Chapter 9 - The Bonding
 
When the unlikely pair reentered the camping area Sesshomaru went to the fire, piling more wood on the banked embers to get it to blaze again. The temperature would drop rapidly tonight, and though their clothing had dried quite a bit through the afternoon, they were both still damp. He motioned for her to sit close to the fire and proceeded to rip more meat off the remaining carcass. When he handed it to her, her look of surprise made him smile. She obviously was not used to anyone doing things for her.

Rin was indeed surprised at having him hand her the food. She was even more surprised at how beautiful his sudden smile was. Then it was gone in a flash. But she had seen it. She ate the meat happily, for the first time in years having more than one small meal in a day's time.

The next day Sesshomaru decided it was time to teach her a few things about his lands. As they wandered the area within a mile's distance of their camping area, he showed her various edible plants, roots, flowers, and even bark from a tree. She had no idea there were so many things to eat in the forest!

Over the next week their lessons continued, each day setting off in a different direction, but always staying close to camp. He taught her how to recognize animal tracks, though she did not have the means to hunt them. He explained to her about the different worlds and how they were divided. He told her of his own lands. All of this he did with an economy of speech. She listened carefully and learned rapidly. They were bonding as he had never bonded with any living being, not even his mother.
 
By the end of their second week at the small camp Rin was feeling very comfortable with her new friend. She was lying on the ground, once again staring at the clouds, enjoying the sun on her face, when she noticed the stillness in the trees. He had taught her to always listen to her surroundings. If the bugs, birds, and other forest creatures went silent, something was there. She sat up and looked around. Sesshomaru had left a short while earlier to refill their water container. The silence, now that she knew to listen to it, was making her nervous. She had the distinct feeling she was being watched. She stood slowly, her eyes scanning carefully as she turned in a full circle.

When the trees started shaking she was already running away, having felt danger. As she ran she heard a terrible screech and the beating of large wings behind her. She did not turn to look, only running as fast as her small legs could carry her in the direction Lord Sesshomaru had gone only a little while before. When her bare foot snagged on an exposed tree root, she went down hard, her hands doing little to break her fall. When she felt the breath on her neck she opened her mouth... and screamed!

"Lord Sesshomaru! Help me!"

With almost no sound, Sesshomaru came through the trees, his sword already drawn. In one sweep the black Demon bird, his beak inches from Rin's head, was split in two. When she saw the feathers and heard the thump of the bird falling around her, she thought she would be devoured. When the hand touched her shoulder, she cowered in fear. It wasn't until she heard "Get up child" that she realized she was safe. She rose and turned, hugging the surprised Dog Demon. He felt her tiny body trembling and knew she must be reliving the nightmare of the Demon that had killed her. Without a second thought he scooped her up and carried her back to the camp, setting her gently on the ground by the fire.

He waited while she took time to stop trembling and compose herself. When he decided she was once again calm, he spoke. "What is your name?" She had been around and with him for three weeks now, and he still simply thought of her as "girl".

"My name is Rin" she answered in the rusty voice of someone unaccustomed to speaking.

They sat in silence for a long while. Then, "Why did you decide to come with me, instead of going home to your family?"

She quietly began to explain about her family, her village, and her exile. When she told of the fish, though he showed no reaction, he was deeply touched to realize this tiny child had taken a beating for him. The bruises he had asked about that night were because she had stolen to feed him! When she was done telling her story they lapsed into silence, sitting together and watching the sun disappear. He deep in contemplation, she simply enjoying the warm spring night.

Jaken returned early the next morning. There was dew on the ground when he arrived back in camp. He had been contemplating his own future. He had decided, while he was away, that he would remain in his lord's service despite the child's intrusion. After all, he had been with Lord Sesshomaru for decades, and she had just come. He refused to allow her to come between them. After all, she was merely a human, and his lord looked upon humans as weak and insignificant, as did he. She would not last long out here, walking the lands day after day. His master would surely find a village or some poor family that needed another hand around the farm and get rid of her. Jaken walked into the camp, expecting to find Lord Sesshomaru awake. Instead he was astonished to find him still sleeping. And his furs were wrapped around the child! In open-mouthed surprise, he gawked at her, and then let loose a high-pitched screech that woke the two sleeping beings immediately. Rin, her eyes still adjusting to the half-light of dawn, felt herself being flung off the furs she was in and onto the hard ground.

"How dare you take Lord Sesshomaru's priceless furs to lay your filthy body on?! No one and I mean NO ONE touches these fu..." He was stopped mid-sentence by the Lord himself hoisting the ugly green Demon off the ground by his belt, the furs still clutched to his chest. Sesshomaru said nothing, merely staring the Demon down until he was a simpering mass of nerves. Then, when he was sufficiently satisfied that the Demon was cowed, he dropped him unceremoniously onto the ground, retrieved his furs, and threw them over his shoulder.

"Jaken, I take it by your early arrival you have accomplished the task I set to you." It was not a question. The little Demon handed Lord Sesshomaru the packages he had dropped when he first saw the girl's infraction. He took them without a word, said "Come" to Rin, and turned towards the stream in the distance. Rin got up and staggered after him, still yawning.

Rin had no idea where they were going or why, but she had grown accustomed to simply following him. She trailed behind, wishing she could curl back to sleep. She was, however, keenly interested in something. “Lord Sesshomaru, why was Jaken so angry? You let me use your fur after all.”

It took a few moments for Sesshomaru to form his reply. Then he simply said “My father gave them to me. They are all I have left of him but for my unusual sword.” Rin did not reply, lost in the thought that he had allowed her to use something so precious to him. When the pair arrived at the stream and he told her to take a bath, she was surprised but did as he demanded. She lathered and washed quickly, for though the water was not as cold as before, it was early and she felt the coolness on her skin. When she stepped out of the water and turned to Lord Sesshomaru, he had changed his silks and was holding out a package to her. Ignoring the package for a moment, she couldn't help but stare in awe at the beautiful sight he made. His clothing was pure white but for intricate red designs. His armor and swords shone, and he positively glowed. He raised his eyebrow at her gaping look, and simply thrust the package towards her again. She took it and opened it carefully. Clothes!  He had given her new clothes! She took the clothing out and held it in front of her. It was a plain plaid kimono, the kind many villagers' wives wore, but to her it was the most priceless thing she had ever held. In glee she pulled it on and fastened the belt. When she turned her radiant smile to Sesshomaru, he almost gasped. He had never seen such undiluted and unconditional joy as he saw on her face, and all over something as simple as clothing. He nodded at her and turned back to the camp, glad he had the chance to do something nice for her after all.

The group left camp after breaking their fast with melons Jaken had brought back from the village. They set out on the trail they had been following previously, but within no more than two miles, the trail tapered off into nothing. They walked the lands after that, the white Lord, the young girl, and the green Demon. Sesshomaru walked in a slow and steady pace while Rin danced and sang and twirled her way after him. She would stop now and then to sniff flowers just beginning to bloom or try to catch butterflies. Sesshomaru kept a wary eye and ear open for her. Whenever she began to trail too far behind he would quietly say her name and she would come running.

Thus went her first two months in the great Dog Lord's company.

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