InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Botanist and the Beast ❯ Snow, Sleds, and Echoing Silence ( Chapter 18 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own, Sesshou, Rin and all other inu char's Takahashi Rumiko does. The characters from Alice in Wonderland belong to Lewis Carroll. All of them are used here without permission… if you made it through all the other chapters then you know who, what belongs to, if you just popped onto this chapter randomly, read backwards.

The Botanist and the Beast

Chapter 18: Snow, Sleds, and Echoing Silence

Dear Alice,

The results of the most recent Caucus-race have been posted, inexplicably, all have won. Be ready to present prizes Wednesday next.

- The Dodo

Seven weeks passed without incident. Though Sesshomaru stayed close to the castle, I didn't see him. The constant presence of his aura began to annoy me. Even though I knew it would be pointless, I still felt I needed to talk to him about what had occurred with Byakuya's illusion. My mamo informed me that if I had not been so thoroughly lost in the deception I would have noticed Sesshomaru enter the trap only moments after I was forced in. He had witness practically everything that had occurred and been unable to interfere until I had managed to weakened the fantasy with my anger. My thoughts and emotions on that score were in a jumble and I refused to scrutinize them to closely.

I had nightmares almost every night of stabbing Adrian to death and his blood pooling on the floor of that lecture hall. It was as if I'd lost him all over again. When the cancer took him I was helpless as he slowly faded away from me, guilt over my impuissance had tortured me for years. This time I was the reason he died. Instead of self-reproach, however, I felt nothing but rage towards Naraku and Byakuya.

I described the girl who had pushed me to Jaken at the first opportunity, pretending Sesshomaru and I had only encountered her, and give him no details of the actual events. For him, it was enough that Sesshomaru and I had beaten Byakuya and the child back, Jaken's hero worship filled in my gaps. The little girl was named was Kanna, and her specialty was stealing souls and trapping them in her mirror. It didn't take much deduction for me to decide Kanna had used her mirror to help trap my body and soul in Byakuya's illusion, it also explained the completeness of the deception. I felt like a fool.

The days had fallen into a routine of: storytelling, singing, knitting, katas, reading, writing, cooking, play and laundry. In many ways a stationary life was harder on us than the road. Extra chores such as airing futons, cleaning sheets, keeping dirt up off the floor and hauling firewood indoors stole hours from the day. Much of the housekeeping fell to me, both Jaken and Rin being too small to use most of the equipment in the laundry, to lift the mattresses or cut wood. It was fulfilling employment, however, and kept my mind off of my troubles.

The shiro was drafty, and despite the constant fires and layers of extra cloths Jaken's amphibian body never seemed to be warm enough. The discomfort made him even more unpleasant to be around, and in the orbit of the few rooms we kept heated, he often made the confinement unbearable. I developed the bad habit of throwing him out of the nearest door or window and into the snow when it became to much for my temper to bear. It relieved the stress a great deal, temporarily gentled the kappa's tongue, and made Rin giggle for hours.

Overall it was a pleasure to be back with Rin and Jaken. Despite what I considered to be Byakuya's desecration of Adrian's memory, and the horror of what I had done to the man I had loved so deeply, I almost had to thank Kanna and Byakuya. The hollow, incomplete feeling which had plagued me in the illusionary world was gone, entirely obliterated by the love and joy my little adopted family provided me. If I ignored the confusing jumble of thoughts and feelings where Sesshomaru was concerned and my conflicting anxieties over his interpretation of what took place in the illusion, I was positive that I was right were I belonged.

The snow had started to melt by the end of February and the air and earth were promising an unseasonably early spring by the time he confronted me. Predictably he crept in as I was practicing my sword. Since our return I had gradually gained command of the gifts my ancestors had bestowed upon me. I now felt confident that, precluding a severe emotional outburst, I could perform the new abilities at will.

I whirled gracefully, moving my sword with my body's momentum in a fluid strike to my left, feeling the flow of energy hum through my body and into the blade; exhilarated by knowing I had performed the kata with deadly perfection. Until I realized my sword was moving, not to the empty space I had intended, but the solid belly of Sesshomaru's breastplate. I managed to pull my strike seconds before impact, and let out a choked half sob in relief when I realize I hadn't touched him.
“Your control impresses this Sesshomaru, ningen.” he announced impassively.

The comfort I had felt only seconds earlier dissolved into ire at this recurrence his old game and the shock of seeing him for the first time in over a month. All the words I wanted to say to him, all of my carefully planned explanations and apologies were wiped blank from my mind. I was reduced to stare into his eyes numbly as a trillion emotions constricted my voice into uselessness. “Is it your intention to challenge me?” he asked coolly, drawing my gaze from his to my sword, still posed to eviscerate him.

