Wandering Child Chapter 3: Yearning For Guidance, an inuyasha fanfic

A/N: I do not own InuYasha, Phantom of the Opera, or the musical Secret Garden. Those lucky people happen to be Rumiko Takahashi, Gaston Leroux-Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Frances Hodgson Burnett-Lucy Simon. Anyone happen know their lawyer's numbers?

Ch.3 Yearning for guidance

About two hours before that night's performance, the cast started arriving backstage and began putting on their makeup and doing whatever else they did before a performance night. But tonight, instead of the normal noise and chatter that was deafening, it was eerily quiet. Any source of noise was glared at by about twenty pairs of eyes until it shut off. Everyone was on edge: the only ones not there yet were Kagome, Souta, and InuYasha.

All this was fine with Sesshoumaru. He had no desire to see the hanyou, and the silence offered better thinking conditions. It was also easier to concentrate on getting his face just right.

Applying the makeup to make him seem disfigured had taken several hours, and he was almost done. The right side of his face was unrecognizable. The right side… He recalled how it had been covered in blood the night before and the little girl asleep in the hospital right at that moment.

He had not wanted to leave her alone, and she certainly had not wanted him to leave, but he promised her would return right after work. She still wasn't talking, but her eyes did all the asking. He explained he was an actor and went every night to sing on a stage in front of lots of people. He told her of the Shikon Theatre that put on top class performances exclusively for powerful demon lords and humans. He left out the fact he was one of those demon lords, and wealthy at that. She'd find out soon enough.

The small child's eyes lit up when he promised her he would sing for her that night when he got back if she behaved for the nurses. She nodded enthusiastically, giggling her delight. That giggle made him smile as he placed a kiss on her forehead, tucked the covers around her snugly, and walked out the door promising to be back that night. Rin had clasped her blanket over her exposed ear and promptly went to sleep. Sesshoumaru watched her steady breathing for a few moments before really leaving.

When she was out of the hospital he wanted to bring her to the theatre. He had a sneaky suspicion she would enjoy running around and poking her nose into everything. She seemed to be a very curious girl with a lot of energy.

FLASHBACK

He had spent all day with Rin walking around the hospital grounds. She loved the flowers and enjoyed making them into chains and crowns. She had been enthralled by the elderly patients playing chess outside and they had stopped to watch a match between two elderly men. Seshoumaru raised his eyebrow when one of the men had picked her up and placed her on his lap. The old man smiled at both demon and girl, then proceeded to teach Rin the rules of the game and even let her move the pieces around the board for him. She laughed when "she" won the game and promptly ran off to make the old gentleman a daisy crown. The old man laughed heartily at the small girl sitting in the grass, a warm smile on his weathered features.

"I have a granddaughter her age. I wish she was as entertained by chess though. Your daughter is a real sweetheart even if she doesn't talk much, you're quite the lucky man to have her." Sesshoumaru blinked when the man referred to Rin as his daughter, but found he liked it.

"Yes. Yes I am." He looked down as Rin came up and wrapped her small arms around his legs. She held two identical daisy crowns. She let go of Sesshoumaru long enough to place one of the crowns on the grandfather, then turned to her new father and looked up at him expectantly. With those eyes he couldn't deny her anything. As he knelt down so she could place the remaining crown on his head, he thought about the workers now scurrying around his mansion preparing for their new "Little Miss".

Interior designers were set to making a nursery fit for a hyper seven year old princess. He almost grimaced at the thought of the pony waiting in the stables along with his own stallion and mares waiting for its new mistress. He had placed orders around the world to the best toy companies in the world for dolls and other little girl toys, including a doll's house with a hundred rooms on every one of its five floors. She would have her own library full of books, and was to be enrolled in the finest school in the country. Thankfully close enough to his home that she could be driven and not have to board there. His little girl wouldn't want for anything. Everything money could and couldn't buy, she would have. Who cared if he spoiled her? That was half the fun.

