Chapter Three: To Love My Father All

Morning had barely begun to peer over the horizon as Rin awoke. She rose quietly, tiptoeing over Kagome, Shippo and Miroku. Sango and Inuyasha, the fighters of the group, had as always fallen asleep near the perimeter to ensure they were the first to rise in case of danger. They were, at least by appearance, still asleep. Rin yawned a little, folded her small arm over her stomach to quell her hunger. With Lord Sesshoumaru and Master Jaken, breakfast came now when the two lords were sleeping and Rin could fend for herself. Here she knew she didn't need to forage. There were more humans then demons in this number and she was certain Inuyasha would wait till everyone was fed before traveling onward. Rin looked around for Zen. He was nowhere to be seen. Odd. It meant she was alone, at least for a while.

But what to do. She seldom had time to herself, and never had toys to play with. It was still too early in spring for flowers lovely enough to pick. She didn't need food. She didn't have Ah-Un to groom, (how she missed her dragon.) Her clothes were clean.

She paced a few steps from the circle, feeling the dew ticking the soles of her feet till she stumbled upon something. Kagome's bow. Rin squatted down, running her fingers across the polished wood and tugging at the bowstring. She had vague memories of archers using the weapon many times; of her father carrying such a weapon. A father that was not Lord Sesshoumaru.

Rin narrowed her eyes as she picked up the bow, folding it to her body. She remembered her father's bow much bigger, remembered the smell of old leather from his wrist guard, and the sharpness of his arrowheads. And, for the first time since she had begun on her journey with Lord Sesshoumaru, Rin remembered her father's voice.

It was raspy and rough like leather but it warmed Rin like a fire. She remembered his voice pouring over her like rain; his laughter filling every small part of her and that rough leathery hand on her frail shoulder. He sang goofy little songs made up on the moment:

"Little Rin, with no shoes, come in from play. Mama's in the kitchen, as is Jomei. Run little Rin, run. The day is done."

She began to hum a song to one of his tunes; recalling the words she had made for it- for Sesshoumaru and Jaken. She felt suddenly very sick in her stomach, like she had run too hard or held her breath too long. Her fingers curled around the brace of the bow, as her other hand picked up an arrow from the quiver. She examined it briefly and imagined her father would have frowned. It was dull.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she imagined her father behind her: as vague and as formless as a cloud. She couldn't remember his face, it had been too long ago but his voice and his smell, the smell of wood and leather rose around her in the early morning. She heard him encouraging her, telling her brother Jomei to help her stance. She felt the phantom fingers wrap around hers as she nocked the arrow and set it.

Her eyes opened. There was open field as far as the eye could see. With the line still slack, Rin maneuvered the bow till she found a small cluster of mushrooms a few feet away from her. It was no target but she could imagine. She pretended she was back with her shadow family, the human family that once called her theirs and gave her the name Rin. She pretended to feel her brother's heart pounding as steady as the water against her back. Her father's leather laughter in her ears and her mother's nervous chiding like snow chilling her and telling her to be careful.

Slowly she took aim and fired.

The arrow didn't have much strength to it, her arms didn't have enough range to pull the string fully; but still it soared past her and impaled itself into the ground just shy of the mushrooms. Rin grunted, and threw the bow down.

"That was not bad."

Rin felt her heart leap at the sound of Lord Sesshoumaru's voice. She exploded into a smile as she swung about.

Inuyasha stood centimeters behind her, looking at the arrow. His face was set, and laid back, not tight around the eyes like Sesshoumaru's when he viewed near perfection with his accustomed disdain. Not that it would have pleased Sesshoumaru even if she had made the target; hehad told her several times he didn't wish her to use weapons.

Inuyasha smiled at her like he had some secret. "Sesshoumaru didn't teach you that." He told her happily. He squatted down and pulled another arrow for her. "This time don't hesitate on your release. The string won't snap at your fingers if you're holding it right." He squatted down beside her. "Here. I'll show you."

Rin felt Inuyasha curl behind her, his fingers overlapping hers as he touched the bow, and string; his movements weren't as confident as his brother's, but Rin could feel his steadiness, his strength and in turn, was comforted by it. She went slack in his arms, letting him correct her stance and aim.

"Alright." He murmured, absorbed in the target. "Release."

The arrow almost whistled as it flew past her ear, and down the few meters till it impaled firmly in one of the mushroom caps.

Rin squealed. "I did it!"

"Not bad." Inuyasha said standing. His tone was even, his face impassive but there was a small tugging at the corner of his lips Rin pretended to be a smile. He looked down at her from the corner of his eye, like Sesshoumaru did. "With a proper bow, you could be good."

