Shadow's Assassin: This chapter is practically intact from the original, so to those of you who read it before, this will seem very familiar. (Sorry about that) To new readers, thank you very much, I hope you enjoy the story! (Although the first chapter is the same, I've decided this story will go in a slightly different direction from the original)

Disclaimer: C'mon, do you think I have the money to own InuYasha? I'm a poor, broke teenager without a steady job, for heaven's sa-ke!

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Sesshoumaru's normally apathetic golden eyes lingered thoughtfully on the sleeping form of the dark-haired young girl, curled up against the base of a tree trunk, next to Ah'Un. His eyes softened slightly, a phenomenon few had witnessed. As hard as he tried to shut her out, this… human girl had somehow wormed her way into his cold heart.

His eyes regained their frost as he turned upon Jaken, the servile frog, and tossed a stone to wake him up. When the unlucky toad finished sputtering, he spoke in a flat voice. "Tell Rin I will be gone for several days. Watch her. You are not to follow." Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and strode out of the clearing. He did not look back. He never did.

He quickened his steps as he emerged into the dusky evening air. The set features of Sesshoumaru's face took on a more intense look as his thoughts turned to the reason of his sudden departure. A rumor had reached his ears, a whisper of a dark shadow in the South – a threat greater than Naraku had ever been.

          Sesshoumaru was going to see if the tale was true. The countryside passed by in a blur as Sesshoumaru practically flew in the direction of the evil.

Jaken stole a glance at the still-sleeping Rin. Her breathing was even and deep and it appeared she would sleep the night through. He edged cautiously to the fringes of the clearing. It would be all right if he left her here for the night, and told her about Lord Sesshoumaru in the morning, wouldn't it? He nervously stole another glance at the sleeping girl, then bounded away. He had heard about a friendly gathering of frog-youkai that night, and he wasn't about to miss it for some stupid human child.

(A/N: I wish Jaken would die or go away. I hate him.)

          A few minutes after the irresponsible Jaken ran off, Rin yawned and stretched. Sesshoumaru-sama was no where in sight, and Jaken was gone as well. Her eyes began to fill with tears.

Suddenly Rin came up with an idea. "I'll go find Sesshoumaru-sama!" she thought brightly. Delighted with this course of action, she sprang out of the clearing, leaving Ah'Un behind.

*A day or two later*

Rin was cold, hungry, and hopelessly lost. She had been wandering aimlessly in search of Sesshoumaru-sama for days.

Rin possessed very little woodcraft, being so young and of human descent, yet she did know what little plants bore edible berries and shoots. It was probably that which kept her alive this long. That and the fact that the smell of Sesshoumaru still lingered about her, warning demons away.

Rin came to a place where the plants grew thick and wild, forming a wall that only a small child such as she could get through. She wiggled past the barrier and came to a tiny clearing. Something told her Sesshoumaru was still no where near. She sat down and cried.

          Almost as if catching her mood, the grey skies turned black and opened up the heavens, dumping chilly rain on her small body. There was a small cave at the edge of the clearing. Bent almost double in an effort to stay dry, Rin made her way towards that.

          Kota felt…warm…a nice sensation she had not felt for some time…how many hundreds of years was it? She had long ago lost track. Yet there it was, the feeling of being…alive…how strange… She wanted to open her eyes, see the sky again…feel the gentle tingle of moonlight on her skin… maybe…maybe today…

          Rin's eyes widened when she stepped into the warm shelter. This was no ordinary cave in the forest. It was like an ancient shrine, though Rin did not know that. Blue fires burned in disks all around. Rippling pools of water restlessly stirred around the edges. In the center, on an enormous stone slab, lay a woman…no…a demon lady.

          Her body was mostly covered by a long black cloak, untouched by the passing of countless years. Her thick, dark hair framed her pale face. Her ears were long and pointed, naming her a youkai, though Rin could not tell what kind of creature she was.

Laid across her body was a magnificent chain scythe – still sharp, as evidenced by the faint gleam reflected off the blade. Strapped to her back were two additional blades, but the cloak concealed what they actually were.

          She stirred. Rin leaned closer.

Kota struggled to lift the lids from her eyes. Slowly, ever so slowly, they cracked open. It was as if a beam of light had shot through her world. When the brightness cleared, Kota was greeted by a pair of huge brown eyes, belonging to a child. She sat up, holding her head.

Sesshoumaru had warned her not to meet strange demons. Keeping this advice in mind, Rin scampered off the body of the she-demon and back out into the rain, where she sought a different place to sleep.

'So long,' thought Kota. 'So long…' She looked around. The child was no where in sight. Kota put a hand to her cheek, and was delighted to be met with the warm flush of life. Her soul wanted to leap from her body and soar over the earth. At that moment, it probably could have, too. But there were things to be done.

Kota walked slowly out into the rain. Taking the form of a huge black leopard-like cat, she stalked off.

          Rin had no where to go. It was still raining, and she had begun to cough. Finally she curled up under the wide leaves of some ancient tree, and slept fitfully.

          Unbeknownst to Rin, she was watched by a pair of demonic green eyes from the surrounding underbrush. The catlike form glided over to the sleeping girl, and appeared to be indecisive. Finally it picked little Rin gently up in its jaws, and carried her away.

[I know nothing of raising children, little one. But I will care for you…] a warm, powerful voice spoke in her mind.

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Shadow's Assassin: Sorry it's taking me so long to update this story! *dodges random projectiles* Uh… sorry? *toaster flies by head*

Toaster: Hey! Toasters are people too!

S'sA: Uhhh… sure… whatever floats your boat.

Next Chapter will be out soon! I mean it this time! (Well, of course, all I have to do is revise it a bit…)