Hey! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! You guys are spoiling me with them:) Sesshomaru couldn't smell that it wasn't Rin in the last chapter because the body was that badly burnt. Maybe I should have described Lulu's body as all but cremated. Oh well, on with the freak show. And I believe this one will be longer too! Hopefully it was worth the wait.

Chapter 4:

Two days after Rin leaves the village:

Sunlight sparkled between tree branches, casting long shadows over a young woman's body. Despite the aching in her heart, innocence and life still radiated in her eyes. She had been traveling for two days on a southern road that gradually sloped west. An elderly man came into view, traveling in the opposite direction. Rin studied the man's appearance, bored of the monotonous trees. He looked like a beggar, he had no shirt and his hakama was torn in several places. The man's dull black eyes looked at her with a startled expression.

"Young lady why are you traveling alone? Soon it'll be the hour of demons and you are approaching the Inuyasha forest!" He said forebodingly. Rin's eyes lit up. 'Kagome!' She thought excitedly. 'I haven't seen them in years.'

"The Inuyasha forest?" Rin asked hoping she heard correctly. The man nodded causing Rin jumped in excitement. "How far?"

"A couple of hours down the road. You will be there by dusk." His eyebrows stitched together in confusion. "It's dangerous there."

"Good bye!" Rin said as she took off down the road. The man could do nothing more than gasp, watching her disappear. Rin couldn't believe her luck. 'They may even be able to help me!' She thought excitedly. The hours went by while Rin continued at her brisk pace. She watched the sun begin to sink and felt the eerie night sky creep over the horizon. 'I really do hate being alone at night.' Rin shuddered recalling her previous two nights. She spent them wide awake, clutching her staff. Luckily nothing more dangerous than a spider crossed her path. 'If I can make it to Kagome and Inuyasha I'll be safe tonight.' She thought optimistically, hurrying along, all too aware of how the shadows got longer with each passing step.

"I'd never forgive myself if a demon got me when I was this close to safety." She muttered dryly as the last traces of sunlight were replaced by the faint glow of a crescent moon. 'It's about the same shape of Sesshomaru's mark right now.' Rin warmly noted the thickness of the waxing moon.

"What a tasty surprise." A smooth voice whispered from the road side making Rin's blood curl. Turning her head slowly, Rin willed herself to be brave. She took a defensive stance and gripped her staff ready to strike. Two purple eyes were looking at her from the trees. "Feisty are we?"

"I must warn you, I bite back." Rin called out, her bravery surprising herself. The demon stepped out of the trees. Rin gulped as her gaze washed over the bear demon. Three times the size of Rin, he staggered over her.

"It's been awhile since I feasted on female flesh." He sneered, amused she would try and defend herself with a puny staff. Suddenly a faint glow came from beneath her shirt, above her breasts. The demon ignored the curiosity and took a swipe with his large claws.

"I don't think so!" Rin lifted the staff to block the attack while her body was surrounded by a glow. Before the bear demon could register confusion, his paw collided with the staff and enigmatic glow.

"Wench!" He roared, feeling his paw break on impact. Then he watched in horror as the glow attacked his paw. He flailed wildly as the glow literally burnt his paw off his arm. Rin didn't manage to come out unscathed either. The impact had flung her a couple yards back.

"What happened?" Rin whispered as she tried to sit up.

"Outrageous!" The demon yelled infuriated. Rin gasped realizing the staff had landed several feet away from her. Her eyes widened with fear as the demon bared his fangs. 'I don't want to die. Not without seeing him one more time.' Rin thought as her heart raced. Suddenly something white blurred in front of her vision. 'Sesshomaru?' She thought restlessly as her eyes fought to focus. The blur attacked the bear and become more red than white. The demon was sliced in half by a very failure sword. Rin's eyes lit up realizing who her rescuer was.

"Inuyasha!" She said jumping to her feet. Looking over the dead demon, Inuyasha's ears twitched. Rin ran up to him and threw her arms around as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Get off wench!" Inuyasha yelled trying to collect himself. Rin stepped back startled. 'He hasn't seen me since I was little.' She recalled understanding his failure to recognize her.

"It's me, Rin!" She said looking up at him and smiling. She studied his long silver hair and golden eyes. Her heart contracted thinking how much they reminded her of Sesshomaru. Inuyasha's jaw dropped.

"What are you doing here?" He asked looking her over for any injuries.

"It's a long story." Rin said sadly. Suddenly anger boiled in his eyes.

