Rin gulped down air in a near hysterical fashion as the demon loomed over her. His golden eyes flashed angrily as he glared viciously, his silver hair and the strange fluffy pelt he wore shifting in the breeze that followed, lifting the scent of the dead demon to his nose, making him wrinkle it slightly in disgust. And for some reason or another, Rin found it amusing.
Unable to help herself, the gasps disappeared and were replaced by giggles, which were quickly muffled when she slammed a hand over her mouth. The annoying yukata sleeve slid down to rest lightly, revealing a scar that stretched from the outside of her wrist to the crease between her arm and elbow. The demon was interested for all of two seconds before focusing on her again. "Why are you laughing?" he demanded irritably. He glanced back. His brother would soon join them, as would that infuriating miko that had failed to save his ward.
Rin couldn't answer. She struggled to get rid of her laughter, knowing fully well that she was screwed. The demon was definitely going to kill her. She might as well die with a smile on her face! His growling increased dramatically. "This Sesshomaru demands to know why you are laughing, human."
Rin fought back her laughter though a rather ridiculously large tooth smile remained on her face. Despite her attempts, she couldn't rid herself of it, and she ended up biting her lip and looking up at him from under her lashes. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her tensed form completely relaxed. "I couldn't help it."
The dog demon studied her with a hint of confusion in his gaze. He looked mildly annoyed that a human had laughed at him rather than fled like most of them did. "...hn," he muttered, growling. Rin merely giggled again, hiding her smile with a hand.
The demon before her was the man she'd seen in her dream the night before. The demon that had come to see the young girl seconds before her death. The demon that had failed in resurrecting her. And Rin felt for him. She would hate it if someone died and she had a way to save them but only discovered she couldn't. She hesitated, recalling what the girl in her dream had called him. Bowing her head, she said gratefully, "Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru, for saving me. I would have been dead had you not." And played with like a cat plays with a mouse!
Sesshomaru remained silent, those cold golden eyes remaining locked on her face. A haunted look seemed to flicker across his face and then he surprised her by asking, "What are you known as?"
"Karin Bane," Rin said hesitantly, remembering the other reactions to her name. If this was the demon who had protected the previous Rin, the girl who'd died, then his reaction might be worse. "But I go by Rin." He tensed, looking furious for a moment, but the anger was quickly replaced by an emotionless mask that materialized in the blink of an eye.
"That is an insult," he growled dangerously, "You dare to insult me?" You dare insult Rin?
Rin's previous smile was gone, replaced by a nervous look that wouldn't go away. "I...I didn't mean any offense," Rin stammered anxiously, "I...that's my name. My name is Rin." His expression darkened even further, but whatever he was going to snarl was interrupted when there was a cry of "Rin!" followed by Kagome and Sango running into view, both looking concerned. "Kagome, Sango," Rin breathed in relief.
Kagome had an arrow knocked to a bow in her hand, and Sango was easily hauling along a massive boomerang behind her. Both lowered their weapons, though Sango kept a grip on hers when they saw Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru," Kagome greeted warily. "Nice to, err, see you here. Been a while, huh?" Her tone wavered nervously.
Sesshomaru turned away from Rin and Rin let out a huge sigh of relief. "Miko," he said stiffly, "What is the meaning of this?"
Sango spoke up for Kagome, glaring at the dog demon when he curled his lips back into an angry snarl. "Kagome and Inuyasha think Rin's soul reincarnated into this Rin before us. Sesshomaru, it's not her fault, alright? If you want to blame someone, blame whatever gods exists, 'cause it's all them."
Rin eagerly nodded her agreement anxiously, pursing her lips nervously. The dog demon growled for a few more moments before turning away with a sharply said, "I will look into this. If you are to be found lying, miko, then her head will not be the only one I take." Without another word, the dog demon had whipped around, easily spinning on a heel. He started off and soon disappeared into the trees.
