InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Gift of a Curse ❯ Chapter 4
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: RayGirl 
NO! SAVE HER!!!! >.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Romance / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.16.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 418 | Status: Completed
NO! SAVE HER!!!! >.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Romance / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.16.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 418 | Status: Completed
Gift of a Curse
Chapter 4: Change in the Air
Rin reached for the brush. Her grip was weak, but slowy she began to run it through her tangled hair. It was a slow process, her body was frail from lack of food. Breathing heavily as she finished, Rin let the brush fall to the floor. Now she was dressed, groomed, and hungry. Of course she had eaten, but that simple bowl of food wasn't enough! A chill ran down her back thinking of the night before. 'I've never seen him like that before...' She thought recalling the events. Rin glanced over at her open window and gasped.
A bird, bloody and sick was lying almost motionless at her window! Struggling to stand up, Rin grasped a nearby chair. She pulled herself toward the window, holding on to the window's edge upon reaching it. Gently, she extended a hand and eased the limp bird into her hand. It resisted for a moment, but gave in. Making her way back to her bed, Rin set the bird down. It was a small, white bird. Warm, thick crimson blood oozed itself from the left wing. "Poor thing..." she muttered softly, "I'll help you...don't worry..."
The young woman ripped a bit of cloth from her dress. Using the small bowl of water she drank from occasionally, Rin wet the small scrap. Gently, she dabbed the blood away from the bird's wing. It let out a sharp cry of pain, but made no move to escape. After washing away the caked, dried blood she ripped another length from her dress. Rin examined the wing, broken...it needed something to hold it while it healed. Her brown hues fell upon a rather long and skinny peice of wood jutting out of the corner of her bed. Of course, she couldn't even remember how many times she'd scratched herself on that!
Ripping the peice loose with much difficulty, she held it to the wing and wrapped the cloth around. "Best I can do..." she murmured softly to it. Making a small bed-like place in the bottom of her wash basin, Rin carefully placed the fragile creature inside. Looking down at it's form, in some ways she envied it. It knew freedom...and it had someone to care for it...something Rin never had. Falling back against her pillow, she dozed.
~*~
Days slid into weeks. The air lost its frigid chill and became warmer, more comfortable. Rin did not stray from her rooms, she continued to watch the white bird heal. Whispered to it as if it could understand...it usually responded with a small chirps. It would sing in the mornings upon which she woke. One day, it could fly. Opening her window, Rin held the bird out on her finger. "You're free..." she told it. "Why don't you fly away? Go!" It remained perched on her finger. Bringing it back in, Rin peered at it curiously. It was free, and yet it wanted to stay with her.
The gleaming bird chirped softly, cocking it's head to the side as if confused. Rin stroked it softly, its feathers smooth to the touch. "Stay as long as you like." she said with a giggle. It jumped from her hand, whizzing around the room and landing on her shoulder. "I'll name you Kaori...after a friend..." Kaori chirped, making Rin's smile widen. "Come, I'll show you around the castle. Not that I really know my way..."
Walking from her rooms, Rin began to wonder the castle. It was the same as always, though the red tapestries and whatnot that had decorated the castle before were replaced with brilliant blue ones. The bird remained on her shoulder, unmoving and silent. She'd stroke it often, murmur things to it and smile. Rounding a corner she stopped, her chocolate orbs hardened. Sesshoumaru had stopped as well, his own golden eyes narrowed and still. His gaze moved to the bird perched on her shoulder, Rin followed it. Without thinking she placed the bird into her hands. If that monster tried anything...
He smirked, raising a brow at her actions. "I see you roam once more..."
"Yes I am up and about. I hope that doesn't offend you, your highness..." she grumbled.
"Yes...what do you think of the Western Wing?"
"Western....Wing?" she murmured. The bird moved about in her hands. How could she have forgotten! This was off limits... She straightened, feeling small. He was so tall...
"Yes. The Western Wing." Rin's eyes widened a bit. How did he hear her? Maybe she underestimated his demonic powers. Perhaps speed and strength wasn't all he had.
"Gomen. I was not paying attention to where I was going."
"Indeed...humans can be such careless creatures..."
Rin felt herself grow hot. Who did he think he was? What did he have against humans anyway! "And youkai can be such stuck-up bakas."
"Indeed they can..." Sesshoumaru said cooly. He was amused by her behavior. So his last visit had taught her nothing? And that bird...how had she come across it?
"What is your problem!" Rin almost screamed. She wanted to hit him, to wipe that smirk from his face, but she remembered the last time she had tried to strike him. Not a good memory. "I haven't done anything to you! I demand you tell me what my mother did to so offend you!" A prisoner demanding something of a lord...she was lucky she was alive today.
His expression changed, hardened. "Your mother..." he spat. Sesshoumaru began to walk forward, passing by her without a word of farewell as he always did. Rin jumped in front of him, still clutching the bird in her hands.
