A/N: What the hell…I guess it wouldn't hurt to post another one before I pass out on my step dad's laptop. :)
Disclaimer: God forbid I ever own something like Inu Yasha. Everything would be covered in drool! ;)
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Naoko left the onsen with a pained smile and an old wooden comb. She wore a pale blue sleeping yukata as she padded softly towards Rin's room. She entered the room silently and sat beside the sleeping child.
Freeing her hair from its heavy braid, she gently combed through it. It was something her mother used to do when she slept as a child. Seeing Inu Yasha and Kagome together reminded her of her parents. It was just too nostalgic.
The soft flutter of her hair had Rin stirring awake. "Mm…Where am I?" She sat up and looked down at her clawed hands in shock. "What happened…?"
Taking pity on the girl, she began explaining the child situation: "Listen closely, kodomo. Something extremely rare has occurred through you and Lord Sesshomaru. All the days you spent by his side exposed you to his demonic aura. Tell me, have you ever had an open wound when he was nearby?"
The child stared at her hands. "Uh-huh. When I was attacked by wolves, Master Jaken said that Lord Sesshomaru brought me back to life with the Tenseiga." She looked up at the older demon. "So am I…a demon too?"
Unsure of how to reply, Naoko nodded.
Rin's eyes lit up with pure joy and she cried tears of happiness. "So I'll live forever? Forever with Lord Sesshomaru?" Again, the other woman nodded, "Hai. Why is this so important to you, kodomo?" Naoko patted her lap and Rin took a seat in front of her.
"A while back ago, I asked Lord Sesshomaru if he would remember me if I died. He said not to as such ridiculous questions. I think he was worried. But now he doesn't have to."
Naoko grinned. Whether Sesshomaru liked it or not, this pup saw him as her father. Putting down the comb, she took Rin by the hand and stood. "Come, Rin. Don't you want to explore my castle?"
"Hai!" She wiped her eyes and ran to the door, but came to a halt and turned back around. "Gomen, but I don't know your name."
"Naoko. Now Rin, it's very late so we have to be extra quiet." She tapped a finger on Rin's nose and winked. Rin understood perfectly.
"Race you!" She took off running down the hall, her laughter following after her. Naoko smirked and caught up with ease. This was going to be a long night.
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Sunlight streamed through the balcony, bathing them in golden light. They lay facing each other, twin smiles on their faces as they slept peacefully.
A smile found its way upon his own face while he watched them. It was early afternoon and he had to be going. If only Sesshomaru actually knew where he was going, then he would go.
He could leave Rin with Naoko, but last night's conversation gave him second thoughts.
"I'll live forever? Forever with Lord Sesshomaru?"
Even he had to admit it; Rin had become special to him. He could no longer deny the fact that every time she was in danger, he developed a paternal streak.
And there was also the matter of the Gatsuuga…
"The Gatsuuga is yours as much as it is mine."
A soft chuckle caught his attention and his gaze locked with Naoko's. "What's this? The great Lord Sesshomaru is smiling?"
His smile melted away, but he couldn't speak. The way she looked, with her teasing smile and sleep-glazed eyes had him speechless.
She was pretty sure he wasn't aware of the way his eyes softened, but it scared the crap out of her. Closing her eyes, she laid a kiss upon Rin's forehead and got up to leave. She paused before leaving the room.
"You can stay if you like. It's actually best if you do. Rin needs you." She needs her father, she added silently.
The thought had her heart clenching in pain. But she ignored it and was about to shut the door behind her when he spoke.
"We will stay until Rin adjusts to her transformation." He brushed a lock of hair away from her ear and breathed, "Thank you."
Surprised that he even thanked her at all, she turned to face him, but he was sitting at Rin's side, a clawed hand running through the child's hair. Smiling to herself, she slid the door shut and left for her own room.
He sat beside her, completely unaware of the emotion reflecting in his eyes. He knew that when Rin had been mortal, he had shied away from the one question that he wasn't ready to answer.
"If I died, would you remember me?"
It's not that he wasn't ready, but for once he didn't even know what to say. He never expected to be the caretaker of a child; that was his mate's job. Hell, he never even thought of a mate or a child! Sure, he knew he'd need an heir, but not when Naraku was out manipulating other demons. It wouldn't be long until the half-bred bastard would lure the other lords with promises of power.
Rin turned in her sleep so that her cheek nuzzled against his hand, before she rested her head against his knee. He sighed and gathered her onto his lap. He had only done this once before when she was still mute.
Her small hands clung to his kimono as she slept; it was something she did before snuggling against his tail. Expecting her to be asleep, he glanced down and found her staring up at him.
