Hi!

It's been a little while since I posted the last chapter, so sorry about that! My mom's best friend has been battling cancer for two years and she's been getting worse. We've been taking her to radiation appointments and helping her out with different errands because she's been unable to do a lot of things that she used to be able to do. Her three kids have also been struggling with this, so it's just a really bad situation. Please say a prayer for her and her family if that's what you believe in, but if you're not the praying type, then please keep her in your thoughts and send good vibes. Thanks.

On a lighter note, I really want to give a shout-out to Kat who reviewed as a guest. Thanks for your nice words! I mentioned the evolution that this story has taken in a previous chapter, and it molded itself into a bigger picture than just SessRin. Thanks for your review! It was super nice to see :)

Sorry to Kittykatjazz! I tried to keep InuKag from taking over…force of habit I guess ;) I'll try to make it less prominent because above all, this is definitely a SessRin fic. As we're getting into more of the action/adventure component of this story, the fic will definitely reflect the main ship as SessRin. As always, thanks for your review. I'm really glad you like it :)

And thanks to WildHeart44 for the names!

Also, I owe you guys a little SessRin romance since we've gone a few chapters without any fluff from them. Hopefully this chapter makes up for that ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters all rights to Rumiko Takahashi (I just realized I haven't put this in the last few chapters…oops.)

Chapter 12: A Human's Worry

Rin woke up against something warm.

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw that she was surrounded by something white and…furry?

Rin looked up and saw that her head was resting in Sesshomaru's lap. His eyes were glued to her, and then she remembered. She'd asked Sesshomaru to stay with her last night, but a moment of forgetfulness filled her with a child-like embarrassment. Luckily it was soon overpowered.

Rin sat up and smiled at Sesshomaru. "Good morning," she said. Sesshomaru gave her his usual small smile.

"We have a long day ahead," he replied as his smile began to fade. Rin looked at him sheepishly.

"Ayame needs our help," she protested. "We can't just say we won't give her a hand." Sesshomaru brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"You are very compassionate, Rin," he said. Rin's eyes widened.

"Thank you," she replied. Sesshomaru didn't usually straight out compliment her. Rin didn't think she'd ever get used to the changes that were happening between them, but she knew that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"But I must insist that you remain here," he said. Rin's eyes widened. He's still trying to keep me here? she thought to herself. Even though he knows I'm capable of more than just sitting at home waiting?

Rin frowned. "I'm not staying here," she protested. "I can help just as much as anyone else. I'm coming." Sesshomaru frowned right back at her.

"Rin," he began. Rin shook her head.

"I'm not going to argue about this," she interrupted. "I'm going with everyone." Sesshomaru looked a little surprised at how adamant Rin was, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She may be a human, and Sesshomaru may think that she lacked strength, but she was going to prove herself; not just to him, but to her own self, too.

"Over the years," she began, "Sango has been teaching me the basics of fighting. Kagome has taught me how to find different herbs to make remedies for illnesses and infections. Even Inuyasha has helped me with different hand-to-hand combat techniques." Rin crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm fully capable of helping." Sesshomaru's frown remained, but he relented.

"Very well then," he finally replied. Rin nodded confidently.

"Trust my abilities," she said. "I'm stronger than you think I am." Sesshomaru didn't reply, and Rin knew that the semi-argument was over…at least for now it was.

Rin hadn't thought about this part of their relationship: the fact that she was a human and Sesshomaru was a yokai. It was a crucial aspect, but Rin figured that Sesshomaru would have put aside his lingering prejudice against humans now that they were together. Apparently she was wrong.

Then again, she knew that Sesshomaru obviously had changed his views on humans; he was somewhat civil towards Kagome, Miroku, and Sango, and he'd even seemed to become a bit less hostile towards Inuyasha.

But he still seemed to think that yokai were superior to humans, not just in strength, but apparently in worth as well.

A sudden burst through Rin's door broke their tense silence, and Rin looked over to see Jaken storm into her house.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" he shrieked. "I have been looking all over for you!" Sesshomaru appeared annoyed.

"We are going away for a while," he replied. "I am unsure how long we will be gone." Jaken sputtered.

"But, my Lord!" he cried. "I will accompany you!" Sesshomaru shook his head.

"No," he said. "You will remain with A-Un until I return." Jaken looked like he was about to yell again, but Rin spoke up before he could.

