PURE FLOWER

Chapter 7

Mother

Rin was returned to her chamber once again after her lord saw the condition of the demon children living in the village. Although she did not know the reason why Lord Sesshoumaru, the great demon lord would claim and protect a human village, she still thought it was very kind and generous of him. Not only would he open his land for humans, but orphan demon as well. Lord Sesshoumaru…my mate…

"LET HIM GO!!!!!!!!!! YOU BITCH!!!!"

"WHY… YOU FILTHY LITTLE BASTARD!!!!!!!!!"

Rin was startled when someone shouted from the outside of her chamber. It was the sound of a child, and some yelling of women. Quickly, she turned to the door and slid it open to see what was happening. Before she was able to open the door wide enough, something, or rather someone was pushed into her direction and knocked her down to the floor.

"My…my lady…!" The women whimpered when they saw they had accidentally pushed the demon boy too hard, and they had also failed to realize that they were too near to the chamber of the honored guests. Acting swiftly, the women kneeled before the lady and pressed their foreheads to the floor, trembling in fear of what the demon lady would do to them.

Ignoring the women, Rin stared at the young boy who was struggling to get away from her, but slipped when he stepped on the hem of her kimono. Placing her hands on the boy's shoulder, she frowned when her hands felt how thin the boy was. She winced when the boy slapped her hands away from him, and her amber eyes widened in surprise when she looked into a pair of bright emerald eyes. Pretty…

"LET GO OF ME!!!!!" Shippo shouted at the strange woman who was holding him and quickly got up to run towards where Ryuya had fallen. He was so shocked and angered that these people would dare harm a two years old child, and his anger tow folded when he saw the small purple lump on Ryuya's forehead.

"Is he…your friend? What happen to him?"

Shippo glared at the strange woman who was standing near him and Ryuya, realizing now that she was a demon like him when he saw her sharp tipped ears. His green eyes scanned her attire, and the ways that the human women trembling in fear, he then knew this woman before him was the infamous Lord Sesshoumaru's mate. He bared his sharp teeth and growled at her when she took a few steps closer to him.

"Your friend…he is hurt?" Rin asked when she saw the bruise on the unconscious child's forehead. Her amber eyes narrowed when she realized that it was the women who had hurt him, and was feeling slightly angry about it. When she was still confined within the cell in her father's castle, the servants had showed her and her mother disrespect, hurt them whenever they have the chance. Looking at the unconscious child on the floor, she vowed she would never let him and the others experienced what she had had before. Ignoring the women's whimpers and the boy's growls, Rin kneeled beside the fallen child and examined him. Why…this boy looks like Lord Sesshoumaru…

Muddy grey hair which she believed would be silver once it was washed, and the noble features on his face were so similar to her lord. Placing her hand on the younger boy's cheek, Rin frowned when she discovered his baby skin was also covered in dirt. Although she knew her lord would do something about the children's condition, but she would still have to tell him herself, with more persuasion. Turning to look at the women kneeling behind her, Rin commanded,

"Go bring me a tub of hot water and foods to my chamber, and also prepare some clean clothes for these children."

The women quickly obeyed and ran off as fast as they can to fulfill their lady's command. Turning to the green eyed child, Rin smiled and placed her hand on the top of his brown hair, saying,

"Come. Rest for awhile whiles the water and food is being prepared."

THE VILLAGE HEADQUATER

The demon lord sat on the fur covered chair prepared by the villagers while the village headman and some of the human involved in the village operation were kneeling and trembling before him. Sesshoumaru glared down at the humans kneeling before him, knowing very well that they were filled with fear by the scent of it. Just right after he accompanied Rin back to her chamber, he had then gone to find the village headman to question him about the condition of the orphans.

It was part of the bargain that the human would look after the demon children, and in return the demon lord would take care of the villagers. Although it was not his nature to care for anyone at all, be they human or demon, but he would honored his father's wishes and bargains; One of his father's greatest wishes was to create a place where both human and demon race would live together in peace. Since these filthy humans had failed to fulfill the bargain by not treating the demons with proper care, Sesshoumaru saw no need to be kind to them any longer.

"Perhaps it is time for this village to be independent, since you have clearly defied my term of bargain." Sesshoumaru said and smirked faintly when the humans fearfully looked up at him for a brief glance before pressing their forehead to the floor again.

"We…we do not understand, my lord. We send tribute every year to your stronghold, we harvest, we hunt, and we take in demon orphans. We did everything that is in the bargain." Sato said with fear in his voice. When the demon lord had said they no longer needed his protection, he began to panic.

