Sesshomaru's Flower

A/N: That last chapter I found pretty amusing, personally – and I hope you did too! However, things are taking a turn as she gets older. A whole lot of emotion going on now! For this chapter, however, He'll being going through real love and understanding.

Warning: Mild Lemon/rape

Disclaimer: I came up with the character Kazuma, otherwise everything else belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

I smell danger. And I can smell InuYasha's blood…very close by. What's going on?

"Rin…stay in this village until Jaken and I return." Sesshomaru told the 17 year old Rin, who was wearing her brand new kimono, of different greens, and pinks. She also carried a satchel with her female needs but also things like snacks she finds, and other things of the sort, she had wished she made it sooner with its practicality.

"Why my lord?" She asked him curiously.

"There is danger up ahead." He replied. She didn't reply but made an 'hmm' sound, and nodded her head in agreement. She was used to this now, as Sesshomaru disappearing for hours occurred frequently to ensure bandits weren't getting too close or when he sensed something abnormal.

"My lord?" Jaken asked. "What is this danger?"

Sesshomaru did not reply, instead, he walked away with Jaken following behind. "Bye my lord." Rin said, and she too walked away into the village he left her at. Rin was a young lady, she was old enough to make her own decisions, and generally protect herself. Over the years he had taught her some sword fighting, general martial arts, meditation and more. She looked like a lady, but he needed to be sure she could protect herself when he had to leave.

"Hello." A man approached her, "Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before."

"My name is Rin." She turned around to him. The man had short brown hair; a little bit of it was tied into a low ponytail. He wore a yukata that was green, with gray strips across the shoulder. He also carried a sword with him.

"Rin…"The man echoed to himself, hearing that name before. "What a wonderful name."

Rin was slightly clueless. "Wow, thanks…I didn't think my name was that great." She smiled, and made a nervous laugh.

The man walked closer to her. "My name is Kazuma."

"Ka-zuma? Kazuma with the little annoying brother…named…" Rin thought out loud.

"It doesn't matter now. He's dead." He interrupted flatly.

She paused for a moment and looked in his eyes to see his pain. "I'm sorry," she said compassionately, "he was always nice to me."

"It's been a while Rin. You've grown up beautifully." Kazuma said with a twist to his smile, though she did not notice. She was still trying to fathom that she had just run into a childhood friend. When Rin's parents died and she lived by herself for a period of time –she left her home to make a new life (this was of course, before the bandits and wolves killed her). "What village are you in? What brings you here?"

"I don't have a village to call my own actually. My lord and I have been wandering the country since I was young. I don't have a place to call my own."

"Oh really…" He seemed slightly upset. "You have a lord?"

Ignoring his disappointment, she piped up proudly, "Yes, he's a great demon lord."

"We're you kidnapped for you to become his mate?" He asked, assuming she was with Sesshomaru against her will.

Rin gasped. "No…He's not my mate. I am…" She felt doubtful. "…His companion. He brought me back to life when I was a child."

"How fascinating!" he exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "say, is your lord with you? Would you like to come have a cup of tea?" he offered gently his hand to woe her. She smiled innocently but with a hint of hesitancy.

"No, he went off. He sensed danger nearby." She said honestly, and then thought carefully to herself.

"Tea offer still stands," he gestured again, "I'd love to catch up with you if you have some time."

"Alright." She smiled, naively. He walked her to his hut. His hut wasn't really big, but it seemed as if he lived on his own. It was one room with a small fire pit towards the center of the hut. A bamboo mat lay off in the corner and he had very few possessions. He put the water on in silence; she sat in front of the pit with her head low as she felt awkward. Once it boiled he took his pot of water off, he started putting in the tea leaves.

"I live by myself." He told her before she asked. "My parents died when I was 10." He started as he sat down himself, and then poured her cup.

"That's…the same with me too, as you remember…when I was 8. And then…I died when these wolves ate me…but my lord brought me back to life."

"How'd he bring you back to life?" He asked her, puzzled and genuinely curious.

