-Where Beauty Lies-

Rin grabs Aya's hand saying: there it is! Aya looks up to see a large castle, it's walls stretched as far as the eye could see. It was surrounded by green grass and cherry blossom trees that were steadily losing their leaves, Rin giggles running toward it and dragging Aya along with her.

Jaken looks up at Sesshomaru who watched with his usual bored expression.

"Mi'lord?"

Sesshomaru glances down at him and Jaken looks ahead saying: are you sure that she is safe, Sesshomaru looks ahead again saying: why do you ask, Jaken shakes his head saying: a random Dog Demoness…seems much too…coincidental…she could be a spy or an assassin, Sesshomaru shakes his head saying: she is not. Jaken looks up at him saying: and how do you know, Sesshomaru narrows his eyes slightly.

"I knew of her parent's, both strong both proud. Aya has power in her. However…she is weak, I don't believe she has it in her to be any of the things you named. She couldn't even kill her brother in five years."

He closes his eyes saying: she needs people more than she is willing to admit, Jaken looks up at Sesshomaru and then back at Aya and Rin. Aya and Rin circled the grounds just before the castle entrance picking up cherry blossom leaves as they went, Jaken clears his throat preparing himself to get hit this time.

"Uh Mi'lord one more question…."

Sesshomaru opens his eyes, Jaken sucks in a large breath before releasing it, he was going to take that as the green light.

"Is that why you want to help her, though your stories differ at the base the two of you are…alike?"

Sesshomaru sneers saying: the difference between us is that I need no one…and for me that is the truth. Jaken covers his head looking down, he was prepared for some sort of whipping but it never comes, he cocks his head. Any other time Sesshomaru would have taken the bottom of his fist to his head but nothing came, Jaken looks at the females again he could hear them now.

"I'm going to make some perfume from this…ah how I love the smell of cherry blossoms!"

"Oooh can you make me some as well?"

"Sure Rin!"

"She doesn't yet know her place," Sesshomaru mutters as Rin runs over to him with an arm full of cherry blossoms, she grins saying: look Lord Sesshomaru…look! He nods to her walking past her, Aya looks up when he moves past her, she winks at Rin who stifles a laugh as Aya creeps silently behind Sesshomaru, just as she raises her arms to shower him in flowers he turns grabbing her by the arm. She closes one eye waiting for him to reprimand her in some way but he turns muttering silently to himself, Rin runs over to Aya saying: well that failed, Aya bends down in front of Rin saying: we'll get him eventually.

Somehow some way we'll get him.

Rin smiles up at her, Aya smiles back but slowly her smile falls.

It's been a long time since I smiled so much…Rin reminds me so much of Mio. Now I don't want to leave her.

Suddenly a large dragon demon comes bounding from around the castle walls, Aya puts her hand to her forehead to block out the sunrays as it came, she brings her hand to the hilt of her sword saying: why is that-, the demon tackles her onto the ground and Rin laughs, Aya gasps when he begins pressing it's heads into her stomach and arm pits.

"Rin?!"

Rin smiles saying: he must like you, Jaken glares at the demon saying: get off of her you beast, the demon pauses turning it's head toward Jaken, it lets out a heavy breath through it's nose before slowly moving away from Aya who sits up dizzily. Jaken brandishes his staff as the demon begins moving menacingly toward him, Rin runs around Aya cutting the demon off with a hug.

"Aw Ah-un did you miss me," she whispers hugging it's heads with her arms, Aya stands to her feet saying: Ah-un huh, Rin nods gently leading Ah-un back over to Aya, she smiles saying: pet him, Aya brings a hand to each head lightly stroking them, Ah-un lets out a low breath before jerking it's heads into the arms of her kimono, she frowns saying: wha-, it pulls out when a mouthful of cherry blossom flowers, Rin gasps saying: he wanted the flowers. Jaken stomps his foot saying: wretched beast, Ah-un turns suddenly tackling Jaken onto the ground, Jaken tries to crawl away.

"Lord Sesshomaru help me! Stop this beast!"

