**If you read this before and just went "OMG its updated new chapters!" please re read the first chapter because, while the same story, I am revamping it. This story will now be told in Four parts. I am adding more dialogue as well as added scenes I hope it is to your liking weather you are new to this tale or coming back again :)**
***I do not own InuYasha or any affiliated characters***
~*Part one*~
The quiet midnight air was chilly for mid-spring. A thin layer of frost touched the edges of life, giving everything an eerie glow from the pale light of the setting crescent moon. Standing alone on a treeless hillside overlooking a gentle valley stands a tall figure. In the moonlight his silver hair seems to shine as he stands, unmoving watching the hours pass.
Nestled in the valley is a small village, it looks no different than any other in the area, indeed few know its significance. Yet Sesshomaru is drawn here returning to look down on the valley where he knows she sleeps. It was on this day, five years ago, that he left the sweet and always cheerful Rin in the care of the old priestess, Kaede.
When the battle with Naraku was over he knew she needed to be among her own kind. After all it was for her own good to be with them. For a time he would visit, bringing her small tokens, gifts even. Until she was fourteen years old. That memory was always a painful one to visit.
Please don't leave me her voice still echoes in his mind. Shaking away the remnants of the past Sesshomaru looked to the distant growing light on the horizon.
He left her and never took her back. At least that is what he said he would do. She did not see him, he made sure of that. Every so often he came to see her, watching from a distance as she slowly grew older and more beautiful.
Lord Sesshomaru, Taiyokai and lord of the western lands, found his thoughts straying to where he had despised his father for going. The place where, in Sesshomaru's opinion, he in the end lost his life for. The companionship of a mortal woman. It had caused his great father's downfall and also caused InuYasha to be a constant mar on his lineage.
Even his despised half-brother had followed their fathers path and wed a mortal priestess. While this continued to annoy him, he couldn't make the slight feeling of jealousy go away that arose when he saw the way they looked at each other.
As a solitary man he was not accustomed to feeling lonely, and so it was a shock when Rin was no longer there. The short time he had her with him, he didn't at the time realize how much he relied on her constant company.
The pale color on the horizon told him that she would wake soon, she would start the day with her washing and head for the nearby river. He knew that several girls would accompany her and they would laugh and chat while doing their chore.
He used to follow her keeping an eye on them as they washed but he soon found that it annoyed him to see her doing such menial labor, and so he no longer followed. Now he would simply stand on the distant hill, watching her come into the day.
As the sunlight crested the hill he saw her come from the hut, at this distance most mortals would only know a human had left the home. But his eyes were much sharper and at once recognized the pale pink kimono that he had last gifted to her almost five years ago. Her dark hair was still held back only in part, she still tied it up on the side of her head, the rest hanging loose and free in the wind down to her thigh.
This day instead of laundry she held only a small bundle and instead of turning to the river she turned to the forest. A flash of worry came over him and he wondered at her stupidity, the forest was an unsafe place to go alone.
But then again it truly was none of his concern what she did with her time; she was grown and no longer under his protection.
Sesshomaru found that thought caused him to glare as he pondered what he felt. He had left her in the human village but he did not renounce his guardianship over her. Yes that was what it was. She may not know it but he was still watching over and protecting his Rin.
His Rin.
His mind was beginning to annoy him with its random thoughts that he apparently had no control over. They would come and go as they pleased and he wished he could find where they sprang from and crush the offending spot.
But in this he did concede that for a great many reasons Rin was still his, but he did not look farther into the subject. He in fact looked the other way to where Rin had disappeared into the forest.
..0..
Rin stood on the edge of the pool of water and looked at her watery image on the surface of the pond, the pink kimono reflecting palely in the early morning light. She smiled at the memories it stirred, it always held a special place in her heart because it was the last gift he had given her.
At the time it was too large for Rin, thinking little of the size at first, she was only happy to have it. Later when the sun had set and she knew that it was for when she grew up. Rin had cried herself to sleep that night. The realization that he was not going to come for her again was painful. All of her wishful hopes and dreams had burst like a bubble that night and she knew she would never love again.
At the age of nineteen the people in the village had begun to say things about her; not yet being married or even inclined towards any man. Though many had offered, she knew that they thought she was odd when each time she told them no.