"You can stay here while we're gone," she said kindly. "It's a very comfortable little home." Jaken opened his mouth to argue but Sesshomaru shot him a death glare that made him immediately shut up.

"If it is what pleases my Lord then I will remain here," Jaken finally said. He sent a death-glare at Rin. "But why does she get to go with you? She's just a weak little human!" Rin cringed.

"Rin and I are in a courtship," Sesshomaru replied. "I will not leave her alone." Jaken's eyes widened and he instantly went silent. Rin's eyes widened, too, but for a completely different reason. She was shocked that Sesshomaru had straight out told Jaken that they were together.

Sesshomaru glanced at her, and despite the lingering tension of their argument, Rin smiled.

Jaken, on the other hand, was still stunned into silence.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and began to make his way to the door.

"We will see you when we return," he said as he walked out. Rin looked back at Jaken and giggled.

"Bye, Jaken!" she chirped as she followed Sesshomaru.

As Sesshomaru and Rin made their way to the edge of the village to meet up with the others, their argument and Sesshomaru's past ideas about humans ran through Rin's mind. She decided to put it aside for now so they could focus on the mission at hand, but she had a bad feeling that a resolution or at least an explanation from Sesshomaru wouldn't be easy.

And besides, Sesshomaru had just openly told Jaken that they were together. That sort of candor meant a lot to her, especially since Sesshomaru was such a private and secretive person. That made her feel a little better and her anger lessened a bit, but she still found a small part of her heart full of worry. She brushed it off soon after, but she knew it was still there.

"Sesshomaru?" Rin said as they walked side-by-side. Sesshomaru glanced down at her.

"Yes, Rin?" he replied. Rin smiled at him.

"Nothing, I guess," she said. "I'm just happy to have you."

Sesshomaru stopped them and turned Rin to face him. His hands went to her face, and she felt his claws brush against her cheeks as he tucked her hair behind her ears.

"I am happy to have you, Rin," he replied. "I believe I am happier than you know." Rin smiled as Sesshomaru leaned down to kiss her. It wasn't crazy passionate like it had been the night before; it was soft and sweet, and it showed Rin that Sesshomaru truly was happy with her.

After they parted, Sesshomaru held his arm out for Rin to lightly hold onto. Rin took it and leaned her head on his shoulder. Rin walked the rest of the way with what she knew was a ridiculous smile on her face.

Once they reached the edge of the village and had let go of each other for chastity's sake, Kagome and Inuyasha met up with them as Ayame trailed behind.

"Miroku and Sango will be here soon," Kagome explained when they were all together. "Their kids had a rough morning so it took a little longer for them to leave." Rin smiled. She figured the kids were protesting their parents leave of absence. She knew how loud and argumentative Miroku and Sango's five children could be.

Ayame's brows were knit together in obvious worry, and she seemed to subconsciously rub her swollen belly. Rin felt a pang of sympathy for her, and she gathered up all of her hope.

"We'll find him, Ayame," Rin said as her eyes locked with Ayame's. Ayame smiled at her.

"I hope so," she replied. "Thank you all for your willingness to help." Rin glanced over at Kagome and Inuyasha.

Inuyasha seemed a lot less irritated this morning than he had been when Kagome announced that they would be helping Ayame. She figured Kagome had knocked some sense into him, and Rin found herself wondering how the Miko had gotten herself on equal footing with Inuyasha. She wanted Sesshomaru to view her as Inuyasha viewed Kagome: a strong, capable woman with a kind heart and bright spirit. But more than that…as his equal.

For a fleeting moment, Rin wondered if that would ever happen for her.

After realizing that she'd begun to doubt the yokai she loved, who had literally just kissed her sweetly enough to nearly make her faint, Rin inwardly kicked herself. Get yourself together, she scolded. We're helping Ayame, not freaking out about your relationship. Rin shook her head and tried to focus on the plan that was now being made.

While she was lost in her thoughts, a very tired Miroku and Sango had met up with them. Rin figured they hadn't gotten much sleep after telling their children that they'd be gone for a little while, so she knew they must be exhausted.

They still looked determined to help Ayame, so Rin knew that they would be fine.

"So we'll begin the search in your pack's area?" Inuyasha asked Ayame. The pregnant wolf-yokai nodded.

"Yes," she replied. "I'm hopeful that some new information will have been found by the time we return or that they could at least join us in our search." Inuyasha nodded.