"Yes. You people harvest, hunt, and take in the children. However, when this afternoon my lady went to visit the village, she is…not very pleased at the condition of the children. Those children are filthy, hungry and sick. Even this Sesshoumaru is able to see that, so are you telling me that you people are fulfilling the bargain?"

"But…but my lord…"

"Or are you people telling me that taking good care of those children are not part of the bargain, hm?" Sesshoumaru demanded. His golden eyes glared down at the humans as they began to shaken with fear. He was angry. He was angry at the fact that Rin's first time to a village was not a pleasant one. Although she had not voiced it to him, he could clearly see that she was not pleased when she saw the children's living conditions. It was as if she had experienced it herself. Impossible…

"My lord, we are terribly sorry for mistreating the demon children. But from today onwards, we will treat them with care, we promise you, my lord. So please, please do not leave us to the mercy of others, we beg you." The villagers pressed their forehead to the ground, their bodies shaking with dread and the possibilities of being the victims to the country war. They loved peace, and hated war that would caused them money, lives, and homes. If being kind to the demons were the price to obtain peace, then they would do it.

Sesshoumaru soften his glare, thinking that Rin might want to come to the village again to inspect the children. If he broke the bargain and left they unprotected, the village would be in ruins and the children would definitely be killed. His father, the previous Lord of Western Land was the one to make the peace bargain with the humans. Although Sesshoumaru did not give a damn about humans, he would respect his father's wishes and bargains. In fact since Rin was intrigued by the village, he now had another reason to offer protection to the humans.

"Very well, this Sesshoumaru will believe you people one more time. However, if you fail again, this Sesshoumaru will have no mercy." Sesshoumaru spoke. Turning to look at the demon general standing by his left side, he gave him a firm nod, giving him the responsibilities of overseeing the village's activities. The demon general bowed low to his waist and rose up only after the western lord was gone.

RIN'S CHAMBER

"…Shi..po…Shippo…?" Ryuya whispered as he slowly awakened. Other than the pain at the back of his head, he felt strangely comfortable. His small clawed hands clutched at the soft cloth beneath him and discovered that he was lying on a futon; A clean, scented soft futon. His golden eyes scanned around his surrounding, discovered that he was in an unfamiliar place. He was lying at the middle of the room, at the far right was a small low table beside the closed door, and at his left, a door was left ajar and he could see that outside was a small garden. Where is Shippo?

Suddenly, the door at the left side opened and a man clothed in rich white silk walked in. Ryuya stiffed when the man's golden eyes narrowed at the sight of him. When the man did nothing but stare at him, Ryuya silently studied the man, obviously a demon. He had long silver waist length hair, two purple strips on the both side of his cheek bones, slightly tipped ears, and sharp claws on his fingers. He is like me…

"Who are you, boy?" Sesshoumaru asked. If he was stunned at the similarities between him and the boy, it did not show in his face. He knew Rin was around the quarter since he could detect her scent, but he did not understand the presence of the demon children in the chamber. Another demon child was probably with Rin at the garden. Looking at the boy lying in Rin's futon again, Sesshoumaru knew the boy belonged to the White Dog clan by the smell of his blood, and the color of his eyes; Gold. However, the problem was who fathered the child. The full blooded White Dog race was rare and there was only a few remained; He himself, his mother, his son, and some distant relatives. Perhaps one of my bastards…

"Lord Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru looked up at his mate standing at the door near the garden. He almost smiled at the sight of her, although he did not know why. Standing at the right side was the demon child, a fox demon with red hair and green eyes. In his hand was a half eaten apple, and the child's eyes widen in fear at the sight of him. If not for Rin who placed her hand on the child's red hair, the child would have bolted.

"The other child has awakened." He spoke and went to sit down on a pile of cushions by the wall, watching amusingly as the fox demon stared fearfully at him before rushing to kneel by the younger child. His golden eyes focused on Rin who was now kneeling beside him with a soft smile of her beautiful face.

"I hope you don't mind me bringing the children into our chamber, my lord." Rin said softy, smiling into his golden eyes as she saw his approval. When he left her after they had walked around the village, his face was hard and stiff. However now, he was more relaxed. She wondered what had caused him to behave so. Making sure the children were not watching, she placed a soft kiss on his firm yet soft lips before going to tend the child, missing the look of surprise on her mate's face.