Aya turns to look for Sesshomaru but he'd already gone inside, she sighs walking over to Jaken, she lifts him into her arms saying: there-there, he pushes out of her arms saying: I am a great and powerful demon I do not need your comfort, she bends down in front of him saying: really…so you'd rather Sesshomaru baby you…a little strange if you ask me. She narrows her eyes, he steps closer to her saying: if Lord Sesshomaru had not some strange interest in you I would show just how strong I am, she grins and her eyes turn red. He gulps when he notices the fangs at the corners of her mouth; he drops to his knees saying: forgive me please, Aya laughs standing.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew little demon," she utters going around Rin and Ah-un to pick up her flowers again. The castle doors open and a young girl comes out, she places her hands together walking over to the group, she looks at Rin saying: Lord Sesshomaru wants you to bathe Rin. Rin nods saying: ok, she pats Ah-un once more before running toward the castle doors, the girl turns to Aya saying: so you're new, Aya frowns saying: what. The girl narrows her eyes looking Aya over, she tuts lightly saying: so he's brought a Demoness this time well no matter, she grabs Aya's arm pulling her into the castle.

"The floors need to be cleaned, the table set, Lord Sesshomaru's room organized and dusted….!"

Aya yanks her arm away saying: wait I'm not a maid. The girl frowns saying: what, she walks slowly around Aya saying: but…why are you here, Aya smirks saying: your Lord brought me here to woo me, she brings her hands to cup around her mouth.

"I'll admit I'm a little impressed but I'm not easy," she whispers playfully, the girl gasps saying: so you are the new lady of the house, Aya shakes her head saying: I jest…he's helping me with something, the girl nods saying: ah so you are a guest…please forgive me for my ignorance earlier, she bows to Aya.

"It's quite alright…I do probably look very…homely…I barely sleep being in a bed again will do me good."

The girl nods saying: yes-yes, Aya quirks a brow.

You're not supposed to agree.

"My name is Mikado, please Lady…," she gestures for Aya to speak.

"Aya."

"Please Lady Aya allow me to escort you to a room for you to finally rest your head," she turns walking up a flight of golden and white stairs, Aya looks around once more, the castle was golden and white every where, and immaculate.

"There are six floors…Rin's and the Lord's are on the first…mine and the other maids the fourth…so we will be putting you close to the Lord and Rin."

Aya nods following the girl down a long empty hall, she frowns when she passes a room filled with bookcases and tables, Sesshomaru sat at the middle table looking down at a stack of papers, she makes a mental note to check that room out.

"Here Lady Aya…your room," Mikado says holding her arms out to a closed door at the end of the hall, she opens the door smiling when she sees Aya's eyes light up, Aya walks into the room, it was decorated in black, white and red, her favorite colors. She falls onto the bed sighing, Mikado points to a cupboard at the corner of the room.

"There are clothes in there in case you want to change…and would you like for me to prepare you a bath."

"Mm-mm," Aya nods already half asleep, she sighs turning over to her side.

"Awaken me once it's ready," she yawns pulling the thick black blankets close her face, everything in this place smelled of Sesshomaru, not that she minded. At this point had grown to almost respect him, he was no nonsense and a bit anal but he wasn't a bad person, he loved what he loved and hated almost everything else.

Such a peaceful way to live, he doesn't focus so much on what people think…Rin…this castle…his lands…that's his worry…his life. Then why…. Why add me into it?"

She ponders this as she drifts off into dreamland.

"Lady Ay…Lady Ay wake up your bath is getting cold!"

Aya peeks an eye open to see Rin peering down at her with a smile, she wore a pink kimono now and her hair neatly back in place, Aya sits up saying: why aren't you cute when clean, Rin blushes rubbing the back of her head, Aya stands saying: my turn, she walks into the bathroom to find a large gold tub filled to the brim with water, bubbles, and cherry blossom flowers.

Been a long time since I lived this way, she thinks as she begins to undress.

She sighs sinking into the bath water, it hadn't gotten cold at all, she brings her foot out of the water peering down at it.

"I need to paint them again," she brings her hands up looking at her nails, she grabs a small wooden container of scented soaps, she takes some out while placing the container next to her, she begins rubbing her body with the soaps.

This is something that I could get used to again…being around the humans was fun but…this is what I was born in.

"But after I find Kize…this will be all over again…Lord Sesshomaru will leave me and take Rin with him."

She sighs closing her eyes; she takes a deep breath before bringing her hands to the edges of the tub and pushing her self down until the water covered her entire body.

Once done she covers herself with her old kimono walking into the bedroom, she sighs; Rin had gone. Aya drops the kimono before walking over to the cupboard and opening it, kimonos for every occasion lay neatly folded one on top of the other. Aya grins saying: it would seem that our great lord likes the company females…why else would he have this here, she glances back at the door shrugging.

