Summary: The love of a man and a woman knows no boundaries. Be it time or place, the heart will not be swayed. When two souls meet and recognize their other half, nothing can separate the two. So it has been; so it is; and so it will always be.
Inuyasha Original Japanese Version © Takahashi Rumiko Shonen Sunday Sunrise Studios
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
Hidden Layers
By: Chiruken
Chapter 3
"Real kindness seeks no
return;
What return can the world make to rain clouds?"
- Tiruvalluvar -
The miko, Sesshoumaru noticed, was more curious than suspicious. He decided that she was more trusting than he felt was safe for her wellbeing. Of course, he would refrain from pointing this fact out to her. He didn't think it would help his current cause to do so.
"What did you want to talk to us about, Sesshoumaru?" It was rather irritating that the human female repeatedly refused to address him with the respect his position as Lord of the Western Lands demanded. Yet at the same time it instilled grudging respect in him for her. There were few who continued to walk the lands of the living who would show such blatant disregard to his obvious superiority.
"This Sesshoumaru has need to find humans with neither fear nor hatred towards youkai." He paused for a moment their surprise kept them silent. "Humans such as you, miko." He clarified after the pause.
"Why?" Inuyasha had finally managed to peel himself off the ground and had joined the group, arms folded across his chest in a belligerent stance. "What would you, the great Sesshoumaru, want with a bunch of lowly humans? Feelin' a little bored and wanna terrorize fresh blood?"
He ignored his half-brother's comment and continued to regard the miko steadily. "Do you remember the human pup that travels with this Sesshoumaru, miko?"
"Kagome." She responded with a scowl. He tilted his head to the side in curiosity and careful consideration. "My name is Kagome, Sesshoumaru." She clarified immediately. "And yes, I remember her. Her name's Rin, right?"
He nodded once, hiding his pleasure in her remembrance of his young ward. "This Sesshoumaru has a wish to place Rin in a human home."
"Why? Has something happened?" He turned his attention to the hoshi as the concern in his tone wasn't lost on the youkai lord. These truly were remarkable humans, he decided.
"Rin should be raised by her own kind." He answered simply. Seeing that this wasn't enough information to appease the humans and their concerns he elaborated further, though somewhat reluctantly. "Being human under the care of this Sesshoumaru places her at unnecessary risk. There are many youkai who would use her in their scheme of revenge against this Sesshoumaru and his family."
"But why come to us? There are many humans who would adopt her." The taijiya raised a question he hoped would remain unasked. He should have known that this group of humans were extraordinary including above aver human intelligence.
"This Sesshoumaru has observed that most humans shun Rin for having been raised by youkai. This Sesshoumaru would be displeased if the human pup left his care only to be abused again by humans." The mere thought was enough to threaten his calm and place him in a rage. He remembered all too clearly the bruises and swellings she'd worn when he first met the child. He hadn't understood then why humans would beat their own young and he still didn't understand. Children, whether they be youkai or human, should be treated with firmness but also with kindness. Patience should temper any form of discipline and caring should always be the motive…at least this was how he viewed it. It was apparent that not all other beings shared his beliefs.
"Who would hurt such a sweet child?" The miko…Kagome, Sesshoumaru reminded himself…appeared angered by the very idea. This pleased him. His observations of her in her interaction with the kitsune kit had led him to believe that she would not be one of the humans who would beat a child no matter whether they were human or youkai. He also felt that the other humans in Inuyasha's group held similar ideals.
"Mmm…Kagome…" The kitsune youkai kit rested in her arms wearing a frown. "People sometimes need to make themselves feel stronger and use the weak to do it." The inu youkai Lord of the Western Lands carefully hid his surprise at the kit's astonishing show of maturity beyond his young years. The little youkai scratched his head, young face scrunched up into an expression of deep thought. "A lot of humans hate youkai so much that they'd take it out on anyone that's friendly with them."
"But…a child? That's so unfair." Sesshoumaru was further surprised to see the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. The miko known as Kagome truly had a kind and generous heart, he decided. It was a shame that circumstances wouldn't allow him to place Rin in her care. He felt his young charge would gain much from the experience of being around this human female.
"Rin has been with this Sesshoumaru close to four summers. She has few memories of living amongst humans. Those that do remain, this Sesshoumaru would wish to erase. As this is impossible, This Sesshoumaru desires Rin to live amongst humans with more tolerance." Sesshoumaru was beginning to doubt such a placement to be possible. By the expressions the humans wore, he doubted they would be much help. Obviously finding humans with the qualities they possessed would be difficult if not impossible.
"Kaede-baba." Inuyasha finally broke the silence that had fallen over the group as they became lost in their own thoughts.
"Kaede-sama?" The host looked confused as all eyes turned towards the hanyou.
"Yeah. Kaede-baba could do it. She doesn't care. She accepts me and Shippou and she's human."
"Inuyasha is right." The taijiya was now smiling, her scent reflecting her growing excitement. "And the village respecters her authority as their miko."
"It's perfect!" Sesshoumaru tried not to wince at the volume the miko he now knew was called Kagome used. She seemed to share her companion's enthusiasm, though the youkai lord was uncertain if a miko would be ideal in the raising of his Rin-pup. His experiences with most miko's had left a bitter taste in his mouth and himself barely able to escape the encounters without being purified. "We can visit Rin often 'cause it's so close to the Bone Eater's Well."
Inuyasha immediately covered her mouth with a warning growl. "Shut up, stupid! Sesshoumaru doesn't know 'bout that!"
Sesshoumaru was even more curious now. "Bone Eater's Well?" He murmured quietly, golden eyes steady on Kagome's rapidly reddening face as she struggled ineffectively against his younger half-brother's hold on her. "Inuyasha." He began slowly. "You are suffocating your miko."