Hika-chan: Hola! Chapter one! Woot!... ok so I shouldn't be so excited about that but whatever! I WOULD be REALLY excited if I owned Inu Yasha & Co… but I don't… and that makes me sad L
Sesshoumaru: *scoffs* you stupid humans an your obsolete concerns
Hika-chan: *squeals* Sesshou~~!!! Don't be so mmeeaan!
Sesshoumaru: *Covers his ears growling* Cease your screeching wench.
Little Rin Riding Hood
By Hika-chan
Chapter 1: Altered by Association
His head snapped up at the sound. "Rin," he whispered. It was a noise he should not have heard, Jaken should have been watching her and made sure she was safe. But he heard it, Rin screamed for him and she was scared. With less than a thought at abandoning his current work Sesshoumaru vanished from the room so fast the movement did not even stir the papers he had sitting on the table. In moments he was outside his castle, rushing past his frightened ward and pushing a hand to the guilty youkai's throat. Wide surprised blue eyes met his as the wolf's back met the ground. "What did you do to her?" Sesshoumaru asked calmly, despite the true effort it was taking to repress a growl.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" The little girl cried from behind him, "Rin was scared!"
Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on the youkai beneath him, the girl usually reverted to talking in the third person when she was frightened, which was not very often. The fact that she was now was enough to send his blood boiling.
"I didn't do anything," the brown haired wolf choked out, "We were talking when she just turned and ran."
"Who are you?" The taiyoukai asked, worry for his ward overriding most of his current thoughts, not giving him the room his mind needed to seek his identity in his own mind.
"Kouga, Prince of the Yourouzoku," he said. Ah yes, Kouga he almost forgot about him. After a moment of false consideration Sesshoumaru let go of the wolf's throat still fully on guard, but Rin was unharmed.. so why was she scared? Did he threaten her? Try to frighten her as so many youkai do to humans when bored? He studied him critically as the wolf sat up, rubbing his neck, "Are you're greetings always as friendly as Dog Turd's?"
"Who?"
"Inu Yasha," the wolf prince clarified. As any youkai could the prince must have been able to smell the blood ties between the hanyou and the youkai before him.
Sesshoumaru blinked, almost wanting to grin at the nickname this prince had given to his sibling. "You know of my half brother?"
The wolf grinned as he stood, "Heh, we've met."
Rin had snuck up behind Sesshoumaru during the conversation. Now she hid behind him tugging on the waist of his pants. "Se-Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Yes Rin?"
"Why is Sesshoumaru-sama talking to the scary youkai?"
Sesshoumaru looked down at the girl then to the wolf. "If you will excuse me Kouga-san I need a word with the girl."
"Yeah, sure.." he said waving a hand, "Go right ahead." As expected the wolf was very informal and Sesshoumaru was glad to note that he apparently did not mind waiting. Not that he really cared, he would have waited regardless because Rin was upset and that was something had to be remedied first. The inu youkai took the girl's hand off of his pants and began to walk her back towards the castle. One worried glance over her shoulder and she grabbed tightly onto the lord's sleeve and hugged close to him like a frightened pup.
What is she so scared about? Kouga wondered, A minute ago she treated me no different than a puppy. And more to the point what's a human girl doing with the Youkai Lord of the Western Lands?
***
"Now Rin, tell me what happened," he asked the girl when they reached the gates of the castle. He knelt before her and put a hand on her shoulder, the slightest physical contact always making her feel better.
"That's.. that's the mean youkai," she stuttered, tears threatening more so then he'd ever seen in the strange child.
He didn't understand, for the most part Rin had been well shielded from his battles and as far as he knew she had never come to harm at the hands of a youkai while in his care. Nor did he smell any blood or injury on her, just her usual scent tainted slightly with that of grass and wildflowers. "Can you be more specific?"
"The.. the one with.. with the wolves. He brought the wolves that bit Rin... the ones that... killed me."
Understanding swiftly came upon the lord,"I see..." There were only two things that Rin feared. One was being left alone again, and the other was wolves. She could not sleep in the nights when they could be heard howling in the distance. Their cries echoing constantly in her ears and mind. Rin often felt that the very sound was tearing gashes open upon her skin again, like their teeth and claws had that day. Unless she was by his side, curled up in his arms, she could never sleep. A behavior he knew he would have to wean her off of soon. In a few short years his ward, his daughter, would be a young woman and he would have to begin to let her face her demons on her own. He would not be able to guard her from the harshness of the cruel world especially that of youkai's. True he would be around to protect her for the rest of her short life, but the fact remained that he should not have to. Of course she could not have understand it now even if he told her. So instead Sesshoumaru-sama simply told her to do something completely unrelated to what we just spoke of. "Rin go to the Dojo and choose a weapon you like."
Yes, her guardian, her father, was quite the master of subject change. "Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"There will come a time when you must take care of yourself young one, though I will never abandon you. I want to begin preparing you for that time. Meanwhile I want you to be aware that that wolf is our guest-"
He would be staying? The one that killed her? "But-"
"No buts on this, pup," he commanded. "But do not fear that wolf will never hurt you again."
"You promise?" All she ever needed was his assurance, but thoughts of the wolf still plagued her.
