AN: see the end of the chapter for notes.
Chapter 6
Above the girl's sleeping form stood a man. His harsh golden eyes were roaming over her face, searching for any flicker of emotion. But alas, she was sleeping and nothing but her soft breathing and the flutter of her heart could decipher that she was alive. The room was deeply permeated by the young woman's scent, enveloping everything in it's wake.
"For someone so trifling you undoubtedly left proof of your existence," The man quietly scoffed, "And yet, you're still so fragile. A simple snap of my fingers, a meaningless flick of my wrist could bring the end to your short life." The girl slightly stirred in her sleep and the man swiftly took a step back, hiding himself in the shadows of her room. Once he was sure she was still asleep, he continued his musings.
"To think that a daiyokai as great as Sesshomaru would care for such a nimble creature is beyond absurd. And yet…" He once again moved closer to her futon and lowered himself onto one knee.
"I have treated you… with less than a civilized manner. I put your already fragile life at risk. Even then, you showed - compassion. Foolish human." He ran his hand through the silky strands of her hair and murmured ever so quietly, "I must say, I underestimated you. I am sorry."
Hino Ryu rose to his feet as he sensed Sesshomaru's aura reach the mansion. Sparing another glance at Rin, he silently reached for the shoji and left the room without any trace.
Tomoko cursed under her breath. "Why did you have to be so rough with her? Are you dense?" She was pacing the room frantically, her hand reaching for her temple.
"It was an accident. What's done is done." Ryu groaned and reached for his leather boot, yanking it off from his foot very ungracefully. "Besides, the physician said the girl will be fine."
The kitsune yokai sighed, "Rin might be fine, but you – not so much. You know how Lord Sesshomaru is. I wouldn't be surprised if you get banished or decapitated."
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye as he removed the second boot and stood up. Tomoko was far too busy thinking of much worse scenarios to notice Hino Ryu slowly stalking her from behind.
The woman jumped when she suddenly felt his strong arms encircling her waist, drawing her close to his bare chest, her whole body still stiff from the unexpected conact.
"If I get banished, wife, you get to join me." He huskily breathed into her neck, taking in her scent. "But it won't come to that."
The woman escaped his grasp and turned to face him. "Believe me, it will. Lord Sesshomaru cares a great deal for the human girl." Her face was holding a frown as she crossed her arms on her chest. Tomoko was clearly cross about Ryu not caring about this situation. "Did you at least express your regret? As in make an apology?"
Ryu's shoulders tensed for a mere second before he voiced, "yes." The dragon yokai walked away from the woman to the large futon and slumped down. "Come to bed. I'm tired."
Tomoko narrowed her brown eyes in suspicion, staring daggers into his back. Liar.
The main shiro was not only a home for highborn demons but also a political gathering point. Most important meetings were held in the beautifully built meeting halls supplied with raised dais for only the most respected and important yokai. A morning assembly was held every four days or so in order to deal with the Western land's residents' affairs. As the chairman of these meetings, Sesshomaru always had the final say in the way of things. But the inuyokai lord only recently overtook his mother's position as the chairperson – till then, he was too occupied with conquering distant lands and expanding his rule. So these bothersome meetings were less than interesting to him.
That might've been the reason why on this particular morning Lord Sesshomaru was rather bothered. The dog demon was proudly sitting on the raised platform, his head held high and gaze cool and deadly. As the other members started filling the hall, they looked over at their ruler with awe and wary.
Sesshomaru looked unusually intimidating – his long silver hair was held up in a high ponytail, revealing the magenta markings on his cheeks. The end of his ponytail was elegantly curled over his shoulder, the snowy hair ends beautifully contrasting with his black haori. He looks remarkably like his late father, Shin noted, taking in his lord's appearance.
The meeting was about to begin- the members were already seated and all that was left to do was for the few servants to leave the hall. But then, Hino Ryu, one of Sesshomaru's generals, entered the large room. Sesshomaru looked down at the man, his displeasure smoothing into a haughty mask of neutrality as he gazed at the dragon yokai.
