Rin paced back and forth.
Wringing her hands, she watched as the candle burned down by her bedside. Her eyes flitted anxiously to the open window. Sliced neatly by the slats of the shutters, the moon gleamed like a sliver of pale fruit further divided.
She could lie down, force herself into a restless sleep. She could lie down and awaken no different from how she had always been. A little girl blindly obedient to the will of her masters.
Or she could go ahead as she had planned. As she had dared herself to do. Go out into the night and take what she wanted, as Kagome had dared to do.
The memory curdled in Rin’s thoughts. There was a sour taste in the back of her mouth as she snatched up the dying light and shoved her way through the door.
Even when she thought of Lord Sesshoumaru she felt the stirrings of resentment. “You are the child of my heart,” he had said to her once, not so long ago. “Remember to whom you belong, and do not waste yourself.”
Beneath her breath, Rin could not help now but to mutter, “As you have wasted yourself, Sesshoumaru-sama?”
Her words misted in the chill spring air. Before her, they seemed bitterly to smolder.
She stayed clear of the road with her meager light. Beneath her feet the new tender shoots of grass trampled with barely a whisper of protest. A mercy, Rin told herself, with the last frost of the season sure to have smitten them otherwise.
For a while she walked on in the moonlit dark, avoiding the paths where the torchlights of sentries glowed brightest. She weaved between houses, ducked into darkened alleyways and stepped smartly over the spots where fences dipped, bent or broken. From her childhood days as a scavenging orphan, she had mastered the art of slipping about unnoticed.
Only the lamp-like eyes of the cats followed her with passing interest. She had a sneaking suspicion that Kanako’s large, luminous gaze would have spotted her in an instant—but luckily she was nowhere to be found. More than likely up to her own mischief, Rin suspected darkly.
She was close to the outpost when a peculiar sight made her draw up short: a hunched, silver-haired figure taking shelter under the roof of a dilapidated shed. A low fire burned beneath the awning, the merest scattering of embers. In the spare light it cast, this mysterious figure bore such a striking resemblance to her Granny Kaede that Rin felt tears well up at the corners of her eyes.
Hesitantly, she approached. “Baa-chan?” she called out faintly, hopelessly.
Slowly the figure turned. Indeed it was an old woman—but not one familiar to Rin. Just how old she was the girl couldn’t tell at a glance, but older than her Granny Kaede had been, that was for certain.
Her eyes were so silvery with cataracts she must be blind. Yet as Rin drew closer those eyes fixed upon her with the piercing intensity of a stare. She had the distinct sensation she was seen more clearly by this old woman than she had ever been before. Across the crone’s bony knees lay a staff of witchwood, which Rin recognized immediately with a pang, for her mother had carried one very similar to it.
“You are off to become a woman, are ye not, child?” the crone rasped out, her words carrying like some phantom breeze.
Rin’s spine stiffened. “…Forgive me, Obaa-san. I’m not sure what you mean.”
The old woman cackled. With surprising quickness, she struck out at the fizzling coals with her staff, and they flared back to life with a sullen snap.
“Ye stand at a crossroads,” the crone said, fixing Rin once again with her uncanny stare. “The way before you is certain; the way behind you less so. For what is the lot of the innocent but the providence of the gods?”
Rin faltered at the truth of this. Somehow she sensed that this was a wise-woman—not a priestess, no. But something other. Something like her mother. Like Kohaku-kun and his sister Sango—something more than human.
“Your number is four,” the old woman proclaimed, looking ahead toward Rin’s secret destination. “A great lord gave you life, and another shall take it. Beware the cup and its illusions. Ye shall taste only bitterness in the wake of it.” The silvery eyes turned toward her once more, and sadly they seemed to gleam. “Now, child, which way shall ye go?”
Rin’s grip on the oil lamp grew clammy and trembling. “…I can’t go back now, Obaa-san.”
The old woman bowed her head and tended again to the coals.
Glancing toward the invisible path that only they could see, Rin advanced through the fields ahead. A strange tugging at her heart made her glance back after a while. But when she looked toward the shed, she saw only the faint light of the dying fire. The wise-woman was nowhere to be seen.
A shiver ran through her, made Rin pull her shawl tighter about her shoulders even as sweat beaded on her brow. Still she stepped lightly on, keeping to the shadows as she crossed into the military compound proper. Waiting for the patrols to pass, for the stationed guards to grow drowsy beneath the sleepy warmth of her extended aura, she entered at last and pressed her hand to the door.
No matter how light her step she should have known she could never surprise him. When she drew in a breath and slid back the screen, his sharp eyes were fixed upon her with such predatory focus that it startled her stiff. A sake cup was at his lips, she noticed. Seeing it made her waver, as she remembered the old woman’s words to her just now.
But Rin didn’t drink; she never had. She vowed then that she never would, and so what harm could it do her? Steeling herself, she watched as he set the cup aside, as if in invitation to her.
Rin’s heart thudded, heavy behind her breast. Even now, she knew, she could turn and go. Even now she could return to her home, to her bed, to herself as she was and had always been.
She knew this even as she stepped forward into the room and slid the screen shut behind her.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
This is going to be a tough lesson for Rin. The things we do out of spite is the struggle FORREAL. Then again, most of us were sneaky and hot in the butt when we lost our… 🙃
Lol for sure XD <3
Whooooo??? Not Kohaku! Hopefully Kohaku. Probably Ren. Both who she went to and who’s gonna end her. Poor Rin! I wish she listened, but young and dumb. I remember those days. Please update soon!
