Chapter Fourteen-The End of the Beginning
The next morning, just before sunrise, Lord Sesshoumaru came back for Saraku, just like he promised. The young girl wasn't even out of bed yet, for the others in the group had decided she needed the extra sleep for her long journey to Sesshoumaru's home. Now, as the demon lord knelt to wake her, he smiled at how innocent and vulnerable she looked as she slept. "Saraku…come. It's time to go."
Saraku stirred, and opened her eyes. "My Lord? Is it morning already?" it had seemed to Saraku she'd just fallen asleep. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes,moving slowly to wake the rest of her body up.
Sesshoumaru patted her head gently, standing up. "We'll be leaving in ten minutes."
"Yes,Lord Sesshoumaru." She stood up slowly, beginning to fold up her pallet to take it with her.
"Don't bother with their things. I have had a new roll made for you." Sesshoumaru told her softly.
"She may have it if you consent." Sango said to him. "We gave it to her when she joined us."
"Alright then." Sesshoumaru took it from his youngest child and tied it to his two-headed beast. "Would it please you to ride on this beast?" He asked Saraku now.
"Yes it would." The little girl replied softly. She was looking around. "Wait…. Where's Inuyasha? I want to say good bye."
Sesshoumaru frowned slightly, but didn't forbid it when Sango pointed out where his younger half-brother was. "Make it quick,Little One." He instructed as she tore off towards the hanyou.
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"Inuyasha…?"
The half-demon turned towards the small,timid voice. "I see you're all ready to go."
"I am, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."
Inuyasha tilted his head. "Why does it matter? You've been wanting to leave with that brother of mine since he kidnapped you." He turned his back on her.
"I'm only a little girl, Inuyasha. I can't make my mind up." She said in a wise tone. "Miroku said I would know when I was older what I wanted to do, and who I wanted to side with."
"He is probably right, for once. I'm sorry I snapped at you." The hanyou turned to face her once more. "Let me give you a word of warning, though. If you decide later on that you would rather be with me, Sesshoumaru will never again be so kind to you."
"Why does he hate you so much? You seem nice to me." Saraku sat in front of Inuyasha now. "He's your brother. He should love you,right?"
"It's an extremely difficult thing to explain, Sara, and I'm probably not the best person to do so. When you can, ask him." Inuyasha secretly wished for that brotherly love Saraku fantasized between them. "You take care of yourself, you hear me?"
"Yes, Inuyasha. I promise I will." She then threw her arms around him, surprising the halfling. "I love you too,Inuyasha. I know you won't tell me, but Kagome and Shippou both said you loved me."
"Oh is that what they said?" Inuyasha scowled, annoyed "Well…um…you'd better go. Sesshoumaru doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Saraku let go, and sighed heavily, wiping her un-shed tears away from her eyes. "Good bye."
"Good bye, Saraku." In about three years, I'll be able to get that shard back from you. Just don't let Kouga find you again, and take it. He added silently to himself.
"We go now." Sesshoumaru picked her up, and put her on his beast.
"Behave yourself,Saraku!" Inuyasha called suddenly. "No running off!"
"I won't!" She almost felt like giggling about that. She could never run from Lord Sesshoumaru. The others were saying good bye now, and with every good bye,her voice got softer,and shakier. When Kilala jumped on to her lap, she held her tightly, letting the tears that had been threatening to fall, do so. "You take care of Kagome and Shippou for me, won't you, Kilala?" The cat-like creature purred softly, and nudged her, before jumping to the ground again.
Shippou came to a rest in front of his friend's lap, just before Sesshoumaru was about to lead her off. "Don't forget about me."
"I…..won't…." She hugged him tightly, knowing he was the one she'd miss the most. "I'll think of you always."
"Same here." Shippou let her go, and then ran off,unable to say goodbye.
"If anything happens to her…." Sango began to threaten Sesshoumaru, but Miroku put a hand on her shoulder.
