I do not own Inuyasha

When morning came, Rin was pleasantly surprised by how well she actually slept. For the first time in a long time, she slept through the entire night without waking in a cold sweat. Her constant nightmares have become such a part of her life, that she never imagined going to sleep and not having them. Last night had been the first time. While it had started out the same, sometime in the night they had changed; from dark and terrifying, to peaceful and happy. Unfortunately, she couldn't remember anything about them, just like usual. Still, it had been a nice change.

Sitting in her spot beside the fire, which was now burnt out, Rin stretches her arms above her head, yawning out loud. At the moment, she didn't care that she slept on the hard ground, after the sleep she had, she was more than ready to tackle the day.

Now that she was well rested, Rin was able look at the situation more carefully. After waking up for the third time since coming here, she was positive that she wasn't home, or anywhere near home. The question now, where exactly was she? Or better yet, when? Judging by the attire her attacker had been wearing, it was a safe bet that she wasn't in her own era. No one wore clothes like that anymore, unless they were reenacting a period in time. While it was possible, the way he attacked her last night, made it clear that he wasn't a reenactor.

She lets out a heavy sigh. "Just what's going on here?" Her question was asked to no one in particular.

Still, someone answered her anyways. "It would seem you've been brought through time to add in my destruction in some manner."

The sound of his deep voice coming from behind her, made her back straighten and a chill go down her spine. Looking over her shoulder, Rin tilted her head up to lock gazes with his golden eyes. Would he attack her again?

A deep resonating growl was forced from his throat and those eerie eyes narrowed into angry slits. "I do not care for the fear I smell in your scent, Rin."

His growling did nothing to alleviate her fears, only making them worse. Unlike the last time though, she wouldn't freeze up. Crossing her arms, Rin turned her nose up, looking away from him. "Because your growling at me will put my fears to rest." Her brown eyes glanced back at him, "Well, at least you've decided to accept my name and use it."

Sesshomaru was shocked to hear the defiance and sarcasm in her voice, though he hid it very well, only looking down at her with emotionless eyes. Beside him, the shock was written all over Jaken's face. He quickly came to his senses and jumped towards the girl, thrusting the staff towards her face. "Insolent girl! Apologize right now! No one speaks like that to Lord Sesshomaru, especially not some cheap imitation of Rin!"

"Jaken," The way Sesshomaru said his name, firm and demanding obedience, made the imp immediately submit, turning his small body and tilting his head back to look into the eyes of his master. "That's enough, Jaken. Leave Rin alone." He didn't need to raise his voice to convey his annoyance.

"Cheap imitation?" Rin looked between the two of them. What was the little toad talking about? Not looking to have her question answered, Rin turns her attention back to the white haired male. She found his eyes squarely on her. He wasn't looking at her in any particular manner, his expression cold and flat, but still she shivered, it was like he could see into her very soul. "Say, Sesshomaru,"

"That's Lord Sesshomaru to you girl." The little toad said.

Though just when he said it, Sesshomaru's foot connected with the back of his head, reprimanding him. "I said that's enough Jaken. Be silent."

With the toad now planted firmly to the ground, Rin continued with what she wanted to say. "Anyways, I'd like to go home now. I have classes today and I know my parents are worried about me."

"So she has parents in her new life." Sesshomaru thought to himself. "I cannot send you home, because I wasn't the one who brought you. Until we find the demon who did this, you are stuck here." He said out loud, matter of factly.

The overwhelming scent of sadness replaced the scent of fear. "So I'm stuck here for God knows how long." She repeats his words, saying it mostly to herself rather than to either of them. "My parents are going to freak."

"In the meantime," He says, drawing her attention back to him. "You will stay with us."

"Yeah, because staying with the man who nearly choked me to death last night, is going to be good for me."

Jaken's mouth dropped open. "The insolence! This human shows no respect for Lord Sesshomaru!" He looks up towards his master. "Surely he will punish the girl."

His lord surprised him further when he did nothing, turning his back on the girl, ready to walk away. "Stay here if you so please, but you won't survive the night."

As Sesshomaru began walking away, Jaken looked back and forth between the human and his lord, addressing her once more before hurrying after. "You would do well to appreciate my Lords hospitality and cease disrespecting him."

Rin stared at the two demons as they walked away. Why should she show him any ounce of respect after being pinned to a tree, by his hand around her throat? Respect was something that's earned, and he's done nothing to earn hers. The way he looked down on her, it was obvious that he was of some noble birth and having the respect those lower than him came naturally. Still, she didn't care if he was the prince of England, she wouldn't give him anything until he proved himself worthy.

Sitting there for several minutes, she watches as they got farther and farther away from her. When she couldn't see his silver, white hair gleaming in the sunlight, an unfamiliar panic set in, making her chest tighten. Her heart pounded rapidly and she felt like it was about to burst from her ribcage. With him gone, she was completely alone in the middle of a forest that was likely crawling with creatures ready to eat her.

