Chapter 18: Sunny Afternoon

There were times when she just felt like screaming. Not the typical random shout that men seemed so eager to belt out. Or the high pitched screeching that woman seemed to favor in frustration. But a real core-indulging full-mouthed scream. One that everyone within 10 yards would clearly hear.

Most didn't expect that sort of behavior from one such as her. Many perceived her to be shy, meek, or even downright afraid. Too demure to do anything other than sit quietly as others stood up for her. Never once even contemplating the possibility that she would do it for herself, given the chance.

No, twas the dismal fate of her like. The fate that people of the more reserved nature always received.

Underestimated.

Because others, especially those of the louder more rumbustious nature, never seemed to comprehend that merely because you were quiet did not automatically make you cowardly. That perhaps those who chose their words wisely merely did not want to waste their energies on useless chatter with those who did not think before they spoke.

For it is known that wise men talk because they have something to say while fools talk because they have to say something.

It, however, wasn't as if she was not accustomed to it by now. Every day was like another test on her patience. One that she had a very strong reign on, largely in part due to the constant misjudgment she dealt with throughout her whole life. One look at her soft-spoken attitude and many immediately assumed she was just another bashful miss.

On most days, it did not bother her. It had been years since the teasing and harassing had truly distressed her. She'd spent too much time as a little girl crying over something cruel another child had said to her or a condescending adult had wrongly patronized her. By the time she had turned 10 years of age she had grown almost accustomed to the treatment. Desensitized to the mocking and jeering from those who had nothing better to do than pick on those quieter than themselves.

But today, at that very moment, she did not think she could stay true to her nature.

She was finally fed up.

"Lazy chit! I swear, if it wasn't for the lord and his rules I would have you out of this castle by your ears!" the red-faced housekeeper continued to screech, her large chest bouncing as she gestured wildly. "You are the worst kitchen maid I have ever had to deal with! Can you do nothing right?! Even as a little girl you were useless! I did not think you would get worse as you grew older!"

Asumi's small fists clenched on the handle of the bucket she was carrying, her temper beginning to simmer to the surface.

"Do you think you can afford to make these mistakes girl!?" the housekeeper demanded rhetorically, waving her wooden spoon in the other woman's face. "You are not some privileged miss who can do as she pleases! Just because that one insolent girl slithered her way into the lord's good graces does NOT mean that you will be given that chance! As if a plain kitchen girl like you would ever rise above her station!" –There was a definite scoff to her tone –"What will it take to make you finally get things right? Can you not follow simple orders?!"

"No," Asumi uttered behind tight lips.

"What did you say?" the other large woman looked disbelieving, a frown inevitably taking over her face. "Did you have something you wanted to say, chit?"

Her heartbeat thrumming in her ears, Asumi swallowed back her nerves. "I said no."

"No?!" She took an intimidating step forward. "Who do you think you are girl? I am head housekeeper here and I will not tolerate any back talk from the likes of –"

"Enough!" Asumi finally yelled, dropping her bucket onto the floor with a loud thunk.

"Excuse me?" The housekeeper's mouth flopped up and down like a fish. "How dare you –!"

"That's enough!" Asumi's pointed a finger into the other woman's face. "I have had enough of your tyrannical ways, madam housekeeper! All you ever do is complain about how we do not satisfy your so-called perfect way of doing things! But no one can live up to those ridiculous standards, not even you! But oh no, you just like to bully anyone and everyone under your command! I am sick of hearing you barking at me just because you think you are more important than you really are!"

The chubby woman's face was wide-eyed as Asumi took a step even closer, bringing them nose to nose. "You too are just another servant in the lord's castle. Deal with it."

And with that, she whirled around and hurriedly rushed out of the kitchens, her heart rate at an all-time high and her cheeks flushed with adrenaline.

Never could she recall a day she had felt this angry. So angry that everything she had ever wanted to say to a person had burst out at that very moment. Always she'd known that screaming back was like fighting fire with fire; no one ever truly won. But she couldn't remember a time when her temper had felt this spiked.

Asumi could still hear the high pitched timbre of the housekeeper's outrage as she made her way out of the kitchens and into the grand hall. It was followed by the soothing rumble of the housekeeper's husband, the cook, most likely placating the overly upset woman.

Crossing the staircase leading upstairs, she ignored the curious looks and whispers of the other maid's while she focused on putting one foot in front of the other. There was only one place that she wanted to be right now and it wasn't anywhere near the rest of these gossiping harpies.

Another right, then a dark corridor leading downstairs, past 3 doors on the left and Asumi finally made it to her destination. She raped on the door urgently, feeling as if her skin was crawling with nerves.

There was a pause before noise began to stir behind the wooden panel. Sounds of clothes rustling followed by a few murmured words reached her ears a second before a disheveled looking Daichi opened the door.

"Asumi?" he grumbled in surprise, running a hand down his face groggily. "What are you doing here?"

Until right then, she hadn't thought twice about where she was going or what exactly she was going there for. She had just known who she had wanted to see. "Oh –um Daichi," she could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I- I just– well there was an incident. And I wanted– that is to say I needed to– " Asumi suddenly couldn't find the right words.

"An incident?" the attractive young man instantly looked alert, finishing up the buttons of his linen shirt. "Are you alright? Did someone harm you?"

"Yes– No!– I mean- " Asumi blew out an agitated breath. "I mean yes, I'm alright."

"What's wrong Asumi?" concern was evident in his kind tone. "You seem upset."

"I- "

"Daichi," a soft gentle voice spoke up from inside the room, a hand sliding around the dark haired male's arm. "Who is it?"

Asumi stared at the pixie like face that appeared from behind Daichi, her short sandy brown hair ruffled in different directions. It didn't take a genius to figure out exactly what they had been doing in his bedroom. There was little left to the imagination.

All at once, Asumi felt very foolish indeed.

"Mei, this is my friend Asumi," Daichi wrapped an arm around the half-dressed woman before looking back at the now awkward looking red-head. "Asumi this is Mei."

