Shards, Miko, Hanyou, and Daiyokai
Update: This story has been updated as of 1/18/20.
**I will also be including the ages of all involved in this story in the next chapter. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention that I had yet to mention anyone's age.**
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for the reviews. I am glad that you like my story so far.
This chapter is going to be told in Kagome's POV.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
*I decided to change up the original storyline a little bit. Please bear with me.*
Chapter 3:
After Sesshomaru left for the Western Fortress, I took the children to Kaede's hut. Kaede, Sango, and Miroku were sitting around the fire they had built in Kaede's hut to make breakfast. Sango and Miroku were still eating when we came in.
"Good morning, Kagome," Sango greeted me with a smile on her face.
"Good morning, Lady Kagome," Miroku greeted with an eyebrow raised.
"Ye seem to have stumbled upon a child outside," Kaede looked at me curiously.
"Good morning, Sango and Miroku. Yes, Sesshomaru left Rin in my care for the day," I answered.
I sat the two children down next to the fire. They sat close together, knees nearly brushing. Rin is much larger than Shippo I note to myself, but I doubt that will last forever.
"Rin, have you eaten breakfast?" I asked the young girl.
"Yes, lady Kagome," Rin answered cheerfully.
I fixed Shippo's breakfast before handing it to him. I fixed my own portion soon after and started to eat.
"He left Rin in your care for the day, Lady Kagome? Has something happened at the Western Fortress?" Miroku asked with concern after I had settled into my spot.
"Oh, no. Everything is fine as far as I know. Of course, if something were wrong, he more than likely wouldn't let me know about it anyways. He and I made a deal of sorts that I need to speak with all of you about," I respond casually.
"And what deal would the Lord of the West make with ye, Kagome?" Kaede asked with a curious glint in her gaze as she looked at me.
"Shippo, could you take Rin and go outside? Do not go too far away from this hut. Do you understand?" I turned to look at Shippo as I asked.
"Of course, Kagome. We will not wander too far," Shippo said as he grabbed Rin's hand and led her outside.
I watched them leave the hut and felt their auras settle a little way away from the hut most likely playing with the flowers again. Once I knew about where they were, I turned back to my friends and answered Kaede's question.
"Sesshomaru asked me to teach Rin how to be human in return for teaching me how to properly fight. I told him that I would have to speak with all of you about it. I know Inuyasha wouldn't be too pleased to have his brother so close longer than necessary, but I want to help Rin. I think Sesshomaru is genuinely concerned for Rin because he cannot properly teach her what she needs to know. I would like to learn how to properly fight and defend myself as well. We can only guess what Naraku has in store for us now that he's no longer around. He purposely made sure that we would not have the completed jewel at his death," I tried to appear nonchalant as I spoke but secretly I was worried about their reaction to the news I shared with them.
"It was kind of Lord Sesshomaru to offer to teach you how to properly fight. I am not sure how to respond to him wanting you of all people to teach Rin how to be human. You are part of his brother's group. We know that he always talks of his distaste of humans, with the exception of Rin. It seems as though he has taken a liking to you, Kagome," Miroku answered with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"I agree with Miroku. He has been traveling with us these last few moons and hasn't expressed any interest in asking you to teach Rin until now. I wonder if it's because the jewel isn't completed that he decided to ask you now before you make the wish," Sango wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure of his intentions to tell the truth. He is honorable, so I didn't think he was trying to be sneaky or do anything to harm me or Rin. In fact, he would be putting himself in the position of taking care of our group for the sake of protecting Rin. We know Inuyasha will not be happy to have Rin traveling with us," I answer before laying down on my back with arm over my eyes, " I asked Sesshomaru to speak with Rin about it to make sure she is comfortable with the arrangement because she will have to be closer to me in order for her to learn. I'm sure she hasn't learned what changes her body will go through as she becomes older. I also worry for Shippo as well. We know he thinks of me as his mother figure. I worry how he will take it as well."
Not to mention that Inuyasha isn't around which leads me to believe that he is with Kikyo, I tack on in my mind. I noticed she had left after the battle yesterday. I figured Inuyasha would go after her. I truly don't care if he is okay with Sesshomaru and Rin being around, but I don't want to deal with unnecessary drama when it comes to him. I've had a crush on him since not long after I met him, but he's always gone to Kikyo when he saw her soul collectors nearby. After what happened with that witch and Kikyo once again became part of this world, Inuyasha has stubbornly followed her every time he saw her soul collectors. I know she wants to drag him to hell with her. I've tried talking to him about it, but he's too stubborn to listen, or he truly wants to go to hell with her. I can't stand being second best to Kikyo. I am my own person. It took a little while, but I finally got over my feelings for Inuyasha. He's been a good friend to me, but he's also been pulling away little by little. The uncertainty of not knowing what will happen when I make the wish on the jewel has been weighing heavily on all of our minds. We know that only three things can happen. The first thing that can happen is that I become trapped here in the feudal era. The second thing that can happen is that I become trapped in my own time. The third thing that can happen is that I can go between times like I have been doing since I was dragged down the well the first time. We won't know for sure until we complete the jewel.
