Thank u blackacess , mee5005, , jj, RinSess13, and xeraQuick for the reviews! Glad you like the story! That means a lot to me! I hope you guys will continue to read it!

Ok so I'm annoyed with the way my chapters have been looking. I'll often post it with symbols and space marks etc… just to make it flow and look better, but when I post the chapter on the sight, they disappear! I guess certain things don't register through the site. I also notice I repeat certain phrases too much. Oh well! I'll work on it, and making chapters longer. I hate my short chapters…yet I keep writing them! BTW can anyone tell me whether Koga's name is really spelled like k.o.g.a, or if it's actually k.o.u.g.a? It's not a bother to me personally, but I want to take a chance in not being wrong or confuse readers. Avoiding comments on how to spell names is what I'd like.

Speaking of comments, in no way, shape, or form, do I dislike them! Anyone can comment if they'd like. In fact, I would love to read some LOL. Unless this story is just that awful….I hope not though.

ENJOY!

"Totosai?" Rin questioned with wide eyes. "Why are we with him? Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Do you not remember, child?" The old man asked, "You were brought here by Sesshomaru. You flew upon that dragons back! Don't you remember?" All she did was blink more in her confusion. The old man sighed, "Poor thing." He huffed to Sesshomaru, "She was too tired to remember. She was fast asleep when you landed."

The girl gathered herself to stand up, eyeing the both of them.

"Rin, you should continue to rest. It is still dark out."

"I can't. I was woken by my dream. Now…I'm no longer sleepy."

"It is still too early to discuss what I have planned for you."

"Hmm…" The old man groaned. "Well…we could talk about it if she insists on staying awake."

"Talk about what?"

The two demons looked to each other…

"Follow me." Totosai grumbled, turning towards the other end of the cave. Rin and Sesshomaru trailed behind him.

The three arrived to the opening entrance of the forge, where there was another fire outside, streaming a little smoke up toward the starry sky, and smelted weapons that had yet to be hammered on the far corners inside the cave. Inside the fire were five small metal objects, all the same size and length.

"Sit by the fire." The old man commanded to Rin and Sesshomaru. They both listened to Totosai sitting across from him. He ruggedly bent down, crackling bones as he did so. When he was finally able to get all the way down to the ground, he positioned himself comfortably. He then reached into the fire to one of the small metal pieces and placed in on a flat smooth rock in front of him. He grabbed his hammer that was also next to him, and just held it by the red hot metal piece.

"Do you know why you are here, girl?" He asked Rin. She jolted to the question, only to stare at him with muddle. He in turn, looked down to the metal and began whacking at it with his hammer. In the middle of the noise, he began to talk again, "For a while now, Sesshomaru has been requesting that I commission new weapon. One small and dainty but able to slice and cut cleanly."

Rin perked up a bit from the news, "but…I thought you didn't want to forge any weapons for Sesshomaru-sama." As soon as she spoke, she shirked off. She could feel the eyes upon her from speaking too boldly.

"Eh…I'm not." He answered. "The weapons are for someone with smaller hands. If Sesshomaru were to weld these, they'd slip through his fingers." He continued to hammer. "This weapon is being made for you, girl. Or should I say, weapons."

"Huh!?" She chocked with bright eyes. She was baffled. "For me? But why?" If she wasn't awake before, she was surely alert now.

"Rin." Sesshomaru spoke up, having the girl look to him, staring into his golden orbs.

"My lord? Why'd you commission weapons for me?" She gulped in asking.

"As the lord of the Western lands, you must understand that this Sesshomaru has obtained many enemies. It would not be wise to keep you around unarmed. You must have protection just in case I cannot reach you."

"But…" She stumbled, "I do not know how to use these weapons, nor have I ever harmed any being. I've never brought intentional pain to anyone. I wouldn't know the first thing about killing."

"I will teach you how."

"Sesshomaru is very skilled in combat, girl. He'd be the perfect teacher. You'd have nothing to fear with him showing you the way…." Totosai put in his extra gravy, but he grumbled from the next thoughts coming to mind, "Others…may not be so lucky…" He mumbled, poking out his mouth in a mope.

"He must have threatened him…." Rin thought to herself as she eyed the grumpy older demon. "Still, I am a little frightened by the thoughts of hurting someone. What if they are stronger than me?" She asked him.

