I will probably make you all especially happy today! I have a fairly long chapter (long for me anyway), and I updated within three days of the last update!
(yay, thanks Xera, u da bestest)

yeah yeah I know... ;) lol jk

Please enjoy Chapter 12: Repayment


Sesshoumaru walked through the doors of the palace castle. Each and every servant that stood along the halls bowed as he approached. Though their minds questioned, they dared not speak out on his condition.

He reeked of blood and medicine. His attire was tattered, and the foul expression that he wore upon his face warned against the slightest acknowledgment to his current state. He didn't make it far before the waft of fresh blood gathered the attention of both Inuyasha and InuTaishou. Sesshoumaru paused in stride for his chambers and gave a cold look to his father and brother that stood across the entrance hall.

"Sesshoumaru," InuTaishou hissed, though his voice was tinged with concern, "What happened to you?"

Walking once more in the direction of his chambers, Sesshoumaru almost didn't answer.

"A lowly demon wished to challenge me. He merely caught me off guard."

Inuyasha put both arms in his sleeves and gave his half-brother a peculiar look. All the while, InuTaishou, with unprecedented speed, managed to place himself haughtily in front of his eldest son.

Sesshoumaru simply stopped and slowly maneuvered his gaze to eyes that mirrored his own. He didn't have to look too much higher, however, for his father only stood a few inches taller than himself.

InuTaishou blinked with mild condescension.

"Why do you smell of Rin?" His father asked out of curiosity alone, for it wasn't Rin's blood that he smelled upon his son, only her essence.

Staring indignantly at his superior, Sesshoumaru responded gruffly, "She happened upon me resting, post-battle. That's all."

"Ah," his father smirked, "But is that not human medicine as well? I can only assume that she didn't just happen upon you and leave…"

Frowning, Sesshoumaru stepped past his father and continued onward.

Reaching the private bath that connected to his bedchamber, Sesshoumaru was finally able to rid himself of his destroyed and sullied clothing. As he prepared to enter a remedial bath that he had , he peeled back the yukata sleeve that Rin had used to apply the medicine from his torso. The fabric clung uncomfortably to the drying blood, but once he had successfully removed it, he was mildly surprised to find that the medicine had actually taken effect. His eyes narrowed upon the bloodied, yellow fabric that had belonged to Rin.

"Such an inane race, humans…," he mulled silently, stroking the cloth between thumb and forefinger, catching the light scent of lavender and honeydew as he stared upon it blankly.

"What a waste...," he muttered.

Clenching it, he watched as the blood-stained cotton burned to ashes by the violent issuance of his poison. And for only an instant, before shifting his mind to political matters, he recalled the milky-blue reflection of her tear-stained face in the night's generous moonlight.


0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0


Rin awoke to the pitter patter of rain upon Kodachi's thick-shingled roof. Usually, it took a heavy amount of stirring for her to wake. But now that her surroundings had changed for the first time since arriving at the luxurious ochiya and ryokan, it seemed that many of her bodily rhythms had shifted as well. Slowly, she began to recall the events from the night before.

After leaving the forest and returning to her house, she was greeted by not only two angry godmothers, but by her displeased mentor, Izayoi, as well. Rin shuddered at Izayoi-onee-san's angry face. She was so stunningly beautiful that whenever she did manage a scowl, it tended to speak for itself.

Although it was true that she was indeed chosen by Kikyo-sensei to train for a Winter Lead Debut audition, Rin had decisively lied to her godmothers about when the particular conversation took place. Though it was that morning, Rin feigned it for the evening, using its importance in place for the real reason that she was late to arrive home.

For Servants, Maiko, and Geisha who lived within the house, outside travel and loitering was rarely permitted. And should her superiors have found out the true reason for her staying out late, many things could have been easily misconstrued. For it is true, that even though a Geisha is not a prostitute, she is desired as such. And because the rare role of Geisha is designed around the image of a pure and untouched flower, Geisha and Maiko were heavily monitored on their interactions with the opposite sex outside of work. Had Rin told any of them that she just so happened to meet Sesshoumaru in a dark forest after nightfall, they would undoubtedly draw on false assumptions.

The thought of lying to the few that she trusted made her sick, but the truth simply wasn't worth the trouble.

As expected, the house had grown silent upon hearing the news of Rin's offer. And though she had made it clear that she merely landed an audition of such an honorable part, not the role itself, the news caught on and spread to curious ears like wildfire. And before the night was over, every female in the house either grimaced at her with jealousy, or gazed upon her as a beacon of encouragement.

The new popularity was all so… new.