"And I was starting think he was a bit…strange."

She laughs digging into the kimono cupboard like a woman gone mad.

Aya takes a deep blue and white one similar to Sesshomaru's, she holds it to her body saying: and clearly he has a type as well, she walks over to the mirror eyeing her body with an harsh eye, it was as perfect as the room she stood in but…. She brings her had to her stomach lightly tracing the thin scar that extended from her navel to her middle belly.

That won't ever fade….

She shakes her head deciding to get dressed, she drops the kimono on the bed going back over to the cupboard picking out black bandages and matching under clothes.

Once done she brushes her hair to the back with her fingers, she goes to braid it but she pauses…, she pushes her hair to the side of her face before walking over to a vanity at the side of the full length mirror, she sits there deciding that beautifying herself was the key to regaining her happiness from earlier in the day.

Someone knocks at the door before peeking their head in, Aya glances at Mikado saying: yes, Mikado smiles saying: you look stunning the lord will be pleased, Aya looks at herself again. Usually she did not wear black eye shadow but it seemed to fit her at the time, she turns to the girl saying: so what did you want.

"Dinner is ready mi'lady," Mikado says bowing, Aya stands saying: good I'm famished, Mikado leads Aya out of the room and back downstairs, Aya frowns.

"He's still in that library," she utters more to herself than Mikado but Mikado turns saying: yes Lord Sesshomaru has to work hard, Aya nods. Once they make it to the dining room Aya is relieved to see Rin already there, Rin gasps saying: Lady Ay…you're so much prettier clean, Aya cocks her head saying: how sweet. She takes a seat across from Rin who rubs her hands together when Mikado brings in a large roasted bird and rice, Mikado bows to them saying: there is more in the kitchen would you like it, Aya cocks her head looking at the head of the table.

"Is Lord Sesshomaru coming," Rin asks before Aya could raise the question, Mikado shakes her head saying: he is working Rin, Rin sighs settling in her seat, Aya smiles at Rin saying: we don't need him…right, Rin sighs saying: yeah…I guess, Aya looks at the food saying: I would have preferred something a little more…lively but this will do. Rin grimaces saying: you mean a raw animal, Aya smirks winking at her and Rin lets out a noise of disgust, Aya fills her plate saying: you've never eaten the way I have so it's easy for you to be disgusted but there is nothing like the thighs of a pig demon, Rin now covers her ears saying: please Lady Ay I'm losing my appetite. Aya laughs when Rin begins to eat right after her outburst; she shoots a glance at the doors as she begins to pick at her food very slowly.

Eventually Rin eats herself into submission, she drops her head onto the table next to a half eaten plate, Mikado smiles saying: works like a charm, she lifts Rin into her arms saying: she's always so tired when they return from their trips, Aya nods saying: I can empathize I often tire myself out as well. Mikado looks the table over saying: mi'lady you are finished, Aya nods saying: yes but…, she grabs her plate refilling it, she holds it up saying: for Lord Sesshomaru, Mikado shakes her head saying: he's eaten mi'lady, Aya frowns.

Probably that pig demon I was talking about, how unfair.

Aya places the plate back on the table following Mikado out and back upstairs, Mikado walks Rin into her bedroom laying her in the bed, Aya sighs watching her tuck her in.

Rin needs a real mother…the help won't suffice.

Mikado sighs saying: well my day is about over, she walks past Aya saying: good night Lady Aya, Aya nods saying: good night, she stands at the door for a while before turning to go find Sesshomaru, it wasn't a very hard thing to do seeing as how he hadn't budged since she last saw him. Aya walks into the library waving her arms lightly as she goes, there were so many books, more than she'd ever seen in her life.

She smiles at Sesshomaru placing her hands on the table he sat at.

"What," he utters not even bothering to look at her, Aya sighs saying: what are you doing, he frowns saying: you cannot be that dense, she frowns saying: how rude. She walks around the table leaning over his shoulder at a paper he looked down at. He looks at her and she smiles shrugging, he pushes away from the desk saying: you said that you found an empty altar on that mountain, she nods saying: yeah…why. She walks back around the table pulling up a seat.

"Your father and my father knew each other…perhaps my father knew what was there…most things are recorded here in these old books…if you found a book on the Northern lands you could perh-."

