Right off the bat, I have to apologise about this chapter. Not only is it incredibly late, but it sucks, too. For some reason I just could NOT write this chapter. Lack of motivation or writer's block, I really don't know, but I can't stand this chapter and I absolutely hated working on it. The characters are blah, the writing is sub-par and I think I killed any respect anyone may have possibly harboured toward this story...Not exactly the best thing to put up after such a long time. It's a fairly important chapter too, in my opinion, because everything starts coming to a head. I just...really hated it, though...
Well...I think that's it. I should just title this "Chapter Stupid" it's so frigging bad...
On a brighter note, I went to Otakon! Yay for me! My two favourite purchases were the Escaflowne Ultimate Edition Movie box and my Genso Suikoden II soundtrack. I also purchased two mandarin collar shirts (one blue with dragon and phoenix prints, the other white with those little circle...thingies...that are always on Chinese shirts), a CardCaptor Sakura dvd, an Angel Sanctuary postcard book for my friend (they ran out of the Angel Sanctuary art books that I wanted, grrrr) and a Saiyuki yaoi book for my friend because she liked the cover art. My sister bought the 3X3 eyes Collector's Edition dvd (at a discount, too!), a black Chinese martial arts shirt and pants (like what Ranma wears), some Rurouni Kenshin key chain plushies for a friend, the Majora's Mask manga and Deedlit's story, for a friend. I know I'm leaving stuff out, but...oh well. The whole experience was awesome and I want to go back next year. And to all you cosplayers out there, good frigging job. I saw so many Vash the Stampedes and Wolfwood's though...as well as Final Fantasy X...It was all worth it for the girl in the GIR outfit and the Bowser. Damn those were cool...
As always, please leave some criticism. Hopefully it'll keep chapters like this from ever happening again. Thank you everyone.
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter Ten: Questions and Answers
"Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you going?"
Sighing at the momentary distraction, Sesshoumaru turned gracefully on his heel to face his rapidly approaching ward. The child dashed down the halls of the castle, nearly tripping on her kimono two or three times in her rush to make it to him. Shadows bounced along the walls in the flickering torchlight, sometimes disappearing only to leap farther up along the walls like black giants. The demon lord mentally shook his head as the whelp came to a stumbling halt before him, panting hard but watching him with unwavering eyes. The smallest glistening of sweat dampened her brow and matted down her hair; her limbs shook slightly from exertion, limp and trembling. Her entire bearing cried out distress.
For a moment, while she stood there breathing heavily, Sesshoumaru studied the child that the fates had dropped into his care. No matter the passage of years, he always found himself thinking of her as simply Rin, but he could not ignore the changes that his Rin was going through. Older now, the girl was taller, leaner, with far more meat on her bones and fleshing out as her body began to slowly mature. She looked almost like an adult. He reflected back on the past two or so years that the child had followed him around, a puppy latched onto her father's tail. It occurred to him that his ward had very rarely-if ever-left him since she'd come into his care. Which was probably the reason she'd chased after him with such urgency.
Finally catching her breath, the girl turned her innocent face up to him and huffed out: "Lord Sesshoumaru, are you going to leave Rin behind? Rin...I don't want to be left behind." The demon lord almost smiled at her correction. She was studying her grammar very hard, it seemed.
"Yes, Rin, I am leaving you here in the castle this time. I have important business to attend to and do not need you underfoot." At her pained expression, the youkai sighed and said, in gentler tones: "It would be better if you stayed here, Rin."
The girl frowned and tugged lightly at her protector's kimono. Her eyes were sad. "But Rin...But I always go with Lord Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to reply when there was a loud crash down the corridor and a bumbling Jaken skittered into sight. He had several strands of ribbon tied around his scrawny ankles and what looked like a pot from the kitchens over his head. When he stormed up to where his master and the little girl stood, Rin's look was both mischievous and guilty. Sesshoumaru suspected she was the source of the ribbons-and probably the pot, too. Just because she looked like an adult did not mean she acted like one. He would need to see to her upbringing more if she were to become a proper lady.
Jaken pointed a shaking finger at the human whelp and just about screamed out: "She tied me up, Lord Sesshoumaru! This filthy beast tied up your most loyal servant Jaken and covered my head so that she could run away and cause you trouble!" The toad's face darkened considerably, a pulpy mass of seething darkness, pinpricks of red welling up from the depths of his eyes. Rin stuck her tongue out at him, then yelped and hid behind Sesshoumaru when Jaken lunged for her. The miniature demon huffed again and motioned toward the child while addressing his lord: "Now if Lord Sesshoumaru permits, I will take the whelp away and punish her properly-"
"Weren't you supposed to be helping her study, Jaken?" the white-haired demon interrupted coldly. "How did Rin get away from you this time?"
Flabbergasted, Jaken stuttered: "Lord Sesshoumaru, if you would only look at what she did..." He motioned feebly toward the ribbon cluttered around his ankles and the rather large pot still balancing precariously off the back of his skull.
Ignoring him, Inuyasha's brother asked again: "Jaken, how did she get away? I do not keep you around so that you can fail me over and over again. I would think that a single human child would be easy enough for you to handle. I see that I was wrong."
He doubted he had ever seen Jaken's face go quite so white. Stammering, the toad croaked: "L-Lord Sesshoumaru, please forgive me! Now if you will only permit this humble servant Jaken to take the whelp back-"
"That will not be needed, Jaken. I was just sending her on her way, now. As you can see, I have no need of you; go and finish gathering up what I may need for this trip." Jaken pouted a moment, but only a moment for his lord's hand struck out and slid mere inches past his face. "Now, Jaken." The toad skittered away furiously.
Watching the small demon run away, Sesshoumaru got the sudden feeling that someone was trying to avoid him. Turning his gaze back down to where Rin was standing, he was only mildly surprised to find her gone. Sniffing the air tentatively, the demon lord turned around to find her hiding vainly in the shadows, scrunched into a tiny ball and trembling slightly. Curious and with the smallest pang of patriarchal concern, Sesshoumaru glided noiselessly up to her and placed a clawed hand to her scalp. "Rin...?"
The girl flinched and sniffed. Slightly worried, but unwilling to admit it to himself, Sesshoumaru turned and headed down the hall. Maybe she would follow; at least then he'd know she was all right. "Come, Rin. I have a lot I need to do and you must get back to studying." He began to walk away.
