Someone to Protect- Chapter 2

######## STANDARD DISCLAIMER HERE #########
          ####### I DON'T OWN INUYASHA IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM#######

Author Notes:
I'm working on the next chapter of my other story "It had to be you.". I hope to have it up soon.

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Now let's get back with the story…
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"Let's go Raidon. Tomorrow will another adventurous day. First, we need to see what more the main land has to offer, and then I need to prepare Rin for her new life as my wife."  He then galloped off to the town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And few hours later ~~~~~~~~~~

'Home sweet home.'  Rin mused, as she slowly walked into a wildflower meadow by a mountain. In front of her was the temporary fortress of the mighty Lord of the Western land… Sesshomaru. For the past nine years, she had lived in the meeker but beautiful dwelling with her Lord, Jaken and a few other demon servants that Sesshomaru gently persuaded to work for him.  

There were times she missed their nomadic lifestyle, but this was the way her Lord wanted it. She guessed that he either grew tried of always rescuing her from homicidal humans or deranged youkais who wanted to use her as bait to get to him.

Yes, coming to this place was the beginning of a new life in a way. It allowed her to learn swordsmanship and combat skills. However, that was counterbalance by tedious, painstaking lessons in proper etiquette and household management that she hated with any fiber in her body.

Her only real sorrow about being here was that she was no longer allow to travel with her Lord. When he first told her about his decision, she thought she was going to die on the spot. Day after day, and night after night she spent racking her brain trying to think what she did to make him started hating her.

Then it dawn on her, all the things Master Jaken had ever told her about why her Lord kept her around. It had to be because she was a weak human that was the only thing that made sense. So the test was over, he was finished observing her. She was of no use anymore, she had become a nuisance and utterly disposable.

She wanted to cry, but that was something a weak person would do. So she came up with an idea that would keep her by her Lord's side forever. Strength, respect, and obedience  were qualities she knew her Lord respected.  Then those qualities are what she would aim for from that moment on. She may not live longer enough to see her Lord's completed empire as Master Jaken told her longer ago. But she would make sure during the rest of her life with him, that if he ever needed a strong warrior to fight along side him. She would be the first choice.

She was brought out of her thoughts were she heard,

"R-R-I-I-N-N!"

"Huh?" She turned around to see Jaken running toward her. 'Ooohhh…' She groaned, 'The perfect end to a perfect day.'  She thought sarcastically, and then a silly idea popped in her mind. She began running toward him wearing a silly lovely dovey expression on her face and shouting, "Master Jaken! Master Jaken! I found you at last. Yea!"

Jaken fall backward and then tried his best to run away from her, "Stupid girl! Have you lost your mind?!  What demon has taken hold of you?!"

Rin jumped into the air and tackle him to the ground, she then pick up his tiny body and spin him around like a doll, "Master Jaken, you know you're my best friend." she said giddily.

"Rin put me down at once!"

"Oh…you're no fun." She pouted playfully and placed him back on the ground.

As Jaken straight himself up, he finally took notice of Rin's messy appearance, "Rin you've been fighting again…haven't you?! How many times must you be told…."

Jaken stopped mid sentence an inhaled the air about her, "sniff…sniff…sniff…sniff"

'Oh hell! I forgot to wash off  Masaharu scent.'  Rin thought uneasily .

"Rin…what have you been doing?" He asked eyeing curiously.

"Ah…" She tried to think fast and started chewing on her bottom lip.

"The better question is… who have you been with?"

Jaken and Rin turned their heads to meet a pair of narrow golden eyes.

"My Lord Sesshomaru! Welcome back home!" Jaken happily laughed as he ran to his  side and then gravel at his feet .

" You're so annoying, Master Jaken." Rin thought as she rolled her eyes and stared at Jaken disgraceful display.

Sesshomaru completely ignored Jaken theatrics and kept his golden gaze trained on her, "Answer my question Rin?"

Rin jumped to attention, squared her shoulders and gave a respectful bow,  "I apologize for my imprudent my Lord. I had some trouble with a youkai during my outing at the village today. And a stranger help me with it."  'Please …please…please don't ask me anything else.' She thought to herself.

Sesshomaru kept his expressionless face and said, "Jaken, go to the castle and have the servants prepare my bath."

"Most assurely my Lord." Jaken replied, as he then scurry on his way to the castle. Rin was about to follow him, when Sesshomaru stopped her.

"Rin stay. I am not finished with you yet."

She started mentally cussing the fates for her luck, "Yes…my Lord." How could she forget about something so basic. A youkai's nose can detect strange scents. That was lesson 101, and her Lord could detect a strange scent from over ten miles away.

As Rin watched Jaken's figure slowly disapper toward the castle. She turned her attention  to her Lord.  He was still the same after all this time. Well, that wasn't exactly true.  He still looked the same tall, regal, and with a face of angel. It was just his marking along his cheeks were slightly wider, and jagged looked in places.

And his hair was somewhat different. It was still the most beautifulness slivery-white she'd ever seen. But it was longer now, and he always  wore it in a high ponytail expect in  the castle where he would wore it loose.

Yes, other than those minor changes her Lord was just the same. He would always be the person she admired, and wanted to serve.

"Rin, now tell me about this stranger who help you?"

"The stranger my Lord?"

He narrowed his eyes more and that made Rin shiver in fear, " Rin…"

"I'm sorry again my Lord. It was a man who helped me. I didn't get much information from him. But, he was quite dfferent from anyone I have never seen before."

"How so?"

"I can't put it into words my Lord. He was just different."

He pondered over her words for a few minutes before saying, "Rin, I want you to burn those clothes after you take your bath."

