I do not own Inuyasha.
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Has anyone ever thought what Sesshomaru did with little Rin in bad weather? They didn't exactly stick around town when she was little. I am just imagining he'd protect his friend the same way he'd have protected his daughter and these are my ideas of what he did with her when it rained.
Sesshomaru had told himself having Melissa with him would be no different than when Rin had traveled with him. He first realized he may have been mistaken about three days after leaving his little brother's village with her.
The drought had broken a month ago and he had smelled rain coming. He had found a small cave for them to take shelter in, just big enough to keep all three dry. He didn't need shelter, but he wasn't fond of the rain. Melissa did need shelter, it was to cool to allow her to get wet, she'd die of hypothermia.
The storm brought cool air with it. Sesshomaru didn't notice at first, it wasn't cold enough to bother a youkai. But then Melissa started rubbing her arms to warm them. Then she blew on her hands and rubbed them briskly together. She noticed Sesshomaru watching her.
"Cold." She told him, shrugging. She wasn't complaining, just explaining her actions. She was shivering. Sesshomaru reached out and took her hand in his, her fingers were cold to the touch. But the cave wasn't big enough for a fire, even if he kicked Jaken out. He would have wrapped his mokomoko around her but in the cramped cave they were all sitting on it and would have to leave the cave to untrap it, that wasn't an option with the rain pounding down like it was.
He had been in a similar situation with Rin a few times. The solution then had been simple, he'd held Rin in his lap and wrapped his arms around her so that his body heat kept her warm. Melissa wasn't a 7 year old girl, holding her in his lap would be extremely inappropriate. But he couldn't let her freeze.
There was only one option, he wasn't completely comfortable with it, but it was his responsibility to care for her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. It was not as inappropriate as holding her in his lap would be, but it was closer than he was accustomed to allowing anyone to get. She looked up at him in surprise.
"In taking you from Inuyasha's village I have assumed responsibility for you. It would reflect poorly on this sesshomaru if you froze to death while under my protection." He explained.
She nodded and curled against him. It wasn't cold enough to kill her, but it was cold enough to be uncomfortable. Besides, she'd always been a cuddle bug and it had been a long time since she'd had anyone to cuddle with. Sesshomaru was not one to welcome random cuddles, he barely tolerated her hugs. She would enjoy it while it lasted.
She laid her head on his shoulder as she watched the rain fall beyond the cave and he looked down at her. She was to... He wasn't sure. This actually wasn't that bad. The cold didn't bother him like it did humans, but he prefered warmth. He could get used to this.
He frowned ever so slightly, that was a dangerous thought. He was merely protecting his friend from the cold, that was all. This would not be a common occurrence. Still, it was kind of nice.
"Sesshomaru, where we go?" She asked after a while.
"No where, I am merely patrolling my lands. Once I am certain my lands are secure I will return to the village to visit Rin."
"You... You have many lands?"
"My father was ruler of the western lands. When he passed away I inherited his territory, but I have since expanded the borders." She lifted her head and looked at him, surprise evident on her face.
"Was ruler?"
"Yes. Though many human territories overlap with mine. Humans and youkai do not recognize the same boundaries."
She laid her head back down. "I sorry you father die."
He squeezed her just a little tighter. "He was very powerful. All were in awe of his power. But then he took a human for his second wife and many saw it as weakness. Inuyasha is often regarded as a taint of his blood line."
"You see Inuyasha as... as taint?"
"He has proven himself."
They fell silent and watched as the outside world turned dark. The air grew colder and she cuddled closer to him. He spared her a glance then turned his attention back to the darkening cave entrance.
After some time he asked her a question but she didn't answer. He looked down at her but in the cave, with no fire or even star light, the dark was so absolute even his eyes couldn't penetrate it. Her breath was deep and even, she had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He hoped she wouldn't drool on him.