Asumi cleared her throat, feeling distinctly uncomfortable now. "Um, h- hello."

Mei gave a half smile, "Hello."

There was a pause of painful silence.

Which Asumi could not stand another moment in.

"Well, I better go!" she exclaimed overly loud, knowing that she most certainly resembled the shade of a tomato and the graces of a drunken soldier. "It was good to see you Daichi and a pleasure meeting you Mei. But I better get back to my– um chores before someone comes to find me." She began taking steps back, trying not to notice the couple's identical looks of bafflement.

Daichi's eyebrow's scrunched together. "But I thought- "

"No, no!" Asumi waved both hands in front of her, as if warding him off. "It was nothing important Daichi! I can see you're busy and it can definitely wait till later. Or better yet, never! Haha!" –she let out what resembled a nasally and half-hearted chortle- "I'll see you later. And again, Mei so so nice to meet you." She nodded once more at the perplexed looking girl before twirling around and rushing back up the dark corridor.

This time, Asumi didn't have to pretend to ignore any stares or hushed tones because all she could hear was the beating of her racing heart and her vision began to blur with unushered tears. How could she have been so stupid? She'd known that Daichi slept with the other women and never had she once thought that he looked at her in that way. But to see it firsthand … well she wouldn't lie and say that it didn't hurt.

Ever since the day of the tournament when Satoru had been taken by the lord, Daichi had come to be Asumi's only confidant. He had been the only other person who had come to care for Satoru, thus knowing what it felt like for Asumi to worry about the well-being of said friend. At first, they had just spoken about their concerns for their fallen companion and what they could possibly do to help her. But then, when rumors of Satoru being safe and being held up in the lord's chambers had reached them they had found other topics to talk about. Soon, Daichi had been someone that Asumi had come to count on for advice and a shoulder to lean on.

Then on, Asumi's feelings had just grown stronger and stronger. She reminded herself of how foolish it was to allow herself to fall for a male with a history like his. It was commonly known that he was a lady's man. He enjoyed fooling around with many maids in the castle and was popular for being extremely diverse with his woman. But still, it had been hard for Asumi to see that shameful side of his when all he ever showed her was kindness and compassion. Never once had he made an inappropriate advance on her or said anything depraved in her presence.

In retrospect, perhaps Asumi should have taken that as a sign of warning.

Since she knew him to be all too eager to pounce on anything relatively pretty wearing a kimono, she should have known that he just did not view her in that light. He may be a rake but to his friends he was a decent guy.

And Asumi was definitely a friend to him.

Only a friend.

Never would he-

"Asumi!" called the very last person she wanted to see. "Wait!"

Hastily wiping away any wetness from her eyes, Asumi reluctantly stopped and waited for Daichi to catch up to her.

"You're pretty fast," he greeted jokingly, hauling in a deep breath for emphasis.

Asumi returned it with a weak smile. "I just figured you needed privacy."

"You're my friend Asumi," he rested a palm on her shoulder. "I will always have time for you. No matter whose company I keep. "

"Friend, right," Asumi repeated hollowly, feeling a pang in her chest. "Of course."

"Asumi," Daichi placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her towards him. "What is the matter? You do not seem quite like yourself today."

Asumi gazed back up into his dark blue eyes, feeling as if she was drowning. Although they shone with nothing more than friendly concern, she still felt their magnetic pull. There were times in the past when they had been alone, talking over something or other, that she had wanted nothing more than for him to pull her into an embrace. For once to experience what it felt like to be wrapped in those arms. A privilege that many maids in this castle were familiar with.

Asumi would have given anything to have him look at her the way he had those other woman and kiss her with a passion only he seemed capable of giving.

"Asumi?" Daichi's ducked his head to be at eye level.

She shook her head and glanced away from his hypnotic gaze. "It's nothing Daichi. I was just upset about something that happened with the housekeeper. But its fine, I can handle it myself. I'm already feeling … calmer now."

Daichi pulled back and crossed his arms over his chest, in a display of authority. "What exactly happened with the housekeeper, Asumi?"

Her cheeks felt hot again. "Well …" She went on to explain the outburst she had in the kitchens and everything that had lead up to that moment. Daichi knew her well. They both knew that for her to explode as she did, there had to be a good reason. He'd been a kitchen boy in his young age so he knew how accustomed everyone became to the housekeeper's screeching. And Asumi had the patients of a saint –or so he claimed –so in order for her to speak out meant that growing tired of being unjustly scolded was not the whole issue.

"How long have the other kitchen maid's been targeting you Asumi?" he asked, genuinely troubled by this news. He knew his friend to be a composed and tolerant thing, so for Asumi to actually mention that others were giving her a hard time meant that it was something that should have been brought to his attention long ago. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Asumi shrugged. "It didn't bother me, really. Until now. The housekeeper just went too far. I understand why the other girl's do it. I was the friend of the girl they all now envy. They all want to be in Sato– Sae's place right now. Since they know that's not possible, they try to lash out. But no one can even get near Sat– Sae so they go for the next best thing. Me."

Daichi grumbled under his breath. "These girls, they are so stupid. To think that anyone would be jealous of our poor Sae. Ha!" He threw up his hands in exasperation. "They do not even know the half of it. She was chained up in the lord's chambers all throughout the night just to be taken out to do back-breaking chores during the day. And they consider that a life of luxury?! It's preposterous!"

She lifted her hands, palms up. "I don't know why either Daichi. They will think what they want to think. I was just … tired of hearing it from the one woman I'm supposed to respect. The housekeeper knows I want to take over one day, but she still treats me as if I was nothing more than a dunce who cannot even boil water. And all because of what? Her envy towards a girl who is nothing more than a victim to the lord's whims."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know, Asumi, I know. It just frustrates me, is all. That she has to be kept under his thumb all day and night. And that you are constantly picked on because of it. It's neither of your faults'. I wish others would merely see it as I do."

