A/N:I'm reloading this on a different account, Rainitin my old one. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Rin knew it was wrong, but it was just uneventful staying in the village.
Creaking open the rickety window, and slipping out gently for her bare feet to land on the ground, she began walking. It was just a quick stroll, to stretch her limbs. Padding away from the village and prying eyes, she found comfort in the forests; it reminded her of the times when she went on adventures. Not to mention she missed a certain demon lord. A protective two headed dragon. Maybe an annoying imp also. She must really miss them if she missed him too.
True Sesshomaru visited her almost every month, his visits were getting shorter. Jaken had answered her questions; something was brewing and that the lord had to prepare for it. Kaede had been very insistent on her staying in, but it was just plain torture doing the same mundane activities. The young girl was meant to have a life full of exploration, not village life. Left out in the wild too long, she had trouble adjusting to village rules.
Though it was for her safety, it could wait. She wanted to go to the woods. There was a present that Sesshomaru had left for her, she recalled, in a secret spot that only she and he knew. Their little secret, though they had made a multitude together.
Foliage crackled under her toes, the stalks tickling her legs. Trees swayed with tranquility, their leaves bright with sunlight. It was quiet, creating a eerily calm place. Rin preferred it to be noisy, but silence was nice too. It would only be a matter of time before the seasons changed, and then it would be completely silent, an exception of the falling snow, as everything would be taking shelter from the coldness of winter.
Stopping, she knelt near the base of The Sacred Tree, a box nestled in the grass. Daintily picking it up, she reclined on the tree, excited to see what was inside. Slowly opening the lid, her eyes widened.
A dagger, by the ornamentation a very expensive one (though all the gifts he gave her cost fortunes), sheened for her. Lightly tracing her forefinger on the hilt, she admired it, not wanting to tarnish the treasure. Closing the top, she held it to her chest as she headed back towards the path.
"Ningen, what d'ya have there?"
Stiffening she didn't bother to turn. She was halted by the shoulders, as a tail wrapped around her shoulders. Scaly skin met hers, cold breath on the nape of her neck. Repressing the urge to scream, she calmed down by focusing on her breathing. Breath in and out.
"It must have cost a fortune. Clearly you don't know how to use such a rarity, and it would be wise to give it to someone who did," the voice coaxed, the tip of it's tail twirling on her arm.
"No! " she shouted, whipping her arm away. She sprinted away from the settlement, knowing that the demon would follow her. Instead she ran further into the groves.
"Stupid ningen!" the voice seemed to be right beside her. Whirling around, she realized she had gone too deep, and was unfamiliar with the surroundings. All the trees looked the same, the underbrush playing in favor of the beast. Chuckling cruelly, it snapped it's tail, taking the girl off her feet.
Though she had a tight grip on her possession, the case bounced out of her clutches, opening and shattering. She cried out in anger, watching the demon. The reptilian made its move, slithering toward it gleefully.
However it was kicked in the face, as a persistent child refused to give it up. Rin scooped up the weapon that had fallen out in the fall, running.
"The fun has run out of this game as your life has!" its voice had more venom than its bite had. This time it wrapped around her ankle, jerking her to land face flat. She bite it, it recoiling as she scrambled for the blade.
Rolling over, she finally caught a glimpse of the assailant. A snake though, it appeared to have the head of a dragon. It was a inky black, its eye's the same color of Sesshomaru. Only that there was a clear intent on lusting for death. Like all the demons she had met. Except Sesshomaru, he was a lucky exception.
Unsheathing her blade, she tried to block it's menacing jaws off. It found purchase in her wrist, sinking its teeth quite deep. Screaming in fear and pain, the girl managed to slash and cause some damage. The spirit hissed and slithered in the grass, using it for cover.
Getting up, she felt woozy. Swaying, she blinked hard to keep herself conscious. Sleep was tugging on her sleeve and she found herself closing her eyes. A sudden rattle of a snarl, startled her, and she did the only thing she could think of.
Run. Well, more like stumble. Her knees hit a wooden board of some sort, and she backed up.
