A/N: Inuyasha and all characters therein belong to Rumiko Takahashi, this story is the brainchild of Kajatk8, and belongs to her. This story is for fun, and no profits are made from it.

Sorry for the bit of time between the last update. What else can I say but that it was Christmas and New Years? I work jewelry retail – and it was CRAZY at Christmas time. I get all these MIP – which means Men in Panic to all of those people not in the retail or jewelry communities. Meaning – these men come in and ask "Hey, what do women like?" To which I obviously say "well sir that depends on the women, but I've found that many like jewelry." "Right, well what kind of jewelry does my woman like?" "Well sir, I don't know your woman at all – what does she usually wear…?" "Well I don't know that either." "Hrmmm. How long have you been together?" "Oh about 16 years." "Riiiiight. Well – the 16 year anniversary stone is Peridot – it is a lovely green color – from deep dark greens to almost an almost lime. Would you like to follow me? Right this way…" You'd be flipping surprised how many men came to me on Christmas Eve with that exact request. My oh my. Men sure don't know their women…

Anyway, sorry for the long pause. Hopefully I'll be back to updating bi-monthly again. =) enjoy.

Chapter 4. Arrows as Darkness Approaches

Sesshomaru awoke in a familiar place, that in and of itself was a rather uncommon feat. He had always been a wanderer; Sesshomaru had been young and hasty when his father's domain fell. He hadn't cared. If he wanted to amass a domain, he would do it on his own. He needn't take handouts from his father. Especially with a father who had disgraced his mother and taken a ningen to bed, and had subsequently fathered a hanyou. No. He didn't need handouts from his father at all. So Sesshomaru's life for the last two hundred years or so had been that of a nomad. He sought power in any form, any and every battle was a chance to prove himself and gain power. Supreme conquest, that was his path. He still recalled his last conversation with his father.

Touga had been bleeding, and on the verge of death from his battle with Ryukotsusei. If ever there was a chance to challenge his father and take his swords in mortal combat – this was it. Yet, Sesshomaru found he couldn't do it. He listened to his fathers' last words. "Have you someone to protect?" He'd said. Sesshomaru knew his father expected more than just words. It wasn't just a question of honor. It was a question of if he had more than just power in mind. But in his younger days, power had been all he'd thought about.

Now – he knew the weight of the question his father had asked. Sesshomaru regretted his response – that he had no need of such. He wished he could have answered differently. That yes, he did have someone to protect. It had only taken him two hundred plus odd years, the loss of an arm, and the loss of a precious silent smile for him to realize that yes – he did have someone to protect.

In fact, he'd found watching his brother, that having a single person to protect actually strengthened a demon. How many times had he thought that a battle was going in his favor, only to have Inuyasha come out the victor because he had someone to protect? Sesshomaru had lost count. But, he learned. It had only cost him a near death experience to truly show him that the world had more to offer than the path to supreme conquest.

And here he was years later, waking up under a tree. If his brother could see him now, well he wouldn't hear the end of his banter.

Sesshomaru had fallen asleep under the Goshinboku. He'd been patrolling constantly since Kagome and Inuyasha had left. This time his patrol lasted for a week straight and he'd come back to ensure that his ward was safe before taking a leisurely stroll under the stars. He'd found himself standing under Goshinboku, and gazing out at the cosmos. He'd contemplated much while listening to the silent village, and the lively forest.

Despite what many people said, when it became dark, not everything went to sleep. In fact, just as many animals – if not more came out at night. The sky was alive with insects. The bats were alive at night swooping in and out reaching with their mighty wingspans and mouths agape catching insect after insect. The raccoons came out to search for waylaid food near human settlements and to fish for frogs and crabs in the aqueducts surrounding the fields. Bears, wolves, foxes and monkeys come out at night – to hunt for small rodents or other types of prey. Sometimes just to socialize. Birds of prey come out to swoop down and grab smaller mammals like rodents, voles, badgers, mice and the occasional fox.

Sesshomaru had found himself listening to this wonderful orchestra of nature with a harmonious cacophony of insect calls. He eventually sat down, watching clouds pass him by. He hadn't realized that he had become so comfortable that he'd closed his eyes. But judging by the light of the rising sun, he'd fallen to sleep very soon after sitting.

