InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Pearl ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

The Pearl

 

Disclaimer: Do I look like I'd lie to you?

 

 

Chapter Three

 

You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question. ~Albert Camus, The Fall

 

It's a sort of bloom on a woman. If you have it, you don't need to have anything else; and if you don't have it, it doesn't much matter what else you have. ~James M. Barrie

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

“Why Sesshomaru-sama!” the Lady Mieko exclaimed. “I did not know you were also fond of rice-dumplings!”

 

Sesshomaru wanted to drive a stake through his skull. He hated meetings. Loathed them. He spent the entire duration fighting back homicidal urges. Normally, Jakken took care of any business matters that came up within the Western Lands. But passing treaties and trade agreements was how an empire stayed strong, and could only be done by Sesshomaru himself. He only wished the noblemen hadn't insisted on bringing the noblewomen with them.

 

Ever since he was a child, he had wanted more. More rice-dumplings. More time to stay up with his father. More embraces from his mother. More weapons, more armor, more soldiers, more vassals, more land, and more power. It was an unquenchable thirst; power was something with he was well acquainted and yet also never satisfied.

 

The Eastern Lands were within his grasp. By the end of the evening, he knew the papers would be signed and sealed, forfeit only on his own death. His life was the one thing that the dog demon had ultimate control over, and could barter with a clear conscience. Sesshomaru planned on living for a long, long time.

 

But right now, he was in danger of dying from boredom.

 

Lord Takeda was inconsolable from the loss of his son. In the demon world, “inconsolable” did not mean, “bereft with grief.” It meant, “belligerent and vengeful beyond all get out.” He wanted blood, and he wasn't too particular on whose it would be. Yes, he wanted the assassin dead, but he wasn't abject to the idea of slaying an army or two from the South. This is exactly what Sesshomaru had banked on; the circumstances couldn't have been more in his favor if he'd planned them himself.

 

The messenger from the South, who had stayed with the young prince on the eve before his death, had gone missing. There was nothing that could convince Lord Takeda of his innocence in the murder. Even if the messenger was found buried in the deep forest by the castle, killed by someone lying in wait just for him in order to strike the castle and raise suspicion that the South was to blame. Theoretically, of course.

 

Naturally, the Western Lands had offered its deepest condolences, and their assurance that this new threat would be found and brought to justice. However, the South was an ally of the West, and to turn against them in war would be unspeakable. But at the price of a sizeable plot of land, the Western Lord would be agreeable to mediating between the two. This was where the plan became a burden for Sesshomaru. He was basically reducing himself to a messenger boy, carrying insults and threats back and forth between the lands. This was the type of work he kept Jakken for. But if he could play it right, the anger between the two lands would escalate beyond all hope of civil negotiation. Naturally, as the neutral party of the three, the Western Lands would withdraw from the scene, leaving the South and the East free to obliterate one another on the battlefield. In their weakened state, they would be no match for the Western army, which would sweep in, kill any survivors, and take control of both lands. The Sesshomaru-sama empire would be complete. Sort of.

 

There was of course the matter of the Northern Lands. That territory belonged to the various and sundry wolf clans. While they were not particularly stronger than any other demon, they bred and multiplied in dizzying numbers. One army would not be enough to wipe them all out. But three armies would. So until Sesshomaru had settled his affairs in the South and East, the North remained untouched.

 

Besides, he wasn't about to send Rin there.

 

So here he was now, sharing dinner with the noblest of the nobles from the East. And Lady Mieko, a butterfly demon, seemed to have the idea that Sesshomaru needed to be unwelcomingly seduced in addition to being bored to death. She was twirling her long pink hair around her finger as she prattled on about food, or something. For having just lost her older brother, she seemed rather calm and collected. Of course, having just been named the new heir to the Eastern Lands in lieu of there being no remaining males in the direct line may have had something to do with it. Lord Takeda had no siblings to offer any male children of the same blood, which was common among the highest houses. Siblings were potential murderers, who would go out of their way to see themselves seated on the throne by eliminating the obstacles of their family. Setsuna had a sibling only because he was clearly weak from birth, and his death wouldn't have been too much of a tragedy if he had a strong brother. He had a strong sister instead. The boy was grudgingly allowed to keep his birth-right.

 

Lady Mieko laughed at a joke she had apparently told. Sesshomaru blinked, and wondered if he would ruin his chances at this treaty by telling the little twit to shut up. It might be something Takeda would understand. How did he ever put up with her at home? He seemed like a brutal leader, with his heavy eyebrows, short but thick gray hair, and black eyes. His wings were the darkest shade of blue that they almost appeared to be black. His body was short and stocky, but his arms and legs were broad from muscle. To the meeting he wore black clothes in respect for his dead son, and his armor: a breastplate, sleeves of steel from his knuckles to his elbows, as well as around his shins.

 

Of course, Lord Takeda was doing nothing to discourage his daughter's behavior, which also wasn't helping. After all, it would be a binding way to reinforce the alliance between the East and West if they were to marry. Naturally Takeda would be bestowed with ultimate authority over both lands and armies. Sesshomaru would undoubtedly sire an heir of his own, to be given the joined lands one day. It would bring an end to the House of the Dogs; its power and wealth would be annexed into the new kingdom, and its influences would be forgotten.

 

But Sesshomaru did not appear to be interested in Mieko in the least bit. Did he even like women? Takeda had to wonder; the Western Lord kept so much to himself, it was hard to imagine him liking anyone at all. Maybe it would be better if the princess stuck to marrying within her own clan. At least he'd know what to expect with a son-in-law like that.

 

“Mieko,” Takeda called.

 

The woman looked up, batting her pink eyelashes coyly. Her yellow eyes widened and dimmed to a warmer shade. Sesshomaru wanted to puke. It was supposed to be an emulation of a baby animal, he guessed. Considering that he found certain species of baby animals to be quite delectable, the effect was not having its intended results. Did Rin look this stupid when she put on this kind of show? No, she couldn't.

 

“Why don't you join the other ladies in the garden,” the lord coaxed. “We're about to begin our negotiations.” There, threaten her with boredom.

 

The princess frowned. She looked to Sesshomaru and sighed sadly. “I'm afraid I must leave you then to your business,” she mourned. But then she brightened her expression. “I will be in the garden when you are finished, Sesshomaru-sama,” she cheerfully offered. “I would love for you to give me a tour of your grounds.”

 

“No you wouldn't,” muttered Takeda. Mieko sniffed indignantly at her father, but put on her biggest smile for Sesshomaru once more, before standing and parting. Fully upright, she extended her pink and orange colored wings, imitating the flutter of her eyelashes. Then she moved forward, trailing layers of yellow brocade behind her.

 

Sesshomaru felt the burden of forced interest fall from around his neck.

 

“Wait for a moment, Mieko. General Shouji,” Lord Takeda called out. “Escort my daughter to the gardens, if you would.”

 

From across the room, a young demon soldier stood at attention. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. He'd hoped the general would stay for the talks. He needed a feel for his personality, and needed to sniff out any potential weaknesses. Rin didn't like going into a situation blindly, and he did not like sending her into one. Shouji was a crucial piece in further tainting relations between East and South. Specifically, he needed to die in order to be effective to Sesshomaru's plans.