"You didn't answer me." Her midnight hair fell to her back, two strands shorter than the rest cupped her face. Coffee hues met honey. She searched them, failing to find even the slightest trace of emotion.
'This human...why am I unable to strike her?' Anyone who would dare show such boldness against him in the past had been killed without a second thought, but this human...he was unable to harm her. Sending a clawed hand forward, Rin gasped. He held the bird tightly in his hand. It struggled, chirped angrily. "I wonder...how easily it would be to crush such a creature?" he said eyeing Rin. It was not a steadfast spitfire girl who met his gaze. It was a young woman with hot tears falling from her face.
"Onegai..." she said softly, "don't hurt it...please don't hurt it..." Finally, he'd found a weakness. The human was unafraid of anything he could do to her, but this small white bird... 'Such confusing creatures...' he thought watching Rin. "Let it go! It has done nothing to harm you and it never will!" She watched, her vision blurred with tears, as he walked off. The bird still held tight in his clawed hand.
'Stupid thing...you should have taken your freedom...now it is gone...'
~*~
"Rin!" Jaken said waving his staff. The girl was leaning against a wall in a hall of the Western Wing! Right where Lord Sesshoumaru had said he'd find her. "Follow me!"
"No..."
"What was that?" The toad said coming up to her. "I said follow me!"
"Why should I?" Rin countered. Once again, that taiyoukai had snatched away her only friend.
"Eh...Lord Sesshoumaru ordered me to escort you to your rooms!"
"Then that's a double no."
"You stupid little human!" He squacked, waving the staff around.
"Toad!"
"Human!"
"Baka!"
"Wench !"
"Er....toad!"
"Enough." Came a sharp, familiar voice. Rin and Jaken turned to see the cold taiyoukai looming over them. His hands were at his sides, empty. "Jaken."
"MiLord! I was merely doing as you told me, but this human-"
"You failed to do as ordered. You are dismissed." Sesshoumaru cut in. Jaken's mouth hung open. He snapped it shut and scrambled away, grumbling things as he always did.
Rin stood up straight, she stared down at her feet with her hands folded in her lap. Surely Kaori was dead now. This monster wouldn't hesitate to kill it...but why hadn't he killed her? "Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin said curtly. "I'll be leaving now." He stopped her easily by outstretching his arm, blocking her path. Checking the air to make sure Jaken was out of range, he looked down at Rin.
"How did you come across the bird?" He asked, startling the young woman. She didn't look up at him, only continued to stare at her feet. There was a heavy silence as Rin contemplated on answering the taiyoukai or ignoring him. What did it matter to him anyway?
"I found it at my windowsill with a bloody wing." She said, short and to the point. At the moment she didn't want to talk to anyone, especially him.
"And you cared for it?" Rin nodded, she could feel his cold gaze upon her. Is he always this way? Cold, unemotional? And what was that rose...the one she'd seen him watching so closely? "Why?" He asked stoicly. The young woman stared down at her feet. Why had she taken care of it? She'd needed taken care of herself. A sly smile crossed her face, she was glad he couldn't see it.
"That's just how humans are I guess. We'll care for something even if it has nothing to give in return." He raised a brow. This girl was interesting...perhaps she could be of some use before he killed her in less than a year's time. "And Lord Sesshoumaru? Perhaps you could tell me about something here in the castle. A silver rose?"
His hues narrowed. "Ah yes. The little spy. That rose is of no importance to you." Now Rin looked up, catching his frozen gaze. She returned her own stoney one.
"Does it have something to do with a human that showed up here years ago, selling such roses?" Cpuld she know? No...she'd act much differently if she knew it had been her own mother. Sesshoumaru smirked, deciding to play along.
"I do recall such a human woman. Pitiful thing...died in front of the castle." Rin turned to look back at her feet. This cherade was getting her no where. She'd definetly get more out of Jaken. Without warning she began to walk, passing him and heading towards her corridor.
~*~
Rin stared up at her ceiling. It was late, but she was unable to sleep. 'Will I ever be free?' She turned on to her side. 'What is that sound? A knocking...?' She rolled on to her other side. Yes, at the window. Small knocks, close together. She stood up, creeping to the window. A floorboard squeaked. Stupid thing, always did that when you walked on it. With a bit of a push the window opened, allowing a small white bird to flutter about the room. It chirped once, landed on Rin's shoulder. "Kaori!" She whispered excitedly. "I thought...I thought you were dead!" She stroked it softly on the head.
'Why did Sesshoumaru let it go?' She asked herself as she placed the small bird in it's wash basin-bed. As she fell into a light sleep she couldn't help but think he might not be as cold as she thought. Sometimes, he was kind...I mean, he had saved her from certain death! Then again, he was always cold, unemotional...rude. And he had let Koari go, he didn't kill it. Did that mean something? These thoughts and more glided slippery through her head as she began to dream.
