"Rin, you need to pay attention!" yelled Azumi to the young Rin.
"Mother, I'm not interested in learning all of this. I have no interest in going to festival, or wearing any fancy kimonos," said Rin, argueing with Azumi again.
"I don't care if you have no interest in it, you're going! And that is final. Now put this on!" she yelled again, forcing a pink kimono into Rin's calloused hands.
Rin rolled her eyes and walked out of their little hut.
Festivals are for women who actually have interests in marriage or family. thought Rin to herself, sitting down on the little green hill that she made her first kill on.
Every since that day, 4 years ago, she's been training to kill demons as well as she could. And she was good at it. She was one of the best in land, hardly anyone could come close to her skill. Even the man that raised her wasn't as good as she at this
point in her life. She preferred using a bow and arrow, but if the demon was too great, she could rely on her instinctive sword fighting, or hand-to-hand combat skills. She rarely ever missed her target with her arrow and despite her being more petite
than broad, she could wield a sword as well as any man.
She made her sword from the teeth of the Centipede demon, the teeth were light, but as sharp as razors and as strong as iron. She learned how to make swords with fire and how to bend bones into many different forms. Her most formidable foe was a giant
Hawk demon, whom took the shape of a human. The demon was the queen of the Hawks in the land to the east of Rin's village. She could control hundreds of birds, and demon birds, which made Rin very overwhelmed. But she trusted her armor to protect
her skin and head from the talons, and she used her arrow to strike the Queen demon straight to the heart.
Rin preferred fighting by herself, having people around her made her feel pressured to protect than to kill, it was a distraction. She fought with Hiro sometimes, but she still didn't feel comfortable. He was a formidable partner in fighting, but the
thought of being responsible for his death was too much for Rin to deal with when she was trying to kill something.
That's why I don't want a husband. thought Rin.
A husband meant having to take care of someone, or being controlled by someone else. That wasn't a life that Rin wanted. She wanted the freedom to fight and the freedom to leave and return when she wished. But.. she was a young woman, she had to settle
down at some point with a family. She couldn't live with Hiro's family forever.
I wish I could leave, I wish they would let me.
The kimono fit as well as Rin thought it would. It was too big on her, she had a very tiny waist, Azumi rarely ever got her measurements correct. Sewing wasn't one of Rin's best skills, so Azumi continued to make her clothing. Azumi didn't like buying
clothes, she made all her children's clothing. It was a special time when anyone bought anything that couldn't be made at home. The nearest market place to their village was a day's journey.
The festival was closer than the market was, the whole family was going. Little Taki wasn't too little anymore, she was almost Rin's height. Although Rin didn't grow much since she was 12. Rin grew more outward. Her chest was more mature, the most mature
they will get anymore, and her waist was thin, making her curves very proportionate. She was a beautiful girl, you wouldn't expect such a girl to be one of the best demon slayers. You wouldn't expect a girl like her to be so strong.
"Rin! Do you think you'll meet someone tonight?" asked Taki, who was helping her little brother get dressed.
I highly doubt it, Thought Rin, but couldn't say it out loud. Her family wants her to be happy, they just don't know that being alone is what would make Rin happy.
"Maybe," she told her.
Most girls that are Rin's age are married or are to be soon. Rin has never even kissed a boy before, she never had an interest in any of the men that came to her. They all seemed too… weak in her eyes. If she was going to marry anyone, he would have to
be strong. Someone that Rin wouldn't have to worry about, someone she knew could handle themselves like she does for herself. Someone like him.
No. Don't think about him. Rin thought immediately. Thinking about him wasn't something she did often and if she did, it was when she was fighting another demon, a powerful demon. She thought about him then because she wondered about what he
would do in her situation.. or she would think about whether or not he was impressed with her abilities.
It's been 7 years away from him, yet she still had to fight herself not to think about him. She couldn't let that happen, she would become sad about the fact that he said he would come back, but he hasn't. He hasn't been in her life for most of her life
now. He was her weakness at this point, and she couldn't have that. If she's even distracted by emotions for a moment in a battle, it would be her life.
Rin went to grab her bow and arrow off of her bed, but was slapped gently on the hand by Azumi.
"No one is bringing weapons today," she demanded.
"What? Azumi, I never leave without a weapon! What if something happens?" argued Rin.
"There are guards that can kill any demon that attacks us, don't worry," she said, turning around.
"The guards? They're almost incompetent, mother. I don't trust them for a second."
"We are trying to find you a man that you might have an interest in, Rin, you need to move out soon, whether that is with a man or not. You're almost 18, you can't be here forever," said Azumi, raising her voice at Rin.
Rin nodded, and stared at her bow.
So they are making me leave soon.
It was hard for her, but Rin walked away from her weapon, and left the house for the first time, vulnerable.
He's checked on her every once in awhile, silently watching her train or fight. He's almost jumped in a few battles, but she's always come out of them. Which he never expected her to do. The little girl he saved so many times wasn't in need of saving
anymore. He was impressed but slightly concerned, he wanted her to have normal human life without any interruption of demons. But now she's killing them.
She was getting better by the day, she was a strong, strong opponent. He felt guilt, as well. Guilt that he left her somewhere, guilt that he hasn't gone back for her, and guilt that she isn't happy with humans. He's seen the way she fights, and he can
tell that she would rather be a lone slayer than with a group of them, she knows the weakness of humans.
He wanted her to be happier with them, but instead she got more distant, but she also benefitted from it. She was stronger than any other human woman he's seen, and stronger than many demon women.
She is still better off without my intervening. thought the Lord to himself, flying off into the distance towards Rin's village.
Then the smell hit him, her smell. She's traveling, he thought to himself, hoping that she wasn't alone. She wasn't, he could smell the other humans that adopted her. She was walking towards another, bigger, human village. He knew that
the humans were having some sort of festival, but he didn't know that she was interested in that sort of thing, she's never been to one before. She was old enough to go to one and actually commerce with the other young people, he supposed, but no
human man would want a woman who only wanted to fight. No human man would want a woman who could easily defeat them in battle.
Sesshomaru hated the smell of humans, they were putrid smelling. Except her, of course. The men usually smelled like horniness and sexual desires while women smelled like over-used perfumes or blood.
I should still go make sure she is safe. He thought to himself.
No, she is strong enough to handle herself, she's never gone anywhere without her weapon. I need to let her be.
He also didn't want to see disgusting men try to get her drunk off Saki and be with her. She's never fallen for it, so she wouldn't do anything like that tonight either. Lord Sesshomaru just wasn't in the mood to deal with the anger he gets from someone
trying to take advantage of her.
He flew back towards his castle, his head empty of worry for her.
Meanwhile, another demon is barking orders to his minions to get armed with their claws and make their way towards an unexpecting party of humans, they were having a well-deserved feast tonight.