| The Vassal by Leloi The young female looked lost and frightened. Her wide, brown eyes fearfully glanced around her as if she didn’t trust the men that were slowly circling her. Their eyes were on her kimono, too small for her well-formed body. “Hey there, little lady…” One of the males greeted, stepping closer to the young woman. “You look like you could use a man.” “No…” Her voice sounded uncertain. “I don’t… I… This servant is…” The men chuckled upon hearing what she called herself. “Servant? How about you service us?” “Sesshoumaru-sama…” The woman whispered under her breath like a holy mantra. “Sesshoumaru-sama… please…” The closest male caught her by the wrist. “Why not service me now?” The young woman looked terrified. Closing her eyes, she trembled. “Maybe you gentlemen have something better to do than pick on helpless girls.” A man’s voice called out from nearby. The men and woman all looked to their observer. The woman took a step back, recognizing her rescuer. That wasn’t the one she wanted… The man holding the woman sized up his opponent. “What’s it to you, monk?” “I can see this young lady is bothered by you.” Miroku answered, closing the distance between them. “Come lady, I’ll escort you home.” With a hardened glare at the other man, he took control of the woman’s wrist and led her away from her would be attackers. When they were a good distance away, he shook his head. “It isn’t safe for a lady to be out in the open… unprotected.” His eyes glanced at her skimpy clothing. With a soft sigh he untied his kesa and offered it to her to cover herself. “In the next village we should get you some better clothes.” The woman gave him a puzzled look. “Why are you being so nice?” “Can’t I be nice?” Miroku asked. “By the way… where do you live?” Biting her lip, the woman looked around. Finally she pointed to the west. “That way…” “Is it far? It can’t be too far with you dressed like that… unless you were robbed while traveling…” Miroku reasoned. “It’s far…” The woman nodded. “I wasn’t robbed, I was…” But how could she explain it to THIS man? It was no wonder he didn’t recognize the one beside him. Her legs were long, her skin was pale and her shape was well made. Is this what the other would look like all grown up? “You were what?” Miroku asked, with genuine curiosity. His violet eyes sparkled as he looked at the one he had rescued. “I was left behind.” The young woman answered with a sniffle. “I’m sure it was an oversight on my lord’s part.” “Ah… so you belong to a lord… a servant of some kind?” Miroku deducted. “I was a vassal…” The woman replied. “Such an important job for a beautiful woman.” Miroku remarked, looking to the hills that hung low on the horizon. The woman blinked at him, uncertain how to react to such a statement. “Do you really think I’m beautiful?” “I’ve seen plenty of beautiful women in my lifetime… and yes, you are rather beautiful, my lady.” Offering her a warm smile, he pointed off in another direction. “I have to meet up with my companions tonight, if you will stay with us, my lady, I’m sure they would be delighted to help me take you safely back to your lord.” The woman’s eyes widened with his words as terror gripped her heart. “That isn’t necessary…” Miroku pointed back over his shoulder. “I’m sure those men just happen to be traveling in the same direction we are…” The woman looked back the way they had come from. The men that hassled her were trailing behind, keeping their distance. Shivering, she looked back at the monk. It seemed she had no choice… “My name is Miroku.” The monk stated, looking expectantly at her. Did he want a name? The monk couldn’t know her REAL name. It had to be a girl’s name to go with the body. The only name she could think of was… “Rin. My name is Rin.” “Rin?” Miroku echoed with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Rin.” ^.