*Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Inuyasha owns me.*
A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews and support. Someone asked if Inuyasha
will be in this fic. Yes. He makes his first brief appearance in this
chapter. He'll get more involved with the story later on. The beginning
chapters of this story will have several characters and will deal with
different relationships, but the main couple will be Rin x Sess. It will
take me a while to get to them, so please be patient RxS fans. Here's the
second chapter. Enjoy and remember to review if you have the time.
* * * * *
(Kagome's room)
"Kagome-neechan. Wake up. I gotta get Fluffy his breakfast," Rin said as
she was shaking Kagome from her slumber.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes at the intruding hands. She rubbed her eyes
and began to see Rin's face forming from the blurriness.
"Rin, what time is it? Go back to sleep. It's too early."
"No. I need to go right now. If I don't, Fluffy will be hungry."
"Oh, alright. Just go on ahead of me and I'll join you in fifteen
minutes," Kagome said groggily.
"Okay. I'll see you later," Rin said. She then skipped hurriedly outside
Kagome's room, grabbed the packages that she had prepared and headed toward
the cave. It took her half the time to arrive at the cave as it did
yesterday when she headed from the cave home. Her heart was beating
rapidly. She felt anxious hoping that Fluffy was still there when she
arrived. As she entered the cave, she saw that Fluffy had not budged an
inch from where she had left him previously. She knelt beside him and laid
her hand on his chest, relieved to feel his warmth and his heartbeat.
"Ohayo Fluffy-kun. I'm back and look what I've brought you. Here's a
blanket so you can keep warm," Rin said soothingly as she placed the
blanket over his body. "And here is your breakfast. These are rice balls
with different stuffing. I made them myself this morning. I'm not sure
what you like to eat, so I made several. This one is filled dried fish,
this one is filled with pork, this is filled with beef, and this is filled
with chicken," Rin said as she pointed to each one of the rice balls, each
perfectly shaped and sprinkled with black or white sesame seeds. "Let me
know which one you like and I'll bring you more for lunch."
Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and stared at what was laid before him. Human
food. He didn't eat human food. This girl was wasting her time making
such elaborate delicacies. He closed his eyes and tried to get back to
sleep, hoping the girl would leave soon so he can get some peace again.
Rin saw that Fluffy was uninterested in what she had brought him. She was
saddened because she had awoken at the brink of dawn to prepare this for
him. Tears began filling her eyes and she tried to hold them back.
"Gomenesai Fluffy-kun. You must not like what I've made, but it's the only
thing I know how because I'm not allowed to cook with fire yet. I'll ask
Kagome-neechan to make you something better."
'Peculiar girl,' thought Sesshoumaru. 'Why is she so distressed just
because I don't want to eat her food? I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a
bite so she would stop that racket and leave me be.' Sesshoumaru then
reached over and took a bite of one of rice balls. 'Hmm. It's not so bad
for human food,' he thought. He took a few more bites and finished half of
what she had brought him. He hated to admit it, but having some
nourishment made him feel better. He felt more of his youki returning.
"Rin! Get away from there!" Kagome screamed. As she neared the cave, she
felt a faint swirl of youki emanating from within the cave. She quickly
rushed into the cave and pulled Rin to her side.
"What's wrong, Kagome-neechan?" Rin asked.
"I felt some youki from this cave. That's strange. It's suddenly gone.
Rin. You'd better leave. I don't think it's safe here."
"I can't leave," Rin said pushing herself away from Kagome's clutch. "I
have to take care of Fluffy. And if there's youkai, I have to protect
him."
"Rin. Don't be silly. You wouldn't be able to protect yourself let alone
protect another creature from youkai," Kagome said, feeling a little
flustered at her sister's naïveté. She looked at Rin and could tell Rin's
determination wouldn't let her just leave the dog there. "Tell you what,"
Kagome began. "I've brought some herbs to bandage his wounds. After I
finish with that, your Fluffy should be well on his way to recovery. You
can visit him one more time, but that's it. I'm not sure how hostile he
could be when he gains back his energy. He has been in a fight and all,
and who knows if he'll be aggressive with you later on. Do you understand
me, Rin?"
