Chapter Four

He had returned for them shortly after the storm had abated. Which, somewhat strange, had been just after Kikyo had sent him away from Inuyasha. He did not fear the dead priestess, but did not look for battles, so when the woman had appeared, the storm's winds whipping her hair about her, he had retreated.

They had continued their trek and now his castle was within eyesight. The miko that sat upon Ah-un looked up at the stone structure built into the mountain in front of them. Her eyes were slightly wide with interest and wonderment.

"Kagome, we're home!" Rin said with a happy bounce. Kagome looked down at Rin.

"This is where Sessoumaru-sama lives?" She had become accustomed to saying -sama after the taiyoukai's name after hearing it spewed from Rin and Jaken's mouths time and again. Rin gave a big nod and looked up at the castle with happiness. "We're home, we're home!" she repeated. Of course, Kagome thought. Rin lives here as well, she mused. Idly she wondered if Sessoumaru gave her a room of her own or if the small girl shared one with someone. Perhaps she and Jaken slept together?

Gently, Ah-un lifted into the air as Sessoumaru rode a cloud and they flew to the top of the path that led to the doors of the castle. The great wooden doors brushed open and a small imp scurried out. "Welcome home, Sessoumaru-sama!" The imp's voice was melodious and made Kagome smiled. She liked her immediately.

"We have a new resident, Yun. Have the Near East Wing prepared for her," Sessoumaru ordered the imp in a not unkindly voice.

"EH?!" Kagome was surprised. "An entire wing?"

Sessoumaru said nothing, only pushed the doors open wider and gestured to them to get off Ah-un and enter. After Kagome and Rin slid off, the dragon flew away. "Ah!" Kagome made a step towards the dragon, although she couldn't catch him even if she tried.

"Do not worry about him. He knows where he is going." He made another, more urgent motion with his hand. Rin scurried in right after Jaken. Kagome hesitated. Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Sessoumaru took hold of her upper arm and half-dragged her into his abode. Yun closed the door behind them. The only light was from the sconces on the stone walls. The torch fires flickered and danced. They were in a hall that stretched out to the left and right. It was about 10 ft. wide. Immediately in front of them was a set of maghogany doors with an intricate design carved into them. As she looked closer at the doors, she realized that the carvings were like a beautifully played out story of an inuyoukai. The demon resembled Sessoumaru but Kagome had the distinct feeling that Sessoumaru and the demon on the doors were two different people.

"Come." Sessoumaru led her to the right, Rin bouncing along behind them. As they walked the hall underwent several changes. Instead of torches in sconces providing light, windows on the left wall began to appear. Glass was set into them, and the glass, very much like the doors, had different designs on them. They seemed to continue the story the doors had begun.

Soon enough, shortly after they passed the first window, Kagome's feet met not stone but a plush carpet rug that had been laid overtop the stones. It was a very pretty shade of soft midnight blue. Once the carpet began, it split into two directions, left and straight. Sessoumaru took her down the hall directly in front of them. Kagome looked to her left and noticed that further down the left hall, it turned right again.

The hall they had come to had doors lining it. About five of them on the left and two on the right. "The doors on the right lead to the same room, your sleeping chamber. The first two on the left lead to rooms that were originally designed for the maids and servants to sleep in, but none have been assigned yet. I do not remember what is held in the next three rooms, so you had best be careful when venturing into these," he looked at her from the corner of his eye. She could have sworn she saw a smirk on his face as he noticed her somewhat frightened expression. "Yun will send you attendants and a cleaning crew. Your handmaids will assist you in most everything you do. Sort of like an extra appendage," he said off-handedly. "You may retire to your room for the remainder of the day, if that is your wish. But if you feel the need to explore, then you must wait for a guide to arrive. No doubt Yun will have taken care of that as well." Having said all he wished to, he turned, patting Rin on the head as he passed her, and was gone. Jaken had followed him.

"Isn't it great that your wing is right next to Rin's?!" Rin exclaimed.

