Months had passed and she stayed with Sesshomaru and her relationship with Rin had gotten better…. a little. She had started enjoying her life there or at least putting up with it. During the last months Sesshomaru had been training her ruthlessly resulting in an increase in strength even for her human form. She had still never changed back into a demon. It was now late September and it looked wonderful at the castle. The trees outside we're turning a deep golden red and a light breeze drifted through the castle.

"Rydia! My head hurts" Rin screamed at the older girl, tears brimming her eyes.

"Well don't scream and it might now hurt as bad?" Rydia smiled down at the girl,

Rin instantly become ill and started crying,

"Go lay down" Rydia made her stern face.

Rin slowly turned and left for her room, you could tell she was tired and not feeling well either. It was only a little after noon. Sesshomaru was gone for a few days, said he'd eventually be back and She was outside washing clothes.

The wind was light and peaceful and she was in her soft cotton kimono and was as happy as a lark. The sun made up for the lost of warmth the wind took away. There wasn't much laundry today, mostly cause Sesshomaru wasn't around. She could swear he went through more clothes than anyone she'd ever met.

After the clothes were rinsed and dried, She heard Jaken screaming and decided to go find out what the fuss was all about. Rydia was on the floor in the main hall crying and half asleep and Jaken was doing his panic screaming.

"Shut up Jaken." Slowly he looked up and nodded, somehow he'd began to regard her as important as Sesshomaru.

"Rin, baby, what are you doing in the floor?" Rydia kneeled down beside her and touched her forehead. She was running a fever but not a bad one. Rin just gave a childish moan and stayed where she was as she pulled herself into a fetal position. Rydia smiled a maternal smile almost and scooped up the child and took her into her own room, She had forgotten she was washing Rin's bedding now. She laid the girl down and realized that Rin was hanging on to her, so she decided to lie beside Rin. The windows were open and the same wonderful breeze that was outside followed her in here, hey she could use a nap. She pulled the blankets over her and the sleeping child and gently brushed the girls hair with her hand. Rin had retreated from her ball and was now lying a bit more comfortably but still Rydia didn't think she had been sick much. Rydia fell asleep slowly without realizing it and was very much content hoping the girl in her arms wouldn't get much sicker.

- - -- --- -- - - - -- -- - - - -

It was late afternoon when Sesshomaru returned; He quietly looked around the castle, but no sign of the girl or Jaken for that fact. His footsteps echoed down the second floor hallway and softly he went into Rydia's room, and he saw it. Rydia held Rin loosely in her arms and Rin was snuggled up close to her. Rydia's hair was down and fell loosely around her face but didn't cover her bare neck or shoulder where her kimono had fallen. Rin has a slight flush to her face and but was calm. He smiled in spite of himself; they looked like two angels, far above what mortals truly were. He felt a warm pride for the two things lying together and he was not ashamed at least not at the moment of feeling it.

"She's turning into a wonderful woman…. maybe even a good enough wife" Sesshomaru's words were soft and only for him to hear. The girls did not stir as he left the room and went to his own daily routines.