[AN: Yep. I love writing OC's. If you aren't a fan of fresh new additions to a story then please leave. I will not stop writing them in my stories and there will be a lot in this one. If you don't mind, then please, enjoy it!]

The next day came and as said Rin stayed in her room, being served breakfast there and getting changed as usual. Only this time she kept her windows closed and curtains covering it. She decided she'd practice her calligraphy while she was staying in here so she pulled out a scroll, opened a book, and began scrawling out a poem into the paper. As she was moving her hand gracefully across the paper she thought only of him, of her secret love and so because of that the poem was all about him.

Hair of silver

Eyes of Gold

Purest noble

Who some call cold

Striking like lightning

Crisp like rain

The dawn of my life

Who takes away all pain

My dearest lord

To my heart I am true

But only in secret can I confess

I love you

Rin paused her pen at the end of the last word then looked over everything, feeling a bitterness inside of her. This was the only way she could say all that was in her heart, she could not tell him, he would reject her, perhaps feel disrespected by the offer of her heart. He would sneer at the thought of being with a mortal, even if it was her who she knew he did care for. She did not wish to see his face like that looking at her, full of disgust and contempt. Rin would be mortified and things would never be the same between them again. She would rather die his friend than live life feeling his scorn. She waited until it was dry and folded it up as small as she could then wrapped it up, placing it by her chest. She held it there tightly closing her eyes.

He would never find it, she would hide it somewhere and eventually even she would forget about it. A box on her jewelry table that held an expensive pair of earrings, she would use that and hide them just under the fabric they laid on. She kissed the box then placed it back down. Now that it was all out of her system she sat back down at her writing desk and began to write normal things, practicing phrases and words that were of much richer vocabulary than she used. She wanted to have the speech of a woman of the court, someone with aplomb, finesse, and all those other words she never used in her regular day to day. If she was more learned she could have deeper conversation with Sesshomaru and not appear to some people like a peasant girl he plucked from the fields like a common flower. Even if that's all she was and saw herself as she wanted to enhance herself. She dressed the part now she wanted to talk the part, or at least have better diction and wording.

She wanted to impress him. As she was studying up she heard something outside of the castle, it sounded like a large animal landing on the ground. She wasn't supposed to even look outside but she knew it was the others and she wanted to see them. She was intrigued by what they might look like. Did they look like her lord or were they monstrous? She bit her lip as she mulled it over, wanting to not defy anything told of her but also she thought there was no harm in looking. Perhaps she could do both? She leaned herself further up so she could see just through the small crack in her curtains, it was just a sliver like a small piece of a puzzle. There she could just make out the person who just arrived, greeted by Sesshomaru in a dignified respectful way.

This one had long fiery red hair tied into a loose ponytail at the base, secured with a golden orb. His attire consisted of a black kimono with billowy bell sleeves, accented by gold. If she squinted hard enough she could make out that on the black surface were designs in a gray-blue. He looked human like except for his ears which were pierced and pointed. They were only longer than her lords. He had a marking on his forehead too, a golden circle surrounded by a flame. Rin didn't know his name but tried to listen as closely as she could. It sounded so muffled she couldn't make it out. The name she couldn't make out coming from Sesshomaru's mouth was Lord Asahi, of the east. The rest came just a little while after Lord Asahi. From the south came a younger more laid back looking gentleman wearing airy clothing, he seemed almost human if not for the webbed ears and hands, he also had a flat fin going down his spine. When he blinked it was sideways, not horizontal like most. Mozukai blinked like that too. She concluded he must be a sea demon and she wondered if the ocean here spread to the south and if he owned the majority of it. If the demons weren't so prejudiced she humbly ask of him his permission to swim in his seas.

From the north there was the only woman wearing a smoky grey and dark blue kimono with fur along the collar, hems, and sleeve line. She was the palest woman Rin had ever seen and what's more she had black eyes and black lips. Her ears were almost shaped like butterfly wings, pointed at the ends, and she dot like markings under both of her eyes. Her eyelashes looked almost like spider legs they were so long but that did not deter from her beauty. She held out her pallid arm for the lord, seemingly more unamused than even he was, as he held it and pressed it right above his lip. Rin felt somewhat better that he did not kiss it though she knew it was protocol. The lord from the south was Lord Mizunikaze and the woman was Lady Fuyumi. All of them arrived in their own special way all. Then Rin saw her, the sound of something landing did not come from Asahi but from the ladyship herself. To Rin she was the most elegant woman she had ever seen, so clearly the mother of Sesshomaru it was unmistakable. She was like a still sheet of clear ice sparkling in the sun. Rin had never seen someone so beauteous, save her lord but it was obvious where he got his looks.

