InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hurtful Words: Past & Present ❯ The Past: Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko

Hurtful Words: The Past
Chapter 3

Sesshoumaru sat under a large tree calmly watching the young girl and trying to decide exactly what to do with her. It was a thought that crossed his mind quite often and one he paid little attention to. When she first began to follow him, he was too distracted with thoughts of destroying those wretched hanyou's Inuyasha and Naraku. Now that both of them were no longer worth thinking about, he was bothered every now and then by a voice concerning Rin.

She was fourteen now and probably approaching womanhood. He did not know much of human customs, but he was convinced that she was at an age close to marriage. The idea of giving her to some filthy human boy disgusted him. But he had to remember that because his pride would not allow him to keep her at the estate, there was no other choice. As her father figure, all he could do was find a respectable village and family and order them to see that Rin is taken care of.

He had yet to find a village that measured up to his standards.

It would be foolish of him to deny the fact that he didn't want to get rid of her. She had pleased him greatly with the way she had learned to be independent and self-reliant. Rarely did she find herself in trouble with some savage youkai since she was so good at avoiding them. And in case confrontation was inevitable, she was at the moment teaching herself to use a bow and arrow. There was a strange sense of pride swelling in his chest that was only made worse with the fact that she still adored him. It was clear to both he and Rin that she no longer needed him, yet she continued to worship him and hough he didn't need it, it was uplifting to his ego.

So Rin would remain with him until he was finally pushed to make a decision. Contented with that for now, he pushed away that little voice and turned his attention back to Rin. She was taller thanks to her long legs and nearly reached his shoulder. Her face was slowly becoming that of woman’s and she appeared to be regal. Already she was a young beauty with light brown eyes and a small nose. Still, the way her bangs fell sloppily over her eyebrows made her look childlike. She had long since abandoned the awkward ponytail and allowed her hair to cascade freely down her back. She tied it loosely at the base of her neck for the moment so it wouldn't get in her way. Though she was getting better at using the bow and arrow, she still had much to learn.

Rin walked over to Sesshoumaru and sat beside him, folding her legs under her. "Oi, Sesshoumaru-sama. You look so lonely."

He, as expected, said nothing.

Rin let her question drop unanswered, perfectly content with the silence. Years ago, the silence would have made her uncomfortable but she, determined to be like him, had adjusted to it. Sesshoumaru always appeared to be in deep thought and she began to lose herself in her own thoughts. Comforted by his presence, she stared up at the sky and played out the best way to improve upon her new skill.

"Rin."

She turned to him after pulling her hair free. "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Do you wish to live with your own kind?"

Rin stared at him, trying to read something from his emotionless face only to find that his attention never wavered from the sky. The years she spent training her own emotions were the only thing that prevented her from panicking.

"Rin's only wish is to stay with Sesshoumaru-sama forever."

Sesshoumaru turned his attention to her. Though she spoke quietly, he didn't miss the slight sadness in her voice. "You cannot stay with this Sesshoumaru forever. We are too different."

"What is wrong with being different? Sesshoumaru-sama is different from any youkai Rin has ever heard of."

"Humans and youkai live differently, that is why you cannot stay with me."

"Then Rin will live like a youkai so I can stay with you." She smiled brightly, one of the few forms of emotions she allowed herself.

Sesshoumaru looked back up at the sky. "It is not that simple Rin. One day you will understand."

But she already did understand. She was well aware of the fact that Sesshoumaru did not think highly of humans. But she always liked to believe that she was the exception; that her being around would not matter to him. She wished she could change if it meant she could stay with him forever, but there was nothing she could do. He would not accept her and someday, forever would come. It could be tomorrow, or next year, or the day she died. Until then, she would be content with being by his side.

Rin rose to her feet, smiling down at Sesshoumaru. "Rin is going to get some food."

Rin returned to find Sesshoumaru wasn't there. In his place sat Jaken who was just finished getting a fire started. She shook her head, wishing she understood why Sesshoumaru disappeared so much. Letting it go for now, Rin skipped over to the fire and set her fish and mushrooms over it. Tonight was going to be lonely and boring with a complaining Jaken as her only company.

