The Night Market

"Night market?"

"Yes! The night market! There are a lot of things being sold there!" She beamed enthusiastically.

Sesshoumaru went to silent mode for a moment.

"Do you really wish to go?" He asked.

Rin nodded her head eagerly.

"Alright then. Do as you wish."

Rin gave a yip of happiness and skipped a dance around the fire they had built.

Sesshoumaru felt his feeling rose along with his child's happiness.

"Jaken."

Jaken who was dozing off at one side, immediately shot up at the call of his name. He looked around dazedly and it took him awhile to realize that it was Sesshoumaru who had called him just now.

"Yes? Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken replied, while trying to suppress the yawn that was creeping up on him.

"Take Rin to the night market."

The shock that befell on him caused the yawn to be forgotten as he gaped in disbelief. Why must he be the babysitter all the time?

Seeing that Sesshoumaru was serious about it, Jaken gave an inward sigh and went to bark at Rin. "Now where is that place?"

Rin and Jaken went to the village where the night market was going on. Fire flicked in the torches and the village was in a frenzy state. People around chatted happily. Bargaining was occurring all over the place. Family, big and small, was walking side by side, inspecting things being sold everywhere. That village was famous for its night market. For many years since who knew when, the night market had been on every night. People from all around the place came to the night market, either to sell or to buy. Smell of food, spices and herbs, diffused everywhere.

Rin remembered that night market. Her parents used to bring her brother and her, when they were still alive, to the market. That evening, when Sesshoumaru's group passed the village, Rin had known that was it. That was the night market she used to go when she was young.

Jaken had stayed back a distance from the village while Rin went to shop on her own.

This is the herb lady and that man who sold fans. Rin noted as she passed each of them. She stopped at a familiar sight and breathed deeply. The mask stall. She thought. She loved the masks that were sold at the night market. She used to pester her parents for one. They never bought her any, saying it was a waste of money. They were poor, only had money enough to buy what was necessary and not what's extra. Her brother would comfort her after that, saying when he had earned enough money, he would buy one for her. I promise. He had said. When he finally did, Rin was really happy but her father was not. He had beat her brother's severely and warned him not to do that again. If he had money he should use it to help the family and not buy 'rubbish'. Rin had treasured the mask dearly after that. Her brother paid for it using blood and sweats. Unfortunately, it was lost when the bandits came. Killing off whoever was dearest to her.

Tears stung her eyes as memories flashed across her mind. She let them fell freely and she wept silently.

A figure stood from afar, looking down at the sobbing girl. His face betrayed no feelings yet his stiffened body gave him away. He made a step toward the village but stopped in his tracks when he saw a lady approaching the crying girl.

"Why are you crying, young girl?" A woman asked as she laid a hand on Rin's shoulder.

Rin looked at her and quickly wiped the tears off. "It's nothing." Rin flashed her usual grin at her.

The smile did not fool the woman. She asked worriedly, "Are you lost?"

Rin shook her head. The woman looked relieved. "Did you come here alone?"

Rin hesitated a moment and shook her head. "Someone came with me but he stays back and let me see and buy what I want." She pointed to the top of the hill.

The woman looked towards the top of the hill and thought she saw a flash of white. Must be my imagination, she thought. She gave Rin a knowing nod and went back to her stall; which was the mask stall. Rin shifted her gaze back to the lady's stall. Besides masks, she was also selling all kinds of colored accessories. Rin stood in front of the stall. The lady smiled at her. "What are you interested in?"

Rin's eyes swept over the beautiful objects lying on the table. She fingered a comb that looked very similar to Sesshoumaru's. It's golden yellow in color with curvy designs on the brim of the comb. Just like Sesshoumaru-sama's eyes. Rin thought happily.

The woman took a deep breath. It couldn't be. How did the girl notice it? There is a spell on it. No one is supposed to notice it but him. Unless…She thought as many possibilities ran through her head. She decided to give it to the girl and follow her back to wherever she came from.

"Do you like it?" The woman asked.

Rin nodded, beaming at her.

"Take it then."

Rin pondered if she had enough money for it. She wanted to buy it for Sesshoumaru-sama.

"How much is it?" She asked politely.

The woman shook her head, "It's for you. Take it." She smiled.

A surprise look found its way up onto Rin's face. She shook her head, "No, Rin can't take it for free. It isn't right."

The woman grinned even wider at the child's innocence. "It's okay. I have a lot of this kind of combs." She lied.

