Chapter 2

Left in the Human Village

Rin had been pestering Lord Sesshomaru for a few days now to let her go visit the village to see how everyone was doing. She and her two demon companions had not returned since the death of Naraku—after Kagome was sucked into the Meido and Inuyasha jumped in after her. Kohaku had insisted on staying back in the village during this time, to stay with his sister, so Lord Sesshomaru, Jaken, and Rin left without him. Rin was now eager to learn the current state of her friends.

The forest no longer existed, but the plants and trees were beginning to sprout again. Rin rode A-Un through the sky above the land of Kaede's village, over mixed patches of newly growing plants and barren ground, until she could see the village up ahead. In her excitement, she sprinted straight for the structures of the village the moment after she landed.

"Hey, look guys! It's Rin," Shippo announced as he spotted the trio approaching.

Master Jaken and Lord Sesshomaru leisurely followed behind Rin at their own paces. The two stopped at the edge of town with A-Un to wait for Rin to have her visits.

Rin skipped right up to Shippo and the others. "I came back to see how everyone was doing!" she told the group energetically.

Sango smiled down to the little girl, eyeing Sesshomaru's and Jaken's refusal to come any further into the village. "Well that was just perfect timing, Rin. Today is mine and Miroku's wedding day."

"You guys are getting married?!" Rin squealed with such excitement. She clapped her hands to her cheeks in admiration. "That's so sweet!"

"Would you like to join us for the ceremony?" Sango asked.

"Yes! Just let me tell Lord Sesshomaru and Master Jaken first!" she exclaimed.

"They're invited too, if they'd like to join us," Sango offered but doubted. I don't think they'd ever succumb to such a nice thing, she thought.

"Okay, I'll let them know!" Rin grinned and frolicked off.

"There is no way Sesshomaru is going to show up to your wedding," Inuyasha scoffed.

"Well, that invitation was mostly to show Rin we're accepting of her choice in companionship," Sango explained gently.

"Keh. Whatever," Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

Sesshomaru was waiting next to A-Un wearing his stern glare and apathetic expression. It was simply his resting face. Then he saw Rin approaching.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Master Jaken!" Without shame, Rin stood enthusiastically in front of them. "Miroku and Sango are getting married today. Can I stay?"

Allowing her request, Lord Sesshomaru uttered passively, "Do as you please," then he turned to leave, pulling A-Un's reigns.

"And you guys are invited too!" Rin added with her smile.

Unaffected, Sesshomaru did not stop and did not bother to answer. However, Jaken did speak on his behalf, "What makes you think Lord Sesshomaru would attend such a trivial human celebration?!"

"Will you come back for me tomorrow then?" Rin asked instead.

Sesshomaru simply grunted, "Hn," while he continued on in his quietly expressionless way.

Jaken clung to Sesshomaru's trail of fur, and the dog-demon jumped into the sky and flew away with him and A-Un. Rin turned around to rejoin her friends in the village.

Everyone was mingling and happily helping with the preparations. Inuyasha seemed distracted. After a while, Rin realized something.

"Where is Kagome?" She looked around innocently. "Inuyasha saved her, didn't he?"

"Oh, yes, but she's back in her world," Sango informed Rin considerately.

"Is she going to come to your wedding?" the little girl asked.

Sango brought her lips to one side disappointedly. "Well, for some reason, the well she uses to travel to our time isn't working right now… So we have to wait for her to come back here on her own. We don't know when that will be."

"Oh," Rin didn't completely understand, but she wished for the best anyway. "Well, I hope she comes back soon."

While some of the women attended to Sango's dressing preparations before the ceremony, Rin gleefully offered to help.

"It has been so nice not having to deal with demons lately," Sango smiled blissfully in the hut, donning her shiromuku bridal kimono. "I haven't seen a single one since we defeated Naraku."

Kaede adjusted Sango's wedding clothes. "Nobody is after you guys since the Shikon Jewel is gone, and no one has a reason to bother us anymore."

Rin innocently looked up at Sango while she held the bride's train. "Lord Sesshomaru has to deal with demons still. Just the other day one confronted him, but Lord Sesshomaru beat him easily."

"I'm willing to bet Sesshomaru's considered the strongest demon in all the land," Sango replied with respect. "I'm sure he'll have that coming to him for the rest of his life."

"I believe that's exactly the way he desires it," Kaede responded. "He wants confrontations."

Rin expounded, "He just wants to be the strongest. That's all."

Sango spun for everyone after the last adjustments to her apparel. "Well, I'm needed up front. See you guys at the end of the ceremony."

"You look beautiful," all the women agreed.

"Good luck, Sango!" Rin applauded.

The ceremony went smoothly and beautifully. Kaede conducted the service in front of the village's Shinto shrine. Sango wore the bride's traditional shiromuku and Miroku wore the groom's traditional montsuki kimono, haori jacket, and hakama pants.

