Chapter 1
Twilight had fallen as the moon's light began to shine down on the shadowy grass of the courtyard. Sesshomaru took in the peace of the silent night.
It seemed every time he stepped foot out of his chambers One thing or another required his attention. He grew sick of it all. sick of the constant yammering and politics.
Sitting himself underneath a great willow tree by the roaring waterfall. he took in the smell of the water. Rummaging his thoughts for what had brought his wandering spirit to dwell in the western palace for so many seasons. He recalled the day that he was called fourth to his mother side. Shortly after leaving Rin In the village
Memory
" you summoned me"
The great lady daiyokai Inukimi A slender woman of pale skin. purple crescent moon on her forehead and long flowing silver hair Lifted her golden eyes meeting the gaze of her son. She looked so small sitting at the large banquet table of the dining hall.
"Sesshomaru.. Such coldness to your mother. have you so little concern for my well-being that you would address me as a common acquaintance on the battlefield"
Why did she always have to make things more complex than they had to be. couldn't she just tell him why the hell he had to come all this way so he can get back to scouting the village perimeter and protecting Rin from afar .
"such an impatient pup you are.. One would have thought that you would've grown out of it at your age. . But alas.. Time my son… Time is why I've asked you here today." Lady Inukimi Lifted from her seat and gestured her son to walk with her to the open balcony on looking the courtyard of her enchanted garden. The full moons light illuminating wondrous assortment of flowers beneath them. Her eye taking in the moons radiant light and with a soft breath she spoke dropping her playful nature and taking a more serious tone.
" This will be my thousandth winter moon.. as you know my son all things must have their end. I am no exception to that. It is time you Regain your footing as Lord of this palace. So the balance of the lands can remain intact"
what the hell was she saying to him? That she would die. She barely ever left the palace other than a nightly fly among the stars. She never encountered any danger that would shorten her life by a day. And even if so, he was raised to lead from birth to be lord of this castle. What could she teach him now that he the great sesshomaru did not already know. His father had made sure he was well adverse in the politics of the land. As heir to his fathers throne he could've taken over the day of his untimely passing. His longing for greatness would not let the foolish actions of his father quell his thirst for power.
His eyes fell to his mother. a woman in her own way who helped shape what he had become. He had no hatred for her. However that did not mean he wasn't always skeptical of her tedious games for entertainment. This was some thing he felt she would not manipulate. With a softening tone sesshomaru spoke " I will return by the next moon once my affairs are in order"
End of memory
Sesshōmaru let his senses wander as the fire flies buzzed around him. The sweet smell of flowers filling the night air . He could smell the sweet faint smell of honeysuckles. The sent that always filled his mind of Rin.
On the first moon of every summer he would return to see how she fared. With every year she grew more beautiful. Closing his eyes resting his head up on the tree. All he could see in his minds eye was that smile. The smile that could warm the coldest of hearts.
In the distance of the palace his Daiyokai hearing picked up the sound of the high priest asking where the Lord had gone, that he had some thing that had to be addressed With lord Sesshōmaru.
Huuufff why couldn't they take these mindless matters to mother. She says her time is coming to it's end, yet Sesshōmaru seen no evidence of such fact.
He needed to get away just for a little while before he took out his irritation on the servants.
Rising to his feet and taking him to the sky he flew to the one thing he knew would find him peace. To her.
It was late. All the fires in the village had already gone out. which made it all that much easier For Rin to sneak out out of the hut for a walk among the forest.
Her 17th birthday was in under a week but how could she forget every member of the village had made a point reminding her what an old maid she was becoming in almost every exchange of words she had.
It wasn't for lack of suitors. Rin had Lost count by now how many village boys she had turned down. One just as nice as the next. Some better looking than others. But everyone of them came to her with the same agenda in mind. To make her into a common housewife to keep her tethered to the Mundane existence of keeping house and having babies. Pfft that was no life for her.