"Better then good."

Rin turned to see Sango walking forward. She brushed past them to inspect the arrows. Rin thought she heard Inuyasha grunt. Sango's fingers ran across the shaft of the arrow, before tugging it up and examining it. She turned to study Rin for a moment.

"You're better then good." She told her. "You just need to watch your stance."

"She doesn't have a problem with her stance." Inuyasha returned; he had rested his hands on Rin's small shoulders. "She needs a little bow. Kagome's is made for someone taller."

Rin suppressed a smile. She had never had anyone fighting over her talents before, and it made her blush a little. Swooping to pick up another arrow, Rin dropped the bow and gripped the end right above the feathers. She maneuvered first in her left hand, then her right; deciding she liked the feel better in her right. Then, tucking her left arm behind her back: she poked Inuyasha slightly.

Inuyasha's ears perked up. He looked down at her again, his eyes watching her and his smile growing. Sango smiled softly, catching on. "Go on, Rin, show him what you got."

Inuyasha grabbed another arrow, holding it as he would the Tessaiga and tapped lightly on her arrow tip. Thus, the fight began. Inuyasha weaved and bobbed through the grass, avoiding Rin's mock-blade and giving Sango death glares as the Exterminator shouted out advice to the young girl.

Rin was quick on her feet, Inuyasha noticed and even faster with her hand-eye coordination. He wondered briefly how such a young child would have matured in the survival skills so quickly. Humans weren't this quick naturally; and even Kikyo had taken time and effort to become this agile.

"Who's winning?" Miroku's chiding voice broke Inuyasha's musings, causing him to turn. Kagome and Shippo had awakened also, curling up next to one another to watch the sparring match. Even Kirara had taken a front seat viewing.

Inuyasha stumbled as he saw Kagome's fulfilled smile. He knew that smile. That smile was the one Kikyo use to get when she passed children. It was a scary smile, never meant for male eyes. He paused and stood in his place. Rin took the chance when it opened; bowing her head she rushed him, connecting her shoulder to the fold of his knee, knocking him off balance. Once behind him, as he fell backward; Rin rapped the arrow against his chest.

Inuyasha fell backward into the grass. He lay there, staring up into the sky for a long time before he laughed; thin, airy laughter like rain.

"Defeated by a child, Inuyasha!" Sango said, amid her laughter and applause. She walked over, and swooped Rin into a strong embrace. "We've been waiting for someone to do that."

"I think he let her win." Kagome said softly, walking over and helping Inuyasha up. Inuyasha ignored her hand and rose on his own. He tilted his head a little, watching Rin. Something odd crossed his face, before he looked away.

Rin knew that look. Lord Sesshoumaru gave her that look many times. It was as if he wanted to say something, then decided otherwise.

"Does Sesshoumaru teach you to fight?" Sango asked quietly as she let Rin down. Rin felt the whispers of Sango's arms around her, and folded her hands across her stomach. She'd forgotten how safe those embraces had made her feel. Sesshoumaru and Jaken had caressed her, or touched her but only ever for a few moments and never simply to show compassion or affection.

Rin shook her head. She didn't trust her voice.

"What makes you think so?" Inuyasha asked, brushing off his tunic.

"You didn't see her fighting style?" Sango asked. "She only uses one arm."

"What does that…" Inuyasha trailed off, before another smile. "Oh."

Rin looked up. "Lady Sango, could you teach me how to use both arms?"

Sango blinked and stared at her. "Why would you want to learn?"

"So I could defend myself." Rin turned to study her arrow-sword. "Against demons, like the ones at Four Creeks."

There was a small wind that brushed around them suddenly, making the air dry and warm and causing the troupe to turn. The wind circled around, forming a small twister before finally settling into the human form of a boy.

Zen blinked, shook himself to steady himself and then turned his green eyes towards Rin again. "You don't need to learn protection." He told her. "I will be there."

"But what if you're not."

"I'll always be there."

Rin studied her arrow. "That's what my father said." She took a beat. "My real father." She frowned suddenly and stabbed the arrow into the dirt. She turned and began to march off.

"Where are you going?" Zen demanded, rushing to follow her. Inuyasha brushed his robes off again, and grunted before following suit.

"Inuyasha, watch out!"

Miroku's voice broke through the morning air like a snap, spurning the half-demon into action. Sango reached for her weapons but never got the chance to act. Another orb of light, this one bigger and faster then Zen appeared from nowhere and threw itself against Sango. She yelped as she was thrown several feet away. Miroku followed next, being thrown aside as if he weighed nothing at all.

