Chapter 3: Lady Rin, the human liaison.
A knock on the door.
"You wished to see me my Lord?"
"Yes, come in." Sesshoumaru barely looked up as he told her to sit down in front of his desk. The treaties that his father had signed with the local villages and towns lay scattered before him. Most of them needed reviewing and updating seeing that the terms were no longer in effect with the passing of Inu no Taisho.
"Have you settled in?" he asked absently, his eyes still on the paperwork on his desk. "I hope Nahia's cooking suited you." He recalled that he had also instructed the court seamstress to tailor suitable clothes for her. Taking his eyes away for a second, he looked up. "And how are the kimonos…"
She was breath taking.
Dressed in pale blue, she looked so forlorn with her black hair falling down in straight lines by the side of her face. As his eyes dipped lower, he frowned at the low cut of her neckline. Since when did Rin fill in those curves? It had to be a trick. The seamstress was known for her marvellous stitching.
"It suits you," he said, watching her eyelashes flutter slightly against her pink cheeks.
She dared not meet his gaze when she whispered "Thank you."
Sesshoumaru didn't know why his eyes were transfixed on her face: porcelain that was capable of brewing a fiery temper just underneath. He still had the memory of her face –the look of triumph when she beat him at his own sword –as was the feel of her lips; a surprise against his own.
Close to seven centuries old, Sesshoumaru thought himself as blasé and unimpressed by many things; only to find that her one simple kiss had aroused something unspeakable in him. Perhaps it was from the years of absence. She had caught him by surprise and he had let his guard down.
Returning a frown to his face, Sesshoumaru focused on the papers before him.
"I am sending Miria on a diplomatic mission and I wish for you to accompany her." He laid out a sample of the treaties he had been studying. Miria was his chief army commander and he trusted her completely, even the life of the human ward before him.
Rin leaned closer, her body pressing against the edge of the desk. The movement only served to expose the top of her curves in the most sensual way. "Would you like me to translate these?" she asked.
Not wanting to direct his gaze to her unintentional invitation, he tilted his chin up in a haughty laugh. "I am capable of reading human writing."
"But I am guessing that Miria cannot."
Clever Rin.
"These treaties have to be updated and negotiated with the village heads, many of whom are wary of Youkais. Having you by Miria's side would help… ease the situation."
Rin pursed her lips, somewhat in disagreement but she made no arguments with him; only gathering the handwritten treaties in her arms.
"If that is all, I will take my leave now my Lord." Her head tipped forward in respect before turning on her heels towards the door.
He blocked her escape in one stride; one hand covering hers that was already on the door handle.
"I'm not done yet."
Hazel eyes snapped up in surprise. "What else?"
There was no hesitation when he lifted his hand to gently stroke the side of her cheek. It was instinctive; he reassured himself – a common course of remedy for her feisty temperament.
"I know you're still angry at me for being late."
Rin stiffened, turning her face away from his touch. "I should find Miria. These documents require a long time to translate."
When she pushed past him, Sesshoumaru made no attempt to stop her. He had time. Rin would eventually have to forgive him.
/
Just what was he thinking? Rin was already used to the fact that outsiders often referred to her as his pet but with this new task – he was just making use of her like a token human in his empire! Was this his plan for her all along?
It was always her choice he would say, but in truth the decision had already been made for her.
Turning down the circular stairway, she entered the open courtyard; pausing to take in the chilled fresh air. Miria shouldn't be far away – likely tending to their dragons and horses in the stables.
If she was lucky, she might even sneak A-Un a snack.
The castle grounds were still strange and foreign to her but she followed the smell of sweat and fire that often accompanied dragons, their handlers and the soldiers who trained with them.
"You call that a thrust?" came a mocking sneer. Rin peeped from behind the wooden gates to see a lanky female demon snarling down at a soldier. Her hair, like Sesshoumaru were knee-length white but she had fashioned them into whips with a sharp talon attached at the end of her braid.
This was Miria?
Dressed in a sleek uniform made out of leather, she looked every part a warrior, down to the double sword she swung like fans around her. The tip of her blade met the shivering soldier's collar bone – just missing the jugular of his neck. Rin was sure that had been deliberate.
Miria was about to deliver a final disarming blow when she suddenly stilled, turning around to stare in the direction of the gates.
"I can smell you human… you have once chance to show yourself."
