The next day, Kagome and crew waited eagerly outside Kaede's hut. Inuyasha had decided to run ahead with Runa on his back so he could get to the old healer as quickly as possible. Though she was a full demon he had still insisted on getting her checked out and letting her rest as soon as possible. Kagome had remained tight lipped and simply nodded to Inuyasha when he told her he wanted to rush back without them. Without her.
She couldn't help but feel a little abandoned by her boyfriend. Their relationship was still new, having just come to exist officially after Naraku's demise. Kagome found this new female slightly threatening, especially when Inuyasha had offered zero explanation as to who she actually was. Sesshomaru had said quite blatantly that this Runa woman was not his sister. Yet the fact she was full demon ruled her out as Inuyasha's sister as well. If she and Sesshomaru didn't share a father, then she couldn't share Inuyasha's mother either.
Just who the heck is this chick Kagome thought bitterly. She really didn't like being left behind without answers.
"Ye may come in now," Kaede said, bringing Kagome from her thoughts. The old priestess pulled back the hanging door of the hut to reveal Inuyasha and Runa sitting together against the back wall.
The group wandered in, each taking a seat on the floor of the dwelling, and looked to Inuyasha questioningly. He quickly caught onto their curious stares and looked to Runa.
"I guess you guys are probably confused..." he trailed off while rubbing the back of his head.
"You could say that."
"Definitely."
"Only completely."
"Well, are you going to clear up the confusion, Inuyasha?" Miroku questioned. His eyes went to the beautiful female beside his companion. She wore a pale pink kimono with darker shaded cherry blossoms floating across the fabric. A dark yellow obi tied the piece together, though he couldn't help but notice the front dipped a good bit lower than a traditional kimono typically would, showing off a bit of the female's cleavage. A sharp slap to his head brought him back from his thoughts.
"Don't even think about it, monk," Sango said hotly, her eyes closed in frustration as she lowered her hand.
"I don't know what you mean my lovely Sango," he sang out, flashing a smile. Sango rolled her eyes and turned to Inuyasha ready to hear what he had to say.
"We didn't get a proper introduction yesterday," Runa said before Inuyasha could say anything,"I'm Runa."
"And you're Inuyasha's sister?" Kagome asked, eyeing the woman suspiciously.
"Well, not exactly," the demon responded sheepishly. "I grew up under his father's care. When he passed, I would often check in on Izayoi and Inuyasha. Sometimes I stayed for years at a time. I watched Inuyasha grow up. I considered Inu no Taisho to be a father figure, and as such, Inuyasha a brother. But we are in no way blood relatives," she explained.
Kagome let herself relax upon hearing the explanation but quickly asked the question that seemed to be on everyone's mind. "So you aren't Sesshomaru's sister either, but grew up with him?"
Runa paused slightly before continuing with her answer,"Yes, I did. We have known each other since we were quite young. We trained together and received our education together. I have actually been living with Lady Mother the past few decades."
"You've been staying with Sesshomaru's mother?!" Inuyasha interjected, his mouth hanging wide in shock.
"Yes," Runa whispered, her brows crinkling,"You could almost say it was due to Lady Mother that I found myself in yesterday's predicament."
"What do you mean by that, Runa?" Miroku asked with a concerned tone.
"I was betrothed to that bear demon, the one my lord killed," she explained, referring to Sesshomaru. "His name was Daichi and he was a pretty powerful demon. I was previously betrothed to another demon but due to his wanderlust our engagement was cancelled. Lady Mother felt Daichi would be a good back up. I disagreed," she said firmly with a hard look in her eyes. "He wasn't a very nice man and I just couldn't imagine mating and marrying someone like him. I never cared about living in grandeur, but Lady Mother bargained my hand for quite the little dowry."
"Wouldn't she have been paying your new husband the dowry though?" Sango wondered, giving Runa a confused look.
"Normally, yes, but I am of higher birth than Daichi. It was an honor for Lady Mother to even consider him a suitor on my behalf. He offered her quite the sum in order to steal me away. She always has liked the finer things," Runa scoffed. "She will be quite vexed when she learns of yesterday's events. I probably won't be welcome back home now," she closed with a sigh.
"You can stay here," Inuyasha offered,"We have plenty of room in our village and can always use the extra help protecting it. Things have calmed down a lot since Naraku but the odd demon still comes here and there."
"That is a kind offer ye make, Inuyasha," Kaeda nodded in agreement. "I am getting older and would not mind a little extra help. Especially now that young Rin is staying with me. I cannot keep up with the young one's energy, but I am sure ye can," the priestess pointed out.
"RIN?" the group shouted, save for Runa who had no idea who Rin was.
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru brought her to stay with me. She needs to experience life with her own kind. Lord Sesshomaru has left her in my care until such a time as she can make the decision on whether or not she wants a life with humans or him," Kaede explained.
Runa perked up at these words. "You mean Lord Sesshomaru has had a human girl in his care?" she asked incredulously.
"Aye, she's down by the river now. The child needs some time to adjust to her new home," the old woman responded.
Runa looked away, lost in her thoughts. She remembered there being a rumor around the castle that Sesshomaru had showed up with two human children in tow, but Lady Mother had insisted they were just rumors and nothing more. Clearly she hadn't wanted anyone to know it was indeed the truth. Runa couldn't imagine Sesshomaru traveling with a human, let alone a female child. It was completely out of character for him.
Realizing she had yet to respond to the kind offer she had just been made, Runa brought her head back up to face her new friends.
"It's so kind of you to offer, Priestess. I'd be very thankful and happy to stay and assist you with both this Rin girl and anything the village needs. Plus, it gives us a chance to catch up big time, right Inuyasha?" she shot him a smile.
Runa spent the next few days building a small add on to Kaede's hut for herself. She didn't want to crowd the older woman, especially since she already had her initial new guest staying with her. Once she met Rin she couldn't understand why Sesshomaru had kept the child around. Rin was bright, optimistic, and kind. Everything that Sesshomaru wasn't really.
Maybe he had changed.
But Runa just couldn't imagine that to be the case at all.