Healing the Moon
Disclaimer: Me no own. Don't send crazy psychotic lawyers after me.
Chapter Seven
A soft sigh passed Midori's lips as Machiko finished tying the obi around her waist. The simple kimono that the rabbit youkai had insisted she wear was made of a cream colored silk with pale peach lotus blossoms floating along its hem. The obi that was around her waist was a pale green that matched the leaves on the blossoms. "Thank you for your assistance, Machiko-san," the healer said softly as she moved over to the vanity.
When she had first woken up that morning, well before the sun had arisen, she had asked Machiko to gather parchment, ink, and a brush for Rin's lessons. The rabbit had placed the items on the vanity when she had returned and aided Midori in dressing.
Picking up the items with her good arm, Midori sent a nervous smile at Machiko. "Wish me luck. I have a feeling that I'm going to need it," she said before moving over to Rin's room to wake the young girl up and get her ready for the day.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Sesshomaru frowned when he heard Rin's squeal echo through the halls of the shiro. According to Machiko, Midori had started Rin's lesson's early that morning. The woman should have still been instructing the girl, as it was not even noon yet.
Standing from his desk, the daiyoukai left his study and moved into the family wing of his home. Just as he neared the rooms, Rin darted out of the rooms that Midori was staying in and ran up to him. "Sesshomaru-sama, guess what!" When her guardian did nothing but raise an eyebrow, Rin's grin widened. "Rin has learned to read and write her name! And now Midori-sama is teaching Rin to write Sesshomaru-sama's name!"
Midori came out of the room and smiled softly before bowing to him. "Good morning, Sesshomaru-sama."
"It is nearly noon, and you have only taught her to write her name?"
He nearly smirked when he saw the woman's hands clench tightly into fists, but she did not allow her anger to show on her face. "She is a human child, Sesshomaru-sama. Such teachings take time to learn. If I had access to my families scrolls, Sesshomaru-sama, I could hasten her teachings."
"And how would that accomplish anything?"
"For the most part it is merely reading something to Rin, and allowing her to follow the words as I read them. With repeated readings, Rin would learn what the words actually say. Afterwords, it is simply teaching her to write."
"And how long would such teachings take?"
Midori's jade eyes narrowed at him, and Sesshomaru could not help but find her anger amusing. She certainly was easy to rile up. "Learning to read and write properly takes years, Sesshomaru-sama, as I'm sure you know. However, seeing as my time is limited at your shiro, I will endeavor to create a list of what Rin has accomplished for the tutor that you employ after I am gone." Looking at the child, who was watching the two of them with interest, Midori smiled. "Come, Rin. It is time to return to your lessons."
The human child nodded eagerly and darted back into the room, eager to continue learning. Midori moved to follow, but Sesshomaru cleared his throat. "I shall have Machiko bring you two scrolls of my choice to aide you in teaching Rin. You shall receive no further concessions from me, Hikari-san. Do you duty by Rin, and heal. Anything else is irrelevant."
That said, the daiyoukai turned on his heel and left. Even as he walked away, he could feel the angry stare that the healer was directing at his back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She whimpered as Machiko helped her undress for her bath that evening, and she immediately knew that she had pushed her body too far that day. Even though she had spent her day sitting with Rin, her arm and ribs were protesting her being up and about.
"Hikari-san, would you like for me to gather the supplies that you brought with you?" Machiko asked.
"I shall wait, Machiko-san. It will do me no good to tend to my wounds before my bath. Once we return to my rooms though, I would like your assistance in re-wrapping my arm and ribs. I fear I pushed myself to hard today."
"If I may be so bold, Hikari-san, you are of no use to Rin-san if you are unable to move."
"Hai, but your lord had demanded that I instruct Rin. I would think that he would have already brought in tutors for the child."
"Rin-san travels with Sesshomaru-sama, Hikari-san, and they rarely return to the shiro except to restock on supplies. It would be wasteful to hire tutors when the child is rarely here."
"Then why is he having me instruct her?"
Machiko shrugged as she began to aide Midori in washing her hair. "It is possible that Sesshomaru-sama simply wishes Rin-san to begin her lessons. She is nearing the age where she will need to learn the ways of the court."
Midori nodded, but for some reason this explanation didn't sit right with her. "There is no telling what is going through that youkai's head. He acts as if everything is beneath his notice."
The rabbit was silent as she helped Midori out of the hot spring and into a silk robe. They returned to Midori's room and Machiko efficiently wrapped her arm and ribs before helping her into a sleeping yukata. "I will bring breakfast for you in the morning," she said before leaving.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sesshomaru smirked slightly. "The female is irritated with me then?" he asked, his voice not showing his amusement.
Machiko bowed before her lord. "I believe that she feels she serves no true purpose here, Sesshomaru-sama. She has only been here a full day. I feel that, given adequate time, the healer will learn her place."
"The healer has no place here, Machiko. Once her wounds are healed, she will be leaving."
"And if she proves herself to be untrustworthy?"
He paused in his writing and glared at the servant that he had assigned to the last of the Hikari clan. "Has she given any indication that she would be as such?"
"She openly defies you, milord. I fear that she sees herself as your equal."
Those words caused him to smirk once more. "Hikari-san was the head of her clan for the last ten years. Her family was once the most prominent ningen line in all of Japan. Despite her family's demise, Hikari no Midori still feels the pride that such an honor bestows. As a human, she can never be this Sesshomaru's equal. However, her pride as the last of the Hikari will not allow her to simply bare her throat to me. Unless she begins to cause problems, allow the woman her willfulness. But keep me informed on her actions."
"Of course, milord."
Once the servant left, Sesshomaru returned to his work. He was beginning to question his decision to allow Machiko to attend to the woman. The rabbit youkai was loyal to his family, but he knew that she despised humans. She might cause problems for the still-mending human.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Oh god, I am so sorry that I missed my update-day. But to make up for it you all get two updates this week. A little bit of a longer chapter, and Midori has started Rin's lessons. Originally I was planning this chapter to be completely focused on Sesshomaru, but Machiko just wouldn't leave me alone. I always put my head completely in the story when I write, and Machiko started bothering me a bit. I don't think I like her.... Jeez, and I'm the author... How bad is that?
Things are going slowly for Midori and Sesshomaru, and Sesshomaru-sama is being his usual self... Like I said at the beginning, things will progress slowly for the two of them. Sesshomaru is a cold-hearted jerk, even though he cares for Rin in his own way.
Next chapter will be up Wednesday. In the meantime, please read and review.
Later days!