Rin knew she couldn't stay hidden for long. Tightening her grip on her sword, she stepped into view, mustering enough courage to look up into the silvery eyes of the Daiyoukai towering before her.
The initial confusion clouding Miria's eyes cleared a moment later; the demonness taking a step back to study her guest.
"How may I be of assistance Lady Rin?" Her voice was rough, but bore no malice.
"Lord Sesshoumaru has ordered me to accompany you on some diplomatic missions." Rin handed her one of the treaties. "I am at your service, as a translator."
Miria raised an eyebrow but did not move to look at the paper. "I was not aware that my missions required… a human companion. After all, it would be in their best interest, to retain all existing arrangements with the Lord of the West."
Shuffling her papers until she found the oldest signed copy of a treaty, she held it upright for Miria. "This here was dated more than a hundred years ago. The village head that signed this would be dead by now." At Miria's frown, she insisted, "And upon his death, any mutual arrangements you have made would cease."
It was the only treaty in the pile that had the length of the agreement based on the human's age. Most of the other villages assumed the perpetual protection and conditions of their immortal Lord – except now, he was dead.
Snatching the document, Miria tried hard to make sense of the swiggles of human script. "What is the name of this village?" she demanded, finally giving up when her eyes started to cross in frustration.
"Eilean, village of the river people."
Miria nodded, turning her head upwards as though thinking. "Eilean is a peaceful village – one of the first treaties signed by Lord Inu no Taisho." Then looking back down at Rin, she smiled. "Perhaps you are right my Lady. Immortals – we do not view time as you humans do. It is an oversight we must correct."
Rin relaxed slightly. It was humbling to have her views accepted by Miria. But, it would still take time before Miria or any of the Youkais in the household truly saw her having any value.
That was when she felt the cold sharp tip of Miria's sword close to her chest.
"Draw your sword." It wasn't a request. "To travel with me, I need to know that you won't be of a nuisance. If you get caught by rabid wolves… then you will fight your own way out."
Rin could only nod, frozen in her spot as she unsheathed her blade; hand quivering slightly.
"Oh?" exclaimed Miria when Rin's blade glimmered in full sunlight. "You must be extraordinary my Lady, to be given such a privilege…"
Her first blow was without warning; the blade slicing deep across Rin's arm. She barely had time to register the dangling sleeve when Miria came down with another slash, this time aiming for her head.
Unlike her little game with Lord Sesshoumaru, Miria was only holding back a little, swivelling her swords at full speed and strength – aimed to incapacitate her.
Rin did not think she was going to die by a blade on her first day at the castle!
"Stop running little girl and fight me!" roared Miria.
Determined, Rin met her next blow, holding back the Youkai's attack with a defensive block but Miria was too strong – her weight was pushing down hard on Rin's sword. If she could just muster enough strength to push back…
"Miria!"
A bright flash of white swooped past her; the force pushing her off balance and throwing her a few feet away. Rin had barely crawled to her feet when she caught sight of Lord Sesshoumaru holding Miria up by her neck.
"Rin's life belongs to me." Cold cold words said matter of factly through clenched teeth. "I have killed others who threatened to harm her."
"I… apologise my Lord!" Miria struggled against his hold, his claws cutting into her circulation. "I beg of you!"
His blank expression bore no pity or sympathy; golden eyes staring hard at Miria. A blink was all it would take to snuff the life out of the female Youkai.
She had to stop him.
Breaking into a run, Rin launched herself at his feet; arms wound tight around his calf.
"Please Lord Sesshoumaru. It was my fault. Miria was only training me," she cried.
At the sound of Miria's body hitting the floor, Rin looked up to see that he had released his hold on her; his fiery golden eyes softening to silver once more.
"Thank her for your life." He made a very demonic growl. "Your duty is to protect her from now on is that clear?"
A reverberating growl was all she heard in answer – the sound coming from every one of the soldiers on the grounds.
"Rin – that is enough for today. We will now eat."
Turning his back to them, he held out a hand for her.
Giving a hasty bow to Miria and the others, she mouthed "I'm sorry," before running after Lord Sesshoumaru.
He said nothing, completing their walk back to the castle in silence but Rin was a bubble of anger waiting to explode.
"That was not necessary. I could have defended myself," she blurted the moment they were indoors and alone in the hallway.
"My servants are not to harm a hair on your head." His voice had a note of finality to it. Rin hated that. She was not a child anymore he could silence with a strict tone of his voice.
