Gosh its taken me forever to update. I apologize for the lateness it took for me to get this chapter out. I had extreme writers block and I think I rewrote some parts three and fours times before I finally got it the way I wanted. Plus I got blasted with the most horrible cold and my energy has been extremely lacking the past three days. If my grammar and wording really stinks, that's why. The only good thing was I got a whole bunch of Inuyasha episodes downloaded while sleeping lol.
The next chapter shouldn't take me nearly so long. I've finally getting over this dang cold and I have most of the next chapter planned out already so hopefully no more writers block.
I also reloaded chapter 11 to fix the spelling errors.
And ok, I'm dying to know what the heck XD means. I keep seeing XD everywhere and I haven't a clue what it is. Anyone wanna enlighten me? LOL
Early morning came and with it Rin slid off the back of AhUn in the midst of the forest, glancing behind her to where the village lay. She licked her lips nervously and gave Keikai a brave, fake smile, hoping that her bodyguard wouldn't notice her anxiety. If Keikai had, she gave no indication of it, and simply sat waiting for Rin to depart. Rin waved bye to her bodyguard and mode of transportation, hurrying off into the foliage.
"Keep your clothes clean, Rin-sama," Keikai called after her.
She dashed through the forest and trees, not heeding Keikai's warning at all. Low branches and grass slapped her calves and mud splashed onto the hem of her garments, staining them.
She was happy and excited about going back to the village and seeing everyone, but a certain amount of tension and fluster shadowed those emotions. She remembered what had happened last visit with Shippo and seeing the kitsune again filled her with high-strung, nervous energy she didn't fully understand. To think about looking into his eyes caused a spark of excitement to run up and down her spine and she was appalled at her behavior.
Why was she having these thoughts, these urges? They made her feel embarrassed and open, like she were standing in front of everyone naked. Was it right for her to react to such males as she had been? Was there any difference between how she reacted to Shippo and how she reacted to Kajuu?
She was confused and a little scared. She couldn't comprehend what was going on and the answers she had received from Keikai only bewildered her more.
"The birds and the bees huh?" she muttered to herself and glanced around herself in hopes of spotting the critters Keikai had referred to.
Perhaps it would be better if she asked someone else. She could ask Sesshoumaru because to her, he knew everything. Asking a male did seem unrealistic though. She couldn't imagine telling him about the hand kissing incident with Kajuu. Kami knows what her guardian would do if he knew what his second in command was doing.
Kagura was a better choice. She wasn't a woman who hid anything and was extremely blunt. Kagura wouldn't become stiff and give weak answers like Keikai did. Then there was also the option of asking Sango, Kagome, and Kaede. And since she was in the village now, perhaps asking one of them would be the best course of action.
Rin waved to a few villagers on the outskirts of the village, nearly running herself into a tree with her lack of attention. Humming a careless tune to quell her tension, she skipped across the dusty path, kicking absently at small stones and sending them skittering into the grass.
She looked up as she drew close to the village, her eyes wandering over the familiar houses, fields, and gardens. A dozen men were hoeing the fields, several women doing laundry in front of their homes, and children chasing each other waving sticks in the air pretending to be swords. Countless chickens pecked their way around the commune and a few dogs waltzed from house to house, panting heavily and scratching at fleas. Horses stood passively by their homes, tails flicking at flies and pawing occasionally at the ground.
None of the Shikon hunters were in sight and she smiled at the villagers she knew. She paused when she spotted a horse prancing freely down the road, looking as if it were searching for something. It was big black horse and Rin was surprised to see it had unusual red eyes.
Supposing someone had lost the animal, she shrugged and continued onward, heading up to the shrine. She figured that Miroku and Sango would have their house finished by now and was pleased to find she was not mistaken. It was a little bigger than the usual houses in the village below and gleamed in the sunlight like all new houses do before they became hunched with age and time.
She took a step forward, planning on going inside and seeing the houshi, when a strange rustling from a nearby tree caught her attention. She stopped and turned.
It took her a moment for her to comprehend what she was seeing and she rubbed her fists against her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining things. Up in the high branches of the tree was the hanyou, clutching onto a branch and watching the village with wide eyes. His ears flickered fearfully and his mouth was slightly parted, close to panting.
Cautiously, Rin approached until she was under Inuyasha's branch and looking up at him. "Umm...Inuyasha, sir, are you okay?" she called.
"Shh!" he hissed, not bothering to turn to her. "Be quiet or he'll know I'm here."
Rin's face scrunched in confusion and she scanned the area, finding no one out there except for her and the hanyou. "Hiding from whom, Inuyasha-sama?" Rin addressed him. She wasn't sure which honorific to place on his name so went with the one that was least likely to anger him.
