Note to Readers: Thank you for your delightful reviews. I'm always so very glad to see them, and they will definitely spar on more chapters. :D

~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 2 ~*~*~*~*~*~

"A kimono, Jakken-sama?"

"Hai, hai. You are to wear it when Daishirou-sama arrives. Your yukatas are far too informal, not to mention kept in such a shameful state of disrepair that..." Jakken sighed. The child really -was- quite stupid. Why bother explaining anything at all? "And geta, too. Running around barefoot simply will not do. It will not do. You will shame Lord Sesshoumaru enough by being in his household, why add to the insult by looking like some wild urchin?"

Wild. She definitely did look wild. In the past three years, her legs and arms had grown as long and smooth as willow branches. Her deep mahoghany-colored hair, once thick and unruly, now flowed down past her waist like tall summer grasses swaying in the breeze. Rin had hardly thought of pulling her hair into some human style, but did at times consent to wearing a pair of enchanted ivory combs at her temples. Reiko had given them to her one day after discovering that nearby butterflies would alight on the combs for rest from flight, flexing their wings as they stole a ride on the wearer's head.

And, although she had reached maidenhood, her body continued to be abnormally slight, blossoming not like a full fruit on a vine, but rather like a young flower yawning slightly at sunrise and deciding not to go the full effort of loosening its petals. Rin's frame looked as if a gust of wind might come and lift her away at any moment. Yet the healthy glow in her face told that this is the way it would be for her. Where some women grow full of sensuous curves, she had only angles.

On any given day, flowers would peek over the sash of her yukata, or daisy chains would swing loosely from where she would pin them at her shoulders. She rather reminded Jakken of a wood nymph he had once spied. Except for the fact that she smelled decidedly, and disturbingly, human.

Sixteen. And never worn shoes a day in her life.

"Jakken-sama," the girl's soft voice called, racing behind her master's chancellor. "Rin does not understand. Many youkai have come to call upon Sesshoumaru-sama in the past, and...Rin's appearance has...never mattered."

"Simpleton," Jakken replied with a huff, turning to face the lanky teenager that now towered above him in height. "That is because this youkai is -far- more important than any youkai you have ever met, save Sesshoumaru-sama, of course."

Rin blinked, taking this information in. All youkai were far above her station, of course. But, when the tribal lords of Sesshoumaru's lands came, no one had ever expected her to dress or behave any differently than she already did.

"Go and speak with the chatelains, I am sure if anyone can assist you in becoming slightly less unappealing, it will be they." And with that, Jakken waddled out of sight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Your first kimono. Oh, Rin-chan, I feel positively weepy," Meiko exclaimed, throwing her arms around the taller human girl.

Reiko, who was perched on top of a trunk on the other side of the room, grumbled, "Its that time of the month for her, Rin-chan. See here, she's already beaned me on the head with two candlabras and a jade chess piece." Reiko pointed at the various bruises on his head.

Rin blushed slightly. Thankfully, when her "time" had come to learn about such things, Meiko had noticed by the girl's scent, and had set the Rin straight. Rather, about as straight as a raccoon-youkai can set a human who knows nothing about her own species or how they mature.

"All it means is that your body will now accept mating, Rin-chan. But, do not worry, little one. We live far enough away from any humans that you don't really have to worry about a human man coming to claim you. You know, not every plant that flowers is destined to bear fruit," Meiko had said.

And so, Rin had put these things mostly out of her mind, confusing as they were, but did tend to blush slightly when males brought them up. Not because she was embarassed, but because she couldn't say she exactly understood the whole thing.

"Ignore him, Rin-chan," Meiko whispered to Rin as she glared at her brother, "He's just annoyed because I have such impeccable aim and he can't hit the broad side of a whale-youkai."

Rin giggled as Meiko chittered. 'They make a frightening pair,' Reiko decided.

"Why don't you make yourself useful, brother, and help us find a kimono for Rin-chan, eh?"

