A/N: I'll say it once, I do not own Inuyasha. Sadly. I've never had amnesia, just a really bad case of forgetfulness, and I don't know if this is accurate or not. I apologize if it isn't.
Doctors diagnosed her with post-traumatic amnesia. To Rin's discontentment, she had to stay in the hospital as they ran tests. Other then the astonishingly large lack of vaccinations and strange bite; causing them to record it for the books, she was perfectly healthy. That was taken care of; and after a week and a half she was discharged in the custody of Mrs. Higurashi. Of course the grandpa made up a elaborate story, that surprisingly, made sense. Surprisingly.
The motherly lady took no time getting her settled and acquainted with the family. Higurashi Souta, a boy around the same age, a tad more mature. She had a daughter, Higurashi Kagome, who had gotten married a few months ago to an Inuyasha. She was living in the feudal dimension, where she had arrived from.
"He's a half demon," Rin said. Then she blinked. Where had that come from? His name did mean dog demon strangely. The woman looked as if she was thinking the same.
"How do you know that?" she politely drived. The medical staff had assured her that it was normal if the girl started regaining memories and normal if she didn't. It was sooner than she had expected.
"I don't know," she honestly said, bringing a hand to her temple. An oncoming headache was coming back with vengeance and she groaned. Being considerate, the woman closed the door and left her to rest. Voices wafted outside, before moving in the living room. She paid no mind.
Staring up at the ceiling she wondered so many questions, she could drown in all of them if they were water. Sighing, she turned over to look out of the window. It was a clear night, stars more visible since the place was up high in elevation on top of stairs. Staining the sky, a rich hue of purple, a tiptoe away from black. Both complimented each other greatly and it would take anyone's breath and leave them in a state of awe. Rin felt like she'd seen better night skies.
(000)
"Honey you really should go on that date," Mama Higurashi stirred the pot. Dinner was coming up and she had prepared Rin's favorite dish. A simple soup, the exact one that she had first eaten in the residence. Though it wasn't hard to cook, the young woman had insisted for her to make it, and her only. Secretly, it made her happy that she alone, could only make the dish.
"Okaa-san, you sound just like them. I'm perfectly content with being a independent free woman!" Rin Higurashi declared, pounding a fist on her chest. Mrs. Higurashi laughed at her independence, Rin saluting and pretending to battle a foe.
"Yea, Rin-nee," Souta grinned devishly, as he flicked a piece of rice at her. She returned the act, and before the innocent food flicking escalated in a full blown food fight, Grandpa Higurashi entered the kitchen. "Rin, I found something that will help you remember!" he giddily cheered, placing a dried up assortment of herbs in her face. "Er...it's fine," Rin pushed it far, far from her face, a putrid scent emitting from the plants.
She had been eager to learn of her past and took his offers that either didn't work or went disastrously wrong. So far, she had remembered her first name, still stumped on her surname, and recalled others in her past life. An annoying toad, and a stark figure dressed in snow were the ones that were the most frequent. Souta teased her and said it was her knight in shining prince, or snow prince much to her embarrassment and their merriment.
Dreams, good and bad, were the same as the visions, a difference, the length. Dreams tended to be longer. All blurred together, and it was hard to find any specific details. Faces were faded out, and words were muffled. It was okay though, she was content with what she had. A good, loving family. A house with all her needs. Really good friends. What else could she wish for?
"She's still probably thinking about her snow prince," he joked, eye's squinted in a line from the large smile, dodging the chopstick that was thrown at him. The two elder Higurashi's silently agreed, as Rin seemed to speak about him the most. Most meaning every week or so.
"It's not my fault he pops up the most," she huffed, eating faster in anger. Buyo rubbed against her leg purring. She had taken a immediate liking to the feline, as he did to her. Dropping a nice portion of fish, the plump cat gobbling it up with a satisfied meow. He jumped up in her lap and she scratched under his chin, slowly moving to his ears.
"If you keep babying him he's going to explode from obesity," Souta joked. All had joked he couldn't get any bigger, thankfully he didn't, and they didn't want to scold her for her spoiling the domestic cat.
"You're jealous that he prefers me over you," she held her chin high, in a mocking fashion. As if the calico could understand, he meowed and lazily turned an open eye at the boy.