"Wouldn't that be nice," Asumi muttered sarcastically, ducking her head when she realized she said it out loud.

Daichi chuckled and nodded. "You said it. But alas, it is the unfortunate destiny of those birthed with functioning brains to be surrounded by those who have none."

"Daichi!" Asumi smacked him on the arm. "That was not kind. Do not say such things."

"Okay, okay," He held up his hands in surrender. "I won't say them … out loud."

Asumi shook her head, a smile breaking free on her lips. "You are just like Sato –Sae. Incorrigible."

"She got it from me," He stated proudly, puffing out his chest. "Taught her everything she knows."

A memory of the Satoru and herself flashed across her mind; the two of them sitting peacefully under the shade of a tree while they ate lunch. Asumi's smile slipped. "Yeah, I'm sure you did." She replied sadly, exhaling dejectedly.

Immediately he knew what was wrong. "You're worried about her," he stated more than asked.

Nodding, Asumi moved past him and back up the corridor. If she was going to bare her feelings to Daichi again she refused to do it in a dark musky corridor leading down to the men's quarters. Where she was sure Mei was waiting. Looking deliciously rumpled and very very inviting.

After the day she had, she most certainly believed she deserved a little fresh air.

Daichi trailed after her, not once asking where they were going. In all honesty, he already had a strong suspicion where she was headed. There was only one place that Asumi liked to go when she was outside.

The well.

Asumi had told him many of times before that it was the place that reminded her most of her friend. She explained to him that when first arriving at the castle Sae (at the time Satoru), had been tasked with getting water from the well in the forest. For reasons that Sae had never told Asumi, she refused to go alone after that first time. So, every time Sae needed to fetch water she asked Asumi to come along with her. Hence, the beginning of their friendship.

Asumi had confided that it'd been the first time she felt as if someone had chosen her out of anyone else. Before that, she always got accustomed to feeling second best. But with Satoru (aka Sae) she had felt as if perhaps she was someone's first choice for once.

So it was no wonder, that at that precise moment, when Asumi was thinking of her first friend, she choose to go back to the clearing where they shared their first memories together.

"You know," Daichi remarked casually, right at his companion's heels. "Since we spend so much time here, perhaps I should build a seat of some sort. So we don't have to sit on the hard ground all the time."

Asumi threw him a look over her shoulder. "I never took you as an old man, Daichi."

"I am not an old man!" he protested, sounding insulted. "But my back does begin to ache after sitting on unforgiving rocks all day."

Asumi mumbled something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like "geezer".

Daichi's eyes narrowed, "I heard that!"

"Did you hear something?"

Sae looked up from her task at her young companion's face. "Hear what?"

Rin stared back at the pathway leading towards the castle. "I thought I heard voices …"

"Maybe one of the maids?" Sae supplied, looking in the same direction before busying herself with hauling the bucket up from the bottom of the pit. "We better hurry then if we want to get enough water to use for the whole garden."

"Okay!" Rin eagerly jumped back into helping Sae pull up more water and automatically forgot her previous suspicions.

"Do you think this will fix the problem?" Rin asked a few minutes after, watching Sae load up the cart in earnest.

"Somewhat," Sae huffed, heaving the last bucket full of water. "But we are getting to the end of summer, Rin. The flowers are all bound to wither away by fall."

"I know," Rin looked down dolefully. "I just hate winter. All my flowers die."

Looking down at the girl's bent head, Sae smiled at the gloomy pose. "They always grow back, Rin. Plus," Sae patted her hair encouragingly. "There is snow in the winter. It's always fun to play in it, right?"

"Oh yeah," A grin spread across the child's face. "We can make snow men and snow angels! And we can even build our very own castle!"

Chuckling, Sae trailed after the skipping Rin, helping her get into the seat in front of the cart before climbing on top herself. She grabbed the reins, snapped the leather to get the horse's attention, and off they went.

"Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will be back by dinner time?" Rin asked, obviously enjoying the bouncing of the carriage.

Sae looked over at her charge, hoping her face didn't show the butterflies that abruptly started fluttering in her stomach. "I don't know, Rin. Why?"

"No reason," she replied quickly.

Way too quickly for Sae's liking. "Rin," she began warningly, lifting an eyebrow at the little girl.

"Well …" Rin looked down and began fidgeting with her hands. "I wanted to ask him about something."

"Like what?"

When Rin looked back up, there was an evident blush high on her small cheeks. "I wanted to ask him if we could maybe- I don't know. Possibly do something for m-my birthday?"

"Your birthday?" Sae repeated with a start, pulling the horse to a stop. "You didn't tell me your birthday was coming up."

All of a sudden, Rin looked very young. Her features etched in vulnerability. "It's not really my birthday. I don't know when that is. Remembering anything before … before Lord Sesshomaru took me in is hard. So I just picked the day he saved me."

"Oh Rin," Sae felt a sense of deep sympathy for the young child. She could not help but reach over and hug her small frame. "I think that the specific day is unimportant. Just as long as we celebrate the fact that you were brought into this world."

Rin struggled to break free of the vise-like embrace. "Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will let me have a small celebration?" she asked, her voice muffled by her caretaker's shirt.

"Of course he will." Sae reassured her, still not ready to let the child go quite yet. "I'm sure if you ask him he'll let you do whatever you want."

Rin wiggled even more. "Do you really think so?" she finally popped her head free, her hair a rumpled mess on top of her head.

"Definitely," Sae gave her once last squeeze before ultimately showing her mercy and releasing her. "Just be sure to give him that puppy-eyed looked you always give me when you want something."

"What look?" Rin asked innocently, smoothing her dress over her lap.

"Mhmm," Sae shot her a look from the corner of her eye as she grabbed the reins again and set them in motion. "Don't think I believe that act for one second, little missy."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rin's nose went straight up into the air but a smile was twitching at the corner of her lips.

