Looking back, I realize things changed after I was saved from the underworld. Lord Sesshomaru, who normally walked so far ahead of us, walked at a different pace, always within earshot if either myself or Jaken needed him.
Instead of sleeping on Ah-Un's back like normal, we would often stop to rest for a few hours each night. I was given the Lord's Mokomoko to lie on, and found deep, peaceful sleep cocooned in the soft fur that gave off the smell I had learned to associate with him –the summer meadows and the misty mountains.
As I began to grow older, this tradition didn't change. I regarded my guardian as a man I may never fully understand – however the one thing I did understand is that he would always protect me.
On one of our travels, I recall a strong man grabbing hold of my shoulders as we passed near a human village.
"Young girl, please, let me get you away from these demons!"
It took just moments, a flash of white and I was in Lord Sesshomaru's grasp, "Rin, do you wish to go with this man back to his human village?"
"No! No, my lord, I wish to stay with you!"
He placed me gently on the ground and turned casually back to the man, "You heard the girl, now be on your way and do not disturb us again."
"You monster! How dare you brainwash this little girl!"
"How dare you, speak to my lord this way, cretin!"
Jaken had broken forward, his staff of two heads pointed directly at the man.
"Is this the type of life you want to live girl?" the man asked.
"Yes, this is exactly the life I want to live. Humans are the ones who have done the brain washing – I have only ever felt comfort and trust in my companions."
The man gawked at me as I continued, "Be on your way to your human village."
As the man turned to leave, I skipped alongside Lord Sesshomaru who had already started back on the trail we had been walking on.
"I'll never leave you my Lord; you and master Jaken are the only ones who have ever cared for me."
He looked down at me then, "Is that so?"
I smiled, and skipped ahead of him, my eyes already trained on a patch of flowers not far from us, "It is so!" I yelled back at him.
Years later, as a young woman - I was studying under Kaede, and although she was growing older, her energy was strong. I spent my mornings with her, and afternoons with Inuyasha's wife, Kagome. I had grown very fond of her, and regarded her as the sister I never had.
When I was first brought to the village, I was angry and sad that Lord Sesshomaru had left me – growing older, I realized he had done it out of protection – and had wanted me to grow up with the social skills I had today.
Although I protested at first, I had grown fond of this little village – and everyone who inhabited it. On days like today, I was more than happy to live here, especially since I was currently stretched out on blanket in a meadow full of wildflowers.
I turned my head, smiling as I watched Miroku and Sango's twin girls chasing each other – both laughing and plotting to pick on their little brother, who was struggling to keep up. Kagome lay next to me, as did Sango. It was a rare occasion to get all three girls in the same location so early in the afternoon, but our village was planning for its annual summer solstice festival – and things were a bit more calm than usual – at least when it came to our duties in town.
"Doesn't this sun just feel amazing? Back where I come from – this is called tanning, and girls lounge out in the sun with oils for hours."
"I don't blame them," chimed Sango "If this is what girls in your time are required to do all day – then sign me up."
I hummed in agreement, and stretched my sun-kissed muscles a bit more. Kagome was chattering away when I heard her pause mid-sentence. I opened one eye to glance at her and watched as her attention shot to a nearby tree.
She smiled, excused herself and ran to greet her husband who gracefully landed on a branch and then made his way down to gently kiss his wife and embrace her in an inviting hug. I sighed in happiness – realizing that although Inyuasha had a tough outer exterior, he melted around the woman he loved. A love which had strengthened while Kagome was trapped in her world and a love that strengthened every day they were together.
I watched as he ran a hand over her slowly expanding stomach – rejoicing in the fact that he would soon be a father for the first time.
I remember asking Kagome one time why she and Inuyasha had waited so long to have children, her response was that they were in no rush – and that in her time period – women were generally much older before they started having children. However, now that they were – the excitement on both their faces was contagious. I would often catch them sitting up in a tree, her sitting between his legs wrapped in his robe of the fire rat and resting on his chest – all while he kept another hand secure around her waist and stomach. Nothing would happen to her or their unborn child while he was around.
This was a side of the half-demon that Kagome knew best, and a side that I realized he didn't let everyone see – but felt comfortable enough in the current company.
He broke his gaze with his wife and scrunched his nose, "Ugh, why didn't you tell me that Sesshomaru was here?"
My eyes lit up, "Lord Sesshomaru is here? Where?"
"Here."
His voice boomed behind me, and my heart skipped a beat in my chest, I turned quickly and saw him standing a few yards away, a bundle in his hand.
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
I stood quickly and brushed the lingering grass from my kimono – although he wasn't one to be openly outward with affections, I barreled into his chest regardless - resting my face against the soft fur that was draped across his shoulder, "You've come."
"Did you think I would not?" I felt the vibrations rumble in his chest as he spoke, and I stepped back slightly to look into his eyes.
"Well, I wasn't sure – you are very busy."