Ryuya's small hand gripped Shippo's hand as he watched the woman knelt beside him. When she raised her hand, he expected that she was going to struck him so he shut his eyes but was surprise when he felt her hand rested on his forehead. He opened his golden eyes and stared into her amber eyes. There was no disgust or hatred in her eyes, there was only warmth and concern. When the woman smiled at him, his heart tightened and he almost cried. Mama…

Ryuya had never known his mother because he was abandoned at the moment he was born, as Shippo told him so. He did not know the meaning of "Mother" or "Mama", only knew that the children sometimes called some women such names. He had thought it was only names. Once, he had called a woman "Mama", and instantly the woman's eyes filled with disgust and he was slapped by her. After that he had cried and went to Shippo, and asked him why. Only after Shippo explained the term only then he knew.

"Then where is my Mama?" One-year-old Ryuya asked.

"You have no mother, Ryuya. Perhaps she is dead. All the children here no longer have mother or father." Shippo said.

"Perhaps…? You mean you don't know? You mean she might be alive?" Ryuya asked again.

"…Even she is alive, you mean nothing to her, or she wouldn't put you here to die." Shippo said angrily.

"…My mama doesn't want me…?" Ryuya whispered as tears began to fill his eyes.

Rin eyed the small boy with a smile. Now that he had awakened, she could see his eyes, and she was right when she thought he looked like Lord Sesshoumaru. Before he awakened, she and Shippo had helped him bath and changed clothing. While staring at him, she thought she was staring at the child version of her mate.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt? Ryuya?" Rin asked as he continued to stare at her. At first when she touched him, her heart went out to him when she saw the fear in his golden eyes as if she was going to hurt him. She was angry at the women who hurt him, and angry at the villagers who hurt the children. So when the women servants had came with the bath water and food, she told them she would tell her lord Sesshoumaru about such matters. She did not care how the women paled in a sudden, and she did not care how they begged her to reconsider. They do not care for the well-being of the children. They know nothing about helplessness…

When she was still a child, she had stared hopelessly as her mother being abused. When her mother was missing, she had begged for help and mercy, begging her father to let her out, begging the guards to talk to her, begging them to tell her where her mother was. However, none cared about the young girl in the cell. After a few years, she stopped begging, knowing it was useless.

Stroking Ryuya's forehead with her hand, she knew this time was different. She was an adult and had a powerful mate. She could help the children and not let them feel helpless. She could ask her mate Lord Sesshoumaru to improve the children's living condition.

"The villagers have promised to take better care of the demon children. Do not worry too much, Rin." Sesshoumaru spoke as if he knew what she was thinking. When he saw the surprise look on her face, he knew she was indeed thinking about the children. He was slightly touched when he saw how loving Rin was towards the children, even though the children were not hers. Unlike her bitch of a sister Ren who hated her very own son, she would one day be a good mother for his children.

"Thank you, my lord. Thank you." Rin said as she smiled happily at her mate. She knew she could trust him for he was a good lord. Looking back at Ryuya, her smile widened as she saw there was no longer fear in his eyes, but curiosity. "It is alright now, Ryuya. You don't have to fear anyone in the village anymore."

"…But once you are gone, who knows when they will begin to treat us like dirt again?" Shippo finally spoke up. His hand still clutched onto Ryuya's as he glanced briefly at the demon lord leaning at the wall. He no longer felt threatened in the presence of the demon lord since the lady was with them. However he almost cried put in fear when the demon lord stared at him with his murdering gaze. Rin saw and patted Shippo's head softly as if to comfort him.

"I am sure this time they will listen well to Lord Sesshoumaru's orders." Rin spoke for Sesshoumaru, knowing very well that if her mate said anything, he would frighten the little demon. Other than her mother and her mate, it was the first time Rin had the chance to be with any children. She wanted to spend more time with time and did not want her mate to scare them off so quickly.

Ryuya stared at the woman with interest. It was the first time he ever met such a kind and loving person. Shippo had once told him that "Mother" was kind and loving, then perhaps…

"…Are you my…mama?" he whispered hopefully, and Shippo slapped his own forehead with his palm. He watched as the woman's eyes widened in surprise, but there was no disgust or anger in them. He could almost feel tears in his eyes when he saw her smile.

"I am if you want me to be."

A/N: Finally I'm able to update. A thousand apologizes for such delay because there were some problems with my laptop. Although my laptop is not yet fixed, and my parents refuse to buy me a new one (not until next year), I now have access to my university's computer. The computer in my University used to block my access to FFnet, but now I can access, thank God. I'll try to update as soon as possible, but no promises.