Yeahh we’ve all been there XD Hope you enjoy the next updates…!!! <3
Ugh, please don’t do it, Rin. As suggested above, acting out of spite always leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. And having sex for the first time just to prove something to yourself or someone else is just…so sad. It seems that the actor in this temple of cards will not be Kagome but rather Rin. I have a feeling that giving herself to Ren, who wants to “pluck her like a flower,” will have a ricochet effect across the story. At least for once it isn’t Kagome or Sesshoumaru’s sexual appetites ruining lives, but I can’t help but wonder how Kagome will react. Will Ren marry Rin and thus eliminate that bargaining chip? Will Kohaku react at all or is he still blinded by his own lust? But then, perhaps the obvious answer here is a little too obvious? Kohaku has been spending his nights at the military compound after all…
😉
Thanks so much for sharing your reactions, Alex – love hearing what’s on your mind!! Spite is a powerful motivating force, unfortunately…especially with teens D:
Hope you enjoy the fallout lol! <3
Oooooh I said it!! Didn’t I JUST say that her heartbreak is formulating to an unfortunate place?!!! This is it Baby girl!😩
This is that adolescent rebellion that Kagome seems to have forgotten could appear within her circle and it’s neverending drama. Rin will become the collateral damage of this web of lies, deceit and posturing amongst the so called ‘adults.’ She is so lost right now. Losing Kaede, Sesshomaru’s unequal status of attention, her respect/love for Kagome and the blossoming promise of first love which was cruelly informed by an horrible lil Kanako creature who is making me truly question if she’s related to Gollum. Who also STILL deserves to be punted through the goalposts. I stand by my ch 139 ‘Control’ comments.
I don’t want it to be Ren. Didn’t want Kagome to end up with Inuyasha in canon either but hey., these are the times we live in.🤷🏽♀️ Ugh this is going to leave a sour taste. Don’t want it to be Kohaku either. Neither one have honest intentions towards her. One is butt-hurt and the other is butt-kissing. . Yet whose butt will remain intact if the harm to Rin reaches an unhinged demon Lord’s perfectly pointed ears? Further down the road methinks. Bitterness will grab hold here for certain and it will be deep to the core as the story progresses.
This old soothsayer is intriguing. Recently popping up in this story like she has. This Control Universe can not be trusted for what you see (or read) with your eyes. Is that why she has the metaphorical characteristic of seeing more than anyone with the loss of sight? I’ve always liked that aspect in the ‘all seeing’ beings. It gives it that otherworldly spiritual sense while maintaining what the audience can possibly relate to. Should we believe her appearance? Is she sent by Gods as a cautionary reminder that you are still responsible for your fates whether it has already been planned? She’s gotta be something in disguise. Coming to the aide of our fallen heroines. 9? 4? What does this mean??
If anything, there will be some major fallout from this and there really is no turning back.
“I’ve always liked that aspect in the ‘all seeing’ beings. It gives it that otherworldly spiritual sense while maintaining what the audience can possibly relate to. ” ME TOO!! <3 So glad you enjoy this element, Pebbs!
Yeah, poor Rin.... :'( she's been through the ringer
Re: Kanako you made me lol w/ "Who also STILL deserves to be punted through the goalposts" XDD
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this side-story - hope you enjoy the next parts!! <3
Hope you’re doing well Char!
Sheesh, I definitely feel for Rin, BUT this kind of sounds like the beginning of the end for her. “Beware the cup and it’s illusions”? Oh Rin, you may not drink, but whoever your night time conquest is most certainly does. I think it’s Kohaku, and the “illusions” aren’t hers….they’re his. Kohaku is a liiiiiittle drunk, in his feelings, and vulnerable. The illusion for Rin here is love sadly. My prediction is he’ll sleep with Rin for sure. Rin will unfortunately get her heartbroken of course, and feel “bitter” that she’s not the one he loves afterall. I really, really hope she makes out alright here since she is one of the most innocent people out of everyone 🙁
I seriously love this universe. The writing and imagery were on point as usual. Can’t wait to read what happens next ~
Thanks so much, Lee!! <3 Love hearing your thoughts on this side-story and the possible implications for Rin...!
So happy to hear you're enjoying the Control-verse! I love it too, and wish more than anything I had more time to write D: I'm still working on updates, slowly but surely!
And doing well, thanks for asking! Hope you're doing well too <3
Oh, damn. That’s such a good catch. Interesting how drunken sexual indiscretions seem to be a bit of a theme in Control. I really hope he’s not so drunk that he mistakes her for Kagome or uses her to get back at Kagome or something. I really want Rin to have a happy ending 😢
OMG yes!! Drunken indiscretions being a theme is spot on! This won’t be the first time we’ve see bad drunken decisions (and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last).
Ooo. Number 4. Thats the death card, right? Poor rin. Who is the great lord who will kill her? How will sesshoumaru react? How will kagome?
Great update! Im learning to be comfortable on pins and needles lol.
Hey susie!! <3 Yeah I think 4 is associated with death in Japanese culture - but then I'm basing that off Bleach (and the fact that Ulquiorra was the 4th - and arguably deadliest - espada) XDDD
So glad you enjoyed the update!! Hope you're doing well <3