Revised this, too, boy am I on a role!


"Sesshomaru-sama?" He paused and looked over at his small ward. "Rin loves Sesshomaru-sama... Does Sesshomaru-sama love Rin?"

"This Sesshomaru loves no one."

Her face fell, "Oh, Rin understands." He sighed and looked away, but the little girl's sad voice surprised him, "Rin just wanted Sesshomaru-sama to be her daddy."

He stiffened, "You love your father?"

He looked back in time to see her bobbing her head up and down cheerfully. "Always." Again, she surprised him by noticing the subtlist changes in his expression. "Not that kind of love, Sesshomaru-sama! Rin meant family love!"

He stared at the human child, "Family... Love?"

Rin blinked, "Of course… Families love each other! They protect each other and feed each other and teach each other things. Like Sesshomaru-sama and Rin."

His eyes softened, "Then... Perhaps I understand."

She smiled up at him, "I know, Sesshomaru-sama. Now... Can Rin get a piggyback ride?"