The Guardian

by Ichigo2491

Hi, y'all! Sorry about the wait, I just went back to school and it's been stressful... not to mention the fact that the next chapter might have to wait a while also, due to the fact that I have lousy play practice practically every day for the next couple months.

Warning: There is death in this chapter. It is a small person who dies so if it makes you sick to read about kids dying you have been warned. Don't worry, it's nothing very graphic. I myself don't like reading about kids dying, writing about it is another matter entirely.

Disclaimer: I ain't no Takahashi-sama, y'dang fool! I don't own me no Inuyasha.

Chapter Five

"Rafu! Rafu-chan, where are you?" Rin called from the doorway of the small house. Hands on her slender hips, she stared out into the greenery on the edge of the forest that was one of her son's favorite places to play. Was there a rustling in those bushes? No, nor did her child come when he was called.

"Honestly," Rin muttered. "Only five years old, and he's already wandering. I'll have to give him a talking to when he gets home." She sighed and went back into the house. "Kohaku," she said to her husband, who was busily fletching arrows in his favorite spot in the corner, "Rafu's run off into the woods again and he won't come when I call."

Kohaku looked up, his eyes slightly hazy as usual. "I'm sure he's alright, Rin. He's a smart boy, he never goes too far."

"I can't help but worry," Rin protested. "He's been gone half an hour! How can you be so calm?"

Kohaku's eyes widened, and he suddenly looked alert. "Half an hour, you say?" As Rin nodded, her husband's brow furrowed in thought. "Well, you do know Rafu and the headman's son made that fort in the woods. They're probably having the time of their lives out there. Tell you what, if he's not back in another half hour I'll go out there and bring him straight home."

Rin sighed, and nodded resignedly as Kohaku went back to his work. Just then a thin wail emanated from the basket by the fire. "Oh precious, don't cry!" Rin crooned, bending down and scooping up the baby from his blanket. "Mama's here, Yukio-chan." As she rocked the infant gently in her arms, he quieted, and sucked on a small fist.

Kohaku looked up briefly from his arrows and focused his attention on his wife and son. They made a pretty picture, and the sight of the baby in his mother's arms should have warmed Kohaku's heart. But Rin had been rather cross and fussy lately, and Kohaku knew it was because the motherly and wifely duties were wearing on her. Not that she resented being a mother… Rin doted on both her sons. No, it was the wife part she was still struggling with.

Not that they were unhappy. The couple shared their tender moments, sometimes Rin even initiated this. They conversed with each other about things both monumental and trivial, and their arguments were rare and quickly settled. But intimacy… true emotional intimacy… that was something else altogether. Kohaku and Rin were not like husband and wife emotionally, but like two caring, devoted friends who just happened to live in the same house and conceive two children together.

Kohaku had to tear his eyes away from Rin and Yukio. He felt sick for even thinking such thoughts. Rin cared for him, he could feel it. But though the issue had been mentioned for the past five years, ever since that fateful day when he had confronted Rin with her emotions, it was still… an issue.

If Sesshomaru were to show up, here, today, in plain view of Rin, and ask her to return to him… would she do it? Kohaku could not help but wonder, though he cursed himself for doing so. Sesshomaru had not appeared for almost six months, ever since around the time Yukio was born, but Kohaku knew the demon hadn't finished with them yet. He had been bringing various things by for the past five years, appearing once every three months or so.

Rin had never seen him, or heard him, and indeed had no inkling about his visits. Sesshomaru left things with Kohaku, or put them in a place where only Kohaku would think to look, and though it was becoming more difficult for him to think of excuses for the presence of the merchandise, the young demon-slayer was determined that Rin would never know of Sesshomaru's solicitations, for fear that she would leave…

Sesshomaru never asked how Rin was doing, but Kohaku told him anyway, because he knew that the demon wanted to know. Though he appeared indifferent as Kohaku told him of Rin's good health and tender care for Rafu, Sesshomaru was secretly drinking in every detail, and Kohaku could see that without much difficulty.

I'm not going to think like this anymore, Kohaku told himself firmly. Rin is mine. Do you hear, Sesshomaru?

With that, he went back to his work, ignoring the little voices.

"Hey, Ichiro-sama," Rafu suggested to his companion, sticking his scruffy brown head out from under the ramshackle fort, "shouldn't we be getting back soon?"

"Nah, Rafu-chan," the headman's son answered carelessly, piling more fallen leaves on the roof of the structure. "If our folks want us back they'll come find us."

"I guess you're right," Rafu sighed.

"I'm always right," said Ichiro arrogantly, "I'm going to be the headman of this village one day you know."

"Yeah, yeah," Rafu grumbled, retreating into the fort.

"What was that, peasant? Do you disrespect your headman?" Ichiro said with a fierce scowl.

"I mean, why of course my master!" Rafu simpered sarcastically. It was at that very moment that he heard a rumbling sound coming from the underbrush. "What's that noise, Ichiro-sama?"

"I dunno," Ichiro returned, looking up warily from his makeshift fireplace.

"You said you knew everything a minute ago, Ichiro-no-baka!" Rafu snapped. He didn't mean to be so obnoxious, but the sounds in the woods were truly spooking him.

"Don't speak to me like that!" Just then, the rumbling came again, closer this time.

"Stop making that noise, Ichiro!" Rafu said angrily. "It isn't funny!" His heart was beating fast and his throat felt tight with a nameless fear.

"I told you I'm making any noise, Rafu-chan!" Ichiro's voice was just as edgy as his friend's. The sound came closer. No, it was not rumbling, it was definitely a growl. Ichiro froze in terror as into the clearing stepped the source of the sound… a large, shaggy grey wolf, bigger than any that either boy had ever seen.

"Ichiro-sama," Rafu whispered, poking his head out of the fort, "get in here, quick, where it's safe!" The wolf bared its yellow fangs in a snarl at Ichiro, who was frozen with shock and stood trembling as the animal paced him.

It happened in the blink of an eye. One second, the wolf was a good five paces from the little boy, the next, it had pounced on him and pressed the terrified six-year-old to the ground. Ichiro only had time to scream one thing: "Rafu-chan, help…" before the wolf closed his jaws around the boy's throat, and the child breathed no more.

Kohaku looked up suddenly, his heart thudding furiously fast in his chest. Rafu-chan, he thought, Rafu is in danger… and there is a demon in the area. He could not explain how he knew that his son's life was at stake… he could simply feel it, as clearly as he could feel the aura of a canine demon not far away.

Getting to his feet, he tried to conceal his rising panic. "I'm going to find Rafu, Rin," he said in a monotone. "Don't leave the house while I'm gone." Before his puzzled wife could ask any questions, Kohaku was out the door, chain-sickle in hand, running, running… praying like hell that he would be the first to reach his little boy.

That's it for chapter five. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I was pressed for time. But hey, this story isn't called The Guardian for nothing! I hope you are all enjoying the story, and I'll update as soon as the Drama Club Gods permit. Ja ne!