A/N: This chapter started okay and it just went downhill... sorry if you don't like it.
Hopefully the next chapter will be a lot better!
Days turned into weeks and weeks became months as we trekked further and further away from my village.
In the beginning I was fine. It didn't bother me that I had been forced from my village in fear that they would be endanger if I stayed, but as the days progressed and the months began to come and go I started to realize I was becoming depressed.
Rin had started to worry…
"Kaori-san…?" She asked as she tugged on my kimono.
I smiled slightly at her. "Yes Rin-chan…?"
"Do you miss your family…?"
My smile faltered and I stopped walking. "Why do you ask…?"
"You don't smile as much Onee-san… And you don't play with me as much…"
I sighed and placed my hand on her head. "I can't fool you can I…?" I knelt down and gazed into her face. "I do miss my family… but I have no choice but to leave them… I threaten their safety now…" I stood up and looked around at the clearing we had stopped in; Jaken had been grumbling while walking with Ah-Un. "We'll rest here for the night… Sesshoumaru-sama should be able to find us here… We won't make it to the meeting spot before night fall and it's not safe to walk at night."
Rin smiled and took Jaken with her to find some flowers and I was left with Ah-Un.
I sighed and walked over to them, patting Ah's nose softly. "You have been a faithful follower and haven't complained once…" I smiled as Un's head butted my arm and I petted him as well. "You are truly a faithful dragon…"
"You talk to him as if he could understand you…" Sesshoumaru said as he walked up behind me.
"They can understand me…" I murmured as I smiled at them. I turned around and gazed into Sesshoumaru's golden eyes. "You're back early. Did you find out what you wanted…?"
"No…" He answered as he walked up to me and cupped my face in his hands. "Let's go back…" He murmured as he gazed into my eyes. "I know you miss your home and yearn to see it again… and your father told you to return whenever you wish…"
I sighed and placed my hand against one of his. "I can't return until Naraku is no longer after me… I'll endanger the entire village again if I return… I don't know what I would do if they were harmed because of me…"
Sesshoumaru gazed intently into my eyes then sighed and pulled me to him. "We'll find him soon… and then when we do we'll be able to return to your home…"
"Oh Sesshoumaru…" I murmured as I buried my face into the soft fur he had.
And we stayed like that… him holding me and me with my face buried in his fur. We stayed in each other's embrace until, reluctantly, he moved away from me.
"Where's Rin…?"
"With Jaken…" I answered. "I believe that she went to find some flowers… there isn't any fruit in this area due to the cold weather…"
As if waiting to be addressed the wind kicked up, blowing frigid air against my thin michiyuki and kimono; I shiver.
"You're going to need a warmer michiyuki and kimono…" Sesshoumaru murmured as he rubbed my arms to warm me.
I nodded. "So will Rin… She's even growing out of the kimono she has now…"
"When we get closer to a village you should go and see if you can buy some garments for you and Rin…"
I smiled then sighed. "We don't have any money… How are we to do that…?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "We'll figure something out…"
I kissed his cheek softly. I know he wanted to take care of Rin and me but it was going to be hard to do so without money…
After eating I stayed up late into the night trying to figure out how to get enough money to buy at least something for Rin to wear during the cold winter months that were approaching.
"Kaori…?" Sesshoumaru murmured as he walked over to where I was sitting.
"Hmm…?" I asked as I looked up at him.
"You do need your sleep…"
"I know… But Rin really needs a kimono at the least… I'm just trying to think of something to get enough money to buy her one…"
He sighed draped his arm over my shoulder and pulled me against the fur. "You need something as well… I don't want you to get sick… especially after the last time you were so ill…"
"I know…" I murmured as I snuggled into the warmth of him. My eyes closed and I was asleep within minutes.
The next morning I awoke to find myself covered in a light film of fresh snow.
"Shit…" I murmured as I sat up. "Sesshoumaru…" I called as I looked around.
Sesshoumaru walked out of the trees behind me. "What is it Kaori…?"
I stood up and waved my hand at the snow. "Rin is going to get very sick and very fast if she doesn't have warm enough clothing…"
He nodded and sighed. "What do you want me to do…?"
I looked over at Rin who was still sleeping. "We just need to find a village and I think I can take care of the rest…"
"Are you sure…?"
I shook my head. "No… I'm not… but Rin needs a longer Kimono and a warmer one…"
Sesshoumaru lifted Rin out of the snow onto the back of Ah-Un and began heading out into the forest.
We walked in silence as I tried to keep myself from shivering like crazy.
"Here…" Sesshoumaru murmured as we came upon a small village.
