AN: Hey it's me again! Sorry for taking so long. Between working a full time job and attending college full time things get away from me. I suppose my recent obsession with Gravitation hasn't helped either, lol. (They just released a sequel! So if any of you are gravi fans it is a MUST read! Tohma in a nurse outfit, what are you waiting for?)
Anyway thank you so much for all the reviews! They make my day all sunny and happy! I have to say I didn't mean to cause any offense by bringing missionaries into the story, but it is what was going on at the time period. Japan tried to keep them out like the plague. Anyone who didn't apostatize were punished brutally either until they did so or died, which ever came first.
Very interesting tidbit:
Oh and another note I have recently discovered. Have any of you read the manga chapters where Sesshomaru goes to Hell and Rin dies and the sword can't bring her back? Well at the end of the one chapter the author (As in the Rumiko Takahashi) says "Sesshomaru clearly cares more for Rin than he did for Kagura proving once and for all that he's a Lolicon." So there you have it… if there was any question about the relationship before, there is none now. Whatever you all think of lolicons there is no ground for the father/daughter relationship after that comment. I know… I was floored when I read it too. I never expected Takahashi to be so blunt about it, but I'm not complaining. To all the father/daughter people out there, I win you lose!
If you don't know what a lolicon is go to dictionary . com they will explain it better than I care to.
On with the story! Although I must warn you all prepare for this to get really sad really fast over the next couple of chapters.
Rin sighed contentedly. A few months earlier she would have been surrounded by a sea of red and gold flowers. The tree she sat by would have provided a canopy of lush green foliage. However, winter had finally soaked its way into the land. The grass was mostly yellow with growing brown patches. The tree she sat under was a bare skeleton. She pulled her layers of clothing up around her chin as an icy blast hit her. Her cool brown eyes looked over the frozen lake at the bottom of the hill. Dejectedly she stood up and began to walk towards the castle. Her hand absently fell to her abdomen. Although still flat she could notice the subtle swell below her navel that signaled changes to come.
"Rin you shouldn't be out in the cold." A smooth voice said from behind her. Rin jumped slightly before a smile graced her porcelain face. Turning around she found sun filled orbs staring down at her.
"I needed some fresh air." She said grabbing his hand and walking beside him. Sesshomaru sighed.
"The last thing you need is to get sick." His warm voice made her heart beat faster. She never got sick of knowing he cared for her. Rin chuckled softly looking back up into his amber eyes.
"You shouldn't worry yourself so. Everything will be fine." Her bright smile and optimism tugged his lips into a brief smile. Never in his life had any demon had such power over his heart and soul let alone a mortal. They walked the rest of the way in silence. The frozen grown crunched beneath their feet while soft puff clouds dissipated from their mouths. Sesshomaru watched the way her hair moved delicately in the impulsive winter breeze. As they entered the castle he heard Rin sigh happily, letting the warm air of the castle caress her cold face.
"You should eat." Sesshomaru said leading her to the kitchen.
"I am hungry." She agreed. However as they approached the kitchen the strong scent of uncooked meat besieged her nostrils. Rin stopped and put her hand over her mouth as her stomach lurched. "Perhaps I'll eat later."
"You've hardly eaten for the past two months." He said frowning. "You must eat for our child's health." Rin fidgeted and looked up at him sheepishly.
"Could you bring me something back to our room? Perhaps I could hold food down better if I was away from the smell of raw meat." She asked as another dry heave assaulted her. Sesshomaru tenderly ran his fingers through her hair.
"Go on. I'll bring your dinner." He said softly. Rin smiled and stood on tip toe to brush a tender kiss across his lips. She gave him a bright smile before retreating to their rooms.
"For the first time in my life everything is perfect." Rin murmured happily as she slid her door open and entered her regal room.
