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Unexpected Endeavors	By : Scottishfae Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 70550 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 16
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Unexpected Endeavors

scottishfae

A/N: Don’t say that I don’t love you. <3 <3

Arc 2: Of Grief

Chapter 16: Denial

Rin had been avoiding the group of strangers as much as possible. It was rare that she and Jaken agreed on something--but neither of them really wanted the new people around.

Especially the miko. She seemed nice enough, but why she continued to capture Sesshomaru’s attention, Rin couldn’t figure out. What’s more, she accomplished in just a couple of weeks what it had taken well over a year for the little girl to earn: casual touch.

When the Taiyoukai was proud of her, he would pat Rin on the head; that was the extent of their physical contact. But Kagome somehow earned gentled touches to the arm, brushes against her hand or hair, little things that would escape most people’s eyes. Not Rin’s though; she was too smart for that. She watched because he was her guardian; her savior; and he had taught her to be observant.

And it had all started the night of the new moon. Everyone had been pensive and on edge. What’s more, Sesshomaru had disappeared for the entire day, not coming to Rin’s side when she needed him. Since that day, he couldn’t seem to stop touching that girl.

“Rin, you’re going too far!” Jaken squawked.

Ah-Un regarded them both assessing the situation, before returning to eating on the high grass. Because she was feeling particularly rebellious against the retainer who had been left with her (though she knew Jaken was just as upset with being left behind as she was), she ran further east.

And Jaken ran after her; yelling at her all the way. At some point his screams changed from lecture to warning, “Rin! Stop, Rin! Watch out!”

The little girl turned to look at him. She stuck her tongue out, pulling down the bottom of her left eye. “Can’t catch me, Ja--Ah!”

She was lifted off the ground and into someone’s arm. She looked over her shoulder to see a group of humans coming out of hiding; weapons drawn. “What do we have here?” the man holding her spoke.

“Is she youkai friendly?” Another asked.

“She was runnin’ away from that one, maybe she is like that other girl.”

Rin, coming out of her shock, began to struggle violently in the man’s grasp. She grabbed hold of her attacker’s hand and bit down. He screamed and dropped her to the ground.

She ran forward, trying to reach Jaken before another human could capture her.

She wasn’t successful.

“I guess that means she’s a friendly. Do we kill her now?”

“Idiots,” a woman spoke this time. “She’s just a child. Bring her to Aiko-san. Let her decide.”

“You will do no such thing,” Jaken screamed; bringing his staff in front of him.

The men laughed at the diminutive youkai. Jaken reeled and let his staff releasing a spew of fire. They jumped back, Rin still in hand. The woman signaled the others with her right arm. Moments later there was a sound and the fire stopped.

Rin screamed as she watched the staff fall out of Jaken’s hand. An arrow clearly lodged in his torso. “Ah-Un,” Rin continued to scream. “Save Jaken!”

The man holding her whipped her around as he and the woman headed for their village. The others circled the dieing youkai and waited. The last Rin could glimpse was Ah-Un’s desperate struggled against the men. She hoped they would be alright.

*

“Aiko-san,” the woman screamed.

She waited outside the small, pottery shop. “What is it, Hina?”

A bamboo flap covering the door moved and out stepped a woman in her mid-thirties. She wore a grey kimono with the sleeves tied back with a crossed ribbon.

“We found this girl in a field west of here. She had two youkai with her; looked like they were friends.”

Aiko took in the girl. Riin had exhausted herself from trying to escape earlier and now hung limply from the man’s awkward hold of her. She glared icily at the people around her.

“Two youkai?” Aiko asked.

“The other stayed behind to get rid of them. I don’t suspect they’ll have trouble. One is a beast of burden and the other a simpering toad; a weakling at best.”

“That’s not true,” Rin protested. “Jaken-san is Sesshomaru-dono’s retainer. He’s a great youkai!”

“Did she say--?” the man holding her began.

The humans looked at each other in surprise. “Kiyoshi-kun,” Aiko yelled into the shop for her husband.

Kiyoshi was over a decade younger than his wife. Their marriage was neither one of mutual benefit or love. He was a quiet, withdrawn man, though very kind; he didn’t have a trade nor was he particularly good at anything. He seemed to go through life apathetic and without passion.

