With Yashahime dangling so much for innocent and loving heart strings right now, I think we all need some bliss. I have been requested that I continue on with this. Although I didn't intend to add on, it wouldn't hurt to embellish what I had already written, because we all need some pure unadulterated happiness, and I am here to make that happen. I decided to dive into the little scenarios that I had created (and perhaps one or two more) because one episode a week is NOT enough, and I NEED TO LET THIS OUT RIGHT NOW.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

My Favorite Things

Time is quite funny isn't it? I like to think that I am hilarious, so I will be playing a little bit with time in this cute little fluff piece. This would be a time in Rin's life where she would have aged a little after accepting her new home in the village. The transition would have taken some time since Rin would end up a little traumatized after all that had happened with the fight against Naraku - (she as well as everyone else). She would get in a daily routine of her own personal responsibilities, and she would be grateful for the distractions of her blatant sadness and tearful evenings.

She would miss her freedom.

She would miss her old life.

It would be no secret that she would miss Sesshomaru most of all.

Time would eventually chirp by with the seasons, as well as the very concept of time. Sango and Miroku would have settled down immediately. Sesshomaru, and sometimes Jaken, would come and visit every single month like clockwork, to a point where Rin would start to keep up with the times and would know the exact day that he (or they) would arrive. Kagome would also return and things would go haywire but Rin liked the chaos, for it tended to keep her mind pretty clear. People around her age would even start talking about birthdays and growing up, but Rin wouldn't have a very good idea of her age since she had been alone for so long before she started following the unlikely posse of the demon lord, the old toad, and their trusty dragon steed Ah and Un. Figuring out her age would've been easy enough with good and helpful friends like Sango and Kagome to help her better understand who she is as she would shortly enter into what one would consider womanhood.

She would come to be quite thankful that the people she lived among were at least familiar people she knew from her travels with Sesshomaru.

That... and it would also be a great help when he would come and visit her, every month, at the time of the crescent moon.

"Raindrops on roses," Rin, one voice of many girls, would be heard as they would all pick the bounty of harvest at the very west corner of the village, "and whiskers on kittens." The human girl would be short for her age, but would swiftly move her body to the music in her mind. With the bottom of her kimono would be tucked into the wrap around her waist as she expertly moves her feet through the controlled flood of the bountiful crops. She would pick with smooth motions. "Bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens-" she would continue while giving herself a grin of self satisfaction as she would complete her row with ease. She would have gotten good at this particular chore, no matter how much it would dull her to no end. Picking each piece with rhythm, she would continue to hum as she would appreciate the feel of the sun as it kisses her cheeks.

This is where the wind would gently pick up as a familiar silhouette would start to peak from the far distance in the west. The girl would smile at such a sight, sensing the familiarity of the wind and smiles at her touch. Rin would then trudge through the crop waters as her mind would spin with excitement and wonder as she would try to gently place her harvest basket down as the Demon Lord would make his way towards the village. "Lord Sesshomaru!" She would wave with the brightest smile she could muster as she would run closer towards him. With his speed, he would seem to glide through the wind blown wild grass, but his pace wouldn't be quick enough for the girl as she would meet him more than half way. "I'm so excited to see you! I have many things to tell you and show you!"

"Hello Rin," Sesshomaru's words would always be simple, but the fact that he would speak to her would be a great honor for her. "I hope you have fared well."

Her happiness would leap from her lashes as she would smile a carefree disposition. He would come to a halt as she would look deep within his eyes. This would always be a sort of language between the human and the demon. It was even previously believed that she were to be mute for a short time when she had first stumbled upon him, but boy did that quickly change with a little time between them.

Rin would be so busy with her "how do's" that she would forget to pick up her basket as they would make their way to her and Lady Kaede's hut, forcing her to make a mad sprint back for the dreaded thing.

"I'll take that if you like," Lady Kaede's voice would speak with an elderly hand out. She would have aged since he had laid eyes on the motherly woman. He would sense that even more had changed since the human woman that Inuyasha had grown attached to had returned, and it seemed to be for good, this time around. "She often forgets about your gifts until well after you leave, anyhow." Kaede's handle of his gently wrapped package of imported soaps and spices from other countries would be noted with a bow of thanks from him as he would make his way out into the spring day.

