I don't own Sesshy-sama or his little pack.

Sesshomaru had said good bye to Taro and Makoto then gone out to the stables to see if Rin had prepared Ah 'Un yet. What he saw was Kenji holding his little girl. He strode forward and grabbed the boy up by the back of his yukata and pulled him away from Rin.

"You will not touch my daughter!" He growled at the boy as he wrapped a clawed hand around the boy's neck.

"Daddy, no! Don't hurt him! We weren't doing anything! I swear." Rin cried running forward and grabbing his arm. "let Kenji go! please Daddy!

Sesshomaru looked at his little girl. She had tears streaming from her eyes. Then he looked at the young warrior trying to pull his hand away from his neck. He glared at Kenji and dropped him to the ground.

"Rin, we are leaving." He replied still glaring at the young man.

"No Daddy."

"I said we are leaving!" He growled turning to her. "Get on the dragon!"

"But Daddy..." Rin sobbed tears streaking her face.

"Please sir. We have done nothing. I would never dishonor Rin, I love her."

Sesshomaru turned on the boy. "Rin is to young for love!" He growled in rage. "She is only a little girl!"

"Only in your eyes!" Kenji countered. "Every one else can see Rin is a grown woman, you are the only one who sees a child!"

Sesshomaru grabbed Rin's upper arm and made her get up on Ah 'Un then took to the sky before she could think to jump off. The boy was wrong. She wasn't an adult. He tried to block out the heart broken sobs as they flew. After all this was for her own good. Wasn't it?

Once they were far enough away he set down and built her a fire and then took Ah 'Un with him to go get Jaken. He would only be gone a few minutes and could smell no danger. He just wanted to get her away from that boy.

When he returned Rin was laying on the ground crying into her arms. He stared at the pitiful child. He had hoped she would have calmed herself by now. He hated to see her so unhappy. But he had to protect her. What choice did he have?

"Jaken, take Ah 'Un and find some suitable grazing for him."

"Yes mi'lord." Jaken replied bowing low. He took the beast's reins and led it away, glancing back every so often at his lord and princess.

Once the imp was gone from sight Sesshomaru moved to sit beside his daughter and started petting her head. "Rin enough. Stop crying little one."

"I am not a little one Daddy! I'm not a child any more."

"Rin, your only fourteen years old."

"There are fourteen year olds who are married and have babies daddy! You've always told me you wanted me to be happy. Well Kenji makes me happy!" She replied getting to her feet.

"You don't even know the boy."

"I know him better than you do!"

"You think you do. Rin, what a man says he is and what he truely is are often two different things."

"You never gave him a chance to prove who he is! You never do. You always judge everyone with out getting to know them! Some people can be trusted Daddy! Why can't you ever trust any one? Don't you want me to be happy someday?"

Before he could answer she turned and ran from the camp site. He listened to her footsteps and heard her stop several yards away. Still close enough to be safe. He sighed and leaned back against a tree. What was he to do with her? Couldn't she understand he just wanted her to be safe?

Sesshomaru was not in a good mood. Even though more than a week had passed Rin was still sad about what had happened back in town. And still seemed a bit angry to.

And the weather was terrible, it was hot and muggy. Even the great Sesshomaru was sweating and the dampness caused his kimono to cling rather uncomfortably. And to top it off Jaken insisted on complaining about something. Sesshomaru wasn't listening so had no idea what. But the constant mumbling was grating on his nerves.

All of a sudden Jaken was hurled backward by something hard and fast. He sat up to see Sesshomaru holding a second rock in his hand. "Be silent or I will give you a reason to complain."

"Of course mi'lord!" The imp replied groveling on the ground.

Rin attempted to smile at poor Jaken then sighed as she waved her fan back and forward trying to create a cooling breeze. She brushed a damp lock out of her face and saw her father pause ever so briefly.

"What do you hear daddy?"

"Running water." He replied as he changed his course. They still had plenty of water but it was hot and had been in the containers for two days. They could get fresh, cool water and Rin could splash some on her face to cool off.

While they were refilling their containers Sesshomaru caught the scent of a human. This human had a smell similar to Makoto but feminine. She carried the scent of one who is with child. He watched until she came into view, she looked a bit like Makoto to, she had to be the daughter Taro had mentioned. She couldn't have been much more than 16.

She was humming to her self absently. Skipping along and swinging her buckets. That is untill she saw the group at the river, then she stopped and walked toward them in a more dignified manner. Her cheeks slightly pink due to being seen acting like a child. She was to be a mother next spring, she wasn't suppose to act like a child.

