Walking along the stream with Kin'u and Hisui, Sumiko bent down to pick up another smooth rock. Holding it up she smiled to herself.
"So pretty." She mused rubbing her thumb over it before placing it in her small basket. Her mother had sent her to the village to get something from Sango hence the basket but she reasoned a few rocks wouldn't hurt either.
As of late she enjoyed collecting the stones she could find that came in different shapes, sizes, and even colors. Standing she ran ahead to catch up with her friends as they had gone some ways from her.
"It's that weird girl." She overheard some other children say as she passed by them. Stopping she stared at them.
"She has witches eyes!" Another shouted as she watched them. "Watch out of she will curse you!"
Furrowing her brow Sumiko was confused. "I'm no witch." She replied.
"No, you're worse than a witch. You've got demon blood." A bigger boy said. "Just because your family has an herb farm doesn't mean that people like any of you."
"Shut up Haru!" Hisui said running towards them with Kin'u beside Sumiko wrapping her arm around her shoulders.
"Come on Sumiko. Lets go." She said.
"You're just a bunch of freaks. Every single one of you." Haru jeered. Clenching his fists Hisui ran at Haru trying to tackle him around his middle only to be knocked down by the larger boy.
"Hisui! Don't you hurt my brother!" Kin'u shouted letting go of Sumiko to land a fist square into the other boys jaw. Taking a step back tears formed in his eyes with his pride wounded.
"You're gonna regret that!" Using his larger frame he pushed Kin'u to the ground and kicked her hard in the stomach knocking the wind out of her.
"Stop it!" Sumiko screamed running to her friends only to be tripped by another one of the boys in the group. Falling hard to the ground she whimpered.
Haru grasped her by the hair and brought her up to him. She had never seen anyone smirk in such a malicious way it made her blood run cold. "Why you hurting us?"
"Because I can." He said with a shrug. Grinding her face down into the dirt the others laughed as one of them kicked her in the side. "Stupid babies. Come on, we'll leave the babies to run home to their mamas."
"I'm telling on you Haru!" Hisui shouted helping both his sister and Sumiko back up.
"Go ahead, tell on me! Know what I'm gonna do? I'll go to her freak fathers farm and mess up those other weird kids there." Haru retorted.
"Go for it! I dare you to with Sesshomaru there!" Kin'u yelled. "He's gonna wring your scrawny neck for hurting Sumiko!"
The other boys eyes went wide as if he just realized the potential danger he may have put himself in. Running away quickly Kin'u turned her attention to Sumiko.
Her nose was bleeding and her lip was split. The dirt was ground into her face and smeared. Taking off her hair cloth Kin'u wiped at her friends face.
"You're alright Sumiko." She soothed in a mothering tone. "We'll bring you home." Hisui grabbed her basket from the ground putting the rocks back in and the leafy greens his mother had given her.
Taking Kin'u's hand Sumiko allowed herself to be led back home. It was the same as it always was with her brother and close cousins playing together as Sesshomaru sat close by.
Her mother and Rin were busy bringing things to and from their huts while her father walked through their fields with a large barrel of water.
It was the same but Sumiko felt different. She thought about what Haru had said, the word he used…freaks. She didn't know what it meant but it hadn't sounded nice.
"Jinenji!" Kin'u called out as she dragged Sumiko over to him. Glancing down his eyes widened at the sight of his daughter.
"What happened?" He questioned placing the barrel down and lowering himself to sit. Immediately overwhelmed Sumiko burst into tears and ran to her father launching herself as he caught her in his hands.
Holding her in his arm he held her nuzzling her head with his cheek. Looking to Kin'u the older girl explained what had happened.
"Thank you both for looking out for Sumiko." Jinenji said. "I want you to stay here for now. In a while I'll take you home."
Both Hisui and Kin'u thanked him handing him Sumikos basket of items. Walking with her towards their home he purposely side stepped around Kagome as she busied herself.
Taking Sumiko inside he sat her down on her futon and inspected her face. Grabbing a cloth he wet it and gently dabbed her tiny mouth.
"I know it hurts more in your heart then the cuts on your face Sumiko." He said. "People are cruel and will treat others differently that are not the same as they are."
"Pa, was a freak?" She questioned her crystal orbs locking onto his.
"It is a mean word that people use when they want to make us feel bad but it's just a word. They can only use it against you if you let them." Rinsing the cloth he began to wipe at the dried blood under her nose.
"Where we lived before the people there were very mean to me and my Ma because of how I look, because I am different." He explained. "Do you see my arms and legs?"
"Yes Pa." Sumiko said as he pointed to his scars.
"The others attacked me from the time I was very young, humans and demons would come after me to hurt me. All of these were cuts."
"There's lots." She replied.
"Yes." He agreed. "Even though they were mean to me and wanted to hurt me I still treated them with kindness. I never let them get the best of me, I wouldn't let them put hate in my heart or bitterness."
Lifting Sumiko up to him she settled against him. "No matter what happens know that you are loved. You have a big family who cares for you and friends who would do anything for you. Do you understand sweet girl?"
"Yes Pa." She nodded her head against him.
"I love you more then anything Sumiko. I wish I could protect you for forever but I know that no matter what happens you will make the right choices even in the face of unwarranted prejudice." Holding her tightly to him he wished he could just keep her safe for the rest of his little girls life.