InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sympathy for the Devil ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Sympathy for the Devil

Chapter Seven

By Devon Masterson-Bond

Aoi37@hotmail

 

 

Pater sat in his ready room looking over documents and drinking herbal tea. Hot green tea was always his favorite. It relaxed him as he planned. A calm, cool head was what he was always known for. He never would have gotten even half as far as he had in life, if not for his ability to access his enemies' weakness. Whether it was demons or humans, he always made sure he had the upper hand and in dealing with his own demon hunter clan was no exception. He raised the cup to his lips thoughtfully as he heard the slight shuffle of feet at his door. "Yes, Eiji?"

Eiji opened the door and bowed to his superior. "I have come to make my report, Elder." Pater motioned for the young man to continue. "We have captured all of those who oppose you except for a handful and we are in the process of hunting them now."

"Was Genjuro, among them?" he asked.

Eiji nodded his head. "A traitor tipped him off to our plans." Pater raised an ebony eye brow. "The traitor has already been dealt with, Elder."

Pater stood to his feet. "You have done well, Eiji, however in the future I ask that you report to me before executing any traitors that you may discover in our ranks. They may have information that we could use or we might use them as a Trojan horse of sorts."

"Yes, Elder. It will not happen again," Eiji sighed just before he was dismissed. He was grateful that his mistake did not cost him. "Elder?"

"Yes."

Eiji flushed slightly. "Where is O-Rin? Is she well?"

Pater smiled. He had been aware of quite a few crushes that the men had on his daughter, though she never encouraged any of it. She was of age and he would like to be grandfather sometime. Perhaps a love interest would mellow her out somewhat. He had been concerned that she was too driven, but there would be plenty of time for that after she completed her mission. Eiji would make a nice son in law, he as trust worthy, intelligent, and strong. He would put in a good word in for the young man when he saw his daughter again. "She is on sabbatical until we have this mess taken care of," he answered. He strolled over to the young man and put his hands on his shoulder. "I will let her know that you asked about her when she comes back."

Eiji smiled. "Thank you, Elder." Pater nodded then watched as Eiji left his ready room.

Once the young man was gone, Pater sighed and went back to looking over documents from reconnaissance. A look of worry passed over his features. Blood stains were on several of the documents. He hadn't been able to get a successful spy within demons ranks as of yet. He hated that he had to send his very own daughter into the lion's den, but whenever he had job that was impossible, she was the one that could get it done. He only
hoped that he would not regret sending her. As leader of the demon hunter clan, he had to make decisions that he would never make as a father. "I can not focus on O-Rin right now; she would not want me to worry. I trained her myself, she is the best."  He settled back into his work. "Be well my daughter."

 

7-7-7

“Rin, here's the inventory you requested.” Shippo handed a palm pilot to the dark haired woman.

 

“Thanks,” She said without looking up from her desk. This was supposed to be her day off along with everyone else. Sunday and Monday were their weekends. Amazingly enough Sesshomoru was a firm believer of rest for his employees. He wanted a hundred percent at all times and knew that a rested employee could do just that. In fact, if he knew she were working he would probably have a fit…all the more reason to catch up on some of her work. “Is there something wrong?” she asked. Why was he still there? “You know when I called you to ask about the inventory, you didn't have to come down here”

 

The red head flushed slightly. He had other reasons for rushing to her aid besides being helpful. “I was wondering…”

 

Rin stopped and looked at the fox demon intently. He was the red image of his brother. It was uncanny. She should have noticed that before when she first met Kenji. But despite his blasphemous beauty, he lacked the confidence of his older brother for which she was grateful. A frown crossed her features. “Please do not tell me that Shippo is falling for me…”

 

“…if you could give some advice about women?” he asked.

 

“It gets worse.” Rin pasted a smile on her face. She was the last person who should give love advice. Her answer to any man who tried to get close to her was give a glare that said “drop dead.” She did not have time for men and their silly little games, besides there was only one thing they wanted.

 

“Rin?”

 

“Ah, who's the luck girl?” she asked snapping out of her reverie.

 

Shippo flushed. “Her name is,” Rin held her breath, “Souten.”

 

“Thank God.” Rin exhaled. All arrogance aside, she was glad it was not her. She got more than her share of males' attention and from demons no less. That was so messed up. “So what's the problem exactly?”

 

“We've been seeing each other secretly,” Shippo began.

 

“Now I am the demon secret keeper and confidant. What did I do to deserve this?” Rin ran her fingers through her hair as she listened to the story.

 

“Souten is the little sister of the Thunder brothers… my father's murderers.”

 

A nerve was struck with in Rin's being. “Are you telling me, that you fallen in love with your enemy?” She jumped to her feet. “What are you thinking?”

 

Shippo took a step back in shock. He did not expect anger from her. Perhaps he had been wrong to come to her. No…he would stand his ground. “I wanted to hate her,” he said balling his fist, “but she had nothing to do with her brother's crime. You can't control who you fall in love with.”

 

Rin paused for a moment weighing his words, he was ridiculous. Sentimentality would do nothing but get him killed perhaps that was one thing that he could learn to do with away with as Sesshomoru's apprentice.

 

“Why come to me?” she asked sitting back down.

 

Shippo shook his head. “No reason. Just forget about what I said.” He left the room. “Have a nice weekend.”

 

Guilt attempted to creep into her being. Here he was seeking advice and she jumped down his throat. She pushed it away. There was no room in her heart for such feelings especially towards a demon. He would have to get over it. Rin sighed turning off her feelings was easier sad then done especially lately. “I am so weak.”

