InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost World ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

Lost World

 

By: OtakuSailorV

 

Chapter Twelve - Royalty

 

Rin woke the next morning to find Jiro sitting by the shouji doors, as coldly attentive as the prince had been the night before. Rin started at the sight of the fluffy white dog in her room. How had he gotten in? The doors were all closed and he hadn't been there the night before, she was sure!

 

“Jiro?” Rin asked groggily, rubbing at her sleep-encrusted eyes drowsily. She was stiff, the floor was none too comfortable and the traditional pillow she had been laying on left a crick in her neck. She was so used to her western-style bed at home that this traditional bedding left her feeling cramped. “I feel like I was hit by a semi,” she grumbled to herself as she scratched her head and yawned widely.

 

Jiro's ears perked up at her reference to something he did not understand, but his golden eyes remained emotionless.

 

“So Jiro, what are you doing? How did you get in here anyway, huh?” Rin mused, knowing that there was no way that dog could answer her questions. “You're funny you know that? You abandoned me yesterday right when I was about to meet Omachi-san and Mizu-san and Koto-san and all of those other servants. You could have at least stuck by me for a little bit, couldn't you? …Y'know, Koto-san did the same thing last night. Sesshoumaru-sama was waiting for me outside the room and she ran off and left me alone with him. No, I'm not mad at her, she probably really did have to go somewhere, but I never know how to act around him, not that that's saying much, cuz I don't know how to act around anyone. I'm always so…weird. Like a chicken with its head cut off,” Rin rambled on as she got up and stretched.

 

The dog only seemed to be half-listening; his ears lifted somewhat at the mention of Sesshoumaru.

 

“He's always so emotionless, y'know Jiro?” Rin continued; she seemed to be more at ease when talking with someone she thought would not reply to her or ask any questions of her. “I wonder sometimes what he's thinking…”

 

At that moment a voice called to her from beyond the screen door. “Ningen-sama, Inutaishou-sama is coming to see you this morning, please be dressed approprietly.”

 

Rin gave Jiro a startled look and fetched the kimono that Koto had given her. “What do you think, Jiro? Cute, isn't it?” She asked when she turned about only to find that her dog-friend had abandoned her again. Rin huffed, feeling hurt. “Fine, be that way.”

 

Dressing herself neatly, she combed her hair with her fingers only to find that a comb had already been left on a table along with several other things that she did not recognize the uses for. Carefully, she picked the comb up and brushed her hair slowly, making sure not to break any of the delicate teeth, for the comb looked expensive.

 

There was another knock at the screen door and Rin hurried to open it, only to find the same minister standing outside reverently for her. “Are you ready yet, ningen-sama?”

 

Rin stepped out of the room, closing the shouji door behind her carefully. “Yes, I'm sorry if I took too long,” she apologized and gave a skittish bow only to realize that maybe she wasn't supposed to bow to the minister. She wasn't sure if at the time he was inferior in rank to her or not, but he looked pleased and amused as he motioned for her to follow him down the hallway.

 

They went in the opposite direction of where Rin had gone the day before, so there was more for her to look at on the way, though much of the castle looked the same. The minister took her into a larger hallway that stretched into a room that widened to show a low traditional table and several mats. She could vaguely see the large form of Inutaishou already seated at the head of the table, watching their approach with a smile of greeting.

 

There were servants walking about reverently, casting their eyes toward the ground to avoid making contact with their Lord or his honored guest. Rin found this weird and a bit unnerving, but she tried to ignore the feeling of sticking out amongst the crowd as she approached and sat across from Inutaishou after bowing low to acknowledge his superiority.

 

As she sat, Rin noticed out of the corner of her eye that one of the servants lined along the wall to her right was Koto. Koto was peeking at her curiously and when their eyes met she hastily turned aside, acting as stolid as the other servants once more. Rin was about to say something to her when she noticed that maybe it would be in Koto's best interest if she didn't.

 

“Ohayou, Inutaishou-sama,” she said quietly instead. Her voice was faint because she was so nervous once more.

