Sesshomaru sat atop a thick branch of a tree, about 50 yards from his camp, where Rin, Jaken, and Ah Un, remained sleeping. He always rose before the rest, just to ensure the safety of the camp in which they were sleeping for the short period of rest. He allowed his thoughts to carry him away from the present moment. He had lost Naraku's scent, and hadn't been able to pick it up for years now. But, he knew, deep down in the pit of his soul, that he was alive. If even just barely, lurking in shadows that Sesshomaru could not penetrate. One day, he was sure of it, Naraku would arise again. But for the time being, and the past decade, he'd stayed invisible to even the mightiest of demons. Sesshomaru's long elfin-like ear twitched at the sound of men's voices coming up. But it wasn't men. Three words came to mind.

Rin. Demons. Kill.

The only things that mattered to Sesshomaru besides killing Naraku were: Rin's safety, and his own life. Once the demons had caught the scent of a young human girl, Rin, they started to change forms. Hoping she'd be a lovely little snack. The demons were just below Sesshomaru, he quickly dropped from the tree, slicing off the head of the nearest demon with Tensaiga. All the demons froze, including Sesshomaru. A demon from behind started at his back with a war cry like a feeble rabbit, compared to Sesshomaru's stunning and intense silent battle scream of his own. He used a whip of light to strike the demon down, not even bothering to turn around.

"Would anyone else like to try? Because I assure you all, that no matter how many of you there are, I will strike you down. One by one." Sesshomaru's voice was commanding, though it was never raised above his usual speaking level. "I can sense those of you hiding in the trees as well. Do not think you can toy with me." Bravely, and idiotically, one of the demons stepped forward.

"We just wanted the girl. What's a demon like you care for a human girl anyway? Just let us have her and we'll be on our way tough guy." The demon spoke.

"That human girl belongs to me. You have all considered putting her in harms way. You all must die." With that final statement to the intruders, He sliced through them with no effort at all. Slaughtering at least fifteen demons, and leaving them where they lay. With a sniff in the air, he declared there were no more threats, and returned to camp. It was just how he left it, thick with Rin's scent. Jaken and Ah Un lay sleeping under a tree atop the fur of their most recent meal. Rin's tent was still erected of the finest fur and silk Sesshomaru could get his hands on. Rin only got the best from him. He felt she was the one human alive who deserved his servitude. He pulled back the sheet of silk that made the entrance of Rin's luxurious tent, to find her no where in sight. He let the sheet fall back into place.

"Jaken." Again, this was never raised above his usual speaking tone. But nonetheless, Jaken came running, drowsy from being awakened by his master's fury.

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru, what is it?" Jaken puffed out on a panting breath. Sesshomaru didn't even spare him a glance.

"Where is Rin?" Those three words held enough anger to make Jaken tremble, and Ah Un shiver even in slumber on a warm summer sunrise.

"I don't know my Lord. She's not in her tent and not with you?" Came Jaken's shaky reply.

"If I knew where she was, would I be asking you?" He remained frozen in his stance, having already located her scent. He just wanted to make Jaken suffer for not watching over her properly.

"I suppose not my Lord. I meant no harm, I did not know she was gone." Jaken bowed at Sesshomaru's feet. "Please Lord Sesshomaru, don't be angry with me." Without another word, Sesshomaru rose from the ground in a graceful leap towards the scent of Rin.

"WAIT! MY LORD! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?" Jaken wailed after Sesshomaru.