I threw the sword across the room in disgusted and turned from Sesshomaru. Shoulders slumped, head hung low, I was intent only on leaving his presence before I burst into tears in front of him. All this time, and the first thing I do when I see him is breakdown. Pathetic. I thought dejectedly as I fled. Predictably, he did not even allow me to reach the door before he was before me again. I stopped just short of smacking my head into that annoying breastplate and looked up into his expressionless face once more. Annoyance began to dissipate my self-loathing and overcome my illogically tempestuous cognition, quietly I asked, “What do you want, Sesshomaru-sama?”

His hand gently grasped my chin and guided my stare from the tassels on his breastplate to meet his eyes. I could not describe the look on his countenance as he spoke, so foreign was it to his appearance. On anyone else I might have called it regret, “This Sesshomaru disregarded his vow and allowed you to come to harm at the hands of his enemies.” This declaration was not what I had expected. “You have not left, despite such a violation. This Sesshomaru is appreciative that, even though he disgracefully abandoned his obligation, you have not seen fit to do the same.”

I felt my eyes widen with the shock of his words. I wanted to tell him that he didn't disregard anything, he was tricked, that the danger I was in was all my fault and that is was impossible for me to blame him. Yet, I knew he wouldn't appreciate those abnegations, true as they may be. The fact that he had slandered himself and denounced his own actions was not something I could reverse with denial. Tears pricked my eyes. This was so far from the castigation and disapproval I had expected from him for being weak and allowing myself to be so easily used by Byakuya. So I said it for him.

“I was naive and weak. You speak of disgrace, Sesshomaru-sama, the disgrace is mine for allowing Byakuya to use me in such and transparent and shameful fashion.” My words faltered and felt a tear escape my left eye and run down to my chin. “I do not know how you can even tolerate looking at me.” I whispered haltingly as I attempted to move my head and avert my face, but his grip denied me.

“Baka,” He replied softly, “you cannot deceive this Sesshomaru. You broke free from the combined might of two of Naraku's incarnations, there was no weakness there. That soul-snare was designed to destroy the both of us, the power used to produce such was formidable. From the moment you entered, your spirit and life-force were being drained. Still you withheld, endured and eventually prevailed. You destroyed the trap entirely even while this Sesshomaru's own yokai was being used to fuel it.” He shook his head in wonderment, his tone sounded suspiciously like admiration.
The relief that flooded through me threatened to be my undoing. He doesn't despise me! I thought in astonishment. A derisive snort from Uacteran was the only comment from my peanut gallery. I vaguely wondered if my mamo had possibly found a way to force him into silence or if that was all the energy he could muster after my practice. I smiled in delight; my heart rejoiced and I might have confessed my affections towards him right there, if Rin's voice from behind Sesshomaru hadn't saved me from such an ludicrous declaration.

“Donella-sama!” She announced as she burst through the doorway. Sesshomaru's hand instantly released my chin and I quickly scrubbed the tears from my face with the corner of my sleeve as she declared joyously, “Sesshomaru-sama!” and attached herself to his left leg in glee. She began prattling about how much she had missed him, everything we had been doing for the past several weeks and complaints about Jake's attitude. Helpless giggle consumed her as she described me throwing Jaken repeatedly out into the weather.

“Damatte inasai, Rin.” Sesshomaru's softly spoken words had an immediate effect on the young girl. Jumping backwards Rin comically covered her mouth with both hands and nodded several times. Already exultant that Sesshomaru was again back among us and did not despise me, I let out a merry laugh at her antics. Giddiness made me shaky. Sesshomaru spared me a quick glance before returning his full attention to the child, “Return to Jaken and inform him Donella-san requires a hot bath straightaway and then he is to prepare sustenance promptly after that task has been accomplished.” Upon receiving her orders Rin emphatically nodded several times, hands still covering her mouth, cheeks puffing against the strain not to speak, before rushing headlong towards the shiro's main house. Exuberant laughter escaping her as she ran.

I smiled happily as I said, “Thank you Sesshomaru-sama, your consideration is most appreciated.” I gave a short chuckle, “though I am uncertain how edible any fair Jaken can prepare will be.” I made my way to the house, more than a little surprised to find Sesshomaru moving with me.

“Is Jaken lacking in the ability to procure appropriate nourishment?” I laughed again.

