A/N: I promise this one will be a little shorter than the other chapters. Leave a review!


Previous Chapter…

Kagome looked away from the fire, to see Sango and Sylis together, gazing at the sky. Huh… I wonder what's going on between those two… Kagome giggled to herself. Inuyasha glanced over at the schoolgirl.

"What are you laughing about?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Oh nothing." Kagome said with a smile. The two looked back into the fire. Silence had once again fallen over the campsite, until…

"Athar!" A bright white light was seen in the sky. The others all shook their heads.


Rin was happily picking flowers in a section of the forest.

"I wonder if Lord Sesshomaru will like these." Rin said with a smile, holding many flowers in her arms. Her stomach gave a light growl, causing her to blush. "It has been awhile since breakfast…" Rin looked around spotting a flower blossom that's petals were deep purple, with many red berries inside of the petals. "Those look good!" Rin quickly grabbed the flower along with the berries, heading off in the other direction.

"Rin!" Jaken called out, walking down the forest's path. "Where is that stupid girl now?" Jaken continued to walk, looking off to his left and right. Suddenly he bumped into Rin, knocking them both down. The berries she was carrying fell to the earth, along with the flower. Jaken shook his head and looked at the flower. "An Eternal Blossom, a very rare flower, where did you get this?"

"I found in the forest, isn't it pretty?" Rin smiled. Jaken looked down at the ground, seeing the berries. A look of fear overcame his face.

"Rin! You must tell me! Did you eat the berries from this flower?" Jaken yelled loudly.

"Yeah, they were delicious!" Rin smiled.


The Hearts of a Mortal and a Half-Demon

Chapter 6: The Eternal Blossom, Rin's Illness.


"It's another sunny day!" Kagome said, stretching as she and the others walked down the road. Miroku and Lilly were walking along side Kagome and Inuyasha, while Sango and Sylis walked behind them, Shippo on Sylis' left shoulder and Kirara on Sango's right shoulder.

"Yeah, whatever…" Inuyasha said with his trademark attitude. Sylis walked with his hands to his sides, his left hand on the hilt of his sword, now being held by a sword frog on his left hip.

His sword… Sango glanced over at Sylis, taking note of the new position his sword is in. "Sylis." He glanced over at the demon slayer. "Why are you carrying your sword on your hip now?"

"No reason…" Sylis' eyes returned to viewing what was in front of him.

"Oh…" Sango decided to drop it and began to admire the clear blue skies. They had been traveling for a few days, coming up to Kaede's village.

"Hey, there it is!" Shippo said, climbing up on Sylis' head. This caused Sylis to growl in annoyance, which made Shippo quickly hop off of his head and on to Sango's other shoulder. She giggled slightly.

"Kagome, will you be going back to your time?" Lilly looked over at the raven haired girl.

"Just for a few hours, I'll grab some more supplies and come back." Kagome said. When they made it to the village, Kaede could be seen outside of her hut. "Hi Kaede." Kagome waved to the old priestess.

"Ah, Kagome. I trust that you and the other have been alright?" Kaede instantly looked at the green haired girl traveling with them. "And who is this young woman?"

"Hello ma'am, my name is Lilly. It is nice to meet you." The young girl said with a smile, extending her hand out to the old woman.

"I see she has manners." Kaede shook Lilly's hand. "Why have ye begun traveling with Kagome and the others?"

"I am an old friend of Sylis'. Before we had… unexpectedly arrived here, we were investigating the Shinewood Forest." Lilly said.

"Shinewood Forest? I have never heard of such a place by that name." The old woman had a confused look on her face.

"They aren't exactly from here…" Sango stated. She, Kagome, and Lilly did their best to explain where they were from and how they had gotten here.

"This is a strange tale ye speak, but with the events of the last two years… Anything is possible." Kaede said. "I must ask ye, why have ye returned here so soon?"

"We have a led that Naraku is in Kyoto." Inuyasha looked at the old priestess. "Kagome came to pick up supplies then we are leavi-" Inuyasha abruptly stood, picking up Tetsuaiga. "We have company." Inuyasha ran out of the hut, soon followed by everyone else. When the others were outside, standing in front of them was a man with long white hair, holding a child in his right arm.

"What! Sesshomaru?" Miroku readied his staff, Shippo hid behind the monk's leg.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha's found the hilt of his sword. "If it's a fight you're after…"

"I did not come to fight you, Inuyasha. But if a battle is what you desire…" Sesshomaru glared at his younger brother, his cold emotionless expression never leaving his face.

"If ye have not come here to fight, the why are ye here?" Kaede asked, walking towards the demon with her arms behind her back. Sesshomaru did not respond verbally, but looked at the old priestess. He then offered Rin, who was pale and sweating.

