A/N: This chapter was a pain to write. I really only had one idea that I wanted to have happen in this chapter and it doesn't take place until the very end, the rest of the chapter just kinda came from nowhere. But I hope you enjoy it :)

Chapter Five

The next couple of days were spent figuring out the routine of the palace. Wake Rin up, get her to breakfast on time, take her to lessons, make sure she eats lunch, watch her while she plays, take her down to dinner, and make sure she gets to bed in a timely fashion. Really being Rin's nanny wasn't all that hard. I got to attend her lessons with her, which was cool because I could listen and learn too. I got to eat with her in the dining room. I got to play with her and tell her stories and sing to her. I even got to see Sesshomaru on occasion, and Jaken, and AhUn if we went to the stables. I really enjoyed it. What I didn't enjoy however were the other workers around the palace, I mean some were fine like Chieko-sensei, but others were mean like Jun. Some of them would trip me in the hallways when Rin wasn't around to see, or they would come close to pushing me down the stairs. There was even one time when a girl spilled hot soup in my lap. At first I wanted to think they were all accidents but it just happened too often to be mere coincidences. And as if it couldn't get any worse I found out Jun was Lord Sesshomaru's personal advisor.

One time after the soup incident I had asked Chieko about some of the stuff that was happening. She told me that everyone in the palace were demons and that Rin and I were the only humans. She told me that they were probably mad to have another human in the palace and one that was being treated better than they were. I asked Chieko what she meant and she told me that none of Rin's other nannies had ever been allowed to eat at the dining table with her, and she also told me that she had never seen any servant in the palace get yukatas as nice as the ones I seemed to be getting. I remember asking her if she was mad at me too, she just smiled and shook her head, but she warned me to be cautious around the others.

Being able to wander around the palace so much I got to notice things I might not have been able to notice before. Like the fact that the guards carried around whips and if some of the lower servants didn't work fast enough or did something wrong they got whipped. It was horrific, they would usually only get hit once or twice, but the mere sight of it made me queasy. I really wished that I could help them and make it so none of the servants would get whipped again but really what could I do? I was just a servant myself. I put the issue behind me but I swore if I was ever in the position to do something about it, I would.

"Nicole. Nicole!"

"Huh? What?" I said turning to Rin.

She giggle, "Lessons are over."

I looked around and sure enough Chieko-sensei was putting everything away, "Oh, I'm sorry I must have been zoning out." I stood up and bowed my head, "Thank you for the lesson Chieko-sensei."

Chieko-sensei smiled at me, "Of course, but next time try to pay attention." When I looked at her odd she chuckled, "Don't think I don't know that you usually listen and learn as much as Rin does. As far as I'm concerned I'm teaching you too."

I smiled sheepishly, "Yes Sensei." She nodded and left the room leaving Rin and I to ourselves. "So," I said to Rin, "what do you want to do now? Do you want to go play for a little while or do you want to go eat lunch."

Rin stomach growled and we both laughed, "Eat lunch please."

"Lunch it is then."

We were walking down the hallway towards the dining room, talking, when I accidently bumped into a young servant carrying a pitcher of water. I managed to catch her arm before she fell to the ground but unfortunately it didn't stop the water from sloshing out of the pitcher and all over one of the guards in the hallway. I imagined both the girl and I were wearing matching expressions of fear on our faces.

The guard spun around to face us, "who dares to spill water on me," he bellowed. The girl next to me cowered in fear, not that I blame her, the guard looked really scary just then. He grabbed the girl's arm, "It must have been you since you're the only one in this hallway," he gestured around the almost empty hallway for dramatic effect, "that has a pitcher of water."

He pulled out the whip from his belt, I couldn't let this happen it was my fault. I couldn't let this girl get punished for my mistake. I threw myself in front of the girl, "You can't! It was my fault, I bumped her, I will take the punishment!" The guard sneered and flung the girl to the ground, I quickly helped her up and nudge her towards Rin, "Take Rin away from here," the girl hesitated. "Go." I said urgently, finally the girl nodded and ushered Rin out of the hallway.

