(I do not own these characters)
Chapter 2: Old Friends
Kagome stepped out of her home and breathed in heavily and exhaled, smiling. The morning air was always welcoming. She brushed her long black locks with her fingers. The sun was warm this morning. Today was like any other day here in her small village. Calm and peaceful. It had not always been this way. When the Shikon jewel was in existence, it seemed to carry misery with it. Luckily, she had been able to get rid of it with the help of her friends.
"Dear Husband, do you plan to sleep all morning?" She called out sweetly, covering her bossiness with kindness. She grabbed a pot of water and started a small fire. She heard a grumble in the hut and smiled to herself.
"It's a beautiful morning, Inuyasha!" she said even louder. Footsteps followed her outside and Inuyasha lazily stumbled out. He was rubbing his head and yawning. He sat heavily on the ground next to Kagome and grumbled as she busied herself with boiling their breakfast.
"I miss my old era sometimes." She thought. "As much as I enjoy feeding Inuyasha, it would be nice for the favor to be returned sometimes. I do all the cooking and cleaning and do not get as much as a thanks. This would never fly in my time. Lazy thing he is."
Kagome looked over to her grumbling, cranky husband and couldn't help but melt. She smiled. She couldn't seem to get the image of him being her brave warrior, protector, and companion during their journey to cast the Shikon jewel out of this world. "I guess, after all, I wouldn't have him any other way."
"Kagome, must you wake me up before breakfast is even ready?" he complained. Kagome's face dropped in an annoyed fashion, her eyebrows twitching.
"Inuyasha…" She sighed, frustrated.
Just then, Inuyasha stood up and sniffed the air.
"I smell my brother and he's coming fast." He said, with a hint of worry.
Lord Sesshomaru and his half demon brother Inuyasha were long past fighting each other. It was futile and they had long since recognized that. That did not mean, however, that they enjoyed each other's company. If there was a fight to be had, they were usually glad to be engage in it. The only time Sesshomaru ever came was when he needed something, or Rin was sick or injured. He hoped it wasn't the latter until he smelled Rin's blood.
"Kagome, it's Rin." he said looking concerned. Kagome stamped out the fire she was had going and looked to Inuyasha just as Sesshomaru went flying overhead. They saw Rin with him, looking tired and distressed.
"They will be heading to Kaede's." Kagome responded and they both traveled quickly.
When they finally made it to the hut of Old Kaede, Sesshomaru and Jaken were waiting outside, both sitting patiently beside Ah Un.
"Sesshomaru, is something wrong with young Rin?" Kagome asked, concerned.
The demon Lord remained silent and let the toad Jaken speak for him.
"You humans are so fragile. Anything and everything make you ill." He said obnoxiously and nodded to himself. "It doesn't seem serious, if that's what you are asking. Hardly worth the overnight trip to get here and the delay in our journeys!"
SMACK! Sesshomaru had let Jaken know it was time to quit speaking. The toad demon groaned in a frustrated manner.
Just then, Sango exited the hut with a smile on her face and her hand on her big, pregnant belly. Miroku was doing a fine job bedding his wife, as she already had four children and another on the way. Kagome was having a hard time remembering what Sango looked like not being with child.
Sesshomaru looked over to Sango and then heard the sounds of joy coming from the hut, but they weren't coming from Rin. They were coming from the old woman. "What illness could Rin have that could possibly be happy?" He thought.
"Sango, how is Rin?" exclaimed Kagome.
Sango let out a light hearted laugh and nodded to both Lord Sesshomaru then to the others. "Lord Sesshomaru, it is nice to see you again. I think our dear Rin will be just fine."
Sesshomaru turned his head away from them, as expected. No one ever really expected him to speak unless it was absolutely necessary.
The old woman Kaede walked out of the hut and threw her hands up in the air, a smile on her face. She was much older now and had a hard time walking at a good pace, but she was much more active than anybody else her age. Kaede looked at the crowd in front of her and let out a small sound of joy.
"Ah! Lord Sesshomaru, please, may I speak to you in private, lest we embarrass the poor Rin?" she asked.
"If that is your wish…" he said blankly, following her into the hut.
Sango approached Kagome and whispered something into her ear and Kagome let out a hearty laugh. Inuyasha had leaned in and heard the fuss and sighed. "Is that what this is all about?" He complained. "Let's go get some food. Sango! You hungry? We were about to have some breakfast."
"What? What are you all so secretive about it for? What are you talking about? Hey, don't walk away without answering me!" Jaken screeched as everybody walked away from him chattering amongst one another.
Sesshomaru was seated across the table from Kaede. He sat up tall and regally, as he normally did. No expression in his face yet the old woman knew behind that cool demeanor was worry and confusion.
"Lord Sesshomaru, she is in the other room. She is fine. Our young Rin is just experiencing changes in her body and is officially on her journey to becoming a woman. It is her body's way of telling her she will in the near future, be able to produce children if she so chooses."
He felt a pang of embarrassment for both himself and for his young companion, although his face did not show it. "How could I not have known? No, it is not my business to know these things. I've never meant to know these things. I didn't care to know how humans work. But yet, I still chose Rin as a companion, while being ignorant to how her kind works."
"I am not one to make bold statements, Lord Sesshomaru, but I think very soon you and young Rin will have a decision to make. She may one day decide it is time to be among humans once again. She is growing rather quickly."
Those words. He was being willfully ignorant of this possibility. "If that is what she decides, I will be glad that she returns to humankind... But she will not."
Kaede knew not to expect any verbal gratitude for seeing Rin, Sesshomaru merely placed his monetary payment and began to rise.
"Very well, then, Lord Sesshomaru. I will see that she is ready for you in a few minutes. But I do hope that you will stay for even just a day, we are fond of Rin, also and like her company. You do not bring her back but when she is ill."
"Suit yourself, we will stay this day."
