Chapter One: Silence

Jasmine. Even as I slowly awoke from my slumber I could distinctly smell the strong aroma of Jasmine. I kept my eyes closed, and turned a little to the right. I could hear two sets of footsteps coming down the hall. A couple more seconds and...

The door to my room is pushed back roughly. By the unnecessary aggressiveness, I can tell it is my ladies in waiting. Two lower class female demons, who were assigned to be on my beck and call, tending to my every need. Although that is what they are ordered to do, they are known to do the exact opposite. For example, even as they walk past me lying on my futon. My hair is in a disarray, My legs tangled between sheets, my mouth ajar, and my eyes closed. They assume I am asleep-Their assumptions are wrong.

Growing up in the presence of someone who barely speaks, and keeps a blank face on at all times, I have picked up on a few things. And, Because of this, As my most 'loyal' servants run my bath water I can hear every single word uttered in their conversation, and still manage to keep the guise of a oblivious, sleeping girl.

"Uh, I tell you, I am getting sick of this! She can get up and make her own bath! She's no child anymore. I tell you she's just a spoiled, lazy human!"

That was Rihu.

"Well, we can't have Lord Sesshomaru's precious human walking around dirty, now can we? Oh, no! We must make sure she smells oh so desirable. We have to get Jasmine from the gardens, for her bath. Nothing, less will do."

And that is Hatun.

"I hope she doesn't think Our Lord, will find her more desirable by putting on such a simple fragrance."

"If anything, he will be repulsed! Its not as if she had looks goin' for her."

The two shared a laugh, as the put the jasmine into the tub. I stirred a little, made a couple noises indicating I was on the verge of waking up.

"Oh! Hurry, lets go before she wakes. I don't like the feel of her dead eyes upon me."

The two women, stood quickly, and headed for the door.

"Rihu? Hatun?" I made my voice sound as innocent as possible. I rose from my futon, propped myself on one arm, and wiped my eye with the other. "Is that you?"

The two demons froze at the door, I heard one swear under their breath as they both turned around. They knelt on the floor with their heads bowed. "How may we assist you Lady Rin?" They chorused in unison.

"Is my bath ready yet?" My voice that of a whiny child.

"Of course, my lady."Hatun replied.

I stood lazily from my futon, and walked over to where they knelt. As I came to a stop in front of them, I could see the tension in their body. Being so close to a human must sicken them. With a pat on their head, I dismissed them. This had angered them...As soon as they closed my door, I heard them whisper, "Filthy Ningen."

I smirked as I walked to my tub. Filthy Ningen? Hmph. Yesterday, it was 'Stupid Ningen'. The day before, 'Pitiful Ningen'. Were they ever going to accept that their words don't bother me? I am human, but that does not falter my pride. I hear their words. But I still hold my head high, for that was how I was raised. Lord Sesshomaru had raised no weakling.

As I undressed, I looked into the mirror at my reflection. Seventeen Summers. Today, I have been on this world seventeen summers. I turn to the sides and admire my curves. Time sure has been good. "If anything, he will be repulsed! Its not as if she had looks goin' for her." Rihu's words come crashing down on me as I face forward, and study myself more intently.

Thick, wild, black hair hangs down my back. I try to put my fingers through, but to no avail. Even to the right side, there is still the small ponytail I had since I was but a young girl. I cannot part with it, It was how mother used to do my hair...

Large, Brown eyes stare back at me. Although they are a pretty color...they hold no life in them-not like when I was a child. Now they look intense, as if looking for something and at the same time the look as if there is no hope. They almost like as if in a trance..as if...

I hold out my arm, for inspection. My eyes get a little wider. When did my skin get so dark?! I could have sworn I was once almost a porcelain color, now I am a rich ivory color. What I wouldn't give to go back in time and listen to Master Jaken when he told me to get out of the sun, or else I would become the color of tatami mats!

I peered down at my feet, and lifted up my heel. Calloused. All those years running around barefoot, like some wild little urchin! Oh, kami! I am a mess!

I walked to the tub and sunk my body into its hot, steamy waters. I pulled my knees to my chest, resting my chin atop them, Thoughts seem to come from my subconscious and overwhelm me.

After all these years I have blindly followed after him, without question. Now, upon Naraku's defeat, we are living in his palace. No longer walking around aimlessly, So now I do not follow, because he needs his space so he can run his lands. He needs privacy, so he can contemplate his thoughts. He needs, silence so he can enjoy the sound of no sound what so ever and enjoy its peace. I do not follow, but I have questions! I question why he must have me supervised at all times. Why, He has ordered all male demons to vacate the premises when he is away on patrol. I even question this whole living situation! Why must His chambers be in the Northeast wing, and mine In the Southwest? He tries to avoid me at all costs. The only time I see him is either because many other royal officials are present, or by mere coincident. Never are we in each others company, and it is just the two of us. Never that!

