I Do Not Own InuYasha
Unmei no Akai Ito
運命の赤い糸
The red string or red string of fate.
...
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance
I: 4
Year 1573...
Somewhere near Sōma, Japan...
There was a myriad of emotions Sesshōmaru endured on a daily basis from Rin as their bond reestablishing itself in full. The pup was very energetic and very inquisitive, she possessed a never-ending slew of inquiries, and thoughts, she didn't seem to understand how overwhelming she could be, he found it endearing though. It was good to know the humans hadn't robbed Rin of her life, even if she was not the bright, bold woman she had been, she was merely happy though.
The autumn was spent getting accustomed to having a small pup wandering about, which was an experience in and of itself. Rin had no self-awareness of the dangers a pup could seem to get into. He had witness A-Un herd his mistress to keep her from bandits, he had seen her blatantly steal things, which he would have to steal back from her to return, and he had seen her save Jaken from Naraku's bugs without meaning too. Rin attracted, created and brewed trouble, he remembered the woman was very much the same just more controlled and calculated, no less wild either.
Winter with Rin was a bear to behold, the girl struggled with being contained, and had panicked the first moment they neared a human village, she was in tears sobbing how he didn't want her.
That wasn't the case, he had sent Jaken to go get the winter apparel for Rin while he spent the remainder of his day consoling his mate that he was not abandoning her to humans. It was the first time he found himself trapped by her moods. Rin was rather clingy all winter, not how he expected, but she did everything in her power to keep him in her sight and in her radius of awareness. Which was fine, at least until the thawing spring was coming.
He could go plead with his mother to take in Rin for the short time he would need to be away, but that did not seem a wise choice. The woman, rather like the pup, had difficulties being contained in a shiro and he sensed that Rin would have his mother out of her depth. In addition to that, he wasn't sure if he could, properly, explain how this Rin was Rin to his mother when he barely comprehended it. Then there was the final matter of Rin was his Rin, and he dreaded the thought of them being apart, but he did need a week without the pup, or she'd be in peril from him. That would be very bad.
He also acknowledged the pup was mostly self-sufficient, she did not need constant supervision, she did need lookouts and someone watching out for her, which he was certain he could entrust Jaken to do that very simple, very easy task. Sesshōmaru had been watching her for the last six moons without problems, certainly Jaken could manage a few days of watching the pup. And A-Un would never permit anything to happen to his mistress.
Saying nothing to Rin, only that he'd be back, he left to seek out Bokusenō, and to attend to a few personal matters of state as Inu no Taishō. He had long since neglected those matters of state, but now that Rin was back he would have to embrace the duties he had once held in reverence. Rin had always encouraged him to be Inu no Taishō, but despite all their meetings she had never been a pup. He had always known his mate to be an odd one, sporadically showing up in his life at various points, but she had never been a mere child! He didn't know what to do with a child! But he would make a world safe for her to grow up into that woman he remembered.
Visiting Ryūkotsuse's grave had not been revealing though as to what was happening. Ryūkotsuse had been the last one with a massive grudge on his mate and Sesshōmaru wanted to make sure he was still sealed up. Instead he was surprised to see that Ryūkotsuse was completely dead. But that lead him to where he was right now.
Currently though he watched Rin dance with glee in the waters of the newly thawed river, she was supposed to be fishing, but she had been so gleeful about being out of that cave they had holed up in, she was singing and dancing. And she was also instructing Jaken how to catch the fish. He was amused at the duo, A-Un though lounged beside him as they watched. He'd have to go sooner rather than later.
The scent in the air though had him looking at his mate; in this form she was helpless, and innocent. He dreaded what Tōran would attempt to do on his mate, and the yōkai was never an honorable fighter. He remembered though how Tōran's left arm was so torn apart when he had saved his mate that she had never forgiven the slight. Whatever was coming would have to take priority over whatever could be with Rin, all he had to do was keep Tōran away from Rin or kill the yōkai without mercy.
He was tempted to do the latter to the former for principle, having defeated her multiple times in the arts of war.
Still, he had to consider Rin and her safety in her young and weak state. He did not want his mate to lose her puphood entirely, she should enjoy being an innocent and a child. The ice froze hastily over the exposed river, which had him sending an emotion of alarm through his and Rin's bond to keep her safe.
Somewhere Near Sōma, Japan...
