Morning came all to quickly. Rose had wanted to believe that the night before was only a nightmare, a figment of her active imagination, but by awaking before sunrise, she found herself in Kiade's hut. A groan of disappointment exited her lips. No longer was she with Sesshoumaru, so her early awakening was not needed. 'Why? Why did they have to rescue me?'Rose curled back up in her bedding to sleep again.
Rose awoke once more, the smell of food heavy to her nose. She sat up to find everyone already up and gone. A curse left her lips directed to her own stupidity for sleeping too long; she then arose completely.
Outside, Kagome cooked breakfast with the help of Kiade and Shippo. Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha sat not too far off and spoke softly. All conversation ended as Rose emearged from the hut thus indicating it had involved her. Rose ingnored their looks and sat down between Inuyasha and Miroku.
"Good morning!" Miroku greeted her cheerfully; a little too cheerful for Rose's likeing.
"I hope you're feeling better," Kagome added, looking over her shoulder to the wolf demoness.
"I feel worse...much worse," Rose replied in a low tone that held a hint of a growl within, making her irritation apparent.
"Too bad," Inuyasha said indifferently, crossing his arms across his chest. "We're leaving after breakfast."
"Maybe a bath will help," Sango suggested.
Rose nodded in agreement and stood. With little talk, she left them for the stream. Once she had reached it and was sure no one had followed, she transformed to her human form, sliped out of her nightgown, and entered the cold water. As she bathed, her mind slipped back to memories of her work for Sesshoumaru. She remembered bathing there; oh! how shehad beenprivliged. She even had been able to use the encloused hotspring that usually served as Sesshoumaru's own bath.
As Rose relaxed in the gently flowing water, a memory took over her thoughts.
It was night, and chores had been finsihed. Most of the other girls were going to the stream in back to bathe as they normally did. Yuki and Rose stood at the back doorway.
"Aren't you coming?" Yuki asked.
"No. The lord informed me that I may use the hotspring if I wish to."
"Oh! Okay. Well, see you later, then." Yuki went to join the others as Rose turned and walked down the hall. Once she had entered the steam filled room, she changed to her human form, undressed, and entered the warm water. It felt so good against her tired body. It had only been a couple weeks, and Rose had bathed with the others during the time before; the change from cold water to soothing, warm water was gratifying.
Rose tensed out of her relaxed state as she heard the door open and close and soft footsteps upon the wooden floor. She could feel and hear the water shift as someone slipped into the spring only a few feet from her. Rose quietly emearged, not wanting whoever it was to know she was there, but as she was climbing out, she was heard.
"Who's there!" A shocked and angered voice called through the steam.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I did not know you would be bathing so early this night. I will leave and return to the other servants."
Sesshoumaru's voice calmed. "No, that is alright, Rose. Come, stay."
"Thank you, my lord." Rose re-entered the water, after descreatly changing to her demon form, and moved closer to Sesshoumaru so they could see each other. The steam was thinning some thus helping. After a while, the two relaxed in the water and talked like casual business partners about the palace, things that needed changed, servants that needed to be let go, basically anything to do with running the home of the demon lord. It didn't take long for the conversation to shift to other things such as interests and what was going on outside the palace. Rose never understood why Sesshoumaru was asking about her or was being so friendly to his servent, but he was.
The two of them left the spring together that night. Rose was invited to continue the conversation in the sitting room that night and was asked to join Sesshoumaru for dinner the followingnight. That one night of chance conversation led to many dicussions that could be as business-like as the progress of a servant's training, as casual as what had happened that day, or as deep as the philosophy of demon rule over humans. No matter what, the words between them brought them closer together without either realizing it.
Getting out of the stream, Rose got dressed, changed back to her demon form, and joined the others for breakfast.
After breakfast, the group moved on to hunt for the shards of the Shikon no Tama. Rose knew she had the option of leaving on her own, but she chose to stay because she also knew she had a better chance of survival with Inuyasha and company. Days past, each as boring as the last. Sure there were a few fights with demons, most quite weak, and shards gained, but what did Rose care about how it was going? All she wanted was to return to Sesshoumaru.
Two months had come and gone. Four shards entered Kagome's possesion. Currently, the group stayed at a large village in a wealthy man's home thanks to Miroku's trickery. Over dinner, they learned of some interesting information.
"I guess you, too, seek Ibara (Thorn)," the master of the home said offhandedly as he picked at his food.
Miroku turned his attention from the young female servant that was pouring more to drink for her master. "Ibara?" he asked, interested.
"Ah! So you haven't heard!" The master seemed quite excited.
"No, we haven't. Who or what is Ibara?" Rose asked curiously.
