The army kept marching on, heading to the main battlefront, still a few weeks away. The men kept their heads up and hummed tunes to keep their minds away from it.

Rin and Sesshomaru were at the front of the line as always but they didn't look at each other. They just rode in silence, ignoring each other. They didn't have any trouble with the Ethiasians but three weeks after the first attack, the three commanding officers stood at the brink of a hill, looking down into a valley where a village nestled.

Even from a distance Rin could smell the burning and see the destruction. Sesshomaru suddenly began fidgeting, as did some of the other demons. The smells were far worse for them. Quickly the general began down the path and towards the village.

Rin hurried to be by his side. "We should stop; see if there are any survivors."

"We don't have time."

"But…"

"No but's, Captain! We have to get to the main force in three weeks. It's too early to stop."

"Sesshomaru!"

"That's an order!"

Falling back, Rin sighed as they approached the burnt out village. It was so quiet. Absolutely silent. Filled with death. She kept her eyes closed as they rode though, trying to ignore the smells and sounds. Then her eyes widened. She heard something. She heard life. She looked up and around, pinpointing the sound. She could just see a young boy crying by a burnt out building, curled up in a ball, too scared to look at the army.

It torn at her heart. She could see he was hurt, lost, hungry and upset. She looked to Sesshomaru who was continuing onwards, eyes closed. He was clearly trying to avoid the boy's tears. How could he do it? How could he ignore the tears of a child?

They were half way out of the village and the boys tears were fading away. No one had tried to help him. Letting out a deep breath, Rin swiftly pulled her horse around and went back. She followed the sobs to the child, climbing down and kneeling next to him. She smiled and held his knee. "Hey there."

The boy looked up at her suddenly and sniffed loudly. "Who… who are you?"

"I'm here to help. Don't be scared." She kept her voice low and soft, reaching out her hand. "Do you want to come with me? I'll keep you safe."

The boy blinked and leapt at her, arms wrapping around her. "Please help me! I was so scared!"

"It's alright now. You're safe." She hugged and rubbed his back comfortingly. "It's ok to be scared. I'll take care of you now." She smiled and stood, holding the boy tight to her neck and turning around.

Her eyes widened as she saw Sesshomaru on his horse, looking down at her, eyes narrow and annoyed. She bit her lip and hugged the boy closer. "I'm taking him with us Sesshomaru and I don't care what you say."

He looked at her for a bit longer then turned his horse around and rode off. Rin sighed loudly then helped the boy onto her horse and lead him after the rest of the army. As the men made camp, she gave the boy some food and once able, she set him to bed, singing a lullaby to send him to sleep. He tossed for a while but she sat next to him, stroking his hair back until he calmed down.

"Captain!"

Rin jumped up and shot a cold look at the imp. "Shush, he's asleep."

Jaken looked at her then at the child. "Lord Sesshomaru demands to see you at once."

She kind of expected the summons but it still struck her hard. "Stay here with the boy." She walked past him and headed to the tent he shared with the general. She stood at the closed curtains and sighed. "L…"

"Enter Rin."

With another deep breath, she entered and looked across the tent to the desk where the general was sitting, staring at her. She marched nervously over to him and nodded. "Lord Sesshomaru."

"How is he?"

"He's tried and scared. I gave him some food and he's asleep now."

The demon stared ahead. "I see."

Rin lowered her head slightly. "Sir, I couldn't just leave him. He's a child caught up in the war, he doesn't deserve to suffer for that. I will take care of him myself; he won't be a problem, I swear it. As soon as we pass a safe village, I will find him a suitable home. Until then…"

"I understand Rin."

She looked up suddenly and blinked in shock. "Sir?"

"I understand."

"Th…thank you sir." She bowed once, thinking this was the end but he stood up quickly, hands on the desk so hard they made a thud sound. She looked up and saw his cold heartless eyes. She'd only ever seen them once before, just before breaking the neck of a man found to be a traitor.

Sesshomaru kept the stare for as long as he could then sighed and turned away. "You have always been odd Rin. You have always stood out beyond any soldier I have known. Even in the past." He walked around the table, eyes moving back. "But things have stuck me as odd since you became a captain. Things about you have… irritated me in ways I could not understand."

"L…like what sir?"

"Like the way you tend to the wounded. The way you look after the men and your horse. The way you saw to my wound all those weeks ago. The way you speak sometimes and the kindness of your voice and actions. And your eyes… there was always something in your eyes. You don't have the fire of a soldier or a warrior. I have tried for weeks to find the word that matched your eyes."

Before Rin had chance to even take a breath, he reached out and grabbed her neck, locking it in place so she had to look at him. He stared into her eyes. "I finally have the word. I saw it when you spoke with that child." He gave half a smile. "I'm blind not to have seen it before. It's so obvious, when I look at you now."

"I… I don't know what you're talking about."

"Defiant to the end? Very well. I will tell you the word. The word to describe you…" The demon said his eyes narrowed slightly before his free hand reached up to the bun of hair, pulling the blue ribbon out of place and allowing her hair to fall in place. It was longer than the last time, coming to her shoulders. It framed the face and revealed her for what she truly was. No man could ever look so soft with such hair. It suited her.

"…Is female, Rin." He let out a single amused huff and released her.

Staggering away, Rin rubbed her neck and looked at the floor. "What are you going to do?" She left off the formality, there was no need anymore.

Sesshomaru sat back behind his desk and looked at her. "Why did you do it?"

"I told you who my father is. But did you know that he suffered a great injury in the final days of the war? He can hardly walk without aid." She sighed, shaking her head. "It was never meant to go this far. The plan was simple. I would come, pretend to be a man, be terrible, unable to do anything and sent home with dishonour. Then if anyone asked what happened to me, the family would say I went off to regain my honour until I was forgotten. It was fool proof!"

Sesshomaru watched her with narrow eyes and gave a slight smile at the end. "Apart from one, small detail." He guessed.

Rin nodded. "I'm a natural."

The demon took a deep breath, thinking. "What you've done is punishable by death. Public humiliation followed by execution."

"I know."

"And you still did it?"

"I had to protect my father."

He let out a long loud sigh. "Rin…"

"Please, do what you need to. I know what I've done is wrong and I accept the punishment."

His eyes lifted to her meet hers. "Such courage and determination." He sighed and leant forward in his seat. "Rin… you are my friend. One of a handful of people I could truly trust. You kept this from me. You said you trusted me as much as I trust you. That was clearly a lie. Are there any other secrets you've kept from me?"

"None."

"Rin… this is treason." He stood and walked over to her as she stared at the floor. With one hand he turned her face to him and made her look at him. They stared at each other for a moment then he blinked. "But I won't turn you in."

Her eyes widened in shock as he let her go. "You… you're letting me go?"

"Yes."

Rin narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why?"

Sesshomaru turned to her with a slightly amused expression on his face. To anyone else, him sparing them their life would be enough. But no, she had to have a reason. He shook his head slightly as if the answer should be obvious, which to him, it was. "Because it would be a crime in itself for this army to lose you. Let alone the morale. Finding out that the most respected and admired captain of this battalion is a woman? It would be devastating."

Rin smiled and nodded. "Thank you… Sir."

"You swear to me there will be no more secrets?"

"I swear."

"Very well, get back to your duties."

"Yes, sir."

"Rin, wait."

She stopped a few steps away and he gave her half a smile. "Sort your hair out first."