Chapter Fourteen New Life
Kagome came into the clearing only to find Rin leaning on the two headed dragon for support, her hazel eyes filled with tears and a red flush to her pale cheeks. For a moment Kagome didn't know what to say, she'd never been in a situation like this were she was asked to care for someone, or become some ones guardian. Somehow this was vastly different.
"Rin?" she called out as she approached. The young woman didn't acknowledge her for a moment instead she was starring off into the path to the left of her. With a sigh Kagome understood and closed the gap between them and put a gentle hand on the young woman shoulder, with a gentle squeeze.
"Its ok I understand, come on lets get you inside. I have a nice hot stew cooking and some tea I think you might like". She offered. Rin nodded mechanically and turned to follow her pulling A-Un's reins with her. It took Kagome a minute to get used to the dragon, it seemed nice enough but she did recall a few times the beast was used to attack them. But if Rin was fond of it surely it couldn't have been all that bad.
Minutes later they stood before the small hut and Rin hadn't said one word. Her hazel eyes scanned around taking in her new surroundings and she couldn't help but marvel at how small her new home was, in comparison to her old one. It was a night and day difference. But it was no more than what she had lived in as a child, her home as a child before Sesshomaru was a shack. Barely held together with wood and loose timber. She had indeed been a lucky child to have come across the demon, and for the first time she wondered what her life would have been like had she never met him.
Kagome was about to pull back the thatch when she noticed Rin tugging on A-Uns reins. Of course, just where would they put the dragon, she had only been expecting the girl not a two headed dragon the size of three horses! "Oh my, hmm I don't know where we can put him Rin, I didn't know he was coming". She said as she looked around. No farmer in the village would allow a demon to board in his stable. They were more likely to kill him in the night with pitch forks than allow him to stay.
"I didn't either". Muttered Rin with a soft smile as she patted the dragon affectionately. Kagome was pleased to hear her speak, she knew this had to be one of the most upsetting things to ever happen to her, but she would do her best to make the girl feel welcome. And pull her out of her feelings of depression and abandon. Kagome smiled," Well then I guess he will just have to sleep inside with us tonight!"
"W-what really…you mean you wouldn't mind?" asked Rin in shock.
"No of course not, none of us will mind…really. Come on lets get inside, its getting cold out here ya know. Winter on the way and all…."
Rin smiled again and followed her new guardian inside the small hut. She couldn't imagine how they were all going to fit inside there tonight. However it was sure to be much warmer the more space was occupied. Kagome pulled back the heavy thatched and proceeded inside holding the mat door open for the girl and dragon. Once inside Rin was amazed that the hut wasn't as small as she'd have thought and she moved further in removing her shoes and quickly securing A-Un a place on the dirt floor in the far left corner. The dragon flopped down with a huff but otherwise appeared quite comfortable. The hut was empty save for the three of them, and there was a warm fire stirring and a pot of sweet stew or soup atop it.
"Please go make yourself comfortable Rin"
"Thank you Miss Kagome". Came Rin's respectful reply as she proceeded up into the hut and sat down on a cushioned futon. Kagome had to laugh a bit, she was glad to hear the girl speak and was taken aback a minute by the level of respect she had for others. "You can call me by my name, there's no need for such formalities. We're going to be good friends ok, like sisters?"
Rin just nodded in her direction. It would take her sometime to get used to calling anyone by their first name like that; she'd only ever called one person by name so openly. And that was Adori. With everyone else in her lord's household it was formality after formality that was just the way her lord ran his house. And as his ward she obeyed. This new life with the priestess would be much more toned down in a great many things. As she glanced around the hut and marveled at how utterly simple it was she couldn't imagine how people lived this way. But then again she was no princess; she was just like these ordinary people. Who lived in ordinary villages, going about their lives from day to day.
In that moment she started to feel contempt for herself, she'd never thought of herself as better than anyone. Where had these thoughts come from. Kagome seemed to be arranging some baskets that were lying near A-Un before she started to relax and sat down across from her on another futon. Her dark brown eyes briefly glanced toward a third futon that seemed scarcely used and issued a deep sigh before preparing two bowls of her famous soup.
A second later the thatched door came open with a start and a very disgruntled Inuyasha stood in the doorway letting in a good gust of cold air. Kagome shivered and shot him an angry look, and Rin was just spellbound. Now that she was away from her lord, seeing the half demon who was his brother startled her for a minute. But for the shock of red from his haori she would have sworn that her lord had come back. But his ears swiveled atop his head and there was a very noticeable scowl on his face. The fantasy ended. Inuyasha stood there a minute sniffing at the air before his cool golden eyes fell on Rin, and he almost scowled again, not necessarily at her, but the way she smelled. Dismissing it he walked inside and that's when he noticed the dragon.
"What….Kagome what the hell is that doing here?" he demanded before taking a seat on the floor right beside the unused futon. Kagome ignored him and prepared three cups of hot tea handing one to Rin and then one for herself. She hesitated before leaning forward to give him his cup, so undeserving of it.
"I dint know you were so rude and ill mannered Inuyasha, we have a guest and you don't even bother to say hello. Really…."
He huffed and folded his arms before looking at Rin, his eyes lacked compassion and he practically glared at her before speaking. "Hello Rin". he bit out, gods she stank of his brother. He couldn't stand this close proximity to that demons smell, and the way she smelled….like a mix of heat and his brother. There had been something strange that went on when last they met, for she reeked of his body. That's what was setting him off the most. The fact that his brother was a hypocrite, having done something with this human girl that he swore he'd never do.
