"Innocent Enough"

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters nor do I profit from them. This story is posted only for the enjoyment of the reader. All Inuyasha characters in this story are the copyright of Rumiko Takahashi.

Summary: It's spring again and a raging storm is on the horizon. Faced with feelings and longings they've never felt before will the youkai lord and his teenaged ward be able to wade out the storm and remain friends or will the raging within become too much?

*Notes-Shoujo = pretty little girl

Chapter 1: Beautiful-The Calm Before The Storm

It was a cool sunny day, as the inuyoukai lord and his unlikely companions headed towards a destination which seemed to escape the knowledge of a certain little, green toad. Jaken, who had been his faithful servant through many moons, inwardly griped, wondering to himself when his lord would finally stop and camp for the day. They had been walking for hours now and it seemed to him that they were going in complete circles. 'I wonder where my lord is headed, now?' he thought. It had been seven years since his lord helped defeat the half-demon Naraku and Jaken wondered about the role he now played in his master's life. Especially, since the girl had returned to his side.

Rin had been ordered to stay in the village of Edo with Lady Kaede until she became of age to choose her own path. Needless to say, when it came time for her to depart from her lord and her makeshift family, the girl cried horribly to no end. Honestly, he didn't know how such a small child could hold so much water. Maybe it was stored within her, Jaken thought. After all, she was not a child who cried often and he, for one, was thankful. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little sadness or maybe it was loneliness at the thought that he was losing someone that he, well-sort of, considered a friend. He would have no one else to talk to; no one else to believe he was shocked at their actions; no one else to play w…"Hmph!" Jaken huffed. 'I have better things to do with my time than…'

"Master Jaken will you play with me?" his thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the gangly sight of petite, slender legs stood in front of him. "Certainly not, you silly little shoujo!" he sneered. "Out of my way!" he said as he pushed her aside. "I have better things to do than play with some…"

"Jaken!" Sesshoumaru barked, bored and irritated with the situation. "Yes, my lord?" "Go with her!" he commanded. Jaken felt his face fall in shame as he was forced to play less than dignified games with the little whelp, especially the one she called "dress up." Oh how he hated the fact that his lord spoiled the girl to no end. Always ensuring she got anything her cunning little heart desired, even if it was rare and expensive. Although, he had to admit, Rin seldom, if ever, asked for anything except the bare necessities. Yet, somehow, his lord still found it of the utmost importance to go out of his way for the girl to get her the best and most expensive there was. Of course, his master never actually when out of his way, himself, but usually sent him instead, Jaken noted. Even though he, himself did not truly dislike the girl nor the special treatment his lord showed to her, he did wish he had more relevance to his lord other than being her nanny or play mate. After all, he mused, he did have his pride.

"Master Jaken what do you think of this color?" Rin squealed as she brought up a small shell of rouge to his lips and proceeded to apply it.

Now settled by a cool, clear river which flowed from the base of the mountains before them, Jaken began to profusely protest as she swiped the red mixture across his lips. "Be still Master Jaken! If you keep moving your lips, I won't be able to put it on right." She said insistently. "I am a youkai, not a doll!" the little green toad protested in vain. "I do not know why master did not leave you in that human village with that old priestess!" he bemoaned. "Oh, you really don't mean that. You're my best friend Master Jaken. I mean, besides Lord Sesshoumaru." She said solemnly.

Suddenly, Jaken felt himself slink into submission, knowing that what the girl spoke was genuine for she was not privy to the ways of the world which were filled with deceit and half-truths. "Be quick girl!" he mumbled. "Oh thank you Master Jaken!" she beamed with joy and kissed him on the cheek. "Now, let's see about some color for the eyes." She begin to fumble around in her little vanity box Lord Sesshoumaru had given her 2 birthdays ago.

