Chapter 13
My phone alarm went off at it's usual time for me to wake up at six. It was a new school week in November and would be a long one at that. I had several tests before the release of fall break for labor thanksgiving and I spent the whole night studying till midnight. I couldn't wait for them to be over with. I miss having a full night of sleep, but I don't want to risk failing these tests. I know that I am smart, but failing was another fear of mine.
To keep my mind focused I did my usual routine of getting ready for school; my daily shower, waking up Tashi and prepping our breakfast and lunch. This morning I opened the living room curtain to see heavy thick fog. Well there goes my morning, but I put it off and went back to getting things ready for school. I made leftovers for our lunch since it was enough to feed two people; rice, beef and mixed veggies, including fresh sliced fruit.
In the process of making everything, Tashi came out to the front room, cheerful as ever. "Morning, Rin. Wow! Man is it foggy! Is school delayed?" He was at the front window looking out, cupping his hands on the glass. "It's kind of like that old classic movie 'The Fog'."
"Morning, Tashi. No, school is still on time. We'll leave extra early since it's this bad out." I looked up at the window and I totally agree with him! But evil creatures from that movie don't exist. Breakfast is done if you want to take a seat."
"Awesome, I'm hungry!" I placed down an egg roll and a cup of hot tea. "Thanks Rin." He took a small bite and I knew he was in heaven. "So delicious. Rin, don't be a famous photographer, because a chef!
"You're welcome, and haha. I appreciate that very much, but photography is my passion," I smiled his way. "Now eat up, we'll be leaving after I do the dishes."
"Okay. Did you sleep well?" He took another bite of his steaming breakfast.
"Kind of. I was up late studying for the test today." It was a history test, which shouldn't be too hard.
"Man, do you think it will be that hard?"
"No, at least it shouldn't." What would make it hard is if it was something they didn't teach us yet. To change the subject, "are you excited for the game this weekend?"
"Yes! I'm not sure who we're going against," he explained, taking a sip of his almost finished tea. "But I believe they are coming from a different town."
"Oh! That's interesting." I wonder what town that will be? I couldn't wait to see the game and I'll be sure to cheer for him.
The fog had grown so thick that you could hardly see anything in front of you. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack to walk the streets of Kagoshima. I didn't want to rush both Tashi and myself to school, risking accidentally walking into the street and becoming a victim of a hit and run again. If that were to happen mom and dad would be
driving us to school until we both graduate university.
"Hey Rin, are we gonna be late for school? It's so hard to see. Even a knife wouldn't cut through this." If we are late then so be it. I'm not risking our lives over fog.
"We'll be fine, Tashi. I'll explain to the office why we are running late. If they have a problem with that then they can call mom and dad." I'm surprised they didn't delay us a few hours this morning. Usually they would. When I looked around there was no one in sight and even cars. "Strange that it's just us on the sidewalk." Kind of spooky, but we have nothing to fear.
"I agree, Rin. It's like we are the only ones here, but I thought Sesshomaru was walking with us?"
"He had an early morning swim practice and wouldn't be able to join us, but he'll join us later after school," I smiled down at my favorite brother. "Do you want to go to the park after school?" I've been meaning to take him for sometime.
"Hey Rin, I have a better idea," he stopped walking, faced me with the biggest grin on his face.
"What's that, Tashi?" I wonder what he's thinking?
"Let's skip school and go to the park now!" Tashi instantly let go of my hand, ran ahead of me through the thick fog and disappeared.
My eyes dilated in fear. "Tashi! Tashi, Come back!" I bolted right after him. He knows better not to run from my sight. "Tashi!" I called for him again. "Damn this fog. If it weren't for this, I could find Tashi quickly."
I ran and ran for several minutes and not caring my legs were growing tired. "Tashi!" I called for him again.
"Over here!" His voice was now behind me. Did I pass the park?
