A/N: I feel that I have both made Rin too young and too old in this fic. Just a warning, this has not been beta-read, though a volunteer for all my stories is greatly appreciated.
Obligatory Disclaimer: I in no way own the characters, ideas, or other intellectual property used by me in this story. Nor do I in anyway gain monetary profit through this work. This is a work of amusement and personal satisfaction only and is not meant to reflect on the actual Inuyasha story or Rumiko Takahashi in anyway. Possitive, negative or otherwise.
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Rin was sitting off to the side of camp huddled over a piece of paper and a box of crayons. Her little tongue was sticking out of the corner of her mouth, her face a picture of concentration. She was squiggling away with the black crayon, Shippo watching mournfully as it dwindled further and further away.
When asked what she was drawing the little girl quickly scooped up her artwork and held it to her chest, shaking her head and refusing to let anyone see. It had been like this for several hours, and try as the group might they could not even persuade the child to move away from her art work long enough to eat dinner. Finally, the group decided it was necessary to ask Sesshoumaru for his assistance. Drawing straws, it was Sango who found herself respectfully approaching the lord.
“Um… Lord Sesshoumaru, I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s about Rin.” She was met with silence. Casting a look over her shoulder and seeing Kagome giving her a reassuring smile she squared her shoulder’s and continued. “It’s just, Rin is very occupied with drawing and refuses to eat her dinner. Would it be possible for you to assist us in getting her to eat?”
The slayer waited and received no reply. It would seem the lord was content to allow his little ward to do as she pleased. Sango made her way back to her spot and resumed her own dinner, deciding to eat it while it was still warm instead of allowing it to cool in pursuit of an answer that wouldn’t come.
The meal was winding down before the Inu Lord deigned to speak. And when he did it was a magnificent two words.
“Rin.”
When the little girl raised her adoring eyes to her lord he presented his command.
“Eat.”
Carefully turning her picture face down the little girl ran over to Kagome to receive her portion of the evening meal. She ate ravenously and in moments had finished her dinner, set down her dish, and hurried back to finish her drawing.
It was nearly sundown before Rin laid down her crayons again. This time it was voluntary. She stood, clutching her artwork to her chest and slowly approached her lord.
“Sesshoumaru-sama” Rin began tentatively, “I made this for you.” She bowed and extended her present awaiting his approval with an eager shifting of her feet.
Several moments of silence passed with more on the horizon. Rin finally chanced a peak up at her Lord and found his face carefully blank. “Don’t you like it Sesshoumaru-sama?” Her lip was quivering, a sure sign that tears were to follow should he reject her gift.
The rest of the group watched carefully, waiting to see what the image was that had the usually quiet youkai rendered speechless.
“It is done with exceptional technique.” Was the reply he finally gave.
Young Rin was too naïve to realize that this was simply a statement of her skill, not of appreciation. What Sesshoumaru had said was that it was done nicely, not that he liked it. What Rin heard was acceptance of her gift, and her joy was immeasurable. So excited was she that she ran over to Kagome, eager to seek her acceptance as well.
“Kagome-san, look what Rin drew for Sesshoumaru-sama!” Beaming she presented her picture for the group to see.
The picture, to Sesshoumaru’s credit was drawn with exceptional talent. It was the contents of the picture that make Kagome turn seven shades of red. For there, in beautiful black crayon was an image of she and Sesshoumaru locked in a tender embrace, sealed with a perfect kiss.
Really, no child should have that artistic ability, it gave life to their imagination in ways that should not be allowed. That picture needed to be destroyed, time needed to be reversed so that she would have never seen that life changing picture. Her frantic thoughts zipped around her horrified mind until one thought in the center of it all became clear. She needed to say something.
“It’s very nice Rin.” It was Miroku who spoke, and she could have kissed him for giving her time to save face. “What ever prompted you to draw that?” She could have damned him a thousand times for asking.
“Rin thinks that Kagome-san is beautiful. And Sesshoumaru-sama would only ever find Rin a beautiful mommy. So Kagome-san and Sesshoumaru-sama would make Rin’s perfect mommy and daddy!” Rin finished her speech with a proud nod. A child’s logic is always simple, and often times correct in its simplicity. This time, however logical her reasoning was, Rin’s conclusion was way off base.
“Rin-chan,” Kagome began gently “Sesshoumaru-sama and I are not exactly couple material.”
Rin just stared blankly at the floundering priestess. “Why?”
“Well, you see…” Kagome was at a loss, how did you explain to a child that her Saviour and father figure was a cold hearted bastard? You didn’t, which meant it was time to improvise. “Sesshoumaru-sama and I are not in love!” Pleased with her reason she pushed forward. “In order for two people to become a couple and…kiss….they need to love one another. Sesshoumaru-sama is a friend but not some one I love like that.” Putting it gently was her best option, all she needed to do was make Rin see reason and get that little imagination far away from such dangerous topics.
“But sometimes being friends can make people love each other? Right Kagome-san? You told Rin that Sango-san and Miroku-sama loved each other after being friends. Why not Kagome-san and Sesshoumaru-sama?”
Kids. They’re great, but too observant sometimes.
“You’re right Rin.” Miroku smoothly interrupted, “But Sesshoumaru-sama is a Lord, and therefore will end up being with some one of a similar status. It’s the rules.” Ah, the age old tactic of telling a child that something was against the rules. It was fail proof.
“But Sesshoumaru-sama makes the rules. So if Sesshoumaru-sama wanted to be with Kagome-san he could.” Rin’s argument was better. And the group began wondering in unison how observant this small girl really was. Fortunately they were saved from further embarrassment by the youkai in question.
“Rin.” His voice was the same gentle timbre it always was when addressing the girl. If the current situation were affecting him adversely he’d never let it show. Especially not to the little girl who started it all. “Sleep.”
“Yes ,Sesshoumaru-sama.” Rin dutifully replied. She walked over to him and presented him once more with his gift, before bowing and laying down at her bedroll.
The demon lord simply tucked the picture away into the depth of his haori and resumed his silent vigil. Never once deigning to glance in the direction of the miko he’d been unwittingly paired with.
As the rest of the camp finally settled in for bed, a few teasing remarks thrown at Kagome, courtesy of Miroku and Inuyasha, the girl in question found herself constantly picturing the drawing she had been presented with.
She and Sesshoumaru were not even friends, and yet, he did not outright refuse the notion of the two of them. Foolishly she allowed herself to fantasize. It was a fantasy that would grow, and eventually it would turn into the smallest little hope. But that my friends is another story.