"That stupid horse! It's been bothering me nonstop! It probably already knows how to climb the damn stairs but I bet it won't be able to reach me here! Heh! Heh!" he crowed with an evil glint of his fangs.
Rin just blinked at him. How could she respond to that? "Ummm..."
"Rin-chan?"
Kagome's voice sounded from behind her and she turned to find the young woman dressed in another of those strange altered kimonos approaching them from within the shrine.
"Hello, Kagome-chan!" She embraced her teacher, giving her a bright smile.
Kagome returned the embrace and smile. "How have you been?" she asked politely.
"I've been well. And you?"
"Will you two go away?" Inuyasha snarled before Kagome could reply. "If you're going to talk then do it inside! With all your blabbering you're going to get me caught."
"Caught?" Kagome questioned.
"Yes!"
She crossed her arms stiffly over her chest, giving him a severe glare. "What'd you do this time?"
"I didn't do anything!" he retorted heatedly. "I'm hiding from that creepy horse. Now go away before your racket brings him up here!"
Kagome rolled her eyes and motioned for Rin to come inside. "Come on, Rin. No sense in sitting out here listening to him moan and groan."
Inuyasha made a sound somewhere between a "Humph" and a "Keh" at the jibe and Kagome slipped back inside the shrine with a slight grin on her face. The two women began making their way down the dimly lit halls, Kagome explaining to the younger female that the classes had been released early so she could take her now and to later go to Miroku. Rin nodded, only halfway listening as she kept a sharp eye out for a certain kitsune.
They entered Kagome's usual classroom and Rin relaxed, knowing that the kitsune was not likely to come here. Of course last time he had dropped in once Kagome and Inuyasha had started arguing...
Squishing that thought, Rin took a seat on the mat and chewed delicately on a fingernail, recalling her internal debate earlier when she had been making her way towards the village. Kagura and Keikai had both told her to keep problems to herself due to assassins but that was back at the castle. Rin seriously doubted there were any assassins here and Kagome was trustworthy. Besides, Keikai had twice mentioned that Rin's condition was normal, therefore there shouldn't be any problem in telling Kagome.
"Umm Kagome-chan?" she said timidly.
"Yes, Rin-chan?" Kagome said distractedly, pawing through a book about medicine.
Rin fidgeted, picking at the sleeve of her outfit, her eyes exploring the veins of the wood beneath her. A small amount of heat spread into her cheeks and she bolstered her courage, reminding herself that this was the best course of action. "Kagome-chan, I was wondering if you knew something about the birds and the bees?"
The older woman grew very still, her hand freezing in the middle of the action of turning the page of the book in her lap. Her gaze, which had been on the book, rose slowly to look at Rin's face and she saw the blush painting her pupils features.
She knew what the metaphor was referring to, and she was curious and astounded that Rin had asked her. She was only eight years older than Rin, hardly considered one to be exceptionally wiser.
Why had Rin chosen to ask her instead of Sango? Sango was obviously the one that had had more sexual activities, her being pregnant while Kagome wasn't. Sango was also older and probably more sagacious, a much better candidate than Kagome herself. Not to mention that there were other females where Rin lived in Sesshoumaru's stronghold. Rin didn't speak much about them but Kagome was aware of Sesshoumaru's bond to Kagura and Rin's bodyguard Keikai. So why her?
"Uhhh," Kagome cleared her throat. "Why are you asking me that?"
The fidgeting of Rin increased and Kagome couldn't help but notice that she was going to destroy her sleeve.
"Well, Keikai mentioned it the other day and I don't know what it means. I was hoping you could tell me," the young girl explained.
"And why would Keikai mention that?"
Rin turned scarlet and jerked in surprise when she split the seam on the sleeve. Grimacing at the damage, she was partly grateful that she know had something to keep herself from facing Kagome. "Well..."
She couldn't mention Shippo, that would spell death for both of them. She struggled for an answer, splitting the seam further.
"Well...There's this...guy I know-"
"A guy you know?" Kagome interrupted, raising an ebony eyebrow.
"Hai, back at the palace."
"Oh...Okay."
Close call. "And he...I've been getting strange sensations around him...He kissed my hand the other day and it made me feel...things. And then before that he looked at me really...intensely and I...I blushed...really badly."
There was that feeling of wanting to crawl under a rock again and Rin wished futilely that the floor would split and swallow her up. Her eyes were glued on the torn sleeve, continuing to abuse it while avoiding the eyes of the miko across from her.
"I see..." Kagome managed after a moment.
Unbeknownst to Rin, the miko's eyes were currently locked on the book in her lap, averted from Rin's form. This was not something Kagome had anticipated at all. Memories of her long relationship with Inuyasha flitted through her mind, remembering the years it had taken for the hanyou and herself to come to terms with their feelings towards each other. Then there was that whole Kikyo ordeal they had to deal with...
