A Taste of Humanity

Disclaimer: Sesshomaru and all characters from Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, not me. This story is for entertainment purposes only; I make no profit from it.

A/N: Reviews are appreciated. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Family

He sat holding the long-empty tea cup deep in thought. 'Father loved me? He had said he loved that human, Izayoi. Love is for the weak, the pathetic, and the fools. I am not weak. I do not need love.' The sound of the door opening drew him from his thoughts. Someone peered shyly into the hut. With an obvious attempt at stealth, Rin entered the hut, carrying a small bag with her. Seeing him watching her, she scurried to him, her usual smile bright even in the shadows of the miko's hut. She seemed to be hesitant of others hearing.

"Rin," he said softly, drawing her attention. She beamed at him, presenting the tiny bag.

"Rin has brought you something to eat, Lord Sesshomaru," she whispered. He opened the bag and pulled out a small round object. 'Mochi cakes? She brought me her favorite desserts?' He popped the treat into his mouth, enjoying the taste of something aside from the foul teas he was being given. "They wouldn't let Rin in to see you," she pouted, "Rin was worried. Rin… missed you." He looked into the girl's eyes. Even without his demon senses, he could see her emotions written clearly on her face.

"Th…" he paused, 'I should not say it… but…' "This Sesshomaru missed you too, Rin." Surprise, then joy spread across her face. She threw her arms around him, something she had always refrained from before. Though startled by her action, he found he was not displeased. He instead wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug. She shifted in the hug and grabbed the bag of cakes. Looking up at him, she offered him another. Not wanting to remove his arms from around her, he took the cake from her with his mouth. She giggled and he found himself smiling softly as well. She reached into the bag and began feeding him the sweet desserts as he cradled her in his arms.

All too soon the bag was empty and Rin started to leave. He pulled her tighter to him, the empty bag falling to the floor. 'What am I doing? Why do I not want her to go?' Rin did not argue with his continued embrace and decided instead to cuddle into him further. He wasn't wearing his usual armor and her warmth against him gave him an odd sensation of contentment. 'She has grown quite a bit since I first met her,' he thought, studying his young ward. She was thirteen now, still young, but she had insisted on returning to him. 'She could've stayed here, found a human mate, could have had a normal life.' Yet she chose him, a demon. He realized he did not know why she had chosen a life wandering alongside a demon over a safe, normal life here in the village.

"Rin," he whispered, his chest suddenly tight with uncertainty. She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering in the faint light. "Why did you wish to return to me?" 'What has gotten into me? Why do I care what her reasons are?' "You could've stayed here. You still could if you wish." He felt her shift a bit in his arms.

"No," she said simply, shaking her head. "I wish to stay with you. I…" He noticed she dropped her usual third-person speech. She looked down shyly, but didn't continue. Taking her chin in hand, he tilted her head so their eyes met. He gazed at her softly, hoping she would continue. She licked her lips uncertainly. "This village is nice, but… it isn't home. Home is special, it's… my home… is with you." Her cheeks flushed slightly at this admission. He found himself engulfed in warmth. 'Her home is with me? Does she wish to be my… No, she must know I won't become tainted like my father, yet…' he contemplated her statement, remembering his dream nights before. "Lord Sesshomaru?" He pulled himself from his thoughts realizing Rin was looking anxious.

"What is wrong Rin?" She began chewing her lower lip, a habit she had when she was nervous.

"Are you mad at Rin?" Shocked by the girl's question, he pulled her to him.

"Why would you think that?" He was being far more talkative than he usually was, but it didn't feel as odd as he thought it would. He felt, at ease with her, knowing she had no hidden agenda, unlike many demons he typically dealt with.

"You seemed upset at my answer," her voice was so soft he had to strain to hear her.

"No," he assured her, "This Sesshomaru is not upset with your answer." He closed his eyes briefly, gathering his thoughts. "I am simply trying to understand." Her eyes widened a bit as she noticed he had dropped his third-person speech as well. 'I must be getting soft…'

"Oh… Home is where those you care for are," she explained, "It's a special place; a safe, happy place. When my family was killed, I lost my home too. Then you came. I had a new home… a new… family." Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly. 'She… she sees me as family. Jaken and Ah-Un as well, by the sound of it. We make an odd family to be sure.' He nodded his understanding and she smiled. She began talking about how Jaken was like a grumpy old grandfather and he found himself smiling as well. She babbled on about random things and he was content to just listen to her voice. Before long he found himself growing sleepy once more, the sound of Rin's chatter soothing him as well as any lullaby. Content for the first time in centuries, Sesshomaru drifted off to sleep.

