Chapter Three

Out of breath and a little less than scared out of her mind, she managed to get back inside of the teahouse without anyone taking the slightest bit of interest. It wasn't until she found her room again that she allowed herself to think of what had happened.

He can't be real! He can't be! That demon IS the one from my dreams…I don't know how, when or why but it was him! Oh! He was so beautiful up close and personal, but somehow so different than my dreams…and he recognized me…I think… Miho's mind whirled from each dream she could remember having with him in it. Each one was equally mysterious, but so different…and all ended the exact same way. Miho always perished the moment before she escaped back to reality. Blood… She cringed as the vision of her bloody abdomen came into her mind. So much blood…I always die whenever I see him…no…He can't be real. He just can't!

Miho stepped away from the door she was leaning against and paced back and forth in front of her mirrored table, lost in the memories of her dreams. His intentions are never clear when he visits me. But whenever I ask, he refuses to answer and I can never touch him when I want…and I always want to touch him. Secretly swooning, she stopped her pacing and dropped to the floor, catching herself with only one hand to keep from striking harder than she anticipated. Oh, but I could get lost in those eyes…so full of secrets but I feel as if I should know what they are. Oh gods…he is real. He is…oh…what must he think of me! She mentally bashed herself in the head and cringed. I can't believe I kicked him in the nose…I hope he doesn't come after me…I could just crawl under a rock and perish…

After a few minutes of internal torment, Miho stood and paced back and forth in front of her now opened window, not caring that it had not been open before she left.

(Back in the forest)

He watched her go, unable to believe his eyes, or his oversensitive nose after it had been struck. As soon as Miho disappeared into the trees, he stood to catch what was left of the young woman's flowery scent through stinging nostrils. Roses…it is not the same scent…but it is very close. Could it be? He thought for a long while as the pain left him, eyes frozen in the spot that she had vanished in, afraid that if he turned away, he would lose any trace of her. I have searched for you, it is true…but I never imagined that I would find you so soon…or so close to home. Rin? Could that really be Rin?

The man was still as stone from late afternoon until the sky was filled with stars and dead center hung a beautiful crescent moon. His mind was swimming in thought, still unsure if the woman he had seen was the woman he had been looking for, for nearly sixty years. There is no trace of my scent mixed in with hers, but those eyes…so pure and innocent, but filled with a fire that only my Rin had possessed. Damn! He took his right hand and placed it against his forehead, coving his crescent mark. I can't tell for sure…but her name is too much of a coincidence to ignore. I have to know!

Wait…He thought suddenly. A maiko? There was an instant pain at his chest. A small seed of jealousy planted itself in his powerful soul and his amber eyes flashed with annoyance. I cannot allow that…I will not! He took a step forward in the young woman's direction, hoping to regain some control of his senses, but stopped as the sound of soft footsteps approached him from behind.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" An irritating, yet questioning voice called to the taller demon from behind a few trees.

Sesshomaru turned his head slightly and caught the scent of his long time servant, Jaken. The small imp demon had not changed one bit as he stepped out into the clearing with his Lord across the way. He was still dressed in his usual brown kimono and walked barefoot with no problems. With eyes wide, he scanned the area for other inhabitants but found nothing as he strode over toward his Lord. "My Lord, are you alright?"

Of course he doesn't notice her scent…it was not the Rin he once knew…but I know. "Jaken, it is time we settle in for the night."

The small green imp demon nodded in agreement and then motioned his head in the direction of the trees behind them while still looking up at his Lord. "Ah-Un has just fallen asleep outside of the tree line, my Lord. Should I awaken them and bring them into the clearing?"

"That won't be necessary." Sesshomaru looked down at his loyal companion and noted the look of curiosity radiating out of his large yellow eyes.

"My Lord, is something wrong?" Jaken's voice was overflowing with concern.

Sesshomaru did not respond with words. Instead, he turned his head back into the direction that the woman had vanished in and made way toward it.

Jaken was dumbfounded. He is acting rather strange this evening. Could it be that he has eaten something that has made him ill? "My Lord! Please, wait for me!" Strange or not, he would never turn down an opportunity to follow his Lord until the end of his very own life. "Where are we going?"

Still, Sesshomaru refused to respond, but continued on his way like nothing could stop him.

Well…it is not like he hasn't done this before. I had better just follow. Before taking off too, the small imp almost tripped over something on the ground. What is this? A sword? "My Lord! Does this belong to you?" He called out before Sesshomaru could disappear too.

