Sesshomaru, a dog demon that was currently annoyed with his indefinite mind, had arrived in the village of Rin's adolescent days. He had been traveling for a few hours, too distracted by his thoughts to keep himself within vicinity of the village. It had worn off once he had come to his decision, a plan he devised to soothe his aching patience.
Sesshomaru planted his feet firmly on the soils of the forest that surrounded the village. He could smell the mortals in the village, pinpointing Rin's specifically. She had been in the woods recently, he noted. With his white hair being stirred by the afternoon breeze, he followed her trail. It didn't take long to discover a tree with a piece of paper nailed to it. He offered a glance to it, raising a brow at the single arrow in it, just barely within the center dot of the target drawn on the paper.
Had Rin shot that arrow? Why was it the only one? And why was it left behind?
He allowed those questions to melt from his mind, looking away as he followed her scent once more. When he emerged from the undergrowth he wasn't too surprised to see Rin holding a chicken in her lap as she spoke to Kaede. He was aware she had developed a strange compassion for farm animals such as the cream colored bird in her lap. He never understood it, but he never felt disturbed by it, he still saw her as a young mortal.
He stayed silent in his arrival, beginning to walk over to the duo. The dog demon took notice of the bow lying on the ground beside her, it confirmed his suspicions that the arrow lodged in the tree behind him was her handy work.
"Rin." He called out once he felt he was close enough to be heard. Both Kaede and Rin looked over at him in surprise.
"Greetings, Lord Sesshomaru." Kaede welcomed quietly, but politely. He eyed her with his expressionless gaze, perfectly aware of Rin walking over to him eagerly. She had dropped the chicken from her lap when she stood, smiling widely as she made her way to him.
"Hello, Lord Sesshomaru." She said, her voice gentler than her usual greetings. She was learning to control her voice, he noted. Maybe she wasn't as young as he thought anymore. Mortal age was simple to remember, but their changes of maturity were tricky for the dog demon understand.
For now he would allow it to catch him off guard, mainly because it only concerned Rin. He stared down at her, taking the finer details of her face. She looked relatively the same since the last time he saw her.
He felt as if words were building in his throat, but like an iron trap, his lips refused to open for their escape. He stared at her a few moments before Kaede broke the spell he had caught himself in.
"You know, Lord Sesshomaru, Rin has been practicing her archery. She was just telling me she had wanted to show you herself how far she has come." The elder said, ultimately shattering any hesitance the two seemed to have developed in their minor interactions. Rin smiled widely as she nodded, beginning to walk toward the forest, unaware it was where Sesshomaru had just emerged.
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru, I left an arrow behind to show you my finest shot!" Rin exclaimed, her youthful vigor restored as she lead him within the woods. He didn't dare tell her he had already seen her handiwork, a small part of him wanted to listen to her talk about her achievement.
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Now he stood with her looking up at him hopefully, his statement still ringing in his ears. He paused as he rethought what he proposed. It was something he had decided on when he arrived, but now that he had said it aloud, a piece of him was beginning to regret it.
But he continued.
"All you have to do is to strike me with an arrow, and only after that can you come with me to the southern lands." Sesshomaru explained. Rin had the widest grin he had ever seen on her.
"You believe I can, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked, clutching her bow to her chest. Once more he nodded in confirmation.
"I need to tell Kagome and Inuyasha!" Rin exclaimed, running off to find the duo. Sesshomaru watched her go, beginning to follow her after a moment of watching her glee.
When he arrived to his brother's hut, Rin and Kagome were holding hands, seeming to squeal in joy at the news. As soon as he appeared in Kagome's peripheral, she turned to him with a sharp look.
"Rin just told me about your deal. You better not go back on your word, Sesshormaru!" She warned, her glare sincere in it's sternness. Sesshomaru bowed his head to her.
"I would never lie to Rin." He promised her, his expression remaining empty as he returned to his stoic posture. Kagome nodded with a huff, before pointing an accusing finger at him.
"But if she is busy hunting for you, how will she be safe? Rin will have to sleep, you know." Kagome pointed out, shuffling Rin away to gather her things. Sesshomaru watched them carefully.
"Rin shall hunt me during the day. At night, or whenever she chooses to sleep, I will guard her. Finding food and shelter, however, will be her own responsibility." Sesshomaru informed his sister in-law. Kagome seemed to consider his words carefully, her hand lowering as she crossed her arms.
"Very well. But, how will we know when she succeeds? Or am I supposed to be okay with never seeing her again? How long will the hunt go on? Does she have a time limit to catch you?" Kagome quizzed him, her glare returning with it's usual ferocity. Sesshomaru pondered a moment over her questions. He would never admit it, but those were things he himself hadn't thought about.
"The hunt ends when she succeeds or gives up. I will send a messenger if she does succeed." He decided swiftly. They were simple answers. Kagome let her stare melt away into an approving smile.
"Alright then." She eyed him again, though. It seemed she had something else stern to say, but she held it back. Soon Rin appeared again, Inuyasha stepping forward with her. The brothers said nothing to each other, not even looking at one another.
Sesshomaru knew, some small tiny invisible pact had just formed between them. Inuyasha wanted him to keep Rin safe, it came without saying anything. Sesshomaru found it ironic, just a little, that he had been the one who had taken Rin under his wing first, but yet he was no where near being a father to her as Inuyasha was now.