InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Through your Heart ❯ Harsh Reality ( Chapter 5 )

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Through your Heart

Chapter 5: Harsh reality

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Usagi watched as Rin giggled away in her garden with the poor Jaken in tow, while the Inu youkai simply watched them at a fair distance with a calm face. He was perched in a tree and the only indication that he was there was the silver hair shining with the sun's ray hitting him through the leaves.

Smiling, she made her way to the tree and sat down at its base without glancing up once. She just watched the child 'play' with Jaken silently when there was a small 'thump!' beside her. Without a word, the Taiyoukai sat down gracefully with his legs crossed and continued to gaze at the playing duo.

His tail automatically wound itself around her waist and she welcomed it as if it was a natural thing for her. The golden eyed youkai had taken the habit of doing that and she found out she didn't really mind. As long as she didn't commented on it, she was okay. "Rin's almost healed." She spoke up, breaking Sesshoumaru's current trail of thoughts.

"So it would seem." He simply answered.

Usagi's gaze got sadder and she closed her eyes, trying to prevent her emotions from coming out. She had taken a liking for the little girl and the Taiyoukai, and even Jaken had his place in her heart. "This means you'll probably have to go away soon, doesn't it, Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked silently, not once daring to look at the tall youkai beside her for fear of her face betraying her reluctance in seeing them leave.

The Taiyoukai glanced at her momentarily and spoke up; "I have duties and a territory to watch. I am afraid we cannot stay here eternally. This Sesshoumaru admits that Rin will miss you greatly, along with Jaken."

All Usagi could muster was a small "Oh" of disappointment, though she forced the sadness out of her eyes before he noticed. "Why would you need to protect your country, Sesshoumaru-sama? If you're so powerful, I don't know why any demon would dare trespass your lands."

The youkai Lord closed his eyes and frowned, putting his available hand on Toukijin. "Everyone has his enemies, even I."

Usagi frowned as she watched the sword with mistrust, making Sesshoumaru raise an eyebrow at her sudden demeanor. Usagi huffed when he shot her a look and crossed her arms in a protective manner. "I don't like that second sword of yours. It gives me the chills. But your other sword's presence is quite comforting, so I'll let it slide for now. Rin told me how you saved her." She gave him a playful punch on the shoulder, though he barely even felt it. "I knew there was a heart beneath all this ice! I'm happy you did this for her, Lord Sesshoumaru-sama!"

She chuckled to herself while the Taiyoukai contemplated on how she had felt Toukijin's evil aura, but something still nagged at him, something that had been bothering him for days, now. He gazed at her evenly until she found his gaze to be too much of a distraction to ignore. She turned her head to look at him and somewhat froze when he looked at her with utter seriousness. Usagi mentally berated herself for acting so careless and bowed a little. "Forgive me for my bluntness, Sesshoumaru-sama. I hope I haven't insulted you."

Blinking his surprise away when she thought she had offended him, he murmured absentmindedly "Again with the sama…" It was her time to blink and look at him curiously.

"Hum…Wha-" she started, but never got to finish her phrase as the Inu Youkai interrupted her.

"I do not know why, but this Lord Sesshoumaru does not like it when you call him like you do. This simply cannot do."

Usagi recoiled a little. "Are you saying I haven't been respectful-" and he interrupted her again, not even bothering listening to her protest.

"It is a rare thing indeed, but this Lord Sesshoumaru gives you the permission to call him by his name without any honorific. This will be my thanks to you." He watched as her eyes widened slightly, then softened.

A smile graced her lips as she sat down more comfortably again and he felt her relax, his tail surrounding her once again. His hold on her had loosened when she had moved back. "Sesshoumaru it is, then. Thank you."

He watched as Rin all but jumped on the toad youkai, who gave a yelp in return. "Why are you thanking me for?"

Usagi only shrugged. "I guess…because I've been alone for a long time and that I needed someone to make me feel needed again. Your presence is more than comforting to me."

Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows slightly but didn't comment aloud. 'She must certainly be the only one to think that about me, other than Rin. InuYasha would have fainted to see me so peaceful.' His eyes darkened at the thought of his immature half brother. 'He's going to get himself killed someday. His skills need to be sharpened.'

The rabbit didn't press why his mood had suddenly changed and instead put on her best innocent voice, making him loose his trail of thoughts…again. "Say Sesshoumaru?"

The Lord was pleased to hear his name without any titles coming from her lips. It sounded much better. "Hm." His gaze was elsewhere, but at least she knew she had his attention.

"Since you're going to go away soon, I was wondering if I could bring some children from the village here to play with Rin. They've been nagging at me since you've arrived about Rin. They would really like to meet her and it would do well for Rin to play with children her own age. I know you don't really like the company of humans, but could you just do this once for Rin? I won't force you to stay here while they play; you're free to go wherever you please."

Sesshoumaru contemplated the idea. It was true that Rin had never played with children her own age before, so why not? Though, the perspective of being in the presence of that many malodorous mortals irked him to no end. He couldn't just go away while they were here in case something happened, so he figured he would have to stay near the golden haired girl while they ran about. Her smell was pleasurable enough to cover any other scent that could reach his sensitive nose and he never admitted it aloud, of course, but it was one of the reasons why he always preferred to sit by her.