Sesshomaru sighed. He'd had many lofty ideas about last night. He'd wanted to patrol during the night – while animals were awake but humans weren't. He'd become a permanent fixture around Edo, and the people of Edo had welcomed him thanks to Rin. She'd spouted tales of his greatness and kindness, and many of the villagers had witnessed his power during the downfall of Naraku. With each telling; stories of his greatness and power increased to the point that many thought him an Inu-gami. A dog-god sent by Amaterasu herself to guard the precious people of Edo, just like Inuyasha had for the past few years.

He'd been a little perplexed and put out to find that it was his association with Inuyasha that had granted him esteem in the village, but he hadn't said a word. As the years passed, the people had accepted him. He'd been there to protect them from several youkai attacks, and even a single outfit of bandits that had come to wreak havoc while Kagome and Inuyasha had been away.

But it had been many years since he'd left Rin with Kaede. In the interim, Sesshomaru had found his life devoid of… well, life. He'd found more often than not he missed her cheery attitude, her winning smile that could light up her entire face and voice. During the hunt for Naraku, Rin's voice had ofttimes driven him mad, causing Sesshomaru to leave her and Jaken alone for many nights. However, now he found that he missed her shrewd comments and inane questions. Since Kagome had defeated Naraku, Sesshomaru rarely missed a week outside of Rin's presence.

Sesshomaru was still a nomad. Don't misunderstand; he still traveled all of Japan whenever he felt the urge. However, since he'd nearly lost Rin in the Meido, Sesshomaru truly understood what his father had asked him. Did he have someone to protect? Why yes, yes he did. The persons he protected would have baffled his former self. A girl of but twelve summers living amongst hundreds of ningens. Why, he even considered all of his half-brothers companions worthy of his protection as well. He'd protected them many times during their hunt for Naraku, but after his demise, it seemed dishonorable to perform less than he had while they had been allies seeking out a common goal.

Well – maybe he wouldn't have been so baffled in his youth. After all – she'd always been with him, and she was human. She'd been marked by gods, but she'd still been human.

Sesshomaru put a hand to his head and squeezed his temples. He hadn't thought of her in years. The fox-marked hime. He wondered why that errant thought had come to him? Kagome had reminded him of her on several occasions, but he'd assumed it was because she was also a priestess. Not all priestesses were the same, and he'd soon realized that she wasn't her. He'd figured it out in the crypt of his father. She would have recognized him if it had been her. Instead she'd challenged him, pointed Tetsusaiga and said "Stay away, I'll cut you to pieces."

His head ached at the memory, of how angry he had been when he realized it wasn't her. How he'd lashed out at the only person to get in his way. Wait…Why was he thinking of her again? All of this introspection wasn't good he'd firmly decided.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Ohayou!" Rin said running up the hill.

Sesshomaru was still sitting under Goshinboku and looked mildly perplexed. He glanced up at his rapidly approaching ward. She was still wearing her purple kimono with golden butterflies, and she held a small short-bow over her right shoulder and a quiver of arrows over her left. Her face was flushed pink from the exertion of running up the hill, her side ponytail was bouncing in the small breeze. Yet, her face was also alight with a huge smile.

He spotted Kaede following at a much more muted pace up the hill. As usual Kaede was garbed in the miko dress of a white haori and red hakama. She appeared slower today than the last time he had seen her, less than a week past.

Somedays he marveled at Rin, just for being Rin. She was such a small thing when they'd first met. She had grown somewhat in the intervening years, but she still remained small and petite. And her smile still made him feel – what? He wasn't sure. He felt the urge to do things. He wasn't sure what, but he certainly couldn't deny her. In an effort to get rid of this feeling – he had purchased her gifts and this urge had lessened somewhat. Rin never asked for anything either. Her needs were so simple, and after four years in her company, he knew exactly what she required this morning.

"Good Morning, Rin." Sesshomaru replied.

Rin beamed at him as if he had fulfilled her wildest fantasy.

"Did you stay outside all night, under the Goshinboku, Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin inquired.

"Hnn." Sesshomaru replied. Of course he had, and she knew it too. Sometimes he wondered why she had begun to ask questions that she already knew the answers to. But he had been told by the both Kagome and Kaede that it was a phase, and it would eventually pass.

