InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Returning the Favor ❯ Some Things Are Never Enough ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: Azuka

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co.
~~

~~
Parental Advisory: The content of this Fictional Story would not be considered ‘appropriate’ for reader’s under the age of Seventeen. Therefore I must implore that those faint of heart, easily angered or disturbed; and under the age of seventeen, not ready any Fictional Story that I have concocted from the bases of an Anime. Thank You.

Author: Azuka O’Hara

~~
Chapter Two: Some Things Are Never Enough…
~~

Sesshomaru stared down at the body laying before him, barring his path. The blood had pooled around the infant, the wounds on her back were grotesque, her kimono shredded and her hair strung out around her face and blank (that’s right, I couldn’t resist!) eyes; the color of death’s cold breath. His golden gaze shifted to his hip when Tentsuiga began to pulse softly, in tune with his heart, but a presence unto itself. His golden eyes turned back to the dead girl, the pupils glazing baby blue for a second; the gatekeepers were huddled around the girl, poking at her, contemplating how to move her soul without damage to the body or soul.

Drawing Tentsuiga, Sesshomaru gracefully swung the blade, dispelling the gatekeepers. Sheathing the normally useless blade, he knelt down, watching as the wounds on the girls back were rapidly healing before his eyes, and the light slowly thawing death’s breath in the girl’s silent eyes. When she took the breath of her new life, her eyes rolled up to freeze on him. Sesshomaru tilted his head slightly, watching as the girl stared back at him with a gaze he was sure, he himself was using.

She broke the stare by looking down and pushing her hands under her, to rise to her knees. “How did you die?” She turned to look at him, blinking once. “You do not have to tell me, I am simply curious.” She looked away from him and remained silent. Rising, Sesshomaru turned and was to leave when she suddenly spoke. “I am Rin.” He looked over his shoulder to see the girl on her feet, facing him, but looking at his boots. He turned away, then began walking. He was not surprised, when the girl began to follow, he was however, curious. “Do you not know how to speak?” He glanced over his shoulder, Mokomoko-sama shifting on his shoulder. Rin did not look up at him, simply followed him. This did not bother the lord, nor was he content with it. The silence of a child is uncommon, unheard of and unnatural. Especially that of a mortal child.

“If you insist on following me, girl. You will speak when spoken to.” He came to a stop and glared at her from over his shoulder. When she stopped, she looked up at him, a sadness so deep within her brown eyes that Sesshomaru found himself momentarily for a loss of words.

“Hai.”

Sesshomaru frowned at the child, but said nothing as she simply stared blankly at the ground before her. He sighed and turned towards her. She was a human, but she was only a child. “Rin.” She looked obediently up at him, and for this he rewarded her by placing his palm on her head. “This Sesshomaru will protect you, do not fear him.” Rin’s face slowly melted into awe as she stared up at him. “Hai.” Sesshomaru removed his hand and turned from her. “Come.” “Hai.”

~~

Dunking the cloth into a pale of water, Kai pulled it out and rung it before placing it on the miko’s face, brushing aside the sweat that still lay claim to her body. Kagome’s condition worsened, and there was no immediate sight of recovery. The girl’s muscles continued to tremble from over-exertion, her mind obviously troubled and tormented, as her eyelids fluttered and her lips parted in gasp of pain. Removing the now damp, cold cloth, Kai dipped it back into the warm pale of water and returned to her face, only to see her ash colored eyes staring at him in obvious disorientation. “Kagome?” Her eyes flashed with something, but then her eyes closed. “Where’s Sesshomaru?” Kai sighed in relief, that her amnesia had not resurfaced, and swept the warm cloth over her icy skin.
“He is a Lord and must maintain his territory. The lord sends is apologies for pushing you so hard, we did not predict the outcome.” Kagome smiled and forced her heavy eyelids open to refocus on him. “No… Its alright. I don’t… hurt so must as I can’t… control anything.” Kai frowned. “Control?” She nodded. “Its weird… Like, I want to move my hand, but my leg twitches… Or I want to open my eyes and my finger twitches…. I can’t explain it better than that.”

