A.N/\/\/\ Woot two up loads in one night, maybe three! If I can finish chp.6 too! Again! You guys and gals are the best people in the world who are forever in my heart of hearts! Here is Chapter 5! (:

Sesshomaru's P.O.V

Sesshomaru felt Rin hide her face as he looked around her room. The room was aglow as if it was on fire. He looked at the window and saw why her room looked the way it did. He smiled at the white and red curtains. He turned right to her wooden kurōzetto which stood slightly ajar. He glimpsed the kimono's he had given to her over the years. When he turned to the left, he saw the large bed with his crescent symbol on her blanket.

Smiling he looked down at his Rin. "Rin, your room is beautiful. Why didn't you tell me of this?" He felt her flinch slightly and lifted her head. She looked up at him and seemed to be watching him carefully. He kept smiling down at her. "Is this why you banned me from your room?" He walked over to her bed and sat her down carefully. Sitting next to her, he waited for her to answer. "Yes, My Lord. This is why I didn't want you in my rooms. I was embarrassed and I did not want you to know how much I cared for you, because of how you felt about humans. I had hoped to show you one day but I was scared to."

He watched as she adverted her eyes. He sat quietly for a minute, taking her answer in consideration before responding.
"Rin… Will you ever forgive me for what I've said about humans? I did not mean any of what I said about humans towards you. Over these past years you have grown close to my heart. I would not see any harm come to you… except it is This Sesshomaru who has caused you the most pain."

Sesshomaru reached over and lifted Rin's face to meet his gaze. He could see the shock and the bewilderment within her beautiful brown eyes.
"Lord Sesshomaru, you are wrong. You have not caused me pain. You've given me reason to be happy. Every day, you let me travel with you and stay with you. You have not sent me away and you have not kept me as any other demon would keep their ward. For that I am happy."

He watched as a smile slowly made its way across her face. Sesshomaru noticed that she had two small dimples in her cheeks when the smile finally reached her eyes. His thumb gently ran across her freckled cheek. "You are truly happy with This Sesshomaru?"
Laughing she reached up and caressed his face "Of course I am My Lord. I could never wish for anything or anyone better than being with you. As for you asking for forgiveness, there is nothing to forgive."

Rin's P.O.V

Rin could feel the joy, sweeping through her body and mind. Lord Sesshomaru had just told her he loved her in no certain terms. No, he did not say it out right, but he said that she was close to his heart! Smiling she watched him lean closer to her and kiss her ever so sweetly. Moving her hand from his face into his hair, she kissed him back, deepening the kiss into something soft and passionate. When he finally pulled away he kissed her nose.

"Rin, I must go now. My mother will be here with in an hour and I have yet to finish all of my work. You have successfully distracted This Sesshomaru." Rin felt a pang of sadness at his departure but knew it was necessary. "Yes My Lord. Thank you for this afternoon Lord Sesshomaru-sama, you have made me very happy." He responded to her as he normally did making her smile yet again, with a soft "hn."

After Lord Sesshomaru left her room, Rin danced about with happiness. Humming to herself she sat at her mirrored dresser. Looking at her face, Rin saw a constant blush beneath her cheeks and the new spark in her eyes. Grabbing her silver brush Rin started sliding it through her soft hair. The shimmer in her hair caught her attention. It was blue. Her hair was a dark blue.

Rin suddenly remembered Lord Sesshomaru making the same statement. But why do I have a demoness's hair? And my speed earlier…no, none of this is natural. Sighing she placed the brush down wondering what other changes have escaped her unnoticed. Looking at herself again in the mirror Rin found a determination within her so fierce that it almost scared her. I will find out who I am. I will not stop until I find all of my answers.

Shaking off the startling determination Rin decided to braid her hair. Taking her hair she gathered it to the right side of her face, opposite of the shoulder with the dragon's face upon it. Loosely, Rin divided it into six sections and started an intricate knotting braid. Seeing the red and white lily clip Lord Sesshomaru bought for her last summer, Rin took it when finished with the braid and clipped it into the middle of the braid.

Getting up Rin gathered her sword, sketch pad and drawing utensils, she left her room and wandered out to her garden. Rin sat for an hour drawing a picture of a bird sitting on a branch in the woods. The bird was two different colors. The head and back and tops of the tail feathers were as white as snow. While the breast, belly and bottom of the tail feathers were a beautiful green. As Rin put the final color touches on the bird she heard the horn at the front gate sound. Sesshomaru's Mother had arrived.

Sesshomaru's P.O.V
An Hour before his mother arrives.

Sesshomaru left Rin's room quietly. He had not wanted to leave but knew that he still had things to get into order for the council meeting tomorrow, seeing as he would be the one to host this meeting. Walking into his office, Sesshomaru saw the forgotten food. Summoning a servant to get the food removed, Sesshomaru sighed to himself.

Well. She will have to eat a large meal later to make up for her missed breakfast and lunch.
You should go provide her with food, not be in here looking at paper work. You should not have kept her from breakfast either. It will be your fault if she falls ill.
I will have a meal sent to her when dinner is done. She will not fall ill, for she is watched by the best of healers while she's within This Sesshomaru's castle. Do not presume to try and guilt me. I had reasons for wanting to be back soon enough. Like keeping Rin safe from Mother.

Sesshomaru was put out when his inner beast growled and subsided without another word. Perhaps the beast was just worried for Rin. Whatever the cause, his demon was now in a foul mood. Sighing he sat down at his desk and tried to concentrate on his work. Though, Lord Sesshomaru could not keep his thoughts from returning to his Rin.

Leaning back in his chair he thought of Rin's room again. He did not know that Rin had, had the seamstresses working secretly. He would have to ask Rin if she had anything else made that he didn't know of. Picking up one of his scrolls, he noticed this one had the seal of the North on it. Confused Sesshomaru opened the scroll.

The wording on the scroll was rather elegant, it read:

To The Master and Lord of the Western Lands,

My name is Jinntatsu. Neither you nor anyone else believes that there are survivors of the North. However, there are Two. The Princess, who escape, for I could not find her body anywhere. Though I do not know where she is. Also myself, I am the king's personal guard. How am I alive? The king sent me with the southern lord to his lands to help search for a murderer. Please, I beg of you, if you wish to know the truth about that last night, come find me, I am close to the border between our lands. I dare not reveal any more than I already have. They are searching for me because I found the truth after all these years. Know this though, those whom you consider allies and friends are only going to try to destroy you. Burn this after you finish reading it, for I fear those who are after me, are after you as well.

Until we meet-
-Jinn

Growling in frustration as the letter held little information but enough to know that this demon isn't lying, Sesshomaru committed it to memory then burned the letter as asked. He wondered how long the letter had been sitting on his desk. Irritated by the thought of someone living by the borders of the lands and it was not known to his soldiers. He dare not go out now, with such a short time until his mother arrives.

Getting up and pacing his office Sesshomaru started putting together a plan. He would go out tonight after everyone had fallen asleep; he would find this Jinntatsu and get every bit of information from him as he could. So he could share it with the council tomorrow. Finally the mystery of the North will be revealed. Nodding to himself he went to sit back down when the horn from the gates blared and announced the arrival of his mother.