I Do Not Own InuYasha
Ichariba Chode
行逢りば兄弟
"Though we meet but once, even by chance, we are friends for life"
IV: 11
Year 839...
Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace, Spirit World, China...
The fox looked startled to see Rin, and Rin smiled at the shy maid.
"I… I…" Jiu stammered. "I've never met you," the fox decided to settle on.
"I apologize for that," Rin admitted with a small bow, she was certain it was a shock to have a stranger just know who they were.
"Jiu will escort you to your lessons, I will think of your task to prove your merit," Chang'e said swiftly which had Rin sighing as she walked with Jiu to wherever these lessons were going to be. To be honest, Rin was more worried about her lord and how his lessons were going, as opposed to anything she would be taught.
"Here we are, my lady," Jiu said.
"Just Rin," she smiled at the wild fox then.
"Oh I mustn't," Jiu started.
"I am no lady, Jiu, I assure you of that," Rin chuckled. She remembered how many times she had driven the fox insane with her antics as a child, and it was amazing that Jiu hadn't quit immediately after that first winter Rin spent at Tsuzuki Castle.
"Oh, but I thought… the young Prince's claim…" Jiu started softly.
"Not a lady still, I will be happy though to have you show me about," Rin decided. It would be nice to have her old attendant with her, even if Jiu didn't know her right now. Familiarity was a comfort to her.
"And here we are," Jiu said. Rin thanked the attendant before she found herself in the courtyard with Wu Min.
"Good morning," the monk greeted as he walked over to her with a smile and a teacup.
"I was expecting a tutor," Rin said accepting the tea warily. Wu Min looked so much like Miroku that it was unsettling to her.
"That would be me, I drugged the other monk, and no one is any the wiser, they truly are prejudice to human life, seeing we possess no individuality," he sighed.
Rin chuckled dryly as she tilted her head to look at him. "Remove your hand or I will beat you over the head with Bakusaiga," she warned.
"This wretched hand," he sighed as he released her.
"Sure, blame the hand," she mused.
"But it is to blame, it's truly cursed," Wu Min sighed dramatically.
"I'll warn you now monk, I'm a mated onna and it wouldn't do to get on my mate's bad side," she warned as she walked with him.
"All the pretty ones are married," he mused.
"Mated, not married," she countered.
"I will never understand how a woman like you could bind yourself so young," he chuckled.
"Life is short, so it is best to live it to the fullest and without fear," she said firmly and smiled.
"Well then you have already surpassed the lessons I could teach you," Wu Min mused. "But I could show you the library, the Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace does have an extensive library on spirit and yōkai curses, or so I've heard."
"And who says I'm here looking for curses?"
"That would be the fox," he chuckled. "I never thought I would live to see something like this," Wu Min admitted as they paused in the garden. It was rather beautiful, autumn had everything stained in oranges, yellows and reds, it was life's dying flare before winter came with this sense of death looming over them.
"It is impressive, but I still think that Tsuzuki Castle's gardens are by far superior," Rin admitted.
"You aren't even the slightest bit awed standing here in the realm of kami and spirits?"
"No," she admitted. "I grew up between worlds," she explained softly. "I was raised in the yōkai realms, I wandered the wilds, I've hunted in the spirit worlds, and I've lived in the mortal realm, this is magnificent, truly beautiful, but it is not awe inspiring to me. I have seen places which are more beautiful and stunning than I could ever hope to describe. I do remember though, the first time I was ever brought to the yōkai realm, it was… kami, I've never seen such beauty," she chuckled.
"Then you understand my awe," the monk said.
"Hai, I do," she chuckled.
"The fox also said that you desired to learn about spirits, and what they are and how they differ from yōkai, he thought I could teach you," Wu Min said softly as they both looked at the garden.
"I see, you can call the fox Fǔ Yáng," Rin mused as she looked over to the monk.
"He warned me before that you would be furious with him and didn't want me to enrage you further by referring to him if you were mad," the monk explained.
"Mmm, no, I'm not mad, I'm livid, but I can reign my temper in to learn, it's important to learn to put aside one's petty issues and look at the greater good," Rin explained. "Even if that should mean accepting one's own insignificance in the grand scheme of things," she mused humorlessly.
"You are very wise, Rin," Wu Min chuckled. "I believe that we will get along."
"Good, because I am going to need help."
"With what?"
"All in due time, monk, but I am curious about those curses," she said and he chuckled.
"Very well, this way, the human priests and monks they have here showed them to me, apparently they're all new kami blessed with the divine with this second life," Wu Min explained.
"Interesting," she observed.
"Having an actual mortal here is unheard of and they didn't know what to do, but they showed me around," he admitted.
"We shall have to use that to our advantage," she decided.
"Shì," he agreed.
"Where are you from, Wu Min?" she asked.
"A place called Wu actually, I was sent over with a Buddhist embassary a few years back, I did fall in love with your country," he admitted. "And you, where are you from?"
"I'm from farther north than you've been in my homeland," she said.
"Interesting," he chuckled.