Kai swept his hand through his shaggy orange hair, opening his eyes and gasped when she placed her hand on his cheek. Kagome traced the black strip on his cheek, before letting her hand drop. “Don’t worry so much, Kai-kun. I’ll be fine. Its already getting easier.” She demonstrated with a flick of her wrist, referring to her lifting her hand and touching his face. “Hm.” She smiled and closed her eyes. “Gomen-nasi… Kai-kun…” She whimpered as her mind slipped into unconscious again. Kai smiled and placed his hand on her forehead. “Sleep well.”

~~

Rin watched the back of her new lord. This man; this demon, who everyone said was evil and lost to bloodlust, had saved her life. Taken her from the brink of the Netherworld, and brought her back. Why? She had nothing before him, not a mother or a father. No sister’s or brother’s. She had only herself, and her little hut on the outskirts of the village. She ate only at night, for only then were the villagers unaware of her stealing fish from the ponds, or eggs from the chickens. If it weren’t for the priestess of the village, she would surely have starved off only the little she could manage to gather; she taught Rin which plants she could eat, which would help a cut or a scrape, and some which could be boiled and consumed to break a fever, or settle a queasy stomach.

Now she found herself knee deep in a river, the crickets a familiar background as she focused on the task at hand. The starlight flickered off the surface of the waters silver-like surface, feeling fish swim between her fingers like ghosts and serpents.

From the tree line, in obvious view, the demon lord waited with his arms crossed. His chin was lifted slightly, his eyes focused on the mortal girl in the river. She couldn’t, could she? She was only a child after all, and though she had come here of her own accord when he announced they were to make camp, he had plans on catching and cooking her food for her. Imagine his surprise when the girl suddenly flung a fish onto the bank, her eyes still on the river as she replaced her hands and remained motionless once more. Sesshomaru shifted his gaze from the astonishing mortal girl, to the bank where the fish flopped helplessly, only a foot and a half away from salvation. As he looked back at the girl, she moved again, another fish being added to the first. He watched as she caught four fish in total, before making her way back to the bank and retrieved her prize, one still alive as she gathered them to her chest and made her way back to him. He stared down at her as she awaited his next move. Turning, he lead her back to camp, where a fire was already burning hotly, the twigs clear and his two-headed dragon Ah-Un, and his faithful retainer Jaken. He opened his mouth to order Jaken to cook the fish the girl had caught he saw her move to sit in front of the fire with a rock he had not seen her grab. It was a flat rock, barely big enough for the fish she placed onto it. Pulling a sharp, chipped rock from the worn sash around her waist, she began to clean and gut the fish. Those she finished she sat on her lap. When she was finished she flipped the flat stone over and placed the fish onto it as she made her way to the tree line. Jaken hobbled over to his master, who was watching the mortal with curiosity. “Milord? Should I offer my assistance?” Sesshomaru didn’t take his eyes off Rin as she made her way back with four twigs she was stripping free of limbs and leaves. She sat down once again before her pile of fish, then skewered each one and stuck it into the ground, tilting it into the fire.

Sesshomaru made his way towards her, after barking at Jaken to make the girl a cot worthy of himself. “Rin.” She looked up at him in surprise, then smiled and stood. He looked down in surprise to see that she had made quite a neat pile of fish scales beside her. She carried in her hands, however, was the flat rock, piled with guts and bones. “Please, take me back to the river.” Silently he turned and began to walk, confident that not only would the child follow him, but without a word.

She dipped the guts and bones back into the river, before washing the rock. Setting the stone aside, she glanced back once at her master before untying her sash. Sesshomaru sat down then, having discovered her intent, and closed his eyes as she bathed.

