Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the story or characters of InuYasha, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I make no profit from writing this fanfiction.
A/N: Thank you all for your patience with this. I work full time and also teach a class one day a week. That leaves far too little time to crank this out quickly. Forgive me.
Face It ...
Kagome was not avoiding Sesshomaru.
So what if she was uncomfortable after their last conversation? That didn't mean she headed for the opposite door when he entered a room, or made excuses as to why she couldn't come when he called. She just wanted to be by her self for a while. Herself and whatever guard she had at the moment... but those didn't count.
Okay, maybe she was avoiding him.
It was just that her stomach churned with every thought as to what he might think of her now. She wasn't sure why his good opinion of her would matter so much, but it did. A lot.
Now that this information was out she couldn't help to visualize the ramifications. All this had brought up old feelings she'd thought long buried. Would Sesshomaru think she was pathetic, being rejected in favor of a ghost? She'd felt that way sometimes. She'd been there, and warm, and oh so willing, still his younger brother had been thinking of another woman the whole time! How piteous was she? His brother's cast-off. She made herself sick, it must be worse for the demon lord. Her heart sank to her toes at that prospect.
All morning she had dodged Sesshomaru and she was feeling fairly fortunate. She'd just taken a light lunch with Rin, Heto, and Yozora in their room. She could tell they knew something was off about her mood, but they were nice enough not to mention it. Though the visit with them had made her feel better she was still ready to escape to her quarters, maybe even for the rest of the day if she could manage it.
She'd almost made it to her room when a tall figure stepped in her path. At first she thought it was her guard but when she glanced up she realized it was not. "Lord Sesshomaru!" she said, panicked. 'Oh god, I don't want to see him right now!'
He had once again come looking for the elusive priestess when he saw her coming out of Rin's room. He'd dismissed her guard and she still hadn't noticed his presence, being too far lost in thought. "You have been avoiding This Sesshomaru." His tone wasn't accusatory it was inquisitive.
"I... well..." She looked side to side to see if there was something to help her, or at least a means of escape. No such luck.
He narrowed his eyes at her when she avoided his gaze. "You are apprehensive."
She swallowed as she backed around him. He followed her, crowding her towards her door.
"Is it due to our last conversation?"
She glanced at him briefly and bit her lip, she damned how astute he could be sometimes. She quickly looked away again with a small nod of affirmation.
He took a deep breath and let it out silently. "Are you concerned This Sesshomaru's opinion of InuYasha will be irreparably altered to his detriment?" The lord frowned, he didn't like what his half-brother had done but the boy had done many other heinousness things in his life. What was one more? He also didn't like the thought of her protecting the whelp even after what he'd done to her.
She wouldn't have put it like that, but no, that wasn't her main concern. She shook her head to the negative. "It's not that."
Sesshomaru was relived to hear this had little or nothing to do with InuYasha but he was still puzzled. He observed her for a moment and was grieved to come to a new conclusion. "You worry my opinion of you has changed." His voice dropped low, and he noticed her back had finally reached the wall so she'd stopped.
She looked up at him startled. "Um..." He was standing so close she had to look almost straight up to see his face. His golden eyes filled her vision. "Didn't it?" she whispered her almost-plea.
Sesshomaru looked down into the sorrowful blue eyes of what his brother had wrought. He'd taken this strong-willed woman and by berating her day after day removed any possible good opinion she might have had of herself. Even now, when they no longer associate, she still can't see what she truly is. Instead she finds herself the villain of her own tale of woe. It was repulsive.
"Listen well, Priestess. You are not at fault. Someone else was to blame for what transpired. That you would endure something so vile and still be able to continue with a tolerant demeanor takes impossible strength of will. You are correct in the supposition that my opinion of you has changed, there is no human I think more highly of."
She blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. She wanted to think he was joking, but Sesshomaru does not joke. Besides, his eyes spoke the whole truth for her to see. "Lord Sesshomaru," his name came out in a breathy whisper. "I... thank you." He nodded his head in respect to her and she was moved.
They looked at each other silently for a moment, uncaring that they stood so close. He enjoyed the smell and warmth from her person and she enjoyed the feeling of being encased, safe behind his solid frame. Though they didn't touch, the physical closeness was nice.
Surprisingly enough it was Sesshomaru who broke the silence. "I sought you out this morn to inform you that I owe you a debt of gratitude, Priestess."
