CLAIMING KIN by Salome and Talon

Kin and Onii Go Shopping, Part I

By Talon and Salome

Author's Note: We wrote most of this back in 2008, and it's wonderful to finally get it online!

"Onii...why are we going out?" He knows there's a big slave market coming today...the servants are all buzzing about it...new slaves mean new distribution of work, training, cleaning, delousing, and also lots of medical care. Many slaves came in poor condition. They never stayed that way here.

"You ask too many questions, pup. Come with Onii. He has a treat in store for us both."

He clambers down from the chair, buckles jingling. Usually, he prefers the plain trousers that have been reinforced in the knees by the maids. But today his pants are more ornate, embroidered and shiny, light and clingy. And his harness, made more fancy for him because Onii wished it. He holds up the leash, wondering of Onii wishes it today.

"You carry the leash, little one. At the slave market we will see if we cannot find something to put on it."

"The slave market??" He trots next to Onii. "Is Onii going to buy a slave? What for?"

"For us, Kin. To...enjoy." Sesshoumaru throws his hair over his shoulder and ensures his obi is tied just-so. No matter the audience, he primps. When he goes out, he can feel, see, and smell the adoration of all, and he enjoys it.

Kin makes the leash a loose coil of leather and jingling metal. "Onii looks very pretty," he remarks, watching Onii make everything just so. "Does Kin look pretty too?"

"Kin looks like he belongs to a very powerful inuyokai who worships the bottom he sits on. And if Onii looks too long, we will never get out of here." He bends to ensure the buckles are fastened evenly, that the leather lies as it should. He paid exorbitantly for recent adjustments to his child's harness. Larger, more shiny buckles, designwork in the leather. Akemi was only too glad for the commission of additional work, especially as it did not come with criticism, only enthusiasm for more of what she does best. Lord Tai has, of course, commented on it, opining that he spends more time and money on his child than on himself. This is, of course, untrue, but the point is not unreasonably made. He does not apologize for the indulgences on Kin, nor does his father ask him to.

"Kin does belong to a very very very powerful inuyoukai!! OH!!" He just gets it, and blushes. "Kin is clean." He holds up his arms to make sure for Onii that his harness sits correctly. "Is good?"

"Is good," he repeats, lightly mocking the childish speech. "Come along now, and we will find a little playmate...for that incessantly hard little cock of yours."

He grasps Onii's hand. "A playmate?" He wrinkles his face a little. He misses Teru, though Onii tells him not to talk about it. Maybe Onii misses Teru too? "Kin belongs to Onii," he reminds his brother as they exit their rooms.

"Yes, Kin does belong to Onii. More entirely than anything except Onii's own cock." He enjoys his own humor, though it does not show in tone or expression. "Now understand well, pet. We are selecting a playmate so you will get the chance to do with your cock to him--or her--what Onii does to you. Onii is getting tired of waking up in the middle of the night with Kin humping his leg. Onii understands that you are asleep and mean no disrespect, but clearly you have need of release beyond Onii's greedy mouth, and so we shall seek it together.

He thinks about that, even as his ears flatten slightly. "Kin is sorry, Onii."

Sesshoumaru squeezes the child's hand reassuringly. "Onii will tell you a secret, little one: Papa says Onii did the same thing when he was your age."

Kin smiles. "So...we are getting a playmate to fuck? For Kin to fuck? Will the playmate be human or youkai?"

"Yes," replies Sesshoumaru proudly, "a playmate for Kin to fuck. And fuck well...with Onii's help. You wish Onii to help, do you not, Kin?"

"Kin only wants Onii's fuck. So Kin does not want to fuck ANYONE without Onii's help." He's quiet for a minute. "Kin cannot picture Onii humping legs."

"Well, by all means, child, do not picture Onii humping legs," he snaps. "Onii was a child then, and being regularly mounted by his father. No coddling or getting his cock sucked daily for this Sesshomaru. You're even more spoiled than I was," he says, as if this is a revelation worthy of mention.

"Onii mounts Kin now," he says proudly. "Kin grew! And Onii likes Kin's cock 'cause it is little. Right?"

"Onii likes Kin's cock because it is Kin's. It tastes right, smells right, is right. And it's mine. Mine to suck and touch and pull and spank, and push into a little slavegirl's cunt." He enjoys saying every word of this. He savors each word, like others savor meals.

"Everything of Kin's belongs to Onii." He winces, though. "Spank? Kin's cock? I do not think I would like that very much Onii," he says thoughtfully, one hand drifting to his crotch as the leash rides in a coil on his shoulder. "Kin suspects Onii spanking Kin's cock would hurt...very much."

