InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Light in the Dark ❯ The Checkered Kimono ( Chapter 11 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
The Checkered Kimono
Kagome stared at the taiyoukai, opening and closing her mouth with no words coming out due to shock. Only her face darkening with blood every passing second gave a sign she was aware of what was happening. The fact that she was there in nothing to hide her modesty aside from the water. The miko quickly used her arms to cover her chest, aware that the water was hiding everything else. Granted night had indeed fallen, but she knew youkai eyesight was better than humans and helped them see in the dark, some species better than others.Shippo froze as was always his reaction at the taiyoukai’s appearance. Shen however slunk to hide behind her mother. While they may have trained together, Shen knew she was far out-ranked compared to this taiyoukai and sought her mother’s protection. Kagome unconsciously shifted closer to Shen and allowed her aura to wash over her kits in a soothing manner.
Sesshomaru lifted his eyebrow into a perfect arch at the miko with a stare only he could conjure.
“I will not repeat myself miko,” the taiyoukai warned.
“I was j-just bathing! Is that some sort of high crime? To be clean!?” she squeaked in an indignant manner, her sharp temper starting to get the better of the young woman. Before she could continue she was cut off.
“Rin is sorry Sesshomaru-sama! Lady Kagome and Shippo-san were here before Rin.” She exclaimed.
Rin quickly bowed in the water while baring her neck to him while avoiding eye contact, her nose only centimeters from the water.
Sesshomaru heard what she had said and acknowledged the small girl.
“Lady Kagome said she could bathe with her, Shippo-san, and the other kitsune. Rin is sorry Sesshomaru-sama.” She continued.
The youkai lord spared his young ward a glance and nodded to show his acknowledgement and approval of her actions.
“After you are finished bathing be sure to return to camp. Miko you are permitted to finish bathing. At dawn I shall appear in your camp to discuss your sudden appearance on my lands.” He said in his normal monotone voice, leaving just past the trees he had come through.
“That was… interesting.” The miko murmured, relaxing slightly and standing up. Shippo nodded in agreement looking to where the western prince took his leave.
“Lord Sesshomaru had agreed to take Rin on more of his journeys on her word if she used the lessons given to her by her private tutors.” She said with a small smile.
Kagome looked at the small girl with widened eyes or surprise. She wasn’t sure of the relationship between the girl and taiyoukai. She thought he kept her around as a pet; or something else of lower stature due to his supposed hatred of humans, and wouldn’t see to her education. At the same time she noticed not only had the young girl spoken in a manner only to be seen in court, but also acted in the way of youkai society. Things she had learned from her own family being brought up on a shrine, as well as Sango and Midoriko. Granted she told her new traveling companions of her training, but didn’t think it was important to tell them of the extra education she had been given while in the hot springs of her dreamscape with the older miko.
“Sesshomaru has private tutors teach you?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Hai. Sesshomaru-sama has them teach Rin lots of things. She learns manners and speaking of court, reading, calligraphy, how to properly hold and be part of a tea ceremony, how to hunt, fend for myself, and manage a household.” The young girl easily replied.
“Wow! Really!? Okaa-san do you know how to do all of that?” Shippo eagerly asked looking up at his mother with two fists trying to conceal his excitement.
Kagome blushed at the sudden attention of 3 children. Shen had kept close to Kagome even after Sesshomaru left, mostly since she didn’t know Rin, but she was still listening and trying not to be rude. Rin looked at her with bright hopeful eyes and a smile that fit perfectly on her face.
“Yes I do. It took me a while to get it all, but it always stuck with me.” She said softly with a soft secretive smile on her lips.
“Rin still has trouble with most of it, but Sesshomaru-sama says she makes progress every day.” She said proudly, her eyes couldn’t help but keep shifting to the form similar to her height near Kagome’s hip. “What about you?” She asked looking at the kit as best as she could.
Shen blushed brilliantly knowing she was being spoken to. “I know how to hunt, fight, and read… I… I know my calligraphy; Obaa-chan and Okaa-san taught me. I’m still learning the ways of court; I know little of tea ceremony and even less of how to care for a home. I know how to care for a family though. I would be most honored if, with Okaa-san’s permission, you would teach me what you know Rin-san… wasn’t it Rin-san?” Her voice was soft, but still held a bell like quality to it.