“No, For a kappa who thinks marsh bugs are a treat, he has learned to be a fair chef. Rather, let us say that it is not in any yokai's nature to prepare pleasing meals for humans. Our diets are far too dissimilar, and Jaken is struggling to learn the fine art of seasonings and spices.” I paused as we entered the shiro to take my shoes off at the vestibule. “Though, to his credit he is diligently gleaning what he can by watching me cook, and he has a very acute sense of taste. However I believe his sense of smell is not very keen.” I frowned thinking of that, “I suppose being an anura that would make sense. I presume each classification of yokai have divergent physiognomy. Canines having sharp hearing, and faculties for smells, for instance. Where I'd imagine arachnida would perhaps have a dense exoskeleton or chelicerae appendages. I wonder if jyorogumo are overly tactile in their human forms.” I mused entering the home, until I reached the bath, I was unaware that at some point in my contemplation Sesshomaru had left me. Shrugging off his absence, and hoping it wouldn't be for another seven weeks, I undressed and sank into the hot water with a grateful sigh.

Sesshomaru was waiting with the others in the kitchen when I arrived. He seemed very out of place in that setting; regally perched on one of the red cushions we had brought in from the dining hall, lording over the servant's battered chabudai. I suddenly wished we had made it a habit to eat in any other room. Though the feebleness of the table was the least of the hiccups Sesshomaru's presence created in our normally genial routine.

Jaken for one, was nervous and babbling, attempting to both create the best meal he had ever produced and find ways to make Sesshomaru more comfortable. This caused the little toad to mostly run between the chabudai and the stove in agitated, unproductive circles. Rin was enticing this behavior by cycling through suggestions of all the things that Jaken could be forgetting, and evoking other dishes that were probably better than the one he was preparing. I stopped the overwrought kappa in mid scurry; pushing him back to the stove and gave Rin a warning look saying, “Jaken, just stir the broth, those vegetables will be done soon and they look great.” My words and glare calmed the pandemonium for a moment, allowing me to take a breath.

The next issue arose once the food was finally served, with Sesshomaru present there were not enough pillows for everyone to sit on. A short scuffle arose between Rin and Jaken over the last cushions. Neither one wanting to run to the other end of the house to retrieve another, nor would hear of my doing so. I solved this by hitting Jaken upside the head with my own before lowering myself to the bare stone floor. “Jaken, sit, eat.” I ordered coolly, knowing he would start to protest without a directive. I didn't spare him a glance, as I focused on serving myself from the nabemono.

I had been endeavoring to teach Jaken how to prepare this particular dish for several weeks and I approached this attempt with some trepidation. Biting into a piece of kabocha I was delighted to find out that it smelled and tasted delicious, especially since the kappa seemed obsessed with cooking the squash into the consistency of snot. “Jaken! Well done this is truly delightful!” I exclaimed digging into the houtou-nabe with zeal. “Thank you for the food.” Rin nodded emphatically and made happy noises of agreement around her mouth fulls of noodles and vegetables. Jaken inflated with the praise to almost twice his size, and magnanimously exalting my supremacy as an instructor.

The meal went more smoothly after that. Jaken dutifully informed me of the status of the food stores in the larder and the root cellar. Rin tattled on him for eating an entire jar of gari by himself and I managed to silence the bickering by threatening to revoke story time. Sesshomaru sat through it all, and the subsequent communal clean up, with the stoic impassivity of a pet rock.

After, we retired to what I had come to call the living room. I was delighted to see someone had lit the irori sometime before dinner and I added more charcoal to the small heater as we crowded around the horigotatsu. Sesshomaru did not snuggle under the oki with the rest of us, preferring to sit on a tatami closer to the fire. From his vantage point he could observe the entire room perfectly, but none of us could see him directly without turning our heads to him and making it obvious.

Strangely, even with his long absence it was clear I was the only one who wished to keep him in sight. Everyone else was intent on me, and the next scheduled evening event: story time and all eyes were eagerly on me. “so where did I stop last night?” I asked mischievously pretending to be confused.
“In the pool of tears! With the mouse and all the other animals!” Rin exclaimed enthusiastically.
“Alice had insulted the mouse.” Was Jake's helpful, and almost simultaneous reply.