They would usually spend an afternoon together as they go on their long and secluded walks. On these days she would go on and on about the responsibilities that she would have been given, and any other big news from the small village. Rin would start her stories somewhat like journal entries. He wouldn't say much on her behalf, but he would always be more than content to be a silent contender. She would always be so happy to see him that she would forget to stop talking long enough for anyone to intervene, much less the Demon Lord of the West.

The biggest news these days would most likely be the return of Kagome from another time. Rin would admit that she wouldn't know what her friends would mean by "another time," and Sesshomaru would only admit internally that he would know as much as she as the wind would pick up. The familiar breeze would gently caress them both as if it were the hand of a dear friend as they would sit in comfortable silence. Her mind would drift to the music stored in her mind and this would cause her to begin to sing.

There would be one song in particular that would always get stuck in her head these days, and that would be because it would be her favorite song. It's would be a little tune about "her favorite things", and Sesshomaru would find it to be quite a clever one. She would sing the gentle tune just loud enough for the two to hear as she would walk along the waves of the stream next to their little hideaway not too far off from the village, a place far enough for solitude, yet close enough for Rin's protection against the monsters that still roam the earth- creatures that Sesshomaru slowly yet surely resolves as times goes by. Sesshomaru would sit in the shade and enjoy the quiet day. It would rare to have a day with Rin where he didn't hear the shrieking cry of a demon within the range of his dog-like hearing. He would even be able to rest his eyes for a moment or two, something he is rarely able to do around Rin.

Her voice would be a harmonic tune with interesting words behind it. She would have a natural vibrato, but she wouldn't like to use it and would try to hold back. The lull of her voice might even be a little too content for a demon lord that is looking for nothing more than a small meditative rest within the calming sound of the soothing voice in the distance.

"What are you singing?" Sesshomaru would ask, causing a pause in her song. Rarely would he ever speak to anyone, much less start a conversation. Rin would often be an often exception, but a rare one.

Moments like these would not come often enough for Rin- time with him, in their own world, listening to nature and spending time together, singing a tune- she even would even consider going over to a nearby field to pick a flower or two. She would miss this more often than she would like to admit, but would be SO grateful for his visits. His question would be so surprising that it would knock her out of her thoughts, but she'd be quick to think on her feet, becoming a little more minx-like as she had grown and matured with age within the last few or so years since their departure from one another.

"A song," is all she would say with a playful look behind her shoulder. That would be her only answer as she would continue to hum the tune. She would sit on her knees to feel the chill of the bubbling stream in front of them, happily thinking of a younger memory of them. She would want him to ask what kind of song, to get him speaking, or spark an interest; just... talk.

She wouldn't get to see this side of him very often, but it wouldn't be something that she'd need. She'd honestly just happy to sit next to him in comfortable silence, but... Would today be a lucky day? Would he actually talk to her today?

He would, however, choose to look away and not press the matter further.

Rin's disposition would change to a slight frustration, but she'd be careful not to let it show. He would never fall for her any of her open ended answers. Any attempt to keep him talking would never work, and she'd often wonder why she would even try. She would sigh as she would go back inside of her mind to the first time she'd ever laid eyes on him- the blood stains on his kimono, the fragile state of a demon who had been heavily harmed in a brutal fight- she would remember how worried she was for the creature that lay dormant in the middle of the forest.

'So long ago' , she would think back on the last few years.

But the fleeting memory would be as clear as yesterday for Sesshomaru, for he would be thinking of the same exact memory at the same exact time.

They would end up doing this a lot, though they would never know this about one another.

He would watch her as she would sit in a kneeling position. His eyes would never leave her, especially as she would sing her tune. He'd always keeps guard up, for it would be all he would know how to do, though there would be that one day each month where he is able to sit without a care and be able to freely live within the fleeing moments every so often. Everyone appreciates a little peace now and then, even the great Demon Lord himself.

"What song is it?" He would suddenly ask.

The smallest gasp would slip from her upon hearing his question. His response would send her mind to such a blank state that she would forget that she put her silly hand in the stream and would eventually get part of her sleeve wet.

