Chapter 3! :) Gonna work on the epilogue to You Can Hear It in the Silence tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Reminiscent


Once again, shock scoured the room. While Inu Taishou's request made sense for the theoretical matter at hand, there were many factors involved that could only contest it. "Hand-maiden" did not apply. It could not apply based on the high standards of the Geisha industry, let alone the best one in it, Kodachi. Rin would have to be an entertainer to be of service to clients; she would have to be a Geisha.

"While that is an adequate resolution, Inu Taishou-sama, I must beg ye ear for why we find such impossible. Rin is but a servant. And to interact with guests here at Kodachi, our women are required to be Maiko or Geisha. Mistakes, such as the one that she made, often lead to loss of business. We can only allocate that loss to her debt, which would only sit as a constant loss that she would never be able to fully repay. With this in mind, we are reluctant to allow any servants who have offended our honorable clients to ever become Geisha. Our reputation cannot afford such mistakes to occur twice over. And if done once, it will be done again."

Smirking, Inu Taishou replied, "Ah, what a sound business woman you are…"

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru stood behind him, anger still burning in his eyes, though his demeanor had returned to its collected form.

Inu Taishou continued, "…However, if I were to tell you that should you not heed this request, then I would take it upon myself to relinquish our loyalty to Kodachi, what would you say then, Kaede-san?"

Izayoi chuckled to herself quietly in the corner of the room as Kaede's eyes grew wide with fear.

"Y-Ye feel so strongly, Inu-Taishou-sama?" She muttered, obviously taken aback.

Rin, in the meantime, found all of this hard to comprehend. There was something going on that was unbeknownst to her. Why did this powerful dog demon insist on her continued stay? Couldn't any human be assigned to his son? Why would he disgrace his own blood with the service of a human woman who not only took offense to their race, but openly displayed her craven nature by bolting out of their sight without requesting leave? Despite the overwhelming confusion, a feeling of warmth covered her heart. For the first time since her auction four years ago, someone was fighting for her. And ironically enough… it was a demon. A male demon.

"Ye heart is as wide as ever, though I know not where we can spare the funds for this young girl's schooling," Kaede responded as she studied Rin, convinced that she was lacking the perception to see the worth of the servant before her.

"So long as you keep her at Kodachi and in service to my son, I will see to it that her schooling is paid for in full."

"What is the meaning of this?" Sesshoumaru hissed lowly to his father, while another wave of shocked expressions covered the room.

"Yeah, old man, what are you playing at?" Inuyasha asked; dumbfounded.

Inu Taishou closed his eyes in annoyance and raised his hand, slowly, to successfully silence the banter behind him.

"I take it that you have no other reason to argue, Kaede-san?" He stated coolly and with less energy; the Dog Lord himself was beginning to grow tired of pointless negotiation.

"A-Aye, if ye so wish, Inu-Taishou-sama," Kaede bowed at the leaving of her words.

Nodding lightly to conclude the issue, the kind, yet powerful demon turned to Rin, who had since stopped shaking and had covered her back once more with her yukata. The burgundy hue had since met the impurity of scarlet; a depraved color that was beginning to expose itself through the thin fabric.

"Rin, stand up and face me," Inu Taishou ordered firmly.

Letting her eyes fall to her folded knees, Rin pushed her weight up to her fingertips before elegantly standing; only a slight twitch in her frame gave away the pain she still felt. Rin turned her body meticulously towards Inu Taishou, her hands now finding refuge in each other just in front of her thighs. Though she faced him, her eyes remained lowered.

"Raise your eyes, girl. For you are a Maiko now, not a servant. And also…," He looked down upon her compassionately, placing a heavy and clawed hand upon her shoulder as she raised her eyes, uncertain still, to his, "…Now that you have witnessed the kindness of a demon, perhaps your regard will be softened…" His eyes trailed to Sesshoumaru, filling with irritation, as he finished,

"…Even if only slightly."

Rin swallowed the rest of her fear and uncertainty before bowing to her waist.

"Though I do not understand it, Inu Taishou-sama, I am forever in your debt for your mercy…," her voice grew somewhat muffled by oncoming tears as she realized, out of joy and confusion, that her life was spared from a cruel fate by this man, "Hontou, arigatou gozaimashita (Thank you so very much.)"

Then, bravely, yet hesitantly, Rin rose to eye-level once more and directed her hazel orbs towards the glaring Sesshoumaru.

"Sesshoumaru-sama…," she called his attention meekly.

The stoic demon's expression managed to turn bitter at hearing his name fall from her tainted human lips, causing Rin to look and bow down once more.

"I do not deserve such, but I humbly beg your forgiveness for my earlier trespasses against you and your honor. And while I know that my presence is far from what you desire… please know that I will do all that I can to make each visit to Kodachi bearable for you."

"Hmph," Sesshoumaru smirked at her squeamish display, "Your words are wasted upon me, girl. Save what breath you have, for I will no longer tolerate the idle company of such weak beings."

And with that, the proud Sesshoumaru strode to the doorway collectedly, sparing no ear for protest, as he exited the room.

Rin began shaking again.

This was impossible. How was she supposed to serve a demon who-?

"Worry not, child," Inu Taishou comforted as the others looked on silently, still baffled, "My son has no choice but to return. My agreement with Kodachi still stands."

Rin looked up at him quizzically.

"If he wants the throne, he will learn to tolerate," he smiled an all-knowing smile at her before stealing a quick and final look to Izayoi, calling to Inuyasha,

"Come. Our business here is finished for the night."

"Yeah, okay... See ya," Inuyasha called to the room, eliciting a bow from every lady.

After they had made the descent down the stairs, followed suit by a hasty Cesaria to see them to the door, Kaede-obaa-sama looked to Rin with a foul grimace.

"Off with ye to bed, child. And thank the stars ye have been gifted this one and only chance."

Rin bowed low quickly replying, "Yes, Kaede-obaa-sama," before racing off to the servant quarters in a daze.


"Hey, old man," Inuyasha called; walking with both arms crossed behind his head.

"Have you no respect, pup?" Inu Taishou replied in a scold.

"Sorry… Hey what was that all about, anyway? That was too much kindness. Even for you."

Inu Taishou smirked, "Your brother is an interesting creature, Inuyasha. While I have seen him derive dark pleasures from his cruel dealings with humans in the past, never have I seen him derive lustful ones."

"Eh?" Inuyasha gawked at his father's awkward speech.

Inu Taishou collected his thoughts for a moment before responding.

"Sesshoumaru fancies her. No matter how small that curious feeling is against that of his consuming hatred… it is still there," he explained, "I was waiting patiently for the opportunity to convince Sesshoumaru of his ill nature, but perhaps… I haven't the power to enlighten him. That girl, however, might."

Inuyasha walked silently for a while before retorting, "It seems like a long-shot to me. But maybe that's because you've had first-hand experience with this sort of thing?"

Chuckling, the great dog lord sadly replied, "Aye. Though you never had the pleasure of knowing your mother, Inuyasha, she somehow had the ability to transform the heart of a beast."

Inuyasha looked down solemnly, "She must have been really something. Wish I could have met her…"

At this, the Dog Lord's soft and reminiscent smile retracted to its rested nature. He now offered no reply, causing the rest of the short journey back to the Western Palace to be filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and buzzing cicadas.


Thoughts anyone? Does anyone catch the backstory in any of this? If not, it's okay. I shall explain later. ;)