"Did he hurt you?" The accusation shocked Rin.

"Of course not." She stated firmly.

"Then where is he? Why are you alone?" He asked unconvinced.

"He didn't intend to hurt me…" Rin said as her eyes glazed over and her shoulders sunk. 'I'm too tired for this.' She thought as Inuyasha took her heavy traveling pack and picked up her staff.

"Lets just get back, okay?" He said sounding annoyed. "You look hungry, Kagome will fix you something." Rin's stomach growled. 'I haven't eaten in over a day.'

"Thank you Inuyasha." Rin said softly, following him back to the village. Rin fingered the jade charm beneath her shirt, thinking about the strange aura that it conjured moments ago. 'Thank you Sesshomaru.' She thought sadly. 'You protect me even when I'm reduced to memories.'

"Daddy!" A shrill voice broke Rin's thoughts. A child was waving her hand in the distance.

"That's Mizuki." Inuyasha said smiling. Rin sensed a sweet tenderness in his voice as the little girl giggled and ran after them. Rin studied the child. She looked about eight years old. She had shimmering silver hair and dog ears like Inuyasha, but big brown eyes that reminded Rin of Kagome.

"Mommy's water broke!" The little girl said as her face suddenly turned serious. Inuyasha gulped and broke out in a run.

"Wait up!" The girl cried. Rin ran behind the two trying desperately to catch up. 'Damn, they're fast.' Rin thought as a pain slowly made its presence known in her side. She followed them into the village until they ran inside a hut. Rin stopped and waited outside respectfully.

"Inuyasha! You didn't have to hurry. You should know by now I've got several hours to go yet." Rin's heart leaped, she knew that voice. She reluctantly jumped up to the door and peered in.

"Kagome!" Rin exclaimed. Kagome blinked at the woman in her doorway.

"It's all right, you can come in Rin." Inuyasha said as he put his arm around Kagome.

"Rin?" Kagome said surprised, but then quickly grimaced as a contraction hit her. "Inuyasha you need to get Kaede and Sango." She said as she made herself more comfortable on the floor.

"Mommy are you all right?" A very small girl said from behind Inuyasha. Her eyes were welling up in tears. She looked very similar to Mizuki. However her ears had black tips and she appeared much younger, perhaps three.

"Mommy's all right, Tsukiko. Why don't you and Mizuki fetch Mommy some water?" Kagome said softly. The two girls and Inuyasha hurried off, leaving Kagome and Rin alone. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this." Kagome said relaxing as the contractions stilled for the moment.

"It's all right." Rin said blushing. 'I've never been around a woman in labor before.' She thought. Kagome noticed Rin's intrigued look.

"I take it you have yet to go through this." Kagome said raising an eyebrow. Rin's blush deepened.

"Oh no. I've yet to be kissed let alone do that." Rin said a bit flustered. Kagome smiled warmly at Rin as a loud grumble came from Rin's stomach.

"Help yourself to some snacks. When the girls get back you can heat up some of the water for ramen." Kagome said nodding her head towards a heavily worn out backpack in the corner. Rin Shyly got up and looked in the back pack and pulled out the most peculiar bag she had ever seen. "They're chips. Inuyasha and the kids are crazy for them. Go ahead and eat some."

"Thank you." Rin said as she carefully pulled the end of the shinny yellow bag apart. She reached inside and pulled out a funny looking wafer. She sniffed it and took a small bite.

"That's good!" She said stuffing her mouth with more. Kagome began to laugh, but a contraction interrupted her. Rin immediately put the chips down and held Kagome's hand.

"What is it like?" She whispered. Kagome gave Rin a questioning glance. "There are no women in my life. I'm curious." Rin said sadly.

"It's painful. The worse pain your body has ever experienced." Kagome said softly, resting her head on Rin's arm.

"Oh." Rin said dispassionately.

"However, it's the most wonderful experience…" Kagome said as her thoughts drifted to the births of her daughters. "When it's over and you see those eyes look up at you…"

"I wonder if I'll ever have children." Rin thought aloud. A deep sadness crept across her eyes. 'Even if Sesshomaru accepts me he would never allow a human to bear his children.' Sadness crept into her chest as she looked into Kagome's eyes.

"What makes you think that?" Kagome asked with a raised eyebrow. "You are a beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky to have you."

"You mean any human man." Rin said with downcast eyes. Kagome's eyes lit up, but before she could inquire further the girls popped into the hut with a pale of water for Kagome.