Sango offered a hand to help Rin up. "You alright?" she asked. "That demon get you anywhere? Shippo said it went chasing after you..."
"I'm fine," Rin said firmly. "Just a few scratches." Her gaze dropped to the ground with a troubled look on her face. "I'm pretty much useless...I'm sorry, I didn't do a very good job at watching the children. Are they okay?" She glanced after the dog demon that had vanished, surprised when a feeling of longing sprung up inside her. She wanted to go with him. But she shook off the feeling in favor of forcing a smile onto her face.
"They're fine," Kagome reassured, sliding the bow over a shoulder to rest beside her quiver. "We're more concerned about you...did Sesshomaru touch you? His claws can be poisonous." She paused, then found herself grinning. "As can his saliva." Meaning: his drool could melt her skin off. That was nice to know.
Rin shoved a hand through her now messy hair. "I, um," she murmured, "I'm sorry. I really am useless."
"I can teach you how to use a weapon," Sango offered, giving a hesitant smile, like she was uncertain if Rin would want to. "I used to be a demon slayer, before Miroku and I were married and had children. I know how to use a variety of weaponry. You wouldn't be able to use Hiraikotsu, I'm the only one who can." She stroked the boomerang lovingly, almost caressing it. "But Kagome could send Inuyasha to Totosai to forge something for you, something that'll hold against demon blades."
Kagome's gaze softened suddenly, then darkened before a smile appeared, slightly forced. When Sango gave her a questioning look, the miko admitted, "I was thinking of how we should've taught Rin, our Rin," she added for Rin's benefit, "how to use a weapon. If we had, she may not have died."
Rin blinked, contemplating that. If they had taught the younger Rin the skills of using weaponry, then she, Karin, would be back home...dead. Suddenly, she couldn't find it in herself to join the group of people that wished the other one was still alive. Hesitant, she said quietly, "If you'd changed how you'd done things and she had lived, I would be dead. The last thing I remember before waking up is the plane I was in at the time heading at full speed, nose down towards the ground. The engine malfunctioned or something. I'm sorry, it's selfish, but...I can't feel bad for her. I mean, I do, but...you know."
Kagome looked startled at this, her eyes swiftly turning onto Rin. Then her expression softened into an understanding one. "It's alright, I don't expect you want to have changed everything. I was in your shoes once, though my situation was a little different. Inuyasha had a previous woman he loved before me and she was actually brought back to life for a while. There was a time during our travels that I caught them together and went home for a few days, and I caught myself wishing that she was dead. It sucks being a reincarnation. Trust me, I know."
Rin grimaced at that thought. "Kikyo, right? The woman you mentioned to Inuyasha last night?" Kagome nodded, snickering, and she found a true smile forming on her face. "I can see why he was so annoyed. I would really like it if you would teach me how to use a weapon, Sango," she added, smiling at the other woman. Sango returned the smile with a brilliant one.
"Wonderful. We'll send Inuyasha-"
"Why wait?" Kagome mused, grinning, "I'm sure Shippo would be willing to go get him. He travels back and forth between that fox inn and here. Totosai's place is much closer than that. And knowing Totosai, he'll have it done before the night is out, especially if he knows just who Rin is. He liked her, too, if he learns that she's reincarnated and here, he'll rush through it and still do a fine job."
"We can practice with a multitude of regular weapons until they get here," Sango mused. Better give Shippo some hair or something to take with him, that ought to do since your teeth don't grow back..."
Rin's eyes snapped wide and she clasped a hand over her mouth, making them laugh. "He takes teeth?"
"Only from demons," Kagome reassured, "When the Tetsusaiga broke, he took a fang from Inuyasha. Demons and half-demons get to be lucky. Those that aren't all weird and creepy have lovely hair and teeth that grow back when they've been taken out."
"That's lovely," Rin muttered sarcastically. Kagome laughed and Sango smiled with an amused look upon her face. Rin sighed in exasperation at their amusement. She didn't find it funny at all!