 

Inutaishou bowed his head in her direction for a moment and smiled. “Good morning to you too, Rin-san. I am sure that your stay here has been pleasant so far?”

 

Rin hastened to answer, “Oh-oh yes! Everyone is very hospitable, I appreciate everything, really.”

 

He smiled, amused by her strange manner as he proceeded to eat the breakfast set before him. “We are pleased to have you with us, Rin-san.”

 

Rin gave him an embarrassed grin as she followed suit, picking at the strange dishes set before her thoughtfully. This was definitely different from what she was used to. She didn't often have these kinds of foods set before her at breakfast. There were no pancakes or waffles or toast or anything of that sort. Not even a glass of milk. Not that she had expected there to be, but it was so foreign to her as she looked at it that she wondered if she should request a bowl of cereal just to see their reaction. Well, there was one thing she recognized: eggs. Picking at it, she peeled away the exterior shell to find that it was hard-boiled. Astonished by this, she stared at it for a moment before Inutaishou's knowing smile caught her attention.

 

“You recognize it? Izayoi taught the cooks how to make a number of strange dishes when she was with us,” He said and there was the flash of nostalgia in him again.

 

Rin felt his sadness flow into her, though she didn't know why. She had been able to sense people's emotions since she was a small child and sometimes it made her brood and keep to herself more than she already did. It was a strange feeling and it troubled her heart that such a nice person should be so saddened.

 

Instead of asking about Izayoi like she had wanted, she bit into the hard-boiled egg and smile at the delicious taste. It was different from what she was used to and she liked this new taste a lot. “She was a very good cook then, this egg is wonderful,” she said as she swallowed and took another bite.

 

Inutaishou smiled sadly again, his eyes twinkling. “I know.”

 

* * *

 

The meal progressed well after that; Rin asked nothing about Izayoi - though she was very curious - because she did not want to trouble Inutaishou anymore. She could tell that the human girl that had once been in this place was a hard subject for Inutaishou to handle. Instead she contented herself with telling him odds and ends about things she had not gotten to talk to him about in their last encounter. He was very curious about her school and the governments of her world and she found it embarrassing when she did not always know a sufficient enough answer to give him.

 

Finally, when the meal had finished and the dishes cleared away, Inutaishou entwined his fingers and gave her a prize-winning smile that made her wonder what he was about to say next.

 

“Rin-san, a noble from the north who just happens to be a friend of mine is hosting a congregation tonight and I was hoping you would attend along with Sesshoumaru and I. My friend would be very glad to meet you and I'm sure you have been bored with my empty castle.” He said casually, making Rin blush in embarrassment.

 

“Oh-no, I haven't been bored at all,” Rin lied. “If you don't mind me asking though…I feel stupid for asking this…what's a, uh, congregation?”

 

Inutaishou chuckled as she fidgeted in embarrassment, her face a bright red.

 

“It is…hmm…a gathering in which we talk and listen to some talented singer or musician.” Inutaishou described it to the best of his knowledge.

 

`Oh, like a party I guess,' Rin thought instantly and nodded at Inutaishou to show that she understood his meaning. “I would be happy to come, I hope I won't be a bother or anything,” she added hastily, wondering if Inutaishou pitied her and was letting her tag along only out of that pity.

 

“Of course not, I would not have invited you if I thought you were a nuisance, Rin-san,” he replied with another chuckle.

 

* * *

 

Rin was overwhelmed by the offer and by the time she had made it back to her room, she was shaking with excitement and nervousness. What was she going to do? This was going to be a party that many upper-class youkai were likely to be at and she was frightened, knowing she would be the only human. She was already a good head or so shorter than most of the full-grown youkai men and women around her, what would it be like at the party? Fidgeting, she forced herself to calm and think things over thoroughly before she let herself totally freak out.