His voice had that quiet rumble to it that she loved. "Do you?" she asked with a small smile.
"Hn," he intoned. "Thank you for helping my Rin." He stepped back so he could bow to her.
Kagome was nearly shocked out of her socks at the words, furthermore by the gesture. She flushed hotly once again. "You're welcome. But seeing as you helped me so much when I was here the last time I don't think we're even. Not that we are taking score or anything." She bit her lip trying to quell the fountain of words from her mouth.
Sesshomaru's eyes flicked to her lip for a fraction of a second but she thought she might have imagined it. She looked down and away, noticing they were right outside her room. She had a crazy distracting thought of him in her room but that was gone quickly as she berated herself with its impossibility. "The scroll," she yelped, suddenly remembering the item. "Come in and I can give it back to you."
He was dazzled by her sudden change in mood. His curiosity as to why this scroll was so important to her warred with a caution his body was giving him about being near her. Curiosity won. He followed her into the room and was suddenly struck by an enveloping sensation of her aura and scent. He hadn't been in this room since the first day she'd been here and now it was like she filled every corner. He wanted to close his eyes and breath her in but he was all too aware that she would notice. Instead he stood and watched as she dug through her basket.
A second later she came back up with it. She held it gently as she presented it to him. "This is the one I accidentally took."
He took it from her and saw that it was undamaged, so why was she still so worried?
"Do you recognize it?" she prompted.
"I have many such scrolls, I do not know each individually."
She looked almost pained at the words. "It's your father's journal," she said quietly.
He looked at the scroll in his hand in a new light. He had never read this, he'd watched his father write it a time or two and had wondered at what he wrote, but he'd forgotten about it after the demon's death. Lost in his vast library.
"He wrote in it up until the very day he died. You are mentioned."
Sesshomaru didn't say anything as he stared at the scroll. He could just imagine what his great father had said about him – weak. He had always been a disappointment to his father, something the demon felt he needed to 'correct'. Even the day he died he chastened him for not having something to protect. It was one of the reasons he'd despised InuYasha for so long. Even in death their father had been more generous with his younger son. He gripped the scroll, turned, and was out the door.
Kagome reached a hand to stop him but he was gone.
~o~
Kagome didn't see Sesshomaru for the rest of the day and into the next morning. Something about how he'd looked had pained her and she couldn't stop thinking about it, she'd not gotten much sleep. She hoped he'd read the journal, she felt he needed to hear his father's words again.
She wondered though, if it would hurt him to hear about Izayoi. From the little that Kagome knew about Sesshomaru's relationship with Inu no Taishō she was aware that it hadn't been all that great. A reminder of his father's infidelity might not be an easy thing to read.
She cursed and rubbed her own head. Her empathetic heart tended to get her too twisted up sometimes. She just couldn't help herself from caring about people, or demons. She sighed. She wondered if Sesshomaru had any such feelings but simply buried them deep. She knew he missed Rin and cared for her but did he even consider anyone else?
She really couldn't see him ever falling in love and getting married. She giggled at her own thoughts. Married, she couldn't even see Sesshomaru kissing anyone.
Her heart stopped cold – as an intense vision of her kissing him, and him kissing her in return, placed itself solidly in her consciousness. Her face flushed red and her heart started beating again at an uneven rate.
She caught her breath and steadied herself. Thoughts like that had been coming more frequently as of late and of all things it saddened her. She knew there was to be no fruit borne from that line of thinking, but telling her heart the truth in that was impossible. It frightened her. She wasn't sure she wanted to go there with another inu brother.
She got herself back on track. There was one thing she needed to do, and that was check to see if Sesshomaru was alright. It may seem silly to some to worry about the imposing lord but she couldn't help it. She knew she wouldn't be satisfied until she saw him again.
She took a turn around the citadel looking for him. As maddening as it was she still couldn't sense where he was when they were here. She checked his office, Rin's room, the gardens, even the infirmary with no luck. She was on her way back to her room when she thought to look in his quarters.
She was about to the door when her guard stopped her. "Priestess, you are not permitted."
She pouted. "Can you tell me if the lord is in there at this moment?" she asked, only hopeful that he'd answer.
The guardsman looked highly uncomfortable as he looked up and down the hall. "No our lord is not in his chambers at the moment," was all he said in a tense whisper.