"Well, his sword has this power of bringing people back to life." She told him.

"Interesting…" He mused cautiously, "What does your lord look like? You mentioned he was a demon."

"He's a dog demon."

"Oh?" He gasped and became intrigued, "Really…"

"Yes! He's got long silver hair…and part of his fluff is on his shoulder-" she mimed with her hands, "-it's a part of him for when he turns into a dog demon." She told him, getting excited.

"Well I've never seen a demon like that…but, a very loud half-demon passed by asking for help. Strange huh. He had long silver white hair wore a big red outfit, and traveled with a pregnant priestess."

"You must be talking about InuYasha. That's my lord's brother." She laughed. "Kagome's pregnant? Wow!" Rin told herself and felt cheerful. She put down her tea. Rin was starting to feel uncomfortable despite not having been in the small hut for very long, she was starting to realize there was something more to all of this.

"Oh." He said stunned; then he smiled.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to wait outside, to make sure my lord can see me when he returns." Rin told him, as she got up. "Thank you for the tea."

Kazuma followed her up, "Have you ever been in an intimate relationship?" he asked quickly.

"Huh?" She stopped walking then turned to him. "What the…what are you talking about?" He walked up to her and stood very close. She was too stunned to react the way she should have, he brushed her hair behind her ears with one hand and held her cheek with the other.

"Have you two fucked? Do you like it rough?" He asked aggressively with a different tone of voice, "You're old enough…and not to mention, demon or not, he's still a man. I'm sure he'd love it rough. Ever done it?"

Rin's eyes widened and she stood shocked. She tore herself away from him, "I can't believe you would ask that sort of thing. My lord has come a long way of his past. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. I shouldn't even dignify you with an answer! Who are you?" She threw back at him, "Besides…we've only just met after so many years. Why are you asking me these questions? It's none of your business!"

"Your lord may not…say…that he doesn't want sex or any relationship at all, but, why do you think he brought you back to life? So he could have a little annoying girl follow him? He must have known you'd grow up!" He tested her, with a small smile. He walked in front of her catching her before she walked out the hut, trying to bring her back in.

"He brought me back to life, because I saw through him as a demon. I took care of him when he was injured, and I wasn't as frightened as most people would be." She argued.

"That's what you think. I'm a guy…I would know." He laughed slowly.

She stared at him, "He told me he had no intention on being mates with me and I accepted that."

Kazuma pressured, "Just because he said that, doesn't mean that's what he thinks."

"What do you mean?" she responded with repulse.

"He didn't want you to run away if he told you that he did."

"But at that time, I DID want to be his mate." She said, confused of what his conversation what trying to accomplish, and becoming scared of his pressing questions. She predicted that he was trying to purposely confuse her to make her upset, but she made her best effort to stay calm.

"Ah-hun." He agreed, "That's what he wants."

"Excuse me." She pursed her lips and turning around again, doing her best from becoming too upset.

She twisted her arms and used them to push his away. She finally escaped the hut, and started to briskly walk away. "You know it's the truth!" He yelled to her from his door, remaining where he stood. Rin started to run and went to hide in the forest which was some distance away, so he couldn't see her, but so she could see out of the forest in case he came after her.

"No Lord Sesshomaru, you couldn't have kept me only for that…" Rin cried, covering her ears with her hands, and scrunched herself in a ball. "Noo..." She repeated to her self.

She woke up later with Sesshomaru staring at her. "Come along Rin." He told her. Rin's eyes widened from being frightened to leave, but did was as told, and hid behind Sesshomaru. She shuffled quietly, keeping her body close, her head down while tears silently streamed.

"Rin, what's wrong?" Jaken asked finally. Rin said nothing, and just held onto the back of Sesshomaru. She didn't realize that the direction Sesshomaru intended on going meant that they had to pass through the village so she remained silent and so close that she would step on his heels if she weren't careful. Just when she thought she was safe, as they started to exit the village, Kazuma ran up to the group.

