Disclaimer: Don't own InuYasha or any of the other characters.
Rin could feel her knees shaking. She stood alone in the hall outside the chamber, listening to the grumbles and occasional outbursts of the demon lords from within. How could Jaken do this to her! Inform her she was requested within the great hall and then just leave her there by herself! That smirking imp was going to pay dearly for this! Nervously she paced a small path before the door, twisting on her fingers since Jaken had scolded her not to touch her hair or pick at the fine material of the kimono.
Suddenly the door opened slightly and the imp in question peered into the hall. His grim look was hardly reassuring. Rin knew. This was not the time to ask a dozen questions. She quickly squared her shoulders and nodded. She was ready as she was ever going to be. With that Jaken shoved the door open wide and stepped aside, turning slowly to see how his lord might react to Rin's new appearance. Truth be told it was Juri's reaction he was most interested in. A murmur raced through the crowd as Rin stepped into the room, her back ramrod straight.
Juri looked fit to kill. Gone was the faded and slightly ill fitting kimono from the girl's what appeared to be gangly form and in its place was a satin creation that seemed molded to every subtle curve and swell. The vibrant color accentuated Rin's pale coloring and dark hair to perfection. The pale, youthful face was now beautiful painted, the warm tones giving her skin a glow. Had Juri not known Rin for a human she would have sworn the girl was a demoness as well! Rage boiled in Juri's belly. Inwardly she seethed and vowed to rip the stupid girl to pieces. She would have her cowering and fearful before destroying her completely!
Rin took the careful measured steps Jaken had instructed her on, her eyes never making contact with a demon in the room. There, at the head of the impossibly long table was Lord Sesshomaru. His face betraying nothing of what he was thinking or feeling. At least he wasn't scowling. He couldn't be too terribly upset. Silently Rin took her place, two paces behind her lord, her hands folded together inside the wide sleeves of her kimono. Jaken, looking the proud vassil, took his position at Lord Sesshomaru's side. Occupying the seat immediately to Sesshomaru's right was Juri, her eyes burning holes into Rin.
Inwardly Sesshomaru was debating on whether to maim his cursed vassil or perhaps just this once praising him. Rin hardly looked the part of a starved waif nor did she look the part of a kept woman of a powerful inuyoukai lord. Quite simply, she looked like a lady. And a damned beautiful one at that.
Juri wasted no time. She knew this girl for the snivelling coward she was and she would put her in her place before the others could be overcome by her beauty. Slowly, like a snake preparing to strike, the demoness rose from her seat and stepped towards Rin. Jaken's grip on his staff tightened but he waited. Surely she wouldn't be so stupid as to strike Rin with Lord Sesshomaru within arms reach of her.
"Well well well. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. How a few short hours has changed you, young Rin," Juri sniffed haughtily, walking a slow, deadly, tightening circle around the girl, "Painted up like a good proper courtesean, aren't you?"
With all the innocence of an asp Rin replied coolly, "I suppose only one who knew the look of a courtesean would say such a thing."
Juri stopped up short, her eyes narrowing. This child could not think she would match wits with her! Something in the girl's demeanor had changed. This time Rin was looking her directly in the eye! Juri's palm itched to slap that tiny smirk from Rin's lips. The girl was more like her lord than she suspected. Her expression, the way she held herself, the impassive mask of her face, all so like Lord Sesshomaru one would swear they were of the same flesh. All eyes were on them now, watching and waiting to see if Juri would dare to annihilate Lord Sesshomaru's ward as she had done the panther demon.
"All the pretty silks, satins and kimonos in the world cannot change one simple fact, girl. You are still nothing but a filthy human beneath all that finery. A human female is what brought about Lord Sesshomaru's father's destruction. Is that your intent? To see that the son follows the father's fate? Worm your way into his home, undermine his strength and then toll the death knell for him?" Juri hissed, leaning in til she was nose-to-nose with the unflinching girl.
Once more Rin's eyes met Juri's. Inside she was quaking with fear but she would never let this woman see it. She knew her for what she really was. A spoiled, indulged creature. Rin's voice never wavered, rather it carried the same cool and emotionless tone as Lord Sesshomaru's.
"I would never dare to try and usurp your position, Juri."
Somewhere at the table a cup tumbled from numb, stunned fingers. Surely the human did not dare to imply that the demoness was here to destroy Lord Sesshomaru! Jaken dared to peer up at his lord and he flinched. His lord was grinning! Never a good sign! Never, never, NEVER a good sign! Moments passed without a sound as all waited with baited breath.
"He should have left you with the dead, child," Juri sneered, "At least then you would have made a far prettier corpse!"
"Strike me then, Juri. Go on. I know how you destroyed the panther demon for daring to defy you. I defy you now. So why is it you will not strike me down? What are you afraid of, Juri? Why do you hesitate? I can see how you would love nothing more than to reduce me to a pile of ash." Rin countered, knowing she was pushing the demoness too far and that she was stepping far out of line to speak thusly to a guest of Lord Sesshomaru.
"I am not a fool, child. I know to strike you seals my own death. None here would dare harm a hair on your head for fear of Lord Sesshomaru's wrath. I wonder how brave you would be without his protection, little girl. All your new life you have counted on him to save you, never doubting him for a moment. How revoltingly humanlike of you. Your faith in him will be your downfall. If he had to choose between his lands and you, do you honestly believe for a moment he would surrender his power?"
Rin faultered. Deep inside she had a split second of doubt. She quickly shook it off.
"I would never expect him to choose between a human like myself and his lands. The choice is clear, Juri. To rule one, is to be a master. To rule many is to be a lord...and that is Lord Sesshomaru's birthright."
Jaken gave a loud grunt of approval at Rin's words and to Rin's shock, many of those at the table nodded their agreement! She had made it clear to all those present. She wanted nothing of Lord Sesshomaru's power or lands. She knew her place. Juri was nearly ablaze with fury. Nothing she said would provoke this girl! Not provoke her fear, her anger, her tears! In fact everytime she attempted to provoke Rin, Rin would simply return the favor! The time for games of cat and mouse were over! The easiest way to overcome competition was to obliterate it. The girl had to be removed.
"Juri, Rin, enough," Sesshomaru finally spoke, turning to face the woman, "You wished to question Rin and you have, Juri. You all wished to lay eyes upon her and you have. I believe I have endulged you all enough for the time being. Rin, return to your rooms."
Her eyes shooting sparks, Juri returned to her seat, never letting her gaze leave Rin. For the first time since entering the room Rin looked her lord in the eyes. What seemed like a deadly silence to outsiders passed between them. Rin's eyes, however, were an open book to Sesshomaru. They burned with fury and outrage at her treatment here and they also clouded with a sadness as she realized the truth between them would never be known to rest of the world. Tradition dictated that she should remain where she was and bow in leaving. This time, the obedient Rin would dare to disobey. Boldly she stepped to stand at Lord Sesshomaru's side, so close that the sleeve of her kimono brushed against his hand. With great dignity she bowed to those around the table before turning and looking into Lord Sesshomaru's amber eyes, she bowed slowly once again. She kept her voice soft.
"Forgive me, Lord Sesshomaru. I spoke with great disrespect."
As she moved to walk behind him, her voice came again, carrying with it a hint of anger.
"But if I had it to do all over again, I would do it the same."
Sesshomaru watched Rin leave in silence. He felt no guilt when he allowed her to follow him blindly as a child, he felt no remorse when he took her innocence...but to see her walk from the room and know he had kept his silence on her meaning to him, something smote him deeply.
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Okay...third movie? I fell in love all over again with our dog demon bad guy!