InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ East of the Sun, West of the Moon ❯ New Guardian ( Chapter 2 )

*Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Inuyasha owns me.*

A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews and support. Someone asked if Inuyasha will be in this fic. Yes. He makes his first brief appearance in this chapter. He'll get more involved with the story later on. The beginning chapters of this story will have several characters and will deal with different relationships, but the main couple will be Rin x Sess. It will take me a while to get to them, so please be patient RxS fans. Here's the second chapter. Enjoy and remember to review if you have the time.

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(Kagome's room)

"Kagome-neechan. Wake up. I gotta get Fluffy his breakfast," Rin said as she was shaking Kagome from her slumber.

Kagome slowly opened her eyes at the intruding hands. She rubbed her eyes and began to see Rin's face forming from the blurriness.

"Rin, what time is it? Go back to sleep. It's too early."

"No. I need to go right now. If I don't, Fluffy will be hungry."

"Oh, alright. Just go on ahead of me and I'll join you in fifteen minutes," Kagome said groggily.

"Okay. I'll see you later," Rin said. She then skipped hurriedly outside Kagome's room, grabbed the packages that she had prepared and headed toward the cave. It took her half the time to arrive at the cave as it did yesterday when she headed from the cave home. Her heart was beating rapidly. She felt anxious hoping that Fluffy was still there when she arrived. As she entered the cave, she saw that Fluffy had not budged an inch from where she had left him previously. She knelt beside him and laid her hand on his chest, relieved to feel his warmth and his heartbeat.

"Ohayo Fluffy-kun. I'm back and look what I've brought you. Here's a blanket so you can keep warm," Rin said soothingly as she placed the blanket over his body. "And here is your breakfast. These are rice balls with different stuffing. I made them myself this morning. I'm not sure what you like to eat, so I made several. This one is filled dried fish, this one is filled with pork, this is filled with beef, and this is filled with chicken," Rin said as she pointed to each one of the rice balls, each perfectly shaped and sprinkled with black or white sesame seeds. "Let me know which one you like and I'll bring you more for lunch."

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and stared at what was laid before him. Human food. He didn't eat human food. This girl was wasting her time making such elaborate delicacies. He closed his eyes and tried to get back to sleep, hoping the girl would leave soon so he can get some peace again.

Rin saw that Fluffy was uninterested in what she had brought him. She was saddened because she had awoken at the brink of dawn to prepare this for him. Tears began filling her eyes and she tried to hold them back.

"Gomenesai Fluffy-kun. You must not like what I've made, but it's the only thing I know how because I'm not allowed to cook with fire yet. I'll ask Kagome-neechan to make you something better."

`Peculiar girl,' thought Sesshoumaru. `Why is she so distressed just because I don't want to eat her food? I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a bite so she would stop that racket and leave me be.' Sesshoumaru then reached over and took a bite of one of rice balls. `Hmm. It's not so bad for human food,' he thought. He took a few more bites and finished half of what she had brought him. He hated to admit it, but having some nourishment made him feel better. He felt more of his youki returning.

"Rin! Get away from there!" Kagome screamed. As she neared the cave, she felt a faint swirl of youki emanating from within the cave. She quickly rushed into the cave and pulled Rin to her side.

"What's wrong, Kagome-neechan?" Rin asked.

"I felt some youki from this cave. That's strange. It's suddenly gone. Rin. You'd better leave. I don't think it's safe here."

"I can't leave," Rin said pushing herself away from Kagome's clutch. "I have to take care of Fluffy. And if there's youkai, I have to protect him."

"Rin. Don't be silly. You wouldn't be able to protect yourself let alone protect another creature from youkai," Kagome said, feeling a little flustered at her sister's naïveté. She looked at Rin and could tell Rin's determination wouldn't let her just leave the dog there. "Tell you what," Kagome began. "I've brought some herbs to bandage his wounds. After I finish with that, your Fluffy should be well on his way to recovery. You can visit him one more time, but that's it. I'm not sure how hostile he could be when he gains back his energy. He has been in a fight and all, and who knows if he'll be aggressive with you later on. Do you understand me, Rin?"

"Hai."

"Alright. You can come over and help me with his wounds," Kagome said. She walked over to Sesshoumaru and knelt down beside him as Rin knelt opposite of Kagome. Kagome stared at the familiar-looking blanket. "Rin?"

"Hmm?"

"Isn't this the blanket from your room?"

"Uh-huh," Rin nodded.

Kagome sighed. "Rin, you know you only have one blanket. What are you going to use tonight?"

"I don't know. I guess I can put on extra clothes," Rin said while twiddling her thumbs.

Kagome gave her that all too familiar disapproving look, to which Rin replied, "Demo, I couldn't just let him freeze to death."

"Nevermind. Here. Take these herbs and place it over his body and I'll do the rest."

"Sure thing," Rin smiled.