"She ate berries of the Eternal Blossom." Sesshomaru stated.

"If that is the case, we must make haste." Kaede turned and faced the hut. "Bring the girl in here, I will make a list of herbs that ye must retrieve." Sesshomaru followed the old woman into hut. Everyone else, except for Sylis and Lilly who had no idea who that was, stood outside, still in a state of shock.

What just happened? Inuyasha thought to himself. Soon Kagome and the others walked inside. They found Rin lying down on a bed spread, Kaede writing on a piece of parchment.

"Inuyasha, Sylis. I will require your help as well." Kaede stood up, handing a piece of parchment to Sylis, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha. "Gather the herbs listed. Ye are much faster than anyone here, so ye must get them."

"Why would I help Sesshomaru." Inuyasha grunted, this caused Sesshomaru to glare at him.

"Rin might die! If not for him, help for her sake." Kagome said, not making any change in Inuyasha's expression. "If you don't help, I might have to say 'you know what.'" Inuyasha suddenly got a look of worry on his face. "Si-"

"Ok, ok. I'm going." Sylis, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha quickly left the hut, leaving Miroku, Shippo, and the girls.

"Kagome, could ye get some cold water?" Kaede asked, grabbing some small pieces of cloth. She nodded, walking out of the hut.

"Perhaps some of my magic can help." Lilly walked over to the girl, kneeling down. She placed her hand on her forehead, a light green aura began to appear. "Ao Puinsein." The green light disappeared, nothing happened. "It appears I cannot help." Lilly looked over at the old priestess. "What has happened to this child?" Kaede took a deep breath, then looked at the green haired girl.

"The Eternal Blossom, it is a very rare plant. To see one, ye are a lucky person. But its berries are rather deadly. We are not use why, but if ye eat a berry from this plant, it causes the body to age and decay very quickly." She looked over at Rin. "Depending on the age of the person, the poison's effect may take longer or shorter. In cases with children, they will become a decaying corpse over night." Kagome covered his mouth in shock.

"That's terrible…" Kagome looked at Rin. She is just a child, she doesn't deserve to die…

"Many have attempted remedies, but they have only slowed down the process, leaving the victims to die in less than a week. Many have studied this and have come close to a cure, but only one was very proven to work. It is the final ingredient that was always the toughest to find."

"What is the final ingredient?" Miroku asked.

"The last ingredient is…"


An hour later, Sesshomaru returns to the village, seeing Sylis, Inuyasha, and Miroku waiting outside. He walked into the hut, meeting Shippo, Kirara and the girl. Jaken had finally shown up as well.

"Ye are here." Kaede stood up, taking the herb from the dog demon. Kaede and Lilly began to crush and liquefy the herbs, until it was in a blue liquid form. "One ingredient remains to be added." She looked up at Sesshomaru. "Fresh blood of a demon." Sesshomaru's face did not change, continuing to glare at the old woman.

"If you think that Lord Sesshomaru will give up some of his blood for this human…" Jaken spoke up.

Oh great… I just want to kick that little imp's head in… Inuyasha thought to himself.

"You must be mistaken!" Jaken said proudly. "Lord Sesshomaru would never-"

"Fine." Everyone looked over at Sesshomaru, slightly shocked by his words.

"But Lord Sesshomaru!" The dog demon quickly grabbed Jaken by the head, throwing him violently out of the hut. All that could be heard was Jaken's fading scream and a loud thud.

About damn time… Inuyasha smirked at the loud thud. Sesshomaru extended his arm, holding his hand over the vile of blue liquid. He closed his hand, forming a fist. Seconds later, a red crimson liquid began to drip from his fingers. He had cut his palm open with his claws. His blood began to drop into the antidote, turning it purple.

"That should be enough Sesshomaru. Ye may stop now." Kagome walked over to Sesshomaru, a bandage in her hand.

"I do not need your medical attention…" Sesshomaru said coldly, Kagome gave up right away instead of pushing it. Lilly took the vile, kneeling in front of the sick child.

She has grown… Rin had grown over an inch in the last hour. I hope this works like Kaede says it will. "Rin, I need you to drink this…" Rin's eyes opened slightly, her breathing still heavy. Lilly brought the vile to Rin's mouth, slowly letting her drink it. After the antidote was gone, Rin's breathing began to calm down. Lilly looked over at the old priestess. "Will she be alright?"

"We shall see in the morning. This antidote does not slow the process down, it either cures or fails." Kaede smiled while looking at the small, but growing child.

"If Rin perishes…" Sesshomaru spoke, everyone's eyes falling on him. "I will kill everyone in the village, starting with you." Lilly let out a small gasp, not knowing about Sesshomaru's short temper wth humans.

