Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor the characters Sess and Rin….

Chapter 8 : Lost and found.

Another set of wind swift Rin´s way. She froze on the spot, she had been limping for days now. She clutched at the straps of the horse, Ritsuko had given her, shielding her eyes from the wind with the other hand. She was about to collapse, she hasn't eaten, two days straight now. She hasn't even rested. She could only remember passing two villages before, which means that the way to the destination is shortening.

Sesshoumaru´s words kept her going. She can still remember it. "You´ll never be the one!" It still echoed inside, like song that got stuck inside her head. A terrible song at that. She leaned on tree and let her slide down the iced ground. She was so sleepy. Even the throbbing pain on her legs had been long forgotten. Rin let out a sigh, that sounded mostly like, "Sess-sama." Before falling into a deep sleep in the snow of north. Somewhere in her mind and heart, she wishes, that when she wakes up, Sesshoumaru will be there to save her life… once again.

4 Days before….

He cursed under his breath.

"Come in." Sesshoumaru said, in one of his most boring tone. He was about to remind her that he doesn't want to be disturbed when….

A maid threw herself automatically on the floor. "My Lord, Rin is gone!" She sobbed, "I´ve searched everywhere! She is nowhere in the castle!" She cried.

Sesshoumaru had already left before the maid could register the fact. She leapt behind him, on the way to Rin´s room.

It was true, Rin is long gone, his youkai senses could tell much. He could even tell, that she disappeared around midnight. ´What was she thinking when she ran away? Winter is coming. That´s suicide.´ His face remained calm, but the worry in his eyes couldn't be hidden. "Jaken!" He shouted, his voice echoing down the long hall. Long silence followed, before running small feet and a squeak, "my Lord?"

Present

"Have you done something that might have offended the little human?" Ritsuko asked, she stared back at the sweating tired sleepless face of Sesshoumaru, it seemed as if he had aged 100 overnight.

He remained silent though

Ritsuko kept asking herself if she had done something wrong…maybe? This look in Sesshoumaru´s face is so priceless, but…. Still, she doesn't want to see him like this… It´s something she wasn't accustomed to.

"Sesshoumaru, you should just forget about her." She finally said, taking a sip from her cup of tea.

Still he remained silent, staring at emptiness, mind full of Rin´s smiling faces and dying pictures of her. He will feel so guilty if something bad happens to her, when he wont be there to protect her.

He had promise it back then. She had asked him if he will always be there to protect her…..and he had answered….. always.

Now what? He couldn't help but sigh. He has never broken a promise before, not towards his people, nor to Rin. Especially not towards Rin. This is all his fault, if he hadnt…..

´Nonsense! Grieving wont help. You need your energy for more sophisticated things. Like taking the matters in your own hands, and not giving it to any servants.´ Sesshoumaru´s conscience told him.

Ritsuko shook her head, he wasn't even taking her presence in. This guy has no hope. She stood up and started walking away. Not even saying good-bye, they never say good-bye. She´s going back home, at last. Though without Sesshoumaru, which was the true reason she came here. After all the passing years, she always thought, he would stay the same. But…. When she came back, as a friend from way way back. His heart out of ice had already been melted by someone else.

And not demon at that.

Just like after all this years, when she started walking away from her ex lover, she didn't look back.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Rin. Your here." Her mothers soft voice called out to her. She turned around a smile plastered over her face.

"Mama." She said, reaching out to touch her. This is really an unsual dream. Never had it been so different. She didn't even know how her mother had looked like. But here she was standing before her. Where the hell are they? Rin looked around, nothing…. But unending darkness….

"What happened, my child?" She asked with the most concern tone.

"I slept." She explained. A gasp escaped her throat. "Mama, am I dead?" She asked, clunging on her mothers sleeves just how she used to when she is panicky.

"No, my child." She answered putting a hand on her cheeks. "Your in between life and death."

"Mama, I don't want to die." She cried. "I still have to stay with Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru." Her mother said, taking in a daze look. "He had cared for you."

Rin nodded. "Mama, tell me how I can go back."

"I do not know how, my child." She answered sadly. "I am sorry, that I failed you once again."

"No. You didn't!" Rin insisted, laughing sadly.

"But, we were always, watching you." Her mother smiled.

Then came light. Both of them looked up.

"Someone, is calling for you. My little Rin." Her mother told her. "You are safe."

Then, came the feeling of being thrown into a deep hole.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

She opened her eyes, slowly. Why was it so loud? She sat up and started peeking around. She was not in the palace. It seems like a small cabin. What´s happening? Is that water dripping from somewhere? Even the distant wind is so loud. She clutched at her head, finding the sounds terribly annoying. But when she did…. She….

"Ah!" Her shout was even a little different. A kind of hiss came out. What was happening to her?

"So your awake." Someone said, as the curtain on the entrance was swept away to reveal a white figure.

A/N: TNX for the review from the last chap you guys. That was so nice and Im going to try to write longer. .…. I´ve uploaded two chapters… as a gift for x-mas! Happy holidays! Corrections about the grammar are welcome….