"So this is your lord eh." He told her from behind them. They all turned around while she stood behind Sesshomaru, holding onto his sleeve. Sesshomaru moved his head slightly to see her terrified face, and then looked back at the boy.

She murmured, "Yes…"

"Rin, who the devil is this?" Jaken asked her.

"My name is Kazuma. I grew up with Rin, we were practically best friends. Hm," he paused, "you do look like your brother there." He responded for her.

Without hesitating, Sesshomaru punched him in the face, and made him go flying. Rin stood frozen; Sesshomaru turned around and started to walk away. Out of guilt, Rin ran over to Kazuma.

She leaned over him. "I'm so sorry. Lord Sesshomaru does not like to be referred to as InuYasha."

He opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing his jaw a bit. "That's alright," he said. Just then, he noticed that Sesshomaru was still walking (Jaken started talking to himself) and seemed like he didn't notice that she had run off. He grabbed her arm, and pulled her to his hut. She didn't say a word because she was still in shock and his force was very strong. She couldn't seem to escape from him. She kept thinking that she should do something with the training Sesshomaru had given her, but she could never forgive herself if she hurt him. She just couldn't do anything.

Kazuma threw Rin up to his wall as soon as they entered the hut, and gave her a dirty look. "A rough man, you gotta love it hard."

Rin cried, as everything happened so quickly. "I…" She looked up and tried screaming, but Kazuma took a piece of fabric from his pocket and tied it around her mouth so she couldn't speak. Tears streamed down Rin's cheek. He then threw her to the ground, where her head hit the ground enough to make her dizzy. He grabbed both her hands and quickly tied them to the post in his hut (supporting his roof). He straddled her, her feet kicked and she squirmed as much as she could. She was incredibly surprised how fast he worked; he must have done this before. She shifted her head sideways and saw blood stained on the floor, it was dark and faded.

He had opened her kimono, which left her almost fully naked (minus the fabric around her chest and underwear). Kazuma had pulled down on her wrap which made her flinch as he grabbed her breasts and he smiled. He slapped one of her breasts and watched it wiggle back and forth. With his kimono still on he grasped his hard member that she could see through the kimono, he stroked it over the cloth. He rested his chest on top of hers; licked her face and sniffed her hair. He moved his kimono to release his member. He buried his face into her chest, using one hand to shift her panties over while the other had grasped his member to insert it into her. Rin's screaming was muffled while she cried, and was surprised no one had heard her. Just when he was about to insert himself into her fresh virgin vagina, is when Sesshomaru walked in.

Though it didn't take long for him to realize she had run after him, he had presumed that she wanted to stay a little longer so he lingered. He had no idea what he walked into, he felt that she was in danger and he was already very suspicious of this boy. Kazuma and Rin did nothing further, when Rin's head quickly turned to him, tears down her face and her trying to speak to him, along with her terrified expression. The fabric tied around her face and hands showed him that she did not want that, and so Sesshomaru took another step. Kazuma sat up and went to reach over for his sword not too far away. Rin passed out.

Sesshomaru raised his hand.

"Oh, like your hand can threaten me." Kazuma laughed at him, unaware of Sesshomaru's power.

Sesshomaru made his hand a flowing motion, and a green whip flew out of his hand, and Kazuma was left in two halves and puddles of blood surrounded him. Sesshomaru became worried inside, but did not show it. He did not want to pick her up in case she was in pain, so he waited until she woke up a few moments later. By then he had taken the fabric off her face and wrists, and gently covered her mostly naked body up with her kimono. When she woke up, he had one knee on the floor; the back of his hand touched the sides of her cheeks. Rin sat up slowly, and then tears streamed down her face again, harder than before. Her body started shaking and she looked around wildly, frightened.

"I'm so-so-sorry, my lo-rd" she cried painfully.

"Are you okay?" He asked her gently, and she nodded silently. "Try to get up, we should go." He offered as Rin slowly got up, as Sesshomaru started leaving again.

