A/N: I forgot to write a disclaimer for the song Kagome sang to Rin in the last chapter. The song was actually Dearest, one of the ending theme's from Inuyasha. Obviously, it's the English translation. Sorry about that. ~ Nev
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Chapter Seven: Rin's Lessons
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'she went on her own free will'?" Inuyasha demanded, imitating Sango's voice.
"Exactly what I just said," the demon exterminator told him, leveling her gaze with the half-demon in front of her.
"Why would she go with Sesshomaru?" He's only tried to kill her about one hundred times before we defeated Naraku," Inuyasha grumbled defensively. Everyone went silent. They all understood why Kagome had chosen to leave. "Am I missing something?" he asked, noticing everyone else knew something he obviously didn't.
"Inuyasha," Kikyo said soothingly, taking his arm, "let's go back to Kaede's hut and-,"
"NO!" he cried, yanking his arm away. "What aren't you telling me."
Kikyo stared at him, then at the others. "Sango, perhaps you should be the one to tell him. You're Kagome's closest friend. It's not my place," she added as an afterthought.
Inuyasha looked at Sango expectantly. "Well, Sango? What's so secretive that I don't seem to know?"
Trying to remain calm, because she knew she couldn't explode at him, Sango told him. "Inuyasha, are you sure you know how Kagome honestly feels about you?" His eyes widened as his cheeks deepened in a flush. "I'll take that as you kind of knew," she sighed, shaking her head. "She cared about you a lot. You meant something to her and despite Miroku and my warnings she continued to have those feelings for you even when you ran off to be with Kikyo."
"Kagome gave me a second chance to be with Kikyo by freeing her soul. So what are you trying to say?" Inuyasha questioned, still not quite getting it.
That was it. Sango recalled all the times Kagome had been pained by his actions toward the ex-priestess. Growing instinctively protective, she yelled at the half-breed. "She might have loved you! But you threw it away, you baka! You left her to be the third wheel!"
"And what about you? You're her best friend and you come back with Miroku announcing you two are going to be mates! Now, I'm not sure, but last time I checked, Kikyo and I weren't getting married. What did that do to her?" he shouted right back.
Not even a blade in her back from Kohaku could hurt as much as Inuyasha's last question. Perhaps she was part of the reason Kagome had left. After all, one the final battle with Naraku had been over with, they hadn't exactly made her feel welcome. She was usually off with Miroku and Inuyasha and Kikyo…enough said already. She imagined that Kagome was feeling a bit left out, but to completely leave them was going a little too far.
Dropping her head, Sango whispered, "Maybe it was my fault." She didn't look at any of them, least of all Miroku, who was feeling just as guilty. "Come on, Kelala," she called to her pet, softly. "Let's go home." The now small cat leapt into her arms and Sango carried her off toward the village.
A look of pure anger filled Miroku's face. "Why did you have to do that to her?" he growled, glaring at Inuyasha. "We are all just as guilty as the other. Blaming Sango for this will only result in more negative emotions." With that said, he went after his fiancée.
"DAMN IT!" Inuyasha pounded his fist on the side of the well.
"Inuyasha let's go back to the hut. You should make peace with the others. They are upset just as you are," Kikyo attempted to calm him down.
"No!" he snapped childishly. "I'm sitting here until she comes back."
"How do you know she will return?"
Inuyasha sat himself on the edge of the well, crossing his arms over his chest. "If she really did leave with Sesshomaru voluntarily, she'll be back to visit her family.
"Do as you must," Kikyo sighed and then she too left him.
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"Kagome-chan! Kagome-chan!"
Opening her eyes, Kagome could hear Rin pounding on her bedroom door. So much for needing an alarm clock, she thought. Pulling herself out of bed, she crossed the room, and opened the door, letting one very energetic child into the room. "What are you doing up so early?" she asked. The sky was just beginning to light up. The sun couldn't have been up longer than ten minutes. She hated waking up at the crack of dawn. That was meant for days when she had school, not when she was living in a castle.
"Fluffy told me to wake you."
"Fluffy?" Kagome questioned, slightly confused.
"Yes, Sesshomaru."
"Oh," she nodded. It was comical that the mighty Lord of the Western Lands was called Fluffy by a young child, and a human child at that. She wondered what he would do if she called him that, especially if Rin was present at the time.
"Breakfast will be soon," the younger girl told her. "Get dressed." Rin started to shove her toward the changing curtain.
"Okay, okay," Kagome laughed as a new kimono was tossed over the curtain for her to wear.
