Chapter Eight: Left Alone
Jaken grumbled behind her, and Rin sighed. The toad stalked up to her and mumbled under his breath to her. "How long have you been able to talk, you foolish child?"
Rin frowned. "I've always talked, Master Jaken. I only lost my voice." She stated.
"Well when did you find your voice?" He asked clearly annoyed with her question.
"This morning." She grinned at him and flung around him in a wide circle. "Isn't it wonderful, Master Jaken?"
"No!" Jaken grumbled again.
Sesshoumaru appeared behind them and Rin glanced up smiling.
"There is a youkai." Sesshoumaru said simply, glancing through the fog that lay in front of them.
Jaken and Rin both blinked and turned their heads trying to look through the thick fog that surrounded their path in a blanket. "Wh…what?" They mumbled together.
Rin turned back to face Sesshoumaru and she giggled when she saw his nose sniff the air.
Jaken also turned and sighed. "Is it dangerous to proceed my Lord?"
Sesshoumaru turned his golden gaze to the toad and smirked. "It is dead Jaken."
Jaken gaped. " A dead youkai?"
"Let's proceed." Sesshoumaru nodded, informing them that it was all right to go through the fog.
"Want to race?" She giggled, and took off down the path quickly.
Jaken gaped, and glanced over his shoulder at Lord Sesshoumaru. The golden eyes trailed after the girl, and the toad grunted. 'I'm done for.' He thought quickly running after the human. "Get back here, you brazen child."
Jaken didn't know how long they ran for, but Rin finally stopped flinging her arms into the air. "I won!" She cheered.
"You stupid child, it wasn't a race." Jaken scolded looking at her dumbfounded for a moment.
"Ah, Look Master Jaken." She said.
Jaken blinked and turned his head startled, and there in front of him, was a large youkai, lying on the ground, torn to bits. Jaken frowned, and clutched his staff closer to him and shook his head. The youkai was large, well the head that was there was.
"Like Lord Sesshoumaru said, there is a dead youkai." Rin exclaimed. She was crouched and read to run at any moment, should it attack.
Jaken nodded. "Ah, who in the world could have done such a thing?" He asked, staring at the large head.
"It's Inuyasha, huh?" Came a voice from the fog, and both Rin and Jaken turned both letting out a soft questioned huh.
The mist seemed to part for Sesshoumaru as he appeared before Jaken and Rin, walking slightly faster then before.
"Lord Sesshoumaru." Jaken praised, upon his arrival.
Sesshoumaru ignored him. He was more interested in the scent that lingered in the air around him. "Well, it looks like he couldn't make it back with a healthy body either." He mused, his brows drawing downward slightly. Walking forward, he approached the blue beast and smirked to himself, Inuyasha's scent was all over the thing. Reaching his hand out, he gripped the horn of the youkai and lifted it to face level. Frowning even more, he saw traces of his brother's blood, and wrinkled his nose. He felt his eyes widen at the detection of another scent. 'Youkai blood? The smell of my own and fathers. Inuyasha's scent changed? Impossible!'
Rin's cry was faint, as he sniffed and glared at the youkai who would dare touch his brother. 'It smells.' He thought silently. 'There is the smell of Tessaiga on this youkai's teeth.' His eyes narrowed. 'Like Jaken said, these teeth broke the blade of Tessaiga.' Satisfied, he had discovered the truth of the toad's words, he moved away, carrying the head with him.
Rin was horrified; Lord Sesshoumaru was carrying a dead thing. Holding her hands to her face, she continued to let everyone know just how horrified she was. She had never seen anyone carry anything dead before and this she found rather disgusting.
"Let's go." Sesshoumaru's voice trailed into her ears faintly. Even Jaken seemed to be floored by the act.
"Are we taking that with us?" His voice penetrated her ears, and she released another cry of horror.
"Be quiet Rin. Please, do it for me." Sesshoumaru commanded.
Immediately, Rin closed her mouth and spun around, keeping her eyes off the horrid beast that was being carried by her Lord. "Yes." She nodded.
"Where are we going milord?" Jaken asked, quickly falling into step beside Sesshoumaru.