A tiny fist caught his robes and clung to them; a small face pressed into the small of the demon's back; a thin arm reached around his waist and held him close. Silently grateful that the human child was well enough to get up, Sesshoumaru's relief faded quickly when she began to speak. In the most quiet, pleading whisper, the girl cried: "Rin's sorry for tying up Jaken and covering his head with a pot. Rin just wanted to come with Lord Sesshoumaru. Please don't send Rin away. She won't be underfoot; Rin won't be a burden for Lord Sesshoumaru. So please...please..." Her voice trailed away, drowned out by her young sobs.
For the longest time, Sesshoumaru just stood there with a weeping Rin clinging to his robes. Something stirred within him, deep inside his being, that told him to console the whelp and stop her tears. She was upset because he didn't want her to go with him-'It will be dangerous this time.' She didn't want to be separated from her Lord Sesshoumaru-'I do not want to put her in that type of danger. There will be many demons fighting where I am going.' Somehow, he had to convince her that she needed to stay in the castle-'The castle is safe. I want her to be safe...Yes; I want to safeguard this child. This little child...'
Slowly, the demon lord of the western lands turned around and caught the weeping child in his arm and lifted her up. Rin yelped feebly, frightened for a moment at the sudden shift in position, then she wrapped her arms around her protector's neck and hugged him close. Repelling the urge to push her away lest someone see him being so gentle, Sesshoumaru let the child cling to him. Whether it be fatherly instincts or just the desire to stop her crying-he prayed it was the latter-the youkai held the girl close until she finally stopped crying.
Lifting her face to look at him with watery eyes, Rin sniffed. "So Lord Sesshoumaru isn't mad at Rin-at me?" He smiled inwardly; she caught herself faster that time. "I-I can go with Lord Sesshoumaru?"
When he shook his head, the girl almost started crying again, until he shushed her with a stern glare. Feeling awkward for using force to quell her sobs, the demon cleared his throat and said slowly: "I am going someplace very dangerous this time, Rin. There will be many demons fighting and you might get hurt should you go. That is why you will stay here at the castle, where it is safe. Do you understand, Rin?"
She nodded slowly, her face scrunched up in thought. "So...Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't want...me to go because it will be dangerous and R-I might get hurt?" He blinked, then nodded. For a moment, Rin just looked ahead, her face scrunched up still, then suddenly her appearance went slack and she nodded emphatically. Tapping his shoulder, she motioned for Sesshoumaru to set her down. She scampered back a few feet and looked up at her lord happily. Sesshoumaru blinked again.
"Rin understands!" the girl stated matter-of-factly, not even trying to correct her grammar this time. "Lord Sesshoumaru is worried that Rin will get hurt, so Rin won't go where it's dangerous. That way Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't have to worry. See, Rin is a good girl!" Smiling broadly, the child proclaimed: "Rin-I will stay here for Lord Sesshoumaru, so now you have to come back! Otherwise I'll get lonely and sad and the sky will start crying."
Sesshoumaru simply stood silent a moment. This whelp, this human child was willing to stay behind because she knew that danger meant he might be distracted by her presence and that he then might be hurt. Rather than have that, she would stay so that he could come home safely to her. Smiling the barest of smiles, Sesshoumaru knelt down in front of his ward and pet her gently on the head; she giggled. Her eyes, when she looked at him, were innocent and brimming with love and that accursed fatherly instinct flared up again inside the demon lord. Reaching out, he pulled the child to him and gave her a stout hug.
"Yes, Rin, you stay here and I will come home shortly. We would not want the sky to be sad." Gently, he pushed her away and turned her down the hall. Patting her bottom lightly, he said: "Now go to your studies. I have work to do before I can leave. And the faster I leave, the sooner I return to you."
Rin nodded so hard her head almost snapped off. "Ri-I will study really hard, Lord Sesshoumaru! I'll study so hard that Lord Sesshoumaru will have to come home so that he can be proud of me!" Then she ran down the hall, almost tripping as her kimono caught her legs and finally disappeared around a corner. Her shadow flickered and disappeared with her.
Sighing, Sesshoumaru stood and shook his head. What had gotten into him? That child always brought out the worst in him, making him soft and vulnerable. 'However,' he amended as he headed off to prepare for his travels, 'at least she stopped crying. Rin is not herself if she's not smiling.'
With these thoughts in his head, the demon lord of the western lands went to gather up his youkai followers and chase down his pathetic half-breed of a brother, as well as the Shikon Jewel, unaware that the next time he'd see Rin would be six months later, when he'd finally recovered from his wounds.
"Shadow master? I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but I know nothing of Shadow masters."
Inuyasha wheeled around, fists ready to pummel. "I knew you were lying, priest!"
They sat in Kaede's hut, hunched around the meagre fire that burned at its centre. Well, all except Inuyasha; he was standing and waving his fist at Miroku in a rather threatening fashion. The monk looked on with complacency, his eyes hooded as he calmly ate his food. By now he was too used to Inuyasha's outbursts to say anything, not to mention far too tired to care.
For the past day and a half the three companions hurried toward Kaede's village in the hopes that the old woman would know something about this Shadow master that Miroku suspected was controlling Kagome. Shortly after finding Shippou and Shoukaki gone the morning before, they'd set out at a dizzying pace, Sango and Miroku alternately holding onto Inuyasha's back or running alongside him. When the humans could no longer keep up, the dog-demon had simply thrown them both on his back and darted off again into the woods.
It was about noon of the day after that they skidded into Kaede's village, dirty and exhausted but too rushed for time to rest as they'd have liked. The old priestess scurried from her hut to greet them, only to be nearly bowled over as Inuyasha stalked past her. "Talking time. Get in the hut, old hag. It's talking time." Kaede just sighed and followed after.
Now the four sat together by the fire, eating a hurried lunch while the dog-demon raged at Miroku for lying. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted you! Here I could already be at the Western Falls, kicking my brother's ass, but noooooo, we have to come here and talk to Kaede about a figment of your imagination! That's it, I'm going after Kagome. You can catch up to me later." With a growl the half-breed made to walk from the hut.
"Wait, Inuyasha." Kaede's voice was old and gruff, but definitely not weak and her words were loud and clear to the hanyou's ears. Bristling at the waste of time, he turned around, stalked over to his seat and flopped down unceremoniously. After a few seconds, he snatched a piece of meat from the fire and chewed glumly.