Kagome had always considered herself rather inferior when it came to dealing with the opposite sex. Sure she had had her number of admirers but in dealing with relationships she was lacking. For someone to ask her for advice regarding cravings of the male population was downright incredible. Sango had done so during their journeys but Kagome assumed it was because there were no other females around besides her.
"What do you want to know...exactly?" she forced out once a good few minutes had passed in silence.
"What it means," Rin answered. The blush was gone from her face and she stared inquisitively at Kagome.
"What it means?" Kagome repeated and Rin nodded. Kagome frowned in thought, musing over the question. "Well, to put it bluntly it means you're growing up and becoming attracted to the opposite sex or guys. It happens to everyone. They reach a point in their lives, usually when they're in their early, mid, or late teens, called puberty. It's a time when children begin to mature in both body and mind."
Rin was fascinated now, leaning forward to catch every word. Kagome was a bit amused, thanking her lucky stars that she had been forced to take so many sex-ed classes. Otherwise this would have been a whole lot more difficult and awkward to explain.
"It's caused by something called hormones in the body. These hormones allow you to become reproductive, able to produce children. Not that I'm saying you should!" Kagome said hastily. "You should wait till you find someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with before you decide to have kids. But right now your body is reaching the stage where you're just simply physically capable of having offspring. Your attraction to men is a...uhh...a side-effect of those hormones. It's like an animal instinct. You're becoming attracted to the opposite sex because your body is ready to reproduce and reproduction is an animal instinct. So your instincts are seeking out a possible suitable partner to father offspring."
"Is that all it is?" Rin wasn't entirely pleased. She was blushing like crazy and tripping all over herself all because of some stupid whore-moans?
"Kind of...It's hard to explain," Kagome said lamely. "Every person wants to be loved and all that stuff and be attractive to the opposite sex. The things you're feeling when a male touches you or kisses you are either due to the hormones and the changes your body is going through or your own bashfulness. Every person reacts differently to sexual advances or flirtations. Some people embellish in it, like Miroku, while others are very shy and self-conscious, like Sango and I. It's perfectly normal to become nervous or edgy when another hits on you-"
"Hits on you?!" Rin cried, eyes wide in fear.
"I didn't mean like that!" Kagome amended quickly. "I meant like flirting, courting, etc. Not actually hitting!"
"Oh..." Rin relaxed, her face returning to normal.
"Anyway...As I was saying, it's perfectly normal if you react that way. It's just a natural reaction to something you're unused to and something that puts you on the spot, makes you the center of the attention. I wouldn't worry too much about it, Rin-chan. You should have fun while you can, flirt with people, enjoy the attention. But don't become too involved with anyone unless you're certain you can trust them and really, really care for them. Wasting a first love is always a mistake so you need to be careful. Play it smart but still have fun while you're at it. Does that answer your question?"
Rin nodded. "I think so, Kagome-chan. Thank you."
Kagome smiled and squeezed her hand. "Don't mention it. Having The Talk with you will make it easier to do it again with my daughter or Sango's daughter since that woman will be too horrorified to do it herself."
They shared a giggle and Kagome was about to return to the textbook when she thought of something. "Oh, I forgot to mention, Rin-chan. With puberty you're also get something called menstruation. It's when-"
"Oh I already know about that," Rin said with casual wave of her hand. "Kagura-sama explained it to me."
"Kagura?" Kagome couldn't quite grasp the idea of the temperamental wind youkai teaching Rin the basics of female menstruation. Kagura just didn't seem like the motherly type.
"Uh huh!" Rin nodded gaily, a smile curving the corners of her mouth.
"But...Why would she tell you that?"
"Oh, because...You know." Rin gave another wave of her hand, a small redness staining her face.
Kagome squealed loudly without warning, bouncing to her feet and grabbing Rin's hand, jerking her arms excitedly. "Rin, this is so exciting! You got your first period! Your first period! Oh my God you're growing up so fast! Already your first period! Look at you, you're a woman now! And oh my god I'm so old!"
Rin was dumbfounded at Kagome's reaction to her bleeding and watched speechlessly as Kagome prodded her own face with her fingers.
"Do I have a wrinkle?" Kagome asked beseechingly.
Mouth gaping slightly, Rin silently shook her head and Kagome let out a relieved sigh.
"Thank goodness! Time passes so fast you know? Before you know it I'll have gray hairs and wrinkles and...and other old stuff. Congratulations though, Rin-chan!" Kagome said, beaming at her.
"Congratulations she says...Has she eaten poisoned food?" Rin wondered. She didn't see how menstruation was any big accomplishment. All it had done was make her freak out and cause her discomfort. Why was it something to be happy about? Rin loathed it already.
"Anyway!" Kagome regained her equanimity and sat down on her mat, pulling the book back into her lap. "Ahem. Where were we?"
Rin just sighed.
