InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young Love ❯ Year 4 ( Chapter 6 )

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Year 4

"Rin-chan, is everything ok?" Kagura asked; she could smell the blood throughout the castle. Sesshomaru instructed Kagura to talk to her; although the scent was tempting, he had more self control than the lesser demons of the castle.

"My menstruation has started, lady Kagura. I have sent a maid to fetch a rag for me. I also sent my robes to be washed and repaired. I hope this incident has not displeased you or Lord Sesshomaru" Rin said promptly.

"Of course not; you cannot control nature and this is not your fault. I will inform Sesshomaru that you are alright" Kagura said leaving. Rin breathed out a sigh of relief. Although Kagura had been nice to her, she had no desire to have her around. The maids helped her with her bloody problem, changing her sheets, outfit, and providing her with new items. She was still expected to attend breakfast, but she had to eat quickly because her sensei was going to take her out herb hunting as a part of her training.

"Good Morning milord and milady" Rin bowed enough to be considered correct and alright.

"Good morning Rin-chan" Kagura replied, flashing her a smile.

"Are you well, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked; it was not an awkward subject, he had known about a woman's cycle for years. Demonesses rejoiced in the site of their menstruation because it meant they had matured into an adult and were able to mate. However he had little known of the human's feelings towards it.

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru" She said stiffly; although it had been a year since the letter had came and been discussed, Rin held her suspicious that it was not true what her lord had told her. The Shippo she knew would not marry another and break the promise. She had the maids report what little gossip they knew of Inuyasha and the clan but nothing came back about Shippo.

"Do you feel you are ready to get married? Or do you require more time?" He questioned.

"I cannot say for sure; It'd be best for me to finish my lessons before I can determine if I have the skills to be a good mate and mother" Rin answered.

"Mate?" Kagura asked.

"Yes, Shippo-kun promised he would be my mate after my fourteenth summer. That is only one summer away" Rin answered proudly.

"Rin, this Sesshomaru told you what the letter said. There is no hope for you and the kit to be together. This Sesshomaru can find a young ningen prince to marry you" He suggested but Rin declined.

"The demon slayer and monk have moved away from the hut they once shared with Shippo-kun's group. They have not lived together in almost three years" Rin continued, she did not once look up to see her lord's face, nor did she stop eating.

"Despite that information, this Sesshomaru wishes not to hear anymore about the kit. He is not a good match for you" Sess dismissed a servant who had come in.

"Shippo-kun is a good match for me. He protected me from the snake demon when no one else was around; he promised me his love and his life. Does that not mean something? From everything Sensei has told me, I know that love conquers all. To be a good mother and mate, I must be able to love and be loved. I must have kindness, patience, and the skills to make it work. I have spent years trying to prepare myself for the day Shippo-kun comes to get me. And I know he is training so that he can provide and protect me. He told me so himself" Rin said, standing up. She knew she was going to suffer punishment for her behavior but she was tired of second guessing Shippo.

"You have not been dismissed; Apologize and take your seat" Sesshomaru's voice ran cold. But Rin refused to back down.

"No Sesshomaru-sama. I cannot do that. I want Shippo-kun, regardless of what you or anyone else says. Even if that costs me my title, my royal status, or my family" Rin said, she stood tall but she was not to go unpunished.

"Jaken. Take Rin to the servants' quarters. She is to be stripped over everything and work as a maid within this palace. If the worthless kit means that much to her, then she can see the life she will have" Sesshomaru demanded. Jaken took Rin, who went without protest, to the servants' quarters. Down there were the 15 woman, all demonesses, which took care of the Western Palace.

"Rin-sama, what is going on?" asked one of the younger servants.

"Rin is no longer a royal member of the Western Family. She is to work as a servant under our Lord Sesshomaru for a month. Please provide her with new clothes and prepare her for her daily chores" Jaken instructed, taking Rin's ruby red kimono and the comb that held her hair up.

Her hair was down around her back, and she was left feeling naked and cold.

"Why is Lord Sesshomaru punishing you?" one of the youngest servants, a girl that looked about 10 asked.

