Field of Innocence

By Lady of the Ink
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that . . .I hope. But I do own this plot and all the twists that it takes.

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Chapter Three

Rin hummed softly as she walked down the path, heading for her home. The sun was on the verge of setting, leaving the surrounding forest cool and shaded. The peacefulness of the trees was a welcome change from the crowded village streets that she had just left behind. One day in the noisy settlement was as much as she could take before she as longing for the quiet solitude of her secluded cottage. The few hours of companionship that she had spent with Larissa would satisfy her need for company for several months to come.

It had also served to fill a few other needs as well, as the bulging pack slung over her shoulder could attest to. There weren't many things that she couldn't forage or make for herself, but there were some things she did have to get from others. Her supplies of those items did have to be restocked from time to time. And, she thought with a smile as she patted the bag, there were some instances when you just had to spoil yourself a little.

She pictured the length of material that she had picked out, carefully bundled along wit the pattern that she would need in order to turn it into the first new skirt she'd have gotten in more than five years. Larissa had been as helpful as always, gathering all the materials and relaying the detailed instructions about the entire process. She had even helped her to pick out the exact right fabric for the project. A gentle warmth filled Rin as she thought of the almost grandmotherly affection that the older woman showed her. Thinking about it, they were each the closest thing that the other had to family.

Her steps slowed as she thought back to the sad circumstances that had brought them into each other's lives. Larissa had stumbled onto the then twelve-year-old Rin, injured and nearly dead from the elements and hunger. She had taken the girl home with her, feeding and nursing her through the illnesses that wracked her weak and battered body. It took more than two months, but she finally coaxed her patient back to pink cheeked health. Finding that her charge couldn't or wouldn't speak, she had turned to the few possessions that the child carried for answers. It hadn't given her much in the way of explanations, but it had netted her a name: Rin.

Rin had stayed with Larissa for several months after her recovery. She knew that the older woman would have liked for her to stay longer, but she just couldn't stand to remain so hemmed in by people and the walls that they built. The horrible memories of the weeks before Larissa still burned too brightly to allow her any sort of comfort in that environment.

Although obviously disappointed, Larissa had helped her to find the abandoned cottage nearby and restore it to livability. They had gathered all the things Rin would need to live there. She visited nearly everyday until she became assured of Rin's ability to take care of herself. She had no way of knowing that it was a task her young friend was long accustomed to.

The years and the effects of old age soon limited their time together to the two or three times a year when Rin would find her way into town. A frown found it's way onto Rin's gamine features as she thought back to just how much more frail her friend seemed this visit. She wished that Larissa would agree to keep a share of the money she got from selling the medicines that Rin made, but the old woman's pride wouldn't allow it. She insisted on keeping every bit of it for Rin to use during her infrequent shopping trips.

As the small cottage rose into sight, Rin decided to try another course of action during her next visit. Maybe she could buy some nice warm clothes, blankets, and a few other luxuries and have them delivered to Larissa after she had returned home. Then her friend would have no chance to refuse the gifts. Knowing her waste-not-want-not mentality, Rin was sure all the items would eventually be put into use, whether Larissa was entirely happy with it or not.

With that decision made, she entered the house in much lighter spirits. She was humming again as she built up the fire and lit enough candles to chase away the darkness of full night which had since fallen. She had slipped off her shoes was turning to lay her bag on the table when her eyes fell on the still mussed bed in the corner.

The song died in her throat as, just that quickly, all the memories she had managed to suppress through the day came rushing back into her mind. Once more, she was treated to the mental image if the remote and yet beautiful face of her guest as he lay unconscious. The picture quickly shifted to incorporate the blazing golden eyes that had become visible when he regained consciousness. The final scene that rose in her memory was the moment when he had stood before, tall, regal and dramatic.

Her heart fluttered in her chest and her hand drifted to press against the spot. She wasn't foolish enough to imagine that the reaction had anything to do with misplaced emotions such as romantic interest or attraction. She hadn't known him long enough or well enough for that. After much thought, given during the many occasions when he had returned to haunt her thoughts throughout the day, she had come to what she thought was a rational and reasonable explanation for her reaction to him.