Slowly standing, she would turn to face him, his eyes glisten a golden amber color in the sunlight as they look back into hers. She would not expect him to be looking back at her when she had turned around. "It's a song that Kagome taught me. She says it's from her own time." It is at this time that Rin would have to look away from his eyes.

'That's new,' He would think to himself. Her eyes usually stay on him. He would grow confused for he would not be accustomed to her looking away so suddenly. This would tell him that her emotion has changed. This would often happen to humans, and it would happen quite frequently. Sometimes they would even change many times at once. This would be something that Sesshomaru would learn through observation.

"It's a song about things that make you happy in the saddest of times." Her eyes would reflect the sadness in her thoughts, yet she would still smile.

'Sadness?' He would then sense that emotion. "Are you sad?"

This question would cause her to look in his eyes again. "No!" She would instinctively shouts. "N-no," her slight giggle would be an unsure one. He would have heard her laugh like this on occasion. "It's also a song about things that make people smile even when you're happy. I-It's just stuck in my head today. I-I was even annoying my friend's with it earlier. Sorry, I-I'll stop." She spins back around to face the little stream. She deeply inhales. The last thing she would want to do is to annoy Lord Sesshomaru.

Even worse- what would happen if he were to find out that she were to be unhappy?

What if he would find out that it would be because of him?

What if he stopped coming to see her?

She would try to clear her mind with a simple shake of the head. She would always be beyond grateful that he would take his time to come and visit her, there would not be enough time to think of silly things such as this. Looking to the clouds, she would try to hide her blush as the wind would start to pick up again.

"A new song might help," Again she would hear his voice, though there would be a different sound to it now. She would turn to him to see that he'd still be looking towards her, and he would be looking at her very intently, this time around.

Her eyes sparkle at his words. "Help?" A small smile would start to brew on her lips.

"With your issue," he would add, "you mentioned having it stuck in your head."

"Oh! Right!" Her smile would be wide and skittish as she would nervously scratch the back of her head. "Hmm... What else can I sing?" She shifts herself into careful thought. If Lord Sesshomaru wants to hear a new song, it had better be the best song she'd know!

Her words would dwindle to smaller hums with each hour since the days would start getting longer with the oncoming summer season. This would cause them to lose track of time. It would also take some time for Lady Kaede to stop worrying about Rin's wellbeing with the extended length of time that she is gone from the village and her duties, but Lady Kaede would admit to herself time and time again that Rin is usually better off in the end.

She would be fully aware of the girl's sadness, and would often wonder when she would grow out of this infatuation. She would always be so happy that he would come, but then would be so distraught when he would have to leave again. Lady Kaede believes that the quicker that the girl can finally move on with her life, the better. The kind and elderly woman would really just want what was best for this girl that she has come to adore, and getting to know the sunshine inside of her heart.

The sun would always set in the West and West is where he would always return to, though Rin would never really know where he would go when he would leave. This question would plague her as they would make their way back to her home on their lovely spring-to-summer day. "Where do you go when you leave here, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Not too far," would be his answer. More words than she would be used to, but she would pick up the conversation like a pro.

"What do you do?"

"What I always do." His answers would cause extra curiosity. His tone would be different, darker than usual, as if he were dreading whatever he was tending to. "It's not very interesting."

"What..?" Rin would struggle. He would not seem too interested in talking about his life, but he would always listen to her talk; he would always listening to her complain about this and that, but he would never tell her anything. Rin would think that she always felt better when she would tell someone how she's feeling when she is having to do something that she doesn't really want to do, though she would also be learning that not everyone reacts the same in situations as she would. Against her better judgement, she would continue her question. "What do you always do?" She would try to press a little further.

Rin would wonder if he talked to anyone other than Jaken. Surely...

"I do not venture too far from here. I stay busy with the beasts that try to infiltrate this area, for it is not acceptable." His voice would quicken with his steps. Rin would follow closely, listening to his every word. "I do not travel farther than about a day's trip, by flight. I keep patrol -keep demons at bay." He would continue to march on, as if he did not like answering the question.

"You..." She would pause as she'd watch him walk further. "You don't travel far? But I thought you were a Lord."

