Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha- not the characters or the manga or any itty bitty piece pertaining to it.

Here's chapter 3 my pretties.

Chapter 3- Rin's Birthday Wishes

Flashback- 3 years after Naraku's defeat; Kaede's village and Inuyasha's forest.

A purple kimono clad Rin excitedly bounced on the balls of her feet; impatiently waiting for the old Kaede to catch up. She was 11 going on 12 now and had gone through quite a growth spurt; awkward knees and pointy elbows joined long, thin limbs together. Her face was leaning out but still held the child-like innocence while her hair brushed her waist; the cute side ponytail a little longer than it used to be and held up by matching purple ribbon and a white flower. She turned to Kaede who was shuffling towards her with a bundle of cloth in her arms.

"Come on Lady Kaede! The baby is coming!" she exclaimed, grabbing her elder's arm and tugging. Kaede fumbled a bit and sighed.

"Do not rush me child! Where is Miroku?" she asked, moving her feet as quickly as she could towards Sango and Miroku's hut. Rin glanced up at her.

"He and Inuyasha had to go to work! Something about a spirit harassing the homes of a nearby village. Inuyasha told Rin that he would be back before supper." Rin said confidently. Her and Inuyasha's friendship had flourished the past three years; they knew everything about each other's lives and were practically inseparable when together. Inuyasha had assumed the role as her father and had taught Rin many things about self-defense and hunting; Rin was the best human hunter in the village despite her young age and could easily defeat any of the villagers that wished to spar with her.

Sango and Miroku's hut came into view and the sound of labored breathing was heard through the door covering as they neared. Kaede swept inside with Rin hot on her heels. Sango was pacing the floor of her home clutching her stomach while her two year old twin girls, Aya and Mika, watched anxiously from their futon. Sango spared them a glance and small smile before grimacing and resuming her back and forth pacing. Kaede laid out her supplies while Rin fetched warm water and filled a wooden basin to the brim with the steaming water. Kaede walked to Sango before halting her movements.

"Lay down child; I will check ye's progress." Sango eased herself down to her futon before lying back and loosening her kimono for Kaede. Kaede propped Sango's legs up by bending her knees and placing her ankles together before urging her to relax and spread her legs open as far as possible. Rin joined Kaede at Sango's feet; Kaede was teaching her midwifery so that she could help birth children when Kaede someday passed on. Kaede pushed Sango's kimono up to her hips and proceeded to examine her womanhood.

"Here Rin; in order for Sango to be able to push her baby through, her cervix must be opened enough to allow the baby's head and shoulders through. Here is the top of the baby's head." She indicated, grasping Rin's petite hand and guiding her to touch the baby's head. Rin did not find this revolting; rather the thought of birthing life was astounding to her and she absorbed everything Kaede taught her.

"Where is that damn, lecherous monk!? He is never touching me again! I swear I will cut off his… ahhhh!" Sango moaned, a particularly hard contraction rendering her unable to finish her threat. Rin giggled; she had been present for the birth of Sango's twins and so had Miroku. After that experience, Rin did not blame Miroku for missing the birth of his third child; Sango was scary when she was in labor.

Forty five minutes later; Sango's baby was crowning and she was ready to push. Kaede continuously massaged the muscle of her cervix to relax and stretch them to prevent her from tearing. She glanced up at Rin and nodded; Rin was going to coach Sango through this delivery. Rin smiled and caught Sango's gaze.

"Alright Sango; your baby is crowning and you are ready to push! Rin is going to wait for your next contraction and then you are going to bear down on your lower abdomen muscles while Rin counts down from ten. Are you ready?" Sango nodded, gritting her teeth as the pressure and pain increased, wreaking havoc on her already labor-exhausted body. Rin watched Sango's swollen belly intently until she watched the muscles ripple and then clench until the skin was taunt.

"Ok Sango, push! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and breathe and relax!" Sango let out a small scream followed by a whimper; Kaede however, smiled up at her.

