Chapter One

Tradition was a rear trait in the character of any youkai; still Sesshomaru seemed to obtain it through the years of watching the growth of his ward and her family. Two times a year he visited all six families one after the other.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Sesshomaru-sama!" cried a mop of black hair that crushed into his legs the moment he neared a small hut on the edge of the village. "I knew you will come today! I was waiting on the road the whole morning!"

"That's what she did alright," said a young man, stepping out of the hut. "Go and play, Rin."

"But I want to stay with Sesshomaru-sama!" the girl of four weaned, hugging the leg even tighter with her small arms.

"We will walk later, Rin," Sesshomaru stated, disentangling girl's arm from his leg and shoving her lightly towards the yard full of flowers she adored.

"I will make you a bunch of flowers!" Before men could say or do anything, she was already running to the flower field.

"Does she really look like my grand-grand-grandmother, Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Indeed," the taiyoukai drawled, following the girl with a distant glance. In his never failing memory he saw another girl running just like that, full of laughter and happiness. "How was the harvest?" Sesshomaru asked, turning back to the man beside him.

"Fairly well. There will be no problems during the winter if there aren't any sudden losses."

"Sudden losses?" Sesshomaru inquired, leading way into the house with the man hurrying after him.

"As you are aware, bandits, youkai, storms, floods. Anything can happen."

"Doesn't your priest protect the village with his praying?" Sesshomaru asked stepping into the modest building. There was nothing excessive there, only the necessities. There was also a scent that wasn't there before. It was vaguely familiar, but Sesshomaru couldn't determine the origin.

They took places around the fireplace and the host offered his guest a cup of tea according to the etiquette. He then continued to list the events that happened in between taiyoukai's visits, but Sesshomaru didn't listen. For some reason he had to pin point the source of the scent…

"Tanaki-san, I am going to the market, do you need-"

And there Sesshomaru found the source – the woman, he resurrected three months ago, stood in the house of the family, who was under his protection, instead of being dead, lying at the bottom of the river. It was obviously that she didn't fail to forget his face either since she slowly backed out of the house. She didn't look afraid, rather disconcerted and confused. Sesshomaru turned to Tanaki, obviously demanding an explanation with his stern look.

"As you know, after Mika's death at childbirth, it was extremely difficult for me to raise Rin and work at the fields to raise enough for us to eat. A month ago Kagura-san appeared in the village-"

"Kagura?"

If Tanaki had looked at his protector close enough, he would've seen a surprised expression that cracked his usual mask of indifference so great was his surprise, but Tanaki went with his story concentrating hard on choosing the right words. He knew that Sesshomaru-sama would never harm him, but still felt reverential awe towards the taiyoukai, the strongest existing youkai, if the rumors were right.

"Yes. She was looking for a place to stay and I offered to take her in, since the woman was needed in the household, and Rin needed to be looked after."

"So you took her into this house as your wife?"

"No!" Tanaki protested right away, but it was obvious, he entertained the idea.

"Doesn't the head of the village find such living indecent?"

"Well, I am not against Kagura-san becoming my wife, but when I asked her, she feverishly protested. She said she was prepared to stay as a servant if that could eradicate the case of marriage. She stays in a separate room next to Rin's and I swear, Sesshomaru-sama, there is no indecency-"

"That doesn't concern this Sesshomaru," he cut him off. "You made a wise decision, Tanaki, since Rin indeed needs a mother."

"Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama," Tanaki murmured, bowing low.

Sesshomaru left the hut with Tanaki still bent over. Yes, the Lord of the Western Lands demanded respect and received it from his pack members, but at times he wished for the respect to be less fuelled by fear. Tanaki was a decent, but simple man, who will be a farmer till his last breath. Could he bring up Rin with her free spirit she inherited from her grand predecessor? Or will Rin need someone who could nourish it for her to become someone really special?

…

The dusk settled over the village, but Rin didn't left Sesshomaru's side since the moment they settled on a flower field near the hut. She was sitting between his legs, playing with his monomoko and bubbling about her past day, the village bully she talked back to and how good it felt, about a new friend she met the day before and about all other little things that the child considered important. It was hard to tell if Sesshomaru was listening, his closed eyes indicating complete relaxation to an outsider. Some could even suggest that he was sleeping. Those who didn't know the powerful youkai that is.

Sesshomaru slowly opened his eyes, feeling the movement in the house. "It is late, Rin. Go to sleep."

