Disclaimer: This story is fiction, based upon the manga Inuyasha written by Rumiko Takahashi. This is intended for non-profit entertainment purposes only, and all rights to all characters are retained by the aforementioned author.
***I'm sorry this isn't the world's longest update. One thing I should mention: I may very well edit past chapters to fix discrepancies, so I hope that doesn't bother anyone. Please feel free to mention to me anything that either isn't historically accurate, or something that contradicts another passage in the story. Please let me know what you think!***
Rin finally, after what seemed an age, made it to the hot spring. She inhaled the cooling summer night air with pleasure, finally aching to soak herself in the hot water. She was beginning to feel the itch once again.
She carefully removed her kimono, unbound her long hair, and stepped into the water. Its heat sent goosebumps up her skin, through her fingertips - and up her thighs. Not now! She thought inwardly. Now that she had a hut of her own, she was able to... scratch the itch at night in bed. She certainly hadn't the nerve to do it out in the open, just in case someone was watching. She couldn't imagine the shame if someone was!
The water was deliciously warm and very high in minerals. In fact, it was one of the best things about living in what was now known as Inuyasha's village. Not only was it great to soak in and relax the mind, but also very healing to cuts and scrapes. One time a few years ago, when Rin was just learning the art of demon-slaying, she had gotten a large gash on her leg from falling onto a rock. After only three days of bathing it in the spring, it was nearly healed, but she could still hear Inuyasha badgering Sango for allowing Rin to get hurt.
"You really think I'm stupid enough to believe that Sesshomaru won't notice a scar that size on Rin's leg? We BOTH know who he'll start swingin' a sword at when he sees it!" They were all standing inside Inuyasha's hut, while Kagome ran out to get herbs for a poultice.
"Really, Inuyasha, it's rather far up on her leg. He probably won't notice at all," Sango said, matter-of-factly, while helping Rin to hold a cloth to her leg and stop the bleeding.
"Yeah, right," scoffed Inuyasha. "My brother's more observant than you think."
Rin, who was gingerly holding the rag to her leg, looked up at Inuyasha with wide eyes. Against her will, her cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson. At that exact moment, Kagome walked in.
"Rin, what's wrong?" asked Kagome. She immediately turned to her mate. "What did you say now?!"
"Huh? I didn't say nothin'," said Inuyasha sulkily, but Kagome wasn't fooled. She could see that he wasn't looking her in the eye.
"SIT!"
Inuyasha immediately made contact with the ground. Kagome didn't make him any noodles for the whole week.
As embarrassed as Rin was at the time, she looked back at the memory fondly. As time went by, she wondered if she could ever leave them all, even if her lord did come back. She hadn't imagined she could grow so attached to other people, especially after all the pain she had suffered with her family. But they were everything to her.
Well, not everything, she admitted to herself. Who was she kidding? If Sesshomaru-sama came back for her, she would follow him immediately. She just wasn't that sure that it would ever happen. After all, he knew that humans didn't live very long, and that she had passed into adulthood. Yet he still didn't return for her; and it was something that she simply didn't understand.
When they traveled together, she, Sesshomaru-sama, Ah-Un, and Jakken, her life had felt real and complete for the first time since she could remember. Most of the memories she had until Sesshomaru-sama raised her from the dead were of death, violence, and the loss of her family. However, her lord had come like an angel to save her and give her a new life. A life that was often fraught with danger, yes, but a life of excitement, new experiences, and joy.
Those who saw from the outside didn't understand. Many thought that Sesshomaru was simply using her, or that he showed her no affection. That was only because they couldn't see the subtle kindnesses he showed her - stopping for an extra day here or there, so she could gather food; or rescuing her from a dangerous enemy. One could even say that his choice to leave her in the village was an act of love, out of concern for her safety.
Or was it?
It was always in the back of Rin's mind that she had simply been left here so that her lord could continue on without her - so that he could easily be rid of her weak human tendencies. Though her heart felt that this wasn't true, she couldn't help her mind from thinking so.
She decided to end her thoughts and wash her hair. It had been a long time since it had been scrubbed well. Using a nearby stone, she rubbed herself all over, and considered herself done. Stepping out of the spring, she felt clean and revitalized. Why don't I do this more often? She thought. It felt wonderful.
As she stepped out of the water, she froze. She was certain she felt eyes upon her. Her senses told her so, though she felt no youkai presence nearby - well, she didn't until a moment ago, anyway. Now there was a small, barely detectable hint of a youkai. She didn't feel exactly threatened, but she certainly felt uncomfortable. Great, of all times to be caught without my clothes! Instead of gathering her robe, she immediately picked up her staff, which was nearby, and crouched into a defensive fighting stance.
"Who are you, and why do you watch me?" She waited a moment, still feeling the eyes upon her. "Speak, or die!"
Almost instantly after saying this, the uncomfortable feeling of being watched vanished. Rin waited a couple of minutes more, just in case, but a breeze blew suddenly and made her shiver. Cautiously, she put her robe on and decided to head for home. She was never more thankful for Sango's training than she was at that moment, though in her mind, she wished one thing.