Luckily she didn't and by the time the sun rose the rain had cleared out. They didn't get moving right away, there was no need to. She filled the water gourd Kagome had given her in a small creek then practiced her archery while Sesshomaru wandered off to hunt. He had wanted to hunt the night before but didn't like to hunt in the rain.
She'd managed to find fresh fruit for breakfast, which was good as there was no dry wood to start a cooking fire. Around noon she was scouring the bushes for more fruit when Sesshomaru returned from his hunt and dropped a section of a deer leg in front of her and ordered Jaken to start a fire.
Before she could thank him he informed her "There was more meat on the stag than I required. I do not like to be wasteful."
She thanked him anyway and received a look of annoyance. Jaken was able to start a fire for her, repeated blasts from the staff of two heads dried the wood enough for it to catch. She cut the meat from the bone with a small knife a villager had given her for bringing the rain and put it on a spit. Raven didn't like to be used for utilitarian purposes. Once she'd eaten they headed west toward the coast.
A week and a half later they were on the beach eating raw oysters when Sesshomaru sensed a storm coming. He knew this area, there were no caves for shelter. Once they had finished their meal he called his pack to follow him away from the beach so that they would not get swept out to sea by a storm surge.
Then he explained to Melissa that a storm was approaching and there was no shelter. She suggested making a lean-to and he informed her there was no time. Then he transformed, taking his true form of a large white dog. He nudged her with his muzzle to where he wanted her to stand between his paws and laid down.
He used his paw the flip back a long fluffy ear then laid he face beside her. When he twitched his ears it fell back into place and she was pushed against his cheek. It didn't hurt but it knocked the wind out of her, like being hit too hard in a pillow fight. But pressed between his ear and cheek she would remain warm and dry when the rain came.
She sat down and cuddled against his soft fur. She tried speaking to him a few times, keeping her voice soft so as not to hurt his ear, but quickly figured out he could not talk in this form. Jaken meanwhile burrowed into the fur on his lord's side like a giant flea. Jaken had never been permitted to take shelter under Sesshomaru's ears has Rin once had because he simply could not keep his voice down.
As the rain beat down Melissa laid down against Sesshomaru's cheek and began to stroke it, singing softly as she did. She snuggled into the soft fur. At least he didn't smell like a dog. He smelled like the woods. She wished there were shelter for them both. Here she was warm and safe while he was out in the elements, using his own body to keep her comfortable.
Once the rain had passed he transformed and told them to make camp then wandered off. Out of site he shook his whole body, ridding it of most of the water. Then he took to the sky so the wind could finish drying him.
It was nearly dark when he landed nearby. He decided to mark a tree before returning. He had just started the task when he heard a nearby noise and Melissa came around a stand of brush with her hands full of mushrooms. She started to smile but then she realized what he was doing.
Her eyes darted down to what he held in his hands and she turned blood red in an instant. She covered her eyes, dropping her dinner in the process, and started apologizing in two mixed up languages. She backed away, eyes still covered, tripping in the process. Then turned and ran into a tree.
"Melissa, stop that foolishness, you have seen a penis before. Pick up your food and look where you are going." He demanded as he shook himself then put it away. She kept her eyes covered until she heard him walk past. Shortly after he reached camp she did to. Her face remained red and she avoided his eyes while she prepared her meal. The next day it was mostly forgotten, Sesshomaru understood she'd walked up on him by mistake and Melissa understood he'd forgiven her.
It was several days after the tree marking incident and they were walking down a bright forest path. Melissa was playing 50 questions with Jaken to practice her Japanese, which had the added benefit of annoying the little kappa. Sesshomaru's mind was on other matters when her heard a voice he hadn't heard in 4 years calling his name.
He stopped and turned to the youkai approaching him. The female walked toward him, painted lips in a cool smile. Bright, fiery red eyes and black hair adorned with feathers. His eyes widened, how was it possible? He'd watched her die!
"Kagura?" The wind shifted and brought the youkai's scent to him. It was an imposter, but the resemblance was remarkable.
