Not What It Seems

Jaken was stressing. His lord hadn't had the desire or interest to have a mate and the other lords were wondering exactly when that would change. Sesshomaru had changed a lot from what he once was. He was still somewhat distant but he had become notably kinder to those around him. Some of the other lords weren't pleased as this, but being who he was, he didn't much care.

What do I do? All the suitors the lord hasn't been interested in.

The Toad demon sighed. Rin was sleep at the moment, but he couldn't be away from her side all that long. They were in the Western Lands so it wasn't as if they had much of anything to worry about. Even so Sesshomaru insisted on being there to protect her when he couldn't be around.

The things I do for my lord.

*Thud* "Dammit to hell!!! I really HATE the forest" It had been a long day and the person who had just not only fallen over once again now was pushing themselves back up and brushing off their cloths. Black hair fell down their back with a head band keeping the rest of it from their face, as they stood up more it was clear it was a young women maybe in her early mid twenty's.

"If i never see another root again I'll be happy!" She stated and would look down at her outfit, it was a white 'dress' and she had on leggings and shoes so not made for hiking in the woods how she even ended up in the forest to begin with was WAY beyond her, first she was walking around a shrine and next thing she knew she was stumbling through a damn forest.

"I can't even get a dang signal out here..." she held a cellphone in her hand as she tried to find service but nothing she did seemed to make even one bar light up. Groaning she would soon come to a stop as she looked around "I have no clue where I am..." she groaned out and sighed before she would spot a small stream looking at it she would then look at her self. "Well....I guess I'm not going to be getting home any time soon might as well wash up"

She moved to the stream and started to remove her clothing and snap it out as dirt would fly up from the white fabric "this is going to turn out baddy" she stated looking at the stain and would then slid out of her leggings and shoes before sliding into the chilling waters and shivered. "dammit its COLD!" she cried out but she had to get clean some how and she would start to quickly wash her skin and her black hair hoping no one would stumble on her bathing.

Jaken let Rin play with Ah-Un as he wandered off a bit, grumbling. Not that he went too far away from her. If he did, no doubt his lord would be displeased by such a thing and that was something he didn't want to do.

Maybe I can just rest my feet somewhere.

As the small demon wandered, he finally found some place but then he heard..something. Curious but cautious, he held his staff and wandered over to where he heard the noise. That was when he saw some half-breed woman taking a bath in his lords lands.

He turned away quickly. "Woman! Put some clothes on in my lords lands, have you no shame?!"

It seemed like a newcomer he had never seen before and was sure wasn't a native was taking a bath in his lords land. Wonderful.

She continued to scrub her skin and sighed to herself as she began to wring out her hair till her ears caught the sound of something. She kept what she was doing waiting for what ever it was to strike till she heard it squawking at her to put cloths on. She blinked and turned not really seeing ashamed of her body as she slid out of the water.

"What don't like what you see little demon? And what lord far as I could tell no one owns nature nature owns itself" She stated and would then shiver as wind blew by "also you wouldn't happen to know where the nearest town is would you? I would like to call a taxi so I could get home can't get service out here at all on my phone"

She would look at her clothing before sliding it back on, her skin still wet but she would dry in time she just hoped she didn't get sick. She would look back in the direction of who ever it was "Did you hear me little demon?"

"How rude! My name is Jaken. Not little 'demon' or whatever you said." The little toad demon said and that's when he heard Rin's voice.

"Jaken, who are you talking to?" She asked, coming back with Ah-Un close by.

"Just some strange Rin." Jaken replied. "And the nearest town is north from here, but its closer in my lords terriotory. You don't seem to know where you are. You're in the West lands, Lord Sesshomaru owns this territory. I don't know what this taxi is..you must not be around from here."

"Raven" she stated as she finished putting her cloths on and fixed her dress some mud was still on it but she hoped to either get some new cloths or clean these. She let the little demon talk till her own ears heard the voice of a young girl; how cute.

"Strangers? If by giving each other our names does that not state we've introduced ourselves to each other or does your lord promote bad manners?" She turned fully looking at him her black hair hanging over her shoulder.

