Chapter Twenty-Five

After her less than soothing bath in the company of two annoying female demons that had poked fun at her after returning to her room, Rin dressed quickly into an all white silk kimono with crimson flowers decorating the bottom of her hem and sleeves. The sash that was made specifically for her new outfit was solid crimson and had to be tied tightly in order to keep from slipping.

Giving herself a once over in her vanity, Rin twisted her hair up into a loose knot and allowed a few strands of her glossy black hair to fall down around her face and partially cover her eyes. I think I'm ready to be presented…kimono, check. Hair up, check. Lip coloring, thank you Kagome. Undergarments…? Rin felt at her waist to make sure that she was fully clothed underneath her outerwear. Check. She glanced down at her left hand and felt her eyes glaze over. Engagement ring…check. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of it.

Before Rin had been allowed to leave his company, she had asked him a series of questions that had been nagging at her in the back of her mind until she was sure that she would go mad if she did not say something. Is it true that this ring was intended for Inuyasha's mother? Why have you given it to me? Why do you despise humans so much? Is it because of Inuyasha's mother, or could it be because of me? Why was Ura a secret from me at the beginning? What am I to you while I am here?

The great demon lord was only so patient with her bout of questioning. "My dislike for humans has been a burden to me since the moment that that half breed had been conceived…maybe even before. But not you, Rin. Now as to the ring, it was created by my father to be presented to Inuyasha's human mother, but was not finished until after his death. That human woman received it as a token of truce from my very own mother, but had it returned with a letter saying that it should be placed in my possession and given to the woman I choose. She did so in the hopes that I might erase my hatred towards humans and at least accept Inuyasha as a son of our great father."

"And did you?"

"I accepted the ring as a token of my father's with the understanding that I would accept Inuyasha as my half brother, but no matter the circumstance, I would never forgive my father for dying for that human and I would never forgive my filthy brother for existing in his place."

"Why did you gift this ring to me?"

Sesshoumaru paused, staring at her as if he had seen her in a new light before speaking again. "Because I finally understood why my father was so infatuated with that human woman and I saw myself following in his footsteps."

He left her alone to allow her to process his words, which only sparked more questions which left her desperate for more answers.

Rin sighed at the sight of herself in her mirror. "Oh, my Lord, how you vex me sometimes." She glanced back down at her hand and marveled at the beauty of Sesshoumaru's heirloom. The honey stones sparkled in the small rays of sunlight that had slithered through the space at her window, and the rose gold shimmered vibrantly, causing a smile to light up the young woman's lovely face.

A knock at the door brought her out of her moment of bliss. "Yes?"

Her chamber door opened and in walked one of the most beautiful demon's she had ever seen. Ura almost floated across the floor, her walk was so full of delicate grace. Her kimono was emerald green with soft pink cherry blossoms scattered across the fabric and was finished off with a soft pink silk sash, and was cloaked in a lovely emerald silk robe. The woman was breath taking as her freshly combed hair billowed behind her in a wave of fiery red. "My my…this young human does look beautiful, does she not, dear brother?" Ura's words rang sweet into Rin's ears.

Rin averted her gaze from the demon woman's golden eyes to focus on her mate's own honeyed ones. Her heart rate elevated when she felt herself drowning in his heated stare. "Rin…" Her name was carried to her ears by his velvet voice and caused her to shiver. "There are visitors waiting for you out in the gardens. After your introductions, you are free to attend to them."

Rin's jaw dropped, confused. "I have visitors?"

Ura chimed in. "Your visitors have been waiting to see you all morning but you were otherwise engaged…" Her words caused a fresh blush to paint the human woman's fair skin. "Fear not. They are being entertained as we speak, but you shall not see them until we have been introduced to the new demon troops. Come." Ura held out her hand.

"Wait." Sesshoumaru stepped forward around his sister and stood only a foot away from Rin, who was gazing at her mate with so much adoration and desire that even Ura had to avert her eyes to keep a blush from forming on her own fair cheeks. The great demon lord was dressed in his traditional armor with his sword in tow; he never went anywhere without it.

Sesshoumaru's right arm was tucked behind his back. "I have something for you." He pulled out what it was he was hiding from her, and Rin couldn't help the grin that lit her face.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, it is lovely!" Rin took hold of the crimson robe and marveled at how pristine the heavy silk fabric looked with its light splash of white flowers at the hem and at the seam of the sleeves. "But…this robe is ceremonial, my Lord. What are we celebrating?"

Sesshoumaru's face was blank, but Ura was the one to speak. "We are celebrating the newly elected guard for the northern and southern lands. Let us go and be presented to them and then you can go see your guests."

Rin looked between the two siblings and nodded almost reluctantly. She didn't know what was going on here, but she wasn't exactly sure of they were telling her the truth or not. Putting the thought out of her head for a moment, Rin unfolded her new robe and wrapped herself into the crimson fabric. It fit her perfectly. "Beautiful." She heard her Lord whisper, making her blush for the thousandth time that day.

Sesshoumaru wasted no further time as she offered her his hand. Rin took it without another thought and they walked together, trailed by Ura, until they all reached a door farther into Sesshoumaru's castle than Rin had ever dared to go.

A small green imp demon was perched at the great door, brandishing a wood staff with a man and a woman carved into the tip. "Welcome, my Lord. They are ready for you." Jaken bowed low and stepped aside as the door opened.

Rin bowed her head when she saw him. "Thank you, master Jaken."

Inside this particular room was an array of groups full of powerful looking and beautiful demons.

On their way in, Rin nearly stumbled as her eyes locked onto that of the wolf demon that she and Ura had seen the previous night. Standing right beside the handsome wolf demon was what almost made her heart stop in fear and almost stumble in the first place. There, plain as day was a huge and angry looking, solid white wolf. "Oh…gods…" Rin whispered as the wolf stepped toward her with its fangs bared, ready to attack at the first chance. "L...Lord...Sesshoumaru...!"

OliviaAR