It wasn't him that caused her unusual responses, she decided, but rather what he stood for. He was elegance and grace, exotic and exciting, the living embodiment of all the things her simple life lacked. Looking at him brought out all the hidden thoughts she had ever entertained about the world outside of that which she knew. It wasn't necessarily what she really wanted, but she couldn't help but think about what it would have been like if only . . .

Shaking off the thoughts, Rin sighed. She knew she shouldn't focus on someone or something she was unlikely to ever face again, but it was in her nature to wonder about things. She wondered what had brought the man to her meadow, who had hurt him and why. She wondered if the quality of his clothing meant that he was someone important. She wondered where he had gone after she left him in the forest. She wondered if he would even give her a second thought.

With a self-deprecating smile, she started to shake her head before pausing in mid-action. Her mind went back to something that Larissa had mentioned while relating the latest news. Something about a new half demon ruler somewhere nearby. She had only spoken of it in passing, more as an example of how quickly gossip was capable of spreading than as something worth bringing up on its own. Rin grew thoughtful. There was an excellent chance that his presence in the area had something to do with the new ruler. He might even be the ruler in question.

With a sudden burst of energy, Rin hurriedly straightened the bed, soon eliminating any evidence that anyone else had been inside her home. Getting rid of the mental reminders would not be so simple, she knew. Since his appearance was the most exciting thing to have happened to her in years, she would simply have to resign herself to being reminded of him at almost every turn for a while. Eventually it would fade from her mind, as most unrepeated things did.

She moved back to the table and started to unpack her bag, methodically putting the items in their proper places. Halfway through her task, she paused, certain that she had heard something out of the ordinary. Her head titled to the side as she listened intently. A long moment passed until, just before she could convince herself that she had imagined it, the noise came again. It was much clearer this time and she was able to identify it almost immediately as the sound of whispering voices.

Dropping the length of ribbon that she held, Rin scurried to the door. Long employed preservation instincts had her automatically walking only where her shadow wouldn't be seen through the window. Until she knew more about the intruders, she wanted to keep them from keeping track of her.

Using her body to block the light from the candles and fire, she slowly slid open a small, hidden slot in the door. She had painstakingly carved it out herself for use in just such a situation. It would allow her to get a look at anyone outside without their knowing it. Although it only granted her a minute advantage, she would take all the help that she could get.

Seconds stretched out until they felt like hours as she waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. A thin sheen of sweat rose to coat her skin and her breathing sounded impossibly loud to her ears. Her heart beat so loudly in her chest that she feared whoever lurked outside would be able to hear it. She swallowed harshly in an attempt to ease the rough dryness that had seized her throat.

Much more slowly than her tightened nerves would have liked, shapes began to appear through the shadows. Just to the left of where she stood was a group of milling forms, their movements helping to set them apart from the trees they stood amongst. Rin bit her lip as she counted at least five of them, maybe more.

Shutting the slot, she turned to brace her back against the door while questions raced through her mind. Who were the people gathered outside? What did they want from her? She had no illusions about theirs being a simple or friendly visit. People with good intentions didn't go sneaking around after dark. Whatever their purpose, Rin know that she had good reason to be worried.

There was no sense of satisfaction when her intuition was proved correct mere moments later. A loud banging shook the door against her back at the same time as an insistent voice rang out. "Open up, little girl! We wanna have a word with you." A round of agreement and other crude statements met his comment, but Rin barely heard them. She was focused entirely on that first speaker.

It was a man's voice; it's depth putting him at several decades older than her own nineteen years. There was something in the low growl that sent a tremor up her spine and goosebumps across her skin. It reminded her of another voice and other words spoken a lifetime ago, words and a voice that had taken everything away from her and changed her life forever.

Already tensed from the waiting, the similarities to her less than happy past sent Rin over the edge. Memories came flooding back into her mind, memories of things that she had hoped to never think of again. In her blind panic, she was once more the little girl saddled with a trauma she couldn't begin to bear. She dropped to the floor and crawled her way across the room on her hands and knees. Although she was breathing in rapid pants, little air seemed to be making its way through her tight throat. The edges of her vision grew hazy, fading into a cloud of white and gray. It was only an ingrained survival instinct that allowed her to make it to her destination.

