I Do Not Own InuYasha
Aienkien
合縁奇縁
A couple strangely but happily united;
Uncanny relationship formed by a quirk of Fate;
The mysteries of attraction and relationships or bonds between people
II: 18
Year 1308...
Setsuna Castle...
Rin had very few troubles gathering supplies for her travels, she knew what she needed, a good bow was easy to steal, arrows would help. She had the kaiken and Bakusaiga, but she did not have spare clothes, nor did she have an abundance of supply materials. Then again, growing up with her lord as she had she was very good at thievery and hunting, not to mention gathering. Rin had worried about surviving, she could survive, she would survive, she just needed the tools to keep herself alive. The bigger worry for her was the taijiya, she did not know much about them.
True she knew Sango and Kohaku very well, but Rin didn't know the actual taijiya, she didn't know them as a people, and she didn't think they would take too kindly to someone travelling with a daiyōkai wanting the Shikon no Tama. Rin knew that that accursed jewel was sacred and guarded and protected, and she didn't know what to do about getting to it. She didn't want the damn thing, she wasn't that idiotic, but she'd need some contact with it. Which was honestly something she dreaded, she still had nightmares about Magatsuhi stabbing her lord in his chest and how lifeless Sesshōmaru had seen suspended in the air that way.
Nightmares were a common ailment of hers, but they revolved around the bandits finding her and killing her, wolves, or ookami, and Sesshōmaru dying. She also dreamt of Takemaru, but she sensed that was more her lord's nightmare than her own. Sesshōmaru did not sleep much, but whenever he did Rin would be plagued by nightmares f her death by Takemaru's hands. It was terrifying and startling to know that her lord was that scared of losing her. Rin just remembered the overwhelming terror she felt at the hatred Takemaru displayed for her, and Sō'unga laughing as he came for her head while she stood between them and Kagome. Sesshōmaru's nightmares though were a blur, they were steeped in blood, sorrow and agony, as well as panic.
Putting away the laundry she was startled when she turned to see Takemaru behind her.
"Takemaru," she said levelly.
"I'm the lord of this compound, you will bow to me," he warned her lowly.
"You may be the lord of here, but you are not my lord and I only bow to him, and even then only if we are sparring. Do not expect or demand me to submit to your will or authority, you are not either. I am here because Izayoi-sama asked me to be here," Rin stated.
"You hold Izayoi in high esteem," he observed.
"She has been kind to me," Rin answered.
"I expect you to stay," he stated.
"Pardon?" she blinked.
"Izayoi is in dire need of companionship, after her people were slaughtered by the yōkai she lost everything, I have noticed a listlessness about her, but you appear to make her happy," he said. Rin was a bit stunned at his observations.
"I cannot stay," Rin stated. "I do have to go, I need to save my lord."
"A lord who sends a servant out to save him is not worthy of that servant," Takemaru stated. "A lord lives to serve his people, not send them about to do frivolous, dangerous tasks. You are a woman, of gentle birth."
"I'm a farmer's daughter, I am no noble woman, Takemaru," she stated. "My lord entrusted this task to me because I will accomplish it, no matter the price that must be paid or the blood to be shed, I will do whatever I need to, to save him. And I have not, nor have I ever been his slave or servant, I am his equal," she warned lowly. "I am here because Izayoi was kind to me and I needed to recover, but I will be on my way," she warned.
"You should consider staying, I will see to it you are given a good posting and well compensated," he said.
"I cannot, nor would I dishonor my lord by thinking to accept. I will be going, I have chores to finish," she said as she walked past him with the rest of the linens and laundry to put away.
"Tell me, onna, who is your lord?" he asked. "Yōkai or human?"
"Daiyōkai," she answered softly. "But he is not interested or involved with mortal affairs so he is not the Inu no Tashio you wage war upon."
"You are certain of this?" he sneered.
"I am not here to be engaged in petty mortal squabbles, I am simply here to recover and continue on my journey, my lord needs me," she shrugged.
"How could you ever serve a monster like that?"
"Because we are all monsters, they just happen to be the honest ones," she answered as she left Takemaru behind. Rin finished her tasks and dragged a hand through her hair as she found Izayoi in the gardens. The lady seemed upset which was a bit unsettling to Rin, however she moved toward Izayoi.
"Rin," Izayoi smiled at her then. It was a sad, very gentle smile.
"My lady," Rin nodded towards the woman as she crouched to look at the flowers. "I will be off soon," Rin said standing again.
"I thought…" she started.
"I will not be gone long, I will return in time for your wedding," Rin said as she slipped her hands in her sleeves. "But I must go."
"And what am I supposed to do about… you know," she shuddered.
"What about him?" Rin asked.
"I… he has come looking for you," she said softly.
"I see, well, he's not something to worry about, he cannot harm you."
"But what about everyone else?" Izayoi whispered in panic.
