-Chapter One-
-Nothing stays the same.-
"There was never a good war or a bad peace."
- Ben Franklin
-I will only say this once, so listen. I sadly, do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. But one day… One day… Oh who am I kidding? Go on and read the story.-
It had been four winters since the evil Naraku had been slain by Inuyasha and his miko companion. Sesshomaru may not have even believed his bother would be capable of such a feat, had he not witnessed it all for himself. Many years had Sesshomaru; great and powerful Lord of the Western Lands, traveled the country side in search of Naraku with his young ward Rin and his loyal toad follower Jaken. Now; however, there was no longer any need to roam the country. Soon after Naraku was defeated, Sesshomaru, Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un returned to the great castle of the west to stay indefinitely.
Four long and uneventful years had passed.
"Sesshomaru! Sesshomaruuu!" A much older Rin yelled, as she bounced throughout the halls of her beloved lord's castle.
"Hmm. Now where could Lord Sesshomaru have gone to this time?" Rin said as she placed a hand on her hip and an index finger to her chin.
Rin looked around and continued her search through the castle for Sesshomaru. She slowed her search to a walk as she heard foot steps around the corner. Jaken, the little toady imp rounded the corner with a very irritated look on his face. "Rin! Why do you insist on filling my chamber with all of those wild flowers! After over four years of being in my company, one would POSSIBLY keep in mind that I dislike them being anywhere near me," the imp screeched waving his arms in the air.
"Oh! Master Jaken! I picked those wildflowers out in the garden this morning! I picked some for Lord Sesshomaru as well," Rin stated as she pointed to her bag over her shoulder, filled with flowers. "I have been unable to find him though… Have you seen him?"
Jaken looked at her awe stricken, 'Rin is always sitting inside the gardens watching the fountains or picking flowers! Such childish nonsense. But to think she always picks some for me as well as Lord Sesshomaru…'
"Master Jaken?... Master Jaken?..." Rin questioned him as he stood with a dazed look about his face.
"Oh! Sesshomaru is in his study of course. You must have made no effort to find him at all!" Jaken said with a matter-o-fact tone. "However, you know how much our lord enjoys his peace and quite. You also know not to disturb him, when he is having his personal time in his study."
Rin grinned at Jaken clearly not paying attention to his warnings, and turned around and once again continued her search for Sesshomaru. Jaken merely sighed and continued about his business; meanwhile Rin was nearing the study doors.
Her bouncy chocolate brown hair swayed from side to side and she walked down the hallway. She had grown over the past four years a lot, physically and mentally. She no longer randomly danced throughout the hallways, or frolicked through the meadows and gardens. No, she now would visit her favorite places and remain stationary so she could sit and observe the world and all of its natural beauty. Her physical features also became more womanly, yet also much defined.
"Sesshomaru! Sesshomaruuuu!" Rin shouted gleefully and she knocked on the door.
She wasn't kept waiting long, for the door opened soon after she knocked. "Rin. Tell me what it is it that you wish to tell this Sesshomaru." He stated with his normal stoic mask he always wore.
"Lord Sesshomaru! I have gathered flowers for you from the garden!" She smiled happily as she reached in her bag and pulled out a large bouquet of flowers. He just stood there, and looked at her.
He nodded in approval and she smiled a smile almost too big for her face. Sesshomaru began thinking to himself, 'Such simple things make this Sesshomaru's Rin happy.' He shook the last thought out of his head. 'I do not claim this girl. She is but a mere human, and that is something I shall take no part in.'
Sesshomaru grinned inwardly as she excitedly walked past him and replaced the flowers in the vase on the table near his desk with the new flowers she had picked for him. She tenderly arranged the flowers in the vase and finally became content with her masterpiece after a minute of arranging. Rin turned around to present the flower arrangement to her Lord, but paused when she met his pair of golden eyes. "Lor..Lord Sesshomaru… Your flowers!" Rin stuttered.
