Chapter 3 Friend to Foe

I don't own Inuyasha

Rin walked through the forest, returning home from exterminating demons from a neighboring village. Walking by a field of flowers she stopped and reflected a moment. During the year that she had traveled with Sesshoumaru, he had allowed her to pick flowers occasionally from various fields like this one. She would always present them to him but never did he accept them. Kneeling amongst the flowers, she pulled a few from their fertile home and began working the stems, creating a necklace. Her eyes saddened as she finished her work. Looking up she realized how long that it had been since she had seen him. Four moons? Surely nothing had happened to him, she would have received word. She shook her head, the wind catching her hair and causing it to dance across her face. She could feel a knot build in her throat but swallowed it angrily. Why should she care?

She took a breath to calm herself only for slight shock to take over. Quickly, she replaced her expression with an indifferent one. He was watching her. She didn't wish to give him the satisfaction of thinking she didn't know he was there. Getting up, she turned and walked slowly out of the field. Coming to an overlook she stopped and glanced over her shoulder.

"I haven't seen you for some time my lord."

No response came.

"Would you deny me a moment of your presence?" She questioned.

Sesshoumaru moved from his position within the forest to join her at the edge of the overlook. She had become better than he had expected at picking up his presence. Maybe because she had been around him so much early on.

"I have not denied you anything, yet." The statement came out in little more than a whisper.

"Really?" She spoke under her breath as she raised an eyebrow but regained her indifferent expression.

He took the opportunity to glance her as he stepped beside her, ignoring the comment that she made. Her initial position seemed to shift, taking on a sway of confidence. Her half shut eyes and the tilt of the head communicated that she was interested in nothing, at least, not while he was around. She kept an air of experience and certainty about her. Her years were few yet the world could tell her nothing. He fought not to sneer. It was unsettling and arrogant!

"You are forgiven."

"For what?" She questioned.

"…"

"Oh…that night. Don't tell me that's what's kept you away?" She turned to face him and noticed a slight dip of his brow.

"I assure you it isn't."

"Good." She gave a quick nod and turned back toward the scenery before them."

Even as he did nothing more than stand next to her, he could feel the aura of tension surrounding her. She wasn't interested in making conversation. Why she had insisted on his presence was clear. It wasn't truly because she wanted to see him, for her questions were half-invested and a waste of time. When she stood and walked out of the field, he knew. She wanted to test him on her own terms. She required control of the situation.

He noticed the flower necklace that hung around her neck. A reminder to him of the smile that warmed his heart so long ago. It was now caged among the rest of the emotions that she had locked away when she decided to become a demon slayer. No key was to be found.

"Was there something you wished?" He questioned

"No…I assumed you did."

"Oh?"

"You were watching me."

"I was merely passing through when you called out to me."

"You are mistaken. Your presence was still until I moved. You were watching." She stated without hesitation.

"If you insist…"

"I do." She stated, barely allowing him to finish.

Rin knew that he had been avoiding her for a reason. Even now he didn't want to admit that he had been watching her. Was it that he was gradually moving away, hoping that she wouldn't understand what he was doing? If that was the case, she had already seen it coming several years ago. Even if he had left then and never returned she would have understood why. Maybe she would have even been better off.

All the signs pointed to one thing for him. The way in which she had reacted that night, four moons ago, should have been warning enough. But it was so unlike her that he needed to know for sure. This conversation only proved that there wasn't even a thread of connection left between them anymore. She was different and he didn't want to accept it. He had come to the conclusion that there hadn't been a good reason for her to choose the path that she had. She had simply grown up and with that, came change. Maybe it was time for them to go their separate ways.

Turning away from her, he began to walk away.

"Lord Sesshoumaru…"

He stopped, keeping his back to her.

"...should I expect that I will not see you again?" Her voice void of emotion.

"You only requested a moment of my presence."

Rin picked up the irritation that lingered in his words. She knew that it would come out sooner or later.

"Do not feel so obligated!" The words bit the air.

"What more do you wish of me Rin? Did I not protect you or was it that I did not provide enough for you when you were a child?" He questioned harshly.

"Of course. How foolish of me to forget that you did these things just for me. I should humbly bow at your feet and kiss the ground that you walk on. hn!"

His eyes narrowed as he watched her bow sarcastically, and turn away.

"Ingrate."

"Am I?"

"I did not think you to be foolish enough to try and make enemies with the one you betrayed!" He responded as he made his way into the woods.

Rin was taken aback by the statement. As she turned, she watched his shadow disappear into the trees. 'Enemies huh! Did you really need an excuse?'

A/N: Sorry about this coming out late. I had a ridiculously long paper to write this past week.

Thanks to everyone for reviewing and being patient!

Chapter 4: From Want to Warning