Chapter 12

Seishi had spent the morning with Rin in a small camp they had built the night before within walking distance of a lovely quiet lake. She and Rin stayed behind with Ah-Un while Sesshoumaru went off with Jaken for whatever reasons they had. Seishi had been going over Rin's lessons with her and at the moment they were taking some time off from mathematics and language and doing some art instead. Seishi had brought paper and charcoal for them to draw with for this, and was enjoying watching Rin have fun as she drew all kinds of things from flowers, to animals, to people on the papers.

"Sesshoumaru and the toad are coming back," Seishi let Rin know, as she herself sat up. She could smell the dog demon lord drawing closer. "Why don't you show him your drawings, Rin-chan?" Seishi started to gather up the charcoal and spare papers as well as some she herself had drawn on, to put away in the bag she brought.

Seishi glanced over as Sesshoumaru came through the trees; Jaken hurrying to keep up with his masters' larger strides. She watched as Rin ran up to greet them, her drawings in her hands for Sesshoumaru to see. Sesshoumaru regarded Rin and her drawings without expression and the toad seemed annoyed at the cheerful and energetic child. Seishi smiled to herself, turning her attention to the papers she was piling up into a neat stack, then slipped them into her bag. What a funny group she had gotten herself mixed up with…

Rin held up the first of her drawings to Sesshoumaru. Rin's drawings were rather crude as children's drawings usually are but despite her young age Rin's work show real potential. Rin's first drawing was a portrait she had done of Seishi. Sesshoumaru emotionless mask almost slipped for moment when he saw it. The picture was actually pretty well done but the nose was far too big for the face. He mentally tired to imagine Seishi's face with that nose. As small smile appeared on Sesshoumaru's face for a moment but was then gone just as quickly. "That very nice Rin." Rin nodded happily and moved on to the next picture, which was drawing of her and Seishi together near the lake.

Seishi drew herself up from where she had been sitting and moved over to join them, "Rin-chan draws very well for her age... many children her age, demon or human, would still draw stick figures." Turning her attention to Rin, "Rin-chan, why don't we go swimming in the lake? We need to wash up anyway as we have charcoal all over our hands."

Rin turned to Seishi looked down at her blackened hands, then back up at Seishi and nodded, "Hai!"

Seishi chuckled, "Why don't you go put your drawings into the bag while I dig out some soap?" Seishi turned and headed to where she left her own bag, digging out the soap sands she had used at the hot spring that one time Sesshoumaru walked in on her. She took a moment to unlatch and buckle her armor and kicked off her boots, leaving it in a neat pile near her things. Armor was not meant for swimming in after all… Left in only the bit of clothing she wore under it all, she moved over to Rin. As soon as the girl was done putting her pictures away, Seishi took her hand and started down to the lakeside.

Sesshoumaru was too proud to admit to himself that he had been watching Seishi the whole time she had been taking off her clothes. He had seen her body before but it had been a long time ago and only for a few moments. This time he had gotten a bit more leisurely look at her. He had to admit to himself, she was one sexy bitch. He looked away as if not interested as Seishi walked over and took Rin's hand. Sesshoumaru stood riveted to the spot as he watched Seishi lead Rin towards the lake. Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow as he watched the two females walk off, 'I'll bet she's shaking her hips like that on purpose...' he thought to himself.

Seishi paused at the water's edge, first searching for any signs of any resident demons, but there weren't any. She smiled and waded out into the water to test it. "Burr… it's a little chilly…" looked over at Rin. "Can you swim Rin or just want to wade?"

Rin eased a foot into the water a bit to test it; it was rather cold so she pulled her foot out. "Rin can swim, but the water is too cold for swimming." Seishi was about to answer, but then her senses perked up and she moved closer to Rin quickly.

"YA-TA!" came a loud yell that seemed to come out of nowhere as a large object hit the water a short distance away from Rin and Seishi. The huge splash sent a wave of water over Seishi and Rin drenching them. As the plume of water disappeared a boy in a red kimono and triangular dog-ears could be seen shaking off in the shallow bed of the lake. "Oy Kagome! C'mon on in, the water is great!" He shouted towards another bank of the lake, having not yet noticed Rin and Seishi.

