Author's Notes:

Wow, first of all, let me say I am blown away by how many people liked this story based on the first chapter! Thank you so much for the subscriptions and favorites! I didn't think AU was popular! I do hope you guys are ready for a long story, I barely scratched the surface of where this story is going. Thanks to you guys, I went back and re-outline the entire story and I'm up to four pages on where I want this story to go!

So hang in there guys! I do have chapter 3 already finished and will post it next week. I do not want to double post because I want to stay at least one chapter ahead so I can always have a chapter ready each week for you guys.

I did creat account for all SessxRin related content and I may also post snipits from my story there as well. Feel free to follow me!

Twitter period com EG08172218

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Chapter Two

"And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder"

Rin returned to her room flummoxed as ever. Feeling utterly confused at the events that just transpired, Rin sat on her bed.

'Why did they want to know about me and my coming-of-age ceremony? Shouldn't they be discussing things such as ending this war and what aid they can provide?'

If the delegation from the western lands discussed such things as coming of age ceremonies, then Rin could see no end to their war.

Clutching the bedsheets in her hands, Rin bitterly laughed, "Maybe they cannot help us. Maybe they come here to rub it in our faces that we are dying."

Throwing herself back so she laid out on her bed, Rin stared at her canopy taking in all the intricate colors. Her father had her canopy commissioned when she reached her 13th season. It was beautiful featuring a multitude of colors ranging from purples, pinks, and fuchsia. All the colors blended into interweaving patterns with lilies and tulips sporadically spread out. Late at night when she could not sleep, she would bring a candle close to her bed and just watch the orange flicker dancing across the colors. The orange glow illuminating all the colors would lure her into a deep sleep.

'Father said they were coming here for a reason. Father said they are honorable people. They must want to help us in some way.' Thinking back to the day her father received their letter:

Rin had just sat down for dinner with her family when one of the guards ran into their dining hall.

"My king, a letter has arrived from the western lands!" The guard said bowing low before his king waiting for further command.

She watched as her father nearly dropped his chopsticks on his plate in surprise and then quickly composing himself, beckoning the guard over.

Rin and her mother both watched their king in anticipation, both waiting for whatever news the letter contained. Rin watched as her father's face took in the letter, first being pleased and then completely blank. After what felt like forever, her father looked up from the letter.

"Who delivered this letter?"

"One of their personal couriers, my king. He is still here, our men ordered him to wait in the main hall until we received word from you."

"Have him brought here now! Go, quickly! Also, have someone bring something to write with and my seal!"

The guard ran as quickly as he could to fetch their guest.

"What is it dear?" Rin's mother asked uncertainly.

Rubbing his forehead and taking a deep breath, her father looked up, "A chance to end this war."

Both Rin and her mother gasped.

"What did the letter say, father?"

Rin could feel the hope building in her chest. A chance to end this war! By the gods, this could be it! All this death and ruin could finally be at an end. Rin looked at her mother and she could also see the hopeful look on her face as well.

Looking back to her father, she saw him staring at her with a strange expression on his face, but his eyes…... For the briefest of moments, she saw sadness but then he blinked, and it was gone.

"Father?"

Before her father could answer, the guard arrived with a monk carrying a gold staff that jingled when he walked. One of her father's personal servants also arrived carrying a tray containing parchment paper, an inkwell, a quill, and her father's seal.

"You are the courier from the western lands?" Her father asked with a hesitant look taking in the monk's appearance.

"Yes, king Ishida. Please excuse my rather unique disguise, I find that soldiers will not harass a monk who is traveling through warring states. My name is Miroku and have I been sent on behalf of the great Inu No Taisho to personally ensure the deliverance of this letter." The man known as Miroku stated bowing low to the family.

"I agree to your lord's request." Her father stated coming to stand directly in front of Miroku.

Rin could say she was surprised to hear her father so quickly agree to whatever it was that is in the letter. Her father was usually very logical and took time to think things through.

Miroku cocked his head to the side and with a smile, "Splendid! The great Inu No Taisho will be very pleased to hear this. I am also relieved to know that I did not travel all this way to take in the sights of a sad kingdom on its last leg."

King Ishida glared at the monk.

"I mean no disrespect; I only speak the truth. I have heard rumors of what a beautiful country this is, but they appear only to be rumors." Miroku said while scratching at the back of his head almost looking bored at his surroundings.

Rin was in shock, to be invited into their home and bring word that the war could end and then insult them! Who did this man think he was!

Rin was fuming when she realized that the monk was now staring at her and her mother.

