Run

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

It had been six months since Rin had left the castle, eight since she last saw her love. The further she traveled from him the more her heart yearned to return. Rin had traveled several hundred miles, stopping from village to village and staying with those kind enough to offer her shelter for the night. It was safe to say that Rin had rounded quite a bit since she first began her travels. Her once slender waist had ballooned out, signifying new life. Her feet often swelled painfully, however, she considered herself lucky when she actually saw them.


When she reached a small village she collapsed under a welcoming tree and closed her eyes trying to block out the icy winds. She had left in the late spring, never once considering the bitter cold of January. She cursed herself for not planning ahead further as she pulled the blanket turned shawl tighter around her freezing body. A nap was what she needed right now. She allowed herself to drift into a light sleep.


Rin awoke to warm hands gently patting her face. She groggily opened her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. She was surprised to see an old woman crouched before her, worry etched on her features. She sighed in relief “Oh that the gods you are alive! Quickly child, on your feet. If you stay out here any longer you won’t live to see that babe you’re carrying.”


With that Rin was dragged to her feet and into a warm hut. A pot hung above the fire and she eyed it hungrily. The old woman noticed her intent gaze upon the pot and smiled sympathetically before speaking. “You can eat later child, first let’s get you out of those wet clothes.” she said as she pulled out a dry kimono. Rin nodded as she began to peel off her wet layers.


As soon as she had changed into her new, slightly large, kimono she sat next to the old woman before the fire. Rin accepted the bowl she handed her with a low bow. “Thank you marm.”

“There is no need for formality her child. You may call me Keiko. And what name do you go by?”

“Rin.”

“I don’t mean to intrude Rin, but, where is the father?”

Rin paused for a moment. What could she say? “He died in battle.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Where have you been staying? Do you not live with your family?”

“Sadly, I have no family. I have been moving from village to village. It’s a hard life, but I’ll survive.” She replied with a weak smile.

“Well you can just forget about moving to another village. You are staying right here with me, at least until the child is born.” Keiko said solemnly. “As far along as you are you shouldn’t risk traveling.”


Rin was so grateful to hear this tears of joy began to stream down her face. How could a complete stranger be so kind? She jumped when Keiko draped a warm blanket around her shoulders. “Sleep now young Rin. We’ll talk more in the morning.”


She nodded as she moved over to the spare futon. She fell into a deep sleep the moment she laid down. As she slept images of Sesshoumaru flashed before her eyes making her cry out. Tears flooded from her closed lids as her huddled form shook between sobs. Keiko watched the young girl from across the room. Just who was this girl? What had happened to her? Her eyes had been filled with an inexplicable sorrow. Expecting mothers were not to know such things, they were to be giddy with excitement.


Her soul wept for the young beauty. Whatever happened to her was not pleasant. When she finally fell asleep her dreams were haunted by an astounding demon warlord. He was beautiful, yet his eyes were filled with the same sadness that devoured Rin’s. Who was this graceful warrior?


When she awoke the next morning she remembered nothing of her previous night’s dreams. She was surprised to see Rin bent over the fire. “Rin, child, what on earth are you doing?”

Rin smiled up at her. “It’s about time you woke up sleepy! Here” she said offering her host a bowl “I made breakfast for us!” Keiko looked at the questioning dish facing her before politely taking a small bite. She was delightfully surprised to find that it tasted nothing like it looked. The delicious food spread warmth throughout her body, easing her aching bones.


Two bowls later both were laughing merrily as Keiko told Rin about when her own children were young and mischievous.


“There were two” Keiko exclaimed a twinkle in her eye as she recalled her family “A boy, Sai, and a girl, Maho and they were always in some sort of trouble. In fact their father, gods rest him, often said they added spice to his normally dull life. They really did though; Sai was older than his sister and was always taunting her. One day she had just had enough and pushed him in the river! He was so angry by the time we got him out he refused to talk to her for three whole days. Yet by the fourth it was as though nothing had happened.”

Rin laughed wondering what her own child would be like. Would it be headstrong or shy, content or confused? Would it mask its emotions? After a moment she turned to Keiko. “What happened to them?”

“Sai died in battle, like his father, and Maho lives a few villages away with her husband and child. I still see them when the weather is nice. I miss them terribly. It gets lonely living on your own; I hardly ever get company now a days.”