"This one is coming quickly child! A couple more pushes and ye baby will be born!"

Sure enough; four pushes later, the shriek of a new born baby pierced through the hut. Rin was handed the baby while Kaede moved to the water basin Rin had filled earlier; Rin handed her the baby and Kaede proceeded to bathe the baby of the gore of its birth. Rin was preparing Sango for delivering her placenta as Sango watched with tired eyes. Sango's gaze flickered to Kaede.

"Is it a boy or girl?" She asked quietly, her twin girls approached Kaede to examine their new sibling.

"It's a healthy baby boy." Kaede smiled wrapping and cocooning the babe in cloth before handing him over to Sango who immediately nuzzled him to her breast. Sango gave a weak smile.

"What will you name him, Sango?" Rin asked while easing Sango's placenta out of her by the umbilical cord, before wrapping it up and placing it on the fire to rid the hut of the smell of blood. Sango peered down at her little boy.

"Shin. After Miroku's father." She said lovingly. As if on cue, Miroku's head poked through the door; he smiled at his wife.

"Everyone ok in here?" he asked.

"Come meet your son." Sango said warmly, gesturing to the bundle in her arms. Rin smiled at the family before turning and bowing to Kaede.

"May Rin be dismissed?" Kaede nodded and gave a knowing smile. Rin beamed and rushed out the door. Inuyasha was leaning against a nearby fence; his ears twitched and his eyes opened as Rin bounded towards him. Right as she was going to crash into him, he opened his arms and caught her, swinging her up and on his shoulders.

"Hey Squirt." He greeted. Rin giggled and massaged his puppy ears softly.

"Hi Inuyasha! Rin missed you!" she said enthusiastically. Inuyasha chuckled while walking towards the forest to their special place under the Sacred Tree.

"Keh! I wasn't even gone a whole day! Besides; you were busy helping Kaede and Sango!" he said, his hands resting on her knees as they wove through the thick brush of the forest. Rin sighed happily and aimlessly braided chunks of his hair.

"Rin knows but that doesn't mean Rin didn't miss you!"

Inuyasha smiled softly before kneeling under the tree for her to slip off. Rin landed on her feet and immediately headed to a patch of flowers; her tiny finger expertly weaving and braiding a crown for his head. It was a routine ritual between them; one they never tired of. She would weave him a crown and he would begrudgingly wear it until it was time to head back; he always kept the crowns, he never told her that but every single one she made him found their way to his mother's gravesite where he laid them.

"Hey Squirt; isn't your birthday coming up?" Inuyasha knew full well that Rin's birthday was sometime in the middle of the summer; though they didn't know the precise date (Rin could not recall the day she was born), they always celebrated on the 45th day of Summer. Rin grinned at him; still weaving a crown of daisies and daffodils.

"Yup! Rin turns 12 in 5 days!" she said excitedly. Inuyasha knew she wasn't excited for her turning a year older per say; more that she was excited because Sesshomaru had visited her on both her birthdays. Sure enough; his quiet thoughts were validated with Rin's continuous, excited blabbering.

"Rin hopes Lord Sesshomaru will come again! Master Jaken and A-Un too. Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will visit for Rin's birthday, Inuyasha?" Rin asked glancing at him, practically pleading for him to reassure her with her large, brown eyes. Inuyasha snorted and plopped to the ground; crossing his legs and leaning against the trunk of the Sacred Tree.

"I don't care if the bastard comes." He watched her face fall before sighing quietly.

"I'm sure he'll be here bright and early on your birthday, Kid. If he isn't, I'll go and hunt him down and drag him here by his overly-fluffy tail. Sound like a plan to you?" he grinned at her. Rin giggled and hugged him tightly before laying her crown on his head, careful not to tickle his sensitive ears.