I let my head slowly dip back until my entire body was submerged under water. The warmness encircling my body as, Five words echoed in the acoustics of my mind.

"Why does he avoid me?"

Later that morning

I walked into the Main Dining hall, for breakfast. I can already smell the fried meats, and toasted breads, I hurried my pace a little faster. The long, Royal blue and silver kimono that went to almost my ankles made it hard to walk. As I round a corner, I can hear a crowd of hushed whispers. The closer I get the clearer the voices became.

"This morning she had the audacity to pat me on the head, like I was some kind of pet. I tell you, if she was not Our lord's ward, I would have gladly broken her pretty little wrist."

"Wait. So your telling me...she pet you on the head and you did nothing? I don't care who's ward she is! She would have gotten what's coming to her!"

"How dare she! A human, dare come in this palace and expect to be treated as equals? Some one should do something. This is absolutely absurd!"

"Let's just calm down. Today is her seventeenth year, correct?"

I didn't hear a reply, but shortly after the voice continues.

"Well, she is way past the age to be married so...we might just be in luck. Why would the lord want some grown, filthy ningen around? He will surely marry her off before the next moon cycle, I'm sure of it!"

"Is that right? So, lets make a wager. If she lasts longer than a month, you owe me a months pay! Deal?"

Another silence.

"Deal. But just remember when you lose don't come crying back to me begg-"

"What is it?"

"You smell that? It smells like...ugh, the human must be coming...Quick close your noses!"

I turned the corner just in time to see them all staring at me with disgust. As I looked at each one, they all had their hands to their faces. Two, of them, Hatun and Rihu, merely looked down. The other three, stood in the middle of the hall, blocking my way to the kitchen.

I stood about two feet, away from one of the demoness'. "Excuse me."

Her red eyes glared back at me, "You're excused."

I took a deep breath. Today may have been my birthday, but to them, it was just another day to torment me. By the look in her eyes I knew this was going to get out of control. By degrading her friends earlier, she felt as though it was her duty to stand up for them, since they couldn't do it themselves.

"So, ningen...it seems as though you are a little older."

I nodded my head solemnly.

"Well, It seems gifts are in order!"

Before I knew it, Before I even seen it coming, she had me against the wall. Her large brown hands pinned my shoulders back, as another slapped me in the face. I opened my mouth to scream, but was slapped even harder in the face. This time it took me a second to recover, and when I did, I was on the floor. I rolled onto my stomach and tried to crawl away, but they seemed to gang up on. One held my ankles down, One sat atop my back and grabbed a handfuls of my hair.

"Never think you're superior to us, ningen! You are a lowly, disgusting, waste of life."

With every word she pushed my head into the ground, Each time sending me deeper into unconsciousness. As they beat me, I did not fight back. I did not cry. I did not scream, And instead, I took the beating. Each hit I took it in silence. I will not give them any satisfaction! Even though the punches, and slaps hurt like hell! They will not see it written on my face. A wise man once told me, 'If you maintain a blank slate, then you can mask everything-including your weakness.' With Sesshomaru's words, it made the beating more bearable. Just the thought of his deep, masculine, voice kept my sane as my face became a tool to reconstruct the floor.

I suddenly heard Hatun and Rihu, speaking very fast from a couple feet away.

"Oh no! We are not going to be apart of this! Lika, you are going way too far!" Hatun exclaimed.

"She is right! You are taking this to the extreme! You are our friend, but you just...you have taken this to a whole new level!" Rihu yelled.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I can see the scared look in their eyes. Hatun grabbed Rihu by the arm, yanking her down the opposite hallway. "Come Rihu, we will not be the victim of our lords wrath when he finds out!" With that the two quickly disappeared, leaving me helpless as these spiteful demons held me captive on the ground.

The demon 'Lika' gave a loud cackle, and put even more of her wait on my back."What's wrong? You look like you wanna say something?"

This time instead of pushing my head into the groung she lifted it up, "Go ahead and scream. Lord Sesshomaru can't save you. You know why? Huh? Does the stupid human know why?"

She pushed my head back into the ground. "Answer me!"

All I could do was mouth out a 'no'.

"Well, Lord Sesshomaru wanted to give you the best gift he could! You know what that was? Huh, stupid human?"

I shook my head.

She loosened her grip on my hair, climbed off my back and knelt down next to me. The demon who was holding my ankles let go and stood behind the demon with red eyes, a smirk held tightly on her face.

