Cycle
Rin hoisted her package higher on her back, and bent down to straighten her geta sandals. Groaning at an annoying and lone pebble caught between her toes, she sighed with relief when she removed the offending object. Grinning to herself, she smoothed her hair back and continued on her way.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I will wait
But don't keep away 'till late
I live in the clouds in a castle by the lake
your maiden cries until you awake
Sesshoumaru-sama, I will wait
'till our paths cross as destined by fate
I walk the roads through fields of weeds
I'll call your name through every bent reed
Sesshoumaru-sama, I will wait
until shimigami my body does take
Even then in heavens surely I'll lay
Waiting to return to you one day
Sesshoumaru-sama, I will wait
to return to you one day."
Rin eyed the large crossroads ahead with the bustling capitol. Continuing the song in a low hum, she kept her steady pace forward into the Capitol: Kyoto.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
"Na-ra-ku..."
"Yes Aikou-Akan?
"Have you killed her yet?"
"No. Soon."
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The entire gang spent six seasons trekking east-bound, finally arriving at the capitol. They agreed to spend one night just outside the city to prepare. The miko, Kagome gathered herbs and created a masking spell for Shippou, Inuyasha, and most importantly, Sesshoumaru.
"Man, this stuff stinks. It's so horrid on my sensitive nose. Blech!" complained Inuyasha. Shippou groaned.
"Come on, Inuyasha. You ability to smell has been greatly reduced. I don't know WHAT your problem is. You've got issues, Inuyasha, serious issues." berated Shippou.
"Hey, at least I didn't sleep with a CAT, Fox-demon!" Inuyasha snapped. Kilala gave off a warning growl, and Inuyasha just rolled his eyes.
"Seriously, I think I'm the only one is this little happy group NOT getting any-OW!!!"
"SIT!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Sesshoumau just ignored his half-brother. Here it was, leaves were falling, and the whole earth was preparing soon for winter. If Naraku were to attack their group, it would be in two seasons, for his insects scouts were strongest just before summer.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
"Tomoe? Could you please give Rin there a hand?" called the head bar hostess. Rin perked up from her chore of ringing out a small mountain saikori rags to be used for the party night ahead. "Oh, no, I'm quite fine. Am I moving too slowly?"
The older, harsh woman scoffed. "You were day-dreaming again, Rin. Honestly, day-dreams do nothing to keep the mind sharp! Stay focused!"
Rin pursed her lips together, and responded with a pert, "Hai!".
It was a long ten hours that slowly crawled by, and the bar was readying itself to close. Rin shuddered, inwardly recounting the events of the night. Only four men grabbed her ass, but one had the nerve to lay a hand on her breasts. Purchasing a small jug of house sake, she clumsily made her way back up to her room to rest. Closing the rickety door, she tipsily plopped down on the futon, her long black hair shaggily curtained around her shoulders. Letting out a weary sigh, she opened her sake and took a gulp.
She had arrived here several months ago, and it was now the middle of winter. She lived and worked at a hostess bar, known for it's blatant prostitution and flowing sake. She was only a waitress, but often times customers would ignore this, and attempt to purchase her for the night. She desperately practiced her arts, and saved up so she could learn dance from the main school in town, hoping it to be the key to healthier employment soon. She no longer had her clothes from the time she was a lady, and the only remnants of her previous life with Sesshoumaru was the ever-present amulet strapped around her neck. However, as of a week before, it started to contain a faint, warm glow from it's center, causing her to lower the necklace further so it wouldn't be seen.
She bought her long, slender fingers to her necklace and slipped it out of its confines cautiously. She turned it about while staring at it as she often did while admiring it, her tired and red eyes examining every crevice despite her intoxication. Suddenly, the amulet whispered her name softly, "Rin".
Her eyes widened, and she dropped the amulet onto her lap with a gasp. "Oh Kami....I know that voice!" She stumbled backward towards the door in horror.
She had not heard his voice in seven years.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Sesshoumaru leaned back, his long dark locks running down his back. Everyone in the group was now asleep, and his eyes glittered dark blue as he kept watch. The cold winter wind blew mercilessly outside, the chill permeating through to his temporarily human bones. Finally getting up, he cautiously made his way to the door, sliding a thick fur hide over his shoulders and bracing himself for the cold. Opening the door, the wind howled as he stepped out to be embraced by winter's torment.
Ice knives dug into his body....he sputtered and coughed, making his way to the sake house down the alley, only a three minute walk that felt as if it took hours. Gripping the door, he swung it open, and stumbled inside- as a human, there was little grace to be held. The wind blew out the nearest lights, leaving him almost night-blind, yet the warmth of the room welcomed him, the scent of noodles, sake, and takoyaki heavy in the air. His stomach churned and growled, his cheeks flushed as his skin adjusted to the new temperature. He was about to inquire when a stark, barking voice addressed him crudely.