"Kagome-sama says you shouldn't stay outside all night without any protection from the elements. She says you'll catch a rhino-viruuusss" Rin pronounced carefully.

Sesshomaru sighed. Rin had developed the most ridiculous attachment to the miko that he could ever expect. He wasn't sure why either. Sure, he'd seen Kagome in battle, and it had been her final arrow that had taken out Naraku. This he had deemed completely respectable. In fact, he'd held the miko known as Kagome in a high esteem, ever since he'd first seen her and she'd survived all he'd thrown at her. She had a protective streak in her and would jump in to save her comrades without a thought to her own wellbeing. While many would think this stupid, Sesshomaru thought it extremely honorable and brave. Yet, he'd never thought Kagome's sagely wisdom would so enamor his ward.

"And what exactly is a rhino-viruuusss?" Sesshomaru asked raising an eyebrow significantly in her direction.

"A cold," Rin said happily, and then abruptly broke out into a fit of giggles.

"Hmm." Sesshomaru intoned. He didn't see what was so funny to cause Rin to break into hysterics but at that moment Kaede had just reached the summit of the hill and bid Sesshomaru good morning.

"Ohayo Sesshomaru-sama." Kaede panted out, face far more flushed than Rin's, and resting heavily on her bow.

He nodded in her direction.

"Rin-chan, shouldn't you be practicing?" Kaede intoned.

"Haiiiiii!" Rin replied, running off to a set of trees a few paces away where Kagome had constructed an archery range. She had attached what she called "bullseyes" to several trees, evenly spaced at ten paces from each other.

Rin then unshouldered her short-bow and quiver and set to the task of placing her arrows in the ground front of her making a little fence, for ease of rapid fire. She left a few in her quiver as well, and then resolutely started working through the course of targets.

Kaede sat down near Sesshomaru and watched her ward prep her arrows and begin the rounds.

"Keep your arm up child, don't drop it – Ever!" Kaede intoned.

Rin looked over slightly ashamed and red in the face, but swiftly recovered and said "Haiii Kaede-sama."

Kaede and Sesshomaru sat in peaceable silence watching Rin as she practiced.

"She gets better every day." Kaede said.

Sesshomaru said nothing, but continued to watch his ward. He had the appearance of being completely aloof, but in actuality he was listening intently to Kaede. All the while he watched his ward string arrow after arrow and let them lose at invisible enemies.

"Kagome-sama thinks that she will make a fine miko one day and will be able to take over after I am gone." Kaede intoned.

At this Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows and glimpsed at the aged miko. He was perplexed with the ease at which Kaede spoke of her inevitable death. In his experience human's feared death, how many of them had he sent there? Each one had either screamed war cries or pleaded with him not to end their sorry existence. Yet, never had he heard anyone talk about it with such finality. Except his father. His father knew when he made that last journey to Izayoi, he wouldn't be returning alive…

Rin had been in a state of worry over her new guardian for a few months now. Apparently Kagome had been sure that Kaede had something called "cancer" and it was always fatal in this time. There were treatments in her era, but nothing that was successful, even with her "advanced healthcare" as she called it. There was definitely nothing that she could bring with her through the well.

Indeed, Sesshomaru had noticed that Kaede had been getting weaker and been losing weight over the last few months. She had always been a larger woman, yet, now she looked hollowed out, and there was a sickness that lingered in her scent. However, he chose to ignore this and instead replied to her comment.

"She's displayed no spiritual power, no reiki to speak of." Sesshomaru said in his deep baritone.

"That is of little consequence." Kaede replied. "At her age, I had very little power either, yet I became the sole priestess of this village. Kagome-sama herself said that she displayed no spiritual powers either, until she was fifteen summers. With the way Rin has been training, she could be the same."

"Hnn." Sesshomaru replied. He wasn't sure what to think. He'd left Rin under the old priestesses care because she'd asked for her. After nearly losing her in the underworld, Sesshomaru realized how much she meant to him. He realized that he did in fact love her. In that moment, he'd known he would have to keep her safe in the future. When asked, Sesshomaru couldn't think of a safer place for Rin, than the village of his brother and all of his companions. Yet, he'd never thought she would become an apprentice priestess.

