This story begins almost a year after the end of Inuyasha. I took some liberties with the story. In the time between the end of Inuyasha and the start of this story, Sesshomaru has reclaimed his missing arm, and Tokijin is back in his service; but that is a story for some other day…

Rin Makes a Friend

1

Rin wandered through a sparse patch of forest alone. Master Jaken wasn't too far away, but Lord Sesshomaru had been gone all morning. Rin had grown weary of Jaken nagging at her and ventured off on her own. She was starting to get hungry too. She scanned the foliage looking for something that might bear fruit or berries to fill her empty belly. The forest dropped down a gentle slope to a small clearing. Rin stopped in the shadows at the edge of the clearing and blinked at what she saw. A tiny hut stood to one side. It was awkward looking, as if built with light materials that could be found in the woods. The straw roof sagged and two of the four short walls bowed outward slightly. A small circle of stones with some bits of charred wood in ash in the center was out in front of the hut, further into the clearing. Near the center of the clearing was a small garden. There were a few rows of what were probably leeks, and a few rows of wild vegetables and herbs.

Rin scanned the clearing for whoever might live here and saw no one. "Hello?" she called tentatively stepping into the bright morning light. There was no answer so Rin stepped toward the hut. She was a little frightened about who might be hiding inside so she moved slowly. "Hello?" she called again, a little louder this time. As she came closer she saw that the door to the place stood open and it was deserted. There wasn't much inside either. A basket with some drying herbs, a few gourds for water, and a moth eaten looking blanket neatly folded in the corner. Rin frowned at the site. "Somebody lives out here all alone?" she wondered aloud.

"Yes, I do," a woman's voice answered from behind Rin.

Rin spun around towards the sound of the woman's voice. She was expecting a criminal or maybe a witch living all alone out here like this, but Rin didn't think the woman that had come into the clearing looked like either. The woman balanced a basket of wet laundry on her hip and was looking at Rin with a curious smile. Rin studied the woman cautiously and curiously. Her plain kimono was faded and old looking, but the woman was beautiful. Her hair was strange; not black, but a mix of colors that caught the sun. Her eyes were not like Rin's either; they were bigger, brown with flecks of what looked like gold. A small silver hoop high up on her ear twinkled in the sunlight. Her skin was darker then Rin's too. She seemed bronzed. The child wasn't sure if this woman was a demon in disguise, she certainly didn't look like any human Rin had ever met before. She took a step back away from the woman, intimidated.

The woman's smile fell and she put up a hand. "Wait its okay. You don't have to go." The woman set her basket down. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Rin eyed the woman trying to decide if she could trust her or not. "Who are you? Are you human?"

A sad smile appeared on the woman's lips. "I'm human, but I'm not from this country. That is why I look different from you. I was born on an island far from this place. My name is Misha, and you are...?"

Rin could guess from her smile that Misha had been questioned about her appearance before. Maybe her strange looks were what caused her live out here all alone. "I'm Rin."

Misha nodded. "I've never seen you around here Rin. Are you lost?" Misha did not recognize the little girl, she was fairly certain she wasn't from the nearest village; the village that had rejected her.

Rin shook her head negative. "No, I was just taking a walk. Master Jaken is back there," she pointed into the woods. "Lord Sesshomaru has been gone all day," she sighed.

"I see," Misha replied relived to know the child wasn't alone. "Well then, if you give me a moment to hang up my clothes," Misha said pulling another worn looking kimono from the pile of wet laundry, "I would be more then happy to have you as my guest for lunch."

Rin smiled a little. She realized suddenly that she was quite hungry and Misha didn't seem like a bad person… "I'll help," she offered letting go of the last of her worries. She went over and helped Misha hang her few items on some low hanging tree branches at the edge of the clearing.

2

Misha served Rin tea as a stew of fresh vegetables and dried herbs brewed in a small pot over the fire. To Rin it smelled delicious. She couldn't remember the last time someone had cooked food for her. Though it didn't look like Misha had much, Rin was too hungry to refuse her kind offer of lunch. "Are you sure it's okay? It doesn't look like you have much food. Maybe master Jaken and I can go fishing for you. He's the very best fisherman I know," she said with a grin.

