A New Leaf

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 3

Sesshomaru needed to go and get her. It was no longer safe to have Rin stay in Kaede's Village. Not even with Inuyasha and the rest of his pack there to protect her.

"Where are you going?" Her audacity never ceased to amaze him, really.

The wind mistress seemed to be under the mistaken impression that he owed her answers. That she could demand things of him. Granted they were simple things such as his whereabouts, but still. Lord Sesshomaru answered to no one.

Why he continued to indulge her was something of a mystery. "To Kaede's Village." Even to himself.

She was not his Mate. Kaguya was not his lover. She certainly wasn't family. He owed her nothing and yet, he answered her almost instinctively.

Why though? The woman was amusing to have around and Sesshomaru would be lying, if he pretended that she wasn't beautiful. Those couldn't be the only reasons though.

"Things are really that bad with China?" So she had been eavesdropping.

He probably should have anticipated that. Kagura was Naraku's last living incarnation. That abomination was bound to have an influence on her. It was irritating, but there was no need to deny the reality of the situation. She had certainly 'inherited' his sneakiness.

He wanted to say no, but that would be pointless. "Lady Midori is unpredictable at best." She'd been underestimated one too many times in Sesshomaru's opinion and the other Nobles of Japan were rapidly reaching the same conclusion.

"Midori is a Japanese name though." Kagura frowns. "Why is she in China and trying to assault her own homeland?"

That was a good question. Sesshomaru had been looking into the matter for a while now and finally figured out the answer.

"She's originally Japanese and is of Noble Birth, but her family was slaughtered by humans during one of their many wars." Humans bred almost as fast as rabbits and their squabbles over territory were now impacting claimed territories.

The situation was getting out of hand. It didn't used to be a problem because humans were either too few in number or two weak to pose a threat to all, but the weakest of demons. That was swiftly changing though.

Humans now far outnumbered demons. That hadn't been the case even so recently as Sesshomaru's birth. When he had been a pup, humans and demons had relatively equal populations. If anything, demons might have been slightly more numerous.

Kagura frowns at that. Her beautiful eyes were now staring at him with a somberness he rarely saw her display. "Well I'm not sure why she isn't targeting the humans then." Sesshomaru had thought about that as well.

Initially, his gut had said the same thing. "She fled to China when she was barely more than a pup and was taken in by a Noble Court over there." He sighs and shakes his head. "It's not secret that the demons of China have wanted to claim Japan as a territory for generations, but now she's been raised like a Chinese demoness since she was a pup and she's very ambitious."

It was a trait that he normally admired in people. Well at least capable people, but the woman was going about it the wrong way. While Sesshomaru was slowly acquiring more power based on his own strength and various diplomatic dealings, he was largely leaving humans out of these territorial battles out of respect to Rin and he always made sure to assimilate the new lands into the West before seeking out more. This woman was not nearly so patient.

"So this isn't about revenge." Not entirely. "She just wants to claim more land."

Sesshomaru shakes his head. "I believe that she has some fantasy that she can unite the demons of China and Japan and tilt the odds in our favor once more."

The Inu Lord certainly didn't like it, but humans were now coming up with weapons that could kill moderately powerful or even powerful demons. For the moment, demons of his stature were largely safe. Unfortunately, he didn't know how long that would last.

"She wants demons to wage a war against humans." Kagura blinks.

He pauses and nods. "If not a war, at least she wants an alliance maintained through force." There was some merit to the idea. "If we were all to combine our strength, the humans could possibly be contained." Though much blood would be spilled beforehand.

Kagura's frown only grows. That was because for all her eccentricities and outrageousness, the woman was intelligent. Unlike Inuyasha, she was fully capable of reading between the lines.

"You don't agree with her approach because it would result heavy causalities before any unification could happen." Sesshomaru nods in agreement.

There was no point in ruling over ashes. That's what would likely be left, if Midori got her way.

"True enough." He glances at her. "I leave control of this castle in your hands while I'm away." Sesshomaru knew it might be foolish, but he trusted her not to betray him in his absence.

That was largely because Kagura didn't seem to have any ambition for power exactly. She only wanted power to the extent that she needed it to be free and now that she was free, well she was quite content with her current lot in life.

She was exactly as her element was. The woman controlled the wind and the wind went wherever it desired. Her audacity was likely tied to her element's audacity.

Kagura nods at him. "Alright." She shakes her head and pulls out one of her many fans. "Stay safe."

"Lady Midori can not storm our shores this quickly and even if she could, she's no threat to me." It was the rest of Japan that Sesshomaru was concerned about. "If she does come here, I will see to it that she regrets her decision in short order." It was a promise that Lord Sesshomaru had no doubt would be tested very soon.

"Very well." She nods at him.