"I am a woman now. Haven't you realised?" she argued. "Your sheltering only makes me appear weaker!"
Lord Sesshoumaru flicked her a sideward glance. "Is that so?"
Oh he was so infuriating!
"You promised to teach me the way of the sword… but all Wind Eternal is good for right now is to cut grass!"
Lord Sesshoumaru looked down at her, his face unreadable and then…
He laughed. A deep, throaty laugh that sent shivers down her spine.
"Is my fang truly of that little use?" He stretched out his hand, palm facing her. "Give it to me."
Rin didn't think it was funny but she untied the weapon from her waist sash and handed it to him; watching as the blade doubled in size and length to accommodate its wielder. Lord Sesshoumaru twisted the blade left and right, trying to find an equilibrium to the weight and power of the sword.
"Hmm… Wind Eternal doesn't seem to agree with me," he muttered, laying the blade flat on his palm. "We shall put this to test another time. For now…"
He drew his Tenseiga and gave one swift slash through her body.
/
Tenseiga – a sword that would not harm. His father had left him this, instead of its twin Tessaiga, the sword capable of slaying a thousand demons at once.
"My Lord?" Rin looked up, bewildered. "It was just a flesh wound…"
"Tenseiga will heal whomever I choose it to." Gripping her arm, he inspected it thoroughly. Human blood was a definite invitation for trouble here. Her scent alone had riled up a hunger in him that should not have been possible.
She was human and Sesshoumaru despised her kind.
Ever since his father abandoned him to live with his human mate, Sesshoumaru knew it had made him weak. In fact, it was his mortality that killed him – a stupid sacrifice he would never make.
But Rin was different. She was the only one he could trust to obey him without questions and perhaps the only one who loved– well, it doesn't matter. That was impossible between them too.
"Stand your ground," he instructed when they finally reached his study. "And repeat everything I do."
She made no argument as she followed his every kick, every punch. There will always be a time when she would find herself disarmed and this hand to hand combat would mean the difference between life and death
Of course, whoever attacked her first would be dead before she even had the chance to defend herself. His enemies were not wise to use her as a weapon against him.
Lord Sesshoumaru did not care for pitiful tactics.
"Now, practice this until I am satisfied." He stepped back, allowing her to take up more space in the middle of his study. Her determination and powerful strides were impressive for a petite human. The moves he had just demonstrated required the full length and strength of a demon but Rin executed them as swiftly and gracefully as any Daiyoukai.
"I've watched you," she merely explained. Sesshoumaru didn't realise his thoughts were that transparent on his face. But it unnerved him more to know he hadn't noticed ever being the subject of her curious gaze.
Now at that moment, with her face flushed from the heat and her hair sticking to the side of her neck, Sesshoumaru preferred to watch her instead.
There was no trick of the eye or skilful stitching this time – his Rin was indeed an adult; her body bearing the curves that would have given her plentiful children if she had stayed in Kaede's village. The thought annoyed him.
"Were you planning to make Charlie – that human boy as your mate?" he asked suddenly.
Stopping her pose mid-air, Rin then turned to face him; her eyes unreadable. "And if I had?"
He moved to her side so fast, Rin had barely taken her next breath before his hand pressed against her waist, pulling her close.
"Then I will kill him."
"My Lord!" Her eyes were wide with shock but he saw laughter dancing briefly as she struggled to escape his hold. "You will do no such thing!"
"Are you forbidding me from doing as I please?"
Stubborn eyes look up at him. "Yes."
What happened next caught him by surprise.
His lips had swooped down on hers, capturing them between his own; a snarl rising from the back of his throat. Sesshoumaru didn't know what possessed him to take her so demandingly but when she relaxed into his kiss, he stopped thinking completely.
She tasted so sweet – of innocence and pureness; her kiss tentative yet impatient at the same time, wanting to explore more. As her tongue touched the tip of his fang, Sesshoumaru had to force himself to pull back.
A groan escaped her lips when he pulled away; her eyelids heavy as they blinked back the lull of the kiss. When he released her, she trembled slightly on her feet, held in place only by her palms on his chest.
"I apologise for that moment of weakness. It will never happen again." He turned his back to her. "You can leave."
Rin simply nodded; cheeks blushing pink, her scent as striking as her namesake.
"I know," she whispered before picking up her sword and headed for the door.
As her intoxicating scent cleared up from the room, Sesshoumaru finally let out the breath he had been holding. He had stepped a line and it was in that moment that he knew that she would no longer give up her smiles for him as easily as before.
