Chapter 7: Rin
Kagome repositioned the small girls arms to help her aim. "Turn out your elbow, and aim for the mark..." She watched as the bow snapped, sending an arrow into the target close to it's center. The little girl squealed and jumped around happily. "Way to go, Rin!" Kagome smiled, listening to her chorus of 'I did it! I did it!' float through the air. Knowing she had too much energy to sit through a full lesson, Kagome released her early to go play in the fields nearby. Kagome watched as Rin carefully picked flowers, singing a song she'd just made up. Surveying the area and deciding it was safe enough to let her wander, Kagome took a few steady shots of her own for practice's sake, although she knew she didn't need it. As she pulled the handful of arrows from the rolled grass target she called to Rin. "Let's head back!" The little girl tossed her flowers in the air before running up to her side, following along obediently.
"Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will like this Kagome?" Rin held a pretty white flower out to show it off. "It's just like his hair, isn't it?" Kagome laughed gently at how excited she was. Rin always knew when he was coming because she never forgot to ask how many days he would be away. She never lost count, and just as promised she never told anyone else when he would be there. She still gave it away every time by bringing home odd little trinkets as offerings. A flower, a pretty rock, something shiny she found in the river. Lately it had always been flowers. She was growing up, and coming to understand that her lord probably did not want or need pretty rocks. He probably didn't want flowers either, but he still always tucked them into his armor while he visited. "Kagome..." she mused, twirling the flower stem as they walked. "Can I show Lord Sessomaru how well I can shoot?" Her eyes gazed up at her teacher sweetly. "Whenever he gets back!" She corrected the end of her sentence, remembering that it was a secret. Kagome smiled, rolling her eyes.
"Sure you can, whenever he gets back." Rin was even more excited now, and ran ahead as Kaede's hut came into view. Kagome sighed, never taking her eyes off of her until she saw her safely run into Kaede's arms. Inuyasha landed a few yards behind her with a soft sound, a move that would have made her jump if she hadn't sensed his return before she heard him. She turned to look at him, staying still and inspecting his familiar form. He didn't move, only crossing his arms across his chest and cracking a cocky half grin. She couldn't fight the brilliant smile that broke across her face with his gesture. She'd missed this jerk! She ran the short distance to him, jumping at the last moment and giggling as he caught her in a tight hug. Her arms wound around his neck, holding her husband tightly, her feet handing inches from the ground. "Welcome back!" She said happily, laughter still in her voice. He chuckled at the way she always attacked him when he got back from a demon slaying trip with Miroku, and the way the scent of her happiness enveloped them both.
"Jeez Kagome, you miss me or something?" He teased. She kissed his neck a few times to answer his question. He set his petite wife down, happy to see her too. It was the most beautiful thing, he loved it, the way she smiled at him like he was her world. He never thought anyone would look at him this way, and yet she did every time they were reunited without fail. He pushed a lock of her raven hair behind her ear as she let her hands drop to his chest.
"Just happy you're home." She said, reaching up to his hand and nuzzling into it, letting him cup her face. A soft blush had risen on her cheeks as he pulled her in for a soft kiss, his free hand pulling her close at the small of her back.
Kaede was listening to Rin happily talking about her near bull's-eye from earlier when she caught sight of the pair on the horizon. The old woman huffed and cleared her throat with an 'AhEM!' that she knew at least Inuyasha would hear at the distance. The couple broke apart at her gentle reminding, which she found she had to repeat much too often. She could understand when they were newlyweds, but it had now been well over a year since their marriage! She saw Kagome raise a hand to her lips as she laughed shyly, Inuyasha falling in at her side as they resumed walking on the trail. Kaede huffed, a smile on her lips as she returned her attention to the talkative little girl. Though their lack of discretion wore on her nerves, it was a joy to see a couple so deeply in love as they. Though they did have their own home for such things! Just as the pair had made it to her door Rin squealed happily, jumping off the step and standing patiently a few feet in front of the hut, watching the sky.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" She called out, waving. Sesshomaru landed ever gracefully before the girl as she ran to him, bowing sweetly. "My Lord! I've brought you something!" She held out the flower to him proudly. He kneeled in front of her, accepting the delicate gift and placing it over his hart, tucked into the heavy pauldron.
