Do not own Inuyasha.
Fear
Camp was peaceful that night. An elk roasted over the fire. Sango and Kohaku taking turns in checking on it. Kagome had her hands full with the little ones. She sat up against a tree stump. Rin stood on the stump brushing Kagome's hair. Shippo sat in Kagome's lap, she was brushing his hair. Quickly she finished with Shippo, and he took Rin's place on the stump and she sat in Kagome's lap.
No one had ever brushed her hair before Kagome did it when the groups first joined up. Rin loved it, she always thought that this is what a mother did for their child. When she mentioned it, Kagome said that her mother use to do this for her when she was Rin's age. This time it was no different, Rin adored it when Kagome brushed her hair.
"Rin?" Kagome asked as she ran the brush down.
"Yes Lady Kagome." the quiet reply.
"I was wondering if you would tell me why you were afraid this afternoon?" she asked.
There was no answer. A few minutes passed, only the brush strokes making noise.
"It's alright Rin. You don't have to tell me. Just know that I am here if you ever do decide to talk about it." Kagome stated.
"I know." the whispered response.
"Do you want me to put your hair up or do want your usual?" Kagome asked.
"Up please." she answered.
"Rin?" a baritone asked.
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru." she replied.
"You are safe. You may tell her." he stated.
"Rin died." she said.
A whispered gasp escaped. "What!"
"Rin was attacked by wolves and Rin died." she said.
"Was it Koga's wolves?" Kagome asked.
"Rin does not know, but Rin is frightened of wolves." she said.
Kagome looked straight at Sesshomaru, no words were spoken, but the question was clear. He inclined his head in affirmative. Kagome looked down at Rin.
"Rin?" she questioned.
"Yes." she replied.
"Would you like to know what I'm afraid of?" Kagome asked.
"Your afraid of something?" Rin inquired.
"I sure am. But my fear may seem silly." Kagome stated.
"What is it?" Rin asked.
"Enclosed spaces." she replied.
"Why?" she questioned.
"You remember when I said how my father died? Well I was in the carriage also when the accident occured. I was trapped inside for a time and I couldn't get out. I was scared that it was going to crush me. Ever since then I don't like enclosed spaces." Kagome told her.
"Rin understands. That is not silly at all." she said.
"Don't you ever worry Kagome, I'll never let something like that happened to you ever again!" Shippo stated, a determined glimmer in his eyes.
"Shippo?" Kagome asked.
"Yes." he replied.
"Will you tell Rin what you are afraid of?" she inquired.
"I'm afraid of losing Kagome."
"Lady Kagome would never leave you." Rin said.
"Not of leaving, but of dying. Rin, my parents were killed in front of me. I was alone for weeks, other demons tried to eat me. I had to steal food from human villages. No one would help me. Then I meet Kagome. I tried to steal her shards of the jewel so that I would be strong enough to avenge my parents death. Instead she and I got kidnapped by the demons who killed my parents. Even after I stole from her, she still stood up for me. She defended me, she was almost killed for me. She shed tears for me. It took me a few weeks of travelling with her afterwards that I realized something profound about Kagome. That she loved me, whole heartedly. The night we fought the Thunder Brothers, she loved me. I don't know what as, a brother, a son, a friend, but I know she loved me. She still loves me. And I love her." he stated.
"Oh Shippo." Kagome said wrapping him up in a big hug, tears rolling down her cheeks.