"Well then," Sango said, starting towards the village as Kagome looped her arm through Sango's. "Let's get those scratches fixed up, calm the kids down, then get to work on teaching you how to protect yourself, shall we?"
"That sounds good," Rin agreed. But as she was led away and further into the trees, she glanced over her shoulder. To her surprise, she thought she caught a glint of silver and white in a tree before said tree disappeared from her sight. A frown marred her face for a few seconds. Sesshomaru had been furious with them. So why was he watching them leave?
She sighed quietly to herself as Sango and Kagome began to chatter away. Demons were a bunch of frustrating trouble, danger, and hatred. Excluding the children and Inuyasha, apparently.
And Rin wanted nothing more to do with them.
Rin panted for breath as she doubled over with her hands on her knees. Her hair was tied out of her face, yet soaked with sweat, which dripped from her forehead, and she grimaced when she realized that she would definitely need to bathe after this. No wonder Amai and Saisho were wrinkling their noses in disgust!
Sango pushed some hair out of her face, a sparkle in her eyes and a smile on her lips. The ex-demon slayer was enjoying herself immensely, remembering the older days, when she'd helped train her brother and had been training herself. "You're not doing too bad," Sango complimented, "Considering you've never done things like this before."
"Thanks," Rin muttered, glancing at the sky. Shippo had left as soon as they'd returned earlier in the day, and had returned a few hours later saying that the demon blacksmith would have a weapon ready for her by the time the sun went down. He'd arrive soon, as the sun had just begun to sink beneath the horizon. Pushing her bangs out of her eyes, she straightened. "Hey, uh, Kagome?"
"Yes?" Kagome questioned from where she was sitting between Saisho and Amai, watching the trees intently when she wasn't working on fixing a ripped yukata for Amai. Inuyasha and Miroku would be returning soon and she was waiting impatiently for them to come back. The other four children, meaning Shippo and Sango's three, were chasing each other not too far away.
"Is there any way I can get home?" Kagome didn't answer, looking thoughtful, and Rin said hurriedly, "I have a family and stuff. I need to get back to them eventually..."
"I'm not sure," Kagome admitted. "I came and went through the Bone-Eater's Well, but it disappeared as soon as you showed up. We can ask Myoga if he shows up with Totosai, he's bound to know something. And if all else fails, we'll look for a way ourself." She smiled reassuringly, then grinned when the sound of a bull's lowing filled the air. "Totosai's here."
There was a sharp crack of thunder and Rin whipped around to see an elderly looking demon sitting cross-legged atop the back of a three-eyed bull. A bag full of weaponry was shouldered on one shoulder, a massive hammer resting against the other, and his big eyes studied Rin curiously. "Hi, Totosai!" Amai cried, running to greet the blacksmith.
"Hello, Amai," Totosai replied thoughtfully, studying Rin. "The fox kit didn't lie, she's quite the replica of that little girl."
"Reincarnation, we've decided," Sango told him, shouldering her wakizashi with a smile. "So what'd you bring her?" Sango asked as Kagome hurried to join them, sending her children off to play with the others.
Totosai reached back, digging around in the large sack he'd brought. Suddenly he tossed a long weapon at Rin. Rin automatically caught it, surprised, and then examined it. "Ooh," Sango said eagerly, joining her to look at it. "A naginata." She reached out to smooth her hand across the long and sleek wooden grip. The wood was nearly black, it was so dark, and beautiful white and red patterns twirled down it until reaching the base, where a red tassel hung from. Just before the blade started, a disk spread out from the center while the blade itself was as long as Rin's forearm and black. "This is beautiful, Totosai."
Totosai grunted in response, watching intently, replying, "Its name is Jihibukai. Merciful. Which I believe you will be while using it, young lady, unlike that dog that carries Tenseiga." He eyed Rin. "Trust it and it'll respond to give you reason to believe in it."
