There was in his study the mighty Lord of the Western lands thinking out loud,

-"She has been acting all secretive for the last few days and this behavior infuriates me."

-"What infuriates you my lord?"

There was Jaken the loyal servant once again entering his master's study without knocking.

-"Jaken it doesn't concern you!"

Meanwhile in the second floor there laid Rin fixing her hair into those fancy curls that Kagome had taught her. Her collarbones were splashed with what she considered a tiny amount of something that Kagome called blush. There was also the red sparkly lip gloss given to her as a present also by Inuyasha's wife. Staring at her reflection in the mirror surprised her, her appearance was that of a beautiful princess.

Yesterday while she was accompanying one of her lord's maids down the market one of the boys gave her a flower.

-"You are very pretty!"

Yes, she couldn't deny that it made her feel special also a feeling inside her made her want to see that boy again. But, it was all an illusion she would be loyal to Lord Sesshomaru. All sorts of confusing feelings were corroding her.

It had been decided today she would say to the boy in the market that she was only faithful to Lord Sesshomaru! Before departing to the market Rin noticed that Lord Sesshomaru was hesitant in letting her go which was strange since he was usually very willing on letting her get some fresh air.

-"Rin what are all of those things you are wearing on your face today?"

-"It's called makeup my lord! Kagome gave them to me as a present."

Sesshomaru now knew that a serious talk with that miko was in order. While he had to admit that Rin now looked like a precious doll there was absolutely no way he would let her go to the market in such a way. All sorts of sick things could happen to his precious ward for looking as pretty and delicate as she.

-"Rin you can't go today."

-"Please Lord Sesshomaru! Pretty please!"

His little ward had learned a wonderful manipulating trick while observing the rest of the kids at Kaede's village. It was a puppy dog eye face that for some strange reason would always make her lord accept her childish demands. This time it would not be an exception even though Sesshomaru didn't accept that such trick would work on him he agreed to let her go. While his ward was out doing errands under the careful protection of his maid he would march down the village and have a long serious talk with Kagome.

At the market there were several carts today much more than usual and there also seemed to be a festival. The place was much more crowded than the usual which made Sesshomaru's maid distract herself with the fabulous sales. Rin tried her best to keep up among the vast crowd but her tries were futile.

At the distance she could spot the maid and as she pushed her way through the crowd one man took her hand. He was a guard one she had seen before at the palace,

-"Are you lost little girl?"

-"Please could you guide me back home?"

-"Sure thing! Where is your home?"

-"It is Lord Sesshomaru's castle"

It surprised Rin how easily the guard started to laugh as if it were a joke,

-"Oh please! Little girl the Lord of the Western lands wouldn't take any humans! Hahahaha!"

-"Yes he does! I live there!"

-"Girl please don't make such jokes with me go on go on with your parents!"

Rin received very similar responses from the merchants in the carts some even gave her a scornful look. Making her way further down the market she noticed how it was already getting dark and many were already closing down their small shops for the day.

Hasting her pace towards a small church she saw a monk,

-"Please can you help me get home?"

Once the monk learned the destination gave her a wholeheartedly laugh and sent her away. This was beginning to become a distressing day her feet were already hurting from all the walking, she had no idea of her location.

Back at Sesshomaru's domain the maid was portraying her distressed pacing back and forth in the hallway. Her lord hadn't still arrived from the miko's village which gave her more time to think of an explanation or for the guards to finally find her and bring her back home safely.

-"Well any sign of her?"

-"No we have already looked everywhere in that market and no sign of her."

To make her day much worse Lord Sesshomaru was already at the entrance and had noticed the warning sign, all of his servants and guards were either scouting away from him or trembling in fear. He addressed the maid in the coldest tone he could manage,

-"Where is Rin?"

His question was received by a blank stare and pleadings for her life along with the others. It had already started to rain and he knew he needed to find her fast before her scent vanished in the weather.

On the other hand Rin was inside a bar surrounded by mean looking guys who were playing a strange game of cards where sometimes one had to give money to the other one and shout disrespectful remarks to the guy he gave the money.

-"That is so mean!"

The guys were surprised by her comment but only smiled and kept playing the game.

-"This is the world of adults little girl learn it and you can survive! Now that you were abandoned by your parents you could use this to make a living!"

-"I was not abandoned…"

-"Yeah yeah we heard you the first time, but listen you should change your story people are not friendly when it comes to demons."

After two hours in that bar her eyes were beginning to become heavy and the cold breeze of the night was sending shivers down her frail body. It was a hard battle but she was striving to not all asleep, thinking of her situation scared her. Her mind was surrounded by hopeless thoughts such as, "Would I be able to see Lord Sesshomaru again? "Maybe he doesn't want me anymore because I disobeyed him."

The brusque sounds surrounding her soon muffled up giving way to sleep, from time to time she could still hear the laughs and remarks from the guys at the bar then in a few seconds sweet silence. Once again she heard chuckles but this time no remarks but silence,

-"We swear! We didn't harm her!"

Cold arms took her in then it was all soft and warm, she tried her hardest to open her eyes but only managed to see a blurry image,

-"Lord S-Seshomaru…" golden colored eyes stared back at her with concern. She felt her body fall softly against a soft cushion,

-"Please forgive me…"

-"There is nothing to forgive the important things is that you are here." Sot hands caressed her face while she finally succumbed to a sweet dream.