DREAM
A castle, a large dark castle. Their were two huge doors, two massive doors. The snow whirled around her and...a woman. Her mother to her left. Her mother was holding something, a basket? A basket with a raggedy blanket pulled over it to cover it's contents. Rin looked back to the door as her mother knocked. She shivered, closed her eyes for a moment. After a long while of waiting in the cold, the doors creaked open. Snow whipped in.
--------
~*~
"Everything ready?" A drawing voice said. The young man nodded.
"Yes sir."
"Did you remember to hire the extra hands?" The drawing voice said again. Once more, the young man nodded.
"Yes sir."
"Good, good. Now we'll wait..." The young man shifted his weight.
"Wait for what sir?"
"Wait for the ample time to strike...and then we'll defeat them."
"Who sir?"
"You'll see in time..."
"Yes sir."
~*~
"Sesshoooooouruuuu-samaaaaa!" The toad imp called as he scurried about. "Sesshooooomaruuuuuuu-samaaaaaa!" Where was that inu-youkai? 'What I'd give for a sense of smell...' Jaken thought. Ah! There he was, walking in Jaken's direction. The toad scrambled up to him, lugging the Staff of Two Heads. "MiLord! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
'I heard...' Sesshoumaru thought absently. Why did he keep this annoying thing around anyway? "And your reason...?" He said coldly. Jaken puffed out his chest.
"I found a white bird flying around your study and let it out-" he was cut off, a foot clonking him on the head and sending him into a wall. "MiLord...what have I done now?" Jaken asked confused. Nothing he did was right!
Sesshoumaru didn't answer. He walked past Jaken, entering a large, darkened room. In the middle was the silver rose. Petals strewn about it from where they had fallen. It glowed in the darkness, it's silver reflecting off his golden pools. It's case had been broken in the human's fall. Now it stood without any protection. Reaching out a clawed hand he touched it's petals, pulling his hand back. Of course, a youkai was unable to touch such a cursed rose. His gaze moved to the window, it's glass shattered and broken from where Rin had fallen backwards.
That had been close. Had he not been there, she'd been dead. A limp heap on the castle grounds. Sometimes he wondered, if she was the keeper at all. Normally it would be the one to cast the curse, but the caster died and yet he remained a youkai and the curse remained intact. Rin must be the keeper...for she was the only other human there.
Rin...a strange human girl. Somehow she interested him. Perhaps it was because she was unafraid of him or the other youkai that worked in the castle. And then there was the half breed...Inuyasha. What was he planning? None of his concern, nothing a half breed or human could do would affect him. His thoughts continued to wonder, as they often did.
~*~
Rin yawned and stretched as she slipped from her bed. The bird, amazingly, still slept in it's bed. Walking to the window she could see how early it was. The sun hanging low in the east, the skies a mix of pinks and oranges. 'Maybe...' she thought pulling a rickety chair to the window. 'I can climb out on to the roof?' Standing on the chair it wobbled slightly and stilled as she caught her balance. Smiling happily she crawled from her window and out on to the roof. It was hard and uncomfortable, but the air was fresh and crisp with the morning. She sighed, gazing out in awe at the castle grounds. What she would give to wonder them!
Birds sang, fluttered about in the trees. Below was a lake. Its waters were still, unmoving. The morning sun slowly rose, cresting over the horizon. The sky began to take on a blue tint, losing some of its array oranges and pinks. Something walked across the grounds, close to the castle. A youkai servant...maybe just a lost animal? She couldn't see what it was from where she sat.
Leaning forward for a better view she lost her balance toppling forward. Rin screamed, struggling to grab hold of something, anything! Her hand grabbed on to a ridge in the roof. Her body dangled over the edge, eyes squeezed shut. "HELP!!!" She screamed, her grip was slipping, fast. She screamed again, trying to reach her other hand up to grasp on to the egde, but only accomplished slipping more. "Someone please..." she moaned, her arm felt as if it were on fire. The ground stood, as if waiting for her to fall, two stories below.
~*~
Sesshoumaru looked up. He heard a woman's shrill scream. Rin, hanging by one hand from the edge of the castle's roof. She screamed again, in a plea for help. Would she not even allow him a morning of peace? Rin was still, clutching the ridge of the roof for life as Sesshoumaru watched from below. The young human woman looked down, her eyes widened. He'd been seen...why was she out on her roof anyway?
Rin squeezed her eyes shut. Sesshoumaru wouldn't let her fall would he? He'd saved her before. She lost her grip, screaming as she plummeted to the ground. No one grabbed her in mid-air this time. No one came out of no where to save her. He was going to let her die...
Sesshoumaru watched, his hues narrowed, as she fell. Moving quickly across the grounds he fell to one knee, catching her just as she was about to hit the ground. Rin's heart pounded, her scent, blanketed with fear and shock. After a heavy moment, she opened her eyes. The taiyoukai stared down at her impatiently, waiting for her to speak. Maybe...he had waited to long before saving her? Her mouth opened, then shut. Why wouldn't the wench speak? Her brown hues rolled into her head and she fell limp in his arms.
