Disclaimer: "Inuyasha", its characters, series plots, etc. do not belong to me.

Author's note (11.10.2009): It's been about two months since I've updated. I think I can be forgiven considering the length of this chapter. I hope that everyone enjoys this latest installment. And please provide me feedback, good or bad—I cannot develop as a better writer without commentary on my writing.

As always, happy reading.


Promise
Seventh


As Keirin ran out of the hut and towards Inuyasha's Forest to meet Sesshoumaru, Kagome and Sango watched the teenage girl with knowing grins. "She's most eager today," Sango laughed as she continued hanging up the day's wash on the line. "I don't think I've ever seen her finish her chores so quickly."

"She wouldn't even stay long enough to have lunch before she went. She said that she didn't want to make Sesshoumaru wait any longer than he already has," Kagome smiled in amusement as she fed Yuuma his meal. "I'm glad to see what a good influence Rin-chan has on Sesshoumaru—I still can't get over what he did this morning."

Sango nodded in agreement as she hung a small kimono to dry. "Undoubtedly he did it because of Rin-chan, if not for her. He wouldn't do it for anyone else." Her brown eyes glanced towards the dense forest as Sango murmured, "But I do wonder what she said to make him actually go and commission a sword from Totosai-sama. Rin-chan isn't one to ask something from Sesshoumaru-sama, if anyone at all."

And it's not like Totosai 'jii-san to agree with Sesshoumaru for anything. He must have been very honest about his feelings to get the sword made, Kagome thought with bubbling happiness. "I doubt Rin-chan said anything special," the priestess grinned goofily. "Sesshoumaru was probably just being thoughtful of her and decided to spoil her like he usually does."

"Yeah, well, he better not be making this a habit," Inuyasha grumbled as he sat down beside his wife. Out of habit, he took his full son from Kagome and cradled Yuuma in the crook of his legs. "It's really creepy." Turning to his wife, the disgruntled man told her bluntly, "And get that smile off your face—it's really grossing me out."

"Come on, Inuyasha. He's improving a lot," Kagome pointed out with a sigh. "I mean just remember how bad the two of you were a couple of years ago. There were a few times you were almost killed, not to mention the rest of us. And now the two of you can meet and not break out into a fight—and he's even giving gifts to Yuuma-chan." Standing up, Kagome went to help Sango with the laundry. "It's a good thing that Sesshoumaru's taken interest in Yuuma-chan, albeit a roundabout way."

"Hmph." The dog-eared man turned away from his wife and stubbornly focused his attention on his son.

Deciding on a topic change, Sango asked out loud, "Inuyasha, do you know where my husband went?"

Not looking up from playing with Yuuma, the father answered, "He took the sword to Kaede 'baba to see what they could do about it. If they can't figure out a proper seal for the sword and Yuuma, then I'll have to go to Totosai 'jiji to get everything fixed."

Kagome did her best to fight back her laughter. Despite how you say you don't trust your brother, you're not suspicious at all about the sword that he's given to Yuuma. So what is it, Inuyasha? Do you trust Sesshoumaru or not?

No one said anything for a moment, the only sound being Yuuma's gurgling and laughter. Everyone enjoyed the mild spring day, the warm breezes and rising humidity signaling the coming of summer. It was one of the breezes that conveyed a silent message from the forest to the village. His white ears swiveling forward, Inuyasha suddenly darted his head up. "I smell trouble."

"Huh?"

With Yuuma secured in his arms, Inuyasha suddenly stood on his feet and sniffed the air with a furrowed brow and an annoyed scowl. "Kouga is back."

"What? Already?"

"And he's with Sesshoumaru and Rin." A wave of demon energy shot out from the center of the forest, spreading into the town. Kagome shivered at the sensation while Yuuma burst into tears and wailed. They could hear animals and other sensitive children in the village make noise as the demonic wave passed through. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and flattened his ears while hissing, "Shit, they're going to fight."

It's fine if they stay deep in the forest, Inuyasha thought. But Rin is with them. And knowing those two, they'll get carried away and come closer to the village. And who knows what two pure-blood demons could do from this distance. Handing their son back to Kagome, Inuyasha instructed, "Stay here and out of trouble. Don't come unless I send for you. It'll be too dangerous for humans if Sesshoumaru and Kouga decide to go all out."

Kagome grabbed her husband's crimson sleeve before he took off. "Take care of Rin-chan. And please be safe."

To reassure her, the half-demon kissed his wife gently on the cheek. "Don't worry." Without another word, he leapt into the air and bounded towards and into the forest. As the two women continued to do housework, they could not help but to look towards the mass of trees in concern. Twenty minutes after Inuyasha went in, Keirin emerged from the forest. Sango rushed to her when she noticed the younger girl limping. "Rin-chan!"

"Rin-chan, what happened?" Kagome questioned as she helped Keirin sit on the ground and get off of her bleeding legs.

"Onee-san, Onii-san told me to get you," the teenager said instead. "He said to leave Yuuma-kun and to go to him."

Immediately Kagome picked up her bow and quiver of arrows while untying the sling on her back with Yuuma. The younger mother turned to her friend. "Sango-chan—"

"I've got everything under control here," Sango assured while taking Yuuma from Kagome's arms. "Hurry and go to Inuyasha."

"Thank you." Kagome replaced Yuuma's sling for her quiver of arrows and strung her bow. She tested the bowstring to be sure if its competence. Once sure of that, the young priestess quickly disappeared into the depths of Inuyasha's forest.

Tying Yuuma to her back, Sango quickly rushed into her home and returned with salve for Keirin and began treating the younger girl's injured knees. "What happened out there, Rin-chan? Were you attacked?"

The young lady bit back a yelp as the salve bit and stung the cuts on her legs. Hoping that talk would distract her from the pain, Keirin answered Sango, "Kouga-san appeared while Sesshoumaru-sama was visiting, and I got caught in between their quarrel." Keirin clamped her eyes shut as she tried to ignore the new pain biting through her leg. Once the initial wave subsided, she breathed, "I didn't know that they didn't get along."

"I wasn't aware of that either." Sango frowned while wrapping the wounds with clean bandages. "I never knew that Sesshoumaru-sama and Kouga have ever met before." I'm sure that we would have known, too, if they had met. Kouga tells Kagome-chan everything, and he would surely tell her if he met Inuyasha's older brother. "All right, Rin-chan, we need to get you inside. Your legs aren't that terribly hurt, but with what they've been going through these last weeks, it would best to give them a good rest. Here, put your arm on my shoulder and lean on me."