Jaken returned to the camp with Ah-Un packed with moss, twigs and leaves. He couldn’t believe that Master Sesshomaru had ordered him to make a cot of moss for a mortal! A mortal child, no less! The weakest, and most venerable of the insufferable race. He lead Ah-Un to a proper sleeping site and cleared it of rock and twigs before placing the moss evenly and comfortably. He then aligned the twigs so that it would serve to hold the moss in place while giving a certain firmness to the cot. Finished with that, he began to place the leaves. It was then that his Master and the infant returned. The girl went straight to the fish, pulling them from the fire and checking them. Confident they were done, Rin offered two sticks to her master while munching on one of her own.

Sesshomaru stared down at the girl who’s cheek was swollen with food, her eyes wide in innocence and her hand out expectantly, awaiting his approval of her offering. He accepted and sat down, taking a small bite and chewing the meat of the fish with interest. Rin watched him, swallowing her large bite and staring at him. “Good, ne?” “Hai.” She smiled and snapped back around happily to finish her fish. Sesshomaru watched her in interest, unsure of what to make of the situation. It has been nearly over a century, since he last ate human food. Now he was indulging himself once more, for the sake of this human girl. Am I doomed to pick up strays, every time I am to leave my Palace Walls? Closing his eyes with a mental sigh, the demon lord lifted the roasted fish once more to his lips and chewing thoughtfully. Swallowing, he felt the effects of human food. His body instantly broke down the contents, absorbing only the nutrients while his stomach acid instantly destroyed the rest. He felt a sudden rush in his youki and blood; the entire meal absorbed and distributed evenly and effective throughout his entire body, rejuvenating him as well as refreshing his entire inner workings. Placing the sticks beside him, he was surprised to see Rin snatch them up and throw them into the fire before laying down where she sat and curled up. “Goodnight, Sesshomaru-sama…” She sighed, her tiny body going lax in sleep in an instant. He blinked and glanced over to where Jaken and Ah-Un were sleeping, Rin’s cot made with a few blankets rolled up for a pillow and a few laid out over the cot to serve to cover up with and lay on. He scooped the sleeping child easily into Mokomoko, before taking her to her cot and placing her between the blankets, making sure her head was cushioned on the blankets serving as her pillows, before sitting down in the space between the tree she was sleeping under and her cot.

~~

Rin gasped in awe as she parted the bush in front of her, to give her a clear view of what lay beyond. A giant white stone palace, built into the side of the mountain, hidden from birds-eye-view, with a wild bamboo forest that stretched up the entire side of the mountain for miles. A beautiful, well maintained swamp forest filled the courtyard, bridges and weeping willows with beautiful swamp flowers and birds. “Welcome to my home, Rin.” The girl looked up at her master I surprise, only find him moving away from her, walking into a wooden hallway, stained black and red that lead through the swampland, to the porch and open halls of the Palace. Vines and wild vegetation grew up and over the open halls and porches, skillfully and conveniently camouflaging the halls from above. “Come, Rin.” The girl started forward, Jaken and Ah-Un behind her.

Kagome’s eyes opened slowly as a tingle swept through her weary muscles. “How are you feeling, Kagome-chan?” She turned to see Kai, smiling at her as if she’d just made him the happiest man alive. “I feel… fine.” She blinked and looked at the ceiling, wondering why she was suddenly awake.

Kai sighed, feeling the tension of her death leaving his shoulders. An hour ago, her trembling stopped and her fever dropped. She was recovering. “Are you hungry?” Kagome nodded and swallowed a couple times, before her dry throat managed to produce sound. “I… feel sticky and I think I stink. Can I have a bath first.” Kai nodded and rose from his spot beside her futon. “I will send in a female to escort you to the Hot Springs.” “Unnecessary.” Both looked in surprise, to see the demon Lord of the West. “I will escort her, Kai, I have a new ward. See to her, she requires your assistant now, more than the Priestess.” Kai blinked at the sudden order, then analyzed the content. A new ward? She? Needs him more than Kagome? “Ah, of course.” The tiger bowed first at his master then at the Priestess with a smile and a wink, which caused the girl in question to blush and blink in confusion. He feels bad for doing this to her…

