Written by R. Quinn

Chapter 1 - The Massacre   The little girl was terrified. Her mother had shoved her under the sleeping pallet and covered her with hay. “You stay here, no matter WHAT happens! Do you understand me?” Her mother shouted at her. The child nodded her head, her eyes wide with confusion. Theirs was the only lean-to with a metal roof. It was to prove to be her salvation. The woman ran outside after placing her daughter in the safety of the tin-roofed shack. Everywhere she looked was nothing but Hell. Almost all of the houses were either consumed in flames or already smoldering. The bandits had hit them hard. Men were being cut down left and right. Some of the women had taken their children and fled, but most were caught and being held by the men on horses. The ones holding the hostages had sharp lances pointed at the weeping women and screaming children.
There were still many villagers running about, screaming. A few men had gathered their farm implements and were managing to keep the marauders at bay. The young woman grabbed a hoe from beside their shack and ran toward her mate. He was standing back-to-back with their closest neighbor, a young man of only fifteen. They both had axes and were using them to full advantage, cutting down riders as they approached. She was almost to them when she saw a large bandit astride the biggest horse she had ever seen. He was thundering down on her mate! She shouted to him to turn and look behind him, but it was too late. The large bandit struck! She watched in horror as, in slow motion, the bandit’s sword cleaved her husband almost in half. From his shoulder to his navel was sliced open. The young woman dropped to her knees, screeching her pain and suffering as she watched her beloved mate die an agonizing death. She did not even feel it when an arrow, tipped with poison, pierced her lungs. As she lie dying in the dirt street of the small village, her last thoughts were not of her daughter, still hidden in the shack, but of her husband, struck down in his prime.
The bandits did not waste time searching the shacks. They knew this village was too poor to harbor much of value. They simply lit arrows and shot them onto the straw rooftops of the homes. It was a hit-or-miss affair. Not all of the buildings went up in flames, but they did not care. They had come for the livestock and the food stores the villagers had hoarded. They had been watching the small group of farmers and knew where each man lived and where each item they wanted to steal was stored. When they made their move, it was sudden and deadly. They made away with all of the livestock and as much of the harvested vegetables as they could carry in the wagons they had stolen. Tonight would be a feast! They had fourteen women and twenty-three children with them as well. These they would sell to the highest demon bidder. They knew women and children went for a higher price than the men. The men could be forced to work, but the women… ah, the women. They could be used for so many other things, as well as the children.
By the time the bandits left the sad little village, much was in ruin, and all was in chaos.
The little girl waited for what seemed like many hours. Her mother did not come back for her. Even after the sounds of flames, screaming, running, and harsh voices died down, she still did not come. The little girl waited through her hunger. She waited through her tiredness. She even waited through her fear. But on the second day of hiding, her bodily functions could wait no longer. She scrambled from under the sleeping berth and slowly crept to the open doorway of their home. As she peered outside cautiously, she saw only a peaceful countryside.   The fields in front of their open doorway had been harvested by her father over the last months. Nothing was left. Only a few strands of cotton blowing in the gentle breeze remained. The tiny lot directly in front of the door, where her mother had her small garden planted, held a few tiny vegetables, ripe for the plucking. The weeds were starting to overgrow some of the plants, however. The little girl knew her mother would be displeased. It was her job to weed the small plot every day. As this thought came to her she slowly stepped outside. Their house faced their fields, as did most of the other houses. They did not have a back entrance, however, as many of the other families had. That would require installing a door. They did not have means to trade for a door. So, they had to make do with only the one entrance.
The child stepped around the wall and walked to where she could see the road going through the village. As she rounded the last corner she stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth frozen in a tiny “o” in horror at what she saw. Everywhere she looked there were bodies and blood. She was not sure what to do. She seemed to be the only one around. She started forward on her tiny legs, made wooden by her shock. As she passed by the bodies she began to recognize some of them. There was her neighbor boy. He had been alone since his father was killed by a runaway mule last spring. She did not remember his father. She had been too young. She stopped by another man that looked familiar. She could not place him, but she knew she had seen him around the village a time or two. His throat had been cut and blood lied in black pools under him, already soaked up into the dirt and dried. She stood still for a moment and simply turned in a circle.
“Mama!” she cried, running instantly towards a woman lying on the ground about twenty feet from her. When she reached her she dropped to her knees, hugging the woman fiercely. “I was so worried Mama! You didn’t come for me and now the garden is overgrown and…” She stopped mid-sentence. “Mama?” She began to shake the woman’s shoulder, wanting desperately for the woman to wake up and smile at her, as she had so many other times. But the woman was still and silent. The girl put her tiny hand on the woman’s face and felt its coldness. A shiver ran down her spine as the girl used all of her strength to turn the woman over. She gasped as she saw the arrow sticking halfway out of the woman’s side. Her eyes were open and glazed, staring at nothing. The little girl did not know what death was until that moment. Death took away those you loved.
After sobbing uncontrollably for a long time, the little girl dried her eyes and continued her search. She knew there HAD to be someone else here still alive. She could NOT be the only one! She turned back in the direction she had been going previously. Just past the man she only vaguely recognized, she found her father. His wounds were horrible to behold. Her tears were not the wracking sobs of before, but they fell down her face in a stem-less tide of grief.
After searching half the day she found only one other living soul. A stray dog had wandered up the village street. He stopped here and there, licking at blood or other things lying around. She shooed him away from a child’s body. She did not know the child. He looked to be younger than she. Not knowing what else to do, the little girl turned for home. As she curled up on the sleeping berth, still sobbing quietly, her loneliness swept over her. She trembled as she fell asleep, alone in the big bed for the first time in her life.
Chapter 2 - Rebuilding   Two days after the massacre, the women and children, and a few old men that had fled the village, began trickling back home one by one. Rin was never so happy to see someone as she was when these people, friends and neighbors of her family, began to reappear. Most of their men had been slaughtered, however. More than half the population of their village had been killed. Another quarter of them, mostly women and children, had been taken. The ones that came back began to slowly bury and burn their dead. The funeral pyres were lit and going for days on end. The only ones buried were the ones that had farms with soft enough soil for their dead to be placed in it. As their own farm was used to grow cotton, their ground was not nearly as fertile as others’. Her father and mother had been taken and burned together in a pyre outside their home. Only one man came to mourn their loss next to her. He was an older man. He had lived in the village for more than eighty years. He had seen it destroyed more than once. But they always managed to rebuild, he told her. Rin had no idea how old the man actually was. No one looked older than twenty. But she knew this man had been the great-grandfather of one her playmates. He stared at her intently when she said nothing back to him. He grunted in disapproval and turned away.
She watched him walk away with a limp. He had been struck with the blunt side of a sword and his leg had been broken. Their healer had been one of the ones captured, so he had only a crude splint on his leg. She shrugged her tiny shoulders and turned back to her parents’ burning corpses. She watched until they were just smoldering ashes then went to the garden to start her afternoon weeding.
When Princess Aara heard about the slaughter in the village closest to her western border, she immediately sent a troop of Protector Wolves to the area. It was too little, too late, but she vowed that she would NOT have that kind of thing happen in her lands again.
 Along with two of her own males, Hiei and Kurama, the Protectors quickly found the bandits that had caused so much suffering. They put up a fight, and instead of being brought back for trial, the entire lot of them had been killed. The Protectors lost only one wolf to the marauders.
  With their kidnappers slain, the sad group of women and children and a handful of young men returned to their former homes. Within weeks the houses were beginning to take shape once again. They had help from a few nearby villages as well. Some of the unmated men from those villages stayed. They mated with a few of the widowed women and began their new lives.
The village, beginning to re-grow itself once again, had little time to waste caring for the tiny orphaned child on the outer rim of town.
Two months after the slaughter, Rin was dismayed to find her tiny garden was no longer producing the vegetables she had been living off of. There was a chill in the air, and she knew winter was not far away. She had no idea how she would survive. As she sat on her dirt floor, contemplating her future, a shadow came over her. She looked up with a gasp. The old man was back. He stood staring at her for long moments. Finally, he spoke. “I suppose we can give you a bowl of soup now and then, but don’t go thinking we will feed you all the time. We have our own to worry about.” With that, he turned and walked away. He had taken to mate one of the widowed women that had been captured. She had returned with her three children, all under the age of eight. Last night, she had prattled on and on about the fate of the little girl now living alone. She was the only orphan under the age of fifteen in the village. All the other children that had lost both parents had other family to take them in. That one little girl had no one. However, none of the villagers would take her in either. There were too few able-bodied men to care for so many women and children as it was. It was all they could do to provide for their own families.
All through that first winter, tiny Rin fought for every morsel of food she could. When she could find nothing to eat, she went begging to the neighbors. They gave her what scraps they could, but there was barely enough to keep her alive. At only four years old, she was too young to be much help with anything during the winter. During planting and harvesting season she could earn her way, but with winter hard on, there was nothing she could do but live hand to mouth. And so her struggles went.
When springtime finally came, Rin was overjoyed! She could now earn enough food to keep her through the next winter. She set out every day, pestering whom she could for work. Some farmer would take pity on her and set her to work. But her pay was not what she was hoping for. Each day she earned merely a few vegetables or seeds. The seeds she planted in her own tiny garden, which was sadly neglected most days. She had hoped to earn a sow or a calf, or even a few hens, but livestock was precious, since all had been stolen the previous year. She was even laughed at when she pointed to one when asked what she wanted for her day’s work. She was given a few carrots instead. Her cotton fields lie dormant. Nothing grew there any more. She could not trade it off either. No one wanted it. To farm cotton was a hard task that destroyed the soil after only a few years. She had not known it, but her father had planned on moving, tin roof and all, to more fertile soil the next year. And so the spring and summer passed by, with work tiring her out and only receiving a small portion of food every day as payment. She was no longer hungry all the time, but she knew winter was again fast approaching. She had only a few small potatoes and onions stored away. Nothing else would keep for as long as she needed it to for the winter. She unhappily bent back to her task of pulling the weeds from her tiny plot, shoving thoughts of winter’s impending starvation aside for now. As summer began to give way to autumn, the villagers met to discuss the lack of livestock. The elders proposed a fish reserve. It was shot down by many of the farmers due to the enormous debt it would bring, but Hiei happened to be at that particular meeting. He was only there to check on the progress of the village. The Protectors only made their rounds in the area every few months, so life was still pretty harsh. He had heard reports that the village was once again righting itself, but he wanted to see it for his own eyes.
Hiei took the idea of the fish reserve back to his Princess. She quickly surmised it to be a viable option and buried herself for two weeks with the planning of it. When it was ready, she sent out her own people to the small village.
The villagers greeted the large group of travelers warily. They were not trusting of anyone they did not know. When Hiei stepped forward and told them what had been planned, there was a shout of joy heard all around the village. Rin came out to see what was going on.
For almost three weeks she watched work on the reserve take place. She even managed to earn some eggs from one of the workers by bringing him tools when he asked for them. She had not had meat in so long! That night she was so hungry for the protein in the eggs, she broke one open and slurped it down raw. It was not as satisfying as she had hoped, though, so she was forced to try her hand at cooking the other two. It came out a mess of half-runny, half-burnt scrambled eggs, but they were the most delicious thing she had had to eat in months!
By the time winter set in, the fish reserve was complete. It was well-stocked with fresh-water trout, salmon, and catfish, all of which could survive the harshest of winters. The farmers were instructed to make sure to poke holes in the ice once a day at least, however. The water was not free-flowing, so it was not oxygen rich. The farmers diligently learned what they could about the reserve before seeing the workers off amidst loud cheering and well-wishing.
Rin watched them leave, smiling inwardly. She would not starve this winter after all.
Chapter 3 - Survival at Any Cost   It was mid-winter before Rin felt her first hunger pangs, with nothing at all to satisfy it. The potatoes and onions had long since been devoured, as well as the last of her fall vegetables. Even the rice she had earned from one farmer was completely gone. She had eaten the rest of it the day before. It had been barely enough to make one very tiny rice ball. She put on her mother’s heavy shift over her old, torn kimono and went knocking on doors. She was turned away time after time. Even the old man’s wife turned her down. She was pregnant with her fourth child and could spare nothing for the little girl.
Rin pulled the heavy shift up to her ears as she stood on the old man’s property and gazed around her. The fish reserve and the hard-looking man there that ran it was her last option. The reserve had been placed there through Princess Aara’s generosity, with the intention of allowing all the villagers ample meat during bad times and good. However, it quickly became clear that the elders had decided to make it as prosperous as possible. They fenced it off with wood and wire mesh and started charging villagers for fish. They accepted almost anything of value in trade. Rin had nothing.
She knocked on the fish-keeper’s door. When no answer came, she knocked again.
This time the door was yanked open by a sour-faced man. “Whaddya want?!” he barked at her. She pointed to the water behind the shack. “Eh, you want a fish do you? Well, it will cost you. What do you have?” He stared intently down at her, glaring by the light of the half moon.
 
  When she said nothing, only continued to point at the pond, he snorted in derision. “Go away and do not come here again!” With that, he slammed the door in her face. She shivered in the cold. Hungry and sad, she trailed slowly home. Sleep was all she had to look forward to tonight. The next night was silent and still. Snow had fallen all day and there was a blanket more than four inches deep over everything in sight. Rin had tried once again, to no avail, to beg food from the villagers. Her stomach was rumbling and she was very weak. She made her way to the edge of the wooden fence surrounding the reserve. It was not necessarily to keep people out so much as it was to keep poaching animals and demons out. At least, that is what the elders had said. But in between the wooden slats of the fence a wire mesh had been nailed. No one could get under the fence. She was five years old now, though still too small to climb the high fence. She let loose a guttural sob in frustration. She could speak, but she chose not to. It was easier when people thought she was mute. They discussed things in front of her they never would otherwise.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she turned and walked the length of the fence. The reserve was a long, deep ravine, though not very wide. It gave the fish room to swim without making the humans have to go too far out to get the fish it contained. When she reached the end of the fence on one side and turned the corner to go around to the back, she looked back at the low lights of the village. A few people still had their lamps lit, but most of the houses were dark. If only she could find a way in…
As she rounded the end corner and started back up the other side, she saw what she had been hoping for. There was a hole in the wire! She quickly scrambled to it and hunched down, peering intently at the hole. It was not quite big enough for her. She searched the area for a stick and found one the perfect size for her needs. She pushed it through the hole and began working it back and forth. It took her half the night to enlarge the hole in the tough mesh, but she finally succeeded. She bent back the wire and started to slither through the gap. When her mother’s shift caught she had to turn back and remove it. She was very cold. She had been out in the snow all night. She didn’t care, though. She was almost to her goal and she KNEW she had to have some fish if she were to survive. She carefully scrambled through the hole. She had made it! Now if she could catch a fish she would be happy indeed.
It took her a few minutes of studying the water to determine what she had to do to get the fish. She had to wade into the water and scoop one out. She had no net and no line with which to fish. Even if she had, there was no bait. Gritting her teeth against the frigid water, she silently thanked the gods that there was as yet no ice covering the pond. At least not all the way. Her tiny legs were numb almost from the time she stepped into the water. As she did, she felt movement underneath her. She knew the pond was very well stocked. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she let instinct take over. She reached both hands down into the water and waited, motionless, for something to happen. Then it did! A large salmon swam lazily in between her palms. At first she was so fascinated by it that she forgot what she was doing. Then she remembered in a jolt of clarity. She slammed her palms together, trapping the fish, and flung it as high and far as she could. It landed on the flat part of the embankment, where it flapped this way and that. She was ecstatic! She scrambled out of the water, almost losing her footing more than once due to her numb legs and feet, but she made it. She pushed the wriggling fish through the hole in the fence, and then followed. As she shoved her arms into her mother’s shift she silently thanked whatever gods were looking out for her. That night her trek home was a happy one.
Behind her, snow began to fall once again, obliterating her tiny footprints.
At home, Rin cooked the fish as best she could over her wood-burning stove. As warm as it kept her, she could not gather enough firewood to make it last very long. She could not use an axe to chop large pieces into smaller ones, and couldn’t drag home larger pieces anyway. So, she had to make do with fallen tree limbs and branches, which were few and far between. Every time she lit the stove she had to go further and further away to find suitable wood. This night, however, she had enough already stocked to burn long enough to cook her prize. She gorged herself on half of the fish, wrapping the rest in cloth and burying it in the snow just outside her door. She smiled in satisfaction that night as she fell into a dreamless sleep.
The very next night the temperature dropped rapidly until there was a solid layer of ice over the pond. The caretakers, as instructed, punched many large holes all along the pond’s edge. They noticed nothing out of place as they did so.
Rin continued her theft all winter, lying on her belly with her hands sticking through the hole the caretakers had thoughtfully placed.
Chapter 4 - Salvation   The old man watched the child struggle through the fence. He had been watching her for several days now. He felt only pity for the child. She had been his great-grandson’s playmate. He remembered her as a happy baby and toddler. She was always smiling and singing, just happy to be alive. She had no idea they were poor. She just enjoyed being. His mate, whom at first had been the one to prod him into action on her behalf, was now the one urging him to not answer the door when the girl came knocking. She was a shrew of a woman now that she was with child. She no longer felt pity for anyone other than herself. Even her children, his step-children, were suffering her wrath more and more these days.
He pushed away his thoughts of his second (no, third, he corrected himself), family and crept quietly after the girl, unseen. He watched as she stole the fish then hurried home with it. He was glad she had found a way to feed herself. The elders had no right to fence the pond then start charging people. He snorted in disgust at the thought of them.
After she had gone, he made his way around the fence to the place she had gone through and placed the wire back so it appeared to have not been touched. The hole he had cut in it a few days before had been her salvation. When she had been turned away by his mate, he knew he had to do something else to help her. This was the best he could do. He smiled to himself as he went back inside to his whining woman.
Spring had come at last! She danced a small twirl for the joy of it. She could now start earning her way among the farmers again. She was six now, and a lot stronger and bigger than she was when she was only five. At least, that is what she thought to herself.
She planted the seeds left over from last year early. She wanted to make sure she had enough food this year. What she didn’t realize was that even in spring there was sometimes a hard freeze. When that happened, all of the tiny vegetable plants that had just started to make their way up from the soil died. She lost everything, down to the last seed.
  She sat still, covered in grime, among her dead garden, and stared into nothingness. She had so much to learn. For the first time in many months she allowed a single tear to trail down her cheek.
She didn’t allow herself to be discouraged for long, though. The traveling tinker was coming into the village tomorrow. She had heard some of the women talking about it. She would try to see if he would give her some seeds. She knew it was a long-shot, but just maybe he would take pity on her.
