Vengeance of
the Soul
By:
Haruka-chan
Chapter 3:
Survivors and small confessions
"Is
someone there...please help me" said a small voice.
Rin gasped
and ran towards the sound. "Where are you?" Rin looked around trying
to find whom the voice belonged to. "Where are you?"
"Down
here" said the voice.
Rin looked
down to find there was some kind of ditch and under some rocks and rubbles. Rin
started to dig with all her might before there was a big enough whole to bring
the person out.
"Please
help me," whispered the voice.
"Hold
on I'm trying," said Rin as she pulled on the arm. Damn how much does
she weigh? Thought Rin as she pulled on the arm. Rin gritted her teeth as
she finally pulled the injured woman out of the ditch. "Are you all
right?"
The woman
smiled, she was about Rin's age maybe older by two or three years. "Thank
you, you saved me and my child," said the woman touching her stomach.
Rin gasped
and then smiled "I'm glad."
The woman
smiled "I am Hinoki" she said.
"I am
Rin," said Rin.
Hinoki
smiled at her "Thank you so much, I had fallen in to the ditch when the
Youkais' attacked."
"Don't
worry" said Rin.
Hinoki
touched her stomach "I'm just glad that my baby is all right."
"Here
you have a cut on your arm let me take care of that," said Rin as she took
out herbs and cloth.
"You
are a healer?" asked Hinoki.
"Well,
no, but I was taught a lot of things by my older sister" said Rin.
"That must
be nice to have an older sister," said Hinoki.
"I...She
past way" said Rin softly with shaky hands.
"Oh I'm
so sorry," said Hinoki.
"No,
it's all right, don't worry about. I mean you just lost your village,"
said Rin.
Hinoki
nodded as a sad look came over. "I wished that I died with them, but I
have two people to stay alive for."
Rin smiled
at her while she cleaned her wounds. Hinoki smiled before she broke in to a
cry. Rin just knew things were going to get messy.
"What's
happening?" asked Rin.
"My
water it broke," said Hinoki.
Rin gasped,
"Oh my God you're having the baby?"
Hinoki
nodded before she gave another scream.
Sesshoumaru
stood and watched the whole scene.
"Jaken
go down there," said Sesshoumaru.
"Lord
Sesshoumaru?" asked Jaken confused.
"She
will need your help," he simply stated.
Jaken wanted
to protest but decided it would be better just to do what he says.
Rin almost
smiled when she saw Jaken coming towards her. "Hold on, I have my herb to
help with the pain and buy me some time to get you ready for the birth."
Hinoki
nodded as she tried hard to stay calm.
"Stupid
toad can't you run a little faster!" she yelled as Jaken came towards her.
Jaken glared
at Rin.
Rin rampaged
through her bag and pulled several things out. "All right, Jaken get me
some water, and warm it up on the fire," said Rin.
"Do I
look like your servant?" asked Jaken.
"Stupid
toad do it before I cut you to pieces and you know I can" said Rin.
Jaken cursed
before running towards the river.
"All
right I need you to push," said Rin looking down at Hinoki.
She nodded
and screamed as she pushed.
"Here
see if you can chew on this while you push, it will help with the pain,"
said Rin pushing a willow bark in to her mouth.
"I
can't it hurts to much," said Hinoki.
"Push
harder, your baby needs to come out, Hinoki," said Rin. Hinoki gave
another painful cry.
"Push!"
yelled Rin.
Hinoki shook
her head as she gave another push and cried out.
"I see
the head," exclaimed Rin.
"Come
on now push" said Rin.
Jaken ran
back with the water. "Here human!"
"Warm
it up!" yelled Rin.
Hinoki
struggled and gave another cry. "I can't," she said softly.
"Yes,
you can come on you can...you have to for your baby" said Rin smiling.
Hinoki gave
a painful smile before she gave another big push.
"Yes,
that's it keep pushing, I see a shoulder" said Rin.
Sesshoumaru
watched as Rin help with Hinoki's birth. She isn't afraid at all he
thought watching.
Rin smiled
as she saw another shoulder. "Come on chew on the bark and push!"
yelled Rin.
"I...I
am...trying" she said slightly out of breath.
Jaken went
on mumbling about 'How humans couldn't take a little pain,' and asked 'How hard
can giving birth be?' while he boiled the water for Rin.
"Jaken
bring the water and my sword," said Rin.
"What
are you planning to do, kill her and dump the water on her?" asked Jaken.
"No
stupid I have to cut her cord" said Rin.
Jaken stood
there completely lost.
"Her
cord?" he asked like a clueless child.
"Just
shut up and bring the damn bucket of water there!" said Rin.
