Rin's Future

There were other questions that Sesshoumaru wished to have answered but now was obviously not the time. Inuyasha had made it quite clear to his friends that he had nothing further to say and Sesshoumaru didn't wish to aggravate the pup by pushing for knowledge that was not forthcoming; at least not yet. There was a fairly easy quiet for the rest of the morning while both brothers watched Rin and Kohaku annoy Jaken and then Sesshoumaru asked Inuyasha to walk with him as he still had questions.

Sesshoumaru didn't fail to notice the fact that Inuyasha was on the defensive already and he allowed his own body language to relax, hoping to put his brother more at ease. Inuyasha looked in surprise when he felt a clawed hand touch his arm gently and turned to see Sesshoumaru's calm gaze.

"Inuyasha, you said that the Shikon jewel has gone and your Miko…Kagome returned to her home; you indicated that the Meidou lead you into the heart of the jewel and that its purpose was to cause Kagome to continue the fight between the factions. You however denied that was the reason for her presence in our time, saying that she was born for you and you for her."

"Yeah, so what?"

"Poetical thinking, but if you do think so, why is she not here with you now? What actually happened Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru's voice was gentle but firm, he required an answer and Inuyasha wound himself up even tighter, pulling on his reserves of control that he had learned the hard way when he had travelled with Sesshoumaru as a pup.

"That damned jewel…it tormented Kagome with visions of her home, her family and the life she should have if she'd never come here. It wanted her to wish to go home so that the wish would be used and corrupted…it had no intention of letting her go. It told me that she was going to wish for the safety of her time to escape, rather than face the darkness she was surrounded by. I promised her mama that she would be fine."

"So when you had the opportunity you took her home to the future and left her? This was what she wanted?"

"Yeah, that's about it."

"You fell for the jewel's deception too; only instead of encouraging her to make the wish, you fulfilled it for her when the jewel was destroyed."

"Feh, I fell for nothing. I promised her Mama I would protect her…I could hear them call to her… they was crying for her and when she got back…they all needed one another. Kagome deserved to get what she wanted and it weren't me…not then. She's still a child in her time Sesshoumaru…"

"As are you in yours, Inuyasha."

"Keh, I've not been a pup since Mama died; anyhow Kagome needed them, her family, and what she can get in her life. She didn't need a penniless hanyou outcast with nothing but a sword and the clothes he stands up in. I have my honour and that said return her, so I did… her family's nice, they always made me feel wanted…I had to give her back…I didn't know the well would close but I still would've done it…we might not know what family is, but it's a powerful thing to belong and she does…"

"I know what family is hanyou; I had one before you and your mother destroyed it." Sesshoumaru hissed. Instead of rising to the bait this time and lashing out in self defence, Inuyasha hung his head and sighed heavily.

"Yeah. I'm sorry… an' if I could give it back to you like I did Kagome, I would do; but it's not possible and it seems like you and me can't get over that. I don't want to fight Sesshoumaru; I've had enough for now. Look, I'm going away for a bit; you can go back to your kid and the toad thing, I got no more answers."

"Inuyasha, did your youki feel empty when you were in the Jewel; as if there was a hole in your soul." Sesshoumaru didn't know why he asked such a personal and potentially revealing question of his brother, especially as he'd just upset the boy by his acid rejoinder about family, but it was important to him to know.

"If you are asking if I feel alone all the time then yes, I am always alone inside; the causes are often different, but alone is something that a hanyou is always." Inuyasha whispered, but he had answered his brother. The whelp obviously knew very well what the emptiness felt like, but not the true reason for it and Sesshoumaru once again felt a twinge of guilt for never having tried to fill his little brother's heart.

He watched as Inuyasha first walked away and then took off at a run to a destination unknown as yet. Sesshoumaru didn't really know Kagome very well although he now had some respect for her normally, but it was in decline as he thought about how Inuyasha's hopes of a mate and family had vanished yet again.

Once Inuyasha had gone from sight, his brother followed to make sure that he was still in the vicinity; but he found that the hanyou was not intending to stop anytime soon and was now running out of his normal boundaries. But he would not go far nor stay away too long, he was an Inu, loyal and protective of those he cared about and he would soon be back to check on his remaining pack; besides keeping an eye on that well.

Not being able to do anything to help his brother was frustrating and he was annoyed that he had once again indicated that it was Inuyasha's fault that their father was killed; but it was done and said, he could not take it back now. Therefore Sesshoumaru thought it was as good a time as any to speak with Rin and explain his plans for her future, so he removed her from the camp with orders for no one to follow and started to walk with her to the village.

"Rin, This Sesshoumaru has come to a decision that I expect you to obediently follow even though you will probably not like it." That of course was an understatement, Sesshoumaru knew. There was only one fear Rin had when it came to her Lord and instinctively she understood what he was about to say.

