Disclaimer- I do not own nor did I create Inuyasha, that honor belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Hentai- basically means pervert, if you didn't know already

Chapter Three- The Brother No One Spoke Of

Rin made her way silently down the hall of the recreation center, feeling slightly nervous. She twisted the handle of her small purple duffel bag, where her gym clothes, shoes, and a water bottle were currently packed in. At the moment she was dressed in a pair of old blue jeans, a loose t-shirt, and a pair of white slip on shoes.

It had said on the leaflet that they would be meeting in the weight room, in Room 110. Rin had only been to the recreation center a few times, having come to visit Souta when he was an assistant coach for a soccer team for boys ages eight and under.

At the center there was a gym, which was located adjacent to the office where you would sign your children up for special activities. Across from the main office, there was a long hallway, with eleven rooms and two bathrooms on each side.

Rin made her way down the hallway, glancing over the doorway of each room, reading the numbers. The second room on her right, which was past the first girls' washroom, was occupied by perhaps twelve young boys; none of them seemed to be over the age of nine.

The door was halfway open and Rin paused, glancing at the watch wrapped around her wrist. She was about ten minutes early, so she had time to change into her gym clothes and have a peek at what the boys were doing.

The instructor was a man, tall for someone of Japanese descent (standing at a little over six feet). He had broad shoulders and a burly figure, but he seemed to be in between his late teens and early twenties. Dark, shoulder-length hair was tied back into a high ponytail and he was clothed in black. She did not have a good view of his face.

He was kneeling on one knee, adjusting the position of one boy's stance before nodding and standing up. Rin let a small smile cross her face as she left, in search for the room she was supposed to be at.

The room was further down the hall, the last one residing on the right side. Rin entered it, immediately spotting Sango as the pregnant woman adjusted equipment.

"Oh, Sango-chan, are you sure you should be doing that?" she asked in concern, walking briskly towards the older woman. Sango turned, slightly startled, but she smiled.

"You're like everybody else, Rin-chan," she grinned, "but don't worry, I'm not an invalid yet."

Rin giggled, glancing around the room to see no one else there. She moved to a far corner of the room, the one farthest away from the door.

"Ah, I'll just change here," she told Sango. "Can you make sure no one comes in while I'm in the middle of dressing?"

Sango nodded, not glancing at Rin, with her hands on her hips. She inspected every piece of equipment with her lips pursed.

"Hmm," she grunted. "I'll need Kohaku to set that one up for me, it's too heavy for me without hurting my back."

"Kohaku?" Rin questioned, pulling the white sweater over her head.

"Yes, my brother, remember?" Sango said with an eyebrow slightly raised. "He's helping me with this, so I don't 'overwork' myself," she finished with a roll of her eyes. "Oh, hello, Shiori-chan!"

Rin looked towards the doorway and grinned at the hanyou girl. Shiori was very nice, but she was also very shy and timid; it was most likely because of her mixed heritage. Rin knew that Inuyasha was slightly uncomfortable being half-demon, although he handled the matter in an entirely different manner than Shiori did.

Shiori smiled back at her, her lavender eyes bright. Already she was dressed in her gym clothes, her white hair pulled back and away from her tanned face.

A few girls had arrived after Shiori, although it was not yet the designated time that they would begin. Although not very good friends with Souten, Rin was glad that the thunder demon had decided to come too.

The girls stood in a circle to the side, and they talked about things in general before Sango said, "Oh, there you are, Kohaku! I need you to move this for me."

All the girls, Rin included, snapped their heads towards the doorway, whispering. He had changed out of his light, black clothing to a pair of black workout pants that buttoned up the side and a gray muscle shirt. Kohaku had stridden to his sister, to where she indicated to an exercise bicycle.

"You shouldn't strain yourself, Sango," he was telling his sister softly, noticing how she was rubbing her lower back with a slight grimace. Effortlessly, he lifted the bike and moved it to the spot where she silently pointed.

"He is very good looking," Shiori admitted quietly to Rin, and Rin nodded, although she still had not caught a very good look at his face.

