1 Week Later

"Kaede, why didn't you tell me? I could ha-"

Kaede silenced me, grabbing onto my hand and giving me a weak smile. "Rin there is nothing you could have done to stop this, I am old and this was bound to happen eventually. I've lived longer than most, and ye are ready now to live a life on your own." I tried to be strong but my tears kept flowing. "Don't cry young Rin." Kaede weakly asked of me.

"What am I going to do without you, what is this village going to do without you!" I cried.

"The village now has Kagome, I am confident that she can take better care of these people than I. As for you, you are on a path that is coming to a crossroads, but I know ye already know in your heart where you will end up."

I smiled wiping my tears, "You are like a mother to me, if It meant you could stay here with us I would never leave the village again."

Kaede laughed. "Child, nothing in the world could keep you here don't try and fool an old woman. You are in love with Sesshomaru, ye have always been." I looked down my cheeks becoming red. "That is why I made him leave you here with me child."

I let go of her hand, tilting my head in confusion. "What do you mean Kaede? Speak the truth now, please." I hastily demanded.

She lay there staring at me with sorrow in her eyes. "Before you could start becoming a woman I went to Sesshomaru and I pleaded with him to leave ye here with me, I had never had a child but always wanted one, so I knew I'd be up to the task of caring for you. You needed a woman to teach you how to be one, and the more I could see your affection grow for him the more I knew you could not stay with him. It wouldn't have been right."

My hands were balled into fists and my tears of sadness became tears of anger. "You had no right Kaede, how could you take me from the one person I loved! Everyday I struggle with the fact that he abandoned me here, and it was all because of you?"

Kaede's voice trembled from weakness, and slight anger. "I took you because of how you felt. It was to help you Rin, all of the knowledge you have now, ye would never have had frolicking about in the forest with him. He could not take care of you, he was not your parent!"

I stood up forgetting all about the condition she was in, seeing nothing but red in that split second. "Neither were you!" As soon as I said it I could feel the blood leave my body, and I regretted it. I sat back down almost immediately grabbing her hand again, Kaede I didn't mean that. Please do not be upset, what I just said isn't the truth of how I feel." I began to cry again, and she stroked my hand with her thumb smiling. Kaede was the only parent I truly knew, and this entire week with her has meant everything to me. I don't know what I would have done if she died without me knowing, and being so far away. I loved her.

"I'm not upset, you still have much to learn it's not your fault, I understand why you are upset. Please know I did it did you, and Sesshomaru did not want to give you to me either, he was quite angry and I believe he still resents me to this day. Eventually though, he came around and all things worked as they should have. Haven't they, Rin?" She weakly smiled at me, as a tear rolled down her cheek.

I nodded, trying to free my eyes of the tears so I could better see her. "Yes you're right. They have, and I love him very much."

"Good." She chuckled. "I know now that when I'm gone you will be okay. I know he will protect you."

"How long, Kaede." I whispered.

"Hmmm. Maybe a few years." She teased.

I dryly laughed. "I am serious, how much time do we have together."

She frowned for the first time. "Not long dear, I will be gone by morning I suspect."

I rested my head on her chest crying for the only mother I had.

"Shh Rin. Do not be sad, we have had many wonderful memories together. Ye have made me so very happy, since my sister left when I was a child I have lived a life of loneliness. That is, until you. You made these last years wonderful, and I will always be with you. Never forget that."

As I cried on her Kimono, Kohaku walked in. "I'm sorry to interrupt, I'll come back." His eyes averted away from me, still angry I presumed from our last meeting. We hadn't spoken the entire week, our last time to have fun together was gone. I had tried several times to approach him but he would just take off in the other direction. I knew Jaken was right, but something in my heart told me abandoning Kohaku wasn't what was right.

I lifted my head up wiping my tears. "No Kohaku it's okay, did you want talk with her?"

"No we had our time this morning, I was wondering if I could talk to you outside." I nodded, surprised at his request. "Okay I'll be outside in the back when you're ready, Rin." He took off without saying another word.

