Chapter 7

"Are you sure that it's okay?" Kagome asked worried.

"Absolutely it's no problem at all. If I get lost I'm sure somebody could help me out." Like Sesshomaru perhaps? Rin thought. She really wanted to see him again. She wondered what the attraction between the two of them was. She figured he could answer her questions.

"I am sorry Ri-"

"Lady Kagome please hurry!" The young girl said. Apparently her mother had become ill and needed Kagome to look after her. Rin had heard she used to be a powerful priestess but now only practiced with herbs.

"Go Kagome. I'll see you in a little while." Rin waved to Kagome as she was being escorted by the little girl.

Rin skipped back down the direction towards the well. Her back pack was a lot lighter now. She had left quite a bit with Kagome and Inuyasha. It seemed like they needed it more than she did.

Rin started to hum again and appreciated the outdoors. She didn't get to spend much time in a forest like this. The air seemed fresher out here and she guessed it was because it wasn't as polluted. She smiled with a new sense of resolution. She would get her father help. She figured that she would stay with Cho. Then she would sign him up for some meetings. Maybe have someone stay at the house to keep him in check.

Then she would possibly move back in after some improvement. She would support him, try and find him a new job, and maybe even a girl. The thought stung a bit but maybe it was what her father needed. Maybe, then, when he is nice and healthy again, things would go back to normal. They could live happily together again.

Rin's smile grew wider. Her hopes were up very high and she was very determined. She truly still loved her father, even after all the pain he has caused her and she was determined to fix everything.

Rin heard a little meow and looked down. There was tiny cat standing next to her. She bent over to pet it and ran her hand down its spine. That's when she noticed the two tails. It didn't creep her as much as it should have but the face helped. It was so adorable, Rin didn't even pay attention to the tails.

The cat leaned in to Rin's touch and purred. She picked her up and held her in the palms of her hands.

"Hi there. My name's Rin. What should your name be?" Rin studied the cat in her hands. It was very calm and sat there like it was waiting for her response. "Okay then…how about….Emi!?" They cat meowed in a fashion of dislike and Rin laughed. "Okay maybe not my best choice."

"Kirara!" The cat's head turned to the side. "Kirara! Come on we have to find Inuyasha!" Rin heard a man's voice call out, to the cat maybe? The cat jumped out of her hands and ran off. Rin followed after it into the bushes. Rin stayed hidden beneath the leaves and branches as she watched the cat run up to a man. He was tall with long orange hair tied up. He wore a blue shirt with leaves on it and a fur vest and dark blue pants.

"There you are Kirara!" The man said. "I see you brought someone with you." The man turned towards Rin. Rin tensed up and fell over, making a fuss trying to get up. "Don't worry I come in peace." The man laughed. He seemed trust worthy enough, plus he knew Inuyasha so he must be one of the good guys.

Rin stood up awkwardly, "Hi."

"Hi, my name is Shippo and this," He pointed to the cat, "Is Kirara."

Something clicked in Rin's mind. "Shippo and Kirara and you guys know Inuyasha right? I mean I heard you fought alongside him and Kagome in the battle."

"Well…" He rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess you would say that. I was just a boy when the battle happened so I couldn't really do much. I have been training since then."

"Oh well that's good." She said. She was unsure of what else to say.

They stood there awkwardly before Shippo asked, "So what's your name?"

"Oh I'm Rin," she said. "I'm actually on my way to the well."

"Oh that explains a lot." Shippo said.

"Like what?" Rin asked.

"Well your weird clothes for one and the other is that you know Inuyasha. I don't know many girls who do." Shippo said. Also the smell of Sesshomaru hangs around her.

"My clothes are not weird, just different, okay?" Rin defended herself.

"Okay!" Shippo said, hands in the air giving up. They were like that for a few seconds before they burst out laughing. That's when Rin decided that she liked him. He was friendly enough and he had a friendly face. Plus he had a cute cat, Kirara.

"Well I guess I should get going." Rin said pointing in the direction towards the well.

"I can accompany you if you'd like." Shippo said.

"Sure!" Rin agreed. They started walking. "So how do you know Inuyasha?"

"Well my father died when I was very young. I promised I would avenge him and then I met Inuyasha and Kagome. They were the ones who helped me get my vengeance. After that they took me in, I guess. And then I went off to train to become a strong and powerful fox youkai. I still visit them from time to time, like I am doing today." Shippo said as they arrived at the clearing.

"Do they do that a lot? Help people I mean? They seem like such nice people but did they really go around helping however they could?" Rin asked. It was a hard concept to wrap her mind around. They only people she knew did that back home were the police. And they get paid for it.

"They really did. It was Kagome who really liked to help people but Inuyasha did too, even if he complained about it." Shippo said. He got this goofy grin on his face remembering something. "Well this is where we part ways for now."

"Right. Thank you so much Shippo. Goodbye and goodbye Kirara." Rin waved to them and jumped in the well, glad she met them.

"You can come out now Sesshomaru." Shippo said. He turned to his right to see Sesshomaru appear out from the shadows. "That girl must be Rin's reincarnation, No?"

"She is and she's mine." Sesshomaru said claiming his stake threateningly. Kirara hissed at him and jumped on Shippo's shoulder.

"It has never been my intention to steal her….from you. Does she even know who you are?" Shippo asked. He was very behind with this story.

"There is no need to concern your self my dwellings. Leave." Sesshomaru said. He was very territorial and Rin was his whether she knew it or not.

"I hope you know what you're doing. It would be a shame to see that girl get hurt." Sesshomaru put a hand on his sword. "Calm yourself. There is no need to fight. It was just a statement. I will take my leave now." With that Shippo walked away.