Sango had then designated people to a certain task, on what her opinion of their own pace should be. It was then that Jun had entered, with three of her friends.

Rin had never liked Jun in the few years that she had known her. Jun had always bragged on having the best things and having a lot of money; Rin lived with a man whose family was swimming in it, but she had never exploited the fact.

Sango had set Jun, Souten, and a few other girls at a higher pace, Rin noticed. It was most likely because those girls participated in sports, with Jun playing softball and Souten just about all of the sports. Rin had a suspicion that the demon-girl trained with her older brothers.

Rin had completed her task of pushups, lunges, weightlifting, stretching, crunches, and sit-ups. Although it was near the end of the hour, Sango said that she could not leave until she had ten minutes of running a mild pace on the treadmill. Sweaty and aching slightly, Rin nodded in slight reluctance as she shuffled her way towards the only open treadmill. Jun occupied the one right next to hers.

Rin had started the first five minutes off at a nice, steady pace, until she heard Jun laughing to her right.

"You're not getting tired, yet, are you, Rin-chan?" Jun sneered, running at a pace that outstripped Rin's.

Rin scowled, setting the machine at a higher level just to prove to Jun that she was not weak. Although this, she soon realized, was a mistake, as she soon had a stitch grow at her side. She breathed, feeling like a fish as her cheeks puffed out at each exhale. Jun's derisive laughter rang in her ears.

Suddenly, she felt the movement under her feet slow, and she glanced up, almost coming to a standstill when she saw Kohaku standing there, his hand on the settings. Without realizing, she stumbled back slightly, but his large hand had wrapped around her forearm, the other reaching around to yank the key free from the switch. It had saved Rin from flying off of the machine.

"Don't overwork yourself," Kohaku said softly, but his voice held no weakness in it. "You'll do more damage than good. Here," he turned off the machine completely, "I think you've had enough for today. Go drink some water." He turned to Jun. "You may go now, too."

Without another word, he walked passed them, grabbing a towel hanging on the wall and a clear spray bottle with a blue nozzle. Rin watched as he began to wipe down the equipment. After a few moments as Sango said goodbye to some of the leaving students, she joined him, shifting some of the weights back to where they were.

Now that she had a close up sight of his face, Rin was forced to admit that he wasn't hard on the eye. He resembled Sango in a way, although his features were darker and sharper. His brow was heavier, his eyes a darker shade of brown, and his hair and skin were a darker tone also. The most peculiar thing about his features was the light spattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks; it gave him a slight boyish look.

Wordlessly, Kohaku shoved the towel and bottle into his sister's hands, and took upon the task she was performing earlier himself.

"Miroku will be angry if he finds out you are lifting heavy objects in you condition," he said quietly.

"Oh Miroku can sod off," Sango said good naturedly, a small smile forming at her lips as she hung the towel back on the wall and replaced the spray bottle on the shelf over it.

"Rin, are you still here?" Sango asked in surprise as she spotted that the younger girl was still in the room. "Do you need a ride home?"

Rin was about to decline, but decided not to after some hesitation. "Yes, thank you. It would be best not to bother Sesshoumaru-sama right now. He's not very happy with me doing this in the first place."

"Oh he's just being difficult," Sango waved off, bending down with only slight difficulty as she went to retrieve her bag of supplies. "Well, come on then, you shouldn't keep him waiting."

Rin sighed in exasperation as she watched Shippou doze off in the desk in front of her, emanating soft snores that could scarcely be heard.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class and the school day.

Rin poked her kitsune friend in the back, but had to prod him harder to wake him up. His spine snapped straight and he shouted, "I didn't let the monkeys loose!"

Rin raised an eyebrow, giggling behind her hand. "Shippou, how are you ever going to learn the English language if you are going to sleep through all of the lessons?"

He turned to face her, rubbing the sleep from his bright green eyes. "Well, I could always get notes from you," he said suggestively. Rin sighed, smacking him playfully in the shoulder before shouldering her backpack, grinning.

"Fine, I'll teach you all you've missed," she said, wagging a finger at him. "But you better start taking your own notes and paying attention, mister, because I will get fed up."

