Thanks for all the reviews! As promised I have produced another chapter. You guys don't know how much getting those reviews makes my day:) And no, Rin isn't going to become a demon or anything, lol… I think those are sort of cheesy most of the time. I hate it when Rin is portrayed as being an obedient little servant who never thinks for herself and has no idea what a pronoun is…. Those get on my nerves sometimes. Anyone else feel that way?

Chapter 2:

Rin's gaze watched the horizon for what seemed like hours. Her body began to tremble and her tears cascaded down her supple cheeks. Fire raced through her chest as she took painful breaths. Once again she was alone in life. But, this time was different. When her family died she had to find away to move on. But this… She had been abandoned by the one she trusted and loved more than anything else.

"Sesshomaru!" Rin yelled into the wind. "This isn't what I want… You fool, this isn't what I want." She cried as her nails dug at the soft soil beneath her. "You taught me to never let someone force you into anything." She said softly to herself. "I never once believed you followed tenseiga's will to chase my death away. You did it, because you wanted to." She said bitterly. "And why should this be any different?" She asked belligerently. "I'll find you Sesshomaru, I have to. My life is empty without you!" She yelled as she forced herself to her feet.

"You hear me?" She yelled at the sky. "I'm not the helpless little girl anymore! I'll prove it to you!" She said as her anger got the better of her and she waved her fist at the soft blue sky. She sighed, letting her body relax. Rummaging through the supplies Sesshomaru left for her she silently took an inventory.

"I'll have to stay at the village long enough to get a weapon. I need some protection." She muttered. 'At least I should be able to sell some of this.' She thought, frowning at her supplies. They were things one needed to settle down with. Most of it was unsuitable for traveling. She gently ran her finger tips across her face. She could tell her eyes were puffy.

"Here goes nothing…" She sighed as she lugged her supplies over her back and headed to the village.

The village was rather large and full of activity. Rin watched with a small smile as children played by the communal garden. She listened to the hustle and bustle around her. Women were cooking, babies cried and men worked in their shops. She stopped at a particularly welcoming shop at the village's center. She casually entered as a kind elderly man greeted her. His full head of snow white hair hung limply at his shoulders. His face was wrinkled from the life of a simple peasant, but sincerity shone through his eroded features.

"May I help you?" He asked and as he got a better look at her fine clothing his eyebrows arched. "What brings me the honor of serving one such as yourself?"

"Mistakes that need correction." She said kindly, but quickly to the old man. "I need to sell the supplies I have and purchase new ones." The man nodded timidly as Rin placed the items for sale before him.

"Perhaps I can come up with some things you'd like to trade for? I don't have a lot of money." He said looking over the assortment. Rin nodded. "Anything in here you might want young lady?" Rin looked around and eyed the weapons behind the counter.

"I could use a weapon." She said looking at the katanas and bows. The man looked up at her perplexed.

"What does a graceful young maiden, like yourself, need with weapons of death?" He asked frowning.

"I'm traveling and I need something to protect myself from demons at night." Rin said as she pointed to a katana she liked. The man shook his head.

"I'm old, I've seen a lot. You are a pure person, I can see that much." He said as he bent down and rummaged through his items under the counter. He brought out a long solid staff. "This staff is a good choice. It has some rather useful qualities. If someone is set on harming the wielder, then it inflicts a devastating bludgeoning." He said as he lovingly ran his hand over the ebony wood. "However, it is worth more than what you have given me." Rin clenched her jaw tight as she thought. He was right after all, she really didn't possess the desire to fight.

"I'll work for it. How long will it take me?" She asked as she stared the man in the eyes.

"Depends on how hard you work. If you put your back into it I'd say in one or two months you could earn the staff." Rin's face saddened. She didn't want to wait that long to find Sesshomaru. However, she knew it was foolish to go after him with no means of protecting herself. 'What good am I to anyone dead?' She thought as the man waited for an answer.

"I agree to your offer." Rin said looking somewhere beyond the shop keeper. He bowed his head. 'Bear with me Sesshomaru.'

"My wife and I live at the far southern edge of the village." He said pointing his finger in the direction. "You may stay with us till your debt is paid so long as you help her with the house work while you are not in my service." Rin nodded her acceptance. The man smiled warmly. "Go find my dear wife and help her for the rest of the day. I will start you at the shop tomorrow."

"My name is Rin, what may I call you?" Rin asked staring into his pleasantly twinkling grey eyes.

"Master Yongle." The man smiled. Rin bowed and went to find his wife.

PAGE BREAK

That night

Jaken lazily started a camp fire while Sesshomaru sat against a large bolder. Ah-un was resting near Jaken. They traveled more than usual that day. 'I assume it was so Rin would never be able to follow us.' Jaken thought sadly. 'When did I become so attached to that blasted human girl?' Jaken thought as the kindling finally took. He blew on it while adding larger sticks to catch. Before long a warm glow filled the clearing. A loud huff made Jaken jump.

"What's wrong with you Ah-un?" Jaken asked as the beast looked over at Sesshomaru. He could see something that looked like anger in the beast's eyes. Jaken walked over and rubbed the side of Ah-un's neck. "Lord Sesshomaru did what was best for Rin." He said as Ah-un jerked away from him and sulked off out of sight. Flustered, Jaken started to go after the mount.

"Leave him alone. He won't go too far." Sesshomaru ordered from behind. Jaken froze mid step and slowly turned around to his lord.

"Yes my lord." He said as he sat down and smoothed out his blanket. Jaken stole a look up at Sesshomaru who was staring at the fire, deep in thought. 'I wonder if he is thinking of her.' "I hope she found a place to stay tonight." Jaken muttered as he closed his eyes.

Sesshomaru kept his vigil as if he hadn't heard Jaken. However, behind his placid expression he was worried. 'Did I do the right thing?' He wondered as he watched the dancing glow of the flames. 'What if she is cold and alone right now?' He put his hand to his chest as he felt it tighten. It had been so long since he felt that way. However, he had not forgotten what the feelings meant. Sesshomaru was proud, not dense.

He looked up to the sky and remembered the scene that played out. 'I almost lost myself.' He pondered as he recalled how his eyes welled up. Although the moment was brief it startled him. Luckily, or so he thought, no one noticed the great lord lose his emotions over a human.

"I did what was best." He whispered to the cold night air. A particularly chilly breeze blew his hair around his face to remind him winter was on its way. 'Perhaps this was a poor time of the year to leave her.' He thought as a chill ran down his spine. However, not because he was cold…. Because he felt indescribable emotions.

"Is this regret?" He asked the stars. 'This terrible burning in my chest, how did I not see it coming?' His thoughts flooded his mind as he admitted something he had been suppressing for several years.

"Was my pride that great?" He shuddered as he closed his eyes. 'I loved that girl.' The thought brought the burning in his chest to a new level as breathing became arduous. 'She is better off. She'll forget about me. Rin, my Rin, will find a good husband and have a family. I can only bring her pain.' He thought trying to convince himself in the wisdom of his decision.

Review! Pretty please with a cherry on top? Come on now! Don't make me beg… whimpers… gives big puppy eyes