Chapter 4

This was a labor of love.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and story belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, this is just a fan fic.

Rin was excited and living the dream; Lord Sesshoumaru had stated that they were going to join Inuyasha's group! She always wished that she could spend more time with Shippo and Kagome. It was so nice to hangout with Shippo; he was like a brother and Kagome was very sweet to her and shared many treats. Rin sighed and twisted the hem of her robe; it would be nice if she had a mother figure like Shippo. This was the bond that she and Shippo shared—their strongest bond. They were both orphans; only, Shippo had been pseudo-adopted by Kagome. At times Rin wished that Kagome could look at her with the same loving embrace that she gave to Shippo.

Ah-Un was slowly descending from the clouds into a familiar clearing and Rin could make out the outlines of her dear friend and his surrogate mother. But there was a new member to the group. Rin tensed. She could tell that the new comer was a female and she looked so different that Rin immediately assumed that she was a demon, but as Ah-Un landed and Rin scrambled to Shippo's side she found that she was mistaken. The new comer was a human female that was dressed similar to Lady Kagome, but had very strange features. Shippo seemed to be instructing the newcomer in the history and lore of demons and proudly showing off his fox-magic. The young lady turned to Rin when she approached and smiled. Rin couldn't help it; in that moment she wanted this new person all to herself just as Shippo had Kagome.

Elish was slowly absorbing everything that Kagome was telling her when Lord Sesshoumaru left. She quickly realized that she wasn't going home soon, but it was okay. She had cried enough and she was one of the oldest members in the group. She had to get it together. Shippo was being a good sport and filling her in on all the history of the group so far and she realized the dynamics quickly. Inuyasha was older than he looked and so was Shippo, Sango and Miroku were pretty much a couple, and so were Kagome and Inuyasha, and the little orange kitty was not a real cat but a neko demon. Right! Now would be a good time for a glass of vodka and cranberry. Alas, she had to settle for water and package of gummies. Shippo had just started telling her about Sesshoumaru and his group when Rin ran up to them.

Rin was cute, but she seemed a bit wild. Elish knew from Shippo's speech that Kagome had basically adopted him and looked after him and so had Sesshoumaru to Rin, but Rin seemed a bit unkept. Sesshoumaru at least had her in warm clothes and shoes but that wasn't enough in Elish's eyes. Elish immediately decided that she was going to stay out the fighting as much as possible and just watch over Shippo and Rin on the sidelines. This was not her fight and Naraku sounded like a nasty little beast. Elish smiled and held out her bag of gummies and asked Rin if she would like some as a gift of acquaintance.

Rin made her introductions and took the offered sweets that Elish offered and practiced pronouncing the newcomer's name. She smiled and thought how similar Elish's name was to her Lord's and made up her mind to become close friends with the new woman. She was really pretty and Rin asked if she were part demon to explain her eye and hair color. Elish laughed and it sounded like tinkling bells and she snorted for good measure. She explained that she was from half the world away and she wasn't quite sure how she had gotten here, but she was glad that she made met everyone. Rin beamed and hope blossomed in her little heart.

The group set out and headed south at an easy pace and Elish spent most of her time entertaining the children. Sesshoumaru learned quite quickly that though the new female was a few years older than the miko, her knowledge was much more vast. Apparently she had studied in something the miko had called an university and she was well versed in medicine. Sesshoumaru thought that it would do the group well to have another healer in the midst for the humans healed at a slower rate than demons. This Elish, as she called herself, was very graceful and Sesshoumaru admitted to himself he was attracted to her, but she was just a mere human. It would have been better if she were a miko at least and had some type of power, he might have considered her as something of interest.

Around dusk the group stopped for the night and everyone set about getting firewood and setting up camp. Elish took Rin and Shippo and gathered firewood and Sesshoumaru noticed how she kept to herself and only really spoke to the children. She wasn't quite sure of herself in the groups' dynamic and had lumped herself in with the weakest links. As Sesshoumaru rested again a tree surveying the campsite, he noticed that Jaken was keeping a close eye on Elish and had a frown on his face. No doubt Jaken was upset that another human was now traveling with the two groups, and humans and Jaken didn't get along.

Jaken stood and made his way over to Sesshoumaru and bowed low.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, that human is not human."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at Jaken and then cut them over to the laughing female that was reading a scroll to Rin that was emitting light in the darkness. Probably an item from the future Sesshoumaru thought and turned back to Jaken. "Explain."

Jaken shifted and turned to catch a glimpse of the female and then turned back to Lord Sesshoumaru. "She looks human, except for the hair and eye color, but when she looks at me I feel like I'm at home in the water, like I was just born and I can feel the gentle warmth of life. I believe the human female is not just a lowly human. She has some youkai."

Sesshoumaru frowned and glanced back at the girl. He released some of his youkai and watched as Shippo, Inuyasha, the monk, the demon slayer, the miko, and even Kilala looked in his direction just to check on the situation. The only ones not paying attention were Rin, Ah-Un (because that dragon knew that there was nothing around), and Elish. The two girls were still jiggling over some bear named 'Pooh' from the futuristic scroll. Sesshoumaru glanced back to Jaken.

"This Sesshoumaru senses no powers from the human."

Jaken gulped and hung his head. "Hai Lord Sesshoumaru this lowly servant was mistaken."

Sesshoumaru glanced back at the woman in question and watched out of the corner of his eye as Jaken glanced at her as well. As if feeling eyes upon her Elish looked up from her iPad and glanced at Sesshoumaru and then Jaken. She didn't know what Jaken was but for some reason he reminded her of an turtle. Rin had called him a kappa, and Elish had looked the word up earlier in the day when she caught him watching her and found that he was a water spirit that loved cucumbers, liked drowning kids, and attacking travelers. She blanched at the definition but decided that if Rin cared for him, and he seemed to be her protector second only to Lord Sesshoumaru, then he must be okay.

For some reason the Kappa made Elish feel calm and she let her gaze fall on him once more. Something shifted inside of her, some fleeting memory, and then it was gone and Elish blinked and turned her attention back to the book and Rin.

Sesshoumaru had been watching Elish watch Jaken and then he saw it. A flash of recognition of youkai, a very ancient form that he had never experienced before but that his father had told him about. Jaken was right, this Elish was no mere human. Sesshoumaru glanced at Jaken who was looking very peaceful still staring at Elish.

"It seems that you were correct in your assessment."

Jaken turned wide eyes to Lord Sesshoumaru and stammered. "I was?"

Sesshoumaru turned is gaze back to Rin and Elish, "She is not just a lowly human."

Author's Note: And now I'm off to bed. Good night! :D