InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Handprint ❯ Chapter 7

Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

# Handprint part 7 #

The puppy went missing again. Out on one of her forays for food, Rin had returned with an armful of fruit, her puppy left in the tree she'd plucked clean.

Of course, Sesshoumaru knew approximately where the puppy was, but like before, he sent Jaken out to search for it. What was the point of having a self proclaimed servant if that servant didn't serve? Except this time, Rin joined in the search, the worried, almost frantic look on her face affecting him far more than he let on. Clenching his teeth, he bore with it, knowing that he should wait until both Jaken and Rin had made an adequate search for it before he finally grew “impatient” and intervened.

Leaving Ahun peacefully grazing, Sesshoumaru retraced Rin's recent scent trail back to the fruit tree. There, wedged in the fork of two branches was the missing toy. He retrieved it without preamble, holding the thing as he considered how troublesome it had become, and whether maybe, just maybe, it would be better for it to go missing permanently.

An image of Rin's upset face flashed through his mind.

Grinding his teeth with irritation, he tucked the toy away into the folds of his kimono. He returned to Ahun and waited for Rin and Jaken to give up their search. The imp was first to appear, his face a picture of pensive frustration. Rin remained unseen until Jaken, sensing his master's impatience, went to fetch her.

Tired, dirty, tearful, Rin trailed reluctantly behind Jaken, glancing forlornly over her shoulder every few paces.

“Rin,” Sesshoumaru addressed her. “Do you wish to remain behind to look for the toy?”

She blinked, considering his words. “Sesshoumaru-sama would leave?” she asked for clarification.

“Yes,” he responded, no inflection in his voice.

Rin gave the forest one last yearning glance. Then she turned her back on it for good. “No. Rin will go with Sesshoumaru-sama.”

“You would leave without finding the toy?” Sesshoumaru asked; a tiny spark of surprised curiosity in his eyes and voice.

“Rin would rather not be left behind,” she stated resolutely, her eyes still sad.

Smoothing all expression from his face, Sesshoumaru was careful to hide the light, almost carefree emotion her words invoked.

He gave a small sigh, as if immensely troubled by what he was about to do.

“Stay here,” he instructed his group as he strode off into the forest. Making sure he vanished from their line of sight, he let a short time pass before he returned to them.

Holding out the toy to an overjoyed, smiling Rin, he made sure to scowl slightly.

“In the future, you will take greater care not to misplace your belongings. Is that understood?” he reprimanded her with gravity in his voice.

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!” she piped happily, dancing about him with exuberant joy. Feeling indulgent, Sesshoumaru let the smallest light of a smile soften his gold eyes. The fact remained that she would choose him over the toy if it came down to a choice. He did his best not to preen or look smug, his dark mood dissipating rapidly.

Let her lose the thing again. Let him be the one to find it, so that her sunny smiles were once more exclusively his.

Seshoumaru abruptly frowned.

Not that he cared either way, of course. After all, she was just a human girl…right?