After the events from last night, it was hard for anyone to believe that the past decade of their lives meant anything at all.
What would have been the point of creating such cheerful memories into their history if it was to all be shattered by a single event? Naraku had always been the treacherous type from what Rin recalled from her youth. She could only imagine how long it had taken him to conjure up such a scheme, and perhaps this had been a part of his plan long before they had even defeated him. If anything, this had to be the truth. Some light had flickered a fraction of this idea into that demon's mind, and as time went on through their previous journey, that piece had grown into what it had become.
A decade long operation to ruin their lives unto the very end.
Not a single person had fallen asleep that evening. Their meeting took place through the nightly hours, and while Kaede took it upon herself to feed them all with a batch of vegetable stew, the rest shared opinions on what they were going to do about their sworn enemy coming back from the dead.
It appeared as though Rin's sudden comment about going after Lord Sesshomaru didn't sit too well. Not a single one of them disliked that guy as much as they had at the beginning, but even someone as kind hearted as Kagome could not agree with the fact that he had abandoned Rin all this time. Words has been shared back then that Sesshomaru would come back to see her, but that never did happen, and while Rin was heartbroken about that, she couldn't help but believe that he had to of had a good reason. There was no way that Sesshomaru would ignore her. Not after all the time and adventures they had together. Even if the man never came to admit such a thing, Rin knew that he cared about her, which is why she could not simply give up on him.
Not like he had done to her.
Long bits of conversation continued through the night, and by the break of dawn, a plan had risen. The old gang would be setting off once again to seek out a way to finally rid the world of Naraku. It would be challenging. No one had any doubts about that, but they had no choice. The Naraku from their past had been one evil man, but he hadn't been invincible. Now it appeared as though he was. He wore an armor of skin that not even Inuyasha could break.
This would take some extensive research, but one thing that they all agreed to was that none of them would give up. Not until they knew with all of their hearts and souls that Naraku had been put down once and for all.
"Are you ready to go, Rin?" While the others were setting off in their own direction in order to find this hopeful information in defeating Naraku, Kohaku took it upon himself to volunteer for the mission of seeing out their former Lord. Rin didn't ask for anyone to join her, but she supposed that having him along would be better than talking to herself. Plus, he had grown in a pretty damn good slayer, so he'd make a good partner out there in the fields.
Nodding her head in an anxious motion, Rin and her single traveling companion waved to the others as they set off on their own journey.
Do we even know where to start looking?
Rin certainly would be the one to keep hope that they would eventually find the dog demon, but from what she could remember from the old days, their group had never settled down in one location for too long. They were always moving. Always out there in the world seeking their victory against Naraku. Rin remembered sleeping under the stars almost every night with a feeling of security knowing that Sesshomaru was watching over her.
He's out there somewhere.
The sound of chirping birds filled in the air around them, which happened to bring Rin into a happier state of mind. Such a beautiful day with the blue skies and shining sun had her almost believing that last night had been some horrid dream. If that was the case, then she wouldn't be out here, weapons on her back, traveling to seek out an old friend, but she could still imagine for the best.
"Hey, Kohaku…" Rin's tone of voice had come out on a rather soft volume, but the young man had caught wind of her words and turned his gaze ever so slightly in her direction to indicate so. "Do you think that if Naraku made himself known to us, that maybe he's also done the same thing to Lord Sesshomaru?"
It would make sense if this was the case.
Back in the day, it had been rumored that only he would be able to take down that callous demon. Sesshomaru, the son of the Great Dog Demon. He had grown into a set of fame all because of who his father was, but Sesshomaru had also become his own man by the end of their journey. He had finally let go of the past, and his anger. That cold hearted demon that everyone once knew became something so much greater, but of course, Rin always saw him as someone filled with kindness. He just had a different way of expressing that.
In any case, Rin figured that if Naraku still held that personality he had back in the day, he would not hold back from running his survival into Sesshomaru's face, and if that happened, then their Lord would be seeking out that demon as well. Eventually, they would have to meet.
"Maybe we should just start looking for Naraku instead."
Rin was in a clear rush to find that golden eyed dog again, but Kohaku had voiced his opinion then with topics of more what ifs. There was a good chance that Naraku had only ended up greeting them the night before, and that Sesshomaru knows nothing of his existence. If this ended up being a fact, then if they started searching for that evil, the one they were really seeking wouldn't show. Not unless by some chance rumor already spread, but Rin had to figure that if Naraku waited over ten years to arise, then he would be careful who he showed his face to. Not many would know just yet of the sinister demon's survival.
Naraku had a plan. A devious one set into action, and they had to figure out what that is.
"You're right." Rin couldn't feel stupid for having hope like she did. That had always been her way. Even as times grew tough, she would not fall to the level of defeat.
After a time which felt close to hours, the two had finally made their way to a village where they hoped they'd find some information as to the whereabouts of their demon friend. This town itself wasn't exactly a capital city, but many people wandered the streets into the various aisles of shops and banquet halls. Way back when as memory served her, Rin recalled this village being along the quieter side where people would happily wave to strangers or give a free meal. But as of now, her eyes took in the sight of tough travelers wearing ink on their arms and smoking like a fire pit. Time had not served this town well, for as the buildings grew, as did the population. Eventually, this whole village grew into sometime similar to a red light district.
This was certainly not the place that they would find their Lord, but if anyone had to know something, they would be here in this location. Rumors traveled here all the time, because men from all over would come to have their fun before going home to their families and such. Rin could not stand the sight of women acting as they did here, but she supposed that everyone had to make a living.
Kohaku and she both fell into agreement that they'd cover far more ground if they happened to split up. They'd meet back at the front gates in about an hours' time, but during those minutes, they'd have to tough it out all on their own.
These days, unless she was back home in Kaede's village, Rin walked around wearing an outfit something similar to that of Sango's old demon slayer uniform, only her's had been set to purely black. This wasn't done in a way to silently share her combat skills with others, but more for the comfort and ease, because having to constantly change from wardrobe to wardrobe in battle and not grew to being irritating. Plus, it worked out for a village like this. Sure men were gazing at the curve of her backside and they shared in the cat calls, but none were approaching her as they would if she were in some traditional kimono. Each man would probably figure that she'd be able to whip their butts into shape if they dared try, or at least this is the reasoning she hoped for.
Rin shared her voice with a few people she had felt were worthy of her approach. Mainly due to the fact that these individuals did not appear to be intoxicated.
It had only taken several conversation with these people for Rin to realize that she may get more information if she went into a few of the buildings. Sure rumors spread, but not as many words were shared on the streets as they were inside the establishments were people grew rowdy.
Bringing herself over towards a red curtain hanging as a door, Rin pulled the fabric aside to face a cloud of smoke. Her lungs didn't appreciate the change into filthy air, but this was something that she needed to do in order to get anywhere in their investigation. Slowly her feet began to move her into the dimly lit hall.
Three lanterns were lit along each wall of the long corridor which took about fifty more paces for her to reach the end. A loud drum of music had been echoing through this place, and Rin figured it'd be best to follow the beat more so than to ignore it, so she would take a left down the hall in follow to these tunes versus the right pathway which had fallen into a dark unlit mist.
The young woman pressed on down this new hall to where she found one more right turn to be ahead of her, and then she had fallen straight into the back room of this establishment. Across the large space her eyes caught large, muscled men sharing in a drink and a laugh with dolled up women catering to their every whim. Tables among tables and cushioned chaired filled up the room, and all of them were full. That polluted air didn't appear to bother a single soul, except for her own, but Rin found herself determined.
With the desire set in mind to chat with someone that worked at this place other than a painted faced woman, Rin found herself walking into the sea of mongrels. She was searching for anyone that appeared like they would be in charge, but as she dove deeper, none fit the bill. The dim candlelight around the room didn't exactly help out her cause either.
"May I help you with something?"
A voice had called out to her in a deep toned voice. Rin caught the words emanating from the space behind her, so as she turned her form to face the caller, her eyes fell into a middle aged man dressed up in some of the flashiest women's clothing. Rin wore an expression of surprise for merely a moment, but she accepted whatever was going on and hoped to fall into a conversation only because this being had been the only one to address her thus far.
"Yes. My name is – "
But this man had suddenly cut her off. A smug grin grew along his painted up lips as the other woman serving his glass lightly giggled into the air as if some joke had been spoken that Rin did not understand. "Please, do join me. My name is Mikoto, and I am the owner here." Those navy eyes of his sized up her body which had Rin feeling slightly uncomfortable especially in this setting, but she had focused on keeping a stern expression on her face. "Clearly you are not one of the new ladies I've hired, so if you wish to speak with me, I'll require that you share in a drink." The man rose his hand in order to gesture towards the cushions set just beside him where women that had been sitting there scooted a few paces over.
Unhappy with what she had gotten herself into, Rin moved her feet sluggishly towards the cushioned spot beside the man, but before she could actually take her seat, his hand had risen up to grip along her thin wrist. With a sudden yank of his strength, her body fell right down onto his lap. Rin had been so caught off guard by the motion, she had no idea that one of the woman around them had taken the swords from her back until Rin's eyes saw them in another woman's arms.