After some bustling, hopping, and limping, Keirin sat herself down inside on a cot and relaxed near the cooking fire. While Sango went to pour some tea for her, Keirin remarked out loud, "Sesshoumaru-sama seemed to know Kouga-san, and he said something strange."

"Strange?" Sango repeated as she poured tea into two cups.

"Sesshoumaru-sama said something about Kouga-san killing me once."

Sango frowned, wondering also what Sesshoumaru had meant. With the years she had spent with Rin, Sango knew how terrified the girl had been of wolves—after all, Rin had met her death by them. But the former demon slayer had never known that Kouga had been the one to kill Rin. Turning and bringing the tea to the teenager, Sango inquired carefully, "So he attacked Kouga when he approached?"

Keirin shook her head. "Sesshoumaru-sama only attacked after Kouga-san provoked him."

If Sesshoumaru-sama knows that Kouga was responsible for Rin-chan's death years ago, why would he wait until Kouga provoked him to attack? Perhaps because Rin-chan bears no ill will against Kouga...Sango's thoughts were broken as she heard a cacophony approaching her home.

"Neenee!" Hiroki shouted happily as he ran inside. "Neenee, look, look! Flowers! Flowers for you!" The little boy's excitement subsided when he saw his lovely big sister dirty and bandaged. "Neenee?"

"They're very pretty," Keirin smiled, hoping to keep Hiroki from crying. "Where did you find them, Hiroki-kun?"

"Onee-chan, what happened to you?" Haruna gasped as she walked in with a handful of flowers.

"Are you okay, Onee-chan?" Hina asked after her twin sister. She also had a bunch of blossoms to give to Keirin and their mother. "What happened when you went to the forest?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Keirin smiled awkwardly as she held her hands up. "It's nothing, really. I'm fine."

"No go, Neenee," Hiroki cried as he held onto Keirin. He hugged her around the neck, burying his already teary face into her shoulder. "No go away again."

Holding the toddler, Keirin repeated after him, "Again?" She looked up to the twins and Sango, hoping that they could clear up her confusion. "What does he mean by 'again'?"

"When the bandits attacked the village, remember Onee-chan? We thought—we thought you were gone forever, and Chichi-ue said that you were on a long journey and wouldn't come back." Haruna grabbed the edge of Keirin's sleeve and gave the older girl a relieved smile. "But you did come back."

"Onee-chan came back," Hina added while taking Keirin's free hand.

Come back? Where did I come back from? The village has never been under attack…and I've never met them before in my life—I've never been in this time before now. So who are they talking about? The sixteen-year old gazed upward at Sango for explanations.

Seeing that the situation could not be avoided, Sango herded her children out of the hut. "Onee-chan and I are busy right now. I'll call you in when you can talk to her—but right now Haha-ue needs to speak with her alone. Understand?"

Her youngest child gazed at her with bright hope in his brown eyes. "Neenee stay?"

Not wanting to lie to her precious son, Sango compromised with, "She'll be here when you get back, Hiroki. Now go." Hina and Haruna took their little brother by his hand and left the hut. The three informed their mother they would wait with Kaede 'baa-sama until she called for them.

Once the children were gone and out of earshot, Keirin inquired, "Sango-san, what do they mean by 'came back'?"

Where is everyone? Don't tell me that I have to tell her by myself! "They're confusing you with that girl that died, remember? You look a lot like her." The former demon-slayer hoped to stall for more time. Maybe her husband would return to back her up with this difficult situation?

"No, it's more than that. All of you—even Sesshoumaru-sama—you sometimes say these strange things, as if I should know what you're talking about. But I don't. I look like her…and her name must have been Rin, I understand that. But…" Thinking back, Keirin realized why everyone called her by her nickname with ease, how Jaken had known her name before they had even met, how Sesshoumaru seemed to know her without much effort…"You all think that I'm her, that girl returned from the dead."

When Sango made no effort to deny it, Keirin had to order herself to remain calm. "Why didn't anyone say anything?"

"We were worried about you," Inuyasha answered as he entered the hut. "We didn't want to hurt your feelings or have you think that we were just being nice to you because we thought you were Rin." He turned to Sango. "Has Kagome come back yet?"

The woman breathed a sigh of relief, glad she would not have to face Keirin alone. Shaking her head, she answered Inuyasha, "I thought she was with you?"

"She went to have a talk with Kouga alone. Tch," he clucked his tongue while looking outward in the direction his wife had gone with Kouga. "I guess it's taking her a while to explain things to that damn wolf."

Kagome then returned but froze at the doorway when she felt the heaviness in the atmosphere. Gazing around at the tense expressions, she asked, "What happened?"

Jabbing his thumb in Keirin's direction, Inuyasha said, "She knows."

"Did you tell her?"

"No," Sango answered for them. "Sesshoumaru-sama said something to her…"

"And she figured it out on her own."

Kagome frowned at the news. What must she be feeling right now? I'm sure that she feels a little betrayed by us…by him. I would know that feeling, being considered someone I'm not. I'm sure she's not feeling any different. "I'm sorry, Rin-chan," the priestess apologized. "We should have told you. We were afraid of how you would react. It's not a good excuse, but we just wanted you to be yourself without it hanging over your head."

The sixteen-year old's silence bothered everyone; and when she finally said something, they mentally sighed in relief. At least she's still willing to talk.

"What—what was she like?" Keirin questioned quietly.

"In all honestly," Kagome started gently for everyone, "she was very much like you—only her history was different."

"We don't really know much about Rin-chan's past, other than the things that she told us while she stayed with us in the village," Sango added with a nod.

"When she first moved into the village with Kaede 'baa-sama, she told us a little about what her life was like before…" Before she met Sesshoumaru, Kagome thought with a grimace. How is Keirin going to feel knowing that Rin categorized her life according to Sesshoumaru?

"Her mother, father, and brothers were killed by bandits in front of her when she was very young—she went mute from the trauma. Her village kept her around because they pitied her, but they treated her badly," Sango explained. Anger rose in her heart, the same anger she had felt when Rin had first told her life story. How can people be so cruel to a child, an orphan of seven years no less? Rin was amazing to have survived for so long by herself. "And then one day wolves attacked the village and killed her. But Sesshoumaru-sama revived her with Tenseiga. After that, she began traveling with him. We don't know much about the time she spent with Sesshoumaru-sama. She didn't talk about that much. We only got to know Rin-chan after she started living in the village."