“Oh right.” I drawled. Leaning forward in a conspiratorial manner I began, “The entire party swam to shore. Once on the bank Alice, the mouse, the duck, dodo, lory, eaglet, and miscellaneous other curious creatures were quite a sad, cross, uncomfortable group. Feathers, fur and clothing dripping; the first question was, of course, how to get dry...” I spoke for about an hour, recounting Alice's re-acquaintance with the White Rabbit, the destruction of his house, the fate of poor Bill, and the puppy. I had just gotten to the part she would meet Caterpillar, when Rin started to loose the battle against her drooping eyelids. “Bedtime, Hotaru.” I announced standing as I did so, intent on accompany her, and tuck her in, but as I gained my feet, Sesshomaru spoke.

“Donella-san, I wish to speak to you.” I had been avoiding looking his way all evening, but I did so now. His chill voice washing over me after the weeks of absence, welcome and confusing all at once. I tried to glean some idea of what he was thinking from his impassive face, yet as usual, there was no clue to be found there.

“Of course, Sesshomaru-sama, allow me to see Rin to bed and then my time is yours.” I replied cautiously.

“That's all right, Donella-sama!” Rin proclaimed, cheerfully hugging me, “Rin will tuck herself in tonight, if I can have my kiss now, please.” I leaned down and pecked her solemnly on the forehead and she kissed my cheek.

“Sweet dreams.” I smiled warmly at the girl, smoothing down her hair; she nodded and with a reverent bow to Sesshomaru, left the room. Overall, remarkably more well behaved and accommodating than most evenings.

I watched the door slide shut and listened to her receding footsteps for a moment before I turned to the longanimous inu-daiyokai. “If this is going to be a lengthy conversation, Sesshomaru-sama, might I be permitted to obtain myself some tea before we begin?” I sighed inwardly, dreading what he might have to say to me, but also relieved that the other shoe was dropping. Soon, all the reproach I had anticipated over what he had observed would be addressed.

“You may.” he answered, I gave him a nod of thanks and removed myself to the kitchen to prepare the tea, and myself for what was to come. I was a nervous wreck by the time I had the tea tray prepared, and knots in my stomach when I finally returned with a pot of tea and two cups.

He had moved to the table while I was gone and ,surprisingly, had added more coal to the cooling irori. “Thank you for adding fuel to the irori, Sesshomaru-sama.” I said with a cautious smile. He only inclined his head and continued to patiently watching me putter about. I took my time placing the tray on the horigotatsu and getting seated again, “Tea?” I asked cordially, offering to pour in order to delay longer. When he shook his head, I filled a cup for myself and took a sip before wrapping my hands around it.

Out of stalling tactics, I thought forbiddingly, here we go. Squaring my shoulders I finally met his gaze, “Thank you for your patience.”

“With you, ningen, I often find it stretched to the limits. However, in this instance, you are welcome.”

Maybe it was not seeing him for so long, or maybe it was the anticipation of worse things to come, but this barb didn't make me angry. I found a wry smile trace my lips as I thought of the evenings most recent events,“With the constant squabbling between Rin and Jaken, I think it's humorous that you find me so trying.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and the light implication of a threat entered his voice, “Jaken and Rin I can ignore, you often openly court my ire.”

I let my eyes fall to contemplate the contents of my cup, “I am sorry I so frequently vex you, Sesshomaru-sama, I do not wish to intentionally cause you aggravation.” I mentally kicked myself, Two seconds in and I’m already picking a fight.

“Hmm,” I replied thoughtfully, I continued to stare at my cup and let the silence drag, waiting for him to say more. The hush went on for so long I was itching to look up from my cup, to see his face, but fear kept my gaze locked on the dark liquid, the porcelain and my hands. Eventually, the eternity past and he spoke. “Your world is considerably different from this one, this Sesshomaru, observed life there in a great deal easier for you.” This was not what I expected, I finally looked up at him again and waited for him to say more.

Another minute of that uncomfortable silence passed, but with the intense scrutiny of his gaze undeniably focused on me, I cracked first, “In many ways it is a much less complicated place to be, I was born to it though, to it's conveniences and dangers. It is very different.” I finished lamely taking a nervous drink from my cup.

“It is this lack of complication then that you long for. The known dangers and conveniences which make you desire to return your world.” Shock hit me and I shook my head in vehement denial. It sounded like he was stating facts already in evidence, but since he had it all wrong, I treated it like a question.

“I have no longing to return to my former world, Sesshomaru-sama. I meant what I said with all my heart, I have found everything I need for my happiness right here. I yearn to be no where else.” My voice carried all my conviction and heartfelt emotion, but his eyes narrowed and his hand clenched in barely suppressed rage.

