Chapter Two: Rin battles the Snow

The blizzard finally vanished leaving the land covered in a blanket of white. Sesshoumaru's fur was still by the roaring fire, that Jaken had kept going for the two nights and days they camped in the little clearing, until the storm finished it's first rage of the season. Rin had yet to make a full appearance from his pelt, only poking her head out once in awhile to eat, or to check to see if the swirling snow had finally stopped.

After checking the storms progress, she would bury herself back into the fur and vanish again for a few hours until she once again checked to see if the storm had gone. When it was time to eat, she would only come out of the fur long enough to stuff her face, and then disappear once again.

Jaken grumbled all the while, saying that humans were wimps and several similar curses on Rin's kind. Sesshoumaru had kicked the youkai once, to let him know of his displeasure on the choice words the toad had used while in the little girls company, and Jaken had then chosen his words more carefully.

Now that the snow had stopped its fall, Sesshoumaru turned towards the fire and called for Rin. She poked her head out from under his fur and grinned from one ear to the other. If she smiled any wider, Sesshoumaru was certain that the grin would break. The little girl finally crawled out from his pelt, and stared around her in silent wonder, before racing to his side.

"It has finally stopped snowing, milord." She declared.

He nodded once, and glanced down at her. "Are you warm enough?"

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Do you think I might have my pelt back now then?"

Rin gasped. "Yes, of course, Lord Sesshoumaru." She about faced and ran back to the fire, plucking his fur off the ground, and vanished behind it as her little arms filled with the large pelt.

Sesshoumaru blinked, wondering how she could walk such a straight line without being able to see where she was going. Without a word, he took his fur out of her small arms, and placed it back in its rightful place over his right shoulder. Snorting, he realized that it smelled like the girl now. However to his amazement, he didn't find the scent displeasing.

He found it rather amusing that her scent also held his own. Most likely from her travels with him for the few months. Shaking his head, he called out to Jaken, announcing their departure. Nodding once the fire was doused, they began walking through the deep snow, and Sesshoumaru frowned, when he heard curses from not only his youkai follower, but from the little girl also.

Turning his head to his wards, he glanced at their plight, and almost chuckled when both Jaken and Rin fell face first into the snow, after trying to walk over a large drift.

Taking a deep breath for patience, he waited while the two smaller beings plucked themselves out of the snow and began to trudge towards him once again. Sighing in irritation, Sesshoumaru shuffled his feet packing the snow down leaving them a walking area.

He was lost in thought for an hour or so, when an "Eeep." Caused him to halt and turn around quickly. Sesshoumaru stared at the spray of snow that started to settle around where the little girl had once stood, and he blinked. She was gone. Frowning, Sesshoumaru retraced his steps and stared down into the small hole that was now apparent. Rin grinned up at him, and crawled to her feet. Stepping back allowing her room to crawl out of the small hole, he waited while she dusted off her new clothes, and then began following him once again.

It was perhaps another hour, when his attention was drawn away from his thoughts once again. Narrowing his eyes at the constant disturbance, Sesshoumaru glared at the toad who was chastising Rin for her constant chatter. Immediately, Jaken fell silent. Rin however fell face first over a snowdrift, and left an imprint of her body in it as she vanished deeper into the snow. Almost rolling his eyes skyward, Sesshoumaru reached down into the snow and plucked her out, placing her onto her feet.

Rin thanked him, and turned an icy glare at the snow. It didn't even shrivel under the intense gaze, and she huffed at it. She took only two steps when her foot got caught in another drift, and she propelled her arms in a circle to try and maintain her balance, but gravity finally took control and she fell once again. Growling in a rage, Rin stood up and jumped into the air attacking the drift to her left in such a rage, that snow sprayed everywhere.

Sesshoumaru stopped and stared at the flying snow, and waited for when the white stuff revealed the little girl that traveled with him. Another "Eeep." Reached his ears and another growl, causing him to finally shake his head in annoyance, and he reached out grabbing the girl by the obi holding her kimono together, and plucked her out of the snow holding her up like a puppy.

"Rin, stop this." Sesshoumaru growled softly.

"I'm sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru. The snow is so deep and Rin can't walk in it."

Sesshoumaru nodded and gave her one of his rare smiles meant for her alone. Whispering into her ear, he asked. "Would you rather not walk?"