This one was different from the last. It was red and gold. The pretty silk material of the red wrapped around her body. The trimming of gold held many symbols. It drew all the signs for what the Shikon Jewel stood for on it. Smiling, Kagome began to put the kimono on. When she was finished she sat at the vanity just as she had the previous morning. Her black hair was unruly, even for begin so early in the morning. She had to brush it roughly to get out all the knots.
It wasn't until then that she realized Rin had left her room. Not wanting to be late again, Kagome hurried downstairs to the dining hall. She didn't pass a single soul on her way down. It was as if the palace was dead. She was happy to see Rin was already sitting in her seat, a bowl of something Kagome didn't recognize in front of her. As for the seat at the head of the table, Sesshomaru still wasn't present. That detail didn't bother Kagome as she calmly took her seat.
"What should we do today?" Rin asked, hopefully.
"What would you like to do?" Kagome asked back.
"Can we go visit your family?" Rin beamed across the table at her. "Please?"
Kagome stayed silent. She would love to take Rin home wit her and let her see Tokyo. It would be good for the youngster to get out of the palace and see another world. However, there was her guardian to think about. Sesshomaru might consider the trip to be spoiling the child.
"You'll have to talk to Sesshomaru about it, Rin."
"But," the girl complained, getting her characteristic pout face on.
"Good morning," the demon lord entered the dining hall, planting a quick kiss on the top of Rin's head. He then ruffled her hair with his hand as he moved to his seat. Kagome had never seen him so tender to anyone before. Even though she knew he cared a great deal for Rin, she hadn't expected him to be so fatherly toward her.
"Good morning, Fluffy!" Rin greeted joyfully. She had a bunch of access enthusiasm, maybe too much.
Kagome caught the way Sesshomaru was looking at the girl suspiciously and began devouring her fruit in silence. "Is there something you want?" the Lord of the Western Lands asked his charge, just as Jaken entered the room. Kagome hated the toad, and knowing he might do something stupid to jeopardize Rin's question, she tripped him as he made his way to Sesshomaru's side.
"HOW DARE YOU TRIP ME!" the toad cried in outrage, waving one fist and in the other fist his staff. "YOU WORTHLESS HUMAN!"
"Kagome-chan is not worthless!" Rin screamed, standing up on her chair.
"Jaken," Sesshomaru said in a low voice of warning, "get out." The toad imp left, though he seemed quite unhappy about it. Sesshomaru blinked once, then turned to Rin. "You will have to learn to hold your tongue someday," he told her in a more gentle tone. "I will protect you, but you need to give me a chance." Rin nodded and went back to eating.
Noticing how the exchange went, Kagome continued to finish her meal in complete silence. As for the rest of the room, they too seemed to be more comfortable in the essence of quite.
After breakfast, Kagome took Rin up to her room to show her a few things she had brought back with her from the present. She set all the things out on the floor so they could inspect each one individually.
"What's that one?" Rin pointed to her math textbook.
"Well," Kagome tried to explain, "it teaches me how to do mathematics." Rin stared at her blankly. "Hmm," Kagome attempted to figure out an easier way to put it. "It tells me how to find how many apples I have if I take five and then eat two."
The child was quite for a moment, then she cried excitedly, "Three!"
"Very good," Kagome praised her. And so, Rin's math lessons began."
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Sesshomaru was down in his study overlooking reports on his lands that had been provided by Jaken. Of all the inutile imps in the world, he hated getting stuck with the toad, but he was the only one willing to do all of Sesshomaru's bidding. Some things evened out, while others, like that girl, were a bit harder to flatten over.
The human had proved to be less maintenance then he had first assumed, but she had also proved to be a great deal of trouble. She was one of a select few who dared to talk back to him, a quality which he did not admire so much. Then again, she possessed a maternal magic that had won Rin over.
Many, who had had hired to look after Rin, left within hours, too incapable of watching over a mere mortal girl child. Perhaps the secret was to fight fire with fire. Since the miko was also human it was easier for Rin to relate to her. This proved his charge needed a motherly figure for her emotional well being, which he had been hesitant to give, but now was glad he had.
With Rin preoccupied by the girl she called Kagome-chan, he had more time to finish his dull paperwork. The one unfortunate thing about Naraku's defeat was that there was less evil in the world and he was having very little fun. He could not use the excuse of looking for jewel shards anymore to push back the boring duties of being the lord that he was. Harassing his half-breed of a brother had begun to lose its joy as well. So now what would he do?
By the end of the day he would be finished with his paperwork for another month. Then, without Rin to pester him, he'd have a lot of time for himself, something most valued, something he hated.