I ran back the way I came and finally could see the outline of the park sign. When I get to Tashi, I'm gonna have to give him a serious talk. I stepped through the gate and the fog began to fade away and my heart dropped into my stomach. I wasn't at the park near Tashi's school. "What is going on?" I was in the forest of Yamanashi instead of Kagoshima. How? How did I wind up here? It's impossible! A lump built up on my throat and I badly wanted to swallow it, but I couldn't. "T...T...Tashi?" Tremors were building throughout my body as I slowly stepped forward, watching every angle around me. "Tashi?" I need to find him fast.
"Rin," his voice called for me up ahead.
"Tashi!" I swallowed that lump and ran ahead. "Tashi! You're in so much trouble."
"Rin, come here, I found something awesome!" He doesn't seem upset about the issue. He could get grounded for this. "Hurry!" I moved my legs as fast as I could, when I could see Tashi right up ahead. "Down here," he pointed down a hill and then ran down himself.
"Tashi!" What the heck is he after? When I reached the spot he ran down, I turned and froze in place. My hand went to my mouth to stop me from screaming. I was staring down at the bodies of my family in the same exact place I saw that elderly demon getting killed. They were killed execution style. No! This can't be! My family was dead!
My knees gave out and slammed into the ground. My tears dripped down my cheeks. The ones who were after me, came for my family instead. The fear that I dreaded the most. This was their plan from the very beginning. In order to get to me, they would come for my parents and brother first. Why didn't they just take me instead?
I hid my eyes in my hands for a moment as the sound of someone coming up behind me could be heard. I removed my hands and turned to see a tall dark shadow coming towards me. "We meet again, my dear and you probably thought we would never find you. Well it wasn't hard at all." The man stepped out and it was the same one who killed the elderly demon. His long black back braid swung back and forth with each step he took. I thought he was in jail? In his right hand was a black handgun. The same one I watched him use months ago. No! I can not let him kill me. I jumped up and ran, leaving my family behind. "Come back here!" He fired a bullet right at me and missed.
Sweat dripped down my face. I was now running for my life as he followed behind. Another bullet was fired at me and just missed the side of my face by an inch. I knew I was doomed any second. I knew I wouldn't be able to outrun him for long, but I didn't want to die this way. The only way to escape this mad man was to….I heard the sound of waves crashing up ahead. Am I now on the island of Yakushima? I don't understand what's going on.
When I left the forest path, I found myself in the exact place from where I was thrown not long ago. Forgetting about the man coming for me, I cautiously walked towards the cliff's edge and looked down. Below me was the sea. It was dark, eerie and not inviting. Is this the path to save myself? Or is this where I'll meet my fate with death?
The running from behind came to a halt and I turned to face him. "So, it seems you have nowhere else to hide!" He seethed through his teeth. "You've caused me a lot of trouble to escape prison and now I'm gonna finish by taking your life."
"Please, don't! I have so much to live for. I'm only sixteen." I don't want my life to end over something that wasn't my fault.
"No!" He clicked the gun into place ready to pull the trigger any second. "Any last words?"
I could only think of someone I wanted to be with me. Someone I knew that would protect me from danger. "Sesshomaru, save me!" I screamed. The bang from the gun shot towards me, followed by a bright light.
Heavy rain and thunder crashed outside my bedroom in the middle of the night. The terrifying sound caused me to jolt up from my bed, with my heart palpitating from the terrifying storm and my body trembling. "It was just a dream," more of a nightmare from what happened. My tears poured from my eyes. I pulled my legs against my chest and hid my face. My worst fear happened in my dreams. A dream that I'm glad was over and not true.
Another clash of the under erupted and my bedroom slammed open, causing me to jump and almost fall off my bed. In seconds I looked up to find Tashi, crying too and holding the hem of his pajama top. The storm again had awoken him from a dead sleep. "Rin," he cried through his tears.
I did the same thing again, scooted the closest to the wall and patted my bed for him to join me. He did just that and wrapped his arms around me. This was something we both needed. To hold each other, "I've got you," I cried in a hush tone.
"Rin, are you okay?" I felt his thumb wipe a tear away. "What did you dream of?" I just shook my head no. He can't know what happened. I know he'll freak out if told him that he was killed, along with mom and dad. "Please, Rin!" No, I can't. He'll hold on to me and won't leave my site. "Rin, I heard you scream Sesshomaru to save you. Please tell me what happened!" I actually screamed his name!