Rin nodded. "I will ride Ah 'Uh."

"Hold onto me, you shall not have to ride Ah 'Uh, when they are also having trouble walking through the deep snow."

Her little mouth dropped open in surprise, and she returned the smile he gave her with a small impish one of her own, nodding. Shifting Rin in his arm, he held her against his chest, allowing her some visuals of where they were walking. She buried her face in his pelt, and her left hand gripped the fur, almost petting it.

Turning his head forward again, he felt her relax and rest her head against his chest and promptly fell asleep. It was perhaps another few hours when a scent reached his nose that he would have rather have avoided, and he sighed audibly. Glancing behind him, he noticed that Jaken had fallen a good two hundred feet behind or even more. Ah 'Uh seemed to have lost interest with keeping up with him by foot, and now flew overhead watching for danger.

Shaking his head, he glanced at the small girl in his arm, and smiled softly at her peaceful expression. Following the scent that had reached his nose, he exited the tree line and found a large clearing, which housed his half brother and his human friends.

Tilting his head slightly, he waited and watched amused as Inuyasha scrambled to his feet drawing Tessaiga in defense, thinking immediately that he was there on some foul business.

"I have no intentions on fighting you, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru stated pointedly, indicating with a nod of his head to the tiny girl in his arm.

Inuyasha's mouth dropped open in surprise. "What?" The hanyou's eyes fell on Rin and then to his brother's face in disbelief.

Kagome and the others had gathered their feet, and waved to the fire, in silent askance of his joining them. Knowing that he would have to wait for Jaken anyway, Sesshoumaru nodded once, and sat down by the fire. Inuyasha blinked and stared at him, trying to figure out his brother's actions.

Placing Rin in his lap, Sesshoumaru shrugged out of his fur, and tucked it around the little girl, in silence, all the while knowing that the stares he was getting were ones filled with surprise and wonder at his unyoukai behavior. In truth he was rather amused at his own actions, but tossed them aside without another thought.

"Sit, Inuyasha. I only come to share the fire so Rin remains warm."

Inuyasha flinched as the one word he detested was uttered, but then narrowed his eyes. "Keh! Since when have you cared what happens to a human?"

"I do not think of Rin as any normal human, Inuyasha. This little girl is far braver then any child her age should be, and it is my duty to protect her."

Inuyasha gaped. "I thought the great Inuyoukai Sesshoumaru didn't protect anything." He growled, sitting on the other side of the fire warily.

"I don't." Sesshoumaru smirked, which only caused Inuyasha more confusion.

Kagome giggled at Inuyasha's expression, and shook her head. "That is a beautiful kimono she has."

Sesshoumaru glanced over at the human girl who loved his brother, and tilted his head at her statement. "It is a simple kimono, meant to keep the chill from her bones." He took in Kagome's attire and approved of the one she donned. It was a cream-colored winter kimono, layered with several haori's of various colors. Inuyasha's attire hadn't changed, and he smirked again at his brother.

The hanyou was still barefoot, and looked rather displeased with his appearance. In a space of a breath, Rin shifted and was awake, gasping at the new faces around her. She sat up and grinned, waving at Sango and Miroku who sat side by side, also wearing their winter wear. Shippo, the small fox youkai, sat in his usual clothing and waved back at the little girl.

Rin glanced over her shoulder and giggled, pulling Sesshoumaru's fur closer around her. "Where is master Jaken, Lord Sesshoumaru?" She asked softly.

"We are waiting for him to make his way through the snow. He will arrive shortly."

Rin nodded, and gathered her feet, walking over to the fire holding her hands out towards it. She once again looked over her shoulder and looked at Sesshoumaru. "My hands are cold."

Sesshoumaru tilted his head at that statement, and blinked. He hadn't thought of that.

Kagome moved and dug through her pack pulling out something strange. "I have just the thing." She declared holding the item out for Rin to inspect.

Rin walked over and placed her hands behind her back. "What is it?" She asked, as politely as she always did.

"They are mitts. They are from my country and they fit over your hands." Kagome placed them on the girl's hands, and Rin glanced at them curiously.

Sesshoumaru watched with interest, and nodded in approval when Rin held them out for him to see. Glancing over at Kagome, he nodded in thanks. The matched Rin's attire perfectly, being a red color, with white fur sticking out at her wrists.

