Chapter 10

Lord Sesshomaru once again finished his work for the day. Orders were made to expand his castle to the west to create more rooms. With the gala he wanted to host, he needed more rooms for guests to stay. He even put an order in to have several decks built, going down towards the beach. He realized the steps leading down were not in the greatest condition and he would rather have something more reliable. Though the cliff was not too high up, he wanted something that was safe.

Sessohmaru stepped outside his office and took notice of the sky. He looked up and saw that it was already mid-afternoon. The sky was clear and sunny. The air was cool and relaxing after the storm from the other day. These were the days he enjoyed. He didn't have to worry about Jaken irritating him. Jaken was cleaning out Ah-Un's stall. He would be put to the task of putting fresh hay, water and scooping out the dragon's mess. He would be doing non-stop work for causing Rin so much pain.

With his schedule cleared for the afternoon, Sesshomaru decided to go check in on Rin. He again wanted to make sure she was doing well in her new home in the village. The last time he checked on her was several days ago. From what he saw, she was doing well and seemed to have made many new friends her age. Especially with the boy who was glued to her hips.

Sesshomaru wanted to take his time and travel along the beach. He shot down along the sand and set forth towards the village. Seagulls wailed high in the sky, and dolphins jumped out of the water doing flips. He stopped for a few minutes to watch the sea creatures, who took notice of him and dove back underwater. As he stood there, watching the calm sea, the hint of fresh blood and Rin's scent mixed in the air. He turned his head in the direction of the smell and shot down super fast.

It didn't take him long to find Rin who was close to falling to her knees. He could tell something happened to her. Landing just in time, Rin fell into Sesshomaru's waiting arms. "Rin?" he whispered to her softly. Looking down at his young ward, he noticed the purple bruising forming on her left eye. He knew someone bad had just abused her. He knew who it was just with the smell drifting off her skin. He wanted to kill the boy. He looked down lower and saw blood along her torso. "This isn't her blood?" He thought. He didn't recognize it. But he had a feeling who the blood belonged to. "Rin?" He lifted her up very carefully, brushing her cheek. "Can you hear me?"

Though her good eye was closed, she heard him call her name. "My Lord, don't...don't let them kill me."

"Kill me?" he thought.

Just as he was about to ask his next question, the scent of a demon was coming up above them. "There's Rin! You dog demon, hand her over." The samebito jumped down below, standing several feet in front of them.

Sesshomaru set Rin sitting up against the cliff. "Don't...let him...take me," she whispered back.

"Dog demon, I'm not going to ask you again. Step away from the girl. She is wanted by the village elder and must be taken to the village immediately." Daisuke crept towards them, holding a black katana.

Sesshomaru put himself between Rin, drawing his bakusaiga, ready to take the shark beast down, if he came any closer. "On what grounds? What is Rin wanted for?"

Daisuke came to a stop, holding his katana still in front of him. "Murder! She killed the village elder's only grandson Ezume. A dagger was found next to his body. So now she will be sentenced to death by hanging." Sesshomaru was shocked she used the blade he had provided her. The boy he wanted to kill for putting his hands on her was dead. He kept his composure. He wouldn't allow Rin to face her fourth death this soon. "She's also wanted for the assault of my friend. Now step away from that bitch or I'll have no choice but to fight you."

Sesshomaru looked at Rin out of the corner of his golden eyes. Her right eye was opened, showing that she was pleading for him to save her and not allow her to die. "So dog demon, are you going to make it the easy way? Or the hard way?"

Looking at the samebito, Sesshomaru lifted bakusaiga up higher.

"That pathetic sword won't do anything to me." The samebito came lunging their way, swinging his katana like a mad man. "Now die." He jumped into the air, ready to aim at Sesshomaru.

Just as he was about to land a blow, Sesshomaru swung his sword and shouted, "Bakusaiga!" A green lightning bolt shot out the tip of the blade, striking the shark demon. He was killed instantly and turned to dust on the sand.

Slipping his sword into its resting place, he turned his attention back to Rin. He noticed that she was trying to stand up, but with no avail. Sesshomaru got down to her level. "Rin, I'm taking you back to my home. My head caretaker will take care of your injuries." He watched her nod her head. He was about to lift her up when a dark shadow appeared above them. Looking up, it was Ah-Un. His cherished double headed dragon landed beside them, lowered themselves down and lay in the sand.

Rin once again tried to lift herself up, only to fall back down, almost hitting her head against the rock. Sesshomaru still remained at her level, "Rin, stop. Allow me to help you up." He carefully lifted her chin so she could look at him. "Will you allow me to help you?"

She nodded her head. "Yes. I'm so tired, my Lord."

"You can rest soon." As he carefully lifted her back up, discomfort shot through her upper back, to her calves. "Is there anything you require? Where do you hurt the most?"

There was one thing she could think of. "My money," was all she cared about. "It's back...in the...village. I...hurt...all...over." Her right eye closed, following with light breathing. She had fallen asleep.

