DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story expect Tristis & Astoria. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I just borrowed them.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok here's chapter six. *blushes* I can't begin to thank the people who reviewed. I was especially pleased & very honored from the kind words I received from Amargo Scribe & Sketch. Thank you *so* much! That along with all the very much welcomed reviews made my day. *Blushes again* I've tried really hard to keep Sesshoumaru in character and I hope I continue to do so. Please keep reviewing, it makes me write faster. ^__^ Thanks again & enjoy the latest chapter.

Chapter Six- Discovering Something New

'Damn females. Get this, get that, why doesn't Lord Sesshoumaru pay attention to me? I never thought I'd miss Rin's chatter. As soon as Lord Sesshoumaru tells her to get lost then this Jaken can get some rest.'

The imp continued his grumbling as he made his way with a tray to Lady Astoria's rooms. For the past month he ended up taking care of her needs more than her own servants. It was worse than when he had became Rin's nanny during their travels. But it was on order from Lord Sesshoumaru so he tried to silence his objections.

"Jaken if you continue to be late with my tea I'll rip you to shreds."

Normally the little coward would have been frightened but her words didn't bother him as a threat from his master or Rin for that matter would have. After all he was the lord's personal servant and was even brought back to life by a swing from Tensiega. So he answered, "Yes Lady Astoria, I understand," and then left the room to continue his complaints.

The tall proud demon stuck her nose in the air and sat down. Astoria's stay was already into a month and Sesshoumaru still hadn't visited her chambers. What the hell is going on? She was a gorgeous noble demon but the mateless lord seemed to ignore that and the fact that she was in heat.

Why else did he think she planned her visit at this time? Ever since he was born her family had bred her to become the mate of the powerful demon lord. After all he was one of the last great lords left and the competition for him was stiff. It was about time he took on a mate and had an heir. He had put it aside long enough. And with her old family connections Astoria was sure to be the first woman in his life to take the place of his mother.

Well actually second if you counted that disgusting human that was forever by his side. She angrily set down her tea as an image of Rin came to mind. Her first thought was that Sesshoumaru had finally killed the annoying whelp but unfortunately discovered that she was on a long journey with an errand from her master. That was fine though, she wouldn't have a foul smelling human running around while she set her claws into her future mate.

Only problem was that Sesshoumaru seemed to be longing for her return. She had never seen any evidence of it but her servants did talk to his. From what they could gather the calm lord was actually showing sadness. It seemed that he'd often walk the grounds late at night and stay in her room for hours until retiring into his own room.

'He acts as if he lost a lover.' She laughed at her thought out loud. How absurd. The great feared Lord Sesshoumaru taking a human lover. It was all well too known that he despised the creatures more than any other demon. Though she did suppose he had just cause. After all his shameful father did leave his own mother for a human mistress he had hidden. Then he had a child with the loathsome creature. Disgusting.

Yet despite his self proclaimed hate he raised a human child. Astoria had remembered her first introduction to the pest.

~*Flashback*~

Months had been spent picking out the perfect kimono to catch Lord Sesshoumaru's attention. She knew the other females in attendance had done the same but it was a waste of time. This became a fact as she watched from her seat next to her parents, watching couples dance.

Foolish little bitches. She saw how they all giggled and practiced their flirting techniques for the arrival of the lord of the Western Lands. All in vain. His own father and mother had even expressed that she would make a lovely addition to their family.

Well his father's approval hadn't mattered for a long time but his beloved mother's did. That's why he even bothered to make an appearance at events like the one being held at the moment. His mother adored the social gatherings and took every opportunity to show off her jovial son. In fact the only joy she had was to see that her family was happy.

"Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands has arrived."

Astoria smiled and looked towards the door to see her chosen one walk in with a small human child holding his hand. Everyone halted their conversations and openly stared at the two. Lord Sesshoumaru took no notice and led his bubbly charge to the nobles giving the party. He paid his respects and thanked them for inviting him. Then he turned to the little girl and gave her the slightest of nods.

She grinned and presented the lady of the house with a flower necklace. From the start Astoria could see that her mother wanted to claw at the grotesque human whelp but a look from the child's master forced a smile on her regal face as she accepted the gift. Rin smiled once again and then took Sesshoumaru's hand again.

The two sat in a corner, with the demon dog pretty much ignored everything around him. The child on the other hand rambled on and on to her beloved lord about all the pretty kimonos and foreign objects that surrounded them. He half listened to her chatter, he was preparing himself for an attack on his charge.

He didn't want to bring her along but Jaken fell ill and he didn't trust any of us other servants with her. In truth he'd rather not attend at all but he felt his mother's soothing voice asking him to go when he had received the invitation. So here he was with his little human, ignoring the curious stares he was getting.

A warning growl worked itself up his throat until Lady Astoria sat in front of him. She flashed a dazzling smile as she placed her smaller hand on his.

"Lord Sesshoumaru it's been a lifetime. You've avoided our social events as of late."

He nodded and removed his hand from hers. Another glance was given to Rin as she nibbled on all the weird foods that servants cautiously brought to her. At least she had remembered his order of being quiet while he talked to someone there that wasn't a servant.

