Rin's 18th Birthday

Sesshomaru flew over the ground at increasing speed. He had been gone from Rin for almost a week and he was anxious to get back to her. Jaken had left a few months back when he found another clan of toad demons (after much tears and carrying on).

The small demon had been virtually useless, but Sesshomaru had always felt at least a little better knowing there was someone to look after Rin when he was away. Now that he was gone, Sesshomaru found it increasing hard to leave her for long periods of time.

He had already been gone too long and Sesshomaru knew that his ward would start to worry soon. Though the demon would never die easily, Rin did have a tendency to worry anyway. Besides, tomorrow was her eighteenth birthday and Sesshomaru wanted to make sure he was there for it.

Sesshomaru cleared the last hill and a small house came in sight. He had built it himself over two years ago for when his young ward came back to him and was often the place where Rin stayed when he had to leave on a trip. She would be there now, waiting for his return.

It still amazed Sesshomaru how good it felt to have someone waiting for his return. One of the greatest sights in Sesshomaru's world was to open to door of this tiny cottage and see Rin spin around to greet him with that beautiful smile breaking over her warm face.

Sesshomaru reached the door the cottage and not bothering to knock (he never did) pushed the door and stepped inside only to stop dead. Rin didn't turn to greet him with her gorgeous smile this time.

Rin was lying on the floor by the kitchen table facing down and unmoving. Sesshomaru crossed quickly over to the fallen human and gently turned her over. "Rin?" he asked softly, checking her neck for a pulse.

He could feel the beat of her heart but it was unnaturally slow and uneven. It was painfully obvious that whatever was wrong with Rin was very serious. Then Sesshomaru noticed the two tiny prick marks on the girl's left arm.

Gently lifting Rin's arm so he could get a better look, Sesshomaru could tell instantly that Rin had been bitten by a snake. From the purple tinge to Rin's skin, Sesshomaru knew the culprit was the vipure snake.

The vipure snake was one of the deadliest snakes in the world and Sesshomaru knew that anyone who was bitten by one had three days of unconsciousness before death. Since Rin was still breathing easily, Sesshomaru guessed that she had probably only been bitten earlier that day. That meant that the demon only had two days to find the antidote.

Fortunately, from all his travels, Sesshomaru knew what the antidote was. The only thing that could save Rin know was the berries of the hogo bush. Unfortunately, the nearest forest that might have the plant was at least a day's travel from the cottage. Round trip, it could very well take more than two days.

Snarling, Sesshomaru lifted Rin up into his arms and laid her carefully on her bed. Going back into the kitchen the demon filled a bowl with water and brought it back to Rin's room, setting it on her bedside table.

He then reached out and stroked her hair softly. "I'll be back, Rin. I promise," he whispered.

As an afterthought, Sesshomaru leaned down to Rin's face and growled dangerously, "Don't you dare die, Rin."

With that, Sesshomaru stood, turned and strode out the door, taking off. There was no way he was letting his Rin die.

There's part 1! Check back soon for the next part of Rin's 18th birthday. REVIEW!