"These weapons will be forged to cut so precisely and swiftly, that any creature to come in contact with them, won't be able to react until it's too late. You would have already hurt them."

Sesshomaru could tell Rin was getting a bit edgy from the news. She sat up high on her knees and grew stiff every time Totosai said the word 'weapon'. He flinched at the thought that she would be displeased, even now as he saw the undeniable frown on her face. He wanted so bad to gratify her, and make her smile, but it ached to have thought that he failed. He knew he did. He viewed as faint sweat trailed down her brow. She was definitely not liking this conversation in the slightest.

"She had never been the killing type. How could I subject her to such an act?"

Totosai finished his endless hammering and blew on the first of five pieces that were still cooking in the fire. The metal started off red, but as his demonic breath blew, it quickly shifted to that of a dull silver tint. Rin watched in amazement, but her tiny little heart was beating at a pace that made Sesshomaru uncomfortable. He thought that while she was sleeping, that tempo was bad. However, then, she was unconscious. It was nerve racking to see the girl wide awake and have such a frantic pulse. It seemed as if she could have passed out any minute. He had to react before she went griping the ground for air or help.

Sesshomaru placed a gentle hand on her small shoulder just to calm her down and register to her that he was there. However, when he touched her, she jumped from the uncharacteristic warmth. She didn't expect him to be this smoothing towards her. She knew she had to become used to him again, but she had forgotten that that came with some unexpected outcomes.

"Rin." The demon lord spoke gently. She shot her big eyes to him. They read puzzlement as usual. "If you do not want the daggers, we do not have to have them made. All you have to do is tell me."

Totosai stopped his ice breath from blowing onto the metal after hearing Sesshomaru's words. Yet he kept his mouth bubbled up with air, waiting on her to speak.

Her brow creased at Sesshomaru as if he had two heads. "Daggers?" It sounded funny coming from her lips, "is…is that what they are? The weapons?" She asked.

Totosai then suddenly tossed the tiny metal object, that he was hammering, towards the two of them. In a natural reaction, Rin squealed when it hurled toward her, but stopped and regained herself when she felt nothing and heard a light clank sound to the ground near her. She searched the area, spotting the blade sticking with its handle up and blade inserted in the dirt slightly behind her. The old man tossed it in-between the two of them on purpose.

With curiosity, Rin reached over, gripped the slightly warm handle and plucked the dagger from the hard ground. She brought it to eyes view, studying it closely in a sort of wonder.

"That was unnecessary to throw it at us, Totosai." Sesshomaru scolded. The old man immediately began to inwardly panic and showed his embarrassment by breaking a sweat and scratching the back of his head.

"Eh…well…you can't say that wasn't a good shot." He nervously laughed.

Rin stayed busy, seemingly warped in her studying. "This blade is…beautiful." The dagger, though dull, was carved from a precious metal that could be so thinly carved, as she turned the blade to its side, you could hardly see it anymore. It was impressively sharp. She grazed her index finger along the blade ever so lightly, as if a feather touched it, yet there was a faint pink line from where she touched that later turned red from the blood forming.

"Amazing." Her eyes continued to gawk, twinkling from the sight.

On the handle of the dagger was a small carving. It was not yet done, as she could tell, but was a vivid enough to read what it was. The intricate curves lined and morphed into a flowery type object so enticing, when she figured out what it was, her breath was caught. "A jasmine flower?" She murmured just low enough so that she couldn't be heard.

Sesshomaru knew that it was her most favorite scent and plant. She loved it so much that she ate with the fragrance in her rice bowl. For him to think of something so subtle, yet important to her and have it carved onto her dagger made her….made her want to tear up. In fact…she was. It was only noticeable when she let out a sniffle from the amazing dagger that was in her hand. Though it was a weapon, Sesshomaru took endless time and care into getting it made. His attention to detail was beyond incredible.

Unfortunalty, the demon lord smelled the salt from the tears she was beginning to shed. It alerted him so he looked to the girl with concern.

"Rin?" He asked seriously. "What is it?"

She couldn't form the words in her head yet. She was still a baffled mess from the extraordinary gift.

