The weeks have passed on since Rin had returned home and with each day brings the winter's chill closer and closer to her small village of Edo. Everyone does their part in participating with preparations; the villagers spend their days making sure every structure is strong and secure, the sounds of hammering and yelling as the men work on final repairs to the roofs of all of the village huts. The older women and girls were weaving dozens of fukakutsu and sewing heavy clothes for the winter, while the rest of the villagers worked hard at making sure that there will be plenty of food in the storage hut to make it through these approaching harsh colder months.

In the crisp morning hours before dawn, Rin treads into the forest for her daily meditation and skills training. She follows a disciplined routine when she is home to keep her skills on point, and fortunately, though the conditions were very cold at the moment, there was no rain nor snow fall yet. For her, staying sharp is a seriously important part in protecting the people she cares about and keeping the safety of the village, but it also gives her the advantage to release any frustrations she holds pent up inside. Her thoughts have been in overdrive the last few days and are currently in the middle of a full blown deliberation about all of these individual situations that have her without clarity.

I follow each of the instructions that are listed in the scrolls, but I still believe I am not making it correctly. Lady Kaede's condition should be getting better and not worse.. I am so worried about her. I feel as though I am failing her.

Her katana sliced through the air almost as if it was a physical object, gliding left and right as her body was in perfect motion to guide the deadly blade, but her mind was still attempting to sort out the plague she felt in her heart. Rin then ceased in her movements, panting, and in need of a drink of water, so she walked over to a thick winding root that was protruding from the ground that belonged to a nearby ancient tree. Piercing the earth with her katana, she grabbing her bamboo flask that was filled with water and hopped up on the garganchuan root to sit for a short rest, taking a moment to catch her breath and hydrate herself.

One thing is for sure, I am extremely grateful for how Lord Sesshomaru has come to see me nearly everyday since we have reunited. I feel at peace when I am with him. I have always known that I missed him very much while he was away, but now that he is back, I feel like I miss him even more when we are apart for even just a day.

Taking another drink from her flask, she then sets it back down where she had it before, and jumps down from the root to continue on with her practice. Taking a hold of her katana, pulling it from where it had been punctured into the ground and slid it back into its sheath that was placed at her right hip, walking a few feet away from the roots. From a distance it would appear that she was standing still with her head down in sorrow, but quickly held out both of her arms out wide, making them jolt, which in that same moment, she released her double-blade Shinju from underneath the long sleeves of her yukata. Each scythe blade released at lightning speed cutting into thick ancient trees; the moment the blades sank into the wood, her head moved upward as she jumped into a backwards flip, ripping the blades out of the bark, both went flying into opposite directions, but were fully under her command. Her practice continued on for quite some time, but suddenly noticed the deep blue color of the night began to show a pink hue from the new dawn rising from the East.

I cannot give up hope, not yet.

Her concentration was fixed and for a single moment, was distracted enough by her never ending mind chattering to itself to not realize she was being watched.

I must keep trying to help Lady Kaede and avoid being negative… I need to keep-

"I am very impressed by your fighting skills, Rin."

"HUH?!"

The young woman quickly spun in the direction of the rising sun, when she heard a deep smooth voice, her eyes captured the glorious outline of Lord Sesshomaru himself. The early sun's rays beamed from around his frame, as he inched closer towards her with every step he took, she felt in that moment as though a deity was approaching her. Her heart began to pound hard against her chest, and it was not entirely because of her training.

"Oh! Lo.. Lord Sesshomaru.. It's you!"

Rin immediately retracted her double kusarigama Shinju, returning the weapon to hide beneath the sleeve of her yukata. She bowed before the demon Lord, still panting from her rigorous training, but never forgetting the etiquette of a lady that was taught to her when she was a young girl, by the old Priestess.

"Thank you so much for the compliment, it means so much to me..(panting).. How are you this morning, Lord Sesshomaru?..(panting).. I am always very grateful that you have decided to grace me with your company."