She was assured that Lord Inutaisho too was a handsome man but to her no man could hold a candle to Sesshomaru, though he clearly took after them both, but more so his mother. They all headed inside one after the other, Sesshomaru letting them all go in first, being the gentleman Rin saw him as. Rin saw his eyes meet with her window and she felt herself turn both hot and cold. Did he know she was peeping? She instantly went back to what she was doing, only to peek once more again outside and breathe a sigh of relief that he was gone. She prayed he didn't notice her snooping and reprimand it for her later. The three leaders and her ladyship all went into a quiet large room to discuss matters at hand but it was hard to concentrate with something bothering their senses.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but does anyone else smell a human?" Lord Asahi brought up.

"Yes it stank of human as soon as I came through the door," Lady Fuyumi concurred, fanning herself as she was not used to such heat.

Mizunikaze sniffed the air, he had the worst sense of smell compared to his peers. "Even I can get a whiff of it."

"Is this really so important that you put this discussion on a standstill?" Sesshomaru's mother inquired with a raise of her eyebrow. She could see the minor twitch of the under eyelid of her son right after Fuyumi's phrasing. Unlike everyone here she knew what it was and thought nothing of it. She could recall the faint smell of the girl Rin and he had permeating his home. Even he smelled like her but only just barely.

"It's bothering my nose. It's not a pleasant aroma in the slightest. Quite the opposite. It smells almost like a...well a barn animal. It smells of filth and grass and..."

"Enough," Sesshomaru coolly responded, without breaking an iota out of his usual self even though internally he and his inner self could agree, he did not like hearing Rin being akin to an animal. Even when he first met her that smell she carried never offended his nose and eventually she grew to smell more like the wilds and like him. She did, though, he will agree, smelled of grass but that was obvious. She practically rolled around in it but it wasn't like filth, just earthy, natural.

"We should get back to what is at hand."

"That's right, we didn't just come here to gab away like foolish school children," his mother agreed with the wave of her hand and a wiggle of her fingers. "let's get back on track, shall we?"

"It's bothering me though!" Fuyumi whined with a scoff out her jet black mouth. "How can you all stand it? And why aren't any of you questioning it?"

"Lady Fuyumi, perhaps they are right. It isn't important," Mizunikaze insisted trying to appease the two before him. He wasn't too fond of Fuyumi, she was so prissy and expected everyone to agree with her.

"No one asked you for your opinion," She heatedly fumed, pointing her fan towards him. It was obvious the heat and the smell she so disliked were getting to her.

"Here we go...you two are always fighting. For just two hours can't we all get along?" Asahi pleaded, feeling sympathy for Sesshomaru who had to invite these people into his home then had to listen to them bicker.

"If I explain why the smell is here would you all swear by your forefathers to shut it?" The ladyship asked getting a reaction from her son.

"Mother..." He hissed under his breath, warning her not to say anything about Rin. He was trying to keep her safe not have her exposed in front of everyone.

"You see it's this girl," She began, not at all heading the warnings of her son. She was not going to listen to him, she was the parent and had been on this earth for far longer than he. "he saved her life and now she travels with him. I don't recall her name. Lin maybe?"

"You...save a human?" Fuyumi questioned then burst out laughing, they all joined in much to Sesshomaru's displeasure. He blamed his mother for this utter humiliation, if she had not spoken none of them would have known. She was always doing things like this. Despite her reserved posh nature she was really not at all what people thought in private. The laughter continued for what felt like an eternity, some of it so loud even Rin could hear it and wondered what was so funny. Her lord was not one for telling jokes nor enjoying them.

"Are you all done now?" Tsukiakari sharply questioned, agitated at the reaction her statement got. She thought these were a proud race of demons with royal lineage not a bunch of fools who laughed at nothing.

