Sorry my dear reviewers, but I had two mid term papers to write this past weekend. Trust me, I'd much rather have been writing a chapter than discussing hegemony in the old south and the nature of the Vietnamese resistance to French colonization! Thanks for all the reviews I enjoyed them so much!
Chapter 3:
2 weeks later
Rin mopped the sweat off her forehead using a grimy cloth. Her free hand carefully carried a bucket of water for the mistress. Rin covered her eyes as the evening sun ruthlessly burned her chocolate orbs. She frowned knowing the night would require a heavy blanket. This time of year one never knew how to dress. The days were just warm enough to be uncomfortable and the nights were just cold enough to cause concern. She wore a typical brown peasant kimono. She had discarded her elegant attire two weeks ago when her indentured servitude began. As she approached the small hut her master and mistress shared, a young woman ran up behind Rin.
"Hey Rin?" The young woman chirped.
"Yes Lulu?" Rin said smiling back. The young woman looked a lot like Rin. Her black hair was stained red by the sun, but her soft brown eyes retained a fine elegance.
"I was wondering if you were almost done with your chores tonight." Lulu asked casually.
"Yes, I just have to give this water to my mistress. She gets dry mouth at night, she needs water to wet her mouth though the night." Rin explained.
"Would you like to bathe with me? It would be nice to chat for once. We are both so busy during the day." Lulu commented as the two girls reached the hut.
"Sure, I'll be right out." Rin accepted as she disappeared into the hut. The mistress was folding her clothing, while master Yongle was sharpening knifes. Rin bowed respectfully as she sat the pale of water by the mistress' bed.
"You are very kind Rin." She said with glittering blue eyes. Her smoky grey hair was pulled into a tight bun while her mossy green kimono hung off her withered body.
"Lulu and I are going to bathe; I promise I won't be out too late." Rin said dutifully. The woman smiled and nodded while Rin grabbed her toiletries and a fresh kimono.
"Ready?" Lulu asked as Rin left the hut.
"Yeah, a bath sounds so nice right now." Rin sighed as they headed off to the stream. "I hope the water isn't too cold." Rin said shivering in the cool evening air. Lulu agreed. She sighed as they approached the stream. Disrobing and gingerly stepping into the stream the girls let themselves relax. It wasn't unbearable, but the water was chilly.
"You never did tell me about how you came here!" The girl's eager voice demanded.
"I don't want to talk about it." Rin said frowning.
"Please, just between us! Come on." Lulu pleaded. Rin smiled, she had grown fond of Lulu over the past two weeks. Sighing in defeat Rin took a deep breath.
"When I was eight my family was killed by bandits." Rin said letting her eyes drift up to the stars. 'I wonder if he is looking up at those stars too.' She thought as Lulu's hand caressed her shoulder.
"What happened to you?" She asked concerned.
"A nearby village took me in. They treated me horribly. I was beaten whenever something went wrong." Rin sighed as she began to cleanse her body in the cool water. "I was there for several months until I…" She stammered not knowing how to tell the story.
"Until what?" Lulu asked intrigued.
"I came across a young man in the forest. He was injured and unable to move." Rin said as her gaze watched the moon sparkle on the slow moving stream.
"Was he handsome?" Lulu giggled. Rin smiled despite herself.
"Handsome doesn't begin to describe his elegance. To this day I can't explain why, but I felt connected to him. I tried to care for him, brought him food from the village preserve. For which I was brutally beaten." Rin said as she closed her eyes to the memory.
"I'm so sorry." Lulu said gently.
"When I returned to him he was concerned for me. He asked me where I got my bruises from." Tears were now slipping from Rin's eyes as she told her story. "It was the first time since my family's death anyone had felt concern for me. I think that's when my fate was sealed. That's when I knew I could never leave him." Lulu's eyes twinkled with curiosity as Rin's tale unfolded. "But, when I returned to the village it was under attack. Wolf demons were sacking everything and killing everyone." Rin shivered.
"How did you escape?" Lulu asked shivering as a chilly breeze swept over them.
"I didn't, they killed me as well." Rin said looking up into Lulu's confused eyes. "It was so painful. Sometimes I can still feel their teeth tearing my flesh apart."
"But you are alive?" Lulu asked, her brows furrowing in disbelieve.
"The man I showed kindness to is a great lord. His sword is a treasured heirloom. It can bring back the dead." Rin said looking into Lulu's eyes. "He always said the sword compelled him, but I know better. He wanted to save my life that day." Rin said as the shaking in her voice gave away her deep emotions. "Ever since I followed him where ever he went… Until two weeks ago." Rin said, shadows crossing her soft features.
"Did he abandon you?" Lulu asked sadly.
"He thought I'd be better off without him." Rin said as anger swelled in her chest. "I will find him again. As soon as I have earned the staff at Master Yongle's shop I'll be on my way."
