A/N: Before I start, I'd like to apologize for taking such a long time to publish this chapter! When I first started this story, I was on Christmas break; when school started up again I was forced to ignore for some time in order to focus on my schoolwork.

DISCLAIMER: You know the drill!

**Edited 12/20/16.

UNDER THE PALE MOON

two

It had been two days since the birth of Miwa's second-born son: two long, tedious days that Rin had spent making up missed work, giving her all to avoid missing any more duties. Because of these duties, the young girl had not been able to visit her friend like she wanted to; she only had Mistress Kaede's word to rely on. The old woman was probably with her now, caring for the newborn baby and helping the mother regain her strength.

The sun was hot and angry as it beat down upon her small back that day, and Rin, already thoroughly exhausted by the previous days' work, was suffering. She was thirsty, and her meager lunch wasn't settling properly in her stomach. If she fainted, she wouldn't be surprised; but she would run the risk of being punished by Mistress Kaede, or even worse, Matsumoto-sama, Kaede's boss.

Matsumoto-sama was the daiyokai who oversaw most of the workers –– nuhi, kenin, and even the guards –– on the estate. He was the one who oversaw the trade of the nuhi, the one who decided which were worth investing in. Everything was set up and run by Matsumoto-sama, and anything that happened amongst the nuhi had to be reported to Matsumoto-sama. If not, there would be unspeakable consequences.

Rin took a deep breath and continued to work, her rough hands throbbing and sweating. Her legs felt like they could collapse beneath her at any moment. Close by her, she could see Sachiko wiping the sweat from her brow.

The screams weren't making this any better.

Though the wagon of nuhi had arrived two days prior, they were only just now being branded, along with children of walking age. The branding took place on the other side of the property, yet the hellish, piercing screams could be heard all across the village, and perhaps even in the main house itself. Rin had been prepared for this ever since she first saw the wagon in the fields. Alongside Kaede, after her own duties, she would disinfect the raw, burnt, peeling flesh where the crescent-shaped burns were. It wasn't something she was particularly looking forward to, but Rin wanted to assist in any way that she could; she had come too far in her training to let Kaede down now.

If there was ever a time for her to sing, to soothe the people in the fields and the guards upon the walls with her voice, it was now. But that would be useless. No matter how loudly she sang, the gentle tune would be drowned out.

Rin tried to block the shrieks as best as she could. She thought of something else, more soothing things, like the smell of food or how green and serene it must be in the forest beyond the wall. In her mind, she sang a small song that only she knew.

Sachiko's mouth moved, but the sound was blotted out by a long scream, this time higher-pitched. Rin, however, could read her lips well enough: How awful.

At nightfall, when Rin pushed back the curtains of the temporary infirmary next to the branding room with a basket balanced on her hip, the entire room smelled of burnt flesh. The nuhi, mostly children and young adults, lay on sleeping mats that were scattered about the room. Many had already fallen asleep or passed out from the pain. On the other side of the room sat Mistress Kaede, tending to the brand of a young child in the low candlelight. Kaede gazed up at Rin for a moment before applying more salve to the child's neck. The child moaned.

"That section," Kaede started, gesturing to the other side of the room. "Check on them. If need be, replace their bandages and apply more salve."

Nodding, Rin carried the little basket of medical supplies over to the other section of the room. For about an hour or two, she did exactly what she was told –– despite the pained cries, she replaced bandages and applied the salve. It was hard but necessary: without this care, their wounds would surely become infected. After replacing their bandages, she would give them water, and move to the next person.

Finally, Rin knelt next to a boy's mat. He was lying on his side, his lean, bare back facing her. Slowly, Rin began to peel away the bandage the covered the crescent-shaped burn on the nape of his neck. When she did, the boy moaned and stirred. As he tried to turn over, the dim candlelight allowed her to get a good look at his face.

Black hair. A handsome boyishness. Utterly exhausted and a bit pained, yet still kind, eyes. Rin recognized him as the stranger who came to retrieve her when Miwa went into labor, the boy who picked up the children's bowls for her.

Rin put a hand on his shoulder that was upraised to stop him from moving any further. "Don't lie on your back," she whispered. "I have to change your bandage."

He groaned but submitted to her request. She continued to peel away the cloth, only pausing when the pain started to become too unbearable for her patient. The crescent moon on the nape of his neck stared back at her, a blood-curdling warning. The outline of it was beginning to peel in thin, white strips, while the skin surrounding it was a blotchy red. It was enough to make her sick. In that moment, she admired Mistress Kaede's experience and strong stomach.