"Sesshomaru is merciful," Kagome protested, frowning at Totosai's unusual seriousness and lack of forgetting anything that was spoken seconds before. "Just not all of the time."
Sango threw her head back and laughed at that, then stepped back. "Give it a try, Rin. Swing it."
Rin hesitated to do so, standing it beside her. The blade stopped a few feet above her head. She gave Totosai a look of uncertainty. "Is it alright if I...?" The demon nodded and she sank into the stance that she'd been taught earlier in the day, ignoring the screaming soreness of her muscles. Almost immediately, a mixing coil of black, white, and red spread over her, ridding her of the pain and exhaustion. Surprised, Rin paused. But then Sango was on her with her wakizashi and Rin automatically threw the weapon up to block the strike with a gasp, the strong wooden part not even chipping underneath the force. Instead, Sango's wakizashi snapped in half, and Sango yelped when a piece sliced her cheek.
"Sorry!" Rin cried, nearly dropping her Jihibukai. The vapor vanished.
Sango stared at her in surprise then giggled as Kagome examined the bloody cut. "It's alright, calm down, Rin. It was an accident. She eyed Jihibukai. "That's a demonic wapon you've got there. Is it alright for her to handle it, Totosai?"
"You handle a demonic weapon," Totsai reminded her, "The Hiraikotsu is made of the bones of demons."
"That were exorcised, that thing isn't exorcised." Kagome frowned to herself after speaking, then suddenly glanced over her shoulder when Amai shrieked, "Daddy!" "Looks like the men are home," she told Sango happily, then frowned. "Might wanna fix up that cheek before Miroku gets over here."
Sango pursed her lips, hurrying to wipe blood from her cheek with a sigh. "Yeah, I know." She turned to face the approaching men with a warm smile on her face. All three women chuckled at the fact that the children and Shippo had swarmed their parents before approaching their wives.
"Inuyasha," Kagome greeted warmly, slipping her hand into Inuyasha's as he reached her side, nose working overtime and eyes locked warily on Rin's weapon. Miroku greeted Sango with a kiss, then frowned and demanded, "What happened to your cheek?"
"I snapped my wakizashi on Rin's Jihibukai," Sango admitted, waving at the naginata. "It's not a big deal. Rin went with the children and they got caught up in a demon's hunt. The kids are fine," she added quickly when Inuyasha gave a low growl, "but Rin would've been eaten if Sesshomaru hadn't shown up and unintentionally rescued her."
"Oh, so that old dog's met her?" Totosai questioned, studying Rin again. Rin flushed, shifting uncertainly, and the old demon snorted. "He won't harm a hair on her head. There's somethin' different about this one, Inuyasha," he told the half-demon, who was glaring now at Rin, "You be nice to her and keep her safe for that brother of yours. Sesshomaru may not approve of it now, but he'll thank ya for it later. Possibly."
Soon after that, Totosai left after a few words with Inuyasha about getting Tetsusaiga sharpened. Kagome ended up sending him face first into the earth for a curse that he barked out in front of the children, making the children giggle and Miroku smirk broadly until Inuyasha growled. Rin had joined the kids in giggling.
After he was gone, Rin had gently grasped her Jihibukai and smiled when it thrummed beneath her fingertips. They hadn't been able to figure out a way for her to get home earlier in the day, which meant that she wouldn't be going anywhere for a very, very long time. And that meant she'd have to make herself a home here, in the strange place that was Feudal Japan.
Now, as Rin lay in the loaned futon, she closed her eyes, throwing an arm over her eyes while her other lay with her fingers skimming Jihibukai's large wooden grip. She silently thought of the family she was leaving behind. Her father, her mother. Her older brothers. They'd all be frantic, searching everywhere for her themselves if it was at all possible for them to do so.
But never again would they find her. They wouldn't expect her to be five hundred years in the past, alone with a demonic weapon and demons around every corner. No, they would never find her.
