A/N: Well, I was in a writing mood, so I finally got to finish this chapter within a few days. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made in this chapter. Thank you for the lovely reviews. It really means a lot to me that all of you took the time to type and tell me your thoughts. Hope this chapter will be another one that is well accepted. And as for one of the reviews, last chapter is not the ending. I will either inform you or if it states it is completed, so please do not panic. Well, please enjoy and happy reading.
Chapter Five
Rin started to adjust from working in the castle. At first, she cowered every time a man comes near her, but she finally progressed to only cringing. But when sleep came to her, she would have those nightmares in Naraku's dungeon. She had watched as the women were raped or tortured. She was actually one of the lucky ones even though she had to deal with pleasuring the men and being tortured as she did so. It was hard for her to cope from the changes, but it helped when people surrounding her had been kind to her although there were still people who tried to hurt or degrade her. But of course, she was well protected by Inuyasha. Anybody who had something against her had to go through him. He was the kind of guy who was rather rash and easily angered but kind-hearted towards the people who he cared about.
"Rin, why don't you have a day off? I can deal with a day without you," Inuyasha stated when he watched her change his bedsheets. Rin turned around and smiled a small smile.
"Thank you for considering this lowly self, but work helps keep this lowly self occupied from those thoughts," Rin stated, hinting the time at Naraku's dungeon. Even after several weeks, she did not get rid of calling herself 'this lowly self'. It had been imbedded in her mind by Naraku that Rin unconsciously degraded herself as just an unnecessary being.
Inuyasha frowned and understood. It was hard for Inuyasha to get used to seeing Rin this reserved. He was used to the upbeat and happy girl who didn't allow anyone to put her down. The difference in change had made Inuyasha sick to his stomach. He wanted the happy and outgoing Rin back. He wished to find a way to get the Rin he cared about back. But how? No matter what he was going to try even if time became his enemy.
As time passed, Sesshomaru became more cold and isolated from everyone, even Kagura was of no importance to him. The woman had tried to seek his company several times, but Sesshomaru did not give in. He had thrusted himself to traveling as often as he could, but he had somehow found his travels unsatisfying. He quenched for something more, something to take away the emptiness in his heart. But nothing seemed to fill his desires.
One particularly day though, Rin bumped into Sesshomaru. Rin looked up and saw it was Sesshomaru. She lowered her head in apology. Rin was still afraid of Sesshomaru for reasons she does not really know. But deep down, she does. She could never forget that Sesshomaru was the cause in her becoming the way she was now.
"Rin," Sesshomaru called her. The name left his lips tingling. He wasn't sure if it was a good or bad way.
"My lord, this lowly self apologizes for not seeing where this lowly self was going. Please forgive this lowly self," Rin apologized. Sesshomaru winced slightly at the way she spoke of herself. He had never gotten used to her degrading herself even her tone had changed. It used to be so bright and now it just became dull.
"This Sesshomaru does not care for such trivial things. Just be careful next time," Sesshomaru told her. Rin nodded her head.
"Yes, milord," she simply responded. Rin waited for Sesshomaru to leave before she continued her way, but he didn't. He just stood there, watching her. Rin felt uncomfortable at his stare. Rin remembered a time when she didn't mind his stares. Actually, she welcomed them because Rin thought of him as her knight in shining armor or her guardian angel. But ever since the involvement with Naraku, she found him to be the opposite. His image twisted into that of a heartless demon. She feared him just as she feared Naraku.
"You are not with the half breed," Sesshomaru suddenly stated. Rin froze for a second before nodding her head.
"Inuyasha insisted that this lowly self do as this lowly self wants instead of trailing behind him like a 'puppy'," Rin answered, stressing the word 'puppy'. It was made to be funny, but the circumstances made it hard for it to be humorous.
Sesshomaru seethed inwardly in frustration at how easily she called Inuyasha by his name while his was formal and by his title. He came near Rin, towering over her. Rin shivered and felt fear enter her. Sesshomaru noticed it, but he didn't care. He wanted her to know of his thoughts.
"Why do you fear me Rin? Why do you call me by my title while the half breed is called by his name?" Sesshomaru confronted. Rin stood stock still. She did not know how to respond, and she was afraid to answer as well. Luckily, Kagura came and interfered which Sesshomaru was unhappy about.