"It's just ridiculous! It can't be real. My lady you must be joking with us," Asahi commented with a snicker.

"I assure you I am not at all jesting. If you keep this up I will ask you all to leave and we may resume this when you three have decided to regain your common decency and composure. It's disgraceful the way you're acting."

"Disgraceful?! Your son is harboring a human in his own home and you call us disgraceful?" Fuyumi seethed through sharp teeth, lowering her razor thin black eyebrows.

"What my son wishes to do is truthfully none of your concern. Now, this is the last time I'll say this, let's get back to what's important here."

Fuyumi's fury did not seem to subside but she crossed her arms and let it brew as she sat there with her arms crossed. Everyone else knew that the lady meant business and if they interrupted once more then who knew what she would do. Besides in the end it really didn't matter. It was good for a laugh though and surprised them all. He loathed humans, given what happened to his father, so it was a shock to know he had one traveling with him and living with him. None of them could answer as to why but they all knew she wasn't a child. This only made matters more suspicious. The demon lord of the south didn't care as much as the others did about this topic, he was more easy going and went with the flow. Asahi cared somewhat more but not enough to keep droning on and on about it.

The one who was affronted and even devastated was Fuyumi. At first when she met Sesshomaru she found him to be an agreeable man, one with great promise, of prestigious background, dignity, and proud morals about the separation of species. She too felt a vile taste in her mouth about half breeds, he was right to have them as servants and she could accept trade with them in a village, at least they were still peasants. She liked this man, he was debonair and reserved, tranquil and precise in his slaying, never exerting himself when spilling blood. Only doing it when necessary. She had been wanting to make him hers for some time but waited for the right moment. Yet now it seemed all for not, he was keeping a human around him and not just any human but a woman.

Was he truly turning into his disgraced father? There seemed to be no other reason to keep her around. She doubted they were just friends and even that notion was disturbing to her. How could he betray his own kind like that? She must see this human, if she looked as bad as she smelled she'd be no threat. She was already not one just by being human but that didn't seem to matter to him. He was protecting her, tucking her away from prying eyes. She'd have to be sneaky if she wanted to look upon the face of this puny mortal. The meeting was adjourned and the thee other members were leaving except Fuyumi claimed she had to use the ladies room. Sesshomaru was not born yesterday so he showed her the way, never taking his eyes off of her for a moment.

He knew what she was trying to do and so did his mother. He would not allow her to lay one claw or eye on Rin. He didn't care if she was of nobility he'd break her arm clean off. How dare she think herself haughty enough to come into his dominion and try to even look at Rin? He knew exactly how she felt about humankind it was the same way he felt so long ago if not worse than that. She wished to eradicate them from the planet, wash it clean of all of the grime and start over with a pure bred world. Perhaps if he was just a bit crazy he might have even joined her when he knew no better. Now he had a human with him and the thought of her leaving this world again made him ache. If losing all humans included her then he'd rather keep them all, even if he didn't like them all, even if she was the only one he felt worth keeping. Life without Rin...it felt meaningless.

Fuyumi entered the washroom and thought of how she would continue her scheme now with both he and his mother posted up at the door. She paced for a moment then realized there seemed to be no way she could do this...unless she guessed which room the woman was in and peeked in while she was leaving. It would have to be a good guess. She powdered her face even though given its pallor it was already white enough and exited. She had one on each side of her preventing her from even peeping around to assume where she might be. She memorized the layout though and thought of each room. She knew he had a fair number of them and she could be anywhere but she honed her nose on that vulgar scent and tried to find where it was coming from the most. Sesshomaru truly had the best smell out of all of them but she came in a close second so it didn't take her long to find out where the smell was the strongest. She made Sesshomaru help her onto her carriage and extended her hand for far longer permitting him to kiss it again. She yawned as he did so and as she yawned she took this small chance to see that room. It was in perfect view of the garden.

