In You Debt
Chapter One
Almost Women
Time moved steadily in the feudal era and soon the young spirited Rin, taken in by the supposedly human-hater Sesshoumaru, was blossoming into a beautiful young woman. Rin was ecstatic and amiable now that her 16th birthday was only a week away. She looked forward to this new year of age, other girls of 16 were suddenly allowed to wed and mate. But most of all Rin waited for the time Lord Sesshoumaru would respect her as a woman and not as an immature girl. This day also allowed Rin special time with him. She swore this year would be different. She often longed to see Sesshoumaru enjoying himself or at least crack a smile. Over the course of the year, Rin never recalled a moment Sesshoumaru was happy. Never a word of gratitude or appreciation for her companionship. Rin was starting to think Sesshoumaru regreted saving her and allowing her to accompany him.
"I promise my Lord, I will make you proud within this year!" Rin gently clutched a herb and picked it from the ground. Surely with all the commotion going around about an increase of demons would urg Sesshoumaru to fight and injure himself. Rin collected the remaining herbs she found and stuffed them in her kimono collar. She cheerfully left the valley to find Jaken. She soon came to an area uninhabited by plants and wildlife. She looked around in a daze and sighed. "Jaken! Master Jaken please do not hide, it hurts for me to find you!"
In a quick reaction to Rin's voice Jaken came fleeing from a small lizard demon. "Ahhhhhh! Rin, you stupid girl help!" He ran behind her as the demon stood on its hind feet. Jaken childishly grabbed Rin's kimono and shielded himself with it. "GO AWAY! Leave before my Lord Sesshoumaru gets here and strikes you down!"
Rin sighed once more and removed her kimono from Jaken's grasp. "What are you talking about master Jaken? Lord Sesshoumaru is down by the river, several miles from here." Jaken quickly 'shhh'ed her with a finger and hid behind her again.
"Oh is that so." The demon laughed coldly and prepared to act. He lugged for Jaken with his chilling claws, but Rin slammed both her fist into them.
"Leave Master Jaken alone! It's not nice to pick on much smaller demons than yourself." Rin waved her finger lecturing him like a mother.
"You!" Without haste the demon pushed Rin onto the ground violently and showed his claws to the shivering Jaken.
"No! Master Jaken!" Rin leaped back onto her feet and caught the demons claws with her own arm. Jaken hollered worriedly once he saw the flesh on Rin's arms slice easily around. Blood trickled from it and formed a puddle at her feet. "I won't let you hurt Master Jaken!"
"Rin you stupid girl you're bleeding!" Jaken backed away from her and the demon. He paused for a moment stoned with fear of what Lord Sesshoumaru would do to him because of Rin's cut. Jaken rushed into the forest and started to throw rocks and sticks at the demon from that point.
The demon laughed at Jaken's attempt and blocked the items thrown at him. Suddenly Rin noticed Jaken had thrown a rock with a jagged edge. She swooped down grapping the stick and embedded it into the demon's chest-striking its heart. He cried out loudly and slapped Rin before falling with his last breath. Rin rushed into the woods limping slightly as she pulled Jaken behind her.
"Rin stop, we must tend to your wounds now!" Jaken tried to sto stop her before she reached the river.
She ignored his request and found Sesshoumaru shortly after. He stared at her and Jaken emerging from the trees panting loudly. Rin quickly embraced Sesshoumaru and smiled. "My Lord I did as you said! If I am ever in trouble return to you." She brushed her head into Sesshoumaru's chest.
"Rin...how did you get the cut?" His words were serious and powerful as usual. His eyes traced the blood lines along her hand to her arm and the bruise on her face from the slap. Jaken tip-toe away softly, knowing he was in for a mouthful from Sesshoumaru. "Jaken!" Sesshoumaru shifted his cold glare toward Jaken.
"Yes my Lord! I'm just going to get help and food for Rin." Jaken scampered off with those words.
"Rin clean your wound!" Sesshoumaru demanded never once asking her if she was ok. Rin nodded her head and walked to the riverbank. Sesshoumaru's gaze changed once her back was to him. It was fueled with concern and solemn decisions. The face revealed a more caring side to Sesshoumaru he had never shown to anyone in his entire life.
Rin softly stuck her foot into the water and removed it; the water was actually warm for a change. She smiled facing Sesshoumaru and back. Her hands moved quickly as she struggled with her kimono. Sesshoumaru was a little baffled when he saw her removing her sash. She tossed the sash to the side and rushed out of her kimono.
Sesshoumaru suddenly frowned once he saw she was stripped to nothing. "Rin...what are you doing?"
She turned toward him, now exposing more than just her rear to the shocked master. "I thought I would wash, after all my clothes are blood stained too." She stared at Sesshoumaru's hesistant face in confusion. This side of Sesshoumaru was new to her, and she didn't know how to act.
"But...you're...'you're nude." His head lowered in hidden embarrassment.
Rin laughed and walked into the river. She wondered why Sesshoumaru was acting this way. She had bathes in front of him all the time as a kid, what was so different now. Rin splashed the refreshing water into her face and giggled as it felt cool running down her chest and back. She took her sash with nothing else in hand and started to wash herself.
"Rin..." Sesshoumaru whispered in the state of shock. It was long ago obvious to him that Rin was no longer the young girl he took in and cared for. Her voice had matured as well as her attitude. She increased and height and her hair was now at her hips. She was no longer the flat-chest girl Sesshoumaru watched over proudly every time she cheered for him. She was now a young woman, not just because of her now curvier figure but because her new out look on life.
