Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, and I'm too tired to think of a reason why.

AN: Bold faced, underlined, bold and underlined, ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, and otherletters mean that the characters are talking in a different language. This may play a big part, but I don't know yet.

AN: It says 10 on Microsoft Word. Does that make up for the month of nothing? I'll try to keep it up, but it seems problems love me. Friend problems, Homework problems, College problems. So many problems they all deserve capital letters. I worked hard at this one. I think I need to learn how to plan these chapters. Lol! I don't think I'm the big planning type of person. I started writing this on a whim, because people told me that I should write one and now I am. Oh, before I forget and then post this… THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR HELPING ME OUT. LiliumKitty, LadyLuck22, Big City, simplyelena, Rebecca who is anonymous (I can't believe I spelt that right!) And to those who gave they're condolences for my relationship problems, if that is even possible, thank you too. I need it all. I also decided to put up a mailing list for those who aren't members of this site, fan fiction . net. It might be a little premature to be doing anything like this, but I find it is courteous. But, if you are anonymous and DON'T wanna be on it, just tell me or don't leave your e-mail address. If you don't leave it, I won't be able to reply to you're review, but whatever. Ok, I'm going insane. It's technically tomorrow. So, I'll just post this now and shut up.

Chapter 9: Bridge Between Black and White

Legends tell of two stars that fell in love, or so the story is told. The stars are Shokujo and Kengyu meaning the Weaver Princess Star and the Herd boy Star. The story tells how the two lovers meet on the banks of the Amanogawa, or Milky Way, for an annual meeting. The legend is that the celestial princess Veda, a most skillful weaver, while engaged in weaving cloth for the king's garments, fell in love with a handsome lad, a cow herder. As a reward for the princess's diligent industry, her father, the king, allowed them to marry. But, so much in love were the two, they both began to neglect their work. The princess gradually neglected her weaving and the herder allowed his cows to stray. Exasperated, the king finally separated the couple, forcing them to remain on opposite sides of the Amanogawa, and permitting them to approach each other only once a year. But, there is no bridge over the Amanogawa and the princess, on her first visit, wept so bitterly at the impossibility of meeting her husband that she roused the sympathy of a Kasasgi, or a magpie. So moved by her tears, the magpie assured her that a bridge would be contrived for her. And so it was so, the magpies formed a bridge for the princess to cross using their wings to form the celestial bridge. It is said that if it is rainy on the day of meeting, the magpies can not make a bridge, and the two celestial lovers must endure another year apart.

A common feature of this festival is the display of bamboo branches decorated with long narrow strips of colored paper and other small ornaments and talismans. The paper strips are inscribed with poems expressing the wish for fulfillment of romantic aspirations; Young girls firmly believe that when they observe the festival earnestly, they would gain skill in weaving and sewing. The decorated bamboo branch is tied to a pole and placed in front of the house. At the end of the festivals, the bamboo branches are thrown into a river to be carried away, thereby dispelling misfortune, or are placed in rice paddies as a means of repelling insects or as a thanksgiving offering for what is hoped will be a bounteous harvest.

(AN: This is the true legend of the Star Festival (Hoshi-Matsuri) or Tanabata (Weaving-loom) Matsuri that occurs on the eve of July 7th. In this story, on the other hand, this is going to happen on a night in August that will also include watching the stars on the particular night with someone you care about. Women who are married will be the ones who will throw the bamboo branches into the river, giving Veda their prays and support. It will also be a tale, that by throwing a feather into the river after watching the stars with the one you care about, you will fall in love and marry the person. I know I could have just put that as part of the story, but I changed my mind, knowing that if I didn't mention that I was going to warp the tradition in some way, someone who knows the tradition would say, "You just screwed with a Japanese tradition!" I don't want that to happen, so I'm telling you what I'm going to do. Plus, if I made this the entire Author's Note, no one would read it. Who really reads the author's note anyway?)

She had to put it on. Rin looked down at the kimono that Misa gave to her. She was going to the star festival with Yukio and she had to wear this. The only problem was her stomach was telling her something. Most people would say that it would be some kind of feelings for Yukio, but Rin would say, it was more of a guilty feeling. She was guilty because she had no feelings for Yukio.

Rin put on the kimono and put her hair up with a few combs. She put on a pair of geta sandals. Though not like the extremely formal and extremely uncomfortable geta sandals that the geisha wear, Rin wore a pair that were much smaller. She just hoped that the two inches the geta sandals gave her weren't enough to make her taller than Yukio.