Scared for her life, Rin manages to get to her feet. "Hey, wait!" She calls out to the two of them. Like the night before, when she put weight on her ankle, pain shot up throughout her entire leg. Crying out, she stumbles and falls to her knees. "Wait, don't leave me behind! I can't walk!" She didn't want to be left here on her own, and even though he scared her more than anything in the forest, she felt that she would also be the safest with him; if that even made sense. Once more she calls out to him, hoping he'd come back and despite the excruciating pain, Rin climbed back to her feet. "Please wait! Lord Sesshomaru, help me, please!"

Rin didn't know why she called out to him like that, it just sort of came out that way, but it seemed to have worked. When the pain in her ankle made her stumble again, Rin suddenly felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her, keeping her from hitting the ground. She didn't know how he came back to her so quickly, nevertheless a feeling of happiness swelled in her chest; chasing away the panic and anxiety of being left behind.

Her face fell against the fluffy white piece that he carried on his right shoulder. It was so incredibly soft, unlike anything she's ever touched before. She found herself absently rubbing her cheek against it and smiling as she closed her eyes. Not only was it soft enough to comfortably pillow her head, but it smelled amazing too; a deep earthy scent. Was this what he smelled like? It was amazing, and could easily become her new favorite scent. "I could make a fortune, if I could just bottle the scent of this man." She thought silently to herself.

The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted her pleasurable thoughts. Coming back to reality, Rin remembered that she was held in her attackers arms, sniffing his white, fluffy...whatever it was. Her entire face turns a deep shade of red, more than a little embarrassed with her actions. She began to apologize to him, but stopped when her eyes met his. There, just beyond his icy expression, was the same concern she saw last night. "He was really worried about me? But why? It's not like I've known him long enough for him to actually care about my well being." The voice in her head questioned.

Finding her voice, Rin hastily turns her head away, she didn't want him to see her blushing like this. "T-thank you, Sesshomaru. I don't know why you did it, but I'm in your debt." For half a second, she doesn't make another sound, but when he started to pull away from her, a new panic set in. "Wait," Her hand shoots out to grab his hand. The unexpected touch seemed to of shocked him because he stopped moving and looked down at her hand around his. "Please don't leave me alone. I don't know where I am. Secondly, I can't walk yet. My ankle is still very sore and any amount of pressure sends me back to my knees."

Her voice was so soft when she spoke to him. Where humans would have had a hard time hearing her, he did not. Even though his excellent hearing allowed him to hear her as if she were standing right beside him, Sesshomaru found himself curious about her and how she'd gotten here. Being Rin's reincarnation, perhaps she retained some of her prior memories. He'd save that thought for another day; right now his full attention and focus was on her. She didn't have to say anything more. Instead, he reaches out to her, taking her back into his arm, positioning them around her back and under her knees, and lifted her effortlessly.

Pivoting on his heels, Sesshomaru carried her in his arms. While it didn't last long, Rin took the opportunity that has been presented to her and rested her head against his board chest; listening to the sound of his heart beating. It actually sounded nice, even relaxing.

"Jaken," He spoke to his imp, sparing him a slight glance, annoyed by the look of shock on his face. "Find A-Un and bring him here at once."

Jumping to the command, Jaken bounded off back into the woods, calling out to a beast she had no clue was even nearby. As a loud roar came from the woods, the fear returned once again, making her jump in his arms Sesshomaru lightly squeezes her shoulder, sensing her fear and seemingly trying to reassure her. Tilting her head up, Rin locked gazes with him for a second time. Her stomach suddenly started to somersault, his expression so intense she had to look away, unable to hold his stare for more than a few seconds.

"It will be fine, I will take you to a village where there is another girl who from your period in time." Her inability to hold his gaze amused him, still e didn't smile even a little bit, his whole face stoic, keeping his emotions carefully in check.

This did nothing to alleviate her growing anxiety. Biting down on her bottom lip, Rin doesn't respond to him. Pulling into herself as the reality of her situation comes crashing down on her. She was in a strange land, with no friends and no family, completely alone. What was she going to do? How would she get home? Could she get home or would she be forced to live out the rest of her life in a forgotten time?

From deep in the forest, a pair of demonic, red eyes watched the trio as they climbed upon the back of a two-headed dragon demon. His presence going unnoticed the entire night despite Sesshomaru's constant patrolling. Pulling the girl from 500 years into the future, through a demon portal had completely sapped him of all his energy, allowing him to spy as the dog demon discovered the reincarnation of his fallen companion.

The look on his face had been worth the effort he put into bringing her here and when Sesshomaru attacked the girl, he nearly gave away his position, having to stifle the laugh that threatened to come up from his chest.

"Oh, this will definitely be entertaining." He said, his words coming out as more of a growl than actual words. "And when you've fallen in love with her, I will snatch her away from you once more. In that moment, I will strike you down, ridding the world of you for good, just like your father. I have all the time in the world." With a malicious smirk, he steps into darkness, leaving the pair.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others. It's a little slower with less build up. I'm trying to move this along at a steady pace, rather than rushing into it, but at the same time I don't want to move too slowly. Let me know if the current pace is good or if you'd like me to pick it up a bit. Next chapter we'll be seeing Inuyasha and Kagome, but wait, it's been 150 years, Kagome is human. Find out next how she's lived this long! Please keep those lovely reviews coming! Until next time~