"End of the line."
There was a push at her back, and she felt, no saw, nothingness engulfing her. She swore there was a flash of something else, then nothing. She didn't have time to contemplate, while she was unconscious, her head telling her to take a nap. Sesshomaru would come and save her, she knew it. Every time he did, saving her, going to hell for her and back. Poison lulled her to a slumber with no dreams or nightmares.
The spiteful spirit had witnessed the strange sight and was dumbfounded. It hadn't seen anything related to the phenomenon and was taken back by the unexpected flash of lavender. When the beast gaped at the bottom of it, there was no broken figure, absolutely nothing. It slithered back to its haven, muttering to itself at how things didn't go right for it.
(000)
"What do you mean she's gone?" Inuyasha questioned the old woman. He knew the lady was getting old, but she was so knowledgeable, that when she started slipping in memory it worried him. But he wouldn't admit that.
"I told her to never go out, since of how dangerous it is," the old woman replied.
"If you haven't notice, we live in a era where talking demons in normal and magic is okay," he sardonically stated, remembering the times in Kagome's world. Rather pleasant compared to now.
"Inuyasha, you're not helping," Kagome scolded before turning to the elder.
"Kaede-baa-chan, are you sure she's not here?" the woman asked hopefully. She also knew of the woman's slipping hold on memories and had a strong suspicion that she had Alzheimer's. She was no doctor, but it was common for people of old age.
"Does thee think so?" Kaede said.
"Maybe she's off hiding somewhere," Kagome thought aloud. The girl was skilled in hide and seek, she could be hiding or lost even.
"Hiding? From who? Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha tartly added.
"Oh no, Nii-san will be coming today!" Kagome gasped.
"It never gets any weirder on how you still call him Nii-san," the hanyo shuddered at the words. Married to her, it irked him and she now called his brother, brother. Tradition for her generation, demons having a more labyrinthine relation.
"If we do not find Rin-chan, he will slay us," the elderly woman said calmly. It was true, there would be no hesitation. They needed to find her fast and soon, knowing that the man would not be pleased with her dissapearing.
"He can try, see how that went last time," he barked out with a laugh. Relating to the past, where he beat his brother, his left arm being what he lorded over, though he had regenerated another. Idle because Sesshomaru overcame the challenges his father had known he had have to beat.
The pair went out to look for the girl. They asked the villagers, and so far, they had no trail of her and her whereabouts. They knew the girl was weary of people, but she was civil with the adults and tune out kids around her age, baffling the selected handful that knew her.
"How hard is it to find a girl," Inuyasha muttered, as another villager shook their head.
"Apparently, very hard," Kagome answered with a hint of sarcasm. He grumbled at her comment, if he ever tried that she would be mad or say that magical word she used as a weapon.
"Inuyasha, hey!" a cheerful voice called out.
They turned, as the monk rushed up to them. The half demon smirked, a chortle sounding from his mouth. The monk and demon slayer had a growing family, Sango pregnant after Naraku's destruction. Twin daughters and a newborn boy, one in the nearby future. Retired for now, they concentrated on raising their infants properly. Meaning no more adventures until their kids were old enough to fight.
"Sango finally let you off babysitting duties?" he mockingly said. "About time she did."
The sleep deprived man glares at him before sighing,"I wish."
"Better luck next time," he clapped him on the back. The monk sighed again, letting his friend comfort him. More like shove and rub in his face at how he had freedom and how he didn't, but he would take it as comfort for now as of late.
"Hey, have you seen Rin-chan anywhere? She's seem to have wander off and we can't find her and no ones see her," Kagome inquired. Maybe they could catch a break?
"The young girl? No, sorry," he shook his head. They both sighed, a startled yelp alerting them. Hurrying to the center of the settlement, where everyone was forming, the feudal lord stood in all of his pride and glory; a timeless statue if he was any stiller. Knowing Sesshomaru, he probably could.
