CHAPTER 4
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi
Rin skipped along the sidewalk humming a tune. She stopped and looked quickly behind her. No Jaken. She giggled.
The 6-year-old could never understand why her father insisted that Jaken accompany her everywhere. Toadface as she called him, was no fun and didn't like her at all. She managed to give him the slip this time and sneaked out of the house when her tutor left.
Now she was humming happily to herself. It was a tune she made up about her father. She couldn't understand why people seemed afraid of him. She didn't know of Sesshomaru's reputation as a ruthless businessman and was oblivious to the way he treated most people. To her, Sesshomaru was the man who took her away from that dreary orphanage where there wasn't enough food or love to go around.
Rin knew he loved her. He brought her gifts everytime he went on trips and made sure she wanted for nothing. But what she loved most were the times when he would pat her head or give her a smile. In her eyes, Sesshomaru could do no wrong.
She was lost in her thoughts and didn't notice the car that pulled up next to her.
''Little girl, do you want to see my new puppy?''
She looked up and saw the driver beckoning her to come closer.
"I got a puppy in my car. You want to see it?''
''I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.''
''I wouldn't hurt a cute little girl like you. I promise.'' The man was sweating and had a fake smile plastered on his face.
''No thanks. I gotta go home.''
The man got out of the car and quickly looked around. Satisfied when he saw no one else, he advanced on Rin.
"Come on. The puppy's really cute.''
''No!''
Rin ran but the man was faster. He grabbed her and started dragging her toward his car.
''Help! Help me! Help me!''
Kagome was on her way to pick up Inuyasha when she saw a man dragging away a screaming little girl. She slammed on the brakes and was out of the car in a flash.
''Hey you! Let that girl go!'' Kagome yelled as she pulled out pepper spray from her bag.
Startled, the man loosened his hold on Rin who freed herself and ran to Kagome. He snarled and went after Rin.
Kagome blasted him in the eyes with the pepper spray then she kicked him in the groin - hard. Rin hid behind Kagome.
''You disgusting pervert! Take that!'' Kagome gave the man another kick for good measure.
Kagome pulled out her cell phone and called the police. She kept her eye on the man curled up in agony at her feet.
''Make one move and I'll kick you again,'' she growled. She turned to the little girl.
"Are you OK?''
The cops were there in minutes. They took the whimpering man away as well as Rin and Kagome. She needed to give her statement at the police station.
Kagome waited in the lobby for the detective, cradling a cup of black coffee the desk officer gave her. She tried to call Inuyasha but the line was busy at Sesshomaru's house.
The door burst open and in strode Sesshomaru followed by Inuyasha and a bruised Jaken. Kagome was shocked.
''What are they doing here?,'' she wondered.
Before she could catch their attention, Sesshomaru went to the counter and demanded to talk to the watch commander.
''They told me my daughter was nearly kidnapped. Where is she? Take me to her.''
It wasn't a request.
''Calm down sir. She's OK. We have a suspect in custody.''
"I want to see her now.''
''Please take a seat. I'll call the lieutenant.''
Inuyasha tugged on Sesshomaru's sleeve.
''Let's sit down. You'll see Rin soon.''
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and fought to keep himself under control. His blood was boiling and what he wanted right now was to tear the would-be kidnapper apart with his bare hands. He'd already hit Jaken for not keeping an eye on Rin.
When Jaken came running into the house saying Rin was nowhere to be found, Sesshomaru lashed out at his flunky who did nothing but cower and apologize. Inuyasha called the police to report Rin missing. When the police later called to say she'd been found, Sesshomaru felt relief wash over him. They found her! Someone tried to kidnap her but a Good Samaritan arrived just in time to rescue his little girl.
He allowed Inuyasha to steer him to a seat. He sat stiffly and waited. Inuyasha then saw Kagome.
''Kagome! What are you doing here? Is this why you didn't show up at the house?''
''I was trying to call you but the line was busy.''
''My niece went missing and was nearly kidnapped!''
His niece?, Kagome thought. Surely that little girl wasn't Sesshomaru's kid? And where was Sesshomaru's wife? Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a man in a rumpled suit tapped her shoulder.
''Miss Higurashi? I'm Detective Brown. Please come with me.''