Rin had made it home safe and sound. Her father wasn't there so she decided to clean the house up. She turned on some music and changed into her comfort clothes. She started with her room, then the bathroom and made her way downstairs. She cleaned every inch of the house and got rid of any alcohol left over. His recovery started now.

When she was done it was almost dinner time and her father still hadn't come home. She had some garbage bags to take to the dumb so she walked a few blocks down to the dumpsters. She threw the bags in and slapped her hands together. She was proud she got the house done. Her mother was always the one to clean it but now that she was gone, it was Rin's job.

Rin started to walk home. Again she was alone and enjoyed it. Even though it wasn't as scenic as the feudal era it was still mind clearing. She turned the corner and saw Cho, Kishiko, and Kaoru running towards her.

"Rin where have you been?!" Cho asked worried.

"Nowhere, I was just walking around." Rin said brushing it off.

"No! Last night! We searched for you but couldn't find you." Kishiko said.

"Oh I was…. at my mother's grave. Yeah, I was missing her so I went to see her and accidentally fell asleep." Rin said. The girls' faces were contorted into sadness and despair.

"Your father…..was in an accident Rin. He's at the hospital." Cho said. She grabbed Rin's hand for support as the news sank in. Rin felt a little dizzy. She lost her balance and leaned on Kishiko. The girls sat her down against the building.

"What kind of accident?" Rin asked looking up at her yujin.

"A car crash, Rin." Kaoru said. "The police say he was drunk."

Rin couldn't believe her ears. First her mother dies by the hands of a drunk driver and now her father was the drunk driver. What else could be taken away from her? Her friends? Her life? She just couldn't catch a break.

"Let's go to him please." Rin said getting. She started a slight jog but then ran into a full out sprint. Her eyes were watery and her tears ran down her cheeks. Her breaths were shaky and her legs wobbly.

When she made to the hospital she was escorted to her father's room. A doctor came to talk to her but she didn't get much of what he said. She heard that he was terminal and might not make it through the night. She heard comma and liver failure. She knew none of those things were good.

Kishiko and Kaoru went home but Cho stayed the night with her. Rin stayed by his bed side the whole night. She dreamed of him making a full recovery and becoming sober like she wanted. She dreamed of his nicer side and when he comforted her when she was younger. She dreamed about a happy life, a father and daughter making it through thick and thin. She dreamed of the love he once expressed to her every day before she left for school and the way he smiled when she made him proud. The way he bragged about her at parties and the little inside jokes they had.

She had just lost her mother and now her father was gone too. She was all alone.

The next morning Rin watched as two men took her father away. She didn't know where to. She was holding on tightly to Cho for support. A lady with her hair ppulled back in a grey pant suit walked up to Rin.

"Hi Rin. My name is Teruko, I will be the social worked on your case." She said. She was very official and looked a little void. "If you will please come with me I'll take you to your new foster home."

"Foster home! NO! She'll stay with me." Cho looked at Rin in the eyes, "Got it Rin? Don't let this lady take you."

Rin was in shock. After losing her father so quickly she couldn't fully comprehend what was going on around her. The voices were muffled and her vision blurry. She felt something on her cheek. She reached up and wiped it away. She looked down at her hand and saw that it was wet. Why was it wet? Was she crying? The voices became clearer.

"She will not go with you!" Cho said.

"She is required by law! Now I will not argue with some little teenage-"

"stop it!...please….." Rin said. More tears spilled out of her eyes and she started to sob. Cho engulfed her in a hug and rubbed her back.

"Rin…..I won't let you go so easily." Cho whispered in her ear.

"We have to leave now Rin." Teruko said. She held out her hand for Rin. Rin squeezed Cho harder and then let go. She left with the lady and watched Cho as she did.

Rin wondered if her friend would be able to help her this time.

"May I go to the bathroom?" Rin asked. Teruko nodded and Rin walked down the hall and when she wasn't looking ran back after Cho.

"Rin!" Cho exclaimed.

"Cho, I am so sorry but I can't go into foster care. There is nothing there for me." Rin said.

"I understand. I'll talk to my mom. I'm sure she'll let you stay with us." Cho said.

"No Cho. Your mom wouldn't be able to take care of the both of us and the twins. I have no family left. All I have are my friends and I can't stay with any of you. I love you Cho but I can't stay here."

"Where will you go?" Cho asked.

"There is a whole different world on the other side of the well. I have people there that can take care of me." Rin explained.

"What? That's…..That's crazy Rin. Please stay here we can work something out." Cho pleaded. She couldn't let her go.

"As crazy as it sounds I feel like I can make a life over there. Like I was born to find that place. Cho you have to let me go. I'll come back every once in a while and when I do, I'll need you here." Rin said. She left her friend speechless. It was a first for her. Rin hugged her again tightly and ran towards the back exit.

"Rin!" Cho yelled to her. Rin stopped and turned to face her best friend. "Let me know when you get back in town."

Rin smiled sadly, "I will. Arigato." Rin bowed deeply to her friend and left.

She was leaving again. This time was different though. It seemed to be more permanent. Nothing was holding her here to this time anymore. She was free to fly. Fly like that bird she saw when she first went to the well.

A/N

Hi guys! I plan on making my chapters this long now so get used to it. I've been asked how long this story will be and I can honestly tell you…I have no Idea. As I mentioned before there is no plan to this story, I just write as I go.

I apologize for any grammar mistakes again. I really wanted to just get this story out to guys.

I wanted to give a shout out to Taraah36. Thank you for your reviews and support. :D

Thank you all for your time!