Chapter 7

Once she had left the Queen in her old bedroom, Rin let out a long sigh as a part of her, the kinder part, the part that Kagome had encouraged her to have, regretted ever uttering such words to the woman that had given birth to her. 'It is no use now. Not like I could go back and take it all back without her getting the idea that I have changed my mind and that I plan to stay.' Rin thought as she began to run down the left hall way that would lead her to the back garden, the garden that she remembered her sister starting and working on with her powers and gifts that she was born with.

'What the hell…why…right she moved her garden when she moved further away from the king and Queen after I was sent away.' Rin thought as she exited the castle expecting to be welcomed by a garden only to find a training ground for the guards and small army that her parents had. 'I suppose I could ask one of them to tell me where she moved her garden too but I'm sure they'll want to take me and I don't need an escort, at least not now since all I want is time to myself.'

Rin however was brought out of her thoughts when she heard a deep, male's voice ask, "Are you lost my Princess?"

"I'm not your anything and do not address me as princess, I was casted out a long time ago and refuse to rejoin this family," was her quick reply as she looked up to lock eyes with the dragon before her.

"If that is your answer we will have to ask you to leave the grounds," was his angered reply.

With a grin on her face and realizing that this was her chance to be free and return to her true family, the family that was probably angry right now at having found an empty grave, Rin gave a signal nod of her head and said, "I would be more than happy too but it would seem that I am lost, if you could just show me out I'm sure that I would be more than happy to take my leave at once."

'After all I can always come back and visit my sister once I have finished informing my family that I am truly alright.'

"Very well then, I am Kazuma, I will escort you out."

"Thank you, I am Rin."

Just as she was about to be led away, toward her freedom, the two froze in place when they heard a cold voice that reminded her of her Lord growl out, "And just what the hell do you think you are doing with the Princess Kazuma. You aren't even done with your training."

"Lord Hiei, she stated that she was not the princess and that she refused such a right. As it is my duty to keep all dragons that are not a part of the ruling family out of the personal wing of the ruling family I was showing her out."

"Hiei?" Rin whispered in a confused filled voice as she looked over the dragon that had approached the two. 'Well he grew up well.'

"Go back to your training, I will take Princess Aya to Princess Maya before she gets into any trouble and before she gets you killed." Hiei growled out in a cold angry voice as he turned and locked eyes with the surprise dragoness before him.

Once they were alone, Rin looked at Hiei and narrowed her eyes before she asked, "Did you finish speaking with the Queen, did she ask you to come and find me?"

"No, I have been here all day. I only just heard the news of your arrival when I found you had found me."

"I didn't come looking for you specifically; I came here thinking that I would find myself in my sisters' garden. It seems when she moved to the south wing she moved her garden as well." Rin growled out in return, "And I would also prefer it if you called me Rin."

With a grin of his own, Hiei began to lead his old friend in the direction of Princess Maya's garden while saying, "You know you could have just been nice about it and told me you were looking for me. You, after all, did tell me that we would be mates one day."

Flash Back Rin's POV

'Aya, Aya we need to get going, you know we have lessons! Aya where are you!'

I hid in the bushes knowing that she would not be able to find me. While she could control what she grew and the earth around her, I could as well. Whether it was because I took after my mother or whether it was because she had used her powers around me so much so that they had seeped into me I could not say but I did have a way with the earth. Thou it was not as strong as that of my sisters' gift, it was still strong enough for me to use it to my advantage.

'Why are you hiding?' a voice to my left sounded.

I was so surprised by this voice, and the realization that I hadn't felt the person next to me that I had lost control of the power within me and had shocked and blasted the dragon that was hiding next to me. Before I could control it and bring it back into myself I froze when I heard my angry sister's voice growl out, "Get out of those bushes right now my little dragon and come help me with the fool you attacked.'

As I climbed out of my hiding spot I looked at my elder sister with worry and cried, 'I didn't mean to do it. I swear it! He just scared me, I didn't mean it. I'll make him make him my mate if he promises to keep it a secret…will you keep it a secret…please don't tell my Oka and Otu.'

'You…what are you doing in my garden…Aya get away from him.' My sister growled in worry and anger as she pulled me from the dragon's side.

I had never seen a dragon like him; he had dark as night hair and matching black eyes. His aura was dark as well and he seemed to be hiding from someone or something and I wasn't sure if it was a good thing. Before I could ask my question I locked eyes with the young dragon as my sister and I heard him say, 'I am Hiei the only child of the dragon of darkness. The dragon that challenged the king and failed; I chose not to follow him. I never want to be like that bastard!'

