Disclaimer: All but the plot to this particular story rightfully belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
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"When you get older, Rin-chan, you'll meet a boy and fall in love." She ran her hand down the length of Rin's hair comfortingly. "He'll be handsome and giving and kind, and you'll want to start a family with him."

Rin's eyes sparkled at the romantic notion. She nodded shyly.

Kagome paused, assessing the best way to segue into the main topic. "Rin-chan, do you... want to have kids someday?"

Rin's timid smile was answer enough, prompting Kagome to continue. "Well, do you know how babies are made?"

Rin then blinked at her. She shook her head.

Kagome scratched her nose- an awkward habit. "When you care about someone, Rin-chan, like Takuma-san or Sayuri-sama or your other friends, what do you do to show them how you feel?" She started hesitantly.

Rin poked her lip with her finger, thinking seriously. "Rin will hug them and draw pictures for them."

"And what about when you travelled with Sesshoumaru-sama? Did you hug the all villagers you met?"

Rin cocked her head back and shook it slowly, as though the idea was preposterous.

She lifted a finger, "Exactly! Because they weren't your friends. You weren't that close, right?"

Rin nodded cautiously, confused at how this had to do with making babies.

"Well, when you really love someone, as more than a friend- as a life partner- you'll treat them differently, too."

She nodded in frail understanding. "So Rin will not hug her husband?"

Kagome gave a strangled laugh. "Er, you will, but you'll do more than just that..."

As Kagome elaborated, Rin tilted her head and drew her brows together. Slowly, Rin's confusion turned to shock, which morphed into horror, and finally faded into near-tears.

Breathing out, Kagome patted the silent girl's arm. "You listened really well, Rin-chan. Do you, erm, have any questions?"

Rin didn't move, she merely sat there with a concerned look on her little face. Kagome squirmed in her seat, worried that her explanation had been too in depth for this time period and that she had unwittingly traumatized the girl. But then Rin spoke up in a quaky little voice, "So... Rin will only do that with the person she falls in love with?"

"Only that person," she nodded. Then for extra measure she added, "When you're much older." After another second's pause, she amended, "And when you're living together."

"Does it... hurt?"

A bead of sweat fell below her neck. "Well, a little. It depends on the person, I think. But, um, not the whole... time."

Rin nodded again. Then, with a curious look in her eye, she asked, "Does Kagome-chan love anyone?"

Kagome blushed. "Um, no. Not really." She gave a nervous laugh, hoping Rin would take the hint rather than asking her outright if she'd ever slept with anyone.

"Why not? Kagome-chan is old enough!" She defended.

"Er, it takes a while to find that special someone, Rin-chan. It's perfectly normal to take your time."

A rapping on the shoji made both girls jump. As a bowing domestic made her hasty exit, Kagome peered questioningly at the stony taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru had felt the tension that clouded the room from his study on the main floor at the far end of the pavilion. Now that he was in library with them, it was almost overwhelming. Nose twitching, he glanced from Rin to Kagome. "My presence is required in the North. I will be back this evening before dinner."

As though he hadn't said a word, Rin interjected with a thoughtful look, "Does Sesshoumaru-sama have someone he loves?"

Kagome squeaked at the question, looking at the youkai nervously.

He tilted his head at Rin, then took notice of the spike of embarrassment in Kagome's scent. Her prompt variation of emotions was becoming quite amusing. Glancing back at his ward, he considered her inquiry.

Kagome watched him- she could almost see the gears turning in his head. Sesshoumaru did not hurry, and Kagome speculated that he was carefully formulating an answer for Rin's sake. Or at least, so she hoped. As a passing thought, she was surprised to find that she was somewhat curious about his answer.

But when it came, she was sorely disappointed. "Love is human, Rin."

Huffing at him, Kagome crossed her arms. "Don't tell her that." It was one thing to lie, but it was an entirely different matter to shoot down a little girl's tender beliefs.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow. He wasn't expecting a scolding. Rin had asked and Sesshoumaru had answered. Humans, who lacked power, size, and strength, formed links to make their way through their short lives in similar company. Ironically, though the bond may provide an added protection, it ultimately yielded yet another weakness. Youkai, who lived for centuries and possessed few equals, required no such permanent association. Demons had freedom. Many mated, but most were for titles or for peace. His father was proof enough- taking one mate, then consorting with another; a human. The miko did not understand, therefore she had no right to chastise him.

But Rin wasn't fazed. Pushing further, she ventured, "If Sesshoumaru-sama has never loved, does that mean Sesshoumaru-sama has never... been with a woman?"

Kagome almost fell over. Holding herself up with a wobbly arm, she felt an onset of severe muscle atrophy. A blinding darkness flashed before her eyes. Daring to glance up at Sesshoumaru's dumbstruck expression, she saw his lip twitch. Sesshoumaru's glare was soon directed towards her, followed closely by a scowl.

"Priestess," he drawled dangerously.

Kagome laughed awkwardly, steering clear of imagining what he must have been thinking of her and her 'lessons'. "Rin-chan, some questions are better kept to yourself. Sesshoumaru-sama's personal life is none of our-"

"Is Sesshoumaru-sama waiting for someone... someone beautiful and kind and giving?"

Kagome vaguely recognized her reiterated words. Sinking further in her seat, she considered (gently) shoving Rin into the bookshelf.

Obviously feeling much bolder (much to Kagome's dismay), Rin continued, completely oblivious to Sesshoumaru's narrowed eyes and clenched jaw. "But wait. Sesshoumaru-sama, do humans and youkai become pregnant the same way?"

"R-Rin-chan-"

Dismissing her previous question, Rin smiled and stood, interrupting Kagome's train of thought. She walked over to Sesshoumaru, who warmed slightly at her approach, and grabbed his wrist, patting his clawed hand with one of her own. Taking his silence as shame, she met his gaze with deep understanding. "It's alright, Sesshoumaru-sama. Don't feel embarrassed." She affectionately glanced back at the quivering Kagome, "Kagome-chan has never been with a man either." Returning her gaze to Sesshoumaru, she concluded. "It is perfectly normal."