Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

I want to apologize to every single reader who read this and therefore became confused. I had previously posted this on another site that only let me post part of the story, and so I deleted the parts that I managed to post. The file I uploaded and STUPIDLY forgot to look over only had the parts that didn't get into the update. Hence the confusion.

Once again, I apologize, and hope that you haven't deleted me from existence because of this mistake.

Last Time:

"But I'm so fat!" Sango wailed. Kagome soothed her as best she could, calling out for InuYasha to sit every few seconds. The combined effort cheered Sango enough so that she could enter the hut.

A single demon lord stayed at the edge of the sight. No wonder the hanyou gets along with them. They are more insane then he is.

CHAPTER 5: OPENING THE DOOR

"Kagome, Miroku and I had the weirdest dream the other night." Sango said. She was currently leaning against a wall as Kagome prepared some tea for the two of them. All the others were outside playing "Who Can Catch InuYasha," leaving the two of them to talk.

"Let me guess." Kagome said with a small smile. "Sesshoumaru was on trial, we gave evidence, and then I was stupid enough to save him from death."

Sango stared at her. "You mean. . . it wasn't a dream?"

"Nope." Kagome said glumly, handing over a cup of tea. "It's all true."

Sango gulped. "Please tell me that the spell Amaterasu placed on you wasn't the one Miroku thought it was?"

"If you are referring to Sesshoumaru becoming bound to my every whim, than I can't comply with your request." Kagome said, sitting beside her friend with a groan.

Sango stared at her in shock. "How in the name of all that is holy, good, and non-Naraku are you still alive?"

"The rules." Kagome said with a sigh. "Amaterasu gave Sesshoumaru a set of rules that cannot be broken." She listed them off her fingers. "Sesshoumaru can't harm me, he can't harm my friends, he has to remain within calling distance at all times, and if I die he dies." She shook her head. "But he still hates my guts. And I can't help but get a bit scared everytime I'm around him."

"I'd be crawling under a rock and hoping to die." Sango confided, shivering at the thought. "You're something else Kagome."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Yes. A complete and total idiot." The two women giggled, oblivious to their listener.

Under normal circumstances, Sesshoumaru would consider himself above eavesdropping. But he refused to spend any more time with the miko than necessary, and he needed as much information as possible about her. So eavesdropping was his only option.

"How has InuYasha been?" Sango asked.

"He's alright." A hint of sadness filled her voice. "I wish I knew why he couldn't cross over. As happy as I am that he's still here, I know that he can't stay. If we could figure out why, he'd be much happier." She sighed. "For once, I wish that we could use that stupid Shikon no Tama, instead of hiding it away."

Sango clamped a hand over Kagome's mouth. "From your mouth to a demon's ears." She hissed. "The last thing we need is someone finding out that its still around."

But Sesshoumaru saw that the warning was too late. A toriyoukai, hidden from the sight of the girls by sitting on the roof, cackled in joy. "The Shikon no Tama." It whispered. "I will make it mine!" It dove into the hut, startling the two women.

Sesshoumaru was content to watch the toriyoukai work. It grabbed Sango, pulling her out of the hut. "Bring me the Shikon no Tama!" The toriyoukai screeched.

"The Shikon no Tama no longer exists!" Kagome shouted.

"I heard you speak of it!" One of its claws came dangerously close to Sango's face. "Bring it to me!"

Kagome knew that trying to respond would be useless. With a scared look, she looked up at the toriyoukai. "Alright! I'll give it to you! Just please put her down!" She reached into her garments and pulled out a bright pink jewel. The Shikon no Tama.

Sesshoumaru stared in shock. Not only was the woman stupid enough to have the thrice cursed jewel on her person, but she would give it up to some lower demon just for the taijya? Unacceptable!

The toriyoukai flew down, simultaneously seizing the Shikon no Tama and dropping Sango onto Kagome. She landed with an oomph, and rolled to the side. "Go get him, Kagome!"

Kagome held out her hands and concentrated hard. In her mind, the image of a bow formed, and her power focused the bow into reality. With practiced skill, Kagome aimed the bow at the fleeing toriyoukai. "Hit the mark!" She prayed, before letting the miko created arrow loose.

