Chapter One
(updated January 2021)
"Rin, when will you wake?" The familiar voice questioned, his presence consuming my space.
This dream always started the same. Rin would feel his approach but never dared to open her eyes. She felt the yearning in her chest and fought the urge to look. She knew that opening her eyes would mean the end of her dream.
"Why won't you tell me who you are?" she asked, feeling the rough pads of his finger brush across her cheek. She leaned into his hand, eager to feel more. She heard a deep rumble in his chest, and her confidence swayed. She could never tell if he was frustrated by her questioning or her inability to remember him.
"You always ask the same question, and yet, you know the answer. Tell me, Rin, why am I here?"
Rin felt the frustration in her chest. "You want me to remember something, but you refuse to tell me what it is. You speak of promises and of a return - I'm tired of the riddles!"
Rin's brown eyes opened in defiance, and as if he were nothing more than a voice in the wind, the mystery man was gone.
|oOoOo|
"Rin? Wake up! You knew we were having a guest, you wicked girl. Wake up!" An elderly voice grumbled frustratedly, shaking the young woman out of her sleep. Rin opened her eyes in confusion, Gal pulling off her blanket in frustration.
"Good morning, Gal." Rin yawned.
"Morning - yes, but good? Absolutely not. Your father and Ms. Kikyo are waiting for you downstairs. You promised you would be awake in time. Mr. Alonzo has been waiting for almost twenty minutes. Get up!" Gal snapped.
"Why must I always endure these horrid meetings? Kikyo and I do not get along – that's no secret, and who cares about Tony? Why is he even here? We both know he's nothing more than an opportunistic pig."
"Mr. Alonzo is a good man. And you should be happy that your stepmother makes your father happy." Gal argued.
"I rather die," Rin mumbled, meeting Gal's glare.
Rin made her way to the connecting bathroom, Gal following along, urging her to move faster. Gal was like a mother to Rin. Eight years ago, Gal was hired as a home care nurse to help Rin recover after experiencing a horrific accident that killed her mother and younger brother. Rin wouldn't have survived the experience if it wasn't for Gal's support and unconditional love. Rin had gone mute, but Gal was always by her side, encouraging her to find ways to express herself. When Rin discovered her voice again, she couldn't bear to be separated from Gal, so her father hired her as a permanent household assistant.
"Riniko, I need you to move faster!" Gal's frustrated voice broke through Rin's thoughts. 'She is pissed,' Rin smirked, picking up her pace.
Rin's full name was Riniko Tomeo, but her mother and those closest to her called her Rin. Only her father and associates called her Riniko. And Gal, whenever she was losing her patience with her. Rin smirked, picking up her pace as Gal continued to grumble behind her.
|oOoOo|
By Rin's calculations, she was able to keep Tony and Kikyo waiting almost an hour. It wasn't her intention to sleep in so late, but it was hard to feel guilty. Rin's stepmother, Kikyo Tomeo, was a sarcastic manipulator. Kikyo was her father's coworker but their relationship changed after Rin's mother died and they were married three years later. Almost immediately, Kikyo began giving unwanted advice and opinions regarding Rin's life.
Then there was Antonio Alonzo. He was an annoying opportunist who has taken an odd liking to Rin. Like Kikyo, Tony always inserted himself into Rin's family's affairs.
"Ahh – the princess has awoken," Kikyo sighed dramatically as Rin entered the room, Tony chuckling in the corner. Rin hated his creepy laugh. It was like he knew the punchline to a joke that nobody else was aware of.
"Good morning, Papa," Rin smiled, giving her father a kiss, ignoring the others. Her father glared at her disapprovingly, and Rin resisted the urge to stick out her tongue. "How did I get so lucky to have the three of you waiting on me?" Rin asked sarcastically, watching as Gal entered the room.
"Well, Rinny -" Kikyo began.
"Riniko," Rin corrected. "Why is it so difficult for you to get it right?"
"That's enough," her father interjected.
"You never correct her, Papa!" Rin cried. For once, she wanted him to take her side and put Kikyo in her place. Kikyo knew Rin hated being called 'Rinny,' but she continued to mock her. Kikyo had tried calling her Rin when she started dating her father, but she insisted on being called Riniko. Kikyo made her uncomfortable, and that discomfort became more profound when she insisted on calling her "Rinny."
In classic Kikyo fashion, she ignored Rin's request and continued with her story. "It's the most wonderful news. Mr. Alonzo has graciously delivered a proposal of marriage between the two of you from his family. Just in time for your 18th birthday. As a wedding gift, there will be opportunities to acquire some of the Alonzo Corporation's smaller businesses. It's simply wonderful!"
The silence of the room was deafening. Rin stared at her father in disbelief, waiting for the punchline. "You must be joking. I do not agree with this arrangement. Papa, this is a joke, right?"
"This is a wonderful match for you, Riniko. You will have the security of the Alonzo Corp, also securing the future of Tomeo Industries and-"
"And I don't get to have an opinion?" Rin interrupted.
