Chapter One
It was another beautiful afternoon and Sesshomaru was sitting under a tree with his head lifted to the sun and the wind blowing through his long silver white hair. He turned his head and noticed that it was quiet, too quiet. Rin and Jaken had left hours ago in search of food and had yet to return. Since there was a river nearby, they had probably gone fishing but it shouldn't have taking them this long to fish. Little Rin was a good fisher and when challenged, Jaken could catch a few himself. Sesshomaru decided to wait a little longer before looking for them. After all, Rin was a child and could find many ways to amuse herself.
Time passed and the afternoon grew long, so Sesshomaru got up and went in search of his companions. After a short walk, he began to pick up their scents. Jaken's hung heavily in the air but Rin's was faint. A few feet away, he spotted Jaken asleep by the river's edge, but no Rin. Moving closer he noticed that they had indeed caught plenty of fish. The two must have rested and Jaken was still asleep, snoring lightly. Sesshomaru breathed deeply, it was part of Jaken's duty to watch over Rin and here he was asleep without a care in the world. In two steps, Sesshomaru walked over to and on top of Jaken then stopped.
Jaken couldn't breathe, there was a heavy weight on his chest, a familiar one, then woke gasping.
"My, my lord…. I was, I sorry. Umm, yes my lord?" Jaken stood up meekly and bowed his head.
"Jaken, where's Rin?" Sesshomaru did not look at him but continued to survey the area. In fact he was quite angry and frightened for Rin. She was his responsibility.
"I don't know. We, uh, fished. Then we sat and rested for a while. I…I must have fallen asleep. Please forgive me Lord Sesshomaru! I'll find her!"
"WE had better find her well." Sesshomaru finally looked down at Jaken. "For if she has come to harm when she was supposed to be under your care, you will suffer before I kill you." He spoke calmly and quietly, which frightened the imp immensely.
"Yes… of course you will. I expect no less." Jaken spoke shakily and followed after Sesshomaru. To himself he was cursing the little girl for always wandering off and leaving him to his master's wrath.
Rin was in a field of flowers. She was going to pick some for Lord Sesshomaru and make a crown of flowers for her hair. Humming she moved along happily. After a while she noticed a persimmon tree and found some on the ground.
"Good these will be dessert." Picking persimmons, she moved closer to the tree line and that's when she became aware that someone was watching her. She turned slowly around and saw a woman resting against a tree, but it wasn't an ordinary woman. She was extraordinarily beautiful with long sable hair and diamond symbol on her forehead and one thin magenta stripe on each cheek and immediately thought of Lord Sesshomaru. This woman was like him, a demon, but was she a good or bad demon?
Rin stood still and stared at her, not daring to move. The demon did the same then slowly closed her eyes as if tired.
"Don't worry little human, I don't have the energy nor the inclination to harm you. Be on your way." The lady demon shifted and let out a small moan.
It was then that Rin realized that she was injured. At first she was so dazzled by her beauty and fear for her safety that she hadn't noticed anything else. Tentively she moved forward because she was going to offer her some help. This reminded her of when she first met Lord Sesshomaru, he was hurt then too. Quietly she sat a few feet away and laid down a persimmon within her reach. Rin wasn't sure she would eat it, Lord Sesshomaru never ate in front of her, but she would offer it and see.
The demon's eyes opened yet again and saw what the child had done. She didn't understand why this human child was trying to help her or wasn't afraid of her.
"No thanks, I just need to rest. Why are you still here?"
"I'm just trying to help. When you're hurt, having someone with you makes the pain not so bad. I'll just hang around while you rest. I'll just continue picking flowers." Rin got up to do just that but turned back saying, "Don't worry I won't leave you alone." Then she ran off humming to herself.
"Strange child, she doesn't fear me but she's not trying to harm me either. Oh well." Settling more comfortably, the demon closed her eyes and dozed.
Sesshomaru followed Rin's scent to the field. He couldn't see her for all the flowers but knew she was nearby. The wind changed and he caught the scent of a demon. Its scent and Rin's were mingled together. He walked steadily into the field, alert for any attacks.
"Is something wrong, my lord?" Jaken noticed his master become a little stiff and then he caught the scent too. "Oh no! Do you think young Rin is in trouble?" Jaken couldn't see past the wild flowers and shifted his staff.
"If Rin is in trouble it will be your fault, Jaken. I suggest you be prepared for if she is harmed, I may let this demon have its way with you." Not once did he look down at Jaken but kept moving forward.
"Oh! Why oh why did I have to fall asleep? It was just a little nap. Rin you'd better be all right or this will be the end of me." Jaken muttered under his breath.
Sesshomaru got closer to the tree line and it was there that he saw Rin. She was weaving some flowers, she was all right. Then he looked closer, she was sitting by a female demon that appeared to be asleep. Quietly he moved forward until he was a few feet behind Rin.
"Rin."
Rin swung around and smiled widely up at him. "Hello my lord! I've been picking some flowers for you."