Sesshomaru knelt down beside her futon as Kai left, picking up the cloth and dunking it into the now, room temperature water. With only a small exertion of his youki, the water heated up quite quickly. “Do you remember?” Kagome glanced at him, contemplating if she had misunderstood him. Finally, she figured she didn’t and looked up at the ceiling. “Its hard to tell… It was like, I was someone else, watching it happen.” Sesshomaru nodded and wrung out the cloth. “How do you feel?” “Fine, a little hungry.” Sesshomaru looked up at her sharply, before nodding. “Food is being made.” Kagome glanced at him again, then sighed. “Tell me of your Whip of Light.” Sesshomaru folded the cloth absently before handing it to her. She attempted to sit up, but thought better of it and relaxed into the futon once more, lifting her arms to wipe away the sweat that had dried there. “You mimicked what took me centuries to master, in an instant.” Kagome smiled, glancing at him before looking back up at the ceiling, softly brushing the warm cloth down her arm. “Centuries-da?” Sesshomaru closed his eyes and folded his arms in the sleeves of his haroi. “This Sesshomaru would like to know, could you recall exactly what happened when you decided to use this Sesshomaru’s Whip of Light?” “Actually, I think thinking about calling it, Kagome’s Whip of Light, seeing as it was different than yours. Mine wasn’t poisonous.” He opened his eyes only a mere slit, glaring at her insufferable amusement to his plight. “No, I can’t, though. I don’t know what happened, I was just… Reacting.” Sesshomaru closed his eyes again and nodded, “It would seem that your training surpasses my previous offer. I cannot help you anymore.” Kagome’s eyes shot to his, startled. “Na-nani!? No, please! Isn’t their anything you can do? I mean, if I was able to manifest my energy into something only youki should be able to do, can’t you just train me like you would a demon?” Sesshomaru watched her a moment, refigured and shook his head. “Impossible.” Kagome began to whine at this point, panting like a child as she sought for anything she could say to change the demon’s mind. “I… I don’t want anyone else to train me, Sesshomaru. Please?” He refused to open his eyes, knowing the moment he did, he would bend to her will. “This Sesshomaru refuses. The chance of your purifying my person as well as my castle, does not sit well with this Sesshomaru.” He opened his eyes then. “However.” Her eyes alit with hope. “There is another, like you. Who has become the ward of the House of Moon. You will teach her everything you know, from etiquette to Priestess training.” Kagome nodded, but frowned. “She’s a priestess?” “This Sesshomaru is not sure. She is very similar to you, so much in fact, that this Sesshomaru is quite bothered with it.” Kagome smiled and nodded, closing her eyes and waiting for her mind to slip back into the peaceful slumber that made her feel safe and powerful. “That’s good, then… right?” Sesshomaru opened his eyes, but the priestess was already asleep, her calm breathing the only sound in the room as he stared at her. “Hai.” He said suddenly and rose to his feet.

~~

Kai pushed the door opened and peeked inside, the little girl in question was sitting in the middle of the room, by herself, staring at the floor. Frowning, Kai wracked his brain for something, anything to induce the child into play. His eyebrows rose sharply as he lifted his hand to his chest, curling his fingers down except the first two and began to chant softly as his honey brown eyes bled black. A black whips of smoke began to dance around the girl, slowly taking shape of a black cat, with glowing gold eyes. The girl’s eyes were instantly drawn to the cat and she gasped in fright, but the cat merely playfully bounced around the girl, trying to encourage her attention on a positive scale.

Rin blinked as the cat of solid smoke suddenly split and became two tumbling kitten’s, meowing and rubbing against her shins, purring happily. Rin smiled then, reaching her hand out to catch a tumbling kitten. She pulled it into her lap and gasped as it popped into several black butterflies. She watched, standing up as they circled above her head, the remaining kitten dancing between her feet. Rin looked down as the kitten tripped over her ankle and popped into a blooming flower field of color. Rin laughed then, looking back up at the butterflies that, as well, gained color. “Sugoi!” She giggled, leaping up to try and cat the elusive, beautiful bugs. The flowers under her rippled suddenly, fading away as the butterflies flew themselves into tiny specs before they were gone.

