Three days had passed since Inuyasha and Kagome vanished in the Bone Eater's Well. Sesshomaru had no reason to stay. Why should he care whether his half-breed brother or the priestess returned? But something kept him rooted in that lowly human village. Perhaps it was curiosity. After all, how could a meidou appear without using Tessaiga?

Maybe it was for Rin's sake that he stayed. The little girl was just as distressed as the rest of the missing pair's friends. Every hour of every day, she would run to the well and return disappointed. Sesshomaru was at a loss for different reasons. Protecting her from demons was easier than comforting her. Luckily, Kohaku was there to give her a shoulder to cry on.

It was late afternoon when she had gone to the well. Sesshomaru sat under a tree away from the rest of the village, ignoring Jaken's complaints on Rin's visits and how much longer they had to stay. Sesshomaru smelt a new scent approaching them, and the imp's rambling ceased. Sesshomaru recognized the old woman Kaede.

"What?" he asked, dryly.

"Rin's gone to the well again?" said the woman.

"Where else?"

"Of course," Kaede sighed. "After that, will she still travel with you?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "What's it to you?"

"I'm concerned for that child's wellbeing. She was just poisoned and abducted by Naraku. And from what the little demon's told me, this wasn't her first time in danger." Jaken cowered under his master's glare. Despite his annoyance with the imp, Sesshomaru couldn't ignore the fact that both were right. How many times did he pull her out of harm's way? "Tell me, Sesshomaru," said Kaede. "Why do you let her travel with you?"

He stood, but before he could respond, Jaken ran to the woman's feet, waving his staff in annoyance.

"Honestly, why are wasting my lord's time?" he blurted. "Lord Sesshomaru has more to concern himself with than your questions- "

"Jaken."

The little demon quieted abruptly. He slowly turned his head toward the commanding voice, shaking and whimpered, "Yes, milord?"

"Shut up."

"Yes, milord."

Kaede continued, "I noticed she looks at you without any fear. Not typical with most humans"

Sesshomaru thought back to the first time Rin saw him. Even when he snarled with red eyes, she flinched but never ran. When monks saved her from Ongokuki, he heard a boy say she told them humans were scarier than demons. They clearly thought her crazy, but he knew the truth. "Her family was killed by bandits. That much I know."

Kaede's eye widened. She then sighed. "I see. You're the only one she trusts so she feels her choices are limited."

"And what do you suggest?"

"Let her live with me?"

Sesshomaru's eyes flared.

"What?" Jaken exclaimed, forgetting his master's previous command. "Of all the preposterous- "

"Jaken!" Sesshomaru interrupted.

"Y-yes, milord." Jaken gulped. Truthfully, Sesshomaru wanted to react the same way as his steward, but he never won battles by losing his composure.

"Let her get practice living with humans until she's ready to make the choice herself," Kaede added.

Traveling without Rin? The thought shouldn't sound foreign to him. He only knew her less than a year out of the 900 years of his life. Yet he felt like he had known forever. All that time before meeting Rin was now a distant memory. As if she was… what exactly? A daughter?

Ridiculous.

"Sesshomaru," Kaede interrupted his thoughts. "She won't be a child forever. Sooner or later she will have to make her own choices."

The demon sighed and closed his eyes. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew she was right. Human life was short and frail. The priestess' wrinkles and gray hair proved that. He opened his eyes and walked away without a word.

"What will you do, milord?" asked Jaken. His lord didn't answer but stared intently as they returned to the village. Jaken knew that look too well. Sesshomaru was too deep in thought and asking a second time would be pointless.

I'm not leaving her. She'll be safe with me.

Rin returned with her usual disappointed look, which melted when she saw her lord waiting for her.

"Still not back?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.

"No," her face fell, and she went quiet. That was becoming a habit. In the past she would be chatting cheerfully. Had her experience with Naraku done worse than he realized?

"Rin," he said.

"Yes?" Another pause passed. Seeing her innocent face right in front of him, imagining it disappearing from his life; he couldn't bear it. Besides, Rin would never stay in a human village of her own will. She had made that clear to the monks who saved her. "Lord Sesshomaru?" She looked at him questioningly.

"Never mind. It's nothing." He was staying by his decision. Nothing could change his mind.

Shortly after Rin returned, Sesshomaru smelled a familiar scent. So, he's returned. But another scent was missing. Inuyasha approached the village, along with the monk, demon slayer, and fox demon who had all been waiting at the well for the past three days. Rin and Jaken hurried over, followed by Kaede, all full of questions. Sesshomaru waited until Inuyasha separated from the group before approaching him.

"Where's the priestess," he asked.

"She's gone home," the half-breed replied.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "You just let her go?"

