Roses and Thorns

From Me To You…I know Rin’s speech may be a little more for an 8 year old, so I’m thinking she’s about 10 or so in my story.  Think as you like. 

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Rin was cautiously steering down the slippery steps that led to the dungeon, trying to balance a small tray of various foods in one hand and half a burning candle in the other. ‘I know Lord Sesshoumaru doesn’t like his brother, but that doesn’t mean he can’t eat.’ she thought. ‘He may be a hanyou, but from what I have seen of him, he isn’t too terribly bad.’ She didn’t know where his cell was exactly, so she kept going until she heard the growling.



“What are you doing down here you little brat?” came the graveled voice.



“Are y-you In-Inuyasha?” she asked meekly. For she didn’t recognize him in the state he was in. His hair was dirty, disheveled and in tangled knots, his clothing looked like it was tinged with green mold, and crusted over with Kami knew what. With the way these dungeons were kept, it didn’t take long for nasty disgusting things to take over.  The stench was overwhelming for even her tiny human nose. She knelt down and scooted the tray through an opening under the iron bars.



“I brought you some food. I know you must be hungry. After all, you’re not like my Lord Sesshoumaru who doesn’t have to eat every day.”



“Don’t compare me to that bastard!” he lunged at the bars, grabbing onto the cold cylinders, which then blew him back into his cell, landing hard into the wall.



“Lord Sesshoumaru said that these cells were cursed, and that only human hands can touch them.”



“Feh!  I’m only half, remember little girl?  So it happens sometimes.” was her only reply from the hanyou now sinking into the shadows, with his arms crossed, and bangs covering his eyes, not even once glancing at the food she brought. The tiny girl stood there for a moment looking over her Lord’s half brother before heading back up the stairs. ‘Nope, he’s nothing like Lord Sesshoumaru, but he’s still not so bad.’



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Miroku and Sango both plopped themselves onto the ground, sweat pouring off of them. “Kagome, onegai,” Sango cried, “let’s rest a bit, we’ll find him soon.”



“Kami” whispered Miroku, “she’s getting as bad as he is.”



“I heard that houshi.”





Sango looked at Miroku in amazement. “She heard that? From up there?”



“Yes, I did Sango.” Kagome was coming back towards them.



“The castle isn’t much further now. I saw the bare tips of the turrets from the crest of that last hill” sweat was threatening to drip into her chocolate brown eyes, and as soon as she stopped, her legs turned into jello. “Okay, we’ll rest a bit. Inuyasha’s still out there you know.”



Grins placed themselves on their weary faces. “Thanks Kagome, I really didn’t think you were going to stop until dark.” a worried Sango said.



“Well, we do still have a little ways to go, and besides, I don’t want to think of what kind of trouble he’s gotten himself into now, I mean, it’s been nearly a week.” Kagome started pulling out the ramen from her bag. “Shippou?” the little kitsune stirred from her shoulder.



“Hai, mama?” mumbled the boy fox.



“I need you to go and gather some firewood so I can make our lunch.” As soon as he heard the mention of food, the kitsune was off and running.



“Okay!”



Kagome gave a weak smile as she continued to prepare for their lunch. ‘What would we ever do without that little guy? He’s always so naïve, yet so optimistic at the same time.  I can’t wait to get to that castle, maybe someone has heard something of Inuyasha.  I hope.’  She looked forlornly in the direction it sat.



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Lord Sesshoumaru was settled in a plush burgundy and oak wood chair in the middle of his library. His greatest enjoyment really, was sitting in amongst his books. They were his most precious things. His second greatest was sitting in here with Rin as she read to him, granted he had to correct her many a time, but it was still some grand moments. Why he enjoyed it, he couldn’t understand. His parents did no such thing with him. Of course, he never told anyone he enjoyed it so.  He settled into his chair to start reading a new book purchased by one of his servants in the nearby village, when he was interrupted yet once again, as always…



“Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru!” came the squeaky voice.



“What is it Jaken?” growled the stoic Lord, placing his untouched book onto the desk.



“I am sorry if I have interrupted you Mi’Lord, but I have something to tell you!” the little imp was out of breath.



“Well, what is it Jaken?”



“Mi’Lord, that little girl, Rin, she took some food down to the dungeons to that nasty hanyou!”



Sesshoumaru couldn’t help but take a big sigh. “I know Jaken, I said she could.” he then glowered at the frog. “Anything else?”



“N-no, Mi’Lord. I am sorry I troubled you.”



“You know, if you and Rin got along, everything would run smoothly here.  Remember, I’ll decide to have you two mated if you don’t.”



“Yes Mi’Lord. I will try harder.”  The little toad shuddered at the thought and left.



“See that you do Jaken, see that you do.”  He did love to torture his servant as well.



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In the cell down below…





‘Damn it all to hell. If and when I get out of here, I won’t ever leave Kagome again. No matter how much we fight. Feh. Wait til Kouga gets a whiff of this one. I’ll never hear the end of it.’ Inuyasha shifted into a more comfortable position if that was even possible. His thoughts now and again wavering between Kagome and his bastard brother.  Hoping against hope that she wouldn’t come this way looking for him.  Knowing though that she somehow would.



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Dun dun dun…I'm an updating fool tonight!  I hope ya’ll still love me after I fix all of this.   Not much has changed in the early chapters, but as I get further along, there may be a few different things.  Maybe whole new chapters.  We shall see.  Please tell me what you think as we move along.

~Much Love~

Faerie Demoness