 

“That is why I enforce days off,” Sesshomoru commented as he walked into her office. “Would you care to explain why you are working on your day off and why you dragged my apprentice here as well?”

 

Rin narrowed her eyes. She had been waiting quite sometime since their last encounter two days ago. There was a little payback coming to him. "I only came into look for something and I asked Shippo where it was. Since he needed to speak to me anyway, he came to the office."

Sesshomoru looked at her curiously now. What would Shippo have talked to her about? Perhaps the kitsune took after his brother after all. He had noticed the way female clientele observed him. On more than one occasion he had seen the same look in their eyes in regards to him, and it was getting old. When and if he chose a mate it would not be a female that hovered around like some sort of pet, she would have to be his equal (if such a demoness even existed). "What would my apprentice have to discuss with you?"

That was not the response that she had expected. She would have figured he would have started in on her and about how he expected one hundred percent from his people, yada, yada, yada. "It was said in confidence; you will have to speak with him on that matter." Rin gathered a few folders and put them into her travel bag. Apparently, Sesshomoru was not going to be sporting judging from the somewhat thoughtful expression on his face.

"Go home Rin and leave those here, they can wait until Tuesday," he said before leaving the room.

"Go home Rin. They can wait until Tuesday," she mocked in her best Ice Prince impression. Rin rolled her eyes. That demon was a plague, but she would have to endure until she could get close enough. Four targets… best to divide and conquer. She picked up her bag and slung it over shoulder. Sesshomoru did not own her; she would do what she wanted, when she wanted. A smile crossed her face at defying him when the phone rang. "The Lunatic, this is O-Rin, how can I help you?"

"Well since you asked so nicely, how about…"

"I am not going to sleep with you, Kenji," she said automatically.

 

Kenji laughed at Rin's quick response. “You can't blame me for trying,” he chuckled.

 

Rin tapped her foot expectantly. “Is that why you called?”

 

“Actually, I was wondering if you would like to have lunch with me at the Botanical Gardens,” he answered. “I've been told you always keep fresh flowers in your office and your room.”

 

Rin fought to keep her eyes narrowed. He had been checking her out with the others. That was unexpected and annoying; everything she did was under their watchful eyes. Pater had been wise to cut off all communication with her. He was brilliant. “Is this an attempt to seduce me?” she asked. A slight smile formed on her face despite her training. She had been dying to go to the Botanical Gardens and lunch there would be perfect, but she would never admit it.

 

“If I wanted to seduce you then I would have shown up without telling you, whispered sweet nothings in your ear,” his voice dropped as it took on an intoxicating quality, “and then I would have my way with you until you couldn't see straight.” Rin's mouth dropped as a crimson flush won the war and covered her cheeks.

 

“You need to work on your lines,” she replied coolly. She refused to let him get to her.

 

Kenji chuckled on the other end of the line. “What do you think I've been doing?” he asked. “Come outside your chariot waits.”

 

“He couldn't be,” she thought as she looked out through the Venetian blinds of her window. Kenji waved from his car. “You have a convertible?”

 

“Well you know what they say, less is more,” he sighed. “Want to take a peek under my hood?”

 

“You're a pervert,” she replied hanging up. She walked out of her office and through the club. There was no point in locking up when the head violator was about breaking his own rules.

 

“For the record," Kenji replied as she got into the car beside him, “I am a prevert to you. I become a pervert after the fact.” He wiggled his eyebrows expectantly while grinning at her amused expression.

 

“I can't believe you.”

 

“You just can't resist my foxy ways.” He then casually pointed to her office window. The blinds were slightly titled. If it hadn't been pointed out Rin would have surely missed it.

 

“We have an audience.”

 

"Appears that way," Kenji smiled. He leaned closely to Rin and whispered in her ear. "Despite my antics, I can be a perfect gentleman as long as the situation calls for it, though you do tempt me at times." He sat up and started to car. "The Garden calls."

Sesshomoru stalked away from Rin's window in annoyance as they pulled off. That fox was such a flirt. How dare he invade in his territory after harping on him, with the others, about procuring a mate? Rin was his manager and Kenji was only going to end up being a distraction her. He would put an end to it. Sesshomoru paused as he slammed Rin's door with more force than necessary. The hinges now hung slightly skewed. He would have to note to Shippo to have a repair technician would have correct the problem.

"Sesshomoru," Shippo asked. He had forgotten something in his office in his anger at Rin. Imagine his surprise to see Sesshomoru coming out Rin's office and slamming doors. The Lord of the Western Lands was always with grace even when angered to see him taking any of his petty frustrations on a door was disturbing. In fact the only time he seemed to be the slightest bit responsive with was Rin. All of the staff had quickly noted that she could be just as stubborn as he was, but she was more fun to work with day to day. Rin, though some what stiff at first, proved herself to have a dry sense of humor and loving. He could clearly tell that given time she would open up even more, given that Sesshomoru did not piss her off.

"Have someone first thing in the morning to repair that door," Sesshomoru commanded coolly then left the office area. A misguided heated glare passed over the young fox. Shippo looked entirely too much like his brother.

 

 

To Be Continued…

 

© 2005 Devon Masterson-Bond

I think we know who belongs to whom in this fan fiction. The characters of Inu Yasha belong to their creator, Rumiko Takahashi and everyone she leased them out to, me not being one of them.