Precious gifts and promises
Winter was here but with no fallen snows just yet. Rin has felt most melancholy having received such beautiful luxuries from her lord and she had nothing to give back.
Since her time in this small village she had only spent one winter here. And in winter knew she had a lot more time on her hands since there was no herbs to pick and laundry must now be done indoors. Her chores were always completed in haste giving her unimaginable time to do as she pleased.
So Rin decided it was about time she'd gift her generous lord Sesshomaru something as well. Something that was elegant like he was. Something masculine and strong as was her lord. Something that would convey her utter happiness and love for him, even though she was not with him.
She wanted, no needed! Her lord to know how much she cared and always would care for him. But she had no clue what that could be, or even if such an item had existed.
And if it did how would she even come by said item being penniless. Rin not knowing of anyway to purchase him something as elaborate in taste as her lord was accustomed to, decided to make something special.
Each day in her free time she worked on her smallest yet most special masterpiece.
"Come child. We best be going before the winds pick up." Kaede said looking to the small girl covered in numerous paints. "Child! Ye are filthy! What be the purpose of such mess?" Kaede looked around at the room and the floors her and the girl shared.
"Sorry lady Kaede! I'll clean up right away! Where are we going?" Rin asked cheerfully.
"A new family has come to stay in the village. The young boy is ill with fevers. We best head out to see if there be anyway to help bring down the fevers before they become a danger to the young ones life." Kaede said watching the young girl clean herself up and throw on her thick kimono Sesshomaru had gifted her.
It was a deep blue and covered in stars like the sky they adored gazing into. With a bright yellow obi to bring her happy and bright personality out while she wore it.
"Ok! Let's go!" Rin said gathering all the herbs she knew Kaede would need.
"Ugh? Child..ye face is covered with grass and dirt?" Kaede stood looking at her.
"Oh sorry! But that's paint and it won't come off so easily. And if there is someone who needs you now Lady Kaede I have no time to scrub it off! Come on let's go!" Rin smiled and jetted out the door.
In the corner of a warm hut filled with the loud noises of kids crawling and crying and Inuyasha and Shippo arguing sat a sad Kohaku.
"Kohaku? What seems to be troubling you?" Said a smooth talking Miroku. "You've seemed lost in thought all day?" Miroku asked taking a seat on the floor beside him.
"Hm? Oh no it's nothing. I was just thinking to myself I guess." Kohaku said with his small boyish grin.
"Sango noticed that you have become distracted for the past four days.? Are you perhaps taken by a young girl?" Miroku asked teasing the young love they knew existed.
"What? No! Rin is just a friend. I was actually thinking about lord Sesshomaru lately. Maybe if he comes back soon I'd get a chance to speak with him." Kohaku said quietly hoping Inuyasha would not hear him.
"Sesshomaru? What the hell you wanna talk to him for?" Inuyasha asked in his common irritated tone.
"Ugh? Nothing forget I said anything!" Kohaku waved about nervously.
"Ugh? I never mentioned Rin? I was talking about the young girl Asuki that comes around and asks about you all day?" Miroku said with a curious smile.
"I bet Kohaku wants to ask Sesshomaru for Rins hand in marriage. It's totally obvious." Shippo said mockingly.
"Huh? Marriage? The kids only 5 or somethin like that?! Besides why would you have to get that assholes permission? Not like he owns her or nothin?" Inuyasha said laying on his side supported by his elbow and picking in his ear with his free hand.
"Rin is 9? And I don't want to ask lord Sesshomaru for her hand in marriage! Just forget it!" Kohaku blushed and covered his face.
"Yeah right! It's totally obvious you like her. To bad she likes someone else though." Shippo said with a sly smirk.
"Huh? Really who? I mean I don't care or anything I'm just asking...never mind.." Kohaku gave up trying to talk and got up to pick up one of his nieces.
"Well, if that's the case you have to woo her first my dear brother! It only makes sense you'd choose the young Rin. I mean she is pleasing to the eye? And you had traveled with her as I and Sango had. Yous have a past!" Miroku said with a hand now free of the cursed wind tunnel on his young brother in laws shoulder. "I can teach you the ways into a woman's heart." Miroku said winking one eye at him.
"Yeah right? You lucked out with Sango?." Shippo said victoriously.
"Leave the kid alone. Aren't you planning on heading out to slay demons again next spring?." Inuyasha teased.
"Yeah besides I think Rin likes me over you. She likes a strong demon to keep her safe." Shippo blushed happy.
"Yeah so that'd leave you out than? You obviously don't know Rin like I do." Kohaku said bouncing Aiko up and down making fun of Shippos small size.
"Than why'd she ask to meet up with me tonight, late, with no one else around?" Shippo said with mischievous eyes.
"Yeah right you little hair ball!" Inuyasha said while knocking Shippo on his head.
"Dinner is ready!" A cheery motherly voice called out.
"It smells great Sango." Miroku gave a small tug at her waist and kissed her cheek.
"Aww thanks. I hope you all like it." Sango grabbed the girls and sat them down to feed them after she handed everyone a bowl of root vegetable stew.
"Child perhaps I should go on my own to the home. I believe your colorful appearance will only frighten the young family?" Kaede said almost to the hut of the new villagers.
