A/N:
EGADS! Is it true? Has she really started to write the sequel? My gawd. . .what next? Perhaps it will start raining Bishies from the sky. Ahh. . .wouldn't that be nice, ne? Well, anyway! You guys miss me? Your all prolly P.O.ed at me for taking so flipping long. Well, look dude, I just started high school and dear gawd. Project after project! I mean, they are seriously trying to kill us off! Ahh! Heh, well yes, I finally came up w/ a plot and finally started writing! Its true its true! Spread the word! Lol. ^_^ yup yup! And I have to keep good mental health (Is taking Health class), and school, and friends. Yada yada! So, I really hope you guyz don't hate me now! ::wimper:: im sooo sorry! My plot muse has been seriously lacking. ::glares at muse:: "shame on you!" well, My writing style has kind of changed and I'll understand if you say it sux now or flame me on how crappy I've gotten. Heh heh heh. Cuz its prolly true. I've been reading to many fics and not writing enough. And with the new classes im taking @ school they kinda gave me a new writing style. More descriptive. I tried to have it kind of the way it used to be but its kind of hard. Oh, BTW- the fic is mostly based on Rin. (she's so cute ^_^). I don't think there will be any ROMANCE or anything. Probably lots of Waff though. Sap/Waff/Fluff/more fluff/More waff/etc. . . please review me! I need to know if im lacking or if im good. So, information flames are ok I guess, just no pointless ones like you suck because you spelled youkai wrong and stupid things like that. ::hug hug kiss kiss:: I hope I did well! Read and Review peh-le-uhs! =P

Oh yeah! B4 I forget! ~*~*~* is for things like remembering are used for thoughts like *I wonder if we have any doughnuts left. ..* & - are used for italics such as -stupid-, -annoying- brother. . . And until I can figure this thing out thats the way its gunna be! Sorry to be a bother ^_^ Ja!

Story Teller (Opening the Book)

Rin snuggled closely to Sesshoumaru's fluffy boa. It had started raining that evening, and rain is usually accompanied by thunder. Another clap of lightning could be heard and she grasped his fluffy like it was a life line.

Even though she was now at the age of thirteen, she is still the small child she always was inside. The sound of rain splattering the walls and windows, and the fires warm glowing light, soon had Rin fast asleep. Sesshoumaru held her to his side, stroking her back soothingly, like a father would do for their upset daughter.

After the 'adventures' with Naraku and Yurai, Sesshoumaru thought it best to keep the young Rin at his estate, and has, for the past five years. His mind still may not be completely at ease with the thought of living "peacefully" with the -whole- human race, but after the things that have come to pass, he has gotten closer to the small girl (whose not really -that- small any more. . .) .

When Naraku kidnapped Rin, Sesshoumaru finally understood part of the feelings he had when he felt like he had to protect her. When she was in trouble, he was always there. When she stumbled or tripped he was there to help her up. After Rin wasn't with him, when Yurai took her, he felt raged and unhappy. He understood that even if she was human, mortal, he did care for the little girl. Even if it was just slightly.

*Rin had always been afraid of the thunder*, this thought brought the smallest of small smiles to his lips. "Foolish humans. . . " *Being afraid of such petty things. . .* He stroke her back a few more times before rapping his boa around her and got up. The rain had slowed and the thunder had ceased. He started leaving the room to go prepare for the nightly patrol of his land. But, before he went, he looked the room over. Checking to see if anything was out of place. Finding everything in order he saw that the fire was burning brightly and took one last glance at Rin before he made a swift exit through the shoji doors. He did, however, make sure the shoji didn't snap open of click loudly closed, when it slid on its rail, to make sure Rin wouldn't be awakened.

Now, when ever he went out, she would always ask too many questions. Mostly about where he was going, what he was going to do, why he was doing it, when he was getting back, etc. And Sesshoumaru, being who he was, didn't take kindly to pointless questions, especially when they came in hordes. And with Rin, they -always- seemed to come in bulk. She puzzled him again, with all the sudden question asking. She always used to be very talkative, even for a young human, but all the questions were getting to be ridiculous. He casually filed it away in the back of his mind as something to do with human growth, and quickly walked towards the armory part of his mansion.