Miroku and Sango were now husband and wife. Afterwards, Sango changed into a colorful uchikake kimono for the reception, and the villagers gathered together for a small feast and socializing. Inuyasha congratulated them but remained distant, Shippo played with Kirara, Kohaku chatted with Rin, and Kaede watched the village festivities in Miroku and Sango's honor, pleased.

That was when Kaede eyed Rin. Lord Sesshomaru would be returning for her tomorrow. Kaede pondered on the logic of this pattern. Would Rin remain under the demon lord's watch forever? The little girl really needed to be amongst those of her own kind to grow up healthy and well-rounded. She was too young to understand this for herself, but Rin needed to know the difference so she could choose which life she wanted to lead on her own.

The next day, Lord Sesshomaru returned, with Jaken on A-Un.

Rin danced right up to the demon lord with excitement when she spotted him. "Lord Sesshomaru, the wedding was so beautiful!" She spun in a circle and landed in a small patch of grass that just recently began growing back. "Thank you for letting me stay."

Lord Sesshomaru remained still and patient. He didn't say anything.

Rin knew they would leave soon now that he was here. She stared up at the sky then glanced over to A-Un. "Lord Sesshomaru, before I fetch supplies to leave, may I take a ride on A-Un?"

"Do as you wish," he said evenly.

"Yay!" Rin squealed and jumped onto the two-headed dragon-horse and took a little joy ride. She disappeared into the sky, deciding that she wanted to find something good for A-Un to eat before they left the village.

Kaede, seeing her chance, approached Sesshomaru and Jaken, ready to speak with the dog-demon.

"Lord Sesshomaru," she said with much authority upon her arrival.

He barely gave the priestess a forbearing glance before turning his head away. "What is it?" he said with impatience.

Kaede stood there unapologetically, letting the light breeze blow through her gray hair. "You've been leaving Rin here quite frequently of late," she simply stated, hands behind her back.

Lord Sesshomaru knew it. This was at least the second time. He would not bring his young human ward on his dangerous, demon-infested journeys—it was unwise and brought unnecessary attention—and if he could avoid making Jaken Rin's caretaker so the little demon could aid him on his trips, he would.

"So why don't you just leave her here?" Kaede continued. "Surely you are not actually planning to have Rin trounce around you for the rest of her life?" The priestess made an inquiring face.

In Lord Sesshomaru's prideful way, he heightened an incredulous brow at her with a sidelong glare. "Hmph," he manifested disinterest and displeasure under his self-righteous tone. He wouldn't even direct his body toward her, let alone a consistent eye contact. "I simply let Rin do as she pleases."

Kaede continued, "Well, it is true she needs to be with that of her own kind—especially as she goes through the blossoming of womanhood. Certainly you don't want to be the one to enlighten her of these things? She needs to be around humans, and women she can look up to. You've already left her in the village before, so why don't you just leave her here permanently?"

Prideful woman, Sesshomaru thought. He didn't reply to her. He was too prideful himself to acknowledge her legitimate point. Coincidentally, he had already been contemplating it himself.

"Let Rin practice living among those of her own kind, so as she grows up, she can make the decision herself when the time comes," Kaede continued her offer.

Sesshomaru remembered back to the time Rin was kidnapped by Ongokuki, the demon that lured children with a flute in their sleep, then afterwards, those self-righteous monks that tried to rescue her and take her back to a human village. Rin absolutely refused to go with them, and she continued to resist them until he himself had rescued her from them, returning to Rin her freedom to choose as she will.

Sesshomaru knew that little girl was determined to stay with him as long as she could.

"She will not go easily," Sesshomaru articulated gradually when he finally responded.

Nor did he truly want her to.

He would never admit he actually enjoyed the rush of having someone helpless to save in the face of danger—someone that truly needed his protection—and her blissful, cheery demeanor and innocence that was the exact opposite of his own quietly proud and reserved personality. Rin was quite entertaining, and created more interesting battles for him when he was motivated to focus on her safety on top of his triumph. However, he would never display that her presence and her need for his security indulged him.

"Don't tell her you're leaving her here," Kaede went on. "I think you should consider my offer. Don't continue this pattern of dropping her off only to pick her back up again."

Sesshomaru was aware of the extreme dangers involving Rin if other demons noticed the attachment he had to her. Many of his past enemies easily learned of this attachment by simple observation of her presence, using it to their advantage at the risk of Rin's life (especially with his recent undertakings involving the deceased Naraku).

Though he was confident in his ability to protect her, he could not deny that, sometimes, it was somebody else that had to intervene to save Rin. Sometimes it was his despicable half-demon brother, or his brother's scantily clad priestess companion, Kagome.

Rin had died twice now, and she was kidnapped often under his care as opponents tried to lure him into traps. He couldn't always successfully avoid these when most of his enemies loved to use that helpless girl as leverage. Recently, since the death of Naraku, Sesshomaru had been generously seeking other worthy opponents, which would make his vicinity a dangerous place for anyone to be around. Fights and battles would potentially erupt at any moment.

"Just leave her here. It is only logical," Kaede asserted.

