After tea time had ended, Kagome had set off for work, leaving Jaken with strict instructions on babysitting Rin. Jaken was to be watching her at all moments, he must find different ways to entertain her, and he could not take any breaks. Naturally, though, Rin found a way to weasel her way out of his over-bearing clutches, and escape.
Around two Sesshomaru noticed a small aura approaching his room. The little girl, who was the miniature version of her sister, waited outside his door. Sesshomaru paused from working on his papers and waited for the little girl to peek her head in.
Sesshomaru had experience with children, mostly because he had lived a thousand years, and not because he liked playing with them. In his experience, the children were always very curious of him. Curiosity brought them to sneak a look at him, but instincts made them look away. They were nearly the same as adults, except with more innocence, when they were dealing with him. Most children were brave enough to dare a glance, but the same could not be said for all of their older counterparts.
All, except his wife. His wife, who had begun feel comfortable around him, and had even started to joke with him. She was the first human that had constant contact with him and instead of shying away from him more and more after each visit, she was drawn to him. And he found this interested him. However today, when she had gone and reversed all the progress they had made, he was disappointed with her. The Great Demon Lord Sesshomaru did not worry for anything, but he supposed that if he did, he would worry she was going to become like every other pathetic human in the world who was too afraid to look him in the eyes.
"Hello Sesshomaru-sama," the little girl entered Sesshomaru's room and interrupted his thoughts.
He glanced at her and watched her stumble while holding a tray with two cups of tea on it. She took a wobbly bow, and then straightened politely. She looked so similar to her sister it was uncanny, except her sister had more grace and she had easier smiles.
Rin slowly approached Sesshomaru's desk and placed one cup of tea on it. Giving him a large grin, she said, "Kagome told me that you guys drink tea here in the afternoon. I brought you some today since Kagome is at work!"
Sesshomaru didn't remind her that they had already had tea today, all together.
Rin smiled and continued, "Kagome says that I've gotta be quiet around you, because you have super hearing like me. But I think if I give you tea like this, just like how Kagome does it, you will let me talk, right?"
Her eyes sparkled and Sesshomaru didn't bother telling the little girl to leave him to his work. Maybe it was because she was raised by her sister, but she acted just like Kagome. And Sesshomaru found he was pleased to see this girl looking him straight in the eye, and not backing down, just like her sister.
Rin leaned on the desk and twirled a finger in her hair. "I'll tell you a secret, so we can be friends. I'm not allowed to make tea unless Kagome is with me, so I poured the left over tea into the cups. It tastes just like Kagome's tea 'cause it is her tea!"
Rin giggled as Sesshomaru took a sip. The tea was cold, and left a bitter after taste in his mouth, but it did taste just like Kagome's tea.
After a couple more sips, Sesshomaru turned his attention back to his papers. Rin started to chat, but he ignored her for a moment while he worked on a particularly troublesome problem. All of the sudden, Rin knocked on his desk and folded her arms, angry.
"Sesshomaru-sama, you've got to be polite. I'm being polite, and talking to you, so you must be polite and look at me when I talk to you. Kagome says you always have to look people in the eyes when they talk to you or else you're being rude." She grinned and reached over to pat his hand. "But don't worry, I will forgive you."
Sesshomaru cleared his throat. He knew children were very physical beings, but in all of his years, he could not remember touching one, and especially having one touch him willingly. He almost couldn't hold back a faint smile, because he knew someone else who liked to pat his hands.
"Would you like to know something, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked evenly, deciding to continue this conversation with the little girl. She nodded giddily, and he went on, "When Kagome brings me tea, she sits on that couch to drink her tea."
Rin's smile broke and she turned to look at the couch. "But that's so far away!"
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.
"Kagome says you guys got married," Rin turned and told him, "but I don't believe her. Kagome doesn't lie to me, but something doesn't feel right here."
Rin pointed to her chest. Her youki doesn't sense a mating, Sesshomaru deduced, so she knows there is incongruence. Intelligent, for her age.
"Your sister and I are married, Rin."
"I know," Rin sighed, "if only I weren't sick! I wanted to see Kagome's white dress."