Rin was notorious for being quiet and reserved, though she molded to any situation when necessary. And surprisingly, now that she knew what it felt like to be in the social spotlight, she found it to be the hardest situation to adjust to, yet.

Finally rising to her feet, the adolescent made her way to the corner to kneel before her compact and standard drawers. As she pulled out her school yukata, her face fell as she focused on the torn and tattered edges of the sleeves. How she would swing having her sleeves rolled and tied up all day in an effort to hide their careless state was beyond her. It was against all Geisha and Maiko image codes to portray one's self so carelessly. But… It was all she had… She had to make up something.

Just as she was about to change, a light knock resounded from the door.

"Onee-chan, it is your mentor, Izayoi," the sweet voice of the motherly Geisha permeated the thin wooden dividers.

"Oh," Rin smiled at the thought of genuine company, "Please come in!"

The Geisha slid the door open and she stepped in, already made up and displaying one of her finest kimonos.

"Good morning," she smiled; awfully giddy.

In the meantime, Rin had shoved her yukata back into her drawer to take care of her guest.

"Onee-san, Ohayou Gozaimasu," Rin replied, "Is everything okay? What brings you here so early?"

"I just thought that I would inform you that Kikyo-san and Kaede-obaa-sama have already discussed the terms of the offer."

"Eh?" Rin looked taken aback, "Already?"

"Yes, Kikyo-san arrived long before sunrise to clarify intentions. She insisted that it be between her and the godmothers alone. I was given the responsibility of relaying the information after the negotiations were complete."

Rin narrowed her eyes in nervous suspicion, "Negotiations?"

"Yes," Izayoi began to explain, "Kikyo-san insisted that she be the one to personally instruct you during average school hours. And when she is busy with other matters, you are to simply practice with me... The godmothers have finally agreed."

"But… I thought that they didn't want me to train under anyone else, Onee-san? They made that clear already, I thought?" Rin justifiably inquired.

"Yes, they did," Izayoi sighed, though her lips still curled upwards with relief, "However, money speaks, as you know. Kikyo-sensei promised ten-thousand yen to the godmothers for their 'inconvenient restrictions,' and then, of course, they happily obliged."

Rin blinked a few times.

"Ten…thousand…?" She could barely manage before Izayoi interrupted.

"That is correct, Rin-chan," she chuckled, "The first investment to pay off your purchase debt. What an honor… Especially for how young you are!"

"Wow…," Rin placed her hands on her cheeks to cool off the heat that rushed to her face, "I never thought Kikyo-sensei would go this far…"

Izayoi let her smile fall a bit, "Kikyo-san is an honorable woman. Though her and the godmothers feud over typical things, she is not one to underhandedly gain what she desires. I believe she is simply enthused with how promising you are."

Rin, now relieved by the soothing words of her mentor, smiled at the sincerity plastered on her face. Even though it had only been a couple of days since truly getting to know Izayoi-san, she now knew why InuTaishou-sama, a demon, wished to have her all to himself. Everything about her was enthralling and comforting. She was a beautiful woman with the trusting heart of a child. Her regard and manner was fit for a princess and she walked the Earth delicately and mindfully. Rin, despite all the praise she had been receiving lately, found herself suddenly jealous of her mentor.

How nice it must be… to be a woman that carries nothing but kindness, compassion, and reservation...

Perfection.

Suddenly remembering the horrid segments of her past that she had regrettably shared with one of the most irreparably ill-spirited demons in the world, Rin's stomach knotted with wrenching embarrassment. Perhaps if she had kept it hidden for only a day longer, she could have convinced the entire world that she was as flawless as Izayoi-san. Now… no matter whom she tried to be… he would always know.

Rin smiled faintly before thanking her house sister and mentor, before kindly asking to be left to change.

Doubt crept back up into the mind of the young Maiko. She then wondered… If everyone knew just how torn up inside that she truly was… if she would still be the amazing and talented woman that they believed her to be.

Her life, for a split-second, felt like a lie.


0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0


As Rin finished the rolling of her sleeves, she took special care to add trace amounts of blush to her cheeks and forehead, making especially sure that her appearance was slightly, though no more than slightly, disheveled. She was to make the excuse of fever for her yukata's appearance and, being the clever girl that she was, Rin ensured that every other aspect of her physique matched her claim.

She stepped outside the door and grabbed her sandals from the shelf, noting the chill that the rain and season shift brought on this morning. She made herself a mental reminder to start investing in thicker toe-socks. As a servant, Rin would have had to save up a month's allowance for luxuries such as warmth. But now, foreseeing a lessening in her debt from the ten-thousand yen that Kikyo-sensei would bestow to Kodachi on her account, perhaps her allowance would increase.