They came to the library and Rin gaped at the shelves filled with scrolls and books, she was genuinely stunned. In Tsuzuki Castle there was an impressive collection of scrolls and books, her lord's and his mother's insatiable curiosity and centuries of building had created it, but this made the collection at Tsuzuki Castle look very dwarfed in comparison.
"Kami," she whispered.
"Amazing, right?" Wu Min said.
"You touch my ass and I will have to stain the floor with your blood," she warned softly.
"This cursed hand!" Wu Min whined.
"Hai, hai, curses," she turned to him.
"This way apparently. Apparently the Star Lord keeps the records of all mortal lives and immortal's mortal trials here," Wu Min informed her softly.
"Nani?" she sputtered.
"Shì, all the records and stories for us mortals reside in the halls, though I was told that as mortals we wouldn't be able to peer upon such divinity," Wu Min explained.
"Fair, Kami, that's impressive," she chuckled and felt like there was a tightening thread on her pinky which had her looking down to see nothing, but then there was a tug and a thin line of blood around her finger which had her frowning as she looked at the blood which slid from her finger onto an invisible thread.
"Rin?"
"I don't know what this is," she said softly as she followed the blood. She was stunned seeing it just slid over the invisible thread, and she followed it, feeling a tight tugging on her pinky finger.
"You're bleeding Rin!" Wu Min said as he finally caught up to her.
"Hai," she said and watched as the blood slipped upwards towards a scroll which had her frowning when it tumbled down for her head.
"Kami!" Wu Min yelped yanking her out of the way as the heavy scroll landed with a resounding thud in the silent library. Rin gasped as she turned to look over her shoulder at the scroll, Wu Min's hands started to slide over her hips.
"Don't even think about it," she warned sharply as she got up and walked for the scroll, her blood slipped from her finger and dribbled onto it which had the kanji glowing; she could just make out the word Mogwai before the scroll disappeared into the shadows and she looked at Wu Min in shock.
The monk shrugged as he got to his feet.
There was another tug on her pinky which had her hissing as she looked at the little cut that wrapped around her finger as another bit of her blood rolled down the invisible thread there. Following it, Rin was shocked as they wound their way through the library and archives following her blood drops until she stopped at a shelf where a less heavy scroll was glowing as her blood hit it. This was strange, even by Rin's very low standards of strange, which had her reaching forward to pick up the scroll and opening it.
"Rin?" Wu Min called for her.
"This is…" she whispered softly staring at the scroll as her blood seemed to make the kanji glow with a brilliant light like the sun.
"Rin, quick, put it down," Wu Min ordered firmly.
"No," she replied.
"Why not?"
"This… I've been here before," she said. "My second death, this is about the netherworld," she murmured. It felt important, though she didn't know why. She closed the scroll and slipped it into her waist band. She missed her sleeves, but didn't complain.
"You've been to the netherworld?"
"Hai," she said. "Now curses," she gestured for Wu Min to lead the way.
"That was strange," he said as they walked.
"Hai, it was," she agreed. "Have you ever heard of Mogwai?" she asked.
"I have," he said. "But they're dangerous creatures Rin."
"What is it?"
"A mogwai is an evil demon which inflict harm upon humanity, they are the embodiment of evil," he said.
Rin wondered if there was a correlation between a mogwai and Magatsuhi. Perhaps there was some similarities to be had which could teach her about the curse her lord was suffering from. She felt like there was a clue here, especially because of that invisible thread, it was the same sensation she had felt before she had gone tumbling into the well.
"What is it Rin?"
"Nothing, just," she sighed. "This will sound strange, but just before I ended up being brought here, at the very start of this quest, I had a familiar sensation of the thread pulling my finger," she explained. "And then I was sent tumbling down the well so I could consult with a different spirit, and then I went back down the well and ended up here, and I just, I don't know, there seems to been this force pulling me this way."
"The fates are mysterious."
"Hai, they are, but there's the matter of free will, and I don't know, I don't know what to make of this," she admitted.
"It would not do to dwell upon the method of guidance, but rather follow the path or don't, you will learn what you seek as you seek it out," he said.
"Arigato," she mused.
"Of course, though I do wonder what those two scrolls have to do with you," he admitted.
"Me too," she chuckled dryly.
"Rin, if I may, why are you here?" Wu Min said.
"Didn't Fǔ Yáng tell you?"
"Not really, only that I should help you," he explained.
"Ah, well, I am here to save my lord, in my time he was cursed by an evil spirit and I am here to break that curse," she explained.
"Your time?"
"Hai, I'm not from now, I'm from a different time, I guess the future in a sense."
"Strange, very strange," he observed.
"Hai."
"And who is this lord you serve?"
"You've met him," she chuckled.
"I have!?"
"Hai, Sesshōmaru-sama!" she giggled.
"The pup!"
"Hai."
"I'm helping you save a daiyōkai!?"
"Hai, you're helping me save the greatest Inu no Taishō ever sired," she explained.
Year 1581...
Somewhere near Sōma, Japan...
Sesshōmaru landed before Bokusenō and looked at the forestry around him before he heard the old tree grumbling.
"I did wonder when you would come to me," the voice said as the tree opened his heavy eyes. Opened to assess him.
Sesshōmaru said nothing as he looked at the tree.