 

From the look of him, he had been born wearing armor, and cut his teeth on the first man he killed. Hardcore soldier, through and through. Broad shoulders, chiseled features, the obligatory scar across the face, blue eyes and a long braid of black hair. The braid spoke of his youth, and of his vanity somewhat. He was more than just a dumb grunt, at least. But Sesshomaru could not discern much else, because the lady and the general were quickly out the door. This was going to be difficult. He needed something more that Rin could work with. He'd have to sequester the man later.

 

Sesshomaru rose to his feet, signaling everyone else in the room to do the same. With a simple hand gesture, he was leading them from the large dining room, through the corridor into his main hall. There, he seated himself at the head, while his guests filed into two separate parallel lines and sat, facing each other. Lord Takeda was seated by Sesshomaru's immediate right, flanked by his scribe and his personal advisor. On the left sat the general in command of the Eastern armies, followed down the line by a string of lesser generals. Except of course, for General Shouji.

 

“This Sesshomaru trusts that you are well acquainted with the conditions and requirements of the proposed treaty,” the dog demon began.

 

“All but one, and this Takeda is not about to bend to it,” the Eastern Lord huffed. “You promised no justice on behalf of the Eastern Lands should this murdering villain be found to be from the South. They are your ally, and that is all the more reason to enforce discipline with them.”

 

Sesshomaru furrowed his brow. “It is not the responsibility of the Western Lands to judge the affairs between the East and South, alliance or no. The grievance you bear is yours alone. Any justice sought is your sole right and responsibility.”

 

“All the same,” Takeda argued, “the West should still exact some form of punishment, as a warning against further misdemeanors. After all, if you fail to show them any disapproval of their actions, they may just as well bring the same to your door.”

 

Sesshomaru snorted. “They would be sentencing themselves to death were that to occur.”

 

“You would not be so confident had you just lost a son,” Lord Takeda rumbled angrily.

 

And you would not be so indignant were your army as strong as mine, Sesshomaru thought. “Barring that omission,” the dog demon rebutted, “are the terms to your approval?”

 

Takeda nodded. “Hai. I must admire you, for I would not be as willing to offer my life as leverage in the agreement. You stand to leave your heirs with nothing upon your death, were you to have any.”

 

Sesshomaru was almost certain that the comment was meant to emasculate him. He sneered. “This Sesshomaru has a skilled and powerful army to take care of. It is only maintained as well as it is because there is little to distract my attentions from it.”

 

The moth demon grunted and spread his midnight blue wings. “That may be,” he almost yelled, “but there is also the threat to your life to consider. How trusting of you to assume that you will not be killed once the conditions of our agreement are carried through.”

 

At this, Sesshomaru bowed shortly, in a mocking display of respect. “This Sesshomaru views you, Takeda-sama, as an honorable man, and has every reason to trust his life with you.”

 

Takeda ruffled himself a little but seemed pleased. “As this Takeda trusts you, Sesshomaru-sama, to be honest enough to hold to his promise.”

 

The dog demon faked a smile. “Then we are agreed,” he concluded.

 

Takeda nodded. “My scribe will sign and seal whatever papers necessary,” he said, waving his hand as if everything that had just transpired was inconsequential. “This Takeda and his accompaniment will depart for the East in the evening.”

 

Sesshomaru was both thankful and loathsome. He rose to his feet, and the rest of the room followed suit. “Then this palace is at your disposal until then,” he offered. “I must escort your scribe then to my study and see that everything is taken care of. You must excuse my absence for the time being.” With that, he nodded to said scribe, turned, and left the room.

 

While Jakken had his uses, it was times like this that Sesshomaru was glad he had the foresight enough to exclude the toad from his business affairs. The little imp, as hard as he worked to serve his master, had the propensity to open his mouth at the most inopportune times. Though it would dearly please Sesshomaru to hear the Eastern Lord belittled by a squawking frog, it would not be the wisest tactic in forging a political relationship. So today, Jakken was sequestered in the study, buried under paperwork.

 

As for his other “faithful servant,” she was staying with General Kyoshii and Takako-san outside of the palace grounds. It would not do for her to be discovered, for many reasons. It was common knowledge among the lands that the Western Lord had raised and kept a human girl under his care. Of course, none had ever seen her in the interest of her protection. It would not be wise to personally introduce rivals to one's potential weakness. Now the safety of her identity took on a whole new level. Technically, she was a wanted criminal. Were she to be discovered, hell would be unleashed on the West.

 

He worried for her now, all the same. Every moment that she was away from his reach, he worried. Her safety was his responsibility, even though she was well trained to protect herself. Rin was far too important to lose. The future of his empire hinged on her success. In that way, she was both his greatest strength, and his greatest weakness.

 

Jakken and the Eastern scribe were left to their paper arguments. Sesshomaru pinched the bridge of his nose, suddenly tired. He was halfway tempted to just go to bed, and wake up to find everyone gone. That would be a pleasant thing. But duty called him to be a good and proper host. To the garden was he then banished, sentenced to tread through a sea of meaningless chatter. However, the young General Shouji was out there. That would be enough to keep the dog demon interested. Rin needed as much information as she could get. And as long as Mieko didn't leech on him again, Sesshomaru might even find the afternoon to be tolerable.

 

Steeling himself, Sesshomaru walked to the courtyard and put on his best air of social diplomacy. It was going to be hard to hold back from beating some of them into a bloody pulp. Manners, he chided himself. Don't forget your manners.

 

Opening the doors, Sesshomaru bit his tongue and stepped into the crowd.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Rin could have come home much sooner, but Takako-san had been especially talkative. It was Rin's fault really, for not visiting all that often anymore. Now that she had her work, most of her time was spent training in the dojo or alone. And talking to a friend felt so good—hell, just hearing another female's voice felt good. Having spent so much of her life around soldiers, deep conversation was something she rarely encountered.

 

It was Generla Kyoshii who met her at the door. Having been informed in advance of the reason for the girl's visit, he stood watch outside to make sure she arrived safely. He was an old, grizzled soldier; his hair was long but thinning, and he had a short but thick beard, with all of his hair colored stone gray from age. His eyes were amber in color, while on his face were two broad, blood red stripes, one on each cheek. He wore his armor around the house, and Rin suspected him of wearing a few pieces of it to bed out of habit for being ready for battle. But as imposing as he looked, he was always warm and cheerful to Rin. When she finally arrived to the house, he hugged her fiercely, and Rin knew her long absence between visits had worried him.

 

Takako was much younger than her husband, but slightly older than Sesshomaru. She had long, black hair, but always wore it up for both appearances sake and convenience. Rin had seen it down once, and it trailed slightly on the floor. Her eyes were a startling shade of green, and she was fond of wearing jade jewelry to accentuate them. On her forehead was a lavender crescent with the open end facing up; she had been a cousin of Sesshomaru's mother, she explained, and dog demon clans tended to have distinct markings among themselves. The lids of her eyes were lined with pale blue stripes that extended past the outer corners and curled upwards slightly. Rin had always known Takako-san to be dressed finely, but never impractically. Her clothes were befitting a noblewoman, but made sure that she would still have free range of movement.

