The Hunter

Chapter Nineteen

The daimyo did not call for her again, but each morning the routine was the same. Onibaba-san - the hag with the cruel turn to her mouth - would arrive early with her two servants in tow and they would proceed to turn her from an "inaka brat" into something that resembled a lady. Onibaba-san wouldn't do any of the actual work, of course; she preferred to observe from afar, barking orders as they went.

Rin disliked the woman immensely. Her presence filled the room like a great suffocating cloud whenever she entered. The little nickname she'd created for her acted as a balm whenever the woman's snide comments about her low birth or impending demise became too much to bear. It was what allowed her to smile and bow her head obediently when all she wanted to do was scream.

"Has his lordship requested my presence today?" she inquired each morning with little genuine interest.

Onibaba-san's response was always the same. She would scoff and puff out her chest as though she were someone important and say, "His lordship has more pressing demands on his time than to bother with a used up whore."

Onibaba-san never minced words and Rin found her biting honesty to be a refreshing departure from the world she was used to; a place where few truths were heard amidst the lies and subtle exaggeration. Pulling in a slow, calming breath, she would absorb the insults thrown at her and forced her painted lips into a thin smile.

"Does his lordship have many others like me here?" she asked one day out of simple curiosity.

Onibaba-san's sharp gaze swept pointedly about the room. "Do you see any other girls around?"

She was the only one? Rin's smile faltered ever so slightly. She hid it behind her sleeve, feigning a yawn. She'd imagined that the daimyo had many women at his disposal and his reluctance to call on her was simply a matter of him choosing one of the others. It had never occurred to her that she was alone here, or that there was any truth behind the old woman's daily assurances that she would be killed the moment she was deemed unnecessary.

Her eyes lifted and met Onibaba-san's unwavering gaze. A cruel smile turned the corners of the woman's aging mouth. Her harsh words had had their desired effect and it pleased her. Unwilling to bend so easily, Rin straightened her shoulders and stared pointedly at the far wall while the girls completed their final adjustments to her hair and make-up.

When they had finished and were gone, Rin stood for a long moment dressed-up and painted in the costume of a courtier, and listened to the silence. When the moment passed, she let out a weighty exhale and knelt next to her futon. From beneath her pillow she retrieved a carefully folded pile of silk. Her hand caressed the rougher fabric, lingering over the face of a brightly-hued sunflower.

Not a day passed where she didn't think of him. Remembering the night they'd first met in Kyoto, she felt a fond smile tug at her mouth. She'd found his confidence and brazen attempts to become "friends" aggravating at first. During those early days she'd even plotted half a dozen ways to dispose of him in his sleep and make her escape. Only, he hadn't made it easy. Stubborn and determined he'd continued to tease her and entice her into conversation until one day she didn't mind the sound of his voice. And sometime after that she no longer minded the sight of him or the thought of travelling by his side.

If someone had told her that first night in Kyoto that she would come to love the boy lounging across from her she would have laughed long and hard. Even now it felt as though it were someone else's life, someone else's memories. Had those days actually passed? Had those adventures truly happened?

Tears stung at her eyes as she remembered their last night together. How long had it been since she'd felt his arms around her? With a soft touch, the kimono was carefully returned to the spot beneath her pillow and she sat back on her heels. Keeping one eye on the door, she retrieved Kohaku's knife from her obi and tested the blade against her skin. It was still as sharp as it was the day he'd given it to her.

She carefully returned it to the folds of her obi and prepared to leave. If her ultimate fate here was to be death, she had little to lose by attempting one last escape. If her many failed attempts to escape Kohaku had taught her anything, it was that she first needed to know her surroundings. She'd seen exactly three rooms and a winding network of hallways since she'd arrived. She would need to know much, much more before she attempted to leave for good. After all, she would only have one chance. Something told her that the daimyo wouldn't be as magnanimous as Kohaku had been if she was caught trying to leave.

Poking her head out the door to her room, she was surprised to find no guard stationed there. Seizing upon the opportunity, she quietly slid the shouji door shut behind her and then ducked down the nearest hall. She had no idea where to go, but an exit couldn't be far. Keeping an eye out for guards and Onibaba-san, Rin walked softly down the various hallways of the daimyo's residence. The building was larger than any she'd been in before and to her dismay, all the doors looked the same and every hall identical to the last. It was impossible to know which way to turn!

Spotting the shadow of a guard at the end of the hall, Rin quickly slid the door next to her open and slipped inside. What greeted her on the other side was a tsuboniwa, a small indoor garden. It was big enough to be surrounded by a walking path and she took a quick turn around the perimeter. At the garden's centre, surrounded by ishi-doro, nanten trees, moss and stones was a small pond filled with colourful carp.

