A/N: YAY! I'm so happy! You're all such great reviewers! I know that the chapters tend to be short in this story, and it does have a sort of movie-ish feel, but please just bear with me! Oh, whatever I base on the movie is really taken form a bunch of summaries, amv's, and secondhand info, as I have yet to see the third movie (sigh). But I think I got pretty close...tell me if I'm wrong! Oh, about the beginning...I know Sessho probably didn't repeat himself really, but I did that just because I wanted to, so I know that already.

kk, here we go-.../-/-/-/memory;... +-+-+-+-+past, not a memory;... /-/-+memory and past;... #(anything after)special pov

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Rin, Jaken, Ah-Un, etc etc etc. They are Rumiko Takahashi's creation. However there will be an original character later...hope you like her! Erm, well, in any case...Inu & everyone else have copyrights. Not mine.

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Chapter 2-Before I Forget (Slipknot)

All I ever do is delay...my every attempt to evade the end of the road and my end...

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"Lord Sesshoumaru, I never knew why you fought your brother," Rin said suddenly. The morning had dawned a few hours ago, and they had already set out on their everlasting journey to...somewhere. Rin walked beside Sesshoumaru, looking up at him now with a questioning gaze.

Sesshoumaru hated to ignore Rin, but he didn't want to answer her question. Well, she hadn't actually asked a question, so he didn't feel as bad about it, but still...

Rin took the hint and decided to think about something else. She looked up at Sesshoumaru again for a few seconds before deciding to ask him a much simpler question.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, how do you get your hair to be so shiny and soft?" she asked carefully.

"I take care of it," he replied simply.

"It's so pretty," Rin giggled happily, smiling at the thought.

Such statements need no replies, and so Sesshoumaru did not offer one. Jaken was unsure what he could say, if anything, so he kept his beak shut and kept on walking.

"So, if you're a Lord, and if Inuyasha is your younger brother, that makes him a Prince, right?" Rin asked, unable to keep her mind off the brothers for very long. Somehow she always strayed back to that subject.

"I suppose so," Sesshoumaru answered.

"So how come nobody ever calls him Prince Inuyasha?" Rin asked curiously.

"Because he has never acknowledged his title, and has laid no claim to whatever he might possess as a member of royalty. His rights as a Prince have yet to be instated," Sesshoumaru responded.

"Um...what?" Rin blinked, confused by his choice of words. She knew nothing of the political or economical workings of a simple village, much less the whole of society.

"He is a Prince by blood, but not by power. He never chose to accept the power he could have rightfully demanded," Sesshoumaru simplified.

"Oh," Rin nodded. "But why? He seems to be eager enough for power-does he even know about it?" she asked.

"Probably not."

Rin looked to the side thoughtfully, wondering if Inuyasha would really choose to be a Prince if he knew he could. Then she wondered exactly what Princes and Lords did, and she was about to ask, when she thought better of it-it was likely too complicated for her to understand just yet, and she didn't want to get confused. So, instead, she thought up an easier question, only this time she quit asking Sesshoumaru and turned to Jaken.

"Master Jaken, are you a toad-demon?" she asked seriously.

"GAAHH! No, you foolish child, I'm an imp! How dare you insult me like that! Whatever gave you that idea!"

"Well, you look like a toad," Rin said, unruffled by the imp's screeching.

"I DO NOT!" Jaken protested angrily, waving his staff around and lecturing Rin on the differences between a toad and an imp. He was completely ignored, as usual.

"Hey, Master Jaken, you wanna play a game?" Rin interrupted him after about a minute.

"...and further-huh?" Jaken blinked and sighed. "What game, Rin?" he asked wearily, knowing that he was better off just going along with it from the start, because Sesshoumaru would force him into it anyways.

"How about we all play Janken Janken Pon?" she suggested. "I bet Lord Sesshoumaru is gonna win!" she chirped happily.

Sesshoumaru had to stifle the urge to stare at her in disbelief. Instead, he simply turned and looked at her expectantly, wondering what gave her the idea that he would actually play a game.

Rin saw the look on his face, and since he looked just the tiniest bit confused, she decided to explain.

