InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Future Past ❯ Ch 4: Sesshomaru's Humans ( Chapter 4 )

Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi

 

 

Chapter 4: Sesshomaru's Humans

 

 

Inuyasha didn't mention his meeting with Sesshomaru to the others. He wasn't sure if Sesshomaru would send Kohaku to the village to see Sango or not, and he didn't want to get her hopes up.

 

But when they got back to the village, Kohaku was already there, dressed in his slayer's clothes. With him was the child Rin, and Kaede. It seemed he had met Kaede and her party on their return journey and offered to accompany her back to the village. He made no mention of Sesshomaru, although Inuyasha had no doubt that Sesshomaru had instructed Kohaku to join up with the old lady. He was surprised that Rin came along as well, though.

 

“Kohaku!” Sango jumped off Kirara's back and ran to embrace her brother.

 

“Sister.” Kohaku replied. His normally serious face brightened and his lips turned up in a slight smile.

 

Miroku caught up to the two of them, frowning at Sango and dragging his eyes down towards her belly. She had scared him, jumping off Kirara like that. “Kohaku,” he greeted his young brother-in-law. “Welcome. It's been a long time since we've seen you. You look well. And you too, little Rin. Did Kaede tell you? Sango is going to have a baby.” Miroku continued talking to Kohaku, all the while leading him and the rest of the group back to Kaede's house where they broke out the hot chocolate as they exchanged news.

 

Inuyasha looked at Kagome and shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea where Sesshomaru was, but considering what his brother had said to him, he figured Sesshomaru had stayed away from the `human' village and let his two humans come here instead. It was getting a little crowded in Kaede's small dwelling. He wondered where everybody was going to sleep tonight. If it weren't for Kagome, he'd be happier sleeping in his tree.

 

“Grandma Kaede showed me how to find medicinal flowers under the snow!” piped up Rin, drawing Inuyasha's attention back to the conversations hurtling around the small room. “She says I can learn herbal lore if I want to.”

 

“Did she?” Inuyasha's eyes glowed with cunning. “And what will Sesshomaru have to say about that/ ” There was more than one way to find out about his elusive brother.

 

“Rin,” Kohaku spoke in a low voice with a hint of warning. Rin ignored him.

 

“Oh, he won't mind. He says I can be a miko if I want to, too.”

 

Everyone stared in shock at the young girl.

 

“Rin.” Kohaku spoke louder. “Lord Sesshomaru doesn't like us to talk about him.”

 

She jutted her chin. “I'm not talking about Lord Sesshomaru, I'm only talking about me.”

 

Kagome put her arms around Rin. “It's Ok, Rin dear. I'm sure Lord Sesshomaru is very proud of you. It's not everyone who can be a miko, you know, especially as young as you are.”

 

“I know.” Rin's eyes shone. “My spiritual powers have to grow up, too,” she said, adding “Lord Sesshomaru said so.” Kohaku rolled his eyes.

 

Spiritual powers? Inuyasha could hardly believe what he was hearing. Rin had spiritual powers? No wonder Sesshomaru kept the girl around. No, that wasn't fair. Not even Sesshomaru was that calculating. Wait a minute. . . . “Kohaku.” Inuyasha pinned down the boy with an intense stare. “Why don't Rin's miko powers hurt Sesshomaru? He's a full youkai.”

 

“Oh, I couldn't hurt Lord Sesshomaru!” replied Rin. “I love Lord Sesshomaru!”

 

Inuyasha didn't release Kohaku from his gaze. The boy reddened, but he answered, “Rin's powers can't hurt Lord Sesshomaru. He is too strong.”

 

“Keh,” replied Inuyasha. Maybe now. He knew from experience that miko powers did affect him, so they probably could affect Sesshomaru the same way. Look what had happened to Naraku, after all. Then again, Inuyasha knew that Kagome loved him. No matter how powerful she was, she would never hurt him. It was probably the same with Rin and Sesshomaru to some degree. His brother was full of surprises.

 

Kaede shuffled over and handed Inuyasha another bowl of hot chocolate. He glanced up at her, curious, but she glared at him through her one good eye. He knew enough to keep quiet. “The girl is indeed gifted,” she said, “to show such promise at such a young age. I was asked to start teaching her basic herbal lore, much as I taught you, Kagome.”

 

“Asked? By whom?” Inuyasha demanded. “Sesshomaru?”

 

“I never saw the great Lord,” Kaede replied. “A meeting was set up in the village I spoke of, and Rin and I began our training. I had no idea it was Rin until I went there last week.”

 

“So there really was a young girl you needed to train?” Kagome turned red with embarrassment as she remembered what she had thought about Kaede's supposed trip to the other village.

 

“So Rin didn't meet you on the way back with Kohaku?”

 

“No, in fact, I assumed Kohaku had been sent to fetch Rin. When he offered to accompany us back to my village, I accepted gladly. An old woman like me needs protection, you know.” Kaede looked reproachfully at Inuyasha.

 

“Keh, how was I supposed to know when you were coming back?” he retorted. “And how come Rin came back with you?”