Rin stood back to admire her handi-work. She smiled at the stoic youkai with flowers in his hair. He in turn leaned down and picked her up. And in a rare show of tenderness, kissed her forehead before spinning around in circles causing the girl to squeal out her delight as she floated up and down in a giant circle. When he was done, Sesshoumaru set her down so she could place a rather dizzy good bye kiss on the old man's cheek before going back to her room. Sesshoumaru picked her up and placed her on his hip, her head resting on his shoulder as she dozed, and walked back into the hospital with the flowers still atop his head.

END FLASHBACK

The way Rin could make friends with anyone reminded him of Kagome. 'Hmm, Kagome. Doesn't she too have an adopted child around Rin's age?' He didn't want to leave Rin alone during performances, maybe he could take her to whomever Kagome left her son with. Rin would need other children her age after all… 'So it seems I'll have to talk to Kagome about this later. Speak of the devil-'

Kagome had just walked in room, a very angry Souta in tow. And reasonably so: his face was done up in bright classic clown make-up.

"Whad'ya mean you won't take it off! I can't believe you! Letting me come half way here not telling me my face was like this then telling me you won't take it off before we get to the theatre! What the hell! Kohaku's gonna-"

A camera flash went off in front of Souta's face and a laughing Kohaku took off, running out of the room before his stunned best friend realized what hit him. Souta blinked and looked around, finally noticing where he was.

"Aw SHIT! HAKU! GET YOUR FUCKING ASS BACK HERE! YOUR ASS IS FUCKING GETTING THROWN OFF THE CATWALK! GOT THAT! YOUR ASS IS MINE!" he tore off after Kohaku intent on smashing the camera into his "best friend's" skull.

Meanwhile, Kagome was pounding the floor with her fists, laughing. She had fallen over at the look on her brother's face and had yet to find the strength to get back up. Tears were streaming down her face as she clutched her sides.

"Oh God…GASP…that was….laugh….classic!…God…look on….his…HAHA!…face….!"

By now nearly everyone was laughing at Souta's expense. It was good to see Kagome in a good mood and were glad for various reasons. Sango was glad her friend was back, Kohaku 'cause he finally had black mail, Miroku because usually that was HIM getting tortured by Kagome.

But, of course, right at that moment InuYasha came in and the tension returned to the room ten-fold.

"What the hell's so funny? Whaddid I miss?"

"The size o'yer balls mutt-face."

"Shut yer face, ya STINKING WOLF! Nobody asked you!"

"Gonna hit me mutt face?"

"Yeah, I think I'll do just-"

"NO. HE. WON'T. InuYasha, so help me if you touch him I swear you'll die a particularly painful death. You too Kouga. Both of you idiots shut up. I'm tired of your constant bickering. Look where it got us yesterday."

Kagome stood in between them. Her face was livid and you'd never have known she had been laughing just a few minutes ago. Both Kouga and InuYasha looked at the floor shame-faced and blushing.

"Now both of you knock it off. We got a show to do tonight, and I'll be damned if we don't get another standing ovation because you two try to beat the shit out of each other in the middle of the show." She began to walk away, but stopped and nodded her head as if deciding something.

"Oh, and InuYasha," she walked back to him "I believe this is yours." She took the chain from around her neck and put it into his hand, the ring hanging over the edge of the palm so everyone could see what it was.

Kagome walked over to her mirror and began to quickly do her makeup. Her skin was already very pale, so she didn't have much to do. It took her a total of two minutes, powder and all, before she ran out of the room to warm up and put her costume on.

InuYasha stood there stone faced in the middle of the room, staring at the ring in his hand, completely oblivious to everyone else. Almost robotically, he moved over to his mirror and began putting his makeup on. He felt numb. He hadn't been expecting Kagome to do that. Anything but that. 'How can I go out on that stage and not be in love with her all over again?'

Folowing that train of thought, he got up and went to his dressing room to get dressed and warm up.

