Chapter 8

Rin's adrenaline was pumping through her veins rapidly. After leaving the hospital she ran home and was now gathering her things to take with her. Rin knew that once Teruko figured out she left the hospital, this would be the first place she would look. That's why Rin was running around shoving things in her back pack. She was grateful she left some stuff behind with Kagome and Inuyasha. Now she didn't have to lug it back there.

Rin's back pack consisted of all her underwear and bras, after hearing Kagome complain she was not about to go through that. She grabbed more toiletries and other womanly stuff along with a few sandals and tennis shoes. She also grabbed some tank tops and shorts for pajamas. She packed hair ties and a solar powered phone charger. She took all the emergency money and a few ATM cards that she would empty on the way to the well. A brush was stuffed in there along with a few of her favorite books.

When she stopped at her parents' room she took a second to look at it one more time. She memorized the bedding, the color of the wall, and the feel of the dressers. She came across a family photo taken a year ago and put it in the front pocket. She also grabbed her father's favorite tie and her mother's favorite jewelry.

Rin ran around the house gathering the rest of what she thought she would need and left on her bike. It took a few minutes for her to get there. She reached the steps and and started to climb clinging on to the bike. It was a hassle to deal with. It would get caught on the steps and wobble and the pedals would hit the back of her calves.

She was two thirds of the way up when a car pulled up. Rin looked down to see it was the social worker and started to pick up the pace. Teruko was closing in on Rin when she made it to the top and got on her bike. Rin had barely escaped her.

Now she had to weave through the crowd of people as she biked, unintentionally creating a pathway for the social worker. The lady was quite fast considering her footwear.

Rin screeched to a halt at the well and pushed the doors aside. A small crowd had formed around the well watching Rin. She sat on the edge and adjusted her bike so that the wheels were against the wall. She saw Teruko push through the crowd and before she could say anything, Rin jumped.

The transition was smooth. Rin leaned the bike against the wall and figured Inuyasha could come and get it out. Rin climbed and pushed herself over the edge. She was on her hands and knees taking in deep breaths. The events of the day started to creep in to Rin's mind. He father was dead. She ran away. People saw her go in the well… Her father was dead…...dead.

The extra adrenaline was starting to dissipate and the realization of what happened struck her. She couldn't go back now. People saw her go in the well and now her face will be plastered on every news bulletin. Another investigation will start up on the well and who knows how long that will take. And the most heart crushing fact of them all…was that her father was dead.

Her fists balled up tightly and her knuckles became white. Her hair made a curtain around her face. Rin's eyes teared up and the steady stream of tears ran down her cheek before dropping off and landing in the grass and on the back of her hands. She cried for a few minutes and then she heard someone walk up to her.

Rin looked up to see Sesshomaru. That's when Rin snapped.

"What do you want from me, huh?" Rin stood up and pushed him. This had no affect on him. "Do you even speak?" She pushed him again. " Because I haven't heard one single word come out of your mouth!" She shoved him again and he still didn't budge. Becoming frustrated Rin started hitting his armor on his chest. Her hands were becoming red and her energy started to fade. Sesshomaru grabbed Rin's wrists to make her stop. She resisted at first, still fighting back, but she calmed down and looked up at him.

His eyebrows were knitted together in confusion and those golden amber eyes broke her resolve. She broke free of his grasp and then wrapped her arms around him, crying. He stood their motionless unsure of what to do. It has been decades since he has been hugged.

She sank down to the ground taking him with her. He was down on one knee while she was on both, putting the rest of her weight on him. He was like an anchor in this moment, keeping her here on the ground.

Her sobs became quieter as she started to fall asleep. The emotions playing at her heart took its toll on her. The anger and confusion and sorrow were weighing down on her so heavily. Her body just needed to rest.

When her breathing became even Sesshomaru laid her down and gathered her things. He slung the back pack over his shoulder like he had seen her do and grabbed the kimono he had gotten her. Before she arrived he laid it out on the edge of the well but she climbed right over it.

Although his face is hard to read, if you knew him, you could clearly see the worry etched on it. He carried her all the way to the village. He walked slowly, selfishly admiring her beauty. Many people in the village cowered and found shelter when he walked by. The kids that didn't know any better were pulled away by their parents.

Sesshomaru smirked at their fear. He took proud in his power. Everybody should fear the Great and powerful inuyoukai. Rin stirred in his arms and he watched her sleep. Well maybe not everybody.

He reached Inuyasha's place and entered with out warning. Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo were sitting around eating. They were laughing until Sesshomaru walked in. They starred at him dumbfounded.

Shippo was the first to get up. He walked up to grab Rin but Sesshomaru made a low growl. That's when Inuyasha grabbed Rin and sat her down on the floor.

"What happened?" Kagome asked reaching for some herbs.

"Nothing. She's not hurt." Sesshomaru said. This seemed to calm them down a little. He left her there to be taken care of. He didn't want to make her angry again by staying.

It took Rin a few days to start to feel better. She mostly laid in bed but today she got up. The best part about living here was that there were no reminders of her past. It didn't hurt so much but she still wondered if that was a good thing or not. She unwrapped the kimono and gasped at it's beauty. It was a magnificent sky blue and had pink and white cherry blossoms scattered all around. The length reached down to her ankles and the sleeves were short. Who ever gave this to her obviously thought she was in a relationship. The sleeves of a kimono distinguish the single from those who are in a relationship. The single women wear their sleeves long and flowing while the women in a relationship have shorter sleeves.

