(Edited Version)
Rin climbed up the branches of a tall Camaphor tree. She rest her back against the trunk, her legs swung below. She had an hour before full sunset thanks to Aun. She wanted to spend it resting. Her muscles were exhausted from several days of riding. She touched her stomach again, where had he learned that from? How did he know his blood would heal her injury? I kissed him again. He kissed me back. Rin didn't understand. She knuckled her head and sighed, I'm so stupid.
Rin sat back and closed her eyes, thinking of days past. There was a sense of finality in the air, like this would be her last day. Only she knew it wouldn't be, he would have followed her already, he was probably hiding in the trees somewhere watching her. Hiding and watching, like he did often. After she became accustomed to Sesshomaru coming and going, there were times she felt like he was watching her, maybe that was why he sent her the katana. He must have known she was learning to fight. She closed her eyes, and thought back to that day, slowly letting the images come into her mind, as she allowed her body to rest. She folded her arms over her knees and breathed deeply, in and out, the way Miroku, Kohaku and Sango had taught her.
The sun was setting and her heart with it, "I thought he was coming today. Do you smell him?" She asked Inuyasha. She sat on the fence to the field where Jinenji made a grand garden. Autumn was upon them, the air was getting cooler. The sky seemed more orange that day, as if it was announcing fall was in the air at the top of its lungs.
Inuyasha was taking a break from his hut, she was sure he and Kagome had gotten into a fight. "Nothing stinks yet," he laughed.
Rin glared back at him, "are you two going to fight again?"
"Probably he always has to show off.," he fidgeted with the sword.
"True," she muttered. Rin was twelve, and although Inuyasha was still a head taller than her she was catching up. "It's too bad you two just can't kill each other already, besides we both know Bakusaiga is stronger than Tetsusiaga."
"Oi…" Inuyasha nudged her with his elbow.
"How's the baby?" Rin loved visiting them. Tiny Sota was adorable. He had bright white hair and had somehow managed to get a moon on his forehead.
"Driving his mother crazy, you want to come spend the night tonight?" Inuyasha begged Rin, "he seems happy with you."
"Maybe I'll come after dinner. Kaede-sama doesn't like it when I'm out late," Rin answered picking at the splintering wood of the fence. "Why isn't he here yet?"
Inuyasha gave her a sympathetic look and patted her shoulder. "Come on, back to training." He threw her a bokken, the traditional Japanese wooden sword meant for training, "hold it up right. Not like that, you're going to poke your eyes out!" He pushed her sword down, "remember the ready stance?"
"Sesshomaru-sama says you're reckless when you fight, Inuyasha-sama," Rin put her hand on her hips.
"Ready stance," he lowered his voice, "now Rin, or I'll make you run laps again."
"Fine," she widened her stance, with her sword at the ready. The blade was tilted just enough.
"Now move with me, one," he changed positions, the sword was pointed down. "Keep your feet the same distance as your shoulders, you have to be able to move. Two," he held the sword over his head, "elbows out, like a square, no you're too floppy, strong remember?"
Rin stopped, a thrumming was coming from the trees of the forest. It almost looked like the tops of the trees were vibrating, "what is that Inuyasha-sama?"
"Go inside the hut, quickly," he told her. He threw his bokken down and drew Tetsusaiga. He ran towards the trees.
She didn't listen. She gripped the wooden hilt of her bokken and followed him into the forest. She was grateful she decided to wear a shorter kimono that day. Her eyes dilated. The rustling of the leaves, the howling that was coming from the forest, was a swarm of yokai coming straight for the village. There were snake eyes and crawling things, and a few ogres. She screamed at first, asking herself why the hell she followed Inuyasha into the forest. Then just as one of the snake eyes was coming at her she slammed the wooden sword into the mushy eye. Green slime covered her arm up to her elbow, then the yellow eye burst into red blood as it hissed in pain and then fell to the forest floor. "I got one!" She jumped up and down. Her confidence emboldened she stood up and ran after another demon. They were thronging around her.
