Troubled Waters

Rin had just gotten finished eating her lunch. She was hiding from the teacher Sesshomaru hired. He new it was time for Rin to start learning new things. She was not at all happy about that. She was to busy following behind Zimorah.

“Rin......RIN!.....Where are you?” The woman called to her. ‘That retched human child’ She thought. She saw Zimorah, strolling through the large garden outside.

“Lady Zimorah, had you seen Rin?”

“Ah, no....I thought she was with you.” Zimorah said as she sat down on her blanket.

“This is the third time the child has hidden from me.” The teacher was quite upset. “Perhaps I should inform Lord Sesshomaru..”

Zimorah’s eyes widened. She hated the thought of Rin getting a spanking, the last time Sesshomaru did it, Zimorah cried for the poor child. “Oh, oh please don’t.....I’ll find her.”

“Do you not think her behavior deserves his correction?”. She asked, raising one eyebrow. Zimorah was really starting to dislike most of the inuyoukai women. She was growing tired of their condescending attitudes towards her and Rin. They only did it because she and Rin are humans.

“Well, yes but right now is not the time. With his mind set where it is now, I fear that he may take things out on her. Just let me find her, I promise, I’ll bring her to you.”

“Hmph, it is just like you humans to pamper children. You act as though children are weeds, just water them and let them grow. Perhaps if her real parents did their jobs, Lord Sesshomaru would not have had to pick up the slack.” She spat out, looking down on Zimorah.

Up jumped Zimorah, her pretty brown eyes narrowed. “Let me tell you one thing woman, I’m getting so sick and tired of you stuck up inuyoukai bitches...you all piss me off! You have no clue of what Rin has been through, you do? And another thing, I’ve seen you little bad ass demon children, running around like wild bats from hell, frightening the humans that have gotten lost here so do not tell me anything about how we humans raise our children!” Zimorah didn’t even notice the crowd of youkai females staring at her.

“Well, well, now we all know how you really feel about us. If that is how you feel, why don’t you take your strange, human ass out of here...go back-“

“HEY” Rin screamed out. She came out of nowhere, she had something behind her back. “Looking for me?” She had an evil grin on her face.

The woman turned back to Zimorah, who now had her fists balled up, prepared for an attack.
“ Hmm, you are lucky that retched child appeared. Now I’m going to do the job her parents should have done.”

“My parents are dead, you mean bitch!” Rin yelled. SPLAT! She threw a fist full of mud in the inuyoukai’s face. “ That, was for Zimorah!”

A roar of laughter came from the guards and some servants as well. Zimorah’s mouth dropped open, she turned away, she did not wan Rin to see her laughing. ‘Damn, that child is just like me, when I was a little girl’ She thought. The teacher, was humiliated. She glared at the child, her eyes turned from amber to crimson red as she growled at her. Rin’s laughter was cut short. She only saw that look one time from Sesshomaru and it scared her then. She stood there unable to move. Zimorah stepped in front of Rin.

“I suggest you calm down, shes just a child!”

The woman pushed Zimorah to the ground and jumped out at Rin. Before she laid one claw on her, Thai had the lady by her neck. Like her older brother, she appeared out of nowhere. “I know you were NOT about to harm this young one, were you?”

“Do you not see my face, did you not see what that brat did to me?!” A whisper was all she could get out.

Thai looked at the wet mud running down her face. She laughed. “Why, yes. I do say its an improvement. “ There was a low round of snickering through the crowd. Thai let go of the woman. Now that she was free, she raved on some more.

“You treat them as if they are one of us” She hissed.

“Nah, I like them better”. Thai said with a smirk. Zimorah let out a laugh. Angered, the youkai turned to Zimorah.

“You keep on laughing at me human, you won’t for long. You have no business with Lord Sesshomaru.....he will learn of all this.”

“Oh, thats what this is really about. It is about my brother, you are pissed because he did not choose you.” Thai pulled her card. By the glare she received, she was right.

“Oh please, me jealous of a mortals?”

“Not all, just her.” Thai said coyly. Zimorah blushed as all eyes shifted her way. “Most of you all are. You all just knew that he would want one of you after Tsumi passed away.” Thai added, not caring about the hisses she received.

“He should be with one of his own.”

“You selfish wench, after all Sessh went through, it seems someone would be happy for him. Obviously, none of you all have what it takes to make my brother complete.”. Thai paused for a few seconds, staring down Rin’s teacher. “Oh, and Ayumi, it takes more then one drunken night on his desk a few years ago to hold his interest.” Thai said with a huge grin on her face. She knew Ayumi wanted noone to know of him discarding her like that. A loud bust of laughter and gasps ran through the crowd. Ayumi, now completely embarrassed and red, ran from the crowd. The crowd soon dispersed after that.

