I don't own Sesshomaru, Kikyo, or Rin. It's a good thing I don't from what I can tell.
Chapter 5
Sesshomaru sat in a room, eyes trained on the wall, pondering on his guests. He could not figure out why in the world the weasel demons were staying at his residence. Itachi had not attempted to renegotiate the trade agreement or the road-building plan. He had not tried to turn Sesshomaru into a proper ally in case of war, which was always guaranteed to happen. He was not even sneaking around the place searching for secrets of any kind. There was something amiss with the whole visit and the dog demon could not figure out what it was.
"He's acting as if this is some leisure trip and he is at an expensive in," Sesshomaru muttered, which made no sense. Yes, it was a way to get free luxury items at no cost to himself, but it seemed like a lot of trouble for such a thing.
The platinum-haired male tried to find out if the men that Itachi had brought with him had been making inquiries regarding anything. They merely seemed to be enjoying the riches of his palace and taking his hospitality to the breaking point almost, getting drunk on all of his wines, gorging themselves on his meats, and some of them were in trying to take liberties with his female servants, which he would not allow. In short, they were acting as he expected, like utter fools.
"But, still, this is a long trip to make for free gifts. Yes, but weasel demons rarely make sense. They also rarely do anything without an ulterior motive. So, yes, they're fools, but they're fools with a purpose." Unfortunately, so far, they had only shown themselves to be fools.
The serious problem he had with the weasels was the fact that a few days ago, two of the men had the nerve to come within three feet if his wife and daughter. They had not repeated the actions, possibly because he had punished the two offenders by tearing out an eye apiece from them. He could not figure out why they would do something so stupid and ill mannered.
"This could be something as simple as them being empty-headed louts, but again, that is not like them. They were testing the waters, maybe, seeing how far they could push her, or me, or both of us. " He would prefer to be sure rather than assume since they had gone so close to his family. He now had people keeping a close watch on all of his so-called guests as well as guards watching Rin when she was alone. He just wanted an excuse to make them leave now.
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Kikyo sat with Rin in one of them many sitting rooms of the castle. She was leaning against the wall with her legs folded while Rin was sitting on her, lounging comfortably with her back supported by her mother's propped up leg. Rin also had her kitten with her because she refused to let Ran out of her sight. She was scared someone might kill the feline again.
Kikyo disliked Rin feeling like her pet was unsafe in her own home. This was ridiculous. She was tempted to go to the weasel demons and demand to know which one of them had murdered Ran, if only to give Rin peace of mind again. Unfortunately, it was improper to accuse guests of such behavior, especially a sweeping allegation like that. She needed proof first.
Ran was curled up in Rin's stomach while Rin held a book. Rin was reading to Kikyo, which was one of their favorite pastimes. After Rin read, they tended to tell their own tales, exchanging stories of their own adventures before they came to settle in the castle.
Kikyo smiled softly as she listened to Rin read aloud almost perfectly. The girl focused mostly on the words in front of her, but she was vaguely aware of Kikyo lovingly petting her head as she read on. Rin was certain that one of the best things about having a mother was the safety that she felt when she was with Kikyo. It was like being with Sesshomaru, except with more open affection.
"Hey, Mommy, can we read again tomorrow?" Rin requested out of the blue.
"Tomorrow is your history lessons," Kikyo reminded the girl.
"After the history lessons and other stuff, can we please read again?"
"I don't know if there'll be time. You know that Sesshomaru doesn't like you straying from your schedule."
Rin pouted. Ever since they had stopped wandering around and settled into the castle, Rin noticed Sesshomaru was almost methodic about work and schedules and everything running the way they should. He disliked when she skipped her tutoring sessions and always reprimanded her when she did such things. She doubted he knew about how boring her tutors were. It was like torture most of the time.
Kikyo smiled again because she was more than aware that tutoring was not on the girl's favorite list of things to do. Sesshomaru was aware of that, too, but he stated any child of his was going to have a fully functioning brain or going to have to leave. Rin had called his bluff when he spoke those words and he countered by calling her bluff, letting her leave. She had made it to the courtyard before Kikyo stepped in and made her return. Kikyo chuckled at the memory, amused by her beloved's parenting style. Rin loved him for it, of course, but it was an interesting little tug-of-war the father and daughter sometimes engaged in.
The child returned to reading while Kikyo continued to pet her head. The priestess glanced at the door, which was slightly open to give them a view of their favorite garden. Thankfully, there were no weasels in it today when they arrived, but all things could not last. Rin noticed where her mother's eyes were, so she stopped reading and turned her attention to the door. Her cat even cast her gaze to the door.