The guard was still sneering at me, "You think just because you're Rin's babysitter that you're untouchable."

I shook my head, "No I don't."

"Shut up!" he spat. "Well you're about to learn that having that little wench like you doesn't protect you from anything." With that he grabbed my arm and raised his whip.

The first strike wasn't all that bad, my body hadn't fully registered what had happed just yet. It mostly just felt like a numb burning. The searing pain didn't come into effect until the guard let it sit for a moment and then struck me again. And again. And again. This wasn't the usual one or two whacks that I had seen servants usually get. No, and at first I didn't think it was going to end. I know I had to of cried out, but I don't remember doing it, all I could think about was the feeling of my flesh swelling and even splitting with each new crack of the whip. We must have drawn a crowd because I could hear people talking, some were even gasping at the sight. But I could really make out much more than that. I do remember, however, someone grabbing the guard's arm, keeping it from striking me again, yelling, "What the hell do you think you're doing!" And then everything went black.

The first time I woke up after that I was back in my room, I was laying on my stomach on my bed. Rin was there sitting in a chair next to Chieko, and to my surprise the girl I had bumped into was there too. They all looked worried and started talking at once. I wanted to tell them I was okay, that tomorrow I'd be fine, but I was too tired to talk so I just went back to sleep.

The next time I woke up it was caused by the feeling of pain on my back. "Nnnnn."

"Sorry! Sorry," Rin apologized, "I'm just putting some more ointment on your back." I grimaced and bit my lip, nodding. Rin rubbed by back again and I buried my head in my pillow and whimpered. Rin glanced up at Chieko, who was sitting in the same chair that she had been sitting in last night, "Sensei do you think you could go see if the healer has any sleeping medicine or more pain relievers?"

"Of course," Chieko said before she left the room.

"Here I'll stop until she gets back, okay?" I nodded, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. "It must hurt huh?" I nodded again. Rin was silent for a moment, "You know that girl you protected?" I nodded again, "She's been here every day, she can't be here all of the time because of her chores, but she always comes to check on you."

Before I could respond Chieko was back with a bottle, "Here you go, this will make you sleep." I nodded and she came over to help me drink it. It must have been fast acting because that was the last thing I remember.

I had a dream later that night. It started out like any normal day; Rin and I were playing the garden, laughing and running, playing tag I think. But soon the weather turned and the wind started blowing violently and clouds were swirling around in the sky. I turned around to take Rin inside but she was gone. I couldn't find her anywhere. I was going to go search for her when a man appeared out of nowhere holding a whip. I tried to run but he grabbed me and kept me from going anywhere. He quickly raised the whip and I knew what came next so I squeezed my eyes shut. But the hit never came, hesitantly I opened my eyes and Lord Sesshomaru was there holding the guard's arm, making him howl in pain. Our eyes met and he held my stare; he didn't say anything but he didn't have to, I understood. I was safe now and this man was never going to touch me again.

I woke up the next morning to see Rin and Chieko having a lesson right there in my room. I groaned getting Rin and Chieko's attention, Rin smiled at me, "Nicole, you're awake!"

I tried to sit up but Chieko came over and gently pushed me back down, being careful to avoid my back, "Lay back down, you need to rest for at least a day longer, your wounds haven't completely healed yet."

I nodded, "What are you guys doing in here? Aren't lessons usually held in the study?"

Chieko smiled, "Rin didn't want to be away from you so we have been holding lessons in here."

"You don't mind do you?" Rin asked.

I put my hand out and rustled her hair, "No, I don't mind. In fact I'm happy to see you."

"You are?"

I laughed, "Why do you sound so surprised? Of course I'm happy to see you."

Just then there was a knock at the door, it creaked open just a bit and a young girl peeked her head instead. I recognized her as the maid I had bumped into. "Come on in Hotaru," Chieko said motioning the girl inside.

"Look Hotaru, Nicole is finally awake, isn't that great?" Rin grinned at the girl.

The girl didn't respond to Rin, she walked over to my bedside and bowed low on the ground, "Thank you! Thank you for saving me from that man's wrath."