"Mommy!" Tsukiko squealed. "Will this make you all better?" She asked with pleading eyes.

"It will help mommy stay comfortable during you baby sister or brother's birth." Kagome said softly. The little girl nodded.

"Brother." Came a grunt from the doorway. "It's going to be a boy this time around." Inuyasha huffed from the doorway. Kaede and Sango pushed their way around him. Rin gasped when she saw the old woman. Her sixty some years were evident in her pale wrinkled face.

"We'll see when the babe gets here." Kaede said casually as she sat beside Kagome. "Why don't you take Tsukiko and wait with Miroku. I think Mizuki is old enough to see what birth is like." Kagome nodded in agreement.

"Who are you?" Sango asked starring at Rin. Inuyasha scooped up the small girl and carried her outside.

"But I'm a big girl too!" The child cried as her father carried her away.

"I'm Rin, it's been a long time." She said smiling warmly. Sango nodded and sat down beside her. Kagome let out an agonizing scream as a contraction hit her. Rin sat quietly and watched the women take care of Kagome. Rin was amazed as the hours slipped by and Kagome seemed to make no progress, besides escalating pain. 'Then again maybe I should feel lucky to be childless.' Rin thought sarcastically as Kagome's body contorted though yet another contraction.

"The baby is crowning!" Sango said happily. Rin's eyes snapped up to see the top of a baby's head coming. Rin could only gawk as she watched the head slip out of Kagome's body. 'Nothing that big should come out of a hole that small.' Rin thought horrified. Kagome screamed and gave one final push. The baby was finally freed from its mother's body. Sango caught the baby while Kaede quickly moved to cut the cord and check the throat and eyes.

"It's a boy!" Kaede said placing the now screaming newborn in Kagome's exhausted arms.

"Not done yet." Sango gave a soft reminder as Kagome tried to deliver the remainder of the placenta.

"I had no idea this was so bloody." Rin muttered as her face paled. Sango gave a hearty laugh.

"I agree." Mizuki said, equally pale.

"Inuyasha!" Sango called as she finished cleaning Kagome. Without wasting a second he jumped through the doorway.

"We have a son." Kagome said smiling tiredly. Inuyasha's face lit up with a full smile as he moved closer to see his son.

"Wrap him up in this." Kaede said handing Inuyasha a warm blanket. Inuyasha took it and carefully lifted the boy from his mate's arms. He wrapped the boy in the plush blanket while holding him close to his chest. Inuyasha's eyes welled with tears as he looked over the boy's face. Like his sisters he had deep brown eyes, silver hair and dog ears. Like his youngest sister they had black tips.

"Akiyama." Inuyasha said nuzzling the side of the baby's face. The other two women turned and left, taking a hint Rin left the family alone. 'Could Sesshomaru and I ever have that?' The thought made her chest tighten. She had never thought about being a mother before. 'I desire that experience.' She thought sadly. 'Sesshomaru was right, I do desire those things.' However, the thought of Sesshomaru holding their newborn child made her heart flip flop.

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Sesshomaru stared up at the stars as he sat underneath a tree. The night's crescent moon radiated a soft glow. Jaken was snoring beside him. Sesshomaru stood up and walked a few yards away only to stop and ball his hands into fists at his side. 'I failed her.' He thought and stared up at the sky, silently accusing the stars.

"She didn't disserve to die." His soft words hid scandalous emotions as the wind carelessly swept them away. 'I saved you from hell only to lose you to a damn bandit.' Sesshomaru closed his amber eyes. 'I'd do anything to have her back.'

"Did you think you were like a god or something? That as long as you had Tenseiga there was no fear of death?"

His mother's words bit into his heart.

"Yes, I did." He whispered

"You have become like your father in the strangest ways."

"Yes, mother I have." He answered the memory savagely. 'But how much like him have I become? Would I have gone as far as he did?' Sesshomaru's expression hardened. 'No, I would not have gone that far.' However, the beating in his heart betrayed him. A restless sigh escaped Sesshomaru.

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The next day

Rin hummed to herself, collecting berries. She looked across the lake and smiled. The morning sun shone across the water like a million jewels. Rin took a deep content breath. 'Any day now.' She thought. 'I'll be with you any day now.' Her confidence was disturbed by the sound of footsteps behind her. Rin jumped, only to see Sango.

"Kagome and I would like to speak with you." She said pleasantly.

"Are you sure? She just gave birth last night…" Rin stammered, surprised that Kagome wanted to speak so soon.

