Thank you to icegirljenni, Taraah36 for reviewing!
Don't own anything that you might recognize.
Warning: tons of Kohaku and Rin background, but I felt like it would set up for the rest of the story. Sesshoumaru makes an appearance! Yay!
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As soon I wake up, I yelp, seeing the demon's eyes: warm, glowing, flickering. It is only when I hear the frantic footsteps pounding on the wooden floor and Sango bursting into the room that I realize that I am in the village again. The lights are lanterns which have been hung up on the ceiling. I look down to my arms and my hands, holding them close to my face-there is no blood. My hands are healed completely; there are no cuts or bruises, no bandages that wrap my palm, only the permanent moon scar that has been present for nearly four years. The moon scar. My heart pounds as the familiar face rushes into my head again.
I have violated my vow.
My temple pounds.
I have seen a demon which I did not kill.
Feverish, I stand up, frantically searching for my things. I must kill it, I must kill it.
My leg no longer hurts; everything has completely healed. I shake my leg around a few times, trying to rid myself of the numbness seeping into the veins. Sango kneels down beside the bed and changes the sweaty cloth on my head for a fresh one, pushing me down as I struggle to reach the door. My arrows are propped up against the wall. I count them; every single arrow that I had last purchased from Sango is still there.
"W-what happened-" I recoil when Sango offers me a hot cup of medicine. She scowls at my reaction and forces the scalding cup into my hands.
"You were found in the forest this morning, only a few yards from the clearing." Sango turned her head away, busying her hands with the fabric of her skirt.
A few yards from the clearing-this is impossible.
I had travelled much further from the clearing, almost reaching the sunken riverbed, which would have taken nearly an hour to walk back to the village on foot. There was also no way that my wounds could have cleared themselves so quickly.
"You were found by the villagers," Sango spoke. "It is thought that you were attacked and choked by bandits." She paused and felt for my temperature.
I pushed her hand away.
Sango peered into my eyes. "They thought it was strange that you were found with no wounds."
No wounds-were they mistaken?
There was no way they could have not seen the blood on my body. My leg had been broken and my left side had been punctured through with a particularly sharp tree branch. My hands had been bleeding so badly...
Sango placed the wet wash rag on my forehead again and quickly stood up. She handed me my arrows and nodded to the pile of books and pencils by the corner. "Keep yourself busy, and make sure to rest. Also, Kaede brought you some milk again," she said, before stiffly walking out of the room.
As always, I am thankful for Kaede. The books are brand new and the pencils are freshly sharpened; I wonder how many weapons Sango had to trade for them.
Everything has returned back to normal. Sango is here, the village is resting, and life goes on. I must have been having nightmares again. It is nearing winter time, and winter is my renowned season of terror.
Stretching, I'm glad that everything was just a dream. Perhaps I had fainted of heat stroke or something along those lines soon after I left the camp clearing-it had been awfully stupid of me to go out hunting while wearing so many layers of clothing. Also, I could not fathom how much pain I must have been in if I truly had received all of those wounds I dreamt of, since I could not have felt any better than I did currently. Plus, I console myself, had I truly met a demon, I would not be here at the moment. I sat up and shifted all of my weight onto my left leg, reaching for the bottle of milk.
The milk is tepid, like it always is.
Tepid, like my most recent nightmare.
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I passed Kohaku when I left Sango's house today.
His eyes caught mine for a fleeting second, but he quickly hurried away.
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"Rin!"
My faithful wake up alarm.
"Wake up, sleepy midget!"
I stretch from my spot in the tree, almost (purposefully) dropping my blanket on that ignorant brat's head.
Kohaku runs up to my tree every morning at the same time, carrying things that Sango sends him over with. Today it is a bento box.
The sun blinks its rays, barely peeking over the outcrop of the hill. The sky is dashed with smoky grey, and the roosters begin to stir.
I wave at him, jumping down from my warm spot in the tree and accepting the warm breakfast, as I always do. There is a quick exchange of greetings, and he invites me to go hunting with him, as he always does.
Most days, I will decline this offer, knowing full well that I will only serve to slow him down, but this day, there is something I need to tell him.
