The sky was dark; the earth stood still and all that could be heard was the wind as the storm approached. This was her chance, this was her only way to leave and not be found. After years of living with Inuyasha-Otu-san and his mate, after being trained by the best demon slayers she knew, she just knew that she was ready to leave the village, to travel on her own, to learn about the world on her own. Of course she would see her friends, her pack one day, but only after she could prove to herself that she was strong and knowledgeable enough to become the great Lord of the West mate. This all started on the day she had been named a full Taijiya master and on the die she died.

Chapter 1

"Alright Rin, are you sure you are ready for this?" Sango's wise, calm and gentle filled voice asked as she locked eyes with the young girl.

"I'm sure Sango, I know I'm ready. My last trip with Kohaku proved it." Rin answered in a confident filled voice. Four years, four long years after the return of Kagome, Rin had asked Sango and Kaede to train her.

While she had no lent miko powers, she was strong minded, and willing to learn as much as she could from everyone. She had also been able to get Shippo to secretly agree to teach her how to hunt like a demon. When she had first let it slip Kagome had questioned her about her reason and Inuyasha had refused stating that he was more than capable of hunting for the pack. When she had pointed out that he would not always travel with Kohaku and she had replied, "Feh, he'll do and if he can't I'll be sure he gets it all in one day."

"Alright, just be lucky that Sesshomaru has already paid his visit and that he requested Inuyasha and Kagome to travel back to the western lands with him." Sango's relived filled voice brought her out of her musing as Sango inspected the items that she had been taught to make and use in her missions.

"It's not their choice, its mine to make. Can you test my skills next?"

"As much as I would rather wait for Kagome, with the storm coming we'll have no choice but to do it now. I won't risk their return ahead of time only to have Inuyasha make things harder for the both of us."

While Sango understood the reasons why Inuyasha was so protective of Rin and while she knew why everyone was so worried on making sure that she would always be well protected and never truly alone, Sango knew the truths of life. She understood the importance of being able to defend one's self and thus had no problem or guilty consciences when it came to improving and moving Rin's training forward and to full completion.

"Thank you so much!" Rin exclaimed as she jumped up while saying, "I'll go change."

"No," Sango stated in a stern voice.

"What? But you just said…"

"Being a master Taijiya is more than just being able to master a weapon and being able to kill demons of great strength." Sango began to explain as she stood up and took hold of her weapon. "It's about having the control, skill, and ability to use your weapon to cause, to prevent, and to move your opponent, this is if you can defeat me without harming me or ripping my clothing. I'll declare you a master."

"Ok, I think I can do this." Rin mumbled more to herself than to Sango.

After lifting her weapon up and off the ground, Sango locked her eyes with the young girl she had trained and helped care for and added, "I will not hold back Rin, I will treat you as I would treat an enemy. Do you understand?"

Knowing that it was now or never, Rin gave a single nod as she took grip of her weapon.

Rin's choice of weapon had been one that was very similar to that of Kohaku. It was a long range weapon with strong chain that even gave Inuyasha a hard time to break free from. Of course Kagome would not let her risk herself in such a way and had blessed, sealed and worked her miko abilities into her weapon so that not just any demon would be able to break the chain. But unlike Kohaku's weapon, Rin's weapon contained double edged blades on each of the chains end as well as smaller, pointed, blades that were made to look like thorns. She had small scars all over her hands and legs from not only hours of practice but from times she had missed judged her enemy as a Taijiya in training. 'I won't fail; I have to prove myself before I leave so that they don't worry.' Were Rin's last thoughts as she put all of her focus on Sango and her test to become a Taijiya master.

Just barely moving in time to avoid Sango's attack, Rin took in a deep breath as she got ready to move with the speed she knew she could move with but would be asked about after her training. 'I wonder if they'll tell Lord Sesshomaru about the demon blood that somehow got into me when we killed that evil dragon demon a few moons ago.' Rin wondered as she used the handling of her weapon and her speed to push the Taijiya gently back while also taking mental note of the trees that she was marking and cutting her way through. While Sango and Miroku taught her how to fight and how to balance her body, Kagome and Inuyasha had taught her that it was also very important for her to be able to think and change her strategy at a moment's notice. Those were lessons that she had learned rather quickly since she had no intentions of worrying her Lord with the injuries she would sustain when she had taken too long to figure out her next course of action in those lessons.

Sango's POV

Her form is perfect, her speed could probably match up to Shippo's and she is as serious about this as I would expect any master Taijiya to be. I just couldn't believe it, she is standing before me a true master in her own right and it took her no longer then eight years. 'She's no longer the little girl, the eight year old that was left in our care so long ago. I'm so proud of you Rin. Now…let's see if you'll hurt me just as I hurt my father or will you surprised me.' I couldn't help but think as I clamed my racing heart while noticing for the first time the trap I was being led into.

"Nice try Rin, but I've had more practice." I called out as I used Hiraikotsu to destroy the cage that she had created before adding, "Now show me what you'll do now."

Knowing that I had little time to waste, I withdrew my sword and moved to charge forward only to pull back at the last second while staying in Rin's weapons direct path hoping that I hadn't been wrong about her or her ability.