"Dears, aren't you both going to graduate soon?" the mother hummed, chopping up the fresh carrots and onions. Graduation was a week from now, the two teens both feeling excitement queasily jump in their stomachs.
Rin, however, had no idea what she wanted to do. School was a hassle for her, realizing that she wasn't very educated though she was smart, in a aspect. Mathematics, who created that and what made them do it? Don't they know numbers and letters don't mix? Although she was horrible and didn't hide it in that class, she was a fairly good student, and she would have no trouble being excepted into collage. If she could make up her mind.
"I don't know what to do with my life," she put her face down on the table in despair, Buyo not at all jostled knowing she did it a lot. "Same here sister," Souta mockingly jested, though he was no better off.
"You can work at the shrine with me!" the elder clacked his chopsticks. He tried to persuade the girl to be a shrine maiden and even forced her in an outfit. Much to his dismay, she declined.
"Now, now, it's alright. Kagome was no better, and she's fine," a nostalgic look crossed her face.
"Hate to break it to you mom, but we don't have demon boyfriends. Also I don't swing that way," the boy quipped.
A pause before all burst out laughing, Buyo darting off in fright from the racket. The cooking pot overflowed, burnt, and food was strewn from the outburst, chopsticks flying. No one cared, as they toppled in their fits, stomachs aching.
(000)
A faithful week had passed. The two teenagers—no adults, held their proof to adulthood. The pair said many goodbyes to their peers, promising to keep in touch and to hang out sometime.
Another week had gone by. And then another. A whole month. Rin sighed, bangs floating in the exhale. Rin had kept the side ponytail, and it did earn her a few stares. Though it was childish, she kept the little trait.
"Maybe I should work in the shrine. A miko," she contemplated to herself, as she sat at the table, her face on the surface. Not wanting to leave home, she stayed at the shrine. Home would be here and so would she. Souta moved to a university near Tokyo, and would come by winter. Rin, on the other hand, did apply for a university near home, and did get in. But it suited someone else. Not her. Somehow, it didn't feel right.
"It's fine dear, as long as you enjoy what you do," the Higurashi placed down a bowl of the young woman's comfort food. They appreciated the company, and Rin helped around.
"Thank you," she sipped the broth, letting the warmth calm, the familiar taste comforting her.
"Now, maybe you can tell me what's troubling you?" the mother sat down across from her.
Swallowing, she put her chopsticks on the rim, toying with the straw in her glass. "Well...I really don't know where I'm going. I don't really...see myself in a job. I'm not sure, um," knowing she was rambling she cut it off. A bad habit of her's.
"Sweetheart," she felt a hand on her's, a hand with age. "I'll support you, but it's not up to me. It's not my life I'm in control of. It's yours." The woman, looking more of a child, nodded. "I understand, mama," she said quietly.
The hand left hers and she was given a hug for condolence. She turned to hug her back. The pair stared out the window, watching the Sacred Tree leaves danced in the wind.
"Rin, do you miss your life?" her mother said.
"No, but I would like to know what happened," she affirmed candidly. Her life was in a hole that she had driven in, and so far she was going nowhere. Be that as it may, she loved her life here. But it was ordinary to want to go back. Over thinking on the all could haves and ifs.
For now she would live in this world.
(000)
"Rinny carry that over there," the older man pointed at a corner. Kneading her hands to get the dirt and dust that clinged to her fingers and in her nails, the girl wiped the beading sweat off her forehead. Summer had rolled on, and she was an official shrine maiden. The uniform was from generations ago and she could wear it on the festive days. Not that she wanted to wear it, the heat was sweltering enough.
"Anything else?" she stretched out her back, the kinks announcing themselves in groans and cracks.
"I think so," he scratched the top of his balding head. He went off, and Rin straightened out the shrine. The well stood foreboding, as if awaiting something. Someone. Feeling uneasy, she backed out and closed it behind, she was curious to see what was down there since she seemingly appeared from there; and old checkered kimono and indentations on her wrist to show the doubtful girl at the time. Which totals to about a decade today.
To celebrate her supposed "birthday", her adoptive mother baked a cake, frosting white. "Very funny," she said through her mouthful, the velvety smoothness of the frosting melting into the spongy texture of the dessert. Her friends were in finals, and she didn't want to bother them.