Free as the wind she might be, but Kagura had always had marvelous instincts when it came to self-preservation. The woman knew exactly how far she could push before she tried his patience. He simply nods at her once more and sets off for Kaede's Village.

"Rin, why are you staring at them?" Sango tilts her head at the young woman who was looking out through the window and straight at the fields.

It was no mystery why she was looking at the fields. Miroku and Sasuke had both gone out there and were working the fields. Rin was watching foreigner a little more closely than necessary though.

She blushes at being caught. "His eye." Oh. So this wasn't just a crush.

"Was his eye injured by the Bird of Paradise?" Sango hadn't noticed anything wrong with Sasuke's eye, but that didn't mean there wasn't.

They knew almost nothing about the man who was currently helping her husband with the field. Had Miroku been almost anyone else, the Demon Slayer might actually be worried about him walking off with a stranger. She wasn't though.

After what they had been through with Naraku, she highly doubted that a human was capable of hurting Miroku. Her husband had survived more than one battle that should have killed him. He was impressive warrior in his own right.

Rin shakes her head. "I don't think so." The other woman bites her lower lip. "It's red though." She pauses. "Like Kagura's."

Sango blinks at that. Was Rin trying to say that she believed Sasuke was some kind of demon? There were certainly demons who could pass as humans, if they wanted to. Koga, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Kagura, and a few others sprang to mind immediately. Though she hadn't sensed any demonic aura from him at all.

It would explain how he had survived a Bird of Paradise's attack so easily though. "A demon then." Most likely. Sango had never heard of a human with red eyes before. Then again, maybe he was only half demon?

That might be the reason why he was able to blend in so easily and seemed to have no demonic aura. There was also a chance that it might have been a trick fo the light.

"I'm not sure." Rin shakes her head.

Sango frowns as she watches the fields like a hawk now. If this was some demon, hoping to trick them…well he was about to bite off more than he could chew. She did hope that wasn't the case though. The man had seemed so friendly.

"Perhaps you should go and check on them." Sango didn't want to send Rin out there, but she couldn't leave Aoi unprotected either.

Her daughters would be fine. The two of them were currently at Kagome's and Inuyasha's. Nothing would harm them there, but the Demon Slayer didn't fancy Kaede's odds against a demon…if things turned sour quickly.

She couldn't leave Rin unprotected either though. "Take Kirara with you." Rin was fast though and she'd have Kirara. That would be enough to keep her out of harm's way should the worst happen.

"Alright." Rin smiles at her as she slips through the doorway with a fire neko following closely behind her.

Sango nods and watches her anxiously. "Kaede, I want you to be able to run just in case." She glances at her. "With Aoi."

"Don't worry. These old legs of mine can still move just fine." She shakes her head as she checks on the fish. "Though I doubt the boy is a demon."

Sango hoped that Kaede was right. That or maybe, Sasuke would be the friendly kind of demon. They did exist. Koga could be quite friendly when he wanted to be for example.

"Sasuke is a demon?" Aoi looks up at his mother with his big and innocent eyes.

How could she possibly answer that question? "We don't know yet." Honestly, Sango supposed. "But we're going to find out."

Sasuke didn't mind helping Miroku harvest some crops. It was work that kept him busy without being overly difficult. Though he was aware for most people this was rather strenuous, potentially even backbreaking work at times.

That wasn't the case for him though. Sasuke was a ninja. If nothing else, training regimes did come in handy at times like these.

"I know that you said you were trying to get back to your village." Miroku glances at him.

Yes, he did. He needed to get back as soon as possible. Knowing Naruto, the idiot was likely already freaking out. Which meant that most of the Leaf Village likely had a headache by now. Unless they had all done the smart thing and invested in earplugs recently.

Sasuke nods at the other man's question. "Yes." And if he was lucky, Lord Sesshomaru might be able to show him the way back to the Leaf.

"Well if you don't have someone waiting for you back home, you could always stay here." He smiles at him. "I saw the way that you looked at her and she looked at you."

The Uchiha looks at him blankly for a moment. Of course, he understood what the supposed monk was trying to imply, but it was just irrational. Rin was kind and he certainly didn't mind looking at her, but that was all.

He had to get back to the Leaf Village. If this wasn't a sign that his traveling had gone on much too long, Sasuke didn't know what was. The last Uchiha was still needed back in the Fire Nation.

What would he do here? "You're imagining things." Become a farmer?

The idea wasn't an entirely unpleasant one, but he was a ninja born and bred. While Sasuke didn't mind doing other kinds of works, this was his purpose. His family had always been a Ninja Clan as far as he knew. To give that up would mean in a way, their Clan really was dead.

"I doubt it." Miroku chuckles. "Though I can't blame you for wanting to return home."

Home. What did he really have back there? Team Seven and Taka. That was about it really and to some disturbing degree, he had Orochimaru. Orochimaru who was trying to change. So he claimed anyway.