"Push"
she said turning her attention back to Hinoki.
She nodded
and gave a big push.
"Oh we
have it's body, just a little more" said Rin.
Hinoki gave
another cry before she gave her last push and out came the baby, and crying was
heard.
Rin laughed,
"It's a boy!" she exclaimed.
Hinoki
laughed but screamed in pain once more and smile.
Rin looked
down at her with a questioning look.
"Another
one" she said.
"Oh my
God! Jaken come here and hold the baby," said Rin.
"What
are you out of your mind?!" asked Jaken.
"Would
you shut up and take him, we have another coming!" said Rin.
Jaken ran
over to Rin and took the baby.
"Put
him down on that blanket and cover him up," said Rin. Jaken did as told
"All
right, push come on now Hinoki" said Rin.
Hinoki
nodded once again and pushed.
This time
around it was easier for both the mother and Rin.
"Push
once more hard," said Rin.
Hinoki
screamed with her last push, and once again a cry was heard.
"Oh my
God, it's a girl," said Rin laughing.
Hinoki broke
in to one of those emotional crying smiles. "My babies!" she
exclaimed.
It was night
when Rin finished closing, and cleaning Hinoki up and the babies, and wrapped
them in her blankets.
"Oh
their beautiful" said Rin as she held one of the babies sitting in front
of the fire which Rin had made Jaken make.
Hinoki
nodded. "Thank you. I don't what would have happened if you weren't
here," said Hinoki holding her baby boy.
"You
don't have to Thank me, it should be me thanking you for letting me experience
such a miracle" said Rin.
"No but
I do, look at what you help me get, my village is destroyed yet I
survived" said Hinoki.
"I know
how that feels," said Rin softly.
"Your
babies are so beautiful, look at her she looks so much like you," said Rin
with a smile.
"Oh and
this one here looks like his father" said Hinoki.
"Wait
where is their father?" asked Rin.
Hinoki
smiled "He'll be here. I know it," she said.
"Their
father wasn't in the village?" asked Rin.
"No, he
is a Youkai" said.
"What?"
asked Rin almost dropping the baby.
"Why
are you so surprised?" asked Hinoki.
"I...um...I"
Rin blush like crazy.
Jaken on the
other hand was throwing curses about how that 'Creating Hanyous' wasn't good'
and 'That Youkai must be very low, for taking a human for his mate' as he went
on Sesshoumaru was as surprised to hear this also.
That
human is a mate to a Youkai? I see it's becoming quite common now. She looks
quite familiar thought Sesshoumaru watching Rin and Hinoki.
Hinoki
smiled as the baby boy played with her hand. "He's so handsome just like
his father" said
"Do you
know when he will get here?" asked Rin now taking notice of the elf like
ears on the little boy and the beautiful golden eyes of the girl.
"He
will be here. I know, I feel it," said Hinoki.
"How
did you two meet?" asked Rin.
"Well,
I wasn't much of a home binder, I liked to roam the forest and see the world
other then my village. One day a year and couple of moths from now I have been
in the forest and found myself running in to a handsome Youkai, we were down
each other's throat at first but soon after I found myself only thinking of
him" said Hinoki.
Rin listen
with fascination. "How romantic love and war all at once" said Rin
laughing.
Hinoki
laughed "Yes, and soon after, I found myself falling in love with him, he
would come to see me every day at the same place we met and I would go to meet
him. Soon he told me he loved me and wanted me to be this mate," said
Hinoki with a blush.
Rin laughed
"What a romantic."
"Yes,
and then well now a year from now I have our children," said Hinoki.
Rin smiled
"They are beautiful, I wish I had children of my own."
"I was
wondering what you are doing here, I mean don't you have a family?" asked
Hinoki.
"No, I
don't have any family of my own, I'm more of an outlaw on my way to avenge my
village" said Rin looking down.
"I would
love to do that, but as you can see I'm quite busy at the moment" said
Hinoki.
"Yes, I
don't know what this journey hold for me but I'm determined to finish what I
started," said Rin.
"I see
I have meet someone who reminds me of my younger self," said Hinoki.
Ring
laughed, "You talk as if your completely old," said Rin.
"Well,
I am now, I have children" said Hinoki smiling.
"Jaken"
said that smooth silky voice.
Rin turned
to find Sesshoumaru standing behind her.
"My
lord?" asked Jaken.
Sesshoumaru
stared down at the woman and recognized her; she was the mate of the Youkai in
charge of the northeastern lands.
"You
are the mate of Farga, are you not?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"Yes, I
am, but how do you know him?" asked Hinoki.
"Sesshoumaru"
said another deep voice as well.