"Rin doesn't think her Lord would like you to drag him anywhere, Inuyasha. Rin thinks that would only make him mad!" she said, grinning ear to ear at Inuyasha. Inuyasha just rolled his eyes and muttered something that suspiciously sounded like 'arrogant prick' under his breath. This time it was Rin's turn to roll her eyes; she knew her lord and Inuyasha didn't get along but she wished they did. She turned back to the flowers; laying back and gazing up at the bright blue sky.

Her lord had stayed true to his word; visiting as frequently as his duties allowed him to. Sometimes that was once a month; other times it was once every few months. It depended on where he was and what situation he was attending to at the time. Every time he visited, he brought her a gift. Rin had turned cherry red the first time he had visited her after being left in the village; he had walked straight to her, crouched down to her level and flashed her a miniscule smile. The smile was what caught her off guard; her lord never smiled unless he was in battle with a challenging opponent or when he was very upset. The smile he gifted her with, however, was as sincere as it was swift. He had risen and asked her how she was fairing before handing her a box with two rich, silk kimonos. One kimono had been jade and black with a matching jade obi and the other had been stark white with blue butterflies and a matching blue obi. Rin had stuttered over her thank you before hugging his long leg tightly and gifting him with the only thing she had to offer; a very big and bright smile.

Since then; her lord had visited on and off, always bringing a gift or gifts and conversing with her on the travels she had not been able to accompany him on. Rin mostly liked to listen; his quiet, baritone voice never failed to soothe her. His travels and tales always amazing her. He asked her many questions, and Rin was quite certain he did not talk to anyone as much as he did her. Whether it was because he missed her or not, she wasn't sure; but it showed he cared so she never complained. On rare visits; he would bring Master Jaken and A-Un, declaring he would be spending the night in Inuyasha's forest. Rin always spent those nights with him; not that he had given her much choice. The first time he stayed through the night, he had told Rin to gather food for supper and start a fire. After her and Master Jaken had eaten, he had called her to his side by a nearby tree he was resting against. When she had reached him; Moko Moko had wrapped itself around her frame and had drawn her into his lap, nestling her against his broad chest. She had been nervous at first; her lord had never been the affectionate type, but her qualms were soothed when a deep rumbling shook his chest. It took her a moment to realize he was purring; she had smiled up at him and drifted to sleep; she vaguely remembered long, claw-tipped fingers running through her hair.

Rin could not wait for her birthday. If she got to see Lord Sesshomaru; that's all that mattered to her.

Rin turned back to Inuyasha who was resting against the Sacred Tree with his eyes closed. She approached him; as she drew nearer, his arms automatically spread and welcomed her into his lap. She snuggled against him and shocked the hanyou with her next words.

"I hope Kagome makes it to Rin's birthday. Rin wants her Inuyasha to be happy again." She murmured quietly. Inuyasha's eyes filled with tears but he blinked them back; he squeezed her softly before sighing.

"Me too, Squirt. Me too."

With Sesshomaru (same time as with Rin and Inuyasha)

Sesshomaru stalked through the thick forest; following the scent of a trespassing clan of ogre demons. His nose scrunched in disgust at the absolutely horrific stench of the beasts. His highly sensitive hearing could pick up their blundering steps two miles away. Ogre demons were not the smartest of youkai; and were one of the lowest forms of youkai despite their great size and strength. It didn't make up for their lack of intelligence.

'I have marked this area so well that a youkai with half a brain should know not to trespass.' He coldly thought.

Behind him; Jaken and A-Un followed faithfully. The toad youkai had grown quite withdrawn since Rin had left their little pack; only speaking when absolutely necessary or when his Lord demanded his attention. Even A-Un seemed at times to be depressed; he had been fiercely loyal to his young mistress and had been so temperamental the first few months of her absence that he had left his master and the toad to seek out a mate and calm himself. Rin had always been able to understand the two headed dragon to the point where it flabbergasted both Jaken and Sesshomaru. After four months of being by himself and successfully marking and mating a female by the name Ee-Ahh; A-Un had returned to his pack and resumed his place as his master's loyal steed. Sesshomaru had approached A-Un and softly scratched each one of their muzzles before continuing on his way.

