It was after lunch the next day when a beautiful woman with short black hair and wide happy eyes showed up at the Shrine. Kagome walked out to greet her, and asked her if she would like to come out of the rain. The woman's eyes had laugh lines around them, but the silver lines in her hair betrayed that she was older than her happy face appeared.

"Are you Kagome Higarashi?" Kagome nodded while opening the screen door. The woman suddenly held out a hand. "You have barely changed since the last time I saw you."

Immediately, Kagome realized who she was looking at. "Rin?" Rin nodded. "Why aren't you with Sesshomaru?"

"He went to find InuYasha."

"But the journey is dangerous, and you just got here yesterday." Rin chuckled as she sat Kagome down and proceeded to fix her a cup of tea.

"Kagome, time changed for the two of us the instant Jaken appeared. Sessho was only here yesterday because the second note yesterday's Sessho wrote said he needed to be here to complete the Infinity Loop. Whatever that means." Rin shook her head, space-time continuum theory was Sesshomaru's field, she just lived to make him happy, and to grow orchids. "If it makes you feel any better, he did come back and make passionate love to this Rin until we both fell asleep exhausted around eight this morning." She handed Kagome a fresh cup of Yunnan Tea and took a seat.

Kagome looked at her watch, it was 1:15pm. She blushed as she looked up at the woman calmly sitting in front of her.

"Oh, don't worry, we didn't sleep long. He woke me up for one last interlude before leaving on his own journey. He recommended I visit you." Rin smiled in memory, then realized this young woman had only a week ago thought Sesshomaru was evil. Suddenly she looked over and noticed Kagome's red face. "Goodness, I've embarrassed you. That is why he keeps Rin at home. I don't watch what I say." She leaned forward suddenly. "Rin promises that Sessho is a good person now. It just took him a while to figure out his new place in the world." She stood. "I should probably go, I've outstayed my welcome."

"No, please. Tell me how you came to be standing in front of me. According to Sesshomaru, you died sixty-two years after you met. I want to know what happened to change this." Kagome couldn't help but add… "Rin?" Rin looked at her. "Please don't ever tell me any details about sex between Sesshomaru and yourself. An amorous Sesshomaru is not a mental image I want to think about."

Rin laughed, sat back down, and started talking.

oooooo

Today's Jaken showed up at Sessho's castle on the back of Ah-Un. We were both very surprised, because Jaken had taken leave to travel to a distant relative and would be gone for several weeks. He talked with Jidai Sessho, for a very long time. I was bored." She laughed. "Seems like yesterday. Sessho and I had just figured out where we stood with each other, or at least I had told him where we stand with each other."

Kagome ignored the small bite of jealousy at Rin's expressed happiness. "That night, Sessho explained why today's Jaken was there, and told me that I had until we reached the Demon Gate to make my decision. It wasn't hard, and Rin had already decided before we even found InuYasha."

Kagome grabbed her sleeve. "You found InuYasha? Was he okay? Tell me!"

Rin smiled. Young love. "He was fine. However, we all had to get to the Demon Gate before today's Jaken died. When we reached the gate, Jaken asked me my decision. I told him, and he said Rin needed to take the leather pouch off of his obi and carefully put the pink pearl in my hand. I did, and it was both warm and calming. Jaken then put his hands around mine, and the jewel glowed as he transferred all of his remaining power to Rin as life. After a few minutes, the glow dimmed and Jaken was breathing his last breath. As soon as he died, the gates opened, and Sessho stood beside InuYasha with Toukijin. He told InuYasha that in order to find you, he had to trust his big brother. InuYasha looked him straight in the face, and nodded. Sessho then stabbed him with Toukijin, and he died. Sessho carried both Jaken and InuYasha into the Demon Afterworld and hid their bodies in a safe place. Then Sessho made a promise before the two sentinels that he would be back to retrieve InuYasha."

oooooo

Kagome had tears running down her face. "He died to be with me?"

Rin smiled sadly. "Yes. But if it works, isn't it a small price to pay?" Rin caught Kagome's arms. "Come on. Dry your eyes, and get dressed. You're going to stay with Rin until Sessho comes back."

"No. I will wait here and pray. You may also do so, but that is your choice." Kagome then walked to Go-Shimboku, put her back against the trunk, and meditated. She had talked with InuYasha once before through the tree, and she was comforted by the memory.

ssssss

A/N: Thank you again for the wonderful reviews! I do not know if I will have time to update again before Christmas. I am hosting Christmas this year, and I still have crown molding and baseboard to put up, caulk, and paint before Friday.

IF I do not update, I hope that everyone who is reading this fiction has a wonderful Christmas! To my reviewers, I will be checking emails, so if you have comments, I will receive those. Proofing and submitting takes considerably longer time than checking reviews.

Merry Christmas all! -TK