Chapter 2

Rin hummed softly as she picked some tulips by the edge of a river. The tulips had bloomed early, the sun shining on their white petals. She stopped when she saw a yellow one, her fingers running over the thick petal. It was the only one.

"Master?!" Rin turned around, seeing Lord Sesshomaru enter the clearing. She smiled, her smile widening when she saw Inuyasha. Her smile fell when she saw his angered glare he arrowed at Jaken. He seemed really unhappy, and Jaken hadn't even spoken to him yet.

Rin felt it was because of the death of Kagome and his baby. She looked to the yellow tulip, pursing her lips. She grabbed the stem, using a sharp rock to cut through the thick stem. It came away, Rin holding it to her chest.

She walked towards Inuyasha, her eyes set on his solemn face. He looked to her. Lord Sesshomaru looked to her in question but did not speak. She was glad for that, stopping in front of Inuyasha. She reached out her hand, Inuyasha blinking in confusion. He outstretched his hand though, Rin putting the tulip in his hand. She closed his fist, giving him a small smile.

"I know Kagome doesn't want you to be sad," Rin whispered, Inuyasha's eyes narrowing slightly. It wasn't from anger though, Rin hugging his stomach. Inuyasha pat her head awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Rin turned to Lord Sesshomaru, pulling away from Inuyasha.

She made a vow to make sure he would never be sad again.

"Lord Sesshomaru, is Inuyasha here to walk me back?" Rin asked, knowing Inuyasha hadn't been to Kaede's village in almost five years. He just didn't look happy at Lord Sesshomaru's side. Lord Sesshomaru shook his head.

"Inuyasha will be returning with me to the castle. If you wish, you may come with." Jaken sputtered but Rin felt a mix of relief and sadness. Inuyasha shouldn't go there. But she felt like if she went, it wouldn't be so bad.

"I shall, but I will have Inuyasha take me back so he may see Kaede and his friends and I can inform her of my leave," she reasoned, Lord Sesshomaru frowning. Rin didn't know why Inuyasha should have to go to the castle, but seeing his friends seemed like it would help him mentally. She could see he was damaged and Sesshomaru wasn't helping. She wished that would change overtime.

Surprisingly Lord Sesshomaru agreed and Rin got on Inuyasha's back, the hanyou jumping high into the air.

"Lord Sesshomaru will probably follow," Rin told Inuyasha, a small grunt his reply. The tulip he stashed away in his robes, Rin sighing against his back.

"I can see you are unhappy Inuyasha, may I ask why?" Rin asked, Inuyasha staying quiet. Rin felt like she probably had brung up a bad memory so did not speak anymore. But Inuyasha, after a long while of silence spoke.

"I'm becoming different, physically. For the next few weeks I cannot protect myself. Sesshomaru has promised to protect me," Inuyasha told her, Rin frowning. It must have hurt his pride to not be able to protect himself.

"I know how it feels to rely on others. It doesn't make you feel very highly of yourself sometimes," Rin told him, Inuyasha smiling softly. Rin was glad to see it.

"I relied on my friends and they relied on me. That was a time I felt pride to protect and be protected. Sesshomaru though…" Inuyasha trailed off, Rin patting his shoulder.

"No one says you have to like it. But, if it makes you feel better, I will be by your side to protect you too." They landed at the village, Inuyasha crouching so Rin could get down. Miroku and Sango's children ran towards them, Rin patting their heads as they gathered around her. They then went to inuyasha, asking a whole bunch of questions.

"Hey!" Miroku yelled, the children turning towards him. They all chuckled sheepishly, Inuyasha smiling down at them. His smile became more warm as he looked to Miroku, Miroku walking up to him.

"You know, a lot of stuff has happened since you left," Miroku told him, Sango coming to his side. Inuyasha nodded, Miroku smiling sadly.

"Kagome would have been proud that your troublesome self made it this far," Miroku laughed, hugging his old friend. Inuyasha was shocked at first but returned the hug, hugging Sango who was pregnant again, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You left and we couldn't find you. Why did you run?" Sango asked, Inuyasha smiling down to her. His eyes said it all. Sango wiped away her tears, hugging him again.