It flew straight to the toriyoukai, even as it dodged to get away. With a shriek, the toriyoukai was purified, becoming dust. Kagome slumped forward a bit with exhaustion as the bow disappeared. "That stupid bird." She grumped. "I hope nobody overheard him. The last thing I need is another group of demons coming after me because of some stupid fake."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at the mention of a fake. So the jewel had been a decoy? Perhaps the miko wasn't as stupid as he'd thought.

Kagome

Kagome's dreams took control of her, invading her senses. "No, don't run that way." She whispered.

In it, the child from before, Rin, screamed for Sesshoumaru as she raced through burning halls. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!"

A voice cackled behind her, and she ran faster. But she was growing tired, and her footsteps slowed even as she willed them to hurry. "Sesshoumaru cannot save you now, human!" A voice, familiar even in a dream, called to Rin. "Finally, the lord will be purged of his weakness!" With a wild scream, a rush of fire engulfed Rin, clinging to her as she fell.

The little girl sobbed, still screaming for Sesshoumaru as the flames slowly turned her body to ash.

"Wake up, damn it!" InuYasha shouted, trying desperately to wake Kagome. The stupid girl had fallen asleep out in the open, with no one to protect her. And worse, she was screaming for someone named Rin. Jealousy filled him. Who was this Rin she spoke of? Not some guy from the future was he?

Desperately, he tried to wake her up by screaming into her ear. When that failed, he tried to push her, but found that he went right through her. "Damn it! Wake up, Kagome!"

Kagome continued to squirm. "Sesshoumaru!" She screamed. "Why don't you save her?"

InuYasha stared at her in confusion. "Sesshoumaru saving someone? What the hell's going on in-"

A large boom made InuYasha jump. Whirling around, he saw Sesshoumaru being dragged through the clearing by an unseen force and dumped beside Kagome.

Stupid wench! What does she think she's doing, calling me in her sleep? He stood, snarling. InuYasha bolted in front of him. "Don't even try it, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru's snarls quieted as a smirk replaced his frown. "And what will you do, half breed?" He stuck a hand through InuYasha's form demonstratively. InuYasha glared.

"Don't you dare harm her, you bastard." InuYasha warned.

"He can't." The new voice made the two of them turn. The ghostly figure of Amaterasu stood beside Kagome. She looked up with a smile. "You worry over nothing, InuYasha. Sesshoumaru cannot harm Kagome or one of her friends. It's one of the rules."

Sesshoumaru growled in fury as Amaterasu knelt beside Kagome. "I'd stop that, Sesshoumaru. Wouldn't want someone to think you're getting protective of a human, now would you?" Sesshoumaru's growls stopped abruptly, though the air of anger around him remained.

Amaterasu looked Kagome over compassionately. "Why don't you wake her, Sesshoumaru?"

"This Sesshoumaru has better things to do than attend to some pathetic miko." Sesshoumaru growled.

Amaterasu shook her head. "And that's exactly why you ended up like this." She stood and locked eyes with the young demon lord. "I no longer have the ability to order you Sesshoumaru. So I'll make a suggestion in stead: wake her up. You never know what a bit of kindness will bring you." With that piece of advice, she disappeared.

Kagome's squirming increased. "Sesshoumaru, please save her." She whimpered. "Why are you letting her suffer." A single tear fell down Kagome's face.

"Kagome, knock it off! It's just a dream!" InuYasha cried frantically. He tried to grab her and shake her awake, but his hands just went through her. "Damn it all! You have to wake up!"

A hand passed through him, and a clawed hand grabbed Kagome's shoulder. With a sharp shake, Kagome was jolted awake. "Stop yelling for this Sesshoumaru, wench!" Sesshoumaru hissed.

Tears fell from Kagome's eyes, and she struggled to stand. "We have to go get her, now! Before it happens!"

"Before what happens?" InuYasha demanded. He hated to see Kagome cry. She finally stood and started running for the village. He only caught parts of what she said. "Jaken. . . Rin. . . Sesshoumaru's. . . attacks. . . palace. . . flames. . . dying!"

Sesshoumaru's eyes went wide, and he bolted forward, grabbing Kagome and pulling her after him. Because he had heard the entirety of what she said.

"Jaken is going after Rin! He thinks she's Sesshoumaru's weakness. He thinks if he attacks her, Sesshoumaru will be unbeatable again. But he keeps missing, and he hits the palace every time. The entire place is in flames! And now Rin is dying!"