Rin followed even more closely to Sesshomaru. "Thank you…" She said slowly again.

"Rin, where did you go?" Jaken asked densely.

She didn't look at him. "I…" she started, ashamed of herself.

"Nevermind, Jaken." Sesshomaru said forcefully.

Jaken stood speechless. "Hmph." He puffed his chest out and stomped angrily, but let it go after a moment when he saw her frightened eyes, and shaking as if it were winter out.

The way out of the village was very quiet when they stopped by a hot spring where Rin could take a nice hot bath in attempt to help her feel better…but she knew that event was something she couldn't forget. She was about to take off her Kimono when she turned around and saw Sesshomaru behind her. "Why was that man trying to…?" He started, showing concern. She would always trust Sesshomaru, but the fear of being snuck up on jostled her enough to grab hold of the rocks behind her as she semi-lost her balance. He took a step backwards when he noticed that she seemed off.

"About that…he…I…" She broke, released herself of the rocks and stared at the ground. Her knees fell to the ground, she felt like spaghetti.

"Don't worry about it. Forget it. He's a stupid boy." Sesshomaru reassured her.

She still had her head down, but her tired eyes looked up at him, "Lord Sesshomaru. I can't just forget. He really was my best friend when I grew up."

"A best friend would not hurt you." He said plainly. He got down on one knees to come down to her level. He tried to put a hand on her arm but her body moved itself backwards which made him pull away instantly.

"He was alone." Rin stammered, sympathized for Kazuma, "His parents died…his brother died."

"Were you not alone when your parents died?" He asked her though he knew the answer.

"He's been alone his whole life. You came along for me…and I wasn't alone anymore." She looked up at him, "and neither were you."

"I enjoyed being alone when I was." He replied stilly, a small lie to his voice.

"That's crap. No one enjoys spending a life time by them selves." Rin made sure he knew. She leaned back on the rocks behind her, sitting a little more casually.

Sesshomaru said nothing before responding, "What did you tell that boy about me?"

"Well, he asked…if…I was in an intimate relationship with you." She told him honestly, looking ashamed. She started shaking again.

"And?"

"I told him I wasn't…and that I was only a companion. You are the lord, and I'm the little annoying girl who will never have anything better to do." She said harshly.

"Nothing better to do?" Sesshomaru asked, feeling insulted.

"Oh my lord. I didn't mean it that way. I mean, that I'll probably never get married…or have children, that sort of thing." She said with a sense of disappointment, wishing in her heart that he'd be the one that she'd get married to and have children with.

"Oh." He said quickly. "Go take your bath." He dismissed and walked away.

Rin turned around, leaned against the rocks at the edge of the springs for a moment, reflecting on her day. She started to cry again and very slowly took off her kimono, observing the red slap Kazuma left on her chest and a bruise on her thigh from trying to break free so hard. She looked around cautiously, and sat herself down in the water. She leaned her head back, in the steam, letting her long dark brown hair down flow in the water. She held her breath, and she went completely underwater, letting her hair flow to the surface. She wrapped her arms around her body suspiciously and positioned herself into a fetal position.

Sesshomaru stood at the trees looking at her in the distance. It wasn't like him to peek on a girl, but…this was one time he couldn't help. He stood between two trees, that if Rin turned her head, she could see him, but he wasn't thinking at the time. He was partially staying closer because of the earlier incident, but also while she was passed out he had re-adjusted her kimono for her so she would awake with dignity. He was very upset with what had happened, not to her fault, but he also saw her beauty while she was passed out that he couldn't help notice.

Rin couldn't hold her breath any longer, and so she came rising into the air, with her fully developed breasts, her hair and body wet. Sesshomaru thought she was gorgeous, like he was staring at a goddess in his eyes…and wouldn't want to turn away for the world. That was anyway, until Rin turned around and saw Sesshomaru staring at him, where she flopped down in to the water, and Sesshomaru turned around embarrassed. The weird thing was, was that she wasn't mad at him at all, even after the day's events. She found it a compliment… (And quite frankly, about time- in her mind) that he would try and peek at her.

