Disclaimer: "Inuyasha", its characters, series plots, etc. do not belong to me.

Author's note (24.06.2009): This story is set after the manga series' end.

Promise
First

"Rin-chan."

The teenage girl turned to face Sango with a smile. "Yes, Sango-sama?"

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" the former demon slayer sighed with a shake of her head. "You don't have to be so formal. Anyway, what brings you over here? I thought you would be with Kaede-sama at Kagome-chan's house right now." Sango grinned knowingly. "She's going to give birth soon."

"Kaede-sama sent me to get some things from our hut that we had forgotten," the younger girl answered. "She also wanted me to tell Miroku-sama to get Inuyasha-sama and Shippou-chan out of the village for some days. She's afraid that they'll cause trouble for Anee-ue if they stay."

"Ah, I see." With a sigh, the former demon-slayer began walking back towards her home. "I'll go tell my husband his duties for you while you get what you need. I'll come by Kagome-chan's later when Miroku and Inuyasha are out of the village. Shippou-chan won't be a problem since he's gone off training."

"Thank you, Sango-san." The teenage girl bowed in thanks and went on her way.

Rin smiled happily as she walked. She had been living with Kaede for some time now—the fifth anniversary of Naraku's defeat had only been a moon ago, the second anniversary of Kagome's return to their world. When Sesshoumaru had first left Rin in this human village five years ago, she had been most unhappy. She had felt abandoned and unwanted until Kaede explained that it was her idea to keep Rin with her. Since the little girl was growing up, there were things that she needed to know as a human woman; and since Kaede herself was old and lonely, what better a way to solve everyone's problems than to have Rin live with Kaede for a while? Rin would learn what she needed to know, and Kaede would have some company for the time being. The elderly priestess promised that Rin would only stay in Edo as long as it took for her to properly care for herself. Afterwards, if Rin desired, she could return to Sesshoumaru's side.

But would he want me back? That had been Rin's fear when she had first parted from her lord. Granted, Kaede told Rin that it had been the priestess' idea to keep the girl in Edo; but it had been Sesshoumaru to allow the young girl to stay in the village. Since he had willingly given Rin up, would he willingly want her back?

Fortunately, Rin's fears were easily laid to rest when Sesshoumaru had first visited with Jaken and a new hairpin. During his brief visit, the Lord of the West had ordered Rin to behave properly and to quickly learn her lessons—only then would she be allowed to return to Sesshoumaru if she so desired. He had also added that Rin would have to look presentable while she stayed in the village, thus the gift of the ivory hairpin with inlaid jade leaves and gold flowers.

And so Sesshoumaru would visit every other week with a new gift for Rin's improvement and a message or a remark on her growth and maturity. And with every visit during the passing years, Rin grew confident in her return to her Sesshoumaru-sama. After all, he continued to visit her despite his time-consuming business and her removal from his company; and Rin's progress seemed to please him well enough. Sesshoumaru would surely take her back once all was said and done.

"Ne, we don't have time to think those things now!" Rin exclaimed while she sprinted towards the hut that she shared with Kaede. "Anee-ue will be giving birth to her first child right now. She needs Rin to be there and ready!" She quickly fetched the things she had been sent to retrieve and ran back towards Kagome's home.

"Rin-chan, please get Sango for me," Kaede ordered as soon as Rin entered the hut. "I think this delivery will be a little difficult, and having Sango here might help Kagome."

"Yes, of course Kaede-sama!" Rin turned to the laboring younger priestess and briefly comforted, "Do your best, Anee-ue! I'll be right back with Sango-san." Dutifully Rin ran towards Sango's hut not too far away, calling out, "Sango-san! Sango-san, Kaede-sama needs you!"

Looking up from her housework, the young mother watched Rin run towards her. "Eh?"

"Sango-san, you need to go to Anee-ue's quickly! Kaede-sama said that she needs your help. She says that the delivery might be a little difficult with Anee-ue."

