True Love Never Dies

Chapter 2 It's Better This Way

A few years had passed since Rin had joined Sesshomaru-sama. Naraku had been dead for a year now. It was a good thing too. Sesshomaru had greatly feared for the life of Rin. Not that she had been in the way of immediate danger, but the innocent tended to fall when there was great evil at work.

Much had changed in the short time that Rin had entered his life. Rin certainly had changed. Her personality was the same, her pointless stories, and her annoying questions. The way she laughed at the smallest things, the way she smiled when those eyes…those perfect, brown, innocent eyes…seemed to look past his exterior, into his cold heart. No, none of this had changed. But Rin was growing. As much as he tried to see the small girl that he first laid eyes on in the forest, Sesshomaru could not help but notice how beautiful the young human was growing.

Yes. Rin had changed.

Rumors seemed to circle about the Lord of the West and his "pet".

'Has the tashio lost his head?'

'-It's a human! A human child!'

'-He is his father over again, and what a shame I had more faith in him than this.'

When Jakken had tried to confront Sesshomaru-sama about these accusations, he responded, "If you wish to not be seen as a pet, Jakken, you should not act like a lost pup." The Inu Tashio gave the smallest smirk as he remembered the appalled look on the imp's face. He regretted bringing him along with him for so long. In fact, he would have left the annoyance for dead long ago, but Rin seemed to care for this disgrace of a creature. So, for now, he was safe.

Sesshomaru's hand twitched.

What was he becoming? Letting the opinion of a week human influence his decisions? This could not stand. He was the Great Dog General. He had a great land to protect. He could not allow a human to endanger the balance he worked so hard to keep.

Sesshomaru gave a quick glance out of the corner of his eye to look at the simple girl. She was lying asleep against Ah-Un, with his tale wrapped around her protectively. He squinted his eyes to make sure he was seeing this right, was that his fur wrapped around the girl? But how-he didn't even recall giving it to her!

He stood, towering over the sleeping girl's figure; his face was set in stone, as it always was. But his eyes portrayed the tiniest flicker of annoyance. This could not stand.

He took a step forward, fully intending on putting the foolish girl in her place, when she sighed, ever so softly, a warm smile raising the edges of her mouth. Sweet dreams must have found Rin that night.

Sesshomaru sat down with an indignant sigh. Sweet dreams hardly ever found Rin. Usually her nights seemed to be plagued with unwelcome thoughts and painful memories. Another weakness of her human heart. The problem would still be there in the morning; he would address it then.

Rin woke with a small smile still lighting her face. She had dreamed the happiest dreams that past night!

She had been on a grassy hill; Donijiro and Akiotaro were beside her looking up into the clear sky. Akiotaro had reached over to grab his little sister's hand as they enjoyed the quiet afternoon. She had given a small start as she looked to the left of her and had seen Sesshomaru-sama sitting beside her. He had looked down upon her, the smallest smile toying at the corner of his mouth. It was so small that had you not been looking for it, it wouldn't have been there at all. Rin felt safe and warm. She felt protected. Rin felt loved.

"-Rin," Sesshomaru called, bringing Rin out of her fantasy. "Go fetch food. We have a great distance we must travel today."

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin happily called back as she ran off dragging a protesting Jakken behind her.

Sesshomaru watched her run off. He couldn't help but wonder how she would react to where they were traveling. He supposed she would be sad, but he could not let this concern him. He had decided during the night what was best. He couldn't allow this child to travel with him anymore; she was too much of a distraction. Besides, this was no life for a child. She would be much happier in a village of her own kind. Then this Sesshomaru would be free to enter battle without having to worry about the little girl getting in the way. And she would be able to live her life, have a family grow old with a husband she loved, and when the time came she would die-

Sesshomaru's throat began to close. But why? Why should the death of one human child concern him?

'Because its Rin.' His subconscious seemed to answer.

"Nonsense-" He spoke this aloud, though there was no one near him.

He walked in the direction Rin had run off in. They must get moving if they were going to arrive at their destination by sundown.

"Look Sesshomaru-sama! It's the village where you beat Naraku!" Rin cried happily. "All of the flowers have grown back, and the tree's are all alive again!"

This was true; the area that had been destroyed by Naraku's miasma had indeed restored itself very quickly. It almost appeared as if nothing had ever threatened the peaceful area.

"Master Jakken, isn't this where Sesshomaru-sama's brother lives?" Rin questioned quietly.

"Yes, it appears so," Jakken replied, a bit confused. Why would Sesshomaru-sama travel such a great distance to see his half-breed brother? He had a sword that's abilities greatly surpassed that of the Tessaiga. What else could that baka have that Sesshomaru-sama could want?

"I hope they don't fight," Rin whispered, mostly to herself.

But this Sesshomaru wasn't here to fight, and he wasn't here for that baka of a brother.

"Come, Rin, Jakken." Sesshomaru said quietly. This might prove to be difficult.

"It will be wonderful to see everyone again!" Rin began to chatter, as only she could. "Its been over a year since we've seen them all! I wonder if Sango and Miroku are together or not, and I'll bet Kirara feels just as soft as she did before-"

As she continued on, Sesshomaru could hear the distant screams coming from the village

"-YOUKAI! CALL THE PROTECTORS!"

"-they have traveled to slay a demon in a neighboring village!

"-what will we do?"

"-EVERYONE, GRAB YOUR WEAPONS! HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN!"

Sesshomaru sighed. This may prove very difficult.

As they drew closer to the village, Rin's jabbering died quickly as they slowly approached a crowd of angry villagers that were holding their weapons at them defensively.

"What is it ye want?" asked the priestess of the village, an old woman Sesshomaru knew to be called Kaede. "Inuyasha is gone from here!"

