He didn't.

From where he was, Totosai shook his head in disbelief. All that work was for nothing. Though, he should have known that as soon as he handed the sword off, Sesshomaru wasn't going to listen to him. However, he was hoping he would be wrong for once. He put his hands up in protest.

"Sesshomaru! What the hell? Must you be so hasty, you can't even hear me out long enough to explain what the hell you're supposed to do?!"

With him scratching his head angrily, it was clear Totosai was upset and rightfully so. He expected a more promising result from Sesshomaru but hope was not lost completely, for Totosai could still tell Sesshomaru everything he needed to know.

"Well, looks like I gotta see Inuyasha now."

Totosai called his ox Mo-Mo and together they set off to their next destination.

There is still one thing you can do, Sesshomaru.

...

What is going on? Why am I not able to destroy the stone...

Sesshomaru watched the pieces of his sword fall down once again right in front of him. He did not understand why two of his swords had broken in front of him and failed to do what should be a simple task. What was going on? If this were to happen again, he didn't think he could take it. He might consider he was losing his power or something. No! This weak thinking only lasted a moment before Sesshomaru regained his composure. He glanced over at Rin, who was still having fits of coughing. She didn't look so good. Sesshomau knew he was running out of time and wasn't sure how much time he had left. He wish he knew so he could beat the clock.

Rin stared at the ground and then shyly looked to Sesshomaru. She wasn't sure what this all meant.

Did this mean there is nothing left to save me?

Sesshomaru angrily threw away the handle of the sword. He went over to Rin and held her close. He half expected her to cry or show some type of emotion. When she didn't, Sesshomaru grew worried.

"You alright, Rin?" He looked anxious.

Any other time, Rin would have said yes, but this time it didn't feel right to stretch the truth.

"I'm not sure. I think I'm actually getting worse. What's going to happen to me Sesshomaru? Am I going to..."

Sesshomaru slowly held his hand up to her mouth to stop her from talking more.

"Don't think such things Rin. You're going to be fine."

"You really think so?" Rin looked hopefully at him.

Sesshomaru turned away and stared off into the distance. The truth was, he couldn't tell her the truth. Not when he didn't know himself. He had never felt this way before...hopeless, or maybe he was scared of losing Rin for good.

Rin reached up and put her much smaller and delicate hand on Sesshomaru's face. He gazed back on her lovingly.

"Rin. He started to say, I won't..." This time Rin shushed him by putting her hand over his mouth. Sesshomaru seemed surprised by this.

"Just promise you aren't going to leave me again." Rin's voice was quiet and seemed to show little concern, but Sesshomaru knew what she feared the most.

Sesshomaru's face softened. He didn't say anything. Instead, he put his hand on her right cheek and held it there. Rin put her hand on his arm. She loved it when Sesshomaru showed affection.

"As long as you don't leave me either," Sesshomaru whispered. He said it so quietly, Rin couldn't hear him.

"What?" Rin asked. She gazed into his eyes.

Sesshomaru didn't answer her, but instead held her close as he lifted off the ground.

"There's something I want to show you Rin."

...

Jaken had finally arrived. He gazed up at the high mountain in front of him. He took a deep breath and began climbing. It was a long way to the top. There was a rare, dark purple flower at the top and he would have to climb the treacherous and challenging mountain to get it. Why? Well, Jaken had a funny feeling Rin was going to need it. This flower was rumored to have magical healing powers that could save a person on the brink of death and he knew Rin was going to need something to keep her alive. He didn't doubt Sesshomaru's ability to heal her, but rather he wanted to have a back up plan just in case. A couple days ago, Jaken had a premonition something would go wrong and he wanted to cover his bases just in case it was real and something did really go wrong. He would definitely earn gold points with Sesshomaru if he was the one who helped Rin. That in itself was enough of an incentive for Jaken.

Jaken kept climbing up and once he got halfway up, he took a break on one of the ledges. As he rested, he looked around and noticed some writing carved into the rocky mountain. Jaken looked closer and realized it read.

"Only you, Lord Sesshomaru."

"Rin!" Jaken exclaimed. He wondered if Rin wrote this during the time she went to get the antidote for him after he had gotten stung by Naraku's poisonous insects.

That brave girl. No wonder Sesshomaru has a soft spot for her. It's one thing to be tough when you're already powerful. Its quite another, to be Rin and go up against all odds of making it.

Jaken got those lovey dovey eyes and looked like he was going to cry but stopped himself. He needed to get back to climbing. He glanced around to make sure the coast was clear, then resumed climbing. He soon reached the flower he needed and grabbed it. It was much easier for him since there weren't any demons around and for the fact that Jaken was a demon himself. He could climb quite well with his dainty hands. He wondered if Rin had faced any demons.

...

Sesshomaru descended down from the sky as he was about to show Rin a secret place far away from where they had been. Though Rin might have been here once, in her dream.