Rin turned
to find a man tall and handsome just as Sesshoumaru, maybe not completely as
handsome.
"Farga"
said Sesshoumaru.
"Farga!"
stated Hinoki.
Farga smiled
as he came to her side and embraced her. "My love, I thought I almost lost
you and our children," whispered Farga.
"I
know," said Hinoki holding him tight.
Sesshoumaru
didn't know what to do to look or to look away, He looked down to Rin who
seemed to be smiling, this was the first time he saw her smile like she was really
happy.
"Look
at our son and daughter" said Hinoki.
Farga smiled
as he took the baby girl from Rin.
Rin felt as
if someone had taken her own child from her but quickly shook it of.
"How
beautiful she is, just like you," said Farga.
Hinoki
smiled "I am so happy that you are here and safe," she said as tears
began to trail down her face.
Farga smiled
and held her gently also holding both his children. "Come now, my love we
shall go back to my palace," said Farga.
"Yes,
but I want to thank them for helping me" said Hinoki.
"Sesshoumaru,
my lady and Jaken I am truly grateful for what you have done" said Farga
bowing before them.
"Oh no
you don't have to" said Rin.
"I did
nothing here, Farga if you must thank anyone then it will have to be her"
said Sesshoumaru Farga was the most
fierce warrior of his land yet he holds such a care in his eyes now
thought Sesshoumaru as he watched him bowing before a blushing Rin.
"Please
it was the least I can do," said Rin.
Farga took
her hand and kissed it "I thank you again my lady" he said as she
helped Hinoki and his new born to a carriage of some sort.
"Thank
you again my old time friend, I ask that you join me and my mate on a
celebration" said Farga.
"I
don't see any need for that," said Sesshoumaru.
"Sure
why not" said Rin.
Farga smiled
at Rin and helped her up on the carriage.
"Come
on you might as well wish them good luck," said Rin holding the baby boy
to Sesshoumaru to see.
He stood
there for a while before he found himself claming his own dragon steed with
Jaken. Rin smiled at him and then started to play with the babies.
Hinoki
smiled "I am glad that your coming along we'll get to chat more" she
said.
"So am
I and Lord Farga seems very kind" said Rin.
"Please
my lady you must call me just Farga" said Farga.
"Very
well you shall call me Rin as well Farga-sama," said Rin.
Farga smiled
and looked towards Sesshoumaru. "You found yourself a very beautiful and
interesting companion Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru
stood quite as he rode on. Yes, one person I let myself count on, he has
found peace through all this yet I still wonder with nothing...well maybe not
completely nothing thought Sesshoumaru looking towards Rin smiling.
Rin saw the
sort of longing that was in Sesshoumaru's eyes for just a second. Does he
long for a mate as well?
The night's
breeze calmed Rin as a sweet scent touched her senses. They were walking
through a field of flowers.
"How
beautiful" said Rin looking around.
Sesshoumaru
turned to see the dazed look on her face. Another day has past since I let
this human girl accompany me, yet it feels as if she has always been here.
"Yes, I
own this meadow, it is part of the Palace" said Farga.
"It's
beautiful," said Hinoki.
"It is
yours now" said Farga holding Hinoki's hand as she smiled at him.
Sesshoumaru
couldn't believe this was the heartless killer he once knew.
Rin's eyes
wonder to the different flowers that were growing in the meadow, and the sweet
fragrance that each gave off. So beautiful.
"We
have arrived," said Farga.
Rin looked
around the place it was beautiful.
"My
lord you have returned," said a servant running towards Farga.
"Yes,
Maki I have, and not empty handed," said Farga.
The servant looked
around the faces when his eyes landed on Rin and Hinoki. Which one is the
Lady?
"Come
Hinoki, Rin" said Farga as he lead them inside.
Sesshoumaru
followed after them.
The servant
showed them to their rooms, Rin smiled at the thought of sleeping on something
soft and clean.
"I
shall come and help you if you need me Hinoki" said Rin before entering
her room.
Hinoki
smiled "I like her very much, she is so sweet" said Hinoki.
"I do
too, I just hope my friend can see that" said Farga.
"Which
reminds me I must speak to Sesshoumaru, my love" said Farga.
Hinoki
smiled and nodded. Farga walked to Sesshoumaru chamber.
"Sesshoumaru"
said Farga.
"What
do you plan to do now?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"What
else, in these feudal times I have found peace" said Farga.
"I have
notice," said Sesshoumaru.
"Are
you angry that it is a human?" asked Farga.
"It is
none of my concern," said Sesshoumaru.
"I
never had peace until I met Hinoki, she gave me something that I never thought
I would need" said Farga.