She could see the window with the curtains pulled so as to conceal what was in there and she noted it was the only one that had that. For a brief moment a head moved by the window and half a face was revealed. Fuyumi smirked, she was no great beauty at all. Izayoi was prettier, if she could ever say a human looked good that is. A simple brunette with mud brown eyes, the little bit of makeup she had on her didn't cover her simplicity. She felt satisfied in a way that to her there was no way he was interested in anything about her in a more romantic sense. She was just some child who he was burdened with after carelessly having some pity on her. This is what she thought. As she went home to her ice palace she couldn't help laughing again. Such a duck that Lin looked and she was a swan. Surely it would be all too easy to use her feminine wiles to secure Sesshomaru as her own.

Sesshomaru waited until her carriage was nothing but a dot in the distance before gathering Rin. His mother seemed to want to stay and he had no reason to hide Rin from her as she already knew who she was and what she was. He found her room and told her from the other side of the door that she was okay to come out. He heard released air from her, a long sigh of relief. She opened the door greeting him with her soul brightening smile. She wanted to hear everything about what happened and just exactly who everyone was. She wasn't sure if it was okay to tell him she had been nosy but knowing her she would eventually tell him and deal with the reaction to it later. She wanted to ask him about it as soon as possible but he told her not everyone was gone.

"What do you mean...?"

"He means that I'm still here," The lady announced with a small smile of her own.

"Your ladyship!" Rin gasped then dropped to the floor in the deepest bow she could manage.

"You bow perfectly, Rin" She complimented, touching her on the back of her head. "But it's not at all warranted...though I do appreciate it."

"You knew her name the whole time?" Sesshomaru asked, staring down his mother.

"Of course but why should they know? I thought it best they were not given private information. Was I wrong?"

He didn't thank her for that but he was thankful she was so quick to think that. Rin wasn't sure if she was alright to rise and what they were talking about. She just sat there on the floor with her head touching the ground and tendrils of her hair spilling onto the wood paneling.

"Oh please don't stay that way, Rin. You'll hurt your back. Come come, stand up. That's a good girl. There now, let's see," She mused, looking her over and circling her. "Mhm. Mhm. You've grown into a fine little lady."

"Thank you, your ladyship. It's an honor to hear so from you."

"No need to be so formal with me. You may call me Tsuki, it's what those I trust call me."

"You trust me my lady...I mean to say Tsuki?"

"Have I any reason not to? If my son does then so do I besides you are harmless and sweet. I doubt you'd ever cross me."

"Oh no never ! That would be like playing with fire."

"As clever as a fox and keen too."

"It is funny you say so because I am what you might call friends with a kitsune, Lady Akino."

Tsuki's eyes shined. "Well that is something. Lady Akino is the sister of the northern empress. She was here today you know."

"Yes I know...but I had no idea Lady Akino had a sister."

"Come with me and we can talk all about the four corners and their leaders. You seem like a curious type and I have nothing better to do. I do so like telling stories, I used to fill my son's head up with legends of our past and now I shall do the same with you."

"I'm grateful I get this opportunity."

"You have humility, something which my son lacks. Perhaps together you can make each other better."

Sesshomaru followed behind them, he wasn't about to just leave her with his mother. Not for lack of trusting her, he did but because he would prefer to be near Rin and didn't want her to feel scared. Tsuki was holding onto Rin's arm, linking them together like they were old friends, and walking down the hallways with her. He wondered just what her goal was, what did she seek to gain out of doing this with Rin? Did she truly have an interest in a human; She of all people? Surely not but why was she trying to culture her? Just because he kept her around? Perhaps then she thought someone that is going to be around her son, the high lord of the west, then they should be just as educated and patrician. Rin wasn't a true lady even if Sesshomaru thought otherwise but his mother seemed to want to change that, to give her the same kind of upbringing he had. Besides there was something else. She always wanted a daughter and this was the only thing close enough to that. They went into his office and sat down. Rin offered to make her some tea and she accepted that it was alright to do so. Rin got up and went to the kitchen to boil some water. She tried to think of various teas and which one was right to give to someone like that. White peach tea seemed the best choice. Sesshomaru was standing for now, looking at his mother with an incredulous face.

"What is it, dear son?"

"You're up to something."

"I just want to take this poor lowly farm girl into one with some class. Besides she wants to learn and so she shall. You're so suspicious of me all the time."

"I have my reasons."

"Tsk tsk tsk. When will you learn to trust me? I only want what's best for my boy."