The idea of not seeing them brought tears to her eyes, but she forced them back. It didn't matter right now. She had to focus on training with Sango so that she'd be prepared the next time she was attacked. The next time she was attacked by a demon, she'd be able to make it stop and think about what it was doing- if it had the time to.
Rin gave a sigh, the umpteenth one for that night, and then gasped, nearly shrieking when something suddenly curled up against her. She leaped to her feet, only to discover a sniffling Amai staring up at her with big watery golden eyes. Frowning, she relaxed, touching the girl's cheek and kneeling beside her. "Amai?" she said quietly, not wanting to wake the snappy father in the other room. "What's wrong, Amai?"
"Nightmare," Amai whispered, shuddering, "There was a mean scary guy and...and..." She trailed off, unable to continue, then whimpered. "Daddy wouldn't let me sleep with him and Mommy, and Saisho never wants to share."
"Aw," Rin cooed, reaching out to playfully tweak a dog ear. It flicked away from her touch. "You can sleep with me then, okay? Come on, we need to get some sleep. Or you won't be able to play tomorrow." Amai giggled as she poked the girl's belly. Rin easily laid down, and smiled in the darkness when Amai curled up into her side, snuggled against her. Rin had always adored children, and had planned on settling down to have a few someday. It appeared her life would change a bit, but maybe that plan could remain in place...
In no time, Amai was sound asleep. Smiling softly, Rin murmured aloud, "Day two done and over with." Then the woman closed her eyes and sighed quietly to herself a final time before falling asleep herself, unaware of the blazing eyes that watched the hut with a malicious intent.
It seemed that Rin was forever doomed to wake up to yells and panicked shrieks, as when she woke the next morning, it was to Kagome shrieking, "AMAI!? AMAI WHERE ARE YOU?!" Rin opened her eyes, blinking away the brightness of the morning, then groaned and called, "Kagome, she's right here!"
Kagome appeared instantly, frantic, and a snarling Inuyasha was right behind her. Rin automatically recoiled when Inuyasha bared his teeth at her, her hand clasping Jihibukai in an instant, and the dmeonic vapors rose from the blade, writhing violently with Rin's fear. Amai simply sat up with a yawn, rubbing an eye innocently. "Mommy?"
Kagome dragged her daughter into a tight hug, quivering with her relief as Saisho appeared, looking tired himself. "Don't scare me like that," she breathed, burying her face in the girl's hair. Confused, Amai returned the hug. "Why on earth- Inuyasha! Sit!" The half-demon, who'd automatically reached for his Tetsusaiga's hilt at the demonic aura spilling from Jihibukai, slammed face first into the wooden floor. "What on earth were you doing in Rin's futon?!"
Amai flattened her ears, looking anxiously up at her mother. "I had a really bad nightmare, Mommy. Daddy wouldn't let me sleep with you and 'im, and Saisho doesn't like to share his futon, so I came out here and Rin said I could sleep with her."
"Sorry," Rin added nervously, tightening her grip on Jihibukai as Inuyasha raised himself with a furious growl. "I...I thought it was alright."
"It's fine," Kagome sighed, "I don't mind. Just..." She released her daughter in favor of glaring at her husband. "What the hell, Inuyasha!" she spat, propping her hands on her hips. Saisho, recognizing his mother's temper, slunk out and hunkered down beside Rin, followed by a nervous Amai. Kagome's eyes were a blaze of anger. "What has gotten into you lately?! You're trying to kill someone who has done nothing wrong, and then you're kicking your scared daughter out of our bed?"
Inuyasha glared at her with a defensive look upon his face. Kagome looked startled at the pure rage he saw upon his face. But it was only a brief second before she was glaring right back at him. "Well?"
He huffed, looking away. "My demon side," he muttered. Even Kagome raised an eyebrow at the vague exlanation and Rin frowned. His demon side? What, does he have a multi-personality disorder or something?
