Disclaimer: Nope, don't own any of 'em...just like writing 'em!

Author's Note: This is only my second posted fic...I'm still trying to figure out what's a good chapter length and such...I hope somebody likes this one! I had the idea and I just HAD to do it...I'm going to pull the suspense thing as long as I can (please don't hate me! But ideas are appreciated), though I can't possibly imagine this story being much longer than five chapters... the next one will be a flashback to what was happening with Inu and company before this scene, grins me and flashbacks, shakes head...ack...on with it.

Sesshomaru Returns

A young girl flitted through the meadow, carelessly plucking flowers here and there where she came upon them. Her hair, caught in the early evening sun, revealed it as not entirely black, but in actuality fraught with intermittent streaks of a dark chocolate brown. The girl wore a simple but bright colored kimono that reached no further than her knees. She hummed as she played, mostly words of nothingness and uselessness, but on the occasion one might hear her chant, sweetly, "...my Lord Sesshomaru..."

As the daylight began to fade the girl sat in the meadow among the thick grasses, attempting to weave her collected flowers into a necklace. Though she appeared carefree with this idle work, the girl occasionally threw anxious glances back toward the tree line where the two-headed dragon, called AhUn, and the little demon-toad Jaken were dozing. When she was sure they were sleeping but very much still with her, the girl turned back to her task, apparently content, though for a moment her eyes lifted once more to behold the opposite side of the meadow, worriedly.

It'd been an abrupt thing, hours ago, when her Lord and Protector the mighty Inuyoukai Sesshomaru had left her. He'd ordered her to stay beside AhUn and Jaken while he was gone. As usual he hadn't told her or even Jaken where he'd been going, he'd just left. Lord Sesshomaru wasn't the type to talk a lot, and she wasn't the type to complain about it. Jaken was the group's talker...

Through the fading light Rin looked up, her senses tingling. The necklace of little white flowers she'd spent all day picking while her lord had been gone was almost done! Lord Sesshomaru was right on time!

The little girl hopped to her feet and ran forward through the grass, cheering eagerly, "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!" in her hands the white flower necklace was finished, and she'd made sure to make it large enough so that Sesshomaru could slip it right over his head!

From within the shadow of the trees lining the opposite side of Rin's meadow from the sleeping AhUn and Jaken, a form dressed mostly in white, tall, regal, proud, and stately, emerged. His appearance and demeanor were normal, giving no hint to the happy girl of what he'd done that day. Yet what he'd done that day had been far from normal.

Rin came to the edge of the trees and slowed, her exuberance at seeing her lord briefly halted by surprise when she finally came close enough to catch a hint from him that something was wrong. Just as when Sesshomaru first came close to the meadow, Rin's senses were alive and tingling, in a way she'd long come to understand meant her lord had returned for her, just as he always did. Since the Inuyoukai had saved her life with his healing sword, the Tenseiga, she'd been linked to him, so much so that she could sense his presence when he came and went. Yet usually the sensation was a brief thing, striking her and then leaving the moment she readjusted to the demon lord's presence. But this time the usually welcomed sensation was stronger and hadn't faded away, if anything it was beginning to frighten her.

There was something wrong with her lord.

"My Lord?" she queried, her little voice high and faint, almost with awe as she stared up at the golden-eyed demon.

Sesshomaru seemed to blink a moment and cocked his head ever so slightly. To Rin, who'd grown acutely aware of his mannerisms and what they meant, she understood this to be confusion or distraction. The tilt was more like a dog shaking its head lightly, trying to dislodge some lingering emotion or feeling.

In fact Sesshomaru was trying to forget and dispel something—his memory of that day's events. Seeing Rin disturbed him. Her humanity, her clear innocence and fragility—they almost angered him at that moment. Usually she was the brightest thing in his day—loving him, adoring him for nothing else but who he was, her protector. It was an unrivaled feeling that never failed to make him consider his sheer power. It was the greatest ego-booster in the world. She wasn't annoying like Jaken was, and she never questioned him, making her the perfect travel companion.

But now...

Sesshomaru closed his eyes a moment longer blinking; it seemed, in slow motion before Rin. It was that moment, while the Inuyoukai was blinking, closing his eyes on Rin and the world that the little girl looked down toward her Lord's feet and gasped.

