Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inuyasha. I am not Rumiko Takahashi, and therefore, I do not own Inuyasha.
Book I-Dumplings
Ch. 1- The Cookbook
"Dumplings?" Lord Sesshoumaru stared at his young ward, his expression blank except for a single raised eyebrow. Rin smiled sweetly in response.
"Yes please, milord. I tried one at that human village we passed a few weeks ago, and they are very delicious, and I'd like to try to make some."
"Very well."
"Umm… Milord?" The demon did not answer, but he did not turn away. "Do you know how to make dumplings?"
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed.
"Rin. That is a human food."
"Hm. I suppose not. May Rin look through the library and try to find a recipe?"
"Yes. Now go."
"Thank you Lord Sesshoumaru!" She beamed at him, and skipped away.
"Jaken. Go with her."
"B-but milord!"
"Jaken."
"Y-yes milord. Right away milord."
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"Rin. You can't possibly hope to find a human cookbook in here of all places! The only other human to live here was that hanyou's mother, and she took all her possessions with her when she returned to her village."
"Well, I'll never know if I don't look." Rin stared up to the top of the first bookshelf. It was so high; she could not read the faded writing on the books. "Master Jaken, how will I know what the top books say?"
"You can't. Oh well, might as well give up. Let's go-"
"No, Master Jaken, I'll find a way."
Rin looked around the large, dusty old room, hoping for some inspiration. She found it in the form of an old stool.
"Oh, look, Master Jaken! Maybe this will help!"
"Foolish girl, that stool is too heavy, you'll never be able to move it!"
Rin didn't seem to hear. She walked over to the stool with confidence and determination, wrapped her arms around it, and heaved.
It didn't move an inch.
Rin tried to lift it, but it didn't budge. She tried to pull it, and fell on her butt with a "hmph!" She tried to push it, and slide backwards with every attempt. No matter how she tried, the stool wouldn't move. She turned to the imp demon, giving her best puppy dog eyes.
"Don't even think it! I absolutely refuse to waste my efforts on moving a heavy stool just to check for a cookbook that isn't there! Nothing you can say or do will change my mind!"
"Jaken. Assist Rin."
"Wha-" he turned to Lord Sesshoumaru, then gulped, "Er, yes milord."
"I am leaving. I will return shortly."
"Yes milord."
"May Rin-"
"No. Stay here." Sesshoumaru left. Rin ran to the hall to follow him, but he was already gone.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! Please come back for Rin!"
"Baka! He lives here, of course he's coming back!"
"Oh good!" Rin turned back to the stool. "Please help me, Master Jaken."
Jaken sighed. He walked over, chin held high, puffed out his chest, bent his knees, took a firm hold on the stool, and pushed up with all the power of his toad demon legs- and the stool didn't budge. Jaken fell to the floor with a thud, huffing for breath.
"Master Jaken, are you ok?"
"Do I look ok, baka child?"
"Good. Now please, help me move this stool."
Jaken was about to reply, when he saw Rin position herself behind the stool, ready to push. Jaken sighed and joined her. They heaved, huffed, and slowly but surely pushed it to the end of the shelf, before collapsing on the floor, gasping for breath.
"Thank (pant) you, Ma (pant) ster Jaken."
"Gah!"
Rin giggled, recovering her breath. She climbed atop the stool, reached up, and realized she was still way to short.
"Hmm…" Rin looked over the shelf, thinking of a new plan. She noticed there was space between the books and the edge of the shelf, on each shelf. It almost looked like a ladder. "I know, I'll just climb up!"
"What? Don't, baka, you'll fall!" But it was too late, Rin was already climbing. "Oh dear! Oh dear! I can't watch!" Jaken walked to the other side of the shelf and began to pace frantically.
"Master Jaken, I made it to the top!" Rin scanned the shelf. "Oh no, Master Jaken! There are no cookbooks on this shelf!"
"I told you baka!" Jaken jumped up and smacked the top shelf in irritation, and to his horror, watched as it started to tip. Rin screamed.
For one horrifying moment, Rin thought she would be crushed under the bookshelves. She closed her eyes and screamed in terror… Until she felt herself stop mid fall, with something warm and soft wrapped around her. Rin opened her eyes.
Lord Sesshoumaru had caught the shelf in his right hand, and was gently putting it back in place. Rin was held in his fur, which had caught her as she fell. Once the shelf was back in place, Lord Sesshoumaru lowered her to the ground.
"You saved me! Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru!"
Lord Sesshoumaru looked at her, and took out a small scroll, and handed it to her, before walking away. Rin opened the scroll. She recognized her lord's handwriting, and started to read the scroll, titled, "Kaede's Dumpling Recipe". Rin smiled.
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End Chapter
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I hope you guys liked it! Ok, this set up is a new one for me. If you've ever read Lord of the Rings, or Tale of Two Cities (My favorite!) you'll notice each novel is divided up into "book"s, and chapters. Example, Book the first, chapter twelve. That's sort of how this story will be. "Book 1" of the story Dumplings is Dumplings. Chapter one of book one is The Cookbook. Get it? Each book is on the same timeline, though they may just be random unrelated events.
Oh, and until further notice, they will all be particularly short.