InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Jump ❯ Jump ( Chapter 1 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
By: DamnGina 
A sunset and a forgotten childhood game.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.25.2003 | Updated On: 02.25.2003 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.8K | Visits: 312 | Status: Completed
A sunset and a forgotten childhood game.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.25.2003 | Updated On: 02.25.2003 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.8K | Visits: 312 | Status: Completed
Sesshoumaru, Rin, and any characters and situations from the Inuyasha series are not the property of the author. No infringement is intended.
This is a short vignette describing a moment between Sesshoumaru and an 18-year-old Rin at sunset.
Special thanks and much gratitude to Talon skydragon for pointing out an error that I'd missed. Also, thanks to lynnxlady and baka deshi for assisting with the laguage barrier. I appreciate the help.
This is also posted at FF.net under the username serendipity.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy.
Jump
Privileged children, children who grow up sheltered and wanting for nothing find one of two paths. Some will grow fearful of the world outside of their own, not trusting that unfamiliar realm to shelter them with the care and consideration they had been shown before. The rest grow fearless and free. These children are so sure of their protection, so confident in their actions, and so secure in the love given during their youth by their caretakers that they plunge fearlessly into the world voraciously exploring, and tackling the challenges around the way.
Sesshoumaru was seated impassively on the ground, still and unmovable against the rough trunk of an ancient tree. The forest around him was still in the fading light that made it's way lazily into the clearing where they had set up camp. His eyes moved to the impeccable young woman, gaze caught by her, the only movement in the stillness, and following her idly as she strolled at the base of the trees, threading gracefully between them. While his mind pondered over the bold words of one of her old tutors, wondering what had roused such an old, archaic moment to mind.
Rin had been raised as such a child. He mused, continuing frivolously down his the path that though had carved for him. Ever since she had come into his protection and for the dozen years following, her every need had been attended too: food, shelter, and even the immaculate green kimono she wore as she moved around their campsite. And protection...
Sesshoumaru had been shrewd over the past dozen years. Thanks to his careful actions and the circumstances of his half brother, he had solidified his holdings and secured his power. That he was the most powerful of the youkai now was simple, undeniable, and accepted fact. (Though he chose to ignore there was one hanyou more powerful). None would, or even could, dare cross him, especially over so trivial and proximal a holding as Rin. That any would even try was absurd. The more enterprising creatures even brought her trinkets when they paid him tribute to seek a boon. The delicate comb of ivory and jade now restraining her sleek hair had been a gift from a spider youkai seeking his favor. There was no creature in his Western Lands safer than she.
He lost notice of her during his rumination, rousing slightly at the sight of the empty clearing, but her scent still ghosted over him and a vigorous rustle of leaves in the looming tree across the clearing told him he only needed to raise his head to find her, her lithe figure moving up until the branches grew too thin to hold her.
With a contented smile Rin settled herself against the trunk, at a height that would make most men lose their nerve. But after all this time traveling the forests with a youkai she had learned that this was where to find the good view. And the panorama that spread out below her dainty slippers was well worth the climb. The lush green forest rolled away for miles before her, a village or two dotting the far hills, basking in the sunset that was well underway. Tonight the sun was being especially generous with its bedtime display. The western sky was a riot of molten and twisting hues of red, gold, and orange. It was simply beautiful, no more, no less, and in that moment Rin was happy watching the sun slink away.
A soft rush of wind and a shift of the branches beside her announced Sesshoumaru's presence at her side. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and he watched her delicate profile melt into a saucy pout of playful jealousy. He didn't even need to hear her clear and silk-toned voice to know that she said to him, "Feh, I have to do all that work to get up here and all you have to do is hop." The playful expression fell away as she settled back into her study of the spectacular colors painting the sky. Her silence was companionable and her countenance joyous as she gazed at the world from beside him, surrendering to a moment of beauty.