Once in the thicket of the forest She jumped up. taking to a low hanging tree branch she monkeyed from tree to tree grabbing onto each branch with ease and grace. Landing back on her feet with a huff. Lost in thought. None of the other suitors requests had ever gotten under her skin but today.. Kohaku had asked for her hand and when she refused he lost it. Never had Rin ever seen him so angry. He yelled at her! actually raised his voice, telling her soon only the wolves would have her and if she was so at ease with her animalistic tendencies that she should go back and live in the forest.
Maybe I should Rin thought to her self taking a seat on a large boulder before a stream. If the air wasn't so cold she would've dove in. What makes Kohaku think he can talk to me like that…. I thought he was my friend..thought he understood that Village life was no life for me. But in the end he use my own words against me. Maybe I am better off with the wolves. Rin's thoughts got the better over her. Before she knew it tears were running down her face.
A Whispering wind pulled her from her thoughts. As she felt Something as soft as rabbit fur brush her cheek.
"Rin…. Are you alright"
It couldn't be.
" My … My lord" The words hardly coming out. her whole body turned to take in the sight of him. his golden eyes though hard and unfeeling showed the slightest hint of sorrow.
"lord Sesshōmaru… it is not yet summer my Lord. Your visit is quite unexpected"
Taking in the surroundings With out noticing the slightest hint of blood. He searched her body for injury but none lay to the open eye. But he did notice the kimono She had on was filthy torn and common dull fabric. Not resembling any of the kimonos he had sent her over the years, made from fine silks. How much money did I give that old hag so that Rin would be well cared for and here she sit in rags. Sesshōmaru made a mental note of taking his wrath out on her once he assured Rin was ok.
" you'll catch your death if you stay in this cold Rin. I'll escort you back to the Village"
" I don't want to. . . Not yet" her voice so soft it was almost a whisper. Her big brown eyes pleading with him with such sadness. Begging him not to order her to go.
With a grumble Sesshōmaru Removed his mokomoko. draping it around The young woman in front of him. escorting her to the base of a nearby tree for shelter from the wind. if she wouldn't return to the village just yet at least he could keep her from the chill of the night. Sesshōmaru sat near to her wondering still what would make her smile he so longed for to vanish.
"Rin. What troubles you?"
"Nothing my lord. I am fine. You don't need to be bothered by such trivial foolishness"
"Rin…….. speak"
How could she find the words to explain to her great lord the troubles of an aging Woman being forced into the box Of social confinement…
" i'm fearful my Lord to be tethered to Mundane existence. I don't want to become what everybody wants me to be. I want to live. I want to see all the wonders of the land. Want to feel the air in my hair and the grass under my feet. I want to see things I've never seen before, learn things I never knew.. I want it more than mine next breath. I want to live my Lord. Not just exist."
After all these years it is as if she can still read my soul or is it reflecting in her
" is there no happiness for you in the Village?"
"I won't find what I seek in the village my lord"
Sesshomaru Thought on his own existence. How dull day to day life had become. Six years by his mother's side and she was still the same strong daiyokai she had been all his life. Not once had he sensed the slightest weakness in her. Her power far from dwindling. Shirley she can maintain the duties as the great lady a while longer. after all she's done so for many centuries. And if illness was to befall her without doubt he would be summoned back to the palace.
How he missed the smell of the morning due. Sleeping underneath the night sky his inner demon craved to be under the moon once more and away from those dusty halls. Sesshomaru knew Rin's longing All too well. For it was his own. Yet he would live many centuries more and have time to indulge his wild ways… but Rin. As his mother put it nothing last forever.
"we will leave at first light. Return to the village and gather what you need if you wish. Otherwise you need to rest"
"Lord Sesshomaru….. we?" Rin could not believe what she was hearing.. she knew all too well where he had been the last few years knew of his new path back in the castle in the sky. He never spoke word of it but she knew it bored him to be tied down in such a manner.
"Where are we going my Lord?"
"We are going to be free once more"