"Rin get down! Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha bellowed.
She ran and ducked behind a boulder. The first wave was wiped out by Inuyasha. He was by her side in a flash, grabbing her around the waist and hoisting her into the limbs of a tree "If he comes now, he will kill me. Stay here!"
Rin refused to stay in the tree. She leapt from branch to branch until she landed on the forest floors, crunching the dry autumn leaves under her feet. Miroku ran past her with sutras flying, he swung his golden khakkhara into the oncoming horde, slashing them in half. Rin engaged another one eyed snake demon. It wrapped itself around her stomach and crushed her ribs. It flew with her into the air. She struggled to pull her sword arm loose. Instead she used her empty left hand thrust her fist into the gooey eye with the same result as the previous one. Both her hands were covered in blood now. It dropped her on the forest floor, she landed on her side. Her ribs slammed into a partially exposed rock. She curled into herself holding her side for only a moment before rolling out of the way of another that attempted to bite her from above. She grabbed the nearest large branch and used it to beat back the giant teeth coming at her.
"Rin!" Inuyasha yelled, "I told you to stay back. Meido Zangetzha!"
"I can take them watch!" She yelled back to him, she was surrounded by a three red snake-like demons and a lizard. She smashed the face of a green sloth demon so hard it crumpled to pieces. She slid on her knees grabbing her bokken and swung it around warding off the lizard yokai.
When the next red one eye came down on her she tried to stab it through the mouth only to have her arm clamped down on. She shrieked in pain as the teeth crushed into her skin. She used her other arm to punch it in the eye as hard as she could manage. Her hand slipped into the eye coating itself in a jelly like substance, "ewww!" She cried. She hadn't noticed it dragged her into the sky. It opened its mouth dropping releasing her arm. She plummeted back down to the ground face first. Her eyes widened, maybe she had been too confident. She braced herself for the crash against the ground. A moment before she hit the floor, she saw a flash of white light and felt all too familiar clawed hands grab her around the waist. "Sesshomaru-sama!" She clapped her hands excitedly. He set her on the ground and drew Bakusaiga, he didn't wait for Inuyasha or Miroku to get out of the way, "Bakusaiga!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. The green energy from his sword ripped through the trees. Inuyasha grabbed Miroku and ducked out of the way gripping Tetsusaiga's sheath.
Rin was practically dancing, "did you see? Did you! I took out two by myself!" She jumped up and down next to Sesshomaru.
"Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru-sama bellowed. He turned on Inuyasha, flying through the air, claws streaming poison. He lunged at Inuyasha's throat.
"Oh don't cry, aniki," Inuyasha mocked his brother, "nothing happened to your precious Rin." He blocked Sesshomaru's thrust to the side with Tetsusaiga. He leapt out of the way of a small energy burst, then flipped into a tree.
"Her blood and screams were in the air!" Sesshomaru followed Inuyasha into the tree hacking of it down with his katana, "how dare you lead her into battle!" He attempted to get a choke hold around the hanyou's neck.
"Sesshomaru-sama," she yelled, "Sesshomaru-sama!" She stomped her foot annoyed. "But I only hurt my arm."
Miroku came up next to her, "better get back to the hut and clean that arm, those two could continue for hours." He pat her shoulder lightly.
"But it wasn't his fault, oh no…" Rin looked at the scene unfolding, Sesshomaru threw his sword to the side. Apparently he was tired of Inuyasha hiding behind Tetsusaiga's barrier. His eyes blurred red and the familiar howling and snarling followed, he was transforming. His face broke into a smile as he flew into the air.
"Really?" Inuyasha yelled at his brother. "Seriously? I'm going to cut that arm off!" Inuyasha swung at Sesshomaru's white fluffy left arm. "All this over a few Yokai? Did you forget the part where she told you she took two out by herself? Yeah that's right, your sweet precious baby Rin, killed two by herself and almost a third, with a damn wooden sword!"
