A/N: So… many… reviews… so happy!

Disclaimer: Don't.

Inuyasha: Don't what?

Me: you know what.

Inuyahsa: Oh thisss….

Me: AHH! For those of you at home, he is waving his name in front of my face to show me how much I do not own Inuyasha.

Weeks later, Sesshomaru still worried about what Tsukiko said. He was busy controlling his lands after his prolonged absence and was only too glad to have Soha to help control things when he was away, though he never told her so.

Soha was lead general in his army and very responsible. Truth be told, her mother was a general for his father, and they were friends when they were children. He respected her opinion greatly and couldn't recall a time he had to threaten to kill her to get what he wanted. She had bright red hair that curled just below her jaw. She had reddish freckles that lightly peppered her nose had cheeks. She carried forest green fans that matched her uniform.

It came to him as a great surprise when Soha came to him unannounced three weeks after he had come home from his delayed return. He had been sighing a paper on one of the village silly squabbles and Soha usually did not interrupt him when he was in his study.

"Yes?" he raised an eyebrow.

Soha seemed slightly nervous. "Lord Sesshomaru, I was wondering…"

"Speak." He ordered. Normally he would have never have been so short with her, but he was overtired.

"Well, Rin is going to be thirteen sometime soon, technically in both human and youkai standards she is of age. Does she not have a coronation ball coming up soon?"

Sesshomaru cursed himself for being so stupid. Rin was too shy to ask for a party or even a pat on the head for her birthday. It would take another two weeks at the least to prepare a celebration worthy of the Lord of the Western Plain's daughter. He would begin immediately.

"You have my permission to plan everything. That includes explaining what coming of age means. I will check up on you in three days to make sure all is going as planned. Spare no expense and set the date."

"Yes sir." Soha saluted, bowed and left the room to find Rin.



"Miss Rin, may I come in?" Rin heard a tap on her door.

"Yes."

General Soha came into the room. She sat on the edge of Rin's pink bed and Rin fiddled with the straw hair on her doll's head.

"Rin, do you know what a coronation ball is?"

Rin shook her head.

"Do you know how old you are?"

Rin shrugged. "I'm twelve."

"Do you know what coming of age means?" Soha's patience was obviously wearing thin; she knew nothing about talking to young girls.

"No."

Soha pressed her lips together. "Listen carefully Rin. I don't know how to say this, but you are not a little girl anymore, things are changing. I'm sorry you do not have a mother to talk to you about this, but it's time you grow up." Soha stood in exasperation. "I'll get one of the maids to talk to you, I'm no good at this."

Hours later, Rin had talked to many maids, but none of them wanted to talk to a human girl and none of them were sure how. She sat in the bed. She sniffled a bit, but knew better than to cry. Each and every maid had said that her mother should be explaining this to her, but they didn't know how much it hurt. She needed a mother and everyone continued to remind her. When she asked for Sesshomaru, everyone said he was too busy.

As she reached up to wipe her eye, she hit something hard. Her hand cradled the necklace that she had never taken off. In the silver moonlight, she could have sworn that she saw a face, but it was so fleeting she thought to ignore it. She held the necklace close.

"Tsukiko."

Poof!

"AAAHHHH!!!"



Sesshomaru's head snapped up from its resting position as if it were on a spring. Rin. He ran through the halls of his castle, not thinking about anything except the smiling face of his adopted daughter. He burst into the room.

He saw a dark figure sitting next to Rin. Growling he flicked his hand back and summoned his poison whip. He threw it at the intruder, who cried out in pain as it hit their shoulder.

"What is it with you and poisoning me?" Tsukiko threw back her hood in indignation. Her burning blue eyes glared into his molten golden ones.

"What are you doing here, wench?"

Stony silence.

"I… I called her, Sesshomaru-sama. Rin is sorry."

Sesshomaru retracted his whip. "Why did you call her, Rin?" his voice softened slightly.

"Yes, I am curious as to that as well. Is something the matter?"

"Er…"

"Go on." Sesshomaru prodded gently.

"Sesshomaru-sama, I need to talk to Tsukiko." Rin blurted. She covered her face with her hands.

Tsukio gently took Rin's hands away. "All right, I'll be right back."

She signaled Sesshomaru towards the door. Sesshomaru stepped out of the room, annoyed that she would dare order him in his own home. When they were outside, she closed the door gently behind her.

"Sesshomaru," she began.

"Lord Sesshomaru. You shall address me by my proper title, human."

"Fine. Lord Sesshomaru, I have a feeling as to what Rin wants to talk about. I'll speak with her and I'll tell you what I can afterwards."

Ignoring her emphasis on his proper title, Sesshomaru considered the alternatives. Nothing suited his taste, so he nodded his consent. "Agreed."

"Good. I'll see you in a bit." She left and closed the door behind her.

"Don't count on it." Sesshomaru muttered, knowing how talkative Rin could be.

A/N: Three chapters in one day, you goys are lucky I love you.