Author's note: I wrote this story last year after reading a Q & A of Rumiko-sensei about Sesshoumaru visiting and bringing gifts to Rin in the village (check Atarashii Kimono in Portuguese). This year I decided to join Rin Week with an English version. I hope you like it :) Gaby (ohmygaby on Twitter) drew a fanart of Rin wearing the kimono.
I hope you enjoy reading it and that I didn't disappoint.
A new kimono
A one-shot
"Sesshoumaru-samaaaa... Sesshoumaru-samaaa..." Jaken crawled on the ground in the forest, dragging with his right hand a big bundle of high-quality linen, protecting a precious cargo, his left hand holding the Staff of Two Heads. "Sesshou... maru... sama…!"
Out of breath, the small youkai took some moments to rest, leaning against the mountain of fabric he was carrying as if it was that yellow bag that strange miko called Kagome carried everywhere. If he were a little bigger, there would be no problem getting it back and forth between lands for the third time in less than a week.
The great youkai Sesshoumaru, whom Jaken served for several decades, wanted to impress a human girl, giving her a new kimono as a gift - again. He ordered Jaken to look for the best tailors and bring what he would consider most elegant and beautiful for Rin to wear.
On the first day, he brought to his lord a dark blue kimono with embroidered hydrangea flowers in light blue at the bottom.
"No", said the great demon before turning his back to Jaken and leaving away, not even bothering to explain the reason why he refused it.
On the second time, the servant brought an emerald green kimono with printed flowers and an obi with printed cherry blossoms petals. The little servant could imagine Rin walking around in a village full of humans wearing that outfit and how happy she would be wearing it.
"No.", Sesshoumaru spoke again.
"B-But...", Jaken tried again before shutting up when he saw Sesshoumaru stop in his tracks and cast him a menacing look.
"No.", he repeated and flew away, only gods knew to where.
For that third journey, Jaken had the idea to buy six different kimonos to show to the lord, even planning to take a Mu-onna to try them in front of them. At least one would be highly appreciated. One would have the approval to be given to Rin.
Jaken took a long, weary breath. If the lord were not extremely obsessed with someone, the two would have already left to conquer a country away from the Western Lands, or at least talk about some enemy before going to the battlefield, as life was before Rin joined the small group.
But even after she stayed in a village protected by his half-brother, Lord Sesshoumaru never failed to visit the human girl. And he made sure to bring gifts to Rin – always.
However, the weeks were passing, and nothing to visit again because nothing had yet been decided about the outfit.
The problem was not Rin. He knew that she, of all people, would like them. She was a girl who was happy with any gift, especially if it came from Sesshoumaru-sama. The problem was…
"Jaken." Sesshoumaru's voice thundered somewhere near and immediately he got to his feet.
A very powerful and undecided youkai was the problem.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!", he revered him over and over again, Staff of Two Heads serving as a support to stand and hide his tiredness. "I brought what you asked for."
Sesshoumaru said nothing. He walked towards an oak tree and sat down, his back resting comfortably against the trunk.
"Show me."
Jaken carefully put the package on his head on the floor to open it in front of the great youkai.
Clearing his throat, he started theatrically:
"Allow me to show you this one ... It is made with the best fabric from the Western Lands." He showed the lord a strong pink kimono with printed white peonies that represented peace and purity.
"No."
"My lord...", Jaken was in shock. Rin would have strongly loved that piece. He admitted that she would have been happier if that one had been chosen.
Sesshoumaru reached out and started pulling one of them. "No", he threw it away.
Then he pulled out another and other two pieces, each time saying, "No. No. No."
Jaken watched everything in absolute silence.
Sesshoumaru stopped with one in hand. It was one of the kimonos that Jaken had most liked: a black fabric with different flowers printed in orange. The servant watched the lord's indifferent and thoughtful expression observing every single detail for a moment until he finally made up his mind.
"No", he finally said, throwing the piece against the servant's face.
When Jaken managed to remove the fabric from his face, he saw the lord holding another kimono: pearl-tinted with embroidered yellow flowers on the sleeves, on the obi, and bottom part of the cloth.
"T-This is one of the most sophisticated models in silk and cotton, Sesshoumaru-sama. I brought it thinking especially about Rin. I'm sure she will..."
He stopped when he saw Sesshoumaru getting up without saying a word, the lord carefully folding the fabric before turning his back on the servant.
"W-Wait, Sesshoumaru-sama...!"
More than quickly, Jaken took everything he had purchased in a burden and run after the lord, knowing they would fly in the direction of the village where Rin lived.
o-o-o-o-o
"I loved my new kimono.", said Rin, who was already wearing her gift, stretching out her arms so that Jaken and Sesshoumaru could see there was no need for adjustments.
Jaken let out a sigh of relief just to, seconds later, break out in a cold sweat when he noticed a narrowed look from his master.
"Thank you very much, Sesshoumaru-sama," the fifteen-year-old girl thanked, smiling at her former companions.
There was a meaningful exchange of glances between Rin and Sesshoumaru. She was smiling as usual. He was serious as always.
Jaken then saw Rin nodding to their lord. Anything that happened at that moment was understood only between them - a human girl and an inuyoukai.
"Come on, Jaken.", Sesshoumaru began slowly walking towards the stairs almost next to the house of the priestess Kaede, the same one that lead to the forest where the half-brother was sealed for several decades.
"Ahh… Wait for me, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Jaken fumbled a little but managed to gather the strength to carry the clothes in his little arms.
"Jaken-sama?" he stopped in his tracks when he heard Rin's voice. "How many times it was now?", she asked.
"Ahh ...", he sighed heavily and answered, "Three trips. He liked just this one.
Rin smiled.
"Thank you for your patience. And for choosing this kimono and the others."
Jaken blinked and forced the green-tipped lips to move in a smile or something else that softened his expression.
"Now, go.", she rushed him to go after their lord.
"See you, Rin," he ran holding the burden on his head, reaching the lord to grab his mokomoko.
Far away, he and the lord could hear Rin clearly saying, "See you soon, Sesshoumaru-sama! Jaken-sama! Don't forget to visit me! I'll be waiting!"
It did not go unnoticed by the little green youkai a "humph" coming from lord Sesshoumaru.