Thank you so much for the reviews as always :D For those who not already know, Sesshomaru will be suffering. Not as much as Rin, but suffer all the same ;)

By the way, what do you guys do to relax? I usually read, write, and watch movies or amines. But I have been quite stiff lately, unable to relax, and want something that will kill time and relax at the same. Oh, and not using too much money doing so. (I'm cheap) :)

This is random, but my back hurts. I slipped and fell because someone sprayed the air refresher on the floor and I didn't know. It had been a little over a week now. I thought it would be heal by now, but the pain only increased. My back is killing me :C

It was a sunny day. The sun was bright and high in the clear blue sky. They were walking on grassland, marching toward the west. There weren't many trees around and it was very hot.

Hot and stuffy.

Not to mention heavy.

Rin finally caught on to Katsumi's motives. Rin had been pondering why the demoness suddenly wanted to dress Rin up in such fine layers of heavy clothes. She now knew why. This was Katsumi's plan all along. The demoness sure was sneaky and a skillful manipulator. Her actions were so seamless that no one could catch her or put blame on her. She was very smart, sharp, and cunning, Rin gave her that much.

Rin should have known.

Katsumi wanted her to suffer.

And the best part was, Rin was more than willing to receive the torment. There was a high chance that no one would ever become aware that Rin had been manipulated. The demoness was on top of her game. Rin was nowhere in comparison to her - both in look and mind game.

The smirk on the demoness' lips while chatting away with Daisuke, walking in front of Rin, told her more than she needed to know. The demoness was happy. She had never seemed so happy.

Call her skeptical, but Rin knew, the demoness was picking on her. Katusmi knew Rin would stay in the deadweight garments under the burning sun that made every breath difficult if it were for Sesshomaru's sake.

Katsumi had laid out the trap and Rin walked right into it.

Once they returned to the campsite after the bath, the men had openly stared at Rin. The morning sun had now risen up high in the sky.

Katsumi smirked knowingly.

"Rin," Daisuke called out, mouth slightly open as he stood on his feet. Jaken was lost for words, dropping the staff of two heads next to the campfire. He had been cooking breakfast. Sesshomaru just simply stared at her with extra intensity, his expression was a slightly of shock and, as always, stoic.

Rin stood fidgeting, her hands grasped tightly to the sides of her kimono, cursing inwardly at Katsumi, wondering what the demoness had done to her face to earn such stunned stares from the men. She was not allowed to look at her reflection in the water, saying they would be late if not returning right away.

She now wanted to run and hide her face from those eyes. She did not want to hear their laughter or taunted words.

"You look beautiful," Daisuke exclaimed. His eyes were dancing on his handsome smiling face.

Rin blinked, her head snapping toward Daisuke, and then she blushed. That was uncalled for. She expected anything, but a compliment that she was beautiful. Daisuke had always been blunt.

"Right?" Katsumi said, hugging Rin's shoulder, "Don't you think so, Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked sweetly, bashing her eyelashes at him.

Was she trying to earn points from Sesshomaru?

Sesshomaru, who had been siting calmly against a tree, looked at the human girl who now had her hair neatly combed and let it flow freely down her back; her eyes were in a darker shade which brought out her big doe-like eyes. She looked as natural as she had always been, only her face's features had been highlighted and darkened in the right places, unlike the human way of powdering their whole face white. The only thing that gave away she had makeup on were the scents of makeups. Rin looked better than he could ever remember. He made a mental note to buy her makeup equipment next time. Not that Rin was not already pretty as she was, but with them on, she looked much prettier. He always wanted Rin to be at her best.

The princess-like kimono that only high status girls would wear complemented the girl to another level. Sesshomaru never brought her such clothes because he saw her as a wild flower, lively, wild, and free spirited. He did not wish to confine her with such restricting clothes, heavy with burden that would limit her movements.

Even so, he could not deny that she looked stunning in it.

Rin blushed deeply, avoiding his eyes, yet shyly peeking at him in anticipation while holding her breath as if his opinion was volume above all. His gaze could not help but being glued to her womanly figure.

"Hn," was his only reply, but that was all the girl needed to hear. Rin's face brightened to the brightest smile. It was a shy smile, but a beautiful and happy one.

For a moment, he seemed to forget how to breathe. This was the first time in a long while that Rin truly smiled. He did not realize just how much he had missed it until now.

"T-thank you," Rin murmured while her heart was leaping with happiness. Sesshomaru nodded slightly in acknowledgement.

"You are absolutely gorgeous Rin," Daisuke chipped in. "You should dress up more often." A big grin was on the tiger demon's face which brought out one of her own.

And of course, that was all planed by Katsumi. She knew that once Sesshomaru complemented on Rin, Rin would stay in that thick kimono. Rin wanted to be beautiful for him.

Rin thought angrily as she took another short step because of her restricted clothes. She only realized after half an hour had passed by as the difficulty of walking increased that this was exactly what Katsumi had wanted.

The realization made Rin wonder just how much the demoness knew and saw in her. How many secrets were already out? For Katsumi to use Sesshomaru against Rin in such way, there was no doubt she knew about Rin's secret desire for her lord. What a terrifying person. What would she do to her from now on?

The demoness must see her as an eyesore, knowing that Rin had been in love with her future husband. Even though Sesshomaru desired no one but Katsumi, she still wanted to get rid of her. Why else would Katsumi continually bully her?

Rin sighed inwardly. She was no match to the demoness's tactics especially in the cunning and manipulative departments. She could already imagine what terrible fate would await her.

Even so, she was thankful to the demoness. It was the first time she got Sesshomaru to complement her.

Rin smiled a little, a tin of light blush spread across her cheeks. Warm sensation swelled in her chest and washed over her entire being. She was happy.

These torturous clothes were nothing to her. She was willing to do more than this if it meant her lord would notice her. Just for that one word.

"Beautiful".

...

This chapter has about 400-500 words more than the old version :D There are so many stories I wanted to finish writing, but I couldn't move a finger. Oh well, we will have to see when I can update again. Goodnight. :D

Updated 4/4/13

Revised, Monday, June 9, 2014