Summary ~ Her body slammed into the wall. "How dare you." She only grinned with blood dripping from her jaw, "Because I am not your property anymore"
Rating ~ T for now...I have to see where I'm going to be taking the story
Disclaimer ~ Though the idea is mine, the story and its characters belong to Rumiko Takashi and co. Oh how I wish I was them .
Prologue
"Sesshomaru-sama?" He inclined his head slightly to show he was listening, "Where are we going?"
"Rin! Such a ningen like you has no right to just question Lord Sesshomaru!" Again Jaken rambled on about how the young girl was pushing all boundaries when it came to her questioning.
The trio was an odd group to be seen. The few that lived to tell of such a sighting could only describe it as breath taking. A small toad like creature that seemed to be as old as time itself. He would squawk and yell constantly at those around him and beneath his status. The most common target of his rants was the young girl that traveled with the group. No more than ten, she was the one ray of hope amongst her companions. Unable to see pure evil in anyone and sweet enough to make any creature cry when she did. However, the most powerful – and coincidentally, the tallest – of the group, was their lord. An inuyokai by the name of Sesshomaru. Very few knew anything but his name and power, not even his wards. Only his distaste for humans was widely known; thus those who had the misfortuneof falling into that category feared him most of all. It was because of this, that the trio sparked interest amongst those who saw them. A diayokai, whose immense power was known across the lands, that cared for a kappa demon and – above all – a human. The human child treated him as her friend and never did he dismiss her out of his servitude.
"A-Un," His voice rang out, quiet but powerful, "Land."
The creature landed softly within a forest clearing. From its back descended the kappa and the ningen; her hair ruffled from the speed of their travels. Immediately she began to scour the area for water. The past two years had taught her many techniques about the land: wherever water flowed, there was to be food and shelter. But most of all, there would be flowers, the object of the young girl's affection.
"Sesshomaru-sama! Look what I made you!" She placed a crown of knotted narcissus upon his head. "They make you look so pretty," Her bright smile continued to light up the area.
The man gave no return to her, instead to his other ward, "Jaken, find food for you and Rin."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama!" The small creature scurried off into the woods, where his screams about the night's array of bugs could be heard by those still in the clearing.
"Oh Jaken-sama," the girl giggled, "Sesshomaru-sama, would you like if Rin also went to search for food?"
"If you so wish," he closed his eyes once more; all conversations were to be halted for the night.
Normally Rin would not travel to far from camp; however, tonight she made an exception. This clearing was familiar to her; why, she had no idea. All of her memories prior to her Lord where fuzzy. She remembered her family, their death, and her fear; but places no longer existed in her mind. The flowers were beautiful here, yet another thing that had drawn her to the second clearing. Though smaller, it was filled with everything she loved: flowers, berries, and a spring. For the young child, it was nothing shy of paradise. Almost as if it was a special place created just for her. A mirage.
The wind blew her already messy clothes and hair into other odd directions: bangs blown back, exposing her forehead; and one of her shoulders exposed to the night air. None of this, however, bothered the child. It was as if she had noticed only the things before her. The warm wind was comforting, like a mother's arms she had missed for so long. It sang a sweet melody to her soul, enveloping her into its warmth, distracting her from her surroundings.
As she picked multitudes of flowers, the air seemed to become thicker. Its smell, its temperature, it had all changed. The girl's eyes widen when she came to her senses. How had her sharp eyes and nose not realize it before? Suddenly the blossoms in her hands melted away. The spring became nothing but mud. The berries, now rotten, dropped to the ground. She tried to scream, but it was too late. The creature wrapped it long body around her; loose enough to allow her to breath, but tight enough to prevent any movement.
"Such a pretty girl," the words the slithered out of its mouth, "Such a shame that you came to your senses. It makes much job just so much harder," The beast cackled, oblivious to the girl's pleading eyes.
She tried to no avail to calm her breath, for there was not much left. "Hebi Tsukai*, why do you hurt Rin? What has Rin done to you?"
"How sweet. Asking what you have done wrong. I'll tell you child. You have done nothing wrong, but it has been so long since I have had a ningen. Few ever come to this clearing, depriving me of my favorite meal," each syllable was elongated, dripping like venom as the snake charmer spoke.
The girl broke out into tears but the creature only laughed, "Why cry, no one will hear y-"
As the beast's head fell to the ground, so did the girl. Both landed at the feet of its slayer, the powerful diayokai. He scoffed at the snake before kicking its head away. Soon Jaken and A-Un arrived, the former glaring at the child still upon the ground.
"Rin sorry!" She hiccupped out the words between her sobs.
"Petty human, stop your crying," Jaken continued to berate the child, trying to hide that he was happy she was safe.
Sesshomaru merrily glanced at the two before walking back into the direction of their camp for the night. Eventually they followed upon the two-headed dragon's back, but not before Jaken had his fill of yelling at the girl. When they arrived by the fire, Rin was delighted to find a roasted fish left aside for her. Despite it being ice cold – an indication of how long she was really gone – she ate it cheerfully.
The night passed slowly for the trio. Sesshomaru sat with his eyes closed, possibly meditating. Jaken leaned against a tree, barely able to keep awake. It was Rin, however, that did not follow her usual nightly routine. Instead of curling up by the fire to fall asleep, she laid her head by Jaken. Eyes wide awake and alert.
"Jaken-sama?" Her voice broke through the silence, "Could Rin ask you something?"
He cocked his head towards her, "You will no matter what I answer you, so go ahead."
"Is Rin a burden on you and Sesshomaru-sama?"
"Of course, you are nothing but a weak ningen."
The girl swallowed this concept for a few moments before continuing, "Then Rin wishes to learn how to be stronger."
"What!" The kappa was taken aback by her words.
"Rin wishes to be strong like you and Sesshomaru-sama," she breathed out, "Rin wants to know how to fight. Rin does not want to be a burden upon Sesshomaru-sama any longer."
"The lack of sleep must have finally gotten you, human. You can never be as great as Lord Sesshomaru! Why would such a nonsense thought even invade your mind!"
The girl turned over and closed her eyes, "Rin means it, Jaken-sama. Rin wants to be able to help Sesshomaru-sama."
"You speak as if he needs it," the demon seethed; however, the child was already lost to the world of slumber.
Author's Note ~
* Hebi Tsukai = Snake Charmer in Japanese (at least according to Google). I really have no futher plans for this character. He is simply a youkai with the ability to charm his prey by building false surorunding around them. His form is that of a snake - hence the name. When Rin began to notice that her surrounds were a mirage, his charm was broken.
Sorry about the formatting. I have not been on this site as an author in quite a while...and I pretty much forgot how to space things ^_^'''''''