Inuyasha frowned. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"

"I don't. I'm just curious." This was more to himself than to his brother. "So why did you leave her? You might never see her again."

"I know," Inuyasha's face fell. "But knowing she's safe is enough." He noticed Sesshomaru staring. "I had to let her go because," he hesitated, then sighed. "I love her."

"That makes no sense."

Inuyasha glared at the older demon. "Well, I didn't expect you to understand. But protecting someone means making sacrifices."

All Sesshomaru gave was a light "Hm." He still couldn't understand his half-brother's choice, but he knew his motivation. He then noticed Rin talking to Sango, most likely asking where Kagome was.

His father's last question rang in his head: "Have you someone protect?" Sesshomaru had always denied such foolishness, as he had called it. Still, how many times did he go out of his way to save Rin? He had gone to hell and back for her and would do it all again if it he had to. Only, it would be pointless because there was no third chance. His mother had made that clear. Who was he to waste that chance?

Making sacrifices, huh? He now realized how selfish he was being. This wasn't the first time, but that selfishness almost cost someone dear. As much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't protect her forever. Before he could consider it any further, Rin bounded to him with a familiar smile plastered on her face. He should've been relieved, but it only made this choice harder.

"Rin," he said.

"Yes?"

"We need to talk." She followed him away from the others. He kept his back to her, unable to look into her innocent eyes while breaking the news. "You need to stay here."

He thought he would hear protesting, but all she said was, "Oh." He turned around. Her face held nothing more than disappointment. She was taking this much better than he expected. "When will you be back?" she asked. So that was it. He had left her behind too often, yet she always trusted him to return. Now he was going to have to break that trust.

"Rin," he looked down at her. "I mean you should live here."

Her eyes widened and she gasped, "What? Why, did I do something wrong?"

Sesshomaru swallowed. He had prepared for this reaction, but it didn't make things easier. "Rin," he coaxed.

"Whatever it is, I won't do it again! I promise."

"You didn't do anything." He knelt so he could look straight into her face. "I just think you should be with your own kind. At least for now."

"I don't want to live with humans!" Her eyes welled with tears.

"Traveling with me always puts you in danger."

"Then I'll learn how to fight," she choked. "Then you won't have to protect me."

"Rin." He touched her shoulder. Rin blinked to make sure she wasn't imagining that smile. "Before I met you, I didn't have anyone worth protecting." Rin gaped. "I want you safe, and I want you to choose your own life."

With a great sob, Rin threw her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder. Sesshomaru stiffened. If anyone else tried hugging him, they would be at least one limb short just like he once was. His restored left hand stroked the child's hair while his left arm pulled her closer. He had only held her three times: after resurrecting her with Tensaiga, catching her from falling off a cliff, and holding her lifeless body in the underworld. In each case, he had one arm. Now, he could finally hold her properly. His hold tightened.

She finally pulled out of the hug with a tear-stained face. "Will I ever see you again?"

"I'll visit at least once a month."

Rin beamed through her tears. "You mean it?"

Sesshomaru pulled her back into a hug. "Just because I want you safe doesn't mean I want you out of my life."

By the end of the day, Sesshomaru soared over the village with Jaken clinging to his fur. The only ones watching were Rin, Kaede, and Kohaku who just came out of the house where his sister was and didn't fully grasp the situation. Rin waved. Even at this height, Sesshomaru could see how red her eyes were. He turned his head skyward because if he watched Rin, he would be tempted to fly back and carry her off.

It's for the best, he repeated to himself. A loud sniff came from behind him. He glanced back to see Jaken's still watching below, glassy tears filling his eyes.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru muttered.

"Yes, milord?" the little demon sobbed.

"Pull it together." He knew it sounded cold, but every one of his steward's whimpers added to the weight in his heart.

"Y-yes, milord. It's just that I must shed tears in your stead." He made the same excuse when Rin died in the underworld. Sesshomaru knew it was lie. Jaken had warmed up to her, though he would never admit it. Jaken was right about one thing, however: Sesshomaru would never shed tears. He was almost grateful for his loyal servant carrying the task for him. Maybe I've taken him for granted too much.

Back at the village, Rin watched the sky even after her companions vanished. Tears blurred her vision. A hand touched her shoulder and she looked up into Kaede's kind face.

"Will you be alright?" asked the priestess.

Rin nodded. "I'll just," she choked. "I'll stay here if that's okay."

"Of course. Take all the time you need." Kaede returned to the hut.

"Rin," said Kohaku gently. "Is everything alright? He's coming back isn't he?"

Before Rin could stop herself, she collided into Kohaku, buried her face into his chest and wept. Confused, he wrapped his arms around her. He might not have known what was going on, but one thing was clear: Rin needed him now more than ever.