 

“The elders of the other village were not comfortable with her there. Apparently her benefactor had set her up, a young child all alone, with her own house, and there were mysterious comings and goings at odd hours. I think they suspected youkai involvement. I asked Rin if she would mind coming to live with me, and she said she would ask. I didn't question it at the time, knowing she had a mysterious benefactor and suspecting that the benefactor might still be Lord Sesshomaru. The next day, sure enough, Rin told me it was all right for us to go to my village for training. We left the same day.”

 

Rin looked at the old woman in surprise. “You didn't see Jaken?” she asked. Kaede shook her head.

 

It made a strange sort of sense to Inuyasha. Sesshomaru had said he had liaisons to act on his behalf in the human villages. Kohaku was one of them. Jaken. . . well, Jaken could disguise himself pretty well if he needed to, as Inuyasha had cause to remember.

 

“What made Sesshomaru decide to allow you to get miko training?” he asked Rin. “I thought you didn't like humans.”

 

Rin smiled sweetly. “I like Grandma Kaede,” she replied. “And you, and you, and you.” She pointed to the humans in the room. “Besides, my powers are growing up. Lord Sesshomaru said I needed to learn to control them.” Her voice faltered. “He said he would visit me. He wouldn't leave me alone. . . .”

 

“I'm sure he will come to visit soon,” soothed Kagome. She gently wiped the chocolate moustache from Rin's upper lip. “He loves you too, you know.” Kagome's eyes sought out Inuyasha's, silently daring him to contradict her. He didn't.

 

“I know,” replied Rin confidently. She stood up and went to sit beside Kohaku who was next to Sango, and he moved over to make room for the little girl.

 

“And you, Kohaku, what do you do for Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha wanted to know.

 

Kohaku looked back steadily at Inuyasha. “I protect Rin.”

 

Good answer, thought Inuyasha. Even Sango and Miroku looked impressed, and right on cue Kagome's eyes welled over with tears. Kohaku would make a good man one day soon.

 

“But where do you live? What do you do?” asked Sango. “Are you happy?”

 

Kohaku turned to his sister and smiled. “I am very happy. Now that Rin will be staying with Kaede for a while, I'll probably get to see a lot more of you. “

 

“Will you stay here, then?”

 

Kohaku looked down. “I can't stay. Not for good. There are things I need to do out there.”

 

“With Sesshomaru?” asked Inuyasha sharply.

 

Kohaku nodded.

 

“I want to talk to you,” said Inuyasha, “Tomorrow.” He stood up and stretched. Kagome stood up too, uncertain as to what Inuyasha had in mind. “Sango, get some sleep. That kid of yours needs it.” With that, Inuyasha took Kagome's hand, pushed aside the mat that covered the entrance, and left.

 

Sango invited Kohaku to stay with them, and when he looked as if he would refuse, her face fell, so Kohaku changed his mind and went with them to their house, along with Shippo and Kirara. He would contact Lord Sesshomaru in the morning.

 

Rin had fallen asleep shortly after she had cuddled against Kohaku's side, so Kaede covered her where she was, and prepared herself for bed too. She wondered where Kagome and Inuyasha had gone.

 

Kagome, too, wondered what they were doing standing outside Kaede's house in the dark. Miroku and company hadn't even noticed them as they filed past. “Come on, Inuyasha, everybody's gone now. We can go back in to Kaede's house to sleep.”

 

Inuyasha planted his feet. “Rin's there,” he said. “There's not enough room.”

 

“Yes there is. She's just one little girl.”

 

“One too many,” he replied stubbornly.

 

“So what do you propose we do?”

 

Instead of replying, Inuyasha scooped Kagome up in his arms and took off for his forest. He couldn't believe he was going to do this, but it was just for one night and nobody would ever know, not even her mother. He jumped into the well without slowing down and made his way to the roof outside Kagome's bedroom.

 

A quick sniff assured him that everyone else was sleeping soundly. He opened her window, glad that he'd destroyed the locks on these windows too, just as he had destroyed the locks on the windows in her dorm room. It made for quicker and less messy entrances. Kagome was staring up at him, too surprised to say anything. He deposited her on her bed and put his finger to his lips. “Shhh,” he cautioned. Quietly he walked over to the door and locked it from the inside, to be safe. He turned around and grinned.

 

Kagome grinned back. Well, that certainly solved the problem of where they were going to sleep tonight. She felt a little guilty, knowing that her mother wouldn't approve. But not guilty enough. They would have to be quiet. She waggled her eyebrows and patted the bed next to her. Inuyasha hopped over, still grinning.

 

The next morning, Kagome was careful to make her bed and put her room back exactly the way it was before. She wanted to use the bathroom but Inuyasha put his foot down. The running water would definitely give them away. So they left through the window, and went back through the well. Kagome suffered through using icy water from a partially frozen brook to wash up, giving Inuyasha dire looks the entire time. He didn't care; washing up in the freezing water was no great hardship for him. Besides, the night had been worth it. Again.

 

They came back to the village hand in hand, once Kagome calmed down. Inuyasha quirked his lips, amused. Love really did conquer all. The scene that greeted them wiped the smile off Inuyasha's face.