Lord Sesshomaru pondered the old woman's words, and despite his best efforts to pridefully ignore what she was saying, they struck him with much self-examination.

He knew she was right.

He had been considering this option before today anyway. It was something that had been consistently on his mind ever since the dreadful events in the underworld at his mother's castle in the sky. If he had just left Rin in a village from the start, she wouldn't have experienced death yet a second time. He recalled this time and remembered how he had absolutely no power in the situation. Rin was dead, his mother had to intervene, and she said she would never intervene again.

He would never let Rin die again.

Back then, he had to keep Rin within arm's reach to keep Naraku from taking her—but Naraku was gone now, and the Sacred Jewel, too. There was much less havoc and demons running amok. He trusted the village to be fine under Inuyasha's watch. The half-demon was more than capable of protecting every single person in this little community—despite him being a rash imbecile. Rin would be safe here. And though Lord Sesshomaru was confident Inuyasha would guard Rin just as well as he did the rest of his comrades, he wouldn't leave it all up to him. Sesshomaru was aware the moment his half-brother had to choose between Kagome and anyone else, it would always be Kagome. Though now that he thought of it, he couldn't smell the priestess' scent anywhere in the village right now.

To indefinitely keep Rin from any unnecessary risks, Sesshomaru would spend a few days combing the surrounding perimeter, miles out, exterminating any demons thriving there. He'd be on his way and never speak of these acts.

"Visit her if you feel the need to do so," Kaede continued her persuasions.

He wanted to scowl at her, but being bothered would suggest weakness.

He also wanted to agree with her, but showing Kaede that her words affected him right now would be just as terrible as letting an enemy see something affected him. Reaction showed vulnerability, and he believed that was the biggest mistake he could ever make. Therefore, apathy to every situation was the best way to thwart, discourage, and conquer his enemies.

He always remained stoic and still, with emotionless dignity. So he did so, too, just as well, in this situation.

"Very well." Sesshomaru simply turned away from her, signifying his end to the discussion.

Kaede took his aloof acceptance, and satisfyingly ventured back into the village.

Soon after, Rin returned on A-Un and landed right in front of Lord Sesshomaru. She gave A-Un the rest of the fruits she had picked up for him on their short little trip (wondering if the two-headed demon would ever be treated this nicely without her company and care) and hopped off to skip up to Sesshomaru's towering presence, smiling inquiringly.

"I was wondering, Lord Sesshomaru. Will you ever get married?" She peered up at the dog-demon with her big, innocent eyes.

He turned his head to her rather quicker than he normally would, cocking a disapproving brow. "I have never desired such a frivolous bond," he said with much composed defiance.

"Never?" Rin chimed with a head tilt.

Lord Sesshomaru was done with this conversation. He turned and paced toward A-Un, thinking of precisely what to say to Rin before he was to leave her for the longest amount of time he ever will have had.

Rin finished her thoughts to Jaken when Sesshomaru did not answer. "But Lord Sesshomaru is so handsome, Master Jaken!" She clasped her hands together in admiration. "I thought for sure he would get married to a pretty lady! It would be so romantic!"

"First of all, you ignorant child," Jaken obtruded in an angry frustration, "dog-demons don't call it 'marriage' they call it 'mating'!"

Rin cocked her head to the side. " 'Mating'?" she wondered aloud. "What's 'mating'?"

Hearing her ignorance and interest to know, Jaken eagerly dropped his annoyance to snobbishly enlighten Rin instead. "Well," he began with haughty enthusiasm, "mating is a much deeper union than humans' sad, little weak 'marriage'. Dog-demons are much more faithful to their mates; whereas, humans are so much more dishonorable with betrayal, infidelity, disloyalty, and adultery. Dog-demons mate for life and their scents even meld with each other's, able to be recognized by all demons who sense them—while humans have nothing recognizable with their joining besides some verbal declarations that they are supposedly 'united'."

Rin hardly ever listened to Jaken's long rants, but she actually paused and took heed to this one. She didn't understand every bit, but she beamed brightly. "That sounds wonderful!" she mused innocently. "I want to be Lord Sesshomaru's mate. I want to stay with Lord Sesshomaru forever." She sighed peacefully at the blue sky, wishing for things to never change.

Jaken dropped his jaw in flabbergasted alarm. "What are you saying, you foolish child?!" he howled in explosion.

Rin put her hands to her smiling mouth and giggled at his outburst. "Oh, Master Jaken, you're so silly…"

She looked ahead to Lord Sesshomaru standing stoically next to A-Un in the distance, his long shaft of fur and silver hair drifting in the light wind. Rin hopped ahead, humming a song. When she got close, she danced up to him.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" she called.

"Rin." He turned to peer down at her.

She tilted her head up at him, still beaming.

"I'm leaving now," Sesshomaru said. "I will make my return in three weeks' time," he explained. "Farewell." He bounded into the sky and flew away without another word.

