The Debt
folder
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Rin
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
2
Views:
3,313
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Rin
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
2
Views:
3,313
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
The Debt
Hello people. I’m back. Well kinda. Any ways, here is my new story. Just some info, so you know, this takes place in the 19th century, and although I’m not ganna stay historically accurate, it doesn’t take place in Japan. *gasp* that’s right, it’s an AU thing. Deal. I don’t wanna say Brittan or just Europe to more broad, but it might make a tad more sense if you believe so. I’ll get into detail as the story progresses I promise, I just don’t want to get flamed for something that’ll clear up on its own. Any who, enjoy.
_________________________________________________________
The drought took its toll.
What was once a wealthy farm land, now only dirt and death. Two full springs, and still the old man couldn’t produce vegetation. The once full water well, now a mere hole in the ground. How was he to provide for his family when all he could do was stare. Stare at his lands and watch it rot.
He owed money to the Lord of Western lands. He had promise to pay in full on the third year of his debt. Marvelous though it was the first year. He bought his wife a new coat, even bought new dresses for his three daughters. But the gamble was addictive and soon his pockets became empty.
Time was slowly ticking by, and he knew the Western Lord will drop by his front door and demand his payment.
But what was there to pay? The last two years have brought him nothing but salted earth and no rain. The crops began to wither, the rivers began to dry, and now he would lose the very house he built with his own two hands. There was nothing to take into town. His once populated spot on the market street was now busy selling handmade jewelry and crafts.
How disgraceful.
Pitiful and pathetic.
He was in a bind, and no one can save.
With a deep sigh, he looked across his lands again. Tomorrow would be a new day, and he hoped that the Western Lord would take pity on this old veteran.
~*~*~
“My dear husband, what ails you?”
The old man’s wife was sick with worry. Her husband had been distant for weeks now, even this morning, had refused to eat.
“Please, tell me. You didn’t touch your breakfast, you haven’t spoken to any one in weeks, and you’ve sold all of our livestock. What is bothering you to the point you’ve stopped living?”
He was cornered. Of course he hadn’t told her. Of course she didn’t ask. When he came home with a new coat and new dresses, she’d been most relieved that war hadn’t soured her husband. He was gone for years and when he returned it was her moment to relive a life that had been lived without him.
Yet now, this very moment, he seemed to have aged ten years in only a short few months. He looked so tired and worn. His once tanned skin was pale and dry.
Still he remained quite. Pacing around the room, deep in thought.
“DAMN IT, ANSWER ME!”
Too long had she remain silent, too long had she let him keep to himself, far too long she had stopped medaling in his business. Something big has him troubled and she refused to watch on the side as her husband slowly descends into nothing but sack of meat.
“I owe the Western Lord money. And for two years I have been unable to collect the amount owed.”
Her heart sank.
“He arrives tomorrow morning, after selling the livestock and all the slaves, I’ve managed to come up with half.”
Her eyes began to water.
“I fear, my love, this is the end.”
She began to sob.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t be a better husband and a father.”
“What will you tell the girls?” she tried to breathe her tears down.
“I. . . I don’t know.”
“What will we do?”
He didn’t know, he just didn’t know. He wanted to tell her that he would make it all better, but he can’t. He was in deep and now that his wife knew, he sank even deeper.
“I will bargain with him, beg him to understand. He has to feel some pity for us.”
“I heard he wasn’t even a man. I heard he was some sort of. . . Demon.”
The old man scoffed. “Demons are stories from the old days. Back during the feudal era in Japan, seventeenth century stuff, this is the nineteenth century, there’s no way anyone could be over two hundred years old.”
“Not any human can be over two hundred years old.” She added, more to herself.
“Demons, great! Don’t make me more afraid than I already am.” He tried to smile at her, but her eyes remained down cast.
He walked to her side and gently wrapped his arms around her. “I will do everything that I can to make this better.” He kissed her head.
She nodded, her tears slowly soaking his sleeve.
Never in the old man’s life had he prayed for help.
Never say never, his dad would say.
~*~*~
The sun hadn’t risen so fast in all his years. Yet still, it was morning. There was something dark in the air. What was left of the livestock, chickens and one rooster, hadn’t even bothered to leave their protective barn. Even they could sense the danger.