"If you so kindly take your eyes off me and my mother, please," Rin demanded while shooting daggers at the so-called monk Miroku.

She watched as Miroku's eyes lit up and he laughed.

"Ah so you are princess Rin, tales of your beauty have reached far across your kingdom and even to the western lands. Although those tales have omitted your sharp tongue. I must ask for pardon, my princess. After looking at such a sad country my eyes could not help but wonder about the only beautiful things that have crossed my path so far in this journey."

Rin still glaring at Miroku merely crossed her arms in front of her. She refused to back down to a man who insulted her country.

While this was all occurring, no one had noticed that Rin's mother queen Kaori and reached over and taken the letter that her husband had laid down after reading.

After inspecting the letter, Kaori's eyes shot up to find her husband with a knowing look on his face. Kaori sat back in shock.

Miroku seeing the exchange could only imagine what the king and queen must be going through. Looking towards the hall's window, taking in the night sky, "Time is of the essence, King Ishida. Do I have your seal to take back to my lord?"

"Ishida, please wait. Good sir Miroku, may we not have at least a night to review the terms of your great leader requests?"

Miroku shook his head no, "I'm sorry my queen, these are the terms and if we are to move forward with your king's approval, I need an answer now. There are more pieces in play than you all realize."

King Ishida looking at both his queen and princess, squared his jaw and called his personal servant over so he could write his response. Scribbling his answer and using his personal seal to finally bring an end to this war.

Miroku clapped his hands, "We will send you another letter within one moon that will finalize our terms and you can expect to see Inu No Taisho and a few members of his court within two moons."

Miroku turned and bowed, "Queen Kaori, princess Rin, it was a pleasure."

Miroku was escorted out and the Rin breathed a sigh of relief.

Rin standing from her chair, walked over to mother, "May I see the letter? I would like to see what they are offering so we can finally be at peace."

Just as Rin reached for the letter, her father quickly took it and folded it tucking it into his robe.

"Nothing for you to worry about, my daughter. Come, let us start our meal, I fear our food has gone cold by now." King Ishida smiled reassuringly at Rin patting her cheek.

Rin looked to her mother, but her mother would not meet her eyes. She only stared at her husband.

"Mother?"

"Do as your father commands Rin." Queen Kaori answered picking up her chopsticks and started eating.

Rolling to her side, Rin said out loud to no one, "They never did tell me what was in that letter and what their terms were."

Laying her head on her arm, Rin closed her eyes. Her head hurt from everything that was going on. She wanted this war to end and if the western lands could provide a way to end this then she hoped her father would do whatever it took. Taking a deep breath, Rin figured she could close her eyes to rest them for a minute while she waited to see what would happen.

~oOo~

It was so foggy; Rin could barely see in front of her. She brought her hand up to try to wave away some of the fog. It worked just a little before the fog came back. Looking around, Rin could not figure out where she was. She didn't remember leaving the castle for anything, the last thing she remembered was closing her eyes.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Whispers. She could hear whispers all around her. Although she could not make out what they were saying.

Rin started walking but only made it a few feet when she stopped. 'Where am I going if I can't see anything?'

Rin tried again, "Hello? Father? Mother?"

Rin backtracked and started running in the opposite direction, the fog never lifted. It only seemed to get worse. The only sounds she could hear were her own bare feet hitting the cold ground and the whispers. Panic starting to rise in her chest, "Is there anyone?!" Rin shouted franticly.

Fear started to overtake Rin as she tried blinking back tears. "HELLO?!"

Everything fell to dead silence.

"Must you be so loud?"

Rin screamed in shock and spun around to stare into a pair of cold amber-colored eyes.

…

…

Rin sat up screaming. Trying to calm herself, she heard her bedroom door swing open. Her personal guard Asano and Maiko came running in.

"Princess!?"

Rin shaking her head, "It's fine, it was a nightmare, nothing more. I'm ok."

Asano checked her room before nodding his head and returned to his position outside her door.

"Are you sure you're, ok?" Maiko asked coming to soothe Rin's hair out of her face.

"T'was a dream, a very strange dream. I dreamt I was lost in a thick fog and no one could hear me no matter how loud I cried out. Then a voice answered me and when I turned to look, all I saw was cold golden eyes staring at me." Rin trembled at the memory of those cold eyes.

As Rin sat there thinking about her dream, she realized that the gold eyes reminded her of Inu No Taisho. No, not completely, Inu No Taisho's eyes were kinder. These eyes held no warmth, they were cold. Praying that she would never have to see those eyes again, Rin closed her eyes trying to clear the image out of her mind.