"Well since you're here, we shall throw a party!" Sango cheered, Miroku smiling as she walked away. His daughters walked away with her, Miroku picking up his son. Miroku turned and walked, Inuyasha following. Rin followed Inuyasha, glad to see him smile and bicker with Kaede. He still seemed pained, but happier.

Rin was glad.

They feasted well that night, the years harvest healthy and the fish plenty. Inuyasha bickered with Kaede about something, and she gave him some herbs.

"Mix it will all of your food," she told him, Inuyasha seeming out of place but nodding. Rin wondered why he was given the herbs. The herbs were used for her when she went onto her menstrual. They helped with pain and fatigue, along with the other downsides of a monthly.

Had Inuyasha found a new mate? She ruled it out and dropped it. It was none of her business.
They ate till each was full, Rin able to drink a bit with the rest of the adults. She did not drink much, Inuyasha watching her closely besides the fact he was drinking three times the amount of everyone else. Rin believed he deserved it.

They had to leave all too soon, Rin packing up her things and heading outside with a tired Inuyasha. Sesshomaru was waiting in the clearing they left from, his eyes looking away from the setting sun to them. Rin could tell he had followed and watched.

"Let us journey," Sesshomaru ordered, walking out of the clearing. Rin was tired so Inuyasha carried her, Rin falling asleep his arms.

He would have been a great father.

XXX

Inuyasha scowled as they walked through the night, Rin held close to his chest. Sesshomaru was silent ahead of him, Jaken by his side. In the beginning he had whined but he soon became silent. Inuyasha didn't feel he had to speak, so he didn't. He was here against his will anyways.

"Inuyasha?" Inuyasha didn't respond, but Sesshomaru continued.

"So no one interferes, I will place both you and Rin a cottage close to the palace. It is surrounded by a barrier, so only who I give permission can enter and leave. Only Rin could leave through that barrier, am I understood?" Sesshomaru asked, Inuyasha rolling his eyes. Jaken did not comment, knowing this was none of his business.

"Try to leave and you will be killed. Meals will be brung to you. The barrier stretches three miles into the air and around. You will have room to move around. You will not be restrained to the cottage." Inuyasha grunted, the response seeming to please Sesshomaru. He stopped talking and they continued to walk.

They entered a clearing that had fog covering the ground, Inuyasha stopping at the edge of the clearing. Sesshomaru walked into the fog, turning to him.

"Step into the fog." Inuyasha was cautious. He had traveled these forests all his life, and he had never seen this. He looked down to Rin, taking a small step into the fog. It was hot. He pulled his foot away, looking to Sesshomaru.

What was he trying to pull?

"It will not hurt you," Sesshomaru comforted, Inuyasha growling softly. He walked in, holding Rin closer to himself.

"This is a portal. The Kingdom is in the middle of my territory. It will take five days to get there by foot." Inuyasha growled as the fog rose up and surrounded his body, sweat trickling down his back. He couldn't move as it felt like his body became weightless, his arms holding onto Rin tighter. She was the only solid thing around him. The fog became cold, seeping away from his body. He opened his eyes and his heart stopped beating.

They were in the clouds. But that wasn't what shocked him. It was the large palace that stood in front of him. He took a step back, looking behind him. It was endless clouds. He gasped when they fell through it, Inuyasha growling as he opened his eyes and back flipped, landing on a tree. He jumped onto the ground, Rin fast asleep in his arms.

He had a feeling she could sleep through anything. Sesshomaru landed next to him, turning to face a small cottage. It looked comfortable and homey, smoke coming up from the chimney. Inuyasha suddenly felt unusually tired, following Sesshomaru as he walked towards it. He looked up, seeing the clouds were far from the ground. The fall had went faster than he had expected.

"There is a hot spring behind the cottage. No one will be able to see you, the barrier makes this place invisible." Inuyasha frowned.

