I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA
A/N:: Hey Here is another chapter, I hope you like it. It it's mostly about Rin and Kagome bonding. I hope you enjoy the heart warming moments :)
Tension was high in the group since Sesshomaru had joined, Sango and Miroku now walking in complete silence to afraid to talk around Sesshomaru afraid they might upset him. Inuyasha stayed up front and away from Sesshomaru who walked in the very back of the group always behind Kagome and Shippo. Sesshomaru watched as they played a thousand different games in front of him, He wished Rin could be here to play, She was probably playing with the flowers in the garden outside his castle by herself the servants where not allowed to touch Rin let alone play with her.
"Ready?" Kagome asked
"Yes!" Shippo bounced
"One, Two Threeeee" Kagome flipped him in the air, Shippo Laughing the whole way over until he landed on his feet with a thud
"AGAIN!" Shippo turned around to face Kagome walking backwards
"Shippo Lets take a break, my arms are getting tired" Kagome smiled, She had flipped Shippo every three steps for the past mile
"Just one more-" Shippo Begged but was cut off
"Enough Kit, The Miko has told you she was tired" Sesshomaru calmly stated Causing Shippo to turn around shaking in fear.
"Thank you" Kagome mouthed to Sesshomaru, he simple nodded. Kagome felt bad for Shippo so she caught up to him and grabbed his hand stroking it with her thumb for comfort
The Sun was Low a sign that night was around the corner and Kagome was exhausted from playing with Shippo and walking nonstop all day. Kagome was about to ask Inuyasha to stop when Sesshomaru spoke up
"Half-Breed let s stop for the night" It was not a question
"What for?" Inuyasha protested "There is still daylight for a while let's keeping going"
"There is a hot spring nearby you haven't bathed in two days, I suggest we stop so you can bathe!" Sesshomaru ordered with ice in his voice
"Keh, Show us the way almighty one" Inuyasha said spastically
Sesshomaru ignored the hanyou and walked to the east through the heavy vegetation, holding tree branches for Kagome to walk under and then snapping them back in Inuyasha face with an inward smirk the whole way.. When they arrived in a large clearing surrounded by flowers, Miroku stepped up and tossed a pile of wood on the ground that he gathered while they walked here. Kagome tossed him her lighter that was almost empty so he could light it. As the fire slowly grew Kagome walked over to Sesshomaru who was sitting under a tree with one arm on his knee on the other side on the fire
"Sesshomaru-sama? Would you please tell me which way the hot spring is?" Kagome played with her sleeve as she spoke.
"Hn" Was all he said as he stood and walked into the woods, Kagome figured she was supposed to follow, as they walked through the thick forest Kagome gasped at the large hot spring in front of her, It was the largest she had seen in her years of being in this Era. Kagome stepped around Sesshomaru and walked to the edge of the water, bent over and felt the hot water, not uncomfortable though it felt like a hot tub, it was perfect! Kagome forgot all about Sesshomaru behind her and stripped all but running in. Once she was waist deep her face turned blood red, she slowly turned around covering her breast to see Sesshomaru had left.
"Oh thank god" Kagome breathed then ducked underwater to wet her hair.
~Smooth~ Sesshomaru beast laughed... Sesshomaru was still standing were Kagome left him but was behind his barrier. He threw it up as soon as Kagome reached for her sash... Sesshomaru snapped around when he heard a twig break behind him, he noticed it was the Kit and Slayer walking to Kagome
"Oh you scared me" Kagome breathed hold on to her chest
"Sorry" Sango placed her stuff on the ground next to Kagome's "Shippo followed your scent, Hope you don't mind if we join"
"Of course not" Kagome smiled as she lathered her hair in soap. Sesshomaru had no desire to see the Slayer naked so her turned and left to find food
"Kagome?" Sango asked as she stepped into the water
"Yes" Kagome was still scrubbing her hair
"Have you noticed Sesshomaru?"
"Well Yeah he has been travailing with us for a while now" Kagome laughed
"No I mean how he acts towards you" Sango ducked under to wet her hair
When Sango resurfaced Kagome continued "What do you mean?"