"And yet: Onii must have what he wishes," he says, encouraging the child's little fear just a bit. It's irresistible to play with him this way. In truth, he never really thought about spanking the little cock before. "Come along now, they will not start the auction until Lord Sesshomaru looks first. My mere attention to any slave will enhance his or her value tremendously. And Kin must look them over well and pick his little toy to fuck. Does Kin think he would prefer a boy or a girl?"

His ears droop slightly. "Onii must have what he wishes," he repeats. He trots quicker, still holding onto Onii's hand. "Kin does not know," he says thoughtfully. "If we got a boy...Kin would have a little cock to suck...and he could fuck his mouth and bottom, yes?" Like Teru, he thinks sadly. "But if there were a girl...then...that would mean no cock...but girl places are very good tasting too."

"You reason well, little one. Onii prefers the taste of men--and particularly his pup--but you may select a slavegirl if you wish. Use your nose well when you choose: it is smell and taste as well as looks that will suit us best. Onii will be sure she is healthy and sturdy enough to handle our needs."

"Yes, Oniisama." He looks around as they walk. Outside the sun is fresh on their heads, and his ears perk at all the sounds. The slave auction is close by. Jaken-sama said the buyer for the castle would be looking, too. But not before Onii got his pick! He can feel the eyes on him, but he doesn't care. He does pause, and draw up short though when the wind shifts and he gets a whiff of the wagons that hold the slave cages. "Onii..."

"Yes, child?" He feels Kin grow tense. It has been some time since he has been to a slave auction. He has not missed it.

Kin's nose wrinkles. Human and youkai and waste and filth. "It smells bad. And...scared. I forgot."

"It does indeed smell...bad," he agrees. So many things are different when seen through Kin's senses. Perhaps he will speak to his father about this.

He moves closer to Onii's leg. He's used to slaves being clean and cared for. While low...and worked hard...they are fed and clothed in the castle, youkai and human slaves alike.

"Kin, come sneak away with Onii for a moment... He wants your mouth on his cock where we could be caught at any moment. There is no danger of reprisal, but it will give Onii such pleasure." He remembers enjoying Kouga in a lowly brothel once, and being fucked by Papa in a peasant's field. The sunshine demands such pleasure.

"Oniiiiiiii!!!"

"Just for a few moments, Kin. Come put your lips to Onii's hardness." He parts his hakama and exposes the head of his erection.

Kin obeys, lowering his head to Onii's cock, still small enough to stand at Onii's feet and suck.

"Ah, Onii's perfect pet...such a good boy..." Sesshoumaru threads his fingers softly into the child's thick hair...strokes a soft eartip, basks in the pleasuring – his boy sucks cock like no other -- such open, warm generousness -- such sweet wild lapping and licking -- such a delicious puppy.

Kin can take more now...more of Onii's cock, but he still gags too easily for his own satisfaction, so he sucks and licks and laps as well as he can, stroking with a paw and looking up at Onii as he does so. The sun shines behind Onii's hair and makes it glow.

Sesshoumaru closes his eyes and listens to the sounds of people -- human, youkai, hanyou -- their voices and scents meshing into a background that heightens his pleasure... He longs to be overseen, having his cock sucked by his sweet baby brother. This is, of course, not exactly what his father enjoyed when he toyed with or mounted him before those who did not understand. But it has resonances, and Sesshomaru adores the way Kin adores him. He opens his eyes again to look down on that exquisite sight: the sun shines behind Kin's hair and makes it glow.

He sucks insistently at the tip, lapping up the dribble of clear fluids he enjoys so much. He hears nothing but Onii's breathing and his heartbeat...the small noises he makes as he slurps Onii's hardness. He sees only his brother-owner's beauty and smells only his incomparable scent. He sucks down harder again, trying to go further...give Onii more pleasure.

"No one earns Onii's cock like his boy. So devoted...so eager...so obedient." He feels himself build and swell in the little mouth. "Shall Onii cum for his Kin?"

He whines softly and pulls back enough to beg. "Please...please cum for Kin!! And Kin may lick it up and swallow Onii's seed...please!!"

"Take it, Kin," he grunts, thrusting shallowly into the child's mouth and squeezing his eyes tightly, feeling himself burst and fly -- far from his child and yet entirely there, in his perfect little mouth, spurting into his mouth and onto his face and down his chin, knowing the greedy lips and tongue will take it all, devour it, lavish attention on his pulsing shaft, round reddened head. "Yes, swallow Onii's seed, give yourself to Onii's need."