Aiko was just the opposite. She had once been very much in love, in her youth, but lost him to a youkai attack. No one would profess the Potter’s daughter to be a beauty, but she was hardworking and, as the only child, could offer the trade as a dowry. Her family remained hopeful that she would find a husband still, but Aiko’s personality was strong and too masculine for most men; she had no elegance or charm that drew eligible bachelors to prospective brides. Eventually, her family--and Aiko--gave up. She turned her life to her trade--and to setting up defenses (the watchers) against future youkai attacks.

Things changed when her father died, the last of her family. She left the village for a short time; to mourn in private. Kiyoshi followed her and approached her one evening. Calmly, and with all seriousness, he asked her if she would become his family. Neither had much to offer the other; except, perhaps, companionship.

It took her the better part of a year--with Kiyoshi asking every day--before she agreed. They were married days after.

Strong, confident Aiko and quiet, shy Kiyoshi.

“Kiyoshi-kun,” she again called out when he didn’t come out. “I’m going to the meeting hall. Don’t touch anything while I’m out!”

The watcher in front of her snickered. Aiko looked at him with a silent warning in her eyes. Kiyoshi walked out then. “Yes, Aiko-san. Is there a problem?”

His eyes fell on the little girl and widened. He looked at his wife and tugged on her sleeve like a child seeking attention from his mother. An unspoken conversation was held between the two. “We’ll see,” she said aloud to him.

She turned to walk towards the meeting hall; Hina and the other watcher following. Hina trotted up to Aiko. “What was that about?”

“Old arguments rising up again.”

Hina’s mouth formed an oval shape. “Have you ever considered it? You’re both very good with kids.”

Aiko waved off the question. It wasn’t something to think of at the moment. The main road forked around the meeting hall--a large, one-room building they used as a communal area.

They entered the building; Aiko motioning for Hina to close the doors after them. The male watcher put Rin down in the middle of the room before walking to stand at the doors.

Aiko sat down in front of the girl. “Hi there,” she said slowly; in that aggravating tone all adults talked to children in. “What’s your name?”

Rin said nothing. She started down at her orange and white checkered kimono.

“My name is Aiko, and I’m one of the leaders of this village. Were you taken by the youkai that have taken residence not far from here?”

Rin continued in her silence. Aiko looked up at Hina for help. The other woman walked forward and sat next to the other woman. “It’s okay,” she said. “You can tell us. We won’t hurt you.”

At that Rin’s head snapped up. “You hurt Jaken-san! You shot him!”

Not changing her tone, Hina continued--trying to calm the girl with her voice alone. “I don’t know what those youkai tried to tell you, but they’re evil, hateful things--they must be killed.”

“No they aren’t!” Rin began screaming. “Jaken-san was nice. He took care of Rin. He is Sesshomaru-dono’s retainer and Rin is his ward. Let Rin go! Let Rin go to Jaken-san!”

There was a silence from the adults as the girl continued to scream and protest.

“At least we know her name now,” Hina muttered.

“Ward of Sesshomaru,” Aiko replied. “Ridiculous! The Taiyoukai of the West despises humans. He would never care for one.”

“It’s true! You should let Rin go now. Rin needs to check on Jaken-san. He was only trying to he-help.” She hiccuped in her distress; refusing to cry. Sesshomaru wouldn’t be happy with her if she cried.

Aiko sighed. She stood and motioned for Hina to follow her. They convened with their male counterpart at the door. “What do we do? It’s obvious she’s been brainwashed,” Hina asked.

“Is there any way it could be true? I had heard rumours of Sesshomaru-dono pursuing a human female,” the male added.

“Rumours of youkai are lies and deception. We’ve seen the damage he’ll do to the humans of this land. There is no way he would take a human; even less likely he would take in a human girl,” Aiko refuted.

Hina’s eyes went wide. She grabbed the other woman’s arm. “You don’t think the rumours are about her...”

They looked at the small girl who had curled up into herself; she was desperately holding back tears as she rocked herself back and forth. Her shoulders shook with every breath she took.

“Certainly not.”

“Do you want to take the chance?”

Aiko shook her head. “No. Take her to the midwife. See if there is damage. Bring her to my house when done.”

Both watchers nodded. “Where are you going now?” Hina asked.

“Back to the shop to make sure my husband has not destroyed the place.”

The two laughed. She opened the door and left. She would need to tidy the house a bit, prepare more rice, and find an extra futon for the girl.

Hina and the man once again picked Rin up and took her. She didn’t put up a fight, allowing Hina to carry her as a normal child. Rin went boneless against the woman in seconds.
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Unexpected Endeavors