Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 1- The Future
Down from the dark sky flew a woman with giant white wings. In her black and white armor, she landed on the ground. Holding a bottle close, she entered a small house. Inside, a little girl looked at the winged goddess with eyes of despair.
"Here, Rumi, drink this," the goddess said, handing the mortal a bottle.
The girl reached for the bottle. Slowly, she gulped down the liquid. As each drop entered her stomach, she gained more and more strength. Soon, her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Thank you, Kireh," Rumi said.
The goddess smiled at the little girl.
"I should have known," a voice said
"Visthentho," Kireh looked behind her.
A male god stood in silver armor. His black eyes stared into her blue ones. The wind blue her short black hair along with his long black hair. Visthentho's gaze fell on the small mortal. Sighing, he withdrew his sword.
"NO!" Kireh protested, drawing an arrow into her silver bow.
She aimed the arrow at Visthentho's heart.
"You know the laws. Mortals must die when their time comes. You had no right to interfere in this girl's life."
"What life was it? It was too short!" Kireh retorted.
"Stand down," Visthentho warned.
Kireh refused to move.
With incredible speed, Visthentho flew passed Kireh. Before the arrow hit his heart, his blade cut through Rumi's neck.
"NO!" Kireh cried in anguish.
"Curse you, Father!" she called to the heavens, "Why did the mortal have to be punished for my sins? Rumi's death is your fault! How can we follow such a senseless king?!"
Kireh's brilliant white wings started to blacken at the tips. The black color spread until her wings were made of darkness itself.
"No..." Visthentho whispered, pulling the arrow out of his chest.
"I will not let that tyrant rule any longer," she said.
"You've fallen, Kireh," Visthentho said, brandishing his sword at her.
Kireh ascended into heaven. Single handed, she tore the skies apart. Still, the gods struck her down. She was immortal and could not die. Therefore, Visthentho sealed her divine power into five of her own objects. Kireh's circlet, Kireh's ring, Kireh's amulet, Kireh's armor, and Kireh's bow. The darkness, he sealed in her wings.
Visthentho entrusted each of these sacred objects to five powerful beings on earth. Though her heart had become dark, she had been a brilliant goddess before. Her divine power radiated from each object, purifying evil with a simple touch.
…
"And so, the world went on as before, not knowing how close they were to being ruled by a goddess of darkness," Myoga finished the tale.
"Is that story really true?" Akito asked.
"Of course it's true," Myoga jumped up in front of the boy.
The boy of demon blood blinked at Myoga with his golden eyes.
"It seems like a wonderful story," Rin said.
Rin ran a comb through Akito's tangled up white hair. The boy had inherited his father's hair and eyes. However, he had not inherited Inuyasha's dog ears. If not for the bright color of his hair, he would look just like any other human.
"In fact, Lord Inuyasha's father was-" Myoga started.
"We're back," Kagome called.
"Welcome home," Rin said.
"Were you good for Rin?" Kagome asked Akito.
"Yeah, Mom," Akito said, "Where's Dad?"
"Bathing," Kagome said, "He got dirty from all the dust on the road. Well, it's time for you to go to bed."
"Can't I stay up until Dad comes back?" Akito asked.
"Sure," Kagome nodded, "Thank you for watching him, Rin."
"Sure, Kagome," Rin smiled.
Rin got up and left Inuyasha's and Kagome's hut. She walked across the road to her own. Kaede had passed away long before, leaving the hut to Rin. Rin undid the tie around her hair and let the long strands fall loose. She sat on the floor and lit a candle. On the table was a half done kimono with a lovely patten of white flowers over a blue background. Rin started to stitch the seams of the sleeves, being careful not to stick herself with the silver needle.
"In the mountains in the breeze," Rin started to sing,
"in the forest, in my dreams
Lord Sesshomaru where are you?
Jaken is serving under you too
I will wait for you on my own
Please return to me
Waiting all alone"
Rin smiled and hummed to herself as she worked on the cloth Sesshomaru had given her.
…
Sesshomaru leaned against a tree in the forest north of where Rin was. Nearby, Jaken snored next to Ah-Un. Under the light of the moon, Sesshomaru withdrew a small white seashell with tints of red.
"I don't see why you're so excited," Jaken said to the little girl traveling with them, "It's just the ocean."
"But it's so big!" Rin replied, "Master Jaken, what's that?"
"That? That's just a seashell," Jaken replied, looking at the white shell in the sand.
"It's pretty," Rin said.
She ran to pick up the shell.
"Wow, look at that one!" she said.
"You can't keep them all you silly girl!" Jaken cried out.
Later that year, Rin dropped one of the shells she had been so excited about. It had fallen out of her bag into the path. Sesshomaru had almost crushed it under his foot.