When the first bell of the tinker’s cart was heard, most of the village turned out to welcome him into town. This was the time when the people began trading their stored winter goods for things such as seeds and rice, flour, sugar, and other spices. Rin waited well into the night until all of the townspeople had finished their business. The tinker had begun packing his things away when he noticed the tiny figure, dressed in rags, standing quietly behind him. “Well, hello there!” the friendly man swept off his ridiculous hat, and made a grand show of bowing to the girl. She smiled timidly at him. “And what can I do for you on this fine night, young lady?”
Rin hesitated then pointed to some tubs of seeds she had seen the people bargaining for earlier. It was still too soon for planting season, and harvesting seemed an eon away. She was still stealing fish, but it was no longer cold enough to keep the fish fresh for longer than a few hours. She had begun taking only the smaller ones, as she had wasted two large fish when they had spoiled in the warming weather. However, with them planted in a garden, the seeds would feed her through the summer and fall and partly into winter.
“Do you have something to trade, little girl?” the tinker’s smile never faltered. He was a born trader. He could sweet-talk a wolf into buying a dead rabbit. Rin cast her gaze at the ground at his horses’ hooves, and sadly shook her head. When he said, “Well, then, I guess I will just have to give you some free samples”, her head jerked up in surprise. He smiled kindly at her and started busying himself wrapping tiny amounts of all kinds of seeds into small paper bundles for her. Her astonishment grew as he added two eggs and some cured pork into the bundle as well. When he turned around, he almost laughed out loud at the size her eyes had grown to. He had already surmised that the child was alone in the world. He himself had been left alone at the age of ten. He knew how hard it was to survive by one’s self in this world. He gave back whenever he could. With a wink, he handed her the package. “Now, don’t go telling anyone I gave you all this stuff, you hear? I can’t have everyone expecting me to just give my stuff away.” He pretended sternness on this last bit. She grinned at him, nodded her head, and scampered away, her heart lighter than it had been since the summer before.
This time around she waited until she saw other women begin planting their gardens before she started her own. It would still be awhile before the plants would produce anything edible. In the meantime, she was still sneaking into the reserve. Every few nights she would use her back entrance and steal a fish.
She began once again to pester farmers for work until they gave in and kept her busy. She would return home in the evenings, tired and hungry, eat whatever she had earned that day, and spend a little while in her own garden. Then she would crawl into bed, her body aching and sore from a hard day’s work.
She did not work like this every single day, however. Unlike the year before, she took one day every week to gather wood for her stove. She was determined to have as much firewood as possible this winter, already stored and ready for her use.
It was on one of these forays that her life changed forever.
Chapter 5 - The Mysterious Demon   Rin was wandering in the woods, more than a half a mile away from the village, when she came upon one of the Protector Wolves. She stopped in her tracks, not sure whether to run or stand still. She knew that the wolves were here every now and then, but she did not know if they would eat her or not.
As she stood staring at the wolf, a handsome Wolf Demon came up behind the furry creature. “Hello. I don’t want to scare you, but there are lesser demons scattered in these woods. We are on the trail of one now. They are almost all gone, but a little thing like you shouldn’t be out here alone.”
With that, the demon waved a friendly goodbye and trotted off into the trees, the wolf loping after him. Rin stared after them for a minute, debating whether to turn for home or continue with her mission. She opted for the latter, shrugging her shoulders. If she died, then she died. At least her harsh life would not matter any more. No one would miss her.
She continued searching for sticks, picking up and discarding some, putting others in the knapsack she carried across her shoulders. Her mind on the task at hand, she almost fell over a pair of legs, covered in white silk, before she knew they were there.
She gasped, startled, and almost fell back the other way. As she looked down, she recognized demon markings on the forehead of a man resting beneath a tree. He was so beautiful! His features were very delicate. He had long white hair and a very inviting-looking fur wrap upon which he lie. The only thing marring his perfect features were the large wounds covering his chest. He also had various other scrapes and cuts that she could see peeking out from under his silks.   Wondering if he were even alive, she took a stick and poked him in the arm. He groaned and tossed his head. Briefly, it occurred to her to wonder if this was the demon the wolves had been looking for. But they had said lesser demon. Looking at his handsome visage, she doubted very seriously this man was a lesser anything. If anything, he was a fallen god. She looked around for his supplies, noticing he had none. She frowned, sure that he would need water and food when he awoke. Being so far from her village, though, she was reluctant to try to find a stream. She did not know this area very well. She had followed a path and stayed close to it to get here. She made the decision to turn back home and bring him something later. She hoped he was still alive when she returned. Later that evening, while most families were eating dinner, Rin put the cap on a bamboo container filled with water and headed back to the sleeping man. She had not worked that day, and so she had no food to give him, but she could at least see that he drank something. She crept quietly through the woods, mindful of the demons the wolves had told her about. She walked for what seemed forever. She had almost given up, thinking she had passed the spot and he was gone.   Then she saw a flicker of white, lit up by the moon. She made her way carefully through the trees to the man. He was still sleeping, motionless, in the same position he was in when she had left him. She poked him once more and was relieved when he let loose a low growl, barely audible. She smiled and left the bamboo canister beside him. She left him and scurried home as fast as she could. She felt a sense of well-being and slept that night with dreams of a white-haired demon keeping her warm and safe.
The next day was almost a fruitless one. She earned only a very tiny fish, already beginning to dry around the eyes. It did not matter to her, though. She had been used to this kind of diet for a long time now. Besides, she thought to herself, she was going to make a gift of the food. She wished it could be more, but she could not find enough work to earn enough to feed a grown man.
Rin wrapped the tiny offering in the packaging she had saved from the kind tinker. She stopped long enough to fill another bamboo container with water and started down the long trail to where she had left him sleeping.
When she arrived in the clearing, the Demon had shifted his position only slightly. She saw the rise and fall of his chest, however, so she did not poke him this time. She walked to the container, which was in a slightly different place than she had left it. It was empty. Her heart sang, as she knew he had drunk what she had left for him. She unwrapped the food, and carefully placed it on a large leaf. She did not want to give up the packaging the fish was in. She might need it later. She switched the full water container for the empty one and headed back home. Her stomach was rumbling, but she did not care. She was helping someone that desperately needed it. She skipped most of the way home that night.
That was how her future began, with a wounded and sleeping Demon.
When she took him the mushrooms and green beans she had earned the next night, he was awake! She hesitated only for a second before coming forward with her offering. She placed the food on another leaf, mimicked her actions of the night before with the water, and turned for home, not sparing him more than a glance after their eyes had locked initially. He said nothing to her, simply watched what she did. She was glad he had not said anything. She was actually very scared of him. His eyes were a cold golden color. They had unnerved her as if they were boring holes in her. Still, he hadn’t hurt her. So she continued bringing him food every day.
The day after the mushrooms and green beans she could ignore her own hunger no longer. When the farmer she worked for that day paid her with carrots and corn, she took them home and cut all in half. She put all of them into the water to cook. When she deemed them edible she carefully wrapped half of the portion up and put it in her knapsack. The other half she carried in her hand, eating while she walked. She had filled the water container earlier that day, so it was already ready to go.
That night was a repeat of the night before. She just placed the food and water and left him.
The next day her pay was only a sad little bit of rice. She wrapped the whole of it up and took it to the injured demon. He watched her, silent as always. They spoke nothing to each other. She didn’t know if he appreciated what she was doing or not, but he was eating the food and drinking the water. She guessed he didn’t mind her help. Her heart was lighter than it had been for a very long time. She felt she had a purpose.
The sixth night he was there she brought him more carrots, this time raw. She frowned to realize he had not touched the rice. She vowed not to bring him any more rice. She placed the raw carrots next to the rice, exchanged the container like she always did, and left him there. When she returned the very next night, the carrots as well as the rice were still sitting where she had left them. The water was gone, but the food remained untouched. She was perplexed by this, but simply set the small hunk of bread, finagled from a farmer’s wife, next to the carrots and rice.
When she returned to him the following evening, all of the food was gone. She did not know if he had eaten it or thrown it away, but it was gone. She smiled, wanting to assume he had eaten it. Tonight’s offering was another small fish. She had gotten two eggs for today’s labor and had traded them to the fish keeper for this very tiny salmon. She was elated when he began eating it before she had even left the clearing. She knew what she would do! These small offerings of food were not nearly enough for a man his size to recover from such horrible injuries! He needed a LARGE salmon, like the one she had caught before winter had set in so badly. She determined she would go fishing for him the very next night.
Chapter 6 - Reprisals and Rewards   All day Rin smiled secretly to herself. She was going to catch a fish for him! She wanted to surprise the wounded demon. There was so little excitement in her life that just the thought of presenting him with his own meal was making her giddy. So much so that she could hardly concentrate on her work. She received boxed ears for her troubles. She had accidentally raked the hoe over some already-planted vegetables. The farmer refused to pay her for her work, but she didn’t care. She was going to fish for the demon!
When the night was finally quiet, Rin slipped around the back of the pond, as she had done on so many previous occasions. The hole was still there, as always. No one had been the wiser. She slithered through the hole and waded into the water. She was very patient, waiting for just the right fish to come along. When it finally did it was a fat salmon! She clamped down on it and flung it to the embankment, ecstatic that she had caught just the right fish for the beautiful demon. She waded back to the bank, picked up the squirming fish and placed it in her knapsack, which she then pushed through the hole in front of her. Then she climbed through the hole after it. She was still smiling when she looked up, straight into the eyes of three very angry elders and the fish keeper, who was smiling wickedly.
“You little brat! We will teach you to steal fish from our reserve! You have to pay for this!” With that, the men started slapping her in the face. She had never been beaten before. She had only had boxed ears a time or two. The four men were merciless for several minutes. Even when she fell on the ground and curled herself into a ball, they still kicked her. When they all stopped and stood panting over her, she meekly picked herself up off the ground. She defiantly grabbed her knapsack and took off at a limping run. The men shouted after her, “You thief! Bring that fish back!” She ignored them and kept running, her prize safely inside her satchel.
She stopped on the path instead of going straight to the demon. She pulled the fish out and wrapped it in the now very battered packaging from the tinker. Tonight she would leave it for him. She smiled with the thought. Just as quickly she stopped, for there were cuts and bruises on her face, some still bleeding, and when she smiled it pulled at them. She walked carefully into the clearing, carrying the fish and water. When she proudly placed the fish before him and traded the water, she watched his face. His surprise was apparent, though he still said nothing. She saw him breathing deeply, however. She figured he smelled the fish.
For the first time, and to her great surprise, he spoke to her. “I smell your blood. Where did you get the bruises?” When she remained silent, he stared down at the fish. She saw the look in his eyes, the hunger for what she had provided him. He looked back at her and said, “If you don’t want to tell me that’s fine.” Instead of responding to him, however, she burst into a glowing smile. He raised his eyebrow at her as she turned and disappeared down the path she had taken every night for a week now.   Rin approached her home cautiously. She did not want to be caught by the same men. She had still stolen the fish despite her beating. He needed the food, and she would not let him starve. When she saw that it was all clear, she padded silently home and crawled into bed.
The next morning she awoke with a hard stick poking her through her blankets. She sprang out of bed, surprised to see two of the men from the night before standing in her shack. They demanded she get up and come to the village meeting hall to discuss her future in the village. She had no choice but to comply.
At the meeting it was told how she had been caught stealing fish. The elders all discussed it and knew that no one had been supplying her with food through the winter. It was assumed, therefore, that she had been stealing all along. With that announcement villagers started standing up and listing various items that had disappeared from their stores. As Rin listened, she could not believe what she was being accused of! Most of the items listed she had no idea what they were. She had stolen nothing but fish! She sat there, impotent rage rising up inside her. When the decision was handed down to make her leave the village for good, she did not wait for an escort. She immediately ran home, packed up only her mother’s old shift into her knapsack, along with two tiny tomatoes from her garden, and left her home for good.
Rin unconsciously made the decision to follow the path she had taken for a week, the one that led to the recovering demon. She did not know what her future held, but she was going to make the best of it. She knew there were villages farther away. She just had to get to one.
Walking slowly, her mind far away on the chances of finding a village willing to take her in, she did not notice the silence of the forest. No birds were singing, no bugs chirping, not even the wind was blowing the leaves. All was still. She was intent, however, on the ground. When the demon fell on her from behind, she did not stand a chance. The lesser demon ripped into the girl it had been watching for the last few nights. It knew she had food in her knapsack. It had seen her take the food out and wrap it. It intended to take it from her and possibly eat her as well. It ripped its claws into her small body, piercing her heart. She was dead before she hit the ground. When it searched through the knapsack, it was enraged to find only clothes and a couple of tomatoes. With fangs dripping saliva, the demon leaned over the girl, about to bite into her. A sound made it stop. Wolves were howling. It knew what that meant. It took off at a run and disappeared back into the forest.
When Lord Sesshomaru awoke the morning following the child leaving him the large fish, it was to find Jaken calling his name incessantly. He looked over at the remains of the fish and smiled to himself, though no smile touched his lips. The girl had been kind to him. He would go to her village and do something nice for her. He had no idea where the bruises had come from, but whoever had done it to her would pay dearly.
When Jaken finally stumbled upon Lord Sesshomaru, he was relieved he was still alive. The last time he had seen him he had huge wounds, gaping and bleeding, inflicted by that dragon Ryuukoysusei, the same dragon that had been responsible for his father’s death many years ago. He had thought for sure his master was a goner, and he was overcome with relief to find him alive.
When Lord Sesshomaru got up from his resting spot he found he was somewhat refreshed. The food and water and rest had healed most of his wounds. The rest would heal in due course. While Jaken was babbling on about his battle with the dragon, Sesshomaru began walking down the path in the direction the girl had taken every night. He had smelled a lesser demon in the area the last few days, so paid the scent no mind when it once again came to him. However, he had only gone a few feet when the familiar scent of blood came to him on the breeze. He inhaled deeply. There was no doubt about it, it was the girl’s blood, and it was fresh. He continued down the path, in no more hurry than he had been before. If she was bleeding as badly as he thought she was, there was no chance of her survival. He smelled too much blood for her to be alive. As he rounded a bend in the path he came upon her body. He was correct in his assumption. She was dead. He stared at her for a full minute. Jaken, still babbling on and on, bumped into him. Sesshomaru turned and began walking away, thinking it very sad that he had not gotten to return her kindness.
 Jaken, with an audible snort of disgust over the dead body, hurried after him. He bumped into him once more as Lord Sesshomaru stopped once again, in mid-stride. As he sat rubbing his head from the now two sore lumps there, he watched Lord Sesshomaru pull his sword. But it was not his usual one! It was the hated sword his father had bequeathed him! Jaken watched in awe as the great Dog Demon stared intently just over the child’s head. Then he bent down slightly and touched the child’s body with it. He returned the sword to its sheath once more and bent to the child.
Sesshomaru couldn’t understand it. The sword, the useless sword his father had left him, was humming to him as he turned away from the girl. He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew it was something unusual. When he touched her with the sword and re-sheathed it, he was overcome by the feeling that he had done something very right. The Sword of Healing must have agreed. It stopped humming once he returned it to its sheath. He bent to the girl and picked her up in his arms. He waited a moment and nothing happened. Then, with a moan and a sigh, she opened her eyes, and ended up staring straight into the white demon’s golden irises. They remained locked on one another for two heartbeats before her brilliant smile graced him once again. He set her on her feet and turned to walk away.
 Rin was not sure what happened. One minute she was contemplating her future. The next moment she had felt a searing pain in her chest and all was black. She had been dreaming of being near a world of many souls, but she was not allowed to enter the world. When she woke up she was in the strong demon’s arms. The furs he had been lying on were now draped down his body. Between them and the very strong arms that held her, she felt warm and safe. It reminded her so much of her dream from before that she gazed up at the golden eyes that were staring intently at her and smiled at him. Not a word was spoken between them, but she knew he had just invited her to follow him. He set her on her feet and rose. He turned and started walking in the opposite direction of her village. Rin hesitated for only a moment. She had nothing. She no longer had a home in that tiny village. Her future there had been wiped away. For the first time she noticed a strange green demon standing on the same path. He was babbling on about worthless humans, but she paid him no mind. She took one slow step, then another, realizing that she was no longer in pain from her beating. She smiled again and ran to catch up to her new friend.
Chapter 7 - So It Begins   As Rin tripped after the Demon she had just been held by, Jaken's incessant rambling turned into a shocked, open-mouthed look of horror. He realized that this human dared to follow his great Lord.
The child paid no attention to the grumbling green Demon. All she knew was that she had nothing behind her, and her whole future lie in front of her. She followed the Demon in white the whole of the afternoon. He was walking slowly, still not fully healed. The girl did not know the source of his wounds, but the Demon had battled, and won, against a large lesser dragon. It was the same dragon that had been ultimately responsible for his father's death.
The girl gleaned, from the constant loud disapproval of the small Demon, that the figure whom she was now beholden to was named Lord Sesshomaru. She still thought him the most beautiful man she had ever encountered. Now, however, he was even more regal. She had not seen him standing before this day. He had been injured and on the ground for the past week. Now he was striding in front of her with the proudest and most royal air she had ever seen on anyone. Even the blood on his clothing did not detract from that. She did not know who he was, but he was certainly someone of great consequence. And he had chosen HER, a simple farm girl, to accompany him! She could hardly believe her good fortune!   Sesshomaru was not completely sure what he had taken on when he had revived the child, but he did know it made him feel good. She had hurried to catch up with him after he had turned from her and continued following him quietly the rest of the day. He liked that she did not talk. Jaken, his irritating chirping loud, was more than enough for his sensitive ears to handle. His wounds were still sore. His head was tender as well. All sounds around him were amplified due to his Dog Demon hearing, and he wanted no more noise today. His mind was busy contemplating his sword. He had thought it to be a healing sword. Now he knew its true purpose. It brought back the dead that had found demise before their proper time.
Rin followed his slow steady pace. She tried to stay beside him for awhile, but there was just too much around her to look at. She had never been this far from the village, and she was fascinated by everything around her. The trees were sighing in the wind. She had never really noticed it before. She had always been too intent on finding branches suitable for her stove to notice much more. Today she had nothing more to do than walk and take in her surroundings. She was looking at her world through the eyes of a child for the first time since her parents had been killed two years ago. She did not remember them very well. She rarely even thought of them anymore. To her, the world was a wonderful place on this very special day. What had begun as the worst day of her life was ending with a feeling of contentment she had not known existed.
