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: 20


Year 839...

Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace...

After a month of stabbing her fingertips; Rin was over needles, over sewing, and material and all of it. She had wasted another rainy day listening to Chang'e and her inner circle drone on and on about nothing of importance. About the only important thing she had heard from them was from Jui informing them that Tiāngǒu was there for Chang'e. Rin was going to have to switch tactics if she was going to get anything she wanted done or to uncover what she needed to know. She was aware that she shouldn't be doing this, but it couldn't be helped. Sesshōmaru had his lessons to attend to, and Fǔ Yáng wasn't uncovering anything of use, even with Wu Min's aid.

Which was why she was now sneaking through the palace.

Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace was easily a hundred times larger than Tsuzuki Castle, which was unsettling to Rin as she could now explore the Palace. The capital of the Shikoku InuYōkai Clan, home of the Shikoku InuYōkai Pack, seemed like the rustic farmer's hut she had grown up in compared to Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace. Though, in Rin's opinion, this Palace was gawdy and tacky; at least Kimi-sama had taste and class, in her opinion of course.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Jiu hissed as they moved through the palace together.

"We're learning nothing, the next place to look for information would be the private studies of the Emperor and Empress, would it not?" she seethed as they rounded a corner.

"If we are caught," Jiu started.

"If!" Rin hissed. They wouldn't be caught, she was a thief, she had been a survivor and a thief and her lord and her lord's mother had only sought for her to hone those skills as her years had progressed. Thieving skills were useful, and now she could see why. Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace was ungodly big, and there were so many servants; she hated it, but she was memorizing the layouts as she and Jiu slipped through servant passages.

"We will die if we are caught, is your lord worth your life!?" Jiu hissed.

"A thousand times over, yes, Sesshōmaru-sama is worth my life," she answered as she looked at the fox. "I cannot sit in another embroidery gossip circle hoping for Chang'e to like me enough to reveal how to save Sesshōmaru-sama. My lord does not possess that time when I am from. So, if I must risk my life to gain the information I need to save him I will. My life means nothing if he is not in it."

"When you are from?"

"Hai."

"When is that?"

"Based on my lord's current age, I would guess about seven hundred years in the future," she answered. "Are you going to help me get to Chang'e's study or not?"

"Shí," Xiao Jiu murmured as she bowed her head. "I swear all my loyalty, my life, and my pelt to aiding you in saving Sesshōmaru-sama."

"Arigatōgozaimashita," Rin murmured.

"Empress Chang'e's study is this way," Jiu murmured as they swiftly turned into the darker halls.


Year 1581...

Tsuzuki Castle...

Kimi stood at the steps of Tsuzuki Castle with Iya and holding Kōga's daughter, Yuki's hand as they awaited the first arrivals. Sesshōmaru would not be pleased with what was about to happen but Kimi felt this was for the good of the Clan, and the packs within the Clan. It would also stop Kochi's access to the other bitches within the Clan and gaining a radicle power within the Shikoku InuYōkai Clan.

"Kimi-sama," the first bitch said as she approached.

"Zuzu no Ishizuchi, how is your brother?" she asked the lesser inuyōkai.

"Kochi-sama…" she started. "My parents fear for my safety in his grasp and have asked me to plead for a position as Sesshōmaru-sama's consort."

"My son is mated to his True Mate," Kimi-sama stated and pulled Yuki back when the cub thought to move.

"Hai, I am aware, and I have no desire to usurp Rin-sama, she is a most kind and benevolent packmate," Zuzu said as she bowed lowly. "But I have no safety within my own pack, my lady, I plead with you, Alpha, to take mercy on me."

Kimi's eyes narrowed on the lesser bitch, scenting the inyokai's genuine intent and plea carefully. Kimi's only concern was for her son and Rin if Sesshōmaru were to have a harem formed, but she knew that his status would expect him to possess a harem. Scenting no decite on Iya and now none on Zuzu she was inclined to give these females sanctuary from whatever Kochi was scheming.

"When Sesshōmaru-sama returns we will discuss the matter further, for now you will be under Iya's care. No matter what is to come you will never be Alpha, nor will you be his True Mate, if that is understood, Iya will show you to Sesshōmaru's consort's quarters, you will only remain in them unless called upon and you are not welcomed in his private quarters unless called upon." Kimi looked to Shiori and Sōten now. "Assist Zuzu in bringing her things in," she ordered. "Ai, return Yuki to her parents."

Turning she handed Yuki off and walked into her Castle. She would do what was needed for her Clan and her pack, but she did not think Sesshōmaru was going to tolerate this. She would have to make her son accept it until Kochi actually gained the power and courage to challenge Sesshōmaru in combat for the position of Alpha; that could take a few millennia. Or until Rin returned.

The thought stopped her dead in her tracks.