"And how is this going to benefit me?"

"You'll have a refined lady with you, one who is well learned. I think this will make her feel better to be on the same level as you. You're so superior to her, I think she feels...unworthy. Am I wrong?"

"...Rin often does think herself to be...unworthy. Are you saying that's my fault?"

"Hush hush, she's coming back," she shushed, looking towards the door with a face that read as innocent, as innocent and placid as she could look. "There you are. What did you make?"

"White peach tea. I didn't know how you liked it so I put sugar, honey, and cream on the side. Is that fine?"

"Yes now sit, sit. Oh you made one for Sesshomaru. What do we say, dear?"

Sesshomaru blinked at her then looked at Rin who looked at him, holding the tea cup in her hands.

"He doesn't have to thank little me. I live to serve him," she humbly responded with her eyes closed and a smile.

"I see," Tsuki hummed with interest watching her son take a seat now and right beside Rin. He took the cup from her with a head nod, as much thanks as he could muster for her. Not out of disrespect, he respected her of course, but it was just not like him to say thank you to anyone.

"Now then let's see...oh yes. Well you see the empress of the north is named Fuyumi and she's a polar fox while her sister Lady Akino is forest fox. They don't at all get along you see, in fact they despise each other. Different views on things like their opinions on mortals for instance. Akino liked them, she found them amusing, but Fuyumi...she would rather see them all die."

"Oh...then I understand why I was hidden away. I assumed though that not everyone is like my lord though I am glad to know some are tolerant."

Lady Tsuki then went on to explain the origins of the four corners and how each person was determined to rule each part. She told her about each of the leaders, their personalities, their family lines, and she also taught her about the differences between them. The eastern lord was a dragon demon, as she mentioned the northern empress was a fox demon, and the southern one was a water demon just as Rin thought. Each one protected their areas well, from the frozen north to the southern seas. Rin learned a lot that day about demon heritage and history, more than she thought possible. The lady told her she'd come ever so often to tell her more and teach her more things. Rin felt privileged and special for the lady to take time out of her busy schedule and come all the way down from her cloudy domain to see her. After finishing their tea they all went outside to see her off. Despite trying to stay civilized and prim Rin still got distracted because the rabbit came back to the garden, sniffing about and hopping.

"Usagi!" She cried out happily, delight in her eyes and voice. She ran over to the garden and found a carrot for it and began to sit there in the fields waiting for it to come to her as she held it out. "Come come Usagi, look what I have for you."

"She is an interesting human," Tsuki proclaimed, watching her try to coax the rabbit towards her. "Did you see how she saw the rabbit so quickly? Eyes like a hawk that one. Almost like a demon...but still a child and yet a woman. Very intriguing. Tell me do you intend to keep her here forever?"

"Yes," he responded like it was an obvious answer.

"Doesn't she have anyone to go to besides you?"

"She does but...she wants to be here."

"Is that all? She just wants it and you give it to her? Why?"

"What I do is none of yours."

"You're my son, it does concern me in some regard. However...fine with me. Keep your secrets. I have my own ideas on why you spoil her. It must be those beguiling eyes and that cute smile."

"Mother...enough. Weren't you going?"

"You know maybe I'll stay over for a while. I haven't yet seen your entire castle."

"You wouldn't...," he cuttingly assumed, shifting his sight to her.

"You want me gone so badly? I never thought I'd see the day where my own son would be telling me to leave him. Want to be alone with her that much?"

He lowered his eyebrows angrily at her but she was not phased, she had mastered that look, he got it from her. She pat the side of his face. "I'll go but I have to ask...you do know what's coming up, don't you? What season it will be? Do you really think it safe to keep her around during such a time?"

"What are you getting at?" His icy voice queried, not at all liking what she was hinting to.

"No need to take up such a tone with me. I'm just worried is all. Can't a mother be worried about her son? And also for that girl...you care about her so much...I'd hate for you to lose yourself..."

"I'll be alright. Nothing will happen, you can be sure of that."

"And if it does...?"

"It won't."

"How are you so certain?" she responded back, placing her hand on his shoulder and looking over at the young woman in the fields, having succeeded in getting the rabbit closer to her. "Sesshomaru I know what it's like more than you...I know what it can do to a man. Please, send her away at least until it's over."

