hypergirl15: Thanks! Hope you like this chappie… Yea, you should post it soon cuz its hilarious. I'll help you if you want, but I think you're doing ok on your own. You also should post the whole Kikyo thing… I won't give it away here, but everybody email her and make her post the absolute FUNNIEST Inuyasha fic EVER, ok? LYLAS!
Kawaii Rin: I'm hoping that this chapter or the next will be the last of Rin's birthday… Not sure though. Glad you like it!
g27: Thanx! I'm trying to update faster, but I don't have much time to… I appreciate it though.
Akutenchi: Thanx! The new chappies are coming… Just dunno when. I really am trying. But I only get an hour (max) of computer time every day, for reading, writing, and posting fanfics (among other stuff I do) so even if I knew what to write it'd be hard… *sigh* Parents… But thanx again for the review!
Tricky-the-kitsune-youkia: Hey! Thanx for the review! I haven't read your story yet (I'm trying, I promise!) but I will recommend it… Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own Inuyasha, and I definitely don't own We All Fall Down by Diamond Rio.
"Rin, you look lovely," said Sesshomaru, picking her up and spinning her around.
"Thankyou, Sesshy-sama!" she replied. "Can we have the party now?"
Sesshomaru chuckled. "Soon, Rin. Very soon. Your guests will arrive shortly."
Rin frowned slightly. "Who is coming? I know no one outside this castle."
"I invited a few youkai your age to come, as well as a few lords and ladies."
The girl immediately smiled. "Rin will make new friends?"
"Hai," he replied, smiling, "You will make new friends."
Someone knocked on the door and Sesshomaru told them to enter. Rin cowered behind the Lord's robes, fearing the enormous youkai that stood before her. Sesshomaru smiled slightly and picked her up. "Now that's no way for the birthday girl to treat one of her guests."
She looked up at him, uncertain. "Guest?" she repeated.
"Indeed," he replied.
He let her down and she took a few uncertain steps toward the dragon youkai that stood before her. "We- Welcome to my party, Mr. Youkai, sir."
The dragon chuckled. "And happy birthday to you, human," he replied, his tones deep. He bowed to Sesshomaru. "It is an honor to be invited to your castle, m'Lord."
"And it is an honor to have you here, Argon," Sesshomaru returned.
"I would like you to meet my children," the youkai continued. Three smaller versions of the youkai that towered above them emerged from behind it. "Kunea, Kohanu, and Kirome." He indicated each as he spoke, and the three bowed in turn.
"It is an honor to meet you, sir," the eldest, Kohanu, responded.
Sesshomaru inclined his head. "I take it that it is you who will someday take your father's seat on my council?"
He bowed once more. "If it would be your wish," he replied.
Sesshomaru was impressed by the young youkai's presence, but he did not neglect to notice the sneers that the three sent towards Rin when they believed he was not looking. "Steer clear of them," he whispered to her after dismissing the nobles with a shake of his head.
The girl nodded. "I do not believe they liked me," she replied.
"They scorn you because you are human," he replied. Her face fell. "Their opinions mean nothing," he quickly continued. "Ignore it."
"Very well," she replied, still smiling.
"Good," he responded. "Now run along and meet the rest of your guests."
The child nodded in agreement and ran over to the next youkai who were waiting for her to greet them.
When he was sure she was not looking, he returned to Argon's side. "I respect you," he said quietly, "but I would advise you to keep your children away from her."
The youkai nodded, fully understanding who he meant and what the consequences would be if the girl was harmed. He was one of the few who did not speak harshly of Sesshomaru behind his back for taking Rin in. He had once met a human and loved her like a daughter to the end of her days. It was clear, however, that the Lord's intentions went further. The aforementioned taiyoukai walked off without another word.
He was in the middle of a discussion with the nekoyoukai concerning recent revolts when he felt something tugging on the bottom of his hakama. He looked down to see none other than Rin. "Sesshy-sama?" she asked, clearly shy to speak in front of so many people.
"Yes, Rin?" he asked.
"Um… Can we have the cake now?" she asked, blushing in embarrassment.
He smiled down at her. "If that is what you wish. It is your birthday after all. Jaken!" he called.
"Yes, Master Sesshomaru?" he squeaked.
Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow. "How did you… Never mind. I don't think I want to know. Go cut the cake for Rin."
"Yes, Master Sesshomaru!" The toad youkai scampered off to get a knife, and Sesshomaru pulled Rin into his lap and continued his discussion. This was going to take a while.
*****
"Kohanu, I don't know…" Kunea whispered.
"Do you want our land to be ruled by a human, sister? It would put our land and our father's name to shame! He is the chief advisor of the Lord's council! I will not allow the line of the Lords of this land to be sullied so!"
"How will shaming the girl resolve things?" Kirome asked.
"Sister! Be not so naïve! Have the both of you gone mad? We must ridicule the girl to the point of no redemption! Only then shall our Lord take his eyes from her. One of you might someday become the Lady of this land if you would just aid me in this endeavor!"
"But I do not wish to marry the Lord!" Kunea cried.
"Someday you shall change your mind! And if not you, then your sister! Would you take such a thing from Kirome? Listen to me! I am the eldest, and I know better! This is the only plausible course!"
Kunea nodded, but Kirome hesitated. "Is it not too cruel, brother?"