When she was sure her "guest" was there to stay, the old woman cleared her throat and continued. "While it is true that I know nothing of these Shadow masters that the young monk speaks of, I do know a little about Human Puppets. From what Lord Miroku has told me, I believe that Kagome is under the influence of a Human Puppeteer. Perhaps they are the same as the Shadow masters, I do not know. I can, however, tell you everything I know."
Inuyasha was in her face faster than thought. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?! I-" A well placed boomerang cut the rest of his tirade off and ensured a few minutes of peaceful conversation. Kaede thanked the demon hunter with a slight nod. As Sango put her weapon away, Miroku clapped politely.
"Well done, my dear Sango. Well done indeed."
"Don't push it, sir monk. Don't push it."
Kaede cleared her throat, effectively regaining the attention of the room. "As I was saying," she began in her raspy voice, "I will tell you everything I know about the Human Puppets. They were used in the old days as tools for political power. Or assassinations. A high-ranking official would call for a Puppeteer, who would then apprehend their master's victim. Using mind control and spiritual "strings" the Puppeteer could control the victim's body and influence their thought. The victim would look the same and talk the same, but had someone controlling them from far away, like a puppet on strings. Depending on how strong either puppet or puppeteer were, the effect was different. Strong victims could often control more of their thoughts and even move on their own at times. Vice versa, a very strong Puppeteer could control everything in their puppet down to when they blinked.
"Using these puppets, the official that hired the Puppeteer could rise up higher in rank, if their victim were capable of appointing them. They could marry into high-ranking families by controlling the father. Several assassinations were executed using the puppets as the murderers so that the official's hands were clean. Some puppeteers were hired simply to take control of the victim and kill them quietly.
"These Puppeteers ended up becoming a very common tool for the very rich and ambitious." There was a groan from where Inuyasha lay and the half-breed slowly pushed himself up. Kaede acknowledged him with a nod, then continued. "By the time I was born, Puppeteers were beginning to fade away as open assassinations and war replaced them. People didn't care about secrecy anymore..." Her voice trailed off, tinted with sorrow as the events of her youth resurfaced. After a brief moment of silence to allow her to regain her composure, she finished. "And that is what I know."
Digesting both his food and her story, Miroku nodded. Inuyasha blinked at them all groggily, still stunned by Sango's boomerang. No one complained.
Finally, the priest grunted. "The stories are similar. From what I understand, Shadowing began hundred of years ago for some of the same reasons you just claimed, Lady Kaede. Political power and death threats. It, too, fell into disuse. The difference is only in the way it was executed: Shadow masters manipulated their victims by attaching themselves to them; Human Puppeteers used spiritual strings and coercion." He paused momentarily in thought, chin resting in his open palm. Mumbling to himself, he finally said: "However, considering the similarities between the two, I believe we can use your knowledge. Lady Kaede, do you know how one could beat a Puppeteer once controlled? If we can figure that out, we may be able to save Kagome."
At her name, Inuyasha's ears perked up. Back on his feet, the dog-demon made a grab for Miroku, snarling: "Do you know how we can save her?"
Miroku dodged the attack skilfully, tumbling off to the side to avoid a second grab. "We're about to learn that-" he dodged another swipe and took off running around the room, Inuyasha close behind. "Inuyasha, if you'd just calm down-Hey! Inuyasha, watch it-OW!" The priest suddenly skidded to a halt and grabbed the prayer beads around his wrist, pointing his cursed hand directly at the startled hanyou. "I know that you are worried about Kagome and want to know how to save her, but if you do not calm down and listen to Lady Kaede I will pull you into my Air Rip!"
Inuyasha's expressions flattened and he stared at the monk with deadpan eyes. "Uh, Miroku, your Air Rip is gone..."
"Oh, well...so it is!" Laughing to himself, the priest began to saunter off, only to turn immediately on his heel, staff at the ready. Once, twice, three times he bopped Inuyasha on the head with the end of his weapon. "Then I shall poke you with an ugly stick, instead."
Eyebrows twitching and fists shaking, Inuyasha groaned: "Miroku..."
Jab. Jab. "You fear my staff, I know you do."
"Listen, priest, this is-"
"Fear the staff." Poke. Poke. "I have awesome spiritual power. Fear the staff."
Frustrated with the idiot priest's actions, Inuyasha turned away and sat down next to Kikyou's sister. 'Stupid priest. Stupid, stupid priest. I'll get you for that.' "So, Kaede-baba, what is this about Kagome?"
Sighing, Miroku sat back down and listened as Kaede began her explanation. Sango gave him the most curious expression from the corner of her eye; Miroku smiled and tapped the side of his nose. The demon hunter rolled her eyes. She would never understand her companion's strange methods. 'Men...However...his idiocy did get Inuyasha to sit down and listen...'
"As far as I know," the old priestess began, "there are very few ways to free a victim after they have been tagged. And of those few methods, I only know of two that have been effective." Sango readied her boomerang as Inuyasha shifted, ready to spring if the old woman didn't talk a little faster. Kaede nodded thankfully as Inuyasha reluctantly sat back down. "As I was saying, there are two effective methods. One is to help the victims break the mind control themselves. This can be very hard, as each victim has different amounts of strength, both spiritual and physical. The urgency of those trying to help the victim is also a factor. If the victim is not strong enough, or the Puppeteer is too strong, then the attempt to break free will leave the victim helpless and that much more susceptible. If those that are trying to help aren't strong enough to support the victim, then the same outcome is also likely. To have a person break free of the spell in this way can often lead to much worse consequences."
"So in other words," Miroku interjected lightly, "this way is very risky."
"And what is the other way, Lady Kaede?" Sango asked quietly as the old woman paused a moment, either for a breath or dramatic effect, the demon hunter didn't know.
Kaede shrugged and picked up her tea, taking a long, quiet drink. When she placed the cup back down, all eyes were on her. "The other way is perhaps harder. In order to free the victim, you have to break the bonds."
"Break the bonds?" all three echoed in unison.
The priestess nodded. "The only other way to save Kagome is to kill the Puppeteer or Shadow master that is controlling her."
There was a rustling behind her. With a start, Kagome whirled around, hands automatically drifting to her neck where the Shikon Jewel once hung. She had to break that habit, she realised with a grimace as the brush parted and Rin popped her head out.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Kagome sank back down to the ground, the younger girl scooting up close. Rin was smiling like an idiot. "What are you so happy about?" Then: "Weren't you supposed to leave last night?"