He sucks and gulps and swallows as best he can. Some gets on his cheeks and chin, because he is still a small boy, but he is greedy and keeps his mouth on Onii's head as much as he can. He feels so right and safe and so happy.

"Such a good boy," Sesshoumaru croons as he is cleaned thoroughly and greedily by Kin. But he can still smell a hint of Kin's fear beyond the arousal. When Kin quietly says, "Kin belongs to Onii" as Sesshoumaru tucks his cock back into his hakama, it confirms his concerns.

Taking Kin into his arms, he kisses the little perspiring brow and speaks calmly and evenly, looking into his wide golden eyes. "Onii is here, Kin. You are safe. And whatever slave you choose will be well cared for. Onii promises." The words pour out of him, both proud and yet humble. He wonders at this new tendency, at this form of leadership. He thinks of his father, the role of a ruler. And he looks at his child, his perfect pet. All seem to blend so much more seamlessly than he imagined they could. And now their world will grow a little bigger. A slave, while neither pet nor mate, is a responsibility. One he can delegate safely to servants, and yet he knows that Kin will come to see the slave as "his" and will want special favors. He remembers the little hanyou pup, Teru, though he will not speak of it and discourages Kin's pointless sentiment over a slave that is not theirs. But this one will be. He strokes Kin's hair. When he smells and touches the boy, everything makes sense.

Kin leans into the petting and the comfort., breathing in Onii's scent. "Yes," he says firmly. "And Kin is not a slave."

Ah, so this is his child's concern. "No, Kin is not a slave," he says firmly. "Kin belongs to Onii, but Kin is no slave. Kin has our Lord Father's blood in his veins, and even had you not been given to me, child, you would never have been a slave."

"Yes, Onii." He hears the whispers though...always. Not a slave, but belongs to Onii? He is Onii's PET. So there. "Where do we look, Onii?"

Sesshoumaru looks out across the auction block, sees slaves in chained lines: strong males and females for hard labor; young lithe-bodied sex slaves; adolescents and children to be raised as a Lord or Lady wished. The youkai stand more proudly, far smaller in number and more highly prized. Sesshomaru can even scent a few pregnant females; their milk is coming in and it both lures and repulses him. He does not feed from inferior stock. He puts Kin down and takes him by the hand to approach the auctioneer. He enjoys the murmurs of awe and the open admiration as onlookers--both royal and common--offer their words of worship ("May the gods bless Lord Sesshomaru," "All Hail his Lordship") and their deep bows.

Kin clings to Onii's hand and stares. All kinds of people. Human and youkai...and grown and children...all chained up to be sold. Would one of them come with Kin and Onii? Which one? Many stare outright at his harness, and he sees collars around their necks as he fingers the leather of his harness.

Sesshoumaru smells Kin's anxiousness, and squeezes his hand to comfort him. The auctioneer bows very deeply indeed, and then, of course, encourages Lord Sesshomaru to view his stock closely and choose whatsoever he wishes. The crowd stares, watches his movements. He enjoys the smell of their adulation, ignores their likely curiosity regarding his brother...his pet. So many would give everything to be Kin. But none could be Kin, none are Kin. As they approach the area where the children are bound, he hoists Kin again into his arms so he may whisper in his ear: "You are the envy of many, child. They wish they could be owned and cherished by Lord Sesshomaru." He puts him down once more, before a row of stale-smelling little brats. Most he would abhor having in the castle, let alone his own chambers, but he trusts his pup, and his own instincts. This will work out well, he is certain of it.

Kin chews his finger, looking up as Onii sets him back down. "Really?" He smiles. "Only Kin belongs to Onii, though." He looks at the children who stare back. Would one of them be the right one? He wrinkles his nose and sniffs, padding closer, then down, boys and girls, older and younger. How would he choose?

"Do you have any questions for Onii, child?" he asks, seeing a confused look on his face.

Kin scratches his head. "There are so many." He looks up. "Kin...thinks the one we pick should be smaller than me?"

"There are indeed many. Our kingdom is rich in conquest because our Father's leadership is mighty. Small yet able to control their functions, yes, Kin."

He nods at that. And he looks. He pauses in front of a boy for a few moments, then steps back and shakes his head. "Onii? Wanna see the ones they're hiding behind them."

"Hiding?" he furrows his brow. "Where?"

"Behind these. They are hiding behind the other children."