"I can tell you about Rin during that time," a small voice croaked from the corner.

That was when everyone noticed a little green imp sitting dejectedly in a corner. Irritated, Inuyasha grabbed Jaken by the back of his robes and demanded, "What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were with Sesshoumaru?"

"Stupid humans, I've been here all along!" Jaken snapped as he shook himself free from Inuyasha's hold.

And that in fact was very true. When Sesshoumaru had first appeared in the village that morning, Jaken had jumped off the mokomoko and had silently waited while his lord and Inuyasha spoke. And then before Jaken could follow, Sesshoumaru went away to wait for Rin. Knowing that his master would not go very far until after his visit with the human girl, Jaken went to Edo to wait. He had followed Inuyasha into his own home and had sat in the corner—later following them to Sango's home—surprised and hurt that no one had noticed his presence until now. But he would show them now how important he, the great Jaken, truly was!

"Anyway, what that demon slayer said is true—wolves did take your life when you were but a little girl," the green imp nodded with his eyes closed knowingly. "Being as benevolent as he is, Sesshoumaru-sama granted you a second chance at life and revived you with Tenseiga. After that, like some odd human brat, you kept following Sesshoumaru-sama around. And how dependent you were!" Slapping a hand on his wrinkled forehead, Jaken groaned at the memories. "Granted Sesshoumaru-sama had you find your own food, but he most graciously supplied you with Ah-Un so you could keep up with us. And he replaced those stinky rags you wore for clothes with the best silks anyone, be he human or demon, could ask for. Honestly, sometimes you were more trouble than you were worth!" the toad demon snorted.

He actually got that dragon for Rin? Inuyasha tried to grasp the concept in his mind; but no matter how hard he tried, he could not imagine his heartless half-brother doing a genuine act of kindness for some human girl he did not know. That bastard got a dragon for her and replaced all her clothes—not to mention continually showering her with gifts afterwards. Man, for her to get Sesshoumaru to do such things…Rin was far more important than I thought.

"Was…Was Rin very happy?" Keirin asked haltingly.

"Are you kidding me? There was nothing else that you wanted! All you ever did was obey Sesshoumaru-sama and follow him," Jaken sighed. Indeed, you didn't even listen to me a quarter as much as you did Sesshoumaru-sama. You human brat! "You hated being with other humans and you preferred staying with demons. Nothing could have separated you from Sesshoumaru-sama's side. Well, you should feel that way considering Sesshoumaru-sama rescued you from the dead a second time."

"A second time?" Everyone raised their brows at this, never having heard this story from the Rin of the past. When had Sesshoumaru raised her from the dead a second time? He had said so himself that Tenseiga could only revive someone from the dead once, and therefore he could not save Rin months ago; so why did Jaken's story say otherwise?

"But I thought Tenseiga could revive the dead only once?" Sango inquired, her voice hinting at the question that everyone asked as well.

"Yes, it can only revive a soul once from the dead—but Sesshoumaru-sama didn't use Tenseiga," Jaken said with self-importance. "This brat here got dragged down into Hell and became the Master of Hell's prisoner. Using Tenseiga's power, Sesshoumaru-sama created a pathway into Hell, bravely followed after her, and rescued her pitiful life again." At the memories, Jaken frowned at Keirin with tears in his eyes. Hastily he blinked them away and remarked smartly, "For initially being a small experiment for Tenseiga, you've become irritatingly important to Sesshoumaru-sama. Why, on more than one occasion Sesshoumaru-sama gave up his pursuit for Naraku because of you!"

Through her stay in the feudal era, Keirin had heard story upon story about the evil half-demon Naraku and the uncountable amount of suffering and sadness he had caused everyone. Jaken himself had even told Keirin about how Naraku had challeneged Sesshoumaru several times, the heartless half-demon making a point to humiliate the dog demon lord. So for Keirin to hear that Sesshoumaru had given up restoring his honor for the sake of a little human girl on more than one occasion spoke volumes about Sesshoumaru's regard for this Rin. "Jaken-san, do I really look like Rin?"

"Keh, who else would you be? You look like her, you sound like her, you act like her—" He sniffed at her clothing. "You even smell like her!"

"So…I'm the reincarnation of that Rin? Sesshoumaru-sama had no interest in me other than to find his ward?" Keirin gazed around the hut to gage everyone's expressions, their silent truthful answers. "Is that all he sees in me?"

"You impudent human! Do you need anything more from Sesshoumaru-sama other than his kind regard?" A waterfall of tears poured from Jaken's buggy eyes. "If only Sesshoumaru-sama minded me half as much as he does you! Oh, all my centuries of service would then be made worthwhile!"

Ignoring Jaken's outbursts and raptures about Sesshoumaru, Kagome assured the young girl, "Rin-chan, we told you that we believe that you're a reincarnation—but that doesn't mean we would have treated you any different. I think Sesshoumaru is the same—he wouldn't have treated you any other way."

"But he doesn't like humans, does he? There's no way Sesshoumaru-sama would have approached me if he didn't think I was Rin. He couldn't differentiate me from her, could he?"

"You have to understand. It's…it's difficult for him. He was her protector, her family. Especially when you look so much like her and share so many similarities, it's hard to—"

"There's no proof that I'm Rin!"

"You look like her," Inuyasha said gruffly with his arms crossed. "And your scent is exactly the same."

"It's all coincidence—you just might think that I look like her. And my scent could be similar to hers."

"I can't believe I'm saying this in his defense," the half-demon groaned, "but that's why Sesshoumaru spent so much time trying to get to know you. He wanted to know who you really were!" You matter so much to him…can't you at least understand that?

"I don't belong here." Keirin stood up and moved towards the doorway.

"Where are you going now?" Inuyasha and Jaken demanded angrily together.

"To the well."

"No, you're not." Glaring at her with his molten gold eyes, Inuyasha forcefully sat the girl back down and reprimanded, "You're hurt, you're angry, and you reek of good human blood. You're staying right here to heal your damn self and to cool your damn head down. There was enough trouble already today—we don't need to be having anymore."

