I stood with Kohaku, feet away from my Lord as I gazed curiously upon the beautiful demon sitting royally on a throne before us. This womanly creature was nearly identical to Lord Sesshoumaru, with similar facial markings and lovely silver hair. Like Lord Sesshoumaru, she also had a crescent moon on her forehead. The way they spoke informally, I realized quickly that this was his mother, whom we had been searching for.
She mentioned the Meido stone, with power that possessed great strength, but also extreme danger. I clutched Kohaku's arm, and he looked down at me with a small smile to comfort me in response.
"We will be okay. Your Lord, Jaken and I are here to protect you when things get rough. You know that Lord Sesshoumaru would never let anything happen to you."
"That's right; he is my guardian," I nodded and sighed, trying to calm the hot, anxious bubbles that were brewing in my stomach.
With little warning, an ominous, gigantic black hound-like demon assembled on the building before us, above my Lord's mother. Its eerie howl set each hair upon my body straight. I tightened my grip on Kohaku, whose stance became stiff with fear.
"That is a hell hound," His mother stated simply, as Lord Sesshoumaru swiped at the hound unsuccessfully with his Tensaiga. "No matter what you do, your sword will neither injure nor heal it."
The hound evaded Lord Sesshoumaru and bounded towards us with unimaginable speed and power. I felt Kohaku shield me and yell before we were engulfed by darkness. There was no pain or fright at that point; just a wave of extreme exhaustion that instantly rushed over me. I closed my eyes and felt weightless as I descended into blackness.
"Rin! Rin, are you alright?" His voice spoke to me, as I awoke on a cold, stone seat. My head pounded and I winced at the bright sun above, penetrating my eyelids and stinging my eyes.
"Lord Sesshoumaru…" I uttered quietly, the only words I was able to articulate. Thoughts jumbled through my mind: about the hell hound, and his mother, and Kohaku, and the Tensaiga; what had happened, and where was I now?
I learnt later that I had been dragged into hell and died a second time. My Lord was unable to save me even with his Tensaiga, which was discovered that it could only heal a soul once before rendered useless against them forever. His mother graciously brought me from hell with the power of the Meido stone, which was placed upon my chest to resurrect me. His mother, who shared the hatred of humans Lord Sesshoumaru once had, showed compassion for us; for that, I am eternally grateful… I knew that a demon such as she would never do that, unless she sensed her son, my Lord, was in turmoil over my death.
He never spoke of that day again; however, he had more empathy for me then on than he had ever had in the past. I believe that was when my Lord had the idea to place me in a human village, to be safe from dangers he encountered daily, where he may not always be able to protect me; a simple life with other humans where nothing extraordinary ever happened. I protested this idea strongly, as I know in my heart that humans are worse than demons ever are.
Demons don't hide the fact that they are wicked or mistrustful: humans can live their lives as good people, and hide their evil underneath.
Seventeen Years Old
Lord Sesshoumaru had not returned since the last time he had visited Rin at age fourteen.
Rin's place in the village had become rather important; though Kagome had taken over with the medicinal roles, Rin was responsible for caring for birthing women, despite her young age….
When Rin was age fifteen, Sango and Miroku were due to have their fourth child. Kaede was extremely ill, unable to offer any assistance, and Kagome hadn't experienced a major role in a live birth. Rin, who had aided Kaede dozens of times throughout her years apprenticing, was the most confident in her ability to midwife.
"Miroku!" Sango summoned him with clear urgency in her voice, clutching her husband's wrist. "Go tell Rin to please hurry; I think the time has come for our baby to be born."
"Yaaaaay!" Their twins danced as Miroku shoo'ed them from the room.
"Girls, go get your brother," Miroku called, his voice shaking with both nervousness and excitement. "Shippou is visiting. Go and spend some quality time irritating him, until we call you back."