That was it. No matter what he did, Sasuke was going to be seen as the Second Coming of Madara. He might change some people's minds, but overall his fate was set there. He'd do everything he could to make up for his past mistakes, but it would likely never be enough.

He hoped Naruto would forgive him for thinking it, but for a moment it was tempting. It was tempting just to stay here. Sasuke could truly start over.

In this village, no one knew what he had done. "I suppose not." He could be whoever he wanted here.

Maybe, he'd find a wife and start a family. Did this place have ninjas or samurais maybe? Sasuke could probably be a samurai.

"Well if you do decide to stay, she is rather fond of flowers." Miroku smiles at him.

Sasuke raises an eyebrow. "Most women are." That was hardly a profound observation, but whatever.

He wasn't going to be staying here long enough for the lecherous monk's 'help' to matter. Soon Lord Sesshomaru would arrive and hopefully, the demon could point him towards the Leaf Village.

He must be really far away from home. Demons. Demons that looked like actual people. These demons weren't exactly like the Tailed Beasts, but they were vaguely similar. The main difference seemed to be that they could largely come and go as they pleased.

"That's true." Miroku laughs. "Rin is especially though and watch out for Lord Sesshomaru." Uh huh. "He is very protective of her."

Sasuke couldn't help, but roll his eyes again. "I'll keep that in mind, but you're still imagining things." The monk was being ridiculous.

"No. I don't think so." He pats Sasuke on the back. "You looked at her in exactly the same way I looked at Sango when I first met her." Maybe, the woman had slapped her husband around one too many times, Sasuke muses. She might have actually given him a concussion or something.

Mild brain damage seemed like a likely explanation for his matchmaking attempts. Whatever. It didn't matter.

Right now, he was busy attending to the fields. Miroku's words about Rin meant nothing. The other man was likely just teasing him.

That's when he saw Rin coming towards them with a warm smile and an adorable cat in tow. "That's Kirara." Miroku smiles at him. "Sango's companion. She's a fire neko." Right.

Wait. Neko as in cat demon? That didn't make any sense. Sasuke thought the demons were mostly humanoid in appearance here.

"And yes, there are many kinds of demons." He shakes his head. "Your village must be very, very far away if you look so shocked at seeing a neko."

That was one way to put it. "Dinner is almost ready." Rin smiles at them, once she closes the gap between herself and the two men.

"That's great." Sasuke smiles at her and he elbows a smirking Miroku subtly while Rin wasn't looking.

That would teach the man not to smirk at him. Honestly, he was being ridiculous. The man was worse than Kakashi!

She smiles and nods. "Yes, it looks like you two have really done a lot already." Rin gazes at the field. "You work fast."

Well yes. He was a ninja. Of course, he was fast. Though if she wanted to be impressed, let her.

"If Miroku could plow as much as he could talk, we'd already be done." Sasuke smirks. "He can only plow half as fast though. So we're only mostly done."

Rin shakes her head and giggles as she leads them back to Kaede's home. The woman really did have such an innocent laugh. Which meant, he should probably get as far away form here as possible. Sasuke didn't want to expose these people to the horrors of his past because it seemed likely that they were going to ask at some point.

That wouldn't end well. Sasuke hated lying and there was no point in doing so since he'd be out of there soon enough anyway. That didn't mean he wanted their looks of pity or fear though. So for now, he'd just follow the sight of Rin's charming backside and hope that his luck would hold out.

Several hours later, Rin was overjoyed when Sesshomaru arrives back in the village! "Lord Sesshomaru!" She beams at him as she rushes over to the Demon Lord's arms. "You're back!"

Dinner was long since done, but maybe she should prepare him some fish or something. Lord Sesshomaru was probably hungry.

"Yes, I am." His golden eyes scan the hut for any signs of a threat.

It seemed almost destined that his gaze would linger over Sasuke. This might not end well. Lord Sesshomaru didn't always react well to strangers around her and Sasuke was exactly that. A stranger.

"Lord Sesshomaru, what brings you here?" Kaede looks at him curiously.

Not that Rin could blame her for that. He hadn't left all that long ago. Something must have happened. Something important!

Sesshomaru's gaze doesn't leave Sasuke, but the elderly woman soon got the answer she was seeking anyway. "I'm bringing Rin back to the Western Castle for a time." Rin was in shock. "I'm not entirely sure that it's safe here anymore. Lady Midori is on the move and who is he?" He eyes were fixated on Sasuke with such an alarming intensity that Rin was starting to grow even more worried.

She really hoped that this didn't come to blows! Sasuke hadn't done anything wrong and despite his eye color, the young woman was almost certain he was actually human now.

