Recap: Instantly, her eyes darted up the face of the person holding the child. Her dark eyes met emotionless amber orbs, and something in his gaze told her that her world had just grown increasingly complicated.

Disclaimer: InuYasha is owned by the talented Rumiko Takahashi, and as my Japanese is extremely limited, we are not one and the same.

Dedicated: to my cousin, who introduced me to InuYasha… and who hates this pairing.

Once Upon A Robbery

Chapter 3

"You are a Higurashi."

The man's tone asked no question, merely stated the fact.

Lady Kagome scrambled down from her perch, "Yes, I am.

Nodding at the bundle in his arms, Sesshomaru lifted a skeptical brow, "You provide the care for your people?"

"I do what I can," she murmured as she hurried to take a closer look at the child in the prince's arms..

"You will need to do better than that," he ground out, attempting to be patient and uncaring.

Lady Kagome looked up startled at the man's attitude, "I can promise nothing other than the fact that I will take care of her to the best of my abilities."

Sesshomaru nodded once, and then began a cursory study of the small hut.

Guessing at what he was looking for, Kagome motioned to the small mattress at the back of the room, "You can place her down there."

The prince's amber gaze narrowed, and he appeared to hesitate. This was obviously a servant's hut—sparsely furnished, with only two dilapidated chairs, a crude table, and the small mattress in the back.

Kagome continued speaking as she walked, "I'm sorry, I cannot offer her a better place to stay. The castle's insides were scorched. This is the best we have."

'Scorched?'

Kagome turned around just as Sesshomaru's face cleared.

"This will do."

With a surprising amount of care, Sesshomaru lowered the bundle in his arms onto the indicated spot and stepped back to observe the young woman's work. Quickly and efficiently, Kagome began to examine Rin, completely forgetting the stranger's presence.

"She needs to be cleaned, and several of her wounds need some sort of stitching," she murmured as she worked. "What could have possibly caused all this damage?"

"Wolves."

Kagome's back straightened in surprise before she nodded slightly and went back to her task. "I should have guessed from the teeth marks," she whispered as she pulled back a piece of the girl's crude gown, revealing a myriad of teeth marks. "This poor child."

Looking down at the sweet face, Kagome noticed that the child had opened up her eyes and was gazing at her with a wide range of emotions: fear, hope, sadness, and a small glimmer of curiosity.

"Hello, sweetheart," Kagome said. "My name is Kagome; what is your name?" she asked, trying to put the child at ease.

For a moment, Kagome felt guilty for making the child talk as the young girl's raspy voice barely managed to speak, "Rin."

"That is a pretty name, Lady Rin. I'm going to try to get you all fixed up; so you can go outside and play again."

The child smiled weakly, "Rin is not 'Lady Rin.' Rin is just Rin."

Smiling, Kagome continued to talk to the small child, barely aware of the intense gaze of the man behind her.

Arms ladened with empty baskets for the coming distribution of food, Sango chose this moment to attempt to enter the small doorway of the hut. The room obscured from her view by a particularly large basket, Sango did not notice the body in front of her before it was too late. Baskets flew out of her hand as she rammed into a solid object.

Scrambling to pick up the rolling baskets, Sango began to apologize, "I'm so sorry. I didn't see…"

The lady's maid's voice trailed off, as she reached for the last basket, which was laying next to a shoe—a man's shoe. Her eyes hurriedly worked their way up, much like Kagome had done earlier. As her gaze landed on a man's face, her eyes widened first in curiosity, then in fear. His warrior bearing and fine aristocratic features betrayed his heritage as that of a high ranking nobleman and knight, but more than that, the long silver mane that flowed down his back betrayed his royal lineage. She, a servant, had just plowed into a prince, and from the look in his eyes, he was not pleased.

"I—," Sango timidly began.

Realizing that her maid was back, Lady Kagome spoke without looking up from her work, "Sango, I'm glad you're here; I could use your help."

Glancing timidly at the prince then back to her mistress, Sango placed her baskets in the corner and walked swiftly to Kagome's side. As she gazed at the child on the futon, Sango's breath caught in her throat. The child would be fortunate to live.

Taking a breath, Sango questioned, "What can I do?"

"I need water; have one of the men," Kagome's voice faltered, "have someone fetch a pail of water, some cloth, and a needle and thread."

Sango winced slightly at her mistress's mistake. "Yes, my Lady," she said as she rushed out the door, careful to avoid the prince and his questioning gaze.

'There are no more men here, Kagome.' The very thought just rubbed salt into the open wound of Kagome's heart, left there from the deaths of her father and her guard. Squaring her shoulders, Kagome whispered, "Naraku will pay."

Eyebrows raised in curiosity, Sesshomaru wondered at the young woman's quiet vow. What could his father's advisor have done to these people?

Only minutes later, Sango came back with Kagome's requested materials, and hurriedly Kagome nodded to Sango to sit beside her and then worked to clean the young girl's wounds.

"Rin," Kagome began after a few moments, "this is my helper, Sango."

Rin managed a weak smile through her pain, and Sango answered the child's smile with one of her own.

"Do you like stories, Rin?" Kagome asked. The child gave a little nod.

"That's great because Sango is a wonderful story-teller. She knows lots of stories about dragons, and frogs, and princes and princesses, and she was hoping to be able to tell you one," Kagome said, giving a quick glance to Sango. They had used this distraction technique many times when working with the village children.

The child's eyes brightened and Sango began to tell her story in an animated attention, while Kagome laced her needle and took a deep breath.

Glancing over at Kagome, Sango checked to see if Kagome was ready before looking back at the small girl. "Why don't we pretend that you are a brave warrior princess who was wounded in a sword fight against a giant dragon?" Sango suggested.

Rin nodded slowly.