Rin stood alone in the middle of the room, then blinked when she heard movement behind her. The open shoji door presented a large orange and black striped feline, as large as a draft horse, when a gentle look in its honey brown eyes, and a smile on his curling, fuzzy lips. Rin smiled. “Hello, kitty.” Kai stretched out his left leg and dipped his head. “Good evening, young Ward, of the House of Moon.” Rin gasped in surprise. “You speak!” She pointed at him accusingly. Kai lifted himself up off the floor gracefully and walked out to meet her in the center of the barren room. “Master Sesshomaru,” as he spoke, he reared up and walked on two legs, his true form melting off him like the flowers, in a graceful ripple, leaving behind a man. “can be a little on the oblivious side when it comes to children.”
Rin’s neck craned back to keep her eyes on the beautiful male who walked before her. “Youkia.” Kai nodded and crouched down in front of her, bringing him to her level. “Correct, young one. My name is Kai, what’s yours?” “Rin.” She answered immediately, stunned in amazement. He fingers curled against her palms, tugging at her sash, while her teeth worried her lips. “What is it, young Rin?” The girl’s chocolate brown eyes dropped suddenly, before lifting back up to meet him. “Its just… I really like butterflies and… and I was wondering…” Kai smiled and lifted his hand, turning his palm up with his claws curled inward. A black ball of smoke curled and twisted until a large butterfly took shape and color, fluttering about the room. Rin happily grinned and chased after it in joy. Kai rose to his feet with a smile, his striped black tail lashing out lazily behind him at his success. Children were a cake-walk, for a neko youkia. They had a sense about children that most animals and even youkia (youkia loving children… no comment), couldn’t being to phantom or understand. “What do you like about butterflies, if I may ask, Rin-chan?” Without skipping a beat in her play, Rin answered. “The colors! They come in all kinds of colors!” Kai smirked and with a twist of his fingers, the butterfly became illuminant, cycling through the various colors as it flew. Rin gasped in amazement, coming to a stop, before releasing a squeal of delight and giving chase once again. “How do you do that, Kai-kun?” “The same way, I do this.” Both turned to see a beautiful woman, standing with the aid of the Lord and Master. She lifted her hand, a ball of energy uncurling from her fingertips, as if molded into the fist she once made. The pink energy fluttered suddenly, rapidly, until a humming bird hovered in the palm of her hand, its feather oil-spilt pink. “Sugoi…!” Rin gasped as it zoomed about the room in a frenzy, stopping a few times to dance about Rin’s head, evading her playful swipes. “Your name is Rin ne?” The girl stopped, panting a little harder now as she had been chasing both the butterfly and the humming bird. She now faced Kagome, her fingers digging into her sash with the obvious desire to chase the flying creatures in the room. Sesshomaru glanced down at Kagome as she spoke. “My name is Kagome, and I can teach you how to do this, control your energy. Is this something you wish to learn?” Rin pressed a finer to her chin and thought for a moment. “Rin always thought that she could feel her aura, but never in her wildest dreams did she think Rin could do something like that! Hai! Please train me!” Kagome smiled and nodded, then turned back to Sesshomaru. “Kai, please escort Kagome back to her Chamber. I wish to speak with the child, Rin.” Rin’s eyes widened as she stared at her Lord, before sitting down on the spot and giving him her undivided attention. Kai turned from Rin, the butterfly disappearing as he did, and walked over to Kagome. When the door closed behind them, the humming bird shattered and fell into pink dust. Rin watched it from the corner of her eye, before her Lord approached and she turned to him. “Are you, happy here, Rin?” “Hai milord, Rin is very happy!” Sesshomaru nodded and sat down gracefully before the child. “Tell this Sesshomaru about your death.” Rin gasped, her eyes darkening as she looked at the floor. “Rin does not wish to speak about it, milord…” Sesshomaru watched the girl in interest, before nodding and rising to his feet. “You are free to venture into the halls at your leisure.” He reached forward and touched the tip of his nail again her right collar bone. Rin hissed and jerked away, but a strand of poison flaked away as the demon straightened himself to full height. “You are now a member of this Sesshomaru’s Pack. No harm will come to you now.” He turned and made his way to the shoji door before he glanced back at the child sitting in the middle of the room, she was staring at the green crescent moon now over her heart in wonder and slight pain. “This mark will never leave your skin, Rin. Forever, you are Pack.” He opened the door then and left the girl to her thoughts. Rin looked up slowly to see the shoji door click softly closed.