Sesshomaru gazed at her and thought to himself, 'It seems as if this Sesshomaru is able to pull forth a strange reaction from Rin when I gaze into her eyes.' He caught himself, 'Of course, I am capable of bringing any kind of reaction from whom ever I wish.' The thought of having such an effect on Rin still left him curious though. Was she not the same child that followed him on his journey to find Naraku? No. She was much more… grown up.
He gave her another nod of approval and she gave him one of her best smiles as she placed the vase back on the desk. "Lord Sesshomaru, will you be coming down to dinner with us tonight? My lord, you have been missing it for weeks." A solemn look took over her face.
'Hn. This Sesshomaru answers to no one.' He looked back at her, and seen her smile had faded. "I shall join you tonight. However; I owe no answer to anybody so expecting one any further is futile."
Rin's smile returned to her face and she bowed over and replied, "Oh of course not M'Lord!"
"Rin."
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru?"
"You need not bow, you aren't employed by me."
"Just showing respect m'lord!" Her smile widened. "Excuse me Lord Sesshomaru."
He nodded and she exited his study.
--
Rin walked back to her room, dazed and slightly confused. 'What was that… that feeling that Lord Sesshomaru gave me? I felt like dancing, like running through a field of flowers, like taking a hot bath, like… like… like nothing I've ever felt before maybe.' She reached her chamber doors and entered her room, sliding off her sandals. 'I'm supposed to feel this way towards Sesshomaru, am I not? Hmm. Speaking of hot bath…' She pulled off her kimono and walked to the hot spring room and lowered herself into the warm water. 'He saved my life many years ago… Literally. Also since then he's rescued me from danger on countless events. This affection for him, it's natural?' Rin soaked in the water and added rose scented oil into the water. 'Lord Sesshomaru likes roses… Well… He seems as if he keeps them longer than the other flowers I get him.' She eased out of the spring and toweled off.
--
"Lord Sesshomaru!" A panther demon with short messy hair ran towards his study. "Lord Sesshomaru, there have been disturbances in the lower regions of the lands from the southern lords army's. They have been stealing from the regions villages, and disturbing the peaceful demons." Takada said outside the study door. "My Lord?"
Sesshomaru sat in his study listening to the report from one of his army's generals. Takada was a strong, cunning, and loyal panther demon who was very skilled in the art of war. During the quiet seasons when crime rates were low, and wars were sparse, he would assign Takada to patrol his lands, for it was where he was in his element. He had no family, so roaming the country side was what he enjoyed, and when he asked for the position to do so, Sesshomaru granted it. The lord of the Western lands walked to his study doors and opened one.
"I see. This Sesshomaru shall take care of this matter." Sesshomaru stated flatly as he looked down the general.
"M'lord, there is no need for you to…" Takada was cut off by Sesshomaru.
"If I say that there is need you will do well no to question my actions. I owe you no explanation, but I will give you one anyways. This Sesshomaru has become bored. That is all."
Knowing he had already overstepped his boundaries Takada bowed deeply and left the corridor. Sesshomaru turned to return to his paper work, and to plan out his patrolling for tomorrow. Meanwhile Rin was making her way to the dining hall. The Sun was setting in the sky and the castle corridors were no longer glowing with the suns natural light. Rin was very used to navigating the castle with little light, for she would often venture into the kitchen for a midnight snack, or take a stroll through the garden for a breath of fresh air. Occasionally she would run into Sesshomaru, and he would sit in her company as she ate, or would wander the gardens with her, with some conversation depending on the night.
She entered the brightly lit dining hall as she took a seat in front of Jaken. "Master Jaken, have you seen lord Sesshomaru?"
Jaken shook his head.
"Did he say something came up, and he could not make it to dinner? He told me he would be coming." Rin's smile faded.
Jaken seemed distracted and kept looking over Rin's shoulder nervously. "Rin." Sesshomaru's voice sounded through the dining hall. "This Sesshomaru is one who always keeps his word. Did you not expect for me to come?"