The boy, as if sensing her disgust and discomfort, spoke up: "It's bad, isn't it?"

Rin blinked for a moment as if debating whether or not she would tell him the truth. "It's...the same as everyone else's." She said simply, her voice a soft whisper as to avoid disturbing any of the other patients. "Don't worry, though; Kaede-baa-san will have it healed in no time!"

Though curious, he adjusted the volume of his voice to match hers. "Baa-san?"

"It's what we all call Mistress Kaede," Rin explained, neatly folding the used bandages and placing them to the side. "She looks out for us. She's like a grandmother."

Rin dipped a clean cloth into the basin of water next to her. Pushing the sweat-soaked strands of hair to the side, she began to dab his forehead with the cloth. The boy sighed, a bit relieved.

"They do this to every human, I assume?" he asked.

Rin nodded, dropping the cloth back into the basin. "Yes. I received mine as soon as I could walk." Gently, Rin applied the burn salve to his wound. The boy hissed, and Rin hesitated.

"I'm sorry," Rin winced as if she felt his pain.
"It's fine," he replied, his voice shaky. "What is that?"

"It's a salve. Crushed herbs known to treat burns." Rin continued, touching the burn as lightly as she could. As she did, her gaze drifted down to the rest of his back. She quickly noticed that he possessed no other brands.

"This is your first time being branded?" Rin asked, puzzled. She had only heard stories about humans who were so powerful that they could keep their freedom by force, humans who lived in areas so isolated that demons couldn't reach them. She was a bit fascinated by the strange boy.

"I had worked for a weaker yokai in the city. He was killed, and I was sent here." He explained. "Not very exciting."

She soon finished applying the salve and began to replace the bandages. The boy let out a loud groan at even the tiniest bit of pressure applied. Even still, Rin was impressed, a sort of childish intrigue glimmering in her brown eyes.

She spoke for what was probably the one-millionth time. "What was it like in the city?"

"It was very loud. Crowded, too. And dangerous. There were pickpockets everywhere, and yokai who like to steal humans." He said. "It's so much quieter here. It's almost unnerving."

As he spoke more and more, she began to really notice his speech patterns, his accent. She was curious about that as well. "Do they all speak like that in the city?"

"Like what?"

"Like that." Rin pointed out. "You have an accent. And the words that you use..." Moving on from the bandage, she began to dab his head with the wet cloth again.

"I do not." He whispered, amused. "You're the one with an accent."
Rin blinked, and smiled a little. "No, I don't. Everyone I've known my entire life has spoken like this." "And everyone I've known speaks like me." The boy replied.

Rin fell silent, more questions roaring to life in her mind. Just where did he come from? What type of humans did he interact with? Did he know how to read? How to write? Had he lived in the city his whole life? What was his family like? His previous master? Instead, only one question passed her lips: "Water?"

"Please," he breathed out. Rin grabbed that small flask strapped around her waist and moved to the side of him. She held it up to his lips. When he was done, she placed the flask to the side. Now that she wasn't behind him, she could see his face properly. He was exhausted, but even still there seemed to be no traces of pain on his face.

"You're quite strong." She thought aloud.
"What makes you say that?" He looked up at her with puzzled eyes.

"Most people would have passed out as soon as I began to apply the salve. In fact, everybody did." She gestured to the rest of the room, filled with sleeping patients.

Rin cringed a bit as she thought back on her own branding. It had hurt terribly, and she had been out cold throughout the whole ordeal: during the branding, and several times while her bandages were being replaced. The fact that she was so young made it even worse. It was one of her first memories.

The boy did not reply, an action that worried Rin.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm probably talking you half to death. You should rest." It took him a few moments to reply.
"Keep talking. Your voice..." he paused. "It's quite soothing."

Rin smiled a bit at that. In the silence, she could hear all the sounds of the night: crickets chirping, the whistle of the wind, the stirring of the other patients on their mats. Mistress Kaede was up and walking around the small room, checking again on each of the patients. They would return to their own hut soon. Rin let out a small yawn and wondered just how late it was.

"And what about you? You've lived here your whole life?" he asked. Rin nodded. "Born and raised. I've never traveled past the wall before."

"Maybe one day you'll be able to see what's out there for yourself." He smiled. "Then, you won't have to ask me so many questions."

Rin smiled with him. She knew that was impossible –– there was no reason for her to leave the walls. The brand on both their necks made sure that silly dream remained a silly dream.

