Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not my property. I only write for entertainment purposes. PS read hilarious bad flamer called "teh flamer." Don't know the story don't flame (basic rule of flaming).

Summary: Rin through the ages. Unromantic. The real story of what happens as she grows older. To the age of an old woman. What will her master do?

Rin Through the Ages

Chapter Two

Age 18

Six more years pass by. Rin aged 18 years old.

Rin was running down the path with shoes on. Her master had presented her with real sandals. He said it was time that she started wearing shoes. It was no longer acceptable for her to run around in barefoot. She was also presented with a varied pattern of her favourite yellow and orange kimono. Somehow the whole outfit had made her more mature. Rin had grown up to be an even more beautiful lady. The girl hardly interacted with other humans. When she did it was usually with Sesshoumaru's half brother Inuyasha and his friends.

Kagome was a truly kind girl that understood about loneliness and happiness. Sango was very understanding as well. Miroku had asked Rin a strange question but Rin just smiled and said no thanks. Finally Inuyasha had the strangest eyes. He sometimes looked at Rin with a wistful and sad look but at times he regarded her highly. Rin smiled at the memory of her few friends.

It was true that Rin was growing up really fast. The past six years didn't seem to have changed any of her companions. But she grew and she kept growing.

Rin was going to be late if she didn't hurry her pace. She started running faster and faster. She was truly happy. The second thing she loved most next to her master was running through the bright forest. It made her happy. A huge smile on her face as she knew that her master was going to return soon. A large tree uproot was tucked underneath some trees and she tripped on it. She fell hard on her front. It was a hard fall and she hated to feel pain.

Rin sat up slowly and started to take off her sandal. It was a little bit red and sore. She touched it lightly and noticed that it must be sprained. She didn't know what to do. But she knew in her heart that Sesshoumaru-sama would come and save her like he always did. Not that Rin was in any real danger or anything like that. Maybe she was in a little danger of being a little lonely but that was nothing.

When she was a child she was afraid of being alone. Although she was a strong child provided for herself back in those dark days, she was still lonely. A strong person still can't defeat loneliness. No one can defeat it. Rin knew this at a very young age and so she was no longer lonely when she found her master. Even when Sesshoumaru would leave her for very long periods of times she always had faith that he would return. And he always returned to her. She knew that Sesshoumaru left her behind for a reason because it would not be safe for a child to be in battle.

Rin wanted to get up from her spot but she couldn't get up. She tried a few more times. Her lip went down and she pouted. She folded her arms in disapproval like she would do when she was younger; it seemed that she never outgrew it. Now Rin would be really late in getting to her master. She was disappointed at herself but she knew that he would find her. Probably through her scent but he would always save her.

A tall young man was riding his horse across the river. He was wearing the usual samurai attire and was returning to his house. A rustle of leaves were hard and then a sigh. The man looked to his right for a moment and caught a glimpse of a yellow and orange blur. He thought it must have been a field of flowers but it wasn't. It was a girl. Being a man of the samurai class he knew that he could not abandon a woman in need. But still it was odd that a girl was out by herself.

He got off his horse and walked closer to the girl. Watching her back he noticed that she couldn't move her leg. "Miss?" He called to her softly. The girl turned around and looked half surprised. "Who are you?" She asked innocently.

The man was not used to the girl's directness it was obvious that she was still a child and most likely a peasant. The man finally got a really good look at her face and realized that she was beautiful even underneath a small smudge of dark on her face. He didn't know but something odd came over him and he could feel himself moved.

"I am Takeo of the Uchiha Clan." He introduced himself politely. Rin just smiled at the stranger. "My name is Rin. Nice to meet you Takeo-san."

Takeo just watched the girl with a guarded expression. "Are you ok?" He asked her gently. "Of course I'm ok." She smiled again. Rin was being her usual energetic self. Takeo was surprised at the girl's answer. A small smile crossed his lips. "I meant your ankle." He replied with a gentleness not many had seen from him.

"Oh that's right!" She put her hands to her cheek. "I hurt myself on this root. I wonder who put it there. It's not very nice." She was looking at the tree root in complete distain. Takeo chuckled lightly. He had never met a girl so unusual, she was definitely interesting. "Hm. I don't think it's anyone's fault. Anyway did you get separated from your family?"

Rin thought for a moment. A finger on her chin thinking for a moment. "Hm…I guess you could say that." She imagined Jaken in women's clothes holding a baby and Sesshoumaru in peasant men's clothes; she chuckled lightly. "What's so funny?" Takeo was very curious. "Oh it's nothing." Rin tried to get up again. "I don't think you should get up just yet. You might have broken it or something." Takeo was looked at the ankle again.

"I'll bring my horse around and I'll take you to my home." Takeo watched her. She just smiled. "Thank you very much Takeo-san." Takeo jogged back to his horse and brought it to her.