“You cannot deceive this Sesshomaru, ningen. If you did not long for it, Byakuya and Kanna would not have summoned that place, those images and those,” he paused momentary before spitting, “renchuu.” He said the word for a group of people, but I suspected, (or a little voice whispered in my subconscious,) that he meant a specific person.

I sighed and rubbed my face in exhaustion, wearily I replied, “Byakuya and Kanna found a memory, of a man; a place in my soul filled with pain, regret, joy and love. They played upon that to manipulate me, I never longed to go back to that place. I desired, almost more than anything, to fix what went wrong when I was there before.” On impulse I covered his hand with mine and searching his eyes for any forgiveness, as I continued earnestly, “There is no fixing the past, Sesshomaru-sama, I know that better than anyone, but I did want to, for a very long time. That, I freely admit and have never concealed. What I wish for you to know now, to understand so that there is no misconception between us, from this day forward is this: I am exactly were I want to be. Here now with Jaken and Rin.” I paused to take a shaking breath and felt my grip on his hand tighten in my own agitation, “At your side for as long as you would allow it,” I hung my head, looking into his eyes threatened to be my undoing, “and even if you don't, my heart would compel me to do so anyway.”

He looked down at my hand on his and I sheepishly retracted the appendage, completely unable to meet his eyes now that my words were spent. Time passed, but neither of us made a move to leave. I shakily drank more tea to occupy myself and waited for him to speak or dismiss me. Three cups later I was down to the dregs of the pot, contemplating the flotsam of stems and leaves. I was too tired to even be nervous, when he finally spoke. Being the emperor of non sequitur, it was again not what I anticipated.

“The child in your tale, is foolish, weak and unreasonable. Why would you tell a story where the heroine is so ill adapted to survival?” He asked crossly. I looked to him in befuddlement, but answered the question the best way I could. What are you getting at now, I wondered.

I felt my brow knit in thought as I answered slowly, thinking through my response, “The story is about a little girl who, unable to reconcile herself to her role in the world, enters one of her own imagining. Through her interactions with the illogical inhabitants of that world she gains a better respect for her own. Though in some ways the tale is more about the comedy and fancy of the characters themselves and Alice's adventures in the land. Much like Peter Pan, the moral is often forgotten in the motion of the story.”

“Wendy was a fool.” Sesshomaru snorted derisively. The incongruity of his emotive response made me chuckle and lightened the mood tremendously.

“I quite agree, Sesshomaru-sama, if i were her I would have ruled Neverland and never left it.” I smiled ruefully.

“Many of your tales involve young girls haphazardly finding themselves in worlds fantastically different from their own, ningen. Do you tell them due to some feeling of correlation to your own predicament?” His question caught me off guard as I thought of the stories I had told Rin over the year. Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Wizard of Oz and now Alice in Wonderland. Even the stories I told of Ireland, selkies came to live as strangers on dry land and Donella de Daoine O'Conghaile far removed from their birthplaces. I sighed.

“Perhaps a bit,” I replied honestly, “Though most tales involve the hero over coming circumstances outside their normal purview and an easy way for that to occurs is to place them in a foreign setting. We admire and wish to emulate others who, despite being average, have persevered and toppled foes far more powerful and sinister than themselves.”

His response was ponderous, “And, if this were one of your stories, ningen. What role would this Sesshomaru play if you are to be the heroine? The pet, the prince, soldier, juvenile delinquent, or perhaps something like a witch or Captain Hook?” I laughed, remembering his admiration he helped for the one handed villain. More like the queen of hearts, I thought ruefully, but I had not yet gotten to the role she played in Alice's tale.

“No, Sesshomaru-sama, you are far too fantastic a creature to be a bit player in any story, nor are you so depraved to be a villain. I would say you are the hero of your own adventure, and it is the rest of us who are the superfluous bit players.” And I am not Dorothy, more like a Cowardly Lion.

He reached forward and took my right hand from my mug, turning it palm up ,he grasped my fingertips and ran his thumb along the calluses I had gained from my sword hilt. “Do you not consider yourself as a fighter? Someone who would, despite being average, persevere and topple foes far more powerful and sinister than yourself?”

The feeling of his thumb rubbing along my palm was wreaking havoc with my mental functions, making it hard to focus on his words or compose a reply. Even my circulation and lungs were affected by this cognitive interrupt, causing my heart and breathing to labor. I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath trying to ignore the tingling in my hand or the distress his gentle touch was wreaking upon my senses and focus on the words he had tossed back at me, “The fundamental difference between myself and the hero of a tale, Sesshomaru-sama, is in our goals. I do not wish power, glory, escape from my circumstances, wealth or a powerful mate. My only goal was to find a place for myself where I could abide and perhaps thrive. I have never sought out any of the villains or circumstances that have plagued me since my arrival.” I smiled looking down at my hand in his, “Though, I will admit that the rewards I have reaped from those events were well worth the inconvenience to my security and ataraxia and I would fight to protect them.”