He was near.
He stood at his front gate. It was useless to try and stand his ground; he had heard rumors that the Great Lord could kill a man with a flick of his wrist.
The day he went to the lord’s palace to ask for money, he didn’t really meet him. His little dwarf thing, did the deal.
“The Great Lord said I am to conduct his business. You will deal with me.”
Little imp. Implying that the Lord was too good to deal with him, a land owner.
A veteran of the war.
He wanted to laugh.
A Lord? Not a king, a lord.
Of the western lands.
He sighed, how does one become a ‘Lord’.
His train of thought was broken by the sounds of horses bring a carriage.
The fear began to creep back into his spine. He fought hard to stop his shaking. Calm, he must appear calm. If he was going to beg for his mercy, he’d do it as a man. Not some coward with his tail between his legs. No, he will stand straight, tall, and with dignity.
The carriage had amazing craftsmanship, detailed into almost every corner with a very unique leaf pattern. It was the most impressive one he’d ever seen. It was black with four black, large horses pulling it. The dwarf was sitting in front of it, holding the reins.
So, he would be dealing with the Great Lord.
He felt his knees shake.
How embarrassing.
The dwarf stopped the horse inches from the old man’s feet. With an annoyed grunt, he managed to climb down the carriage and walked to the side to open the door.
The door opened itself and a large boot came down on the toad. The old man wanted to chuckle of the idea that the Great Lord uses the dwarf as a foot step.
But his amusement ended at the sight of him.
He was tall and, almost too self-conscious to say out loud, handsome. He had angelic features to his face and long silver hair.
Silver? Then clearly he must be old.
But, he was a man in his late fifties, and had one or two strands of silver, however the Lord’s face looked as that of a 21 year old.
The Great Lord walked gracefully to him, almost as if he was gliding. As if he weighed nothing and the wind softly pushed him.
And then he spoke.
“Are you the master of this land?”
His voice was deep and cold, increasing his fear beyond capacity.
He sounded inhuman.
He sounded like a . . . demon.
“I asked you a question.”
“Oh, yes.” The old man quickly looked to the ground.
The Lord looked around. He saw the barn that sheltered almost nothing, the fields of dirt, and a house that needed repairs.
He studied the land carefully, and then looked bored.
“My servant says you borrowed a large amount of money to help with repairs and buying equipment.” He walked around the old man, opened the gate, and walked a few steps toward the house. “Yet I see no crops, you have no livestock but a few chickens and a rooster. Your home is inadequate and you have no equipment.”
The old man rushed to stand before the lord. “I had to sell everything to repay you. We haven’t had rain in almost two years and I have nothing to sell at the market. What do you expect me to do?”
The lord gave him an even stare. Yes, he had supposed that the drought would make things difficult. But still. He should have had a backup plan.
“Dad?”
The old man turned quickly and reached for his oldest daughter.
Perfect.
“Please my Lord, I have nothing left but my wife and three girls, and they need me.”
Yes, perfect. He could use this, make him pity him. A man with three girls, a wife, and no other man to fend for them.
However, the lord saw something else. If this man truly loved his family so much, then a prize for a prize.
“Ask your daughter to leave.”
What?
No, he can’t still demand payback.
He wouldn’t beg in front of his children. “Go inside.” He said quietly.
“And bring out your sisters.” The lord said casually.
NO.
He wouldn’t.
He can’t.
“What are you planning to do?” the old man was beginning to panic.
The young woman went in and walked out with her two sisters.
Impressive the lord thought to himself. They were all beautiful. They each had a woman’s body.
The girls stared in awe at him. Well of course. The oldest one had a lustful look to her eyes, while the middle one continued to stare at his very luxurious carriage. Yet the youngest one held her father’s hand and stared at the ground.
She had silky black hair and full pouty lips. Her skin was slightly tan, more tanned than her sisters. She had a few small scars on her arms. Obviously she did more for this family than her two lust and money hungry sisters.
He averted his attention to other two who each held a smirk on their lips.
“Hm.” He turned and walked back to his carriage.
The old man sighed with relief. The lord had taken mercy.
Well, so he thought.
“Send them back in. I’m here to do business with you and only you.” He said over his shoulder.