The familial bond he shared with this strange little girl prompted the slightest ghost of a smile upon his lips, a rare thing he only shared with her. "Promise. Now run along to the dojo."
"HAI!"
As the sound of her pattering feet faded off down the hall Sesshoumaru turned and saw the wolf the in question approaching the gate at a leisurely pace. "Am I still welcome?" he asked with a sarcastic grin.
Sesshoumaru nodded, "You are as I informed you before."
"Can I ask what's wrong with the kid?"
"A youkai brought wolves to her village that killed everyone. It was chance that I found her and that she now lives." Kouga nodded his understanding. Sesshoumaru's voice lowered. "All she ever says is that he came to retrieve a star."
Kouga seemed about to respond before he stopped. "A star?"
"Yes," the taiyoukai answered, knowing already what had happened. "They were more commonly referred to as shards of the shikon jewel."
Kouga was not sure how to react, he knew exactly what the lord was saying and he knew that it was true. The child was injured because of him, and it was obvious now that Sesshoumaru cared for her like his own pup. The possible repercussions could not be ignored. The wolf prince knelt down on one knee, expressing an air of formality that Sesshoumaru knew was not often practiced among the more feral wolf tribes. "I apologize, Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, for any inconvenience my past actions may have caused you without my knowledge."
The white dog nodded, as though to let the wolf know he had accepted his apology. "Though the actions of you and your wolves directly resulted in the girl coming into my care you are forgiven." The wolf nodded, though still confused. Was he forgiving him harming the child? Or forgiving him for the inconvenience the child now was? "However I fell I should inform you," Sesshoumaru continued his voice becoming ice cold, "If you harm the child again I will personally hunt you down and kill you." Definitely for the former.
Kouga tried to level his gaze at the lord, it did not come off as confident as he had hoped but he did not back down either. "Do not worry Sesshoumaru-sama. I have no reason and see no benefit in doing so, nor would I be so stupid as to go against you."
"Good, one of the servants will show you to your guest quarters."
"With all due respect Sesshoumaru-sama I would like to discuss what I came here to and get back to my tribe, they are hopeless without me after all," he said with a grin, returning to his normal self.
Sesshoumaru nodded, "In that case," he raised a hand a servant approached. "Escort Kouga-san to the audience chamber. I will be there shortly. "Kouga inclined his head to lord as he was led inside. The inu youkai slowly closed his eyes and let out a breath, a rough equivalent to a sigh for him. He was sure whatever the wolf wanted to discuss would be easily taken care of as said Prince seemed to know his place. However his very presence had brought up an interesting topic in regards to his young ward. Despite his nature he had brought the girl up in a rather protective shell, one that was put up around her own. She had watched her family be killed, then her whole village before being killed herself. In response to this the girl seemed to have no reaction to the sights of ruin and destruction, the result was nothing to her young eyes. But actually seeing it happen, that was different.
So the question came up, How would he break the fear she had and how would he continue to raise her? Would he teach her to be a lady or some kind or a fighter? The former had few true uses but the latter invited danger and harm upon her, for one could not be a true warrior unless one fought. He already had her taught to read and simple mathematics, but for once the lord had not thought much further ahead. He would have to ask her once his hopefully quick business with the wolf prince was done. Of course he had already started her on the path of a fighter by telling her to claim a weapon…
***
"I gotta say Sesshoumaru it's a good thing I'm not staying here tonight. That would spoil me rotten."
"Somehow I do not think that is truly the case. Now what business is it that you have with me Kouga-san?"
"Huh?" the wolf asked, turning his attention away from his surroundings and back to his host. "Oh yeah, well as you know my tribe usually moves around only once every few decades." Sesshoumaru nodded. The wolf cleared his throat then continued, obviously unused to the form of speech he was using. "Well we enjoy our current territory, but the population of our usual prey of deer is starting to dwindle far too much. If we want to be able to eventually return we will have to leave and give them time to recover soon. I was hoping that my tribe would be able to move into a forested portion of your land and reside there for a few years, less than a decade, while the deer repopulate."
Sesshoumaru nodded, understanding the simple necessities of the ecosystem, "And what will you do for this Sesshoumaru while residing on my land?"
"We will guard the area you give us for you and pay with whatever tribute you deem necessary."
Once again the youkai lord inclined his head; wolves did not often hold the same value on items that inu youkai like himself had. They had little interest in gold and artwork and other such trinkets. "I will consider your offer and possible areas for your people to inhabit. Return in two days for my answer."
Kouga bowed, "Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama, now if I may take my leave?"
"You may."
As Kouga left the palace he let out a sigh of relief, that had gone much smoother than he had dared to hope, especially when it came to the matter of Sesshoumaru's little human... ward? pet?... Whatever, the child. At more than one moment Kouga had thought the Western Lord was going to tear his throat out. Fortunately for him, he was much more logical and sensible than his half brother Inu Yasha. Speeding away from the castle his relieved countenance soon turned to one of confidence as his traditional grin formed on his lips. This might not turn out so bad after all.