When Lord Sesshomaru stopped walking late that evening, Rin was tired. Her legs ached as much as they ever had when working a full day in the farmers' fields. In truth, he would not have stopped at all that evening. He had stamina and endurance far beyond those of mere humans. He had to get back to patrolling his lands. But he knew she was tired. She had been slowing down since dusk. Several times she had to run to catch up to him, staying only a few feet behind him. Jaken was trailing even further behind, obviously unhappy about the turn of events. His grumbling, however, had ceased long before, much to his master's relief. Sesshomaru knew his lands would have to wait awhile longer.
Sesshomaru made a decision and spoke for the first time all day. "Jaken, stay here with the girl. Build a fire. I will be back soon." He turned into the trees surrounding them and left in a flash of movement, knowing his lackey would obey him.
Rin stood there, staring after him. He was leaving her in this odd Demon's company? She turned to the ugly green thing and burst out into uneasy laughter. She had not seen him fully, just a glance at him now and then. Now, under the light of the moon, he resembled nothing more than a large frog wearing a ridiculous hat and carrying an odd stick with heads on it.
When she laughed Jaken was taken aback by it. He somehow knew she was laughing at him, Sesshomaru's faithful right-hand man. With a scowl on his frog-like face, he did as his lord commanded him. He built a small fire and sat down, waiting for the dog Demon's return.
Rin, not knowing what else to do, sat beside Jaken. She was nervous, but she figured if Lord Sesshomaru trusted the little Demon not to harm her, then she would as well. With nothing else to do, she took a stick and idly drew small swirls in the dirt around her. As she did, her eyes began to close slightly. Her arm holding the stick grew heavy. She let it drop to her knees, which she had drawn up to her chest. When her head fell to them shortly after she was already sound asleep.
That was how Sesshomaru found her later that night. He had left them to hunt for meat for them. He had found a young wild boar and killed it. When he brought it back to where he had left them, he found both of his followers fast asleep. He stared at them both for a few minutes. Then he brought the boar to the fire and placed it on top of the smoldering ashes. He would let it cook all night, replacing sticks and branches as necessary. He took his furs off his shoulders and placed them on the hard ground. Then he lie down a few feet from the girl and also fell into a restless sleep.
Chapter 8 - Surprises   When Rin woke up the next morning it was to the wonderful aroma of roasting meat. She was salivating before she was even fully awake. It smelled so delicious! Her stomach rumbled in agreement. The white Demon was already awake, sitting calmly against a tree, much as he had been when she had first found him. This time, however, he was alert and on guard. He did not tell her, but he had smelled demons close by. He did not recognize the scent, so he stayed on alert. When he noticed she was awake he spoke directly to her for the second time. "Child, there is meat on the fire. It is cooked well enough to begin eating it." With those words he turned his head away, gazing back into the surrounding woods.
Rin did not wait for a second invitation. She leapt to the banked fire and began pulling shreds of meat from the carcass there. As she shoved the food into her mouth, barely bothering to chew, she thought she had never tasted anything so wonderful in her entire life! She ate until her small belly could hold no more. When she was full she realized with a guilty start that she had not taken any to the Demon lord. She quickly found a leaf and piled more of the meat onto it. She walked over to where he sat against the tree and held out her offering. He accepted it without a word and began slowly eating. She smiled softly at him and walked back to the fire.
Sesshomaru watched her out of the corner of his eye, noting her apparent hunger. He was glad he had decided to hunt for them. He made a mental note, however, as she smeared grease and grime into her clothing, that she was in rags.
Jaken, who had woken while she was eating, had left them and gone to find water. The group had a bamboo container that the child had left them. He found a stream and filled it, grumbling to himself about the girl. He had followed Lord Sesshomaru faithfully for many decades now. Life was always the same. Now, however, he sensed that life as he knew it was about to change dramatically. He didn't know how just yet, but he sensed the girl was the beginning of something very different.
The group had been inside the Western Lands since early afternoon the previous day. Sesshomaru, knowing how disheveled and ragged he appeared, ordered Jaken, when he returned from the stream, into the village he knew was only about a mile away to the northwest. He gave him some valuables to trade for clothing for the girl and to order replacement silks for him as well. Jaken, who had done this more than once in his years of service to the Lord, did not need any instructions about size or color. He left immediately, glad to be away from the human child that so unsettled him. It would take at least 2 weeks for the expensive silks to be made into suitable attire for his Lord. He was eager for the time alone.
Rin heard her two companions talking in subdued tones, but paid no attention to them. She was busy exploring her surroundings. She had noticed last evening that the terrain they were traveling was beginning to change subtly. Where before were towering trees and the fresh new leaves of spring, now the trees were smaller and remained the dried and wilted colors of winter. There was a chill in the air here as well. It was still spring, but this area seemed not to know it. The path they were on had been the start of a lush green trail. As they had walked yesterday it had given way to a simple dirt path, with dust swirls kicked up by the wind getting in her hair and eyes. She had never had any lessons about her world, as most children did. She did not know that she lived in a border village just outside of the Western Lands. Even if she had known, she still would not have recognized it when they crossed the border and were in Lord Sesshomaru's domain. All she knew was that she was now a faithful servant of the white Demon that had rescued her.
Sesshomaru watched as the child lie on her back, apparently watching the clouds in between the branches of the trees they were under. Quirking his eyebrow at her odd behavior, he left to go find the stream he heard with his keen ears. He knew it was here somewhere and he desperately needed to get the blood and grime washed off. He was a mess, and he knew it. To add insult to injury, his priceless fur boa was also covered in blood. His own as well as that of the dragon he had slain. The fur took a long time to clean and he was not looking forward to it. First things first, however. He had to get himself cleaned up.
Rin saw the white Demon leave between the trees out of the corner of her eye. She was alone! Not sure if the Demon intended to leave her or not, she scampered to her feet and followed at a distance.
Sesshomaru knelt by the stream, testing it for temperature. It was still very cold, but he could withstand it easily. He stood and began to undress. He knew the girl was behind him somewhere. His senses had told him she was following. However, if she intended to watch or not made no difference to him. He shed his silks, standing nude by the water. Once more he tested it and shivered. With a deep breath he waded in. He felt his skin become puckered as he went into the knee-deep water, but it felt good on the wounds not yet healed. He sank in up to his chest, sitting on his feet, and began soaping the cloth he had brought with him.   Rin, not knowing what else to do, had stopped in the trees just past the embankment of the slow-moving stream. When she saw the white Demon bend to the water she thought he was going to drink. Instead, he stood and began shedding his kimono. She made no noise as she watched him. Curiosity overcame any shyness or guilt she might have had. She had never seen a naked man before, not even her father. When the white Demon entered the water and sat, lathering his cloth, she crept closer to the water's edge. She crossed her legs and sat down, doing nothing more than watching.
Sesshomaru had dirt and blood set into every crease of his body. It took him a long time, taking special care of his wounds, to get clean to his satisfaction. He saved his hair for last, lathering and rinsing three times. He finally felt normal once again. He stood and turned, the water cascading down his body in a sheet.
Rin, startled that he had turned around still completely nude, could do nothing but stare, open-mouthed, at the Demon. When he casually said "Hand me that wrap", it took her mind a few heartbeats to register. When she did she stood and held out his silks as far over the water as she could. Her little arms just were not long enough, however. She stretched too far and slipped into the water. As she splashed in, the coldness hit her like a blow. She gasped in shock. Before she could gain her footing, however, strong arms once again held her. She was picked up and placed further in the water. "Seeing as you are already wet, you may as well get clean too." He soaped up the cloth once more and handed it to her as he waded further down stream. She took it, turned her back to him, and removed her clothing. She threw her kimono onto the shore and sank into the water, no longer feeling its coolness. As she bathed she started humming. She did not know what he was doing, as she had her back to him, but she could hear him splashing behind her. It mattered little to her that they were both nude. This was her first bath in longer than she could remember, and she made up her mind to enjoy it.
Sesshomaru took the soap powder further downstream. He started gently washing the large patches of blood off of his silks. He would have to wear them for two weeks more yet. He did not relish the idea of smelling so strongly of blood during that whole time. It had been very difficult for him to hunt the night before because of it. Wild game smelled his odor and ran long before he came upon them. As he worked on his clothing he heard her soft splashing and gentle humming. He paid her little heed, simply keeping his ears open for danger, and continued working.
Once Rin was bathed and re-dressed she turned to watch what the white Demon was doing. He was rinsing his clothing with scoops of water in his hands, never fully submerging them. When he was done he came out of the water and donned his silks, still wet, as were her clothing, once again. Then he picked up his furs and sat with them in front of her on the stream’s bank. Rin, knowing now what she could do, pulled a comb out of her pocket. It had been her father's, and she had used it since he had died. They sat like that, she combing his long white strands while he worked on gently removing the blood from his furs, for a very long time. The sun was headed far down towards the horizon when he finished with his task.
Sesshomaru was surprised when he felt her tiny hands in his hair, but did not turn around. He allowed her to comb his tresses as long as she wanted. Even long after the tangles had been removed, she continued to play with his hair. He allowed it, his concentration shifting from the furs to her now and then. When she began combing her own hair, he missed her touch ever so slightly.
Chapter 9 - The Bonding   When the unlikely pair reentered the camping area Sesshomaru went to the fire, piling more wood on the banked embers to get it to blaze again. The temperature would drop rapidly tonight, and though their clothing had dried quite a bit through the afternoon, they were both still damp. He motioned for her to sit close to the fire and proceeded to rip more meat off the remaining carcass. When he handed it to her, her look of surprise made him smile. She obviously was not used to anyone doing things for her.
Rin was indeed surprised at having him hand her the food. She was even more surprised at how beautiful his sudden smile was. Then it was gone in a flash. But she had seen it. She ate the meat happily, for the first time in years having more than one small meal in a day's time.
The next day Sesshomaru decided it was time to teach her a few things about his lands. As they wandered the area within a mile's distance of their camping area, he showed her various edible plants, roots, flowers, and even bark from a tree. She had no idea there were so many things to eat in the forest!
Over the next week their lessons continued, each day setting off in a different direction, but always staying close to camp. He taught her how to recognize animal tracks, though she did not have the means to hunt them. He explained to her about the different worlds and how they were divided. He told her of his own lands. All of this he did with an economy of speech. She listened carefully and learned rapidly. They were bonding as he had never bonded with any living being, not even his mother.   By the end of their second week at the small camp Rin was feeling very comfortable with her new friend. She was lying on the ground, once again staring at the clouds, enjoying the sun on her face, when she noticed the stillness in the trees. He had taught her to always listen to her surroundings. If the bugs, birds, and other forest creatures went silent, something was there. She sat up and looked around. Sesshomaru had left a short while earlier to refill their water container. The silence, now that she knew to listen to it, was making her nervous. She had the distinct feeling she was being watched. She stood slowly, her eyes scanning carefully as she turned in a full circle.
When the trees started shaking she was already running away, having felt danger. As she ran she heard a terrible screech and the beating of large wings behind her. She did not turn to look, only running as fast as her small legs could carry her in the direction Lord Sesshomaru had gone only a little while before. When her bare foot snagged on an exposed tree root, she went down hard, her hands doing little to break her fall. When she felt the breath on her neck she opened her mouth... and screamed!
"Lord Sesshomaru! Help me!"
With almost no sound, Sesshomaru came through the trees, his sword already drawn. In one sweep the black Demon bird, his beak inches from Rin's head, was split in two. When she saw the feathers and heard the thump of the bird falling around her, she thought she would be devoured. When the hand touched her shoulder, she cowered in fear. It wasn't until she heard "Get up child" that she realized she was safe. She rose and turned, hugging the surprised Dog Demon. He felt her tiny body trembling and knew she must be reliving the nightmare of the Demon that had killed her. Without a second thought he scooped her up and carried her back to the camp, setting her gently on the ground by the fire.
He waited while she took time to stop trembling and compose herself. When he decided she was once again calm, he spoke. "What is your name?" She had been around and with him for three weeks now, and he still simply thought of her as "girl".
"My name is Rin" she answered in the rusty voice of someone unaccustomed to speaking.
They sat in silence for a long while. Then, "Why did you decide to come with me, instead of going home to your family?"
She quietly began to explain about her family, her village, and her exile. When she told of the fish, though he showed no reaction, he was deeply touched to realize this tiny child had taken a beating for him. The bruises he had asked about that night were because she had stolen to feed him! When she was done telling her story they lapsed into silence, sitting together and watching the sun disappear. He deep in contemplation, she simply enjoying the warm spring night.
Jaken returned early the next morning. There was dew on the ground when he arrived back in camp. He had been contemplating his own future. He had decided, while he was away, that he would remain in his lord's service despite the child's intrusion. After all, he had been with Lord Sesshomaru for decades, and she had just come. He refused to allow her to come between them. After all, she was merely a human, and his lord looked upon humans as weak and insignificant, as did he. She would not last long out here, walking the lands day after day. His master would surely find a village or some poor family that needed another hand around the farm and get rid of her. Jaken walked into the camp, expecting to find Lord Sesshomaru awake. Instead he was astonished to find him still sleeping. And his furs were wrapped around the child! In open-mouthed surprise, he gawked at her, and then let loose a high-pitched screech that woke the two sleeping beings immediately. Rin, her eyes still adjusting to the half-light of dawn, felt herself being flung off the furs she was in and onto the hard ground.
"How dare you take Lord Sesshomaru's priceless furs to lay your filthy body on?! No one and I mean NO ONE touches these fu..." He was stopped mid-sentence by the Lord himself hoisting the ugly green Demon off the ground by his belt, the furs still clutched to his chest. Sesshomaru said nothing, merely staring the Demon down until he was a simpering mass of nerves. Then, when he was sufficiently satisfied that the Demon was cowed, he dropped him unceremoniously onto the ground, retrieved his furs, and threw them over his shoulder.
"Jaken, I take it by your early arrival you have accomplished the task I set to you." It was not a question. The little Demon handed Lord Sesshomaru the packages he had dropped when he first saw the girl's infraction. He took them without a word, said "Come" to Rin, and turned towards the stream in the distance. Rin got up and staggered after him, still yawning.
Rin had no idea where they were going or why, but she had grown accustomed to simply following him. She trailed behind, wishing she could curl back to sleep. She was, however, keenly interested in something. “Lord Sesshomaru, why was Jaken so angry? You let me use your fur after all.”
It took a few moments for Sesshomaru to form his reply. Then he simply said “My father gave them to me. They are all I have left of him but for my unusual sword.” Rin did not reply, lost in the thought that he had allowed her to use something so precious to him. When the pair arrived at the stream and he told her to take a bath, she was surprised but did as he demanded. She lathered and washed quickly, for though the water was not as cold as before, it was early and she felt the coolness on her skin. When she stepped out of the water and turned to Lord Sesshomaru, he had changed his silks and was holding out a package to her. Ignoring the package for a moment, she couldn't help but stare in awe at the beautiful sight he made. His clothing was pure white but for intricate red designs. His armor and swords shone, and he positively glowed. He raised his eyebrow at her gaping look, and simply thrust the package towards her again. She took it and opened it carefully. Clothes!  He had given her new clothes! She took the clothing out and held it in front of her. It was a plain plaid kimono, the kind many villagers' wives wore, but to her it was the most priceless thing she had ever held. In glee she pulled it on and fastened the belt. When she turned her radiant smile to Sesshomaru, he almost gasped. He had never seen such undiluted and unconditional joy as he saw on her face, and all over something as simple as clothing. He nodded at her and turned back to the camp, glad he had the chance to do something nice for her after all.
The group left camp after breaking their fast with melons Jaken had brought back from the village. They set out on the trail they had been following previously, but within no more than two miles, the trail tapered off into nothing. They walked the lands after that, the white Lord, the young girl, and the green Demon. Sesshomaru walked in a slow and steady pace while Rin danced and sang and twirled her way after him. She would stop now and then to sniff flowers just beginning to bloom or try to catch butterflies. Sesshomaru kept a wary eye and ear open for her. Whenever she began to trail too far behind he would quietly say her name and she would come running.
Thus went her first two months in the great Dog Lord's company.
Chapter 10 - Minds Opening   Two months had passed since Rin had been surprised by the gift of new clothing. She was happy and healthy for the first time since her parents' deaths. She followed Lord Sesshomaru around his lands, learning about many things as they walked. They spoke only in short sentences when they spoke at all, which was rare. She just enjoyed being with him. She had even learned to appreciate Jaken, though they still argued. He was fiercely loyal to Lord Sesshomaru, and she was glad he had such a stout supporter.
The trio traveled mostly by day, though sometimes they walked well into the evenings. Jaken once told Rin that before she came, the two of them sometimes would walk all night and into the next day as well. She felt bad about being the reason for slowing them up, but when she approached Lord Sesshomaru about it, he simply replied "do not let it concern you". So, she let it go. Every now and then Sesshomaru would halt his steps, peering this way and that, his every sense on alert. Sometimes he would wait a long time in this position, other times, with barely a word to them, he would take off in a flash of motion towards a destination unseen to them.
One day, when he did not return for an entire afternoon after such a flight, Rin asked Jaken about it. "Silly child, don't you know he has demons to slay and innocents to protect?" In outrage that this simple child did not know of his master's great responsibility, he proceeded to fill her in on Lord Sesshomaru. He told her that his father had been a great and powerful Dog Demon that walked the lands just as his son did now. He protected the borders between the worlds as well as the people residing within his lands.   The last, he told her with no little amount of disdain, was only because the master did not want lesser demons coming into his domain to eat the people. If he ignored the humans then word would get out among the lesser demons and they would come in droves to start feasting. If that occurred it would not be long before some insignificant lesser Demon would challenge Lord Sesshomaru's claim to the lands. While Lord Sesshomaru was a fierce warrior, he avoided needless conflict if possible. By protecting the humans, he was really protecting himself. When Jaken was done spelling things out for her, he grunted in satisfaction at the troubled look on her face.
That evening after his return, Rin and Sesshomaru were sitting quietly; staring at the stars and listening to the suzumushi crickets sing their beautiful music. Jaken, for once, was out of sight. Rin sighed, the third time in the space of a few heartbeats. "What is it Rin? You seem troubled by something."
She remained silent a few moments more. When she said nothing, he turned his head away from her. In a subdued tone she asked him "Why do you allow me to stay with you? Jaken said you hated humans".
Sesshomaru did not answer right away. Nor did he turn to look at her. He sat, motionless, as he had been before. She thought after a long time had passed, that he was not going to answer her. She decided to go to bed. When she made a move to stand he stopped her with his words. "I saved your life because you helped save mine. Until I met you I had thought all humans to be merely selfish and inconsiderate beings. Every time I enter any village in my lands all I get are pandering humans, asking for this, begging for that. While they do offer me food and shelter while I am there, they also demand payment for it, regardless of the fact that I am their protection from those that seek to harm them. Most humans I have encountered over my lifetime have been that way. Until you, I had not thought them worthy of my time."
