Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not the characters, not even a blade of grass--nor a single sakura blossom. Hell, I don't even own a Sesshoumaru plushie. All characters are from the inspired mind of R. Takahashi and everything else is my poor attempt.

Chapter 2: Encounters

Rin slowly made her way deeper into the gloom. As she walked by, the hidden forest animals looked at her puzzled. Didn't the little creature know that a youkai lay injured just ahead of her? Surely even her dull ningen nose could smell his powerful youki! His anger was palpable, and had easily scared away even the bravest of them. The child was small, weak and injured—perhaps the youkai would be merciful and release her from her misery.

Unaware of her observers, Rin trudged onward. It was getting darker, and she needed to find a soft resting place soon—her body was screaming for sleep, sore from the beating, and depleted of energy from the days she spent hungry.

Spying a small clearing to her right, Rin smiled. It looked promising, and with any luck, would be a comfortable bed for the night.

Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands snapped out of his restful state. Something was coming his way. Disgusted at not sensing the creature earlier, Sesshoumaru sniffed the air.

Human.

He wrinkled his nose. The ningen reeked of blood and filth. Once again Sesshoumaru wondered how his hanyou brother could live daily amongst such a stench. The snap of twigs grew louder and he grasped Tojikin more firmly. It wouldn't do to present himself as defenseless to a mere human—even if he was currently weakened. The human would by now know there was something dangerous ahead of him and would have prepared as such. Easing himself up, Sesshoumaru tensed and readied himself for the coming battle.

There was very little that could surprise the youkai lord—but his unseen opponent was actually singing?

"There is a sunset just over the hill

In the valley that I love.

Mother, Father, Brother—home

In the valley that I love.

The ones I hold close to my heart

In the valley that I love.

There, blue skies and sunsets

And sakura blossoms blow—

In the valley that I love."

Sesshoumaru was startled to say the least. Instead of a foolhardy ningen warrior, his amber gaze observed a small ningen child, no more than 7 years of age.

At this point, it was difficult to say who was more shocked—Sesshoumaru or Rin. At the present, Rin was standing several feet away from the youkai. She had dropped her parcel of fish and water in surprise, and was now gazing in awe at the magnificent creature in front of her.

Perhaps it was simply the resilience of youth, but Rin quickly snapped out of her stupor. "You're very pretty! Rin's name is Rin! What is your name?"

Sesshoumaru blinked. The child was not running away, or screaming in fear. She had called him pretty and she was grinning.

And indeed she was. Rin was giving the beautiful creature the very best smile she could manage after her ordeal.

Sesshoumaru growled as a light breeze once again reminded his nose why he stayed far away from pathetic mortals. "Leave here," he commanded while slowly slipping back into his prone position.

"You're hurt!" Rin exclaimed in surprise. How could someone hurt one so beautiful? It was like that stupid, fat son of the village elder who always trampled the beautiful flowers Rin liked to pick—it just wasn't right.

Ignoring Sesshoumaru's growled command, Rin reclaimed her fish and water and made her way closer to the youkai. "When Rin is hurt, Rin drinks lots and lots of water and eats lots and lots of food! And Rin sleeps a lot too. Rin doesn't need all this food; here you go!" With that, Rin offered Sesshoumaru the six fish she had patiently gathered for herself. After all, he was much bigger than she was and would surely need as much food as he could get.

What part of leave did this stupid child not understand? Sesshoumaru growled angrily, "This Sesshoumaru does not eat filthy ningen food. Leave now."

Unperturbed, Rin placed the fish beside Sesshoumaru and looked at her waterskin hesitantly; she wouldn't be able to get more water for some time, but he clearly needed it more than she did. So, she placed that beside him as well and settled down nearby for the night.

The child did not leave. This Sesshoumaru could not even invoke fear into the heart of one filthy, half-dead ningen child. Surely he was not that feeble? He had cleared the forest of its animals simply with his presence. Perhaps the child was simply too stupid to understand. With a sigh, Sesshoumaru discarded that idea as well. Even Jaken understood the threat he posed. No, there simply was no logical reasoning. The child should have run away in fear—this one simply did not. Instead of screams, she offered him smiles, instead of tears—fish and water. Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru cleared his thoughts and allowed himself to be reclaimed by sleep.