Inuyasha still sat across the fire gaping at the attitude of his brother. "What are you up to?"

Sesshoumaru's gaze turned to Inuyasha and he frowned. "Why do you think I am up to anything, little brother?"

Kagome glared at the hanyou and hissed. "Inuyasha."

The hanyou froze instantly at the warning, and hunched in defeat.

Sesshoumaru smirked. "Once Jaken arrives, we will leave your company, Inuyasha."

Rin turned back to Kagome. "Before we leave, Rin will give the mitts back."

Kagome shook her head. "That's okay Rin. You can keep them. They will keep your hands warm."

Rin gasped and her eyes widened. "Rin can have them?"

Kagome smiled broadly and nodded. "Think of it as a gift."

"Oh. Rin thanks you, lady Kagome." Rin clapped her hands together and giggled at the muffled sound that the mitts made when they connected.

Kagome giggled behind her hand, and leaned over whispering into Rin's ear. The girl blinked, which caused Sesshoumaru to tilt his head slightly, warily. Rin giggled and nodded her head, quickly dashing off through the snow and promptly tripped over the boots she found awkward on her feet. Rin rolled over and sat up glaring at her boots, and glanced at Sesshoumaru with a pout on her face.

Sesshoumaru shook his head, and stated. "You will get used to them, Rin. It's only a matter of time. They will keep your feet warm." She nodded, but fell silent as he spoke again. "Or if you wish, you can discard them and walk around barefoot. Matters not to me."

"Rin likes her new boots, Lord Sesshoumaru. Thank you." Rin pushed herself to her feet and began gathering snow in her hands, some of it sticking to the material, as she made little balls out of the white stuff. Watching the little girl in interest, he saw her place the firmly packed balls in a pile beside her, while she glanced at the tree line in anxiousness.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, immediately knowing her intent with the snow missiles and he threw a glance at his brother's human for answers. "What exactly did you say to her?" He asked suspiciously.

"I only told her how to make snowballs." Kagome grinned.

Before he could comment on her words, Sesshoumaru's gaze swerved to the tree line as Jaken exited them. Immediately, Rin began throwing the missiles at the toad, and her aim was remarkably good for a small child.

Jaken sputtered, wiping the snow out of his face, when another ball landed right in the middle of his forehead, knocking him off his feet. The toad glared at Rin who giggled uncontrollably, and her aim began to falter due to her laughter. Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru stood up and announced their departure.

Inuyasha growled. "Don't come back too soon, brother!"

Rin turned around with large puppy dog eyes and blinked back the tears. "Why do you say such mean things? You are brothers."

Sesshoumaru frowned, smelling the tears assault his senses. "Refrain from saying such things in Rin's presence, Inuyasha." He warned.

"Why is she upset over what I say? You have called me worse things." Inuyasha blinked as Rin accused him.

Rin wiped the tears away and followed Sesshoumaru through the camp and into the trees. "Lord Sesshoumaru?" She asked in a small whisper knowing he could hear her.

"What is it Rin?"

"Do you really hate Inuyasha?"

The question startled him and he glanced down at her in confusion. "Why do you ask such a question?"

"Because you two are always fighting. I used to fight with my brother too, but we never really hated each other." Rin said sadly.

Sesshoumaru moved his gaze in front of him again. 'Why would she care?' "What did you and your brother fight about?" The snow must have rattled his brains slightly, because him caring about anything, including what Rin thought was completely unbecoming.

"We used to fight over who got to sit next to papa at the fire, or who got the new toys. Lots of stuff." Rin kept looking at her feet.

"Hnn. I see. Think of it as such, when Inuyasha and I fight." Sesshoumaru smirked to himself.

"You don't hate him then?" Rin asked, looking up with large brown eyes.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes briefly. "Between you and me, Rin. No, I don't hate Inuyasha. But who better to train him to defend himself then I? Who better to ensure his survival then himself? Without my attacking him, he would grow soft and useless. So I make sure that he is kept aware and fit." His eyes met hers and he smiled. "Besides, I love to bait him so."

Rin grinned from ear to ear and nodded, before spinning around quickly and pelting Jaken once again with a snowball. Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru listened to the giggles and roars of fury behind him. The snowball fight had begun.