"And you think I am worthy of your time?" The little girl squeaked in astonishment. How could she, a simple farm girl with nothing but air to her name, be worthy of such a great lord as he? She was floored by his admission.
"You brought me food and drink when others would not have. I was not in my lands. I had wandered into Otherworld. Remember, I told you that our first weeks together. I doubt many people in Otherworld would recognize me. If someone else had stumbled upon me in my weakened state, I very well may have been killed. In my experience, humans fear what they do not know or understand. You, on the other hand, gave me your own food, even though you had none for yourself. You even took a beating for me. Until that day I had never encountered such a selfless human before. I did once know of such a human, also a girl, a little older than you. But though she acted selflessly to help my father, I have always thought her motives to be questionable. I now know that was probably not the case. Your kindness has changed me in some ways. For that, I will always owe you. You will have my gratitude forever. "
“But, Lord Sesshomaru, you did not eat all of the food I left for you. I had started thinking you didn’t want my help after all.”
Sesshomaru turned his head to look her full in the eyes. “I did not eat it because you had none for yourself, as I already said. I had hoped you would eat it instead. When you didn’t… well, it was that day I began to realize some humans were not as unworthy as I had thought. It was the fish, however, that made me see the true kindness in your heart.”
When he stopped speaking Rin took a moment to digest his words. In her own experience as well she had encountered much of the same treatment as he. It had, after all, been humans that mistreated and neglected her. It was a Demon that cared for her, took care of her, and taught her so many things.
That night little Rin stared at the stars for long into the night before falling into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 11 - Troubles   It had been three months since their hillside conversation. Life continued for the three of them in much the same manner as before. Landscapes changed as they walked. Sometimes the land was fertile and lush, sometimes harsh and unforgiving. The weather had changed and it was now full summer. The ground was parched and the very air shimmered in the heat. There was no wind, no rain, no clouds; no bugs chirped, no birds sang, nothing. The dry grass crunched under their feet as they walked. Rin was tired and hot, but she refused to say anything about it. Lord Sesshomaru wore silks, and she knew his clothing and armor were much heavier and hotter than her own simple shift. Still, when a line of trees became visible in the distance, she could not stop the relieved sigh from escaping her lips. In front, Sesshomaru heard her and picked up the pace. He knew his tiny charge needed rest under shade. The water they had kept in Rin's bamboo container had been gone since yesterday. He knew there was a river just beyond the copse of trees in the distance, however, and marched them all towards it.
By the time they arrived in the trees, Rin could go no further. She dropped down under a sagging tree limb and spread her arms and legs wide, hoping the coolness of the ground in the shade would relieve her. Sesshomaru, not having planned on stopping until they reached the water, paused and turned to her. "We must go a little further. We need water."
Rin groaned and tried to sit up, but she was dizzy. As she flopped back to the ground, Jaken came to her and prodded her with his strange two-headed stick. "Get up you lazy girl! Lord Sesshomaru doesn't have time to waste waiting on you!" He prodded her again with his stick. Then, when the girl barely stirred, ignoring him, he bent closer to her face and peered deeply into her eyes. "Milord! I think this girl is sick!"
Sesshomaru, waiting patiently for them to catch up, turned and was at her side in an instant, bending down to her. He placed his hand on her head and felt the heat coming off of her. She was, indeed, sick. He scooped her up in his strong arms and carried her to the river he knew was flowing less than a mile away. When they arrived there, he did not hesitate, but waded, clothing and all, into the chest-deep water, carrying the girl. She was very still and he was nervous. He had never had to take care of an ill child before. He held her gently in the water, scooping it with his hands over her brow, hoping she would come around.   Rin felt the cool water all around her body and thought at first that nothing had ever felt so good. When it touched her head, though, she cried out. It was TOO cold on her fevered brow. Throughout the day she had been feeling worse and worse. She had just figured it was the heat getting to her. When she had stopped to lie down under the tree her dizziness had taken over and she had fallen into a fevered stupor. The water suddenly was not feeling good anymore! It began hurting her with its coldness. Now she was alert, but her body was wracked with wave after wave of chills. She shivered in his arms in the hot afternoon sun.
Sesshomaru felt her tiny body shivering. He knew that as hot as it was the shivers could only be caused by fever. He held her in his arms a little longer, letting the fresh water run over her. While he held her he ordered Jaken to clear an area of grass so as not to set fire to the copse of trees, and light a fire. When he emerged from the water, he wrapped the little girl in his furs, placing her as close to the fire as was possible without burning her.
He set Jaken to hunting for whatever food he could find. He did not care if it was meat or not, as long as the child had something in her stomach. Since they had been traveling the dry areas of his land, food had been scarce. When their water had run out it had already been a day and a half since any of them had eaten. They all needed food, but his concern was for the girl. She was still so young and did not have the same stamina as he and Jaken.
Jaken returned sometime later carrying some roots and berries he had found close to the water's edge and two dead tiny songbirds. They had nothing in which to make a stew, so Sesshomaru placed the birds into the fire while he ground up the roots and berries. When the birds were sufficiently cooked he mixed the meat up into the ground berries and roots and carefully placed some on her lips. Rin, in her fevered sleep, did not take the food. Sesshomaru was at a loss as to how to get her to eat. It was Jaken, whose own mother had fed him that way many decades ago, that offered the suggestion. Sesshomaru took a small bite of the food into his mouth and chewed it up into a tiny mash. He took a swallow of water to soften it even more, then took the food out and placed it against her lips. When he rubbed her jaw, she opened her mouth and he slipped the mass of chewed food between her lips. She instinctively swallowed it.
Lord Sesshomaru, the great ruler of the Western Lands, sat on the ground, in the falling darkness, and fed a tiny child in that manner until the food was gone. Later that night he left Jaken with the girl and hunted for larger game. He brought back to camp a small fawn, which he and Jaken ate raw. After Jaken went to bed the white Demon stayed awake, ever watchful of his charge.
Around dawn her fever broke. Sesshomaru took a cloth, dampened in the cool water, and bathed her face, arms, and legs with it. She had been thrashing around for most of the night in her fevered sleep. Once the fever broke and she began sweating he removed his furs from around her, letting the warm night air blow over her, cooling her. Now she was resting peacefully, still and silent as the dawn approached. He breathed a sigh of relief. He had not known he could feel such concern for a human.
The next afternoon he left Rin sleeping with Jaken standing watch over her. He had smelled lesser demons close by earlier in the day. As he focused on the location of the demons, his thoughts were on the child. He knew she could have died. He worried about her, knowing that if something else had been wrong with her, he would not have known what to do. He located the demons and observed them for awhile, unnoticed. When he was satisfied they meant no harm to anyone, he left them alone. His duties done, he allowed his thoughts to focus more fully on the child. He had to decide what to do about her. She could not continue to follow him. He had realized that as she lie in his furs, thrashing about. She needed a family. A home with parents. Humans. He would have to find a village that would take her in and care for her.
His mind heavy with these concerns, he arrived in camp to find her awake and alert. She looked up and smiled her brilliant smile at him. He smiled back, a rarity for him, knowing that he may well not get to see her smile again after he informed her of his intentions. He decided not to bring it up. For now.
Chapter 12 - Leaving   They stayed at the river for three days. Sesshomaru wanted to make sure Rin's fever did not return. They ate and drank their hunger and thirst away, gathering strength for the coming journey. He decided they would go further west, where there was a somewhat prosperous village. It was located in a valley and had a nice climate with fertile lands. He would find her a home there, he was sure of it.
They set out once again into the dry terrain. They had their container of water and some foraged fruit, berries, and roots to last them for a few days. They walked for two days before the land started changing. It was cooler here, with fluffy clouds coming out to hide the sun now and then. The wind was blowing a not unpleasant mixture of pollen and seeds into the air. Rin was once again compelled to stop and smell flowers, chase butterflies, and sing and dance in her happiness. She was in the middle of a twirl when she bumped right into Lord Sesshomaru, standing very still in front of her. She had run into the back of his legs with her hips, bouncing off of him. She hit the ground with a soft thump. She gazed up at his back, wondering why he was standing so still. When she stood up and peered around him she gasped in pleasant surprise.
There, in a valley before them, was the prettiest little village she had ever seen! She giggled in delight when Lord Sesshomaru told them they would spend the night there. She had not even seen another human, let alone a village, since her flight from her own home, nearly six months ago. On their way down the slope towards the village she could not keep the happiness from her voice as she hummed cheerily.   Rin and Jaken stayed just behind Lord Sesshomaru as they began walking down the village's single road. People had stopped their work in the fields to watch them walk past. Some stared in open-mouthed gawks, others merely stared. All of the villagers knew Lord Sesshomaru. He came through the village at least twice, sometimes three times per year. This, however, was not the season he usually showed up. And he had NEVER had a child with him before!
Sesshomaru made his way slowly towards the headman's cottage. He knew he would be welcomed and fed. This man, more than any other he had ever met, extended him courtesy and was a gracious host. He neither asked nor demanded anything. He accepted what was given and gave in return. Sesshomaru did not dislike the man.
When the headman Masamune saw them coming he shouted to his wife that they had guests. She immediately put on a pot for tea and went to the door to await them. She was uneasy around the dog Demon, but she had learned to accept him graciously into their home. He was not unkind, so she ignored his silence. She preferred simply to think of him as shy instead of rude.
When the group made their way to the headman's porch he was already there, holding out his hand in welcome. Lord Sesshomaru accepted his handshake graciously. When he turned to introduce Rin he found her cowering in his robes, her fingers tangled in his belt. He gently extricated her and moved her around in front of him, introducing her as he did so. When she was quiet, only staring, the woman came forward and held her hand out to the little girl. "If you come with me, we can have cookies and tea." Rin looked back once at her white Demon, then took the woman's hand and followed her inside, where she had the first sweets she could ever remember eating.
Late that night, as the Demons slept on the porch and the girl in a bed, the couple talked quietly. The headman told his mate of Lord Sesshomaru's request to find the girl a home. They decided that they would take her in themselves. They had children, but they were long grown and had families of their own. The grandchildren came over now and then, but they missed the constant busy-ness that children brought with them. The couple fell asleep, content with knowing they would be adopting the child now sleeping on the other side of the wall.
The next morning Sesshomaru called Rin to his side. He explained about his decision to leave her with the couple. She was silent, staring at the ground after he relayed his thoughts to her. "You have nothing to say?"
When she still said nothing he stood there, unsure of himself. He finally turned away and left her there, brooding under the shade of a large tree.
Lord Sesshomaru and Jaken prepared to leave that afternoon, after hearing about the village and its woes and triumphs. The people were doing well and needed nothing from him at present, so he and Jaken made ready to leave. They were barely out the door of the cottage when Rin came running to him. She dropped to her knees in front of him. "Please, Lord Sesshomaru, whatever I have done to displease you, I apologize. I will make it up to you no matter what it is! Please do not leave me here! I would so much rather be with you! I will walk faster, I'll stop singing, and I promise I will do whatever you wish me to do, but PLEASE take me with you!" With that, she broke down into large hiccupping sobs. She covered her face with her hands, her head now touching the ground in front of him. The couple, standing inside their doorway, watched as the Dog Demon lifted the child into his arms and comforted her. They had never seen this Demon show compassion to anyone at any time. Their amazement had no bounds. When he set her down and lifted her chin with his finger, careful not to scratch her with his claws, he stared into her eyes for long moments. She stared back, the tears still free-flowing. He nodded once and turned to the headman. No words were spoken as the couple each hugged the girl in turn then waved them out of sight.
Chapter 13 - Trouble Revisits   It was three weeks since they had been in the village. Sesshomaru had told Rin she had done nothing wrong. She did not have to cease singing or dancing or any of the other childish things she enjoyed doing. Not expressing his fear for her safety, he simply told her he thought she would be happier living among her own kind in a village. Secretly, he was pleased she had begged him to come. His was a lonely trek and her company was welcome. Jaken, while loyal, was tedious. She was like a breath of fresh air after a rain.
Thinking about rain seemed to make clouds appear. They had been in a forest once again for several days now. The canopy was thick and overgrown, the trail they were following barely visible. Sesshomaru smelled the rain long before it started falling. He urged Rin not to dawdle. They made camp that night in the shelter of a cave, barely big enough to fit the trio. Jaken, used to being outside most of his life, paid no heed to the rain. When the thunder started clapping, however, he began pacing nervously. This was not just a rainstorm. That thought was punctuated by a lightning strike, no more than a few miles distant. With a shriek the little frog of a Demon shot inside the cave, where Rin huddled next to Sesshomaru for warmth against the damp. All through the night the storm raged outside. The wind gusted in all directions, driving the rain into the cave at intervals. The group gave up trying to keep the fire lit. They had not gathered enough wood before the rains came, so there was nothing more to burn. Rin sat against Lord Sesshomaru's side, burrowing her head into his furs. She slept fitfully, the damp air hurting her lungs when she breathed. She awoke towards dawn, once again burning with fever. Sesshomaru, sleeping lightly as always, felt her first wracking cough against his side shortly after the winds died down. The sun was barely up when he sent Jaken to find the two-headed dragon Ah-Un.
It took three days for Jaken to locate Ah-Un, and one more to ride him, flying high above the land, to return with him to the cave. During that time Sesshomaru had little luck getting water down the girl's throat. Still less getting food into her. When he did succeed, most of it would come back up. She was very weak and helpless. He bathed her face and neck with cool water every few hours. She was not improving, however. He knew she needed more than he could do for her. He had to get her to the castle in Otherworld. He knew there was a powerful healer there. By now he knew Kaiba was her only chance if she were to survive. Her coughing had reached the point that she was spitting out blood. As he bathed her face again, he did something he never did. He prayed that the gods would save her.
When Jaken arrived on Ah-Un, Sesshomaru wasted no time gathering the girl into his arms and mounting the dragon. He gave the two-headed beast a whispered order and the dragon took off, headed east. It only took three days for the flying beast to get to the castle. He stopped to rest only twice, and then only for a few hours each time. By the time they arrived at the castle gates and were greeted by Princess Aara, Rin had slipped into unconsciousness.
The last thing the girl remembered was being in a cave with lightning striking and wind thrashing the trees. This followed her into her dreams. She was remembering the lightning silhouetting Jaken, the nervous comic relief, as she began breaking her way to the surface of her healing sleep. It was then that she began noticing small things. The pleasant scent of some flowering plant, the chirping of birds, a gentle breeze billowing over her, a soft bed under her with warm blankets sandwiching her between them…
“What?!” With that thought she began to swim up out of the blackness that was engulfing her. As her mind began to clear her eyes focused slowly on her surroundings. She was in what was, to her untrained eye, a beautifully-appointed room. The walls appeared to be solid rock. Imagine! She thought to herself. ROCK for walls! At her little home she had only mud and clay mortar making up her tiny hut. In the winters she had had to stick dry grasses in the holes to keep the cold and wind out. Here, there were no such bothersome things. There was a desk on the wall across from the foot of her bed. It held things such as writing instruments and paper. She had only seen real paper a few times, and only owned such a thing once. That was when her friend the tinker had wrapped some seeds for her in it. How extraordinary for her to see it simply lying there, untouched and unwrinkled.
Beside the desk, to the left, was an open doorway that seemed to lead outside. There was where the breeze was coming from. She turned her head to the right, her eyes scanning the room slowly, her body not moving from its position in the center of the bed. If she was still dreaming she did not want to wake just yet. To the right of her bed was a closed door. She looked down and saw carpet on the floor, halfway under the bed and halfway out. It did not reach the wall on either side.
As she turned her head to ascertain this for a certainty, her eyes met those of a man standing less than two feet from the side of her bed. She gasped in surprise, immediately understanding that she was not, in fact, still dreaming. He smiled at her, and the smile reached his eyes. She found she could not look away from them. They were the most gorgeous blue eyes she had ever seen! He had long purple hair, very intriguing to her. Though still nervous at being alone in a room with a man she did not know, she found herself asking, her voice a mere croak, “Who are you?”
 “I am Kaiba, Healer Mage to the Princess Aara. It is in her castle that you are now resting.” The mage’s voice was gentle and flowed over her like a smooth, warm wave. Her whole body ached, but she was not sure of the reason. “Am I hurt?” the little girl asked. She was loath to move, lest she disturb some as-yet unknown wound. She did not remember being hurt, but then, she did not remember coming here, wherever here was, either.   “You are not hurt, but you have been gravely ill. Your friend brought you here. I have helped to heal you, and you have been asleep for two days now.” Again, his voice was soothing and low. She almost had to strain to hear him.
Rin, knowing who the Princess was due to Sesshomaru’s careful instruction, screwed her face into a frown and continued staring at the mage. She had no idea what a “mage” even was, but since he had called himself that, that is how she would think of him. “Where is Lord Sesshomaru? Where is Jaken? What was wrong with me?” She did not really want to know where Jaken was, but she felt she should ask.
“Sesshomaru is with his Princess and the other bound males. If Jaken is the little green demon, he has left us already. To the third question, you had what Human World calls ‘pneumonia’. It is an illness that gets into your lungs. You were a very sick little girl when you arrived. I helped heal you, and then Kurama, first of Princess Aara’s bound males, set his sleeping plants for you to remain in a healing sleep. But you are all better now.” With that statement his smile, which had not faltered, grew even wider. He was stunned to think she was only a child. He had known from the instant he had laid hands on her to heal her, that he was attracted to her in a very unsettling way. He put these thoughts aside for now. The child needed him.
“Lord Sesshomaru told me your name was Rin. So, Rin, the cook here makes a wonderful venison stew. Would you care for some? I am sure you must be very hungry.” When she nodded, Kaiba left the room and returned only moments later, having sent someone to bring her some stew. He waited with her, both of them silent, simply looking at each other, then away, for several long minutes. For some reason she could not explain, there was tension there. She didn’t know why the man was looking at her so strangely, but it made her uncomfortable. The silence was long, and when the knock came it was a welcome respite.
Kaiba helped her sit up then handed her the bowl. He had intended to help feed her, but her proximity was too much for him. He was restless and so settled himself in the chair at the desk. He turned it so it was facing her. “I would leave, but Sesshomaru was very concerned about you and wished that you not be left alone for too long. There is a very evil demon in the castle at the moment. He is to leave tomorrow with the Blood Demon Shido, and he is enthralled to him, but Sesshomaru wanted to take no chances. It was that same Demon’s doings that caused Sesshomaru to be so badly wounded when you found him.”
When Rin looked up from her stew, her eyebrows raised so high they went into her hairline, Kaiba chuckled to himself. “Sesshomaru told most of your story to the Princess. She relayed it to me so I would have a better understanding of you. No harm was meant in the telling.”