Sesshoumaru watched the sun fall with her, but his thoughts had turned to the side. The tiny girl he had saved had grown to become a woman of 18, she was no longer a child. Had she lived in a human village she would have children of her own now. Perhaps she would be watching this sunset with her husband. But would she have that infinitely soft smile playing across her lips? And would she be perched so perilously high above the earth enjoying her superior vantage point had he returned her to her own kind so many years ago? Perhaps it was arrogance on his part, but Sesshoumaru thought not. Humans, those rude, ignorant beasts who had been so cruel to her would have never tended to her as he had, protected and provided for her, given her the privileged life that made children fearless. He looked at her now, at the delicate, easy profile of the woman she had become; a woman absorbed by a simple sunset, seated precariously beside the most dangerous creature she could ever expect to encounter, unafraid.
His Rin feared only wolves.
The sun had finally sunk below the horizon, declining an encore but leaving a fading gleam around the horizon. A consideration to Rin it seemed, providing her just enough light to find her way down. She turned and smiled at him with a look of simple happiness, the back of her hand brushing his sleeve. "The sunset was beautiful was it not Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked softly with a sigh, glancing down, reluctant to leave this moment.
He nodded at her smiling face, another ancient memory unearthing and springing to mind. A memory of a time long ago when she was still very small and the land had been more dangerous. He had taken her high up a tree to sleep, bounding up easily with the little burden in his arms. In the morning he had jumped down just as easily to retrieve some small and forgotten trifle. When he joined her again she had gazed up worshipfully at him with her enormous brown eyes and said, "Rin wishes she could jump like Sesshoumaru-sama."
Even now Sesshoumaru couldn't explain how the idea had seized him at that moment, but once conceived it was swiftly carried out. He removed himself to the ground again, making sure the path was clear, he looked up at her, opening his arms and called softly, "Jump Rin." And without a second's hesitation she did, falling wide-eyed and exhilarated safely into his arms.
It had been a rare but beloved game, played when Sesshoumaru was feeling particularly indulgent and they were quite alone. He would send her off to the tallest tree with a particular glance and Rin would brighten, charging the trunk and scrambling up as high as she could. Every time he would call to her, "Jump Rin." And she would dive from the branches, screaming with childish glee the whole way down as they both waited for until the very last second of the fall for his arms to close around her, never once considering that he might miss. It had been years since he had indulged her in that game....
And now in the fading light he found himself looking at her, his voice finding the long forgotten words, "Jump Rin."
Her eyes widened for a moment, as did her smile, radiance expanding. She sifted gracefully to the edge of the limb that supported her then with a last, giddy glance over her shoulder to him, dove, plummeting head-first toward the ground with a joyous shriek.
Sesshoumaru went after her, his quick reflexes allowing him to wait until the very last moment and then catch her easily about her slim waist, snatching her from her fall, righting her in his arms as he landed lightly on his feet. Rin was beaming, her hands clutching his kimono, breathless in her exhilaration. Her eyes shone as they had when she was a tiny child as she gazed up at him in the murky light.
"Sesshoumaru...." she began, and it seemed her entire being shone just like her eyes, but words failed her. Instead she threw her head back and laughed, flinging her arms around his shoulders and pressing her cheek to his chest in a joyful embrace.
And gently he returned her embrace, his arms going gingerly around the warm, slender form grown so familiar and yet so altered over the last 12 years, his hand flattening over her silken hair. He held her for a long moment, longer than he would have normally allowed out of propriety. But right now, in the darkening world, holding Rin in his arms and having her hold him in kind for was the only proper action. They pulled away simultaneously, his hand lingering on her hair before sliding away. She took a step back, her smile for him smaller now, but soft, infinitely soft and she turned silently to attend the fire, the moment sinking away like the sun.
And they were both content.
Fin
Thank you for reading my story.
Reviews are quite welcome and I gratefully thank anyone who takes the time to leave one. I don't ask they necessarily be positive, but do ask that they be constructive so that I may learn from, and possibly rectify, any grammatical, stylistic, or syntactical errors I may make. I also would like to state that any reviews I receive will have no bearing on whether I continue this story. I do not agree with the practice of extorting reviews by withholding chapters. I make no judgments of authors who do, it is their choice and an undeniably effective method of getting feedback, but it is not a practice I indulge in.