"Ryu," Sesshomaru growled with an authoritative tone, "Leave."
Ryu slowly turned his head towards Sesshomaru, his eyes narrowed at the sudden declaration. "Lord Sesshomaru" he spat out, "Care to bestow me with an explanation as to why?" Ryu's voice echoed off the walls in the quarters, all eyes of the assembly members on him. Dismissal from an assembly was disgraceful on its own accord. But to be forced out in public was just beyond contempt.
"Those who disregard this Sesshomaru's orders hold no worth to me." The yokai lord said indifferently, his face as void of any emotion as ever. But inwardly he smugly smirked, you should've known your place, dragon.
Soft whispers broke the deathly silence as other members and attendees started seeking for an explanation for Ryu's dismissal.
"Sesshomaru-sama, but Hino Ryu is your general" Takeo leaned towards his lord and whispered, concern lacing his features.
"Sesshomaru-" the dragon yokai started, but was soon cut off.
Sesshomaru decided to allow the audience to see the slightest curve of his lip and roared, his powerful and booming voice vibrating through the wooden floor and panels "Truly a pity I must do this in front of others"
Jaken, who was sitting nearest to the exit and was closest to Ryu, knew where this must've been going. After long years of servitude to the great dog demon, he knew his master well. Although his lord's emotions were usually hard to decipher, it was clear that Lord Sesshomaru was going to tear down Ryu's pride. And so he quietly squawked "Fool! Leave at once! Or our most honorable Lord Sesshomaru wil-" But it was too late.
"You're stripped of your title Ryu. You're a disgrace to your kind. Now leave."
The assembly fell deathly silent. The dragon lord looked over the people present and his eyes met Sesshomaru's cold glare. Ryu felt angry. He felt dishonored. He felt so much spite. But even so, he still had his pride intact.
His vengeful eyes sparkled with defiance, but Ryu simply smiled and bowed his head. "As you wish, My Lord."
The assembly was uneventful even with Ryu's dismissal. The council meeting with every Sesshomaru's general, his allies and a few rulers from more distant lands was still to come.
The yokai lord sat poised on the dais, barely listening to Shin's report from the northerners. Koga's wolf tribe was of north, but he too was under a ruler, an ancient wolf demon who was apparently wary of Seikyo's rule.
"I will be leaving the Western lands in two weeks time. Takeo will take over the preparations for the council till my return." Sesshomaru's monotone voice interrupted Shin's ramblings.
"Er-, Lord Sesshomaru, you won't attend the council?" Takeo jerked from his seated position and snapped to look at his superior.
"The council is in six weeks you imbecile." One inuyokai breathed.
"Takeo, when will you cease to amaze us with your stupidity?" Shin's raspy voice croaked and he laughed, slapping his large hand on the short – legged table in front of him.
"Silence" Sesshomaru hissed. He was clearly not in a mood for mindless banter."Takeo, am I understood?"
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama." He bowed his head. He too sensed his lord's poor spirits and made a swift decision to just simply comply without any questions.
"Good. You are dismissed." The yokai lord stood up and made his way out of the large hall, leaving the other members to deal with less impotrant matters. They can obviously handle
He was striding down the hallway of the shiro, absentmindedly making his way towards his own room. The fact that he had to entertain these bothersome 'nobles' with unnecessary meetings was beyond absurd. His mother was definitely much better suited for such affairs. Perhaps, he mused, I should appoint her to deal with this nonsense after all.
His train of thought was soon interrupted by the lingering scent of a human. It was faint, the girl must've passed this hall some time ago. Was she again wandering about again ? She clearly shouldn't – she's still healing from the injury.
