InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hurtful Words: Past & Present ❯ The Present: Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko

Hurtful Words: The Present
Chapter 6

Rin walked down the steep hill, enjoying the warmth the evening sun provided. She hummed to herself, glad to be on her way home. She had been gone for nearly a week and had finished her business early. With the money she made or 'acquired' from a wealthy villager, she was well prepared for the winter months. Three barrels of rice were on its way to a village near Kotetsu; one for herself, one for her adopted family, and one for the shop keeping them in storage while she was away. With this method, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to track any type of activity she did. She kept herself anonymous and therefore protected at all times.

Nothing much had changed about her anonymous life. Her scent was practically untraceable. Her wardrobe changed on a bi-weekly basis with new or used kimonos. After learning to sew she patched up the used kimonos so they looked brand new. Most women she traded kimonos with were grateful for the trade, feeling that they were getting a better bargain. But Rin, more concerned with her safety, could care less. She was sure she smelled like a million different women from a million different areas of the world and she couldn't be more pleased.

It was a good life but as her luck often had it, her good life always took a dangerous detour.

The ground beneath her feet vibrated and from the dense forest ahead of her arose a large creature. She heard cries from both men and women coming quickly in her direction. The creature, which appeared to be a giant bear youkai, slowly made its way towards the voices, probably planning to make the humans its food.

Rin sighed and wondered what she could do to stop it. She could see hundreds of arrows and spears flying into the air only to be reflected back by the youkai's thick skin. Knowing her own arrows would not work, she slung her bow over her shoulder and opted to test her new weapon. Walking towards the youkai, Rin pulled several small balls from the pouch hanging in her kimono. She lit the rope hanging from one and used a slingshot to fire it at the youkai.

The small bomb got close enough to the youkai to create a small wound on its side. It roared loudly, sending new fear done the spines of many villagers below it. Some brave men began to aim their arrows at the youkai's wound, inspiring others to do the same. Pleased with the turn of events and the success of her new weapons, Rin fired more of her mini bombs at the youkai. The bear youkai roared again and began to stumble forward in pain.

Then in the blink of an eye the youkai fell upon its front paws and began to run in her direction. Rin turned, cursing under her breath, and began to run as fast as she could. She knew she would not escape it, but her legs pushed her forward, unwilling to accept their fate. She could see her shadow quickly being overtaken by a larger figure. She could hear the youkai behind her, could feel its breath on the back of her neck. And just as she thought it was going to strike, she heard a somewhat familiar voice that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Kaze no kizu!"

When she turned it was the sword that grabbed and held her attention. Though the youkai had been completely obliterated and many villages were rushing forward loudly in praise, she noticed it not. She stared, half in shock, half in disbelief, at the hanyou and his sword. She knew the names of both and with that knowledge came thousands of memories she wished never existed. Unpleasant emotions she didn't know she was capable of possessing filled her up inside and threatened to overwhelm her. It was her training alone that kept her sane.

"Hey! Daijoubu? Can you hear me?"

Rin snapped from her trance and stared at the woman in front of her. She had a concerned look on her face, one Rin thought she might have seen before. "Hai...I'm fine."

"You were spaced out for a while, I thought you might be in shock. You don't have to worry anymore, the youkai is gone."

"So I see..." Rin turned her attention to Inuyasha who was making his way towards them.

"Have we met before? You look strangely familiar."

"I was thinking the same thing." She smiled. "My name is Rin."

"You smell really different but I knew there was something familiar about your scent!" Inuyasha stepped between the two women and growled. "So where is he? I know you're that girl Sesshoumaru was u-"

"Osuwari!" Kagome stepped over Inuyasha and took Rin by her hands. "Now I remember, you are that little girl that was traveling with Sesshoumaru. You're not so little anymore."

That name put a bad taste in her mouth. "I'm not traveling with that inu-youkai anymore. We parted ways several years ago."

"Oh, I see." Kagome thought back to the last time they had encountered Sesshoumaru and thought she may know why Rin no longer traveled with him.

