Meanwhile, Rin wandered around Shane's small apartment, feeling lost and unsure of what to do. She unpacked her small bag of belongings in the room Shane had showed her and looked around.
"It's not much bigger than my other place," she noted. Curiosity won out, and she started to explore. The common area branched off into the bedrooms and a small kitchen area. A small table sat in the center of the floor with place settings for tea, and several books littered the table. A sliding door opened to a covered patio which held planter boxes filled with flowers Rin had never seen before. Another hallway lead to a room with a desk and bookshelves overflowing with books. Rin stepped inside and gazed at the many rows of books. She picked one out and saw it was a manga about a young ninja boy who harbored a terrible demon fox inside him. Rin put the book back where she found it and picked up another. It too was a manga, this one about two friends aspiring to be manga authors. Rin placed the book back on the shelf and marveled at the others. "He has a lot of books. I wonder if he's read them all?"
Rin left the study and continued her exploration. She came to Shane's bedroom and stopped. The door was cracked open and she peeked inside. The view wasn't very good, but she could make out a small desk. Rin leaned on the door to get a better look, when the door swung open, sending Rin tumbling inside. She sat up and rubbed her bruised head and looked around. The room had little in the way of furnishing. On the desk was a sword display rack and on the floor next to the desk was a bag with a sword stuck inside. Rin looked around the room and noticed nothing else of particular interest. "A plain old room for a plain old guy," she mused.
As she stood up to leave, a faint whisper sent a chill down her spine. Rin turned around and saw nothing. Still, the nagging feeling wouldn't leave her alone. Cautiously, Rin crept back into the room to investigate. As she looked around the room, her eyes settled on the sword leaning against Shane's desk. A sudden feeling came over her, telling her to pick up the sword. Rin shook her head and tried to make the strange feeling go away. "Shane might be back any minute and I don't think he'd like it if he found me snooping in his room," she said to herself.
Snapping herself out of her daze, Rin turned to leave, then stopped. She turned to look back at the sword. "What is it about that silly thing?" she asked herself and frowned. She stood there and wrestled with her indecision. Rin became angry with herself and said, "Why is that dumb old sword on the floor anyway?" She marched over and picked up the sword. With a bit of effort, she pulled the sword out of the bag.
Rin clutched the sword in her hands and wondered what to do next. At first, it had seemed so simple. Just put the sword on the desk and leave. Now that she held the sword, she hesitated. She felt the small whisper in the back of her mind, and it seemed to tell her to draw the sword. Rin looked at the sword and said, "Well, it won't hurt anything if I pull it out just a little, right?" She grasped the scabbard with one hand, and the hilt with the other. The moment Rin grasped the hilt with her hand, she was blinded by a sudden bright light and fell to the floor unconscious.
Rin opened her eyes and the first thing she saw were clouds drifting across the afternoon sky. She sat up and found herself in a large meadow that stretched as far as she could see. Panic began to settle in and Rin did her best to act bravely. "Hello? Can anyone hear me?" she called out. The only reply was the whisper of the wind through the tall grass. A lump began to well up in her throat and her eyes began to water. "Am I really alone again?" Rin asked herself quietly. She thought of Shane and her fear turned to anger. "That idiot is always making promises he can't keep!" Rin brushed herself off and looked around. "Well, anywhere is better than here," she said and began walking.
As she walked, Rin's temper cooled and she began to notice how peaceful this place was. She stopped and picked a small bouquet of daisies. She hummed to herself as she wove the stems into a circle and fixed the crown of flowers on her head. She walked a little farther, then stopped and stared up at the sun. "I don't know how long it's been, but I don't think the sun has moved at all." Rin put her hands on her hips and looked around. "This place is nice and all, but I feel a bit lonely with no one to talk too," she said.
"Oh? Whoever said you were alone?" a pleasant voice called out. Rin quickly looked around, but saw no one. Up a head in the distance, Rin saw a small cottage. Her brow furrowed in confusion. "That didn't used to be there, right?" she asked herself. Curiosity won out and she headed to the cottage.
As she drew closer, Rin noticed a path and the meadow grass was getting shorter. The cottage itself was a simple, one story room about 20 feet wide and 20 feet long that sat on short stilts. It was painted white with a clay tile roof. A thin smoke trail curled lazily out of the center of the roof. The door was open, but Rin couldn't see inside. She wasn't wearing any footwear, so she climbed the two steps and carefully peeked inside. What she saw took her breath away.
In the center of the room sat the most beautiful woman Rin had ever seen. Her kimono was gold colored with a pink obi sash tied around her waist. She wore a gold colored chrysanthemum print haori with silver trim. Her skin was very pale and her black hair reached just past her shoulders. She didn't wear any makeup that Rin could tell, but Rin didn't think she needed any. The lady smiled and Rin suddenly felt very warm inside.
"Please come in and sit," the lady said gently. "I have been expecting you."
"You have?" Rin asked. She was shocked this lady had even paid attention to her. Still hesitant, Rin carefully kneeled in front of the lady. A moment of silence passed between them, then Rin asked, "So, why are you here?"
"I live here," the lady said, spreading her arms.
"But where is here exactly?" Rin asked. "The last thing I remember, I was holding a sword, then there was a bright light and I woke up here."
"You mean this?" the lady asked. Rin gasped when she saw the lady holding the sword that Rin had touched. "How-"
"That is not important right now," the lady said and Rin's questions died on her tongue. The lady gazed out the window, as if looking for something far away.
"Um," Rin asked quietly, "don't you get lonely here all by yourself?"
"Yes," the lady said sadly. "A very dear friend of mine used to visit frequently, but not anymore."