Rin's eyes widened. "Three weeks?!" She ran after him when he jumped into the air. "No! I want to go with you, Lord Sesshomaru!" Futile, she stopped in her tracks and called up to him, "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru! !"

He continued to glide farther and farther away.

Jaken panicked. "Lord Sesshomaru! Wait for me!" He frantically jumped upon A-Un and flew off past Rin after his lord.

Rin slouched where she stood. "I've never been away from Lord Sesshomaru for so long before…" she moaned, knowing there was no stopping him, staring up to the place in the sky Sesshomaru and Jaken disappeared to. "I don't want this."

Rin disappointedly looked back to the village and knew she had better get comfortable. There was no changing Lord Sesshomaru's mind when he decided to leave her behind for his dangerous business.

She smiled optimistically. She did love it here. She would just have to pass the time until she could say hello to her lord again.

Rin walked, semi-glad, back into the village. She reached Kaede's hut when the old priestess poked her head out.

"Did Sesshomaru leave you here, child?" Kaede asked with nonchalance.

"Yes he did." Rin had already accepted it, confident he would return when he said he would.

"You may stay with me if you'd like, Rin," Kaede welcomed her, opening the flap of her hut door.

"Thank you, Lady Kaede!" Rin grinned gratefully.

"I think I'm ready to take my long journey, train hard, and help other villages in need of demon slaying assistance," Kohaku announced over dinner one night.

It had been about a week since Miroku and Sango's wedding and the day Sesshomaru left Rin unbeknownst in the village.

"Oh, Kohaku," Sango spoke with emotional praise. "You'll become a mighty demon slayer."

"When exactly will you leave, Kohaku?" Miroku inquired.

"I'd like to leave tomorrow," he disclosed.

"Don't go, Kohaku." Rin, sitting next to him, fell sadly into his lap at the sound of this statement. She hugged him and added, "I'll miss you." She nuzzled her face into his torso as a tear formed in the corner of her eye, remembering all of the adventures and hardships they shared together, a lot of them alongside Sesshomaru.

"Don't worry, Rin, you'll see me again." Kohaku promised as he bent his head down toward her face that was hiding in his chest. He smiled graciously at her.

She sniffed in her cry, forcing a peppy smile of acceptance.

"By the way," Kohaku turned to his older sister, "can I borrow Kirara for my journey?"

"Of course." Sango was tearing up as well. "I'm going to miss you too, Kohaku." She held a controlled fist near her trembling mouth.

"Don't worry, sister. I'll come back." He hugged Sango tenderly.

She held him dearly in return, a proud, closed smile along her lips.

"I think I'm gonna head out too," Shippo announced next.

"You too, Shippo? ?" Rin exclaimed with disappointment. It seemed she had just arrived for her three-week stay and everyone was leaving.

"Yes!—but I'll be back sooner than Kohaku—and more often," Shippo promised. "I'll only leave a few times a month for a little bit."

"That's not so bad," Rin commented under her sadness with optimism. With that kind of schedule, she'd definitely get to see Shippo every time she visited the village.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing your progress, Shippo and Kohaku!" Miroku encouraged.

"Don't worry, Miroku. I'll be sure to return and show it." Kohaku bent his arm, flexing the muscle.

"Rin," Shippo began invitingly, "do you want to help me pack?"

"Yes!" she shot up excitedly, her mood immediately changing at the thought of helping out.

Inuyasha walked in as she sprinted out the door, moving out of her way as she rushed passed with Shippo. He eyed the little girl's enthusiasm with slight irritation. "She seems a bit too excited to do work." He looked to Kaede who had been housing her this whole time. "How long is she staying here anyway?"

"I told Sesshomaru she needs to practice living among humans as she grows up. Then when the time comes, she can choose where to go herself," she explained.

"Wait. So she's living here?" Inuyasha looked to the swaying door flap Rin just ran out of. He turned back to Kaede when he realized something else. "He listened to you?"

"It seemed he had been contemplating it already," Kaede shared.

Inuyasha leaned back against the wall. "Hm. Well I'll be damned." Leaving Rin here was definitely the most convenient thing for Sesshomaru, but Inuyasha couldn't believe his brother took heed to something a human said.

As the half-demon sat there, distracted and silent, Sango ponderingly gazed at Inuyasha, concerned of his indifference lately. Since Kagome's absence, her heart filled with pity and understanding for him. He hardly yelled at anyone; he never made careless, thoughtless remarks; he was inattentive when it came to beating up Shippo—not that those things were bad to be rid of, it just showed how much emotional turmoil was going on inside him.

Miroku wasn't unaware of this either. When the half-demon was silent a while longer—Sango, Kaede, and Kohaku having their own conversation in the middle of the room—he pulled Inuyasha aside in the hut to quietly ask him, "Hey Inuyasha, can I talk to you?"

Inuyasha cocked a questioning brow at the monk, but accepted, allowing Miroku to lead him outside to talk.

"Inuyasha, how are you doing?" Miroku spoke seriously, out in the nighttime air.

"I'm fine," he responded immediately, irritatedly staring off to the side.

