The Hunter

Chapter Twenty-One

The daimyo's private gardens were dusted in a fine layer of new fallen snow. Rin stood atop the small red bridge connecting the two halves of the garden and watched the ice cold stream rush by beneath her feet. Remembering the day she'd arrived at the kamiyashiki, she recalled how barren and unwelcoming the landscape had appeared to her then. She'd seen no flowering shrubs, no greenery of any kind, only men and weapons.

Her eyes took in the serene view around her and she felt a place somewhere deep inside of her give way and relax. The garden was designed so that in every season it would be a marvel. In winter it was a white wonderland; in spring the paths would be carpeted in sakura petals; in summer the broad trees would provide a shady oasis from the oppressive heat; and in autumn the changing leaves would make the trees look as though they were on fire. It was a spectacular thing to behold and she felt lucky to be counted among the rare few who were permitted to enjoy its beauty.

Sesshomaru had told her some days ago that she was free to explore the daimyo's private garden at her leisure. She was hesitant at first, but he'd assured her the daimyo had given his permission and even led her to it himself. She stayed for hours that first day, until the cold seeped into her very bones. Sesshomaru did not look happy to find her shivering when he returned for her. Even while numb with cold she was reluctant to go until he promised she could return the next day so long as she went inside and warmed up. After that, coming here had become her daily ritual. In this place there were no demands on her, no threats, no violence. It was rare to find a place that made you feel so utterly at peace, but that's what this place was for her.

There were other benefits as well. The longer she spent in the garden, the better she felt she understood the daimyo. What she'd seen on her first day at the kamiyashiki was the face he showed the world – hard, unwelcoming, minimalistic and unyielding. But there was another side of him, too. There was the side of him that enjoyed art and had permitted her to paint fusuma after fusuma. There was the side of him that enjoyed natural beauty and had constructed the tsuboniwa and this place. It was difficult to reconcile what she knew, or thought she knew, with the man she'd met on her first day here. Could they possibly be the same?

With each passing day she found herself growing ever more curious about the daimyo. Another meeting would tell her more about him in a minute than this roundabout question game she played with herself, but he had no interest in seeing her. It seemed strange that he allowed her to paint, gave her free access to his private gardens, fed and clothed her as any proper courtier should be fed and clothed, but made no move to speak to her face to face. It left her thoroughly confused.

Sesshomaru's normally silent footfall was betrayed by the snow beneath his feet. He joined her on the bridge and draped a fur trimmed michiyuki over her shoulders. The white fur was soft against her neck and she fastened the garment closed with chilled fingers.

"It is a cold day for admiring gardens," he observed, taking up the spot next to her.

She smiled and tucked her hands into her sleeves to keep them warm.

"I like how the snow makes everything look new. You could see the same garden a thousand times, memorize every feature and flaw, and then with a single snowfall it becomes foreign again and in need of exploration."

Sesshomaru stared out over the garden, his eyes searching the snow laden treetops and the nearly hidden paths. A reluctant smile touched his lips.

"I believe you may be right. Shall we explore it together?"

Rin nodded and walked next to him across the bridge to the path on the other side. It led into a small grove dotted with twisted black pine and carefully pruned yew, and then further on. The garden itself was more extensive than she could have imagined. She wondered how often the man himself took the time to enjoy its beauty. She asked Sesshomaru, who responded with an indifferent sort of shrug.

"Not often enough. Unfortunately his lordship has many pressing demands on his time. He is not left with many opportunities for leisure."

"Then this garden sits unappreciated year-round?" she wondered with a note of disappointment.

"Not anymore," Sesshomaru answered with a teasing smile.

They walked beneath an arch of what would be blooming sakura in spring. Sesshomaru's head nearly touched the top of the arch while hers barely reached his shoulder.

"Do you think I will ever meet him again?" she asked while making her way across the large stepping stones that led to the other side of the garden's frozen pond.

"I am certain of it."