Rin nodded eagerly. “Rin is Rin. Rin doesn’t know your name though.” She stated and tilted her head to the side in a cute manner.
“This is my daughter Shen, Rin.” Kagome answered for her silver kit. She placed her hand onto her kit’s back and lightly guided her away from her side to present her to Rin.
“Shen?” She whispered quietly.
“Hai, I am called Shen. Okaa-san, named me that.” She stated. Her ears were flat with her shyness as her face held a small red flame on its cheeks and over the bridge of her nose.
“Shen is a very pretty name. Rin would be happy to teach you what she knows as long as Sesshoumaru-sama approves. And Rin likes your hair. It is silver like Sesshomaru-sama’s.” Rin’s face stretched more with the grin that grew on it.
Shen smiled brightly at the compliments even though her blush stayed true.
“I think Rin is a pretty name too.” The kit said in return.
Kagome smiled at the two and sunk into the water to begin her bathing ritual. She soaked for a bit then got out to wash. After seeing what she was doing Shen and Shippo both quickly followed suit and got on land with their mother to scrub the dirt from their skin. Rin watched fascinated by the two kitsune who followed their mother around and felt a soft pang in her own heart. She knew she had Sesshomaru and Jaken even Ah-Un, but none of them could give them the attention Kagome was giving the two kitsune. Rin knew what her little family was like and knew that it was missing something; however she didn’t know what she was missing until just now.
Rin knew she didn’t know the ways of being a woman other than what was expected at court. She had tutors for that. However, none of them took the time to study humans to know what was best for her. None of them took the time to be a role-model for her… no one took the time to be her mother… Sadness slowly started to creep into the depths of her eyes. But she quickly shook it away and climbed out after them.
Rin watched as Kagome washed herself with the strange soaps, then take a bucket and splash water over herself. She then proceeded to do the same with Shen and Shippo. She scrubbed Shippo’s skin first, then Shen’s, after she grabbed another bottle of the strange soap and used it on their fur and hair. Rin watched as Kagome threaded her fingers through their hair in what could be seen as soothing. Both kitsune smiled and purred under her ministrations. When she was done, she had both of them close their eyes as she poured water over them and rinsed all the soap out. After they stood up and were dried off top to bottom.
Rin softly chewed on her lip reaching down for courage she felt she needed. She had no problem living with her family, had no problem meeting new youkai or learning their ways, but after her family had died she hadn’t talked to another human besides Kagome and her companions. Still if she wanted anything right now, she wanted to have a semblance of a mother’s attention on her. So she took a deep calming breath and walked over the miko and young kitsune.
“Kagome-chan? … Will you also wash Rin’s hair for her?” Rin clutched her small water bucket as though her life depended on it, waiting for Kagome’s answer.
Kagome looked up at the small girl with a small look of surprise. It took her a few seconds to realize the girl was waiting for an answer.
“Of course, Rin! I would be happy to.”
Rin smiled as relief ran through her like the coolness of sitting under a waterfall, and walked over to the miko and sat in front of her as she had watched the kitsune do. Kagome smiled at Rin and proceeded to perform a task that was second nature to her.
Rin smiled and relaxed under soothing fingers. It felt as though magic were being massaged into her body through her head. Rin felt as though she were becoming a puddle and understood the purring of the kitsune. She herself felt a little tickle at the back of her throat and it took a moment to realize she was purring. Or what could be considered purring among the human kind.
Kagome smiled at the “purring” child in her hands. She continued to massage the shampoo in Rin’s hair just a little while longer, not knowing when the next time would be that Rin would receive the amount of attention and love she was getting at that moment.
“Rin-chan, I need you to close your eyes now.”
Rin was unsure how long she had been under the ministrations of Kagome’s fingers, but felt it had stopped sooner than she would have liked. However she still did what was required of her. Soon she felt wash splash over her until she was sure the strange soap was no longer in her hair.
