The next morning everyone awoke feeling rested and refreshed except for the Inu brothers.
Rin was happily chatting with Kagome, Sango and Miroku as they walked towards the garden to look for Inuyasha. They found him but was still dressed in the yukata from the night before and had a far off, weary look.
Miroku approached him cautiously. "Inuyasha is everything ok?"
"Yeah. I have some stuff to deal with...We're gonna stay here another day or two." walking away "I'll be back later."
They all looked at each other with worried looks as they watched him walking away.
"Don't worry ladies. Let's give him some space. I'm sure he will tell us what is going on when he's ready." Miroku smiled reassuringly.
Rin smiled and bounced around "Rin has an idea! Let's have breakfast and I'll show you around the palace grounds. There is a spring nearby where we can go for a picnic and swim! I will ask my lady permission for us to go!"
"Sounds like fun Rin!" Kagome smiled at her but had sadness in her eyes.
Sango looked at her best friend knowing she's worried for Inuyasha. She took her hand and Rin's hand "let's eat! I'm hungry!" Pulling them along.
"Hey Sango! What about me?" Miroku pouted playfully "won't you hold my hand too!" He smirked.
Sango's face grew hot "no one wants to hold your hand hentai!" as she pulled the girls with her towards the dining hall.
Rin turned back looking at the deflated monk and giggled. She turned back to the girls and whispered "what's a hentai?"
The girls sat underneath the golden apple tree by the spring with a picnic lunch. Miroku decided to explore the vast library while Sesshomaru was behind closed doors in his study since last night. Lady sent Jaken to accompany and guard over the girls while she went about her duties.
"Rin this is nice and relaxing! Do you come here often?" Sango asked as she bit into the refreshing fruit.
"Yes this is relaxing! I could stay here all day" as Kagome stretched out on the blanket.
"I don't come here often but I love it here! I'm not allowed to come by myself because it is away from the palace. Lord Sesshomaru or Jaken usually accompanies me." Pouring the cold tea into glasses. She stood up and walked over to the pouting Imp and handed him the cool drink.
Watching them under his half closed eyelids, he murmured thanks as Rin skipped back to the picnic.
"What do you normally do around the palace Rin?" Sango asked.
"I have a schedule that I follow each day. I have my meals, go to my lessons and my free time is in the garden or with my ! I am learning embroidery from Mio, my nanny. My lord is always busy. When he has time away from the palace, Jaken, Ah-Un and I can go with him."
"What is Sesshomaru's mother like? She is beautiful but looks very strict." Kagome sat up curiously asking.
"Let me think." As she looked off in the distance where the palace is seen "my lady is sincere and nice to me but she is serious and strict. I have to follow rules so as not to embarrass her or my lord."
"Rin are you happy here?" Kagome asked with curiosity.
"Yes I am. I get along with everyone. I treat them with respect and they respect me as well. My lady said I must not show any fear or else they will take advantage of me. She has shown me how to be a proper lady and looks over me whenever I get sick. She even gives me sweets when my lord isn't around. You can say she is like a grandmother but don't tell her I said that!" She gushed.
"How can you not be loved Rin! You are cute, respectful and sweet!" Kagome wrapped her arms around her.
"Humph!" coming from the closed eyed Imp.
"Kagome, do you like Inuyasha?" Run asked with her wide brown eyes.
Little did they know, Sesshomaru took a break and wanted to check on them. He became intrigued by hearing the current conversations without letting his presence be known.
"I do as my friend but it wasn't always like that. I loved him so much that I wanted him to be more than a friend…but he doesn't feel the same way as he loves someone else, so I love him as one of my dearest friends."
"Then do you like someone else?" The little girl questioned.
Sesshomaru's ears perked up.
"I'm not sure. I mean there is this guy…he is charming in his own way, serious and he has beautiful eyes…but I think he's hard on the outside but soft on the inside….I'm not sure if I make sense." As her face was growing red.
"Let me guess who it is that has you all giddy!" Sango teased.
"I think I know who it is!" Rin giggled.
"Wait! Neither of you know him!" She grew more flushed. "I mean how can either of you know! I've never mentioned this before!"
"Come on Kagome! It is obviously!" Rin teased.
"Yup we all know!" Sango agreed with a smile.
Kagome stood up "Neither of you know who it is!"
Sesshomaru was getting irritated at the bantering back and forth. He wanted to know for sure who the miko liked. Just then, Miroku walked up noticing the demon lord behind tall shrubs and heard the girls talking. He grinned mischievously and tip-toed next to the lord.
"Did any of the girls confess their feelings as yet? I've been dying to know their true feelings in the matter of love!" He whispered with a grin.
Sesshomaru looked over to the monk with his stoic look. "Shut it monk." as he focused back to the conversions.
Miroku was caught off guard by the demon lord's reaction so he leaned in and listened.
"Why are you two all over me? What about you Sango? Why haven't you confessed yet?" Kagome trying to change the subject.
Miroku's face lit up and leaned in closer. Sesshomaru grew annoyed as the subject abruptly changed.
"Wait, how did it turn on me, Kagome?" Sango accused. "You are the topic of conversation right now!"
The girls bantered back and forth without admitting their true desires. Until Rin spoke up "I..I like someone." She confessed.
By then, Jaken noticed the demon lord and monk at a distance listening to the girls when he got up and waddled over with curiosity. As he was about to speak, Miroku grabbed him and covered his mouth. "Shhhhh! I gotta hear this!"
Sesshomaru glared at the two behind him.
Kagome and Sango stared at Rin in shock at her confession. They settled down and sat on each side of her.
"I didn't realize you liked someone Rin. Do you want to talk about it?" Kagome asked, pushing her bangs away from her eyes.
"Do you promise not to say anything?" Rin asked pleadingly "I don't know how he feels about me, since I am still only a child. I know I am young but there is this feeling I can't shake off especially when I see him or be around him." With a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Rin you can tell us anything…when you are ready and comfortable." Sango wiped away her tears.
"Uh well you see it's…"
The girls heard a commotion suddenly disrupting their conversation when Jaken was seen flying overhead and landed in the spring followed by the monk stumbling out from the shrubs. Sesshomaru left without being detected. He was furious hearing Rin talking about a crush so he took it out on the Imp and left not wanting to hear anymore.
All eyes were on the two eavesdroppers when Sango got up and threw stones at them when they took off running. "I can't believe them!" She sat back down with the other two laughing.
"How about we talk some more later without others listening? Let's get back since our guard left us all alone." Kagome stood up followed by Sango and Rin.
Lady mother put down her hand mirror and laughed at the sight she just saw. 'My son, your curiosity and emotions has been slowly emerging.' Sipping on her tea.