“What would those be, ningen, what in this foreign land would you risk yourself to protect?” He asked softly, almost expectantly and though his thumb stopped it maddening oscillation, neither of us moved our hands away.

Perhaps it was the lateness of the hour, the relief of seeing him after so long, or maybe I was out of my mind, but I answered him frankly, “Rin, you, Ah-Un my gorgeous kimono, even Jaken. I wouldn't just fight to protect those things, Sesshomaru-sama, I would fight to the death to keep them with me always.” Some where I found the courage to meet his eyes and smile, “You see, Sesshomaru-sama, I am too petty to be a true hero; without any of those things, I feel my life would be a waste and I would not want to live it."

A pregnant pause followed my effusion. My face was flushed with embarrassment and I mentally berated myself for a fool. In the past hour I had all but declared the secret of my unrequited feelings towards the stoic beast. All I wanted to do at that moment was remove my hand from his, and flee his company, but I did not posses the strength. So I examined his claws as they framed my tiny hand and waited for him to castigate me for being so obsequious.

“Your kimono, ningen?” He asked, and the delectation in his voice once more drew my eyes to his face. The amused upturn to his lips could have been called a smirk, if I dared believe he would allow someone to see such a look and live to label it such.

I grinned ruefully and felt my entire face go from a blush to an unattractive beat color, using my free hand I absently petted the silky fabric along my arm, “It is the most beautiful and amazing thing I have ever possessed, I would not relinquish such a treasure easily, even I have my vanity.” His laughter startled me and I felt my grin become broader and a chuckle escaped my own lips, easy the tension that I had built up.

It was truly a night of astonishing events and surprising revelations. As our mirth subsided I realized the look he was giving me was the same affectionate gaze he reserved for Rin when he thought everyone's attention was away from him or sleeping. "The evening passes, Donella-sama, you have given this Sesshomaru much to consider, you may go to your rest now." The tone of dismissal was gentle, but firm. Not wishing to open my mouth and ruin the fragile camaraderie we had shared, I reluctantly withdrew my hand from his and nodded.

The lateness of the hour made itself known to me as I stood. The strangeness of the encounter had held it at bay, but as my mind turned to thoughts of sleep, exhaustion weighed at my limbs. By the time I had changed and slipped beneath the chill blankets of my bed I could barely keep my eyes open. My peanut gallery had been silent since I stopped my lessons that night, but as I drifted off to sleep my grandmother said, “Well done, lass! An oath is an oath, and the balance knows that there be moren’ one kinda family,” I didn't have the mental capacity to puzzle out her meaning, bit the feeling of approval she emanated followed me into oblivion.

The next morning I woke to Rin bouncing on my bed. “Donella-sama! It snowed more last night! Rin wants to play in it!” The giggling ball of evil declared, ignoring my obvious grogginess.
“So go play in it.” I grumbled as I pulled the blanket back over my head, earning a huff from my tormentor. Moving on her knees Rin worked her way to my head and pulled back the blanket.
“Rin wants to play with Donella-sama in the new snow!” her exasperated tone managed to suggest I had missed that obvious point.

“But I'm warm.” I complained halfheartedly glaring at the imp through the messy veil of my hair. That's when the monster went for the jugular.

With puppy eyes and pouty lip quivering she pleaded, “Please Donella-sama, you always know the best snow games.” The nose sniffle was over done, but still adorable.

“Bah! You are the worst yokai on them all! Fine, get me some tea and some porridge and I will dress myself, you win imp!” I roared, but I was smiling as I sat up and tickled her briefly before she escaped; scampering away to fetch my breakfast.

Rin returned as I was making my bed, “Just because we frequently sleep on the ground does not mean we should live like animals.” She parroted, I had told her that months before when she asked me why I always insisted she make her bed. If I was going to be the child's pseudo mother figure I'd decided a few chores and boundaries wouldn't kill her.

“Exactly right Rin,”I laughed at her as I tucked the last blanket in. Sitting at the small table I thanked her for the food and dug in appreciatively. Dressing and making one's bed is hungry work after all. “Today I think we shall go sledding!” I announced cheerily.

“Oh!” Rin exclaimed clapping her hands in delight, “What sort of game is sledding?” She queried excitedly.