“There, all done now, Rin.” Were the soft words that caressed Rin’s ear. The soft hands on her shoulders were just as comforting as having Sesshoumaru pat her head in approval. Rin smiled softly as happiness glowed in her heart.
Rin stood and was abruptly covered in a strange cloth, but could tell it had the same purpose as her drying cloth. She let Kagome dry her off in the manner she had seen done with Shen and Shippo. When that was done Rin thanked Kagome and left to don her faithful checkered kimono on the other side of the hot spring.
As soon as she was done, she noticed Kagome was wearing odd sleeping clothes, as were her kits.
“Kagome-chan, what are those?” she said pointing at the young woman’s clothing.
“They’re called pajamas. They’re sleeping wear from my villiage.” She said smoothly.
Kagome couldn’t help but notice Rin always wore the same kimono whenever they crossed paths.
“Rin,... why do you always wear the same kimono? Surely Lord Sessoumaru has had many made for you since it is inappropriate for court.”
Rin’s eyes dilated for a quick moment like a deer in headlights before fixing them upon the ground.
“It is the last thing Rin has to remember her family before she met Sessoumaru-sama. They were killed by a bandit and Rin was alone.”
The girl shuffled self-consciously for a few moments hating the silence that blanketed them.
“I see. I’m sorry for asking Rin-chan. I’m glad you found Sesshoumaru-sama. We are heading back to camp now, and would like to know that you were safe on your way back. Alright?”
“Hai, Kagome-chan.”
Rin started gathering her belongings and making sure she didn’t leave anything behind. Her back was turned to the group, expecting them to leave as soon as she replied that she had heard what was said. She was entirely shocked when she felt someone her height, hug her.
“I hope your journey to camp is a safe one, Rin-chan. I can’t wait to see you when the sun shall claim its dawn.” Shen said softly.
With that Shen ran to her mother’s side and grabbed her hand. She looked to the ground to try to hide her face, but it was apparent that her face was lit ablaze with a mighty blush. She did look up however through shy lashes, stealing glances of Rin. They all smiled at Rin, said their good-byes, and left as soon as Rin started heading her way towards camp.
Upon returning to their own camp Kagome let her companions know about the unsuspected meeting with Sesshoumaru and let them know what would not be acceptable due to his status and their being on his land. She also informed them of the engagement they were to have with him at dawn and who, and what, to expect.
They didn’t have to like it, but they did have to show him respect that he deserved on his own land. She let it known that she would not tolerate disrespect in this meeting; that included subtle disrespect. If they did, she would no longer agree to travel with them and leave on her own after taking them back to the future. She ended her announcement with:
“I am alpha of this pack. You will adhere to my commands if you wish to be part of, or travel with, my pack. There are not many laws, I believe in equal treatment; however I will not be made a fool of in affairs such as this. Is that clear?”
She got nods from all the heads, a few hesitant at first, in their clearing. With that settled she set out to make dinner for her group and her kits before going to sleep with them, Hiei in the tree above her.
Come dawn there would be tension, of that they were sure.
End Chapter
Thank you for all the reviews, faves, and alerts. Every one of them helped me with my desire to write more. Granted I had about a page or 2 written before I just stopped due to the lack of interest from everyone else. But with all the recent, and not to recent reviews, I was inspired to write this again. Not for me, but for you, the readers.
I’m sorry for not updating this sooner, I really truly am. I’ve just been so busy with life. I’m starting college, was having family/home problems, and now things are starting to calm down. I would write a paragraph or so every few weeks when I got the chance, but it just wasn’t enough, and for that I’m sorry. I’m so thankful for those of you who’ve stuck with the story for this long. I haven’t abandoned it, this I promise you.
Those who write me the long reviews, you are amazing and very loved, I brag about you to my other half. Everyone who has reviewed, I do have your reviews saved (since I get them via email), the keep me going.
I’m currently working on editing all my chapters (for those who haven’t noticed). I started this fic when I was 13, and I want to improve it from start to finish. So look out for updates in the chapters.
Thank you so much for sticking with me this long!
~ Angeltsuki