**Authors Note: My first fanfic ever XD!. This originally was written for a writing class that focused on travel related themes. For my final paper, I wrote a fan fiction (i sure did) following Rin and the gang as they traveled throughout Japan. The thesis of my paper was that for the individuals involved, travel provides a way to foster one's identity... or something like that, anyway, enjoy ^_^!) **

Disclaimer: I don't own smack.

Chapter I: "Waiting in Vain"

When we travel, our very beings change. When we travel we have a mission, a goal, somewhere to go, and somewhere to be (and perhaps there is someone or something waiting for us there). In the first part of our story, we are introduced to our 3 interesting characters: Rin, a mute orphaned girl left to fend for herself after witnessing the murder of her family, Lord Sesshoumaru, the youkai lord of the Western Lands who has recently lost a battle with his half-brother Inuyasha, and of course Jaken, the loyal (and at times bigmouthed) servant of Lord Sesshoumaru, who is anxiously awaiting for his lord's return. Let us peek on these three in their reflections on spaces, confinement and the inability to move. When we travel, our very beings change. When we are still, our very beings are challenged.

Rin (Day -15)

I am as quiet as still water. When I move, I move cautiously. I do this because I do not want to anger the villagers who stare at me with burnt, scary…sad eyes. When I was a spec, they used to laugh with my parents when they were still alive. But that is different now, they are different now. Mama used to say that death not only kills people, but also the hearts of the living too. "But why mama?" …I can't remember what she said to me then, but it was something I didn't understand anyway. But anyway, my stomach hurts right now. I need to move cautiously along the river to try to find food. And just like yesterday and tomorrow, I will stay silent, just like the water.

Rin (Day -11)

My hut is my hut. It is small and is tidy. Cold and welcoming. It is my space; it is my little place to where I fill it with me and my tasks. When I make fire or cook or store food, my body makes shapes in the shadows, making me seem bigger than I really am. I move freely in my hut, just like when papa was here and I felt safe. Today though, I decided to stop moving so freely. I heard a rustle outside and I thought my heart landed on the floor. I think a hundred moments passed before I moved. My hut is my hut; it is a fragile and delicate place. A space for unwanted surprises, a place now frozen, (but still welcoming).

Lord Sesshoumaru (Day -7)

This Lord Sesshoumaru is not happy. In fact, he is quite livid at the current predicament he now finds himself in; utterly defeated by the hanyou bastard. This revelation does more to my ego than I am willing to admit. And anyways, I care not dawdle on the one occasion my brother had the upper hand of me in battle.

How bothersome this week has been…and now I am stuck here, bruised, dirty and vulnerable to any idiot who wishes to bother me… But my mind is drifting now; there are other matters that should be considered now. One such is that most of my left arm is gone now - but that is inconsequential, it is only my right that I need to use my sword and take revenge on Inuyasha. I am Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands and soon to be Lord of all of Japan – nothing impedes me, not even the mutilation of an arm…

But how frustrating is it to be stuck here in this forest, this great Lord unable to move – cut down by the half-breed bastard I call my brother. How bothersome... To be stuck here in this damn forest for another second…and because of him. These thoughts boil my blood now. I want to kill something…slowly.

Jaken (Day - 7)

"Lord Sesshoumaru!"

Where have that dog demon gone? Could it have been he was seriously injured by his half-breed brother while in battle? Impossible!

"Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you!"

But…what should I care about Lord Sesshoumaru for? He cut me down just the other day claiming that he wanted to "test" his father's sword to see if it worked or not! The nerve – and to think of all of the years I have faithfully served him! He didn't really mean to test that sword on me, right? He was just teasing me like always…right?

"LORD SESSHOUMARU!"

I'm getting too old for this – no wait, what am I saying? What are you saying Jaken? If you do not serve Lord Sesshoumaru, what would you being doing now? No! If following Lord Sesshoumaru to the end of the world is what is necessary to be close to him, then I will do that! …But..that will be difficult if he is not here now….…I still can't believe he cut me down!

"LORRRDD SESSHO-"

Oh forget it, I'm taking a break.

Lord Sesshoumaru (Day - 4)

Being stuck here in this GOD-FORSAKEN forest for the last 3 days has allowed me to realize that I, Lord Sesshoumaru, am accustomed to moving. Rarely are my days punctuated by rest and relaxation, no, I must always be on the move covering my territory and making sure nothing gets out of hand. Who else will remind the lower and foolish dai-youkai of their place? Yes, I, Lord Sesshoumaru am a mover and my immobility right now does not serve me well. I want to leave this place, with its sameness and boring familiarity – same trees, same grass, same annoying birds in the morning, and the smell.For sure there is a human village nearby for there could be no other source for such an overwhelming odor. Humans. What purpose they serve on this Earth other than being the food for desperate bear youkai will be beyond me. A pathetic and useless species – and to think that my father, the great Inutaisho took one of them for a bride and conceived that…abomination that plagues me today. ..Being confined to this place has made this Lord Sesshoumaru most annoyingly reflective.