Sesshoumaru shook her slightly, Rin didn't move. Upon closer inspection he could see the shallow rise and fall of her chest. So she was alive... He laid her gently on the grass. The girl let out a small moan, her eyes squeezed tighter together. Silver hair fell in front of him as he leaned forward, golden hues watched her carefully. His exterior remained calm, unemotionless. Watching her for a few more moments he looked up. No one was in sight or range of smell.
The demon lord picked her up, holding her gently in his arms. Making an easy leap he landed on the roof, slipping into her room from it's window. He sat her down on the bed and turned, hearing a short chirp. That bird again. So it had returned to her? Interesting... Turning back to the unconscious girl he thought for a few moments. No...no one could know he thought she may need care. Sesshoumaru would never be able to live that down...
Pulling the thin blanket up to her chin he sat down on the end of the bed, peering at her through his golden hues. Less than a year and she could fall off the roof again, lacking a savior. As for now, she held more power over him then anyone ever had. It was a strange feeling...one he wasn't fond of. The girl moved, murmuring something that even he, with his keen hearing, couldn't make out. A strange emotion crept through him, he shook it away. That small white bird had made its way on to the bed, now staring at him with it's black eyes.
Slowly, it crept forward. The bird took a small leap landing on the demon lord's shoulder. Sesshoumaru smirked. So it too, was unafraid. Out of mild curiousity he outstretched his hand. The bird, strangely, made a short flutter and landed in his palm. The taiyoukai stared down at it. It's coat of feathers...almost silver in the light. Silver like that cursed rose that kept the girl alive. His grip tightened around the fragile creature, then loosened. 'Going soft...' he warned himself, looking to the girl. He was unable to harm her...as he was unable to harm this bird. 'Strange...these emotions...'
~*~
Inuyasha hesitated, standing outside the castle. Was he really going to go back in there? He sighed, his dog-like ears twitching atop his head. Seeing Sesshoumaru was definetly not on his favorites list and he was sure his half-brother shared the same dislike. "Keh...might as well get it over with..." He searched the air, finding his brother's scent and followed it. Strange...he'd never known his brother to venture to this part of the- a humans scent? Yes, there was a human near his brother...a human woman. Yes, he did recall his brother smelling of human last time he came.
Following Sesshoumaru's scent he landed on the roof. Searching feverently he spied an open window. Yes...his brother and the human girl were in there. Silently slipping forward he looked in, smirking at the sight. His brother sitting on a human woman's bed, in his castle, and watching her sleep? Apparently too caught up to smell Inuyasha as well. Hmm...they definetly weren't mates or anything close...but his half-brother had definetly held her.
"So Sesshoumaru...how long have you had her around?" The taiyoukai turned, his cool gaze landing on Inuyasha. Cursed half breed...and by that smirk he was jumping to many wrong conclusions.
"Little brother, come to see me again so soon?" He said, ignoring Inuyasha's question.
"Keh, you wish." He looked at the sleeping girl for a moment. Well...he had to admit, she was soft on the eyes...but she was human. Since when did Sesshoumaru like humans? "I came to warn you of something." Sesshoumaru raised a brow, clearly amused.
"Really? And what might that be little brother?"
The hanyou's ears twitched slightly, he slipped inside the room. "Just some humans planning on killing you again."
"And how might this be a threat to me?"
"Because, they are from Kagome's village and if you kill any of them I'll personally take your head." Sesshoumaru smirked, recalling the name of his brother's human mate.
"Since when have I listened to you Inuyasha?" Inuyasha scowled at his brother.
"Well..." the hanyou said with a slight smirk, "I don't think your human friend would like you much if you killed humans." The taiyoukai shot him a colder stare then usual.
"This human means nothing to me."
"The way you were staring at her said something different..." Sesshoumaru was about to lash out of him, and Inuyasha knew it as he moved to a defensive position.
"Sesshoumaru..." Rin whispered softly as she sat up. Her eyes widened, seeing she was in her room and at the fact that Sesshoumaru and some dog-eared boy were there as well.
~*~*~
Notes: Well...that was chapter four. Is Sesshoumaru gaining feelings for Rin. Maybe...maybe not? Anyway...I think Rin is prone to falling out off buildings! Second time she has in what, two chapters? Lol! Contact me for any questions or suggestions, I could really use them. REVIEW BLAST YOU. Click Click, bloody click, review! (Yes, I watch Family Guy.) ^.^
Inu: Dog
Youkai: Demon
Taiyoukai: Demon lord or king
Onegai: Please
Baka: Idiot, fool, stupid
Gomen: Sorry
Hai: Yes
Gomen: Sorry
Rin: *huggles Sess*
Sess: -_-
Kagome: *huggles Inu*
Inuyasha: -_-
Ray: *huggles self*
Ray: -_-
Jaken: No one huggles me!
