Author's Note: Hello! I'm Kalista! This is my brand spanking new Inuyasha fanfic. It's my first too! I hope you enjoy it. I adore Rin and Sesshoumaru and I am willing to bet bucks that they are going to end up together. This is a small story I wrote about them, expect it to be dramatic and romantic. Lemons will come, I think -.- Please REVIEW! And e-mail me, IM me! Thank you!

Chapter One: Realization

Rin opened her eyes and found her favorite face in the world looking back at her. His face was emotionlessly, as usual. Yet it didn't matter her, she knew he cared. If he didn't, then he wouldn't have came back to save her.

"Rin," Sesshoumaru said shortly as he started to walk away, "Follow along."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin said happily as she jumped back to life and quickly trotted behind her lord.

Her brown eyes followed his face curiously and she wondered why he wasn't saying a word. She couldn't remember a thing that happened after Naraku had kidnapped her. But one thing was for sure… her lord had come to save her once more.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin said softy as she tugged on the edge of his clothes gently, "Thank you." She whispered and gave him a cute smile to show her sincerity.

Sesshoumaru glanced at the human girl that he had saved so long ago and studied her smile. That smile had confused him so long ago. Why was she always so happy when there honestly wasn't anything to be happy about? It was a simple act of charity when he had saved her, was it not? Or was there something more? Of destiny, perhaps? No matter, it had happened and now she was with him. "I will always protect you, Rin. You are my ward." He said simply and lifted his head to continue the journey.

It was easy for him to say, yet he didn't know Rin had taken it quiet seriously. Her brown eyes looked at her lord surprised and felt a small blush color her cheeks. Lately, she had blushed more around her lord than before. She was changing and growing. It confused her yet excited her. She didn't know though, that she was slowly following in love with this self claimed guardian.

"Always, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin whispered as she caught up to him, her eyes lightened with hope.

"…Always, Rin."

7 years later…

Sesshoumaru watched Rin carefully through the corner of his eye even though he was thinking about other things. The battle between Naraku and himself was finally over, and it seemed as if there one thing left to do. Go back to the Western Lands and produce an heir. His golden eyes flickered slightly at the idea and gave a small sigh. Of course he had to do it, though nobody had any idea how much he dreaded the idea. He had left the issue long enough though and had no choice but to finally face it. With another sigh, Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and leaned back on the rock attempting to rest. He was quickly disturbed by Rin who waved flowers under his nose in an innocent gesture.

"Sesshoumaru-sama…" Rin said softly as she poked her lord, attempting to cheer him up. Her brown eyes gazed over his face and she blushed while her eyes lingered one too many seconds on his lips. Rin quickly lowered her head in embarrassment and hoped that Sesshoumaru didn't notice her blush.

She was already eighteen now, ripe for marriage. Her lord had asked many times if she wished to leave, but Rin had declined. There was nothing she wanted more than to be with him forever. She didn't say that of course, she knew her place well enough to shut her mouth. Jaken and left a couple years ago to settle down once Naraku was finished. He had advised her to leave Sesshoumaru as well, not because that she wasn't wanted anymore, but because it was dangerous. There was no place for a human in Sesshoumaru's world and Rin knew that better than anybody. However, she still stayed. As long as possible was her goal. Her lord had not told her to leave yet and Rin was determined to stay until he shouted at her to go away.

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes to see the flowers in his face. He took them and let his claws linger over the soft rose pedals. Roses never grew in the Western Lands and he wondered what had changed. "Rin, I shall go home tomorrow." He said in his normal short tone and glanced at the girl who had grown into a woman. His eyes flickered over her body, taking in the womanly curves she had developed, the soft delicate shape of her lips and the long silky hair that now went all the way to her waist. She was a beauty. There was no doubt about it.

Ever since Rin had turned sixteen, more and more admirers started to court her. Sesshoumaru found it quiet irritating and asked more than once if Rin wished to leave. He didn't even understand why he was keeping her for so long. Perhaps he had grown use to her? The thought brought a slight scowl to his face. Grow use to a human? No. Even if he had, he had too much pride to ever admit that. However, once again, it is time for him to ask the question.