"Snow white, waiting for her prince" her mom riled her up. "Mom!" she flushed. "I don't see why you have to be some sensitive, you don't even know if he's real," the grandpa chewing away at his.
"Maybe I'm crazy," Rin mumbled through the pastry. Ladylike she hated it, who created that term? Large bites, and she was on her fourth slice. Her stomach, as said and quoted from Souta, "a black abyss that if you looked to long at, it would suck you in where you would spend the rest of your existence in space." Provoking a punch from her.
"Manners Rin-chan," her mother lightly prompted. Wiping a napkin on her frosted hands, she drew air through her nose, wheezing as she choked.
Gifts were handed out, Rin insisted she wanted nothing but nevertheless her mother and grandpa got her things. A trinket from her grandfather that would lead her to her destiny, he said, from eons ago, and clothes from her mother. Showing them appreciation, she kissed both on the cheeks before heading to her bedroom. Changing into her new pajamas, she flopped on the bed wrapping the sheets around her.
"Ugh, what is that darned..." she huffed in annoyance, digging her fingers into the crack of her mattress. Flipping on her lamp, she held the light over it. A photo booth strip of Kagome and Inuyasha grinned at her. Each panel began as any regular picture would, peace signs though Inuyasha was scowling. It seemed that he was grumpier then a stooge. Then it evolved into a fight that showed Inuyasha's feet and Kagome seething at him.
It was hard to imagine that they were married, but young love was tricky. Placing it in the drawer of her desk, not wanting it to become more creased from her laying on, she flipped off the bulb; Buyo and her resting in her covers.
(000)
"Where is that cat?" she muttered to herself, searching for the fat calico cat. She knew he wandered but it was lunchtime and he usually came racing. Checking his usual places and every inch of the household, she went out to the shrine. Opening it cautiously, she slid in, closing the door. The shelves had the usual relics and oddities, and she steeled her nerves to take a gander in the well. It was black, the sunlight a sliver. Taking a flashlight they kept, in case of blackouts, she switched it on.
Releasing a relieved breath, she leaned further. Ordinary, no deranged monster in there. A shine bounced off the light catching her attention and she edged herself in, upper body in the dwelling. Raising the light at an angle, Rin squinted. A sword? No, too short. Covered by the copious dust, it was hardly noticeable. Had gramps accidentally misplace it?
Edging herself out, she turned to leave, taking a step. A yowl shrieked at her, her shoe stepping on what's known as Buyo. Rin backpedaled, but there wasn't room. Taking her by shock, she tittered over the wooden plank. Then she was falling. Falling fast.
Breath trapped in her windpipe, her eyes wide, drying as they stayed widened. Blends of purple and blue filled her view and she felt herself still falling. Shouldn't she have reached the bottom, (she took that back not wanting to meet her fate). Flipping herself she gasped. Galaxy, space, in what she was falling in. Had she fallen in the universe?
Then she hit the bottom. Quite hard.
"Oof!" she exclaimed, the trapped air escaping at the impact. Curling up, she cringed at the sting before she got up. The weapon was to her right and she brushed it off, coughing at the dust. No ladder, how would she get out? Oh, the vines!
Climbing her way out of the hole, the trailers had grown old, shriveled with age, clambering faster as she found that the support couldn't sustain her. The task was painstakingly hard, and she had various scratches on her arms and legs and a torn sundress. Tumbling on the grass, she sighed staring up. Rather then seeing a clear blue sky, a red foggy sky stared down.
Bolting up, she took in her surroundings. From Kagome's descriptions she told her mother, it was beautiful. A lot had happened since then. The grass had retained a green pastel color, but the trees seemed bare, and smoke seemed to be what the air was, the fogginess provoking her eyes to water. Worried at the sight, she made her way into the forests, what use to be forests at least, the smoke coming from further along and abroad from her.
The source ruins of what once was a village. People on horses jeering loudly, bandits. How'd she know that? Thinking, she almost slapped herself at her stupidity. So she was in the past. Back at home. Though it certainly was off in a way. Drilling her brain over the information of history class, she concluded she was in the feudal era. Where war was taking place; political, social, and military disturbance played a role. What a era to be in right now.
