InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Surprise my mind ❯ Part VI ( Chapter 6 )

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

Chapter Six, Part VI

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

It was as though Rin had known what her Lord Sesshomaru had been thinking as they exited the room. She sighed, lifting her skirts and tying them up next to her thighs. She glanced around, hoping no one was around. She had volunteered to wash the kitchen's floor. Right then, Rin just wanted to be alone to think. Ever since she had began to work for people, washing the floors seemed to help her settle her mind and think more steadily. Why would Lord Sesshomaru kill Beaufort? Was it for me? I am so confused. Why would my lord do anything more of kindness for me? He has surely done enough! He brought me in, clothed me, fed me...He doesn't need to do anything else for me, so why...? Rin sighed, standing up and moving away from part of the floor she had finished and working on another part. My lord is so hard to read, she reflected, so I'll never know why he does the things he does do unless I either bluntly ask him or he bluntly tells me, which I doubt he would do. She paused, closing her eyes. He must have noticed that I was surprised about the news of Beaufort's death...He notices everything the servants do - even Julia, I suspect. He must know by now that Julia does not like him. I've only been here for a short time and she's made it apparent that she dislikes him. Rin opened her eyes and frowned in thought, scrubbing at the floor harder. But why does Julia not like him? Lord Sesshomaru seems like a very nice master. She froze as she felt a touch on her leg and she turned around in surprise, her eyes wide. Sesshomaru wasn't looking at her, but at her legs. She hastily untied her skirts and covered her legs, getting soaked on the wet floor.

“So. Are those some of your scars from the past, Rin?” He asked her, his eyes finally rising to her face. She didn't reply. “Rin. Answer me.” Sesshomaru had been watching her wash the floor for a while. The facial expressions that flashed across her face were enough for him to know what she was thinking. He should have expected that she would be startled, especially when he touched one of the scars on her calve.

“I...I...” She felt tears spill onto her cheeks and she swallowed, wiping at them furiously. Rin had hoped that she would be able to keep her scars a secret from the demon for as long as she could. I was careless...She thought to herself. Of course, if he found out about what happened to me, he would want to see the scars... “Yes, my lord...” she muttered, bowing her head, her hands bunched in her skirts. She was getting soaked just by sitting on the wet floor. Sesshomaru's eyes slid from her to the floor, asking, “Work again?” She swallowed once again and replied, “I...It...helps.”

“It helps?” He snorted and took her wrist, bringing her to her feet unsteadily. “Go get cleaned up and then come to my study.”

“Yes, my lord,” she repeated like a parrot. His eyes narrowed and he watched as she trudged out of the kitchen. He followed her and gestured to a servant, pointing to the kitchen. The servant went to the doorway and his shoulders slumped at the sight of the pail and scrubber. Sighing, he went forward and Sesshomaru left him, going towards his study. He dropped onto the seat near the desk, frowning to himself. He couldn't do anything about Naraku at the moment, but when he defeated him and Ryukotsusei, he would have his revenge on him for Rin. And then, of course, there was the matter of Farleigh of York. Sesshomaru had left today to find him, but the manor of York was abandoned and the tenants could tell him nothing about his whereabouts. “Lord Sesshomaru...?” Rin entered hesitantly. Sesshomaru glanced at her in acknowledgement and she shut the door behind her quietly, before standing in front of him.

“Rin, do you know why I killed Beaufort?” She blinked, then, almost in shame, she bowed her head once again, her eyes staring down at her shoes. Rin heaved a sigh and Sesshomaru frowned, patiently waiting for her reply. At last she shrugged slightly. “Well, do you?”

“I'm not so sure, my lord.”

“He has made it impossible for you to ever find a mate - or, as you humans seem enamored of calling them, husbands. If I am going to take you under my protection, Rin - ”

“But you haven't, Lord Sesshomaru,” she protested. “I am a servant and - ”

“You are hardly a servant, Rin. All the servants, including Julia, would agree. Jaken is hardly my servant. He swore himself to be loyal to me and is more of a right-hand man, if anything - but less superior. You, Rin, are my ward - my responsibility, my charge - and I have no choice but to protect you.” She opened her mouth and he could see that she was about to apologize. He rode on, unheedingly to the tears in her eyes, “I brought this on myself and I don't particularly regret it. To be sure, you've made life a bit more interesting. Julia is jealous of you, Jaken is now feeling responsible for you as well as I, and I am ending up in the king's court. Most assuredly, this will not be the last time I go to court.”

“My lord - ” He glanced at her, his brow puckered. “I...I thank you, but if you don't want to take care of me, I could - I could leave.” Sesshomaru stood up, his hand on the hilt of his Tokijin.

“So you can get beaten again?” She lowered her eyes, staring at Sesshomaru's shoes, as thought ashamed. “I have no desire for you to be given more scars, Rin. Now, I only know three of your former masters. One that is dead, one that has left back to Japan, and the other that is missing.” She raised her chin, blinking. “Tell me the other names, Rin.”

“I-I do not remember all the names! I only remember Beaufort. The rest are a blur...” She told him sincerely. Sesshomaru snorted.

