I Do Not Own InuYasha


Ikigai

いきがい

"A reason for being"

'A reason to get up in the morning'

To enjoy the meaning of life - passion, purpose, something one lives for


III: 11


Year 1581...

Somewhere outside of Edo, Japan...

Shikoku sat on the riverbed staring at his grandson and his mate, they were sleeping soundly, which made Shikoku happy.

Those two souls deserved some peace for a moment.

Shikoku enjoyed seeing his two old friends in this new life, though no less dangerous in this life he was pleased that they were safe and here again. He had recognized the soul within Sesshōmaru the moment his daughter had put that silent pup in his arms, it was the saddest and happiest day of his life to see that soul reborn.

His grandpup, the purest daiyōkai ever sired, possessed a calm soul, a soul that had been gentle, and compassionate in the last life, would be forged to be his son-in-law's and his heir, this was a daiyōkai as pure as he had been in the last life. Midoriko's soul would rise to the occasion, though, he had no doubts, Sesshōmaru would re-forge where Midoriko had failed. An ethereal soul like the moon's light, marked by the crescent moon on the pup's brow.

But for a long time he had wondered where Watatsumi's soul was.

The stubborn dragon would be reincarnated, but where? He had wondered for the longest time.

At least he had wondered until sixteen years ago, when he had stumbled over a laboring human during the Tanabata time of year, her husband and sons were looking for a midwife leaving the scared onna alone with a toddler at her side. The young boy was in tears, and Shikoku had felt compelled to help, to aid the onna. Before he really knew what to expect he had a blood soaked, screaming, impatient, squirming pup into his claws. The soul was brilliant, burning as brightly as the sun, and as powerful as the sea raging in a typhoon. Shikoku had not known what to say or do, he didn't want to let this human pup go.

Reflected in those happy brown eyes staring at him was Watatsumi, his old friend, he didn't want to relinquish the pup to her mother. He had Watatsumi here in his hands and he had Midokriko back in Tsuzuki Castle, the pair were alive again and he had never been so happy.

The mother had done him an honor by permitting him to name the little, impatient girl in his arms.

He had called her Rin, for he supposed like Watatsumi the girl would be cold and dignified, and she would command the yōkai courts and human alike.

He was right of course, staring at his grandson and the girl, the reincarnation of the two most powerful souls he had ever met. He had regretted how Midoriko and Watatsumi were doomed, but now, Sesshōmaru and Rin had more of a chance than the doomed Midoriko and Watatsumi.

They would be better than Watatsumi and Midoriko, not as doomed, not as alone.

He was pleased to see them getting on so well, to see Midoriko's soul keeping Watatasumi's close, but the unyielding wildness of Watatsumi spurred on Midoriko's as well. He was so pleased to see his old friends adopting well in this life, and to see them happy.

But he knew that change was coming, that soon they would have the trial of separation and succession was the only option. Standing he left his grandson and mate alone, leaving them in the small moment of peace that that they had never had in the previous life.


19, February, 1994...

Tokyo, Japan...

It had been ten years since she had last been in Tokyo, ten years since the disappearance of her daughter, taken by the hands of a monster no doubt. She remembered every detail about it, her sweet innocent Rin. She had wept for months after the disappearance of her only daughter. Her sons and husband had not been able to console her, and the priest at the shrine they used to practice at had been very kind to her even when she would rage at him for her daughter's disappearance. Her daughter had been vanished and no one seemed to know where!

Shortly after her sweet Rin's disappearance when the police had declared the case cold, her husband had moved them as far away as they could get from Tokyo, taking them to Nishimeya, buying a lot of property and starting simple lives as farmers. Her boys had loved it. Ken'ichi, her eldest had taken to farming like a fish took to water, he was also a member of the Nishimeya Fire Brigade, and she was very proud of her sweet stubborn boy. Her second son, Yasu studied at Tohoku University to be a doctor; she was very proud though she was not certain why her son wanting to learn such a bloody art. Her third son, Tomomi, the one she was visiting now, was on his third year at Tokyo University to be a manga artist.

She had been so mad at her youngest coming to this tainted place, the place which had stolen his sister from her that she had not even come to help him settle into his new place. She had not even met his girlfriend, and she had stubbornly not spoken to him for the last three years to let her displeasure be known, she would not back down. Or she wouldn't have...

