The journey that changed it all

Chapter 1

You came back

Ten years passed since Naraku's defeat, for those ten years I have lived amongst humans and have not only grown accustomed to their presence, but also found myself enjoying it, well most of it. I wandered wistfully through a nearby pasture picking flowers to place upon Lady Kaede's grave. It was a year last week that she passed away peacefully in her sleep. I missed her and thought of her every day, but I tried only to recall the pleasant times we shared, the times that brought a smile to my face. The woman was like a grandmother to me, raising me to be a priestess like her…I never did take to it, despite how hard I tried.

In all honestly there was nothing particularly special about me, I wasn't a fighter…I had no spiritual powers. I was a forager, a looter…A hunter, I could track anything down…I could trace their last movements from days before and follow them to the end of the world. It was a talent that went greatly unappreciated by other members of the village. I however, took pride in my skills…it was all I had, I wasn't very pretty…that's what all the other girls in the village told me and they must be right as no boys ever took an interest in me. I'm not particularly smart either…I wasn't very good at reading; even Sango had given up teaching me. I couldn't tell a decent joke to save my life. I tried so hard to be all of the above, I washed every day…I used all kinds of scented oils to make myself smell nice and on special occasions I painted my lips rouge. I studied hard to become more intelligent but I could never concentrate….I was always itching to get outside and wander the forests. Deep down I was still a young girl who longed to travel the country, to serve the Lord who saved her life.

I turned eighteen this very day, it was this day my Lord had promised to return to me and give me the choice to either remain in the village or return with him to his newly established kingdom in the far West. When I first arrived here, it would have been the easiest decision in the world; I would have jumped at the chance of reuniting with my Lord…until four years ago when a certain boy complicated everything. I picked another flower, holding it gingerly between finger and thumb I saw his face between the petals, "Kohaku" I sighed dreamily at the memory of that day…..

-Flashback

"Rin?" crooned the voice of my best friend, my head was buried in my hands but at the sound of his voice, sending shivers down my spine, I peered up, wiping the tears off my face. There he stood all six foot two of my seventeen year old crush.

"Kohaku?" I sniffed a blush burning my face "you're back?"

He nodded his face beholding such concern, how my heart fluttered! "Yeah, I came to see Sango and the latest edition to our family, my nephew, Minoru" he responded.

I feigned a light smile "Yeah, this is their fourth one! Miroku is already talking about having another…he hopes for another set of twins".

Usually this would make Kohaku laugh and we'd ridicule the former monk whilst at the same time, praising what a wonderful father and loving husband he was. However, his mind seemed preoccupied, he sat next to me staring at my red puffy face with his delicious honey brown eyes, I gulped down my anxiety, he was sitting so close! I almost had a heart attack when he put his arm around my shoulder! "Why have you been crying?" he asked.

I sighed, "It's nothing…I'm just being stupid" I wished I made more of an effort this day, I should have at least worn sandals rather the running around with no barefooted, I'm fourteen for crying out loud, practically a woman! Kohaku's hand squeezed my shoulder gently, he pulled me in closer so that my head was on his shoulder with his chin resting upon it.

"If it upsets you then it's not stupid…please just tell me Rin, otherwise I'll worry about it for weeks…maybe even months!"

He was so kind to me, the only boy that had paid me any attention…but that was to be expected, after all we went through together…after that dark period in our lives when were still so very young, just children. No one would ever be able to understand me the way he does…all the other girls have no idea the kind of things I faced with him and yet they still thought they'd make a better match for him than me…I don't know may they're right.

Kohaku shook me slightly for encouragement, I gave another heavy sigh "it's the other girls…they called me ugly and dirty…they said I was stupid….they said I'm a freak because of association with Lord Sesshomaru…and that no boy would dare kiss the lips of a girl who uses them to speak so kindly about a vile demon!" I again burst into tears, reliving all that ridicule.

A scowl swept across his face, he seemed almost outraged, he pulled me in completely, into a warm comforting embrace "they're lying Rin…they're just jealous!" he insisted holding me so tightly, I took this opportunity to hold him as I had always daydreamed of doing.

"Jealous? Jealous of what! I'm so ugly…no boy will ever kiss me!" I wept rather pathetically.

To my surprise with, Kohaku responded with a chuckle, I was so confused that I stopped crying and frowned at him. He saw this and proceeded to explain himself "Rin…that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard come out of your mouth, and you talk a lot" he spoke, "I could write a list of a thousand things that make you beautiful…the very word defines you! However, would you like to hear my favourite thing about that pretty face of yours?"

