The woven flap opened and Rin stepped inside Kagome's house. Kagome looked up from her sewing and her eyes lit up when she saw Rin. Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen, probably out looking for mischief. "Ah, Rin," she said smiling. Rin moved closer and Kagome put aside her stitching.

"Lady Kaede sent you here right?"

Rin nodded and asked,"Are you not done with the yukatas?"

Kagome shook her head. "This is just my yukata. I've finally finished everyone else's." She gestured at the neat pile in front of her. "Those are Sango's, Hiromi's, and Kazumi's. Could you give them to them? And come back to get yours alright?"

Rin nodded and right before she picked them up, she asked Kagome,"Kagome where are you happiest?"

Kagome looked at Rin curiously. "Where I'm with friends like you… and when I'm with that annoying spouse of mine, Inuyasha… Why?"

Rin shook her head slowly. Kagome had friends and family from her world, yet she'd come to live here instead. The difference was that Inuyasha was here, wasn't it?

Although Kagome had been living in the village for six years, her romantic sense hadn't gone away. "Are you going somewhere with someone, but you can't decide if you'll be happy?" An idea struck her "Is it Sesshomaru?"

Rin whirled around, "No Kagome-Chan, just wondering if you chose to stay here because of Inuyasha, um-." Rin backed out quickly and escaped from the house. Sango and Miroku's home wasn't far from Kagome's so Rin didn't have a lot of time to wonder about what Kagome had said. She put on another smile, and tossed off the nervous feeling that was bugging her.

The whole family was happy to see Rin, and tired as Sango and Miroku were, they still noticed something about Rin's smile was amiss.

Miroku had just finished taking in his own harvest and was writing more sutras. His children, Hiromi, Kazumi, and Komori were all lying on the bamboo mat and practicing their writing. Sango was taking out the heavier blankets she'd stored for the winter.

"Hello Sango! Hello Miroku! And hello to you little people again," Rin sighed as if disappointed.

The children retaliated by shouting, "Hello Lady Sesshomaru!"

"Lady Sesshomaru? Where did you get that idea?" Sango wondered. "And Rin, are you alright?"

Rin nodded and dumped the yukatas onto Sango's arms and informed her, "Here are the yukatas Kagome finished." She smiled."Aren't they pretty?"

It was Miroku's turn to question. "Rin, something dark is occupying your mind. Care to fill us in what this is all about?"

Rin laughed a little too forcefully. "Now why would you think that, Miroku? And I think it should be my turn to ask a question," she said playfully. Looking from Sango to the children to Miroku, she asked what she'd asked Kagome. "Where are you happiest?"

Sango looked a bit baffled by the question as if she didn't expect Rin to ask that.

Kazumi answered first. "Where Mother and Father are, I want to be there."

Miroku looked at his children lovingly, and he also presented an answer, taking Sango's hands. "Where my family is, is home. Every day I see Sango, my children, and my sometimes immature friends" He paused here for a moment and Rin grinned, guessing that "immature friends" meant Inuyasha. "And then I feel as if this is my happy haven."

Hiromi looked boldly at Rin. "I'm happy to see Rin smile." She grabbed Komori and forced the corners of his mouth up with her fingers so that he looked like a very toothy overgrown baby. Rin couldn't help but laugh. Hiromi exclaimed, "Like that!"

"Leh mey go," Komori protested. Kazumi patted his head but made no move to help him. Sango exhaled loudly and said, "Girls…"

Rin slipped quietly out, her mood slightly improved. "Rin," A crystalline voice called from a distance. The girl turned and to her right appeared Miya, running towards her. When she reached Rin, she thrust an arrangement of daffodils into Rin's arms. "I saw these and they reminded me of you," Miya explained. "You're always with plants."

Rin's eyes danced with pleasure and she hugged Miya. "Thank you Miya." Miya nodded shyly and ran back home.

Rin looked at the bright yellow flowers again and sighed. Children were so sweet. How was Jaken like as a child? Most likely not very sweet. She passed by Kagome's house before she remembered what else she had to do.

At the entrance, she heard Inuyasha's voice. "You really think that it might be time for Rin to choose between Sesshomaru and Kaede's village?"

Rin hesitated. Interrupting probably wasn't a very good idea.

"I don't even know why Sesshomaru would keep a human by him, that hypocrite! Why can't he just let her live here?"

"Inuyasha, it's Rin's choice! If Sesshomaru kept Rin with him, she must mean a lot to him, and the same goes the other way around. You've seen how concerned he always is around her!"

"And if Rin chooses to go with Sesshomaru? That bastard could end up changing his mind and hurting her!"