Fragile, just like a human, he had thought.
On a whim, he picked up the shell. Rin never seemed to care about the lost one, she had collected six or seven others at least. And in the end, Sesshomaru had never returned the one she had dropped. It still had a faint trace of her scent along with the salt air of the sea.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken asked, waking up.
Sesshomaru quickly tucked the shell into his kimono. If Jaken ever saw it, it would invite unwanted questions.
Sesshomaru stood up and started walking. Ah-Un and Jaken followed him in silence.
The moon watched over the forest. The wind blew the aroma of trees into Sesshomaru's face, along with the scent of wildlife. A bear was hunting nearby.
"Stay here," Sesshomaru ordered Jaken.
The imp made a disheartened noise as Sesshomaru took to the sky. The demon landed softly in the grass only meters away from the bear. Quickly and quietly, Sesshomaru stalked the bear. It swatted at its own prey, a lean rabbit. Sesshomaru flexed his claws before rushing at the mammal. With a strike at the neck, the bear fell to the ground.
Within moments, there was no trace of the bear or the rabbit. Not a drop of blood stained Sesshomaru's clothing. He preferred his prey fresh, but he did not let himself gorge on a flailing animal. Such things were unseemly.
When Sesshomaru returned, Jaken was speaking to a woman wearing a long, black dress. Her brown hair gleamed under the sunlight as she spoke to the imp. She looked at Sesshomaru with two red eyes.
"Lord Sesshomaru," the woman bowed.
"What business do you have with me?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I've come all the way from England to ask a favor of you, Lord Sesshomaru," the woman replied, "There is an object in your care. I wish to borrow it for a short time."
"What object?" Sesshomaru asked.
"The bow of-"
"Out of the question," Sesshomaru replied, "I will not hand over such an object to the likes of you. Jaken, let's go."
"Yes, m'lord," Jaken bowed.
"I need it, Lord Sesshomaru," the woman said.
"It's no concern of mine," Sesshomaru replied, "I do not give my possessions away."
"Then I will have to take it from you," the woman said.
The woman's eye started to glow red. She darted at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru dodged the ill fated attempt to strike him.
"Jaken!" Sesshomaru called.
"Away you beast!" Jaken said, holding the Staff of Two Heads up.
It spat fire at the woman. She flew out of the range of the flames. With a hiss, she bared her sharp canine teeth at Sesshomaru. Then she raised her arms. Her arms transformed into bat wings. Up she flew into the night sky.
Sesshomaru followed the bat into the night. With her red eyes staring at him, she released a powder into Sesshomaru's path. It went into his nose and eyes. For a few seconds, he could neither see nor hear. That gave the woman time to disappear.
"How dare that vampire demand one of your father's treasures from you!" Jaken said, "You will not let her live next time! That Doname had some nerve!"
Sesshomaru looked into the sky. Dawn would come in only an hour. The vampire would not be able to get far before hiding from the sun's power.
"Come," Sesshomaru ordered, taking the path towards the caves nearby.
…
Rin hunched down to cut a leaf off one of the herbs growing in Inuyasha's forest. As she placed the leaf in her basket, she heard a rustle from behind her.
Quickly, Rin picked up her bow and drew an arrow from the right of her quiver. Holding it in front of her, she waited for whatever was in the under bush to show itself.
"Fresh meat!" the gray demon said, flying at Rin.
She let the arrow loose. It pierced the demon in the skull. The demon fell dead on the ground. Rin breathed in relief and picked up her basket.
As she walked back to the village, Rin heard another rustling in the trees. She dropped the basket and drew her bow again. This time, a man with black hair and wearing strange black clothing appeared.
"Don't be afraid human," the man said, looking at her with two yellow eyes, "I mean no harm."
"I'm not afraid of demons," Rin replied, keeping her arrow drawn.
"Nor foolish enough to trust them, I see. That arrow is laced with poison, isn't it?" the man asked, "I am Ryuu. I am looking for a demon named Lord Sesshomaru. I hear he often comes here."
"What business do you have with him?" Rin asked, holding the arrow tighter.
"I merely wish to warn him that someone is after one of his family treasures," Ryuu replied, "Are you acquainted with him?"
"Depends," Rin replied.
"Will you direct me to where I might find him?"
"The village is down the hill. Walk ahead of me," Rin replied.
Ryuu nodded.
The demon walked down the path before Rin. She kept her arrow in the bow, making a mental note to return for her basket at a later time. They came to the village border.
"Who's this?" Inuyasha asked Rin.
"I am Ryuu," Ryuu introduced himself, "And you... must be Inuyasha."
"What's it to you?" Inuyasha asked.
"I am-" Ryuu slapped his neck.
A flea fell from his neck into his hand.