'Maya what's a bastard?' I asked my sister in confusion as I kept my eyes on the dragon before us. I could feel the darkness in him, could see that it was slowly eating him alive and felt like I should help him in whatever way I could. Why I could feel it, why I could see it I had no idea but I just felt a pull, a whisper in me that told me to help him, to take the power that he could not control and bring it into herself.

'Nothing, just never say that word in front of mother and father, at least not until we are all older and of proper age.' Maya had quickly answered me before she turned her attention to the child in front of us and said, 'And if you really wish to prove that you are nothing like him, that we can and should trust you I trust that you will never say a word about the powers that my sister has shown here today.'

'You have my word Princess Maya, Princess Aya; I will never say a word until you have said otherwise or until the time of my death has found me.'

'Good, now come Aya we have lessons to get to.'

While my sister quickly began to lead the way, I looked over my shoulder and offered the dragon of darkness a small smile before I said, 'if everyone is too scared of you when we're older and if you're still a good friend I'll be your mate.'

End of Flash Back and Rin's POV

"Be that as it may I have changed, just as you have changed and I won't be your anything Hiei so I suggest to get rid of such thoughts now to save you any heartache in the future." Rin answered in a much colder tone of voice after she had shaken the memory from her mind.

"I'm hurt Princess, are you going to tell me that you have no room for me since you have been married off by the humans how many times?" he lightly teased as he tried to cover up his own hurt.

"No, I was never married off, not that it is any of your business Lord Hiei, I think I can find my way from here thank you for walking me this far." Rin growled out in anger as she stopped walking and glared at him.

After looking back over his shoulder, Hiei let out a long sigh and said, "I was only teasing Aya, you really shouldn't take it so seriously. I knew even as a child that it would never be allowed. I'm sure your mother and father have a mate chosen for you even while you away."

"They no longer have a say in such things. This is where we part Lord Hiei, do take care of yourself and please, if you see me again before I leave, address me as Rin, and Princess Rin, but only if you must."

"As you wish it, Princess Rin," Hiei whispered as he watched his first friend take her leave with her head held high. It was also in that moment that he noticed the slight darkness that still clung to her. 'It would seem that I still have a secret to keep.'

After she had gotten as far as she could without her powers breaking free, Rin let out a low growl of anger and annoyance as she filled the hall she was in with darkness and lightning. She needed to train, she would need to start getting better control over her powers and not just so that the people of the east would see her as the Princess that she was born to be but so that when she could finally at be her Lords side, she would be seen as a calm, collected and the perfect mate for the great Lord of the West. 'Lord Sesshomaru, my great lord what is it that you are doing now? Do you miss me? Did you wish that you had spent more time with me? Would you take me looking like I was born rather than the child that you had looked over?' Rin sad thoughts began to consume her as she began to breathe in and out so that she would be able to quickly get a hold over her demonic powers before she made her way to her sister's side of the castle.

Meanwhile in the western lands the great Lord of the West had just finished making it clear to his generals and his advisors that he would not be taking a mate anytime soon. While some had been foolish enough to suggest that he was still mourning the loss of the human child, others were glad to see that he was still the same cold demon that ruled over them and protected them. Just as he had gotten them all to leave him, Sesshomaru turned to glare at his ever loyal servant as he heard Jaken clear his throat before saying, "My lord, another letter has arrived from the east, they wish to speak to you about the treaty they had hoped you would agree to."

"I'll write my reply and will require you to hand it to them personally. I trust that you can do this for me Jaken."

"Of course my Lord, I will deliver the letter, will you require me to wait for a reply my Lord?"

After giving it some thought and realizing that he would not need to wait for a reply since they would either do as he wished or they would lose their chance to get him as an alley, Sesshomaru shook his head and answered, "No Jaken, I only need you to deliver the message and return. I'm sure by the time you return I will have need of you again."

"Of course my Lord, I will await for your call before I take my leave. I will go and get Ah-Un ready for my departure."

Once he was sure that he was completely alone, Sesshomaru let out a low growl of anger and pain as he tried to control his inner demon. Since the day he had put her in the ground to rest his demon had not been quiet. It would rage and roar in anger at the loss of the human child that they had both cared for. It had been at that moment that he had realized just what he had had at his side all of this time. He had found his true mate, his other half, the one that would complete his soul. 'Father…I now understand how you were able to leave mother the way that you had…I understand why mother never did a thing to harm the human that had won your heart. I only regret that I did not realize it sooner.'

"Well, well, well, it would seem the letters were true and I have come to help my son from the anger and pain he has been filled with by the loss of the human child he called his ward." A woman's calm, cold and collected voice was heard from his right.

After letting out a low growl of his own and promising himself that he would kill the bastard that called his mother, Sesshomaru closed his eyes and ask, "To what do I owe the honor of your visit mother?"

"I've some news for you; news that I'm sure would help ease the loss of your true mate."