"I don't think you are," Miroku asserted. "This is absolutely the very longest Kagome has been absent. Ever."

The half-demon didn't respond.

"Inuyasha, why hasn't Kagome returned?" Miroku went on. "Is there something you aren't telling us?"

Inuyasha spoke without energy, "You know just as much as I do, Miroku."

The monk insured, "You can talk about this with me. You don't have to bottle it up. We all miss Kagome, but I know it's affecting you the most."

Inuyasha groaned in surrender and glared at the sky. "You didn't see the looks from Kagome's family when they saw her safe," he admitted with hindrance. "And she was so glad to be home, she was even to tears." He paused. "So I can't just be angry or feel bad for myself about it… There are others that care about Kagome and need her too." He paused again. "I can't just be selfish and want her here all to myself."

Miroku was a bit shocked at the humility he just heard coming from the half-demon's mouth—but before he could comment, Inuyasha started to speak again, "But honestly, Miroku, I really don't want to talk about it. Thanks for the concern, but I'm done with this conversation."

"Oh…Okay," the monk uttered acceptingly and Inuyasha sluggishly walked away.

A few weeks later, while Miroku was helping with the chores in his new little home with his wife, Sango couldn't help but commenting, "Miroku…I've never seen Inuyasha sulk so much. This is serious."

They both glanced out the front door to the half-demon on a distant hill, leaning the side of his head and shoulder against a tree, facing away from them. He was gazing out into the forest—arms folded, head sullen—in the direction of the well.

"We've got to do something to help him. I wish we could bring Kagome back already," Sango continued.

"Me too…" Miroku agreed. He folded some linen then got an idea. "Actually, I'll be right back, my dear Sango."

Sango smirked questioningly as her husband kissed her on the cheek then he determinedly sauntered off toward Inuyasha lingering outside.

"Inuyasha, my dear friend!" Miroku came up and slapped him on the back.

"Oh, hey, Miroku," he said without even trying to hide his dejected mood. He didn't even look over at him.

Miroku stood under the tree with Inuyasha. "Let's put ourselves to good use! What do you say, my friend? I'm sure to have a growing family soon, and you haven't put Tetsusaiga to use for too long! What do you say we join forces and go help neighboring towns with demonic problems for some hefty sums?"

"I'm not in the mood to get involved in any of your scams, Miroku." He continued to stare off into the distance.

"No, no, my demonic friend, no scams! Pure, whole, honest service to villages in need. Come on, it'll be fun. Get us out of this village and experience some good old, demon slaying action," Miroku suggested. "Let's do it!"

This piqued Inuyasha's irritation. "How are you supposed to fight when you don't even have your Wind Tunnel anymore? Sounds like I'll be doing all the work."

Miroku leaned back, unimpressed. "Surely you haven't disregarded my spiritual powers all this time."

"Keh. Of course not, but most of the time, your 'monk' front really just seems like an act to help attain your lecherous goals." Inuyasha dropped to the grass with disinterest, laying on the side of his body. His arm propped his head up as he deliberately faced away from Miroku.

"Come now, I am a married man! And I can be lots of help. With my sutras and spiritual powers, I can make demons come out of hiding, and exorcise possessions, then you can finish the job by slaying them with Tetsusaiga! We'll be the perfect team. And there'll be rewards."

Inuyasha sighed, his annoyed face resting against his hand as he picked at some grass he really should be leaving alone to let grow. "Fine."

"Alright! We shall leave for our first run in the morning," the monk finalized.

"Whatever," Inuyasha huffed.

Miroku walked back to his house, completely satisfied with himself.

"What did you say to him?" Sango asked with interest.

"I got us both jobs," Miroku expounded. "He and I leave in the morning for some much needed demon slaying."

"Jaken," Lord Sesshomaru stated in the silence. It had been nearly three weeks since they left Rin in the village.

"Yes, m'lord?" Jaken replied.

"Go into that village over there and purchase Rin a new kimono," the dog-demon commanded.

"What?!" Jaken was disapproving of this idea. "Why would you ask me, your long servile ward, to do such a ridiculously heinous thing?!"

Jaken was instantly kicked upside the head.

"I will go immediately, my lord…" Jaken bowed obediently with a swelling welt over his eye.

This was just like the first time he was asked to do something like this. Sometime after Rin initially started traveling with them, Lord Sesshomaru commanded Jaken to go with Rin to buy her a new kimono to replace the dingy, ratty, orphan one they met her in.

Now, Jaken hobbled into this bustling, wealthy town with the same old man disguise he wore when attempting to steal Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha, back in the day when their individual groups were rivals.

Such humiliation. He won't even let me use my Staff of Two Heads to force the humans to hand over their wares. He's making me buy it, and from HUMANS! Lord Sesshomaru…

Jaken found a luxurious shop, and purchased the nicest kimono in—what he guessed was—Rin's current size, and brought it back to his lord.

Lord Sesshomaru did not take it from him. "We're leaving," he dictated, and jumped into the clouds, heading back to the village—where Rin was now residing.