Misha smiled at the little girl. "I appreciate your concern, but the Good Mother will provide for me Rin. There is no need to worry."

Rin was a little confused. She had never heard of the Good Mother before. "Does she live here with you?"

Misha giggled a little. "I guess you could say that. The Good Mother is all around us. She is the forest and the trees, the stream and the earth." Misha smiled warmly up at the bright blue sky. "And the goddess Artemis oversees this beautiful world we have been given. I'm not alone so long as she hears my prayers."

Rin didn't really understand. Adults always worshiped some kami; she figured this goddess Artemis must be Misha's kami. "Are there other people around here?" Rin wondered if this woman was truly alone, and if so why?

"There is a village about a mornings walk from here, but I don't go there anymore."

"Why not?"

Misha looked down at Rin. She wanted to make it simple without scaring the child. "I don't get along with some of the bullies there. You understand bullies, right?"

Rin nodded. She understood what it was like to be bullied all too well. Before Sesshomaru had come into her life, Rin was the whipping dog of her entire village. "They kicked you out because you look different, didn't they?"

Misha was taken aback for a minute. Perhaps the child understood too well. "Yes, after my Asian papa died last fall. It's okay though, I don't mind. At least I got to care for him until he died. With him gone, there was no reason for me to stay there anyway."

Rin listened to Misha talk as she finished her tea. Misha had funny way of speaking. She rolled all of her rs. "I don't live with humans anymore either. They were mean to me, but Lord Sesshomaru saved me. I follow him now."

Misha frowned a little at Rin. "What do you mean?"

Before Rin could respond she heard Jaken calling her name in the woods. She stood up and yelled in the direction of his voice. "Master Jaken! I'm over here master Jaken!"

Misha got to her feet as well. She heard a voice that sounded like an old man coming toward them, a moment later Jaken stepped into the clearing. Misha was startled by his appearance and instinctively stepped in front of Rin. "A demon!"

Rin skirted Misha and went to greet Jaken. "Master Jaken, please come and meet my new friend." She turned back to Misha and smiled. "It's okay Misha. This is my friend Jaken."

"That's master Jaken you little scamp!" Jaken reminded pointedly.

Misha blinked at the goblin and took a step closer. She knew she better than to judge by appearance alone and he had come looking for the child. Misha squat down for a better look at Jaken. She had never seen a creature like him before. She bowed her head to him. "It is good to meet you Jaken sama."

Jaken nodded back at the strange looking human. "I hope that young Rin here has not been giving you any trouble." He turned to Rin again. "How many times must I tell you not to run off on your own like that? You're lucky this creature found you instead of a hungry demon!"

Rin stepped closer to Misha. "It's okay master Jaken. Misha is a human lady and she's nice. She's making me lunch."

"Humph, such a bothersome child," Jaken grunted.

Misha could see that the ghoul was a protector of the child and she smiled. "It's no bother at all. Would you care to join us?"

Jaken returned his stare to the odd looking human. She was like no other human he had ever seen before, but her scent was clearly that of a normal mortal. "I don't really like human food, but I suppose I could accept a cup of that tea."

Rin smiled and clapped her hands together. Misha giggled at the little girl and nodded at Jaken. "It would be my pleasure to serve you."

3

Jaken allowed them to stay in the company of the strange human until the sun began to set. He felt as if he learned enough about the woman to trust her around Lord Sesshomaru's ward. Misha was from the far off land of Crete. Her family had followed the spice route to the mainland many years ago. War had separated her from her tribe and war had carried her all the way to the shores of Japan. Misha had been adopted by an older couple that had lost their two children to the strife of war when she was some years older then Rin. Last year her adopted parents died and she left the village to live out here alone. Jaken was sure she was probably chased out. Humans tended to fear creatures that were different from them and Misha was very different indeed. She didn't look at all like the humans he saw in this land. Her speech was different too; she had a noticeably foreign tongue.

