Rain and Fire

Chapter 3

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Rin slowly walked through the fields that bordered Sesshoumaru's territory, admiring the ground, which she knew would probably be covered in snow by nightfall.

Her sister...she hadn't seen her since the day they had been separated. The day that the fox demon named Youko Kurama attacked their village.

She could remember it as though it had happened yesterday, though she sometimes wished that she couldn't remember at all.

She had been so little, only four. Rain was five, but it had always seemed that she was years older.

She and Rain had been playing out in the fields, when they had heard the shouts from the village. Screams of agony, and fear.

She closed her eyes, remembering exactly what had happened.

[Flashback]

Rin skipped through the field, stopping to pick up a particular flower that had caught her eye. Rain was not far behind, holding the flowers that had already been picked.

"Mommy will love them, don't you think?" The younger girl said happily.

Rain grinned. "Yeah!"

Rin suddenly stopped, and turned back to face their home.

"Nee-san..."

"Hm?"

"Why is there smoke...?"

Rain turned and looked at the village as well. Her chocolate brown eyes widened when she too saw the plumes of smoke rising and blackening the once- blue sky.

"Kami-sama!"

She dropped the flowers, and started dashing back. Rin started getting scared.

"N-Nee-san, wait!" She exclaimed, dropping her flower and trying to keep up with her sibling.

However, the sight that greeted them at the village made her regret following Rain back.

Everyone, all of the villagers, were either dead or dying. Missing limbs, bloody gashes. Some of them were even covered in plants – the demonic kind.

"Mommy!" Rin exclaimed, running over to a woman. She fell to her knees beside her, her eyes already brimming with unshed tears.

The woman coughed, and some blood trickled down from a head wound.

"R...Rin..."

Rain ran over as well. "Aiko-san!"

"Please...Rain...take Rin and...run...far away..." The woman choked out. "He's here..."

"Who is here?" Rain asked.

"No, mommy, don't go..." Rin whimpered, the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Youko...Kurama..." The woman said.

A plant suddenly shot up through her heart, killing her instantly.

"Mommy!" Rin shrieked.

Rain jumped to her feet, and spun to face the man.

He was tall, with silver hair and golden eyes, and the typical features of a kitsune. He was sneering at her.

"Oh, was that someone you knew?" He said sarcastically.

Rin sniffled, and looked over at him. "My m-mommy..."

The kitsune snorted. "Just another baka ningen onna."

"You killed her." Rain growled.

"And? She wasn't the only one." He said. "Are you mad at me for the others, too, little girl?"

The sky overhead started to thunder, and lightning streaked across the sky.

"You killed her." She growled again, even louder this time.

"I'll kill you, too." He said, his eyes narrowing.

"Kurama!" A voice called.

He turned, and looked over at another youkai. "What is it, Kuronue?"

"We have a problem! It's Hiei!"

"Damn!" The kitsune cursed. He glared back at the two girls. "I'll get you later."

He started to dash away, and she screamed after him, "I'll get back at you! I swear I will!"

[End Flashback]

Rin snapped out of her daze when a chill wind blew past her. She shivered, and rubbed her arms for warmth.

"I'd better get back to the house." She said quietly.

She turned, and started walking back towards the castle.

However, she stopped dead in her tracks when a voice seemed to whisper directly into her ear.

You will be my message to the half-breed.

Her eyes widened, but it was too late to avoid the attack.

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Sesshoumaru was looking for Rin, because she had just...disappeared from the estate. He had wanted to tell her that they were going to go to Rydia's home the next day, and he wanted her to rest up before they made the long journey – he didn't want to have to carry her should she get tired.

At least, that was what he told himself the real reason was.

A scream reached his delicate ears, and he froze for a second.

That had sounded like...

"Rin."

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Rain finished with her bath, and was surprised to find that everyone was gathered in her room when she got back.

Rin was laying on the futon, and the kinds of wounds she had made her hand fly to her mouth.