The next day, after Miroku left with Inuyasha on their new money-making journey, Sango waved the two companions off, and upon doing so she noticed a certain dog-demon coming this way from the sky. She turned her squinting eyes from the bright sky, and ventured for Kaede's hut.

Upon her arrival, she popped her head inside. "I just saw Sesshomaru coming into the village, Rin," she informed the little girl considerately.

Rin's face grew into a huge smile of excitement from the floor of Kaede's hut. "Lord Sesshomaru!" She burst through the door and broke into a sprint.

Sesshomaru had finally returned, and right on the three-week mark. She ran past many villagers, some huts, and there he was, standing idly in the road at the edge of town, Jaken seeming frantic as always next to him.

"Rin," the dog-demon greeted aloofly.

"Lord Sesshomaru! !" Rin sprang for him.

His dispassionate face never changed. He simply stood at Rin's arrival to his body. She clung affectionately to his leg as he idly pondered the sky.

"I've missed you, Lord Sesshomaru." She gripped at his white clothes tighter.

He said nothing to that. Instead he informed her, "I have brought a gift for you."

She pulled back and smiled brightly. "A gift?" She clasped her hands together, energetically popping one of her little feet behind her. "For Rin?"

Suddenly, Jaken was kicked from behind by an impatient Sesshomaru.

"Ow!" he squawked. "Oh, yes…" Jaken was suddenly alert. "Rin," he held open his arms, presenting a gifted box above his short head, "I present this to you in Lord Sesshomaru's stead. A gift. For his trusty ward."

She grinned with pleasant enthusiasm. "Wow, Lord Sesshomaru! I'm so happy!"

Jaken handed her the box.

"Thank you, Master Jaken." Rin took it graciously, her bright smile never fading, and she carefully opened it. "Oooh, I love it!" She held the beautiful kimono up and admired it. "Thank you so, so much, Lord Sesshomaru!"

He was still looking off into the distance. "Hn," was all he uttered. Right as he did, he began walking off.

"Wait! Lord Sesshomaru! I want to come with you!" She even dropped the box containing her newly presented gift out of fear he was about to leave her for a very long time again.

He jumped into the sky anyway, Jaken trailing behind on his shaft of fur.

"He will return!" Jaken declared. "And with more gifts!"

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin called again, hand reaching out, running toward him.

There was no point. She couldn't possibly keep up with his demonic speed, and the two had already disappeared back into the clouds.

Rin slouched into a slumping sigh, her bright smile completely gone now. She disappointedly trudged over to the box with her new kimono and depressingly walked back to the village with it, taking all of the time that she could.

Upon making it back into Kaede's hut, the old woman immediately noticed something was out of sorts. "Rin, what is wrong, child?"

"I wanted to go with Lord Sesshomaru…but he wouldn't let me." Rin dropped the box to the floor and sunk to the ground against the wall. She put her face into huddled knees, resting her head on her arms.

"I'm sure he meant well, Rin. He told you he'd return, yes?"

"Uh-hm," she nodded sadly. "I've just never been away from Lord Sesshomaru for so long before."

"Rin," Kaede started to say, realizing Sesshomaru was too aloof to ever explain this to the poor girl, "I've been meaning to tell you. We had previously spoken and decided a few things that I want to discuss with you. We thought it would be best if you stayed here and grew up in the village. He wants you to grow up as a normal human child.

"Then, when you are old enough, you can decide if you want to return with Sesshomaru, and choose to travel with him again—if you desire. I think it is only fair you grow up as a normal girl among humans, and I think this is a reasonable deal."

Rin popped her head up, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. "He said this? Lord Sesshomaru said that?" She had never heard a word of this plan.

"He didn't disagree," Kaede emphasized.

"But that is so far away!" Rin rose her brows. "I don't want to never see him again until I grow up."

"You'll still see him. Isn't that right, Rin? He said he'd return," the old woman reminded.

"Master Jaken said…" Rin was so depressed.

This wouldn't have been much different from when Lord Sesshomaru would leave her and Jaken alone in the woods (if it were only for a few days and he came back to let her journey with him again) but he was planning on leaving her here in the village to live alone without him.

Rin finally gave into her cries, stood, and ran out of the hut. Kaede frowned in sadness for the child, but let her go.

Rin didn't understand. Did she do something wrong? Did she do something that made him angry with her—to want her to leave? She was so scared right now. She felt more scared than all of the times demons had kidnapped her, including all of times Naraku did. She feared Sesshomaru was only doing this to try and slowly be rid of her permanently.

Nothing scared her more than being left by Sesshomaru; nothing scared her more than losing her companionship with him. He was the one who saved and protected her. He was the closest friend she had, and the closest thing she had to a family. Ever since she lost her brothers and parents, he was the only thing that truly comforted her. Nothing scared her more than being away from him—nothing scared her more than a life without him.

She always imagined she'd spend forever with Lord Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru returned after another three weeks. Rin had already removed her white and orange checkered kimono and donned the new one of blue with green designs.