He waited until twilight was eminent before readying to leave. Misha had just finished twirling some of Rin's hair into a braid when Jaken stood. "Alright now Rin, I think it's time we go. Lord Sesshomaru will be back soon and you have taken up enough of this woman's time today."

Misha smiled at Rin and patted her on the shoulder. "I have enjoyed having you hear today Rin." She turned her smile on Jaken. "You as well Jaken sama."

Rin got up and took a couple of steps toward Jaken. "Do you think it would be alright for me to come and visit Misha again tomorrow?" She turned toward the woman sitting on her knees behind her. "If that's okay with you. I'd like to help you fish or something since I ate up most of your food." What had started with an invitation to lunch had turned into a long visit and a delicious dinner as well.

Misha hid a smile behind her fingers. Her heart was warmed by the child's concern. No one had worried about Misha in what seemed like a very long time. She nodded. "If it's alright with master Jaken, it's alright with me. You're both welcome here anytime."

Rin set straight to begging; she knew it was the easiest way to get what she wanted from her little green friend. "Oh please master Jaken, can we come back tomorrow? Please oh please oh please?"

Jaken waved a hand dismissively at the girl. Her nagging irritated him. "You'll have to ask Lord Sesshomaru, but its fine with me." He didn't mind this new woman; she occupied the troublesome child, she was respectful, and much to his surprise she could cook something even he could eat. Misha had insisted Jaken eat something so he let her prepare a potato for him. He wasn't sure what the woman had done to it, he hadn't been paying attention to her cooking really, but the potato was delicious.

Rin clapped her hand together triumphantly. "Yes!" Certainly Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't mind.

Jaken rolled his eyes at the child and headed toward the woods. "Come now Rin, we're off!"

Rin grinned at Misha. "I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

Misha was smiling back at Rin. "I'll wait for you."

Rin waved a hand then turned to follow Jaken. Misha watched the child skip off into the woods chasing after the most interesting guardian she had ever seen.

4

When Sesshomaru returned to them it was late. Jaken and Rin sat quietly by the fire. Sesshomaru could see the child was clearly exhausted, but she perked right up when she saw him coming. "Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin chirped sitting up on her knees. "Welcome back my lord." Sesshomaru nodded at the child, but before he could speak she was babbling excitedly. "I made a new friend today Lord Sesshomaru! Her name is Misha and she lives in the woods and she cooked for me, twice even!"

Sesshomaru put a hand up indicating for the child to slow down. Rin hushed immediately as Sesshomaru turned to Jaken for a coherent explanation. "What is this all about Jaken?'

Jaken cleared his throat. "Well you see me lord, young Rin took off on me again today," he glanced at Rin disapprovingly for a brief moment and she shrunk back a little. "I found her in the company of a human woman who lives alone in these forests me lord."

Sesshomaru frowned. "A woman living alone out here?" This part of the territory wasn't particularly dangerous, but there were demons and occasionally human outlaws.

Jaken nodded. "Yes me lord. It would seem as though the other humans banished her from her village."

Rin interjected, "But not because she's a bad person or anything! She just looks different and they picked on her so she left." Rin didn't want Lord Sesshomaru getting the wrong impression about what she hoped could be her new very bestest friend.

Sesshomaru loathed the way humans mistreated each other. "I see. Is her disfigure frightening?" Rin was a fairly accepting child; Sesshomaru doubted a case of the uglies would rule someone out as her friend.

Rin giggled, teetering on the edge of excitement again. "Oh no my lord, Misha isn't ugly at all. In fact, she's the prettyist lady I've ever seen. And she's so nice! She said I could come back again tomorrow. I ate all her food so I thought maybe I could help her fish."

Again Sesshomaru rolled his eyes from Rin to Jaken for the translation. Rin was bubbling up again, clearly taken by this woman she had found. "Jaken?" he sighed.

"The woman is a foreigner me lord. From an island on the far side of the mainland. Crete, I believe." Jaken felt smug in his knowledge of this new person. He was sure Lord Sesshomaru would want to know about this stranger so Jaken had listened when she spoke. It pleased him to serve his lord in such an easy manner.