Rin slowly turned around, her eyes darting to Sesshomaru's feet. "I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru. I know your word is as solid as the castle walls that surround us."
He replied with a small, "hn." And he took his seat at the head of the table.
"Jaken, Rin." Their eyes darted up at the sound of their lord's voice calling upon them. "The lower regions of the my lands have been under minor attack. Tomorrow I shall leave to attend to the disturbances. Jaken, you are to stay here with Rin. I will be back in fourteen days." He glanced over in Rin's direction, and seen her smile turn to a frown. 'What has her disturbed?'
Rin was anxious. Four years, had she been staying in the castle and now she had a chance to travel like they used to back in the days of hunting Naraku. She looked over to Sesshomaru who had taken notice to her when she frowned. "Rin," Sesshomaru said, "What is it?"
She looked around nervously before replying, "Oh, ah, nothing M'lord!"
"Rin, I am not someone you wish to lie to." Sesshomaru's eyes met hers.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I am sorry." Rin frowned. "I just wish to accompany you on your journey to the lower region of the lands." She noticed his face still showed no emotion and he was still looking at her, "That is, if it wouldn't be too much of a problem."
Sesshomaru looked at her, "Rin. If you were a burden this Sesshomaru would not keep you in his presence. You and Jaken shall accompany me to the lower regions of the lands." He took note to the large smile that spread across her face. 'Hn. Humans. Constantly they wear their hearts on their sleeves. It would do them good to keep their composure and learn to control the emotions that only lead to the loss of their life. There is no danger for her as she's with me. I'll let her get by with it.'
"Oh thank you lord Sesshomaru!" She was beaming with happiness.
The Group ate their delicious meals. Jaken had dismissed himself early, for the peppers in the soup gave him some hardcore indigestion. Sesshomaru and Rin were left at the table finishing the desert the waiters had brought out to them. Rin looked at Sesshomaru, 'flawless. Lord Sesshomaru is simply breath taking.' She shook her head. She can't have such thoughts of Lord Sesshomaru. He has been her protector, her friend… Nothing more.
The great lord of the Western lands watched as Rin shook her head. Heat rose to her cheeks making a natural pretty blush spread across her face. 'What is it about this Sesshomaru that makes my Rin blush at the thought of me?' He froze. 'She cannot be. Nor can I allow myself…'
"Sesshomaru," his thoughts were cut off. Rin noticed she caught him off guard. He looked into her eyes, and she seen the flash of emotion runs across his face, Affection. This made her lose her train of thought and there was a silence that seemed as if it would never be broken.
'This Sesshomaru is never at a loss for words.' He thought to himself. He decided to break this silence, but Rin had beaten him to the punch.
"Sesshomaru… I'm really glad you've kept me with you all these years. I just wanted to let you know." She smiled softly at him.
Without thinking, the corner of Sesshomaru's lips turned up, but then quickly went back down. Don't think this went un noticed by Rin though, she was inwardly celebrating. It wasn't every day that great Lord Sesshomaru or the Western Lands smiled. As a matter of fact it was something very rare indeed. "Rin," he began, "I do not keep you. I have always given you the option to go or stay if you so pleased to do so." He noticed the glow in her eyes die out some. 'Her happiness should not concern me. But why does this ail me inside?' It dawned on him. 'I will not have feelings for Rin. She is human.' He shook the thoughts from his head.
"Although, your company is valued by this Sesshomaru," he continued making her face brighten back up.
"Well M'lord, I believe I am finished with dinner. May I be dismissed?" Rin asked.
Before she could get up, Sesshomaru was already behind her, and pulling her chair gracefully out from under the table. A deep blush spread across her face, and she turned her head to look at Sesshomaru. His face still held the same emotionless mask it normally kept… but this time it was different. It wasn't half as cold as it usually was. "Thank you Lord Sesshomaru."
