[A/N: *Music from Monster House that they play when someone dances plays* Can I get a booya? (Now you say booya!) Can I get a booya? (Now you say booya!) Ehem. That's enough of that little jam fest. Now, thanks for all the reviews, guys, and so you know, I just came up with a killer plot twist! *winks* I'm sayin' it again, thanks for all the good reviews, I'm really touched that ya'll like my work, and please enjoy the next chappie!]
Rin slowly opened her eyes and rubbed the back of her stiff neck. "Where in all the hells am I?" she asked, although no one was around to answer. She groaned and looked around the small room that she was in, and then shifted around on the small futon. She looked around a little more and saw Tokijin lying on the floor in the corner, not too far away from the demon she had been fighting earlier.
He looked over at her with an annoyed expression on his face. "You finally up, wench?" he asked coldly. "Well, you wouldn't have waited for me to wake up if you hadn't knocked me out like that," she replied. She sat up weakly and secured the belt of her loose blue yukata. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to fetch my steed," she said. He waved his hand in protest a bit. "They're already outside tied up outside our shack," he said. "Why did you go and fetch them for me?" she asked. "I just figured it'd be quicker to get back here with a ride," he said, defending himself for absolutely no reason. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes as a human woman who looked to be in her late thirties walked into the room.
"Oh, so you've awaken," she said kindly. "Who…?" Rin asked, trailing off. "Oh, I'm sorry, my son must not have properly introduced himself," she said, slightly glaring at the young man, "His name is Nanashi, and I'm his mother, Mariko." "I'm Rin…It's a pleasure, I'm sure," she replied, trailing off into thought, "Well, at least his mother's been kind to me so far." The young man dubbed as Nanashi got up and quietly exited the room. Rin and Mariko watched as he did so. Mariko sighed and shook her head a bit. "He's always like this," she said softly. She turned back in Rin's direction as a small smile grew on her face.
"I'm sorry…how are you feeling?" Mariko asked. "Oh, just fine," Rin replied, standing up. "I should really go…I wouldn't want to be a burden," she said, picking up Tokijin and slipping it back into her belt. "Oh, no, you should at least stay until morning. It's the least we can do after Nanashi's…well his…little outburst," she said. "Well, I guess Aa and Um cold certainly use a rest," Rin said, "I guess I could stay, but I can't stay longer than morning." "Then it's settled," Mariko stated, "Will you be alright in here?" Rin nodded a little. "Yes, this room is fine," she replied. "Alright then," Mariko said before turning around. A few moments later, she had exited the room, and Rin was by herself.
Rin pulled the Tokijin out from her belt once more and set it on the floor next to her futon. She was about to lie back down when she heard the same ethereal lullaby she had heard earlier. She walked over to the small window and leaned on her elbows, watching Nanashi play his flute. She closed her eyes and without even knowing it, began to hum along with the song.
Nanashi stopped playing and looked down, immediately seeing Rin who was standing in her window. "What do you want?" he asked arrogantly. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Oh, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," she said, backing away from the window. He remained silent for a moment, and then finally spoke. "No, it's okay, you can listen if you want," he said. Rin walked back over to the window and looked up at him. She noticed a door to her left and walked outside.
As she walked out, he watched her with an expression on his face that looked as if though she had just fallen from a tree. "What's wrong? Are you afraid of me or something?" she asked curiously. He looked down at her, almost snarling at her like a dog would. "What?" Rin asked. "Nothing!" Nanashi yelled back. "Then why don't you come down here and talk to me?" Rin asked. She smiled a little at the words she had just spoken. She had always been told that she was straightforward, and every time she said something like that, she knew that every word of it was true.
Hearing her words, Nanashi reluctantly leapt from his tree branch and walked over to Rin. "What are you?" he asked. Rin looked up at him strangely. "I'm human, of course," she relied simply. He looked down at the ground a little. "First human who's ever talked to me like that," he muttered under his breath. He turned and walked away, wandering over to a small hill, where he sat down on the ground. "What are you trying to do, hide from me?" Rin asked. Nanashi didn't even bother to look back at her, let alone answer. Rin sighed a little and walked over towards him, stopping slightly behind him.
Nanashi sighed, the annoyance that she was causing him eminent in his tone. "What?" he asked, sounding almost like a whining child towards the end. Rin simply walked over and sat down next to him. He glanced over at her, but returned his gaze to the stars. "So, Nanashi," she started. He glanced over at her again, and shook his head a little. "Why does she even try?" he asked himself.
"Nanashi…that song you were playing…where did you learn it?" she asked. He shrugged his shoulders a little. "I dunno," he replied simply, "I just picked up my flute and started playin' it one day, and I guess it just snowballed from there." Rin looked down at the grass and twiddled with her thumbs a bit. "So, you just picked it up and started playing, huh?" she asked. Nanashi looked at her with a sarcastic expression. "Do you need me to repeat it for you?" he asked coldly.
Rin mimicked him in a childish voice and stood up. "Where are you going?" he asked. "I am going to bed," Rin replied simply, although she sounded a bit angry. Nanashi looked back at her as she walked. HE looked back over the hill, shaking his head. "Stupid mortal girl."