With their plan solidified, they headed off in the direction of Ayame's pack.

Rin saw Kagome chuckle lightly and gently nudge her husband. "Makes you think of old times, huh?" she asked. Inuyasha grinned at her.

"Yeah, the old Shikon-hunters are all back together on a mission," he replied. He eyed Rin and Sesshomaru. "With a few stragglers." His tone was filled with mirth, so Rin laughed.

"I hope we're not cramping your style too much," she replied. Kagome walked over and linked arms with Rin.

"Of course not," she replied kindly. "If anything, you're making us look better." The old Shikon-gang and Rin laughed. Sesshomaru remained silent, but Rin could tell that he wasn't mad. Even though he didn't seem particularly pleased to be traveling with his half-brother and the other people in the group, he didn't seem as annoyed or angry anymore. Rin breathed a silent sigh of relief. At least she didn't have to worry about that right now.

"So, Ayame," Kagome asked a little while later. "What have you and Koga been doing all these years?" Ayame smiled.

"Well, we got married soon after Naraku's death," she replied. "We spent most of our time expanding our pack and maintaining peace. Over the last two years or so, things have slowed down a little. We're very pleased with how things have turned out with our pack, so we decided that now would be a good time to have a baby." Ayame sighed. "But I'm due soon, so I just want Koga back." Kagome walked over to Ayame to set a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You'll get him back," Kagome replied. "Your baby will see its father right when it's born." Ayame smiled at Kagome.

"I can't believe I used to dislike you," she said suddenly. Kagome laughed.

"I'm just glad that's not the case anymore," Kagome replied. Ayame giggled for the first time since her arrival at the village, and Rin noticed how her face lit up. She wanted to help Ayame even more now; she wanted her to smile like that again.

Rin was glad to see the exchange between the Miko and wolf-yokai. She loved seeing peace between the two kinds.

Inuyasha and the other Shikon-hunters began to recount funny stories from their travels back when they were battling Naraku, so Rin took advantage of their distraction to look up at Sesshomaru.

He hadn't spoken since they'd left, and she was worried that he had gone from only slightly displeased to angry again. She subtly brushed against his arm to get his attention. His eyes met hers at the touch, and Rin tried to smile.

"You're not mad, are you?" she asked in an attempt to sound light-hearted. Sesshomaru looked away from her.

"I am mildly inconvenienced," he replied. "We would be able to move much faster if it weren't for Inuyasha's humans." Rin frowned. There he goes ragging on humans again, she thought.

"Well, I'm a human," Rin replied. "So are you saying I'm inconveniencing you as well?" Sesshomaru paused, and it appeared that he was realizing what exactly he'd just said. "That is not what I meant," he said coolly. Rin huffed.

"I know you only came because I asked you to," Rin replied. "And I appreciate that, but if you really feel so inconvenienced because you're traveling with humans then maybe you should just go back." Sesshomaru's eyes widened at Rin.

Rin was worried for a moment that she was being too harsh. Sesshomaru had come a very long way when it came to how he viewed humans, but the few comments he'd made that day had Rin wondering if he hadn't come as far as she thought. Even so, Rin knew she was being too hard on him.

"I'm sorry," she said immediately. "I would like for you to stay…if you want. It's just…well, I'm a human and most of my friends are humans. It bothers me that you still see us as inferior to you." Sesshomaru seemed to mull over Rin's words, but he made no reply.

Rin felt herself fill with nervousness. Had she overstepped? Had she pushed Sesshomaru too far?

Rin glanced over at the rest of the group to find Kagome's eyes on her and Sesshomaru. Kagome gave her a questioning look, but Rin only shook her head. Maybe she would talk to Kagome later…the Miko was like an older sister to her, and Kagome had been right about them both falling in love with members of the same family. She figured Kagome could give her some advice on how to deal with this problem…

But for now, Rin only kept walking forward, a few inches from the yokai she loved but miles away from him at the same time.

To be continued…

Uh-oh…trouble in paradise.

I hope that this was an acceptable chapter after my two-week absence! I'll try to get the next chapter up a lot quicker.

Let me know what you think about this chapter. I think that there could be a lot of different viewpoints on this issue, and obviously what I write is my own opinion lol but I would love to hear other opinions! Maybe I'll even change my mind haha.

Much love. :)