Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or the characters therein.
Rin breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't expected Lord Bassarious to be in the courtyard and so she had nearly dashed back inside. The call of the wind was too strong, however. Just an hour or two of freedom was all she asked. Once the suffocating shadow of the great hall was out of sight, Rin relaxed and slowed the mare to a smooth and gentle walk. These rides were the only luxory she was really allowed these days and it was still a luxory she had to sneak about to do. With the lack of animals in the area word had begun to spread that perhaps a disgruntled demon had come around and either frightened off or devoured the creatures. If this were so, Rin knew she put herself in danger going on such rides but that hardly mattered to her. She knew she could find a way to speak with the supposed demon and reason with it.
Along the edges of the cliffs overlooking the sea, Rin slid from the mare's back and let the animal have free reign to graze. The mare would not go far. Below the waves crashed against the rocks, producing a roar that some might find frightening but Rin found to be of great comfort. Carefully she sat near the cliffs, tucking her feet beneath her and allowing the cloak to spill down her back through the grass. She had enjoyed her days here in the Northern Lands at first, seeing the people and demons she was working so hard to make peace for. Then such meetings stopped. Lord Bassarious had explained there was grumbles that her seeing those she was dealing with and for was somehow unfair. That a pleasant looking human would be ruled in favor of more than a demon. It was so far from the truth. It mattered nothing to Rin whether they be demon or mortal. So long as the judgement and outcome were fair.
Another wave hit the rocks, higher this time, sending its misty spray up to gently bathe Rin's face. As much as she loved it here, as wonderful as the weeks had been...she longed for home. And home for her was the Western Lands and her Lord Sesshomaru. She missed Jaken's scolding her, their little squabbles. She enjoyed her rides across the fields on the mare but a wild and free part of her longed to soar through the clouds on Ah-Un. Slowly Rin shook her head. She couldn't go back. This was the life she had chosen now. Her Lord Sesshomaru was left with his stubborn pride for companionship outside of Jaken and Ah-Un and she was left with...with only an unending mound of papers awaiting her judgement.
Rin rose to her feet, careful to brush any grass from her cloak and the hem of her kimono. Cautiously she approached the edges of the craggy cliff. The winds grabbed and pulled at the cloak, seeming to give her wings to fly and she smiled. As she had done as a small girl, Rin lifted her arms up and out, letting the sweet salty air rush through her fingers. She watched with a wild laugh as another great wave rolled into the shore and slammed into the rocks below with a great roar. Had she closed her eyes she would have sworn her Lord Sesshomaru, transformed to his true self, was below. Another great gust came up and blew the cloak wildly around her and gently pushing her back from the edge. Then, above the crashing waves, Rin heard something. Her name being called? By Jaken?
Quickly lowering her arms and spinning around, Rin's eyes scanned over the field but saw nothing save the mare a short distance away, happily grazing. She must have imagined it. Behind her the waves seemed to be crashing with greater force and Rin noticed the skies overhead. Clouds. A storm was coming. Whitecaps had begun to form on the choppy waters below. She should hurry back. If she were to get caught in a downpour she would never be able to explain away a soaking wet kimono. With a soft whistle, Rin called the mare back to her and scrambled up into the saddle.
"We'd better hurry. Think we can beat the storm home?" she smiled, nudging the horse into a quick gallop.
From behind a rocky outcropping a short distance from where Rin had been sitting, Jaken stepped out, a tad pale and shaking. What had that foolish girl been thinking, standing so close to the cliff's edge like that! She might very well have fallen or the wind could have picked up and pushed her! Thank goodness Lord Sesshomaru had not been here to witness Rin's behavior. Jaken began the long trek back to the camp, keeping the Staff of Two Heads down by his side so none might see him travelling through the high grass. Why would Lord Sesshomaru not let him simply talk to Rin, reason with her to come back and they all might be on their way out of this empty cursed country?
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"Choose one for slaughter."
"Any one I want?"
"Any one you want. Just be sure the discovery comes quick. Time to plant some suspicions."
The sound of hastily retreating feet was mixed with a low chuckle and the rubbing together of hands.
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"She returned to the hall, me lord. None followed her that I could see. Although she was being rather foolhardy standing so close to those cliffs!" Jaken reported, taking his seat across the fire from Sesshomaru.
"You kept your distance, Jaken? You didn't approach her nor speak with her?"
"No, me lord. I did just as you instructed."
Sesshomaru nodded silently. Something was amiss here. Rin was sneaking out of the great hall, the lands were devoid of an animals to be used for food and for all its outward appearances, the Northern Lands were not the peaceful lands they were portrayed to be. Glancing up towards the skies, he noted it was approaching the noon hour. He would see for himself what Bassarious and his men were up to. Jaken had done well in his duty to keep an eye on Rin.
