Until I Saved Her by Mai_Sensei [Oneshot #103]
Title: Until I Saved Her
Author: Mai_Sensei
Prompt: Technique
Word count: 712
Rating: K
Genre: General
A/N: A continuation of my story Forward to Time Past which can be found on Dokuga and FanFiction.
Summary: Sesshoumaru has to let time play out correctly.
In the Present
“What do you mean, ‘Rin’?” Kagome demanded. “I’m sorry, but whatever it is you’re planning, it’s not going to work. I need to go save you back then so there’ll be a…,” she waved her hand wildly, “you now.”
Sesshoumaru merely raised a brow at her, and waited for her to fully understand the implications of what he was saying.
“Kagome,” her mother cut in, gently, “maybe you should give him a chance to fully explain.”
Kagome cut her eyes at Sesshoumaru, shoulders tense. He didn’t open his mouth; she was smart. She always had been. She would figure it out.
“Wait…” Kagome bit her lip, face sudden going unsure. “You didn’t meet Rin until after you got injured…Until she saved you.”
“Until I saved her.” Sesshoumaru corrected.
+++
In the Past
Rin lowered her hands from her mouth, as the farmer raced outside his hut, a spear in hand. As he cautiously approached the direction her bird call had come from (the one she had perfected ages ago), Rin slipped quietly around the corner of the hut and inside. It was an old technique, one she hadn’t felt the need to use ever since Mama had died, but very useful for procuring food. And Rin just knew that if she could get her Angel more food, he might get better.
A very quick search brought up nothing. Disappointment settled on her shoulders as she slipped back outside, and just in time too. The farmer gave her a sneer as her passed, but didn’t say anything nasty to accompany it, which was unusual.
It was on her way back to her hide-away near the outskirts of town, that she remembered the river nearby. A tiny grin wormed its way onto her mouth as she turned and sprinted for the river. There was always fish in the water, and who didn’t love fish?
When Rin reached the river, she paused, briefly wondering if any of the villagers would mind. She had seen many kids playing in the water, and a few times, grownups went fishing. One less fish won’t make a hurt, she thought, and stepped into the water.
It was cold, but not chilly. Perfect for the warm summer’s day. Rin waded into the middle of the stream, then bent down. She furrowed her brow, attempting to recall the motions of the men as they caught fish with their bare hands.
Something like…Rin sucked in a breath, and plunged her hand in. As quickly as she could, she closed her fist, giddy when it closed around something slimy and wriggly. Rin pulled her hand out, hoisting her fish up.
A smile-a real one, so real it hurt her cheeks-lit up her face, and just as she pulled up the bottom of her yukata to wrap the fish in-
“Hey! Brat! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Startled, but not enough to drop the fish, Rin glanced over her shoulder. And gulped. It seemed as if the entire village were there, staring angrily down at her. A few of them even held rocks. Rin gulped.
+++
It was tough, trying not to cry even as she was being chased down. No, not chased. Hunted, like an animal. And what was worse, was that the ones chasing after her weren’t even human.
Rin could practically feel the hot breath of the wolves on her neck, and she heard each thud as a paw hit the ground. She ran towards her Angel. He could save her, she knew. She just had to run faster. Faster and faster and faster, but it never seemed to be fast enough. She spotted the familiar break in the trees, the ones behind which her Angel lay. She was almost there!
Then, the wolves pounced.
+++
Sesshoumaru felt a vibration at his hip.
“Tensaiga.” He narrowed his eyes. This is the first time it has called out to me.
“Milord, shouldn’t we be going?” Jaken smiled, and Sesshoumaru gave him a flat look. Jaken returned to pouting. “At very least, we should be gone before that annoying girl shows back up-”
Sesshoumaru kicked Jaken into a tree as he passed. Tensaiga seemed to be urging him on…
Somewhere beyond the trees, a wolf howled.