Astoria glared but put on another pretty smile for him as she forced his face to her again. "I was hoping that you would stay with us for a few more days. It's been so long since the two of us have had a chance to talk."

He gave a low growl, "I have more pressing matters to attend to." And with that he roughly pulled her hand away from his striking face.

Rin, watching all this in silence decided to voice her presence. "You're not suppose to touch Lord Sesshoumaru. He doesn't like anyone lower than him being near him and he certainly doesn't like anyone touching him but a few select people. Even Jaken knows that and he's not very smart."

Astoria growled, "Why you worthless insect! I am Lady Astoria and I will do as I please. Don't you dare compare me to the likes of such lowly demons."

She raised a claw hand to strike the girl and put her in her place but was stopped. With another hush of silence everyone turned to see Sesshoumaru with bright red eyes holding her arm roughly. He glared as he spoke barely above a whisper, "For being a lady you don't act as one. A human she maybe but this insect knows that I will not be touch by anyone or anything that I don't deem worthy. Get out of my sight you pitiful bitch."

He turned to his wide eyed companion. "This Rin is an example of demons that aren't fit to walk with humans. Come, I don't wish you to be exposed to such trash."

~*End Flashback*~

She growled at the old memory. Sesshoumaru's dismissal hadn't embarrassed her nor did it discourage her by any means. It wasn't her first dismissal from him and she could take some satisfaction that she wasn't the only female to suffer from his disinterested stare.

The true embarrassment had came from the smug grins and teasing giggles. After he had left she was forced to look at the other bitches who were all sure that their positions for Sesshoumaru's mate had moved up a notch. Hmm, they hadn't gained any forever just as she hadn't lost her position.

The lord didn't seem to care for any of his suitors. He appeared to not even notice them. Though he did. Sesshoumaru had to bare witness of ill fated arranged marriages so he denounced the idea when his father and beloved mother had suggested it. He saw his own parents crumble despite all his mother's tries to keep their family together. Because of that he told his father that under no circumstance would he be forced into mating with a female that would probably leave him.

His train of thinking was directed to his father and made sure to pour salt into old wounds. It was his mother that he delicately asked that she not arrange a marriage for him. She pleaded with him but to her somewhat shock he wouldn't give in. Though she had understood. The soft hearted demon, along with her servants, had known that marriage was a taboo subject for him.

Astoria knew the failure of his parents mating was a sore subject for him but it had been years. Why couldn't he get over it? And why couldn't he kill off that human? Why should he keep something that belongs to the very kind that caused the death of the only woman he actually loved?

A grunt escaped her as she slammed down her cup of tea, letting pieces of it enter her skin. She took no notice of the blood staining Sesshoumaru's floors. She merely gazed out the window as Jaken was seen carrying a tray of tea and several documents to his waiting master who sat at a bench in the garden beneath a tree.

His never changing bored expression played as his little servant carried the tray while trying to dodge the temperamental Ah-un. The beast had been creating a ruckus since Rin had left and refused to let anyone on its back, with the exception of Lord Sesshoumaru. It seemed everyone in the house was waiting for her return.

'Everyone acts as if she's the mistress of the house. Hmm those stupid servants might wish her to be their mistress but it won't come to pass. I chose Sesshoumaru long ago and I'm not about to give up what is mine by birthright.'

*****************************************************************************

"Here are the documents that you asked for Lord Sesshoumaru. I sent one of your servants to fetch your father's will. Thought it might be difficult to read with the blood stains since you did kill the man who was reading it to you."

Nothing was said to this and Jaken knew better to expect an answer. So he took off before his master took an type of action against him. Though if he did stick around he wouldn't have been abused at all. Sesshoumaru was too deep in his search for answers to bother with the toad.

'Father you must have left behind some wisdom behind. After all surely my mother wouldn't have followed you if you didn't hold some type of inkling to greater power. Mother was such an intellectual person. She wouldn't mate with someone who couldn't stand her equal in that.'

He searched the dusty documents but pushed them aside after a mere glance. They had been examined before but he had hoped to discover something new. Anything to help Rin and her condition. They were running out of time. When he left her he knew that for sure. Her scent was different when they awoke the morning he was forced to leave her in his brother's care.

Inuyasha still left a bitter taste in his mouth when he voiced that name. Things had gone better than he had expected when he met him again but pangs of blocked memories kept troubling him. His little brother's eyes didn't have the untrusting glint anymore, save when they were looking at him. He supposed that was due to the wench he mated with.

'Still, he's the useless pup he was when his mother took him away. Damn bitch. She and his father had conspired against him. He had wanted Sesshoumaru to change and she didn't want him involved with Inuyasha at all. After their father had died he wanted to keep his brother close to him. But due to that human bitch's interference, it wasn't meant to be.

He gave an annoyed growl and refused to think of his brother any longer. He, Sesshoumaru, had more important things to think of. 'I won't let damned memories over take me.'

With that an image of a sobbing Inuyasha roughly pulled from his adored big brother was pushed away.