East of the Sun, West of the Moon

For some reason, I haven't been able to post this chapter
on AFF. This will be my third attempt. Hope this works. If
anyone knows possible reason why I'm having problems,
please let me know. thanks.

*Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Inuyasha owns me.*


A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews and support. Someone asked
if Inuyasha will be in this fic. Yes. He makes his first brief
appearance in this chapter. He'll get more involved with the story
later on. The beginning chapters of this story will have several
characters and will deal with different relationships, but the main
couple will be Rin x Sess. It will take me a while to get to them,
so please be patient RxS fans. Here's the second chapter. Enjoy
and remember to review if you have the time.


* * * * *

(Kagome's room)

"Kagome-neechan. Wake up. I gotta get Fluffy his breakfast,"
Rin said as she was shaking Kagome from her slumber.

Kagome slowly opened her eyes at the intruding hands. She rubbed
her eyes and began to see Rin's face forming from the blurriness.

"Rin, what time is it? Go back to sleep. It's too early."

"No. I need to go right now. If I don't, Fluffy will be hungry."

"Oh, alright. Just go on ahead of me and I'll join you in fifteen
minutes," Kagome said groggily.

"Okay. I'll see you later," Rin said. She then skipped hurriedly
outside Kagome's room, grabbed the packages that she had
prepared and headed toward the cave. It took her half the time
to arrive at the cave as it did yesterday when she headed from
the cave home. Her heart was beating rapidly. She felt anxious
hoping that Fluffy was still there when she arrived. As she
entered the cave, she saw that Fluffy had not budged an inch
from where she had left him previously. She knelt beside him
and laid her hand on his chest, relieved to feel his warmth and
his heartbeat.

"Ohayo Fluffy-kun. I'm back and look what I've brought you.
Here's a blanket so you can keep warm," Rin said soothingly as
she placed the blanket over his body. "And here is your breakfast.
These are rice balls with different stuffing. I made them myself this
morning. I'm not sure what you like to eat, so I made several. This
one is filled dried fish, this one is filled with pork, this is filled with
beef, and this is filled with chicken," Rin said as she pointed to each
one of the rice balls, each perfectly shaped and sprinkled with black
or white sesame seeds. "Let me know which one you like and I'll
bring you more for lunch."

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and stared at what was laid before him.
Human food. He didn't eat human food. This girl was wasting her
time making such elaborate delicacies. He closed his eyes and tried
to get back to sleep, hoping the girl would leave soon so he can get
some peace again.

Rin saw that Fluffy was uninterested in what she had brought him. She
was saddened because she had awoken at the brink of dawn to
prepare this for him. Tears began filling her eyes and she tried to hold
them back.

"Gomenesai Fluffy-kun. You must not like what I've made, but it's the
only thing I know how because I'm not allowed to cook with fire yet. I'll
ask Kagome-neechan to make you something better."

'Peculiar girl,' thought Sesshoumaru. 'Why is she so distressed just
because I don't want to eat her food? I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a
bite so she would stop that racket and leave me be.' Sesshoumaru then
reached over and took a bite of one of rice balls. 'Hmm. It's not so bad
for human food,' he thought. He took a few more bites and finished half
of what she had brought him. He hated to admit it, but having some
nourishment made him feel better. He felt more of his youki returning.

"Rin! Get away from there!" Kagome screamed. As she neared the cave,
she felt a faint swirl of youki emanating from within the cave. She quickly
rushed into the cave and pulled Rin to her side.

"What's wrong, Kagome-neechan?" Rin asked.

"I felt some youki from this cave. That's strange. It's suddenly gone. Rin.
You'd better leave. I don't thit'st's safe here."

"I can't leave," Rin said pushing herself away from Kagome's clutch. "I
have to take care of Fluffy. And if there's youkai, I have to protect him."

"Rin. Don't be silly. You wouldn't be able to protect yourself let alone
protect another creature from youkai," Kagome said, feeling a little
flustered at her sister's naïveté. She looked at Rin and could tell Rin's
determination wouldn't let her just leave the dog there. "Tell you what,"
Kagome began. "I've brought some herbs to bandage his wounds. After
I finish with that, your Fluffy should be well on his way to recovery. You
can visit him one more time, but that's it. I'm not sure how hostile he
could be when he gains back his energy. He has been in a fight and all,
and who knows if he'll be aggressive with you later on. Do you understand
me, Rin?"


"Hai."

"Alright. You can come over and help me with his wounds," Kagome said.
She walked over to Sesshoumaru and knelt down beside him as Rin knelt
opposite of Kagome. Kagome stared at the familiar-looking blanket. "Rin?"

"Hmm?"

"Isn't this the blanket from your room?"

"Uh-huh," Rin nodded.

Kagome sighed. "Rin, you know you only have one blanket. What
are you going to use tonight?"

"I don't know. I guess I can put on extra clothes," Rin said while
twiddling her thumbs.

Kagome gave her that all too familiar disapproving look, to which
Rin replied, "Demo, I couldn't just let him freeze to death."

"Nevermind. Here. Take theerbserbs and place it over his body a
nd I'll do the rest."

