Chapter 1 – The return of Lord Sesshoumaru
Rin stared up at the moon, wondering if tomorrow would be the day he'd come for her. He promised and yet –
Five years has passed and not a word whispered her way. Perhaps he had forgotten… but she wouldn't blame him.
While the passing time felt like eternity to her, to him, it would be merely a blink.
After all, she was only human.
If you are ever sad or troubled or scared - just call my name and I will fly to you immediately. No matter the time or distance between us, I'll be there. Have this trust in your heart and you have nothing to fear. But for now, give your heart the time to decide what it wishes to do at its own pace. And until then… take care of yourself.
"Rin, are you not asleep yet my child?" came to slurred concern of her slumbering guardian.
Remaining in the moonlight, Rin rested her head against the window sill and murmured his name. "Happy twentieth, Rin."
"Jaken, what day is it today?" Lord Sesshoumaru suddenly paused in the middle of their trek up the mountain to look patiently at his loyal advisor.
The toad imp had his chin almost on the earth; the climb taking a toll on his dwarfish built. Huffing, Jaken looked like a roasted potato, freshly taken from the fire.
"I believe it is the second full moon of the spring my Lord." One hand pressed against a nearby rock, while the other tried to still his beating heart. He nearly jumped when his master knelt down; his white knee-length hair slapping Jaken's face with the passing breeze.
"Did we miss Rin's birthday?" The impassive monotone question was almost lost on Jaken had he not been two inches away from his master. Hopping a few steps back, Jaken lowered his gaze –prolonged eye contact with the Daiyoukai could be misconstrued as aggression – while he mentally counted down the days.
"Birthdays my lord." Jaken's face went momentarily white at the realisation. He surely had a death wish for forgetting the human's birthday! "Please my Lord, I did not do so on purpose! I beg of you to spare my life!"
They had promised to return on her 16th birthday but by his calculations, they were four years late. What does it matter to an Immortal like themselves anyway?
But when he dared a peek, Lord Sesshoumaru stood at his full height; face in the wind. It was as if his Master had not heard him. But Jaken knew not to be fooled. The Lord was said to have eyes on his back! He could hear and see for miles without even needing to open his senses. Imagine that!
"Jaken, retrieve A-Un. I do not wish to scrape your wretched remains off the ground."
Not wanting to push his master's mercy, Jaken rushed off in search for their hydra-like dragon. The beast was currently sprouting two heads instead of its usual five.
If his calculations were right, they had at least a week before reaching the human village where Rin was staying. Jaken would indeed melt onto the floor if they had to walk all the way!
Still, it made him curious as to how little Rin would look like now. A gangly prawn – that's what she looked like when they had left her years ago to resume a normal life. Oh she had kicked and punched and struggled against the Master when he decided that for her. Ingrate.
Did she not know he did it for her wellbeing only? Wandering about the world with two male Youkai was hardly a life for a human, especially that of a girl. Master had left her with the Priestess Kaede in hopes that Rin would find a human mate. After all, that was all human women were capable of wasn't it? Breeding?
It was something that the Immortals greatly admired yet resented in the humans. The human numbers were growing exponentially each year and their need for more space encroached into the territory of the other Youkai tribes.
A matter of time before the three states warred against each other, in his opinion.
And then there was Rin. A human girl found amidst the forests of the Wolf Daiyoukai clans; she was neither food nor kin.
"My Lord, the imp is following us. Shall I dispose of her?" Jaken eyed the human warily. He did not understand why his Master paid her no heed. "She stinks of the wolves."
Lord Sesshoumaru simply continued walking.
They had been enroute to the Ash Valley to visit Totosai, the eccentric Youkai sword smith. But the peripheral forests housed some of the most ferocious wild Youkais, not known for offering safe passage. Not the best place for a weak human!
"We will pass a human village. She may choose to stay if she wishes."
"Master, I have brought A-Un," he announced to the turned back of the Daiyoukai. Lord Sesshoumaru nodded in acknowledgement before mounting the two-headed beast. His Master only gave the illusion of choice but Jaken knew better. And this time, were they returning to give their Rin another false choice?
Rin hated laundry day. Her hands would be so sore after all that scrubbing and twisting and hanging and folding! She really thought Kaede would have given her the day off to wander in the nearby forest or play by the lake. It was her birthday after all.
"You're too old to be seen alone in the forest Rin," warned her guardian. "What would the villagers think?"