A few hours later and Rin clomped out of the classroom, secretly glad in being away from the squealing Kagome who couldn't get over Rin's 'condition'. At least she had gotten the information she needed. She now knew what caused these reactions and that they were perfectly normal. She was just bashful and shy, hence the blushing.
But then she hadn't asked Kagome what exactly those other feelings meant. The ones that made her whole body shiver and rise with goose bumps. As if she desired something...
Rin frowned. Was that what it was? Desire? She had felt desire before: desire to be out in the field, desire to pick flowers and chase butterflies.
This desire was totally different though, one that compelled her body and made her...yearn for...something. Physical contact? Touch of flesh? What?
It didn't make any sense and even if she knew it was due to whore-moans, it didn't make her feel any better or lessen the burden weighing on her mind. Was it right to give into this debauchery? Was it right to caress this sensual, erotic fountain blooming in her hands, in her mouth, in her mind?
Animal instinct, Kagome had said. "You should have fun while you can, flirt with people, enjoy the attention. But don't become too involved with anyone unless you're certain you can trust them and really, really care for them."
"Is that so?" Rin murmured softly to herself.
Flirting was something that had never crossed her mind. She wasn't really the type to lead men on. She liked being herself and always found it demoralizing when watching other young women become kittenish air headed idiots to attract men's attentions. Why bother? If a man didn't find you suitable with your regular self then he wasn't worth the time.
With a small jolt, Rin realized what she was doting on and took a step backwards in her mind. She was thinking about meeting men and flirting for Kami's sake. She didn't have the right to think this. She belonged to Sesshoumaru, not in a sexual mating sense but she was property per say. Worrying about this was something she didn't need to do. Nothing was going to change.
That made her relax and she stood taller, proud that she had overcome that obstacle.
Throwing her shoulders back, she left the shrine and crossed the small distance needed to reach the new house of Miroku and Sango. She noticed in passing, with amusement, that Inuyasha had vacated his limb high up in the tree.
Reaching the door of the home, she knocked politely and Miroku's voice beckoned her to come in. She slid inside, making as little noise as possible.
"Houshi-sama!" she called and stepped further into the house.
She found the monk seated in the room leading to the back porch. Sango wasn't with him.
"Sango stepped out for a bit," Miroku answered her unasked question and she gave a short nod of understanding.
Sinking to sit with her legs bent at the knees underneath her, she said, "What are we doing today, Houshi-sama?"
"The Five Precepts of Buddhism," Miroku recited, grinning broadly.
She dug into her satchel, removing her writing tools as the monk shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Number One!" Miroku held up one finger extravagantly and meant to pause for effect, but actually paused in a sense of deja vu. This gesture seemed extremely familiar...Shrugging it off, he resumed. "The first precept of Buddhism is I refrain from killing living beings."
Rin wrote it down with a quirk of her lips. That rule went without saying.
"Number Two! I refrain from taking what is not given."
Rin wrote that down. That too went without saying.
"Number Three!" The fingers increased to three. "I refrain from lying, harsh speech, slander, and gossip."
No explanation needed there. Rin's brush flickered across the paper.
"Number Four! I refrain from intoxicants. And that's that."
Rin was halfway done writing the first word when she halted, staring at Miroku. "But I thought you said there were five?"
"No I didn't," Miroku protested hastily.
The answer was too quick and she peered at him suspiciously. "Yes you did. You said not five minutes ago that we were going to be learning about the Five Precepts of Buddhism."
"You must have heard me wrong."
She scratched her scalp, pondering. "No...I distinctly remember you saying there were five."
"Oh well the fifth one isn't important. Hardly anyone follows it!" Miroku said and laughed.
Rin didn't laugh with him and his laughter died gradually under her tight scrutiny. Growing uncomfortable, he chuckled half-heartedly, rubbing the back of his head. Her gaze did not waver and Miroku squirmed a little.
Several moments passed and Miroku caved in. "Fine! The last precept is I refrain from sexual misconduct! But hardly anyone follows it so it's not important!"
"Figures," Rin muttered dryly, but her eyes danced with merriment.
Miroku snorted, insulted.
Rin disregarded that, a bright idea suddenly coming to her. Who better to ask about sexual desires then the very man who had reveled in them so much? He was the very epitome of sexual cravings, the perfect applicant for solving Rin's problem!
"Houshi-sama?" she asked, a hitch in her voice.
"Yes, Rin-chan?"
"Is it true that sexual desires are just side-effects of whore-moans?"
The monk arched a dark eyebrow, confusion marring his face. "Pardon?"
"Kagome-chan was saying that sexual desires are side-effects of something called whore-moans. I was wondering if that were true or not."
Miroku blinked at her.
"Kagome-chan also said that it was better to wait until I find someone I really like before indulging in animal instincts," Rin continued. "I was curious of what exactly is desire and if Kagome is right."