"This…." She tried, but stumbled, "This…" She did again, failing at her shaky words. In that instant of gawking and amazement, she did begin to shed tears, but they were not of sorrow or fear, "Oh, Sesshomaru-sama! It's amazing!" she exclaimed.

However, this confused him to no end. "Then why do you weep, Rin?" He tried not to show his mortification. He thought that she hated the gift so much that it drove her to tears. She was simply saying it was nice to make him feel better about making it for her. She had to just hate it to be crying. Otherwise, why cry when it was something you loved. The emotions stirred him crazy as they raked as foreign objects in his mind.

"Hmph…" He snorted, "You are too benevolent Rin. I can tell you hate the gift." Her pulse was rapid and she was stiff. She had to hate it! It made no sense, any other way.

She shook her head instantly to him and Totosai. "No! I absolutely love it!" She countered, "I didn't think I would have."

"Well that's a relief!" The old man blurted, pulling out another piece of red hot metal. He began to hammer it, "We thought that would be absolutely revolted when seeing the weapons, but now that you like them, I can finished them for you. As you can see, the blade is very sharp! I'm surprised Sesshomaru didn't come to your aid when he smelled the trickle of blood on your ringer."

"They could smell that!?" she screamed in her head with wide and embarrassed eyes.

"And as for the carving on the handle," He began again with more hammering, "He had told me how much you loved jasmine, so we discussed personalizing it and putting that image somewhere on the dagger. And to add on to the dull finish on them…" He paused, contemplating his next wordings, "It will be casted in the finest of silver and will have a jade handle. The handle you see now is only the beginning touches. The jasmine carving will match the blade as well."

This was just too much for her. She was so happy at this moment that she didn't know what to say or how to say anything.

Totosai finished his hammering on the second dagger, "I didn't mind commissioning a weapon when it had to deal with you." He dryly chuckled, "You haven't ever tried to kill me…." That time, he grumbled toward Sesshomaru, how in turn, stayed indifferent to his whining.

"Oh!" He shouted, startling Rin once more with the dagger still in her hand. Any louder and the blade would have sliced right through her palm, "I forgot to tell you something."

"What is it, Oji-sama?"

"The blade is laced with a special deadly herbed poison."

Rin suddenly let out an outwardly squeal from the reveal. She looked at her sliced finger with an over body shaking. She then gulped a thick fear down her throat.

"What!?" Sesshomaru hissed, instantly gripping his sword toward the old man. Totosai leapt up and began to wave frantically at the two.

"It only hurts demons! NOT human!" He spoke rapidly and desperately. He didn't want today to be the day he got ripped open by Bakusaiga.

The panicking alone made Rin want to faint.

After a few hours of hammering and cooling metal, the daggers were beginning to take shape. Though they weren't done, Rin was taking pride that soon she could cherish something that was made specifically just for her. It wasn't something passed down. Sesshomaru never gave her something that someone else already had. Not even himself.

The dawn was approaching, seen by the lighter blue coming from the sky to the East. Totosai was hanging the daggers inside the cave with the rest of his unfinished metal works. There were swords and armor all aligned, cooling after the intense hammering they have received. Rin took the liberty in taking a closer look at them, in awe from the craftsmanship that the old demon had. She touched one of the pieces of armor, admiring how smooth to the touch it was. The metal was shiny enough for her to see a distorted reflection of herself.

"Whose armor will this be, Oji-sama?" She asked, bending forward, closer, to be amused at her reflection.

The old man hung the last dagger up with a hummed pondering. He wobbled closer to the girl, looking too at the silver breast plate.

"hmm…" He grumbled with a scratch to his head, "I think that one is going to the one named…Koga…I think?" He dipped his head closer with hers, just to get a better look.

Her eyes went wide with a light gasp slipping her lips. In her reflection, they bulged bigger than her face, almost making her forget the name with a laugh.

"Koga-kah?" She questioned with a little worry.

Sesshomaru was still sitting by the fire with crossed arms and closed eyes. Rin looked over to him with her long black hair falling from her back.

"So, Totosai, you would make that despicable wolf a breast plate, but you couldn't commission this Sesshomaru a new sword?" His voice was filled with disregard.

The old man went stiff with alarm. Before she knew it, Totosai was nudging her harshly, making her eyes bounce to his frightened form. But he was swift enough to make it not as noticeable.

He lowered his head to her, whispering harshly.

