A/N: Sorry for the long hiatus. I'm on vacation and have no computer to use, so I'm simply borrowing one. I have to confess that this may be a boring chapter to you, but I hope you forgive me for it. Updates are unknown.

Chapter Seven

Rin started packing up what little she had, which wasn't much for her; so instead, she packed up snacks for the journey. She sighed, wondering if her choice was the right road to take. At least, she wouldn't have to deal with Kagura or live with strange people she didn't know. Of the three choices, she took the choice of traveling with Sesshomaru, Jaken, and Inuyasha. It gave her a chance to get some fresh air and let her find her way again. Back to the simpler part of herself. The only part of the deal she couldn't handle was Sesshomaru. His golden piercing eyes that used to shine like the sun to her became demonic and animalistic. He was no longer the angel she used to love, but a demon she had feared. Rin hated this feeling, and she had known him for most of her life, but they could never go back to the closeness they once had. After her pleading to not leave to Naraku, he let them take her away anyways to the hell she did not deserve. Rin shivered at the thought and continued on packing.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was in his room. He had to confess that he was a little surprised that Rin took his offer since a small part of him doubted she will ever want to travel with him. Though he knew it was inevitable that she took up his offer, a part of him had still doubted and he felt sick at the thought of her choosing to leave the palace instead, to leave him behind. He had never felt relieved as he did now, but nothing changed between them. When she took the offer, she avoided him at all times. It angered Sesshomaru greatly, but Inuyasha's words stuck in his head.

"How could she ever go back to being by your side when you made her go through such hell? It's your fault she fears you like a demon. Nothing will be the same for her again because of you," Inuyasha spat and pushed Sesshomaru, stomping away in anger.

He never thought one simple choice could take his Rin away from him. He had never felt the surge of pain and loneliness before. He always looked behind him, hoping to see her behind him but she was never there. He made one simple mistake and he lost the most devoted person in his life. She was always there. Always smiling at him. But now, fear is all it remains on her face towards him. He thought he could handle his life without her, but he never knew the emptiness that he never felt for a long time had returned but larger than ever because she wasn't there to ease it. It's a gaping hole he could not fill ever since she distanced herself away from him. It was never the same again, not even when a different served him. Nobody could ever replace the kind-hearted and ever smiling Rin even if she lost that side of her.

"Prince Sesshomaru?" A high-pitched voice called out. Instantly, Sesshomaru knew it was Jaken.

"What is it, Jaken?" Sesshomaru stated coldly.

"W-well, sir, we are ready set to leave," Jaken stuttered. Sesshomaru opened the door to his room and glared at Jaken momentarily, making him squeal a bit, before walking off.

After the goodbyes, the four set off riding on three horses. Rin had a choice to ride with one of three men and chose Inuyasha instead. Sesshomaru secretly growled in unhappiness and a pain to his chest rose.

"Why would she ever choose you?" His mind told him, and he mentally bark at his thoughts.

He secretly watched as Inuyasha pulled Rin back to rest on him when she was hunching over uncomfortably. It didn't mean she didn't squeal and laid on him rather uncomfortably as well but then Inuyasha told her to stop squirming and she did. Inuyasha whispered something into Rin's ears and she suddenly felt at ease before closing her eyes to rest.

Sesshomaru felt irritated for some reason. He didn't like it. He didn't like how close they were. The way she would be comfortable towards Inuyasha made him angry. She was supposed to be closer to him not the half-breed.

When it came time to rest, they went to a nearby river. They all had something to do. Inuyasha was going to catch fish while Sesshomaru went out to hunt some game. Rin and Jaken set out to look for twigs for the fire. Well, it was more of Jaken ordering Rin to search for them while he rested nearby. Rin rolled her eyes at the lazy Jaken, but then again, he never had done strenuous labor before. She didn't really mind at all, but she hummed to make the time go quicker. And before she knew it, she had enough twigs for the fire.

"About time, girl," Jaken huffed before taking some twigs from her arms, "You'd better not tell Prince Sesshomaru and Prince Inuyasha about this." He said, hinting about doing nothing and making her do all the work. Rin smiled lightly at him and nodded. Usually, she would laugh at the situation, but she did not have the joy in her to be able to laugh anymore. Jaken looked at her worriedly when she didn't laugh, and the advisor actually missed her laughing at him. He even tried to be funny on purpose, but he only had a smile. Just a smile.

It became quite awkward when the four sat around the fire that Inuyasha made. Rin started cooking the fish and the game, concentrating on her duty more than paying attention to the three men around her. She wiped away the sweat from the warmth of the fire and smiled at how the food was starting to look well cooked.

Sesshomaru watched Rin's concentration. He had never seen Rin this serious before, not when she lectured the children who were bad or when she stood up for the servants that did no wrong. It was then he noticed her sweating, but she wiped the sweat away with ease. A pleasant smile suddenly showed on her expression. Sesshomaru had to admit to himself that it was a beautiful smile, but it would never beat one of her bigger smiles that could make even a demon bow down to her, her carefree smile.

After the meal was cooked thoroughly, she first gave out Sesshomaru's share then Inuyasha's and then to Jaken's before she took her own. Sesshomaru felt proud that she had given his share first and then Inuyasha second, but the feeling instantly left when Rin sat closer to Inuyasha. She let out a smile at him, and Inuyasha returned it with his toothy grins. Everyone ate silently and Jaken was on a verge of breaking down from the silence.