"Inuyasha," Kagome said again. "I don't think Sesshomaru would do that. And it's still Rin's choice."

Rin was thinking over and over again, 'Lord Sesshomaru would never hurt an innocent human...' Indignantly, she pushed the flap aside and hollered, "Lord Sesshomaru would never hurt me!"

Inuyasha closed his eyes and humphed. Kagome looked embarrassed. Rin stood there, glaring at Inuyasha. Unfazed, Inuyasha spoke up. "Listen, Rin." His yellow amber eyes bore into her own pair of exuberant brown eyes that were now sparking with anger. "Sesshomaru only cares for power. Why not stay here where people care about you?"

"Have you not been listening to what I just told you?" Kagome asked Inuyasha. "Sesshomaru does care for Rin."

She picked up two kimonos. "Rin, have you decided where you want to go?" Rin turned her attention to Kagome bit her lip. "I think I'll-. " She broke off, wavering. Kagome understood. She handed the two kimonos to her. Rin took them, thoroughly admiring the work. "The one with flowers is yours, Rin. The one with dragonflies is Lady Kaede's," Kagome explained.

"Thank you," Rin breathed out. "Every year you make the best yukatas."

"Well she is Kagome after all," Inuyasha said, wrapping his arms around her. "Hey Kagome, you haven't forgotten about taking off the Beads of Subjugation during the Festival, have you?"

"Of course not!" Kagome exclaimed.

Rin giggled in spite of herself. It was hard to stay mad at Inuyasha when Kagome was around. Those two never changed. Had Lord Sesshomaru changed? Deciding to ignore Inuyasha, Kagome twirled to face Rin again. "And Rin, are you going to give us a surprise this year too? Last year's song-making contest was fun." Kagome looked fondly at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha probably knew he was going to lose," she teased. "That's why he didn't join in."

Inuyasha gave another humph and muttered something along the lines of "silly contest".

"So… you have a surprise for this year's festival too?"

Rin's breath hitched. The surprise…? There were two and the latter wasn't something she'd intended on.

Noting this change, Kagome smiled. "You do have a surprise, don't you?"

Rin snapped out of her thoughts and winked, dancing off. 'I can't leave this village,' she thought. 'If I don't have the courage to admit to anyone that I want to see Lord Sesshomaru…' It would be better if she didn't go with him. And besides, she was happy here. She couldn't just leave with someone else who she hadn't seen in two years. Rin shut her eyes, as if that could shut out any unhappy thoughts.

"And…," she added out loud, remembering what Jaken had told her, so long ago. "I'm human." Better to stay in this village than turn old and weak on her lord. As a child she never realized what it meant to grow up. She clenched the yukata in her hands.

"Rin!"

This being the third time that day that someone had called out to her, she immediately turned to face the origin of the sound.

It was Kohaku, on Kirara's back. Kohaku jumped off, and Kirara turned back to her kitten like form.

"Kohaku!"

Kirara rubbed her seemingly small head against Rin's bare ankle, purring. The demon slaying must have been successful, as usual if they returned so early.

Kohaku put his weapon on his belt and greeted Rin again. "Rin, is that the yukata for the festival?"

Rin teased back. "Is that smile for the festival or successful demon slaying?"

Kohaku chuckled. "Both I think. Mostly, everything had quieted down." He picked Kirara up. "Where are you headed to now?"

"Back to Lady Kaede's," Rin answered. "And now you're heading back to work right, Kohaku?"

Good-naturedly, they parted ways.

How could I ever leave this village? Rin asked herself. I have to help Lady Kaede, help take care of the children, and I'm happy here. Everyone smiles every single day. Lord Sesshomaru never did smile…A pang of sadness caught her off guard. She'd never seen him smile. She really wanted to see him smile…

Back at Lady Kaede's house, Lady Kaede was stringing up the chrysanthemum. At the sight of her coming in, Kaede said, "Rin which way will you go?"

Rin knew full well what she meant. She gave the green yukata to Kaede before answering. Kaede marveled at the piece and Rin grinned. "Every year, everyone's is different. I wonder how Kagome is so good at this." Rin paused, remembering the numerous times she'd pricked her own fingers when Kagome tried to teach her to sew. "And... I'm staying here, Lady Kaede. I don't want to leave just so I can follow Lord Sesshomaru around."

Kaede snorted. "Follow him around? I don't believe that's all you've done, child."

'It doesn't matter now thought," Rin said. "Ive made my choice."

`'Rin, you know how Inuyasha is like?"

Rin replied, "Of course!" She put away her yukata and helped the elderly woman bundle up chrysanthemums. "He wasn't always like that… After Kikyo died, it didn't seem Inuyasha would ever have a heart again. Then Kagome came along and changed him into someone who showed true passion for others. She showed him again how it was to love.. I wonder if sister Kikyo knew someone like her was going to come and release Inuyasha."

