Chie: Just pointing out that everyone is a completely human here. I've hinted that, yes, but I just wanted to tell you so you surely know it. I kinda wanted Sesshy-boy to be a demon, but, I figured it was a LOT cuter if Rin would be his real daughter and not just adopted... yeah. On with the story now.

Chapter three – The babysitter

I shivered again and mumbled a few curses. I held my assault rifle close by. One thing I would never tell to my fellow cadets, though, Inuyasha already was aware of it: I had never liked dark too much. It makes me all jumpy. Everything looked scarier in the dark. Inuyasha knew this old fear of mine very well. We had been married. But he was the only one here who knew. And he didn't want to leave me alone. Miroku and Shippo were my two new friends here, along with the cook, Hojo. Miroku and Shippo seemed to understand how I felt, and tried their best to keep Inuyasha away from me. I didn't even know what he wanted from me anymore. He should be happy now. Kikyo was here and all.

The most curios thing was that at this very moment, I actually liked colonel Hidaka. Even though he had commanded me to guard the grounds this night, all because of a petty mistake. Colonel Hidaka was the mystery I had been trying to solve, ever since Rin had come into the training grounds.

I patrolled on the grounds, shivering and clutching my assault rifle closer again. I grew tired of thinking Hidaka and thus once again remembered that I was standing alone in the dark. Just why dark had to be so… dark? A shudder ran down my spine as my feet scraped on the sand.

'There's no one there', I told myself. 'No one, there's no one there, no one, no one…'

Even though I tried very hard, I still couldn't quite convince myself.

And then, from the dark, a large pale hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed it lightly. I shrieked and dropped my rifle and nearly strained my back as I turned around. My heart was pounding so fast that I was afraid it would burst right through from my ribcage. I was prepared to see a demon, a vampire, a monster, a skeleton, Inuyasha or some other horrible creature that would eat me alive. I told you that darkness makes me all jumpy. Of course, the owner of the hand was no one from the list above. I relaxed immediately as I realized it was him. Funny thing, with him there, it felt kind of safe. I then had to remind myself – several times – that I hated him.

"Cadet Higurashi, is everything all right", colonel Hidaka asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Uhh, yeah. Everything's under control, sir", I replied, bending down to pick up my assault rifle.

"I've been watching you for some time now, cadet. Are you cold?"

"No, I'm not, sir. Why so, if I may ask?"

"You were shivering the whole time."

"Uhh… That."

"And what was the point with the screaming?"

I lowered my head and my cheeks burned with embarrassment. How could I ever say to him that I had mistaken him for a zombie?

"Well, cadet? I'm waiting for your answer."

"WellI'mafraidofthedarkandthoughtthatherewouldbeInuyashaorsomeotherevilmonsterofsomekindlurkinginthedrakwantingtoeatmeorsomething", I mumbled quickly.

"Come again, Higurashi. And a little slower this time."

Why me?

"I mistook you for Inuyasha or some other evil monster lurking in the dark, sir", I managed to explain. If one could die of embarrassment, I'd be dead by now.

He was kind enough not to laugh.

No, wait a second; we're talking about colonel Hidaka. He probably can't even laugh.

"Higurashi…"

"Yes, colonel Hidaka?"

"When I commanded you on the night patrol, why didn't you tell me that you were afraid of the dark?"

I flinched.

"How could I have, sir? They would have laughed me out. They're already looking down on me to begin with."

Okay, that sounded much bitterer than I had intended to. I lowered my gaze again.

"Go to bed, Higurashi."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Do it, now!"

"Sir yes sir!" I saluted smartly and turned towards the sleeping quarters.

As I was walking away I mused how nice and kind the colonel was. But then I heard him muttering to himself.

"We shouldn't expect too much from Higurashi… After all, she's just a woman."

That... that… Chauvinist pig! I was a woman, yes. I was shorter than everyone else here, I was probably weaker too. But those facts aside, I would prove to everyone that I was just as good. I'd prove it, especially to him.

"She thinks I'm here just because of you", he told, idly combing her hair with his hand.

"She has always been a fool. I don't know why you married my cousin in the first place."

Inuyasha flinched.

It had not always been like this between Kagome and Kikyo. They had been very close, nearly like sisters. Then they reached the age of fifteen. Then they had met Inuyasha. They both were hit by a huge crush. And in the end, Kagome had won. Inuyasha had agreed to be her boyfriend and three years later he had proposed. Kikyo couldn't take it. From that moment on, she hated Kagome. Hated her for getting the one she wanted. It was unforgivable. And she was not going to forgive.

