Perhaps one of the strangest relationships in all of Inuyasha is the relationship between Rin and her demon guardian Sesshoumaru. Their relationship is something between travel companions and father and daughter, made extremely unusual by his often self-declared distaste for humans. His acceptance of her as a member of his entourage makes him a much more interesting character.

They first met when he was wounded in a fight with Inuyasha. She found him in the forest, and when he sensed her approach, he sat up and growled at her. Afraid but resolute, she approached him anyway and tried to bring him food and water. He refused her help, but later when he found her dead after being attacked by wolf-demons, he used his life giving sword to resurrect her. He probably did not intend to take care of her after that, but he did not object when she followed him.

It is hard to say exactly how Sesshoumaru feels about Rin. He shows little overt concern for her, other than telling her to stay put when there is danger. When Naraku kidnaps her, he goes to rescue her, but he claims that he does so as a matter of pride, rather than out of concern for a human. Even she wonders if he will come for her. While he insists on Rin taking care of herself, he does not leave her unprotected as he usually sends Ah Un or Jaken with her. Still, if he did not want her with him or at least disliked having her with him, he would not tolerate her presence.

Unlike Jaken, Sesshoumaru has no particular use for Rin and he requires nothing of her (other than staying out of his way). Also, unlike the way he treats Jaken, he does nothing to harm her such as hitting her with rocks. Yet, if he did not except his position as her guardian, he would not care to keep her out of harm’s way. He would simply let her follow him indifferently, instead of making her stay back when he goes into danger.

If his feelings about her are rather opaque, her feelings about him are crystal clear. She adores him like a father and would follow him anywhere if he would allow it. When she found him, she saw a person in pain, rather than the scary demon he tried to show her. She showed him compassion even though she could not offer him anything he needed or wanted. She followed him without any encouragement, believing that he would not reject, harm, or abandon her.

Rin expresses a desire to be of use to Sesshoumaru, but she does not press the issue, which, if she did, would probably put her in danger and make her a nuisance to have around. Instead, she does what she can and obeys Sesshoumaru without question when he tells her to stay out of his way. It is doubtful that Sesshoumaru would ever want her help anyway, but it is likely that he wants her to be able to protect herself.

Whatever the exact nature of their relationship, Rin’s presence in Sesshoumaru’s “family” softens his image. In the beginning, he appears to be arrogant and cruel (abusing his only companion and using Inuyasha’s affection for his mother against him). His sense of pride is the only thing that separates him from Naraku. It is interesting that in the same episode where Sesshoumaru heals Rin, Miroku refers to him having a “dark soul.” Perhaps the point is that his soul is not as dark as he would have everyone believe.

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