The End [7/12]

[Calla Lily]

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One bright afternoon, when Jaken was particularly annoying the demon with talk of the latest rendezvous, his Master decided to leave the palace and spy on what Rin was up to in the human village that she chose to visit today. For one who claimed to hate the human race with a deep loathing, he certainly gave free reign to one particular female. Using his farsighted demon eyes, he saw that she was with a group of girls her age, all sitting under shady tree and occasionally skipping rocks into a nearby pond. She wore the same clothes as the other girls, summer dresses to keep their skin cool under the sizzling heat. After eating lunch together in comfortable companionship, they began to talk of various things; most topics were mundane compared to life at the palace... Besides Rin and a few others, Sesshoumaru hadn?t given much consideration to their daily lives, convinced that their short lifespan were a waste of the earth?s time. But here he was, watching.

?Rin, let?s see you give it a try.? This one must be older than the others.

?Sure, but don?t get mad if I beat you to it.? Another girl laughed, they must be playing a game.

?I bet she?ll do it though.? A pebble was thrown and it skimmed the surface of the pond.

?? Three, four, five? seven, eight, nine times. She wins.? Someone choked as she was patted hard at the back.

?I told you not to get mad if I won.? Sesshoumaru smiled softly from where he stood, that was his girl.

?Ah, life is grand.?

?Don?t we all know it.? Some said semi-sarcastically. The other girls all turned towards the speaker.

?Is something wrong??

?Well, she says ?life is grand? because she has everything in the world.?

?Are you jealous of something??

?No.? The voice replied crabbily. The youkai saw one of the other girls crawl closer to the unhappy one and whispered, ?You like someone?? then she grinned.

?I do not!? and accused turned bright red to the great amusement of her other girlfriends as they laughed in unison.

?Tell us, tell us.? They chanted in unison as the girl turned an even darker shade of red. She mumbled, ?I don?t like anyone.? Rin shook her head sadly. ?Denial.?

?Is there no one here who will defend me??

?Not until you confess.?

?I don?t, I really don?t. I was just saying that I?m jealous,? her voice softened down to a murmur, ?that some of us have boyfriends while the rest of us don?t.? Peals of laughter reached Sesshoumaru?s ears. As he continued to watch, he felt an urge to continue watching their close-knit group. They picked sparkling fruit off the trees, ran barefoot through the dirt roads, danced in the meadows, and talked freely. Seldom did their conversations interest him, but not since Rin was a child, nor that incident on the rooftop did he hear her speak her mind so liberally?

?So, Rin are you planning to stay with us sometime?? His ears perked up.

?I?m not sure yet, I would like to but my household is very busy right now.?

?Do they make you do cook and clean the rooms and beg??

?Beg? What kind of question is that? Of course she doesn?t do any of those things.? Multiple pairs of eyes focused on the maiden in question.

?Err, no. Nothing like that.?

?So, are you planning to leave the palace then??

?Why would I? It?s my home.?

?What about those rumours of the Lord of the Western Lands, you?ve told us yourself he?s not fond of humans.? A pair of silver eyebrows frowned.

?That?s a yes and no answer. He?s kind to me but he avoids getting involved in the lives of other humans.?

?You?ve never questioned his motives of why he?s keeping you for so long??

?I?m ending this conversation now?? But the girls pleaded enough to have Rin answer one last question.

?Will you leave the palace??

?I don?t plan to.?

?Will you be thrown out??

?I said I?d answer only one question.?

?Will you be kicked out??

?NO.?

?Why not??

?No more questions??

?Why NOT???

?I suppose it?s because I?m part of the household.? She reasoned out wearily, ?I feel as if I belong there.?

?He takes good care of you, doesn?t he?? A star-eyed lass said.

?The best.?

?You love him, don?t you?? She answered effortlessly.

?Of course. He?s my guardian.?

?But does he love you?? Rin hesitated and brought her eyebrows together in brief concentration.

?He may not say it? but I think the answer is yes.? She smiled gently at her friends.

The smallest sigh escaped Sesshoumaru?s lips when he heard this. He had heard enough and it was time for him to head back for the palace, before Jaken went to search for him and land himself in trouble instead.



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