Chapter 2

Sesshomaru knew he shouldn't be doing this. He knew the aquarium was far too expensive, and now that he didn't have a job, his money wasn't being replaced. But when Rin had woken up that morning, screaming her excitement about it being her birthday, she had asked for one thing. Just one thing.

The mermaid exhibit at the aquarium.

Sesshomaru was going to tell her no. He couldn't afford the aquarium, and the mermaid exhibit cost that much extra. The money he had in savings was dwindling fast, even after only being jobless for a week. With two kids to care for, keeping money was nearly impossible.

However, when he opened his mouth to say no, she gave him those wide innocent eyes. She was too young to understand the money troubles he was in. She didn't understand why the world hated her when she hadn't done anything. She didn't understand why Sesshomaru couldn't keep a job even though he fought tooth and nail to be the best he could be. She didn't understand why their blood made them bad.

He should have said no, but he couldn't. Not when she was still so innocent. So now they were here, in the food court as Sesshomaru spent as little money as he could. Rin was munching down on some chicken tenders, as happy as could be.

InuYasha was picking at some popcorn. He had said he wasn't hungry, but Sesshomaru knew better. InuYasha had a better understanding of the world and their lack of money. He knew the sacrifice Sesshomaru was making, so he chose something cheap to eat. It made Sesshomaru feel like a failure. He was all his brother and sister had left, and he could barely give them a life.

Hand fisting around his water, he internally berated himself. When their parents died five years ago, Sesshomaru had been eighteen. Social services told him they would take InuYasha and Rin, put them in a home and Sesshomaru could visit them whenever he wanted. But Sesshomaru hadn't been able to do that.

They had just lost their parents. Rin had been three, scared and not understanding what had happened. InuYasha was devastated. He knew their parents were gone and sending them both away to be raised by someone other than family would ruin them.

Sesshomaru couldn't let them go, so he took them in. He questioned his decision though. Not because he didn't want the responsibility of raising his siblings, but because he didn't think he could give them a good life. He was a demon. That alone made providing for them difficult. His blood was hated by the humans around them. His blood was a hindrance, and because of that, he couldn't give Rin and InuYasha the life he wanted to. Maybe he should have let them go to a better home? Maybe they would have been worse off if he did? He just didn't know.

"Maru!" Rin jumped excitedly in her seat. "It's almost time to meet the mermaid!"

Sesshomaru looked up at the large clock on the wall in the food court, wincing as he saw it. They had ten minutes to get across the aquarium and to the large ocean exhibit. The extra mermaid exhibit cost Sesshomaru nearly half of what the original tickets cost. He would have to find a job soon, or he wouldn't even be able to pay bills.

Together, they cleared off the table. With Rin being the only one really eating, it didn't take long. Sesshomaru hadn't gotten himself anything to eat at all. Once the table was cleared, they rushed to the mermaid exhibit.

With a hand on Rin's back and InuYasha at his side, he ushered them to a seat. The human's around them pulled their kids away, giving Sesshomaru a wide berth. He could care less, but he saw the way InuYasha's ears flattened to his head in embarrassment. Rin was too enthralled with the exhibit in front that she barely even noticed.

Humans were cruel. That's all there was to it.

"Hello!" A staff member dressed in a dark blue shirt and khakis stepped out with a microphone. She smiled at everyone, her eyes faltering as she caught sight of Sesshomaru. He scowled but didn't react, and she caught herself, turning back towards the rest of the crowd. "My name is Emma, and I am pleased to announce a very special surprise for you."

The kids began to shout when a wisp of tail could be seen at the surface of the water. It resembled the fins of a beta fish instead of the classic mermaid tail. It was white and bright blue, reminding Sesshomaru of the woman's eyes who saved Rin and InuYasha in the grocery store.

He hated to admit how much he thought of the woman since then.

So stuck in thought, he missed most of the "backstory" for the mermaid. Apparently, she "Traveled" across many seas to get here, and the kids were eating up the story. Even Rin was leaning forward, eyes wide in awe as her ears twitched excitedly.

"With our guest now here to see all of you kids, I am honored to introduce Sirena, our mermaid friend!" The moment she finished the mermaid jumped into the water, the kids shouting out their excitement. Black hair fanned around the woman's face, and it wasn't until she swiped it away that Sesshomaru realized who she was.

His lungs seized; eyes wide as he was transfixed. It was the woman, the one who wouldn't get out of his head. He thought she was beautiful before, but now she was ethereal. Watching her as she swam in the water, surrounded by fish, her tail straight out of a fairytale, Sesshomaru thought she was a real mermaid for a moment. She loved her job; he was sure of it. This was her element; this was where she was home.

"Sirena has a magical gift." Emma started again, standing to the side so everyone could get a clear view. "She can blow bubbles, but they aren't ordinary bubbles. They are special. You see, they are pink, and they can go through glass. So, Sirena likes to play a little game."

Sirena blew out a bubble then, the bubble pink and bright. Sesshomaru could feel the reiki in the air, even from behind the glass. The woman that had saved his brother and sister was a miko. A miko with the heart and soul of an angel. That was a rarity in itself. True holy users were rare, and Sesshomaru had only met one before. He should run in the other direction, but he knew this woman wouldn't hurt him. She had already proven that.

