#ch1.3

1.3 

(December 14th, 2012)

“Your punishments will be to patrol the parameters of the Western Lands until I deem sufficient.”

Azuka rose from her bow with a smile, “Of course, cousin.”

“Very well, my lord, who shall care for the fledglings while we are away?” Aderyn questioned, falling into a bow, arm across a scarlet clad knee.

Sesshomaru folded his arms into his sleeves as he regarded the women, “Jaken; they will be in the presence of Rin and Jaken who will be within the Palace Walls.”

Aderyn turned her head to glance at Azuka, mirth evident in her visible eye.

“As you wish, my lord. We shall depart within the hour.” The bird rose to her feet and began to turn away, to gather the children back into her arms so she could get them settled.

“Wait,” Sesshomaru barked softly, his gilded eyes meeting those of his toad servant. “Bring Rin here.”

“Ack! Y-yes, of course Milord! At once!”

Azuka snickered softly, hiding her mirth behind a long white sleeve. Her cousin was not fooled.

“I have one request, my lord.” Aderyn turned back to him, the little girl in her arms. Sesshomaru returned his focus upon his favored vassal, “Speak.”

“I wish for my personal guards to accompany us on our travels.”

Azuka crossed her arms and turned to look back out the window as the two began to discuss the details of their punishment.

Sesshomaru nodded his acquiescence, “You may have them accompany you. It will do far more good then the pair of them skulking around the shiro causing trouble.”

It was a well known fact that the only person that could control the twin inu-kitsune females was Aderyn and nobody could figure that one out. The pair were brilliant fighters, but like all kitsune, they were prone to mischief when bored. “Go summon the guards Kaori and Shizuka, cousin.”

“Yes, my lord.” Azuka bowed and hurried to carry out the orders of her no Ouji, eager to see her fellow kitsune’s. As she was leaving, Jaken ushered in a Rin who was engrossed in the flowers she had collected that day.

“Rin-chan,” Aderyn knelt down in front of the child, hiding the two hanyous behind her back. “I brought you some friends to play with.”

Tenshi and Kichi peeked out from behind their mother to see the little human girl that had been talked about earlier.

“She’s real pretty...” Tenshi whispered, her fingers absently findings those of her twin.

Kichi nodded in agreement, “ I like her.”

Rin’s dark brown eyes brightened and she smiled, showing all of her teeth as she extended the bouquet of flowers, “Rin likes you too, Rin also thinks that you two are pretty!”

Tenshi blushed and giggled but Kichi turned bright red, “.... boy’s aren’t pretty.”

Aderyn patted the boy’s red hair, “They can be. Pretty isn’t a bad thing, Kichi. Lord Sesshomaru is very pretty.” She covered her mouth in horror when she realized what she had said.

Masaru never really had a strong connection to his family. At least, he never thought he did.

The few days had been anxious for him, sure, but he had felt safe. While, to his despair, he hadn't gotten to meet everyone, he had gotten to see most of their faces. Besides the tight ass with the glasses, they all seemed fairly civil. No, none of them were the type that would kill for the sake of killing, and for that, he was relieved. Running away from the crowd days ago, that was his fear; Sato knew how deranged some students were, and had assumed a blood bath was occurring. And now, days later, this ugly damn bear had brought the same chilling fear back.

His mother was first on the list. Her disgusting, wrinkled face was shown on the screen; her smile one that wiped his off Masaru's face. In the next slide, she was there again, but this time instead of all smiles, she was bruised, bloody, her left eye swelling so much that it couldn't even open, her cheeks reddened from skid marks against concrete. Then, Sato's good friend; his cocky face and flat face greeted the same fate, but this time, both eyes were swelled and gruesome, and his stupid nose had been visibly broken

Watching his mother and flatmate be decimated on the screen sent chills down his spine and a gasp through his throat, sure, and he may have felt his insides churn and buckle, but... to kill? Because of that? That'd just be ridiculous, right..? Besides, if they're already hurt, I can't do anything about that... he reasoned, his arms folding by his chest.

A quick glance at the others in the room made him realize that he was, indeed, the minority. Most of his peers' faces were dead, cold, not appealing at all. Some of their lips quivered grossly, while others took to more disgraceful means, like making their eyes pop out of their sockets and their mouths gape like fish and their hands shake with a sort of fear that Sato didn't get at all. He might not have gotten it, but complacency was always good in dangerous situations, so he painted a look of muted fear on his face.

To his right, a person was turned away from him, face not visible. Being the consoling friend... that gains trust, I think. Sato considered. Plus, being quiet is pretty boring... He inched a bit closer, on the balls of his feet, tapping the shoulder of the person.