The young woman displayed a large toothy smile towards the demon Lord, her cheeks were reddened from her training, while sweat dripped from her forehead uncontrollably. The Western Lord took in the details of her physical features, still adjusting to this intriguing woman in front of him being his little Rin; her rose color cheeks, the glowing adamant from her midnight spheres. He felt his heartbeat quicken.

Why does my heart beat rapidly like this every time she looks at me in such a way?

"Uhm hmm… It has been productive. Have you fared well since my last visit, Rin?"

His last visit was last evening!

The feeling of a flutter in her chest when she thought about his frequent visits, her smile only widened even more. She gave a quick nod of the head.

"Oh yes, My Lord, I have! I slept very well last night. The fire burned perfectly through the night, and kept me comfortable."

The beautiful young woman was completely unaware of the demon Lord's nightly visits to check on her; she was oblivious that he was the reason why the fire burned through the entire night, not forcing her to leave the warmth and comfort of her bed to add more wood to the irori.

"I see you have woken up early to come into the forest for training?"

"Yes, my Lord. I have made it a routine for many years to wake up early before the sunrise and practice. It is important that I must always be prepared for an enemy attack- I must be as sharp as the weapons I weild."

Sesshomaru nods his head in agreement to her statement, because he would not disagree with the facts of life living in their world, and a warrior must always be on their guard at all times. Rin walked over to where her belongings were placed and gathered them in her arms, deciding it was now time to return back to the village and check on the elder Priestess whose illness was worsening by the day. The two old companions walked casually together and conversed about her early years of training while he was away to far off lands, and how it led up to her possessing this level of skill, especially for a human.

"I was determined.."

She was definitely not the same little girl he left in the village all of those years ago, but in some ways he could still see his little Rin. She still modeled the same ebony curls, but now they were more maintained and flowed down her lithe figure like a beautiful melanoid stream. The same sweet smile that shattered through the thick barrier of the dog demon's heart was still there, but now completely matured and extremely beautiful to the demon Lord's sight.

"I wanted you to not have to worry about protecting me when you returned.. I.. I just wanted you to be proud of me, my Lord."

The demon Lord stopped from walking any further, turning his entire body to face his ward, processing the words she spoke. While it would appear to just about anyone that he seemed unphased by the conversation they were having with his normal 'aloof' expression on his face, when in fact, it was quite the opposite. He loved to hear her voice, it made his raging demon inside become calm and at peace; for the most part, he was very interested in everything Rin spoke about… well, not everything.

"You had helped me in so many ways when I was a child, which had allowed me to make it this far. I felt.. I felt as though I could not be a burden to you in any way whenever you were to return…I felt that it was also important that I am able to protect myself against anything…."

Swallowing a large lump that formed in her throat, she took in a deep breath and sighed. Rin began to speak in a quiet tone, almost as if she was trying to whisper.

"I… I also wanted to prove to Lady Kaede that..that I didn't need to be married off to a husband in order to keep me safe from danger… I could not allow myself to be married off to someone I did not.. Love.. and.. And being strong was the only way I could ensure my protection from both of those unwanted situations."

Rin looked away after she spoke the last few words. She knew that if she was to be married off, she would never be able to see her beautiful Lord Sesshomaru again, and that was not going to happen as far as she was concerned. A sigh was exhaled from the demon Lord's nostrils, and a clearing of his throat was heard, meaning he was about to speak.

"Rin, you have never been a burden to me. You are to cease those thoughts from furthering in your mind from this moment on."

Rin's glossy orbs reached up to meet with Sesshomaru's captivating golden glare. His stature was tall and majestic and that of confidence and power, but his stare was deadly to most everyone, but she happened to be the only one to ever own the ability to read him by the way his eyes burned into hers. Without question, she knew that every word he spoke to her he meant, which caused her cheeks to blush a bright pink.

"Y..Yes, my Lord."

"It was also a wise choice to choose strength instead."

Sesshomaru turned his body in the direction they had originally been walking in, and proceeded on towards Rin's hut. The bright pink blush turned deep crimson red covering the young woman's soft pale skin and kept itself present; a soft smirk was held in place as she followed slightly behind the Western Lord for the remainder of their walk.