She stood up and looked at him. He turned around, and began walking down the hallway, with Rin in his wake. She was nearing her chamber door, and she was expecting him to continue his walk to his bedroom, on the next door down or to his study a door further. Rin was mistaken though, for she ran head on to Sesshomaru's chest. She looked up and met a gleaming pair of Amber eyes. 'Not a million beautiful flowers could equal his two eyes. So strong, so comforting… No. No! I cannot think this way.'
Sesshomaru noticed she was in her daze again. What to do to bring her out of it? Curiosity took the best of him. He took an eloquent clawed finger and slid it down the side of her perfectly shaped face. He enjoyed the reaction her body gave him at his touch. 'What is it that intrigues me so, about this girl?' No. Rin was no longer the girl that pestered his little imp follower, or the little girl frolicking about the meadows on their hunt for Naraku. No. Rin was a Woman now. Her small frame turned into a long slender, but built body. Toned, from continuous walks and training around the castle.
He was successful in pulling her out of her daze. She looked up at him and placed her hands on his chest. She took notice to how toned it was, even under his armor. What was it that drew her to him? Love? Lust? A mix of them both with pure curiosity? 'Too late to think about that now.' Rin thought to herself.
Sesshomaru also found himself questioning his actions. 'Rin. She is but a human. My father's downfall was that human woman, and it will be Inuyasha's too. Maybe just a family weakness. No. This Sesshomaru was not weak. Everything I do is purely free will. But why do I wish to exercise this free will? Have I accumulated feelings for Rin? No. But I shall explore the curious thoughts racing through my mind.'
He leaned over and pulled all of her hair to a bundle on one side of her neck and lightly breathed on her ear. She shuddered and he continued to follow his curiosity. He lightly took a claw and ran it down the side of her neck, and he noticed the chill bumps that appeared. He inwardly smirked to himself. Then, all of a sudden, she surprised him. Rin placed her hands behind the demon lords back and pulled him closer, tilting her neck to the side, giving him full access to it.
Sesshomaru couldn't help but smirk in her body's response. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, and then something happened. Sesshomaru's fangs began to grow along with the magenta stripes on his body. Red began to bleed in with the white in his eyes and a low growl came from his chest. Sesshomaru walked away from Rin, for her own good. Maybe later he could explain this action to her. But then again, he is the great lord of the western lands, and he owes a explanation to no one. Rin however, is someone.
Maybe she could be an exception.
--
Rin shook. Not from any emotion in specific. It was indescribable. What had just happened? And most importantly, why did Sesshomaru just up and walk away? She had noticed his slight physical changes, but what did that have anything to do with her? Rin was still curious… She had much more to explore. She entered her room and thought to herself, 'I can't get his touch out of my head… The way everything felt, the way he touched me. The way he smelled. I enjoyed every part of what just happened. The best part though, was that look he gave me.' Rin sighed. Was she in love with Lord Sesshomaru?
--
Sesshomaru collapsed onto his large and extremely comfortable bed. His fangs, stripes, and eyes were all back to normal. This mental battle; however, was far from over. 'WHY? What has she done to me? This Sesshomaru never loses his composure, and yet…' Rin had so easily stole any composure he had. 'My senses are wrong. My inner Yokai was doing nothing but screaming for me to take her. To make her my mate.' He covered his eyes with a long eloquent hand. 'This Sesshomaru taking a human mate. How would I look to my peers and equals, and better yet, the other Lords? Hn. This feeling…' He rubbed his temple. 'Hn. Feelings... No matter though. If this Sesshomaru ever did decide to do such a preposterous thing, I would simply annihilate any other beings who challenged my decisions.'
--
They both lay on their beds, in their chambers quietly contemplating the situation at hand. It was almost as if their minds were in synch when they thought simultaneously, 'Nothing ever stays the same.'
--
-So... Depending on the reveiws i get, I MIGHT continue. Oh, who am i kidding. I'm updating regaurdless of the reveiws I get. Even if i just have one reader. haha I'd totally be more motivated though. PS. Expect longer chapters. -