"You are leaving Rin; you don't want Rin anymore?" She said her voice rising swiftly to a wail.

"Why would you jump to such a conclusion Rin?"

"Jaken always said you would go and build your empire and leave me."

"Jaken is correct but he does not have all the facts." He stared at the child who had dissolved into tears and had sunk to her knees in the grass. The sight made his heart hurt, he had never caused the girl any sort of pain before and he wasn't sure what he could do; he could not take her with him any longer.

"I will explain Rin if you stop these tears."

"Ye…yes Lord Sesshoumaru; Rin is trying but they keep coming." And she was, swallowing her sobs and causing hiccups to shake her small frame. Sesshoumaru wondered where his patience came from, but he had no inclination to beat her as he had done Inuyasha many times when the young whelp had felt the desire to weep.

When the pup had been with him his tears were an unwelcome sign of the boy's humanity just as Rin's were; but he realised now that Inuyasha had only been the same age as Rin or even younger and even ten year old youkai were still able to cry. He had forgotten that at the time and had punished the boy for his less than youkai like behaviour.

Now he remembered that when he was about that age he liked to ride on his father's back and hide away from the world by using his father's hair as a shield if he was in distress. Inu no Taishou had never berated his son for this, but had always been there and strong for him; allowing the child his place of safety to cry when he'd received punishment from his tutors or sometimes even his mother's discipline.

The older Sesshoumaru felt shame that his younger self had not recalled this fact when dealing with Inuyasha who had come into his care at eight years of age and never been given any understanding. No wonder then the boy hardly trusted his older brother now when Sesshoumaru wanted to start to make some amends; considering too that he had abandoned Inuyasha in the forest at age ten with only a meagre ration and hollow tree for a home.

He was leaving Rin at the age of ten too, but he had at least procured a proper home for her and would promise not to forget her as he would visit. He hadn't forgotten Inuyasha either and had visited him; but it was usually to sneer or make his life miserable for a while, even if he did also make sure that there were no dangers too large for the boy to handle around him.

He remembered too the little boy on his human nights, too scared to sleep and yet alerting any youkai by the heavy scent of fear to his condition. The child couldn't even contain his whimpers as he shivered in the night, blind to everything around him unless he made a fire which he rarely did, preferring to hide completely. Sesshoumaru had never told Inuyasha that he had watched over him on every moonless night until he was old enough to deal with it himself.

He had never allowed Rin to become as scared as the small human Inuyasha though, he had never even considered that she not be treated correctly and realised that he had used his prior knowledge of Inuyasha somewhat to be alert to Rin. Inuyasha may be hanyou and therefore different to both youkai and human but his human heart was the same as Rin's, he had been just as loving and loyal at first; now Sesshoumaru found himself hoping he would be just as forgiving.

As his mind ran over all these memories, he had allowed himself to reach down to Rin and pick her up bringing his tail around to comfort her. He then went to sit beneath a tree to wait until he could speak to her once again. Soon she just snuffled but relaxed into his fur and was ready to listen as he spoke gently but firmly, his voice soothing her but brooking no tolerance of argument.

"Rin, you trust This Sesshoumaru do you not?"

"Yes Lord Sesshoumaru, always."

"In a few years, you will become a young woman and you will come to understand why I cannot have you accompany me any longer."

"Tell me now please."

"No, Rin; you are too young at the moment, but the time will come soon enough. Kaede will look after you and the slayer too will help you understand what it means to become a human woman. You do need your own kind of people to grow up and before you decide anything in the future."

"I don't like humans."

"This Sesshoumaru understands the sentiment; but nevertheless, these will be kind to you."

"What do you mean decide in my future?"

"Many choices can be offered to an educated and well behaved human female in the world Rin even in the youkai world; many youkai have human servants and a Miko trained girl can be of great help to them. That is just one possibility, there are undoubtedly others; but now you will need to grow and learn."

To Sesshoumaru's dismay but not surprise, Rin's tears started afresh; she would accept his decision with good grace, but she hated it. She had no good memories of staying in a village and she would miss the travel and her other companions; years might pass swiftly for the timeless youkai but for a young human they dragged on and on. Sesshoumaru was not ignorant however of the passing seasons and he would not let too long go by without a visit knowing how important he was to the girl.

It was the least he could do for her, she had brought life and light to his life and he could admit that he was inordinately fond of the creature; at least he could in his own mind. She had helped him see that humans were not all bad and had some interesting qualities that were worth protecting. His father might have taken it to extremes by rutting with one, but he could now see some of the attraction in the pet like child.

He could admit too that he would miss her and her constant chatting and her singing that also served as amusement when it annoyed Jaken. He then remembered his vivid dream with the little girl active and bright but the small boy trampled into a sullen and dull version of his normal self and a bitter taste came into his mouth. He vowed that he would never allow that to happen to a child in his care and that included Inuyasha, who even if he wished to be seen as grown up, was far from it.

