All characters, unless stated as original creations or additions, belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Media and Shogakukan. Blame them. I'm just taking their characters' concepts to a different place. Also, feedback would be appreciated. Writers do not improve without criticism and suggestions from their audience. I am not certain about the romaji from Rin's song so I apologize if there are errors in the lyrics.
Yama no naka
Mori no naka
Kaze no naka
Yume no naka
Sesshōmaru-sama doko niiru
Jaken-sama oshitanaite
Watashi wa hitorite machimashou
Sesshōmaru-sama omoutorio
Rin hummed the old tune to herself as she roasted a potato on a stick in Kaede-baa's hut. Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and their children were all enjoying the old priestess' hospitality on this cold night. Kirara was napping in a corner of the hut.
"Rin-neesan," one of Sango's twin daughters called out to her, "What song is that? Does it have words?" Rin smiled at the question.
"It's a song I made up years ago, before you were born. It has words but only I know them. It's about…" Rin paused in her explanation, realizing everyone else in the hut had stopped their conversation to listen to her. She blushed with embarrassment.
"Who is it about?" Now both of Sango's daughters pressed Rin for details.
"There's only person it could be about," Inuyasha declared loudly as Sango and Miroku nodded gravely. Kagome just laughed politely. Suddenly, he stood and sniffed the air. "Speak of the devil…"
"Who is it about?" the two little girls asked again, even louder.
"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Rin cried, jumping to her feet. "Are you here to roast potatoes too?" He stood in the doorway as Inuyasha barred him further entry.
All of the adults had gotten to their feet, most of them unsure about what the demon's presence meant. Kirara had woken up and had transformed to her full size, growling at the new arrival. For his part, Sesshōmaru didn't acknowledge their presence or even the low level of hostility emanating from Inuyasha. "Onii-san, you should have sent word that you were coming to visit," Kagome said.
Now Sesshōmaru acknowledged Kagome's presence by glaring at her. "Rin, we are leaving. This village is no longer safe," he said to Rin. The girl looked around for a moment, unsure what was going on, before hopping to Sesshōmaru's side. A new figure entered the hut, causing greater alarm to its occupants.
"Rin is a human girl?" Tōran asked, bending down to look at the twelve-year-old girl. "A bit young for a mate, don't you think?" The adult occupants of the hut were dumbfounded. Inuyasha's nose had not even given them any warning. How often do two daiyōkai, rulers of demonic realms in their own right, walk into an aging human priestess' hut? Inuyasha was the first to recover his senses from the shock of seeing Tōran casually walk inside the hut.
"What d'ya mean the village isn't safe? Ya sayin' I can't protect her? 'Sides she doesn't have to leave if she doesn't want to. You agreed to that yourself!" Inuyasha shouted at Sesshōmaru's face.
"Onii-san. What's going on? Why do you want to take Rin away so suddenly?" Again, Sesshōmaru glared at Kagome while ignoring Inuyasha. Kagome was glancing between the two daiyōkai and wondering how and why a Demon Dog and a Panther would even tolerate each other's presence. It was her first inkling that something far more dire than their centuries-old rivalry was looming.
"Rin is my vassal and I am recalling her to my side. There is nothing else to it. A mongrel like Inuyasha cannot protect himself, let alone this village, from the coming storm from the north. Let's go, Rin." Sesshōmaru's haughty aloofness obviously irked his younger half-brother who pushed himself between Rin and Sesshōmaru.
"She doesn't have to go anywhere if she doesn't want to!" he snarled loudly, repeating himself. His hand was on Tessaiga's hilt, ready to draw the blade.
"Inuyasha! Osuwari!" and the half-demon crashed into the floor.
"Sesshōmaru, this is my home, humble as it is. Your overlordship applies to demons, perhaps even half demons, but not to humans. You have left Rin in my care and I must insist on a clearer reason for her departure than a storm from the north. There is already a snowstorm outside." It was the first time Kaede had spoken to Sesshōmaru in such manner and her audacity was rewarded with a glare.
"Oi, oi. If you keep glaring at everyone, I've heard it'll become permanent. Also, do you really allow humans, even if they're your sister-in-law, and your half-brother to just say whatever to you without punishment? What kind of Dog Demon Lord are you?" Tōran teased, loving every moment of this. More, she delighted in the fact that Sesshōmaru could not deny the fact that he had some distant familial relation to a human now.
Once more with infinite vigor, Inuyasha bounced back to his feet, ready to draw Tessaiga, taking exception now to Tōran's presence. "And what are you doing here?" he demanded, "You here for another fight?"
"Inuyasha! Osuwari!" and the half-demon crashed into the floor once more. This time, Kagome placed a foot on his back. "Stay there and be quiet."
"Hai…" he acquiesced finally, accepting defeat.
"Woah, tamed by a human. Is this a family thing? Am I going to hear that you've been domesticated by this little girl as well?" Tōran leaned forward and pointed at Rin who now stood beside Sesshōmaru.
"I am Sesshōmaru-sama's trusted vassal! Are you Sesshōmaru-sama's new consort to speak to him so?" Rin asked her in return, crossing her arms.
"Oh, she has moxie. I like her more now," the Panther demon laughed, preening at the attention.
"Sesshōmaru, what exactly is descending from the north?" Kaede demanded.
"War," was all the Demon Dog Lord cared to elaborate on the subject before leaving. Rin trotted behind him, humming again, and waving to the others.
Tōran paused for a minute, frowning at Inuyasha. "I asked you pass him my message. Clearly you forgot." Then she left as well.
Kagome, Miroku, and Inuyasha rushed out the hut and saw the two demon lords rising into the air. "They're going somewhere! I say we follow them and get them to tell us more!" Inuyasha declared boldly.
"I agree. Though wherever they are going, you will need to fly there." Kaede said this as she followed them out. Already the demons were fading in the blizzard outside.
"Take Kirara! I'll stay here!" Sango said from inside the hut. Unlike the others who had moved to confront the demons, she had retreated to protect her children. Kirara had stood by her side. When she heard her name, Kirara raced out and waited for whoever to get on. They quickly decided that Miroku would also stay behind so that Kagome and Inuyasha would be able chase after the two daiyōkai. Inuyasha ran to their own home to fetch Kagome's bow and a quiver of arrows before they set off in pursuit.
Chapter Notes: I am not happy using the show's main characters. I feel like I didn't do them justice. BUT it was fun to keep throwing "Onii-san" around while Toran was listening. Is it wrong for a guy to be so tickled? Next chapter will be longer and more, FAR more interesting.