Sango continued, "You are at a nice lady's home, and she is trying to fix your wounds. You will have to be very brave while she works and be very still. Do you think you can do that?"

The child's eyes brightened in understanding, and Sango continued in her story.

Lord Sesshomaru watched the young women work. 'The young Lady Higurashi appears to have some skill. It seems that they have indeed done this before.'

Checking to see that Rin was indeed fine in their care, the prince pivoted softly and walked quietly out the door. Some questions needed answering.

As Sesshomaru cleared the entryway, he noticed a crowd of women that had gathered near the hut scatter away. Snorting silently in irritation, the prince walked a few more paces before quietly commanding, "Halt."

Instantly, ten pairs of feet stopped in their tracks, and guiltily the women turned towards the tall figure. An older woman, apparently the leader of the women spoke first, "Please forgive the young ones; they never saw a prince before."

"I wish to speak with Lord Higurashi. Where might I find him?" Sesshomaru demanded, completely ignoring the elderly female.

The group gasped and a long silence followed before that same wrinkled face spoke again, "You'll find him out yonder," she said, pointing away in the direction of the family cemetery.

The prince nodded and began to turn away, but stopped as the woman continued, "But if you are wantin' to speak with him, it'll do you no good, unless you aim to talk to the dead."

"What nonsense are you spouting, woman?" Sesshomaru demanded. Though the Higurashis were only distant nobility, his father had been a good friend of the elder Higurashi, and as his son, Sesshomaru would certainly have known of his death.

"He died not more than a couple days ago when the soldiers came and burned the castle, killed the master, and took away our menfolk and our food," she answered.

Sesshomaru's gaze grew cold, "What soldiers?"

For the first time, the elder appeared to be a bit frightened, "I beg ya pardon, sir, but twas the king's knights."

"You lie," he growled.

"If you say so, Your Highness, but it was the king's seal that they bore on their shields." Bravely, the servant continued her voice growing quieter as she spoke, "and it was in his name that they asked to come in."

Snarling, the prince said, "My father would never order such things."

"That we know," the woman continued slowly, "but we were told your father was dead, and a man that goes by Naraku was in charge now. He's the one that ordered this."

"Naraku," Sesshomaru growled, venom leaking from his voice. It was beginning to become clear that his father's most trusted friend was nothing more than a devious fraud.

The servants backed up from the growling prince and a few ran away too scared to stay, only a few remained, too scared to move.

"Where would I find Lord Higurashi's mate?" the prince demanded.

A voice spoke from behind the prince, "I am here, Your Highness."

Sesshomaru turned and for a moment felt pity on the poor ragged woman before him. It was obvious that she had been crying and had been crying for days. Already the lack of rich food was starting to take a toll on her body, but she carried herself regally—years of practice and good breeding evident in her posture and demeanor.

"I need to speak with you privately," the prince ordered.

Nodding, Lady Higurashi motioned to ahead of her and began to walk down the wooded path to the graveyard.

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"And then the beautiful warrior princess and the brave prince and the frog and the cat lived happily ever after," Sango said, finishing her story.

Rin smiled a gap toothed smile and squeezed Sango's hand.

Cleaning off her needle, Kagome smiled wearily at Rin. "I think its time for the princess to go to sleep." Leaning over Kagome tapped Rin on the nose and stood.

"Sango," she whispered as she nodded towards the door.

Nodding, Sango stood and followed Kagome outside.

"We are fortunate that she is at least conscious and able to talk a little. She's so young to have all those injuries. It is quite possible that we will loose her during the night," Kagome whispered. "Ask one of the servants to keep watch on her. I need to be notified if anything happens."

Intent on her task, Sango walked quickly away.

Sighing, Lady Kagome turned and walked back into the hut.

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'Naraku will indeed pay for this.'

From the older Higurashi woman, Sesshomaru confirmed all that the servants had told him, and from what he could tell, she was telling the truth. Not long ago, his father had been sent to battle with the countries best knights, but Sesshomaru and InuYasha had not left until a later date. Now, it seemed that his father was not alive, and most likely his half-brother had suffered the same fate.

Long time advisor to the king, Naraku had come into power and with the aid of seven men and the king's own knights, he had rounded up every man and every piece of food that the people had. Not only that, but he was searching for the Shikon jewel, and he was killing anyone who stood in his way.

His next move was unknown, but the prince intended to be ready for it.

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"How is she?"

Though quietly spoken, the words shocked Kagome out of her stupor. "She is doing as well as can be expected. She was hurt badly."

"That much was obvious." Sesshomaru murmured.

Face flushing and eyes flashing, Kagome continued, "Time will tell; I will have servants keep watch over her."

"I have asked the Lady Higurashi to permit her to stay. She is an orphan and ill-fitted for travel."

Kagome's gaze widened, but quietly she nodded. "I understand."

Sesshomaru nodded once then turned to leave.

"Will you be staying the night?" Kagome asked, seeing that the stranger was leaving.

Sesshomaru's brow quirked slightly.

Kagome continued, oblivious to his gaze. "The child will want to see you when she wakes up. It'd probably be best if you explain everything to her."

Surveying the area and eventually finding her gaze again, the prince skeptically asked, "You have accommodations?"

Slowly, Kagome nodded, "Since the men are gone, we have several vacant huts. I will have the servants prepare one for you."

Continuing Kagome asked, "You will be attending dinner with us?"

"It is not necessary," he answered before turning and making his way outside.

Normally, Kagome would have insisted, but looking at the almost bare cupboards, she was silently thankful.

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Author's note: I have not forgotten InuYasha. I intended to write about him in this chapter, but I don't know if I'll have the time and I wanted to update for you. "Are You My Father" is complete, so I will now be able to dedicate time to this story once again.