She simply did not love any of them.
Two years ago Kohaku returned. She greeted him kindly and was happy to see him. Then he began to seek her hand in marriage as well. That was a hard year, he was so kind and she had tried to love him, but in the end she had to turn him away. He gave his love so completely, and though she did care for him, he deserved to be loved in return as much.
With a sigh she removed the beautiful fabric and climbed into the pool wearing only her Juban under garment. Kagome had recently introduced her to the wonders of bathing and she had, from that day on, begun using this quiet pool for that purpose.
It was not so far from the village to be a long walk. It was still far enough that she did not worry about any peeping Tom's from the village spying on her.
Laying back in the cool waters she looked up through the canopy of trees to the early morning sky and found her mind wandering back to her childhood, when he had always been there for her. With her family's death at the hand of bandits, she had been scared into silence, her own village shunning her for her oddness. All alone in the world from then on she remained a strange and quiet young girl, when she had found the beautiful and mysterious demon lord in the forest near the village, her world had changed.
Thinking back she remembered how sad he looked, how alone like her he seemed, even the cold manner in which he talked to her made her feel even more that he was as lonely as she. Wanting only acceptance she had offered what little help she could to him. Unwanted though it seemed she still remembered trying, and then finally being rewarded with his few words, comments about the state of her face.
After her death, a memory that still haunts her like cold fingers around her heart, she still remembered waking safe in his arms. He did not invite her to come yet that did not stop her from following. As the days marched on and she followed he never turned her away. Though more than once Jaken had tried. She laughed at the happy memories. Her faith in his protection only grew as time after time he came for her, either in saving or just to continue moving along the unknown path he walked.
Even when he had left her with the old priestess, she had been confident even then that he would return for her again. As the years went by her heart gave out to misery at the realization that he would not come again. Even the last gift of the kimono felt more like a farewell than a promise of return. That was almost five years ago.
Her quiet moment was broken by the sound of harsh laughter. Ducking up to her shoulders in the water, she looked for the source of the sound and saw to her horror a group of bandits watched her from the edge of the pool. One was holding her beautiful Kimono and Rin suddenly found herself very aware that her thin white undergarments would provide little cover when wet.
"Did we come upon a water spirit?" asked the apparent leader of the group. A dreaded fear crept into her heart as the memories of her family's deaths came unbidden from her mind.
"Come out of the water little spirit and we will have us some fun" said another of the group. The ugly look on their faces told Rin louder than words what kind of "Fun" it would be. Slowly she began backing up hoping to reach the far side of the pool and make a run for it.
"Boss should we waste time with that slip of a girl, the village will all be up soon" said one from the back of the group. A small part of Rin felt with satisfaction that these men would not find an easy target in her village. It was far better protected than most villages.
Unfortunately this didn't help her at the moment, being far from the village and without any weapons, she was easy prey. Her only hope was to run. As she reached the far side of the pool the men noticed her move and several began to scramble around the edge to cut her off. But as luck had it she was out and running as fast as she could before they reached that side, she ran through the trees as the sounds of pursuit followed her.
Dripping wet and running for her life was not how she planned on spending the morning but she hurried on as the sound of the bandits got closer. She could hear them crashing through the forest after her, her breath came in short gasps and a branch viciously scratched her cheek.
And then a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind and she was turned sharply and found herself looking into the face of one of the bandits.
A sob escaped her as he pushed her into a near by tree. She struggled against him but he was very strong. "NO! Stop, Help!" she managed to scream as she tried to hit him. He took her wrists in his thick hands and held them tightly behind her back. His thick body pressed into her against the tree so close she was having trouble breathing. He smelled disgusting, his breath making her gag as he licked his lips, a horrible smile on his face revealing several missing teeth.
"Now little water spirit lets have some f…"Stopping mid-sentence his eyes rolled back and blood began to drip from the corner of his lips. The lifeless body slumped to the ground at her feet pulling at her as his life left him.
She sobbed in relief and looked to see who had saved her.
Standing a few yards back he stood, eyes glaring, his hand extended. His poison lash recoiled back to him, his silver white hair hanging loose, still clothed in the same manner he always wore.
Relief followed by disbelief washing over her and then her vision began to fade. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt his arms around her as she fell into darkness.
