Chapter six: Please...
"Lord Sesshomaru, I don't know if you noticed but the human child keeps following us. She hasn't spoken yet but I think she intends to stay..."
It was a cold evening, the wind blowing and bringing first rain drops.
"Of course I noticed," Sesshomaru said silently. "Or do you presume I am no longer able to recognize a human scent?"
"Oh... I'm sorry, master..." Jaken gulped. They were going uphill and the child was struggling through the high, sharp sedge. Sesshomaru was watching her with the corner of his eye, his eyebrows frowned.
"Should I send her away?" Jaken asked. Sesshomaru nearly agreed but then, he changed his mind. He didn't exactly know why, though, so he let the question without answer.
When they reached a forest, Sesshomaru decided to stay there, at least till the rain would go away. He stopped, looking at the black sky. Rain drops were falling on his face but he didn't pay attention.
"Jaken."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Go look if this place is safe."
Jaken raised his eyebrows.
"But master -"
"Now," Sesshomaru said. Jaken bowed quickly, disappearing. Sesshomaru turned then, facing the child.
"Why are you following me?" he asked, his tone sharp. "You are a human. I have no need for such a burden."
She only watched him, her eyes wide, her mouth opened slightly.
"You shall leave, do you understand?" he said, sounding dangerous. "Go back to your village."
The little girl only dropped her eyes for a moment, a glimpse of sorrow appearing in them. Stupid girl. What was she thinking? That she could just follow him?
She started walking toward him, exhaustion could be seen in the way she was moving, dragging her legs along. But she managed to approach him close enough for him to see every single scratch and bruise on her pale, dirty skin. Her clothes were holey, her hair matted and she was quite skinny.
Why didn't the villagers take care of her?
She breathed in and - reaching her arm - she touched his hand.
Sesshomaru gasped quietly with shock. Nobody had ever dared to touch him like that. He noticed her blood was much warmer and pulse faster than his. Her palm was soft and tender...
He pulled his hand out of her grasp, ready to scold her. He should have let Jaken send her away much earlier. Now he had to bother himself with it.
She's not afraid. Why?
"You are not afraid of me?" he asked. She shook her head almost immediately. But surprisingly enough, Sesshomaru didn't take it as an insult. Most probably, the girl was just too foolish to be afraid... But yet... Ever since the Tenseiga pulsed by his hip, ever since he saw her dead body, his mind was troubled with something he wasn't able to identify.
Looking at her, he once again realized how small she was... Something so ridiculously weak and fragile shouldn't even exist when it couldn't survive without the protection of someone stronger, he thought. What was the purpose of this child? She had no powers, no abilities, she obviously couldn't even speak.
Why is she looking at me like that?
A tear appeared in her eye. It started slipping down her face, making a way in the dirt on her cheeks.
"Please..." she said all of the sudden. Her voice was breaking down as she was starting to cry. Creases formed on Sesshomaru's forehead. If he sent her away now, she wouldn't last a single day. An animal would kill her, just like the wolves. If he brought her back to the village, she would get beaten savagely every day, just as he witnessed.
How could they beat such a weak child?
He was clenching his fist, without even realizing it, glaring back at her. He saw faith in her eyes. Devotion. Plea. And fear.
Fear of being alone? Such a small child was not supposed to be entirely alone... But the villagers wouldn't take care of her... For him, though, it would be quite easy. All wild animals feared him and avoided him and there wasn't a demon Sesshomaru wouldn't defeat.
He shook his head lightly. Humans... Incapable of taking care of their own kind. Although he didn't have any need in protecting a human child, leaving her alone in forest would make his Tenseiga testing worthless. He wouldn't have to bother with saving her if he would send her to her death in woods afterwards. And the villagers... With their way of care, she would end up dead sooner or later as well.
He didn't know how it was even possible he'd decided like that. But when he heard himself saying the words, he knew it was true.
"You can stay..."
The girl's face beamed with sheer happiness and she smiled wide at him with gratitude.
"But," Sesshomaru said, "if you are not able to keep up with me, or fend for yourself, return to your village right now. I won't wait for you, child."
She nodded several times. At that moment, Jaken returned and Sesshomaru ordered him to make fire. A few minutes later he was sitting near by, the little girl laying on the ground, her eyes closing. He found himself questioning whether the fire was strong enough to make her warm and comfortable.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Rin..." she muttered, half-asleep already. It didn't take long and she was in deep slumber. Sesshomaru turned at Jaken, sitting on the opposite side of the fire, looking gloomy as usual.
"Jaken."
"Yes, my lord?"
"The little girl stays," Sesshomaru said, ignoring Jaken's shocked expression.
"She's your responsibility now. I strongly advice you making sure nothing harms her."
Sesshomaru glared back into the flames.
"And tomorrow, you will get her a new kimono."