"What do you mean "your demon side"?" Kagome sounded strangely worried and her brow creased in an anxious frown. "The Tetsusaiga's still keeping it sealed away, isn't it?"
Inuyasha struggled to think of an answer, then muttered, "Sorta. He's always testing the boundaries, but..." His golden eyes flickered to Rin, and she glared defiantly at him. "Since she showed up, he's been breaking through. Especially yesterday, when Miroku and I were off on that job. I nearly killed a couple men who were helping us out." He turned his gaze momentarily on his daughter, then gave the barest hint of a whine.
"He doesn't like anyone near me," Kagome murmured, "Not even Saisho and Amai...Inuyasha! This isn't something you should be keeping from me!"
He shrugged, looking away and Rin decided to break in. "I suppose it's my fault then," she murmured, cutting Kagome's protest off. "It is. I showed up and this...demon side or whatever decides to make your family suffer." Without pause, she bowed her head apologetically to Inuyasha, who jerked back shock. "I apologize for this, Inuyasha, Kagome. I'll leave."
"Don't do that!" Kagome gasped, eyes snapping wide with astonishment. "We're not just going to throw you out because of something like this-"
"Kagome," Inuyasha growled, his ears flattening against his head. "It's better. Sango and Miroku can take care of her for now." Rin's eyes widened when she saw a red color bleeding into his eyes. "Please."
Kagome wavered, but Amai whined, "I don't want Rin to leave!" Saisho agreed, both glaring at their parents, but Rin simply gave a faint smile, shaking them off and standing.
"I'll visit with you guys," Rin promised before picking up her naginata. "Don't worry, Kagome. It's fine, I'll just find another place to stay or find one of my own. I won't bother you any longer." She forced a smile onto her face despite the despair that filled her. "You have a family to consider, I don't." She reassuringly gazed at the distraught miko, who was torn between helping her husband and insisting Rin stay there.
"Are you sure?" Kagome finally asked, biting her lip. She'd noticed the red, too, and was worried about it. Saisho and Amai hadn't seemed to notice. Rin nodded and Kagome pleaded, "I'm so sorry, Rin, please forgive us, I swear if it wasn't like this, you could stay."
"There's nothing to forgive," Rin said firmly, then started for the door, her Jihibukai grasped tightly in her hand. "Thank you for giving me shelter while you can. I promise I'll repay you eventually." Kagome turned her attention on inuyasha and Rin hurried to step outside. Upon doing so, she closed her eyes and gave a shaky sigh.
So much for safety.
If she'd caused that kind of reaction from Inuyasha, she didn't dare attempt to go to Sango's. She might possibly end up messing something up there, too!
Frustrated, Rin bit her lip, glancing towards the village. She had yet to even attempt approaching it and she didn't think it would be a very good idea with her naginata spewing demonic auras everywhere.
A thought suddenly struck her. Perhaps there was a way for her to get home and she just had to look for it? Reassured by this thought, Rin started forward, heading in the direction she was sure that she'd woken up in. Might as well look around, see what I can find.
She should have known better.
Not even ten minutes later, Rin found herself backed up against a tree with a grinning demon advancing slowly. Jihibukai was pointed in front of her, demonic aura swirling protectively around her. The demon didn't seem to notice it, though. Rin swallowed, cursing her stupidity. "Stay back," she ordered, grimacing when her voice shook.
The demon simply threw its head back and laughed. It was another ogre of some kind, perhaps even related to the one that had come the day before. "A human? Pointing a weapon at me?" He sneered. "As if you could possibly destroy me."
Rin cursed her self again. How stupid could one person get?! Remembering what Sango had taught her with her wakizashi the day before, she sank into a stance, ready to lash out with the naginata. And lash out she did. She lunged forward, sinking the blade into the ogre's gut without a second thought, fear steeling her gaze. The demon roared in pain, rearing back and towering over her as she darted past it, jerking Jihibukai free. It slid out of the demon's body, and she clutched it tightly as she tried to skirt around the demon. But a well aimed angry swat had her crashing to the ground, Jihibukai sliding from her fingers. "Dammit!" Rin screamed, struggling to reach for it as she was dragged backwards by her ankles.