Stealthily making her getaway, she made sure with the utmost care to not step on anything that would give her away. Luck smiled on her this day, and she was traveling upwards unseen. The forests were getting thicker and she knew that she had no idea where she was heading. Her gut acted on it's own account, as she treaded, the sun sinking down. Soon, it was a inky black, the fumes blocking out the stars.
Exhausted she decided to take a short rest on the base of a tree. It was hidden, depths in the heart of the weald. So when a rustle sounded on her left, she nearly had a hernia. No time for hiding and the underbrush would provide noise. Gulping, she stood her ground, dagger behind her. A hideous face reared out, a demon. Reminded her of a snake, her gut wrenching at the sight. Self-consciously her fingers traveled to her right wrist, an itch beneath her skin she couldn't subdue.
"I knew you would be back, I wonder if you have that damned weapon," its tone vile, as it kept a careful distance. What was it going on about? She tuned it out as it continued with it's threats. Noting there was a scar on it's underbelly and what appeared, no was, a child's bite marks denting his tail, she come to the conscience younger past self did the damage. She thanked her past self.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you," she feigned to question, cocking her head for an effect. It mimicked her and gave her a once over, eye's lingering on her dress. "What are you wearing, ningen?" it said, perplexed.
"A sundress," she curtly spoked, puzzled but not showing it. Was it not mean-hearted as she thought? Grinning, and exposing its large mouth it chuckled,"Pity, it's pretty. It'll be stained red with your blood."
Moving swiftly, it lunged, mouth held wide open. Hurling herself to the side, as its teeth had sank deep in the tree. Realizing its mistake, it wriggled, limbs would have been very helpful at the moment. Without hesitation, she drove the blade all the way into it's skull. It cursed and screamed in it's native tongue, ceasing in an instant. Murky blood slide out getting her dress stained, contrasting with the blue. Though she wasn't hesitant, her hands shook as she pulled it out. Cleaning it off on her ruined dress, she continued to the path. Bombshelled at how she single-handedly took the spirit down, her instincts guiding her.
Slow clapping was heard in front of her.
On guard, she got out her cutlass, adrenaline rising again. A pale woman in the traditional attire of a miko stood in front of her. "Impressive, I've been tracking that thing for weeks," she complimented, eying the body in disgust.
"Thanks," she took, not trusting the woman. Sensing her distrust, she took a few steps back. "I haven't seen anyone like you," she observed her before looking straight at her. An awkward silence ensued. The priestess conveyed a sudden idea. "Young maiden, would you like to become a miko?"
"Actually I already am," Rin was tempted to be sarcastic, but decided against it. No need in making enemies. Her words raised the woman's eyebrows, her intuitions correct to her delight. "Then come to our shrine. We are losing mikos and I would be honored if you graced us. You have the power to become a high priestess. I sense it in your soul."
My soul? High priestess? Musing the offer over, she didn't really have another option except walk around with not a destination or plan. Besides she could run into situation she can't handle and had no perception whatsoever on demons and other creatures.
Knowledge of them was limited, the modern world forgetting about the former periods. Worn books from the sanctum contained some information, but it was old and it could be inaccurate. This land was foreign and had changed. Aware she had nowhere else, she signed a yes.
The shrine maiden smiled softly, and she gestured for her. Rin walked beside her before the woman spoke again. "May I ask what your name is?" The words caused her to stop, the woman peering at her curiously.
Should she say her full name or her first name? If she said her full name then could find Kagome. But if she did, maybe she couldn't find her surname. Struggling, she heard a muted exhale. "It's okay, you can tell me in the passing days."
She led ahead, Rin following a step short.
(000)
"Are you sure she was in there?" the mother frantically stressed, in the shrine. Rin had as far as her father-in-law knew, had fallen in the well. Rin and Kagome, two daughters gone. Souta left, she having no children to love.
"I'm sorry, but if she has fallen in, we can't bring her back," he sniveled. Buyo was in Mama Higurashi's lap, offering comfort. She stroked him, but felt no comfort out of it. She payed mind that it would have happened sooner, but it was unexpected and she felt she couldn't get use to the fact.
Police weren't a choice, what would they say. My daughter had went back to a parallel world where demons and spells existed. Also, she's from the past.
All she could do was worry and await her. That is if she came back.
A/N: A certain demon will be featured in the next chapter. R&R