“Count on a mortal to forget useful information,” he grunted, returning to his seat, eyeing her. “Why are you crying?”

“It's just...No one's really done anything this...kind...for me, Lord Sesshomaru,” she whispered, tears falling more freely down her face. He stiffened, unable to think of what to do. He didn't come across sobbing girls. Not that he gave a wit to, at any rate.

“Rin, stop crying,” he told her gruffly. “This is nothing to shed tears over.” Hesitantly, he wiped her face and she sniffed as he took her chin between his index and thumb.

“But...” She sniffed again, uncertain whether to continue. “But everyone else knows what's happened to me and they laugh like's it a dark joke!” He didn't respond to that. He released her, unsmiling.

“Go rest for awhile,” he said. She blinked and nodded slowly, turning and leaving his study. Sesshomaru's face became dark and he searched his mind for any gossip he had heard on the streets lately. He'd show them what it felt like to be the talk of the ton. Jaken will collect information for me, he decided.

Kagome sighed, taking a drink of green tea she had brought from Japan. She gazed outside thoughtfully. The snow never seemed to let up. She smiled and stood up, setting her teacup and saucer down briefly. She opened the door and took a deep breath of fresh air and stepped out, glancing around - and she saw a dirty foot hanging out a window. She froze, anger bubbling inside her. Letting out an angry growl underneath her breath, she slammed the door behind her and rushed to Inuyasha's room, unlocking the door and throwing it open. Inuyasha was in bed, staring at her. “What?” He demanded of her, frowning.

“INUYASHA, THIS IS YOUR DOING!” She pointed at him, screaming at him. His eyes widened. “YOU ARE MAKING YOURSELF SICK ON PURPOSE, AREN'T YOU? YOU'RE TRYING TO DIE! I'LL STRANGLE YOU!” Two servants came rushing in and held Kagome back. “Put him upstairs. We'll put him in a room where there is no window.”

“B-but Kagome...” Inuyasha started, but the servants were already heaving him out of the room and taking him upstairs. When he was positioned and all moved in, all he could do was stare at the door that was being bolted and locked. How did she find out...? He wondered. He sighed and slid in the covers, staring up at the ceiling. Demons don't usually get sick and I want to postpone the wedding for as long as I can. I love Kagome, but...Inuyasha glanced around the room. But I'm so nervous. I haven't even made my vows yet! “I suppose it isn't as stuffy and is more clean than mine downstairs,” he muttered to himself. What the hell kind of sickness do I have, anyway? It hasn't improved or even gotten worse, despite what Kagome does and despite what Ido. Maybe hanging my foot out the window wasn't enough...He rolled on his side and huffed, ignoring the growling of his stomach. He was unsure of whether it was the signs of him about to throw up or he was just hungry. I'm just hungry, he concluded, seeing that there was no unsettling feeling in his throat. His mind wandered and he growled suddenly. Damn that Sesshomaru. I should kill him... “So you are dying a weakling, are you?” That bastard. Huh. Wonder who that girl who with him, though? He closed his eyes and snorted softly to himself, muttering, “Yeah. Right. Like I'd die from something as - cough, cough - trivial as this.” A familiar feelings rose in his throat and he jumped to his feet, hurrying to the connecting bathroom, puking out what was left in his stomach. What I hate most about being sick...Is this puking. Will it never stop?

Sesshomaru heard the knocker bang throughout his quiet house and he glanced from the papers he had spread out on his desk. More clients seemed to appear out of nowhere. Half the demons he didn't even know existed. A knock rang out throughout the house and he wondered where Julia or even Rin was. He paused at that thought. Julia is outside with those new servants with Jaken and Rin is resting, like I commanded her to do. Snorting with irritation, he stood and walked unhurriedly to the door. Another knock came. Apparently this person either: A) wanted to see Sesshomaru very badly or B) didn't know when to give up. Sesshomaru unlocked the door and let it swing open. He glared down at his hanyou (half-demon) brother's fiancée. She stared up at him tiredly, shivering from the cold. “Hello, Sesshomaru. Um. Can I come in?” Not replying, he stood back and she hurried in as he shut the door. Kagome glanced around the quiet, warm house, before she turned to him. “I'll get right to the point. Er...Since Inuyasha is no doubt upset with me,” she paused, as thought expecting him to say something. When he didn't she continued a bit embarrassedly, “I thought I should ask you. Since you're the only other demon I really know in England.”

“...What do you want, girl?” He spoke at last, coldly.

“I...Well, you see...Inuyasha is sick, as you know, but the odd thing is that it hasn't improved, nor has it gotten worse. I thought it might be because he's part demon, but...I mean, really, if that were the case, he wouldn't have gotten sick in the first place, right?” Sesshomaru just stared at her. “Wh-what I mean to ask,” she stammered, “is whether you know what's wrong with Inuyasha.”

“England is foreign to us,” he replied with a reluctant tone, as though he wished he had never answered the door. “The illnesses are also foreign, unlike the ones in Japan where we originated from. Naturally, foreign illnesses are going to have some affect on us. Inuyasha was just stupid enough to act as though we were in Japan.” He snorted. “If he hadn't been frolicking around outside with no shoes on and just his kimono then he might not have been so susceptible to getting as ill as he is now.” Kagome absorbed that, staring down at her feet.

