InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Surprise my mind ❯ Part V ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter five, Part V

Rin coughed as soot came falling onto her head. Julia had assigned her the task of cleaning the chimney. Rin was pleased that the old woman wasn't hovering over her shoulder. She was finally unsupervised and could clean it the way she wanted to. More soot fell on her and she blinked rapidly. The paper that had been set over the carpet was beginning to possess spots of soot sprinkled on it, along with Rin's footprints. She shook her head and started to cleanse the chimney more thoroughly. I suppose I'm lucky that this is the last chimney I have to do, she thought to herself, and that I didn't mark any of Lord Sesshomaru's precious Persian carpets! He would no doubt be furious with me. She heard the door slide open, but she did not heed it, supposing it was her Master Jaken or Mistress Julia.

“Rin.” As she turned, her head collided with brick and she was seeing different colors fly wildly in front of her. She peered out from under the chimney, her whole body covered in soot. Sesshomaru frowned at her appearance. “Who put you to this task?” She hesitated.

“Mistress Julia, my lord.” Sesshomaru frowned even harder at her response. The chimney cleaning was one of the more difficult tasks and he had made it clear that Rin was not to perform any of those. Julia had obviously disobeyed him and he would be sure to punish her for her insubordination (defiance, disobedience.) Then again, Sesshomaru was normally the one to assign tasks to each servant and since he had slept in quite late, it was, in a way, his own fault. However, he expected that his words were to be obeyed; Julia knew that. He almost scowled, but instead he gestured Rin to come towards him. She obeyed, blinking almost in confusion. “Yes, Lord Sesshomaru?”

“Go get cleaned. I'll give another servant finish this.” She looked guilty. “What is it, Rin?”

“But this was my job, Lord Sesshomaru. Mistress Julia gave it to me and I'm expected to finish it. She would be very disappointed if I did not complete the job.” His eyes narrowed on her. Sesshomaru had a feeling that there was something Rin wasn't telling him. Most servants would cheer at such a prospect, but Rin looked almost fearful of such a thing happening.

“I am the one that decides what happens in this household,” he told her severely, “not Julia. If she has any objections, than she will bring them to me. If she scolds you, then tell me so, Rin, for she has no right to do so.” She stared at him, wide-eyed. “Has she?” He demanded at her mute state.

“Ah - No, my lord,” she assured him, bowing her head. “I just...I did all the other chimneys and am used to it. It wouldn't be very nice if I left them to do finish the job. I'm almost finished, too, my lord!” Sesshomaru stared down at her, not amused by the whole of what she was trying to tell him. He had not yet met a servant that had insisted on finishing a job, so this was a first for him. His eyes narrowed on her and he turned his back to her, leaving the room, saying, “Suit yourself.” Rin watched him disappear and she glanced down at her filthy self and her cheeks turned pink. She could almost imagine what her Lord Sesshomaru thought when she had stepped out of the chimney, looking like a black dust ball. Flushing still, she turned back to the fireplace, ignoring the burning in her cheeks. I wonder, though, what Lord Sesshomaru wanted...?

Sesshomaru moved towards the servant's quarters, ignoring Jaken's shouts to new servants. When the imp spotted his master, he snapped a last command to them and then hobbled after the demon. “My lord, what are you doing out here? If you wished to speak to one of those lowly servants, you needed only to send a message to me and I would have sent them straight up to you for their punishment.” The demon did not comment, until, at last, he paused at the entrance to the servant's quarters. He wouldn't be caught dead in that place. It was where his more lower servants slept. Julia, Jaken, and Rin slept in the manor in the cellar, where it was more comfortable.

“Go fetch Julia for me, Jaken,” Sesshomaru ordered. Jaken hesitated, before he hurried off into the quarters where Julia was ordering servants around. The imp also avoided entering the foul place in which the other, less important, servants dwelled. He almost gagged at the scent that came to his nose and he wisely said nothing. Julia had a kerchief over her mouth and nose, protecting her from any tastes or smells.

“Master Jaken...?” She gave a curious look and he merely gestured for her to follow him outside. She followed and removed the kerchief and when she saw her master, she became sullen. Of course. Lord Sesshomaru must have woken and seen Rin cleaning the chimneys...Julia sighed and bowed in front of the demon, before straightening, looking at him coolly. She near to despised her master, but she tried to keep on a good act. “My lord? Is anything amiss?” She asked with false concern. Sesshomaru had known, she was sure, that she resented him, which was why she attempted to evade him as well as she could.

For a long while, Sesshomaru merely stared at her, before he raised his hand and struck her across the cheek. She stumbled, surprised. He very rarely harmed his servants and never had he hit her. “You disobeyed me,” he told her, chopping the words up. She stared at him, still stunned. “I believe you said that you understood quite clearly when I said I did not want Rin doing any difficult tasks. However...I wake up this morning and find her covered in soot and choking on whatever is coming down the chimney stack.” His eyes narrowed almost into a glare, but not quite. She swallowed and brought her eyes down to her feet. “What part, Julia, is it that you failed to inform me that you misunderstood?”