She waited tentatively for his answer. Miroku blinked some more then cleared his throat.
It would have been easy for the monk had Rin been male and had he not had The Talk with Shippo and Inuyasha yesterday. The words of Inuyasha echoed in his mind, the words that made Miroku rethink his decision about telling Rin all the lecherous acts he knew concerning sexual matters.
It would be better if he treated this like another practice, but a practice with a girl. Things were going to be very different if Miroku had a daughter. He wasn't going to be able to teach her any indecent behavior and he'd be damned if he let a male such as himself get within a mile of his precious princess.
Rin was a most suitable test subject and Miroku cracked his mental knuckles to test this out.
"Well, Rin...I'm not sure what these...whore-moans are but I understand what you're referring to," he began, leaning back against the wall.
Rin watched him attentively, nodding.
"Sexual desires are things that occur when a man and woman are attracted to each other, usually physically. The attraction can sometimes start with other attributes, such as personality or a common interest but at your ago its mostly just physical stuff. When a man and woman care about each other and have feelings for the other, they tend to want to get close."
He raised both his hands, spreading his pointer and middle finger to resemble legs. Rin stared as he moved the hands close together, modeling what he was talking about.
"This closeness involves more physical touching, such as hugging, embracing, kissing, groping, things like that. The attractiveness you feel causes you to want to become more intimate. Sometimes it's lust, sometimes it's love, sometimes it's a simple fling. When you're in a relationship you'll start off casually at first, hugging, snuggling, blah blah."
Miroku's moved his hands till they were facing each other and made them rub against each other. Rin gulped, feeling a blush starting in her cheeks.
"Then you'll move onto kissing. Then onto groping. Then comes the greatest part! Sex!"
Miroku moved his hands harder and faster against each other, going "Oooh lala!"
Rin covered her mouth in horror, quickly directing her gaze to the wall. Her face was beet red.
"But!" Miroku said, stopping the motion of his hands to raise one finger in the air. "As Kagome-sama said, it is better to wait until you find someone you really like before pursuing any deep physical relationships. While it is fun to participate in, it can be dangerous and you should be cautious, especially since you're female. There are all kinds of vile men out there that will seduce you without giving a damn about you." Why do I feel like I'm talking about myself...?
"I see," Rin uttered, trying to soothe her hot visage.
"Anyway, desire is a need to become closer to someone you care a lot about. It may be closer body wise but you'll want to avoid that. Desire is a feeling that means you want to get intimate, passionate with someone. Not always for sex though. It could be cuddling, hugging, and kissing," Miroku explained. "You understand?"
Rin considered the information he had given her then nodded, the embarrassment leaking out of her. She was certainly learning a lot today. "Hai, Houshi-sama. I believe that covers everything, including the whore-moans."
"Humm yes I'll have to ask Kagome-sama about that," Miroku muttered thoughtfully. "I don't know why she told you about a whore moaning...Sounds so unlike her."
Rin made to comment but noises from outside killed the question on her lips and she looked curiously to the door leading to the back porch. A woman was laughing and she recognized it to be Sango. The other voice, a male voice, she did not recognize.
"Ah, Sango is back," Miroku said.
Rin rose to her feet to go and greet her friend, dismissing the foreign voice. It was probably just another villager escorting Sango home. She dashed to the door, pushing it open to lean out. She saw Sango standing on the back porch, approaching the door she stood in. Sango's face wasn't turned towards her, facing her yard instead, smirking delightfully.
Unable to see whom Sango was looking at, Rin stepped onto the porch, allowing the screen door to swing shut.
"Oh hello, Rin-chan! I didn't know you were here!" Sango greeted.
Rin scarcely heard her, her attention focused on the stranger. She took another step forward and his figure came into view.
Earth colored eyes swept over black clothes, sweeping from his feet to his head. He was a decent height, around six feet, and his figure was muscular and lithe. His back was turned to her and she saw brown hair tied in a short pony tail close to the top of his skull, a sickle held in his right hand. Gripping the hilt of the weapon, he threw it, slicing through a wooden target erected upright, and fluidly guided the sickle back to his palm. The target fell over, split in two.
Something sparked in Rin's brain and with an alarming clarity she conjured a name, remembered a boy protecting her from a horde of youkai in a cave, remembered the way he had stood in front of her protectively, arms spread to keep her safe.
"Kohaku?!"
She bolted down the steps as he began to turn, running past the surprised Sango. His lips were pursued in question and she stopped in front of him, drinking in the face she hadn't seen for years.
She traced his features, the large brown eyes that were but a shade darker than hers, bangs spreading across his forehead with a slight wave on the right side. He still bore the same boyish freckles that sprinkled lightly across his cheeks.