"Riiiight," Sae's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Look Sae!" Rin abruptly proclaimed, standing up on her seat and pointing ahead. "I knew it! I knew I heard voices!"

"Rin!" Sae hastily reached out one hand to grab onto her charge's dress and tugged down urgently. "Please sit back down! You could get hurt that way."

Rin flopped back onto her seat. "Oh, right sorry," she smiled sheepishly.

Feeling as if her heart jumped up her throat, Sae pulled on the reins again and slowed them to a stop. "Don't ever do that again, Rin. Please," She gave every ounce of empathize on the word. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

The girl shrunk into her seat. "I promise," she said in a small voice.

"Good," Sae took in a deep breath, calming her nerves. If she thought being in the lord's presence everyday had been a test to her overall health, she had never once even fathomed what it would be like to take care of a young child. Rin had an uncanny ability to put stress on her mental and physical health. Her headstrong and carefree nature was the perfect receipt for an accident just waiting to happen.

And Sae had a hard time trying to keep up.

"They're coming closer," Rin spoke up hesitantly, unsure if her caretaker had forgiven her quite yet.

Sae looked in the direction that Rin had pointed and saw two figures approaching. One looked short and petite, while the other was certainly taller and of a broader build. By the looks of it, they appeared to be wearing the servants uniform and in no rush to reach their destination.

"Must be some servants from the castle," Sae observed offhandedly, lifting a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. "They don't seem to be carrying any buckets though, so I'm not sure what they're doing all the way out here."

"Maybe they're hiding," Rin giggled, no doubt envisioning her own experience with the game.

Sae snorted, "I don't blame them. I remember what it used to be like working downstairs."

"But now you take care of me," Rin beamed.

"Yes," Sae assured her fondly. "I much prefer to be with you."

Rin hummed happily.

"Should we wait until they pass by?" Sae suggested, observing the length between themselves and their oncoming company. "So we don't have to worry about maneuvering around them? Old Kuri isn't as young and agile as she used to be. I don't think she'll take kindly to hauling us around the path."

Rin was already enthusiastically nodding her agreement, her fondness for her horse shining in her eyes. "Yes, we better wait. I don't want Kuri to get too tired."

That settled, Sae leaned back in her seat and prepared herself for a small break in her long morning. Since dawn, Rin had been hankering to get back to her garden. The night before, the girl discovered some of her favorite flowers withering in the blazing sun and wanted to fetch water in a panic. Due to the late hour, Sae had promised to take care of it first thing in the morning.

Which Rin had taken quite literally.

The sun barely peeking over the horizon, Rin had burst through the door connecting their two rooms and immediately begun to shake Sae awake. Tired and completely disoriented, her caretaker reluctantly and slothfully made herself get out of her warm and cozy bed. In record time, Sae was ready -if grumpily- and set to go.

But of course, before they could venture out or do anything, they had to check in with the egotistical and domineering lord of the castle. Ever since their "garden incident" he made it clear that all plans for the day had to be run by him first. And although Sae found it annoying and a bit extreme, she knew that he would just corner her again and threaten to take Rin away from her.

Both scenarios were the last things she wanted.

So after the uncomfortable report in which Sae tried to finish as quickly as possible, she and Rin made their way to the stables to borrow a cart and a horse to transfer the water from the well to Rin's garden. Had she known back then how hard it was to actually haul the amounts of water they needed to soak all the plants, Sae would have definitely never agreed to do it by herself.

Shifting her shoulders on her seat, she tsked at the stiffness that she felt forming between her shoulder blades. At this point, after all these many months, she was accustomed to the labor. She was used to going to bed tired to the bone. But hauling buckets and buckets of water up a well and onto a cart was no easy feat.

"Can I say hi?" Rin whispered conspicuously, blocking her mouth with her hand.

Sae smiled at the gesture. "Of course," she readily agreed, amused. All that sweat and toil was worth it. To see that bright and genuine smile on this girl's innocent face was more than rewarding. Made Sae feel as if she was part of something again.

"Hello!" Rin greeted loudly, jumping up and waving.

"Hello."

"Hi there!"

Sae's ears caught the voices and immediately perked up.

Rin curtsied, remembering her manners a minute later. "How do you do?"

"Very well, thank you," a deep voice returned, clearly charmed. "How are you today, Lady Rin?"

Rin's smile was glowing. "I-"

"Daichi?" Sae scrambled up from her seat and leaned over the railing. "Is that you?"

"Sae?" Daichi's usual playful grin was beaming up at her. "Speak of the devil!"

"What are you doing here?" She inquired back.

Without answering, Daichi just gestured to the person standing next to him; who until then had been standing in a surprised stupor.

Sae's eyes followed his action and landed on a familiar red hair. "Asumi," she said, equally surprised.

"Satoru?" Asumi's turquoise eyes were wide as she took a hesitant step forward.

"It's Sae actually," she said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Oh," Asumi's cheeked flushed red. "I knew that. I'm sorry, S-Sae."

Sae waved it away, deeming it unimportant. "It doesn't matter."

Asumi nodded, but said nothing.

Sae shifted in her seat.

Rin looked back and forth between adults.

Daichi rocked on his heels. "Well … this isn't awkward."

Sae shot him a narrowed eyed look. "Shut it, you. Added commentary does not help."

"I was just saying," he held up his hands, looking unabashed.

"How –How have you been?" Asumi's soft spoken voice interrupted, stepping in front of her male companion.

Sae's attention automatically switched towards her. "I– " Sae paused, realizing that she had not really thought about how she felt about everything in a while. She had just been trying to take things day by day, without dwelling on anything for too long. "I'm … okay."

All things considered.

"That's good," Asumi's smile was genuine. "I'm very happy to hear that. I … I had been worried."

"Sae," Rin tugged at the sleeve of her shirt. "Who are they?"

Sae looked down at her young face and smiled in reassurance. "My friends Rin, they are my friends."

"Really?" Rin beamed before ardently trying to climb down from the wagon.

