Silence was a luxury that Rin and Sesshomaru both cherished whole-heartedly, but this silence was more of an encumbrance. The mild summer breeze was the only sound that graced through the duo. They were just three days into their journey to the east. Rin wanted to speak, but was afraid that conversation would lead to the unwanted. Sesshomaru wanted to speak but wanted to discern Rin's disposition better before audible conversation. Thus, Sesshomaru stared ahead as he and Rin traveled on, but it was getting rather late. And he wanted to rest so they could get an early start on the journey tomorrow.

Sesshomaru finally stopped, letting Rin know that this was where camp would be for the night. Sesshomaru walked to a nearby oak tree, sat down, and closed his eyes slightly. Rin also sat down opposite of Sesshomaru and started unloading a few items out of her traveling bag. Quite frankly, Rin was sordid, extremely hot, and tired. She hated to admit it, but she had slightly overexerted herself during her formations days prior. Sesshomaru knew she was a tad bit sluggish than usual, but he didn't mind traveling at a slower pace.

He watched her intently as she sat down and slowly unloaded a few items she brought along on this long trek. Once Rin finished, she held a white towel that was embroidered with the phantom dog emblem in blue, white, and yellow, a bar of lavender scented soap, and sleep attire (compliments of Kagome) in her left arm and hand. She wanted to rest a few moments before she went in search of a hot spring that was no doubt nearby- considering Sesshomaru always set up camp where a hot spring could be found in the vicinity.

She let out a small sigh while clutching her belongings to her chest. She let her head lean on the massive oak and looked over at Sesshomaru who appeared to be asleep. Rin knew better though. She knew him well enough to know that he was watching her every move. So, she watched him as well. Sesshomaru watched her watching him and wondered what she was thinking. He took note that Rin's eyes stared into his slightly closed eyelids with a blank expression. Even though her face was calm and gave away nothing, Sesshomaru knew otherwise. Sesshomaru leisurely opened his eyes and watched Rin's none wavering eyes bare into his.

Suddenly, Rin placed the contents in her left hand down on her bag and gingerly reached up to her high ball and started to unravel it all the while never taking her eyes away from him. Sesshomaru watched in mild interest. He wondered for a second if she was trying to tell him something with her movements, but such notions ceased when he took note she was only unraveling her hair. He took in the sight of her hair and hands as Rin meticulously unbraided her hair. Unexpectedly, Rin's brow creased heavily, and the façade she was so desperately trying to keep in place faltered radically. So, she closed her eyes and continued to take her long braid down. Sesshomaru's interest was more than just peaked by now, he was a little concerned. He'd watched as Rin's face went from stoic to full of confusion and uncertainty. He wanted to comment on it, but before he could open his mouth. Rin spoke.

"Don't!"

Rin opened her eyes to look at Sesshomaru once again. This time her eyes were full of contempt. She rubbed her neck and stood before speaking again.

" I'm going to bathe now."

She looked at him for clearance. He looked at her a considerable moment before nodding his consent unhurriedly. Rin lingered in her spot a moment longer before turning and bending down to pick up her belongings and disappearing into the forest.

Rin waited until she was far away from camp before she began to ruminate aloud.

"That demon, is so stubborn. Can't he see… perhaps he does not wish to see. But all that I do is for him and only him. I don't know how much longer my façade will last, but one fact is sure, it will not last much longer. Here I am, thinking that I can show that demon no feelings, no love for him. Oh, Rin, why did you have to fall in love with a demon, and not just any demon, a taiyoukai. If only I'd known then what I'd be facing now, but how could I have possibly known such a thing. The facts are I'm in love with him, and he knows I'm in love with him, but he will do nothing about it. What kind of man knows that a beautiful woman is in love with him and does nothing. It doesn't make sense. I mean look at me." She glanced down at herself. "I'm a damn good catch, damnit. Humph, well, if I was dealing with an actual man, the answer might be obvious, but I am dealing with a male demon… nonhuman."