 

They had started the evening just catching up; Kyoshii was as eager as his wife to hear of the inner happenings in the House of the West. Rin subtly noticed that each time she mentioned Sesshomaru's name, both dog demons became quiet and serious. Sometimes, they would even stay silent after she had finished her anecdote about him, as if they thought she might have more to say. It made her uncomfortable, as if everything she was saying was wrong, and the couple was waiting for her to go back and correct it. After the first few times of noticing this, Rin dropped the subject of Sesshomaru whenever it came up after that. She had come to their house to forget that sort of thing, anyway.

 

After an enjoyable time of tea and fast-paced conversation, General Kyoshii took his leave, leaving the ladies alone to discuss the warm, intimate knowledge that good friends share. Of course, Takako was eager to reveal her latest purchase: seven new scrolls of poetry, and a newly written scroll documenting the legend of the Shikon no Tama. The older woman knew that her friend would have no heart to read the historical account; no doubt, having experienced it all for herself, any mistakes would be insulting. But she assured the girl that it was quite good, and barring a few liberties taken with lesser known details, accurate. They then eagerly sifted through the remaining scrolls, debating the merits of the poems that grabbed their attention. The majority were about nature or spiritual matters, but a few were love poems.

 

“I just think it's overly dramatic is all,” Rin defended, having expressed her distaste in a particular poem about a woman who kills herself for her lover's sake.

 

Takako laughed. “You don't think it could happen?”

 

“Oh, I know it could,” the girl argued, “I'm just not sure it should. Why should love cause death? Isn't is supposed to be happy?”

 

“Supposed to be,” the demon woman said knowingly, “but is not always. Did you know, that before I was married to Kyoshii, I was betrothed to another?”

 

“Really? Who?”

 

“Oh, some higher up noble who decided he needed a second, trophy wife.” The woman smiled, her eyes glimmering mischievously. “Of course, I barely even knew of Kyoshii before that, until the day my betrothal was officially announced. Apparently, he'd wanted for some time to seek permission to court me, but always lost his nerve.”

 

“General Kyoshii lost his nerve about a woman?” Rin snorted incredulously. “This is the man who ripped the heads off seven men with his teeth, because he'd been captured and his hands were bound, right?”

 

Takako burst out laughing. “I'd forgotten about that one!”

 

“Yes, well, Katsuro-kun always enjoyed telling me the bloodiest war stories he knew,” Rin complained. “He told me it `builds character,' or some shit like that.”

 

The woman narrowed her eyes at the girl's use of language; while Rin couldn't help the environment of her upbringing, she could help the nature of her manners. But it was quickly dismissed when Takako remembered the mention of General Katsuro's name.

 

“He likes you,” the dog demon said out of the corner of her mouth.

 

“Who?”

 

“Katsuro-san, of course.”

 

Rin laughed sharply, falling forward and almost losing her balance. “Ha! That's funny! He's not all that bright then, is he?”

 

Takako raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” she asked slyly.

 

Rin wrinkled her nose. “Why are you talking like you know something I don't? And from the look of you, it's something that I should know.”

 

The dog demon merely shook her head and smiled glibly.

 

“Fine,” the girl pouted, “it doesn't really matter anyway. I don't care.”

 

“You're blushing,” Takako eagerly commented.

 

“I'm hot.”

 

“You're embarrassed.”

 

“For him, maybe.”

 

“What's wrong with him liking you?” the woman demanded playfully.

 

“It's just wrong,” Rin spat out. As she spoke, she began wringing her hands in her lap. “That is just something that should not happen. He's a demon, I'm a human, it just won't work, period.”

 

Takako gently placed her own hands over the girl's, stilling her nervous movements. “You're not an ordinary human,” she reminded gently.

 

Apparently the comment hit a sharp nerve, because Rin jerked her hands away and clutched one about her neck while the other rested in a fist against her chest. Her eyes grew blank and distant, while her facial expression spoke of a sadness that bordered on despondency. Takako immediately regretted her comment. She knew some of the girl's secret torment in her decision to make the pearl. Often, the girl feared for her own humanity when confronted with the reality that she carried her soul in a stone instead of her body. Perhaps it would be best to change the subject.

 

“I saw you out on Kado, the other night,” the demon woman scolded lightly. “I just pray no one else did—you were in quite some get-up.”

 

The girl laughed dryly, remembering. “Yeah,” she murmured. “Just didn't feel like changing.”

 

“Well, you would have caught an earful from me if I hadn't already dressed to go to bed,” Takako teased.

 

“Huh,” Rin shrugged, still rubbing her fingers over the pearl. “Sesshomaru-sama didn't say anything.”

 

“Sesshomaru-sama saw you?” the woman asked, quite shocked. “I didn't see him out there.”

 

The girl smiled wryly. “You're never supposed to see him,” she explained. “He likes spying on people. I only know when he's there because I've learned to listen for him. Something always gives him away. The wind hitting his clothes, or a branch creaking, or everything just going silent. If I'm in the forest, and he's there, all the birds stop singing.” She then closed her eyes and frowned. “I guess he thinks he's being clever or something.”

 

Takako sighed patiently. “Sesshomaru-sama,” she began slowly, “is a…complicated man. I didn't meet him until just before his father, the Inu no Taishio, died. And I've never really heard much about him that isn't some kind of war story, or about some conquest he'd been in.” The woman shook her head. “No one else lived in that house, except for that toad he keeps around. The servants saw little of him. It didn't surprise us when he decided to go out searching for the Tesseiga. He's always got to have some great mission keeping him busy.”

 

Rin gave a lopsided grin, but there was no heart in it. “And that quest turned into hunting down Naraku.”

 

“Where he found you,” Takako reminded brightly. “You have been the first person to live in that house, besides himself and his retainer, since he came into power.”

 

The girl nodded dumbly. The fact had been no surprise to her, even when she was little. When she had first arrived, she took great pleasure in scaring the wits out of the servants by running around and yelling, or singing, or playing in the garden. It was as if they had never witnessed any form of movement in the house, and seeing something within its walls so full of life was like feeling an earthquake for the first time. Those had been good times. And Sesshomaru never once discouraged her from it. Perhaps it was a novelty he had slowly discovered to enjoy.

 

Obviously, Takako was failing in lifting Rin's spirits. Takako studied her friend and surrogate daughter with a critical eye. She looked thinner, and her eyes were much darker. The outfit she was wearing was poorly matched; she probably had dressed in a hurry, or else she just didn't care. Her hair was back in a braid, but the work was crooked, leaving a mess of fly-aways feathering about her head. The woman worried her heart for Rin, everyday. She kept her displeasure of the girl's present occupation to herself, understanding that Rin was still desperately seeking her place in the home of the Western Lord. Or in his heart, she thought sadly. There needed to be a drastic shift in the conversation, or the girl might just sit there and stare blankly at the floor all night. After her last mission, and with her new mission coming up, Rin needed something light-hearted, else she ran the risk of losing her heart altogether.

 

“I never did finish telling you how Kyoshii and I finally got together,” the dog demon interjected eagerly.

 

At this, Rin smiled. “No,” she answered smiling sweetly, “and I would love to hear it.”

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Sesshomaru bared his teeth and glared at the tree in front of him.

 

The tree offended him.

 

It had happened so suddenly. One minute, he was looking about his outer garden for a distraction after his stressful day, and the next, a small sakura tree was existing in a way that immediately enraged him.

