Red Strings of Fate
Chapter 5
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*Thoughts*
[Character]
~* Chapter 5: Lord Toushi's Arrival *~
[Kisika]
The next three days passed without incident. Through careful manipulation, I
secured Rin some freedom while isolating
both. Jaken, for his part, pouted in his room,
thoroughly chastised.
Rin, however, became much more active as the days
wore on, her stale court mask melting away to reveal her refreshingly energetic
personality. Saddened that she would have to go back to court, but resigned to
it, I allowed her to get away with some escapades that would have caused
Fortunately, the lord youkai was in his own dark
mood, too busy terrorizing his guests and servants to notice the actions of his
ward. I watched him stalking the halls, and did nothing to stop his rampage. In
my mind, the whole lot of fools deserved it.
A point of great concern arose when Sesshoumaru again
asked after the kitchen drudge.
"Why can't she be found?" he barked irritated, his fury apparent on
his face.
I remained unruffled by his anger, knowing that he would never raise a hand
against me.
"There are many kitchen drudges," I answered logically, seeking to
deflect his line of query.
His eyes snapped to my face, and he rapidly described the girl, punctuating his
words with quick motions of his hand.
As I had feared, he described Rin perfectly.
Inadvertently my eyes dropped away to the tea in my hand, and I did something I
rarely ever had before. I lied to the one who was like an elder brother to me,
my cousin, Sesshoumaru.
"I am afraid that one ran away," I stated reluctantly. And because he
had no reason to doubt my word, he took it at face value, his anger clouding
his usually sharp and meticulous mind.
A growl escaped his throat, and I watched his rare display of temper, knowing
he felt enough at ease with me to lose his composure.
Sensing his frustration, I began to suggest a solution. "There are certain
lady youkai present whose skills-"
"I do not need you to find me a whore," he retorted, his eyes
flashing.
I stared up at him, careful to keep my face blank. He really was magnificent in
his anger, with his entire being animated by it, and I despaired anew that no
female had been able to elicit that same desire from him.
*That's not true* my logical mind whispered.
As if to punctuate that point, Sesshoumaru continued
along the same train of thought, as stubborn as only a dog could be.
"Has a search been conducted for her?"
"Not as of now," I stalled. "I didn't believe it to be
necessary."
He paced, his hand clenched in a fist.
"She still is my subject. Please organize one immediately," he
ordered, trusting me to see it done.
*Since when did you ever care before?* I accused silently, but deeper I knew
the answer. Rin had been the one to change him,
subtly, and Rin was the only one to elicit such a
fiery response.
"I'll see to it, my lord," I bowed my head to hide my expression, not
entirely sure that my thoughts remained hidden.
His eyes immediately alighted on my face, as if he sensed some ulterior motive.
They narrowed and I knew that if he started interrogating me, I would confess
all.
"Forgive me," I pacified him. "But I do not understand your
interest in a mere kitchen drudge."
Watching his lips suppress into an uncomfortable line, I knew I had said the
right thing to throw him off and put him on the defense.
"It is nothing," he said as he turned his back to me, and I would
have given alot to see his expression right then.
"I simply hate to see disorder go unpunished."
*Liar* I smirked in my mind. But guessing the truth correctly brought no
satisfaction.
*You love her* I told him silently, knowing he would deny it to his last
breath.
*And you would lose her to another rather than be like your father* I chastised
him without words.
I said nothing, nodding my head in agreement. Standing with my empty cup in
hand, I excused myself, telling him I would see to the search personally.
Alone in the hall I regretted the fact that there was no one to search for, and
that the girl he longed for resided in the suite next to his.
[Rin]
I stood in the late afternoon sunshine, bemoaning the fact that my vacation had
been cut short. A human lord, delayed by the death of his father, was just now
arriving and I was to be the main one to meet him.
Kisa-sama, looking troubled, had shown up in my rooms
and ordered me to be dressed promptly.
Hisai, who had been knitting on a blanket when
stand front and center, the moth youkai worked her
magic with clothing, make up, and hair, turning me into a lady once more.
Kisa-sama's gaze raked over me critically, and I
fought not to fidget. Finally she gave a sharp nod.