“I...do apologize, Sesshomaru,” she muttered meekly. “I am terribly sorry.” She fell to the ground, clutching at his feet. “Please forgive me!” Jaken looked disgusted seeing the elderly woman groveling like she was. Sesshomaru stared down at her hunched form and backed away, shaking her off his feet. “I thought she would be able to handle it. I meant no harm, truly! Truly, I did not!” She raised her eyes and he didn't miss the furious twinkle in her bright blue orbs. “After all...She is a servant just as the rest. Why is she treated any different?” Sesshomaru brought his foot back and kicked her, sending her flying back.

“Your insolence will not be tolerated, Julia, am I quite clear?” Julia stared at him, furious, a scrape on her forehead where he had kicked her.

“Quite clear, my lord,” she hissed through clenched teeth. He shaded his eyes and turned, saying, “Good.” Jaken snorted at her, before turning around and following his master.

“Jaken,” Sesshomaru spoke to the imp, who blinked up at him with his large, yellow eyes. “You are to take care of Rin from now on.”

“Um...” he blushed “...but Julia is the one that gives her baths, my lord...”

“Then you will take on that job as well.”

“B-but - ”

“I have no doubt that you know of the reproductive system and how children are made, Jaken - however, just because you know that does not mean you cannot handle bathing her. I doubt that she will need you to enter the tub and do everything for her. She's ten and three (thirteen,) not two.” Jaken flushed in embarrassment. “The only thing, I am aware, that you need do is hand her the towel when she is finished.”

“I...” Jaken swallowed, surprised at the rebuke, or rather...lecture...he had gotten from his master.

Rin, having cleaned herself up, tying the laces on her slippers (yeah, you might think this is a nightwear sort of thing, but in England it was a typical shoe that women wore.) The knocker slammed against the door, startling her. She gave a puzzled look, then skipped to the door, flinging it open, beaming. When she saw the grim-appearing man and the soldiers that lingered behind him like a great fortress. The man looked to a point behind Rin and she turned her head to Sesshomaru, who came up behind her, his mood less than good. “Lord Sesshomaru,” the man, who just happened to be the king's private “secretary” somewhat. His name was Edward Limington, who was the Duke of Devonshire. His face almost drooped as though the word `happy' hadn't even been discovered yet. Rin almost backed away from him. To her, he looked like some monster here to spread sadness throughout the house. “You must come to court to account for the murder of Roger Darling of Beaufort and the demon, Jarnec.” Rin's eyes widened and a gasp was torn from her throat. She swayed in horror, thinking that she was about to be put onto the streets again.

No! I don't wish to leave Lord Sesshomaru! She thought. A hand gripped her shoulder and she tilted her head up to see Sesshomaru almost glaring at Devonshire. “Lord Sesshomaru...”

“Jaken,” he spoke to his distressed servant that was behind them. “Remember what I said.”

“But - Yes, my lord,” he hastily said.

“Rin. Get ready to leave.” Devonshire's brow furrowed at that and he frowned even harder than he already was. Rin hurried over to the closet and tossed her recently laced slippers into the closet, shoving her feet in her boots. After tying the laces, she hastily put on her coat and went to the side of Jaken, who had retrieved the Staff of Two-Heads.

“They cannot come,” Devonshire said bluntly.

“They are my servants and will come if I wish them to,” Sesshomaru responded coldly, disliking the man already. Devonshire frowned at him even more, before pointing to the carriage.

“Go sit in there. I will take you to the palace. I must speak to these men for a minute, I'll join you soon, my lord.” Sesshomaru didn't acknowledge his politeness, but merely walked towards the carriage and entered it. Rin climbed up the carriage, Jaken following. The young female plopped next to her master, blinking and looking around the carriage. The window had wooden bars on it, making her feel like a criminal.

“Lord Sesshomaru...” she began hesitantly. He slowly moved his gaze to her. Rin looked uncertain suddenly. She had become attached to both Sesshomaru and Jaken. She also was happy with how her life was going, so far as the nice accommodations and the fact that she was actually fed. Rin licked her lips and his eyes narrowed as she asked, “Are you going to be beheaded?” Jaken's eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped. He sputtered, before he turned to her sharply.

“Show some respect, girl!” Jaken said stridently, frowning in disapproval. She bowed her head guiltily.

“Enough, Jaken,” Sesshomaru ordered. “No, Rin, I won't.” Devonshire, who had climbed into the carriage at that moment, snorted.

“I'm interested in knowing how you intend on pulling that off, my lord, without returning to your estate with your head disconnected,” he sneered. “After all, you killed one of your kin and a human noble who was highly respected, I might add.” Rin didn't speak up and say that her former employer, Lord Beaufort, had been a disgusting pig with a brutal sense of humor...and passions, for that matter.

“...Perhaps I should make it two human nobles,” Sesshomaru suggested, his abhorrence (hatred) of the man more than apparent. As the carriage began to move, the color drained out of the male's face. Rin started to shake in newfound fear. She didn't want to be present when her master killed the mortal and she was all ready fearful of losing her master to an axe to his head. Sesshomaru's eyes flickered to her. He hadn't meant to frighten her...Though, he had a feeling it was more of the thought of being on the streets that scared her than him murdering the mortal inside the carriage.