And so Sesshomaru followed the trail to her room. Rin's scent was obviously very human, but for some particular reason it never bothered him. Humans were filthy, weak creatures, their settlements had always reeked of smoke, sweat and illness. But Rin was different. During their travels, he noted, Rin held the faded scent of flowers, fields, forests and rain. And for some cause, even when she had resided in that human village, it had always remained that way.
His thought's returned to the young woman again. He hadn't visited her since that night. Sesshomaru felt as if he should avoid her, this sickly fascination was very unbecoming of him. But then again, a simple visit won't do harm.
He reached her room and knocked on the wooden frame of the shoji. Soon, he heard the rustle of fabric and tapping of small feet coming closer and becoming more distinct.
The thin door slid open and Sesshomaru was met with brilliant hazel eyes looking up at him.
"Oh, Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin gasped, her expression questioning his sudden presence, but soon her face was filled with wonder as she took in her lord's appearance.
The morning sun reflected in his slanted deep eyes, his gaze piercing her very being. His long hair was still held high up, which she didn't think she ever saw him wear in such a manner. With his hair put up like that, the sharpness of his features was much more pronounced - his markings stood bare on his acute cheekbones, framing his face. The pale skin looked almost snow-white against his black clothing.
"Rin." Sesshomaru's deep voice woke her up from this marginal stupor and she quickly realized, to her embarassment that she was staring at him like some feeble lamb. The girl felt her blood rush to her face, fire igniting under her skin, and looked down at her feet.
But the Lord of the West was also in a sort of a daze. He just stood there, taking in her every aspect. The color of her cheeks, smoothness of her skin, darkness of her hair, the light green color of her kosode. Unlike Rin though, his trance took only a mere moment.
"I didn't expect you to visit, my Lord. Do you want to come in?" She looked at him expectantly and bit on her lower lip, moving aside to leave space for entering.
"Hnnn." He strode past her, his head held high as always. The room was nicely illuminated by the morning sun, its rays bouncing off the walls playfully, hitting every nook and cranny. It was as if the atmosphere matched Rin's personality. As he moved through the room, the sun hit his eyes again and his inhuman, slit pupils dilated in response.
"I was going to have tea with Mako, but, I suppose, you can substitute her for the moment." Rin said nonchalantly as she slid the shoji closed behind her. "She should be here soon."
"Do as you see fit." He sighed and sat down on one of the tatami mats. He decided he could indulge, for a short while, to be in the girl's company. After all, he hadn't seen her in a few days.
"Sesshomaru-sama, did you decide to pay me a visit because Jaken-sama annoyed you beyond comprehension?" Rin's light voice filled the room as she too took a seat by her lord. It was so often that the girl tried to converse with the dog demon without any response from him. But this fact never hindered her from expressing her silly musings or sarcastic comments.
Sesshomaru merely raised his eyebrow at this question but said nothing as it was unlike him to join in on pointless banter.
"I jest." She said finally, her eyes gleaming with the smallest trace of glee.
"Ha." The yokai voiced sarcastically, but the girl was pleased with such an answer either way. She would be contended with just about anything from her lord, but even she noticed the lack of morale in his responses. He must be upset about something...again.
The teenager was smoothing out the wrinkles of her kosode, trying to occupy her fingers, as she looked up at him, "Did you - have a meeting today already?" she asked softly.
"Indeed. It was, as always, highly bothersome." And pointless, Sesshomaru thought to himself. At least Takeo will overtake this duty for a few weeks during his absence.
"If I were to attend it, those meetings would be a lot more entertaining" Rin hummed with a ghost of a mirthless smile, imagining herself being in such a high position. As if that would ever happen.
"The members would be most terrified" Sesshomaru smirked ever so slightly and looked over the girl. To him, she seemed unusually melancholy, not her giddy and bright self – her smiles lasted only a short while and she continuously just glimpsed up at him for just a second as if afraid he will notice her gaze. But of course he did. Nothing ever got past him. And so his own smile faded and hid behing a mask of stone.