"You...you heard me?"
"Yeah. Rin, please tell me! I promise that I won't be upset." Tashi will be upset.
"If….if I tell you, you cannot tell mom and dad. Promise?" He's always good at keeping his word.
"I promise, Rin." I took his small hand in mine, took a quick breath and explained what occured during my nightmare. Tashi's eyes expanded wide when he heard what I had said and they began to fill with buckets of tears. He let go of my hand and threw his arms around me. "Rin, I would never run from you and you know that."
"I know, it just felt so real Tashi and I truly thought I lost you all." I don't know what I would do if I actually lost my family to the ones who wanted me. Would I give myself over for them to kill me? Or do I go into hiding again and never see and speak to Sesshomaru again? I didn't even want to think of that right now. Tashi and my parents were alive and all that mattered right now.
To get my mind off that horrible nightmare, I went and made hot tea for the two of us. We both needed relaxation from the fresh herbs that grew in dad's garden. Tonight we both will enjoy a relaxing movie and fall asleep, keeping each other close and safe.
The man behind the sameame computer threw a glass of scotch across the room, frustrated that she still hasn't been found. "How has no one found her yet?" He threw the whole bottle this time. "Have all the cities been checked?" Mr. Asano was on the verge of throwing any object he could get his hands on at anything and anyone.
"Almost, Mr. Asano. We're working our way down and Tokyo will be our next trip soon. We just don't want to make the police in this town think we're up to something," a member of his group creepily smirked and rubbed a clay bottle clean.
"How long will that be, Suikotsu?" Asano demanded out loud.
"A month, or after the new year at most, but while we wait, I will prepare a potion recipe, left by Mukotsu, that will knock her unconscious when we get our hands on her. It will keep her in that state for several hours." Suikotsu was next in line, after his elder brother, Bankotsu, was arrested months prior for murder and he was a scary man at that. Fire was a major passion of his and he would use it on anyone who got in his way.
"You have till the new year to find her. If she isn't found by noon on the first, hell will happen," his blue eyes become heavy of a devious plan in mind.
I laid in my bed, looking up towards the ceiling, waiting to be called for dinner. Tomorrow I'll be heading into the city with dad, meeting Sesshomaru's father, Inu no Taisho and hopefully he'll be able to track down and find my birth mother. I know the process could take time, but Sesshomaru told me that his father can find people a lot quicker than most private investigators. I believe it. I'm just wondering if I have to tell him about my demon nights to help with the investigation? Part of me believes I might have to and the other part of me is scared. I'm still not ready for that secret truth to be revealed.
Soft pitter patter of feet came down the hallway and a soft knock at the door. "Rin," it was mom. She opened the door and had a gentle look on her face as she came in. "Dinner is almost ready. Oh! Did I wake you?"
"No, I was….just a lot on my mind," she knows what I'm talking about. I sat up as she came and joined me on the bed.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" I was.
"Yes, but I know it's best to finally know who my mother is and maybe my father. I'm just scared that I'll have to tell Sesshomaru's father that I become a half demon every few months."
"Rin," she cupped my cheek. "My darling, you have nothing to fear about telling Toga about your demon nights. A lot of others go through the same thing as you, tell people about themselves and go about their day like nothing. But I understand what you're thinking. I've heard and read stories about yori no tori and the price to capture one. I hope that never happens to you." I never told my parents what happened when I went away for a week on the island.
"Same here. I would hate to be a prize for someone's next paycheck."
"You won't. Your father would then have a serious lecture with them about coming after his precious daughter."
"Mom!" She bursted out laughing.
"Haha, heck I bet Sesshomaru would do the same." If she only knew he already has. She picked up my hand with his gift on my finger. "I can't believe you're in a relationship. It's good to see you to be with someone." She continued to smile at me. "Anyways Rin, let's go have dinner. You need a good night's rest for tomorrow." I have a feeling it will be a long night.