Ka like the wind

1

Sesshomaru led the group further away from the areas where humans settled. Soon they would pass through the great swath of woodland with the wolf demons to the west and Inuyasha's human territory to the east. Summer had lost its brutal heat and the days were pleasant. Misha and Rin never went far from where Sesshomaru had left them for the day, Misha did not stray again. Sesshomaru noticed that the hero worship in Misha's eyes had faded in the days since he had rescued her. Things seemed to have returned to normal.

Eventually it was cool enough in the late afternoons for Sesshomaru to go to his humans. He arrived before the sun had set to the area where he had left Rin and Misha that day. Jaken scurried to keep up behind him as they stepped into the clearing. Rin stood some distance behind Misha watching her quietly. Sesshomaru stopped and looked at Misha. He saw her hand perilously close to a bee hive, but there was no scent of fear coming from Misha. She was perfectly calm, almost serene. The bees did not seem to think she was a threat. He saw her hand disappear into the hive and reappear holding a golden chunk of honeycomb. Misha turned back toward Rin just as mindless of the bees as they were to her. Sesshomaru watched Misha return to Rin's side smiling. He proceeded forward and his approach caught their attention.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin greeted running toward him. "Welcome back Lord Sesshomaru! Did you see it my lord? Misha can trick the bees! Did you see? Look she got me some honey for my tea!" She babbled excitedly. Lord Sesshomaru was quite early this evening. She would get to see him a lot! before she had to go to sleep.

Sesshomaru met Rin and dropped his hand on top of her head to calm her. "Yes Rin, I saw that." He looked up at Misha coming over to them. "It appears we have a bee charmer in our company." Sesshomaru had heard that it was possible, but it was mostly human legend. The truth of the matter was, humans had lost the ability to live harmoniously with nature a very long time ago.

Misha smiled at Sesshomaru. "No, I'm just foolish and very lucky. I have told Rin that she must never be so reckless."

Sesshomaru nodded approvingly. As much as Rin hopped around she would likely get herself stung. He looked down at the chunk of honeycomb Misha held out in front of her. Some of the honey was oozing its way down Misha's fingers. Her hands were small, not much bigger then Rin's, but her fingers were long enough to reach into a bee hive. "Indeed." Bees were temperamental and irritating. He wondered what trick Misha must have used to keep them calm.

Misha held the honeycomb out so Sesshomaru could get a better look. "It's good for the hive to break a piece off once in a while." She looked down at Rin. "Tell Sesshomaru why Rin."

Rin stepped directly between Lord Sesshomaru and Misha and studied the honeycomb in Misha's hand. "You see Lord Sesshomaru, where Misha broke it off and moved it out of the way, the bees now have more room in their bee house to make more honey."

Misha smiled at the child. "What else Rin?"

Rin studied the honey beginning to leak from its comb. "It's just the honey. The baby bees don't get hurt at all."

Sesshomaru looked at Rin. She was ogling the honey. He lifted his eyes to Misha. Sesshomaru had never really paid much attention to the anatomy of a bee hive, but apparently Misha had. It pleased him that she was passing that knowledge on to Rin. It wasn't that difficult to obtain honeycomb without disturbing the nursery, but the bees hadn't even detect Misha was a predator. Her lips were curled into a smile as she stood listening to Rin. His eyes fell back to the child's eager face. "That's very good Rin."

Rin couldn't stand waiting anymore. She raised a finger toward the honeycomb. Rin paused almost close enough to touch it and peeked up at Misha. Misha nodded and Rin went for it. She smushed her finger into the honey clear up to her knuckle and popped it into her mouth. "Mmmm! I thought you were going to make me wait forever Misha!" she mumbled through her finger. Misha laughed and when Rin looked up at Lord Sesshomaru, he seemed happy too.

2

Misha had been watching the storm roll in all morning. Soon it would be raining, thunder and lightning as well. Jaken was with them today. He assured Misha there was a shrine not far from where Sesshomaru had left them. There were a few such abandon human things in this territory. He led them through the woods, Misha holding Ahun by the reigns while Rin rode on the beasts back. Jaken stopped suddenly, sniffing the air. "Jaken?" Misha called nervously halting herself.

