Two hours passed. Sesshoumaru had made himself comfortable behind Kiyota on Ah-Un. Jaken was awake and sitting on Ah-Un's rear end behind his Lord. Rin still slept in Kiyota's arms. Kiyota could feel Sesshoumaru's warmth through the thin material of the tank top she wore. It made her shiver. He was much too close for comfort.
"Are you cold?" His voice came.
"No I'm not." She answered.
"Why do you shiver?" He asked.
"Your proximity." She answered.
"Do you fear this Sesshoumaru?" He asked.
"Not that I fear you Sesshoumaru-sama. Your heat blocks out the cold air from the back while my front is assaulted with bite of the cold night air." She answered.
"So you are cold then." He stated removing his pelt placing it around her shoulders. "Wear that until we reach the palace and I can get you decent clothing." He stated.
"Too generous Sesshoumaru-sama." Kiyota said rolling her eyes.
"Would you rather I hold you against me wrapped in the pelt?" He asked. All color left her face at his suggestion. Another shiver went down her back. That was much too close for her comfort.
"No Sesshoumaru-sama." She answered. Sesshoumaru snorted most ungentlemanly. Kiyota sighed and rolled her eyes again. He would truly test her patience this arrogant man.
The dragon touched down some time later in a large court yard. Kiyota looked around at the beauty of her surroundings. She sighed. This was far too beautiful. It was like walking into a fairytale, only the prince was an arrogant bastard and the princess was far less then happy to have him save her.
"Follow me." Sesshoumaru said as he quickly moved through the castle. Kiyota easily kept pace with his long legs still carrying a sleeping Rin. He stopped in front of a room. He motioned to it.
"That is the child's bedroom. Place her on the futon inside then come back to me." He said.
"Yes Sesshoumaru-sama." She answered walking into the bedroom placing Rin down on the futon covering her. She gave her a kiss on the forehead before exiting the room. She followed Sesshoumaru down three more doors which he stopped in front of again.
"My study. If you have need of me, come here first, this is often where I am." He said. She nodded. They passed two elegant doors with a crescent moon on each. She didn't inquire to what laid behind them but she could only assume it was his personal bedchamber. He stopped at the next door. It was the same as the two they had just passed only this one was small an held a small crescent moon upon it.
"This will be your bedroom." He said opening the door walking in. She followed behind him. The room was decent sized for Kiyota. The bed was overly large and looked like it could fit about 10 people in it comfortably. Two little doors lead out onto a balcony where Sesshoumaru stood. She walked out behind him and stood to his side. She looked out at the view from her room. The gardens were lite by the silver light of the full moon. It was beautiful. The fragrances of roses and vanilla came to her nose. It was very pleasing to her nose.
"Is that what I smell like?" She asked.
"Yes." Was his simple answer.
"Hm." She said returning into the bedroom. She saw another door in the wall wondering where that lead. Sesshoumaru saw her looking at it and came in behind her.
"That leads to my personal bedchamber. Do not use it unless you must." He stated. She nodded. He stood directly behind her. She came just under his shoulder. She would fit perfectly under his arm. He caught himself before he reached out to touch her.
"Do you need any assiance before I leave you to sleep?" He asked.
"Do you know how to braid hair?" She asked softly.
"Of course." He said. He watched as she reached up to the clip holding her hair in place letting what was held fall down her back.
"Would you mind braiding my hair then?" She asked. "Its much to long for me to do it on my own anymore." She said. "Kagome normally does it." Sesshoumaru's claws easily sectioned the heavy curtain of her hair into three equal portions before his long finger weaved it down her back. It wasn't hugely tight, but it was tight enough to ensure it wouldn't fall out during the night.
"Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama." She said softly pulling the long braid around her shoulder tying the end off with a band she had around her wrist.
"Would you return the favor?" He asked.
"Of course." She answered.
"Allow me to go change and I will return." He said. She nodded as he slipped through the door into his own bedchamber. He was only gone moments before he returned to find her in the place he'd left her. He lowered himself so she could reach his hair better. Her small fingers sectioned his hair easily enough. She loosely braided his hair down his back. She tied it off with the band his clawed fingers passed back to her.
He stood to his full height before turning to face her. "Thank You." He said. She nodded her acknowledgment. He noticed her uneasy.
"Rin will show you around the castle tomorrow. I myself will be in the study most of the day. I will have servants bring you clothings and show you were the hot spring is. Should you behave, I will allow you to use my personal hot spring." He said.
"Thank You Sesshoumaru-sama." She said. He left her to sleep. Kiyota removed her socks and jeans. She was thankful she'd worn boy shorts for a change. She slide into the silk sheets letting the stress of the day take her over lulling her into sleep. Sesshoumaru waited two hours before returning to her room to check on her. He noticed her pants and socks folded beside the bed neatly. It made him curiosity as to what she wore underneath the sheets.
Hentai. His Inu spoke.
"You are curious too." He spoke softly.
Hai but I would not look. Hentai.
"Be silent." Sesshoumaru growled leaving the room without looking under the sheets like he had wanted. He retreated into his own bedchamber preparing for bed himself. He hadn't slept in a long while, he was due for it. He changed from his formal kimono he always wore to a simple pair of black pants to sleep in. He slipped into his bed pushing his thoughts as far away from the woman in the next room as possible.
Four hours passed. Kiyota heard the cries coming from another room. She knew it was Rin. She got up and went through the door of her bedroom down the hallway to Rin's bedroom. She opened the door slipping inside. Rin was sitting up crying reaching out for her. Kiyota picked her up soothing the child.
"Can you take me to Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked softly through her tears.
"Of course Rin dear." Kiyota said standing walking back to her own bedroom and through the small door into Sesshoumaru's bedroom. She let Rin down who climbed up into the large bed where the lord slept. Rin crawled right to him and buried her small face against his shoulder sobbing. Sesshoumaru's arm hooked around the child comforting her. Kiyota bid Rin a good night before trying to return to her own room.
"Kiyota, stay with us." Rin said.
"Its not my place Rin. I must return to my own room." Kiyota said.
"Do as the child asks or neither of us will get any sleep." Sesshoumaru's husky half asleep voice came.
"Hai Sesshoumaru-sama." Kiyota said softly moving towards the bed to have Rin pull the covers back for her to climb in. She did so slipping into the black silk sheets. Rin snuggled between the two adults making herself quite comfortable. All three fell back into a peaceful slumber.
It was late morning when Sesshoumaru woke. His arm was around something very warm. Rin must have had another nightmare and climbed into his bed. He didn't remember the events of the night before. He had been much to tired. He slowly opened his eyes to see not Rin laying against him, but Kiyota. Rin had managed to put herself in front of Kiyota. Kiyota's thin arm was wrapped around the child keeping her safe even in her sleep. Sesshoumaru smoothed the dark red hair down out of his own face. He laid his head back down to rest against Kiyota's. He closed his eyes and let himself drift back to sleep.