I walked into the village and looked around.
"Excuse me… I'm a traveling healer and I was wondering if there was something I could do to earn some money…" I asked the first guard I came across.
"A healer, eh?" He asked as he eyed me up and down.
"Yes and I need to earn some money to buy my daughter and me kimonos for the winter…"
That turned him off. "Come with me then…" he led me to the main building in the village.
"My lord." He whispered to a closed door. "There's a woman here who calls herself a healer."
"A healer…?" The voice questioned.
"Yes, that's what she says…"
"Let her in…"
The guard grumbled but slid the door opened enough for me to slip in.
It was dark inside the room; I could hardly make out anything.
"You're a healer…?" someone whispered.
"I am… But I can't do healing for free… You see my daughter is getting to tall for her kimono and she needs a warm one for the winter… And well… I need a warmer one as well…" I blushed because I had started to ramble.
"I see…" the person coughed. "If you are really a healer than I shall reward you with enough fabrics to make you and your daughters not only kimonos for the winter but also michiyukis and kimonos for the summer."
I bowed my head. "What may I do to help you…?"
"I am very sick and I do not have an heir… if you can heal me you will be greatly rewarded."
I nodded and looked at the man. He was indeed gravely ill… I took a deep breath and tried to think of a way to heal the man. I laid my hand on his shoulder and yanked away; something inside him lashed out at me.
"What… What are you…?" I cradled my hand against my chest as if it had been burnt.
The man chortled. "So… You've figured it out… Too bad… now I'll have to kill you…"
I jerked away from him and hit the wall behind me, he grabbed my arm.
"Let me go!" I cried as I tried to pull away.
Sesshoumaru… Help…
The man smirked and yanked me hard, knocking off my michiyuki; thank god it was dark…
"No… Please…" I cried. I couldn't think there was no way I could try and control myself now.
He smirked and shoved me to the ground, yanking lose my obi. He grabbed my breast and squeezed; I screamed. "Mm… Their nice and firm…" He mumbled.
I started to cry, I was shaking uncontrollably…
Sesshoumaru…
"Kaori!" Sesshoumaru yelled as one wall broke and fell away.
"Sesshoumaru!" I cried.
The man was suddenly ripped off of me and thrown against the side wall.
"Are you hurt…?" Sesshoumaru asked as he knelt next to me.
I shook my head as I tried to keep my kimono closed. "There's a demon in him…" I murmured.
"What's going on in here…?" someone shouted as the doors were opened.
Sesshoumaru had my michiyuki over my shoulders before anyone could see anything.
The people took in the whole scene… Their master against one wall, Sesshoumaru hovering over me and me halfway undressed…
"You." Someone snapped. "Get away from her."
Sesshoumaru began to move and I grabbed his arm. "Don't leave me…" I begged as tears filled my eyes.
He smiled at me rewrapping and tying my kimono around my waist then helping me to my feet.
I turned to the people while still holding onto Sesshoumaru. "I think you need to get a priest for your lord… I maybe a healer but whatever is in him won't be fixed with a simple healing…" I looked up at Sesshoumaru. "Let's go… We can find Rin a winter kimono somewhere else."
"Wait…" I woman called as she forced her way through the crowd. "I'm sorry for what happened… Please… let me make it up to you… What did he promise to give you to help him…?"
I smiled at her. "It's alright, we can to elsewhere."
"No please. What is it?"
"Well… My daughter needs a kimono for the winter months and maybe a michiyuki…" I murmured.
"And yourself? Don't you need something warmer…?"
"As long as my daughter can be warm that's all I care about…" I smiled slightly.
"If you bring her here we can get her the right size."
"Your daughter…?" Sesshoumaru whispered in my ear.
"Would you go get her Sesshoumaru-san…?" I smiled up at him.
He nodded slightly and took off returning a few minutes later with Rin.
"She's very pretty." The woman smiled at Rin.
"Rin-chan this nice lady is going to help you get a kimono for the winter."
Rin smiled and followed the lady.
As we waited Sesshoumaru looked down at me. "Your daughter…?" he asked again.
I smiled. "It was the only thing I could think of."
Moments later Rin came running around the corner wearing a lovely dark blue kimono; she was smiling happily.
"You look lovely." I smiled as I stood to see her. "Are you warm now?"
She nodded. "It's so pretty!!"
The woman came around the corner carrying a few stacks of cloth. "These are for you and your lovely daughter… I hope you can forgive us for what happened."
I bowed to her and took the cloth. "Thank you very much."
With that we left.
At least now I knew Rin would be warm for the winter months.