The morning sun was burning strong as it gracefully settled upon Rin's face. She winced a little from the rope burn. "Last night was horrible… Sesshomaru…" She curled into a ball as she lay in a neatly made hay bed with red cloth placed over it. "Sesshomaru…" It had been about a week. The horses did not rest because it was a rush job. They had to help the demon slayer live. "I wonder…" She said softly, getting up to look around.

"Quickly get some herbs!" One of the women of the new village had frantically said. It had turned out this was a healing village. Rin was in a trance watching everyone from her small window. Her small hands traced along the wall as she had watched everyone run around with homemade bandages and freshly grounded herbs.

"Mmm…" Her nose sniffed the air lightly. "I smell cinnamon. But… Coming from inside of here?" She was talking to herself as she slowly turned around.

"Care to join me?" The demon slayer had asked. His eyes rose up. His face was covered with blood stained bandages and it was hard to tell who he was.

"That is kind of you… But may I ask you something?" Rin had placed herself next to him, feeling the warmth of a morning fire.

"Yes." His voice would seem to remain in her head.

"Why is your voice familiar to me?" Rin asked rather boldly.

"That is because we know one another. We were once childhood sweethearts." He smiled handing her some bread with cinnamon. "You were asleep for quite a while, a week long to be exact. Would a broken heart be the cause?"

Tears had filled up Rin's eyes. "Yes. My Master is gone now because of that heartless fire." Weakly her mouth had opened to take a bite of her food.

"Though the fire was hot, it was cold." The demon slayer seemed to have a deep heart. "Listen, Rin. I promise you when I'm well enough I will travel back with you to your Master's home so you can place flowers by the rubble."

"Really," Rin was filled with excitement as her tears had disappeared. "Would you do something like that for me?"

The demon slayer gave a strong nod and was interrupted by a woman who walked in. "Kohaku, you have been up all night watching that girl sleep. I order you get some sleep." Kohaku sighed and just nodded again. He lay down and looked towards the blushing Rin.

"Why were you watching me?" She covered her face to hide it.

"I as worried about you," He rolled over to continue his much needed sleep.

Rin had gotten up and quickly left the house. She went to go help some villagers catch fish as a way to clear her mind. "I was worried about you..." She quoted Kohaku as she dipped her hand into the river. Her hair hung into her face as in a way to lose herself completely. Just to lose herself in a watery world of her own reflection. A mirror of which she could create a love scene in being reunited with her Master Sesshomaru, "Master..." Tears dripped down her little nose and into the river.

"Would it cheer you up if I asked you to come on a walk with me?" Kohaku appeared behind her. He seemed to be the only one to notice when something was wrong. "It would really cheer me up. You don't want to be selfish, would you?"

"Please leave me alone..." She sobbed and rubbed her tears away from her eyes with her forearm.

Kohaku quietly stepped into the river and walked over to her. He gently took both of her hands and smiled into her saddened eyes. "Come on..." He stepped a little closer. "I'll take off my bandages if it'll make you more comfortable... You'll finally be able to remember who I am."

"Kohaku, go to bed!" Yelled the woman who was left to keep him under control.

"Ko...Kohaku?" Rin was a little shocked. She knew she heard his name but couldn't understand why it meant to much to her. "Now I remember. You were my boyfriend!" She tackled him into a strong hug as she accidentally knocked him back into the river. Kohaku just laughed after giving a groan of pain.

"Yes, it's me." He pushed Rin's hair from her eyes. Rin helped him up and guided walked with him to sit under a shaded tree. "Sorry, but I am going to be spending the afternoon with my dear friend Rin." Kohaku had called back before they sat down together.

"You should lay down Kohaku, you don't look so good. You're skin is rather pale. I don't like how sick you look." She said softly.

"You sound like the women who have been looking after me. I told you I am fine. I just want to spend time with you. I've missed you." He turned his head toward Rin to watch her eyes avoid him. "Blushing again, I see?"

"No, you're just a rude and a cruel boy." She stood up, wanting to leave.

"Rin stay!" Abruptly he gripped onto her hand, forcing her to sit back down.

"You're always playing games Kohaku. I'm sick of you. You're a 15 year old boy, you should know better!" She said and folded her arms. "The only one for my heart is Master Sesshomaru!" Her arms folded as she began to act childish.

"I promised to return you home, would you at least listen to me you ungrateful wench." He grew rather frustrated with her. "And I'm much older than you think."

"Who said you could call me a wench? I have forgotten how little boys like change never change." Rin remained stubborn, but she did not budge.

"I'm sorry. I'll leave you be for now." He stood up and seemed to drift away as he headed back to the hut.

Rin had helped around the village, healing the injured, picking crops and fishing. For the remainder of that evening it was tiring for her. She was use to doing only simple things that Sesshomaru had asked of her. But it was refreshing to know what it was like to sweat and be proud of your own work. She couldn't seem to get rid of her smile she was happy for the time being.

"What a tiring day." Joking with one of the farmers and handing him the last basket of corn.

"Thank you, Rin." He walked away, happy himself for not having to work that hard and being able to take an hour break for supper while she continued to work.

The sun was down and Rin had glanced around making sure no one was watching. "Good I can wash off." But letting her guard down was a bad thing to do. Kohaku watched her, but convincing himself it was for her safety as he thought someone might harm her. Her delicate feet and hands soaked in the cold water. "It's different than a warm bath Master Sesshomaru usually gives me." She mumbled to herself, splashing water over her back. "And I don't smell like Lilies from this." She placed her summer kimono back on, dashing back to the hut she was staying in.

"Why is your hair all wet?" Kohaku had asked her. "You know we have a hot bath house for women during the day, right?"

"I know..." She said softly and sat near the fire to get dry.

"Don't sit so close; you're going to end up putting it out." He frowned. "Then why did you dirty our drinking water with your sweaty body?"

"I'm too shy to bathe in front of all those thin and pretty women. I'm just an average girl." Rin had protested against his reason for being so mean toward her.

"That's non-sense." Kohaku had come out of his dark corner; he stood tall and didn't look like he was in pain anymore. Rin's eyes went wide as she saw his facial bandages hung around his neck loosely. He knelt down in front of her. "You are as beautiful as any of these women." Kohaku's breath had whispered so softly she fell under his trance. Reaching for her face he kissed her on the lips.

"How did you heal so fast?" She asked after being kissed.

"I drank some demon blood." He playfully bit her bottom lip and kissed her again with longing to be hers again. "I keep my promises."

Will be continued in the next chapter...

Fan fiction by: Joanne Thirlwall
Original Content by: The Creator(s) of Inuyasha
Year Written: 2007
Last edited: 2007