 

Sesshomaru stood in the middle of the village with Kohaku slightly behind him. Frightened villagers peeped out from doorways and windows but none dared step outside. Kaede stood just outside the entrance to her house, grim and worried at once. She had both hands on Rin's shoulders, holding the little girl back as she attempted to wiggle free and run to Sesshomaru.

 

Sango and Miroku both faced Sesshomaru across the village center. What made Inuyasha's blood run cold was the sight of Miroku twirling the two fuzzy dice on their string above his head. What did he think he was doing? “Miroku!” he yelled, running forward.

 

Too late. With a cry of “Stay back, demon!” Miroku released the dice and let them fly towards Sesshomaru. Everyone held their breath.

 

The dice connected with Sesshomaru's chest and bounced off, hitting the ground and rolling a few times before stopping, six and one showing. Everyone blinked, including Sesshomaru.

 

“Miroku, you idiot!” yelled Inuyasha. “I told you they were just a decoration!” He stomped over to the dice, which lay a few feet away from Sesshomaru, and yanked them up by the string that connected them. “See?” He shook them in the air a few times, then threw them himself against Sesshomaru's chest, without letting go of the string. “They don't do anything.” He did it again.

 

Sesshomaru still hadn't moved. Inuyasha could hear a low growl starting in Sesshomaru's chest and thought better of throwing the dice against it for a third time. He still had a hard time keeping this time's Sesshomaru as opposed to the future time's Sesshomaru straight in his mind. “Sorry,” he muttered, and stepped back.

 

Kagome ran up. “What's going on? Kaede? Rin? Kohaku?”

 

Everyone began talking at once. “Kohaku was gone when I woke up this morning. The next thing I knew, Kaede was shouting and Sesshomaru was here. I thought the worst,” said Miroku.

 

“I want to go to Lord Sesshomaru!” cried Rin, still struggling to get free.

 

“I was afraid he would hurt her,” said Kaede, not letting go.

 

“Release her,” spoke Sesshomaru.

 

Inuyasha snorted, exasperated. “Kaede, let the kid go,” he began. When Kaede opened her mouth to protest, he held up his hand. “Now. Just do it.” He turned to Miroku and Sango. “You two, go home and finish getting dressed. Sesshomaru.” Inuyasha turned his gaze to his brother. “Will you come inside and talk?”

 

Three things happened at once. Rin, released from Kaede's grip, ran to hide behind Sesshomaru's leg. Sango looked down at her sleeping clothing in horror, and ran to get changed. And Sesshomaru nodded.

 

“Good.” They silently filed into Kaede's house. Rin had a death-grip on the fabric of Sesshomaru's pant-leg. The fact that he let her spoke volumes to Inuyasha. Kohaku moved to stand behind Sesshomaru, but Inuyasha grabbed him by the back of his neck and plopped him down next to him. “We still need to talk,” he told the boy.

 

They waited until Miroku and Sango returned, properly clothed, to begin.

 

“Ok, what gives?” Inuyasha asked, directing his question to anyone who wanted to answer. Nobody said anything for a moment, then Kohaku cleared his throat.

 

“It's my fault,” he began. “I brought Lord Sesshomaru without telling anybody first. I'm sorry, Sister. I didn't think it would cause this misunderstanding.”

 

Sesshomaru held up his hand, much as Inuyasha had done earlier. “Do not apologize for something that was not in your control, Kohaku.” He said. “I would have come with or without you. I promised Rin. It is not your fault these people are so quick to jump to conclusions.”

 

Kaede winced. She deserved that. “Then it is I who should apologize to you, Lord Sesshomaru,” she said quietly. “I knew you had placed Rin in my care, and I knew that she wanted to see you. I think—I think I was afraid that you would take her back with you without giving us a chance.”

 

Sesshomaru looked directly at Kaede and replied. “This is what humans do, over and over, when they are given a chance.”

 

Kaede looked shocked. Inuyasha wasn't surprised, however. He agreed with Sesshomaru.

 

Sesshomaru continued speaking. “However, I am pleased that you defended Rin, even if it was against me. She may continue to take lessons with you, if she agrees. Rin?”

 

Rin peeked out from behind Sesshomaru's leg. “But you will still take me with you, and Kohaku, and Jaken, and Ah-un, sometimes? I like Grandma Kaede, when she's nice to me, but I miss all of you.”

 

Kaede spoke up. “Child, I made a mistake, which I will not do again. Lord Sesshomaru is welcome here any time to see you—or to take you on trips—as he pleases,” she said. “Will you stay here, in between, and learn about herbs and medicines with me?”

 

“And how to control my miko powers?”

 

Kaede smiled. “That, too.”

 

“Then, I guess I'll stay.” She climbed over Sesshomaru's leg and knelt properly beside him. “Lord Sesshomaru, will you stay a little while too? I want to show you the winter flowers I gathered.” She stood, taking Sesshomaru's hand and skipped a little as she walked out the door with him. Kohaku got up to follow them.

 

“Not you,” growled Inuyasha, yanking the boy back down. “You stay. We're going to have that little talk now.” He knew Sesshomaru could hear him. He didn't care.