Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of the gang but I do own Masahiro and Fujiwara.
The peace and quiet that had become a pattern of everyday life was soon broken. Rin quietly tended the small flower garden with Kagome's help while InuYasha sat perched either on the walls overlooking to gardens or at the base of a tree a distance away. It was the hanyou that noticed the first sign of what he perceived to be trouble. He caught the scent of demon quickly enough. As the girls moved about in relative silence in the garden InuYasha caught the sound of the footsteps of whatever approached.
"Kagome, take Rin inside."
The girls stopped what they were doing and looked upwards, seeing InuYasha perched on the wall's ledge. Kagome saw the worried look on her friend's face and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Slowly Rin gathered up her tools. She knew something was wrong. The tone of InuYasha's voice had given it away. He wouldn't have sent them both inside unless he felt there was real trouble coming. Something that even Kagome with her archery skills could not handle. As the girls disappeared into the great hall, InuYasha's eyes scanned the horizon. He knew this damn scent. Or at least part of it. The scent of the demon who had been following him, watching him. Getting bolder apparently.
"Kagome? Whats going on? You and InuYasha are in tune enough with one another. He saw something out beyond the walls, didn't he?" Rin asked, slowing her pace once they were safely inside.
"I'm sure its nothing to worry about, Rin. You know how InuYasha is. He's just being overly cautious is all."
"She's not taking visitors. Now get lost."
"Well unless InuYasha has started talking to himself, Kagome, I think that something is more like a someone. And it sounds to me like they want to have a word with you."
"We are here to speak with the Lady Rin, not a halfbreed. You cannot prevent our seeing her."
Immediately Rin started for the gardens again. She would not stand for that word to be uttered in her presence or within her hearing range. Regardless of their reason for coming here, seeking her out, they were already on Rin's bad side. Kagome dropped the gardening implements and rushed forward, grabbing Rin's arm before she could reach the doorway.
"No! Rin, you can't go out there! Come on, lets let InuYasha handle this, please!"
"I won't put up with whoever that is calling InuYasha that! My child is going to be like him, born of a human mother and a demon father. I hate that word!"
"Listen to me, InuYasha has learned to shrug it off. It doesn't even bother him these days. He wouldn't want you getting all worked up about it either. Just...just stay here and I'll go take a peek, okay?" Kagome pleaded.
Rin nodded stiffly, her brown eyes stained nearly black in her anger. She wished for a moment she had some kind of powers so she might strike down whoever or whatever had dared say such a hateful thing. Slowly, cautiously, Kagome crept to the doorway and dared to peer outside. From her vantage point she could see InuYasha's back but as she glanced over his shoulder she could clearly see the face of what appeared to be a human man. As she looked closer, she realized something about him wasn't quite right. He appeared human but...not quite. His eyes. Where had she seen eyes like that before? A snake! His eyes were like those of a snake.
"You are Lord Sesshomaru's younger brother, are you not?"
"Yeah well don't hold that against me." InuYasha snorted.
"We have seen and spoken with Lord Sesshomaru. Our business is with him also. We have been watching--"
"I know you have been. I was there when Sesshomaru and I attacked you both with our swords, remember? So how about before our patience runs out the two of you just back off, go away and leave us alone?"
"I have already run out of patience with you, pup, let us pass!" the shorter demon hissed.
"Masahiro, calm yourself."
"He is being insulting, Fujiwara. I grow tired of it!"
"Ask me if I care." InuYasha sighed in a bored tone.
"InuYasha, sit!" Kagome ordered as she quickly stepped out into the gardens once more, hoping to avoid a battle.
Rin heard the familiar crash of her friend being driven into the ground and she shook her head. InuYasha was definately the hot tempered of the brothers. She dared to approach the doorway when she suddenly felt a presence. Glancing over her shoulder she saw the formidable figure of her mate. Sesshomaru's look was a dark one. He, too, had heard the sound of InuYasha's beads of subjugation in action.
"Rin?"
She hated it when he did that. Asked her a million questions in just the way he said her name. The problem was discerning which question she should answer. When she hesitated, Sesshomaru simply walked passed her and stepped into the doorway. All conversation in the gardens ceased. None dared to move, not even InuYasha.