Because she was a little early on this morning, Rin decided to take the longer route to school, through the merchant's district. She was only there to price. For now she had two things that she really needed replaced.

Her bared arms shivered as she held the basic bamboo umbrella above her head. Many people, even this early, lined the merchant tables. Every morning a new stock of goods would find their way to the cloth-lined booths, making first-come-first-serve a very real reason to arrive early.

Finally spotting the cloth merchant, Rin hesitantly looked over inspecting shoulders, managing to find the price for a basic, average-thickness, yukata.

Two-thousand yen.

Now, her body shivered in shock rather than cold. That was so much money….

But what could she do? She was allotted one yukata every two years, to account for bodily growth, and this particular yukata that she now wore was only eight months into its period. She grimaced as she realized that her heroic act the night before was very irresponsible and careless. She could have used something else… Anything else… But she chose to ruin the one thing she practically needed to get around every day.

Perhaps Izayoi-san would help her out. After all, her mentor had secrets of her own. Secrets that Rin had accidentally discovered, binding both them into a forced relationship of trust and friendship which, oddly enough, was very refreshing to the adolescent.

As Rin passed through a housing sect of the western town, she tripped, lost in her stupor of thought, over an incessantly squawking animal. Jumping over whatever she had nearly fallen onto, she turned to look behind her, seeing only a wooden staff…

…with two-heads.

Letting her gaze drop, Rin's eyes fell on what appeared to be a still-squawking dark green imp. Though she now recognized that it was squawking profanities at her clumsiness, the little guy was dressed neatly and rather supremely in a neutral brown uniform fit for a palace official.

He coughed into his tri-fingered hand, regaining his composure, before finally speaking rightly to her.

"You there! Are you Rin, of the Ochiya of Kodachi?"

Rin reluctantly nodded.

Furrowing what would be brows if he had some, the imp stated, "I have come to you on the behalf of General Sesshoumaru-sama of the Western Dog Demon Palace."

"Eh?" Rin cocked her head as her heart began to race.

Was Sesshoumaru angry with her for helping him? Why would he send a messenger to-?

WAIT.

Rin froze as she recalled her bold words from the night before… She had told him that he needed her, a mere human, in order to get what he wanted from his father…

AND NOW, PERHAPS…

Her eyes widened as her imagination went a little too far with itself.

Was the messenger sent there to kill her so that InuTaishou-sama would think it all a tragic accident?! So that he could have the last laugh over her impudence?!

She managed to reply somewhat normally despite the chaos in her brain, "Uh… Y-yes?"

After a moment of intense pause, the imp shouted, throwing his arms towards her, "Wretched human, take this!"

She flinched as she awaited the blow, only for a soft wrapping of parchment to hit her square in the face.

Rin stumbled backwards a little, though she managed to catch the parcel. She opened one eye first, looking down to see the brown wrapping tied with postage string.

Confused, she looked up at the short messenger, "What's this?"

"I was told to deliver this package and a message from master Sesshoumaru-sama," The imp crossed his arms, still glaring at her menacingly. He coughed in preparation for his relay, "Your interference was irrational and unnecessary. Should you defy my will again, you will not live to tell it."

Rin gulped at the message as the toad demon clarified his master's intentions, "What you hold there is nothing more than repayment for a debt that Sesshoumaru-sama never wished to have. What a bother for him! A human, even!"

The imp turned, mumbling curses in his leave.

"Wait!" She shouted, causing him to reluctantly turn her way, still glowering. She finished despite it, "Thank you for bringing this to me… I assume you are a servant of the Western dog demons? May I know your name?"

The demon scoffed before walking off, "Jaken! But it's 'The Honorable Jaken-sama' to you!"

Rin blinked with confusion, shouting, as he disappeared down an adjacent alleyway, "Thank you, honorable Jaken-sama!"

She watched him leave in full before returning her gaze to the parcel. Hesitantly, she pulled the string and unfolded the four sides, gasping as soon as she realized exactly what it was.

A brand new yukata sat there, neatly folded…

…with a level of quality at least five times that of the one that she had just seen in the market.


D'awwww! :D

Next chapter will be when Rin gets to serve Sesshoumaru and his father!
How will it go? What awaits them? Is Sesshoumaru unknowingly becoming moved by this human girl? (Well duh)

Anyway! Let me know your thoughts! I especially love hearing what you guys think will happen. ;)
I got some surprises coming, that's for sure!