''Ja Inuyasha,'' she said as she followed the detective.
A lieutenant then appeared with Rin, briefed Sesshomaru on what happened but didn't mention the rescuer's name. Rin sat in Sesshomaru's lap. She knew she did wrong by sneaking away from the house and expected to be punished later. But for now, she was just happy to be with her father and Uncle Inuyasha. Even ugly Jaken.
''Father.''
Sesshomaru gave her one of his rare smiles.
''Can we invite the pretty lady to the house?''
''What pretty lady, Rin?''
''The one who saved me from the bad man.''
Rin climbed down his lap and proceeded to give a blow by blow account of what happened.
''She was like a superhero. She's cool.''
''I'm sure she is Rin. We both have to thank her.''
As Kagome walked back to the lobby, she was met by a small squeal.
''There she is, father! The pretty lady who saved me. Come on,'' Rin pulled Sesshomaru out of his seat and toward Kagome. Inuyasha followed, smiling broadly.
''Miss Higurashi. I'm truly in your debt for saving Rin,'' Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha put an arm around her shoulder.
''Hey Kagome. Way to go. I didn't know you moonlighted as a superhero,'' Inuyasha said. She blushed.
''It's nothing really. I think I reacted on instinct.''
Sesshomaru looked at her closely. She really has pretty eyes, he thought. Whoa, where did that come from?, he asked himself.
Rin smiled impishly as she looked at her father and Kagome.
''Let's have a little celebration at the house. What do you say, Sesshomaru?'' Inuyasha asked.
''Of course.''
It was nearly midnight when the impromptu party ended. Sesshomaru insisted on driving Kagome home and ordered Jaken to retrieve her car. She declined the offer. In the end, he had to settle for taking her back to the spot where she left the car in her haste to stop the would-be kidnapper.
"Miss Higurashi, I really am thankful for what you did today. If there's anything I can do for you...''
''Kagome.''
''Huh?''
''You don't have to be so formal. Just call me Kagome. And I really don't need anything. But thank you for the offer.''
She smiled at him and drove off. He felt the night grew colder when she left.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi
Rin skipped along the sidewalk humming a tune. She stopped and looked quickly behind her. No Jaken. She giggled.
The 6-year-old could never understand why her father insisted that Jaken accompany her everywhere. Toadface as she called him, was no fun and didn't like her at all. She managed to give him the slip this time and sneaked out of the house when her tutor left.
Now she was humming happily to herself. It was a tune she made up about her father. She couldn't understand why people seemed afraid of him. She didn't know of Sesshomaru's reputation as a ruthless businessman and was oblivious to the way he treated most people. To her, Sesshomaru was the man who took her away from that dreary orphanage where there wasn't enough food or love to go around.
Rin knew he loved her. He brought her gifts everytime he went on trips and made sure she wanted for nothing. But what she loved most were the times when he would pat her head or give her a smile. In her eyes, Sesshomaru could do no wrong.
She was lost in her thoughts and didn't notice the car that pulled up next to her.
''Little girl, do you want to see my new puppy?''
She looked up and saw the driver beckoning her to come closer.
"I got a puppy in my car. You want to see it?''
''I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.''
''I wouldn't hurt a cute little girl like you. I promise.'' The man was sweating and had a fake smile plastered on his face.
''No thanks. I gotta go home.''
The man got out of the car and quickly looked around. Satisfied when he saw no one else, he advanced on Rin.
"Come on. The puppy's really cute.''
''No!''
Rin ran but the man was faster. He grabbed her and started dragging her toward his car.
''Help! Help me! Help me!''
Kagome was on her way to pick up Inuyasha when she saw a man dragging away a screaming little girl. She slammed on the brakes and was out of the car in a flash.
''Hey you! Let that girl go!'' Kagome yelled as she pulled out pepper spray from her bag.
Startled, the man loosened his hold on Rin who freed herself and ran to Kagome. He snarled and went after Rin.
Kagome blasted him in the eyes with the pepper spray then she kicked him in the groin - hard. Rin hid behind Kagome.
''You disgusting pervert! Take that!'' Kagome gave the man another kick for good measure.
