Chapter one: Departing paths
Another day had passed for the yokai lord and yet his mind still drifted to a familiar little human girl. It has been 10 years since he had last seen Rin, his human ward and his mind would drift to her as he passed by the flower meadow.
'Should I go see her?' he pondered. Sesshomaru dismissed the thought as soon as it entered.
'The girl is fine; I have no need for such things…'
RIN
Rin had grown into a beautiful woman, far more beautiful than any female in the village. Her onyx hair grew down to her knees so she kept it in a long braid adorned with red and yellow ribbons.
Once pudgy face no more, she had high cheekbones that many envied and tinted red lips. She wore a bright yellow kimono with red sakura trees up the left side. Her body was now that of a voluptuous woman which caught the eyes of the young men in the village.
When she came to the village as a child, everyone stayed away from her. The curse bearing girl who roamed with demons. Due to this, most of her time was spent in the company of Inuyasha and he taught her how to fight with daggers.
"Master Inuyasha? Why daggers and not a sword?" She once asked.
Inuyasha scoffed, "Because daggers are easily concealed."
Inuyasha didn't explain more than that to the ten year old Rin but he knew the sword was for attacking and the human girl just needed to know how to protect herself. Inuyasha was no fool, he knew she was going to grow into a beautiful woman and he wouldn't always be there. He treated Rin as his sister and grew a kinship with her. He saw how the villagers isolated her and it wasn't unlike his own upbringing. Rin was an odd child, that was for certain.
As the years progressed Rin learned how to use a kyoketsu-shoge, a double edged blade attached to a chain. Rin fell in love with it and carried with her everywhere and trained consistantly. She gave it the name Maru meaning circle because it always came back to her.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone shouted as the woman entered. She dropped her water bucket in surprise and held her hand to her chest.
"You scared me to death." she remarked.
Kagome and Songo enveloped her in a hug.
"We wanted to surprise you." said Songo.
Afterwards, they ate around the fire pit outside as Rin gazed up at the moon.
"I have something to tell you all…" Rin started.
Rin thought hard about her next words as she drank some sake Inuyasha had gifted her for her birthday.
"What is it Rin?" asked Songo.
Rin muttered, "I'm leaving the village soon to start traveling."
"WHAT?!"
"WHY?!"
They all spoke at one time so Rin held up her hand to silence them.
Inuyasha gave her a knowing look. Rin had already confided in him about the adventure she wished to take.
"I want to travel again and feel the dirt under my feet. I've been here for ten years now and I've loved it and I love all of you but I can't stay here forever." Rin continued, "Staying in one place has left a whole in my heart that I've tried to fill but I miss the wind in my hair and sleeping with the stars above me."
Everyone was silent as she continued to drink her sake.
Kagame spoke first, "I have to ask…are you going to find him?"
Rin knew that was coming, everyone knew how she missed her Lord. The golden eyed demon who had saved her from death twice and protected her for many years. Rin knew that she caused him a great deal of trouble in those years but that is not why she is leaving.
"No Kagome, this has nothing to do with him and everything to do with me. Lord Sesshomaru is on his path and I wish to find mine now. I want to find my place in this world and I've discovered it not here. I hope you all understand."
"We got it kid." Said Inuyasha.
"When do you leave?" asked Kagome.
"Tomorrow at first light, I'm headed East towards the mountains." She muttered.
"Have you packed?" said Songo with a motherly tone.
"Yes I have a small bag with a few items."
"Are you sure?" asked Kagome with tears in her eyes. Inuyasha put his arm around her.
"Yes." Said Rin solemnly.
Many hugs and tears later everyone went home. Rin went inside her hut.
Unknown to her, a golden eyed yokai had been listening…