She nodded. "Well, thank you." He nodded to her and she continued to her room. He was about to turn away when she got an idea. "Could you please have Kimiko sent to me?"
He bowed. "Of course." He left and she shut her door, a plan forming.
A few minutes later her maid arrived and she ushered her into her room. The young demoness looked surprised but smiled at the priestess that she'd come to admire.
"Kimiko, I need your help."
The maid looked at her quizzically but listened to her request.
"Do you know if Sesshomaru is still in residence?" She didn't think he'd leave while Rin was here but she had to make sure.
"Yes, my lady. He is here." She was intrigued by the question.
"Good, I need to know where he is. Can you take me to him?"
Kimiko frowned. "I wish I could, my lady, but my lord does not wish to be disturbed at the moment."
"Please, I feel I need to talk to him privately. If you could just lead me to him?" Kagome motioned to the door.
The maid was uneasy. "I don't know..." She didn't want to disappoint her mistress but she also didn't want to betray her master. She was torn. She looked at Kagome's pleading face. She knew Kagome would never hurt her lord, and he was never happier before she came. Perhaps the gloom that hung over him today could be lifted by this human. "I will lead you to him," she whispered.
A big grin spread across Kagome's face and she clapped her hands together. "Thank you!"
~)(~
Kimiko had led her out the outer screens to the courtyard to slip the guards. She'd taken her through many servant paths traversing the citadel until they came to a remote and secluded dojo. It was surrounded by tall bamboo and hidden from view of the main buildings.
Once the small structure was in sight her maid left her, worried that their lord would sense her if she got any closer. Kagome had thanked her and promised to make it up to her.
The priestess turned to the building and took a deep breath. She was having second thoughts now about disturbing the demon lord during his alone time. 'No, I really do need to talk to him.' she resolved. She approached the shaded door and slipped in, closing it behind her.
Kagome froze as she went through the doorway at the sight of a seated figure. Sesshomaru was sitting facing away from her location. He made no indication that he'd noticed her presence, but she was certain he had. He was always hyper-aware of his surroundings even at rest. That was one of the things which made him such a good protector.
She took a moment to observe him. His hair flowed down his back to pool on the floor behind him, it looked like the finest of silk thread cascading like a waterfall. She wanted to dive in. She moved slightly to his left and could see his eyes were closed and his long lashes rested on his high cheeks. His bangs fluttered in the light breeze coming from the open windows. He was so beautiful, he took her breath away.
It was one of the rare moments he looked at peace. He was out of his usual attire and was wearing a pale gray yukata with navy flowers at the shoulder and hem. The black hakama he wore ended at his bare feet. She'd never seen him barefoot before, his feet resembled his brother's with sharp nails tipping each toe.
She figured she'd been staring long enough so took a breath and approached him the rest of the way. She sat next to him, close, but not touching.
He didn't move or open his eyes but he knew exactly who'd come in. If he couldn't smell her pleasing fragrance he still would've been able to recognize her aura. He wondered what would cause her to interrupt his solitude but, strangely, he found he wasn't bothered by the intrusion. They sat in silence for another minute before he spoke. A soft rumble came up from his chest culminating in her title. "Priestess."
Her body couldn't help but tremble at his voice, but she passed that off as a normal reaction to hearing a voice that sounded like sin. She smiled despite herself. "Sesshomaru," she hummed, quite unconsciously forgetting his title. Silence spread between them again and she began to relax, though not forgetting why she'd come. They sat in silent mutual meditation for several minutes. It was a balm to her, and unbeknownst to her, him as well.
Finally she plucked up the courage to speak. "I'm sorry to disturb you when you're resting."
"For you it is permissible. What is it you wished to speak about?"
She was slightly thrown by his almost teasing tone, but quickly composed herself. "Uh, I wanted to know if you were alright. You seemed..." she struggled to find the word, "disgruntled last night." He didn't answer and she feared he'd shut her out. "I know reading your father's journal must have been uncomfortable, but I hope you recognize how much he believed in you."
He was surprised how close she'd come to the truth. He'd always disciplined himself to hide emotion. It was tactical move in battle to not give anything away to your enemy. Somehow this human woman could read him as if he'd said the words aloud. "Quiet your concerns. This Sesshomaru, is well enough."