He remained silent, pondering the scent on the youkai head. Was it possible that his brother could transform into a full youkai? Wrinkling his nose, he decided to pay a visit to one of his father's long time allies. The tree youkai would defiantly know the answers to his questions. Sesshoumaru only hoped that the magnolia tree would answer them, rather then fill his mind with useless riddles that usually were his responses.
"Let's go." He said simply. "We are going to find this sword smith you mentioned, Jaken."
"But milord. Kaijinbo lives in a dangerous area. It is dangerous even for a youkai, let alone a human girl." Jaken smirked, hoping this would persuade his master to leave the girl behind somewhere, and forget about her.
Sesshoumaru stopped and glared at the toad, realizing the youkai's attempts. "I see." Thinking rapidly, he wondered exactly what he was going to do with the girl. Turning, he glanced at Rin and then at his two-headed dragon. Nodding, he proceeded forward.
It had taken them a batter part of the day to travel through the swampy areas of the marshlands, and finally Sesshoumaru stopped, smelling the scent of burning coals, and rock. "This is where Kaijinbo lives?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Jaken nodded and pointed through the mist. "Through there, milord."
"Very well. Jaken, you will accompany me." Sesshoumaru turned and glanced at the girl. "Jaken, proceed forward."
"But milord…"
"Do as I say!" Sesshoumaru snarled. Immediately, Jaken scrambled forward and through the mist, leaving Rin, Ah 'Uh and Sesshoumaru alone.
Sesshoumaru knelt down to Rin's level and looked at her pointedly. "You are to remain here."
Rin frowned gasping. "Lo…lord Sesshoumaru?"
"Where I go is dangerous for a human. You must remain here. Ah 'Uh will remain with you."
Rin took a long breath before nodding. "Okay." She said softly, a hint of sadness tracing through her words.
"Why are you sad?" Sesshoumaru asked curiously.
"You will come back for me, Lord Sesshoumaru?" She whispered, her voice almost broken.
"Why would you think otherwise?"
Rin shook her head, and glanced at Ah 'Uh. "Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes?" He asked as he stood.
"I saw a pretty field filled with flowers back there." Rin waved behind her. "Can Rin go there with Ah 'Uh?"
Sesshoumaru glanced at her and then nodded, remembering the field she spoke of. "Remain there until I return."
"Yes." Rin grinned and turned around immediately. She walked over to Ah 'Uh who stood patiently, and they grunted at her arrival. "Come, Ah 'Uh. I saw some nice tasty looking grass back there. I can even make Lord Sesshoumaru a nice bundle of flowers."
The dragon followed behind her without question, and quickly found the field filled with bright yellow and white blossoms. Rin raced forward, and gathered some sticks to start a fire, and then proceeded to the flower patches scattered through out the field. Ah 'Uh grazed nearby eating grass silently, four sets of eyes glancing at the girl from time to time to make sure she was within safe distance.
Never before had the dragon come across a mortal such as this child. Somehow she filled the air with peace and tranquility that the two-headed dragon knew to be a benefit to everyone she encountered. That included their master. Quickly finding a bright green patch of grass, Ah snapped at Uh to distract it enough to snatch it up quickly in its teeth. Uh barred his teeth and realized what his counter part had done and retaliated.
Rin turned her head and saw the two-headed dragon snarling at itself and she started giggling. "There is lots of grass." Rin beamed. Holding up the bundle of flowers she had gathered, she grinned. "Do you think that Lord Sesshoumaru will like these?"
They glanced up at her and then at each other before releasing a soft noise from their throats in agreement. Indeed this girl would calm their masters raging blood, and perhaps teach him something that most youkai did not learn in life.
Rin grinned even wider, and skipped back to the small fire she had started, and sat down hugging her legs. The sky dimmed and slowly faded into night, and Ah 'Uh lifted their heads at the approach of someone, and saw their master return.
Rin got to her feet quickly and raced over with her hand full of flowers and held them up for his inspection. Sesshoumaru glanced down at the girl silently and then at the small fire she had started.
"Were you cold?"