/
Two hours before dawn, Rin stepped out bed; pushing aside the warm woollen blanket to get ready for the most important trip of her life – her first diplomatic mission.
After washing herself with the bowl of water left near her window, she opened her cupboard and saw that the court seamstress had already prepared a fitting suit for her journey- a lightweight cotehardie that tucked into tight leather coverings worn waist down. All she needed was her old cloak and it would be perfect. Being weather-worn, it would help done down the newness and pompousness of the fine material and stitching of her tailored suit.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she then twisted her hair into a bun and secured it with the metal comb Lord Sesshoumaru had gifted to her.
It was the only thing she would permit to remind her of him.
"A moment of weakness indeed," she whispered, recalling his hurtful words. For her, it had been a culmination of the years spent waiting for him, dreaming of him and imagining that very moment coming alive between them.
The kiss had been… magical. Until he decided it was a mistake.
"This will never happen again," she grumbled as her feet were shoved into boots. Maybe she should have just accepted Charlie as a mate and spare herself this agony.
Stealing a last look in the mirror, Rin made her way into the dining hall where she hoped Nahia had prepared breakfast. She was expecting a simple loaf of bread and a cup of water but the spread that greeted her…
"My Lady!" Nahia squealed, grabbing her arms and dragging her to the long dining table. "I think I have outdone myself this time. I hope you are pleased."
Rin didn't know what to say. There were piles of pastries on platters, roasted bird of some sort, a basket of fruits, potatoes and carrots steaming in a pot and a jug of what looked like raw milk. Rin was sure she hadn't seen a cow around…
Smiling, she patted Nahia's hand gently and nodded. "We will pack the leftovers for my journey. It looks sumptuous Nahia."
The lesser Youkai eagerly helped Rin to her seat –on the right at the head of the table. Putting a silver plate in front of her, she began scooping a little bit of this and that.
Rin said nothing, even when she could sense Nahia looking expectantly at her while she took her first bite of pastry.
It tasted like bark.
"How is it my Lady? Is it to your liking? Please eat some more. I had the entire kitchen working all night!"
Rin tried to come up with a polite answer but before she could say anything, Nahia had turned a shade of chalk.
"That will be all Nahia. Leave Lady Rin and I alone to dine." Rin didn't need to turn to match a face to the voice. "Good morning Rin."
"Good morning my Lord." Rin tried her best not to sound annoyed. "I wasn't aware you would be joining me for breakfast."
Lord Sesshoumaru made no comment as he cut a slice of the roast for himself. She had never ever seen him eat. In fact, Youkais did not eat as humans do. He had once told her that dirt would taste better.
Which was why Rin stopped her chewing to watch him put the piece of meat into his mouth -
Only to have him spit it out in disgust.
"Nahia! Are you planning to kill Rin? This is a disgrace!" he bellowed. Turning to her, he glared. "Spit that out. You should not have to tolerate this sort of treatment."
"My Lord!" a terrified cry at the base of his feet. "Please forgive me. I will do better!"
"If you are incapable of cooking then your place is no longer here."
"My Lord!" Nahia was in tears, the fear of being dismissed had turned her face a sheet of grey.
"Nahia...I will teach you," whispered Rin, reaching down to help the cook to her feet. "You did your best. Thank you."
Nodding her head, Rin allowed the cook to run off into safety.
"That was unnecessary Lord Sesshoumaru."
He gave her a sideward glance and shrugged. "She is the royal cook. Her responsibility is to ensure I host my guests with the highest standards. Father's absence has made her slack."
Rin did not know what those standards were but she understood his need to keep up with appearance as a Daiyoukai ruler.
Taking one last bite of her tasteless pastry, Rin promised she would make it her duty to help Nahia as soon as she was back.
"I must be going now my Lord. Miria waits for me."
"Take the potatoes." He barely glanced her way when he pushed the bowl towards her.
Despite her feelings, Rin had to smile. Coming from Lord Sesshoumaru, that was as close to saying 'take care of yourself' that anyone would ever hear.
/
"Are we not riding the dragons?" asked Rin when she finally made it out to the drawbridge.
Two horses were waiting by the gate with Miria standing guard. She simply turned her nose up at Rin's suggestion.
"I have learnt from my dealings with your kind… that they are often not as awed by Youkais or dragons as you are." She handed Rin the reins of one of the horses. "Tea Leaves is old but she rides swiftly."