Sesshomaru stalked towards Inuyasha, bolden and large. Rin couldn't hold back any longer. She ignored Miroku's protests to not interfere. She ran to the battle field and threw her hands up at her sides, "stop Sesshomaru-sama! He told me to return to the hut and I didn't! He even put me in a tree out of harms reach and I chose to re-enter the forest! It wasn't his fault it was mine." She regretted it immediately. Angry teeth were just inches from her. Hot air breathed out against her nearly knocking her over. "I'm okay," that wasn't entirely true, her arm was injured.
The angry white dog with the gorgeous ruff blowing in the wind nudged her injured arm. He wrapped his tongue around her wrist. Rin hissed in pain. He looped his tongue around it again, this time it didn't hurt as much. She raised a trembling hand to Sesshomaru's white nose, she dared to pat it softly, "I'm okay, Sesshomaru-sama."
He replied by giving her a snarl that revealed his razor sharp teeth. He turned and stalked away, then flew into the air.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin yelled after him, "come back!" She called to him. "What did I do wrong?" Rin asked Inuyasha and Miroku.
"You have to ask?" Inuyasha shook his head, "you are more of a liability living here than a help," he chuckled.
Rin's eyes seared with tears, "I just wanted to help," she covered her mouth and ran as far and as fast as she could go. She ran until her lungs burned and she thought her legs were going to give out, she ran into the forest and immediately made her way for the river, she didn't want Inuyasha to find her. She ran upriver towards, she didn't know where, just as long as she was no longer a liability. She kept moving through the forest until she collapsed from exhaustion. She hadn't even noticed that the puncture wounds on her wrist had healed. They found her two days later in a crop of trees tired and hungry. The next few days Sango and Kagome took her everywhere with them. Kagome let her spend more time six month old Sota, and Sango talked excitedly about how well Rin did for her first time against yokai. "If you ever call her a liability again, I'll make you sit for a week," Kagome scolded Inuyasha.
Kagome took her aside that night after warming her up with what she said was hot-chocolate, "chocolate sooths the soul," she said. Kagome brushed Rin's long hair, "we all have strange lives Rin. Maybe you don't know how lucky you are, not every girl has a dai-yokai looking out for her."
"The dai-yokai thinks I am still that little girl he found in the forest. I'm twelve, when Kohaku was my age," she stopped seeing the hurt in Sango-san's eyes, "Sorry, Sango-san."
"Don't be," Sango whispered while holding her new daughter, "you're right. Kohaku began training when he was younger than you. You've done well learning what you have. If it's truly what you want, then I will teach you be a Taijia like me and Kohaku." She nuzzled the nose of her baby girl.
"I don't want a hiraikotsu…" Rin complained, it was a bulky weapon, powerful but she wanted something lighter. "If he found out…he won't let me."
Kagome hugged Rin from behind, "then we won't tell him. Want me to braid your hair?" Kagome and Sango were like Rin's big sisters. They spent the most time with Rin besides Kaede-sama and her friend Satsu.
Days later Jaken and Aun came. Jaken came with a katan in his hand, he left it with Rin then flew away. She didn't even get to ask him about it. Rin remembered flipping it around in her hands. The hilt was in the shape of a golden dog that looked suspiciously like Sesshomaru when he was in his true form. The eyes were made from red gems. She touched the paws of the dog and smiled, "I bet you are really mad at me." She unsheathed the sword from its black casing. The blade was white with yellow along the blade. She touched the tip, it didn't cut her skin, yet felt deathly sharp. Strange. There was a small scroll tied to the mouth of the hilt. "Use it well." Was all it said, would it have killed him to show some pride in her?
Rin shook her head, the sun was setting. She took out the bright yellow obi with purple on the ends, she looped into her hair until it covered her head like a kerchief. She used it to keep her hair out of her way while she fought. She massaged her tired feet, waiting for it to begin. Any moment the damn bear yokai would come out of hiding, and she would face it. She tried to remember what he said, the belly under and under the rib cage on the sides. She breathed heavily, attempting to cleanse herself of her remaining fear.