"But—"

"Shut it. No argument. If you don't like it, then just go to bed now until tomorrow morning." Inuyasha then turned to Jaken and told him, "Go tell my damn brother that he needs to get lost. I can still smell him lurking in the forest. He can come back when she—" He nodded towards Keirin. "—decides that she wants to see his bastard self again."

As directed, Jaken went off to find Sesshoumaru, but not without a few choice words for Inuyasha calling his master a bastard. Keirin had her wounds treated again and changed her kimono before Inuyasha carried her to his home. She did not say a word to him or Kagome, and she did as the half-demon ordered: she went straight to bed to wait for the next day.


"One, two, three—go!"

THUD!

Damn it, again.

Silently, Keirin collected herself and began the tiresome climb back to the top of the well. Having done this over and over again for three days straight, she had become an expert climbing out of the well on her own. There were grooves in the dirt walls, handholds and footholds, from where she had repeatedly climbed.

Try again. Wish yourself home, she thought when she reached the well's edge. Looking down into the darkness, Keirin prepared to throw herself back in.

"What are you doing?" a deep voice demanded. Ten feet away Sesshoumaru stood warily. He observed the girl's dirty and slightly torn kimono and the smudges of mud all over her face, hands, and hair. She reeked of soil and sweat, her cheeks flushed from exertion. How long had she been at this well? Had she just climbed up from its bottom? Had she fallen in earlier?

Why is she here?

Keirin did not even bother to glance at the great demon while she muttered, "I want to go back home."

A strange sensation overtook Sesshoumaru, a sensation he experienced rarely but always because of Rin: fear. "Home?"

"I don't want to be here anymore," Keirin answered tonelessly. "I'm tired of this time period. I'm tired of living in the rough. I want to go back to my present." She pushed herself off the edge again and into the emptiness; however, Sesshoumaru caught her body, lifted her off the well, and set her feet firmly on the ground.

She wriggled in his hands, wanting to be free of him. "Let go of me!"

"Rin—"

"I'm not Rin!" The sixteen-year old backed away from him, an action that cut Seshomaru deeper than he would have ever anticipated. As she tried to balance herself on her one injured leg and her slightly better one, the girl shouted, "My name is Keirin—Asagao Keirin! I have a mother and father and an older brother back at home, alive! They weren't killed by bandits when I was little! I have a family and friends—I have people waiting for me back home. I'm not that girl you rescued from the wolves, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Tears fell from her downcast eyes. "I thought that you cared about me. But you weren't looking at me at all." Keirin hobbled towards the well and fell forward, only to be caught in Sesshoumaru's arms again.

"Let me go!" Keirin yelled while squirming in his hold. "Let me go!"

I don't want your pity anymore!

Ignoring her demands, Sesshoumaru held onto the teenage girl with a strong grip. After five minutes, he tired of her struggling and thus commanded sternly, "Stop."

Involuntarily, Keirin obeyed Sesshoumaru's voice. When she realized her actions or lack thereof, she felt furious with herself. Why did Keirin always listen to him? Why do I listen to his every order? The others said that Rin obeyed Sesshoumaru-sama to letter…but I'm not her. So why can't I help myself?

Seeing her calm, Sesshoumaru started, "Rin—"

"I'm not—"

"Rin."

The finality in his voice silenced her.

"Your sudden change of heart perplexes this Sesshoumaru." To even think about admitting such a statement to anyone embarrassed the dog demon; however he felt no such shame with this slip of a human girl. Admitting the truth to her had never been a problem; and even now he could be completely honest with only her. "What have you been thinking these last three days that I was gone?"

What can I say? Keirin thought with a frown. I'm hurt…I'm hurt that he thinks only of Rin when he sees me. I don't want him to only think of Rin—I want him to think of me. I want to go home. I miss everyone, and I'm tired of feeling this way. I don't want to see Sesshoumaru-sama anymore…but I still do…

"Do you recall the time you told this Sesshoumaru about your lifelong search?" When he saw Keirin's confused expression, the great demon reminded her, "You told this Sesshoumaru that you have been searching for someone all your life, constantly seeking him but never finding him. And only now has your desire subsided. Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps this Sesshoumaru is the reason you fell through the well?"

He was the reason? But how did that have anything to do with the subject before? "Sesshoumaru-sama…"

"Do you remember what you told this Sesshoumaru in your last life?"

Keirin frowned at the mention of her "previous incarnate." Why was Sesshoumaru bunching Keirin with Rin when that was exactly what she disagreed with?

"Before you died, Rin, you asked if you could stay with this Sesshoumaru forever." Intense molten gold bore into innocent brown pools. "You promised to return to me."

So he's saying that the one I've been searching for is him…and the reason I needed to find him was because of a promise Rin made? "But I'm not her," Keirin argued firmly. One way or another, she would make Sesshoumaru understand this. "I don't remember anything that you're talking about—it can't have been me that made you that promise."

Sesshoumaru would not be outdone by a human; he would not surrender his argument either. Going beyond his comfort and characteristic stoicism, he pressed, "Even if you do not have any memory of your past life, this Sesshoumaru knows that your soul is the same—you are the Rin from the past."

Keirin wanted to argue, but the rustling behind her kept her from responding. "Eh, look, it's that human girl with the odd scent." Twenty different demons appeared from the shadows and underbrush, surrounding the pair with glowing greedy eyes. "The rumors must be true then," a large ogre rumbled darkly. A number of specters agreed with him, all of them remarking about what they had heard on their way here.

"A great demon has been defending her religiously as of late. As payment, she gives him blood to drink. Her blood will heal you of any wound."

"That damn half-demon Inuyasha has been protecting her in his village. He knows by her sweet scent that she'll be delicious. You'll be granted powers from her flesh."

"As a pure maiden, her liver will extend your life."

"She'll definitely make a tasty meal," a spider demon hissed maliciously.

"Leave," Sesshoumaru growled at the unwelcome intruders. Why did so many useless creatures exist to interrupt him? Would he never have a complete moment with Rin alone? Is this our fate until the end of time?

"Keh, not without the girl."

"Then to Hell you go." Without so much as a warning, Sesshoumaru stretched his arm and used his claws to forever silence the annoyances. When three of their comrades fell, the other demons launched themselves together as a mass attack. Effortlessly Sesshoumaru lifted Keirin into his arms and leapt into the air to dodge the ambush. With his free right hand, he fell one opponent after another while protecting the girl. As the dog demon lord cut down every offending apparition and ogre, he wondered if this conflict was a premonition of the future. Will I defend Rin like this for the rest of her life? There will be days when she is not immediately by my side—like the time she was killed. What will happen to her then? Will she finally forever pass on to the next World, never to be seen again?