And I feel like, just seeing the look in his eyes, there is something he needs to tell me as well.
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There was a new decree posted in the clearing this morning. It was written in beautiful calligraphy and took me a while to decipher. In fact, I did not decipher it at all, but rather had to listen to the plump merchant's wife reading it aloud to her three children.
"To the humans: A reminder of the formal decree, signed into action by the Royal Forces after the four hundred year conflict involving the youkai and ningen."
"Those who violate or criticize any aspect of the youkai-ningen split will be regarded as traitors to both beings. The punishment for the vocalization or the recording of these treacherous thoughts will be death."
"Those found on youkai land will be treated as a treat to the security and well-being of the society, and dealt with accordingly. The same will go for youkai that happen onto ningen camp territories."
"Those who create alliances, or perhaps interact, with those from the other group will be sentenced to death." It was when the merchant's wife reached this section of the third rule that she shot me a worried look. She moved her children a little further from where I was standing.
"Those who find love with the other beings will be executed immediately...
and their children will be marked as the offspring of traitors."
I stalked out of the clearing, well-aware of the pairs of eyes that gawked at my fuming figure.
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"Rin, let's stop here for today."
I toss the squirrel down from my shoulder. Its small, warm body hits the ground with a sickening crunch, as my heart does.
"I just-"
"It's okay, Kohaku." I swallow. You stupid fool. "We really should go."
I thank him, trying my hardest not to let the lump in my throat get the better of me. The gratitude is hollow, and I know he can tell, and I want him to understand that I truly am thankful, but...
I can't cry.
I pick up the squirrel and turn away, trying my hardest to find my usual upright posture. Something in my chest weighs me down; something that I usually feel, beating against my rib cage. That something is now so knotted, so twisted, that it actually stings...
Kohaku grabs my arm desperately, pulling me back to him. He clasps me against his chest, silently begging. "I'm so sorry, Rin."
His hands press my head against his heart, and I hold him, clinging as though this is the last time we will see each other. It really is the last time we will see each other as we were. We hold this embrace, my heart beating against his chest, his heart beating against my ear. The forest is so quiet. The sun is so bright on our faces.
"I'm so sorry..."
I feel tears on my cheek. My eyes sting, and Kohaku is crying.
The tears are cool against my cheek, and the sun makes them glisten.
They are not my tears, I tell myself.
A soft rustle in the leaves and a flash of silver-a white dove, possibly-is my only answer.
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Sango meets me in the usual spot, her shop under the large tree. I help her polish a few weapons and apologize for all of the inconveniences I have caused, carefully inquiring for how long I have overstayed my company.
I am relieved to learn that I was only at her house for one night.
Sango pats my head and gives me a little money. "Go buy yourself something from the shop: a new kimono, arrow, whatever."
A few footsteps and an abrupt knock sounds at the door. Kohaku walks in and tosses his weapon onto the ground, not meeting any of our eyes. The harsh clattering makes me flinch. I bow to Sango and nod to Kohaku, quickly taking my leave.
I can't help but notice Sango's eyes full of worry as I turn away.
It is bright outside, and the clearing is already bustling with people. The girls who are my age are not in their usual spot; they have moved a little closer to Sango's shop. They now stand around the poor, flustered Aito and his mother's bento shop. Michiko is among them.
"Rin!"
I stop, and force a smile. Michiko waves me over.
"Have you seen the new posting in the clearing?" She smiles. "I was just talking to them about it." Her teeth glint in the sun and her friends immediately stop their gossiping.
Michiko does not give me time to speak or run away. She continues, maliciously, "the 'offspring of traitors', huh? That seems a little harsh, but what can we do..." She taps her finger to her mouth.
I wonder what has made her suddenly take such a distaste for me. Perhaps she had seen that I had spent the night at Sango's, the sister of her betrothed? I would hope that her pathetic mind could ease itself of such a worthless and pointless jealousy.
"However...I suppose, those who cannot even control their own desires...
"those who cannot control their feelings..."