Naraku: Me huggle you! Ku ku ku ku.
Jaken: Eh...*backs away slowly*
Chapter 4: Change in the Air
Rin reached for the brush. Her grip was weak, but slowy she began to run it through her tangled hair. It was a slow process, her body was frail from lack of food. Breathing heavily as she finished, Rin let the brush fall to the floor. Now she was dressed, groomed, and hungry. Of course she had eaten, but that simple bowl of food wasn't enough! A chill ran down her back thinking of the night before. 'I've never seen him like that before...' She thought recalling the events. Rin glanced over at her open window and gasped.
A bird, bloody and sick was lying almost motionless at her window! Struggling to stand up, Rin grasped a nearby chair. She pulled herself toward the window, holding on to the window's edge upon reaching it. Gently, she extended a hand and eased the limp bird into her hand. It resisted for a moment, but gave in. Making her way back to her bed, Rin set the bird down. It was a small, white bird. Warm, thick crimson blood oozed itself from the left wing. "Poor thing..." she muttered softly, "I'll help you...don't worry..."
The young woman ripped a bit of cloth from her dress. Using the small bowl of water she drank from occasionally, Rin wet the small scrap. Gently, she dabbed the blood away from the bird's wing. It let out a sharp cry of pain, but made no move to escape. After washing away the caked, dried blood she ripped another length from her dress. Rin examined the wing, broken...it needed something to hold it while it healed. Her brown hues fell upon a rather long and skinny peice of wood jutting out of the corner of her bed. Of course, she couldn't even remember how many times she'd scratched herself on that!
Ripping the peice loose with much difficulty, she held it to the wing and wrapped the cloth around. "Best I can do..." she murmured softly to it. Making a small bed-like place in the bottom of her wash basin, Rin carefully placed the fragile creature inside. Looking down at it's form, in some ways she envied it. It knew freedom...and it had someone to care for it...something Rin never had. Falling back against her pillow, she dozed.
~*~
Days slid into weeks. The air lost its frigid chill and became warmer, more comfortable. Rin did not stray from her rooms, she continued to watch the white bird heal. Whispered to it as if it could understand...it usually responded with a small chirps. It would sing in the mornings upon which she woke. One day, it could fly. Opening her window, Rin held the bird out on her finger. "You're free..." she told it. "Why don't you fly away? Go!" It remained perched on her finger. Bringing it back in, Rin peered at it curiously. It was free, and yet it wanted to stay with her.
The gleaming bird chirped softly, cocking it's head to the side as if confused. Rin stroked it softly, its feathers smooth to the touch. "Stay as long as you like." she said with a giggle. It jumped from her hand, whizzing around the room and landing on her shoulder. "I'll name you Kaori...after a friend..." Kaori chirped, making Rin's smile widen. "Come, I'll show you around the castle. Not that I really know my way..."
Walking from her rooms, Rin began to wonder the castle. It was the same as always, though the red tapestries and whatnot that had decorated the castle before were replaced with brilliant blue ones. The bird remained on her shoulder, unmoving and silent. She'd stroke it often, murmur things to it and smile. Rounding a corner she stopped, her chocolate orbs hardened. Sesshoumaru had stopped as well, his own golden eyes narrowed and still. His gaze moved to the bird perched on her shoulder, Rin followed it. Without thinking she placed the bird into her hands. If that monster tried anything...
He smirked, raising a brow at her actions. "I see you roam once more..."
"Yes I am up and about. I hope that doesn't offend you, your highness..." she grumbled.
"Yes...what do you think of the Western Wing?"
"Western....Wing?" she murmured. The bird moved about in her hands. How could she have forgotten! This was off limits... She straightened, feeling small. He was so tall...
"Yes. The Western Wing." Rin's eyes widened a bit. How did he hear her? Maybe she underestimated his demonic powers. Perhaps speed and strength wasn't all he had.
"Gomen. I was not paying attention to where I was going."
"Indeed...humans can be such careless creatures..."
Rin felt herself grow hot. Who did he think he was? What did he have against humans anyway! "And youkai can be such stuck-up bakas."
"Indeed they can..." Sesshoumaru said cooly. He was amused by her behavior. So his last visit had taught her nothing? And that bird...how had she come across it?
"What is your problem!" Rin almost screamed. She wanted to hit him, to wipe that smirk from his face, but she remembered the last time she had tried to strike him. Not a good memory. "I haven't done anything to you! I demand you tell me what my mother did to so offend you!" A prisoner demanding something of a lord...she was lucky she was alive today.
His expression changed, hardened. "Your mother..." he spat. Sesshoumaru began to walk forward, passing by her without a word of farewell as he always did. Rin jumped in front of him, still clutching the bird in her hands.
"You didn't answer me." Her midnight hair fell to her back, two strands shorter than the rest cupped her face. Coffee hues met honey. She searched them, failing to find even the slightest trace of emotion.