He wasn't sure how he felt about her wielding her bow against his own kind. He knew she'd never wield it against him, but still. Kagome, Miroku and Kaede were exceptions to the rule, almost all the priests and priestesses that Sesshomaru had met had attempted to exorcise him first and ask questions later.

As he thought of priests and priestesses his eyes darkened, and his expression took on a scowl. Ungai hadn't been the only judgmental priest he'd run into in his day. He'd met plenty. However, almost none of them were equal in power to Inuyasha's companions. All would rather purify him first, ask questions later. Not that any of them had been successful. He'd never killed any of them, well, except for the dark priestess Kuriko. But she'd been the exception. She'd been pure evil, and threatened him and his to protect, one too many times.

He shook his head to clear the dark thoughts that his memories had stirred.

The more rational part of his mind supplied him with the facts. If Rin were a priestess, she would be respected. She would attain a status that an orphan of her caliber never would. She wouldn't be feared, or ostracized with her association with demons; she in fact would be a welcome member of society. She would be able to protect herself from demons who wanted to hurt him. She might not be kidnapped so easily, or hurt ever again.

On the other hand, she would also never know love. He wasn't sure why that thought come to him, but he wondered that if Rin became a priestess, if she would ever truly be happy. All Rin had ever wanted was to stay by his side, forever. How often had he heard her admit as much? She'd made up too many songs to count – all with varying lyrics on how she'd remain by his side forever.

Nonetheless, she wasn't by his side now, another voice argued. Who says she can't find love as a priestess anyways? Look at the only two priestesses you've known! Kagome and the fox-marked hime, both have known love, haven't they?

Sesshomaru grumbled incoherently, it was too early for such deep questions. Why was his mind so prepared to remember her anyways? He hadn't thought of the hime in years, and yet, that was the second time this morning that he'd thought of her. He shook his head to clear it, yet from an outsiders perspective he appeared to have just turned his head, slightly.

"She may do as she pleases," Sesshomaru finally spoke.

Kaede looked at him and nodded.

The conversation over with, both turned to watch Rin finish nocking her final set of arrows.

Rin had indeed improved. With an entire adopted family of warriors, and Kaede to guide her, she had become an expert archer in only a few years. When Kagome had returned, she had improved at an even more alarming rate. Sesshomaru was highly impressed with her, but Kagome just brushed it off and said she was just trying to emulate her. That she had decided that Kagome was worthy of "hero worship" just like Sesshomaru was. She'd even insisted that Rin would grow out of it, and then latch onto the next thing in her life. But Kagome had only really known Rin a few months at that point. She hadn't known her like Sesshomaru did. When Rin decided on something – it was for good. Rin had wanted to learn to become an archer; so she had.

If anything Rin's "hero-worship" of both himself and Kagome had only increased. Sesshomaru found Rin listening to Kagome's every word, and emulating her speech patterns as well. A new phrase he had recently heard from Rin's lips were "Did you know Sesshomaru-sama that…" or "Sesshomaru-sama it's a widely known fact that …" And each time she would spout off some random tidbit, Sesshomaru knew they all came from Kagome and her futuristic knowledge.

Many things that Kagome would say were very inane proverbs or simply preposterous facts. He didn't believe that even in this supposed future that Kagome came from – that such things would be common knowledge. Yet, when he voiced these opinions or rather Rin voiced them to Kagome, she would produce a book proving otherwise.

That had perhaps been one of the very first items to sway Sesshomaru and make him truly believe Kagome's wide knowledge. The complexity and divine construction of a book. Surely something of such craft and skill could only be created in a futuristic world. That and the fact that Kagome had them in her possession, and could read and comprehend them. In this day and age only the aristocracy or the priests had access to education and reading materials. Furthermore, these were only scrolls and hand-brushed bamboo scrolls at that. Yet, Kagome's books – those appeared precise, and he had learned, were not in fact handwritten anymore – but made by machines. A type of mechanics that humans had created to make their lives easier, they could do anything from cook a meal to write a poem.

Rin had finally finished with her quiver and began the arduous task of extricating her arrows from the hay-filled bullseyes and recovering those that had missed their targets. Once all the arrows were back in her quiver she shouldered her bow and ran over to her two guardians with her arms outwards from her body in the imitation of a lark.