"I'm not coming down off this trunk until next week," Reiko replied, crossing his arms glumly.

"Suit yourself!"

The two females dove through boxes and trunks, piles and sacks, and finally came up with what Meiko believed to be a suitable garment, an amber colored kimono printed with green vines, and a darker green obi. As Meiko showed Rin how to put the garment on, Rin suddenly asked, "Meiko-sama, do you know of this Daishirou-sama who is to visit?"

"Hai, hai. I'm surprised he waited this long. You see, Rin-chan, Daishirou is an old badger-youkai who somehow became the lord of a small territory to the south, right outside of Lord Sesshoumaru's lands. Although he has some good warriors, he believes that when he dies, his son will be unable to hold those lands.. So, I assume he is coming here to offer his daughter, Hiroe, to be Lord Sesshoumaru's mate."

Rin felt her breath catch slightly. A mate for Lord Sesshoumaru? She'd never thought about it. Certainly, if he took a mate, Rin would be expected to spend much less time by his side. Perhaps he would even send her away, if Hiroe was as averse to humans as other youkai Rin had met. Alone, again, in the human world...the frightening human world. Rin shuddered slightly.

"Will Sesshoumaru-sama accept Daishirou-sama's offer, you think, Meiko-sama?" Rin asked quietly, wincing a bit as the other female tightened the obi.

"It is hard to say, Rin-chan. So much politics involved. I would suppose that if Sesshoumaru-sama believes that the addition of Daishirou-sama's lands is beneficial, if the alliance will strengthen the Western Lands, then he will accept," Meiko spun the girl around, "There. Why, you look lovely, Rin-chan. Now. Lets get you into these geta."

Rin shuddered once again. She was almost unsure which she feared more, the coming of Daishirou, or attempting to walk around in shoes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Welcome to Lord Sesshoumaru's estates, Daishirou-sama," Jakken exclaimed as he executed a rather elaborate bow. "I trust your journey went well?"

"Exceedingly," the aging youkai replied, drawing out the word for emphasis. "How fares your master, Jakken?"

"Busy, as always. Never enough time in his Lordship's day, it seems."

Daishirou stopped in his tracks and looked towards the estate. He slowly twisted his ornately carved staff between his hands as if in thought.

"Is something wrong, Daishirou-sama?"

The badger youkai's eyes had become slits, and his nostrils flared slightly. "I do not mean to alarm you, Jakken, but I believe there may be a human nearby."

"A human?" For a moment Jakken felt alarmed. But how could a human be....? Oh. "Ah. Yes. You must mean Rin, your lordship. She's a simpleton, a slave Sesshoumaru-sama and myself aquired through our journeys."

The moustached Daishirou's face suddenly registered an emotion that Jakken could not read. "Really? How exceptionally interesting. I apologize for alarming you, Jakken. We come across very few humans in Gendou."

"Then you are quite lucky, Daishirou-sama, quite lucky indeed."

"Yes, our people tend to see them as bad omens. And it is true that trouble does seem to follow that low species wherever it might spread."

Jakken nodded as the two once again began their way towards the manor, his oily manner already intent on schmoozing the visiting lord in whatever way possible. "Ah. Impeccable logic, Daishirou-sama. Your people are quite clever, indeed!"

Unbeknownst to Jakken, however, Daishirou narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. 'A human girl, is it? Indeed, this -shall- be simpler than I expected.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru stood near his fireplace, gazing intently into the flames. A favorite pastime, he often wondered at the purging and purifying force of fire. Burn fast, or live locked in ice for eternity. The concept reminded him of Rin, how the spark of her life would run its course expediently. Was she, then, a purifying force of her own? As much as Sesshoumaru wanted to answer in the negative, he could not bring himself to come up with any valid reasons to do so.