"Well He says behind you when we walk instead of taking his place at the head of the pack, He is now the Alpha of the group, he should have taken his place as one but he continues to let Inuyasha lead" Sango explained as she scrubbed her hair with Kagome's soap
"Well... Maybe her just doesn't care.. Or maybe he doesn't feel like fighting" Kagome ducked under to rinse her hair
"Kagome you really think a Demon Lord like Sesshomaru wouldn't want to take his place as alpha?" Sango raised her eye brow
"Well I dont' know" Kagome begin to lather her skin
"And every night he find us food, and its never something small like a rabbit or fish, no its always a bore or deer" Sango rinsed her hair "And he always brings it back clean and skinned before presenting it to you"
"So?" Kagome snapped
"Kagome I think he likes you... Most demons present their kill in a way to show they can take care of you"
"She is right momma" Shippo had been swimming at the other end until now
"Na" Kagome laughed
"I'm serious Kagome! And I'm pretty sure Sesshomaru gave you that Kimono" Sango pointed to the shore
"You don't know for sure" Kagome sighed "He could just be doing it to get a rise out of Inuyahsa"
"I don't think so" Shippo laughed
"Come here you!" Kagome pulled Shippo into her lap and lather his hair in soap
"Kagome he is old enough to do that himself" Sango leaned against a rock in the water
"He doesn't always like to scrub his hair like he should, And since Sesshomaru is with us I will not have him saying my kit stinks" Kagome laughed still scrubbing Shippos head "Alright rinse" Kagome ordered and Shippo obeyed ducking under scrubbing his scalp to rid himself of soap
"There now clean the rest of your body" Kagome ordered handing him the soap
"Okay" Shippo began to scrub his body and rising it "All done" He cheered swimming away back to the other side to play
"Well I need to wash my clothes. What about you Sango?" Kagome walked up to the shore grabbing all of her Kimonos and walking back to the rock she was sitting on
"Might as well" Sango huffed grabbing her clothes to wash them along with Kagome's... Kagome always took pride in cleaning her clothes, stains were taboo in her time so she was used to being clean and have spotless clothes, as for sango she could have chucks from her last kill still on her sleeve and not care. Many things about her friends made Kagome shiver with disgust but they were her friends so she would be nice and not mention it
"All done" Kagome chimed seeing her clothes without a speck of dirt. Kagome and Sango walked back to shore and dried off with the towel Kagome had before putting on their robs
"Shippo lets go!" Kagome yelled
"Okay!" Shippo swam to the bank and Kagome wrapped him with her towel and dried him off "Thank you" Shippo smiled as he redressed in his clothes. Once everyone was ready Kagome asked Shippo to lead them back to camp he agreed and lead them back, Kagome had a hard time without Sesshomaru holding everything back so she could walk, now he was tripping and running into low branches. But thanks goodness it was to far from the camp.
"Took you long enough" Inuyasha barked
"We washed our clothes as well Inuyasha" Kagome explained as she hung her Kimonos over a low branch near the camp
"Whatever, guess I need to go before the ice prince returns to bitch me out for stinking" Inuyasha chuckled "Come on Miroku" Inuyasha disappeared into the woods and Miroku followed. They hadn't been gone two minutes before Sesshomaru walked in from the other direction holding a skinned bore over his shoulder walking over to Kagome to show her before chopping it up and placing it on sticks to cook over the fire, Kagome looked at Sango and Shippo both with "I told you so" looks on their face
Kagome sighed and moved to lean against the tree that held her Kimonos. She looked up at the night sky the sky was beautiful in this time, no buildings to hide them, no city light to hide them away, it was perfect here at night, pure beauty. Kagome was completely happy at night until...
"Oi we are clean" Inuyasha huffed walking into camp
"Thank you sesshomaru-sama for the food" Miroku bowed
Kagome closed her eyes as everyone began to eat, she pressure on her legs then on her chest, knowing it was Shippo without having to look. She wrapped her arms around him. And held him while he ate.
"Miko Eat" Sesshomaru ordered
"I will in a min" Kagome answered
"Now" he snapped
Kagome peeked one eye open "I will in a minute" Kagome repeated
"Just eat Kagome" Shippo moved off of her "Here" Shippo climb back up in to her lap and handed Kagome a stick full of bore meat, Kagome took it with a smile and began to nibble on it not looking a Sesshomaru.
"Okay Shippo Time for bed" Kagome laid out her sleeping bad and pulled Shippo in
"Okay" Shippo snuggled against Kagome s chest
"Goodnight everyone" Kagome yawned and wrapped her arms around Shippo, Kagome listened as Inuyasha jumped into the trees and Sesshomaru walked deeper into the forest, he never liked to sleep near the group due to Inuyasha and Miroku's snoring
Kagome soon fell asleep listing to Shippos low breathing dreaming of home.