 

How dare it be there. How dare it grow, and thrive, and flourish when its master was in such a foul mood. How dare its blossoms match the color of the kimono Rin wore but two days ago. It had to be destroyed.

 

Cracking his knuckles, the demon lord advanced on his prey. The negotiations that day had gone smoothly, and for that he had been thankful. But the demons from the East who had come for this occasion seemed to take their sweet time about leaving. And Mieko…

 

The sapling was in splinters after a harsh swipe of his claws. Pink petals fluttered about like a spring snow; the smell was pleasant at least. But Sesshomaru was still dissatisfied. He was quite sure there was another plant existing in his yard that was offending him as well.

 

The only way, it seemed, to talk to General Shouji was to do it in Lady Mieko's company. Sesshomaru had tried separating the two, but the soldier dutifully obeyed his lord in keeping watch over the princess. And just as unfortunately, Shouji seemed to be a man of few words. That left Mieko plenty of space to fill with her more than copious vocabulary of absolute drivel. The dog demon was sure she had heard him grinding his teeth on several occasions, because she seemed to pause. But if she had noticed it or any other sign of his misery, she ignored it and continued talking.

 

The general lived two days travel north-east from the Western palace, in a shiro that had belonged to his dead father, another general in the Eastern army. There, he camped out with his moderately sized army, which he seemed to train endlessly. When asked if he was married, the young general had merely grinned and answered that, from a soldier to a soldier, marriage was best left to old men and fat nobles. Mieko had of course objected profusely to that comment, accusing Shouji of courting several women, to which he promptly assured her that his intentions with them were anything but marriage.

 

Already, Sesshomaru was regretting his decision to send Rin alone to Shouji's house. She was adept at defending herself, but a man like this would not fight a woman with swords. He would ensnare her with words, and devour her with his charm. This was, to his knowledge, the first male of this cut she had ever met. The soldiers of his army may be crude in their suggestive language around her, but they most certainly did not mean any of it. If they did, he would have killed them for it. No, this would be a much more dangerous enemy. He had to make that point clear.

 

After he did some more “gardening.”

 

Now it was the maple that insulted him. It thought it was so dashing with its red, star-shaped leaves; such an arrogant thing. This time, he drew Tokijin and prepared for battle. The tree would die, and if the surrounding shrubbery got caught in the crossfire, then so be it. Undoubtedly, they were laughing smugly at the maple, thinking they were safe.

 

Sesshomaru clenched his teeth and pulled on his youki to feed the demon blade. It truly was a wicked thing, crying out for blood even as he subdued it with his own power. The thrumming energy pulse of the sword tingled along his arm. Such a reassuring and calming sensation, to have a power such as this blanketing his flesh. He merely had to make known his will, and the sword would carry out his bidding. Ripping a battle cry from his throat, he unleashed the blue bolts of lightning from the demonic blade and watched as his target disintegrated into fine ash.

 

“Damn it!” he hissed, plunging Tokijin into the ground in front of him. He forced the blade back into sleep, then settled it into the sash at his waist over his hip. Tenseiga, resentful of having its unholy partner returned, pulsed pleadingly. Sesshomaru blanched. His father's heavenly blade was never unruly or disobedient, but when it spoke, the sound of it pierced through his soul. The demon heaved an angry breath, before lifting his face to the night sky.

 

Why did he punish himself like this? Why could he not be satisfied with what he had been given, or what he had worked to get for himself? Why could it never be enough?

 

He had wanted his father's title and land. It had all been passed down upon the death of the Inu no Taishio. He then wanted Tenseiga's twin, Tesseiga. When he discovered he could not use it, Tokijin was then forged; in his mind, it was a superior blade, though it still angered him that his father favored Inuyasha by giving him Tesseiga. He wanted Naraku dead. That had been, admittedly, a concerted effort between the two Inu camps. Even Jakken and Rin contributed; Jakken blazing hellfire from Nintoujou, and Rin tending to the injured warriors after it was all over. She had been grudgingly allowed to treat a slow healing gash on the calf of his left leg. Sesshomaru watched his young ward with pride, as she then helped tie Inuyasha down so that his own myriad of still gushing wounds could be taken care of. He even joined in the chorus of exuberant laughter as the reality of it all sank in.

 

Sesshomaru had everything he wanted. So he wanted more.

 

He wanted an empire. It was to extend beyond the borders of his father's former domain, and encompass the entirety of the four lands. He wanted power and prestige beyond what his lordship of the West offered. He wanted legions to tremble at the mention of his name, armies clamor to fight under his colors, demons to laud him as their undisputed leader…

 

…and Rin at his side.

 

It had been a disturbing realization. He fought against it, with everything he could muster. But whenever he started to envision a future without her in it, a cold despair hardened and ached within his chest. There had to be a place for her, because he needed her. In the beginning, it was her unfailing, unconditional adoration of him that won his attentions. But soon after he realized that she really did feel the things she expressed to him. Sesshomaru was faced with the realization that he had his own feelings towards her as well. That had been something agonizing to admit, but the blatant truth was before Rin came into his life, he was lonely. And he did not want to be alone again.

 

But it wasn't that simple. Rin wasn't a “pet,” or a toy for him to pull along a string as he went. She was a mind, and a heart, and a soul of her own that would never be his in any fashion; and yet she was his all the same. He had given her life, and now it was time for him to give her a life, in the service of the Western Lands. She agreed of her own free will, and embraced the prospect of remaining with her lord for all time. He had gotten what he wanted, only because she had wanted him in return.

 

Sesshomaru never questioned Rin's motivation in staying with him. If he was given to paranoia, he might believe she was only trying to ensure she had a warm bed and plenty of food in a palace she could easily live happily ever after in. But she had chosen to work for her right to stay, earning her place in his empire instead of in his closet. Any objectors to the Western Lord harboring a human girl in his service were killed; any further objections were silenced once she had the pearl. It earned her due respect, and many of his soldiers did not think of her as human at all. Rin had her own quiet power, and anyone she could not cut down with a sword, she could reduce to his knees with her wit. There was never a day that Sesshomaru did not feel pleased with her in some fashion. Of course, there also was never a day that he wasn't irritated, or confused, or angered, or bewildered by her either. Still, it was all worth it, because with her, he would never have to feel lonely again.

 

A light from the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he turned to see the dojo's lanterns being lit. He could hear Rin chattering away about something or another, and General Katsuro's deep voice in reply. The talking soon fell silent, and was replaced with the clang of metal against metal; they were sparring, no doubt in preparation for Rin's departure.

 

Looking about, Sesshomaru decided that nothing else in the garden was brave enough to protest the slaughter of their comrades. He had conquered…something, and for that his spirits became lighter. Regally nodding over his newly acquired domain, Sesshomaru then leapt soundlessly into the branches of a spruce pine overlooking the dojo. He needed to be lost in his thoughts, deeply meditating while he stared into the night sky.

 

Otherwise, who knew what else he would destroy?

 

~*~

 

Rin hated it when he took his shirt off.

 

When fighting, both favored linen over silk or wool. Katsuro had his usual loose fitting, black training outfit sans shirt. Rin always wore white when sparring; it helped her to correct any mistakes she made. If she was cut, she could see where, and learn to pay better attention to how much of her body she left undefended. Her outfit was similar to his in make: pants to the ankle, sleeveless top with mandarin collar and wooden dowel buttons, black silk slippers.

