Um, Question!

[Caliborn]

Okay, being as I am still totally new to the Inuyasha world . . .relatively new, anyway, since the only episodes I see are the ones Cartoon network shows . . . Well, Rin just popped up in the series. And she's definately significant to get Sesshomaru's attention.

So here's the question: What, exactly, is she? Does anyone know? What's her significance?

Don't worry about spoiling it for me, since I've already heard bits and peices . . . I just want them to be put together and make -sense-! *Nod nod!* So, um, I'd really appreciate anyone who'd care to help!

[Little Green Miko]

>> Rin is Sesshoumaru's proof that he's a bloody hypocrite!! lol. jk. Though she does prove that point as well.

Rin is someone for Sesshoumaru to protect. I mean, he's not a bad guy at all, and it's not likely he'll protect Jaken. She also serves as the trigger point to getting him involved in the long drawn out search to kill Naraku. She's used as a "friend" for Kohaku and something for Jaken to be busied with while Sesshoumaru goes on excersions alone.

I think that sums her up for now...::rubs her head:: unless someone can think of some other explanations. ^^

[kyoki]

She's like the trigger for Sesshoumaru. Like Kagome was for Inuyasha, and Sango was for Miroku...er, for the most part ^^. She's a reason for him to change.

[Wingnut]

That's one way of putting it. I would aslo say she is the most innocent character in the series. Also she is 100% human. Killed once, and shortly afterward found by Sess and revived by the Tenseiga.
And as mentioned before, a continual, yet comedic, pain in Jaken's rear end.

[wj]

Like others have said, Rin is Sesshoumaru's reason to change. In many ways, she is a crisis of conscience for him. He is forced to question his blanket hate for humans and hanyous because of her.

In the manga, he has rarely if ever physically touched her since the day he revived her. He always denies protecting her and instead insists her protection is just a side effect of his determination to show Naraku that "this Sesshoumaru" will not be manipulated.

He never shows his feelings for her in any overt fashion. We are left to judge his feelings for her by other means, such as the fact that he always leaves her in a safe place with Jaken if there is danger near, he clothes and feeds her, and he seems to have a lot of patience with her but none with Jaken.

He is learning compassion from her and for her, but will not admit it, even though he orders Jaken to take care of Rin and obviously makes sure she is fed and clothed well. Rin is the only character who has any real influence over Sesshoumaru, I think, because though he won't admit it, he does consider her feelings and adjusts his actions accordingly.

His compassion for Rin has slowly spread to compassion for others. He spared Kohaku's life when Inuyasha's gang asked him to, but denied that was the reason and used the excuse that "this Sesshoumaru" will not do what Naraku expected [which was to kill Kohaku].

Rin represents innocense and caring love in contrast to Sesshoumaru's jaded hate and apathy.

She is helping Sesshoumaru understand why his own father loved a human, and consequently, he is coming to accept Inuyasha.

She is a catalyst who actually has a lot of impact on the story since she has altered Sesshoumaru's views.

wj

[Noko Marie]

Simply put, Rin is the chink in Sesshoumaru's armor and heart. No one can look at the original drawing of Rin's resurrection and Sesshe's wonder at it and disbelieve that.

Well, not if you can read faces anyway. Takahashi tends to move even her graceful chacters awkwardly, but she does as good a job as Norman Rockwell on facial expression

Sesshoumaru is being led down a path he rejected and Inuyasha wanted to reject. But neither can crush the growth of spirit or prevent themselves from gaining a soul.

Which, oddly enough, brings us back to Hakudoushi, "I'm a real boy!?

[Noko Marie]

A-hem, I tend to laugh too much.

Rin is the chink in Sesshoumarou's armor. But Inuyasha can now speak to his brother in derogitory terms and have him respond in a (reluctantly) positive manner.

Kagome and Rin ruin everything for those two boys! (there I go again) No mass murder, no heartless mayhem and NO insulting the cook! Or emotional pain will ensue!

As to whether Sessh stays with Rin, letting her grow up and marry the equally messed Kohaku and takes the brave Kagura for himself--only time will tell...

[Caliborn]

Thank you all so much for all the info! I definately feel like I have a better grip on her character now. ^_^ I noticed the whole chink-in-Sesshomaru's-armor thing when he actually cared anough to ask where she had gotten bruised-- I was like, " . . .Wait, what? Doesn't that completely go against his character?" Of course, he immediately tried to cover it up by saying he -didn't- care, but you could tell . . . I thought it was cute.

I've also heard the theory that Rin was Kikyo's reincarnation in the Feudal Era . . . Whereas Kagome was her reincarnation in the present times. I definately see some semblences between her and Kagome . . . Any thoughts on this?

[wj]

In a filler episode of the anime, Rin is on a mission to get some healing herbs for Jaken and meets the hanyou Jeninji (spelling?) who had met and been helped by Kagome and Inuyasha before (the episode where Kag and Inu went to get the herbs for Sango and Kirara).

Upon meeting Rin, Jeninji says that she is just like Kagome. I don't remember exactly what he said but it was something about them both being pure spirits or being so caring for others or something.

I don't know if the manga or anime comment on it, but some fan theories out there state that Kagome's soul is so big and she is so wise and compassionate (even for an immature, tempermental teenager) because her soul has had many lifetimes in the hundreds of years between Kikyou's death and Kagome's birth. She is an 'old soul'.

wj