She remembered it like it was yesterday. Though she didn't really know the exact day of her birth, she did remember what month it was in and every since she told him about it, Lord Sesshoumaru had not missed an opportunity to celebrate it with her every year. Well, maybe not celebrate but definitely acknowledged it by giving her gifts. She could not believe that he would do such a special thing for someone like her for she knew that he detested humans and, although, that was true, she knew that he did not detest her. She even believed he cared for her… a little.

As she powdered Jaken's little green face, she thought back to the time he left her in Lady Kaede's village. He told her that she would be safe there and could learn to read, write and live a normal life meant for a human. But she did not want to lead a normal life. She wanted to be with him. At the sight of seeing him walk away, she felt as if her whole world had come crashing down before her. Now, there truly was no reason to live, she thought, and for the third time in her short life, cried, ran and screamed after him until she collapsed from exhaustion.

For months, she would break out into weeping spells whenever she thought of him. And when she lay in bed, at night, she would hopelessly wish and dream he would return to her. Yet, the days and months stretched before her like a long and tiring yawn. Already bored with the provincial life of the village, she sought to find a way to leave. She knew it would not be easy with the old priestess ever watchful and the half-demon's keen senses on alert so she devised a plan to escape. Perhaps, she would find her lord and plead her cause until he accepted her.

"That looks just about right." She remarked happily to the little demon. "Good!" Jaken began to jump up. "Oh, wait! I forgot to put a tad on the cheeks. Every woman must have a bit of color on the cheeks if she wishes to catch a man." Jaken's eyes bulged in humiliation. "That's what Kagome told me. " "Hmph!" Jaken huffed in exasperation. "I'm sure that strange priestess knows nothing considering her choice of a mate; a pathetic half-demon who can do nothing but protect worthless humans."

"There." She said. "You look beautiful Master Jaken!" She gloated. "Though I think the coral would look better on me," she said to no one in particular. As she pondered over which colors would compliment her best, Jaken leaned over the water's edge to get a glimpse of her fine work. When he saw his own reflection, he couldn't believe it. He actually did look…beautiful. As he gazed at himself, Jaken batted his eyes and puckered his lips until he saw another pair of honey-golden eyes staring back at him. He froze.

"If you are done with admiring yourself, go and fetch Ah-Un. We are leaving." Sesshoumaru said rather annoyed at Jaken's behavior. "Y…Yes master!" Jaken replied as he scurried away. 'Hmph! Pathetic!,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" the girl bowed low to the ground. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to take so long." she tried to explain. He turned and walked away. "I'll get my things right a..." she said as she looked up and realized he had gone. She quickly put the expensive items back in the intricately adorned vanity box and rushed after him.

As she slowed to a pace a few steps behind the imposing taiyoukai, she could see Ah-Un and Jaken up ahead. As he sat atop the two-headed dragon, she heard him squawk, "My lord!" bowing his head in respect. Rin almost let out a giggle when she saw his pretty little eyes bat themselves at Lord Sesshoumaru from a porcelain façade. Sesshoumaru twitched and the girl cleared her throat.

"Jaken!" spoke Sesshoumaru in his usual deep baritone. "Take that… ridiculous face off, and be quick or we will proceed without you." "Yes my lord!" Jaken bowed; strangely disappointed that he had to remove the look which made him, in his opinion, alluring and exotic. 'Could that be why Lord Sesshoumaru wanted him to take it off?...because he found him (pause) attractive?' This caused a beam of happiness to wash over the toad's amphibious but dainty features and with the speed of a wolf, he leapt from Ah-Un and returned faster than the eye could blink.

All the while, Rin was highly bemused by it all-the disdain on Lord Sesshoumaru's face and the apparent relief on Jaken's.

As they proceeded to walk forward through the burgeoning foliage of the forest, Rin couldn't help but be thrilled about the new signs of life all around her. Brilliant colors peaked from behind the folded buds of wild flowers while various shades of green sprang forth in a kaleidoscope among the trees. Every shrub and blade of grass contained the slight cover of dew and even the wind gently breezed from the mountainous corridors, announcing the arrival of springtime. It was simply breathtaking, she thought, but not as breathtaking as the figure who strolled before her, tall, elegant and noble as he walked. His robes and mokomoko gracefully flowed behind him. To her, it seemed, he was like the gods. His beautiful features gave nothing away but the dance of fire in molten orbs of golden amber and, like the gods, she was sure there was an element of danger and mystique hidden beneath his tranquil but ethereal appearance.