In the other hand, Kagome had never hated Kikyo that much. She despised her, maybe pitied her, but never hated her. Her hate had concentrated on Inuyasha. In the end, he had been responsible. No matter how hard Kikyo had tried to seduce him, he had had the power to refuse. But he hadn't.

"I still can't understand why my father insisted I come into these SAF-troops. He knows that Sesshoumaru is the high mighty trainer and that he loathes me. So why..."

"Maybe you lacked discipline", Kikyo suggested dryly.

"Keh", Inuyasha huffed.

"Or then he wishes for you to mature, you know, Inuyasha... You're still just a brat."

"Kikyo! How can you say that to me?"

"Because, darling, it's the truth, want it or not."

The head of the medical squad closed their distance and pressed a gentle kiss on the cadet's lips.

"You ought to go now", she advised. "You have an early awakening. Besides, if anyone catches us here, we both might get kicked out.

"Tomorrow night?"

"All right. But now go, Inuyasha."

She watched as her lover disappeared into the night.

"Five more minutes", I mumbled incoherently.

Shippo shook his head and watched how a tiny stream of drool travelled down to blotch my pillow.

"Kagome... get up now, if you'll be late..." Shippo shook me gently.

I murmured something incoherent and turned my back on him.

"Kagome, really... if your late, colonel – "

"Let me handle this", a gruff voice interrupted.

Shippo turned his head to see Inuyasha.

"Why do you insist on being close to her? Can't you see it's hurting her", Shippo hissed.

"Shut up, brat. You've only known her for a day. I know how to wake her up, do you?"

Shippo stared at him for awhile, and then huffed.

"Fine. But you may only wake her."

Inuyasha walked around the narrow bed until he was facing me. He extended two fingers, and tapped my forehead.

My eyes shot open in an instant.

"Oh Kami, did I miss the awakening! I'm so dead!"

Shippo blinked. Inuyasha stepped away from me, unnoticed.

"Ehh? What is it, Shippo", I asked when I noticed him.

"No-Nothing", he replied.

Inuyasha quietly stalked away, still unnoticed.

I slid out under my blanket. I tried my best not to think about the fact that I needed to change on the training clothes in a room full of males. Ugh.

My cheeks were flushed as I rummaged the tiny cupboard where I was allowed to keep the little I had here with me.

'Be natural. As if you weren't in a room full of men watching you, wearing only a black tank top and underpants..'

Shippo had turned his face away from my half dressed form. His cheeks were tinged with rosy pink.

I found my outfit and immediately pulled the black trousers on. I grimaced.

'I still have a bra on', I reminded myself. 'Just change the damn clothes before you're late. If you're late, colonel Hidaka will... Well, I don't even want to know what he will do.'

I changed my black tank top into that white one, as fast as I just could.

I tied my hair on a tight braid, gathered the braid and tied it in a bun and checked the bandages on my left wrist. My hand was already better, but it still ached. I wouldn't be able to do too many push ups today.

"Sixty laps, everyone! Then get back here."

'And that demon calls this as a warm up? I'm... so... dead...'

"How's your wrist, Kagome?"

"It's fine... Thanks for asking, Shippo."

"And the night patrol? I hope it wasn't too boring", Miroku smirked.

"It was far from boring", I mumbled, trying my best not to blush.

"Oh, why so?"

"I'm..." I swallowed. I couldn't say it!

"You're what", Shippo asked, frowning.

"Okay, so I'm afraid of the dark, damnit", I snapped.

"You are?"

For my surprise, the guys did not laugh. They just smiled and seemed to understand.

'Aww.. Now, if that's not sweet, then I – '

"If you have time to chit-chat", colonel Hidaka's cold loud remark echoed through the whole running track, "you're clearly not running fast enough. MOVE IT!"

I bit my lip.

Shippo took one glance at my eyes and paled.

I gathered up all my strength and sped up. I would show that arrogant – !

"You surely are foolish, Higurashi", colonel Hidaka said, shaking his head. "How am I ever going to make a soldier out of you? You're just pathetic. If that wolf bitch wouldn't have threatened me into this, I would not have to watch your ugly face."

My short fingernails dug into the skin of my palm.

'Don't let your anger show. That's what he wants.. .'

