Run, Rin. Run! Don't look back. No matter what you hear, don't look back!

So she ran, through the fields of green and across the icy waters. She fled from the beast and the ones who were trying to protect her from the gruesome monster. She didn't look back, just like she was told.

But then she heard the scream. A scream that was similar to the voice she hasn't heard in nearly nine years. She stopped running and turned back, running toward the screaming sounds. She shouted the name of which the scream belonged to . . . .

"Mommy!" Rin suddenly sat up on her cot, only to be pushed back down by clawed hands. Her breathing was ragged, her chest rising and falling quick and heavy. Sobs were rising in her chest threatening to come out. It was still dark outside, she noted. Her eyes went searching around her. She saw a shape kneeling next to her with purple stripes along his cheeks and a crescent moon between his silver eyebrows. Only then did she realize that she was being held down by Sesshomaru-sama.

She blushed and quickly started to stammer, "L-Lord Sesshomaru. I-I didn't m-mean to w-wake you."

She was shaking violently and her eyes were darting away from his. He kneeled there, looking at her with curiosity. His thoughts were rushing all around in his mind. He didn't know what she dreamed about, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know, either. She must have realized she screamed aloud because she was trying not to get too near him. Her eyes were wide and her shoulders slumped over her body. He was scared to release her for fear she might fall over.

Before he could decide whether to speak or remain silent, Rin threw her body into his chest. She was shaking stronger than he realized. No tears came out of her eyes while he held her. Only her small whimpers were heard, muffled by his clothing. She pulled away suddenly, without warning.

"I'm s-sorry," she stuttered. "I j-just had a bad d-dream, that's a-all."

"Rin," he whispered. She still wouldn't meet his eyes. "Rin, look at me."

She lifted her head and look just over his right shoulder. He took hold of her chin lightly and said, "Let me see your brown eyes, Rin."

A sob let out as she shifted her eyes to his. He saw everything in those deep brown eyes. He saw what made her cry, he saw what made her cringe from his touch. He even saw what she feared most.

And that's what really shook him.

_*-*_*-*_

"I'm fine." He gave her a dark look before she continued, "Really, I'm fine. I just—I just need a bath. Yeah, a bath will do wonders for me, I'm sure."

She didn't believe it. Her voice still had a quiver and her eyes were glassy. He had the impression she was lying to him, or just not tell him the whole truth. She didn't want to speak of what the dream consist, so he left it at that. He was staring at her, trying to read her face. But the child learned from a master that having a stone face always threw off your opponent, making them think that you were solid, even when you were fighting an internal battle.

Like I am right this instant he thought.

She began to rise and pulled out a few necessities from the luggage Ah-Un had over its back. Without a backwards glance at Lord Sesshomaru, Rin left for the river nearby.

Sesshomaru watched as his ward left for a bath in the cool waters. It was still dark outside but Jaken began to stir. Kohaku remained in a silent sleep near a boulder just a few yards away. Once Jaken awakened, he immediately noticed his master kneeling not too far away.

Jaken stood at attention. "My lord," he began, "why are you up at this hour?"

Instead of answering his question, Lord Sesshomaru stood and returned to his post by the tree at which he was stationed before Rin's cries tore his from his sleep.

_*-*_*-*_

Rin followed the sound of running water until she reached the river with a waterfall a few yards away. She walked to the waterfall and began to disrobe next to it. She slowly stripped her kimono and left it to lie on a rock beside the waterfall. Poking a toe into the lukewarm water, she gave an involuntary shiver.

When she was up to her breasts in water, she ducked her head under. Once above water again, she turned over onto her back and floated, letting the water carry her. She closed her eyes.

It was only a dream. It was only a dream. It was only a dream. But no matter how many times she said it, it didn't feel true. It wasn't a dream. It was a memory. A memory she wanted to forget more than any other memory she had.

It's just a dream. It wasn't real. It's just a dream. It wasn't---

She cried out suddenly. Searing pain was ripping her lower stomach and she gave another cry. The pain boiled under her skin before she had the chance to recover from the first pang of pain. It hurt and she didn't know why. Another bolt of pain shot through her lower stomach and she clutched it. By now, she was standing in the water and began to move back toward her clothes. She felt the need to sit and breath.

Pain shots came more frequently and her stomach nearly exploded. She clutched it harder and waded out of the river. When she stood on dry land, she searched for her clothes. Remembering she left them on the rock by the river, she ran to the waterfall. Finding her clothes, she reached for them…

And only then did she notice the blood running down her legs.

She did what only every sensible woman would do.

She screamed.

A/N: Wow. I am so so so sorry that I am super late in updating. My bad! But trust me I will update faster. I already have the next chapter written out. All I have to do is put together the pieces. ( ; Review, dear readers! It makes me so happy and eager to update‼ -Willow