But the night would prove to be far from lonely and boring.

They had company. A youkai, no doubt, was slowly drawing near to their camp. It was Ah Un who noticed it first, letting her know by his cautious movements that something was not right. She quickly tuned her senses to what was around her. Ah Un kept his eyes secretly trained on the direction the youkai was coming from. Rin innocently gathered her bow and arrow, plotting in her mind the best way to dispose of the youkai. This is a good time for Rin to practice what she has learned.

"Ne, Jaken-sama."

"Nani?" What could the girl want now? She was always talking and all he wanted to do was go to sleep.

"Do you think Rin will ever be able to properly use the bow and arrow?" An idea struck her. How much would it hurt to be hit with a hot arrow?

"With much practice." He glanced up when she put the arrows over the fire. "What are you doing Rin?"

"Rin is bored."

"That is no reason to burn your arrows! If Sesshoumaru was here..." Jaken shook his head.

"Hai...if Sesshoumaru was here..." She turned quickly, one knee on the ground and one foot in front of her. She cocked her bow, locked in an arrow, and let it fly just as a strange youkai stepped into the clearing. To her surprise the arrow hit the youkai's chest. "...that youkai wouldn't show his face."

Jaken quickly jumped to his feet, surprise written clearly on his face. He looked at the youkai and then at Rin. She was standing on her feet with an expression that reminded him of Sesshoumaru. All her focus was upon the youkai before her. And she, who had had so much trouble with her bow and arrow earlier that day, had shot the youkai in his chest. He was baffled.

The youkai was pissed.

The tiger youkai snarled and bared his fangs at the young girl. He lifted a clawed paw to pull the arrow out only to be struck with another. Growling, he took a step forward, only to be blocked by a two-headed beast.

"Little girl, I can't wait to eat you."

"Well, now that I know your intentions, I won't feel so bad."

She used the last of her arrows on the youkai. He stumbled forward and wrapped his arms around Ah Un. The dragon youkai struggled unsuccessfully to escape his captor. There was a rumble of bushes that made Jaken and Rin jumped. From them another tiger youkai stepped forward and rushed towards them. Jaken reacted quickly this time and slammed the Staff of Heads into the ground in front of him.

"Rin! Hurry, run!" He blocked the youkai with a wave of flames.

Rin turned quickly and ran towards the river. She ignored branches and bushes that tore at her kimono, ignored the pounding of her heart. She ran as fast as she could, her destination now in her sight. Fearing for Jaken's life, she decided not to let the water carry her to far from him. During her wanderings earlier that day she found a waterfall and quickly decided to make it her destination. She tore a piece of cloth from her kimono and let it float downstream to lead the tiger away. Diving into the water, she began her struggle going upstream.

She sat under the waterfall, somewhat enjoying the feel of pounding water on her shoulders. The water would hide her scent and keep it from being carried away in the wind. She was cold, but ignored it since she was glad for the bath. For how long she sat there she did not know but she was judging her time on the moon. Sighing, she stared up at it and decided it was safe to return to Jaken.

Rin found Jaken sitting beneath the tree holding his injured side. Ah Un, who was not there, was probably searching for her. Hoping he would return soon, she relit the fire and began to tend to Jaken's wound.

"Is that better, Jaken-sama? That tiger's claws were really sharp."

"That youkai was no match for this Jaken!"

Rin shook her head and turned when she heard a noise from the bushes. Ah Un stepped into the clearing and nudged Rin. "Ah Un? What's wrong?"

"That youkai will probably come back. We should leave." Jaken forced himself to his feet and wobbled over to Ah Un.

"But Jaken-sama, I thought you said the youkai was no match for you." She climbed on Ah Un then helped Jaken up.

"He isn't!"

"Then why are you running away? Why don't you wait until he comes back and beat him up? Ne, Jaken-sama? Where are we going? Are we going to find Sesshoumaru-sama? Jaken-sama, answer me!"

Jaken, who was obviously ignoring her, wondered what he had done in his past life that made him deserve his current one. Neither of them noticed the dark figure trailing them from the ground.

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