I struggle against her arm. I do not wish to hurt her, knowing full well that I could wrap my calloused around her neck easily and just pull...
The girls snigger in the back. One of them shoots me an apologetic look, but I ignore it. I do not need anybody's pity.
"Demons are merely just animals that have stolen our human form. They rape, they pillage, they destroy...innocent lives."
Shut up! I do not want to hear anymore! I wildly flail my arm, catching Michiko against her face. Her friends gasp. My palm stings.
"Rin."
The voice is deep and unwavering.
The grip on my arm slackens, and I turn to see Kohaku, standing a few feet behind me. His eyes are furious.
Michiko turns away, wiping her hand on her kimono as if she had just touched something filthy. Kohaku steps closer, and I can see his hands shaking. He reaches out, as if to grab my hand, but stops, remembering himself. Brown eyes meet, and I look down.
I quickly run away.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Kohaku turn to chase after me.
Stupid fool! Go back to your intended!
My heart beats wildly against my rib cage as I tear through the shop area, desperate to avoid Kohaku. His legs are longer than mine, his body more fit for running. The only thing I can do is manuever around the shop kiosks, desperately searching for places to hide and places to disappear into.
"RIN!"
I duck beneath Kaede's milk stand, pressing my body against the wooden crates. I know that if I wait until he turns his head, I can make a quick dash for the forest.
This is exactly what I do.
As soon as he turns around, I leap out from the large crate I had been hiding behind and make a beeline for the forest edge, not caring as leaves and brambles tear at my face and arms. I do not know if he saw me, or if my wild bull-like charging caught the unwanted attention of other villagers. I prayed that Kaede would keep quiet.
Stupid idiot.
Stupid.
Stupid.
I cannot even see where I am going, I am so blinded by rage. I just keep running, allowing for my body to tire itself out into oblivion, until I am too tired, too breathless to even care anymore. I run until the soles of my sandals have been worn down to fabric-thin coverings. There are sharp branches and brambles that have snuck into my clothing, rubbing my skin raw with each pounding step.
The forest gets only deeper; the foliage grows into a calming dark green. The birds are scattered by my approaching, and mice run away once they hear my feet clomping on the ground. It is only when I stop running and throw my body against a sturdy oak tree that I can truly appreciate the silence that has found its way into my surroundings.
Only the whistle of the wind and the dancing leaves are there to sing to me today.
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"Sing for me, Rin!" Shouta hopped down from a tree branch, presenting me with a pear.
I giggle, snatching the pear from his hands, and running off. "You know I can't sing!"
Shouta lets out an indignant "hey!" and chases after me, catching me in no time. "Gimme that back!" He quickly takes the pear back and pulls me onto his back.
"I want to show you something."
I laugh, wrapping my fingers in his soft hair. I pretend to be riding on the back of a strong pony who would never fall, never leave...
He runs into the forest, not too far from the camp. We settle down on the ground, and he divides the pear evenly using his hunting knife. I get to choose which half I want.
"Rin?"
"Yes, onee-san?"
"Can you hear that?" Shouta's eyes are closed.
I try to listen, but I hear nothing but the usual bustle of the forest.
"Listen carefully," Shouta whispers. "Can you hear the birds singing for you? The wind dancing for you?"
I shut my eyes, allowing for all of the noise to rush into my ears. The myriad of noises attacks my senses, overwhelmingly calming. The leaves shuffle as the wind trickles through, and the birds happily chirp at one another, similar to the way Shouta and I quip.
"I think of Mother and Father whenever I hear this," Shouta interrupts. "This is their song."
I open my mouth to question, but the answer is already there.
Mother is the beautiful bird, singing her heart out for her loved ones.
Father is the strong, flowing wind, constantly moving, but always here.
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When I wake, I find that there is a nasty gash on my forehead and my arms have been tied together. There is a gag in my mouth as well.
My arrows... I curse myself for not bringing them. My stupidity amazes me to no end.
My capturers do not come back for a while, and I wonder how I ended up in this state without ever having woken up for a struggle. My head is groggy and my mind is not clear, I cannot remember where I am or who I am, only that I am presently in indescribable amounts of pain and the blood is beginning to dribble into my gagged mouth.