"What
is that?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"I
rather not say, I'm glad that you decided to travel with someone other then
Jaken." Farga walked to the window "She is very full of life, just
waiting to come out. But I am in debt to her, for giving me two other reasons
to smile."
"Are
you really happy?" asked Sesshoumaru suddenly.
Farga looked
at Sesshoumaru for a while and then smiled "Of course I have every reason
to, I have a beautiful mate, now children."
"I mean
are you happy with a human mate, you know she will age" said Sesshoumaru.
Farga nodded
"I will give her an immortal life if she desire it, but for now I am happy
with her just being near me."
Sesshoumaru
nodded. "Tell me Sesshoumaru don't you feel anything for Rin?" asked
Farga.
"She is
just another human," said Sesshoumaru.
"I see,
but you don't ever wonder what it would be like if she wasn't there to smile
and make everything seem better?" asked Farga.
Sesshoumaru
narrowed his eyes on Farga. Farga laughed, "I guess you do not know her
well enough her to actually feel anything."
"What
is funny about that?" asked Sesshoumaru.
Farga smiled
"A human woman that captures your heart can make you do things that not
even the most powerful witch can, she can drive you mad just by sitting their
and smiling at you" said Farga.
Sesshoumaru
didn't say anything.
"There
will be a celebration tomorrow night, I will see you in the morning my
friend" said Farga walking towards the door.
"You
have changed much," said Sesshoumaru.
Farga
stopped in front of the door "I think so to, but I think that I have
changed for the better."
Maybe,
but I can't tell thought Sesshoumaru as he moved towards the window.
"What is she doing out right now?"
Rin walked
slowly in to the meadow. She walked through the flowers as her hands closed
over one "So beautiful yet fragile."
Sesshoumaru
watched her from far as she picked the flowers and smiled to herself. She
find pleasure in the strangest things.
Rin looked
up at the almost full moon and smiled. "What a beautiful place" said
Rin as she walked around some more, as memories started to flow back.
II Flashback
II
"Rin-chan
where are you?" asked a tall woman dressed in a pink gown of some sort she
had beautiful light brown hair and amber eyes.
"Mama!
I'm here in the garden," said an 8-year-old Rin with flower petals all
over her hair.
The woman
giggled "Oh don't you look beautiful with all those petals on her
head" she said.
"Yes, I
look like a princess," said Rin spinning around.
The woman
laughed. "Why don't we make you crown made for a princess" said the
woman.
"Yes,"
said an over higher Rin.
"Come
sit here with me under the cherry blossom trees" said the woman.
Rin skipped
over and sat down beside the woman.
"I'll
you a story about a beautiful princess who found her prince under the cherry
blossom tree," said the woman.
"Yeah!"
said Rin.
"Well,
there once was an arrogant prince and a stubborn princess, they were alike in
many ways but they couldn't see it because of the war each fought with each
other, but as they started to spend more time together they started to get
these strange feelings with in their hearts" said the woman touching her
chest.
Rin listen with
much interest.
"One
day the princes was sitting under the cherry blossom tree and watched the
petals fall, he pictured kissing the princess under the falling petals. He
questioned his feeling for her 'Do I really love her?' he asked, but the
same answer came to him her face, her smile, her voice" said the woman
with a smile.
"What
about the princess?" asked Rin.
"The
princess did the same, she sat and wondered what she felt for the prince, and
finally after battling with her thoughts decided to tell the prince that she
loved him. She went to where the prince was sitting and deciding his own
feeling. The moment she saw him, her heart told her that he was the one for
her. 'I will only love him' she said to herself as she ran towards the prince,"
said the woman.
Rin had a
dreamy look "what happened after that mama?" asked Rin.
"Well,
the princess ran to the prince and sat beside him. Are you all right'
he asked softly. The princess nodded as she extended her hand to reach for some
petal and he took her hand and told her all his feelings for her, she was so
touched she started to cry; she told him that if she had to die for him she
would. They stood that way in each others arms, he kissed her and marked that
tree their love symbol," said the woman.
"Wow I
want to find my prince under the cherry blossom tree too" said Rin.
"It's
amazing how a simple little story can make you so happy and quite" said a
young girl with black hair and gray blue eyes.
"What
would know you don't want to fall in love?" said Rin crossing her arms.
The girl
smiled "Oh, but I do," she said as she patted Rin's head.
"I
don't care I'll find my prince" said Rin as she picked some more flowers.
The woman
sat and giggled.