"Yo, what you want? The whores are gone. We're closing. Stop standing there, pick something and go... I ain't got all fucking night."
He had to remind himself not to growl...his swords were of no use against the sake wench before him. His cool, dark blue orbs eyed the middled-aged, tall woman before him, dressed in mostly bright and cheery hues, a direct contrast to her far-from-bubbly personality. "Onna....woman...one canteen of sake, and one cup. Four orders of gyoza dumplings, takoyaki balls, whatever is left. And absolutely no whores required, I can eat well enough alone."
In the shadows to the far corner, a slender figure made her way down the stairs, clad in a dark brown kimono and woven shawl. She shivered, not from the cold....but what she had witnessed only a moment ago in the confines of her room. Seeing a customer, she slumped against the wall and slid down quietly while waiting her turn. After a moment, the woman started to eye him curiously. Feeling a pair of eyes watching him during the wait for his order, he turned around to face her. Her dark, slightly wavy hair rippled down her back and shoulders, a few tendrils on her face....the room just a little too dark for him to make out the features of her face with his human eyes. "What, onna?" he asked plainly, and the woman gasped, trembling in fear. The old sake waitress stepped out with a small candle, illuminating the small area in which they set in a feeble, weak light.
The woman got up on trembling legs, covered her face, and quickly ran away without a word to him. Sesshoumaru scowled, reaching into his money pouch silently and dropping sufficient coinage onto the counter, his eyes on the bizarre woman. She turned the corner to the stairs, and then he saw it-the amulet.
His eyes widened, and he shook his head. His ears told him the sake wench was calling his attention, but he numbly took the food, the sake, and left without another word.
"Rin?"
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
"AAAAAARGH!" She screamed, throwing her sake canteen to the wall, her face streaked with tears. "Rin....you are LOSING YOUR MIND!"
She collapsed down onto her futon, her head in her hands as she weeped bitter tears. "I'm going insane....aren't I? Rin.....that is not Sesshoumaru.....he left you behind....he is not coming back...stop looking for resemblances in each man you see...." But his face had the same jawline, the same bone structure....long silken locks, but instead of pristine silver, they were as dark as coal...She shook her head, and lay down onto the stiff bedding, tears wetting the sheets as she cried herself into a drunken sleep.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Ume plum blossoms brached out onto the trees in their glory as the last flower of winter, withered, then died. In their place, sakura blossoms reigned, heralding the middle of spring coming to a close. Insects buzzed in the air, the warm wind carrying the heady scent of flowers. Sesshoumaru came to order lunch everyday at the same seedy sake house, keeping his eye out for the woman, trying to to convince himself that he wasn't losing his mind, but he never saw her. Day after day he would silently sit in the corner, drinking his sake and munching on his gyoza dumplings, hoping for a glimpse. Finally, one day he was interrupted from his thoughts by a slam of a full sake canteen on the table.
"Yo....you're that bastard, aren't you? Scared my new girl off?"
He looked up to see the sake wench looming over him angrily. He shrugged, "Are you certain she wasn't scared off by the likes of you, onna?"
She snarled, "Look mister, I'm doing you a favor. Two, actually. First off, she's not a whore anyways. Secondly, she works in a house on the other end of town. Good for her, actually. She always wanted to dance, but couldn't here because men got one thing on their minds."
His eyes widened at this information, suddenly piecing everything together. "Which house is this!" He shot up straight on his feet, staring her down. The entire place dropped their chopsticks and cups, all clattering into the tables at the commanding tone of his baritone voice.
The wench chuckled, "I don't know, mister. You could ask around for her, though. Her name is Rin."
His ears went deaf, and he forced himself to control his emotions. Damned bitch probably knew why he'd been coming all along....and waited until now so he would eat there and provide cash flow for the information. He slammed his fist into the wall, snapping the wood aside and cutting his knuckles. Kicking his right leg through a table, the wood smashed against the floor, and the food flew off the table hitting the walls. The occupants all clenched their tables in shock, the head wench frozen in terror. He caught his breath...looking around he realized what he had done. Dropping gold on the floor, he turned around and left.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Rin stomped her foot onto the ground, the turned with her fan in hand. The singer's tones rang out a bright melody of a summer approaching, and a handsome fool ignoring a chance at summer's love in order to pay attention to his other love; sake. Summer pounded and banged her fists at his heart, wept, and soon was carried away as the next season forced her to abandon the fool. In her death, she proclaimed that year after year, she would return to him again, hoping he had run out of sake.
The tale of the dance sad, it remained whimsical by it's sound and the many references to sake. Plus, the stomping bit was fun, too. Happy to finally have a chance to dance again, Rin soaked up all the knowledge the lessons she took currently had to offer, glad to finally have formal training under a master. While her current job was a mere step up from a sake bar hostess, she did truly enjoy it. Thanking the master of the school at the end of her lesson, she bowed, slid the shoji screen open to leave.
