(Author's Notes)

Hello everybody! Its story time again! Nothing much going on here today, except having a cookout celebrating Mother's Day today! I actually made my first successful triple layered chocolate cake for her and my grandmother's today! I hope it turned out all right! I'm crossing my fingers that they'll like it!

(Story)

Rin and Sesshomaru were walking along the village's main road. They weren't walking anywhere in particular. It was more like a scouting trip, watching for any intruder or demon who tried to enter the village. Occasionally they would glance at each other to see that they had not left each other behind. Sesshomaru took longer glances at Rin though.

In all of his years of watching Rin grow up, he'd never imagined her as the fighting type. She certainly had the strength and energy to hold up the life of a fighter. And, to tell the truth, the training had made Rin healthy as well. He could tell that underneath the demon slayer armor, she had a finely toned body. Her healthy eating style had perfected her growth and rid her skin of oil, leaving it smooth and silky. Even though her hair was in a side braid, Sesshomaru could tell that it had grown thicker, lighter, and possibly wavier that it was when she was a child.

"Um, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin curiously asked. Sesshomaru jolted a bit as Rin's voice thrust him out of his trance. He didn't notice that he'd been staring at her for so long.

"Oh, I'm sorry Rin." Sesshomaru apologized. Rin only smiled as her eyes grew gentle. Sesshomaru didn't need to hear words from her mouth to know that she had forgiven him.

"Rin, something's nagging in the back of my mind." Sesshomaru stated.

"What is it, my Lord?" Rin asked.

"You becoming a fighter surprised me enough, but…" Sesshomaru then walked a little closer to Rin's side and touched the scythe that was hoisted on her back.

"…Why a scythe? It wasn't given to you was it?"

"Oh, well, not exactly my Lord." Rin admitted. She then reached back and grabbed her scythe from her back; she then dug it to the ground, letting the blade face the sky.

"You see, my Lord, this scythe used to belong to a petty demon that tried to attack the village. After Kohaku killed it, I kept the scythe and used it in case a demon ever intruded my home. Then it turned into protecting my neighbors, then the whole village. Totosai actually helped me upgrade the blade with a dragon demon's fang. It may not be the strongest weapon ever created, but if it helps me protect the village, then it's good enough for me." Rin then glanced up in wonder at her scythe. Sesshomaru admired it along with her as it blazed in the sun. It was as if the gleaming weapon was proud of its strength and power.

Sesshomaru once again stared in awe of its wielder. This fighter that this scythe belonged to was not a mighty warrior seeking for fame and recognition; the fighter was no evil creature creating the malice and death a scythe usually symbolized. This fighter was a modest human girl who was trying to protect her village and the people and demons in it. That noble cause, in and of itself, had made her a wise fighter and a kind person that everybody could look at as an equal…even for a demon like Sesshomaru.

"…Well," Sesshomaru gently began to speak. His hand slid down from the handle of Rin's scythe and headed closer to her. The clawed fingertips finally reached her cheek. Sesshomaru took a glance at the precious figure before him. He knew that she was strong and could very well fend for herself; but…he couldn't help but feel, for some unknown reason, that she was as fragile as a withering stick ready to snap whenever it moved, let alone be placed in the middle of a storm. Sesshomaru found himself leaning closer to Rin. Rin blushed slightly as he did so.

"…Just take care of yourself Rin." Sesshomaru gently warned. Rin now felt the heat emitting from her cheeks. But she just chuckled to herself, and stood up on her toes. Sesshomaru then let her forehead touch his. They remained in that stance for few moments before they both started smiling and laughing with each other about the promise keeping motion they had concocted.

Their feelings of bliss were interrupted when they heard a crash. They turned to the outskirts of the village just in time to see some trees being knocked over. Rin then noticed Sango carrying her Hiraikotsu and bolting through the village toward the crash. Rin glanced up worriedly at Sesshomaru. He turned back at her and drew his Bakusaiga as Rin pulled her scythe from the ground.

"Let's go." Sesshomaru stated. Rin nodded her head and they both sprinted toward the area where the trees had fallen, both ready to fight whatever new intruder was trying to enter the village.

(Author's Notes)

So, whatcha think? Whatcha think? I know that Sesshomaru was a bit nice in this story, but I love it when he gives her moments like this! I couldn't help myself! XD