Rin slowly got out of the water, casually put on her kimono, before Sesshomaru turned around again. "Lord Sesshomaru."

"I'm sorry." He said to her, as he made a small blush. Rin stood helpless; what's done was done. Sesshomaru stared at her glowing face, as she instantly looked down. "Rin."

She looked up at him, dry tears on her cheeks, slightly red eyes and feeling a bit helpless. He was going to dare it. Something that hopefully would lift Rin's spirits a bit. He had always hated humans, but he made an exception for Rin as she was able to make his heart beat and get him to do things he'd never do. Within the years of knowing Rin, he had slowly adjusted to human nature and started to become slightly tolerant of them. He bent down slowly over her, as her eyes widened, where his hand brushed the side of her cheek. She quivered slightly, her face moved slightly back. He closed his eyes, opened his mouth slightly and kissed her. His lips touched her wet, soft lips. Rin didn't move again until she noticed a moment later, of what was going on. She then closed her eyes, wrapped her arms loosely around Sesshomaru's neck, and deepened the kiss. It didn't last much longer after that, when he pulled away, and stood straight to her. Rin's eyes widened as before, and smiled lightly.

Sesshomaru turned around and started walking away. Rin didn't move from her spot, but she knew that'd probably be the first and only time Sesshomaru would ever express his feelings toward her. It was a strong kiss, so it meant that he cared for her deeply, and that he would always protect her, no matter what.

Rin didn't know what to do. Would she go to sleep? But then again, that moment with Sesshomaru was a little too extravagant to sleep on…she'd be up for hours anyway. She wagered that returning for her bath would be the best option as she had only been in there for a few minutes prior to the kiss. She got back in, and leaned her head against a boulder. She wasn't even sure if she should be smiling. Of course she was happy about the kiss, heck, she was ecstatic. But she was still very hurt, and ashamed of her incident with Kazuma only a few hours earlier...she had a hard time ignoring that. She knew that her innocence was almost taken away with only a few seconds to spare. She felt dirty, and a bath would not help with that. Rin could trust Sesshomaru with her life, which is the only reason why she didn't retract in fear, but also because he understood and didn't judge her decisions to go back to him. She only laid still for a moment, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

The vision of looking and seeing his twisted smile face, hands grasping her soft skin, observing the dried blood of other victims. She was lucky, she knew that but she was frightened. Rin knew better and she was angry at herself for trusting so easily and not using her training that Sesshomaru had taught her. Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard some shuffling, but yet again she was in a forest. What else would she be able to do about it? Sesshomaru would protect her. But, this shuffling came from Sesshomaru, although Rin still didn't know. She continued to keep her eyes closed, when she heard a small splash in the water she sat in. An animal? She opened her eyes, and there was Sesshomaru…in the water with her. Not only that, but he was naked, like she.

"Lord…Sesshomaru?" Rin asked surprised and confused.

Sesshomaru looked at her with a gentle look. "After this afternoon's events, I thought I should keep you company." He told her.

She remembered that time when she asked Sesshomaru why he wouldn't bath with her. "I thought it was wrong." She corrected him, almost mockingly.

"You're older now." He replied. She smiled happily, and then let out a small giggle. He had no clue what she was laughing at, but in any case it didn't matter. She just thought of her conversation with Kazuma about their relationship, a sadistic laugh to make her realize that he was probably right… but she liked to think Sesshomaru had far more decency and class.

After a long time in the spring of nothing but awkward silence, Rin moved a little closer to Sesshomaru. He didn't budge, but it was the first time Rin had actually seen him relaxed as he was. His eyes were closed, and he seemed at peace. She budged closer and closer to Sesshomaru. He opened his eyes to not see Rin in front of him, but beside him. She looked at him with large eyes, and smiled. Sesshomaru was slightly confused, and was somewhat tempted…being a man himself, to look down at her breasts, which were close to see even through the water. Rin however, placed her right hand on his chest, and left arm bent across his back. She placed her head by his armpit, and closed her eyes.

