I don't know if you guys didn't see my last update or what...but I DID fix the chapter. o.O Anyway, here's the next chappie! ^_^
Although if you think about it...it is pretty darn funny to have the PPG in the feudal era...xD
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin exclaimed happily. "Do you think we are getting close now?"
Sesshomaru nodded, "Indeed, Rin."
Sesshomaru and Rin continued walking, with Kagome, Inuyasha, and Jaken behind them. Rin was in an extremely good mood, even for her (she was always in a good mood). She never ceased to smile, she skipped and hummed every five seconds, and started up conversations about the silliest things... She never failed to amuse Sesshomaru. Of course all this hapiness made him wonder why; why was she so happy? Of course she was always happy, but today she was...ecstatic!
"Rin," Jaken spoke up. "Why are you so joyful today?"
Ah, the imp asked the question for him...thank goodness.
"I don't know," Rin giggled.
Kagome smiled at her, "How much sugar have you had?"
Rin thought for a moment, "None...today."
Kagome shook her head with a smile, while Inuyasha spoke up, "Maybe she's just having a good day. Sometimes you don't need a reason to be happy...ya just are."
"Oh, and you would know Mr. Grouchypants?" Kagome asked with a smirk. "All you ever do is lie around doing nothing, complain about everything, and say that we don't have enough Ramen!"
"Ramen?" Sesshomaru spoke up for a moment. "Who is this Ramen of whom you speak?"
Inuyasha and Kagome stared at Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jaken's confused and eager faces. They glanced at each other, before Kagome broke out into a grin and began to giggle into her hand. Inuyasha grinned and scratched the back of his head.
"Well you see Sesshomaru, there is this panther-slash-frog-slash-bear-slash-hamster demon that's been runnin' around-"
Kagome smacked Inuyasha's head, "Inuyasha, I don't think such demons even exist!"
Jaken groaned, "Apparently none of you have met my Aunt Helga..."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, "Inuyasha, are you attempting a lie?"
Inuyasha chuckled, "No, I was attempting to fool you. Was it working?"
Sesshomaru looked away in frustration, earning another smirk from his brother.
"Ramen," Kagome said. "Is just some noodles-"
"Just some noodles?" Inuyasha hissed.
Kagome stuck out her tongue, "Yes."
Inuyasha was about to protest when Rin spoke, "Are they good?"
"Good?" Inuyasha asked. "They are heaven."
Rin smiled, "Okay!"
"We shall have to try some, won't we Rin?" Sesshomaru said.
Rin nodded, "Uh-huh!"
Everyone continued walking, following the faint scent of the thief. It was still driving Sesshomaru mad on who it was that he smelled, because he knew he smelled it before. It was so familiar, and yet he couldn't even put his finger on it. It actually reminded him of his own scent, but he knew it was not. It had a slightly different...something to it that differentiated it between his. It was more...feminine?
"Eh, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin said skipping back up to him. "How long has it been since you've trimmed your hair?"
Sesshomaru turned to glance at her, "Why do you wish to know?"
"Because you have split ends," Rin said pointing some out.
"WHAT?" Sesshomaru screeched, losing his balance and falling onto the ground.
"Oh my," Kagome said slowly. "What happened?"
"Rin," Inuyasha said taking a fatherly tone. "Did you give him a bug?"
"Oh she's done that before," Jaken said. "And it did not bother him any. Milord, what ails thee?"
Sesshomaru swallowed, and stood up once more, showing no signs of emotion. He continued walking, soon to be followed by the rest of the now confused group.
That did it...my dignity is officially butchered.
"Rin," Sesshomaru said slowly.
Rin came up quickly, "Yes my lord?"
"How many are there?" Sesshomaru asked through grit teeth.
"Erm..." Rin looked carefully. "Not very many, I'd say about ten...that's all."
"Are they noticeable?" Sesshomaru asked, obviously a little 'ticked off'.
"No," Rin said shaking her head. "You can barely see them."
"Alright," Sesshomaru said slowly.
Everyone continued walking, towards the scent.
"You know Lord Sesshomaru," Rin said slowly. "I think today is a very special day."
"Do you now?" Sesshomaru said slowly. "Why is that?"
"Oh come on, don't be silly!" Rin said happily. "I know you know!"
Sesshomaru frowned slightly, "I do?"
Rin's smile slowly faded, "You do, don't you?"
Sesshomaru turned to her shaking his head.
Rin sighed sadly and looked away, "Oh..."
"What day is it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It doesn't matter..." Rin said slowly. "Really..."
Sesshomaru frowned, and stopped walking. He turned to the others with a blank expression, crossing his arms.