"Hai."
"Alright. You can come over and help me with his wounds," Kagome said.
She walked over to Sesshoumaru and knelt down beside him as Rin knelt
opposite of Kagome. Kagome stared at the familiar-looking blanket. "Rin?"
"Hmm?"
"Isn't this the blanket from your room?"
"Uh-huh," Rin nodded.
Kagome sighed. "Rin, you know you only have one blanket. What are you
going to use tonight?"
"I don't know. I guess I can put on extra clothes," Rin said while
twiddling her thumbs.
Kagome gave her that all too familiar disapproving look, to which Rin
replied, "Demo, I couldn't just let him freeze to death."
"Nevermind. Here. Take these herbs and place it over his body and I'll do
the rest."
"Sure thing," Rin smiled.
After Kagome finished bandaging the wounds, she stood up. "I'm gonna go
home right now. I need to help Father polish some swords today. Hurry on
home, okay?"
"Okay. Arigato Kagome-neechan."
* * * * *
(Outside a hut, somewhere deep in the forest)
"Your training has progressed so rapidly Kikyou. There is nothing left for
me to teach you."
"Kaede-sama. I feel like I still have much to learn. I've only trained
with you for six months," Kikyou said, in a bowing kneel before Kaede.
"When you came to me seeking for training, you were already well-learned in
the ways of the miko. There is nothing left for you to learn. It is time
for you to return to your village."
"Demo, I am not ready to return. It is my wish to stay here with you.
Will you not keep me? Is there nothing I can do for you?"
"Yes. There is something you may do for me, but it requires a great deal
of responsibility and sacrifice from you. As you can see, I am old in my
years," Kaede said as she swept her fingers through her ashen grey hair.
"I've been searching for my replacement as the guardian of the Shikon no
Tama."
Kikyou quickly glanced up at her master at the mention of the ancient
relic. "Shikon no Tama? That is in your possession? I thought that was
nothing more than a myth."
"Indeed it is very real. It has been passed down in secrecy from master to
disciple for many generations before it came under my care. I've been
searching for a suitable person to which I shall pass the Shikon. Kikyou,
you are the person I find most suitable, but it has to be your choice, for
you see, while in your possession, the Shikon will put you in grave danger.
You are at risk to be attacked at all times. To humans, the Shikon is
just a story, but to youkai, it is a reality-a constant allure. With the
Shikon, they will have limitless power."
* * * * *
Well-hidden in the shadows of the dense forest, a pair of ears where
listening to the conversation, unbeknownst to the speakers. 'Shikon no
Tama? Limitless power?' thought Inuyasha. His ears perked up to listen to
more of the conversation.
* * * * *
"You will not be able to live a normal life," Kaede continued. "Are you
willing to accept that?"
"I."
"As you see before you, if you choose to accept, this is your fate. You
see, I live alone with no close companions. I cannot live with my family-
cannot marry or have children. Youkai are hateful and deceitful creatures.
They will go through any lengths to attain what they desire. They will
use your love of family against you to get their hands on the Shikon.
Anyone tied to the Guardian of the Shikon shall be put in danger as well.
That is why the Guardian of the Shikon must cast away all feelings love and
all close attachments to any thing or any person. You must think carefully
before to accept this responsibility."
Kikyou continued to kneel before Kaede, contemplating the consequences of
such a decision. The thought of never being able to be close to her
sisters again pained her, but if she were to marry Onigumo, he would take
her away and she wouldn't be able to see her sisters either way. The
thought of going to bed with him every night and waking up with him every
morning repulsed her. She could not imagine herself living with a man who
possessed such an evil aura. When faced with two evils, one must choose
the lesser of the two evils. Kikyou looked at Kaede with conviction.
"Kaede-sama, I will accept that responsibility."
"Are you sure you've thought through it carefully, dear child?"
"Hai. I choose to accept the life of the Guardian of the Shikon."