As his thoughts distracted him, Sesshoumaru missed two demons coming at him from behind. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Watch out!" Keirin shrieked as she clutched to him tightly.

With not enough time to completely defend the girl and safely fight the oncoming attackers, Sesshoumaru did not listen to her and kept his back to his enemies. Only after they sank their teeth into his body did Sesshoumaru slash their bodies to ribbons. He used his long sleeves to protect Keirin from the toxic blood splattered by the bursting flesh and organs.

Why? Keirin gazed upwards at Sesshoumaru from beneath his hakama sleeves. Why didn't he turn to attack them? Why did Sesshoumaru-sama allow himself to be touched?

It's because he cares about you.

He cares about me like he cares for a pet, Keirin argued with herself. Isn't that what Jaken-san said? Sesshoumaru-sama used Rin as an experiment for Tenseiga. She was nothing more than a pet to him.

Jaken-san also said that initially she was an experiment, her inner voice argued in return. And then she became very important to Sesshoumaru-sama—didn't the others say they became family?

Pets become family all the time.

Keirin's conscience laughed at herself. Would you go into the depths of Hell for a pet?

Floating to the ground, Sesshoumaru drew Bakusaiga from its sheath and gave one mighty swing towards the demons in front of him. Immediately after, he swung his powerful blade left, right, and behind him and patiently watched his enemies disintegrate and infect others with Bakusaiga's destructive powers. Those unaffected by the sword's abilities ran away, unwilling to fight a great dog demon for the life of one puny human. Granted, her value was now greater than ever. But what they would actually gain from her did not cancel out what they lose in attaining her.

When Sesshoumaru finally felt sure that he and Keirin were once more alone, he placed the girl back onto the ground and took a seat against a nearby tree. Surprised by the lord's uncharacteristic show of fatigue, Keirin inquired as she touched his right sleeve, "Sesshoumaru-sama, are you all right?" She gasped at the crimson staining her hands and his clothes. "Sesshoumaru-sama, you're wounded!" She searched for an edge on her kimono to start a tear, but a large hand stopped her, as well as a pointed glare.

"This Sesshoumaru is fine."

His cold attitude and response reminded Keirin of a similar time, a long time ago.

"Mind your own business—I don't like human food."

"Don't bother."

"What happened to your face?...You don't have to say if you don't want to."

Why is this attitude so familiar? Has Sesshoumaru-sama said this before? Shaking her head away from her thoughts, Keirin argued, "But—"

"No."

Finding that she could not stand up against him and feeling hopelessly guilty about his condition, Keirin collapsed onto her knees and tried to wipe away her forming tears. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. This is my fault. If you weren't protecting me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt!"

He did not bother correcting her since what she said was true; but he could not abide her to be in low spirits, so he compromised with, "This Sesshoumaru will do what he has always done for you, Rin. You will always be protected."

Always: he would not change, even if she did. That was Sesshoumaru's implication. He, in regards to Keirin, would remain the same no matter how much she changed. Overwhelmed with emotion, Keirin could not say anything else amidst her tears but, "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama."

So very different, the white-haired demon thought as he allowed Keirin to hold his hand. But all the while the same. You're Rin's reincarnation, there's no doubt…but you are not Rin. And so Sesshoumaru made a decision. "You have no concept of survival."

Jerking her teary gaze upward, Keirin asked, "What?"

"You have no concept of survival," Sesshoumaru repeated tonelessly. "Rin of the past could survive here. She grew up here and knew what she had to do to survive. You, however, do not." The fair-haired demon pushed Keirin away. "You must return."

"But I—"

"You kept your promise," he whispered. "You did as you said and came back—that is enough."

Keirin did not understand. Why is Sesshoumaru-sama pushing me away now? What is it that I've done wrong now? "I also promised to stay by your side forever. Isn't that what you said earlier, Sesshoumaru-sama? Why the sudden change of heart? Why am I being sent away?"

Familiar feelings of abandonment and desperation invaded her heart.

Don't leave me behind!

A moment flashed through Keirin's mind, an eight-year old girl clinging to Sesshoumaru's sleeve, crying, "Sesshoumaru-sama, why do I have to stay in the village? Am I not allowed to follow you anymore?"

Sensing her growing panic, Sesshoumaru beckoned Keirin nearer and had her sit beside him. Resting a hand on top of her head, he pulled her close to him. Through her anxiety, his anchoring voice assured her, "By my side you will remain, but in your time."

"My time?"

"This Sesshoumaru will find you there, Rin. And there this Sesshoumaru expects you to keep your promise when we meet again."

Smiling in understanding, she nodded with tears in her eyes. "No matter where you are or how much time passes, I will find a way back to Sesshoumaru-sama's side. No matter where or when, I will always come back to Sesshoumaru-sama. I will wait for you forever."

Forever, Sesshoumaru mused as he remembered Rin's first vow.


The next morning, everyone stood by the Bone Eater Well to bid Keirin goodbye.

"Are you sure about leaving so soon?" Kagome asked in concern. "You sure you don't need another day to rest?" Yuuma peeked over his bundling to give the sixteen-year old a toothy grin.

"I'm fine, Onee-san," Keirin assured with the brightest smile. "I'm all right. Besides, I shouldn't procrastinate about getting back to my time. I'm sure everyone is worried about me."

"I'll miss you," Kagome said while she hugged the teen.

Sango nodded in agreement as she also embraced the younger woman. "I wish we could meet again someday."

"Maybe we will. Life is unpredictable, so you never know. But I'm sure I'll see you again someday somewhere." Keirin smiled to prompt happier faces on the two women. "I'm sorry about how I've acted these last few days. I'm very grateful for everything that you've done for me, and I won't forget anything." Turning towards Kagome and Inuyasha, she charged, "Take care of Yuuma-kun, Onee-san, Onii-san. I want to hear legends about him when I get home. I want to see him become famous, ne?" She then turned her attention towards Sango and Miroku. "Miroku-san, please be good to your wife. And I hope you will find the strength to keep up with all of your children and husband, Sango-san. You have a lot of work ahead of you."