Rin raised her eyebrows. "The priestess Kikyo did have spiritual powers. But I don't think she knew Kagome would show Inuyasha as much love as she did. What does this have to do with anything anyway?"

Kaede was ever patient; these youngsters had their whole lives set out to learn. "In a way, he and Inuyasha are very alike. Both went through life believing love was foolish to exist, and both were proven wrong."

Rin kept on working.

"Kagome changed Inuyasha… And Rin, You've done the same to your Lord Sesshomaru."

Rin was caught off guard. She'd never considered herself as an important part to changing Lord Sesshomaru for the better. She'd always thought he was perfect the way he was until she'd realized he'd never smiled. "Lady Kaede… It wasn't because of me Lord Sesshomaru is so kind. It's always been a part of him."

Kaede chuckled; youngsters. 'You may be right. Maybe compassion was just part of him all along, but you're the one who brought it out. Now tell me, Rin. What makes you happy in this village?"

Rin remembered what Kagome said about friends and Inuyasha… Miroku's family saying friends and family. They were her reasons too.

"I get to be with friends everyday. I get to see the robin's eggs which would be the prettiest blue. The river sparkles, always. The smell of herbs everywhere, adventures,, knowing Lord Sesshomaru would save me…"

Kaede smiled softly and Rin's eyes snapped open. "You see Rin? Don't tie yourself down here if you truly want to see Sesshomaru, You remember how opposed you were to stay here at first?"

Rin laughed. "That was way back then, Lady Kaede. I've loved staying her ever since. Besides, I have more purpose here than with Lord Sesshomaru. I can't just follow him because it makes me happy."

"What are you implying, Rin?"

Rin paused. What was she implying?

"Rin, one's purpose in life is up to them to decide. Purpose isn't the only factor ruling a person's life. You have to be content with that purpose and the life you decide to lead. Here with us, you can choose what you wish to do, but there are boundless opportunities should you decide to go with Sesshomaru. You could prove to this world not all demons were sent to devour every human in sight. You can try to get rid of bandits."

Lady Kaede, no matter what you say I cannot leave this village."

"I hear there are humans near the Western lands." Lady Kaede continued, unfazed "Although Kagome has proven to demons and humans alike these two species can work together against evil, that work isn't finished."

"Lady Kaede, there is no longer a great evil."

"You don't need evil to prove demons and humans can work together."

"What do you mean?"

"Rin, you've noticed that people who visit here are still suspicious of Inuyasha?"

Rin nodded. "Well there are more humans in the Lands of the West where Sesshomaru resides. I'd assume that they may try and take all of the land the dog demon has claimed. In that process, lives could be lost. Families would be-"

At the word "family", Rin gasped. "Lady Kaede, you're saying this will really happen?" Kaede smiled. "Forgive me Rin. This is just an old woman's ramblings." But she knew that Rin's happiness and true purpose in life did not lie here in the village. Not just yet.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxX

"Jaken."

"Yes my lord?" A goblin like toad answered hurriedly. "Make certain that while I am gone, you will see that both dog demon clans see eye to eye and if there is any trouble when I return, I'll have you to blame for giving me the mess to handle."

The goblin like toad gulped. "Surely you are jesting, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken gulped again. How could he question him so forwardly?

But Sesshomaru chose to ignore his servant and he went outside to get AhUn. The two-headed dragon looked at him and grunted. "We're off to see Rin," Sesshomaru said dispassionately. Ah and Un's ears flicked up and their moods changed. Gripping AhUn's bridle, Sesshomaru flew into the air, heading towards the village he'd last seen Rin over two years ago. In his hands was a jaded butterfly clip that didn't suit him very well. Naturally, it was meant for another.

Sesshomaru felt himself longing to be near her, have her scent near him. The last two years should've passes without trouble without much acknowledgement, considering her was a demon. He'd been trying to unite two clans that were to be part of his empire recently and had stopped searching for strong demons to defeat. Every day, he'd be thinking about Rin and now, it was time. Maybe it was a bad time to call on Rin, but he had to keep his word. It would be both a blessing and a curse if Rin decided to stay in Kaede's village. If she was married? Sesshomaru's heart clenched slightly. If she was married? Good. If she wasn't.. Good. His heart unclenched. Sesshomaru smirked a bit. Rin was corrupting him with human emotions.

Rin. He glanced at the crescent moon and was instantly reminded of how Rin had pointed out the moon mark on his forehead. Rin. She'd called it beautiful. Rin. Would she still be happy to see him?