"I wonder sometimes if you're not his spy," she said once he'd joined her on the other side of the pond. "You always seem to know exactly what he is thinking."

"It is my duty to anticipate his lordship's wants and needs," he reminded her with a smile.

"And how is it you always know exactly where to find me?"

"You are not so difficult to find as you might think."

"Perhaps not," she conceded, "but I still think you may be a spy."

"And what is the punishment for such a crime, I wonder?"

"Death."

"Death?!"

Her answer had caught him off guard and she couldn't help but grin at the look on his face. Whatever light and possibly flirtatious response he'd expected from her, she'd dashed it to pieces completely.

"What punishment would you recommend if death is too harsh?" she wondered.

"The punishment should fit the crime. Death seems an extreme way to punish a person's curiosity."

"Is he curious about me then? The daimyo, I mean."

"Would it be so bad if he were to be a little curious about you?"

It was Rin's turn to shrug. Perhaps Sesshomaru was his spy after all, sent out to collect what information he could about her before reporting back.

"If his lordship has questions about me, why not ask them himself?"

"Ah, but people are rarely honest when you ask them directly. They fear being laid out completely and so always cloak some detail or hide some little part of themselves."

"Do you?"

"When it is necessary."

She mulled that over while blowing warm air into her hands. What other secrets was he keeping from her besides the fact he was a demon? Had he given her a fake name as well perhaps? She covertly stole a glance and reasoned it was impossible. Sesshomaru suited him too perfectly to belong to any other.

"What have you told his lordship about me?"

"About your skill with a paintbrush, your intelligence, and of your interest in natural landscapes… I may also have mentioned your beauty. He was quite intrigued by the latter."

She answered him with a sly smile and he drew to a stop next to a stone bench.

"There is one detail his lordship wishes to know."

"I have nothing left to hide," she confessed with a lift of her shoulders. "All of my secrets are already exposed. I am like an open book, ready and waiting for anyone to read."

"You have at least one secret left to tell."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Your name."

Rin stopped short, all flirtation quickly fading.

"A name is earned, along with trust. Forgive my saying so, but the daimyo has earned neither from me."

Sesshomaru bowed his head in understanding. She instantly regretted her words, but there was no way to take them back now. If Sesshomaru betrayed her to the daimyo, at least she'd finally learn something real about him.

"What about the lowly Edo-garo? Has he earned your name?"

She considered this for a long while, weighing her options. If she wanted to know more about him, she would have to give more in return. She'd have to give trust to gain his and at the moment he was her closest link to the daimyo. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and watched the air puff up in small white clouds around her head.

"Rin."

"Rin?"

"My name," she clarified, "is Rin."

He repeated it and looked her in the eye as if assessing whether it fit. She liked the way it sounded on his lips, the rich timbre of his voice caressed the syllable of her name making it sound elegant, even beautiful.

"It suits you," he said finally, nodding at his assessment. "Though I feel guilty now for having stolen one of your most carefully guarded secrets. Shall I give you one in return?"

"It only seems fair," she replied, arching a brow in challenge.

He smiled at the invitation and took a step closer. He was much taller than she'd thought before. Standing this close she practically felt like a child. His fingers gently caressed the underside of her jaw, tilting her face up towards his. With little warning, his perfectly formed lips descended and pressed warmly against hers.

For that moment she didn't dare breathe. The kiss was brief but with it everything changed. He pulled away slowly, his eyes searching hers, and she felt the butterflies flutter about in her stomach. Wearing the hint of a smile on his lips, Sesshomaru departed with a short bow and returned in the direction of the kamiyashiki.

Her fingers touched her lips as she watched him go. What had just happened? Was he testing her? Toying with her? She slowly lowered herself onto the bench and ran through the various possibilities in her mind. It was hours before she returned to her room, but even then she was no closer to reaching an answer.

oOo

Kohaku gazed up at the towering gate of the daimyo's residence and unconsciously touched the reassuringly heavy bag of coins hidden inside his jacket. He'd spend the past several weeks focused on a single goal – Rin, and earning the money he needed to purchase her freedom once more. That goal had taken him from Dewa Province to Mutsu and down through Shimotsuke back to Edo. Hell, he'd even earned himself a few new battle scars he'd have to explain at some point later too.