"Come here, Rin. Now." He watched her face fall a little but she quickly moved to obey him. Once she was behind him he moved forward to face the lady demon. At first he said nothing, just stared at her. This was no ordinary demon; she was like him – a dog demon.
"Who are you and what do you want here?" Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow slightly as the woman raised herself to one knee and bowed her head.
The lady demon couldn't believe it. She had found him or rather he had found her. Lord Sesshomaru, he had the look of his father. It was unmistakably him. Now she just had to convince him to help her.
"My lord, my name is Motoko. I am also of the dog demon clan, my clan lives in the northern mountains and I come seeking your help."
"Oh? What has happened that a demon from my clan cannot take care of herself?" Sesshomaru's voice was hard and cold. If she was indeed of his clan then she should be able to take care of herself with no problem. Even his half-breed brother could defend himself.
"My lord, please hear me out." Motoko kept her down and waited; when he didn't answer she began to explain her need.
"We live to the north of here but most of our clan has traveled south to engage in another battle. All that is left are the elders and young children. A few of us were left behind to protect the village. Not long after they left a rogue demon came to the village. Actually we know him; he was banished a long time ago for being disrespectful of the elders and taking whatever he wanted. Before leaving he vowed one day to return and take over as leader and it seems he has kept his word.
"At first he came in alone pretending to be hurt and seeking help. The elders decided to accept him in until he was healed. It was a trick, once inside the village he took the lord hostage and promised to kill him unless we let his comrades enter the village. Before we knew it bat demons appeared in the sky dropping some sort of missives that smoked making it impossible to breathe or see. Wolf demons came and started attacking everyone, followed by dark priests who conjured some sort of mist that took away our will." Motoko paused as she remembered all that happened. "Even with our decreased numbers, we would have been able to take care of them but the dark priests' magic…" She shook her head at that devious plan.
"It seems he made some kind of deal with these other demons to let them live on our land. He has in his army, rogue wolf demons, bat demons and a few evil humans. The humans are the worse because their dark magic."
Sesshomaru stared down at her for a moment. "But you are here. You escaped, how?"
Jaken and Rin looked from one to the other totally enraptured by the tale.
"The rogue, Yukiomaru is searching for a mate, a queen to rule by his side. He would arrange for the women to be brought to him so he could take his pick. My turn came…" Motoko took in a breath. "It was awful, my lord, to stand there and know all that is going on and to have no say about any of it.
"Well there must have been something he liked about me because he had one of the priests make an antidote for the mist but it was weak. Yukiomaru didn't want me completely free of the mist. While they waited for the potion to work, I was left alone. As soon as my head began to clear I tried to leave. A couple of wolf demons caught me but I fought them and that's how I received my wounds. My mind wasn't totally clear but I managed to kill them and set out looking for help." She raised her head to look at him. "We had heard that you'd been seen in this region so I began looking for you. I was resting when the child found me. I did not touch her, as you can see she is well, unharmed."
Sesshomaru cut his eyes to Rin who nodded at him. Looking back at the woman, he saw she had more to say.
"Please, my lord, help us. We will forever be in your service, at your call in a moment's notice. Anything we have is yours; you can claim anything as your comeuppance, including myself." At this Motoko again bowed her head and was silent.
"What does that mean?" Rin whispered to Jaken.
"Oooo, it means that if Lord Sesshomaru decided to take her as his, for helping them, then she would be his, umm, companion forever." Jaken wondered if Lord Sesshomaru would help her and make the woman his. After all one day, he'd have to have an heir and this would solve the problem of him having to go search out a female.
Sesshomaru said nothing but looked off into the distance. He was really disgusted that anyone of his clan should be so desperate for help but he didn't like the fact that someone had brought in outsiders to take over what had been denied him. Wolf demons, bat demons and evil humans taking over? No, it would not be. Naraku would have to wait. Sesshomaru turned and looked at Rin and Jaken.
"Rin gather your flowers and food and prepare to return to the camp. Jaken retrieve Ah-Un. Be quick." With that said Sesshomaru walked a few feet away and stopped.
Jaken took off as fast as his short legs could carry him. Rin smiled and looked a Lady Motoko, who was still on her knee, head bowed.
"You can rest now; Lord Sesshomaru is going to help you." Rin began to put her persimmons in a sack she had brought along.
Motoko lifted her head slowly, of course she had heard Sesshomaru walk away but she was unsure of what to do. "Girl…Rin? How do you know that? He said not one thing about helping me."
Rin sat down and looked at the beautiful demon. "We are still here and Jaken has been sent to bring Ah-Un so that you may ride and not walk back to our camp. If he wasn't going to help, we would have left you here, but we didn't. Don't worry, Lord Sesshomaru is very strong, he'll free your village.
Motoko stared at the girl; she seemed so sure, confident of her words that she began to relax. Glancing over at him, she slowly reclined once again against the tree. Her wounds were not as bad now as when she'd first arrived here.