A few seconds later, Itachi's wife was before the pair with some female servants of hers in tow. She was dressed in a very fine kimono, which was to be expected of the spouse of a lord and a lady from a land known for its fine fabrics. She seemed very fashion conscious, as well. Her kimono was a deep purple color, matching two lightning bolt-shaped lines on her cheeks. Her skin was as pale as a cloud and her auburn hair had bright red highlights running through her long locks. She had sharp, narrow sapphire blue eyes, which was very odd for the type of demon she was.
The Lady weasel took a moment to regard Kikyo, even though the guest at least had her head bowed. She note Kikyo looked like any other mortal wench with eyes the color of filthy dirt and hair the same color as carrion-devouring crows. She even still bore the stench of a human, even though it was clear that she was covered in Sesshomaru's musk. She could not believe that self-important dog bastard would actually lay with a human being.
"Yes, madam?" Kikyo inquired while Rin nearly sucked her teeth because of the intrusion on her time with her adoptive mother. It was the second time the unruly and disturbing guests had the nerve to interrupt their time together.
"I was wondering if you and the child would not mind if I remained in your company for a while. I've grown a bit lonely as our husbands have decided to discuss politics for a moment," the noblewoman replied, sounding a little amused.
Rin turned her eyes to Kikyo and practically begged her mother to send that woman away. Surely, Kikyo felt the wicked intentions seeping from all parts of that woman's body, so she should be sent away, Rin reasoned. Kikyo noticed the look from Rin and she knew just what those eyes begged. Unfortunately, it would be rude to give into her daughter's desire.
"Please, join us," Kikyo said. She did not want to play the game she knew was going on, the noble trying to figure out what was going on and how she might be able to use Kikyo in some way or if she could trick Kikyo somehow. Political life was not the life she was made for.
The demon settled into the room after shooing her servants away with a mere cut of her eyes. There was no way all of them would have been able to fit comfortably in that room. Rin turned her mouth up as a sign to show that she protested to the turn of events. Kikyo noticed and poked the child in the cheek to get her to stop making that face. Rin looked up at her mother, who shook her finger at the girl as a reprimand. Rin sighed and stared at her book, but she did not continue reading.
"You child is beautiful," the weasel demon commented. Both humans knew that they were merely being paid lip service.
"Thank you. Rin, thank Lady Kaori," Kikyo said.
"Do I have to?" Rin asked. It was not like the woman meant that compliment.
"Yes."
"Thank you," the child muttered rather insincerely.
"Forgive her. I have disappointed her for the day by telling her that we will not be able to read together tomorrow," Kikyo explained to the Lady to assure her that Rin's current attitude was because of something that her mother had done. "You know how children can be when they don't get their way."
Kaori nodded and then turned her eyes to the little girl for a moment. She did look like Kikyo. Although, all humans looked alike to Kaori. Their blood smelled rather different, though, indicating that they were probably not related by blood in any way. Kaori thought that such a thing was very strange.
The weasel demon figured that Sesshomaru would only claim a human child as his own because the girl was actually the child of his wife, but it would seem that Rin was not Kikyo's blood daughter. Kaori was a bit confused by that realization. Why would anyone care about a child that wasn't of their blood? Why the hell would that mutt claim a child that's not even related to his woman? Nothing about that dog bastard or the priestess wench added up as far as Kaori was concerned. She did not know what to make of the couple.
"So, the two of you are reading together?" Kaori inquired since she noticed the book in Rin's hands.
"Yes," the girl answered in a bit of a huff. Kikyo was not used to the child having such an attitude since Rin was a jovial, carefree girl almost no matter what and it was very rare for her to show her dislike of people, especially with the person around.
"Rin is reading to me," Kikyo elaborated while caressing Rin's head again to get her to calm down some.
"Oh. Is that what a child does with a mother?" Kaori inquired as if she did not know.
"That's what she does with me. I am not sure what a mother and child do together," Kikyo replied. She had unfortunately lost her mother to childbirth. She was thankful that her little sister had survived the labor, though. Anything she knew about mothers and daughters came from observation.
"My husband and I haven't tried for children yet," Kaori commented.
Kikyo nodded, feeling no need to add to such a statement. She knew better than to discuss her and Sesshomaru having a child, especially with Rin around. The girl became extremely hyper when her parents spoke of offspring in her presence. She had a list of all the things she would do with her little brother or sister and it was long and she always had to run through the whole thing in full detail. Sometimes, Sesshomaru and Kikyo thought Rin believed a baby came into the world ready to be played with. They also believed that she would be disappointed for the whole time that Kikyo was pregnant when the time came because they did not think that she would be able to take the months of waiting. And then there was the fact that it would take months for the baby to do simple things like sit up. Added to that, Kikyo would be out of commission for a while during the last months of pregnancy and after and Rin would probably collapse in boredom and disappointment.
"I take it you and Sesshomaru will eventually have a child," Kaori said to Kikyo. She figured if they planned children then the couple was serious about their relationship or alliance, whichever it was. That would mean trouble because it would probably be impossible to bait the woman from Sesshomaru.
