At A Beginning...

I Do Not Own Inuyasha

Force: Natural Strength; the power, strength, or energy somebody or something possesses

Chapter 26

273 Years Into the Past...

Rin rotated in the nothingness to see the shock on the beautiful woman's face as she stared at her. Instinctively her fingers tightened their hold on Bakusaiga. Midoriko's spirit just gaped at her.

"You are truly pure?" the spirit whispered.

"How am I pure?" Rin asked, she was relatively certain she was the farthest thing from pure since she had been raised by her lord and Inuyasha's pack.

"Your intentions, you truly have no desire to use this jewel for yourself or you yōkai lover. You seem only interested in saving him."

"That's what I said! I don't even like the Shikon no Tama, it's cursed," Rin snapped. Was it truly so hard for someone to believe that someone did not wish to obtain the Shikon no Tama? It was a true pain if you asked her because if she really wanted the jewel she'd have to be desperate or her lord truly close to death.

"You are a strange human," Midoriko's spirit announced as she sheathed her sword then.

"I'm strange, I like it. Now how do I save my lord?" Rin asked softly as she sheathed her lord's fang then.

"Tell me how your lover was poisoned," Midoriko ordered.

"Well it begins a long, long time from now to the time when I was just a girl…" and so began Rin's recounting of the events leading up to her lord's curse. She was careful in how much she told Midoriko and she was careful as to what she said because she could not alter what was to come.

InuTaisho stared down at the Taijiya village, this was not his favorite lot of humans but he was certain that if Rin were in any true danger he could've demolished them. It was strange how precious Rin had become to him over the course of the last few weeks. And while he didn't think of her how he thought of Lady Izayoi he was truly fond of his son's mate. The only thing Rin insisted he not do was tell Sesshomaru about her or him knowing her, apparently it was imperative his son not know that he knew about her. Rin seemed to fear some consequence in her time if Sesshomaru knew that he knew about her. Apparently time was a manipulative force Rin did not wish to tamper with.

Though InuTaisho did not really care about time, he was happy his son at least had a mate who obviously loved him. Because honestly InuTaisho did not think anyone or anything would ever be able to love Sesshomaru.

He stared down at the village when the beautiful human woman's face invaded his mind. Izayoi, he wondered what she was doing at this moment… Strange how she plagued his thoughts and he only really knew her through Rin. Perhaps he should change that. He rather liked the thought of seducing that beautiful human, her beauty rivaled InuKimi's and her mannerisms were so refined. Kami knew InuTaisho liked shiny pretty things and this human happened to fit his criteria for beautiful and shiny and pretty. He wanted her.

Yes, when he returned with Rin he would go about seducing Izayoi. That sounded like it would be fun and entertaining and thoroughly rewarding. No doubt once he got her to lose her dignity he could make the woman scream with pleasure. He could also make her go wild and lose control…

Seducing Izayoi would be most entertaining and rewarding. He was looking forward to it but for now he'd worry about his daughter-in-law who was currently in the heart of enemy territory. There was little doubt in his mind that if he was responsible for Rin's death or any harm befell her there would be no stopping Sesshomaru's wrath and he did not wish to find out how powerful his son truly was.

There was no need to worry about Rin, she was certain her new friend was perfectly safe because Rin had proven herself capable of protecting herself. Still this did not stop her worries as she sat there in her herb garden pulling up the offending weeds. Just what did Rin by father-in-law? Izayoi did not think Rin was married but could she be wrong? The girl was so young, she didn't think Rin could be more than thirteen or fourteen and for her to be married…the thought was shocking but no appalling.

It wasn't unusual for girls as young as thirteen to be married, after all they were of the breeding age. What was unusual was to be like her, to be nineteen and to be unwed. But that was by her choice because Kami knew she did not wish to marry Takemaru. Still, hearing Rin had a father-in-law was shocking and considering that father-in-law was an inuyōkai made her most curious about her handmaid. Just who was Rin really?

"Milady," she turned to look at a servant. "Takemaru wishes to have a word with you now."

"Yes," Izayoi sighed then looked at her garden before getting up. No doubt he'd want to discuss their marriage to come. That's all he seemed focused on as of late.

Sesshomaru knew he was pathetic as he had been slipping into that human fortress nightly to sit in Rin's room because it held Rin's lingering light translucent scent. Kami above did he miss his human and for some reason he seemed to be craving her company. It was as if he had been reunited with her after centuries of being parted and now she was gone again. But he had little worries, she'd be back for him. Their first night she had whispered she loved him, she'd be back.

He was relatively certain she was the only creature in this world to love him so she had better return to him. Else he'd just have to track her down and drag her back to him, because Kami knew he needed her with him. She was his after all and she would be with him if it was the last thing he did.

"You're intentions are so pure, I did not think a human could be so pure…" Midoriko sighed then. "You will not change what is to come though I would wish you to do so, but since you do now seek power I shall try to help you save your lord."

"Thank you," Rin bowed her head slightly then.

"But it will not be easy, Magatsuhi is not so easily defeated."

"How do I save my lord?"