The sound of heavy footsteps grew louder and the occasional loud grunt was heard bouncing off the trees of the surrounding forest. Sesshomaru began to run swiftly through the trees; gracefully darting in and out of the brush until he was nearly on top of the ogre clan. He launched up and over their heads, landing more like a cat than a dog in front of them. He growled lowly; gold eyes flashing dangerously. Nine ogre demons balked and stumbled into one another before laughing at the lone figure in front of them. Sesshomaru huffed impatiently.

"You are trespassing on this Sesshomaru's lands. Leave at once or I will be forced to kill you." He said, his voice colored in authority. The laughing only grew louder; Jaken shook his head and sighed, muttering the word 'fools' under his breath.

"What are you going to do about it; puny demon?!" the leader guffawed.

'How about you let me out for a bit of fun? It's been too long since we ripped our prey to shreds with our teeth and smelt the fresh kill on our claws.' His beast suggested in a dark, humored voice.

Sesshomaru cocked his head slightly before agreeing. This would surely help satiate the bloodlust of his beast; if not for only a few weeks. Sesshomaru turned his attention back to the ogres who were still laughing as if there was nothing else funnier than the demon who had just threatened to kill them.

Sesshomaru smiled; eyes flashing red before he launched into the air; red light surrounding his figure before he plummeted back to the earth in his true form of a massive white dog. The ogres stopped laughing; watching with wide, red eyes as the white beast in front of them drooled acid laden saliva to the forest floor. Sesshomaru snarled; the sound shaking his frame and the ground.

He launched at the lowly youkai. Powerful jaws snapping closed on the leader's upper body; swiftly crushing the body it held like twigs. Sesshomaru allowed his beast to surface fully as it mercilessly, roughly decapitated its prey.

A few minutes later; Sesshomaru stood tall and proud amongst a mountain of gore and body parts. His magnificent white coat gleaming with the blackened blood of his prey. Red eyes took in the surroundings before lifting its muzzle to the air and sniffing; the beast located a nearby river before bounding to it in youkai form. Once the water came into view; Sesshomaru wasted no time plunging into its depths. The water slowly bled red around his paddling form; he shook his giant head under water, rinsing the blood from his muzzle. Once the beast was satisfied that it was clean, it paddled to the shore and shook out its long coat, drenching everything in a 20 foot radius. Red light once again surrounded the dog and Sesshomaru reverted back to his humanoid form.

'That was fun.' His beast chided, licking its chops in back of his mind. It then curled up and covered its muzzle with its tail before falling into a light slumber.

"Indeed." Sesshomaru intoned quietly. He turned back to A-Un and Jaken who were waiting for him up on a hill. He darted up to them before heading the opposite direction; it was time to do a perimeter check and remark his territory; apparently his scent was waning and encouraging all forms of lowly beasts to trespass.

"Uhm, Milord?"

"What, Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked coldly. Jaken visibly flinched and Sesshomaru smelled the apprehension on the toad. Jaken shuffled nervously next to A-Un.

"Well Milord; young Rin's birthday is in 5 days' time. Will you be visiting her? Surely she'll be expecting you?" Jaken asked in his screeching voice. Sesshomaru stopped abruptly; his eyes slightly widening.

He had nearly forgotten that his ward's birthday was so soon. His mind had been preoccupied with the increasing amounts of trespassers on his lands. It had been Sesshomaru who decided Rin's birthday should be the 45th day of summer; it was the same as his late Lord Father's birthday and he held nearly as much respect for Rin as he did his father. Rin had been so thankful when he had asked if she would like that to be her "official" birth date; going on and on about how she would cherish that day every year for the rest of her fleeting lifespan.

