Chapter 4 From Want to Warning

I don't own Inuyasha

Her brow furrowed as she paced the small hut and raked her fingers through her hair to bring it out of her face. Her anger building in conjunction with her thoughts. She stopped as her eyes landed on a brown case. Striding over to it, she yanked it away from the wall and flung the top open.

'You promised me. All I wanted was to be by your side. You made me believe that I could be with you forever. You lied to me; you left me here and all that I could ever think about was you. It was always about you! You and your damn quest for power! You think you repaid your debt to Tensaiga, but the debt that you really owe is to me! I'm the reason you have the power that you have now!'

She tore through the case, ripping out several kimonos that she had either outgrown or had yet to wear. Several of the villagers looked up from their work as she stormed out of the hut, scraps of material bundled in her arms and falling to the ground. Her hair disheveled once again and her breath, sporadic, as she nearly ran. Coming to the spot that she had spoken to him the day before, she tossed the material over the edge and watched the wind separate it as it floated towards its destination.

…

He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, allowing the cool water of a small waterfall to run down the length of his hair and body. He frowned as an angelic image of her formed in his mind. Shaking his head, he pulled from underneath the water and snorted. Swimming to the edge, he rested against it. She was far from angelic. She was an overly confident, self-asserting, b... He couldn't bring himself to complete that thought despite the fact that she infuriated him to the point that it hurt! But she was all he could think about. Closing his eyes again, he ran his hand under the wet bangs against his forehead. Was he a fool? Only one would want to see her again.

…

Rin waited as the snake demon charged her. It's mouth as large as her body as it dared to inject her with its poisonous fangs. Jumping back at angles through the trees, she watched the demon change directions to follow her. Exactly what she wanted. Circling back quickly she threw one of the daggers to pin the tail of his body to a tree. Boldly, she waited, holding out her arm with the blade facing downward as if judging the distance the demon would have between his head and herself. Coming within inches of her hand, the demon stopped.

"Foolishhh woman, what will you do?"

"Foolishhh demon, you cannot move!" she mocked as she twirled the weapon in front of its face.

Trying to move he struggled. "What have you done?"

"I've only pinned you." She stopped twirling the dagger as her facial expression became serious.

"You will pay fo…"

"Be silent." The demon was cut off as the blade made it's way through it's scaly head.

She coldly pulled the dagger back out and watched the half of his body crumple to the ground. Walking over to remove the other dagger from the tree, she pulled it then waited for a moment.

"What are you looking at?" She turned her attention to the tree to the side of her as he continued to lean against it.

"Not much obviously. You're on my land."

Irritated by it she huffed. Taking a step back she drew a line in the dirt with her foot.

"And now I'm off it!"

He shook his head as he uncrossed his arms, "What happened to you?"

"You've never cared about what happened to anyone before. Don't act like you care now."

He allowed his brow to lift slightly, "Interesting!"

"What?"

"Exactly how did you come to that conclusion?"

Rin half laughed, unbelieving the question that he had just asked.

"You enjoy making people define your cold-hearted, unbending ways don't you? It's so annoying."

In all the time that he had been around Rin, this was the first time she had ever directly accused him of being cold-hearted. He remembered that as a child, she thought that he was far from it. Even, kind. He had always figured she was too young to truly understand that she was favored. He never showed emotion toward any other. Of course because he had shown her a different side of himself, she thought that he showed it to everyone else, which wasn't the case. Something about the words cold-hearted and unbending, coming from her, had an effect. It seemed to truly leave him stunned to find words.

"…cold-hearted?"

Rin turned to face him. Walking back toward him she closed the distance. She had never been closer to him than she was now and yet he hadn't moved at all. Was he trying to act as if he still trusted her? She tilted her head up slightly and met his gaze with her own.

"Was it not you who hated humans? You killed ruthlessly and effortlessly without a second thought did you not? You question others when you find it convenient yet you owe no one else an explanation. In what other way might I define the way in which you treat everyone around you? Cold-hearted sums you up quite well my lord."

Rin could hear the thunder sound and felt light raindrops as she challenged his gaze.

"If you must find me so cold-hearted then I suggest you take look at yourself. You've become consumed with your work. You find joy in killing. Something you never took an interest in before. You came clear across the lands just to seek that demon out!"

Rin glanced the snake demon's body behind her then smirked as her eyes fell back on his face.

"…an eye for an eye. You should be so proud of what you made me."

"Explain your meaning."

"…"

His gaze was cold and distant. It was reminiscent of the ones he directed at his enemies. He wasn't far from striking her, though his calm demeanor might have fooled someone who didn't know him so well. Clearly now, her proximity frustrated him. Smartly, she kept her cool and moved to a less threatening distance, but was surprised to find her wrist caught in his hand. She had gotten more of his attention than she wanted.

"Keep your hands off of me!"

"How am I involved with the way that you are now?"

"I don't owe you an explanation."

"Then why are you here?"

She snatched her hand from his grasp angrily as she continued.

"Seems like you've been too close to a few of the villages for their comfort. You would do yourself a favor by keeping your distance…"

"And if I don't?"

"I am a demon slayer if you haven't figured that out yet." She moved away from him, pulling at the sleeve of her kimono.

"So you are."

Had he not have pushed her, would she have admitted that she was there to warn him? She had, in fact, tried to leave without saying anything. But, had it not have been for his actions, would she have shown up at all? He looked down at his claws. She foolishly wished to challenge him, yet she was still so fragile.

A/N: Thanks again for reviewing. This is going past six chapters obviously :)

Chapter 5: Fighting Fair