Battling several dozen demons to the death was what it had taken to earn enough, or at least what he hoped was enough, coin and now came the hard part – negotiating with the daimyo for Rin's release. He wasn't lucky enough to have been born with a silver tongue in his mouth. His form of negotiation typically involved some form of weapon and a significant amount of bloodshed. But in this instance, words were the only weapons he had.

He'd been considering what he would say for some time, debating which angle was best. Should he appeal to the man's sympathy or his greed? He'd hoped to learn something about the daimyo that could provide a bit of leverage, but few in the area had actually seen or met the man, leaving him with not much to go on.

Taking his chances, Kohaku stepped across the threshold and approached the nearest guard to request an audience with the daimyo. The guard gave him the same abrupt, arrogant response as the first time and told him to wait. As he did, he took the opportunity to scan the yard. He didn't truly expect to see Rin wandering about but found himself looking for her anyway.

It'd become a habit of his, something that had developed after he left Edo. He'd first caught himself doing it while on the road. In every village, every town, every roadside inn where he stopped, his eyes would scan the other faces in search of her. As though she would miraculously be there, free of the daimyo's hold and safe. Sometimes he even imagined he did see her through the crowd, but then he'd blink or they'd turn and his eyes would see a stranger instead. At first he'd chalked it up to his protective response towards her taking longer than normal to fade away, but he knew better now.

The guard returned sooner than expected.

"His lordship has granted your audience. Follow me."

Kohaku's brows lifted in surprise. He'd expected more resistance, or an outright denial, but this seemed almost too easy. He followed the guard inside the kamiyashiki, all the while wondering what the man had possibly told the daimyo to make him grant his request.

He was led him through a series of hallways that all looked remarkably similar. The place was practically a maze. One hall they travelled down was different from the others. At the end stood a pair of fusuma that had been painted in black ink with a scene of two travellers making their way along a mountain path. Watching them from the rocky crags above was a lone wolf.

Kohaku stopped in his tracks and stared at the scene that told their story. He did not have to ask who the artist was. He knew with a single glance that it was her. Only one could capture an image the way she did. He reached out to touch the screen but was stopped by an abrupt cough from the guard.

"This way," he ordered and Kohaku reluctantly followed, leaving the fusuma behind.

It was down the next hall that they finally reached the daimyo's chamber where he received guests. The door was richly painted with a battle scene and Kohaku knew with a single glance that Rin had not been the one to paint it. He smiled inwardly at that, strangely satisfied that the daimyo did not yet have that privilege.

The fusuma slid open and Kohaku was ushered inside. He knelt in front of where the daimyo sat and tried to steal a glance but the man's face was hidden from view by a screen.

"What request do you wish to make of his lordship?"

The question came from the stout man that had arranged Rin's transaction the first time they had come to this place. Kohaku wondered if the man recognized him. Judging by the indifferent way in which he looked down his nose at him, he guessed not.

"I have a business proposal for his lordship."

The servant exchanged a quick glance with the daimyo and then nodded for him to continue. Kohaku retrieved the bag of coins from his jacket and set it on the floor in front of him.

"I wish to exchange these funds for the Oiran which was recently gifted to his lordship."

"What a fickle boy you are."

Kohaku lifted his head, surprised that the daimyo had chosen to address him directly. Not sure what else to do, he settled on putting his head back down and keeping his mouth shut.

"You could purchase several women to warm your bed at night with the coin in that bag," the daimyo shrewdly pointed out.

Kohaku nodded, uncertain of where this line of questioning was headed.

"I am not interested in a bed warmer. I am only interested in her."