Sesshoumaru peers around the row of stupid, gawky boys and sees even smaller, ragged little children. He would not have noticed them. "Go look, Kin. They will not harm you."

He clings to Onii for a minute, then obeys, padding around and through, his leash clinking with each step as he smiles at them, and sniffs, and makes soft words.

"Does my Lordship see anything he likes?" The head auctioneer bows respectfully.

She sees him see her. His eyes make contact and she knows she should look down but he is so...small. He cannot be anyone's master. And he is so...so cute. He looks like a little toy, a slave, too. But he is so obviously pampered, so clean. His harness: she has never seen anything like it. She fingers her wretched collar, cursing her luck again that let the soldier find her in her hiding place. She was certain she was safe there in the tree-hollow. But no point dwelling on that. She had been free, and she is no longer. She lets her eyes drift down to the billowing silken pants on the strange animal-eared child before her. Even before Mama and Papa died, they could never have afforded such luxury.

Kin pauses before the girl. Smaller yes. And with eyes that held his. Pretty. Dirty, yes, but pretty in her scent, too, under the filth. He cocks his head to one side and looks again. He crouches down and looks up at her from below. Then circles her. None thus far had held his attention like this one. Female. Younger. Smaller. Surely able to use a chamberpot...

Sesshomaru waves away the auctioneer casually. His eyes are glued to the little "dance" going on between Kin and a tiny, dirty little girl in a collar far too heavy for her size. She is human, entirely. She reeks with mortality and yet, as Kin circles her, she does not shrink. He notes the way she holds herself. Is it Kin who discovered her or she who discovered him?

She watches the boy move, now out of the corner of her eye. What is he doing? Is he allowed to "buy" her? Would he pick her? Be kind to her? Why? And then she sees him look away--up up up to a tall, slender god of a youkai. Beautiful...dangerous. His eyes look empty. She ducks her head quickly, shivers.

Kin moves in closer this time, after looking at Onii, and he sniffs at her neck...deeply. Under the filth, she smelled of smoke and flowers. He pulls back again and tilts his head, then looks back up at Onii. "Oniisama...will you look at this girl?" His voice is hopeful.

The big one...the beautiful-scary one is coming to look at her? She holds her breath, looks down down down though she is dying to look up. She has never seen anyone who looked more clean than that tall god. The dog-boy's voice is friendly, though. He does not sound cruel. He calls the tall one "Onii-sama"? What might that mean? Elder brother, yes, though not the term of respect is very high. And the harness. She does not understand what is happening, but she strives. Precocious and world-wise since she lost her parents and siblings and faced the loathing of the other villagers who blamed her for their deaths, she cannot help but think think think. They called her "witch" though she was only five when it happened and did not even know what the word truly meant. She still does not.

And she has no spoken since the others threatened to kill her if she spoke and "cursed" them. The fire was not her fault. Truly it was not. She cries a little, tears sliding down her cheeks as she is put under the scrutiny of the god and his small strange little brother. Will they call her a "witch" too? Even a slave may live, though a witch should not. She holds as still as she can.

Kin frowns, and looks up at Onii. "She didn't cry before. Hey, it's okay. You don't gotta cry." He reaches out and wipes her tears with a gentle hand. "Don' cry..."

She freezes. No one has touched her except in anger in as long as she can remember. Even Mama and Papa were often too busy at their labors to dry her tears or offer more than gruff words of reassurance. She risks all, looking up at the boy as he touches her. He must see her, know she is unlucky, know that though she does not want to be a slave, she also does not want to bring unhappiness to anyone.

Sesshomaru's first instinct is to keep Kin from touching the foul little human. But he knows there is no real danger, and he prefers to watch him engage rather than controlling it so long as there is no danger. He smells the girl's fear and her self-loathing. Everything about her is diluted and worthless next to his Kin, but her aura is not entirely weak. And she is bold. He likes that. The moment is interesting indeed.

He grins. "That's better, I think." He chews his lip and walks around her again. "Onii? Is she okay? I think...I think I like her best."

She gasps. He "likes" her? He does not see the witch in her. But it is as she thought: the little one must seek the brother-god's approval. She looks down again, no longer crying. What will her fate be?

He tests his child's self-confidence: "Do you not dislike her lack of humility, Kin? See how holds your gaze when she should show deference."

He looks up at Onii, then back at the girl. "She's curious. She doesn't know I am Sesshoumaru-sama's pet. She can learn. And her eyes are pretty. And not dull."