Her life. Sesshomaru's chest clenched; it was something he was doing in his spare time; looking for any possible way to expand his ward's very short life. At his 700 (and Kami only knew how many more centuries); Rin's lifespan was but a blink of an eye compared to his. He was desperately searching for a way to cheat her third and final death; or at least avoid it for a few hundred years. He had had no such luck as of late though. Sesshomaru blinked, coming back to the present where his servant was nervously awaiting his answer.

"We will head that direction; this Sesshomaru will send you to pick up the appropriate gifts for Rin." He said impassively; heading in the direction of Edo, about a three days walk away. He heard Jaken sigh in relief and A-Un snort excitedly.

'Such a strange beast.' He thought. Tensaiga hummed at his side; the sword continued to surprise him. It had almost developed feelings towards his young ward. Ever since he revived her after she was attacked by wolves; Tenseiga had been somewhat tied to her soul. Pulsing when she was in danger, groaning when she wasn't around and humming when she was; the heavenly fang was as attached to her as it was to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru gripped Tenseiga's hilt lightly.

'We will see her soon, Tenseiga.'

With Inuyasha and Rin (Rin's birthday)

"Oi! Wake up, Squirt!"

Someone was shaking Rin's shoulder; rudely tossing her from her dream state. She groaned, smacking the hand that shook her and throwing her blanket over her head.

"Rin is sleeping!"

There was a pause before her blankets were shucked from her form and she was being lifted and thrown over a shoulder. Rin squeaked and was met with a face full of red.

"Inuyasha! Rin was sleeping!" She went to pull his ears but was suddenly flying through the air and landing in the nearby river. She popped up gasping and glaring at the hanyou who was howling with laughter on the shore. He grinned at her.

"Happy birthday, Squirt!" He hollered; Rin felt her ruffled feathers smooth out and a smile take the place of her very Sesshomaru-like scowl. She was never able to stay angry with him for any long period of time. She giggled before swimming to shore and quickly embracing the hanyou to get him as wet as possible.

"Thank you, Inuyasha!" she said, giving him a lopsided smile.

"Hey! You're getting me wet!" He exclaimed, peeling her off of him and setting her an arms-length away. Rin just giggled and skipped back to Kaede's hut to get dressed and comb her hair. As she entered the hut she was greeted by Kaede and her gift; it was beautiful pink, hand-painted fan with intricate flowers decorating its ridges. Rin squealed and hugged the old miko before running to her room.

When Sesshomaru had visited her for the first time; she and Kaede were still living with a small family since Kaede's hut had been destroyed by Magatsuhi. The village was working on rebuilding Kaede's small hut when Sesshomaru had visited; demanding they break it down and start over. Two days after he had left; villagers from a nearby, more wealthy village, had arrived with supplies and had built a slightly grander hut. It was almost three times as big as Kaede's old hut and far more luxurious. Rin and Kaede had their own room with their own futon; though Rin's room was clad in the finest of silks while Kaede's was furnished with cotton. They had their own small kitchen and even meal settings. Sesshomaru had also demanded that a bath house be built on the side of the hut so that Rin could bathe frequently. Rin had been so humbled that she wept tears of joy while Kaede was rendered speechless.

Upon entering her room; Rin stopped to admire one of her Lord's greatest gifts to her. Her room was decorated in white and red silk with purple and yellow accents; reminding her daily of her lord's regal kimono and obi. Beautifully painted trunks lined her room with his various gifts stored inside and a small vanity complete with a mirror right next to her small window. Rin sighed; praying her lord would be there today for her birthday. It had been 47 days since his last visit; she missed him terribly. She proceeded to open a trunk that held her kimonos; upon inspecting the various colors she chose her very favorite, a red silk under kimono with a white over kimono that was decorated in the same red flowers as her lord's own outfit. She pawed through the silk for the black silk obi that completed her outfit before quickly changing.

As she brushed her hair; a familiar curse caught her attention.

"BASTARD!"