Rin, who didn’t understand even half of what the mage was telling her, simply nodded and continued eating. She was a little dismayed that Lord Sesshomaru wasn’t here with her. She had no idea what “bound” meant, but it didn’t sound very happy to her. What was it he had said before? Oh yes, her “other bound males." She spent a few minutes pondering this while finishing her stew. The mage had been right, it was delicious!
When she was finished eating the mage took her bowl and leaned over her, asking her if she was still sleepy. When she nodded, he helped her pull the blankets back over her as she snuggled back down into the bed. Then he left her to return the bowl to the kitchen. “What an intriguing child,” Kaiba thought as he walked out of her door.
Chapter 14 - Surprises   Rin was only a tad sleepy, so she had not lied. However, there was too much in her head to fall back to sleep. She felt fine, though her body felt tender for some strange reason. The stew had certainly appeased her hunger, but she still felt somewhat strange. Maybe she needed to stretch her legs. If she had been asleep for more than two days then it was possible she simply needed to get up. She waited until the mage left her alone, exiting through the door to the right. She slipped out of bed, noticing for the first time that she wore a robe not her own. She tied the belt at her waist and decided to explore. Now that she knew the door to the right was an exit, she turned her attention to the door on the far left wall, which she had only noticed while she was eating. She had seen the one leading outside and the one leading into the castle upon first waking, but this third door was interesting. She had to know where it led.
When she turned the handle and slowly opened the door, she was surprised to see what looked like a large white wash basin in the middle of floor. On its flat side all around were candles, not lit. To the right of that was another, smaller basin, with a funny metal thing coming out of the side of it. There were more metal things sprouting from the large basin. She touched one to feel its texture. She had only touched metal a few other times in her life. Once was the tin roof when her father let her up there while he repaired a hole. The second time was the bottom part of the fence that surrounded the fish reserve in her village. Neither time had the metals been this smooth or this shiny.
She was awed at the sight of these seemingly random pieces of metal and put more pressure on one than she ought to have. When it turned suddenly she fell into a heap, as it gave out from under her hand. She panicked, thinking she had broken it, when a loud roaring noise came from inside the basin. She went up on her knees slowly, and peered over the side of the basin. Her wail of despair was heard only to Kaiba, who had returned to her room at just that moment.   Kaiba rushed into her room, not sure what to expect, and found her bed empty. He was perplexed only for a moment until he heard water running in the bathroom. He went to it, finding the girl leaning over the side of the tub, desperately trying to stop the water from coming out of the spout. Her tiny hands were covering the open end of the spout, only accomplishing a spray that sent water in every direction. He went to her side, bent over, and turned the knob to ‘off’.
“I’m so very sorry! I didn’t mean to break it! I just was looking at it and it started leaking! Please forgive me!” Kaiba chuckled at her, making her eyes go even wider. She was living the most humiliating moment in her life and he was LAUGHING at her!! Rin knew, just knew that she had broken something of value and she could not afford to replace it. What was she to do?
The child’s look of shame and guilt immediately stopped Kaiba’s amusement. “It is okay, dear Rin. This is called a ‘bathtub’ and that thing, where the water comes out, is called a ‘spout’. It is meant for your use; that is why you were placed in this room.” Kaiba spent the next few minutes explaining how it all worked. When Rin realized she had broken nothing and done nothing wrong, she became transfixed with the idea of water coming out INSIDE the house! Even more than that, it DRAINED as well! She asked Kaiba why it didn’t leak onto the people’s heads on the first floor. He couldn’t help be delighted at her wit and clarity of understanding. He took more long minutes explaining to her about pipes and drains, and how it was all connected. He also explained about the second basin, called a ‘toilet’, and its use. She understood about half of the complex explanation but nodded anyway. She was beginning to like this mage.
Later that evening, after taking her first indoor bath in memory, including the first hot water she had ever experienced, Rin asked to be alone. Kaiba, ill at ease with consenting to this request, decided to send someone to stand sentry outside of her door. That would appease Sesshomaru and Rin both. He bid her a good night and left for his tower. Rin wasted no time going out onto the balcony. Here she found she could see the stars and the moon very clearly. The entire sky seemed lit up just for her. She stayed that way half the night simply sitting and watching the moon as it made its journey across the sky. Every now and then her breathing would be punctuated by a sigh, as she wondered where her Lord Sesshomaru was. She knew something must be very important to keep him from her. As she turned to once again climb into the massive bed, she smiled to herself. He would come for her soon, and their journey would continue.
Rin had no idea how long she had slept this time, but when she awoke the sun was streaming through the open balcony door, making a happy pool of light on her floor. She sprang from the bed, no longer feeling achy, and tripped to the balcony, smiling at the glorious day. Today he would surely come and they would leave! Rin watched some people working in a garden for a little while. They seemed to be planting flowers. Imagine, she thought, planting worthless flowers instead of vegetables! They would be sorry when winter came and they were starving! That was not her concern, however.   She knew she would be long gone from here before that happened. Even as this thought came, smiling, into her brain, she saw her friend, walking within the walls of flowers. She had her hand raised and her lips parted to call out to him when she saw a woman, beautiful even from the distance, trailing after him. Rin watched as he paused, waiting for her, then took her hand in his, and they continued their slow walk, side by side.
Rin drew back into the shadows of the doorway, her face screwed up into a pout. Was SHE the reason he had not yet come for her? Was that woman what was taking up his time? With an unseen look of budding jealousy, Rin turned to find her clothes. She would find out right this instant! She quickly donned her own clothing, folded and laid neatly on the now-unoccupied chair in front of the desk. She had never had shoes, so dressing took only an instant. Then she flew out the door on the right, knowing it led out, and ran right into the hard body of the mage, coming to see her.
“Whoa there, child. Where are you going in such a hurry?” Kaiba, surprised at her pell-mell exit, caught her arm just before she hit the floor. When she looked up at him, he was surprised to find her face full of agony. What could possibly make a child so young so dreadfully sad? “Why, what is wrong child? Are you hurt? Are you ill again?” His concern for her was written in his face.
When Rin looked up at his kind face and heard his concerned words, she burst into tears. It took him several long minutes to get the story and her questions out of her. The hiccupping start and stop of her speech made him squat beside her, listening intently as she spilled the story out. When he had the gist of her pain, he gently wiped her face with his robes. She had settled to a quiet whimper. He picked her up, ignoring her gasp, and carried her back to her room. He set her gently in the middle of the bed and once again settled himself into the desk chair. This was going to be a long day, he thought.
As Kaiba attempted to placate the child, a gentle knock came on the door. Rin, who expected only Lord Sesshomaru, eagerly called out to enter. When it was only a small demon, Rin was disappointed.
Hiei entered the room, all but ignoring the girl. “The Princess would like to see you, Kaiba. Shido is preparing to leave and requested some potions for his clan.”
When Kaiba excused himself and stood, Hiei glanced at the girl for the first time and nodded shortly. He had no experience with children and did not wish to start with this one.
Once both men were gone, Rin continued to sit quietly on the bed. Daylight began to give way to dusk, and still Lord Sesshomaru did not appear. She was left alone until well after dark.
Rin had just begun to drift off, still sitting upright on the bed, when another knock sounded on the door. This time Rin called “enter” with barely a tiny hope. However when Lord Sesshomaru walked into the room, regal and beautiful as ever, Rin leaped off the bed and straight into his arms. She thought she had never been so happy to see anyone!
Sesshomaru, taken by surprise at her launch across the room, only had time to reach out and grab her, lest she fall. When she made it clear she had no intention of letting go of him, he relaxed and hugged her in return. His heart was heavy over what had transpired, but there was no going back. He had to tell her what had happened.
Chapter 15 - Disappointment and Acceptance   Rin, more animated than he had ever seen her, began shooting questions at him almost non-stop. “Where have you been? What was wrong with me? Where are we exactly? How did we get here? How long has it been now? Where is Jaken? Who was that woman you were with? When will we be leaving?” This last question made him sad, for he was again about to give her bad news.
Sesshomaru had released her and sat on the edge of her large bed. He waited until she ran out of steam before speaking. “Let’s see… I have been here, just in other parts of the castle. It is the Princess Aara’s castle by the way. You fell ill during the storm we had almost two weeks ago. It took several days to travel here, during which time you fell unconscious. That means you would not wake up no matter what I did. You have been here, under the healer’s care, for three days now. Jaken cannot remain indoors, so he has gone back to his clan. As for the woman, I assume you mean the Princess. She is the only woman I have kept company with.” Rin had known the answer to at least two of the questions, but she wanted to hear it from Lord Sesshomaru. She was still very unsure of anyone else. She had not, after all, had much good fortune with other people.
 “And when will we be leaving?” Her look, so innocent and full of expectation, made him cringe inside. However, his demeanor was calm.
“That is what I am here to talk to you about.” When her look turned to one of confusion, he gently pulled her onto the bed next to him. He was not looking forward to this, but it had to be done. “Rin, I know you would like to stay with me indefinitely, but that just is not possible.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he gently placed his clawed finger against her lips, silencing her.
  “Let me finish. We have traveled together for half of a year, and you have eased my loneliness.” With a great sigh and a pause, while he gathered his thoughts and formed the words so she could understand, he continued. “About twenty-five years ago Princess Aara made me an offer; one which we mutually decided against pursuing. She offered to have me come live with her here, and be one of her males.” He explained what that meant before she could ask. “She has five other males. Each one, in their own way, protects her and her lands. But they all live here, with her and each other. This is what she offered me. When we came here three nights ago, she again made me the offer. I had decided to decline it. She, apparently, had also changed her mind. However, when she came to my room to tell me of her decision, things became… a little bit complicated. We were attracted to each other, as men and women sometimes are. Without going into details with you, we made love, and she bound me to her. Neither of us intended for it to occur, but it did. I am now bound to Princess Aara and her other five males; bound by love and loyalty. I must not, indeed cannot, leave her to continue walking my lands.”
This last was said with only a touch of regret. He had found happiness here. He wished it to continue. He had already begun formulating plans to protect his lands as well as hers. His life had changed in the blink of an eye, for the better. Poor Rin, however, was once again being thrust into a situation she had no control over. As he said these words to her, he watched as tears began streaming down her face. He did not know how to ease her pain. Awkwardly, for he rarely initiated touch, he pulled her into his lap and cuddled her. They sat that way, the great lord and the heartbroken child, far into the night.
The pair discussed everything that had come to pass. He explained that she would have a home here at the castle as well. However, he would be coming and going quite often. Taking care of her lands as well as his, and with the distance between, was going to be a difficult and taxing task. While he could travel at lightning speeds, his time would still be taken up, largely, by the Princess when he was home at the castle. Rin could not travel with him back to the Western Lands. He would not allow it after her sickness. He now knew he could do nothing for her if she were to become ill or hurt. It was best for her to stay at the castle while he was away. In silence, her tears long dried, she listened to her white demon as he talked more that night than ever before. She loved the sound of his voice, and it lulled her to sleep, still sitting in his arms.
Rin, her spirit only somewhat lightened in the knowledge that she would have a home here and her white demon with her, was almost the happy child she had been before. She spent as much time as she could with Lord Sesshomaru, but he was distant when he was with her. Always kind, but somehow lacking the affection he had once shown her. It seemed the night she fell asleep in his arms was the last night they would ever have the bond they had shared for half a year. She saw less and less of him as time went by. She was beginning to remember their time together as little more than a dream, much as her former life in her own village.
One day Rin, who had finally had enough of exploring the large castle’s insides, was in the garden, humming a little song to herself and smelling the flowers. She was alone, as she usually was. The only children at the castle were those of the farmers and other Otherworld residents that came by for an audience with the princess or to trade or give supplies. So, Rin was alone most of the time. The children that did come were busy helping their parents and had no time to play. She had never had a playmate since the old man’s great-grandson, though, so it was not a loss to her. She had gotten used to playing when she had been Lord Sesshomaru’s companion, but she always played alone. Jaken refused to give in to her entreaties to gambol about, and Sesshomaru was not the playful type. On this day she was soaking up the sun and enjoying her own company.
When she heard quiet voices coming from the other side of a large wall of flowering bushes, she hesitated, torn between leaving whomever it was in peace and staying to enjoy the day. Her decision was taken out of her hands, however, when the Princess Aara and her companion, a male by the name of Kurama, appeared from around the bend in front of her. Rin simply curtsied, one of a few things Kaiba had taught her, and moved off the path to allow the couple to pass her. She was surprised when they stopped in front of her instead.
“You do not have to bow to me child. That is reserved for court. Here we are all just the same.” This was accompanied by a beatific smile.
  Rin, not used to others speaking much to her, was stunned into silence at first. Then “But Kaiba said I should curtsy to you.”
Aara laughed gaily at this. Kaiba had always been a stickler for manners. Aara turned to Kurama and asked that he leave her with the child. Kurama, none too thrilled that he was being dismissed, absently nodded to Rin and departed.  Aara took the child by the hand and walked for a little while in the direction Rin had been headed. They came to a spot under a blossoming cherry tree and sat on a bench. “Now, you must tell me all about your adventures with Sesshomaru. He is so quiet; it is hard to get him to talk about much of anything.”
Rin sat silently for a few moments, not sure what she was supposed to say. Then she started her story with her parents. The pair spent most of the afternoon discussing Rin’s rather unhappy childhood. Aara, listening to her speak, felt sympathy for the child. She reached out at one point, and laid a kind hand on her arm, unobtrusively feeling her out. When she felt mostly acceptance instead of self-pity, Aara drew back. She knew this child was a very strong-willed survivor. She was very glad that Sesshomaru had taken her with him, despite his self-proclaimed lack of care for humans. Aara could not help but see how this child had warmed his heart. She was uncommonly bright for a child her age. She did not, however, expect the overwhelming emotions for Sesshomaru that she felt in the girl. She sincerely hoped the child would realize, in time, that it was mostly gratitude.
Princess Aara did not attempt to form any affection for the child, though she allowed her free access to come and go around the castle as she pleased. She knew that the girl still needed Sesshomaru’s attention when she could get it. She also knew as time went by that that same attention was growing less and less frequent. Rin seemed to be weaning herself from him in her own time. For that, Aara was glad.
Rin spent her days exploring the castle inside and out. She came across all of Princess Aara’s other five males in due course. Of them all she liked InuYasha the best. His appearance was that of Sesshomaru’s, but for his adorable ears, sticking out on top of his head. They looked soft to the touch, but when he caught her staring at them, her intention plain on her face, his low growl was enough to make her back off with a giggle. His appearance also differed in that he wore a red kimono, the material of which she had never seen. She asked him about it one day, when they were alone on his balcony. He told her it was fire-rat fur, and his mother had given it to him when he was but a toddler. She did not question him further, as his face became unreadable. She knew there was tension between him and his brother, and that it concerned InuYasha’s mother, so she left the subject alone.
On one of her explorations Rin came across a door she had not seen before. She decided to find out where it went. When she opened it, she was amazed to find that it extended onto an entirely new wing of the castle. It was very dark, however, and Rin had to search for candles before crossing the threshold. When she finally did, and the door closed behind her, she found herself in almost total blackness. Not being timid, she began following corridors. The further she walked, the colder the air became. It wasn’t long before she was able to see her breath every time she exhaled. Why was this part of the castle so cold in the middle of summer? She intended to find out. After all, she had been told she had the run of the castle. Surely there was nothing and no one here that would harm her.
As she rounded the corner of a hallway she gasped and stopped in her tracks. There, in front of her, was the smallest woman she had ever seen. So tiny was she that Rin at first believed her to be a child.
“Its okay, child. Don’t lurk there in the hallway, come inside.”
The woman had invited her in! Rin could only do as she was asked. Now that she was here, she was intrigued by this woman.
  Yukina introduced herself, as did Rin. She explained that she was an ice maiden, which was why her side of the castle was so cold. Rin nodded mutely, still fascinated by the woman. She was drawn to her in some unfathomable way. Yukina explained that there were indeed windows here, but when Toya, an ice demon much like herself that shared the wing, was not here, she preferred the darkness. Yukina, sensing the child’s loneliness, began asking questions of her, and she responded in kind. It was late that evening before Rin took her leave of the kind ice maiden. She had made a friend! The first female friend she had ever had! She was happy when she left, and made a promise to return again the next day. Very early on in her stay Rin had come upon the entrance to Kaiba’s tower. Having been given permission to explore at will, she did not even pause before ascending the stairs. When she came to the top she was greatly surprised to see Kaiba. He was sitting in front of a large desk, piled high with books, opened and closed; papers, ledgers, ink, and all manner of vials. She did not wear shoes, and he had not heard her pad into the room. When he finally noticed her, he almost dropped the quill he was writing with. He had been deep in his own mind about a potion he was currently working on. Her entrance unnerved him, but he could not understand why. He smiled at her despite her surprise entrance. “What are you doing here, child? This is no place for one such as you. You should be outside, playing in the sunshine, not cooped up indoors.”
Rin wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she simply stood her ground, turning in a small circle and taking in all of his books. “Have you read all of these?” She did not know how to read, and someone that could read all of these books must be incredibly smart!
The mage grinned at her look of awe and answered that yes, he had read all of them. Some of the shelves also contained ledgers, he explained, that he had written. He watched her as she walked around the room, occasionally touching a book or a scroll. He saw an interest there. An idea began forming in his mind. “Would you like to learn how to read these as well?”
Rin, thinking she had not heard him right, turned to him and asked him to repeat it. When he did she was momentarily speechless. No one had ever asked her that before! Did she want to learn how to read? She pondered it for only moments before crying out, “Oh yes! That would be wonderful!” She went to a shelf of scrolls and pulled one down. When she unwound it, she held it out to him, upside-down and said “Teach me this one first!” He laughed in delight at her enthusiasm. This would be a fun chore indeed! Maybe if he spent enough time in her company, his discomfiting reaction to her nearness would lessen. She was, after all, a mere child. He shook his head to clear it, and began with the letters.
Chapter 16 - Old Friends   It was early morning and Sesshomaru and Rin were walking together in the gardens. She loved this time of day! The birds were beginning to wake up and sing, the grass and flowers still wore their layers of dew, and the air was fresh and crisp, not yet stifled by the sun’s rays. Sesshomaru, only rising early on days when he traveled to his lands, had deliberately sought her out this morning. He knew she was still lonely, and he actually found that he missed her chatter on occasion. Taking care of his lands had always been a lonely task, and her company had been welcome. He often felt as if they were kindred souls. Now, however, he split the time he had between his lands and the castle. It was not difficult, but it left little time for his friend. He felt he had been neglecting her.