The great demon lord paused mid step and turned his head slightly to glance back at his companion. The sword…Miho forgot her sword. "Bring it." He commanded to Jaken, who was watching him intensely.

Jaken nodded enthusiastically and hoisted the heavy blade up until it rested comfortably on his shoulder. While looking up, he panicked as Sesshomaru vanished behind some trees. "Wait for me, my Lord! I am coming!" Jaken had to sprint to keep up with Sesshomaru's pace and quickly found the perfect stride so he would not be left behind. I wonder where we are headed now…hmm…and whose sword is this?

The little green imp demon took a moment to get a good whiff of the blade and fought a threatening smile. Olive cloves…such a well cared for blade. This belongs to a demon slayer. Ah! Jaken looked up to the back of Sesshomaru's silver haired head and wondered. Could he have defeated a demon slayer in my absence? But there was no blood to be seen! So where could they have gone? He took another good whiff and sighed. I detect the smell of roses…yellow roses to be exact. It was not a man that wielded this blade…but a woman!

"Do you understand?" Sesshomaru's voice was calm, but held hidden sadness that only Jaken and one other could always catch.

The small imp demon looked up again at the back of his Lord's head and fixed him with a questioning stare. "Do I understand what, my Lord?"

For a few long seconds, Jaken waited in silence for Sesshomaru to make a sound other than his delicate footsteps ahead of him on the hard, cool ground. "You will return that sword to its owner."

"Huh?" Jaken had never been more confused. "But my Lord, I do not know who this weapon belongs too."

"You will…soon enough." Was all that the great demon lord offered in response as they continued on their path.

Neither said a word after that until they reached another opening in the trees. Jaken lost all conscious thought a few minutes previous and did not see that Sesshomaru had stopped in his journey. "Oh!" He cried when his body bumped into the back of his Lord's leg. "What is wrong, my Lord?" Jaken righted himself quickly and jumped out in front of him, heavy sword in one hand and his trusty Staff of Two Heads in the other, ready to defend if necessary.

This time, Sesshomaru responded. "A teahouse."

"What about it, my Lord?" Jaken had to squint his eyes to get a better look and saw a rather large building made entirely of well preserved wood. Smoke billowed out of a well positioned vent in the center of the roof.

"Go and fetch Ah-Un. I will be staying here tonight."

Jaken was, again, dumbfounded. "B…b…but my Lord…?"

"Do as I say." Sesshomaru commanded before moving toward the large building.

Unsure of what else to do, Jaken bowed forward at the waist in respect and did as his Lord wished. What was the point of following if he was going to send me back anyway? And what in the world is so fascinating about a teahouse with human occupants? Truly unusu…al! Before Jaken could take another step, a powerful clawed hand shot out and snatched the sword that he was still holding and had since forgotten until now. He turned around fast to see Sesshomaru holding it with a curious look in his molten eyes. "My Lord?"

"I will keep this with me. Go now." With a wave of his hand, Jaken did as he was told and continued on his way, now more confused than ever before. My Lord…have you finally cracked? Jaken shook his head, bowed to Sesshomaru and then left.

Sesshomaru did not bother to see his servant off. He was too preoccupied with the sweet scent of yellow roses that wafted through the air toward his oversensitive nose. "Found you." He whispered softly while he looked up toward an open upstairs window.

There, pacing back and forth in and out of view, was the woman who called herself Miho. "Rin…?"

Author's Note: Now is the time I ask you all what you think so far? Is it too complicated to follow? Should I add more description, or are the characters too out of character? Sigh.

At the moment, I am just letting this story carry me along as I let the words flow through my fingertips. I hope you are all enjoying it because it is quite a treat to write about one of my favorite couples in Manga/Anime history.

Also, I thought I might share a little bit of personal information with you guys about writing in general. When I write fanfiction, I take it as an opportunity to practice my writing styles and tones. It is a major help when it comes to writing my very own short stories and one shots based on my own imagination. I hope that some of you are the same way and take the time to improve your writing so that you can have the opportunity to be very successful like I have become outside of this site.

Anyway…you guys are in for a real treat when this story is over because I have a special surprise that will make all of you Rin fans out there go nuts! Actually, I may expose said treat before the exact end but feel free to take a few guesses as to what it might be if you would like.

Enjoy!