Disclaimer: I do nottt own Inuyasha and I don't make any profit from this story
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
-Leo Buscaglia
o~O~o
Rin jumped out of the car, grateful that they finally reached their destination. It was a six hour drive from Shinjuku to here in Kobe and Rin hoped she wouldn't have to sit in a car for that long again.
She stretched her arms over her head and yawned, wanting to go to sleep.
Opening her eyes, they widened slightly at what she saw.
They were in front of a beautiful house. It wasn't very large and it wasn't very small. It was a two story white house and Rin couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face when she saw the many flowers in the front yard.
"Do you like it?" Anna asked, smiling as she saw the little girl's smile.
"It's beautiful" Rin said.
"Well I don't know about you two" Tai said as he walked toward them with Rin's box in his hands. "But I'm starving, I think it's about dinner time huh?"
Anna rolled her eyes and glared playfully at her husband "And I suppose I'll be the one cooking dinner right?"
Tai smiled cheekily before looking down at Rin "Come on, I'll show you to your room while the chef prepares us dinner"
Anna mumbled to herself while Rin giggled and followed Tai into the house.
Inside the house, Rin could think of only one word that described it. Beautiful.
It was so different than the foster home she had been in. Whereas inside the foster home it was cold, dark, and gloomy, this house was warm, bright, and painted in cheerful colors.
She followed Tai up the wooden stairs and down the hallway to a room that was on the right.
"Here's your room" he said " Do you mind opening the door for me?"
She nodded and pushed open the door. Taking a step into the room, the lights were turned on by Tai and she couldn't help but gasp.
She loved it. The room - her room, was much bigger than the one at the foster home. The walls were painted a light blue and she noticed they even put a box full of a variety if toys. To the left was a closet, again something she didn't have at her previous 'home', and she couldn't help but smile brightly at the large bed. It looked extremely comfy and the blankets and pillow looked new and clean.
Tai was slightly surprised when he felt Rin hug his leg. Looking down, he saw he couldn't see her face and wondered for a brief moment if maybe she wasn't too fond of the room. If there were more things she needed or wanted for the room, he'd be happy to get it.
"Thank you so much" came her small voice, muffled because her face was pressed into his jeans. "I love my new room"
He smiled softly and bent down, putting his large hands on her small shoulders to get her attention. She looked up, and he saw a few tears leave her eyes.
Gently wiping the tears away with his thumb, he pulled her closer for a hug and rubbed her back soothingly. "I don't know how it was in the foster home, but this is your new home and we want you to be both happy and comfortable living here. And I'm going to let you know now, I plan on spoiling you rotten"
"Spoil me? she asked, "You don't have to.." Honestly she didn't want them going out of their way to spoil her, she was happy with what she had. It was more than enough.
"Yes I do, what man wouldn't want to spoil their daughter?"
Rin felt her heart grow warm at hearing his kind words and hugged him tighter.
'Daughter..'
"Tai! Rin! Come downstairs, you two are gonna help me cook" Anna yelled up.
Tai chuckled and pulled away from Rin. "Come on, let's go cook some dinner"
"Ok!" Rin said happily.
(1 Week Later)
A child's laughter rings out as he jumps off the swing midair, parents converse with each other, lovers walk hand in hand; all are oblivious to the distraught dog demon sitting on the wooden bench, his golden eyes focused only on the entrance the child had came through only a week ago.
How long had he been sitting here today? He knew he was supposed to be at work but he couldn't just sit around doing paperwork when Rin was missing.
Sesshomaru stood, deciding to walk back to work. Maybe she'd be there like the time when he first saw her.
The past week had felt like an eternity to him. Perhaps he should be relieved that he would now not have to watch over a human child, but he wasn't. It felt as if something was missing and his days seemed to become longer and duller without her presence.
The days now felt too quiet, too silent, too…empty.
Her laugh, her constant talking, her child-like curiosity and innocence, her smile..
All of that was missing, and he didn't like it. Only a day after she was missing he couldn't help but notice how it had suddenly become foreign to have her so absent from his life.
He hadn't become attached to the child, had he?
Sesshomaru stopped walking once he was in front of the office building. She wasn't here. He couldn't catch even a whiff of her scent.
Walking toward the doors, he clenched his fists at his sides. He wanted to keep looking for Rin, but he had missed enough of work today.
Sesshomaru couldn't deny how restless he felt at not knowing if she was safe or not.
