Disclamer!: we do not own Inuyasha, his friends... or his enemies... unfortunatley

A/N: Thank you sooo much to everyone who's reviewed! we really, REALLY appreciate it! Please continue doing so! ;) I will get around to being more specific about people later.... oh yeah. thanks to AtlantaGeorgia, i realized that Sesshomaru hasn't made much of an appearance latley... so i decided to let him show up for a second... :D

Chapter Three: Departure

Kikyo stood at the gates of the grounds her father had disappeared into. She had told him it wasn't a good idea… yet he had been determined to get inside… she sighed, as a breeze blew past her, perhaps, this was part of Rin's destiny…

* * *

Within the castle, the taiyoukai stirred. There was something outside… an intruder most likely. Unfortunately they would most likely be stuck here for a while… everyone who came inside the grounds was… excluding the animals. He cast a glance back at the garden, where he knew the last one's grave was. The only way they could get out, was by being replaced, or dying. The demoness hadn't been one of the patient ones.

"I'm off!" Jaken told his daughters the next afternoon.

"Off to where?" Kagome and Rin chorused, traded incredulous glances.

"To talk with Kikyo's supposed fiancé." Jaken replied in a grumble.

Rin bit her lip to keep from laughing, and Kagome smirked at Kikyo. They both knew that no word had come to their sister for years, from her "beloved"… although, for some reason, Kikyo had never made a fuss about it.

"I shall go too of course." Kikyo announced, getting to her feet.

"No such thing!" Jaken shot at her.

Kikyo picked up her bow and arrow.

"Such thing." She retorted, as she nimbly got up onto their horse, Momo's back, behind her father.

"No!" Jaken disagreed, shaking his head multiple times.

"Yes." Kagome declared, getting to her feet, "Let Kikyo-nee-sama go with you."

Jaken glanced at his three daughters:

The tall beautiful Kikyo, the strong willed Kagome, the cheerful babbler, Rin… two of them decided against him, the youngest just looking surprised.

He sighed. "If you must." He replied, as he looked back at his eldest, before urging the horse to go forward.

As their father and sister, rode out of sight, and off into the sunset, Rin turned curiously to Kagome.

"Kill two birds with one stone." Kagome shrugged in response to Rin's expression.

The next evening, hoof beats could be heard outside their home.

Rin, Kagome, and Inuyasha, had just barely gotten to the doorway, when a paler than normal, Kikyo sprang off the horse, eyes wide. The first one she actually looked in the eyes was Rin.

"Where's father?!" Rin questioned, as she started towards her older sister, with a welcoming look on her face.

"Gone."

As Kikyo finished her story, Inuyasha let out a low whistle.

"If that's the case… I'll go save him." He stated, getting to his feet.

"As far as I could tell, with my spiritual powers… only one of his kin can save him."

Kikyo replied, casting her glance at her two sisters.

"Well… if Kagome and I were to… you know… get m-married…"

Kagome blushed deep red.

"I-Inuyasha…" she breathed looking at him.

"Kagome…" he murmured, grabbing her hand.

Kikyo cleared her throat, ruining their lovey-dovey moment.

"I think direct kin."

"So one of us three." Rin mused.

"Why didn't YOU save him?" Kagome suddenly demanded.

"Me? I-why would I give up my happiness with Naraku-sama to battle a demon?" she burst out.

Kagome rolled her eyes and for once, Rin felt total resentment towards her eldest sister.

"I'll go then." Rin spoke up.

Kikyo blinked, and Kagome stared at her sister in horror.

"No way! You're too… innocent, sweet, and young! I don't know… you probably couldn't kill a demon if you wanted to! No, I will go."

"Kagome, there's no way I'm letting you go by yourself." Inuyasha growled.

"You're not kin! I doubt it'd make any difference." She responded, bitterly, "I'll go, its decided."

"I'm not going to lose you." Inuyasha snapped at her.

Kagome's eyes softened, and she looked at her favorite hanyou with a sad face.

Rin made up her mind then and there. Sure she wasn't as courageous and trained in battle as her sisters, but so what? Who cared that she couldn't shoot an arrow, or use spiritual powers? But there had to be something she could do.

She got to her feet, looking worried, and slowly walked outside, as if wistful.. when she suddenly turned and childishly stuck out her tongue and winked at her family, swung onto Momo's back, and galloped off, into the night….