Sesshōmaru-sama had left her with A-Un and had taken Jaken with him for some reason, she was most relieved her lord and savior had finally agreed that they did not need to be holed up in that horrid cave. She had grown very tired of it and bored all the same. Now she stood in a new field, enjoying the strengthening sun as the new signs of life bloomed! It was so pretty! She giggled as she hummed and made flower crowns for herself and A-Un.
Rin could not explain it, but the moment her lord had presented her with A-Un it was as if she were reunited with her oldest and loyalist of friends, she was so happy to have the dragon with her! The beast was very docile and intelligent, she had a best friend in the beast.
Still, A-Un was not her lord and she missed her lord with his mission taking over his time. He had not informed her what he was doing, but she sensed that it was dangerous, and he would return victorious. Sesshōmaru-sama was invincible after all, and she had faith that he would return to her. There was also this magic link between them!
Rin loved her magic link to her lord, she could not explain it, but it was like he was always there, and everything he felt, and thought was right there to comfort her. She had taken great joys in figuring out a game to play with her lord to learn about this new link between them. And she knew it was real and she was not crazy. She would send him thoughts, and questions, she would send him her imagination when needed, and even share her more bizarre dreams, he seemed to enjoy this link between them, and was gently teaching her about it. Her lord was most kind about it, he never seemed frustrated with her. Rin remembered when her papa would occasionally snap at her, or her mama would lose her patience with her, or her brothers were annoyed with her for her constant inquiries and curiosity. But her lord was ever patient and took time to answer her as best he could, there were a few questions she had to wait for answers until she was older, but he was willing to wait with her before explaining them.
Having Sesshōmaru-sama took away her loneliness, and he made her feel happy again! She was safe with him. Bandits, humans and yōkai alike all seemed to revere her lord, and they all feared him, which was why she was safe.
There was a rustle in the field, and she looked up to see a strange man dressed in white furs with a blue monkey mask over his face.
A-Un got up, and had teeth bared and she felt the energy of her friend swirling around them protectively.
"A-Un! That is most rude!" she chided. She warily looked at the furs then at A-Un. The dragon wasn't settling, so she cautiously got to her feet. "We should go," she decided taking the reins, A-Un wouldn't budge and suddenly the baboon was before her, causing her to yelp in shock.
"Curious, most curious," a dark voice chuckled. "I was expecting a woman and here I find a child."
Fear rooted her in place as A-Un opened his jaws and the energy blasted down upon the baboon, she whimpered as she stepped into the dragon's chest and both A and Un's head snaked around her with fangs bared.
"It has been many years Rin, and though I am to cut the game short, I will be seeing you soon," the dark voice rasped as he leapt into a dark cloud. Rin hugged A-Un's heads tightly as she hid against the dragon. Her lord would protect her! Always.
Three days passed since her encounter with the strange baboon. She was humming to herself as she lounged on a sun warmed boulder, A-Un was grazing nearby when he appeared in her line of sight with Jaken in tow.
"Rin," he greeted, his voice cold and devoid of emotions, but she was basking in his happiness at seeing her.
"Sesshōmaru-sama!" she squealed in delight, also sensing his victory as she leapt off the boulder and ran to him. He tilted his head a bit towards her.
"Let's be off," he said.
She giggled as she nodded and continued humming her song for his victory. She did not worry or think of the strange baboon who had seemed so threatening to her a few days before, instead she basked in the safe return of her lord and offered him a few flowers to convey her happiness. He tucked them in his sash with the Tenseiga and Tōkijin as he listened to her tell him all about her recent dream, which had naturally had him in it, and an adventure fighting a giant cat! There was also another silver friend, and he had had his hair done in a high tail, with heavy armor, not like Sesshōmaru-sama's, and a really big and fluffy mokomoko of his own. Sesshōmaru-sama had frowned at her mentioning of the other silver figure in her dream, and she sensed his anger at this, so she returned to humming her song about his victory.
Her lord was here. She was safe. She would sing songs of his victories and cheer him up!
Maybe she could be a geisha and keep her lord happy that way! She was certain she could keep him happy that way! He seemed to like her singing a lot! Even if Jaken hated it.
But Jaken seemed to despise everyone and everything except their lord, which she understood, but the kappa was always very loud about everything.
It was night and her eyes were drooping when her lord lifted her to his arm and ordered Jaken to get a fire going. She was so warm, and comfortable against her lord's mokomoko, she did not remember falling asleep.
Somewhere near Sannoe Castle, Japan...
Sesshōmaru had left her in the protection of Jaken and that imp had failed! Jaken was only lucky that it was Rin and she was his priority or else he'd have killed the little kappa where he stood!