 

Sesshoumaru was going to be there too, Rin felt a heated flush run over her cheeks but she pushed the thought of him away. He was so cold anyway, he only added to her nervousness, always staring like that, unblinking…Rin sighed, maybe he just didn't like her was all, maybe it was because she was a human or because she was just not interesting. `I probably made him angry when he found me in the forest like that, and then he had to carry me after I passed out like that,' Rin thought to herself and felt more embarrassment weigh on her mind. She hoped she hadn't caused anyone any trouble…

 

There was a loud banging on the shouji door and Rin flinched back into reality and looked about as shock rippled through her, momentarily freezing her to the spot.

 

“Girl? Girl, are you in there?!” There was a loud squawking from beyond the door followed by a poorly hidden snort of disgust.

 

Rin recognized the nerve-wracking voice of Jaken and hurried to the door. “Oh yes, I'm here, I'm sorry,” she said swiftly as she pulled it open to reveal the squat little servant and her friend Koto. Rin beamed at her and Koto rolled her eyes pointedly at the sour-faced Jaken.

 

“Hmph, took you long enough, human,” the little toad scoffed, receiving an angry glare from Koto and an embarrassed look from Rin.

 

“I'm sorry, I was day-dreaming and didn't know anyone was looking for me,” she apologized again, feeling as if she had done something incredibly wrong.

 

“Hmph,” Jaken snorted at her again and turned about, waddling off down the hallway. “Come on.” He grumped.

 

Rin hurried after him, Koto taking her time, lagging behind to shut the door that Rin had left open in her haste and to glare disgustedly at Jaken's hunched shoulders. She made a snorting noise in the back of her throat as she trotted along, arms crossed; she was muttering to herself.

 

“Where are we going to, Jaken-san?” Rin asked carefully, knowing he was going to yell at her again. She should have asked Koto, but her friend didn't seem in a very good mood either.

 

Jaken snorted again. “Where else? We're going to get you some proper clothes to wear tonight. Inutaishou-sama and Sesshoumaru-sama would be disgraced with how you look right now.”

 

Rin flushed and nearly felt Koto's anger raging at his words. Jaken didn't seem to notice their reactions and kept trudging on ahead. Rin wondered what Jaken had against her; how she had made him hate her so much that he would act this way toward her.

 

Dropping back, Rin walked alongside of Koto, looking at the kimono that her friend had given to her with a sad flicker in her eyes. What was wrong with this kimono? Sure it wasn't as grand as the ones that Sesshoumaru and Inutaishou wore, but she thought it was cute and it fitted her perfectly. Did Inutaishou think the kimono ugly as well? Doubt plagued her mind and her fingers clasped together nervously as they often did when she was struggling with inner emotions.

 

Koto noticed this and grimaced, glaring back at Jaken with more intensity than before.

 

“You don't have to be such a toad about everything, Jaken,” Koto snapped at him heatedly.

 

Jaken turned his head to peer at them both with one large, yellow eye. His beak curved down into a frown. “Keep quiet servant, who do you think you're talking to?” he snapped back at her.

 

Rin grew jittery. She hadn't meant to cause a fight between the two and hurriedly tried to stop them, but only managed to splutter incoherently. “Please, don't fight, I don't mind at all, it's fine,” she hastily mumbled, flushing brightly as Jaken and Koto both gave her harsh glares.

 

“You shouldn't let that toad talk to you like that!” Koto admonished loudly. “He's just saying those things because he thinks it is shameful to associate with humans. You don't have to take any guff from that thing!”

 

“How dare you speak so lowly of someone above you in rank, child?! I should have you beaten for that!” Jaken screeched angrily, hopping up and down and waving his staff in outrage.

 

“Oh, shut up you googly-eyed old man, I'm not afraid of you!” Koto turned her head back in his direction with a jerk.

 

The argument between the two lasted the entire trip, Rin soon gave up trying to calm either of them down, though she felt guilty since they were fighting over how she should be treated. Upon arriving two rotund youkai women with smiling faces ushered them into a rather large room filled with many luxurious outfits. Rin felt a bit strange seeing all of the extremely old fashions but quickly grew used to it as she remembered where she was.