Though the words and tone had been positive Kagome was still grieved to hear it. He was detaching himself from the emotion and she didn't want that. "I know you feel you have been slighted in the past by your father's actions, but the Lord Sesshomaru I found in his writings was a demon worthy of praise. A man his father was, and would be, proud of."
Sesshomaru considered her words. Though it would take much to convince him of his father's intent it was pleasing to hear her view. "The sentiment is appreciated, Priestess." He nodded in her general direction even though his eyes remained closed.
Kagome was filled with warmth as they sat, basking in the silence once more. Thoughts came in and out of her head, weaving around the room as if she could see them. She looked up at him, so tall even when they were both seated. He seemed to be in a tolerant mood so she decided to ask him something else.
"I know you've said there's security in being alone, and I agree, but do you ever feel lonely, Lord Sesshomaru?" The thought which had occurred to her earlier returned and she couldn't brush it away. "Why have you never married – I mean, found a mate?" she asked softly. She glanced at him and saw his chest expand with a breath. She hoped she wasn't offending him but she figured if he chose to ignore her she would let the matter drop forever.
He contemplated not giving her and answer, he didn't owe her and his business was his own. Still... "In the past This Sesshomaru had not considered a female necessary, also there has not been a female found worthy of the west."
Kagome mused over that for a moment. "Do you think you'll ever find a worthy female?" She considered the complexity he must have for requirements; she went through a mental checklist.
*A demon (obviously),
*A good mother (or at least able to bear an heir),
*A hard worker (to keep up the household's demands), and
*At least as beautiful as him (that one may be impossible).
That was a lot to live up to.
He almost opened his eyes to look at her but remained still, she had an uncanny way of reading his eyes and there were certain things he didn't want her to be aware of yet. "Perhaps." More like 'very likely'. "And what of you, Priestess? Why have you not found a male? Does not your kind usually breed before reaching your age?"
She twittered an amused laugh. "Are you calling me an old maid?" She laughed again. "I suppose I am older than the marriage age of this time, but when I'm from it's not uncommon to be unwed still. As to the other points, no, I've also not found a 'worthy male' yet." She mused for a moment. "As you know I've not been the luckiest in that area," she said that with a degree of moroseness.
Sesshomaru hummed his agreement, but he had no desire to talk about InuYasha. "Are you open to such inquiries?"
She blushed. "Oh, uh, I think so," she thought about Ichtio with some sadness. "You know, if the right one were to ask." She looked at her hands as her blush deepened. If the inquiry was from the demon next to her she was pretty sure the answer would've been a yes, and that scared her.
He glanced at her while she wasn't looking. He could not believe that in the last decade no one had tried to win her. Perhaps they had all been rebuffed. What was she looking for? He was just about to ask when she spoke again.
"I tend to intimidate guys. My ideas on women's equality alone are enough to make most shy away, but also my power. I am a potent source of energy, I know that. Human men don't understand why I feel called to travel and help everyone. Demons flee from me, afraid I will purify them, and the ones that do manage to stick around to get close eventually become jealous of my power and fame, or they try to use me for it. I'm looking for more of an equal, a helpmate. I don't want to be domineered but I also don't want him to be a tatami mat under my feet."
Sesshomaru was leveled by how close that resonated his life. His power and position as the Western Lord had always been a draw, for those who wanted to align with him or those who sought his destruction. He did open his eyes to look at her then. "I understand."
She looked up into the demon lord's golden eyes and saw the same pain and longing she'd held onto for so long. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't care if she was going to cry in front of him. As long as he would look at her with that kind of understanding it didn't matter to her.
He watched fat tear drops begin to slide down her slightly flushed cheeks. Oh yes, he understood quite well the responsibilities of great power. To always be on guard and having no one to stand at your side who even remotely understood. His hand came up to brush a tear from her face but their eyes never swayed from the other's.
Her shaky fingers had gone cold and when she touched the wrist of his hand brushing her face he pulled away, turning his eyes from her again. Strangely she didn't feel a rejection, only a sense he didn't want to crowd her. She appreciated that.
She turned again so they were facing the same direction. She glanced at him and his eyes were closed once more. "You said that you didn't think a female was necessary. What did you mean by that?"
"This Sesshomaru has been working to distinguish his rule from under the shadow of the Great Dog Demon. There is little time or energy for distractions. As a young virile male, an heir is not needed yet."
