In this Moment…

01. The Calm before the Storm

Rins Perspective

"Rin, so don't dawdle around. We haven't got the time for that." The wind carried the voice of the little green gnome in my ear, but I didn't pay attention to what he said. Too much fascinated me the flower which grew on the green grass in front of me. She was white and had a dark blue border. "I have never seen a beautiful flower like this one in my life. I need to show it Master Sesshoumaru," I whispered softly, picked them up, then I straightened up and looked around.

Nowhere had I discovered my master, Jaken or Ah-Uhn. "Master Sesshoumaru? Jaken? Ah-Uhn?" No answer. They are probably already gone ahead, I thought, and ran off the way, which Jaken went preceded.

After a while I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me and I turned around carefully. I saw nothing, so I thought nothing and walked on down the path. The rustling becomes louder and I stopped again. I looked into the forest, but could see nothing in those black depths. As my curiosity grabbed me and would not let go, I walked into the woods and pursued the rustling, which had changed in the trees.

After a short walk I arrived at a clearing where human skeletons lay scattered everywhere. I heard a rustling behind me again and so I turned around, but this was only the rustling of the wind, and as I turned back to the front, extended over me a giant youkai who was apparently responsible for this mess of skeletons.

I couldn't release of my rigid, so I could not even run away or anything. The only thing I could do as he grabbed me and held in the air, was a cry of anguish, which hopefully let me hastened aid and with this thought I was not far wrong.

Just as the demon let me fall over his mouth, I felt under me something very soft. I carefully opened my eyes and looked into the icy golden of my master. I sighed and felt as Sesshoumaru put me down in the grass.

I looked up at him and hoped to see in his eyes, but unfortunately, he had his back to me. But even if I could not see his eyes, I knew he was fucking angry and that should be proven to me shortly afterwards.

"Jaken," I watched the frog youkai, who moved reluctantly toward his master, because he knew what awaited him. "Yes, M-Master Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru not responded first, but then he fetched out and was just before to slam him, but I stood between him and the smaller youkai.

Sesshoumaru stopped immediately in his movement and stared at me in disbelief, as I could feel Jakens look at my back. "It's not his fault, Master. I ... I've seen a flower and I was just fascinated. I didn't realize that you're already gone." I could clearly feel the fear creeping up in me, even though I knew that Sesshoumaru would never do anything to me.

He lowered his hand, turned around and disappeared into the forest. I swallowed and shortly thereafter turned to the small frog youkai who was staring at me with his mouth open. "It was true, too. It was not your fault, Jaken." It would have been better if he had beaten me instead of always Jaken. Just when I wanted to go further, behind me came a grateful voice. "Thank you, Rin." I turned to him and gave him a smile, which he replied.

Sesshoumarus Perspective

It was getting dark. The night popped everything into the black. The nights brought with them the cold autumn wind, so Jaken and Rin could only sleep poorly. Ah-Uhn and I had no problems, however, less me, since I never slept anyway. However, the cold weather also brought more problems, how short it turned out once more.

Just when I found a suitable clearing for our camp, I heard a sharp cry. I knew immediately from who it was and ran. The clearing where she was, was impossible to miss, because her smell was strong there in the air.

A man-eating youkai held Rin directly over his mouth and let her fall over. Just in time I caught Rin and landed on the lawn. The demon I had done during the action. When I heard a thud, I knew that this youkai had not survived my action.

I put Rin gently in the grass and turned to my servant, who had crept behind Ah-Uhn. I felt Rin's eyes on me, because she knew what was coming, as well as the dragon and the frog youkai.

"Jaken," The called hesitated, but he came closer with trembling steps. "Yes, M-Master Sesshoumaru?" I heard the fear in his voice because, he got my hand several times to feel if he didn't do something carefully or if he lost sight of Rin.

I fetched out and wanted to slam the little youkai as Rin suddenly turned towards me and looked at me guilty. I stared at her in disbelief, just as the little green gnome behind her. "It was not his fault, Master. I ... I've seen a flower and I was just fascinated. I didn't know that you're already gone." I heard the fear in her voice and asked me why.

I lowered my hand, turned around and went back into the forest. Behind me I could hear the voice of my servant, who thanked the little human girl.

I didn't understand Rin. Otherwise, she had never asked myself in the way when I hit Jaken. Then why just now? Took it with her that Jaken always just for her problems had to stand or had simply acted only out of their instinct and turned in my way? I didn't know.

I reached the clearing again and waited for the other three. As they came, I sent Jaken and Ah-Uhn away to collect firewood, while Rin was chasing her and Jakens dinner. I followed her, as I always did, so she didn't get lost again.

While Rin fished her and Jakens fish, I sat on a high tree, thinking. Rin was already six years with us and soon she would be fifteen. In all the years I am already so habituated to the little girl that I would probably fall back into my old habits without her.

I never realized that I had changed by Rin in any way but as Jaken once pointed out to me that I since Rin was with us, behaving differently, I'd also make sure what I did differently than usual and there came something out.

Especially since I inserted more breaks than usual and I always turned over, to see if she came along. Also, I stayed longer at our camps than usual because of Rin, but only when she was sick, or if she had hurt herself.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice that the little girl already observed me prolonged. "Rin." I looked at her and she held the fish which she had caught, under my face with a smile, when I landed on the ground again.

We arrived at the camp where Jaken had already kindled the fire. Rin tied the fish on a branch and put it into the fire so they were grilled. Meanwhile, I sat down again on a tree, and thought about the incident of the day.

I knew that it was not Jakens fault that he had lost Rin, but I couldn't probably give the blame to Rin, after all she stopped at every flower that looked nice. Every now and then she showed me the flowers and I admired Rin that she showed interest in even the smallest detail of life. She was an extraordinary girl.

Because demons were afterwards people, Rin was often in danger. Until now I was able to save her, but what would happen if I would indeed be too slow?

I looked from afar to Rin and watched gleefully as she ate her fish. What should I do if one day she would be killed by a youkai? I could revive her with Tensaiga but would I really want to do that again? Or would I let her rest peacefully?

I looked again into the distance and seemed to me an idea that I thought was right, but I already knew that Rin wouldn't consent, but I would still try to persuade her. Maybe I have lucky and she understands that it would be best for her.