"You don't remember what it was like when I lost your mother and brother. I felt hopeless and thought I was going to lose you too. Without the support of the Alonzo family, we would have been ruined. We owe them so much. Your union has been in development for years; you knew this. So, it's time for you to take your place as the head of this family."
"How can you promise your child to a family, as if she's some prized pig? Losing Mama and Senta was horrible. But Mama wouldn't want this for my future."
"YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE MOTHER WOULD HAVE WANTED!" Her father's outburst was followed by a thick silence.
"Mr. Tomeo, please…" Gal interjected.
"My decision is final, Riniko. There are people in this world who do not marry for love, but love can be learned. In time, you will love him."
His words were a punch to Rin's gut.
"Well, this is awkward," Tony chuckled, putting an arm around Rin. She flinched at his touch and pushed him away.
"I refuse!" she cried, storming out of the room.
|oOoOo|
The Higurashi Shrine was known to bring luck and good fortune to anyone who visited. Unfortunately for Rin, her frequent visits didn't add up to much luck. As a close friend of the owner's granddaughter, Kagome Higurashi, she found herself visiting the shrine frequently.
Rin climbed the familiar stairs to the grounds, bumping into Sota, Kagome's younger brother. He smiled brightly in greeting, "Rin! It's been a while."
"Hey, Sota. It's good to see you. Kagome's in her room, I assume?" Rin smiled.
"As always. Go ahead to the main house," he laughed.
Giving her thanks, Rin made her way to Kagome's room. Kagome always gave sound advice, so Rin hoped she could help her through the Tony-issue. As Rin made her way towards Kagome's bedroom, she heard Kagome's voice echoing through the hallway.
"No, Inu-Yasha, you have to go back. You've always distracted me, and I have an exam tomorrow. I promise I'll spend all of my time with you after I graduate. Now go!"
Rin knocked and slowly entered the room. Kagome turned quickly from her window, surprised at seeing Rin. "Rin, what are you doing here?"
Kagome's eyed the window nervously and smiled, "it's wonderful to see you."
Rin knew Kagome was hiding something but felt it wasn't her place to question her. "Do you have time to chat?"
"Yes! Let's go outside," Kagome chirped, clearly relieved to change the subject.
The two friends walked in awkward silence, heading to their favorite tree. The Secret Tree, as Kagome called it, stood confidently, shielding them from the unforgiving summer sun. Kagome sat at its base and tapped the ground for Rin to join.
"You know, I've dreamed about this tree often." Rin sighed, adjusting to the ground. "It would always start here but end at that old well you have. It's so strange. Sometimes, there would be a man, but I never see his face. But..." Rin smiled, "I much rather dreamed of that man on the beach instead of your old dirt well."
Kagome laughed, giving Rin a playful push. "According to my grandfather, the tree and the well are the oldest relics on our property. Maybe you're channeling something from the past. Maybe a lover from a past life."
"Ha - Ha! Well, do you think my past can influence or change my future?"
Rin proceeded to tell Kagome about her father's plan for her to marry. As Rin navigated through her feelings, Kagome pulled her into a hug. "I don't have the answers, my friend, but Tony is not your future. He's nothing but an opportunistic maggot anyway."
"That's what I told Gal!" Rin laughed, feeling her heart lightened. "You always know what to say, thank you. I'm going to head home and figure out what to do next. I'm sure there's going to be hell to pay for running out of the conversation."
|oOoOo|
Kagome waved goodbye as Rin started her journey home. "She could always run away," an annoyed voice mumbled behind her.
"I thought you left Inu-Yasha. Did you listen to the entire conversation?"
Inu-Yasha's face flustered slightly as he turned his head in defiance, "It wasn't as if I was eavesdropping. But I caught the scent of a yokai and thought it would be best for me to stick around."
"Are you sure? You're the only one with youkai blood that's here."
"I'm not so sure, but it reminded me of that jackass brother of mine."
"Sesshomaru? How would that be possible?"
Inu-Yasha scratched his head in frustration, "I don't know! I'm just telling you what I smell. But now that I think about it, that friend of yours resembles the human girl that followed Sesshomaru around."
"But we were there when the yokai murdered her. Unless she was..." Kagome paused, eyes widening, "... reincarnated. Do you think it's possible?"
"It's possible, but let's keep an eye on her," Inu-Yasha concluded.
|oOoOo|
Story Changes – In the 2003 version, Rin's name was Kagura Rin Tomeo. I was obsessed with the Inu-Yasha character Kagura. I shipped her with Sesshomaru, ONLY if Rin was out of the picture. So they were my favorite option B couple. ≧◡≦ However, I realize that it could be very confusing using two Inu-Yasha characters as one person, so in the 2021 version, I renamed Rin to Riniko Tomeo. Fun fact - the last name Tomeo is a nod to my favorite Sailor Moon character (Hotaru Tomeo, aka Sailor Saturn).
Let me know what you think about the new version of Chapter 1! Stay tuned for an updated Chapter 2. Coming soon!
Glumps and Love,
L. Starr