"Well..." The demon came close to me and whispered in my ear. "Lord Sesshomaru wanted to make sure you were happy on this most glorious day, so he went to one of the neighboring villages and went to speak to the village leader. To see if any male was available, so you could be wed."

I looked at her with wide eyes. She can't be serious. He wouldn't! He would never. I knew I was a handful at times but...He wouldn't do that to me. "Lies."

She looked down at me with such a smile, I wouldn't be surprised if she would have tried to eat me. She bared her fangs, as she did so. "Honestly. If you don't believe me ask the imp. He's in the library, as we speak looking up information on 'human marriages'...A waste of time if you ask me..."

I took a deep breath and with all the strength I could muster, hoisted myself of the ground and onto my feet. The throbbing on the side of my head was so intense. As I looked at the women who had beaten me for almost no reason, My head started to spin. I held onto the wall, trying to shift some of my weight. The leader of the three, came face to face, her large, beak like nose in my face. "Listen, up girl. If anyone finds out about this..." She shook her dead slowly, "Let's just say it won't look so good for you." She gave a small smile before she and the other demoness' left down the same hallway as Hatun and Rihu.

I slowly made my way to the library. Every step causing excruciating pain. After a while I stopped. I couldn't do it. Its too much. The pain is unbearable! Its not even worth my time even walking to the library. So what if, its true? What then? I cannot speak out against him. I can't question his motives. He has decided what is best in the end, for all of us, even if it seems some what unfair. I tried to convince myself that all this was true. But some how...It wasn't working. Some where deep down, I knew that he cared for me. After all these years he has some inkling of a feeling. With just that little bit of hope..That small slimmer of hope, I made my way through the long hall ways. Hoping that when I opened the door to the library, jaken would not be there, Thus meaning Sesshomaru was not in a human village, trying to arrange a marriage. But then again, that was just hope.

I slid the door open, only to see that hope was indeed something with feathers. Because right here, in the dead center, amongst what looked like thousands upon thousands of books was Jaken.

Hearing the door open, he looked up and when his eyes caught a glimpse of my face, his mouth dropped to the floor. "Rin! What on earth! Girl, what has happened to you?" He scrambled to his feet and ran up to me. No bigger than my knee, he pulled on my hands until, I was kneeling and we were at eye level. "By the gods, what has happened to you!?"

"Its nothing, I jus-"

"No it not! You must tell me now what has happened!"

"Master Jaken, calm down. I was just in the field playing with Ah-Un, and I fell-"

"Rin, it would serve no purpose for you to lie! You must tell me now, For when Lord Sesshomaru comes back he will have a fit!" His slimy green hands, touched the sides of my face carefully.

As his toad-like hands touched my face, I felt some what comforted. As the years had past he had seemed to come to like me. No longer did he always yell, and pester me about ridiculous things anymore. These recent years he has become a close companion, we had many things in common, but one thing stuck out in particular: 'We would follow Lord Sesshomaru anywhere! To hell and back, without question.' I looked into his worried eyes, as he kept looking for any other signs of harm. I braced myself for the question I was about to ask him, For it would decide my fate. This simple answer would determine the whole outcome of my destiny, I would either be elated because the answer was no, or I would be in eternal shock, for It would mean leaving all and everything I know. I prayed to God, it was the first answer.

My voice came out, small and I hoped that he had heard me, because I don't think I could have repeated myself, "Jaken...Where is Lord Sesshomaru?"

His hands left my face, and he gave me a quizzical look, "In the Human village, past the Eastern river, of course."

My heart sped up. My hands started to feel clam, as I held them out in front of me. They were shaking fervently, My breathing started to come in short huffs, as I attempted to keep my cool. I closed my eyes, and counted to ten. When I opened my eyes, Jaken looked at me unsure of what to do or say. I took a deep breath, and hesitantly asked another question, although it was barely louder than a whisper. "And, why exactly did he go to the village?"

I looked at him, waiting for him to answer. My hands momentarily remained still. My breathing quieted. My heart seemed to stop, as I stared at him my eyes wide. This answer could forever change my life. This answer will change my life. I would belong to another man, who I cannot, will not, and never love as much as I do my lord! But if he agrees to this union, then I cannot question him...Even if it means a life time of unhappiness...

Whether the blows to my head were finally catching up to me, or I was becoming delusional...I didn't know, but Reality seemed to slow, as I waited for Jaken to answer. As he opened his mouth to speak, a thought suddenly came to me, 'Would I be able to handle the truth? Am I even in the right state of mind?' His hand on my shoulder brought me back to reality.

"On your behalf of course, he had an agreement with the village leader."

That was it.

Time had stopped.

Everything went black,

As I fell backwards into the dark depths of unconsciousness..