After Kagome finished bandaging the wounds, she stood up. "I'm gonna go home right now. I need to help Father polish some swords today. Hurry on home, okay?"

"Okay. Arigato Kagome-neechan."

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(Outside a hut, somewhere deep in the forest)

"Your training has progressed so rapidly Kikyou. There is nothing left for me to teach you."

"Kaede-sama. I feel like I still have much to learn. I've only trained with you for six months," Kikyou said, in a bowing kneel before Kaede.

"When you came to me seeking for training, you were already well-learned in the ways of the miko. There is nothing left for you to learn. It is time for you to return to your village."

"Demo, I am not ready to return. It is my wish to stay here with you. Will you not keep me? Is there nothing I can do for you?"

"Yes. There is something you may do for me, but it requires a great deal of responsibility and sacrifice from you. As you can see, I am old in my years," Kaede said as she swept her fingers through her ashen grey hair. "I've been searching for my replacement as the guardian of the Shikon no Tama."

Kikyou quickly glanced up at her master at the mention of the ancient relic. "Shikon no Tama? That is in your possession? I thought that was nothing more than a myth."

"Indeed it is very real. It has been passed down in secrecy from master to disciple for many generations before it came under my care. I've been searching for a suitable person to which I shall pass the Shikon. Kikyou, you are the person I find most suitable, but it has to be your choice, for you see, while in your possession, the Shikon will put you in grave danger. You are at risk to be attacked at all times. To humans, the Shikon is just a story, but to youkai, it is a reality-a constant allure. With the Shikon, they will have limitless power."

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Well-hidden in the shadows of the dense forest, a pair of ears where listening to the conversation, unbeknownst to the speakers. `Shikon no Tama? Limitless power?' thought Inuyasha. His ears perked up to listen to more of the conversation.

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"You will not be able to live a normal life," Kaede continued. "Are you willing to accept that?"

"I…"

"As you see before you, if you choose to accept, this is your fate. You see, I live alone with no close companions. I cannot live with my family-cannot marry or have children. Youkai are hateful and deceitful creatures. They will go through any lengths to attain what they desire. They will use your love of family against you to get their hands on the Shikon. Anyone tied to the Guardian of the Shikon shall be put in danger as well. That is why the Guardian of the Shikon must cast away all feelings love and all close attachments to any thing or any person. You must think carefully before to accept this responsibility."

Kikyou continued to kneel before Kaede, contemplating the consequences of such a decision. The thought of never being able to be close to her sisters again pained her, but if she were to marry Onigumo, he would take her away and she wouldn't be able to see her sisters either way. The thought of going to bed with him every night and waking up with him every morning repulsed her. She could not imagine herself living with a man who possessed such an evil aura. When faced with two evils, one must choose the lesser of the two evils. Kikyou looked at Kaede with conviction. "Kaede-sama, I will accept that responsibility."

"Are you sure you've thought through it carefully, dear child?"

"Hai. I choose to accept the life of the Guardian of the Shikon."

"Very well. Come along inside and you shall learn all there is to know about being the Guardian."

Kikyou stood up from her position and followed Kaede inside the hut.

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"So she will become the new Guardian. Looks like I'll have to make a new friend," Inuyasha thought, grinning mischievously.

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(Back at the cave)

After Rin spent time making sure Fluffy was comfortable in his new bandages, she cleaned up the area around him.

"Fluffy-kun, I'm gonna go home now. I'll bring you lunch later today."

After Rin left, Sesshoumaru felt at peace again. Indeed, he did feel much better after his wounds were cared for and his stomach was full. `Two more days...two more days and I'll be able to leave this cave,' he thought.

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A/N: okay, that's it for my second installment to the story. As you might have guessed, Kagome's father is Toutousai (that's why she's helping w/ polishing swords).

Some Japanese terms used in this chapter (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, since I'm not Japanese)

Youki: Demon energy

Gomenasai: Sorry

Special thanks to reviewers:

Aff.net:

blacka

Taiki

anhimals: hehehe. I'm glad you liked the name. I was afraid people might think it's unoriginal.

Kawool

animechick262003: I'm feeling ecstatic. It's great to get a review from one of my favorite writers. And you're right. This is not a Kikyou bashing deal. I would never do that because I love kikyou. You won't believe how saddened I am about you not continuing IY fics, especially since I love SS and I'm also dying to find out what happens to Rin in OSAC.

New Fan: He's a normal sized dog only because he's injured and needs to conserve his energy. When he regains enough of his youki, he should be able to transform into the familiar giant dog.

Rasberries: I'm doubly ecstatic now since a second fave writer has reviewed. Please update CS soon.

chillkat

marnika

Mediaminer.org:

geminidragon: Kagome is 16 as is Kikyou.

Fanfiction.net:

Twilightkitty

Uber Rei Model 03

duckknight

Cookie6