"Thank you, Maiko, for checking on me, was there a reason you were at my room? You came in very quickly."

Rin stood from her bed walking to her patio doors and seeing that the sun was almost setting. 'I fell asleep longer than I meant to.'

"Yes, princess, your father has requested your presence," Maiko answered while bowing.

"Ah. Do you know if the delegation has left?" Rin asked turning to her wardrobe to find another kimono to put on. The one she had on was now completely wrinkled from her sleeping in it.

Maiko helped her princess out of her kimono and into a fresh one, pulling her hair back and making sure she looked presentable.

"No, I believe they are still here."

'That must be a good sign.' Rin thought to herself while Maiko finished getting her ready.

As Rin walked out of her room, she was met with Asano waiting to lead her to father. Walking once again down the long halls and the main staircase coming to her father's ready room.

Rin turned to relieve Maiko, but Maiko shook her head, stating, "Princess your father has advised I was to wait for you to walk you back to your room. My place shall be here while I await your return."

Rin was befuddled as to why Maiko needed to wait for her, Rin only smiled and turned towards the door. Rin lifted her hand, knocked, and waited to be called. Straining her ears and stepping closer to the door, she could hear what sounded like angry voices. Rin knocked again when she received no reply. The voices got lower in volume, but she was able to hear her mother say, "You need to tell her Ishida! She deserves to know! We can't keep dancing around this anymore!"

At this point, Rin chose to let herself in and turned the doorknob walking in. She walked in on her parents facing each other in a heated argument both stopping when she walked in.

Her father quickly composing himself and wiping all expressions from his face. Her mother simply turned and walked to the window keeping her back to both her husband and daughter.

"Is everything all right, father?"

"Yes, sorry to have kept you waiting. Please come in and sit down Arina."

'Arina?' Her father never used her full name. Rin did as she was asked taking the seat closest to him.

"I hear the guests from the western lands are still with us. How long will they be staying? I would assume that is a good thing, correct?

"Yes, they are still with us, a feast is being prepared as we speak. They plan on leaving tomorrow morning."

"And the negotiations? Are they going to help us as their letter stated?"

"That damn letter…" Rin heard her mother muttered from her place by the window.

"Mother!" Rin never heard her mother say a curse word in her entire life.

"It's fine Arina, your mother has every right to be upset. The truth of the matter is we have not been completely honest with you about everything." King Ishida said looking sadly at his daughter.

"Father if you are referring to us losing the war then I am aware. I know you tell us everything is going in our favor at a very slow rate, but I have overheard some of the guards and your generals speaking about our losses. I know it's worse than you are admitting." Rin said gently not wanting to upset her father that she had known all long.

"Sometimes you are too smart for your good, Arina." King Ishida said coming to sit down next to Rin.

Taking a deep breath, King Ishida asked, "Arina, do you know why this war started?"

"Yes, that nefarious spider demon Naraku invaded our lands with no provocation. His men raided one of our small villages near the border slaying all who lived there including the children." Rin spat out in anger.

"Yes, that is true but that is not the whole truth." Her father spoke rubbing his forehead and looking towards his queen. At this point queen Kaori had stepped away from the window and came to kneel in front of her daughter.

Kaori took her daughter's hand and nodded to her king to finally tell their daughter the truth of what started this war.

Rin seeing this whole exchange between her parents felt a tightening in her belly. Something didn't feel right about this, something was wrong. Her heart thundering in her chest, Rin spoke, "Please tell me what is going on. I am not a child; I can handle it."

"My sweet Arina, I would give anything for you to stay my sweet child and to never leave my sight or this castle for the rest of your days." Her mother said sadly.

"Please tell me," Rin begged her parents.

Sighing, her father finally spoke the words she thought she had been wanting to hear never expecting the implications they would carry.

"My sweet Arina, Naraku didn't attack for no reason at all. He attacked when I told him he cannot have you as his wife. He wanted you."

…

…

'No…no….' Rin repeated over and over in head at what her father had just spoken.

Rin felt her entire world collapse around her, her vision becoming fuzzy and her throat closing in on itself. Trying to breathe, she clutched a hand to her chest forcing air to come in and out of her lungs. Rin stared down at one of the lotus flowers embroidered on her kimono needing to focus on something, needing to focus on anything to keep from fainting.

King Ishida and queen Kaori watched the fury of emotions go across their daughter's face while she took in this heavy news. The queen shooting a hard glare at her husband for taking so long in telling their daughter something that should have been revealed to her some time ago.