 

Katsuro-kun was one of the most arrogant males she knew, and she knew a lot of arrogant males. It wasn't as if he was unattractive; he was quite close to being as beautiful as her lord. He was of the same clan, and thus had white hair and gold eyes. There was only one set of stripes on his face, colored purple, but meeting at his spine and radiating along the curve of his ribs he sported three pairs of the same color. He was incredibly vain about them, and showed them off every chance he got. He also was well aware how nicely shaped his body was, with skin stretched taught over finely toned muscle.

 

Normally Rin would have found his token display of masculinity to be boorish, but something had imperceptibly changed in his appearance that made her want to blush. Perhaps it was Takako-san's earlier warning that the young dog demon was attracted to her. Whatever the case, it was distracting her, and making her a poor sparring partner.

 

“Oomf!” the girl grunted, landing squarely on her behind. That's gonna be a bruise, she thought pitifully.

 

“You must be letting me win,” Katsuro teased. “I've never seen you this wimpy, even when you were first learning.”

 

“Rub it in,” Rin muttered under her breath.

 

The demon laughed good-naturedly. “Here,” he said, extending a hand, “I'll help you up.”

 

The girl grudgingly accepted his assistance, using his arm as leverage to pull herself upright. But he didn't let go. Katsuro's grip remained firm; he was even pulling her closer, and putting his other hand on the small of her back. Alarm bells went off in the back of Rin's head, and she felt her body tremble under the strain of her hidden panic.

 

“There, there,” Katsuro consoled. “You really must be having a rough day. I'm sorry for teasing you earlier.” He smiled, and patted her back. “Are you okay?”

 

There was something different in his eyes, looking at him now. It was like watching a snake poised to strike: the grin that anticipated tasting flesh, the coiled tension, the darkened eyes hiding their true intent. If he licked his lips, she feared she might fall to the floor.

 

Why in the hell was she reacting to him like this?

 

Rin had seduced several men into touching her, but it always was followed with her slicing them through. She had all the power. She knew what was going to happen, from the first batted eyelash to the blood and gore spraying over the walls. But this, while similar in appearance, felt foreign to her. In fact, it was flat out frightening; this of course made it even worse considering that her body was frozen with fear. He was pulling her closer to him, and the only thing she could do was wobble like a newborn animal taking its first steps while in a hurricane. Which made things even more worse, because he took her shivering as a sign to embrace her.

 

“Hey,” he murmured, “what's gotten into you?”

 

“Guh…uh…mmff,” the girl choked. Get the fuck off! Get the fuck off! Why can't you say that?! she screamed in her head. Make him let go!

 

But it felt so…warm. And he smelled good. And Katsuro seemed genuinely concerned for Rin's well-being; his eyes were dilated and glassy.

 

That's not concern, that's lust. You've seen it a hundred times before! Snap out of it!

 

The demon smiled. “Do you wanna quit for the night?” he murmured. His hands were moving, one around her waist and the other to her face, both pulling her flush against his body. His breath softly puffed over her face as he gazed down on her, before smoothly lowering his head to hover over her neck. “We could do something else,” he breathed hotly.

 

Whatever it was, either the tone of his voice or the choice of his words, Rin snapped. She was scared beyond anything she had ever felt, and her entire body wanted to defend itself. With a sudden burst of strength, she propelled herself from Katsuro's arms and well across the room. She was panting heavily, clutching one arm across her chest as she fumbled to find her weapon.

 

Sword in a white knuckled grip, Rin glared at Katsuro. “Don't touch me like that,” she gritted through her teeth.

 

The young general grinned, flashing his fangs in plain sight. “Temper,” he teased approvingly. “Alright then, let's go!”

 

The girl charged.

 

She knew she was asking for defeat the moment she touched her sword again. Rushing into a battle with high emotion can make even the most skilled fighter careless. But she could care less. Right now, all she wanted was to draw blood and gloat about her victory.

 

Katsuro toyed with her for awhile. The whole situation was amusing to him. One minute, she was melting in his arms and the next she was buzzing with excitement. True, when he had met the girl initially she looked rather…gangly. Unappealing on the whole really, but tempting regardless of her species. Now older and mature, she was able to shock every nerve in his system to the surface from a mere glimpse of her. If he hadn't been so sure death would find him for touching Rin, he would have made his move sooner. But Sesshomaru-sama trusted his ward in his young general's hands. And, should same ward find that she liked being touched with those hands, then how could he be punished for letting her exercise her own free will?

 

The girl thrust her blade towards his shoulder, and the dog demon barely moved away in time. She managed to nick his arm. Grinning sadistically, she came at him again, this time aiming for his chest. Katsuro fell down on his back, raised up his feet which met Rin's ribs, and propelled her over his head in a tumbling arc.

 

Rin landed on her side, but quickly righted herself into a crouching position. One leg was bent at the knee while the other was splayed behind her, balanced on her toes and ready to spring. The demon arrogantly tossed his sword from one hand to the other, circling his infuriated opponent.

 

Gods, did she look good. How could he not at least try?

 

He went for her, hands primed to grab her at the hips. Rin made the mistake of rolling to the side when she should have stood up. Katsuro was not about to let the opportunity pass by. Blocking her with his leg, he then cornered her evasion by successfully grabbing the curves at her sides. As he intended, she stumbled over his leg before tumbling face down to the floor.

 

And, being the perfect gentleman that he was, he went down with her, throwing his body underneath hers to cushion the fall.

 

Rin struggled to right herself but found that the demon had once again wrapped his arms about her body, fixing her arms to her sides. “Let go!” she demanded.

 

“C'mon, Rin,” Katsuro whined playfully, “haven't you had enough fighting for today?” He smirked from the corner of his mouth, narrowing his eyes and squeezing her even tighter. Happily, he felt her struggle against him, letting her rub warm, soft body parts over his own.

 

“Let me go!” Rin demanded once more, even more furiously than the first.

 

Katsuro rolled to the side and pinned Rin underneath him with his body weight. Before he could get a rational hold on his senses, he kissed her forcefully.

 

He had kissed many females in his life, all of which were demons. Each breed of demon had her own particular taste: dog demons tasted of meat, butterfly demons of honey, cat demons of fish, and water demons of metal. But all had the same underlying flavor of youki, their demonic aura. It burned the tongue, and was slightly acidic with a salty aftertaste. But this—Rin tasted entirely different.

 

Her mouth was so soft and malleable, and her teeth smooth and flat. The strongest essence he could detect with his tongue was her blood. That alone was enough to make him push harder against her, but the sweetness underlying her blood gave him pause. It was like a fruit, but none that he had ever tasted before. The harder he kissed, the more that tincture disappeared. It was as if the human body had a built in reward system for treating it gently. Overall, it was her fragility that appealed to him above everything. He could break her, and there was nothing she could do about it. But if he was careful, and treated her with caution, she would yield back her soft body to his senses.

 

She was screaming into his mouth, and trying to bite his tongue. Her back arched upward in an effort to throw him off, or to the side, or anywhere that wasn't on top of her. The demon merely pressed down harder. He straddled her with one leg, pushing her hips hard into the floor. And there he made his mistake.