"This scent is," Jaken began, but before he could finish Inuyasha and Kagome stepped into view on the path ahead.

"We should go back Inuyasha!" Kagome ranted. "In a few minutes its going to be raining and my stuff is gonna get all wet!"

"You shouldn't bring so much crap with you all the time then!" he retorted in his defense.

Rin spotted Kagome and slid off Ahun. "Kagome neechan!" Rin was running to greet her as soon as her feet touched the ground.

Kagome fixed on Rin as she came forward. It had been a while since she had last seen Rin. "Rin! Hi, how are you?"

Kagome bent to face the child, but Inuyasha was focused on the dark woman behind the kid. …the hell? He sniffed the air. The woman was human.

Misha let go of Ahun's reigns and hurried past Jaken to Rin. It appeared Rin knew this woman, but standing next to Kagome was a man. Misha certainly wasn't going to let some strange man near her child. Her eyes cut up from Rin to Inuyasha and Misha froze in place. A hanyou was staring at her.

"Kagome I want you to meet Misha," Rin bubbled happily. She looked from Kagome to Misha and saw a funny look on Misha's face. "It's okay Misha, that's just Inuyasha; Lord Sesshomaru's simple minded younger brother."

Inuyasha frowned at Rin. "What did you just say you little brat?"

Shippo came out from under Inuyash's hair. "Hey! Don't yell at her!"

Inuyasha snatched Shippo up by the back of his shirt and dropped him beside Kagome. "Shut up ya pest."

Misha blinked at this new group. Rin and Jaken had told her about each of them. Kagome was a human woman; Inuyasha was a half demon and Sesshomaru's younger brother. Misha could see the family resemblance, especially the eyes and the hair. The child Shippo was an adorable little kitsune! Just as they had told her, Inuyasha was a big meanie. "How cruel!" Misha knelt down beside Shippo. "Are you alright?"

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed. "He's always buggin' me. He had it coming." Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest and scowled at Misha. "And just who the hell are you?"

Jaken interceded. "Miss Misha is ward to Lord Sesshomaru master Inuyasha. I'll have you pay no disrespect to her or young Rin there!" He waved the staff of skulls threateningly as he shuffled forward.

Inuyasha looked at Jaken frowning. "What, you think I'm stupid? There's no way Sesshomaru would take a human woman as a ward." His eyes moved suspiciously back to Misha. He had never seen a woman like her before. He stared openly at her dark skin and large eyes, smelling her.

"It's true," Rin piped up. "Misha's with us now. Lord Sesshomaru protects her too."

Inuyasha bounced his gaze from Misha to Rin to Jaken. "Bullshit."

Misha stood up and took a surprisingly threatening step toward the hanyou. "Inuyasha san! Rin speaks the truth; Sesshomaru protects me."

Jaken saw the opportunity to humble the testy hanyou. Jaken cleared his throat. "Misha came under the protection of Lord Sesshomaru nearly two moons ago."

"Lord Sesshomaru fixed Misha when she died." Rin mumbled unconsciously scooting toward Misha.

Inuyasha was floored. He stared at Jaken. "Are you telling me that Sesshomaru revived that woman!"

Jaken nodded but it was Misha that answered. She was frowning at Inuyasha. "Clearly you know nothing about Sesshomaru."

Inuyasha snapped his head back to Misha ready to yell at her, but "Inuyasha," Kagome warned. Inuyasha glared at Misha, but held his tongue. Kagome stood up and turned back in the direction she had come from. "Come on everyone, there is shelter back this way and it looks like it's going to be raining soon."

The group followed Kagome back to a moldering hut by the roadside. They settled in as the rains came down. Kagome seemed to be content visiting with the kid and that woman, but Inuyasha just couldn't believe that Sesshomaru had revived her and become her protector. The child he could kind of understand; Sesshomaru wasn't totally without mercy, but looking after a woman was very different then just protecting a child. Problematic sometimes if she was particularly appealing, and Misha was. He just couldn't get it how someone who hated humans so much, especially females- like Inuyasha's mother, would be looking after such a strange woman. Misha spoke highly of Sesshomaru and Rin. Inuyasha was stunned to discover she seemed to know his brother quite well; better then he did that was for sure. He watched Misha with Rin and took note of how she mothered the child. "So that's it," Inuyasha grunted. "You're the babysitter."