..0..
Sesshomaru told his mind to concentrate on the world around him, not on the woman in his arms.
A cool and quiet glade with a sprinkling of wildflowers, a gathering of raspberry bushes were within sight, the sound of water falling could also be heard. Not far off a light and gentle breeze stirred her still wet hair as she lay in his arms where she fainted.
Kneeling with her so close, Sesshomaru is struck with her sent; fresh as the summer day, her face a vision of beauty and peace. No trace of the fear he saw in her fewtures when he killed the offending human.
Good!
The offending humans were all dead of fleeing and she was safe. With her now in his arms, he found himself at a loss as what to do with her. He had told himself that she would not see him again, that he would not walk the same path as his father. He stared at the closest tree, determined not to pay attention to the fact that her clothes while wet are rather…revealing.
Her still damp hair was lying against his arm and falling gently over his knee, looking so soft. He felt the desire to run his fingers through her lovely locks of hair. She was warm and her face was turned into him and he could feel her heart beat beneath her chest…
Destroy the thought.
Gently he set her down among the flowers and laying the pink kimono over her before walking away from the glade. Staying far enough to be sure that he was not seen yet close enough should trouble arise, he waited for her to awake.
..0..
Rin, drifting back from the darkness of her faint fells safe because he is there. Opening her eyes she is greeted by a small butterfly that watched her on the grass. The trees stand silently over the small glade. blinking the sunlight from her eyes she turns to look at him but he isn't anywhere in sight. Her kimono is over her still wet body sliding off her shoulders as she sits up. this is not where the man caught her. He must have moved her. Standing Rin throws the kimono on while scanning the tree line. Knowing she did not imagine him, the feeling of his arms around her lingering.
"Sesshomaru-Sama" She called to the surrounding trees.
No answering call is given and the deep loneliness she once felt before clings to her soul pulling her heart down with it into despair. Long ago when she realized that he wasn't coming for her, she had become heartbroken and soon her smiles became empty. Kaede had tried her best to comfort her but could not understand.
"He is like a father to the child" she had heard the old Miko tell Kagome once when she was just on the edge of becoming a woman. The words had seemed odd to her. Father? She had a father that died when she was very little, most of her memories of him were clouded and forgotten.
When she tried to put Lord Sesshomaru as her father she almost giggled. He was too handsome to be her father, and yet she did love him, she always had. It was somehow different than what she remembered feeling for her father or even her brother.
For many years she began to think that maybe he could love her like InuYasha loved Kagome. Her imagination would run wild with daydreams of her in his arms, holding her like so many couples did. Then he had stopped coming to see her and she had forced herself to forget the childish fantasies.
This was different she had actually seen him, had felt his arms and knew that he was real, that he had once again protected her.
Through the trees the sound of someone approaching she turned sure it was him. Disappointment sank in as InuYasha and Kagome came into the clearing, followed closely by Kaede.
"Rin are you ok?" asked an out of breath Kaede. Shaking her head without saying a word Rin wished suddenly to be alone so her heart could weep in privet.
Kagome is at her side, an arm around her. She had always been like a sister to Rin. All at once relief and sadness overcome her and she began crying.
"What's wrong with her?" said InuYasha "She doesn't look hurt she just…" He paused turning from side to side he sniffed at the air and Rin knew that he was sending Sesshomaru.
"Please take me home" Rin said through her tears.
"Ok Rin" Said Kagome moving aside as Kaede withered hand was on her shoulder leading her away from the quiet glade.
..0..
As the sun began to set Rin sat alone in her small room. She was doing her best to think positively about her day. At least she knew he was still there, somewhere out of sight he was watching her and still protecting her.
Forcing a smile Rin took a deep breath "At least he has not forgotten me as I feared he did"
Kagome knocked gently before she pushed aside the door covering "Rin are you ok?"
Rin didn't look up from her pink Kimono. It was very dirty now, with mud, water and even a tear in the hem. "I will be, just morning the loss of my gift" she sniffed. Her reawakened pain of loss had become worse when she had seen the ruins of her kimono.
"I am sure we could fix it back up" Kagome said, ever the optimist.
Rin grinned at her nodding. "I should let it go any how, shouldn't I?"