"I am." He would continue to walk.

She would struggle to keep up with many questions flooding her head. "What does a Lord do?"

"Whatever I tell Jaken to do." This answer would cause her to blink profusely. That would not answer her question in the slightest. Though Jaken would have been traveling with Sesshomaru on some of his meetings with Rin, it would have been ages since she had last seen that goblin-like creature. She would further wonder what it would be that Sesshomaru would have Jaken do, and oh how she wished that Jaken would be with them at this moment to answer the question.

"So, you're just... Killing demons around here?"

"That is a satisfactory goal for this moment in time." His response would indicate his desire to be finished with this impromptu discussion. Rin would gradually start to understand as she would lower her eyes with a smile.

"Why just here?" Another question would slip from her. "There are demons all over the land." She would have an inkling that she would already know why, but... something inside of her would want to hear him say it.

Something... would need to hear him say it.

"They will come here eventually. This Sesshomaru does not have to travel far for a fight. The fight comes to Sesshomaru." This would be the most that he'd spoken in... well, ever.

Rin's grin would be big enough even for him to see it in his peripheral vision, unable to contain her happiness very much longer. "You could have just said that you keep us safe. That would have been enough for me."

"Hn," he would huff at her response as he would stop at the edge of the village.

"Is this all you've ever done? Just aimlessly roam the land and kill things?"

"No." His responses would usually be that simple. She would start at the path towards her hut, but would be reluctant to go, for he would not venture further than the Village edge. She would look back at him with a sudden plea in her eyes- a plea that she would not know she had- a plea that she would be unable to hide.

She knows that it is time for him to go, but...

"What else do you do? What else have you done?" She would gradually inch closer to him, hoping that he would answer and give even the smallest story. The light of the sun's rays would gradually sink into the horizon, along with her nerves, and night of the crescent moon would make its way. The smell of lighting fires could be sensed from far into the forests that surround the many villages in the area.

"That is all that you need to know." His eyes would remain determined, though he would, again, sense her sadness, just as he always does.

"But- I-"

But he can't, "Dusk approaches, I must go."

"Lord Sesshomaru I-" She would suddenly grab his sleeve-

This action causes them both to pause.

Both parties would not be quite sure with this new action of hers. Never has she pulled on him to stop him before. He would look down to see the jumbled hand that let go of him with frightening speed.

After a moment of speculation, Sesshomaru would make the sudden decision to close the distance between them. Such closeness would cause Rin's eyes to widen, scared to a statuesque stance, afraid of saying or doing anything else. Such an absurd action from her could cause him to never, ever come see her again. At this time she would be mentally kicking herself as she would fight back tears just thinking about it. No way would she be able to look into his eyes now.

Without another thought, he would carry his head close to her ear as he would pull out a package tied up with string to give to her. He would whisper, "They come out at night. If I am to protect you, I have to go." He'd gently pull away from her to meet her eyes, but it would take her a moment to be able to look up. Her eyes would be full of awe as she would simply nod at his words and accept his gift.

He would give her a small nod before he would start to make his way.

"Please come back." She would blurt out. Since when do words start to escape her like this?

"Always." Would be his reply. They would be able to meet eyes with one another one more time before he would be off.

Rin would watch as he would fly into the horizon, eventually disappearing with the setting sun. Her heart would still be pounding with his words that would still ring so clearly in her ear. Her eyes would close intensely as a fleeting memory of theirs would return to her mind- a moment of fear, chaos, destruction, the blade of the undead being thrusted with the intention to harm her, and Sesshomaru's words echoing in her memory-

'I Sesshomaru... have no one to protect!'

Rin's eyes would then blink open with the slightest tear, but most importantly, a smile.

This was a smile that would have just figured out one more puzzle piece of the illusive Demon Lord that has become so loyal to her after all this time.

This would also be a smile that everyone would start to notice.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

Small note here: When it came to the idea of using the song "My Favorite Things", I was actually thinking of a specific cover by an artist called Youn Sun Nah. Her cover is absolutely heavenly, and I listened to her music on spotify while writing this. I love her music. Let me know if you decide to hear her cover. I'd love to hear what you think of it.