Sesshomaru nodded. He had heard that beyond the mainland there were humans with large eyes and strange colored hair and skin. "I see." He fixed his eyes on the overtired child by the fire. "If you wish to see her again tomorrow Rin, you must get some sleep."

Rin's eyes widened slightly. She was pretty sure that Lord Sesshomaru would let her go back tomorrow, but his approval made her very happy. "Yes my lord, right away my lord!" Rin lay down on her side facing the fire and closed her eyes. "Goodnight Lord Sesshomaru, goodnight master Jaken."

Sesshomaru lifted a brow. He was used to Rin's immediate obedience when he gave her an order, but she had lay down immediately of her own free will making it obvious she wanted to see the woman again. "Goodnight Rin." Sesshomaru gestured to Jaken and started to walk away. He could hear his servant scurrying behind him and when he was far enough away from Rin's ears he stopped. Jaken hurried to Sesshomaru's side and he looked down at him. "Is this woman safe to have around Rin?" he began the interrogation.

Jaken nodded at once. "Yes me lord. The woman is harmless."

"And you're sure that she is alone?"

"Yes me lord. For about a year now."

"Did she say why she was driven off by the other humans?"

Jaken had expected all of these questions and he was thrilled to have the answers. "Not directly me lord, but she indicated that the other humans tormented her because she looked different from them. Humph! She's the least ugly human I've seen," he huffed indignantly. "The humans that cared for her fell ill and died so she left the human settlement. Can't say that I blame her, humans can be so horrible to their own kind." Jaken knew well what the villagers had put Rin through, it disgusted him.

Sesshomaru looked up at the waning moon. "Rin seems quite eager to see her again."

"They seemed to enjoy each others company today." Jaken shifted a little more of his weight on to his staff. He was almost as tired as Rin. "They took to each other quickly. I guess that can be expected seeing as how they've both gone for so long without talking to another kind human."

Sesshomaru glanced down at Jaken. "You say this woman is kind?"

Jaken thought about a minute and then nodded. "Yes me lord. Misha has a very kind heart."

Sesshomaru was a little surprised. He knew Jaken didn't like humans much either, but even he seemed to like Rin's new friend. His gold eyes floated back to the moon. "I see, very well then. You have my consent to take Rin to see that woman again, but you better watch them Jaken. This territory is fairly safe, but that's no reason to let your guard down."

"Yes me lord," Jaken answered. He stood by Sesshomaru in silence until he could fight the need to sleep no longer. Rin was already snoring when he reluctantly hobbled to the fire side and went to sleep.

Sesshomaru stood looking at the moon, listening to the sounds of the night and smelling the scents on the wind. In another part of the forest Misha was also looking at the moon and saying a prayer for her new friends.

5

Rin and Jaken returned to visit Misha the next day, and the day after, and the day after. Jaken didn't seem to mind and Rin was thrilled. Sesshomaru thought that perhaps Rin- or at least Jaken- would tire of the woman's company, but it didn't look that way. In the evening on the fifth day, Jaken and Rin were not at camp when Sesshomaru arrived. He was early, but that wasn't excuse enough for them to still be at that woman's place; so he went to find them.

It was easy to follow their scent through the woods, side stepping Ahun droppings on the way. Soon enough he could smell cooking vegetables… and another human. The scent was female, woman Misha he assumed. A moment later he heard laughter. It was Rin; her giggling was joined by another feminine voice and, surprisingly Sesshomaru heard Jaken howl as well. He came closer to the clearing that was Misha's home and could see Jaken and Rin sitting around a small fire with the woman. Sesshomaru stopped and stared for a minute. The woman didn't look like any human he had ever seen before. Rin sat close to her, practically hip to hip. The woman had an arm around Rin as the two of them leaned on each other laughing. Sesshomaru had expected Misha to be strange looking, maybe even ugly, but she wasn't. Rin had been right; Misha was the least repulsive prettiest lady human Sesshomaru had ever seen either. He stepped forward into the clearing catching Jaken's attention at once. Ahun bellowed a greeting from behind his green servant.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken greeted, surprised to find his master here.