Misha looked up into Inuyasha's smug face. "I am not her babysitter; I am her companion and her sensei."

"Keh," Inuyasha was irritated that this woman would challenge the obvious. "If that's the case then why haven't you just taken Rin and settled down someplace?"

Misha found herself getting angry with the hanyou. He didn't seem to understand how deeply involved Sesshomaru was with the child. It was what had let Misha open up to Sesshomaru, his love for Rin. It was their common bond. "I would never take Rin away from Sesshomaru!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes away from the woman. "You don't think Sesshomaru really gives a crap do you? Maybe about the kid, but a woman? Keh! You're just the baby sitter lady."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded.

Rin shook her head at Inuyasha. She had come to understand Inuyasha was kind of dumb, he had to have everything explained to him by Kagome, but Rin wanted to try. "That's all wrong master Inuyasha sir, but I guess it can't be helped seeing how stupid you are." She spoke without a hint of malice in her voice, genuinely feeling sorry for one so slow witted. "Lord Sesshomaru decided Misha should come with us. Misha thought so too and it has been very wonderful, ah yes very wonderful indeed!" She clapped her hands together and sighed dreamily.

Inuyasha stood up. Raining or not he was getting out of here and away from these annoying Sesshomaru worshipers. "Whatever," he grumbled stepping outside.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome growled.

"I'm outta here," he turned away from the hut and ran off into the woods.

Misha was grateful for his departure. Inuyasha was every bit as rude and stupid as she had been told he would be. She looked at Kagome curiously. She liked her, she was nice. "Why are you with Inuyasha Kagome san?"

Kagome waved a hand in front of her face and laughed nervously. "He can be a real jerk sometimes, sorry about that."

"I think that you are too good for him."

Kagome's mouth fell open at Misha's bluntness, but Shippo was laughing. "Too late now," Shippo said throwing an elbow into Rin and making her giggle. "Inuyasha and Kagome got married. She's stuck with him forever!"

3

Inuyasha found a shrine with roof enough to get under. Someone had left offering here not too long ago. He toed a gourd at the base of the shrine. Something sloshed inside. He bent to pick it up, and suddenly smelled Sesshomaru. It smelled like he was coming right for him. It had been a long time since Inuyasha had seen his brother. He straightened and waited to see if Sesshomaru would come. There was room under this roof for him too, but would Sesshomaru stand under here with Inuyasha and get out of the rain? He turned toward Sesshomaru's scent and a moment later Inuyasha's elder brother came into view.

Sesshomaru eyed Inuyasha, then the shrine where he stood out of the rain. It would do so long as Inuyasha didn't pester him too much. Sesshomaru stepped to the other side of the offerings under the roof. "Inuyasha," he acknowledged.

Inuyasha stared at Sesshomaru, smelling him. "Well hey there big brother," he grunted back.

Not far from them Sesshomaru could smell the scents of his followers and Inuysaha's brood together. "So they are visiting with Kagome, out of the rain I take it."

Inuyasha's nose was sensitive. He could smell the child and the woman on his brother. It appeared he was spending some time with his followers. Inuyasha frowned at the demon and hit the bottle with his toe again, the smell of sake wafted up to his nose. "So what's the deal with that woman huh? Thought it was time to find a babysitter for that kid or what?"

Sesshomaru continued to look out at the rain. The wind had picked up some as the worst of the storm bear down on them. His nose was keen as well; Inuyasha was covered with Kagome's scent. "Misha is Rin's companion. She is teaching the child."

"Keh!" Inuyasha bent and snatched up the jug he had been rocking with his foot. He pulled the top off, sniffed it and then drank down a big gulp. "Keh! Protecting a woman? You don't know half the trouble you're in for pal." He frowned at the disgusted look Sesshomaru was favoring him with. Inuyasha shook the sake. "What? I checked it out first. It's not like someone pissed in it!" Annoyed he took another gulp and coughed.