“How are you doing here at the castle, Rin?”
  She took her time responding, thinking how best to reply. “I am okay. I want for nothing, and the people here are nice to me.”
That did not quite answer his question. What he really wanted to know was if she had someone with which she spent her time. She had had such a hard life thus far. He did not want to cause her more pain simply because he could no longer be with her. For the first time since that day, he wished he had ignored her pleas and left her with Masamune, the headman of one of the more prosperous villages in the Western Lands, and his wife. “I meant are you happy here?”
Again, Rin paused before choosing her words carefully. She had never been one to blatantly lie about anything, and she did not want to start now. Nor did she want to make Lord Sesshomaru feel guilty about leaving her for such long periods of time. Finally, when she spoke, it was even more quietly than her usual voice. “I am not unhappy, my lord.” She refused to expound on that, choosing to simply let the words hang in the air.
Sesshomaru sighed deeply, taking her words for what they were worth. He knew she needed something more, but he did not know how to give it to her. Indeed, he really hadn’t a clue about what it was she needed. Just something… MORE.
He decided to change the subject. He did not want to leave her heavy at heart. He asked her to tell him everything she had been doing. Despite his busy schedule and his plans to leave for his lands early, he and Rin sat for a very long time in the gardens, undisturbed. She told him about the first time she had seen Bakura, passing him in a corridor one day. They both laughed at that, as no one seemed NOT to be surprised by the demon mage’s looks upon first introduction. Rin, like so many others before her, had gasped out loud, startled and a little scared, when she first looked up and saw him. Bakura, knowing her sentiments, had simply stared at her, not moving, until she stammered a nervous “hello” at him. Then he smiled at her, attempting to put her ease, and she had backed away even further. It wasn’t until he introduced himself as Kaiba’s friend and fellow mage that Rin had relaxed. She realized he belonged in the castle and was not some pillaging demon snuck in the back door. She finally smiled back. After that day she always had a smile and ready wave for him. Sesshomaru listened to her tales and let his thoughts focus on her instead of his lands. He was enjoying their morning together. Rin told him of her fascination with InuYasha, and though he was doubtful about it, it seemed to make her happy, so he said nothing. If she could find a friend there, then so be it. He desperately wanted her to find happiness and a sense of belonging. As that thought occurred to him he almost jumped off of the bench. It was only her look of confusion that held him in check. He must have made a noise without realizing it. She had stopped speaking and was staring at him, her head crooked to the side, her eyebrows furrowed. He smiled at her and shook his head, indicating that his thoughts were meaningless, and urged her to continue.
Rin spoke to him all morning, telling him the things she had seen and done. She was in awe of Kurama. He had changed into his Fox Demon form for her once and she had thought she had never seen a more beautiful man, excluding Lord Sesshomaru. Hiei she was still wary of. He said nothing to her, only nodded when she caught his eye over a meal. Tasuki she was also unsure of. He spent much of his time away from the castle, so she did not see him very often. Bankotsu had shown off his halberd to her. She was in awe over his ability to even lift the thing. His use of it was definitely something to behold. She liked him. He always made funny faces at her across the dinner table. The princess as well seemed kind yet distant. After their one conversation in the garden, she always waved at her, but little else.
The one thing she had trouble adapting to was that everyone at the castle treated her like a child. She had not been treated as such since her parents had been alive. Indeed, it was disconcerting to her, but she could not place a finger on why. She brought the subject up to Lord Sesshomaru and was astonished when he laughed quietly. She did not even know he COULD laugh! As she stared at him, wide-eyed, his laughter grew until he was chuckling. With a smile he explained to her, as gently as possible, that she WAS still a child. She was merely six years old. Indignantly, she proclaimed that she would soon be seven. That made his smile deepen even more. He took her hand in his and explained to her that now that she had others to look after her, she could begin to relax and enjoy being in the castle. She would not go without here, and she need not work as she used to. Here, she was free to simply be a child.
She took his words at face value, though she still could not quite believe them. She had been hoarding food since she had first begun eating in the dining room with the others. She would take a roll or an apple, or even a sweet now and then and hide it in her pocket. Only Kaiba had noticed, and even though he gave her a strange look, he tactfully said nothing. She knew, however, that with winter coming, the food would cease. The gardens were pretty but worthless. She would once again have to fend for herself.
Rin was glad Lord Sesshomaru was spending time with her, though she knew it would be all too short. In truth, even though she missed him sorely, she had come to realize that he was simply another page in her book. His life and hers would travel very separate paths, and she could not prevent that. So, she had decided not to try. She was at first angry and more than a little hurt by his apparent abandonment of her, but she had gotten over it with the help of the castle inhabitants. Though she was not exactly the joy of the castle, there was always a kind word or smile coming her way from all of them. If not happy, Rin was at least content living here. However, she always felt as if she were waiting. She wasn’t sure what for, but the feeling was always present.
She spent the rest of their time together talking about Yukina and Kaiba. Yukina was very nice to her, even seeming to enjoy her company. They talked for hours on end, something Rin had never been used to. She found she loved it. Kaiba was teaching her how to read. He made her nervous because he stared at her a lot, but he was kind. He never raised his voice at her, even if she spilled a potion on his papers. Sesshomaru laughed once again at this guileless revelation.
It was very late afternoon before Lord Sesshomaru set off for his own lands, his heart much lighter.
For two more months Rin wandered the castle grounds. She visited Yukina as often as possible. She was beginning to really enjoy the tiny woman’s company, though her side of the castle was much too cold for extended visits. At least three to four times a week she also meandered her way up to Kaiba’s tower for her impromptu lessons. She enjoyed the mage’s company as well, but he unnerved her in a way she could not explain. She would learn whatever he wanted to teach her for the day, and then make a hasty exit. Lord Sesshomaru came and went several more times. She only spent one more morning with him in all that time. His was a busy life, and he had no time to spend with her. She accepted it and moved on.
Unknown to her, the day in the garden Sesshomaru had come to the realization of what Rin really needed. She needed to fit in somewhere. She needed to BELONG somewhere, and to someone. When they traveled together, she was happy. He knew now that it was because she felt a sense of belonging. Here at the castle, she felt no such thing. She simply felt like an outcast given a home. But she never really BELONGED here. About three months after his binding, he saw Rin walking with Kaiba and remembered his thoughts on that day. He waited until the mage was alone and brought the subject up with him. Kaiba agreed to discuss it with the Princess in the morning. Sesshomaru finally felt at ease about Rin’s future.
Chapter 17 - Decisions   Rin heard the baby crying and her father getting up to get her. She smiled and snuggled back into her blankets, content not to get up just yet. She listened to the loving sounds her parents made to her new baby sister as they fed her and got her ready to go back to sleep. Life was perfect! It had not always been so, however. She lie in bed, thinking about the past… When Princess Aara first approached Rin and told her she wanted to speak to her, the little girl was terrified! The woman had never sought her out on purpose before! The only thing she could think was that she had done something wrong and was about to be punished for it. As she followed the Princess into the gardens, trailing slowly behind the regal figure, her mind began to race as to what she could have possibly done. She kept mainly to Yukina’s wing and Kaiba’s tower now that she had made these two friends. On occasion she visited InuYasha in his room, and she did spend a small amount of time with some of the other males and castle residents, but those visits were not often and kept short. She wracked her brain trying to remember if she had done or said something that may have offended someone. She could think of nothing. As she followed the stern-looking back of the Princess, however, her trepidation grew.
Princess Aara stopped her trek under the cherry tree she dearly loved. When she sat on the bench and turned to Rin she was a bit taken aback by the look of fright on the girl’s face. She did not let it sway her, however. She felt the child’s confusion and ignored it. This needed to be done. Since she had been the one to make the final decision, it was up to her to break the news.
“Rin, my males and I, including Sesshomaru, have been discussing your plight recently. I have sent word to Hiten to search in Kaede’s Village to find you a suitable home. He will be back soon with word. I trust someone there will want to add you to their family.” When the girl said nothing, but stared at her instead with her mouth partially open in shock, she continued. “It is time you found a new home. The castle is just not suited for a single child alone. You have done nothing wrong, but you wander about as if you were lost. I know you and Yukina have bonded, so I trust you will come to the castle now and then to visit with her, but her section is just too cold for her to be a mother to you. So, as I said, it has been decided that you will leave as soon as suitable parents can be located.” With this, Princess Aara stood up and placed a hand on the child’s slim shoulder. “I hope you will find some happiness and forgive all of us for making this decision without consulting you.”
The Princess turned and began walking away. Rin could only stare after her in stunned silence. She was being sent away! It took her several heartbeats for all of the Princess’ words to sink in. She had said Sesshomaru was in agreement with this. Her beloved Lord Sesshomaru! He did not want her there anymore! With tears welling in her eyes she turned and fled the beautiful gardens. When she got to her room she flung herself on her bed, no, their bed, she thought in disdain. It was no longer hers. She could no longer keep the tears from falling, and indeed, she did not even try to. She lie prone on the bed for most of the afternoon, sobbing her heart out. She did not hear when the soft knock came on her door.
Sesshomaru knocked softly. When he got no reply he pressed his ear to the door and heard her sobbing. He turned the handle and entered her room as quietly as possible. He knew this had been hard news for her to take. She had already been made to leave one home. Now she was having to leave a second. None of this had been her choice. He knew she would have been happy to walk his lands with him for as long as he allowed it. The dangers she sometimes had faced while in his company had been few. He had always been there to protect her. She had trusted him, loved him. Now he had abandoned her, and in her mind, he was sending her away, like the villagers had less than a year ago.
When Rin felt a gentle touch on her back she gasped and turned over quickly. When she saw it was none other than the one she had been crying after, the tears started afresh. “How could you? You said I would always have a home here! You told me you wouldn’t leave me! Now you are sending me away? What have I done? Have I displeased you? Lord Sesshomaru, I don’t want to leave!” Her words were almost distorted from the high-pitched wail of anguish that accompanied them.
Sesshomaru said nothing, simply gathered her in his arms, and cradled her as if she were an infant. As he placed his cheek against her hair he couldn’t help but remember the day he had brought her back to life. He had held her in much the same posture then. He had never regretted saving a human. She had taught him much in their brief time together. He had thought love was something only others could ever feel. He had loved his mother and father, true enough, but that was the love of a child for a parent. True love he had never thought existed for him. Now he knew he had been wrong. It was because this small child had opened his heart that he had been bound to Princess Aara, whom he loved with his whole being. If not for Rin that never would have happened.   He held her, rocking her slowly now and again, until the sun had set. When her wails had subsided into small sniffles, he finally spoke. “Rin, it is not that I do not want you. I have always been fond of you, and I always will be. I simply think it best for you if you go to a home with proper parents. I cannot be your father. Nobody here at the castle wishes for you to be sad. Indeed, that is why we all decided to find you a real home. We all wish only for your happiness. You do not seem happy here.”
Rin heard him as if from a distance. She wanted to sit like this for always, never letting him go. “Lord Sesshomaru, I am content here. I have Yukina and Kaiba. I can see you whenever you have time. I am not unhappy! I am not!” Her words were punctuated with a tiny fist pounding his thigh. When he said nothing she finally sat up and turned to face him, still sitting on his legs. His look was sad. “Perhaps a little lonely now and then. You are gone so often. But I have lessons with Kaiba. I am learning new things almost every day. Yukina keeps me busy as well. She and I have great fun together. Please, Lord Sesshomaru, if you speak with the Princess, I am sure she will let me stay!” As her excitement grew her words came faster. “I promise not to wander about any more. I will keep to my room, Kaiba’s tower, and Yukina’s wing if that is what I need to do! I will be so quiet not even the Princess will remember that I am here! Please, Lord Sesshomaru, please don’t make me go!” With those words, carried in a shrill little-girl voice, she once again let the tears begin falling.
Sesshomaru gently wiped her tears with his sleeve. “Little Rin, can you honestly say you would be happy cooped up in your room, day after day, avoiding the castle residents? I know Kaiba and Yukina are your friends, but they are both healers. They could be called away at any time and be gone for days or even weeks at a time. Plus Kaiba has Suzuki as an apprentice. As much time as he takes to give you your lessons, it detracts from Suzuki’s learning.” When he said that her look turned to one of astonishment. She had never considered that she was taking away from Suzuki. She had met him only once, in Kaiba’s tower, but she had liked him. The thought that she had taken something away from him made her sad. Seeing her look, Sesshomaru continued. “I have heard wonderful things about the people in Kaede’s Village. There is a large group of Protector Wolves living in the forest just on the outskirts of town. There is actually a Wolf Demon living in the town itself. He is mated to a human named Kagome.” He began telling her what he had learned about the residents of the Village. He did not know if there were children in the town yet, but he did know that several of the couples were expecting. He explained about Miroku and Sango, the brave monk and his demon-slaying mate. Rin knew of them, as Yukina had told her all about the battle with the monk’s air void, which had almost cost Kaiba, Bakura, InuYasha, and the monk all their lives. That was how Yukina had come to be a permanent resident of the castle.
After listening to her white demon tell all he knew about the town’s residents, she felt only a little bit better. He explained to her that he was not abandoning her. When he told her that he honestly thought it the best thing for her, the tears that had been falling dried. “Lord Sesshomaru, if you feel this is for the best then I will go without further complaint. I know you want what is best for me.” She said these words while staring at her hands, clasped together tightly in her lap. “Will I ever get to see you again?”
“I will try to stop in now and then to check on you. Besides, I will see you when you come to visit Yukina. She has taken quite a liking to you. She asked for you, you know, when she heard you would be leaving. After talking it over with everyone, however, it was decided that her wing is just too cold. You would fall ill in no time, being in her wing for a long time. I know she will miss you terribly.”
When he said that she gasped in horror. She had not seen Yukina today! Her time here was short, and she had neglected her friend! “I must go see her now! I don’t know how much longer I will be here, and I simply must talk to her!” She jumped off his lap, headed towards her door in a rush, not even thinking to tell Lord Sesshomaru goodbye. His chuckle made her stop in surprise and turn back to face him.
“Rin, it is the middle of the night. I would think she is asleep.” His words were accompanied by a grin.
“Oh. Well… Oh.” Rin had not thought about the time. She trailed slowly back to the bed, her feet dragging. It was as if all her energy had used itself up. She sat down on the bed next to her white demon once more. She leaned her head against his furs and placed her small hand on his strong thigh. When he placed his arm around her shoulder she snuggled closer to him. They sat that way far into the night.
When Rin’s gentle snoring indicated she had fallen asleep, Sesshomaru gently picked her up and placed her in the center of her bed, pulling the covers over her. “Sleep well, Rin. I am sorry this has to be goodbye, but I wish you peace and happiness.” He placed a kiss on her forehead, tucked the covers around her one last time, and exited the room, closing the door as he went.
Chapter 18 - Changes   When Rin awoke the next morning it took her a few heartbeats to get her bearings. She normally woke very early, when the sun was just creeping up. Today, however, the sun was shining fully into her room, making the dust particles appear to be dancing in the beams. When she remembered, in a flash, all that had occurred the previous day, she leapt out of bed and bounded to her door. She had not changed into her sleeping garb, so she wasted no time in going to see her friend. Yukina had known Rin would come. She had found out only two days ago that the Princess was going to send her tiny friend away. She had made her case for the child, but when it came down to it, she could do nothing but agree about the chill air of her wing. Since she could change her nature no more than the child could change hers, she had no choice but to let the girl go. When Yukina heard the pounding footsteps of someone running down her corridor, she knew that Rin had been told the news.   “Yukina! Yukina, where are you?” Rin burst into her friend’s living area, wanted nothing more badly than to see her friend.
“Here, Rin. I was just making some tea. I was expecting you earlier, so I had to throw out the last pot. It got too cold.” She wrinkled her nose at the girl, making her giggle. They had gone through this more than once. On her side of the castle hot tea did not stay hot very long. Usually they had to drink it all right away or it would go to waste. “Go ahead and sit, I will be there in a moment.”
Rin, animated despite herself, tried to sit still but could not. As soon as her bottom touched the chair she always used she just bounced back up. “Yukina, I am to leave here! Hiten is going to find me a home in a village somewhere nearby. I didn’t want to go at first, and I may still regret it, but I am getting more excited about it! I will have parents, and possibly a brother or sister. There may be children I can play with! Imagine! Me, playing with other kids!”
Yukina, carrying the tray with the teapot and cups, couldn’t help but chuckle at the girl as she came into the room. She was so full of energy! As she set the tray down and began pouring their morning drink she began asking questions. “Who told you about the plan? I know Princess Aara was thinking about it.”
“She did. She called for me and had me follow her to the gardens. Then I was so upset I just ran to my room and cried for a long time.” She paused and added, “Yukina, is it true you wanted me to be your daughter?”
The tiny ice maiden almost spilled the tea she was pouring. “Rin, how could you even ask that? Of course I wanted you! You are a very wonderful and special child. I love you as much as I think I could love a daughter of my own. I just wish circumstances were not as they are.” She smiled sadly at the girl as she handed her the cup on a saucer. When she retrieved the blanket the child normally used and began spreading it over Rin’s legs, she was appalled to see her burst into tears. She had been happy only moments ago! What had happened?
“All this time I thought no one wanted me. I knew you were my friend, but I never knew you thought of me as a daughter!” Her statement was punctuated with yet more tears. Yukina, seeing her friend in such distress, had no idea what to do. She simply sat on her chair and waited for the sobbing to subside.
The crying lasted only a few moments. She had cried most of her tears out the night before. She simply had none left in her. “Yukina, please, tell me what you know of the people in the Village. You know everything!” She didn’t know how the ice maiden came about her information, since she rarely left her own wing, but the woman was positively full of information and gossip about almost everyone in the castle and surrounding areas. She and Rin had had more than one good laugh about some of the males and Princess Aara as well.
When Yukina had nothing more to tell her than what Lord Sesshomaru had already said, Rin was a bit disappointed. She had hoped to find out what they were all really like as far as personality goes.
The pair talked well into the morning. They discussed Rin’s fears for the most part. She was scared that she would find a family and they would not like her. She did not want to bond to anyone and have them die either. What if they died? What would happen to her? They were humans, after all. With her white demon she had not been scared of that. He could handle anything! But humans… they were a lot weaker than demons.
Yukina did her best to allay Rin’s trepidations. She knew that this would happen, like it or not, fear or not. She wanted to put her friend at ease with leaving the castle. It would not be easy for her, but she knew Rin was up to it. She was such a strong child!