Rin laughed and clapped her hands like a lunatic and Kagome briefly wondered just what it was Sesshoumaru fed the child. She looked healthy. 'But then again, with that demon, who knows. For all I know, he beats poor little Rin every night and only gives her gruel in the morning. He is a demon, after all.' But looking at the girl's smiling face, Kagome somehow doubted her own thoughts. 'Maybe even Sesshoumaru has a kind heart sometimes.'
Dancing around, Rin bounced up to Kagome and took her hands in her own. Chipper as ever, the child said: "Guess who I saw on my way home last night!"
Kagome gawked at the girl in front of her, baffled. 'Saw? She came back here to tell me who she saw?' Sighing, the priestess only smiled and went along with it. She might as well humour the girl's whim. "Okay, Rin, who did you see on your way home last night?"
"Shippou!" She just about blew Kagome's head off with the strength of her yell. When the ringing in her head finally stopped and the meaning of Rin's words sunk in, all Kagome could do was work her dry mouth open and closed. 'Shippou...? She saw Shippou...?'
Momentarily stunned, the captive woman just stared ahead of her. She vaguely noticed Rin sitting down beside her, humming happily and tying flowers together. 'Shippou...If she really did see him then he must be close! And Inuyasha will be with him. They must have come after me shortly after Sesshoumaru took me away. And they must have pushed themselves hard...It's only been three days...' A giddy, almost dizzying feeling swept over Kagome as the realisation of them being so close hit her. 'They're going to take me home...I'm not going to be some captive anymore...I can be with Inuyasha, finally, after so long...I can be with him again...'
"Big Sister, are you hungry again?"
Kagome took a deep breath and looked at the little girl beside her. "What was that, Rin?"
Sesshoumaru's charge tilted her head to the side owlishly and pursed her lips. Her cheeks puffed out. "I asked if you're hungry again, because you're starting to cry. It's okay if you are, I can go and get you something to eat."
Lifting a trembling finger to her eye, Kagome realised that she did, indeed, have tears standing on her delicate lashes. Pulling the damp finger away, all she could do was smile. With Rin watching on, bewildered, Kagome's smile became a grin, then a chuckle and finally an all out laugh. Pulling herself to her feet, she reached down and took Rin up in her arms, spinning the younger girl around. "Big Sister...?"
Setting the child down, Kagome sighed and wiped her eyes. "I'm not hungry, Rin, I'm happy. I get to see everyone and go home soon, so I'm very happy."
A spark of understanding lit up her dark eyes and Rin opened her mouth in a silent "ah." "Oh, okay. I thought maybe you were hungry again and started crying because your belly hurt. I do that sometimes." She paused and looked away. Then: "But I know what you mean. When Lord Sesshoumaru came home after his big fight with you and Big Brother Inuyasha, I cried too. I was so happy that Lord Sesshoumaru came home-even though he was really hurt and slept for a really long time afterward-I was just so happy that I cried a really really lot." She turned back and smiled. "It's okay to cry because you're happy. That doesn't make other people sad."
Kagome nodded. Sitting back down, she brushed her hair back behind her shoulder and motioned for Rin to sit near her. When the child was situated, the older priestess asked: "So you really like Sesshoumaru, huh?"
"Yep!" Rin exclaimed happily. "Rin loves Lord Sesshoumaru thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!" To accentuate her point she held her little arms out as far as they would go. Looking at her arm span, she frowned slightly, then let her limbs fall. "Well, more than that, but my arms aren't long enough..."
Her companion laughed. "It's okay, Rin. I can tell that you really care about him. It's hard for me to believe, even though I can tell just from how you talk." When Rin just gave her a blank look, Kagome tried her best to explain. "Well...you see, every time I meet up with Sesshoumaru, he's trying to kill Inuyasha or me and our friends. I never get to see his...how do I put it...nice side. So it's hard for me to believe that he's a good enough person for you to love him so much. On the other hand, just watching you talk about him I can't doubt that he is a good demon, at least toward you. It's a lot to take in when all you've ever seen is a blood-thirsty monster."
Rin wrinkled her nose. "Lord Sesshoumaru isn't a monster, but Jaken is. Grr...I don't like Jaken. Wanna know something?"
"Sure."
Giggling, Rin crawled up to her knees so that she could look the sitting Kagome in the eyes. "One time, back when Lord Sesshoumaru was about to leave to get beaten up, I was studying with Jaken in the study because Lord Sesshoumaru told me I had to-so I can become a lady but also because he didn't want me underfoot while he prepared to leave because he knew that I would try to stop him. Well anyhow, I was in the study and learned that Lord Sesshoumaru was leaving so I grabbed my ribbons and tied them around Jaken's ankles so that he couldn't get up and follow me, then I went to the kitchen and grabbed a pot! And guess what! I put it on Jaken's head so he couldn't see! He waddled around and yelled and said lots of bad words that Rin doesn't understand but it was funny anyhow because he had ribbons around his ankles and a pot on his head!"
Listening to her story, Kagome couldn't help but laugh. She was laughing so hard, in fact, that she didn't sense the approaching demon and by the time she did, he was already on top of them.
Looking down and the giggling girls, Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened. In his deep, smooth voice he quite calmly said: "Rin, I thought I told you to go home."
Gulping, Rin backed away. Kagome shuddered at the ice in Sesshoumaru's words. This wasn't like yesterday, when he told her to leave and she'd played around and teased him about it. The air literally shivered from the words he spoke and Rin began to shudder like a caught deer. She could not charm her way out of this.
Stuttering, the child managed to babble out: "Rin is sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru! Rin was going home with Jaken just like you said but she saw something in the woods and wanted to go see-Jaken told Rin not to but she didn't listen and she's really sorry Lord Sesshoumaru-and she saw Big Sister's little fox friend walking in the woods with another girl and Rin was so excited to see one of Big Sister's friends that she ran back here to tell Big Sister what she saw, but she didn't mean to make Lord Sesshoumaru angry and she'll go home right away so please don't yell at Rin...!"
Some of the ice gone from his words, Sesshoumaru smirked. "Fox...eh? So it would seem they have come for you, woman of my brother." Kagome squirmed beneath his gaze as he turned his frozen golden eyes on her. She was aware of Rin walking over and latching onto Sesshoumaru's leg, but her attention was riveted on the demon lord's words.