He stood as well, and grinned. "Rin? Fed up? Never!"

"Hey!" he said as they walked together out of the school. "Let's go visit Sango's girls, we haven't seen them in awhile!"

Rin nodded, enthused by the idea. "Alright! Let's hurry and catch the bus then."

The bus trip was only ten minutes, and when they got off on the next stop, they walked the four blocks it took to get to Sango's humble home.

"That Jun was spouting out nonsense again today," Shippou told her as they walked up the sidewalk leading towards the front door of Miroku and Sango's home. "She said something about, "I'll have him in my bed by the end of the month at the latest," I don't know who she was talking about, but she sounded sure of it."

Rin snorted, disgusted. "She disgraces herself. I feel sorry for the poor boy she's making the advances to," she paused at the door, knocking twice and awaited an answer. Shippou chuckled.

"That's why I try to seduce the sweet girls," he smirked, a fang overlapping his lower lip, "Satsuki, Koume…"

"Pig," Rin said, only half-heartedly.

The door swung open, revealing a surprised Miroku with slightly mussed hair. He grinned at them good-naturedly however, when he saw them.

"Well what a pleasant surprise," he said cheerfully, stepping back fully to allow them to pass through the doorway. "I just put Haru down for her nap, and Kohaku is watching TV with Sakura. If you'll just venture forth into the living room?"

He swept an arm out in front of him, gesturing them to go forward. Rin giggled; it sounded as if Miroku promised that the journey would be a grand adventure.

"Kohaku?" Shippou leaned towards Rin slightly, whispering in questioningly in her ear.

"Sango's brother," Rin supplied an answer. Shippou nodded, frowning slightly.

Sitting on the corner of the crème colored sofa in the living room was Kohaku, with Sakura nestled next to him, her wide eyes fixated on the television. Kohaku only spared them a glance, before his attention drifted back to the cartoon displayed on the screen.

Shippou coughed into his fist. "Ahem," he tried to gain Kohaku's attention. The other man's brown gaze shifted back to Shippou, but he didn't say anything.

"Shippou," he said, bowing and then sticking out his clawed hand for Kohaku to shake. Kohaku's eyes slid to it before they reverted themselves back to Shippou's face, and silently Kohaku shook his hand.

"Kohaku," he supplied his name, dropping the demon's hand quickly, his attention back to the cartoon.

"Shh!" Sakura complained, a small delicate digit pressed firmly to her lips. They immediately fell into an uneasy silence.

"Oh!" Rin said suddenly, realizing something. "I better call Sesshoumaru-sama to let him know where I am or he will be angry with me."

"What the dog demon doesn't know won't hurt him," Miroku said in a singsong voice, carrying a tray perched with lemonade and setting it on the coffee table.

"I don't like lying to him, Miroku-sama," Rin argued.

The monk smiled kindly at her. "And that is why you are a better person than most, Rin-chan. I could not say the same for most of Tokyo."

"Like you, for instance?" said Sango behind them, coming from the adjacent hallway that led to the bathroom. She was wearing comfortable fitting clothes and was toweling dry her damp, long dark brown hair.

Miroku had the dignity to look hurt. "My dear Sango, you wound me with your false accusations."

"Lecherous, manipulating, conniving, thieving, hentai…" Sango muttered under her breath, taking a seat in the unoccupied armchair.

Her husband adopted an expression of pure innocence, closing his eyes and holding his hand out in front of him, as if in prayer. "I do not have any inclination of what you are talking about. I am but a humble servant of Buddha."

"When it's convenient," she added in a dark mutter, casting him a fierce glare. He did his best to look affronted at her attitude towards him.

"What did I do to deserve such treatment from one so lovely and enchanting?" he asked her, raising his eyebrows in question.

"Try having found out your husband was tapping into your neighbor's cable," Sango growled. "I disconnected it, by the way. And if you do something like that again I swear I'll twist your—get that perverted look off of your face!"

Miroku quickly wiped his face carefully blank. "I think I will drive Shippou and Rin-chan home, they're family must be worried."