For our sake… We better hope this works. Kagome looked at Sesshomaru, then Rin. Sesshomaru stood up, walking out of the hut.

"I shall return in the morning for to check on her…" Sesshomaru walked away from the village, into the forest. Back in the hut, the others were still talking.

"It would be best for us to get some sleep, it is quite late." Lilly yawned, her eyes fighting to stay open. "I can stay here to watch over the young girl."

"I'll stay as well, incase something happens to her and Sesshomaru wants to kill everyone…" Sylis closed his eyes, sitting against the wall.

"Oh Sylis, you can talk." Miroku said, causing a small amount of laughter in the group. Sylis remained as he was, his eyes closed. Sango and Kirara also waited with Lilly and Sylis while the others went to another small hut for the night.


Sesshomaru remained in the forest, furiously swinging at a tree with claws. All that went through his mind was Rin, his desire to protect her and keep her safe and in good health. The thought of losing her overcame his thoughts of actually requesting help from mortals.

What are these strange feelings I am having? They are quite vexing. Through the night, he continued to slice up the tree, not sleeping at all.


"Lord Sesshomaru… Please… help me…" Rin could see Sesshomaru in the distance, his image slowly fading. She attempted to reach out for him, but she couldn't move her arm. Her body felt strange, she could feel her clothes shrinking, pressing against her body. She could hear her kimono tearing, the fabric now becoming loose, just laying on her body. "Lord… Sessho-maru…"

"Rin…"

"!" Rin's eyes snapped open, they began to search the surrounding area. She saw nothing but darkness, but she could feel a familiar warmth by her. A presence that that has watched over her for a long time.

"You are not weak…" The voice was that of Sesshomaru. "Get up Rin."

Rin's eyes fluttered open, her eyes began to focus due to the lack of light. She could see the inside of a hut, the wooden ceilings and walls. Why do I feel so strange…? Rin sat up quickly, stretching out which caused the blanket that was covering her to fall to her lap. "I feel rested." Rin said softly. "Huh!" Rin let out a small gasp. My voice… It sounds different, I sound… older… She looked down at her chest, watching a piece of her once fitting kimono, fall into her lap. She blinked a few times, seeing her fully developed breasts. "AH!" She screamed loudly, quickly grabbing the blanket and covered herself. The loud scream awoke the sleeping members in the hut. Lilly and Sango both awoke to see a teenage girl with very long raven hair, terrified and confused. She held the blanket to her chest tightly, breathing very heavily. Sylis' eyes opened, he calmly stood up and walked out of the hut. Once he was outside, his voice could be heard.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you…" Sylis said. Suddenly, Miroku ran in to see Lilly, Sango, and the young teenager.

"Why hello there." He began to walk towards the girl. "Would you consider-" He was instantly stopped by Lilly who stood in front of him, pushing him to the entrance.

"Would you get out of here you lecher!" Lilly violently threw him out of the hut. Her attention turned back to the teen, still in a state of shock. Lilly ran over to her. "Rin." The teen's head quickly looked up at the green haired girl. "Are you feeling better?" Rin slowly nodded her head. "Do you know where you are?" She shook her head, signaling that she didn't. "Hmm… Rin, what is the last thing you remember?" Rin looked to the ground, thinking deeply.

"The last thing I remember… I was in the forest, when I found this strange purple planet. I ate the berries from it, but after that… It's fuzzy." Rin looked over at the demon slayer. "I've seen you before… You travel with Lord Sesshomaru's brother, Inuyasha… Right?"

"Yes, I am Sango." Sango pointed over at Lilly. "This is Lilly, she helped you get better." Lilly waved to the teen. Just then Kagome walked in to the hut.

"Oh, Kagome." Rin said, a smile appeared on her face.

"Is that you Rin?" Kagome looked slightly puzzled. Rin nodded her head. "Wow, you look just as old as me. But I think you're gonna need a hair cut." Kagome giggled slightly. "I'll be right back." Kagome left the hut, coming back in less than a minute with a scissors and hairbrush.

"So can anyone explain what happened to me? Why… why I look like this?" Rin looked at herself. Kagome walked behind Rin, preparing to cut her hair. Sango and Lilly told the story to Rin, explaining about the Eternal Blossom, the strange poison the berries contain, as well as how she was cured. During the explanation, Kaede had walked in, but had quickly left. Sango and Lilly finished explaining what had happened. "I see… So I've grown up over night… This is so strange."

"We don't blame you for being confused Rin." Kagome had finished cutting the back of Rin's hair and was now brushing it.

"It's alright, I'll be fine." Suddenly, a thought came to Rin. "Where is Lord Sesshomaru?" She began to panic. "Is he all right?"