If she was some weakling seeking power beyond her grasp, she would not use straightforward methods. She would probably strike where it hurt, which for Sesshōmaru meant striking at Rin. The thought had Kimi's blood turning to icy fire as she felt her temper snarl to life. That would simply not do, she would have to warn Sesshōmaru of her suspicions and she would have to hide the Honekui no Ido from the yōkai and humans without destroying it.


Year 839...

Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace...

Rin was startled at the study they walked into, it was massive, floor to ceiling shelves of scrolls and information probably, there was also what appeared to be a craftsman station here too, as well as a way out onto the engawa which over looked a massive pool of pearls.

"We'll be here for a century," she groaned as she rubbed her brow and cursed the kami for this dilemma. Why was it nothing could ever be easy!?

"My lady?" Jiu blinked at her.

"I don't have time to sift through all this," she gestured. This study was organized, meticulously; she could almost see where her lord got his need for organization looking around this study which made it all the more infuriating. At least Sesshōmaru labeled things! Nothing in this room appeared to be labeled, which had her eye twitching in frustration.

"I do not think it will take that long," Jiu murmured reassuringly.

"I'm mortal, Jiu, I do not have time to go through all this," she stated firmly. The reminder seemed to shock her attendant who looked over at her with wide eyes. Rin sighed as she wandered a little bit further into the room looking for a clue or a sign or something that Chang'e would leave lying about; though she didn't take the kami to be the lazy sort to do that. Still, one could hope.

There was a flash of green which had her turning.

"Did you see that?" she asked Jiu.

"See what?" the fox asked looking up from her scroll.

"I just…" she frowned. "Nevermind," she dismissed as she went back to looking over the notes at the craftsman station. There was suddenly another flash of green which had her turning in time to nearly jump out of her skin as she found herself looking down into a brilliant gold set of eyes with no body there floating over a scroll on the desk.

Rin blinked a few times to make certain she wasn't seeing things. The eyes never looked away from her and slowly she walked over to the desk over to the scroll the eyes were floating over.

The eyes were shocking, translucent, but their gold was exactly like Sesshōmaru's, as was their shape and the thick white lashes framing them. Reaching down she touched the scroll the eyes were floating over and they vanished. Rin was a bit startled at that before she looked down and carefully picked up the bamboo tied together. Unfolding it slowly she was stunned to see the kanji neatly written and meticulously cared for. It had to be hundreds of years old.

Soul Collection

She blinked at the writing and then shoved it in her sleeve. This was what they were looking for, she could feel it in her bones.

"I have it," she said to Jiu. "We should go."

"What did you find?" she asked as they both slipped into the servant's passages.

"I don't know yet, but it spoke of soul collections," she admitted showing it to Jiu as they swiftly moved through the halls.

"That's it!?" Jiu hissed.

"Just a feeling this is what I want," she admitted reluctantly. She didn't want to expand on what she had seen, she had seen the eyes before, she knew that, and there was that unnerving familiarity in them which always made her feel compelled to trust them. It was strange, she'd have thought they were Sesshōmaru's but they weren't the right shape. Nor were they Kimi's or Tōga's, which was something she needed to think about. And they were definitely not InuYasha's eyes.

"You trust this feeling?" Jiu asked.

"Hai," she admitted, she didn't know what it was in her, but there was this need to trust those eyes. She didn't know how to explain it, the feeling though wouldn't wane or vanish.

"Rin?"

"Hai?"

"What exactly do you think this will tell you?" she asked.

"This could tell me how exactly to colledt the aspects of Sesshōmaru-sama's souls needed to save him from Magatsuhi." She was still confused how she could already have one soul, and she didn't know which one she possessed.

They wound their way through the palace and finally were in Sesshōmaru's rooms again.

"Rin!" Sesshōmaru greeted.

"My lord, how are you?" she asked as she waved Jiu off; they would talk about whatever else needed to be talked about later, and she knew that Jiu would be a big help.

He inclined his head in the way that he always did as an adult, she figured that it was a little quirk he had always possessed. Smiling she walked over to him to pull out the scroll.

"My lord, I was wondering if you had seen this ever, or something similar in Tsuzuki Castle's libraries?" she asked as she held it out for him. Sesshōmaru took it carefully and opened it and shook his head. She took it back and slid it into her sleeve. "No matter what, do not speak of this to anyone my lord," she warned.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because this could be dangerous in the wrong hands," si believe is he answered. "Also, this what I need to save my lord."

"Rin?"

"Hai?"

"Can we see A-Un?" he asked.

"Hai, change, and come along," she ordered as he scurried off. Rin pulled out the scroll again and looked around her room before she hid it within the laundry, she would tell Jiu where it was for temporary purposes, but she would be hiding it batter before they left. Which would be soon now that she was relatively certain she possessed what she needed. Once she had changed, she grabbed an umbrella before she and Sesshōmaru walked out into the rain to head for the stables. They would have to leave soon; she could see the sentry following Sesshōmaru now. They might not care about her, but they did care about keeping Sesshōmaru a prisoner to brainwash. She couldn't and wouldn't let that happen.