Sesshomaru was watching Inuyasha from the corner of his eye. "Degenerate as always little brother."

Inuyasha puffed up defensively. "Keh! You're such a snob." He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "I saw that woman of yours. So you're really protecting her now too huh?"

Sesshomaru looked away from Inuyasha, back out at the rain. "I am." He kept his tone even, emotionless. There was no need for Inuyasha to concern himself with Sesshomaru's females. They were fine.

Inuyasha slouched a little. "You're either really brave or really stupid. Protecting a woman is a real pain in the ass."

Sesshomaru didn't really think so. Misha wasn't really any trouble at all. "Perhaps it is just protecting Kagome that is a pain in the ass," he countered. "Misha has been no trouble to me at all."

"'corse not," Inuyasha growled. "She thinks you're just great." Sesshomaru still did not look at Inuyasha. After a few minutes of staring at the back of Sesshomaru's head, Inuyasha got bored and sat down with his sake. "Not that you would ask or anything, but Kagome and Shippo are doin just fine. I married her last spring." That invoked a response from big brother. He faced Inuyasha and Inuyasha grinned satisfied. "Yep, I married Kagome!" He tipped the gourd back for another gulp of sake.

Sesshomaru was a little surprised. It seemed that things had changed for both of them as the months had slipped by. "I see. Well then, congratulations I suppose." So Inuyasha had taken a mortal wife; he had given up on trying to become a demon if favor of taking care of Kagome and Shippo.

"Yeah, well…thanks." Inuyasha looked out at the rain.

Sesshomaru supposed his lack of enthusiasm had given Inuyasha the impression that he was uninterested; the younger sibling was simpleton after all. "This being married to Kagome, it pleases you?" he asked as the first bolt of lightning lit up the sky. The storm was worsening, it looked like he would be stuck here with Inuyasha for a bit longer, stuck here talking to the brother he hadn't seen in almost half a year.

"Yeah, I think we're all pretty happy." Inuyasha smiled at the mention of Kagome's name. "Kagome and Shippo… they're great. Things have been pretty peaceful. It's… nice." He fell quiet again listening to the rain for a while. He drank some more sake and wiped the sweat from his brow. Finally his angry curiosity got the better of him. "So, what's with that woman Sesshomaru? You used father's Tenseiga to revive her, didn't you?"

"I simply erased a meaningless death." Sesshomaru stared up at the storm clouds; the worst were moving overhead fast.

Even hearing it from Sesshomaru himself, it was still hard to believe. Inuyasha stared up at his brother. His brother had done for Misha what their father had done for Inuyasha's mother. Inuyasha felt his stomach tighten. "Why? Why did you bring that woman back?"

Sesshomaru frowned at the sky. He didn't like to recollect Misha's wasted death. It was unpleasant. "She was friend to Rin. She makes a good teacher for the child; Misha is most patient with and kind to Rin."

Inuyasha settled back trying to calm himself. He could understand his older brother finding a companion for the kid, but reviving a mortal woman! "So she's the nanny."

"Not exactly."

Inuyasha growled aggravated again. "Well whatever! She's a woman and they always gotta make things hard on a guy!" Inuyasha huffed a sigh and looked away from Sesshomaru. "Misha wearin' white for a reason?"

Sesshomaru lifted a brow. "Misha is a pure woman. It is part of her worship."

"So you're protecting her virtue too eh Sesshomaru? Keh! It figures if you were gonna have some woman around for the kid she'd just have to be some gorgeous, exotic, untouchable, virgin that worships the ground you walk on!" he scoffed.

Sesshomaru frowned down at his younger brother becoming more annoyed. "Idiot, what are you babbling about?"

"Damaru!" Inuyasha snapped. He waved the bottle at the rain. "Human females are frail creatures! They get hurt easily and aren't strong enough to fight. In that way they are like children. But a woman is not a child. She always has her own crazy ideas and feelings about stuff! They can make it hard to protect them." Inuyasha gulped down another swallow of the warm sake frowning. "I'll venture to guess that the woman is every bit as taken with you as the kid is. Am I right?"