Fixating his otherwise emotionless gaze on his half brother and wife he took a step forward. "Where's Rin?" he questioned. Commanded, really. His cold aura was physically chilling several of the residents, chilling already some of the people with his appearance. Recurring he came, though all were unsettled by his expression. Lack of expression.
Kagome nervously laughed. "Um...well, we don't know where she is." That came out wrong. But he would find out anyway, having the intuition of a prophet, delaying would make no difference.
No change on his features, his tone being a degree sharper though."This strikes you as amusing, miko?"
"Hey! We aren't her babysitters, you can't just expect us to keep track of her," her husband defended. He was her woman and he would fend for her.
"Don't speak to the Lord this way, mutt!" Jaken defended back. "Why you..." he went off, all turning a deaf ear on the green imp.
Sparing them with a second more of his gaze, he turned on his heel. "Come Jaken, we will find Rin." There was an unspoken,"like I have always have" in the air, as he already picked up a faint trace.
"The nerve of him," Inuyasha growled under his breath, crossing his arms. He felt slightly guilty for saying what he just said, but they honestly weren't her caretakers. Sesshomaru found her and had looked after her, and he would without a doubt, be the one to fall in that role. Kaede was a substitution, the lord leaving Rin so she could have human interaction.
Other then themselves Sango, Miroku, their children, and Kaede, the girl didn't interact with anyone else. The townsfolk knew she had traveled with a powerful being, and thought better to stay far and be polite. Children that did play along, said that her daiyokai was creepy and didn't hide their view on him, which caused Rin to dislike them. She was a misfit, and she didn't mind one bit.
"C'mon we have to go after him," his wife pulled his arm, trailing the now silouhette. He huffed but allowed her to drag him.
Sniffing softly, the full demon caught the scent of Rin's blood. It was spilt so many times, distinguishable to him. Venom, he sniffed, a hybrid of a dragon and snake spirit. Weak. Strong enough to kill a human, not a demon. It was enough to make him uneasy, her well-being at stake, remembering whenever she was in danger and he would come to her rescue. Now he couldn't.
Tracing back to the tree, he halted at the foot. "What honor do I own to be in the presence of such a strong spirit," a voice slithered out. His eyes narrowed a millimeter,"You have no honor."
Hissing, with the distinct smell of fear was in the air. "What makes you say that?"
"The scent of blood is noticeable," he bluntly stated.
"Ah, that girl from earlier," the hybrid revealed itself and the wound. "That brat caused me this from that blade."
The blade was specifically to ward off demons, in case she were to encounter a malicious deviant. He was thankful she found it, and made a side thought to teach her the art of fighting when she would become of age.
"Where is she," he monotonously asked.
The snake raised it's eyebrows, well looked like it was raising its eyebrows if it had any. "Why would it matter to you." Not a question, but a statement.
Jaken was about to talk but stopped seeing that his lord was already speaking.
"This Sesshomaru holds her dear," he answered, despite the warm words it came out cold.
Noticing the shift in demeanor, it gulped audibly, regretting his earlier statements about the child. He had heard of the feared yokai as well. Entirely not his best day or luck he was having. "Ehehe. Well—"
A sudden change of scenery and he had an eye view of a terrifying demon. "Do you find this amusing?" he mused, his talons dully turning to a acid green. His patience was ticking down, and he was getting fed up with the stalling.
"No, no! Not at all! I can show you where she fell!" it choked out, as the grip became tighter.
Indifferently, he let go, the creature collapsing on the ground and hacking. "Lead." The snake-dragon complied, trying not to show panic as it perched on top of the well. "She fell in here."
Expecting an injured, or even worst, a dead Rin; he titled his head to an angle to get a better look.
He leaned back. His fingers clenched, talons daring to sharpen itself on the wood. It crumbled under his hands itself, the foundation old. "Do you take me as a fool?"
Jaken giggled impishly at the snake's expression.
"N-not at all," it smiled weakly back, fighting the sudden desire to eat the toad. Whatever it was.
"Then where—"
"There you are, what are ya doing out here?"