I stared at her for a moment; I was confused she didn't have anything to thank me for I was the one that bumped into her. "You don't need to thank me; I was the one who made you spill the water."

The girl bowed deeper and shook her head, "No, you don't understand. Some of the maids were mad because you have been getting better treatment than them. They told me that I should bump into you and the water from my pitcher on you, but–but," a sob broke out from the girl's mouth, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

To say I was surprised would be an understatement. I knew that the maids had it out for me, but to pull such a young girl into their plot was unbelievable. It's not that the little prank was harmful to me or anything, because if it had gone right there would have been no harm done. But it hadn't gone as planned; I wanted to be mad at the girl now that I knew the truth, but I could bring myself to be. I reached down and rustled the young maid's hair just as I had Rin's, she raised her head to look at me quizzically, "Don't worry," I smiled, "It's all forgiven."

The girl's jaw dropped, "B-but you can't! You have to punish me for doing something so horrible!"

I shook my head, "It wasn't your fault."

"No," the girl begged, "please you have to punish me. Lord Sesshomaru said it would be your decision."

I was shocked. Lord Sesshomaru would let this girl be punished for a mere accident. I didn't want to punish her, she didn't really deserve it. I thought for a moment and finally I spoke, "Fine I will name your punishment."

The girl visibly winced, bowed once more, and nodded, "It shall be as you say."

Rin and Chieko looked at me with stunned expressions like they couldn't believe what they were hearing. Chieko look quickly turned into one of disappointment. I ignored their looks and raised my voice so it would have more of an impact, "You punishment will be," I paused and then continued in a softer voice, "to fetch me a glass of water, I'm parched."

The girl's head shot up, "What?"

"I asked-" I cleared my throat, "I mean- I told you to go get me a glass of water." The girl continued to stare at me, the look on her face was so priceless I couldn't keep a straight face and I laughed, "Go on." The girl nodded dumbly and took off out of the room. I looked back over to Rin and Chieko, they were staring at me also, "Oh come on, you didn't think I was actually going to punish the girl for an accident did you?" They didn't say anything, "You did! What kind of a person do you think I am?"

Chieko cleared her throat, "It's not that I think you're a bad person but…"

"But?" I inquired.

"But many others would take that opportunity to get revenge," Chieko explained.

It was my turn to be stunned, were people really so devious? "Well I wouldn't."

Chieko nodded but didn't say anything else and Rin laughed, "You were really convincing Nicole, I really thought you were going to punish her."

I didn't get a chance to respond because Hotaru chose that moment to come rushing through the door carrying both a glass of water and a pitcher, "I brought the pitcher in case the glass of water wasn't enough to quench your thirst."

I took the glass of water from the girl, "Thank you Hotaru; that was very thoughtful," she just nodded watching me drink. It took a bit of maneuvering to drink while laying on my stomach but finally I managed it.

"You know Hotaru has come to check on you every day," Chieko told me.

"Yes I think I remember someone telling me that," I looked towards Hotaru, "thank you." Her only response was a nod.

"So has Lord Sesshomaru," Rin chimed in.

I choked on my water, "What?!"

Chieko smiled, "It's true, he has come here every day to see how you're healing. And when he can't come during the day I am sure he comes during the night when he's not so busy."

"Lord Sesshomaru even got you more of that special ointment that makes you heal more quickly," Rin told me.

Wow. Had Lord Sesshomaru really done all of that for me? I was going to ask Chieko if that was true but instead of talking when I opened my mouth I yawned.

"Come, you should probably get some more sleep," Chieko told me. "Here take some more of this, it will make sure your wounds don't hurt while you sleep." I wanted to protest and tell her I that I wasn't tired but before I could I yawned again. So I nodded in defeat and took the medicine that was offered to me.

The next morning I was allowed to get up. I took my time walking around and stretching to see just how much my back had healed. I found out that it was pretty bearable as long as I didn't move too fast or do anything too strenuous. Rin said that we could have breakfast served to us in my room, but I was itching to get out of my room so we went down to the dining room. We were in the middle of breakfast when Jaken appeared.