"Myoga?" the demon asked.
"Lord Ryuu, it's been too long," Myoga replied.
"You know this guy?" Inuyasha asked Myoga.
"This is Ryuu, prince of the Dragon Tribe in the western lands," Myoga said, "He is from beyond the mainland."
"Oh," Rin said, lowering her weapon, "Sorry about that."
"It's fine," Ryuu replied, "I'm used to humans being hostile towards me. Though you are the first I have met in a long time that did not try to kill me on sight. About Lord Sesshomaru-"
"He's not around," Inuyasha waved his hand, "Hasn't been here for months."
"But he will be back?" Ryuu asked, "Soon, I hope?"
"He comes and goes," Inuyasha said.
"He said he would be north of here for a few months," Rin said, "Towards Mount Chokai, I think."
"When did he tell you this?"
"A few months ago," Rin shrugged.
"Huh. So he may return soon," Ryuu said, "I would appreciate it if you would let me stay in the forest until he returns. I promise that no harm will come to your village."
"If you try to kill one human, I'll cut you in half," Inuyasha said.
"You could stay in that hut over there," Rin pointed to a hut near hers, "It's not much, but it's better protection from the elements than the trees."
"Thank you, but your villagers may be more comfortable if I stay in the forest," Ryuu bowed.
…
Sesshomaru walked down the path south towards Mount Fuji. He had scouted the northern territory to his heart's content. Now an invisible force tugged him back to the fishing village Rin called home.
"Snow is in the air," Jaken said, looking at the sky.
Sesshomaru smelled it too, the crisp scent of frozen moisture. Another winter was coming.
He also smelled danger!
Sesshomaru drew his sword. He blocked the bolt of fire aimed at his chest. With the Bakusaiga, he swung at the enemy. A male demon screamed and transformed into a large, red dragon. The western beast flapped its wings to blow away Bakusaiga's aura.
Sesshomaru floated up towards the creature. It flew up farther into the sky, flying through the clouds, spitting fire at him. Sesshomaru sped up, slashing the red dragon with Bakusaiga. Once the poison was in the dragon's hide, it roared in pain. Then it fell to the earth.
"You were magnificent, my lord," Jaken praised.
Was this attack a coincidence or a warning? Sesshomaru wondered, sheathing Bakusaiga.
…
Rin looked up at Ryuu sitting in a tree on the outside of the village. She held open a gourd with a liquid smelling of blood and putrid spices. The demon looked down at her in curiosity. Then he leapt down to the ground and took the gourd from her.
"How does a human come across spiced blood?" Ryuu asked.
"I make it," Rin said, "I hope you don't mind that I substituted deer blood for human blood."
"Why do you make it?" Ryuu asked, drinking the liquid.
Rin simply smiled.
"It's going to snow," Rin said, "Inuyasha said he could smell it. Are you sure you don't want to go into the hut?"
"I'm certain. When I have spoken to Lord Sesshomaru, I am sure to move on. Besides, this weather is nothing compared to the cold I'm used to back home."
"Where is that?"
"A country the humans call England. I live in the north, where it is the coldest."
"How do you know Lord Sesshomaru if you live so far away?"
"Distance means little to demons. While you humans are just barely learning of the outside world, demons have traded and battled all over the world for centuries. My father married a Japanese demon several hundred years ago. I met Lord Sesshomaru during one of his family's centennial feasts."
"Wow," Rin said, "Do you know how old Lord Sesshomaru is?"
"Why do you ask?" Ryuu asked in curiosity.
"I've never known," Rin replied.
"He's around... 1500 I suppose."
"1500?" Rin asked in astonishment.
"Yes. Demons are long lived, after all. My father, who is 3000, still thinks of him as a child."
"I see," Rin nodded, "Thank you."
"You're a strange human, Rin," Ryuu said, "Thank you for the drink."
He handed the empty gourd to her.
"Where did you get the herbs to spice the blood?"
"I grow them," she replied, "For demon poison."
"Ah. And yet you know how to make a drink that would be lethal if you put in the wrong herbs."
"Not if Lord Sesshomaru drank it," Rin smiled, "Goodnight."
…
Akito pulled out a root from the ground, staining his hakuma with dirt. He placed the root in a basket and started looking for another one.
"Little boy... come here," a creepy female voice said.
Akito looked over his shoulder at an old cat demon of some sort. Quickly, he backed away towards the village path.
"Dad!" Akito shouted.
"You won't get away!" the cat yelled.
A whip of light came from nowhere, slicing the cat in half. Sesshomaru withdrew his poison whip and looked at Akito darkly.
"Uncle? You saved me?" Akito asked in amazement.
"You miserable child! Be grateful that Lord Sesshomaru showed you pity!" Jaken said.