"Misha is completely subservient."

"Humph! I see. Well then, at least they aren't in any danger ... I guess. Whatever works for you."

"Do you have a point Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru didn't need a lecture, just what was Inuyasha thinking? Misha and Rin were doing well under his protection. There was no need to discus anything about Misha with his annoying half brother.

"Excuse me for finding it a little bit odd that you found some other mortal to protect. A woman no less!" Inuyasha shook his head. "I was under the impression you despised humans." The hanyou was thinking of his mother.

Sesshomaru sensed his younger brother's agitation. The elder hadn't exactly been kind when it had come to Inuyasha's human mother; the hanyou's mate was also a mortal. "Not all humans are despicable," Sesshomaru conceded.

Inuyasha finished the offering of sake. "Yeah well, whatever. Women are difficult. Maybe not too bad for the great Lord Sesshomaru, but they sure give the rest of us poor slobs a hard time."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes away from the sarcasm. Misha gave Sesshomaru no trouble or cause to worry and she was excellent with Rin. "Misha is not a problem," he said finally. "She is content to look after Rin."

Inuyasha snorted a laugh. "There aint no such thing as a content woman big brother. You'll see."

Eventually Sesshomaru did.

4

The rain storms came for three straight nights. Sesshomaru found a wide dry cave in the hillside to shelter his followers as they slept. He stood at the entrance staring out at the storm. Jaken sat behind him with the women; Misha was humming softly in Rin's ear. Sesshomaru sensed Rin fall asleep. Jaken yawned and stretched out. Misha fell silent for a while. Sesshomaru knew that she was watching Rin sleep, listening to her snore.

When she was sure Rin was deep asleep, she got up and walked to the entrance of the cave. "Sesshomaru," she greeted and looked out at the storm.

"Rin has finally gone to sleep. Did the thunder make her anxious?" Sesshomaru knew Rin wasn't a real fan of storms, sometimes it was difficult for her to go to sleep with one kicking up just outside.

Misha nodded. "A little, but she was okay. We talked about some of the far away things that I saw following the spice route." Misha smiled a little remembering the happy time in her life. "There were many bards and actors traveling the route with us. In camp at night the bards would read their stories and sometimes the actors would perform a play."

Sesshomaru sensed Misha brighten at the memories of her own childhood. "That sounds like an interesting way to exchange culture. There were many types of humans in your group were there not Misha?"

Misha looked at Sesshomaru and giggled. "Yes, all sorts of people from many different civilizations. There was a girl that I used to play with, Shiki. Her family came from the land of the pharos. Duncan was a boy with bright orange hair and freckles."

Sesshomaru looked at Misha from the corner of his eye. "I see, quite the diversity of humans. Did you all come here together from the mainland?" Sesshomaru was wondering if any of these curious looking humans she talked about might still be alive somewhere. Misha's smile disappeared and her scent changed. Sesshomaru watched as she brought her hand up and nervously held her kimono.

"No, we got separated in China." Misha could still remember all of their faces, her family, and her friends and then…

Sesshomaru realized it was sorrow he sensed coming from the woman. This land and the mainland always seemed to have humans at war with each other. Even the innocent were slaughtered. "I see, so they have all perished then?"

Misha dropped her eyes to the ground. "I'm not sure about everyone, but many people did die in China, yes. There were still a few of us together. Iri was with me, but mostly it was just a group of us kids. Some men took us prisoner and put a few of us on a big boat. There were a lot of people on the boat and they wouldn't allow us to leave the hold. When the boat came to a stop and they let us out, we were in this land. Other soldiers came to take us somewhere. I couldn't understand the language yet so I didn't really know what was going on." Misha sighed frustrated. "More war happened with us right in the middle. We tried to run away, but many more people died. I was all alone when my Asian mama found me."

Sesshomaru knew at one that the boat had been one of the human slave ships. Misha was probably a gift for one of the human lords. Caught in the middle of the slaughter of war, Misha was lucky to escape with her life. His disgust for humans seemed to deepen a little. "I see," Sesshomaru kept his tone even and he looked back out at the storm. Thunder rolled overhead echoing slightly in the cave.