It had been a while since she'd had a normal rest. That had to be the cause of her failure to escape without notice. That evil mist from the dark priests gave the enemy a great advantage. In any case, she allowed herself to breath a little easier knowing she now had the help of Lord Sesshomaru. She watched Rin who continued to make rings of flowers and wondered about the relationship between them. It was known that Lord Sesshomaru had a great disdain for humans and yet he had one under his protection and it was obvious the girl worshipped him. Maybe as they traveled together she would learn more. And then there was the man himself, Motoko was more than a little intrigued by the handsome Sesshomaru.
Jaken had just passed the place where he'd had an enjoyable sleep and reminded himself to get the fish on his way back because he didn't want to keep Lord Sesshomaru waiting.
"Ah-Un, come! We have to meet up with Lord Sesshomaru." Ah-Un stood up, let Jaken grab his lead and walked with him.
Jaken began to talk excitedly to Ah-Un. "We have company, another dog demon." Jaken nodded very fast when the dragonheads looked at Jaken.
"Yes. She, Lady Motoko is of the same clan as my lord. And she's just as beautiful only she has sable hair. Oooo, this is exciting. We're going to her village because they're under siege and she came to ask for Lord Sesshomaru's help. I can't wait to see where they live; demons as beautiful as they must live in opulent palaces." Jaken sped up not wanting to miss a thing.
"I wonder what we'll do with young Rin. Most demons can't stand humans but I know my lord won't leave her for very long. Well you'll probably stay with her as before. Hmm, of course, things could get dangerous. They usually do, but I must see Lord Sesshomaru's fight. He'll win of course and he's so beautiful to watch when he's fighting."
Jaken continued to think about the situation as he led Ah-Un. He was going to get to meet more of Lord Sesshomaru's people. Would all of them be as beautiful as he and Lady Motoko? They made a marvelous looking couple and he wondered after the fighting was over if Lady Motoko would travel with them or maybe Lord Sesshomaru would stay with this clan. Jaken shivered at the possibilities; anything could happen. He just hoped that Lord Sesshomaru would continue to need him and what of Rin? He just couldn't imagine Lord Sesshomaru leaving her behind. It was likely the other demons wouldn't take well to having her around all the time. Gods knew she sometimes got on his nerves but he had to admit, not like she used to. Lord Sesshomaru would figure it out.
Shortly he was back in the field and everyone was where he'd left them. Jaken walked over to Motoko and bent at the waist.
"Lady Motoko, I have brought Ah-Un so that you may ride and rest."
Sesshomaru had been looking off towards the mountains but turned and walked over to the others.
"Come, let's retire to our camp. Rin, walk with me." He started back the other way. Rin picked up her things and humming, followed.
Motoko managed to mount Ah-Un and Jaken started walking the moment she was settled.
"Tell me, why does Sesshomaru have that human child with him."
"Oh, my lady, I don't really know. He saved her life and now she travels with us."
He saved a human and now she's a companion to him, how strange, she thought. There were many curious things about Sesshomaru she hoped to learn. Motoko especially wanted to know about how he lost his arm and did its loss affect his fighting skills. She would find out but not now, first she should get her strength back and do nothing to antagonize him for she needed his help.
After reaching their camp, Jaken and Rin built a fire to cook over while Sesshomaru settled back and watched. Warily Lady Motoko joined him under the tree.
"You were followed. They stayed back to see what you were up to. Most likely they will attack in the night."
"But I caught no scent of them. How many are there? When I killed the other two I just kept going. I didn't think anyone was following me. Forgive me, my only thought was to get away." Motoko was shocked and ashamed she hadn't known she was being followed.
"There are four, undoubtedly you were distracted and that's why you failed to notice their presence. I will take care of them."
"Will you attack them now?"
"No. They shall attack me and end their lives in the process." After saying this Sesshomaru leaned back and closed his eyes.
Motoko decided to leave things to him and for a while watched the child and imp eat and argue with each other. She frowned at them; they were arguing but having a good time while doing it. The three of them were a strange group.
Jaken was curious as to why they were staying in one place. He figured that since Lord Sesshomaru had agreed to help the lady that after making sure Rin had eaten, they would leave. When it grew late and Sesshomaru did nothing, Jaken settled down next to the fire to sleep. Rin was beside Ah-Un already sleeping. Soon he too was asleep and all was quiet. Hours passed and nothing at all happened, that is until the moon was directly above.
Back in the woods where Rin first found Motoko, four wolf demons rose up, it was time; time to kill the bitch before she could bring help for the others.
"You don't think that male dog is a threat?" Toru spoke up.
"Nah, you didn't get a good look but he has only one arm. Him missing an arm and her hurt; the four of us should have no problem." The leader, Shiba spoke up.
"Yeah, plus that girl's human, no worries there. The imp may try to interfere but a few good punches and he'll be out of the way."
"Hey, we'll make a meal out of the imp and human; a reward for a job well done." The other three grinned at that, the little ones would make a good meal after they took out the two dogs.