“Well I’m here now.” Rin said placing her hand over the elderly woman’s. Keiko gave her a watery smile as she grasped her hand.

“Thank you my child.”

Rin positively glowed. At last, she was home.

Life around the village was slower in the winter time. Without crops to attend to even the farmers had some free time. If the bustling farmer’s lives came to a halt you could only imagine how slow the time seemed to pass for a widow and her expecting guest. At about noon the two decided that they couldn’t just keep sitting about their small hut, so they bundled up and headed out the door.


Keiko felt young again in the presence of the mysterious girl living with her. The two giggled like children as they erected a lop-sided snow person and created angels in the fallen snow. They ran about the village with rosy cheeks and runny noses. When the cold finally drove them inside they relit their fire effectively warming them from the outside in as they sipped their tea.


As evening drew nearer, Keiko decided to reveal one of her village’s hidden treasures. “Keiko” Rin giggled as her elderly friend led her through the woods by her hand “where are we going?”

“You’ll see!”


Rin gasped as a steaming hot spring opened up before them. “This will work wonders on your aches! You just take your time washing up and I’ll have dinner ready by the time you’re finished.” With that the ancient woman tottered off towards her home.


Rin sighed blissfully as she stepped into the scorching water. Yes, her throbbing feet defiantly thought this was a good idea! She slipped down until only her eyes and nose were out of the water. She closed her eyes contently letting the tranquil moment wash over her. For the first time since she had left the castle she was happy.

***


Sesshoumaru smiled as he led his slightly smaller army home. The battle was won, and he could hear his comrades joking and laughing. Not only that, he was going home, mate-free to the woman, the human woman he loved. Eight months gave him plenty of time to think, and he had realized he was in love. He, Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western and Southern lands was head over heels in love with a mortal woman.


Ever step took him closer to her, ever step made his heart swell. He was returning to her, just as he promised. He closed his eyes and pictured her beautiful face. Determined chocolate eyes that held so much compassion, raven hair that fell about her shoulders framing her stunning face perfectly, an adorable nose that crinkled when she laughed, and the most gorgeous set of lips he had ever laid eyes upon. He now understood what his father had seen in his human-mate, Rin contained more life and personality than any demon he had ever met.


Not only that, she was smart. He could hold an intelligent conversation with her. A truly rare gift, beauty and brains! As soon as he and his troops saw the castle he knew something was wrong. He couldn’t smell her. He kept his composure as they continued onwards, his mind racing the entire time. The overpowering scent of blood had dulled his sense of smell, that happened every once and a while after a particularly bloody battle.


Yet when they entered the walls of his palace he knew something was defiantly off. “Jaken.” He barked out.

“Y-y-yes My Lord” His servant stammered.

“Where is Rin? I wish to see her.”

The toad was trembling visibly now as he bowed low “My Lord I regret to inform you that Rin went missing two months after you left for war.” He rushed the statement together as if saying it fast would somehow dull the pain and shock.


Jaken silently prayed that his Lord Sesshoumaru would just let the girl go; she was after all, human. He begged every god he could think of to let his years of dedicated service pay off like it had for Rin. It was no secret among the other servants that Lord Sesshoumaru’s highest and closest servant was madly in love with him. The urchin was always falling all over himself trying to please his master only to have a majority to all of his efforts ignored.

The diminutive demon had been outraged when the servant girl Rin had been declared Sesshoumaru’s new advisor. A position he had been working towards since day one she had swiped from under his nose without even trying. He knew it was wrong to keep things from his master, but if it meant the security of having his love living under the same roof as him he would keep quiet. His nose may not have been as strong as his love’s but he knew what he had smelled. The girl Rin was pregnant.


Sesshoumaru howled an eerie grief-stricken howl that chilled the heart and soul. It was a sound that consumed all hope and joy that lingered in one’s body, leaving them a cold and empty shell of their former self. Why? Why had she done this to him? How could she leave him? What did he do wrong? A single glistening tear rolled down the heartbroken lord’s cheek shimmering like a thousand liquid diamonds as it caught every ray of light that came towards it and reflecting it into an assortment of rainbow colored sparkles. Time seemed to stop as it fell from his face and splatter upon the floor. Each droplet hardening into dazzling diamonds. An amazing sight missed by all.


