Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Inuyasha

Dawn of Demons

Chapter 4

The Western Palace

Rin stared into the darkness for a few moments until she decided to head back to camp. She picked up her sword and sheathed it before turning around but bumped into something, well, more like someone. She quickly looked up and saw that it Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru-sama." She gasped.

He only stared down at her in silence. He saw the shredded sleeve and immediately grabbed her arm to bring it up closer to his face. "Were you injured?" he asked in an angry deep tone.

Rin was too shocked by him touching her to notice his question. Where his strong yet gentle hand grabbed her arm sent electric shocks down her spine causing her body to heat up. She was so engrossed in his touch that it took her a while to finally realized that he had asked her a question.

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama. I was fighting that demon" she gestured to the dried up demon "but it surprised me with poison and almost killed me but someone saved me."

"Who?" He asked with an emotionless expression but in his eyes she saw that he was very worry.

"She was a demoness. She killed it before it could finish me off and then she healed my wound." She smiled while stared at her healed arm. Sesshomaru said nothing except "hn" before he released her and headed back to camp.

When they got back, Jaken was deposing the remains of the three demons. "Sesshomaru-sama welcome back. I see that your safe Rin" Jaken said nervously before having Sesshomaru throw a rock at him. "Ahkk! This humble servant is sorry for being unable to protect Rin my lord" Jaken implored while bowing this head to the ground in a frantic state.

"Jaken-sama please don't. It was my fault to begin with. I ran to draw the demon away and thought that I could defeat it but I couldn't." Rin said sadly. Jaken stood up and asked "What makes you think a weak human like you can defeat a demon?"

Rin stayed silent and carefully though about what she was going to say next. "I-I've been training for these past years." Rin said in a soft and nervous voice. Jaken was shocked and Sesshomaru only stared at her. "Inuyasha, Kagome, and Sango have been training me on various ways to fight and kill demons. I can fight using swords, bows and arrows, hand to hand combat, and I even have some miko power in me…"

Sesshomaru was surprised to learn about what she could do especially having the power of a priestess. He didn't like her having powers that can purify him. "Rin, you will not fight anymore." He commanded in an annoyed voice.

Rin was shocked at what he said and quickly protest "But my lord, I can fight. I can protect myself. I don't…I don't want to be a burden on you. Having you constantly injuring yourself to save me."Rin spoke while trying to hold back the tears that were close to escaping.

"While you are under my protection, you will not fight. Now go to sleep Rin." He said in a low menacing and angry voice.

"Hai… Sesshomaru-sama." Rin slowly went over to Ah-Un and cover herself completely with her blanket, she tried not to cried out and only allowed silent tears to fall so that no one would know she was crying.

Little did she know, Sesshomaru can smell her tears perfectly as if he saw her crying himself. He inwardly sighed and felt terrible for making her cry but he didn't want to fight. What if she gets hurt or even worst, dies. He knows he can't revive her with his Tenseiga or ask his mother to use her Meido Stone to revive her the third time. He closed his eyes and meditated the rest of the night.

The next morning Rin woke up and walked to the river to wash herself up and to catch some breakfast. They quickly ate and continued on to the Westen Palace. The rest of the journey was more silent than the previously day but eventually Jaken broke the silence and Rin happily started talking again. Sesshomaru was for once thankful to the imp. He hated Rin being sad and was glad to hear her talking and being cheerful again.

By mid afternoon they arrived at a huge stone fort surrounding a gigantic palace. The huge gate slowly open and they walked inside. Rin was shocked to see so many demon soldiers, servants and probably high ranking official greet the great demon lord back. Rin was nervous and her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. She of course tried to conceal her anxiousness by keeping a blank face and straightening her body. She was able to walk elegantly, thanks to weeks of practice back in the village, and walked two feet behind Sesshomaru. Jaken came after her with Ah-Un being lead by him.

While most deomans were greeting and cheering for the return of their lord, a few were whispering and glaring at Rin, well mostly the warriors and officials. She can feel their glares and disgust for her weakness. Rin ignored it and decided that she just had to try to make them like her.

After they entered the palace, Sesshomaru order a servant to take Ah-Un to its stable and for Jaken to show Rin to her room. Her room was on the second floor at the back end of the west wing of the palace. Her room was spacious with many windows allowing sunlight to brighten it up and was beautifully decorated with dark wooden flower carvings along the creamy walls. There were flower paintings hanging on the walls and on the side was a balcony that had the most amazing view of the garden Sesshomaru had kept and allowed no one to enter except the gardener. She squealed with happiness that she gets to live in this room and quickly jumped onto her canopy style king size bed with curtains tied to the posts.

Jaken told her to stop acting like a child before a servant came in. She was a beautiful inu-youkai with silver hair to her waist and teal green eyes. She didn't have any markings on her face but had beautiful flawless pale skin. "Rin, this is Nina and she'll be taking care of your needs." Jaken said annoyingly before leaving her room to tend to some paper work. Rin quickly walked over and politely introduced herself 'Hi, I'm Rin, it' very nice to meet you." she said with a bright smile. "The honor is mine Rin-sama." Nina bowed. Rin quickly lifted her up from her bow, "Just Rin is fine" she said in a sweetly.

"But I cannot disrespect my Lord's ward." she said frantically.

"Well before I was his ward, I was just a regular human girl. So I want us to be equal that way it'll be easier for us to become friends." Rin said with a huge smile.