"Now what Kaede-sama?" Rin said, beaming with pride at her aim and accuracy.

"How about a moving target?" Kaede said.

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows at her and then tilted his head towards Rin. She seemed surprised as well.

Kaede pulled out a piece of paper that she folded and then prayed over with a strange hand gesture. The paper briefly glowed a bright blue, then took to the skies in the form of a large white bird.

"Try to strike it down child. Stand where ye normally would and as it moves, give it chase." Kaede said.

"Haiii!" Rin looked ecstatic at the prospect of a challenge.

Rin ran over to the invisible line that symbolized the beginning of the archery range and aimed at the imitation bird. However, just as she loosed her arrow, a breeze blew from the east and the bird delicately rode the wind, rising up. It was only a slight movement, but her arrow flew wide and missed her target.

Rin growled, and nocked another arrow. This time she took more careful aim and waited for the paper-bird to move with the wind. Again she loosed her arrow. And again, she went wide.

"Try to read the wind, feel it on your face and then let loose," Kaede said as Rin's last shot missed her target by less than two feet.

Kaede and Sesshomaru watched on as Rin kept at it, soon the paper-bird was swooping in and out of the targets, and Rin was running in between and ducking trees, bushes and rocks, side-rolling and shooting arrow after arrow at the shikigami-made paper bird.

"Sesshhooooooumaru-sama!" Jaken screeched coming into sight, dropping out of a cloud and descending rapidly atop A-Un.

At Jaken's cry, Rin lost her focus and looked towards Jaken unknowingly also bringing her bow arm towards him as well. Without appearing to have any conscious thought in the matter Rin squeaked, "Master Jaken! Good morninnng!" And unknowingly to Jaken, she released her nocked arrow.

"Ahhhrrrggh!" Jaken intoned as he ducked an arrow that whizzed past his right arm.

A-Un also let loose a cry, but Sesshomaru knew it was one of greeting. He knew that no single arrow from a child was a danger to the great demon. A-Un was a centuries old two-headed dragon, and could brave anything his master put him up to.

As A-Un landed in the clearing before Kaede and Sesshomaru, Jaken jumped down and began yelling at Rin. "Stupid girl! Are you trying to kill me!?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Master Jaken. You surprised me is all! But, I am so glad to see you! You've been gone for ages!" Rin said while throwing her arms around him and hugging him fiercely. While this had been cute many years ago, when Rin was only slightly taller than Jaken, now, she was several feet taller and could pick him up and twirl him around if she wanted to. Of course, without having seen him in several weeks, in her giddiness and greeting, she did so.

"Ohhh-ohh-OH-oh-OH!" Jaken intoned as he was spun around and around by Rin.

"Put me down Rin! You foolish girl!" Jaken yelled his eyes glazing over and spinning in his head.

Rin just giggled and set him down smiling all the while. She then bound over to greet A-Un, who happily cooed to her and almost knocked her over with joy as both his heads rubbed their noses all over her hair.

"What news do you bring?" Sesshomaru said.

He had always been mildly amused by Rin's and Jaken's personal relationship when she was younger. Yet, as she had aged, Rin had decided that Jaken was akin to a doll and meant to be spun and hugged and sometimes even carried around with her.

Sesshomaru never reprimanded Rin, because he just couldn't bring himself to harm such a child filled with sunshine and happiness. He especially could not harm her when she had known such cruelty in her life before coming into his. In any event, Jaken never ceased to get on his nerves, and he was always mollified when he found Jaken getting just as annoyed by someone else as Sesshomaru was annoyed by him.

"It is worse than we feared my lord, two more villages in the east have been destroyed and there is talk of a darkness on the road from the East headed in this direction." Jaken replied in a low bow.

"Which villages?" Sesshomaru asked.

Jaken rose, paled and answered "Shio Mashu and Moe."

Sesshomaru growled inwardly Shio Mashu had a prominent miko and apprentice and Moe had a Buddhist temple with a school in which to train monks. If both fell to this supposed "darkness" then whatever foe it was, was far greater than he had originally thought.

"What of the Kuma Tribe?" Sesshomaru said.

"They have scattered to the wind my lord. Those that remained in the village were only the too old and the young. None who could help aid us." Jaken replied while trembling – likely in fear from bringing his lord bad news.

