Disclaimer: I am sick of writing this! I DON'T OWN INUYASHA AND I'M BROKE SO OBVIOUSLY I AIN'T MAKIN' NO MONEY! (Angry Texas side coming out unexpectedly.) Err.. Sorry. :)) Anyways, hope you guys like and please read, rate, and reply!

Chapter 5

They left as planned the following morning, Rin in step behind the towering demon lord. No sooner had they left the village than did the morning sky began to break over the hills, staining them both several shades of pink. Rin suppressed a giggle at seeing her Lord turned into a mesh of his usual blues and whites, with the addition of pretty pink hues.

Rin was so happy to be with Sesshomaru-sama again. The only reminder that she'd been ill was a nagging cough that the kindly medicine woman reassured her would leave soon and some scattered bad dreams. She ran ahead, darting through the trees, ducking to smell the colorful flowers and laugh at the sky. It was so good to be alive again..

Sesshomaru was to preoccupied with his thinking to notice these things. He kept his meticulous pace, immersed in his next course of action.

How was he to make Rin invulnerable to death? Sesshomaru's main objective was to lengthen her short lifespan to that of a demonic being, preferably without changing her into one. If he could do this without enacting the latter, then it would be better for all involved. On the rare occurrence that a human survived the transformation, their personalities were destroyed, a fate that he would not wish upon Rin. He would love her no matter the change, but would she love herself?

If he were to transform her into a demon, however, then there were two available processes. There was the method of inhabitation, where a demon uses a human as a host. Naraku had done this, resulting in his extended lifespan and demonic abilities. This was never going to happen, but it was still an option, nonetheless.

Then there was the way of absorption, a process in which a human's essence is bound to that of a dying demon. This too was not preferable as it usually damaged the human's soul as a result of the overpowering demonic energy. And usually, if they did live through it, the human would take on attributes of the dying demon, namely its thirst for blood, uncontrollable rage, and utter lack of conscience. Another issue that would be birthed from this would be the demon's natural dominance. Even if Sesshomaru chose a lesser demon to merge her with, thereby improving her chances of survival, the pure power of its being would overtake hers, causing the unwanted attributes to occur. Switch the lesser demon with that of a more powerful one and she would have absolutely no chance, even if she passed the merge. Rin's body would become a host to the demon and her soul would be utterly overtaken.

Drawn like a magnet were his eyes to the dancing woman. Age had not matured her to the ways of how a young lady should act. Rin still chased butterflies, sang loudly, fought fiercely with Jaken, and always, always stopped to smell the flowers.

Better to be with her for a short time in wonderment than an eternity in darkness.

So there was one viable option that he could even consider. Only one path of which he would consider venturing.

He would have to pay the hermit, Juryokan, a visit. Juryokan was a mysterious potions master, known only to a very select few, so select that even the old ones cried ignorance. Even the great Inutaisho had not known of the Demon Alchemist until right before his death, his last battle waged against Ryokutsei in preparation to face the nearly immortal Juryokan. Though Sesshomaru never knew why, he assumed that Inutaisho desired then what Sesshomaru desired now. It is said that if the Demon Alchemist is overtaken in combat, he will allow the victor one spoil in the form of an elixir of their choice. If Sesshomaru could find this Juryokan and defeat him, Rin would have the elixir of life. However, if Sesshomaru were to fall in battle, he would be the one to pay, and pay dearly.

For years Sesshomaru employed his subordinates to search for the demon, with only minimal luck. Juryokan was even more of a recluse than Totosai and would not be easily sniffed out by anyone. However, recent news had told Sesshomaru that the elusive master was within the region and was on the move.

Was Rin strong enough to endure the pain she would surely be faced with? Eyes taking in her small frame, as delicate as a bird's, Sesshomaru was inclined to think no. Physically Rin was as feeble as a stalk of straw, the stem of a lotus bending in the wind. Spiritually, however, she outmatched the great Lord of the Western Lands. Her spirit burned as hot as the fires of Hell, as tenaciously as the climbing ivy, and as wildly as the demon she loved. Her chances of survival? Pretty damn good in Sesshomaru's opinion.

"Rin." His one word halted her in her dancing and spun the girl on her heels.

"Yes my Lord?" A happy smile was on her face, lighting the scattered flecks in her eyes to a startling shimmer. Small hands were at her side, lilies of all colors in the gentle grasp. A soft wind kicked up, tousling her hair and overlong bangs, momentarily shading her eyes from sight.

Gods, she was beautiful.

Still walking, Sesshomaru asked, "How did you fall from the cliff." Bright eyes turned dark with old fear. This turned Sesshomaru's stomach, her fear. It made him angry and irrational. Lucky for Jaken that Rin had survived or the little imp may not have been long for this world.

"I was gathering wood my Lord and the wolf found me."

Damned wolves. They had taken her from him twice. The notion of killing them all came over him, along with the overpowering impulse to snatch her from the ground and into his arms. Never again would he risk her safety.

Never.

"So you ran."

The young girl nodded, fear coming off her in torrents. Chagrin too was present, an emotion Sesshomaru found confusing. Why be ashamed of running? Rin was only a human, an unarmed one at that. There was no shame in self-preservation.

He was next to her now and motioned for her to fall in step beside him.

The lilies were her focus now, saddened gaze attached to them in hopes of attaining composure. One delicate finger stroked an equally delicate petal, drawing Sesshomaru's notice. He remembered the first time she had offered him flowers. It was when the girl's voice, bound by trauma, refused to slip through her lips. Without much ceremony or disturbance, Rin had trotted over, head lowered in a hang dog position, then quietly offered them up to the imposing demon. He refused them, just kept walking as her head drooped even lower, like the wilting flowers in her grasp.

She never offered them again.

Pulled from his reverie, he looked down at the suddenly sullen child. Rarely did Rin's smile hide and when it did it, the absence became very unpleasant to all but Jaken.

"Are you unwell?"

The girl glanced up, at a loss, something proven by the countless emotions roiling around her aura. The Lord of the Western Lands understood her confusion to a certain extent. He was being more open than usual, as was the point. Nearly losing her to the abyss of death yet again had frightened him and Sesshomaru did not wish to waste more time with silences. However, why was she sad?

"I..I am sorry Sesshomaru-sama. For causing you trouble." The words were quiet, Rin's demeanor downcast.

So that was the problem.

It had never occurred to Sesshomaru to not save her, nor was it ever considered an inconvenience. Protecting her was like breathing because it was she that made the act so worthwhile. His golden eyes bore ahead, taking in the grassy fields that the girl-child was so fond of. Sesshomaru did not like seeing her in grief. Sadness from Rin was like the sun being drowned by the dark, oppressive, suffocating.

Sesshomaru would have to fix this.

"You are never worrisome, Rin."

Head jerking upwards, eyes as wide as the full moon, she whispered, "I am not?"

A slight nod from the dai-youkai and her sadness evaporated, leaving only bright and beautiful sunshine. The effect on the demon was amazing as well, his heart ever so slightly picking up pace, his essence calming just by having her aura settle. To have a mortal affect him so deeply confounded Sesshomaru, yet he desired not to look too deeply into it. That was an act he gave up on long ago.

Smiling shyly, the mortal girl looked up at the demon that was her world, had been since the day that she met him, and always would be. "Thank you Sesshomaru-sama."

Another nod and they fell into an amiable silence, the wind fleeing all around them as the sun burned happily in the sky.