You may want to read my first Rin/Sesshomaru fanfiction, How Things Are Now, before you begin this. There will be references to the events that occurred in that story.

"Rin, will you please help us catch some fish?" A little girl asked hopefully. I laughed and patted her on her small head.

"Of course." The only thing that I did in the village was help the children, the ill, and the elderly. The villagers may have questioned my origin and purpose before, but things have changed. I am now a part of their lives and I am happy to do whatever is needed. Many of the older women look at me strange, wondering why I am not starting a family of my own. They wonder why I am so focused on the other people of the village and not myself. I just smile and shake my head when they ask me these silly things. There is no reason for me to share things that happened in the past.

I do not think of him much anymore. I wish that I could say that I have forgiven him, but I cannot. I blame him for setting me back so far in my life. I don't understand what some of the other humans do and why they do it. I can't help but act like a savage animal at times. I also fear that what he did to me will cause me to never feel love again. That would be the most terrifying and upsetting thing possible. I always hoped that I would be taken away by a handsome prince and have a big, beautiful family. I now see the truth behind things.

I am happy here, though. I enjoy standing in the river and helping the children catch fish. I always liked the way that their faces lit up when they wrapped their tiny fingers around the slippery fish, laughing as the fish jump out of their grip. This must have been the way that he saw me, as an innocent child.

"Damn." I muttered out of anger. I quickly shut my mouth as I realized that I was around children. It angered me when thoughts like that occasionally drifted into my conscience. I have not seen him for a year, yet his past actions still cause me frustration. I sighed as a breeze caused leaves to fall into the river.

"Rin, what are you doing?" Jun asked from the other side of the riverbank. "You aren't going to get a husband acting like a little boy." She gave me a wide grin and tested the water with her foot, only to flinch when the cool river made contact with her skin.

"Afraid of being so savage?" I asked while splashing her. She groaned loudly and crossed her arms. Jun was always trying to be a proper woman. She had high hopes of catching the perfect husband and starting a perfect family. How we became such close friends even baffles me.

We met when I began to care for her sickly little brother a year ago. She was always worried and watched my every move, always giving unwanted criticism when it came to my care-taking skills. When her brother finally began to recover, Jun relaxed a little more. I learned that she enjoyed talking often and for lengthy amounts of time. I probably liked her so much because she reminded me of myself before I moved to the village. Now, I just enjoyed listening. She shared her dreams with me and occasionally asked me about my own. I always told her that I liked to focus on the present, not the future. I truly had no plans for the future. I just expected to live my life in this village, helping those who were in need. Jun then made it her personal quest to get me started on the road to what she considered a glorious life. I cannot help but laugh at the ridiculous things she says and the way she responds to my supposedly "uncivilized" ways. As annoying as she may be, she is the only person that I actually speak to in the village that I feel comfortable with. I could never talk to her about my past though, it just wouldn't feel right.

"Do not splash me! Rin, you have to come with me right now!" Jun had that look in her eyes, the look that meant she had an insane plan that she needed help carrying out.

"Why?" I knew there was no reason to argue or fight it.

"You don't understand, this is very important!" Jun began to hop from foot to foot.

"Do you need relieve yourself?" I asked jokingly. I loved when Jun got upset, it was a hilarious sight.

"Rin, come on right now!" Jun jumped into the water and dragged me by the arm with her towards the village. My stomach began to hurt from the lack of breath left in me from all of the laughter.

"W-where are we going?" I ripped my arm from her tight grasp and wiped tears from my eyes. I let in a large breath and I was stopped by Jun's arm.

"Look over there." She motioned to a young man unpacking his things. He looked like a traveler and had a horse with him that carried many bags and items. He was tan, probably from days riding in the hot sun. His clothing was fairly nice but stained with sweat and dirt.

"Why are you showing me this?" I looked at my friend knowing exactly the reason. Jun was already infatuated with the strange man.

"He is the one!" She turned to me and hugged me tightly. "I have to go make a good impression on him!"

"I feel as if you jump into these things too quickly." Whenever a merchant or monk visited the village, she was always after their apprentice or handsome son.

"A woman knows her husband when she sees him, Rin." Jun's whole demeanor changed as she left our hiding spot from behind a small home. Her walk was a graceful one and her chin was held up high. A glimpse of the real Jun was revealed when she glared at me for not following her. I slowly left the shadows and walked behind her. The young man was still unpacking his things when Jun tapped him on the shoulder, frightening him.

"Oh, hello!" He laughed. Jun's jaw tightened at the awkward introduction. She always believed that first impressions were important and when she felt that she failed, she would lose all control. I only prayed that she would keep calm.

"What brings you to our lovely village?" Jun flashed a smile.

"Well, I'm just looking to trade. I was also hoping that I could rely on some of the villagers' hospitality since I've been on such a long, exhausting journey. I'm merely stopping here to catch up on my rest."

"Oh, well I'm sure I can set up a place for you to stay!" She found her opportunity.

"That would be greatly appreciated, thank you. I should know the name of my beautiful savior." He grinned at her. I felt like an awkward bystander to the soon-to-be couple's first outing.

"My name is Jun. What might yours be?" Jun was nervously smoothing out her kimono. Her face was red and she was biting her pink lips.

"Satoshi. Who is your friend?" The attention then shifted in my direction.

"I'm Rin. I hope you enjoy our village while you stay here." I offered a weak smile in return to the others two's enthusiasm.

"Let me show you to my home, Satoshi!" Jun grabbed his hand in an aggressive manner and quickly dragged him away.