End of Sango's POV

Sango just stood still, arms crossed over her chest as Rin released her weapon. Rin watched Sango stay still and before her mind had even realized Sango's true intentions, she had already begun to redirect her weapon and pull it back toward herself. Just as it seemed like she had moved to late, and just as Sango was about to jump out of the way at the last possible second, she broke out into laughter just as the roar of thunder in the distance was heard as Rin not only redirected her weapon to keep it from harming Sango, but had chained it and wrapped around the fallen trees so that Sango was still caged and left with no choice but to stand still. Else risk getting hurt with the weapons thorns. Once Rin's heart had stopped racing, she glared at the elder Taijiya whom she regarded as her aunt and hissed out, "Just what the hell was that?! I could have hurt you!"

"You could have but you just proved that you really have mastered your weapon."

"Kohaku! What are you doing here? Who did you leave the twins with?" a confused and worried filled Sango was heard as she quickly collected her weapons once Rin had set her free.

"Shippo just got back from visiting the other fox demons. He said he'd give me a break. Sis you do know that Inuyasha is going to be really upset…right?" Kohaku pointed out as he approached the two.

But before Sango could say a word, she couldn't help but smile when she heard Rin's angry filled voice say, "He may be my father but I am an adult and can take care of myself. Would you like to see just how well I can?"

"Rin I'll handle Inuyasha and Kagome. You'll have to deal with Lord Sesshomaru I'm afraid. Kohaku don't be long, I want to hear about your travels." Sango stated when she took note of her brother nervous glances at Rin. 'Oh Kohaku, she already gave her heart to someone else a long time ago.'

After watching Sango leave, Rin gave her back to Kohaku as she struggled with her emotions. She was happy, proud, angry and slightly hurt yet all of it, it took her breath away as much as the thought of finally being able to travel and slowly make her way back to her Lord's side. 'It should be a long trip but it'll give me the chance to make a god name for myself.' Rin thought as she pulled her weapon toward her so that she could put it away. But before she could start making her plans Rin was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Kohaku ask, "Would you like to travel with me…for a while."

"Yes, I would love to." Rin answered as she locked eyes with Kohaku while adding in, "This way Inuyasha can warm up to the fact that I'm an adult and so that I don't push him too far too quickly."

"Rin," Kohaku called her as he willed himself to get the courage to ask her what he had come to ask her.

"Don't worry Kohaku, Inuyasha-sama won't blame your sister for long and I'm sure Kagome-sama will help smooth things out." Rin replied as she pretended not to know where things were heading.

"Rin, I…you…will you marry me? Will you be my wife?" Kohaku screamed out as he was filled with a sudden sense of dread.

"No," was her only whispered answer before she had taken flight and ran with all of her might toward Inuyasha's forest as she hoped to run away from the pain she had caused the boy, no, man she treasured like a brother.

It would rain soon, she could smell it in the air, feel it in the wind and the knowledge brought her great comfort. Rin had run into the forest only to realize that she would be sought out by Kohaku. This thought had caused her to stop and wait for him to find her, to lead her back to the village in an uncomfortable silence that she wasn't sure she could bare. 'Why, why did this have to happen…I have to leave, I can't stay here…Lord Sesshomaru…my Lord I don't know what to do.' Rin thought sadly as she sat at the base of a nearby tree with her knees drawn up to her chest so that she could rest her chin on them. Just as her tears were about to give way, Rin looked up only to be met with Kohaku's relieved face as he asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine…it's going to rain soon." Rin answered as she quickly looked away.

"We should get back than…are you…are you ready?"

"Kohaku I'm…" Rin began only to be silenced by Kohaku's sad yet calm filled voice.

"It's alright Rin. I understand…it's him…it's always been him…but I'll always be here, I'll be waiting for as long as I can."

Knowing what he had left unsaid, knowing that he would give her the chance to be turned down, Rin's heart ached at the thought while all she could manage to say, "I'm sorry."

"As am I," was all he had to say before Kohaku had turned to lead the way back to the village.

After a while of silence and just as they had reached the edge of the village Rin stopped walking and kept her eyes on the view of the village. She watched as the villagers waved them in, watched as the mothers all called their children in before the rain could fall. And just as Kohaku was about to ask her if everything was alright, Rin let out a long sigh as she turned to lock eyes with the once lost boy and asked, "Can I still travel with you for a while?"

With a smile on his face Kohaku locked eyes with the young girl he had grown to love and said, "You can travel with me for as long as you'll want to be by my side…come on, I'm sure we've worried my sister long enough."

Having nothing else to say Rin quietly followed after Kohaku as she tried to calm herself while trying to think of when or how she would be able to travel on her own once Kohaku got her out of the village for his next job. Of course that was assuming that Inuyasha wouldn't tag along on their first trip. 'Rain, the rain will help.' Rin realized with a sudden burst of inspiration.

A/N: Well there you have it, the end of the first chapter. Please let me know what you all think. I know that I haven't been writing for a while but I felt like trying something new. REIVEW!