"You'll do," she pronounced with none of her usual affection.
Immediately I felt my confidence drop, and wondered what I had done to fall in
her esteem.
I opened my mouth to ask, but she cut me off.
"Lord Toushi Makashi
will be arriving shortly. He has just received his title from his father
recently, and we are privileged to have him here," she paused to fix me
with another cool, assessing glare that reminded me of the blood relation she
shared with Sesshoumaru-sama.
"His grandfather served under Sesshoumaru's
father for many years and during that time many of us came to greatly respect
the Makashi clan, including Lord Sesshoumaru
and myself.
"I would like you to see to his comfort personally, and to serve him as
hostess."
The steel in her personality peeked out, and all the excuses I had thought to
give died in my throat.
"Yes, my lady," I complied.
Which left me out here, in the courtyard, heading a posse of
servants readied to whisk away the lord's luggage.
My first impression was of the lord, who rode at the head of his small
contingency of body guards with ease and confidence. He was impressive in his
formal robes, with a katana and a short sword strapped at his side. Under his
helmet, one stray lock of blue black hair escaped, softening his commanding
stance with a boyish look.
Dark, dark eyes, ones that put my own to shame, swept over me with piercing
judgment. Suddenly I stopped feeling inadequate and lifted my chin in pride. I
was representing both Sesshoumaru-sama and
His eyes gentled, and a clever, challenging smile lit his face, letting me know
he liked what he saw. He rode into the gates and straight up to me, refusing to
stop until I was nose to nose with his horse.
I met his eyes levelly, not cowed at all.
Another amused smile, and he dismounted, sweeping me a
bow.
"My Lady Rin?" he asked.
"Lord Toushi Makashi,"
I greeted him, and turning to the servants, signaled them to begin unpacking.
"Please call me Toushi," he specified,
making fun of my formal air.
I smiled, knowing that he expected me to respond by telling him to call me by
my name. Instead, I tested his name on my lips, ushering him inside.
I turned, leaving him to follow or not. An anticipatory smile cracked my lips
as he strode to catch up. It seemed that court life had just become
interesting.
[Sesshoumaru]
I sat at the head of the table, my dark glower unsettling all but the two that
sat to my left. Kiska, to my right, was unusually
reserved, and I sensed that some private torment was eating away at her.
Perhaps, when we were younger, she would have shared it with me, but somehow I
knew that now she would not.
The rest of the guests ate in silence, my anger still fresh on their minds.
away amiably, eating heartily and having a grand time.
I watched as he leaned over and commented in her ear, startling her into the
first laugh I had heard from her all summer.
If anything, my look became darker. Beside me, Kisika
laid a gentle hand on my arm.
"If you scare away the guests with your dark looks, we will have to host
court next summer too," she warned quietly.
Taking her advice, I looked down at the meal before me. Sneering at it, I
turned to Kisika.
"Have you found the girl?" I asked, impatiently stubborn.
"Not a trace," she replied immediately.
I studied her, having expected some sort of hesitancy when she lied. Why she
was protecting the girl was beyond me, but I had stuck with the topic merely
for the goal of finally finding out. Or, at least that is what I told myself.
I let the subject drop for now, knowing I would get no more out of my cousin
tonight.
[Hisai]
I chaperoned the pair in the main garden, keeping a discreet distance while
they strolled through, making small talk. Closely I watched his hands, ready to
catch any errant fingers that strayed too near my lady.
A grin, akin to the one the Mona Lisa wore, lighted my face.
him. There was a joyous, mischievous lady in his future, but that lady was not
Rin laughed and put a hand on the boy's arm, her
innocent act of trust also flirtatious and seductive. A long suffering sigh
escaped my lips.
*What a troublesome pair you are* I scolded her and Sesshoumaru
silently. *Requiring me to drag myself here personally to attend to you both!*
I stuck my hand in my pocket, fingering the weaving shuttle hidden there and
the spool of red thread my sister had gifted me with upon my request. In my
mind's eye, the weave of the world materialized and I caressed the thread
currently wrapped around the shuttle.
*Perhaps it is time to give it another twist* I thought to myself.