Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Inuyasha - everything belongs to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
A/N: Thanks to all who gave me feedback for the last chapter! I'm not sure how happy I am with this, so any and all comments are appreciated. :) Also with my writing style - I'm having issues with worrying about being too long-winded or descriptive; is that good, or bad? Unique or annoying? Advice, anyone? :/ Un-beta'd, as usual - all mistakes are my own.
&&&
4. of rain
When she wakes, it's raining. The world comes back in a blur of green and brown and grey and Kagome blinks, waiting for it to resolve into something of meaning. The memories of the fight with the oni return sluggishly, one by one until she has the whole story laid out in front of her in black and white.
White.
From the corner of her eye, she catches a flash of it, crisp against the confusion. Everything comes into focus. She's lying under a large tree, kept dry beneath the shade of its spreading branches. And propped against its trunk is...
"Sesshoumaru..."
"Miko."
The background hum of the falling rain makes her feel woozy, but she sits up anyway, steadying herself with a hand on the grass. One idea shoves itself urgently to the front of her thoughts.
"... Rin-chan?"
"My ward is safe. She is currently collecting water from the lake with Jaken."
"Ah..."
The wind brushes through her hair.
"You do not ask after your own injuries, miko?"
There is a faint hint of curiosity in his voice. Kagome wants to look at him and see if it translates into his expression, but her neck aches and she is perfectly satisfied watching the rain coat the grass.
"I'm alive, aren't I? I don't think I have to worry as long as I'm not laid out on the ground and bleeding out."
"... hn."
She does glance over at him this time, and he is watching her with what could be described as interest - at least, in context of the youkai doing the watching.
"Isn't it true?"
Sesshoumaru doesn't answer, but considers her for a while before looking away to the lake. She assumes that their conversation - not that it was much of one to start with - is over, and takes stock. Her arms and legs are bruised from her fall. Her ribs ache, though not enough to restrict her. As for her head... She prods gingerly at her temple; it stings. She winces, and brushes against what feels like dried blood.
'There must be a cut there. I'll have to find a plaster and be careful to cover it with my hair. If Inuyasha asks questions, there'll be trouble... Oh no, Inuyasha!'
"Sesshoumaru, do you know what time it is?"
He looks at her with his usual stoic indifference.
"Nearing sunset."
"Oh... erm, I'm sorry, but I think I need to leave. Inuyasha and the rest of my friends are expecting me back by this evening, so..."
Something in his gaze sharpens.
"You will wait for Rin to return."
She mimics a goldfish, mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Who is he to order her around? She spent most of the day unconscious because she saved his ward from an oni! Luckily, he is saved from her temper (and she, more luckily, from provoking his) by the appearance of a gleeful Rin.
"Kagome-onee-chan! You're awake! Rin is so happy!"
She finds herself with an armful of sopping wet girl before she can blink. Her bruises burn as she hugs back, arms winding tightly around the small body pressed against her.
"I'm glad you're all right, Rin-chan! Did you make it to the camp like I told you?"
"No - Rin met Sesshoumaru-sama on the way. He made me go back to the beach while he came and helped you." The girl leans forward, whispering conspiratorially. "He was very angry."
"Rin."
The girl snaps to attention in her lap.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Go and collect the miko's belongings."
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
As Rin jumps to her feet, Jaken enters the safety of the tree accompanied by the two-headed dragon, laden with belongings.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I have returned!"
"Start a fire, Jaken."
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Watching him co-ordinate his two followers like a small army forces her to stifle a giggle in her sleeve. The action is so... Sesshoumaru. Jaken glares at her, muttering something about 'insolent wenches'. The lord in question merely looks over, bored, before returning to supervise the troops.
A few moments later, Rin charges back around the tree. The girl is wielding her bow and rather tatty quiver in one hand, and in the other...
Her pack?
Where the hell did they get that from? She'd left it with Inuyasha and the others in case they needed to use the first aid kit, and yet the large, ugly yellow thing currently half-hanging from Rin's shoulder is definitely hers.
Kagome doubts that Jaken and Rin possess the capacity to be stealthy, so she turns to the silent Sesshoumaru.
"How did you get my pack?!"
The youkai lord turns, one eyebrow raised in the utterly predictable 'you dare to question this Sesshoumaru?' expression.