In the most frightening tone, the demon lord of the Western Lands said very softly: "Even though they have come here, they will not take you away. Come, Rin. It is time for you to go home."
Kagome watched him walk away, Rin tagging along behind, her eyes sad as she shot a farewell glance back her way. 'Shippou...Inuyasha, run away...run away...'
Well...I think that's it. I should just title this "Chapter Stupid" it's so frigging bad...
On a brighter note, I went to Otakon! Yay for me! My two favourite purchases were the Escaflowne Ultimate Edition Movie box and my Genso Suikoden II soundtrack. I also purchased two mandarin collar shirts (one blue with dragon and phoenix prints, the other white with those little circle...thingies...that are always on Chinese shirts), a CardCaptor Sakura dvd, an Angel Sanctuary postcard book for my friend (they ran out of the Angel Sanctuary art books that I wanted, grrrr) and a Saiyuki yaoi book for my friend because she liked the cover art. My sister bought the 3X3 eyes Collector's Edition dvd (at a discount, too!), a black Chinese martial arts shirt and pants (like what Ranma wears), some Rurouni Kenshin key chain plushies for a friend, the Majora's Mask manga and Deedlit's story, for a friend. I know I'm leaving stuff out, but...oh well. The whole experience was awesome and I want to go back next year. And to all you cosplayers out there, good frigging job. I saw so many Vash the Stampedes and Wolfwood's though...as well as Final Fantasy X...It was all worth it for the girl in the GIR outfit and the Bowser. Damn those were cool...
As always, please leave some criticism. Hopefully it'll keep chapters like this from ever happening again. Thank you everyone.
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter Ten: Questions and Answers
"Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you going?"
Sighing at the momentary distraction, Sesshoumaru turned gracefully on his heel to face his rapidly approaching ward. The child dashed down the halls of the castle, nearly tripping on her kimono two or three times in her rush to make it to him. Shadows bounced along the walls in the flickering torchlight, sometimes disappearing only to leap farther up along the walls like black giants. The demon lord mentally shook his head as the whelp came to a stumbling halt before him, panting hard but watching him with unwavering eyes. The smallest glistening of sweat dampened her brow and matted down her hair; her limbs shook slightly from exertion, limp and trembling. Her entire bearing cried out distress.
For a moment, while she stood there breathing heavily, Sesshoumaru studied the child that the fates had dropped into his care. No matter the passage of years, he always found himself thinking of her as simply Rin, but he could not ignore the changes that his Rin was going through. Older now, the girl was taller, leaner, with far more meat on her bones and fleshing out as her body began to slowly mature. She looked almost like an adult. He reflected back on the past two or so years that the child had followed him around, a puppy latched onto her father's tail. It occurred to him that his ward had very rarely-if ever-left him since she'd come into his care. Which was probably the reason she'd chased after him with such urgency.
Finally catching her breath, the girl turned her innocent face up to him and huffed out: "Lord Sesshoumaru, are you going to leave Rin behind? Rin...I don't want to be left behind." The demon lord almost smiled at her correction. She was studying her grammar very hard, it seemed.
"Yes, Rin, I am leaving you here in the castle this time. I have important business to attend to and do not need you underfoot." At her pained expression, the youkai sighed and said, in gentler tones: "It would be better if you stayed here, Rin."
The girl frowned and tugged lightly at her protector's kimono. Her eyes were sad. "But Rin...But I always go with Lord Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to reply when there was a loud crash down the corridor and a bumbling Jaken skittered into sight. He had several strands of ribbon tied around his scrawny ankles and what looked like a pot from the kitchens over his head. When he stormed up to where his master and the little girl stood, Rin's look was both mischievous and guilty. Sesshoumaru suspected she was the source of the ribbons-and probably the pot, too. Just because she looked like an adult did not mean she acted like one. He would need to see to her upbringing more if she were to become a proper lady.
Jaken pointed a shaking finger at the human whelp and just about screamed out: "She tied me up, Lord Sesshoumaru! This filthy beast tied up your most loyal servant Jaken and covered my head so that she could run away and cause you trouble!" The toad's face darkened considerably, a pulpy mass of seething darkness, pinpricks of red welling up from the depths of his eyes. Rin stuck her tongue out at him, then yelped and hid behind Sesshoumaru when Jaken lunged for her. The miniature demon huffed again and motioned toward the child while addressing his lord: "Now if Lord Sesshoumaru permits, I will take the whelp away and punish her properly-"
"Weren't you supposed to be helping her study, Jaken?" the white-haired demon interrupted coldly. "How did Rin get away from you this time?"
Flabbergasted, Jaken stuttered: "Lord Sesshoumaru, if you would only look at what she did..." He motioned feebly toward the ribbon cluttered around his ankles and the rather large pot still balancing precariously off the back of his skull.
Ignoring him, Inuyasha's brother asked again: "Jaken, how did she get away? I do not keep you around so that you can fail me over and over again. I would think that a single human child would be easy enough for you to handle. I see that I was wrong."
He doubted he had ever seen Jaken's face go quite so white. Stammering, the toad croaked: "L-Lord Sesshoumaru, please forgive me! Now if you will only permit this humble servant Jaken to take the whelp back-"
"That will not be needed, Jaken. I was just sending her on her way, now. As you can see, I have no need of you; go and finish gathering up what I may need for this trip." Jaken pouted a moment, but only a moment for his lord's hand struck out and slid mere inches past his face. "Now, Jaken." The toad skittered away furiously.
Watching the small demon run away, Sesshoumaru got the sudden feeling that someone was trying to avoid him. Turning his gaze back down to where Rin was standing, he was only mildly surprised to find her gone. Sniffing the air tentatively, the demon lord turned around to find her hiding vainly in the shadows, scrunched into a tiny ball and trembling slightly. Curious and with the smallest pang of patriarchal concern, Sesshoumaru glided noiselessly up to her and placed a clawed hand to her scalp. "Rin...?"
The girl flinched and sniffed. Slightly worried, but unwilling to admit it to himself, Sesshoumaru turned and headed down the hall. Maybe she would follow; at least then he'd know she was all right. "Come, Rin. I have a lot I need to do and you must get back to studying." He began to walk away.