Seeing a distraction, it slipped away scot-free. The brother faced his half sibling, "Inuyasha."
"The Bone-Eater's Well!" the lady exclaimed, running over to peer in the darkness. Just like she had last seen it, though there was something strange she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"A demon claimed Rin fell down there," he simply stated.
Inuyasha joined Kagome and looked for anything. Just a faint scent but that was all. "That's not possible, only Kagome and I go through this well. It's closed off now."
Kagome tapped her pointer finger on her chin,"Maybe she's special too." It could be possible. Possibilities, possibilities.
"What d'ya think Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha said. Hearing no reply, the couple turn seeing that he had vanish on them.
"Unfathomable," Jaken spoke aloud. The lord kept quiet, resolute on finding Rin. Maybe she was kidnapped again. Or—he stopped the train of thought and shoved them back. He would find her. He would.
(000)
Souta heard the distinct sound of someone else in the shrine. He was in there, looking for a certain object his grandpa demanded. Hoping it was Kagome, he rushed to the well. His sister hadn't shown up, and it was either the well stopped functioning or she just forgotten. He hoped it wasn't the latter. Instead was a girl about his age, that looked to be sleeping. Other than the fact she was wearing traditional clothing from the feudal age, she could pass as an ordinary person.
"Hey. Wake up," he nudged her cautiously.
She made no move to wake up, folding on her body's own self defense in the fetal position. He nudged her harder, then stopped. He held up her wrist, dropping it in surprise and than scooping her up. Pushing open the door, he spotted his mother making dinner. "Mom, I need help!" he called urgently.
Accessing the situation Mrs. Higurashi stopped her cooking and called for her father-in-law."They just fall out of the sky. Well," the old man corrected himself as he brewed a concoction for the bite and Souta and her helped her into Kagome's old bed.
Rin's eyes snapped up, and she sat forward. "Oh you're awake!" a voice sounded too loudly near her pounding head. "Stay put."
Reclining back, she thought back. There were no thoughts to think about. Not any that she could remember. She furrowed her eyebrows, trying to but came up with nothing. A opening and closing of the door startled her, and she sat upright.
A women with a a tray of an assortment of food placed it down on her lap. Blinking, she stared blankly at the smiling lady. Either the woman wasn't affected by her, and started speaking.
"I imagine that you must be hungry. You can eat go ahead," she urged, waving her off.
Rin dug in, slurping the noodles of the homemade food. Mildly hot, it brought warmth and the flavors danced in her mouth. A hint of sweetness, which enhanced the taste and left a pleasing aftertaste. Waiting for her to be done, the woman observed her, happy to see her up and eating. The girl reminded her of her Kagome, in so many ways. Her eyes, her face, as if she was looking at a younger version of her daughter causing her heart to clench.
Still, she pertained features, such as her clothes and hair that set a difference. Not to mention that she was from the past. Which would be a problem, maybe she would have trouble accommodating to her needs. Or maybe she would have trouble living here.
As soon as Rin was done, she spoke. "Where am I?" She looked around, at the surroundings. The bed was quite comfortable, and she buried herself further into the covers. Soft. Warm. It reminded her of something.
"The Higurashi shrine or house," she pleasantly replied. She felt the motherly side of her taking over. Nurturing inbuilt in herself when she had her daughter then son.
"Who are you?" she questioned. In a eager manner, rudeness might hurt or offend. She felt like it wasn't in her.
"Mrs. Higurashi, but you can call me mom, if you want," she offered. Mrs. Higurashi already felt attached to the girl, and a small part of her wanted her to stay. Just a small part.
"And who would you be?" the woman asked a question of her own. Rin stared down at her lap and furrowed her eyebrows again. Prolonging the pause as she concentrated strenuously that it started making her head having pangs.
"What's wrong?" the woman said, alarmed. Was she an orphan? She hoped she didn't upset the girl. Oh, she didn't even know her name!
The young girl looked up before voicing her thoughts. "I don't know who I am."
A/N: R&R would be appreciated. And there's the first chapter.