Sesshomaru and the Forgiving Soul

Chapter One:

“Is Inuyasha back from getting water yet?” Kagome hurried around the camp site gathering the necessary things to cook breakfast for the group. Sango and Miroku were sitting near by watching the miko dance around like she does every morning. Shippo was sitting in the taijiya’s lap. Inuyasha walked slowly though the trees with the water bottles filled with clean water. He seemed a bit down and his eyes said he was deep in thought. Every since the final battle with Naraku Inuyasha has not seen Kikyo or her soul collectors. He misses her dearly and wants for her to be brought back to life for good once the Jewel is collected and once more whole. Kagome shook her head at her childhood crush.

“Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.” Kagome said happily, trying to ease the mood.

“Keh.” Inuyasha could be so withdrawn sometimes. Kagome shook her head again and returned to preparing the food. After breakfast they began to break down the camp site ready to move on. Kagome felt a strange aura brush against her own before retreating again. Calmly she sat down and began to meditate. She pushed her own aura out trying to locate that touch again. Finding nothing she pulled her self out of her trance and got up.

“Kagome? What is wrong?” The houshi had been watching her for a few minutes.

“Gomen, it was nothing. I thought I felt something but I cannot find it now.” Miroku nodded and went back to packing things.

“Keh. Let’s get moving.” Inuyasha took up the lead and we all fell into place behind him. Kagome was deep in thought as she tried to place that familiar aura but could not remember where she had felt it before. They traveled all morning with no signs of the fragments they sought.

“There is a village up ahead. We should stop there for a lunch break.” The houshi nodded up the path. Everyone agreed. As they approached the village the strange aura once again made itself know to her with a curious brush against her own. Immediately she pushed her aura back against it, testing it. The aura flared quickly and then retreated. Kagome sent her aura after it trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. She heard a small chuckle ring in her ears before the aura was gone completely.

“Well that was interesting,” She mumbled to her self. The village was in sight now and it seemed that everyone was centered on the middle of the village waiting for someone. Kagome walked ahead of the group to the gathering.

“Excuse me. Who are you waiting for?” The village elder turned to her and bowed deeply.

“You grace us with your presence, miko. I am Kirio, the leader of this small village. We are waiting for our lord to pick up his charge that has been staying with us. I am afraid though she has come down with a cold and do not want his wraith to fall upon our town.”

“Oh, well might I see her? Perhaps I can be of some assistance.” Kirio smiled and bowed again gesturing toward the center of the mass of people. Kagome turned to her friends. “Come on guys’ maybe we can talk to this lord and see if there are any rumors about the Shikon Shards around here.” The group nodded and followed Kagome through the throng of people. Once she reached the center she was assaulted with a small flying form.

“Kagome-chan! You came to see Rin! Rin is so happy that you are here.” Her small face was flushed and she felt
hot to the touch even through the kimono she was wearing.

“Rin! I did not know that you were the one the village was looking after. You feel warm, are you sick?” Rin blushed and looked down.

“Rin thinks that she has a cold but doesn’t want to worry anyone. M’lord is coming back today to get Rin.” Kagome smiled at the child at her feet.

“Well lets see if was can’t get you to feel better before he gets here.” Rin grinned up at Kagome.

“Why do we need to stop here and take care of the bastards ward? We have things that we need to do. The Shikon Shards are not going to find themselves.” Inuyasha growled at Kagome and the little girl.

“Inuyasha-sama, I am sorry. You do not need to stop and help Rin. Rin will be fine.” Rin looked down at the ground and played in the dirt with her toe. Kagome looked sadly down at the little girl before turning her glare on the hanyou.

“Oh, Inuyasha,” she said in the sweetest voice she could. Inuyasha’s puppy ears flattened against his head as he took a step away from the scary miko. “Osuwari.” Inuyasha was pulled down to the ground by the prayer bead around his neck. A nice size Inuyasha size crater now took residence upon the ground. The town’s people backed away from the hole. Kagome turned back to Rin with a smile. She was looking down at Inuyasha with a confused look on her face.

“Inuyasha-sama, does that hurt when Kagome-chan makes you ‘sit’?” Kagome laughed as Inuyasha winced a little at the sound of the s-i-t word.

“I believe that it does Rin. Come on we’ll go over to that stream and see if I can’t get you to feel better.” Kagome took Rin’s hand and lead her down to the stream. Taking off her backpack she started to filter through the contents. “Oh, it looks like I’m out of my medicine. Oh, well, I’ll just have to make some thing for you.” Kagome looked up at the girl and smiled. Kagome looked around and spotted just the herbs she was looking for. After collecting all the herbs that she needed she made a small fire. Kagome took out a tea kettle and got some fresh water from the stream to start boiling.

