A/N: So, I'm getting towards the end of waht's pre-written, and I'm continuously told 'update soon' or 'write more'... well, I will, but I'm not sure when. It is summer now, so I'll have a little more time. I'll do my best, so bear with me. :D

Chapter Twenty-Five

I waved weakly as she turned for the last time before she would disappear into the trees. I ignored the tears rolling down my face as the thought of never seeing her again crossed my mind.

"I promise, I'll come back," I said, smiling. She grinned back.

"You'd better, or I'll hunt you down. But, really... if anything happens, you had better come to me first, hear?" She asked, mock glaring. I nodded seriously.

"Always. I'll probably be back in a week." She laughed, then shook her head.

"Don't... stay alright. Honestly, no news is good news. Just... promise that in... three years you'll come see me."

"Three years?" I asked, frowning. "Why such a long time?" She shrugged.

"Sounded like a decent amount of time. Besides, maybe you'll have decided that traveling's not the thing for you by then?" I smiled.

"It already isn't," I said. She raised a brow.

"You're such a liar."

I smiled for her as she turned and I couldn't see her kimono anymore. I waited a few moments, then sunk to my knees, crying. Deep down, I knew I would never see her again. I knew that she did, too, but we would never tell each other we thought so.

"Why does this kind of thing... always happen to me?" I asked myself, staring at the dark spots on the dirt. I felt a small hand on my arm and I looked up. Rin was smiling tentatively. I tried to smile back, but I couldn't.

"When Rin is sad," she started, "I always talk to Lord Sesshoumaru. That makes me feel better." I managed a smile at the thought. He would gut me if he saw me approaching him with any hint of speaking with him. I pulled the small girl into a one-armed embrace.

"Thank you," I said softly, resting my chin on her hair. She squeezed me.

"Aiko..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay?" She asked, looking up at me. I nodded.

"Yeah... I'll be fine... I'm just... really going to miss her, that's all," I said, softly. She nodded, not quite understanding. She released me and waited, frowning, as I stood.

"Talk to Lord Sesshoumaru," she said. I frowned slightly.

"I don't think... he'll understand," I said upon catching a glimpse of him. "It's more of a... human thing... emotions and all."

"Oh... then I'll talk to him for you," she said brightly, skipping off towards the tall demon.

"No! Rin..," I groaned, rolling my eyes. I hung my head and kicked at the dirt. That was all I needed, having him tell me what I already knew but didn't want to accept. I turned and started walking in no particular direction to get my mind off everything. The effort was fruitless, however, as I realized Sesshoumaru had decided to trail me once again. "Can't I ever be alone?" I grumbled. His soft huff came from somewhere behind me.

"If you wish to be captured," he stated softly.

"Sure. Anything's better than this. It's always a bad day when you get what you want," I muttered darkly. He landed lightly on his feet before me, staring at my face with a great deal of annoyance and I felt the air crackle with anger.

"Do not blame this Sesshoumaru for your problems," he grated, golden eyes obscured by black lashes. I frowned, clenching my jaw.

"I can blame whom I want for what I want," I seethed. He leaned infinitesimally closer, the strange pregnancy of the air becoming more so. I blinked and sidestepped around him, ignoring the obvious issue of his fury. "You're the reason I'm being kidnaped, you're the reason I have a broken arm, you're the reason I'll never see my best friend again. I'll be willing to bet that you're involved somehow with that monk, too."

"You dare offend this Sesshoumaru?" He asked in tones far too even.

"Oh, I've finally offended you? Good. Now, KILL ME!" I screamed, stalking deeper into the trees. "Don't follow me, demon, unless you want to see me stab myself with a sharpened stick...." Despite my warning, he continued to follow me. "What did Rin say?" I asked through my teeth that were starting to ache I was clenching them so hard.

"I do not know. This Sesshoumaru... did not listen," he informed. He seemed to have calmed significantly.

"You aren't listening to me, either," I said, stopping. He stopped as well and I turned to him. I pointed to his swords. "Give me one."

"No," he said, frowning. I glared.

"Why? All I want to do is die. Even death is better than being with someone that hates me because of my species. Besides, I'll die anyway. Better to do so comfortably than by the hands of Naraku."

"How, might I ask, is dying by my hand going to be more comfortable than dying by that of Naraku?" I frowned, looking down.

"I... don't know... hopefully you'll have a little mercy, that's all," I lied. He frowned, stepping towards me.

"This Sesshoumaru does not believe in mercy. Nor do I believe in wasting a swing of a sword on one such as yourself."

"Since when are you so high and mighty," I mumbled, kicking at the dirt. He said nothing, merely waiting for me to calm down. I sighed, slouching. "I'm really going to miss her... I just..." Tears filled my eyes and the lines of the trees started to waver. "Never mind," I mumbled, wiping my eyes. "You don't care..."

"Hn," he huffed, and I turned my eyes to him. He was regarding me with an expression that could best be described as annoyed concern. I felt an amused grin tug at my trembling lips.

"But, then again, why should you?" I asked more to myself than him. He huffed again and I smiled. "But, really... don't hesitate to kill me. That would spite Naraku as well as keeping me alive... more so, actually." His eyes narrowed.

"What is it you know...?" He asked carefully. I bit my lip, looking down. I swallowed hard before answering.

"Naraku... thinks I'm important to you...," I said softly, clenching and unclenching my hand. "Really important..."

"I am aware... he believes he can use you to twist my arm."

"So he can?" I asked, brows raised. He turned his head, glaring.

"No. Nothing can be used against me." I nodded.

"Okay," I said, turning.

"Wait," he demanded. I turned back. "You are keeping something of this to yourself. Tell this Sesshoumaru. Now." I frowned.

"Naraku... is under the impression.... I tried to tell him he was wrong, that I wasn't but he's so... well, he didn't listen."

"What... did... you... tell... him...?" He seethed, his white teeth glinting in the sun. I felt my eyes widen as I realized he was more angry than ever.

"Umm... he seems to think... that I'm... your....."

"My...?" He urged, and I saw his expression lighten slightly as he guessed at it in his mind. "He believes you are my mate, then?" He said more that asked. I stared at him in awe, barely managing a terrified nod. His lips formed a thin line as he turned on his toe and walked the other direction.

"That...," I mumbled as soon as he was out of sight, "went.... well?"