Finally!

Here it is the next chapter. Been working on and off for a few days now, but I'm only just now having enough free time to post. There may be a few mistakes, but once I find them I'll be sure to make corrections. For those who answered my question in the A/N Thank you, I will be taking you thoughts into consideration. I'm not sure when I'll get the next chapter out, I'm not off until Thursday, but hopefully before then. I hope you enjoy and please continue to get those amazing reviews in!

I do not own Inuyasha

When they returned to the village, Rin immediately found herself embraced in the arms of the female Kagome. It was so sudden, that it took her aback. The way she was hugging her, it was like she'd been gone for more than just an hour. It took her a second to react, bringing her arms up and returning her hug.

"I was worried that something happened to you." She said, her arms tightening, making the embrace uncomfortable. "Don't ever run off like that again."

Rin wanted to argue, this woman had about as much right in telling her what to do as Sesshomaru did, but instead of arguing, she just nods her head and pulls herself out of Kagome's arms. "Don't worry, I already told Sesshomaru I wouldn't do it again."

Kagome smiles and nods her head. "Good. How about I treat you to a hot bath." As she saw Rin's eyes light up, she laughs. "I know better than most that having a hot bath, can be one of the greatest things here. Come on."

Excited to be able to take a bath, Rin quickly starts to follow her newfound friend. Before she could even make it out of the room, someone grabbed a hold of her wrist, forcing her to stop. Looking back over her shoulder, she frowns seeing it was Sesshomaru. "Let me go, I haven't been able to bathe since arriving here."

He didn't respond to her, only looked down at her with those golden eyes. Taking them off her a moment later, he turned them onto Kagome standing at the entryway. "Let her out of your sight again, Miko and I will not be forgiving this time."

Rin's eyes widened in shock. He did not just say that. Annoyed, she rips her wrist out of his hold. "Look damnit, I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not a child. You're not my guardian or my father. You don't get to threaten people over me." Waking away from him, she stands beside Kagome, glaring back. "I already told you I wouldn't run off again, how about a little trust? Or do you plan to watch me while I bathe too?" Taking Kagome's hand, she pulls her along. She needed fresh air, being locked in an enclosed area with that man was suffocating.

Kagome silently leads a fuming Rin to the bath house she had built not long after returning from her own time. She didn't regret her decision to return, happy to spend the rest of her days beside Inuyasha, but she didn't feel like she had to do so without a few things from home. So once she settled in, she asked Miroku and Inuyasha if they would kindly build it for her. Of course Inuyasha complained the entire time, but they had it completed within a week. Once he saw how happy it made her, he didn't make another complaint and even joined her every now and then. She had it placed somewhere everyone in the village would be able to access it if they pleased and it quickly became a hit.

The memory of that time brought on mixed emotions. On the one hand, the entire process had been fun and full of laughter, but that was more than a century ago and her two dearest friends were long gone. Sometimes she hated how her life has been prolonged, and at the same time, she couldn't imagine leaving Inuyasha alone.

Mumbling brought her out of her memories and lifting her head she looks over towards Rin, the source of the mumbling. A smile tugged at her lips and she shakes her head. She reminded her so much of herself, irritated with Inuyasha and some dumb thing he said or did.

"Here," She says, interrupting her silent bantering. "Inuyasha built this for me years ago. It might not be exactly like home, but it has hot water and privacy. I even make my own shampoo."

Relief entered her eyes. "You're a lifesaver, Kagome."

Inside the bathhouse, both women stripped out of their clothing and made their way into the steaming pool. As soon as she was in, and the warm water washes over her body, Rin released an audible sigh, closing her eyes and sinking up to her chin. It felt absolutely amazing and after spending nearly a week in the woods, it was exactly what she needed to make everything just a little better.

She stayed just like that for several minutes, her eyes closed enjoying the sensation of the water enveloping her body, melting away the sore, stiff aches. Once she felt she could move without wincing, Rin sinks completely under, soaking her hair and washing away the dirt and nasty oil buildup. For days it's been bothering her, forced to pull it into a ponytail just to keep it out of her way. Now that she could wash it properly, she'd be able to leave it down, as she liked to do.

With her hair now clean and feeling smooth again, Rin takes the opportunity to relax, moving to the side of the bath and leaning against it. For a moment, she was able to forget that she was trapped in the Feudal Era. Until Kagome spoke up, breaking her concentration.

"Don't be so hard on him." She said, her own hair pinned to the top of her head, resting just across from her.

Rin looks at her confused. "Don't be hard on who?"

"Sesshomaru."

"Oh, him." She rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "He's so overbearing. I've only spent a week with him and can tell we're not going to get along." Sighing, she props her elbow up on the edge of the tub, resting her head on her hand. "He too demanding and wants everything his way."

She could hear Kagome chuckling. "Well, that does sound like Sesshomaru. Still, give him time, I bet he'll surprise you. He's a great demon Lord, his father an even greater general. In the world of demons, he's pretty much a prince."

