A/N: Hey guys! I'm writing like a mad woman. Just work, necessary tasks and writing...and watching Noragami hehe. But I think I'm starting to come down with a cold :/ I guess that will mean I'll have more time to write...lol. Fingers crossed that I'm not though :-S Thanks for all the reviews! They really encourage me to keep writing! Well, here's the next chapter...enjoy!
Warning: Explicit language ;)
"Are you ready?"
Rin stared at the river in front of her; the very river she had tried to drown away her pain in just two weeks ago. She stood there holding the bundled kimono to her chest once more, but this time she didn't want the river to carry her away. The river still looked so serene, but it felt different now. I feel different. Rin looked down for a moment, glancing at the bundled kimono that Azumi had given back to her. When Rin had told Azumi that she wanted her to burn it, Azumi had told her she 'didn't welcome liars in her home'. Azumi was right and Rin knew it. It's just that the tattered kimono now reminded her even more of a life she would never have again; a Sesshomaru she could never have again. Rin's eyes lifted and she turned her head over her shoulder bringing her eyes to Azumi.
"Must I return?" she quietly asked.
She didn't want to go back to the Fugashi House, or that village altogether. She wanted to remain with Azumi. It's safe here.
"It is necessary, Rin, if you want your freedom…I never said it would be easy."
Azumi knew that returning to the Fugashi Household and the life it held for her would be no easy feat for the young girl. She knew that Rin would have many obstacles to overcome and those obstacles would not wait for her to feel ready.
"Rin, Ryuu Hara has already left the village and returned to his home."
Rin's stomach clenched. The sound of his name made her sick, terrified and simultaneously furious.
"Why are you even helping me?" Rin yelled at Azumi.
Rin's anxiety over returning to life at the Fugashi House was beginning to surface and she was lashing out at the only thing she had in front of her. She can't make me go back! She said she wouldn't force me!
"It's not polite to bite the hand that feeds you, girl", Azumi snapped.
"Like you even care about 'polite', you old hanyou hag!"
Rin shocked herself a bit. What did I just say? She's gonna kill me. Out of the piercing silence a deep laughter broke out. What the…
"You truly are a quick study, Rin."
Azumi was stifling her laughter with the back of her hand. Rin narrowed her eyes on Azumi. Her face dawned a boisterous scorn directed toward the woman's mocking laughter. Azumi caught Rin's stern gaze on her and suddenly stopped her joking.
"That's more like it, Rin. I like your fight. You're going to need that."
Rin softened her gaze, her face was an easy book for Azumi to read. Azumi walked towards the girl and placed her hands on her shoulders. You can do this, Rin. I won't let you fail.
"Remember what we talked about, Rin? Remember what you must tell yourself when you think you can't go on?"
Rin nodded her head, her eyes dropped low.
"Tell it to me, Rin. Recite the mantra."
Rin's eyes remained down cast, she felt unsure about this path before her. She began to whisper the mantra.
"I am not a girl…I am not a human…I am not a lady…"
"Louder!" Azumi commanded.
Rin firmed up, she clenched her fists.
"I am the ever growing fire…the fire that can bring warmth or burn to the touch; the fire that can pierce the bitter darkness; the fire that lights the unknown path…I am the fire that neither bows nor diminishes itself for anyone, man or demon…"
Rin's eyes arose and met Azumi's.
"I am RIN."
[6 Months Later]
"Rin, don't forget your lesson with Lady Akira later today! You were late for your last lesson."
Lady Fugashi didn't approve of Rin traveling alone to study outside the village, but nonetheless the Master of the House had demanded it and she would not dare question him or his mysterious and sudden interest in the girl's education. Rin slid her door open and gently smiled at the Lady of the House.
"I promise won't, Lady Fugashi. I apologized to Lady Akira for my rudeness."
"Ah, good! Tardiness is truly distasteful, Rin."
Rin bowed to the Lady and took her cued exit. Damn it, I'm late! Azumi is going to KILL me. Once Rin was outside the House of Fugashi she picked up her pace, but made sure to keep her brisk walk graceful. Anytime she saw a villager she would slow down and drop her gaze low, letting a hint of a smile grace her face.
[FLASHBACK]
"Riiiiiin"
Lady Fugashi prolonged Rin's name in a way that only she could. God, that is so annoying.
"Rin, a lady should never brazenly smile, like that a mad man…"
Rin mentally prepared herself for yet another lesson about how you can neither do too much of this nor too much of that. Here it comes…
"But you can neither frown like a impudent child…"
Aha! Called it! She can't resist. She fancies herself a demon sage! Rin was now biting her lip trying to keep herself from chuckling.
"Rin, you must smile in just the softest and smallest of ways…just the very gentlest corners of your mouth should tilt towards the heavens."
Wow, she never ceases to amaze me. The Demonness truly has a gift for all things dramatic. Rin made her face serious, realizing Lady Fugashi was now staring her down wondering if her lesson was taking.
"Rin! It's called 'the smile of knooowing'"
Rin's eyebrows knit together in mild confusion. What the…
"A lady should smile as if she knows a secret no one else does."
