The Strength of Love
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.