"Ai! Really?" Reflexively Sango handed Rin her youngest child while she quickly readied herself to go to her friend. "Okay, well the twins have been fed and are playing outside in the flower field right now. If you need to feed Hiroki, then—"

"There's some gruel ready for him inside," Rin finished with a smile. "And if that's not good enough, I know my way around your home, Sango-san, to feed him something suitable. And I'll be sure to give the twins something when we come back from the fields."

"Thank you so much, Rin-chan."

"Yes, yes—now hurry! Anee-ue needs you!"

Once Rin saw Sango disappear towards Kagome's hut, she slung the napping Hiroki over her shoulder, tightened the baby sling against her back, and walked towards the fields outside of the village where the twins supposedly played. When Rin saw the two younger girls frolicking through the grass and flowers, she smiled. They reminded her of herself years ago when she had traveled with Sesshoumaru.

"Onee-chan!" the twin girls laughed while running towards her. "Onee-chan, will you teach us how to make flower crowns? You know like the ones you made for Haha-ue and Oba-sama yesterday. Oba-sama said that you're the best at making them."

"Okay," Rin agreed readily. Seating herself on the ground and resting the sleeping Hiroki in her lap, Rin told the little girls, "Just be sure you collect enough flowers with long stems, okay? That's the key to making the best crowns."

"As you say," the girls giggled while running back into the grass. Haruna, dressed in blue-green, returned with white flowers while Hina, dressed in yellow and white, came back with orange ones in her arms. Arranging the flowers for their "big sister," the girls obediently sat by Rin and diligently watched her work as she made a flower crown. The twins easily learned what they needed to do, and soon everyone wore a flower crown or necklace. They played in the field for a few more hours, even taking a brief nap with Hiroki for some minutes. When Rin noticed the sun sinking towards the trees, she collected Sango's children together.

"Ne, let's go back home now," Rin suggested while rising to her feet and brushing grass off of herself and Hiroki. Having woken up during all the playing, the little two-year old boy stood by Rin and held her hand. "The three of you must be hungry, and maybe your mother came back from Anee-ue's."

"Can we visit Oba-sama?" Hina and Haruna inquired excitedly. "Can we meet the new baby?"

"Baby," Hiroki agreed with a nod.

The teenage girl smiled at her three charges. "No, we can't visit Anee-ue today. She'll be very tired and fussed over by Kaede-sama and your mother. And Inuyasha-sama should be returning soon with your father. There won't be any room for us to visit Anee-ue."

"But we wanted to give Oba-sama these!" They held up the flower circlets in their hands.

"Flowers, Bashama," Hiroki added.

"All right, all right," Rin surrendered with good nature. "We'll stop by Anee-ue to see how she's doing. But if we get there and can't go in, you have to promise to wait tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Satisfied by their response, Rin led the three younger children back to the village. Haruna and Hina excitedly skipped ahead and around while Hiroki hummed some made up tune while swinging hands with Rin. Noticing Hiroki tiring from the walk, Rin put him in the sling on her back and then held the twins' hands instead. Just as they were about to reenter Edo, a thundering of hooves came from behind them.

"Bandits!" a villager yelled while pointing towards the woods behind Rin. "Bandits are coming!"

"Onee-chan," the girls cried fearfully as they clutched at her hands.

"Don't cry—we have to run quickly. It'll be all right," Rin assured as she pulled the two little girls along with her. "Let's hurry and find your parents. Come on, run!"

Rin did not see the looming shadow above her.

"Onee-chan!"

"Sesshoumaru-sama, did we not visit Rin three days ago?" Jaken inquired as he held onto the mokomoko with all his strength. "Why are we returning to the village so soon? We aren't due to return for another eleven days, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

The demon lord said nothing as he continued his flight towards Inuyasha's village. Granted, his little green retainer was right: Sesshoumaru had already seen Rin and was not scheduled to see her for another eleven days. However, for the last hour a most unnerving feeling had overtaken him, a feeling that urged him to return to his human ward—something was greatly amiss. So against his better judgment, Sesshoumaru found himself returning to Edo as fast as he could possibly go.