Nevertheless she still wore it and hopped she looked good in it. When she stepped out into the sun she took in a deep breath to prepare her for the day. With no mirror she worried about her appearance and started fidgeting.

"Rin! Glad to see you up and about!" Shippo shouted running towards her.

"Shippo." Rin grinned. In the last few days he really has been a big help. They started to form a relationship Rin was comfortable with. He was like an older brother and she was sure he felt the same.

"I hope you are feeling better." He said. He had a hopeful glint in his eyes as he made it by her side.

"I guess you can say that." It wasn't that she was feeling better the pain was just starting to go numb. It was now like a dull ache.

"Well good! I have something to show you." He pulled her along into the woods. There was a small trail.

"Where are we going?" Rin asked.

"Oh you'll see." Shippo replied, pulling a little harder.

Rin kept tripping over her own two feet as they went. Shippo became impatient and he carried her on his back. He laughed at her clumsiness.

"Shippo?" Rin said.

"Yes." He replied.

"Who was it that took me to the house?" Rin inquired. She wasn't sure if, after she passed out, Sesshomaru had left or if he had taken her back. It really wasn't on her mind until now.

"Well, it was Sesshomaru. He's Inuya-"

"Yeah I know who he is." Rin interrupted. "I've met him before I just didn't know if he did or not."

"Listen Rin," Shippo put Rin down and turned to face her, "He is very dangerous. If I were you I would try and stay away from him."

"But why? I mean he just seems so broken and lonely." Rin's eyes glazed over slightly remembering the look in his eyes.

Shippo contemplated telling her or not. He wasn't sure if she was ready but for her own sake he decided he should. "Rin."

"Hmmm?" She said coming out of her thoughts.

"73 years ago his lover died and I don't know how or why but now you're here. You are a reincarnation of her, Sesshomaru's lover." Shippo said looking right into Rin's eyes.

The news was a shock, yes, but suddenly things started to click. It was her soul, the one she shares with her, that pushed Rin to jump. It was their soul that told Rin his name. This must be why she's so curious to know more about him. And Sesshomaru, this must be really hard on him.

Shippo saw the change in her eyes to sadness and mistook it for her own grief. "I'm sorry Rin but I felt like you needed to know."

"Shippo, thank you for telling me but it still doesn't change anything." Rin said walking past him. This shocked Shippo. He thought that she would be hurt but he guessed she was stronger than she looked.

Rin kept walking in the same direction Shippo was headed, tripping from time to time. Shippo had no idea what to say to her.

They came upon and small field completely covered in flowers.

"This is beautiful Shippo." Rin said. She marveled at all the different flowers.

"Well I thought you might like to pick some….. For your father?" Shippo said looking at Rin. He saw her eyes start to tear and she shook her head yes. They walked out and Rin, ever so gingerly, started to pick some flowers.

This gave her room to think but she figured she needed to say one more thing to Shippo. "Listen Shippo, unless he gives me reason to, I won't stop seeing him."

This did not settle well with Shippo.

They walked back in silence wit bundles of flowers in hand. When they reached the village Rin wanted time to herself with these flowers, so Shippo went to go find Kirara.

Rin walked to the lake and sat on the edge with the flowers. She mad a circle out of the purple pedals and then wrote forever with love. Then she sat there and watched as the wind blew it away. Rin felt like the wind was carrying away the pain she felt on the pedals. The pedals were a boat filled with her grief and the wind was the ocean.

She took a deep breath and tilted her head back closing her eyes. She took in every feeling, the heat fresh on her face from the sun and the wind brushing against her body and blowing her hair.

"I know you're here. You can come out." Rin spoke out into the open air. She really did hope he was there or she would feel crazy. Luckily she heard foot steps approach her and she turned around to face him. "Sit." Rin said patting the area next to her. "I'm sure you've been lurking about and I don't need to fill you in, do I?"

"Yes, I heard." Sesshomaru said. He looked at her inquisitive. Rin looked up at the sky letting a tear fall down. She felt his hand on her face, wiping it away. She smilled and looked at him.

"I'm sorry for acting the way I did. I shouldn't have attacked you." Rin apologized. She saw his lip twitch upwards and burst out laughing. "Yeah I guess it wasn't much of an attack to you." She saw his smile grow and loved the way it looked on him. They sat there for a few minutes.

"So….. I'm the reincarnation of her." She looked at him and saw the subtle change in his features, tense. "It doesn't change anything. If anything, I think it makes us more perfect for each other." She clasped her hands over her face. "I'm sorry. I thought it but I didn't mean to say it." Her cheeks turned a bright red.

Rin didn't here anything for a while and then he spoke up, "I agree." She gasped and looked at him. He was looking out over the pond with a look of complete serenity. It was the first time she saw him relaxed. It was refreshing.

Rin smiled and got up. "Well I guess I should go back now." He got up too and brushed a strand of hair behind her head and then ran his hand over her cheek and down over he arm lifting the end of her sleeve.

A light bulb went off in her head, "Hey, were you the one that gave me this?" Rin motioned to the kimono.

"Do you like it?" He asked rubbing the fabris between his fingers.

She smiled taking that as a yes. "I do, thank you." Rin gathered the rest of the flowers and handed one to him. He took it and twirled it in his hand.

Rin blushed and left suddenly, feeling silly giving him a flower.

A/N

Yay, new chapter! Sorry for the wait but band camp has just been taking up all of my time. As always sorry for any grammar mistakes and I hope you all enjoy!

Thank you for all of your wonderful support.