The two older ones gave a disappointing groan as for the youngest gave the old man a small reassuring smile and followed her sisters inside.
“My lord?” He was worried. Why had the lord wanted to see his daughters only to send them back inside. Was it to make sure he wasn’t lying about having three girls?
“How much do you cherish your daughters?” his tone was cold. Too cold.
“Please, I beg you, don’t take them, don’t hurt them. I was the one who barrowed your money, I was the one who wasted it away, they are innocent, they don’t even know that I owe you.”
His pleadings began to bore the Great Lord.
“Quiet.” His voice rang through the air. “Are you able to repay the amount owed?”
“No, I only have half.” He fought back the tears. Would he lose his daughters to this. . . man?
“It has come to my attention I need a wife.”
A wife?
“Do you cherish your daughters?”
He couldn’t possibly want all three to be his bride, or brides?
“What. . . I . . . What do you want?” his heart was beating in his head.
“The youngest one.”
The thought of letting go a daughter was sad, but he said wife. He’d feared that maybe he’d wanted to trade one as a slave. But a wife?
“You want to marry her?”
Yes, perhaps this would be the best solution.
“She is to my liking.”
The Great Lord spoke as if he was stating facts.
“If I. . . If I give her to you, will my debt be paid?”
The lord looked calmly into the old man’s eyes. “Yes.”
Again the old man sighed with relief.
He’s debt would be swept clean. All he’d lose is one daughter. But why his youngest? She was more useful than the other two and when the rain came, he’d need help since he’d sold all his slaves.
“Perhaps, you’d be more interested in my oldest Lord? She is much more mature and ready to be married.”
No, he didn’t want her. She had a lustful look in her eyes as she continued to stare at him. She would bring him problems.
“Or the middle one, she’s about that age as well.”
No, he could see it in her face as she stared at his carriage. She only wants money and finer things. She too could bring him problems.
He wanted the youngest one. She held concern for her father, and held his hand in a form of comfort. She was much more attractive than the other two, and she’d make an excellent mate. She looked strong; both physically and mentally.
“I want your youngest.”
“But-“
“That is my deal, either you accept or I will double your debt.”
Double?
Well, how bad could it be, she’ll have much more with him than with her father. She’d live in that palace and be called Lady of the Western Lands.
“Very well my lord.”
The lord smiled inwardly. “Tell her she may bring only a few things with her, and to say goodbye.” He opened his carriage door and sat inside.
The old man hurriedly made his way back inside.
“Father what does he want?”
“Who is he?”
“Is that his carriage?”
“I bet he’s rich.”
“I can’t wait to see him again.”
His two overly eager daughters huddled around the window both staring at his carriage as it waited outside the gate.
He walked to his youngest daughter who sat next to her mother.
He stood in front of her, and spoke.
“You will be his wife.”
“WHAT?!?!” His two oldest spoke in unison.
“He demands that you be his wife, I’m afraid you have no choice.”
“Why her?” his wife asked, quickly wrapping her arms around her youngest daughter.
“Yeah, why her.” His oldest spoke, angry at the news.
“I don’t know why, just do as he says for all our sakes.”
“No, she doesn’t have to do anything that man says.” His wife held her tightly.
“Are you afraid dad?” she finally spoke.
She moved her mother’s arms and stood before her father. “Will he hurt you if I don’t go?”
He couldn’t tell her that she was to repay his debt, and that he was to cowardly to deal with it himself. “Yes.”
She nodded.
“He said to take a few things with you.”
She looked around the small broken home. There wasn’t really anything she cherished. She was never really a material kind of girl. All she ever needed as a book and garden.
She gave her mother a hug, and then her father.
Her sisters sneered at her as she walked by them and opened the door.
Before walking out, she looked at her parents and smiled. “For you, dad.” And calmly walked out.
She made her way to the carriage.
Once inside, she sat across from the man inside and held back her tears.
The carriage began to move and through the small window she saw her mother try to chase after it.
She closed her eyes and tried to forget the image.
“Are you sad?” his voice as deep, echoing in her head.
She opened her eyes and looked into his.
She was taken aback by their beauty. She’d never seen amber eyes before.
“I’ll be fine.” Was all she could say.
