Kira made her way deep into the forest. Her escapades brought her, she thought, past where light had never shone. She was afraid for not the darkness, but the things that lurked there where her eyes could not see. She pressed further on, though, by the will to let her pain go. By completing this mission she would be able to finally rest in peace.
Kira stopped suddenly as she heard a cry in the dark. She peered into the shadowy abyss, intent on finding its source. She crept further still, inching her way into the desolation that was the forest itself.
To her surprise, she came upon a young girl about the age of eight human years. The child was crying openly, cowering within the hollow of a deadened tree.
"Are you alright?" she called to the girl. The child looked up into Kira's warm eyes and ran to the demon's side. She attached herself to her savior's leg and pouted for all she was worth.
"M…my Lord S…Sesshomaru and I…got separated and…." The girl could continue no more as she wept into Kira's kimono. Kira just sighed and cuddled the child until all was deathly silent once more.
"I know of your lord and I will take you back to him," she told the girl.
"My name is Rin, what's yours?" Rin asked suddenly.
"Kira," the older girl answered cheerfully.
Now that she wasn't alone the forest seemed like a cheap excuse to be afraid. The shadows that looked like greater demons now took their true forms as gray, dead trees and brush that curved in wicked ways. She laughed at her stupidity and the fact that she scared so easily.
(Back with Sesshomaru)
Rin had neither been seen nor heard from in many hours. Her scent was gone from her usual hideaways, and her essence was nowhere to be felt. Sesshomaru was worried, but nothing would have made him admit it to anyone.
"Jaken, stop doing that," Sesshomaru commanded. Jaken had been running around in circles furiously.
"Stop worrying, she's here." With those words, Rin emerged from the woods running. With her, was the demon Kira, the one who had trespassed in his woods.
"Lord Sesshomaru, it is a pleasure," she said when she came before her better. She bowed humbly, never lifting her eyes from his face. She was even more beautiful when she was happy, he realized.
"Lady Kira, you have saved Rin's life. Anything you wish shall be yours," Sesshomaru said, bowing slightly to the girl. Kira looked dumb struck as her face reddened and her gauze faltered.
" My lord, I wish for nothing. If you must repay me, then think of your own way of doing so," she bowed deeply. Sesshomaru thought about this request, then smiled suddenly.
"You will become a Lady at my palace. You will have a permanent home here." Without even hearing what Kira had to say, the Lord took her hand and led her into the castle. The brightly lit hallways looked ominous in such light. Finally they reached a corridor with only three rooms to it.
"The room to the right is yours. The one on the left is Rin's, and the middle on is mine. Go bathe and change for the evening meal." Sesshomaru smirked at Kira's inquiries and left on some errand. This left the girl alone in the hallway.
"Strange person that Lord is," she commented quietly. Without any further ado, she slipped inside her room to clean up.