He could smell the chaos miles before he saw the village.

"They're being attacked." That being said, Sesshoumaru increased his speed towards Rin, the unfamiliar feeling of fear growing inside of him. When he finally reached the outskirts of the village, the sky glowed red and black from the setting sun and rising smoke from a number of burning houses. Cracking his clawed fingers, Sesshoumaru descended into the human village with fiery anger in his golden eyes. Still attached to his master's mokomoko, Jaken gulped, praying to the gods that Rin was safe.

For the safety of this village and everything in it, I hope Rin is all right.

When Sesshoumaru stopped in the middle of the village, Jaken jumped off of the mokomoko and hastily called out, "Rin! Rin, where are you? Answer, Rin!" He started running towards the woods. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I will get Ah-Un and find Rin!"

Leaving Jaken behind to do what he wanted, Sesshoumaru sprinted through the worn streets, searching for Rin. He could not smell her light, fragrant scent through the smoke and blood hanging heavy in the air; and he felt grateful that he could not locate her by her blood's scent. Thus far, she was unharmed—but for how much longer? Where are you, Rin? What has happened to you?

"Take your brother and go!"

"But you! Onee-chan!"

"Listen to your Onee-chan and go! Run as fast as you can! Don't look back and go!"

Sesshoumaru's ears perked at the familiar voice. He strained his hearing to ignore the many screams and yells echoing through Edo because of the attack.

"Onee-chan!"

"Let me go! Let Rin go!"

"Heh, your hairpin and kimono should bring in some good money—ow! That dumb bitch bit me!"

"This is Sesshoumaru-sama's gift to Rin! You can't have it! You'll never take it!"

Immediately Sesshoumaru dashed towards the voice that he knew so well.

"Get back here!"

"Kyaah!"

Sesshoumaru appeared on the scene in time to see Rin running away from a bandit. The dog demon wondered why Rin did not run towards the empty street to her left until he noticed the small children hiding in the shadows. He made motions to rescue his ward when he realized that she had already been caught by her pursuer.

The world stopped when Sesshoumaru saw the bandit's sword go through Rin.

"Onee-chan!" the twins shrieked from their hiding place, giving themselves away.

Before the man even had a chance to gloat over his action, Sesshoumaru decapitated him with his claws. With one hand the demon lord killed all oncoming bandits with cold precision and silent fury. By the time he finished slaughtering the offenders, one of the human girls from earlier had propped Rin's head onto her lap while the other tried consoling her baby brother.

"Move."

Jumping in fear, the small girl turned and looked up into the most frightening glare she had ever seen in her life. Without sound or argument, Hina gently placed Rin's head on the ground and shuffled towards her brother and sister.

With delicacy and care he thought impossible for himself, Sesshoumaru lifted Rin into his arms. He fought back a growl while tracing her pale cheek with a free hand.

Hearing the familiar rumble, Rin fluttered her eyes open to a pleasant surprise. "Sesshoumaru-sama…" Tears brimmed her brown eyes. "Sesshoumaru-sama, you're here…"

"Don't speak."

And for the first time in her life and probably the last as well, Rin disobeyed him. "Sesshoumaru-sama, please, don't be angry with the village. Rin was the foolish one… so please, Sesshoumaru-sama, don't be angry with them. This was Rin's fault—she shouldn't have tried to fight, she should have run. So please…please don't be angry with anyone in the village." He growled in annoyance, wondering why at a time like this Rin would not care more about herself. Even now, she remained as selfless as ever, thinking about the fate of those hapless humans.

"This Sesshoumaru is not angry with anyone, Rin."

"Really?"

"There is only concern for you right now."

"Sesshoumaru-sama." When Rin reached out for him, he encased her little hand in his larger one while allowing the other to caress his cheek. "Thank you for coming to save Rin. Even though you're very busy, Sesshoumaru-sama came for Rin." Tears made wet trails down her dirty face while she smiled at the demon lord. "Thank you so much, Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin is very grateful that Sesshoumaru-sama has thought this much of her."

