It's a shortie but a cutie :) Please review! :)
Chapter Eight
Amari sniffed at the breeze and jumped from her perch in a tree, leaping through the forest with a grace and ease she'd inherited from her father.
"Uncle Sesshu! Wait up!" She giggled as she chased the orb of light that was headed toward the village.
"Daaaaaaaad! Have you seen Uncle Sesshu? I saw him flying this way where is he? And I smelled Rin! But I can't find them anywhere!" She burst through the door of Sango and Miroku's hut whining.
"I thought I smelled something funky. No, I haven't seen him. Have you checked Kaede's? That's usually the first stop."
"Thanks dad!" She hugged his neck and ran off.
"Should we go see what all the fuss is about?," Miroku offered.
"Nah. He'll come find me later, bastard always does." Inuyasha took a sip of his water and stretched back out on the floor in front of the fire opposite Miroku, who was drawing up sutras.
Amari burst through the curtain at Kaede's and flung her arms around Sesshomaru's legs.
"Uncle Sesshu! I found you!," she exclaimed and he knelt, returning her hug.
"Amari, I hope you've been well?"
"Yes! I have! Hey, can I ask you something?"
"In just a moment. I need to speak with Kaede. Why don't you show Rin to your home so she can visit with your mother? When you are back, we can go for a run," he winked.
"Deal! Come on Rin, let's go!" She took Rin by the hand and led her straight out the door. The latter looking over her shoulder to glare at her mate who mouthed out a 'sorry'". Rin looked over the girl as they walked. She had long black hair but it's texture was not like Inuyasha or Kagome's, but it was silky and almost lifelike just as Sesshomaru's and their fathers. She had amber eyes and cute little dog ears on the top of her head. The little girl led her to her home.
"Momma, uncle Sesshu and Rin are here!"
"That's great news," she got up from where she was seated preparing lunch. "Hi Rin," Kagome folded her in a tight back and she hugged her back eagerly. "Where is your father?"
"With Miroku, I'm going for a run with Uncle Sesshu now, okay momma?"
"That's fine. Just be careful," she kissed her eldest daughter on the forehead and turned back to Rin. "Come on, let's get caught up," she smiled.
Amari took her time going back to Kaede's hut, allowing her uncle privacy to speak with her. Once she rounded the corner, she saw him emerging from behind the door mat.
"Uncle Sesshu!" She ran to his side. "Can we go now?"
"Of course. Walk with me to the forest?"
"Mhm," she nodded and grinned. They walked along in silence for a few minutes before curiosity got the best of Sesshomaru.
"What were you wanting to ask me earlier, Amari?"
"Ummmm...I was wondering, why does Rin smell like you now?" She peered up innocently at her uncle and he balked, not expecting that of all things to be her question.
"Because she and I are mated now."
"Mated? Is that like married? Like momma and daddy?"
"Yes, exactly like your mother and father. Except we did not have a human ceremony."
"Is she pregnant?" He almost choked on the breath he didn't realize he was holding in.
"No, not yet anyways. Why would you ask such a thing?"
"Well I thought that when dog demons mated they became pregnant..."
"Most times. But not if you are careful."
"Sooooo...when are you and Auntie Rin going to have babies?" She cocked an eyebrow at her elder and he chuckled.
"I'll let you take that up with her. Child rearing is normally at the discretion of the woman. Now...try to keep up." He took off in one long leap, a white blur ahead of her and she ran after him happily.
...
Izayoi got up from her seat by the fire, bored with Kagome and Rins conversation.
"Momma, can I go and find dad?"
"Yes honey, he should be at Miroku and Sango's."
"Thank you momma," she gave Rin one last hug before ducking out the door, kicking a rock as she walked down the road. She was really confused too. Why did Rin smell like her uncle? Why did his demonic aura surround her? There had always been a trace of his aura around her, sure. But now, it was as if he were standing in the same room. Her mother hadn't even taken notice, that's why Izayoi was searching out her father, to ask him what it all meant. She pushed back the curtain at Miroku's hut to find the monk and her father sitting opposite each other.
"Hey dad, uncle Sesshu and Rin are here," she walked in and sat between them.
"Yea I know. He at home?"
"No...running with Amari in the woods. Rin is there though. She smells funny."
"What do you mean she 'smells funny',? He turned his full attention to her and cocked an eyebrow.
"I mean she smells like uncle Sesshu..." Izayoi stated timidly, just now realizing that Inuyasha might not take this news well.
"Miroku, I'll be right back."
"Take your time," he winked, knowing what was about to happen.
Inuyasha pushed himself up off the floor and took off walking calmly through the village with his daughter on his heels.
"No...dad don't. If you go home now then momma will know that I went straight and told you and didn't tell her. Cause she doesn't know."
"Dummy, don't you think I know that," he rolled his eyes. "I'm just going to walk by the house, have a little sniff just to be sure, and go back to Miroku's."
"Promise?"
"Promise," he nodded and turned his nose up as they walked past the house. "Change of plans. Go and tell Miroku that I've went to find Sesshomaru."
"But, why?"
"Because he and Rin have mated."
"So they're like, married now?"
"Yeah. But not all the way. I'll explain it to you later." He took off in the other direction and she sighed, turning around to return to Miroku's and Sango's.
"Adults are so weird," she huffed.
...
Inuyasha sprinted through the forest following Sesshomaru's scent and knowing that he couldn't be moving that fast if he had Amari with him.
"Sesshomaru! Come on out you bastard! I know what you did!"
"What on earth are you blabbering about now, little brother?" Sesshomaru appeared, perched on a branch with Amari on his shoulder grinning.
"Hey dad! You found us!" She waved.
"Amari, go home. I need to talk to your uncle."
"But dad! About what?"
"Amari. Go. Home."
"But I already know that Uncle Sesshu and Auntie Rin are married," she stated matter of factly and Sesshomaru closed his eyes for a brief moment, stilling himself before dragging them back open.
"Sesshomaru what is she talking about?"
"I have taken Rin as my mate, there's nothing else to explain."
"Explain why you didn't finish the job then? You've claimed her, but not marked her," he narrowed his eyes at his elder brother.
"Amari, I believe your father is right. You should return home. We will be along shortly."
"Yes, uncle Sesshu," she pouted and dropped her head before leaving.
"Inuyasha. I do not appreciate my actions being questioned. But nevertheless, there is a very good reason I have not marked her yet, I assure you."
"Oh yeah, what is it then?"
"I can't tell you until I've discussed it with Rin. I just found out myself yesterday. Originally she wanted to speak with Kagome before being marked. But now, I'm not sure I will allow it until I can assure her safety."
"As long as you know what you're doing. And as long as you didn't just claim her as a sex slave or some shit."
"I would never disgrace Rin in that way, watch your tongue before I rip it out." He lept from his perch, fist connecting with Inuyasha's face on the way down. "Now, let's go. I promised Rin there would be no fighting. So I won't even bother drawing my sword on you," he said over his shoulder as he was walking away. Inuyasha walked a distance away from him for a while, until they'd both cooled off, and then fell back into step with his older brother.
"I just don't see what's so unsafe about it. Yeah it'll hurt like a bitch for a few minutes, but it goes away pretty quick."
"You'll see, Inuyasha" he murmured mysteriously as they walked toward the village.
