Title: Games
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of Rumiko Takahashi's characters... so yeah.
A/N: Umm, first fanfic. I'm pretty sure it's been done before like all other fics... and now the story...
xXGamesXx
He spotted a clearing full of flowers, so he naturally presumed it was a safe place to hide. After all, Kagome was very good at finding him when it came to hide and seek. Bounding on all fours into the clearing, Shippou jumped over a small brook a little ways in. Quickly he took post on a small jutting rock behind a large oak tree and looked back to the way he came in. So engrossed in the game with his surrogate mother, he barely realized a tiny shadow rearing up over him.
Shippou, feeling being watched, turned to find a bright young face with shining brown eyes staring innocently back into his emerald ones. He tilted his head in confusion when she did nothing but plaster on one of the biggest most childish smiles he could have ever encountered. Vaguely, she reminded him of Kagome...
Who is she? Hey...Shippou put on a very likened smile of the girl's. Maybe she'll play with me for now. I don't think Kagome will find me for a while. I'm brilliant; a new playmate and a great hiding place... Shippou turned completely around to face the girl of around seven or eight; his age. Again, he smiled brightly and in turn the little girl smiled back.
"Hiya! Do you wanna play tag? I'm waiting for my momma to get here, so I have nothing to do." It was a simple explanation, and he was sure she would like to play. She looked the part... and she also looked familiar.
The young girl nodded her head vigorously. She knew the game all too well, what with Jaken as her guardian for so many hours a day! She just had to wonder where he went and when Sesshoumaru would be back. "Yes I would love to play! My name is Rin! What's yours?"
Quick to take in the information, Shippou responded. "I'm Shippou, and it's nice to meet you Rin," he spoke as a slight tinge spread on his cheeks.
"Glad to meet you too. Let's get to playing!" And off the young girl ran after shouting out 'You're it, Shippou!'
The young fox demon took chase but at a more leisurely pace since he was demon. It would do no good to end the game so soon with her hurt or complaining that he was cheating. Concentrating on tagging Rin, he found her hiding behind a set of three close-borne trees. She really is a cute human...Wait! Where did that come from! He wondered as a deep red splayed on his youthful face.
Rin had turned to make sure Shippou had not snuck up behind her and he took the opportunity to jump lightly onto a leering branch of one the trees. It really was too bad that some very small wood chips had scraped off of the tree because of his claws. They fell perfectly around the girl's head like rain in spring. With sudden awareness, Rin looked up and gasped delightedly upon seeing the fox demon above her in a cute pose of 'deer in headlights'.
"Shippou-chan can't tag Rin from up there!" Rin shouted up towards him.
His face faulted slightly in disappointment when he realized his plan had been squashed. "Then I'll just come down there!" And with that, Shippou jumped down next to Rin. She squealed in delight at his show and hugged him.
"You jumped down from a high place! Can you do anything else? Can you? Can you?"
He lightly pried Rin away from him and answered in positive. For a while, they continued on in light childish chatter as Shippou displayed his magic. The young girl was definitely impressed with his fox-fire and his illusion powers, as he changed shape and made illusions of things thought up.
Midday had come quickly, and with it came Kagome into the clearing. She was panting heavily, bent over with her hands on her knees to steady herself. Shippou and Rin looked up in confusion at the young priestess. They watched as she slowly stood back up and walked the short distance to them. The two children looked to each other, one in confusion and the other in excitement. Shippou stood and walked over to Kagome when she stopped not five feet away.
Kagome bent down and picked up Shippou cradling him in her arms. When she looked to Rin, Shippou spoke up eagerly. "That's Rin, Kagome. Rin!" He shouted to the little girl. "This is Kagome, my momma! She takes care of me!" When he turned back to Kagome, he spoke more quietly. "Rin is Sesshoumaru's ward. I still don't get it, though," he said in a whisper, his brows furrowed.
Kagome's blue-grey eyes sparkled warmly at the prospect of the cold demon lord taking care of such an innocent girl. "It matters not, Shippou. The only thing that matters is that he cares for her." Lightly she let the fox demon on the field ground and called the girl over. Soon amiable chat started up and mid-afternoon had come. The young priestess hardly noticed when a demon aura approached swiftly, moving with the grace of lightning.
Rin and Shippou had been sitting in her lap and she had been leaning against a maple tree, but now only Shippou still occupied her lap. Startled, Kagome scanned the clearing only to have her vision set upon a visibly angry Sesshoumaru and a slightly nervous and hair-tousled Rin. With as much courage that she could muster up, Kagome stood and placed the kit on the ground in exact likeness of where Rin stood with Sesshoumaru. I must be stupid to stand here, but at least I'm not running. The big doggy would just chase me and use me as a chew toy...