It was the voice of Daishirou which shook the Lord of the Western Lands from his reverie. The two statesmen had spent an evening in rather heated conversation, discussing plans, differences, possibilities, alliances. The badger-youkai sat now in an opulate oversized chair, one given to Sesshoumaru as tribute by some long-forgotten entity. Sesshoumaru himself rarely opted for chairs, their backs had a tendancy to cause a cramp in his flowing tail, plus one had to rearrange one's katanas before sitting. No. He preferred standing, leaning against a tree, or sitting at a low table.

"Your lordship? Just now, you had an ever-so-distant look as you peered into the fire. May I ask your thoughts?" Daishirou began.

Sesshoumaru briefly inhaled the scent of the fire before speaking, "You must truly fear for the safety of your son's ascension, Daishirou-san, to come so far to strike such a deal."

"My people," Daishirou began, "The youkai of Gendou, they are a backwards and superstitious sort. They find bad omens in everything, even in my son."

"I see," the stoic Sesshoumaru replied, poking at the fire a bit with a katana, one of the many tributes Dashirou had bestowed upon the inu youkai. Purifying. Purifying fire. "Tell me of Hiroe, Daishirou-san."

"Ah. What is there to tell, Sesshoumaru-sama? Her beauty is legendary, her grace heavenly, her scent divine. My daughter will raise fine children for you, and is from a line of females renouned for producing many sons."

Sesshoumaru's gaze turned away from the fire and onto his guest, "And beyond this?"

Daishirou stumbled with his words for a moment before producing a reply, "B...b...beyond? I am not sure what your lordship means?"

'Of course not,' Sesshoumaru's mind whispered, 'Because females are good for nothing beyond this. What sort of answer was I seeking? What provoked such an unusual question? This Sesshoumaru has merely spent too much time in the presence of Rin and that idiot Jakken. He has grown unused to holding intelligent conversations with perceptive youkai. Having a respectable mate would help keep my senses sharper...but...with the information I have received, this Sesshoumaru doubts Daishirou should be trusted.'

"This Sesshoumaru means nothing by it. Please excuse me for this evening, Daishirou-san, other pressing matters require my attention. Should you wish Jakken to lead you to your room?"

"No, no, your lordship, I recall the path. I thank you for your time, Sesshoumaru-sama."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Daishirou closed the door to the inu youkai's quarters behind him. The pungent scent of human flesh eminated quite clearly from the room down the hall. A slave? The lord of Gendou doubted it. More likely a toy of some kind. But, he would find out soon enough. Right now, arrangements would need to be made for an expedient retreat from Sesshoumaru's estate should anything go awry.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rin awoke to a jumble of noises and flashes of realizations. Being carried. Going fast. Tight grip. Hard to breathe. Hand over Rin's mouth...

The world around Rin blurred past. Nighttime, hard to see. A hallway. A candelabra. A glass window. The estate, yes, she was still in Lord Sesshoumaru's manor. But, who was carrying her? The lanky teenager's heart began to race as her body squirmed a protest in her abductor's arms.

"Be still."

It wasn't a voice that Rin recognized. No. A gruff and scratchy voice. Rin's mind spun, she felt dizzy and ill as the warmth of her kidnapper's muscle-bound body invaded her thin frame. She couldn't even bite his hand because of the way he had it cupped against her mouth. This man knew what he was doing. A professional.

Suddenly, they stopped.

"Master, I've brought the human girl."

Rin felt herself being thrust upwards, the rustle and snap of cloth ringing in her ears. 'So thats it,' Rin thought, 'He tied my arms and legs with my own bedsheets. How could I have slept through that?'

"Excellent. Go check on our retreat. It shan't take me long to break this worthless human."

A clawed hand grasped Rin underneath her chin and pulled her upwards, thrusting the fragile girl against a wall. In the deep blackness of the room, Rin tried desperately to adjust her eyes.

Thick eyebrows, in fact...the man was covered with incredibly thick facial hair, just like a badger. Just like all badger youkai.

