By the way I have forgot to mention I don't own Inuyasha. Thanks again Mle on Dokuga for your great job as a beta your awesome. Please review, it makes me a happy girl.

Sesshomaru's hand was still to his brow. He had been analyzing the whole situation too deeply. His ears tuned in on a sound. It seemed Jaken had accomplished his task, much to the toad's dismay. All of a sudden, Rin came bouncing back into the tent. Someone had managed to find her a clean kosode at least. She now wore a simple blue one with a brown obi. It was a size too big for her meager frame and the material was cheap but it would do.

Rin turned to face him, it was oblivious she was proud of the kosode. She smiled, displaying her change of clothes. Sesshomaru nodded at her. His evening meal had been brought to him and he had yet to start eating.

"My Lord, the child has been cleaned. Now the information I have for you, Sir."

"Go ahead Jaken." His eyes watched Rin she had moved over to the table, eying the food. He waited. He wished to see what she would do and did not offer her any.

"The coast had been completely secured."

"Hn."

"The intriguing bit of information is some of the ships used where most certainly of Eastern make and design."

"Hn." If he had his suspicions before now he was sure of it, there was a mastermind to this whole affair.

"My Lord, do you plan on addressing the East about their involvement? Should I prepare a message?"

"No Jaken."

"Lord, if they were involved, do you not wish to find out why?"

"Jaken, just keep the East's involvement to yourself. Now is not the time to wage a war with an exhausted army and other lords vying for my head." It pained him much to say this, but it was the truth. Even with the death of their leader the Southern armies where still trying to pick off land. Most of the frontier lords where hoarding soldiers in fear of Western collapse.

Sesshomaru was sure the toad would keep talking. He had already fought too much on the matter and did not wish to continue discussing it. "Jaken, you're dismissed." He made sure to turn his eyes towards Jaken, willing him to just leave.

Jaken looked at his Lord and bowed before retreating from the tent.

Sesshomaru's attention now turned back to Rin, who was standing next to him. The child was so small. He was sitting and yet she was still a full head or so shorter and the large clothing emphasized the fact that she had little to no meat on her.

"Are you hungry Rin?"

Her face turned to him. He waited and wondered if she had regained anymore of her voice. His life with her would be much easier if she spoke. War and poverty had a way of psychologically affecting some, and her being young and a female only added to this.

"Yes, Lord Ses..." Her words trailed. She had heard Jaken say his name but she couldn't form it.

"Sesshomaru."

"Lord Sesshomaru. Rin is hungry."

He was about to chastise the girl. While speaking in third person could demonstrate one's standing, Rin was simply using it because of a lack of practice or understanding of how to speak. The girl would need much work if he was going to have her around him. For now he would not correct this child. He placed a small bowl of rice in front of her, along with a pair of chopsticks. Many of the foods on the table where quite rich and he greatly doubted her body could handle such fare. Surveying other foods, he added to her rice a bit of fish and a pear.

Rin didn't even acknowledge the chopsticks. She acted as if the food would disappear if she did not devour it. She went to eat with her hands when they were caught up in his.

"Rin if you are to stay with me, you'll eat with manners."

Rin looked up at him and nodded, and he released her hands. She fumbled with the chopsticks. It had been some time since she had used a pair. Finally, getting some rice she brought it to her mouth looking at Sesshomaru for approval. He gave her a simple nod and she continued to eat.

"Rin how old are you?"

Rin stopped eating as she started to think, "Rin was five summers when my family was attacked, and it has been two summers Rin has been on her own."

So she is only seven? Sesshomaru thought as he dished his own plate. That is quite young to be alone and still be alive. Seeing the girl in a new light, Sesshomaru decided to eat.

The tent was quiet. No one else had seen fit to interrupt him. Inspecting Rin, he noticed she continued to fumble with her chopsticks. He slid a spoon over to her, which she quickly grasped. Sesshomaru only picked at the food, once again contemplating his decisions about the war.