"I won't do such a thing. It has never affected me before and it won't now. I know nothing will happen because it is her."

"So you feel nothing for her?"

"...Not nothing," he honestly admitted though he loathed having to say that out loud and to her but something about his mother right now made his tongue loosen either that or he just didn't think this much of an admission. She knew by now he felt deeply for Rin but it wasn't any more than tender affection and that was already a lot coming from someone who used to be so ruthless and calculatingly unsympathetic. His very name meant destruction of life, almost humorous considering his sword brought life. He wondered just what kind of future her son was going to have, naming him something like that. It sounded like an evil name, now that he thought about it. Rin thought him the entire opposite, she thought him some pious deity sent to save her. Maybe just maybe...she was sent to save him from his path of destruction.

"but not anything deeper than what you see."

"And what of her feelings for you?"

"It is the same both ways."

"I'm not so sure about that...but I will leave things be. I'll return soon but not too soon. Think about what I said. Goodbye, take care of yourself."

"I will."

She turned into her mighty dog demon form and flew away, looking back at the two, hoping what her son said was right. For his sake and hers she hoped so or else something might happen that one of them wouldn't want. Sesshomaru viewed Rin kneeled over feeding the carrot to the hungry rabbit who seemed now after a bit of coaxing okay with her. He slowly made his way over to her but not too close as he didn't want to have the bunny scurry off with fear. Not that he cared if that happened usually but he saw how much she was in love with the creature and jubilant she was to have it nibble from her hands. She turned to him with an ecstatic face, eyes like two new copper coins. She jerked her head toward herself, asking him to come closer.

"Here," she said holding up the carrot which the rabbit was sniffing at but staying perfectly still otherwise. "Why don't you try it?"

"Me...?"

"Yes of course. Come on, he won't bite."

"I'm not afraid of it, even if it did," Sesshomaru remarked with a bit of haughtiness. Still he did as she said and came closer which caused the rabbit to start to hop away. Rin didn't look upset at all by this but indulgently asked him to come closer. Once he got to her side she handed him the carrot. He looked at it strangely and at her too. However she had such imploring eyes and she was not dropping her hand anytime soon. He took it from her slowly and continued to look at it as if it was some foreign object.

Rin made a noise by clicking her tongue behind her two front teeth, it sounded like tick tick. The rabbit's ear perked up from far away and it began cautiously hopping back. She instructed Sesshomaru on what to do. He was not at all used to taking orders from anyone and usually he wouldn't. If it was any of his servants or anyone else for that matter telling him what to do well they wouldn't dare anyways because they knew better. Rin however assumed she could do such things and get away with it. It appeared that was correct as he had no reason to argue with her. She was not a big crier but she would if he snapped at her even a little. Not that he would even if she angered him. He very rarely yelled in general but even less so when it came to her.

"Usagi," she called out in a sweet voice while continuing that noise. It felt safe enough to proceed, seeing that the food source was now in view again. It came to Sesshomaru's hand, unafraid of his claws or his overall demonic nature that he was certain even basic animals could sense. Its nose wiggled next to the carrot and its beady eyes looked all around, making sure this was safe, before taking the first nibble. Rin was beyond thrilled, so pleased by the fact that this was happening. She let out a sound of sheer glee, it almost sounded like a giggle. He was at first looking at the rabbit, mystified by what was going on. All his life all the creatures of the earth ran away from him and rightly so given how he was and who he was. Never did he fathom for one insane moment that he'd be feeding a rabbit of all things, one of the most harmless and skittish beings he knew of.

"It likes you," she claimed, eyes solely on the rabbit enjoying its meal. Sesshomaru however only had eyes for her. She was like the rabbit too, so unafraid of him, so pure and innocent, so sweet and soft. Rin took her time in reaching out her hand but eventually she touched the rabbit's body and began petting it. "Soft and white like your fluffy," She remarked with amusement, giggling again. He rose a solitary eyebrow at her.

"My what?"

"Your fluffy! The thing you wear. I used to call you fluffy-san before I knew of your name. Don't you remember?"

"You mean...my tail?"