Misha blinked away the memories and faced Sesshomaru. She wanted a change of subject, now. "I was wondering Sesshomaru, are we terribly far from the sea?"

Sesshomaru turned a little to face her; gauging her emotional state "She always has her own crazy ideas and feelings about stuff!" he could hear Inuyasha barking in his head 'Emotional state' and 'feelings about stuff' were close to the same thing Sesshomaru guessed. "No, not in particular." He kept the conversation as casual as possible letting Misha settle down again. "You wish to go to the sea?"

"I would like to show Rin. There are many things she can learn there; the tide, the marine life…" Misha stopped realizing Sesshomaru didn't need convincing. Her smile returned. "We can go?"

Sesshomaru nodded. Misha's scent had softened back to normal, she seemed happy again. "I think there are many things for Rin to do at the beach. We can set out in the morning."

"Thank you Sesshomaru." Misha was pleased he liked the idea of the beach too. She could just see Rin chasing the gulls now.

5

It didn't take long for them to reach the seashore and find themselves a comfortable stretch of beach to call home for a while. The beach was isolated from humans and there were no demons in the area. Sesshomaru took Jaken with him during the day, Misha was teaching Rin to swim. The child was exhausted nightly. Sesshomaru would lead Jaken back to the shore at sunset. Even a demon thought the sun sinking into the ocean was a beautiful sight to behold. Sometimes Rin would hold his hand, sometimes Misha's and once in a while it was both.

This evening Rin had both Lord Sesshomaru and Misha holding her hand when she found herself in a most peculiar situation. Her bladder was quite full, but the sunset wasn't over yet! She tried to be still, but not moving just made it worse. Rin decided that a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! she simply must excuse herself. She stepped back pulling on the grown up's hands. "Very sorry everyone, you must excuse me. Misha made me drink lots of water today!" She made a quick adjustment, slipping Misha's hand into Lord Sesshomaru's hand so that they could hold her place between them. "Carry on then," she chirped and made a dash for the bushes.

"Rin," Misha called, but she saw the child didn't go that far. She looked at Sesshomaru as if to confirm Rin's safety. He wasn't looking at Rin; he was looking down at what she had done with their hands. She had been so preoccupied with Rin running off that she just now noticed she was holding onto Sesshomaru's thumb.

Sesshomaru turned their hand over and looked at Misha's more closely. Her hands weren't that much bigger then Rin's, the fingers wrapped around his thumb looked long and Human females are frail creatures! They get hurt easily frail. His eyes moved up to her tiny wrist and her thin dark arms. She certainly wasn't strong enough to fend of an attacker on her own. Misha was small and delicate; Sesshomaru could see how easily she could be broken. His eyes moved up to her face and he was surprised to find her staring at him. Misha didn't usually take her eyes off of Rin. Her heart rate was accelerating too; he could even feel it in his hand. Sesshomaru wasn't that close to her, but, "Shall I let go of your hand?"

Misha felt the heat in her cheeks. "No, I wouldn't want Rin to think we find each other disagreeable or anything," Misha tore her eyes from Sesshomaru looking back at Rin.

The woman smelled slightly flustered. Sesshomaru studied her face in the orange light of sunset feeling her heartbeat in his hand. "This does not seem to be acceptable touching to you Misha."

Misha startled a little. "Well… normally its not, but its okay. Rin should come back to find us how she left us. We're holding her place for her."

Sesshomaru could tell by her scent that the blush in Misha's cheeks had deepened. Holding his hand was not really something she would have done on her own, it was probably taboo to her goddess. He also understood she was doing it for Rin, to make the child feel secure. He knew that 'holding her place' was something Misha had taught Rin to help the child learn to be more patient. "I see."

The temperature of Misha's hand went up slightly. He didn't see how holding his hand this briefly could be that flustering. Misha got over her fear of Sesshomaru long ago and Sesshomaru had always respected her need for distance between them. He had not so much as bumped into her and even when he had come close to her Misha's heart did not do what it was doing now. Something was different. "Misha," he began to command her attention, but words left him when she brought her eyes up to his.

