Disclaimer: This piece is based on 'Inuyasha', owned by Rumiko Takahashi. No copyright infringement intended or implied.
Mother's Gift
She had this curious habit of saying 'thank-you,' when he fulfilled her physical needs, or when he simply allowed her to do as she pleased.
He didn't understand her habit.
It was a human thing.
Wasn't it?
He understood it was 'gratitude': an emotion that caused humans to feel they must utter that phrase.
But, it was not an emotion he had ever felt.
Gratitude? For what? To be born what he was, who he was? For the existence of a bastard half-brother? For the 'gift' of a sword that could not be used as a weapon, until he learned to feel--to feel!--compassion?
But, what was this--feeling, as his hand, not quite trembling, touched the side of Rin's face, combing gently through her hair, as she opened her eyes and touched his hand with hers? She was alive. Again. He had felt the unexpected coldness in his gut as she lay there, stiff and dead. Those feelings--what were the words? Grief? Loss?
Part of him had wanted to transform and howl his loss to the very skies.
Not that he would.
But, now, this.
His mother's gift.
Rin was alive.
The cold within was gone, replaced by ... warmth.
His mother was a most annoying person. Almost as bad as his father.
He would never admit aloud what he felt at that moment, even if he figured out exactly which words might best describe it.
But, he would not punish Jaken for saying 'thanks' to her.
Author's Note: This drabble was written for the Inuyasha FanFic Contest community on LiveJournal, in response to the prompt, "Thanks". It was originally published on December 1, 2009. It won the contest.