Inuyasha only referred to one person that way. Rin dropped her brush before sprinting out of the hut. There stood her Savior; currently standing on Inuyasha's back as his brother spat out a mouthful of dirt.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" she exclaimed happily. A shadow passed overhead and she looked up.

"Master Jaken! A-Un!"

A-Un landed rather roughly; knocking Jaken off his back before rushing towards his young mistress. When he reached her, both heads snorted before nudging her to his body and wrapping both necks around her. A-Un growled contentedly. Rin giggled and embraced the scaly, warm body before pulling back.

"I missed you too A-Un!" Both muzzles nuzzled her face tenderly; tickling the soft flesh of her cheeks. Rin laughed before pushing their snouts away.

"Ok! Ok! I have to say hi to Master Jaken and Lord Sesshomaru too, A-Un!" She turned grinning at Master Jaken before hugging him tightly. Jaken sputtered and blushed.

"Put me down, foolish child!" Rin dropped him, giggling and grinning. Jaken huffed before giving her a small smile.

"Happy birthday, Rin." He said. At last, Rin turned to her Lord who was watching her while pointedly ignoring his brother's petty threats. He stepped off his brother's back; flashing to her side in an instant. He looked down at her; an unreadable expression on his face but his eyes warm. A swift smile and then he knelt down, opening his arms. She threw him a large smile before rushing into his arms and wrapping small arms around his neck. He straightened, picking the girl up with him.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Rin missed you!" His heart warmed a bit and Tenseiga hummed at his side.

"Happy birthday, Little One."

The day passed by much too quickly for Rin; Lord Sesshomaru had only been able to stay for a few hours before returning to his lands. He walked with her through the forest; their conversation quiet and full of questions. Rin had made him a crown with red and white flowers, though he refused to wear it, he still tucked it into his Kimono under his armor making Rin beam with happiness. When it came time for him to leave he whistled for A-Un and removed her gifts from his saddlebags before handing them to Rin. She shyly accepted them before opening the boxes.

Inside the first box was an elegant baby pink kimono with purple ornaments stitched into the silk and a matching purple obi. The second box was much smaller but held something even more beautiful. Rin's mouth had opened in awe at the beautiful silver necklace. It was a simple chain with a blue crescent moon pendent and two kanji charms that stood for both her and Sesshomaru's name.

"It is a pendent to relay who you belong to. All youkai you come across will know you belong to the Dog Demon Clan of the West. This pendent represents that this Sesshomaru has accepted you as a pack member. I am the Alpha; and I alone hold the power to bring who I choose into my pack. I am the only one who can remove this necklace." Sesshomaru hesitated before looking back down at his ward.

"Will you accept being a part of this Sesshomaru's pack and accepting me as your Alpha as well as your Lord?" Rin's eyes glazed with tears before she shyly nodded her head; words could not form the feelings of being totally accepted by her Lord. Sesshomaru took the necklace from her hands and clasped it around her neck. He gently caressed her cheek before taking a step back.

"I must go now, Rin. Can you make it back to the village by yourself?" he inquired quietly. Rin smiled up at him and nodded.

"Thank you very much Lord Sesshomaru! This necklace is Rin's most precious possession. You have made Rin very happy!" she whispered reverently. Sesshomaru simply nodded before taking to the skies; leaving his ward to stroke her new pendent and walk back towards Kaede's village.

As she was passing the Bone-Eaters well; a light suddenly flashed from the well. Rin turned back to look at it curiously before she heard footsteps speeding her way. Inuyasha burst through the trees; glancing at her before bolting to the well. Shock crossed his features before he leaned down, extending his arm with his hand open towards something Rin could not see. A smaller, thin hand suddenly grasped his and Inuyasha pulled.

Kagome had made it back.

Whew! My fingers are sore from all this typing! Hahaha; ok after this chapter there will be chapters about events that did not occur in the manga! I have kind of tweaked the ending of the manga to suit my needs and I hope that doesn't irritate anyone! I'll attempt to post another chapter tonight or tomorrow! Until then; please review!