Jaken wasn't the kind to take silence well. And when it gets too much, he mutters a lot to himself as if he were crazed or possessed. And right then, he does so as he mutters to himself while he eats.

Rin watched the toad-like man in curiosity but giggles soon after. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Jaken froze at the melodious tone coming from Rin. She giggled. She truly giggled. Sesshomaru's breathing halted and so did everyone else's. It had been a while to hear her giggle as freely as she did.

"I-Is there something wrong?" Rin asked, feeling rather nervous from their stares at her. Those stares started turning red in her mind, but she wouldn't allow them. She fought her nightmare back against her mind. For the first time, she is trying to fight it off.

"No, of course not, Rinny," Inuyasha said happily with a grin, "Just been a while to hear you laugh. That's all."

Rin tilted her head to the side in confusion. Once again, Sesshomaru felt an overwhelming sensation inside him the second time she made the gesture. He felt himself inwardly smiling as he started seeing the changes in Rin, and it was only the first day of their travels.

Sesshomaru felt there was a chance for Rin to return to her old self. But of course, he knew that because of the abuse she went through, she would never completely go back to being the Rin he knew. But what mattered most to him, the part he couldn't admit out loud is for Rin to return to him. Nothing hurts more when she avoided him like he was a plague. He knew he was the cause of her avoiding him. His mistaken choice had cost him greatly. He lost more than a servant in Rin. He lost the only warmth he had in his life, and he knew what true pain felt like when he watched Rin serve Inuyasha like she served him. Unlike him though, Inuyasha responded to Rin and gave her compliments. He watched as Rin blushed and held a small smile in modesty towards Inuyasha's compliments. He had never felt such jealousy and sadness in his life before to see Rin react that way. He had never seen her blush and shy away when she was with him yet she did for his half-brother. But then again, Sesshomaru never gave compliments, but he did give her gifts though he was never present to see her reaction to his gifts. He did, though, have Rin thank him greatly which sometimes annoyed Sesshomaru when she continuously gushed her thanks and compliments towards him for three days straight before moving on. He also remembered his room filled with flowers due to Rin wanting to gift him back. At this thought of gifts, Sesshomaru remembered that Rin returned his gifts. He had never felt his stomach drop before until then. Rin always cherished his gifts, even though she didn't use them. He had heard once from Kaede that Rin would polish the shoes every day or wear the gifts secretly with her eyes bright from joy from the beautiful gifts she received from him.

It had made even the great Sesshomaru feel unhappiness when he saw the gifts for her returned back to him. Not a single gift he gave her was missing. He wanted to confront her about it before their journey, but he did not in the end for the answer was no longer relevant when he knew the answers to it.

Sesshomaru got out of his reverie when he heard Inuyasha converse with Rin even Jaken joined in. Sesshomaru continued to keep silent and watched. Jaken moved away from his spot and sat next to Rin. It was a lively discussion that Sesshomaru did not want to join. He wasn't one to join in unnecessary topics, but the three seemed to enjoy it. None of them paid attention to their silent comrade, and Sesshomaru felt left out like he was a stranger. But he may as well be. Sesshomaru's and Inuyasha's relationship may have been half-brothers, but they weren't as close as relatives should be. They did tolerate each other and find themselves in a predicament where they had to work together, but the tolerance and the relationship they once had had been destroyed when Sesshomaru sent Rin to Naraku. They kept a great distance from each other unless it revolved around Rin. As for Jaken, he was just Sesshomaru's advisor. He may have been devoted to Sesshomaru, but Jaken feared the prince. And when Sesshomaru showed his wrath towards Jaken for a single mistake, he would curse the prince at times but would plead for his life and compliment Sesshomaru when Sesshomaru overheard him. It was comical between the prince and advisor though. It always made Rin laugh. But even then, Sesshomaru did not feel closeness towards Jaken as he did Rin. Rin had always been there for him, stayed beside him. Comfort him even when unnecessary. Smiles at him to give him joy. Say gentle words to calm him. Be there for him always. Until now.

There was no more comfort, smiles, gentle words, or even company from Rin towards him. Yes, she was worried for him, but he felt the distance. He felt the distance that should never be there between them. There were no longer gentle and warm arms holding out towards him and waiting for him.

There was no more Sesshomaru and Rin. No forgiveness can ever quench the guilt that Sesshomaru made her go through. Naraku put fear into her, and he was the one that let him. The one choice he made cost him to have Rin fear him and obey him as an obedient servant towards her master, and that is their relationship now. Master and servant and nothing more. Thus, he felt empty than ever to watch Rin belong to his half-brother. Inuyasha would have Rin's devotion and love while Sesshomaru had Rin's fear and obedience.

Nothing feels lonelier than to lose the warmth that one has been accustomed to. Sesshomaru never knew what is truly at stake with his pride and his principles in the way. And because of it, Sesshomaru's journey has only just begun.

But where there's a beginning and ending, there is always the middle. And everyone knows the middle always has the highest peak of conflict. Sesshomaru has yet to learn his lesson, and Rin has yet to find herself. Where would the middle lead? And what would be the conclusion for the prince and his beloved servant?