Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in this story. ...hmm... well there might be one that I own, but I think I got that name from another book I read...

ANYWAY, this is my first fanfic. Don't bite my head off if I change the history around a little. I KNOW its not accurate. Comments and suggestions are welcome, just don't be mean about it. Annnnnd there may be a LEMON later on... actually, there will be. hehe

ON WITH THE STORY!

Always

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!" the young girl, Rin, cried out to the Lord of the Western Land, "Wait for me!!"

The demon slowed down his pace, stopped walking, and looked behind to see a tiny Rin chasing after him. She paused suddenly and ran back to the toad like imp, Jaken, stumbling a few yards behind, and scolded him for being so lazy.

"You should watch your tongue, young human!" Jaken retorted.

The girl laughed. "Jaken, you're funny. Hurry up before Sesshoumaru-sama leaves us!"

Sesshoumaru's eyes softened as he saw the girl push Jaken, already out of energy and gasping for air, faster until the two of them caught up. By now the imp was just about ready to fall over. He cursed Rin, who just ended up laughing at him. Realizing his words meant nothing to the girl, he gave up and sighed.

Sesshoumaru took a liking to the girl over the years. He grew fond of having her around to scold Jaken when he felt no need to. Her innocence intrigued him even more so.

How is it she always seemed to be so ignorant and yet so aware at the same time?

She couldn't have been older than eight or nine, yet she had always looked up to him as some sort of father figure. He could never understand why until now. He cared for the child like a lion would it's cub. He never admitted that to anyone but himself.

The demon felt a tug on his hakama and looked down to the a bug eyed Rin looking up at him. He softened his cold stare and almost smiled at the girl.

"What is it, Rin?" he asked her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," she started, "where are we going now?"

He was silent for a moment.

Naraku had finally been destroyed several years ago, but in his absence, many power hungry demons had taken the opportunity to try to replace him. None were ever able to succeed, but they were getting stronger.

This is as best a time as ever.

"We are going to the village by the river over there." he said as he pointed his index finger north.

"Why?" The girl sounded scared.

"I have some business to attend to."

"With a human?!"

Jaken jumped in and hit the girl's head with his staff. "Don't you dare speak to Sesshoumaru-sama with that tone, stupid girl!"

Rin rubbed her head as tears built up in her eyes.

"Jaken!" Sesshoumaru's voice rose, his expression remaining the same.

"Y-yes Sesshoumaru-sama?" he replied, hiding behind his staff.

"You are never to hit Rin like that so long as she is with us."

Jaken bowed and apologized to the girl. She couldn't help but laugh at this and picked up the little imp and gave him the biggest hug she could. "I forgive you, Jaken!"

Jaken gasped and kicked for air.

Sesshoumaru only looked toward the direction of the village beyond the river and said nothing, his expression never changing. Rin couldn't help but feel something was wrong.

The young girl whimpered and grabbed his right index finger. "Sesshoumaru-sama? You're not going to give me away are you?"

He could sense that the child truly was frightened. He looked down at her and gave her that soft look only she knew. This relieved some of her tension.

"Rin," he told her kneeling down, "I would never give you away unless you wanted to leave."

"Never! I want to stay with Sesshoumaru-sama forever!!"

Sesshoumaru stood and grabbed Rin's tiny hand, something he rarely did. She seemed almost shocked at this rare contact. Jaken's jaw dropped. Never before had he seen his master show any emotion toward anyone. Could it have been because he no longer had to prove his strength towards anyone? …no, that wasn't it. He never had to prove anything to anyone. Whatever it was, the imp hoped it wouldn't effect the way his lord ruled the Western Land. That would most certainly lead to it's destruction.

"Come Jaken." Sesshoumaru ordered. "We are going to that village now."

With that being said, Sesshoumaru began walking in the direction of the village with Rin skipping alongside him holding tightly to his hand, and Jaken chasing after.