Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any creations of Rumiko Takahashi. This is not written for profit.

Author's notes: One Armed Samurai is the story of a modern Sesshomaru and how he deals with life as a man with one arm. His mother has sent him to the Elmview Clinic where he meets a young girl named Rin. I have tried to maintain a realistic Japanese setting but all dialogue will be written from an American perspective. There will be sign language in this chapter, but it is American Sign Language, not Japanese. Also, don't take gardening advice from me!

Chapter 8: Unquestioning Obedience

Three weeks had passed and the seeds had become tiny green shoots. The small leaves were reluctant to unfurl, staying small yellowish tendrils on top of the dark soil. Sesshomaru smiled as he lifted each small cup back onto the highest shelf. Rin did not trust him not to drown the things after the first evening, so she stood below with an eye dropper handing the seedling up to him. "Should we re-pot them? They are getting bigger"

Rin shook her head 'no'. She held up two fingers then dragged them across her open left palm.

"Two weeks?"

Rin nodded and handed the last cup up to the tall boy. He had been nicer lately. He didn't scowl as much, and he would stay at the breakfast table longer in the morning. Rin liked Sesshomaru- Fuyu was afraid of him, and the nurses respected him. He didn't yell at her and he didn't sneak up on her. Yes, Rin decided, she liked this Sesshomaru very much.

Grinning up at him the girl pointed out the window, and pointed to the both of them. Sesshomaru smiled his accent. On Saturdays when the common rooms were filled with visiting families Sesshomaru and Rin would sneak into the back woods. Sesshomaru enjoyed the peace and Rin never seemed to get lost. They would wander for hours if the sun was out, the glare off the snow sometimes blinding them. Sesshomaru had noticed the girl humming from time to time as they walked, skipping in the beginning, then walking beside him as the snow melted into her canvas sneakers.

Today the sun was overhead, but seemed to give off no heat. Their breath floated visible in the air, and even through his black leather boots Sesshomaru could feel the cold seeping in. Rin trudged ahead, running her hands across the brown steams of last year's flowers.

"Rin"

She didn't respond, continuing on a path only she knew. She looked back after a few moments, smiling that ridiculously large grin at him. Sesshomaru inclined his head backwards, suggesting they head back. Rin looked back to the path, then down at her shoes. Sighing inaudibly she turned around to walk beside him on the path back to Elmview.

They walked in companionable silence. Sesshomaru had never been one for small talk. The girls at his boarding school had seemed to think that made him mysterious. Adults tended to think he was either very respectful or very rude, depending. In truth he could never think of anything inane to say. If something were worth commenting on he would. If he wanted information he would ask. But chattering just to fill the silence? It wasn't something he could do. There were times he wished he knew the skill, the time when uncomfortable silences would stretch between himself and his step-mother, or worse, between himself and his father. Yet wrack his brain as he could he could never come up with anything worth saying. So he had learned to set his face and act as if he didn't want to talk. So far it had worked.

Rin had run ahead, her garish (and oversized) pink coat contrasting with the snow. Sesshomaru's crisp footprints obliterated the trail she had made. There was the echo of a dog barking to the west. He felt the wind whip his empty left sleeve against the back of his heavy wool coat. He was glad he had pinned it up, he didn't want to think about the breeze would feel like blowing into his coat. Rin had decided to climb yet another tree and Sesshomaru stood silently nearby waiting for her to finish. She fell back into the snow with an ungraceful plop. Brushing herself off Rin darted ahead.

The clinic was within sight, the parking lot still half full with visiting cars. Sessshomaru could hear the barking getting closer. Rin was still rushing around the corner of the south porch. Making his voice as loud and deep as possible Sesshomaru shouted "Rin! Don't Move!"

Rin stood stock still, her feet planted in the snow. Sesshomaru was running as fast as he could but the snow was deep and hard to rush through. He was just behind Rin as Fuyu's dog came around the building, off his leash and angry. Sesshomaru pulled the back of Rin's coat towards him, pulling her to the ground as gently as he could while turning to give the dog less of a target. The dog's teeth locked onto his empty coat sleeve, shaking his muzzle back and forth trying to drag Sesshomaru to the ground. Sesshomaru felt a growl building in his throat. He dug his fingers into the scruff the things neck, hearing his coat shred as he pulled it away.

"Fuyu! You get a leash on that menace before he hurts- Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru stared evenly at Saitou as he flung the beast to the slush. The thing whined then ran off back to the clinic.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes. Perhaps I should be glad there was nothing there for him to rip off."

Saitou's smile faltered at his bad joke as she noticed the pink half buried in the snow. Rin hadn't moved since Sesshomaru had pushed her to the ground, her face cushioned by ice crystals. Saitou rushed forward. "Rin! Did the dog-"

"Rin. You can get up now."

Rin's head popped up from the snow bank just as Saitou knelt beside her. She smiled shakily at Sesshomaru, tear tracks still wet on her raw cheeks. She nodded slightly to Nurse Saitou, accepting her help up from the snow. Bowing deeply to Sesshomaru she continued on her way indoors. "Is she alright?"

"Yes . I believe so."

Sesshomaru fingered the rip in his coat and tried not to think about what had just happened. That creature had been out for blood, that much was certain. But why had he felt so protective of that girl? Yes, they were acquaintances, but, this feeling… And she had obeyed him without thinking. What did-

"..so I just told her to wait in the visiting room by reception. Sesshomaru? Are you listening?'

"No. I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"You mother is here to visit. That why I came out to get you."

Sesshomaru paused, slightly stunned. His mother? Here? How long had he been here? Three months? And not a single visit. A phone call to see if he had checked in correctly, and that was the last he had heard from her. But there she was, inside, in the most uncomfortable sitting room in the place. Ridiculous.

Sesshomaru shook himself out of his reverie. "Yes, thank you. I will go see her now."

Saitou starred after him. The kid had just saved the only person he talked to in the place from a dog attack, learned the mother he hadn't spoken to in months was inside, and his face hadn't formed any expression at all.

A/N: SeshhMom! Also, this is meant to show how obedient Rin is, not necessarily that Sesshomaru saved her life. I'm hoping for a more dramatic moment for that. Hope you liked!