"Thank you, Rin-chan," Sango kissed her on the cheek.

The twins and Hiroki clutched at Keirin's kimono, each of them with tear-stained cheeks and dripping noses. "Onee-chan, don't go," Haruna begged.

The other twin reached for Keirin's hands. "Please don't go away again, Onee-chan."

"Neenee, stay," Hiroki sniffled.

Keirin's heart broke to see the children torn-up over her leaving, but she knew she could not stay; she did not belong here. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry that I have to leave you three. But I need to go back. My family misses me too." She hugged them fiercely as she tried to fight against her own tears. "But I won't ever forget any of you. I'll always remember you."

"Onee-chan…"

Pulling away, Keirin touched the tips of their noses and beamed at them. "Hey, this isn't the end, right? I'm alive and well, and who knows? We might actually get to meet again. So if we do, I'll need you to be grown up and be good people like your mother and father. Do you think you can do that?"

Hina and Haruna nodded.

"We'll become strong women like Haha-ue."

"And we'll get husbands that might play with other women but love us the best."

"He'll have to be able to take a good beating though," Haruna reminded her twin.

"And know how well to treat us when they're trying to apologize for being caught flirting with other women," Hina nodded.

"Ah, just like Haha-ue and Chichi-ue."

"Oi, oi," Miroku grinned awkwardly as a bead of sweat ran down his face. He tried ignoring the meaningful glares his wife shot at him.

Relieved to see the children's tears and doleful expressions gone, Keirin smiled at Inuyasha. "Will you make sure that Sesshoumaru-sama isn't lonely when I'm gone?"

Snorting, Inuyasha demanded, "Are you still worrying over that mean bastard? He didn't even come over to tell you goodbye."

"Ne, you know as well as I do that isn't true," Keirin giggled behind her sleeves. She added in a whisper, "I know you can smell him in the wind. You've been edgy since you caught his scent, Onii-san."

Damn it, she knew. Seeing no point in denying it, Inuyasha softened his expression and explained lamely, "I just can't see how you can care about that bastard so much, that's all." He gazed at Keirin forlornly. "Why don't you just stay here?"

Why don't you stay here with us, with him?

"I don't belong here…I don't have a future here like Onee-san. And besides, Sesshoumaru-sama ordered me to return." Despite how cruel that order sounded, Keirin beamed with the brightest smile Inuyasha had ever seen: the type Rin had given him numerous times in the past. "I can't ever disobey him."

Indeed, Keirin could never go against his elder brother's wishes; definitely that much remained the same from her past personality. Seeing it fruitless to attempt convincing her to stay, Inuyasha lightly chucked the bottom of younger girl's chin and fondly told her, "Well, take care, you brat. Stay out of trouble in your time, all right? You won't have your great Onii-san to save your ass anymore over there."

"I'll be good."

"Rin! Rin! RIN!" Jaken bolted out of the woods, his arms waving frantically in the air. "Rin, are you leaving?" he screeched.

"Jaken-san!" Keirin grinned and waited for him, allowing the little imp to catch his breath before she spoke. "Yes, I'll be going now. I'm sorry about the trouble I gave you while I was here. I'm so glad that I met you, Jaken-san. I hope that we'll meet again in the future."

His buggy eyes larger and rounder than usual with fat tears, Jaken sobbed pathetically, "Why do you have to go?"

"Ne, Sesshoumaru-sama can't become all-powerful with me constantly underfoot, can he?" the human said with a cute tilt of her head. "And it might take a while for him to accomplish that…so I'll wait for both of you in the future. I'll patiently wait for Sesshoumaru-sama and Jaken-san in the future and rejoin you without bringing too much trouble."

Wiping his snot away with the back of his sleeve, the small retainer grumbled, "Stupid girl—who would miss someone like you?" Used to his contrary behavior, Keirin hugged Jaken. Unable to win against her affection, Jaken held onto the girl and cried, unhappy that his little friend would leave him again.

After finally consoling Jaken enough to quiet his wailing into intermittent sobs, Keirin stepped forward towards the well. She adjusted the large sack of gifts that she was taking back on her shoulder while she positioned herself for the leap of faith. Just before she jumped into the well, Keirin looked back towards the darkness of the trees. Hidden in the patches of shadow and sunlight, a tall, fair figure stood. Quietly the young lady whispered to the wind, "I'll be waiting for you, Sesshoumaru-sama. I promise."

When the form shifted, she knew that he had heard her.

Taking a deep breath, Keirin closed her eyes and wished without regret or distracting desires to return home; and this time she knew she had her Sesshoumaru-sama's blessing as well. Fearlessly she stepped off the well's edge and leapt into the darkness of time.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, you're here…"

"I'm scared, Sesshoumaru-sama. I'm scared of not being with you… I wanted to be with you forever… Rin wanted to be with Sesshoumaru-sama forever."

"May I return to you and try staying with you forever? May Rin promise to return to be with you forever?"

I will see you again, Keirin swore as she felt time pass by and flow through her. I'll be by your side forever. She felt her body drop and land on a cushion of wishing papers. When she opened her eyes and stared upward towards a darkened ceiling of wooden rafters lit dimly with paper lanterns, she knew she had returned to present time Japan.

"Rin! Rin, are you down there?" she saw Souta yell from the top.

"Ah!" she shouted back up.

"Hold on a second! I'm throwing down a ladder now." His head disappeared for a moment, soon afterward reappearing with a rope ladder in his hands. "Watch out! I'm letting the ladder go now!"

As she climbed out, Souta anxiously stood by waiting for her. "Are you all right?" Souta asked as he helped Keirin out with the final heave over the well's edge.

"Un, thank you, Kusa." She held his hand to steady herself. "I'm all right."

"Rin, you should be a little more careful," the older boy warned her. He then noticed the silk brocaded pack on her back and wondered at its contents. Had she had that with her earlier?

"I'm sorry," she apologized. She then reached into her yukata sleeves and pulled out a scroll. "These are for you and your family."

"What is it?"

Keirin smiled. "They're letters from Kagome 'nee-san."

Souta stared at the scroll with wide eyes. Understanding lit his face into a smile as he nodded. "Thank you, Rin. Here, let me hold that for you." The young man helped her remove the pack from Keirin's back and held it between them: just in time, as Chisato burst into the well's shrine in a panic.

