Rin is walking ahead of me. I have been unconsciously walking on egg shells all morning - for the first time. I do not know what to say or how to feel. How must one comfort a hurting female?

"Rin." I begin.

"What is it, Sesshomaru?" She asks me wearily.

"I sincerely did not mean to cause you any pain. You know that."

"Perhaps."

"You know I do not like vague answers, Rin. Care to elaborate?"

"There are many ways I could answer that question. Things have never been black and white between us, like they have with Inuyasha and Kagome."

"What role does he have to play in this?"

"I mean, when Kikyo was not in the picture, it was clear to them that they could finally be together. There were no reservations in Inuyasha's mind."

"Of course not - what reservations do you expect from a simpleton?"

She sighs and walks ahead faster. I do not understand her behaviour. Was it something I said? It should be plain for all to see that Inuyasha is a simpleton.

It is noon. She stops walking and turns to me.

"I want to stop at the nearest village."

I lift a wary eyebrow. "Why? You are not out of supplies."

"No. But I would like to be among my own kind for an afternoon."

Why must she draw lines? After Rin left Kaede, it was understood that she was to be in my company, never desiring human contact.

"I was not aware my company was so poor to you, Rin."

"Of course you were not - don't expect me back till sun down. Goodbye."

And with that, she turns and walks away.

And what does she expect me to do while she is away? Does this female think I have time to waste away at her whims and fancies? She was always so reasonable - a trait I admired most admirably. But off late, she has been edgy around me; not to mention, distant. I can only wonder at what caused this change...

Perhaps it is what my idiot brother's mate calls "hormones".

I spy her returning to me with a thoughtful expression on her face. My eyes narrow.

"Rin, I do not appreciate you wasting my time. This was an unnecessary visit to the village. I can only imagine how you wiled away the time."

Her eyes fire up in anger. I must steady myself to battle with equal ferocity.

"I did not 'wile' away my time, as you put it. I traded - and with success, might I add."

"Traded? And what did you trade exactly? Why was I not aware of your purpose?"

"I do not have to tell you everything, Sesshomaru and I choose not to tell you this." She looked at me defiantly.

"Rin, I will say this only once - I demand to know what you are hiding from me."

"I do not answer to demands, I am not your mate and even if I was, you would not rule over me Sesshomaru! I am not a silly demon female to let you walk all over me."

I inwardly gasp. There is only one explanation for Rin to be acting up to such an extreme.

"I will let the matter go for now but answer me this, if you please - is it your time of the month, Rin?"

I see her cringe.

"Why you! You have some nerve, Sesshomaru! How dare...how dare you ask me such a personal question! You will do well to reserve such questions only to your mate."

She gives me her angry back again.

I sigh.