“What is Kagome-chan doing?” Kagome smiled up at the little girl.

“I’m making a tea that will help to get rid of your fever.” Kagome took several of the leaves she had gotten and broke them in half placing them at the bottom of a cup. Once the water began to boil she poured some into the cup and watched at the water began to change colors from a clear to a murky brown. Nodding the miko put the tea down and placed the kettle back on the fire. Placing her heads gently over the cup she began to think of getting rid of the child’s fever and the cup glowed a light blue for a few moments and then stopped. The miko handed the cup to Rin.

“Here. Drank this and your fever should go away.” Rin looked down at the cup for a few minutes before taking a small sip. Her eyes got really wide as she drank more of the sweet tea.

“Kagome-chan, this is great. Is it really going to make me feel better?” Kagome nodded at the little girl. Suddenly Kagome remember a present that she had bought for the little girl shortly after the finale battle with Naraku.

“Rin come here for a moment.” Rin got up and went over to the miko who was starting to pull things out of her bag
and set them aside. When she pulled out a small red box she turned once more to the little girl. “Here, this is for you.” Kagome handed the box to the little girl.

“Kagome-chan bought Rin a present?” Tears began to fill her eyes as she stared down at the box in her hands. “No one ever bought me a present before. Arigato Kagome-chan.” Rin slowly lifted the top off the box and was greeted by the most beautiful thing the little girl had ever seen. A small kimono rested in the box, just the right size for the young girl. It was two layered and the under layer was a vibrant white while the outer layer was a navy blue with a great dog stitched onto the back in front of a crescent moon. The obi was also white. Rin launched herself at Kagome with tears running down her face.

“Arigato Kagome-chan! Rin loves the kimono you got for her. Can I wear it now! Please!” Kagome hugged Rin close for a moment before agreeing to help her put the kimono on after a bath. Knowing they were in a secluded area and the rest of the group stayed in the village on the urging of the elder, Kagome and Rin bathed in the river. The water was cold and so it was a short bath. Kagome helped to wash Rin’s hair with her shampoo and conditioner. When the bath was finished Kagome quickly got dressed after wrapping a towel around Rin. Sitting Rin down in front of her she set out to brush her hair until it behaved and then swept it up in a low ponytail. Her hair dry and out of the way Kagome began to dress the wiggling child. After securing the obi in place Rin rushed over to the water to see her refection.

“Oh. Rin looks like a lady. Do you think that Sesshomaru-sama will approve?” Kagome came up behind the girl and hugged her close to her chest.

“I think that Sesshomaru-sama would be a fool not to.” Suddenly Kagome found herself pinned against a tree by a very masculine arm. Looking up the arm she came face to face with the very demon lord she was just speaking of.

“You dare to presume to call this Sesshomaru a fool?” He squeezed his hand before allowing her to speak.

“Sesshomaru-sama, I was merely telling Rin that you would approve of her new kimono.” Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the miko before letting her drop to the forest floor.

“Sesshomaru-sama! Rin is glad to see you! Kagome-chan bought Rin this new kimono and now Rin looks like a lady!” She ran up and through her arms around on of his legs while she babbled up at him.

“Rin, stand away from this Sesshomaru so that he can inspect this ‘gift’.” Rin obediently took a few steps away from him and slowly moved in a complete circle. Sesshomaru nodded in approval before looking back to the woman who bestowed such a great gift on his ward.

“Miko.” Said miko was now standing waiting for his response to the innocent gift.

“Sesshomaru-sama.” She bowed slightly before him.

“Why?” Kagome knew what he meant and sighed.

“You do not approve of the kimono? I have always seen Rin in the same kimono and when I was visiting my mother I saw it in a shop and wanted to get it for her. It seemed fitting that a ward of the western lands carried a symbol of her lord. I thought the kimono was perfect.” Kagome watched the demon lord’s face as she spoke. Sesshomaru nodded slightly before turning away.

“I approve of the kimono. It…suites.” Sesshomaru glanced back at his ward. “Come, Rin.”

“Hai, Sesshomaru-sama. Bye Kagome-chan! Come and see me sometime again!” Then Rin turned and ran after her lord.
Kagome shook her head as she rubbed her neck. That bastard left bruises she was sure. Kagome shrugged and started to gather her things once more and head back to the village.