"I did say that you weren't running fast enough", the colonel admitted, "but a thing called 'common sense' is what most of people – you obviously excluded – possess. If you run that fast during a warm up, how are you going to have energy left to do the actual training?"

Okay, so I had screwed up. Again. But just why did he have to rub it in my face?

"But due to your injured wrist I doubt you could participate in the training anyway. It would be too... hard... for you."

I tasted blood in my mouth as my tooth pierced the skin in my lip. That bastard...

"I can still hold a gun, colonel."

"Cadet Higurashi, I wouldn't let you near a gun even if my life depended on it. Not as the pathetic self you are now."

Just why he had to be so cold? His words pierced through my heart, their malice staining me from within. I knew I shouldn't have let his words influence on me that much. Just somehow they managed to snake through the fragile wall around my heart.

Yes, there was a wall around my heart. It wasn't very strong, but that was because it had not been there for so long. I had always been sweet and caring. Wanting to be everybody's friend, and so I was. I may have been naïve, yes. Something Sango had said a long time ago described it very well: "There's something about you Kagome, in your nature, in your heart. You care for everyone, that's why everyone cares for you. They all adore you; they all want to protect you. Though from what, I don't know, for no one would dare to hurt you."

No one. Save for… him.

After that I had changed. A wall began to build itself around the broken remains of my heart. I did not want it to happen again. I began to hate him, I became more aggressive. My hate tainted me. I was so tough now, like that incident with Kouga. Before, I had never kicked his ass, just told him firmly no.

But now, I was tougher.

I talked back and arrogantly held the gun in my hand. I was not letting anyone to hurt be me again.

For it pained me. It hurt so much.

It's curious, how shallow human mind is. How no one saw through me. They all just saw how I had gotten stronger.

They didn't see how weak I had become. No matter how tough I acted, how foul language I used, how I well I blasted the hell out of my target with the assault rifle...

In the inside I was crying. All the time.

And then with a start I broke from my spaced out state. The colonel was watching me intently, his amber eyes narrowed into slits. I met his gaze steadily. I did not avert my gaze even though his eyes made me shudder. They were so intent, so piercing. As if he would see right through me.

I did not want that.

I did not want to be seen through... I had hid my pain so well... That's why I hadn't told even to Sango. I didn't want to make others worry. I did not want to get them involved...

The pain I felt was mine alone.

Why did the colonel seem to be reading me? Why could his eyes pierce through me like that? Before his gaze I felt the hurt, weak, scared girl I still was inside.

Yet I did not avert my eyes.

Then they changed, the weird look in their golden eyes fading, the odd naked feeling I had gain vanished. I let out an involuntary gasp. The sun heated my skin. A second ago I had been freezing.

"I have a special task for you, Higurashi", his smooth voice indicated.

It felt alien to hear him speak, after that sudden piercing gaze.

"Until your wrist heals and you are able to go on with your training, you will watch after Rin. But remember, you have a lot to catch up to after you are healed again. I expect you to work hard."

He turned his back to me and walked away.

Just what had that been…?

"Hurry up, Higurashi. I am not injured and that's why I still have to work."

I startled and raised my gaze from the ground, to see that the colonel had stopped yards away from me.

"Yes, colonel Hidaka", I replied automatically, and followed him.

"Rin."

"Ehhh..?" The girl raised her head from her meal.

"DADDY", she squealed excitedly and ran over to him, to hug his leg.

"Let go, Rin. I'm busy right now and I gotta get back to work."

"Oh", the girl sounded a bit disappointed.

"Besides, you do not run off like that when you're in the middle of dining."
"Okay."

"Rin, here's cadet Higurashi. She will look after you for awhile."

"Oooooh?" The girl's eyes brightened as she turned to look at me.

"Uh... hi?"

"Hello!" she replied cheerily and latched herself onto me leg instead of colonel's.

"Rin's name's Rin! What is your name, Lady Cadet?"

This kid… SO CUTE!

"My name's Kagome. Nice to meet you, Rin."

My heart melted then and there, in front of the sparkling white of her wide bright grin.

"Rin…"

"Yes daddy?"

"Finish your meal."
"Okay!"

She let go of my leg and padded back to the chair she had been sitting in.

"I will now go back to work. Be good."

"I will, daddy."

With a brief amber glance aimed in my way, he left.

I studied the child who was quietly eating her food. Inside, my mind was in a turmoil. What was he up to? The look of his from earlier had really crept me out and somehow I now felt... powerless before him, even more than earlier. Something had changed after that moment, but I couldn't point my finger at it.