Rin tried not to snap at her guardian. Priestess Kaede had given nothing but kindness since Lord Sesshoumaru saddled her with a ward seven years ago. He had promised to be back in three years but time had stretched and still Kaede had allowed Rin to stay in her humble hut. Rin could only attribute her recent concern for her 'safety' to the fact that men had been coming by their place for matters that were not of the spiritual kind.
As a priestess, Kaede was the holy woman of the village; brewing cures for the ill and warding off evils from their homes. It was not unusual for visitors to always be in their home but of late, Rin had seen Kaede chasing people out of their hut with a broom, shouting at them about keeping their hands to themselves.
Rin assumed they had been stealing. But every time she tried to ask Kaede about it, the Priestess would shush her with a fierce hug and send her away to do more menial chores.
Like today.
Rin cringed at the mountain of linen piled in the wicker basket. These were the bedsheets from the mini infirmary that Kaede had set up at the back of their house. Stained with sweat and often times blood from the injured, it felt more like a punishment than a task.
All she wanted was to pick flowers and berries.
Hauling the basket by her waist, she took her usual route down to the river not too far from Kaede's hut. The icy water almost made her yelp as her hands dipped into the gushing stream. It was already spring but the ice caps from the mountains were still responsible for their fresh water, slow to adapt to the changing landscape surrounding them.
Ignoring the gradual numbing in her fingers, Rin did her best to scrub a nasty stain from one of the bedsheets. She was halfway through the pile when heard the crack of broken twigs behind her. Immediately her hands reached behind her bodice where a small dagger lay hidden.
"Hello Rin." A human man peered out from behind the bushes, his blue eyes sparkling in sunlight. "Please don't be alarmed. It is I, Charlie."
Rin must have been frowning; her body curled in defence, for he took a step into the clearing and bowed. She knew him. Charlie… Charlie, the son of the village Elder?
"Hello Charlie. Is your father injured?" Rin knew that the villagers had recently returned from a trade mission into the Eastern Youkai territory. Perhaps it had not gone as planned…
"Oh… no, he's fine. I came here looking for you," he admitted, twirling his fingers slightly as his ears grew red.
"Me?" No one ever needed her for anything before. A sudden panic raced through her body causing her to knock the basket of laundry into the water in her rush to get up. "Is it Kaede? Did something happen? Is she –"
Rin ran right into Charlie as his solid frame tried to block her escape.
"No, she's fine!" His eyes followed the swimming linen bobbing up and down in the stream. "Although I supposed she might get a little angry now that you've lost the clothes."
Swirling to her feet, Rin groaned at the sight of her wasted morning.
"Well… looks like you're free after all," said Charlie, a warm smile plastered on his face. "Maybe you could come with us."
Now Rin was on her guard. If only Charlie had not interrupted her, this would not have happened! What did he want?
"To do what exactly?" Her eyes narrowed, aware that the young man was sweating despite the cold morning.
"Kaede said that if you said yes, you could come…" he stammered. "We're going to the market."
"We, who?" she demanded but before he could answer, Rin rolled up her sleeve and started walking back to her house. She loved the marketplace but the thought of going there with someone made her ill. Oh she could just imagine the gossip that would line the town tomorrow!
Oh did you know Rin? Yes, the Daiyoukai Lord's human pet! Oh yes, I heard he got bored of her so he dumped her here. Poor little thing. Next thing you know, she's going to try and poach our sons and husbands! Just you watch. She's a little whore I'm telling you.
Rin covered her face as she ran back to Kaede's hut, willing the tears to retreat. Lord Sesshoumaru was not bored of her! He had left her here to…
To what?
At that time, it had been for her own safety, he had assured. A Daiyoukai had gone rogue in his lands and he had deemed it his responsibility to hunt him down. Rin had obeyed, as she always did and never questioned him when he promised he would be back.
"Rin?" The gentle voice of Charlie wormed its way into her consciousness. "I didn't mean to upset you. Truly, I apologise." A warm hand on her shoulder. "I just thought… maybe you would like to go and do something different today since it's your birthday."
She forced herself to smile. He deserved that at the very least.
"Thank you Charlie… that is kind of you but I should go. Maybe tomorrow. Kaede will be worried."
Rin did not dare to meet his gaze – the look of disappointment on Charlie's face would have to be audience to her back.
Kaede hadn't been angry about the laundry. In fact, she was more upset that Rin had rejected Charlie's offer to take her out to the market.
"You should mix with the boys and girls of your age Rin. Charlie meant well."
Rin didn't dare to tell her how they treated her. If not for Lord Sesshoumaru's insistence that Kaede home-schooled her, Rin had no doubt that she would have been the subject of abuse in school. The girls her age hated her for some reason and the boys feared her.