“You may call me Sesshomaru,” he took out a small flower from the inside of his coat, “What is your name?”
She took the small flower and spoke softly, “Rin.”
~*~*~*~
Oh and in case you’re wondering, I didn’t give the character names, because they won’t be heard of again. Also, I have no beta so I’m sorry for my grammar and spelling errors.
:D
Imae
_________________________________________________________
The drought took its toll.
What was once a wealthy farm land, now only dirt and death. Two full springs, and still the old man couldn’t produce vegetation. The once full water well, now a mere hole in the ground. How was he to provide for his family when all he could do was stare. Stare at his lands and watch it rot.
He owed money to the Lord of Western lands. He had promise to pay in full on the third year of his debt. Marvelous though it was the first year. He bought his wife a new coat, even bought new dresses for his three daughters. But the gamble was addictive and soon his pockets became empty.
Time was slowly ticking by, and he knew the Western Lord will drop by his front door and demand his payment.
But what was there to pay? The last two years have brought him nothing but salted earth and no rain. The crops began to wither, the rivers began to dry, and now he would lose the very house he built with his own two hands. There was nothing to take into town. His once populated spot on the market street was now busy selling handmade jewelry and crafts.
How disgraceful.
Pitiful and pathetic.
He was in a bind, and no one can save.
With a deep sigh, he looked across his lands again. Tomorrow would be a new day, and he hoped that the Western Lord would take pity on this old veteran.
~*~*~
“My dear husband, what ails you?”
The old man’s wife was sick with worry. Her husband had been distant for weeks now, even this morning, had refused to eat.
“Please, tell me. You didn’t touch your breakfast, you haven’t spoken to any one in weeks, and you’ve sold all of our livestock. What is bothering you to the point you’ve stopped living?”
He was cornered. Of course he hadn’t told her. Of course she didn’t ask. When he came home with a new coat and new dresses, she’d been most relieved that war hadn’t soured her husband. He was gone for years and when he returned it was her moment to relive a life that had been lived without him.
Yet now, this very moment, he seemed to have aged ten years in only a short few months. He looked so tired and worn. His once tanned skin was pale and dry.
Still he remained quite. Pacing around the room, deep in thought.
“DAMN IT, ANSWER ME!”
Too long had she remain silent, too long had she let him keep to himself, far too long she had stopped medaling in his business. Something big has him troubled and she refused to watch on the side as her husband slowly descends into nothing but sack of meat.
“I owe the Western Lord money. And for two years I have been unable to collect the amount owed.”
Her heart sank.
“He arrives tomorrow morning, after selling the livestock and all the slaves, I’ve managed to come up with half.”
Her eyes began to water.
“I fear, my love, this is the end.”
She began to sob.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t be a better husband and a father.”
“What will you tell the girls?” she tried to breathe her tears down.
“I. . . I don’t know.”
“What will we do?”
He didn’t know, he just didn’t know. He wanted to tell her that he would make it all better, but he can’t. He was in deep and now that his wife knew, he sank even deeper.
“I will bargain with him, beg him to understand. He has to feel some pity for us.”
“I heard he wasn’t even a man. I heard he was some sort of. . . Demon.”
The old man scoffed. “Demons are stories from the old days. Back during the feudal era in Japan, seventeenth century stuff, this is the nineteenth century, there’s no way anyone could be over two hundred years old.”
“Not any human can be over two hundred years old.” She added, more to herself.
“Demons, great! Don’t make me more afraid than I already am.” He tried to smile at her, but her eyes remained down cast.
He walked to her side and gently wrapped his arms around her. “I will do everything that I can to make this better.” He kissed her head.
She nodded, her tears slowly soaking his sleeve.
Never in the old man’s life had he prayed for help.
Never say never, his dad would say.
~*~*~
The sun hadn’t risen so fast in all his years. Yet still, it was morning. There was something dark in the air. What was left of the livestock, chickens and one rooster, hadn’t even bothered to leave their protective barn. Even they could sense the danger.
He was near.
He stood at his front gate. It was useless to try and stand his ground; he had heard rumors that the Great Lord could kill a man with a flick of his wrist.
The day he went to the lord’s palace to ask for money, he didn’t really meet him. His little dwarf thing, did the deal.