Rin

Rin sat in her room, looking out at the gardens. Sesshoumaru-sama, where are you? Sesshoumaru-sama. . . Sesshoumaru-sama. . . Sesshoumaru-sama. . .

"Rin!" Rin turned, but it was only Jaken with his stupid staff.

"Yes, Master Jaken?" She asked, a small smile on her face.

"Come down from there!" Rin nodded and hopped down from her seat so that she was on the same level as Jaken.

Jaken glared at her, and for the first time, Rin felt a bit afraid of the imp. "Do you know why Sesshoumaru-sama left you here?"

"Because it's dangerous where he is." Rin said.

"No, you foolish girl!" Jaken shouted, and Rin cringed back. "He left you here because he's tired of your company. He's tired of having a pathetic weakness like you!" Rin's eyes started to tear.

"Stop lying, Master Jaken! Sesshoumaru-sama likes me!" But she remembered his exasperation with her, and the woman he'd brought with him. Had he really tired of her?

"Oh yes, he's sick of you!" Jaken barked with a laugh. "He's told me to take care of you. And do you know what that means?"

Rin started to back away, truly scared of Jaken.

"It means he wants you dead!" He cried, and a burst of fire shot from his staff.

Rin started running long before the fire reached her. He's lying, he has to be! Sesshoumaru-sama, why don't you save me?

Sesshoumaru

Sesshoumaru stared in shock as his palace burned. This cannot be happening.

"Sesshoumaru!" He turned to the woman at his side. "Are you just going to stand there? Let's go find Rin!" Before he could stop her, she charged into the burning building.

Now I understand why she was always in trouble. Maybe my half-brother was not as incompetent as I thought. He followed after her, knowing he'd be pulled in anyway.

She was waiting for him. "I don't suppose you can smell her scent in all this smoke." Sesshoumaru refused to answer, and instead focused on trying to find her. Rin! Where are you?

"This way!" Kagome shouted, starting down a hallway full of flames. Sesshoumaru caught her from behind and dragged her back. "What are you doing?"

"What makes you think that she is that way?" Sesshoumaru demanded, aware that they were wasting time. "It is more likely that she would hide outside of the palace."

"Or she'd go someplace where she feels safe!" Kagome shouted. "I may not know much about her, but I do know that she feels safe around you. I intend to search in there." She shook him off and headed out again, narrowly avoiding a falling beam. "Wow, this place is coming apart fast."

Sesshoumaru glared after her and stalked away. Women! See if I care when she gets herself killed! He exited the palace and began searching in the gardens. Something nagged at him, but he pushed it away. He didn't need to care about the pathetic human woman.

Kagome

Kagome coughed as smoke filled her lungs. Great, just great. I just had to let the one person who knows this place run around outside. I am such a genius. The sarcasm in her thoughts just made her more miserable. "Why can't she be a demon, so I could use her aura. . ."

Well, why couldn't she use Rin's aura! Everything that had life had an aura. So why couldn't she try to find Rin's?

Kagome sat and focused on finding Rin's aura. Hold on, Rin. I'm coming for you.

Sesshoumaru

Sesshoumaru stopped below his window. Rin's scent, spiked with fear, poured from the window. I can't believe that wench was right. With ease, Sesshoumaru jumped into the window, and nearly froze at the sight in front of him.

Jaken had Rin pinned to the wall, his staff raised. "The time has come, Rin. No longer will you be Sesshoumaru-sama's weakness!"

"You stupid toad! If you move another inch, I'll kill you!" Sesshoumaru turned his head to see a rather sooty Kagome pointing an arrow at the deranged toad.

Rin looked up, and saw Sesshoumaru and Kagome. She smiled shakily. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Lady Kagome!"

Jaken whirled and quivered at the sight of Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I-"

He never got the chance to finish. Sesshoumaru's poison whip slashed through the air, cutting the toad demon in two. Rin stood slowly, tears in her eyes. The sight made Sesshoumaru feel like the lowest form of life on the planet. Possibly even lower than InuYasha.

"Rin, are you well?" He asked, his voice still in the same emotionless tone.

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin said quietly. Sesshoumaru was unsure of what to do. Obviously, the little girl was not fine. Not even close. But he had no idea what to do about it.

