Sea Legs
His mane bristling so every hair stood jaggedly at attention, the stole over Sesshomaru's shoulder looked more like porcupine quills and less like dog fur. The lashing tip warned away any who may have dared get too close.
But that doesn't keep them from making commentary, the daiyokai observed, not without vexation. Just that morning, Sesshomaru heard Inuyasha offhandedly opine, "He's just in a pissy mood because his little matchmaker scheme got blown out of the water." Most days, he would've throttled his brother for such insolence alone if only…
If only it weren't true.
Although she continued about her daily routine as if nothing had happened, Rin had slipped into a disconcerting silence the rest of that day, and it did nothing for the daiyokai's nerves when it didn't abate the succeeding afternoon. By the second morning, Sesshomaru was fed up with lurking on the village fringes to furtively check on her every day. She was supposed to be independent now, acquitted from his constant watch; but responsibility wasn't nearly so easy to shrug off and possessiveness coursed through the dog-demon's marrow. Years later and Sesshomaru found himself continually drawn to the modest village where Rin, his Rin, resided. He brought her garments, combs, necessities and the occasional triviality. Not for the first time that week, Sesshomaru questioned if he had let her grow too attached. Perhaps she was in more need of his care than he had anticipated? Maybe she wasn't emotionally ready to start her own life, even if she was "of age." Still, he remembered how she made the request to travel with him again or Kohaku – though Sesshomaru doubted the latter appealed any longer and his life was far too dangerous to guarantee her safety. At least the taijiya would come home to Rin. Sesshomaru wouldn't stand for her to be put in harm's way again.
If Rin's maturation bothered him, Sesshomaru was more perturbed by his own involuntary response. He wanted to shelter her, protect her from sleights and scorches of life. But he was finding the task rather difficult himself.
All for want of better planning!
He hadn't considered that Kohaku would go and commit himself to another mortal girl and fall in love with her no less. Humans had no discretion! How could it be? But he had to know. Had to state, to ascertain…
"Rin will marry another."
Just had to know.
Because he couldn't believe it himself. The misfortune that Rin had been downwind that morning wasn't as bad as Sesshomaru's neglect of his gut instinct. He shouldn't have pressed. And yet even instinct didn't override the impulse to make sure, to know.
But the look on Rin's face didn't leave his memory, making it clear she had heard every word necessary to scald and hurt. But she was a young woman now, she ought to be old enough to shoulder it. And she's resilient, Sesshomaru rationalized. Yet that didn't excuse him from the responsibility as the one who suggested Kohaku in the first place. The same voice that made him first reach for Tenseiga some eight years ago made itself known again. "You're the one who planted the idea, who recommended a boy that would only break her heart."
What a nuisance.
Sesshomaru snorted through his nose. No one was dying here. Rin would talk in her own time. He couldn't idle in this human village much longer. Rising gracefully so that not even the old roof creaked, Sesshomaru prepared to take off. At the sound of Rin's voice, he stopped altogether.
She's talking. Sesshomaru exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Crouching down, he listened through the thatched roof for other snippets of the conversation.
"Would you like an extra towel?" Inuyasha's miko asked.
"No, thank you," came Rin's even-toned reply.
Pointed ears flexed. And?
And Rin walked out of the hut, a basket strapped to her shoulders, bound for the rice fields. She strolled, but without a tune to her throat or a spring in her step.
She's still…communicating. Strangely, the development both agitated and relieved Sesshomaru. But his conscience eased just enough to release him to the skies.
Rin was still young. He had time to select another suitable male. Any man foolish enough to deny Rin was not wise enough to be Sesshomaru's…
…Son-in-law?
He cringed at the thought of affixing a familial title to a human, bad enough his half-brother's woman was trying to use it on him whenever the opportunity presented itself. No need to say it, then. So why did he mind less when Kohaku was the candidate?
Enough, the daiyokai commanded himself. The matter was settled and he would tolerate it. Sesshomaru would settle for nothing else except the best possible outcome.
And another human was it.
oOo
Only the demon's blue eyes and the top of his spiked, silver hair peaked from the surface, the rest of Kichiruka and the new conch staff of his last three days' examination remained submerged. Floating just beneath the brook's surface, he scowled at his foe. Deceptively grassy, the mud-drenched bank was too high to clear in single spring. Kichiruka would have to climb it.
