I left you with a bit of a cliff hanger, so I guess it is good I'm updating right away. Oh by the way, this chapter is a little weird, but I hope you like it anyways.


The Water Sprite's Gift

When Rin woke up she saw barely clothed sprites standing above her. Surprised, Rin screamed. I thought it was all a dream.

"You scream too much," a female sprite admonished. It looked to Rin, as though all the female sprites wore ugly marsh plants in the blueish hair.

"After what I've been through, I think it fair that I can scream." Rin snapped angrily. She sat up quickly and looked around. She was in a vast cavern, sitting in an inch or two of water.

"Be nice to our guest," the male sprite from before, he was obviously their chief, commanded.

"Would you care to eat?" Another male sprite asked.

Rin did not even hesitate in her answer. "No, I'm not hungry. Now, where are my friends?" She asked peevishly.

"They are where they are." The first male sprite answered.

"That doesn't answer my question," Rin cried passionately.

"You will not see them again, so you need not worry." Another harsh female barked.

These female sprites are too bitter for my liking, Rin thought with irritation.

"Listen to me, I have to go now! If I don't go soon then my lord will die. Do you wish to be responsible for a death?" Rin appealed to them desperately.

"It does not to us." Yet another male sprite replied.

"You don't understand, my lord is a youkai. Does that not even matter to you?" Rin begged.

"It still makes no difference." Several sprites spoke at once.

"Please, is there any way you will let me go?" Rin asked, tears coming to her eyes.

"Give us a gift." The sprite that had kidnapped her offered.

"Do you swear to let me go if I do give you a gift?" Rin asked suspiciously.

Their chief began to speak. "Yes, yes, we promise. In fact, if you give us a gift then we will give you your freedom and what you are looking for…"

"Oh thank you, thank you." Rin started to yell, but the chief cut her off.

"But, as I was saying, the gift must be a flower from the outside world."

"A flower? From the outside world?" Why do you want one?" Rin asked, confused.

"We must always make do with the ugly plants from the marsh when our mates give us gifts." A female sprite piped up.

"Yes, even one new type of flower would be a wonderful gift." Another female added.

"Hmm, alright then, I will get you a flower." Rin agreed.

She quickly bent down to her bag and looked through the ingredients Kaede had given her. All she had to do was find one flower in the ingredients, but there wasn't any. All Kaede had given her had been roots and grasses. Rin frowned in disappointment.

I suppose I will have to give them a Nikko blossom, Rin thought sadly. But I have so few of them as it is. What if I don't have enough for Sesshoumaru?

Rin stood in silence for a long time, but she finally decided she had to risk it. If she did not give the sprites one Nikko blossom, then Sesshoumaru was as good as dead anyway. She took out one of the small books in her bag. From it she removed one halfway dried Nikko blossom.

"Will this do?" Rin asked hopefully.

"Oh yes, yes!" The female sprites cried; all reaching for the flower.

"I suppose that answers your question." The chief sprite laughed.

"Here is the Ike Reed as I promised. Now give me that beautiful blossom." The chief held out the reed and Rin handed him the flower.

"How do I get out of here?" Rin asked, hoping that the sprite would not go back on his word.

The sprite didn't. "See that pool at the edge of the cave? Dive into it and touch its bottom. That will take you back to your friends."

"Thank you," Rin replied.

Maybe these sprites aren't so bad after all, Rin thought happily.

Rin walked over to the pool. As she took her first step in, Rin found that already she couldn't touch the bottom. With fleeting doubts, Rin leapt in the rest of the way. Taking a deep breath she swam towards the bottom of the pool.

She swam and swam. She went so deep that her ears began to burn and her lungs yearned for air. Just when she thought that she would have to return to the surface, Rin's fingertips met with the mucky bottom of the marsh.

With a jolt, Rin was thrown onto land. Gathering her wits, Rin looked around. She was lying next to Setsuki's hut. Somehow she had been thrown to the spot where she had started her journey into the marsh.

Rin shakily got to her feet. As she did this a voice called out to her, "Rin, there you are!"

It was Setsuki. She came running towards Rin and threw her arms around her. "Setsuki, I'm all wet!" Rin laughed.

"Where have you been Rin? You've been gone for so long." Setsuki asked with concern.

"Some water sprites kidnapped me, but I'm okay now." Rin replied still laughing. "Besides, you shouldn't have been so worried Setsuki. I've only been gone for a few hours."

"Rin, you've been gone for two days." Setsuki said with all seriousness.

"What, two days? That means that I only have six days left." Rin cried in despair.

"I'm so sorry Rin. Time runs differently in the sprites world." Setsuki explained.

"Well, at least the water sprites gave me the Ike Reed. Thank you so much Setsuki, but I have to leave now. I have very little time left." Rin said, calling Ahun to her.

"I figured you would need to go when you returned, so I prepared some of my clothes. I also packed some food for you. Wait for just a second for me to go fetch it." Setsuki did not seem surprised at all at what had happened to Rin. This made her grateful.

Setsuki returned quickly and before Rin knew it, she was ready to leave. Before mounting Ahun, Rin hugged the older girl, and said goodbye. She then turned to leave and didn't look back. She was off to the land of Sesshoumaru's sworn enemies the Neko youkai.


By the way neko means cat in case anyone didn't know.