Warning: Uhh...I can't think of anything for this chapter...maybe sudden changes in mood and writing style and such.
Disclaimer: I'm too tired to put up a fight. I don't own Inu-Yasha.
Feedback: Greatly valued. They give me a nice fuzzy feeling in my stomach...or may that's the acid working up...
I can't believe the reveiws I got for "Sesshomaru's Pride" and "Curiosity Annoyed the Dog"(both of which, were the first fics I've ever written for IY)!! You've all made me so happy, arigato! I might have to think up something, since so many wanted continuations (You just all love torturing Fluffy-kun, huh? ^^).
Anyway, this fic is gonna be longer, maybe not a humorous in some parts, and have ::gasp:: a bit of romance? (Which will be a first.) But this is in honor of Inu-Yasha coming to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim...No matter how much I hate dubbed voices. >.
~ ~ ~
"What is it, Inu-yasha?"
The dog demon ignored the question, his ears already swiveling towards where he heard the sound. Without a word of warning, he bound off into the trees, not even noticing the shouts from his companions. There was something familiar about the sounds he heard, and as he got closer, the evident scent in the air confirmed it.
Someone was crying.
If it had been a villager, he wouldn't have bothered, but the pitch of the cries was wrong. It was high and loud, not the least bit held back from fear of being attacked. He had never known a village man to cry, and the village women wept, but never bawled like this individual. Inu-yasha's ears flattened against his skull, both to drown out the cries that got louder, and in worry as he finally narrowed it down.
It was a child.
Damnit.
Another smell, though faint it was, reached his nose. And this one he could place immediately, one that raised his hackles with disgust.
Sesshomaru.
~ ~ ~
Rin cupped her hands over her nose and mouth as she tried to hold back any more sobs, breathing so hard it was all she could hear, that and her own thumping heartbeat. It was so loud, she was sure half the demons of the forest could hear it too. Sesshomaru-sama had told her never to make so much noise when he wasn't around; it would attract attention.
"Do you want to die?" A shake of her head. No, she wanted to live with Sesshomaru-sama forever and ever. And she told him so. A smile flickered across his serious features, so small and fast that she wasn't sure it even happened. But she knew it did, because it was in his voice when he spoke. "Then be a good girl and stay quiet."
The memory only made Rin want to cry harder. Where was her Sesshomaru-sama? Why did he have to leave her with that mean toad face? Why didn't he come to find her? She was all alone. And she hated being alone.
Every shadow seemed to loom at her, each branch like a gnarly claw, ready to grab her and take her away. Her sight became blurry at the thought of never seeing her keeper again, and a dirty fist came to rub the wetness away. Sesshomaru-sama will come for her. He would never let anything harm her. The trees rustled behind her, and she spun around, eyes wide. Was it an evil monster, come to eat her like Sesshomaru-sama said they would? Had it heard her cry?
The first thing Rin saw was a full head of long, shimmering white hair, and joy burst throughout her tiny form as she ran towards it, the tears coming freely now, once again disorienting her vision. Blindly, she threw herself at the taller frame, burying herself in the soft red fabric.
"Sesshomaru-sama!"
~ ~ ~
Inu-yasha stumbled back in surprise as a small girl flung herself at him almost as soon as he stepped foot in the small clearing. Immediately from the salty smell floating around her, he knew she was the one who was crying, and still not done as he saw splotches spreading on his haori. Unsure of how to handle such a situation, he slowly encircled the quivering form within the folds of his coat, something he remembered his mother doing with him.
His brother's smell still hung around her, though slightly covered by the salty tears, and Inu-yasha frowned. This little child must have been in contact with Sesshomaru, yet, he couldn't detect any hint of injury. It was odd; the Sesshomaru he knew despised humans with a passion, if Sesshomaru was capable of feeling, and seemed to kill every one that even looked at him.
But this girl...this little human girl...was perfectly alive. And apparently quite familiar with his brother, as he remembered she cried his name before jumping him. Sesshomaru, being hugged by a human whelp...it was too hard for the hanyou to imagine. He looked down at the child, confusion and a hint of wonder swimming in his head. Her hands were curled into fists, grasping the fabric of his haori as if she would die if she let go.
What was this human child doing with his idiot half-brother?
"Rin was afraid you wouldn't come for her."
If it weren't for Inu-yasha's demon hearing, he didn't think he would have heard the words mumbled into his coat. He watched nervously as her head tilted upward, large shiny doe eyes staring at him. Immediately, he withdrew his arms from around her, jumping back a few feet as if she had a plague. Her eyes were wider, if possible, reflecting her surprise.
Hesitantly, "You're...not Sesshomaru-sama."
