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Unexpected Endeavors	By : Scottishfae Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 70551 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

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Unexpected Endeavors

scottishfae

A/N: quick arc here and I leave you with another sort of cliffhanger; enjoy :D

Arc 3: What Little Girls are Made Of

Chapter 22: Everything Nice

It was there again. This feeling of being watched. She had been getting them frequently in the past weeks and it had become unnerving. When she had mentioned it to Cho, she gave a funny smile and explained that Haru had been lurking about.

After his mention, Haru had shown himself and had been a pretty constant presence since then. He and Shippo had taken to playing--’training’ as the two guys had explained it--in the gardens and surrounding, protected area.

Haru was a lively addition and Kagome found the loneliness ebbing, but the feeling of being watched did not.

Mami--one of the human servants and the only to socialize with the miko--had tried to explain that paranoia was often a side effect of pregnancy. Both Cho and Kagome seemed to unconvinced that that was the cause.

It was at the end of the third week that they discovered what was going on.

“Why doesn’t Rin-chan join us?” Shippo asked.

They were eating a light snack in the gardens. The temperatures were still pleasant enough while lounging under the sun. They had spread out a blanket and each sat in a portion of it around several lacquered trays.

Kagome knit her brows, she realized she hadn’t seen the girl as often since her outburst at breakfast weeks ago. Jaken always seemed nervous to have the girl around the miko and often tried to avoid having them in the same room.

“I believe Rin-chan may have been the cause for your unease,” Haru commented around an onigiri.

The miko twisted around to where an outcropping of precisely placed stones were situated. She only caught a flash of orange before the girl disappeared completely behind her hiding place. “When did she get so good at spying?” Kagome asked.

Jaken answered: “Traveling with Sesshomaru-dono, I’m sure. She was often asked to hide or flee ssecretly when trouble occured. Of course, she usually didn’t and got very good at following Sesshomaru-dono without his realizing it.”

Kagome gave him a doubtful look. Jaken just shrugged. he too didn’t think it was possible to follow the Taiyoukai without his knowledge, but it didn’t change the fact that Sesshomaru had always allowed her to continue doing it.

“Rin-chan,” Cho called out. “Would you like to join us?”

The little girl didn’t make a noise. The inu-witch sighed. “She continues to act so strange.”

Jaken nodded.

“And it’s been her that’s been following me all this time?”

“Guess so,” Haru answered.

“Why?”

No one had an answer; no one really had an explanation for the girl’s behaviour. “Perhaps someone should talk to her?” the miko suggested.

Cho hummed; her discussions never going far with the girl--at least not recently. Jaken was obviously in the same boat. Kagome sighed. “I guess I could do it.”

“Perhaps, that would be best,” Haru agreed.

He was grinning, but it lacked its usual mirth. Cho studied him carefully, a frown marring her face. “Or perhaps we can try together,” she suggested instead.

Kagome nodded. She picked up a bowl of rice that Hatsu had added fish and various vegetables in. Cho was increasingly stressing the importance of eating meat while with child. The youkai--half or not--would need it to grow stronger; and it would help not over tax her own body.

They continued their pleasant afternoon in relative silence. The sound of birds migrating could be heard overhead. Winter was heading their way.

*

It wasn’t until the next day, when Cho was ‘busy’ with Haru, that Kagome sought out the little girl. It was almost night--which gave Kagome all new respect for the middle inuyoukai brother and his stamina--when she found Rin. She was near the bath house. Jaken and Shippo’s voices echoed from within the building.

“Rin-chan?” Kagome whispered.

Both humans were wearing more layers to help keep out the cold. The little girl turned; her eyes downcast and, even at Kagome’s please, refused to meet the older woman’s. “Rin-chan, what’s the matter?”

The little girl shook her head. She took a few steps to her side; inching away cautiously from Kagome. The miko followed her short steps. Kagome kneeled down. She reached out a hand, but it was quickly slapped away. Kagome recoiled her arm; her hand stung.

“Don’t touch me!” Rin screeched.

Kagome’s brow knit. “Of course, but Rin-chan, will you tell me what has you so upset?”

“Y-you,” she accused, hesitantly.

“Me?”

“What is so great about you?” she nearly growled. “Why are you so important? Why does Sesshomaru-dono like you more than Rin-chan?”

