It is at this time that I would like to severly apologize for my absence. I'm back in school and my professors think its the end of first semester... Plus I had some technical difficulties which I just resolved today--so be lucky because this one of the first things I did when I got Word back on my laptop. So...without furhter ado, I disclaim: All characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi and Co. (except Maiyu); and present the next installment!

Lessons

WHAT THE HELL?!

Sesshoumaru, Lord of the ever expanding Western Lands was now nearing 450 years old, but his memory was as sharp and clear as the day he was born. Therefore, he wasn't mistaken in knowing that he'd explicitly demanded that Kagome keep her ideas to herself. Why, then, was Rin fumbling over an explanation as to why she should be taught to read?

"…And maybe if Rin proves to be smart enough, Rin can learn to write too!"

He briefly thanked his foresight in sending Jaken to find some suitable food for them. "Rin." That silenced her long enough for Sesshoumaru to think of what he wanted to say first. "It is highly untraditional for a young girl such as you to learn to read."

"Why?" came the unbidden, very predictable response.

"You are too young. And otherwise, only girls of high stature ever learn to read. What do you think they do with this skill?"

"Read."

Such a simple answer, but Sesshoumaru knew well what the child meant. "Contrary to your beliefs, Rin, women do not read for…fun." And Sesshoumaru only said this to the best of his ability. The only woman he'd ever known to read in his life was his mother, and she did not read for recreation. She read letters from his father telling of battles and general news. She also read to him as a child, but he saw that more as a duty rather than something she herself could derive pleasure from.

At the moment, that only women he was ever around were the servants in his castle, who of course were of much too low in social status to know how to read. As Rin was standing in front of him with a pleading look, Sesshoumaru realized that Rin was of exactly the proper age to begin receiving a formal education—it was something he never considered, but knew that the clever little child was probably very capable of learning quickly.

Rin looked at her "father's" face closely, trying to decipher his thoughts but gave up—he was too good. Noticing her gaze, he narrowed his eyes and she took a few steps toward him boldly. "Uhm…Sesshou-tou-sama, since you are lord of the Western lands and you have…allowed Rin to follow you, doesn't that make Rin 'of high stature'?"

Sesshoumaru was struck suddenly. That was certainly a concept he'd never considered. Sure he considered Rin as his daughter, but for her to assume his stature in the demon court? He doubted such a thing was possible, not only because she was human but also because she was not of his blood. But what she said was true, at least in his eyes and for the moment that's all he could care to be concerned about. Kami-sama, how did he get to this point? Less than two years ago he was a notorious human hating killing machine. Now all of a sudden he had am adopted human daughter that wanted to read.

Rin waited nervously for his response to his question. "Clever child." He muttered more to himself than to her. With that he bent down and stared into her face with a slight smirk on his face. "And who, Rin, would you like to tutor you?"

Rin smiled brightly and launched herself forward, latching her tiny arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. "Thank you Sesshou-tou-sama! Thank you thank you thank you!" Rin then stepped back and threw herself into a million and one deep bows, her hair unexpectantly whipping back and forth and smack Sesshoumaru harshly twice.

He put a hand on her shoulder and halted her movement. "Rin," he said more stern, "If you require a tutor, we will have to find one for you."

"Why can't Jaken-sama be Rin's tutor?" Rin asked with wide innocent eyes.

Sesshoumaru stood quickly in order to hide the smirk that was really almost a smile. "Jaken does not know how to read," Sesshoumaru knew that Rin would store this information and use it at a later date against the toad.

"Oh," Rin giggled behind her hand and began to dance in circles around Sesshoumaru's feet. "Could Sesshou-tou-sama be Rin's tutor?"

Other than the fact that Sesshoumaru himself hadn't read in at least a year and half (close to when he started 'surveying' his lands), he was much too busy and would more than likely make a terrible teacher for the child. Worse come to worse he could end up losing his temper at the child, or even more dreadful—some of her bubbly attitude might rub off on him. "I am not fit to tutor you, Rin."

Rin pouted momentarily but perked up. "Where should Rin find a tutor, then?"