Actually, the comb was one of a kind. It was made of a rare demon crystal that could not be found anywhere in the world. But she liked and trusted this child and wholeheartedly wanted her to have it. Maybe she was the one who could lead this comb back to its' rightful owner.

Rin hesitated awhile and picked up the comb with her fingers carefully. Rin really wanted to give that comb to Sesshoumaru-sama.

"Actually…" The woman began.

Rin looked at her quizzically.

"This comb is one of a kind…" She admitted but quickly said before Rin could protest again. "…And this comb chooses its owner." She couldn't let her refuse it at this moment.

Rin looked as confused as ever. "Its owner?" She asked.

"Yes. This comb is called 'The high standard comb' and would only comb the finest of hair. If the person, who is currently the owner of the comb, does not reach its standard, the teeth of the comb will clench together, disallowing the owner to use it." She touched Rin's hair lightly and frowned. Rin's hair was well kept but it might not reach the comb's standard. "Keep your hair well and one day it might comb your hair." The woman said, but not meaning it. The comb would be return to him. She knew that however Rin kept her hair well, it would only serve him now. However the spell might be broken, which was nearly impossible, unless it was broken personally by the owner himself. Hopefully, this young girl would know that the comb would not serve her and would pass it around until it reached safely in his hands again.

He had heard of that comb. His mother used to keep one of it and her comb brushed no one but her hair. When he was very young, he would try to use them but it always refused to brush his hair. He would touch his own hair, wondering if it was not fine enough.

Your hair will be as fine as mine one day, his mother had said. And when that day comes, I'll give you this comb.

But of course she never did have a chance to give him. She died long before that and the comb was lost to nowhere.

The woman closed Rin's hand and pushed the fist holding the comb to her chest. Rin grinned and thanked the lady. She smiled at Rin's retreating back as she disappeared into the crowd.

"Baka! What took you so long?!" Jaken scolded when he finally saw Rin. He began with one of his lectures but this time round, Rin did not let him finish.

"Jaken-sama! This is for you!" Rin held out a small fan that was made of grass and wheat. It was arranged in a nice order than it looked like a greenish-brown fan. It complemented Jaken's skin and clothing.

Jaken gawped at the item in Rin's hand for a moment.

"For me?" Jaken whispered so soft; Rin nearly could not catch it.

Rin nodded eagerly in response and he took the fan from her hands. Jaken looked touched in that second he took it from her hand. No one had given him anything for a long time. Well, beside Rin's picked flowers.

"Thank you." He whispered again.

"What?" Rin asked teasingly.

Jaken turned up his nose and barked instead, "You shouldn't waste the money!" But he kept the fan close to him, almost treasuring it.

"It's time to go! Sesshoumaru-sama is waiting for us!" Jaken barked once more and they returned to their campsite.

When they returned, they saw their Lord, once again, looking at the stars above their head. Rin strolled towards Ah-Uh and passed some food to both of them," Rin bought those at the market." She beamed happily at them. Ah-Uh growled softly in thanks and went to munch on the food Rin bought for them.

Rin settled down beside them and they nuzzled her neck as she watched them ate the food. Soon, Jaken had fallen asleep out of exhaustion and Ah-Uh out of satisfaction. Rin stood up and walked toward their Lord and sat down beside him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin called, as if he was lost in a world of his own and would not respond if nobody called him.

Sesshoumaru gave a nod in respond. "What, Rin? It has already passed your bedtime."

Rin took out the golden comb and hand it to Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru-sama, this is for you."

Sesshoumaru shifted his gaze towards the child beside him and to the comb on both of her hand. His eyes widened slightly as he reached out his hand to touch the comb. That comb…It belonged to Mother. He had not realized when he heard of the name of the comb when the lady spoke of it. He presumed it was another one of a kind.

"Rin, this is a valuable comb." Sesshoumaru told her.

"Yes, Rin know. That's why Rin wanted to give you this comb." She whispered tiredly.

Sesshoumaru took the comb from her hand. She didn't buy anything for herself? I thought she wanted the comb.

"Thank you, Rin." He said.

"You're welcome, Sesshoumaru-sama." Her voice grew smaller as she fell asleep beside Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru threw another log into the fire and it ate at the log hungrily, instantly warming the group. Sesshoumaru took another glance at the comb and combed through his hair. This time round, the comb did not clench its teeth and let it slide down his silky hair. He kept the comb carefully in his kimono.

The fire cast their shadows in the dark. He stared at the fire and thought of the past.

"Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru's mother called.

"Haii, Mother?"

"I want to give you something. Come here."

Sesshoumaru went to her side obediently and curiously. What does his mother wants to give him?