Kagome saw the distress in the tightening of his throat, and the slight trace of worry in his eyes. She coughed quietly, earning her an eye flick. She jerked her head towards Rin, telling him to do something. But the clueless look didn't leave his eyes. With a sigh, Kagome took over.

She walked over to Rin and crouched down next to her. "Rin, are you alright?"

"Rin is fine." Rin said, though her voice trembled slightly.

"I'll bet you were really scared, right?" Kagome asked, wiping some soot from Rin's face. "Were you waiting for Sesshoumaru to come and save you?"

A tear fell down Rin's cheek as she nodded. "Well he did. You're safe now Rin." Tears fell slowly down Rin's face, but Kagome could tell she still wasn't okay. "Rin, you can trust me, I promise. What's wrong?"

Rin stole a glance at Sesshoumaru, and shifted. "Rin can't tell you. Sesshoumaru-sama will hear."

"And you can't tell Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, surprise in her voice.

The tears fell a little faster. "He'll be mad at Rin." She whispered.

Sesshoumaru's face flickered with hurt, but the emotion soon disappeared. Instead he walked over and picked the two women up. Carefully, he jumped out the window just as the roof fell in on the room. When he landed, he jumped again, landing on the far side of the wall surrounding the palace. "I will return in a moment." He said, leaving the two of them alone.

Kagome returned her attention to the still silent Rin. "Alright, Rin. Sesshoumaru's gone. Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

Rin's tears came faster and thicker. "Sesshoumaru-sama hates Rin." Rin whispered. "He told Master Jaken to kill Rin because he doesn't like Rin anymore. He replaced Rin with you!"

Kagome stared at the little girl, and for a moment, she felt pure fury at the little imp who'd caused this little so much pain. Without a moment's hesitation, she wrapped Rin into a giant hug. "You listen to me Rin." Rin shook with sobs, but she turned her face to Kagome's. "You are not to pay attention to anything that Jaken said. He was lying. Sesshoumaru was so panicked when he heard what Jaken was doing that he actually looked scared."

Rin looked up at Kaogme. "Promise?"

"I promise." Kagome said with a smile. "Besides, Sesshoumaru hates me. The only reason I'm still alive is because the gods told him he wasn't allowed to kill me."

Rin giggled. "That probably made Sesshoumaru-sama try to kill you just to prove he could."

Kagome laughed with her. "Yes, he did. It didn't work out very well." Her eyes danced. "Hey Rin, when Sesshoumaru-sama comes back, I want you to give him a hug, okay?"

"Rin can't!" Rin protested. "Sesshoumaru-sama would get angry!"

"Rin, I think that Sesshoumaru was upset that you thought he'd be mad at you." Kagome explained. "I don't think he'd be angry if you gave him a hug. It would be a pleasant surprise."

Rin nodded, leaning against Kagome. "Okay."

Sesshoumaru, of course, had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation. If Jaken hadn't already been killed, he would have killed him again. How dare the imp twist Rin's head as he did.

As quietly as possible, he returned to the girls, bringing AhUn with him. "We must leave now." He said, leaning down to pick up Rin. She surprised him by throwing her arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama!" She whispered. Then she let go, looking up at him fearfully.

After the initial moment of shock that she had actually followed the miko's advice, Sesshoumaru straightened. He patted Rin on the head, indicating his pleasure. AhUn came forward, and Rin climbed on quickly. Kagome went over as well. Before she climbed on, she whispered to Sesshoumaru. "That was very well done."

Sesshoumaru wasn't sure what surprised him more: the fact that miko had complemented him, or the fact that the compliment had made him happy.

--------------------------Author's Rant-------------------------

Obsessive_GOddess: AW! Sesshi's being so cute!

Kagome: I kind of like it. . .[Sesshoumaru shoots her a death glare] I DIDN'T SAY THAT I LOVED IT! It's just different to see you all worried about Rin. . .

Sesshoumaru: You may die with OG. [lifts poison whip]

Kagome: OG! Let me in, let me in, let me in!

OBsessive_GOddess: [allows Kagome into the barrier] Welcome to the Land of Sesshoumaru hates us. Also known as the dark side. Here's your jacket!

--------------------------End of Author's Rant-------------------------