Disclaimer: InuYasha is written by Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own anything mentioned in this fanfic besides the idea of the fanfic.
To Love A Human
Chapter One
It was near dawn when Sesshoumaru returned to the place where he let Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un stop for the night. Though Rin was probably the only one who needed the rest, he had ordered Jaken and Ah-Un to keep watch over her while he made his trip out alone.
He walked slowly, his feet making the softest sounds over the dew-showered grass that grew abound in that area, and stopped when he was close by Rin's sleeping form. Beautiful, simple, vulnerable Rin. Weakling, his demon senses told him, giving her just the same recognition as any other human.
She was laying on her side, curled up with her knees brought close to her chest, her head resting on one arm while holding a bouquet of wild flowers in the other. She probably plucked them for me again. Until now, Rin was still in the habit of gathering flowers for him whenever possible. Not that he thought it was a bad habit…
Her body rose and fell faintly with her gentle rhythmic breathing, and she wore the most peaceful expression Sesshoumaru had ever seen on her face. If he didn't already know she was a human, he would have mistaken her for an angel by sight alone.
Jaken and Ah-Un weren't far away, he could tell. Jaken's snoring was a great annoyance, but Sesshoumaru chose to ignore it for the moment while he continued gazing at the human child he fostered. After all, he would never allow himself to look at her the way he was now when there were others about.
She had grown significantly over the years. It had been over a decade since he raised her with Tenseiga, he realised. He concluded that the way time seemed to just fly by so quickly was because he was immortal. Within the blink of his eye, Rin was now nearly a woman. She was about the height of his chin now, he supposed, and for a period of time he had to keep getting new clothing for her because of how rapidly she shot up. Her youthful face had changed a little. She still had those bright and adoring eyes, though now they had taken on a more tender look compared to when they were always wide and sparkling with curiosity when she was younger. She had also developed high and refined cheekbones, and a delicate little mouth.
The sun was rising, casting warm, soft rays of light upon her sleeping figure. Even with her slightly tousled hair and the spots of dirt on her kimono from all the travelling, she still looked absolutely precious.
Sesshoumaru was almost reluctant to have to wake her. He decided to pass the task to Jaken.
Instead of walking over to wake him up, Sesshoumaru chose to save himself the time and further irritation of calling his name repeatedly until he roused.
He picked up a pebble.
Jaken was up in no time, screeching a shocked outcry when the pebble hit his head forcefully and bounced off.
"Jaken," said Sesshoumaru calmly to bring the Musashino back to his senses. His snoring was easier on the ears than his screaming, Sesshoumaru decided.
"Ah! Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken exclaimed when his head was finally cleared of both sleep and shock. "Ohayo gozaimasu!" he finished with his usual reverent bowing.
Already walking away with Ah-Un not far behind (who was probably awoken by Jaken's screaming), Sesshoumaru gave his order. "Go and wake Rin. We're leaving."
Two weeks later, they were still travelling. Rin wasn't one to complain, but she was feeling rather fatigued. She was used to walking long distances because of Sesshoumaru's nomadic lifestyle, but he had carried on without pausing for a rest for a much longer stretch this time, and she had barely found anything to eat the last time he let her look for food.
"Jaken-sama," she said, turning to the small youkai walking beside her. "When are we going to have a break?"
"Whenever Sesshoumaru-sama thinks it best," Jaken replied proudly with total faith in Sesshoumaru's decisions, even if he was panting heavily from all the half-walking, half-running he had to do to keep up with them.
"Oh," said Rin, a little disappointedly. Sesshoumaru had never exhausted them with so much walking before. Demo Sesshoumaru-sama said it wouldn't be much longer. Whatever it was, Rin was certain Sesshoumaru knew what he was doing, and if it meant she had to walk even though her legs were begging for her to sit and her feet were aching painfully, she would follow him.
