By this point many days had passed, months skittering by, a few even holding occasional visits from Sesshomaru. Even with her happiness growing each day, Rin had continued having trouble sleeping in the hut, having never been able to fall into the abyss of dreams easily. Kagome had shown concern over the matter, trying to bring it up to Inuyasha who only said she just needed to suck it up.
Words like those weren't exactly something you could tell a child like Rin and expect them to work. Kagome had spoken and discussed with Kaede over the issue, trying to come up with a solution to the problem. Rin was growing on Kagome like a daughter, having been the one to clothe her and feed her, even teaching her other things like reading, or cooking (even if she wasn't the best chef herself), and even cleaning.
Rin was such a sweet and obedient child, Kagome wanted nothing more than to treat her as her own since she adored her so much. Inuyasha held no ill-will against his brother's old traveling companion, but he wouldn't admit that she had grown on him aloud. Rin would stay out of his way and do what he asked, which he appreciated, finding her more and more pleasant to have around.
He would go as far as to brag on her behalf that she was a much better kid than Shippo ever could be. But, Rin felt she only belonged as a small member of the village, her only goal to live safely and fulfill Sesshomaru's wish of her being amongst humans until she was old enough for him to consider taking her from this place. Rin did like living with her new guardians, but she still never felt as happy as she could be if she was still traveling with Sesshomaru.
She would still run out into the forest and play with the woodland animals. She would sit around with nothing to do but wonder where Sesshomaru and the gang were, or what they were doing out in the world without her. One day she had wondered if Jaken and A-Un were doing well, as she found herself doing more often, only certain Sesshomaru was doing as he pleased.
She was out in the forest, underneath one of the many trees that created a protective rim around the village. Rin knew they were out there doing something, and she was here alone in the forest crouched on roots wishing she could be with them. The longing in her heart was childish but sincere, and that made it all the worse that Rin couldn't feel anything different.
Above her was only the canopy of the trees, layering over and under each other to create a roof of branches. Around her was only the brown of their bases, their trunks all varying in size and thickness. On days where she didn't want to sit around thinking about the demons she adored so much, she would count the leaves as they fell or try and climb up as many trees as she could.
This habit stayed with her all the way to her teenage years, only changing to be more successful as her body was more capable of such tasks. The forest was her domain and she would stay as its rightful owner, memorizing each twig and branch she saw alongside every trunk and dip in the soil.
She had been planted here by Lord Sesshomaru so she may grow to be something wise and powerful, someone more acquainted with a world she was meant to be in, rescued from deforestation to rise above her new plot with fresh dreams and passions. Lord Sesshomaru must have known that her place was not amongst humans, but to be one with the forest and its inhabitants rather than those of society. She could not fail him since his woes were personal, a caring warmth would always overwhelm her when she thought of him.
At the age of 14, Rin was still very kind and innocent, playful most of the time. Lord Sesshomaru had yet to fail in visiting her, but he did fail in telling her if he had decided to take her away from her makeshift prison. Rin would yern for the words to leave his lips, granting her permission to follow him and Jaken out of the village and continue journeying with them, but they were never spoken.
Eventually Sesshomaru arrived on the morning of a summer day, the sun out and bringing fresh warmth to the village. Rin had been busying herself with cleaning her hut, having moved into it only a year before. To clean it all properly she had to remove most of her items and furnishings.
It was a tedious task without a doubt. She hadn't known when Sesshomaru was going to arrive next, surprised to see him standing outside as she stepped out to retrieve items she wanted to bring back inside.
"Rin." He said as he usually did, a balanced stare greeting her.
"Lord Sesshomaru." She said in greeting, offering a polite bow to him. She had lost the courage to be loud and excitable, starting to believe she should begin acting more like a proper woman. But it didn't stop a wide smile from appearing on her face.
He stared at her for a moment, giving Rin an excuse to feel embarrassed. She must have looked terrible with her older and worn clothes, she wouldn't ever wear something like this if she knew Sesshomaru was coming. They were convenient to wear when she was cleaning.
She would normally dress up for Sesshomaru's visits, but she couldn't exactly do that with surprise visits.
"What are you doing?" The demon dog asked, casting his gaze toward the somewhat organized pile of valuables beside the hut's doorway. Rin glanced at it and then pointed behind her to the doorway as she turned.
"I'm moving everything inside. Lady Kaede had given me this as my own home. I am working on.. Cleaning it. I left my things out so it would be easier." Rin explained, looking back to Sesshomaru. He nodded after a moment of silence, glancing out toward the rest of the village. Rin followed his gaze out of curiosity, noticing he was looking at the other villagers huts. She felt she should explain why she was so far from the other villagers.
"Lady Kaede had the hut made over here so I could have space from the other villagers..." She spoke up softly, "It was because of my struggle in sleeping at night." After she finished Sesshomaru looked at her from the corner of his eye.
"You're still unable to sleep?" He asked. Rin shook her head as she put up her hands to exaggerate her point.
"Not anymore, no. It's just that sometimes I can have a hard time sleeping, but that rarely happens anymore thanks to Kagome." Rin explained. Another pause in their conversation came to life, giving Rin a moment to look away and run her hands through her hair, tucking a few stubborn black strands behind the curve of her ear. She didn't want to continue her process of dragging her belongings into the hosue with Sesshomaru standing there, Rin would feel as if she would be acting rude to the demon lord.
She hadn't anticipated him appearing today for a visit, being caught off guard was one way to put how she felt right now. Sesshomaru always tended to do something when he arrived so she never had an awkward moment like this with him before, not knowing what to do in his presence. It was a very foreign experience.
"Do you need help moving your things, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked, causing her to look from the ground up to him as he stepped closer to properly examine her belongings beside the entryway of her hut. She took a moment to answer, glancing at him and her items of interest.
"Oh, I can handle it on my own. I wouldn't ask you to help me with something so below you, Lord Sesshomaru." She said, starting to sound more like some kind of likeable old woman that had moved in next door to a young man. She rolled her eyes at herself internally, how could she see herself like that? She wasn't even 20 yet!
Sesshomaru put his gaze on her, the cold golden orbs held no defined emotion, but Rin could tell no matter what she may try to say to dissuade him, he would choose to help or not on his own accord.
"You will need this done before nightfall. You're unable to do this by yourself by that time. I will be helping you, Rin." He forced out, looking to the pile and gesturing to it with an open palm.
"Tell me what you wish to have brought in first." He said. Rin blinked in surprise of his choice. He had free-will and she would never challenge his actions, but Sesshomaru doing labor to assist her seemed so out of character from how she had seen him behave in similar scenarios. Something in her chest stirred with unrecognized ingredients to create a small surge in her heart, a tickling feeling sprouted from the bottom to the top of her stomach.
Rin couldn't find a word for the sensation. She would have to ask Kaede or Kagome whenever she had a chance. She smiled as she pointed to a small bundle of clothes in the pile, telling Sesshomaru he could bring them inside.
She grabbed a few items herself and followed him inside as they worked together to furnish and supply her home with her possessions.