Rin made it out of the mansion just as Yukio was getting there.

"Good evening Rin," said Yukio nervously

"Hello Yukio," she said walking towards him and walking towards the village. When Yukio didn't move, she looked behind her. He was just standing there. "Yukio?"

"Rin, I want to give you something," said Yukio turning around, holding something in his hand.

"What is it?" asked Rin, not expecting any kind of gift from Yukio. Yukio walked up to Rin and held out his closed hand. When he opened it, there was a blue feather.

"Is that a feather?" asked Rin.

"Yes," said Yukio. "It's a magpie feather."

"I thought that magpies were black and white, not blue?"

"Actually, a magpie is all of those," said Yukio, becoming more confident. When it came to nature, Yukio knew a lot about it. "Even though the majority of the feathers are black and white, it does have some blue plumage. It has a special place in the story of the Star Festival."

"Oh," said Rin, intrigued. She hadn't heard the story and was eager to here the tale behind the festival.

"Well," began Yukio, "It's a tale of great fantasy."

As the two walked down the pathway to the village, the amber eyed demon averted his eyes to look out towards the sky. The star festival was today. Not that he went to the village to celebrate it with the humans. It was the day that his mother had died. The star festival was one of her favorite days, and therefore became one of his. It was a shame that she had passed away on the same day. A day that was supposed to a happy day.

FLASH BACK

It was when Sesshomaru was closer to his father. Before he meet "her". Sesshomaru was a little more than a pup. In human terms, he was about 12 years old. He was getting to the point where he didn't need his mother anymore, but still wanted her. He had watched as his mother became heavy with his father's pup. Even though she was supposed to have her pup soon, she still wanted to go to the Star Festival that was supposed to happen tonight. It wasn't the festival itself that appealed to her; it was the chance she had to watch the stars with Inutaisho, Sesshomaru's father.

"Come along son," said his mother. "It's best if we can get to our spot now, before it gets too dark."

"But can't you find you're way by your nose?" asked Sesshomaru.

"I normally could, but being so along in pregnancy, I can only smell my pup."

Suddenly, she became doubled over in pain, the smell of blood and a liquid he couldn't place.

"Mother, what's wrong?" asked Sesshomaru quickly.

"I think I'm going to give birth, but something is wrong."

"I'll get father," said Sesshomaru starting to go for help.

"No," she said, "He's coming."

Out of no where, he was there picking her up like she was nothing more than a flower. When they got back to the house, he put her on her bed and called for her midwives and ladies in waiting. Although he was the lord of the house, he was ushered from the room.

"May I please stay with my mother?" asked Sesshomaru, pleading like a child?

"I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru but you cannot…" started a midwife

"Let him stay, and please allow Lord Inutaisho here" she said in a strangled voice.

Sesshomaru moved to her side as the midwife opened the door and moved so that he could come in. He moved to the opposite side of where Sesshomaru was.

"How are you feeling?" he asked concern evident in his voice.

"I'll be fine my lord," she said quietly.

A spasm of pain ravaged her body as she let out a groan of pain.

"Push my lady," said one of the midwives.

As she pushed, trying to force the pup from her body, she became more and more exhausted.

"Almost, my lady, one more should do it," said the midwife, trying to encourage her.

She gave one more giant push and a gush of liquid came out of her body. She laid back, her energy spent. Soon after, another wave of pain hit her causing her to cry out in pain.

"What's going on?" he asked as the midwife quickly handed off a bundle to another. The bundle wasn't moving.

"It seems that my lady is giving birth to more than one tonight," said the midwife not mentioning the bundle.

"Why wasn't my pup crying when it was born?" he asked.

"He was born without breath," said the midwife quietly.

His father became quite as he stroked the cheek of his mate, truly showing the love he held for her.

Another spasm and another sound of gushing liquid, this time more than the last.

There was a cry this time, both from the pup in the midwife's arms and from the mother on the bed. The smell of blood was so great, that there was no doubt about it. She was dieing.

"It's a girl my lady," said the midwife through her tears, knowing that her lady was dieing.

"Let me hold my daughter," she said quietly.

The midwife put the infant in the arms of her lady and stood back to watch. The lord would need her to take care of his new born.

"She is so beautiful isn't she my lord?" she asked.

"Like her mother."

"Look at your little sister," she said signaling Sesshomaru to view the infant in her arms. She had white hair and little ears. She was so little; she looked like she could break at any moment.

"Her name will be Sachi," she said as the last bit of life seeped from her body in the crimson blood that flowed from her body.