Sesshomaru frowned at her. "Who are you, and why do you look so like the wind witch Kagura?"
She gave him a seductive smile. "I thought this was a form that would please you my lord. My name is Cho, and I offer you myself. Is this not a form you once found alluring? Perhaps another form?"
Her eyes fell on Melissa, "Perhaps you have developed a taste for the exotic?" She closed her eyes and her body began to ripple as though being viewed through a heat haze. Then She began to morph, her hair turned gold and her skin pink. She opened her round blue eyes and looked up at the youkai lord with a smile.
Melissa blinked in surprise then began babbling in English. She was suppose to in an asian Middle Earth, not a Marvel comic. What the hell was Mystique doing here? And how dare she take her face!?
"I can be any woman you desire my lord. I can fulfil all your fantasies," She cut her eyes over at Melissa "without the risk of tainting you noble blood like your father before you. What say you my lord?"
Then she undid her obi, revealing what she thought Melissa's naked body would look like. She didn't know about tattoos. Or that Melissa had no body hair when Sesshomaru had met her, though in all honesty it had probably grown back by now.
"My thighs not that fat!" Melissa yelled angrily at her. She couldn't complain about the breast size though, the youkai had given her to much credit there. But still, this youkai dared to look like her and prance around naked? She to began draw an arrow but before she could Sesshomaru had turned away after giving the youkai female a look of deepest loathing.
"She's a human Sesshomarusama!' The female yelled in anger. "She'll birth you a hanyou. What does she have that I don't? I can be any woman you want! She can only be herself, a funny looking human who barely speaks our language!"
He paused and glared over his shoulder. Melissa had honor. She had self respect, integrity, and loyalty. She was at his side not because she wished to gain anything, she'd had no idea who he was at the start, but because they were friends. He owed this female no explanation.
"You may change your face, but I have your scent. If I smell you near my pack I will kill you." He continued on, even has the youkai continued to call. "Your pups will be hanyou! Think about your choice of a concubine!"
"Melissa, do not fall behind. Stay at my side or ahead of me where I can see you." He told her as they continued. She nodded, glancing back at her doppelganger briefly.
She'd thought Melissa was his lover. He should have expected such rumors, considering his family history. That and Melissa was a bueatiful woman of child bearing age. Yes, he was sure rumors that he had followed in his father's footsteps were already flying.
"Why you no tell her?"
"Tell her what?" He asked, glancing at Melissa.
"We no... You know... not... I not know word."
"Lovers? I owe her no explanation. Correcting her would not stop the rumors. Melissa, you are a beautiful human woman, I am a powerful youkai lord. Rumors are inevitable. Do not let them trouble you."
She nodded looking down. She'd blushed when he called her beautiful. When they'd stopped for the night he'd told Jaken to make camp. When Melissa started to gather wood he'd called her back, explaining Jaken could gather wood and food, she was not to leave his side. The youkai might not give up so easily.
When he went for a walk after her meal, she went with him. They stood together on the crest of a hill, looking out over the countryside. Sesshomaru was beside Melissa, but he was a million miles away.
"Sesshomaru, I ask question?"
"You may."
"You call her Kagura. Who is Kagura?"
"Nobody important."
"You liar. I see you face. We are friend, tell me?"
Sesshomaru didn't look at her, but after a long time replied, "Kagura was a wind witch I knew once before."
"Kagura lover?" He didn't answer. "Where she go?"
He looked at her now and Melissa saw pain in his eyes. "She is the wind."
She wrapped her arms around him, this hug was different. It was not an expression of joy or greeting. She was attempting to comfort him. No one had ever attempted to comfort him before.
Logic said he should push her away. Then he realized some part of him wanted her comfort. He had no idea how to accept it. He stood straight and rigid in her arms. Then, after a long time, he lowered his head and leaned it against hers. She tightened her arms around him.