Again, fear attacked Sesshoumaru. But now it crawled up his throat with another strange emotion: sadness. "Rin…"

The young lady buried her face into his chest, clutching the edges of his clothes. "I'm scared, Sesshoumaru-sama. I'm scared of not being with you," she whimpered as tears began spilling from dark chocolate eyes. "I wanted to be with you forever… Rin wanted to be with Sesshoumaru-sama forever."

He could not find the words to say that she would be with him. He could not refute the fact that she would leave his side, that he would lose her…that she would die. Already in this small amount of time, Rin had lost so much blood—and Sesshoumaru could not use Tenseiga on her again.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, is Rin allowed to return to you?" she asked quietly. "May I return to you and try staying with you forever? May Rin promise to return to be with you forever?"

"Do as you will."

From the sound of his quiet reply, she could hear his eagerness at her promise. Hope swelled inside of her as relief swept through her. Sesshoumaru-sama did not hate her; he did not mind her being with him; he wanted her to return to his side when she could. "Then that is what Rin will do. No matter where you are or how much time passes, Rin will find a way back to Sesshoumaru-sama's side," she sniffled while pressing herself closer to her lord. "No matter where or when, Rin will always come back to Sesshoumaru-sama. Forever."

He could sense her life ebbing away ever faster. Her breath became shallow; her body grew colder; her hand on his hakama loosened. No…Don't go, Rin.

"RIN!" Jaken noisily rushed to Sesshoumaru and Rin, tripping at least five times in his panicked state. Ah-Un followed the little imp towards his master. "Rin, are you all right? Rin, answer me!"

"Jaken-sama?" she whispered weakly.

"Rin!" The tears swelled into Jaken's eyes as he realized Rin's condition.

"Jaken-sama, I'm sorry. Rin wanted to travel with Sesshoumaru-sama and Jaken-sama again. I wanted to go with you again and this time not be a burden to you. I'm sorry that I won't be able to do that."

"Rin, just save your strength!" the toad demon cried. "Save your strength and it'll be fine! For once listen to me, you stupid brat!"

The two-headed dragon moved towards the girl and nuzzled her gently with both heads. Like any other demon, he could sense death and its nearness to his precious caretaker. At this stage, all he wanted to do was give her comfort in her final moments. "Ah-Un," Rin smiled. She petted him with the little strength that she had left. "Thank you."

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes narrowed at the quietness of her voice.

As her hand dropped away from Ah-Un's muzzles, she laboriously turned her gaze upwards to the one she held dearest to her heart. "Rin knows that Sesshoumaru-sama is very busy, but…but will you stay with Rin just a little longer?" Her eyes drooped closed. "Will you stay with Rin until she's asleep? I'm so tired, but I don't want to be alone. Rin is afraid to go to sleep alone."

Sesshoumaru held her closer to him as he pressed his forehead against hers. Through clenched teeth, he murmured into her ear, "This Sesshoumaru will stay with you until you sleep. You have nothing to fear, Rin."

"Thank you…Sesshoumaru-sama."

After minutes of absolute silence, Sesshoumaru laid Rin down and stepped away.

"Onee-chan?" Hina and Haruna whispered fearfully. They ran to her side and shook her gently. "Onee-chan! Onee-chan, please open your eyes! Wake up, Onee-chan!"

Rin remained motionless.

Haruna turned to weeping Jaken, the five-year old shaking him and demanding for an answer. "Why won't she wake up?"

"Neenee!" Hiroki bawled.

"Onee-chan," Hina cried while holding her little brother.

With his back turned to them, the dog demon ordered, "Stay with her."

Through his wailing and tears, Jaken found the power to nod at Sesshoumaru's command: not that he would have left Rin's body either way. Even Hina and Haruna reflexively answered the order, instinctively knowing that the dog demon should not be disobeyed. Ah-Un sat beside the group and curled his body protectively around them.