A tiny fist caught his robes and clung to them; a small face pressed into the small of the demon's back; a thin arm reached around his waist and held him close. Silently grateful that the human child was well enough to get up, Sesshoumaru's relief faded quickly when she began to speak. In the most quiet, pleading whisper, the girl cried: "Rin's sorry for tying up Jaken and covering his head with a pot. Rin just wanted to come with Lord Sesshoumaru. Please don't send Rin away. She won't be underfoot; Rin won't be a burden for Lord Sesshoumaru. So please...please..." Her voice trailed away, drowned out by her young sobs.
For the longest time, Sesshoumaru just stood there with a weeping Rin clinging to his robes. Something stirred within him, deep inside his being, that told him to console the whelp and stop her tears. She was upset because he didn't want her to go with him-'It will be dangerous this time.' She didn't want to be separated from her Lord Sesshoumaru-'I do not want to put her in that type of danger. There will be many demons fighting where I am going.' Somehow, he had to convince her that she needed to stay in the castle-'The castle is safe. I want her to be safe...Yes; I want to safeguard this child. This little child...'
Slowly, the demon lord of the western lands turned around and caught the weeping child in his arm and lifted her up. Rin yelped feebly, frightened for a moment at the sudden shift in position, then she wrapped her arms around her protector's neck and hugged him close. Repelling the urge to push her away lest someone see him being so gentle, Sesshoumaru let the child cling to him. Whether it be fatherly instincts or just the desire to stop her crying-he prayed it was the latter-the youkai held the girl close until she finally stopped crying.
Lifting her face to look at him with watery eyes, Rin sniffed. "So Lord Sesshoumaru isn't mad at Rin-at me?" He smiled inwardly; she caught herself faster that time. "I-I can go with Lord Sesshoumaru?"
When he shook his head, the girl almost started crying again, until he shushed her with a stern glare. Feeling awkward for using force to quell her sobs, the demon cleared his throat and said slowly: "I am going someplace very dangerous this time, Rin. There will be many demons fighting and you might get hurt should you go. That is why you will stay here at the castle, where it is safe. Do you understand, Rin?"
She nodded slowly, her face scrunched up in thought. "So...Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't want...me to go because it will be dangerous and R-I might get hurt?" He blinked, then nodded. For a moment, Rin just looked ahead, her face scrunched up still, then suddenly her appearance went slack and she nodded emphatically. Tapping his shoulder, she motioned for Sesshoumaru to set her down. She scampered back a few feet and looked up at her lord happily. Sesshoumaru blinked again.
"Rin understands!" the girl stated matter-of-factly, not even trying to correct her grammar this time. "Lord Sesshoumaru is worried that Rin will get hurt, so Rin won't go where it's dangerous. That way Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't have to worry. See, Rin is a good girl!" Smiling broadly, the child proclaimed: "Rin-I will stay here for Lord Sesshoumaru, so now you have to come back! Otherwise I'll get lonely and sad and the sky will start crying."
Sesshoumaru simply stood silent a moment. This whelp, this human child was willing to stay behind because she knew that danger meant he might be distracted by her presence and that he then might be hurt. Rather than have that, she would stay so that he could come home safely to her. Smiling the barest of smiles, Sesshoumaru knelt down in front of his ward and pet her gently on the head; she giggled. Her eyes, when she looked at him, were innocent and brimming with love and that accursed fatherly instinct flared up again inside the demon lord. Reaching out, he pulled the child to him and gave her a stout hug.
"Yes, Rin, you stay here and I will come home shortly. We would not want the sky to be sad." Gently, he pushed her away and turned her down the hall. Patting her bottom lightly, he said: "Now go to your studies. I have work to do before I can leave. And the faster I leave, the sooner I return to you."
Rin nodded so hard her head almost snapped off. "Ri-I will study really hard, Lord Sesshoumaru! I'll study so hard that Lord Sesshoumaru will have to come home so that he can be proud of me!" Then she ran down the hall, almost tripping as her kimono caught her legs and finally disappeared around a corner. Her shadow flickered and disappeared with her.
Sighing, Sesshoumaru stood and shook his head. What had gotten into him? That child always brought out the worst in him, making him soft and vulnerable. 'However,' he amended as he headed off to prepare for his travels, 'at least she stopped crying. Rin is not herself if she's not smiling.'
With these thoughts in his head, the demon lord of the western lands went to gather up his youkai followers and chase down his pathetic half-breed of a brother, as well as the Shikon Jewel, unaware that the next time he'd see Rin would be six months later, when he'd finally recovered from his wounds.
"Shadow master? I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but I know nothing of Shadow masters."
Inuyasha wheeled around, fists ready to pummel. "I knew you were lying, priest!"
They sat in Kaede's hut, hunched around the meagre fire that burned at its centre. Well, all except Inuyasha; he was standing and waving his fist at Miroku in a rather threatening fashion. The monk looked on with complacency, his eyes hooded as he calmly ate his food. By now he was too used to Inuyasha's outbursts to say anything, not to mention far too tired to care.
For the past day and a half the three companions hurried toward Kaede's village in the hopes that the old woman would know something about this Shadow master that Miroku suspected was controlling Kagome. Shortly after finding Shippou and Shoukaki gone the morning before, they'd set out at a dizzying pace, Sango and Miroku alternately holding onto Inuyasha's back or running alongside him. When the humans could no longer keep up, the dog-demon had simply thrown them both on his back and darted off again into the woods.
It was about noon of the day after that they skidded into Kaede's village, dirty and exhausted but too rushed for time to rest as they'd have liked. The old priestess scurried from her hut to greet them, only to be nearly bowled over as Inuyasha stalked past her. "Talking time. Get in the hut, old hag. It's talking time." Kaede just sighed and followed after.
Now the four sat together by the fire, eating a hurried lunch while the dog-demon raged at Miroku for lying. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted you! Here I could already be at the Western Falls, kicking my brother's ass, but noooooo, we have to come here and talk to Kaede about a figment of your imagination! That's it, I'm going after Kagome. You can catch up to me later." With a growl the half-breed made to walk from the hut.
"Wait, Inuyasha." Kaede's voice was old and gruff, but definitely not weak and her words were loud and clear to the hanyou's ears. Bristling at the waste of time, he turned around, stalked over to his seat and flopped down unceremoniously. After a few seconds, he snatched a piece of meat from the fire and chewed glumly.
When she was sure her "guest" was there to stay, the old woman cleared her throat and continued. "While it is true that I know nothing of these Shadow masters that the young monk speaks of, I do know a little about Human Puppets. From what Lord Miroku has told me, I believe that Kagome is under the influence of a Human Puppeteer. Perhaps they are the same as the Shadow masters, I do not know. I can, however, tell you everything I know."