"Sure, Papa," The girls obeyed. The twins were six years old, carbon copies of Sango when she was their age, while their younger brother was three and resembled a mix of Kohaku and Miroku. Their energy levels were quite difficult to keep up with, which puzzled Rin on why their parents would want to add any more children into the chaos.
"Lady Rin, Sango has requested your assistance," Miroku panted as he arrived at Rin and Kaede's hut, interrupting Rin feeding Kaede some broth. "Are you able to come now?"
"Is it time?!" Her eyes lit up in excitement as Miroku smiled and nodded. "Oh, Lady Kaede, have you eaten enough? May I go?"
"Yes, child," She laughed weakly. "I have eaten as much as I should. Good luck to you all, and bring by that babe to let me visit when you can."
"Anything for you, Lady Kaede," Miroku laughed and waved goodbye as he and Rin set off towards their home.
Their home was a very large, custom built minka, shared by Miroku and Sango's family, Inuyasha, and Kagome, with ample room to spare for visitors. They even offered for Rin to join them with Kaede, though stubborn Kaede denied hastily, determined to live in her own hut until she died.
"Arrrgh, could you have taken any longer you idiot?!" Sango growled and threw a small stone at Miroku when he entered, though her expression changed to something more polite when Rin followed behind. "Oh Rin, thank you for coming so quickly… My labor began so fast, and my waters have already broken, I don't think it will last much longer, ahh-" Her face became pain stricken as the next contraction bombarded her body and mind.
"Get Lady Kagome, and fetch a large bucket of heated water," Rin instructed quickly as she ran to Sango's side. "And a large stone." Miroku was puzzled, but instantly fled to do as she ordered.
"I'm already here," Kagome burst in and closed the fusuma behind her to create some privacy. "I heard Sango yelling at Miroku more than usual earlier this morning, so I warmed the water in advance." She set down the bucket near Rin with some pieces of scrap cloth, and flashed her a smile. "How is it going? Is there anything else we need?"
"I already sent Master Miroku for what we need, and he should be back shortly. It seems Lady Sango is already nearing the end of her labor: so what we need to do is set up preparation for the baby, and keep her comfortable." Rin began to press on Sango's lower back to relieve pressure, and she groaned a bit in response. "Does this help counter the pressure, Lady Sango?"
"A bit…" She breathed, digging her nails into her palms. "It would be better if you were able to push harder, but… I can handle this pain, don't worry Rin. I've been through…much worse." Sango's words faded off as another contraction hit.
"Hey, I've got the rock you wanted. The kids are off warming the water," Miroku entered, handing the items to Rin and joining Sango at her side. She quickly grasped his arm and squeezed tightly as the contraction peaked. His face distorted from her grip. "What is the rock for, anyways?"
"Lady Sango, when you are able, please sit on your feet in a squatting position." She dipped scrap cloth in the warm water and wrapped it around the rock. "Okay, when you feel the next wave of pain begin, let me know, and I will use this warm rock to push on the pressure point I did earlier with greater force. Master Miroku, I will then need your assistance to squeeze her hips as hard as possible."
Miroku and Kagome glanced at each other with uncertainty, but did as Rin had said. Sango had gotten in said position when another contraction began, only seconds apart from the one beforehand. Rin inhaled deeply and removed the cloth from the rock and began to put pressure on her lower spine.
"Ahhh," Sango sighed, and continued to breathe deeply as she had before in her two previous births. After a few contractions, she announced, "That really does make a difference... Ah, I think it's time!"
Rin dropped the rock and put her hands underneath Sango as Sango pushed, revealing a small, slimy head with ample dark hair. Within a fraction of a moment, Rin caught the infant and quietly whispered to Sango, "Here, take your baby."
With shock, Sango reached down and scooped the infant up and brought it to her chest, patting the slippery, white-coated back as it stuttered out a small cough and loud wail. Miroku joined at their side and embraced his wife and the new being.
