Variant
Rain

Rin had been with them for nearly a week now. Nature seemed to be grieving with the girl for the summer rain had yet to let up since her arrival.

With a sigh, Kagome rolled onto her stomach. Propping her head up on her elbows, she looked down at the small child that lay between her and Sango. Dried tears streaked the little girl's face and not for the first time since her arrival, Kagome felt a rush of anger at the supposedly "great" demon lord who had just up and abandoned a little girl without so much as a reason why.

Every time she or the others had tried to ask Rin about her caregiver, the only response they could get out of her was "It is all Rin's fault". But what on earth could a girl no more than twelve have ever done to cause Sesshomaru to spurn her so? It just didn't seem like him. Not after everything Kohaku had told them he had done for her sake.

Quietly, Kagome stood up and walked to the entrance of the hut. There was no way she was going to get any sleep, turning these thoughts over in her mind. She may as well enjoy the relaxing view of the steady rainfall.

"Sesshomaru-sama wouldn't have just abandoned her like that," a voice called after her softly. It was Kohaku.

"I know," she said.

"Something must have happened," he pressed.

"We'll find out what's going on," she reassured him, casting him a soft smile. Apparently Rin was not the only human child to have faith in the taiyoukai.

Kagome sat outside on a wooden bench, her modern umbrella protecting her from the downpour.

For the briefest of moments, Kagome could have sworn she felt something, like the faintest pull of spiritual power. She sat still, straining to sense it again. For a few minutes there was nothing, but then, suddenly, There!, she thought, turning to face the forest.

Now that she had focused on it, she could feel the reiki reaching out to her like a warm invitation, beckoning her to seek it out. For a second she considered calling for Inuyasha, but it was not an evil power she was sensing. It felt good and kind, but also... lonely and lost, as if it were struggling to find itself.

Grabbing a flashlight as quietly as she could, she headed towards the forest. With each step the energy grew stronger, leading her to a great tree where a figure stood near one of its giant roots, taking refuge from the rain.

She pointed the light just to the left of the figure, not wanting to be rude and shine the light in his or her face. "Hello?" she called. "There is a village just outside these woods; do you need any help?"

The figure shifted and in the soft glow of the flashlight she caught the glimpse of a familiar pattern. A six petaled cherry blossom.

Kagome gasped. Sesshomaru had returned for his charge! Rin would be so pleased to find out that he had come back for her. She stepped forward, a huge smile on her face, and shined the light on the inu youkai.

Kagome nearly dropped the flashlight when she got a good look at him.

Where long, silvery hair once fell lay hair dark as ink. Where the markings of his heritage once shown proudly was now clear, pale skin. And while she could not make out the color of his eyes, they were certainly no longer a piercing yellow-gold.

But that couldn't be right. Sesshomaru was a powerful taiyoukai; she would have been able to sense his youki if it was he, and this man before her had no such power emanating from him. He was just... a human. Even so... His clothing was an exact replica of the western lord's attire, and while his skin and hair was different, he still bore a striking resemblance to the dog demon.

And beyond that, she had found the source of the powerful spiritual energy: the red prayer beads around his neck. That must be what was suppressing his demonic nature.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" she called softly, uncertain.

"This Sesshomaru has come to deliver Rin's possessions," he said stiffly.

I guess it is him. But... what the heck happened to him?

"In the middle of the night? In the rain?" Kagome tried to keep her voice light and conversational, but she knew that she had come off as confrontational. Backpedaling before Sesshomaru either left or eviscerated her for her 'impudence', she said, "Why not stay until morning? Rin really misses you and would love to see you again, but she's sleeping right now."

Kagome was met with silence.

Maybe that's the point, she thought with a sinking feeling. Maybe he wanted to come and go without having to speak to anyone.

Not that Kagome could fault him. Obviously something very terrible had happened, and it was just like the taiyoukai to not ask for help. Prideful idiot, just like his brother.

Suddenly Jaken and Ah-Un emerged from the foliage; the dragon carrying more totes than Kagome had ever seen the beast saddled with. Kagome's eyes nearly bugged out. Sesshomaru hadn't been kidding when he said he had come to bring Rin's things. But since when did Rin have so many possessions? Sesshomaru was a wanderer; he never traveled with more than his blades and his companions. Where did they usually keep all of those things?

"This is for the girl's well keeping and... dowery," Sesshomaru spoke, trying to keep the strain out of his voice. "You will see to it that it is utilized accordingly, miko."

As if on cue, Ah-Un knelt to the ground. Both heads gave her an expectant look and huffed, wanting her to relieve them of their burden.

Kagome could only stand there, mouth agape, as a million thoughts swirled through her mind.

Rin's dowery? Was he planning on abandoning her forever, then? Had he grown tired of the constant care a human child required? Or was it something else? Was he giving her up because of what had happened to him?

Kagome furrowed her brows. Sesshomaru's excuses be damned! Rin was hurting so badly, and here he was dropping off her belongings like it was nothing.

"How dare you!" she yelled. "How can you just leave her like this with no closure? Do you know how damaging that is to a child? What is wrong with you?"

"How dare you speak to Sesshomaru-sama with such impertinence, you stupid girl!" Jaken squawked. Neither Kagome nor Sesshomaru seemed to pay him any mind and the imp crossed his arms, muttering to himself.

The rain picked up. It was becoming increasingly difficult to see the taiyoukai and his companions so Kagome took a determined step forward, making sure to keep the light shining on his face. "Well?" she pressed, half-yelling due to the downpour.

"Is my ailment not obvious, miko?" Sesshomaru spoke after a moment, his voice full of scorn. He had his head turned to the side, pointedly refusing to look at her.

Kagome's shoulders slumped, half of her venom dissipating along with the tension in her shoulders. "Sesshomaru-sama," she tried again. "Why not at least stay for the night? I can... I can sense the reiki in those beads around your neck. Maybe Kaede-sama or Hoshi-sama could help you? It couldn't hurt to have them take a look."

Sesshomaru was silent for a moment then turned to look at her, as if he was actually seeing her now. "That will be acceptable."

The rain began to stop.

Word count: 1,297