I know a lot of secrets no one else does. Not one of them makes me want to smile like a dumbass. Rin's thoughts halted for a moment in shock. Oh noooooo! I sound like Azumi! God help me!
[FLASHBACK ENDS]
Rin continued her hurried walk towards the forest, mockingly reciting Lady Fugashi's cues with a smug voice in her head. 'Smile of knooooowing', Rin. Corners of your mouth just slightly towards heaven! Not too much! Not enough! Yada, yada, yada! Rin began to make herself giggle. When Rin finally reached the forest and no one was in sight, she began to sprint. Azumi is gonna make me pay this time.
[1 Year Later]
"Don't you dare stare at my sword, Rin. Unless you want me to cut that fanciful little hand of yours off with one swift blow."
Azumi tapped the tip of her blade against Rin's katana creating a resounding "ting".
"Look at my torso, Rin. Watch me move before I move. Everything else is peripheral."
Rin shifted her eyes to Azumi's torso and then darted her eyes back to Azumi's tilting blade. Next thing she knew she was on her back and Azumi's hands held her katana vertically over Rin's heart.
"Dead."
[2 Years Later]
Rin shifted her gaze to Azumi's torso, she could see her chest rising and falling with each breath. Rin wanted this win badly. Six months of endless sparring with each round finishing the same way: defeat. Rin, you can do this. Breathe. Azumi's hips shifted and in less than a second she darted and her blade came crashing down with powerful force. Azumi's eye's widened. Rin stood behind her, her katana to the side of Azumi's neck. Azumi watched as a few of her freshly cut strands of hair fell to the ground.
"Well done, Lady Rin."
Azumi turned her head over her shoulder looking back at her remarkable protégé, she was proud of the young woman who stood there. I knew you could do it. Rin's rigid face melted and a bright smile rushed across her face. She dropped her katana on the ground and jumped on Azumi, wrapping her arms around her tightly in an excited embrace. This was her proudest moment.
"Hey! Watch the ears!"
Azumi smiled and began to laugh with Rin. She grabbed at Rin's arms, sharing in the embrace. When the moment of celebration had passed, Azumi turned towards Rin and signaled her with her eyes to pick up her sword.
"AGAIN? We already fought ten times to—"
"Pick it up, Rin."
Azumi stood there, unmoving. Rin bent down grabbing her katana. Never a dull moment with Azumi. Here we go again… Rin prepared herself, taking her stance.
"Uh-uh."
Azumi held her hands out in front of Rin and her eyes looked and Rin's blade and then back at her own hands.
"Give it to me."
Rin looked confused. Why does Azumi want my blade? She gave this to me. Why would she take it away now? Rin's confusion was abruptly interrupted by Azumi's impatient gaze. Rin hesitantly lowered her sword and stance and placed the blade gently into Azumi's hands. Azumi turned around and walked back into her cabin without a word. What the…seriously?! What the hell! Does she want me to go back to hand-to-hand combat? I thought she said I was past that! Come on! Azumi reappeared from the sliding door. She was holding an old, long, leather box in her hands. She walked towards Rin and stopped just a couple feet in front of her.
"This is for you, Rin."
Rin had no idea what was happening. Azumi was one for a lot of things…fighting, cussing, pushing you to your utter brink, but gift giving was NOT one of them.
"Open it."
Rin looked at Azumi then looked down at the tattered box. She could see an old, faded, etching of a woman clothed in the skin of a tiger. Rin's hands reached towards the box and slowly opened it.
"It was my mother's, Rin. My father, a great tiger demon, had Totosai, the great swordsmith, make it for her…"
Rin stared at the blade in silence.
"My mother was human, but she was nothing ordinary…she was a woman of immeasurable strength of mind and body. She didn't pretend to be anything she wasn't. And she feared that which deserved to be."
Azumi paused, looking down on the blade as well.
"My father had the Daisuke made for her. And Totosai forged the blade of my father's own blood and bone. Totosai designed the blade for an exceptional woman, an exceptional human. The Daisuke was not yet consecrated until my mother's blood was also forged within it. Her human blood bonded part of her spirit to the blade, making the sword usable only to a mortal. "
Rin looked up at Azumi as the hanyou woman gazed at her late mother's blade.
"I cannot wield this blade, Rin. But that is ok because unlike my mother, I have demonic power to draw on…but Rin, just as it was for my human mother, now it shall be for you. This blade will be your companion, your helper…"
Rin's eyes began to tear up a bit as she stared at her teacher with complete respect and devotion. It had been a long time since Rin allowed herself to cry, but Azumi had become the closest thing to family Rin had.
"Rin, you will need this blade for what you are called to do next."
Azumi's eyes suddenly shot up. Her cat-like pupils locked on Rin's dark brown eyes.
"It's time."
A/N: Excited? Good stuff coming, guys. Also, I promise you'll get some Lord Sesshomaru time VERY SOON. How do you guys like the Daisuke? Let me know what you're thinking ;) Here I go, I'm off to conquer another chapter ^_^