Rin looked up. "Lord Sesshomaru!" She jumped to her feet and ran toward him. "I want you to meet my friend Misha my lord!"

Misha looked up and saw Sesshomaru. She had been expecting Sesshomaru to be another creature like Jaken, not the beautiful man that stood beside her patch of leeks. Misha hurried to her feet and took an awkward step forward. She saw the swords, the armor, the long silver hair and… "The mark of Artemis," she whispered awed as her eyes fell on the crescent moon on Sesshomaru's forehead.

"Misha, come meet Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin was nearly bursting with excitement. She had been dieing for Lord Sesshomaru to finally meet her new friend.

Misha barely heard her. She was transfixed on Sesshomaru's forehead. She was to him in a few short steps, eyes wide. Misha stared up at him. "It is," she said in the same soft voice. She reached up and touched the crescent moon to confirm that it was really there. The mark of Artemis… it really is… "A son of the moon…"

Rin's eyes grew large as she watched Misha walk right up and start touching Lord Sesshomaru's face. Jaken's mouth fell open in surprise. Misha let her fingers and her eyes move down to the stripes on Sesshomaru's cheek. Rin blushed and Jaken found his voice. "Misha! Just what do you think you're doing to Lord Sesshomaru?"

Misha blinked and looked into Sesshomaru's gold eyes. He seemed to be scowling at her and that brought her to her senses immediately. She drew her hand back quickly as her cheeks turned red. She took a few quick steps back. "F-forgive me," she said dropping her eyes to her feet. "I never thought that…a son of the moon…" She lifted her eyes and looked at Sesshomaru; a little scared, but still in awe. "I never thought I would get to meet a god."

Sesshomaru was scowling, but only a little. Certainly no human had ever touched him like that, but Did she just call me a god? He fixed his eyes on hers. "What are you babbling about woman?"

"You bear the mark of Artemis. The crescent moon and the hunters stripes… Are you not a son of the moon?" Surely this creature before her most certainly had to be a god. No mortal had such markings or incredible beauty.

Jaken was on his feet. "Lord Sesshomaru is a demon Misha. I've told you that already! Have you not been paying attention?" he scolded.

To Sesshomaru's ears the scolding Jaken served Misha sounded identical to the scoldings that he served Rin. He wasn't so sure he liked it. His companions seemed to be getting pretty comfortable with this human that had just touched his face. He studied the woman as she looked from Jaken to Rin and then back to him.

Misha bowed and pressed her hands together. "Forgive me. It's just that…" Of course Rin and Jaken had told her Sesshomaru was a demon, but… She peeked up at Sesshomaru. He was still watching her with a slight frown. "I wasn't expecting…"

Rin jumped in trying to slice through the tension. "Oh I get it! Misha has never seen anyone as handsome as Lord Sesshomaru before! That's why she just had to touch him!" she decided cheerfully.

The color in Misha's cheeks darkened and Sesshomaru cut his eyes over to Rin's smiling face. "Rin!" Jaken scolded from behind her.

"What? It's true. Lord Sesshomaru is very handsome." She flashed Sesshomaru her very best smile and stepped to Misha's side. "You do think so too Misha, don't you?"

Sesshomaru cleared his throat. Though flattery was nice sometimes, he wasn't in the mood for it now. Both Rin and Misha straightened and all eyes fell on Sesshomaru. He looked from Rin, to Misha, then back to Rin. He could see the pleading look in the child's eyes. Rin wanted desperately for Sesshomaru to like this woman. Sesshomaru sighed quietly; he might as well try not to hate her… for Rin. "I think a proper introduction is in order here."

Rin smiled relived. "Yes my lord! Lord Sesshomaru, I would like you to meet Misha. Misha, this is Lord Sesshomaru!" Happiness flooded into her voice. Maybe Lord Sesshomaru could like her friend after all.

9