"Don't worry Rin." Lilly smiled, trying to calm the teen down. "He said he would return. I'm sure he will come around soon."

"Alright, all done, I think it looks good on you." Kagome placed the hairbrush on the floor, next to the scissors. Rin's raven hair cascaded down her back, its length went to her lower back. Part of her hair laid across the front of her shoulders, her bangs were very similar to Kagome's.

"Thanks Kagome." Rin smiled. "What should I do about my clothes though? I sort of…" Rin began to blush, her face turning light pink. "Outgrew my old kimono."

"Don't worry." Sango said from the doorway of the hut. "Kaede is coming right now with new clothes for you." Sango backed away from the door, letting Kaede pass through the doorway.

"Here ye are Rin." Kaede walked over to her, placing a folded blue and white kimono on the floor, a pair of white shocks, sandals, and a pink piece of fabric. "I hope they fit." The women all left, giving Rin some privacy to change. Once outside, the women accompanied the men and Kirara.

"How is she doing?" Inuyasha asked, his arms crossed across his chest.

"She is fine. She is getting changed right now." Kagome smiled.

"It appears the antidote worked, but it left the child in an older state." Kaede said, her arms held behind her. "I would say she looks to be the age of 16 or 17."

"16 or 17 you say?" Miroku said softly, rubbing his chin. Lilly walked up and placed her hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly. The monk flinched slightly.

"I hope you aren't getting any ideas… It would be a shame to have to wait while you recuperate." Lilly smiled while a vein on her forehead looked like it was going to pop. While Lilly was threatening the monk, Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, and Sango sighed. Sylis stood leaning against the hut, his eyes closed and his arms crossed. He sniffed the air, opening his eyes.

"He has returned." Everyone looked at Sylis, than towards the sound of footsteps. Sesshomaru walked towards them, followed by Jaken, whose head was covered with many large bumps.

"Where is Rin?" Sesshomaru stopped in front of the group, who became silent once his presence was known.

"She is inside, she is alright." Lilly stated, Sesshomaru began walking towards the hut. "Wait, you shouldn't go in there, she is getting-" Lilly didn't get a chance to finish, as Sesshomaru walked into the hut.

"Hmm?" Sesshomaru walked in to see Rin, her breasts her still exposed as she was partly dressed. She let out a small gasp, quickly pulling the rest of the kimono over her chest. Her face turned a deep shade of red, but to her surprise, so did Sesshomaru. Never had he seen him blush.

It must be a mistake, is he… blushing? It was no mistake the red stuck out like a sore thumb next to his pale skin. "I'm sorry… Lord Ses-"

"You don't need to apologize…" Sesshomaru turned his head, to avert his eyes. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes milord." Rin continues to get dressed while Sesshomaru had his back turned.

"Good. We will be leaving as soon as you are ready." Rin had finished dressing herself in her new kimono. As a teen, she stood 5'1", the kimono she wore was deep blue, a pattern of black butterflies with white wings. She began to walk towards Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru?" Rin spoke softly. Sesshomaru was slightly surprised, never in the years that he had taken care of the girl had she addressed him in any other way than Lord Sesshomaru. Slowly she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "Thank you." Again, he was caught by surprise. "Because of you, I am still alive… I thank you with all my heart." She laid her head on his back, closing her eyes. Sesshomaru took his right hand, placing it gently on her arm, rubbing it softly. She felt the warmth of his touch, making her feel safe.

"Don't be foolish Rin." He smiled, closing his eyes as well. After a short moment, she released her hold around the dog demon. He turned around and looked at her, his amber eyes meeting her brown eyes. "Are you ready to go?" Rin happily nodded. They began to walk towards the exit of the hut, Sesshomaru holding Rin's hand. They walked outside, greeted by Inuyasha's rag tag group.

"I am glad you pulled through Rin." Lilly said happily. "You seem like a nice person."

"So do you Lilly." Rin bowed to her. "Thank you for everything." Rin then turned to Sylis and Inuyasha, bowing to them as well. "Thank you."

"Do not expect any gratitude from me, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru stared at his younger brother coldly.

"Keh… Yeah right, like I would ever want to hear those words coming from you." Inuyasha grunted, walking away from Sesshomaru.

"Rin, we are leaving." Sesshomaru looked at the young raven haired teen, she smiled in return.

"Take care!" Rin waved back at the others, while she and Sesshomaru left Kaede's village.


A big Thanks to my Reviewer... Just one person! What the hell?

Atlantis-Rob: Thanks for being a dedicated reader! I hope you continue to read the story!


A/N: Sorry for the very late update. I've been a little busy lately. Well I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will be posting pictures of Lilly, as well as what an older Rin looks like. Leave a Review! Stay tuned for the next chapter, Kagome or Kikyo.