Sesshomaru's boots sounded heavily on the floorboards. When he came to the door which held Rin behind it, he immediately slid open the screen.

A veritable wave of yearning swelled up from the pit of his stomach to his chest.

There she was, sitting on a pillow upholstered in silk beside a low table.

"Sesshomaru," Rin said. She sprang up, nearly clearing the table of its contents with a sleeve much longer than what she was used to minding.

How he missed her smiling face.

The joy of seeing her. The relief in finally having a moment alone with her in his mother's castle turned out to be too much for him. He was moving towards her just as she moved towards him, and seconds later her arms were around his neck, clinging so tightly so as to practically lock herself to him.