"Lets not talk about the armor, Okay?"

"But why, Oji-sama?"

He got his mouth closer to her ear, "Because, we both know how Sesshomaru feels about that wolf. He explained to me when you arrived that you had an impolite encounter with him. Let's just leave it at that."

"TOTOSAI!" He hissed that time.

The elder demon turned his head to him with a nervous grit at his teeth. "He scares me the most." He murmured to the girl with wide beaded eyes.

"Did you not hear me? I asked you a question!"

The old man whipped around with a shaky hand to his head, smiling anxiously and wide.

"Well…" He tried to think of something that wasn't insulting, "You see…" It didn't work. And soon he was grumpily frowning with his hands to his hips, "Koga is the leader of a powerful wolf demon tribe. It brought vast coin and allies commissioning armor for him." He lowered his arms for the next part, going back to nervous, "He also never tried to kill me…" He stated as an after-thought.

Sesshomaru said nothing and continued to be a cool mess where he sat. Totosai looked to the girl next, ignoring the grumpy dog in the distance.

"Now girl," He began. She stood up tall and straight with a hand to her chest, "The daggers are not yet finished, and need some more work before you can wield them. You can come back in a few weeks and officially take them, then."

"Okay." She humbled.

"Until then, try not to get into any serious trouble. As a human, you can only do so much…" He stirred, "And…as far as Koga-" But he was already being cut off by the nano second that it took Sesshomaru to be there in-between him and the girl. He coward away shakily, backing as fast as his boney legs could take him.

The old man waved his cane that instant, angrily cursing the demon lord for beckoning so fast.

"Damn-it Sesshomaru!" He squawked.

He stood there, strong, tall and intimidating, his claws glowing green with poison.

"Do you not know how to stop, Totosai?" He questioned coldly, "That wolf is nothing but a nuisance. I do not want to hear his name again."

"Gee, was he that rude?" the elder demon questioned within himself.

"Everything about him irritated my very being. His smell, his voice, his words…."

Rin was silent next to the demon. She quietly cringed at every harsh syllable spoken about Koga. She and him were acquaintances now. She didn't feel the need to dwell on what was the past.

"So…he was jealous of him?" She asked herself, knowing that she could never ask her lord upfront. Sadly, she knew that such a prideful demon as Sesshomaru could not distinguish such a feeling. It was beneath him. Jealousy was a lowly feeling, and an emotion that only the most self-aware of creatures could acknowledge. Sesshomaru was strong no doubt, but he was also conceited.

"He insulted my house, and attempted to touch what was mine."

Rin's eyes batted to his profile in a state of surprise. "Is he….speaking of me?" It crept in her thoughts wildly.

"That insolent fool!" He hissed bitterly, "chasing after my pride whilst she moved from my sight."

Realization slapped the girl in the face like wildfire. Her big brown eyes grew bigger still, and she caught the faint tremors of her chest from an increasingly rapid heart. Her eyes goggled at the tall form of Sesshomaru as he explained to Totosai what happened. She had thought that it wasn't noticeable, but she went back to Jaken's wary words years ago.

You cannot deceive my master's keen nose!

"He could smell him on my skin…" She whimpered, "I thought I was okay. He just touched me briefly. Nothing bad or insulting. Nothing fished with impure thoughts…." She began to inwardly panic, "How could Koga not know that his scent would radiate on my flesh!? Damn wolves!"

She cursed him on the inside.

"I…" She stumbled, "I didn't know you could smell him on my skin…"

From her distance, Sesshomaru could still hear her, and it surprised the young girl. He turned his head in her direction, meeting golden eyes to chocolate brown. When she got into his gaze she bit her lip from the nerves she now had piped up.

"I didn't want to ask you why, but it was a scent that I did not expect on you." He spoke in monotone, "I suppose his sneaky moves away from the horde was to get to you."

A sliver of chills rolled down Rin's back, and her grip on her kimono grew tighter. Still, Sesshomaru didn't fester any ill toward her. He simply continued to stare, waiting for her response. Totosai said nothing either, but it was obvious that he was a tad bit glad that some of the heat was off him.