Rin shifted uncomfortably in her spot and started fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
Sesshomaru was contemplating something. He had to travel eastward before the council meeting and his journey will take a few days. But— the location of his point of interest was not too far from the village of Edo. Should I..? After all, while I seek for Naoshige, Rin could theoretically reside in Edo. Stay there for a few days until I am finished. That would satisfy her, would it not? He asked himself with uncertainty.
The yokai's voice cut through the silence, quickly bringing Rin's attention to him.
"Are you well enough to travel?"
Rin's eyes widened,"I believe so. I can walk freely now. Will I be joining you, my Lord?" she modulated, her voice ever so slightly careful.
"We shall visit Edo then." Sesshomaru simply breathed and tried to read the girl's emotion. Was she pleased?
Mako finally appeared with a tray of hot tea and two cups and eyed Rin's guest warily, but none of them seemed to acknowledge her presence.
"Really!?" Rin squealed, painting a ray of sunshine over her face.
Sesshomaru hummed, trying to hide his own grin. Finally, that smile of hers. He enjoyed when she smiled like that. When her eyes sparkled with joy and excitement like that. Seeing her happy made him want to ensure she could be carefree and joyous all the time.
"Sesshomaru-sama, Rin is the most grateful!" She reverted to her old way of referring to herself as she rose from the tatami just so she could give him a bow to show gratitude.
"Now now, Rin" Mako said, placing a tray of tea on a short-legged table by them. "Don't lose your head over something." Her motherly voice sometimes irked the girl.
"But Mako – I haven't been to Edo in almost a year! I will get a chance to see Kagome, Kaede, Inuya…" She trailed off, remembering that Sesshomaru didn't like Inuyasha's name being mentioned in his presence.
"A year? That's not that long" The maid scoffed, making her way towards the door.
"It is, to me" Sesshomaru heard Rin mumble and yet again he was reminded of her extremely short lifespan. Never in a century would he have believed seeing himself cursing a human's mortality.
Once the maid left the room, only the tinkling of a metal spoon against the delicate porcelain of Rin's cup could be heard. Just mere feet away from her, Sesshomaru appeared to be in a daze as if he were looking right through her into the space beyond. The man seemed to be deep in thought and even to Rin he felt like an enigma. But besides that, she was beyond pleased and the small smile adorning her lips was proof enough.
"How are you… fairing?" The demon lord suddenly raised his head steadied his molten honey eyes on Rin. It was evident that only a week was far from enough to heal the damage Ryu has caused to her body, but the girl was young and vigorous. She healed quickly.
Rin met his questioning gaze and placed the cup on the tray. She sighed, "I've been worse. As Kaede-sama likes to say, there's nothing time won't be able to heal. But then again, when you are healed, you're too old to enjoy" Her voice intertwined with glum and she offered smile, but this time it didn't reach her eyes.
Is she mocking her own humanity? Sesshomaru frowned inwardly.
After a short pause, she continued, "My Lord… may I ask… when we would be leaving to Edo?" The polite question did a terrible job at covering her overbearing eagerness to see her adoptive family. She had truly missed the people who cared for her during those years. A chance to see them would offer her at least a temporary escape from the courtly life. Besides, she hadn't accompanied the dog yokai on his journeys for quite some time now. It was a much awaited change in her life.
"Soon." Sesshomaru simply voiced.
AN: Heyy fellow fanfic fans, happy 2019! Thank you so much for your reviews. They give this huge motivation boost to write, y'know !
ecided to upload this chapter since I had some time on my hands ;). Not sure when Imma upload the next one, but I already have the main setting planned and something scribbled down, so hopefully soon enough.
About Rin being underage and Sesshomaru being too kinky - those days it was acceptable for girls of around that age to get married. But of course, Rin will be older when the real stuff begins ;) this is kind of a slow burn fanfic, and so everything will get more intense a lil bit later. So ya'll just have to wait up and endure for a bit:D