeted by warm mist. I needed this. She moved down the stairs, careful not to make one creak accidentally, and strolled through a patch of flowers before she stopped at the base of the spring. Bath time! Dropping her towel, Rin looked around quickly to see if anyone was watching from the windows all around, and finding no one, she stepped into the steaming water and moved forward to engulf her petite frame. Heaven!

She swam around for a few minutes to get use to the heat before she completely immersed her head. Hot! Rin resurfaced and pushed her saturated hair away from her face. I can't believe that this is to be my home now. I never dreamed of having a permanent bath just outside my bedroom door!

Rin swam for around for a few minutes before she found a boulder in which to sit on in the middle of her hot spring. After escaping the depths of the hot water, she draped herself against the rock and sighed a single name. "Lord Sesshoumaru…" In her mind, she called to him, begging the demon to find her there, but received no knowledge of his presence. Instead, she saw him in her mind, standing at the bank, still dressed in his kimono and armor and fixing her with his usual emotionless gaze. "Why do you tease me so, my Lord?" She whispered to her fantasy. Like a harlot, she moved a curious hand to her outer thigh and pretended to attempt a teasing stare at nothing while feeling the marble smooth skin she possessed. "I am no longer the fearless little girl you once knew…I have changed." Again she whispered to no one, unaware of Sesshoumaru's actual presence, which had appeared just from behind the corner that he and Jaken he gone not long before.

He caught her scent in an instant, and found himself standing at the bank of his hot spring. Rin was draped across a boulder, and was whispering faint words…ones that were meant to be whispered, but he heard as if Rin had shouted. "Rin?"

She did not jerk with fight at the sudden sound of her name, but her heart nearly stopped at the recognition. Rin flipped herself over and found herself sitting with her feminine frame exposed by her bathing suit, and cursed herself for believing she had any privacy. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she realized that her fantasy was standing only feet away, and was fixing her with a penetrating stare. "Good evening, my Lord…"