Kaogme’s face relaxed. She understood now. “Rin-chan,” she began, calmly. “That’s not true. Rin-chan is just as important to Sesshomaru-dono. You are his precious ward.”

The little girl looked at Kagome skeptically. “I don’t believe you.”

Kagome sighed. “Sesshomaru-dono set out with the others on my request, and yet he came back quickly when he heard you were taken, right? Obviously you mean a lot to him; more than me, I would think.”

Rin stepped back; her face blank except for a slight tightening around her mouth. It was as if she was thinking carefully over what Kagome had just said.

“B-but that doesn’t mean Sesshomaru-dono will keep Rin-chan when his son is born. They said he would get rid of me! That I couldn’t stay if your son was born!”

Kagome sucked in her breath. They? “Stop it, Rin-chan,” the miko snapped.

She was using her arsenal of ‘mum tactics’ she remembered her own mum using onher. “You know that isn’t true! Sesshomaru-dono wouldn’t have rescued you if he didn’t plan to keep you around. You are important to him.”

Rin looked at Kagome intently.

“She has a point,” a female voice said from behind the miko.

Kagome looked over her shoulder to see Aiko standing there. She was looking to the bath house. “If your son, Miko-sama, is to be his heir, then that son will be the most important thing to him. Two silly little humans like you two will not even register to him.”

“That’s not true,” Kagome objected. “Sesshomaru-dono wouldn’t do that!”

“Say who? You? He’s a youkai and they will do as they please. Once your purpose is served, you will not matter anymore, Miko-sama. Nor will your presence be tolerated, Rin-chan. There will be a new child for him to worry over--”

“NO!” Rin screamed.

She turned and ran from the river crossing. Kagome looked at Aiko angrily. She was pissed, but had no time to say anything. Instead she chased after Rin; calling for her to stop as she fled.

The river crossing was just boulders and, as Kagome rushed over them, she felt the already frosty water lap at her feet. Her thick kimono was difficult to run in, especially the kosode that she wore over it. She quickly threw it off, letting it be whisked away by the rushing water. Several times she almost slipped. Rin had made it over them with ease--having made the trip regularly.

Rin ran across the browning meadow and towards the woods to her right. It wasn’t a path she usually took--but they had promised they would be there waiting, if she needed them.

Kagome was fast behind once across the river. The cold ground stung each foot fall, but she didnt’ let up. “Rin-chan, stop!”

The little girl didn’t. She increased her pace, as did the miko, and they both passed through the first barrier not even a minute apart.

The forest was steep where they were heading--a surprise to Kagome. Rin navigated the area easily. Kagome had more trouble; she lifted the folds of her kimono to give her a little more dexterity.

There were sounds of rushing water ahead; the river made a sharp curve not even a mile from where it left the estate’s grounds. It--as they were headed--ended at a ravine that made a small but deep lake.

Branches lashed out at the two humans as they made their way closer to the water. Snags and tears decorated the expensive kimono Kagome wore. She didn’t notice.

“Rin--”Kagome called out once more but choked as her foot caught a tree root. She fell forward, ready to catch herself with her hands, but the decline was too much. Instead of falling onto herself, she continued to tumble forward with the momentum of her run.

Her speed picked up as she rolled. Rin dove out of the way as Kagome passed by. The little girl cried out as she saw the end of the path.

Kagome could feel it. The rapid, cool air flow from a high waterfall. It created an air current of its own. She was coming towards the end. Kagome screamed; her hands tore at her surroundings, trying to grab at anything that would stop her.

She caught another root, her right hand grabbing at it with all her might. Momentum continue her path down the slope, but she held on. Her left hand though she willed it, was not obeying her desperate plea to move.

All the air rushed out of her as the land that was there suddenly wasn’t. There was a moment of awe before realization kicked in and she held on tight to the root. To her amazement, another hand appeared and grabbed onto her wrist. Her body swung down and she shit the cliff face hard. She screamed out in pain as the rocks bruised and pierced her skin. She could feel blooding rolling down her skin and legs.

The owner of the other hand leaned over and grabbed her obi. With the ease of any youkai, he hoisted her onto solid ground. Through her now blurring vision, Kagome could see it was the same inuyoukai guard she had met earlier.

His face looked worried and pained as he held her against him. He barked out orders to the others that she could not hear or understand. Kagome’s world soon sunk into blackness.

Rin’s cries followed her into unconsciousness.
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Unexpected Endeavors