Inuyasha took a wild swing at the orb that made it recoil but only for a moment. Then, a long tentacle peeled away from the orb and slashed at Inuyasha, becoming a thin wisp of light that cracked like a whip when it made contact. Inuyasha grunted and jumped back; watching the orb snapped its light whip again before flying forward.

It threw Zen aside like the others, grabbed Rin by the collar, carried her a few yards and then dropped her before lowering itself to the ground. The light intensified and began to shift; taking on a human form.

The light waned into a dull ivory skin, and a demon, that at least on the surface appeared Dog-like. It was a woman, strong of frame but beginning to show her age. She had her platinum hair cut close around the chin. Her eyes were the color and consistency of molten gold as they burned through the group like a sun. On her crown was a small amethyst crescent moon that peered from between her bangs. She wore the dress and armor of a man, made from the finest silks and weaponry of silvers and bronzes with thick brown leather peering underneath. On her hip rested a sword, on her back an axe. She stood now with Rin behind her, Rin too shocked to move, with her hands on her hips; silently daring anyone from the group to challenge her.

"You humans and your fighting." She hissed. "You teach destruction as if it were some game for the pups! You think nothing of the fragile lives entrusted to your care; and then whine and beat your chests when those lives are destroyed by your very games!"

"What do you want with us?" Miroku asked first.

The creature cocked her head and arched a perfectly formed brow. "And what makes you think I would desire your attention at all, Lord Monk?"

"You clearly do," Miroku continued. "Or you would not have engaged us."

"I come for the child."

Zen jumped forward. "You cannot have her."

The woman's face turned to study the Water Demon. "And what means do you have to stop me?"

"We will all try." Sango exclaimed, reaching for her Hiraikotsu.

The woman laughed, and reached for the axe on her back. She smiled again. "Then come, Exterminator, to your duty."

"Wait, Sango." Inuyasha interrupted. His eyes were narrowed thinly, focused firmly on the woman before him. He took a step forward, forcing himself to concentrate. He sniffed the air. His voice lowered in surprise. "I know you…Nanashi."

The woman's face registered surprise as she turned to face him. Her hand fell to her blade for a moment. "I have not been called that in many years…"

"But it is the name I gave you," Inuyasha continued, closing the distance between them, his hand never moving to his weapon. "When you would offer none other."

"Inuyasha." The woman murmured to herself, her voice breaking a little. She took a step forward, moving one shaking hand to Inuyasha's face. She hesitated for a moment, as if afraid touching him would break the moment. Finally she reached over, tracing his cheekbone. A pained smile crept unto her face; even though it looked strange there. "It cannot be. This man and warrior I see before me cannot be the child I kept safe for Izayoi."

"But I am." His voice lowered too, ignoring for a moment the others. He reached up, taking one of her hands from his face and holding it in his. "See, Nanashi? I told you I'd become a great warrior one day. How am I doing?"
"Oh, Inuyasha!" Nanashi broke, tugging him into her arms. "My beautiful, beautiful boy! I thought I lost you…"

"I'm here, Nana." Inuyasha mumbled as he returned the embrace. "See? I'm here."

Kagome blinked a little, and looked to the others. "Do you think we missed something?"

"I'll say." Miroku answered. His shoulders had sagged a little but he still held his staff close to his body; ready to move at any moment. He coughed and walked to them. "Excuse me, Nanashi." The demon pulled away from Inuyasha and regarded him. Inuyasha gave him a dark look that only served to let Miroku take a beat. "You still haven't explained why you've come here."

"Who are you to demands answers from me?" Nanashi demanded with all her authority and presence gathering around her like a crown. She reminded Miroku strongly of an Empress.

Inuyasha put his hand on her arm, giving her a pleading look. "He's a friend, Nana. Someone you can trust. Mostly."

Nanashi didn't look convinced but nodded. When she spoke, she addressed Inuyasha. "I was asked to come, to retrieve Rin."

"Sesshoumaru sent you?"

"No." Nanashi whispered dully. "I still have not spoken to my…" She looked down. "I still haven not spoken to him. His retainer Jaken summoned me."

"Why?" Inuyasha asked. "Is the battle over?"

"Battle?"

"That's why he sent Rin to us, isn't it?" Inuyasha asked. "Because Sesshoumaru was going to fight a battle and didn't want her near."

"You don't know?" Nanashi asked, quietly. "Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru is dying."