"Well, Janken Janken Pon is a game where you-"

"I know what it is, Rin," Sesshoumaru sighed lightly.

"Cool! Alright, let's see...Ah-Un probably can't play, because he has paws instead of hands, so that leaves the three of us...I know, we can play a three-for-all!" she declared happily. "Ready?"

Sesshoumaru swore he saw a glint of satisfaction in Jaken's eyes as the imp realized that Sesshoumaru would be dragged along into this game as well...after all, misery loves company...

"Janken, Janken, Pon!" Rin cried happily. Jaken and Sesshoumaru begrudgingly indulged her childish whims, and even though they both clearly disliked games, Rin remained oblivious to the fact.

"Alright, Lord Sesshoumaru, you won! You get four steps forward!" Rin cheered with a clap of her hands.

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily and closed his eyes, taking a slow four steps.

This is going to be a very long day...

Ah-Un snorted in mild amusement, watching them play the silly game. Truthfully, the dragon thought it was rather funny that Sesshoumaru was allowing himself to be pulled into the ruse, but it was almost touching at the same time. Of course, even if Ah-Un were to speak, he would have never said his thoughts out loud.

"Janken, Janken, Pon!" Rin said again. She looked at the two demons, then smiled happily. "Wow, Lord Sesshoumaru, you're really good at this! You won again!" she grinned. "I think that's five steps this time."

"How long is this game going to last, child!" Jaken exclaimed.

"Oh, until somebody gets at least fifty steps ahead," Rin said calmly.

"Ugh," Jaken groaned. Sesshoumaru had to stop himself from groaning as well.

"Janken, Janken, Pon!" Rin threw out her hand again, then clapped cheerfully as she took four steps forward.

"Such a bothersome child," Jaken mumbled under his breath. Sesshoumaru shot him a glare, and Jaken shrank back underneath it.

"Janken, Janken, Pon!" Rin said again. This time Jaken and Rin both won, and Rin took five steps while Jaken took four. They continued like this for almost three hours, and finally, Sesshoumaru managed to get fifty-one steps ahead of them. Rin skipped up to him happily, all smiles and giggles as she walked next to him. The group continued thier trek, each one thinking different thoughts.

So young and carefree...Kami, and to think that I used to be that way once...Sesshoumaru thought to himself.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-+

"What do you have there, Sesshoumaru-kun?" InuTaisho leaned slightly to look over his son's shoulder.

"I'm building a castle," Sesshoumaru replied simply, the look of concentration apparent on his face.

"Oh, a castle now, hmm?" InuTaisho asked, trying to keep a straight face. "And what is the name of your castle, may I ask?"

"Don't know yet, but it's gonna be the coolest, funnest, neatest place in all of Nippon," Sesshoumaru said. "It's gonna have all sorts of candy, and all kinds of games and shows and plays...and then there's gonna be a whole lot of banquets and masquerades and expensive food, and lots of gardens full of decorative flowers for all the girls, because girls like pretty things like that," the young child explained quite matter-of-factly.

"I see," InuTaisho nodded seriously. "It sounds like a grand place."

"But first I have to build it," Sesshoumaru said simply, picking up another small piece of wood. Suddenly, the tiny child looked up sharply, scanning the area keenly before making a statement.

"Father, I won't have enough wood," he said very simply, turning his golden eyes to look up at the demon.

"Hmm, well that could be a problem, now couldn't it?" InuTaisho agreed. "Well, how about I get a few woodcutters and builders out here, and then they can gather the wood and build your castle for you, alright?"

"Okay!" Sesshoumaru agreed eagerly, jumping up quickly. "It's gonna be the best castle ever, just you wait and see! I'm gonna have all kinds of neat stuff in it!" he declared.

"I'm sure you will," InuTaisho chuckled before ruffling his son's hair. "Now how about you go get some lunch while I find those woodcutters, alright?"

"Okay, Father!" Sesshoumaru bounded off happily, going towards the kitchen. InuTaisho giggled almost girlishly as he watched his son-the boy was so intelligent, yet so easily amused-of course, the playful nature was to be expected of a demon that had barely grown past the age of being a toddler.

