Learning to Love

Disclaimer: the usual….I don’t own it, and I don’t make money from it……there happy now….. I’m going to pout now…..

Well last chapter was touching…..kinda fluffy even, this chapter will be much of the same I think….I wish to thank everyone who took the time to review, it warms my heart when I look and see that someone has left one….and sorry for the long wait my muse copped out after the last chapter and it took me forever to get her back on track, I also had a death in the family, so RL has been keeping me exceptionally busy….well that is about all I have to say for the moment, it will be a little longer before they make it back to the Western Palace….well anyway on with the show!!!
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The sun was just peaking over the horizon when Sesshoumaru began to stir; he felt a small weight shift at his side. It was different to his mate who normally just cuddled closer; it seemed the child had moved herself between them sometime during the night without his notice, something that baffled him. She was now looking up at him with her still dull brown eyes, a bit of fear showing through as though she had thought she had done something wrong, he smirked and wrapped her in a gentle one arm hug, nuzzling her head and growling gently to put her back to sleep. Before long she was back in sleeps calming embrace, she was clinging to his kimono with one hand and making the cutest expression, he had ever seen, in her sleep. He noticed that she hadn’t brought his tail with her, and when he looked over to where she had fallen asleep he saw his tail still laying there, he cocked an eyebrow in curiosity at why she had left it there when she came over during the night. He lifted it up and suddenly saw the reason for it being left behind. His eyes widened at the sight of the small yellow spot where she had been sleeping, and the trail leading toward the bushes. She apparently had woken up quickly enough to make it to the bushes before sullying her own clothing, but his tail was not so fortunate. He looked at her peacefully sleeping face and her small hand clutching tightly to his kimono and instantly forgave her. He reasoned it would wash out with a good scrub and it was not the fault of the child.

Laying his soiled tail back on the ground he gently brushed the fallen hair off of the little ones face, and then looked over to the face of his mate. Kagome was still deep in the land of dreams. Her face was relaxed but a little pale; he assumed it was because she was not ingesting enough blood through the practically raw meat to satisfy her body’s requirements. Unfortunately the undercooked meat would have to do until they got to the Western Palace. At the moment he had no real way of practically collecting a larger quantity.

As he watched, Kagome slowly began to stir, her eyelashes fluttered gently against her cheeks as she slowly woke up. She yawned and stretched out, jumping a little out of surprise as the little girl between them suddenly shifted closer to Sesshoumaru.

Her shocked, groggy, face changed into a soft smile at the sight before. The little one had practically molded herself to the front of Sesshoumaru’s top. When their eyes met she could tell her mate did not mind in the least and was actually quite happy with her innocent gesture of trust and acceptance.
They both lay there for a while longer, just watching their little angel sleep peacefully curled into Sesshoumaru’s chest. A short while later she too slowly woke up. She blushed at being so close to Sesshoumaru, then an ashamed, almost pained look, filled her little face. Kagome became concerned at the little ones distress increased quickly and tears began to well up in her earthy brown eyes.

Kagome instantly embraced her. “There, there little one what’s the matter?” She said slowly stroking her hair, and cuddling her to her chest.

She slowly lifted her head from Kagome’s bosom and pointed to Sesshoumaru’s tail as the tears continued to silently slip down her cheeks.

Kagome followed the direction her finger was pointing and gave Sesshoumaru a dirty look when he tried to hide his tail from view. With a sigh he lifted his tail to allow his mate to see the yellow stain on the fur. It took her a moment to realize what had happened. When she finally put everything together she gave Sesshoumaru a pointed look, silently conveying to him the need for him to take over the conversation. The little one was crying in her arms, she desperately needed reassurance that Sesshoumaru wasn’t mad at her. It would merely be empty words if they came from her, the little one needed to hear it straight from Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru locked his gaze with his mates for a moment, getting this obvious hint; he smirked and laid a large clawed hand on the little ones head. He gently ruffled her hair, and then he slowly wiped away the tears that clung to her cheeks. His hands rested on her cheeks as he made her look at him.

“Do not shed tears over something so trivial little one. I required a bath this morning regardless of this little accident. It has just given me a little more incentive to get it done earlier than I originally planned, so there is no harm done. You are still small, accidents will happen.” Sesshoumaru soothed. His smirk changed into a gentle smile as he released her face when she nodded and began to wipe away her remaining tears. Her distressed features then changed into one of determination when she again locked her gaze with his, as if she was silently telling him she would do her best not to do it again. He patted her head a few times, his smile turning into a proud smirk.

