Chapter 2

Sesshoumaru surveyed the human, silent. "I thought I would never see you again. When you di-" she left off suddenly and looked down. Sesshoumaru realized what she was going to say and frowned. 'When I died? What does she mean by that?'

"Why were you going to say died?" he asked. "Answer me human!" his voice took on a low rumble. Before she could answer, the door opened and Rin ran in.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Is she okay? Can Rin help?" The young girl asked clutching on to the youkai's leg. Sesshoumaru placed a clawed hand on her head. The older woman smiled almost wistfully.

"Yes, Rin. I want you to go and get Jaken, tell him to prepare a bath in the hot springs. You can show her where they are. I will get clean clothes." His voice was cold again. The small girl nodded and bowed, then ran out the door. Sesshoumaru crossed his arms. "I will see you after your bath." He said, Rin* nodded. "And then I want to speak with you."

Rin* nodded again, and Sesshoumaru strode out.

*~*~*~

~In the hot springs~

Rin* sank in to the steaming water, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Using one of the soaps that the small child had handed her, she began to wash. "What's your name?" the child asked. Rin* ducked under the water, and came back up.

"My name is the same as yours, Rin."

Rin cocked her head, and smiled. "You have the same name as Rin?" she asked. Rin* nodded, lathering up her hair, then ducking back down, and rinsing it out. "How do you know Sesshoumaru-sama?"

The woman froze suddenly, wondering on what to tell her. "Yes, do tell. How do you know me?" came the chilled voice of the dog demon. Rin* yelped, and sunk into the water, up to her chin. She swam over to the edge of the spring and held out a hand, slim fingers beckoning.

"Rin-chan could you hand me the clothes?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the demon. Sesshoumaru was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, eyes sharp. He was the very example of danger and he knew it.

"No, Rin. Do not give her, her clothes until she answers my questions." His amber eyes watched as her face fell, and she bit her lip.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin* began, trying to think how to explain what happened. "May we talk later- in private?" Her voice pleaded for him to agree. The demon lord sighed. He nodded and waved his hand.

"You can give her the clothes." Sesshoumaru turned, and heard Rin* exhale slowly, and then carefully get out of the water. After a few moments, he heard footsteps and then a pair of arms latch around his leg. "Rin, go feed Ah-Un." "Make sure you tell Jaken where you are." He ordered, and the child nodded, and ran off.

Sesshoumaru turned his eyes to Rin*, and raised his eyebrows. The woman from before was no longer a dirty, bloody mess, but a slim beautiful woman. Her wet hair was tied up, and she wore a dark green kimono with a light green sash/obi. Her hands were clasped in front of her, and her eyes downcast. "Sesshoumaru- I…" she began. Her shoulders fell slightly and she sighed. "This is going to be hard to believe I suppose. You already know how I share the same name as your adopted child. I am her, 9 years from now. I came back now to save you, perhaps all of us. 9 years from now, there will be a half demon, half sorcerer, many times worse than Naraku. He has the power to shift through time, and he wants to get his hands on the Shikon no Tama. But the girl, Kagome, managed to get all of the pieces together, and purify the jewel. Seeing that the jewel was out of his grasp, he was going to go back in time and steal the jewel before your half brother did. The older you, knew of this, and we set out to stop it." Rin* turned her brown eyes up to his. "You died." She whispered. "Apparently I did as well."

~Memory~

This is not going to have the * since there is only one Rin.

Matsuri held sword against Sesshoumaru's neck. The demon lord was already bleeding from a large cut across his chest, and a stab wound in his stomach. He gasped for a breath and felt the cold metal of the sword caress his neck. "The Great Lord Sesshoumaru, lying in the dust, awaiting his death. I shall not deprive you." Matsuri grinned as he mocked Sesshoumaru, and Rin struggled against the rope, which bound her. The sword was pointed at his chest and Rin's throat constricted.

"Sesshoumaru!" She choked out as the sword plunged down in to his chest. "No!" Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in disbelief and pain. He was dying- he could feel it. Not even his youkai strength or healing would save him from the fatal wound.

"R-Rin?" he managed, and he felt his eyes close.

"NO! Sesshoumaru!" Rin screamed. Tears ran down her cheeks, mixing with the dust already there. "No…he can't…" she stared down at the ground, blocking out any sound, not wanting to accept that Sesshoumaru was indeed gone. 'He can't… he's strong… he isn't gone.'

Matsuri turned to her and began to walk slowly. "He was weak. That is why he is gone. He really did not stand a chance, trying to stop me from what I wanted to do. So foolish, and puny. Undeserving of the name demon lord or youkai. He was in my way, much as you-" he stopped suddenly, his black eyes wide. Rin looked up and saw Sesshoumaru standing behind him, a look of rage on his face, his eyes bleeding scarlet.

"I… am not… weak." He growled as he ripped the sword through Matsuri's chest. A strangled gasp came from the half demon lips as blood spattered the ground, and Sesshoumaru jerked the sword back out.

Matsuri yelled out a Word of Power, and a black shimmering portal opened before him. He toppled forward, and but the portal did not close. Rin watched Sesshoumaru drop the sword, and walk to her, but fall to his knees right before her. He sliced her bindings, and then slumped to the ground. Rin gently pulled him to her, his head resting on her shoulder, her arms around his chest, trying to stop the blood. She could feel his breaths coming slower, and the rising of his chest. "Sesshoumaru- no. Please, don't leave me." She whispered. "No. No. No. No." she pleaded, her words a soft mantra. His amber eyes met her own, and he let a sad smile creep on to his lips.

"Rin… I'm sorry," he murmured. "Sorry I…" he winced as he tried to sit up more. Rin covered his sword wound, with her hand, feeling the wet blood soaking his clothes. "I… couldn't protect you."

"No! Shh. You did protect me." She assured. A wry smile spread across his lips, and she lightly kissed them. Rin felt him reach up and take her hand. His body slowly went limp and she buried her face in his neck. "I am sorry," she whispered. For a few moments, she rocked back and forth, not wanting to believe that Sesshoumaru, the strongest person she had ever known, was gone. The glimmer of the portal, which was still there, caught her eyes. Her head snapped up and she let his body slide to the ground, and cast one last glance at him. She sniffed, and turned to the portal, and ran at it.

When she toppled forward out of the portal, and was struck by something sharp in the chest. "Nani?" she gasped. Matsuri grinned and her vision darkened.

"You can't stop me human…" was the last thing she remembered.

*End memory*

Rin* looked up at the demon, tears in her eyes. "I am here to stop that from happening, and to kill Matsuri." She said, wrapping her arms around herself, suppressing a shiver at the cool night air. Sesshoumaru considered what she had said and realized he believed her. He took a deep breath and turned around to face the castle. "Sesshoumaru-sama?" came the soft voice.

"Let's head back. You are probably hungry, as is Rin." He frowned slightly, and then began to walk. Rin* trotted to keep up, and then pulled on his arm. He stopped and she stood in front of him. Her eyes met his, and suddenly she threw her arms around him. She had to stand on her tiptoes, since she was only five-foot-five, while he was at least six foot, two. Rin* felt him stiffen and she drew away.

"Sesshoumaru- I am sorry. I just…" she looked down in embarrassment.

Sesshoumaru was stunned at how…right it felt, having her in wrap her arms around him. A sudden thought struck him. "Rin*… How close were we?" he asked softly. She looked up at him through her bangs. "I mean…"

"I know what you mean." She whispered. "I know…"