Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. If I did then KohaRin would happen and even the thought of SessRin would be labeled as the incest that it basically is.

Blood and Innocence

It was funny the way some things worked out. Here was this girl – a bit younger than him – and he hadn't met her until after he was supposed to have died. He wasn't exactly sure how to feel about that. A jumble of emotions swelled within him, swirling around in his head so fast that it was difficult for him to examine any of it.

Kohaku, for that was the name of the young boy, wished he could speak of such things with his elder sister – but that was a hope that had faded long ago. Still, sometimes he couldn't help but yearn for her presence; especially at moments like this. She would have been able to help the boy make sense of everything – he was sure of it – because she was his elder sibling and had always been there for him when he needed her in the past.

The boy shook his head – feeling his brunette hair sway in the ponytail it was in – clearing his mind of such depressing musings. And then, as if the world felt Kohaku had yet to suffer quite enough, the disheartening thoughts of earlier invaded his head. 'Rin…' that name whispered through his thoughts and caused his chocolate orbs to glitter with two very prominent emotions – sadness and joy mingling together as one.

He was supposed to be dead and yet, here he was – alive and sitting across the campfire from the ebony haired female that he feared he loved. It was not her Lord – Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western domain – that caused Kohaku to be afraid of such a feeling. It was something else – something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Everyone has one person that they are meant to be with – call it fate if you will – that one person that will always make them smile; their reason for getting up in the mornings. Unfortunately that means if someone were to pass on before finding that person – the one meant for them and only them – it will leave another alone in the world; cursed to never have true love and companionship." He remembered the voice of his mother speaking very seriously to his sister, Sango, the night before she had died of her illness.

That was it; there was the reason for his fear. He was afraid to love Rin because what if she wasn't meant to be his? And she was so pure and innocent whereas his own hands were stained with the blood of innocents – the blood of his own family, even that of his loving sister. The brunette boy felt as though he didn't deserve to feel such a thing towards the girl – he didn't even deserve to be breathing.

Still, looking over the flames at the slumbering young girl, he couldn't help but smile. He may not deserve her love, but that wouldn't stop him from staying by her side. She may already have her Lord to protect her; but Kohaku vowed – then and there – that no matter what, he would protect her as well. Even if it cost him this second lease at life the gods had been kind enough to grant him.

Kohaku may have been afraid of his love for Rin, but it didn't stop the emotion from being there – a constant presence in his heart. He loved her and he would do whatever it took to deserve her.