The Second Meeting

Jakan scrambled up the rope latter and followed his lord out into the strangest smelling place he has ever seen. Lord Sesshomaru had explained to Jakan and Rin when he came back from his last trip about how he followed Inuyasha to this other dimension. He spared the details, though, and Jakan's anxiety rose as he realized it was a totally alien environment.

It was raining in the future, thought the rain had a different smell to it. "Rin, how are you feeling?" asked Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru-sama, now that you mention it, I am kind of tired."

"Our destination is not much farther"

Rin was a curious child, and even the fever couldn't slow her mind. "Sesshomaru-sama, is this the magic place with the woman you told me about?"

"Yes, Rin" he replied without turning

Sesshomaru came upon the clear door and tapped on it then tried to open it. It was locked. He tapped and tapped, but there was no answer.

Sesshomaru picked up Rin and leapt up onto the roof. Her eyes were getting a weary look in them. 'I must keep her awake. I know Lady Higurashi will have human medicine that can help Rin.' "Rin, talk."

"Talk? Okay. Uh…what should I say Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sesshomaru was lost in thought and did not respond.

"Where is Jakan?" she started. "Is he angry with me? I hope I get to meet Lady Higurashi. She sounds wonderful!"

Rin easily found things to prattle on about, and Sesshomaru was able to gage her strength by the amount of chatter she provided. Sesshomaru found that his brother's scent was heavy in this area. Apparently it was a place he frequented. Lord Sesshomaru put Rin down on her own feet for a moment. She leaned on his leg, and he was able to open the window there and stepped in.

As he lifted her through the window he thought 'This must be Kagome's room. No matter. I only need to find her mother. Inuyasha's scent is strong in here.' Sesshomaru stood tall with Rin's limp little body in his arm. She had closed her eyes and began to mumble to herself.

Lord Sesshomaru's thoughts continued on as Rin mumbled to herself. 'I wonder if my brother is sharing a bed with this Kagome. Highly implausible. Kagome seems to be an uptight human. She acts as though she already has a stick up her ass, I don't' see how Inuyasha could fit in there too.'

Sesshomaru noticed that Rin had stopped talking.

Jakan was outside, negotiating with a trellis on the side of the house. "Dooooh! Grruh! "LORD SESSHOOOOMARUUUU? WHERE ARE YOU MILORD? LORD SESSHOOOOMARUUUU!" Jakan got to the top of the trellis and reached with his little arm to gain a hold of the gutter. Once he managed to get one hand on that he found himself hanging away from the safety of the latter-like trellis and dangling from the gutter, which had begun to bend. "Oooooo hooo hoo! Nooo!"

Sesshomaru was going to venture deeper into the house, but just then Lady Higurashi came into Kagome's room. She was holding an odd round basket, full of clothing.

"Lord Sesshomaru! What a pleasant surprise!" She halted before him when she realized he didn't come alone.

He put Rin down on her own two feet and she wobbled back and forth. Lord Sesshomaru said "I apologize, but I must dispense with the pleasantries, my attendant, Rin has become ill. Do you have human medicine with which to cure her?"

Rin opened her big brown eyes and blinked groggily at Kagome's mother. Mrs. Higurashi did not hesitate in dropping her basket and going to Rin's side. She looked at Rin's kimono and brushed off some of the dirt.

'She must think I'm a barbarian with Rin covered in mud like that.' Sesshomaru said "We were in a hurry. She fell."

"Oh, I understand. I raised two children Lord Sesshy! I know what goes on.'

'Grrrrrrr! She's at it with that Sesshy-crap again! Keep it cool Sesshomaru! You need her for Rin, and more grape soda.'

Lady Higurashi said "Okay Rin-chan, we need to clean you up, get you warm, and get you well!" She felt Rin's forehead with her hand, told her to open her mouth wide, and said "Rin-chan, do you have any aches or pains? In your stomach or maybe your ears?"

Rin sleepily shook her head no. "I feel tired, and cold, but hot too. I don't know what I'm feeling." and tears began to pop out onto her cheeks. She sniffled a little, but did not cry out or whine.

"Oh you poor girl!" exclaimed Mrs. Higurashi "You're being so brave! Let's clean you up first, hm?" She picked up the girl and carried her to the bathroom down the hall. Sesshomaru hesitated leaving Kagome's room for a minute then said "Jakan,"

Jakan's head popped up outside the window. Jakan clumsily climbed in the window and fell flat on his face. By the time he situated himself on his feet Sesshomaru said "Lady Higurashi will take care of Rin. Stay here on the look out and tell me right away if you see or smell Inuyasha or that girl, Kagome. I will go and supervise Rin's care."

"Oooff, yes milord!"