Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not the characters, not even a blade of grass--nor a single sakura blossom. Hell, I don't even own a Sesshoumaru plushie. All characters are from the inspired mind of R. Takahashi and everything else is my poor attempt.
Chapter 5: Proposal
"Where is home, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin hadn't had a place to call home since the death of her family. The idea of a home or even a house of her own held little meaning—Sesshoumaru-sama, Jaken-sama and Ah-Un were her family, and wherever they traveled—her home.
Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands gazed almost fondly at the young woman before him. It had been many years since he had brought her to life—to him merely a glimmer of time. From the scrawny, beaten child had somehow emerged a healthy, strong and capable teenager. Had it been so long ago that she constantly pestered him with flowers and questions?
Sesshoumaru looked at Rin with amusement, she still did those things didn't she? But now, something was different. Soft singing, fewer, more intelligent questions, and single blooms replaced the constant chatter of youth and the ridiculous flower crowns she insisted they wear.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Rin! Stop pestering Lord Sesshoumaru with your questions," Jaken huffed.
Shrugging, Rin turned her attention to the tiny youkai. "Jaken-sama, where is home?"
"The Western Lands," he replied.
Rin looked at Jaken exasperated. Sometimes he could be denser than a rock!
"But where specifically in the Western Lands are we going? Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Realizing that she wouldn't get any answers from her lord, Rin began humming softly to herself, and the odd group continued on—Ah-Un ambled along contentedly, Jaken sent several scathing looks at the humming Rin, and Sesshoumaru continued forward, lost in his memories and thoughts of home.
"We are patrolling my borders," Sesshoumaru said.
"But why are we patrolling, Sesshoumaru-sama?" asked Rin.
Sesshoumaru looked at the little girl, and after a short pause, answered "because Rin, it is something this Sesshoumaru wishes to protect."
Something to protect indeed. The Western Lands were only a part of Sesshoumaru's inheritance—along with the Tensaiga it comprised the gifts of the great Inutaisho to his firstborn. This was not enough for Sesshoumaru however; the Tetsusaiga should have been his as well. Forged from a fang of Inutaisho, the Iron Crushing Fang was very powerful—and very destructive. It was not merely the power of the Tetsusaiga which lured Sesshoumaru. It was in fact, the principle of the matter.
A filthy hanyou could not be worthy of wielding his father's fang.
Sesshoumaru suddenly sniffed the air and growled.
The hanyou and his pack were nearby.
Startled by the sudden change, Rin stopped suddenly and stared at Sesshoumaru inquiringly. "My, Lord?"
"Jaken, take Ah-Un and Rin and make camp. I will find you later."
"But, my Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you going?"
If he heard her words, Sesshoumaru gave no notice as he quickly sped in the direction of his brother.
"Jaken-sama, what was that all about? Where is Sesshoumaru-sama going?"
"Baka! It does not matter! Come, we must make camp!"
"Jaken-sama," Rin whined, "please, where is Sesshoumaru-sama going?"
Jaken glared at the girl in annoyance, "Lord Sesshoumaru is confronting his half-brother—that baka hanyou Inuyasha," he spat the name out in pure disgust.
Rin looked at Jaken in surprise. Sesshoumaru-sama and Inuyasha had fought a number of times since she began traveling with her lord. But Inuyasha usually stayed near his forest; Kagome hated it when the brothers fought—she would never let him wander so close to Lord Sesshoumaru's lands. Pondering this conundrum, Rin followed Jaken, and sat beneath the branches of a nearby tree.
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Meanwhile…"Hey ugly!"
"SIT!"
"OUCH! Kaaaagoooomeeeeee—what was that for?"
"Stop provoking your brother, Inuyasha."
Sesshoumaru smirked. "Good to see your bitch still keeps you on a tight leash, puppy ears."
"Feh." Inuyasha glared at Sesshoumaru and Kagome, resisting the urge to blush madly at the thought of Kagome as his bitch.
Kagome sighed inwardly. These two could drive any priestess to drink, she thought.
Sesshoumaru contemplated provoking his—beloved half-brother a little more, but one look at the priestess changed his mind. She clearly had something to say, and wouldn't go away until she had said her piece. Not of course, that he, Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands particularly cared what the ningen had to say. Not even if she did remind him a little of his Rin.
"… so that's what I think will be best, what about you? Lord Sesshoumaru? Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru gazed at the priestess again, with an amused expression on his face.
"Were you even listening to me at all? What kind of demon are you anyway! You—you jerk!"
"Inuyasha, I suggest you put a muzzle on your bitch. She does not seem to remember her place," Sesshoumaru growled softly. No one, not even Rin dared show him such insolence!
"Well," Kagome began hotly "if you had listened to me in the first pla—"
"Miko, this Sesshoumaru is losing patience. State your case."
"As I said already, Rin is at a very special age for a hum—"
"NO."
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru startled. "Nani? You haven't even heard my proposal."
"This Sesshoumaru is all Rin needs. She does not think, act, or even smell like a ningen; therefore, whatever proposal you wish to make is not only unnecessary, but an insult to this Sesshoumaru."
