A gloomy morning. Another one. Rin did her best to wipe the sleep from her eyes. It had already been weeks since her lord had left her in this village alone. Well not entirely. Jakken the seemingly ever present minion and assistant to Sesshomaru was there. It was hard for her not wonder if she had been set here permanently. Perhaps she had been abandoned once again, left to fend for herself in a world that cared very little. The thought never sat right with her. Why would he take her along all this way, all this time just to leave her here?
It wasn't the only thing that bothered her. She felt sick today. In a way that felt foreign to her. She woke up tired and in pain. Her back screamed in protest with every movement and her insides felt twisted and tangled. Try as she might she couldn't ignore it. Everything, even breathing seemed to only inspire tears. Looking out from the room she could see it all. The distant looming mountains that dared to reach the sky. The farmers who already started their day tending the terraces that littered the rolling hills. It was vexing. Sure the life she led now was far from comfortable but it was also far from common. Since being rescued all those years ago she would never again have to worry about her future, it all seemed so clear until now.
"Ah, I see you're already awake, would you like something to eat?" A shrill voice came from behind her. Without turning around she knew who he was. It was Jakken. She tried not to look at him too much. His face reminded her of leather that spent too long in the sun. Rough and weathered and green. Nothing really about him sat right with her. His large toad-like eyes, his gnarled tree root fingers, his height. Most of all his voice.
"No thank you Mister Jakken," back still to him "I'm afraid I have no appetite this morning."
"Suit yourself girl, but sooner or later you must eat" He was winding himself up now. "For as we both know, Lord Sesshomaru has left you in my care. And I'd rather much not like to think what he would do with me if something were to happen to you." Jakken had grown fondly of reminding her that. That he was trusted with keeping safe and tended to. She hated that. She didn't need him really. She was the one who went into the village, bought the food, got the room in the inn. Jakken could not lest he be found tied to a tree by his scrawny green neck. She let that thought play around in her head for awhile, stifling a smile.
"I'll be sure to eat later Mister Jakken, I promise." She feigned as much sincerity as she could muster. Food had been the farthest thing from her mind. She felt tight and constricted. Every movement now was a trial. But staying in Jakken's company, that was impossible. She slipped into her sandals and began making her way towards the room's exit. "I'll be out in the village for a little while, I'll come back with something for us to share okay?"
"Just be sure you are careful, I wouldn't like to think about what Lord Sesshomaru would do to me-" he paused "I mean to say these villagers if you were to come to any harm." He cleared his throat and rested in the corner of the room. His pale yellow eyes following her as she left.
Despite her condition Rin found herself in rather high spirits. The villagers here fell in love with her the day she arrived. Offering her food and shelter and new clothes. Today was no different, merely walking along the few paths that connected the hamlet she was greeted with open arms. A few of the local children beckoned her to come play, instead she waved and kept going promising some other day. Continuing on to her new favourite place to rest, a maple tree by a river. It was nice to be alone.
She sat there, watching the day pass her by. On occasion the sun would attempt to break out into the free. Showering light through the overcast canopy with golden rays. It was nice to feel the warmth wash over her. It brought her back to days on the road. The endless adventures she would have following her saviour, taking joy in merely being in his presence. At a time he could do no wrong. Simply the act of sparing her that fateful night was enough for her. Now, it wasn't so certain. He had left her more and more frequently. Always returning for a time. but like the wind would vanish once again. Leaving her alone, and afraid. Again.
It was hard not to resent him now. Her reminiscing was broken by an impulse to retch. Her gut was twisting and turning lashing out. She emptied her stomach a few times behind the tree, wiping the remnants off her lips with her sleeve. Discomfort overtook her and before she knew it she was wet. Not with sweat nor with bile. Terrified she lowered a hand into her small-clothes. Something warm and wet greeted her hand. Swiftly she raised it to her face. She couldn't believe her eyes.
It was blood.