My heart was about to stop! I couldn't breathe….cheeks burning hotter than flames! I nodded hoping he didn't notice.

"Your smile" he stated happily, I was still confused so he continued "Surly you know what a lovely smile you have! I'll bet my very life that those girls would kill to have your smile! When you grin…your entire face lights up and your eyes practically glow, when someone is sad…one smile from you and all their pain just ebbs away. I mean, come on! Your smile is what melted the icy heart of one of the greatest, most powerful demon Lords in the entire world! It's what lead us into the underworld…we would have done anything to see that smile again…even risked our very lives for it. That's your most magical quality, your…special power…don't let them girls take it away from you…they don't know you like I do, they'll never know what we risked…what we fought for. You are so loved by some pretty extraordinary people, if they hate you…then let them, their hate is so insignificant in comparison to immense love we have for you".

My heart raced, tears of bliss came burning to my eyes, by this time my whole face glowed red! I don't know what possessed me, something strong and fierce took over! I grabbed his face in my hands and pulled his face to mine, crushing my lips against his. My eyes were closed but I didn't need to look to know his eyes were wide open from shock, it's when his lips began to relax and mould with mine and his arms folded tenderly around me that I knew he had closed them. My first kiss! Kohaku was kissing me back, his hands cupping my face! After what seemed like a decade we released each other lips to breathe, my face still in his hands he rested his forehead against mine….

-End of Flash back

…But that was four years ago and he left the day after without a another word to me and I hadn't seen him since. I was always hoping that he would return soon, for four years I had waited…not speaking to another male other than her Lord Sesshomaru on those rare occasions when he would visit. I really thought he would have come back when he heard the news that his sister had given birth to yet another baby boy two years ago, even more so when only a month ago they discovered she was expecting another! When Lady Kaede died, I needed him more than ever, luckily Kagome was there, she and Inuyasha stayed with me at the graveside till it grew cold and they forced inside the hut that was now solely me.

The more I thought about all this the more I thought I will go to my Lord Sesshomaru, I'll forget all about that stupid Kohaku! It was decided, soon he would return for me, he usually came at sunset so I had time to say my goodbyes and lay a fresh bouquet of handpicked flowers at Kaede's graveside and bid warm goodbyes to the others.

More cheerfully I began to sing an old song of mine as I continued to pick flowers "In the mountains in the breeze, in the forest in my dreams…Lord Sesshomaru where are you? Jaken is serving under you too…I will wait for you, on my own….please return to me, waiting all alone".

It was as my song came to an end that I heard a familiar voice calling my name, I turned to see my old demon friend racing towards me, "Shippo!" I cheered racing to him with such enthusiasm, he embraced me like an old friend, lifting me up and twirling me. He had gotten so tall and fearless, not to mention handsome, he had many fox demon ladies chasing him.

"It's so good to see you!" I squealed sincerely, he beamed at me…he was still so playful, as always, due to that mischievous nature his kind seemed to have.

"It's been too long" he agreed, "I've just seen everyone, can you believe how big Kagome's son is now, he's almost six years old and Sango is having another baby! I knew Miroku wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her!"

I giggled, it brought me such joy to see him again, he was seventeen now and extremely talented in his craft of fox magic, he promised to later dazzle me with what he'd recently mastered. "You're surprised now, just wait till we get back to the hut…someone is here to see you" he said knowingly whilst they wandered to Kaede's grave, I squeaked with excitement Lord Sesshomaru is here already! Time for my life to begin!

My anticipation grew as we grew closer to the village, I had already packed the things I wanted to take with me to the western lands. Shippo turned to the opposite direction I was going, "Uh Shippo" I called, "my hut is that way" I pointed let, my friend smiled smugly.

"We're going to Sango and Miroku's" he stated as-a-matter-of-factly, I frowned, why is lord Sesshomaru meeting me there? I didn't argue, I just followed after Shippo obediently.

When we arrived we were greeted by two of Miroku and Sango's sons, Hitoshi (aged seven) and Minoru (aged four). They ran to Shippo and I with such enthusiasm, calling out both our names with excitement, I picked up Minoru and held him to my hip while Shippo ruffled Hitoshi's hair. We were soon greeted by the twins Yuki and Yuka (both ten) they blushed bashfully when they saw Shippo, both having developed huge crushes on him.

"Mother! Father! Rin and Shippo are here!" Yuki called into the hut, almost instantly the two parents came out, Sango holding her latest edition Kou (aged two) whilst brewing another inside her. They smile to see us.

