A/N: This chapter is a segue, so it isn't as long as the last few have been. They will get longer again, promise
Chapter 14:
Sesshomaru's sword fell as his nose caught the scents on the wind. Rin was closer than she should be, if she were in the human's village. The humans were somewhere through the trees. They had quit when they had seen how pitiful their efforts were in comparison to his and were currently discussing means of returning to the village, because they were certain that he would watch out for youkai.
They were in his way.
Rin was definitely too close. What was she doing? Striking down the last foe he turned, making his way back towards the hut where Shaya had been left bound and protected.
The door was open. He nearly felt like cursing. The monk was weaker than he had thought if Shaya could…no, Rin's scent was here, on the door and inside the hut. He could smell no injury however. Where had those two gone now? He should put a lease on those two and attach it to AhUn. At least the dragon had sense. He followed the trail that winded through the forest, smelling like Shaya had carried Rin, for after some distance the child's scent became faint.
"Shaya." He stopped at the cave where he could easily smell them. The onna had lost her senses. In heat, kidnapping Rin to bring the child here? It was good that the girl usually carried Shaya's scent because if she hadn't the fool might have struck at his ward. He heard a low growl echoing from inside the cave and narrowed his eyes.
He imagined that her instincts had been carried over to protecting a "pup" with as humanized as she seemed to be. If that was indeed what the onna was doing then she would not understand his need to separate her from Rin, for the child's own good. And his own male scent was sure to infuriate her beyond much else, if she was as progressed into her cycle as he thought. How curious. Perhaps the best way to hasten this nonsense from her blood would be to allow her-
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin's voice cheered, but a strong hand kept her from rushing out towards him. Pulling her back Shaya lowered herself into a crouch, snarling rather impressively at him. Rin gasped in surprise. "Shaya, stop! That is Sesshomaru-sama!"
Shaya's blood in her ears would be the only thing that she could hear at the moment. But he could not lower himself to fight her, humorous that it might be, when Rin would be left unattended in that small cave. "Peace Rin." Shaya believed him to be the threat not she.
"What's wrong with Shaya?" Rin glanced up from where Shaya had pushed her behind her leg. "She won't talk to me."
"Back away Rin." The onna was not very far from launching herself at him and it would not do to have Rin within reach. Nodding Rin stepped back slowly from Shaya and just within sight inside the shadows of the enclosure.
And so she did. He was surprised by her speed but nowhere near where it would allow him to be hit. Stepping aside easily he caught Shaya's wrist, throwing her hard into the nearest tree. Quickly he twisted her arm towards her back, pinning her easily. Through her snarls he could hear Rin's feet pattering on the cave floor as she peered outside. "Sesshomaru-sama?"
Shaya was attempting to push away but he held her firmly against the tree. Her other hand scratched her claws deep into the wood. "Why is Shaya angry with you Sesshomaru-sama? Rin doesn't understand!"
"She is in heat," he said simply. Allow Shaya to answer her questions further when she was free from this.
"What's heat?" Rin came closer, and he could feel her hand on the back of his knee. Shaya continued to struggle against him but her other hand could not reach him and she growled from frustration. Her scent was as progressed as he had thought it would be. She was entering it as Rin spoke, or very nearly. "Why is she so angry at you and not at Rin? Did Sesshomaru-sama have a fight with her?"
"I am male, and you are but a child." Rin seemed satisfied, leaning back on her heels. Shaya's foot was attempting to kick at him but his armor was more than worth its weight in its protection.
If there was a way of inducing her cycle, then there was probably a way of ending it as well. His mind whirred as he remembered everything that he had been taught of women. Female heat lasted several days for all its intensity and it occurred quite infrequently. The lack of inuyoukai in the land nowadays could probably find reason in that, somewhere. His problem existed with the very interested onna now.
"Sesshomaru-sama?" There was another tug at his leg and he glanced down. Rin beamed up at him and suddenly he could feel her embracing his knee. "Rin is very happy that Sesshomaru-sama has returned." He returned to his pondering as Shaya's hair ghosted over his hand during her struggles, enveloping his hard grip on her wrist in red silk. Her whining was not helping.
"Rin, follow a few feet behind." The girl released him, nodding obediently with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Yes Sesshomaru-sama!"
Shaya had gone still in the last few moments, presumably from not being able to escape. But she glanced back over her shoulder and he nearly snarled at the sudden twinge in her scent. Enough of this. Pulling her away he spun her around, hoisting the onna over his shoulder. It was the most sensible way to carry her or he would not have done it.
Her scent wrapped around him, and he was privy to her wiggling on his shoulder. Arousal deep and thick wafted from her and she released a small growl of pleasure at their contact. Want.
She had certainly made the transition. Shaya had desired the human male earlier out of a desire to force him to submit, but now it seemed that her blood was searching for a more…threatening target. It was unfortunate for her that he was more than strong enough to resist her little antics. He ignored the hands dipping into his armor in favor of hitching her higher onto his shoulder, disrupting her for a moment. He was more than surprised to hear her groan though.
He could spot the village. "Rin, return to Inuyasha and his humans. I shall return later." Rin gave him a little wave before running off, only pausing long enough to yell a message to him. "Be careful with Shaya, Sesshomaru-sama! I think she's acting weird."