"The prince has recently come into possesion of a demon sword that he calls Ibara," the master explained with an eagernous. "It is very powerful, believed to be made from the claw of a strong wolf demon. The prince has decreed that anyone who can claim the blade is free to do so. Many have tried, but all have failed; it's the same story over and over. Before anyone can reach the middle of the room the sword is displayed in, the rose petals that lay scattered on the floor rise up in a flurry and slice at the being until they've left the room. That room's floor is probably red with the blood of many men."
"Ha! It's only a trick to bring more people to the town," Inuyasha said, his tone suggesting that it was the simplest thing in the world. His eyes betrayed his uninterested appeance as they shown with the ideas of getting the sword that lay in his mind.
"Perhaps," said Miroku, neither agreeing or disagreeing with the hanyou.
"None of us need the sword, so I think its safe to assume none of us will try for it," said Sango as Kagome and Shippo nodded in agreement. The rest of the dinner went by in silence. The group retired to thier beds soon after.
'Good. They're asleep.' Rose was awake, listening to her companions' breathing. Slowly and quietly, she left the room of the girls' and left the house completely. Once outside, she ran for the palace. Once at the gate, she gazed upon it. It looked slightly familiar, but she didn't pay heed to the feeling.
"Halt! State your name and business!" a voice barked as a guard walked out of the shadows of the gate.
"My name is of no concern of your lord. My business deals with the sword, Ibara."
"This way," a more quiet voice replied to Rose as the gate opened. A puny looking guard led her up to the castle's front entrance. From there, a young male servant led the way to the room.
Rose stood in the doorway, looking into the beautifully decorated yet spacious room. Rose petals of every color lay scattered all over the floor like a carpet, all fresh. In some areas, blood stains from faliures were visible upon the floor. The windows let in moonlight that shown directly upon the middle of the room where a stand stood. Upon the stand was displayed Ibara. The sword had a hilt of gold and sheath of white; it lay unsheathed somewhat, showing a shining blade. It was obvious why so many had tried; the beauty of the sword was exquisite, and its power was easily detected. Rose become so entranced with the item that she didn't notice that the servant had run to awaken and warn his lord.
Carefully, Rose approached the middle of the room, her breathing controled but her mind worried. So far so good for she had reached the stand with no problems. Her gaze went to the petals; not a quiver came from them. With trembling fingers, Rose reached out to the sword and grasped the hilt. Her eyes closed out of instinct, expecting to be sliced and diced. However, nothing came...nothing but clapping.
Rose opened her eyes, Ibara drawn from its sheath and held readily in her hands, to see Naraku. It was really him standing in the doorway, clapping casualy. She eyed him with suspicion for he wore the robes of a prince; she thought back then felt stupid for not remembering how Naraku played prince occasionally.
"We meet again. With how often you appear, it makes me wonder if you favor me." Naraku had an arrogant look to his smiling face.
"You know the truth to that," Rose spat at him. "I'm here for the sword."
"By all means, take it," Naraku replied with a shrug. "It was your claw and fang that made it, so only you and your children can use it."
"What?" Rose thought back. Of course! She had lost a fang to one of Inuyasha's right hooks when she first fought him; the claw was lost then also when she had landed too hard on the ground thus breaking a nail upon her hand which she had used to brace herself. Both had grown back by now. "Why did you have this sword made? What's the catch?"
"Only that I can call upon you for your services whenever I choose without questiong. Think of it as a gift." Rose didn't quite understand why Naraku would do this, why he would want her services, but it was rightfully her sword. She turned and grabbed the sheath, sheathing the sword. Naraku provided her with a silver piece of cloth to tie around her waist like a belt in which she tucked the sword. She was cautious of him as he treated her so kindly, knowing of how he treated many of his workers, but he had yet to betray her. He had been quite kind to her, keeping his word and all, so she had no true reason not to trust him.
Naraku led the way out. As they walked down the hall, Rose paused at a door, hearing groans of pain within. She opened to door and peered in, finding Kagura laying on the floor of the dark and small room. She looked quite sickly and weak. Naraku came up behind Rose and peered in, a look of irritation in his eyes. "She did not return straight away after she left you. She tried to run," he explained. Rose nodded and closed the door, following him once more.
They parted ways at the front entrance without a word. Rose returned to the wealthy man's home to find everyone still asleep. She quckly returned to her bedding and slept.
Morning came, and news spread quickly that Ibara had been claimed by a demon. There were many theories of how it had been obtained, but none came close to the truth. Of course, the gang had figured out it was Rose before she had even awakened, having slept in because of her late night activities. Inuyasha questioned her all morning until 'sat' by Kagome. The only answer Rose ever gave was "It was meant to be." She would never reveal the story of Naraku's twisted kindness.