Disclaimer- Copyright goes to Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 1
"What happened to your face?"
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"Rin."
"Rin!" a loud deep voice said that I immediately recognized as Sesshoumaru.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and the drool off my arm. I had fallen asleep reading in the library. " Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
" You were asleep on a scroll that I require."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." I said as I handed him the scroll that I had used as a pillow. I silently prayed it didn't have drool on it. He took the scroll and gave me one of his many indifferent looks and then silently turned his back to me and walked toward his study. I let out a long sigh and rested my chin in my hand as I leaned on the table. 'How long has it been? 10 years? And I have yet to find an answer. Perhaps...It is time that I take my search elsewhere other than looking amongst endless scrolls and libraries.'
I felt like even though I was only 17 that my time with Sesshoumaru is running out. Jaken used to constantly tell me that I was human and that I would eventually die off. That I had no place in Sesshoumaru's life. I'm sure Jaken is just waiting for the day I finally die. It made me wonder the same about Sesshoumaru. Is he just patiently waiting for me to die too? Of course that would be stupid since he could simply kill me.
Maybe I could take this chance to ask him about taking Aun. I got up from the table, careful not to knock anything over, and headed across the library toward his office. When I got to his door, I hesitated in knocking. I really shouldn't bother him.
"Rin. Come in." His voice said from inside, startling me. I sighed and slowly slid the door open. "Hai Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Sit." He said commandingly. I quickly sat in front of him. I noticed the scroll that he had wanted spread out on the desk in front of him. Then I realized that was the scroll I had been reading was the one he wanted. Why didn't it dawn on me? He could easily guess what I had been interested in. Of course I'm more in denial about him knowing about what I've been researching for years. I highly doubt that he doesn't know because Sesshoumaru always knows and you can't ever hide anything from him. Yet there was still that fear of him knowing.
I tried to keep all emotion and expression from my face, something I picked up on from Sesshoumaru along time ago. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, then to my amazement opened in shock." Rin, I sense great fear and anxiety from you. I have not done anything to threaten you. Why is it that you tremble in my presence?" He said quietly. I mouth gaped open. So much for my show-no-emotions plan, I should have known he would have read me like a book. I knew I had to answer him and I could not lie.
"It is not you that I fear but what you might say." I said simply. He seemed somewhat a taken back at what I said. I was expecting him to ask what I thought he might say. But...
"Rin. Come with me." He said as he stood up and walked past me and slid the shoji door open. Trying to regain my composure, I got up and followed him. Isn't that what I have always done?
I followed him through the dark corridors of his castle. I silently admired him from behind. His beautiful long flowing hair shown brilliantly in the moonlight and swayed as he walked. His regal posture that radiated confidence and arrogance with each graceful step. His--
I thoughts were cut off as I almost slammed into him. He had stopped and I failed to notice. I realized what part of the castle we were in, the gardens. I had always admired the gardens, because they were always filled with flowers or blossoming trees. I had always loved flowers, so much so that Sesshoumaru taught me Ikebana. I suppose if I was going to pick flowers, I might as well do something useful with them.
I followed him to the edge of the pond in the middle of the garden. He silently looked up at the moon and closed his eyes. I stood next to him and did the same. I understood that he was taking in the fragrant scent of the garden. "Rin?" He said very quietly as if not to disturb the sereneness of the moonlit garden. "Yes?"
"Do the lilies wish to be roses?" shocked by his question I was unsure as to how I was to answer.
"No, Sesshoumaru-sama. They are beautiful in their own right."
"You are correct Rin. Keep this in mind." We remained silent for a few moments before he spoke again. "Where are you going to start searching first?"
"Bokuseno-sama."
"Wise choice." A compliment from Sesshoumaru?
"May I request that I take Ah-Un with me?" I said tentatively.
"Do as you like." He said as he stepped toward me. My eyes widened as he gently placed his hand on my cheek and then leaned down close to my ear, so close I could feel his hot breath. "Rin, always remember Roses have thorns." he softly whispered into my ear. Then he abruptly pulled himself from me and continued to walk past me. By the time I recovered from my shock, I turned around and he was already gone. I stood in the moonlight as a gentle breeze blew past me making me shiver in the early spring. What must he think of me now? He knows of my greatest desire. The very same desire that has been my obsession for so many years. The obsession that stemmed out of love for him. Or maybe...he's my obsession.
Glossary:
Hai: yes
Ikebana: art of flower arrangement.
Author's notes: I'm sooooo sorry it took me a while to update. I know I said I would post it later that night but well crap happens. I was tempted in this chapter to use actual Japanese flowers. Of course, I'm sure you can find lilies and roses in Japan, but I'm not so certain about finding them in the Sengoku Jidai. So I opted to use flowers people would be more able to relate with. Please excuse my bad grammar, I tend to write things as it flows so whatever. Also with the whole Ikebana thing, well I was writing and the thought of Sess teaching Rin how to arrange flowers just struck me as funny and adorable all at the same time, so well yeah. I feel some fanart coming on.
Please review! Btw- THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT REVIEWED! I LOVE YOU ALL!