Inuyasha was in her face faster than thought. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?! I-" A well placed boomerang cut the rest of his tirade off and ensured a few minutes of peaceful conversation. Kaede thanked the demon hunter with a slight nod. As Sango put her weapon away, Miroku clapped politely.
"Well done, my dear Sango. Well done indeed."
"Don't push it, sir monk. Don't push it."
Kaede cleared her throat, effectively regaining the attention of the room. "As I was saying," she began in her raspy voice, "I will tell you everything I know about the Human Puppets. They were used in the old days as tools for political power. Or assassinations. A high-ranking official would call for a Puppeteer, who would then apprehend their master's victim. Using mind control and spiritual "strings" the Puppeteer could control the victim's body and influence their thought. The victim would look the same and talk the same, but had someone controlling them from far away, like a puppet on strings. Depending on how strong either puppet or puppeteer were, the effect was different. Strong victims could often control more of their thoughts and even move on their own at times. Vice versa, a very strong Puppeteer could control everything in their puppet down to when they blinked.
"Using these puppets, the official that hired the Puppeteer could rise up higher in rank, if their victim were capable of appointing them. They could marry into high-ranking families by controlling the father. Several assassinations were executed using the puppets as the murderers so that the official's hands were clean. Some puppeteers were hired simply to take control of the victim and kill them quietly.
"These Puppeteers ended up becoming a very common tool for the very rich and ambitious." There was a groan from where Inuyasha lay and the half-breed slowly pushed himself up. Kaede acknowledged him with a nod, then continued. "By the time I was born, Puppeteers were beginning to fade away as open assassinations and war replaced them. People didn't care about secrecy anymore..." Her voice trailed off, tinted with sorrow as the events of her youth resurfaced. After a brief moment of silence to allow her to regain her composure, she finished. "And that is what I know."
Digesting both his food and her story, Miroku nodded. Inuyasha blinked at them all groggily, still stunned by Sango's boomerang. No one complained.
Finally, the priest grunted. "The stories are similar. From what I understand, Shadowing began hundred of years ago for some of the same reasons you just claimed, Lady Kaede. Political power and death threats. It, too, fell into disuse. The difference is only in the way it was executed: Shadow masters manipulated their victims by attaching themselves to them; Human Puppeteers used spiritual strings and coercion." He paused momentarily in thought, chin resting in his open palm. Mumbling to himself, he finally said: "However, considering the similarities between the two, I believe we can use your knowledge. Lady Kaede, do you know how one could beat a Puppeteer once controlled? If we can figure that out, we may be able to save Kagome."
At her name, Inuyasha's ears perked up. Back on his feet, the dog-demon made a grab for Miroku, snarling: "Do you know how we can save her?"
Miroku dodged the attack skilfully, tumbling off to the side to avoid a second grab. "We're about to learn that-" he dodged another swipe and took off running around the room, Inuyasha close behind. "Inuyasha, if you'd just calm down-Hey! Inuyasha, watch it-OW!" The priest suddenly skidded to a halt and grabbed the prayer beads around his wrist, pointing his cursed hand directly at the startled hanyou. "I know that you are worried about Kagome and want to know how to save her, but if you do not calm down and listen to Lady Kaede I will pull you into my Air Rip!"
Inuyasha's expressions flattened and he stared at the monk with deadpan eyes. "Uh, Miroku, your Air Rip is gone..."
"Oh, well...so it is!" Laughing to himself, the priest began to saunter off, only to turn immediately on his heel, staff at the ready. Once, twice, three times he bopped Inuyasha on the head with the end of his weapon. "Then I shall poke you with an ugly stick, instead."
Eyebrows twitching and fists shaking, Inuyasha groaned: "Miroku..."
Jab. Jab. "You fear my staff, I know you do."
"Listen, priest, this is-"
"Fear the staff." Poke. Poke. "I have awesome spiritual power. Fear the staff."
Frustrated with the idiot priest's actions, Inuyasha turned away and sat down next to Kikyou's sister. 'Stupid priest. Stupid, stupid priest. I'll get you for that.' "So, Kaede-baba, what is this about Kagome?"
Sighing, Miroku sat back down and listened as Kaede began her explanation. Sango gave him the most curious expression from the corner of her eye; Miroku smiled and tapped the side of his nose. The demon hunter rolled her eyes. She would never understand her companion's strange methods. 'Men...However...his idiocy did get Inuyasha to sit down and listen...'
"As far as I know," the old priestess began, "there are very few ways to free a victim after they have been tagged. And of those few methods, I only know of two that have been effective." Sango readied her boomerang as Inuyasha shifted, ready to spring if the old woman didn't talk a little faster. Kaede nodded thankfully as Inuyasha reluctantly sat back down. "As I was saying, there are two effective methods. One is to help the victims break the mind control themselves. This can be very hard, as each victim has different amounts of strength, both spiritual and physical. The urgency of those trying to help the victim is also a factor. If the victim is not strong enough, or the Puppeteer is too strong, then the attempt to break free will leave the victim helpless and that much more susceptible. If those that are trying to help aren't strong enough to support the victim, then the same outcome is also likely. To have a person break free of the spell in this way can often lead to much worse consequences."
"So in other words," Miroku interjected lightly, "this way is very risky."
"And what is the other way, Lady Kaede?" Sango asked quietly as the old woman paused a moment, either for a breath or dramatic effect, the demon hunter didn't know.
Kaede shrugged and picked up her tea, taking a long, quiet drink. When she placed the cup back down, all eyes were on her. "The other way is perhaps harder. In order to free the victim, you have to break the bonds."
"Break the bonds?" all three echoed in unison.
The priestess nodded. "The only other way to save Kagome is to kill the Puppeteer or Shadow master that is controlling her."
There was a rustling behind her. With a start, Kagome whirled around, hands automatically drifting to her neck where the Shikon Jewel once hung. She had to break that habit, she realised with a grimace as the brush parted and Rin popped her head out.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Kagome sank back down to the ground, the younger girl scooting up close. Rin was smiling like an idiot. "What are you so happy about?" Then: "Weren't you supposed to leave last night?"
Rin laughed and clapped her hands like a lunatic and Kagome briefly wondered just what it was Sesshoumaru fed the child. She looked healthy. 'But then again, with that demon, who knows. For all I know, he beats poor little Rin every night and only gives her gruel in the morning. He is a demon, after all.' But looking at the girl's smiling face, Kagome somehow doubted her own thoughts. 'Maybe even Sesshoumaru has a kind heart sometimes.'