"You can either find a way to be equal to him and protect them yourself or you just whimper and cower in his presence," Rin said. "You decide."
"But, I couldn't stand against him, I'm not a warrior like you," Izayoi said.
"You do not have to be to decide what you want to do with your power," Rin said firmly. "You have power, use it."
"It is not that simple!" Izayoi started.
"It is, everything possesses a level of power, over themselves or others, it is your decision on how to wield it," Rin said firmly. "You decide what you want to be, that is how life works."
"I cannot… he's, dangerous," Izayoi said softly.
"Everything is dangerous, he's only different because you know he's plainly dangerous, but the same could be said about Takemaru or me," Rin shrugged.
"He'll kill me."
"I doubt it, if he was going to do that he'd have done it already."
"Do you have to go, Rin?"
"Hai, I have to go, I will be back for your wedding unless something unseemly should happen," she promised. Rin had traveled long enough with Sesshōmaru to know that it was imperative she be prepared for the possibility of plans going askew, at least though this wouldn't be like when they were wandering and following his nose. Rin was surprised Jaken hadn't noticed that about their lord, he was so curious he followed whatever scent caught his attention, it was very amusing. The all powerful, serious, solemn Sesshōmaru always curious and like any inu he followed his nose. It was very vexing when one didn't have a place to go and found themselves hanging off a cliff following him. That had happened a lot to her; not so much to Jaken. Thank Kami for A-Un trailing after her; she'd have gone tumbling to her death following Sesshōmaru when he was following a scent.
"Unseemly?"
"I am travelling to the yōkai taijiya village, which could lead to an unseemly turn of events as they don't like my kind."
"Your kind, I thought you were human!"
"I am, but I serve a yōkai lord, they might take issues with that, but it will not matter, in the end I will get what I need, even if it should take longer than anticipated. But I will be back in time for your wedding," she promised. "Only way I'd miss it is if I fell off a cliff, again."
"That is not encouraging Rin."
"Not to worry! I'm certain my companion will not let me plummet to my death," she chuckled nervously. Sesshōmaru always caught her.
"That is not encouraging," Izayoi sighed.
"I'm leaving in a few days, so I will be taking a bow and some arrows, with some extra garments," she said.
"That's not a lot for surviving!" Izayoi commented.
"It's more than enough," Rin countered. "I have survived with far less."
"Rin…" she started.
"I will be fine," she promised.
"Just… stay safe," Izayoi pleaded.
"I will," she smiled.
Sesshōmaru wouldn't let anything happen to her, she was confident of that. This one or the one from her time. Sesshōmaru never let anything bad happen to her. And she had to save him, so she would not permit anything bad to happen to them either.
Tsuzuki Castle, Shikoku InuYōkai Territory, Japan...
He had not lied when he told his mate he had discovered where the yōkai taijiya were, he just wasn't keen on taking her there. The only reason he would though was because if he did not get Rin as far and as safely away from his father now he had no doubts that she would perish at his father's claws. This wasn't like the Mongol wars where Tōga had been blissfully unaware of Rin then, and her aid had helped him gain victories.
He was preparing to leave, it would not require much, merely a couple saddlebags, a saddle and A-Un. He was not carrying his mate around like a steed, he was her mate, not her steed, if she wanted to ride him it would be a more pleasurable ride for both of them. Gathering up a few provisions for the human, including the herbs for that tea she preferred he felt ready. Sesshōmaru was aware what the herbs for her tea were, but he also felt that she was not prepared this if something should again transpire between them. And he got the honey for her tea.
Tomorrow at dawn he would collect Rin, of that he was certain. Which was why this evening he was looking over things as he walked his quarters. His personal quarters were rarely used, and he had left them rather impersonal. Except for her hairpin he had nothing here of value. He remembered as a pup being enamored with it, but he hadn't expected her to leave it for him to remember her by with a promise they'd be together again. He was actually relieved she had returned.
There was a sound which had him lashing out as he spun on his father, picking up the hairpin he usually carefully hid from everyone. His father sighed.
"Always defensive," his father huffed. "Even at home."
"A strong defense is the best offense," he said icily as he concealed his hands in his sleeves. The hairpin felt out of place hiding it.
"I will be on the front, I expect you to manage things here with your mother," his father said.
"Of course," he replied monotonously. He wouldn't be here, he would be taking Rin to the taijiya, and his mother would shoo him away with glee. Kami knew why his mother loved Rin so much, she had only met Rin once and it was a brief meeting from what he remembered.
His father looked him over critically. "You do know I care about you," he said suddenly.
Sesshōmaru quirked a brow. He was his sire possessing any emotions for him other than expectations. After all, he was the first-born son, he was the heir, he would be the one to inherit the title Inu no Taishō, Shikoku, and whatever power his father would leave behind as a daiyōkai, and he would wield Sō'unga. It was his destiny to be the strongest and greatest of daiyōkai, and the ultimate alpha, he would not expect emotions for what he was destined to be. Besides, he had Rin, and Rin was more than enough.