She couldn't believe her luck. Only she would get attacked in the same way as the day before despite having a weapon. Jihibukai's demonic aura vanished as soon as her fingers left it and Rin thrashed desperately.
The demon gave a laugh as it lifted her upside down into the air and Rin's lip curled back in disgust when it purred, "You're quite the pretty thing, little girl."
"I know I am," she retorted, words coming out without a second thought. "And you're a dead demon as soon as I get out of this." She twisted, then aimed a kick to the hole in the demon's gut. It snarled in pain and dropped her and Rin groaned when she hit the ground hard, dazed.
The demon lunged for her, furious, but stopped suddenly as it crumpled to the ground in a mess of gore and blood. Rin shot back, wincing as she used her apparently sprained wrist to scramble back from a limb that threatened to crush her. She stared at where the demon had been for a few moments, panting for breath, then wiped shakily at the tear tracks on her face. She didn't have to look up to see who'd saved her.
Again.
She wasn't sure how, but she'd known he'd been there the entire time, waiting until she was about to die to save her.
"Thanks," Rin breathed, slowly heaving herself to her feet and moving to fetch her naginata. Sesshomaru simply growled softly, glaring at mostly the weapon she held. Jihibukai pulsed beneath her touch, then fell silent, and she swallowed. "Lord Sesshomaru?" Cold golden eyes landed on her and she paused, then asked, "I'm, err, looking for where the Bone-Eater's Well once stood. Do you know where it might be...?"
The dog demon studied her. "Why?"
"Err, I want to go home," Rin admitted, "I'm hoping I can find something there, it's where I ended up when I woke up. I'm causing problems and I think it's time for me to leave, or at least try to, anyways."
He growled again and Rin bit her lip. "You don't have to tell me, I guess I can find it by myself," she said bitterly. What was wrong with her? Thinking the man that probably wanted to kill her more than the demon he'd destroyed would want to help her... Suddenly, however, he turned, starting forward. When Rin didn't follow, he stopped and said sharply, "Come."
"I'm not a dog," Rin muttered under her breath with a snicker, but followed nonetheless, hesitant. She had no reason to worry, she told herself. The demon had saved her. He'd keep her safe again. But was it because he wanted to or because he wanted to kill her himself? Sesshomaru silently guided her through the trees until finally, he stopped. Rin was so unprepared for his sudden halt that she nearly ran into his back, resulting in a deadly glare on his part. Note to self. Don't touch the scary demon guy.
She ducked around him, ignoring his gaze on her back. There was the patch of dirt she'd landed in, looking innocent though it was anything but. "Thank you, you can go if you want now," Rin told Sesshomaru, though he remained where he was as she made her way over to the dirt, kneeling beside it to run her fingers over it. She set aside Jihibukai, ignoring the soft thrumming it was giving off, and frowned, ripping her hand back when a shock went through her. "What the hell?" she muttered.
"There is a demonic aura coming from where the well once stood." Rin cast a surprised look over her shoulder. Sesshomaru was still standing where she'd left him, but his gaze was no longer on her. It was on the patch of dirt.
"Don't know why. I'm not a demon," Rin muttered, standing and picking up Jihibukai. It responded automatically, the vapors swirling out to wrap protectively around her. Rin glanced curiously at it. It was responding to this demonic aura, too?
Sighing, Rin turned away. There was nothing here that would help her get home. Nothing at all. "Could you, uh, tell me which direction the village is in?" Rin asked, not taking a step from where she stood. "I don't need help getting there," she added, almost challengingly. Seriously, it was like the guy was stalking her...
