Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I just write these for fun.
Author's Note: This is just a bit of fluff I wrote for a friend. Takes place a very long time before the beginning of the series.
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Chapter Ten: Kindness Falls Like Rain
"Who are we going to see?" Corin asked one day. They seemed to be getting nearer to their destination.
"My mother," Inuyasha said stiffly.
Corin wanted to respond enthusiastically, but the look on his face made her think otherwise. She hadn't noticed any houses or even villages along the way and so she couldn't imagine where his mother lived. But it wasn't long before the traveling companions stood before a carved stone on a hill overlooking a river.
"Oh I see," she whispered. "Did she die a long time ago?"
"Yes," Inuyasha said solemnly. He laid a bouquet of flowers at the foot of the stone and lit a stick of incense.
"I'm very sorry. That must have been hard for you," she slipped her arm through his and stood close to him.
Inuyasha bowed his head and prayed. Corin did the same and then she left him to have some time alone at the gravesite.
What a lonely young man, Corin thought to herself as she rested beneath the shade of a nearby tree. He acted so tough on the outside, but deep down he was just a human at heart. Not a demon at all. She was surprised to find him so tender hearted. The way he placed the flowers on his mother's grave and cleaned around the stone showed how much he had cared for her when she was alive. Corin could sympathize with him. Her own mother had died when she was young so she knew the grief he felt. But unlike her, Inuyasha had had no one to raise him after that.
"Poor Master Inuyasha," said a voice, startling Corin out of her thoughts.
She looked around, but couldn't see anyone. "Hello? Who's there?"
"Down here."
There was a little flea, perched on her satchel. "Oh! Hello. Where you saying something about Inuyasha? Do you know him?"
"I have served the young Master faithfully for many years. I'm Myoga, at your service." The flea bowed to her respectfully.
"Nice to meet you, my name's Corin."
"Ah yes! The beautiful young woman I've heard talk about. They say you've softened Lord Inuyasha's heart."
Corin blushed. "I don't know about all that. It looks like it was pretty soft to begin with." She looked at her friend, knelt in front of his mother's tombstone, pouring water over it to cleanse and purify.
"Yes, Master always did have a soft spot for his mother. He's never been able to accept her death."
"That's so sad! Poor Inuyasha," Corin sighed. "I wonder what his mother was like. Did you know her?"
"Lady Izayoi was very beautiful and kind. She loved Inuyasha very much and tried to protect him from the villagers who scorned them. Inuyasha's father was deeply in love with her and died to save her and the newborn Inuyasha." Myoga sniffed. It always brought tears to his eyes to recall his former master.
"How terrible!" Corin said. "So, Inuyasha's never met his father?"
"No. Lord InuTaisho died the same night Inuyasha was born. And tomorrow is the anniversary of his mother's death."
Corin wanted to cry. That must have been so hard on Inuyasha. Boys look up to their fathers and depend on them to guide them into adulthood. How awful it must have been for him to walk through this world alone.
"Who are you talking to?" Inuyasha appeared in front of Corin. He moved so silently that she hadn't heard him approach. Quickly she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Master!" Myoga leapt onto Inuyasha's nose.
"Back again Myoga?"
"Well, Master Inuyasha, I wanted to pay my respects to Lady Izayoi and meet your friend here."
"Fine, whatever. We'll camp here tonight. We passed an abandoned hut back there so at least we'll have shelter."
Corin was overcome with love and sympathy for Inuyasha and she rushed forward to hug him tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm so sorry," she cried. Inuyasha didn't ask her to explain. For once he didn't react with anger; he returned her embrace and let her weep for him, since he could not weep for himself.