Content with the knowledge that his nurse was sufficient enough to deal with Rin, Sesshomaru strode into the garden. The sun overhead shone a pale golden casting its rays over the flowers making them sparkle like rare jewels. The rare Indian peacocks that he owned cocked and strutted showing their feathers to the high sun. The Siberian tigers growled restlessly, lunging at each other in fits of playfulness. Even the priceless Macedonian fish, did nothing short of turning summersaults to please their master.

Sesshomaru noticed none of this. His mind was a jumble of tangled thoughts and ideas, although his face betrayed none of them. Why hadn't he told Rin about her monthly cycle? How could he have forgotten? Maybe he wasn't a good father.

The thought hit Sesshomaru like a ton of bricks. He'd been so caught up in running the corporation, he'd all but forgotten about the child that resided with him. Sesshomaru shook his head, chiding himself at his own absentmindedness. A hand reached up to stoke his chin ponderingly.

End of Flashback

Sesshomaru watched silently as Rin as she sat in the garden. She was aware of his presence but did not run to greet him as she has done as a child. Instead she sat on the stone bench with a small, white paper-bound book, looking into the clear blue sky. Sesshomaru recognized the book, "Chicken Soup for the Teenager's Soul", she'd purchased it the week past while he'd attended a meeting in Hiroshima.

Since then, the book had never left the girl's side. She was always in some corner, huddled up, reading one chapter and quickly following it with the next. It seemed to be the only thing to bring her true happiness. Sesshomaru wondered what it contained to hold her attention so steadfastly.

Opening the book, Rin leafed through the pages to her favorite story. It was called, "A Special Cupcake Kind of Friend." It was about a girl named Mindy who'd lost her mother to cancer, and who later became friends with the bakery lady down that lived on her street. Rin had read the entire book several times, but this story was always her favorite.

Rin felt the tears start to well up in her eyes. She knew what it was like to lose a mother, but unlike the girl in the story, she hadn't found her, "special cupcake kind of friend". In all actuality, Rin didn't have any friends. At school she was either teased or ignored; being the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the world hadn't helped her social status.

She sighed, a sound that didn't past Sesshomaru unnoticed. Rin couldn't help it. She loved Sesshomaru with all of her heart. He'd taken her in, given her a home, and been her provider. She would be his loyal charge for life, but he could only do so much. Rin wanted a friend, someone she could talk to about things she could never tell Sesshomaru, besides he wasn't much for conversation.

Rin turned her brown eyes to the sky. She heard it said that if you made a wish on a star, then your wish would come true.

"Well, I can't get a star right now, so I wonder if a cloud will do," Rin said to herself.

She shrugged, "It can't hurt."

Sesshomaru watched with great interest as his daughter folded her hands and began what looked like a prayer, her head turned towards the sky.

Rin had never made a wish before so she wasn't exactly sure what to do. Concentrating, she focused on a slow moving cloud in the shape of a horse (well it looked like a horse to her).

"Um, alright…Um, I wish that um…I could have a special friend, like Mindy in the story. Yea, but um, can you make it a girl because I don't think Sesshomaru would let me have a boy friend. Oh and um can you make her nice, yea, nice like…Kagome. Oh and she has to be pretty, very pretty because um Sesshomaru likes things that look nice and I want him to like her too. Yep, that's my wish," Rin finished.

She waited looking at the cloud for some sort of response. The cloud continued to drift by.

Rin nodded, "I'm sure these things take time. You probably have lots of wishes to grant. I'll be patient. Arigatou, Mr. Cloud"

Sesshomaru was floored. All she wanted was a friend? That was the reason for her melancholy? He could give Rin anything she desired, toys, jewels, clothes, with his money, all was within his means. And she simply wanted…a friend.

Sesshomaru shook his head, "At times I forget she is still so much of a human child. And wants only what every child wants." He looked at the smile on the small girl's face, "Well, Rin, if it is a friend you want, then a friend you shall have."

Sesshomaru would find Rin, this friend she so desperately desired. Someone worthy of his charge. Not just anyone would do. He resolved to set about the task immediately after their lunch. Something tugged on his pants leg interrupting his thinking.

"Ah, excuse me my Lord, but lunch is ready and waiting in the dining hall," came Jaken's raspy voice. Sesshomaru turned his brooding golden eyes on the imp. Jaken immediately took a step away from his master, it was clear he had interrupted something important.

"My Lord, I just wanted to let you know so the food would be—

Sesshomaru glared majestically down at his servant, "You have made me aware. Your presence here is no longer required. We shall be there shortly."

Jaken bowed and left quickly, not even sparing Rin an angry glance. It wasn't wise to have Sesshomaru say something twice. He scuttled back into the house as fast as his little feet could carry him.

Sesshomaru turned back to Rin, "Daughter, it is time for lunch."

Rin was startled by the sound of Sesshomaru's voice. He'd been so silent she'd forgotten he was there watching her. She smiled at his use of her new title.

Closing the book Rin hurried towards Sesshomaru, "Coming father."