Chapter VI
Sesshomaru and Jaken strolled down the pathway, while Rin and Inuhime was riding in the caravan. It has been a few days since they left the Sky Palace. Sesshomaru smelled his annoying half-brother's scent in the wind as they continued to walk towards the East.
"Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Inuki asked if we could stop for a little bit."
Inuhime had impeccable timing, sarcastically speaking. "Tell her that we are near our destination."
"Yes, my lord." Not even minutes later, Rin popped her head out of the caravan's window. "Um, Lord Sesshomaru, she said you may be the acting Lord, but you aren't her alpha. She also said that she's the eldest and that she's alpha over you." That made him stopped. He turned around and went inside that caravan, but not before he told Rin and Jaken to make camp.
"Sister, the sooner, we get there, the better," Sesshomaru said when he climbed in and failed to notice his sister's more sicken condition.
"We can't move anymore. I wish to stay here." She noticed an unasked question forming in his mind. So, before he could ask, she added. "This very spot is where father died. I wish to stay here until my time comes, which it should be soon enough."
Sesshomaru's facial expression was priceless to Inuhime. "How did..."
"... I know," Inuhime finished his sentence. "It's because of the energy here. I feel it. Please, brother, can we stay here?"
"Why?" One would think that one wouldn't want to be around a place where a family member died.
"I feel closer to him, here, brother." He sighed. He could never understand his sister at times. One would think that he would understood the most. He may be her twin, but there was some things that even a twin doesn't know about his/her sibling. He turned around. Inuhime smirked knowing that she won a little victory. She expected an argument from him. Her called after him and said, "Thank you, brother." An 'hn' was his reply. He thought for a moment before making his next move, like needing more protection for his pack.
He called Jaken when he sensed that he was near. "Ye- Yes, milord."
"Go to the palace and fetch my second-in-command. Take Ah-Un with you."
"Yes, milord. Right away, milord."
When Sesshomaru saw Rin coming with some water, he told her to go the caravan and that he and Jaken will return soon. Sesshomaru didn't believe that someone would be stupid enough to get near something with a Western emblem, however, just in case, he cast a protection barrier a foot around the caravan; only those of that had a mark that the Western emblem that are allow to enter the barrier.
An hour later, Sesshomaru still hasn't returned. Jaken returned with his second-in-command, Hikaru. He was a Golden Inudaiyoukai. His hair was a silky golden colored. His eyes were silver. He had a fine-sculpted nose; jawline was similar to Sesshomaru, fine-lined lips, and high-cheeks. He was a little taller than Sesshomaru, but not much. His kimono was red and white; the haori was red; it's undershirt was white and the hakama was also red. The haori had three sakura blossoms on the right shoulder and a blue crescent moon over his heart on the left side, indicating that he was loyal to the Lord of the West and second to the lord of the said lands. He said in his deep baritone voice, "Jaken, where's his lordship?"
"I... I don't know. He was here when I left. He must went hunting or something."
Hikaru grunted. He went straight to the caravan and peeked inside. Rin was laying down next to Inuhime, when she heard the caravan's door opened. "Lord...!" She, immediately, stopped. "You aren't Lord Sesshomaru." Hikaru was shocked to find that the rumors were true. There was a rumor going around that Sesshomaru has a human child as a ward. There were others, but they were bad... very bad, which he dare not say to his lord. He feared that he would face his lord's wrath directly. He shuddered at the thought. He smiled kindly at the child. "How is Inuhime faring?"
Rin frowned, "Don't you mean Lady Inuhime?"
He smirked at the child's question. "My apologies, young Miss. How is Lady Inuhime faring?"
"Oh, she's been sleeping. Um, what's your name?"
"Oh, how rude of me. I am called, Hikaru. I am the second-in-command of your lord's army."
"So, are you strong like milord?"
"I am strong, but not that strong."
"Oh."
"Hey now, if milord and I were having a race I will be right behind him."
"Is that so, Hikaru," a voice came from behind, which startled Hikaru.
"Yes and you know it's true, too, milord."
Sesshomaru smirked which made Rin giggled as she watched them interacting. That in turn made the duo looked at Rin. "My apologies, Master Hikaru. This one's name is Rin."
He grunted in acknowledgement. Sesshomaru commanded Hikaru to skin and gutted the fresh killed deer and then cooked it. Hikaru obeyed. Rin got out of the caravan and pulled on Sesshomaru's pant's leg. He looked down at her and said, "Yes, Rin?"
"This Rin missed you. Lady Inuhime had been sleeping for a very long time."
Sesshomaru's forehead furrowed. He thought as he went inside the caravan, "No! Please, sister, don't leave; not yet!" "Sister," he yelled as he shook to wake her. It took a few times, but she finally woke up.
"Sesshomaru? You're back?"
If you say that Sesshomaru was relieved, that would had been an understatement. He gave her a relieved smile and said, "Yes, I hunted some deer for us."
"I am not hungry."
"Sister, please eat. It will keep your strength up." She was shock to hear the word, 'please' coming from her brother's mouth. She couldn't refused after that.
"I'll try." He smiled. A genuine and grateful smile, that smile must had been contagious because she smiled in return.
He cleared his throat and had that all business, no nonsense stoic, and cold tone in his voice when he said, "I'd summoned Hikaru. You remembered him?" She nodded and he went on to continue, "He's here at help protect you and Rin. I will go get Inuyasha. His friends will probably come, too, no doubt. For once, I won't complain. For them being human, they are quite strong." She nodded in understanding.
Then there was a knock on the caravan's door. Sesshomaru opened it and Rin said, "The meat is ready, milord. Will Lady Inuhime come out and join us?"
Before Sesshomaru could say anything, Inuhime said, "Yes. I will join you out there." Sesshomaru gave her a look of disapproval. "Don't give me that look, Sesshou. I've been cooped up in here for days. Frankly, I am tire of it. Will you please help your sister out of there?"
He sighed. "Rin, go get those blankets and set them by that shade tree over there." He said that as he pointed to a tree.
"Yes, milord." She did as she was told as Sesshomaru helped his twin out of the caravan. Once Rin was finished, Sesshomaru help laid her sister down by the tree trunk.
As they were eating their dinner, Hikaru couldn't help, but to look at the Lady Sister. He had always fancy her, every since they were their adolescences. He hated to see her like this. He had heard from the Lady Mother how ill Inuhime was, but seeing her like this hurts. It hurts a lot inside. He couldn't fathom why it does, but he, somehow, understood. When Jaken came to the palace and told the Lady Mother that Sesshomaru had summoned him to join him. Of course, the Lady Mother would ask why and Jaken told her and she agreed to send him. Inukimi told him to go and help protect her daughter. He was contented to oblige them. Before he went, she warned him about his Inuhime like how different she may look from the last time that he had seen her. She also explain why Inuhime was traveling with Sesshomaru. It was to meet her half-brother, Inuyasha, before she died.
He was interrupted by Rin. "That was delicious, Master Hikaru!"
He smiled at the girl, "Thank you, Lady Rin. I believe that it's time for bed."
Inuhime told Rin to lay on her lap, so that she could stay warm. Rin, happily, obeyed. Rin said tiredly, "Goodnight, Lady Inuhime."
"Inuki. Please call me, Inuki, Rin."
"Mmmkay, G'night, Inuki."
"Goodnight Rin and sweet dreams," Inuhime replied as she ran her clawed fingers through Rin's long, black hair. She followed her to the land of dreams.
Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi
Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari