***I do not own InuYahsa or any affiliated character***
Chapter 2
Time passes
Six years passed. Rin's life was a good one those years when she was with the innkeeper. At the age of fifteen, she was beginning to draw the eyes of boys and the scorn of the girls. Not that she cared, none that she could call friends and now that she was too old for school she spent all her time working and caring for the inn.
Rin sat and laughed at a story he had been telling over a cup of hot tea.
He stood and she pouted wanting to hear more of his stories. "No more tonight my girl, it gets late fast and we have breakfast to cook early."
She nodded beginning to wash their dishes as he puts out the lights in the dining room.
"Rin, we need to talk, well I need to talk and I need you to listen" She looked over her shoulder while washing and smiled.
"I know you go into the forest." He held up a hand at her small sound of protest. "Rin, the forest is not safe, there are stories about the place. I worry about you, at first, I thought you would grow out of it but you are almost a woman now and need to turn your attention elsewhere."
She raised her eyebrows at him and sighed. She did not like any boy who had asked after her.
"No, no not men I was.. well not that I would be unhappy if... oh well damn. I feel like an old fool. Rin you need more friends, girlfriends. You need to spend time with others."
Again she sighed shaking her head. The closest that any of the other girls had gotten to being her friend were the ones who did not actively harass her. Sitting beside him she took his rough hand in hers smiling up at him, hoping to reassure him.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his graying hair. "Well, I know it's been hard for you here. I just worry about you girl, I am getting on in age and well I guess I just think you should be beyond this." taking both her hands he pleaded with her "Please stop going into the forest my girl."
His eyes looked into her heart and she felt a stab of guilt. What did it matter anyway? So long ago when she was a child she had thought that the pale man knew she was there, that he accepted her small gifts.
She can still see him when she closed her eyes. He is tall. White clothes and silvery white hair would have made him unnoticed in the fog. But his eyes almost shine with a deep gold, a pale face marked with a crescent moon, a double streak under his high cheek bones.
Almost every day of every year since then Rin had walked without fear into the forest. She brought a small basket of food and a flower or two for the pale man that she had only ever seen that one time. Some days she wondered why she continued with her odd self-appointed task of giving him food and flowers. But age was begging to catch up to her, and with age came a harsher reality, one that did not include pale handsome figures.
Rin nodded slowly.
"You Promise me Rin?"
Sitting up a little taller, she smiled brightly nodding to ease his worry.
..0..
She no longer went to the forest as she had promised but even if she had wanted too she would have been unable. Her time working in the inn increased with the passing of time as the Innkeeper seemed to take longer to get over the winter illness and soon she almost ran the place.
She now did almost all of the cooking for the little inn. It was the only local place for the working men to stop and get a drink before going home. At first, they had not been comfortable around her, with her being apparently mute they assumed she could not do her job.
That soon ended when she had proven she was able to hear quite well. Many wise cracks about her and the occasional rude comments were rewarded with glares and once a tray over a head. After that, they seemed to get the clue and left her alone. Making their order and minding their own business.
Rin soon discovered that when people think you cannot speak they will say almost anything around you without fear of you passing it on. Because of this, she heard many tales while serving the men their drinks.
Many talked of their families, some complained about neighbors and others simply complained of the weather.
To her delight, every so often they would speak of the ruins that stood alone on the hill and what they thought lived there. She did not know the legend that surrounded this valley so she would linger in earshot and listen.
"He is a demon for sure, my cousin's son saw him standing atop the old ruin. His eyes gleaming red even from this distance."
"My mother said he was nothing more than a ghost from the most ancient of times. Doomed to haunt this valley for eternity."
"My great grandfather once found an old tablet up at the shrine that said he was under some kind of curse. One that only a virgin could fix." They all snickered at that and Rin rolled her eyes as she refilled their mugs. She was happy in her life and happy with her lot in it. A small part of her wondered about the pale man and if he was even real.
..0..
Sometimes life will knock you completely off our feet; sometimes you fall and rise again to carry on. And sometimes, you never stop falling. Rin felt that feeling of falling when she turned 18.
When the kind old innkeeper died it was so sudden that Rin was left with a hollow place in her heart. The sickness that took him came fast and killed him faster. None knew what it was; the healer shook her head in defeat. The kind monk had tried, but he too had no idea what it was.
Like so long ago when she had first been made an orphan, Rin found her life empty of someone to love and to be loved by. The first days after his death she would sit alone in the kitchen, watching the fire burn low the feeling of loneliness almost overpowering her. Her mind asking her why she never made any friends, why she never walked out with any of the boys who had asked. Not that many had.
The day of the funeral had been hot, the dry weather making everyone leave quickly. Not Rin, she stood at the grave ignoring everyone. When the darkness of night had fallen the kind Monk came to her side. She wanted him to go away. She thought he was going, to say something that he thought was uplifting in a lame attempt to cheer her.
Instead, he simply stood with her, in the darkness he carried a small lantern, not speaking just being there.
When the chill in the air began to get to her she turned to him and offered a shallow smiled. "Are you ready to go home now?"
Nodding she followed him as he lit her path back to the inn.
The funeral was short; she knew almost every face there, all but one man. He was about her height, hair cropped short well built but a look of smugness on his face that she disliked.
Most of the women watched him with wanting eyes. Rin thought he was decent looking but her mind was bogged down with sorrow and so she paid him very little attention. He had arrived not long after the death and had spent time in a nearby home. He spent a long time talking to the mayor and talking to all of the locals but he never tried talking to her.
..0..
Below him, he could see a single light moving slowly across the valley toward the village. The curse was not pulling so he knew it was humans even without smelling them. One he knew was the monk, his holy power felt like lightning in the air. Next to him was a female.
He had witnessed the humans perform their odd ritual of burying their dead; he had seen the many humans leave after the deed was done. Only one stood alone at the grave.
From this distance, he could see her and knew it was a girl. His mind wondered idly if she was the girl who had been once left the gifts in the woods. He had never understood the reason for her action. The food was not necessary, and the flowers an odd token.
He always took them, usually giving Jaken the food. And the flowers? He would never admit to anyone, in fact, he would most likely kill anyone who found out, but each flower had been placed in his privet study high up in the north tower. All of them had dried and withered with time, a few crumbled to nothing, but each had been saved.
He did not know how much he had come to appreciate her small tokens of kindness toward him until the day she had stopped coming to the forest.
It had been a long time since he felt regret. Now as he stood and watched the light move like a firefly through the town he thought that he should have said thank you at least once. He wondered what she would have thought if he had allowed her to see him again.
Now it was no longer relevant, At this distance he could not even tell if it was she, not even able to follow her scent into the human's village it mattered little. The curse forbade him from this part of his domain, all he could do was protect it, and so he watched and wondered if the human girl would ever return.
..0..
When Rin woke the next morning the sound of voices talking pulled her downstairs and into the main room.
The headman was talking to the man who she did not know from the funeral. The mayor looked upset, the other man looked pleased.
"Rin this is the innkeepers nephew, we contacted his family when..." he paused clearly uncomfortable.
"My name is Hayate, you see... um, Rin right?" The man said when the headman seemed disinclined to talk "I have taken ownership of the inn. In a letter to my mother, he told her that he was going to pass the Inn to me when he died so here I am to claim what is mine."
She let the words wash over her like icy ocean water. She looked from the Headman to the other man again, a glare coming to her face.
"Now Rin, his letter is legitimate and since he never said anything about what he would do with his assets when he passed in regard to you..." Again the Headman looked upset but firm "I'm sorry Rin but you have no claim to this place"
Hayate reached out to put a hand on her shoulder "Don't look so upset" he began but she pulled away from him "You may stay here and work like you have, I won't cast you out, I am sure we can work it out"
His voice was oily, his smile false, and his eyes burning with a flame she did not recognize.
"Well then if that is settled, welcome to the town sir and good day to you" he bowed to the man and turned to her "Good day Rin."
She watched as the headman walked away and her heart, as busied and broken as it was shrunk away from the new owner of the inn.
For a time everything was fine. She did her work and he did his. Soon, however, he began to smile and watch her with a hungry fire in his eyes. When he began touching her as they would pass each other in the Inn she began to be afraid. She began to actively avoid his contact.
Hayate seemed to know that she rejected him and he stared treating her worse. He moved her to the downstairs room that was once Danna's. Then he insisted that she should not only make the food but also stay up until the last customer went home and clean up. He began taking to the sake reserves every night before walking out with the different girls in the village. Then he began demanding that she clean his laundry and bedding. Rin hated him but she did not know where else she could go.
And then, one day only a few months after he had taken the inn, she was heading to the barn getting ready to milk the cow when she felt his eyes on her. She glanced back and saw him leaning against the frame of the door a crooked grin on his face.
Her skin crawled and she hurried to her work.
"You know, sometimes you look as stupid as they say you are" she jumped at his voice, surprise making her drop the bucket. He was standing in her way partly blocking the path. "But then there are sometimes when I can see that you are really very smart." Trying to ignore him she tried to move around him and begin her work.
He blocks her path with his arm. "You know I almost kicked you out but I knew the headman would not have been very happy about that. They would have denied my claim to this place and I couldn't have that."
She refused to look at him. Staring at the far wall waiting for him to speak his peace so she can move on.
Instead of leaving, he lingered and then he ran a finger along the edge of her dress at the neckline. "But now that I have come to know you I think another choice has been presented"
She backed away from his touch, bumping into the wall as he advanced closer. "I could have you whenever I want you know, it's not like you could tell anyone, but I'm going to be generous and make you an offer instead. I want you." clearly pleased with his own brilliance he smiled at her, grabbing her wrist.
When his lips hit hers it was a sudden and uncomfortable pressure, his large lips smothering hers as he used his tongue to seek entrance into her mouth. She shoved against him with her free hand making him break the kiss.
He glared down at her standing against the wall cornered. "C'mon Rin I know you are more than old enough" Hayate let her wrist go to wrap his arms around her middle. "Besides a silent wife is a perfect wife," he said laughing at his own joke.
Rin glared up at him giving him a swift kick in the shin. She ran as soon as he buckled under the injury.
As she fled he yelled after her "Damn woman! Don't bother coming back here until you chose to be grateful for my offer."
She wanted to cry, she would never consent to be his especially his. She would seek her own work and find her own place to live.
The day was still early, many people walked around the town on business others simply lingered waiting for the market to open. She looked at each tent being placed; wondering if any would allow her to work. When the gong sounded up on the hill where the shrine stood Rin smiled, an idea coming to her mind.
"What is it child?" asked the kind monk, his blue eyes looked kind, not like others who considered her a girl that was mute and unintelligent.
She suddenly wished that she could speak as freely as others did. She would simply open her mouth and tell him what she needed. But something was wrong with her, she did not know what.
"I know you do not speak, but in order to help you, I must know what you want"
To answer him she picked up the broom that leaned against the door.
"Ahh, you wish to help?"
She smiled and nodded
"What about the Inn? I had heard that the innkeepers nephew had taken ownership but you still worked there?"
A tear fell unbidden from her eye and she shook her head fiercely.
The monk glared over her shoulder "I see, well all right then I will show you what you can help me with" as he wandered the shrine Rin kept her eyes open looking at the etchings on the wall. She knew that they were words but she did not know how to read them.
"You know how to read?" he asked seeing the interest in her eyes
She nodded again very happy that he guessed
"I know you came to school, how long were you there?" the question was directed at himself because he did not expect an answer from her. "Well no matter, I will show you how for your help if you wish. But I will say that to learn one must speak, young Rin why do you never speak?"
She looked from the wall to the monk and back again swallowing hard.
"No worrying over small things my child in time we will address that issue but for a start let me show you the rest of the shrine"
There was not much to show, the shrine was old and very small. With one large room past the main door that housed the statue of their deity, a small antechamber with incense and a smaller statue of a lesser god, and a basement room that was nearly crammed with old records. A more recent addition, built off the small antechamber, had two rooms and a kitchen.
When the sun had begun to set and she showed no interest in going home he wondered. When it became dark and she was only working with far too much enthusiasm he guessed. "Rin are you in need of somewhere to stay?"
She paused in her scrubbing and looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow and emotion. "You are more than welcome here as long as you need a bed."
He showed her to the extra room and then retired to his own bed.
From that day on she cooked and cleaned for him, he would spend hours teaching her and soon she found happiness again.
He never asked her to go into the town for anything; he always stocked the shrine with whatever it needed.
When people would come for healing or comfort she would help him however he might ask.
Her trust in him grew every day as he never judged her silence, or demanded more from than work and companionship. She really felt for the first time that she had finally found a friend.
..0..
The new innkeeper watched the many people pass his door. Going through their boring everyday jobs and chores as the sun beat down on them.
Several of the women, both and young and old, smiled and waved to him coyly. He knew that they admired him, and for more than his good looks, it was more than a small boost to his pride. He knew that they hoped he would choose them.
As the owner of the inn he would be a prize for any of them. Wealth, security and being considered among the most handsome men in the village helped too.
They all tried in vain.
He had been admiring one woman since his arrival. She had hair that was a soft dark brown and beautiful deep eye's of the same color, as well as a figure that made his mouth water and yet she was out of his reach.
Each time he thought of how he had foolishly given her a chance he glared. He should have made her his then. She had denied him, several times since then and he would have pushed his suit farther had she not run to the shrine.
Though the monk was a man, none questioned his honor, the monks many glares directed toward him said louder than words that he would protect the silent girl.
His mind was set, and being a man that liked to get what he wanted, he would bide his time until he could find a way to make her his.
Several men and a single woman walked past up to the inn. He knew them the woman was the baker's wife, the men farmers. "Have you seen my daughter today good sir?"
He knew who she was, one of the many who had all but thrown herself at him. But today?
"I'm sorry not today"
"We are putting together a search she has been missing for several hours and one of the children said they saw her heading into the forest"
He was new here and so had only heard the whispered stories of Demons and curses. But he had a reputation to uphold. "I will help"
Several hours latter nearly all the men had gathered to begin the search at dawn.
The blood was sticky and cold by the time they found the body deep in the forest. All of the men in the village had gone looking for the missing woman at dawn. Looking as far as the beach and even daring to enter the forest that they all feared in their search for her.
Her body was mostly gone. Several of them vomited at the sight but they took what remained and returned her to be buried in the graveyard.
Miroku became deeply concerned at the first death. If the killing was by a wild animal for the sake of food it would not have left her remains. The death looked like it was for fun. The second one, a young man, made him decide to attempt to kill whatever it was that hunted here.
He walked the woods, sutra in hand and ready for a fight. But whatever it was seemed to sense him and avoid his holy power.
Next was a young couple sneaking out at night. When they were found it was on the opposite side of the village from the forest. But still suspicion grew.
Word at the inn grew darker as one and all began to talk of the fortress and the pale man that haunted the valley.
When Miroku would walk to town for supplies the stories could be heard at every corner. When he returned he would tell Rin of them, concern on his face. She wanted to cry. She alone seemed to feel that there was another reason; he had no cause to suddenly choose to kill after years of nothing.
"I am going to seek help Rin," he said one day, it had only been one week since the first death. And Rin had been staying at the shrine all day long, never going out at night.
Her eyes pleaded with him.
