"Lord Sesshomaru?"
Looking up from the document he had been going over, Rin entered the study wearing a two layered silk kimono that was white with multiple colors of flowers stamped across the fabric and an orange obi. Her hair had been evened out and half of it had been pulled back by several combs.
"Is Nina okay or is she just hiding how she's doing because she sees me as a child?" Rin asked as she walked over to sit in one of the chairs before his desk. "I get that she's most likely from Lady Kagome's time considering the style of her clothing, but it's frustrating. I want to be her friend, but she acts like you in dealing with emotions."
"Seraphina has her reasons to not open up to anyone," he spoke as he leaned back in his seat to study his ward.
"What reasons?"
"It is not this one's place to say."
"Why?"
"If you wish for her to talk freely to you, you have to gain her trust."
"Is her trauma worse than when you had first saved me?" Rin asked sadly.
"This one does not know if the two can be compared."
"What's wrong with her back? She mentioned that it had been injured."
"As she has already mentioned that, this one will allow you that much. The bones in the lower half of her spine were shattered. The sprites who taught her the ability to control ash, stabilized the injuries. The gems in her ears absorb jaki of Youkai through rituals to heal her."
"Has she used yours?"
"Hn."
"Did she take it by force?"
"No," he frowned. "As this one was protecting her at the time, this one offered in exchange for her story."
"And now? Now that your curiosity has been sated, what happens?"
"Despite knowing her past, this one's curiosity has increased. Until she wishes otherwise, she has been offered a place in this one's pack."
"As your ward, like me?"
"No."
"Do you plan on bedding her?"
"Rin," he warned.
"Fine," she sighed and got to her feet, heading towards the door before stopping. "If it helps, I'd be okay with it. Even with me, Jaken, and Ah-Un, you are lonely. She may not show much, but from what I've seen, she trusts you a lot. I'll see you at the evening meal."
"She's grown since living with the two miko's," Yuki came into view from the servants door. "Word about your new packmate is quickly traveling among the staff."
"Her rooms have been prepared and I brought a kimono to your rooms for her."
"You will be assigned to her."
"My, my, is she so important you'd wish your personal servant? Even Rin was given her own."
"Yuki," Sesshomaru growled at her annoying behavior and she only smiled.
"What would your sire say? Are you planning on courting her or is she truly a pet as she lays half naked in your bed?"
"She is pack, not some lowly pet," he snarled at the elder Inu.
"You're too easily provoked pup," Yuki spoke, no trace of humor. "I was not questioning or complaining being assigned to her, merely teasing you as you once used to view ninngen as insects under your feet."
"Hn," he spoke as he grabbed his swords from their place beside him and got to his feet, planning on checking in on Seraphina as it was mid afternoon now. "Have the healer from the castle that is knowledgeable in Sprite magic summoned."
"It will be done," Yuki spoke as she followed him out of the study then walked away.
He walked through the halls, servants stopping and moving to the wall and bowing as he passed before continuing on their way. Reaching his chambers, he stepped into the common area and saw the bedroom doors open. Entering the bedroom, he placed his swords on the weapons rack before laying on the bed. Her face showed some discomfort at the movement before her eyes opened lazily.
"Hey..." she mumbled softly. "I... sleep... long...?"
"The evening meal will be soon," he replied with a nod. "How is your pain?"
"Don't know... Not moved..." she yawned before he felt Yuki outside his rooms and flared her jaki before entering the room. "Who...?"
"The inuyoukai you met briefly when we had arrived," he answered and she nodded.
"I am Yuki," the elder Inu spoke as she entered the bedroom. "I have been assigned to you so anything you want or require, just let me know."
"Seraphina..." she nodded as she turned her head to look at the Youkai as she moved to stand beside the edge of the bed near her.
"A pleasure. The family wing shares its own natural spring. Would you like to clean up before the evening meal?"
"Yes..."
As she sat up, Sesshomaru heard her groan quietly in pain. She slid off the bed as Yuki picked up the folded silk kimono and led the way to the spring. Sesshomaru got up and followed down the narrow corridor that led to the hot spring. Walls turned to smooth stone as lanterns lit the small distance to the cavern where steam rose from the milky water.
"How'd... find this...?" Seraphina asked quietly as she looked around.