As his father kissed her on the forehead, the midwife took Sachi away.

"I love you mother," said Sesshomaru under his breath as tears streamed from his eyes.

"She loved you too son," he said, covering the beautiful face of his deceased mate.

That night, Sachi died. They buried Sachi, his unnamed brother, and his mother at the spot which meant so much to her.

END FLASH BACK

'I need to go there tonight,' thought Lord Sesshomaru. He did this every year. A tribute to his mother. But it was always so lonely.

"So, when you throw the magpie feather into the river, it is represented as the bridge that goes across the Amanogawa and connects the two who are so deeply in love," explained Yukio as he gave Rin the blue feather before they made it into the village. It was a little lie about the feather, but it was worth it to be with Rin.

"But why do only women put them in the river?" asked Rin looking at Yukio with those innocent eyes.

"I really don't know," said Yukio as he looked at the sky, pretending to think, but actually trying to get away from those accusatory eyes. "I think it's just they way the tradition goes."

"Oh," said Rin, looking down at the blue feather in her hands. It wasn't just blue, as she had originally thought. It had white at the tip and black at the base. But even though they were on the same feather, they were only connected with the blue. 'It reminds me of the tale Yukio told me,' thought Rin to herself as she smiled.

The two made they're way through the village. They stopped at a stale, but Rin didn't notice, she was still thinking about the tale.

"Rin?"

That brought her out of her trance. "Yes?" asked Rin, looking at Yukio again.

"Did you hear me?" asked Yukio.

"No, I was still thinking about the tale," said Rin truthfully.

"Oh," said Yukio quietly, "Would you like some dumplings?"

"Oh yes, thank you," said Rin as she accepted the stick that Yukio was offering her.

"Yukio!" called a voice from the crowd.

"Yes?" asked Yukio, talking to the man who had called his name.

"We need you're help."

"Can't it wait?" asked Yukio.

"No, it can't."

He turned to Rin. "I have to go, but I'll meet you at a certain spot. If you follow the river, you'll hit a fork in the road. When you get there, turn right. I'll meet you in a clearing at the top of a hill."

"But," started Rin quietly. She was a little scared and it showed in her voice.

"Here Rin," said Yukio, knowing why she'd be afraid, handing her a knife. "You can give it back to me when we meet again."

"Thank you," said Rin as he moved away.

Rin went though the village until she got to the river. She followed it, picking wild flowers along the way, putting them into her hair. When she got to the fork, she wasn't paying attention and went onto the left fork. When she got to the top of the hill, she gasped. The view was amazing. You could see the mountains, the distant lake that looked almost like an ocean, the flowing grasslands, the rice fields, everything. When she looked up, the stars seemed so close, you could almost touch them. While admiring the view, she didn't notice the demon approach from behind.

"MY, AREN'T YOU A PRETTY LITTLE THING," said the ogre.

Rin turned around quickly, her eyes becoming wide at the sight of the demon.

"WHY DON'T YOU COME PLAY WITH ME, LITTLE HUMAN," sniggered the ogre, taking in the curves of her body.

"IF YOU COME QUIETLY AND DON'T FIGHT, I'LL ONLY TAKE WHAT I WANT. I WON'T KILL YOU OR EAT YOU."

"I DON'T THINK SO," said Rin taking the knife from it's hiding place and flinging it at the ogre, hitting it in the head.

The ogre took the blow full on, bending backwards as an effect of the force. Rin let out a sigh, realizing now that she had been holding her breath.

"THAT WAS A NICE THROW, LITTLE MISSY," said the ogre, the knife sticking out of his head. "IT WOULD HAVE WORKED IF MY BRAIN WAS IN MY HEAD."

Rin took a step backwards and hit the edge of the hill. It had a sheer drop. If she fell, she'd die. At the bottom were jagged rocks and trees, neither of which looked soft. Not a happy landing.

"READY OR NOT, HERE I COME," said the ogre.

Before the ogre reached her, a whip of green pulls the ogre out to the clearing. A scream reaches her ears, making her cower. The screaming quickly becomes a gurgling sound. Out of the darkness comes another creature with the knife Rin had used to attack the ogre.

"Rin…"

Rin quickly looks over at the creature, realizing that it's Lord Sesshomaru.

"Lord Sesshomaru…"

He walked closer to Rin. He watched as her fearful eyes registered him, but the fear remained. He stopped.

"Rin, why are you afraid of me?" asked Sesshomaru, slightly surprised.

