Rin moved through the cluster of trees, intent on getting a needed bath. Her skin and clothes were caked with mud from the day's traveling. Even her hair had dirt through it. The river was just up ahead, she had told Jaken there's where she'd be and warned him not to come and try to watch again.

"If I see you watching me from the trees again, Jaken, I'll hurt you," Rin had threatened, glaring at the yookai who just simpered and cowered in mock fear. Or perhaps it was real fear, Rin couldn't be sure anymore. The demon's feelings towards Rin changed rapidly and daily, making it hard for her to understand most of his actions. He used to see her as a pest, someone who stole Sesshomaru's attention from him, but he had seemed to reluctantly accept that she wasn't going anywhere.

After fifteen years of loyalty to Sesshomaru, she wouldn't go anywhere until she died. She owed her life, her voice, her happiness to the powerful yookai. She practically wanted nothing but Sesshomaru in her life. He protected her like no human ever could and showed her a compassion he didn't show anyone else.

Emerging through the tress, she stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open to gape at the sight before her.

i He was beautiful. /i

Her protector, her friend, her traveling companion stood before her, dripping wet and naked. Rin felt her body respond instinctually. This wasn't the first time she had had these feelings for this demon. Her feelings had steadily, but undeniably changed during their fifteen years together. As she matured from a little girl to a grown woman, she had found herself feeling intense emotions that ran deeper than loyalty toward him. She wanted to go up to him and touch him, to see if the perfection was truly real.

i Is this real? /i

Rin blinked, swallowing hard when she opened her eyes to the same gorgeous view.

Their eyes met over the distance. His gold eyes too her breath away as they probed her brown ones, looking into her exposed soul.

Ripping her eyes away from his, she scanned down his body, soaking in the sight. He was marvelous. His body covered with muscles and smooth, pale skin, and his familiar purple marks on his face clashing effortlessly. His long silver hair flowed down his back, long and soft.

Rin's hands ached to reach other and touch him, to feel the skin between her fingers, and to prove to herself once and for all, i he was real /i . The opportunity to act on her long-held desire was stolen when Jaken's annoying voice called, "Sesshomaru!"