Rin walked into the room slowly, giving herself enough time to observe her surroundings. The wooden table in the center of the room was fully prepared, the tea was already letting off steam over the porcelain cups, and silk cushions lay on the ground ready for the guests. Rin took a quick look back into the hallway, and seeing it empty, entered the well-lit room. The room was spacious and unnecessarily so, for there were only three seats laid out at the table.
Rin was just about to sit down when the door slid open and two people entered the room. The first one to enter was a petite girl in a yellow kimono who, at once, noticing Rin, gave her a warm smile. She looked to be about Rin's age, but the way she carried herself exuded a confidence that made Rin feel years, if not decades, younger. A taller women followed the girl, who after a quick scan of the room, nodded to the younger girl, seeming to confirm the safety of their whereabouts.
"Please sit," said the younger girl, motioning to the table. "I'm so glad to finally see you."
Rin sat down across from the other two women and gave a nervous smile. She had received a letter requesting that she be present at this meeting, and hadn't had a choice but to obey once she had seen the royal seal at the end of the letter.
"You must be wondering why you are here," the girl continued. "I am Sen and this is my attendant Kimigiku."
Rin tilted her head and stared at Sen and Kimigiku. Rin was starting to get an uncomfortable feeling. The same feeling she would get after leaving the house without her money pouch, or when she couldn't remember the name of a familiar tune.
Sen gave Rin a knowing smile. "Can you not remember me Rin-chan?"
The way she said Rin's name so very familiar...
Rin gasped. How could she have forgotten? Memories of her childhood came flooding back like tidal waves. Rin and Sen playing hide and seek. Rin and Sen getting lost in town. Rin and Sen getting in trouble with the head maid. Rin and Sen...
"Sen-chan, is it really you?" asked Rin. "I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, it's just been so long!"
"I'm kind of offended Rin-chan!" said Sen teasingly. "Here, I recognized you right away, and it took you so long. I was starting to wonder what I should do if you didn't recognize me at all."
"How could that be possible?" Rin protested. "We were so close!"
Rin reached out to hold Sen's hands.
"It's been ten years since we last held hands like this." commented Sen, clasping Rin's hands in her own.
Rin gave a bitter smile sighed. "It feels longer than that though, doesn't it?"
Rin thought back to her youth when she had lived with Sen and Kimigiku. She had grown up with them at a specialized academy for oni children. It was tradition for most oni families to send away their children to the academy at an early age. It was the safest place for them, far away from human influences and other dangers. Rin was from the Miyazawa clan, and being an orphan, had been placed solely under the care of the academy. Of course, all that had ended when her half-human heritage had been brought to light.
"Yes," Sen agreed. "It feels much longer- almost as if a whole lifetime had passed."
They spent the next hour asking each other about their lives. Rin learned that Sen had taken up the position of royalty among the oni. This, however, was to be expected given Sen's legacy- her bloodline was that of Suzuku Gozen's, an imperial oni princess.
Ever since Rin had left the academy, she had lived in hiding. Her half-human heritage had been a shock to her, as much as it had been to everyone else. Her father had been a pure-blood oni who had held a high degree of respect in society. However, after disappearing for several years, he had returned to the oni community, ill with disease. The only thing he brought back with him was his infant child, whom he named Rin. Days after his return, he passed to the other side, leaving Rin all alone in the world. Everyone was suspicious of her maternal blood line, but no one had expected Rin to be half human. After all, bloodlines were powerful ties among the oni, and no pure-blood oni would sacrifice his lineage by mating with a human.
But that was exactly what her father had done.
Rin had always known that she was different from the other oni children. Her wounds never healed as fast, and Rin could never quite compete with their physical agility. Still, when the renowned oni shaman had visited the academy and declared Rin half-human, she had been devastated. She was no longer fit to stay with the others, and had been cast out without hesitation. After learning of this, the Miyazawa clan refused to take her back in, saying that they had given up their claim to Rin long ago when they had left her at the academy.
Having no place to go, Rin had survived among other human orphans, begging for scraps and taking what she could from the streets. She was now employed at a small shop in Kyoto where she helped the elderly owner by cleaning and keeping stock. It was far from luxurious, but Rin was grateful for what she could get.
Sen listened with interest and made comments here and there about how different their lives had turned out. As the conversation came to a lull, Sen and Kimigiku exchanged looks.
"Rin-chan, I know we've just met again, but I must ask you for a difficult favor." said Sen apologetically.
Rin noticed that Sen's smiling eyes were now serious and filled with worry.
"Do you remember what happened to the Yukimura clan?" asked Sen.
The Yukimura clan had been family lineage of pure onis that had existed until the recent decade. A conflict between the Yukimura clan and humans had ended violently, resulting in the death of the whole clan. Even Rin knew of the tragedy that had befallen this clan.
