Curiosity Caught the Miko by Stella Mira
Love Has Many Forms
The sun had not yet broken through the last dark of the night when Kagome asked Rin for her help in gathering medicinal herbs, but it shone bright and warm now. Kagome smiled a sweet smile at the teenage girl.
"Do you like living in a human village, Rin-chan?"
"I do like it!" Rin's voice was filled with joy, her smile radiant. "Everyone has been really kind to me here unlike the village where I was born. I am very happy to make new friends." Her voice softened then, her smile turned bittersweet. "But I miss traveling with Sesshōmaru-sama."
Kagome glanced at the girl curiously. "I thought you were mostly traveling with Jaken and Ah-Un. Wasn't Sesshōmaru absent all the time in his quest to defeat Naraku?"
"Hai." Rin's neck tilted in a nod. "Sesshōmaru-sama rarely traveled with us and, even when he did, his presence could best be described as silent." Rin giggled as she remembered how her lord would always assume a seated position near the camp without speaking more than a few words mostly to chastise the unfortunate imp for his misconduct.
Kagome nodded once, joining the girl in laughter. "That I can believe! He is a man of few words, isn't he?"
"Well, he speaks through actions though. He made sure I was always fed, clothed, and bathed properly. He, also, ordered Jaken-sama to cater to my every need like telling me stories or gathering flowers with me. Jaken-sama certainly did not like that. I think he has developed a severe fear of rocks because of that." Rin laughed with mischief at the poor yōkai's sufferings at the hands and boots of his lord.
"Hm, that slimy toad surely deserved all of the punishments. He can't hold his tongue for the life of him." Kagome made a grimace as she recalled all the rude comments the tiny yōkai had graced her with these past years after their first encounter.
"I think Jaken-sama was jealous of me at the beginning, but I believe he likes me now. When Sesshōmaru-sama last visited, he brought me a new kimono as a gift. I know for a fact he did not choose it by himself because he rarely steps foot inside villages, be it yōkai or ningen. Jaken-sama must have purchased it. The pattern of the kimono has my favorite flower on it… I think Jaken-sama misses me as well." Rin's lips curved in a sad smile and Kagome felt a pang of regret at having separated Rin from her pack. It had been her suggestion to let the girl stay at a human village and learn the ways of human life. She would soon reach the age when marriage proposals would be acceptable for her; Kagome wanted Rin to be prepared in the case that someone actually was brave enough to ask for her hand of the daiyōkai.
"You can always return to your travels with Sesshōmaru if you wish it, Rin-chan." Kagome stroked Rin's hair, encouraging her, but Rin shook her head.
"I am happy to be amongst my kind, Kagome-sama. I think I would only be a burden to Sesshōmaru-sama now and my life is not infinite. I have many things to learn and I'm sure Jaken-sama takes good care of our lord. He reminded me of a nagging mother at times." Rin erupted in a fit of laughter as she recalled the tiny imp trying to convince his lord to rest after each time he got injured and Kagome stifled a laugh at Rin's description of the green toad. An image of Jaken in a white apron waving a giant spoon around came to her mind and she couldn't help the laughter from spilling out anymore.
"I'm sure Sesshōmaru's mother would be appalled if she ever heard of that!" Kagome laughed harder when an image of a female version of the daiyōkai having a contest with Jaken for the position of Sesshōmaru's mother appeared in her thoughts.
Rin's eyes grew wide at the memory of the cunning inuyōkai. "Sesshōmaru-sama's mother is very beautiful and elegant. She can make Jaken-sama cry easily as well. I think she's even smarter than Sesshōmaru-sama."
Kagome's gaze mirrored Rin's, her curiosity piqued after the girl's words. "You have met her before, Rin-chan? What kind of person is she?"
Rin pondered quietly for a few seconds, brows furrowed and nose wrinkled. "She shares the same unearthly beauty as Sesshōmaru-sama, but her eyes reveal more wisdom and wit. I was too young to appreciate it at the time but – to quote your expression – she can give any male a run for his money." Rin winked at the curious miko with a smirk on her lips. She had been fascinated by Kagome's strange pattern of speech and had requested the miko to teach her these peculiar expressions. She had proven to be a fast learner much to Inuyasha's consternation as Kagome had used him as a primary example for the less than flattering ones.
Kagome hummed, thoroughly impressed by Rin's description of the mysterious inuyōkai. "How is her relationship with Sesshōmaru?"
"I believe she loves Sesshōmaru-sama very much, but she hides it behind witty banter. She probably knows her son would not appreciate open shows of affection and she respects that. She makes really inappropriate jests, too. Sesshōmaru-sama assumes an offended expression and Jaken-sama tries to smooth things out unsuccessfully, but she cares for her son's well-being. I think it's what you called 'tough love'?" Rin's features took on a puzzled expression at the unfamiliar phrase Kagome had taught her yesterday while 'sitting' the dog eared hanyō for an indiscretion.
A sly smirk spread on Kagome's lips at the thought of the regal creature's features marred in displeasure yet unable to answer back. "Hm…so there is a person who can put that stubborn dog in his place. Now that is a sight I would pay to see it happen. I would very much like to meet this clever woman some tine in the future." Perhaps, next time Sesshōmaru visited she would broach the matter of an introduction. Maybe then her lingering queries on the distant past would be solved as well.