"Obviously Rin disobeyed Sesshomaru-sama, she needs a servant's uniform and someone take her around. Give her the rules and such" Yuri, the eldest servant asked.

"Of course Yuri-sama, I will do it" Ayami chirped. She was a fifteen year old looking demoness that wanted to be the next in line to run the servants after Yuri died.

"Thank you Ayami" She said, taking the other girls off to help out.

"Rin-sama, I do not know what you did to anger our Lord so but now that you are here, where this" Ayami started. She handed Rin a plain brown kimono with the Western half moon crescent on it.

"You are never to look Lady Kagura or our lord in the eye. You must also say "Yes and Sama" when you address them. Always bow so low that you touch the floor and never speak above a whisper. Sesshomaru -Sama will not hesitate to beat you if he feels you are disrespectful. Since we are younger, we are to do all the cleaning of the rooms, and the personal services of Lady Kagura. Come with me" Ayami helped Rin quickly dress, it was comforting not to be forced to wear her hair up or tighten her kimono so often. She also felt great that she was not required to maintain some fake proper attitude either.

"Lady Kagura, is there anything this lowly servant can do for you?" Ayami asked. She spoke softly, bowed low and avoided eye contact.

"Yes, please summon someone to help bathe and wash me, also I would like a light snack brought in" Kagura answered.

"Of course Kagura-sama" Ayami bowed once again, not quite as low, and then dragged Rin out. Rin was shocked to see just how spoiled Kagura was. Of course she was Lady of the West and had to be treated as royalty but that.

"When do we eat and sleep and bathe?" Rin asked. Her hair was starting to bother her; it was flying all over and becoming a pain.

"Only when we are not needed by our lord and lady. We also have to help set the tables for their meals and clear the dishes. Try not to disrupt them" Ayami warned. She pushed Rin along to the Kitchen to grab the lunch specials of the day and serve them.

"Quick note: Be sure to place the tray in front of our lord, remove the cover softly and back away. Do not linger or he gets angry" Ayami whispered, handing Rin a tray. It was quite heavy and smelt disgusting but she did not say anything and trailed behind Ayami to the servants' entrance to the dining room.

"This lowly servant hopes the meal pleases you, Lady Kagura" Ayami said politely, she then placed the tray in front of her and removed the lid. A nice steak, medium rare, with steamed veggies and rice was placed before her. Kagura gave her a curt nod as to leave. Then it was Rin's turn.

"Um…this lowly servant hopes the meal pleases you as well, Lord Sesshomaru" Rin tried her best to mimic the way Ayami talked but it came out nervous and stammered. She managed to place the tray in front of him but when it came to removing the lid, she was horrified. A tray of bloody red meat was revealed and Rin felt sick. Sesshomaru never once at that before in front of her.

"Rin, let's go" hissed Ayami but she was stuck standing there looking at it.

"Is there a problem, servant?" Sesshomaru asked.

"No milord, none at all. She is new, please excuse her incredibly rude behavior" Ayami grabbed her roughly by the arm, forced her to bow and left.

"You could have gotten us both in a lot of trouble. You better not let that happen again, Rin-chan" Ayami hissed. Rin went through the rest of the day just cleaning; another girl was assigned to the meal time activities. Once all the chores were done and meals were served, Rin had a few moments of free time.

"May I have paper and a quill? I want to write someone" Rin asked.

"Paper and a quill? We do not have such luxuries down here" Yuri snapped.

"My apologies; I had such luxuries as a part of the royal family but I was never able to write a letter to a special someone" Rin said.

"Who is it, Rin-chan?" Ayami asked.

"Just call me Rin; a kit named Shippo. He is in the pack with milord's hanyou brother. He met me when I was 9, and he saved me from a snake demon. We made a promise to mate after we both reached maturity but I haven't seen him since. He wrote me a letter but Sesshomaru-Sama would not let me see it. I want to write him and let him know I have not forgotten the promise we both made to each other" Rin said.

"Sounds like a fairytale; describe him for us, Rin" Ayami begged. All the younger girls flocked around to hear.