"It isn't difficult to steal from the half-breed."
She really should take offence on Inuyasha's behalf for that comment, but Kagome is too relieved at the prospect of a change of clothes and some bandages to protest properly. She nods shortly and liberates her pack from Rin, setting it down on the dry ground. The girl presents her bow and quiver almost reverently, but her eyes are apologetic.
"Rin couldn't find any of your arrows, Kagome-onee-chan. But here's the other things you dropped. Thank you very much for saving me."
Kagome feels her heart melt, and she pulls the girl into an awkward one-armed hug.
"Hey, Rin-chan, don't worry about it. That's what friends do, right? And it was really Sesshoumaru who saved both of us."
From over Rin's shoulder, she catches the youkai lord looking at them speculatively. She pulls back and pats the girl on her head.
"Now, I'm going to get changed and patch myself up, and then I have to go back to my other friends."
She hopes Sesshoumaru won't contradict her if she tells Rin directly. Happily, he doesn't. Good.
"But, Kagome-onee-chan, why can't you stay?"
Rin's bereft expression reminds of her younger brother, asking when she'll be back from the past. And, oddly enough, Inuyasha, when he tries to make her stay in the Feudal Era. Both of them are more bratty than Rin, but the same principles apply. Which means that it's time for some reassurance.
"I have an important job to do, Rin-chan, and a big mistake to make up for. Plus, I don't think Sesshoumaru-sama would be too happy if I hung around all the time, do you?"
Kagome takes the daiyoukai's silence as agreement. She can still feel him watching her as she pulls the crestfallen Rin to her chest for another hug.
"Smile, Rin-chan. I'm sure I'll see you again soon."
The girl sniffs.
"All right, Kagome-onee-chan..."
Kagome nods encouragingly. After one last ruffle of Rin's hair, she scoops up her pack. Hiding a quiet wince as the world swims, she circles around the tree to change clothes in privacy. Off with the blood-stained uniform, and on with an emergency skirt and top. Her skin stretches thin over her bruises, and her head throbs when she moves too quickly; Kagome really doesn't really feel like travelling - but she has to get back to her friends before they start to suspect. They aren't too far from Kaede's village, and she did promise to return before sunset. Staying with Sesshoumaru is definitely out of the question.
Feeling better for fresh clothes, she walks back around the tree. Rin is propped against the dragon, about to fall asleep. And Sesshoumaru...
'Is he... looking at my clothes? I suppose he's never really seen anything else aside from kimono, so...'
"Erm... I'll be going now."
His eyes meet hers, unreadable. As such, he remains silent. She smiles brightly.
"Thank you very much for saving me from the oni. Good-bye, Sesshoumaru."
Kagome bows, and leaves, walking out into the rain.
'Damnit... left my umbrella at home...'
&&&
Sesshoumaru watches her go, a little perplexed.
'Surely, she expects something in return for saving Rin...?'
Clearly not. But his honour demands. Somehow, the death of the miko is a responsibility he wants resting in his hands. The reversal of opinion is strange. He was all too willing to kill her before. But now? If he were given the opportunity?
He doesn't know.
The feeling of 'not knowing' is uncomfortable. He has never 'not known' before. The novelty of it disturbs him, so Sesshoumaru resolves to comprehend the subject with all due speed. He glances over at the sleeping Rin, recalling the scent of her terror as he came upon her in the forest, fleeing under the orders of the miko. This inevitably leads on to a memory of the woman in question, choking in the grip of the oni.
Something compels him to ensure her safety; the lone figure walking in the rain, innumerable youkai hiding in the forest... He ignores it, searching for the reason behind the tightness in his chest.
'She is not pack, by any stretch of the imagination. I owe her no affiliation. ... But Rin would be upset if anything unfortunate befell the miko. And she is worthy of protection for rescuing Rin. Therefore, she will be placed under the guardianship of the Western Lands.'
Instinct satisfied, Sesshoumaru stands.
"Jaken - watch the camp."
He disappears into the trees without waiting for an answer. By the time he returns, there are twenty less youkai in the world, and she has reached her group safely.
'Rin will be pleased.'
With that thought, he settles down to watch his small pack for the night.
&&&
Written for Shard 13, 'rain', at LJ Comm 30shards. Thanks for reading, and all feedback is appreciated.