The sun was halfway into the sky when the two of them heard soft footsteps in the corridor. Yukina cocked her head and motioned for Rin to be silent. After a moment, she mouthed “InuYasha” to Rin. The little girl stifled her giggles as they listened to him approach. When he said nothing and appeared to stop just outside the door to the sitting area, Yukina turned to Rin with her eyebrows furrowed in a question. Rin just shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea what the furry-eared demon was up to.
InuYasha had been sent to find Rin. Most of the other males and Kaiba were all busy on various errands when Hiten returned, so it had been him sent to fetch her. He knew where she would be. When he first stepped into the corridor he had heard them talking in low tones. Now he heard nothing. He paused outside the door, listening intently. He did not really want to disturb them. He knew this was their last day together, though as yet they did not know it. He sighed quietly, leaning closer to the doorway to hear them. When he heard soft chanting he concentrated his whole being on listening to the words.   Rin and Yukina knew he was listening to them. When he came no further into the wing of the castle, choosing to eavesdrop instead, the pair decided to play a trick on him. They winked at each other and began chanting nonsense words, with his name in the middle of them. When he overheard a sentence that involved his ears growing long enough to trail behind him, he almost panicked. He jumped out from the shadows he was lurking in, and faced them. “Just what do you think you’re doing in here?!” To punctuate his words, he reached up and felt his ears. Did they seem longer?
The couple in the icy room watched InuYasha in delight. When he began rubbing his ears to make sure they remained normal, they fell into puddles on the floor, their peals of laughter ringing out among the emptiness of the wing. Yukina smiled at Rin. Laughter was just what she needed right now! She was glad InuYasha had intruded. She was glad, that is, until she heard what he had to say.
InuYasha was stunned to realize that they had been playing a joke at his expense. “Ha, ha. Laugh it up. Women. Ha!” With those same ears turning a soft shade of pink, he turned his back on the pair still trying to regain their breath. “Fine, then. Maybe I won’t tell you what is going on with Hiten.” While he said this, he peeked one eye over his shoulder to make sure he had their attention.
Rin, her humor gone almost immediately, scrambled to her feet. “Oh, please Master InuYasha! I am so very sorry about our little prank. I promise not to do it again! Please, tell us about what Hiten has discovered!” Her apologies and pleas were echoed by Yukina, who was concerned about her young friend’s future. She was saddened that the girl had to leave, but she knew it was for the best.
InuYasha, appeased by their apologies, decided to let them stew a minute longer. “Well, I don’t know… that was a mean trick…”
Their pleading looks made him gave in. He had never been one to deliberately hurt any woman. These two were no exception. “The Princess sent me to find you. Hiten has returned and he has found a home for you. She wants to see you right away.”
Rin and Yukina turned to each other. Already? They would have to say goodbye so soon? The pair embraced, kissing each other on the cheek. “I will come see you tonight” Rin promised. Without another word she turned to follow the still-embarrassed InuYasha back to meet her fate.
Chapter 19 - Leaving   Rin trailed after InuYasha into one of the Princess’ meeting rooms. There she saw whom she assumed to be Hiten and the Princess sitting across from one another. Without a word she followed InuYasha’s lead and sat in one of the empty chairs facing the Princess.
“Rin, Hiten has found a home for you. The monk Miroku and his mate Sango, both humans, have asked for you. They are expecting a child of their own, but they want you to be their daughter as well. You will leave first thing in the morning.”
  Rin had expected it, but to hear the words was still a bit frightening to her. She stared down at her hands, clenched together once again in her lap. It was a few moments before she felt three pairs of eyes on her. When she looked up she knew she had been right. All three people were staring at her, seemingly waiting for her to say something. She almost panicked. What was she to say? “Th..thank y-y-you.” She barely stammered the words out before she stood and fled the room, not waiting to be given leave. She only knew she had to go!
She considered going back to Yukina, but her feet took her to Kaiba’s tower instead. She was disappointed to find him gone. She sat in his big chair and put her head down on his desk. She would wait for him.
It was in that position that Kaiba found her later that afternoon. She was sound asleep when he gently touched her shoulder. As he shook her awake he knew why she had come. He had been informed of Miroku and Sango’s decision as soon as he returned from his errands. He was not surprised to find her waiting for him. “Rin, wake up child.”
Rin came awake suddenly. She was a bit befuddled when she looked up into Kaiba’s eyes. For only a moment she thought she had been ill again. Then she realized she was in his tower, not in her room. She lifted her arms silently and placed them around his neck. She would miss him terribly.
Kaiba hesitated a moment before finally wrapping his arms around her body. Her closeness to him was a heady feeling for him. However, this was their last moment together. He had some ill farmers to tend to in the morning, so he would not be here for her departure. He wanted this moment to never end. His guilt over the feelings he had for her did not outweigh the happiness he felt to be holding her close, even though it was a goodbye hug. The two said nothing to each other. They just remained that way for a long time. When they finally broke apart he knelt in front of her, holding her upper arms and looking into her eyes. They said nothing, only stared at each other. She nodded at him and he returned the gesture. She would be fine. Of that he was certain. She sniffed once, wiped a single tear away, and left his tower, never looking back.
Rin once again did not get to sleep until late that night. She had visited Yukina after leaving Kaiba. Her friend had told her all she could remember about the couple. They had sobbed their goodbyes before she had left Yukina’s wing. The ice maiden thought it best to say goodbye then instead of in the morning. She did not want her new parents to be sad about Rin having puffy swollen eyes from crying, as she did now. Her tears, it turned out, had no end after all.
Rin had one last thing to do before leaving the castle. Almost as soon as her eyes opened she reached under her bed and pulled her old battered knapsack out. She hoisted it onto her shoulders and carried it to the kitchen. The cooks were all astonished to see her remove several vegetables, some almost rotten; fruits, breads, and some sweets. She had not known about the bartering system here at the castle. She had thought she would starve during the winter unless she saved some food. Kaiba had explained the system to her less than two weeks ago. Since then she had ceased taking food to her room. She had thrown away most of the spoiled food already, but she had not known what to do about these. Once she finally told Yukina about the problem the ice maiden had told her to simply return it to the kitchen. No sense letting any more rot. So, that is what she was doing. She dumped everything out on a table, smiled at the cooks, and without explanation, turned and left. She went back to her room and took a bath. After she got dressed and made her bed, she packed her few belongings into the now-empty knapsack. Then she sat on the bed, combed her hair and waited. She knew it would not be long before someone came to get her. Today her new life would begin. When Hiten first took off with her she was concentrating on waving at the people that had come out to see her off. She hugged InuYasha, Bankotsu, Bakura, Kurama, and Aara. When she came to Sesshomaru he leaned down to her, wrapping her in his strong arms one last time. She kissed him on the cheek then walked to Hiten without looking back. It was time.
As Rin saw the figures disappearing into the distance it occurred to her that they were actually in the air. That is when it dawned on her to be frightened. Her sudden squeals unnerved Hiten, who almost lost his grip on her. He made a desperate shift in his hold and decided to fly lower. Rin, however, after blinking her eyes a few times against the wind, was beginning to decide she rather enjoyed flying. When Hiten began to swing lower, she called to him to go up. “Higher, Hiten! Higher!!”
With glee he complied. He loved to soar above the clouds, but he rarely got a chance to do so. His job as Protector required him to stay below the clouds, always watchful for danger or malice. When he had time for himself he always had stuff to do at home. Serafin kept him busy, and even though he was quite content in his new role of Protector and mate, he missed soaring as high as the fire wheels would allow.
Rin was enjoying herself immensely. When they went above the clouds and she looked down, it appeared as if they were floating over a sea of foam. She was delighted when Hiten explained to her that clouds were really water vapor. That is why it felt clammy when they passed through them. Encouraged by his willingness to talk to her, she asked about him and his role in the Village. He explained that he was a Thunder Demon and Protector. He was mated to Serafin, who was expecting their first child. Serafin was a human also. She was kind and gentle and always ready with a smile. Their home was across and down a bit from her new home, he told her, so she could visit them whenever she wanted to. Serafin adored children and made the best sweets in town, if he did say so himself. Rin was glad to have already made a friend of sorts. She hoped it would make things easier.
It wasn’t very long until Hiten swung down back under the clouds and began his descent from the sky. Rin did not ask him why he was going so low. She could see the Village in the distance. She took a deep breath and tried to enjoy the remainder of her first experience flying.
Chapter 20 - A Warm Welcome   It seemed the entire Village had come out to welcome Rin to her new home. They had all been shading their eyes and staring at the sky for a long time. When Serafin called out “There they are” a cheer went up from the small crowd.
When Hiten touched ground a few feet from the small crowd and placed the girl once more on her feet, it took Rin a moment to readjust herself to being on solid footing again. He steadied her slightly, leaving his hand on her shoulder as two of the people came forward. He had sensed her emotional turmoil and knew she might need a steadying hand for more than just physical support.
Sango and Miroku stepped forward and made their way the few feet to where the girl and Hiten were standing. Miroku, seeing the look of hesitancy on her face, swooped down and engulfed the child in a giant hug. “Welcome! Sango and I are so very happy to see you! I am Miroku and I will be your new father. I am very pleased to have you join our family.” He smiled broadly at Rin, eliciting a tiny smile from the child. She liked this exuberant man.   When he turned to Sango and introduced her, Sango held out her hand to the child. As Rin shook it the woman told her “Welcome to our Village and our family. I hope we can be friends as well as mother/daughter.” She too smiled at the girl, though not as widely as her mate. She was scared of this little girl. She could not have put a reason behind her emotions, but she was frightened. Maybe not of the girl herself but of the situation. She had been just as eager as her mate to have the child added to their family, but as the night had worn on, her doubts and trepidations had grown. Now she was as much a bundle of nerves as the small girl in front of her.
As Rin clasped the hand extended to her she was acutely aware of the woman’s trembling. She was nervous too! As it dawned on her that she was not the only one starting a new life, the thought gave her some much-welcomed confidence. She smiled in return at the woman, hoping to put her at ease. She could get used to having a mother again.
 One by one the Villagers introduced themselves. Serafin was the first after her new parents. She welcomed Rin and told her to visit any time she pleased. She enjoyed having children around. She was expecting their first child, so Rin knew she would have a neighbor to play with eventually. Then there was Kouga and Kagome, and Kaoru and Kenshin, also pregnant. Rin thought to herself that when she grew up and found a mate she would definitely have no problems getting pregnant if she lived here! These people seemed to all be expecting! She knew her new parents were going to be giving her a sister as well. Four babies in less than five months! She hoped she liked the children. She did not know if she enjoyed babies or not. She could not remember being around any. Keiko and Yusuke, Sanosuke and Katsu, Kaede, and a whole troop of wolves all came forward as well. She shook hands with the humans and demons, and let the wolves sniff her. She even got to pet some of the wolves. They seemed to like her and enjoyed being petted. One large male wolf in particular remained close by her side. He seemed to like the girl, and in turn she immediately enjoyed his furry closeness.
After a few more minutes of introductions, Miroku announced that it was time for them to be getting home. He felt Rin’s continued nervousness at being the center of attention and knew she needed time to adjust to everything, alone. He picked up her knapsack, which Hiten had dropped by her feet, and swung around, calling Rin to follow him. The child came up next to him and slid her hand into his, surprising him greatly. When he gazed down at her she was looking up into his eyes, smiling her relief. His intervention had been welcome. She knew he had broken things up for her and it made her happy that he understood her already. The couple walked that way, hand in hand, with Sango trailing behind, the whole way home.
Rin was astonished at the beauty of the small houses she saw. In her old village there had only been poverty and want. The huts had been made out of whatever material had been handy. Repairs had consisted of grass and straw. Here, however, everything seemed to be made of thick wood, well cared for and maintained. There were flowers growing everywhere and several beautiful trees that Rin knew were cherry because of the Princess’ own gardens.     When her new father walked onto the porch of one of the beautiful houses Rin became more excited. This was to be her home! She was even more astonished when Miroku went through the house to a door at the end of the hallway and opened it. A room? A whole room to herself? She had thought she would share the common area with her parents as she had in her old village. There it was customary for the whole family to live in and share one giant room. It saved on space as well as furnishings. It also kept the house warmer in winter when everyone was in one area, with only the stove for heat.
Miroku placed Rin’s knapsack on her bed. The bed was covered with a large soft comforter, with foxes of all descriptions running, chasing, and playing printed on it. It had been a gift from Kurama. When his new daughter walked in and gasped in shock, he turned to her with a grin on his face. “Most of these toys come from Human World. Kagome is from there. She visits her mother there from time to time and brings stuff back as well. We all hope you like the room and the toys.” He also explained about the comforter. It had been Kurama’s welcome home surprise for her.
Rin stood in the middle of the room in a state of shock. She had never seen so many THINGS in one room before! There were items of all descriptions and most were made of some odd material she had never seen before. “What are all of these things?” She finally found her voice to ask.
Sango, who had been standing quietly in the doorway behind Rin, stepped forward and explained gently. “They are toys. You can play with them. In Human World all the children have rooms full of these things. They spend hours just playing with them. Miroku and I wanted you to not feel lonely here. The Princess told us that you had no toys at the castle. Sesshomaru told her that he doubted you had any at your other home either. Here you can play with any of these things.” When Rin continued to look hesitant, she went on. “Shippo is a Fox Demon friend of ours as well. He is young, like you, and loves playing with some of these things. He lives here for the most part, but he is off visiting a friend in another village right now. He will be home in a day or two. I know you will like him.” She stopped there, afraid she was babbling on like an idiot. She desperately wanted this child to feel welcome here. Miroku, it seemed, had already bonded to the girl, and she with him. She wanted to make this work!
Rin, getting over her shock, stood in the middle of her new bedroom, her new wolf friend pressing close. All these things were HERS! She could hardly believe her eyes. There was even a small stove in the corner, presumably for the cold months. She had her own bed, as she had in the castle. She turned in a small circle, trying to take it all in. When her eyes found the open closet, stuffed with clothing, she asked timidly “who do those belong to?”
While Miroku laughed with delight, Sango told her “They are yours. All for you.”
Rin promptly sat down on the edge of her new bed with a thump. All hers? She could not take it all in. This was too much! She began crying silently. The large wolf padded to her and swiped his tongue over her face. She had not wanted to come here, yet these people were being more generous and kind than anyone she could ever remember.
Miroku, seeing her distress, softly sat next to her and placed his arms around her, hugging her close. When she wrapped her tiny arms around him he felt he had never been happier. He was a father! He understood her emotions and simply held her, rubbing her back. He nodded when Sango said she would fix them all some tea.
When Rin was finished sobbing she rubbed her eyes and smiled up at her father. He nodded at her, understanding she needed to be alone for a little while. When he stood up to leave he gave her a soft pat on the head and told her “We will be in the kitchen. Just come out whenever you feel like it. Oh, and it looks like you have a new protector.  Kouga must have chosen him for you.”  He bent and patted the wolf on its furry head.  With that he left her alone to contemplate her new situation.
Rin watched him go then fell back onto her bed, lying prone, staring at the ceiling. She found she could not stay still, however. She flipped onto her stomach and stayed that way for a few moments, letting her hand trail over her wolf’s soft fur. As she idly petted him she let her eyes wander over all of the marvelous things she found herself amongst.
When she finally rose from the bed and went to the nearest box she found all manner of things. She could read a little now, so when she found boxes with instructions she was able to tell what the things inside were for and what they did. She rummaged around until she found an inviting-looking gadget. It was colorful and the instructions said to pull the string. She set it on the floor, as indicated, and pulled the string. Something amazing happened! The piece in the center, called a ‘top’, spun out of the piece she was holding and continued to whiz around on the floor, the motion like that of a tornado. The wolf, immediately interested in the small movements, attempted to pounce on it. Rin laughed and shooed him away. Delighted with the new toy, she waited for it to run out of steam and tried it again. This time it fell flat almost as soon as it was released. She furrowed her brow and retrieved the top. Again, she placed it in its holder and pulled the string.
Miroku and Sango heard the spinning of top and smiled to each other. She seemed to have already found something interesting to her. When she did not come out for tea, they knew she had begun to settle into her new home.
Chapter 21 - A New Beginning   Shippo had been visiting his friend, Kiro, in a neighboring village for a couple of weeks. The two had met while he had traveled with InuYasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku to gather jewel shards for the Princess. He had liked the young human on sight and they had made fast friends. He hummed to himself as he made his way into his home village. Ah, no place like home! When he got to Sango’s house he sniffed the air. Something was different. It was too soon for Sango to have had the baby, but there was definitely someone else here! A child no less! With a grin on his face he bounded into the house… and straight into a wall of little girl.   Rin gasped as she was thrown off her feet onto the floor. She thought for an instant that she had been attacked once again. When she did not feel teeth or claws she flipped herself over to face her attacker, and was surprised to see a concerned youngster standing over her. “I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to knock you down. Here, let me help you up.” Shippo extended his hand and was glad when the girl took it. “I am Shippo, a Fox Demon. I live here most of the time.”
Rin, who had been told of this child’s return, smiled widely at him. “I know who you are! Kurama mentioned you once, and Father and Sango said you would be coming back! Can you play with me?” As Rin’s words tumbled over each other, Shippo noticed she had not called Sango “Mother”. He decided now was not the time to mention it, however. He giggled and grabbed her hand, bounding off to his room. When he got there he was amazed at how quickly it had become her room. He still did not know who she was, but if she was calling Miroku her father, then she must be here to stay. He was not put out, however, and did not mention to her that he usually slept there. They could share, or he could sleep at Kouga’s house. He was not anyone’s child and spent his time coming and going as he pleased. If she would play with him and share her toys he would be happy to give his room up to her.
Rin, happy to have someone to play with, immediately started throwing questions at the young fox. “So, how old are you? What is your favorite thing to play with? How long have you lived here? How do you know Father and Sango?”
Shippo giggled in delight and answered her questions. While they were talking he began rummaging through her toy box. When he found what he wanted he proudly held up a coloring book and crayons. Rin, who had not yet been to the bottom of the toy box, had no idea what they were. “Come on, I will show you! These are like magic. See?” When he began coloring in the book, the colors of the sticks he was holding transferred itself to the paper, making a pretty picture, bright and beautiful. Rin, deeply intrigued by her new friend and the magic sticks he had, settled down with him, chattering on and on. He asked as many questions as she did, and she answered them all. She had finally made a true friend here!
One week later Sango was lying in bed next to her mate. The night was still and the baby inside her womb was softly kicking her abdomen. As Miroku lazily rubbed her belly he could sense she was troubled. “What is it Sango? Why do you seem so sad?”
It took her a moment to compose her thoughts. Then she sighed and turned on her side, facing her mate. “It is Rin. She calls you ‘Father’ yet only calls me by my given name. I want so badly to be her mother, but I am afraid.”
