yay! finally chapter 2! i know, you probably thought i would never update. i kinda thought that myself. but, looks like we were wrong! well, thanks for all the reviews you wonderful people! i was a little worried nobody would like my story, but i guess i was wrong. i hope you all like ch. 2 just as well! ok, now replies to all the loverly reviews...or at least the ones that seemed non-rhetorical (if i spelled that right, i will be shocked!).

rinsess4Ever: well, while i would love to answer your question, i'm afraid i cant do that! you will just have to wait and see.
deathsangel666: sry, but..if i didnt, there just wouldnt be any plot.
icygirl2: akuhei is...(are you ready?) a character in my story! yay! ok, ok. you knew that. well...you'll find out eventually. .-

and now, at long last, here is chapter 2! (oh, i dont own inuyasha. almost forgot!)

Chapter 2: Farewell and The Assault

Rin awoke to the sound of birds chirping and a light breeze blowing playfully around her. For a moment, she almost felt like getting up and dancing, but then she remembered the dream from last night, and her heart wrenched with pain at what she knew she was about to do. She sat up and looked around, but did not see Jaken or Sesshoumaru. Deciding they must have gone to the river, she got up and walked through the trees in that direction. Sure enough, as she reached the river's edge, Rin caught sight of a familiar white-haired figure.

Sesshoumaru did not acknowledge Rin when she approached him, but she knew he was aware of her presence. He stood there by the riverside, gazing off into the distance at something too far away for Rin's human eyes to see. "Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin said, her voice barely more than a whisper. Sesshoumaru turned his head towards her. Rin took a shaky breath, then continued, "Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin has been thinking." She paused, and Sesshoumaru waited patiently for her to continue. "Rin thinks…that it would be for the best if Rin returned to her own kind."

Sesshoumaru felt his heart skip a beat as Rin said those words, but he quickly recomposed himself. "Are you sure?" he asked her. Rin nodded, staring at her feet. Sesshoumaru turned back towards the camp. "If that is what you want, then it will be done," he said, and walked away.

Rin watched as Sesshoumaru left, pained by his nonchalant attitude. Of course, she should have expected it, but for half a second, she had almost imagined that he looked sad at the thought of her leaving. It was only wishful thinking though, she was sure. Why would Sesshoumaru be upset by something that was probably more of a relief than any thing for him. She sighed, and stared off into the distance beyond the river, as Sesshoumaru had done only a moment ago. The wind blew gently, blowing her hair around her face, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Not long after Sesshoumaru returned to the camp, Jaken came waddling up after him. "My lord!" he called, coming up to Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru spoke before Jaken could say anything else. "Jaken! Go get Rin! We're leaving!" he said harshly. Jaken looked shocked at this sudden expression of emotion from his master, but bowed, and quickly ran to find Rin.

Sesshoumaru growled with frustration at himself. He wasn't even sure what he was so angry about. Could it be that the girl's proposal was actually affecting him? He quickly erased the thought from his mind. It was impossible that he, the great Sesshoumaru, would sink so low as to actually have feelings for a human. Sesshoumaru crossed his arms, and watched the girl who was approaching him. It was impossible, he assured himself. Nevertheless, even as he thought this, Sesshoumaru felt a strange tugging on his heart.

Akuhei watched the scene in the mirror delightedly. "Things are working out just as we planned," he said to Takako.

"Yes, my lord," Takako agreed.

Akuhei glanced at Takako. "Now," he said, "we need only watch and wait, and when the time is right, we will begin the second part of the plan." He watched for Takako's reaction. She smiled. Akuhei took her arm and pulled her into his lap. She leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I hope you have prepared yourself," he said, bending his head down and kissing her breast.

"Yes, my lord," she replied.

"Good," Akuhei said. Takako lifted her head up and kissed him on the mouth passionately, though it was a one-sided kiss.

Rin watched silently as Sesshoumaru talked to a small group of human soldiers. Sesshoumaru was too far away for her to hear him, and his back was turned to her, but she could see that several of the men looked nervous, even terrified. At one point, they all nodded vigorously, and Sesshoumaru returned to the place where he had left Rin and Jaken.

"Rin. Come," he ordered. She nodded, and, standing up, followed him to the men. "These men will take you back to their village, where you will be well cared for," he told her. Rin nodded, unable to think of anything to say. She watched with sorrow filled eyes as the man who had stayed with her and protected her for almost half her life walked away, knowing that this time he would not return.

Rin watched, until Sesshoumaru's figure disappeared over a hill in the distance. "Farewell, Sesshoumaru-sama," she whispered.

Sesshoumaru paused, and turned his head in the direction of Rin's voice. "Farewell, Rin," he replied, knowing she could not hear him, then continued on his way.

Katsu watched the girl called Rin push her food away, and stare at the night sky. "Do you think she's an idiot?" Hachiro whispered loudly beside him.

Katsu shot him a glare. "Shut your mouth, Hachiro," he ordered.

"Hey, I was just trying to say that if I were in her position I would be jumping for joy, not staring off into the distance like I've been abandoned or something," Hachiro defended himself. He thought for a moment. "Maybe she's so traumatized by the experience that she's lost all her reason!" he exclaimed, with a look as if he had just come up with something brilliant.

Katsu rolled his eyes, then looked back at the girl. "No…" he said, after a moment, "I don't think that's the case at all."