~~~~~~XxX~~~~~~~
The next day kagome awoke to the sound of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru arguing, Sango and Miroku were already awake and watching the fight.
"What's going on?" Kagome asked while brushing her hair with her fingers
"This prick told us we have to stay here for the day" Inuyasha crossed his arms
"So?" Kagome stood picking up her sleeping bad and placing it in her backpack
"So... So... We have jewel shards to find remember!" Inuyasha snapped
"I know, but one day isn't going to hurt us" Kagome smiled "I'm sure Sesshomaru has a good reason for us to stay for the day"
"Whatever you can stay, I'm going to look for the jewel see ya!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran into the forest
"Well I for one think we needed a day s rest" Miroku stretched out before curling up to meditate
"We aren't very far from the Demon Slayers village, I think I'm going to head home to sharpen my Hiraikotsu" Sango stood gathering her stuff before calling Kiarar but before she could leave everyone looked put to hear a monsters roar echo through the trees
"What was that?" Kagome asked with Shippo clutching to her chest for protection
"SESSHOAMRU-SAMA"
"Sound like a child?" Sango looked around
"Rin?" Kagome looked to see Ah-Un descending from the sky
"Hello Sesshomaru-sama" The small girl jumped off the 2 headed beast
"Rin Stay here with Kagome for the day, I shall be back"
"Okay" Rin smiled and ran over to Kagome sitting down next to her "Hello Kagome"
"Hi Rin" Kagome smiled down at the child before looking up to see Sesshomaru disappear in to the trees, She focused in but he was already gone.
~So we are back to stalking even though she knows we are here?~ Sesshomarus beast asked
'I want to see how she reacts with Rin today, The monk is busy, the slayer is leaving and the hanyou is gone... I shall stay behind my barrier to watch'
~Okay so that's why we went home long enough to tell Jaken where to send Rin~ His best stated
'Yes' Sesshomaru confirmed
"How are you Rin" Kagome asked turning her attention back to the child sitting next to her
"I'm very good thank you for asking" Rin played with the dirt at her feet
"Kagome can we play since we have to stay here for the day" Shippo asked pulling at her robe"
"Yes But first I must change" Kagome stood and grabbed the Green and white Kimono off the tree and stepped behind the tree to change "Okay" Kagome finished tying her sash, stepped around the tree "What would you like to play first?" Kagome asked
"Hmm Hide-N-Seek?" Shippo clapped
"Alright, Rin are you coming to play" Kagome asked seeing Rin drawing in the dirt
"No" Rin hung her head
"Why not?" Kagome bent down to the child
"Umm I don't know how to play" Rin looked away
"I can teach you, it's very easy" Kagome smiled pulling Rin's face over "Would you like to learn?"
"Yes" Rin's sadness went away, and Kagome stood holding her hands out for each child to take "Shall we?"
"Yes" Shippo grabbed her hand
"Okay" Rin stood next to her eyeing her hand "Um Kagome?"
"Yes honey" Kagome looked down
"Can I hold your hand to?" Rin looked away waiting to be rejected but Kagome smiled and knelt down to look the child in her eyes
"Rin You can hold my hand whenever you want to, that s what it's here for. For you to hold" Kagome bushed her nose and grabbed her hand
"Thank you Kagome" Rins eyes lit up
As Kagome walked through the field of flowers to the other side where the forest was thinner and it would be easier for the kids to hide without getting lost. Kagome stop at the edge of the wood and knelt back down "Okay Rin here is how you play. I'm going to cover my eyes and count to 50, While I count you and Shippo will run in to the wood and hide, when I'm done counting I will yell 'Ready or not here I come' Then I will come in and try to find you, when I find both of you the game is over and a new person counts" Kagome explained with great details
"Okay sounds easy" Rin Chimed
"Now since this is your first time, Shippo I want you to help Rin find a good hiding spot okay?" Kagome looked with stern eyes "And it better not be an easy one, I want her to have fun"
"Don't worry momma I will give her the best hiding spot, well next to best since mine will be the best ever" Shippo bounced
"Okay now one more thing before we play, Since Rin is human I'm going to place a barrier up so no unwanted demons pop up and in on our game" Kagome extended her aura feeling no demon nearby but she needed to be extra careful with hide-n-seek with Rin, She could find Shippo in a heat beat if needed but Rin was human with no powers she couldn't run fast enough of be found quickly if something went wrong, so Kagome held the children s hands tight as she placed a barrier up, nothing serious so they wouldn't get shock or thrusted back if they hit it, and it would also keep demons out the same way it was also see through so if by chance Inuyasha or Sesshomaru came back he could see and hear them.