Kagome dipped some cloth in the water and drew out a small, thin blanket for the baby for after they would wipe it down. "Rin, you did it. That was incredible; I had never seen anything like that… how did you come up with that idea?"
"Heh, I assisted Lady Kaede with many laboring women, and I just took into consideration their needs at that time," Rin chuckled humbly, as she checked on Sango's progress on delivering the afterbirth. "Oh, it's a baby boy!" She noticed, as Sango and Miroku nuzzled foreheads lovingly.
Not long after, as Rin and Kagome searched for herbs to progress Sango's healing in the forest, Kagome told Rin, "When Inuyasha and I have a child… Promise me you will be the one to deliver!"
Under a year later, before Rin turned sixteen, she kept her promise.
"Rin, why don't you move in with us? We have plenty of room… We are all worried about you, living alone in that old hut."
Rin sat sipping tea at the group's large minka home with Kagome, and her daughter, who was just over a year old.
The child had beautiful daffodil colored eyes, much like her father; as well as two white puppy ears that sat upon the top of her head. Her hair was dark and thick like her mother's, with the fair skin tone to match. She was wild, albeit her temper was just considering her quarter-demon parentage.
"Lady Kaede treasured that house, and she made it a home. I simply could not let it go unlived, for her sake," Rin said simply, in thought. Kaede had passed away come spring time of her seventeenth year, from a combination of illness and old age. She cared for Kaede's home as a part of her grieving, though the loneliness she felt living alone was unparalleled to the loneliness she felt awaiting for her Lord's return.
"I understand," Kagome nodded, and throughout the house were small, yet pounding footsteps down the hallways by Miroku and Sango's children, along with playful banter between them. The toddler on her lap looked curiously around and Kagome giggled. "I also don't blame you too much, because it is pretty crazy around here these days!"
"I'm used to the crazy life," Rin laughed and smiled, still in thought; though now, it was about Lord Sesshoumaru. It had been almost ten years since she travelled with him and Jaken last, but she still fondly remembered their adventures, with the danger and thrill of it all. She recalled her personal vow as a child to remain his partner through it all and protect him; granted, if it already wasn't too late. His last few visits were short and erratically spaced apart by large amounts of time… Whatever Lord Sesshoumaru sought on his personal journey must have been treacherous, perhaps deathly.
Rin couldn't bear the thought, but luckily Kagome sensed Rin's inner turmoil and changed the subject playfully.
"I heard Kanta proposed to you, hey?"
"Oh, dozens of times," Rin rolled her eyes and sipped her tea again. "He and I are the only ones our age who aren't married with families by now. His parents are pressuring him to find someone else, to ensure their family's growth. But he is persistent that he and I belong together."
"That's right," Kagome chuckled at the thought of pushing marriage on young teens. "In my era, marriage at your age was unheard of. My family was even surprised at my wishes to marry Inuyasha if I was lucky enough to have the chance to return, and I was a bit older than you. I still find it strange that the childbearing age here is considered to be an adult. However, times here are desperate..."
"I just don't find the idea of marriage appealing," Rin shrugged. "Especially not with a human man."
There was silence between them, as Kagome wondered if Sesshoumaru would ever marry a human; the idea infuriated Sesshoumaru at one point. She knew that he felt a certain way for Rin, but couldn't quite pinpoint the emotion he felt, whether it was fatherly or perhaps more…
"All boys are stupid, human or not." With that, both girls burst into laughter.
Kanta and Rin still often spent time together, despite the circumstance between them.
Kanta had matured into a fairly handsome man, with respectable sized muscles, a strong work ethic and a giving heart. When Rin would have to leave to tend to a birthing woman at a neighboring village, Kanta would always volunteer to accompany her and rarely strayed from her side. He made his love clear for her and had no sights set on any other women. However, Rin was not swayed.
"I have protected you from bullies as a child, filthy thieves as a youth and demons as an adult. I am always at your side, and I will never leave. As long as I live, I vow to be your protector. Why isn't this enough for you to take my hand and join me?"