"Go on ahead, Rin and I will catch up," Sesshomaru said nonchalantly.
Inuyasha nodded, "Alright. Come on Kagome..."
Kagome, Inuyasha, and Jaken walked on ahead, while Rin and Sesshomaru stayed behind.
Sesshomaru bent down to Rin slowly, "Rin, what is it?"
"Nothing, please just go on ahead..."
"No," Sesshomaru said sternly. "What is bothering you? You were so happy only moments ago."
"That's because..." Rin sniffed quietly and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "I thought you k-knew..."
"Knew what?" Sesshomaru asked with a nearly desperate tone of voice.
Rin smiled slightly, and wiped her tears away, "Today is my b-birthday Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru stared at her, suddenly feeling extremely guilty. After all this time travelling with her, he forgot her birthday? What kind of a man was he?
Sesshomaru wiped Rin's tears away, and cupped her face in his hands, "I am terribly sorry Rin, for forgetting your birthday. I promise I'll make it up to you."
"You will?" Rin sniffed.
"Of course, it's the least I can do," Sesshomaru said. "What is it you wish for?"
"Well I want a lot of things..." Rin said slowly.
"What do you wish for more than anything?" Sesshomaru asked. "If I was able to give you anything you wanted, what would it be?"
Rin stared at Sesshomaru for a long moment, before slowly going red in the face. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow when she did not speak for a long moment.
"W-well..." Rin said slowly. "A doll would be nice..."
Of course, Sesshomaru did not buy that.
"Rin..." Sesshomaru said slowly.
Rin looked up, "What I really want will have to wait, Sesshomaru-sama. When the time is right, then I will tell you."
Sesshomaru stared at her for a long moment, noticing then just how mature she sounded, "Alright."
The two of them walked forward, towards the others, when Sesshomaru spoke.
"So you are twelve now, correct?" Sesshomaru asked.
Rin nodded with a wide smile, "Yup! I remember mother telling me that once I turn thirteen, then I am at marrying age..."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened at that, suddenly realizing the cold, hard truth. Rin was not a little girl anymore...she was nearly a teenager! Usually women married at around her age, which did NOT please Sesshomaru at ALL. He did not want her to get married...he wanted her to stay the small little girl she was when he met her. Sesshomaru glanced at Rin out of the corner of his eye, noticing that she truly wasn't a little girl anymore. Her face was not nearly as round, her hair was longer, and she was certainly much taller... The last thing he could for was that she was a late bloomer...
She could not grow up...he wouldn't allow it. If she did, then she would have to marry. If she were to marry another man, he might just break down at cry... That or kill that man while he was sleeping, and pass it off as an accident.
Deep down he knew that she really would marry someday, have kids, and live a long and happy human life. There was nothing he could do to prevent that...not a single thing. Except...
Sesshomaru slowly turned red at the thought, and tried to shake it off. Rin however, noticed his blush, and questioned it. Of course Sesshomaru said it was nothing, but it really wasn't.
The only way he could prevent Rin from marrying another man was either killing every other man on the planet, or...marry Rin himself. For the few years she was with him, he'd never thought of her in such ways. But seeing her, slowly growing up into a woman before him, that started to change. Of course it would be highly improper to do anything about it yet, OR think about it...but soon it wouldn't be. Soon, she would be of marrying age, able to bear children, and a beautiful young woman.
Besides, even if he DID marry Rin, his bloodline would be...oh what's the word? It would be (as Inuyasha would say) screwed.
But what if he loved Rin so unconditionally it did not matter anymore?
Those questions flew around in Sesshomaru's mind wildly, before he was dragged out of his thoughts by his brother's voice.
"Oi Sesshomaru, where in the name of Totosai are we?" Inuyasha demanded.
Sesshomaru looked up, suddenly noticing the castle before him. It was a ways away, but clearly visible. Suddenly everything hit him...
Why his mokomoko was stolen, why the scent was so familiar, and who the person was who bravely took it from him. He suddenly knew everything, much to his sudden relief.
"Well?" Inuyasha asked once more. "Oh and by the way, you have a few split ends..."
Sesshomaru growled at him before turning to Rin, "You said they weren't visible!"
"Good eye?" Rin suggested.
"Sesshomaru. Where. Are. WE?" Inuyasha growled in frustration.
"Well, I now know who stole my mokomoko," Sesshomaru said in relief, before getting slightly aggravated. "I can't believe she took it...right under my nose too..."
"Who?" everyone asked in unison.
Oh, I am just so mean... You don't know who it is, but I do NA NA NA! XD