Over three hundred years had passed since his father's death, how long was he going to need to "distinguish his rule"? She remembered reading something similar in Inu no Taishō's journal about how he felt prior to taking a mate. Maybe she could get him to see what he was missing. "But a family to call your own and cherish, isn't that something to aspire to as well?" she almost pleaded.
Family and togetherness had not been the norm for him growing up. A mother colder than himself, a distant father who he lost to foolish decisions, then a brother that reminded him of his broken home. No, 'family' did not bring up connotations of pleasant things. "That is not for This Sesshomaru."
She studied his face but he had shut down. "What about love?"
Something in him tightened. "What does a demon know of such concepts?"
She bit her lip, most would've taken that as a dismissal but she had heard the underlying stressers. He was truly asking what could he love and how to do it. She didn't have an answer for him. Then she started thinking about the relationships he had in his life.
"You do know love, though you've buried the associating feelings for a long time, my lord. Rin was, and still is, a link to those feelings. It may have started as curiosity and your protective nature but somewhere down the road you started to truly care for her. She is your heart and with every beat it gets stronger.
Love is caring for another being above yourself, wishing that person happiness and health with no thought for return. It is wanting, no needing, that other to continue even if it means the cost of your own life. If their life were to be extinguished the reasons for continuing on would seem dull. Love does comes with sacrifice and pain, I will not deny it, but it can also be a source of great joy, peace, and strength.
You may think you don't need such things but I'd like to think I know you better. You and I are the same. We exist and we do what we must, but we've shut down that part of us that can feel joy and companionship thinking we would never need it. And by the time we found we did need it we're certain we wouldn't find it for ourselves."
In the next instant Kagome found herself lying flat on the mat they'd been sitting on, the wind knocked out of her. She took a couple of breaths while she tried to figure out what had happened. She looked up to see Sesshomaru hovering over her, a very intense look in his eyes.
"We are the same, are we?" his voice growled through his throat.
"Yes." She swallowed, he was close and she could feel his clothes lightly brushing against hers. She blushed at his proximity and their position.
He looked down at her. He watched the blush spread on her cheeks, accenting her blue eyes. She was temptation personified and she was clueless to her own charms. He had been paying attention all the times she had interacted with other males. It was as if she didn't see her own beauty or worth. Perhaps this was more of his brother's handy-work, though he may not be completely to blame, she was by nature a humble person. Time and again males paid her attention, even lavished her with gifts but she ignored them. No, that wasn't quite right, she didn't see the overtures for what they were, simply by the assumption she felt she didn't deserve them.
He lifted a hand alongside her head but she wasn't frightened. He traced two of his fingers down her cheek to her throat. He could feel her power just beneath the surface. He wanted to lick her pulse to see if he could taste it but he restrained himself.
She made a small sound in her throat and he nearly lost his composure. He growled in response and her eyes widened. His hand cupped her neck but didn't press around. He wanted her, there was no question in his mind on that now, but could he have her? Would she accept him and could he overlook his half-brother's prior claim?
"You vex me, woman," he said through grit teeth.
She gaped at him, her mouth opening and closing without speech for a moment. She was worried something was the matter, this wasn't like him at all. She feared she'd pushed him too far, but still she trusted him. Her hand came up to touch his face but before she could make contact he pulled away.
For a brief second he stood and looked down at her where she still lay on the floor then he quickly exited the dojo. Kagome was on the verge of tears at this point and unable to speak, if he stayed he knew he might do something he would regret so he did something he swore he would never do again. He ran from her.
As soon as he was gone she let the sadness sink into her. 'What have I done?' she thought as she pressed the heels of her hands to her burning eyes. She didn't even move from her place on the mat as the tears came.
~.o.~
It was an hour or more later when Kimiko came to find her mistress, by then Kagome had cried herself to sleep there on the floor. The demoness' heart broke at the pitiful sight. She sought out a more sympathetic guard and had him carry the exhausted priestess to her room. Once there she relieved the guard and readied the woman for bed.
She had no idea what had happened between the priestess and her lord but she prayed they'd work it out soon. For the sake of both their well-beings.
_.-._
Kagome woke with a very heavy heart and she wasn't sure why she felt that way until she remembered what had happened. She choked back a fresh wave of tears, she did not want to start crying again. She was past this. Or at least she could tell herself that.
