Chapter 3 - Prince

There was no word exchange between Rin and her savior. Only the silent exchange, something that passed between them without words. An agreement of souls, surpassing either of their knowledge. All that Rin consciously knew, was that she belonged to this perfect god. He'd chosen her, and she chose him with every fiber of her tiny being. They were one, on a level she could not yet comprehend.

When he stood, his elegant gaze shifting from her, and he began walking away… Rin followed. As if it was the most natural thing in the world. She fell into step, following just behind him on his left side.

Rin's body no longer hurt, the injuries from the wolves were gone. Flesh no longer torn and ragged. She felt fresh, revitalized. The only indication that anything had happened at all, was the blood soaked yukata she still wore. It was caked with dirt and blood, torn in places with ragged wolf bites. But it didn't matter… she was with him.

He came to save me.

The thought brought warmth and joy to her heart. The angst, fear and sorrow that she had lived with every day seemed faded now. Like a terrible nightmare that she had woken from. Even the event of her death, seemed more like a dream than a reality that she had lived.

There was a small green frog-like creature that followed him too. This creature did not seem to like her much. He muttered under his breath and cast her withering looks every so often, but never spoke directly to Rin. She only had eyes for her warrior god, so the frog's rude attempts were barely noticed. Eventually, she noted that a two headed dragon, trailed along behind the frogman. The dragon seemed genuinely curious about the girl, but remained following the frogman's lead docilely.

The warrior god lead the strange looking bunch across the meadow that bordered the woods beyond her village, then toward the mountains which were nearby. Rin hardly took note of their surroundings, she simply followed on willing feet, staring up at the graceful swaying silver hair of her prince.

As day passed to night, Rin began to grow tired. She had never walked so far in one day before. Exhaustion began to weary her steps, but she was determined not to stop her diligence to her warrior. The moon began to rise in the sky, a beautiful glowing silver sliver in the expanse of stars. Somehow, her warrior's ethereal beauty seemed fitting to be in the shadow of the celestial moon.

The longer they walked, the harder was Rin's struggle. Sleep made her eyelids heavy, they drooped as she struggled to continue to put one foot in front of the other. The shrill sound of the frogman's voice came from behind Rin. It was fuzzy and unfocused, she blinked her heavy eyelids trying to ascertain what the strange frog was saying.

"…need to consider stopping for the night."

"We are not stopping."

That voice she knew. The very sound of it sent a thrill down her spine, that reached her toes.

The frog made a croaking noise. "But my Lord — the girl!"

Rin stumbled over a stone in her sleepiness, almost tripped but caught herself. When she looked up, she saw her warrior's gold eyes intent on her. A flush of embarrassment touched her cheeks, though there was no trace of anger in his gaze. Only thoughtful observation.

"Put her on A-un."

Her…? Oh, he must mean me.

The frog came close to her, and made a muted sound of disgust as he grabbed the sleeve of her yukata and led her to the side of the twin headed dragon. The scaled beast looked down at her with its closest head, the large yellow eyes intrigued by the tiny human.

Rin would have reached out to pet it, but the frog was insistently trying to push her up into the saddle. It was too tall for either of them, even with the frog trying to push her up with his shoulders. After several long moments of struggle, the dragon leaned over and pushed her into place with its long snout. Blinking, Rin sat astride the dragon, not knowing what to do or expect next. The dragon was unexpectedly warm under her, it's scales emanated heat against the cool mountain air. Smiling softly, she petted the thick black mane.

"You're very beautiful." She murmured to the twin head's. They made a sort of snuffling sound of pleasure. Just ahead of them, the frogman was having some sort of argument with her prince. Rin peeked between the twin heads of the dragon to see more clearly. The frog's back was facing her, but he had turned to look at the frog, so his beautiful face was directly visible.

"…she is human. You're well known to despise all things mortal." The frog seemed upset, accusatory even. The warrior god's eyes narrowed, with a look she had not seen on his face before. It was beautiful, but terrifying.

"I am accountable to no one." The words effectively ended the conversation. Rin's prince turned away, hair blowing dramatically in the wind as he began to walk again. The frog blubbered apologies and tugged on the dragons reins, to follow the warrior.

Could the frog be right? That her warrior god hated mortal things? But… humans were mortal things. He certainty didn't hate her. He could never have looked at her with such tenderness, if he did. Questions and thoughts filled her mind, remaining unspoken. Eventually, she curled up against the dragon's thick black mane and finally let her eyelids drift closed.

It was still night, when Rin was jolted awake. With a gasp she sat up on the dragon's back.

"Wake up girl!" The frogman insisted, poking her again with his weird staff. "Lord Sesshomaru told me to bring you inside." He sounded out of breath.

Who's Lord Sesshomaru?

Instead of instantly complying, Rin looked around. They were somewhere in the mountains, it was colder here, than it had been when she'd been awake last. They'd stopped at a small hut built on a ledge on the mountain. The doorway glowed with bright warm light from a fire inside. Blinking the sleep away, Rin could see the outline of the warrior prince within the hut. There was no hesitation now, as she slid down from the dragons back, although exhaustion made her limbs heavy and awkward.