But their parents were the worst. They truly believed she had a soul of a Youkai; some even going as far to spread the rumour that she had the transformative curse of a Dog Demon that was infectious. Rin only wished they had been right. She certainly was not 'human' enough for them.
During the initial months, Rin had continuously begged Kaede to let her find Lord Sesshoumaru. Her place was beside him, she insisted – not amongst the humans.
Kaede had slapped her a few times back then; enough that she learnt to keep her emotions to herself. He will come back for her!
Promising to return in time for dinner, Rin went into the empty courtyard behind their house and rifled through the broom cupboard for her prized possession. Her fingers tapped on various poles and sticks before resting on the carefully concealed weapon.
Laying it on the ground, she unrolled the cheap paper and wool covering to reveal a slender sword sheathed in dark mahogany. Rin traced a finger down the blunt edge of the blade, feeling a shudder of anticipation.
Wind Eternal – that was the name of the sword. A final gift from their years of travel.
Holding the sword in her hands, she marvelled at the lightness of the weapon. This was made for her. Forged from a fang of the Daiyoukai itself, the sword gained strength and weight with each passing year – a testament to her own growing physique and maturity.
Rin wielded the sword in her right hand, then her left; the familiar twist of her wrists bringing back a rush of comfort.
Here, alone with her sword, she would remember him.
Aiming at an imaginary fiend, she slashed through the air, jumping only to deliver a decapitating blow down the assailant's back. Turning, she imagined two more enemies approaching. Thrusting her sword through their stomachs, she brought up the blade a full circle, repeating the stance again with her final offender.
Every step she made was based on memory alone. No one had taught her so she made it a point to spy on the men when they trained in the woods. Quiet as a mouse, she had observed them from up on a tree, taking note of their movements and techniques until she could form her own.
Lord Sesshoumaru better be on his guard the next time he saw her –if he saw her –for she would not hold back years of pent up disappointment and anger.
A promise was a promise. It was not meant to be broken.
Sesshoumaru could sense the youthful spirit of the village growing stronger as they approached the end of the week. In a few hours, he would be at Priestess Kaede's home and he would see to it that his ward was taken care of.
"How old is Rin, Jaken?" he asked, as they cruised mid-air. It only seemed like yesterday when he found her; bruised and discarded amidst the foliage of the Eastern Forests. She could hardly be more than ten.
"Twenty my Lord."
If he was shocked, he made no show of it. Instead, he gave his advisor a lazy nod before returning his gaze forward.
According to the human customs, Rin would be of marriageable age by now; even having had borne a child or two.
Perhaps she had.
Sesshoumaru didn't know why that irked him so. It was only natural for a human to wish to marry and have children. It was what kept their legacy alive.
But he was late –by five years at the very least. Rin might have forgotten him by now… and for the better. There was no place in his world for a human girl.
"A-Un, we will stop here," he ordered, patting the beast lightly on its neck. The dragon grunted in obedience and descended to the ground, shrouding them in a cloak of darkness; the moonlight unable to penetrate the thick cover of trees.
"Master?" A sleepy Jaken rubbed his eyes. "Have we arrived, my Lord?"
Sesshoumaru stepped off his ride and started walking towards the human village. "Come Jaken. The sun will be up soon."
Rin loved towns. Especially the ones with many shops. She would always look at him with those big brown eyes of hers; her lips quivering as she held back her excitement. He had only given her twenty minutes and five golden coins but she had screamed her jubilance like he had gifted her the world.
Silly girl.
Looking ahead, Sesshoumaru made out the tiny thatched roof of the houses near the village centre. The wooden shutters were slowly opening and the smell of fresh bread wafted through the air. As he continued walking, he watched with disinterest as the village bloomed to life. Those who dared look into his eyes turned dark with fear while those who knew better simply stayed away from his path, bowing in respect as he passed.
Something glittery caught the corner of his eye, halting him to a stop. Walking towards a stall that was slowly setting up, he stood completely still until the vendor turned, lifting his head all the way up to meet his gaze.
"Lord… Lord… Sesshoumaru!" he stammered. "What… what can I do for you my Lord?"
Sesshoumaru pointed to a comb of sorts that was on display. "What is this?"
The man picked up the metal comb and offered it to him, both hands outstretched. "Please… please take it my Lord."
The corners of his lips twitched in annoyance. "I asked you a question."
"Answer the Master you foolish human!" Jaken added, coming up from behind him. "Do you wish an early death?"
Sesshoumaru shot the toad imp a warning look. Does that idiot ever shut his mouth?
"No please have mercy my Lord. I have a wife. She is with child!"
