Prisoner

Rin awoke with a scream.  She scrambled backwards, hands at her throat.

'Are you alright?'

She blinked rapidly, surveying her surroundings.  She was in a cave some sort, and beside her was...

'Ki-Kiyoko?' She hoarsely asked.

Her friend gently rubbed her head, 'I don't know what happened.  We were swimming, and then Lord Sesshomaru appeared.'

Rin gently touched her throat.  It was bruised, and she became aware how much it hurt to speak.  'W-why?'

Kiyoko looked away, 'I don't know.  I don't like him, but that dragon has been hanging outside of this cave ever since.'

A-Un!

She ran to the front of the cave, and threw her arms around the dragon.  It was only when she shivered that she realized she wore no clothes.

'You were really heavy.  But your kimono is over there.  I don't know what's going on.  But I think we should go talk this over with Lady Kaede--'

Rin immediately climbed onto A-Un's back.  'Rin can't!' And she started to cough, illiciting a cry of concern from Kiyoko, 'Please, Kiyoko, you have to let me follow him.  Lord Sesshomaru would not hurt Rin.  Not ever.  Something must be wrong.'

Kiyoko chewed her lower lip nervously, and Rin prayed she would not intervene, 'But he hurt you...'

'I will be back in a couple of days.  I can catch up with A-Un.' It hurts... She coughed again, and her hand went to her throat.  It really, really hurt to talk.  And she wasn't even sure if Kiyoko heard her, her voice was so hoarse.

Kiyoko glanced away, clearly thinking, 'What will I tell Lady Kaede?  She won't accept that--'

'T-tell her I am with Lord Sesshomaru and will be back.'  It was the truth, 'Please?'

Kiyoko crossed her arms, and looked at the ground, 'fine, but you have to promise me you will return.  I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happned to you.'

Rin jumped off of A-Un's back and threw her arms around Kiyoko.  She squeezed her tightly and then hurried to put her kimono on, and then ran back, and then she hugged her again.

Her heart was pounding.  But all she could think about was Lord Sesshomaru.  This was not him.  He was not cruel.  She would make sure everything was okay.  There had to be an explanation.

Rin flew in the air.

And with her back to Kiyoko, there was no way that she could see the enormous and unnatural grin splitting Kiyoko's face. 'I think you will find a very different Sesshomaru waiting for you, human.'

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....Poor Rin...It's going to get really, uh, violent from here on out...