Before another word could be spoken he tore out of the walls that enclosed around him and into the woods searching for any trace of his lost love. Jaken fell to his knees. The gods only knew how far away that strumpet was by now. What had she done? The castle walls echoed with his mournful sobs.


***

For some unknown reason Rin felt a pang of guilt as she climbed out of the hot spring. She felt an aching in her heart and shuddered as a lone sparkling tear rolled down her cheek. The intensity of that single tear rivaled the stars themselves. She wiped the tear from her face as she headed back to the hut. The droplets hardened into diamonds as soon as they hit the ground unobserved by their human creator.


That night the two women were delighted to feel the feisty babe kick within Rin. “That one’s going to be a fighter.” Keiko chuckled as she removed her hand from her pseudo daughter’s stomach.

“Yes, yes it will.” Rin said her eyes misting over as she thought of Sesshoumaru. She was so far away, and yet her love for him was still so strong. She hopped he was happy with his wife Kimiko. She clutched her stomach; this precious gift within her was her last connection to her love. They had created this perfect angel together and she would be sure it lived the greatest life she could provide.

Another short chapter…*throws up hands to cover face as sharp objects are thrown* Still thinking about what I want to do with the little bundle of joy…but I’m pretty sure I have a good idea. I realize that was not some of my best writing…but hey, what can you expect it’s 6:53 in the morning, I spent the entire night pacing my room before coming up with ideas and then I could never find that perfect word…so I had to dig out the dictionary from the bottomless crap pile that is my closet…I swear if I use the word before one more time I might just shoot myself. When I didn’t find anything too exceptional I got a thesaurus. So here I am two frappuccinos and half a box of kix later… I have gotten into the habit of writing my chapters the night before and then posting them the next day around 11 after a quick read through…I have no idea why I decided to tell you that. Oh yeah, so I won’t sound completely insane when you read the times and then look at your clock.

.:. My Adored Readers .:.

Bob- Oh how I love your name! Mind if I call you George-Bob? We are the proud few who seem to enjoy songs about lunch meat. It seems we are the only ones with any culture around here! HAHA! That song has been in my head for freaking ages! Oh George-Bob it’s moments like these that make life so wonderful! If I ever discover a new species of hoofed mammal I shall turn it into lunch meat and name it after you, and then compose a song about it. It shall put Oscar to shame!

Kat- Glad you approve! This is my first time writing a fan fic. so it’s really great to get compliments! Thank you a million times over!

Ren- Ahhh my dearest Ren! What can I say other than WOW!!!! Your review was about as long as that last chapter! Hehe! Alright…let’s break this down…1.) I agree girls who dress with everything hanging out are a disgrace! They give women a bad name! For Christ sake it’s school! Tuck yourself back in and learn something! 2.) I’m glad you like my lemons! I too like to tease my older sister…she hates it! 3.) Those names you suggested were gorgeous! I’m going to have one hell of a time choosing now! I’m particularly fond of….wait I CAN’T TELL YOU THAT! 4.) I am not at all bothered by your long review it was insanely fun to read! I’m so glad you’re liking it! It really means so much to me that you’ve been here for me each chapter giving support. You were my first ever review! *tear* 5.) I think this chapter pretty much answers your question. I had just finished typing the first paragraph when I read your comment, it made me laugh! 6.) Kimiko’s death made me very happy as well…hehehehe I’m evil!

Vanessa- I’m not sure if I’m going to work ‘the gang’ in. I’ve defiantly thought about it, and the more I think about it it would be tres cool! And yes…a half demon son…rawr! And tee hee I already have an idea as to what’s going to happen…it’s all up here *taps head and then highly caffeinated beverage* and you don’t MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH <>HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! But no, really, thank you for reviewing as often as you do! *hug*

Anon- haha indeed!

Imagine-Me- It also gave me great joy to kill her! Hahaha! May she burn! Thanks for your name choice!

Animegirl007- Haha! Anytime! We all need a good laugh now and then, even if it is at the expense of others…but Kimiko is a fictional character so…you know…no harm done! I’ve considered the twin thing, and I’m not sure if that’s what I’m going to do…but…eh…you never know. I love the names you suggested…OH GOD! SO MANY NAMES…SO LITTLE TIME!