"As for where I am your right I do not know, I was walking in the park when suddenly I ended up here. I do not know how I do not know why, but if there is a town near by I will go there and leave you to your baby sitting; since clearly your master has left you in charge of someone important to him." raven would then start moving towards the demon but merely walked past.

What a strange woman. Jaken didn't get what she meant, she had only just given her name and knew nothing else about her so how were they not strangers? Bah, he was never going to try to understand women no matter what their race. She was going to get herself killed or hurt simply wandering aimlessly if didn't even know where she was.

"Wait!" Rin caught up to Raven. "You shouldn't wander in the forest, its dangerous. There's demons and monsters here. Me and Jaken can show you."

"H-hey!"

"And Ah-Un, too."

"Don't I get a say in this?"

"Please?" Jaken sighed in defeat in the background. If that girl wanted to get herself killed it was on her.

Raven turned her head to look down on the little girl and she would think about it before smiling "well I could not say no to such a charming girl like yourself" she stated and would look over at the dragon and bowed her head just a bit before turning to look at the little imp who really did not seem to like this.

"Is he always like this?" She asked pointing to Jaken who seemed to be depressed or unhappy.

Rin blinked, looking to Jaken then back at the young woman. "Jaken has always been like this as far as Rin can remember."

Jaken ignored most of it. "If you're going to be staying then follow me. We'll take you to the town." The quicker they got this over with, the better.

Raven would smile and nod "alright thank you Master Jaken" she stated trying to be some what nice and let the little demon have some 'honor' but she would keep that to herself as she gently placed her hand on the girls head and smiled down at her. "When we get to the village would you like to take a warm bath together Rin? I'll let you braid my hair if you like" she stated softly.

The river bath had left her slightly chilled and if she could get a warm bath it would be good, and the little girl possible could enjoy herself by spending a bit of time with another female.

"Yay! Rin would really like that!" The young child didn't know Raven more then five minutes but yet she was already happy about the prospect of spending time with her. Personally, Jaken found that a bit odd, then again she trusted people too easily like that. It was a good thing Lord Sesshomaru looked after her.

The Toad Demon lead the two young girls to the town, the guards nodding to Jaken and Rin, and glancing at Raven but otherwise said nothing of the sort. Once inside, it became obvious the place was mostly dominated by demons of all kinds and races. Raven was 'mixed' but she wasn't a half-breed like Inuyasha was, as such she didn't catch nearly as much attention.

In the distance was a large palace lined perfectly in view. There was more security to go through but it didn't take long for them to get inside.

"Don't let her wander off the restricted areas." Jaken said, Rin just beamed, taking Raven's hand.

"Come on, come on, Rin has to show you around!" She seemed excited, at least.

Raven would laugh at the child's antics she was a cutie and would become a beauty when older she could tell. Once in the town Raven glanced at the people around her, she could sense who was what and caught just a few glances but other wise nothing cruel she was still a demon mixed or not. But her eyes soon went to the large palace and her eyes seemed to widen. *I am not back home* she told herself this was something different.

Raven barely caught what the Imp stated till Rin was pulling at her hand and she looked at the small child "Alright, but don't pull to hard you'll pull my arm off" she teased following after her. But her attention returned to what was happening to her now *Only explanation to all this is some how I crossed time lines....or these people are like living in the old times like the movie 'the village'* she shivered at the thought of that movie before taking her attention back to what the little girl was showing her.

"Rin...your lord who and what is he?" Maybe if she asked she could find out if she crossed time lines or if this was like the movie 'the village' all demons knew the lands lords through out time though they no longer openly ruled the lands they still controlled it within the shadows.

"Oh, that's Lord Sesshomaru." Rin replied cheerfully. "He's the strongest and best lord ever." We'll, to her he was at any rate. Sesshomaru was known pretty decently in the modern world so Raven would likely know the name. However, there were very few places that were remotely like this as far as being 'stuck in the times' so it was more likely she had time traveled somehow.

Rin lead her to the bathhouse and waited for Raven too.