This had to be him. There was no mistaking it. Everything fit, from the facial characteristics to the weapon he bore. Although his clothes used to have a bit more color to them...
"Kohaku?!" she repeated, stepping close to him.
She was a few centimeters away from him and he stared down at her confusedly, taking in her features as she had done to him. Something tugged at his memory, someone he had forgotten somehow. Gazing at her face now, it started to come back to him, a trickling current of memory seeping into his mind's eye.
A little girl who had huddled behind him in fear, a little girl who had clutched his arm so trustingly within her own, a little girl who believed he would defend her against an army of youkai. And he had. He had told her to run.
He blinked for a couple seconds, surprised momentarily at the clearness of the recollection. Staring into her smiling visage, he said in a questioning tone, "Rin?"
She nodded so hard and fast he half expected for her neck to break. The smile spread to both corners of her mouth, her eyes gleaming.
"Wha-what are you doing here?" he asked, clearly shocked that she was indeed the child from years back.
"I come here every two weeks or so to be taught by Houshi-sama and Kagome-chan," she replied eagerly. "But what are you doing here? I didn't see you last time I was here. Where did you come from? Where have you been?"
"I came here a few days ago," he answered, his eyes wandering to where Sango stood.
She was watching them closely from the porch, observing them. Her hand touched her mouth, hiding a small smile at the young girl's reaction to her brother. She didn't entirely know the past relationship between them but apparently Rin knew Kohaku rather well. And that made her glad.
"Oh? Where have you been all this time?! I thought you disappeared. I haven't heard a word about you since I went to Sesshoumaru-sama's stronghold." She spoke rather hurriedly.
"Sesshoumaru," he echoed slowly. "Inuyasha's brother?"
"Uh huh!"
"You...live with him?"
"Yes!"
"A youkai lord? In his stronghold?"
"Yep!"
That made no sense to him. Why would a youkai, a Lord youkai no less, take in a human girl and care for her? If Kohaku remembered correctly Sesshoumaru was the one nicknamed Poker-face. How had that cold youkai become the provider of Rin? He still didn't understand that. He hadn't given it much thought either, at least not in the past. The knowledge that Rin remained with the Western Lord to this day amazed him. Who ever heard of a youkai adopting a human girl? Mating was one thing, but to take in and care for a human girl? It didn't make any sense.
Rin was talking to him, completely oblivious to his thoughts, and he tuned into what she was saying just in time for her to pop another question.
"Where have you been all this time, Kohaku? I was worried about you."
"Worried about me?" He was surprised.
"Hai! When you faced all those youkai by yourself in that cave. Did you fight them?"
He shifted uncomfortably. "They didn't bother me."
"Oh...Well, I'm glad you made it out safe! Then you disappeared for so long! Where have you been?"
"Around..."
She cocked her head. "Around?"
For some strange reason he couldn't help but notice that she no longer had that silly pigtail sticking out from the side of her head. Her coal colored hair pooled down her small frame, ending at the midst of her back. The adjustment in appearance made her look older, more mature. He rather liked the change.
"Everywhere. From coast to coast," he said mildly.
"But not here?"
He shook his head, gaze moving off her to graze across the grassy hill, the shrine, the house of his sister. "I haven't been here in six years. I recently returned."
"For Sango's baby?"
"Yes."
"Oh good! We'll have more time to talk then! Are you staying long?"
Kohaku was acutely aware of Sango watching them and carefully chose his answer. He was unsure of it himself but better to give the answer that would make both women happy. "Yes I'll be staying for awhile."
"Wonderful! It's nice to have you back and I'm glad you're safe! Why did you change your clothes though?"
He froze, eyes widening a fraction at the question. Didn't she know what it meant? Was she that naive, that innocent?
'If there is one innocent being left in this world, I'd like to see it...'
But it was not here, this was not it. This girl had faced calamity of her own. Innocent to a point but she wasn't completely untouched. There were scars beneath that sunny facade just like everyone else. She just did an excellent job of clouding it over, an excellent job of being impervious to the pain.
A voice inside a cabin beside him, a child talking..."I still see it in my dreams...Its daunting isn't it?"
He wanted to throw his head back and laugh, ask her if she still dreamt about such daunting things. That would be unfair to her. She had shared one of the darker places of her heart in an attempt to relieve and share his pain. He held his tongue.
"Rin-chan," Sango called from the porch, drawing the girl's attention off her brother and saving him the predicament of answering. "There's going to be a party tonight. Will you come?"
"Eh? A party? For the arrival of the baby or Kohaku?"
"Both," Sango smiled pleasantly, sounding amused.
"Hrmm tonight?" Rin eyed the sun, determining the time. "When tonight?"
"Sometime after sunset."
"I'm...I'm invited?"
"Of course," Sango said, perplexed that Rin asked such a thing. Rin was as close to the Shikon hunters as anyone could get without being an actual part of the group.
