*disclaimer: i do not own inuyasha.

"Lord Sesshoumaru..." Jaken was afraid to mention the fact that Rin was an exceptional fighter, or to even mention Rin at all seemed dangerous at this point.

It was almost nighttime. Jaken yawned and sat down next to Sesshoumaru. The white haired man was glaring right into the fire. He was watching the flames dance and thinking about a topic that was very hard for him to remember.

Jaken went to get food for himself. While he was in the woods he began having flashbacks of when Rin was small...and with them.

"Master Jaken! Master Jaken look!" Rin pointed to a butterfly.

"Isn't it pretty?" Rin laughed. She was supposed to be helping Jaken gather food, but decided to dance around with the butterfly instead.

"Don't fool around you foolish girl! We are busy gathering food so we don't bother Lord Sesshoumaru!" Jaken angrily shouted. Rin stopped dancing and walked over to Jaken.

"Master Jaken?" Rin asked.

"Leave me alone! Go find food for yourself!" Jaken was pretty aggravated. Rin sighed and plopped herself down to the ground.

"You're crushing the food Rin! Get off!" Jaken ordered.

"Master Jaken...What do you live for?" The question surprised him. He thought for a moment then said, "Lord Sesshoumaru of course!...what a silly question." Jaken thought about the question after...about what else besides Lord Sesshoumaru.

"Heh...nothing else. Stupid girl..." he whispered. Rin ran over to Sesshoumaru and stood beside him. Then they all left, once again on their journey.

Jaken hobbled back to the cave where Lord Sesshoumaru was at war with his mind.

'You should go look for her.'

'No! I shouldn't!'

'You left her alone with the creatures she fears most, don't you think you should apologize?'

'No. She doesn't need an apology, I did what was best.'

'You need her. You know it.'

'I most certainly do not! I, Lord Sesshoumaru, do not need anyone. I live to protect myself...I live to kill.'

'You know that isn't true. You love her...You live to protect her.'

'Then how come I couldn't protect her then?'

'That was then this is now...do not blame such things on yourself.'

'BUT I AM THE ONE TO BLAME!'

'So wouldn't that mean that you should apologize?...' Sesshoumaru's face spilled anger. He didn't like being unsure about things. He was usually 'right on the bat.'

Jaken put more twigs in the fire. Once again it set ablaze.

"So cold..." Jaken shook. Sesshoumaru looked over. He sighed then closed his eyes.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin ran over and crouched down next to him.

"Yes Rin?" He turned to look at her, to find her face was but inches away from his. He drew back in shock that the little girl was so unafraid of him. A demon who held no mercy for his opponent, caring for a young girl.

Ridiculous.

"Heehee!" She sat down beside him and rested her head on his arm. Where her head lay burned his arm, but he didn't move to push her away.

"Lord Sesshoumaru... What do you live for?" He was so taken back by the young girl's question he almost for got to answer. He didn't even need to think about it, and yet, he had no answer for Rin. He never gave her one either. Later that night after Jaken yelled at Rin for bothering Lord Sesshoumaru, Rin asked him another thing.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, when I die, please do not forget me." Rin yawned. Sesshoumaru was also taken by surprise again.

"What brought this on?" he wondered aloud.

"Nothing. I just want to make sure Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't forget Rin. Because Rin will die someday...Will you feel lonely Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin laid down. Sesshoumaru snorted.

"Nonsense..." Though he said this, it pained him inside to think of Rin's death.

The next day Rin, Sesshoumaru and Jaken set out. While on one of the roads, Rin began to sing.

"~ Red for the blood of the people whom I love.

Orange for the rising sun.

Yellow for the sky above the sunset, that would amaze anyone.

Green for the grass beneath our feet.

Blue for the oceans beyond the clouds, show me how…to swim.

Indigo for the water, which many rely on.

Violet for the eyes above…

let them watch down on me.

Let them watch over me.

Let them share my love. ~"

Rin sang. Jaken shook out of his fantasy that Rin's beautiful song had put him in and was about to yell when Sesshoumaru interrupted him.

"Rin…where did you here that song?" Sesshoumaru had never heard it before. Rin smiled.

"My mummy used to sing it to me!" She skipped on. Later that day, they were… attacked... To put it plainly.

"No! Lord Sesshoumaru! Look out!" Rin through herself in front of the arrow.

"Rin?…" Sesshoumaru had turned around a little too late. His eyes grew wide. No…. he thought.

"Why are you worrying about a mere human? Humans are for eating and target practice." Sesshoumaru split the demon in half. He did so to the rest of them too.

He walked over to where Rin and Jaken were.

"Rin! Wake up!" Sesshoumaru shouted. Jaken looked up at his master.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, the poison will spread through her body if we don't hurry…" Jaken advised.

"Silence! I already know…" Sesshoumaru was attempting to hold his tears back, he picked Rin up and began to walk in the direction of the nearest village.

"Lets go Jaken, hurry."

While Rin slept, Sesshoumaru had one of the villagers look after her, because after he used his Tenseiga, he was of no use. He sent Jaken to go buy food. While Jaken was away, Sesshoumaru wrote a letter. He was telling Rin to stay behind because she would only be in the way. He put it in Jaken's name. He wrote the letter while tears dripped out of eyes, two drops landed on the paper.

"But, that's not the real reason…Rin. My dear Rin…" he whispered. He told the villager to look after her, and that he would not be coming back. He handed her the letter and told her to give it to Rin when she woke.

Sesshoumaru ran through the forest before Jaken. He was crying with a straight face. All of a sudden, he abruptly stopped. He opened his mouth and let out a roar that shook the ground beneath him.

"NOOOOOOO!" he bellowed.

"No!" Sesshoumaru sat up with jagged breathing. He whipped the sweat from his forehead. It was a dream? He stood up to see Jaken sound asleep next to the fire, which was almost blown out. He decided to go for a walk.

As he was walking he heard someone singing. The voice was beautiful. It surrounded him and filled his core with a warm feeling. It was innocent and somewhat childlike…it seemed like the owner of the voice though, was distraught about something.

The feeling he used to get from Rin. Wait…he stopped. This song…I've heard it before…! He moved more towards the sound. As he got closer he finally recognized it. This-this is Rin's song! He stopped to take a deep breath. Yes. He affirmed. This is Rin's smell too. He continued walking listening to Rin's voice. Her voice has matured…it's become more powerful, strong. He felt as if he was being drawn in, like she was using a spell. Hismovements became faster, until he had reached the sound. He froze.

next chapter~