Before He Comes

It was such a fine day. Inuyasha was napping, reclined on a sturdy tree limb, his favorite miko napping with him, wrapped in his arms and pressed against his chest. The pair was inseparable after Kagome's return the previous week and Inuyasha was slowly gathering courage to ask his nap companion to be his mate. He was still shocked after the surprise of the previous day when the hanyou had expressed his feelings towards the girl just to learn she loved him in return.

It was better to take baby steps, there was no hurry and Inuyasha wanted to court his intended properly. So they were just spending time together, getting to know each other again under the watchful - and a little teasing - eyes of their friends.

The teasing was the reason for the couple to take their nap quite far from the village. It was still close enough for Miroku and Kaede to sense their auras and get them in the time of need.

And such a time just arose.

Miroku stood under the tree, panting and waving his hand in front of his face in a futile attempt to cool himself after running here all the way from the village.

"Inuyasha! Kagome! We have a problem!" he called up when he caught his breath. One golden eye peered down.

"Correction, monk. You have a problem," came a gruff reply.

"No! We! Definitely we!" now both nappers looked at Miroku, frowning at the panic on his face. It was not a frequent expression on usually serene face of their friend.

"What's wrong, Miroku?" asked Kagome while rubbing her face with one hand.

"Sesshomaru's going to visit Rin today!" Miroku said.

"What of it? He visits every other week," Inuyasha shrugged. "No big deal."

"But this time Rin's missing!"

Miroku jumped back, startled, when Inuyasha landed just in front of him, worried Kagome in his arms. They were concerned about the girl, but Inuyasha and Miroku were also really worried about what Sesshomaru's reaction was going to be. It was better not to test the daiyoukai. Kagome quickly realized the danger of an irate daiyoukai demanding answers about the whereabouts of his ward. And there was no saying what the daiyoukai would do upon learning his ward, entrusted to Inuyasha and his pack, was gone missing. Sango was already waiting for the search party, asking around the village if anyone had seen Rin.

They had to find the girl before Sesshomaru's arrival. The village wouldn't survive if they didn't.

.

"Master Inuyasha!"

After two hours of frantic search the gang returned from their search for the daiyoukai's ward just to learn she was back in the village. Kagome and her fiends looked at the girl who was waiting for them just in front of Kaede's hut. The girl had her hair in a nice hair do, ornamented with silk flowers and combs. She had her face painted. An extravagant kimono of multiple layers and vibrant colors flowed down her teenage frame. She waved a hand happily at the gang of friends she treated like family.

"Thanks heavens, she looks unharmed," Miroku sighed in relief.

"Rin!" Kagome exclaimed in relief, rushing towards her and being outran only by Sango. Inuyasha, who normally would outrun both females was too busy sniffing the air around the hut to take part in the mad run. He paled visibly and his ears flattened.

"Rin, where were you?" asked Sango as she took hold of Rin's hand.

"We looked everywhere for you, but Inuyasha couldn't smell you anywhere," added Kagome. Miroku frowned when the hanyou didn't start yelling at the girl. There was something wrong, really wrong. Was Sesshomaru already here, lurking in a shadow and planning how to express his displeasure with them? A shiver ran down Miroku's spine.

"I-is she still here?" the half inu youkai asked the ward of his brother, causing everyone to look at him.

"Who?"

"The bitch! Is she still around?" Inuyasha glared around. "I can smell her!" His voice rose in pitch.

"Rin spent time with auntie Ru," Rin answered Sango's question. "Auntie Ru gave Rin a make over. Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will like it?" she asked while tilting her head. "Auntie Ru brought Rin back and told she was going to look for-"

"Inu-chan!" Kagome blinked when a silver-haired youkai woman appeared from above their heads and landed just behind the hanyou to wrap her arms around him and rest her head on his shoulder, holding him in an iron grip despite the fact the hanyou was trying his best to free himself. Two high ponytails swayed when the female laughed at her captive, her golden eyes full of mischief. Inuyasha made an unmanly sound of panic.

"Isn't she pretty, Inu-chan?" she asked and looked at the surprised group. Sango nodded reflexively, as if the question was directed at her. "Now come, auntie Ru needs to make you presentable for your intended," she winked at Kagome and pulled the yelling and struggling hanyou up as she levitated in the cloud-covered sky.

In the silence surrounding the group of humans Kagome took a slow breath.

"What just happened?" she asked her friends. "Should we try to save him?" she added when no one replied. Miroku just shook his head.

"Better just hope she goes away when Sesshomaru shows up," he said.

A/N: Since the day I saw Sess Mom I had this headcanon she was a mischievous person, kinda like Loki from Norse mythology. And for some reason she took a liking to Inu and Rin after the events of the series. And that she was frequently visiting her 'granddaughter' to take her to do ladylike stuff and just have fun. And that she was tormenting Inu by trying to make him look like a refined lord like his daddy.
The idea of her kidnapping Rin just before Sesshomaru's visit to help her look nicely for her daddy and making everyone freak out just didn't want to go away from my head. Hope it was fun to read.