Except for Tomomi was her baby and she missed him terribly, and a talk with Kazuo had been the push she had needed. Kazuo had business to attend to in Kyoto, they had decided to come to Tokyo too before they returned to Nishimeya. Today was just her though, Kazuo was taking a man's day with Tomomi, and that left Airi wandering her old neighborhood alone. And somehow, she found herself at the steps of the old shrine her family had belonged to. The steep steps of the Higurashi shrine were daunting, she didn't know what compelled her though, but she walked up them.

Zaizen Airi found that nothing had changed about the shrine. Forever frozen in time, it was odd. There was a huffing which had her looking over to see the shrine priest struggling with a crate, it was Higurashi, Higurashi Jun!

She jogged over picking up the crate with him.

"Here, let me help you," she said.

"Oh… you're very kind!" the older man smiled. "My kami… Zaizen!" he gaped as they walked into what looked like the family's private area of the shrine and where they lived.

"It's been a while," she admitted with a strained smile.

"It has," he agreed. "How are you and your family?" he asked.

"Good," she smiled. "Where are we taking this?" she asked.

"To the wellhouse, I have sacred seals and important materials for that well, it's called Honekui no Ido," he cackled. She chuckled as she followed his direction to the well house. It took them a few but she got the crate where he wanted, which he dropped.

"Thank you so much!" he bowed a bit.

"Where's Kōki?" she asked.

"He got married!" the old man preened then.

"He did!?"

"Yes, her name is Mayu, sweet girl," he chuckled. "And he's a doctor now, very important! And they have a daughter, she'll be ten next year, her name is Kagome!"

"Prestigious," Airi agreed. She looked around the old well house, it was a bit eerie, and she shuddered as she pulled up her own coat.

"What brings you to Tokyo?" he asked.

"My youngest, he's at university," she smiled. "He goes to Tokyo University."

"I see!"

"My eldest is with the fire brigade, and my second son is studying to be a surgeon!"

"You must be so proud!" he beamed.

"I… I am," she smiled sadly.

"It is okay to miss her," Jun said as they walked out of the wellhouse, he reached to shut it.

"I know, it's just…I wonder what she'd be like today," Airi whispered touching the locket she wore with a bit of her daughter's hair. Rin had been such a sweet girl, wild, mischievous, full of life and joy, so pure in living. But there always seemed to be something short lived, out of place with her daughter. It tore Airi up inside, to know, her fierce, wild, happy daughter was gone.

Jun was about to speak when there was a blast of energy from the wellhouse, which knocked her off her feet, Jun scrambled up, she helped him as they both ran into the wellhouse, there was nothing out of place here.

"Here!" Jun handed her a small lantern, which had them both cautiously looking around.

There was a weak, pained noise as Airi walked down the steps towards the well. Good Kami! There was someone in there!

"Jun! Call 1-1-9!" she called over her shoulder.

"I have a ladder!" he said.

"Go call them!" she shouted as she ran out, the ladder was propped up against the house, she grabbed it as she hurried back.

Carefully she managed to get the ladder down the well, taking the lantern with her as she carefully went down, the closer she got the more she saw the young woman, black hair stained in blood, and bleary eyes watching her, there was so much blood staining the kimono. And the blood was still vigorously pumping between the girl's clasped fingers. Airi hesitated to touch the girl as she got down to the soils, it was already seeped in blood, but she saw the girl's hands clasped over what seemed to be the main wound which had her striping out of her jacket and crouching over the girl to press hard over the girl's own hands.

The girl moaned as she turned her head upright, the pain evident on her face in this dim light, and Airi gasped. The girl's lashes closed.

"Hold on sweetie, hold on young one, you hear, we'll have you fixed up in no time!" she promised.

Out of the obi was protruding an ID, which Airi picked up with one trembling, bloody hand and held license:

財前りん (Zaizen Rin)

DOB: July 7, 1976

The license clattered from Airi's fingers as she stared at the face of her daughter, and the girl's birth year.

It shouldn't be possible!


She groaned as she came to, looking around as an annoying beeping sound; something like a cricket under her pillow; pierced her ears, which had her frowning. This…

"Sessho…?" she started.

"You're awake!" a startled voice said as she came over her. Rin blinked rapidly as she stared at the woman, her fuzzy memories of her mother came flooding back as her eyes widened.