"Very well. Come along inside and you shall learn all there is to know
about being the Guardian."
Kikyou stood up from her position and followed Kaede inside the hut.
* * * * *
"So she will become the new Guardian. Looks like I'll have to make a new
friend," Inuyasha thought, grinning mischievously.
* * * * *
(Back at the cave)
After Rin spent time making sure Fluffy was comfortable in his new
bandages, she cleaned up the area around him.
"Fluffy-kun, I'm gonna go home now. I'll bring you lunch later today."
After Rin left, Sesshoumaru felt at peace again. Indeed, he did feel much
better after his wounds were cared for and his stomach was full. 'Two more
days...two more days and I'll be able to leave this cave,' he thought.
* * * * *
A/N: okay, that's it for my second installment to the story. As you might
have guessed, Kagome's father is Toutousai (that's why she's helping w/
polishing swords).
Some Japanese terms used in this chapter (Feel free to correct me if I'm
wrong, since I'm not Japanese)
Youki: Demon energy
Gomenasai: Sorry
Special thanks to reviewers:
Aff.net:
blacka
Taiki
anhimals: hehehe. I'm glad you liked the name. I was afraid people might
think it's unoriginal.
Kawool
animechick262003: I'm feeling ecstatic. It's great to get a review from
one of my favorite writers. And you're right. This is not a Kikyou
bashing deal. I would never do that because I love kikyou. You won't
believe how saddened I am about you not continuing IY fics, especially
since I love SS and I'm also dying to find out what happens to Rin in OSAC.
New Fan: He's a normal sized dog only because he's injured and needs to
conserve his energy. When he regains enough of his youki, he should be
able to transform into the familiar giant dog.
Rasberries: I'm doubly ecstatic now since a second fave writer has
reviewed. Please update CS soon.
chillkat
marnika
Mediaminer.org:
geminidragon: Kagome is 16 as is Kikyou.
Fanfiction.net:
Twilightkitty
Uber Rei Model 03
duckknight
Cookie6
A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews and support. Someone asked if Inuyasha
will be in this fic. Yes. He makes his first brief appearance in this
chapter. He'll get more involved with the story later on. The beginning
chapters of this story will have several characters and will deal with
different relationships, but the main couple will be Rin x Sess. It will
take me a while to get to them, so please be patient RxS fans. Here's the
second chapter. Enjoy and remember to review if you have the time.
* * * * *
(Kagome's room)
"Kagome-neechan. Wake up. I gotta get Fluffy his breakfast," Rin said as
she was shaking Kagome from her slumber.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes at the intruding hands. She rubbed her eyes
and began to see Rin's face forming from the blurriness.
"Rin, what time is it? Go back to sleep. It's too early."
"No. I need to go right now. If I don't, Fluffy will be hungry."
"Oh, alright. Just go on ahead of me and I'll join you in fifteen
minutes," Kagome said groggily.
"Okay. I'll see you later," Rin said. She then skipped hurriedly outside
Kagome's room, grabbed the packages that she had prepared and headed toward
the cave. It took her half the time to arrive at the cave as it did
yesterday when she headed from the cave home. Her heart was beating
rapidly. She felt anxious hoping that Fluffy was still there when she
arrived. As she entered the cave, she saw that Fluffy had not budged an
inch from where she had left him previously. She knelt beside him and laid
her hand on his chest, relieved to feel his warmth and his heartbeat.
"Ohayo Fluffy-kun. I'm back and look what I've brought you. Here's a
blanket so you can keep warm," Rin said soothingly as she placed the
blanket over his body. "And here is your breakfast. These are rice balls
with different stuffing. I made them myself this morning. I'm not sure
what you like to eat, so I made several. This one is filled dried fish,
this one is filled with pork, this is filled with beef, and this is filled
with chicken," Rin said as she pointed to each one of the rice balls, each
perfectly shaped and sprinkled with black or white sesame seeds. "Let me
know which one you like and I'll bring you more for lunch."
Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and stared at what was laid before him. Human
food. He didn't eat human food. This girl was wasting her time making
such elaborate delicacies. He closed his eyes and tried to get back to
sleep, hoping the girl would leave soon so he can get some peace again.
Rin saw that Fluffy was uninterested in what she had brought him. She was
saddened because she had awoken at the brink of dawn to prepare this for
him. Tears began filling her eyes and she tried to hold them back.
"Gomenesai Fluffy-kun. You must not like what I've made, but it's the only
thing I know how because I'm not allowed to cook with fire yet. I'll ask
Kagome-neechan to make you something better."
'Peculiar girl,' thought Sesshoumaru. 'Why is she so distressed just
because I don't want to eat her food? I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a
bite so she would stop that racket and leave me be.' Sesshoumaru then
reached over and took a bite of one of rice balls. 'Hmm. It's not so bad
for human food,' he thought. He took a few more bites and finished half of
what she had brought him. He hated to admit it, but having some
nourishment made him feel better. He felt more of his youki returning.
"Rin! Get away from there!" Kagome screamed. As she neared the cave, she
felt a faint swirl of youki emanating from within the cave. She quickly
rushed into the cave and pulled Rin to her side.
"What's wrong, Kagome-neechan?" Rin asked.
"I felt some youki from this cave. That's strange. It's suddenly gone.
Rin. You'd better leave. I don't think it's safe here."
"I can't leave," Rin said pushing herself away from Kagome's clutch. "I
have to take care of Fluffy. And if there's youkai, I have to protect
him."
"Rin. Don't be silly. You wouldn't be able to protect yourself let alone
protect another creature from youkai," Kagome said, feeling a little
flustered at her sister's naïveté. She looked at Rin and could tell Rin's
determination wouldn't let her just leave the dog there. "Tell you what,"
Kagome began. "I've brought some herbs to bandage his wounds. After I
finish with that, your Fluffy should be well on his way to recovery. You
can visit him one more time, but that's it. I'm not sure how hostile he
could be when he gains back his energy. He has been in a fight and all,
and who knows if he'll be aggressive with you later on. Do you understand
me, Rin?"
"Hai."
"Alright. You can come over and help me with his wounds," Kagome said.
She walked over to Sesshoumaru and knelt down beside him as Rin knelt
opposite of Kagome. Kagome stared at the familiar-looking blanket. "Rin?"
"Hmm?"
"Isn't this the blanket from your room?"
"Uh-huh," Rin nodded.
Kagome sighed. "Rin, you know you only have one blanket. What are you
going to use tonight?"
"I don't know. I guess I can put on extra clothes," Rin said while
twiddling her thumbs.
Kagome gave her that all too familiar disapproving look, to which Rin
replied, "Demo, I couldn't just let him freeze to death."
"Nevermind. Here. Take these herbs and place it over his body and I'll do
the rest."
"Sure thing," Rin smiled.
After Kagome finished bandaging the wounds, she stood up. "I'm gonna go
home right now. I need to help Father polish some swords today. Hurry on
home, okay?"
"Okay. Arigato Kagome-neechan."
* * * * *
(Outside a hut, somewhere deep in the forest)
"Your training has progressed so rapidly Kikyou. There is nothing left for
me to teach you."
"Kaede-sama. I feel like I still have much to learn. I've only trained
with you for six months," Kikyou said, in a bowing kneel before Kaede.
"When you came to me seeking for training, you were already well-learned in
the ways of the miko. There is nothing left for you to learn. It is time
for you to return to your village."
"Demo, I am not ready to return. It is my wish to stay here with you.
Will you not keep me? Is there nothing I can do for you?"
"Yes. There is something you may do for me, but it requires a great deal
of responsibility and sacrifice from you. As you can see, I am old in my
years," Kaede said as she swept her fingers through her ashen grey hair.
"I've been searching for my replacement as the guardian of the Shikon no
Tama."
Kikyou quickly glanced up at her master at the mention of the ancient
relic. "Shikon no Tama? That is in your possession? I thought that was
nothing more than a myth."