He coughed slightly; standing up quickly, he pecked Sakura on top of the head and swiftly left the room, jangling his car keys in his hand.

On the drive back, Miroku struck up a conversation with them. "I heard Inutaisho-sama is planning a get-together dinner for Sesshoumaru's and Kagura's anniversary."

Rin grinned. "Oh yes; he did invite you, didn't he?"

"Yep," Miroku answered, "along with Kagome's family and you too, Shippou. We've asked Kaede-sama to watch the girls, since she's become such a valued family friend."

Rin smiled widely; she adored the old woman and was quite fond of her. A sudden idea struck her thoughts. "Oh, Miroku, you should tell Kohaku-san he must come, too!"

Miroku's smile faded slightly, but it did not completely leave his face. It was slightly troubled, but after a few moments of silence, he said, "I will, of course, tell him that he's most welcome, but don't count on him being there. Kohaku's not big into social gatherings, even if they are family friends."

"Oh," Rin moaned, disappointed. "That's too bad, then. But he's still very welcomed, I'll mention the idea to Izayoi, she's very persuasive."

Miroku threw his head back and laughed, quickly swerving the car (at Shippou's panicked exclamation) out of the path of another, since he had allowed it to drift in the opposite lane in his few moments of distraction.

"Yes, Izayoi-sama can be very persuasive. I remember a few instances when Inuyasha and I were younger—she got us out of a few scrapes with his father," Miroku sighed. "Sweet, wonderful woman, bless her. If she wasn't married and if I hadn't met my dear Sango, I would have fallen in love with her. I continuously tried to get a kiss from her when we were teens (and I still do)…I got as far as the cheek."

Rin stifled a giggle. "But she's much older than you!"

He gave her a wry smile, turning into her street. "Age doesn't much matter when you're in love, Rin. What would you think as an acceptable age difference for you?"

Her face puckered in thought. "Well, I wouldn't have to say more than two years older or younger—for me, that is. I know you're three years older than Sango-chan, and you're perfect for each other."

Miroku looked ridiculously happy with that last statement. "Yes, I suppose we are," he murmured softly.

"Would you just leave me alone about it!" Kohaku's yell was slightly muffled, as he was towel drying his hair in the bedroom.

"Because you don't go out at all, Kohaku," Sango said firmly. "You won't let Miroku be a friend to you, you won't even let me be a friend to you; you're only friend is a three-year old girl."

"So you want me to mingle with a demon family?" Kohaku retorted sarcastically as he tossed the damp towel to a corner of his room, staring at his older sister defiantly before he crossed the room to look for a shirt.

"Better than having intellectual conversations with a toddler," Sango snapped back, putting her hands on her hips. "Please just go for me, at least, Kohaku."

Kohaku pulled a white t-shirt over his head. "I'm not a people-person, Sango."

"I know that," her face and voice softened. "But these are family friends. I'm not asking you to meet strangers."

"They are strangers," he said tensely, slamming the dresser drawer shut.

"You know the Higurashi family," Sango said, "You've met Shippou before, and Rin."

"Oh, so I should start hanging out with sixteen-year old teenagers now?" Kohaku turned to her with an angry look in his eyes, but with a huff, he turned and strode towards his bed, collapsing horizontally across it. "I'm twenty-one."

"They're closer to seventeen than they are to sixteen," Sango explained logically, moving over to sit on the edge of the bed. She reached out and pushed back the shorter damp locks from his forehead. He turned his head away. "Please, please just do it for me, Kohaku. It hurts me so much to see you so lonely."

"I'm not lonely," but, even to Kohaku, the denial sounded weak to his ears. Sango caressed his forehead again, smoothing her hand back into his hair.

"You are," she told him gently and not unkindly, "You are lonely. Please, I'm asking you to go. They're good people, and they're hard to feel uncomfortable around. Please go. For at least my happiness if not for your own."

He turned to lie on his right side, his back facing her. He exhaled a loud breath of air. "Fine. I'll go."

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Kohaku- 21

Jun- 18

Shiori- 17