"A prince, huh?" Rin thinks back to when she first met Sesshomaru in the forest, how his demeanor reminded her of a prince. The way Jaken demanded she respect him. "Well, I don't care if he is a prince, it doesn't give him a right to be overbearing towards me. We've only known each other a week. It's not like he's my father or something."

Kagome smiled to herself. "If you only knew." She thought, but out loud says, "He cares about you and doesn't want to see anything bad happen to you."

"How could he possibly care about me?" Rin asked sitting up, sloshing water around in her aggravation. "I told you, we only met each other a week ago."

Before she responds, Kagome thinks carefully about how she should answer that question. "I don't think that matters to Sesshomaru. You see, I think he cares so much about you, because you remind him of a girl from a very long time ago. He saved her and basically raised her." Looking down at the water, she thinks back, absently rubbing her bulging belly. "There was an incident and she ended up dying. Sesshomaru took it very hard and still blames Inuyasha for her death."

Rin sits up straight, listening to her as she explained. "Why would he blame Inuyasha? It wasn't like he killed her. Accidents happen all the time."

"Well, after we defeated a powerful enemy, Sesshomaru thought it would be best if she came and lived here in the village with us. She spent all that time before with him and Jaken, traveling and searching. It was a dangerous time and I don't think he trusted anyone else to keep her safe, so he kept her close."

A small smile spread across her face. Even though it had been dangerous, some of her best memories were spent looking for the Jewel Shards and working to defeat Naraku. "Once things were peaceful again, he wanted her to learn to live with humans and when she came of age, he would allow her to decide whether to continue to stay here in the village, or go with him once more. Unfortunately, she was never able to make that choice. We were attacked by a horde of demons and she was killed. Sesshomaru left her in our care, and when she died, he saw it as a betrayal. What he doesn't know, is that Inuyasha still carries that guilt."

She sits there in silence, thinking on what Kagome just told her. She didn't know why, but something felt very familiar about all of it. It was kind of like a hazy dream. As she thought about it more and more, a burning began on her back. Shaking it off, Rin stands and gets up out of the tub. Grabbing a towel, she looks down at her dirty clothes. There wasn't anyway she'd be able to put them back on.

"I think I have something you can wear." Turning around she looks back at Kagome. "It's a kimono that should fit you perfectly." She said wrapping herself in a towel. "I'll bring it to you, give me a few minutes, okay?"

Nodding, she takes a sit on the stool, her towel wrapped tightly around her body and once Kagome was dressed, she was left alone. The burning on her back had faded, but her story remained, giving Rin something to think about while she waited.

Why did that story remind her so much of a dream she had, the one that continued to haunt her? Was it because she never remembered any of the details, only bits and pieces? Ever since she arrived here, a sense of déjà vu constantly nagged at the back of her head. It was beginning to give her a headache.

"Rin."

From behind her someone spoke, gaining her attention. When she lifted her head, she saw Kagome standing there with clothing draped over her arm. "I brought you this. It might be a little short, but I think it will fit."

"Thank you, Kagome." Standing, she takes the kimono and begins to dress. It had been years since she last wore a kimono, the last time being her cousins wedding in Japan, thankfully she remembered how to put it on.

The material was very soft and appeared to be very expensive. It was a dark purple, with pink cherry blossoms stitched throughout, and lined with gold threading. Kagome had been right, while it fit everywhere else, it was too short. Instead of covering her all the way to her ankles, it came to a stop at mid-thigh; almost as if it had been tailored for a child. Still, it was beautiful and she was grateful.

"It's beautiful Kagome, thank you again."

"You're welcome," While Rin had been dressing, Kagome retrieved her dirty clothing. "I'll have this washed, and before you leave in the morning, you can change back." She giggles a little. "I know better than most that traveling is much more tolerable in clothes that are comfortable."

Now that she was clean and dressed in clean clothing, Rin felt so much better about the situation she was in. After all, it wasn't so bad here. The air was fresh and there weren't any annoying lights making night time look like the day. There weren't any loud honking or overcrowding. Still, she could use a good cup of coffee from her favorite shop. While she missed her parents, she kind of liked it here too. Even with an overbearing demon standing over her shoulder. She could definitely get use to this.

Coming out of the bathhouse and returning to Inuyasha and Kagome's home, Rin felt good. She was in a better mood and was looking forward to the rest of her night. A strong smell of cooking food caught filled her senses and as her stomach growled, she realized just how hungry she was; not eating much since coming here.

Before she entered the house though, a feeling of being watched came over her. Thinking it might be Sesshomaru, she stops, turning around clearly annoyed. "I told you I wasn't going to run aga-."

A male, about her age, stood just feet from her. His brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail and his eyes were wide with shock. "Rin," He spoke her name as if he was seeing someone he hadn't in years, but she's never seen him in her life. "It's really you…"

I wonder who that could be...

Until next time!