She shakily shook her head in a response, frantic to now defend herself, "No!" She pleaded, "It wasn't anything like that. He…" She had to calm herself. She was acting way too wildly for such a calm tone. Sesshomaru didn't seem angry with her, just slightly upset at the wolf, "He just came to apologize to me."

His brow furrowed, "Apologize?"

She quickly nodded, "About my first death those years ago."

He turned fully to her, towering over her, "Then why could I smell his scent on you? Surely, an apology doesn't involve a touch."

This was it, the whole wallop of nervous energy. As she struggled to find an answer, Sessmoaru's powerful form stood idle. Just waiting on her answer was making her want to forget that she ever agreed to go to the feast.

"Stupid wolf! You didn't have to touch me! You could have just spoken to me! Why'd you have to scare me!?"

"Rin?" He commanded a little firmer.

She blinked out of her daze, still searching for an answer herself. It really didn't make sense when she tried to gather words. Koga was just making sure she didn't scream and get Sesshomaru's attention. However, she couldn't tell him that. He didn't want Koga touching her at all, let alone trying to keep her from calling out to the Dog demon.

"Rin!?" He commanded again, that time growing an evident impatients.

"He…" She gulped and tried again, "He just shook my hands, My lord. That was all. Nothing else!" The words just rushed out like running water. When she finished, her panicky energy turned into pants for breath, however, she really didn't understand why. Maybe it was the fact that Sesshomaru was demanding a quick answer. Or maybe it was because he was so intimidating. Whatever the case, the thoughts bothered the girl. For the first time, since coming on this voyage, she felt a pint up fear for her master. She used to never care or be bothered about his antics or stoic ways. Now, that he was wanting of her presence and attention in a more affectionate way, she was tense. It was just….too confusing.

"He did this after apologizing to you?" He questioned with a searching brow.

Rin nodded quickly, scared that he might have read her little lie if she didn't. His brow furrowed even more. His golden eyes penetrated hers for the longest of time, reading every detail in her movements. She, however, stood as still as a statue under his gaze. Holding it alone was so nerve racking that she thought she might have bursted with the truth.

Totosai suddenly interrupted with a clear to his throat. Gold eyes broke from trembling chocolate brown instantly, setting Rin free from the hypnotic gaze. She was sure Sesshomaru was going to say something, but she thanked her lucky stars that the old man broke the ice.

"maaaybe you guys should go. I don't want to be involved in this conversation." Totosai sang.

"So soon, Totosai? When I haven't finished interrogating you yet." Sesshomaru stated coldly.

"Eh…" He shirked off, "You sure know how to make an old demon wish he was dead already."

A quick knuckle cracking shook the old man up, "We could speed up that process."

"No, Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin belted. The two demons turned to her with curious eyes. She had a grit to her teeth reading that she was in fear for the old man. Sesshomaru really could be irrational. He just didn't like being told so.

The demon lord quickly turned on his heels back toward the exit of the forge. Both Rin and Totosai eyed him, wondering what was supposed to happen next.

"We are going, Rin." He commanded with his back turned to her. She glided her gaze over to the equally stunned elder demon before stepping at Sesshomaru's heels

Totosai grumbled, "Next time you come here with that ungrateful attitude, I'm going to travel to the neither world myself, and tell your father just what type of demon-brat you became."

Rin flinched a little from what was to come. Sesshomaru stood unmoved, letting the gentile warm breeze sway his silver locks. Rin found herself in awe with the back of his head again, awaiting what might be the punishment of Totosai after he spoke so boldly.

"Totosai," Sesshomaru began, "We will return in five weeks for the daggers. That should give you plenty of time to prepare yourself for death."

"Ugh! I hate you the most! Egotistical Dog!" The old man shouted right after his guests were already in the air.

Continuing.

It had been only one day since Rin and Sesshomaru left Totosai's forge. Already dusk, they walked along a quiet path in the forest. Animal chirps and howls stirred the girls mind every time a noise echoed. However, she had a sense of peace from within, for she knew she was absolutely safe when close to her lord.

When needing to relieve herself, Rin took Ah-un with her to a thick part of the woods to have some privacy. Sesshomaru stayed leaning against an old tree, waiting for her as the sky grew darker and darker.

Yet, lurking somewhere in the cooling breeze was an odd scent. One strangely feminine with a hint of floral essence. But even in that sulky aroma held something quite vile. Something that smelled of nickel and pits musk. Something oddly similar to the smell of an insect demon's blood.

