Oh my god…!! I can't believe that I even got this far in writing this, well… writing anything at all actually. Anyway, I'm a little rusty in writing this so hopefully it isn't a pile of crap now. So thanks for even waiting this long and for all of the advice everyone gave me!

Chapter 7: A Father's Love

Kirara flew higher and higher into the sky with Sango on her back, wondering where Sesshomaru was. I have to find him before the others grow suspicious of my disappearance. She guided Kirara down towards the ground and was now closer to the scent of Sesshomaru. Sango jumped off Kirara and she shrunk into her arms. "Sesshomaru? Are you around here?"

She turned around and saw the Youkai lord standing on a tree branch not too far from the ground. "Taijya, what news do you bring of Rin?" Sesshomaru asked in his monotonous voice. To her, it seemed as though the past few Rin-less days had no effect on him from the way he looked.

"Distraught. Everyone is trying to get details out of her, but she won't say anything."

"Nothing at all?" Sesshomaru raised a brow. "That seems nothing like her."

"Well actually, she does say a couple of things. Like 'I want Sesshomaru-sama.' 'When's Sesshomaru-sama coming back?' And how could I forget, 'Sesshomaru-sama gonna be mad if I don't get back.' Sesshomaru, do you have any enemies that know about Rin?"

Sesshomaru stepped down from the branch and was on the ground instantly. "That is a pointless question. No one would dare."

Sango nodded. I suppose he's already thought of that. But there still is… "Do you ever smell a weird scent on Rin?"

Sesshomaru stared at the Taijya, thinking about her question. Never before had he ever smelt anything odd anywhere near Rin except for animals of the forests. If there was someone who was doing those sick things to her there would a scent, a scrap of clothing, blood, even a small trace of that person. But there was nothing except Rin's injuries. "This conversation is over Taijya. Go back to Inuyasha." A bright emitted around him and the Youkai lord disappeared in an instant.

Sango sighed and set Kirara down whom in turned transformed and flew away with Sango on her back. Sesshomaru has no clue on who is molesting Rin and neither do we. There's got to be something, anything that we all are over-looking. Hopefully Kagome abandons her crusade on blaming Sesshomaru for this. After a while, Sango returned to the village and went inside Kaede's hut where everyone was. "Hey, where are Shippo and Rin?"

"They left a few minutes ago with Kaede. Where did you go?" Kagome asked her friend.

Sango sat down next to Miroku and smiled to her. "Oh, just flew around with Kirara to think for a bit."

"Well, we have a few minutes to relax until Kaede comes back with those two. Until then, do me a favor… don't mention anything about Rin for now." Inuyasha told them for he was tired about hearing about Rin's injuries, what happened to her, and Sesshomaru… especially Sesshomaru.

That Night

As everyone slept soundly, all Rin could do was stare at the wooden wall next to her. She wanted to leave and go back to Sesshomaru, but no one would let her. Even if she tried to leave, one of them whether it was Kagome or Inuyasha would always find and catch her before she got too far. Why don't they believe me? Sesshomaru-sama didn't do anything to me. But I can't tell them who, otherwise… Just then, she was brought out of her thoughts when she realized that she was no longer looking at the wooden wall, but saw nature around her. Rin looked up and saw that Sesshomaru was holding her in his arm. "Sesshomaru-sama, you came for me!"

He set her down gently and was forced down onto eye-level when she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug. "Rin let go." She did as she was told and smiled. "Are you well?"

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama." She said cheerfully, finally happy to see her lord for the first time in days.

"You don't hurt anywhere do you?" He asked quickly and covering up the slight change in his tone.

"I'm fine Sesshomaru-sama. When can I go back with you and Master Jaken?"

He looked straight into her eyes and saw the tears forming and being released down onto her cheeks. Sesshomaru brushed them away with a single clawed finger. "This Sesshomaru is not sure. The vermin that hurt you is still out there and…"

Rin interrupted him quickly. "But no one did it!"

"Do you expect me do believe that you did this to yourself? Is that what you are implying Rin?" His voice slightly rose but not enough for any demons to hear. Rin looked down and muttered a simple no. "As I was saying, since he is still out there so you cannot be released to me."

"Is it because Kagome-chan thinks that you're hurting me?"

Sesshomaru stared at her again, thinking of an answer that wouldn't raise any unanswerable questions for Rin. "The miko is doing what her idiotic mind thinks is best. It is only for a few more days Rin, understand?"

"What? You mean, I'm not going back with you and Master Jaken? But I thought that's why you took me away from there. Why Sesshomaru-sama?" The tears began in her eyes again as she wiped them off with the edges of her sleeves.

"No more tears Rin." He said and sat down against the nearby tree with the human girl in his arm. He pushed her against his chest and slowly began to brush his claws through her gently, being careful not to injure her. Rin sighed peacefully and smiled.

"I'll always be with you, right Sesshomaru-sama?" She asked tiredly. Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly since he wasn't expecting that question again. He was trying to think of an answer, one that wouldn't seem promising but would keep her hopes up. Before he had a chance to answer, he heard Rin's soft and slowed breathing. She was finally sleeping.

His claws stayed in her hair, combing through the tangles that were created. There was in no urgent need to return her anytime soon, but she did have to be back before dawn. Otherwise, there would be an angry hanyou and miko after his head. He felt amused at the thought of them trying to kill him.

After all… they were weak.

It would be easy to kill them, but just for a human girl?

Rin in particular, is she worth their deaths?

Sesshomaru pushed those thoughts of out of his mind; such unpleasantness was unwelcome at this moment. At this one moment of peace…

He stood up and flew into the sky, going towards the human village where his brother and his friends resided. Sesshomaru loathed the fact that he would have to sneak around like a common thief just to see Rin. Why am I even doing this? A human girl shouldn't be any of my concern, even if she was abused by that filth who dared to touch her! The anger inside of him boiled up, fueled by the thought of someone hurting his Rin.

Why do I care?

He reached the village and speeded towards the hut where he first found her in.

Is Rin worth this trouble?

Sesshomaru stuck in effortlessly and laid her back onto the futon where she had originally slept.

She is only a human…

"Sesshomaru-sama…" He looked down at the sleeping Rin as she mumbled a few words. "…is my only family." Sesshomaru's eyes widened again and his mouth opened slightly. Her words, the words of a human girl, were enough to shock him.

This feeling…

He left the hut and raced toward the forest, escaping the dawn and detection from Inuyasha. The corner of his eyes fell back into the village before turning and going back to Jaken.

"I suppose Rin is worth it."

OMG… so cute!! haha So let's see, Sesshomaru is trying to find that sick bastard while also taking care of Rin. And they still think he's doing those things to Rin. Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, but I forgot some of the things I was supposed to put in here but I think it was pretty good… hopefully. Tell me what think in a nice little review!! JA NE