"I'm not afraid of you Lord Sesshomaru," said Rin meekly.

He stepped closer to her, the fear becoming more and more obvious in her eyes.

"Then why are you're eyes telling me you are?" asked Sesshomaru, continually stepping closer.

Rin had nothing to say to this effect. She quickly looked away from Sesshomaru, but her breathing didn't stop.

Sesshomaru reached out a hand to touch Rin's face, when she flinched away from his touch.

Sesshomaru pulled back. He stepped away and stood next to Rin, but not too close. "You don't have to be afraid of me, Rin."

"You killed him," said Rin quietly

"You would have rather had me let him ravage you?" asked Sesshomaru.

"No, but…"

"But what?" asked Sesshomaru. "Something was going to die in that situation, me, you, or the ogre. What would you rather me have done?"

"I don't know," said Rin truthfully. "I understand that to stay alive, things have to die, but I don't understand why something has to die."

"You are a kind person," said Sesshomaru, "You're also human. With both of those characteristics, it's hard for you to understand that to live, something must inevitably die."

Rin got up. She looked up at the sky. She was crying now. She couldn't help it, but she was. She had cried the night she killed the gecko demon, but she hadn't understood why. Now she did. She didn't like to see things die.

"Thank you," said Rin through her tears. "I don't know what I'd have done if you didn't show up."

Sesshomaru didn't say anything. He just listened to her tears as the streamed from her eyes, down her cheeks and as they hit the dry earth. He wanted to go to her, but he didn't.

She calmed down enough to look around her. She noticed that there were three stones near where Lord Sesshomaru was standing.

"Why did you come up here?" asked Rin, not taking her eyes off the stones.

"They are the graves of my sister Sachi, my brother who never received a name, and my mother. Many years ago, they died on this day."

"I'm so sorry, Lord Sesshomaru," said Rin, looking at the face of her lord. She noticed that he wasn't upset, or angry, or anything. He just was. He didn't say anything. He didn't even acknowledge that she had said anything.

She walked over to the graves and kneeled beside them. A piece of hair moved into her line of sight, and as she brushed it back, remembered the flowers she'd put in her hair. She took them out and them on each of the graves. When she finished, she said a silent prayer.

It wasn't until she was done, did she notice that Lord Sesshomaru was behind her.

"Thank you," said Lord Sesshomaru quietly. As Rin tried to stand up, he gave her his hand, helping he stand.

Standing up, she realized how close she was to him. He had an earthy smell to him. It had an extreme masculine quality to it. 'No,' her brain was telling her, but everything else was going, 'You know you want to."

She was so tempting, with those big eyes looking up at him. So trusting. It wouldn't take much too just seize her lips. He moved a little closer, seeing those brown eyes become darker with both lust and anticipation. She lifted her mouth to him, just willing him to take them. He covered her mouth with his, tasting the sweetness of her undefiled mouth. It was like tasting the beauty of flowers, the softness in silk, and the sweetness in the smell of air in a field. It was intoxicating.

A bird crying in the forest drew Rin from the pleasurable experience of being with Sesshomaru, and actually into what she was actually doing.

"Oh," said Rin quickly. "I'm sorry my lord, I have to go,"

As he watched her leave, he touched his lips, savoring the feeling like a fine wine.

As she walked beside the river, Rin thought of what had just happened between her and Lord Sesshomaru. Just thinking about it made her blush. She was straightening herself out when she felt something tickle her hand. She looked down at the little blue feather in her hand. She looked up at the sky. 'I hope you always love him,' thought Rin, as she dropped the feather in the river and watched as it headed down stream. 'It's time to go to bed,' said Rin to herself, taking one more look at the sky, wondering if the two were with each other right now.

To be continued…

An: Yes, geta sandals are more associated with the geisha, but Rin needed shoes, and those are the kinds that everyone usually associates with the Japanese shoes. Yes, that's Lord Sesshomaru's past, or part of it, and I FINALLY GAVE RIN AN EYE COLOR! I know I didn't because I searched all of my chapters for where I say I gave her an eye color. I didn't.

p.s. Micorsoft word hates me with a passion! It won't let me upload this chapter because it comes out as one big blob of words, so I'm using this rtf thing. Enjoy my hard and painstaking work! Lol! just kidding. Didn't mean for it to sound so mean. but the work is hard. 1 chapter, entirely new in 7 hours. That's good for me, I think. That was with interuptions, meal, and lots of chores so, go me! Thank you again. I'm tired... 1:18a.m. on October the 10th! Who really reads this shit anyway?