"I am not here for the half-breed," he replied coolly. "I am here to see the young miko."

"Kagome? She has been gone for a year now!"

"I was told that she had been saved-"

"She was, but the well that brought her here has forced her to stay where she came from. She most likely will never be allowed here again."

Sesshomaru pondered this. He did not trust his half brother alone; he had been relying on the miko's extraordinary powers to keep Rin safe. But he couldn't continue to take the girl with him…

"Inuyasha, you said he was gone from here. Does he still protect this village, as well as the monk and the slayer?"

"Aye, they do," Kaede's hands griped her bow even tighter, as did the rest of the villagers, "and they shall be back soon enough-"

"Calm yourself, woman! This Sesshomaru seeks no battle. I am merely here to-"

But he was cut off by a sudden shout.

"Oi! Fluffy! Lookin' for somethin'?"

Sesshomaru looked turned to see his half-brother, Inuyasha, standing at a ready position with his hand of the hilt of the Tessaiga.

"I doubt you're here for a friendly visit, you bastard!"

Sesshomaru gave a glance to Rin standing behind him. She was chewing on her bottom lip, silently praying that a fight would break out.

"Inuyasha," he called calmly. He would not frighten Rin with a battle; he also didn't want his request to be denied. "I am not going fight you today. I am merely here for assistance." Though his face showed the usual emotionless expression, on the inside he was gagging. He was indeed slipping, asking a hanyou for help!

"Keh! As if I'm gonna believe that! Tell me the real reason you're here!"

Sesshomaru was quickly losing patience; the urge to strike the baka hanyou was almost overpowering the need to protect Rin. Almost.

"I need you and your village to protect Rin, if that task isn't too difficult for you." Sesshomaru stared at the shocked hanyou as he realized that the Inu Tashio was serious. Sesshomaru refused to look at her, but he could feel the eyes of Rin on him as they started to fill up with tears.

"Se-Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin whispered, tears threatening to engulf her now.

"She cannot travel with me any longer. Where I intend to go, it is too dangerous for her. I had originally planned to leave here in the care of your miko, I know Rin had a fondness of her, but as she's not here, I need you, the monk and the slayer to keep her safe."

Inuyasha's face became stricken at the mention of Kagome; a fact that did not go unnoticed by Sesshomaru.

Rin was openly crying now. Sesshomaru felt a pain in his chest, but he chose to ignore it. This must be done.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin ran towards him and wrapped her arms around his waste, which was saying something as he was so tall. When he first met the girl, she had to stretch just to wrap her arms around his knee.

"Sesshomaru-sama! I promise I'll be good! Please my Lord! I don't want you to leave me!"

Sesshomaru placed a hand on her head and slow ran his fingers through her hair. His eyes still locked on Inuyasha.

"Well?"

"Uh…sure, I guess." Inuyasha spoke softly; he was still trying to get over the shock of the mention of Kagome.

"Of course we'll take care of her," the slayer said kindly smiling at Rin. She could tell how upset the girl was about Sesshomaru leaving her. Sesshomaru inhaled deeply and could tell that the slayer had recently given birth to a child. This comforted him a bit. At least Rin would have a motherly figure.

Sesshomaru finally looked down at Rin. Her eyes were closed as she held onto him as though her life depended on it. The pain in his chest intensified, but his face did not betray his heart.

"I shall stop by, to make sure she is being cared for well."

He placed his hands on Rin's fists and began to pull them off him. He did it gently, but Rin could protest because of the youkai's great strength. He knelt down in front of her and held both hands in his and looked into the girl's eyes – those perfect, brown, innocent eyes. She stared into his eyes – those golden, mysterious eyes.

Sesshomaru stood up. He turned around and began to walk away.

"This Sesshomaru will be back in three weeks. Do not disappoint me." He called, not even turned back to look at the girl who looked as though her whole world was ending.

"He could have at least thanked us – " Miroku said softly as Sango and Kaede quickly rushed to the girl who had fallen to the ground, shaking with sobs.

The image of Akiotaro's body, an arrow sticking out of his heart and his eyes staring blankly up at her.

"Don't leave me…" she whispered as she began to calm down, though the tears still flowed.

"Come, child," Kaede spoke softly as she helped Rin. "We shall fix ye a cup of tea."

Rin walked with the old woman her face hidden in her bangs, not speaking a word.

Sango turned to Inuyasha who was still staring at the spot where Sesshomaru had been standing.

"Inuya-" she began, but Inuyasha turned on his heel and began to walk towards the bone-eaters well. Sango didn't go after him. She knew that the loss of Kagome had been hardest on him. There was nothing she could do for him, but she could attempt to help Rin. She watched Inuyasha until he was out of sight, then turned and followed Kaede into her hut.

Sesshomaru stood on a hill far away from the village. He was only able to see it as a small dot, even with his youkai eyes.

"Uh…milord?" Jakken began. "Rin – "

"Shut up, Jakken" He responded coldly.

Jakken fell silent immediately, though tears began to form at the edges of his eyes. He complained about Rin often, but still…he had to admit he would miss having the little girl around.

Sesshomaru decided that they would stay the night here. He wouldn't travel to far from Rin these first few weeks. He still wasn't entirely sure that the village could protect her. He would wait, just to be sure.

Lemmi just say, that chap was a BITCH to write! Oh well haha. Looks like Sesshomaru is a bit obsessive over his fluffy fur! Haha that was my fav part! Lolz please review and send me your ideas and thoughts! None are bad, some may suck MORE than others, but I digress. And sorry about the delay, I'll try and upload again before Friday, but I got final exams and crap that I gotta deal with too. Shout out to all who reviewed my first chapter! Peace! 3