Thank you for the reviews! See? I updated sooner. This actually did turn out longer than I thought (over 1,200), and it also gave me another idea of what to do for a story. So, before I forget to ask, would anyone be interested in seeing something similar to this story, but with Inuyasha and co.? Of course, this story would still be updated as long as I keep having new ideas. Just a thought.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Inuyasha.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The forest's trees were tall and full of leaves, making the light from the sun come through wherever it could. Because of this, it seemed to be permanently either dawn or dusk, depending on what time of day it was. The animals that lived there kept out of view most of the time, not wanting to be caught out in the open. One person didn't seem to care about the gloomy atmosphere.
Rin skipped along the thin forest path, humming a song happily. Sesshomaru had allowed her to go and explore again, as long as it wasn't very far away. And as long as Jaken went along to keep an eye on her. Jaken was currently scurrying after Rin, trying to keep up. Unknown to either, they were being followed...
...By Sesshomaru, who was walking a fair distance away, wondering why Rin was so happy this early in the morning. She had been acting a bit differently for the past few days, but was always quite happy to go off an explore the forest. And he couldn't figure out why. Somewhat intrigued, Sesshomaru had decided to follow the girl and see what she had been up to the past few days in this forest.
---
Rin, after successfully ditching Jaken, emerged into a small clearing that had a mini waterfall at one side of the enclosure. Rin sat down next to the pool that formed from the waterfall and looked down at her reflection for a bit. Soon, there was a rustling sound coming from behind her, but Rin didn't react. She seemed to have been waiting for that to happen. "You're late Shippo." Rin turned around and smiled at the small fox demon, whose tail twitched irritably.
"I was trying to think up another excuse to tell the others so that I could go off on my own." Shippo explained.
"Well, you're here, so you must have found one." Rin replied, smiling.
"Well...actually..." Shippo muttered, shuffling his feet. "I snuck off. Hopefully they won't notice that I've gone. I think they were still asleep."
Rin's smile faded. "Oh...maybe you should go back and let them know where you've gone. You don't want them to worry, do you?" Rin asked.
Shippo thought for a moment before speaking. "Nah, it's okay. It's not too far to where the others are. If they wake up before I get back, Inuyasha'll be able to tell where I am."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Well, want to play then?"
"Yes."
---
Kagome was back at school, and had just taken a test. She was sure she would ace it. She had studied very hard this time. She just knew she would pass. The results came...almost too quickly...and then...she screamed. She failed!! No!! This couldn't be happening! She couldn't have just failed! There was no way...what was going on?! She closed her eyes and shook her head. Not happening! Not happening! Dimly, Kagome heard voices calling to her.
"Kagome!"
"Wake up!"
Wake up? Kagome wondered. Then this is a...
Kagome's eyes flickered open and found herself staring up at the worried faces of Sango and Miroku. "What?" She asked.
"You were having a nightmare." Sango said simply.
"And you kept saying about how it couldn't be happening." Miroku added.
Kagome ran a hand over her face, then brushed her hair out of her face. "Well, at least it was only a dream..." Kagome looked back at the other two. "What are you two doing up so early?"
"Miroku had watch, and he saw Shippo leave the camp a few minutes ago. He woke me up and we decided to tell you first before mentioning anything around Inuyasha." Sango explained.
"Why's that?" Kagome asked.
"There's a demonic aura further in the forest. But it doesn't seem to be malevolent, at least not yet." Miroku responded, as Sango nodded in agreement.
"I see." Kagome said. She was slightly distracted by the slap mark on Miroku's face. He must have scared Sango when he woke her up. Or did something stupid after she had woken up. Kagome assumed the latter.
"...Kagome?" Sango questioned.
"Yes?"
"We should go and find Shippo before Inuyasha wakes up." Sango replied.
"Oh! Right!" Kagome got up and retrieved her bow and arrows. "Just in case." She said after seeing the looks she received. Then, she, Sango and Miroku left camp, believing that Inuyasha was still asleep. They didn't notice a red and white blur go by, dashing and leaping through the forest at a fairly fast speed.
---
Sesshomaru continued on his way at a leisurely pace, finding no reason to be going any faster. Rin wasn't in any danger, since he couldn't sense any demons nearby. Well...he did sense a small amount of demonic power, but dismissed it. It couldn't be anything dangerous. Besides, it would probably run off as soon as it sensed him.