Sesshomaru knew exactly where her money sack was. He would see to it that she not only got her money back, but her bag with her other belongings. Quietly so as to not wake her, Sesshomaru levitated and sat on Ah-Un. "Easy heading back." He looked down at Rin. She was still sound asleep. Her head rested along his right shoulder. With his right hand, he grabbed his mokomoko and wrapped it around her torso. "What happened to you?" he thought.

Arriving back at his home, Sesshomaru very carefully brought Rin to the same room as before. He gave the orders for Etsuko and Yoshi to fetch Suke, the head caretaker immediately. Etsuko would need all the help she could get to tend to Rin's injuries. Leaving her room so she could be treated, Lord Sesshomaru darted back to the village. Not only was he going to retrieve what was hers, but also find out why Rin killed the boy.

Once in the village, Sessohmaru glimpsed a few men carrying a board with a covered body on it. He knew it was the boy that had hit Rin. Along with the men, was an elderly lady. The one who wanted Rin brought back to face execution. He knew what he had to do.

Sesshomaru darted at light speed and stood in front of the four men and Lady Keda, stopping them in their tracks. Drawing his sword Bakusaiga again, he held it in front of them all. "Are you the village elder?" he demanded.

"I am, but I am not in the mood to talk to anyone, including a demon like you. I must bury my grandchild." Lady Keda tried to walk around only to be stopped. "Let me through demon."

"I wasn't finished! What's the reason this boy was killed?" His sword aimed towards the dead body of Ezume.

"It's none of your concern. Now leave, or I'll have my strongest demon take you on." Lady Keda still tried to walk around only to be stopped again. "Daisuke," she screamed. Looking around the village. "Where is that samebito at?"

"If you're referring to that pathetic shark demon, I killed him moments ago." Sesshomaru watched her brown eyes expand in shock. "He tried to come after someone that had been injured. Now answer me, Why was that boy killed? His blood was soaked on the girl I found along the beach." He held Bakusaiga towards the dead boy again. He was ready to turn his remains to dust just like the samebito.

"Lady Keda, I think he's serious!" The boy Akito said scared. His arms trembled holding the board up.

"You want the truth? That girl…" she was holding back her tears. "There's a perfect place in hell for her. Rin was bought and sold by me for my grandson. My now deceased grandson was supposed to take on my business of selling girls after my time here is up. Now I have no one." She gripped her shirt over her heart. "If you found her, where is she?" She eyed him heavily. "I want to watch her life leave her eyes as she hangs from the noose." Her sad eyes turned to anger.

Without a word to her, Sesshomaru shot another round of green light from his sword, hitting the dead boy and turning him to nothing. "NOOOOOOO!" The men who were carrying the board scattered in fear. Lady Keda dropped to her knees, picking up the black ash that was once Ezume.

"You and everyone will leave this village immediately. No one will be allowed to return, NOW GO!" He was furious that Rin was treated in such a way. Being sold and bought like a prostitute. Even almost married to the now dead human boy. He flew off. "All Rin wanted was to come to a village that would allow her to become a midwife. In return, she never got to."

Sesshomaru shot towards the inn and landed on the balcony of Rin's old room. Strutting inside, he could tell her room remained untouched. The only smell he could pick up was hers. Her bag was beside her futon, fully closed. He looked around and saw nothing else that belonged to her. Grabbing Rin's bag, Sesshomaru shot out of the inn, flying over the beach, heading back for his home. He could still hear the village elder weeping, remaining where she stood.

When Sesshomaru was almost there, he could hear all three keukegens talking about each of Rin's scrapes and small cuts. Her back was the worst. None of her cuts were deep thankfully. He heard them at ease that she didn't hit her head. Though her recovery could take up to a few days. Hearing that it could take several days for her to heal, an idea came to his mind. He had something that could make Rin heal faster. He knew he would present this item to her in private.

Rin awoke several minutes after her Lord left. She was only able to open her right eye. The left eye remained closed and swollen. She felt cold and saw that she was bare and exposed. Looking up, she observed three female demons taking care of the abrasions she received from falling. She didn't know who the other two females were, but she recognized Etsuko. She was the first one to notice Rin was alert. "Miss Rin, you've awoken! Try to relax dear, we've got a few more areas to treat."

Rin only nodded her head slightly.

As they continued to treat her, a gust of wind could be heard outside the door. All three demons perceived who was outside. "Etsuko, go tell Lord Sesshomaru I'm about done. Then I need you to fetch a clean yukata for Miss Rin to wear." The much older keukegen ordered. She dipped a cloth in a bowl of clean water and wiped down the areas that had little bit of dry blood.

"Yes, Miss Suke."

Rin turned her head slightly to see a small glimpse of her Lord just outside the door just before it closed again. Continuing to look at the door, Rin felt her hair being gingerly brushed. She looked up to see a much younger demon, almost her age or just a tad older. "Miss Rin, I hope you don't mind? Your hair is in knots. Plus, you have a few twigs and leaves tangled in your hair. I'll be as gentle as possible."

Rin did the same and just nodded. She still was in too much pain to respond verbally. "Miss Yoshi, when you're finished, I need you to head to the kitchen to have the cooks boil some water. I have some plants that will be turned into tea. They will help with infections, preventing a fever, and a few other things," the elder Suke informed.

