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Crumbling to the ground, the stone chipped away slowly around her skin as the curse slowly lifted. Naraku had finally been defeated after so long. Patiently she waited until she could slowly move her limbs once more. How many years had it been? Deep in the cavern where she had been kept with not a single indication of time, it was difficult to tell. Her pale skin was finally able to breathe under the gray stone that had coated her body for so long. Tingles moved up and down her limbs as she moved them slowly. Legs giving out under her once everything fell away, she sat there on the ground for what felt like ages before her legs shakily let her stand.

"He's finally dead," she said in a whisper as tears of joy fell down her face from her caramel colored eyes. As her hands went to her face to wipe the tears, she realized her hair had grown significantly in her imprisonment. Almost down to her ankles, she let her fingers wave through the long dark brown locks. The kimono she had on before was a simple blue, and that hadn't changed despite the time.

Satomi was left in the darkness not knowing which way was the way out. Knowing that she would never find her way out if she didn't step forward, she slowly made her way to a cavern wall. The rocks hurt her bare feet, but that was worth the freedom she now had. Who had killed him? What took so long? She wanted to know the answers. Owing the person her life, she had to first find out how much time had passed. Which meant leaving the cavern before she was too far ahead of herself.

Trips and falls happened frequently until she finally smelled something other than a musty underground cave. Fresh air, finally! Everything else faded away as she ran blindly towards the source still unable to see a thing. Nearly screaming as wet grass touched her feet, she realized it was dark outside. The moon the only illumination as the light sparkled on the meadow before her. The sight was truly miraculous as she thought she would die in that cavern. Tears continued again down her cheeks as she fell from the shock and beauty of it all.

Countless minutes went by as she had the desire to find out if her family was alive. Her sister, brother, mother, father, and even if the village was still standing. Everything was so overwhelming that it was hard to know what to do first. No matter what she'd have to wait for daylight to even know which way to go. Memory served to remind her that the fight with Naraku was someplace with very few people, as she planned it that way. A village within an easy walk from here would be a sign of much time going by.

Humming a tune from her past, Satomi passed the time with thoughts and memories. Her kimono felt shorter than before, but then she presumed she probably grew a bit since then. While she hadn't heard or seen anything in quite some time, she was happy to see the darkness glisten. The sun could be a little much. Sighing, she traced her name in the grass feeling the dew on her skin and enjoying the sensations all around her. The smell of nature, the sounds of an owl in the distance, grass under her body, everything felt new once more.

Seeing a glimmer of yellow over a distant hill, she stood up and took in deep breaths of air as she watched the slow sunrise. It would be cool today, she remembered how to tell that. The goosebumps over her skin reminded her it was probably unwise to sit in wet grass for so long. Catching a death of cold would be ironic after 'being away'. Oranges and brighter yellows continued to illuminate the sky. The curse was finally done, and the new dawn awaited Satomi. She knew her family was out there somewhere. There was so much to say to them, to explain.

Being taken away in her teens, she was meant to be a concubine to a lord as she grew up. Her beauty was often talked about and this was her way to make a living for her family who didn't have anything besides each other. It about killed her to leave everyone, but they were left with very little choice. A year into training, everyone was killed and Naraku was to blame. The castle was convenient for him apparently and she found herself learning how to kill demons in the hope she could one day face him. Well, one day she did… and he cursed her to stone. "To forever have your beauty as you die slowly in stone". She wandered into the cavern before the curse had completed. "Only my death will free you…" Lingering words that fueled her anger, until anger turned to grief, and grief turned numb into nothing. Never again. Never again would she be numb to anything, life was given to her again and she would use everything in her power to live it.

Smiling as the new dawn greeted her, she opened her arms and took a final deep breath before looking in all directions. All she needed to do was start walking and fate would guide the rest.

"Sesshomaru is here," Rin told Kaede as she bounded out of the small hut. Kaede not even able to get a word in before Rin was already running to meet her demon lord towards the edge of the village. By now, everyone was used to his appearance. A year had passed since she started living with Kaede and not much had changed since then. Village life was normal, not nearly as eventful as traveling with Sesshomaru however it had a peace and value of life to it she was starting to learn to appreciate. Helping with newborns was especially fun with Sango and Miroku. Inu-Yasha and Kagome lived a fairly normal life as she trained to be the priestess and he protected her in her duties as she would be commissioned to take out demons from time to time. Everything was normal, and she loved it.

"Lord Sesshomaru," she said out of breath as she reached him. He seemed to have a small box in his hand outstretched towards her. His usual solemn face expression didn't give anything away as she smiled and took the box shyly from his hand. "Thank you so much!" A small jade necklace, easy for her to hide she supposed but it worked for her just fine. The kimonos were almost too much now to handle, and fans were a plenty. She supposed it was his own way of making sure she was taken care of while he was taking care of his Inu Daiyōkai duties or something. He had large shoes, or paws rather, to fill since his father died. Kagome had told her that during their many talks together.