Sesshoumaru did not even wait for an answer. He knew with or without a command that Jaken would watch Rin's body and that Ah-Un would keep them untouched. Sesshoumaru dashed deeper into the village to sate his anger without interruption.

"There are more people here!" Miroku shouted while lifting up a fallen plank. Inuyasha leapt to his side and helped his friend push away the heavy burning wood to rescue the villagers underneath. "Go, head towards the hill with Kikyou-sama's shrine," Miroku ordered the people as he helped them to their feet. "Kaede-sama is there with others. You'll be safe there."

"Get down!" Inuyasha shouted while jumping over the humans. With one fierce swipe he took down three attacking bandits. "Damn it, there are so many of them. We better hurry and get rid of the ones we can."

Miroku shot a glance towards the large hill. "Do you think that they're okay?"

"Sango can take care of herself," the half-demon reminded as he scanned the area for more villagers. "And Kagome and the old bat can handle a good few bandits with their arrows. Shippou's with them, so that's a plus. We're lucky that he came back when he did. Now come on, let's do our part and get rid of these bastards."

Nodding, the priest followed his friend deeper into the village when he noticed something flying overhead. In surprise, he stopped and pointed, "Look, isn't that Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Stopping as well, Inuyasha glanced upwards and shivered at the killer look in his older brother's eyes. "Shit, Miroku, we need to evacuate the village."

"But what about those bandits? If we don't take care of them right now, they'll—"

"No, I mean NOW!" the half-demon bellowed as he picked up some straggling humans nearby and ran in the opposite direction of Sesshoumaru. "We have to get out of here right now. If we rescue the villagers, we won't have to worry about the bandits. Didn't you see that look in Sesshoumaru's eyes? I'm sure you can sense his killing intent. He's on a damn rampage. I think he's going to kill indiscriminately."

"What?" Miroku took two children from their parents and motioned the adults to follow him. At full speed, he chased after Inuyasha and questioned, "But why? Why is Sesshoumaru-sama rampaging here and now?"

"I'm going to guess it has to do with Rin," Inuyasha frowned while sniffing the air. "It's really faint, under everything else that's going on right now, but it's there: Rin's blood…Sesshoumaru had Rin's blood on him."

Miroku's eyes widened in shock. "Oh no."

"Miroku! Inuyasha!"

Returning the rescued children to their parents, Miroku met his wife at the top of the hill and embraced her with a sigh of relief. "Good, you're safe. Sango, is everyone else okay?"

The young woman nodded while holding her trusted Hiraikotsu behind her. "Not many bandits came up this way, and Shippou and I were able to take care of any that came near. For some time now no one has come here."

"What about Kagome?" Inuyasha demanded worriedly.

"She and your son are fine," Sango answered reassuringly. "Right now, she's resting with Kaede-sama watching over her and the child. She's only tired from being moved so suddenly after the birth—but nothing is wrong." She then turned to her husband. "Did you see Rin-chan with the children?"

"The children?" Miroku grabbed Sango's arms. "The children aren't with you?"

His wife shook her head. "No, I had to go to Kagome-chan's to help her with the delivery, so I left Hiroki with Rin-chan to watch. She went to the fields to get Haruna and Hina. I didn't see them when we retreated here, so I thought maybe you had found them."

"No, I didn't see them. I—" Miroku stiffened and his face paled. He directed his gaze towards the burning village below while muttering, "No, it can't be…"

"What's wrong?"

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out while running down the hill at break-neck speed. "We have to find Rin-chan! My children are with Rin-chan!"

The half-demon's gold eyes grew wide as he realized the implication of the situation. "Shit—oh, shit, this is bad." He picked up Sango and flew after Miroku.

"Inuyasha, what's going on?" Sango demanded as Inuyasha carried her on his back.

"Earlier, we saw Sesshoumaru going into the village on a rampage," Inuyasha answered while leaping high into the air. "He had the scent of Rin's blood on him…and he looked ready to kill anything that moved."