The natural beauty of the space caught her by surprise. It didn't seem possible that a place as barren and unwelcoming as this should house such serenity and loveliness in its heart. Fascinated, she crouched down at the edge of the walkway to watch the fish swimming gracefully about. Carp were supposed to be good luck. Perhaps they would lend her their charm.

'I could use all the help I can get,' she muttered quietly to herself.

The atmosphere in the small space suddenly shifted and she looked up into a striking pair of golden eyes.

"You…" she whispered, struggling to find her voice.

He looked just as beautiful and imposing as he had the first time they'd crossed paths. As she slowly rose to her feet her eyes took in the rich silk of his kimono and the enviable silver hair cascading over his shoulder. She'd imagined him handsome in the dim light of the forest, but in daylight he was stunning – far more beautiful than any mortal man.

"What are you doing here?"

His head tilted at her question and one of his brows lifted in a minute gesture.

"I could ask the same of you."

Rin opened her mouth to respond, but the shouji door suddenly snapped open and a face she'd been dreading appeared on the other side. Onibaba-san barged in, her sharp features contorted with rage.

"What are you doing in here, stupid girl!"

Belatedly noticing that they were not alone, she paled and abruptly bowed to the man dressed in white.

"Sir, I am eternally sorry if she has inconvenienced you. I swear it will not happen again. I will ensure a guard is posted-"

"Enough."

At his command Onibaba-san abruptly went silent and obediently bowed her head.

"The girl will dine in my quarters tonight. I am certain his lordship won't mind."

Rin's eyes went wide at the sudden invitation and Kaoru hazarded a curious glance at her superior.

"Sir?"

"See to it that arrangements are made." His tone was stern and it bowed the old woman in half once more.

"As you wish," she answered softly.

"And Kaoru," he drawled, tilting his head in Rin's direction, "be certain she receives breakfast. I can hear her stomach growling from here."

Rin blushed and discretely rested a hand overtop her stomach. Embarrassed, she could do little more than mutter a quiet "Thank you" and bow deeply as he left. The moment he was gone, Onibaba-san rose to her full height and turned on her.

"Cross me again and I will deal with you myself. I don't care what he says," she hissed, baring her teeth.

"Come now, Kaoru," Rin tutted with an arched brow. "We both know how anger ages a woman. Someone your age can't afford to gain even a single day."

Kaoru's lips whitened and her eyes narrowed into dark, angry slits. Feeling like she finally had the upper hand, Rin confidently brushed past her and stood waiting in the hall.

"Now, how about that breakfast?"

oOo

At dusk a new servant that Rin hadn't seen before arrived at her door. She was then led wordlessly down a series of plain looking halls to an even plainer set of shouji doors. Rin followed the girl's lead and knelt at the threshold with her head bowed. While waiting for the doors to open, she chanced a glance at her companion and wondered what twist of fate had brought her to this place. Had she been sold to the daimyo's household as well?

Before she could consider the girl further, the doors before them slid open and she was ushered inside. The soft scrape of the doors closing behind her followed, and then there was silence.

When a respectable amount of time had passed she lifted her gaze to find a room brightly lit by tapers and warmly decorated with wall scrolls and seasonal flower arrangements. A faint scent of incense hung on the air and she found it a pleasant departure from her own room, which was barren, dark and unwelcoming.

The man in white was waiting for her at the table. Their eyes met and he greeted her with a small inclination of his head.

"Please, have a seat," he offered, gesturing to the empty seat across from his. "I hope the food is to your liking."

As she knelt at the table a servant appeared and poured plum wine into her cup. He waited until the servant had moved away before speaking again, his words measured and clear.

"Shall we make a toast?" he inquired, raising his glass.

Rin smiled faintly. "To old acquaintances?"

Her words seemed to amuse him. His face lightened and he nodded in agreement. "To old acquaintances."

Rin took a small sip from her cup and the wine's sweet, potent aroma filled her head.

"Given that we are old acquaintances, I suppose I should know your name," he mused. "What shall I call you?"

"Sakura."

The fake name flew out of her mouth before she could stop it and she suppressed the urge to flinch. She hadn't given any thought as to how she wanted to answer certain questions. Was it wise to lie to a man like this? She held her breath and watched his head nod politely. He was either too polite or too disinterested to care that she'd given a fake name. Exhaling a quiet sigh of relief, she picked up her cup of wine and took a long sip to soothe her nerves.

"May I know yours as well?"

"It is Sesshomaru," he replied with a rueful smile.