"I see," Tōga muttered before stalking off, shutting the fusuma behind him. Alone Sesshōmaru pulled out his mate's hair pin, looking it over carefully. He was a bit surprised at what his father had just done, but he didn't care. Turning Sesshōmaru put the hair pin back in the small box he used to hid it, and put it away before looking through the saddle bags that he had enough supplies for himself and his mate. Once he was certain of that he redressed in a clean set of garb, white and red this time, and he picked up his armor. Putting on the heavy armor was simple, though he longed to follow the more traditional styles of his mother's people he had grown accustomed to wearing armor like his father's.
It was dawn when he saddled A-Un, having heard his father leave late in the night before he walked out. Once he had A-Un, who seemed to be aware of his mistress' return, he went for Setsuna. He saw Rin sleeping on her futon, holding Bakusaiga, and her dagger where she could grab it. Rin groaned lowly when he touched her shoulder to wake her. Her nose scrunched up a little, she grumbled and her eyes tightened before she opened an eye to look at him blearily.
"Let's be off Rin," he said softly, dragging a hand through her hair, his claws tangled in the heavy locks. She yawned as she moved, stretching and arching, her body shamelessly displayed and he was tempted to take advantage of this moment, but he didn't.
"One moment my lord," she mumbled as she got up to get dressed. He watched her get ready. He picked up Bakusaiga, pleased at the familiarity with which it hummed in his hands before he turned to see his mate walking towards him, her hair was a tangled mess. Catching her waist he traced his nose along her temple before slipping Bakusaiga into her sash, scooping up her knees and leaping from Setsuna. His mate wasn't perturbed by this matter of travel, and when they made it to the clearing where he had left A-Un waiting for them.
"A-Un!" she smiled, now fully awake as she scrambled from his arms as he set her down. She raced to the dragon, her hands catching the individual heads as she hugged them.
"We must be off," he said. "It is three days to the yōkai taijiya village," he explained.
"Hai, of course," she hummed as she turned to him and pulled Bakusaiga. "I believe you should have it for now," she admitted.
"Keep it safe," he said as he left Bakusaiga in her care. The fang would be his when he needed it, but for now he did not need it, she did. He would rather she have it for protection than be caught without it.
Year 1581...
Edo, Japan...
Sesshōmaru walked for the village, feeling the wounds of Magatsuhi bleeding and not caring, Rin would not be in the well soon, he got that sense from her letter. But he wanted to know about the strange painting she had left him, it was a hint, a clue, he needed to know when she was, he needed that peace of mind. The rain did not bother him as he walked through the village.
Making his way to InuYasha's hut he was a bit startled to scent pain, new pups and milk, hesitantly he walked in to see the miko and the taijiya sitting together near a fire and with pups.
"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Kagome whispered in shock, he scented her fear as she curled over her pups, and stared at him.
"I am not here to harm them," he said softly as he looked the pups over seeing their strength. Their yōkai was strong, even for their diluted blood, he was impressed. "What is this?" he asked softly holding up the strange image of his mate.
Kagome's brow furrowed as Sango came over to take it from him. "What sorcery is this!?" Sango gasped looking at what he was holding up. Kagome took it from his claws carefully, and chuckled.
"In my time it is called a polaroid, it's a photo," she said.
"When was it taken?"
"I… you…?" she started.
"I am aware of how Honekui no Ido works, when was this taken?" he repeated.
"Um… judging from the cloths, I'd think about my time, but I can't… there's nothing definitive," she admitted.
"When was your time?"
"Two thousand," she admitted.
"When is that?" he asked tiredly.
"I think about five hundred years from now, give or take a few decades," she said. "I did the math once to figure it out, I think we're getting close to when the Tenshō Iga Wars are happening, I just don't know which one," she admitted.
"Wait, you mean the wars down south?" Sango asked.
"Uh-huh, I think, I'm not entirely sure though," Kagome admitted. "That makes now either fifteen seventy-nine or fifteen eight-one, I'm not sure which though."
"I see," he mumbled taking the photo of his mate back. He didn't slip it away afraid to get some blood on it. "In your era are there skilled healers?"
"Oh yeah! The twentieth century has made massive improvements to medicine! The surgeries are impressive!" she said. "There's hospitals, and doctors everywhere, and it's really good! They can cure almost everything!"
"What about a stab wound to the lower chest with a massive slash near an artery?" he asked.
"Um… I think so," she said carefully.
He relaxed a little, she would be saved, even if he was not the one to save her. That was a massive relief.
"Why?"
He didn't answer as he left the mother and pups to their bonding. Rin would be alright, she just would not be here for a long time, and that knowledge was crippling.