~~

The weather soon began to change, the lush vegetation was dying under the sever dip in temperature. The birds became scarce, the bear making last minute preparations before hibernation. The chilly air teased the cheeks and noses of two humans in an open dojo in the court yard. The beautiful swampland was beginning to wither in brown as the weather began to turn colder.

Kagome sat in the middle of the dojo with Rin at her back. “Your in flux.” Kagome stated calmly, feeling the agitated and frustrated aura of the younger miko behind her. “I’m trying!” Kagome smiled and peeked an eye open only to close it again. “You’re doing fine. Just relax.” “Okay.”

For another hour or so, Kagome directed Rin into flaring her aura and slowly releasing it, allowing the girl a feel for her powerful soul. Not long after Kagome had called a break, Kai showed up, wearing a silk black kimono with an orange full moon on the back. In his hands was a set of bokken’s. “I figured that a mental exercise deserves a physical one. That is, if you are not to tired, Kagome.” To say he was worried about Kagome’s condition only a day after her lapse, was saying that Mt. Fuji was a grain of sand and nothing special. Kagome smiled in predatory glee at the challenge Kai had just tossed out onto the table. She turned to Rin. “You know Rin, how you were speaking of becoming a ninja?” “Oh yes! Rin wishes very much to be a ninja! Rin could help lord Sesshomaru from the shadows, no one could see her but Lord Sesshomaru!” Kai blinked, wondering what game Kagome had in mind that involved the young ward. Kagome turned to look at Kai through her hair, keeping the demon to her right as she knelt before the girl. “Rin-chan. Kai could help you with that. As a miko and a ninja, Lord Sesshomaru wouldn’t have need for an army with you by his side.” Rin winked and grinned. “Ah-ah! Lord Sesshomaru needs all of us, you me and Master Kai!” Kai blinked as he watched the young girl, then glanced at Kagome, to see a cat-like grin spreading across her face. A shiver rolled down Kai’s spine and his tail flicked in merriment. This woman, this Priestess, was just as cunning, vindictive and coy as he was. Oh the joys he would have living beside her! His inner kitty purred at the thought of this woman, involved in every scheme and devious plot, willingly! Oh the havoc they would reap!

“How true your words are, Rin-chan.” Kagome said softly as she rose. “So, I propose we have a three-for-all. Beside’s, we’re a pack and we should learn how to move around each other. The best way to do that, it so fight each other.” Rin blinked and glanced at Kai, however, the tiger youkia was busy watching Kagome with a bit of concern. Kagome flipped her hair off her shoulder and placed a hand on her hip. “What better way to teach Rin how to fight and use her energy, than through real experience. Granted, we might get hurt, but what’s a little injury to your untimely death?” Kai sighed, then chuckled as he ran a hand through his shaggy orange hair. “You make sense in the oddest ways, you know that?” Kagome laughed and winked. “I do my best.” “I don’t understand. What are we doing?” Both Kai and Kagome laughed then.