"Sesshomaru, I have been looking for you. Your father has asked for our presence," Kagura said but eyed Rin for a second with a look of disgust. Rin bowed to the lady and then to Sesshomaru.
"Please excuse this lowly self," Rin stated before bowing once more and quickly left. Sesshomaru watched her. His opportunity for answers had been lost due to his so-called future mate. He was starting to get sickened by Kagura's presence. He wondered why he ever chose her in the first place. Oh yeah, her beauty and nobility had matched his. But right now, he found her to be a nuisance.
Sesshomaru and Kagura stood in front of Inu no Taisho in his office. There was a look of seriousness as well as utter repulsion on his expression. Indeed, Inu no Taisho seemed very unhappy. There was a wide distance between father and son after Rin returned. Arguments erupted between them in the simplest of things that it had clashed their father and son relationship or what was left of it. It was as if Rin had been the glue to hold their relationship. But with Rin's change, it made their relationship go downhill. Nothing was ever the same anymore. Izayoi even had stopped trying to get close to Sesshomaru. All the effort Izayoi made to get a good relationship with her stepson had been damaged and incinerated.
"What is that you need of us, father?" Sesshomaru asked, straight to the point. Inu no Taisho huffed but sat up straight and looked to Kagura and then to his son.
"I have come to tell you both that a month has already passed, and there has been no announcement for your date of marriage. I wanted to know if you have set a date for it," Inu no Taisho stated.
"Sesshomaru and I are still deciding-" Kagura answered but was cut off by the door suddenly opening. Inuyasha revealed himself to them with beads of sweat falling from his face.
"Father, Rin collapsed. She's with Kaede," Inuyasha said, heaving. Inu no Taisho stood up immediately while Sesshomaru left without another word. Kagura watched Sesshomaru leave without another glance at her, and her eyes darkened.
Sesshomaru ran as if his life depended on it. Even though he didn't show it, he was frantic. He was sure of one thing. Nothing matters more than Rin. It took her fear of him to realize that Rin had meant much more to him than he ever thought. This emptiness he felt was too much even for him.
Just as he neared Kaede's, he saw Jaken pacing back and forth in front of the infirmary.
"Jaken," he called out. Jaken turned his head to meet with Sesshomaru. Jaken bowed to him before he squeaked.
"Prince Sesshomaru! Rin- Rin collapsed. She was just doing some light errands until she suddenly fainted," Jaken cried, "Please forgive this lowly servant for not watching her well enough, but I have to say, milord, it is not my fault. The girl just doesn't know her limits."
"I will deal with you later, Jaken," Sesshomaru said coldly, "I have asked you to do one simple task and that was to watch over Rin. You have failed me."
Jaken bowed low until his forehead touched the floor. He begged for forgiveness, but Sesshomaru did not seem to care. Jaken continued to spout nonsense until he heard footsteps coming his way. It was Kaede and she had a glum look on her face only taking notice of Jaken yet not noticing Sesshomaru's presence.
"Rin is resting. Why is there so much noise?" Kaede asked Jaken, who was bowing down to someone. It was then she turned her head and took notice of Sesshomaru. She saw the young prince and let out a frown at the sight of him but greeted the prince respectively. She still held a grudge against the prince for what he had done to Rin, but she contained her dislike for the prince. Sesshomaru noticed her look but chose to ignore it.
"How is she?" Sesshomaru asked, more concerned for Rin than anything else.
"She needs rest. The sleeping draught hasn't helped her rest with those nightmares plaguing her dreams. She's either crying or screaming for help in her dreams or waking up with a start and soaked with cold sweat," Kaede explained, causing Sesshomaru to feel another stab of guilt as well as pain for being the cause of Rin's nightmares.
By the time she finished, they heard screaming. Kaede, Jaken, and Sesshomaru ran inside the infirmary to see Rin thrashing in her bed, screaming for help while reaching her hand out to be saved.
"No. Please, no. Stop! Rin doesn't want this. Don't touch me. Don't touch me!" Rin screamed. The trio felt ill to hear Rin with such an agonizing tone. They could feel her pain and fear which made their spines tingle at the thought of what she had to go through.
"This has gotten worse than I thought," said Inu no Taisho. Kaede, Jaken, and Sesshomaru turned around to see Inu no Taisho with Inuyasha by his side as well as Kagura behind them. They hadn't realized Inu no Taisho, Inuyasha, and Kagura entered the infirmary when Rin was screaming.