Inuyasha got to his feet. "Look here Kagome! If you use that command one more time-"

Kagome placed a small kiss on Inuyasha's lips. "Sometimes you deserve it. Gomen ne."

Trying to hide his blush, Inuyasha turned his head up and tried to look indignant. Rin could see his personality hadn't changed much and even his appearance didn't seem as though it had changed drastically either. He was taller and seemed to be a bit more built. His hair, much longer now, trailed down to his thighs. He had traded his red hakama and haori in for black ones. There appeared to be a large inu-youkai decorated on it in red and white, but Rin was unsure. Kagome, whom she remembered only a little, wore an orange under kimono and a white over kimono with green leaves printed on her sleeves. The same print decorated her orange obi. Her hair was a thick and wavy black that curled at the ends above her waist. They made, in Rin's opinion, a very lovely couple.

"Hey Rin, its getting late and Inuyasha tells me that the villagers have invited us to stay for the night. Would you like to join us?"

Rin's first response was to say no and then she thought of those feelings that overtook her when she first saw Inuyasha. Eager to understand them, she agreed to join them.

Though Inuyasha and Kagome were quite pleasant and nice, their kindness did nothing to overwhelm the negative feelings boiling inside her. She couldn't explain why she felt them or what was the cause, but there was nothing she could do to stop them. And with those feelings came thoughts, thoughts that circled in her head faster than a wheel on a carriage. Slowly the thoughts fell into order, each one becoming clearer as it did, until finally she had a plan. She wasn't sure if it would work and wasn't sure if she was still sane, but she intended to carry it out.

"You smell really weird." Inuyasha sat in the doorway of the room, his nose wrinkled.

"Inuyasha! Don't be so rude!" She smiled at Rin, trying to soften the sharpness of what Inuyasha had said. "Besides, you won't be able to smell much of anything pretty soon."

"Keh." He eyed the setting sun, knowing that it would take his powers with it. "I can't help it she smells like a million different people. It's disturbing."

"Its safe." Rin sipped her tea calmly, not at all surprised by Inuyasha's reaction. "It makes it difficult to track my scent. Just a small precaution in case some youkai tries to track me down."

"Well they'll definitely be thrown off by it."

Kagome rolled her eyes at Inuyasha and finished off the last of her meal. "What have you been doing since you stopped traveling with Sesshoumaru?"

Rin set her cup down, no longer interested in its contents. "I've been traveling on my own, learning whatever skills necessary to survive."

"It must be a lonely life." Kagome began to lie out her bedding.

"It is, but I enjoy it." Rin rose to her feet. "I am going to take a walk before I go to bed."

Inuyasha watched Rin walk off before going to sit next to Kagome. "You know, I didn't believe her at first, but I think she really hasn't seen Sesshoumaru in a long time."

"What reason would she have to lie?" Kagome rose and disappeared behind a screen to change into her pajamas.

"Keh, because anyone who travels with the likes of Sesshoumaru can't be trusted."

"I know you don't trust your brother Inuyasha but you have to remember that Sesshoumaru did take care of her. Which reminds me, I'm curious to know how they met."

"I'm curious to know why the split up." Inuyasha rolled out the bedding given to them by village master.

"That reason is obvious."

Inuyasha woke sometime later to a strange noise. He sat up slowly, careful not to wake up Kagome. His hand immediately went for his sword just incase what he heard was a youkai. When he saw Rin, his hand relaxed its hold on Tetsusaiga.

"What are you doing?"

Rin looked up, pausing for a moment. "I feel closed in. I'm not used to sleeping in doors so I am going to sleep outside." She resumed her efforts in dragging her bedding outside. "Sorry for waking you."

Inuyasha nodded and settled back down, not giving it a second thought. He watched her settle down just beyond the screen doors before he went back to sleep. It wasn't until he awoke the next morning, with his youkai blood flowing in his veins again, did he realize that the sword lying by his side was not Tetsusaiga.

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