Rin had a long time to think about how he simply abandoned her without even a consideration of what she wanted, and she couldn't find it in herself to be perfectly peppy when she was greeted by him. This time, she remained timid and low-spirited in front of him.

She was slouching on a boulder she knew Sesshomaru would come by when he ambled toward the edge of the village. The demon lord approached her and simply stood in her presence, staring down at the girl that would not look up at him.

Jaken rode up next on A-Un, unaware of Rin's mood, but Lord Sesshomaru silently acknowledged it.

Jaken jumped off the creature and revealed to Rin a new present. He held it above his head and presented it to her. "Lord Sesshomaru has brought you yet another gift. These were found upon the body of the demon he last slayed. The demon seemed to target small humans, for he had many items belonging to children. My lord salvaged the nicest pair and here they are."

Rin peered down at the beautiful pair of shoes in his hands. After a moment of comprehension, she took them, and realized these fancy gifts would never be a worthy equivalent to traveling with her lord. She dropped the substitutions for his time in her lap, and glanced away sadly. Nothing could replace that.

Jaken grumbled to himself about her ungratefulness when he wobbled back to A-Un, but Lord Sesshomaru remained in her presence. He could tell she was downhearted. After a moment of accommodating silence, he finally uttered, "What is wrong."

Rin fidgeted nervously and looked up at him with carefulness. "You didn't tell me you wanted to leave me here forever…"

He looked down at her with acknowledgment, but with no expression. He glanced away and did not comment.

Rin was afraid of that. She quietly, self-consciously stared down at her feet from where she sat on the boulder. "Lord Sesshomaru…" she began timidly. "I want to stay with you."

She was so worried about what he was going to say next. She feared the worst: That he didn't want her around him anymore.

He simply replied expectantly, "It is imperative you grow up amongst humans."

Rin glanced up at him in utter dismay. Her worst fear came true: He was going to leave her here anyway.

Composedly dropping her head, she started to sniffle into a cry. "But why?" she tried not to whine. "Why can't I stay with you?"

He stated firmly, "I do not repeat myself."

She dropped her head again, trying so hard not to break into that cry. "I don't want this, Lord Sesshomaru," she told him honestly. "I don't."

He couldn't stand the terrible self-pitied look in her eyes. He slightly narrowed his gaze and convinced himself to avert his eyes to the grass instead, in contemplation. "You're staying here," he said unyieldingly.

Rin didn't understand his commitment to these unsympathetic answers. She clutched the shoes with firmness and turned from him in dismay, finally giving into the cry she was so desperately trying to hold back, releasing her tears with reluctant, aching pants.

Jaken squinted an eye of disapproval at her display. She just spurt into the most unestablished set of waterworks he had ever witnessed from her in their entire time of travel together. Rin was usually so self-aware and levelheaded under her energetic, positive personality. Breaking down was not like her.

It was not strange that Sesshomaru had never seen her this upset either. He was nearly stunned by her ease to surrender to it, but he did not demonstrate this on his face.

"You tricked me," Rin sniffled this accusation, dropping the shoes again—only this time to the ground. "You tricked me into staying at the village." She buried her face into folded arms as she choked on her sobs and whimpers.

Sesshomaru immediately felt a need to ease her suffering, but executed his best efforts to ignore the foreign emotion. He would not change his mind.

He simply stood there expressionlessly, patiently waiting for her to stop.

She didn't.

Jaken could not remain silent though. "Rin! Cease your hideous crying in front of my lord!"

It only made Rin gasp at him in alarm then cry into her arms more.

"Jaken," Lord Sesshomaru commanded dangerously. "Leave."

Jaken was surprised by this command. "B-but…my lord?"

"Or I'll kill you," Sesshomaru added.

Jaken immediately stuttered, "Y-yes, m'lord!" and he jumped on A-Un and flew away.

Rin was not relenting. Her weeping only continued. She was so distraught.

A pain Sesshomaru had never felt before twinged through his stomach. It was similar to the dread he felt when Rin's life was forfeit to the demon beast of the underworld. He realized this current emotion was concern that she was in pain, distress that she was suffering, and fear that he had caused it. Surely she felt betrayed by him.

However, he would never show it. His appearance remained as stoic as ever.

Rin continued to sob under her arms, "I want to stay with you; I don't ever like to be away from you. You're my best friend, Lord Sesshomaru."

He tilted his head to this unexpected information, unwillingly feeling some sort of affection toward the girl. Maybe even captivation. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but feel she possessed a misconception of their relationship. He was a cold, dangerous demon and she was a helpless, human child, after all.

He adjusted his stance, shifting his footing, and stared off to the outskirts of town as he uttered the one thing that puzzled him for so long now, "It is strange to me that I have always been one you should fear, yet you desire to be with me so."

Rin gradually dropped her hands from her face, enlightened by his words. Her cries slowed.

She ignored her wounded heart for the moment to explain something to him, "I'm not scared of you, Lord Sesshomaru…" She had to catch a broken breath caused from her previous emotional outburst.