'This human...why am I unable to strike her?' Anyone who would dare show such boldness against him in the past had been killed without a second thought, but this human...he was unable to harm her. Sending a clawed hand forward, Rin gasped. He held the bird tightly in his hand. It struggled, chirped angrily. "I wonder...how easily it would be to crush such a creature?" he said eyeing Rin. It was not a steadfast spitfire girl who met his gaze. It was a young woman with hot tears falling from her face.
"Onegai..." she said softly, "don't hurt it...please don't hurt it..." Finally, he'd found a weakness. The human was unafraid of anything he could do to her, but this small white bird... 'Such confusing creatures...' he thought watching Rin. "Let it go! It has done nothing to harm you and it never will!" She watched, her vision blurred with tears, as he walked off. The bird still held tight in his clawed hand.
'Stupid thing...you should have taken your freedom...now it is gone...'
~*~
"Rin!" Jaken said waving his staff. The girl was leaning against a wall in a hall of the Western Wing! Right where Lord Sesshoumaru had said he'd find her. "Follow me!"
"No..."
"What was that?" The toad said coming up to her. "I said follow me!"
"Why should I?" Rin countered. Once again, that taiyoukai had snatched away her only friend.
"Eh...Lord Sesshoumaru ordered me to escort you to your rooms!"
"Then that's a double no."
"You stupid little human!" He squacked, waving the staff around.
"Toad!"
"Human!"
"Baka!"
"Wench !"
"Er....toad!"
"Enough." Came a sharp, familiar voice. Rin and Jaken turned to see the cold taiyoukai looming over them. His hands were at his sides, empty. "Jaken."
"MiLord! I was merely doing as you told me, but this human-"
"You failed to do as ordered. You are dismissed." Sesshoumaru cut in. Jaken's mouth hung open. He snapped it shut and scrambled away, grumbling things as he always did.
Rin stood up straight, she stared down at her feet with her hands folded in her lap. Surely Kaori was dead now. This monster wouldn't hesitate to kill it...but why hadn't he killed her? "Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin said curtly. "I'll be leaving now." He stopped her easily by outstretching his arm, blocking her path. Checking the air to make sure Jaken was out of range, he looked down at Rin.
"How did you come across the bird?" He asked, startling the young woman. She didn't look up at him, only continued to stare at her feet. There was a heavy silence as Rin contemplated on answering the taiyoukai or ignoring him. What did it matter to him anyway?
"I found it at my windowsill with a bloody wing." She said, short and to the point. At the moment she didn't want to talk to anyone, especially him.
"And you cared for it?" Rin nodded, she could feel his cold gaze upon her. Is he always this way? Cold, unemotional? And what was that rose...the one she'd seen him watching so closely? "Why?" He asked stoicly. The young woman stared down at her feet. Why had she taken care of it? She'd needed taken care of herself. A sly smile crossed her face, she was glad he couldn't see it.
"That's just how humans are I guess. We'll care for something even if it has nothing to give in return." He raised a brow. This girl was interesting...perhaps she could be of some use before he killed her in less than a year's time. "And Lord Sesshoumaru? Perhaps you could tell me about something here in the castle. A silver rose?"
His hues narrowed. "Ah yes. The little spy. That rose is of no importance to you." Now Rin looked up, catching his frozen gaze. She returned her own stoney one.
"Does it have something to do with a human that showed up here years ago, selling such roses?" Cpuld she know? No...she'd act much differently if she knew it had been her own mother. Sesshoumaru smirked, deciding to play along.
"I do recall such a human woman. Pitiful thing...died in front of the castle." Rin turned to look back at her feet. This cherade was getting her no where. She'd definetly get more out of Jaken. Without warning she began to walk, passing him and heading towards her corridor.
~*~
Rin stared up at her ceiling. It was late, but she was unable to sleep. 'Will I ever be free?' She turned on to her side. 'What is that sound? A knocking...?' She rolled on to her other side. Yes, at the window. Small knocks, close together. She stood up, creeping to the window. A floorboard squeaked. Stupid thing, always did that when you walked on it. With a bit of a push the window opened, allowing a small white bird to flutter about the room. It chirped once, landed on Rin's shoulder. "Kaori!" She whispered excitedly. "I thought...I thought you were dead!" She stroked it softly on the head.
'Why did Sesshoumaru let it go?' She asked herself as she placed the small bird in it's wash basin-bed. As she fell into a light sleep she couldn't help but think he might not be as cold as she thought. Sometimes, he was kind...I mean, he had saved her from certain death! Then again, he was always cold, unemotional...rude. And he had let Koari go, he didn't kill it. Did that mean something? These thoughts and more glided slippery through her head as she began to dream.
DREAM
A castle, a large dark castle. Their were two huge doors, two massive doors. The snow whirled around her and...a woman. Her mother to her left. Her mother was holding something, a basket? A basket with a raggedy blanket pulled over it to cover it's contents. Rin looked back to the door as her mother knocked. She shivered, closed her eyes for a moment. After a long while of waiting in the cold, the doors creaked open. Snow whipped in.