Sesshomaru awoke to the sound of the door to the hut opening. Through his sleep-heavy eyes he saw the miko approach him. He noticed the soft smile on her lips and remembered Rin had snuck in to see him. Glancing down he saw her cuddled into his arms fast asleep. He returned his gaze to the miko, unsure how to regain his dignity after being found in such a position. She simply kept smiling and wrapped a blanket around the sleeping girl.

"I told her you needed rest, but she must have really wanted to see you." Kagome noticed the empty bag on the floor and her smile widened. "Seems I've discovered where the cakes disappeared to." Sesshomaru felt his cheeks heat guiltily. 'Why am I feeling guilt? Rin pilfered the cakes not me, yet she did it for me…' Shoving the strange feeling aside he stared at the miko. She was his brother's mate, so therefore his sister-in-law, yet he rarely used her name, let alone acknowledged they were now family. 'That woman claimed to be family as well,' he thought, 'yet if she is Izayoi's sister she would be Inuyasha's aunt, not mine. However, he and I are brothers, albeit half-brothers…' His attention turned back to the miko who was preparing more tea. He didn't think he needed more of the foul brew, but she was more familiar with frail human bodies than he was. When he took a sip however, it was not the same drink he had been given for his illness. It had a light, refreshing taste with a hint of honey.

"You were expecting more of that herbal tea weren't you?" Kagome asked. He nodded, not sure how to take her knowing smirk. 'She is a miko,' he told himself, 'of course she knows the stuff is foul-tasting, yet that smirk… does she enjoy making people drink the horrid stuff?' He found himself smirking at the thought of her giving the stuff to his brother. Rin shifted against him, a strand of hair falling into her face. With surprising tenderness, he brushed the hair back into place. A smile appeared on her face just before her brown eyes opened to stare calmly up at him. Her words the night before came back to him. 'I have always acted as if I have no family,' he realized, 'yet here I am surrounded by those who are family… those who… care.' It was strangely comforting, knowing he was not alone. He sipped his tea as Rin rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. 'Two more days left until I return to my demon self. Two more days to learn whatever my 'aunt' wants me to learn.' He had to admit his anger towards the woman was steadily fading. He was becoming curious instead. 'What lesson could a powerful dog demon learn by having a taste of humanity?' He set the empty cup down and noticed the miko had left. Rin, however, was quietly watching him from his lap. He wondered why she had not gone outside since she loved bright, sunny days and it looked to be just that today. Yet she sat in his lap watching him in the shadowy hut.

"Rin," he said softly, though he was not sure what to say. She blinked and realized his question without him asking it.

"Rin wants to stay with you milord," she said, "Perhaps you would get better faster out in the nice sunny weather?" He smiled as he realized she wanted to be outside, yet did not want to leave him alone in the hut. He nodded and she sprang up out of his lap. He expected her to wait anxiously by the door, yet again he was surprised. She stayed close, ready to aid him should his legs be too weak to support him after being left unused for so long. He managed to stand on his wobbly legs and, with just the subtle assistance of Rin's shoulder, he strode slowly from the hut. Before he could take more than a couple steps out of the hut, a red blur appeared before him.

"What are you doing out of bed?" his brother demanded. Sesshomaru could tell that his brother was concerned even though he tried to cover it with his usual gruff demeanor. 'It's odd,' he thought, 'I try to kill him so often for being weak, yet when I'm the weak one he shows concern.' Though secretly touched by Inuyasha's concern, he adopted his usual attitude.

"This Sesshomaru does not need to explain himself to a half-breed like you," he stated coldly, though he could have sworn it sounded different than normal. His brother seemed to pick up on it as well, the white ears on his head twitching about.

"Keh," Inuyasha shrugged and then clapped a clawed hand on his older brother's shoulder. "Your attitude seems healthy enough so I guess you'll live. Don't overdo it or Kagome will have my head for letting you leave the hut." Before he had a chance to reply, his brother was a blur again. 'Continuing his patrol no doubt,' he mused. Rin seemed unfazed by the half-demon and continued leading him out into the sun-drenched village.