"Why let go of the things that bring you joy?"
Rin shrugged "I am holding onto a dream, a future that cannot be"
Kagome sat beside her "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.
Kagome had always been there if Rin needed her. She was so understanding and willing to listen to Rin even if it was just silly things.
Looking up at her Rin took a deep breath and pulled the kimono close. "He came and saved me but then he was gone again like he was never there…" her tears begin to fall once more "Kagome…I don't…I feel so hurt about that, why?"
Kagome knew deep down what it was, she too had loved a demon that had been cold, rude and even mean to her. She had loved him any way and in time he had come to see that and love her in return. But InuYasha and Sesshomaru were as different as the earth and sky and she did not want to give Rin a false sense of hope.
Sesshomaru was…well Sesshomaru.
"I love him and he…" Rin left that hanging, she did not know what he felt for her. She knew that she was something to him. Why else would he keep her, a mere human, around all that time?
Kagome hugged her "Don't worry so much, love always finds a way and true love is always worth waiting for." Kagome kissed her forehead and smiled "You need to sleep Rin things always look brighter in the morning."
Rin watched her leave the small room and turned to the window looking out at the night and sighed "I do not want the morning. I need the moonlight." she said.
Love might find a way but perhaps the problem was that Sesshomaru did not know how she felt? What if they both were too afraid to say it? If that was the case then they would both never know the truth, and so it was up to her to find him and tell him.
"I will" she affirmed to herself as she pulled out her small basket and hurriedly put a few items into it before lying down to wait for Kaede to fall asleep.
Once the old Miko was sleeping soundly and deeply Rin left the small house stepping out into the cool night air, the small sliver of the moon barely illuminating the sky as it fell low on the horizon. "So like his mark" she said quietly to the stars. Turning to the last place she had seen him and taking a deep breath she began to walk.
Many would think that she would fear leaving the village again after her run-in with the bandits. But she knew that she had seen him, that it was lord Sesshomaru that saved her. He must be there somewhere outside the village. He would have had to be near to save her. She walks toward the forest again. Clinging to the hope that he was there somewhere watching her. Somehow Rin would find him and tell him how she felt.
..0..
"I smell him, he has been in this glade" said InuYasha as he took Kagome's hand and began walking back to the human village.
"You don't think that Sesshomaru did anything do you?" asked Kagome "Would he make Rin cry like that?"
"I don't know, but those dead bandits in the woods were his work. Sometimes I get a whiff of him about but not often."
As they left his range of hearing Kagome's words echoed in his ears "Would he make Rin cry?" A nagging feeling of regret came to him as he turned to leave. Why would she cry? And now the thought of her crying was even more upsetting than the thought of her in danger.
He was very annoyed at himself for such foolish thoughts, in his long life he had done far worse than make a human cry. And yet in that one act he felt more ashamed than anything else he had ever done.
Sesshomaru landed in his courtyard startling several servants. He stormed up the steps to his home a thundering glare on his face, the two rat demons standing guard briskly slid open the door for him. Several heads bowed as he passed. A few others falling flat on their face in their rush to defer to him.
While he almost never spent much time in his mansion home, after what had happened today he suddenly wanted the annoying distractions it caused. A plethora of servants, land treaties and lesser demon's coming to request either his aid or in some cases his blood.
As he rounded the corner of the hall leading to his study Jaken caught up with him, strait away pulling out his clip board. Not surprised to find Jaken's immediate list of things that needed his attention. He was, after all, frequently gone. The little green demon was hurrying behind him talking in a very fast, out of breath way, as he tried to run and speak at the same time.
He had finally commanded Jaken to stay at his home to be a retainer for him there, instead of following him unceasingly. The little toad demon was very proud of his position in the mansion, ruling over the small army of servants like a miniature king.
His many servants scurried here and there to get everything ready for his unexpected return. He could feel their panic and in many cases fear as they tried desperately to stay out of his way but still remain close enough to answer any call he might utter. He allowed himself a small smile inside the sanctuary of his mind, they were all so pathetic yet so loyal to him.
At one time in his past he assumed this was because of a loyalty to his father. Serving him only for the sake of his bloodline. Now however he was aware that the level of loyalty was more for him alone, having little to do with his predecessor. Jaken became a great asset at the time telling him of any who were not loyal to him. He would then send them away.