“No need to worry, Rin!” Jaken spoke up confidently. “Our Lord Sesshomaru is in good favor with the king and if he were to die, all the demons would devour the humans of England. It would be a pointless act and I'm sure the king knows so.” Rin blinked slowly, before a smile spread over her face and she nodded, agreeing.

Good job, Jaken, Sesshomaru thought to himself, turning his attention to the barred window.

James I sighed, rubbing his face wearily, sitting behind the wooden pavilion, the court surrounded the circular room. He half wondered if Sesshomaru was even going to come. A demon like him would, normally, not even bother to come to court if he was sure of his innocence. Or, in Sesshomaru's case, he was sure that he wouldn't be executed. His position was too valuable and James knew that just as well as the latter did. All the other demons in England feared Sesshomaru and knew better than to be as stupid as to behead him. Even if I tried, the king reflected gloomily, Sesshomaru would probably end up killing his executor. Either that, or he would not allow himself to be killed and would behead me. No doubt the other demons would back him up. James swallowed and when the doors banged open, he raised his eyes, surprised to find Sesshomaru enter with his two faithful servants, Rin and Jaken, by his side. Eyes glared down at the three. Sesshomaru ignored them, staring coldly ahead at the monarch of England; Jaken glared back and Rin...She inched nearer to Sesshomaru, self-conscious. He acknowledged her with his to her head, before he stepped forward. Jaken and Rin, glancing at each other, stayed back. “Lord Sesshomaru,” James greeted solemnly. The demon's eyes glinted with what looked like a mixture of amusement, anger, and - could it be? - uncertainty. “You are aware of what you are being charged of?”

“Your stooge was quite clear,” he responded, frowning. James straightened and looked around the rounded room at the malicious mortals of his. He licked his lips and turned his attention back to Sesshomaru, who was growing impatient. Defying the indeterminate feeling burying it self in his gut, he continued, “Why go to court over this? I have hardly done anything, compared to my...clients.” James felt a droplet of sweat roll down the side of his face and he licked his lips once again, anxious. Sesshomaru was making it clear that he wasn't amused with the trial he was being put to and that he was more than aware that he already knew he was going to be leaving the court with his head on. “So, make your decision so I can leave.”

“Ha!” An elderly man snorted from above. “How are you so sure you're going to leave, demon?” He leered down at him and then frowned at the mutinous looks he received from Rin and Jaken. “What are you looking at, wench?” He addressed Rin and Sesshomaru was more than aware of it. His gaze snapped to the male and he glared at him, his eyes burning a darker shade of amber. “Wh-what is your problem?” The man stuttered, suddenly very unsure of his safety. The guards took a step forward, thinking Sesshomaru was about to go on a killing rampage. They obviously did not know the Lord Sesshomaru very well.

“I will make sure that if I die, you will be the first one ripped to shreds. Your insides will be taken for a nice dinner to a family of demons,” Sesshomaru growled to him softly. The man's jaw dropped and he sputtered, speechless, before he turned to the king with shock written all over his face. James shook his head, warning him that he would not object to such a thing if it were to happen. The man assumed that James wouldn't stop the demon if he charged at him just then, either, so, wisely, he shut up. “Humph.” Sesshomaru turned his attention back to the monarch, who gave him a weary look. “Well?”

“...You have killed a mortal and a demon. Explain your reasons.”

“That beloved human of yours was a rapist,” Sesshomaru pointed out carelessly. Rin stiffened, staring up at her master with horror. “He also was a sick, conniving sadistic bastard. He, unfortunately, got on my bad side and he knew it. As for Jarnec, he was planning on killing yet another human. I think I did you a favor more like - you and your kind.” James' eyes drifted to Rin, who looked suddenly very embarrassed and disgusted with - what? Herself? He recalled Beaufort being one of Rin's previous masters/employers and he realized that the reason Sesshomaru had murdered Beaufort was to avenge his new servant's - well, virginity. James smiled to himself behind his vertical fingers. So demons do have a heart, he thought, grinning to himself. But what makes Rin so different, I wonder?

“Very well, my lord,” the king spoke softly to him, smiling gently. “Your reasons are justified. This trial is finished.” The hammer hit the block, shocking the court. Sesshomaru exchanged a look with the king, who gave a small, knowing nod. The demon's eyes narrowed, before he turned and went past his two servants.

“Come on, Rin!” Jaken called, hurrying after his master. Rin hesitated, before she followed, her feet tapping against the marble of the ground.

How did Lord Sesshomaru find out? She wondered, walking beside Jaken, both behind the demon. And why did he kill Roger Beaufort...for me...if he did for me? Rin concluded her thoughts and skipped next to Sesshomaru, who glanced at her. She smiled at him. “Excellent job, Lord Sesshomaru!”

“Mm.” You're a good actor, Rin, but not good enough...