The cool night air was welcomed by Rin as she took a moment to inhale the breeze that greeted her as she left her tent. She hummed excitedly to herself as she made her way through the forest to the hot spring she found during one of her many trips to her now favorite hiding spot deep within. Rin couldn't wait to reach them her body was sore from her spar with Takashi and all she wanted to do was soak and relax. Her thoughts still revisited the scene of their match in her head. "How was he able to mask his energy? Surely the higher ranking soldiers in his unit could feel it couldn't they? Still though I should count myself lucky. If he's anything like Inuyasha then I have a feeling he was taking it easy on me. Perhaps he's testing me too. Pft the nerve of him." Rin internally scoffed at herself as she approached her destination. After quickly undressing Rin submerged her entire body into the water. She grabbed her bathing oil and began to wash and massage her body with it. Humming lightly to herself as she scrubbed her hair a laborious task. "I really need to cut this mane on my head" Rin said out loud with a sigh. Inhaling the Rin looked up at the clear night sky.
The stars illuminating the world above her. "Nights like these remind me so much of my Lord. I wonder if he still watches the stars too." Bringing her knees up to her chest she quickly perished the thought. "It's been years Rin. You need to move on." She softly whispered to herself. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Instead she submerged her entire body into the water again. Breaking the surface she was annoyed to find that once again she was being watched.
"Pervert!" Rin disgustingly shouted, "leave before I kill you." Rin warned. "I promise young maiden, my intentions were pure. I was taking a walk when I smelled your scent and tears. Are you alright?" Takashi asked. Rin hearing the sincerity in his voice began to relax. "I'm fine." Rin replied sternly. "You continue to surprise me. I didn't think a warrior princess such as yourself was capable of feeling anything but indifference and pride." Takashi chuckled from behind the boulder that kept he and Rin separated from each other's view. "I've learned early on that showing emotion especially before a battle was of little help. We should never let our enemies know what we're feeling lest we give them a weakness to work with." "Ah, but emotions are not just a weakness young maiden, they're also a sign of strength are they not? Emotions are one of the few things that are admirable when it comes to humans. It makes your very being. They can be a source of incredible power or be the beginning to an end. If I am not overstepping. May I ask what has caused you to be upset.
Rin paused for a moment and thought to herself. "Takashi hasn't given me any reason not to trust him." With a heavy sigh Rin closed her eyes and began to tell the tale of a night that felt like it was yesterday.
A small girl no older than 5 was playing happily with her older brothers on the floor of their one room hut. Her mother stood at the wood stove humming a tune softly as she stirred their dinner for the night. Her wavy long hair as black as night cascaded down her shoulders, she wore a simple light green yukata. Her frame curvy; a homage to the children she's bore. Although Rin can no longer see her face she never forgot her warm and inviting smile. Her father although brute in appearance was a kind man. His hair balding, his skin dark and tan from working in the fields most of the day. Rin will always remember his rough and strong hands. Her brothers appearance have long faded from memory, but she can still hear their laughs and teasing voices from their play together. Rin recalled the sudden angry shouts and distant screams surrounding her hut. Her mother quickly hid Rin under the family laundry pile, unfortunately there was no where else for the rest of her family to hide. She watched in silent horror as the bandits executed her family before they trashed and raided her once happy home.