Her scent was making him feel like…like something he had never felt before. It was driving him crazy sometimes and he didn't know why he had the sudden urge to pin her somewhere. He always tried to ignore the demon within him and its foolish ideas. He wasn't crazy. The demon wanted to mate with her badly, but why would he do such a thing? To mate with someone just because she smelled good? AND she was human. Sometimes he couldn't even decipher his inner youkai's bizarre thoughts. "This Sesshoumaru accepts and will stay here just in case."

Usagi's face lit up with a wide smile and before she could think of her actions, she hugged him briefly around the waist thanking him and ran to Rin to tell her the good news.

There was a loud squeal of happiness but the Taiyoukai was in too much of a surprised daze to even notice. 'Why didn't her action repulse me?'

*~*

"Really, Usagi-sama? We're really going to see the little girl?"

Usagi rolled her eyes for it was the 5th time that Ayame was asking her this question. She had with her 5 little girls from the village along with 2 boys, all about Rin's age. "Yes Ayame. Her name is Rin and I want all of you to behave, ok? It was hard enough to convince your parents that Sesshoumaru wouldn't hurt you; I don't want you guys to do something that could shock him. Just keep your distance and he'll keep his."

The children all nodded and the 2 boys looked at each other, grinning madly. They to wanted to meet the little girl, but of course the youkai was much more interesting to them. They just wanted to see if he was as great and as threatening looking as the villagers had said. They soon arrived at the familiar clearing and Usagi called out the youkai Lord. "Sesshoumaru! We're here!"

The little group of children eyed the area impatiently until the door of Usagi's house finally opened to let…their eyes widened with uncertainty and awe at the imposing Inu youkai. He stopped in front of the door instead of coming to them and the boys could barely conceal their amazement.

The Lord simply urged Rin to let go of his leg and gave her a push towards their direction. Seeing Usagi nod and smile, Rin giggled and forgot her fear, running to them and starting to introduce herself to the other children.

After the introduction, they were wondering what to do so Usagi made a suggestion. "If you don't know what to do, Rin, why don't you introduce them to the game I taught you? Tag is very easy and you can also play hide and seek!" Rin nodded and the kids dashed off a little farther to have their fun.

Usagi sighed and sat down at the base of the same tree where she and Sesshoumaru had talked just moments ago. So she wasn't surprised when the Lord sat down again, his tail automatically searching for her. But this time, it was Sesshoumaru who broke Usagi's silent thoughts. "I have decided that Rin, Jaken and I are going to go back to the Western Lands tonight." He said in a whisper.

Usagi's eyes widened slightly. "That soon?" Her voice was sad, Sesshoumaru noticed, and he added in an afterthought.

"Yes. The peace is breaking up, a war is inevitable. But you are most welcome to join us if you so desire." Was there a hint of hope laced in his voice?

Usagi shook her head nonetheless. "I'm sorry Sesshoumaru but I'm not ready yet to exit these woods that are now my home. But what will you do with Rin? I don't think she'll want to go even if you say so."

The youkai Lord nodded. "That's why I will not ask her. I will take her when she will be asleep tonight. Rin will be too tired to notice anything. I fear she may hate me for this but she will be safer in my castle. Letting the children come here was also a gift from me, in a sense. And surely we will come back here sometimes."

Usagi smiled a little less sadly. She understood Sesshoumaru's decision. "If you say you're going to come by sometimes, I would like that very much." She then proceeded to hug Sesshoumaru, snaking her arms around his neck gently.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly while his body stiffened at the sudden closeness. "This is a thank you from Rin. She would never hate you, Sesshoumaru. And this-…"

She slowly receded and pecked him on the corner of his lips. "-Is from me." She got up, not once looking at his stunned expression. "You better come by and visit!" Then, she walked to her home and simply closed the door behind her.

*~*

The day passed and soon the kids said their goodbyes to Rin and ran back to their village. Sesshoumaru got up from his sitting position silently and they went back to the house. Throughout the entire meal, Rin couldn't keep her mouth shut. She was easing the tension a little between everyone and seemed oblivious to the talk Usagi and her Lord have had earlier.

She kept saying how "Ayame was nice" and that she had "So much fun playing with other children her age without being criticized."

Usagi was smiling and nodding her head at everything the happy child was saying while Sesshoumaru and Jaken continued to eat silently. Jaken had been informed about the change of plans and the little toad was also kinda sad. They would have to say goodbye to the peaceful times and go back to the harsh reality of war. They had learned that the Shikon no Tama was almost complete and that Naraku would strike soon against the 4 reigning lands; West, East, North and South.

When Rin went to bed, Usagi joined her and Rin didn't seem to mind because she cuddled to the rabbit. She fell into an oblivious sleep while Usagi petted her hair gently.

Sometimes around midnight, Sesshoumaru finally gathered the courage to wake his servant up and he took Rin in his arm. He was about to turn around when he felt watched. His gaze lowered and surely, 2 blue orbs were looking straight at him. 'Why do I feel so bad? This Sesshoumaru shouldn't have this sort of feeling.'

Instead of embracing her like his youkai was screaming at him to do, he simply unfurled his tail one last time and caressed her cheek gently. She let the soft fur do as it pleased and soon she fell asleep again.

Jaken was waiting patiently outside with Ah and Un and the 2 demons and the sleeping girl were airborne and out of view in the minutes to follow.

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R&R!!!

Eternal Cosmos ^_~