"Hello, Lord Sesshoumaru!" Kagome called softly over to the demon lord. No way would it do to get him angry! She knew he could- and would- bite if necessary. Bowing lowly, she ignored Shippou's complaints about worshiping someone really mean for taking Rin away at a time like this. It was important bonding time, as he so properly put it.
She ignored him with a wave of her hand and called across the field once more. "Rin! It was very nice to meet you! You may come to visit if your lord permits it. Shippou and I will miss you and-" Before Kagome realized it, Rin had run across the field and tackled Kagome to the ground in a fierce hug. When reality caught up to her, she heard the light crying of the young and -minutes before- jubilant girl. In an act of motherly care, Kagome lovingly stroked Rin's head. In moments, Rin had calmed enough for Kagome to inquire as to what was wrong. Through the interaction, the human females hardly noticed the cold stare of the Lord of the Western Provinces, or the fact that he had completely crossed the field in hidden confusion.
"I don't want to leave. You can't leave me, Kagome okaa-san. Can't leave me. Can't leave me," Rin whispered in the crook of Kagome's neck. Though it was barely a whisper and Kagome could barely hear, Sesshoumaru could quite well. "I don't want to leave you..."
Kagome lightly stroked the child's head when she began to softly cry again. This time it had taken much longer to calm the girl's frazzled nerves, worrying Kagome to no end. She had been sitting again, cradling Rin, with Shippou sleeping and leaning on her at the same time. She laughed inwardly at him and his love for sleep. Her thoughts trailed off on how nice she thought it would be to sleep also, but snapped out of it when Rin clamped onto her red sweater-shirt and she heard the soft rustling of grass alerting her to the presence of someone sitting near her on the grass.
"She cannot stay with you. She will be returning with me later." Ever the one to break a serene mood, it would only be Sesshoumaru, demon Lord of the Western lands.
Kagome looked back bravely into the cold calculating gaze of the lord, unwavering. "I know," she whispered and returned her shining gaze onto the face of the little one who had captured her heart much like Shippou. "I know... and I will miss her." At that, she smiled a watery smile. It'll do no good to complain, especially to Sesshoumaru. Suck it up, Kagome!
When she looked back up, for a fragment of a second, Kagome believed she saw a softer glow in the demon lord's molten amber eyes. Was it directed at me or Rin? Oh well... "How long have you taken care of her?"
For a minute, Sesshoumaru did not respond. "Two years, approximately. Since I have met you and InuYasha was released from the tree."
"I supposed it was that long. She's very attached to you, Sesshoumaru," Kagome dared to reply.
"I know."
He's not a conversationalist, is he? After a few minutes had passed she took another chance. "When you take her back home, can you tell her I love her? I'm sure she'll still be asleep so- ...never mind my request," Kagome said turning away to view the sunset. When did it get so late? My gosh... I'm an idiot when it comes to the time.
"I will do as you request. She likes you much; she dared to call you her mother, and you kept her safe when Jaken could not," came the lord's stoic voice. It gave her a warm chill that spread up her spine and outward across her back.
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru," Kagome said quietly as she bowed her head slightly in thanks.
"Is there a reason you chose to care for her today?" Sesshoumaru inquired, making Kagome jump in surprise at the question.
"Motherly instinct?" Kagome guessed. "I just thought; Shippou has no one he can play with. Not many children, humans or demons accept him- only in Kaede's village. I was so happy to see him... happy. It's like when a mother or father sees their child take their first steps- learning how to walk. Rin accepted him whole -heartedly and I wanted to get to know her. She's a brilliant child for someone about three years younger than Shippou."
"I see."
Kagome looked over to him, only to find him looking up into the far away skyline. His profile was alighted, silver hair shining with a tint of ice blue, golden orbs reflecting some of the night's dark blue hue, and his pale skin absorbing the last red rays of the sun. He is a truly beautiful creature. I wish I could get to know him better... on more peaceful terms... Turning to look at Rin and Shippou once again, she didn't notice when Sesshoumaru sat closer to her.
The brush of silk against the hand supporting Rin's back made her shudder and she looked up into the lord's eyes. His deep gaze bore into her and she became dimly aware of a hand caressing her cheek. "You would be a good mother to Rin and the kit," he whispered.
"I could be..." Kagome whispered back in her tired daze.
"I know; I know.."
"Can you watch over us?" Slowly unconsciousness seeped into her hazy mind, and her eyelids slid closed. She never realized she fell asleep in the demon lord's embrace, his unspoken promise, or when the day ceased to exist.
To Be Continued...Tell me what you think please!