Sesshomaru watched from a distance.
He could hear the rumors that spread through the village, All expected that the little girl he had left in the care of his brother and his little group of friends protection he left here just so that when she was older he could present her with the choice of going with him again and becoming something more to him.
'He will take her for his wife.'
'She will make him a fine wife when she grows up.'
'Every Time he visits he brings her a beautiful courting gift.'
'Be sure to keep your sons away from her, she belongs to that demon lord.'
It sickened him to hear these things and it took everything in his power sometimes not to lay waste to the village. Hearing their twisted and disturbing views of him and his intentions. Little do they know that they are all wrong. The little girl that he left in this village is his child and it is safer for her here than with him in his lands. He doesn't want any harm to come to her. She has already died twice there would not be a third time for her to come back and the next time she dies he will ensure that it will be of old age and only of old age she will live a happy life.
He watches as Rin runs in the field with Kohaku following behind her with a smile on the boy's face he had seen over the time when they traveled how the two bonded and how close they came. Both had suffered so much at such young ages fate had dealt them both a cruel hand. Rin was his child and Kohaku was her closest confidant and her shoulder to lean on in a time of need.
The boy was good for her, He offered her something that Sesshomaru had not quite understood how to at the time. Compassion and overall a gentle and caring nature. Sesshomaru himself had learnt a lot from them both; it was amazing how he himself had been in this world for centuries already and had so much to learn and he was still learning. For the longest time he had thought that humans were beneath him; they were nothing but an insect that he could step on at any time he chose to.
Instead he was humbled by a child that he came to care for as his own with. She was so small the day he first met her she was so insistent on trying to help him in his time of need she showed hesitation at first but he saw when the need to help had won over the hesitation. That of course had left him covered in water as she had decided the best way of getting it to him was by dumping it all over him. There was something about her innocence that called to him and when he had healed enough he lamented that he might not see the strange human child again that had attempted to take care of him in a way that none other had.
She had seen him at his weakest and he had seen her at her moment of weakness as she had laid broken and bloody on the ground lifeless. Before then he had seen her bruised and beaten and still she had found it possible to attempt to care for him. The strength that he seen in her that was hidden beneath the exterior had given him pause and made him want to give her life. It was a test he told himself to see if the tenseiga would work, that was a lie. It was to repay her for her kindness and compassion she had shown when trying to help him heal, that was also a lie.
The reason he had paused when smelling her blood on the air reminded him that no matter what all things were vulnerable to an extent he was not above the humans that he looked down upon.
He revived her.
He waited to hear the heart that once beat pump again on a baited breath.
Waiting to hear that little body take a breath of air again.
It felt like an eternity before he heard a faint pump of her heart, the gasp of a breath before soulful brown eyes opened and looked at him full of awe and question.
It was at that moment looking into those brown eyes he felt the stirring in his blood telling him that she needed protection.
He had brought her back to life.
He had given her a second chance at life.
He would give her the opportunity at that moment to choose to follow him or to stay behind with the humans of her village that used her as their own personal punching bag. If she chose to stay he would ensure first to strike fear into their very hearts before they even considered to lay a finger on her in harm. No innocent child or not deserved that he would not see her bruised, broken, and harmed again.
However, if she chose to follow him he would ensure that she would be capable of taking care of herself no matter what. He was a demon and demons did not coddle their young it didn't matter the age he was not sure how humans raised their young but he would do what he could to help this small human child be prepared for the world for it was cruel and unforgiving he had learned that at a young age.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" He was brought out of his thoughts of the past by the sweet voice of that same child he was thinking about.
Standing before him were two young adults with a smile on their faces seeing her bright smile brought a small squeeze of happiness to his heart.
"Rin, Kohaku." He nodded in acknowledgement to the two youths before him no more were they the children he had provided protection to. Rin had grown into a beautiful young woman it had made him proud to see her as such. The fact that life had been stolen from her twice at such a young age yet she stood in front of him clutching the hand of the equally gangly, and scrawny young slayer who had helped teach her to be strong and independent she had flourished in this village with which he had left her in.
She now knew the basics of being a healer due to the elder Miko, she knew the basics of math, reading, and writing from the other Miko Kagome who honestly was never interested in the title miko and didn't care too much to be addressed as one. From the slayer Kohaku and his sister Rin was taught the basics of fighting to protect herself from demons and humans alike. Honestly leaving her here to learn was one of the best things he could have ever done for the girl that in a way he saw as his own.
He knew that this time would come eventually as he took the hands that linked them together. His daughter had finally chosen her path; he was not surprised he had watched her as a youth over the years as she grew into the young woman he was now standing before him. A small jolt of sadness mixed with happiness shot through his heart as he saw them, his eyes landing on the deep brown's of Kohaku.
The slayer boy was a wise choice; he was strong, honorable, and would ensure that Rin would want for nothing.
Kohaku smiled sheepishly bowing a little deeper than necessary, he had attempted to release his hand from Rin's grasp but she tightened her grip on his. With a defiant til of her chin that she had gotten from none other than Sesshomaru himself he watched as her eyes hardened looking at him she squared her shoulders.
"Sesshomaru-sama," Rin began before being cut off.
"I wish to take Rin as my wife." Came Kohaku's strong voice as he squeezed the petite hand in his. Kohaku stood strong and met his eyes as he spoke. Sesshomaru approved.
Standing silently while looking at the young couple for a few moments, Sesshomaru finally decided to end the silence with a brief but quick. 'Do as you please.'
The pair, knowing Sesshomaru as they did, smiled brightly while bowing deeply. Rin dropped the hand that she had held like a vice while waiting for an answer threw herself upon the demon lord that she had come to look upon as her savior, guardian angel, and father over the years. She herself had heard the whispers over the years and also had found them to be disturbing but at this moment they didn't matter as she wrapped her arms around the demon lord and she felt his hand come to rest on her head as usual she knew he cared for her and viewed her as a daughter but had a hard time showing his feelings.
Gently pulling away from the stiff body of the demon she hugged she looked up holding back the tears in her eyes Rin smiled again then stood on her tiptoes planting a soft kiss on the demon's cheek and whispered for his ears alone.
"Thank you papa." When Rin pulled away she could see in those amber eyes the emotion that so many mistook for cold, unforgiving, and aloofness shining though. She placed a hand on his forearm and squeezed letting him know that she understood the words that he could not say aloud with a soft but small smile.
Rin turned to Kohaku, giving a bright smile which was returned. He held his hand out to her which was gratefully taken and they walked off into the sunset to the village that had become home to them.
From the trees came a small crack of wood as Kagome emerged from the shadows.
"I always knew they would end up together." She said to the demon lords back.
"Hn." came her reply as he pivoted on a heel to match those bright blue eyes.
"If you want to talk about it i'm always available." she smiled at him before he took to his cloud and headed to the west.
His pup may have found a mate but his job as a parent would never be done. She was always going to be his child no matter her age or what it was she did. He considered the words of the young woman he left behind as he flew him.
He didn't need to talk about it. His child was spreading her wings and no matter what he would always be there to catch her and her mate if they ever needed him because that was what a parent should do.
He smiled to himself as he himself sailed into the distance.
~FIN~