He wasn't used to feeling this way. He was always the detached and emotionless one, so how could an insignificant human child change that?
He didn't know, but he did know that having her absent from his everyday life wasn't right.
"Sesshomaru!"
And a part of him hated knowing that.
"Hey! Bastard!"
A silent growl of agitation emitted from Sesshomaru's throat as he quickly turned toward his half brother.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Inuyasha said through gritted teeth as he walked up to Sesshomaru.
"Inuyasha, I'm not feeling particularly magnanimous today. I will not tolerate your disrespect."
"Listen bastard" Inuyasha poked him in the chest, choosing to ignore his half brothers' threatening tone. "I had to take your place in that stupid meeting you were supposed to attend. I don't know what you're doing but-"
Sesshomaru, who's patience had quickly disappeared, pulled back his fist and slammed it into Inuyasha's face, watching unemotionally as his half brother stumbled back.
Pain. That was all that Inuyasha's mind could process for a moment after feeling the fist, which felt more like steel, hit the side of his face. Quickly getting over the shock, he glared at Sesshomaru's back, watching as he walked away. "What the hell!"
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
Inuyasha turned to see the small imp waddling after Sesshomaru. Taking a few quick steps toward the little demon, he bent down and grabbed the back of his shirt, lifting him off the ground so they were eye-to-eye.
"Huh?!" Jaken exclaimed in surprise, "What do you want with me?!"
"I want answers. What is Sesshomaru's problem? He's been acting like more of a bastard than usual"
"I'm under no obligation to speak to a half demon like you" Jaken answered. He was pretty sure that Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't want anyone else to know about Rin. And he was about ninety percent sure that her disappearance was the reason for his short temper lately. Jaken had to even admit to himself that even he was affected by the girls' absence. He missed the child's 'annoying' talking, humming, and laughter.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and promptly hit the green demon a few times atop the head.
"I meant it's a kind of a long story" Jaken muttered.
"I got time."
o~O~o
Sesshomaru looked up in slight surprise from the paper he was reading when he heard a knock on his office door.
Of course he could in fact sense and smell the approach, however he was slightly surprised when this certain individual actually knocked on his door.
"Enter" he said. Though he was not in the mood to deal with him, Sesshomaru was...curious as to why he would come here after their recent encounter.
Inuyasha walked into the office and closed the door behind him silently. Looking around the neat office for a moment, he then let his gaze fall on the demon sitting behind the desk, his expression almost filled with pity.
It was seeing that expression that made Sesshomaru become suspicious. He stayed quiet, waiting for Inuyasha to tell him why exactly he was here in his office.
"I..uh" Inuyasha looked around the office again, unsure of how to word his next sentence. Sighing, he decided to just say the first thing that crossed his mind. "I know why you've been acting like more of a bastard than usual."
Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow. He was pretty sure his half brother did not know what was bothering him. "And what, Inuyasha, makes you think you know anything?"
"Jaken told me" Inuyasha said as he folded his arms across his chest. "It's about that girl Rin."
It was the mention of the human girl that caused him to narrow his eyes as a low, threatening growl rippled through Sesshomaru's chest.
Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head as he took a step back. "Calm down, I just wanted to let you know I'd help."
He immediately stopped growling and once again quirked an eyebrow before relaxing his facial features into his usual stoic expression. "I don't need your help. You may leave."
"Bullshit" Inuyasha growled, "It's been a week and you don't have a clue where she is"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed into slits. He didn't need to be reminded that he had no clue as to where she was or even if she was ok.
"Have you tried contacting the police?"
Sesshomaru stayed silent. No, he had not contacted them. In all honesty, that thought hadn't even crossed his mind. He wanted to find her, and he was sure she'd show up soon. But she hadn't, and he wasn't doing a very good job at finding her, though he planned on doing a very thorough search for her all around Shinjuku this weekend. Where else could she be?
Inuyasha sighed, "I'll contact them for you"
He didn't wait for a reply, instead he turned and walked out of his half brothers' office.
Once he was sure Inuyasha was gone, Sesshomaru opened the large drawer at the bottom of his desk. Taking out the wrapped present he had bought only a week ago for her birthday, he carefully placed it atop his desk and gently ran a clawed finger along the top of it.
"Where are you Rin?"
-So I'm not sure if I should do a few more chapters on how life is for Rin with Tai and Anna or if I should just do the time skip to where she comes back to Shinjuku. So if anyone can let me know their opinion I'd appreciate it :D