Seishi stood there… blinked… then blinked again… then she narrowed her eyes, and then blinked again as recognition hit her… That was the same boy Sesshoumaru had been fighting the day she first set eyes on the dog demon lord. Sesshoumaru's little half-brother InuYasha; the same InuYasha the flea demon Myoga told her about. The hanyou seemed oblivious of Seishi and Rin standing there soaked because of him… they were down wind so he must not have picked up on Sesshoumaru's scent and Sesshoumaru only let his presence known when he wished it.

She wondered if she and Rin should just return… She rather not see the brothers get into another fight, which Myoga told her was very common whenever the two ran into each other. But another part of her was curious… she hadn't had any chance to converse with InuYasha or his human companions… the only things she knew of them she had learned from her time with the flea. She decided to let her and Rin's presence be known, "Hey pup! I think you owe us an apology!"

Upon hearing a strange voice bark out at him InuYasha was immediately on his guard whirling around with his hand upon Tessaiga's hilt ready to draw it at a moments notice. At that moment Kagome and the rest of InuYasha's gang arrived, "How can you stand that water? It's beyond fre- Hey who's that?" Kagome blurted out as she locked her soft eyes upon the drenched Seishi and the little girl with her. Kagome's eyes lit up as she recognized the child as Rin, "Rin-chan!"

InuYasha sniffed the air carefully picking the scent of Rin and the scent that he was sure belonged to the female. She was youkai, no doubt about that; smelled rather high class too. He could also tell that she was inu youkai like himself. He also recognized her scent from somewhere... where had he seen her before... "Who are you?" He said in low serious tone. He would not lower his guard in the presence of a demon. Not when Kagome was so close.

Seishi turned her silvery blue gaze to the humans of InuYasha's party, glanced down at Rin, and then turned her gaze back to the hanyou in the water. "My name is Seishi, and that's all I'm telling you. Now I'm still waiting for an apology, Pup."

InuYasha narrowed his eyes. How dare this stranger order him around! "What you say bitch? Why don't you come over here and say that to my sword!" He hollered as he whipped the Tessaiga out and charged forward.

Kagome ran out into the shallows to play mediator as usual, "InuYasha, SIT!" InuYasha yelped in pain as the rosary around his neck pulled his face down into the water and the sediment on the lake's bottom.

Kagome turned to Seishi and bowed apologetically, "I'm so sorry about that. He didn't mean to offend you. Please accept or apologies for splashing you," she then turned to look at the flattened InuYasha, "and for this jerks absolute lack of tact." she added with a little venom.

Seishi lofted a brow… she would have stood her ground against his attack, but seemed she didn't need to. But she did need to ask one thing, "Um… Yes well... Apology accepted but... will he drown with his face in the mud and water like that?" she asked Kagome.

Kagome smiled and giggled, "Oh no, this sorta thing happens all the time." Throughout the whole interaction Rin had remained hidden behind Seishi's leg but now she felt the danger had passed he came out. Kagome noticed Rin come back out, "Hello there Rin, how have you been?" she crotched down to being her face down to Rin's eye level "Who is this your with? I thought you were with Sesshoumaru?"

InuYasha growled and grumbled as he pulled his face out of the mud and he got up on his knees. His clothes where sopping wet and was his hair and pretty much everything else. He couldn't believe that Kagome had sat him. He was only trying to protect her, why did she always have to get in his way? He growled irritably as his musings only made him angrier. The fact that he was wet didn't help his mood either. Finally the anger bubble burst and he put his hands on the ground and began shaking vigorously sending water all over anyone nearby, "Grrr I'm really pissed off right now!"

Kagome shielded herself from InuYasha as best she could as he worked off both the water and his frustration. She felt Rin take her hands in hers and she started chattering away. "Hello Kagome-san! This is Seishi-sama," she replied taking her hands off Kagome's hands and warping her arms around Seishi leg. "She is staying with Rin and Sesshoumaru-sama."

Sango glanced over at InuYasha, not commenting on his being in yet another foul mood as she moved over to join Kagome. She was dressed in her usually traveling clothing, her Hiraikotsu on her back with its strap over her shoulder. Kirara was in her arms, having been taking a catnap while they walked. They had just stopped for a rest when InuYasha decided to go swimming. She waited politely for Kagome to introduce her.

Miroku walked up to join the group with Shippou trailing along beside him. He looked this newcomer over. Not bad, not bad at all... beautiful silvery hair, well gifted in the chest area, narrow waist, firm tight rear… yes not bad at all...

