Dedicated to crazykenz!

Rin was sobbing against his shoulder, clenching and unclenching his shirt.

"Rin, this Sesshomaru needs to know what that person did to you…..did he hurt you?" Sesshomaru asked softly.

"Nu...-noooo! He- he said he killed….he killed my…. DADDY!" the child wailed.

"Rin? Mommy?" Shippo stumbled into the room, rubbing his eyes blearily.

Ssesshomaru's eyes widened a fraction of an inch. He cradled Rin closer to him and motioned for Shippo to sit on the bed with them. The boy climbed up onto the bed and leaned against Sesshomaru.

"Children, there is a very bad man running around….. He attacked your mommy….and he may have killed Rin's real father. This Sesshomaru will do everything in this one's power to make you each safe again…." Sesshomaru said softly. Rin had stopped crying and whimpered against his chest.

"Do you trust this Sesshomaru?" he asked softly.

"You lied to us about your youkai." Shippo pointed out, seeming unfazed by the notion of a bad guy. Maybe it hadn't sunk in yet.

"Hai, this Sesshomaru did do that….but do you trust me to keep you safe?" he asked again.

"Hai…..Rin trusts you Sesshomaru-sama…." The girl quietly whimpered. Shippo's eyes lingered on his sister's red face.

"Then I trust you also….SO long as you don't trick us again!" Shippo growled lightly.

"Hai. There is no need any more." Sesshomaru agreed. A few moments of silence encompassed them, disturbed only by Rin's quietly whimpers and sniffles.

"Is mama hurt very bad?" Shippo asked without looking at him.

"No this Sesshomaru does not think so. Her arm was cut and she was knocked out….but the doctor said she would wake up soon enough. We can go visit her when doctor Myoga sends for us." Sesshomaru replied. It was then that he noticed that Rin had cried herself to sleep on his chest. Shippo yawned. Sesshomaru looked out the window quickly to see the sky was turning a cold pinkish color.

"Rest some more… this Sesshomaru will watch over you both…" he directed. Shippo nodded tiredly and curled up on his side on the bed. His head on Ssesshomaru's lap. Rin was cradled to him in way that a person would hold an infant. Soon their soft snores filled his sensitive ears. Every little sound had him checking.

'I promise, I will protect you.'