Strong Enough by Kaylee

Prologue: A Second Meeting

Prologue: A Second Meeting

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The wood was quiet all around her. Still, she stayed crouched behind the tree for a few more minutes, listening closely for the sound of someone following. Nothing. All she heard was the calls of a bird. Cautiously peeking out, she surveyed the trees around her. Nothing.

A triumphant grin spread across Rin's face. She'd finally been able to loose him! Sesshoumaru had gone ahead three days ago, taking Ah-Un with him and leaving a twelve-year old Rin alone with Jaken. And for three days Rin had done nothing but sit around the meadow Sesshoumaru had left them in. Although the flower filled meadow was beautiful, it quickly lost its appeal when your only company was a grumpy old toad youkai. While the thought of having nothing to do but pick flowers for who knew how long would have seemed like paradise to a younger Rin, after a day of it she had already started thinking up ways to escape her reluctant, yet vigilant babysitter.

After several foiled attempts, she had finally succeeded. She could have danced with joy, free at last! Instead she settled for grinning broadly and heading deeper into the forest. She only intended to go exploring for a little while before she headed back to the camp. After all, Sesshoumaru-sama wouldn't be happy about her going off in the first place, and she did feel a little bad about making Jaken worry. Even though he was icky and annoying, he wasn't all bad...or at least that's what she told herself. Rin like to believe there was a little good in everyone. She was sure Jaken had some good qualities too, she just couldn't think of any at the moment.

Unfortunately though, a sense of direction wasn't one of Rin's strong points. When she finally decided it was time to head back, she realized she didn't have a clue where she was. All the trees looked exactly the same. Ever optimistic, it didn't faze her a bit. Turning in what she guessed to be right direction, she walked off quickly, wanting to get back as soon as possible...

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The sun was low in the sky and the trees were casting long shadows over the ground. Night would soon be here and poor Rin was still searching for the flower filled meadow, which over the last few hours had become more and more appealing. She prayed desperately to any deity that might be listening, promising to be forever good and never leave again if only they would help her get back. After passing the same moss covered rock for the fourth time, Rin finally gave up, getting the distinct impression fate was laughing at her.

Coming upon a small clearing, Rin flopped to the ground in a tired heap. Her feet were sore and she hadn't eaten all day, she was completely exhausted. There was no way she could go on tonight. She leaned against a tree near the edge of the clearing, settling in for a long night. With a sigh, Rin closed her eyes, wishing silently that she were back at camp with the comforting warmth of Ah-Un next to her and the reassuring knowledge that Sesshoumaru-sama was awake nearby, keeping her safe from any harm. Even Jaken's loud snoring would have been welcome

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Hours later Rin awoke, blinking groggily. She shifted uncomfortably on the cold ground, wincing as cramped muscles protested. Note to self, sleeping against trees is not a good idea.

As she looked around the dark clearing, Rin wondered vaguely what had awoken her. As she lay down again, attempting futilely to find a comfortable position, she gradually became aware of the feeling that she was being watched. She shifted uneasily, all the ghost stories Jaken had told her when she was younger came rushing back. Horrible, human eating demons live in the forest, he had croaked, they come out at night to eat little children who don't listen to their elders. She had long ago discarded them as childish nonsense he had made up to scare into behaving. But as she sat there in the dark, they suddenly seemed much more plausible.

She listened closely, straining to hear anything out of the ordinary. Moments passed and still the silence remained unbroken. Rin was beginning to believe she had imagined the whole thing...and suddenly felt incredibly silly for believing those old wives tales. Ahaha, demons eating children for not listening to their elders, what nonsense, she thought with a smile...but they might eat foolish little girls who wander off alone in the forest...eek! She shook her head quickly and firmly told her inner rationalist to shut it. She was just feeling the alluring tugs of sleep once more, when a loud shriek pierced the silence, coming from the branches of the tree directly behind her.

Rin gave an undignified squeal and leapt forward, sprinting blindly through the clearing and into the forest. Her heart pounded loudly in her head as she raced along, her footsteps ringing out like thunder in the silence forest around her. Constantly she looked behind her, trying to catch a glimpse of what pursued her.

Unfortunately for Rin, she wasn't looking in the right direction. It was not from behind or the sides that she was being pursued, but from above. A large bat-youkai beat his wings silently and quickly through the night sky, heading straight towards his first meal of the night. Gracefully he sped through the air, quickly closing the distance between his prey and the lethal points of his claws.

As she glanced once more behind her, Rin lost her footing and tripped, falling face first into the dirt, smacking her stomach hard on a gnarled root and knocking the breath from her lungs. Hearing a rustling of wind above her, she looked up and her eyes widened in fright.

The bat youkai grinned in anticipation, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. He snapped his wings shut and dove, claws extended in front of him. Rin didn't even have time to scream as the sharp points tore into her flesh, ripping her open and letting her life flow from her in streams of red blood. The last things she saw were the cold eyes of her killer, before she felt herself falling into a familiar darkness

For the second time in her short life, Rin died.

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A/N: People who R&R get good karma and a pretty reply at the end of the next chapter