Miroku, who had noticed the lack of a true bond between his mate and their child, only held her hands in his and remained silent. She needed to talk and he would listen.
“When we first said we wanted her I was so excited! Then that night I lie in bed and began to worry. What if she didn’t like us? What if I were a bad mother? I was preparing myself for motherhood because of our own little one, but then I thought I had several more months to plan for. Then Rin came and I was an instant mother. Now I am lost. I don’t know what to do. I want to be her mother! I truly do! But I do not know how to go about doing that.” With those words she turned her face into his neck and began sobbing. Miroku simply held her close, rubbing her back and letting her cry.
When the tears seemed to stop he lifted her face with a single finger and kissed her lips. “Sango, you should take Rin for a walk every day. Get to know her. She has told me, just in the last couple of days, all about her life before coming here. That is how we bonded. We spend time together and we talk.” Indeed, they had spent hours and hours just walking in the woods or the surrounding hills. He had told her stories of his air void and his many adventures as a Protector. She had responded by telling him of her adventures in her old village as well as her time at the castle. As yet she had not opened up about her time with Lord Sesshomaru, the great Dog Demon ruler of the Western Lands, but he knew she would in her own time. “You two have not had time to get to know one another. I must admit, I have been monopolizing her time since she arrived.” He considered this for a few moments while Sango remained silent. “I’ll tell you what. I will make some excuse to go away for a day or two. It has been awhile since I went to visit the farmers in the next village over. Perhaps it is time I went to see them. While I am gone, you will have ample time to chat with Rin. Get to know her on a personal level.”
Sango mulled the idea over in her mind. On one hand she was afraid to be left completely alone with the girl. Sure, she had Shippo, but he would not be much of a buffer. He was always running here and there, full of energy. He had things to do and people to visit. On the other hand, she desperately wanted to get to know her daughter. After a long silence, during which she thought Miroku had fallen asleep, she whispered into the dark “Okay.”
Miroku, just on the edge of sleep, heard her quiet response and cuddled his mate tighter. He smiled to himself as he drifted off.
When Rin was told that Miroku would be gone a few days, she had trepidations of her own. She had come to enjoy their walks together and did not know what she would do in his absence. As she walked with him part of the way down the main road he chatted with her as always. This time, however, he seemed more serious than usual. “Now, Rin, you must listen to your mother and be a good girl. You know she would like to get to know you as well. I have been taking up all your time here, and I enjoy you being here. However, Sango will be the one to take you for walks this week.” With that he turned to her, his face set in serious lines. When he put his hands on her shoulders and stooped so their eyes were level, she knew he meant his words. “I sincerely wish for you and Sango to bond with each other. Nothing would make me happier than to have my whole family be very closely knit.” He placed a fatherly kiss on her brow and turned to walk away, waving his goodbye over his shoulder. “See you in a few days!” And he was gone.
Sango watched the two of them pace each other in the distance. She knew what he was telling the child. When Rin turned and skipped back home, Sango watched her, feeling slightly ill at ease. This would be it! What if she tried to bond and they didn’t like each other! How would she ever tell her mate that she didn’t want to be this child’s mother? She almost cried out loud at the thought.
Rin, skipping back to Sango with her wolf loping after her, had nothing of the sort in her head. She was glad to have time alone with her new mother. When her father had told of his leaving she had thought the walks would end. Now, however, she knew her mother would go with her! She was excited! She longed for a mother to be close to. She had not known how much she missed it until she had moved in here. When Miroku had begun his walks with her she had thought Sango would join them. When they continued without her she had been a little sad about that. But not anymore! Today would start their getting to know each other! By the time she bounded onto their porch and grabbed Sango’s hand, she was singing to herself.
Sango, surprised by the contact, immediately closed her fingers around the girl’s. She smiled as Rin urged her off the porch and started pulling her towards Miroku’s favorite hill. As they climbed in silence she started thinking how to break the ice. She could think of nothing to say, however. She was so nervous that her tongue remained glued to the roof of her mouth. This was never going to work if she couldn’t even speak!
Rin, perfectly content to remain silent for the time being, simply led her mother to a favorite spot of the monk’s. It was under a large tree overlooking the tiny Village. When they sat down, side by side, catching their breath after the trek up the hill, it was not an uncomfortable feeling. Rin did not let go of her mother’s hand.
For what seemed half the morning the two sat in silence. Rin broke the quiet first. “I am glad you are my mother.” She smiled in happiness at the woman, who was so startled she could barely blink.
“Rin, I… Well, I don’t know what to say.” After several long moments she finally continued, her voice very quiet. “I have been afraid of you. I do not know why. Maybe it is because I was afraid I would make a bad parent. I don’t know.” She shook her head quickly, as if dispelling a fog. “So, anyway, we are here! Let’s make good use of the time. Please, tell me about yourself. Miroku told me some, but I would like to hear it from you.”
Rin began her story with the bandits that slaughtered her other parents. They sat on the hill for the entire day, swapping stories and concerns. For the first time the two of them finally felt connected. By the time evening had come and they began their trek home, the two of them had formed a bond that no one could break.
Chapter 22 - The Value of Friendship   Three months after their hillside conversation, Rin and Sango were sitting on the porch. Sango was teaching Rin how to knit. She had already attempted to make a pair of booties for her sister, but they had turned out to be more like spoon-warmers. Rin had giggled in delight when Miroku did just that with them. Sango had rolled her eyes and smiled when her mate placed them with a flourish onto the tops of two serving spoons.
There had been a flurry of activity in the town the last couple of days. Rin watched as the men gathered and quickly erected a small house on the outskirts of the Village. She asked whom it was for, but no one would tell her. They would just smile and wink at her. No matter whom or for how long she pestered, it seemed to be a well-kept secret. Rin felt it somehow involved her, since no one would give her any information. So, she just waited for whatever was to come.
Sango, watching the child sitting in front of her while keeping an eye on the road as well, knew the girl was about to get a very great surprise. When she finally saw the group in the distance she smiled to herself and nudged Rin with her toes. “Rin, there is someone coming up the road. Why don’t you go run and see who it is?”
Rin, surprised that her mother would want her to greet strangers, stepped slowly off the porch, looking back at her mother with a questioning look. When her mother only grinned widely at her, her confusion grew.
The girl walked calmly down the road towards the travelers with the wolf close on her heels. She may have been nervous if not for the way her mother looked at her. She knew something she was not telling. It only took her a few steps past the bridge for her eyes to finally make out who the visitors were. At least, one of them. “YUKINA!!!” With great joy Rin sprinted the few hundred feet still separating them. As she flung herself at the tiny woman it was all Yukina could do to remain on her feet. The child had grown so much since she had left them! The two hugged so tightly they both thought they would suffocate. The man that accompanied her stood patiently to the side, waiting for the greetings to be over.   Yukina and Rin continued into the town, completely forgetting about the patient man walking behind them. They laughed and chatted and giggled. So animated were they that when they came to Sango’s porch she gasped in surprise. She had never seen Rin’s cheeks so flushed with happiness! She smiled to herself, glad she had kept this secret. Rin had been asking to go visit her friend at the castle for a few weeks now. Sango and Miroku, however, had decided that with Sango’s time drawing closer a trip to the castle was out of the question. Kouga as well could not be spared to accompany her. Kagome was even closer to her due date. So it had been decided that since she was a healer, Yukina would be asked to come here. The tiny house the Village men had erected was there for her use. It was decided to keep it a secret as well. It would be more of a delight if Rin did not know about it before-hand. As it turned out, that had been the right decision.
Rin was ecstatic to see her friend once again. She spent her days and evenings at Yukina’s small house. They once again began their tea ritual. Rin told her everything that had happened since her arrival. She filled her in on the residents of her small town. Serafin was a wonderful cook and made lots of sweets for Hiten. She could always manage to finagle a cookie or two from her when she went to visit. She loved the wolves. She even had the constant company of one. He accompanied her whenever she wanted to wander off on her own to explore. If she wanted to be completely alone all she had to do was say so and he melted into the surroundings. She knew he was still there, but she could not see him. She felt much loved and very protected here.
Yukina was very glad her friend had found such happiness here. She listened to Rin talk about her parents and her soon-to-be sister. She laughed along as she talked about Shippo and her friendship with him. It was after their conversation about the small fox demon that they lapsed into silence. For once they were sitting on Yukina’s porch. It was warm out, but the ice maiden had made up her mind to visit with Rin outside as much as possible. She knew the child loved the outdoors more than being cooped up inside. On this night as they sat side by side in companionable silence, Yukina couldn’t help but think of Toya, the ice demon that had accompanied her on this trip. She had come to assist with the impending births. Toya had come, presumably, to protect her on her trip to and from Kaede’s Village. She had listened to Rin talk about the couples in the Village for days now. Everywhere there was happiness and contentment. She had never had a male friend. Now she was beginning to see that Toya would be a good choice for her. She could be happy with him. She quietly broached the subject with Rin. She had told Rin of her home in the Ice World. Rin knew that only women resided there and men were not necessary for bearing children and indeed, were not welcome there at all. When she began that conversation she was not surprised when the child’s mouth turned into a tiny ‘o’ of shock. “Rin, what would you think if I mated with Toya?”
Rin, stroking her wolf’s soft ears, turned to her after a moment of silence. Her expression almost made Yukina laugh once again. However, this was a serious moment. Rin stared at her, not sure what she was expected to say. “Well….ok. Well.” She cleared her throat and tried again. Before she knew it she was simply letting her thoughts lead the way. “I think you would make a great mate for anyone! You are the best friend I ever had. I know you are kind and generous. I think Toya would be a very happy man to have you!”
Yukina smiled at her friend. She knew the child’s words had come from her heart and were not said just to appease her. She began, that night, to start making friends with Toya in earnest.
It was on one of the nights when Rin and Yukina were visiting inside her small cold house that a fierce pounding interrupted them. When Yukina called out to enter, Hiten burst into the room. “It is time! Serafin is in labor!”
Rin walked home happily. She knew that it wouldn’t be long until she was able to hold her own sister. However, as she sauntered past Hiten and Serafin’s home she couldn’t help but hear the pained cries coming from inside. She paused for a moment, listening to the sounds. It was awful! “Rin! Come on home, dear.” Her mother was calling her from their porch. Rin scampered on to her house, concern written all over her face.
 “Mother, will you be in that much pain when you deliver Mirago?” Her parents had already decided on a name for their new daughter.
“Well, Rin, I am not sure. This will be my first time delivering a child. But according to other women, it is somewhat painful. Yukina and Kaede are there with Serafin though. Don’t worry; they will keep her pain to a minimum. I know they will do the same for me when my time comes as well.” She smiled to put the child at ease.
  In truth, however, her own birthing time was making her more and more unsure with each passing day. The cries coming from Hiten and Serafin’s house lasted long into the evening. When a tiny cry was heard at last it seemed the entire Village cheered in response. Souten, the first child born into the Village, had come at last!
Three nights later was Kagome and Kouga’s turn. After only a few short hours her delivery was over, Kome born in record time. Yukina came to see Rin before heading home that night. She talked in animated tones about the birth, leaving out the painful parts of Kagome’s labor. She went on and on about the small half demon boy she had placed in his parents’ loving arms only a few short minutes before. She had decided she wanted to have a child of her own. When she told Rin this, she just smiled and squeezed her hand. “You will be the best mother ever made!”
It was yet another week before Kaoru and Kenshin gave birth to the first-born daughter in the Village. They named her Kenru. When Rin saw her for the first time she thought there had never been a prettier thing born.
Rin was excited about Sango’s impending birth, but she was also a bit disappointed that they were last. She was also very aware that there would be pain involved. She didn’t know if she could stand to hear her mother’s cries of pain from her bedroom. Sango and Miroku had anticipated as much. One night at dinner they began talking to her about it. “Rin, we know you would like to be here for your mother’s labor, but we think it would be better if you did not witness it. It will be hard on her and you may not be able to handle it.”
Rin was actually quite relieved. “Oh, thank you! I was so afraid I would have to listen to Mother screaming! I was not looking forward to it at all! So, where will I go while she is delivering? Yukina will be here, and the other parents are still trying to get accustomed to having their own babies around.”
Sango and Miroku looked at each other. They had not thought of this! Where would she go? The answer was simple enough.
“Toya wouldn’t mind if I visited with him.” Rin said this calmly around a mouthful of dinner. After correcting her about speaking with her mouth full, Sango and Miroku discussed it.
The very next day Miroku asked Toya if he would keep an eye on Rin when Sango’s time came. He said he would be more than happy to. In truth, he had been trying to get used to having Rin around. He knew Yukina would eventually want children if they mated, and he wanted to be used to children before it occurred.
Ten days after Kenru came into the world it was finally time! Rin was finally going to be a big sister! Miroku escorted Rin, carried her really, as quickly as he could to Yukina and Toya’s small house. Yukina was already ready to go, as she knew Sango’s time was to be very soon. She waved goodbye to Rin and Toya and hurried after the monk, who was already running for Kaede’s house.
It seemed an incredibly long night to Rin, who sat by a window and chatted nervously with Toya all during the wait. When she finally saw Yukina walking home she leapt up and ran out to greet her friend.
Yukina smiled at the joy on Rin’s face. “Your baby sister is finally here Rin! Your father and mother want you to come home now.”
Ginta, one of the Protector Wolf Demons, was asleep on their porch when Rin and her wolf came flying down the road. When he saw them he lazily stretched and yawned, then stood up. His job standing watch was over for this day. He would leave it to the girl’s wolf now. He had been asked to bring Rin home when the time came. When he saw them he figured she had just not been able to wait. With a grunt he loped off to Kouga’s house. He did not glance back as he curled into a ball on his leader’s porch. He smiled to himself as he heard the cooing coming from within.
Chapter 23 - An Unexpected Visitor   Rin had settled into a routine of sorts. She would be the first to rise in the mornings. She would check on her baby sister and change her diaper if she were awake. She would coo and make faces at her, making the baby squeal. She was careful not to wake her parents too soon. They were not getting much sleep as it was, feeding the baby every couple of hours at all times, day and night. Mirago would not cry first thing in the morning, though. She would just wake up and play for a while. Rin made that her special time with the baby. She would take her to the rocking chair the Princess herself had given as a gift and sit there, holding her sister and playing with her quietly until her father woke up and came to get her. There were always smiles exchanged. Rin was truly happy.   The only damper on Rin’s spirits came briefly when Yukina told her it was time for her to go. Now that the babies had been born her purpose in coming to the Village had been fulfilled. She hugged Rin and promised her she could come visit her soon at the castle.
As Rin said her goodbyes to Yukina she thought she should be sadder about her friend leaving. Instead, when she smiled at Yukina and Toya, her heart was light and free. “I am sad that you are leaving Yukina, but I realize now I am where I belong. My life is here now. My friends and family are here. I will come visit you soon.”
Yukina smiled again at her friend before she took Toya’s hand and began the journey back to the castle. They waved at each other until the pair was out of sight.
Rin was happily coloring in her book beside Shippo about a week later. The two were lying on the ground on their stomachs under a large tree on top of Miroku’s favorite hill. Miroku and Kenshin were there as well, quietly talking while holding their babies. Rin’s wolf suddenly lifted his head and wagged his tail, then flopped over on his side with a grunt and went back to sleep. Miroku wondered why until a rustling of leaves behind them startled him and he turned and gasped. There behind him stood none other than the Dog Demon, Lord Sesshomaru! Miroku scrambled to his feet, careful not to wake his sleeping infant.
“Lord Sesshomaru, to what do we owe this honored visit?”
Rin, hearing his name from her father’s lips spun around so fast she got grass stains on her newest kimono. “Lord Sesshomaru! You came! You came!” Before the words were even completely out of her mouth she had made a flying leap into the demon’s arms. It was all he could do to catch her in time before they both went tumbling down the hill.
As he felt her arms encircle his neck he realized how much she had meant to him. After a hug he set her down and held her at arms’ length, gazing at her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. She had grown a little and was beginning to fill out as well. She was no longer the skinny child he had once known. Now she was a vibrant and healthy tan with an easy glow about her. He smiled at her, knowing he had made the right decision.
Miroku, knowing the child’s past with this demon, was at first a bit jealous of the attention she gave him. However, when he asked the demon to stay for dinner and he accepted, Rin took Miroku’s hand as they walked down the hill towards the Village. Rin, not realizing how much this simple gesture moved Miroku, kept turning her head to see Sesshomaru, the whole while chattering a mile a minute about her life here. Sesshomaru watched his friend take the monk’s hand in hers. He knew, at that moment, that she had bonded completely with the man. She had a real father at last! He spent the evening with the happy family, watching Rin’s interaction with her parents and new sister carefully. He had been informed by Yukina and Toya of Rin’s happiness, but he wanted to see it for himself. He would never forgive himself if his decision caused her more distress. By the time dinner was over and she was sitting next to him on the porch steps, enjoying the night air, he was convinced she was indeed a happy child.   “Rin, I was hoping you had found a good home here. Yukina explained about the Villagers and the various families. She said you were happy. I just wanted to see it. Are you, Rin? Are you truly happy here?”
Rin did not hesitate in her reply. This time she did not have to choose her words as she had when he asked her the same question at the castle. “Oh, yes! Lord Sesshomaru, I have a wonderful family! Father takes me for long walks and explains lots of stuff, like you used to. Mother lets me ride Kirara and teaches me how to cook and about different demons, and oh, all sorts of things! I really love them! And Mirago… she is the best of all! She is such a sweet baby! I am very glad she is my sister. And I have this wolf here” she indicated the creature lying at her feet. “He roams all over the place with me.” Her radiant smile was more than enough to convince him of her sincerity. He looked away, out into the night, and the two lapsed into a comfortable silence.
When the moon was full in the sky he turned to her and stood. “It is time for me to get on my way. I am off to my own lands this week. There is a problem with some demons invading a larger village there. I must be on my way if I am to be there in time to do damage control.” He placed his long clawed finger under her chin and raised her face to him. He bent and placed a light kiss on her brow. “It may be a very long time before we see each other again.”
Rin, sensing that he was correct, kissed him on the cheek as well. When she hugged him tightly she was saying goodbye. She watched as her old friend disappeared into the night. Then she sighed and stepped out onto the grass in front of her home.
Home, she thought. Such a simple name for such a powerful word. She stood on the grass, gazing at the lighted windows for what seemed a very long time. Then with a grunt of complete contentment, she made her way back inside, to the welcoming arms of parents.
Rin, her thoughts of the past becoming a haze as she listened to the warms sounds of her mother and father cooing to Mirago, allowed herself to snuggle back into her covers. It was not long before she was once again fast asleep, dreaming of a bright and happy future.