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Back in the room, Rin was still snuggling deeply into the fluffy. So much so that her face was buried in it and she could barely breath. Pushing back some, she unconsciously decided that she'd rather just rap her arms around it instead of suffocating herself with the mass of fur. Besides, with it -and- the fire, she was getting kind of over heated.

Over the past few years, while Sesshoumaru and the other youkai at the estate had stayed the same, Rin had changed in many ways. Be it her looks to her choice of food to the clothing she wore.

She -had- gotten taller. She had grown about one an a half feet, but was still short of Sesshoumaru by about a two feet. So, yes, she still had to bend backwards to say anything to Sesshoumaru, which she did practically always (unless they were sitting of course). Also, her legs had gotten longer as well as her arms. Her face did get a bit elongated and lost a bit of its baby roundness. She still wore her hair in a one sided half way pony tail, which had grown out till it reached to about her bottom.

Rin wore clothes that fitted her form better now, but she refused to wear one of those constricting girly things called a 'Kimono'. What she wore, instead of what Jaken -insisted- she wear, consisted of orange shorts that came to her mid thigh with yellow trimming, and a checkered orange and yellow gi with little green loops every where (taken from parts of her old child-hood kimono).

Jaken could go on an on about how 'Humans should wear clothes appropriate of their age' and rant about things like how she was 'such a nuisance!' and how she 'dishonors lord Sesshoumaru with such awful choice of clothing'.

Thoughts like that pestered Rin, as she tried to get into a more comfortable position away from the heat, and made her frown. *Pfft. . .what would a stupid toad like him know about clothing any way? I mean, look at what he wears! What is that, a youkai monk outfit or something? Yada yada, that's all Jaken is good for, always complaining! Like his clothing is any better. . .* An evil thought crept into her mind about getting some red berries to make a dye with and then 'experimenting' with it on a certain youkai's 'monk' garbs. And with that dastardly idea in mind, Rin pulled the boa more snug around her, after she had squirmed her way into the less heated corner of the room, and drifted back to sleep with a tug of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

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The next morning Rin awoke to the inviting smell of something wonderful and the sound of sizzling meat. Rubbing her eyes and taking a huge yawn, that took up her whole face, she got up and straightened her clothes. Smoothing out the last of the wrinkles in her top she slowly made her way across the expanses of the Sesshoumaru mansion. "More like a castle. . ." she mumbled ten minutes into her 'walk' to the other side of the 'house'.

She bumped into a few worker youkai and they bowed their heads to her as she made her way to the kitchen. But before she decided to go directly to the kitchen she made a quick turn to her left and went down another hall, which also connected to the kitchen, but lead her past the workers quarters on her way there.

Slightly more awake now she slowly slid the door open and crept across the wooden floor seemingly littered with workers still sleeping, probably having the night shift, and a few empty futons. Almost tripping over one occupant of a futon, who was slouched under the blankets, she muttered and apology and soon found her way to the far corner of the large room of the 'women's' workers quarters.

Nudging a lump of seemingly nothing but blankets with her foot, she waited till she heard a low moan that the person was awake and knelt down. "Naoki, hey Naoki" Rin poked the sleeping fox youkai in the cheek. "Wake up you lazy kitsune" Rin hissed out under her breath, careful not to wake the other sleeping youkai. The workers didn't seem to friendly with her, except her friend Naoki here. They all seemed to resent the fact that Sesshoumaru pampered a human child and let her stay with him.

*~*~*~*~*Naoki, one of the more reasonable youkai, didn't care if Rin was a youkai, a human, or even a 'frog eating swamp monster'. Well at least that's what she said, and Rin believes her. Naoki was her friend since the day she came to live here with Sesshoumaru. When Rin first came here, this was a huge foreign palace to her. She had no friends, she knew no one, and she got lost a lot in such a large place.

Sesshoumaru 'didn't have the time' to show her around, so he said "You'll have to figure out where to go on you own, Rin. Just make sure you know where all the main places are. Like the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.". That's all she would get out of him before he had to go run some errand, or have a meeting, or go kill something. . .

And so she had gotten lost -again- one day when she had first arrived, maybe a week or two after. Sesshomaru, still in his stage of 'all humans are incompetent and moronic' (or something like that), had decided to assign a worker to help Rin get aquatinted with her new living space.

