"Granny Kaede!" I waved my arm back and forth in an attempt to get her attention. She turned her head at the sound of my voice and let out a relieved laugh.
"Rin! I'm glad you made it back safely!" She called out, waving in return.
I grinned, walking to her quickly with the basket of medicinal plants I collected at the tip of a waterfall.
"Here you are. Just as you requested." I said, offering her the basket.
She took it with a warm smile, glancing up at my face. A few moments passed before her eyes became glasslike.
I sighed.
"Granny Kaede-"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. You've just.. grown up so strongly and beautifully. You remind me so much of Kagome. Such strength.." She said quietly as a single tear trailed down her cheek.
I gave her a warm smile, reaching up and wiping her tear away.
"Thank you, Granny Kaede." I said.
She grinned before shaking her head, putting a serious expression back on.
"Alright. Would you like to help me with this next step?"
"Actually, Kagome wanted to see me after I finished helping you.." I said softly, not wanting to make it obvious that I wanted to escape from helping her turn these plants into useful pain medicine..
"Well then, you better get going!" Granny Kaede let out a joyous laugh before turning around with a wave.
I smiled, turning the other way towards Kagome and Inuyasha's home.
You could see it, out of all the homes in the village, even though it was at the very edge.. Inuyasha had built it himself for Kagome for her birthday, making it obnoxiously big. It was the most complex wooden building in the village. He had to be obnoxious and go all out.
And what was even more sweet was that he built it not too far from the place where him and Kagome first met - the sacred tree.
It's been seven years, and I never tired of hearing the story of when they first met.
I walked up their large set of wooden steps a few minutes later, lifting my hand to knock on the door before it was flung open.
I glanced down, seeing a silver haired little girl below me with wide golden eyes; the smaller version of her Father. Thankfully she had more of her mother's personality than her father's.
"Rin!!" Izayoi screamed in excitement. She approached me with open arms, hugging my leg.
I patted her on the head, picking her up in my arms as I shut the door with my foot.
"MOMMY! I told you Rin was here!!!" Izayoi yelled.
Kagome suddenly appeared out of the corner of the entryway, her expression tense.
"Izayoi, please don't scream! I told you, your little brother is sleeping." Kagome scolded her lightly, a smile forming on her face afterwards when Izayoi pouted.
"Sorry..." Izayoi mumbled.
Kagome let out a nervous laugh as I set Izayoi down. She disappeared from my sight in a split second, sprinting off who knows where. It was a big house; sometimes I would still get lost in it.
"She gets faster by the day." I commented with a smile.
"I know! I get Inuyasha to run after her lately since I obviously can't keep up with her." Kagome said with a grin as she walked over to me.
She linked her arm through mine, leading me down the entryway and steering us left into the kitchen. She zoomed right past the kitchen and through the resting room, where Shippo was snoozing on the futon.
Kagome slid open a wooden door, which led us to the flower garden on one side of her house, which Inuyasha had also made for her. Granny Kaede and I take credit for the garden since Inuyasha had no clue what he was doing.
Kagome led me to a huge rock (that Inuyasha had placed there himself, literally walking miles with that boulder on his back) in which she finally sat down, patting the empty space next to her. I would often catch her relaxing on this giant boulder in thought, when she needed to get away from the kids.
"Is it fine to leave the children in there alone?" I asked as I sat down next to her. I didn't understand why Kagome contemplated on this rock a lot - it's very uncomfortable.
"Oh, don't worry about them. Shippo's in there."
I let out an amused laugh. Should I mention to her that Shippo was asleep?
"Where's Inuyasha?" I asked after a few moments of glancing at the view - it was breathtaking, really. The house was on a slight hill, and you could see the tops of the trees, and the sacred tree looming above them all.
"Running errands with Miroku."
"I'm surprised he agreed to that."
"He didn't. Miroku had to force him, with my help." Kagome said, giggling afterwards.
"And Sango?"
"Kohaku is visiting for a few days, so she's with him right now."
My eyes widened.
"Kohaku's here?"
"Yeah! I thought you knew?"
"No. I was out for most of the day, helping Granny Kaede with some of her errands."
"Oh! My bad then." Kagome laughed nervously.
I smiled. "How have you been?"
"Good, I've been good. And busy as ever! It's a hassle with four kinds running around the house all the time."
I rose an eyebrow. "But you only have three kids."
"I counted Inuyasha as the fourth."
I laughed in response as Kagome joined me.
"What about you, Rin? How have you been?" She asked.
"I've been good. I just recently completed my training as a priestess." I said with a grin.
"Really?! That's awesome!"Kagome squealed, yanking me in for a hug.
"Thanks, Kagome." I patted her back, ignoring the fact that she was squeezing me slightly too hard.
The excitement on her face was replaced with worry as she pulled away, holding on to my shoulders.
I frowned in concern. "What is it?"
"I want to talk to you about something."
"Alright."
"How long has it been, Rin?" Kagome asked softly. She had my hands in hers now, squeezing them gently.
I felt my heart sink as I shut my eyes.
"Two years tomorrow." On my birthday.
"He hasn't even stopped by once?"
"No."
It was silent after that.
"D-don't worry. I'm sure he's fine. He is Sesshomaru after all." Kagome said, trying to ease my tension.
"Of course he's fine. I'm not upset over that. Just.. why doesn't have the courtesy to even stop by once?" I opened my eyes, Kagome's face a blur due to the tears that had built up.
"I'm sorry. I should've never brought him up."
I sighed. "No, its okay. Don't be."
"I just want you to know something," Kagome paused, waiting for me to look her in the eyes.
When I did, she continued.
"Inuyasha and I were apart for 3 years. That was a tough time in both of our lives. But we found our way back to each other. Fate brought us back to each other. I know you're hurting right now, and that you have been for two years. But don't worry. Sesshomaru will come back. I just know it. Fate knows it." She spoke with hope in her eyes.
I gave her a warm smile, pulling her in for a hug. I wish I could say I believed her. I just didn't have the same hope she had in Lord Sesshomaru.
I know all he wanted was to leave me somewhere to grow up around humans. I know how he felt about traveling with a human girl. It was hard for him to ignore the stares and the whispers. I didn't care what they said, but he did. Which is why he left me.
But, Lord Sesshomaru had always come back for me in the past. What made this time any different?
-
God bless Rumiko Takahasi for creating the beautiful Inuyasha universe.
As stated in the description, this story takes place seven years from the last episode of Inuyasha The Final Act, making Rin 18 in this story.
I hope you enjoy this Inuyasha spin off. This story will be switching from third person to first person multiple times, so pay close attention to that.
I thought Sesshomaru and Rin needed a fulfilling, exciting adventure of their own. So here is one! Enjoy beautifuls!
-Judy
***12/26/2019 update: all chapters are currently undergoing heavy editing. storyline remains the same, but minor details may either be added in or cut out. edited chapters will be indicated as such. nevertheless - enjoy!