And what was up with this baby-sitting job?

Why me? I thought he hated me. That he despised me. Then why... Why did he suddenly, just like that, entrust his daughter into my care?

'I really don't get that guy', I muttered to myself dryly.

"Kagome-sama, you don't have to stand there. Sit down here", the kid called, patting the chair next to her. "You can draw with me. You can borrow my crayons."

I couldn't help but smile.

"Okay."

I walked over her. She had put her emptied plate aside and had taken out two sheets of pure white paper and a set of crayons.

She began enthusiastically to fill the paper with drawings of colourful flowers. I smiled to myself again. This child… she reminded me of myself, when I was younger. So carefree, friendly and cheery...

"Do you like to draw, Rin?"

"Yeah! I like to pick up flowers more, though. There's a field I go to pick flowers near home... There's no flowers here, are there?"

"No... There aren't any flowers here."

"I thought so", she simply replied. Then she smiled at me. "That's why I'm drawing them. I wanted to bring here some flowers as well."

"That's a sweet thought", I commented.

"Do you like to draw?"

"Not that much. I'm not so good at it."

"It doesn't matter", the girl replied. "I can draw for you too."

"As you wish", I replied.

After the once clean paper was full of every kind of flowers, the girl put down her pencils and turned her head to look at me.

"Let's do something else now!"

I smiled and nodded.

Eight eventful hours later, I was sitting on an armchair. Rin was sitting in my lap, leaning against my chest. Her eyes were half-closed.

"…and they lived happily ever after. The end." I closed the book and set it on the side table.

"Do you live with your father too, Kagome-sama", the girl suddenly asked.

"No... I live on my own now. I used to live with my mom, little brother and grandfather though."

"Ohh... Did your mom and dad stop talking to each other too?"

"No. My father died when I was young."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear."

"It's all right."

"So you have a little brother... how old is he?"

"He's fourteen now."

"Guess what, Kagome-sama?"

"What?"

"I've always wanted a big sister", the girl confessed.

I smiled.

"I've always wanted a little sister."

"Want to be my big sister, Kagome-sama?"

I gazed into her half-open chocolate brown eyes.

"Sure. I'd be honoured, Rin-chan."

"Great! It's decided then…"

The silence fell, wrapping itself around us as a warm, comfortable blanket. I listened as Rin's breathing slowly began to even.

"Onee-chan?"

"Yes, little one?"

"You shouldn't be so sad", the girl said sincerely.

Sesshoumaru stopped his hand on the door knob.

"What do you mean", he heard the woman ask, trying to hide her surprise.

"Your eyes are sad, onee-chan. Why is that?"

"Some time ago… Someone hurt me."

"Once Rin fell out of a tree and hurt Rin's arm. They said it was broken."

"Not like that, Rin-chan. I was hurt on the inside."

"You should say to the one who hurts you that he's mean."

"I have already said that."

"Then why are you still sad?"

The woman did not answer.

"Onee-chan..."

"Yes, Rin-chan?"

"You should tell someone."

"Huh?"

"You should tell someone that you're sad. Why do you try to hide it? It doesn't go away even if you do."

Sesshoumaru's grip of the door knob tightened.

"No one… No one's meant to be alone", the child said gravely.

He heard a strangled sob.

Sesshoumaru opened the door, stepping into the room. He stopped before the sight he saw. His daughter was sitting in the cadet's lap, nearly half-asleep. The cadet was embracing her, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

"Rin."

I startled and saw colonel Hidaka standing the doorway. Hastily I wiped the tear from my cheek, hoping that he hadn't seen me cry. He already thought I was weak.

"It's time for you to go to bed."

He walked over to us and scooped the girl from my lap into his own arms.

"Okay", Rin agreed sleepily.

I stood up, starting to head to the door.

"Onee-chan."

"Yes", I asked, turning to glance at the child over my shoulder.

"Come again tomorrow. We'll play together."

I smiled at her.

"I'll come", I promise. I saluted colonel Hidaka and walked out from the cosy tiny hut where Rin lived with her father.

He pulled the blanket over her form and stood up. He was already standing on the threshold of the room as her sleepy voice reached him.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Rin?"

"Don't leave Onee-chan alone."

He did not answer.

"Good night, Rin", he said softly and pulled the door, leaving it slightly ajar.