Sesshomaru stilled for a moment, and thought back a week and a half ago. Kagome had been very angry during their wedding, and he had never bothered to find out why. He touched his lip, in though, and remembered how she had bit him. Rin wouldn't have wanted to see that.
"I think, Rin," Sesshomaru checked his watch and stood up from his chair. "You probably should return to Jaken now. I have a meeting to attend, so I cannot talk with you any longer."
Rin grinned and whispered, "How did you know I escaped Jaken?"
He motioned towards the door. The little girl collected the cups and bowed once more. "I'll see you soon, Sesshomaru-sama!"
Kagome sighed as she closed the door to Rin's room. She hadn't had a single spare moment to herself for the whole day, from running around with Rin and then work. After a few bed time stories and a couple goodnight kisses, Rin had gone to bed and Kagome was exhausted.
Turning into Sesshomaru's room, Kagome slumped into the couch against the wall. "Just let me sit here for a few minutes, please." Kagome mumbled to Sesshomaru who was relaxing in his chair and reading a book.
They sat together for a moment of comfortable silence until Kagome worked up the courage to ask Sesshomaru what he thought of Rin.
A faint smile graced his lips when he replied. "She is charming for a girl her age. I must confess, I was pleasantly surprised when I met her."
Kagome couldn't contain her shock. "What? You like Rin? But you don't like anyone!"
Sesshomaru said nothing but mused over the fact that his little wife seemed to be acting like herself again. He was thoroughly pleased.
Kagome could have sung. Laughing lightly, she covered her face and tried to hide her eyes, which were watering from relief. "Oh, Kami… Oh Kami, I can't believe it. But of course you would like Rin… she's so adorable. Not even the ice-hearted demon lord can resist my baby sister's charms! I don't know why I even worried!"
Sesshomaru frowned over the ice-hearted comment. "She is as uncouth as you. After you had left for work, she brought me the left over tea."
Kagome whipped forward and sat on the edge of her seat, switching emotions rapidly. "She what?! That little…" Refocusing her attention on him, she asked as sweetly as she could, "Did you mind?"
"I was working while she brought me the tea. And then she scolded me." Sesshomaru smirked when his wife covered her face again, trying to hide her dread. He found it amusing to watch her agonize over his meeting with Rin.
Getting up from his chair, he strode over to her. She stood up and watched him. "I can't believe her… she's always been willful, I'm sorry she bothered you."
Bringing a clawed hand up to her cheek, he caressed the side of her face, intrigued by her soft skin. "She acts a lot like you."
Kagome leaned into his palm, loving the way his hand felt. A mix of emotions stirred inside of her, but she chose to ignore the confusion for a moment. The light look he had in his eyes almost made Kagome feel like she was in love with him, and he loved her. When his words registered, she raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?"
"That would depend on your definition of a compliment," he said softly.
"Oh," she bushed her fingers against his cheek, and dared a soft touch against his markings. "Well, thank you."
"I never said it was," a smug grin flickered across his face. "If I were complimenting a woman, I would say something like… Your eyes remind of the ocean during a storm. Wild, yet beautiful at the same time."
She chuckled, dizzy with contentment. "That's quite the line. Where'd you find it?"
"You don't like it? I should sue Romance for Dummies; I was assured it would work for everyone, even cold hearted youkai such as myself," he murmured. She smiled, and again was astonished by his quirky sense of humor. She hadn't ever imagined, in her wildest dreams that Sesshomaru could make a joke.
After a couple silent minutes, Kagome found herself coming back to her senses. It was late, and they were both a bit affected by the hour. She closed her eyes and shifted back from him slightly, torn between her desire and her logic. She couldn't be entranced by him and do something that would change their relationship. They were just beginning to be friends, and she wanted to stay friends. Anything more would be too risky, and though she didn't want to admit it, she knew it nonetheless.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Kagome breathed as he brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, "would you like to go to the shrine festival with me? I was going to bring Rin…"
He touched her cheek once more and ushered her out of the room. "I will think about it," he told her with a faint smile.
Please enjoy the chapter. I hope you liked Rin, because I have this strong picture of her in my mind, that's really sweet and cute, but very perceptive. I keep on thinking that she's a miniature Kagome, but she doesn't build walls around her heart. She's charming, and I love her... So yeah, hope you enjoyed! ~Gracie
All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.