"Do you wish to accompany me to the Western Lands? Or do you wish to stay in a village and perhaps settle?" He asked softly while standing up prepared to leave. He wasn't even looking at Rin while he asked. For some odd reason, Sesshoumaru loved to go to excessive extends to show that he doesn't care. Like that one time he saved her from Naraku, he was scared out of his wits yet he tried to make a big deal about how he didn't care. He found it quiet funny how he was contradictory like that. However, his ears listened intently as he waited for Rin's answer.

Rin smiled slightly as she tilted her head and looked at her lord. She was already tall enough so her head didn't have to lift very high just to look at him. She was about 5'7, which is about where Sesshoumaru's shoulder was. She liked it, that way she could always look into his eyes when she spoke. His eyes fascinated her, so gold, so beautiful…She blinked as she heard his voice and frowned slightly at the question. Why did he always ask that? Did she make it not clear enough? She had ever intention of staying forever with him. Forever, till the day she died.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin will stay with you forever." She said softly and smiled deeply into his eyes. It was the truth…she wanted to be with him forever. He was the one that had saved her so many years ago, but it wasn't gratitude that was making her stay. No, it was something much more.

Sesshoumaru merely nodded at her reply but inside he was letting out a breath of relief. He wasn't even sure why he had been so nervous. Surely, he wasn't scared that she would leave him? No, of course not…He wasn't sure what these feelings he was getting were, they were simply too knew for him to understand. Sesshoumaru lifted his head to glance at the orange sky knowing that night would soon come. Blinking slightly, Sesshoumaru sniffed the air again and growled knowing that rain was going to come as well. He didn't speak another word while he quickly started to walk towards a cave nearby.

Rin gave a small frown as she felt a rain drop on her forehead. "Sesshoumaru-" she wanted to warn him about the rain but it was too late. By the time she had caught up with him, it was pouring.

Sesshoumaru sighed as he watched Rin start sneezing and get drenched. He didn't say a word while he picked her up and let her lay in his hands while he started to run towards the cave. It took only a couple minuets to get there, but they were both soaked.

"Get changed, Rin." Sesshoumaru instructed briefly as he sat down and started a fire. He made no move to change though and merely sat there by the fire attempting to dry himself. Rin sneezed once more and nodded numbly while she glanced around trying to find a place to undress. Sesshoumaru watched with a slight smirk on his face as he realized she had truly grown up. It was a bit odd for him to find that she was actually embarrassed to be nude around him. However, Sesshoumaru found it a bit cute as well.

Finally, Rin found a place to change behind a large rock that was present and started to get out of her kimono. Her face blushed bright red as she hugged herself, trying to hide as much of her flesh as possible even though she knew her lord wasn't watching. She peaked at him curiously as she threw her clothes near the fire to dry. Then, much to her embarrassment, her eyes flickered over her lord's body in an unusual way. It was almost as if she was interested in him. And that was probably the case. Her face blush deepened as she closed her eyes and she could hear her heart pounding. Suddenly it hit her; she was in love with him…her lord, guardian and protector…Sesshoumaru. Love strikes at unusual times, and Rin found that to be true. There she was, standing naked and her face blushing bright red while realizing this wonderful and terrible thing.

"Rin?" Sesshoumaru asked as he threw her clothes back at her, "Your clothes are dry." He said shortly and rested his head on the walls of the cave. After a brief moment of staring at the night sky, he closed his eyes falling peacefully asleep.

Rin gulped as her eyes wandered over his body and sighed wondering where her feeling would end as. The realization came so fast, it wasn't even a shock now. She knew that the feeling had been there for so long…she just hoped the her love wouldn't end in disaster.

A/N: Liked that? Better is yet to come. Next chapter Rin and Sesshy shall return to the Western Lands and they are in for a surprise. wink