"Is that what it is?!" She gasped in awe looking at the white fluff that surrounded his body. "This whole time I never knew. Oh it's beautiful my lord. I'm sure it's much softer than even Usagi."

"Do you want to touch it?" He asked with a still face, evaluating her own. She was staring at it so longingly, tracing every line of it with her eyes. She looked at it with intense desire, having wanted to touch it ever since she first saw him. She supposed she already had but she never had when he was in his more human form.

"C...c..can I really? I mean...would you be willing to...?"

"Go ahead."

She squealed in delight then took her other hand and placed it right on it. She breathed in sharply then let it out slow. Rin caressed both the rabbit and his tail trying to gauge which one was felt smoother. Yet to him the way she was touching it was something different to how she touched the rabbit. She was stroking it with reverence, like it was a precious object to her. The way Rin was touching him and that she was in fact touching him at all, especially there, made him feel weird. He should stop her but...he...he liked it.

"Yes you are softer. More so than anything I've ever felt. Thank you...for letting me. I know it must mean a lot to you, as it is part of you...is it really your tail, honestly?"

"Yes."

"So...does her ladyship have one too?"

"She does and my father did as well. All of the purebred of our clan have one."

"I love it," she told him, taking her hands off of it because she thought she shouldn't indulge in it too much. She continued to pet the rabbit, trying to tell herself not to blush over the fact that she had touched part of his body. She did anyways. Sesshomaru placed the carrot down leaving the rabbit to eat it from the ground which it seemed content to do. He touched her hand that was still on the rabbit, covering it with his own. Her blush returned even fiercer.

"Um I...you know...I'm going to be honest here with you...I...I peeked outside and saw the three leaders."

"I know."

"You...oh...you saw, didn't you?"

He nodded. "It's fine, none of them saw you."

"She's very beautiful...Lady Fuyumi... and she seems to like you."

"How can you tell?"

"Oh I just...know. It's how she looks at you. I could be wrong though."

"Hm. Even if that was so I have no interest in her. She's also not at all attractive to me."

Rin was celebrating inside but like her lord she just didn't show it externally. However this did not mean he liked her now nor did it give her any more chance than before. Still if someone that looked like that couldn't catch his eye maybe he just wasn't interested at all in finding someone. That could work out too, they could just be alone together. His hand was still on hers as they looked at each other. What he said was the truth, Fuyumi wasn't at all interesting to him, not even a little bit. She never had been and never will be. Her personality was enough to drive most men away, she was too full of herself, insolent, vain, and overall unpleasant. Also she just wasn't all that beautiful in his eyes even though men for miles around would claim of her beauty being beyond compare. He didn't see that when he looked at her.

'And what do you see when you look at Rin?' His inner voice asked him.

He ignored it for now in favor of just looking at her but as he did the question kept coming back to haunt him. What did he see when he looked at her? He didn't see a little girl he could affirm that much. He saw a woman but not just a woman, someone who was braver than she thought, gentle yet a fighter, sincere, honest, humble, full of devotion and admiration, and happy just being alive by his side. She was also loving, exceedingly fond of him, diligent, playful, cheerful and-

'She's fetching, isn't she?' His mind tormented him.

'What did I tell you?'

'That she's pretty and that's all she is. Very pretty though.'

'Isn't that more than enough for you?'

'Sure if you like to use basic words but basic words are for basic women. Would you call her that? Could you say she's average?'

'...Away with you.'

'Only if you tell me what you really think.'

'You already know what I think.'

'Ah. So you do think she's more than pretty!'

Sesshomaru didn't answer back this time which left his inner self running ramped.

'Just say it already and I'll not bother you anymore...'

Rin had not removed her hand from his but her eyes were downcast only to find their way back up to his again. He removed his hand from hers and let it drop there by his side but he found he did not actually want it to stop. Like she had earlier he had to stop himself from indulging in such pleasures. He didn't even want to call it that. The wind blew her hair which was in a ponytail this day causing her to look up and see the cherry blossom petals falling daintily onto her. She raised her hands up to catch them and danced around in the swirling whirlwind of blossoms. As she did so he never took his eyes off of her. Her hair, her singing laughter, her lips, her glittering eyes, and the way she was playfully dancing.

'...She's beautiful...'