"Kagome," Sango called my name, pulling me from my thoughts, "I know that it's been hard for you since you've been in this era, and we have always been here for you as much as we possibly could be. I think you should take up Lord Sesshomaru's offer and teach Rin. I can help too, if you would like. Sesshomaru could teach you how to harness your reiki and be able to use it better than we ever could. Perhaps he can teach you how he uses is yoki, and you can modify it to how you use your reiki. It's worth a try considering it's essentially the same as far as power and defense are concerned."
"I think Sango is right, Kagome. He might be the best to help you learn how to properly use your powers. It isn't like we could go find a priestess to teach you properly. Most Miko are not fond of demons no matter how they act. You have not only taken one in to take care of but you travel with a full-grown half-demon. Not many priestesses would take kindly to that. We want you to learn how to properly fight. Sango and I didn't feel like we could teach you appropriately along this journey especially since my main form of fighting and defense came from my wind tunnel that I no longer have," Miroku held up his hand so that I could see his wind tunnel was no longer there.
"I appreciate your opinions very much. I just want to talk to Rin to make sure. He wants an answer by tomorrow morning. I guess we can wait for Inuyasha to get back, so we can talk to him about it," I end the conversation by standing up to go outside where the children are.
Rin and Shippo sat a little way away from the hut picked flowers and turning them into crowns. I saw that Rin had a bundle of flowers over her right ear. Her hair was holding the bundle to her ear. It was adorable. I walked over to them and sat down.
"Kagome, is everything alright?" Shippo asked jumping up and running into my lap.
I pat his head and hugged him close before answering.
"Everything is fine, Shippo. I wanted to talk to you and Rin now if that's okay," I said as I sat Shippo in my lap.
"Okay," they bother chirped together.
Rin stopped playing with the flowers and turned to face me so that I knew she was paying attention. Must be something Sesshomaru taught her, I thought wryly.
"How would you feel if you traveled with me for a while, Rin? I would teach you what changes your body will grow through as you get older, and help you to understand things you should know as a human," I pat Shippo's head as I spoke.
"Really?! Lord Sesshomaru would let Rin travel with us?" Shippo jumped up excitedly.
I grabbed Shippo and pulled him to me. He immediately calmed down. I looked at Rin and saw her indecision.
"Lord Sesshomaru will be around, of course. He would never just leave you, Rin," I said reassuringly.
"Rin would like to travel with you and Shippo, Lady Kagome as long as Lord Sesshomaru is alright with it," Rin answered quietly.
"You can call me Kagome, Rin. Sesshomaru and I don't want to make you uncomfortable. We want to help you as best we can, okay?" I reach a hand out to Rin for her to come closer.
Rin hesitantly walked closer to me and Shippo before grabbing my outstretched hand. I pulled slightly and she moved to sit beside me, so I could hug her to me.
"We want you with us, Rin. We would enjoy your company, and you will have Shippo to play with as well as your studies with me. Okay?" I said reassuringly.
I'll have to make a trip home I thought to myself. I need to get a couple books to help her learn to read. She should know the basics of how to read and write for certain as well as some math. I may get her some books on herbs, so that if she ever had the need, she could use herbs to heal herself or anyone else that she would want to heal. I graduated not long before we defeated Naraku, so I didn't carry around books anymore, not that they would have been the best for Rin to learn from. With my plan in mind, I decided to spend the rest of the morning with Rin and Shippo.
-Lunchtime-
"Oi, wench, why is the brat here?" Inuyasha asked me when he spotted Rin, Shippo, and I playing before we headed inside to eat lunch.
"She has a name, Inuyasha. I also have a name as well. Maybe you could start using them," I respond tartly.
How I hated when he called me wench or any other name besides my give name.
"You didn't answer my question," Inuyasha crossed his arms.
"If you would have been here instead of with Kikyo, you would know what's going on, Inuyasha," I answer bitingly.
I grabbed both of the children's hands and walked them to Kaede's hut. I heard Inuyasha sputter and make indignant noises behind me.