"I just don't understand why all of these things cannot just be traits of a deep friendship, Kanta," Rin sighed, thinking of Kohaku, who travelled with her and her Lord briefly in her younger ages. "I've been saved many times, by many people. And not one of them expected anything more out of it."
"That's never been my goal through all of this and you know that. You're just being stubborn," Kanta groaned and stretched his arms up high, uncomfortable from sitting on his horse for so long. He looked back at Rin, who was riding comfortably in the carriage with all of the rice they were transporting. "Look at you right now, just snacking on fruit and relaxing, while I ride this slow-ass horse for days. Not many other men would do this for a lady."
She giggled and put her feet up. Kanta was right, unfortunately. Men were not so accommodating in their era; usually violent to create obedient spouses, being a young wife was not as ideal as it sounded.
"Wait," Kanta halted the horse suddenly, jerking the carriage forward. Rin growled as her berries spilled about. He squinted his eyes at the small cloud of smoke, rising out of the village, still an hour away in the distance. "We need to turn around."
Nosily, Rin stood and peered at the landscape ahead. "Oh, it looks like a fire!" A large gleam of light from the location of smoke blinded her momentarily as she fell back into the rice. "Ack! What was that?!"
The horse whinnied loudly and swiftly bucked Kanta off its back. The carriage lurched around, knocking the contents all over and wiggling loose one of the wheels. Their horse began to run forward with sudden panic, taking Rin and the damaged carriage with it.
Kanta hurried to his feet and chased after him, yelling for the horse to halt. Before the horse could get far, all sound ceased, and the air changed around them.
The horse fell both left and right to the ground, split down the middle from an attack that happened too swift to process; the wagon tilted backward, wood splitting from destruction, rice spilling to the ground. Rin groaned and held her head as she looked up, and felt all breath stolen from her lungs. Lord Sesshoumaru.
He stood above her, almost weightlessly on the carriage. He wielded a slim sword, soaked in the horse's blood and tissue, unlike a sword she had ever seen before. Rin couldn't gauge his face or expression due to his silver hair falling in front of his face. "Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru, it is me, Rin!" She stuttered out nervously, but he remained unmoved and silent. As each second went by, she became more uneasy. "My Lord?"
His arm rose, ready to attack; but before he swung, Kanta drew his own small sword and took off Sesshoumaru's arm final arm. The arm and sword fell to the ground and Rin screamed in horror.
"Kanta, what the hell?! Lord Sesshoumaru, my Lord-" She struggled to get up, but froze yet again as green, spiked tentacles burst from the wound where Sesshoumaru's arm once was. Kanta leapt back and darted to Rin, grabbing her from the ground and dragging her several feet back to create some distance. They watched intensely as a strange new arm was produced, and his aura became dense and toxic.
"What is this?" Kanta whispered to Rin, defensively hovering over her. He took notice in his own sword, which remained unblemished despite the act of slicing off the demon's arm. Rin's face was horror stricken... She had never seen anything like this. Rin witnessed what she thought was all of Lord Sesshoumaru's expressions and forms - but this, by far, was most terrifying.
Sesshoumaru lunged forward towards them, the intent to kill visible in his glowing, crimson eyes. Kanta stood, bracing Rin, wielding his sword; despite the fact that he had little chance of defeating him, it was his duty to lay his life down by any means to try to protect Rin.
With closed eyes he swung his sword for the exact moment of calculated impact; but there was no connection. He opened his eyes warily to notice the demon before them, already slain.
Sesshoumaru's true self stood upon the body of the demon, which was disguised as the Demon Lord himself, with a sword through its neck. Hot, purple blood oozed from every pore, melting the skin and veneer away to reveal green scales beneath. Sesshoumaru scowled at Kanta, and pointed his tarnished sword towards him. "I thought I could trust you to protect her."