Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha
Summary: Little Rin has been gone for 8 years, sending her friends into a 'timeloop' like situation. But the search doesn't end with lost hope. What Sesshomaru doesn't expect is what he begins, without ever really starting.
A/n-- Rin was seven before this all happened.
Originally Written: December 22nd, 2006
Once Upon a Past Hero
Part One: Finding My Love
It had been eight years since she had disappeared; eight years of looking for her, and only finding dead-ended trails. He checked every human community he came across for her scent and examined every female he met's eyes. But no, she was not among them, not waiting for him in some doorway with a happy smile, saying, "You found me!"
The innocent game they had started was no longer so innocent in Sesshomaru's eyes. He had vowed that, if he ever found her, he would never let her play hide-and-seek again.
But now, after so many years of searching, Sesshomaru had given up hope.
Once again wandering aimlessly with his annoying bachelor crew, the dog demon wished with his whole being to hear Rin laugh again. It would be a wonderful substitute for Jakkens constant babbling.
Sesshomaru wasn't the only one who wasn't the same after the little human's disappearance. Ah-Un, her great two-headed dragon friend, had taken to not listening to a word his new handler said and giving the demon lord angry looks. Jakken just babbled more than usual, which was also blamed on Rin's disappearance.
Jakken's favorite babbling topic was Sesshomaru's new favorite hobby: saving humans. Mostly young families and women and children, but humans just the same. It wasn't very demon-like or lordly, Jakken liked to say, but if my lord does so, he must have his reasons.
Jakkens voice began fading as he was, once again, stopped because of Ah-Un. The little frog/imp yelled at the dragon, who remained indifferent and laid down to take a nap. This was its usual way to say, 'it's time to stop'.
Sesshomaru continued on, wanting to be away from Jakkens irritating voice, even if it was only for a moment. He was quiet and unsmiling, straining to hear what could be heard, aside from Jakken. Birds, the wind, Jakken…nothing unusual so far. A wolf howling, the pound of human footsteps….
Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open. Humans and wolves equaled a one-way ticket to trouble. The wolf was in trouble anyway, because of how the damned creature had been Rin's original cause of death. The demon focused on the sound of pursuit, toning Jakken out completely. They were headed in his direction. A small, rare smile passed quickly over his lips. Then a familiar scent reached his nose.
OoOoOoO
Rin ran as fast as one possibly could wearing a fancy kimono. The blue and silver fabric was pulled up around her knees, just to be able to run at all! She didn't know where she was running to, but wherever it was, she wanted to get there fast. Being stuck with some lazy lordling wasn't what she had planned for the rest of her life.
Then she tripped. She had just reached a clearing, and she tripped! Normally such an area would have meant home free, but she could still hear the warriors coming, and she had tripped! The shoulders of her kimono slipped off her shoulders, revealing her small shoulders, and a set of white boots were in her vision. She looked up and gasped when she found herself looking into a pair of golden eyes.