TWENTY
Kurenai can only imagine the struggle her brother is going through right now while dressing up the men from over five hundred years ago in today's clothing, especially the two dog demons.
She on the other hand, had fun. Especially now, watching Rin happily twirl about by the windows of the living room dressed in a crisp white sleeveless dress with a navy blue bow on the chest with three navy blue horizontal stripes on the skirt's hem, a pair of red doll shoes on her feet and a gold necklace with a snowflake pendant sparkling around her neck.
"Rin!" Kurenai called out to the young girl and her fanned out skirt dropped when she stopped to look at her, "Let me fix your hair sweetheart." she tapped the empty space of the couch in front of her and Rin skipped to her direction and hopped on the couch.
Sango smiled as she watched Kurenai's fingers weave gently through Rin's ebony hair. If she didn't know better, she would think they're mother and daughter.
"Uhm… Lady Kurenai?" Rin said softly with her small back still facing Kurenai.
"Yes Rin?" Kurenai asked as she secured the waterfall braid and noticed the girl's shoulders shift nervously. She place a hand on each of Rin's shoulder in efforts to calm her fidgeting and gently turned the child towards her, "What is it sweetie?"
Rin's eyes are glued to her laced fingers resting on her lap, her thumbs rubbing over each other, "I was wondering…" she gazed up, her eyes bright and hopeful, "if maybe I can call you mama just like Shippo does?"
Kurenai and Sango gasped at the sudden request.
The request didn't really come as much of a surprise to Sango though, her friend really has that charm to her because of her natural instinct to take care of people and maybe for Rin, sharing a connection with Kurenai such as the two of them being orphans pulled the young girl to the miko even more.
Kurenai on the other hand is both surprised and honored by the request. She didn't think that Rin would feel that way towards her and she couldn't possibly say no to those round puppy dog eyes but still…
She smiled at the child, "I'd be happy if you do sweetie but you need to ask Sesshoumaru if he'll allow you to."
The young girl grinned, "It's not gonna be a problem! He'll agree to it I'm sure!"
"Who will agree to what?" Ren's playful voice rang from the stairs as he and the rest of the guys finally came down.
Rin turned around and her chocolate eyes caught the form of her beloved Lord, "Lord Sesshoumaru! It's okay if I call Lady Kurenai 'mama' right?" she raced over to the foot of the stairs, waiting for the daiyoukai as he came down.
If not for the excessive grace he possessed, Sesshoumaru would have tumbled over the final steps of the stairs upon hearing his ward's request.
The room is filled with stunned silence and all eyes are on Sesshoumaru and Rin, anxious for how the daiyoukai would respond to his ward. He's basically Rin's father and for her to propose to call a human woman her mother, must be a disagreeable idea to the proud demon Lord of the Western Lands.
Sesshoumaru threw Kurenai an icy stare and an unspoken question, "She asked me and I told her I'd be happy if she does but she must ask you first." she replied, as she fought not to let his intense eyes intimidate her.
Gazing back down at his ward, the daiyoukai's face is vacant of the turmoil in his head. Rin's request is astonishing, but more than that is the fact that he does not have any opposing feelings about her considering the human woman as her mother. In fact, it felt like the most natural thing in the world and he is most perplexed by why that is.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin's voice snapped Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts and one look into her expectant eyes and he knew there's only one answer he could give.
"Do as you wish Rin." Sesshoumaru gave his approval, much to Rin's delight and the shock of everybody else.
"Really?! Yehey!" the young girl dashed into Kurenai's arms and hugged her new mother tightly, "Mama!"
Sesshoumaru watched with inexplicable satisfaction as Rin reveled in being wrapped in the arms of her new 'mother'.
Kurenai ran a hand over her new daughter's hair, "Yes Rin. Thank you for deeming me worthy of such role sweetie." she smiled and looked up to find Sesshoumaru watching them and her stomach fluttered the moment her carmine orbs met his amber ones. His face is glacial as always however, his usual icy gold pools shifted to a warmer shade and it felt exhilirating to her. And for the first time in her life, Kurenai thought: I want those eyes to look at me while they change into colors nobody else has seen.
It shocked and confused Kurenai to have this kind of possessive thought since she's never felt this way towards anyone and even more so since she's having them towards Sesshoumaru of all people. But before she can contemplate further, Inuyasha's grumbling bulldozed through her thoughts.
"Whatever wench, let's just go already." Inuyasha's not as touched by Kurenai and Rin's heartwarming scene as the others in the room, not when it seems that a bridge is being built between Kurenai and Sesshoumaru. First, he's calling her by her name, and now he's allowed his ward who's basically his daughter call her 'mama', and he's not liking it one bit.
Kurenai straightened up from where she's hugging Rin, "I need to wait for Ryan, we have a few things to discuss. Just relax for a bit, he'll be here any minute now."
Rin hopped back in front of Sesshoumaru, "Here Lord Sesshoumaru! Look at what mama gave me to wear! It's sooo pretty!" she twirled around a few times to show off her dress.
"Hn." he acknowledged abruptly.
Rin also lifted her necklace's pendant, "And this my Lord! Mama said I could keep it, it's so beautiful!"
Golden eyes converged on the precious jewelry, "It is." he said before eyes flew to the miko sitting on the couch fondly watching Rin and realized his ward is fortunate to have gained such a generous mother figure. Not only for the material things she willingly give, but the genuine care she has for those around her; despite her anxiety towards being touched, it didn't stop Kurenai from genuinely hugging Rin back.
Sesshoumaru can't help but drink in Kurenai's form as well. She looked simply radiant with her hair flowing freely down her waist, her form draped in a burgundy cardigan over a plain white tank top, a pair of black trousers with elastic cuffs and a black sneaker on her left foot and her walker boot on the right. He's quite surprised to see the numerous stud earrings on her ears; three on the left and two on the right that added an edge to her already striking beauty. A black braided bracelet and black leather watch also coiled around her wrists.
It really is beyond the daiyoukai why his eyes can't seem to get enough of the miko. He's had a line of stunning demonesses blatantly offering to be his mate and here he is captivated by a human woman.