(And now gonna skip because having Rin in the bath would just be werid lol)

* *

Once they finished their bath together and got dressed, Rin wanted to show Raven around more. "Do you want to meet Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Ah I have heard of him, a very fine demon lord" She stated trying to be kind to the child, she read the history books and Sesshoumaru's name had come up and even an image or two but she really didn't pay much attention in history so she did not know much. Raven let her eyes roam taking in everything in the palace, *I am defiantly not in home at all...*

Just from looking at everything Raven knew she was not in her time, she travailed back some how. In an era that was not to bad but did not have cars, cellphones, computers and just basically the glorious things called electronics that she loved.

~~~~

After the bath Raven sighed, her black hair tied to the side to hang over her shoulder and her clothing had been taken when she was bathing, and she was given a kimono. Not that she didn't know how to wear one she just did not find a use to wear such garb out in the world. Looking at Rin she would nod "Sure, after all it would be rude of me not to at least introduce myself...."

She smiled looking at the girl, she was just so cute and she would not mind staying if she could stay with Rin the girl needed some women influence in her life. And she was NOT going to get it from a demon lord who was known to hate humans and also a male. Raven would look down at the young girl once again and she would speak "Rin, which way do we need to go? Also anything you can tell me about him?"

Rin shook his head. "Lord Sesshomaru is very strong, but he's nice and protects me." She took the girls hand. "I'll show you."

And without waiting for a reply, gently dragged the older woman along until they reached another room, coming through with Raven. "Lord Sesshomaru, we have a guest."

At first there wasn't a reply, then Sesshomaru stepped out from the shadows having been doing something. He looked to Rin, then to Raven, his face not giving anything away. "Where did you find her Rin?"

"At the border, she was lost. Can she stay please?"

Raven was rather stunned by the girls strength but then again with her being around demons most of the day she had to get stronger. Raven followed along without much protest till they reached another room and then walked inside, her eyes went around the room and her ears would twitch to any sound but she could barley make out that another person was in there and their aura pulsed with power.

Raven would then turn her eyes to the figure that stepped out and she almost laughed but kept it in. 'great I'm dead if I piss him off' she told herself. She knew exactly who he was now, possibly the strongest demon ever eldest son and he was very strong himself as well as dangerous. Raven would then look down at Rin letting the two talk, then back at Sesshoumaru waiting for her own chance to speak. When Rin told him where they found her she almost had to chuckle at what she looked like "really not back home" she mumbled looking around once again.

Sesshomaru was silent for the longest moment, then turned to Raven. "I don't see an issue with you being here." He said, his tone not giving much away. "I only have a few rules. The first is you are not allowed in certain areas, this will be made obvious when you go there. At least, not without someone to escort you. The second, as long as you are within my territory, you will do what's ask of you as long as its not harmful to you. If those terms are agreeably, I have no problem with you being here."

Raven stood there and just shrugged "Terms are agreeable, I just want to find a way home. I'll do anything else but my main goal is to go home and if able use my cell phone again" she stated and slid out the small device showing that it was dead, "man do I miss the pleasures of technology" she chuckled and would then slid the small thing back into the kimono she wore.

Raven would then look back at the demon lord, she would be more honest if she wanted and tell him that everything he knew would be gone but well she didn't want to piss the man off.

Naturally, Sesshomaru nor Rin knew what a 'phone' was but it was Rin who decided to speak up first. "Miss Raven, what does that thing do?" Sesshomaru was also curious but he didn't see anything strange about the 'phone' so he let it be for now.

Raven looked at them "Oh right, sorry forgot what time we where in here" she stated as she would then flip it around to show them, "this is what I've used for a few decades now to um well how do I put it....ok basically with this instead of just sending a written letter and waiting for a reply I just 'call' the person and they answer and as if they where standing right next to me I am able to talk to them. Without using messenger boys or carrier pigeons or what ever the hell you use"

She wasn't trying to be weird about it, but she never had to explain what a phone was. She had lived long enough to see the phone 'evolve' into what it was, "course right now it don't work since there are no cell towers" she would then press a button and the thing flashed and lit up before it seemed to have 'died' "since I can't use it might as well not kill the battery on it"