"Lord Sesshomaru wants to see you in his office, woman," his words were just as mean as the last time I saw them but for some reason they seemed less harsh.

"What?" I asked taking another bite of my food.

"Wh- Don't you listen wench! Lord Sesshomaru wants you in his office!" Jaken shrieked.

I couldn't help but laugh, "There's the Jaken I know."

Jaken sputtered, "Shut up woman! Are you coming are not?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming," I said getting up out of my chair.

"Should I come with you?" Rin asked.

I shook my head, "No you don't have to, why don't you stay and finished your meal, okay?"

"Okay."

I followed Jaken out of the room; I would be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous because I was. It wasn't as if I hadn't seen Sesshomaru since we got to the palace, I had. But now I that I knew he came to check on me every day while I was healing, I felt awkward. I should probably thank him.

"This is Lord Sesshomaru's office."

I bowed my head to the imp, "Thank you Jaken." I took a deep breath before I entered but instead of seeing Lord Sesshomaru Jun was there.

He didn't look at me when he spoke, "Nicole," he said nonchalantly, "causing more trouble I see."

"Excuse me?"

Finally he turned his attention towards me, "Oh please, don't tell me you don't know." When I didn't answer he continued, "First you get close to Rin and work your way into the palace. Next you work the maids into a frenzy, their work has been lacking because they have been focusing most their efforts on you. Then you make it so one of our most respected guards gets banished. And to top it all off you make Lord Sesshomaru feel as though he is somehow responsible for it all."

I was taken aback but I could feel my anger rising, "Now hold on just a minute, I didn't work the maids into a frenzy, they just don't like me and it's not my problem their work is lacking. And it certainly isn't my fault that one of you 'most respected guards' was a bastard. And I don't know why Lord Sesshomaru feels responsible for what happened because quite frankly there wasn't a damn thing he could have done to stop. It was my choice to take the punishment from the guard and I would do it again," when I was finished with my rant I was panting from barely contained anger.

Jun didn't say anything but he seemed momentarily perplexed, "Perhaps I was wrong about you."

I scoffed, "Oh yeah? How do you figure?"

"I was under the impression that you were pathetic, but it seems you have more guts than I originally thought."

I rolled my eyes trying to tamp done my anger, "Gee thanks," I said sarcastically.

There wasn't time to say anything more because Sesshomaru entered the room, "Jun, leave."

Jun bowed, "Of course my Lord."

Sesshomaru took a seat behind his desk and waited for Jun to get out of the room before he started speaking, "Are you healed?"

The question surprised me but I nodded, "Not completely but well enough."

Sesshomaru had picked up some papers and had started reading them while I answered, "Indeed."

The room was silent for awhile, which confused me because Lord Sesshomaru was the one to call me in here in the first place. I debated between asking him was he wanted and just waiting for him to get done reading the papers. In the end I decided I didn't want to interrupt him in case it was something important, so I just stood there. Eventually I sat down in the seat opposite of Sesshomaru, he seemed to notice the movement but he still didn't speak. Finally after about a half hour he put the papers on his desk and signed them, I thought that maybe then he would turn his attention back to me but picked up another stack of papers. After he had finished reading those and signed them also, he spoke.

"Is there something you wanted?" his voice was still as vacant as the day I met him.

"Umm… Jaken said you wanted to see me," I explained.

"Indeed," he handed me one of the papers on his desk.

It was a notice telling Lord Sesshomaru that soon he would have many noble guests milling around the palace, "Okay? What does this have to with me?"

"I would imagine that some of them will have to bring their children."

I took a moment to relish in the fact that this was the most I had ever heard Sesshomaru say in a single sentence, or at all, "And?"

"And in addition to taking care of Rin I want you to look after these children as well."

I really didn't think I was allowed to refuse but just in case I said, "Sure, I would love to."

Sesshomaru nodded and started reading more papers, "That will be all."

I stood up and made my way to the door. I stopped in the doorway figuring it was now or never, "Lord Sesshomaru?" He didn't say anything or look at me but I had a feeling that he was listening, "Thank you." With that said I fled from the room.