The bear-demon came from the mouth of a cave nestled within the clefts of the mountain. His eyes were glowing red, his brown fur blew in the light breeze. He stood up on his back legs. Rin smiled, keep standing. His front claws were long and gnarled, twisted. She touched her stomach, the same claws that had torn her stomach open. She drew the sword and leapt to the forest floor. The trees were blocking most of the moon, she could smell the bear's saliva falling from its mouth. It was panting in her direction hungrily, but hungry for what she was unsure. "Did you tell anyone?" It bellowed at her.
"No," she shook her head, it was the truth, although by now they all knew. Her heart was pounding in hear ears. She had to remind herself, inner-peace, Miroku had told her over and over again, to calm her heart, because if it pounded any Yokai would hear it and come after her. She resumed walking towards the bear. She debated whether or not she would attack in that moment. The weak spots were open, but what if she killed it too soon? The mountain was so tall she couldn't see the top. She pursed her lips, I'll have to wait.
"You look well after that injury I caused you," the bear boasted proudly. It's jaws smacked as it spoke to her.
"We have good herbs," this was also the truth. Jinenji healed many. He made herbs for the entire village. He made them to ease the pain of childbirth, for the sick children, infection and disease. He had the cure for many demons born poisons and his heart was so big that he never charged anyone for his ointments. "Let me see Kohaku," she demanded gripping the hilt of the sword. For a moment she could have sworn one of the paws squeezed the tip of her middle finger.
"Don't be hasty," the bear gloated, "throw the sword to the side, and any other weapon you may have," it motioned it's head towards the ground.
"If I have no weapons, how do I know you won't attack me too?" She questioned him.
"You don't, and who says I won't? But if you want to see your friends alive you will remove the weapons and leave them," his drool dripped onto the forest floor.
Rin ground her teeth. The bear didn't know about the powder, if she could just get to Kohaku and Kirara she would help them escape. She began untying the obi that held her weapons around her waist.
The bear turned around and began walking into a dark cave. It motioned with its head for her to follow. The cracks and crevices of the dark cavern, leaked water down green peaks. Rin tried to steady her breath, she wasn't sure if being a Taijia was what she wanted. She felt power in not being helpless. When she was a child, she could not stop marauders from killing her family, but she had stopped them once from coming into the village when she was sixteen and she stopped demons. She was strong now. I am strong, she told herself, holding on to the obi she had used to tie her hair back. My strength is your strength. His voice was in her ears, I am strong. I will not be scared.
"Hurry up!" Inuyasha called to Miroku.
"The horses will die if we drive them harder," Miroku warned him
"Then put Sango on your back and drive your legs into the ground." Inuyasha took a great leap from one tree branch to the next. They had finally gotten far enough into the forest he could smell both Rin and Sesshomaru.
"Inuyasha, you may not tire as easily but the rest of us do. We must sleep, if only for a few hours," Sango shouted from her horse. She pulled the black mare to a stop next to Miroku who rose a chestnut colored stallion.
Jaken was right behind them, "you rest pathetic humans, but I must find Sesshomaru-sama." He ran ahead.
Kagome climbed off Inuyasha's back and put her bow and arrows on the ground. "We'll stop here. Inuyasha even you need to eat something," she broke open her bag and gave them ninja snacks that she had brought from her own land. "Once the horses have had a chance to rest we will follow, remember your brother is there."
"That fool couldn't defend a fly," Inuyasha growled.
"Except for when he beats you up," Sango responded.
"And nearly takes your head off with Bakusaiga." Laughed Miroku.
Kagome smiled, it was like old times when they were chasing after Naraku, at least this enemy would not be as evil, they had not faced anyone as strong or as cunning in the years that followed the destruction of the Shikon no Tama.
"Inuyasha, you rest first," Miroku said.
"Like I need to," he responded, arms folded and eyebrows arched.
"Sleep for half an hour then, I will keep watch." Miroku replied, "we will all do better rested."