"Thank you, Rin." Though he was virtually emotionless, Rin reacted as though he'd given her high praise, smiling brightly. He rose and nodded at the group standing near Kaede's hut, his way of telling them he would be taking her for a while. When Kaede nodded back, he turned, only saying "Come." as Rin fell in behind him.
"Today I shot an arrow that was almost a bull's-eye! At twenty paces!" He listened calmly to the sweet girl, walking with her to a comfortably shaded tree at the edge of the village. It was high up on a hill, allowing them to see most of the houses below. He never took her much farther than this now, always returning her before the sun completely set.
Returning to her as often as he did had not been his plan. He had originally thought to leave her here to grow up and lead her own life, without needing anything more from him, but... He found it difficult to leave her here without worrying. And it would be completely pointless to avoid being seen when his presence seemed to make the child happy. Really, though, she had trapped him in a way. She had asked for a specific number of days, and not relented her crying until he had promised. As silly as it was, a promise to a human child was still a promise. She never let him leave without such a promise now, and he no longer minded. He was fond of this girl, thinking of her less and less like a pet as time went on. She was learning archery from Inuyasha's human wife, brazen little thing. He was thankful for the direction, and Rin seemed to be fond of her, but he hoped her insolent attitude would not rub off on his Rin. He'd already taken enough of a risk leaving her with his crass half brother, but thankfully, she seemed to this point incorruptible.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin was gently winding together the stems of a few pink flowers to make a rope.
"What is it, Rin?" She never stopped toying with her braid.
"How long must I stay here? With the humans?" Her question was innocent. He had told her she would stay 'for a time' when he initially left her here. Kaede had been correct about her needing to learn human ways. She needed to one day survive on her own amongst them. She could always make the choice to travel along with him again, but ultimately, he did not wish for it. He had already seen her die before his eyes twice. It was simply too dangerous for a human to live amongst his kind.
"Until you are grown. Are you unhappy here?" He heard her mutter 'Keh...' under her breath. He frowned at the colloquialism. Damn that half breed. He would have a word with him before he left.
"I like it here..." The small girl hesitated at her words before suddenly standing, running into his arms, hugging him tightly while skillfully missing the spikes on his pauldron. "But I want to go with you..." She never whined, but this was about as close as she ever came. Sesshomaru pet her hair in an attempt to calm her down before she cried. He was thankful she seemed to be doing that less and less as she grew.
"Would you leave your new friends?" He asked calmly, hoping to make her see the silver lining to her life here. She had a community. Rin stayed quiet, seeming to think it over. After a moment she sat up to look at him, then down to the little flower in his armor. "I would leave them... though I would be sad for a while." She said softly. He sighed, plucking the flower from his armor and gently placing it in her hair. She smiled at that, giving a soft giggle.
"You don't have to leave them if you stay. And I have always returned for you, have I not?" Rin smiled, nodding. She was such an thoughtful child. "Then there is no reason to be sad, is there?" She shook her head, feeling very silly for not thinking of that. "So you will stay for now?" She nodded again, imitating him with a soft 'Hn.' He cracked a grin at that. If she was going to pick up words from anyone, that would be his preference. He picked her up as he stood to return to the village.
"Oh Lord Seshomaru! You haven't yet told me when you will return for me!" She was simply reminding him of his promise. She didn't need to, he would come back no matter what at this point. She still made sure every time.
"Ten days." She nodded happily, agreeing that was fair. The sun was setting as he returned her to Kaede.
"Goodbye!" She said sadly as she hugged him again. It wouldn't be long before she's have to duck to miss his spikes, he thought. He briefly considered removing them. Briefly. He pet her hair once before turning to go, setting off into the sky to find his idiot brother.