"Do not follow Jaken; guard the camp with your life. I will find Rin." Sesshomaru replied from the top of the tree he had landed in. He spotted a grassy patch of the meadow moving. With another graceful glide, he landed amongst the tall grass. A mere ten feet away from where Rin was determinedly practicing her swordsmanship. She was always trying to impress him, by becoming stronger, or being brave. To prove herself worthy of his presence. When it was in his own mind, it was his duty to prove to her, he was worthy of her companionship. All anger toward Jaken, memories of the recent demon slaughter, and ponderings of Naraku's whereabouts fled his mind as he saw Rin. She wore a pair of pants very similar to his own, and a black tank top Kagome had given her recently. Sesshomaru just didn't understand how either Rin or Kagome could be so kind. They were supposed enemies, yet they had helped each other in a previous encounter with a demon. The pants she wore had a black sash that waved around her, as if modeling her supple figure underneath her clothing. It taunted him that he thought this way. Rin had grown up since he had first taken her in. Her nineteenth birthday has just recently passed. He allowed his gaze to travel up her flat stomach, which tightened with each jump, each twirl she made against her invisible foe. Her raven black hair blew in a slight breeze, and the one piece she always wore up had grown to about shoulder length. The rest of her hair settled just beneath the swell of her strong and bare hip bones. Her belly bottom peered out of the bottom of her shirt as she raised her arms with her sword to strike down yet another imaginary enemy. Her brows knit together in dedicated concentration; she swung the sword in a full circle. She relaxed her muscles for a moment. Placing her sword into the sheath, she wiped the sweat from her palms on her shirt. Rin froze, as if she sensed someone's presence. Slowly, she knelt down on one knee, reaching for her dagger, which lay among a pile of other miscellaneous weaponry. With extremely precise aim at her unknown watcher, she flung the dagger in his direction. Quickly Sesshomaru stood with ease, revealing himself from the shelter of the tall grass, absently catching the dagger by the blade between to unharmed fingers. Rin gasped as she realized it was Sesshomaru who was watching her from the direction she sensed the intruder.

"Oh, Lord Sesshomaru! I apologize, I did not know it was you, please forgive me!" She stood, slightly embarrassed. "I was just practicing, you've always told me to be prepared for the unexpected." Sesshomaru gracefully closed the distance between him and Rin.

"Do not apologize to me. I was merely wondering where you were and what you were up too. It is good you're practicing." She beamed up at him, revealing her appreciation of a compliment. "But it is excellent that you sensed an intruder, not to mention your impeccable aim." He held the blade between his fingers and handed it to her, hilt first. Her eyes lit up at yet another compliment.

"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru. I'm glad you're not angry with me. I'm sorry if I worried you this morning. I didn't know you had yet awakened." She knelt down again at his feet to collect her weapons. Her quiver of arrows and bow she placed on her pack and her dagger in her wrist sheath. "Shall we Lord Sesshomaru? Jaken must be worried about us by now."

"Indeed Rin, Jaken had quite the scare this morning." Sesshomaru smiled at the thought of Jaken's terror of his wrath.

"What do you mean My Lord?" Rin looked up at his unreadable expression. Her own face was covered in wonder and confusion.

"It's nothing of concern Rin. We were just looking for you is all." A look of worry spread across her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry My Lord. I should have let someone know where I was going." She said, looking down at her feet.

"It is no worry; I could track down your scent. Jaken could not."

Rin lay by a small fire created by Ah Un in the center of their camp. She wondered for about the millionth time if Lord Sesshomaru was sleeping or not. His eyes remained as far as she could see closed. But he still seemed somewhat aware. Perhaps he was lost in thought. She studied his every feature, which had not changed once since she met him. In any way, except, day by day. She found him more and more beautiful. His long silver hair hanging freely to blow in the wind, his pointed ears, his facial structure, his clawed hands, they all amazed her to another degree with each passing moment. More often than she would like to admit, she wondered how his lips would feel upon her own. She wondered if they were as soft as his voice. Alas, she knew nothing of the sort would ever happen between them. She didn't even consider herself worthy of his presence. Let alone his kindness, his compliments and his friendship, which she cherished above her own life. She let out a heavy sigh, and tore her gaze away from him to stare at the starry sky above. She wondered if there were anyway she could become like Sesshomaru. She could practice her archery, her swordsmanship and agility all she wanted. But, she was still human. How could Sesshomaru ever come to love a weak human girl? Especially me…