It had been some while since her time at the brothel, but she knew this game and knew it well. With the wine to ease her passage Rin settled back into the role of Sakura – ever pleasant, ever curious, and unfailingly flirtatious. It made it easier somehow, pretending they were two different people. When she was Sakura she could forget about her past - and about Kohaku.

"Ses-sho-ma-ru…" She drew out the syllables, testing each one in her mouth. "That's a dangerous name."

"It is. Before all of this," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand, "I was a samurai. My clan lived for the battlefield."

"And now?"

A wan smile touched his lips, "Now I am here."

"What does a samurai do when there are no battles to be fought, I wonder?"

He shrugged lightly and pulled a knee into his chest. "We find new ways to pass the time."

Is that why you were in the woods that day? The question stalled on her tongue and she glanced in the direction of the two servants waiting by the door for a purpose. Sesshomaru's gaze followed hers and his lips twitched in amusement. It was obvious she wanted to know the reason he'd been there that morning, so far from Edo. Even more than that, she wanted to know why he'd saved her.

But she couldn't ask either without giving him away and so she swallowed another mouthful of wine and felt her cheeks turn hot.

"What entertainment can you find in a place like this?" she wondered with a glance about the elegantly furnished room. A servant soundlessly appeared at her side and refilled her cup with slender hands.

"Personally, I enjoy renewing old acquaintances," he teased. "But if I am to be honest, my duties as Edo-garo leave little time for frivolities."

"Edo-garo?" She'd never heard the term before and tilted her head inquisitively.

"The person who manages the daimyo's household while he is away."

Rin nodded in understanding and asked, "Is his lordship not here then?"

She didn't see any point in telling him she'd met the daimyo already, or what she'd thought of him. Some glimmer of emotion must have shown on her face because Sesshomaru leaned forward, suddenly curious.

"Does the thought of meeting him frighten you?"

Rin took another long sip of wine and felt its warmth spread down her spine. She was getting drunk much faster than planned. Setting the cup aside, she focused her attention on a ripe persimmon sitting atop a bowl of fruit.

"Powerful men are meant to be feared, is it not so?"

She spoke her next words lightly, feigning a casualness she didn't feel. "What sort of man is he?"

"He is fair," Sesshomaru answered with a thoughtful nod. "He expects much of his men and they endeavour never to disappoint him."

"And of his women?"

He looked away and inspected the offerings on one of the plates near his hand. "I cannot answer to that."

She sighed and took a small bite of the persimmon in her hand. It was juicy and sweet but its flavour paled in comparison to the one Kohaku had given her. Setting thoughts of the demon slayer aside, she attempted to get the conversation back on track. She intended to learn all she could about the daimyo. Knowledge was power, after all, and she was tired of feeling powerless.

"When will his lordship return?"

"He is already here," Sesshomaru confirmed. "Each year around this time, all daimyo must report to Edo to pay homage to the Emperor."

"Is there much you must do to prepare?"

He shrugged indifferently and surveyed her with a thoughtful look.

"You were given to his lordship as an Oiran, were you not? Tell me, what is your talent?"

"I have no talents."

"Impossible," he objected with a kind smile. "I refuse to believe that. Everyone has something they do well."

After a long moment she blew out a quick sigh and answered, "I paint."

"What a rare talent. Oiran mostly sing or dance, but to find a painter is truly unique."

Rin shifted uncomfortably under his gaze and tasted a tart red berry from the bowl next to her plate.

"It is difficult to entertain with such a talent. I should think watching someone paint would be rather boring."

"I would like to watch you paint sometime."

He smiled invitingly and she lifted a curious brow before popping another berry into her mouth.

"The daimyo will not mind? I am meant for his entertainment, after all…"

Sesshomaru appeared confident as he took up his cup of wine. "I will speak with his lordship about finding an outlet for your talent. I am almost certain he will approve."

Rin felt a genuine smile touch her lips. How long had it been since she'd last picked up a brush? There was suddenly a small glimmer of light in the endless dark. If the daimyo allowed it, if she could paint again, perhaps her brief time in this place wouldn't be quite so unbearable as she thought.

"You look pleased."

She met Sesshomaru's golden-hued gaze and felt her heart skip a beat. Up close, he was nothing short of breathtaking – far too beautiful to be human. The daimyo's Edo-garo was a demon. She'd met his kind before in the brothel, though none compared to the man sitting across from her. She wondered if the daimyo knew.

At the sight of his smile she lowered her eyes in an appropriately demure gesture and reached for the decanter of wine that'd been left on the table.

"More wine?"

Author's Note: I know it's been forever! Many apologies. Working 6 days a week has not been easy on my writing schedule. I hope you liked this latest instalment. Things are starting to look a little better for Rin, finally.

If you have a moment, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you :)