Hello all~
A little closure before our story continues. And yes, Lord Hisato we'll be in the next chapter, promise.
Is he evil? Good ? We'll see hehe.
Also a note; yes, Tokijin is broken and not replaced in the series but as an authors choice, I chose to have it in the story. I just always loved that sword and how Sesshomaru battled with it :)
Also, I'm on Instagram and I post fanart occasionally; I'm actually in college for art so if anyone would like to check it out, my username is arosaario. I've been planning some fanart to go with this story soon!
Well like always, reviews are appreciated! Please let me know what you think.
Much love, and more to come.
She was both frightened and curious. The colors shifted around her as they touched her skin lightly. Rin couldn't tell what they were but they were benevolent in spirit. She could hear whispers in her ears, spells or perhaps secrets.
When she opened her eyes, the priestess was in a dark chasm, the lights guiding her toward a light in the middle.
Rin felt hollow yet warm, safe but on edge. She was wary but she followed the floating orbs into the light.
She looked above her and saw a crack in a black sky. It shined upon an arrowhead.
Rin glanced around her, the darkness surrounding her with nothing but the orbs as company. This was all strange; where was she?
Perhaps she was dead.
She glanced back again at the arrow. It was calling her.
Her fingers touched it.
The light shined brighter until it was spreading towards her arm, the painful burn turning bright. She flinched away, falling into the ground. The orbs went to her, helping her to her feet. She floated back and was steady again.
She was no alone any longer.
The arrow was being held by a tall figure. Rin focused her eyes to see the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life. The woman's skin was dark,yet had eyes the color of the sky, almost translucently blue. Her hair was flowing behind her, platinum in color. It shined as bright as the light emitting from the arrow.
She was clad in miko robes, her hakama the color of the night with bright stars trailing through the hem. Her haori trailed beside her down to the dark ground.
Her dark lips pursed in confusion, and her bright eyes asked a thousand questions.
"You. Mortal...what are you doing here?"
Her voice boomed powerfully and echoed in the chasm. It made Rin jump at the sound of it.
Was she a priestess, by the look of it? Or something else?
Whatever she was, the woman made Rin forget her questions and remember her manners.
"M-my Lady, I...don't know."
Rin stated, bowing lowly before the woman.
She glanced up at the beauty and saw her face soften a bit.
"You may rise, mortal. We can start with your name."
"My n- name is Rin, my lady."
She stuttered nervously; Rin could tell this woman was extremely powerful and did not want to anger her.
"Rin? That's all? No family name?"
Rin shook her head.
"Hmmmm interesting. A priestess with no family name in the realm of Unrest. Strange."
Rin had no idea what she was saying but listened on. Wherever she was, this woman knew.
"I am Hajimari Kita. So you have no idea why you are here, and you tell no lies?"
Rin nodded her head, bowing again slightly.
"Hmmm...what is the last thing you remember ?"
Her voice was soft. Her hands were under her chin in thought.
"I... I was...in a battle. Creatures, wait, yes, undead! We were successful...but I
went to cleanse..."
Rin looked beyond the orbs surrounding her, waiting for her to speak.
At this, the image of Sesshomaru above her, his beautiful face in shock like she had never seen before .
"Yes...there was a well, the source of the dark aura. I went to purify it and something pulled me with so much strength..."
She closed her eyes and could see those terrible, glowing red eyes burning into her. Her arm throbbed painfully.
Opening her eyes, Rin grabbed her arm gently, looking at it and seeing the burn.
It was healing but still looked seared and violet in hue.
She realized she was wearing a white simple shift, almost as thin as Hajimari's long tresses.
She blushed, knowing how vulnerable she was at the moment.
"It's alright, child. You are safe here, as long as you stay with me."
The woman smiled softly, her long arm raised above her. The orbs returned to her and were absorbed into her hand.
"Those...what are they?"
"Friends. In a way. They knew there was something foreign that had entered this realm and warned me. They led me to you."
Rin smiled weakly.
"My Lady...did you save me from...?"
Hajimari turned around and began walking away from Rin. Her hand produced a light to guide the way.
"Walk with me, Rin."
Rin immediately obeyed and caught up with her.
"You have encountered Jigoku."
The young priestess followed her every word. Was this the aura that Rin had been sensing? Was he the puppetmaster?
"I fought with him long, long ago. He had always sought priestesses and their power, wanting to turn them into his own weapons.
He attempted with me, but it was his downfall..."
She stopped in her steps. Her platinum hair fell on her dark cheeks. She looked above her at the chasm, the light shining brightly above them.
"It was mine, also. He died by my hands and I died by his."
The air grew cold around the two priestesses.
"You gave your life to kill him?", Rin asked timidly.
"In a way. As you see, my mortal body is dead and gone. But now I am here, and have been here for centuries. And apparently, he's soul also lives on through the undead."
This was starting to make sense. This Jigoku was the real mind behind those creatures.
But why Rin? She didn't consider herself very powerful. Why her of all the priestesses...?
"My Lady...I had sensed an aura in my Lords castle. It seemed like nothing...but perhaps that was him? Could this have all been a trap...?"