Rin pulled her knees up to her chin, and tried to ignore the laughter of the men near her. She couldn't help but feel that they were laughing at her, and she already hated them for it. Still, there was that one, the leader, named Katsu. He kept looking at her as though he understood what she was feeling. She shook her head. How could he understand the pain that was ripping her heart apart right this second? He probably just thought she was traumatized from her experience with the terrible demon, like the rest of them thought. That wasn't the case at all, though. Sesshoumaru wasn't even a terrible demon, at least, not to her. Besides, Rin had always been strong. She squeezed her eyes shut tight. 'I don't feel very strong right now,' she thought. A cold wind blew, and Rin shivered, for the first time realizing how cold she was.

"You'll be warmer if you sit by the fire," a male voice said behind her. Rin jumped, and turned around to see Katsu. She breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry I startled you," Katsu apologized.

"It's fine," Rin replied.

"So…do you want to come over by the fire with us?" he asked. Rin shook her head. "I thought you might say that," Katsu said. "I brought you this." He dropped a blanket in her lap. "It'll keep you a little warm, at least."

"Thank you," Rin said, clutching the blanket and pulling it over her.

Katsu nodded. "You're welcome if you change your mind," he said kindly. Rin nodded, and Katsu went back to the fire.

The next day, Katsu woke Rin up a little before dawn. "We're about to leave," he told her. "If we're lucky, we should reach the village by this evening." Rin nodded. Katsu looked at her sympathetically. "It must be hard for you," he said, "not having such a powerful ally around to protect you."

Rin looked up, shocked, then nodded. It wasn't exactly how she felt, but it was a lot closer than what she had thought.

Katsu bent down so that he could look her in the eye. "You don't have to worry," he assured her, "I'll protect you no matter what."

Rin blushed at these words but, for the first time in quite a while, she smiled a real smile. Maybe this Katsu wasn't so bad after all. She studied him, and for the first time noticed that the brown-haired, brown-eyed young man was actually somewhat handsome. He could never replace Sesshoumaru-sama…but, maybe she could be happy with him.

"Lord Katsu!" a man riding up on horseback called urgently.

Katsu turned to the man. "What is it?"

"Demons!" the man gasped, "They're headed this way!"

Katsu nodded, and turned to the men who were putting away the camp. "Men!" he yelled, "Gather up your weapons! Prepare to defend yourselves against a demon assault!" The men immediately followed orders. Katsu turned to Rin. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up. "Stay close to me," he ordered.

As Rin watched, the soldiers positioned themselves behind their leader. Rin looked at Katsu standing beside her, his face was serious. She looked in front of her and gasped. A horde of what seemed like a thousand demons was approaching them, and fast. She looked back at the soldiers; there were only about twenty of them. They didn't stand a chance!

Katsu drew his sword, looking as though he were all too well aware of what Rin had realized, but still he was determined. "Attack!" he yelled the order to his men, and they all charged forward to meet the demon's assault.

The battle commenced for what seemed like an eternity. Katsu, true to his word, put forth all his effort to protect Rin. Now, he was battling fiercely with a demon. He defeated it, but he was obviously worn out. Katsu looked around, and saw three demons heading towards him. With an exasperated sigh, he grabbed Rin and dragged her over to Hachiro, who was nearby. "Hachiro!" he called, "I want you to take her and get out of here as fast as you can! Do whatever it takes! Just make sure she stays alive!"

Hachiro killed the demon he was fighting, and turned to Katsu. "Are you out of your mind?" he demanded. "Haven't you noticed that all the demons are saying things like 'Give us the girl'?"

Rin looked from Hachiro to Katsu. "You mean…this is all because of me?" she said, her voice filled with horror.

"Don't listen to him, Rin," Katsu said reassuringly. He turned to Hachiro. "You! Keep your mouth shut! If you're suggesting that we sacrifice the girl, then you're out of your mind!" Katsu scolded Hachiro. "Did you already forget what that demon said? If anything happens to her, its our lives, anyway. Now do as your told!"

Rin's eyes went wide, and her stomach felt sick as though she might throw up. "Rin, listen to-" Katsu began, but Rin cut him off.

"Get off of me!" she screeched, tearing herself out of his arms. Katsu and Hachiro looked at her, shocked. Rin dashed away as far from them as possible, ignoring their calls for her to come back. She collapsed in the middle of the bloody battlefield, sobbing. 'Why, Sesshoumaru-sama?' she thought bitterly. 'Why did you leave me with these horrible men?' "I thought he really cared about me," she sobbed quietly to herself.

"It's awful, isn't it?" a man said quietly.

Rin looked up to see a tall man with long blue-black hair and blue eyes, dressed in noble clothing. "Who are you?" she asked.

"It's terrible, when you realize that no one can be trusted," he continued, "when those whom you thought cared about you turn their backs on you."

Rin gasped, as she recognized the voice. "Y-you're that man! The one from my dream!"

The man smiled down at her. "Yes," he replied. "My name is Akuhei." He knelt down beside her, and put an arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble."

Rin shook her head. "No," she said, "the truth is you were right. If I had stayed with Sesshoumaru-sama any longer, I only would have been hurt more." She wiped her eyes, and looked in the direction she had last seen Katsu. "He even hurt me without being here." She hung her head down, her hair covering her face.

"Would you like to come with me?" Akuhei asked her.

Rin looked at him. "But-" she began.

"Aren't I the one who saved you from more pain?" Akuhei pointed out. Rin nodded. "It seems to me, I'm the only one you can really trust." He put his hand under Rin's chin and turned her face up to look at him. "So, what do you say?" He stood up and held his hand out to her.

Rin raised her hand towards his, then hesitated and pulled back a little. In the back of her mind, something told her she could not trust this man. She ignored it, and, placing her hand in Akuhei's, she said, "Yes, I will come with you."

there you go! what do you think? please R&R!