Rin nodded. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru." Her hands lowered slightly in disappointment at his lack of response to her gift.
The action did not go unnoticed by Sesshoumaru and he glanced at them curiously. "Did you pick all the flowers in the field?"
Rin giggled and shook her head. "Ah 'Uh ate some of them."
"I see." Sesshoumaru walked over to her fire and stared at it silently.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"What is it?"
"Where is master Jaken?" Rin asked, looking back to where Sesshoumaru had emerged.
"He is waiting for the completion of my sword."
"Oh."
"Have you eaten?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"No, Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin whispered.
"Why not?" He asked, his golden eyes trailing over to her.
Rin stared up at him with large brown eyes. "But, milord. You told Rin to remain here until you returned."
Sesshoumaru blinked. This little girl had left off eating to abide by his command? Was she not hungry? Even his retainer evaded commands on occasion when circumstances arose. "I did." He nodded. "Are you hungry?"
Rin nodded and smiled shyly. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru."
"Then go find yourself something to eat. I believe I saw a berry bush near the tree line." Rin gave him a quick nod in thanks and her bundle of flowers dropped to the ground forgotten. She raced away to where he had indicated the berries had been and his golden eyes traveled to the pile of flowers in the ground. Did this little girl really intend to shower him with gifts every chance she got? Rin obeyed him completely, listened to him without question. Her eyes shone with complete trust and happiness.
Frowning, he glanced over at his two-headed dragon and they stared at one another for a long time before Sesshoumaru began to feel rather uncomfortable under those intense stares. One head he could stare down no problem, however having to shift his eyes from one set of his dragon's to the other, was rather irritating, and finally he looked away.
Rin raced back with her little hands full of berries and she plopped herself down beside the fire silently. Sesshoumaru turned his golden orbs to her and he watched the red and blue juices run down her chin staining the skin. Her hands were already stained from the berries, and her teeth were no better. Snorting, he lifted his head and stared at the moon.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked softly.
"What is it?" He asked, keeping his eyes locked on the soft glowing moon.
"Did you not like Rin's gift?" She whispered, looking at her discarded flowers.
"Those were for me?" He asked feigning innocence.
"Yes."
He shifted his gaze once again to the flowers and he stared at them. "You attempted to give me a flower before. I refused. Why do you insist on showering my person with these dead plants?"
Rin blinked, and swallowed. "I thought they would please you." She whispered, her heart sinking in her chest. What else could she give him as a thank you for allowing her to remain by his side? How would she please him so he would allow for her to continue remaining by his side?
Sesshoumaru frowned, and knelt down beside the pile of flowers silently. Fingering one and picking it up, he held it in front of his face, staring at the bright yellow petals that already had begun to wilt. "You do not have to please me."
Rin nodded and looked at her hands held in her lap. They were stained horribly from the berry juices and she sighed. "I'm sorry, milord." She whispered.
Sesshoumaru glanced up and stared at her. "Would my acceptance of these wilted plants bring a smile to your face?" He whispered.
Rin looked up and tilted her head.
"Answer."
"I am happy, Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin placed a small smile on her lips but Sesshoumaru frowned deeper.
"Come here."
Rin stood up and slowly walked over to him. Placing her hands behind her back, she lifted her face to his, and waited.
Sesshoumaru lifted his hand and brought it to her cheek. "You are not happy. Do you wish to please me?"
"Yes." Rin whispered.
"All I ask from you is to be honest and happy. Nothing more. This alone will please me." Sesshoumaru traced her cheek and then closed his eyes slowly. Sighing softly, he opened them again and nodded as her eyes brightened. "Better."
"Can Rin still pick flowers for you?" Rin asked, rocking slightly on her feet.
Sesshoumaru picked one up and brought it to his nose, wincing slightly as a childhood memory of flowers and bees flooded his being. Wrinkling his nose, he smirked at her. "I am…not fond of flowers."
"Oh." Rin nodded. "I love flowers, they smell so pretty, and are always so bright and cheerful."
"They have such a fleeting life." Sesshoumaru corrected.
"Rin doesn't mind. I still think they are pretty."