"But I haven't told you about what happened on the fields the other day!" Rin protested with a cute pout.

"You can tell later." The scent was nearing them…

"Will Sesshomaru-sama be here tomorrow? Will you meet my new friends?"

The person was near enough to be distinguished by the figure. "We will see."

"Promise me, you will stay! Please!"

Sesshomaru nodded his glance fixed on the woman coming towards them.

"Yei! I am going to tell father!" Rin squealed and was off in a flash. She was in such a hurry that she almost collided with Kagura. "Sorry, Kagura-san," she threw over her shoulder and headed towards the house on top speed.

"What are you doing here?" Kagura asked, leaving at least ten meters between her and the youkai.

"This Sesshomaru doesn't eat humans. And it is I who must ask this of you."

Kagura took several steps towards him, but remained on a safe distance. "Meaning why I am still alive?" She interpreted his silence as a 'yes'. "Well, I actually went to that waterfall you mentioned. I stood there, looked down and saw the streaming water that seemed so alive with all its splashing and currents and waves. And then I thought if I jumped and killed myself I would spoil it, spoil its pure life energy.

That's why I headed into the forest in search of another way to end my life. And while I walked I saw animals busy with their everyday lives of storing food, caring for their brood, eating, sleeping… It was what they were created for and they fulfilled their purpose without question or protest. So I thought about my destiny… Why was I born? To have an arranged marriage thus making my parents' life worriless? Well, it didn't happen. Does it mean that my life became meaningless? Or maybe my destiny was different from the start?

So when I was given a new life I thought things over and decided to give life another chance. When I entered this village I planned to pass through, but then I saw Rin and something overcame me, a mother instinct maybe. I always wanted a little girl just like her."

"Nothing stops you from having your own daughter."

"No, I will never be with a man. Men can be worse than youkai," she spat.

There was no need for Sesshomaru to see her face to feel her pain. Another life, but the pain never leaves, never is forgotten. "You saw a lot of men and youkai in your short life to judge them like that?"

He was gone in a swish of fur and silver, leaving Kagura alone in the dark contemplating his words.

"Hey! You haven't answered my question!" she yelled into the night, but silence was her reply once again.

…..

"Come back soon, Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin cried two days later. She followed him till the outskirts of the village and would've gone even further, if it hadn't been for her father, firmly holding her hand.

Kagura watched bewildered. Rin was indeed a girl with big heart, but so much affection for a youkai? What has he done to deserve it?

"What is he doing here?" she finally asked Tanaki, when Rin skipped far enough not to hear them.

"What do you mean, Kagura-san?"

"What is a youkai doing in a human village? And acting as he is the master of your home! Does he threaten you, Tanaki-san? If it is so, you can always call upon the youkai exterminators from the Kijasoku family."

Tanaki chuckled. "My brother is part of that family."

"All the better then."

"The only problem, Kagura-san, is that they can't slay Sesshomaru-sama. They could if there were at least hundred of them with at least fifty powerful monks. Then they could try. Doesn't mean they'll succeed."

"He is that powerful?" Kagura asked, starting seeing the silver-haired youkai in a bit of a different light. He certainly didn't look like an ordinary demon with the way he moved and even looked at people, but what were his limits even if there were such in existence?

"Sesshomaru-sama is the most powerful youkai walking this land. It is an honor to be under his protection. You are new here, Kagura-san, but if you want to have a peaceful life you must show respect towards Sesshomaru-sama."

"What if I don't?" Kagura questioned full of arrogance. He was an animal however you look at it, so why should she even pay him any attention? He brought her to life however, but she considered it an instant whim opposing to an act of kindness. "Will he rip me to shreds?"

"Rin is his favorite, so if he considers the person looking after her unsuitable, he can send you out of the village. It happened two years ago, when I was desperate to find somebody to look after my little girl. I wasn't fond of the rough granny myself, but I had to do something."

"What right does he have? Rin is your daughter! Favorite or not!" Kagura yelled in righteous anger. "How can she be a favorite, she is the only one!"

"Favorite from all her cousins. Rin is somehow special; and not because she has youkai blood in her veins."

"What?" Kagura gasped, rooted to the spot by the revelation.

