A/N: Some people to thank for the first one-shot: Taraah36, Rukia's Reflection, butterfly here icome, Esha Napoleon, and xxdarienchibaloverxx. And thank you to those that put this or its author on their lists. The last one wasn't too good but hopefully this one will make up for it. Thanks go to Taraah36 for this idea.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
What Ifs and Plot Holes
You Forgot Something
Rin was well aware of the fact that her lord didn't like Tenseiga. As he was a demon who would rather take lives than save them; it was no wonder that he was perennially displeased with a sword that could heal wounds and bring back the dead. Adding insult to injury in the taiyoukai's eyes was the fact that Tenseiga's original purpose had been to perfect a sword technique for its sibling Tetsusaiga.
Still, in her mind that was no reason to simply leave it lying around whenever it got taken or thrown away by some enemy. His father had gifted it to him and with it two responsibilities that were obviously too much for his younger brother to handle. It was plain to her; otherwise, Inuyasha-sama would either have had Tetsusaiga since he was a child or he would have had Tenseiga.
The little girl had learned that Lord Inuyasha's youkai blood had been sealed by the larger fang because it was too strong to stay balanced with his human blood. Since she figured that the sleeker blade could have done the same, there must have been a greater reason for Lord Sesshoumaru to have been given one rather than the other (besides that Tetsusaiga was meant to protect). After all, wasn't it the duty of an older brother to teach his younger siblings how to do things? It was only logical that the elder would be given the responsibility to help complete the younger's sword technique and to hold the honor and duty of the Sword of Heaven.
These thoughts always ran through her mind each time she was forced to hand Sesshoumaru-sama back Tenseiga whenever he'd "lost" it. Despite his claims that he could accept the loss, he never refused the sword when she gave it back. Perhaps somewhere in the back of his mind he understood that wielding the Tenseiga's true power was more than his younger brother could handle. It was easy to kill, not so easy to know when it was all right to bring the dead back to life.
About the fourth or fifth time Rin had to retrieve the sword, she'd finally gotten up enough courage to speak to the dog demon lord about his sword. By this time he had acquired Bakusaiga, helped defeat Naraku, and had come to an uneasy truce with his half-brother so she figured it was all right to bring up the subject. She was now a young woman and her nature had turned strong willed as she had been raised around Sango and Kagome for several years by that point.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, you should really be more careful with Tenseiga." Elegant brows rose at her statement, gold eyes briefly narrowing on the two women whose attitudes had influenced her most recently. Sango and Kagome shook their heads over Rin's, indicating that they'd had nothing to do with her opinion.
"Explain," Sesshoumaru ordered, not unkindly. Rin had never lectured him so he realized that this must be a serious matter for her to speak up.
"Tetsusaiga was given to Inuyasha-sama to help protect humans and himself. Tenseiga was given to you because you're the older brother and are supposed to help him use it right. I think that you were given the Sword of Heaven because its true power was too much for him to handle. Bringing the dead back is a serious business. It would be the older brother's responsibility. You are the heir after all, right?"
"Indeed." Inuyasha was listening to the conversation but he wasn't objecting to what Rin was saying. Had the same thing occurred to his little brother?
"So naturally the more difficult duties would be given to the heir. Knowing when it was okay to bring back the dead and when to leave them in the Underworld is ever so much more complicated than using an attack to kill an opponent. I bet Lord Inutaisho knew that you'd get your own sword someday and not need Tetsusaiga anyway."
"Perhaps." Sesshoumaru conceded her the point by tucking Tenseiga gently into his sash next to Bakusaiga. "Thank you for returning it to me again."
"You're welcome. I wouldn't want you to forget." Rin smiled winsomely at him and heard the others chuckle behind her.
"Hn," the demon lord uttered not sure how to respond to that. She really was growing up to be quite cheeky. He'd have to think hard about her future husband. Giving the others a civil nod, he turned to go but was halted by Rin's sigh of exasperation. "Rin?"
"You forgot something, Lord Sesshoumaru." He looked back at her to find her shaking her head at him.
"Did I?" he questioned sternly. There was only so much of her sass that he was willing to take.
"Yes. My new kimono; that was why you came in the first place, remember?" The group waited to see what he would say or do and was surprised by the slight softening of his eyes. From the folds of his own clothing he produced the package and gave it to her. Rin's expression lit up and she thanked him enthusiastically.
"Far be it for even this Sesshoumaru to forget a lady's clothing." He tried to ignore the loud giggles his sister-in-law couldn't hide.
"Oh, don't worry, Sesshoumaru-sama, I wouldn't let you."
"Indeed," he said and finally left. When he was far enough away so that his brother and the fox cub couldn't hear, the demon lord allowed himself a small chuckle of his own. Whether it was his sword or her clothing, his little Rin would never let him forget.