I know, I know…it has taken me sometime to complete this chapter of my story, although, it may not provide much to where this story is going. I know most of you are reading this to find out where my story is going to lead, I am sorry if I disappoint in any way—really, I do not mean to. I have been writing this for awhile and needed to post it, but I feel a writers block coming on (I really hope that I don't get blocked; or if I do, that it doesn't last long). This chapter is short—well, shorter than the others; and its more that a brief interlude into the lives of the characters and the grounding of the story. What the story will turn out to be, I am still unsure.

Standard disclaimer applies.

Chapter 5

They had been going for one week now, but there were no other attacks on them. Not that it would have mattered from what she had seen of Sesshoumaru's strength; he could have easily dispatched any who came, except Naraku, whom he would have liked to stretch the pain he would have caused.

They had only stopped three times in the past seven days. Kagura's wounds had now healed somewhat; there was only a minor soreness and small healing cuts on her body now. Kohaku was also doing better, not much, but better nonetheless.

He still could not move on his own very skillfully, but he could sit-up on his own on his own strength. He rode on the demon dragon and at times Rin joined him. Rin took care of his treatment with Sesshoumaru watching carefully. He might not have been seeing everything they did, but he knew everything that transpired between them. Kohaku knew this too and every move he made was deliberate, nothing to incite the demon lord's wrath.

Rin, as always, had no fear. She attempted to get Kohaku to converse. He did not respond in kind, so to speak, but he did not stop her from trying. Like today… "How are you feeling," she shkeshhish Hshdishnoshanshershacsh "shilshacshngshI she.sht shs been awhile since your medicine. Just a little more time and I'll have some ready for you. Sesshoumaru-sama will stop soon."

Kagura had learned to expect her to say that. One reason was from what he had told her that night and another was also from the experience from the past week. Most of the time Kohaku had been healing, Kagura had been observing. Although an outsider could not tell, someone whom had a chance to view all contact, would see Rin was a demon princess.

It would be interesting how all this turned out. How all turned out…

Speaking of which…What was she going do? She understood Sesshoumaru staked his claim. He did more than just stake his claim. He had not said much the next day either, but then again this was Sesshoumaru she was thinking of.

"We will stop here for now," Kagura turned to the dragon where Rin and Kohaku sat. Rin was sliding down, a knowing look on her face. Kohaku had a look of slight surprise; the young girl had been right.

Kohaku stared down at Kagura. He had yet to understand what was expected of him. He understood that something was wanted of him by Sesshoumaru—which he could only think of only one reason. Sesshoumaru had not approached him; actually, the demon lord showed no signs of even paying Kohaku any mind, except to make sure nothing happen to the human girl that traveled with him.

Although the demon showed no outward sign of any affection to the girl, the way he became tense and watchful when she tended the boy's wound was a sign of sorts.

"Do you need assistance?" Kohaku looked to Kagura again and hesitated.

"Leave him," Sesshoumaru was at her side. The demon did not look to him but guided Kagura away.

"If you need help, I'll help you," said the young girl, "Sesshoumaru-sama is just worried about Kagura-sama. He doesn't want her to overexert herself."

Kohaku pushed away her helping hand. Looking to the demon, he noticed the look Sesshoumaru gave him. He turned back to the girl, "No, I do not need your help."

"Ungrateful brat," said the green little man.

"Jaken," the girl scolded. She turned to Kohaku and said as he slid down from the dragon's back. "Don't worry about him; he's always such a stick-in-the-mud." Kohaku turned to the girl, masking the pain that coursed through his body when he had his feet on the ground. "You see, you should have let me help you; you would not be in such pain."

"Rin," Sesshoumaru called, "Water is needed. Jaken knows the way." He turned to Kagura, "You will be able to wash also."

"Right," Rin replied, then ran up to Kagura, grabbed her hand and began pulling her after a grumbling Jaken. Soon they were out of sight.

The girl was a mystery. How did she know, Kohaku thought. "She sees and understands a lot more than you might think," the demon lord had come to stand behind him.

Kohaku turned to face him, "Why?"

Sesshoumaru knew the question was to not asked to explain his observation on Rin's character, but just said, "I do not need to explain to you, boy, my actions and the reasons for those actions."

Kohaku looked in the direction the women had gone out to. Sesshoumaru also looked in the same direction and then continued, "Rin is growing up. She will longer be a child, if ever she was one." He paused. "There is another thing that Tenseiga can also do; it can grant immortality." Kohaku turned sharply to Sesshoumaru…immortality. "It is not in the sense that you think. You can still be killed, although, the only way that you could be killed is by cutting off your head.

"Your body will age until it reaches its prime age. For you, it might be around the age of twenty-five to twenty-eight. Rin will age to from twenty to twenty-three. Your body will heal all wounds except for the fatal decapitation."

"What do you want of me? You saved me for a reason."

"I have many reasons," Kohaku had almost crossed the line again, "The only one you should worry about is that you are to protect her with your life, if need be."