When he entered his study he immediately sat and was vaguely aware that Jaken was still talking. He was mentioning some demon that was harassing his lands, calling for his blood in an attempt to become great. Well that would distract him for a small amount of time before he killed the upstart. It was not a distraction he was inclined to indulge at the moment.
"Jaken." Sesshomaru said in an effort to stop his infernal yammering.
Jaken stopped short and waited for his lord to give farther instruction. When none was forthcoming he dared to look. Sesshomaru looked from him to the door, the unspoken command quite clear in his golden eyes.
Jaken bowed and slowly began to back out of the room. "I will tell you of these matters when you find that you care to know lord Sesshomaru." And with that he did a hasty departure.
Running his claws through his hair Sesshomaru closed his eyes pushing away the guilt that refused to leave. Behind his eyes a lovely image of a raven haired woman haunted him. He growled deep in his throat annoyed at his apparent lack of control in this situation.
Picking up the stack of scrolls that required his attention Sesshomaru determined to focus on the tasks that he had been putting off for far to long. A light breeze coming through the open screen pulled his attention away.
Looking out into the garden he watched the many flowers bend in the cool spring air. He had never given the garden much thought, had only rarely spent time in it, but as he looked out on its beauty he suddenly wanted to show it to Rin.
Damn it. He cursed to himself This is unacceptable!
Standing and turning sharply from the door he tried very hard to study the paper in front of him.
It was well past midnight and Sesshomaru could not sleep, or rather he refused to since his mind had decided to betray him with dreams of Rin. First the dreams would be pleasant; she would be smiling happily at him her pink Kimono flattering her form in the sunlight, a gathering of flowers in her hands.
But then she was running in terror, followed by an unknown shadow. He kept trying to reach her pursuer to kill whatever it was to make her safe. No matter how he tried, in the dream he couldn't move. She would scream and then it would catch her and she would be dead.
No sleeping was not acceptable, and pacing was not working either. The dream turned nightmare was very distracting and he had to keep forcing down the need to go and see for himself that she was fine.
When he could smell the dawn on the horizon his determination faltered. All I need is to know that she is safe. He lied to himself as he stepped out into the garden and headed in her direction.
..0..
Rin had been walking for two days now and had to conclude that she was hopelessly lost. Nothing was familiar anymore but the worst part was that he had not in fact shown himself. She was becoming more unsure he was even nearby. Perhaps he had just been passing through?
She silently cursed her humanity and its limited scents, were she a demon she could smell him and follow. Instead she found herself alone in the forest for the second day and it was getting dark again.
"Well..." she said the the darkening woods "I have slept under the trees before, I will be fine" she finally managed to find a rock that had enough of an overhang to afford some protection. She didn't know how to start a fire without flint so she contented herself with simply curling up and trying to eat.
The silver lining to this apparently stupid idea was that she was still good at foraging for her food. Even though it had been years since she had needed to do so, she still found a decent supply. Several early berries and some roots seasoned with wild herbs and she was fed, though nowhere near full.
There was no moon tonight, the cold stars shone down through the trees and Rin watched them slowly danced across the sky as she fell asleep.
Rin dreamt about Sesshomaru, which wasn't a new thing; she had many fanciful dreams of him coming to her and confessing his love.
This dream, however, was more like a nightmare. "Stay here Rin." he said to her and then he turned and walked away. She cried out to him to take her with but he didn't answer, didn't say anything, just walked out into the darkness.
Rin woke with a start. A shiver running through her, a cold sweat on her back as she rubbed her eyes.
A heavy dew lay on everything, including her…
"I am an Idiot!" she moaned at the offending wetness around her. Here she was alone and far from her home. She was wet, low on provisions and not even sure what direction home was anymore. He clearly was not out here, or if he was he was ignoring her. The sudden image of him watching her from the branches of the trees made her snort in disgust "I swear to the Kami if you are watching me and not showing yourself I will never forgive you!" she yelled at the tree line. The branches only swayed in the light breeze.
"Well nothing for it but to continue on." she announced, trying without success to lighten her darkening mood.