"Rin!" Sae rushed over to help her down but Daichi beat her to the task.

"Woah there Lady Rin," he grabbed her around the waist and swung her down. "You must be careful when getting down from somewhere so high. We do not want you getting hurt."

Sae cocked her head curiously. For someone so outwardly carefree, his tone of voice had taken on a pretty firm one.

Rin, however, did not seem very phased by his reprimand. "Thank you kind sir," she smiled sweetly, her big brown eyes staring up at him. "I will remember that next time."

She couldn't be sure, but Sae could have sworn Daichi shifted in embarrassment.

"Of course," he nodded, clearing his throat.

Shaking her head, Sae began to climb down from the wagon herself. Rin was going to be a force to be reckoned with when she grew up. Already she was able to wrap others around her small finger with just a smile. Considering her experience with the impossible Jaken, ferocious Ah-Un, and a powerful lord, males of others species must seem like a piece of cake to her.

"Do you like my dress?" Rin was asking charmingly, twirling in a small circle. "It's new."

"It's very pretty," Daichi responded obediently, looking up as Sae approached. His eyes beseeched her for help, clearing understanding that he was at the little girl's mercy.

"It's my favorite color," Rin continued on, tugging him down to her level and proceeding to tell him about why she loved it so much.

He, in turn, grudgingly plopped down next to her, throwing Sae an evil eye.

Snickering under her breath, Sae left the two sitting on the grass by the wagon. She knew Daichi, being such a sucker for the opposite sex, would do everything in his power to keep the young girl happy. He could not help it. It was as if he was incapable of denying females. Especially pretty ones.

Let alone adorable ones.

"She really knows what she's doing," Asumi came to stand next to her, observing the other two with curiosity. "I've never seen him so … bested."

Sae snorted, watching as Rin made the reluctant male tell her what his favorite flower in the whole wide world was.

"You have no idea," she said dryly, a smile tugging on her lips.

"You care for her," Asumi's voice held no hint of question.

Sae nodded regardless. "She's the only good thing that has happened since … well- you know." Her face grimaced, recalling the events in her head.

"Yes," Asumi appeared sad all of a sudden. "I know."

"Asumi-" Sae began as she turned towards her, recalling too late who she was speaking too.

"Wait," the red head interrupted, holding up a slim hand. "I'd like to say something first."

Sae bit her lip and nodded.

"Daichi has told me everything about what happened to you and your brother." Her sea colored eyes looked grimly into hers. "The truth- "

Sae looked guiltily down at her feet.

" –I will admit that I was hurt, at first. I could not understand why you did not trust me with your secret. We were friends. I would have never betrayed your trust. But then … I put myself in your shoes. And I understood. You were not only trying to protect yourself but you were trying to protect your brother. I have never had a sibling, but I imagine, had I been you, that I would have tried everything in my power to make sure they were safe."
Asumi then reached out and gently grabbed one of Sae's hands. "I know that I cannot completely understand what you have gone through or what you have lost. But I want you to know that you can always count on me as your friend. You have always been a good friend to me, Sato– Sae. Whether you are a boy or a girl, you are still that same kind person that I have come to know and hold dear."

Swallowing a clog in her throat, Sae gazed down at their linked hands before looking up at her friend's face. "Thank you," she said simply, smiling. She'd been reassured by Daichi that Asumi had forgiven her but it was truly relieving to hear it from her own mouth. She may no longer have her twin by her side but she still had those who cared for her. Those that stood by her side no matter what.

She could definitely live in a world this cold if she had them in it.

"It'll take a little time getting used to though," Asumi said a few minutes later, after settling down next to Sae on the grass, their backs against the trunk of a tree.

"What will?" she asked inquiringly, tilting her head to the side.

"This," Asumi gestured towards her wardrobe, her hand moving up then down. "You are completely different. The same but … still very different. You are very pretty, you realize. Now that you have your hair down and you can actually see your form … well I must admit you can rival pretty much every girl in this castle, my friend."

Sae scoffed, feeling her neck begin to burn. "You're exaggerating."

Asumi got a mischievous air about her. "You are still as bashful as ever, Sato –Sae! I had always thought it rather odd, considering your insight of the female mind but now it all makes sense. You were just an innocent miss pretending to be the experienced rogue."

"Na-uh," Sae mumbled under her breath, unable to think of another protest.

Asumi said nothing but her knowing smile expressed it all.

"Why were you and Daichi out here in the first place?" Sae asked, changing the subject.

"Oh," it was Asumi's turn to appear mollified. "I-it was mostly because of what happened in the kitchens after what- um I did."

Sae shot up from her laying position. "What you did?!" incredulousness was clear. "What did you do?"

"Well …" she then proceeded to tell her friend step by step of what had been happening. From start to finish. About the jealous kitchen maids, to the tyrannical housekeeper, and everything in between. By the end of her explanation, Sae was ready to march back towards the castle and have a few choice words with the women in the lord's castle.

"Those idiots," Sae muttered angrily, one of her palms tightening into a fist. "I have half a mind to go and–"

"No!" Asumi immediately protested, looking panicked. "Please Sato- Sae, you will only make it worse. I-I can handle it myself."

Sae eyed her friend, a smirk slowly beginning to form. "From what you told me, I'm afraid to anger you myself from now on."

Asumi blushed. "Don't be foolish, it wasn't as bad as all that."

"I don't know ..." Sae got a playful air. "I mean, you really stuck it to her. Who would have guessed that under all that quiet sweet exterior there was a hidden lioness?" She lifted her hand and made them into claws, hissing.

"Sato- Sae!" the red head slapped at her fingers. "Stop that!"

Chuckling, Sae stopped her teasing. "I'm sorry, but I can't believe you really told that hag to get over it."

"I–"Asumi shifted uncomfortably. "I got very angry. I know it was wrong and I regret my words now but all I can say for myself is that I've been under a lot of stress lately."