Despite the summer festival happening soon in the village, my birthday was rapidly approaching as well – and year-after-year, he would come to visit during this time. He wasn't a stranger to the village, and visited often throughout the year – but he always made it a point to spend a few extra days around my birthday. I secretly believed his reasoning was due to the fact that we were celebrating my life, something that had slipped out his grasp twice since he had known me. I was beginning to get worried this year, since he never arrived this late – and made it a point to ask him about it later.
He turned his amber irises on me, "I will always come, Rin."
I grinned up at him, warmth blossoming across my chest at his words. As I grew older, I noticed the gnawing emotion of emptiness flutter around when he would leave after his visits – I knew that meant something, but I couldn't bring myself to admit what those emotions were.
Inuyasha approached his brother, both shooting a look of disdain at seeing the other, "Where's Jaken?" he asked looking around.
Lord Sesshomaru reached a hand behind his back and plucked the little green demon from his Mokomoko, "Jaken is unwell."
"Master Jaken! Are you sick?"
Jaken raised the sleeve of his brown robe and showed us his arm; red streaks were running up and down with a central bite wound, "I believe I was poisoned by the demon that inflicted this wound."
Kagome approached, one hand resting casually on her stomach, "Nothing a few medicinal herbs can't cure…" she turned to look at her husband, "Can you bring him back with me to the village? I'll have him cured in no time."
Despite his protests, Inuyasha grabbed Jaken by his ankles and swung him up onto his shoulder; he then gently allowed his wife to climb onto his back, "Sango, it looks like you're heading back as well." Kagome motioned to Sango's youngest, climbing on the front on Inuyasha mumbling about doggies.
Sango laughed and motioned for her two twin girls, who were currently sitting in front of Lord Sesshomaru – eyes wide, "He's so handsome"
"Yes, but he is pretty scary."
"Rin seems to like him, and that little frog."
"Girls," Sango motioned to them, but I could see the smile twinkling in her eyes. I saw the solemn expression shared between her and Lord Sesshomaru and remembered the story Jaken had once shared with me on what had happened inside the belly of Narku during the final days of their battle with him. I knew Sango had thrown hiraikotsu at me, but I never held that against her – she was tricked by an illusion – and then had given me her poison mask – which had inevitably saved my life. Jaken told me he was surprised that Lord Sesshomaru hadn't killed her – but I had never been surprised. Despite appearances, he was more complex on the inside and over the years, I had grown to know the man underneath the hard outer shell.
I waved off the group as they descended the hill back down to the village and then turned to my Lord, realizing for the first time that we were alone," Will Master Jaken be okay?"
He nodded his head and turned his amber irises upon me once more, "You are looking well Rin, does living here suite you?"
Does living here suite me? Honestly, I hadn't pondered that in a while. I remember how devastated I was when I learned I had to stay in the village – and now it had become such a normal day occurrence to be surrounded by humans – that the thought hadn't crossed my mind.
He could see the flash of emotions on my face and walked a bit closer to me, "I have learned a lot during my time in the village, my Lord."
He nodded in agreement but said nothing more. How long had it been since we had been alone together? Usually time spent together involved bickering with Jaken, stares from other villagers – and whispers that Lord Sesshomaru detected with his sensitive ears about whether it was appropriate for a young woman to be in the company of a demon as powerful as he.
"Will you be staying long?" I asked the lump forming in my throat - I wasn't as confident as I usually was when he came to visit around my birthday, mostly because he had arrived much later than usual.
He answered me by moving forward and placing a clawed hand on my shoulder, his eyes holding softness in them that he reserved only for me.
"Lord Sesshomaru," his name came out in a whisper. I once again found myself stepping toward him, laying one cheek against the soft fur of his Mokomoko, "I've missed you."
He murmured the softest noise at my confession and wrapped his arm across the top of my shoulders, although he didn't give much of a response – his actions alone showed me that he had missed me too.
"There you are, Jaken – you'll be sore for a few days, but I think you'll start feeling better pretty soon."
Kagome stepped away from the little demon, who was now pulling down the sleeve of his brown robe, "Yes, I do feel better!"
Inuyasha thumped Jaken on the head, emitting a howl from the demon with a large bump forming on his head, "You better thank her, she didn't have to fix you up."
Kagome turned to her husband, a dark scowl on her face, "Let's not forget what beads are around your neck- now behave!"
Inuyasha's eyes shot wide, "You wouldn't!"
"I wouldn't would I?
"Wait! It's not necessary – I'm taking care of you! You shouldn't stress yourself out in your condition!"
"SIT BOY"
Inuyasha face planted on the ground, while Kagome brushed her hands together, "I can feel the stress relief working already."
She bent down to her husband who was still struggling to get up off the floor and kissed him lightly on the cheek, "I do love you though."
"Yeah, yeah" he muttered under his breath – wondering how much longer he would have to endure the pregnancy hormones.