The trunk at the foot of the bed was solidly made, its thick wooden construction making it quite heavy. It took all of her strength to shove it the inches she needed to slide past it and under the bed. Once there, she didn't bother to pull the trunk back into place. She just wrapped her arms around her knees and huddled into the smallest ball she could roll herself into. Her eyes were squeezed shut so tightly that she saw jumping flashes of light. Her entire consciousness swirled down to a world of sensations where the sounds from the room mixed with memories so vivid it was like she was living through them once more. They mixed together so thoroughly that she could no longer tell the past from the present."I don't see anything. What now?"

"Break down the door. See if she's hiding in there."

"Grab them both and bring them to the square. Let everyone know what they are and the sins they have wrought!"

"It's empty. She must have slipped out another way."

"Rin, honey, I need you to run as fast and as far as you can. Don't look back and don't worry about me, okay?"

"Damn! I was set to teach the demon-loving brat a lesson about what happens to people who turn on their own kind."

"We still can. Burn this place to the ground. Show her there's no place for her here."

"May the flames rid you of the evils you bear. May you realize the error of your ways and ask forgiveness for all that you have done."

"Promise me, Rin. Promise me that you won't look back."

"Look at those flames! This place will go up in time."

"We'd better get out of here."

"Run!"

It was the sound of whimpers that finally broke through the fog encircling her. They were low and pathetic, so mournful that they were more animal than human. It was only when she felt the rhythmic tightening of her throat that Rin finally realized the cries were coming from her.

The discovery was just startling enough to shake her out of her panic. Slowly uncurling herself from the fetal position, she fought to rein in the fear that was still rushing through her blood. It was only through sheer force of will that she began to drag herself from her hiding place. She focused all her attention on moving forward one painstaking inch at a time. Her eyes never left the space directly in front of her until she was back on her feet beside the bed. Moving as slowly as an old woman, she raised her head to make sure she was truly alone.

The cloud seemed to come back over her vision then, turning the room into a strange and unfamiliar place. She paused, blinking rapidly to try and clear it. That action had no effect and so she drew in a deep breath in an attempt to further calm herself. At least she tried to draw in a deep breath. The air seemed to scorch its way into her lungs, grating harshly through her already sore throat. She was gripped by a fit of coughing that left her doubled over and out of breath. When she finally managed to open her eyes and really look at what was happening around her, she gasped in shock and horror.

The room was filled with smoke that floated thick and heavy in front of her. Through its dimming mass, she could just make out the sight of flames climbing their way up the walls.

She froze for the space of a heartbeat. Smoke-caused tears poured down her cheeks but she didn't feel them. The heat of the flames pulsed against her, but she didn't feel that, either. All her focus was on the tendrils of orange, yellow, and red that danced hypnotically in front of her. It was so much like before . . .just like . . .

A piece of the cottage gave off a loud crack as it began to buckle. The noise was enough to jar Rin's mind back into working order. She had to get out, and she had to get out fast. As she took her first step toward the door, however, her leg slammed into the out of place trunk. She looked down at it dumbly, trying to figure out why some part of her mind was telling her it was so important.

Her blurry vision locked onto the flowery vines curling their way around the trunk's lid, the decoration more elegant for its simplicity. The tiny buds were carved with meticulous detail, just the way her mother had requested.

Rin's eyes flew open. Of course the trunk was important. It contained the few pieces she had left of her life before the cottage . . .the only things she had left of her family.

Stumbling forward through a wave of dizziness, she fumbled around on the table for the half empty bag that lay there. Clutching it tightly between her fingers, she rushed back to the trunk and jerked it open. She grabbed the first thing that her hand connected with, shoving it into the bag before going back for more. Although her movements were jerky, she managed to fill the bag with a speed born of mixed panic and determination.

Her task accomplished, she rose to her feet, intent on making her escape. Her abused body had other ideas as her knees buckled, sending her back to the floor with a thump. She pushed against the ground in a futile attempt to get back up, but her oxygen starved muscles refused to work. A sob broke from her throat as she realized that she was trapped. There would be no getting out now.

I'm sorry, Mama. You tried so hard to help me be safe, but I screwed up. I should have known it would be fire . . .it's always been fire . . .

The world began a slow spin, twirling and whirling until she could no longer tell up from down. She felt as light as air, as though her body had dissolved into the smoke and was floating through the room. She giggled to herself. She'd always wondered what it would be like to fly . . .