"Wait here, Jaken. Should you hear someone approach, douse the fire and take cover."
The vassil nodded and watched his lord's retreating back. Even though his senses were not nearly as keen as Lord Sesshomaru's, Jaken could sense things were horribly out of balance around the Northern Lord's hall. The humans here made no sense. There was no game to catch and yet they constructed an enormous cage, they didn't even seem to notice Rin dashing out of the courtyard. Not very observant creatures in his mind. With a sad shake of his head, Jaken set his staff aside and awaited his lord's return, listening to Ah-Un's heavy deep breathing of sleep.
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Somewhere in the shadows a figure lurked. Which one, which one. The choice was all his. Go for the useless one. Make it seem so meaningless to have killed one who posed no real threat. The real question was to savor the kill or be quick about it? He would much rather toy with his victim but no. To linger would risk being caught and that would throw all their delicate plans into jeopardy. Very well. Cracking his knuckles, the figure moved off in search of his prey. He knew his orders.
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Sesshomaru stood on the hill overlooking the great hall once more. An interesting development had begun. His sharp eyes watched as a lone figure moved across the courtyard and into the stables. A demon in fact. The creature could have almost passed for a human if not for its scent and the razor sharpness of its teeth. What business could it have in the stables? Demons were not exactly known for their riding skills. Overhead the skies were growing thicker with dark angry clouds. Somewhere in the stables Sesshomaru heard a horse's soft whinny and then the demon reemerged...with a human thrown over its shoulder. The scent of fresh blood carried on the thick air. What was the meaning of this?
The creature moved quickly, taking the limp form away from the castle and deep into the fields. Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow. This certainly warranted his attention. Swift and silent, he followed the demon's path until it stopped still well within sight of the great hall. Uncermoniously, the creature dumped the body into the grass and looked about. Did this thing mean to devour the human's body? In such lean times without game about it wouldn't surprise Sesshomaru in the least if that was in fact the case. But then the demon simply walked away. His interest was peaked now. He waited until the beast had vanished from sight before approaching the still body. As he stood over it he saw it was nothing more than a young man, perhaps Rin's age. What had been the purpose in killing him? The demon's sharp teeth had made quick work of the boy's throat.
"HOLD! Who goes there!"
Sesshomaru slowly lifted his eyes from the body to see Lord Bassarious approaching with a small army of his men. Silently the inuyoukai lord cursed. This was not going to look good. Him standing over the body of a freshly slain human. He made no moves as Bassarious slid from the stallion's back and came towards him, his hand on the hilt of his sword. It was clear the Northern lord had not yet seen the body.
"Lord Sesshomaru? What is your purpose here?"
"My purpose here is none of your concern, mortal. What should concern you is the senseless slaughter of one of your own. The demon--"
Bassarious' eyes went to the grass at Sesshomaru's feet and his blue eyes flared. Swiftly his sword was drawn as were those of his men.
"The demon who slaughtered one of my own still stands over the corpse! You come into my lands uninvited and slay a human! We had an agreement of peace, Lord Sesshomaru!"
"Don't be a fool, mortal. Why would I sully my hands with the blood of a human? A demon did this but it was not I." Sesshomaru replied coldly, his eyes narrowing.
"I have seen and heard enough! Will you continue this senseless slaughter or will you come with us peacefully? You will face judgement for this!" Bassarious roared as two of his men dared venture forward to gather the body of their fallen friend.
"I will not face judgement for an act of violence which was not my own. Take the human and do with his body what you will. Feel fortunate. The demon that killed him might have devoured him were had it not taken flight."
"Enough!" Bassarious hissed through gritted teeth, behind him the alarm was sounding in the great hall, "Soon I shall have my full army behind me and you will pay for what you have done! Your own mediator had negotiated our peacebond and this is how you honor it! Did you hatred of her for leaving you drive you to this, Sesshomaru? Is it her you really wish to slay!"
"You would be wise to hold your tongue, mortal, before I rip it from your mouth and hold it for you." Sesshomaru replied darkly, seeing the approaching men.
"We shall see if you keep up this pretense in the face of Lady Rin. She is still the mediator in these lands. Her judgements are final. I wonder, will she be so lienient with you when she hears it is one of her own, a human, that you slaughtered!" Bassarious leered as he swung back up into his saddle. "It is my hope she considers your miserable hide expendable!"
With that Bassarious drove his knees hard into the stallion's sides, causing it to rear up and gallop back towards the great hall. From the darkened edge of the forest, the demon watched the exchange and chuckled. It could not have gone better. With its work done, the creature slipped back into the woods, vanishing from sight.