"It's been three months. I've tried to forget, but I can't. I've put you behind, started a new life, left you out of it. Yet somehow, you've always come back into thought. I wish you would drop dead, be gone from my life, but then again, I don't. I wish to see you, but then again, want you far away. I wish to hear you, but then again, wish that you could never be heard. I want to reach out to you. But I can't. I won't. How am I suppose to go on living like this, wanting and hating you all at once. I'm waiting. Waiting for you to come back, but I know you won't. So, I'm through waiting. I have to forget. I must forget. I'm letting go. Letting go…"

Kirin woke up feeling depressed and lonely. She couldn't remember what she had dreamed about that night, but she knew that it would change her. Kirin shook the cobwebs from her head and stood up. She quickly crammed a rice ball into her mouth and hurried on out into the street on her way to work. Kirin got a job working with Saji not long after she decided to stay in the village. It was Saji's job to cook for and serve the workers at the mansion that served as the lord of the towns home. Kirin helped Saji cook and serve, and sometimes even sang for the workers while they ate. And, if she was lucky, like she usually was, the men would tip her. Kirin had inherited her beautiful singing voice from her mother, and she sang the songs that her mother had taught her long ago. Kirin reached the gates of the mansion and she showed the guards the mark on her wrist that indicated that she worked there. It was, in a way, tattooed on her. It would come off and be repainted on every month. It was a humming bird surrounded by five stars. This was the symbol of the lord. And it was painted by one specific painter, so no one could duplicate it and sneak in. Kirin waved to a few random men and woman who were working in the garden, and then a few inside. Finally she got to the kitchen, and Saji. "Morning Saji," she called to her friend, "What's on the menu today?" "Hi there, Kirin," Saji replied to her. She looked exceptionally beautiful to him today. "It's rice and fried fish. Nice and simple," he said looking back down at the fish in front of him. "Sounds good," said Kirin. "Hey, can you grab me that knife," Saji asked. "Sure," Kirin answered grabbing the large kitchen knife from the counter and handing it to Saji. He thanked her and started right away cutting the already-fried fish into strips for individual meals. Kirin got to work stirring the rice that was already in a large pot hung over the fire. Fish also fried around the fire. Saji watched her wipe the sweat from her brow. He was glad that she dad decided to stay in the village. There was something about her that really grabbed his attention. Maybe it was her oddly golden eyes, or maybe that wonderful smile. Whatever the case, he was just glad that she was around. Kirin looked up from the pot and looked over at Saji with a curious look in her eyes. Saji quickly woke up from the spell that had overtaken him and turned away, embarrassed to be caught staring. He turned around to find Kirin right behind him. "Is there something you wanted to tell me," she asked with an odd expression on her face. "Um…..no….well…. yes… well… uh….. could you…uh…cut this fish for me…..I…uh….have to…..uh….go to the bathroom." With that Saji ran out of the kitchen. "O….K….," Kirin said, confused. "Saji is one nice guy," she thought, "But what was that all about?"

Saji finally returned and Kirin rang the lunch chime and began serving the rapidly arriving workers. When Kirin finished serving she washed some dishes than came out and sang to the workers. Saji came out from washing dishes, drying his hands, to listen to Kirin. She had a wonderful voice and he wouldn't miss an opportunity to hear it.. He was surprised to hear Kirin sing something that he had never heard before. Usually she sang one of the songs her mother had taught her long ago, but not this time. "Don't do this to me, you don't even see, how hard it is to move on. But now you are gone, and it's taking it's blow, so now I've decided, It's time to let go." The workers cheered and cleared out in a hurry to get back to work before they got in trouble. Kirin walked past Saji back into the kitchen. Saji turned to her and asked, "Where'd you learn that song?" Kirin thought for a moment and then answered, "I don't know. It just sort of, came out." They sat in silence for a minuet, and then he said, "Well, I think it came out beautifully." "You think so," Kirin asked, blushing a little. "I know so," Saji answered grasping Kirin's hands in his own. They sat for a moment in silence, blushing madly. Then Kirin broke away from Saji and said in a quavering voice, "If we're finished here, I'll head home." Saji didn't answer, but watched her walk away. He was afraid that he had just done something horribly wrong.

Later that evening, Saji knocked on the wooden frame of Kirin's door. He had second thoughts to leave, but something kept him there. "Kirin," he called out, "Are you there?" "Yes," she answered from somewhere inside, "Please come in." "I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry about earlier. I had no right to touch you." He hung his head and turned to leave. "Saji," Kirin said softly, "You don't have to apologies. I didn't mind, and besides, it was only my hands you touched." She laughed a bit and then added, "Man are you proper." Saji also laughed and scratched the back the back of his head. "Yah, I guess I am," he said, "But my father always told me to give a lady my up most respect, because someday one can save you in more ways then one." Kirin thought a bit and then smiled, "Your father was a smart man," she said, "Thank you for apologizing Saji. It really meant a lot to me." "Thanks, bye Kirin." He was about to leave with a smile on his face when Kirin called out to him and said, "Hey Saji, would you like to go on a walk with me." He faced her and smiled widely. "I would love to," he answered.

Two months later Saji and Kirin sat together under a large tree watching the sunset. They had shared an evening walk together every day since Saji apologized. He turned and looked her in the eyes. She looked so beautiful with the sun reflecting in her golden eyes, making them sparkle. "Kirin," Saji said, "There's something that I have been wanting to ask you." "Ooh, look at that, it's almost over!" Saji moved over until he was face to face with Kirin, grabbing all of her attention. She looked at him seriously. "Kirin," he continued, taking a deep breath, "Will….Will you marry me?" Kirin's heart and eyes froze. But hers' were not the only ones that did. From the treetops behind her, a certain demons heart also skipped beat. Sesshomaru, as well as Saji, sat and waited for the answer that Kirin did not know. "Oh gosh," she thought, "What do I do!"