Kagome pulled out her cell phone and called the police. She kept her eye on the man curled up in agony at her feet.
''Make one move and I'll kick you again,'' she growled. She turned to the little girl.
"Are you OK?''
The cops were there in minutes. They took the whimpering man away as well as Rin and Kagome. She needed to give her statement at the police station.
Kagome waited in the lobby for the detective, cradling a cup of black coffee the desk officer gave her. She tried to call Inuyasha but the line was busy at Sesshomaru's house.
The door burst open and in strode Sesshomaru followed by Inuyasha and a bruised Jaken. Kagome was shocked.
''What are they doing here?,'' she wondered.
Before she could catch their attention, Sesshomaru went to the counter and demanded to talk to the watch commander.
''They told me my daughter was nearly kidnapped. Where is she? Take me to her.''
It wasn't a request.
''Calm down sir. She's OK. We have a suspect in custody.''
"I want to see her now.''
''Please take a seat. I'll call the lieutenant.''
Inuyasha tugged on Sesshomaru's sleeve.
''Let's sit down. You'll see Rin soon.''
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and fought to keep himself under control. His blood was boiling and what he wanted right now was to tear the would-be kidnapper apart with his bare hands. He'd already hit Jaken for not keeping an eye on Rin.
When Jaken came running into the house saying Rin was nowhere to be found, Sesshomaru lashed out at his flunky who did nothing but cower and apologize. Inuyasha called the police to report Rin missing. When the police later called to say she'd been found, Sesshomaru felt relief wash over him. They found her! Someone tried to kidnap her but a Good Samaritan arrived just in time to rescue his little girl.
He allowed Inuyasha to steer him to a seat. He sat stiffly and waited. Inuyasha then saw Kagome.
''Kagome! What are you doing here? Is this why you didn't show up at the house?''
''I was trying to call you but the line was busy.''
''My niece went missing and was nearly kidnapped!''
His niece?, Kagome thought. Surely that little girl wasn't Sesshomaru's kid? And where was Sesshomaru's wife? Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a man in a rumpled suit tapped her shoulder.
''Miss Higurashi? I'm Detective Brown. Please come with me.''
''Ja Inuyasha,'' she said as she followed the detective.
A lieutenant then appeared with Rin, briefed Sesshomaru on what happened but didn't mention the rescuer's name. Rin sat in Sesshomaru's lap. She knew she did wrong by sneaking away from the house and expected to be punished later. But for now, she was just happy to be with her father and Uncle Inuyasha. Even ugly Jaken.
''Father.''
Sesshomaru gave her one of his rare smiles.
''Can we invite the pretty lady to the house?''
''What pretty lady, Rin?''
''The one who saved me from the bad man.''
Rin climbed down his lap and proceeded to give a blow by blow account of what happened.
''She was like a superhero. She's cool.''
''I'm sure she is Rin. We both have to thank her.''
As Kagome walked back to the lobby, she was met by a small squeal.
''There she is, father! The pretty lady who saved me. Come on,'' Rin pulled Sesshomaru out of his seat and toward Kagome. Inuyasha followed, smiling broadly.
''Miss Higurashi. I'm truly in your debt for saving Rin,'' Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha put an arm around her shoulder.
''Hey Kagome. Way to go. I didn't know you moonlighted as a superhero,'' Inuyasha said. She blushed.
''It's nothing really. I think I reacted on instinct.''
Sesshomaru looked at her closely. She really has pretty eyes, he thought. Whoa, where did that come from?, he asked himself.
Rin smiled impishly as she looked at her father and Kagome.
''Let's have a little celebration at the house. What do you say, Sesshomaru?'' Inuyasha asked.
''Of course.''
It was nearly midnight when the impromptu party ended. Sesshomaru insisted on driving Kagome home and ordered Jaken to retrieve her car. She declined the offer. In the end, he had to settle for taking her back to the spot where she left the car in her haste to stop the would-be kidnapper.
"Miss Higurashi, I really am thankful for what you did today. If there's anything I can do for you...''
''Kagome.''
''Huh?''
''You don't have to be so formal. Just call me Kagome. And I really don't need anything. But thank you for the offer.''
She smiled at him and drove off. He felt the night grew colder when she left.