She decided to think of all the nice things he had done for her so far to distract herself from how tired she was. Just yesterday when they passed a small village, he sent Jaken with her to get her a new kimono. Her last one hadn't been too well worn yet, and she was surprised by his generosity. She was so happy that evening when she returned to his side, proudly dressed in the pretty new peach-coloured kimono he provided for her. The bottom edges were muddy now though, she thought dolefully as they had been treading through damp grounds.
There were of course, a few not-so-nice times. Once, he brought her to a village and told her to return to her kind. As expected, she couldn't do that. Rin is loyal to Sesshoumaru-sama! She had told him that pleadingly, hoping he wouldn't push her away like that. He turned and let her follow him away from the village. Later, she asked him if he really meant for her to go, because if he did, she would obey his wishes. Just when she thought he wouldn't answer her after having waited for a few minutes in silence, he told her it was a test. A test, of course! Rin was sure from then that Sesshoumaru wanted her along with him. The thought stained her cheeks with a blush.
Rin looked ahead of her at the figure walking ahead of them, with elegant long white hair that swayed lightly as he walked in his normal regal manner. She thought of how Sesshoumaru always came to her rescue and a smile touched her lips. She knew he cared for her in a gentle, unspoken manner that delighted her. She didn't mind that he never directly said anything kind or affectionate in nature to her, or that he always looked and sounded impassive. She knew that he would always protect and take care of her. Now if only she weren't feeling so faint, she would be able to catch up with him and walk by his side. Was it just her, or was Sesshoumaru becoming fuzzy? He certainly was starting to look that way to her, she thought, rubbing her eyes. Strange, but the heavy-headedness she woke up with this morning was starting to feel as if a thousand hammers were trying to pound their way out of her head.
Sesshoumaru was mentally occupied. He was still at war with himself whether he was doing the right thing. I thought I had already decided when I went to look for Bokusenou.
In addition, Rin's scent was driving him to distraction. It always did at this time – when she was in heat. When she first started her courses, he had left her for short intervals with Jaken and Ah-Un, or at a nearby village on rare occasions, so that he wouldn't have to be in constant presence of her arousing state. However this plan was in vain. Because of the years of traveling with them, Rin was doused with youkai scent that disguised her human scent from youkai of lower levels. This brought about new problems, even if other youkai stopped looking at her as food.
No, they definitely saw something else; 'food' in a different light, Sesshoumaru thought in disgust as he frowned.
He couldn't leave her by herself while she was in heat any longer. He had the job of protecting her from lecherous youkai added to his list of responsibilities. No, it wasn't just youkai. There was a disturbingly increasing number of instances where he's had to protect her against her own kind. How typical of the human mind to be controlled by a pretty face. He recalled how he exterminated those who tried their luck with Rin. And how easily they welcome death for it too, he added.
In truth though, he would much rather defend her from humans than from youkai. Not because it was easier, but because by defending her from youkai, he was letting her existence with him be known to other youkai. It was a tad bit disturbing. The fewer times it happened, the better.
Despite all the troubles of having Rin along with him, Sesshoumaru didn't mind. He had his reasons for keeping her, but those reasons were starting to change…
His frown intensified.
Stepping lightly over a mud puddle his senses warned him about seconds before, he spoke for the first time in hours to the rest behind him. "There is a mud puddle here. Don't fall in."
He was returning to his thoughts when he heard a soft sound, like a whimper coming from behind him, followed by a low thud echoed with a splash.
"Rin!"
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Author's Notes: Arigatou minna-san for your reviews ^_^ now onto the story stuff. This story will eventually be R-rated… it won't be a PG one. But for now since its gonna be 'clean' for a while, it will stick to its current rating. No graphic sex though, unlike what people thought when I mentioned 'lemon'. Not much action will happen either. It is Romance/Drama, not Action/Romance. I will probably add a PG version later. Just stick around and you'll see what's coming ^_~
I mentioned in the story that Jaken is a Musashino. I'm not entirely sure if that's his species, but its what I saw in one of the episodes so I assumed it so. Do correct me if I'm wrong. Arigatou ^^