He was interrupted by a rather loud yawn, reminding him Rin would need a place to sleep. At first he thought of making her a bed out of a few pillows, but decided Jaken could sleep somewhere else tonight. He watched as she crept into the Jaken's bed and he turned to leave. Sesshomaru needed to inspect the camp. Looking back he saw fear in her eyes. "Sleep Rin. I will return."

She nodded her head and snuggled down into the covers.

Leaving the tent, Sesshomaru saw Jaken stumble around starting to prepare the soldiers for departure. Once morning light appeared, Sesshomaru had decided his best course of action was to head back to the capital.

The inspections went well. He stepped on Jaken twice and managed to throw only three rocks at the imp. Surely he could find someone as loyal but not as annoying. The process would definitely be troublesome and abusing the toad released a certain amount of stress.

Most of the camp had settled down for the night. A hundred different fires burnt with soldiers gathered around each one. The older and more experienced tended to just sit around reliving battles, while the young found entrainment in gambling and alcohol. He knew some men found their ways to the female camp followers and he shook his head in disdain. Sesshomaru should have them stay away from camp; but for every whore, there was a wife or daughter who helped keep the army going.

Moving the flap of his tent, he saw Rin was still curled up sleeping.

"What is that little camp..." Jaken had no time to finish his sentence as he found himself squashed under the boot of his master. Three imp stomps and three rocks to the head- might as well make it an even day.

"Jaken, Rin," Sesshomaru made sure to emphasize her name, "is sleeping there. You may find somewhere else to lie."

Jaken knew he had drawn his master's fury. "Yes, Milord, might I ask how long you plan on keeping the child?"

Sesshomaru paused before replying. He had somewhat admitted to himself that the child would stay with him, but to admit it aloud would secure the decision.

"I am taking her on as my ward. She is to be treated as such."

Jaken was furious. She was nothing but a filthy camp rat! His esteemed Lord, the master on the field who he had watched kill thousands was taking in a stray human child. One look at his master and Jaken decided that he had pushed his luck enough for one day. "Yes, Milord." He bowed. "I shall find myself another bed."

Sesshomaru went to undo the obi that helped hold his armor up before going to its latches. He slipped it off and placed it in the corner. Inspecting the sleeping child once more Sesshomaru laid down.

He had no idea how long he had been asleep when he was awoken by something nudging him. Slowly he opened his eyes. The tent was quite dark but he knew from the smell who was nudging at him.

Sitting up, he looked down at her. "Rin go back to your own bed."

"Lord Sesshomaru, Rin had a bad dream. Scared."

A dream? Had the girl woken him for a dream? As his eyes adjusted to the light, he could see the little tears forming in the girl's eyes. Rin started to snuggle herself into his Mokomoko. Right now he needed to get up and send her back to bed. Sesshomaru was going to but a closer look showed him the child was already asleep. Sighing to himself he laid back down, allowing Rin to snuggle closer to him.

Morning brought a flurry of activity. Soldiers who had drunk too much now complained too much. Old soldiers were complaining about their bones. Of course, there was the regular shouting that occurred as one solider accused another of not taking care of his half of the tent. Rin stood behind her protector. She had seen the army move before. This was often the time she could find the best food. This time, Rin was well feed and had no desire to lose Sesshomaru from her sight. She kept in step right behind him and beside Jaken until she saw someone.

It was a human boy about thirteen-years-old. He had been the one who found her and told her about the scraps that could be had in camp. He had found work from one of the soldiers, Lord Inuyasha, if Rin remembered correctly. Kohaku was the boy's name. He was an orphan like herself. Unlike so many of the other boys at camp he was nice and tried to protect and look after her. Rin knew that Kohaku ate regularly but wondered if he had nearly the food she got now. When she thought the lord was not looking she had slipped a pear into her kosode .

Kohaku was busy, like the other boys, tearing down the camp. In truth, he was a skilled solider but he was still too young to be allowed in the ranks. She looked over at Lord Sesshomaru talking with someone.

Rin slipped away, "Hey Kohaku"

"Rin, what are you doing inside the camp and you talk?" The boy looked worried for his friend. This was not the place to be.

"Yeah, it is alright. I'm here with Lord Sesshomaru."

