Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.
Chapter 5: First Encounter
The mood of the group was strained all the next day. Inu Yasha spent most of the time ignoring Kagome, until his anger would get the better of him and cause his to snap at her over something insignificant. Naosu followed Sango's lead and took to comforting the miko when she could or distracting the moody hanyou before he could blow. It wasn't simply Kouga's visit that continued to bother Inu Yasha, it was all the secrecy around what he and Kagome had been talking about. The deep blush on her cheeks as she had returned to camp had ignited his curiosity and jealousy.
That evening as they prepared to make camp, Kagome snapped. She had had enough of his tantrums and would be returning home until Inu Yasha could get over whatever problem he was having. Not giving him the chance to object, she cut short any discussion with one word: SIT! It was the first time that Naosu witnessed the subduing spell in action and found laughter difficult to withhold.
After three days of traveling back towards the village, Naosu finally agreed to accompany Kagome through the well. She had done so reluctantly, knowing that if her plan was to succeed she would have to remain, but had decided that it would be impolite to not thank Kagome's mother for the clothes that she had sent.
When they stopped for the night, Naosu offered to go in search of firewood. As the sun had yet to set, no one argued when she headed back the way they had come, alone. As the friendly chatter of the others faded, Naosu sighed. I was nice to be alone at last. She had to admit that she appreciated their company, but she was not use to being around people for so long with no refuge. After years of living on her own she had become accustom to the solitude.
Inhaling deeply, the full scent of her surroundings came to her and quickly put her on the alert. A demon; and the strong smell of human fear. Searching the open field she spotted the lizard demon slipping through the long swaying grass, but where was his prey? As Naosu continued to search the field, the grass parted about two feet in front of her. Her eyes flew to the movement. A small child dressed in orange and white was rushing towards her with her head turned towards the pursuing demon. Naosu watched as the girl's naked foot hit a rock in her path. As the child fell, hard, Naosu's heart jumped. Acting without thought she leapt to place herself between the rearing demon and his prey.
Pulling back its whip-like tail and swinging it forward, the lizard youki attempted to brush away the interfering woman that had interrupted his hunt. Naosu curled protectively over the fallen child and dug in her feet. She would not be moved. Searing pain exploded through her limbs as the demon made contact. Her body began to tremble and give out, but she knew that she had to shield the small treasure that lay crying beneath her.
Naosu hadn't been the only one to notice the child fleeing from the lizard, Sesshomaru had also caught the smell of hot tears and fear on the breeze. As he rushed toward the scent of his young ward he saw the youki strike and smelled human blood. He could only think of one thing. Rin. His wrist snapped sharply as he released his energy whip. He leapt with fluid ease and drew the whip across his body before flicking is back with deadly force. The neck of the attacking demon was severed with one stroke.
Retracting the whip, Sesshomaru landed with his usual grace, but what he saw was not what he had expected. There before him in the grass was not the small childish form of his ward, but the bare, bloodied back of a young woman.
"Sesshomaru-sama?" a familiar, though shaky, voice questioned.
He watched as the child wriggled out from under the huddled form of the woman.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin squealed in delight as his eyes fell on her.
"Why are you here?" and where is Jakken, he added to himself. He had left the child in the care of his loyal retainer.
The child was unfazed by his emotionless tone, "Jakken told Rin to go pick flowers for Sesshomaru-sama, so Rin went, but the big mean lizard started to chase Rin, so Rin ran to find Jakken or Sesshomaru-sama."
"And who is this?"
Rin followed his eyes to the bleeding woman, "Rin does not know. The nice lady protected Rin from the mean lizard."
"My Lord! My Lord!"
Rin giggled as Jakken, only his staff showing above the tall grass, ran stumbling through the field, Ah-Un plodding along behind him.
"Why were you not watching Rin as I instructed?" Sesshomaru asked coldly once his retainer had caught up to them.
"The little brat must have run off while I wasn't looking. She is a slippery little…. What is that stench?" Jakken cut his comment short and turned toward the smell of human blood.
"Come Jakken. We are leaving." Sesshomaru ignored the little toad's question and lifted Rin on to Ah-Un. Quickly scurrying over, Jakken climbed up in front of the child.
"But what about the nice lady, Sesshomaru-sama? We can't just leave her! She saved Rin from the big scary lizard."
Sesshomaru sighed inwardly. Why did he always have to give in to this weak human child? "Go Jakken. I shall follow shortly."
Grasping the reins, Jakken signaled for Ah-Un to take flight. His Lord was so smart, he smiled to himself, staying behind long enough to fool the child into thinking that he was giving in to her. Lord Sesshomaru was ingenious; his plan would shut the little pest up.
Rin watched as Jakken's shoulders shook with silent laughter. How did Sesshomaru-sama put up with him before he had her? Yawning, she leaned forward to use the toad youki as a pillow and drifted off to sleep.