--------
~*~
"Everything ready?" A drawing voice said. The young man nodded.
"Yes sir."
"Did you remember to hire the extra hands?" The drawing voice said again. Once more, the young man nodded.
"Yes sir."
"Good, good. Now we'll wait..." The young man shifted his weight.
"Wait for what sir?"
"Wait for the ample time to strike...and then we'll defeat them."
"Who sir?"
"You'll see in time..."
"Yes sir."
~*~
"Sesshoooooouruuuu-samaaaaa!" The toad imp called as he scurried about. "Sesshooooomaruuuuuuu-samaaaaaa!" Where was that inu-youkai? 'What I'd give for a sense of smell...' Jaken thought. Ah! There he was, walking in Jaken's direction. The toad scrambled up to him, lugging the Staff of Two Heads. "MiLord! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
'I heard...' Sesshoumaru thought absently. Why did he keep this annoying thing around anyway? "And your reason...?" He said coldly. Jaken puffed out his chest.
"I found a white bird flying around your study and let it out-" he was cut off, a foot clonking him on the head and sending him into a wall. "MiLord...what have I done now?" Jaken asked confused. Nothing he did was right!
Sesshoumaru didn't answer. He walked past Jaken, entering a large, darkened room. In the middle was the silver rose. Petals strewn about it from where they had fallen. It glowed in the darkness, it's silver reflecting off his golden pools. It's case had been broken in the human's fall. Now it stood without any protection. Reaching out a clawed hand he touched it's petals, pulling his hand back. Of course, a youkai was unable to touch such a cursed rose. His gaze moved to the window, it's glass shattered and broken from where Rin had fallen backwards.
That had been close. Had he not been there, she'd been dead. A limp heap on the castle grounds. Sometimes he wondered, if she was the keeper at all. Normally it would be the one to cast the curse, but the caster died and yet he remained a youkai and the curse remained intact. Rin must be the keeper...for she was the only other human there.
Rin...a strange human girl. Somehow she interested him. Perhaps it was because she was unafraid of him or the other youkai that worked in the castle. And then there was the half breed...Inuyasha. What was he planning? None of his concern, nothing a half breed or human could do would affect him. His thoughts continued to wonder, as they often did.
~*~
Rin yawned and stretched as she slipped from her bed. The bird, amazingly, still slept in it's bed. Walking to the window she could see how early it was. The sun hanging low in the east, the skies a mix of pinks and oranges. 'Maybe...' she thought pulling a rickety chair to the window. 'I can climb out on to the roof?' Standing on the chair it wobbled slightly and stilled as she caught her balance. Smiling happily she crawled from her window and out on to the roof. It was hard and uncomfortable, but the air was fresh and crisp with the morning. She sighed, gazing out in awe at the castle grounds. What she would give to wonder them!
Birds sang, fluttered about in the trees. Below was a lake. Its waters were still, unmoving. The morning sun slowly rose, cresting over the horizon. The sky began to take on a blue tint, losing some of its array oranges and pinks. Something walked across the grounds, close to the castle. A youkai servant...maybe just a lost animal? She couldn't see what it was from where she sat.
Leaning forward for a better view she lost her balance toppling forward. Rin screamed, struggling to grab hold of something, anything! Her hand grabbed on to a ridge in the roof. Her body dangled over the edge, eyes squeezed shut. "HELP!!!" She screamed, her grip was slipping, fast. She screamed again, trying to reach her other hand up to grasp on to the egde, but only accomplished slipping more. "Someone please..." she moaned, her arm felt as if it were on fire. The ground stood, as if waiting for her to fall, two stories below.
~*~
Sesshoumaru looked up. He heard a woman's shrill scream. Rin, hanging by one hand from the edge of the castle's roof. She screamed again, in a plea for help. Would she not even allow him a morning of peace? Rin was still, clutching the ridge of the roof for life as Sesshoumaru watched from below. The young human woman looked down, her eyes widened. He'd been seen...why was she out on her roof anyway?
Rin squeezed her eyes shut. Sesshoumaru wouldn't let her fall would he? He'd saved her before. She lost her grip, screaming as she plummeted to the ground. No one grabbed her in mid-air this time. No one came out of no where to save her. He was going to let her die...
Sesshoumaru watched, his hues narrowed, as she fell. Moving quickly across the grounds he fell to one knee, catching her just as she was about to hit the ground. Rin's heart pounded, her scent, blanketed with fear and shock. After a heavy moment, she opened her eyes. The taiyoukai stared down at her impatiently, waiting for her to speak. Maybe...he had waited to long before saving her? Her mouth opened, then shut. Why wouldn't the wench speak? Her brown hues rolled into her head and she fell limp in his arms.
