5 years later…
The peaceful, spring morning at the village near the Bone Eater's well was disrupted by loud clanging of swords. This was to be expected for it happened every time the sons of the great, deceased Inutaisho crossed paths. Sibling rivalry was too strong a force to ignore.
"Stop it you two! Stop!"
Kagome was currently shouting her head off, watching helplessly as her husband, Inuyasha and her brother-in-law, Sesshoumaru battle against each other. With one long swing of his sword, Bakusaiga, he knocked Inuyasha and his sword, Tessaiga, on the ground.
"Inuyasha, why do you try my patience?" Sesshoumaru asked smugly.
His half-brother glared up at him and responded, "Keh! You started it, asshole!"
Kagome rolled her eyes and could see Sesshoumaru restraining himself from doing the same thing.
Suddenly, soft singing was heard in the distance and Sesshoumaru looked up to see Rin, now 13-years old, swinging a basket full of fruits and vegetables in her hand. Almost sensing his gaze, Rin looked up to see Sesshoumaru frozen in a warrior's stance with his sword to Inuyasha's throat.
Grinning widely, the teenage girl ran excitedly towards them, careful not to drop anything from her basket. As Sesshoumaru loosened his grip on the sword, Inuyasha chuckled evily and knocked the sword away with his right leg before grabbing up his Tessaiga and holding it to his brother's throat.
"Sweet success!" Inuyasha boasted. Sesshoumaru's soft gaze turned into a resentful glare as he looked back at his brother.
"You are too arrogant for your own good, Inuyasha." He commented with a voice void of any emotion.
"You were the one who taught me to never let my guard down!"
Unfortunately, Inuyasha did not notice he had knocked Bakusaiga behind him. Hence, it landed almost at Rin's feet as she stopped to observe the scene. Catching Sesshoumaru's eye briefly, Rin picked up his sword and threw it like a boomerang. Having no time to question Rin's newfound skill, he simply lifted his arm in the air just in time to catch it. Sesshoumaru turned full circle and swiftly swung at Inuyasha, who stood stunned as Tessaiga flew out of his hand.
"You apparently underestimate my allies, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru said, narrowing his eyes at Rin.
Kagome ran to Inuyasha and dragged him up by his dog ears. "Baka! Why do you always take the bait?!"
Ignoring the question, he shouted jokingly at Rin, "Rin, you…you…traitor!"
Rin did not respond for she had reached Sesshoumaru by now and was smiling up at him. "My lord, come inside."
He followed her inside the hut, whilst burning with curiosity at Inuyasha's last words to her. As they walked in, the old miko, Kaede, was inside chopping up some meat.
"Kaede, I've brought the fruits and vegetables we needed!"
The older woman looked up and smiled slightly at the sight of Sesshoumaru standing behind Rin. To see the demon lord's large frame in her hut never ceased to amuse her, especially considering his disdain for the human race.
"Put them on the table, sweetie."
Rin did as ordered, then bowed slightly before grabbing Sesshoumaru's hand and tugged him towards her little alcove inside the hut. Kaede just chuckled to herself.
Closing the curtain to give them privacy, Rin turned to Sesshoumaru and smiled brightly.
"My lord, I have missed you greatly!" But she hesitated slightly to embrace him. Sesshoumaru bowed his head and closed his eyes.
She knew this was his way of giving her his consent. Springing forward, she threw her arms around him. Sesshoumaru breathed in her scent before pulling away to sit on her bed. Rin sat on the floor, next to his legs and gazed up at him.
"So, are you happy? Has anything been ailing you?" He asked seriously.
Rin shook her head. "No, everything is wonderful… especially now that you are here!"
His heart always warms to her expressive nature. No one ever talks to him the way she does, no one ever displays such constant, pure affection for him…
Sesshoumaru noted her kimono -- it was one he had given her last year. Before purchasing it, he knew the vibrant yellow design and the orange tint of the obi would suit Rin's personality and compliment her developing figure nicely. She has matured a little but her face and body still held some baby fat, which signifies her remaining youth. She even still had the cute side ponytail. Had this Sesshoumaru just thought of the word 'cute'? Ridiculous.
Enjoying the silence, Rin began to stroke his mokomoko lovingly. He watched as a look of complete content took over her features.
"I have a gift for you." Sesshoumaru said quietly.
She looked up at him with an expectant smile. He pulled out a semi-long brown mokomoko from the inside of his kimono and wrapped it around her shoulders loosely.
Rin shrieked in delight. "My very own fluffy?!"