"I suppose," the priestess answered in a noncommittal tone, as if it was not something that they discussed or was on their priorities list. She wondered why the noblewoman would ask such a question. After all, what else was to be expected of a husband and wife than to produce tiny versions of themselves, especially a lord and his lady?
"You must relish in the fact that you are married to such a powerful and handsome lord," the weasel demon commented. She thought small talk would get the human to open up some and give her some clue as to what she was doing with Sesshomaru, but she seemed as talkative as the damned dog himself.
"He is those things," Kikyo replied as if that actually answered the question. Really, if Sesshomaru was nothing more than a beggar, but still had the heart that he had (the one he did not want any one to know about) she was sure she would love him just the same.
Kaori could tell that the priestess was purposely avoiding providing her with any information in regards to what she was doing with the dog demon. She was willing to bet that there was some underlying plot to the couple's unholy union. Sesshomaru would never do anything so bizarre without a reason because he was a calculating demon and Kaori knew that as a fact. What is the blasted mutt planning to do with this barbarian wench, Kaori pondered. What might this damned priestess be planning? Who was using whom in the relationship? She wanted to know and she promised herself she would find out.
"Mommy, we're gonna read again tomorrow," Rin commanded in a low voice, catching the attention of their guest. Rin was not about to be cheated out of a day with one of her parents because some noblewoman wanted to be nosy.
"All right," Kikyo agreed and she leaned down, kissing the girl's head.
"She is a pushy little one," Kaori commented, trying her best to sound amused. If the girl was hers, she would have slapped the child for making orders as if she was in charge.
"That she is, but she only a child," Kikyo replied.
"Raising her before Sesshomaru came along must have been difficult for you," the demon stated.
The priestess merely smiled. She could not think of anything better to do. She could not point out how stupid the woman was for assuming she had a child out of wedlock. Besides, if she had given birth to Rin, she would have done it at almost an impossible age. She would have been nine when Rin was born if she was the girl's birth mother.
Kaori was not sure what to make of Kikyo's expression. Rin glanced at her mother to see the minuscule smile that she was wearing. She wondered why her mother just smiled as a response. She could see that the smile had bemused their unwanted guest, so she thought that might be the reason for the expression. Did Kikyo just want to purposely perplex the demon?
"You are a very secretive woman it would seem," Kaori said to Kikyo.
"This is untrue," Kikyo replied. She was not secretive, only private, introverted to a certain extent. Besides, the demon was a stranger and possibly the wife of a lord looking to harm her dearest Sesshomaru. What wife would give up information to such a woman?
"Oh, then perhaps you just have ill feelings toward me," Kaori remarked.
Kikyo shook her head a bit. "This is untrue."
"Then why are you being so closed off when I am merely trying to be friendly?"
"It's my gift," she deadpanned.
"Humor?" Kaori guessed that the woman was attempting to be witty.
"I've been told I'm poor at it," Kikyo said dryly.
"You and Daddy," Rin muttered. She tempted to go to her adoptive father, but thanks to the noblewoman in their company, she was aware that Sesshomaru was in just as bad a spot as they were. Nowhere was safe from these weasels.
-8-8-8-8-
Sesshomaru believed himself to be somewhere below the ninth circle of Hell because he was being subjected the Itachi and his warped opinion on matters of the world. The thing that bothered Sesshomaru was that he knew the man was lying to his face and he just had to take it at the moment until he figured out what it was the man really wanted from him.
"I guess what I'm just trying to say is that the humans on my land are lazier than any other creatures I've seen," Itachi commented. He had been waxing poetically about humans for almost an hour now.
"Humans have their place, like any other creature," Sesshomaru replied. No, he did not like them, but again, he did not like anybody really.
"I suppose. Kind like women, right? I mean, my wife can be frivolous about things, but has her place."
Sesshomaru groaned and was seriously tempted to kill himself to escape this conversation. Itachi began to drone on and on about his wife. Sesshomaru quickly noted the weasel lord seemed to be trying to learn about his marriage by offering advice and talking about his own union.
Sesshomaru did not offer much in return, not that he ever spoke at length about anything in particular. Besides, his own people did not know much about his marriage, so he damn sure was not going to allot a possible enemy access to such information. So, he let Itachi ramble on for long minutes at a time.
The dog demon wondered why the other lord was so interested in his marriage. He could not figure out the significance, except the fact that the weasel might take it as a sign of weakness that he was married to a mortal woman. He hoped the man did not make that incredibly moronic mistake. There was also the chance that the weasel thought he might be able to use Kikyo against Sesshomaru and the dog demon thought that idea was as equally idiotic as the first. Kikyo would purify him long before she allowed the man to use her in any way.
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Next time: Itachi tries to speak with Kikyo. Will he have better luck in dealing with her?