"Akito!" Inuyasha ran towards them.
"You let the boy wander the woods on his own?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Hey! Nothing dangerous stays in my woods for long!" Inuyasha retorted, "Besides, I wasn't that far away."
"Your woods have become infested," Sesshomaru said.
"We passed a demon corpse only a few paces back," Jaken added, "With one of Rin's arrows in it's skull."
"Why was Rin alone?" Sesshomaru asked.
"She can take care of herself," Inuyasha said, "The demon's dead isn't it?"
"It was a weakling," Sesshomaru replied, "If she comes to any harm under your care, little brother, I will kill you."
"Umm, it's about to snow," Akito said, "Why don't you two fight inside where it's warm?"
Sesshomaru started to walk the path towards the village. Inuyasha followed with Akito. Sesshomaru caught a familiar scent.
"Oh yeah, some dragon demon named Ryuu was looking for you," Inuyasha said, "Said something about warning you about the old man's old treasures."
"Ryuu?" Jaken asked, "I have never heard that name. Who is that, my lord?"
"Don't concern yourself with it, Jaken," Sesshomaru said.
"Yes, my lord."
The demon in question waited for Sesshomaru at the edge of the village. Ryuu knelt before Sesshomaru respectfully.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"My father has his eyes on your family's treasure."
"Which one?"
"The bow."
"Huh? Like the Bow of Kireh?" Akito asked.
"I've never heard of it," Jaken said.
"Oh, you mean the one from that story about the goddess of darkness?" Inuyasha asked, "What does your old man want with it?"
"He seeks power. And the relic of a goddess is powerful," Ryuu said, "But the power of a goddess is even more so."
"He means to collect all the relics and resurrect the divine being?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I believe so," Ryuu nodded.
"Ridiculous. I will not surrender the relic or divulge its whereabouts. Tell your father that I will kill all he sends that seek to rob me."
"As you wish," Ryuu said, "Then I must return. Be wary, my lord. My father, Dracon, will stop at nothing to gain what he seeks. That may include bringing harm to your pet human."
"I will not succumb to threats," Sesshomaru said, passing Ryuu on the road.
"We'd better tell Mom," Akito said to his father.
"Yeah. Maybe we ought to post guards around the village if they're after Rin and Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said.
"Lord Sesshomaru does not need the protection of humans and half-breeds," Jaken said.
"I don't care about Sesshomaru. I'm worried about the village, you idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot! You mongrel!"
When Sesshomaru came to the doorway of Rin's hut, he glared at Jaken. The demon took the hint and took Ah-Un into the makeshift stable nearby. Stepping inside, Sesshomaru found Rin cooking her evening meal.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin smiled, "You're back!"
Sesshomaru took a seat at her table. Rin continued to cook. Then she placed her meal on the table and sat opposite of Sesshomaru.
"There was a demon here looking for you," Rin said, "His name was Ryuu."
"I know. It was nothing important," Sesshomaru said, glancing at the kimono she had made from his last gift of fabric.
"How long will you and Master Jaken stay?" Rin asked.
"Until the snow stops falling," Sesshomaru replied.
"So a couple of days?"
He nodded.
Rin smiled brightly at him. He watched her eat her dinner while she chatted on about the village happenings. After she ate, she poured him a helping of her homemade spiced blood. While it lacked the richness of a true demon brew, Sesshomaru drank it nonetheless. The lack of human blood made it truly bland. But... he would not be consuming humans again for the rest of his days.
"Do you like living here, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yes," she nodded with a smile, "Everyone is so kind. And I've grown to like living on my own."
Sesshomaru nodded, looking at the dark red drink rather than her happy smile. She was happy here...
"But it's best when you come, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin said, "When you're away, I always look forward to your next visit."
Sesshomaru looked up at her.
"You will no longer be a child," Sesshomaru said, looking at her fully developed figure, her slender hands, and her long silken hair.
"I'm turning twenty soon," Rin said, "In the middle of winter."
Yes, she would be a woman. A woman with thoughts and feelings all her own. And one more year closer to death.
So fragile and small, he thought.
Rin fell asleep on the futon with the fire still burning. Sesshomaru stepped out of the hut and went into the forest nearby. His feet took him to the tree his brother had been pinned to for so long. He looked at the scar the arrow had left.
He lost his heart to a human, Sesshomaru thought, And Father was killed because of that woman, Izayoi.
Sesshomaru took the shell out of his kimono. He turned the delicate shell in the moonlight, watching it shimmer.
Father, Inuyasha, is it our blood that compels us to attach ourselves to mortals? Sesshomaru pondered, Is my Rin a curse or a blessing? That I could feel compelled to take a human bride...
Sesshomaru closed his eyes, pondering the effects that his actions would have on his future.