Rin was shocked. She just couldn't believe her ears, why must she destroy her birthday clothes. They were the only things she had from Kagome's world. She didn't want to lose them.

"But my Lord, I can wash them really good." She pleaded "I assure you that the…"

"Enough!" He barked, "You will burn those clothes! And for questioning my wishes,  you will run around the castle twenty times in full combat gear. Do I make myself clear Rin."

She felt tears start to form in her eyes, but she will them not to fall. She hadn't cried in front of him since she was twelve, and she be damn if she would started now.

"Yes my Lord." She replied in an uneasy voice. They stood there looking at each other a few minutes more, before he turned a walked toward the castle. She watched him a little longer and then said sadly, " I guess dealing with one human stench is enough for any demon."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~During the same time in the village~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

"Did you have anything in mind Sir?"

"I don't know. I need something unique for a special young woman." Masaharu answered.

"We have several different items that were imported from a few European countries." the merchant responded, "Here let me bring them out."

As Masaharu waited for the merchant to come back to the front of  the store, he started to wandered around.  He had only met Rin a few hours ago, and he couldn't get her out of his mind. It didn't make any sense, normally it was women who always chased after him. He wasn't conceited or anything but, he knew he was a handsome man.

'Rin, what kind of spell have you cast over me.'  He thought. And then as if by magic, he stopped and looked down to see a sparkling item.

"It perfect!" He commented, "It will look beautiful on her, especially after I get finished with it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back at the castle~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Ridiculous." He muttered out to himself.

The Lord of the Western lands was annoyed. He had been relaxing in the hot springs for over two hours, and he still hadn't got  rid of a certain ache.

He had been away on  patrol for the past four months, only to come back a find an offensive stench on his property. And when he told her to get rid on the source of the odor, she had the gall of trying to disobey him.

He stood up, grabbed his  robe and moved toward his chambers. He just couldn't fathom  that was happening with Rin. Whatever happen to the little girl who always  listen to his every command without question, she was now replaced with a rough, obstinate woman.

Once Sesshomaru got to his chambers, he change into his evening kimono and started grooming his hair. Then walked out into his balcony, sat on the stone bench in the corner, and started to recall the first time Rin's behavior became perplexing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was in the castle's garden area reading a book, when he heard Rin calling for him. Normally, she was chatty and always bothering Jaken in some amusing way. But, ever since they arrived at his castle, she changed greatly she was now more quiet, and kept herself locked in her room. It was pleasing  to see her back to her old self again.

"My Lord, may  I  train in swordsmanship." a panting and overzealous twelve year Rin asked.

"Why ?"

"Well, I  ah…." She started to play with her hands, " ah…thought when  you and Master Jaken are on patrol, I'll be able to protect myself."

"Not necessary. You will be in the castle. You will be safe."

"But my Lord, I don't want to stay locked up in the castle. I want to go exploring sometime."

"No! You will stay within the castle's walls." Thinking that that was the end of their conversation. He when back reading his book, but he was wrong.

"No, I will not!"  She said defiantly.  

"What was that?" He was shocked by her answer, but as usual  his face and his voice never showed it.

"I said no my Lord. I will learn swordsmanship even if it is without your blessing. Please forgive my disrespect my Lord, but I want to serve you  to the best of my own ability. So I asked again, please allow me this training."  Her body was shaking slightly and her hands clutched into tight fists.  

If it was anyone else, they would have been dead, before they could even blink. But this was Rin, the only person he truly tolerated. So he decided that he would allow her to take the lessons. He thought that she would grow tried of them, and that way if she ever asked him again for some other fighting lessons. He would throw this little fiasco back in her face.  

But her disrespect had to punished, and he knew the perfect way. He place the book down, and gracefully stood up causing her to nervously step back. " Do as you please Rin. In three days were will be a demon trainer here to teach you. But, you will not do taught as if you were human, you will learn the demon way."

He notice that she started to gulped hard, but he was finished with her yet.

"And  your punishment for your disrespect will be…that you  will run around the castle one time in full combat gear. Now go to Jaken and get suited up." With that he left the garden area and a shocked little girl behind.

Rin's first three months of training went exactly how Sesshomaru thought. Every day she would come in tired, and achy. Her scar free skin due to the Tensaiga help now had nicks and cuts across it. And surprisingly he never hear her complain.

So it was also quite surprising to Sesshomaru when she began to really flourish in her training. According to her instructor she was a very dedicated student, and she seem to have a unnatural talent with the katana.  So when she asked to learn martial art also, he had no other choice but to say yes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshomaru thoughts were interrupted by a very sweet smell. He got up from his seat, and turned his attention to the ground. Rin had just turned the corner in her gear, and judging by her breathing  pattern she must be on her final lap.

"Rin!" He said loud enough for her to hear.

She stopped automatically, and looked up into his golden eyes.

"What lap are you on?"

"This is my-y… final one… my Lord." She panted heavily.

"Well stop now, come in and clean up."

She placed her hand across her chest to her other shoulder and bowed, "As you command my Lord." she then stood up and limped slightly  toward the castle.

He didn't understand why she found it necessary to salute him like that all the time, but he's pride refuse to tell her to stop. He walked back into his room and sat at  his desk, "Magnolias." was the only word the left his lips, as he started to work on the papers in front of him.

The Lord of the Western land was in denial. He would never make it  known, not even to himself but he wish for the old Rin back. Because the only time she would laugh was when she thought he was not around. The only time she would pick flowers and sing a songs was when she thought he was not around. The only time she would show her fears or any other part of her humanity was when she thought he was not around.

But, why should he care how she acted, Sesshomaru thought. He had no one to protect, all he had was a certain ache he couldn't get rid of.