Chapter Twenty-Three: Parting

"Speaking"

Thinking/Memories

Asterix ( * ) term word, definition at the end of chapter

"Onee-san, I don't want you to go!" Rin's little shrill cry broke Kasumi's heart in the most bittersweet way imaginable.

"I know, Rin. But I'm sure I'll see you again, after all, we both serve Lord Sesshomaru, right?" Kasumi spoke softly as the little human girl hugged her waist. Kasumi had her hand on top of her head, fingers stroking the inky black silk of her hair, a pang striking through Kasumi's heart like an arrow. She never truly believed that parting ways with someone could hurt as much as this, especially when the departure would only be temporary. Kasumi's chest ached as if she was truly saying goodbye to her sister, to her family, the last remains of it. Her only family.

She quickly sucked in a tear and knelt down to Rin's level, her hands on the girls' shoulders. "Rin, we will see each other soon, I swear it. Nothing will stand in my way if it means seeing you again. I will fight every man, demon, and lord to get to you if I must." Her hands moved up to Rin's cheeks, which were wet from her tears. "You are my sister by heart, and I will do everything within my power and beyond to ensure that does not change. Even distance cannot stop it." She kissed her forehead, and the two shared another tight hug.

Jakken rolled his eyes at the sight. He was standing there holding the reigns to Ah-Uhn, while the two humans hugged and shared their affections for one another. He just couldn't wait to get rid of the fox, so that he and his lord could continue their journey.

He had hoped Rin would be going with the little halfbreed, but of course, Lord Sesshomaru forbade it.

Why must mi'lord Sesshomaru keep a human by his side and a half breed in his home? He wondered, sighing internally. In the month it took him to try and route out a traitor in the house, he had learned far too quickly his lords' intentions for the little princess fox. Mating. He scoffed at the idea. Why would mi'lord mate with a halfling wench? He questioned. If he favors the girl so much or feels he owes her a debt - marry her perhaps, but to choose her as his only by way of mating? The idea truly baffled him, as it did with many of the lords and ladies residing in Sesshomaru's domain. No one knew where this girl came from, and there was talk buzzing around about her intentions. About his intentions. No one truly believed that this decision was truth until they learned she had been traveling with him for over a month, that he killed a lord who threatened her, sent men out to find who had tried to poison her.

This fox, this… Kasumi, as she called herself, must be a woman of great worth (even for a halfbreed), for the Great Lord Sesshomaru to risk his great lineage by soiling it with mixed blood.

"Rin, Kasumi," Sesshomaru's deep, rumbling voice drew out Jakken from his thoughts and he returned his attention to the females.

The kit looked up at her Lord, and Jakken could make out the scarce frown on her lips before she looked back down at Rin.

"Remember, Rin. Sisters by heart." Kasumi said, her small frown turning into a smile that could shine through the darkest of days.

"Sisters by heart," Rin nodded in agreement and threw her arms around the kit once more before she stepped back.

Kasumi stood, and with help from Sesshomaru (which once again baffled Jakken), she was upon the two-headed dragon's back. She gripped the reins he handed to her right, the imp catching a glimpse of her twitching fingers before Sesshomaru moved in his way.

"Ah-Uhn will take you back," Sesshomaru spoke quietly to the girl, and dare Jakken say, almost gently. "You needn't worry about where to go, he knows the way."

"A-are you sure?" Kasumi's voice shook, clearly unsure, doubtful of her lords' reassurance.

"If you happen to get lost, I will know right away." He explained, his hand covering one of hers.

"How?" Her voice wavered once more, and as Sesshomaru responded, there was a hint of a smile in his voice.

"I will know, you are mine, remember?" Kasumi's eyes began to roll, but she stopped when she saw the look in his amber gaze. "If you get lost, or hurt, I will know. I will come find you and bring you back myself. No matter what."

Silence passed between them, Kasumi's gaze flickering down to her hand beneath his. Eventually, when she spoke again, it was so soft Jakken could no longer understand them.