"Rin. This is why I said men and women do not take baths together." He said sternly.

Rin let go of him in a flash and pushed herself back slightly. "Do you not like it? I'm sorry. I won't do it ever again." She assured him.

"No…"He started, "I like it." He said which utterly shocked Rin. It slipped. He hadn't meant to say it. Demon he may be, he had become a demon that felt love, like his father. His father finding love disturbed Sesshomaru, but soon he came to understand why his father was in love, and he respected that.

"Why…why lord Sesshomaru." Rin said in complete shock still. "That's…I'm so happy!"

Sesshomaru didn't know what to feel. Instead, he moved his body slightly, so he could wrap his right hand around Rin's waist. She shivered lightly, almost in a surreal moment.

"Oh…lord Sesshomaru. I know this seems weird to bring up now…but InuYasha is going to be a father."

Sesshomaru blinked. "With the priestess?"

"Yes."

"I saw InuYasha today, but Kagome was not with him, how do you know?" He asked.

"Kazuma told me. He said that they were passing through their village the other day." Rin explained.

"Oh." Sesshomaru said looking straightforward.

So little brother…you're going to be a father. Figure that you would pull your human side together and mate with that Kagome girl. I wonder how the child will turn out.

"My lord? What are you thinking?" Rin asked looking at him.

"InuYasha."

"Oh…I guess you're not very happy about it?" She wondered.

"It's not that I'm not happy. It means now that once he has that child his power will grow because he has someone else to protect too."

"So you're happy about it then?" She smiled.

"I would say congratulations to him…but I also hate my brother."

"What about Kagome? Don't you like her?" Rin asked.

"Yes, even for a human…she is a very strong woman. I first met her when InuYasha had first met. She has great faith in him." He said.

"She's a priestess. Of course she's powerful." Rin joked.

"She didn't know what powers she was capable of at the time." He guessed. She nodded in agreement and smiled.

Just then…to ruin everything they had possibly gained up to that whole night, Jaken came around yelling at them. "MY LORDDDDDDD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH RINNNNN!? I THOUGHT YOU LIKED HER! DON'T KILL HERRRR…" He stopped for a moment to see both Sesshomaru and even Rin's death looks. (He's rubbing off…ha-ha.) Jaken screamed for his life, and Sesshomaru turned around, face beat red, as Rin hopped out quickly and got on her Kimono. She ran and chased Jaken angrily as a diversion so Sesshomaru could get his clothes on.

…A while later…Jaken sat down on the ground quietly with about 50 pounding marks all over him. "I'm sorry my lord." He commented.

"Jaken…I told you leave and do something." Sesshomaru said standing up staring at him. (Yes he has all his clothes and armor on.)

"I got bored mi lord, I thought I would keep Rin company," he paused, "What WERE you doing anyway?"

"None of your business master Jaken. Lord Sesshomaru and I were having a talk that's all." Rin said for him.

"Mi lord. I've never seen you so…peaceful when you were in there. And Rin was…so on you." He whispered to Sesshomaru, which only gained more poundings on him.

Both Rin and Sesshomaru were silent, and looked away from Jaken who was in front of them. "I said was I was sorry already." Jaken said with less sincerity.

Rin turned to Jaken. "Master Jaken. That means nothing!" She yelled, upset, "You just walked in on us!"

"Well how on earth was I supposed to know what you guys were doing…"He told her.

"Jaken. That was whole point of sending you away." Sesshomaru told him bluntly.

Jaken stood gawking. "MI ?! NOO! You would throw your servant away just like that?!" Jaken continued to yell. 'Yes' was swarming both of their minds, but instead Sesshomaru ignored him and Rin rolled her eyes in a sassy response, and cruelly wished Jaken would just die for the time that they could have actually shared something.