Sango's hands tightened on Inuyasha's shoulders and on her weapon. "You don't mean…"

"I don't know," the white-haired man honestly responded. "I really don't know. That's why we need to find Rin fast. More than likely your kids are with her. If we find Rin, we can find them. And then all of us can safely get out of Sesshoumaru's way."

Gazing downwards at the village, Sango and Inuyasha frantically searched for the children. After the half-demon's third leap into the air, Sango pointed towards the west side of the village. "Look! There they are! I see Haruna and Hina with Sesshoumaru-sama's dragon."

"Yeah, you're right." As they fluttered towards the ground, Inuyasha waved and shouted towards Miroku, "We found them. They're over there!" Once his feet touched the ground, the half-demon sprinted as quick as he could towards the place he had seen the children. He and Miroku arrived at the same time, allowing mother and father to rush towards their children together.

Seeing their mother and father, the twins left Ah-Un's protection towards the arms of their parents. "Chichi-ue! Haha-ue!"

"Are you all right?" Sango demanded while kissing her children in great relief. When she finished with one daughter, Miroku took the girl and held her and kissed her as well. "Is Hiroki okay? Where is he? Where is your little brother?"

"Ah, Onee-chan took care of him," the girls assured with small hiccups. They pointed towards the sleeping form between Ah-Un's front legs. "He fell asleep from crying."

"Where is Rin-chan?"

The girls pointed towards the body resting motionlessly beside Ah-Un. Jaken could be seen sobbing over it.

"Oh no." Leaving his children with their mother, Miroku with Inuyasha ran towards the still girl. Just as Miroku was about to check her vitals, a deep voice growled severely, "Do not touch her."

From the shadows, Sesshoumaru emerged, his usual white hakama and clean armor speckled and spattered with human blood. Crimson even streaked across his face and stained his hands with its sickening color and metallic smell. His golden orbs simmered with intense emotions, feelings that no one dared to touch. Intimidated by his appearance, everyone took one step back from the enraged dog demon. Miroku and Inuyasha felt lightning course through their bodies when Sesshoumaru shot a glare at them, warning them again, "Step away from her."

Obediently the priest retreated back to his family's side. Inuyasha, however, stood his ground and explained, "Hey, we're only trying to help. Maybe we can even heal—"

"Fool," the elder brother snapped. Pushing the sobbing Jaken aside, Sesshoumaru bent down and gingerly lifted Rin into his arms. Without even looking at his younger sibling, Sesshoumaru said, "Use your senses properly. She is beyond healing."

"Sesshoumaru-sama, couldn't you—couldn't you use your sword Tenseiga to save Rin-chan?" Sango asked gently, hoping the inquiry would not offend. From past experience, she knew quite well the extent of Sesshoumaru's feelings for Rin and the magnitude of his anger; therefore, she knew that they would have to tread lightly to avoid his wrath.

"That's right," Miroku said while clapping a fist on top of his palm. "Tenseiga is known for being able to rescue one hundred allies in one swing. Surely you could use it to revive Rin."

At the mention of Tenseiga's abilities, Sesshoumaru frowned and growled quietly, "It is impossible."

"What the hell are you saying? Don't tell me that you've lost the ability to use it," Inuyasha scoffed at his brother's answer. "Honestly, when we need it most, you can't even—"

Sesshoumaru barked sharply at Inuyasha, demanding silence. "It is impossible to revive someone twice with Tenseiga."

A lump formed in Sango's throat as she croaked, "Twice you say?"

When Sesshoumaru did not answer, Jaken explained to the group in sobs, "Rin has already been revived once by Tenseiga. She—she cannot be brought back a second time."

Sesshoumaru looked at the still girl in his arms with a gaze no one believed him capable of. "Now this Sesshoumaru will only say it once: get out of the way."

Everyone moved clear of him and said not a word as he walked into the shadows of Inuyasha's forest.