Rin stopped at this new revelation and starred numbingly at the hot spring just ahead. She let out a long sigh and kept straight. Unbeknown to her, Sesshomaru followed her, but at a safe distance. He would never admit it, but he was worried about her. Ever since that night she spoke the notions he knew were already ever present in her mind, she had a new defiant air about herself. Of course she would never blatantly disobey or disrespect him; however, since that night, he noticed every time he looked in her eyes she emitted nothing- eyes like stone. He did not like her this way, and by the look of what just took place at the camp, he knew he wanted to address the matter before tension between the two of them worsened. Besides, he didn't want them to end on a sour note before he left her in a human village. Once he spotted her, he noticed she was talking to herself. Therefore, he listen more intently and was able to pick up "Can't he see… perhaps he does not wish to see…."

Upon hearing Rin's last word, he closed his eyes before he began to do some ruminating of his own. ' Is she right, do I not wish to see her love for this Sesshomaru. I am a demon, non human as she has stated. Humans and demons are not meant to mix and yet here we are. Besides, she is right; her façade will not last much longer. She will eventually blame me for everything. I knew one day she would fall in love with me, but I 'd hoped that day never came, and yet here we are.

She and I, Rin and Sesshomaru, why did I save her?'

Rin began to take off her clothing when a familiar aura made her very aware that she was not alone. 'He followed me out here too,' she thought with wide eyes facing the spring. ' Why doesn't he just leave me alone.' She turned around swiftly and looked around. Of course she could see nothing, but she knew he was there. Therefore, she turned back around and started to undress. Rin figured, Sesshomaru would never make himself known. Even though he was a trained killer, he was still very modest when it came to things such as this. Even in the past, when he would save her from demons trying to have their way with her at hot springs, he would always look away from her once the offending vermin was slain.

So, by her getting undress knowing he was watching, Rin's body turned reddish. On Sesshomaru's behalf, he drank in every curve of Rin as she undressed. He even saw how her entire body turned pink, granted he couldn't see much because Rin's wavy black hair covered a significant amount of her, but not enough to where Sesshomaru could repress a reddish hue himself. He knew that she knew he was there, but something in him made him hide himself when she turned around previously. So, he just watched. Rin was completely naked by now. She gave her surroundings another look and then leisurely made her way into the water where she moaned slightly as the hot water instantly began to have an indelible affect on her. Rin eventually nestled herself on a smooth rock in the spring. She sat down and leaned her head against a bolder.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply and involuntarily let Sesshomaru's name escape her lips while exhaling. Sesshomaru's eyes widen considerably upon hearing his name. He was under the impression that she was made at him, but by the sound of her voice, she was far from such. Hence, he came out of hiding and in a flash stood before Rin, while she soaked away her troubles. Rin lethargically open her eyes to see Sesshomaru standing only five feet away from her. She jumped and eased herself in the water more. Sesshomaru starred at her wondering why she appeared more alluring right now than any other time before.

Rin looked up at him and then away before speaking.

"Did you want something my lord?"

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed a bit. He noted her loaded question and sensed the ambiguity in it. Rin finally realized the innuendo in her question as she let her question fully sink in. She quickly looked back at Sesshomaru before trying to recant.

"I didn't mean anything by that question my lord considering my present state. I merely thought you required…." She trailed off not really knowing what to say next as she lowered her body further into the water. Sesshomaru found mild interest in her modesty.

He on the other hand was just glad she wasn't upset with him, at least for right now. Rin watched as Sesshomaru's golden hued eyes pierced through her. Rin wondered what he was thinking but only saw something in his eyes she had never seen before. Rin's eyes started to slowly widen thinking he was about to divulge something most waited for. Though, when he finally opened his mouth to seemingly say something, nothing could be heard but a heavy sigh as he turned and walked back to camp. Rin sharply snapped her eyes skyward and let an impatient audible sigh escape her lips. She knew it would not go unheard by his sensitive hears, and she didn't care. Upon hearing this, Sesshomaru's closed his eyes while his brow crinkled in frustration as he continued to walk away.