"We have a few Youkai at the castle whose affinity is water and with their help, our earthmovers were able to make these tunnels," Yuki spoke. "There are multiple hot springs for the staff and soldiers, but this one is only for the royal family."
Sesshomaru removed his clothing and stepped into the water as she removed her own and sat near the edge, sighing as the water went to her collarbone. Yuki knelt behind her and pulled her hair out of the water and started working on unbraiding it, removing the metal clips as she worked. Once Seraphina's hair was loose, she pulled a jaded comb from her sleeve and started brushing through it and he saw crimson eyes close, enjoying the treatment. Using a bucket, she carefully poured water into her hair before grabbing the hair oils. Sesshomaru smirked as he watched her shoulders relax as Yuki started massaging her scalp, lathering the oils into her platinum hair as she did. Soon she was lathering the rest of her hair before using the bucket to rinse her hair out. Wringing out the water, she pulled it up with the jade comb before moving to wash her back carefully though Sesshomaru saw her hesitation when she saw the right side of her neck.
"Thank you..." Seraphina spoke when she finished.
"Of course. Is there anything you require, pup?" Yuki looked over at him and he shook his head. "Then I will return in a moment. Lady Seraphina, do you have a preference of food?"
"Any... thing... jaki... infused... Hearts... liver... preferred... won't... eat them... in front... of Rin..."
"The pup is accustomed to the eating habits of Youkai. You need not sensor yourself," Yuki spoke with a smile. "The talk of you eating the heart of one of the stable hands will reach her soon enough, but if you only eat them for their high jaki content, the cook can infuse other foods."
"Infuse...?" Seraphina looked up at Yuki confused.
"Youkai also enjoy taking in the jaki of their kills. Tadashi has mastered infusing other foods for the same affect."
"Then... anything... but fish..."
"I will let him know then return to help you dress. Pup, I will return with fresh clothing for you as well," she spoke and he growled but she merely smiled before leaving.
"Why... call you... pup...?" Seraphina inquired.
"Yuki was this one's wet nurse as she had just given birth to two pups of her own. Since then, she has been this one's personal servant and her pups joined this one's soldiers," he answered. "Only she and this one's mother gets away unpunished for calling this one as such."
"Oh...?" She mused as she got to her feet and waded over to him. Grabbing her wide hips, he pulled her into his lap and she moved to straddle him as she brought her hands up to rest against his chest. "If... I... called you... pup...?"
"Then you would most definitely have to be punished," he growled as he moved to press his nose against her scarred neck. "You have already given this one a pet name, no need to use another."
"But... Pup is so... perfect..." He bit into her neck hard and she cried out before he allowed her some relief as he pulsed some jaki into her, causing her to to go limp against his body. "You... fight... dirty..."
"This one does what it takes to win," he growled in her ear before licking the blood from her neck and noticed the wound was healing slower than before. "It's not healing as fast as it has."
"Body... drained..." She spoke softly as she moved to lay her head on his shoulder. "Just... need rest..."
"Your seals?"
"Need... ritual... next day... or so... before... solstice... or seals... will draw... from all... life... plant... ninngen... Youkai... any near..."
"Hn," he hummed as he ran his hands up her back. "This one never inquired why there is so much scarring on your neck as every bite from this one has healed."
"Oh..." Seraphina sat back up and he saw the wound finally close before she brought a hand up to cover it. "Elders... marked... pack... Used to... show... mark of... each in a... layered... pattern... When... died... turned... to scars..."
"Allow this one to remedy that," he spoke as he pulled her hand way from her neck and her eyes closed as she tilted her head, giving him full access.
Biting into her neck once more, he allowed his inner Youkai to stir and felt his eyes bleed red. Pulsing his jaki into her, he focused on marking her as one of his pack before finally pulling back a couple inches to watch the mark form. A blue crescent moon appeared as the scars faded, hexagon patterns decorating the blue moon while three Sakura flowers appeared at the space in the moon's center if it had been a full circle. Under the moon, he could see two v-line magenta marks mirroring each other under the flowers that were similar to his own when he would enter his true form.
"Thank... you..." she whispered as her eyes opened to look at him, despite how unfocused her eyes were from the high he had just given her.