"Eh?"

"Rin-sama resides in the Far East Wing."

Kagome turned to the owner of the familiar voice. Yun gazed at her with large, blue eyes. "There are two East wings, the Near East Wing and the Far East Wing. Sessoumaru-sama occupies the West wing. It is a house rule that you never enter this wing, or the other west wings which contain his private studies."

"Eh . . . okay." Kagome nodded to show her understanding. Yun continued.

"The North side of the castle is where you will find the baths and other such things for your pleasure. I am sure Rin-sama will take you there while the servants clean up your rooms." It was more like an order. Rin got the message.

"Ah, come on, Onee-chan!" Rin took Kagome's hand and led her back the way they had come. The last glimpse she had of Yun told Kagome that the imp was very fond of her young charge, as the imp smiled warmly at Rin's enthusiasm.

Rin skipped down the hall. They passed the entrance of the castle and the mysterious double doors. Five paces later they veered right into a hallway that had been hidden in the shadows. More sconces on the walls held torches that cast thier glow on the two maidens. There was something enticing about this hall. Kagome was filled with a sort of ecstasy. To her eyes the hall seemed welcoming and wrapped it's warmth and light around them as they made their way.

It was over far too soon. They arrived at a heavy oaken door. Rin knocked once, twice, then a quick repitition of three knocks, and the door swung open. Two female demons adorned in silk gowns bowed as the two entered.

"Yay! The Onsen!" Rin skipped happily forward and attempted to jump into the waters from which steam rose. She was caught in the arms of a male demon who wore naught but a loincloth. His muscles flexed as he carried the squirming, but giggling, girl back to Kagome.

"Welcome to the Lord Sessoumaru's castle, Kagome-sama," he said in a pleasant voice, smiling at her as he dipped into a low bow. Kagome felt heat rise up her neck and to her cheeks in a slight blush.

"Ah! Thankyou!" she said, bowing in return.

"Come on, Onee-chan!" The demon had released Rin who tugged on Kagome's hand. "We get ready over there," she pointed to a sauna-like area that had a large circular cushion for sitting. Heat rose up around it. They sat upon it and Kagome took off her shoes and socks. When she placed her feet on the smooth stone floor she realised with a pleasant delight that the stone was warm. She began to disrobe when she remembered that there was a male in the room. She looked over to him. He stood, almost royally, holding two towels.

"Erm," she made to ask him to leave.

"Kagome-sama, I and the women shall be attending Rin-sama and yourself as you bathe," he explained. Kagome blushed deeply.

"I hope you don't mind, but . . ." she looked at Rin who was already running into the onsen after having disrobed. "I don't believe we need attendants this time," she finished in an apologetic voice.

"Very well," he bowed, setting the towels on the cushion, and he and the women left the room. Kagome sighed in relief and finished disrobing. She turned to get a better look at the onsen. It was several different baths, seperated by natural stone walls. They surrounded a small area where potted plants had been placed. No doubt the waters of the onsen fed them.

Finally she realized that the light in the room was not coming from any torches on the walls. The light seemed to be emitted from the stone that made up the onsen. It glowed slightly and illuminated the room so well it was as though they were out at mid-day with the suns beams shining upon them.

Kagome followed Rin into the bath. The warm water felt very good and she sunk into, submerging. When she came up Rin was swimming around her in circles.

"Rin, this onsen, did Sessoumaru-sama build it?"

"No. This is a natural hot spring!" she exclaimed. "Sessoumaru-sama says that his ancestor discovered it and had his castle built around it."

"I see . . ."

Chapter Four End

yay!! Chapter four is up!! Whoo!!! Well, this chapty was the introduction to Sessoumaru's castle. Hope you liked it!!!

I'm sooo flippin excited! Tonight I get to hang out with my new boyfriend! And even better is on Friday my boyfriend, me and a bunch of my friends are going to AMC Theatres to see Eragon!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!

Satsu-chan