"I thought they were all gone." said Rin.
"That is what most people think..."
Sen paused and studied Rin. "Can you keep a secret?"
Rin gave her an assuring nod.
"The youngest daughter, Yukimura Chizuru, is alive, and she is here in Kyoto as we speak. I'm not sure why, but she is living among the Shinsengumi pretending to be a male. Given her valuable lineage and her clan's recent history, you must understand why I'm concerned. I believe that she is unaware of her oni heritage, which will be revealed soon, but until then, she must be kept safe."
Rin shook her head in disbelief.
Sen continued to speak. "There are many, human and oni alike, who would attempt to harm Yukimura if they knew of her existence. Because of this, I need someone to stay near her and live with her in the Shinsengumi headquarters."
"I was hoping," Sen said hesitantly, "that you could be that person."
Rin gave a nervous laugh. She couldn't possibly do what Sen asked of her. Live with the Shinsengumi? They were brutal killers, who patrolled the streets using their political authority, and created havoc. This was all too much for her.
"Sen-chan, I'm not sure that you understand my situation. I'm not like you. I never finished my training at the academy, and for years, I lived pretending I didn't exist. My everyday consists of sweeping and polishing and counting merchandise. I... I can't possibly..."
Sen sighed and looked to Kimigiku, who had been quietly observing until then.
"Rin, I know this may sound strange to you," said Kimigiku, "but there is something that I have come to realize in this life. There is a part that everyone must play, and no matter how big or small, it's essential that every person realize their role. Please don't shy away from this because you are scared. Right now, you are standing at a cross road, and the road that you choose will determine the rest of your life."
Rin sighed. Kimigiku had always been insightful, and Rin felt ashamed at how cowardly she had become over the years. Living hardship after hardship had made Rin fearful of the unknown.
"Rin-chan, you don't have to decide right away." added Sen, "This is a big decision, and you should take some time to think this through. I will come find you at your shop in three days time. Won't you give me your answer then?"
Sen and Kimigiku were staring at Rin with such intensity that, although Rin had initially meant to refuse, she found herself agreeing to Sen's proposition.
"Great!" Sen exclaimed. "I'll see you in three days then!"
With that, they departed, leaving Rin alone with her thoughts.
It took less than thirty minutes for Rin to be back at her small room that occupied the second floor of the shop. Life seemed so normal again, and Rin had to remind herself that the meeting with Sen had not been all a dream. Live with the Shinsengumi? Could that really be what she was meant to do?
Rin snorted. Who was she kidding? She didn't know why Sen and Kimigiku had so much faith in her, but Rin knew herself best, and there was no way that it was possible for her. She prepared for bed, blew out her lantern and laid down.
"Mediocrity suits you best, Rin." she said to herself in the dark. "Mediocrity suits you best..."
She ignored the sudden pang of emptiness that resounded in her chest, and willed herself to sleep.
END OF CHAPTER ONE
Author's notes: Hi everyone, welcome to the series! Some of you may notice that the story line has completely changed from what I first published. I just wasn't satisfied with what I had written, so I had to rewrite it. I won't happen again, I promise! At the end of each chapter, I will be adding in an "Epilogue" that will consist of interviews with one or more characters in the story. It's not necessary that you read it, but it is there to provide more insight for those that are interested, and will be a lighter tone that the actual story.
Please follow, favorite and review! I will update regularly! Later Chapters may contain mature content, so please be aware of this. Thank you so much for reading!
Chapter 1 Epilogue:
Rin Miyazawa Interview:
Interviewer: So you lived on the streets after getting kicked out of the academy?
Rin: Well, I had no where to go. What can an 8 year old child do for herself?
I: That must have been hard for you...
R: It was... I don't like to think about it too much.
I: On another note, why didn't you accept Sen's request?
R: Well...I'm not that well suited to those kinds of things. I like to lead a quiet life, you know? Live to a ripe old age and retire by the sea shore.
I: Right...
R: I know it's a bit old fashioned...
I: Haha you could say that. Anyways, how do you feel about the Shinsengumi?
R: All I know is that they are trouble. Fighting breaks out where ever they go, and people are killed.
I: Have you ever actually seen them?
R: I've seen them patrol a few times, but I try to avoid eye contact.
I: But you must have heard the rumors that they are very handsome?
R: I...I might have heard something like that. B-but how is this relevant to my interview?
I: Are you blushing?
R: No! Of course not! It's just kind of hot in here. Maybe we should open a window...
I: No need, there are no more questions for today.
R: Oh, well, thank you for stopping by.
I: Haha you're welcome. I will stop by again soon.