"You are pack," he smirked, pressing his lips to hers for a moment before pulling back as Yuki returned, carrying a pile of blue and white silk.
"Pup, you have not been caring for your hair properly," Yuki spoke as she set down the silks before moving to kneel behind him.
Seraphina got out of his lap as he sat up so the elder Inu could fuss over his silver strands. She sat beside him, the tops of her knees breaking the surface of the water as she wrapped her arms around her legs. As his hair was being washed and combed through, he watched as Seraphina laid her cheek on her knees and closed her eyes, exposing the fresh mark on her neck.
"You should think of also marking your own pup," Yuki spoke calmly as she washed the oils from his hair. "A few of the staff, here and at the castle, are not quite so accepting of her being ninngen despite her having been at your side the past six years."
"Hn."
"Lady Seraphina, come on out so we can take care of your hair before getting dressed."
Seraphina lifted her head to look at Yuki behind him before nodding. She climbed out of the water and he saw Yuki help her into a white robe before sitting on a bench and Yuki pulled the comb from her damp hair. He stepped out of the water, using his jaki to dry himself and dressed into the dark blue hamakas and white haori that had blue flowers stamped into the color and sleeves.
Yuki braided Seraphina's hair, the sides having four tightly braided on the sides before braiding the top, somehow giving it volume before twisting all of her hair back into a bun. Using the metal clips to secure the strands, Yuki stepped back. Seraphina stood, removed the robe and pulled on her undergarments before Yuki grabbed the kimono and started dressing her. The inner layer was a thin white that only went mid thigh, the second layer was a solid red that went to her ankles and narrowed sleeves to her wrist, and the third was black with red roses stamped across the fabric that had wide sleeves, revealing the narrowed red sleeves underneath. She had a two layered obi, the first being wider and going from hip to just below the breast and was black before the second which was only a couple inches narrower and was red that was longer and tied into a small bow at the small of her back. Seraphina studied the kimono, arms away from her body but she had a slight frown.
"Is it not to your liking?" Yuki inquired.
"It... beautiful..." Seraphina spoke. "Constricting... Pressure... feels okay... on back... but... little give... for legs..."
"Perhaps tomorrow, we could visit the seamstress to find a style that suits you better."
"Please..." Seraphina nodded as Yuki knelt down and slid a pair of silk slippers onto her feet.
"Now, the evening meal will be served soon," Yuki spoke as she grabbed a basket and gathered up their old clothing and any wet cloth before quickly disappearing.
"Come," Sesshomaru spoke as he placed his hand just above the bow at her back and guided her back through the tunnel to his rooms. Leading her through the corridors, they reached the dining hall where Rin was waiting, talking with her personal servant as she was pouring her some tea.
"Nina, are you better?" Rin asked as she turned to look at them.
"I okay," she nodded as she took a seat across from her and he sat at the end of the table.
"You must be hungry! I haven't seen you eat at all and Tadashi never made anything extra for the midday meal," she spoke cheerfully.
"I don't... eat... consistent... like... most ninngen..." Seraphina spoke, shaking her head. "Can go... months... before body... hungers..."
"Because of your eyes?" Rin asked and she nodded as several covered trays were carried out and placed before them before the staff took the covers off and left to allow them to eat in peace. "I noticed that you had fangs, like Sesshomaru and Granny Yuki."
"Ryuu eyes... gave many... Youkai... traits... Hair... once darker... than yours..."
"I can't see it. I love the color of your hair. What about you Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin spoke after a moment and Sesshomaru blinked in surprise at his ward as she looked at him expectantly. "Don't you think it makes her beautiful as it is now or would you have preferred her hair to be darker?"
"Rin..." Seraphina frowned. "It not... matter... Color won't... go back..."
"This one was given the opportunity to see Seraphina's past," he spoke after a moment and crimson eyes lifted to his. "This one got to see what her appearance used to be. She was beautiful before, but the changes make her even more so."
"How? What color where her eyes...?"
"Sprite magic..." Seraphina spoke, her tone neutral as she focused on her food. "Eyes... once green..."
"What happened...?"
"Rin, eat your dinner," Sesshomaru interrupted calmly.
"Okay," Rin spoke, glancing at Seraphina for a moment before she obeyed.