This is a short vignette describing a moment between Sesshoumaru and an 18-year-old Rin at sunset.
Special thanks and much gratitude to Talon skydragon for pointing out an error that I'd missed. Also, thanks to lynnxlady and baka deshi for assisting with the laguage barrier. I appreciate the help.
This is also posted at FF.net under the username serendipity.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy.
Jump
Privileged children, children who grow up sheltered and wanting for nothing find one of two paths. Some will grow fearful of the world outside of their own, not trusting that unfamiliar realm to shelter them with the care and consideration they had been shown before. The rest grow fearless and free. These children are so sure of their protection, so confident in their actions, and so secure in the love given during their youth by their caretakers that they plunge fearlessly into the world voraciously exploring, and tackling the challenges around the way.
Sesshoumaru was seated impassively on the ground, still and unmovable against the rough trunk of an ancient tree. The forest around him was still in the fading light that made it's way lazily into the clearing where they had set up camp. His eyes moved to the impeccable young woman, gaze caught by her, the only movement in the stillness, and following her idly as she strolled at the base of the trees, threading gracefully between them. While his mind pondered over the bold words of one of her old tutors, wondering what had roused such an old, archaic moment to mind.
Rin had been raised as such a child. He mused, continuing frivolously down his the path that though had carved for him. Ever since she had come into his protection and for the dozen years following, her every need had been attended too: food, shelter, and even the immaculate green kimono she wore as she moved around their campsite. And protection...
Sesshoumaru had been shrewd over the past dozen years. Thanks to his careful actions and the circumstances of his half brother, he had solidified his holdings and secured his power. That he was the most powerful of the youkai now was simple, undeniable, and accepted fact. (Though he chose to ignore there was one hanyou more powerful). None would, or even could, dare cross him, especially over so trivial and proximal a holding as Rin. That any would even try was absurd. The more enterprising creatures even brought her trinkets when they paid him tribute to seek a boon. The delicate comb of ivory and jade now restraining her sleek hair had been a gift from a spider youkai seeking his favor. There was no creature in his Western Lands safer than she.
He lost notice of her during his rumination, rousing slightly at the sight of the empty clearing, but her scent still ghosted over him and a vigorous rustle of leaves in the looming tree across the clearing told him he only needed to raise his head to find her, her lithe figure moving up until the branches grew too thin to hold her.
With a contented smile Rin settled herself against the trunk, at a height that would make most men lose their nerve. But after all this time traveling the forests with a youkai she had learned that this was where to find the good view. And the panorama that spread out below her dainty slippers was well worth the climb. The lush green forest rolled away for miles before her, a village or two dotting the far hills, basking in the sunset that was well underway. Tonight the sun was being especially generous with its bedtime display. The western sky was a riot of molten and twisting hues of red, gold, and orange. It was simply beautiful, no more, no less, and in that moment Rin was happy watching the sun slink away.
A soft rush of wind and a shift of the branches beside her announced Sesshoumaru's presence at her side. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and he watched her delicate profile melt into a saucy pout of playful jealousy. He didn't even need to hear her clear and silk-toned voice to know that she said to him, "Feh, I have to do all that work to get up here and all you have to do is hop." The playful expression fell away as she settled back into her study of the spectacular colors painting the sky. Her silence was companionable and her countenance joyous as she gazed at the world from beside him, surrendering to a moment of beauty.