Sesshoumaru considered this only for a moment, but soon came to a suitable, if not slightly unsettling decision. "As we near the castle, Rin, we may inquire in nearby villages about procuring you a tutor."

Said help came in the form of a young woman named Maiyu nine days later. She was unusually tall for a human woman of her age and was thus not graceful at all. Her limbs were long and awkward and her face, though pretty, was simple and dotted with very randomly placed freckles across her cheeks. Her eyes were an unremarkable dull gray; her hair was of the traditional inky darkness of the Japanese. She was married to a local merchant that participated in some trade or other, which Sesshoumaru hadn't bothered to ask about (he'd only wanted her name after all), and had no children to pass on her knowledge.

When they'd arrived in her village, all the elders disapprovingly shook their heads and clucked their tongues as they indicated Maiyu was the girl that would fit their needs. Rin liked the woman instantly; she yelled 'Maiyu-nee-chan!' and latched onto her leg. To which Maiyu replied just as jovially and they had been inseparable ever since. Jaken was very disgruntled and everyday when he'd attempt to rebuke Rin for laughing or skipping or singing or simply having way too much fun during her lesson, Maiyu would rebuke him right back, albeit much more harshly because she hated the little toad and considered a brainless, jealous oaf. The worst part (at least for Jaken) was that he was allowed to say naught an ill word against the woman since Rin loved her so much and Sesshoumaru didn't want to have to deal with an unhappy Rin.

So, Jaken was order to sit around listen to Maiyu and Rin giggle for hours on end while Sesshoumaru escaped the madness called "lessons". Rin looked up from some kanji character and regard Jaken's slumped form against a tree thoughtfully. "Maiyu-nee-san?" she whispered, purposely keeping her voice low.

"Hm?' the woman made a sound in order to indicate her attention.

"Do you think Jaken-sama would like to learn to read?"

Maiyu blinked. And then did it again. "Maybe, why?"

"Well, Rin thinks Jaken-sama is cranky because he doesn't know how to read. If Rin talked to him and he agreed to be nice to you, would you mind if you taught him and Rin at the same time?" Rin knew of their mutual disdain and knew that the only way to get this to work would be to…..appeal to Sesshou-tou-sama.

Maiyu saw the wheels in her head turning and thus a plan formulating. She was curious as to what the child had planned, but decided to agree to her conditions. "I don't see why that would be a problem, Rin-chan."

Rin cheered and resolved to speak with Sesshou-tou-sama at her earliest convenience.

"Rin, why do you want Jaken to learn to read?" Sesshoumaru gives her this one thing and all of a sudden she wants his servants to be educated too?!

Rin blinked and smiled. "Yes, please." She said it so politely that had Sesshoumaru been any other being he would have consented.

"Jaken is too old to learn to read, Rin." Sesshoumaru hoped this would be the end of the discussion. He knew it wasn't, however, since Rin was probably doing this to amuse herself.

Rin sniffed and looked up at him again with pleading eyes. "Please, Sesshou-tou-sama? It would make Rin very happy." She let her voice drop at the end of the sentence and dropped her head so that she, in fact, looked very unhappy. ..

Jaken found himself sitting next to Rin with tablet and ink the very next day. "Jaken!" Maiyu snapped. "Pay attention! I don't want to repeat myself for the fourth time! Just because you're an idiot doesn't mean you have to drag Rin-chan behind you, too."

She muttered the last part but knew Jaken had heard it. "Why you wench! I ought to—" Jaken suddenly stopped as remembered the terms of her employment (plus Rin was looking at him quite gravely). "Forgive me, Maiyu-san." He said the last part mockingly and disdainfully, but Maiyu was too annoyed to care. And that's how the lessons went. Rin was a brilliant student and learned quickly. Jaken dug his heels into the ground the entire process and didn't learn any kanji but what Maiyu reiterated on his practice papers: oaf.

I hope I conveyed how utterly STOOPID Jaken is...laugh-out-loud. But anyway, I am again super sorry for not updating sooner, but what can you do when Microsoft is just so dumb...?

Also, I want to thank all my reviewers SO MUCH for all the support and comments! You are all awesome and next chapter you will be properly commended. For now, I gotta finish laundry and go to a floor event...BYE!! Oh yeah, and review!