 

Raising her leg by crawling on her toes, Rin had her knee in the air and jerked it towards her, meeting Katsuro squarely between the legs. He grunted sharply and let go, rolling to the side.

 

She scooted away from him like a crab, never taking her eyes off of his now still body. She'd never before done that to a male, because she had been taught that it was the lowest, basest, most dishonorable tactic to resort to. If you couldn't bring your opponent down fairly, it was better to dig into his eye with a finger, or bite his nose off, than to knee him in the groin. But Rin had been desperate. And it had worked.

 

Katsuro slowly rose to his hands and one knees, long white hair covering his face. He heaved a breath, then began chuckling darkly. “So,” he challenged hoarsely, “you wanna play rough?”

 

There was something telling Rin to run, and forget about her stupid sense of pride and honor. Something crawling up her back and tingling at the base of her skull was alerting her to danger. Some unseen hand was trying to tug her to safety.

 

She ignored it.

 

The demon was still laughing softly, rising into a standing position. Slowly, he combed through his hair with his claws, smoothing it back into place. Rin could see him plainly then, and shivered.

 

Katsuro was playing on the dangerous line between a full transformation into his dog form, and staying in his more human-like form. His eyes were red with small, green pupils. The stripes on his face and chest were much larger, almost looking like they could become claws if he willed them so. He was smiling at her wickedly, displaying his elongated fangs.

 

“Weak little human,” he growled. “Do not forget who you are fighting with.”

 

Rin snapped. Grabbing a nearby sword from off the wall, she ran forward, screaming a broken war-cry.

 

The blade met with his shoulder and ran through. Katsuro did not even dodge, and Rin realized her mistake too late. He had let her stab him, in order to bring her close enough for him to strike. She turned and watched him raise his hand with its thickened, longer claws, and swipe it diagonally across her chest.

 

The girl jumped back and hissed from the brief, stinging pain. Clutching her arm over her chest, she looked up just in time to be smacked across the room and into the wall. She crumpled on the floor in a heap, disoriented and frightened.

 

Katsuro winced slightly as he pulled the blade out from his shoulder. Within seconds it was almost fully healed. During those seconds, he was stalking towards the little human girl on the floor. She could only look at him with wide eyes, and tremble. He grabbed her by the arms, and fastened her to the wall with his claws.

 

“You,” he spat, “are nothing more than a toy to me. You're just the weak little pet of a foolish demon lord who hasn't the guts to use you for his needs or dispose of you!”

 

Rin was ashamed to feel tears running down her face. Show no weakness, she'd been drilled. But these words hurt, more than any physical pain she had ever had. And they didn't fade away like her cuts and scrapes; it lingered in her chest, steadily burning its way into her heart. She sobbed.

 

Katsuro seemed to be further emboldened by this, and shoved his face directly in front of Rin's, touching foreheads. “Good,” he gritted through his fangs. “Know your place and grovel.” He tightened his grip on her arms, managing to break one of them. She cried out, further egging him on. “Did you honestly think you could live in a world of demons and seen as an equal?”

 

Part of Rin was falling quickly into despair. She believed his words, because she had thought them herself, at one time or another. They were her greatest fear, that one day she would cease to be of any use or amusement and be cast out. When the pearl was made, her fear of this increased, for if she were to be cast out on her own, she would be sentenced to watch the world die away alone. And Sesshomaru—yes, she had doubted him too. Why was he so adamant about keeping her with him? To what good was her life prolonged? What was he planning for her? She could never ask, and he would never tell.

 

But another part of Rin was still fighting for her survival. That part lived in her unbroken arm, whose fingers had found a helmet hanging on the wall. It took some stretching, but she finally maneuvered it into her grip. Lifting her legs together, she nestled her feet against one another and landed a sharp kick against the arm holding her good arm captive. Claws scratched over her skin, but she didn't care. With a strength she never knew she could possess, Rin crashed the helmet in her hand against Katsuro's head.

 

The demon released his grip instantly, sending Rin to her knees on the floor. She clutched the helmet to her chest for some semblance of protection, but quickly saw that she didn't need it. Katsuro was staggering backwards, while his eyes bleached to their normal color. Clumsily, he crumpled to the floor, and passed out of consciousness.

 

Rin began to wail, tears pouring from her eyes.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

“Why protect them? Why miss them? Why love them?”

 

The words haunted Sesshomaru still. They were the words he had spoken to his brother, shortly before the hanyou Inuyasha sliced off Sesshomaru's arm. He had meant it to provoke Inuyasha into a rage, and it had worked all too well. In the end, it was the hanyou's desire to protect the human girl with him that resulted in Sesshomaru's defeat.

 

But now, the words had a different meaning.

 

Ever since Rin started traveling with him, those same words echoed in his head, constantly questioning his motives in letting the girl associate with him.

 

Why protect them?

 

Humans were weak. At the beginning, he took pity on the girl. She had taken it upon herself to care for him while convalescing in the woods. It had been his pride wounded more than anything, but the girl could not have known that. She only saw the blood from his wounds, and took pity on him. Her emotions had surprised him, to say the least. When she found him, Sesshomaru used what little of his youki was left to try and frighten Rin away. But she would not be swayed from her decision to help him.

 

Then came the day where she visited him, with a body that had obviously been beaten severely. Sesshomaru was puzzled by the girl's unending determination to tend to a strange demon over her own wounds. Did she value his well-being over her own? Was she not only sympathetic, but empathetic to his pain? Could she be helping him in hopes he would protect her from her tormentors?

 

“What happened to your face?” he blurted before he thought better of himself.

 

Rin seemed thoughtful for a moment, contemplating her response.

 

The demon was still unsure of whether or not he wanted to risk actually having a conversation with the little urchin. Part of him was disgusted by her humanity, but part of him was greatly intrigued by the mechanics of her very existence.

 

“You don't have to say anything, if you don't want,” he quickly added, letting the girl decide if she wanted to reveal the details of her life to a stranger.

 

Then her face formed the most genuine smile of happiness Sesshomaru had ever seen in the centuries of his life.

 

He raised an eyebrow, even more confused. “What are you smiling about?” he demanded. “I only asked you about your face.”

 

It was that smile that made him feel pity for her, as he stood over her little dead body. It was curiosity that made him respond to Tenseiga pulsing at his hip. It was shock that numbed him into letting her follow him for the first few days.

 

It was the sense of unadulterated power of holding her fragile, insignificant life in his hands that addicted him. He protected her, and she adored him for it.

 

Why miss them?

 

He did worry about her a little, when he left her in the care of Jakken, or Aun, or by herself. He had the security of knowing that, if she were to die, he could bring her back.

 

But why bother bringing her back at all?

 

He had thought of this too, extensively. Why couldn't he just leave her by the wayside, or “forget” to retrieve her when his affairs had been concluded? Why was he always relieved to find her healthy and whole when he returned?

 

She would run to him, arms out though she knew he would never embrace her. Then Rin would stop short and gaze up at him, excitedly saying his name over and over. Usually, he would bark at her to follow, but sometimes, he would pause and ask her how she had passed her time apart from him. Then she would tell him of how many flowers she'd picked, or what Aun did, or what Jakken had said. And Sesshomaru would be secretly relieved that she had spent one more day in mediocrity.