“The Great Lord said I am to conduct his business. You will deal with me.”
Little imp. Implying that the Lord was too good to deal with him, a land owner.
A veteran of the war.
He wanted to laugh.
A Lord? Not a king, a lord.
Of the western lands.
He sighed, how does one become a ‘Lord’.
His train of thought was broken by the sounds of horses bring a carriage.
The fear began to creep back into his spine. He fought hard to stop his shaking. Calm, he must appear calm. If he was going to beg for his mercy, he’d do it as a man. Not some coward with his tail between his legs. No, he will stand straight, tall, and with dignity.
The carriage had amazing craftsmanship, detailed into almost every corner with a very unique leaf pattern. It was the most impressive one he’d ever seen. It was black with four black, large horses pulling it. The dwarf was sitting in front of it, holding the reins.
So, he would be dealing with the Great Lord.
He felt his knees shake.
How embarrassing.
The dwarf stopped the horse inches from the old man’s feet. With an annoyed grunt, he managed to climb down the carriage and walked to the side to open the door.
The door opened itself and a large boot came down on the toad. The old man wanted to chuckle of the idea that the Great Lord uses the dwarf as a foot step.
But his amusement ended at the sight of him.
He was tall and, almost too self-conscious to say out loud, handsome. He had angelic features to his face and long silver hair.
Silver? Then clearly he must be old.
But, he was a man in his late fifties, and had one or two strands of silver, however the Lord’s face looked as that of a 21 year old.
The Great Lord walked gracefully to him, almost as if he was gliding. As if he weighed nothing and the wind softly pushed him.
And then he spoke.
“Are you the master of this land?”
His voice was deep and cold, increasing his fear beyond capacity.
He sounded inhuman.
He sounded like a . . . demon.
“I asked you a question.”
“Oh, yes.” The old man quickly looked to the ground.
The Lord looked around. He saw the barn that sheltered almost nothing, the fields of dirt, and a house that needed repairs.
He studied the land carefully, and then looked bored.
“My servant says you borrowed a large amount of money to help with repairs and buying equipment.” He walked around the old man, opened the gate, and walked a few steps toward the house. “Yet I see no crops, you have no livestock but a few chickens and a rooster. Your home is inadequate and you have no equipment.”
The old man rushed to stand before the lord. “I had to sell everything to repay you. We haven’t had rain in almost two years and I have nothing to sell at the market. What do you expect me to do?”
The lord gave him an even stare. Yes, he had supposed that the drought would make things difficult. But still. He should have had a backup plan.
“Dad?”
The old man turned quickly and reached for his oldest daughter.
Perfect.
“Please my Lord, I have nothing left but my wife and three girls, and they need me.”
Yes, perfect. He could use this, make him pity him. A man with three girls, a wife, and no other man to fend for them.
However, the lord saw something else. If this man truly loved his family so much, then a prize for a prize.
“Ask your daughter to leave.”
What?
No, he can’t still demand payback.
He wouldn’t beg in front of his children. “Go inside.” He said quietly.
“And bring out your sisters.” The lord said casually.
NO.
He wouldn’t.
He can’t.
“What are you planning to do?” the old man was beginning to panic.
The young woman went in and walked out with her two sisters.
Impressive the lord thought to himself. They were all beautiful. They each had a woman’s body.
The girls stared in awe at him. Well of course. The oldest one had a lustful look to her eyes, while the middle one continued to stare at his very luxurious carriage. Yet the youngest one held her father’s hand and stared at the ground.
She had silky black hair and full pouty lips. Her skin was slightly tan, more tanned than her sisters. She had a few small scars on her arms. Obviously she did more for this family than her two lust and money hungry sisters.
He averted his attention to other two who each held a smirk on their lips.
“Hm.” He turned and walked back to his carriage.
The old man sighed with relief. The lord had taken mercy.
Well, so he thought.
“Send them back in. I’m here to do business with you and only you.” He said over his shoulder.
The two older ones gave a disappointing groan as for the youngest gave the old man a small reassuring smile and followed her sisters inside.
“My lord?” He was worried. Why had the lord wanted to see his daughters only to send them back inside. Was it to make sure he wasn’t lying about having three girls?
“How much do you cherish your daughters?” his tone was cold. Too cold.