As Rin began to struggle in order to retrieve her things and take her leave, the male's lap she sat upon had felt it was necessary to wrap his arms tightly around her body and hold her to him. "Now, there is no need to be fussy. I am just trying to ensure your comfort."
Rin narrowed her eyes. "Thanks for that, but I'd be far better suited in my own chair."
This man, Mikoto, raised a grin again.
Clearly that request of her's would go unheard. Rin figured that while one of his arms gently ran down the length of her arm. "A woman with such beauty shouldn't be wander into places such as this alone. The men here may catch the wrong idea, and this would be very bad for business, you see." Rin understood then. This painted up male was not coming onto her in any strange way, but instead he was trying an attempt at scaring her into leaving before his intoxicated customers tried to take advantage of her.
With her patients worn very thin, Rin moved in his hold to which he had released her. To show that she wasn't someone to frighten so easily, her body fell into that open cushion beside him. Rin reached out before her towards a small table and poured herself a small sip of the sake. In one fluid motion, the glass came to her lips and she guzzled it all down. "That's very well and all, and trust me, I am not here to stain your business with any misdoings. I'm only seeking information, as you said, so let me ask my questions then I'll be on my way."
Mikoto took a moment to read her words in his head.
After another moment, the woman holding her blades set them near Rin once again as she and the other woman moved to scatter about the room leaving Mikoto to chat with his guest in private. People in this social business had to carry a lot of gossip around with them. It was almost a necessity of their job titles, and this one clearly knew that. "I can't be sure if I will have any answers for you, but please do share."
Rin did not take long at all to talk about the man she was looking for. Someone like Sesshomaru wouldn't be easily forgotten. In sharing her description of this man, a longer story began to unfold about the history that stood between them. Somewhere along the line, Mikoto took it upon himself to question her feelings for this demon seeing as that quite a relationship had built up in their past. All Rin could explain about her emotions were the same as she told herself. Sesshomaru had been almost like a guardian angel to her, and she just needed to find him again and show him that she wasn't in need of his protection anymore. That she had grown up to defend herself.
"I see…" Mikoto poured them both another cup of sake. Rin took hers but didn't drink any of the contents yet. "But do you not believe that if this demon friend of yours cared for your wellbeing then he wouldn't have abandoned you as he did?" This was the same concern all the rest of her friends had had too. Rin hated haring it, but who was she to deny a possibility.
"Maybe that's the case, but it doesn't matter, because my growing up isn't the only thing I need to tell him. Some friends and I, we need his help, so either way, I have to find him."
Rin let that drink travel into her stomach again. As someone who rarely drinks, she was beginning to feel the buzz. It wouldn't be good for her to start seeing blurry visions, so this would be her last glass. When she set the glass down, Mikoto only shared with her what he knew from legend. These stories were something she had heard countless times already. Inuyasha shared a lot of them because he was proud of his father, but Rin didn't need to hear them now. "Unfortunately I can't say that I've heard anything about this Sesshomaru though. Not for some years anyway. Travelers from across the lands come to this town, you see, and many stories stalk the streets. A silvery haired demon is no topic one could easily forget, so I do believe the last case I heard about a male fitting said description would have been set… perhaps five years ago." The story did not hold much weight. All Mikoto knew had been that this rumored demon slaughtered some thieves out on a distant trail. Surely this could have been Sesshomaru, but from five years ago, Rin knew that this would get her nowhere.
Back at the gates of town, Rin found herself alone for only a few minutes before Kohaku arrived. The both of them swapped stories of their travels here in town. Rin's had ended up being very disappointing at the end, but Kohaku caught more of a lead than either would have imagined. Because it grew to be a fact that Kohaku was no longer a skittish child, he was not afraid to ask the tough questions and thrash some skulls to get his answers. With about three fights under his best for this town so far, he learned that an elderly woman living up in the mountains had shared with other travelers that she once gave aid to an injured demon fitting Lord Sesshomaru's description.
"Are you sure?" Rin could only doubt this lead because a man like the one they knew didn't ask for help easily. Actually, Rin didn't ever remember him needing any. Sesshomaru had always been the stubborn type.
Kohaku agreed with this. He had almost dismissed the tale too, until the information arose that this demon had a crescent shaped moon on his forehead.
"How long ago was this?"
"Four weeks."
Rin knew that this time was still a long while, but it was far better than the information she got, so they now knew their next heading. They could only hope they'd get closer to their goal.