"Am I dead?" she whispered.

"No," the woman smiled softly as her fingers traced over Rin's brow. "But you gave it your best shot."

"This…" she croaked as a sob strangled her throat. "Mom!?"

"Relax, I'm getting a doctor, your father and brothers will be so happy."


Kazuo thought his wife had officially lost it until he saw the girl, for it was impossible! Kazuo did not know how, but he did know that that was his daughter laying there! Good Kami!

He was stunned, bewildered by the sight before him! There she was, there his Rin was! Kazou caught his wife and stared at the girl. Flashes of blood, pain, loss, sorrow, failure filled his mind, which had him shuddering and holding his wife nearer. He wanted to run to her, Rin had always been his independent little girl, and she had died because of it! Or so he had thought. He wanted to run to her, hug her and never let her go.

"How…" he whispered as he stared at the girl.

"I don't know…!" Airi whispered and lifted the license to his inspection. He just stared at it in shock, then looked at the girl. That was his daughter, he didn't know how, or why, but that was his baby girl laying in the hospital bed!

"Mr. and Mrs. Zaizen?" a doctor walked towards them and he hugged his wife closer. "Zaizen Rin is going to be fine," the doctor smiled at them. "She has several old wounds which were well taken care of, and this latest one, but other than blood loss she is doing very well. Far better than we were expecting. There are no broken bones, or lacerated organs, her levels are looking good. We ran a rape kit, there was no sign of trauma of that kind, I did notice her hGC levels were a little elevated, but as there's no cancer signs or early pregnancy signs that we have seen, I would say it's fine."

"She wasn't…?" Airi started to ask.

"Not that I could see, how long did you say your daughter was missing?" he asked.

"Ten years," Airi whispered.

"Rin never returned from going to the local park," he supplied.

"Well, it appears that your daughter is back; police ran a rush and matched her finger prints. This is Zaizen Rin, she's in very good health, she was very well cared for wherever she was. But I am concerned about the scars, and old wounds, she has a lot of scar tissue, and old broken bones," he said. "But other than that, she is very healthy. She'll heal fine, wherever she was though wasn't modern medicine, but she's well cared for."

"What sort of old scars?"

"She looks like she survived being mauled by large dogs, there's old burn scars, and, there's a lot of wounds I would associate with knife or sword fights, not to mention the current bruises she has from the attack that got her in that well, your daughter is a fighter," the doctor said. "She's survived a lot."

He didn't say anything as he looked back at the hospital room his daughter was in. Good kami what had she survived? He felt he should know, she was his daughter, but he didn't even comprehend what she had survived.

"Is she pregnant?" he asked.

"Too early to actually know, but the slight elevation makes it a possibility, I do believe she did have a birth recently."

"Nani!?"

"Hai, pelvic examine makes me believe that she gave birth a few months ago," he said. "And her hormone readings, did you find a babe at the scene?"

He looked to his wife who was violently shaking her head as she kept her hands clasped over her mouth, her eyes wide with unshed tears.

"It's possible she had a miscarriage. I'll be back to speak with her and give her a thorough examine, but you can go in and visit with her for a little bit," he offered.

"Arigato," he said as he watched the doctor leave. He looked back to the room and saw the young woman taking deep breaths, composing herself. She looked like Rin, but now he felt he didn't know. Rin, as a child was fierce, wild, independent, she could do it all herself, she didn't have many friends, and there'd been something out of place about her. It happened occasionally, he have a few of her old, childhood drawings tucked away, the man with the crescent moon and silver hairi… he didn't know what to make of it.

"Airi, you should go get us some tea."

Walking into the room he looked at her, she stared back. Her eyes were still the mischievous lively set they had been in her youth, now she smiled slightly, that curve of her lips made her look like she was up to something devious.

"Dad?" she whispered uncertainly as she stared at him.

"Rin," he nodded as he walked forward to her bed. She stared back, her tears welled up as he walked forward.

"How?" he whispered.

"I can't believe I found you again," she sobbed as he stepped forward and wrapped her up in his arms. Oh good Kami he had never thought he would never be able to do this again! She sobbed loudly as he held her.

"Oh sweet Kami, the fates were merciful," he sobbed as he pressed his lips to her temple.

"Where's my baby?" Rin asked weakly and his world shattered.