"Indeed it is very real. It has been passed down in secrecy from master to
disciple for many generations before it came under my care. I've been
searching for a suitable person to which I shall pass the Shikon. Kikyou,
you are the person I find most suitable, but it has to be your choice, for
you see, while in your possession, the Shikon will put you in grave danger.
You are at risk to be attacked at all times. To humans, the Shikon is
just a story, but to youkai, it is a reality-a constant allure. With the
Shikon, they will have limitless power."
* * * * *
Well-hidden in the shadows of the dense forest, a pair of ears where
listening to the conversation, unbeknownst to the speakers. 'Shikon no
Tama? Limitless power?' thought Inuyasha. His ears perked up to listen to
more of the conversation.
* * * * *
"You will not be able to live a normal life," Kaede continued. "Are you
willing to accept that?"
"I."
"As you see before you, if you choose to accept, this is your fate. You
see, I live alone with no close companions. I cannot live with my family-
cannot marry or have children. Youkai are hateful and deceitful creatures.
They will go through any lengths to attain what they desire. They will
use your love of family against you to get their hands on the Shikon.
Anyone tied to the Guardian of the Shikon shall be put in danger as well.
That is why the Guardian of the Shikon must cast away all feelings love and
all close attachments to any thing or any person. You must think carefully
before to accept this responsibility."
Kikyou continued to kneel before Kaede, contemplating the consequences of
such a decision. The thought of never being able to be close to her
sisters again pained her, but if she were to marry Onigumo, he would take
her away and she wouldn't be able to see her sisters either way. The
thought of going to bed with him every night and waking up with him every
morning repulsed her. She could not imagine herself living with a man who
possessed such an evil aura. When faced with two evils, one must choose
the lesser of the two evils. Kikyou looked at Kaede with conviction.
"Kaede-sama, I will accept that responsibility."
"Are you sure you've thought through it carefully, dear child?"
"Hai. I choose to accept the life of the Guardian of the Shikon."
"Very well. Come along inside and you shall learn all there is to know
about being the Guardian."
Kikyou stood up from her position and followed Kaede inside the hut.
* * * * *
"So she will become the new Guardian. Looks like I'll have to make a new
friend," Inuyasha thought, grinning mischievously.
* * * * *
(Back at the cave)
After Rin spent time making sure Fluffy was comfortable in his new
bandages, she cleaned up the area around him.
"Fluffy-kun, I'm gonna go home now. I'll bring you lunch later today."
After Rin left, Sesshoumaru felt at peace again. Indeed, he did feel much
better after his wounds were cared for and his stomach was full. 'Two more
days...two more days and I'll be able to leave this cave,' he thought.
* * * * *
A/N: okay, that's it for my second installment to the story. As you might
have guessed, Kagome's father is Toutousai (that's why she's helping w/
polishing swords).
Some Japanese terms used in this chapter (Feel free to correct me if I'm
wrong, since I'm not Japanese)
Youki: Demon energy
Gomenasai: Sorry
Special thanks to reviewers:
Aff.net:
blacka
Taiki
anhimals: hehehe. I'm glad you liked the name. I was afraid people might
think it's unoriginal.
Kawool
animechick262003: I'm feeling ecstatic. It's great to get a review from
one of my favorite writers. And you're right. This is not a Kikyou
bashing deal. I would never do that because I love kikyou. You won't
believe how saddened I am about you not continuing IY fics, especially
since I love SS and I'm also dying to find out what happens to Rin in OSAC.
New Fan: He's a normal sized dog only because he's injured and needs to
conserve his energy. When he regains enough of his youki, he should be
able to transform into the familiar giant dog.
Rasberries: I'm doubly ecstatic now since a second fave writer has
reviewed. Please update CS soon.
chillkat
marnika
Mediaminer.org:
geminidragon: Kagome is 16 as is Kikyou.
Fanfiction.net:
Twilightkitty
Uber Rei Model 03
duckknight
Cookie6