Sesshoumaru snorted. "Flowers bring wasps and bees."
Rin shivered and nodded quickly. "Yes. Rin was stung once, she didn't like it one bit."
"You are speaking from the first to the third person, Rin."
Rin blinked and nodded. "Sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru."
He nodded and stood up with the yellow wilted flower held in his hand. Using his claw he sliced off the stem of the plant, and placed the petals into his armor. "I will keep this." He stated simply, and turned away. "Get some sleep."
Rin nodded and ran over to Ah 'Uh and curled up beside him.
"Rin?"
Rin opened her eyes slowly. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"Do you not feel fear traveling with youkai?"
"No, I was more afraid of the human's in the village."
Sesshoumaru nodded and once again allowed his eyes to find the moon in the night sky.
By nightfall the following day the sword would be completed. This Kaijinbo however was untrustworthy. Sesshoumaru knew it the instant he entered the small hut that the sword smith resided in. Had Toutousai not refused to forge a sword for him, things would have gone a lot smoother. Many things had changed since that day however.
He had been so angry at the smith's refusal to forge him a useful sword, that he had attacked his brother in a rage. What had infuriated him more was the fact that Toutousai was now in league with his brother, and had finally met up with one another face to face.
Sesshoumaru had been stupid and had also underestimated his brother's power yet again. It wasn't completely his brother's fault though, if he were truthful with himself. Tessaiga had refused him, and had accepted his brother without question. He had known his father didn't intend to leave him with any powerful swords and that had also angered him.
Receiving Tenseiga was a blow to his pride however. Not to mention his ego. Inuyasha had cut off his arm in desperate attempts to protect himself, so in truth Sesshoumaru really couldn't hold him responsible for it. It had been Sesshoumaru's own stupidity in underestimating the sword and his brother that left him maimed.
He had then attempted several times to find a suitable replacement arm, his actual arm now stuck between this world and the next. Sesshoumaru had then been stupid again and had trusted another in his desire to possess the sword, and had almost lost his life to this Naraku. Obviously this Naraku had devised the plan to absorb his youkai power for his own benefit, and this had angered him even more then that housed for his brother.
He had once again tried to take the sword, and that had left him seriously injured in the forest where Rin had found him. Had Tenseiga not protected him, Sesshoumaru knew he would have died, and would once again be reunited with his father. Sesshoumaru however was not ready to die just yet.
He had concluded that Tenseiga was indeed a useful sword at times, and so instead of discarding it, as he had originally planned to do upon wielding another sword, he decided to keep it. If this sword could protect him against his brother's wind scar, then it was definitely worth keeping, if only for that.
Glancing over his shoulder at the little girl, he still pondered why he had revived her. Indeed, it was partially because she had assisted him, despite his refusal, and her smile took him off guard. Sighing, and once again searching out the moon, Sesshoumaru decided that once this new sword of his was finished, he would hunt down this Naraku, and take him out for trying to deceive him.
There was the other matter of his brother's change in scent. This confused him. Inuyasha was only a hanyou and so had no abilities to transform his body into that of a full youkai, however that is what the scent on the youkai head had suggested. Inuyasha's blood had changed, and Sesshoumaru concluded that he would need to find out more on this before he searched for Naraku.
The greater blood flowing through his brother was stronger then his and he refused to believe it. How could his brother's transformed state be stronger then his? Sesshoumaru was a full youkai. Yet the scent indicated that Inuyasha was indeed stronger then him while transformed.
Nodding, he would seek out his brother upon his retrieval of the sword and find out what exactly all this meant. He needed answers, and so he began to plot how he would go about getting them.
Smirking to himself, perhaps this would be a great time to test his brother's full abilities, and just see how much more powerful he was, and how much more power Sesshoumaru needed to keep his brother on his toes. There was no way that Sesshoumaru would allow a hanyou to overpower him in anything. He was a full youkai; a hanyou housing more power then him was ridiculous.
Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru shook those thoughts out. First he would need to see with his own eyes just exactly what had happened to Inuyasha, and find out about the scent. Once this was done, then he could begin to test out the rest of his theories. Until then, he would have to wait.