Sighing at the show of hysterics, Sesshoumaru placed a silver coin on the man's palm and pocketed the comb. The name of this… human enticement was not of interest to him anymore. Instead, he studied the vendor, noting his strong hands and kind eyes. Would this be the sort of human that Rin would like for her mate?
"How old is your wife, young human?" he asked.
The vendor paled. He looked like he was about to pass out from being forced into a conversation with a Daiyoukai.
"She… she is twenty my Lord!" Just like Rin.
A prickle of uneasiness crept down his neck. Surely this man was not her husband? How dare he marry Rin without asking for his permission? Had he not made it clear to Kaede that Rin belonged to him?
"I see," he said before continuing on with the walk; his chin raised high as he cast a low side glance at the humans who parted the path for him. "Jaken, see to it that provisions are bought for Priestess Kaede."
"Yes Master!"
Sesshoumaru kept an eye on his loyal servant as he bossed his way from stall to stall. Jaken looked so unthreatening that he blended so insignificantly with the villagers.
Unlike him who stood out with his long white hair and golden eyes. Humans always found Daiyoukais enchanting; their ethereal beauty a source of fascination and fear.
But it was the Daiyoukai markings that frightened the humans the most: Two red gashes on each side of the cheekbones, angling upwards towards the temple. The streaks were skin deep like the stripes of a tiger – nothing he could or would change. It was who he was.
As his footsteps brought him closer to Kaede's hut, his nose twitched at the familiar scent of Rin – the light, spirited life force of hers, but then the undertones of spice caught him by surprise. The usual gentle scent of Rin was tainted –no – enhanced by a sharpness of a scent he could not describe.
He didn't hate it.
Knocking twice on the wooden door, Sesshoumaru took a step back and waited for his host to greet him. He knew the Priestess was aging and so he gave her a few more moments before the door swung open.
He didn't recognise her at first.
Where her hair had been jagged and cropped haphazardly as a child, it now flowed straight and silky down her shoulders to the small of her waist. She was so much taller now!
But her brown eyes were just as wide and curious as she inspected him. Sesshoumaru had no need for her approval but he kept still, allowing her eyes to trail along his body before resting on his face.
No one dared hold his gaze for that long. But for Rin, it was an exception.
"Rin."
The human girl –no, woman, made no move to welcome him in. She had to be in shock.
"Rin, I am entering." He moved closer, rubbing his knuckles lightly against her cheek. It was something he had always done to appease her as a child when she was in a feisty mood.
Pulling away, she took a step back and bowed slightly.
"I will get Kaede for you."
He watched as his Rin turned to run up the stairs to look for her guardian. Had it been that long? Gone were the chubby cheeks of the girl that he left, the awkward stumbling teenager swimming in her clothes.
This was a woman whose body was ripe for bearing children – just like that of the vendor's wife. He had not scented a child in Rin and it had pleased him to know she was still pure. He would not have allowed that to happen without his permission.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" Kaede hobbled down the stairs; her hands busily twisting the greying bun on top of her head. "It is so good to see you. Would you like some tea?"
"Rin will do it," he said, watching the young woman's eyes light up with an emotion he was not used to seeing. Rin was always happy or scared and sometimes playful but the look that crossed her eyes were of another kind altogether.
"I am surprised she barely said a word," said Kaede, watching as Rin dashed into the kitchen.
"Has she been troublesome to you?"
"No, never! She is an obedient child." The old woman bit her lips slightly. "Although I must say that I am glad you are here to take her away."
The finality in her voice made him raise an eyebrow inquiringly. "You dare assume?"
Cool grey eyes met his. "Are you not then?"
Sesshoumaru tried not to take offence at the challenging tone of her voice. If not for the fact that she had cared for his Rin for seven years, he might have swiped her down for her insolence.
"The choice will be up to her," he said matter-of-factly. "It is not my wish to impose on her, her right to have a family… or choose a human mate."
Kaede looked like she was hiding a laugh as Rin walked in with a teapot and some cups. "Of course my Lord."
Sesshoumaru said nothing. He allowed Rin to pour tea for Kaede and himself before pushing an empty cup towards her.
She pushed it back.
"I must refuse my Lord. I am needed somewhere else." Turning to Kaede, she pressed a kiss on the old woman's cheeks. "I'll be back with lunch!"
"Rin!" He knew she heard him but his little human ward flicked a warning look at him before running off.
"There was no need for her to procure provisions," he said flatly. "I have ordered Jaken to see to that."