"I'm Sasuke Uchiha." Oh that was the first time that he had said his family name! "Lord Sesshomaru, I'm a stranger in your land. I was hoping that perhaps you knew the way back to the Leaf Village or the Fire Nation." He pauses and adds a slight bow. "I know that you're busy dealing with other matters, but all I need is a map or just directions and I'll be on my way."

Well at least he bowed. That might save him. She really didn't want Lord Sesshomaru to be angry with the foreigner. (People that he was angry with, didn't tend to live long…with the exception of Inuyasha).

He raises an eyebrow as he brushes the hair away from Sasuke's other eye. "I've never heard of this Fire Nation or Leaf Village." Rin almost flinches when she sees Sasuke's disappointed expression. "Though I've also never heard of a human with two demonic looking eyes of different colors either. What are you?"

That was a good question. It was the question that had been lingering in Rin's mind for several hours now. What was he? A man or a demon?

"I'm an Uchiha." Thankfully, Sasuke didn't protest Sesshomaru taking liberties with his hair.

This time, it was Sango's turn to give him a curious look. Though she wasn't the only one. Rin wasn't entirely sure if it was because of his cryptic answer or the fact he didn't seem at all concerned by the fact that a Demon Lord was currently inspecting him.

Sango was the first to act though. "You said Uchiha was your last name." That wasn't surprising. "Is that the name of a Clan of demons?" She was after all, a Demon Slayer. It was to be expected, really.

"No." Sasuke shakes his head. "We're human." Sasuke smirks at her question. "Though I guess some would find that debatable." It almost seemed as if he was rather amused by her question.

That's when Rin came up with an idea. "Lord Sesshomaru, may Sasuke come with us?" Someone might know something about his strange village at the castle. "Surely, one of the Western Castle's scholars will know where his home is."

Sesshomaru raises an eyebrow at her question. "It couldn't hurt." Though Miroku was rather supportive.

Those golden eyes trail over Sasuke's body from head to toe. "It's difficult to tell with your cloak. You do seem to be sturdy by human standards." That was probably as close to a compliment as Sesshomaru would give to a stranger. "I imagine you can keep up and if you can not, we will leave you behind. Though I warn you, most demons will not take kindly to your presence at my castle."

That was true. The demons at Sesshomaru's home had grown used to Rin over the years. No one would dare to upset her because that would mean incurring the wrath of the Lord of the West, but Sasuke was another story.

"I can keep up." Sasuke didn't hesitate at all in his declaration.

Maybe, he had a reason to be so confident though. He and Miroku had made significant progress in the fields in a short amount of time. He was obviously of able body.

Sesshomaru nods at that. "Very well then." He gives him another once over. "Since Rin has pleaded on your behalf, you may come with us."

Rin beams at that and Kaede looks rather flabbergasted. She knew why, of course. Sesshomaru rarely let anyone travel with them.

"Thank you." Hopefully, the demons at Court wouldn't be too cruel to him though.

Demons and humans, they could both be equally prejudice when they wanted to be. Though Sasuke did have one advantage. Rin imagine, he could 'pass' as a demon, if he really wanted to.

"There is no need to thank me." He looks at Rin. "Pack whatever you believe is necessary for a trip to the castle. Everything else you need will be provided for you." Then back at Sasuke. "Pack whatever you need for your journey home."

Sasuke nods at that. "I've got everything that I need." Rin didn't though.

She frantically races around grabbing what she needed. Damn. Where did she put that spare traveling kimono? She should have been ready for this!

"Stay safe, child." Kaede smiles at her.

Rin smiles back. "I will." How could she not, when she had Lord Sesshomaru by her side?

Sango walks over to her and embraces Rin. It was nice to be held like this. Rin imagined this was what a mother's embrace felt like. Her own mother had died when she was so young, the woman barely remembered her.

"As Kaede said, stay safe." She smiles.

Miroku pats Rin on the shoulder. "Do make sure to show Sasuke the Royal Gardens. He's expressed quite an interest in seeing them." To which Sasuke glares at the monk and Rin suddenly suspected that the raven haired man hadn't actually expressed such an interest.

"Miroku!" Sango shakes her head in disbelief.

"Stay safe, Auntie Rin!" Aoi laughs as he hugs her.

She smiles and returns the embrace. It looked like all her goodbyes were in order. Well at least the goodbyes to everyone in this home. Idly, she wonders if they should stop and say farewell to Inuyasha and Kagome, but Rin decides against asking. Clearly, Lord Sesshomaru viewed this Lady Midori as a big enough threat to come and get her swiftly. That meant there was no more time to waste!

"Follow me." Sesshomaru gracefully exits Kaede's humble abode and begins the long trek back to the Western Castle.

Rin did as she was bidden and was relieved to see that Sasuke was easily able to keep up. She wasn't sure where this Leaf Village was, but she knew one thing. It definitely bred strong people! It was a rare human who could keep up with her and Lord Sesshomaru!