Enter Naoki. When Rin first met Naoki she was shy, mainly because the other workers gave her weird looks and talked about her when they thought she wasn't listening. She thought Naoki would be the same, but soon found out her thoughts were false. The Kitsune and the human soon became fast friends. Naoki would show Rin around the palace and help her when she got lost. While Rin stole pastries, cookies, and cakes to eat, from the kitchen, while every one else thought they were asleep. One day, Naoki gave Rin a shiny metal whistle and said, "If you ever get lost or need me just use the whistle, ok?".

The whistle soon became more than just a 'whistle' to Rin. It became a type of friendship binding, like a friendship bracelet. And so, Naoki, the lazy Kitsune with short blazing-red hair and a fuzzy orange-tan tail, and Rin remained friends for about five years now. ~*~*~*~*~*

Again Rin continuously poked the blob of blankets until red fuzz could be seen at the top of the futon. "Naoki! Naoki! Come on, hurry up and wake up before breakfast gets cold, or worse, Jaken throws it out!" Rin hoarsely whispered into the now visible ear. Oh, and another change Rin underwent, speech. Yes, Rin soon dropped the third-person talk and soon began to develop her own sense of talking. She contracted most of it from the lump she was currently poking and the lessons Sesshoumaru said she needed to take while living here.

The 'lessons' were tedious. They were subjects like, speech, kanji writing, spelling, etiquette. All the things Sesshoumaru forced her to learn and all the things Jaken would rant about how badly she was at. She would have to go to lessons five days out of the week, but they were short classes.

Most of her teachers Sesshoumaru had hand chosen to teach her and what he considered worthy of staying in his home. She didn't really like the classes but she tried her best at it for Sesshoumaru and when he said she had improved or complimented her work (or as close to a compliment as he would get. Like a nod, or. . .a nod) she would always get this tingly-warm feeling and would try harder.

Any way, she could tell her coaxing was almost done when her friends deep- purple eyes creaked open, ending up half lidded. Rin pouted at Naoki and gave her the best pleading eyes she could muster. Rin did not like eating cold breakfast (who does?). "Naoki-saaaaaaan, come one, come -on-". Yes, Rin had turned to whining to get her friend out of bed. A couple workers glared at her from under their covers. Naoki didn't have a set time to wake up like the others because she was Rin's personal assistant and was only needed when Rin needed her. This earned her some glares of her own from the others. But she, like a true youkai, thought this to be and advantage, and milked it for all its worth.

With a yawn and a stretch Naoki was soon sitting up and fixing her futon. Rolling it up she said a slothful "'Morning Rin-san" from behind her back and then seated her self in front Rin. "Rin-san, so early" she yawned, "What's up?". "Breakfast. Now" Rin said abruptly and grabbed Naoki by the arm and dragged her out of the room, down the hall, and the rest of the way towards the kitchen with out another word.

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When they reached the kitchen Rin still heard the sound of frying that was a good sign that breakfast was still hot. Rin soon let go of a tired Naoki's arm and sat on a plush sitting pillow next to a very large table. Sesshoumaru, of course, was no where to be seen and was probably out hunting things down that were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He must have left Jaken behind because Naoki made faces at the tirade that was heard that could only be Jaken criticizing the cooks again. Naoki took a seat across from Rin as they waited to be served. Rin has been very pampered since she came here but luckily has not turned into a spoiled brat. Rin remained the way Rin always was, a sweet, innocent, and naïve little girl.

While they waited Rin decided to start a conversation to pass the time. "So Naoki-san, didn't want to wake up this morning? Were you having a good dream? Was it about-MMPH!" Rin was silenced when she got hit in the face with a sitting pillow.

Removing the pillow and some lint that got in her mouth, Rin smiled wickedly. "So it was about -him-, ne? Tsk tsk Naoki-san, you shouldn't be thinking about other employees like that" Rin laughed quietly at her own joke. She had successfully gotten Naoki to turn bright red before she told Rin to hush and not to pester ones elders. Naoki, being a youkai, is about twenty to thirty years older than Rin but appears to be only a year or two older.