Inu-yasha could feel a sweatdrop forming. What was he suppose to do now?
"Inu-yasha! Where the hell are you?!"
"Lady Kagome, you should really watch your language."
"Shut up, Miroku. Inu-yasha!!"
The half-demon turned around to scowl at Kagome just as she stormed into the clearing, followed by Miroku, Shippo, and Sango. "What is it, wench?! Are you trying to bring the whole demon race down on us with your hollering?!"
"SIT!!!"
Rin watched as "Inu-yasha" plummeted face-first into the ground. That happened with one word of 'sit'? All her fear forgotten, she walked over to where the demon still lay, standing in front of his head. His hair was so like that of Sesshomaru-sama; did they know each other?
With further exploration, Rin discovered a pair of furry ears amongst the mass of white tresses. They twitched slightly as she breath fell upon them, causing a giggle to escape from the little girl. Sesshomaru-sama had his fluffy tail that Rin loved to squeeze, but he didn't have ears like these.
Instinctively, she tweaked them.
What sounded like a growl came from the recovered Inu-yasha, and Rin froze, ears still held between her fingers.
"Inu-yasha, sit."
The flattened demon said something, but Rin couldn't make it out, too busy paying attention to the girl who had bent next to her. She had pretty black hair, and didn't look dangerous. She was smiling at her, warm like the sun, and Rin could feel herself relaxing. Whoever these people were, she would be safe with them. And maybe they could help her find Sesshomaru-sama!
"Hello, I'm Kagome. What's your name?"
She gave Inu-yasha's ears one last tweak before turned to face Kagome. "Rin. My name's Rin."
"Well, Rin, what were you doing here all by yourself?"
"I got lost."
"Okay, we'll help you get back home."
Rin shook her head. "Sesshomaru-sama said never to move from where I was unless a demon comes."
"Sesshomaru?!" She looked past Kagome's head to see her companions had the same shocked looks on their faces. Why did they look like that? What was wrong with Sesshomaru-sama?
"I was going to tell you, bi-"
"Sit."
Rin stared as Kagome put her hands on her shoulder, worry written all over her face.
"Rin, what are you doing with Sesshomaru? Did he capture you?"
The little girl shook her head hurriedly. "Sesshomaru-sama's not like that! He's really nice, not like Toadie."
"Toadie?"
"Yep, Toadie. His real name is Jaken, but I call him Toadie, because he looks like one!"
Kagome blinked at her, then broke into a smile. Someone who shared her hate for that shriveled little toadfish; she like this girl. Standing, she picked Rin up, holding her like she used to do with Sota, carrying her closer to her other friends, the ones not face-planted into the ground. Indicating as she went, she introduced them.
"Rin, this is Sango, Miroku, and Shippo. And that cute little kitty is Kirara. Guys, this is Rin. She's gonna stay with us for a little while."
"Like hel-"
"Sit."
Shippo climbed onto Kagome's shoulder, opposite of Rin and grinned happily with her. Finally, someone his age he could play with. Miroku and Sango both nodded, smiling also at the little girl in Kagome's arms. Little else needing to be said, the five of them set out to head back to the main road, and Miroku looked back at the planted and very pissed Inu-yasha; the spell still hadn't worn off. Tipping his head, the houshi grinned.
"Well, see you later Inu-yasha. Don't worry, I'll look after Kagome until you can rejoin us."
He ignored the string of profanities coming from the half-demon, a smile still on his face. He would pay for this later, when the hanyou can move again, but it was just too fun.
Sango rolled her eyes at Miroku's antics, but as long he wasn't trying anything on her. She was more worried about the new addition to their little group. Though she welcomed the little girl, she still had her doubts, most likely the same as the ones running through Kagome's head. This human child didn't belong with a dangerous demon like Sesshomaru. Yet, she seemed quite close to him, and that means...he would be coming after them soon.
Sango made a note to sharpen her boomerang.
...
...
A familiar hand ran up her butt.
SMACK!!!
~ TBC ~
Author's Notes: Ai ya...I noticed that it got less and less descriptive near the end. Gomen, I was getting really tired.
Also, this isn't even the real main plot! So please stayed tuned. I'll try to work around my homework load and force my elves off their lazy butts to bring you more! And I apologize ahead of time if it does take me a long time. I do have another multi-chapter fic to keep up with too.
Elf #1: Then stop wasting time making excuses and get workin', woman!
::muttermutter:: How I wish I had rosaries...
Coming Up: Enter...Fluffy! What will he do when he finds out Jaken has lost Rin (heh heh...heads will roll, or one head will anyway ^^), only to find her with Inu-yasha? Next chapter: Mine (and you can't have it)