InuTaisho walked calmly towards his craftmaster's quarters, telling them what his son had decided his new project was going to be. The crafters smirked in amusement, but they dragged out a few planks of wood and took them over to where the young demon had been playing. InuTaisho decided to let Sesshoumaru be in charge of the building project, since it was going to be his 'castle'.

"Oh, cool, now we're getting somewhere!" Sesshoumaru grinned happily as he saw the crafters standing patiently nearby, awaiting his directions. "Alright, I want at least five thousand million rooms, and a hundred thousand kitchens, and two-hundred dining halls..." he began listing off his ideas.

"Easy there, Sesshoumaru-kun," InuTaisho chuckled lightly. "You need to start out simple. Remember, you can only create a fortress once you have enough power to do so. Until then, you'll have to make do," he said.

"Oh," Sesshoumaru looked down thoughtfully, then glanced at the crafters. "Well, how big can I make it right now?" he thought out loud, turning his questioning gaze at his father before looking at the other demons.

"Well, I suppose it would be about as big as, say, our main dining hall," InuTaisho shrugged. "Give or take a few feet, and of course it wouldn't be as tall," he added.

"Hmm..." Sesshoumaru frowned, deep in thought. "Well, okay then-I want two bedrooms-I need one for guests, of course-and a dining hall, and a tea room. Then I'll need at least a gate and an archer's tower; though I'll probably want a swordsman's quarters as well," he said. "That should do for now, I suppose."

"Well, I'll be off now," InuTaisho waved cheerily. "I have business to attend to. Be sure to show me your castle when you are finished," he grinned as he left.

"Alright, you heard the young Prince. Let's build him a fine castle," the head crafter smiled. The others nodded and began working, listening patiently while Sesshoumaru told them just how big he wanted each room to be, and just how high he wanted the gate, and just how tall he wanted the archer's tower...

InuTaisho came back about seven hours later to find that the crafters were done. He looked over to the side, glancing around for his son, and the head crafter smiled and pointed to the door of the young boy's 'castle'. InuTaisho grinned and stepped inside, having to duck slightly because the entrance was a bit too small. He looked around once he was inside, then quickly spotted Sesshoumaru. The pup was curled up in a shadowy corner, his body resting on the fluff that resided on his shoulder while his hair fell about him loosely. His eyes were closed and his breathing was heavy; he was sound asleep. InuTaisho grinned and easily picked up the small child, carrying him out and putting him into his room, on his own bed. He leaned forward and kissed the crescent moon on the small forehead affectionately, then quietly slid the door closed.

Sesshoumaru stirred slightly before opening his eyes halfway, then glanced about to see that he was in his own room. He didn't remember how he had gotten here, but he was too tired to think about it and so drifted back into sleep, allowing his dreams to sweep him away into faraway lands.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-+

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked worriedly for about the sixth time. Sesshoumaru snapped out of his reverie and looked at her for a second, wondering what she had been wanting to say.

"Are you alright, Lord Sesshoumaru? You look different," she said.

"Different?" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but ask what looked different about him.

"Well, you smiled, and it wasn't one of those smiles you use when you're fighting. You looked kind of happy. I thought you might be coming down with a fever or something," Rin said.

"I'm fine," Sesshoumaru told her as he continued walking. Great, now I make people nervous if I'm happy. That's just wwwoooonnnnnddddeeeeerrrrfffffuuuuullllll. Do I really look that unhappy all the time?

They all continued traveling until nightfall, stopping to camp for the night. Sesshoumaru looked up at the moon, thinking about what Rin had said. "You looked kind of happy..."

When was the last time I was truly happy? he asked himself silently, trying to suppress the question as soon as it formed. It hurt him to even think about it. He hated thinking about it, he really did. But the thought wouldn't leave him. It echoed in his mind, bringing forth the other question that he always despised-because he never knew the answer. Will I ever be able to be happy again, before I forget how it feels?

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Yay! So happy that I got this chapter up! I'm sure you noticed that this one is longer than the others!Please review everyone! Oh, has anyone figured out what I'm doing with the song titles yet? I'm sure a lot of you have! Well, I'm off to eat dinner since my mother has just finished making it and is currently calling for me! Thanks once again for reading, and please review! (Intelligent) flames accepted!