Dancing around, Rin bounced up to Kagome and took her hands in her own. Chipper as ever, the child said: "Guess who I saw on my way home last night!"
Kagome gawked at the girl in front of her, baffled. 'Saw? She came back here to tell me who she saw?' Sighing, the priestess only smiled and went along with it. She might as well humour the girl's whim. "Okay, Rin, who did you see on your way home last night?"
"Shippou!" She just about blew Kagome's head off with the strength of her yell. When the ringing in her head finally stopped and the meaning of Rin's words sunk in, all Kagome could do was work her dry mouth open and closed. 'Shippou...? She saw Shippou...?'
Momentarily stunned, the captive woman just stared ahead of her. She vaguely noticed Rin sitting down beside her, humming happily and tying flowers together. 'Shippou...If she really did see him then he must be close! And Inuyasha will be with him. They must have come after me shortly after Sesshoumaru took me away. And they must have pushed themselves hard...It's only been three days...' A giddy, almost dizzying feeling swept over Kagome as the realisation of them being so close hit her. 'They're going to take me home...I'm not going to be some captive anymore...I can be with Inuyasha, finally, after so long...I can be with him again...'
"Big Sister, are you hungry again?"
Kagome took a deep breath and looked at the little girl beside her. "What was that, Rin?"
Sesshoumaru's charge tilted her head to the side owlishly and pursed her lips. Her cheeks puffed out. "I asked if you're hungry again, because you're starting to cry. It's okay if you are, I can go and get you something to eat."
Lifting a trembling finger to her eye, Kagome realised that she did, indeed, have tears standing on her delicate lashes. Pulling the damp finger away, all she could do was smile. With Rin watching on, bewildered, Kagome's smile became a grin, then a chuckle and finally an all out laugh. Pulling herself to her feet, she reached down and took Rin up in her arms, spinning the younger girl around. "Big Sister...?"
Setting the child down, Kagome sighed and wiped her eyes. "I'm not hungry, Rin, I'm happy. I get to see everyone and go home soon, so I'm very happy."
A spark of understanding lit up her dark eyes and Rin opened her mouth in a silent "ah." "Oh, okay. I thought maybe you were hungry again and started crying because your belly hurt. I do that sometimes." She paused and looked away. Then: "But I know what you mean. When Lord Sesshoumaru came home after his big fight with you and Big Brother Inuyasha, I cried too. I was so happy that Lord Sesshoumaru came home-even though he was really hurt and slept for a really long time afterward-I was just so happy that I cried a really really lot." She turned back and smiled. "It's okay to cry because you're happy. That doesn't make other people sad."
Kagome nodded. Sitting back down, she brushed her hair back behind her shoulder and motioned for Rin to sit near her. When the child was situated, the older priestess asked: "So you really like Sesshoumaru, huh?"
"Yep!" Rin exclaimed happily. "Rin loves Lord Sesshoumaru thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!" To accentuate her point she held her little arms out as far as they would go. Looking at her arm span, she frowned slightly, then let her limbs fall. "Well, more than that, but my arms aren't long enough..."
Her companion laughed. "It's okay, Rin. I can tell that you really care about him. It's hard for me to believe, even though I can tell just from how you talk." When Rin just gave her a blank look, Kagome tried her best to explain. "Well...you see, every time I meet up with Sesshoumaru, he's trying to kill Inuyasha or me and our friends. I never get to see his...how do I put it...nice side. So it's hard for me to believe that he's a good enough person for you to love him so much. On the other hand, just watching you talk about him I can't doubt that he is a good demon, at least toward you. It's a lot to take in when all you've ever seen is a blood-thirsty monster."
Rin wrinkled her nose. "Lord Sesshoumaru isn't a monster, but Jaken is. Grr...I don't like Jaken. Wanna know something?"
"Sure."
Giggling, Rin crawled up to her knees so that she could look the sitting Kagome in the eyes. "One time, back when Lord Sesshoumaru was about to leave to get beaten up, I was studying with Jaken in the study because Lord Sesshoumaru told me I had to-so I can become a lady but also because he didn't want me underfoot while he prepared to leave because he knew that I would try to stop him. Well anyhow, I was in the study and learned that Lord Sesshoumaru was leaving so I grabbed my ribbons and tied them around Jaken's ankles so that he couldn't get up and follow me, then I went to the kitchen and grabbed a pot! And guess what! I put it on Jaken's head so he couldn't see! He waddled around and yelled and said lots of bad words that Rin doesn't understand but it was funny anyhow because he had ribbons around his ankles and a pot on his head!"
Listening to her story, Kagome couldn't help but laugh. She was laughing so hard, in fact, that she didn't sense the approaching demon and by the time she did, he was already on top of them.
Looking down and the giggling girls, Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened. In his deep, smooth voice he quite calmly said: "Rin, I thought I told you to go home."
Gulping, Rin backed away. Kagome shuddered at the ice in Sesshoumaru's words. This wasn't like yesterday, when he told her to leave and she'd played around and teased him about it. The air literally shivered from the words he spoke and Rin began to shudder like a caught deer. She could not charm her way out of this.
Stuttering, the child managed to babble out: "Rin is sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru! Rin was going home with Jaken just like you said but she saw something in the woods and wanted to go see-Jaken told Rin not to but she didn't listen and she's really sorry Lord Sesshoumaru-and she saw Big Sister's little fox friend walking in the woods with another girl and Rin was so excited to see one of Big Sister's friends that she ran back here to tell Big Sister what she saw, but she didn't mean to make Lord Sesshoumaru angry and she'll go home right away so please don't yell at Rin...!"
Some of the ice gone from his words, Sesshoumaru smirked. "Fox...eh? So it would seem they have come for you, woman of my brother." Kagome squirmed beneath his gaze as he turned his frozen golden eyes on her. She was aware of Rin walking over and latching onto Sesshoumaru's leg, but her attention was riveted on the demon lord's words.
In the most frightening tone, the demon lord of the Western Lands said very softly: "Even though they have come here, they will not take you away. Come, Rin. It is time for you to go home."
Kagome watched him walk away, Rin tagging along behind, her eyes sad as she shot a farewell glance back her way. 'Shippou...Inuyasha, run away...run away...'