"Dai.....Daishirou-sama?" Rin barely managed.

"Clever deduction. Perhaps you aren't as simple as I've been told. A fact which is good for me...but unfortunate for you."

"But....but why?" Rin whimpered. She hadn't meant to whimper, she had to be strong. Yes. Rin pressed her lips together. 'This has to be a misunderstanding. Attempt to remain calm. That is what Lord Sesshoumaru always says. That is what he would do. Remain calm,' Rin thought.

Daishirou's strong hand tightened around her neck. Rin's head went bashing against the wall with only the slightest shove from the youkai. "Impudent human. I'll ask the questions here. Now. Tell me everything you know about Lord Sesshoumaru. Especially his weaknesses. Leave nothing out, or I will make your death even more painful than you could possibly imagine."

Rin's eyes grew wide. Why? Why would he want to know about Lord Sesshoumaru's weaknesses? Didn't he come merely to offer his daughter to her master as a mate? "But...I don't know of any weak..."

Rin's statement was cut off by another bash against the wall. Her head throbbed, and she could already feel a few drops of sticky blood rolling down her neck. One or two more bashes like that...

"Lies!' the badger-youkai hissed.

But, the torture was interrupted by a voice somewhere outside of the dark room. "Daishirou-sama?" It was Reiko, Rin realized immediately, "Daishirou-sama, are you quite alright? I heard a commotion."

"REIKO!!!!" Rin screamed, her voice piercing the night air more dangerously than a katana.

The next few moments occurred in a blur. Reiko burst in, and flew towards the pair, his eyes glowing with rage, his claws drawn. But, somehow, with his free hand, Daishirou had caught the attacking raccoon-youkai and had sent him sprawling backwards. Rin let out a small yelp as she heard Reiko smack against a wall-beam. The crack that his impact made left no question, Reiko would have a few broken ribs.

Daishirou chuckled, his raspy laugh like sandpaper on Rin's mind. "You must really have them all fooled, human, to incite such behavior. Now. Back to our discussion. Tell me what I want to know."

"But...I don't understand..."

"Of course you don't, stupid human. You see...I never intended to give my daughter to Sesshoumaru as a mate. I've already promised her to Lord Hikito of Akemi Valley. Offering my daughter was only a ploy to get me here, into this manor. And now that my servant and I have raided Sesshoumaru's personal documents...and with your information...we shall have more than enough leverage and information to successfully attack the Western Lands. Surely my son's ascension to lordship will be secured if he controls such an awesome territory. So you see, little bug, your master's fate is already secured. So, you might as well go ahead and tell me everything you know..."

Daishirou snarled at Rin, his sharp teeth seeming bright even in the darkness. She could feel his breath upon her face, coating her skin with its smoggy heat. What could she tell him? Even if she knew of some weakness, she would certainly rather die that betray Sesshoumaru-sama.

"That would be a quite a plan, indeed," a calm voice mentioned from across the room, "...if Lord Hikito weren't one of my most loyal allies."

Before Daishirou could even register this with an incredulous "Nani?", Rin had been ripped from his grasp. Almost as if to mimic the other youkai lord, Sesshoumaru now held Daishirou against the wall by his neck with one hand. Sesshoumaru's other hand(1) clutched the weakened Rin to his chest, steadying the girl whose weak legs were threatening to buckle.

"Lord....Sesshoumaru?" Daishirou squeaked, while at the same time Rin was whispering the same question into the soft folds of her master's sleeve. Daishirou narrowed his eyes, "You're...too late...my servant...already escaped with...documents..."

"No. Jakken has been sent to deal with him. In the future, your servant will be described using one particular word: Charbroiled." Sesshoumaru glanced down at the girl he clutched against his torso. "Rin. Can you stand?"

"Y...yes..." Rin whispered as she extricated herself from her master's arm, weakly moving to stand at his side.