"Hhhh!" she sighed breathily, not realizing she had been holding it in as she gazed intently at the youkai before her. In her heart, she knew that she should not harbor feelings for him, especially knowing how he felt about (as he would say) such useless emotions which were fit only for the weak and fools. Still, she could not help but fantasize about him and wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Suddenly, she found herself blushing profusely at the thought of such an intimate act between the two.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly as he caught a sliver of the distinct musky scent of a woman in heat. But they were not even remotely close to a village, as far as he could recall. So then, where was this highly pungent fragrance coming from?

As he turned his head slightly into the wind, the fullness of it assaulted his hyper-sensitive nose so much so that he felt his taste buds tingle. Only then, did he realize that he was now facing the direction of his small and gangly ward.

He had been aware of her monthly issue for some time now. Ever since she was eleven, he had sensed that she was steadily growing into a woman. Though 15 now, she still possessed some vestiges of her childish features-her big and soft brown eyes, her curious and vibrant nature, the ridiculously cute side ponytail, which had now grown as long as the rest of her wavy dark locks. She was, also, still shorter than he, standing a mere 5'2 ", the average height for a woman of Nippon. He noted that, although, she was not quite a woman, yet; nonetheless, she had already begun filling out. Her slender, petite and slightly bowed legs stood awkwardly from underneath slightly rounded hips and a slender but short torso which housed two softly rounded and swollen protrusions he acutely recognized as her breasts. Feeling a slight discomfort at the thought of such musings over his wards developing frame, Sesshoumaru turned his head back to the forest before him and plunged once again into mental silence.

As they continued on through the lush and moist cover, Rin became lost in thought. 'I wonder what Lord Sesshoumaru will bring me this year?' she mused. 'Will it be another kimono, perhaps, a sword?' No. She knew he would never gift her with such a dangerous weapon. What would she do with it anyways? Her fighting skills were nothing less than abysmal, though, she was far from fearful. After all, why should she be afraid, she surmised, if she had Lord Sesshoumaru there to protect her?

Suddenly, a thought flashed across her crafty little mind. 'A saburuko, that's it!' she proclaimed silently to herself. She now knew what she wanted and upon every star in the sky she wished he would get her the silky, form-fitting kimono that saburukos wore.

Whenever, Lord Sesshoumaru would leave her and Jaken alone to engage in conquest, she would sneak off to nearby villages while Jaken slept. Though she did not go inside the villages, she would often stand in the shadows, just at the edge of the forest to watch the kids play. During those times, she also noticed strange, beautiful women (of whom she heard someone call saburukos) stand at the entrance of lavish tea houses beckoning male passersby's. Rin was enthralled with the grace and beauty of the ladies as they shuffled from side to side when they walked, pouring tea in a suggestive manner. She even remembered seeing one of them show a little of her pale and delicate shoulder to a young gentlemen once. And on rare occasions, she caught some in the forest doing things which she, unashamedly, wanted to try with her lord. Again, a heat formed within her loins and raced up her thighs.

"Rin!" She snapped from her excited reminisce. "Yes, my lord?" "Is something troubling you?" asked Sesshoumaru. Rin slightly frowned, bewildered as to why he would think something was troubling her.

"No, my lord," she stated firmly.

"Are you longing for someone?" he questioned.

Rin felt her insides began to twist into a knot as he pried deeper into her feelings.

"I guess I'm just excited about my birthday," she remarked awkwardly.

Sesshoumaru dropped the subject, knowing in himself that she was lying, and decided he would pursue it no further. When she wanted, she would tell him. Of that he was certain, he noted, for she never kept secrets from him and he likewise.