Zimorah stood there, shaking her head, wanting to laugh but she didn’t want to in front of Rin. She knew it would only encourage her to start big scenes like that. Rin did not know Thai well but she liked the way she shook things up all through the village. Thai walked over to Zimorah, throwing her arm around her shoulder.
“You alright?”

“Yes...Sessh is going to kill me though.” Zimorah sighed.

“Oh, his barks worse then his bite......but you already know that.” Thai took a sip of her tea, or at least Zimorah thought it was tea. She was holding a wide mug.

“What is that?”

“Some plum wine...want some?” Thai asked. Zimorah smiled and declined.

“Ooh, I do...I do!” Rin was jumping up and down.

“Ah, no.....You are in enough hot water as is little one.” Thai frowned at her, knowing she had no intention of doing anything to her. “ Now, it is time for you to finish your lesson. There is no reason why you cannot finish the rest on your own.” She said, giving her a stern look.


Rin whined a bit in protest but she left to do what she was told. The two women walked around outside awhile longer. Zimorah remembered Thai saying something about a female named Tsumi. Zimorah knew Tsumi was the mother of Sesshomaru’s child. They stopped their walk once they reached the entrance way.
“Tsumi, she was InuTaisho’s mother, right?”

“Yeah, she was.” Thai answered reluctantly.

“Was she, good to him? Where they happy?” Zimorah asked. She wasn’t insecure, she just wanted to know.

“They were quite happy. I mean, Sessh was never a jump up and down type of person but he was happy. There was a warmth in his eyes, like the way he is when he sees you.” Thai paused to take another sip of wine. “ Tsumi was real sweet, not like these females around here. You remind me of her, your heart, your warm spirit........she wasn’t nearly as fiery though.”

Zimorah laughed. “I think I’m too fiery sometimes.”

“Well, Tsumi was way too nice at times. She wasn’t as quick to put Sessh in his place when he was to full of himself. You do, I like that.” Thai said as she stretched. “She only got fiery when it came to InuTaisho....she was very protective of him.....she couldn’t handle it when he was....” Thai’s voice trailed off.

Zimorah knew why she stopped. Suddenly, Thai handed her a golden key. She wondered what it was about.

“Listen, Sessh, he really wants to tell you......its just that he doesn’t know how. He cannot even form his lips to say what happened to his son.”

“Where.....what is this?” She asked, looking at the key.

“It is the key to my nephew’s room. Noone has entered that rom since.....since he died.”

“But Thai, Sessh will be so angry with me. I can’t violate his-“

“He will be angry at first but it has to be done. The time has come for him to stop carrying all this around within. We all know you have the gift of sight.”

“Oh.” Zimorah sighed sheepishly. “I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be. Uncle Toshio will be there with you.” Thai assured her. She quickly embraced Zimorah, to calm her a little.

Thai informed her that Sesshomaru and Yoshirah were going to be away for awhile so, she had time.

Making sure none of the guards inside were watching her, Zimorah quickly ran down the hallway and up the winding steps. Before she turned the corner, she saw Toshio. He picked up on her nervous energy before he saw her. He was standing in front of the fallen child’s room door.
“Do not be afraid child.” Toshio told her as she unlocked the door. Zimorah took a long breath before she went inside.

The room looked completely un touched. The futon was not even made up, it looked as if the child just rolled out of it. That was enough to send a chill up and down Zimorah’s spine. Slowly, she walked over to draw back to drapes, to add some sun light to the room. There dust everywhere. At first, nothing came to her. Against her better judgement, she sat on the futon, almost instantly, flashes of the child came to her. She lightly ran her fingers along the cover. Visions of a dark- haired woman tucking, in the young boy came to her. Zimorah could even hear the woman’s voice, lightly singing to her son as he smiled.
Zimorah felt a sense of peace while on the futon. She even saw Sesshomaru with Tsumi, they were watching InuTaisho sleep. He looked so peaceful, so innocent. Zimorah walked around the room, she smiled at the feeling of such warmth and peace. She came across a large, wooden chest, before she opened it, a sharp pain went through her hand. It caused her to jerk her hand back but she knew she had to open it. She saw two silk kimonos, one gold, the other lavender. She recognized the golden one. She slowly picked it up.

