"No! No! No! What are you doing? Why are you charging like that? Oh don't just sit there and cower and hide"! Rin shouted in frustration. It has been a week since she agreed to train Takashi's so called warriors and at this point she's decided it was a lost cause. "Takashi!" Rin hollered. "Yes young maiden". Rin rolled her eyes at the greeting. She could easily wipe him and his men out in a matter of seconds yet he still tries to treat her as if she's some damsel in distress. "I asked you to stop addressing me as such" she commanded. "How big is this army of bandits and Yokai?" "From the rumors they probably have about 40 or so members." Takashi responded. "Hmmmm" Rin thought. "If I send word to Edo and Kohaku I can easily get reinforcements our numbers would be small, but our strength combined with the few men worthy of continuing on would be more than enough to take on these creatures" she thought to herself. "Takashi new approach! We're wasting too much time with training and although I appreciate their "efforts" it will not be needed. I just need you, your trained samurai, and a messenger". Rin declared. "Messenger?" Takashi inquired. "Yes, I can call on the demon slayers I worked with and some of our village protectors. We are not many in number, but when I was a child I watched them in countless battles and they defeated Naraku, I have no doubt that our problem now can be one that is dealt with easily with them on our side." Rin explained. Takashi's mind began to race.
"Did she just say she was part of the crew who defeated Naraku? This just got a lot more interesting" he mused to himself. Rin returned to her tent and found the stationary Takashi left on her desk. She took the time to write various letters to her friends; giving them updates on her well-being, location, and her failing at training the volunteer "warriors". Rin sent separate request for aid to Kohaku, Sango and Miroku, as well as Inuyasha and Kagome. She thought about writing Lord Sesshomaru as well, but quickly cast it aside. " He stopped replying to my letters years ago. Nothing would change that now". Rin walked her letters over to the messenger and thanked him for being willing to take the journey. Edo and the Slayer village were a good week away on horseback. Turning around towards the valley ahead of her Rin can make out the shape of the Western Mountains. "It would still take them another 2 weeks to even reach us" Rin thought and by that point it may be too late. " Oh Kami I think I might be over my head, but there's no turning back now." She groaned to herself while she entered the forest near camp.
Rin sat down under the maple tree and began making flower crowns out of the small white flowers that surrounded it. A habit of hers that's followed her into adulthood. The practice always had a way of calming her nerves. As she weaves the stems and petals together she took soft breaths while she contemplated what to do next. Should we wait for reinforcements to show or should they continue onward, once again deep in thought Rin failed to notice the footsteps approaching her. " What an adorable crown." Takashi teased. "It appears our warrior princess does have a soft side" he said with a light chuckle. "Are you guys still stuck on me knocking your comrade unconscious the other day. Get over it. He was spying on me while I bathed. He's lucky all I did was roundhouse him." She replied with a slight hiss. "Be that as it may Rin the guy only has one leg. You didn't need to send him full force into a boulder to get your point across, and also who could blame him. You're stunning." "Pft". Rin snorted. "So foolish you men are. And how easily it is to use that foolishness against you. How many of you have been cutdown due to your lust?" "Aye that's true, but you'll come to find that I am not like most Rin." He said with a wink while extending his hand. Rin hesitated for moment before taking it. "What brings you here anyway?" she asked. "I saw you sitting here and wanted to join you. We've been working together these past few days, but I know very little about the warrior who makes flower crowns in her time of rest. A warrior who as a child played a part in Naroku's defeat. How astonishing that fate has allowed our paths to cross". "There's not much to tell. My family was killed by bandits when I was young. I became an orphan, who was abused and abandoned by my village. Luck would have it I came across a man who showed me kindness and allowed me to join him in his quest. (Rin thought it would be best to leave out that it was Lord sesshomaru who rescued her). After we defeated Naraku we settled down in Edo where I learned the arts of demon slaying and healing." " So you're a healer as well? Aren't you a talented little devil." Takashi said with a suspicious looking smile. "You know I never got a proper chance to spar with you. Would you do me the honor of having a friendly rematch?" Takashi asked. Rin cocked her eyebrow with amusement and smirked.