“Please, I beg you, don’t take them, don’t hurt them. I was the one who barrowed your money, I was the one who wasted it away, they are innocent, they don’t even know that I owe you.”
His pleadings began to bore the Great Lord.
“Quiet.” His voice rang through the air. “Are you able to repay the amount owed?”
“No, I only have half.” He fought back the tears. Would he lose his daughters to this. . . man?
“It has come to my attention I need a wife.”
A wife?
“Do you cherish your daughters?”
He couldn’t possibly want all three to be his bride, or brides?
“What. . . I . . . What do you want?” his heart was beating in his head.
“The youngest one.”
The thought of letting go a daughter was sad, but he said wife. He’d feared that maybe he’d wanted to trade one as a slave. But a wife?
“You want to marry her?”
Yes, perhaps this would be the best solution.
“She is to my liking.”
The Great Lord spoke as if he was stating facts.
“If I. . . If I give her to you, will my debt be paid?”
The lord looked calmly into the old man’s eyes. “Yes.”
Again the old man sighed with relief.
He’s debt would be swept clean. All he’d lose is one daughter. But why his youngest? She was more useful than the other two and when the rain came, he’d need help since he’d sold all his slaves.
“Perhaps, you’d be more interested in my oldest Lord? She is much more mature and ready to be married.”
No, he didn’t want her. She had a lustful look in her eyes as she continued to stare at him. She would bring him problems.
“Or the middle one, she’s about that age as well.”
No, he could see it in her face as she stared at his carriage. She only wants money and finer things. She too could bring him problems.
He wanted the youngest one. She held concern for her father, and held his hand in a form of comfort. She was much more attractive than the other two, and she’d make an excellent mate. She looked strong; both physically and mentally.
“I want your youngest.”
“But-“
“That is my deal, either you accept or I will double your debt.”
Double?
Well, how bad could it be, she’ll have much more with him than with her father. She’d live in that palace and be called Lady of the Western Lands.
“Very well my lord.”
The lord smiled inwardly. “Tell her she may bring only a few things with her, and to say goodbye.” He opened his carriage door and sat inside.
The old man hurriedly made his way back inside.
“Father what does he want?”
“Who is he?”
“Is that his carriage?”
“I bet he’s rich.”
“I can’t wait to see him again.”
His two overly eager daughters huddled around the window both staring at his carriage as it waited outside the gate.
He walked to his youngest daughter who sat next to her mother.
He stood in front of her, and spoke.
“You will be his wife.”
“WHAT?!?!” His two oldest spoke in unison.
“He demands that you be his wife, I’m afraid you have no choice.”
“Why her?” his wife asked, quickly wrapping her arms around her youngest daughter.
“Yeah, why her.” His oldest spoke, angry at the news.
“I don’t know why, just do as he says for all our sakes.”
“No, she doesn’t have to do anything that man says.” His wife held her tightly.
“Are you afraid dad?” she finally spoke.
She moved her mother’s arms and stood before her father. “Will he hurt you if I don’t go?”
He couldn’t tell her that she was to repay his debt, and that he was to cowardly to deal with it himself. “Yes.”
She nodded.
“He said to take a few things with you.”
She looked around the small broken home. There wasn’t really anything she cherished. She was never really a material kind of girl. All she ever needed as a book and garden.
She gave her mother a hug, and then her father.
Her sisters sneered at her as she walked by them and opened the door.
Before walking out, she looked at her parents and smiled. “For you, dad.” And calmly walked out.
She made her way to the carriage.
Once inside, she sat across from the man inside and held back her tears.
The carriage began to move and through the small window she saw her mother try to chase after it.
She closed her eyes and tried to forget the image.
“Are you sad?” his voice as deep, echoing in her head.
She opened her eyes and looked into his.
She was taken aback by their beauty. She’d never seen amber eyes before.
“I’ll be fine.” Was all she could say.
“You may call me Sesshomaru,” he took out a small flower from the inside of his coat, “What is your name?”
She took the small flower and spoke softly, “Rin.”
~*~*~*~
Oh and in case you’re wondering, I didn’t give the character names, because they won’t be heard of again. Also, I have no beta so I’m sorry for my grammar and spelling errors.
:D
Imae