PAGE BREAK
In a decrepit hut situated just outside a peasant village a man sat on the cold dirt floor reading a large book. Suddenly a harsh knock came from outside the hut. Standing up in his ragged kimono the man knew the jig was up. His months of absconding were for nothing as he watched a bulky figure kick in the door. A lump formed at the back of the man's throat as a heavily armored samurai pushed his way in.
"I knew it." He snarled at the man. "What have you to say for yourself priest?" The father simply stood and gave the intruder a solemn look.
"I will go quietly. It is not the nature of our religion to struggle." His Spanish accent only irritated the samurai further.
"Why? How many more Martyrs will you have us make of you people?" He spat at the priest. "No I have a better idea. I believe we can scratch each others back." The father raised an uneasy eyebrow at the samurai.
"And what would that involve?" He asked already determined to turn the man down.
"Take care of the demon lord and we'll leave you alone. I am in charge around here. So long as you keep a low profile I'll ignore you." The unnamed samurai proposed. The father was taken aback. Whatever he had expected this wasn't it. He thought for a moment. Indeed this was a good deal. Taking care of the demon was already on his agenda.
"How do I know you'll uphold your end of the deal?" The father asked suspiciously.
"What do you think the shogun would do to me if he found out I initiated such a deal?" The samurai retorted. "You barbarians are a fleeting thought compared to the demon lord." The priest glared at the samurai in front of him.
"I will dispose of this demon lord, but I need assistance." He spoke scornfully refusing to look at the samurai.
"I will not give you any assistance." He scolded back.
"There is another priest in this country side, Father Abbot. I will only agree to your proposition if you include him in the deal. I will need him to carry this out." The priest said tiredly rubbing his face. The samurai studied him for a moment.
"Fine, where is he?" He asked impatiently.
"Two villages north of here." An unwelcome silence fell on the hut as the samurai took a moment to decide.
"Fine, I will bring him to you. Look for us by the end of the month." With that the samurai left the father speechless. The priest watched from the door as the Samurai left the village heading north.
PAGE BREAK
Rin stretched her body underneath the warm sheets. The early morning rays were drifting over the end of their futon. She sighed happily as Sesshomaru ran gentle fingers over her swelling abdomen. She was nearly three months pregnant now. The growth in her belly was starting to become noticeable to her. Although it was still indistinguishable underneath her layered kimonos, she and Sesshomaru noticed the minute difference from earlier in the month. Leaning close to her he kissed the side of her face while his hot breath tickled her ear.
"How are you feeling?" His smooth baritone washed over her as she opened her crystalline brown eyes. A pair of breathtaking golden orbs looked down at her.
"Hungry for once." She whispered happily, snuggling closer to his warm frame. "Sesshomaru?" She asked hesitantly. Her mind was still fuzzy with sleep, allowing her to inquire about a fleeting worry she was having.
"Yes." He replied, letting his head fall to the pillow beside her and leaving his hand to caress the side of her smooth face.
"Does a half breed child bother you?" Her question was blunt, but she needed to be reassured. His brows knitted in irritation while his hand kept its gentle motions.
"Perhaps at first I was leery of having a half breed child, but then I came to realize that the only child I wanted was yours. It doesn't matter as long as it shares our blood." Sesshomaru said and wiped a stray tear that had crept down the woman's face. He smiled and held Rin close knowing he had a long six months of mood swings and silly questions to go.
PAGE BREAK
The priest sat inside of his hut, getting more agitated by the day. It was nearly past due for the samurai to return. He heard something outside. He peered out between the misshapen wood of his hut to see the samurai. He had brought a wagon along with him. The father watched as he pulled the covering off the back and hastily pulled a man out from under it.
"Father Abbot." He whispered excitedly. Opening the door the Samurai acknowledged him with a grunt and pushed the startled young man into the hut.
"Father Salvias." The newcomer whispered. His dark black hair and deep brown eyes paired with his shallow cheek bones and nose helped divert attention from him. One of the reasons he had made it so long without being caught.
"Now you uphold your end of the deal." The samurai spat and left.
So what did you all think? I'll have another chapter up on Saturday! Please review!