"Well when we met, he was only up to my hip and that was when I was a little girl. I know he's taller now. He has such beautiful green eyes and reddish orange hair. IT was a curly mess then but I'm sure he's figured out what to do with it. He promised to start learning how to use a sword so that he could protect me. I want to see him again or at least to read that letter" Rin said quickly.

"It is impossible to get the letter; Lord Sesshomaru locked it away in his desk years ago" Yuri cut in. Rin looked over at her.

"He kept it?" Rin asked a gleam of hope in her eyes.

"Of course, it is still sealed away in that envelope. But the drawer is kept under lock and key and none of us have it. Besides, no one is allowed into Sesshomaru-sama's office. I would not suggest you do something stupid and get into even more trouble than necessary. I will get one of the guards to find paper and a quill, maybe one can deliver it for you" Yuri said, she wanted the girl to adjust well but she was becoming a problem.

"Oh thank you Yuri-Sama" Rin said, hugging on tightly to her. She smiled at the young girl and then told her to bathe and go to bed.

"Ayami, I need your help. I am going to write the letter, and I am going to give it to you. I want you to help me find a way to break the lock on the drawer so that I can read the letter. Sesshomaru-Sama may disown me and send me out of the castle but I have to know what Shippo wrote. Will you help me?" Rin asked.

"No way! He will kill me too if I do. I will help deliver the letter and that's all" Ayami said. Rin looked at her with those sad eyes but she ignored Rin and went to bed.

"Rin, here is what you need. Hide it somewhere safe because our lord does not permit us to have this" Yuri gave it to her the next day.

Dear Shippo-Kun,

I am surprised to see you can write; I guess Kagome-Sama has taught you well. As for me, I have completed most of my lessons in etiquette and how to be a good mother. However I refused to accept what Sesshomaru told me; he said you agreed to marry the demon slayer's daughter instead of mate to me. He has forced me to live a servant's life for 1 moon to teach me a lesson but I am going to get the letter that he stole from me those years ago.

I miss you Shippo-kun, and I hope you can keep the promise we made,

Rin

Rin folded the letter up tight and gave it to Ayami who agreed to find a guard that had a reason to leave the castle to deliver it. With all that wrapped up, she was finally able to go about life and hope that Shippo got the letter faster than she got his

IN Inuyasha's group

"Wind Scar" Inuyasha yelled, he sent a huge powerful blast towards Shippo, and Shippo held up his sword to stop the attack. Unfortunately it just sent Shippo rolling back into a tree.

"Are you alright, squirting?" Inuyasha asked. The boy finally got his sword to listen and transform.

"Fox Power" Shippo shouted, sending a cloud a smoke to confuse him. As Inuyasha attempted to find his way out, he could hear Shippo moving. Luckily Inuyasha was smarter than Shippo and turned around to block the attack.

"Nice, but never attack from behind" Inuyasha corrected him. Shippo was unsure on how else to attack. Foxes are naturally tricky demons but his father wanted him to fight fair.

"Shippo!" Mayumi yelled, totting out to him.

"Hey Yumi" Shippo said smiling, she reached out hold his hand but she sent a little purification thru his body.

"Be careful girl, your big brother doesn't need anything else attacking him" Kagome called out. It had been years since she last tried to use her powers so she set up an arrow on her bow and sent it straight towards Shippo. Unfortunately the boy wasn't paying very much attention to his mother, but his sword could sense the harm he was in and shot up a barrier. Kagome's arrow, which could have easily broken the barrier, disappeared.

"Those miko powers really are gonna be helpful" Inuyasha chuckled. He reached out to touch the barrier but it burnt him.

"I guess so! I won't have to worry about my son being killed by Sesshomaru" Kagome said, she knew the day was coming when Shippo challenged Sesshomaru for Rin's hand.

"I won't die, I have Dad training me and he hasn't died by Sesshomaru's hand" Shippo said.

"Not yet, but Sesshomaru has poisons and powers that your dad can't predict or help you practice for" Kagome retorted, she was not pleased that Shippo thought he could actually Rin.