Yoshi had just finished pulling twigs and leaves out of Rin's hair. "Yes, Miss Suke." After she put Rin's hair into a ponytail, Yoshi left quickly and Etsuko came in with a fresh, clean yukata.

The young keukegen knelt down next to the elder keukegen. "Miss Rin, we're going to dress you now. Be aware you might feel slight stinging, we'll be gentle as possible."

They both very carefully brought Rin to her feet. She cried a bit feeling every cut and scratch up and down her body. Looking down with her good eye, all she saw was black and blue. Rin knew that she would recover in several days. But what she was most grateful for was that she was alive and would not face a fourth death. "Miss Rin, are you hungry?" Etsuko kindly asked, helping her back down to the futon, laying down.

"A little." Her stomach growled for nourishment. "I haven't eaten anything since last night."

"I'll have the cook make you some stew," she said, softly.

"Thank you Etsuko." The young keukegen left and Lord Sesshomaru came inside.

Sesshomaru's aureate eyes were only on her. They showed the signs of solicitude for his young ward. He watched Rin turn her head, facing slightly looking his way. A single tear drop fell from the corner of her bruised eye. "Suke, you may return to your post," he ordered.

The elderly keukegen stood and bowed, "yes my Lord. I'll have one of the girls bring her tea when it's ready."

Sesshomaru didn't bother to watch her leave. His eyes were still fixated on Rin. He came closer, kneeling down beside her futon where she laid. "Rin?" He placed her bag behind her head.

"Yes, my Lord?" She turned her head slightly to look up at him.

"How are you fairing?" He gently stroked under her bruised eye. The coolness from his finger actually was relieving and cool.

"I'll live."

He smirked quickly at her words.

"But I am in pain from falling." Another tear fell from the corner of each of her eyes. "I'm scared that everyone from the village will come after me."

"You have no need to worry. They were ordered to leave the village and to never return." He caught a teardrop that fell from her bruised eye.

"What do you mean?"

"For the orders they made for you," he continued to lightly stroke her bruised eye.

"You found out I was bought and sold?" Her tears kept coming.

"Yes," he continued to wipe away her sadness. "Why didn't you come immediately when you found out? All of this wouldn't have happened."

"I found out just…just before I," she hid her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono, stretching her cuts.

"Rin, you need to relax." He lightly took hold of her wrist, rubbing the knuckle. "You found out just before you killed that boy?"

"Yes, and I guess you're wondering how I received this black eye?" She saw him nod his head. "Ezume...tried to force himself on me," she closed her good eye. She didn't want to remember that memory. "I took a shoe of mine, hit him and broke his nose. I tried to get away, but he stopped me and then he hit me. Then he tried to force himself on me again and that's when I stabbed him."

"Was it right after that you fell?"

"Yes, I'm grateful that there were trees blocking their view or I would be caught sooner." A slight stinging pain shot down her back. "I just want this pain to be gone."

He remembered he had the item inside his haroi sleeve. "Are you able to sit up?"

"I might need assistance."

"Will you allow me to help?"

Sesshomaru looked at her, waiting for her answer. He didn't know if she would allow him. "Yes, do be careful?" He only nodded his head and very carefully lifted Rin to a sitting position. He removed a pink ribbon from inside his sleeve. "Hold your hair up." Rin was very cautious with the small cuts along her arms and held up her hair. She felt the pink material being tied around her neck. "You may lower your hair."

Letting go of her, she looked down and saw something white dangling. Holding herself up with one hand she picked up what was dangling. "A fang?"

"Yes, this fang here holds great power," he said softly.

"Great power?" She never heard of such a thing.

"Yes, the power of healing. Keep this on if you want to heal quicker." Sesshomaru held the fang in his clawed fingers. The fang was not only for healing. There was another hidden power within the necklace that he wasn't telling her. It was a secret that didn't need to be told at this time. In his mind he thought, "In time, I'll tell her the true power of this fang of mine. For now, she just needs to relax and rest."

Looking at him holding the porcelain fang, "I will, thank you," she said.

Sesshomaru's pointed ears perked up. "For now, you must eat and rest." The door slid open and in came Etsuko and Yoshi. They had a tray that held a bowl of stew and a hot cup of tea. "I'll leave you both to care for Rin. If she requests anything, please make sure she receives it."

They placed the tray down beside Rin's bed. "Of course my Lord."

Rin on the other hand, had to interject. "My Lord," he turned towards her voice. She hesitated for just a second and only had to say the polite thing. "Thank you."

Nodding his head he left.

"He doesn't need to show me this much hospitality." She remained quiet for the rest of the evening. The vegetable and beef stew satisfied her and so did the herbal tea, with a hint of lemon. Not long after she finished her meal she had fallen into a peaceful sleep.

Inukag4eva: I hope this chapter was to your liking.

Lelush: Glad you are enjoying this story and I hope this chapter was to your liking.

CherryBlossonFairy: Glad you are enjoying this story and I hope this chapter was to your liking.

Thank you Elohiniar once again for being an amazing beta. Guys please go give her a follow, she's an amazing writer. Don't forget to leave a review. I love getting them.