Disclaimer: I am not Rumiko Takashi…Though I'm sure that if I was I wouldn't be sitting here writing FANfiction…that is how you know that I am not her…unless of course she is a fan of herself…which if that's the case then that's just weird. Therefore, if I am a FAN then I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters or plot. Only the plot of this story. Thank you. *bows*

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 27- Love at First Sight

"Lord Sesshomaru." said Rin that night after dinner.

"What are we to go back to the dwelling of Inuyasha?"

Sesshomaru looked out the palace window.

"Whenever I have a reason to see him I suppose. They are back now I know."

Kunara blinked confused.

She had been given new clothes to replace her old dilapidated ones and had been given plenty of food to eat.

Sesshomaru was wealthy being the Lord of the Western Lands and he could easily host one more little girl in his palatial home.

Rin enjoyed having added a new member to the group. For the longest time it had been just her, Jaken, and Sesshomaru, not that she minded it. She had grown up so much in the past 17 years. She had even learned to love Sesshomaru, though she didn't know of his feelings toward her so she never mentioned it. How could she help it? He was so kind and caring towards her, though ruthless and cutthroat in battle AND he had been her protector since she was young.

Sesshomaru moved his gaze from the window and noticed Rin looking at him.

"What is it?"

Rin blushed.

"N-nothing Lord Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru studied her suspiciously but shrugged slightly and walked over to Kunara.

"I see you are done with your dinner. You are free to go to bed now."

Kunara smiled slightly and nodded thankfully. She was awfully tired. She scurried off to bed.

He waited until she was gone. Rin was now looking out the window. Sesshomaru smirked and walked over quietly, putting his hand on Rin's shoulder and scaring the heck out of her.

She looked up at him.

"Lord Sesshomaru. Are you trying to give me a heart attack at my age?" she asked, respectively speaking.

For the first time in years she saw a sincere smile cross his face. Sure he would smirk every now and then, but not a smile. Not one like this.

"Lord Sesshomaru. You certainly seem happy this evening."

"I am smiling because I can't believe it's taken me this long to decipher that look you always give me."

"What look?"

"The one you gave me just before I sent the girl to bed."

"Oh…that."

Sesshomaru moved in front of her and put his finger on her chin, moving her head up until her eyes met his.

"Rin. You're hiding it from me."

"Hiding what my lord?"

"You're feelings."

Rin gasped as Sesshomaru removed his clawed finger from her chin and took a seat in the chair beside her. A fire crackled in the fireplace.

"Lord Sesshomaru…are you saying…"

"That I feel the same way? I'm not sure but you should not bother your master with such questions."

Rin smiled and fought the urge to go sit in his lap as she had done when she was young. Back then she had thought of him more as a father figure, but things were different now. They were different.

Nothing more was said that night and eventually Rin left Sesshomaru alone and wandered off to bed, the image of his smiling face still branded on the back of her mind and her feeling towards him blazing hotter than fire.

~*~*~

Kanaye felt Trinity shiver with cold as he stood up helping her up.

"I guess we should go inside huh?"

Trinity nodded and grasped his hand as they walked back up the hill, their fingers intertwined.

~*~*~

Inuyasha opened his mouth widely and yawned; now finished with dinner. Kagome smiled as she put away the dishes.

~*~*~

By the time Suki reached the village Kuno had fallen asleep. She hurriedly got the supplies and was through within half an hour or so.

She held her arrows with one hand and the basket of fruits, vegetables, and a jar of milk in the other.

The village was almost out of sight when Suki was suddenly stopped as a strapping young man about her age stepped onto the path in front of her.

"Excuse me miss. I couldn't help noticing you're carrying quite a lot of stuff. Would you like some help?"

~*~*~Sorry this chapter is REALLY short. I have to eat soon so I had to crank it out really quick. Gomen nasai gomen nasai!!!!~*~*~Miyu