"Sure thing," Rin smiled.

After Kagome finished bandaging the wounds, she stood up.
"I'm gonna go home right now. I need to help Father polish
some swords today. Hurry on home, okay?"

"Okay. Arigato Kagome-neechan."

* * * * *

(Outside a hut, somewhere deep in the forest)


"Your training has progressed so rapidly Kikyou. There is
nothing left for me to teach you."

"Kaede-sama. I feel like I still have much to learn. I've only
trained with you for six months," Kikyou said, in a bowing
kneel before Kaede.

"When you came to me seeking for training, you were already
well-learned in the ways of the miko. There is nothing left for
you to learn. It is time for you to return to your village."

"Demo, I am not ready to return. It is my wish to stay here with
you. Will you not keep me? Is there nothing I can do for you?"

"Yes. There is something you may do for me, but it requires a
great deal of responsibility and sacrifice from you. As you can
see, I am old in my years," Kaede said as she swept her fingers
through her ashen grey hair. "I've been searching for my
replacement as the guardian of the Shikon no Tama."

Kikyou quickly glanced up at her master at the mention of the
ancient relic. "Shikon no Tama? That is in your possession? I
thought that was nothing more than a myth."

"Indeed it is very real. It has been passed down in secrecy from
master to disciple for many generations before it came under my
care. I've been searching for a suitable person to which I shall
pass the Shikon. Kikyou, you are the person I find most suitable,
but it has to be your choice, for you see, while in your possession,
the Shikon will put you in grave danger. You are at risk to be
attacked at all times. To humans, the Shikon is just a story, but
to youkai, it is a reality-a constant allure. With the Shikon, they
will have limitless power."

* * * * *

Well-hidden in the shadows of the dense forest, a pair of ears
where listening to the conversation, unbeknownst to the speakers.
'Shikon no Tama? Limitless power?' thought Inuyasha. His ears
perked up to listen to more of the conversation.

* * * * *

"You will not be able to live a normal life," Kaede continued. "Are
you willing to accept that?"

"I…"

"As you see before you, if you choose to accept, this is your fate.
You see, I live alone with no close companions. I cannot live with
my family-cannot marry or have children. Youkai are hateful and
deceitful creatures. They will go through any lengths to attain
what they desire. They will use your love of family against you to
get their hands on the Shikon. Anyone tied to the Guardian of the
Shikon shall be put in danger as well. That is why the Guardian of
the Shikon must cast away all feelings love and all close
attachments to any thing or any person. You must think carefully
before to accept this responsibility."

Kikyou continued to kneel before Kaede, contemplating the
consequences of such a decision. The thought of never being able
to be close to her sisters again pained her, but if she were to marry
Onigumo, he would take her away and she wouldn't be able to see
her sisters either way. The thought of going to bed with him every
night and waking up with him every morning repulsed her. She could
not imagine herself living with a man who possessed such an evil
aura. When faced with two evils, one must choose the lesser of the
two evils. Kikyou looked at Kaede with conviction. "Kaede-sama, I
will accept that responsibility."

"Are you sure you've thought through it carefully, dear child?"

"Hai. I choose to accept the life of the Guardian of the Shikon."

"Very well. Come along inside and you shall learn all there is
to know about being the Guardian."

Kikyou stood up from her position and followed Kaede inside
the hut.

* * * * *


'So she will become the new Guardian. Looks like I'll have to
make a new friend,' Inuyasha thought, grinning mischievously.


* * * * *

(Back at the cave)

After Rin spent time making sure Fluffy was comfortable in his
new bandages, she cleaned up the area around him.

"Fluffy-kun, I'm gonna go home now. I'll bring you lunch later
today."

After Rin left, Sesshoumaru felt at peace again. Indeed, he did
feel much better after his wounds were cared for and his stomach
was full. 'Two more days...two more days and I'll be able to
leave this cave,' he thought.

* * * * *


A/N: okay, that's it for my second installment to the story. As you
might have guessed, Kagome's father is Totousai (that's why
she's helping w/ polishing swords).

Some Japanese terms used in this chapter (Feel free to correct
me if I'm wrong, since I'm not Japanese)


Youki: Demon energy

Gomenasai: Sorry


Special thanks to reviewers:


Aff.net:


blacka


Taiki


anhimals: hehehe. I'm glad you liked the name. I was afraid
people might think it's unoriginal.


Kawool


animechick262003: I'm feeling ecstatic. It's great to get a
review from one of my favorite writers. And you're right. This
is not a Kikyou bashing deal. I would never do that because I
love kikyou. You won't believe how saddened I am about you
not continuing IY fics, especially since I love SS and I'm also
dying to find out what happens to Rin in OSAC.


New Fan: He's a normal sized dog only because he's injured and
needs to conserve his energy. When he regains enough of his
youki, he should be able to transform into the familiar giant dog.


Rasberries: I'm doubly ecsc noc now since a second fave writer
has reviewed. Please update CS soon.


chillkat


marnika


Mediaminer.org:


geminidragon: Kagome is 16 as is Kikyou.


Fanfiction.net:


Twilightkitty


Uber Rei Model 03


duckknight


Cookie6