"But…. I don't understand, two years ago when this all started, I was still a child." Rin choked out still finding it hard to speak.

Rin saw her father turn to mother as though expecting her mother to share the next bit of news.

"Two years ago, you had your first bleed letting us know that had reached your maturity. Naraku found out." Her mother said sadly squeezing Rin's hand trying to comfort her daughter.

Rin blushed, ducking her head hiding her eyes behind her bangs.

"How did he find out?" Rin asked in a small voice feeling embarrassed at the mention of her bleeding.

"Do you remember your servant Anzu?" Her father asked gently.

"Yes, she was only with me for a year or so. What does she have to do with this? You told me she ran away when she disappeared, and your soldiers could not find her."

"Anzu was a spy for Naraku. On the day of your first bleeding, Maiko was tending to you and I went to fetch the healer for you. We left Anzu in charge of changing your bedding. We can only surmise that she took your bedding and snuck them out the castle to give to Naraku as proof of you reaching your womanhood." Queen Kaori said with bitterness in her voice.

Rin held back a sob putting her hands over her mouth. She felt like she was going to be sick. Her servant that she had come to care about would betray her in such a sick way. Her servant would let their enemy know she had entered her womanhood by giving her bedsheets as proof. Fighting back the bile that was threatening to rise, Rin took deep breaths trying to once again compose herself. She felt her mother rubbing her back, she didn't even notice that her mother was now standing next to her.

Her parents allowed her a moment before her father spoke again, "Within a few weeks of your first bleeding, a courier arrived with a letter from Naraku. In the letter, he addressed congratulations to you reaching your womanhood and wanted you for his bride. He was willing to pay a heavy dowry for your hand in marriage. I sent the courier back with a letter refusing his proposal."

Finding her voice, Rin stuttered out, "Anzu did not run away, did she?"

Her father now speaking in a harsh voice, "No, after heavy investigating, your mother and I came to the conclusion of how Naraku would have come by this information, I had her remove from this existence."

"A month after I refused Naraku's request, another courier arrived with another letter. This letter from Naraku once again asked for your hand in marriage but this time he stated he would burn our kingdom to the ground and see all our people dead if I refuse. One way or another Naraku wanted you for his wife and would not accept no for an answer."

Standing up to stretch his legs, King Ishida walked around his desk to pour himself a glass of sake. Swinging it back, he once again started speaking.

"I sent the courier back with another no also explaining that my daughter would only be married to be a well-respected kind nobleman, a man of high standing that would love her for her and not just because she can bear him children. My daughter would not marry some vile demon who takes pleasure in hurting those around him and just taking things he wants."

Pouring himself another glass of sake, he held the glass in hand staring at the contents, "As you can imagine, he did not take kindly to my response." He then threw the contents of the glass down this throat.

Coming to kneel in front of his young daughter, taking her shaken appearance, King Ishida spoke softly taking Rin's hand, "I am sorry we deceived you for so long. Even though you reached your womanhood it did not mean you had to stop being a child. We wanted you to enjoy being young for as long as possible. Maybe we should have told you sooner than this. You have to understand that we were only trying to protect you."

Her mother now kneeling next to her father, "Arina your father only speaks the truth, we were both in agreement but after the letter arrived from the western lands, I wanted to tell you the truth. Your father insisted we keep this news from you as long as possible. Your father is correct in the fact that we only wanted to protect you, you didn't need to know about these things right away. We love you and want the best for you."

Rin sat there barely hearing anything they were saying at this point. That vile spider demon Naraku wanted her for his wife. Everyone in her kingdom and across the lands knew who was Naraku was, he was known for plundering across everything and everyone he came across. He and his horde of spider demons and poisonous bees took everything they could find leaving nothing behind but devastation. He is also known for leaving no survivors either. Woman, child, or even the old kind souls that did nothing to him. If he saw something, he took simply took it.

This war started because of her. Everything that has happened was because of her. She started this war. With everything coming together in her head, Rin made the slow horrifying realization, "Oh god, everyone is dead because of me. Everyone is dead….Akashi is dead because of me."

Quickly coming to her feet and backing away from her parents, Rin stared down at her hands, there was so much blood on her hands. By this point, Rin was hyperventilating and truly feeling like she was actually going to throw up, turn to the nearest item she could find which was a large plant in its potter, and threw up everything she had in her stomach.

Her mother rushed over and started rubbing her back whispering encouraging words in her ear.