She is accustomed to being spoken of as though she is not there, cannot understand. But the name -- "Sesshoumaru-sama" -- is that not the name of the Lord of the Western Land's son? The one who will someday rule? And the strange little boy that calls him "Onii"...his "pet"? The lives of nobility are so far beyond her comprehension. Her Papa was right to say they lived in a world truly of their own. But perhaps it is a world she could enter and escape the villagers and their cruelty, escape her fate as the bringer of bad luck. She lowers her eyes and bows now, as best her collar and chain allows. And though she scarcely knows why, she blushes.

"She learns already, Kin. See how she bows now that she knows it is what we wish of her. He smells her submission...as much as she gives of it. This one is, as Kin says, "curious" indeed.

Kin patters closer to Onii and grabs his hand. "That's good, isn't it Onii?" He smiles. "Kin likes this one. But Onii must approve."

Sesshoumaru bends down to the girl and tips up her face. Her eyes flicker to his and then down again. Her fear blossoms into a scent he could definitely get used to. Light, fragrant. Is this the right one, a plaything for Kin to enjoy, to break in? With his assistance, of course. He rises and beckons the auctioneer. "We will take this one." There will be need to clean her, to train her, to ensure she is neither thief nor mental deficient. But he suspects a good bathing and proper treatment will be all she requires. He turns back to Kin: "Shall we have her brought to our chambers and caged to await our return, or would you like to walk her home on your little leash?"

Kin beams and hugs Onii around the legs again. "Walk her home please...thank you, Onii!!!"

The auctioneer walks over, surprised at their choice. On the one hand, he could jack up her low price for being a trouble-bringer, but on the other hand lying to the royal family was never a good idea. "Her price is one silver and one bronze piece, my lord. But she is healthy, I assure you of that! Likely would not have sold for much more than that in an auction. Her village shunned her for bringing trouble and bad luck."

The corner of Sesshoumaru's mouth twitches. "And you know, only too well, wretch, that my mere presence increases the value of all of your slaves far more than a dozen silver pieces." He looks down to see the child happily toying with the leash, readying it for his little prize, and he softens his tone. "Should my words chance to prove in any way untrue, you may come to the castle and claim your fee tomorrow. Now release the little troublemaker and cease the superstitious prattle."

She is amazed by the way the youkai Lord (who still looks more like a shining god to her) talks to the cruel auctioneer. She watches the boy as he loops the leash around his hand, testing out the way it will feel when he puts it on her, no doubt. She is not thrilled by the idea of being leashed, but she has no intention of resisting. Who knows, she might even have a meal this day.

Kin plays with the leash and smiles at the girl. "This is my leash. Usually it hooks in the ring in the middle of my X...see?" He turns around and shows her the back of his harness. "But Oniisama said I should bring it today, and you get to use it today!"

The auctioneer cowers slightly, bows smoothly, and goes over to release the girl with a great jangling of keys and chains. "Here's your new Master, girl. Behave." He grunts and pushes her forward.

She bumps forward and rights herself after the push. She goes immediately to her knees and then panics as she realizes she does not know whose feet she should kiss. This is not an experience she is prepared for, having always lived in a remote village and, more recently, in the forest. She is frankly astonished by the furry-eared child's talk, but she knows that when she looked into his wide golden eyes as he talked proudly of his harness and leash that she felt...wanted. Who knows what the child and his god-Onii will do to her or how quickly they will tire of her, but for the moment, she simply hopes to keep their good favor long enough for some food and sleep. She presses a kiss to the child's feet, then wriggles over and presses them to the soft boots of Lord Sesshoumaru.

Kin looks up at Onii with big eyes. "Why'd she kiss my feet, Onii?"

She frowns as she remains at the god's beautifully slippered feet. Did she get this wrong too?

"Because you are her superior, child. She does you honor. Do you not enjoy it?"

Kin scratches his head. "It feels a little strange. But...I think, yes." He grins and points out, "Kin kisses Onii's feet." He squats down and fastens the leash carefully to the collar. "She needs a different collar, too. This one is too heavy and ugly, Onii."

Sesshoumaru shrugs. "It is a slave collar." An oversized, heavy, hideous collar. "If it pleases you, child, we shall replace it. Perhaps you'd like her to have a little harness like yours?" he asks, provoking the little beast only because it gives him such pleasure to enjoy his childish overreactions.

Kin snarls, glaring up at Onii. "NO!!! ONLY KIN HAS A HARNESS!!!" He stamps his foot. "ONLY KIN BELONGS TO ONII!!!!"

