A/N: This is my first fan fiction ever so I'd appreciate feedback. Also, the first few chapters may be on the boring side since I'm explaining much of what's been going on from when Rin was a child to now. And I don't own Inuyasha. Thank you.

It was a Sunday morning, and I woke up a bit groggy from sleep. I looked outside the window of the Inn to see that I was alone. I sighed, though it was expected. Of course they would set off somewhere without me in attempt to ditch me in a human village. Lord Sesshomaru and Jaken have always told me I'd be better off in a village (or in other words they'd be better off without me). I wasn't concerned though, they wouldn't be long. They always came back for me. He always came back…

I decided on being old fashion by bathing in the river banks that morning instead of using the inn's bathing house. The river was cold, but warm enough where I could last without catching a cold. I stripped out of my kimono and first dipped a toe in. I shivered, held my breath, and quickly went under. After washing thoroughly, I dried off and pulled my kimono back on. Next task was to fish something for breakfast. Traveling all the time meant we had to camp out a lot. I have been fending for myself in the food department for many years, since Jaken and Lord Sesshomaru don't eat human food. Because of all my experience, I've learned to cook decent fish over a fire.

I sat patiently, waiting with a net in the water, hoping some fish would be dumb enough to swim right into my trap.

"Yes. This is a nice sized fish. I guess I'm having a good breakfast this morning." I said to myself.

As I turned around to chop it's head off and skin it, I heard a rustle in the bushes. I looked towards the sound and saw nothing.

"Hello?" I asked. No answer. "I ask if there is someone there, that you show yourself." I said sternly, reaching for the small blade at my hip. I had bought it at a small weaponry a couple villages back, hoping I would be able to use it to defend myself instead of depending on Jaken or Lord Sesshomaru. Though I didn't have much practice with it, it still might help.

I stood up, and backed up a bit, leaving space for whatever demon/human was beyond the trees.

"Rin, where did you get such a dangerous weapon?" Asked Sesshomaru stepping out of the brush.

"Oh Lord Sesshomaru, it's you!" I said surprised. I quickly returned the blade to it's pocket at my hip.

"You're just a young girl, you shouldn't go around carrying something like that. As long as you have Milord and I, you have not use for that!" Squawked Jaken, who followed right behind Sesshomaru.

"It….was a gift." I lied. I didn't want it to be taken away. I hate being useless. "I can't bear to part with it." I said, making the lie more believable.

Sesshomaru just stared, without a word, while Jaken yelled and hopped up and down, scolding me for carrying it.

"Rin, Jaken is right, you are too young." He finally said. He started turning around as if it was the end of the discussion, but I wasn't finished.

"But Lord Sesshomaru, I'm not too young! You do realize I'm sixteen years old now. I'd say I'm much too old to not know how to defend myself. It's unfair." I complained, though it sounded foolish and childish, I did make a point.

He stood with his back to me, but then started strolling away. Instead of scolding me more, Jaken explained our plans of moving North to another village since there had been reports of demons terrorizing civilians.

Since Naraku had been defeated, Sesshomaru had nothing better to do but to save humans. He claimed to not have any sympathy towards them, and though he appears cold, there is something about him that has changed. He's softened up, much like his younger brother Inuyasha. Though I'm not brave enough to say that out loud, and he would never admit to that.

"Jaken." I said after a couple hours of walking. I started slowing down so I could talk to him privately, though I knew Sesshomaru would be listening in anyways because of his heightened demon senses, it still felt more private when I whispered.

"Rin?"

"About Lord Sesshomaru. He's seemed a little distant. More than usual. Do you think he's ill?" I asked, concerned. Though I know demons don't get sick, I need to put up and innocent act for Jaken, since he hasn't quite grasped the concept of me being a woman.

"Rin, that's despicable! Lord Sesshomaru would never be fazed by something as minor as an illness. You underestimate him." He said, snorting and rolling his eyes.

I rolled my eyes as well, only for another reason. "But doesn't he seem different? Maybe it's just me. He might be mad…" I started babbling to myself, debating whether or not I should be concerned, Sesshomaru turned to face us.

"We should stay in a inn tonight." He declared. Jaken stared, dumfounded.

"Lord Sesshomaru, we've barely traveled." I explained, since Jaken was lost for words. "And you never stay in a inn."

He stared blankly at the two of us and answered with "I think it would be best for you to rest, and as long as we're near, you won't have a reason to use that new blade of yours." He explained. He turned to start walking again. "After all, you are a young woman."

"Young woman…" I repeated silently to myself. That had been the first time he had called her a woman. What she had argued earlier must have really gotten to him. Maybe that's why he was acting so strange, he was processing what she had said earlier. She had worried for nothing.

Jaken still stood staring.

"C'mon Jaken." I called, Sesshomaru and I many yards ahead of him. He snapped out of his trance and jogged after us.

"Wait Milord!" He shouted, waving his stick in the air like a crazy old man.

I giggled, just like I did years ago, happy to have made such an imprint on Sesshomaru.