Once Rin could breathe and wiped her hand across her mouth, she pushed away from her mother in near hysterics.

"DON'T TOUCH ME! YOU LIED TO ME, THE BOTH OF YOU! EVERYONE IS DEAD BECAUSE OF ME!"

Catching her breath, "You both lied to me, you let me believe this war started for nothing. That Naraku attacked us for nothing. It was all a lie….." Rin whimper, collapsing to the floor in tears.

"All these people have died for me, my brother Akashi died for me." Rin sobbed out wrapping her arms around herself trying to find some sort of comfort in the now cold room.

Queen Kaori quietly sobbed not knowing what to say that could comfort her daughter. King Ishida stepped forward and got to his knees to face his daughter. Placing his hands on his tear-streaked daughter's face so she could look him in the eyes.

"No Arina, our people did not die because of you. Your brother Akashi did not die because of you. They died for our country. They died so you may continue to live on serving our country. You are so loved by everyone in our kingdom, everyone sees the kindhearted woman you are. You speak up for the voiceless, give aid to those who need it. You are constantly at the orphanage bringing the children new toys and spend time reading to them. No one has ever asked you to do these things, but you do because your heart commands you to."

Pulling Rin to stand, he guided her over to sit her down on the small sofa.

"Rin our people and your brother willingly went into battle knowing the cost. This war isn't just about you anymore. At this point, all the other lands are starting to recognize that Naraku has gone too long unchecked. All the other rulers want to form an alliance to finally stop Naraku for good."

Rin shaking, was trying hard to calm herself down.

Breathe.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Let the air in and out.

Breathe.

Rin squeezed her eyes shuts forcing oxygen in and out, she opened her eyes staring down at the flowers on her kimono.

'Focus on the flowers, focus on the flowers.' Rin kept repeating over and over in her head.

Finally feeling herself come back to the present, Rin sniffled and looked towards her parents.

"You said all the other lands want to form an alliance? How does that help us?"

King Ishida sitting across from Rin took her hand, "The western lands want to form an alliance with our kingdom. The eastern lands will be forming an alliance with the northern lands. For our alliance with the western lands, they have three conditions. The first condition is that they want access to our mining facilities in Asago. You know how we are the only kingdom with direct connections to mining zinc and copper in all of Japan. The second condition is that they want to be able to land on our shores on the south coast which will cut down their traveling time in half."

Standing and coming to stand beside his queen, he gently took her hand, leaned forward, and whispered something into her ear. Queen Kaori nodded and then took his place on the sofa.

Starting to feel a spark of hope at the news, Rin took a deep breath, thinking. 'This could work, the western lands were serious about helping us.'

"What will they be giving us in return?"

"They will be giving us an army of highly advanced skilled fighters, 2,000 youkai devoted entirely to their leader and will do as he commands. They will also be giving us new weapons, powerful weapons forged with some adamant that can strike down these spiders in one blow. The weapons we have now are not efficient at destroying spider demons. It takes our men many attacks to take just one down, hence losing so many of our army. The other rulers are working on finding out where Naraku's castle is to finally take him down."

As Rin took in the news that this alliance would greatly benefit not just them but all the lands, she felt relief fill her. Relief that this war could end, relief that she did not have to marry Naraku.

But….

But if it had come down to it then Rin knew she would marry Naraku if it meant she could end this war. She would do whatever it took to protect her kingdom. Her kingdom had already lost so much. She felt so much relief to hear that there was finally an end in sight.

Rin let out a deep sigh, "We can finally be at peace." Looking towards her parents trying to let them know she was feeling better, she noticed that they both still looked uncomfortable.

Recalling the knowledge that her father just shared, Rin noticed that something was missing.

"Father, you said there were three conditions, but you only named two. What's the third?"

Rin saw both her parents stiffen at her question.

Standing up in anger, "What aren't you telling me?!"

Silence only prolonged their answer.

"No, don't do this! Tell me the truth!"

Her mother stood and grabbed her by the shoulders, "The third condition is that you marry their son."

~oOo~

Authorr's Notes:

Ohhhhh, did you guys see that coming!? I went back and forth on who the bad guy should be. I thought of Kirinmaru but he didn't quite fit what I was looking for. We all know that Naraku was a selfish asshole too so!

One other note, the bit about the mining facilities in Asago and mining zinc and copper is actually true. That place does exist, I bumped up the date of the mining though. When that actually happened I believe it was during the 1800s. I came across a show called J-Trip and they went there one time and explored the area.

The next update will be next Thursday!