"I take it you had a good day," he said tilting his head to the side slightly as she put the necklace over her head. She was always a curious human, but he enjoyed their time together. It still amazed him to watch a human child grow up. Over the last four years, she had grown into a young lady who would soon find a human to be with and start a family. Strangely, he would almost rather it be that young boy Kohaku who had proven suitable to protect little Rin. Even if the thought unsettled him none the less. The choice would be hers to do with what she pleased, no matter what he would never be far.

"Yes, I did! Kaede showed me many herbs and how to best skin a rabbit today," Rin said with a huge grin on her face. "You should come to the village and see all the progress we made drying out the flowers and other plants. Inu-Yasha and Kagome are supposed to be home tomorrow sometime too!" She wasn't blind when she saw the look of confusion on his face. Never usually asking him to tag along, he probably found it weird that she asked. "I mean if you want to, my lord."

"I suppose it would not hurt," he said simply as he walked passed her and then waited for her to lead. He didn't smell anyone out of the ordinary, so he did not foresee a problem this time. Walking behind her into the hut, Kaede looked like she would about faint.

"Kaede, he said he would come with today and see all that you've been teaching me," Rin said with a huge grin as Kaede processed what was going on. She looked so pleased, Kaede couldn't help but smile after getting her bearings.

"Oh, aye child," she said standing up. "I do not believe I have had a demon lord in my hut. Tis an honor and a curious thing."

"Think nothing of it," he said simply not used to dealing with so many humans. Rather he was used to killing them more so back when if he so felt like it. Rin was never phased by him, and Kaede seemed to settle down as Rin showed him different things around the hut before taking him back out to the village and showing him around there as well.

"Sango!" Rin called out as three children and their mother came out of a different hut nearby. Miroku was out with Inu-Yasha and Kagome, but Sango took the time to stay behind for the children. Motherhood suited her, Rin loved seeing her be a mother to the children. It reminded her of many years ago with her own mother.

"Rin! I see Sesshomaru is with you today, how nice is that?" she said as the children watched the demon lord with curious eyes. Their hands reached forward before Sango said, "What did I say about those hands? I swear just like their father, always wandering hands." Saying it under her breath, she shook her head.

"Yes, it is," Rin said laughing at Sango's expression. It looked like she was also showing a fourth child. Still early, but a small bump was there. Sango asked Rin about Kaede and the dinner for this evening and Sesshomaru just let it phase out of his attention. However, he did smell someone new. A young woman coming from the forest. A young woman alone from such a place was odd, but it appeared that she was continuing no further than she was. Contentment was what he sensed, so he relaxed slightly as Rin pulled him away and Sango nodded in respect.

Soon it was time for him to go and he flew away as Rin waved with that smile on her face.

Satomi smiled as she saw a small village. Four years had passed since she had started her journey and what she learned had saddened her. The former village she had lived in with her family was ransacked by lesser wolf demons and killed her sister. Her other family died from thieves soon after she was taken. However, she could do nothing about the past and that drove her to live her own life. One to make her family proud. She sang and danced geisha songs at villages for some money, but she enjoyed her traveling entertainment life. Any small demons and annoying men were easy to handle after the training she had all those years ago.

Humming a song, she saw a handsome man fly into the sky. Obviously, a demon, but still she stared in wonder as she looked between him and the village he came from. A small girl was waving to him, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight. It seemed so innocent and there didn't seem to be malintent. Sighing, she took in the sights and admired the small humble village. It didn't seem that there'd be much for money and entertainment here, but that didn't always matter. Sometimes she just felt drawn to places and this was one of them. How serene and peaceful.

Resting against the base of a large tree, she heard small steps approaching her. Looking over, she saw what could have been a twin of her little sister if she had been able to grow up. That hair especially with the cute side ponytail. "Hi there, are you ok?" the girl said quietly as Satomi sat up straight.

"Of course, can I help you with something?" she asked with a smile. The girl seemed to relax a little and sigh in relief.

"No not really, I'm just glad to know you're ok. The last time I approached someone leaning against a tree, they were hurt."

"My name is Satomi," she said trying to put the girl at ease. "I just didn't see if there'd be an inn and I was tired is all."

"Oh, well my name is Rin and if you'd like to stay with the priestess I'm sure that would be ok," she said noting the young woman seemed familiar somehow.

"I'll be just fine. And I love your name, reminds me of someone from long ago that I miss terribly."

Rin blushed slightly and looked to the ground. She didn't want to make Satomi sad, and yet something about that made her sad too. "I'm sorry…"

"Please don't be. I shouldn't have said that. You just look so much like her, but that's nothing bad or wrong. I'm happy to have met you and maybe I will see you tomorrow?" Satomi said reaching out to touch the girl's cheek before moving it away.

"Of course! I'll look for you tomorrow Ms Satomi," Rin said as she ran off. The name seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it. Maybe another life?

Satomi fell asleep against the trunk to memories of her little sister. How strange that girl brought up all the memories that laid dormant for years now. But they were pleasant ones and ones she welcomed in her dreams as the night came over the world.