"Apparently my last warning to you both went unheard. You linger on my lands and your presence in not welcome here." Sesshomaru said, his voice calm but clipped.
"As we explained to your brother, Lord Sesshomaru, our dealings here have nothing to do with you and everything to do with Lady Rin. We only wish a moment of her time if you might indulge us." Fujiwara smiled tightly.
"I indulged you once when I allowed you to live. Unfortunately for you, I am lacking in any further willingness to humor such kindnesses. Be gone. Rin is seeing no one."
"Is she no longer in your possession, Sesshomaru? Is that what this is all about? You say she is seeing no one because she is, in fact, gone?" Masahiro sneered, his contempt barely concealed.
"Do not try to trick me with such foolish games, child. You are a demon in your infancy. Your impudence gives you away as such. I tell you again, be gone from here."
Masahiro's eyes flared in outrage. This dog dared speak to him with such a tone of dismissile! The demon started forward as if charging the inuyoukai lord but his motion was drawn to a quick hault when Tetsuseiga suddenly was aimed at his chest. InuYasha smirked, an eyebrow raised.
"Don't even think about, little man. You've worn out your welcome so move along."
Fujiwara raised a hand, keeping his voice calm as he spoke, "Gentlemen, there is no need for this to dissolve into a violent incident. Lord Sesshomaru, forgive Masahiro's behavior. He meant no disrespect. We are merely in desperate need of counsel from the Lady Rin and seek to speak with her for only a moment. Perhaps...if it would be more suitable, I may speak with her myself?"
This, if anything, made Sesshomaru all the more leery. It was fast becoming clear these demons would not stop their visits until they had an audience with his mate. He couldn't kill them outright. He had given up such cold ways of dealing with others so long ago, he was no longer certain he could be so callous. Very well. He would allow the demon, Fujiwara, to speak with Rin seeing as he was the calmer of the two. If for no other reason than to watch Masahiro and InuYasha have some futile staredown to pass the time.
"Very well. You have five minutes of her time and then you are to leave. No more, no less."
With that said Sesshomaru turned and returned inside the great hall. Rin stood where he had left her, her eyes questioning him. He could feel Fujiwara several paces behind him. The snake demon stopped, giving Rin and Sesshomaru a respectable distance away so they might speak privately. Rin peered up at her lord as he stood before her, blocking out her view of the doorway.
"His name is Fujiwara, a snake demon. Answer his questions but nothing more than that. For him and his companion to have come here, they must want something of great value. Take great care with what you say."
Rin nodded solemnly as Sesshomaru stepped aside and allowed her to pass. Though the demon appeared human it was his eyes that gave away his true form. If this demon wanted something of great value why had he asked specifically for her? Lord Sesshomaru possessed all manners of valuable things. Fujiwara nodded to Sesshomaru and the dog demon turned away, disappearing into the halls.
"My lady, word of your fair dealings with demons has travelled far and wide. Which is why, in part, that I come to you now. We have been following and watching your lord and his brother. We oversaw the battle with the ogre demon and it was from that battle that you obtained something we, ourselves, wished to possess."
"Something you wished to possess?" Rin asked, unwilling to offer up any indication she knew what Fujiwara spoke of.
"The flask, my lady. It contains the elixir that grants a being immortality. We, the snake demons, are fading from existance. All we would need...is but a few drops of the the elixir to save our people from extinction."
"Fujiwara, you should be asking this of Lord Sesshomaru. The flask is in his possession, not mine. I have no say it what becomes of its contents. I trully wish I could be of some help but--"
"We could never ask the Lord Sesshomaru for such a thing, my lady. Just a few precious drops is all we ask. Surely he would not miss such a small amount. What possible need could an inuyoukai lord have for all that elixir? I would not ask such a thing of you, my lady, but you are our last hope. If something is not done, our people will continue to dwindle and we will be but a faded memory. How cruel a fate is that?"
"You ask me to steal from my lord, Fujiwara. I could do no such thing! Lord Sesshomaru has only ever shown me kindness. What kind of gratitude would it be for me to take something of his?" Rin objected.
"I am asking you, Lady Rin, to show my people some measure of kindess and save them from extinction!" Fujiwara exclaimed passionately.