The Lord of the Western lands sat perched high up on top of the red painted torii that sat boldly at the bottom of a flight of stairs that led to the shrine of the deceased Priestess Kikyo. The structure just so happened to be near Rin's hut and he felt it was also conveniently high up enough to be away from people that he did not want bothering him. His gaze was directed mostly off into the distance that was facing the forest, and held absolutely no interest in the daily lives of the humans that resided near Rin, his only concern for tolerating such a foul place was his sole interest in Rin. The shifting of the winds and the formation of grey clouds building were showing signs of an approaching winter storm. The soft silver mane of the demon Lord danced around with the invisible air currents, while he sat comfortably taking in the floral aroma of his ward that was gifted to his sense of smell by the breeze. From the distance he sat, he could hear the soft footing moving around inside, as Rin and Kagome aided the old sickly woman who was a mentor and motherly influence to both women.

It has been many nights since I felt that strange incredible power and have not been able to locate the source of it yet, but still, I need to keep my guard up and senses on high…. I also feel like I am forgetting something else… but what?

"I just do not understand what I am doing wrong, Kagome?"

The western Lord turned his head in the direction of the wooden hut, bringing him right out of his own thoughts; golden eyes focused on the hut as he heard Rin's voice inside.

"I don't believe you are doing anything wrong, Rin. In my heart, you have done everything you could. You should go get some air, I will stay here and look after her. Go and take some time for yourself and try to clear your mind."

"Yes, alright. Thank you Kagome."

"It's nothing, and Rin.. always remember that you have me and Inuyasha here for you no matter what."

A moment later, the young woman stepped outside of the hut and that was when the dog demon floated down from his high post to meet with her. Normally she would have greeted Sesshomaru with her bright and elegant smiles but this time that was not the case at all.

"I am so sorry that you have been waiting on me this whole time, my Lord."

"Nonsense. You were aiding someone you care for. No need for any unnecessary apologies."

Rin looked towards Sesshomaru with a dullness in her eye and a soft smile that he had never seen her express towards him before. Her smile seemed forced and sad.

What does the look mean? I do not like it at all.

"And what do I do? Everything! And I am always the one who is left behind!"

The noisy nasally sounds of a small green imp was heard deep in the forest. Weeks have passed since he has caught the distinct scent of his powerful master, that was until today. The annoying servant of the dog demon has spent many weeks in search of his master, after he was sent to retrieve a very specific necklace that Lord Sesshomaru requested from the forest guardian, Royakan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback

"Here you are Master Jaken. Lord Sesshomaru left this in my care before he went on his long journey and told me that he would come back for it once he had returned. He said it was 'of most importance' and if it was lost or destroyed that I would 'parish a slow and painful death', So, I will give this to you now, small Master. It is always an honor to serve his great and powerful Lordship."

The colossal demon, Royakan, passes Jaken a white piece of silk cloth that was folded neatly that held weight to it in his small hand. The forest guardian bowed all the way to the ground towards the tiny imp.

"I will always serve Lord Sesshomaru."

"Very well then Guardian, I will see to it that Lord Sesshomaru receives this and any duties that were given, have been fulfilled. Farewell."

Jaken turns to leave the den of the large demon and decides to make his way towards the west. Once he has distanced himself far enough from the den, he then pulls out the silk cloth from the fold of his brown kimono, and unfolds the material to inspect this necklace his Lord has sent him to recapture. His big eyes sparked when staring at the beautiful necklace, and felt intrigued by the detailed work.

"My Lord has excellent taste when it comes to most things, and jewelry is no exception. The magic that I sense from this is definitely powerful. I wonder what he plans on doing with this necklace? Either way, it is my solemn duty to return this to my Lord Sesshomaru as soon as possible."

~~~~~~ End Flashback

"Oh Lord Sesshomaru!! I am coming, my Lord! Your humble servant will not fail you!"

SPLAT!!!

The green imp tripped over a small rock that was in the center of the pathway, landing completely on his green frog face.

"Ughh…Why me?! This is always my cursed luck as a vassal!!!"