Kuro and Rin had so much fun playing in the stream that they didn't notice the servants looking for them until one found them laying on the shore of the stream.
"Lady Rin, Lady Kuro, where have you been, everyone's been looking for you" the servant asked.
"What do you mean everyone's been looking for us? We still have a good hour left until dinner" Kuro said.
"No Lady Kuro, dinner was finished hours ago."
"Well, Nagasaki, we haven't left the gardens" Rin stated.
"What do you mean 'haven't left the gardens'? I've passed by this stream about twenty times looking for you" the servant now identified as Nagasaki said.
"There is no way we played in that stream for more than two hours and no body saw us doing it" Kuro announced.
"Wait," Nagasaki started, "you were playing in this stream?"
"Yes Nagasaki, we were. Why?" Rin answered.
"Because this stream has magic that makes the people that go in it stay in it until they are calm and at ease with their lives and no longer wish to keep secrets. No matter how long it takes. My guess is that one of you had a lot of pent up stress and tension that they needed to get out and a lot of secrets they didn't want to tell." Nagasaki explained.
"But, Naga-san, I play in this stream all the time and I'm never in it this long" Rin told the servant.
"It must have been Lady Kuro then that was the cause of the prolonged play"
"Still though, if that it true, it doesn't explain why no one saw us" Kuro reasoned.
"Lady Kuro, you have the ability to produce barriers, do you not?" Nagasaki asked.
"Yes, I do, why?"
"Because I believe that you had so much stress, tension, and hidden secrets, that the stream did not want you interrupted until you were cleansed and, thus, tapped into your barrier magic, making it so that we could not see or hear you"
"That's crazy!" Kuro exclaimed. Even though she did feel a lot more at ease than she had ever remembered feeling. And, all of a sudden, she had this strange urge to tell everyone all her secrets, a would if they just asked.
"As crazy as a half miko- half demon?" Nagasaki questioned.
"I guess it is possible" Kuro said admitting defeat.
"Ok, now that we agree on this, why don't we go get you two out of these cold clothes" Nagasaki stated, noting that both girls were soaked to the bone and shivering like crazy.
"Sounds delightful" Rin sighed.
So Rin, Kuro, and Nagasaki started making their way to their rooms. They had just stepped out of the gardens when another servant met with them.
"Oh good, you have found them" she said.
"What do you need, Mononoke?" Nagasaki asked.
"Lord Sesshomaru wishes to see the two Ladies immediately" the servant Mononoke stated.
"Can we at least go change out of these sopping wet clothes?" Kuro asked.
"I'm afraid not" Mononoke answered.
"What? They could catch cold" Nagasaki said.
"Sorry, Lord Sesshomaru's orders. Now, Ladies come with me please."
"Hold on. Nagasaki, could you take Rin to her room so she could change out of those clothes before she catches pneumonia? Then take her to Sesshomaru's office. I'd rather Sesshomaru yell at me than have Rin get sick" Kuro said.
"Yes milady. Come Lady Rin" Nagasaki said while leading Rin towards her room.
"Ok come now Lady Kuro, we mustn't keep Lord Sesshomaru waiting" Mononoke stated leading her down another hallway.
'Oh no, mustn't do that' Kuro thought to herself while rolling her eyes. She followed the demon servant. Mononoke looked about the same age as Kuro but was about a head shorter than her; had long, black hair that was tied up in a high ponytail, with fair skin, and dark brown eyes. She was wearing a simple blue kimono with a silver obi. She looked like a human, but Kuro could sense that she was just masking her true state as a demon.
After a few minutes of silence, Kuro started getting bored, so she decided to start a conversation.
"I know that we have not been properly introduced, so- Hello, my name Chiaki Kurokawa- Kuro for short- and you are?" Kuro started.
"My name is Saganashi Mononoke. But you can call me Noke for short Lady Kuro" Mononoke answered back.
"Must you call me Lady? I'd really rather if you just call me Kuro."
"Yes milady, I mean, Kuro."
"Much better," Kuro sighed, "Noke-chan, what kind of demon are you?"
"Me? I am snow leopard demon. Up in the mountains, my family went through a really bad winter when we were about five; we had nothing to eat, and everyone started getting sick. All of my family died except me and Nagasaki- my brother. So, we came down here looking for food and were on the verge of death when Lord Sesshomaru found us and took us in. He offered us a home and food if we agreed to work in his household. As you can see, we agreed." Noke explained.
"Oh, I see. Where did you learn to mask your true state?" Kuro asked.
"Lord Sesshomaru taught us how. He teaches all of his workers now so that we can travel outdoors without drawing attention to ourselves. Surely you understand."
"I understand perfectly. What I don't understand is why you keep hiding yourself while in the house. No humans except Rin are able to see you here. So why do you keep your true state hidden?"
"That Kuro is a question for another day. We are here" Noke said motioning to a grand door that was easily four feet taller than Kuro, and she was five foot seven! The doors were made of a dark wood, cedar most likely. Imprinted on the door was a deep purple crescent moon. The door also had an intricately carved silver dog knocker.
"This is where we part. I have other duties to attend to. I will see you in the morning Kuro." And with that, Noke scampered down another hallway to a destination unknown to Kuro. 'Looks like someone's scared of Mr. Sesshomaru. Could a man-demon- that saved my life without even knowing me really be so scary?'
Kuro stood in front of the door, unsure as to whether or not to knock. As she was bringing her fist down to knock the dog shaped knocker, she heard a cold voice say, "Enter."
A/N: Ok, this is the last update I will be able to do for about two weeks. My mom is going to Virginia for some Navy stuff, and my dad has wireless internet, so I can't plug my laptop into the computer. Sorry! But if you review, I'll try with all my might to find a way to update. Tata for now!