"Our work here is done, child." Mistress Kaede said softly from the doorway, the candle in her hand illuminated her face. "It is time for us to go."

Rin began to gather the bowl of salve and the dirty bandages.
"Wait," the boy said, making her look him in the eye. "What's your name?"

She couldn't believe that even though they had been speaking for a while, she had forgotten to give him her name. "Rin," she whispered. "Yours?"

He smiled at her. "Kohaku."

The next two weeks looked much like that day: Rin spent most of her mornings and afternoons in the fields with Sachiko, while her nights were spent helping Mistress Kaede tend to the brands. Each night, she spoke to Kohaku as she tended his wounds, wringing out as much information about his city as she could until there was no more. She had also found out other things about him as well: his favorite color was green, like the trees and the grass; he was a person who enjoyed the early mornings, and he had an older sister who he hadn't seen since his youth.

He had told her about his sister quietly, by the candlelight. Though he still winced when his bandages were replaced, he was well enough to sit up. Even though this was his first time being branded, he seemed to be recovering quicker than the others. His eyes were sad as he spoke of her.

"She was five years older than me. Very smart and strong. Beautiful and kind, too." Kohaku said, simply. "I miss her."

Rin remembered her own brothers and how badly she missed them the first few years after their murder. She missed the way they used to laugh and play, the way they used to poke fun at each other. When they died, the world was a little quieter –– too quiet, almost. It had been maddening.

"She sounds amazing." Rin replied. "...I miss my brothers, too, sometimes. No matter how loud and annoying they were."

Kohaku's lips quirked at that. "Where are they now? That is, if you don't mind me asking."

Rin shook her head and spoke. "I don't mind. Eight years ago, there had been a group of bandits that would attack the homes near the wall."

The small smile on Kohaku's lips died in an instant. From that, Rin knew that he had realized where this story was going.

"They were murdered?" Kohaku whispered, his tone mortified. Rin nodded.
"I'm sorry," he said.

"It's fine." Rin said, looking at him. "It was eight years ago. I've had time to heal since then." Lies. Rin's nightmares flashed before her, a slideshow of gore. Running and running and running.

And from that another memory, more nebulous than the rest. The bough of a tree. A flash of white light. Kohaku's voice broke her reverie. "...Rin? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Rin said, blinking. "I just drifted off for a moment."
"Really," Kohaku turned. "I shouldn't have asked. I ––"

Before Kohaku could say any more, Rin covered his mouth with her hands. He looked up at her, surprised. "I said it's fine." Rin said, smiling. "Don't worry about it. Tell me more about the city or something."

To her dismay, Kohaku said nothing. The pair sat in silence until Rin finished replacing his bandages and she had to leave.

When Rin had entered the small home that she shared with Mistress Kaede in a hazy stupor of exhaustion, she had expected darkness, silence, and the disquiet of slumber. She hadn't even expected Mistress Kaede's presence –– her caretaker always came in late.

Instead, there were lanterns and men all about the room.

As the stupor cleared, Rin began to identify a few key features: a pallid face with stern green eyes, long black hair, and a small mouth framed by a mustache and long goatee. Though he appeared to be a middle-aged human, there was an air about him that suggested he was much older, much stronger. Behind him stood six guards, fierce in their heavy armor.

Rin's eyes widened. Quickly, she got down on the ground and bowed deeply, her eyes focused on her labor-worn hands.

It was Matsumoto-sama.

Matsumoto-sama was in her home.

"You may stand," he said impassively, his voice chilling her to the core.

Rin stood, but still kept her eyes on his shoes. To her relief, Mistress Kaede's familiar feet came into view beside his.

"This is Rin?" He asked Mistress Kaede.
"This is the girl," Kaede responded, her tone respectful.

Rin struggled to comprehend just what was going on. She hadn't recalled doing anything that wasn't allowed –– he couldn't be here to punish her for something.

The old daiyokai merely released a disappointed hum. Rin saw his feet begin to move in the other direction. "Come."

Surprised, Rin lifted her head to see the brilliant silk cloth that covered his back. She gazed at Mistress Kaede, frozen.

Mistress Kaede bore a perplexed and slightly afraid expression as well. Even still, she could mouth only one word to the girl: "Go."

Flanked by the guards, Rin followed Matsumoto-sama away the only place she ever knew.

A/N: From here on out, this story is going to pick up a bit, I promise. I know you guys are as excited to see Lord Sesshomaru as I am, but at least we get to see Kohaku! Hopefully, he'll suffice for now (wishful thinking, I know).

Thanks for reading!