"She's started her journey already," the tree gathered.
"You knew?"
"From the moment I saw her, hai, I knew," he responded.
"Then tell me why I shouldn't cut you down for withholding that from me," he growled as he bristled.
"I give no reason," he replied.
"Why did you never tell me?" he demanded sharply.
"It was not my place to divulge the lady's mission or purpose, and I thought that in time it would be clear just who she was," the tree admitted. "But you are not here about her," Bokusenō stated.
"Not solely her," he conceded.
"You wish to know what awaits you in the West," Bokusenō deduced.
"Hai," he replied coldly.
"The same thing that awaited you seven hundred and forty-two years ago," he replied. "The death of Tiāngǒu has left them spiraling and your grandmother seeks to have you on the throne."
"And InuYasha?"
"She is aware of the hanyō but has no wish to have Tōga's mutt on the throne."
Sesshōmaru took a sharp inhale of the thought.
"You should be aware that in this time of absence your cousin, Kochi-sama has intentions to make a grab for power," Bokusenō said.
Sesshōmaru frowned, but he wasn't surprised. Kochi had always wanted more than he could handle, had been that way since a pup. Kochi was also not a warrior, more a politician which wasn't useful in terms of leading the Pack, but there was no point in ignoring the threat his cousin could be. Especially given Kochi's attempts to undermine his strength since the Mongol Invasion. Kochi also attempted to make Sesshōmaru's True Mate claim a weakness because Rin was human, of course she had proven those claims wrong having long since won over his mother's pack and the other allies within the Clan that were of importance.
"He's claimed Matagi," Bokusenō stated.
Sesshōmaru nodded at that information. Matagi wouldn't have submitted to such a weakling like Kochi unless Kochi had actually found a way to succeed.
"What of the West, what do I expect there?" he asked.
"Your father's enemies are mounting and numerous, the word of his death has become less myth and more fact to these enemies with you as the official Inu no Taishō, and InuYasha's growing reputation," Bokusenō stated. "Should you go West my lord, you will either remain there or return conquer of another empire in your quest, you will have to decide though."
Sesshōmaru nodded at this and looked at the ancient magnolia tree, Rin would have loved to be here in bloom. He knew that.
"Be wary the game you enter, Sesshōmaru-sama," Bokusenō said. "There are enemies at every turn."
"Hai, there always are," he sighed tiredly. There was a reason he was alpha and not a politician, it was too fucking exhausting to attempt to keep up with these politicians.
"Sesshōmaru-sama," the tree rasped which had him turning from A-Un.
"There will be loss and sacrifice to meet again, but she is waiting for you, my lord," Bokusenō stated. "Even if she should fade from your memory and heart, she will return to reclaim what is hers. The mortal is more than anyone will ever expect."
Sesshōmaru nodded to that before leaving with A-Un. He reached up to her dragon and ran his hand over the beasts' snouts as they walked. Rin would never fade from his memory or his heart, though his time with the human was always fleeting she was an impression he couldn't forget or lose, Rin was everything good in life. He would wait for her return, and when he found her again, he would never relinquish her again.
The minor issues of the West and Kochi would be nuisances to deal with before she returned to him. Mounting A-Un he spurred her dragon to the skies and gingerly pulled out the image of his mate he had with her note.
'Us', he wondered what that meant, truly meant. His eyes roamed over her features again before he slipped it into the folds of his armor and robes. She was waiting his return, he would return victorious if nothing else. And he would figure out what the hell his grandfather meant by the invading forces of the West coming to him.
Year 839...
Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace, Spirit World, China...
Rin walked into her quarters after a morning of reading over scripts; more like muddling her way through them, and found herself staring at the heavy scroll that had disappeared earlier today. She was stunned seeing it just resting on her bed, the lock and bound seals of the scroll were obvious now. Looking around she made sure she was alone before she walked for the scroll. There was no painful tug on her pinky this time, and no glowing texts.
Sitting on her bed she looked at it, before she reached over to touch it, the seals glowed a sunny light before they undid and the scroll unrolled itself across her bed and floor before it hit the door, she was stunned at the artwork within it and was even more stunned to find herself looking at an image of her lord's eyes staring balefully at her.
"Kami," she whispered, she watched the kanji glow and roll, changing to her native language, the shimmering lights were almost fiery in nature before they settled and the scroll came rolling back with a heavy snap before vanishing again just as a light rapping hit the door.
"Hai!?" she called out, stunned by what she had seen.
"Rin," Sesshōmaru said, appearing, his face indifferent and wide gold eyes were curious.
"Sesshōmaru-sama! How were the lessons?" she asked.
"Boring," he answered trotting over to her and clambering into her lap. "Can we spar now?"
"The human needs to eat, after that, hai, we can start sparing," she chuckled.
"Humans are weird," Sesshōmaru decided, which had her laughing again.
"Hai, we are, but so are daiyōkai," she giggled.
Sesshōmaru furiously shook his head in disagreement which had her laughing more. "Come on, my lord, I need to hunt down a spot of lunch," she chuckled.
"Rabbits?"
"We can hunt those later," she promised.
He preened at the promise.
She would try to figure out that scroll when she returned.