~ Sango cast a dark look at the woman that followed Miroku into camp. The monk seemed rather pleased with himself and the woman wore his kesa. Briefly giving him a look that would freeze a lava flow, she stared at the fire. Miroku could only shiver in response. “Who is this, Miroku-sama?” Kagome asked, smiling at the other woman. “This is Rin… I saved her from a pack of rabid ruffians. Could you and Sango… take care of her?” Miroku asked, smiling pleasantly at Kagome. “Of course we would.” Kagome replied, feeling her hand get tugged on by an anxious looking hanyou. Inuyasha pulled her out of hearing range of the others. “What are you doing? That woman smells like my brother.” “Well… maybe she’s that little girl we saw with Sesshoumaru. Her name was Rin too, right?” Kagome reasoned. “But that girl was a child. This one is fully grown.” Inuyasha retorted. “Big or small, I don’t think little Rin is capable of hurting us.” Kagome gave him a reassuring smile. “She looks cold…” Leaving the hanyou behind, she went to her backpack to find some clothes. ”Just be careful.” Inuyasha called after her. Kagome waved her hand at him and continued in her task of finding clothes for the girl Miroku brought to camp. ^.~ Sango sat in the hotspring, gazing ruefully at Rin. Rin seemed nervous and kept wiping her face, averting her eyes from the other two girls. The only one who seemed cheerful about the situation was Kagome. “So… Rin-chan… Miroku-sama rescued you from rabid ruffians?” Sango looked like she wanted to turn the hot water to ice. “Uh… yeah… They surrounded me… caught me by surprise.” Rin blushed, finding it uncomfortable to be asked questions while taking a bath. “We must apologize for our monk friend… His wandering hands are…” Kagome stopped, seeing the glare Sango gave her. “Oh? He didn’t touch me.” Rin replied, laughing nervously. “He didn’t?” Sango asked in shock, for the first time looking at the new girl with a warmer look. “Did he ask you to bear his children?” “No.” Rin shook her head. “Was he supposed to?” Sango shook her head. “I was certain he would have… I mean you showed up wearing his kesa.” “My own clothes were a bit… deficient. He put that on me to cover me.” Rin answered. Quickly she moved to get out. “I’m not feeling so well. The hot water is…” “Oh, of course, Rin-chan… we should get out.” Kagome stated, standing up. “See? I wasn’t perverted!” Miroku’s voice called from the bushes. Sango made a rather unladylike face and was out of the water in a heartbeat, launching her ever handy hiraikotsu at the monk. “Ow!” Miroku moaned from his side of the bushes. ^.~ The camp was silent except for the occasional snores. All were asleep except the girl, Rin. Getting up from where she had been placed between Kagome and Sango, she looked to the sky before moving off through the trees. Miroku opened his eyes and got up to follow her. Inuyasha silently noted the monk’s rising. “Be careful, Miroku… she smells like my brother.” Miroku glanced at the hanyou leaning against the tree. Silently he nodded in understanding. Inuyasha had to stay behind or else the sleeping girls would be left unprotected. “You’ll know if I run into trouble…” His words only had to be a whisper, but he knew Inuyasha’s sensitive ears would pick up the message. Hastily he followed where Rin had gone. The girl stumbled and cursed in the darkness, making her easy to follow. Finally she came upon another clearing and stared expectantly up at the sky. A stately youkai lord appeared before her with a small, green youkai at his feet. “Sesshoumaru-sama… you came back…” The girl whispered. With an annoyed sigh, Sesshoumaru urged the small green youkai forward. “Be quick about it.” The small youkai looked young. “Um… Jaken-sama… Sorry you got left behind…” The youkai looked back at the lord behind him for approval. “And I’m sorry about the switching thing.” “Touch hands.” Sesshoumaru commanded. Immediately the girl stepped forward and knelt down to touch hands with the small, green youkai. There was a flash of light that made their observer blink. Finally when Miroku could see again, a small, green, wizened youkai stood where the young woman had been. In place of the young green youkai was the young girl often seen with Sesshoumaru. “Don’t ever do that again.” Sesshoumaru informed the two that stood below him. Casting his eyes in the direction of the monk, he turned his back on him, ready to depart. “Wait, my lord…” Jaken called out to the departing youkai before looking back at the trees a moment. “Thank you.” Without another word, he followed his master and their tag along. Miroku was shocked. Silently he made his way back to the camp. “Well?” Inuyasha prompted from his spot under the tree. “You… don’t want to know. Good night.” Lying down, Miroku tried to forget most of what he saw. Jaken… was the beautiful woman? It was too strange to ponder for long. Back to the Gallery |