 

Then she was kidnapped.

 

It had blindsided him completely. How Naraku had divined that taking the girl would be the best way of luring the dog demon out was upsetting. At first, Sesshomaru was furious, only because the filthy hanyou had taken something that was his. But the longer it took him to get to her, the more worried he became. When he finally found her, he'd wanted to kill everything within a 5 li radius. But it wouldn't solve anything. Naraku alone would have to pay for this act.

 

After it was all over, and he rejoined his motley group, Rin ran to him like she always did, but this time she threw herself around his leg and began to cry.

 

“Rin missed Sesshomaru-sama!” she sobbed pathetically.

 

It hurt. Deep within him, the urge to scoop her up and blanket her from the world stabbed his heart. He realized that if he did that, he'd never want to let her go.

 

He'd missed her, too.

 

So Rin had managed to elicit another weakness from her demon guardian. Sesshomaru vowed to overcome it. She would be made into a source of strength, simply by never letting her out of his sight. There were times when it was unavoidable of course, for her own safety. But knowing that wherever she was, she was missing him and awaiting his return made him more confident. Something in the universe genuinely cared for him. For that, he would be strong.

 

Why love them?

 

A cacophony of shouting and banging broke Sesshomaru's tranquil reverie. Something was in the dojo, trying to bring it down from the inside it seemed. From what he could deduce, Rin was the one doing the shouting.

 

His chest tightened in anticipation of what he would find. Soundlessly landing on the ground, he stalked over to the building and threw open the door. His breath caught in his throat immediately.

 

General Katsuro was lying on the floor, unconscious. His blood scent still lingered; not far from the door Sesshomaru found a sword stained with the very fluid. Rin was screaming, wildly brandishing anything she could get her hands on until it got stuck or fell from her grip, and then grabbed something else. She had already knocked several holes in the walls and ceiling. Weapons were scattered chaotically over the floor, as if she had just slain an army of ghosts. He watched in dumb amazement as she grabbed a cedar chest from off the floor and threw it into the wall, punching another hole. Immediately, she replaced the chest with a set of sai that fell out from the chest. She used the pronged weapons to maim anything in her reach.

 

“RIN!” Sesshomaru bellowed. “Stand down!”

 

“NO!” she screamed, not bothering to face him. She continued with her wanton destruction, having lost the sai after she embedded them in the floor and now using a sword to hack away at a support beam.

 

She's gone mad, Sesshomaru thought in bewilderment.

 

Katsuro was starting to come to his senses, and lifted his head up to see what had awoken him. That was when he saw Sesshomaru in the doorway, looking positively livid, fuming youki in every direction. The building itself began to shake from the growing energy. Katsuro lowered his head and let his body go limp. There was no sense in fighting Sesshomaru; he'd end up dead before he could stand fully. He would just have to bravely take whatever punishment the demon lord had in mind as a penalty for what he'd done to Rin.

 

But Sesshomaru did not seem to be concerned with the general at all. In fact, all of his focus—and anger—seemed directed at Rin herself.

 

“RIN!” Sesshomaru barked, advancing on her. “Stop this NOW!”

 

“NO!” she screamed again, but she let go of the sword. It fell to the floor with a metallic clamor, and Rin turned and rushed at her lord. She ran straight into his solid form and was knocked back a few steps, but she merely shook her head and came at him again, this time with her fists raised.

 

“I'm not your PET!” she shrieked, banging on his armor with her tiny hands. “I'm not WEAK! I'm not weak! I'm not weak!”

 

She kept repeating herself, banging her head against his chest plate along with her fists. Sesshomaru was stunned into silence, watching her impale her hands on the spikes of his armor, not once letting up on her assault. Her blood was spurting all over; the smell of it turned his stomach.

 

Grabbing both of her hands together at the wrist, he pulled her into the air so that her face was level with his own. “Rin!” he demanded. “Explain yourself!”

 

It was then he noticed that her tunic had been torn. It was quite tattered from it getting caught on some of her projectiles, but the top and bottom had retained its original pattern: four closely spaced lines running diagonal. Sniffing the air, Sesshomaru struggled to understand what had happened. It was extremely difficult overcoming the fresh scents of Rin's blood and tears, but he could still catch Katsuro's blood, and something else that was decidedly Katsuro.

 

And Sesshomaru decidedly did not like it.

 

Lowering Rin to her feet before letting her go, the demon lord stormed over to where his general had curled up on the floor. Sesshomaru landed a sharp kick into the young demon's ribs, forcing his body to splay outwards and sending him into the wall. Katsuro crawled to his hands and knees, coughing.

 

“My lord,” he groveled, “let me explain---”

 

Another swift kick landed against his ribs, sending him skidding across the floor into the adjoining wall. Again, Katsuro rose to his knees lifting his face.

 

“Listen,” he pleaded, but another kick to the ribs knocked the air and any further words from his lungs. Whatever air was left was further forced out when his body slammed into the third wall. He was beginning to grow dizzy, and his vision darkened. Passing out wouldn't be all that bad; at least he wouldn't be awake to see what cruel method would be used to kill him.

 

Kicked to the last wall, Katsuro managed to cough up a mouthful of blood before he slipped into unconsciousness.

 

Sesshomaru then turned to Rin. He could see to the general later. It wasn't like he was going to run away.

 

Her face was puffed and red from crying as much and as hard as she had, but her tears were beginning to slow. Her sobs came out in hiccups, jerking her already trembling body with each spasm.

 

“I'm not weak. I'm not weak,” she kept moaning.

 

Against his screaming sense of dignity and his clamoring common sense, Sesshomaru scooped the girl up with his one arm and walked out of the dojo.

 

Now what are you going to do? he berated himself. It was bad enough that he was cradling his adult human ward, but to be seen cradling his adult human ward would be infinitely worse. Instinctually, his mind told him to retreat to higher ground. In one powerful leap, he was back in the branches of his earlier tree, carefully balancing Rin with his arm and now his legs around her.

 

She had stopped crying completely now, and was doing her best to bury her body in the fur pelt he carried. Oddly, he remembered a moment when she was a little girl and she had done the same thing, except she was small enough to disappear completely under its bulk.

 

“Rin,” he said quietly.

 

The girl sniffed. “I'm sorry,” she whispered.

 

Sesshomaru wasn't interested in who was sorry and who wasn't. He was interested in who deserved to be sorry, and would be made so. The scene did not look favorable to Rin, but it looked equally so for the general. Shaking the girl gently, he urged her to say something more than an apology.

 

“I know how bad that must have looked,” Rin moaned. “But it…I just couldn't let him win.”

 

To win something, one often got a prize. Therefore, there was a prize to be had between the combatants. From what he could smell in the room, the two were obviously competing for something completely different than the other.

 

“Win what?” the demon asked suspiciously.

 

The girl looked to her protector with wide eyes. “He said…things that I just couldn't let him get away with.”

 

“What things?” Sesshomaru demanded shortly.

 

“He said I was weak,” she ground out through her teeth. She clenched her jaw and fists in silence for a time, before adding, “He said I was your pet.”

 

Sesshomaru growled low in his throat. Did he now? Katsuro deserved more than being kicked around the room for that.