Sesshomaru seemed to sigh impatiently. "It is towards the rising sun," he snapped, then turned and started walking into the trees. Jihibukai pulsed, though, and he suddenly stopped, glancing back over the pelt on his right shoulder. "...that is a demonic weapon."
"Totosai gave it to me," Rin replied, tightening her grip on it. Jihibukai's protective vapor swirled faster around her in response, reassuring her of its presence. "Why does it matter to you?"
"...hn," was his response and then he was gone.
Rin grumbled as the naginata pulsed again, muttering, "Settle down, we're heading to Sango and Miroku's. Nothing else we can do here unless we can find a suitable place to camp out in...and even though I know how to survive without supplies, I'm not sure I want to." Survival training meant nothing in a world full of demons out to eat you.
Jihibukai seemed to agree with her and fell silent.
Rin turned to see where the sun was, then traced its path backwards towards the horizon before starting forward. She smiled to herself in relief as the sounds of working men and women and horses and chickens filled the air, slowly increasing in loudness the closer she got. Thank goodness he wasn't tricking me into going the wrong way...
Soon, Rin had cleared the trees. She paused to glance back, and instantly caught sight of the white and silver she'd seen the day before. An eyebrow raised, she rolled her eyes and began to walk towards the village again. Couldn't the guy come down and walk with her or something instead of watching her like a creepy man?
She kept a wide distance between herself and Kagome's home as she headed towards the village, faltering when she began to get closer. She didn't want to get closer, she didn't want to have to ask around for where Sango and Miroku were. The villagers would give her weird looks, possibly even send her packing. Maybe even try to hurt her.
She was saved, however, when there was a squeal of "Rin!" and a small body wrapped around her leg. "Amai!" Rin gasped in surprise, staggering at the sudden impact and nearly falling over. "What are you doing out here?"
"Mommy said I could go play with Bara and Rirī," she answered honestly. "I thought you were there already!"
"No, I was looking around in the forest," Rin told her with a small laugh, ruffling her hair and ears. "Your mother and father doing any better now that I'm not in there with them?"
Amai squirmed for a moment, then admitted, "Daddy's stopped being so mean, but Mommy's really upset that you left. She said that we shouldn't have sent you off or somethin' like that."
Rin chuckled. "When you see her again, tell her it's fine, alright? I'm going to have a bunch of fun staying with Miroku and Sango. And hopefully, I'll get to have my own house eventually." If she couldn't find a way home, that was. "Now come on, why don't we head over there and see if Miroku and Sango will let me stay with them, yeah?"
"Yeah," Amai agreed, squeezing her hand happily. Rin gave the girl a fond smile. Amai was sweet, innocent, and cute. And she adored her. Probably what everyone did. People worshipped children like Amai, took pictures of them and put it all over the internet.
Amai's innocent face didn't stop the bandit's blade from slicing through her chest.
A/N
I'm not very proud of this chapter, I won't lie. Got distracted a lot by a game called Aion (such a beautiful fun game) and ended up writing in two second incraments when the game was loading. |D Ah, the beautifulness of Aion.
ANYWAYS! Sesshomaru showed up a lot more this chapter! Yay for that! He's gonna be more permanent and staying around after this, so. :3 Be prepared for the beautifulness that is Sesshy.
Names, Meanings, etc.
Jihibukai (Merciful) - Rin's weapon, a naginata; a naginata would be what Hakudoshi (the little bastard) used
Reviewers
ayamechin: I did consider writing the translations with the Japanese sentences, but that was quickly decided against due to the fact that I believe it would have made my writing messy. And it portrays, in my eyes, just how frustrated it made Rin. XD
overninethousand: I'm not trying to be rude, but I have no idea what those links would be for. Please don't put more of them on here. ^_^'
EriandHarimafan: Thank you!
marnika: Well I'm glad you liked it enough to review! Thank you a ton!
LADY SILVERFOX: Thank you! XD I'll be writing a ton more, so no worries there!
