Author's Notes: I'm so happy this story has got a positive reaction from everyone who's read it so far! This is actually my first fic that hasn't been based off a movie or something like that (see my other stories and you'll know what I mean) and I hope that I don't do too poorly :D Here is a prologue because I seriously need to figure out what I'm going to write for the first chap. Rin is 14 in this.

Surrounded by sweet spelling herbs and soft strands of grass that softly brushed one's knee, the old priestess Kaede felt there was no more passive and soothing activity than gathering herbs that she would soon grind into pastes and the like for the sick and injured as her older sister Kikyo once had when she had walked upon the earth. The old woman heaved a sigh as her thoughts wandered towards her now long gone sister. No one should have to suffer as she had when she had been forced back into the world of the living by an evil demon sorceress named Urasue who had tried to pull her reincarnated soul into a clay body made with graveyard soil and Kikyo's bones and ashes, both of which were stolen from her intended resting place. Now though at last, Kikyo had finally let go of her deep loathing of the half demon Inuyasha and her soul was finally at peace.

Kagome, Kikyo's modern reincarnation, had returned some time ago from her own era and was now happily married to Inuyasha and was soon being the proud mother of two gorgeous pups, both of whom had their father's silver hair and striking gold eyes. The demon slayer and lecherous monk had also settled down and were the proud parents of many fine children who, much to Sango's annoyance tended to gain their father's flirtatious charm once they were old enough. And then there was Rin, a sweet, innocent child who had grown in a blooming woman as time pasted. She was visited often by the Lord of the West, Sesshomaru, and he brought her many expensive and beautiful kimonos as presents for the young girl. Each and every one was cherished by Rin and although an opportunity to actually see her lord was a rare occasion, she idolized and adored the proud dog demon, her affection for him never wavering.

As Kaede made sure that her hand woven basket was filled to the brim with the healing vegetation before wearily standing up and making the long, slow journey back to the village. When she neared it, the priestess was met with three energetic children who danced around her excitedly. Their shrill voices pressed upon her expectedly and the high priestess held up her hand for them to stop though holding in a small chuckle at their actions.

"One at a time please children. You go first Mujakina." She said lightly yet firmly, nodding to a small girl who blushed a bright pink at being addressed by name.

"W-we were looking f-for Rin. S-she promised to come and play with us today." The child stammered nervously as her companions nodded in agreement. At the sound of Rin's name the old woman smiled gently. The children of the village adored the beautiful, ebony haired teen and despite her age, Rin never surpassed a chance to play with the youngsters even though she should have been preparing to find a suitor soon as most girls her age were. As Kaede listened to their chatter about what Rin had promised to play with them a sudden chill swept through her and Kaede froze as her blood turned to ice. There was a demonic presence not far from here and it was so powerful that it was like comparing the demonic power of Lord Sesshomaru to his imp servant Jaken's power. And then… it was gone. Almost as if had never been there in the first place and that was what frightened the priestess. Demonic auras couldn't disappear… could they? A tugging at one of her long white sleeves brought her out of her thoughts and Kaede glanced down to see the concerned face of Mujakina whose sweet brown eyes were filled with unease.

"Are you alright High Priestess?" she asked timidly and the old woman nodded without speaking. The ominous feeling of uneasiness still writhed within the priestess's stomach but the demonic presence itself had gone. Surely the threat, whatever it may be, was over.

"Come children. We must return before sundown. I'm sure you will see Rin when we get back and if not, tomorrow."

Discouraged but accepting, the children accompanied her back to the village just as the sun was setting behind the rising peaks of the mountains that the village lay nestled below. As the youngsters were greeted thankfully by their anxious fathers and sent home to their mothers and siblings for the night. Kaede smiled as she watched them prance off, thinking of the a ebony haired teen who would soon be greeting her joyfully for dinner. Rin was never late for meals and the old priestess was certain that she, like always, would be back before the night set in.

Once inside, Kaede began to prepare her apprentice's favorite stew, slicing some dried vegetables and meat into a clay bow.. Glancing out the window, the old woman felt a stab of fear enter her heart; it was nearly completely pitch black, Rin should have been back by now. Assuming that her fears were merely a hunch that would surely prove to be incorrect, Kaede set aside her uneasiness and continued her preparation. Pouring the now finished meal into two separate clay bowls, the elderly priestess now stared at the now black and star sprinkled sky and felt a claw of ice cold fear grip her heart. The ready bowl of delicious food clattered to the floor and it's contents spilled onto the bamboo floor.

Grabbing her bow and quiver of arrows, the priestess hobbled as fast as she could to Inuyasha and Kagome's hut and began banging on the wooden door, the very framework of the wood shaking with the force of her fist. A sleepy, ebony haired woman opened the door her almond eyes blinking hazily.