"Wait, Rin."
She froze, and turned around to face her master once more. "Yes Sensei-teacher?"
"Rin, you are doing well. Soon we will select a performance name for you. Tonight, please report to the Chidori teahouse for work. That is your instructions from your house."
Rin nodded. "Alright. I will do my best."
"Gambatte."
She smiled, walking down the street alongside the Pontocho river humming a tune..then smiled, remembering how she sang it as she strode into this town. Suddenly, she yelped as she stepped on a loose pebble wedged into her zori shoe. Peering down, she yanks the pebble out, and continues along her way.
"Odd..." she wondered....how things had a habit.....of coming back full circle.
The sinister eyes watched their prey as she slid her shoe back on, she turned around a corner, and out of sight. They turned around, and walked quickly in the darkness that the alley provided....
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The party was going on without a hitch, the men already halfway to drunk, the hostesses mingling and keeping the conversation and sake flowing. Finally, the group ordered for some dancing and stories.
"Ah, we have the new girl...let's bring her in!"
The man in the dark monk's clothing beamed, "Ohhhhh yes! That's what I'm talking about! -More Sake!" He was quickly jabbed in the ribs by a seemingly younger man.
"Shut up, hentai pervert you! -Sorry, he's not very good at holding his liquor....thank Kami Shippou isn't here or none of your cats would be safe...OW!!!" The dark bopped him on the head and grinned.
"All I'm saying is, if Naruku's latest sign isn't a trap, or finaly battle could be any day. The ladies are enjoying the springs- we can't we enjoy what this city has to offer? The ladies are so-OWWWW!!!"
The third man had had enough. Bashing the two loudmouth's heads together, they were stunned for all of one moment before squabbling loudly again. He sighed, slumping down and downing the contents of the cup before looking up to watch the dancer begin. He tilted his head curiously as she opened the shoji door politely while her face was down, shifting her weight along the tatami mats and closing it with her back turned. Her ro open weave kimono was bright lavender, reflecting summer's wisteria, one sleeve down to expose the red and white kimono underneath, her bright green obi low on her hips. She turned around once more, bowing on the floor before starting her dance. He tensed in frustration, craning his neck trying to see her face, finding it impossible.
She danced the same dance she had practiced before, imitating Summer trying to enchant the fool into enjoying her many pleasures...warmth....beauty.....charm...the fan languidly fluttering to show the slow breeze of the summer. Leaning back slightly, one slender, ivory-skinned hand shielding from the sun, the other fanning her flushed face, her head tilted to let her long, almost bone-straight hair hang down her back, stopping just above the knees, yet adorned with brass and silver flutters and hair ornaments.
A child of the sun, Summer danced merrily trying to get her love's attention, the fan slowly fluttering away from her face, revealing her visage to the party in the room. Eyebrows sat high and groomed, wide, exquisite eyes with a sparkling light brown orbs that outshone the brightest star, flushed cheeks, rouged lips...she resembled the most perfect doll in motion...
He dropped his chopsticks, and his then jaw. His eyes widened with shock at the display of womanly perfection before him, and he put the puzzle together- after so many, many years, they met again...
....this.....was.....his Rin......
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
I wanted to thank those who have been reading. To be honest, I didn't really show any of my friends this. The whole reason why I started this story was sort of an outlet for the many feelings I went though after I was attacked. Denial, anger, pain grief, rehabilitation. So, it seems weird to come back to this. It was a very painful time for me and I lost so many friends of mine.
The good news is, I didn't want this to rule my life. I sought treatment, seeing a therapist, persecuated the bastard to the fullest extent I could, and spoke out to make sure this sicko would never touch anyone again. I've moved on in many aspects of my life, relationship-wise, career-wise, and I believe I've grown a lot since then as well. I also made some friends as well online that are in an Inuyasha-based RP. They've been pretty nice to me allowing me to pretty much make up my own character since they pretty much had dibs on every character except Kanna.....and she's creepy.
So, this is in part dedicated to them. I don't think they'll actually read this or nothing. But nonetheless, they indirectly inspired me to finish this fic. So, R and M, this is your fault. . .
So again, thank you for continuing to read. Rin's grown much stronger in the past chapters, having to uproot her life several times, sometimes really struggling to get by. I told myself that if I wrote this, I wanted Rin's character development to heavily outweigh Sesshoumaru's- knocking him from his oh-so-comfy pedestal. Now the question is- how will Sesshoumaru take the fact that all along, he's had his true mate in front of him? And will he seize the chance, or be a dork and ignore it? I mean, this IS Sesshoumaru we're talking about here....