 

The two women - that appeared to be tanuki - hovered near Rin, looking her over carefully and talking to each other in high-pitched voices. Koto was soon called over and the three conversed over what colors would look best on the tiny human girl. Rin flushed under so much scrutiny and felt rather odd as Jaken stood with his back to them all at the door, shifting in irritation.

 

“She cannot wear purple, it wouldn't match her eyes and anyway it's a color reserved for royalty,” one of the two tanuki women muttered, hand on her chin thoughtfully.

 

“Oh no, I wasn't thinking that either, I was just thinking that dark hair always looks good with a dark shade of people. You're right, the color doesn't match her eyes…such a shame that she had brown eyes…” the other replied in the same muttered tone before scurrying away to a stack of folded outfits.

 

“I like the orange kimono I gave her,” Koto said in a bit of an obstinate way. Rin wondered if she was jealous for a moment, not wanting Rin to be clothed in something that would make her present look inferior.

 

“Of course you do dear, but that's a servant's kimono and it's not suitable for where our Lord's will be taking her this evening. You don't want the poor thing to look like a servant, do you?” The first tanuki woman soothed as Koto openly seethed.

 

“I still think it looks fine,” she grumbled as the other tanuki ran back over, beaming brightly.

 

“This one is so darling and I believe it will be just the right size,” she said joyously as she held up a beautiful peach-colored kimono with little pink flowers sown in around the edge of the sleeves and around the collar.

 

Rin loved it immediately and even Koto's bad humor swayed as she saw what was to replace what Rin was currently wearing.

 

“Isn't it just beautiful?” the tanuki exclaimed, handing it to Rin and pushing her behind a screen set up in one corner of the room.

 

Rin allowed herself to be shoved behind the screen and then stood there stupidly, unsure what to do until one of the tanuki urged her to strip down and try on the kimono. Rin flushed again but did as they asked, hoping that they could not see her naked outline through the screen as she changed from one kimono to the other.

 

Stepping out from behind the screen, there was a giggle of delight from the two tanuki women who immediately congratulated each other on picking out such an exquisite kimono. Koto grinned in appreciation, obviously over her minor case of jealousy now.

 

The women came forward and immediately starting to pull at her long auburn hair with giggles of glee. Confused, Rin just stood there stiffly as Koto came over grinning profusely.

 

“You'll look so lovely, dear,” one of the two tanuki cooed as she combed Rin's hair.

 

“You'll be the envy of all of the women there,” the other giggled as she too began to comb Rin's hair.

 

“You'll have to forgive Hana and Keiko,” Koto whispered to Rin softly. “They tend to get a little excited when they have someone new to dress up.”

 

Koto grinned as Rin flushed and stood there, letting them attack her hair as they tried several times to put it up nicely. When they uncovered her ears to show the sparkling earrings underneath, all three gasped and clustered closer to see them. Rin blushed and took a step back, not understanding what they were peering at so closely.

 

“You have holes in your ears!” Koto cried as she touched one of the rings with the tip of her claw. “Wasn't that painful?”

 

Rin lifted her hand to her opposite ear and touched the tiny silver stud she had put on before leaving for school several mornings ago. “Uh, well, they did it when I was little, so I don't remember,” she replied.

 

“Amazing, women are allowed to put holes in their ears where you come from?” Hana asked, touching the silver ring as if it might shock her.

 

“Yeah, anyone can,” Rin replied sheepishly.

 

“Ah, jewelry such as this is only for the nobles in our land. To have holes in ones ears is to be royalty,” Keiko said with a grandmother's placating tone. She had a funny accent to her voice and her way of speaking reminded Rin of an old woman from Russia for some odd reason.

 

Keiko and Hana pulled at her hair as they continued to go on about how pretty she would look and how very tiny she was. Rin flushed the entire time but only half-listened to what they were saying as her imagination started to take wing. This process never took long, she only need be idle for a minute or so before she started to lose focus and day-dream. This time she was just thinking to herself whimsically, lost in the strangeness of this new world and how accepting all of the youkai seemed to be of her. It was a dream come true and she couldn't help but feel that she did not deserve such a gift as having her dearest desire come to life.

 

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