The Tides of Change by Katalynn

Unexpected Requests

Author's Note : Thinking -- 'thinking' Sesshomaru's Beast talking -- 'Sesshomaru's Beast Talking'   Sesshomaru talking to his Beast -- 'Sesshomaru talking to his Beast'    Sesshomaru and Beast speaking as one -- "Sesshomaru and Beast speaking as one"    Sesshomaru's Beast speaking -- "Sesshomaru's Beast speaking alone" 

      Sesshomaru was currently running rapidly towards where he had last scented the miko and her pack. He held Rin close to his chest in his one armed grip. Her usual pleasant scent of spring and flowers was soured by the scent of illness. If there was anyone that could save Rin, he knew it to be the miko. While he loathed to admit it, he trusted the miko to help him for he knew she was honorable. In fact she was more honorable than most demons even.

                               He could tell he was getting closer for he could smell that the miko's scent of gardenias, honeysuckle, roses, and spiderlilys was getting stronger. 'It is such a lovely scent, for a human that is,' Sesshomaru thought. 

                               'Do not lie, Master. You know you think her scent is pleasant, better than any yokai's, male or female, you have smelled before.' Sesshomaru's Beast said. Sesshomaru mentally sighed.

                               'I just can never catch a break, now can I?' He mentally groused. 

                               'Nope.' His Beast said with a cheshire cat grin. Sesshomaru merely rolled his eyes mentally at his Beast. He sped up as he started to hear the noises of the miko's campsite.

                               Sesshomaru smirked at the hanyo's exclaimation of “Bastard!". Sesshomaru slowed down once he was on the fringes of the miko's campsite. He calmly walked in, maintaining his desposition of royal elegance. His eyes landed on Kagome standing with her bow drawn and notched, her bowstring pulled as far backk as it could go without snapping. Once she saw it was only Sesshomaru, Yokai Lord of the West, she relaxed her stance, putting her bow away, but was still slightly on guard. 

                                “Relax Miko of the Shikon No Tama. I merely require you to help Rin," Sesshomaru said as he revealed Rin to the miko. Kagome gasped and rushed to his side. She gently picked up Rin and ran over to her new, bigger, black bag. She pulled out her black sleeping bag that was red at the end and laid it out upon the ground. She carefully set Rin out upon her large sleeping bag. She smoothed the girl's hair and covered her with a blanket after she began to shiver.

                                “Rin honey how do you feel? What hurts you, honey?" Kagome worriedly asked.

                                “I feel like I am burning up. I'm coughing really badly, I have a really bad sore throat, it hurts to swallow and breathe sometimes, I have a runny nose, I have body aches, I have a really bad headache, I keep getting chills, I am always tired, I keep losing my appetite, the back of my neck feels swollen, and I puked a few times already." Rin rasped.

                                “Rin can you please open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and say ahhh for me like this," Kagome said as she demonstrated. Rin nodded and copied what Kagome did. Kagome pulled out one of her LED flashlights and shone it down her throat . She winced when she saw her throat. Her tonsils were swollen, her throat was red with white patches, and she had a coating on both her throat and tonsils. Kagome sighed and put away her LED flashlight. She pulled ou her  thermometer and put it in Rin's mouth. Once it beeped, Kagome pulled it out of her mouth. She checked the thermometer and gasped. It read 106.9° Fahrenheit. Kagome became very worried for Rin once she read the thermometer. She bit her lip and reached into her bag for her vast medical supplies. She pulled out her Motrin. She poured a small amount out and gave it to Rin.

                                “Rin honey, you have strep throat and the swine flu. I have some antibiotics left over from when I had strep throat, my doctor gave me extra." Kagome smiled. She pulled out her antibiotics and gave the correct amount to Rin, based off what Sota had to take when he had it a couple weeks ago. They were the same age after all. Rin swallowed with a great amount of diffuculty. She smiled to Kagome.

                                “Okay 'kaa-san." Rin's eyes widened once she realized what she said. “I mean Kagome-nee-chan." Rin quickly backtracked as she panicked over what she said.

                                “Rin if you want, you can call me Mama, Mom, 'Kaa-san, or/and Okaa-san if you want." Kagome smiled.

                                “Really? Do you really mean it Kagome?" Rin asked as her eyes got all wide and filled with innocence and hope.

                                “Yes Rin, I do mean it." Kagome said with a smile as she leaned down. Rin smiled and squealed with glee and joy as she leaned forward slightly and wrapped her arms around Kagome's neck.

                                “Thank you Mama!" Rin cried, jubilant at what her new Mama said. Now she had an Oto-san and an Okaa-san. She laid back down and tried to get some rest.

                                Sesshomaru watched their interaction with growing interest. As he studied them, he noticed how Rin seemed to adore Kagome. He saw how happy she was when Kagome told her she could call her okaa-san. He also saw how Shippo grew excited at the thought of having a sister. He decided then and there that he would join the miko's pack. He would have to discuss it with the miko of course since she was the alpha of the pack.

                                “Miko, I need to discuss somethings with you, without InuYasha," Sesshomaru cast a pointed glance at the hanyo when he began to rant and rave. Kagome nodded and followed Sesshomaru after she sat InuYash to stop him from following after her. She followed him for a few minutes. Once they reached a clearing, they stopped in the middle of the clearing.

                                “Miko, this Sesshomaru, Yokai Lord of the West would like to join your pack." Sesshomaru stated.

                                Kagome contemplated that. “Alright, I'll let you join on two conditions Sesshomaru." Kagome said.

                                “And what might they be, miko?" Sesshomaru asked as he lifted a single slim, silver brow.

                                “The first request is that you call me Kagome instead of miko. The second request is that you will be my friend." Kagome said shyly.

                                Sesshomaru  was surprised at what she requested but it was not much to ask from him. “Very well Kagome. I agree to your terms." She smiled and hugged him. 

                               “It's a good thing you wanted to join my pack, for Rin would have had to stay a week at the very least anyway." Kagome said. Sesshomaru nodded, it was quite fortunate indeed.

Author's Note: This was done for Stella Mira's Shikon No Tama Challenge. The prompt for this chapter was Nigimitama or Friendship. Please review, especially if you have constructive critisim to help me fix any mistakes you may find and to better my writing. That's if you have the time. Thank you!