His mother took out a mask and passed to him. "I want to give you this." She said.

Sesshoumaru looked at the mask in his mother's delicate hands and his face fell. It was quite a beautiful mask, with obvious mastery hands done on it. A white with hints of silver and gold painted on it. But it was still a mask, however pretty. He was expecting something else, maybe the 'The high standard comb', but this? Did his mother thought he still play with such toy?

"Mother! I have passed that age. I am nearly an adult now." He declared.

Sesshoumaru's mother chuckled quietly and told him, "This is a very special mask. It was given to me by your Father. He had got it from a very famous fortune-teller who said it is supposed to keep you safe."

"But Mother, if Father gave it to you, you should keep it." Sesshoumaru protested.

She shook her head firmly and said, "For your information, I am now very well-protected, young man. I am more worried for you, who are to take over your Father. This can keep you safe."

Sesshoumaru reluctantly accepted the mask from his mother and kept it safe in his clothes.

He remembered the last sentence his mother had told him that day.

"Maybe someday, Sesshoumaru, you will want to give it to someone you want to protect."

Sesshoumaru had sneered at this. "No way." He said.

She had smiled and said, "Maybe someday."

Sesshoumaru was pulled back into the reality by a presence. He could feel youki radiating from behind a tree not far from them.

"Show yourself, demon." Sesshoumaru's silent command almost shook the leaves of every tree in the woods.

A woman stepped out from the tree and bowed slightly to Sesshoumaru.

"Greetings, Sesshoumaru-sama." She said.

"What is your business here with this Sesshoumaru?"

"I sense your presence and decided to check it out."

"Why do you have my Mother's belonging?"

"I was once a servant of My Lady's. My Lady gave it to me." The woman answered.

"You are lying." He snarled, placing his palm on Tokijin.

The woman took a deep and quick breath and took a step back warily. "No, My Lady put a spell on the comb. So that no one is able to notice or uses it, even if his hair reaches its standard. No one except you."

Sesshoumaru's hand fell from Tokijin and he stood up straight, absorbing what the woman had said.

She continued on bravely. "My Lady wanted you to have it. It was last of the items she possessed. She didn't get to pass it to you when she passed away. So she put a spell on it and passed it to me who was the nearest to her. 'This will guide you to my son. If you ever get a chance, pass it to him.' She had said.

For years, I have searched high and low for you but was unsuccessful. You know, My Lord, even if I am a demon, I still age. I am very old now and can only stay at one destination. I cannot travel as much as I wish to now. I can only hope someday you'll pass by this village and notice the comb."

"This girl," She gestured to Rin, "noticed the comb which she wasn't supposing to." She shrugged her shoulders slightly. "I see that she brought it to you safely."

The woman looked at the stoic expression on Sesshoumaru and finally said, "I have accomplished my task. And if you'll excuse me." She started to back away when Sesshoumaru's voice stopped her.

"Thank you." He said.

The woman looked at him, clearly surprised. Who knew the cold Lord would even utter a 'Thank you'?

"You are welcome, My Lord." She said after she recovered from her shock.

The woman disappeared as silently as she appeared. But before she left, she told Sesshoumaru, "She was crying, the girl. I think she does like you. And the masks on my stall, I think she likes them too."

After the woman left, Sesshoumaru settled back to his resting position.

Rin didn't just bring back a comb. She brought back the memories too. Sesshoumaru thought.

The next day, Rin woke up to find a mask in her embrace. It was a beautiful mask. A white one, with hints of gold and silver painted on it. She rubbed her eyes and wondered if she was still in la-la land. But when she realized it was real, she squealed in delight and danced under the lights of the morning sun.

"It is just a mask, for goodness sake!" Jaken barked.

That of course, earned a kick from Sesshoumaru.

Rin knew somehow, it was a gift from Sesshoumaru, even though he didn't admit it. She whispered a thank you to Sesshoumaru, a very silent one that only her Lord could hear it. She saw him gave a slight nod in her direction, one that if you didn't pay attention, you wouldn't see it.

Rin held it near to her, the mask had returned to her. Only this time round, her family members had increased. The mask, somehow, made her felt extra protected. She would keep it dear to her, for eternity.

Maybe, maybe the 'someday' has finally come, Mother…

Just like you said…

Well, after so long, I finally manage to get a chapter out .

I thought I am going to give up on this story. But poof! This idea came. The longest chapter I have ever typed, I think. Hope I can still improve.

Well, please R & R!

See you all until next time the inspiration hits.