The were in a village and Rin was sitting on the horse. It was no Ah-Uh but it was still a friendly creature. She was happy to see so many people around her. It was a large village. She kept looking everywhere and could barely focus on one spot. Takeo studied Rin from the side of his eye. He had never met a girl like this before. Something stirred in his heart.

"We're almost there." He said to the girl. She just nodded happily, looking at the merchant stalls. Rin wanted a squid on a stick and she pointed it to Takeo. "Is it ok if I have one of those?" She asked shyly. Takeo looked surprised at the girl. "Are you sure this is what you want? Wouldn't you like a hair pin or a new kimono?" The girl just shook her head. "That's what I want." Pointing at it again.

Takeo being the kind person that he was bought her a squid on a stick and bought himself one as well. He hadn't had one of these things since his early childhood. They both traveled to the edge of the village where the biggest house was, that was Takeo's home. "This is my home." They both entered the gates.

"Takeo-sama. Welcome home!" An elderly woman and a young boy both said as he entered the gates. The elderly woman, Shizuka said, "Takeo-sama. You brought a guest?" Takeo helped Rin off the horse and said, "Yes, she hurt her ankle in the forest."

Shizuka looked at the young girl. "What is your name child?" Rin looked at the old woman. "My name is Rin. Nice to meet you." Rin bowed at the woman. The old woman introduced herself and the young boy beside her. The young boy named Jiro just blushed as Rin smiled at him. Takeo saw the sudden change in Jiro's nature and thought it would be better to take him out of his misery.

"Jiro. Take Haku to the stables and feed him." Takeo commanded the boy. "Hai, right away master." He took the horse from Takeo. Shizuka said, "Don't worry about Rin-chan here. I'll take care of her. Dinner should be ready very soon." Takeo nodded at them. Rin just smiled back at him. Takeo couldn't help but return the gesture. Shizuka saw the way Takeo smiled at her. It was rare to see him smile, although the young master was a kind hearted person he did not smile that often. To many in the household they thought that his smile had been lost. But it wasn't.

Shizuka fussed over Rin like a overbearing mother. "I bet you'll be dinning with the master tonight. I'll comb your hair and find you a kimono to wear, since the one you're wearing is dirty." Rin looked at her clothes and it didn't look dirty. But thought it would be rude to decline. "Hai."

After Rin took a nice warm bath and dressed in a very pretty green and yellow kimono with a green obi, Shizuka proceeded to comb Rin's long hair. "Rin-chan when was the last time you combed your hair? It's simply a mess." Rin just offered a half-smile. Hair and clothes didn't seem to be that important to the girl. She began to think of her master. He must be worried about me. But he'll come for me later. Then I can go with him. Rin thought to herself.

Takeo was sitting and waiting for Rin to come and see him. It was so unusual to meet a girl like her. Maybe he could let her stay for awhile until she found her family. And just maybe if the circumstances were right he could even offer marriage to the girl. No, that was too early for that thought, but he smiled at the image of it.

Rin walked into the room and smiled at Takeo. "Good evening Takeo-san." Takeo could only stare at the girl in front of him. He did not let it show that he as surprised at the girl's change. What a bath and a proper change of hair and dress could do to her. She was now beautiful. Takeo nodded in response to her. After Shizuka placed dinner in front of them they began to talk and eat. Takeo could not find anything about Rin. She offered no hints about who her family was. He on the other hand could not stop talking about his family. In a way he was bragging about his family. The Uchihas were a prestigious clan that aided the emperor.

The girl didn't seem to be that interested in matters of money or rank. She would just smile politely at him. "Rin where is your family?" He asked her out of frustration.

She had chopsticks in her mouth and looked actually surprised. Rin finished chewing and swallowed, it was rude to talk with one's mouth full as Sesshoumaru had taught her once. "My family? You don't have to worry about that. They'll come for me later."

After dinner was finished Takeo could not think of anything but the girl. He decided that he would marry her after all and he would except no one else but the girl. His sleep was not troubled for the first time in a long while.

Rin was put in a separate room from the other women. They let her have her privacy. She knew that he would come for her any moment. But it was nice to sleep in a real futon and it was so warm. The warmness made her sleepy and so she gave in.

TBC

And now the author's note:

Dear mysterious flamers (Teh Flamer and person 3) that do not bother to read the summary or read about my personal opinion or actually read the story (so therefore is a bad flamer),

I am not a fan of SesshoumaruXRin. I only believe in the relationship as a father figure and child and I am slightly repulsed with the idea that they might get together. I highly doubt it. But I find it very amusing to have a flamer. I welcome the coward that won't even write an email. Don't worry I'm not going to flame you back. I would just like to have a conversation with you. I would like you to get to know my story before flaming me properly. After you know all the facts and still feel the need to flame me then I welcome it because everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion.

Sincerely,

Meryl Lee the believer in unromantic Sess+Rin (+means unromantic) stories.