Sesshōmaru had left to attend to a pack matter, moving as far as he could without leaving Rin too exposed. He did not think anyone truly knew about his human companion, and did not think her in too great of danger while he attended to these matters alone. It was safest to attend to them alone, because the less anyone knew about Rin's vulnerable state the safer she was..
It had been a few centuries since he had attended to these matters as Inu no Taishō, many of the InuYōkai and other yōkai daimyō were surprised to see his return. Sesshōmaru though was not deterred as he assumed his place, his mother had been truly shocked to see him, and he nodded as the week long meetings proceeded as they discussed human hostilities and the problems within and out of their boarders. The meetings were swift and thorough, many leaders were to the point about the on goings of their clans, Naraku's upstart was unsettling to many though. Sesshōmaru informed the others that he and his brother were both hunting the hanyō, Naraku for his crimes, which had put many of the yōkai at ease. The swift end of the gathering was enough for him to leave without speaking to his mother, only to return to his small party to find things drastically different from how he had left them.
But he hadn't been gone that long!
And in that time Jaken had managed to let Rin, his mate, the other half of his heart and soul and life, be snatched by that bitch Kagura! The spawn and minion of the hanyō menace whom Sesshōmaru would now be personally tearing apart when he found him again! If a single hair on Rin's head was out of place or harmed he was obliterating them all! It would not matter what restraint he practiced out of heart ache and sentiment for the woman his mate would be, no, he would annihilate all who dared to harm Rin. Naraku's head would be on a platter by the end of the night!
However, he could not allow his emotions to rule his state of mind right now, because while frantic, furious, and desperate were all accurate descriptions to the thoughts going through his head none of them would aid him in finding Rin. And Rin's half of their bond was devoid of everything, muted; she was either drugged or unconscious, both thoughts infuriated him as he walked through the night to stare levelly at Naraku. The sleazy hanyō was wrapped up in baboon furs and seemed to think so highly of himself.
Sesshōmaru knew better now, now that his mate was restored to him he was no longer feeling ruled by his anguish or heart break at the loss of his mate, but he was livid that Naraku had dared to take the innocent pup she was as his own play thing!
"I must inform you that the mortal girl you seek is not here in my castle. She would never be able to survive the airless atmosphere of this poisonous miasma. The girl is under my protection outside the castle walls. I assure you she is unharmed…for now." The spider informed him.
Sesshōmaru was aware of that, he could not scent her anywhere here. And the knowledge scared him but until she woke he would not be able to locate her through their bond. Also, there was the other matter which was why he was here, the spider had attempted to manipulate and use his power; two things which he had never before permitted to happen, and it was to his shame that he had allowed himself to fall for that trap laid out. Now though, now he would not be so easily fooled or persuaded to aid anyone, especially not this blasted spider. And to restore his reputation as the Inu no Tashio he would kill Naraku!
"Naraku, do me the honor of at least recognizing that I am not here simply to save Rin."
"Of course. You of all people seem to despise taking orders from others." That was a hazard of being born, bred and raised as an alpha, he followed no one. His sire and mother had found this trait admirable and infuriating and had both praised and berated him for it.
"You will not kill InuYasha when told to do so. Nor did you come to look for the girl. I realize that you are here to kill me." Naraku announced arrogantly, Sesshomaru didn't fight the smile which turned on his lips.
"Hmm, you sound as if you believe you have led me into your trap. Perhaps later I'll have you explain yourself," Sesshomaru taunted coldly. Then he lifted his right hand up to reveal his claws in the glistening moonlight.
"If you should survive the night, that is," he snarled coldly before cracking his knuckles. Let the spider know his fury for having dared to have used him or trying to harm his mate! Many had attempted these tactics in the past and he had put them to their final resting place! He would do the same with this slimy, spineless, cowardly spider.
The light spilled from his claws as he slashed through everything, Naraku barely leapt out of his fury, and Sesshōmaru snarled!
He was never again leaving Rin in incompetent care! The kappa would never fail him again, and everyone would know not to touch his mate! He would not let this slight go, and when he found his mate again, for he would find her, she had better not be harmed!
InuYasha's scent wafted through the miasma that surrounded them as he fought Naraku with ease, not even attempting to use his full power as he tried to wake Rin through their bond.
She wasn't waking though! What the hell had happened to her! Why wasn't she waking!? She wasn't dead! Leaping upwards he lashed the light as hard as he could, as he landed, and his own poison reacted with the miasma around them, the spider wavered, and he saw the fear in his opponent's eyes.