"P-Priestess Kaede?" she stammered slowly as the shock started to sink in. Kaede grasped the miko's sleeve impatiently and fearfully.

"Please wake Inuyasha and hurry to the forest with me. Rin hasn't come back yet and I fear for her safety." The elderly woman spoke swiftly and Kagome was suddenly wide awake as she nodded with haste and ran back inside the darkened hut where the priestess heard the hushed whispers as Kagome explained with haste what was going on to her husband. In a few seconds the miko returned to the doorway where Kaede stood, followed by a handsome male half demon with striking gold eyes, long white hair and armed with his sword Tessaiga. Inuyasha nodded to his wife who jumped onto his back as he caught her legs and started running. Kaede ran as fast as her short but sturdy legs could carry her but she knew that if anyone had a chance at finding Rin it was Inuyasha and Kagome.

Brushing past the thick undergrowth, Kaede frantically called the young girl's name but no sweet voice answered her and the horror in Kaede's heart increased tenfold. A bloodcurdling and bone chilling scream of terror broke through the silence of the forest and the fluttering bird which had been poundings its wings inside Kaede's chest stilled and the priestess drew a sharp intake of breath. Something had happened to Rin and by Kami it wasn't good. The priestess's ears suddenly picked up another sound; one of heavy and muffled sobbing and she raced through a clump of trees towards the sound, the sharp and thin branches creating small whip like cuts across her skin which stung terribly. Brushing past shrubs and prickly leaves, Kaede arrived in a clearing and was met with a sight that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Kagome's chest was heaving and her neck was buried in Inuyasha's chest as she sobbed. The strong, salty smell of her tears was bothering the half demon's nose but Inuyasha stayed silent as she wrapped his arms around her, gold eyes grave and solemn. The stench of flash blood made itself known to Kaede's nose and glancing down she saw the cause of Kagome's sorrow. There, reflecting the little moonlight that shone through the thick canopy of leaves above, was a large pool of shining blood. The priestess knelt down, noticing something more than the blood and as she brushed it gently and felt its texture, Kaede withdrew as though she had been burned. For lying in the pool, drenched and stained with blood, was Rin's kimono. Kaede dropped to her knees, bitter tears gathering in her eyes though she refused to let them fall as an aching pain cried mournfully within her chest.

" Rin..." the old priestess whispered as the horror, sorrow and guilt replaced the hope for her beloved apprentice's safely in her heart. The young girl was now no more, just as Kikyo was. Shame pounded within Kaede's soul as she recalled the terrifying demonic presence that she had felt earlier. That must have been the monster that ended her life and the only thing any of the group could do was mourn for her and pray for her journey into the spirit world. Only one question remained. how would she tell Lord Sesshomaru that the young girl that had traveled with him for so long was now reunited with her family in the spirit world? How was she supposed to say that the only human who had shown him neither pity or disgust but only kindness, faith and love was dead?

XxX

" Lord Sesshomaru! Please you must calm down!" Jaken squeaked in fear as he saw the powerful demon lord he admired slay weak demon after weak demon, never stilling the movement of his sword. The normally cold, gold eyes of his master were a wild demonic red and the purple marks were jagged across his cheeks. Once the last demon head had hit the ground with satisfying thump and it's blood spilt onto the already stained grass, the white haired Lord of the West turned without a sound and began to walk away as though a disturbance had not happened in the first place. The toad like imp hurried as fast as he could on his stumpy legs to the heels of his master, the Staff of Two Heads bobbing as the small demon struggled to keep it upright. Deciding he must say something rather than nothing, Jakan hesitantly spoke his reasoning to Sesshomaru.

"Mil Lord? I too grieve Rin's passing greatly but it is no reason for you to lose your temper over something like that. Rin believed your honor was of the utmost importance and I am certain she wouldn't want to lower yourself to the level of your half breed brother and-"

He halted his speech when he caught the cold glare in the golden eyes of his master directed at him.

" I have not lost my temper due to a human Jaken and it would serve you well to remember that. Rin's death is of no concern to me as it should be to you."

The imp opened his mouth to reply but then thought better of it and remained silent. Lord Sesshomaru's icy facade never faded or cracked but within him a turmoil of loathing and self hatred raged.

'None shall ever know of the aching grief you cause me Rin.'

Author's Ending Notes: Freaken hell! This took ages! AND IT'S A PROLOGUE?! Damn me... This is going to take forever to finish :( Hope everyone likes this and doesn't leave anything to negative but I do welcome CONSTRUCTIVE cristisim :) Hope it wasn't rushed!

- Taria