The most precious moments
Heavy breathing and wild thrashing kept a young and sad Rin from finding sleep.
She rose from her bed and packed it away. It was very late in the evening yet she could not keep to sleeping.
Rin peeked quietly into a closed off room in Kaedes hut meant for healing. She pulled aside the straw curtain to see a young girl resting. Her bruises slowly healing.
This will make four nights straight that she has not woken up. I wonder if she'll be ok..? She'll definitely be hungry and thirsty I'm sure?
Rin walked away giving the young girl her privacy. She stepped outside and climbed up to the roof of Kaedes home.
She inhaled and let out a long sigh. Brown eyes stared into the evening sky. Stars barely showing above the cloudy skies. Rins eyes drifted to moon that seemed to be playing peek a boo with her through traveling grey clouds.
Why do I feel like this...I feel like an outsider..worse I feel like I did before I met lord Sesshomaru...
Rins eyes began to water. She couldn't get the images of her family being slaughtered or her being beaten everyday struggling to eat sometimes going days without anything.
I am just a lowly human master Jaken...You we're right...I will probably never see lord Sesshomaru ever again.
Rin began to cry into her gathered legs. She trembled at the new memories that tortured her mind now.
Why does it even matter? Ah-Un killed them all didn't he? Of course he did! I watched him! What is wrong with me! Why am I afraid again! Is it because I know I've failed you my lord?
Rin began to cry softly into her own embrace. After an hour Rin decided to try and sleep again. She went into the small hut rolled out her bed and tried to fall back asleep.
"Good morning! Hey Kaede? Is Rin up yet? And how's the girl doing?" Kagome started exuberantly fading into a more serious and calm tone seeing the quiet and empty hut around her.
"No child. This is most unbecoming of young Rin. She never took to rising so late in the day. I worry this had just been to much for her to handle." Kaede sighed to herself.
"I see...Well? Don't worry! Rin will bounce back soon! I'll make sure of it! Inuyasha is really worried about her. Everyone seems to be honestly?" Kagome said with determination to help her friends through this difficult situation.
Rin walked in slowly. Her eyes glazed and swollen from her excessive crying last night. Her body slow and exhausted. The kimono she now wore had short sleeves that came to her elbows. Her bruised arms and neck was very apparent.
Kaede felt uneasy seeing her so down and hurt. She hadn't even had her hair down like she normally wore it. She had it rolled into a low bun and pulled back. All life and joy seemed to leave the young girls features.
"Good morning Rin! How are you feeling today?" Kagome asked as if she hadn't been talking about her earlier.
"I was awake. I heard you two talking. I'm sorry for being such a burden lady Kaede." Rin stared into the floor.
"Rin.." Kagome said softly as if to apologize.
"Child ye are not nor ever will be a burden to thee. I would only see ye child as burden if you continue on with this bad behavior. It is most unbecoming." Just as Kaede finished speaking bell alarms could be heard.
"A DEMON! PRIESTESS KAEDE! WE NEED YOUR HELP!" A simple village man screamed out enticing a scurry of bodies and worry across Edo.
"A demon? Inuyasha would never allow such a thing to get this close?" Kaede said worried and quick.
She grabbed her bow and arrows as did Kagome and they both ran out. Rin followed as immediate worry set in that they would hurt the demon.
"So your finally back Huh? Well it's to late! Get outta here before I slice your arm off again! I ain't in the mood for you today!" Inuyasha said holding out his mighty Tessaiga. He could sense and smell his brother was approaching long before the tall and mighty silhouette of his older half brother even came into focus.
"Is that a threat? Hm. I guess I'll have to put you back in place half breed." Sesshomaru moved with great speed.
Within seconds of his finished sentence he held Inuyasha in his hand by his throat. Squeezing the breath from his idiot half brother slowly.
"I did not come to kill you today Inuyasha. Where is Rin?" Sesshomaru spoke with anger in his face he didn't care to play fight with Inuyasha today. It had been many years since his last visit and he had only one interest for being in this filthy and disgusting small village.
"Leave her alone! She's been through enough because of you!" Inuyasha barely got out through his brothers tight grasp.
"Hm?" Sesshomaru thought for a moment what that could mean.
This could be just what she needs. Kaede smiled and turned her back to the threat. "Tell the villagers to remain calm, this demon means no harm. However we all should retreat into thine huts until he has completed his business here." Kaede retreated back into her hut.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." Rin spoke to herself. Her eyes couldn't hold back her tears of worry and happiness and fear. Rin felt so many emotions she began running without realizing it. "LORD SESSHOMARU!" She yelled catching the attention of her lord.
He dropped Inuyasha to the ground ignoring him as he no longer cared for the half demon and his empty threats.
He could smell old gathered blood. He could smell fear and tears in the air. He couldn't understand what had happen. His perfect happy and loving Rin. She wore not the elaborate kimonos he had picked for her. But some awful peasants cloth that was even worse than what she wore when he first met her.
Sesshomaru stood tall and passive as always. With no emotion and no sign of his troubled and worried mind.
"Lord Sesshomaru! I am so sorry my lord! Please forgive me! I am an unworthy vassal just as master Jaken has said! I am so sorry!!" Rin cried hysterically into the ground.
Sesshomarus eyes slid in anger to the green imp behind him, causing Jaken to tremble in worry and fear. "Wha!!!?! Oh!! What are you blabbering about you silly girl! And why do you look like that? How dare you insult our lord by refusing his marvelous gifts!" Jaken squawked about angrily.