"I do not want to get lost again," her eyes met his for a brief moment, letting him catch a glimmer of her fear, before the emerald gems darted away, and back again. "Can't you come with me?"

He was shaking his head before she could finish, and Jakken wondered why he hadn't already left her there. Since when did his lord coddle the feelings of anyone, let alone a halfling woman?

"I've delayed my journey long enough. The faster I finish it, the faster I can return home." He told her. "I will have to do what needs to be done from my travels from now on. I can't delay things anymore. When you get back, have it arranged for someone to teach you how to wield a tessen, and have Usui continue your studies on the other demon lords and our customs."

"When will I get to see you again?" Kasumi hated how needy and desperate she sounded but she had to know. The month she spent with him and Rin had been the best of her life. Running around and playing games with Rin had been what she always wanted to do since she was a little girl, and Sesshomaru was the only man in the world who understood, who knew it was what she needed to be happy, even for a moment, and he granted her that. He gave her what her own father would not do.

Freedom.

A key to understanding herself, believing in what she was capable of doing, the person she could be, and now aspired to be. She wanted to be a woman worthy of a man like Sesshomaru. She wanted to be his mate, his one and only. The idea no longer scared her, it excited her, made her feel as if she had a place, and that place was with him. With Rin, and Usui. Heck, even Jakken, who hardly ever looked at her unless it was with disdain. She had found a family amongst these demons and she couldn't be happier. She was growing to love them.

No.

She was growing to love him.

Ease fell onto her heart, and the shaking in her hands stopped, and her wavering gaze held his. She placed her other hand on top of his and gently squeezed it. She could see his slight surprise at the small gesture, but it did not cause him to pull away.

"I don't know," he said truthfully. Originally, his plan was to stop by once a month to check in on her and her progress, but the lingering time he spent with her in these woods had caused him to forget the world and his goals. He needed to be apart from her so he could focus on killing Naraku. That meant sending her away, back to his home where she will have to continue to grow without him. "I will see you as often as I can."

She smiled, released a short laugh through her nose, not quite a snort, but was a huff of breath from it that was clearly her scoffing at him.

"You are not a very good liar, my lord." She said, and he growled quietly at her discovery. "But I know you will see me when you think it's necessary." She had a gentle smile on her lips, and he had the strongest urge to bite it off, when she leaned down to him, and pressed that gentle smile onto his mouth. It was the first time she ever tried to kiss him. She was awkward, perhaps a bit clumsy, but she had her intentions and they shined through clearly to him.

His hand was at the nape of her neck, holding her to his level when she parted their lips, and there was a glimmer of mischief in her emerald eyes.

"You aren't allowed to come back until you have completed your task, Lord Sesshomaru." She said, her mischief moving to her lips, again making him want to bite them.

"Are you forbidding me from my own home, little kit?" He asked a brow perked.

"I am. So you must do it quickly, my lord. Or you will miss out on watching me grow." The confidence in her look was enough to have him smile at her, really smile. He knew she was still afraid, for reasons he wasn't privy to, but she was willing to face it if it meant she could be someone better.

He took a step back from Ah-Uhn, and the two-headed dragon took a moment to get a running start before taking off into the sky. He stood there in the air of her absence, staring at her departure, with Rin standing beside him watching as she became a speck in the sky until she was no longer visible.

"I like her," Rin said, smiling up at the sky.

Without missing a beat, or looking away, Sesshomaru responded with his own approval. "Me, too."

Author Note: I know it's been a while guys, and I'm sorry. I don't really have an excuse, but I feel all that matters is that a new chapter is out. Inspiration and motivation struck me at a terrible time as it often does and I busted out this chapter at almost five in the morning.

It's a relatively short chapter I think, compared to others (hell, I don't know anymore), and not a lot really happens in it, more of a filler chapter, but I think it has this short sentimental feeling, and it's finally leading onto the second half of the story. The door of my inspiration and motivation is half closed, now if only the foot behind it will keep it open long enough for me to finish this story so I may turn it into a series that I will also most likely take forever to finish too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, I wish I could see the next chapter will be out soon, but I won't make a promise I can't keep.