"I would love to go," Rin proclaimed, snaking a glance at Kohaku out of the corner of her eye. "But I'll have to ask Sesshoumaru-sama first."
A shadow shifted in the doorway and Miroku emerged into their midst, raising an eyebrow at catching sight of Rin and Kohaku standing near each other. It appeared as if they were old companions or close friends. Dismissing that for the moment, he turned to his wife.
"A party you say?" he inquired curiously, having heard from inside.
"Yes. Kagome-chan is setting it up. She thought it'd be a good idea to celebrate the baby. We just came from the shrine," Sango confirmed.
"With lots of sake?"
She gave him a dirty look. "Don't even think about it, lech."
He gave her an innocent smile. The tactic failed miserably and she narrowed her eyes at him in warning. Rin giggled.
Kohaku shoved his sickle into his belt, moving away from the small group.
"It's daunting isn't it?"
Shaking his head, he shunned the memory of a young girl's voice to the bottom of his mind. That had been a long time ago. Doubtless said young girl no longer had dreams about those daunting times. She had forgotten and moved on. Quite successfully too.
"Kohaku," a twinkling feminine voice said gently.
Apparently said young girl hadn't forgotten him. There was a patter of footfalls and she drew beside him, matching his step. He glanced at her, puzzled, but said nothing. He moved about his business and she followed alongside him.
On the porch, Sango and Miroku watched the two walk away until they were out of sight.
After a moment had passed, Miroku stated, "So they remember each other."
Sango nodded in confirmation.
"Does she know about what happened?"
Sango didn't need to ask to know what he was referring to and tightened her lips in thought. "I don't think so, not unless Sesshoumaru told her. She did say that he disappeared for a while, but I don't believe she has any knowledge of it. None of us told her and I doubt Sesshoumaru did either." She paused then said, "She mentioned something about youkai in a cave. Do you have any idea what she's referring to?"
Miroku shook his head. "The only meeting I am aware of between Kohaku and Rin was when Naraku kidnapped her. There are sure to be others though. Judging by the way they are now I'd say they were close at one time or another."
"Yes...I think it would be a good idea to leave it be. If Kohaku chooses to tell her than that's fine. The last thing we need is to create a breach between them due to past events."
Miroku merely grunted in agreement.
They ended up down by the stream that ran through the village, walking along its length. They were silent for the most part, listening to the sound of the running water, the sharp clangs of hoes in the fields, the drifting conversation of women at work, and the joyous laughter of children running pell-mell around them.
"Ne, Kohaku," Rin said eventually, "do you like the village much?"
He scrupled, taking the time to browse the area about them, taking in the many houses and huts, the fields, the stream, the women young and old alike, the children of all ages. "It's alright," he answered evasively.
"Where do you stay most of the time?"
"I never really stayed anywhere for long." He stepped out of the way of a charging six year old.
"What have you been doing all this time?"
He pondered giving her the truth. Eh why the hell not. "I was searching for Naraku mostly."
"Naraku...Oh yes, that bad hanyou who Sesshoumaru-sama helped kill."
"Hai, that one."
Rin bent down to retrieve a stick one of the children had dropped, throwing it lightly to its owner waiting hands. "Did you find anything?"
"No. He's dead." Along with my revenge.
"Ah. I'll make sure to tell Kagura-sama that. It will make her pleased."
His eyes jolted to his hairline in ravelment. "Kagura? You mean the Kagura? The wind youkai?"
"Hai." Rin looked at him funny.
Kohaku stopped in their walk to face her fully, stepping quickly backward to avoid being hit by another charging six year old. "How do you know Kagura?"
"She lives with Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin said, sounding as if he should already know this. "She's his mate."
"His mate?"
"Hai. Shortly after the death of Naraku she came to Sesshoumaru-sama's stronghold. She's been there ever since."
Kohaku made a "heh" sound of irony. "I was aware she had gone into the west but no one mentioned the ties of Sesshoumaru and her." He frowned. "I was ignorant to the fact she had any connection to him. Do you like her much?"
"Of course I do!" Rin replied, dismayed. "Kagura-sama is a very nice lady! She sometimes gets cranky and says a lot of really interesting things but everyone has their faults."
Everyone has their faults...
"I still see it in my dreams...Its daunting isn't it?"
"I see..."
He resumed their walk and she resumed walking beside him.
"Are you looking forward to the party?" she asked guilelessly.
He shrugged. "It's a nice gesture, but I'd rather have done without."
"Why?"
"Being the center of attention makes me nervous."
Rin giggled, sharing that likeness. "Me too. But it shouldn't be that bad. Sango is the one they'll be doting over."