Sesshomaru opened the cottage door, stepping inside. It was bigger inside. It had two shoji doors, each one leading to a bedroom. It had a fireplace that burned steadily, a pot placed over the fire. It held hot soup, Inuyasha sniffing it with a sigh. It smelt like the soup Kaede made.

It's walls were made of stone, it's floors wooden. It was a dream cottage made for royalty, and though Inuyasha easily felt at home, Sesshomaru seemed to take away that essence. Inuyasha put Rin to bed, running a hand through her hair. If she knew why he was here she would never approve of it.

He left and went back into the living room, looking to the stairs that led up to a balcony. There were a bunch of trees surrounding the cottage, but the sky was as clear as day from that balcony. Inuyasha looked to Sesshomaru, crossing his arms over his chest.

"So?" he asked, expecting him to leave. His stomach was starting to hurt and he wanted to go to sleep. He would eat the herb with the soup when he woke up.

Sesshomaru walked up to him, Inuyasha narrowing his eyes.

"Don't you have some land to monitor or some shit like that?" Inuyasha asked, Sesshomaru narrowing his eyes. Inuyasha growled when he traced a finger over his cheek, slapping it away.

"I may be a half breed in heat asshole, but I am not letting you touch me," Inuyasha growled, his hand touching the hilt of his sword. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, grabbing him by the neck. Inuyasha growled and kicked him in the stomach, Sesshomaru releasing him with a grunt. Inuyasha scurried away, standing next to Rin's bedroom. If he did anything Rin would hear. Sesshomaru's face became stoic.

"You're scent is tempting Inuyasha. If needed, I will not hesitate to mate with you. Our father's bloodlin-"

"I don't give two shits about his bloodline!" Inuyasha growled, Sesshomaru narrowing his eyes. He did not move though.

"Father had me not because he wanted to carry on his bloodline like he did with your mother. He did it because he loved my mother! So fuck the bloodline!" Inuyasha pulled out his sword, putting it to his throat. Sesshomaru did not move.

"I loved Kagome! I may accept you as a brother, but I will never love you!"

"Inuyasha?" Inuyasha looked over his shoulder, Rin standing with her door opened slightly. She looked a tad frightened, Inuyasha lowering his sword. He sheathed it, Rin running to his side. Inuyasha put a hand on her back, Rin still that little girl in his eyes.

"You don't love Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked, Inuyasha frowning, shaking his head. Rin looked sad, Inuyasha pulling out the tulip. He kneeled down in front of her, Rin's eyes confused.

"But Lord Sesshomaru is family. You should love family," Rin whispered, Inuyasha touching her cheek with the tulip.

"I loved Kagome. She was my family Rin," Inuyasha told her, Rin pouting.

"Can I be family too? You'll love me then won't you?" Rin asked hopefully, Inuyasha grinning, nodding his head. Rin took the tulip, biting the stem to make it smaller. She braided it into Inuyasha's hair, giggling as he wrinkled his nose.

"Can you learn to love Lord Sesshomaru too?" Rin asked, his grin falling slowly. Rin looked to Lord Sesshomaru who remained stoic.

"I know Lord Sesshomaru is scary looking and doesn't show much emotion, but he has treated me well. He has taken care of me like I was family. I want him to be your family too." She didn't like hearing them argue, tears forming in her eyes when Inuyasha looked doubtful.

"Please? At least try to get to know him!" Rin pleaded, Inuyasha wiping away her tears.

"If I do, will you stop crying?" Inuyasha asked, Rin nodding with a sniffle. Inuyasha smiled, patting her head.

"I will then," Inuyasha promised, Rin smiling and hugging him tightly. Inuyasha hugged her back, Sesshomaru leaving the cottage. Inuyasha let her go, sending her to bed before heading after Sesshomaru. He stood a few feet away.

"I will play along for her sake. Touch me again though, and I will not hesitate to remove your head from your shoulders." Inuyasha went back in to the cottage, Sesshomaru watching him with tired eyes.

He was a stubborn half breed.

Author's note: Yes, Inuyasha is stubborn. I think Rin wants them all to be a family.