"Do not apologize!" Sae's voice was adamant. "That woman deserved every bit of your anger. Not only did she treat you as she did, but she allowed the rest of the kitchen maids to go on as they did. That is wrong, not you standing up for yourself."

"Still," Asumi's face was filled with regret. "I should not have lost my temper as I did. She and the others may have been horrid but that does not excuse me from acting the same. I know better than to fight fire with fire."

"No," Sae was shaking her head. "People like her- no people like them need to be told, right in their faces and in no simple terms, exactly what they are doing wrong. Otherwise, they will never stop. In fact, I still think I should go back and–"

"Sae!" Asumi grabbed her sleeve, laughing. "It's alright!"

She settled back down, huffing slightly. "I was just going to talk to them," she mumbled.

"I know," Asumi continued chuckling.

Sae gave her friend a slide glance. "What's so funny?"

Asumi's grin was wide. "It's just so …" she gestured with her slim hands. "I don't know, just so good to see that you haven't changed. You're still that same hothead you have always been. Always wanting to come to my defense no matter how much I tell you it's unnecessary."

"What made you think I'd be different?" she cocked her head curiously.

A sympathetic gleam entered her friend's turquoise eyes. "Well, after the tournament there had been rumors … I do not know all the details but if any of it is was based on the truth then it must have been truly terrible. Then Daichi told me how he found you when he sneaked into the lord's chambers. It is just a relief to see after all this time that you are still- well … you."

Why do people keep saying that? Sae thought, looking into her friend's genuine eyes with confusion.

Perhaps it was that she had not given it much thought but she had never tried to act or be anyone other than who she always had been. There were those, sure, who thought that events –like those she had experienced –changed a person inevitably. Which she supposed was true in a sense and did indeed happen in most cases. But for her, it appeared, as if she always stayed the same.

For the most part.

If anything, maybe she was a little bit more open-minded …

The memory of the lord crowding her against the bed flashed across her mind.

Sae blushed, as she shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh! Um …" Sae realized her companion had been waiting in expectant silence. "Yeah- I'm … glad too," she curved her mouth upward.

Asumi's smile was kind.

They continued to talk in peace for what felt a long while. Sae filled Asumi in on everything that really occurred after the tournament, earning many empathetic looks and comforting pats on her shoulders. Sae appreciated the gesture, even as she shifted away from the compassion. She did not want to dwell too much on the past. If she allowed her thoughts to linger too much on what had happened, she was afraid she'd have a difficult time getting out of that mind frame.

Which Asumi eventually picked up on, seizing her concerned glances and went on to tell Sae about what else had been happening around the castle since Sae had been gone.

They were laughing about a particular incident when they heard footsteps approaching.

"I am very certain," came Daichi's placating tone as he strode determinedly in their direction. "I heard my named being called."

Rin was buoyantly trailing behind him. "I didn't hear anything," she said matter-of-factly.

"Quite certain," Daichi assured the shrewd little girl, never breaking stride. "Isn't that right ladies?" He called ahead.

Almost simultaneously, Sae and Asumi shared a look of amusement.

"What ever could he mean?" the red head asked, with a twinkle in her eye.

The brunette shrugged, smirking at the approaching male. "No idea. I didn't call him. Did you?"

"No," Asumi shook her head, grinning.

"Hmm," Sae tapped her chin, feigning confusion. "If I didn't call him and you didn't call him and there is no one else around, then the only logical conclusion is that there is no way he heard his name being called."

Daichi stopped right in front of them, hands on his hips and a look of warning on his face. "I am positive I heard one of you call me over."

Rin skipped into view and plopped herself next to her caretaker, her features tinted with a smidge of mischievousness that Sae was very familiar with. "See, I told ya. You were just trying to trick me." Her doleful eyes began to glisten. "You didn't want to spend time with me anymore. You h-hate me."

Daichi's immediate look of panic was priceless. "No! Lady Rin that is not true at all! O-of course I love spending time with you!"

Rin looked up with a small sniffle. "Really?"

"Yes!" Daichi nodded vigorously, dropping down onto one knee to level himself with her. "You have become my very favorite person I like to talk to. Over anyone else in the castle."

The little girl's smile was slow in coming but Sae had no doubt that when it did bloom her friend's heart would be automatically captured. Which had been the whole point.

Clever girl, Sae thought with mental smile.

"Does that mean you'll come play with me when you are free?" Rin asked, eyes bright.

"Uh …" Daichi gazed down at the young child's face, feeling a bit out of his element. "Er- Sure."

"Promise?" Rin held up her pinky, her tone very serious.

Daichi hesitated for a second before wrapping his finger around her smaller one. Sealing his fate.

"Promise."

"Yay!" Rin turned towards Sae, beaming. "Did you hear that? I have someone new to play with."

"You sure do," Sae replied, grinning as her friend stood up and slowly scratched his head, as if confused as to how he got there.

"It'll be like an early birthday present," Rin continued happily.

"It's going to be your birthday?" Asumi asked, smiling. "Oh, how wonderful. Are you excited?"

"Ah-huh," Rin nodded her head. "I want to have a party, so I can dress up and have all my friends with me."

Asumi's features gentled. "That sounds like a great idea. I bet you'll have lots of fun."

Rin's smile suddenly dimmed a little. "But only if Lord Sesshomaru lets me have one. He– He doesn't really like parties."

"Don't worry Rin," Sae said, giving her a little tickle on her side. "I'm sure the lord will do it for your special day."

Rin squirmed, giggling. "Truly?"

"You just have to ask," Sae reassured her.

"Okay," Rin agreed trustingly.

"Speaking of which …" Sae looked up into the darkening sky. "It's getting late. We better get this water to the garden soon so we aren't late getting you ready for super. You know how Jaken gets when we're late." She rolled her eyes.

"You have to leave so soon?" Asumi asked sadly, watching Sae get up from her sitting position and turned to help her young charge to her feet.