Placing his signature on yet another scroll, he left his desk. It had been awful quite lately. There had been no screams or girlish giggles. He wondered what the priestess could be showing Rin to keep her so calm. What was this magic the girl held? Maternal instinct couldn't be that great of a factor, could it?
Curiosity got the best of him and he ascended the main stairs to the miko's room. From all the way down the hall he could hear Rin's delighted laughter and the more soothing tone of the older girl's voice as she spoke to his charge. Before he knew what he was doing, he brought his hand up to the door and gave a sharp knock.
Immediately, the sounds from within vanished. He frowned at that, but reclaimed his normal bland expression when the bedroom door swung open to reveal the miko. She was dressed in the newest kimono he had ordered to be made for her. The red and gold brought out her pale skin and dark hair. Over her shoulder he saw Rin on the floor surrounded by a collection of objects he was unfamiliar with.
"Good afternoon, Sesshomaru-sama," the priestess smiled. He wondered what had put her in such a fine mood. Usually his presence caused her to become nervous or irritated, which ever came first. But pushed that aside, he spared her a nod. She must have seen where his eyes were staying. She pushed open the door further, allowing him inside her room.
Noticing him for the first time, Rin got up, bringing him a large book. "Look, Fluffy. I'm learning…mathmatrix….mathatrix…math-," Rin tried to say the word.
"It's alright, Rin. You can call it math. Mathematics is the proper term for it, but no one uses that long word," Kagome explained, kindly.
"Why not?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Unlike people, subjects of learning aren't required to hold their proper titles all the time," she replied, a bit defiant in her own right.
"Of course," he nodded as if he understood what she was talking about. He had no idea what this mathematics was, but he could tell she was still mad at him, for whatever reason she could find. Returning his attention to his charge, Sesshomaru gracefully sat down on the floor where she had been prior to his entrance. "Show me what you've learn Rin."
The girl sat by him, picking up one item, which happened to be Kagome's cell phone. "One plus five," she began, collecting five hair ties and adding them to the cell phone. "Equals six!"
"Very good," Sesshomaru spared her a rare smile. He knew by this age Rin should have some form of schooling, but up until now he hadn't really give it a lot of thought. What with running all over the countryside battling other demons, protecting his lands, and fighting to keep her safe, it had slipped his mind. Besides, she was a complexed child. Ever since that day she had found him in the forest, she had become more and more outgoing. Then again, at times she still became withdrawn. Having her entire family murdered all before her eyes had taken a lot out of her, not to mention the many beatings she had endured from the villagers.
"I can do more!" Rin announced eagerly.
"Yes, we're working on singing, science, reading, and writing," Kagome informed Sesshomaru. She had decided that it would be pointless to teach Rin history since they were living it. Of course, it would be to her benefit to learn to read, write, and about science. She would become quite the scholar. And the singing was just for fun so she didn't get too bored or stressed out.
"Impressive," Sesshomaru grinned, meaning it.
"Want to see more?" Rin asked.
He did have some more paperwork to do, but it could wait. It was important to spend time with his charge, even if she was soaking up enormous amounts of attention from the girl named Kagome. "Alright," he patted Rin on the head. "Show me what you have learned."
Kagome watched silently as Rin taught Sesshomaru all she had learned only hours before, smiling when she stumbled over a pronunciation. It was interest that Sesshomaru listened with. He was observing Rin and her motions. Odd, Kagome thought, he despises humans so much, but he lover her so dearly. What makes the difference?
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"Sango," Miroku entered her area of the hut, which had been closed off since Inuyasha's rude statement.
"Leave me," she mumbled. Kelala poked her head out from under the curtain separating monk from exterminator. Purring, she rubbed against his ankle trying to comfort him. "Kelala, leave him alone," Sango commanded, annoyed that her own pet would betray her.
Kelala looked at her master, then at the only man who had ever loved her so much. The way he was staring at the curtain made up her mind. Morphing into her larger form she passed through the curtain and gave Sango a hard head butt, sending the warrior falling through the curtain, right into Miroku's arms.
"Sango," he whispered, hugging her, "We'll find Kagome. I promise you. We'll find her and bring her back."
Her walls collapsed and Sango clung to him, crying. "I love you," she rasped, still hugging him.
"I know," he replied, rubbing her back. "I love you too."
A/N: So? Was Sesshomaru too nice? Do you think I made Sango seem like a baby? What about Inuyasha? Is he acting dorky or what? Hehehe, well tell me what you think so I can improve. ~ Nev