“But he used to get colds in Japan when and after it rained,” she pointed out.

“That's because he has human blood in him, you foolish woman,” he told her with a frosty look. “If a full-fledged demon was out in the rain without any protection from it, he would be just fine - just as if a full-fledged demon did that same ridiculously brainless thing your fiancé did, he would only come out with a minor cold.” Sesshomaru was glaring daggers at her at this point.

“You know, Sesshomaru,” she told him with a frown, “you don't need to treat me like you are. I am going to be your sister-in-law, after all.”

“I would kill you and myself before I ever admitted to being related to you - and by marriage, at that.” Kagome was hurt, but knew that she should have expected such a reply from Sesshomaru.

“So...Inuyasha can die from this?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“The plague? Influenza? What does it really matter?” He ushered to the door. “If we're through, I have some other more important matters I need to attend.” She pursed her lips, but nodded and walked towards the door. She paused and turned to him.

“Sesshomaru...That girl that was with you...Is she a new servant?”

“No.” She blinked rapidly. “She's my ward.”

“Your...? Oh. I thought that maybe...Maybe you had secretly gotten married or that you might have a mistress or something.”

“I would advise you to stop reading romance novels, mortal. They only give you useless women false hopes.” She flushed in anger and embarrassment, before opening the door and leaving, near to slamming it behind her. He snorted, bringing his fur up closer to his chin, chilled by the cold air that had gusted in. He despised that woman more than anything and wished that she and Inuyasha had remained in Japan. Knowing that the two were present in England made him even more disinclined (reluctant) to be in London - and Europe, too. He heard voices and he glanced over as a door slammed. Julia and Jaken sounded as though they were married and were bickering over whether one was having an affair or not.

“ - you are a despicable wench!” Jaken declared at last, looking angry and flustered. “I don't even know why Lord Sesshomaru even allowed you to stay in his service after that incident a year ago!”

“That incident,” Julia was sneering, “was told not to be spoken of ever again, if you remember well.”

“You look at milord as though you are superior. I don't know what your problem is, Julia. He's made your life much better than it could ever be!”

“You are the most disgusting, and wretched creature I have ever known! You and that toy of his is the reason why this household is so out of order!” Julia shrieked at the imp, whose jaw had dropped.

“Toy? You aren't speaking of Rin, are you?” He balked at the suggestion.

“Humph!” Julia stormed back outside, calling, “I am going to train those servants the correct way!” Jaken glowered after her, before turning and exiting out into the entrance hall, where Sesshomaru was standing, his eyes dark.

“Oh, milord!” Jaken exclaimed in surprise, then hesitated. “You...heard all of that?” Without a word, Sesshomaru walked over Jaken, smashing the demon imp into the ground. “...I assume you have.”

“Supervise her, Jaken,” Sesshomaru ordered. “And tell her for me if I hear her speak of Rin that way or if I hear her back-talk her superiors once more, she will end up like Beaufort and Jarnec.” Jaken seemed to lose color in his olive colored face, but he nodded.

“Yes...milord. Ah, where is Rin, by the way?”

“Resting.”

“Oh...Um, I see.”

“Also,” Sesshomaru paused at the doorway of his study. “Inform Julia that Rin is no longer a servant, but a guest in my household and she is to treat her as so.”

“A guest, my lord?”

“I'm taking her under my protection, Jaken.” Jaken thought on that, then smiled, nodding.

“She must be pleased, is she not, milord?”

“Mm,” was the response Jaken received. He blinked, watching as his master shut the door to his study. Lord Sesshomaru hadn't really answered his question, but Jaken assumed as much. He also thought it was wise to have Rin as his ward. After all, she was a young girl and had obviously gone under hardships. He had noticed the scars on her body when she had bathed and felt utmost pity for her. And, by the way that man treated her during court, Jaken felt a bit protective of Rin himself. She obviously needs all the support she can get! He thought to himself, pivoting on his foot and returning to where Julia was ordering the servants. Humph. Obviously Lord Sesshomaru agrees that Julia needs to be put in her place. Calling Rin a “toy” of his...How dare that old hag? Where does she get such implications? Jaken hesitated mentally. Then again...He does seem a bit more kinder towards her - but that means nothing! She has gone through a lot and Lord Sesshomaru probably just thinks he shouldn't go too rough on the girl! Convinced, Jaken nodded to himself. Yes. That must be it!

“Naraku,” Ryukotsusei gurgled, turning to the demon, who lazily waved a hand at Kanna, whose mirror went blank before showing his reflection. They had been watching Inuyasha for a while, before switching to Sesshomaru. Naraku found that Sesshomaru was more interesting to watch. Inuyasha's retching just did not appeal to him, no matter how gruesome the sight. “We should go after Inuyasha - he is weakest now...”

“No,” Naraku told him with a frown. “His Majesty still has time to decide whether he wishes to give up the throne and crown him. Either way, we will have what we want, but I want to see him grovel...And to devour James while he is at his lowest point.” He chuckled darkly. And to see Sesshomaru fall because of a mere human...