She wished that it was Sesshomaru-sama's eyes upon her, and no one else's.
...
After catching Rin's scent, it wasn't long before Sesshomaru came upon the village. He noticed all the huts thatched with hay, the oxen picketed outdoors, the sound of cackling hens. He glanced indifferently at the structures and tried to ignore the awful smells. The only thing that kept him from passing the town in annoyance was reminding himself why he was there.
Rin.
He was surprised when he noticed that the most recent trail she left was away from the village. Moving quickly, he followed the small path into the rocky hills. He smelled no fear, so he was sure she was safe, though he couldn't help but wonder what drove her away from the village at such a late hour, when everyone else there was at home for the night.
Had she sensed his presence? No, that was impossible, he was certain. He had carefully cloaked his youkai aura, keeping it deeply buried. Only the most trained and sensitive youkai could detect him - and even then, his power would seem much lesser than it actually was. He'd had to become accustomed to cloaking his aura, due to the fact that everywhere he went, other youkai were always fighting him, trying to take his name for themselves. Of course, he enjoyed battle immensely, but the word "battle" didn't apply to the slaughter he almost always dealt to those who were foolish enough to assault him. Even the pleasure of bloodshed was beginning to become boring. The only thing he cared for anymore was the thing he was rapidly approaching. He hadn't felt like this in ages.
His weakness was beginning to become irritating. Thoughts of his past kept running through his mind. Why was his control slipping? Why couldn't he keep the memories away, like he always did?
It must be Rin. His love for Rin had changed; he couldn't deny that. He felt much differently about her now than he did when she was a child. Eight short years, and she was already grown. A few more, just a mere season in the life of a youkai, and she would be gone. Yet his love for her had become something intense. Possessive. Consuming.
Not unlike how he had felt two cenuries ago. This time, however, it wouldn't end in bloodshed, regret, and anguish. He would make sure of that.
The breeze in the air disrupted his thoughts. He noticed that he was coming to a clearing in the forest. There were mountains in a circle around it; it was a small valley. Boulders surrounded a steaming pool in the middle of the clearing, with large camphor trees all around it.
That was what had brought Rin this far up the mountain; a hot spring. Of course, he remembered that as a child she had loved them - and that was why he always tried to bring her to one whenever possible. He couldn't understand why she so liked to sit in hot water for hours on end, but then again, he couldn't understand most of the things that appealed to humans.
As he got slightly closer, he saw her. Rin, with her long, shining black hair, her large, beautiful eyes, her newly acquired full figure. He noticed this because Rin wasn't wearing any clothing.
He tried to force his eyes to look elsewhere, sparing her innocence from his gaze, but he was unable. Her rounded hips, the tight skin around her stomach(that wonderful mark of a young female who had not yet borne children), and her full breasts. There was no doubt about it - even among youkai, Rin would be considered a beauty. There was something distinctly wild and untamed about her - she bore the presence of a fighting spirit.
She had just finished bathing herself, and had stepped out of the water. It cascaded down her shoulders, chest, and thighs. She looked like a water-goddess.
Against his will, Sesshomaru felt himself stiffen, and his eyes begin to glow. His carefully hidden aura was beginning to be noticeable, but he couldn't help it. Every fiber of his being wished to go down to that pool, remove his clothing, and pull Rin into it.
Just then, he noticed Rin become uneasy as well. She immediately grabbed her staff, and crouched into a fighting stance. She shouted, "Who are you, and why do you watch me? Speak, or die!" Her energy had suddenly transformed from something benign into something intense. As humans went, her strength of spirit was strong. No match for high-level youkai, to be sure, but strong all the same.
Sesshomaru didn't know whether to be amused, or impressed. He certainly didn't wish to meet Rin this way - it would likely frighten her. He decided to head off to her home, since he knew where she was, and was close enough to come to her assistance, if necessary.
He wasn't sure she would need it, though. And that thought nearly made him smile.
...
Several miles away, far enough for Sesshomaru to be unable to notice their auras, two inu-youkai were searching.
They made a strange sight. One was in his full-youkai form - a large, white dog with black tips to his long coat. He was nearly as large as an elephant, each of his arms was as wide as the trunk of an oak tree, and his hair all stood on end. His eyes, easily the most terrifying part of him, were pools of crimson hate. He caught a scent, and howled.
Upon him sat a female, in her humanesque form. At first glance, she seemed a tall, elegant being, as most powerful youkai were, with long, beautiful blue-silver hair. Her face, however, was horribly scarred - three large slashes covered it almost completely, and blotched all over it were black-brown scales, from burns sustained long ago. One of her eyes was clouded from blindness, and she sat with difficulty upon the other demon, as though her balance was in question. However, one thing about her still exuded power. With one glance of her eye, her anger, intensity, and strength of will could sear to the bone.
"Easy, my brother," she said to the beast. "Our revenge shall not come tonight, nor tomorrow. But I vow to you, before we see the next full moon, that our vengeance shall be had."
Her eyes glowed fiercely with vicious glee.