Sesshoumaru eyes filled with amusement as he watched her stand up and twirl around the small room, wrapping the fur tightly around her. Then she turned to him and gave him a striking pose and expression that could only be described as "I'm a badass, sophisticated woman!"
He brought his fist up to his mouth and pretended to cough so as to avoid laughing out loud at her antics. "I take it you like your gift?"
Composure broken, Rin sat close to him on the bed and said earnestly, "It is the greatest gift you've given me. How did you know I wanted one?"
Staring off into space, he responded stoically, "Hn! It's better that you have one of your own so you don't end up stealing mine."
Rin smiled affectionately and knew better than to think he actually hated her touching his fluffy. Sesshoumaru watched her from the corner of his eye and decided to get down to business.
"Rin, where did you learn that throwing technique with the sword? And why did Inuyasha call you a 'traitor'?"
Her smile faltered, but waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, you know him…always joking!"
His golden eyes pinned her with an accusing glare. "I smell a lie."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Um. Uh. I. Ah. It's silly. Nothing to worry about really."
"Hn! As if this Sesshoumaru 'worries'. I'm merely curious." He turned his head to the side as if to ignore her.
Rin pursed her lips. Now who's lying.
After a slight pause, she gave up any pretense and admitted to him her secret.
"Please, Lord Sesshoumaru, don't be angry. For a while now, Inuyasha and Sango have been teaching me the art of demon slaying."
With his head turned away, Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes to widen and tried to smother the raging questions in his head.
"You want to become a youkai taijiya?"
Rin sighed. "I don't know. But I enjoy the fighting, and Sango says I'm learning very fast." She paused. "My lord, I have no miko powers…I can aid Lady Kaede with healing but I want to do more. I want adventure!"
Don't lash out at her…she's only telling you how she feels. But why the hell had she kept this hidden from me? His anger rekindled and he turned back to her with stormy eyes.
"I forbid you to do this."
Rin stared at him, frozen in shock. Repressed anger bubbled in her chest. "No."
Inconceivable. For the first time in her life, Rin was defying him. Well, that was not entirely true. When they first met, Rin would not stay away from him no matter how many times he told her to go away. However, this was different. He could feel genuine anger and rebellion radiating from her.
Sesshoumaru stood up and looked down his nose at her. "No? Is that all you have to say to me?"
Her glare faltered but then she shook her head and stood up to face him. "You left me here to live like a human...to acquire knowledge that will help me chose a path in life. You have always admired independence and strength. You always tell me to do as I wish. Why is this any different?"
"You are a child." He stated plainly.
She resorted back, "I'm not a child…I'm a growing woman. Besides, Kohaku was younger than I am now when he became a full-fledged taijiya! I can do this!"
Sesshoumaru gazed at her upturned chin and the defiant glint in her big, brown eyes. She looked so small and fragile and…lovely. Unrestrained fear stabbed at his heart. He did not work hard for years to ensure her safety only to have her killed fighting some lesser youkai.
"I will have no more objections towards your decision on two conditions."
Rin appeared surprised with his abrupt change of heart. "Anything, my lord."
Sesshoumaru smirked. She almost dreaded his response.
"One- You can train with Sango and that annoying brother of mine to your heart's content. However, when I come here, you will train with me and only me. The skills you will acquire from me are like nothing you have ever seen. I will not have you out there risking your life constantly with mediocre knowledge of demon slaying."
Her heart beating wildly, Rin approached him with an outstretched hand. Sesshoumaru stared at her hand like it was something foreign to him. Then slowly extend his hand to grab hers in a tight hold. They shook hands like two friends in agreement.
Sesshoumaru let go of her after a minute or two and turned on his heels. "My lord, wait! What is your second condition?"
He paused with his hand on the curtain. With his back to her, he answered calmly, "I am no longer your 'lord'. From now on, you are to address me by my name only." He heard her gasp but walked out before she could respond.
Sesshoumaru caught Kaede staring at him knowingly, but he turned his face away from her and walked out of the hut. He saw Inuyasha standing close by, peering at him.
"Inuyasha…I have a nasty feeling you were the one to put thoughts of being a taijiya in Rin's head." He said in a deadly voice.
His brother made no response, just folding his arms across his chest.
"I realize your intention was to make sure Rin knows how to protect herself," he continued. "But if she is harmed in any way, shape, or form, I will kill you, resurrect you with Tenseiga, then kill you again."
Inuyasha shook his head in disbelief as he watched his youkai brother walk away.