Year 1309...

Gates to the Afterlife...

Tōga stood in the midst of a snowy valley in the mountains and stared down rocks which was Shishinki's domain entrance to the other side. Anoyo to no sakai was just beyond, where Izanami-kami would rule and where no daiyōkai, yōkai or human had ever returned from. Well, no one beside Sesshōmaru if Rin was to be believed; and he did believe her. She was too honest and wild of a human to spin a lie, and he had seen her in action, in war, and with his son.

Carefully he walked forward towards Gate of the Afterlife now. Walking into the tunnel he was surprised at the depth and darkness.

InuYasha would do this, he thought, according to Rin InuYasha would come here, see this realm, find the Tetsusaiga; which was now pulsing at his side. He could feel it's powers roiling now as he walked into the tunnel. There was nothing stopping him now but his own fear, he wouldn't fail his sons. He had to do this.

He came before the Gate of the Afterlife and stared at the guardians. Rin said she had never met them, only heard stories from Kagome and InuYasha, but he knew who they were on sight. Gozu and Mezu towered over him and before the entrance of anoyo to no sakai.

"Move aside and I will not destroy you," he warned as he drew Tetsusaiga out, feeling the fang lengthening, thickening and it's yōkai energy swirling around.

The statues of stone moved now as they drew their weapons.


Setsuna Castle...

Izayoi was sitting on the engawa watching the snow drizzle down. She had her hand resting on her stomach; which was now soft, her breasts hurt and ached, their size not going down now, and her body ached. A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned against the post and fought back the desire to weep openly again. She didn't know why she couldn't stop the tears anymore, they would freeze on her cheeks, and it ached, they stung violently and felt like they were tearing her skin apart. She hated it. She hated her loss. She hated everything in this world, but she could not find the energy to hate everything. She could merely sit here.

"I was told by Aine," a voice said behind her which had her peering over her shoulder to see him. Takemaru stood there in his clean garb, he had clearly taken time with his appearance before coming to console her; she despised him for that.

"And?" she whispered as she looked back out at the snow.

"There will be other children," he dismissed and she wanted to scream, but she heard his footsteps retreating then. Izayoi hated him, hated him. She hated everything about Takemaru now, and she would never permit him to put her through this pain again.

Slowly she stood as she rubbed a hand over where her child resided, never would she have another of Takemaru's children. Never. She wanted to cry, and with horror and relief she realized she wanted to weep into Tōga's arms and have him console her.


Year 839...

Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace...

Sesshōmaru watched Rin as they walked into the stables, she shook out their umbrella and set it at the entrance. His human then shook out her very long hair and he reached out to tangle his claws in the ends of it. Rin chuckled.

"Ready to see A-Un, my lord?" she asked as she scooped him up.

He nodded.

"Rin! I thought we would find you here!" Fǔ Yáng announced as he appeared with Wu Min.

"A-Un is here," she pointed out as he fisted a hand in her hair.

"True, but we couldn't find you all day," Wu Min said which had him glaring at his mate then.

"I was with Jiu," she said cryptically. Sesshōmaru glared at her but she didn't reveal more. "We'll talk about it later."

"Empress Chang'e did ask where you were today for the embroidery circle," the monk said as they walked.

"I was not stabbing my fingers with needles," she replied.

"Later then," the monk sighed irritably as Rin set him down beside A-Un's stall. Sesshōmaru peered in at the dragon which was munching on hay.

"Shouldn't he have meat?" he asked Rin as he watched the two heads of the dragon.

"A-Un is a very rare and special kind of dragon, my lord, not only does he have two separate heads, but he also only eats plants," she explained.

"How do you know that!?" he asked her.

"I've known a dragon like A-Un before, for a very long time, he is my dearest companion after you," she answered crouching beside him as she stroked his hair. Sesshōmaru nodded as he looked back at the dragon.

"I want to go home Rin," he muttered softly once he heard the kitsune and the monk retreat a little.

"Hai, and we're going home, soon, I will be making the plans tonight," she murmured.

"Can I show you Tsuzuki Castle!?" he asked her.

"Of course! And you can show me all the secret places of the Shikoku InuYōkai Clan," she promised and he nodded.

"Rin?"

"Hm?" she hummed.

"I do not like being Jūn Ān," he informed her. "And I will never take Ying Yue as a mate, and I hate my grandmother," he stated firmly.

Her fingers traced his ears as she nodded. "I'm not particularly fond of Jūn Ān either, he's a little bit of a brat."

"Hai," he agreed and smirked.

"Then again, so is my lord, all the time, and arrogant, and a know it all, and so bossy, oh so bossy," she giggled.

He smiled a bit.

"You do not have to grow up right this minute, despite what your grandmother thinks, Sesshōmaru-sama, you have all the time in the world to work it out for yourself," she promised as she traced her nose over his temple. His mother did that at times, he really liked that Rin was the one doing it as he scooted closer to her.