"Your Majesties," Kaede and Jaken said as they bowed respectfully towards the king and prince Inuyasha. As for Kagura, Kaede gave a quick glare at Kagura.
"Is there any way for Rin to get better?" Inu no Taisho asked. Kaede let out a sigh.
"It is hard to determine. Some girls who have gone through such a circumstance can either get better through time or never get better at all. One thing is for sure, Rin will always have that mental scar following behind her even though she is healed physically," Kaede explained solemnly, making the Taishos feel ill.
Kagura rolled her eyes at this but was careful not to be noticed. Kagura wasn't blind or stupid to see that Rin is precious to the royal household, but she found it rather disgusting that the royalty of the West cared for such a small servant like Rin. Kagura had to find a way to get rid of Rin for she found the small servant rather threatening even though Kagura didn't want to admit to it. She had found out Sesshomaru seemed smitten with the little girl, and she couldn't allow anyone to catch the cold-hearted prince's eye.
"If I may intrude," Jaken started. All eyes were on Jaken. Jaken gulped at the attention, but he continued quickly when he noticed that Inuyasha looked impatient. He did not want to be punished by Inuyasha whatsoever. "Um... might it be best that Rin is moved out of the castle and in a much more pleasant environment?" Just as he said this, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru glared at him. Jaken gulped and found himself in a deeper hole than usual. But thankfully, Kaede saved him when she spoke.
"My lords, Jaken may be right. I think it best as well that Rin is transferred or lived with another household. It hurts me to think that Rin will be away from me. But at least, it may help her recover. Maybe a change in environment would do her good," Kaede said.
Inu no Taisho stayed quiet with a thoughtful expression. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru watched their father and knew very well he would consider the idea.
"I oppose. I'm not going to let Rin live in a strange place with people she doesn't know. She's lived in the castle almost all her life. She needs to be with people she knows," Inuyasha piped in, hoping his father would change his mind.
"Even though I do not agree with the half breed most of the time, I will have to agree with him in this circumstance. For her to live in a strange environment, it could cause her condition to worsen," Sesshomaru added.
Inu no Taisho stared at his two sons before sighing.
"I will speak with Izayoi about this before I make a decision," Inu no Taisho stated. And without another word, he left the infirmary.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha stared at their father as he left before staring at each other. They both snarled at each other, but the two did nothing more than just that. Kaede watched the two sons for a moment but shook her head.
Suddenly, they heard a gasp. Everyone turned around to see Rin sitting up and awake as a hand held her chest while she breathed heavily. She turned her head, and they noticed the tears in her eyes. Kaede ran to her adopted child and held her in an embrace as Rin cried on her shoulder. Rin had not taken notice of the others being present as it seemed that she was still too dazed to notice.
"Mother Kaede, I saw that moment again. They- they did things to me, and I was forced to do as they said. They made me do shameful things. I tried to stop them, but they would hurt me if I defied them. I want it to stop. Isn't there a way for these nightmares to stop?" Rin cried.
Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and even Jaken felt ill from listening at her tortured moment. All they did was stand there and kept quiet. Kagura, on the other hand, felt the scene rather annoying and left before she felt sick to her stomach from listening to Rin's sob story. Nobody ever took notice of her leaving and none of them even cared. Nothing seemed more important than Rin at that moment.
Inu no Taisho watched Izayoi quietly as he spoke about the idea of having Rin leave to go to another household. At first, Izayoi glared at him accusingly then looked thoughtfully. Currently, she held a sad expression on her face.
"For Rin's best interest?" Izayoi asked. Inu no Taisho nodded to his wife.
"For Rin's best interest," he answered. Izayoi teared up from the choice before crying in her hands.
"She's like a daughter to me, Inu. It hurts to part from her," Izayoi said through her sobs.
"I know, Love. I know," Inu no Taisho responded with equal sadness in his tone and expression.
"Where shall we transfer her to?" Izayoi asked, "She needs to be in a place with kind people and who would love her as much as we do. It needs to be a warm and kind environment."
Inu no Taisho nodded in agreement.
"Then shall we get to looking then?" Inu no Taisho asked. Izayoi sobbed once more and nodded.
"But most importantly, it should be a place where Rin would feel safe and happy," Izayoi added once more.