The old Priestess smiled, the joke too much for her to handle. "I believe she is exercising her choice my Lord." Kaede dared to laugh. "I believe it is what young lovers –"
He was out of the house faster than her next breath. He did not wish to hear the words coming out of Kaede's mouth! Rin was out to meet a lover? How dare she!
Like a predator on a hunt, he tracked Rin's scent towards the village centre with vengeance, annoyed that he lost her to the intermingling of human scents swirling in the air. The Rin he knew would have had jumped at him, burrowed her tiny head into his sash and armour in happiness. But this woman… this human had looked at him straight in the eyes and basically told him to leave her the hell alone.
Damn that girl! Where could she be? Scanning the chaos in front of him, Sesshoumaru tried to sieve through the scents to zero in on the subtle hints of Rin when a high pitched voice interrupted his concentration.
"Master? You are still here?" Jaken dropped a bag of provisions at the front of his feet.
"I seem to have lost Rin." Looking down at the overflowing potatoes and onions, he frowned. "Jaken, leave those here and bring Rin to me," he ordered, leaving the confused Youkai flustering over his purchase.
Sesshoumaru continued along a path bearing traces of Rin's scent, pausing a second in front of a shop.
She had stopped here.
The bell on top of the door clanged in announcement of his entrance. A quick scan revealed no Rin but a couple of terrorised human and a pâtissier that was about to faint at the sight of him.
"Did a human by the name of Rin pass by here?" Nods were his only answer with a meek finger pointing in the opposite direction.
It had taken him five more steps before her scent consumed him. It was one that he remembered – of flowers and laughter. That was when he spotted them.
A human male had his hand resting on her knee.
"You obviously do not cherish your limbs, young man." His voice boomed over the giggling duo – one looking extremely livid while the other smiled and continued nibbling at the pastry in her hand.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" The young man pulled his hands hastily, bringing his body to a bow.
"Who are you and what are you doing with my Rin?" Sesshoumaru kept his voice level, not wanting to scare Rin.
"Cha… Cha… Charlie my Lord! We… we are friends!" He was halfway into apologising when Rin stood up and simply walked away, licking the honey coating her fingers.
The sight of her plump lips making contact with the innocent syrup had him shuddering slightly on the inside. Ridiculous!
But Sesshoumaru allowed her to leave – making sure she had turned into the corner before elongating his fangs into a snarl; his face inches away from the human.
"You smell of her." He grabbed a fistful of Charlie's shirt.
"Please… please my Lord! I wish no harm on Rin. We were just sharing a pastry!"
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the human Charlie; rearing in his teeth a little when he scented no deception. "Do you wish to mate with my Rin?"
It appeased him to see the human go limp; his hands dangling to his side. There was no need to wait for the answer. The sight of a damp spreading across his breeches was confession enough. Letting the boy go, Sesshoumaru continued his pursuit of the infuriating child. After seven years, this was how she wished to welcome him?
He followed her scent through the meandering back alleys, past a small nursery until finally; he came to the start of the outer forests. What was she doing here? Bandits hid amongst the trees; wild animals and god forbid, rogue Youkais! Instincts kicked in and his golden eyes turned red as he perked his senses to the dangers lurking in the back.
Continuing down a recently treaded path, her scent grew fainter until he could no longer pick it up in the air. Impossible! Sesshoumaru paced the base of the tree where he lost her scent and tried to find other traces of her recent movement. His eyes saw the trampled undergrowth, the slight clean brush off a bark…
Clever Rin.
"Rin, come down this instant." It was an order –although, he was slightly pleased to know she had outwitted him.
A minute later, she landed beside him in a huff.
"Let's go home," he said, aware that the woman had remained rooted; her eyes watching him in eerie silence. If she had been a Youkai, her eyes would be glowing red by now. What was wrong with her?
After a moment, he turned his head away, the arrogance returning to his face. "Fine, do as you please."
He expected tears and apologies but the unmistakable sound of metal sliding against wood caught him mid-step. She dared to fight him? With his own fang?
Very well then.
Drawing Bakusaiga, he met her first swing with an upward thrust; the clang of metal reverberating the air around them. Anticipating another right-handed attack, he swerved left, only to miss her blade by a few inches of his ear.
She had to have switched hands mid-swing for her blade was now attacking him from the left; her wrist work impeccable for a non-dominant hand. He blocked another attack but this time, he pushed her backwards with the blunt end of his sword, knocking her hard into a tree.
Dropping to her knees, her breath was ragged from keeping up with his speed. She snarled as him, as best as a human could.
"Get up." He ordered; his sword positioned in an attack stance. "I will allow you only one chance to strike at me. If you fail…" His eyes flickered gold, "I will kill you."