When Sesshomaru opened his eyes again and looked down at Rin he felt his heart squeeze, though the emotion didn't draw anywhere near his face. Rin was staring at his kimono, stunned. Her normally happy, delightful eyes were wide and frightened, and Sesshomaru's jaw tightened in irritation when he noted that she was withdrawing from him, taking tiny steps backward.

"Rin..." he murmured in a darkened voice, a warning tone.

The girl stopped where she was but wouldn't meet his eyes. She pointed her face at the ground, her shoulders sagging. In her left hand Sesshomaru spotted the flower necklace, carefully laced together, still clenched in Rin's grasp. His face relaxed and he sighed lightly.

Sesshomaru stepped forward and sunk to his knees to be on the girl's level then slowly extended his clawed hand to the flower necklace, taking it from her. She followed his movements with her eyes, tense but curious and not entirely terrified. Always a brave girl, he thought, and almost smiled tenderly at it.

"For me?" he asked her quietly, holding the necklace up between them.

Rin nodded, her dark brown hair ruffling and shifting with the movement. Her eyes were still wide and uncertain but Sesshomaru tried to offer her a smile to calm her, and that seemed to work. A second later and the girl had forgotten what she'd seen soiling the bottom of her Lord's beautiful kimono.

"Rin made it for you, Lord Sesshomaru! Rin picked the flowers all day!" she squealed, eagerly.

Sesshomaru pulled the flower necklace carefully, gently, over his head and then rose to his full height, his regal, proud posture immediately overwhelming the small girl with awe and respect.

"I shall wear it for you then."

"Oh thank you! Thank you my Lord!" Rin jumped ahead of him, skipping happily, straight across the meadow and toward Jaken. The annoying toad sprung awake, startled, and beheld the little girl with widened eyes a moment, before narrowing them in irritated disgust. But that emotion was short-lived as well before he leapt to his feet, catching sight of Sesshomaru, and started to run to him, staff in hand.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Please don't leave me behind with AhUn and that annoying little pest again! I've been so worried..." now Jaken too stopped short, coming closer to Sesshomaru and seeing the stains on his kimono. "My Lord?" he half-whimpered, half-pleaded for an explanation, his huge bug eyes darting between the demon lord's face and his terrible kimono...

And indeed, Sesshomaru reflected, a scowl suddenly crossing his face as he stood in the meadow but his mind crept back through the hours and far away, his kimono was a horrible mess. From his shoes to his waist he was awash in livid crimson—blood. But it wasn't his blood...

"My Lord Sesshomaru! What's happened?! How did you...what...?" Jaken stuttered and muttered to himself uselessly, but from Sesshomaru there came no answer, just a cold, blank stare. Sesshomaru started to step passed Jaken, following Rin to where she was waking Ah and Un.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken whined and begged in his annoying voice again as the Inuyoukai passed.

Inside Sesshomaru seethed and fretted, but outside he was as stone, unmoving and unfeeling. None could've guessed the strange emotions that flitted through his heart hearing Jaken call his name, and seeing Rin, the poor innocent mortal girl...the blood on his kimono...it almost frightened him as much as it did his companions.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru murmured quietly, and the toad sprung forward, eager to obey.

"Yes, Lord?"

"Let's move out from this place, quickly."

"Why yes Lord! But...Lord Sesshomaru...what has happened? I smell your brother—"

Sesshomaru turned swiftly on his heel and booted the little demon viciously. "Do not speak of my brother." He warned, his eyes narrowing dangerously. On the ground Jaken cowered, chanting affirmatives to himself in clear defeat and regret at having pestered his lord.

Ice cold once more, though with a stiffer gait and stance, which hinted at the hidden turmoil below, Sesshomaru made his way to AhUn and Rin. Pulling AhUn's reins he began to lead them out of the meadow, silently. At his side Rin skipped and sang absently, completely unaware—or perhaps just ignoring—the outburst from her lord moments ago. When Sesshomaru stole quick glances at her from the corner of his eye he was reminded, painfully, of the human girl his brother traveled with, though he knew not her name.

Determinedly he marched on, his face cold, but his heart bitter.

Endnote: Okay...please review! I'll finish anyway...just cuz that's the way I am...ah! But I do need help! I have a question for anyone/everyone: What was Inuyasha's mother's name? I wanted to write something about that...I've heard a few names but I'm not sure if those were made up for convenience at the time by authors or not. I guess I'm asking does anyone know if she has a name mentioned in either the manga or the series? If you know please leave me a note! Thanks!