“Alright, now that that is taken care of,” Kagome smiled and hugged the little girl, “We have a question to ask you little one. Now you do not have to answer right away, but we were wondering if you would like to stay with us and become our daughter?” Kagome said; her hope and excitement clearly written in her voice.

The little girl wiggled out of Kagome’s grasp and stood up. She wobbled a few steps away, wincing with each step because of her pervious injuries, then turned back and looked at the two of them. She looked uncertain and doubtful, as if she believed it to be too good to be true. She then pointed to them then herself.

“”I think she is asking if we really want her mate…”Sesshoumaru said having expected such a reaction. “ The answer is ‘yes’ little one, we really want you to become our daughter. We would not have asked if we truly did not wish to keep you. We simply wanted you to make the final decision because it is your life and you have the right to choose. We have decided we want you, but if you do not want us then we will respect your wishes and find you a suitable home in one of the human villages we will pass. You have a big decision to make little one, think carefully on it. In the meantime I am going to bathe, I shall return shortly.” Sesshoumaru said as he rose and started to head toward the hot spring the girls had used the night before.

The little girls’ legs had finally given out to her injuries and she had fallen to her knees, the weight of his words hung heavily in the air around her.

As he was walking past her on his way to the hot spring, he stopped when he felt a tug on his long sleeve. Looking down he saw the little girl clinging to his sleeve with all the strength her little body could muster. She held onto him in a white knuckled grip, and her face was strained in frustration, he assumed it was due to her inability to speak because he could see her trying desperately to form words.

Kagome moved to kneel behind her, and Sesshoumaru knelt down in front of her. A few moments later, her expression lightened and she smiled as she grabbed one of Kagome’s and Sesshoumaru’s hands and put them around one of hers.

“Are you saying you want to stay with us?” Kagome questioned.

The little girl smiled brightly and nodded her head vigorously. She was suddenly engulfed in a strong hug from behind by Kagome, and received a loving pat on the head from Sesshoumaru.

She had thought that they had been joking when they had asked her to be their daughter. Though they had saved her life, and even been very kind to her afterward, it was unheard of for people of their station to adopt a commoner like her, and moreover one of them was obviously a demon. She had always been taught that they didn’t know how to be kind or love. However, from what she could tell he was very much in love with the woman who had saved her, and he had always been kind to her. She really liked both of them, but she hadn’t gotten her hopes up thinking it would last, especially after she had had the accident on his tail. She thought for sure he would cast her away, or beat her like the men she had been traveling with before had done. So after the accident had happened, and she had cleaned herself up, she decided it could very well be her last chance to remember what it was like to feel the security that came with being part of a real family. So emboldened by the inevitable end to her temporary happiness the dawn would bring, she daringly took up the space between them, surprised that neither woke up, or even stirred. So she curled up next to the man and fell asleep. She slept very deeply, feeling truly safe for the first time in a very long time.

She was frustrated when her voice wasn’t working properly, but she was happy that they always seemed to figure out what she was trying to tell them.

Her heart swelled as the knowledge, that she was now part of a real family, sunk in. She was filled with joy as a feeling of safety and security surrounded her. They really seemed to care for her, and this just enforced her little bubble of happiness.

Her new papa wasn’t much of a person to show emotion, but he did find little ways to show he cared about her very much. Her new mama was the complete opposite. She showed her affection openly, and boy did she have a lot of affection for her, the little one thought as she was currently being smothered in hugs and kisses.

Kagome was ecstatic, she finally had a little one she could call her own, and she had another one growing in her belly. She was so happy she couldn’t help but go overboard and smother the little girl in hugs and kisses while her mate sat there smiling at the scene, and bless the little one, she never made one sound of protest. Kagome stopped suddenly, and both the little girl and Sesshoumaru looked at her questioningly.

“Sesshoumaru...we have never asked her her name…oh I feel horrible, all this time calling her everything but her proper name…” Kagome kept fretting, her voice lowering to a mumble by the end as her expression saddened.

The little girl just smiled at her and patted her cheek, letting her know that everything was fine, and she really hadn’t minded the pet names. Then once again she wiggled out of Kagome’s grasp and began to write in the dirt with her finger. When she was done there were crude Kanji symbols etched into the dirt. Her chest puffed out with pride after she had finished.

Both Kagome and Sesshoumaru looked at her with wide eyed astonished expressions. Both were surprised that she was able to write at all. She received and approving smile and a pat on the head from Sesshoumaru, and a hug and kiss on the forehead from Kagome. Both of them then leaned over to read the etchings in the dirt.

“R…I…N…I think…is that you name Rin?”Kagome asked, seeming a little uncertain of her translation.

The little girl nodded vigorously, giving Kagome a wide gaped toothed grin.

