Hello friends! Buckle up this story will be many chapters, not exactly sure how many yet, but I'm finally excited about writing a story again! This new Yashahime series has given me lots of inspiration. Please do comment your feedback, thank you.

Love, ImagineRie

3 months later

"Rin? Rin? Hey! Anyone there?" Kohaku broke me from my daydream, something I had been doing so much of lately. We both stood in the river, fish swimming between our legs, and the sun beating down on us. My dress was rolled up to my knees and tied in knot while Kohaku's pants were rolled up above his. We had been spending many days like this catching fish, splashing in the sun, and laughing uncontrollably sometimes. Sometimes it kept my mind off of Sesshomaru, which I'm sure was kohoku's intention after all. The night that Sesshomaru had left my hut I was in such terrible pain, all the hopes I had ever had in my heart of him loving me back were destroyed. He was a man who meant what he said, so I wouldn't dare push the issue again. I had resolved myself to living a life of misery without him, and although he said he'd be watching I couldn't help but feel he was farther away from me than he'd ever been. "I'm sorry Kohaku I must have spaced off, what was it you were saying?"

He frowned at me dropping the fish he had squirming between his hands, "Rin he doesn't know how to love anything, he barley knows how to be a friend. I don't get why you expect anything from him."

My face became hot and I began to stomp my way back to land, with him trailing behind per usual, "Kohaku must you always do this, I don't want to speak about him, and you know this."

He sat down by our basket of fruit we had gathered earlier in the evening, "I know you don't want to talk about him, but he's consuming you, and I don't know how to pull you out of this darkness. I see you walking around like a zombie most days, and I cannot take it. You used to smile and laugh, and I rarely see that from you anymore. What can I do to convince you he's worthless, please tell me. I will do anything." His voice cracked and I sat down beside him putting my hand over his, "I'm sorry I have worried you my friend. I will be back to my old self in no time." I knew this was a lie, and that everyday that passed made me want to die even more knowing that I'd have to spend the next one with outSesshomaru.

Kohaku winced at my words removing his hand from mine, "Rin, can no other make you happy? Can you never imagine a life with someone who actually wants to give you the things you crave?"

I turned my body from him placing my hands over my beating heart, what was he saying? "Kohaku I'm not sure what you're implying", I whispered.

A laugh erupted from his chest, "Nothing at all! I just want your happiness Rin. That is all I want." I turned back around giving him a nod trying to shake the feeling that he was talking about himself. We both began to gather up our fruit and fish in silence, we walked quietly back to my hut not reaching it until the sun was setting. I couldn't help but look at him differently for a moment, was he trying to insinuate that he could give me these things he presumed I wanted? He has spent three months doing everything possible to try and keep me happy and preoccupied. He has pulled me from chores, and even gone as far as doing them for me so I didn't have to, so that I could relax. We have grown so close over these months, and I depend on him to keep me going, but maybe in that time without my ever knowing it more had grown between us than I realized. I shook my head at this thought, that couldn't be true, because deep down I knew only Sesshomaru could ever truly hold my heart in his hands.

"Well, this is your stop Rin." Kohaku smiled, and I felt so many confusing emotions.

"Kohaku, what is it you meant by the things I crave?"

He bashfully put his head down, "Well I just mean that I know what you want from Lord Sesshomaru is love, and acceptance. You want him to want to live his life by your side, and give you children even. Isn't that so, Rin?" I looked away unwilling to answer those questions out loud. He chuckled, "Of course it is and that's okay, you have loved him since your were a little girl, he is your savior after all. I could never pretend to understand what you see in him though, he is cold and calculated, and he despises our kind. So those things you crave from him, why could they not be given to you by someone else if he is unable? Someone who wants those things from you in return? Sesshomaru turned you away, and he left you here alone again. I just wonder what is it you plan to do, be alone forever? Because I could not imagine that life for you Rin." I felt tears threatening to fall from my eyes and my knees shaking, because that was exactly the only thing I planned to do. Without him I have no will to go on, even if Sesshomaru hated me I could never give my heart to another. It is his for all eternity.

I stepped towards Kohaku wrapping my arms around him, his body tensed and his heart beat fast. "What is it you're doing Rin?" He croaked. I held on to him tightly, "Kohaku I have not meant to torture you." He relaxed and wrapped his arms around me as well, "I will always be here for you Rin. Spending time with you is not torture, there's nothing I would rather be doing. Even if you cannot let him go, I will stay by your side if you want me there." I felt an overwhelming guilt from being in this position with Kohaku, even though I had no reason to feel this since Sesshomaru had turned me away, but I couldn't help it.

I let go of Kohaku pulling myself away swiftly, "Thank you for your friendship Kohaku, without it I truly would be lost. Have a good night, and I will see you tomorrow." He nodded, turning his back to me and walking away. Before today I had never suspected Kohaku thought of me as anything other than a dear friend, but now I was sure that he must love me, because he looked at me the way I looked at Lord Sesshomaru, and that broke my heart.