Rin was relieved that Sesshoumaru pursued the issue no further. She could feel her heart and blood ever increasingly speed up. She knew that he noticed it too, but was grateful that he did not mention it.

She would have to keep her thoughts to herself from now on, she thought. If he ever found out how she really felt about him, she was sure he would banish her from his presence-and that, to her, would be worse than death.

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A few hours and several miles later, they were still walking when Jaken suddenly jumped at what he thought was the sound of thunder in the distance. 'Rain!' he thought. It had been years since the little green toad had had a chance to wallow in cool, wet mud and soak up the rain in his rough, amphibious skin. Now, he drooled at the very thought of it. The rains always renewed the power of his youkai aura-what little of it there was, anyway.

He couldn't remember when was the last time he had encountered another youkai toad such as himself. He had to admit, even if he did, he would not feel any different. Toads were ranked among the lower classes in the youkai world. He smiled at this. For ever since he had decided to follow Lord Sesshoumaru and was bequeathed with the staff of two heads, he had made a name for himself among his kind. There were whispers of the toad brother who increased his aura by mingling his blood with that of a taiyoukai.

Jaken's grin was even wider now at the thought that some believed his blood to be mingled in mystical bonds with the beautiful and powerful inuyoukai.

"Jaken!"

"Uh, yes my lord?" he squeaked.

"A typhoon is near." The noble lord remarked nonchalantly.

"Yes master!" Jaken responded as he quickly took Ah-Un's reins and sped off.

Rin was curious as to what was happening. Where was Jaken headed off to in such a hurry and what was a typhoon? She wondered.

As they continued walking, little by little, everything around them began to grow dark and she noticed that the forest had become quiet for not even the trees made a sound.

"Rin!" Sesshoumaru said softly but seriously. Rin turned herself to her lord to acknowledge that she was listening.

"You must take shelter…(silence)…The weather will be severe for the next few days; therefore, I have sent Jaken to gather supplies for you until I return."

Rin's eyes grew big and moist as she tried to register what he was telling her. 'Was this his way of trying to leave her? Had he grown tired of her?'

As the wind picked up, it caused his silvery locks to swirl all around him, glimmering like crystals on the water. For a moment, Rin became drawn into him like a moth to a flame as she stared, gapingly, at his utter beauty. He looked like the storm god himself, turbulent and fiery.

After a moment, she spoke softly, "Do you wish for me to go away?"

Before Sesshoumaru could stop to think, he replied "No…but I cannot keep you safe from the elements."

Just then a crack of thunder whipped through the sky and Rin jumped wildly, stumbling into Sesshoumaru's powerful, yet gentle arms.

For a moment, it all seemed like a dream. Her heart beat as wildly as his silver locks which danced to and fro.

He felt so…soothing, and she knew she wanted more of this feeling he coerced from her. With eyes closed, she leaned more and more into him and felt his armor-clad frame tense up. 'Oh! no!' Her eyes sprang open. 'He must be angry with me!' she thought. As she raised her arms to pull herself off of him, another crack of thunder whipped, this time, lighting the sky in a brilliant display. This caused her to throw her arms completely around him in fear.

At first, he was shocked when she suddenly jumped at the sound of thunder, losing her balance in the process and falling right into his unsuspecting arms. He was shocked because all at once, he felt things he did not think he was capable of. Things he would never utter to anyone. Things even he himself would not admit.

Fear, like he had never known, raced up his body as she clung to him, leaning into his chest as if she were beckoning him to embrace her. Though he had the most incredible urge to do so, he froze, afraid and unsure of himself. No one had ever made him feel so vulnerable before, and now, he thought the moment would never end when another thunderbolt shrieked across the sky bringing a flash of lightning with it.

If Sesshoumaru felt vulnerable before, this time, after throwing her small, tiny arms around his massive frame, he was rendered completely helpless. As she clung ever so tightly to his massive body, with loving grace, he gently scooped her up in his arms and flew away in search of shelter for he knew then that he could not leave her alone.