Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine.

"Rin, Rin where are you? Come back Rin. Lady Kaede will have my head if you don't"

Chapter 3

"Come back here Rin", came the voice from behind. Rin turned towards the shouting man with a heartbroken expression on her face. She looked so devastated that the man stopped a few feet away from her wanting to give her some space. Rin fell on the ground realising her fate wouldn't allow her to be where she truly wanted to be. The man slowly walked up to Rin as if to comfort her, for he had never seen such a crumbled and lost expression on her face.

"What is it Harun? Why are you here? Have you been following me since I left the cave? Don't worry I was not going to run away. I was simply chasing after a dream. An illusion that was too good to be true. I will not allow any of you who have been appointed as my guards to be punished on my account. Your master will not have any complaints with you. I just needed some fresh air, the cave was scaring me. I felt trapped." answered Rin. Acceptance along with resolution dawned on her face. But just as soon they were replaced by something else.

Harun was shocked by the sudden change in Lady Rin's countenance. It was as if her distress and anguish had just merely vanished. He was at a loss as to how to react, should he thank Lady Rin that she did not run off or should he reprimand her for scaring the skin off his bones. Harun knew that had this young nubile girl been displeased or hurt his fate would have been the latter. His master would have skinned him alive and then roasted his carcass or fed him to the demons.

He slowly walked up to the girl and offered his hand. Rin simply took his arm and got up. She turned towards him, smiled and spoke in a kind voice, "I really did not mean to cause you any trouble, and I truly regret my actions." It was at that moment that Harun decided that if Lady Rin ever needed his help then he would surely stand up for her. "Let us walk back to the cave Lady Rin, there is a carriage waiting for us, to take you to the Lord's summer castle." Rin and Harun walked the length of the field and climbed the mountain trail to reach the cave. The guards that had brought the carriage to the cave had already loaded the travelling bags onto the carriage. Rin got into the carriage with Harun and the guards took off towards to the palace. As the scene of the landscape passed by Rin slipped off into a memory that had struck her when Harun had come running after her.

[Past]

The eight year old Rin was walking along Jaken Sama and Ah-Un towards the Castle of the Lord of the Western Lands to seek safety, as Sesshomaru Sama had left to deal with a demon uprising in the territory of the Western Lands. It was then that she spotted a field of wild flowers up ahead, so without thinking or waiting for the toad demon's permission she ran up ahead wanting to feel the brush of the delicate stems tickling her legs as she ran past them.

Suddenly a snake demon lunged towards Rin from behind the trees where it had been waiting to gobble up its prey. "RRIIIIIIINNNNN" shouted Jaken as the demon's hiss of satisfaction at finding a prey had alerted Rin's companions. Ah-Un landed in front of Rin to protect her from the attack and Jaken who stood on Ah-Un's back held the two headed staff in both of his hands. The face on the staff let out a breath of fire and the snake demon went head first into the volley of flames as it could not stop itself mid leap. Its burnt body fell charred at Jaken's feet.

All Rin could do was stand and stare. A demon had attacked with such speed, what if it had bitten her, worse what if it had killed he? She would never have been able to see Sesshomaru sama again. She would never be able to see his "pretty" eyes again. At this thought Rin all felt was this overwhelming sadness and blame on her stupid self. She didn't know why, but she started crying at this thought. Rin fell to her feet and cried clutching her flowers to her chest.

The toad demon moved towards Rin who flinched thinking she was about to get a verbal bashing. She closed her eyes not wanting to see his furious expression. Suddenly the footsteps stopped as if hesitant. Rin looked up to see the toad demon with a very troubled expression on his face. He stepped closer and said, "Do not cry Rin, it seems foolish because that waste of a demon is already dead. I cannot allow anything to happen to you otherwise the Lord would have my blood you see.

Now come along you idiotic child, we must hurry towards the master's lands. Once there no one will dare to bother us. " Rin looked towards the toad with confusion, "Jaken-sama? You will take care of me always? Won't I always be an easy target? I always end up in trouble and Sesshomaru-sama has to come to my rescue. How will I survive forever? " The toad answered without turning back, "If you are hurt in any way Rin then this world will be destroyed by Bakuseiga's blade." "Huh?" "Foolish child we don't always have time for you so we will send Inuyasha and his human mate can always come for you."

"Oh okay, if Jaken-sama says so" and Rin went ahead grabbing Ah-Un's reins. Jaken stood back for a moment wondering if the girl understood the importance of his words "Naaah"...

[PRESENT]

As the carriage passed the countryside with speed Jaken-sama's words haunted Rin's mind again. If she couldn't reach Sesshomaru-sama then she would reach his brother.

A/N: Rin in the current time frame of this story is about 16/17 years old still not decided. The main plot of this story begins after Sesshomaru leaves Rin with Kaede. There are many minor deviations from the original story but they are important for the plot of my story I promise. So sorry for the long delay, had lots of issues, I hope to make up with the future line-up of chapters. PLZ REVIEW.