“It is a fine name little one, forgive me if I do not use it frequently.” Sesshoumaru said with a small content smile, and then patted her head affectionately.

The happy atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the growling of the two females’ stomachs. It was so loud that both girls blushed bright red, and then everyone burst into laughter. Though Rin’s laugh was silent, the happiness on her face was a priceless memory for both adults.

“I believe it is time I go take my bath, I will return shortly…” Sesshoumaru said rising to leave once again, though this time no one tried to stop him. Once behind the cover of the trees, he turned to check on the girls one last time, and what he saw made his heart swell, and a truly content smile spread across his features. His mate and Rin were looking at each other and smiling, and then Kagome cuddled Rin to her with a look of absolute bliss on her face. The smile never left his face as he turned and resumed his trek to the hot spring.

Kagome cuddled Rin until both their stomachs protested loudly again, and they both shared another laugh.

“Well I suppose we had better get something to eat…too bad Sesshoumaru went to get a bath, we should have had him hunt for us before he left. Oh well, how about berries for breakfast?” Kagome smiled. Normally she wouldn’t have had a problem with hunting, but she didn’t want to leave Rin alone for any period of time. Little Rin nodded, accepting the idea for breakfast.

Kagome picked Rin up and situated her on her back to where she was riding piggy-back style. Then started toward the opposite direction Sesshoumaru had taken. After getting a little ways into the forest both girls realized they had neglected to use the bushes because of all the excitement that morning. A quick scramble to some nearby bushes, and both girls emerged feeling much better. A little ways further they discovered some berry bushes. Though animals had scavenged most of the berries from the bushes, there was still enough left for Rin to get her fill. Kagome passed on the berries because she feeling queasy.She figured it had little to do with hunger as she laid her hand on her lower abdomen.

The girls returned to the camp just as Sesshoumaru was returning from his bath. His hair was still very damp and hung heavily behind him, and his tail was not longer the floofy (fluffy+poofy) appendage he proudly carried over his shoulder. Now it more closely resembled a drowned rat, with water hanging heavily on and through it. Both girls laughed at the sight, Sesshoumaru just ‘hnned’ and blushed lightly under the bangs plastered to his forehead.

Suddenly he held out a rabbit toward the girls.

“I remembered I had forgotten to get you both a meal before I left. So I rushed through my bath to fetch this for you, though judging by you reactions, I should have taken a few more moments to properly dry my hair and tail…” Sesshoumaru said with a slightly sour tone to his voice.

Kagome still carrying Rin piggy-back style came up beside Sesshoumaru and kissed his cheek, with Rin mimicking the gesture.

“I am sorry mate, we could not help it, I do not believe I have ever seen you looking so disheveled, and I do mean ever…”She said giving him another look over, giving him a pointed look and a sly smile when she was done. “We managed to find some berries, but I appreciate you rushing to bring this back for us.” She said kissing him again, but this time on the lips. Sesshoumaru immediately responded trying to deepen the kiss, but Kagome pulled away before he had the chance.

“You tease me mate, never a wise decision…” Sesshoumaru growled in her ear as he walked past her to block her path, she just giggled at him and waved him off.

“Mate I am hungry, would you mind setting up that rabbit to cook while Rin and I take a quick bath?” Kagome looked at him innocently, batting her eyelashes for added effect.

Sesshoumaru just sighed and decided to cut his losses, there was no way he was going to be able to get a good rut in with his mate any time soon. His mate was too preoccupied with Rin to even think about that sort of thing, and he silently cursed himself for not taking her more often when he had the chance. Resigning himself to his task, he skinned, gutted, and placed the rabbit next to the fire to cook. He then proceeded to properly dry himself off to avoid any more teasing from his mate and daughter.

A short time later, Kagome and Rin returned from their bath and Sesshoumaru had the rabbit ready for them. His hair and tail weren’t fully dry yet but they were a far sight better than they were when the girls had left.

Sesshoumaru was slightly concerned that Rin wasn’t eating, that was until Kagome informed him about the berries their little one had filled up on earlier. Once Rin had picked off what she wanted, Kagome finished off what remained of the rabbit almost frighteningly fast. Though he hadn’t let the rabbit bleed out, and even left it mostly raw, he could tell his mate wasn’t satisfied. Her body needed her to ingest more blood than she was currently, but she was purposefully denying it. If they didn’t make it to the Western Palace soon, the pups’ health, as well as her own would be in jeopardy. He would have to make a big kill tonight, and if need be, force her to accept the plain blood that her body was so desperately yearning for.

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You all know the drill R&R, and above all else...hope you enjoyed it!!