"Children, why don't you run along and play, your mother and I need to speak with Shippo and Rin alone" asked Miroku facing them all, they obediently agreed, Sango handed Kou to Yuka and I placed Minoru down. They ran off happily together like perfect siblings.

"The twins grow more like their mother everyday" I said to Sango who, still had the radiant glow of motherhood, Miroku snaked his arm around his wife's waist.

"And Just as beautiful" he beamed making Sango blush; like Kagome and Inuyasha…these two were made for each other, there was no way they could be with anyone else. Miroku had proven himself a loyal and faithful husband, seeming to grow more in love with his wife each day.

"I'll say" said Shippo with a slight hint of mirth and arms folded, "in another six years or so…maybe they'll care to bare my children".

This earned him a whack around they head from the furious father leaving a large bump on his head, "Never….never say that again…unless you hold n value to your life!" Miroku sneered "I've already told the girls, they will be nuns someday, I'll leave it to the boys to marry and give me grandchildren".

Sango rolled her eyes and smiled at me, I laughed, "come inside…there is someone here to see you" she said and guided us in to her home.

When I saw who awaited me there I could not supress my gasp, my knees buckled under me, my palms began to sweat, oh Kami! It's like being fourteen all over again damn it! He looked more handsome than the last time I saw him, had he really grown another two inches? His shoulders were so broad, he had rugged stubble on his face…his boyish looks had faded, in their place stood a ridiculously good looking young man of twenty-one.

"K-Kohaku" I stammered like a frightened child, a huge grin touched his face…it melted my heart away almost completely, I was about to swoon. He had come back…I remembered that he promised he would the day he left, the day after we kissed. "I'll see you again, I'll come back…I promise" those were his words and he kissed her goodbye too.

His reasons for leaving in the first place was to become a more fierce demon slayer, he clearly accomplished this. Maybe he had grown tired of that life style and wanted to settle down…with me maybe I dared to think to myself.

"It's good to see you again Rin" he said politely, I beamed.

I ran to him and threw my arms about his neck and hugged him tightly, practically choking him "I can't believe it's you! I'm so glad your back!" I exclaimed, to my dismay he did not hug me back, he was so tall that my feet were off the floor, I was dangling by his neck. When he did not reciprocate my hug a sheepishly released him and backed away returning to my former place next Shippo, trying to ignore their surprised and scrutinising looks. I don't understand why he was being so cold.

"So" Shippo spoke, breaking the awkward silence "what brings you back Kohaku" he asked.

"I'm here on an errand for Sesshomaru…I'm doing this as a favour for all the help had once give me" Kohaku responded simply, this got Rin's attention "he sent me to collect Rin, if she wishes to join her Lord and serve him once again she must embark on a journey to him…if she reaches there then she has earned her place within his court" the young and beautiful man explained, I blinked…so much to take in.

"But the way to his kingdom is a dangerous path" Miroku reminded with sincere concern, Kohaku nodded at his brother-in-law.

"And that is why I am to escort her, if she were anyone else, Lord Sesshomaru would have let them face the journey alone, he has entrusted me to protect Rin along the way, to ensure she gets there safely" he answered, Miroku still wasn't very convinced, he noticed his wife's face sink with fear and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Well I'm coming too" Shippo told him gesturing his thumb to himself, "no way I'm letting you guys go alone I wanna know first-hand that Rin get their safely".

This clearly made no difference to Kohaku so he made no argument against it, I however wanted to kick the fox demon, I'd have liked time alone with Kohaku.

"Do you wish to join your Lord" The handsome demon slayer acknowledged me with such formality. It was so cold and callous that it rendered me speechless all I do was nod.

"Very well" he continued, "we leave at first light, you'll stay with us so we can leave quicker, it's crowded here so we'll camp outside".

Sango stepped forward, "Okay, let me make you some food to take with you…Rin, Shippo don't forget to say goodbye to Kagome and Inuyasha" she instructed, we both nodded.

"The earlier we get to sleep the earlier we can leave" Kohaku told us both, Shippo frowned.

"Why the rush?" he asked "Can't we have breakfast first?"

Finally Kohaku showed some emotion, he averted his gaze almost nervously, "I-I have to hurry back, I promised them I wouldn't be long".

"Who?" Sango asked curiously, she asked what I was too afraid to "who and where are you heading back to?"

He paused and then stuttered words that made something inside me shatter and his sister squeal with delight "the woman I've promised to marry"…