Chapter 19 - Leaving
 
Rin trailed after InuYasha into one of the Princess’ meeting rooms. There she saw whom she assumed to be Hiten and the Princess sitting across from one another. Without a word she followed InuYasha’s lead and sat in one of the empty chairs facing the Princess.

“Rin, Hiten has found a home for you. The monk Miroku and his mate Sango, both humans, have asked for you. They are expecting a child of their own, but they want you to be their daughter as well. You will leave first thing in the morning.”

 
Rin had expected it, but to hear the words was still a bit frightening to her. She stared down at her hands, clenched together once again in her lap. It was a few moments before she felt three pairs of eyes on her. When she looked up she knew she had been right. All three people were staring at her, seemingly waiting for her to say something. She almost panicked. What was she to say? “Th..thank y-y-you.” She barely stammered the words out before she stood and fled the room, not waiting to be given leave. She only knew she had to go!

She considered going back to Yukina, but her feet took her to Kaiba’s tower instead. She was disappointed to find him gone. She sat in his big chair and put her head down on his desk. She would wait for him.

It was in that position that Kaiba found her later that afternoon. She was sound asleep when he gently touched her shoulder. As he shook her awake he knew why she had come. He had been informed of Miroku and Sango’s decision as soon as he returned from his errands. He was not surprised to find her waiting for him. “Rin, wake up child.”

Rin came awake suddenly. She was a bit befuddled when she looked up into Kaiba’s eyes. For only a moment she thought she had been ill again. Then she realized she was in his tower, not in her room. She lifted her arms silently and placed them around his neck. She would miss him terribly.

Kaiba hesitated a moment before finally wrapping his arms around her body. Her closeness to him was a heady feeling for him. However, this was their last moment together. He had some ill farmers to tend to in the morning, so he would not be here for her departure. He wanted this moment to never end. His guilt over the feelings he had for her did not outweigh the happiness he felt to be holding her close, even though it was a goodbye hug. The two said nothing to each other. They just remained that way for a long time. When they finally broke apart he knelt in front of her, holding her upper arms and looking into her eyes. They said nothing, only stared at each other. She nodded at him and he returned the gesture. She would be fine. Of that he was certain. She sniffed once, wiped a single tear away, and left his tower, never looking back.

Rin once again did not get to sleep until late that night. She had visited Yukina after leaving Kaiba. Her friend had told her all she could remember about the couple. They had sobbed their goodbyes before she had left Yukina’s wing. The ice maiden thought it best to say goodbye then instead of in the morning. She did not want her new parents to be sad about Rin having puffy swollen eyes from crying, as she did now. Her tears, it turned out, had no end after all.

Rin had one last thing to do before leaving the castle. Almost as soon as her eyes opened she reached under her bed and pulled her old battered knapsack out. She hoisted it onto her shoulders and carried it to the kitchen. The cooks were all astonished to see her remove several vegetables, some almost rotten; fruits, breads, and some sweets. She had not known about the bartering system here at the castle. She had thought she would starve during the winter unless she saved some food. Kaiba had explained the system to her less than two weeks ago. Since then she had ceased taking food to her room. She had thrown away most of the spoiled food already, but she had not known what to do about these. Once she finally told Yukina about the problem the ice maiden had told her to simply return it to the kitchen. No sense letting any more rot. So, that is what she was doing. She dumped everything out on a table, smiled at the cooks, and without explanation, turned and left. She went back to her room and took a bath. After she got dressed and made her bed, she packed her few belongings into the now-empty knapsack. Then she sat on the bed, combed her hair and waited. She knew it would not be long before someone came to get her. Today her new life would begin.
When Hiten first took off with her she was concentrating on waving at the people that had come out to see her off. She hugged InuYasha, Bankotsu, Bakura, Kurama, and Aara. When she came to Sesshomaru he leaned down to her, wrapping her in his strong arms one last time. She kissed him on the cheek then walked to Hiten without looking back. It was time.

As Rin saw the figures disappearing into the distance it occurred to her that they were actually in the air. That is when it dawned on her to be frightened. Her sudden squeals unnerved Hiten, who almost lost his grip on her. He made a desperate shift in his hold and decided to fly lower. Rin, however, after blinking her eyes a few times against the wind, was beginning to decide she rather enjoyed flying. When Hiten began to swing lower, she called to him to go up. “Higher, Hiten! Higher!!”

With glee he complied. He loved to soar above the clouds, but he rarely got a chance to do so. His job as Protector required him to stay below the clouds, always watchful for danger or malice. When he had time for himself he always had stuff to do at home. Serafin kept him busy, and even though he was quite content in his new role of Protector and mate, he missed soaring as high as the fire wheels would allow.

Rin was enjoying herself immensely. When they went above the clouds and she looked down, it appeared as if they were floating over a sea of foam. She was delighted when Hiten explained to her that clouds were really water vapor. That is why it felt clammy when they passed through them. Encouraged by his willingness to talk to her, she asked about him and his role in the Village. He explained that he was a Thunder Demon and Protector. He was mated to Serafin, who was expecting their first child. Serafin was a human also. She was kind and gentle and always ready with a smile. Their home was across and down a bit from her new home, he told her, so she could visit them whenever she wanted to. Serafin adored children and made the best sweets in town, if he did say so himself. Rin was glad to have already made a friend of sorts. She hoped it would make things easier.

It wasn’t very long until Hiten swung down back under the clouds and began his descent from the sky. Rin did not ask him why he was going so low. She could see the Village in the distance. She took a deep breath and tried to enjoy the remainder of her first experience flying.

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