"Rin, are you okay?" Chisato demanded as she approached. The other girls came with her. "When we realized you weren't with us during the fireworks, we looked everywhere. And you weren't answering your cell phone! We're lucky that Kusa noticed you were missing right away—even luckier he knew where to find you. It's almost like you were connected."

"Sen, it's not like that, really," Souta reassured. "Someone came up to me and told me he saw Rin fall in."

"Yeah," Miki remembered while looking right and left. "Where did he go?"

Playing up the part of a friend that actually believed his friend had fallen down a well instead of through time, Souta strongly suggested, "Hey, let's go to my house and see if you're all right. Falling from this height, you could have hurt yourself. We should just check to make sure."

Forgetting her situation, Keirin told him, "Everyone's wishes broke my fall. I'm okay, really."

"Hey," Naoko exclaimed as she got a good look of Keirin, "weren't you wearing a yukata with sunflowers?"

Oh, no, I was wearing my yellow yukata with sunflowers, Keirin realized in panic. She had not expected to arrive in the present so soon after she had disappeared into the past. And even if she had anticipated such an arrival, she could not have worn her old yukata; it had been completely ruined during her first escape from a demon.

"Where did this nice yukata come from?" Asami demanded haughtily as she observed her friend meticulously. "You definitely weren't wearing something like this earlier. And your hair is arranged differently…"

"Rin, now," Souta ordered as he pulled the girl away. He had predicted that something like this would happen. Thus, he needed to get Keirin inside, away from everyone's prying questions. "Just because you think you're okay doesn't mean that you are. I'll have my mother look over you before we decide if we have to send you to the hospital." He turned to the other girls and asked them gently, "Could you tell Rin's parents that she's going to stay here for the night? She'll go back straight home tomorrow, but for tonight I think it'll be safer if she stays put until we're sure about her condition." Souta looked to Asami, knowing that she would take his words to heart. "Please, as a favor for me?"

"Ah, okay. Of course, Higurashi-kun!" the curly-haired girl squealed. She grabbed Naoko and Miki to follow her beloved's orders.

Souta grabbed Chisato's hand before she could leave with the others. "Um, Sen, would it be okay if you stayed with Rin? She might feel more comfortable with you around."

"Do you think you guys can handle it?" When Naoko and Miki assured her that they would take care of everything—including Asami's crazy behavior and zeal—Chisato gave them a bow in thanks and promised that she would tell them of Keirin's status in the morning.

With that settled, Souta led Keirin and Chisato towards his home, where the two girls would stay in the spare room they usually stayed in. And in the morning, Souta and Chisato would hear the truth about Keirin's trip down the well.


As she made the final adjustments to her appearance, Keirin laughed at herself in the mirror. Before going back in time, she had needed her mother's help to put on a yukata or kimono properly; now, she could manage the task by herself, probably even better than most people in Japan. She could even pull up, twist, and pin her hair in place fashionably and without trouble. Her reflection was an image of neat, noble perfection—what a lady should look like if she wanted to stand by Sesshoumaru.

"Where did you get all of this?" Chisato asked as she walked into the bedroom from the bathroom. Unlike Keirin, Chisato had only woken up fifteen minutes ago and had just finished brushing her teeth and washing her face and still wore her pajamas. "And did you do that all by yourself? You look like you're about to go to the matchmaker."

Touching the embroidered pink flowers against the blue silk, Keirin murmured, "Heh, sorry, it's a habit now."

"What?"

"Ah, it's nothing," Keirin shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Just get dressed, and let's go downstairs together. I'll explain everything to everyone at once."

"Okay." Chisato quickly dressed herself, all the while thinking, What happened to Rin? What happened to her those thirty minutes she was missing?

Once ready, the two teenage girls walked downstairs into the kitchen, where they saw Souta's mother preparing breakfast. Habitually they went to help her set table and put out the food. Ten minutes later, Souta and his grandfather came in and sat down to eat breakfast. The five of them ate together happily, mother and grandfather excited about the profit the festival had brought in and the high schoolers happy over the soon-coming break.

When the meal finished and the dishes were washed and put away, everyone started at Keirin expectantly. With everyone present, Keirin told her tale of how she fell down the well and ended up in the feudal era. While handing Kagome's family the letters the priestess had written, Keirin explained how she had encountered Kagome, Inuyasha, and their baby Yuuma; she remembered Sango, Miroku, their children, Jaken, and Ah-Un. She spoke of how Inuyasha's elder brother had rescued her twice and how she finally had managed to return home after spending so many weeks in the past.

"That's what happened?" Chisato shook her head. "That's unbelievable."

"But it's true." Holding out her silken sleeves, Keirin pointed out, "Otherwise, how would I have gotten all of these kimonos or learn how to put them on?"

"Mm, indeed the Bone Eater's Well is famous for its mysterious qualities," Souta's grandfather nodded, his eyes closed knowingly. "Why, I could tell you the entire legend that had been passed down our family for generations!"

"I'm grateful to you, Rin-chan," Souta's mother smiled as she held her daughter's written word against her heart. "I'm very glad that you were able to go back into time. Thanks to you, now I know that Kagome is doing all right. And now I'm a grandma." She put a hand to her cheek while giggling merrily, "Ah, who would have thought?"

"Heh, I guess that's why we became friends so easily," Souta laughed. "It's because you remind me of 'nee-chan. You're so much like her."

"You think so?" Keirin smiled as she remembered Kagome. "Well, that would explain why my wish finally came true."

Chisato's eyes grew wide as she grabbed her best friend's hands. "You met the person you were searching for?"

"Yes," Keirin nodded, "and now it's my turn to wait for him."

"All the way from the feudal era?" Chisato frowned in disbelief. "Do you think it's possible for him to meet you? Hundreds of years have passed since."

"If I could find him after so long, I'm pretty sure that he'll be able to find me. Besides, he isn't one to lie." Holding up a fist of determination, Keirin smiled with assurance. "He'll do it."

"For your sake," Chisato sighed, "I hope so."

The girls spent a little more time at the Higurashi shrine, helping Souta with his duties and cleaning up the temple grounds after the festival. Unable to find her phone—probably lost in the woods somewhere in Feudal Japan—Keirin decided at four o'clock that she would have to return home to report her lost item and to ask for a replacement. "Ne, Sen, will you go to the gate with me?"

Looking up from helping Souta sweep the courtyard, Chisato said, "Eh?"