Indeed. Once Rin had disappeared within the huts he shifted his attention back to the onna now twisting his hair around her fingers. He was very unhappy with that. "Onna, you will control yourself." He was only greeted with more movement of her hips and a feminine little sigh against his back.
AhUn lifted their heads when he approached and made a sound of welcome. Dumping the onna nearby he walked to the saddle. He doubted that she would be going anywhere if she dared to touch him as she had. Shifting his eyes back he had been correct, and she was rising off the ground, but she did not run. He lifted a bag and emptied the contents into his hand, smelling the different herbs.
Which would soothe that wild blood of hers? Or at least pacify her until she was herself once more.
He jerked minimally at feeling her arms snake around his waist and her weight at his back. She was rumbling again and he quickly moved out of her grasp with a wide turn, startling her. "Eat." She barely glanced at his open hand before her eyes returned to his face. He held out a few of the more recovering herbs and she pushed aside his hand.
He kneeled down while he held her shoulder down, quickly pinning her torso with his knee. He outweighed her by quite a measure and he quickly ordered her by way of growl that she was to eat them. Focusing for only a moment was long enough for him to drop them into her snarling mouth and clamp his hand down.
OoO
"Shaya? Hey Shaya!" Rin's beaming face leaned over her.
Her skull felt like it was on fire and Rin leaned down to pat her on the cheek gently. "Are you awake Shaya? Master Jaken said that you wouldn't wake up for a while…hey, are you listening?" Her eyes fluttered closed for a minute as she registered that she was moving, and it made her feel a little ill.
Wait. Jaken? Opening her eyes again she peered up at Rin, who giggled at something. "Sesshomaru-sama was tired of waiting around so we decided just to bring you with us while you slept. You're ok though, because Sesshomaru-sama said so! And Master Jaken has been very quiet, which is very strange for him and Rin has had no one to talk to!"
What? Jaken? Jaken was with them? And she was moving…so Sesshomaru had come back. And…
Oh no. She'd…and Sesshomaru had…but Miroku…She could feel her face flush bright red even at the faint, hazy memories of what she must have done. And that overwhelming feeling of…Oh my. She'd completely humiliated herself in front of Sesshomaru and his brother's friends.
"Shaya? You're still feeling sick? That's ok. Rin will wait to talk. Shaya didn't seem to understand me earlier when we were talking so we can just wait. Don't worry!"
When she woke she could feel cool grass on her face and the distinct smell of open, free air. Sesshomaru's scent, Rin's, Jaken's?, "Rin?" She could hear movement and then the very strong scent of flowers. At least the snow was gone, she didn't have to think about that. Hair tickled her face and she opened her eyes to see the little girl nearly nose-to-nose with her.
"Gah!" she nearly screamed in surprise, and Rin reared back.
"Sorry Shaya! Rin did not mean to scare you!" She sat up, blowing at the hair falling into her face. "Is Shaya ok again?" There was a tugging at her sleeve and she looked. Rin was watching her with a concerned little look on her little face and Shaya sighed, lifting her up to sit in her lap. Rin let out a squeal of pleasure that made her wince, and her arms wrapped around her waist.
"Shaya's back!" Rin giggled against her stomach. She could remember something about Rin coming out to find her out in that hut the monk had locked her in. Poor little Rin had seen her acting…well, not very much like herself.
"Hey Rin baby," she sighed.
"I missed you Shaya." Rin mumbled against her stomach. "And I'm very glad that you are ok. Kagome-sama told me that you were sick and Rin felt bad that Shaya was sick."
She really was too much of a sweetheart. "That's very kind of you Rin. I'm…myself, again."
Rin giggled. "Shaya took Rin and sat in a cave, like she was a momma doggy and Rin was a little puppy that had been lost. It was very funny Shaya." Her own cheeks went pink as she could recall the overwhelming…instinct that had overcome her. She'd been propelled to find somewhere that she felt safe in, with the little human girl that had so much of her own scent. At least she hadn't hurt her. "And you growled and petted Rin and tried to protect Rin from Sesshomaru-sama!"
Well, at least Rin thought that it was funny. She heard a snort from her side, and looked to see Jaken trying to duck down behind a fire. Jaken had been allowed back? She was surprised. But she didn't feel anywhere near that lucky, to push her luck with Sesshomaru and try to ask him about Jaken right now. Glancing out of the corner of her eye she noticed the still taiyoukai lounging against a tree nearby, gazing off at something in the forest.
She really should apologize. He had found a way to get her out of that…ah, situation. Rin was still giggling into her stomach and Jaken seemed to want to stay beneath Sesshomaru's notice. Why was he here anyway? Let it go Shaya, she told herself.
"Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked nervously. His eyes moved slowly to rest on hers, as calm and bored as they always seemed to be. At least he hadn't abandoned her with that brother of his. "Thank you." He continued to watch her for a few moments before returning to gazing at whatever he had before.
Well, he hadn't insulted her at least. Rin was tugging on her kimono again and she looked down. "Do you think that we could have some breakfast now Shaya? You slept through yesterday afternoon and all of last night, do you remember? You didn't answer last night, but Rin knew that you were still sleepy. Aren't you hungry too Master Jaken?"
Jaken gave a short nod, and Shaya's eyes fell to the Staff that rested in his hand again. At least he'd kind of made up with Sesshomaru. Or, she hoped so. "I will find something," Jaken went scurrying off to find breakfast.
A/N: Rin seems to be thinking about mothers a lot, doesn't she?