As she clung to the fabric, her visions were clear as day. She saw Sesshomaru telling the little boy not to wonder off, to stay right there, until he came back. Zimorah had to smile at the mischievous look in te child’s eyes. Soon after Sesshomaru left, something caught his attention. Being the curious young pup he was, he wanted to check things out for himself. An unsettling feeling crept over Zimorah, she saw the vision she did before of InuTaisho lost in the deep forest, he was scared and crying for his mother and father. He started to think of all the dangers his father warned him about, being a young youkai, wondering alone near humans. The poor child cried even more. He attempted to hide when he heard footsteps.

“Well, hello there.” A women said. She had long, black hair. Her kimono was white and red.
“Are you lost?”

The child said nothing, as he peaked out from behind the tree he hid behind. He wasn’t sure what to think of her.
“ I do know of your father, you can come out, I won’t hurt you.” Her energy was peaceful. Still, he just stared at her, his little claws were gripping hold of the tree.

He quickly jumped back behind the tree as the woman stepped towards him. He shielded his face with the fur he had wrapped around his arm. She stopped short once she realized the pup was frightened.
“You look just like your father, you know that?” Her voice was comforting.

InuTaisho slowly lowered the fur from his face.

“You are Sesshomaru’s little one aren’t you?”

“Y-yes”. His little voice was shaky. “H- how did you know?”

“Well, I told you.....you look just like the dog demon. You know that you have your grandfather’s name?”

The boy shook his head. He still did not know what to make of the human. He has never even seen one up close before. The mysterious woman smiled at him, she thought he was so adorable.
“How’d you so far away from your father?

“He told me to stay put but....but I didn’t. Now, I am lost.....I-I just want to get home!” The young pup started to cry again. The woman knew he was about the about three or four years old, at least in human years he was. She took his small hand.

“There, there....I will get you to your father.” She assured him. She looked up at the sky, noticing how late it was getting. “It is getting late. We best be getting out of here, it is must to dangerous for such a young demon such as yourself, to be out here when its dark.”

He knew the lady would not cause him any harm. He took her hand again and walked with her. The two were stopped in there tracks. Suddenly, they were surrounded by an angry mob of men. The scent of alcohol was on their breath. The inuyoukai child knew to trust his instincts, he immediately hid behind this woman, clinging to her clothing.

“We want no trouble, just let us threw!” She said with a stern tone.

“We’ll let you pass...so as you hand over that demon child!” One of them yelled out.

“I will not, he is just a young pup, leave him be!” She defended..

“Hand him over Kaede!” He yelled once more, she saw the brick he had in his hand. “You of all people know of the evil in his blood”

“He is a child. He is not to be persecuted for his father’s doing.” She yelled while slowly reaching for her arrow. InuTaisho was trembling with fear, he had no idea what these men were speaking of.

“We’ll give you one more chance to hand that evil child over...he will soon join his grandfather!”

Before she could say anything else, she was attacked from behind. She fell from the blow to her head, the child could smell the blood before it poured out. He was all alone, surrounded by these ignorant , drunk human males who did not have the common sense to know that causing harm to Sesshomaru’s son was suicide. InuTaisho attempted to protect himself but he was so small. He barely scratched these men, they just laughed at him, they were taunting the pup.

Tears filled Zimorah’s eyes, she was unable to stop the sightings, unable to let go of his kimono. She felt the intense fear that built up in the boy’s heart. She was trembling, just like he was.
“Is that all hes got....sure doesn’t fight like his father” The man laughed as he gripped the child up by his collar. He spat in the pup’s face. InuTaisho let out a little growl and scratched his face.

“You little bastard.....you will pay for that”.

“Lets kill’em already!” One of the other men yelled out.

The child’s eyes widened. Tears fell from his face.
“Aww, don’t cry now!” The man said, he still had him in his grip. “No.....I’ve got a better idea......I want to make the demon suffer.”

It was like Zimorah was in this man’s head. The evil that ran through his mind, Zimorah yelled out, she was light headed. All she saw was black, her body hit the floor, still she clung to the boy’s kimono. Toshio ran threw the door. He saw Zimorah stretch out on the floor.

“Zimorah,....Zimorah, child, you must wake up!” He cradled her in his arms. Slowly, he looked over his shoulder, he felt an ice-cold glare, one he has never seen before. The room shook at the deep growl.

“What... the... hell... is.... this? What the fuck are you doing in here!”
Sesshomaru’s whole demeanor was different.....he was defiantly in rare form.