"Her?"

Sesshoumaru looked at Kohaku critically and then passed a cup to Kohaku. "Drink." Then turning away from Kohaku thought he was not going to be told and brought the cup to his lips. "My daughter, Rin."

Kohaku almost choked; Sesshoumaru paid him no mind. The demon thinks of the human girl…"Your daughter?"

Sesshoumaru turned dark eyes onto Kohaku, but there was no need to actually say the words, the look in his eyes said enough. It was the only answer he gave and it was all that was needed.

Behind him Jaken and Rin were returning with the water. "We're back!"

"Where is Kagura?"

"She said she was going to stay a little longer in the water," when she had finished, Sesshoumaru took off toward the spring.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, where…" Jaken wanted to go after him, but, "Hey, what are you doing, Rin? Let me go."

"You have to help me," Rin said as she held onto Jaken haori.

Jaken stopped struggling and looked up to the young girl, "Help you with what?"

"Dinner, of course."

"I'll help." They turned towards Kohaku who has been standing near then dragon watching to two bickering people. "What do you need me to do?"

"Do," Rin asked dumfounded.

"To help with supper," he cleared.

"Oh…Oh, no!"

"No," Kohaku and Jaken asked taken aback.

"No, Kohaku is injured," she then said to Jaken, "Go gather some wood for a fire."

"What!"

"Go, Jaken," Rind said dangerously sweet.

"Fine, fine, fine," Jaken sang as he went into the surrounding woods to get the firewood.

"He doesn't always act that way," Kohaku asked.

"Yes," Rin huffed then caught herself, "How do you feel? Better now."

"Yes, thank you." He looked to the girl. The demon lord had called the girl his daughter. It was particular.

"I'm glad. You seemed to have been in great pain earlier."

"No, it was not so bad. I have had worse."

"Oh, that's good…not about you having worse…about it not be as bad as others…well, I'm sorry that you have had worse…" Rin had stopped gathering the things she needed to begin the preparations for supper and had gone off speaking never finding the right thing to say. She gave up trying, "You're not in pain?"

"No, your father gave me a cup of the medicine."

"My f…" Rin turned to face him, but he had come to her and kneeled beside her—it seemed to take some effort. "No one has ever said that to me."

Kohaku just shrugged. "It doesn't matter. What is it you are going to make?"

"Oh, yes, right," she began getting the things ready and had not been paying attention, but suddenly, Kohaku turned. When she turned to see what had happened, Kohaku's hitachi was at Jaken's neck.

Jaken was shocked still, "Wha…what…do…do you think you are doing?"

Kohaku brought the weapon down and turned back to help Rin with supper.

"Hey, I was talking to you, brat!"

Rin also ignored him, "Bring the wood over, Jaken, and start the fire."

He walked slowly to the bank of the stream. His body tensed as the water rippled around her. Her hair was unbound and floated in the water, haloing around her head. He watched her for a few moments more until she finally noticed him.

Kagura jumped up staring up at Sesshoumaru angrily, but then she noticed that her chest was exposed. She covered them with crossed arms and squatted into the water. "What are you doing?" Sesshoumaru just looked on, no emotion on his face. "I thought I would have some privacy for some time."

"It's dangerous to be out alone," he said, "Naraku wants you both to destroy you and to make sure the secret you hold stays a secret."

Kagura gasped in shock, "I…w…what?"

"I do not need to hear it. It is yours to keep as you see fit."

After a few minutes of surprised silence, Kagura noticed she was still quite exposed to him. She glared at him as he only lifted an eyebrow, "Are you going to leave so that I may finish?"

"It's dangerous," was all he repeated, but, after a few moments of glaring from Kagura, he turned and began walking back towards the forest's tree border. When he had disappeared through the foliage, she sighed contentedly letting the water wash the worries away.

She knew that, yes, it was dangerous—not only for her, but for Kohaku, too. Although, at this time Naraku might not know that Kohaku lived—as far as he knew, Sesshoumaru had destroyed Kohaku—if any other his "offspring" where to come after her, they would find a living Kohaku and report it directly to Naraku. Then Naraku would immediately send someone to retrieve the boy; she would not matter, except to kill her off and make certain that the secret she kept was not ever spoken out to Naraku's enemies.

But Sesshoumaru would protect her, she thought, he had said so. She shook her head to rid herself of the ridiculous thoughts. It never entered her head that when Sesshoumaru spoke—since it was only rarely that he did speak—that what he said was not to be taken lightly nor ever to be thought a lie or joke. "I really must not put all my trust is someone else. As always, I will be alone in the matters of my battles."

"This is not just your battle only," a deep voice said behind her.

Kagura startled and turned to find herself face to face (well, as near as she could be with the tall demon standing before her) with the man from her thoughts. He was also disrobed, the water lapping at his waist.

As she looked up to him, she stuttered a response, "Wha…wha…what are…" Sesshoumaru ignored her and bent down and placed his lips against hers causing her to forget all that that had been going through her mind.