And he really, really didn't want to set foot outside the nice, wet stream. He didn't want to feel that cold blast of wind that would surely assail him once he set foot out. The water was warm and tepid, the current sliding comfortingly past him like an ever-shifting blanket. Fortune had been kind to him today, he had successfully avoided the troublesome net this time. He could swim along back to the ocean happily unhindered. But…
I promised her.
Kichiruka knew there were yokai who didn't keep their word and had heard the stories of humans being worse or, at best, no different. Not to mention forgetful. Who was to say if Rin had even thought about her wish once during these three days? If the court could see him now, deciding whether or not bother with a human, they'd laugh…harder than usual. But, then, Rin didn't have to bother cutting him loose that day either, now did she? If she had forgotten, that was fine, he'd go on his way.
But it won't do to let karma get the better of me. I can tolerate a little chill for that.
Determinedly, setting one webbed claw over the other, Kichiruka dragged himself, cumbersome staff and all, onto the bank. Mud oozed between his fingers and dirtied the knees of his hakama. He grimaced. Ugh, I feel like a bottom-feeder.
As soon as he was on land, the demon scrambled to his feet, wobbled for a second, then let gravity decide that it was better to sit. A split-second later, the weighted, seashell end of his staff came down on his skull with a dull klunk. Kichiruka swore softly. In a jumble of limbs and heavy, soaked silks, the graceless yokai struggled to right himself. Even after all his training, he wasn't used to the land environment. Air didn't give support and comfort like water and you always had to have your feet on the ground. Worst of all, there was no current to sweep you to wherever you needed a ride. You had to walk.
I should at least try to do that much in comfort.
Clapping his hands together in a kata, the water demon mumbled a short incantation. When he straightened his clothes this time they were dry and perfectly creased as they should have been. Then he set to the more difficult task at hand. Knees knocking and arms windmilling, Kichiruka's toes curled to grip the grass. Walking was a chore, but once the momentum was underway it wasn't so bad. But standing after a week spend in water…
"Girl, your wish had better be damn good!" he hollered at the skies, losing his balance all over again. Gods, if I ever make it over there…! Stabbing his staff into the dirt, Kichiruka spread his feet apart and took one quaking step forward. Then another. By the fifth time, he remembered that he now possessed knees that could better compensate for the shifting weight. With any luck, he'd be at the nearest village by sundown.
oOo
Thankfully, Kichiruka's first guess at Rin's location was right on target and he arrived at the human settlement before just as the sun climbed to noon.
Even better, Rin wasn't that hard to spot. Dressed in a soft indigo, her work clothes still looked more refined than the common woman's. Maybe someone's a merchant in her family. Kichiruka edged closer, his confidence ebbing as he noticed all the surrounding humans, each going about their own tasks. The water demon tried to keep a low profile. Tch, like anyone around this village has dark silver hair this long!
Rin was working near the rice paddies today with the other villagers, but noticeably in a corner alone. Kichiruka didn't recall her seeming like the quiet type. He slunk over, careful not to disturb anyone else…at least that was the plan until he got near Rin.
"Okay! Third day's here!" he chorused with new excitement at the chance to test his skills. "What'll it be?"
Basket slipping from limp fingers, Rin jumped at the sudden intrusion. Startling blue eyes blinked in a pale, spotted face less than a handspan before her. It took the addled girl several seconds to recognize the demon. "Ki-Kichiruka," she finally registered, remembering the net, her wish, and…his bumbling antics.
"So, what's the wish?" the demon nudged, his smile open and friendly.
"Nothing," Rin mumbled, returning her attentions to the basket.
"You went from considering to wanting nothing?" Kichiruka's head spun. Maybe he'd run into a kitsune in human guise. "But that doesn't make sense!" Even a shape-shifting fox would take advantage of the situation. "Nothing?" he repeated.
"Yes!" Rin snapped. "For cryin' out loud – nothing!" Standing up before she drew a crowd, she marched over to the village's communal stables.
"Hey!" Kichiruka called, following awkwardly after her in a stiff-kneed run. "I didn't mean to make you upset! If you don't want – "
"I'm not upset!" Rin sniffled as she stumbled blindly into the shelter of the horse stalls.
"Yes, you are! You're crying," he pointed out.
Rin refused to answer. Instead, she curled up in a corner, her face buried in her knees. She remained silent.