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CHRISTINE

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Say the word and I will follow you

BOTH

Share each day with me

Each night, each morning

CHRISTINE

Say…you love me

RAOUL

You know I do

BOTH

Love me-

That's all I ask of you…

From behind his statue on the "roof" on stage, Sesshoumaru noticed something interesting. During the music interlude when Raoul and Christine are supposed to share their first passionate kiss, Kagome had turned her face to the side (too slight for the audience to notice) and InuYasha could only kiss the corner of her mouth. When the broke apart, they were supposed to kiss one more time before singing. Once again, Kagome thought differently. She cupped his cheeks with her hands and brought his face down to hers. To the audience, it was a sweet kiss. To Sesshoumaru, it was Kagome's thumbs over InuYasha's lips in a classic "stage kiss".

BOTH

Anywhere you go

Let me go to!

Love me-

That's all I ask of you.

Sesshoumaru was concentrating too hard on not laughing at the haynyou's dejected face when he had pulled away from Kagome. He quickly got back into character and staggered out from behind the statue as soon as Kagome and InuYasha had exited, singing.

I gave you my music, made your song take wing

Now how you've repaid me. Denied me and betrayed me.

He was bound to love you, when he heard you sing…

Christine! Christine…

Naraku stood backstage seething. Once again, the audience was in raptures. The chandelier had just fallen amid Sesshoumaru's evil cackling, and the audience drank it up. Those damn dog brothers had everything he wanted. 'Well, they did.' He smirked to himself as he thought of Kagome. Sweet, innocent, little Kagome. Now that she was no longer with the hanyou…she would be his. Images flashed in his mind of all he would to do to Kagome, everything that woke him from his dreams screaming her name. His smirk grew wider. Yes, she would return the favor. No song of hers would be sweeter than the sound of her shouting his name in release to the…pleasure he would bring her. He would get Kagome, and he would get the Phantom. He was tired of getting killed every night in that damn fat suit. Yes, he would turn the tide on the Phantom….

Sesshoumaru stepped quietly into Rin's room, not wanting to wake her. He sat down in a chair beside her bed. He watched her sleep, pondering. The doctor said she would be cleared to go home with him in a week, once the wound on her shoulder was completely healed. And one week after that, she would be his legal daughter. He would have a human girl for a daughter.

What had snapped in his mind that night? To react that way to a small human girl? 'Kami knows there are billions of them all over the world, why her? How has she become so special? How has she chipped away the barrier and wormed her way into my heart. I gave up feeling emotions off the stage hundreds of years ago. Why her?'

As if sensing his thoughts, Rin began to stir. She opened her eyes to see Sesshoumaru leaning forward in his chair, elbows on his knees with his chin resting on the backs of his hands. Her chocolate orbs locked with his golden ones. Normally hard and impassive, they were soft and full of emotions. Swimming on the surface she saw love, tenderness, and a tiny glimmer of sadness. Rin knew it wasn't for her, something had hurt her new daddy a long time ago. It was up to her to help him get better like he was helping her.

Rin grabbed the blanket the nice police lady had given her and crawled over to Sesshoumaru's lap and settled herself in. He moved so she would be more comfortable before wrapping his arms securely around her small body. Rin lay her head against his collar bone, his chin resting at the top of her head. His hands stroked her long hair, black in one light and dark brown in another.

Rin began to move impatiently and fidget. Sesshoumaru looked down to see what was causing her trouble when he felt her small hand at his throat. He met her eyes and she seemed to be asking something. He smiled and remembered. She wanted him to sing. He settled her back into his lap and she smiled waiting for him to begin.

A bit of earth, she wants a little bit of earth

She'll plant some seeds

The seed will grow, the flowers bloom

But is their bounty what she needs

How can she chance to love a little bit of earth does she not know

The earth is old, an doesn't care if one small girl wants things

To grow.