Her hand wrapped around Rin's smaller one, Sae looked down at her friend in regret. "I'm afraid so," she admitted ruefully, immediately sharing her melancholy. Although they'd been out for a good while talking and reminiscing, it didn't feel like a long enough time with her friends.

"Don't worry Asumi," Daichi said, helping the red head to her feet. "Now that we have seen each other, I'm sure we can plan for another chance to get together."

Asumi's face flushed bright red, her eyes transfixed on the male's hands around her waist. "Y-yes, your r-right, we can d-definitely do that."

Sae's head tilted to the side, staring carefully at her two companions. It had been awhile, true, since she had last seen her female friend. But Sae was quite certain that Asumi had never before reacted so strongly to a man. Sure, there'd been times when Asumi had gotten flustered in front of others, but never to the point where her stuttering became this bad.

Could it be that Asumi had fallen in love with Daichi?

"… Isn't that right Sae?"

"Huh?" Sae shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "What?"

Daichi was speaking. "I was telling Asumi perhaps we can meet back here in a fortnight? If that works for you and little Rin of course." He added with a nod of respect to the little female.

Who, in return, grinned unabashedly.

"I think we can work something out," Sae slide a glance down at her charge, her eyebrow raising. It seemed Rin had another person whom was at her beck and call. And all it had taken was a few hours in his company.

Go figure.

Sae said her goodbyes, trying not to hold onto Asumi longer than necessary as they hugged. She knew she would see her again soon, but it had felt good just to be around her. It was a familiar and nice comfort after being locked away in the lord's chambers for a while.

Still, even as she tried not to dwell on that, she could not help note how her friend's eyes seemed to always go back to Daichi. Now that she had her suspicions, it was not hard to notice the infatuation on the red head's face. Or the way her attention seemed to hang on everything the male did.

But as Sae waved one more goodbye before snapping on the reigns to get the horse moving, she also realized that Daichi was not showing similar signs of attraction. He still had that same lazy, careless attitude he always possessed. Even though he did seem to hold Asumi in high esteem, there was no more interest in his eyes than friendly affection. Which did not bode well.

Sae just hoped that Asumi guarded her emotions. For a man such as Daichi –regardless of his decency –was bound to break her heart.

"I really like your friends," Rin commented, leaning back in her seat on the jostling cart.

"They are great," Sae agreed, with fondness.

"Can we see them again?"

"Hopefully," Sae said, thinking of the lord's strict plans.

It took Rin and Sae the rest of the daylight hours to finish watering all the plants in the garden. By the time they were done, the sun had set and the starry sky was shining overhead. Leaving the cart to the other servants, Sae hurried Rin to her room to get her cleaned up for dinner. After quickly washing her face and putting her into a new clean kimono, Sae was barely finished combing out the girl's locks when a knock on the door echoed throughout the room.

"Rin, let us be off," Jaken's high pitched voice followed right after. "We cannot keep Lord Sesshoumaru waiting."

Rin hopped off her chair. "Coming!"

"See you after super," Sae whispered, not wanting to draw too much attention to herself. She may have been assigned to be the child's caretaker but that did not stop Jaken from criticizing all the things he thought she did wrong. Which happened to be everything. There was nothing she ever did that reached up to his particular standard.

And Sae was not keen on hearing it right then.

She tip toed towards her room, making sure she stayed hidden from the open doorway. She reached the connecting door and grabbed for the handle-

"You!" Jaken's piercing voice yelled.

Inwardly groaning, Sae sighed and turned around. "Yes?"

The kappa's round yellow eyes looked at her disapprovingly. "The lord requests your presence at dinner."

"What?" she must have heard wrong.

"Stupid girl, do you not hear correctly?" Jaken's face was an irritated little blob. "Lord Sesshoumaru has demanded you to attend tonight's super. Let's go."

Sae was rooted to her spot. "But … why?"

"Insolent girl!" his tone could break glass. "You dare question the great Lord Sesshomaru?! It is not the place of a lowly servant girl to defy a direct order from the lord. Now hurry up before I decide to report your arrogance to my master."

Sae followed after him in a sort of stupor, barely noticing how Rin was now dancing happily next to her as they all made their way down to the dining hall. She was confused. Only the lord's guests and Rin were ever allowed to break bread with his lordship. So why was she being asked to attend? She mentally went through all the things she had Rin do this week and could not think of one thing that would evoke the lord's displeasure. Sae had made sure Rin attended every lesson, was present at all fittings, and fulfilled any requirements the lord made of her.

So if it wasn't because of Rin, then why?

Maybe this was some kind of trap? Sae began to feel nervous, fidgeting with the folds of her clothing. She could just see his mocking sneer as he told her that she was most certainly mistaken to think she could eat at his table. A lowborn human such as she? His word would be laughable.

Whatever the lord had planned, Sae did not anticipate it to be good.

"You can sit by me," Rin whispered quietly, grabbing onto her hand as they stepped into the grand dining room.

"I don't think-" Sae began, knowing that Rin's place would be by the lord and her presence so close by would most certainly NOT be appreciated.

"Come on," Rin urged her, tugging at their links fingers.

Helpless to do anything else –unless she wanted to cause a scene –Sae let herself be lead closer to the head of the table, praying that whatever the lord planned did not involve Rin being in the same room as a witness. Sae did not think she could bare to lose the respect or admiration shining in the girl's eyes when she looked up at her. It was one of the things that helped Sae keep her head high and her shoulder straight.

Lord Sesshomaru, his long silver hair shimmering in the candlelight, sat in his usual place at the head of the table, his emotionless face becoming more ominous as she moved closer.

The last time she had set foot in the dining room had been the day Lady Fukui spent her first night in the lord's bed. She remembered clearly the constant tension throughout the meal as she waited for the lady to finish and the acute uncomfortableness of standing outside the bedroom as the two of them-

Sae felt an abrupt pang in her chest.