Kohanu shook his head vehemently. "It matters not, she is human. Nothing is too cruel. Besides, it is her own weakness that shall be her undoing. Do you not wish to protect our father's name?"
Kirome nodded. "I shall do what I must. To protect father."
*****
"Master Sesshomaru!" came the voice of Jaken. "I have the knife you requested! What should I- Ah!"
The knife, which was nearly twice the size of Jaken himself, fell to the ground, sliding ten feet across the floor and landing at the feet of Rin, who screamed.
Kunea, who was standing nearby, chuckled. "It looks as if she's doing quite well on her own…" he mused.
"It's all right, Rin," said Sesshomaru. "Nothing is going to hurt you. How about I let you cut the cake, all right?"
Rin immediately brightened. "Thankyou, Sesshy-sama!" she cried.
Sesshomaru handed her the knife. "Now go have fun."
She kissed him on the cheek and ran off, leaving him blinking.
"What…" A scream jolted him from his reverie. Rin… he thought. I'm coming…
*****
As fast as Sesshomaru was, by the time he entered the party room Rin was no where to be found. He gave her demolished birthday cake a single quizzical glance before following the scent of her tears up to her room.
He could hear her crying from ten feet away. He knocked gently on her door and whispered, "Rin? Are you all right? Can I come in?" His only response was the girl's sobbing. He hesitated at her door a moment, unsure as to whether he ought to comfort her or leave her be. He silently cursed the childhood he had always blocked out- in which he hardly knew his father or mother. When he had been sad, they had let him be; he knew not how to offer support. In the end he decided to enter her room. He was not sure what he could do, but he could at the very least offer her a shoulder to cry on…
He stepped through the door. "Rin… Please talk to me. Tell me what's wrong…"
"Oh, Sesshy-sama!" she cried, throwing herself at him and sobbing into his hakama. He took this opportunity to notice that she was covered in cake. And that the scent of the three dragon children smothered her. I see. he seethed. So they did not heed my warning…
"Sesshy-sama," she sobbed, "they don't like me! I tried to make friends, but… But…"
He held her to him more tightly. "Hush, Rin. It will be all right…" He begun singing softly.
She says, you know the monkey bar rules,
As she kisses away his playground bruise.
You don't have to skip a bar each time,
To make it to the other side.
She picked him up from out of the sand,
Then tied the shoelace that read Superman…
We all fall down,
It's getting back up that really counts.
We live and we learn,
To help someone up when its their turn.
In life there's only one guarantee,
Your feet won't always be on the ground.
'Cause we all fall down.
She says, I know what your going through,
As she talks to the door of her daughter's room.
Your heart feels like its broken in two,
But baby I'm here for you.
The door opened and she stepped inside,
She put her arms around her and said its okay to cry…
We all fall down,
It's getting back up that really counts.
We live and we learn,
To help someone up when its their turn.
In life there's only one guarantee,
Your feet won't always be on the ground.
'Cause we all fall down.
He's forty-five and his job is gone,
Cleans out his desk and he heads on home.
Sees his kids out playing in the yard,
Its been a while since been hit so hard.
He's as scared as a man can be,
He tells his wife and she says honey look at me…
We all fall down,
It's getting back up that really counts.
We live and we learn,
To help someone up when its their turn.
In life there's only one guarantee,
Your feet won't always be on the ground.
'Cause we all fall down.
The girl fell asleep as he sung, and the Lord smiled. I could get used to this… he thought, as he too entered dreamland.
Sorry, guys, but I had to put Jaken in. I know he's kinda… Blah. But he is comic relief, and I didn't want to invent a new servant guy cuz that's just blah, so… Yea, I guess I'm in a blah kind of mood today… I've used that word a lot today. Sorry. Hey Inu, what did you think?
Heavily Bandaged Inuyasha: Umm… It was… Really good! Yea! Really good!
Authoress: *glares* You're just saying that, aren't you? Did you even READ it?
Inuyasha: I did! I did! Please don't hit me with the brick wall again!
Authoress: *lifts brick wall*
Inuyasha: No! I read it! Um… We all fall down! It's getting back up that really counts! We live and we learn! To help someone up when it's their turn!
Authoress and Kagome: *ROFL*
Authoress: Oh my god! That was so funny! I can't believe you actually sung that!
Inuyasha: *scowls* You don't have to be so mean about it…
Kagome: Aww… Sorry, Inu. I still love you… *hugs Inu*
Inuyasha: *blushes* Um… Uh… I…
Authoress: *sighs and rolls eyes* *puts mind control device on Kagome*
Authoress-controlled Kagome: Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit!
Inuyasha: No! Please! Stop! I'll do anything! Please!
Authoress: Fine! You have to promise to star in my new fic!
A-C K: Sit, sit, sit, sit…
Inuyasha: Okay! Fine! I promise! Please! Just make her stop!
Authoress: *grins evilly* Okaaaaay… *makes Kagome stop*
Inuyasha: *catches unconscious Kagome and holds her to himself protectively* Why do I get the feeling I'm going to regret that…?
Authoress: Because you are. My next fic is fluff-filled… And I'm gonna make you a total idiot.
Inuyasha: *groans*
Authoress: *hits Inu over the head with a brick wall* Review, peeps!
Oops! Forgot to recommend stories… Okay, here they are!
The Hearts of Children by Tricky-the-kitsune-youkia
The Bridepens by moonsilverAnd…
My Perfect Guy by The Mediocre One
R&R! Love ya!