"You are perhaps the most foolish youkai I have ever encountered. Even moreso than that witless half-brother of mine. As soon as you told your plan to Hikito, he sent word to me of your intentions. Now..." Sesshoumaru glowered, pressing Daishirou harder against the wall, "...admit that I, Sesshoumaru, am the greater youkai, and I will allow your death to be swift."

"Yes," the badger-youkai moaned, "Yes, you are the greater. Anything. Please, please don't kill me Sesshoumaru-sama. I will give you anything...my daughter...my lands...anything."

"A futile request. This Sesshoumaru shall take whatever he pleases, with or without your permission," Sesshoumaru pronounced as he rubbed together the fingers of his free hand. It had become coated with a thick sticky substance that he only now realized must be the blood from the back of Rin's head. Breathing in, the coppery scent of her blood flooded him, and Sesshoumaru felt as if his entire body coursed with an unknown energy.

Rin watched as her master's eyes began to glow, the amber orbs quickly becoming overtaken by a terrible blood red. His free hand clenched and unclenched as a Rin held her breath. 'No, please, Sesshoumaru-sama. Don't do it! Don't...' her mind begged.

The blackness flashed with light as the sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air. Sesshoumaru felt only dimly aware of the piercing shriek which had eminated from the human by his side, and which now died as once again the room became still. His sword had hit its target, and Daishirou would be dead...but, still, something was wrong...

Rin clenched her eyes closed even tighter. What had she done? She hadn't even thought. It just happened...so quickly it had happened. She felt...

Tenseiga pulsed in Rin's hand, as if in response.

"Rin." Sesshoumaru said, finally realizing that not one, but -two- swords were plunged deep into Daishirou's chest, the width of Tenseiga's blade resting upon the dull edge of Toukijin's. Around the wound, a patch of Daishirou's skin seemed to glow an unnatural blue.

"Rin...sorry...Rin...didn't want anyone to die...and...Rin tried to stop...to stop it...but...," A heavy tear feel to the ground, as Rin's bowed her head even lower to escape her master's deadly gaze.

She had drawn Tenseiga in an attempt to parry his blow. In his focused fury, Sesshoumaru hadn't even noticed. But, being inexperienced and far weaker than the youkai lord, Rin's stroke had ended up sliding down the edge of Toukijin's blade, inertia carrying it forward even into Daishirou's chest.

Tenseiga clattered to the floor, followed shortly by Rin, panting between sobs. Not only had she defied her master, she had very possibly helped to kill a man, when her only intention had been to do the opposite. Hot tears traced painful pathways over youthful skin. Lord Sesshoumaru had every right, every right to be furious, every right to kill her for her willful actions.

But...what was...that noise? At first, it sounded a great deal like the hiss a pre-storm wind might make when blowing through a grove of trees. Then it changed, growing fuller and more insistant, like the repetitive warning of a rattlesnake.

"Rin. Look at Daishirou," the cold voice commanded. Rin used the back of her hand to wipe at her tear-covered face. Although she desperately wanted to beg her master not to make her look at a dead man, she hadn't the power to attempt to defy him yet again. The maiden's face tilted upwards as she peered through the darkness at the defeated foe. Even in this dim light, she could tell, something...something was...wrong. Daishirou seemed half as bulky and muscular as he had been just a few minutes ago, and his...his tail was missing?

Rin jumped to her feet to take a closer look. She had to find out if her instinct proved correct. Bravely, the slender girl leaned close to the man who had threatened her life.

It was true.

Daishirou had become...human.

Utterly and totally human.

And to top it off, he was still breathing.

Rin looked from Daishirou to Sesshoumaru and back again. Her master wore perhaps the most self-satisfied smirk she had ever seen, which said a lot...since most of his looks incorporated some self-satisfied effect.

"Well. Daishirou, this Sesshoumaru releases you to return to your lands. Feel free to lead your people against me. Of course, it is likely that in your state, they will lynch you before you even speak a word."