Her free hand went up and grabbed at her kimono as she stared into Sesshomaru's gold eyes. He looked like the prince in all the fairy stories; his long hair fluttering on the breeze with the sky painted three shades of beautiful all around him. "What is it Sesshomaru?"

There was a dreamy look in Misha's eyes. His name sounded unusually soft on her lips. Behind them Rin had concluded her business with the bushes and raced past them to the water to wash her hands. Sesshomaru and Misha returned their attention to Rin. Once the child got to the water she couldn't resist getting just a little bit wet. She walked into the water past her ankle and stuck her hands in.

"Don't go getting all wet!" Misha called to Rin.

"I won't!" Rin called back poking her fingers into the sand.

With Rin's return Misha's scent quickly adjusted, back to normal. Her arm and the hand he was holding relaxed. Her eyes were once again fixed on the child. Sesshomaru studied Misha in the dusky light that enveloped them. He was suddenly struck by how feminine she was. Her soft features, her full pink lips. He had never lingered this close to her before, he had always given her adequate space. He could smell the salt of the sea in her hair, she still had a slight blush on her cheeks. She was very pretty this close and her eyes were full of warmth. "Rin had a good day?" he asked wanting to watch her soft voice move her lips.

Misha's voice was full of pride. "Oh yes, wonderful! She loves the water, she's practically a fish." Misha laughed a little as she watched Rin examining a sea shell she had found in the surf.

"Does she swim?"

"A little bit, I go in the water with her. She is getting much better."

Sesshomaru nodded and looked at Rin. "It will be good for her to know how to swim. Such disciplines often come in handy." Rin had turned to them and was running toward them holding the shell.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Look what I found my lord!"

6

They stayed at the beach for a while. Rin seemed to be having the time of her life here and it was a safe place. Sesshomaru took afternoon naps in the woods not far from the shore where the child played in the surf. The days had passed peacefully and Sesshomaru spent most nights on the shore with companions, staring out at the sea after they drifted off to sleep one by one. This afternoon he lay back in the grass with his hands beneath his head and his eyes closed. Jaken was seated not far from his knee. He was telling Sesshomaru one of Misha's stories, this one about a kami called Zeus. This kami seemed to enjoy tormenting humans with bolts of lightning. Suddenly Rin screamed.

Sesshomaru's eyes flew open and he sniffed the air. He could smell Rin and Misha near the water, but sensed no predators. He got up quickly, thinking a fiend could be hiding in the water. Sesshomaru couldn't smell below the surface, so maybe he had better check it out. Rin had sounded frightened and now there was silence. He was still sleepy, but the quick jog to the shore would wake him up. Sesshomaru dashed through the trees before Jaken could even get up to follow.

Rin had been walking the beach when she saw something most unpleasant. A brightly colored fish had washed up on the shore. Rin skipped over to it to inspect it. She had put her kimono back on but her hair was still wet from swimming. Misha san was still drying off in the sun. She didn't like to get her kimono all wet, but Rin didn't mind if her own kimono was a little damp. It was cooler that way. As she approached the fish the surf rolled up the shore enough to give her the impression that it was moving, still alive. Rin wondered if the fish needed help getting back into the water or if it would be good in her belly. She bent closer reaching for the fish. Suddenly she saw the maggots squirming in the fish's eye socket. Rin screamed and leapt back revolted.

Misha had been lying on her stomach in the sand just up the beach from Rin. She raised her head and looked at the child when Rin cried out in alarm. She saw Rin backing away from something near the water. Misha hurried to her feet and started toward her. "What is it Rin? What's the matter?" Misha blinked and suddenly Sesshomaru was there. He stood over the child looking at her intently. Misha took another step forward and stopped. Her kimono was behind her, not even within reach. Misha was naked and Sesshomaru was standing right here in front of her!