II End
of Flashback II
Rin was back
to reality once more when she found herself staring at a cherry blossom tree in
full bloom with the petals falling gentle. She felt as if someone mesmerized
her to walk up to the cherry tree. Rin stood under the tree and extended a hand
under it and smiled. "Love is like falling petals," she said as she
found herself humming a tune she, her sister and her mother would sign to
often. Why do I feel like I'm fooling myself? Asked Rin as she slowly
sat down an under the cherry blossom tree.
Sesshoumaru
watched her strange behavior and wondered. Rin wanted so to wake up from this
dream, or is it really a dream? She wanted to wake up in her warm bed and to
see her mothers smiling face once more, her sisters kind eyes, she wanted to
be with her family. Rin didn't even notice the tears rolling down her face
until she taste salt on her lips. Seeing Hinoki with her babies had brought
back desire to have a family of her own, to have love. She started to sing that
her mother sing to her father sometimes, she would sneak and watch them as they
sat under the Cherry blossoms while her mother sang. The words were plastered
on to her memoirs.
"I'm so
pathetic" whispered Rin. Why? Because you long for something? It's ok
to long.
Sesshoumaru
liked her voice, the lyrics were strange to him, but he still liked the song.
He walked over to where she was for what he didn't know, seems since she came
in to the picture what ever he did, he didn't have a reason for doing.
"What
is the matter?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"I...I
was just wondering around and thinking about Hinoki's babies" said Rin.
Sesshoumaru
sat next to her, from where she sat the whole field looked beautiful with the
moon and stars shining down. Rin looked at his profile for some reason just
being next to him brought her peace. Rin lean back against the tree and sighed
as she watched the petals fall around them. The sweet smell of Cherry Blossoms
filling her. Once again Rin found herself being mesmerized.
Sesshoumaru
didn't understand this human girl, but felt calm just sitting besides. He heard
her sigh as if she was relived of something.
"Why
were you really crying?" he asked finally.
"I
think partly it was because of Hinoki's happiness she has something to live for
the only thing I live for is vengeance what will happen to me after that? And
the second is this place brings back memories of my mother, how beautiful she
was, how she use to tell me stories as we sat under the Cherry blossom tree
like this one" said Rin.
Sesshoumaru
turned to face her. "Stories?" he asked.
"Yes, of
princes and princess and how they met, of how the cherry blossoms got it's
beautiful pale pink color" said Rin grabbing for a petal.
"How
the petals got their color?" asked Sesshoumaru.
Rin nodded.
"You see once there was a king who didn't like the colors of the blossoms,
he thought they were too white and plain for it's beauty. So he order that the
solider that pass would he buried under them. The blood absorbed by the tree
gave its petals the pale pink color. The beauty in death and blood shad"
said Rin looking down at the petal in her hand.
Sesshoumaru
picked petal of her hand and looked at it. "What became of the
soldiers?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"I
really don't know, but it's said that the most beautiful blossoms color came
from a solider that had no regrets and was truly happy" said Rin.
Sesshoumaru
continued to stare at the blossoms.
Jaken
watched as Rin and Sesshoumaru sat and talked. Lord Sesshoumaru is
forgetting that I am even here, since she has arrived. This human is replacing
Rin stared
at Sesshoumaru was beautiful with the petals falling around him, she felt her
heart beat faster as he stared at him.
No! I am
not falling for him! thought Rin as she looked away.
Sesshoumaru
knew she was staring at him, but why? He didn't know.
Rin felt her
eyes become tired, very tired. I'll take a little nap... thought Rin
before her head dropped on to Sesshoumaru's shoulders.
Sesshoumaru
almost jumped at the act but, then noticed she must have been tired after all
the traveling and delivering two babies. I feel warm inside, but why?
thought Sesshoumaru as he watched her sleep.
Jaken also
watched thinking that his master was going to pull away but he did no such
thing instead he sat back against the tree as the human girl slept with her
head on his shoulder. Master Sesshoumaru is changing... thought Jaken
with teary eyes.
Unknown to
any of them Farga also watched. Yes that is the magic of Love... he
thought with a smile
Sesshoumaru
sighed he leaned back against the tree. This journey to find Naraku will
prove to be interesting with her. But I can't deny that I like having her
around, and she isn't that bad of a fighter thought Sesshoumaru. He looked
down at Rin and saw strand of hair in her face, he moved them out of her face.
She is very beautiful. Farga has taken a human mate...but why? I thought he
hated humans thought Sesshoumaru. Farga's word drifted in his head. He
is truly happy?
"Time
changes everything" said Rin in her sleep.
Sesshoumaru
couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked just sleeping like that.
Rin smiled I
feel safe for the first time in a long time...
Sesshoumaru
felt sleep over take him and he too drifted of.
Peace...
thought both Sesshoumaru and Rin.