Leaving the shoes behind, Rin hopped off the boulder and tiptoed to his side, cautiously taking the end of his sleeve in both of her little hands. Looking up into his eyes, she continued in reverence, "Lord Sesshomaru, you're my hero. All I want is to be with you. Being without you is the scariest feeling in the world. You've saved my life so many times, so I never have to be scared when I'm with you. I trust you," she said as the little girl that innocently just wanted to stay with him, "and I love you."

Sesshomaru faltered. He involuntarily collapsed to the ground on one knee, his legs unable to hold him up any longer. His blood was pumping differently and he felt an unexpected lightheadedness. He did not in the least bit understand this overwhelming feeling inside him, stronger than any force or creature he had ever been up against—and it was an emotion. It had literally brought the Great Demon Lord Sesshomaru down to his knees.

Collecting himself, he played it off like he crouched down to face her. Regaining his composure, he assured her, "Rin, I will never trick you."

Rin lifted her chin, her eye level close to his. "But you won't let me come with you again," she convulsively inhaled another staggered breath, returning to tears, yet silently.

"Where I am going is dangerous and it's unnecessary to risk your life," he affirmed.

"I know you just want to keep me safe…" Rin elaborated calmly, still clinging to his long kimono sleeve, "but all I want is to travel with you again..."She gazed up at him with the saddest look of hopelessness on her face. The tears continued trailing down her cheeks, her body slightly shivering with the heartbreak and woe.

He paused. Something dreadfully deep struck his heart. An undeniable, uncontrollable need to please her rushed over him. He sought for a solution and quickly found one.

"Rin," he established with assertiveness, "I will grant you what you desire. However, you still have to live here."

"But—" Rin stammered.

"Next time, we will travel somewhere together," he clarified, "just like you want."

Rin's head lifted with childlike interest. "Where will we go?"

He stood up, carefully, sliding free from her grip on his sleeve. "You can decide."

Her face lit up. "I can decide?" Her mood was finally changing.

"Hn," he assured.

She grinned with eager excitement. "Really? When?"

"Next time I visit." He walked away, satisfied by the smile he now saw on her face.

She clasped her hands together under her chin. "How often will you visit?" she beamed enthusiastically.

He intended to continue this pattern he had already begun, and though he never planned to voice it (for its obviousness), he felt it necessary to let Rin know this for sure now. "Regularly. Every three weeks or so." Or even when it came to his whim.

"Lord Sesshomaru, you really will?" Rin emanated her bright smile, even through the sticky tears that previously stained her cheeks.

He couldn't deny her happiness. "I, Sesshomaru, shall."

She hugged him, only tall enough to reach his leg. "Okay. I will stay in the village if you make sure to visit me and take me on trips," Rin promised.

"Hn," he agreed stoically.

"Please don't be late, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin urged.

"When have I ever?" He was about to bound into the sky but stopped when he heard Rin say his name.

"Lord Sesshomaru?"

He readjusted his step on shifted weight to let her to speak again.

"It doesn't matter if I grow up with humans, when I'm older, I'm going to choose 'yes'," she explained.

" 'Yes'?" he barely lifted an eyebrow.

" 'Yes' to being with you again," Rin grinned optimistically.

"Hn." He looked down with contemplation. That was what he had discussed with Kaede. The day Rin grew up seemed like eons away. Until then, she would stay here. He bounded into the sky and disappeared.

Rin confidently held up her head, gathering her new present, and cavorted back into the village. That conversation made her feel even more competent and independent than she already was. She was hoping to ask Sango if she could train under her soon—surely that would be a great way to prep for the future. Until then, she was just looking forward to the day she would be able to choose to travel with Lord Sesshomaru once again.

A/N:

This last scene was entirely inspired by a little comic book I read on deviantART by one of my favorite fan artists: Animaker131. Please look at it! It's so beautiful, it made me cry. It's called Aftermath, it's a doujinshi, and there are two chapters. Read them both ;)

I also need to credit rozthegreat and her amazing fic "One Wish, One Night"—check it out! My fic wouldn't exist if I never found hers! So I owe all credit for my story's inspiration to her! Especially the brief explanation of the mating bond in this chapter; that idea came from her :) She is my absolute favorite fic writer!

Ep. References—

(1) Episode 25 of InuYasha: The Final Act "Thoughts Fall Short" (when Kagome is sucked into the Meido and Inuyasha jumps in after her)

(2) Episode 162 of InuYasha "Forever with Lord Sesshomaru" (when Rin is kidnapped by Ongokuki and the monks try to take her back to a human village—I'm making the "Do as you please" quote from this episode a running theme in my fic.)

(3) Episode 9 of InuYasha: The Final Act "Sesshomaru in the Underworld" (when Rin dies a second time)

(4) Episode 79 of InuYasha "Jaken's Plan to Steal Tetsusaiga" (when Jaken wore his old man disguise to steal Tetsusaiga)