"Tea Leaves?" The horse gave a huff as though warning her not to make fun of its name. Patting the side of its face, Rin then saddled up. "Very well then… we ride."
The three days journey consisted only of rests during the night. Miria, though used to dealing with humans was still taken aback by Rin's need to eat and sleep - a task she deemed a waste of time.
"It would do us no justice to have me fall off my horse when we reach Eilean," she reminded her as they settled around a fire for the night.
Miria blew out her frustrations; her fringe flying up. "Does Lord Sesshoumaru really allow you to sleep and eat all the time?"
Rin nodded; her reply, a surprise to the demonness.
"You must be a special little human then," she said. "Lord Sesshoumaru does not usually meddle in the affairs of the humans. That was his father's… quirk."
Rin knew of his dislike for humans. She was different, he would always say and Rin knew he meant it. But why, she never knew.
"Tell me Miria… Is Lord Sesshoumaru anything like his father? I heard he was a skilled diplomat."
"The Sesshoumaru I knew would scoff to hear you compare him to his father that way. He worshipped his father yes but… let's just say he disagreed with his father on some of his policies." Miria gave a lazy shrug. "I am in no place to speak ill of the Lords. It is a knowledge you have to earn yourself."
Rin knew a dismissal when she heard one.
Deciding to rest her mind on the matter, she took out the treaty of Eilean. Miria, like most Youkais have very good memories - the signing of the first treaty would be as clear as if it were signed yesterday.
This was more for her own benefit.
"Oh, I never knew that river stones were a commodity… but it seems the treaty was to protect the fish Youkais?"
Miria glanced at the human letters, her eyes squinting as though trying to make sense of the scribbles. "The fish Youkais have been dwindling in numbers since the bears move in up north. Southwards in Eilean, they seek refuge knowing that the humans only eat shoots." She paused; her face cringing at the unappetising thought. "The river people trade their protection for the stones for cooking. I think they heat up the stones and put them in water to boil them into a soup or something. You humans are weird. "
Rin smiled. She had never heard of stone soup but perhaps it was something she would try upon reaching Eilean.
/
Eilean was a much quieter that she expected. In fact, all the windows and doors were shut, giving them the illusion of a ghost town.
"They are hiding," said Miria matter of factly. "I scent fear in them."
Surely not of her?
"Hello?" she called out. "I am Lady Rin and this is my companion Miria. We've come on behalf of the Lord of the West."
Only silence greeted them. Rin turned to Miria and gestured for her to back away.
"Please, I mean no harm. I am one of you." She stepped away from Miria, knowing that their stark contrast would make it apparent.
Then she heard it - Shuffling feet behind one of the closed door and a soft whisper.
"Go away! We do not want any trouble."
Confused, she turned to Miria who looked equally stumped.
"If you are in trouble, Lord Sesshoumaru will come to your aid," assured Rin. "He has sent me to discuss the terms of the agreement your village elders have signed."
Silence; only the soft lapping of water against the banks.
For a moment, Rin stood there wondering if their journey had come to naught. She had high hopes of Eilean; wanting her first mission to be successful, but if the villagers were all too afraid to come out…
But then she saw him - a man, not much older than her walking towards them, with his shoulder length straw hair, full armour and a hand ready on the hilt of his sword.
"Lord Inu no Taisho has sent a human to conduct his dealings?" was his first question, harsh black eyes studying her and then Miria who stood slightly by her side. He wasn't convinced. "How do I know you're human as you say you are?"
Beside her, Miria growled low in warning. Questioning her presence was defiance against the Lord of the West. But Rin didn't think his suspicion was without reason. After all, Youkais and humans rarely trusted each other, their meeting often ending in death - of the humans more often than the Youkais.
"I bleed, just like you." She held out her palm; pulled out a small dagger lodged in the back of her bodice and gently pricked a finger.
At the sight of the blood, the man immediately rushed to her side, his thumb pressing down on the wound.
"No! They will sniff it!" He sheathed his sword and with one hand and removed the cotton band tied around his forehead. "Blood draws them to us… the hyenas." he explained.
"That is not possible. The hyenas live on the mountain range," said Miria in defence.
Rin however was not surprised. Something was drawing the hyenas southwards. Her encounter with them not too long ago was still etched in her memory. Was it the same pack who attacked this village?