"There the barrier is set, now you won t be able to get to far from me, this is for your safety" Kagome explained "Are you ready?"
"Yes" Both kids jumped in excitement, telling Kagome she was in for a long day!
Kagome held her hands over her eyes and started the count "One, Two, Three, Four..."
"Come on" Shippo pulled Rin to run into the woods, Kagome could hear the twigs break under their feet, their soft and the soft voice exchanges between the two decided on a spot... The barrier was very large, which is why it had to be a simple keep out barrier.
"Twenty-five, Twenty-six" Kagome kept counting till she heard the stomping quite and the voice go quite "Ready or not here I comeeee" Kagome yelled Running in after them
'I knew this would be good for Rin to play with normal people'
~So we are just going to be watching the kids play all day~ his beast whined
'I have to make sure she is mother material' Sesshomaru snapped
~I'm pretty sure we already figured that out a long time ago~ his beast snapped back ~ Look she is even wearing your Kimono~
'I noticed that. But I want to see how Kagome interacts with Rin thats all, if she will take in Rin like she did with the Kit' Sesshomaru watched from the outside of the barrier, he knew exactly why Kagome put up the barrier, to keep Rin safe and keep Rin from running off to far, Also to keep demons from sneeking in and stealing her, since the hanyou ran off and Sesshomaru was hiding, Kagome figured she was alone with the kids.
"FOUND OUT" Kagome yelled behind and empty tree near Rin, Kagome could hear Rins muffled laugher like Shippo, Kagome found Rin the moment she stepped in to the forest seeing her Red Kimono through the green leaves but decided Rin should be found after Shippo since this was her first time ever playing. "AH HA! GOT YOU" Kagome yelled jumping into a tree Know that Shippo was in the tree across from Rin "Hmmm I must say I'm stumped" Kagome sat on a rock in front of Rin Listing to her muffled Laughs "I thought for sure I would have found them by now" Kagome stood tapping her chin "You guys are just way to good at this game" Kagome walked under Shippos tree before catching him in her pink ring on entrapment, the someone she always used to get Shippo out of the tree tops "Got you" Kagome clenched her fist pulling the Kit in front of her
"AHHH" Shippo screams filled with laughed as Kagome pulled him down to her eye leave before catching him and rubbing his nose
"Now to find Rin" Kagome Set shippo down but keeping a hold on his hand she faked a few more "Ah-ha's and found you's" Before actually finding Rin, Rin screamed as Kagome wrapped her arms around her before saying "Got you"
"This game is fun! Can I be the one to count and find you two now?" Rin bounced much like Shippo
"Of course you can" Walk back to the edge of the forest cover your eyes and count as high as you can go, the yell 'ready or not here I come' so we know you are on your way"
"I know" Rin yelled as she ran back to the clearing, Kagome keep her eyes on Rin the whole time, making sure nothing happened 'She is under my barrier but Rin is like a daughter to Sesshomaru, I'm sure he would not hastate to kill me if something happened to her' Kagome thought as Rin only counted to 25 before headed to find Shippo and Kagome. Kagome quickly dashed behind a tree, making it easy for Rin to find her and waited.
As Kagome guess Rin found her easy. "GOT YOU" Rin yelled pointing at Kagome
"Oh shoot" Kagome snapped her fingers and hung her head "Oh well lets find Shippo" Kagome grabbed Rins hand leading her here and there before pointing out to Rin where he was
"There you are Shippo" Rin pointed in a tree
"aw man!" Shippo jumped down "My turn" Shippo raced out of the forest, Kagomes eyes never leaving Rin
Everyone got a turn twice before Rin asked to play a different game, Kagome thought about it for a second before Shippo suggested Tag.
"Whats that?" Rin asked
"It's another game" Shippo answered "One person is 'it' and chases the other people trying to 'tag' them" Shippo touched Rins shoulder "If your tagged you become 'it' and have to tag someone else"
"Okay can I bet it?" Rin asked
"Sure" Shippo readied to run "Go!" Shippo and Kagome raced around the large field of flowers, everyone getting a turn to be 'it' once the children became tired they switched games 'Red light green light. Concentration. Hopscotch -Kagome used sticks to mark the blocks-. Simon says, which Rin was very good at Kagome figured it was the years of only doing what Sesshomaru said she could do. The last thing they played was Mother May I.
