Title: A Horse of a Different Color
Author: SakuraRyuu
Rating: K
Genre: Canon, Hurt Comfort, Family, Friendship
Characters: Sesshomaru, Jaken, Rin
Author's Note: Inuyasha and all characters in this fan fiction are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.
Sesshomaru stood on the shoreline where his father had stood so many years ago. On the eve of his youngest son's birth, the elder Inu had asked his first-born son if he had someone to protect. The unexpected question had left the young lord stunned. He knew his father was referring to his human mate and their unborn disgrace; however, surely his father had lost his senses. What would make him think that he, Lord Sesshomaru, would allow himself the weakness of having a companion that required his protection? He helped to protect his father's lands and subjects, but the weakness of a mate and an offspring who had no hope of protecting themselves? Unthinkable. A younger Sesshomaru had thought he would never lower himself to taking a mate that was unworthy of her title as Lady of the Western Lands. Anyone less than a strong Inu bitch of his same station was simply unacceptable. And he would never weaken his bloodlines past his father's indiscretion.
A lifetime later, Inuyasha's lifetime to be exact, Sesshomaru felt differently. Standing on that same shoreline with his father's memory he realized he had many people who required his protection. For reasons no one but Tetsusaiga understood, he had saved a human child's life after she had been mauled to death by wolves. For reasons he himself didn't understand he had allowed that child to accompany him. He eventually accepted she would not be leaving him and he had no desire to make her do so. For reasons no one understood he had travelled into the nether world to save the same child's life a second time, only to have his Mother save her, which in itself was the greatest mystery of all.
Sesshomaru no longer considered himself weak for having such devoted followers in Jaken and Rin. The little, green imp could be a surprising force in battle, and he was so vicious and self-righteous it was creepy. If Jaken represented the darkness in Sesshomaru's company, Rin was the sunshine. She was a good companion. She did whatever fancied her to break up the monotony of traveling, she was pleasant, and she obeyed without question. At times the child had also proven to be a valuable advisor. Indeed she was quite the ideal companion.
As Sesshomaru silently reflected on the human child he now protected, he wasn't so sure his father was as senseless as the Lord had originally thought. Even though having Rin in his company had forced many inner battles, there was something to be said for having a companion such as her. And maybe a strong, Inu bitch wasn't what the Lord of the West needed after all.