It was irrational of her to think that he had pushed her away, they weren't 'together' in any sense of the word. She pressed a hand to her heart as she sat up in bed. Than why did it hurt so much?
"Kimiko?" She could feel the maid fretting right outside her door. She must have been the one to find her. She was embarrassed to be caught in such a position but she also hadn't meant to put undue stress on the young demon either.
"Coming in, my lady." Kimiko slid the door open, knelt in front of the miko, then shut the door.
"Would you please inform Lord Sesshomaru and Rin that I will be taking my leave today. Tell them that I have to return home due to unforeseen circumstances."
Kimiko bowed her head to the floor. "Please, please, do not go, Priestess. At least speak with Lord Sesshomaru first," she begged.
Kagome gave her a sad smile. "This is for the best. I'm sorry to lay my troubles at your feet as I have."
Kimiko sat back up shaking her head. "No, no. It is my honor to serve you."
Kagome was touched. "Thank you," she said softly.
The maid smiled briefly and took to laying out her clothes before she left to deliver the messages. Kagome supervised the packing of her few things then readied for her journey. She didn't even feel like eating so she only accepted a bundle of food for the road.
While things were finishing up she took the time to head to the infirmary. She figured this would be her last time here so she felt the need to say a proper goodbye.
On her way she halfheartedly looked for Sesshomaru but never caught so much as a glimpse of him. She sighed and walked into the hut. The elder demon doctor was in the front room when she arrived. "Hello, doctor," she said with as much pep as she could muster.
He looked up from what he was reading to give her a big smile. "Hello again, Lady Kagome. I've been meaning to come find you to commend you for the fine work you did with delivering Lady Rin's child."
Kagome smiled and nodded, her mind not really present. The doctor noticed her somber mood but said nothing. "Well, I mostly came to say goodbye. It – it may be some time before I'm back this way."
The doctor couldn't remain silent any longer. "Did you have a fight with our lord, Lady Kagome?" he asked bluntly.
Kagome gasped, but as she looked into the doctor's kind eyes she relented, at least in part. "Lord Sesshomaru and I were talking yesterday and he said some confusing things, then he left. I fear I may have said or done something to upset him." She rung her hands.
The old demon rubbed his chin. "I seem to remember a young pup, not than many centuries ago, who, when faced by large decisions, would take to escaping the grounds for a time to think. He would worry his mother so, but he always came back with his mind much clearer. Sometimes a demon, even a lord, has to sort out his thoughts from time to time." He took her hand in both of his. "I would not take his actions too deeply to heart."
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His words took a little of the weight off her heart. "Thank you. For everything," she whispered reverently.
He smiled brightly and patted her hand. "You take care of your self. I have a feeling we will be seeing each other again soon enough."
She smiled a real smile and nodded before taking her leave. She headed back into the mansion house, there were a few other people she needed to say goodbye to.
Kagome was met at the entryway by Rin holding Yozora, and Heto. Kagome walked up to the man with a smile. "Take care of them, if you need anything send word to me."
Heto bowed low and Rin followed suit. "I, we owe you so much, Priestess," he gushed. "I don't know how we could repay you."
She waved her hand in dismissal. "We are family, no need for repayment." He blushed and nodded. The priestess then turned her attention to the young woman. "I know you'll make a wonderful mother, take care of yourself."
Rin tilted her chin up. "Of course, because I had great mentors." The women smiled softly and embraced around the child.
Kagome kissed Yozora on the head then withdrew looking around them. "Have you seen Lord Sesshomaru?" She was saddened that he hadn't come to tell her goodbye, but she figured he was still upset with her.
Rin shook her head. "I have not seen my lord this morning."
Kagome sighed with a smile that felt a little too forced. A servant handed her her basket and they said their last farewells then she exited the main residence. She was still escorted by a guard as she descended the stairs. She glanced around as they walked to the outer gates to try again to see if she could catch a glimpse of Sesshomaru, but was disappointed. The guard deposited her at the gates with her thanks, he bowed then turned back to the citadel. She slipped through the partially open door, and heard it close with finality behind her.
She was watching her feet as she started on the path, deep in her thoughts. She was so distracted she almost ran into a white clad figure. "Lord Sesshomaru."
A/N: I'm toying with writing the backstory to Rin and Heto's relationship in a separate story. Maybe one day, definitely only after this beast is done. One disaster at a time, eh?