Once the game was over Kagome sat down in the middle of the field watching Shippo and Rin play. Kagome began playing with the flowers around her.
"What are you doing?" Rin asked seeing Kagome pick flowers and place them in a pile on her lap
"Watch" Kagome breath then began to tie the ends of the flowers under the head of another, kagome kept this up for a while making a circle with the flowers "Here you go Rin" Kagome place the ring of flowers on top of Rins head like a crown
"Thank you Kagome" Rin hugged Kagome around her neck
"You re Welcome Rin" Kagome kissed her cheek
"Momma watch this!" Shippo yelled as he did a flip in the air
"Wonderful Shippo" Kagome clapped
"Kagome can I ask you a question?" Rin asked
"Of course you can" Kagome asked but rin chickened out
"Never mind" Rin pulled her knees in
"Okay" Kagome rubbed Rins back letting her know it was okay "Here" Kagome pulled Rin in to her lap and pulled off the crown of flowers
"What are you doing? Did I upset you?" Rin panicked
"Of course not, I'm going to play with your hair" Kagome soothed Rin
"Oh Okay, I'm sorry" Rin settled down and Kagome ran her fingers through Rins long soft hair after a few minutes Rin found courage and asked Kagome the question "Is Shippo you son"
"I am not his birth mother if thats is what you ask" Kagome answered
"Where is his mother" Rin asked watching Shippo catch the small bugs
"His mother passed away" Kagoma answered
"Like Mine" Rin added
"Yes" Kagome sighed she hated this, Children losing their parents at such a young age
"Why does he call you mother then?" Rin asked leaning her head towards Kagome wanting to know the answer
"Because I am his mother now, I consider Shippo my son" Kagome answered truthfully
"Oh" was Rins only reply
"How old where you when you lost your mother Rin?"
"6"
"I am very sorry" Kagome found tears filling her eyes
"I don't remember her much anymore, her face has faded" Kagome could feel the waves of sadness coming off Rin "Along with my fathers and brother's faces"
Kagome finished the French brad and added a few daises between the brad "Rin, You re not alone anymore, I'm here if you ever need me" Kagome pulled Rin in and hugged her tight felling Rins Tears soaking her shirt
Rin looked up at kagomes face "your eyes remind me of my mothers, its only thing I remember, her eyes"
"Oh Rin" Kagome held her close again... After a few more minutes and a few more sobs from Rin Kagome asked "Are you hungry?"
"Yes" Rin whipped her face dry
"Let's go eat" Kagome stood grabbing her hand "Let's go Shippo" Kagome yelled to the Kit who was catching Fireflies
After the group ate and Sango returned, Kagome and Sango took Rin to bathe leaving Shippo to bath with Miroku, after everyone was bathed Kagome saw Rin curl up against a tree to sleep, so Kagome quickly opened up her sleeping bag laying it down like a blanket and pulling out her yellow Kimono to use as a blanket "Rin come over here and sleep with me tonight"
"I'm okay over here"
"Nonsense, I have plenty of room here so come over here" Kagome watched as Rin laid down on the very edge of the sleeping bag, Kagome sighed and pulled Rin in close to her chest wrapping her arm over her, Shippo curled up against Rin s back as Kagome Threw her open Kimono over the two kids leaving herself uncovered which didn't bother her, She was fully covered thanks to the green and white Kimono.
Sesshomaru finally took down his barrier and walked in to the campsite his eyes fell upon the three sleeping softly. He saw Kagome laying uncovered her yellow Kimono Laying over Rin who was tucked under Kagome chin and Shippo how was curled against Rin, Kagomes Arms over both of them. Then he took in Rins Hair, He had watched as Kagome played with it but he never saw Kagome place flowers in it, she looked beautiful. Kagome was more than ready for his proposal. He slowly walked behind Kagome and rubber her shoulder, She looked over to see Sesshomaru with his index finger over his mouth telling her to be quite, she watched as Sesshomaru stood and motioned her to follow.
A/N:: I might change the conversation between Kagome and Rin about her family's death... I want it to be more in depth. Don't FORGET TO REVIEW!