I looked up from my meal in astonishment, “You don't know what sledding is?” I asked incredulously and received a shake of the head in reply. “Well that's what you get for spending your childhood with two crabby yokai, for goodness sakes!” I declared exasperatedly dropping my spoon. Food forgotten, I ushered Rin to the front entrance in an irritated rush. A few weeks previously I had found some thick woven tatami mats in one of the storage buildings and added rope to the fronts, making passable slider sleds. I was very eager to fix this hole in her education. Putting shoes, douchuugi and cloaks on took only moments. The child read my agitated determination and hurried to keep up with me, her excitement and curiosity mounting. Grabbing my little innovations from the closet I'd hidden them in, I ushered the little girl out into the winter morning and marched to the gate.

Jaken came running after us, cloak and scarf flying, screaming for our duo to slow down and wait for him, which I chose to ignore. Honestly, I believe his only inborn yokai abilities were to sense when someone was having fun without him and his nails-on-chalkboard screeching. Though, that may not be fair, the little kappa was incredibly resilient and certainly knew how to take a blow to the head without permanent damage.

An unexpected obstacle to my exuberance presented itself just past the gate in the form of a crotchety canine. “Ningen, where do you believe you are going?” I too a wide birth around his armless left side and kept walking. Predictably I only made it a few more feet before he was blocking my path once again. I indignantly pointed to the tall hill about a hundred yards south of us.

“The top of that hill, excuse us, please,” I replied peevishly and sidestepped him again. Surprisingly this time he let us pass, even more astonishing, he fell into step behind me as my little train continue it's progress. Once to the top of the mound I dramatically flopped my sleds side by side into the snow. The entire company looked on curiously.

“Okay, for the first run, just so you see how in works, Rin, you and I will go together on one sled and I'll steer. The mechanics are pretty simple, just pull tho cord and lean gently in the direction you wish the sled to go,” I chuckled merrily, “though that isn't always as easy as it looks, sometimes the snow or hidden objects under it can change your trajectory. Willing to give it a go?” I asked her with a mischievous grin.

“Sure thing, boss! Just tell Rin what to do!” She announced excitedly.

Taking a seat onto the nearest sled and taking the 'reigns' I gave her a conspiratorial wink, “Climb into my lap, this first run, I'll hold you.” Taking her seat I used my left foot to push us forward in the snow until the hill's natural gradient could continue our movement, and off we went. The squeal of pure delight that emanated from Rin, and my own gleeful laughter were well worth the work making the contraptions and the inevitable fall sideways into the snow we took.

Sensing the oncoming spill I abandoned the rope, laughing I curled myself around Rin and rolled off the hopelessly out of control sled. Gratefully we didn't slide to far and the snow was light and fluffy. Coming out of the fall, I had taken the brunt of the whitewashing on my right side and was still spitting some snow as Rin leaped to her feet a with a shout of joyful triumph, “Can we do that again?”

Still kneeling in the snow, I let out a full belly laugh at her dancing eyes, “Of course, Hotaru! Go get the sled.” She bounded away and quickly retrieved the toy, Jaken's voice rang out as we ascended the hill together.

“Donella-sama, that is a terrible mode of transportation, you quickly loose speed when you reach even ground.” I laughed loudly, but didn't answer him until we had gained the top of the hill again.

Flicking his silly hat I replied, “This particular type of sled is not meant for transport, but for the fun of it.” As I spoke I noticed Rin had placed herself at the slide mark from our previous run and was trying to inch herself forward with her foot as I had done, “Hotaru, wait! I'll race you!” I declared and hurriedly positioned the other sled, “Jaken, please give Rin a push to get her started.” I said, but instead of Jaken, it was Sesshomaru who stepped forward and gave the child her start. His action stunned me so much I had forgotten to propel my own sled until Rin's laughter broke the stupor. Using my foot again, I was soon laughingly flying down the hill once more. Though, due to the head start and her lighter weight, Rin won by a long shot, and was already bounding up the hill declaring, “Rin is the winner!” before I had even stopped.

Upon regaining the summit, yet again, I gave my sled to Jaken, “Why don't you try it Jaken, I bet you'll make it further than I did.”
“Of course I will woman!” He declared, marching forward.