"Find out what may have been up there," she says in excitement, he glares at her and she sighs saying: sorry. Aya stands saying: what a good idea, she begins to walk deeper into the library and as she walks her excitement fails, she runs back over to him saying: how am I to find this book? He stands saying: I do not know…you'd better get to searching, Aya gasps saying: what…can't you…point me in the general direction or something. He points to the darkest side of the library saying: start there, she sighs when he walks past her.

"Sesshomaru can't you help me?"

He glances at her over his shoulder before leaving the room without a word, Aya folds her arms saying: what a…ugh, she moves to the back of the library, she rolls up her sleeves looking at the tall bookshelves above her, this was going to take forever. Through the night she searched and searched, slinging books here and there until her arms ached and grew tired, and this was only after one bookshelf. Aya moans falling against the wall, she couldn't keep this up.

A powerful Inu Daiyoukai defeated by a bookshelf…sad….

"You win," she mutters before drifting off to sleep.

Sesshomaru lay in his bed watching the ceiling and listening to the steady bump of Aya tossing and dropping books, he looks over hearing his door open and the bumping stops, Rin rubs her eyes with her fists saying: Lord Sesshomaru…I had a bad dream, he sighs. Sometimes he wondered to himself why he kept this girl around, Rin crawls onto the foot of the bed saying: there was a scary man in my room, she yawns saying: he had the scariest red eyes and sharp teeth…he looked almost like your brother because he had doggy ears on his head. Sesshomaru frowns saying: a dream, she nods saying: yeah but it was so real…he…he said that he had the wrong room and left through my window again, Sesshomaru sits up saying: come, she grins saying: ok. She takes his hand saying: if anyone were there they'd be super sorry when you get there, Sesshomaru couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Uh Lord Sesshomaru…where is Lady Ay I went her room first and she wasn't there."

Sesshomaru glances at the library door saying: she's busy, he leads her into her room and immediately he's put on edge, Rin's window was wide open allowing the brisk winter air to fill her room and a strange scent accompanied it. Rin tugs at his hand saying: what is wrong Lord Sesshomaru, he shakes his head saying: get into bed, she runs over plopping onto the bed, he walks over to the window closing it, she yawns saying: it was closed before. Sesshomaru nods saying: I am sure, Rin snuggles under the covers saying: you know Lord Sesshomaru…I think Lady Ay likes you, he turns to her saying: why do you say that, she shrugs saying: she…seems to really care about you…she missed you at dinner time. Sesshomaru frowns, Rin smiles saying: we both did but you had to work.

Sesshomaru nods before going to leave the room but Rin sits up saying: good night Lord Sesshomaru…don't let the…toad demons bite, he turns to her giving her a queer look, she giggles saying: Lady Ay made it up to annoy Master Jaken…funny right, Sesshomaru nods leaving the room.

He now makes his way to the library; once he enters he is attacked by that scent again, the window was also open in this room. Sesshomaru glares at the darkness following the scent to where Aya lay on the floor, he bends down next to her looking about the room. This scent was masculine, nothing like Aya's sweet one. Sesshomaru lifts her in his arms walking her out of the library and down the hall to his room, now Rin's dream didn't seem so far fetched. He lays her in the bed almost regretting it immediately; he didn't want her to get the wrong idea when she awakened. He turns to leave, he had other business anyway.

The next morning Aya is awakened by Rin who peers down at her with happy coin sized eyes.

"Lady Ay you stayed with Lord Sesshomaru last night!"

Aya groans saying: what, she turns in the bed burying her face in a large white pillow, it smelled strongly of Sesshomaru she sits up abruptly, she looks around the room she was in, armor hung on the walls and so did a sword, she gets to her knees saying: this is Sesshomaru's room isn't it. Rin nods saying: yeah, Aya crawls out of the bed saying: how did I get here, she folds her arms saying: he must have moved me because this is his room.

The door flies open and Sesshomaru steps in holding a brown leather bound book, he tosses it to her and she catches it saying: what's this, he frowns saying: what you were supposed to be finding last night…read through it quickly we leave tonight, she frowns saying: where to. He turns away saying: your old home, Aya gasps saying: n-no w-we cannot go there!

"Be ready," he mutters walking down the hall.

Rin smiles saying: we're gonna go see your house, she runs out of the room saying: must get ready. Aya falls back onto the bed staring blankly at the book.

I…I don't want to go.