Kohaku eyes widened. She was telling the truth! Then again, he saw no reason for the child to lie. Rin had obviously been cleaned up, but the Western Lord?

"I have something for you." Rin pulled the pear from her kosode .

"Rin you shouldn't." Unknown to her the lord had been watching as she walked towards Kohaku.

"No she shouldn't."

Rin turned. Oops. She had been caught. Kohaku felt it was a good time to leave.

"Lord Sesshomaru…" Rin went to tell a story of how Kohaku had been there for her. Rin knew Kohaku had saved some of his meal for her. He also made sure that there was a dry place for her to sleep in the rain.

"Rin! You little..." started Jaken before he was interrupted by Sesshomaru.

"Silence, Jaken. We set forth soon. Go see if the generals are ready to move."

"Yes, Milord." Jaken bowed before running off to do his master's work.

Rin was really scared. She knew the lord had told her once about stealing. Rin also worried that he would turn her away or punish her. She looked to Sesshomaru. Had she just screwed up her best shot in life?

"I will not tolerate a thief."

"Rin is sorry, my Lord, but..."

"Silence Rin, you will not steal." He watched the little tears forming in her eyes.

"Will my Lord turn Rin out?"

"No."

"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin went to hand the pear to him but he stopped her.

"Rin, you must ask." He was giving her a way out, but knew he was also teaching her.

"May Rin please have the pear to give to Kohaku?" A little smile crept across her face as she watched her lord nod. Turning quickly on her feet Rin set out in the direction Kohaku had gone.

"So it is true. You have taken in a kid. If I didn't see it with my own eyes I'd never believe it." Inuyasha teased as he approached his older brother.

Sesshomaru turned to look at his younger brother. "Hn."

"So cold, Sesshomaru." He went to stand next to his brother.

"You will address me with respect, Whelp."

"Yeah, sure." Inuyasha laughed. He could go a good round with his brother right now- get his blood flowing.

"Are you and the army ready to head east?"

"That's why I'm here to check in. I'm going to head out before the rest of camp starts moving. You just want me to keep the Higurasha Hayato estate secure?"

"If you're that simple minded."

"No, I know. You want me to try to figure out if Naraku is behind this whole mess. I tell you Brother, if I can prove it his head will be on a plate before word gets to you."

"You will do nothing of the sort. We cannot afford another war."

"Keh. Sure. Whatever you say."

"Just do as you're instructed, Inuyasha." Turning away from his brother, Sesshomaru moved towards his steed. There were no goodbyes among the brothers- too much resentment. Sesshomaru could never get past the fact that his father had courted and mated another woman while his mother had not been dead a year. The common court rumor was that his father had already been courting the woman during his mother's sickness.

Making his way to his dragon steed, he watched Rin come running back. How did one child find so much dirt that quickly? At least when he got back to the capital he could get the child a nurse. He knew who he would call on. Atsuko was an older badger demon, the perfect nurse. She had been his father's as well as his own and Inuyasha's. Badger demons where often chosen for the fierceness that they protected their charges with. He also knew, while this was a human child, the way she acted would most likely give anyone who he choose to take care of her one good run.

He checked the harness of his steed.

"Is that yours Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin had come bouncing back.

He nodded his head.

"What are their names?" She had moved over to them and beside Sesshomaru. Her head was tilted to the side as she inspected the dragon.

"They do not require one."

"Then how does my Lord call them?" Everything had a name Rin thought, did her Lord just say dragon? How would he know one from another?

He almost wished she was mute again. Did she have to ask this many questions? Before he could answer another question bounded from her lips.

"Can Rin name them?"

He nodded. It would hurt nothing for the child to name them.

Rin laughed and smiled "Alright." Walking up to them she pointed to each. "You are Ah." Then Rin pointed to the next, "And you are Un."

"My Lord," Jaken came bumbling to him, "we are ready to move on your orders." With a nod of his master's head, Jaken cried out for the army to move.

"Get up on Ah-Un, Rin."

Nodding her head, she climbed up and onto the saddle as the army moved out.