I cannot stress how much I hate the taste of rusted iron.
It is already nearing supper time, and Sango is probably wondering where I am. I cannot go back though, obviously, for two reasons: I cannot move at the present, and Kohaku would probably murder me the second I set foot back into his sight. I would rather be paralyzed rather than strangled and then displayed above a fireplace by my first ever love, I think bitterly to myself. I suppose that the rhetoric of sarcasm comes back in the bleakest and least hopeful of moments.
This is all that I have time to think about before I hear an annoyed grunt, "hey, the runt is awake again," and another blow to my head that sinks me back into darkness.
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The Lord of the Western Lands was a very busy man.
Or rather, he mused, a rather busy demon.
Such slips of the mouth could earn anybody, even him, a death sentence by his own executioners.
Lord Sesshoumaru sat at his beautiful desk, papers filed neatly into the drawers by his countless secretaries. There was a new batch of papers that had been laid down by Jakken, his faithful vassal, earlier this morning that he had been told needed his reviewing.
The first paper was a letter from a wealthy demon with a beautiful daughter. He knew exactly what the letter would be like, having read too many of the same kind. He shredded it with his claws.
Flipping through the remainder of the stack, he separated the papers into piles that needed reviewing and piles that could be looked at later. It was when he came upon the fourteenth slip of paper within the stack that his blood ran cold.
A list of people who had been found on demon territories. Lord Sesshoumaru had not seen one of these elegant blood-red Death-lists in uncountable years. These papers were saved for those who were to be executed or sentenced to life in prison.
There was a single picture and name on the paper, one that had struck him harder than any blow he had ever encountered.
The name was written in elegant script, and just below was a picture of the girl, one he had seen before...many, many times. The name he did not recognize, but the face was one he could never forget.
It brought back brutal memories from his second most recent border patrol. The crying girl in the forest and her friend, the passionate embrace he had witnessed. This was his first encounter with the humans in nearly six decades. It was a permanent reminder of the lives humans led: controlled by emotion, controlled by the tide of the environment.
The two humans had been dressed in clothes almost akin to rags, the girl a little more shabby than the boy. She had a delicate face, but one marred with scars and suffering. Her eyes were tinged with red, but her jaw was locked; she was swallowing her words and her tears. The Lord could sense her pain as she clung to the boy-the boy who was to leave her for another girl.
It was the first time in years that the Lord of the Western Lands, Lord Sesshoumaru, had felt a small tug somewhere deep in his chest.
The small girl had looked up, catching sight of him for mere milliseconds, before the Lord remembered his place. He had vanished, but the image of the crying human girl did not.
Lord Sesshoumaru stared at the paper in his hand. The picture of the girl was almost identical to that of the girl he had seen in the forest: the pain, the large brown eyes, and the jagged scar just beside her left eye.
"Miko." The Lord called for his maid.
"Go tell Jakken to arrange my visit to the prison grounds." The small fox demon looked up in surprise.
The Lord tucked the blood-red paper into his haori.
"I have very important business that I must attend to."
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I made a few minor edits to my Chapter 2 (after reading some of the reviews and realizing that I made some mistakes-this is why I love having people review!)
I suppose I have to say that, despite the number of stories I seem to have written, I am still pretty new to all of the stuff on this website. If any of you could send me a message suggesting beta-readers, that would be much appreciated! :D
I still can't decide whether I should keep this story all first-person from Rin's POV, or if I should include a few sections from Sesshoumaru's POV as well. I tried experimenting a little with that (as you guys can see in the last section), and I feel like it would add to the motion of the plot to have two points of views from our two main characters.
I apologize for the time it took me to update (I suddenly had the urge to write today, and basically sat down and wrote this entire chapter). And I'm also sorry for the slowness of the plot so far-it should be picking up pretty quickly soon! (Also, for all of the Kohaku/Rin background, if it seemed to cheesy, please let me knowwwwwwww...I'm so bad at writing drama)
Please read and review; it really encourages me to write more!
Thanks
Lily