"Come on!" Keirin grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her halfway across the temple before she could argue. Once they were out of earshot of other people, Keirin muttered, "So when are you going to confess to Kusa?"

A blush spread across Chisato's face, her cheek-short hair doing nothing to disguise her embarrassment and shock. "What?"

"Come on, I'm your best friend," Keirin grinned cheekily while nudging her friend with her elbow. "I can tell that you like Kusa a lot. I've known it since junior high."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Walking in front of Chisato, Keirin walked backwards while trying to convince the girl about her feelings. "Sen, I'm telling you that despite what you think, there's nothing going on between me and Kusa. We don't have any romantic feelings for each other." She chortled as she now began skipping backwards. "Besides, if you knew what I do, then you wouldn't be like this."

Jerking her head upwards, Chisato demanded in surprise, "Eh? What do you know?"

"Fu fu, wouldn't you like to know?"

"Rin! Tell me!"

"Ne, then catch me!" What Keirin did not expect was that she would need someone to do so. As she took a step backwards, her foot slipped, and Keirin tripped backwards.

Chisato reached a hand out to her friend, but their fingers just brushed. "Rin!"

What bad luck, Keirin cried as she fell and closed her eyes. Honestly, why can't I stop falling? But the weightless sensation stopped, and she felt strong arms holding her. When she opened her eyes, she gazed into intense golden amber eyes. Sesshoumaru-sama? Realizing her position, Keirin pulled herself away from her rescuer and bowed to him. Blushing, she thanked him and apologized. Wordlessly, he simply stared at her.

"Ah, Tsukishiro-san, you really did come over," Souta exclaimed when he joined the group. "I didn't think we would see you until next week."

"Chichi-ue wanted me to check on the treasures again, especially after the festival," the stranger, Tsukishiro-san, finally spoke. The sound of his deep voice sent shivers down Keirin's spine. "Apparently, he still has not fully grasped the term 'donation' as of yet. I apologize for this inconvenience, Higurashi-kun."

"It's all right. It's no trouble at all for you to visit." The young man then remembered the girls with them. "Oh, yeah, these are my classmates—er, well actually, they're my childhood friends, I guess we can say. This is Kurosaki Chisato and this is Asagao Keirin. Actually, it's a good thing you two met." Souta smiled at Keirin while gesturing towards the guest. "He's the one that saw you fall into the well last night and got me."

"Oh," Keirin gasped quietly. She shyly observed the tall, stoic man with short dark hair and intimidating golden-amber eyes. He looked to be about in his early twenties, his features youthful but mature and masculine. His dark suit, neat and immaculate, and confident and upright stance proved that his sternness was not just a façade. Something about him struck at Keirin.

"This is Tsukishiro Takuya-san," Souta introduced. "His father owns a large company here in Tokyo, and recently their family has donated some national treasures to our temple for safekeeping."

"Here?" Chisato shook her head. She knew exactly how Souta's grandfather kept up with the so-called treasures already left at the temple. "Honestly, wouldn't these national treasures be safer with Tsukishiro-san's family and their high-security vaults?"

"There are some…spiritual securities that are necessary," Takuya replied. His response made Chisato slightly cower, but Keirin found no anger or annoyance in his voice. He was simply answering the question. "And what we've given to the temple shouldn't actually be called national treasures, as Higurashi-kun insists on. They're just a few old swords made in the feudal era."

"Don't listen to him," Souta grinned. "They're actually very beautiful and well-maintained for objects as old as they are. Come on," he waved, "I'll show you as long as Tsukishiro-san doesn't mind."

Shrugging with indifference, the older man answered, "It doesn't matter."

With permission given, Souta led the way towards the treasure room. He carefully pulled the doors open and guided his guests into the dark storage room. "Here they are." They stopped in front of a sword rack that held two weapons, a long sword and a shorter one. "Onsaiga and Agoyakuga: supposedly there were two more swords made before these two by the lord, but they were lost a long time ago. Only these two remain."

"Wait, I recognize these swords." Instinctively Keirin reached out a hand towards the kodachi called Agoyakuga, its intricately patterned scabbard reminding her of one she had seen elsewhere before. But it can't be the same one…I left it back there, with Sesshoumaru-sama… Keirin gazed upwards at the young businessman and inquired, "How did you inherit these?"

"According to the family legend, we received them as gifts from the gods and were charged to watch and care for these weapons. And in turn the weapons would protect our clan." Tsukishiro glanced at Onsaiga. "But after some research, I discovered that we inherited these weapons from the first head's uncle, a powerful lord from the western lands. Supposedly the swords are both made from demon fangs, Onsaiga meant to fight and seal away demon powers and Agoyakuga meant to protect and defend its bearers. For centuries our family has passed the weapons down to every head, and we've been blessed through all those years. However, as of late, the weapons have been misbehaving."

"Misbehaving?"

"Whoever touches these weapons receives visions of a frightening demon waiting for particular prey to come close."

Chisato shivered and hid behind Keirin. "A demon?"

"A monster that has plagued at least ten clansmen's nightmares for many days," Tsukishiro confirmed. "My father, the present clan head, therefore decided to turn the weapons over to the Higurashi shrine in hopes to exorcise the demon possessing these swords. The elders think that somehow our clan has displeased the gods that have blessed us, and therefore a demon has come to make us repent. But personally I do not see a problem." Deep in his stern features, Keirin could see a hidden gentleness as the man laid a hand on the sheathed blades. "I do not believe a demon possesses these swords. The message that they're trying to convey is completely different, especially this sword, Agoyakuga…"

"Agoyakuga?"

"A blade of promising love and tender protection," Tsukishiro explained. "That is what is written on the hilt. Like my clansmen, I have seen the visions before. But I do not see a terrifying demon. Rather, I see a solitary figure waiting for someone: a young, innocent soul."

"Sounds a little suspicious to me," Chisato frowned, slightly over her fright from before. "What would he want with an innocent soul?"

"He wants to keep his promise to her," Keirin beamed as she stood beside Takuya.

Intrigued, the young man inquired, "What kind of promise?"

While gazing at him softly, Keirin took his hand. Takuya wondered why he let her. "Takuya-sama—may I call you that?—let me tell you a story about a powerful but cold man and a little sprite of a girl." And together the two walked out of the treasure room and towards the ancient tree in the middle of the temple grounds, hand in hand.