The stunning woman turned around to face Rin, her face clad in thought and worry.
Her hand touched Rins cheek, then her forehead.
She closed her eyes and saw everything. The young girl had told the truth in all it's entirety. And then she saw Him.
Her clear eyes narrowed and her lips parted, thinking of her words carefully. She didn't want to scare this young priestess, but she had to be aware.
She suddenly was saddened; would this young priestess have the same fate as her?
"My child...I have been here for many, many years. Because of that Demon. The realm of Unrest is for lost souls, and my soul was lost because of his evil.
He may not be the strongest but he is the most persistent. He has chosen his new weapon and he will not stop before you are his."
Rin eyes widened in fear. A chill ran down her back, as her burn pulsated.
"He has marked you with that burn, and his spirit must have entered you long ago. Perhaps it was that aura you spoke of.
I...I am not sure, Rin..."
Rin looked down at her bare feet. She tried speaking but everything hurt.
A curse?
Hajimari grabbed Rins hand firmly.
"Child, do not lose hope. You have great power, I can feel it. You entered the Unrest as a mortal, and you escaped his grasp. You CAN defeat him."
"My lady, h...how? I am no force like you! How am I supposed to defeat a demon like him..."
Tears were accumulating on her cheeks, as she tried her best not to give in to her sobs. A panic rose in her throat and the dark chasm seemed to close in on her.
"You are not alone. Every priestess is connected. I will help in what I can, I promise you."
Hajimari smiled kindly.
"I will not let him take another priestess. I have seen your heart.
I spent my life hunting him, and you won't waste yours like that."
Rins head was spinning. Something was stirring inside her.
Suddenly a dark portal opened in the chasm, a flurry of gust flowing through the two priestesses.
A voice was calling out to her again, and Rin knew who it was.
It was pulling her, lifting her up as if she was a feather.
Hajimari grabbed her hand again.
"The world of the living is calling to you! We will meet again!"
The woman let go of Rins hand, letting the young woman be absorbed by the dark portal. It sounded like a monsoon, bellowing and roaring like massive waves .
Rin glanced at the chasm behind her, the priestesses standing alone in the darkness. A proud smile was on her gorgeous face.
"You are not alone."
...
...
...
It was near midnight. The last servant changed her sheets while Lord Sesshomaru waited outside with thick impatience as his arms were crossed in front of him. Jaken didn't dare speak; his lord had less understanding since what had occurred. And his lord hadn't said a word to him since everything had happened.
Jaken knew better than to bother him.
Yami stood with the green demon and shook his head sadly, losing a bit of hope for the human girl.
"My Lord...We will take our leave then..."
Yami stated, both demons bowing lowly and walking away.
Jaken looked back at his Lord, standing against the corridor. He knew Rin would wake soon, for she was stronger than she seemed. But he also knew humans were weaker than any demon, and perhaps this was a more serious matter. He hoped she would wake soon, for Lord Sesshomaru's sake, also.
Just like his father, he thought respectfully yet, ironically. And his Lord didn't even know it.
The servant left and Lord Sesshomaru entered Rins quarters. She stayed unmoving in her bed, her hair braided out of the way by her maiden. A fresh cold pad was on her forehead, and her burn had new bandages.
He sat beside her quietly, crossing his hands.
Two days she had slept. Two days that had seemed like an eternity.
The fire was low; a piece of wood cracked in the hearth.
The garden door was open slightly, a bit of fresh air coming through.
The night passed on.
It could have been hours or days, but the Dog Demon couldn't tell.
It was as if time had stood still.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes, meditating, praying, deep in the caverns of his unreadable mind. The memories had been flooding inward without a thought, and it pained him in a way he could not describe.
His mind became hazel, as her eyes took over.
And suddenly, a gasp.
His eyes bolted open, looking down at the young woman. Widening at the sight, he looked at the small priestess, hope rising in his chest.
The woman breathed again, sitting up quickly and choking against her hands. Her eyes opened, bewildered and lost.
Her hands fell to her side, memories flooding into her mind.
Rin turned her head to see Lord Sesshomaru smiling at her. His eyes gleamed with a happiness unknown to her.
"L...Lord Sesshomaru..."
Her lips formed the only words she could think of.
His left hand caught hers while his right reached to her face.
The Lord embraced her, her small head against his chest.
A blush flourished from Rins face to her entire body; she felt utterly engulfed in her Lords heat.
The priestess was at a loss for words, hearing his powerful heartbeat under his robes.
But she was melting into him, and felt a piece of her heart return.
He stroked her hair gently, his lips near the top of her head.
"Do not leave me again."
His command was stern but his hold on her was soft. She opened his eyes against his chest; she held back the tears in her eyes.
She never wanted to leave him.
But Hajimari's beautiful face surfaced in her mind, and she remembered her words. Her arms pulsated painfully, almost as a reminder of her curse.
Rin would have to leave him; she didn't know when or how, but she couldn't bring that demon into the castle. She couldn't endanger the lives of everyone here.
His scent filled her with tranquility, and she breathed him in entirely. She wished this was all a dream, and her Lord was safe, and the world was bright.
Her heart ached;
Rin's battle was only beginning.