"My wife, Mika, was partly youkai of birds' variety. That's why she had problems with the delivery. The miko warned us, but we were selfish, we wanted to have a family of our own. During childbirth it was Rin's life or Mika's, so Mika sacrificed herself." A lonely tear ran down Tanaki's cheek, but he quickly brushed it away. "So Sesshomaru-sama brought Rin into this world."

"He killed you wife. He killed Mika-san," Kagura whispered horrified. "And you ask me to respect him? That monster? And how can you live with this?"

Kagura had a lot more to say, but angry tears were suffocating her. She ran along the road far away from Tanaki, his house and the village whose inhabitants allowed to be protected by a youkai. She couldn't understand how she was so easily fooled by people. Was she too young to understand the ways of the world? Did her parents bring her up wrong? Brought her up only to give away into an arranged marriage?

Sweet innocent Rin. She was so taken with her. And it turns out that the girl is a youkai, only slightly but she is. And her father? He married one, but maybe had youkai blood himself, that's why he was obedient to that Sesshomaru-sama? Because of the youkai hierarchy?

Scared and confused Kagura ran blindly through the forest, not seeing and not caring where she was going. Unbeknownst to her, somebody was seeing her very clearly and waiting for the opportune moment to have his dinner served.

…

Kagura felt disoriented. She didn't remember what happened for her to be lying in the mud. She tried to make a recollection of the recent past, but her heavy head supplied her only with a snapshot of a green flash.

"Were you seeking death once again?" came an emotionless drawl from above her.

Kagura rose onto her elbows to lock gaze with the impassive golden eyes that seemed not to be concerned wherever she died or not. The overall situation reminded Kagura of the river 'accident'. Why was he waiting for her to wake up? "What are you doing here?"

"This Sesshomaru may go as he pleases." Still he tilted his head to the side.

Kagura followed his motion to see a mass of limbs and entrails which obviously belonged to a youkai. A dead youkai, which be he alive, Kagura would've been in his place.

"You saved my life," Kagura said disbelieving.

"This Sesshomaru was taking care of garbage on his land. What are you doing here alone? And crying?"

"I… don't need to explain myself to you," she spat, standing up with as much dignity as possible having a messed up hair and kimono.

"You must return to the village before dark."

"I don't need your advice either. I am free to do as I please," she stated with pride.

Sesshomaru almost smiled – it was even the same posture. And the craving for freedom. This Kagura was not free however. "Rin must be looking for you already. Do you want her to get hurt in these woods?"

"I doubt youkai will hurt one of their own," Kagura retorted with unhidden contempt.

"Rin's inheritance bothers you?"

"Of course it does! Someone so innocent and sweet! A monster!"

"Whatever you think about her, you've taken her under your care, so she is yours to protect."

"Nothing is set in stone, I can leave any time."

"You can, Kagura, or…"

"You will kill me?" she questioned challenging the youkai, which was totally ridiculous on her part, because she could join the dead youkai with another green flash in a mere second. But Kagura didn't care; she was fed up with his patronizing attitude. Who the Hell was he to tell her what to do in her new life? She wanted to say her thoughts aloud, but suddenly a bright light blinded her – they were out of the forest. How did they get here? And when did they start walking in the first place?

Kagura took a deep breath for her self-asserting speech, when she was interrupted once again, by Tanaki's cries.

"Thanks Kami-sama for your staying nearby Sesshomaru-sama," Tanaki squeezed out while hyperventilating. "And you found Kagura-san too. We were starting to get worried."

"Tanaki," Sesshomaru checked sharply to stop the man's babbling.

"My brother's wife, Hitomi, has gone into labor and there are only young girls beside the miko to help. The miko sent the message to ask for help. Hitomi is special; there must be some difficulty… Please, Sesshomaru-sama," he begged, going down onto his knees, "don't let her die like Mika did."

Kagura looked disgusted at the man. Groveling likes some slave! A hand with long white fingers appeared before her out of nowhere, making her jump back out of surprise. "What are you doing?" she asked with slight panic, looking into the golden eyes that were hypnotizing her to take the hand. At least it felt like that for Kagura.

"Time is of essence. You will never reach Inuyasha's village by human means."

"But what are you going-"

"Just hold tight and don't open your eyes."

Before Kagura could comprehend the happenings she was pulled towards the white fur and then was a wind tornado and then they were flying?.. She didn't open her eyes, not because she was told to, but because she thought if she had she would become one of the youkai world she so despised and was, frankly, quite afraid of.