A loud knocking on the door frame startled Rin from her troubled thoughts. Kagome poked her head inside. "Hi Kaede! Rin, ready for some more target practice?"

"Hi Kagome!"

Rin scrambled to her feet, quickly putting away her sewing supplies. She was eager for the chance to receive more archery instruction from Kagome. She was also bored stiff with mending. There were only so many times she could poke herself with her needle before she bled to death.

She was itching to get out of the hut she shared with the village's head priestess. She couldn't bear another moment of her guardian's disappointed silence.

Kagome, ever observant, knelt before her frowning mentor, casting her a sideways glance. "Granny Kaede, what's wrong? Is your arthritis flaring up again?"

Rin sighed. The old priestess was very advanced in years, but there was nothing physically wrong with her at the moment.

Kaede gave Kagome a stiff smile and patted her cheek. "I am fine, Kagome."

Rin bowed her head submissively. "Granny Kaede, I'll return before it's time to start supper."

Kaede's lips thinned as she refocused her attention back to her mending. She merely grunted.

Rin slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder. She sighed again and left the hut.

Kagome followed a moment later, curiosity all over her face. "Rin, what was that all about in there?"

The seventeen year old began walking in the direction of the clearing near the old Bone Eater's Well. She didn't know where to start. Kagome fell into step beside her.

"Well?"

"Kenta… proposed to me yesterday."

Kagome gasped. "Oh my! What was your answer?"

Rin stopped walking. Kagome knew very well what her answer would be, why would she even ask?

"I turned him down. Granny Kaede is very angry with me for doing so."

They had resumed their walk, and to Kagome's credit, she didn't ask for details.

"I see."

Rin tugged on the older woman's sleeve, desperate for a change of subject. "Tell me another story about your homeland!"

Kagome took the hint. "Ok. Let's see…remember when I told you before I often had these tests I had to take?"

"You had to prove you could count sums!"

"Eh…sort of. Not really. It's not important. Anyway, one time I had gotten horribly sick while we were looking for any trace of Naraku. We weren't turning up anything, and I got so sick that I had to return to my time so I could rest. Well, while I was home, I wanted to try to study for a really important exam. Inuyasha was already grumpy due to some naughty little monkey sprites and we had just gotten a really good lead on Naraku…"

Kagome prattled on, describing her friends that had come to visit her while she was sick and her distress that she would never 'pass the test' and how someone named Hojo tutored her. Rin didn't understand most of what she was talking about, but her heart was gladdened by Kagome's recollections of her past with her beloved Inuyasha.

"…Inuyasha loved to pester me while I was studying! He constantly interrupted me and told me I should focus on more important things. I thought he was just impatient for me to come back with him to detect Sacred Jewel fragments. But the truth was, my illness worried him and he wanted me to rest and recover. I found out later that he tore all across the province looking for just the right ingredients to make this special medicine for me. He told me that he had learned it from his mother, and boy did it taste terrible! But, I felt instantly better after taking it. I don't even want to know what was in it…"

Kagome sighed with a sheepish smile. "Sorry for rambling. You know how I get carried away."

"Oh, I love your stories, Kagome! Inuyasha sure took good care of you," Rin observed wistfully.

Kagome beamed. "He protected me and made sure I was safe, from the very first day I met him. We were at each other's throats at first, and before I knew what what happening, I was in love with him."

Rin was glad Kagome was content and settled. She and Inuyasha seemed to fall more deeply in love with each passing year. They deserved their happiness. In so many ways, Inuyasha was very similar to his elder brother! Yes, they were different as any two brothers could be, but they both took the well being of those in their care very seriously. The two were incredibly powerful, protective and steady, and so brave. Rin impatiently pushed thoughts of him out of her mind, but that was easier said than done.

They arrived at the clearing and Kagome cocked her head for a moment, then pursed her lips. Rin wondered if she sensed a demon nearby. It was common for Kagome and Granny Kaede to stop short with their premonitions. She shrugged to herself when the older woman made no comment.

Rin was ready to kill some targets and already getting her arrow nocked. Kagome clapped enthusiastically.

"OK, let's pick up where we left off last time. With how you've improved in the past few months, I am sure even Sesshōmaru will be impressed. Now, feet apart!"

Rin scowled, but nodded resolutely. She adjusted her stance and took aim at one of the targets that Inuyasha had set up especially for her lessons with Kagome. She let fly with a yell, thrilling that her arrow even hit the target at all.

Kagome cheered. "Excellent! Again!"

They took turns at the targets for an hour or more, the time passing quickly. Kagome made it look so easy, her arrows glowing with her spiritual energy. More often than not, Rin missed the target entirely, but she didn't care. It felt good to be expending her pent up energy in such a way. She was flushed and grinning by the time they sat down against the wall of the old well. Kagome reached into a sturdy pouch and passed Rin a rice ball wrapped in cloth. They munched in companionable silence for a few minutes. Rin noticed Kagome glancing furtively at her.