When he was gone Kaede tugged on my kimono, to get my attention. I turned to look at her, my face feeling hot. "Child he is suffering. Do not make it worse for him."

I frowned squeezing her hand tight. "Kaede I am suffering too. I care for Kohaku he is my dearest friend in the world, and I am going on a path that could take me away from him forever."

"Rin forever is a very strong word, if ye wish him to always be your friend then he always will be. Sesshomaru must understand this."

Friend. That word seemed so simple when describing what Kohaku and I were to each other. "It is more than friendship, I can't quite describe what it is but we are connected." I finally admitted to her what I couldn't admit to myself sometimes.

She smiled. "Do ye love him then?"

My cheeks became pink. "I do not know." I would only ever admit any of this to Kaede, I could not bare to have anyone else ever know.

"I have suspected this for some time, ye may have a decision to make then Rin." She solemnly said.

"It isn't a decision between one or the other Kaede, I love sesshomaru deeply and truly you know this. I will never leave his side, just as he would never leave mine. He is my home, and no matter what I feel about Kohaku I already know this to be true. It comes down to who I could not live without, and I could not live without Sesshomaru."

Kaede let go of my hand. "I figured as much. What are you going to do then, my child?"

I kissed her on the forehead and stood up ready to go face Kohaku. "I have to say goodbye."

I made my way out of Kaede's hut, and around to the back. Kohaku sat there on a bench dressed in his slayer gear with his weapon by his side, looking so peaceful. I could not see any fear, anger, or sadness in his eyes. Looking at him you'd never know what he had been through. You'd have no idea Naraku controlled him for so long, even forcing him to slaughter his entire family. After everything he still remained a good person. The sun shown bright on him, and the birds chirped peacefully. I was glad to see him seeming happy.

"Hello old friend." I whispered.

He looked up at me smiling. "Rin, I like your Kimono, you look beautiful in yellow. I will always remember you this way, in this beautiful yellow kimono." I sat down beside him, my cheeks red hot not knowing what to say, but before I even had a chance he grabbed my hand. "Rin I planed for spend this week trying to change your mind, trying to make you choose me."

I frowned. "Kohaku, please don't do this."

He smiled even wider than he was before. "Don't worry Rin, after you said I was trying to manipulate you before I gave it some thought and you were right. I shouldn't pressure you into anything, that's why I kept my distance this week. It should be your choice, no one can tell you how to feel." He locked eyes with me, and it felt as if everything around me started to melt. All I could see were his eyes, and the feelings he had for me in them. "Rin I won't pressure you, as long as you know my true and deep feelings for you. You know that I love you, don't you?" I simply nodded, looking away from him. "Good, because I do deeply and passionately love you Rin. I want you to know that I just want your happiness, and if you are happy with him then I will not stand in the way. I will always be waiting, forever yours should you so choose to be mine. 5, 10, 15 years it makes no difference. As long as you know that, I can live happily knowing that there may be a chance you could come to me."

I let a tear escape my eye, and I embraced him sobbing into his chest. "Kohaku if I'm able I will I'll come visit, please don't speak as if we'll never see each other again."

Kohaku embraced me even tighter, in a way I'd never been held before. Sesshomaru was more gentle with me, and he'd never do this in such a public setting. Sesshomaru. The moment he came to mind I felt such immediate guilt for embracing another man this way, I know if he were to do this with another woman I'd be devastated. "Kohaku, I have to go." I hesitantly pulled away from him, I have to go, master Jaken is probably waiting for me."

Kohaku nodded "okay" but he almost seemed like he was going to try and kiss me. For a split second I thought I might lose all my senses and let him, but then he appeared. I turned my head and there my Lord was, standing just feet from us. His stone cold face showing no emotion, I couldn't even read his eyes. His pale skin was almost glowing in the sun light, and for a rare moment I acknowledged that he seemed more than human. He seemed almost God like standing before us, rather than like a demon. My heart dropped at the sight of his his beautiful face, and I became scared wondering how much he had witnessed. My guilt began eating at me and the only words I could find were "My Lord."