"Well, my Lord? What are we doing now?" She asked Sesshomaru, who looked back to her. He looked at her with soft eyes now, a sense of compassion and feeling. She had always known that he cared for her after everything he had ever done for her since she was little, but this was a new look. He didn't look at her like a girl anymore; he looked at her as a woman.

"Do what you will." Sesshomaru said, as he continued to lie against a tree. Sesshomaru closed his eyes. Jaken pouted and distanced himself while he slept by a tree within eye-sight, but not super close. Rin assumed that Sesshomaru wouldn't be asleep as fast as it would seem…but Rin wasn't tired and would not be able to sleep. Too much had happened that day; her mind was going a mile a minute.

Rin walked a bit off in the distance to a cliff, where the moon, happening to be a full moon, seemed ever so bright and beautiful from where she stood. She stood almost at the very edge, as the wind blew her hair, being down to her waist, tied in a low ponytail still, flew fluently in the air. Her kimono, which was knee length, fluttered about trying to push her sideways, but she closed her eyes and held her arms out. Rin smiled, and wanted to cry she was so happy. She was finally able to take that leap to get Sesshomaru to relax around her…and perhaps one day…actually becomes her mate. She was sure that he could never admit that even after 10 years, she was no longer just a companion, but more then even a friend. She couldn't help feeling that what Kazuma was talking about, was more or less correct. He probably did want a relationship, he was just one not to make the first move, and that's how she'd figured it. Although, he did make the first move, and what's better is that he made more than one in one evening. She was proud of him for doing that. He was just a man. Sesshomaru may be a demon, but he was still his father's son. Rin guessed that Sesshomaru thought of his father a lot, enough to think that if his father loved a mortal woman, why couldn't he? He hated humans, had no use for them, and only wanted power. But that changed when a little girl saw through his demon reflection and came to his aid.

A shadow came behind Rin, as she made a large exhale, and put down her arms. About to head back, she turned around to see Sesshomaru's emotionless face standing there.

"Oh my lord." She smiled to him. "Is this where you normally are on nights like this? I'll leave if you'd like." She offered.

"No, it's alright." He told her. Sesshomaru then took another step forward, so he was standing next to her but still facing her, and stared at the moon.

She looked up at him, "Beautiful isn't it?"

"Yes." He replied dully.

She looked at him, "A full moon. Special things are suppose to happen on nights like this." She informed him, then turned back to look at the bright moon.

"Many special things have already happened." Sesshomaru said a moment later.

"My lord…please…tell me what you feel right now." Rin demanded. She turned to him, as Sesshomaru turned to her.

"A strange emotion that I've never felt before in my life." He admitted. "Except when I first met you."

Rin's eyes lit up slightly. "Love?" She hoped so bad, she was determined. She was ready to jump on Sesshomaru right there and then, she wanted to make sweet, passionate love to him but she didn't want to push her limits.

"Perhaps." Sesshomaru said, to deny the truth. "Concern. Understanding. Frightened."

Rin smiled to him. "So you feel like that now?"

"Yes." He said immediately, then turned back to look at the moon.

Rin got closer. "Now you're a man." She told him.

He looked at her, "I am nothing like a human."

"I'm not saying that my lord. I'm saying that demon or not, feeling emotions is life in itself. As a man you are, a real man admits his feelings…and feels new ones. A real man admits his feelings not to anyone in particular, but to himself."

"So you're saying that before now I was not a man?" Sesshomaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You felt emotion when you met me, and you had emotions before even that. You just never admitted to yourself about those feelings and that you hid or locked them away. You hadn't realized the full potential in them and how much stronger you are now because of them."

Sesshomaru felt that Rin had made a point. He really was growing up. He never admitted to his feelings before, and he actually felt happy to have told the one person who would make him happy would help him understand his emotions he felt.

"So…Lord Sesshomaru, what's happening tomorrow? What's our next journey?" Rin asked him, changing the subject.

He didn't answer her, and instead placed his hand gently on the side of her face, while she rested her face into it, closing her eyes and smiled.