For the next month, as fall turned to winter, the three of them met up everyday and trained together. It wasn’t long before Rin, being small and a child, was able to surprise her teachers with a trick or two that resulted in heavy injury. Rin was overjoyed with this newfound talent of hers, and indulged in training every second she got. But when the time come to show the results to man whom they’d all been training for, Rin found her training forgotten. Her nerves so bad that she was trembling softly as she stood beside Kagome. She glanced from the priestess to the tiger youkia, both of whom were too busy to notice her at the moment, their attention focused on Sesshomaru as he dealt with a matter that wasn’t meant for her ears. So she busied herself by drowning herself in doubt and uncertainties. She was just barely beginning to understand and grasp the abilities of her soul, and just getting the hang of the three-way training. What if she messed up? What if she fell flat on her face?

She whimpered softly, pinching the hem of her ninja vest, which was given to her by Kagome to wear, special for today. When her master dismissed the insolent youkia he’d been conversing with, and turned his attention to his pack, Rin’s resolve broke. The ninja mask around her face was suddenly constricting. The twin swords at her back felt too heavy, and the six belts that wrapped around her waist, holding various powders and herbs, were too tight. I’m going to be ill…. Right here… She closed her eyes as her heartbeat suddenly kicked into overdrive. Sweat began to gather on her broke as she opened her eyes, this time seeing Sesshomaru kneeling right before her. Her throat abruptly closed, and good thing too, her stomach was rolling violently now. “Rin.” She almost feinted. “Why are you frightened?”

Kagome had taken notice of Rin’s plight the moment Sesshomaru knelt before her. Kai, however, had noticed long before, but was stumped as to what had brought on the change. He glanced at Kagome, and saw the priestess on the verge of tears; it was obvious that Kagome knew. Rin took a deep breath after a second, her voice cracking, as if on the verge of tears herself. “Rin… Rin is not so sure that… that she is worthy of Lord Sesshomaru’s Pack.” Sesshomaru opened his mouth, but Kagome abruptly moved and dropped to her knees, enveloping the child in a fierce hug. Rin, however, continued to gush. “Rin is weaker! Rin is slower! Rin is not smart!” The child sobbed pathetically into Kagome’s breast, all the while the miko rocked gently, crying herself as she combed her fingers through the child’s hair. I know your pain Rin… I know how to loose first a parent, and then your entire family… But it must be so much harder for you… You poor child, oh you poor, poor child.
“Rin. Listen to me, sweet heart.” Kagome pulled the girl back and smiled through her tears, brushing Rin’s own tears aside, even as they soaked the mask she wore over the lower half of her face. “You were chosen for a reason. He picked you for a reason. Never forget that. You don’t have to prove yourself, you already did.” Rin shook her head, before glancing at her master, who was watching her with his head tilted in curiosity and slight concern. “Master… Master is like a father… Rin… Rin wants a father… But Rin, most of all, wants Master Sesshomaru to be proud of her. Rin wants Master Sesshomaru to know he does not have to worry about Rin, because Rin will take care of herself.” Sesshomaru watched her with a steady stare before he cracked a small grin, for the girls benefit. “Then what are you doing? Should you not be on the floor, with the rest of your pack?” Kagome blinked, wondering if that was a wise choice of words for the emotionally injured little girl, but Rin brightened and slowly her color returned.

Kagome stood then, rising after Sesshomaru and following him to the center of the dojo, with Rin and Kai behind her. Kai came up to Kagome’s right, as Rin stepped at the miko’s left. Sesshomaru took them in as Kagome pulled out a pair of metal claws, Kai drawing his sword and Rin pulling her twin blade’s. They moved into stance and Sesshomaru indeed, felt a twinge of pride at how well they seemed to already feel each other on the battle field. He lifted his right hand gracefully, flicked it absently to allow the poison whip to pool at his feet. Kagome glanced at Rin, sinking low as the girl training to be a ninja, suddenly lurched off to the side. Sesshomaru frowned as his ears tracked the girl, his eyes locked on Kagome and his youki sensitive to Kai’s. The tiger youkia lunged forward as Kagome crossed behind him to his right. Kai leapt into the air as Rin came around directly behind him, and Kagome dove under Kai’s airborne body. Sesshomaru closed his eyes with a genuine grin.