***
Sesshoumaru walked into the dojo expecting to find Rin there looking at the weapons rack thoughtfully. He really should have remembered the unpredictable nature of his ward better. There she was, in the dojo as expected, but somehow the little child had managed to pull most of the weapons off the rack and she sat amongst them looking at them as happily as she looked at flowers. Some he would have thought out of her reach, others just too heavy for her to lift. A quick glance at the floor and Sesshoumaru knew that in at least one aspect he was correct. There were several dents and scratches in the polished wood, obvious signs of her dropping the items (or even throwing them down in favor of another one).
"I see you have much enthusiasm for my decision to teach you," he said stoically, had he been anyone else his surprise would have been very obvious.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! I can't decide!" Rin exclaimed happily as she jumped up, hopping around all the weapons to her to the youkai. There were several moments where her guardian fear she would trip over a handle of cut her foot but the oblivious child made her way to him with no difficulty or injury. She was obviously very nimble. She grabbed onto his sleeve and pulled him to the now horizontal display of weapons. First she pointed at the most common, a katana. "I like this one because it looks like Sesshoumaru-sama's, nice sword!" she said obviously referring to Tenseiga. "But this one, reminds Ri- me of your markings!" This time she pointed to a lajatang, a staff with a crescent shaped blade on either end. "And this one is pretty!" she smiled lifting up a war-fan happily in two hands.
Sesshoumaru eyed the odd child; truly she never ceased to amaze him sometimes, looking so innocent holding a weapon before him, the delicate pattern on the thick cloth concealing the nature of the steel vanes that ran through it. Sesshoumaru considered each weapon, the katana he felt was too common, anyone with some battle experience should know how to defend and attack against it. The lajatang, being a two handed weapon would offer Rin better control of the weapon and possibly more reach. Then the war-fan could be more easily concealed and some of the principles of using it could even apply to normal fans. Maybe she could learn all three? Or at least two of them, Rin was no doubt a bright child but he was not sure how much she could readily learn. "I will start you on the war-fan Rin, then we shall see about the others."
"Yay!" Rin happily cried and began dancing around Sesshoumaru. With as happy as she was about it Sesshoumaru's earlier question was answered. Rin was going to be a warrior.
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Hika-chan: Ok.. well I really didn't know if I wanted to keep this story in First person perspective or not. I was just planning on doing it in the prologue… It would end up being with 3 Perspectives, Rin, Kouga, and Sesshoumaru. I had already written this chap in 3rd so I'd like you guys to tell me if you want me to put this back into First person POV. If I do I will re-write and repost this chapter. Here's the first part of this chap if it went the other way.
~~
My head snapped up at the sound. "Rin," I whispered. It was a noise I should not have heard, Jaken should have been watching her and made sure she was safe. But I did hear it, Rin screamed for me and she was frightened. With less than a thought at abandoning my current work I left in less time than it took to think about it. Not even thinking about how Jaken would later pay for his incompetence. In moments I was outside the castle, rushing past my frightened ward and pushing a hand to the guilty youkai's throat. Wide surprised blue eyes met my own as the wolf's back met the ground. "What did you do to her?" My voice was usually calm, despite the true effort it was taking to repress a growl.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" The little girl cried from behind me, "Rin was scared!"
I kept my eyes on the youkai beneath him, the girl usually reverted to talking in the third person when she was frightened, which was not very often. The fact that she was now though...
"I didn't do anything," the brown haired wolf choked out, "We were talking when she just turned and ran."
"Who are you?" The I asked, worry for Rin overriding most of my thoughts, not giving me the room my mind needed to seek his identity in my own mind.
"Kouga, Prince of the Yourouzoku," was his answer. Ah yes, Kouga I almost forgot about him. After a moment of false consideration I let go of the wolf's throat still fully on guard, but Rin was unharmed.. so why was she scared? Did he threaten her? Try to frighten her as so many youkai do to human when bored? I studied him critically as the wolf sat up, rubbing his neck, "Are you're greetings always as friendly as inukoro's?"
Inukoro? Who would have such a name? "Who?"
"Inu Yasha," the wolf prince clarified. As any youkai could, the prince must have been able to smell the bloodties between the hanyou and myself.
I blinked, almost wanting to grin at the nickname this prince had given to my sibling. Obviously though he must have seen or fought him before. "You know of my half brother?"
The wolf grinned as he stood, "Heh, we've met."
Rin had snuck up behind me sometime during the conversation and now she hid behind me tugging on the waist of my pants. "Se-Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Yes Rin?"
"Why is Sesshoumaru-sama talking to the scary youkai?"
I looked down at the pup then to Kouga. "If you will excuse me Kouga-san I need a word with the girl."
"Yeah, sure.." he said waving a hand, "Go right ahead." As I expected the wolf was very informal and I was glad to note that he apparently did not mind waiting. Not that I really cared, he would have waited reguardless because Rin was upset and that was something I had to remedy first. I gently pried the girl's hand off of my pants and began to walk her back towards the castle. One worried glance over her shoulder and she grabbed tightly onto the my sleeve and hugged close to me like a frightened pup.
~~
Yeah it's basically the same but… it is different! Please Give me your input before I go write the whole next chapter then have to re-write it before posting!!