"Oh ok! If you insist!" Rin handed her the medicinal supplies and ran to Sangos hut.
"Aye, such a strange child." Kaede sighed to herself watching the young girl run off.
With everyone having forced down Sangos awful stew they all slouched in complete stomach pain.
"Urrr, perhaps the vegetables weren't as fresh as I thought?" Sango said holding her belly.
"Ya think! I'm gonna be sick." Inuyasha growled out.
"It wasn't that bad sister." Kohaku said immediately holding his mouth to keep from spewing.
"Not to worry my darling Sango. I will get fresh supplies first thing in the morning." Miroku said with a tint of green across his face.
All sighed in disgust and nausea when soon an energetic face gleamed in through the threshold.
"Hi everyone!" Rin waved with her joyous smile. "Rin!" Kohaku and Shippo said excitedly in unison.
"Hello Rin. What brings you here?" Sango asked still nauseous.
"It's good to see you Rin. Hey! By chance you wouldn't happen to have any of Kaedes remedies for an upset stomach would you?" Miroku asked with hopeful eyes.
"Ugh? Yes I do? I forgot to hand them to her when we split up." Rin pulled out the sack from the sleeve of her kimono.
Everyone immediately sat up and pulled the bag away to get a piece of the dried ginger that'll ease their stomach.
"Huh? That was weird.?" Rin said aloud looking at everyone. "Hi babies! How are yous?!" Rin went over to play with them.
"Hey kid? What happen to your face? Did you slip in the mud or somethin?" Inuyasha asked now with a calm stomach.
"Huh? Oh no! I was working on something and didn't have time to wash up is all. Which reminds me. Shippo you wouldn't happen to be busy right now would you?" Rin asked while giving him pleading sparkling eyes.
"Ugh no not at all. What's up?" Shippo asked glancing teasing eyes at Kohaku.
"Yes perfect! Lady Kaede will be busy for a little while. We can go back to her hut. We won't be bothered there!" Rin said excitedly.
Inuyasha and Miroku fell in astonishment. "That's a little forward don't you think!" Inuyasha yelled confusedly. "Yer jus a kid! You shouldn't even know about stuff like that!" Inuyasha finished.
"Stuff like what?" Rin asked innocently and confused.
"Ugh? What Inuyasha means to say is why do you want to be alone with Shippo?" Miroku said jokingly.
"Oh it's a surprise! I'll see you all soon! Goodbye babies!" Rin waved and ran out the door with the small fox demon in hand.
Kohaku stunned and shocked stood quickly to follow. "I'm gonna go and ughh help Rin. Bye!" Kohaku waved and left shortly after.
"So..? Uggghh. What are we doing?" Shippo said nervously.
Rin brought out everything she had cleaned up earlier. And than brought out her favorite and most beautiful kimono that her lord had gifted her.
"Here. Do you need to wear it or do you just need to see it?" Rin asked with a smile.
"What? I don't get it? Wear it? Why would I wear it?" Shippo looked confused.
"So you can transform? I am not sure how it works. But I'd like to paint myself in this if you don't mind?" Rin asked and looked to the small quivering fox demon. "What's wrong? Why are you so shaky?" Rin asked now paying attention to the small fox in front of her.
"Wha? Ugh!? No reason.! I don't need it. You want me to transform into you so you can paint a portrait of yourself right?" Shippo asked with a red blush.
"Yes please!" Rin said with her golden smile.
"Hey Ugh knock knock." Kohaku joked while he entered.
"Kohaku? What are you doing here?" Rin asked shocked.
"I Ugh just came to help you out with whatever you were doing?" Kohaku said embarrassed.
"Oh thank you. I don't think you can help though?" Rin said with her smile as she readied herself to paint.
Kohaku than caught sight of a very red and embarrassed Shippo.
"Yeah Kohaku! So you could just leave already." Shippo tried to hide his embarrassment.
"No, Kohaku can stay. It's so cold to go out again for no reason. Please hurry and transform Shippo before lady Kaede returns." Rin said eagerly awaiting.
Kohaku and Shippo looked to each other before Shippo took in a deep breath put on a brave face and went about the task his friend had asked of him.
"FOX FIRE!" Shippo yelled out as he transformed.
Kohaku held back laughing as he watched Rin paint the smallest picture he had ever seen.
"Wow Rin! That's beautiful." Kohaku said looking over the young girls shoulder.
"Thank you Kohaku." Rin smiled but kept her focus.
"I hope the person your making this for loves it a whole lot." Kohaku said taking a seat as the girl continued.
"That was worth all the embarrassment in the world Rin! That came out beautiful! You got so good!" Shippo said energetically staring at the small masterpiece she had spent 3 hours just with them on.
Rin smiled her large golden smile. She hugged both her friends and thanked them for their kind words.
"I hope Lord Sesshomaru comes back soon Rin. He'll love it." Kohaku gave her a conflicted smile.
She saw his sincere happiness for her. But she missed the hurt he felt, worried that the strong and cold lord Sesshomaru he remembered would turn his back on her kind gesture and gift.
Lord Sesshomaru will love it.. I hope to see you soon my lord. Rin thought happily smiling at the small image before her.