Sticking to the hill tops as best she could Rin walked through the thick forest that was unknown to her. Holding the shawl close to her she fought off the chill that was starting to make her shiver.
Hours later, as the sun was sinking toward the horizon rain clouds had gathered thickly and suddenly. "Damit!" Rin cursed. Offering the offending clouds a glare. She was going to get soaked. She hurried along the forest floor looking for somewhere that could give her shelter. Looking from side to side for some sort of cover and not where she placed her feet was how her footing slipped on a loose rock and she tripped.
Stinging pain shot through her leg as the rough earth skinned her knee and then her hand as she fell. Then, panic hit as she continued to fall down a steep hill. Coming to a skidding stop near the bottom she hurt all over and could feel that she would have several wounds from her slip.
Venting her frustration with a string of curses she learned from inuyasha Rin rubbed at her sore ankle. "Great! Not only am I an idiot, I am now a sore idiot!"
And then it began to drip on her, slowly at first and then harder as the rain really began to fall. Desperately she began to look for any shelter and to her utmost relief she spotted an over hang of rock not far from her. While it didn't look like much it was better than a wet hillside.
Rin cringed as she raised herself up and turned to the shelter. The world tipped, she was feeling an uncomfortable warmth, odd in the cold rain... Rin shook away a sudden lightheaded feeling and moved on favoring her sore ankle. All she needed was to get out of the rain that was soaking her clothes.
She sat heavily in the small sheltered place. Looking out at the rain fall, unable to really focus on anything, she just needed to rest for…just…a bit…
It was getting difficult to think, and she wished that the world would stop tipping randomly, causing her to want to throw up.
..0..
Sesshomaru stood on the hill and looked at the small village in the quiet of the moonless night and glared. Something was wrong; he could tell right away that her scent, while still there, was too weak to be from her person. It was a more like the lingering smell of someone passing through, and it was heading into the forest, away from the village.
He was suddenly annoyed. Where was she going? Considering what happened the last time she had entered the forest, she should by all rights avoid that direction.
Damn!
Sesshomaru knew that Inuyasha and his woman would no doubt know where she was. He glared, not willing to consider that option. Without much more thought he turned to follow her scent through the trees.
It wandered through the trees stopping at the glade where he had left her. She was not there, her smell moved on and so did he. Foolish human! He thought to himself, when he found her he would take her back to the village and tell her never to leave again!
The gathering clouds worried him, while the change in the weather was of little consequence to him, Rin was out here in it and that was not acceptable. He knew he was getting closer the scent of her was less diluted due to her passage. Thunder crossed the sky and he cursed the rain; it would make tracking her more difficult.
And then her scent changed, he could almost taste the blood in the air. It was hers! His vision darkened and he felt something he had never felt before… panic. The memory of his mother telling him that his sword would not work on her a second time stark in his mind.
He thought, until now, that such a thing did not matter. However the sudden thought of her as he had found her years ago lying dead in the road… It would not do to linger on such things. He would find her, she would not die again. Satisfied with his assessment of the situation Sesshomaru focused on the task at hand.
Hours ago he had found the small place she had rested the night before. The small remains of her dinner, the place where she had slept clear to his trained eyes. He had continued on through the forest looking for any sight of her and thought of the many things he would say to her for such a foolish act.
He slowed suddenly as he came upon where she had fallen, could tell from the plants that she had slipped down this hill. Following the signs of her stumble he could tell where she stopped, the scent of blood lingering even in the rain. Turning he saw her slight shape not far away, curled up in a shallow overhang of rock, lying still in the dripping rain.
At her side in moments he saw that her fall, while not fatal had inflicted several wounds, her face had a long scratch down one cheek.
"Rin you foolish human!" He began reprimanding her, she did not stir at his voice. Leaning in closer Sesshomaru furrowed his brow as he inspected her. Her breathing came shallow but was still there. Her body was hot and her injuries were filthy and he noted that blood stained the right side of her clothes.
He wondered what to do for her. He had never had the occasion to learn about the caring of wounds, his would heal too quickly to be bothered with. When Rin had travelled with him before Jaken had most likely taken care of any injury she may have received. Almost before he had made the decision he was carefully picking her up and heading for his home.
***Part two done :) I know the changes are small but I hope it flows better***