The frogman led her into the hut, where Rin had to blink and rub her eyes against the brightness of the firelight. Inside, her eyes swept the room, until she found him. He stood in the light of the fire, his eyes were on her. Unbidden, a smile pulled at her lips, though he did not smile back, she felt the warmth of his eyes. After a moment, he pulled his gaze away to look at the room's other occupant, which Rin hadn't noticed. It was a rat — a man sized rat, wearing human clothing.

He must be a rat demon.

The rat demon scurried from the room, and returned a moment later with another rat demon - this one was a woman. She was hurriedly wrapping a haori over her sleeping yukata. When the female rat saw Rin, she gasped in surprise, then hurried over, cooing in motherly tones. Rin looked up at the rat with wide eyes.

"Oh you poor dear… what horror you must have lived through." She gently patted Rin's shoulder with her tiny rat hands, and shook her head with a tsk. "It's okay, we will get you all cleaned up."

"Tamia will see to the girl my Lord." Said the male rat to her warrior god.

Concern filled Rin, as the female rat took her hand tried to gently guide her to the back room. Rin looked over to her prince, searching his gaze. The silver haired prince seemed entirely unconcerned, but met her eyes, and gave her the slightest nod.

"Go with her." He instructed gently.

Instantly her concerns dissolved. Rin smiled up at the female rat and followed her willingly into the back room.

"You poor dear." The rat — Tamia, cooed. "Let's get you a hot bath first."

Rin followed in silence, as the older woman led her through what looked to be a sleeping room, and out through a back sliding door. There was a pool of water amid the rocks.

"This is a natural hot spring. You'll be nice and warm. Come darling, let's get those ripped clothes off you. Tamia was gentle as she helped Rin off with her ruined clothing. It reminded her of her mother. "What's your name darling?" Tamia asked, as she helped Rin into the warm water.

"Ahh…" Rin blinked, surprised. She'd opened her mouth to respond, and a sound came out! Could she speak? She touched her lips and tried again. "Uh… my… my name… is Rin." Excitement thrilled down her spine. She could speak! She would be able to talk to him!

"Rin! What a lovely name." Tamia took a cloth, dipped it in the hot water, and began cleaning the dirt and blood from Rin's skin gently. "You're very lucky that our Lord rescued you."

Blinking, Rin looked up at the demon. "How did you know he rescued me?"

Tania smiled and chuckled softly. "Isn't it obvious dear? He must have a very special place in his heart for you. I've never seen him with any living being other than his vassal, Jaken."

Jaken must be the frogman.

"I've known the Lord since he was your size, little Rin. He always had a kind heart, just like his father. Though his mother tried to drive all emotion from him." She tsked softly. "I was always certain it still lived there, under the cold exterior. All demons say he's the most vicious yokai lord alive. But I know better."

Rin listened with rapt attention. Though she didn't fully understand all that was said, she understood that her warrior was well respected. It seemed few people knew the gentle heart that she'd seen in his eyes. Was Tamia the only other one who knew?

"Tell me about you, my dear."

"Well…" Rin took a deep breath. Once she started speaking, it was like she couldn't stop. In a waterfall of words, she told Tamia about how her family had been murdered, and she was left alone, beaten by the villagers sometimes. Then she told her about finding her warrior god, and how she had brought him offerings. Her words faltered, when she reached the part about the wolves. Was it fear? Was it trauma? She couldn't remember the details, it was like they had happened far away and she could no longer see it. What she did remember, was that her warrior god had saved her from being cold and alone.

By the time she'd finished her story, Tamia had throughly cleaned every inch of Rin, and redressed her in a simple white yukata for sleeping. Tears were in the old rat's eyes, from the door, Rin saw Tamia's husband wiping at his eyes too. Then he quickly ducked out through the bamboo flap and disappeared.

Why are they sad? My warrior god saved me.

"You are a very special girl, little Rin." Tamia said softly, wiping her eyes with a cloth. "I believe fate has brought you to our Lord."

Not understanding, Rin gazed at Tamia with wide eyes.

"Why are you sad?"

Tamia smiled gently and set Rin on the bed mat. "I'm not sad darling. I'm happy. I've watched our Lord struggle for so long, with the weight of his responsibilities. I'm happy. Fate has gifted our Lord with the purest soul I have ever known." The rat gently kissed Rin's forehead and lay her down under the blanket. "Now, you just rest darling."

The bamboo flap opened, and her prince walked through. Instantly his gold eyes of fire found Rin's, as if they were drawn together. Rin felt a flutter in her chest, barely noticing as Tamia and her husband bowed and exited the room. Slowly, Rin sat up, her eyes locked with his.

"Who are you?" She said. Finally speaking the first words that she'd wanted to say to him, when she'd found him under the tree. Somehow, speaking made him real… as if everything before had been some sort of amazing dream. For a long moment there was absolute silence, his eyes never left her face.

"This Sesshomaru, will protect you."