Sesshoumaru watched the sun fall with her, but his thoughts had turned to the side. The tiny girl he had saved had grown to become a woman of 18, she was no longer a child. Had she lived in a human village she would have children of her own now. Perhaps she would be watching this sunset with her husband. But would she have that infinitely soft smile playing across her lips? And would she be perched so perilously high above the earth enjoying her superior vantage point had he returned her to her own kind so many years ago? Perhaps it was arrogance on his part, but Sesshoumaru thought not. Humans, those rude, ignorant beasts who had been so cruel to her would have never tended to her as he had, protected and provided for her, given her the privileged life that made children fearless. He looked at her now, at the delicate, easy profile of the woman she had become; a woman absorbed by a simple sunset, seated precariously beside the most dangerous creature she could ever expect to encounter, unafraid.
His Rin feared only wolves.
The sun had finally sunk below the horizon, declining an encore but leaving a fading gleam around the horizon. A consideration to Rin it seemed, providing her just enough light to find her way down. She turned and smiled at him with a look of simple happiness, the back of her hand brushing his sleeve. "The sunset was beautiful was it not Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked softly with a sigh, glancing down, reluctant to leave this moment.
He nodded at her smiling face, another ancient memory unearthing and springing to mind. A memory of a time long ago when she was still very small and the land had been more dangerous. He had taken her high up a tree to sleep, bounding up easily with the little burden in his arms. In the morning he had jumped down just as easily to retrieve some small and forgotten trifle. When he joined her again she had gazed up worshipfully at him with her enormous brown eyes and said, "Rin wishes she could jump like Sesshoumaru-sama."
Even now Sesshoumaru couldn't explain how the idea had seized him at that moment, but once conceived it was swiftly carried out. He removed himself to the ground again, making sure the path was clear, he looked up at her, opening his arms and called softly, "Jump Rin." And without a second's hesitation she did, falling wide-eyed and exhilarated safely into his arms.
It had been a rare but beloved game, played when Sesshoumaru was feeling particularly indulgent and they were quite alone. He would send her off to the tallest tree with a particular glance and Rin would brighten, charging the trunk and scrambling up as high as she could. Every time he would call to her, "Jump Rin." And she would dive from the branches, screaming with childish glee the whole way down as they both waited for until the very last second of the fall for his arms to close around her, never once considering that he might miss. It had been years since he had indulged her in that game....
And now in the fading light he found himself looking at her, his voice finding the long forgotten words, "Jump Rin."
Her eyes widened for a moment, as did her smile, radiance expanding. She sifted gracefully to the edge of the limb that supported her then with a last, giddy glance over her shoulder to him, dove, plummeting head-first toward the ground with a joyous shriek.
Sesshoumaru went after her, his quick reflexes allowing him to wait until the very last moment and then catch her easily about her slim waist, snatching her from her fall, righting her in his arms as he landed lightly on his feet. Rin was beaming, her hands clutching his kimono, breathless in her exhilaration. Her eyes shone as they had when she was a tiny child as she gazed up at him in the murky light.
"Sesshoumaru...." she began, and it seemed her entire being shone just like her eyes, but words failed her. Instead she threw her head back and laughed, flinging her arms around his shoulders and pressing her cheek to his chest in a joyful embrace.
And gently he returned her embrace, his arms going gingerly around the warm, slender form grown so familiar and yet so altered over the last 12 years, his hand flattening over her silken hair. He held her for a long moment, longer than he would have normally allowed out of propriety. But right now, in the darkening world, holding Rin in his arms and having her hold him in kind for was the only proper action. They pulled away simultaneously, his hand lingering on her hair before sliding away. She took a step back, her smile for him smaller now, but soft, infinitely soft and she turned silently to attend the fire, the moment sinking away like the sun.
And they were both content.
Fin
Thank you for reading my story.
Reviews are quite welcome and I gratefully thank anyone who takes the time to leave one. I don't ask they necessarily be positive, but do ask that they be constructive so that I may learn from, and possibly rectify, any grammatical, stylistic, or syntactical errors I may make. I also would like to state that any reviews I receive will have no bearing on whether I continue this story. I do not agree with the practice of extorting reviews by withholding chapters. I make no judgments of authors who do, it is their choice and an undeniably effective method of getting feedback, but it is not a practice I indulge in.