He sighed shaking his head. "I have tried to hunt this thing down and do my best to kill it but it eludes me, almost like it knows I am seeking it. I can feel it leave the area and then return when I am gone. I need the help of a professional Demon slayer and I know none would go Rin; I have tried to ask already"
"You will stay here. Do not go out at night, stay away from the village unless it is completely necessary."
Rin did not like it but he would not be swayed. In the end, she watched him walk out of the village seeking help for them all.
Below the shrine, looking out the kitchen window of the inn, the innkeeper watches as the monk disappears into the horizon.
..0..
Sesshomaru looked with anger at the smoldering remains of his fire it mirrored his mood. The curses pull on him was gone for now. But over and over for weeks now it would pull and he would go to remedy the situation only to find that the threat was gone. It was not lesser; it may have even been a demon lord. But it eluded him like smoke in the trees thus far. From the smell he guessed it was a spider. This Demon seemed to know he was limited and would kill only to back away into the distance hills taunting him.
Thunder rolled through the valley, a storm coming.
As the moon reached its zenith it came again. He felt it along the edge of the forest. It was hunting again stalking the village, looking for prey.
The pull was insistent and he knew to resist would only cause a headache. Besides this particular demon was infuriating. He stood and turned to face the pull of the curse.
"Sesshomaru!" The small green toad called after him as he descended the stairs set on killing this night.
He glanced at the toad "What Jaken?"
"Where are you going, my lord?"
"It is coming closer, it hunts. Tonight I will end this."
"Please my lord allow me to accompany you"
"You will remain here, this threat is mine alone to deal with"
"But my lord what if it escapes you again?" for his comment he received a kick. Sadly the comment was not invalid, even though Sesshomaru would never admit it.
But tonight he would be finished with it, he had its scent now and he would track it before it killed again.
As he disappears into the night Jaken huffs and turns to face the two-headed dragon, the only other Demon vassal left to serve his lord.
"What are you looking at?"
The Dragon did not look away with one head as the other watched the gate.
Jaken sighs "Yes the threat is real. It has been many years since a demon of such great power has dared to threaten this valley"
Sesshomaru stalked the night. Clouds covered the sky hanging low ready to let the rain loose. Damn. Rain would inter fear with his sense of smell. It was lurking on the far most border to the east. It knew he was limited and that infuriated him.
Standing in the field just beyond the curses invisible edge was his prey.
The demon was indeed a spider demon and retained a human like form. So he was powerful.
"Lord Sesshomaru I had despaired of ever getting the pleasure of killing you."
"That pleasure will not be yours," He said staring across the clearing at the black haired demon.
The rain was beginning to drip very lightly. The other demon smiled wickedly "Why do you not come at me, great Lord? Could you perhaps be trapped?"
It taunted him. But what it did not seem to know was that while the border was clear he had manage to train himself to push beyond it over the many years. It was not as safe as it thought. Claws extended Sesshomaru charged.
The fight lasted long into the night. The scent of a storm heavy in the air as the spider demon fell to his claw.
When the last beat of its heart fluttered to a stop he let his muscles relax turning with a quick pace back into his invisible cage and fell to his knees. It had been a long time since he fought so hard, being outside the curse domain drew his strength from him. In his weakened state the demon that threatened his domain proved to be a match for him.
A cut across his cheek was the least of his injuries. His side and leg burned and his left arm had lost all feeling. But he was victorious. In the end, he had fulfilled his obligation to the curse, again protecting this small village with its small humans.
He lacked even the ability to return quickly. His steps were heavy as he walked through his forest toward the fortress atop the hill. He would need time to regain his strength.
Lightning flashed and cracked across the night sky. The light it caused making eerie shadows play in the trees as he walked.
His leg thrummed with a dull ache, he paused and leaned against a tree, looking down he saw where the thing had bitten him. An ugly discoloration visible under his skin. Poison.
Looking at his arm he saw another bite. "Damn," He mumbled as he continued toward his home. To heal so many wounds would take some time even for him.
***End.***