"Rin…you know I am here for you, right? If you need to talk—"

The backs of her eyes burned and she looked away. "Thank you, Kagome, but I just can't."

The priestess started to respond, but to Rin's relief, she held her peace.

She winced, seeing how concerned her friend was. But she didn't want to talk about why she couldn't marry Kenta! If she did, she'd start crying and not be able to stop. Her emotions were too out of control lately because she was so tired of pretending all was well. She thought she did a good job of keeping it all to herself for the benefit of her friends, but they weren't stupid. She forced a bright smile, again changing the subject.

"I hope Inuyasha was able to find some ink and parchment for me while at market. When are they expected back?"

"Probably by this evening! Sango had quite a long list for them. Of course, if Miroku manages to get himself chased from the market for attempting to swindle the wrong merchant, it may be sooner."

Rin snickered. "I am sure she appreciates his skill in acquiring bargains."

"Are you kidding? She couldn't care less about bargains. Over the years Miroko's aggressive negotiating tactics have only gotten more sleazy."

She giggled. "And Inuyasha?"

Kagome snorted. "He went along to keep his counterpart honest." She winked at Rin. "Don't you worry, Inuyasha was very pleased that you asked him to bring you something from market day. He probably bought you enough ink and parchment to last you a year or more!"

Rin felt a surge of deep affection. "He doesn't do anything halfway, does he?"

"Nope, never!"

Her heart squeezed with envy. Kagome would get to hold the man she loved in her arms by the end of this day. She had seen Inuyasha and Kagome together when they thought no one was looking, after he had been away. Inuyasha would kiss her passionately as if they had been parted an eternity, not just mere days.

Sometimes, Inuyasha would walk past her and his scent would trigger her thoughts to spiral. It was so achingly familiar…impending rain, dark forest….wild. So much like Lord Sesshōmaru.

She hugged her knees as she looked to the tree line and distant foothills. Was he ever coming back? When he did, she wasn't sure she would be able to keep her thoughts to herself, or her resentment.

Rin plucked at the grass. Kagome had gotten up from their spot sitting by the well, and had gone over to one of the targets to stuff some of the straw back inside of it. She was giving her a bit of space, and Rin appreciated it.

She nearly groaned aloud when her mind went to Kenta. He was handsome and strong, intelligent and gentle. He would have been an ideal husband. He was one of the few young people in this village who treated her with any amount of courtesy. The village girls her age shunned her. Any one of them would jump at the chance to have Kenta for a husband, if only he would turn his gaze away from the demon lover.

Now she had Granny Kaede's disapproval and anger to deal with. She was still smarting from this morning's conversation.

"Rin, I do not understand! Why does Kenta not suit you?"

Her eyes burned with tears. "I-I do not love him."

Kaede sighed impatiently. "Child, that would have come with time. A finer husband you will not find! Now what will you do?"

She began to cry at the injustice of it all. "I do not know, Granny Kaede, but Kenta deserves a woman who can give him her whole heart, and that will never be me!"

"Tch! You still wait and hope, girl, but it's time you accept your place is here!"

Granny Kaede's words had angered her. She knew she meant well and was concerned for her future, but Rin had grown weary of being told what was best for her. No one in the village could ever possibly understand her, except maybe Kagome or Inuyasha.

Until he had dumped her in the village, Lord Sesshōmaru had never made assumptions or decisions on her behalf. He kept her safe and defended her…but she had been free. Free to be herself, to do what she pleased. In the village, she felt trapped and expected to fit into a mold that would eventually crush her.

She scowled at the tree line as she got up to help Kagome gather their arrows. Rin didn't care if Granny Kaede thought she was fool. She knew her own mind! Her life was her own, and she would live it on her own terms, even if she did so unwed!

Kagome could barely stand it. She collected their arrows and put all of her effort into not pressing Rin to open up. It seemed so clear to her what troubled the poor girl. She missed Sesshōmaru and was pining for him. What's more, Kagome was almost certain Rin had developed romantic feelings for him. Turning down an offer of marriage to the most eligible male in the village was a huge hint that that was the case. She had no way of knowing if the taciturn Sesshōmaru had similar feelings. He was next to impossible to read on the best of days.

If he did not harbor intentions toward his young ward, then he should speak plainly with her! It was Kagome's opinion that if Sesshōmaru ever intended to make a move, he'd better get his life right and stop all the skulking about in the shadows.

The spot between her shoulder blades tingled as she again felt faint traces of his ludicrously powerful aura. He was so close! He often lurked around like this and for the life of her, she couldn't understand it. She had half a mind to confront him this time! Inuyasha had gruffly told her more than once to just ignore it, and that he'd show himself when he felt like it. Kagome wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. Didn't Sesshōmaru know how unhappy Rin was? Why didn't he come see her? Why would he come around if he never intended to at least let her know he was there? Kagome bit her tongue, wanting so badly to slap her brother-in-law for his cluelessness.

They had finally collected all the arrows and Kagome held out her hand. "Come on, Rin, let's head back."