"She's a tough one." Sango smiled, putting her hand on Rin's shoulder. "Come on." Rin nodded and walked in quiet back to the hut. 'I wonder what is so important.' Rin thought briskly as the cool morning breeze blew her hair over her eyes. Before long they were entering the hut.

"Rin!" Kagome said warmly as the two women entered. Kagome was sitting against the wall cradling Akiyama in her arms. The pup was sound asleep with a full belly of milk.

"What is on you mind Kagome?" Rin asked sitting down beside Kagome and Sango.

"Something has been on my mind since last night." Kagome began with a mischievous twinkle to her eyes. "What did you mean by any human man?" Kagome asked while Sango peered on intently. Rin blushed, she hadn't expected this.

"I… ah…" She mumbled unable to come up with a coherent word.

"Why isn't Sesshomaru with you?" Kagome asked softly. "Is he alright, did something happen to him?" Rin shook her head as tears threatened to form.

"He left me at a village, just over a month ago." Rin said quietly, her gaze rested on the floor. "He thought I'd be better off with humans."

"Are you trying to find him?" Sango asked, placing a hand on Rin's shoulder and giving an affectionate squeeze. Rin nodded her head.

"I spent a month there to earn a weapon and supplies. Three days ago I left, luckily I found you!" Rin said as her head snapped up. "Surely you can help me find Lord Sesshomaru."

"I think he was right, Rin. You do belong with humans. Don't you want a husband and children?" Sango queried. "Besides in a few short decades you'll be too old to follow him around anyway."

"Then at least I'd have a few more decades of happiness!" Rin scolded back, keeping her voice down for the baby. Tears began to flow from her eyes. "Why doesn't anyone understand I don't want to be with anyone else but him?" Her petite fists clenched on her lap as she glared at the women.

"Oh I get it." Kagome said as a light blush crept across her face. "You are in love with him." Rin gulped as her face paled. Sango placed her hands over her mouth.

"Sesshomaru would never mate a human!" Sango whispered. Rin's head hung in defeat.

"That may be, but I know he won't forsake me if I go back. I'd rather live my life childless than without him." Rin said looking deeply into Sango's dark eyes. Kagome loosened her color to reveal the right side of her neck.

"You see this?" She asked, getting Rin's attention. Rin looked to see two petite purple circles on the side of her neck near the collar bone. "These are puncture scars from Inuyasha's teeth." Rin gasped.

"He hurt you?" Kagome chuckled and shook her head.

"This is the mark a dog demon gives his mate. It means Inuyasha and I can not mate another while we are both alive." Kagome explained.

"What happens if you die?" Rin asked curious.

"Then he can take another mate if he wants to." Kagome explained lazily. "Our lives are so short compared to theirs…" Rin nodded her agreement. "The window we have to find happiness is ruthlessly short." Kagome's voice was calm and soothing as her eyes lazily watched her son's sleeping face. "You go find him. Tell him how you feel, what's the worse that can happen? If he rejects, you can come back her to spend your days."

"How do we find him?" Rin asked desperately.

"Kirara!" Sango called and paused waiting for the demon cat to find them. Kirara gracefully jumped into the hut mewing softly. She jumped into Sango's lap, gently nuzzling the woman's stomach. "Kirara, would you be able to find Sesshomaru?" Kirara gave a sweet mew nodding her head.

"Really?" Rin asked in amazement. Kirara jumped over to Rin and affectionately rubbed her leg. Rin looked up at Kagome and Sango wide eyed. "Thank you so much."

"What are you waiting for?" Sango asked, giving Rin a hug. Kagome smiled affectionately.

"Life doesn't give second chances." Kagome advised as Kirara ran out of the hut. Rin looked after her puzzled then smiled realizing the demon cat had transformed for her outside.

"Kirara will take care of you!" Sango said waving. Rin nodded. "Don't be a stranger anymore!"

"I won't." Rin smiled as she gave Kagome and Sango one last hug. Waving good bye Rin ran out of the hut to Kirara. "All right Kirara! Let's go find Sesshomaru!" Rin couldn't remember ever being so excited as she felt her heart race. She climbed on Kirara's back and took to the sky. She watched as the village disappeared behind them.

"Sesshomaru…" Rin whispered. "Please don't reject me, I don't think I could take it."

Yeah, another chapter finished! Just think people, the next chapter will have so much Sesshomaru fluffies you'll get a tummy ache! And that's a promise! I so want a Kirara… and a cabbit!