“Donella-sama would you give Rin a push?” The puppy dog eyes were in full force again.
“I'll give you both a push and you can race!” I announced with a wink, in seconds they were off and I was suddenly alone on the hill with the enigmatic daiyoukai. Even though I was curious about his attendance at this little outing, I was not willing to break the silence and possibly risk upsetting the jovial mood of the company. So, I pretended the quiet was a companionable one. Completely ignoring Uacteran's inappropriate suggestion that, the lad would be willin ta give ye a slide down his bank, iffin' ye stopped bein' more frigid than te weather, and just stood next to him as we watched Jaken and Rin's progress. For once, it seemed my mamo was on my side as she remained silent, and Uacteran said no more.

Rin handily beat Jaken, who, still learning how to handle his sled, ended up rolling most of the way down the hill without it. They were headed back to us, when Sesshomaru asked, “Is this sort of entertainment common in your homeland, ningen?”

I turned my attention from the now bickering pair to his oddly intense visage, “It is far to temperate in California, where I lived for snow to last more than an hour. However, much further north and east in the place where I was born and raised in was quite common. There are even special permanent structures built to make sledding easier and devices to create temporary snow in case nature doesn't provide it speedily enough.”I wonder how toboggan would translate. After seeing some of my world, I wonder if he interprets machinery as magic, or human inventiveness.

“Hmm,” He replied ponderously, “And what is this place called, where they have ways to create snow on command, ningen?”

I smiled sadly, “Michigan, Sesshomaru-sama, I was born in a small town called Marquette, in Michigan.”

“What is the distance between where we stand to this, Mee shee gen, ningen?” his use of the word ningen was beginning to get on my nerves, but the way he pronounced Michigan alleviated my ire quickly, it was just too funny.

I thought about it moment before replying, glancing down the hill, marking that Rin and Jaken were about halfway up the hid and approaching steadily, How to put this in terms he'll grasp.. “Not knowing exactly where we stand on the island that is Japan, this country, I'd estimate that it's about fourteen thousand kilometers. You would have to circle the coastline of this land mass, approximately four times to make the distance, and then travel about five hundred years into the future.”

He let out another thoughtful, “Hmm,” and remained still until Rin and Jaken again skittered off down the hill, intent on their rematch. The tall people momentarily forgotten in the heat of their rivalry. “You will spar with this Sesshomaru, before the evening meal. To not tire yourself over much before then.” The mandate caught me off guard, but when I turned from watching the hill to him, he was gone. Hateful, homicidal, haranguing hound! I thought vexedly, but there was nothing for it and so I turned my attention back to my remaining companions, trying to loose myself in their fun.

A/n
I am completely overwhelmed by the responses I have received. Thank you all very much! They are most well received and I feel utterly unworthy of such an outpouring of love and praise. I shall endeavor to make my humble efforts worth such extolments. The next chapters will be a bit tricky. Things are snowballing (as it were) between Sesshou and Donella quite quickly, but rocky times are still ahead. I have to again tweak Takahashi-sama's world once more to fit the way Inuyasha ends (which I feel was a bit rushed) to fit the circumstances. Especially since I removed Kohaku from the party some time after Rin is brought back to life the second time, but before Donella joined them and he is important for the fight between Sesshou and Shishinki as well all that follows. It will be worth it though, once Donella sees Seshou with two whole arms and he triumphantly destroys Magatsuhi how can she possibly keep resisting him?And of course Byakuya is going to have to die differently than Takahashi-sama wrote it, but I promise, not much differently. I'd hate to rewrite cannon so greatly, the idea is to make Donella fit, not make the world change to accommodate.

Definitions:
Damatte inasai: Keep/remain silent

Anura: Latin entomological name for the frog family.

Arachnida: Latin entomological name for the spider family

Jyorogumo: A yokai spider that can change its appearance of that of a seductive woman. Jyorogumo's name literally mean whore spider in Japanese folklore.

Chabudai: A short-legged table used in traditional Japanese homes.

Nabemono: Term referring to all varieties of Japanese hot pot dishes.

Kabocha: Winter squash much like pumpkin introduced to Japan by Portuguese sailors in 1541 (mid Sengoku period), who brought it with them from Cambodia.

Houtou-nabe: Specifically a nabemono made with kabocha originating from the Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan.

Gari: Pickled ginger.

Irori: Type of traditional sunken hearth common in Japan, in the winter a horigotatsu or kotatsu would be placed over it. Today they have been replaced by space heaters built into the katatsu.

Horigotatsu: predecessor to the modern kotatsu: a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits, underneath is a heat source, often built into the table itself

Oki: the blanket or futon covering a horigotatsu or kotatsu.

Renchuu: large, generalized group of people.

Tatami: a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese- style rooms, can also be used to refer to cushions used instead of chairs.