Sesshomarus eyebrow raised in confusion.
Could Rin be capable of refusing me?I do not believe this to be the case? If she was simply refusing to wear the gifts I have left for her she'd not be begging for my forgiveness..
"Rin? Where did you get those bruises?" Sesshomaru asked just as he did before many years ago.
Rins breath got held in her throat. Suddenly a wave of happiness washed over her like it had the first time he had ever inquired about her injuries. This time she did not meet his question with a silent smile however. This time her happiness was short lived as disappointment within herself set in.
Rin gathered her composure and stopped her trembling body. She wiped away some of her tears and took in two deep breaths before she sat this time properly before her lord. She bowed at his feet with her hands crossed in her lap and began to speak.
"A few nights ago. I was foolish. I let down my guard and a small group of bandits attacked me. They...they ripped up my last kimono..." Rin began to tremble trying not to cry. "The last kimono you left for me my lord..I'm so sorry..I should have fought harder. I was foolish for not listening to your last command given. I should have had the weapon you left for me on my person at all time. But I did not...I was foolish..even worse I have always introduced myself as a loyal vassal of the great lord Sesshomaru..I have brought shame to your name my lord by losing..please forgive me..." Rin could not stop her tears from falling.
Sesshomaru angered by the events which was told to him silenced Jaken before he could begin to speak with a stare. He than turned his back to Rin unresponsive to her words.
"So that's it!" Inuyasha yelled angrily at his brother. And just before he could give Sesshomaru a lecture on how much Rin should mean to him he was silenced by his brothers voice.
"Rin. Follow me if you so choose." Sesshomaru began to walk away slowly from the village. "JAKEN! Let's go." Sesshomaru called out making the small imp jump and fall in fear.
"Yes mi lord!" Jaken stumbled after his quiet lord.
"Always my lord." Rin whispered as she stood to her feet and followed after.
Sesshomaru finally stopped at an oh to familiar place for Rin. He did not take a seat under the mighty tree like he usually would. He just stood staring at the quiet stream.
Rin stopped a few feet away from Sesshomaru and Jaken. Feeling like she was no longer excepted to stand any closer.
"Rin. You feel your bruised body is a sign of weakness?" Sesshomaru asked still staring to the stream.
"Yes my lord." Rin looked down in shame.
"Do you believe that any who bare such bruises are to be deemed weak and incapable?" Sesshomaru asked now looking at her.
"Yes. Weakness and failure has no place by your side my lord." Rin said with soft tears falling to the ground.
"I see. Jaken." Sesshomaru spoke quietly as always. It seemed to Rin that Sesshomaru had commanded something of Jaken as Jaken hurriedly rushed over to his master.
Jaken knowing exactly what was requested of him hurried to assist his master in removing his armor. Jaken quickly made work of the ties allowing Sesshomaru the freedom to let his armor fall at his feet while he stepped out of it.
Rin stood quiet and confused. Unsure of what was happening in front of her.
Jaken untied Sesshomarus haori and gently pulled away all the material leaving Sesshomarus muscular torso and arms exposed.
Rin gasped in shock and worry.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Your hurt!" Rin ran to him.
"I as you, have scars from my most recent victories. So tell me? Do you believe I weak and incapable?" Sesshomaru asked showing Rin how he was barely able to lift his arm.
"My lord! I am so sorry! I should have been there!" Rin cried out. She was about to reach out to touch the bruises on his body when she realized how extremely disrespectful that could be. She pulled her trembling hands back. "Lady Kaede has taught me of ways to heal such marks! May I retrieve them for you my lord..?" Rin asked bowing her head and holding her hands down.
"You have ignored my question Rin." Sesshomaru rolled his shoulder releasing a sharp hissing sound as he did to pull his haori back up. Jaken finished the rest redressing his lord in his armor yet again.
"Hm! Oh forgive me my lord. No. Never! My lord is the strongest and most bravest demon I know. There is nothing my lord is incapable of." Rin remained head bowed.
"If your enemies are no longer of this world than the victory was yours. Your bruises a sign of such victories. Were you harmed otherwise." Sesshomaru feared the answer the young girl may reply with.
"No. Ah-Un rescued me. Not before my kimono was destroyed my lord. I am so sorry I should have taken better care of the beautiful gifts you bestowed upon me." Rin began to sob yet again.
"Impossible. I believe you took great care of what I left behind for you. However it would seem that you grew tired of your other lords gifts." Sesshomaru sat raising a single brow in hopes to regain his Rin back.
Rins head shot up in amazement and confusion. Soon her fears subsided completely and her tears instantly halted. Her smile was as bright as the sun once again.
Jaken stared at the two confused by the conversation and decided to simply leave it be. He'd never understand the odd relationship between the two. Or deep down inside didn't wish to.
Rin giggled and walked closer taking a seat by her lord. "Your right. He wasn't all I thought him to be. I suppose it was my foolishness. For thinking any surpasses you in grandeur or magnificence my lord." Rin smiled and laughed.
Happy that she at least was acting herself once again Sesshomaru sat to hear all she had been doing the years of his absence.
Rin went into great and very long detail about everything she had learned from both humans and demons alike. Her stories laughable and boring sometimes exaggerated and always with a happy ending.
Rin shined and was filled with life and happiness yet again. Now all Sesshomaru had to do was get her out of those horrible peasants clothes.