The daimyo grunted though it was impossible to know whether it was in approval or disgust. Kohaku could feel his eyes on him, boring into his bowed head like twin drills.

"Your friend has established herself well here since you left. You might have noticed her paintings in the hall?"

"Yes… I noticed them."

"It is difficult to find such a talented artist, even in Edo. Would you have me give that up as well?"

Kohaku remained quiet a moment as his brain tried to sort out whether he was being baited or not. What was the right thing to say? He'd never wished harder for a gifted tongue than he did right now.

"I am certain she would be happy to continue to paint for you. You need not give up anything, my lord."

"Ah, so you speak for her?"

Kohaku felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment and wanted to beat his head against the floor.

"No… That's not what I-"

"Do you know what she wants? What she desires?"

"I would hope that I do…"

"Let us be clear, boy. What we are discussing here are your hopes and desires. If you truly cared about hers, your first question to me would have been whether she was happy here."

Kohaku bowed his head deeper until it nearly touched the floor. The daimyo was talking circles around him while he knelt there looking like a foolish, stuttering idiot.

"Is she happy here?" he asked with resignation in his voice.

The daimyo ignored his question and posed one of his own.

"Why do you wish to have her back?"

Kohaku rose up a little but kept his eyes on the tatami mat beneath his knees. He'd never in a hundred years imagined that the first person he would confess his feelings aloud to would be the daimyo.

"I love her."

He'd loved her from the moment he first laid eyes on her painting. That feeling had only grown stronger as they travelled together. Each time she got angry with him, each time she helped him or tried to escape he felt it grow until it became something he couldn't fight or ignore any longer. He'd tried, the gods knew how hard he'd tried, but in the end his heart simply refused to forget her. She was meant to be his. They were meant to grow old together in some mountain hut as a family, living out their days peacefully. Working together, laughing together…

"Your request is denied."

Kohaku's head jerked up sharply. Denied?!

"Young boys are liable to fall in love with any girl that crosses their path. She is an intriguing creature, I will give you that, but rest assured you will find another. Besides, I am not through with enjoying her many talents just yet."

Breathe, just breathe.

Kohaku repeated this mantra to himself over and over, forcing his mind to focus on the intake of air into his lungs rather than the murderous thoughts running through it. He wanted to gut the bastard and flay him alive. He wanted to cut off his head and shove it up his back end. He wanted to remove his manhood and toss it into a fire to burn while he watched. The list was endless but before he could do any of those things he would be dead and this all would have been for nothing.

Taking one last deep breath, Kohaku unclenched his hands and placed them on the floor in front of him. He bowed deeply to the daimyo before retrieving his bag of coins and placing them once more inside his jacket.

"I humbly thank you for hearing my request," he managed to say with as little vitriol as possible and then bowed once more before retreating.

The guard led him back to the courtyard down a different set of hallways than before. These were all plain, all identical in their blandness. This route was much shorter than the first and they were outside under the bright sunlight in seconds. It was then that Kohaku realized the daimyo had arranged for him to be taken on the first roundabout route to his chamber. He'd wanted him to see evidence of Rin's work, to let him know that here she was free to explore her creativity and her art. The answer had been "No" before he'd even stepped foot in the room.

Had he hated the man any less, Kohaku would have admitted that the daimyo had played an excellent hand. Such a tactician would be a fearsome thing to behold on any battlefield. He glared over his shoulder at the daimyo's residence, feeling the rage and jealousy burn through his blood like oil. He hadn't come all this way just to give up now. There was another way to get to Rin. He just had to find it.

Author's Note: Many many thanks need to go out for all the wonderful reviews I received on the last chapter. It's so great to hear from you all and to get your perspective (especially of note are Asian Delicacy, landofthekwt, Tsyilna Llyria, and inuyashaloverr who are the most loyal and kind reviewers a writer could ever ask for).

Were any of you surprised by Sesshomaru's bold move, or have you seen it coming for a while? I'm curious to know! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter and getting the next one finished.

Until next time,

Langus