"Hello." She greeted softly as she reached their group. She knelt a few yards away to fill her buckets. Careful to keep her distance but not seeming to worried. Sesshomaru had noticed women, youkai and human alike, seemed less skittish around him since Rin cam into his life. As though having a little girl with him made him less of a threat.

"Hello." Rin chirped, returning the greeting. "My name is Rin. This is my Daddy, Sesshomaru and our servant, Jaken"

The woman looked up from her work quickly and looked more closely at them. She knew those names. She set down her buckets and bowed to them. "It is a pleasure to meet you Sesshomaru-sama and Rin-san. I am Miki, Makoto and Kenji's sister."

"Oh, Kenji told me about you." Rin exclaimed.

Miki smiled at her. "And he has told me all about you." Miki replied picking up her buckets. "Would you and your father care to come to the house? I am afraid father and the boys are out training at the moment but you are more than welcome to come wait for them with me. Infact, I was going to fix lunch for them, perhaps if your father doesn't mind you could help me carry it out to them."

Rin rounded on her father and gave him the most heart breaking, pleading look. "Can we stay for a while Daddy? Please?"

He hesitated. But that look... Then he remembered their conversation a week ago. About him not giving Kenji a chance. Perhaps it would be a good idea to spend some time with the boy and figure out his true motives. He nodded ever so slightly. Rin gave him the biggest smile and hugged him. Then they followed Miki back to her house.

She led them up a twisted path to a modestly sized but well built house. She put some water on to boil and made tea for her guests then went about preparing lunch for her father and brothers.

"What about your husband? Kenji said your married, is he training with your brothers?"

"No. Shiro isn't a samurai, he's a farmer. He took his lunch with him to the fields this morning, he usually does. He insists that I have enough to do with out walking all the way to the fields everyday."

"Your father married you off to a farmer?"

"No, I chose to marry him and my father let me. It's a step down, I know, but I love him and he loves me, so I'm happy. Father wasn't happy with the idea at first. Was afraid I would be unhappy as a farmer's wife. But Shiro is a good man and he knows it."

Sesshomaru just listened silently while sipping his tea. The girl married down in class and yet was happy. She and this Shiro must indeed have the real thing. But then they had been married less than a year, so who could tell if it would last. The child may well have made a mistake.

He finished his tea well before the lunch was packed and rose to his feet with them. He would not object to Rin going with Miki but would insure she didn't leave his sight while they were here.

They took another trail which Sesshomaru realized was leading them down the river. He could hear a waterfall in the distance. Then he heard the sounds of mock battle. He found that Taro had the boys practicing on the smooth wet rocks where they kept slipping awkwardly. It seemed like a good way to improve their balance.

It was bound to happen sooner or later and did at that moment, Kenji lost his footing and slipped from the rock into the water. Makoto started to laugh.

"Hey. I may be wet," Kenji replied standing up. "But you are the one who is still hot and sticky."

Then he moved forward, acting like he was going to climb back up on the rock. Instead he grabbed his brother's foot and pulled it out from under him so that Makoto ended up all wet as well. A short period of chaos ensued as both brothers tried to drown one another. Then Taro quieted them down and told them to get back to work.

"Father, we have company." Kimi called as the group stepped out of the forest.

"Sesshomaru-sama, Rin, how nice to see you." Taro called over the noise of his two sons taunting and sparring. Kenji heard those names and turned to fast ending up back in the river.

Taro shook his head and rolled his eyes while watching his younger son stand back up. "Boys, lunch." He called.

Kenji carefully made his way back to shore, hoping to salvage a shred of dignity. He didn't. Of all days to find that rotten log in the water... down he went one more time. He eventually made it back to dry land and quickly went to greet Sesshomaru and Rin.

Rin had a hand clamped tightly over her mouth to smother her laughter. Not that it did that good a job. She had tears of joy and laughter in her eyes when he finally made it to her. He bowed low before Sesshomaru.

"Rin, Sesshomaru-sama, I am so glad to see you again!" He stared at Rin as he spoke. He wanted to hug her but with Sesshomaru standing right there he didn't dare! Besides, he was soaked and didn't need to get Rin wet.

Mean while Miki was setting out their lunch. "Well come on, lets eat." Taro called. Kenji snapped out of his trance and all the humans sat down to their picnic. Sesshomaru sat beside Rin though he didn't eat. Kenji sat on her other side as close as he dared.

Rin and Kenji barely had time to eat, they had so much to talk about. Miki smiled at her little brother and this sweet young woman. Taro rolled his eyes once then ignored them. Sesshomaru watched them like a hawk out of the corner of his eye and listened to every word.

Rin was right, he did need to get to know the boy. But unlike Rin he wouldn't be charmed. He was watching for clues as to the boy's true nature.