Sesshoumaru shook her slightly, Rin didn't move. Upon closer inspection he could see the shallow rise and fall of her chest. So she was alive... He laid her gently on the grass. The girl let out a small moan, her eyes squeezed tighter together. Silver hair fell in front of him as he leaned forward, golden hues watched her carefully. His exterior remained calm, unemotionless. Watching her for a few more moments he looked up. No one was in sight or range of smell.
The demon lord picked her up, holding her gently in his arms. Making an easy leap he landed on the roof, slipping into her room from it's window. He sat her down on the bed and turned, hearing a short chirp. That bird again. So it had returned to her? Interesting... Turning back to the unconscious girl he thought for a few moments. No...no one could know he thought she may need care. Sesshoumaru would never be able to live that down...
Pulling the thin blanket up to her chin he sat down on the end of the bed, peering at her through his golden hues. Less than a year and she could fall off the roof again, lacking a savior. As for now, she held more power over him then anyone ever had. It was a strange feeling...one he wasn't fond of. The girl moved, murmuring something that even he, with his keen hearing, couldn't make out. A strange emotion crept through him, he shook it away. That small white bird had made its way on to the bed, now staring at him with it's black eyes.
Slowly, it crept forward. The bird took a small leap landing on the demon lord's shoulder. Sesshoumaru smirked. So it too, was unafraid. Out of mild curiousity he outstretched his hand. The bird, strangely, made a short flutter and landed in his palm. The taiyoukai stared down at it. It's coat of feathers...almost silver in the light. Silver like that cursed rose that kept the girl alive. His grip tightened around the fragile creature, then loosened. 'Going soft...' he warned himself, looking to the girl. He was unable to harm her...as he was unable to harm this bird. 'Strange...these emotions...'
~*~
Inuyasha hesitated, standing outside the castle. Was he really going to go back in there? He sighed, his dog-like ears twitching atop his head. Seeing Sesshoumaru was definetly not on his favorites list and he was sure his half-brother shared the same dislike. "Keh...might as well get it over with..." He searched the air, finding his brother's scent and followed it. Strange...he'd never known his brother to venture to this part of the- a humans scent? Yes, there was a human near his brother...a human woman. Yes, he did recall his brother smelling of human last time he came.
Following Sesshoumaru's scent he landed on the roof. Searching feverently he spied an open window. Yes...his brother and the human girl were in there. Silently slipping forward he looked in, smirking at the sight. His brother sitting on a human woman's bed, in his castle, and watching her sleep? Apparently too caught up to smell Inuyasha as well. Hmm...they definetly weren't mates or anything close...but his half-brother had definetly held her.
"So Sesshoumaru...how long have you had her around?" The taiyoukai turned, his cool gaze landing on Inuyasha. Cursed half breed...and by that smirk he was jumping to many wrong conclusions.
"Little brother, come to see me again so soon?" He said, ignoring Inuyasha's question.
"Keh, you wish." He looked at the sleeping girl for a moment. Well...he had to admit, she was soft on the eyes...but she was human. Since when did Sesshoumaru like humans? "I came to warn you of something." Sesshoumaru raised a brow, clearly amused.
"Really? And what might that be little brother?"
The hanyou's ears twitched slightly, he slipped inside the room. "Just some humans planning on killing you again."
"And how might this be a threat to me?"
"Because, they are from Kagome's village and if you kill any of them I'll personally take your head." Sesshoumaru smirked, recalling the name of his brother's human mate.
"Since when have I listened to you Inuyasha?" Inuyasha scowled at his brother.
"Well..." the hanyou said with a slight smirk, "I don't think your human friend would like you much if you killed humans." The taiyoukai shot him a colder stare then usual.
"This human means nothing to me."
"The way you were staring at her said something different..." Sesshoumaru was about to lash out of him, and Inuyasha knew it as he moved to a defensive position.
"Sesshoumaru..." Rin whispered softly as she sat up. Her eyes widened, seeing she was in her room and at the fact that Sesshoumaru and some dog-eared boy were there as well.
~*~*~
Notes: Well...that was chapter four. Is Sesshoumaru gaining feelings for Rin. Maybe...maybe not? Anyway...I think Rin is prone to falling out off buildings! Second time she has in what, two chapters? Lol! Contact me for any questions or suggestions, I could really use them. REVIEW BLAST YOU. Click Click, bloody click, review! (Yes, I watch Family Guy.) ^.^
Inu: Dog
Youkai: Demon
Taiyoukai: Demon lord or king
Onegai: Please
Baka: Idiot, fool, stupid
Gomen: Sorry
Hai: Yes
Gomen: Sorry
Rin: *huggles Sess*
Sess: -_-
Kagome: *huggles Inu*
Inuyasha: -_-
Ray: *huggles self*
Ray: -_-
Jaken: No one huggles me!
Naraku: Me huggle you! Ku ku ku ku.
Jaken: Eh...*backs away slowly*