"Do you love him?" She asked with wide sparkling brown eyes. Rin's eyes snapped open in surprise. Her mouth moved, but no sound escaped. "Well?" Lulu asked prying into the young woman's heart. Rin put her hand over her breast and looked up at Lulu.
"I do love him." She whispered. "I've never admitted it before… There has always been this burning deep inside."
"You need to find him! I can't believe I am talking to the lady of a lord!" Lulu said starry eyed. 'Easier said than done.' Rin thought bitterly.
"It's getting late." Rin said noticing the position of the moon. Lulu nodded in agreement. They quickly put on their fresh kimonos and silently walked to their huts deep in their own thoughts. 'I'm halfway there.' The thought sent warm sensations through her body.
2 Weeks Later
"Well young lady you have pleased my wife and I." Master Yongle said handing Rin the desired staff. "This will keep you safe on your journey." Rin gave him a confused look as he winked at her. "Lulu told us about the young lord you are seeking." Rin blushed.
"I wish you and the village good fortune. You have all been kind to me." She said bowing in respect. The man smiled his acceptance. "Maybe I'll return for a visit when my journey is complete."
"We would like that very much." A young woman's voice said from the door of the hut. Rin turned smiling.
"I will surely miss you Lulu!" Rin said embracing Lulu. "Before I forget there is something I'd like you to have." Rin rummaged though her back pack and pulled out the breath taking kimono she wore the day she arrived at the village. "It should fit you perfectly."
"I couldn't possibly!" Lulu stuttered in surprise. Rin smiled.
"It's just extra weight for me now, besides my Lord can always get me a new one." Rin said shrugging. Lulu nodded as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I will always treasure it." She whispered. Rin was surprised at how close she had grown to Lulu over the month. 'She's like a sister.' Rin thought sadly.
"I'd best be off. He already has a month on me, I need to make haste." Rin said sadly waving to her former mistress and master. Lulu hugged Rin one last time before Rin began her quest.
PAGE BREAK
Two days later
The cold wind bit through Sesshomaru's kimono and rippled his hakama. His amber eyes stared off at the horizon thoughtfully. Jaken looked up trying to figure out what was bothering his lord. 'He hasn't been right since we left her.' Jaken thought restlessly. Sesshomaru's gut told him something was amiss.
"Jaken." He said indifferently.
"Yes my lord." Came the attentive reply.
"Stay here." Sesshomaru commanded as he dissolved into a ball of light and flew away. Jaken watched his lord vanish over the horizon with a jilted feeling.
'I can't take it anymore.' Sesshomaru thought flying over the country side with lightning speed. 'I have to know she's okay. My mind will never rest until I'm certain.' His guilt had consumed him over the past month. Her image haunted his every thought. More than once he thought he heard her voice to be disappointed by the wind. As he approached the village he left her in, a sickening smell wafted to his sensitive nose. Burning wood and flesh filled his senses. His eyes scanned the horizon, looking for the source. Something in his chest twisted as the smoldering village came into view.
"No." He whispered closing in on the village. 'Please, I'd give anything.' He thought as a pile of bodies at the edge of the forest filled his vision. Sesshomaru landed and quickly hid in the trees as two males began conversing near by.
"That's all of them. Not a single survivor." The tallest man said. "We need to stay alert! The bandits might attack our village's next!"
"We've sent a plea to the daimyo for help." The short fat man said. Sesshomaru's eyes widened and he made his way over to the pile of bodies, being careful to stay in the shadows. His eyes searched the charred remains. One could no longer tell male from female let alone identify loved ones. However, his eyes stopped on a tiny piece of fabric that had somehow survived the brutal attack. It was a patch of peach with soft pink flowers on it. He recognized it immediately. It was the kimono he purchased for Rin not so long ago. His lungs exhaled a breath he unconsciously held and sucked in fresh air.
"Rin." He whispered as his eyes continued to stare at the piece of fabric that flapped in the wind, one loose end was still attached to a corpse. The cadaver had burned so thoroughly the spiteful sun glistened off of bits of exposed white bones. Tears welled up in Sesshomaru's eyes. This time he was helpless to fight them off. 'This is all my fault.' Fire ripped at his insides. He never experienced such intense pain before. Tears slipped down the great demon lord's cheeks for the first time. 'She's dead because of my pride.' He berated himself. The emotions ripping him apart were unbearable. In all his long years of life he had never experienced such exquisite loss. Even his father's death was not enough to summon the insatiable sorrow that now surrounded him. Sesshomaru closed his eyes and tried desperately to compose himself.
"Who are you?" One of the men yelled in Sesshomaru's direction.
"It's one of the bandits!" Another yelled. Sesshomaru frowned and took off through the air in a ball of light.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I should have another chapter soon!