I have nothing better to do, so I'll just update today. This will be a shorter chapter, but it is still helpful to the story's plot.

Thank you so much for all the reviews. I'm glad you like my story. And thank you especially to D-Chan3 for the great suggestions. I'll use some of them, but I'm going to twist them to fit my needs.

Note: Izayoi was Inuyasha's mother's name.


Delirium and Fever

'Father?' Sesshoumaru called out to him.

He stood just before Sesshoumaru, just out of his reach. It was like his father was taunting him, standing just out of reach all the time. Sesshoumaru cried out, begging his father to hold him, like he had done so rarely as a child.

And then, Sesshoumaru's mother was before him. The beautiful Inu Youkai. Her hair was silver, as were her eyes. On her forehead, she bore the mark of her clan, the crescent moon.

'My beautiful Son,' her voice echoed softly in Sesshoumaru's ears, 'I have missed you so.'

"I have missed you too Mother! Your death brought coldness to my heart. I wish to be wrapped in your love again. Please, let me come with you." He begged.

'Your time is not over yet son. I truly wish you could come with me, but you must remain on earth. You must live my Son.'

"I have gone on alone since you died. It will be no different for now on then." Sesshoumaru responded coldly.

"My poor son, you are not alone. You have Rin."

"Who is a human. You hated humans in life Mother."

"Sesshoumaru, I know I hated Izayoi in life, but I have learned better in death. Though humans and youkai have different powers in life, there souls are essentially the same. Love Rin, my Son."

"But…" Sesshoumaru muttered.

"Love her, and…" But her voice began to fade, and he could not hear what she said next.

"Mother! Mother!" Sesshoumaru cried, speaking with more passion than he had ever spoken before.

"Lord Sesshoumaru. Lord Sesshoumaru, wake up!" From the brink of oblivion, Sesshoumaru heard Jaken's shrill voice.

"Yes Jaken, I'm here now," he managed to croak.

"I am sure Rin will be back soon."

"Yes," was his only response.

Sesshoumaru had grown weaker by the day. His hair had grown lank and was matted. His eyes had lost there sharpness and began to grow clouded. Even his skin had grayed, and his face was constantly soaked with sweat. The once mighty Inu Youkai had been reduced to a helpless infant.

Every day that passed, Sesshoumaru's thoughts grew wilder. He knew that he had dreamed that his parents were calling to him, but the dream had seemed real. His thoughts were constantly on Rin or his dead parents.

Sesshoumaru had never known he could care for a human as he did for Rin. In fact, he had not cared for anyone except Rin, since his mother's death. The relationship between them was unlikely, a cold, collected youkai like himself, and a young, enthusiastic human girl of eighteen, like Rin.

But, Rin is not a child anymore. She is a woman, Sesshoumaru realized for the first time.

He had always been fond of Rin, but for ten years, he had thought of her as a little girl. It was true, there were a few moments were Sesshoumaru had glimpsed the woman inside of Rin, but ever he treated her like a young child. Now, he realized that his fondness for Rin was changing. It was changing in a way that Sesshoumaru did not want to admit, even to himself.

This is nonsense. I have turned down countless beautiful and powerful youkai. Why should I think of Rin as anything other than my companion?

Sesshoumaru tried to convince himself of that fact, but his fever wouldn't let him. He knew that Rin meant something more to him. More than the countless shallow, manipulative youkai that had thrown themselves at his feet. Why Rin was so different than any other woman he met (youkai or human), Sesshoumaru could not understand. However, in his state of exhaustion and delirium, he knew it to be the truth.

She will come to me soon.

So, with thoughts of Rin blocking out all other thoughts, Sesshoumaru fell back asleep; dreaming of the love he could never admit.