"Rin-chan!"

She ran over to where Sesshoumaru and Hiei were sitting, and she gave them a panicked and questioning look.

"What happened to her?!"

"She was attacked by youkai." Hiei answered, devoid of all emotion.

Sesshoumaru pulled out a sword. "She's dead."

Rain's world seemed to stop.

"D...dead...?" She repeated weakly.

"Relax, onna." Hiei snapped. "Don't let your emotions get in the way of your logical thinking. She'll be fine."

"How can she be fine if she's dead?!" Rain shrieked.

Sesshoumaru swung the sword over Rin's body, and the girl's eyes snapped open.

She sat up, and winced, holding her stomach.

"Rin!" Rain exclaimed, eyes wide for a different reason now. "But how?"

"Rin, lay down. I may have brought you back, but you still have some injuries." Sesshoumaru said, standing and sheathing his blade. The girl obeyed, and Rain stood as well.

"How did you do that?"

"My sword, Tenseiga, can bring back the dead and heal the living." He replied.

"Sesshoumaru-sama..." Rin said quietly.

He looked over at her.

"The demon...the youkai...he wants Rain-chan..." She said.

"I'm already aware of that."

"He said I would be a message."

"A message?" The lord repeated, turning back towards her.

"That he would...kill Rain as soon as he found her..." The girl's eyes squeezed shut, and when she opened them, they were brimming with tears. "Please..."

"We'll protect her." He said.

Hiei stood, and he turned to his friend.

"We should start preparing for tomorrow." He said.

"You're right." He turned, and the two started to leave. When he reached the door, he turned back to them. "Take care of her."

Rain nodded, and the two youkai left.

She turned and knelt beside her sister. She took the damp cloth there, and placed it on Rin's forehead.

"I'll watch over you. Don't worry." She said reassuringly.

She smiled. "Thanks..."

Rain watched over Rin for about a half an hour more, when the both of them fell asleep.

They would need all the rest they could get...

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Author's Notes: Woohoo! Another chapter down! Can you believe that in this story, only a day has passed? This story is looking like it's going to be very long...

Next chapter, we'll be seeing a bit of Kuronue, Youko, and possibly Koga. Yay!

Chibi Lady&Lady Light: oO You're right! I never thought of it that way! Well, the story still won't have Kagome, Shippo, Miroku or Sango. Just because they wouldn't fit, but you're right about the whole paradox thing.

crimson7319: That's just the most hilarious idea that I have ever come up with...cross-dressing Reikai Tantei.

Seiyo-san: Yup! I'm very proud of how this story is piecing together so nicely...

Youko: More Kuronue in the next chapter, if all goes to plan!

miyako14: Randomness is what makes life so great! LOL. Anyways, thanks for all the support!

slave2anime: He's...er, well, he APPEARS to be about eighteen...and he's taller. LOL.

Story Weaver1: Yeah, I know! I made a mistake and I didn't even realize it! Sorry! Anyways, like I said, it's AU, and in this fic, there will be no Kagome, Shippo, Miroku or Sango. Sorry again! They just wouldn't have a purpose...

DarkVixenNisha: A lot of people seem to think that they would make a cute couple. I think everyone should maybe wait a chapter or two more, for when more characters are introduced, to voice their opinion on who she could go with. I mean, we'll be seeing Koga and Youko and Kuronue, and a whole bunch of yummy OCs. Well, probably not Youko, because of what happened, but you get the idea.

FieryKitsune: Thanks! I'm also thinking about having Rin go with Sesshoumaru, just because I personally like that couple. What do you think?

FluffysBijin05: LOL! That's okay! I'm glad that you like this fic! I'm very proud of it, and the quality that it came out at. I never expected it to be THIS popular, either! Three chapters long, and it already has 38 reviews!!

TPM-girl: There will be some more, eventually, but I'm not exactly sure when.