The waters of the stream were like clear liquid glass. All rocks, colored stones and small plants could be seen through the crystal waters. The grass that lined the stream's edge almost seemed to curtsy to the water and beg to be let in to the wonder of the world that existed beneath the soft current.
"Master Jaken, there doesn't seem to be any fish in this part of the stream." Rin watched as Jaken stumbled down the small hill and to the stream's edge and immediately began to guzzle water.
"You sure can drink a lot of water Master Jaken, you really do have a BIG mouth!" Jaken's eyes grew wide and his cheeks red, and if it weren't for his mouth being full of water, Rin certainly would have gotten an earful about such an observation.
After swallowing the, what seemed to be an ocean's worth, of water in his mouth, Jaken was getting ready to scold Rin for saying such a comment about him having a big mouth. It was the split moment before the start of a toad's squawking and Rin's teasing, that Jaken noticed it. The stream's waters had stopped moving, the grass held unnaturally still, there were no chirping of birds, not even the rays of the sun were dancing among the clouds, it was as if time had ceased to be.
"Rin! Get away from the stream and come here now!" Rin noticed the uneasiness and under lining fear that began to etch its way onto Jaken's face, she ran to Jaken and held onto his cloak. Jaken held still, waiting for any sound or movement; he held fast to the staff of two heads, knowing full well that if anything happened to Rin, it would be his head on a stick.
"Master Jaken, I'm scared..." Rin's eyes were beginning to pool with tears, threatening to spill down her cheeks.
"Fear not Rin! I will…" Jaken had stopped, mid sentence, he had stopped.
Rin turned to look at her small friend, she gasped in horror, "Master Jaken!" Jaken was stone, a cold lifeless statue. She remained holding on to her dear friend; she knew Lord Sesshomaru would have sensed something was wrong by now. She knew her lord would come, he had to, but it was not her lord that came to her, but the most beautiful woman Rin had ever seen.
Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open from the peaceful quiet he had been enjoying; something was wrong, very wrong. The tree that had been providing cooling shade, its leaves had stopped rustling in the breeze. The insects that hopped and played amongst the grass were now silent. The sky was void of birds or the wind they flew on. Sesshomaru's hand fell to his sword, there was something evil lurking in the atmosphere; he immediately ran to were Rin and Jaken had gone to only minutes before.
Rin stared at the terrifying beauty that elegantly walked towards her. Rin took in every detail of this woman. The black dress that seemed to drip from the woman's shoulders down to her feet, and the sword resting to her side; however this sword was unlike any she had ever seen, a sword that seemed to be made of glass, but it was as black, as black as the darkest of night skies. She noticed the woman was slender and tall, almost as tall as her lord; her skin porcelain and flawless, long midnight black hair that was like a velvet mist floating gracefully behind her. But it was this woman's eyes that terrified Rin the most. They were like dark sinister diamonds, soulless portals to pain and nightmares. Rin, still grasping her now stone friend, began to tremble.
"Small child, why do you fear my presence?" The haunting woman finally spoke, mere inches from Rin.
"Please turn Mater Jaken back" Rin was now letting her tears stain her cheeks.
"I found him to be loud and insufferable. Do not worry small child, he is unharmed for now." The woman smiled at Rin, a smile that brought Rin's heart fear, and comfort? "I see you were going to fish, may I join you?" The woman now kneeled in front of Rin, she placed a gentle yet ice cold hand under Rin's chin and brought her to look up at another reassuringly haunting smile.
"You are very beautiful, what is your name?" Rin had by now let go of Jaken's statue and was holding the ice cold hand of the woman as they walked back to the stream.
The woman replied in a soothing voice: "Small child, you may call me Akumu".