Sesshomaru gently landed and still holding on to Rin, looked around to make sure nobody was near.

Rin anxiously looked around and gasped once she saw what was in front of them. A mansion! There was a huge mansion in front of them! And I mean huge. Rin could tell right away that it was the kind fit for a king, or in this case, a lord. Rin's sudden excitement quickly turned to worry as she recalled certain events from her dream.

"Sesshomaru where are we? I feel I know this place."

Sesshomaru let go of Rin and grabbing her hand, led her forward to the front entrance.

"You have been here before?"

Rin thought hard to remember where she had seen this place. It seemed so familiar. She gazed at it in wonder. It was so beautiful. The house itself was dark gray and splotches of black in some areas. There must be several rooms. There were certainly many windows. They were much bigger than average and magnificent purple drapes with gold around the edges decorated them. A large balcony was off one of the rooms on the second level. There were a couple dark gray chairs set up outside on the balcony. The front of the mansion had grass all around it with stones running along to form a path. There was a large silver gate surrounding the mansion. It had something sharp at the top and was taller than any human or demon Rin had ever seen. Surely it was meant to act as some type of shield, but Rin didn't think that was necessary for Sesshomaru. He didn't need much of a shield since he was so powerful. Maybe it was decoration? Looking around the front, Rin was surprised to see several flowers surrounding the house. Was this odd for Sesshomaru to have?

Sesshomaru went up and picked one of the purples flowers and very carefully, put it in Rin's hair.

Rin giggled and smiled.

"Do you like it?"

Rin didn't know what to say. "Is this your..." Her voice trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"My house?"

Rin's heart almost stopped. She looked Sesshomaru in the eyes. He stared back at her with genuine honesty and fondness gleaming in his eyes. Rin blushed and looked away.

"Yes, Rin. This is my home."

Sesshomaru knelt down and looked Rin in the eyes. He knew she had questions for him. Unfortuantely, he couldn't answer all of them. Rin looked back at him. Neither one looked away.

"I didn't think you had a house, Sesshomaru. I thought it was only in my dream. That's what you told me right?" Rin was hoping Sesshomaru hadn't lied to her. She was surprised she would even think he would do such a thing like that, but how well did she know him?

Sesshomaru took the question quite well. He didn't look or feel guilty. His face turned serious.

"Rin, you need to listen to me. When you told me about your dream and asked me if I had a house, I wanted to tell you the truth, but I also did not wish you to worry any more than you already were. You had a nightmare and I did not want you to think your silly dream was going to come true." There was a lot more he could say but was going to save the rest for later.

Rin frowned. "Yeah, but I still got sick. That was in my dream too. It was because of..." She couldn't say it.

"It's not going to happen Rin."

Sesshomaru picked her up and began carrying her to the front door.

"Is your house this big because you're a lord?"

Sesshomaru modestly kept a straight face.

"It all makes sense now. A house fit for royalty!"

Sesshomaru changed the subject. He noticed Rin wasn't coughing anymore. She stopped when they landed.

"How are you feeling Rin?"

"Well, to be honest, I started to feel better as soon as we arrived here."

"I'm glad to hear it."

Rin grinned at him.

"It's all because of you Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru shook his head.

"Nonsense Rin. I have done nothing. I have only failed."

Rin didn't want to hear Sesshomaru be so hard on himself. It didn't suit him at all. She tried to cheer him up.

"But it's not your fault right? I mean the sword broke, but there was nothing you did wrong."

Sesshomaru breathed with slight irritation.

Rin looked at him cautiously.

"Was there?" She couldn't believe she was still seeing Sesshomaru rattled over what had happened to both swords falling apart. It wasn't like him to have things get under his skin so much.

Sesshomaru ignored the question. He put her down once they entered inside and led her over to the nearest couch that was just inside the door and to the left. It was a light blue tuft couch and had purple pillows with gold ribbons on them. They both sat down.

Rin looked around. This place looked even more amazing inside. She wondered if Sesshomaru was going to show her around...possibly to his bedroom?

"Sesshomaru, do you think that we could..." She stopped once she looked at Sesshomaru and saw him staring at her with the most serious look she had ever see on his face.

"Rin, I will find a way to save you."

Rin seemed taken back.

"Yes, of course you will. I don't doubt you at all Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru looked relieved.

Rin gasped. She put her hand on Sesshomaru's hand.

"Sesshomaru, did you think I lost faith in you?"

Sesshomaru didn't answer. He stared down at Rin's hand, thinking. He got up, and stood with his back to Rin.

Much silence passed before he spoke again. When he did, he faced Rin and held out his hand to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.

Rin gasped again.

"You're right. I will destroy the stone. When I do and when the time is right, I would like you to stay here with me in my house and be my bride, Rin."

To be continued...