"Rin, This Sesshoumaru also has a request for you; are you willing to hear it?"

"Yes, Rin will hear and do what you ask me."

"You are a good child Rin; I will be visiting you and Inuyasha. But at the moment he is mourning for Kagome; he will not show it, but I want you to keep an eye on him and let me know how he is. Can you do this and do you understand?" Sesshoumaru was pleased with himself now as the girl nodded her assent; he was not expecting her to look after Inuyasha, but it would give her a reason not to dwell on Sesshoumaru's absence.

He then also realised he would have to see Inuyasha to ask him to do the same thing in reverse and keep an eye out for Rin and for the first time he was unsure how his brother would react to that. He didn't think Inuyasha was overly fond of the girl but Sesshoumaru knew he wouldn't harm her and would protect her once he'd agreed.

Now it was time to take Rin to the elderly Miko and get her settled or as settled as she would be for a while. Kaede welcomed both of them into her hut and showed Rin where she could put her belongings and her bed. Miroku had offered Inuyasha and himself to extend the hut so that the two women would have extra room perhaps to use as a bedroom; the Miko's hut was not a private place by virtue of her calling, but Rin at least would need more privacy.

Rin was polite and thanked Kaede for giving her a home and she gratefully accepted a bowl of stew and dumplings from her. Kaede hadn't missed the tearstained face but Rin made no fuss and the Miko was grateful that the Daiyoukai had obviously dealt with the girl already. She also observed that Sesshoumaru was aloof but not unkind towards the child and he sat near enough to allow his tail to unobtrusively rest at Rin's back offering her comfort and support.

Sesshoumaru scented Inuyasha after a while and stood up to leave and find his brother who was standing close to the well, his head bowed down and turned away. He waited to be acknowledged by Inuyasha before speaking.

"Sesshoumaru."

"Little Brother, you are planning to stay here in this village are you not?"

"Yeah, it's nearest my home."

"I understood the village was your home."

"Goshinboku is my home; well, the nearest thing I've got to a home anyway."

"You are well Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru had noticed the red rimmed eyes despite the clues that Inuyasha had tried to get rid of the evidence and the Daiyoukai felt annoyance that he had two tearful charges and that he could do nothing to stop the grief of either.

"I'm fine Sesshoumaru."

"You are not, you grieve for the Miko; it is understandable."

"Feh! I do not; why would I? I barely knew the girl, what's a couple of years in my lifetime. She was my shard detector that's all. I won't miss her, why miss something that doesn't belong to you. She wanted her family and I gave her back, so there are no regrets; O.K?"

"Inuyasha, you could never lie; especially not to me, I know you intended to make her your mate."

"Yeah, well, that's all in the past so there's no point in crying over something you can't change is there… that's what you always said ain't it; so what was it you wanted?"

Sesshoumaru recognised that he would get no further without a fight and he didn't want to push the boy, after all he was only acting in the way Sesshoumaru had trained him as a pup. He didn't really want to ask Inuyasha about Rin either at the moment while he was in such turmoil and really needed looking after himself but it was necessary; Sesshoumaru was required home in the West now that Naraku was defeated.

He had put off the restoration work of his father's empire and the founding of his own dynasty for long enough and wanted to check on all that had happened in his prolonged absence. He knew that his advisors would have informed him of serious trouble, they were loyal to him and had served his father too, but Sesshoumaru had been away a long time. It was time for him to stamp his own mark on the West permanently.

"Inuyasha, I must return to the West and Rin cannot come with me. She is going to stay here with the old Miko and I would ask you to extend your protection to her as well as your pack. I will be visiting from time to time." Sesshoumaru was not prepared for the bitter laugh that came from Inuyasha.

"Let me get this straight…you want your mongrel brother to look after your pure bred human because you no longer can? Huh, that's a laugh, poor kid; did you give her a good reason for why you're dumping her?"

"This Sesshoumaru is not 'dumping' her and my reasons are sound if you think it out for yourself." Sesshoumaru ignored the other part of Inuyasha's question as he knew the hanyou was out for a fight to help him get rid of his pain; but now was not the time to indulge him.

"She accepts I have my reasons she is more intelligent than…" He was stopped as Inuyasha jumped in;

"Me, right? Yeah well figures; what with my dirty blood how could I ever hope to have brains? I should still be crawling on the ground in your eyes."

"Cease this petulance and listen to me; I was going to say Rin is more intelligent than many of her breed much older than she. Plus you know that is not how I think of you now."

"No, I don't."

"Little Brother, I know it was not your fault that Father was killed, he made his own choices…when you vanished for those three days This Sesshoumaru felt your absence keenly."

TBC