This scent alone had Sesshomaru's nose on a frenzy. The wind blew the fragrance even stronger, causing him to look behind himself. Who dare try to approach such a mighty creature?

A human could probably only smell the sweet scent, but with Sesshomaru's keen nose and senses, he was able to figure out that the aroma getting closer, was actually something tasteless and putrid.

"My lord?" A sulky voice whispered in the dark suddenly. The figure emerged from the depths of the trees, gliding as if she were on a cloud. Her hair was ink black, long and flowing past her knees. Her kimono, surely an expensive set of cloth, was cherry red with golden birds on the sleeves, and dark blue following them wherever else they landed on her garments. The under layer was black, and she had a black sash tied around her waist. She surely was a beauty in sight.

She bowed at Sesshomaru's feet when finally close enough to him, letting him gander at the elegant embroidery laced in her hair at the top. When she looked back up to him, her eyes jetted blood glowing red, and her lips matched in a glossy finish. Who was this creature?

All Sesshomaru did was look at her with indifference. Inside, he appreciated the bow but that's all he felt.

"My lord? My name is lady Himika from the Northern Mountains. I have traveled a great deal to find you." Her tone was warm and inviting.

"From the northern lands, you say?" He questioned her.

Her eyes glistened from the depth of his voice, "Yes."

"Then perhaps you should travel back. No lady of proper rank or family would dare journey alone."

"But I have come so far! I cannot go back just yet. Not without a word with you."

"And? What is it?" His patients was wearing thin. However, he couldn't lie to himself. He was curious. She had just better hurried up while Rin was still gone.

The woman stared into his eyes with such wanting, "It is known that you have not found a proper demon woman to become your mate. Word had traveled saying that you are a lone traveler with only small companions to travel by your side. A mate would have to be of absolute rank to be fitted for a great demon as yourself." She grabbed his wrist with both of her hands, bending over slightly and purposefully so that he could have a glimpse at her full breasts that she had on show.

"I was enthralled with you when I first laid eyes upon your form fifty years ago. My father aided you during the Panther Demon battle. But when you came to our palace weeks before the battle, you didn't speak, nor did you stay very long. I was hoping that you would have noticed me then, but I was so enamored, I never left the corners of the walls. I simply stared at you. You were so dashing. I didn't know how to approach you. And you never seemed interested in discussing anything but the battle ahead. So I waited until the next night to approach you. I wore my finest kimono and picked some flowers for you. However, once I made it to the guest room you were to be in, you had vanished. I wanted to express to you how I felt and possibly discuss becoming your bride…but I never got the chance. After the battle, I immediately began to travel to find you. Rumors circulated everywhere on your whereabouts. But every time I made it to the location, you weren't there. It became an endless search filled with blank holes and half stories. It came to the point where I was going to give up in my search for you…" She took a deep breath, traveling back to her memories, "But…my luck changed when I stumbled upon Inuyasha in a nearby stream. I didn't approach him, but the stories that traveled revealed that he was your younger brother. I stayed within the shadows and learned his scent. Even-though he is your half-brother, the scent of a dog demon radiated on him. I knew that if I learned it, I could possibly find you. And so…I have."

A long and silent pause filled the air between the two. Sesshomaru and the young woman shared a questioning gaze that seemed questioning. She held tight to his strong arm as he fought the urge to swing it away, yet, something about this woman's story; her scent, itched at his chest. Her grip was so strange, but familiar. His eyes traveled down to her dainty hand clutched to his arm, viewing the blood red claws she had. There was something quite odd about this girl, but he couldn't explain what.

Soon the heavy sound of a dragon's steps echoed in the distance, and a hurried and excited heartbeat rang with it.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" The light and happy voice ran clear through the night air. Sesshomaru's eyes went directly to the sound.

Himika's eyes went to the same direction, but instead of the dream she had fill them, her blood eyes now glowed with an angering red.

"How dare she interrupt." She murmured in a growl.

Sesshomaru had a keen nose, but he also had keen ears. Her words got his attention. When looking back at him, Himika's heart fluttered from a new fear and intimidation.

Sesshomaru was scowling at her.

Errors are bound to be there! I'm human, I make mistakes!

Thank u!