Rin recalled then as a child that Inuyasha was brazen and loud, that was one of the reasons her lord always stated he despised in him. She'd had no reasons herself for hating him, he'd never done anything to her. Only once, did she recall feeling true fear of him and that was due to his possession by that evil sword. But it hadn't been his fault, and he couldn't have known how he almost died that day if he had really harmed her as her lord once told her.
With a smile she looked up at him taking in his features and understanding that though he was loud and insensitive, there was something endearing about him. "Hello Lord Inuyasha". she answered only realizing she'd spoken so formally again. Kagome smiled and giggled a little before reminding her again that such formality was a thing of the past. But Inuyasha was caught most of guard by her words and his ears flattened.
"Looks like my brother hit you once to many times over the head girl, I aint no lord. So don't call me that….ok?" his tone went soft towards the end and Rin couldn't help but smile at him again before she sipped her tea. A flush came to her face when she tasted it, it was unlike any tea she had ever had. It tasted of something….she couldn't quite place her finger on. That's when her mind went over the half demons words. Her lord had never harmed her….well save for one thing. And she prayed her heart was not broken as she had read in stories of love.
"You are mistaken L-…Inuyasha. Lord Sesshomaru never harmed me not once." she stated blankly as she let her hazel eyes drift toward the fire and take in the exotic beauty that was the crackling flame. The half demon scowled and noticed that Kagome seemed uncomfortable, knowing him that he was going to say something outrageous and destroy the peace of the evening.
"Hmph, then why did he just dump you here, and smelling like him heavily. You sure he didn't cross the line and then regret it! Dumping you here to---"
"Inuyasha sit!" came Kagomes quick command and the demon face vaulted. Rin jumped back a minute, she'd never seen anything quite like that. The beads around his neck began to glow and then there was a warm light before he was taken down. It all happened so fast, but her mind was still caught on his words. The way he'd spoken them….there was some truth to it. Her lord had just dumped her there even after he'd kissed her, and the way he'd kissed her. She'd have allowed much more if he would have been willing. Just what did that kiss mean….she'd never know.
She was to broken inside to cry to numb to really feel the sting in his words so she just sat there and Kagome launched forth with a string of apologies in the half demons defense. "I'm so sorry Rin, sometimes he just doesn't think and is irrational. I promise he wont say such rude things again….will you Inuyasha?" she chimed now standing up and looking down at him. There was a muffled sound coming from the floor but it was most unintelligible as he spoke.
Rin only nodded and gave a weak smile. She could get used to the half demon, but would he ever get used to her. With a sigh she doubted it, there was just to much about her presence that she knew would always irritate him. And the same could be said of the half demon, he was at a glance so like his brother. Whose face she wanted to forget for a while but every time she saw Inuyasha she was dragged back into the memory all over again.
There would be hard days up ahead.
Later that night Rin lay sleeping on a soft rolled out futon Kagome had provided, it was far softer than anything she'd ever slept on save her own bed back at her lords estate. She nuzzled her head into the pillow and took in the scent of fresh washed linens but couldn't drift off to sleep. Her mind was all over the place, and she never really could sleep easily when in the company of strangers, though she didn't want to seem so rude as to call Kagome and Inuyasha as such. But still.
Turning over in her futon she faced the fire and noticed that Kagome had long since fallen asleep and was releasing the softest of snores. A-Un was also asleep as both his heads were laying down on the cool floor and soft whimpers could be heard emanating from deep inside his throat. The fire was still crackling slowly and she took a deep breath, before looking in the direction of the half demon. He was leaned against the far wall, away from his futon. Arms folded, legs crossed a sword leaning against his right shoulder. How like her lord he was, sleeping there stonily and yet even in sleep ready and poised for a fight should it happen. The demons words earlier still weighed heavily on her mind try as she might to ignore them or shove them away. And there was some truth in them, her lord had sent her away from him because he feared loving her and all that that entailed, but most of all she concluded it was her humanity.
Her humanity was what she knew he seemed to care for and love though he would never admit. It was also the very thing he hated about her, this love hate. How she wished that he could get over his own prejudices and self hate, and see her for person she was. Not a human and certainly not a demon but just her. She sighed again and lay there staring into the embers of the fire.
Inuyasha cracked a lid and his ears swiveled in her direction, he knew she wasn't asleep and hadn't slept at all for many hours now. He was tired himself but he never did sleep much and when he it was never very well. Golden eyes watched her as she stared off into the fire. The scent of his brother was slowly starting to fade as the hours went by and so he supposed he could tolerate her, as long as she did not smell like him.
"You should get some sleep". He muttered as he leaned back into the wall and half stretched. Rin turned to look up at him suddenly, caught of guard. He was still awake?
"I'm really not very tired…..but I'll try…" she whispered.
"All the same do it; I can't afford to protect another human wench if she won't get proper rest". He said icily. Rin gasped what had he said. "Milord asked only Kagome to look after me; you don't have to worry about me". She replied with slight cheer in her voice. It warmed her to hear such things, and yet it did not. She was beginning to get her fill of dog demons and their supposed protection.
"Suit yourself". He replied angrily and leaned back to attempt to get some sleep. Rin just stared at him and tried to figure him out, confused by him altogether.
TBC…
Sorry for the long update…school and all :)