Rin smiled drowsily as she could feel the vibrations from his chest in her ear. She couldn't really understand the words of the song, she just liked the sound and feel of the singing. It sounded like the angels her Mommy used to tell her about…Feeling warm and safe for the first time in weeks, Rin went to sleep to the sound of Sesshoumaru's voice beneath her ear.

She needs a friend

She needs a father, brother, sister,

Mothers arms

She needs to laugh

She needs to dance and learn to work her girlish charms

She needs a home the only thing she really needs I cannot give

Instead she asks, a bit of earth to make it live

She should have her pony, gallop 'cross the moor

She should have her dolls house with a hundred rooms per floor!

Why can't she ask for a treasure?

Something that money can buy that won't die

When I gave her the word

She asks instead for some earth

A bit of earth, she wants a little bit of earth

She'll plant some seeds

The seed will grow, the flowers bloom

Their beauty just the thing she needs

She'll grow to love the tender roses

Lilies fair, the iris tall

She'll love them all, her bit of earth will be home to all

A bit of earth, A bit of earth

Rin had become like a dead weight in her sleep with a death grip on the front of his shirt. Not wanting to wake the girl, he stood up slowly before sitting down on the narrow hospital bead trying to disentangle her hand gently from his shirt. Rin frowned and made frightened murmurs in her sleep, holding to Seshoumaru's shirt tighter.

Seshoumaru sighed. There would be no easy way of doing it without it ending in tears. So, making up his mind, he picked up Rin and laid down on the bed. Her settled her small body next to his. Rin began to relax, sensing no threat of his leaving any time soon. She wanted to be held for as long as possible. Afraid if he went away, he wouldn't come back until it was too late. Just like that night with her father…

Rin shivered, cringing in her sleep, her dreams disturbing her. Sesshoumaru noticed and held the girl closer to him, murmuring comforting words into her hair. She was such a sweet girl, he could smell the fear radiating from her over her dream, and her fear caused him distress.

His demon side was whimpering, at a loss to comfort its pup. It whined at him to make it stop. It had enough with hurting human females it didn't know how to comfort. 'Females? As in plural? This Sesshoumaru knows not of another human female…' But he did. He remembered the look in Kagome's eyes when InuYasha had taken her heart and stepped on it in the form of that stupid wolf's comment. 'So, it seems I have a wish to protect two females. Hmpf. Father you dog, passing this down to me. So be it. No one will ever hurt either of them again. Happy now?' His demon side wagged its proverbial tail. 'I'm going insane. I, the Great Demon Lord of the Western Lands, am going insane. I'm not supposed to feel emotions. I'm not supposed to care. Why do I?' Rin sighed and loosened her grip just a little. 'Oh, right, that's why.' He sighed and pulled the girl closer. He closed his eyes preparing to sleep when-

"…daddy…"

A/N: Don'cha just love cliffies? Anyways, Jess is being a good boy and we've already got some ideas for more chapters. That is if you guys like the story that is. I don't imagine a thousand reviews, but a few might be nice. I will continue whether or not I actually get the reviews though.

Oh yeah, sorry bout Sesshy's being slightly out of character. But after 500 years of holding back any emotions, don't ya think the dam's gonna burst sooner or later? Actually, I just like putting in lotsa father-daughter fluffy moments. I think they're just too cute! Must have more fluffy-ness of all sorts!

Jess: Woman, you are vexing. I cannot believe you torture me into making an entire page a "fluffy" flashback and have more "fluffy" moments at the end. But NOW you are demanding more! Good lord, you wish me dead of "fluffy" poisoning don't you?

Aw, sounds like someone forgot to eat their chocolate! Hey! Gimme back my phone DAMMIT!

Jess takes off, running down the hall to the bathroom, cell phone firmly in hand

GIVE IT BACK! Ya know, for some prissy 19th century French Aristocrat, you run like fu-…er…I'll deal with you later.

toilet flushing heard menacingly in the background

Sorry 'bout that folks! I got some butt to go kick. 'Til next time! Thanx all!