Kagome stood up and smiled at Seishi, "Nice to meet you. My name is Kagome Higurashi. I'm 15 years old and in the ninth grade." she turned and seeing that all her friends where there she introduced them. "This girl here is Sango, she's a Taijiya and her cat is named Kirara. The little fox demon is Shippou, "she then turned towards Miroku, "and he is... hey where'd he go?" She blinked puzzled that Miroku that had been there a second ago was now gone. She turned towards Seishi and saw the houshi in question standing before her.

Miroku's eyes danced as he smiled, then he suddenly took her hands into his, "and my name is Miroku and dear lady would you do me the honor of bearing my child?"

Kagoem sweatdropped at Miroku... 'Gods, he'll even proposition a demon? There truly is no hope for him is there?' she thought to herself

Seishi blinked, she hadn't even noticed the monk's sudden change in placement until he had her hands. She blinked again at his request and sweatdropped, "Eh…"

Seishi didn't even get to answer before the Hiraikotsu was off Sango's shoulder and love-tapped Miroku on top of the head… "Baka hentai…" Sango grumbled as she returned her weapon to her back.

Miroku backed off to nurse the painful bump on his as head he tried to save face, "Hehe I was merely joking. You appearance is so convincingly human that my emotions got the better of me…"

Shippou gave the monk a look, "Do you really think anyone is going to believe that?"

Kagome gave Miroku an "I can't believe you" look, the glanced over at hanyou that still hadn't gotten over being angry. "And the grumpy one over there is InuYasha. Don't let his prickliness fool, he is actually very kind hearted." Sango was still giving Miroku an irritated look. (¬¬ -- look).

InuYasha snorted, "Feh, don't make me laugh. I'm as cold hearted as they come."

Seishi chuckled at InuYasha, "Cold hearted huh? Sesshoumaru puts up a better front then you do pup, and he's anything but cold hearted himself."

InuYasha glared at Seishi, "Don't compare me that jerk! Hey wait you know Sesshoumaru? How could you? You smell to me like you come from somewhere far away. sniff sniff Hey wait a second, you have Sesshoumaru's scent all over you! Are you in cahoots with Sesshoumaru?" InuYasha's hand once again hovered over Tessaiga.

"I, Sesshoumaru, team with no one. I alone am all the power that is necessary." Came Sesshoumaru's voice from the forest's edge. Sesshoumaru stood at the edge of the forest, flanked by Jaken and Ah-Un. Jaken stared contemptuously at InuYasha while Ah-Un glanced this way and that, not really interested in what was going on. How long Sesshoumaru had been there was unknown to everyone present except for Sesshoumaru.

InuYasha was in battle stance in flash placing himself protectively in front of Kagome. "Sesshoumaru you bastard why are you here?"

Seishi sweatdropped, "Down boy… he probably came because Rin and I were taking too long. Don't start a fight if there doesn't need to be one…" Seishi picked up Rin, "It was nice meeting you Kagome-san, Sanga-san, Miroku-san. We didn't really get a chance to talk much, but I am sure we'll meet again," and moved in the line between the brothers… Maybe she could get Sesshoumaru to go before a fight could break out between the feuding brothers; best to try and stop it before it started.

InuYasha growled at being interrupt again in a serious matter by a female and considered pressing it until he felt Kagome take hold of his Kimono as if begging him not to fight with Sesshoumaru. He growled in annoyance but moved his hand away from his sword and crossed them across his chest instead. "Keh, he got lucky for today."

Sesshoumaru's keen ears did not miss InuYaha's comment, but he paid it no mind. He was not one to be taken in by childish taunts. Besides both he an InuYasha knew that a match between them could only be a death match and now was not the time or place for that. He turned around and led his party away from InuYasha and his friends. Not a moment too soon in his opinion. There was just something about his hanyou brother that made his blood boil whenever he saw him.

Seishi had put Rin down so she could walk on her own up next to Sesshoumaru. Seishi paused and turned around and waved to the humans and InuYasha, "Next time we meet, do try to be more civil InuYasha, you're too cute to be so rude!" she called back, then gave the hanyou a winked before turning and moving to follow Sesshoumaru.

InuYasha sputtered, "C-cute? Hey get back here! What did you mean by cute!"

Kagome found herself a bit put out by Seishi's parting words. Sure InuYasha was cute but what did she have to say that for? She took a deep breath and assured herself that Seishi was only trying to tease InuYasha. An activity she found to be quite fun herself.

To Be Continued…