"Go inside. I'll be there in just a minute, okay?" I pat both of their heads before they walk inside like I asked.
"What did you mean by that, wench?" Inuyasha asked stalking up to me.
"Exactly what I said Inuyasha. Rin will be traveling with us starting today. If you were here earlier, you would have already known this. Sango and Miroku are okay with the arrangement," I cross my arms over my chest and send a glare his way.
"You spoke about this without me here? How could you? You knew I wouldn't agree with it," Inuyasha pointed at me as he glared.
"Again, if you weren't gallivanting with Kikyo then you would have known this morning when we discussed it. As it stands, you'll just have to deal with it since you weren't here when we made the decision as a group. Not to mention that having Rin around wouldn't be that much of a problem regardless," I dismiss him with a wave of my hand as I entered Kaede's hut.
Sango, Miroku, Kaede, Rin, and Shippo were all sitting around the fire with meat in their hands. Inuyasha must have hunted on his way back from Kikyo, I thought with wry amusement. Too bad it won't save him from looking like an idiot. Sango handed me my share of the meat as I sat down next to her.
"I take it Inuyasha isn't too happy about Rin?" Miroku asked with a smirk.
"It doesn't really matter if he's happy or not. Rin is coming with us," I respond angrily.
"It's not Kagome's fault that he's been out all night and all morning," Sango said before taking another bite of the meat in her hand.
"Keh!" Inuyasha made a noise outside the hut.
"At least we know he's listening," Miroku chuckled.
"Oh, and I don't want Rin to hear you saying bad things about Sesshomaru. If you must say something then say it away from her, Inuyasha," I say loudly to get Inuyasha's attention.
"Now you want too much, woman," Inuyasha growled as he threw the mat open to walk into the hut.
"I mean it. Sesshomaru has been good to Rin, and I won't have you bad mouthing him around her," I folded my arms across my chest having finished eating moments before.
"Now you listen here..." Inuyasha trailed off as I stood up and grabbed his arm pulling him outside with me.
"No, you listen. She is just a child. I was asked to help her, and I plan on helping her. You of all people should understand. Please do not make this any harder than it has to be. I'm sure you haven't considered how your words and actions have affected her since your return from the woods? I'm sure she feels just terrible seeing you act like this and saying you don't want her around. It must make you feel so proud to stomp on a little girl's feelings like that, Inuyasha," I glare at him with my hands on my hips.
"Now wait a minute," Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head," I wasn't trying to be mean to the girl. I just know that having her around means that he'll be around too. He's been around long enough, and we don't exactly get along."
"Grow up, Inuyasha. He doesn't care about your lack of relationship with him, he only cares about Rin and her happiness even if it means asking for another human's help. I guess he considers me trustworthy enough to help Rin. I want to help her, okay? He offered to help me in exchange by teaching me how to properly fight," I said trying to placate him.
"He's really gonna teach you how to fight? That's unheard of. Whatever you're doing for Rin must be really important to him," Inuyasha scratched his jaw as he spoke, considering.
Unheard of, indeed, I thought to myself.
"He'll be back in the morning to hear my answer. I will have to go home and get a few things before we leave, so I'll go in the morning after I speak with him. Let's just have a quiet rest of our day, healing up and relaxing. Then we can head out as soon as I get back," I threw over my shoulder as I entered Kaede's hut.
Inuyasha followed me and sat near the door against the wall.
"So, it looks like everything is settled. Did I hear you were going home in the morning?" Miroku asked curiously.
"I'm just gonna grab a few things to help me teach Rin and then I'll come right back. I should have books in my house and if not, it's a quick trip to the store to buy them. I'll need to get pencils and paper as well. Maybe some coloring books and crayons," My voice trails off as I get lost in thought thinking about what I need to bring.
"Sounds like a big list. Will you need help?" Sango inquired.
"No, they're all small items that can easily fit in my backpack. I wonder if Sesshomaru would let me use Ah-Un for the trip. I don't think Rin can handle the distances we travel being that she's still young. The books and stuff would be heavy to carry for hours on end as well," I murmur to myself thoughtfully.
"You could ask him tomorrow, Kagome," Sango elbowed me with a smile on her face.
"I sure will. Alright, enough with the heavy stuff, let's go outside and play!" I grab Rin and Shippo's hands and lead them outside to play tag and hide and seek.
As we played the day began to fade away into early dusk. We stopped playing to eat supper. After supper Shippo and Rin curled up against me and together we fell asleep.
(This chapter has been a little longer than the first two, but it came out how I wanted so that's all that counts.)