-----------------------------

Rin ran. She had been attempting to get some water at the village stream when they attacked.

Wolves.

They were everywhere. Their large, powerful bodies covered in the blood of the villagers. Their eyes red with blood lust.

Rin kept running. The pretty man in the forest would take care of her if she could make it there. He had a sword.

A large brown blur made its way toward Rin. The wolf leapt in front of her and snarled, revealing blood dipped fangs.

Within moments it was over, but Rin's terrified screams continued to echo through the forest.

-----------------------------

Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands awoke the next afternoon to the stench of human blood. The villagers' fear was thick in the air, mingling with their blood, and the reek of—wolves? Wolves should not attack a human village. Even a whole pack would have easily been sustained by the forest animals. This puzzle was quickly solved—the wolves had not dared enter the forest when the youkai had lain there.

Sesshoumaru frowned as the pungent odour of rotted fish reached him. The little girl was gone. Then, he felt it. The Tensaiga pulsed. The sword was useless in battle—a mere bauble he had inherited as the least favourite son of the great Inutaisho. Sesshoumaru looked at the sword puzzled. It was pulling him toward the village, and curious, the youkai followed the pulse.

The wolves were gone. The villagers all slain, their huts torn apart. Sesshoumaru followed the pulse once more, then paused to sniff the air. Tensaiga was leading him toward a familiar scent—the ningen child. Rin, she had called herself.

She was long dead, her body bloody and mangled. In her tiny hands, she clutched the waterskin she had offered him the night before.

"What do you want me to do, Tensaiga?" Drawing the sword, Sesshoumaru looked at the girl's body once again. This time, the sight was different—the servants of the afterworld were there as well, trying to claim the child's soul. Tensaiga pulsed harder. In response, Sesshoumaru did the one thing he was trained to do. He slashed at the servants, obliterating them in mere seconds. Once they were gone, Tensaiga's pulse ceased.

Sesshoumaru growled. It was just like his father to give him a completely and utterly useless sword. Nothing had happened! The Lord of the Western lands glared once more at the body and turned to leave.

A soft gasp stopped him. The child was alive. Sesshoumaru slowly turned around to face the resurrected girl. So the sword was good for something after all.

"Sess—Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin inquired haltingly. "What happened? Rin was hurt—the wolf hurt Rin."

He regarded her coolly. "Hai." With that, he turned again and continued walking. Surely that incompetent toad had made his way to the area by now.

Not completely understanding the situation, Rin stood up and looked around. Everything was gone, there was nothing now to keep her here. The only living thing familiar to her was now walking away.

"Matte! Matte, Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin is coming too!" Although Sesshoumaru did not acknowledge her cry, Rin ran along until she had almost caught up with the youkai.

Aware of her presence, and shockingly unperturbed, Sesshoumaru slowed his pace unconsciously.

And thus, Sesshoumaru and Rin walked onward, each lost in their own thoughts, and woefully unprepared for the twists and turns life would find fit to throw at them.

Translations:

Matte: Wait!

A/N: Please Review!

To my beloved reviewers:

Wwitch27: thanks for reviewing!

Chi little lady of the western lands: thank you and good luck with the Sess/Rin you've started!

Lady Rhiyana: Thank you for your comments! Coming from a great writer like you it really means something 

Puppet-cat: my grasp of the Spanish language is seriously lacking—I only took it in school for a year—but I basically figured out what you said. Thanks for reviewing, and, while I like having Sess and Rin live long, happy lives together too—I just didn't feel like it when I started writing. And hey, if a ridiculously positive attitude gets you your own Sessy—let me know! I'll have to try it too!

LadyRinUchiha: Thank you for reviewing and adding Sakura Blossoms to your favs list!

Next update—uhmm...eventually?

P.S Please read "What Do You Have to Protect?" Its good, I promise.

Danica