Icy discoveries

Feudal era…..

Sesshoumaru stood leaning against the wall watching the girl hug Tetsaiga to her chest as tears streamed down her face. The older Miko was sitting beside her with an arm around the girls shoulders rocking her back and forth trying to console her and ease the grief from losing the hanyou. Her sadness permeated the air nearly choking him. He had to leave soon; he couldn't stand the smell of weakness from the girl. When he had found the hanyou dead he had tried to use the Tenseiga on him but his soul had already departed. He had found tetsaiga among the bodies and when he had picked it up it had throbbed slightly and Sesshoumaru felt its grief as well from losing its master.

He had decided to bring it back to the human because he neither wanted nor needed the sword. When he had handed it over to the girl she had asked where Inuyasha was but when he didn't answer her eyes started to glaze over before the tears slid down her cheeks. He should have left then but he didn't because he didn't want to leave her alone to do something stupid. He had heard that humans who lost their loved ones often took their own life out of desperation and although he didn't necessarily care for this girl, Rin did. So he had waited until the older miko had come to the hut but still he remained and he wasn't sure why.

Frustrated with him self and wanting to get back to Rin he stood and walked out the door. Before he took a few steps the girl's weak voice stopped him.

"Sesshoumaru…where will you take Inuyasha's body?" she questioned in her grief laden voice.

He turned and could tell she was trying hard not to sob, "I will bury him with father."

She gave a weak nod before turning and dashing back into the hut. Sesshoumaru could hear the girl's sobs as he exited the village.

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It had been three weeks since Inuyasha's death and yet everyday seemed to feel like the first day she had found out. Kagome's chest tightened at the thought of Inuyasha and she felt the tears well up. She hurt so much and even though Kaede tried, nothing could console her. She felt utterly alone and wished she could go back home to her time where her mother was. At least there she wouldn't have so many reminders of Inuyasha. Everywhere she turned she saw him and it was a constant reminder of what she lost. It wasn't for lack of trying that she couldn't go home the well wouldn't let her through. The second day she had tried but sprained her ankle when she had climbed halfway down and then jumped the rest of the way.

She thought back to the three years she had been stuck in her own time and had repeatedly jumped through the well trying to get back to Inuyasha. No matter what she did then the portal hadn't opened until one day it just did. Now she was stuck here in the past and all she wanted was to go home where she wouldn't be so alone.

The week that Inuyasha had died, Kagome had went to the place where he had been found to see if there were any signs of her other friends but there was nothing. Part of her had been glad because it gave her hope they were still alive but they had not returned and that fact was slowly chipping away the hope.

She wiped the tears away that had started to fall and walked up the stairs that led up to the well but instead of going to the well she went to the tree where she had seen Inuyasha. She touched the bark and closed her eyes.

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Rin shot forward running full speed towards Kagome's hut. She had cried and threw a fit until he had agreed to bring her so she could see Kagome. He realized that he had been avoiding the village for some time since the Hanyou's death. He knew that it unfair to Rin, especially of how close she had become with the humans, but he hadn't want to bring her to an environment that was filled with sadness.

He walked into the hut and Rin was in the arms of the old miko hugging her tightly, she leaned back slightly and asked, "Where's Kagome?"

Sesshoumaru looked around; he hadn't even realized the girl's absence until then. The old miko stood and patted the child on the head, "She'll be back shortly child, she went to visit the Goshinboku."

Rin smiled and started telling the miko about her adventures of the past weeks which let Sesshoumaru slip from the hut. Why would the girl visit a tree?

He followed her scent until he reached the woods where the tree stood and spotted the young girl sitting with her back towards him. She appeared to just be sitting there until he neared closer and then he heard her voice.

She is talking to the tree as if it where alive? He moved closer still so he could hear what she was saying.

"It is not the same now that you're gone. I keep expecting you to show up and tell me it was a joke or something to teach me a lesson…but you never do. I know it sounds silly but what I miss the most is the way we would argue. I know that it was your way of showing that you cared, even if you didn't want to admit it sometimes. Sometimes I feel it was all my fault. I know you were only trying to protect me that day but maybe if I would have went with you, I could have protected you," she paused and Sesshoumaru heard her crying

So she isn't talking to the tree she is talking to Inuyasha. Looking at the tree he saw that it was the same one that Inuyasha had been pinned to. There were flowers lying next to the tree. She has made it his memorial so she would still have a connection to him.

The mention of his name brought his attention back to what the girl had been saying, "You two were a lot alike, he wouldn't admit it either but I think he cared about you and in his own way he tried to show it. He even turned over Tetsaiga to me," she had picked up the sword and hugged it, "I think a part of him knew I would need it. He also agreed to bury you with your father which is an honor."

Was she right, did he bury Inuyasha because he actually cared for the Hanyou? No, I did it because it was the thing to do because that would be what father wanted.

"I'll find those demons Inuyasha, I'll grow stronger, learn to wield a sword, and then go after them and I will not stop until they are all dead," Sesshoumaru heard the malice in the girls voice. He watched as she squared her shoulders and stood with a new determination.

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Sesshoumaru had permitted Rin to stay in the village but he was never far away. When the young miko had returned to find Rin, they both had been so happy. He had watched as they took walks in the woods and down to the river. Rin had companionship and the miko had found a distraction. He had watched her slowly start to turn back into the girl who had traveled with his half-brother. She was smiling more but Sesshoumaru could still see some of the sadness in her eyes.

After that day at the tree the miko had started to sneak out at night, usually dressed in nothing but her pajamas and Sesshoumaru would watch in amusement as she tried to wield tetsaiga. It never transformed for her but she would slash and jab at the air as if she were really fighting demons. The visit to the tree became a daily habit and Sesshoumaru would listen in as the miko talked to Inuyasha as if he were really there.

Sesshoumaru had watched through all of it but he hadn't anticipated for the miko to actually go out and hunt down demons. He followed her like always but instead of going the usual route she had veered off toward Mount Hirun which was a breeding ground for many lesser demons. For any demon it was the perfect place to learn but for the girl it was too dangerous.

He stayed back, but not too far, as she climbed the mountain and when she had reached the entrance watched her wondering what she would do. Drawing the Tetsaiga she screamed into the opening, "I know you're down there, If you want me come get me!"

Was it courage or stupidity that provoked her to call forth those demons? For a moment nothing happened and the girl just stood there but then like and angry beehive the demons came pouring out aiming right at the girl.

Sesshoumaru flew forward and using his Bakusaiga cut through them. When they were all dead he turned towards the miko who had slumped to the ground on her knees. He walked over to her and stood there.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"You would have gotten killed," he stated.

The miko pushed herself to her feet and walked towards him, "You had no right to do that."

"You were being foolish," Sesshoumaru replied looking down at her.

"I was trying to become stronger," she argued.

"So you could avenge somebody who was more foolish," the miko glared at him then.

"Don't you dare say that, he was protecting me," cried the miko.

"He was irresponsible and he paid for it with his life," Seshoumaru said.

"You don't understand, if I had been there, if I had…," she started crying and Sesshoumaru was surprised when she threw herself into him, burying her head against his chest. At first he didn't react but then he brought his arms up and wrapped them around the girl and let her cry as he stroked her hair. Having her in his arms was a new experience to him and it made him feel a little uncomfortable. In a way this girl was much like Rin, she needed protection and Sesshoumaru would protect her.