With that, Sesshoumaru bashed the man's head against the wall, just for good measure, and opened his hand, allowing the treacherous ex-youkai to fall into a heap on the floor.

Meiko appeared seconds later, and after Rin meekly stuttered a brief rundown of the situation, rushed to her injured brother's side.

"Rin. Let us return. You can walk?"

The look on Sesshoumaru's face caused the weary Rin to nod. Even if she could not walk, she would crawl, she would dig her fingernails into the marble floors and -pull- herself along. How sore her heart felt from the possibility of displeasing or disappointing Sesshoumaru-sama.

They walked the labyrinthine hallways and corridors of the great estate, Rin following close behind the youkai lord whose graceful gait did not faulter, even though he was lost deep in thought. How had she done it? Certainly his pet, his Rin, could not have just wielded the awesome power of Tenseiga. How could she? *Clopclop* Not only was she completely bereft of any martial training, but she was a mere human! His Rin had never touched a sword, so how? But then, that wench who followed Inuyasha around pulled the Tetsusaiga out of his father's tomb, when neither of the brothers had been able to do so. Sesshoumaru had always written this off as some sort of fluke. *Clopclop* It seemed more likely that the two brothers had merely loosened the sword enough for Kagome to pull it out. However, after what Sesshoumaru had seen this evening, he was beginning to have his doubts.

Somehow, Rin had been able to activate some unknown power within the Tenseiga, both protecting Daishirou from Toukijin's fatal blow -and- turning him into a human at the same time. Sesshoumaru could decide if he should be annoyed with his pet or proud of it.

*Clopclop*

And what was that infuriating noise that kept penetrating his line of thought?

Sesshoumaru stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly to peer at the teenage human which followed behind him, sniffing occasionally to fend off tears. The aroma of her still-drying blood continued to cause his flesh to crawl as if an electric charge filled the air.

"Rin." She stopped only a hair's breadth from running into him. She settled into place, and the sound stopped. What? She was wearing -shoes-? Rin never wore shoes. 'That must be Jakken's fault', Sesshoumaru mused. 'But why had she been wearing them -in- the manor and while asleep?' 'Because she doesn't know any better', he realized. Rin didn't even know to take off her shoes before coming inside and going to bed.

"Rin, hand me those geta."

"H...hai."

Ever-obedient, Rin bent down and removed the awkward shoes from her feet. She held them out at arms' length, as if now worried to step too close to her master. Sesshoumaru took the geta in his off-hand with a small smirk and stepped across the hallway.

A door to a hidden courtyard opened under Sesshoumaru's touch, letting the cool nighttime air flow into the corridor. The youkai lord looked momentarily over his shoulder at his pet, and then with a quirked eyebrow, tossed the geta far into the night, never to be seen again.

"Arigato, Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin whispered, and her master responded with only a slight nod.

"Ah...eh...Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin called softly to the man walking in front of her as they approached her room.

"Yes, Rin?"

"Were you...when Daishirou turned into a human...that noise...were you laughing?"

Sesshoumaru made no attempt to answer this, instead, he only replied "Go to sleep now, Rin-pup."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."

As she went into her room and pulled her door closed, thoughts of his exotic pet still haunted Sesshoumaru. Rin. For a decade now, his pet had been so faithful, and now...for the very first time, she defied him. Anger. Anger. He knew that he should be feeling more anger. But, after looking at her, after considering her actions and replaying the evening over and over in his mind, he only felt...curious.

As for Rin, after she had washed the blood from her hair, she laid down and drifted off to sleep, the last thought on her mind: her master's last words. He had called her Rin-pup.

It meant he was pleased.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stay tuned for our next episode: A town festival goes awry, and Sesshoumaru undertakes a greater task than he realized!

1) In this fiction, Sesshoumaru's other arm has grown back in the 10 years Rin has lived with him, however, it is far less powerful than his "good arm".