Kichiruka stared at her, sat down, and waited for something to happen. Maybe humans were like mussels, except without the shell to close them off. Leaning heavily on his staff, the young yokai rose to leave, but his feet stayed. It was at odds with his nature to leave anything so alone and unhappy.
"Hey, uh, Rin?" When she didn't respond he prodded with his staff like children with sticks poked at slugs. The first time, Rin remained as withdrawn as a hermit crab; but when Kichiruka tried again, she nearly yanked the staff from his hands. "Whoa, there! Now that's a strong grip!" the demon yelped and cartwheeled out of the way. When the stables stopped spinning, Kichiruka noticed the little acrobatic feat had gotten Rin's attention. Finding this much easier than standing, he performed another. Then another followed up by a somersault.
Rin blinked. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to make you laugh," Kichiruka replied simply. Grinning, he tried another cartwheel. She was still watching.
"Huh," Rin scoffed, but had to duck behind her sleeve as a smile threatened to overtake her any second. No one had ever tried to make her laugh. It was…pretty funny.
"Ah! She does laugh!" Still grinning, Kichiruka stood on his head. "You had one of these on when I walked in." Carefully, with one hand, he traced his upside-down smile. "Now you've got -whoa! AWP!" Losing his balance, the demon fell forward and flat on his face. In a nearby stall, a horse whinnied in a very close imitation of laughter.
"I sure hope you don't make a living doing this stuff," Rin snickered. Getting up, she walked over to where the odd yokai lay in an undignified sprawl.
"You know, I'm much better at this in the water," he huffed, rubbing his head and nursing his bruised pride. "And it took me seventy-three years and two seasons to get this form just right so I could tramp around like you two-legs."
Rin tilted her head to one side. Somehow, seventy-three years sounded like a long time to perfect a temporary form, even for lesser yokai. When she had met him nearly a decade ago, Shippo said he was fifty years old and already he looked pretty darn close to passing for human. "Seventy-three years?"
"And two seasons," Kichiruka snorted. "You better remember that much. Everything I do I had to learn myself. I wasn't born with the knack like greater yokai."
"Did you make that yourself?" Rin pointed at the staff. Its creamy orange length spiraled like a mythic beast's horn, the end that wasn't pointed was crowned by a large, spiked conch shell. It certainly looked impressive. Which means it probably isn't his.
Lifting the staff proudly, Kichiruka answered, "Nope."
Eh, thought so.
Something must have shown in Rin's expression because he got suddenly defensive. "Hey! You didn't let me finish! I was going to say that I had to earn this honor all on my own."
"Really?" Brown eyes widened in new-found admiration. "Wow, what does it do?"
The water demon blinked. Then made a show of crossing his arms over his chest, the conch staff in the crook of his elbow. "Its wonders shall reveal themselves to me in due time."
Great, so he doesn't know either. Chewing her lip, Rin considered this a moment. Kichiruka had pulled off a something she hadn't seen other demons master. "I was wondering, how did you disappear so quickly into the stream that last time?"
Kichiruka laughed, high and bubbling like a cascade. "I am water," he said matter-of-factly, arms spread in an expansive gesture. "I flow where I please."
"Except in nets," she reminded.
"Har, har." Kichiruka rolled his eyes. Then looked back at Rin. "Don't get cute," he chuckled, and winked one sapphire eye for her.
Rin felt her face heat in response and her pulse skipped to double-time. Where's that coming from?
Planting his feet firmly and leaning heavily on the conch staff, Kichiruka stood. He accomplished the feat a little more quickly now that he had an audience. Straightening his posture, he twirled his staff like a baton before smartly lodging it between his sash and short jacket. "Look, I'll give you…another five days."
"Five days?" Rin parroted dumbly.
"For the wish!" Kichiruka ran a hand exasperatedly through his gray bangs. "Geez, humans are absentminded! It's the reason I'm returning to this rinky-dink village. But if you make me go out of my way again, I may have to forget how you did so for me." No use returning a favor if they don't want it.
With a whirl that the made the spray of stiff tresses in his ponytail whip, Kichiruka dashed out of the stables to the rice paddies' pond, disappearing before the water settled and anyone noticed.
Just to double check, Rin swished a hand through the ripples. "He's gone all right."
Settling down with her basket again, Rin got to work, and hummed while she did.
.
A/N: Phew, so this was a bit of an extended chapter, so I hope you didn't mind the delay. Thank you for reading and your reviews are most appreciated!