"Hnnn." Sesshomaru said.

"That is unfortunate. It appears that we are on our own in this venture. Perhaps it is time to call Kagome-sama and Inuyasha back home?" Kaede said.

Sesshomaru stood and walked away without saying a word to Kaede. Jaken spluttered and ran off to join him. Rin looked towards Kaede, and after receiving a nod from the elderly priestess she ran after Jaken and Sesshomaru as well with A-Un's reins in hand shouting "Wait for me!" Kaede remained sitting atop the hill and sighed at the retreating backs of four bodies.

Sesshomaru had been counting on the Kuma tribe. The bears had suffered greatly at the hands of this unknown darkness. They had lost three villages under their protection, and several of their strongest warriors. He had hoped they could ally themselves and then finally defeat whatever this darkness was together. Yet, his envoy of peace hadn't been received; instead, the entire tribe had fled. Jaken hadn't been able to make any headway, and he brought more bad news with him, two more villages gone.

Before Naraku, Sesshomaru may have reveled in this fact; he was responsible for many human deaths. But, no more.

He had found the importance of human life.

He'd rallied against true evil, lost an arm, found something to protect and even gained his own power and said arm back. He knew emotions and what they brought, he knew love and kindness and he knew the difference between true evil and good. He was no longer indifferent as he had been for so many years. So many years since her, the hime. Again, his mind supplied him with thoughts of her apparently from nowhere.

He hadn't thought of her in years, and now, no more than three times in a single morning? Something must be reminding him of her. The circumstances were similar, granted. He had remembered the moth, but it couldn't be the same demon could it? No, he had vanquished that demon. It had been his first victory against a Daiyoukai such as himself. He had made a name for himself with that singular defeat. He'd never forget his first great daiyoukai kill. Even if it had been in defense of that village, and that hime, he grumbled.

His heart still ached. He rubbed his head. Perhaps he hadn't slept well enough, that's why he kept thinking of her. It wasn't that he felt her presence, for he didn't. Not at all. Did he?

His heart thumped painfully in his chest, and he glanced down. He'd felt the longing through the years, but it had been a very long time since he'd acknowledged it for what it was. That he in fact – missed her. And he had missed her for many years. He'd been stupid, careless and reckless in his youth. Perhaps worst of all he'd been emotional – and she'd seen it. But…that had been before he'd developed a mask to hide most of his true feelings from the world.

He paid no mind to these thoughts roaming around inside his head, and aloud he started to devise tactics with Jaken. He sent him away to inform the monk and taijiya. They would need to be ready to defend the village if the time came. Yet, unconsciously, his mind continued to spin out of control. He felt a thrill run through him at the prospect of seeing her again. He had dimly been aware of her presence, but after all this time, he had just brushed it off as his imagination running wild.

Rin had watched on as Sesshomaru and Jaken schemed, and when Jaken ran off to fetch the others she finally spoke up, idly petting A-Un, whose excitement had become somewhat subdued.

"Are we going into battle again?"

"Possibly." Sesshomaru said glancing at her.

Rin's faced flashed a million different emotions before settling on determined. Sesshomaru was reminded of the first time they had met. Her jaw had also been set in that very same line then, too.

"We will win," Rin said bravely and firmly.

Sesshomaru said nothing, but tilted his head forward in an almost imperceptible nod.

A/N: Moe means budding – as in a sakura budding or a pear budding like a blossom bud. And Shio Mashu means salt marsh. (Or as rough of a translation as I could come up with for a salt marsh using a google translate). Many times in primitive agricultural societies, they would over-farm the land much like the dust bowl in the United States in the early thirties through the fourties. As a result of not letting the land "relax" and not grow for a season or two, you build up the salt in the land – which means literally what you'd think, there's too many hard minerals in the land and you can't grow any food. Also, this typically makes you lose the top layer of soil, and it will just blow away, like dust.

Kuriko is a combination of the Japanese word for black (kuro) and priestess (miko). Hense black priestess, see what I did there?

Kuma means bear.

I'm behind on review comments. So many of them, they practically exploded! I will get those comments out to you all hopefully this week.

Thanks! Review if you love it – also if you hate it. =)

Edit: 08.16.2016 - Fixed grammatical and spelling errors, small edits.