Chapter 23 - An Unexpected Visitor
 
Rin had settled into a routine of sorts. She would be the first to rise in the mornings. She would check on her baby sister and change her diaper if she were awake. She would coo and make faces at her, making the baby squeal. She was careful not to wake her parents too soon. They were not getting much sleep as it was, feeding the baby every couple of hours at all times, day and night. Mirago would not cry first thing in the morning, though. She would just wake up and play for a while. Rin made that her special time with the baby. She would take her to the rocking chair the Princess herself had given as a gift and sit there, holding her sister and playing with her quietly until her father woke up and came to get her. There were always smiles exchanged. Rin was truly happy.
 
The only damper on Rin’s spirits came briefly when Yukina told her it was time for her to go. Now that the babies had been born her purpose in coming to the Village had been fulfilled. She hugged Rin and promised her she could come visit her soon at the castle.

As Rin said her goodbyes to Yukina she thought she should be sadder about her friend leaving. Instead, when she smiled at Yukina and Toya, her heart was light and free. “I am sad that you are leaving Yukina, but I realize now I am where I belong. My life is here now. My friends and family are here. I will come visit you soon.”

Yukina smiled again at her friend before she took Toya’s hand and began the journey back to the castle. They waved at each other until the pair was out of sight.

Rin was happily coloring in her book beside Shippo about a week later. The two were lying on the ground on their stomachs under a large tree on top of Miroku’s favorite hill. Miroku and Kenshin were there as well, quietly talking while holding their babies. Rin’s wolf suddenly lifted his head and wagged his tail, then flopped over on his side with a grunt and went back to sleep. Miroku wondered why until a rustling of leaves behind them startled him and he turned and gasped. There behind him stood none other than the Dog Demon, Lord Sesshomaru! Miroku scrambled to his feet, careful not to wake his sleeping infant.

“Lord Sesshomaru, to what do we owe this honored visit?”

Rin, hearing his name from her father’s lips spun around so fast she got grass stains on her newest kimono. “Lord Sesshomaru! You came! You came!” Before the words were even completely out of her mouth she had made a flying leap into the demon’s arms. It was all he could do to catch her in time before they both went tumbling down the hill.

As he felt her arms encircle his neck he realized how much she had meant to him. After a hug he set her down and held her at arms’ length, gazing at her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. She had grown a little and was beginning to fill out as well. She was no longer the skinny child he had once known. Now she was a vibrant and healthy tan with an easy glow about her. He smiled at her, knowing he had made the right decision.

Miroku, knowing the child’s past with this demon, was at first a bit jealous of the attention she gave him. However, when he asked the demon to stay for dinner and he accepted, Rin took Miroku’s hand as they walked down the hill towards the Village. Rin, not realizing how much this simple gesture moved Miroku, kept turning her head to see Sesshomaru, the whole while chattering a mile a minute about her life here.
Sesshomaru watched his friend take the monk’s hand in hers. He knew, at that moment, that she had bonded completely with the man. She had a real father at last! He spent the evening with the happy family, watching Rin’s interaction with her parents and new sister carefully. He had been informed by Yukina and Toya of Rin’s happiness, but he wanted to see it for himself. He would never forgive himself if his decision caused her more distress. By the time dinner was over and she was sitting next to him on the porch steps, enjoying the night air, he was convinced she was indeed a happy child.
 
“Rin, I was hoping you had found a good home here. Yukina explained about the Villagers and the various families. She said you were happy. I just wanted to see it. Are you, Rin? Are you truly happy here?”

Rin did not hesitate in her reply. This time she did not have to choose her words as she had when he asked her the same question at the castle. “Oh, yes! Lord Sesshomaru, I have a wonderful family! Father takes me for long walks and explains lots of stuff, like you used to. Mother lets me ride Kirara and teaches me how to cook and about different demons, and oh, all sorts of things! I really love them! And Mirago… she is the best of all! She is such a sweet baby! I am very glad she is my sister. And I have this wolf here” she indicated the creature lying at her feet. “He roams all over the place with me.” Her radiant smile was more than enough to convince him of her sincerity. He looked away, out into the night, and the two lapsed into a comfortable silence.

When the moon was full in the sky he turned to her and stood. “It is time for me to get on my way. I am off to my own lands this week. There is a problem with some demons invading a larger village there. I must be on my way if I am to be there in time to do damage control.” He placed his long clawed finger under her chin and raised her face to him. He bent and placed a light kiss on her brow. “It may be a very long time before we see each other again.”

Rin, sensing that he was correct, kissed him on the cheek as well. When she hugged him tightly she was saying goodbye. She watched as her old friend disappeared into the night. Then she sighed and stepped out onto the grass in front of her home.

Home, she thought. Such a simple name for such a powerful word. She stood on the grass, gazing at the lighted windows for what seemed a very long time. Then with a grunt of complete contentment, she made her way back inside, to the welcoming arms of parents.

Rin, her thoughts of the past becoming a haze as she listened to the warms sounds of her mother and father cooing to Mirago, allowed herself to snuggle back into her covers. It was not long before she was once again fast asleep, dreaming of a bright and happy future.

 

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