Disclaimer: I don't own anything of or pertaining to Inuyasha, except original characters. If I did, I would be living it up in a mansion who-knows-where.

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Chapter One: The Moon

The crescent moon was shining.

The beautiful night displayed splashes of stars in the dark sky. She could hear the wind, tousling the tree leaves and howling through the fosrest. A milky streak of light from the waning moon was all that guided lonely travelers after dusk. The air was cool, elt as though it contained miniscule droplets of water that would settle on bare skin and them shiver, much cooler than it was during the sweltering afternoons that were spent digging up crops or plowing fields. Many of the villagers took the advantage to bask in the fresh air before retiring for the day.

The crescent moon was shining.

Rin frowned before harshly pulling the strings that held the straw curtains back and allowed the room to be engulfed in its usual darkness. Fumbling around, she lit a small branch with a flickering flame and hung it from the wall to provide lighting in the cozy room. She felt odd watching the moon.

She tucked her bow and arrows safely beneath the bed, so that they were in easy reach in case of a night raid and unstrapped her dagger from the arm. On the hilt of the dagger, a delicate crescent moon was engraved in the smooth silver, which matched the one in the current night sky. The sharp edge of the blade was kept in a thick leather sheath which also bore the mark of her Lord. She left the dagger on the wooden floor beside her bed.

Rin did not know why she never used the dagger. Perhaps it was because she hated close range combat and the stench of blood when it spattered on her spotlessly clean haori. Perhaps it was because the delicate blade seemed too precious to ever use on a lowly demon that could easily be destroyed by arrows. Or perhaps it was because it was a merciless reminder of her powerful Lord and she didn't dare look at the fine keepsake for more than a few brief moments.

She swiftly changed out of her light blue haori and pulled on her night one. It was a plain kimono, made of bland white fabric, hardly a sign of wealth and prosperity, yet she kept it because it had touched her liking years ago. The edge of the kimono had a faint blue line of silk, which bordered the fabric and added color to the powder-white complexion. Kagome had given it to her.

She kept it next to the lavishly embroidered silken kimonos that her Lord still sent her. It was the only kimono she had that fit.

Rin took off her sandals, laid them in her shelf and climbed into her tiny bed. The flame went out moments after.

Rin woke to the early bustling of the small village. The sun was barely up, yet the entire village was up and about. She could hear Miroku's children playing with Inuyasha and Shippo, and hoped that they wouldn't pick up off of Inuyasha's foul mouth. The marketplace was already swarming with girls Rin's age, bargaining for silks and furs that cost vast amounts of money. She heard village mens' spades and plows, and horses whinnying and prancing about, carrying their masters' load. Rin blinked the fuzz out of her eyes. Sunlight was filtering through the straw curtains.

She quickly dressed in her usual apprentice haori and combed her hair with a wooden comb that Kaede had helped her carve. She placed it next to the ivory comb that her Lorb had brought her years ago. It, too, had the mark of his reign, a sliver cresent moon.

Rin gathered her weapons, filled a wooden canteen with water and hurried outside. Kaede's temper had been waning with her age and she didn't want a long rebuking.

As soon as Rin stepped outside of her hut, she was greeted by a cheerful, "Rin!"

She took a few minutes to rid her muzzy brain of sleep and tried to put a finger to who was standing in front of her. The sun was a bright contrast to the shade and coolness inside her room.

Ah, it's Kohaku. Wonder how his mission went.

"Kohaku!" She ran up to her friend and gave him a quick hug.

Kohaku grinned the grin that Rin had come to adore. He was wearing his demon slayer uniform and was the only one who did these days. Sango had to raise her five children and hardly had time to set foot out of the village, not to mention demon slaying. Kohaku had acquired Kirara from his sister and the kitten-transformed demon cat leapt into his arms. His weapon was stashed safely in his belt and he look exactly as he had years ago. Sure, he had grown, as did everyone, but his smile remained a mirror copy of the one Rin remembered. He had a larger weapon of the same type, put his hair in the same updo and wore the same uniform. And he was still Rin's friend.

"Is my sister home?"

"Oh, yea, she was taking care of Mitsuki and Mitsuko. They'll want to see you."

The two twins were Sango and Miroku's youngest, and the best troublemakers of their time. They had so many tricks up their sleeves Rin would sometimes wonder how Sango put up with the two. Yesterday, they had Shippou show them some of his fox magic. They spent the rest of the day experimenting on their own type of magic and in the evening, Miroku's study was in ruins. Mitsuko was quieter and more observent, and followed everything her brother, Mitsuki, planned. When she wasn't too busy messing around with people's crops, sometimes Rin would ask her to help gather crops, because Lady Kaede had become to stiff to climb to the forest.

"So, after I go check on the two, would you like to go slaying with me, Rin?"

Rin smiled. Yes! She tried to look nonchalant. After all, she had learned a few new techniques that she would, innocently, like to demonstrate to her friend. "See you at the clearing in twenty minutes."

She ran back to the home and met Lady Kaede at the entrance. Lady Kaede was still the head priestess of the village, and had been since before Rin could ever remember. The old miko was definitely aging, yet her temper seemed to get shorter and shorter. Lady Kaede had been the sister of a very powerful priestess named Kikyo and Kagome was her reincarnation. Both of the women were very skilled in spiritual power, but because Kagome had married Inuyasha, she was no longer eligible to be the priestess of the village. Lady Kaede had been spending the last few days trying to find suitable candidates for the next village headman (or woman, in her case). Many men had come to their front door in the morning and begged for the mere prospect at her position, but she had refused all. Rin began to worry that the miko was looking for somebody with spiritual power, though there was nobody in the village who was blessed with those talents.

The miko was proud, she wore a white haori with scarlet red pants, which typically displayed that the person was a priestess or monk with high spiritual power. Her face may have been wrinkled, but the wrinkles came from the smile that she gave her "daughter". Rin returned the smile.

"Hello, Rin. I've been looking for ye, where have ye been?"

"Oh. Lady Kaede, Kohaku is back from his mission. I saw him on my way here." She went over to the tree where the miko's steed was tied and brought the steed over. "Kohaku wanted to go demon slaying and said that I could go. Can I borrow your horse?"

Lady Kaede seemed disconnected from the conversation. She looked at Rin with feverish eyes. They made Rin squirm. "Er… Lady"—

"I think ye can do it." The miko nodded at Rin, not really answering her question and Rin felt strange.

What was wrong today?

"Are you a-alright, miLady?" Rin had been worried about the old miko's health, it was the priestess who had cared for her when her Lord left her after all, and she owed much to her. I'll bring her some herbs. The heat is getting to her.

"Rin." Rin looked up. She was glad to see the priestess smiling, even if it was the faintest smile. Rin could tell that Lady Kaede was troubled by an idea, not the heat now.

"Yes, miLady?"

"How would ye like to be the next village headwoman?"

Rin stared for a moment too long. She knew the offer was coming, but not to her. Was it just- Lady Kaede wasn't thinking clearly. Rin stared for a moment too long.

Then, she didn't know what made her do it.

She ran.