Chapter Ten: Inoru-san
Ai walked around the palace gardens restlessly anticipating Sesshoumaru's return. As she came to the front lawns of the palace she could just make out Sesshoumaru walking with Jaken behind him. She noticed there was something different this time and as they came closer she saw that walking behind Jaken was a small human girl who looked to be no older than six. As soon as the girl saw Ai she ran as fast as she could until she reached her calling out "Inoru-san". Ai looked down at the girl and then back at Sesshoumaru who was currently standing across from her noticing her obvious confusion as to who the girl was and the reason behind her rambunctious behavior. "Rin" recognizing the seriousness in his voice Rin bowed slightly and then lifted her head up. "Rin's sorry Sesshoumaru-sama" She then darted her attention back to Ai "Will you except Rin's apology?" Ai smiled at Rin and managed to give her a small simple yes.
Sesshoumaru and Ai exchanged glances and it was all but a couple of seconds until Sesshoumaru ordered Jaken to take Rin inside. Jaken followed orders out of fear of punishment and as soon as he and Rin were out of hearing range the two started a conversation. "She's cute," Sesshoumaru turned to look at Ai and then decided to speak "I know what you're thinking and I am in no way attached to that human brat. I was slightly injured after my battle with Inuyasha and she found my resting spot and attempted to help me. The next day I found her dead, she was attacked by wolves. I was merely testing the power of my sword." "I hope you know all I said was that she's cute Sesshoumaru-sama. Why do you feel the need to explain yourself to me." "I don't" Ai took a deep breath and sighed that was just the kind of answer she would expect from him, "When you have a better answer than that come and find me." There was a tinge of finality in her voice and after making her statement Ai quickly hurried inside, not wanting to see what kind of response he would have to what she said.
Sesshoumaru continued walking, slowly making his way inside. He was trying his best not to dwell on her comment but it kept popping up in his thoughts. Why did he feel the need to explain himself to her? Once again he shook the thought out of his head and proceeded in entering his chambers. While he was in his room writing Sesshoumaru heard soft footsteps come to a stop near his door. It was Rin most likely. He continued writing and Rin sat down on the floor next to his desk and looked up at him as if the fact that he was writing was the most interesting thing in the world. Sesshoumaru looked down at her a couple of times and each time she would give him a smile. He stayed in his room until it was late in the evening. Rin was still there. More that once he considered telling her to shoo, but he knew all too well what the sound of a human child crying would do to his sensitive ears.
Just as Sesshoumaru rose to his feet Ai knocked on the door and entered the room. He couldn't decide whether he was glad to see her or not. Lately, she had been entering his thoughts quite a lot and he had soon decided that thinking about a human so much was unhealthy. As soon as Rin saw Ai she rose to her feet and ran over to her. Ai smiled and looked over at Sesshoumaru who was desperately trying to bury himself in his work. "Do you mind taking her." Ai shook her head no and spoke "It's not a problem Sesshoumaru-sama". She gave him a small smile and left with Rin behind her.
When they entered Ai's room, Ai sat down on a chair by the window and it wasn't long before Rin came and crawled into her lap. "Rin?" Rin looked up at her "Yes Inoru-san" "Why do you call me that" "Call you what?" Said Rin her question filled with an innocence that only comes with young age. "Inoru-san". Rin smiled finally something she could answer "That's easy it's because Rin always wished she had a mom and you remind Rin of her mom". With that Rin silently vowed that she would never leave this place and then she drifted off into sleep. Ai soon found sleep herself and before he could stop himself Sesshoumaru let a small smile escape his lips as he watched the two sleep from his spot in the doorway.
Ai walked around the palace gardens restlessly anticipating Sesshoumaru's return. As she came to the front lawns of the palace she could just make out Sesshoumaru walking with Jaken behind him. She noticed there was something different this time and as they came closer she saw that walking behind Jaken was a small human girl who looked to be no older than six. As soon as the girl saw Ai she ran as fast as she could until she reached her calling out "Inoru-san". Ai looked down at the girl and then back at Sesshoumaru who was currently standing across from her noticing her obvious confusion as to who the girl was and the reason behind her rambunctious behavior. "Rin" recognizing the seriousness in his voice Rin bowed slightly and then lifted her head up. "Rin's sorry Sesshoumaru-sama" She then darted her attention back to Ai "Will you except Rin's apology?" Ai smiled at Rin and managed to give her a small simple yes.
Sesshoumaru and Ai exchanged glances and it was all but a couple of seconds until Sesshoumaru ordered Jaken to take Rin inside. Jaken followed orders out of fear of punishment and as soon as he and Rin were out of hearing range the two started a conversation. "She's cute," Sesshoumaru turned to look at Ai and then decided to speak "I know what you're thinking and I am in no way attached to that human brat. I was slightly injured after my battle with Inuyasha and she found my resting spot and attempted to help me. The next day I found her dead, she was attacked by wolves. I was merely testing the power of my sword." "I hope you know all I said was that she's cute Sesshoumaru-sama. Why do you feel the need to explain yourself to me." "I don't" Ai took a deep breath and sighed that was just the kind of answer she would expect from him, "When you have a better answer than that come and find me." There was a tinge of finality in her voice and after making her statement Ai quickly hurried inside, not wanting to see what kind of response he would have to what she said.
Sesshoumaru continued walking, slowly making his way inside. He was trying his best not to dwell on her comment but it kept popping up in his thoughts. Why did he feel the need to explain himself to her? Once again he shook the thought out of his head and proceeded in entering his chambers. While he was in his room writing Sesshoumaru heard soft footsteps come to a stop near his door. It was Rin most likely. He continued writing and Rin sat down on the floor next to his desk and looked up at him as if the fact that he was writing was the most interesting thing in the world. Sesshoumaru looked down at her a couple of times and each time she would give him a smile. He stayed in his room until it was late in the evening. Rin was still there. More that once he considered telling her to shoo, but he knew all too well what the sound of a human child crying would do to his sensitive ears.
Just as Sesshoumaru rose to his feet Ai knocked on the door and entered the room. He couldn't decide whether he was glad to see her or not. Lately, she had been entering his thoughts quite a lot and he had soon decided that thinking about a human so much was unhealthy. As soon as Rin saw Ai she rose to her feet and ran over to her. Ai smiled and looked over at Sesshoumaru who was desperately trying to bury himself in his work. "Do you mind taking her." Ai shook her head no and spoke "It's not a problem Sesshoumaru-sama". She gave him a small smile and left with Rin behind her.
When they entered Ai's room, Ai sat down on a chair by the window and it wasn't long before Rin came and crawled into her lap. "Rin?" Rin looked up at her "Yes Inoru-san" "Why do you call me that" "Call you what?" Said Rin her question filled with an innocence that only comes with young age. "Inoru-san". Rin smiled finally something she could answer "That's easy it's because Rin always wished she had a mom and you remind Rin of her mom". With that Rin silently vowed that she would never leave this place and then she drifted off into sleep. Ai soon found sleep herself and before he could stop himself Sesshoumaru let a small smile escape his lips as he watched the two sleep from his spot in the doorway.