 

“Anything else?” he prodded.

 

Rin looked away. “No,” she mumbled, shaking her head.

 

Sesshomaru frowned. “Do not lie to me,” he warned. “This Sesshomaru needs to know what happened and my senses can only tell me so much.”

 

At the mention of surmising through senses, Rin blanched visibly. “Um,” she said nervously.

 

The demon lowered his head to glare directly at the girl. He could smell it quite clearly now, the scent of the insolent whelp on her mouth. They had kissed, but the question remained as to whether or not it had been mutual. After all, Rin had kissed many other demons freely, though it gave him pains when she came home reeking strongly of it. But those kisses were for different reasons. She killed those who kissed her. Was she then trying to kill General Katsuro for some reason? If so, he would not be able to overlook it, which spelled disaster for the girl.

 

“Rin,” he said sternly.

 

The girl hugged her knees and covered her face. “Rin was only trying to protect herself,” she said, whispering the last two words.

 

“Protect from what?”

 

“From him,” she murmured. “Katsuro---” she paused, thinking better of attaching an ending onto the general's name. “From him,” she repeated.

 

Sesshomaru tallied up the clues. Rin was speaking in third person, reverting back to childhood speech. So she was scared. She claimed she was trying to protect herself from a male. She had been confronted in an intimidating fashion. Lastly, she refrained from adding the familiar “-kun” to the general's name that she had used since she was 13. In fact, she had never referred to him as anything but since he had laughed at her initial tendency to refer to him as “-sama.” She had lost respect and a level of friendship with the general then.

 

Conclusion: he had assaulted her with a kiss, and gods knew what else.

 

The dog demon felt his hackles rise at the back of his neck. Vaguely, he remembered the slashes across her shirt. One had managed to slice through the bandaging she wore across her chest when training, while two others must have drawn blood from her belly from the stains he saw on the fabric.

 

“He came at me when I kicked him—I know I shouldn't have kicked him but I just couldn't think and he let go…,” she explained, trailing off into memory.

 

Sesshomaru was practically vibrating with rage.

 

Rin continued after wiping her eyes. “He sort of transformed, so he wasn't in a sensible state of mind when he scratched me. I had to knock him out with a helmet before he calmed down.” At this, she laughed softly, remembering her triumph undoubtedly.

 

Katsuro would be humiliated to the highest possible degree, Sesshomaru decided. Tie boulders to his hands and feet and make him run the 10 li morning warm-up with his troops. Hang him upside down and tell anyone who passes to feel free to take a punch at him. Finally, put him in women's clothing and let each and every soldier in his brigade take their turn at sparring practice with him. And blindfold him too, for good measure.

 

The dog demon grinned. Sometimes, it was more fulfilling to make people wish they were dead than to actually kill them.

 

He tightened his embrace around Rin. He didn't care to know the specifics of her ordeal, just as he knew she didn't care to tell them. All he cared for was to have her be well, in body and in mind.

 

Rin curled up snugly against her lord, hoping to make this moment last for as long as possible. She did not want him to let go easily; he had held her like this maybe two other times before, both of which when she was a child. Part of her wanted to beg to be taken off her next mission. She wanted to plead that her place in his empire be here, in his embrace. It was a childish and useless desire, but she wanted it nonetheless. The other part of her knew the foolish nature of her daydream. Humans and demons did not belong together.

 

We shouldn't belong together, she lamented. But then a quiet truth glowed within her heart, telling her to pause and consider her words. We shouldn't belong together, she repeated, but we can't be apart. Both were equally true.

 

She still smelled a little like that cherry soap she liked. Sesshomaru had always found the scent overwhelming, but now as it mingled with her more natural essences, he liked it. Closing his eyes, he lowered his face to rest on the top of Rin's head.

 

The two collectively sighed.

 

He knew it was undignified. He knew it was improper, and inherently wrong to feel so attached to a human. But for all the years he had spent fighting it, and all the reasons he had come up with against being with her, he could think of ten reasons why he should to every one of why he shouldn't. And not one of them made a lick of sense.

 

Her hair. Her smile. Her scent. Her eyes. Her voice. Her devotion. Her love.

 

Sesshomaru both depended on and despised the last one. If she loved him, then he would not be selfish in wanting her to stay with him. But because she loved him, he wanted her to stay forever. He loved her back, he knew, but he was not quite sure in what capacity. It wasn't that of a father to a child. Though the age differences made such a relationship plausible, he had never looked at her in that light even once. Blood was blood, and to him, only blood was family. It wasn't that of friends. The age and species differences saw to it that they had very little in common at the base of everything. Sheep and wolves were not friends, though they could develop a mutual respect for one another. It wasn't that of a man to his lover. He had, and probably never would know her in that sense. The prospect of it was too frightening to him. Past mistakes in his family bloodline would no doubt seek to haunt him, and possibly spell his certain doom.

 

He loved her. He knew not how or why, but he loved her without question.

 

Why love them?

 

Because she was his Rin.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Katsuro had hoped it would not have come to this.

 

If Rin had accepted him, then he could have protected her. He would have had a reason to turn away from the money, and keep her safe. If she would have become his lover, she could have never become his enemy. But it was too late to change anything, now.

 

It was an uneasy accord. General between general, man to man, demon to demon. But there was more to it than that. Betrayer to murderer. Enemy to enemy. West to East.

 

He would be there in time. After waking up with every piece of his body hurting in the dojo, he found himself to be alone. Quietly leaving and looking around for any witnesses, he saw them together in the tree. Actually, he saw only him in the tree, and could deduce from the way he was sitting that she was in his arm. Neither of them stirred as he scurried across the courtyard. He was back into the house to change, and then to the stable, where he grabbed his horse and left, headed East.

 

General Shouji had bribed him with a vast sum of money. It seemed the moth demon was certain that the so-called assassin had to be under Sesshomaru-sama's employ. Seeking out the arrogant and self-serving young general, Shouji made it certain that he would reward handsomely the person responsible for revealing the assassin's whereabouts. Katsuro merely nodded.

 

He didn't want to see any harm come to her. But he wanted more to see her laying in his bed, crying out his name. So his masculine pride won out over his paternal instincts. Besides, there was no guarantee that the assassin would be anything more than captured, probably to be used as a bargaining pawn in exchange for lands and services of the West. If anything, Sesshomaru would be the one left hurting from this ordeal, and undoubtedly forced into exile. The girl could easily be convinced to be taken under the protection of the strongest survivor of the war, meaning Katsuro still had a chance at realizing his desires.

 

Tomorrow morning, he would reveal Rin's secret to the very enemy she was slated to try and kill that same night. Katsuro would walk off with his handsome reward, and wait for the dust to settle before he resurfaced to claim the rest. If he was lucky, perhaps he could earn some small piece of power in the new Eastern empire, granting him and his little human woman security. That would be very nice.

 

And it wouldn't hurt to see Sesshomaru's face when Rin shunned him for his part in her betrayal. After all, if he hadn't punished Katsuro as far as he did, then maybe the general could have forgotten everything. Really, Sesshomaru only had himself to blame for everything. If he hadn't cared so much for a human, he wouldn't have been able to be exploited at all.

 

Katsuro spurred his horse faster, eager to set the wheels of his new life in motion.