Sesshomaru was looking at Rin, she seemed to be alright. Then the woman screamed from behind Rin. Sesshomaru lifted his sharp eyes to Misha looking all around her for sign of danger, but there was none. Misha was standing there alone…and naked. Sesshomaru saw tan lines on her body from her kimono. There was sand stuck to her belly, just above her navel and just below her…

Misha threw her arms around herself covering her most private parts. "Look away Sesshomaru! You mustn't see me!" she screeched, but it was too late. Even as the demon spun around and faced away from her, Misha knew where Sesshomaru's eyes had fallen.

Sesshomaru quickly turned his back to Misha, his heart suddenly jumping into his throat. He could smell her anxiety and the salt of the ocean on her skin. Sesshomaru realized with quiet alarm that he had just been ogling her. It was her scream that had made him turn away. For a moment he thought he was seeing a tanyo, but it was just… Misha. He cleared his throat as he heard Misha scramble behind him for her kimono. Rin stared up at him confused. "Excuse me, I heard Rin scream so I …"

Misha had turned her back to the others. Her face was bright red as she pulled on her kimono. "Is Rin alright?" Misha was still trying to catch her breath.

Rin looked from Lord Sesshomaru to Misha. "I'm okay; I just saw a fish with a bug in his eye that's all." She had never seen the adults behave so strangely. Misha yelled at Lord Sesshomaru, and Lord Sesshomaru wore a terribly guilty face. "Did… did something bad just happen? Why did you yell at Lord Sesshomaru Misha?"

Misha straightened her kimono as she faced Rin. She had to think of something to say to the child that wouldn't frighten or confuse her. "I… I was just surprised to see him that's all. He… startled me."

Rin didn't think that was quite the truth, the grown ups seemed flustered.

"My apologies for startling you Misha," Sesshomaru said quickly and walked away. He disappeared back into the trees, away from the females. He could hear Misha speaking to Rin in a soothing voice as he moved away from the beach. It was better to let her handle the situation with Rin. The child wasn't stupid; she had sensed some sort of problem between Sesshomaru and Misha. Misha had screamed at him and he supposed he deserved it. It wasn't as if it were just a peek, Sesshomaru had stared at her flesh, her curves. The image of Misha's naked body, sand coating and all, was burned into his mind. "Kuso," he grumbled under his breath as he stomped through the brush. Misha was likely very upset with him. He had been careful to respect Misha's boundaries. The only time he had really touched her was the day Rin had put their hands together. Misha had seemed content to put that behind them, but Sesshomaru thought that this might be a little different then holding hands for a couple of minutes. He had seen her she'd just have to be some gorgeous, exotic, untouchable, virgin that worships the ground you walk on! naked. It was forbidden by her kami for Misha to be seen by a man. Sesshomaru halted and took in a deep breath.

"It was an accident," he mumbled to the forest. He was replaying the scene in his head. Running to Rin, seeing that nothing was wrong with her and then he heard Misha scream. Sesshomaru sighed heavily. "And then I stared at her like she was desert." Sesshomaru brought a hand up and massaged his temple. "What was I thinking, how very rude…" but the demon knew what he was thinking about now. The way her dark arm clashed against her fair bosom, her damp hair over one bronze shoulder…

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken was running. He had spotted Lord Sesshomaru ahead. His master looked aggravated. Rin was probably pestering him again.

Sesshomaru passed out of his daze and looked down at Jaken. "Everything is alright Jaken, Rin was unharmed."

Jaken reached Sesshomaru and caught his breath. His master smelled agitated, rubbing his head as if coming down with a headache. "I'm surprised you let her pester you so much Lord Sesshomaru. Wasn't Misha there tending to Rin?"

The mention of Misha's name brought her image back into Sesshomaru's mind. "Yes. Rin was fine."

Jaken nodded. "You shouldn't let young Rin be such a bother Lord Sesshomaru. I've said many times you're too kind to these humans."

Sesshomaru let his hand fall to his side and he looked away from his servant and back to the woods ahead of him. He was sorry that he had broken Misha's rule, certainly he would apologize to her properly after she calmed down, but he wasn't sorry that he had seen her body. He had to admit, Misha was beautiful. "Shall we go Jaken," he wanted his mind other places then the strange path it was wandering down now. Sesshomaru stepped forward and pushed the woman from his mind.

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