Author Intro

Before delving into this story, there are three big things that must be clarified.

First and Foremost: Though the main couple of the tale is Sesshomaru x Rin, this will not take place until she is of an acceptable age for marriage. There will be no romantic interaction between the two until she is no longer considered a child.

Second: This idea is over 8 years old so the sequel will have no influence on it.

Lastly: This is an AU which begins a little over a year after the defeat of Naraku. Assumed canon biological ages are below.

Sesshōmaru = 20

Rin = 10

Inuyasha = 16

Kagome = 16

Miroku = 20

Sango = 18

Kohaku = 12

Shippō = 8

Kaede = 58

Enjoy!

~ Blind2Reality

Prologue

"Sesshōmaru- sama!" The girl came running over to the demon as he leaned against a tree, "Look at what Rin made!" She placed the flower crown upon his head whilst giving her usual big smile. Though he did not visibly acknowledge the action, his choice to let it remain spoke louder than any of his words could.

"Jaken," the kappa quickly waddled over, "Find food for you and Rin."

"Right away, your lordship!" Jaken scurried off deep into the woods though he could still be heard complaining about the night's array of bugs.

"Oh Jaken-sama," the girl giggled, "Sesshōmaru-sama? Would you like it if Rin also went to search for food?"

"If you so wish."

Rin quietly hummed to herself as she moved through the forest. Even though it was a moonless night, that did not stop her from being able to find her way. After traveling with her demon family for so long, her body had learned to adapt when one sense could not be used as well as the others. The area they were in was not known for predators and if any appeared her lord would surely be there in a heartbeat to save her. The girl smiled, Sesshōmaru - and Jaken - meant more to her than almost anything else. They were the family that replaced the one she tragically lost so long ago. Rin's smile faded, though she did not have that many memories of her life before the demons, the few she had made it easy to understand why her mind refused to remember the rest. However, just as quickly as her smile went away, it reappeared. There was no point in dwelling on things that made her sad, not when there was so much to be happy about only minutes away.

With a bit more pep in her step, Rin carried on weaving through the bushes and trees until she came upon the lake she had seen when they were still flying. The closer she got to the water, the cooler the air became, but nearby was the thing that had truly caught her eye - flowers. The child loved flowers most of all; their beauty always made her forget the pain she hid within. She shook her head to drive away the thoughts that had been coming on more and more recently. It started around a year ago, shortly after Naraku had finally been defeated, but she had no idea why. Rin shrugged and went back to humming as she picked the flowers.

As the girl stood up, something on the water caught her eye. Rin cautiously moved closer to the bank as she held her makeshift bouquet in the folds of her kimono. Towards the middle was the most beautiful flower she had ever seen. Her eyes grew wide, she didn't just want it, she needed it. The flowers she picked fell to the ground as she began to move forward with a slight sway in her steps - as if it were drawing her in. The water was cold when Rin stepped in, but that did not stop her from continuing.

"What's this?" A low voice hissed near her ear, "What do you see?"

"Pretty flower. Rin wants the pretty flower," her voice was monotonous.

"Go get it then," the hissing continued, "Go on. I can help you."

Rin stretched her hand forward as she reached for the flower, the water already up to her waist, but she was still a few inches too short. As she began to frown she lowered her head. Upon her arm were strange bruises that had not been there before. Rin slowly blinked before shock coursed through her. The coldness she felt around her waist was not the water, it was a large snake. The scales scratched at whatever exposed skin they could find and left painful marks behind. As the demon continued to tighten its grip around her, Rin screamed out for Sesshōmaru.

She didn't remember what happened after that, only that when she came to, she was in Sesshōmaru's arms. Rin held up her own arms and saw the marks of where the scales had touched her; they were almost like burns. What had happened...was real.

"Are you okay?" Sesshōmaru's voice was more gentle than normal.

Rin quickly sat up, moved to the ground, and teared up, "Yes! Rin sorry! Rin doesn't know where the monster came from!"

"Stupid human! Making us worry like that!" Jaken was a little ways away from the two as he mumbled, but still close enough to eavesdrop. However, Sesshōmaru ignored his words.

"Jaken made some salve for you to use," the demon nodded towards the leaf near the fire.

"Thank you, Jaken-sama! Rin will use it right away!"

After she applied the last of the medicine to her wrists, Rin began to eat the food that had been left aside for her. It was so cold that she must have been gone for a long time. Yet, despite this, she ate the meal happily. Though she didn't know what had actually happened, there was one thing Rin could always be certain of - her family would be there for her when she needed them.