"What happened?" Rin asked. The lady sighed and a tear fell down her lovely face. "She was taken away." Rin had a guess what that meant, but didn't want to ask, for fear of making the lady even more sad. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Rin asked. "Maybe if I came to visit you?"
The lady turned to Rin and she saw the lady had tears streaming down her face. "Little girl, your kindness moves me greatly," she smiled sadly. "However, that is not something you are able to do."
Rin sat back and sighed. "This really doesn't make any sense to me," she said.
"If you must know, I have brought you here," the lady said. Rin looked up at the lady and was surprised to see her face completely dry, as if she hadn't been crying at all. "There are things happening that you do not quite understand, yet you need to be ready."
"What does that mean?" Rin asked, frowning slightly.
"Out behind this house is a small stream. You will find what you are looking for there," the lady said. Rin became even more confused. "I'm looking for something?" she asked.
"Quickly! There isn't much time!" the lady urged her and gently pushed Rin out the door. As her feet touched the grass, Rin turned around to protest, but the lady put a finger on her lips. "Shh. Just do as you are told." The lady took Rin's face in her hands and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Young child, your path ahead is dangerous and uncertain, but not impossible. Have faith, trust in yourself and be strong."
The lady drew back, leaving Rin standing alone. "Will I see you again?" she asked. The lady thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps."
Rin turned to leave when a sudden thought struck her. I never asked the lady her name. Rin looked back to ask her question and stopped. The house had vanished, as if it had never existed. Rin blinked rapidly and pinched herself. "Yep. That just happened," she told herself. She then heard the sound of water flowing and remembered what the lady had said. Rin found the stream and knelt by the bank. The cool water felt good on her hands, so she scooped up a handful and rubbed her face. Rin sat down and let her feet dangle in the water while she tried to figure out what to do. She lay back and stared up at the sky, watching the clouds. "How am I ever going to get out of this place?" Rin thought out loud.
Try asking politely? a voice said in her head. Rin's eyes went wide and she bolted upright, looking frantically. "Who said that?" she called out.
Whoa, careful there, the voice said again. Just calm down a little okay? Despite the reassuring voice, Rin's heart was still hammering away in her ears. "Well, you seem like a decent person," she said when she had calmed down a little. "Where are you?"
I'm right here, the voice replied. Rin glanced around, still not seeing anyone. Sorry. Look down here, the voice suggested. Rin's gaze traveled to her lap where she found a small salamander about six inches long looking up at her. It was black with blue spots. Rin stared at the salamander. Hello. Nice to finally meet you. The salamander stuck out its tongue, as if greeting her.
Rin stared at the salamander, completely unable to think of anything to say. The salamander cocked its head to the side a bit. I'm sorry if it's a bit much.
"Well, there's something you don't see every day," Rin finally managed to say.
That's certainly not the reaction I would have guessed, the voice said. Rin sighed and rubbed her hands on her face. "I'm kinda used to crazy things happening to me," she said. The salamander studied her for a minute and said, Your spiritual aura has a strange feel to it.
"Well, that's what happens when you live with a Death God and touch strange swords in his house," Rin said.
I see. That must be why I was able to show myself to you right now, the salamander said. Rin picked up the salamander in her hand and held it so they were eye level. "I'm not real big on lizards and slimy things, but you're kind of cute," she said. She gently touched her finger to the salamander's head. Its skin was cool and slightly clammy.
"The lady in the house said I would be looking for something by this little stream," Rin said.
I'd say you certainly found something, the salamander said. It looked to the sky, then back to Rin. As I said before, you shouldn't have been able to see me, much less be in this place. They must have decided it couldn't wait for things to happen naturally.
"What are you talking about?" Rin asked. The salamander shook its head. I don't have much time. Remember this place, and most of all, remember me. When the time comes, you'll understand. Rin opened her mouth to protest, but the salamander cut her off. Your way out is here, it said. Rin's body suddenly went numb and she fell back in the grass. She tried to move, but found her whole body was paralyzed. Great. I suddenly can't move and now my eyes are going to burn up because the sun is the only thing I can see right now. The sun grew brighter and brighter and Rin tried to squint or somehow block the light, but everything she tried failed. The light washed out everything until she couldn't see. Then she thought she heard someone calling her name. The voice grew louder until she could recognize it. Shane? Why is he calling me?
Rin slowly opened her eyes. Shane was leaning over her, a look of concern on his face, but he also looked tired and worn out. Rin blinked several times and tried to sit up, but Shane gently pushed her back on the floor. "Hey, just take it easy for a little bit," he said.
"What happened?" Rin asked. Shane raised an eyebrow and said, "I should ask you the same question. Rin gulped and a guilty expression crossed her face. Shane picked up a cloth and sponged cool water on her face. "When I came back, I found you passed out in my room holding that sword," he said. Rin looked away and refused to meet his gaze. "I need to know I can trust you not to get into trouble while I'm away," Shane said sternly.
"Promise you won't get mad?" Rin asked. Shane nodded. "I promise."
"Well, I was wandering around and I found your room. I peeked inside and saw the sword sitting on the floor and I wondered why it was there and not on the desk. So I picked it up. I must have fallen and hit my head or something. I don't remember anything after that," Rin said. Shane looked at her as if he didn't believe her story. He's gonna get mad, Rin thought. To her surprise, Shane shrugged and helped her sit up. "Just be more careful next time," he said. Shane stood up and winced as he did so. Rin frowned. "Are you okay? What happened?" she asked.
"I'm alive aren't I?" Shane smiled weakly and trudged off to the bathroom. Now it was Rin's turn to disbelieve. She carefully rose to her feet and padded off to her room, wondering what new secrets Shane was hiding.