"Thank you," she said when he was finished wrapping her finger. "I am Lady Rin and you are?"
He bowed slightly, a hand to his chest. "My apologies my Lady. I am not usually this rude…" Eyes locked on hers, he introduced himself. "My name is Titus, son of Theodore of Eilean. My father was the one who signed that treaty you now hold in your hands."
Judging from Titus's age, his father had to have been dead for awhile…. so why hasn't he sought Lord Sesshoumaru to renew his treaty?
"It was peaceful, the few years after my father passed," he said as though reading her mind." But in the past months, our village was attacked by the hyenas. More than once."
"What did they take?" Miria interjected; her voice solemn. "Money, food, women?"
Titus shook his head sadly. "No… they took our children."
Her hand flew to her mouth to cover the shocked gasp. How many more human villages would they find facing this same danger?
"When was their last attack?" Rin demanded.
"Last night." Titus closed his eyes, a hand pressed hard against his forehead. "This time, they destroyed our crops too. I don't know how we are going to survive once winter comes with barely any left for harvest."
Outraged, Rin turned to her companion. "Miria, you must go at once and track their scent. I will return with reinforcements."
The Daiyoukai looked at her in shock; defiance crossing her eyes briefly before she nodded, taking her horse and riding Westwards. Rin understood that Miria had only accepted her orders for the sake of diplomacy.
"Are you truly human?" asked Titus once Miria was no longer in sight. "And yet you are in the company of Youkais."
"I am offering you our help," she reminded him. "It should not matter where my allegiance lies."
The young man nodded before turning to the centre of his village, shouting, "It is safe now. You can come out."
When he looked back at her, Rin could see that Titus was no longer suspicious. In fact, he wore a smile despite the heavy heart she could sense he was carrying.
"Would you like some tea before heading back?" he offered kindly. "We don't have much but you must be weary from your journey."
Rin nodded. The potatoes she had packed had been depleted the night before and any form of sustenance was a relieved welcome. Stone soup would be for another time.
As she sat down on the straw mat of his house, it reminded her briefly of how life was back in Kaede's village. She would never in a million years be sitting in a stranger's house like this back then. And yet here she was.
"Have you been in Lord Inu no Taisho's service for long?" he asked, pouring tea into a cup.
"I suppose you are not aware that he has since passed on," said Rin, accepting the offer. "It is his son, Lord Sesshoumaru whom I represent."
"My apologies my Lady… News has not travelled this far south." Titus held his head low, hands clasped together in a short prayer.
Only when he lifted his head up did she smile, lifting her cup in a silent toast.
"I heard his son has chosen to live the life of a wanderer," said Titus.
"It does not affect our offer of aid."
Titus shook his head; eyes closed as he sipped his tea. "We have never asked for the help of anyone. My father would not have allowed such shame to befall this village!"
Rin was about to chide him for his stupidity when he lowered his cup; hands covering his face as he spoke. "But one of those taken… was my sister."
Something struck hard inside her. Rin knew what it was like to lose a family member.
"We will find her," she assured him, putting a hand gently on his shoulder. "And you are not your father. You will do what you think is best for your village."
"You are kind Lady Rin… as was the late Lord Inu no Taisho. He said the same thing to me when my father died."
"He chose not to pursue another written agreement with you despite knowing this?" Rin was surprised. Youkais never trusted humans; always expecting them to go back on their words. But Lord Inu no Taisho had extended his protection even when he received nothing in return?
"There is nothing now to tie the new Lord to this commitment. How sure are you that he will come to our aid?" Titus had a deep furrow on his forehead. "Lord Sesshoumaru is known across the lands as being impartial to us humans. He merely looks when humans are slaughtered in his presence."
Titus looked at her, his eyes slightly wet. "But I am desperate. We have sent our men to search… but our scent is like an alarm of its own - only giving us away even before we can reach the hyena's lair."
Rin could feel his pain and knew in her heart that Lord Sesshoumaru was not as Titus said. He might behave as though he didn't care but deep inside, she knew he was kind. When he hunted down the rogue Youkai many years ago, he had insisted it was to rid the earth of scum but she knew better. The rogue was steering too close to human and Youkai settlements.
"Come with me," she decided. "We will ride to the castle in the West and you can see for yourself that Lord Sesshoumaru is not the cold hearted Youkai you make him out to be."
/
NB: And the drama starts! Let me know what you think of the story so far. I love hearing from you!