Lord Sesshomaru definitely looked different from Rin's point of view. He looked…happy. Normally, she would never use the words 'happy' and 'Lord Sesshomaru' in the same sentence unless she was saying: "I'm happy with Lord Sesshomaru." But she wasn't sure if this kind of happiness would last.
"Lord Sesshomaru…"
"Aah! Lecherous monk!"
Sango's shout had tears springing to Rin's eyes. Her hands covered her ears in pain; it was too loud for her to handle.
Sesshomaru reacted quickly; dog demons had such heightened sense that for a transformed demon liker her, anything over a normal toned voice would be absolute torture. He embraced her, moving her so that her ear rested over his heart.
"Concentrate on the sound. It's quiet. You can adjust the sound or ignore it by listening to something else." She obeyed instantly, as she always did. Or was it just her faith in him that had her so obedient? She rarely listened to what Jaken and she treated the servant like a toy.
What he didn't tell her was that she could focus on a single sound to further enhance her hearing, which was what he was doing at the moment. He found Naoko's voice, along with the monk and the demon slayer's. She was explaining Rin's condition to them, and they immediately apologized for the ruckus.
Suddenly, he sensed a presence that had a growl rumbling in his chest. He knew this scent, and by Naoko's commanding tone, she knew it too.
"Sango, Miroku, get back inside."
But—"
"Mm, yummy little ningen you got here, Naoko. I'm sure they'll taste delicious once this land is mine."
"You're a fool. You know as well as I do that to gain this land you have to either mate with me or kill me. And since you're a tiger demon, mating is out of the question."
"Bitch. I'm obviously here to kill you. That much is clear."
"Very well, then. State your terms, Sukyako."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened in shock. Sukyako was a lord from the North. He and Father used to be on bitter terms. When he thought about it, Sukyako's goal was becoming clearer. By taking the land owned by Naoko, he would then target another weaker lord until he gained control of at least a quarter of the Western Lands. That would not do.
"Only you and I. No help from anyone inside. And since we are both unarmed…" That last word came out as a snarl that sent tremors into the ground.
"What's going on?" Inu Yasha's voice.
Damn. His foolish little brother was prone to interfering in matters that didn't involve him.
"Rin. Stay here."
He ran outside before his brother's friends could get out and blocked their way. "You must not help her."
"What?! But Naoko—"
"—will have to forfeit her land if you interfere."
That had them quiet. Except for Miroku, of course.
"Why isn't she doing anything?" What a stupid question; both inu brothers didn't bother to answer.
Sukyako was enormous; he was the same size as their father in demon form. Unlike other demons, his eyes were black instead of a glowing red. With an earth-shattering roar, he dove for Naoko, who calmly stood her ground and let him come at her.
A split-second before he came within two inches of her, her demonic aura grew and she took her demon form.
Sesshomaru was impressed, even though his face didn't show it. Her transformation was so quick and flawless that if he had blinked, he would have missed it.
"Amazing. The tiger demon dwarfs Lady Naoko in size, but she has the upper hand." Sango commented with a smile. Size wasn't important here.
The black dog demon had the tiger demon's throat in its jaws, but was quickly swatted away with a swipe of a paw.
"Bitch!" Sukyako was furious. The foolish inu would not defeat him so easily.
Naoko thought otherwise.
Not giving him a chance for a counter attack, she leapt at him, aiming for his right side. She felt a slight sting on her back from his claws, but she was determined to take him down. She caught the right side of his underbelly and ripped it away with her powerful jaws.
Sukyako changed tactics and bit down on her shoulder. He threw her down and pinned her; he was expecting her to give up, but there was no way in hell she'd give him that satisfaction.
Even pinned, she didn't give up. Her claws sliced across his eyes and she bit at anything she could reach. His ear came off in a spray of blood and flesh.
His tail wrapped around a tree as he sprang back and propelled it towards her. She yelped as it made contact with her front left leg. He had her. She was limping and her eyes shone with pain.
It wasn't all that bad. Sure, it felt like her leg was dipped in a sea of fleas, but it didn't hurt that much. Practically grinning, she chomped on his tail and silently laughed at the sight of tears in his eyes. While he was distracted, her jaws clamped down on his ribs with a sickening crunch and she tossed him aside.
Sukyako was unconscious, his body transformed back into his human form. Grateful that it was over, Naoko followed suit. Her long braid had come undone and pooled around her crouched form like a blanket of silk. Her eyes still held their demonic color, but it quickly vanished as she fell forward in a pool of her own blood. The last thing she remembered was a flash of silver before her sight turned black.
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A/N: Whew! That only took…about an hour!
Review please!