Prologue
"Ah-Un," his voice no more than a whisper, "Land."
The creature landed softly within a forest clearing. From its back descended the kappa demon and the human child, both slightly shaken from the speed of their travels. Immediately Rin began to scour the area for running water. The past few years had taught her many techniques about the land: wherever water flowed, there would be food and trees large enough to provide shelter. But most of all, there would be flowers, beautiful flowers to brighten any dreary day.
"Sesshomaru-sama! Look at what Rin made you!" She placed a crown of knotted lilies upon his head. "They make you look so pretty," her innocent smile continued to shine brightly through the moonless night.
The man gave no return to her, instead to his other ward, "Jaken, find food for you and Rin."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!" The small creature scurried off into the woods, where his screams about the night's array of bugs could be heard by those still in the clearing.
"Oh Jaken-sama," the girl giggled, "Sesshomaru-sama, would you like if Rin also went to search for food?"
"If you so wish," he closed his eyes; all conversations were to be halted for the night.
Normally Rin would not venture far from the camp. Normally she would only scavenge for fruit and firewood. But most of all, normally she would only cry when something was wrong. Yet there Rin stood, body shaking as the tears fell. The clearing felt familiar, though she could not pinpoint why. Rin remember nothing of her life prior to Sesshomaru. Nothing about who she was, where she was from, or why she was alone when he found her.
As the tears continued to flow, Rin fell to the ground, body trembling for unknown reasons. She wanted to scream, but could find no voice. What was once a beautiful field of flowers began to melt away into nothing but darkness. The air became cooler, no longer warm like a mother's embrace. Rin began to gasp for air as something tightened around her throat.
Slowly the demon appeared, its body long and slippery – almost like a snake. The fiend's tail continued to wrap its way around Rin's body, taking extreme care in not immediately crushing her. As Rin struggled to breathe, she cursed herself for not realizing sooner. The Snake Charmer was an elusive demon that lured its prey by showing them what the desired. The second clearing had been too perfect, something that nature surely could not have produced on its own. Again Rin tried to scream, but only a small whimper came out.
"Silly girl, even if I let you, who would you scream for? There's no one here to help you," the tail constricted around her limbs, "Now be a good child, and accept your fate."
"S….Sessh….Sessho –" Rin continued to gasp for air.
"Sessho? Who is that, your little pe – " his head rolled to the ground. As the body fell, Sesshomaru whisked Rin away. His anger showed not on his face, but through his tightening grasp.
"Rin sorry!" She hiccupped out the words between her sobs.
"Petty human, stop your crying," Jaken continued to berate the child, trying to hide that he was happy she was safe.
Sesshomaru merely glanced at the two before dropping Rin's arm and walking back in the direction of their camp for the night. Eventually the two followed upon Ah-Un's back, but not before Jaken had his fill of yelling at the girl. When they arrived by the fire, Rin was delighted to find a roasted fish left aside for her. Despite it being ice cold, she ate it cheerfully.
The night passed slowly for the trio. Sesshomaru sat with his eyes closed, meditating quietly. Jaken leaned against a tree, barely able to keep awake. It was Rin that changed her nightly routine. Instead of curling up by the fire, she laid down next to Jaken. Her eyes wide awake and overly alert.
"Jaken-sama?" Her voice broke through the silence, "Could Rin ask you something?"
He cocked his head towards her, "You will no matter what I answer you."
"Is Rin a burden on you and Sesshomaru-sama?"
"Of course, you are nothing but a weak human that falls for even the lowliest of demon's tricks."
Rin choked back tears before continuing, "Then Rin wishes to learn how to be stronger. Strong like you and Sesshomaru-sama," she breathed out, "Rin want to know how to fight. Rin does not want to be a burden upon Sesshomaru-sama any longer."
"The lack of sleep must have finally gotten to you, human. You can never be as great as Lord Sesshomaru! Why would such nonsense even grace your mind!"
The girl turned over and closed her eyes, "Rin means it, Jaken-sama. Rin wants to be able to help Sesshomaru-sama."
"You speak as if he needs it," the demon seethed; however, the child was already lost to the world of slumber.