I walked to my own house, which was small and cramped. I shooed a few children away and settled down to take an afternoon rest. I hoped that Jun finally found her prince, that she succeeded in the very thing that I failed.

"Hello?" A voice asked from the darkness. I quickly got up and tried to see the figure that stood in the doorway.

"Who is it?" I asked with the feeling of confusion pounding in my head.

"Satoshi. I don't mean to alarm you or bother you but Jun has fallen and injured her ankle. She told me that you were the best person to fetch."

"Is she all right?"

"Yes, she just needs her ankle to be wrapped up." We both made our way out and walked in silence for a few minutes before Satoshi cleared his throat.

"Jun has told me a lot about you in such a short amount of time." He chuckled to himself.

"Yeah, she is good at fitting someone's whole life into a couple of minutes."

"Only she didn't share your whole life. There a lot of things about you that she doesn't know. At least that is what she says." He looked over at me, expecting an explanation. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could dismiss the conversation, Jun hopped over to me.

"I am such a fool. I tripped over my own feet. Please, Satoshi wait here while Rin wraps my ankle." She leaned on me as we walked into her home. As soon as the man was out of earshot, Jun's charm left her completely. She began to tear up and throw a small fit as I sat her down on the floor.

"What's wrong?" I asked, knowing that I would get a lengthy story in return. I searched for cloth to wrap around her foot as the tale began.

"I ruined it! No man wants a clumsy wife or an absolute fool. Satoshi was perfect and I had to throw it all away by falling flat on my face. Rin, am I destined to be alone?"

"Hush. You are getting upset over nothing. Every person falls, there is no stopping that. You are beautiful and if Satoshi chooses to ignore you for the rest of his stay here, then he is the fool." I began to wrap her ankle and she tapped her fingers nervously on the floor.

"You send him away. I can't look at him anymore." Jun turned away dramatically.

"You promised him that you would house him. I have no room for another person." I finished up the wrapping and began to get up. "Besides, men love a woman in need. It shows how adorably helpless you are." Jun started to argue when I left the room. Satoshi was still standing in his place, quietly.

"She is all done." I smiled and began to return to my home when I felt his hand on my shoulder. I tensed and turned around. "What?" I did not like being touched by men I barely knew.

"I didn't mean to anger you. I was just wondering if you could keep me company."

"Jun is waiting for you and ready to talk all night long."

"I heard everything you two said back there, I would appreciate it if I wasn't being promised to a girl I hardly know. I knew she liked me but I didn't think that she expected me to be her husband. That can make a man feel a bit uncomfortable." I felt a blush creep on to my face and sweat begin to form on my skin. I did not like being caught in situations like this. What was I to say?

"I-I'm sorry." I bit my lip.

"I could get past this if you keep me company for a while. I do not wish to go back to your charming yet aggressive friend right now and I have trouble sleeping anyways." He looked at me hopefully and I sighed. He would expect my life story, all of my history, and then some more. I wasn't really looking forward to skirting around all of the uncomfortable events that happened.

"I suppose I could talk to you for a few minutes." I reluctantly agreed and he clearly felt accomplished.

"So, you just stumbled in here somehow? Jun told me that you just came out of the woods while crying. It was the weirdest thing she had ever seen."

We were lying on the grass, trying our best to whisper. Satoshi turned out to be an interesting person after all. We had been talking for more than a few minutes, possibly hours. I found myself laughing often but when he began to ask questions, the giggling often ceased.

"Oh, well thank you. I was just a traveler like you and I was almost attacked by a demon. I ran towards the village for safety, that's all." I applauded myself for making up a false story with such ease.

"That sounds frightening! I have only met minor demons on my many travels, never anything truly frightening. Do you have any battle scars from this encounter?"

"I suppose I could show you." I lowered my kimono a bit to reveal a scar on my shoulder that was given to me by that serpent demon years ago. There were more in less respectable places that I preferred not to show. Jun would have died knowing that I exposed my shoulder to a stranger.

"That seems like quite the nasty attack. I'm thankful that you recovered."

"Why?"

"Because if you didn't, I wouldn't be able to be here with you." I could see him smiling through the darkness. Was he trying to compliment me or worse, trying to woo me? That left a horrible feeling in my stomach.

"That is nice. I really do think I should be going to bed now. There are many people who need tending to in the village." I got up quickly to leave.

"Please, I still know little about you. I want to know more." He protested and got up to walk next to me.

"I would really appreciate it if you left me alone. I do not want to…" How could I word this in a pleasant manner?

"Do not want to get to know a handsome traveler? Is it because I will leave you in a few days? I know that it can be hard to deal with." He laughed and I almost laughed along with him. He did not know how to take things seriously which I enjoyed but also found quite annoying.

"No, I just don't want to-" I was cut off by a calloused hand cupping my face. I stiffened immediately and my eyes went wide. I did not like this.

"Rin, I do not think that you mean what you are saying." He lowered his face towards mine and without a second though I kicked him in the stomach. He went down with a grunt and he clutched his stomach in shock more than pain.

"I am so sorry!" I nervously fiddled with my hands and bit my lip. Satoshi took in several large breaths and slowly got up.

"That was unexpected." He coughed out. I dug my nails into my palm and felt embarrassment wash over me.

"I-I really must be going." I ran off to my home with my cheeks burning and already having the feeling of deep regret.

And it begins.

I shall update my other stories as well, so no worries. Just needed to jump start this.

I hope you all are excited for this sequel!