Nina could only look at her in shock before nodding "If that is your wish, but I cannot simply drop the -sama to your name. Sesshomaru-sama would be angry with me." She said with a fearful expression.

Rin place a finger to her chin and ponder over it for a moment "Well then you can just call me Rin when we're alone and Rin-sama in front of others alright?" Rin suggest with hope in her eyes.

Nina giggled at her suggestion "Of course Rin" she said with a a smile. After two hours of talking in her room, Rin and Nina quickly became the best of friends. Nina admitted that at first she thought Rin was just a selfish human trying to gain power and riches through her lord but she quickly change her perspective after talking to the sweet innocent young human.

They had to end their talk when she had to help Rin change for dinner. She was dressed in a deep pink kimono with white and blue flowery pattern and a purple obi to finish the look. Her hair was combed thoroughly to perfection. She was stunning after Nina was done. Nina escorted Rin to a huge banquet room where Sesshomaru normally eats.

When the doors opened she saw about two dozen demons and demonesses eating while laughing and yelling across the room dressed in either their uniform or kimono. Sesshomaru sat at the head of the table looking annoyed by the loud laughter of a powerful looking inu-youkai with long silver hair to his hip and one blue strip on his cheeks sitting to his right. He was very handsome and was older than Sesshomaru but probably not more than a few centuries at most. When she stepped in everyone went silent and stared at the trembling human. She wasn't afraid but was nervous, she did't know what to do in order to fit in and didn't want to embarrass Sesshomaru in the process.

The dog demon next to Sesshomaru finally broke the silence by yelling "Why Sesshomaru-sama, you sly dog, are you starting to eat humans again or something?" he jokingly asked while nudging his elbow to his arm. Sesshomaru signed before announcing "No General Takeshi, she is my ward so if anyone harms her, it will be your head." he warned in a threatening voice while glaring at everyone.

Takeshi pondered over what Sesshomaru just said before bursting even louder with a wide smile "Well then, why don't we welcome this beautiful goddess to join us for dinner. He quickly got in front on Rin with his demonic speed. He bowed before taking her hand for a kiss. My lady, it is an honor to finally meet you. I have heard that Sesshomaru-sama used to allow a human girl to travel with him but I can see that you are no longer a girl but a goddess instead.' he said with a sexy smirk.

Rin blushed at his unneeded flattery. He placed his hand to her back and gently guided her to her chair which was saved to be to at Sesshomaru's left and to the right of Jaken. The demons could only stare at disbelief at Takeshi's boldness and were afraid that their lord would go into a rampage for the closeness of Takeshi with his ward. Sesshomaru only watched them and said nothing as Takeshi came over to scoot the chair back for Rin. She politely thanked him before he went back to his sit across from her.

"Are we eating or what" Takeshi bellowed down the table at the other demons with a laugh. The demons stopped gawking and continued with their dinner and yelling across the room. Takeshi immediately turned his attention to Rin and started telling her about himself and he asked her many questions about herself as she ate her dinner which was absolute delicious. He learned many things about her and her travels with Sesshomarus. Rin learned that he had been the general of Sesshomaru's army for centuries, even before the death of the great InuTaisho and was very flirtatious and was probably the few who aren't terrified of Sesshomaru.

Rin had a great time and her anxiety disappeared when other demon joined in on their conversation, even a few who glared at her earlier join in. She even started drinking a few cups of sake thanks to Takeshi's insistence. Sesshomaru was surprised that she even drank at all. Throughout the rest of dinner, Sesshomaru hardly talked and if he did it was only to answer Takeshi's question or retort something stupid he said.

"Sesshomaru why have you hidden this beautiful goddess all these years. You're such a selfish and lustful pup." Takeshi said with fake pout.

Rin and Jaken was shocked. "HOW DARE YOU!" Jaken yelled angrily.

Rin quickly got up and slammed her hands on the table, everyone stopped what they were doing and only stared at her "That is not why my lord has kept me away! It was for my own good." Rin started, she was slightly influenced by the alcohol and sat back demons continued their conversations. "Besides he can never see me that way." Rin said in a low whisper with sadden eyes while looking at her plate. Sesshomaru and Takeshi heard her perfectly but only Takeshi notice the real reason for the sadness in her eyes.

After dinner, Rin was slightly drunk and had Nina walk her back to her room. She asked Nina to draw her a bath to sober her up. Nina told her to wait for twenty minutes and that she'll be back to get her once it's ready. Rin waited for fifteen minute before she decided to find the bath chamber herself. She wondered the halls until Takeshi found her walking around aimlessly.

"Are you looking for the bath?" Takeshi asked. Rin nodded still angry at the daiyoukai.

"Oh you don't want that." He said exasperatingly "You'll want the indoor hot spring. It's much better and no one ever goes there. It has everything you'll need. Its just down the hall make a left, first door on your right. You won't regret, it has amazing view." Takeshi pointed and smiled with a devilish grin.

Rin thanked him before heading towards the direction he gave her. When she got there, she was baffled by how big and nice it was. It was slightly foggy but manageable if she looked carefully. There was an elegantly carved screen blocking the view of the hot spring on the other side of the room and you can see the fog being thicker behind it. She quickly undressed and folded her kimono and place it on a table before she walked over to the screen completely naked. When she walked around it she scrammed her head off.