Another minute or so passed, before Sesshomaru paused, wrinkling his nose faintly. This scent...was familiar. He could tell that Rin was with the smaller demonic presence he had sensed earlier. But, the scent he identified now belonged to none other than his irritating, half-breed younger brother. Who was currently moving at a very fast pace in Rin's direction.
Sesshomaru began to move again, but was now moving along at a pace faster than a walk. He wasn't in any hurry, and once Inuyasha sensed his presence, he would more than likely want a fight.
---
Inuyasha had picked up Sesshomaru's scent, and drew Tetsusaiga as soon as he entered the small clearing. He found Rin and Shippo giving him surprised looks. All present turned their attention to the other side of the clearing , where Sesshomaru emerged, looking completely unconcerned that Inuyasha's sword was drawn.
Before Inuyasha had time to open his mouth and say an insult or something, Sesshomaru moved quickly, disarming him and knocking Inuyasha into the pool of the waterfall.
While this happened, Rin and Shippo were saying hasty good-byes. They stopped when Kagome, Sango and Miroku entered the clearing as well.
"Hello Rin." Kagome said with a smile.
"Hi!" Rin replied, smiling as well.
Everyone fell silent as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha fought with each other (most of which involved Sesshomaru knocking Inuyasha repeatedly into the water, increasing the other's temper).
Kagome noticed that Sesshomaru seemed to get bored of this, and sure enough, a few seconds later, he had turned around and walked off towards the trees, speaking only one word. "Rin."
"I guess we're leaving." Rin said, then turned to Shippo. "See you later. Bye!" She ran over towards Sesshomaru, as Shippo called his good-byes after her.
Inuyasha got out of the pool, dripping wet. "Hey! Where're you going? We're not finished!"
Sesshomaru cast him a withering glance, but said nothing.
Which made Inuyasha even angrier than he already was. "Say something! No? Then come on! I'm not finished yet!"
Kagome sighed wearily. "Inuyasha...SIT!"
"Wah!" Inuyasha slammed into the ground. He muttered something as he struggled upright. In time to see the faint look of amusement pass across Sesshomaru's face. "What are you smiling at, you...!"
"SIT!!" Kagome snapped, before glancing over at Sesshomaru, who merely turned and walked off, with Rin following after him.
Once they were gone, Kagome turned her attention to the hole in the ground.
"Why'd you let them go?" Came Inuyasha's muffled voice. He got up out of the hole to find Kagome stalking off back to camp. Saying something under his breath, Inuyasha followed her once he retrieved his sword.
Miroku and Sango trailed after them, both silent. Shippo had decided that he didn't want to walk, so he was now on Miroku's shoulder. Shippo shook his head. "It's going to be one of those days..."
A faint cry of 'sit' and loud protests from Inuyasha rang out.
"It seems that way." Sango answered.
"Indeed." Miroku agreed.
---
Sesshomaru headed for the makeshift camp they had been at for the past few days. Once there, Rin was content to pick flowers that were growing near a rock as she sang softly.
Sesshomaru now knew what Rin had been up to, and it seemed to be all right, except that the small demon was traveling with Inuyasha. What to do... Well, he'd figure it out later. At the moment, something seemed to be amiss, but Sesshomaru couldn't think of what. It took him over an hour to realize that Jaken was missing. He hadn't been with Rin or that small demon...
---
Miles away...
"Lord Sesshomaru? Lord Sesshomaru? Rin? Where are you?" Jaken called as he walked along. He was getting more and more lost by the minute. Luckily for him, Ah-Un, who had been mysteriously absent until now, was trailing after him to bring him back to camp.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Much longer than the last chapter no? Review if you'd like. I think this turned out fairly well. I have a few ideas for the next chapter, so here they are:
1- Traveling past some active volcanoes, Sesshomaru has to deal with a few demons to get by (Not sure how long this would be).
2- Rin finds a coin on the ground and since there's no one around, wonders what to get with it- a little twist towards the end (as long as it needs to be).
3- A one or two part blizzard related chapter (two shorter chapters (around 700 words) or one longer, drawn out chapter).
(I do have more ideas still).
And if anyone was at all interested about another drabbles, etc. story with Inuyasha and the others, just let me know. I've been considering it for awhile, but more so after writing this chapter.
So, until next time, thanks for reading/ and or reviewing!