The snarl is far too much. He hoists the tiny terror up by the front of his harness and brings his face inches from his own. "You will not make a scene, child, or Onii will take that harness and those pants off you and beat you in front of everyone--including your slave! Do you understand?"

She gasps, holds very still. Their relationship is far more complex than anything she can understand...or perhaps wants to understand. The little one seems to be brother, son, and slave to "Onii." She will certainly need to work hard to please and obey them both if she wishes to survive in tact!

Kin whines and curls his feet up and bares his throat, ears flat to his head. "Yes, Oniisama. But...please...only Kin has a harness...right?" A very very small voice.

Sesshoumaru licks the throat once, then again. Softly, he purrs into the furred ear: "Only Kin. Always." He puts him back down. "Do you hear that, little slave: only Kin truly belongs to Onii. Kin is Onii's pet. Serve us well and we will allow you to be our slave. But only Kin will be Onii's." He looks back at Kin. "Does that satisfy my spoiled child?"

He beams up at his Onii. "Yes Onii!!" He is wriggly with happy now, and he picks the end of the leash back up and clips it onto her collar.

Sesshoumaru watches his serious effort, little tongue poking out as he attaches the leash and heads off, heedless of whether the girl is ready to walk.

"Child, I know you are excited, but you must hold the leash more loosely. Your slave should walk behind you a few paces, not stumble into your ass with each step."

"Yes, Oniisama. Kin is sorry." He loosens it obediently. "It's harder than it looks!!"

He peers over Kin's head at the girl. She is a shaggy-headed creature with wide brown eyes that look as if they know more than they should for a human child of her meager years. The eyes dart left and right, taking in what she can of the setting while pretending to look down in obedience. Kin is jerking her by her neck unintentionally, but not a murmur comes from her tight-set little lips.

He looks back and loosens the leash more. "Kin never had to walk on a leash with a collar. It must be harder. And Kin is not so good at leading. Are you okay?"

Her eyes flick across to the pup. She sees the god-lord looking down at her, too, so she is careful not to hold his gaze long. She nods, though in truth her neck is raw from the collar and the leash tugging. She's suffered much worse. As he slackens the lead, she can at least hold her head at a natural angle. She fights the resentment of being dragged around by a child who acts younger than she is.

He sniffs, then frowns. "Did Kin make you bleed?" He pads closer to her and gently pulls the collar. He scowls. "Kin will be more careful. And Onii said you can have a different collar, right, Onii? This is so heavy...and I don't like the metal smell."

"Yes, yes, child," he says, sounding entirely like a parent who is being asked too many questions. He dislikes the combination of hot sun and peasant eyes on his back now. Their bows are entirely too perfunctory, their smells abominable. No wonder he spends most of his time in the castle, in his chambers, with his pup.

"We'll be at the castle soon," Kin says, meaning to soothe the slave. "It is much nicer inside." He giggles as moko-sama tickles his neck. "Moko-sama!! That tickles!!"

Her eyes go wiiiiiide as she sees the fur, that she had assumed to be a decoration, move...apparently of its own will...unwind from the god-lord and wrap around the pup. Her mouth opens and closes, and she feels gooseflesh rise all over her body. And they called her a witch?!

Kin nuzzles the fur affectionatly. "Onii, does moko-sama like the sun, or does he get hot? Do you get hot because of moko-sama in the sun?"

He turns and continues walking. Some questions need not be answered. And these arbitrary ones are some of them. "Come, Kin."

"Yes, Oniisama!! Come on." He's careful this time to let the leash be slack as he trots to keep up with Onii.

She follows, trying hard to remain optimistic. Surely they'll think she may not have eaten...sooner or later. She smells rice, buns, roasting meat. Her stomach gurgles loudly.

His ear swivels back at that sound. "Are you hungry?" He stops, entirely, turning to face her. "Are you? Was that your belly making noise?"

She blinks. How should she answer--or signify her answer? Is it all right to let him know? Will the god-lord punish her for making her needs known? He has not stopped and turned around yet. So she risks a quick nod and a little smile.

Kin chews his lip. "Onii doesn't eat food. I dunno if I can get food out here. I'll ask. Come on." He turns and hurries, following his brother. "Onii? Onii? Can I get some food? Onii?"

Sesshoumaru turns. Food? Here, in the village? The thought disgusts him even more than the thought of dining usually does. "Very well," he says, "Let us see if there is something not too foul hereabouts." Kin bounces happily and nearly trips his slave in his excitement. He points at various food stalls while Sesshoumaru shakes his head. It is going to be a very long day, and he has no one but himself to blame.