It has been common knowledge to all the females in the estate that a certain red haired Kitsune had a huge crush on a dark purple haired, blue eyed wolf youkai from the men's quarters. Rin loved getting her friend all riled up about the subject but was soon quieted when food was set in front of their faces.

Remembering her manners she picked up her chop sticks and laid a napkin on her lap. Not having to eat wild mushrooms, barries, and fish every day was like a heaven send to Rin. Though, she would have gladly eaten those things if it was to stay by Sesshoumaru.

Speaking of whom, Rin noticed that she had seen less and less of him since they came to stay here. Sure they would eat meals together every once and a while and she would accompany him on trips when they were safe enough but something there was. . . well, not gone, just missing.

She longed for the days when it was just her, Sesshoumaru, Ah-Un, and even that stinking Jaken. She would give up everything to go back to that. The nice living space, the food, everything except her friend Naoki of course. She wished that they could just wander around the western lands aimlessly like they used to. Rin remembered that about a two years ago she had asked Sesshoumaru a question. ~*~*~*~ "Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked timidly. "Yes, Rin?" Sesshoumaru was sitting in front of a fire on a pile of pillows and reading a paper. "Ano. . .will-will we one day go back to traveling? Like we used to? Rin-I mean I miss it. . .". There was a pause until the crinkling of paper could be heard and she lifted her head from the lowered position it was in. Sesshoumaru was actually looking at her when he answered, which was rare. He looked like he was studying her before he answered. "We shall see. . ." was all he said and turned back to the paper that lay in his palm. ~*~*~*~

Well, apparently she hadn't seen and it didn't look like she was going to any time soon. She had asked the question maybe three or four other times during the duration of the next two years but the answer was always the same. 'We shall see. . .'.

Rin sighed deeply and Naoki asked what was wrong. She answered with a simple "Nothing, just thinking" and finished off her breakfast. "Naoki, I'm going out to make some rings (of flowers). You can stay here. Ja ne.". Naoki tilted her head to the side in question, then shrugged and began eating again. *If Rin couldn't be alone to think and have her privacy then no one should*, Naoki thought before shoveling a pile of eggs into her mouth. (Kitsune's can eat human food. Youkai can too, but I think they think their just to 'high and mighty' to stoop so low as to actually -eat- something that isn't meat . . . ah well!)

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Little Dictionary:

Bishie (Bishounen)- Hot/nice looking young Guy.

Gi- outfit worn for fighting (Kind of like the top part of a Kimono)

Kimono- Japanese style of a formal dress.

Kitsune- Fox demon

Youkai- Demon

Kanji- The symbols used to write the Japanese language.

Ano- Umm. . .; Err. . .; uhh. . .;

SUFFIX:

-San- Mr.; Mrs.; Ms.

-Sama- Master; Lord (The same as -San except more Formal)

*All that came from my common knowledge. So, please don't get all mad because I got something wrong. Feel free to e-mail me if you want to correct me.

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A/N:
Oh. . .My. . .Gawd! THAT SUCKED! GAHHH! Well, maybe not all that bad. I suppose, no. . .ah well! R&R and then get pocky. (bad spoof of "loves" commercial) . ne way! Hope you enjoyed. The faster you review the faster I stop bashing my head against the desk! Wait. . .heh, now ur not gunna review. (joking joking! Yikes.lol) I don't feel like being over easy or medium-rare today so not many flames ok? Thanks bunches! PLEASE DON'T BE MAD. . .::Tear:: I think I did.-ok-.

Some Tid-bits:

NO. this is not an AU. The time line is just kinda funky. As you can tell, the time is still back in IY time. Kagome and IY are prolly all buddy-buddy now w/ kids or something when this is happening, k? you understand now?

I did make up Naoki (the name, just came to me. Didn't even know I wrote it till I saw It on the screen =P) but yeah. Original Char.

Lets see what else. I'll try not to get OOC but w/ Rin and Fluffy. Well, she is older now and I just think this is the way a girl her age would act, maybe a little more polite?. . .naw naw. Tell me if I should fix something.

No, Naoki's crush is not connected to Kouga's wolf tribe so don't mix it up and try to figure out another plot and make yourself all anxious or something. . .heh. Yeah, So that's 'bout it. Member, inform me, I need the help! Well, gotta run! JA!

With love!, (long lost) -Animyth-