"Sirena is going to blow a bubble and it's going to come through the glass. It will go to whoever she chooses, and they will get to go behind the exhibit to meet her! Isn't that exciting?!" Emma hyped up the crowd and all the children began to scream, all of them yelling about wanting to be picked.

"Do you think she will pick me?" Rin looked up at Sesshomaru, her eyes big and hopeful. It wasn't likely the woman had even recognized them.

"There is no way to know." Sesshomaru patted her head between her ears. He saw her hope dim some and hated himself further. He couldn't bring himself to lie to her. The woman didn't even know they existed, let alone pick them. They were demons, and they were hated.

Sirena gave everyone a big smile, then held out three fingers. Instantly the kids caught one, beginning to count down with her. It was loud and grating against Sesshomaru's ears, but Rin was enjoying herself, and that was all that mattered.

When they reached one, Sirena blew out a single bubble. Instead of going up like a normal bubble, it came forward, stretching through the glass until it popped out on the other side. The children fell silent, watching as the bubble hovered, unmoving.

Sesshomaru could feel eyes on him, and his gaze moved towards the woman. Sirena had seen him. She was looking dead at him, a soft smile on her face. He lifted a hand, giving a single slow wave, and her smile grew. When she looked away and back towards the bubble, it shot out suddenly, stopping just in front of Rin. It popped in front of her, causing Rin to giggle and squeal as she clapped her hands excitedly. It looks like they were going to get to meet the mermaid.

Sesshomaru wasn't going to admit how excited he was.

…

"You can't do this. Pick a different kid. A better one." Hiroto was standing at the edge of the exhibit, looking down at Kagome in the water. His arms were crossed, his fat face red with fury.

"A better kid? You don't even know her! She could be the sweetest little girl you have ever met. Just because her blood is different doesn't mean she is evil." Kagome placed her hands on her hips, furious. "You have a choice. You let them back here with no problems, or I quit."

Hiroto's brow twitched. He knew he couldn't let Kagome quit. She was the main attraction for this Aquarium. If she quit, the establishment would take a hit. She was a miko, one who was able to manipulate her body so she could breathe underwater. He wouldn't find anyone else like her, and he knew it. She knew it too, and for cases like this, she didn't mind using her status to get what she wanted.

"If they fuck anything up, it's on you." Hiroto spun on his heels, waddling away in a furious mass of lard. Kagome huffed, swimming to the poised rocks that she was supposed to sit on. Sango, her best friend, was standing along the edge, waiting for her.

"I don't know why he even tries. He should know you aren't going to listen to his hate speeches." Sango's heart was like Kagome's. They both agreed there was nothing wrong with demons. But they were just two small people in a world full of hatred.

Sango held out her hands, and Kagome took them. Underwater, the tail was weightless, but getting out of the water was different. It was a heavy sixty pounds when wet and incredibly hard to move in. Sango was there to help Kagome get in and out of the tail, as well as to get out of the water and posed on the rocks so she looked like a real mermaid.

"He's lucky I love my job." Kagome huffed, getting situated on the rocks. "Can you believe he asked me out on a date the other day? He even made a comment about going to his house after." She rolled her eyes as Sango scoffed. "Do you think he can even find it?" Sango threw her head back in a laugh, and Kagome chuckled along with her.

"Can he find what?" A little girl's voice had them both freezing. The family Kagome had met at the grocery store was standing a few feet away. The little girl was staring up at Kagome innocently while the older boy and full demon were blushing, looking at anything but her.

"His cake!" Kagome fumbled, her own cheeks blushing. "He couldn't find his cake."

"Oh. That's sad. Cake is good." The girl smiled at Kagome and the older demon began to cough, choking on air.

"Rin want's cake, Sesshomaru." The older boy looked up at Sesshomaru with a mischievous smirk on his face. Sesshomaru smacked him in the back of the head, his eyes narrowing.

"I'm so sorry." Kagome lowered her head into her hands, thoroughly embarrassed.

"I'm going to leave you to fix this mess. Maybe I'll go get some cake myself." Sango laughed as she walked away, leaving behind a horrified Kagome.

"Sirena, you're so pretty!" Rin rushed up to Kagome, carefully navigating the rocks. "Can I touch your tail?"

"Of course." Kagome bent up her knees so Rin could run her hands over the leathery fin. "Did you enjoy the show? I saw you in the stands and just knew I had to speak to you again." Her eyes flicked up to Sesshomaru's, his cheeks blushing again. He didn't look like a demon that would blush, but she was glad he did. There was something endearing about it. She didn't know why, but her interest was piqued with the tall demon. She wanted to get to know him, and his family. She couldn't explain it, but she didn't care.

This wasn't something she was going to fight.

...

Here is chapter 2. Things for Sesshomaru aren't easy, and they won't be getting better any time soon. Kagome already knows she wants a friend out of Sesshoamru and she is determined enough to get it. I hope you all enjoyed.