For reasons Sae could not fathom, the memory of the lord's night with Lady Fukui made her chest tighten with emotion. Why that mattered to her she could not guess. It was not as if the lord meant anything to her other than the demon who kept her as a prisoner in his castle. What he did with other females was none of her concern. He could sleep with all the-

"Good of you to finally join us," the lord's voice rang coldly.

Quickly scanning the room, Sae did not find anyone other than the lord, Jaken sitting 3 seats to the left, Rin on the right of the table, and herself standing awkwardly to the side. She didn't point that out however as she waited to see what the lord would demand of her. Because she seriously doubted that he requested her presence downstairs merely to eat dinner with them.

"Well?" the lord's eyebrow rose tauntingly.

Sae's cleared her throat before speaking. "What is it you want me to do?"

There was a sarcastic lift to his mouth. "It is customary to eat food when attending a dinner is it not? I realize you may not be accustomed to the ways of civility but do not tell me you do not at least grasp the basics."

Feeling her neck burn with anger as well as embarrassment, Sae bowed before taking her seat next to her charge. She smiled weakly at Rin when she threw her a golden smile. The girl was most likely so accustomed to the lord's ways that she probably did not even notice when he was being condescending. Which, all things considered, was for the best. Sae may not particularly care for the lord, but Rin looked at him like the angelic guardian she'd never had. Better she be ignorant of his harsh ways than have her illusions crushed at such an early age.

The doors from the kitchens swung open as kitchen maid after kitchen maid filed into the dining hall carrying trays of wonderfully smelling foods. The delicious aroma immediately filled the room and Sae could feel her mouth begin to water. Soon, the table was filled with plates full of colorful cuisine and sweet smelling sauces.

Sae tore her eyes away from the food in time to see a familiar red-head walk through the doors, her turquoise eyes widening in recognition as they landed on her friend.

Asumi paused halfway towards the table, causing the girl behind her to stumble to a halt.

"What is wrong with you?" hissed the other maid, barely steadying the tray in her hands in time. She gave the stunned red-head a small shove before moving around her and making her way towards the long dining table.

Sae watched Asumi jump back into action and trailed after the others, avoiding eye contact with her again.

Once all the food was delivered, there were only 5 kitchen maids left in the dining room, standing by the wall to be called upon when needed.

Feeling as if the experience were surreal, Sae waited for the lord and Rin to serve themselves before she dared start loading food onto her plate. The first thing she could not help but grab was the sweet smelling rice cake, colored a golden brown and in the shape of a flower. It had been such a long time that she had any type of desert. The last memory she ever had of something sweet tasting had been when Youhei and she were younger and the doctor had given them left over Manju, the filled dumpling the best thing she had ever recalled eating. Since then, her brother and she had learned to live off what they could hunt or steal for themselves.

Deserts becoming a scarcity in the scheme of things.

"Enjoying that namagashi?"

Sae looked up mid-chew, finding the lord with his chin sitting on his hand and staring straight at her. She swallowed hard, before wiping her mouth with the back of her fingers. "Yes," she answered, sitting up straighter in her chair. This was the moment she had been waiting for. He was surely going to-

Lord Sesshomaru studied her a moment longer before returning to his meal, dismissing her with one gesture.

Sae let out the breath she had not realized she'd been holding. She really did not understand what was happening. On the surface, it honestly appeared as if the lord had invited her to dinner as some type of courtesy. But Sae knew that the lord was not capable of such charity. Not for her species, anyway. She learned that in the chase for power, the lord would do just about anything. But when it had no benefit to himself? It really wasn't worth the effort.

So Sae knew it was only a matter of time before the real reason for her being there would be revealed.

Two more servings and three deserts later and still the lord did not acknowledge her presence. In fact, by the last bite of her meal, Sae had gone so far as to hope that she had misread the situation completely and mentally preparing herself to go to bed. For the first time, in what seemed a very long time, she would be going to bed full, warm, and surprisingly at peace.

"I'm sure you are wondering why you were even invited to dine with us."

Her stomach dropping, Sae lifted her head towards the head of the table and resigned herself for the inevitable.

The lord's face was cool as he spoke. "Other than the fact that Rin had requested your presence for some time now, there is a matter that must be discussed."

Sae felt a light touch on her knee, at once knowing it was her young charge's reassuring gesture. Rin may be unaware of the complete picture of her situation, but the child was wise enough to know that Sae was not as free as she was herself.

"Although she has not asked me personally, I am aware that Rin has been wanting to hold a party for her upcoming birthday," his tone was deep. "I am not keen on having another gathering in my castle so soon after my last one, however, considering the circumstances I have decided that this will be an exception. Rin may have the ball she had been wanting. As for you, as her current caretaker, will be required to assist her as the servants fulfill all requirements. You will also be attending the event to make sure she receives all that she desires at her party. I expect nothing less than your full commitment to my ward. Which also includes you to be clothed in the appropriate attire as a companion of Rin. If you so much as fall a level below what is required, I do not need to detail the consequences that will occur."

Numbly Sae nodded, still processing everything that she had been told.

Take away the threats and curt orders, the lord had basically just stated that she would be attending Rin's birthday party and that she was to receive new clothing for the occasion. Minus the fact that she would also be helping plan the party, this would be the very first event that Sae would be a type of guest to.

"Are we clear, female?" came the lord's icy tone.

Sae snapped to attention. "Yes, my lord," she returned, not wanting to cause any of his ire. This was the only opportunity that she would ever have at attending a ball. Considering her station and what most likely lay ahead of her, grand parties were probably not in the near future. And so she did not want to lose this chance by doing something as small as not paying attention.

"Fine," he dismissed her, gracefully lifting himself off his chair and gliding out towards the doors.

Sae watched him go, wondering why the first image to pop into her head about the ball was not of her enjoying the grand feast that was sure to be served, but one of her dancing … with a tall graceful man with long silver hair and eyes like gold.

*Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. Any violence, perceived abuse, or negative behavior should not be taken literally. The plot is for entertainment purposes only. This author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material.