Rin hid for 3 days and didn't make a sound, didn't move out of fear, shock, and grief. When the village headman finally came to her home she couldn't speak. Not a word would come out, but it didn't take much effort on the villages's part to piece together what happened. "For 3 years I didn't speak to anyone. I didn't see a reason to. All those dear to me were taken. I was alone. The village would give me scraps to eat and to dress with, but I had no one to care for me. Then one day I came across a wounded man in the woods by my hut, His beauty was other worldly to me. He did his best to shoo me away, but I would return everyday to make sure he was okay. I don't know what it was that drew me to him, but I felt an instant need to be near him no matter how unwelcome he tried to make me feel." Rin let out a light giggle as she spoke. "Then one day I was caught stealing some fish for him to eat. The villagers became angry and beat me. By the time I made my way back to the warrior I was covered in bruises and cuts. And you know what this warrior did? He asked me something no one had bothered to ask me in years. He asked me what happened. I know to most it may seem like a petty reason to get excited about, but for the first time in a long time I felt as though someone cared about me. Even though he tried very hard to make it seem like he didn't. Anyway I left the wounded warrior and made my way back to my family's old hut in search of something to give to him in a show of gratitude. Instead of returning to an empty home, I found a bandit rummaging through my things he said wolves were after him and before I knew it I was being chased by a pack of them. (Not wanting to divulge the identity of her savior Rin hid a part of the truth). They had me cornered in the woods, but by the grace of Kami the warrior appeared out of nowhere and saved me. He didn't say much, but I took it upon myself to follow him and became his vassal. He would often leave me alone while he went off to battle, but he always returned. He gave me clothes, gifts, trinkets, and protected me. Then one day after a year together he left me in the care of a village and I hadn't seen him since. I understand why he did it, really the only thing I regret is never having the chance to say goodbye or thank him." Rin's voice softened as she wrapped up the end of her story. "I'm sure thanks is not what he was looking for. It sounds as if your warrior was thanking you. Even though you were a small child you showed him compassion and kindness. Speaking from experience those are invaluable traits especially in these times." Takashi replied assuringly. "Takashi, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Rin stated. "You want to know why and how I'm able to mask my demon energy." Takashi mused. Rin nodded.
"Very well, since you opened up to me I can do the same. My father was once a high ranking inuyokai he was the most trusted general for the Lord of the West. During one of his patrols in the lord's absence he frequently visited a village not far from the border of the eastern sea. That's where he met my mother. He often described her as the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Her skin was tanned, but still delicate. She had light brown curly hair, and her eyes were a golden amber. It was love at first sight. As he would describe it. He knew how his Lord felt about humans and he tried his best to stay away from mother, but no matter how hard he tried he kept coming back to her. Eventually the two would meet in secret and my mother became pregnant. My father wanted to mate and marry her, but he knew if he tried my mother, himself, and I would most likely parish. The daiyokai he served despised human and demon relationships he would have killed us if he found out. Eventually my mother gave birth to me and sadly passed soon after due to complications. My father took me and mustered up the courage to seek permission to raise me in the western kingdom. The ruling Lord gave him an ultimatum if he could defeat him in battle then he can retain his position and I can live alongside them. But if my father lost then he will be stripped of everything and banished. Needless to say my father fought triumphantly, but he was defeated. He lost everything, but was grateful for the fact that the Lord spared my life. I was raised in the outskirts of a human village. My father befriended a miko who taught him how to make a potion that would mask my scent. In appearance I take after my mother, in power I take after my father. I only really show my true strength in battle. I spend everyday training for the day I cross paths with the Lord of the West not only will I get my revenge on behalf of my father, but I will restore my family's name and honor. I managed to track him down 50 years ago and I challenged him. That was a grave mistake on my end, he easily bested me. Once we defeat these demons and bandits plaguing the Western Mountains I plan on continuing my training. I owe it to my father."
Silence filled the air. "The pain of the past seems to be something we have in common." Rin finally spoke. "But what good is vengeance? What has happened happened. It will not change anything. Our loved ones are still gone. Our childhoods still robbed of us. The best revenge is to not let anger and grief win. Show our enemies that no matter how hard they tried they cannot break us. That the past will not control us. They are not the makers of our destiny. I know there are not many words of comfort when it comes to losing a loved one. But I don't think your father would want you to risk your life over this. If he cared about a name or title he wouldn't have pursued your mother. He wouldn't have chosen to give it all away in exchange for your life. The path you are on now, I think that's the path he would be proud you have taken." Takashi didn't say anything. Instead he walked away into the darkness of the forest.