"Don't be an idiot, Sesshoumaru. Rin is a young girl. A young, human girl. Do you know what young, hormonal, teenage girls are like? Of course you don't! She is changing, both physically and emotionally as we speak. She won't have a clue as to what's happening to her, and who will be there to explain it? Huh? You? Jaken? The dragon?" Kagome breathed in deeply, and looked at Sesshoumaru beseechingly. "Rin will need my help."
Sesshoumaru, at first angry at the miko's outburst looked at her thoughtfully. "What changes?" he asked.
At this, Inuyasha reddened slightly. He didn't want to hear this, but he couldn't leave Kags with his homicidal, sociopath of a half-brother.
Kagome nodded, it was a fair question, and Sesshoumaru deserved to know. "Have a seat Sesshoumaru, this will take a while."
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"Rin."
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Do you remember the miko Kagome?" At her nod of consent, Sesshoumaru continued on. "She wishes to speak with you, and you will listen. After that," Sesshoumaru paused "after that, the decision is yours to make."
Rin watched her lord walk away with a puzzled expression. He had looked—distressed. Well, as distressed as a stoic inuyoukai could look. Rin looked up as Kagome approached, and judging from look on the older woman's face, she steeled herself for a long discussion.
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Rin stared at the miko thoughtfully. Kagome was right. She had noticed some changes, but nothing as drastic as that—that hideous bleeding the miko described. And every month too! How was she supposed to patrol the borders in such a condition? What would Sesshoumaru-sama think of her then? Rin bit her lip tentatively and looked at the miko. "What do you suggest, Kagome-sama?"
"Come with us. You can live with me, and Inuyasha, and I will teach you everything you need to know. I can even teach you how to be a healer if you like!"
"Ie! No! Rin cannot leave her Sesshoumaru-sama. That is out of the question—unless Sesshoumaru-sama no longer wanted Rin" she whispered softly.
Kagome looked at the young girl. She was staring intently at the clearing where Sesshoumaru was practicing katas with the Toujikin. Kagome looked at Rin again, this time with something akin to horror. Rin was staring at the youkai fondly—too fondly for Kagome's comfort. Surely Rin and Sesshoumaru hadn't—no the idea was too absurd to even suggest.
"Rin?" Kagome began gently "what do you know about what goes on between a man and a woman?"
Rin turned and looked at Kagome blankly. "This Rin is unsure of what you mean. Do you mean mating?"
"Hai. What do you know of it?"
"Jaken told me once that mating was a waste of time—just something Lord Sesshoumaru will have to do one day to secure heirs." Rin shrugged, it wasn't something she had given much thought.
Kagome almost sighed in relief. Then, she launched into a description of youkai and human mating which, if Sesshoumaru could blush, would surely have made his ears turn pink at the very least.
After listening intently, and asking questions, Rin nodded. "Rin is very sorry Kagome-sama, but Rin cannot accept your offer. My home is with Sesshoumaru-sama—wherever he may be."
Kagome could have sworn the inuyoukai looked relieved at those words, but he showed no outward reaction, and continued his katas in the field. "If that is your decision, Rin, we must respect it. However, if you ever need me or Inuyasha, you know where to find us. We will always be there to help you."
Rin nodded, smiled and instinctively hugged the older woman. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Kagome-sama."
"You're welcome, Rin."
At that Rin ran to where Sesshoumaru now stood still, his long silver hair blowing in the wind. She barreled into him, throwing her arms around him happily. "Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Hn?"
"Will you always be with Rin?"
Sesshoumaru looked at the girl and his face softened slightly.
"Always, Rin."
Rin looked up at her lord, and gave him a dazzling smile. "Then in that case Sesshoumaru-sama, when can we go home?"
Translations:
Kata: Literally meaning "forms." Its basically a set exercise or movements you can do—either with or without a weapon.
Arigatou gozaimasu: Thank you very much.
Reviewers:
ButterflyAngel64: Thank you so much for reviewing! As to your question—Rin turned 13 in the chapter 4.
LadyRhiyana: Thanks for your review!
Siren66: Your review made me laugh, like I've said in my reviews of your fic, you are truly insane…but in an awesome sort of way of course ;)
Hotaru4sesshoumaru4ever: Thank you for reviewing.
IYGU: Thanks for your review, and for adding my fic to your favs list!
Cring White Wolf: Thanks for reviewing and adding "What Do You Have To Protect" to your favs list!
OtakuGirlEmi: Thanks for your review! And I really liked chapter 4 of An Unlikely Pair…great job as always.
RanDOMaZnWRIteR: Thanks for your review, and don't worry, Jaken is always best used as a punching bag! Who needs characterization, when I could just have Sess beat on him :)
Taku-Chans: Yay! A new reviewer! Thanks for reading and reviewing :)
Chi: As always, thank you for your reviews!
Thanks to all those who've added my fics to their favs list, even though they didn't review (cough) HINT HINT! But I appreciate you all anyway :)
And once again I apologize for the long hiatus, I swear school will be the death of me one day :(
Danica