Rin's birthday was fast approaching. Of course, it wasn't her real birthday day. Rin would have been happy without such a fuss, but Kagome insisted that she pick a day to celebrate her birth. There was only one day that stuck out in her mind. The day she had first met Lord Sesshomaru. The day he had saved her life. She couldn't remember the exact day. Back then she didn't pay any mind to the days that passed. Instead, she remembered the colors in the trees. The season had begun to change from the hot days of summer into the cool breeze of fall. Kagome had picked the day that was considered the first day of fall where she was from. That was good enough for Rin. She wouldn't celebrate her birth, but rather the day her life began.
She was expecting her dear Lord Sesshomaru and Master Jaken any day now. Since Kagome had explained about Rin's birthday, Sesshomaru had started to arrive without fail for that day. Even though he came and went as he pleased, this was the one time she was sure he would come for her. As Rin sat in the field gathering herbs, she smiled to herself.
It had been nine long years since Rin had been left behind in this human village. It wasn't so bad. She really liked everyone here. She had even learned a great deal from Kagome and Kaede in her journey as a priestess. She practiced her sword art with Inuyasha and the others. Each day she was getting stronger. She was really happy, but she longed for the day she could choose to follow Lord Sesshomaru again. The strength she gathered now was for him.
"Rin! Rin!" Some children came running towards her from the village. Rin smiled to them and lifted her basket from the ground as she rose to her feet. "There's someone here to see you." The youngest girl smiled warmly as she pulled on Rin's hand. So, Lord Sesshomaru was here early. And of course Master Jaken, too.
"Alright, let's go back." Her heart beat so loud she was sure Lord Sesshomaru would hear it before he saw her. Knowing that he was just at the top of this hill, her heart longed to run to him without another thought. It took all her self control to walk calmly with the children. She could be selfish soon.
The sight that greeted her when she returned to the village wasn't the one she longed for. There were grand carriages and dozens of people she didn't know. The children ran back to their parents who were crowded around a man in fancy dress. The man turned to her. He had been speaking with Kaede, but now he pushed through the crowd to approach her. "Ah. Lady Rin. You are even more lovely than the rumors I have heard." The man spoke kindly, giving a half bow in greeting. Rin managed to get out a small confused greeting before he continued. "My name is Akio. I am the lord over the village to the east. I have come to ask for your hand in marriage."
Rin dropped the basket that held the herbs. She had been asked to marry a handsome man with wealth and power. Wasn't this what every mortal woman dreamed of? No. This wasn't right. This wasn't she wanted. Her heart was breaking. She struggled for words. "Thank you, my lord-"
"Wonderful! We shall leave at first light in the morning." Even as the lord grinned down at her, Rin looked away. That hadn't been what she meant. She was turning him down, but maybe this was the right choice. No, she couldn't think like that. Her love was only for Lord Sesshomaru. Even if he didn't feel the same way.
"Forgive me. You startled me, and I dropped the herbs. I will need to gather some more before the sun sets." Rin tried to speak in a steady voice. She didn't even wait to hear an answer as she ran off. She was running like a frightened child, her eyes searching the horizon for the figure she wanted to see more than anyone else. She fell to her knees as her heart screamed the name she dared not speak. She wanted him to save her as he had always done in the past. She took a deep breath against the tears and forced her fingers to work.
Lord Sesshomaru! Save me!