A/N: this is a one shot i wrote in the middle of the night... i was bored... i'll post more shorts like this too... :) - !Yat!

Small pounding footsteps.

A light laugh.

Without turning, he knew who was following him. Her flowery scent and running footsteps, had given it away.

Stopping, and looking straight ahead, he addressed the child.

"Rin, come here."

A soft pattering of feet, and the girls face looked up at him, cheerful and innocent, as ever, her dark eyes sparkling.

"Yes, Milord?"

"Why… are you following me."

"You just got back from looking for Totosai…" she stated, "It's been a while…" her voice trailed off, but she was soon talking again, "I wanted to be with you!"

She grinned.

Not understanding, he glanced at her.

"You wanted to be… with me?" he echoed her, sounding almost skeptical. His emotionless handsome face, just that, emotionless, his expressionless eyes, blank.

"yes." She murmured looking down at the ground, clasping her hands behind her back, and swaying gently.

His golden eyes followed her movements.

"Hmph." He replied while, inwardly cursing, the irregularity and differentness of humans. Why all the complicated emotions? Why the overly joyous smiles? Why the optimistic laughter? Why the calming presen-

"I missed you, Lord Sesshomaru." She told him, eyes filled with a kind of warmth that had never been directed at him before. Her smile was bright, as usual, but it was softer, not as energetic and hyper.

He blinked, tried to look away from her so honest face, her unwavering look… and found that he couldn't. He was motionless, captivated by the radiant happiness that shone from her, just because she was glad he was back.

Silently and swiftly, he let his hand brush the top of her head, with a few fingers of his hand, before pulling it away, and walking deeper into the forest.

He knew the reason he hadn't been able to t tell her to leave him alone. He also knew the truth about why he hadn't been able to look away from her beaming face… Although, out loud, he would never dare to admit it, he knew that the reason that the girls smiles and glances had momentarily mesmerized him was because… he had missed her too.