"That's true," Kohaku confessed. He looked at her, noticing the top of her head barely came up to his shoulder. She seemed awfully fragile and small compared to him, a little thing that could be easily bruised and maimed with hardly any effort. Dainty perhaps was a better word? "What have you been doing all this time? You live with Sesshoumaru but yet you come here to be taught by the Houshi and Kagome?"
"Hai, every two weeks or so. Houshi-sama teaches me about Buddhism and other religious practices. Kagome-chan teaches me things from her time, from the future. She's also been teaching me some medical stuff along with Kaede-bachan. Sango-chan was showing me how to fight but we had to stop once she became pregnant."
"Why doesn't Sesshoumaru get one of his workers to teach you these things?"
"I like coming here." Rin turned her eyes to the shrine, smiling at the way the sun shined off the peaked roof. "It's nice to see everyone and be around humans once in a while. Besides, there are no youkai that know much religious customs and certainly none of them know the things that Kagome-chan does. The healer at Sesshoumaru-sama's stronghold is nice but he's a bit...weird."
"So you've just been learning things? Nothing exciting? Nothing new?"
She grinned. "There haven't been any big battles or anything truly eventful since Naraku passed. I went to live with Sesshoumaru-sama and that's where I've stayed. I suppose all I've been doing is learning and being tutored. I saw Kagome-chan and Inuyasha get married, that was sort of a big event. And Sango's pregnancy. Other then that, nothing."
She chewed on her bottom lip, bidding him once more. "And you? What have you been doing?"
"Traveling," he said offhandedly.
They had reached the end of the stream by now and curved their path to walk along the lines of houses, past the fields. The hoeing men ceased their activity to watch the couple, observing the jaded taijiya walking with none other than the buoyant daughter of some rich family nearby. They appeared as if they knew each other...
"I went up and down the coast looking for Naraku," Kohaku was saying. The stares of the villagers were not lost on him and he had the itching need to disappear out of sight. Unfortunately he couldn't do such a thing without arousing Rin's suspicions. "From east to west, south to north, and everything in between. I went everywhere, searched everywhere. Caves, villages, forests, plains, you name it."
"Wow," Rin whispered in awe.
"I helped villages when I could. Slew youkai, rescued damsels, stopped sacrifices, that sort of thing." He waved his hand apathetically.
"And you never stayed anywhere?" She sounded...sad.
"No. I had a goal to reach."
"Did you reach it?"
He grimaced, a pained expression flashing across his face. She tilted her head in concern. What had that just been?
"Kohaku?" she said softly.
He put on a fake grin, concealing his affliction. "You said you were coming to the party tonight?"
He was changing the subject. But why? What was he hiding? She was fairly worried about him after seeing that. Regardless, it was best not to butt into his private affairs. She hadn't seen him for years and it was really none of her business.
She opened her mouth to answer his question but was cut off when someone yelled, "Oi, Rin!"
The familiarity of the voice alerted her to who it was and she turned right as an orange blur descended beside her and Kohaku.
Kohaku eyed the newcomer a bit warily. He stepped away, putting some distance between himself and the kitsune.
"Hello Shippo-kun!" Rin greeted him cheerfully.
"Hey Rin." Shippo smiled warmly at her, then rotated his head to look guardedly at Kohaku. "What are you guys doing?"
He might as well have said 'Stay away from Rin, Kohaku' for all the friendless in that tone. What did the kitsune think he was doing to the girl? Ravaging her?
"Kohaku and I were catching up," Rin said, beaming. "Isn't it nice having him back?"
"Extremely," Shippo replied sarcastically.
Kohaku's hand curled into a fist against his thigh.
"You're coming to the party tonight, right Rin?" Shippo asked the young woman, totally unaware of Kohaku's shimmering rage.
"I hope I can, but I have to ask Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin answered.
"Well you better come! Otherwise I'll have no one to dance with."
Rin felt a blush heat her cheeks. Damn him for having this effect on her! Why'd he have to say such embarrassing things?! Right in front of others no less! "I..."
"Come in your best kimono too. We're going to impress everyone!" Shippo declared loudly.
"Uhh...okay."
Now that the kitsune had the girl's attention, Kohaku could make his escape. He wasn't running away or avoiding Rin, but he felt like a fifth wheel standing there listening to them talk about that absurd party. Unluckily he would have to attend the bothersome thing. He was the honored 'guest' after all.
He strode off without a word and Rin watched him go anxiously.
"Kohaku..."
"Don't worry about him," Shippo said candidly. "He's probably going to go brood or some nonsense. You've got another hour or two here before sunset. Wanna go fishing?"
She'd prefer continuing her talk with Kohaku; it had been such a lovely chat. That pained expression she had witnessed worried her too and she hadn't seen him in so long. He had left though and she hadn't spent any time with Shippo all day.
She smiled bravely despite her misgivings, knowing it was better to not give anything away or worry Shippo needlessly.
"Alright."
