A/N: Apologies to patient readers for the delay on chapter updates. Research papers are bane of my existence. On with the show!
Catch of the Day
The open field provided a perfect view of the cerulean sky blotted with wispy puffs of white. It was "a cloud-watching day" as Rin would've said. But skyscape was wasted on the girl as she kept her eyes on the ground, counting the blossoms that lined the well-worn path out to the local brook. It was still early spring and the coming weeks would have fuller nets than this time of year.
But it never hurts to check. Skipping as she used to years ago, Rin distracted herself with a half-remembered tune:
"I make an innocent face as I give a mischievous kiss…I just can't say 'I love you'...hmm-my sweet—"
Suddenly the song was drowned out in the clamor of a violent thrashing from upstream. Squinting, Rin could make out a large blue and silver blur. Wow! Maybe it's a really good one this time! Fishing basket slung over one shoulder, she picked up her skirts and dashed over.
Rin's smile broke into an outright laugh when she saw exactly what was making all the commotion. A perfectly healthy young man was floundering in the netting.
"Help!" he gurgled, head going under just as he took a gasp and gulped down water. "Help! Get it off!" The more he struggled, the more entangled he became.
Still harboring a smile, Rin hustled over to the "victim's" side. "Hey, uh, excuse me?" she tried reaching him. Finally, all patience lost, she jerked the net. "HEY!"
The man froze…and fixed Rin with a pair of deep, midnight blue eyes, fettering her to the spot. Um…wow…
"Help!" he wailed and started thrashing again, splashing Rin in the process.
Regaining control of herself, the Sesshomaru's ward rolled up her sleeves and yanked on the stranger's arm, shouting to be heard above slapping waters and ruckus. "You can stand up, stupid!" For a full second, the man paused...until he sank and the caterwauling continued.
Growling as her instructions went unheeded, Rin pulled the cleaning knife from her side. Someone back home is gonna hate me for this. With quick precision, she sliced off the netted rope.
Arms windmilling, the odd stranger gasped as he scrambled to the bank, hugging it upon contact.
Who the heck is this guy? Rin gave him a minute to catch his breath before repeating, more gently now, "You can stand up."
As if noticing her for the first time, the azure eyes locked on Rin with comprehension, processing the concept. "Oh," he managed, legs straightening. He breathed slowly, composing himself and Rin did the same. That gaze held the sea itself.
Finally, their shared silence was broken. "Thank you, good maiden," sighed the man, politely tipping his head. Seeing his face unobstructed now, Rin noticed that calling this guy 'a man' was stretching a point. He wasn't much of a boy any more, that much was clear with the way his jaw set and shoulders squared, but he was still…youthful. Easily an early twenty-something.
Then Rin saw the sharp-edged ears peek from his bangs. All right, early two-hundred-something, she amended. "I'll take it you're not a water demon, are you?" she smirked.
"Huh!" the yokai returned haughtily. "What gives you that idea?" He hoisted himself ashore with both arms, unsuccessfully hiding a whimper when he backslid. "I-I just don't appreciate humans leaving their junk in our element. Oof!" He flopped beside Rin to kick spitefully at the net, then yelped when it wouldn't come off again.
Rin laughed, tossing the contraption aside and studied her 'catch' from the corner of her eye. Dark spots blotted sporadically on his face and forehead. Rin didn't think they were attractive, especially compared to Kohaku's freckles, but the markings didn't damper his smile. His hair was a solid steely-gray that shot out in long bangs that framed his angular face; an odd set sprang from his head, reminding Rin of the dorsal fins on fish. The rest of his hair was gathered in a ponytail that fanned out behind him, defying gravity. Rin wondered if those tresses were as soft as they looked rigid. And, water-logged as he was, the demon's clothes hung with the weight of silk. His short jacket hinted at perhaps a courtly station. "So what are you then?" she mused.
"Heh, well, I'm not from this side actually," he said sheepishly. "I'm an ocean-based demon, who got caught in the wrong waterway. I'm on a mission." He puffed out his chest self-importantly. "My name's Kichiruka."
"Kichiruka?"
"Yes, that's right." He beamed as if he liked hearing his name. "May I have the honor of knowing my rescuer's?"
"Rin," Rin piped, suddenly aware how plain her name sounded by comparison. Kichiruka did have some bouncy syllables. Rin shook her head to clear the thought. Ugh, don't start...
Hand on chin, Kichiruka tested his new acquaitance's name. "Rin, Rin, Rin, Rin, Rin, Riiiin, Rinnnn, Rin, Rin," he repeated in different variations until he sat there laughing with himself. "How funny!"
Rin wasn't assumed. Tch, I've got few names for you, too. Before she could reach for the netting, Kichiruka sobered. "My apologies, I've just never heard a human name before…I always wondered if they were much different than yokai."
"You've never encountered humans?" Rin asked, her annoyance cooled by curiosity.
"Only in passing." Kichiruka waved his hand dismissively. "The ocean is vast and I spend most of my time there." He spared a glance at the sun. "I must go, but first..." He leaned in to whisper in conspiratorial tones and his eyes glinted like dark sapphire. "I'd like to offer you a wish."
"A wish?" Rin parroted.
"Yes," Kichiruka chuckled. "For your kindness and that my future encounters with humans may prove as auspicious as this one."
One wish? Oh dear, where had she heard this one before…But her next thought was out before Rin could help herself. "For anything?"
"Eh…within reason…" Kichiruka hedged. "I'm kinda new at this."
"You're the one granting my wish?"
The demon seemed to take some offense and thrust his hands into his soaked sleeves. "Well, how did you expect it to work?" he huffed.
Rin recoiled, she didn't necessarily want to insult him. Who knew? Maybe he was a master of curses. Who gets caught in human netting? "I don't know…I thought there'd be more, ah, consulting of magic involved."
"Geez, do I look like the Shikon no Tama?"
"Well, I would never want to make you go out of your way…" Now Rin wasn't sure which way to argue. "Will you give me more time?"
"A human who has to think about her wish?" Kichiruka blinked in true astonishment. "You'd think they'd ask for wealth or immortality or whatever…"
Brown eyes grew wide. "You can grant immortality?"
"Hey, like I said, I'm new at this. I'm just repeating what I've heard most people ask for."
Rin bit her lip. She never thought a wish would ever in a thousand years be offered to her. Any wish! She glanced at Kichiruka who sat glaring at the net. Almost any wish! Excitement bubbled inside her and she wanted to blurt it out right now, but…I don't know just what I want.
"Well?" the yokai prodded, looking impatiently at the sun. "You ready? Because I haven't got all day."
Now it was Rin's turn to flush with embarrassment. "Can I, uh, get back to you on it?"
"What?" Kichiruka was beside himself. Selfish, arrogant, greedy, wanton…why didn't this Rin match the descriptions he'd always heard about humans? "Okay, I'll give you three days, girl." He crossed his arms definitively. "I'll have returned this way in three days' time from my errand." Hopping on a stone protruding from the waters, blue eyes held hers steadily. "If you're not ready by then, all bets are off and I'll take my chances with kar—AWK!"
With a loud sploosh, Kichiruka slipped from his perch and splashed into the stream.
Rin didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. After all, this was the demon who would supposedly grant her wish. "On second, thought," Rin began, but when she glanced at the brook again the strange demon had already vanished.
Guess I'll check the other snares. Rin smiled to herself. Maybe I've caught a more competent wish-giver.