"Be well, Sara. We will meet again." The monk nodded to Sesshoumaru out of sheer courtesy. "Come, Sango. Let's go find Shippou, before he gets lost."
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After that, Sesshoumaru led his fosterling away from the camp,into a new life. "I promise you, Young One. You will see them as often as I can spare time." He told the young girl. He noticed that she was trying not to cry in his presence, and his heart went out to her, though he did not speak of it.
Saraku said nothing for a long time into their journey. She watched, as the forests became increasing darker, and unfamiliar. "Where are we going, Lord Sesshoumaru?" She asked suddenly.
"To my home. I see you've noticed it gets darker as we go."
"Do you live in a dark place then?" She shuddered, looking back. Inuyasha's camp was very far away now.
"No, I only must pass through in darkness, to veil us from those that would enjoy a meal of human girls." Sesshoumaru reached up, and patted her leg gently. "Do not fear. Nothing will harm you with me at your side."
Saraku nodded, slowly. She knew Sesshoumaru would protect her for as long as she was true to him. She wondered what would happen if she did decide that she wanted to stay with Inuyasha later on. She shook her head now. They made the right choice. I will be happy with Sesshoumaru.
The demon lord smiled despite himself. For the first time in a long while ,he had someone who loved him for him. Saraku was a kind little girl, mischevious as she could be sometimes. She loved him unconditionally, no matter what. He only hoped it would last when she was older, and wanted to be on her own. It will, he thought to himself,She loves me more than Inuyasha. That's almost never happened before. Rin is a totally different matter. Perhaps I did this for Rin, but maybe the person I really did this for was myself. Well,no one has to know that but me. He continued to lead them on. "Only a few more minutes now, Girls." He announced lightly.
Rin had been very quiet that whole morning, and now she spoke up. "Is your house pretty?"
"It is. It was my father's home. It lies just beside a river, and there is a grand view of a waterfall." Sesshoumaru replied. "There is a little tree house, if it is still there. You and Saraku may use it to play in, after I inspect it for dangers."
Rin nodded, smiling up at Saraku. "We have a tree house."
"I can't wait to see it." The younger girl replied. "Are we nearly there, My Lord?"
"We have arrived." Sesshoumaru replied. He took Saraku off of the beast, and pointed through the trees to a clearing. "You see that over there?" He pointed to large hut. "That is our home." He lifted Rin up to see it now.
"It IS pretty!" Rin said in delight. "Can Sara and I run ahead,My Lord?"
Sesshoumaru chuckled softly. "Yes, go on." He nudged Saraku to follow her adopted sister. As he watched the two girls climb over the rocky path that led to the hut, his heart nearly melted.
"Why must we have two of them,My Lord?" Jakken moaned now, coming up beside his Master.
"I needed her, Jakken. She needed me." The demon lord replied.
"But that doesn't-" Jakken quieted, at the glare from Sesshoumaru. "My apologies, Master. That was out of line." He started to untie their belongings. "I trust we'll be staying here for a good while."
"That we will. They need a stable home environment for now." Sesshoumaru had no intention of actually staying with them, but this was going to be their new place for a home. He took his share of the load, and led the beast the rest of the way up the rocky path. "Welcome home, Saraku. I do hope you will like it."
The girl smiled. "I am sure I will." As she looked around the land that surrounded the hut, she shook her head, looking up at the demon lord that was now her guardian. "No. I know I will." And she meant it.
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And that concludes my very first Inuyasha fic. This has been the most incredible experience I've had writing a fanfic in a while. I give you,the readers and reviewers credit for all the support I received. Just a few shout outs:
Melissa-Thank you for your endless support, and for advertising!! That was a big help!!
Dusty and Rainy:You two are SO great! I hope Melissa told you about the suggestion I gave her!! (Go ask her if she didn't!)
Kagome Loves Inuyasha:Thank you for your help on some things. Those japanese names are difficult!!
Anyone I missed:You have all been a tremendous help!!
Stay tuned for the sequel,coming December 2003!
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