Author's Note: Extended italics denotes personal thoughts ;)

She had never cried so many tears in her whole life. Not even when her family was massacred by wolf demons. She couldn't understand, and she didn't want to understand why Lord Sesshomaru and Master Jaken would leave her now. She seemed to be a help to them; at least that's what she thought. She actually thought that Lord Sesshomaru was growing fonder of her presence, a little bit more affectionate each day. But now she was here and there was no promise that she would see him or Master Jaken again. For Rin, this was like losing the world.

"Rin, you are to stay with the Fugashi family", Master Jaken said with little command he had.

"They are pretty much demon royalty in these parts, and if anyone, besides Lord Sesshomaru of course, can protect you and raise you into a fine lady, it would be these royals…plus you will be able to be around your own kind since the esteemed Fugashi rule this human village"

Rin didn't care who or what they were. She didn't care about being around humans or not. She liked what she had, and had no desire to become a "lady", whatever that was. When did Lord Sesshomaru start to care about that?

"I want to be with you, Master Jaken, and Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin yelled with heart breaking emotion. "I'll do whatever you want, and I'll never give you any trouble again!"

"That's no matter foolish young girl, you're getting too old for the Lord, and you can't expect him to take care of such a weak and burdensome human for such a long time!" Jaken spouted feeling slightly guilty for responding so coldly. But Lord Sesshomaru and him both knew that Rin could no longer travel with them.

Rin's tanned face was riddled with streams of tears; her has disheveled hair sticking to her round cheeks. As much as she wanted to be with Lord Sesshomaru, the idea that she was simply a burden to him and Jaken made her little heart hurt deeply.

"I understand, Master Jaken." Rin whispered, her head hanging low to hide her pain.

"Are you sure in this decision, Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked as they stood near the edge of the village his face stoic as usual.

"Milord, she is no longer a little girl! She has started to become a young woman. She's 12 years old. We cannot take care of such a thing!"

Jaken recalled that horrific morning in the forest when he found Rin covered in blood. He panicked thinking she had injured herself again while foraging for food, and knew Lord Sesshomaru would reprimand him when he returned from his venture. However when he anxiously looked for an open wound, she was not cut or injured at all! He shuddered as he recalled fainting when Rin said worriedly, "Master Jaken, I think I'm ill! Blood is coming out of me!" When he came to, he rushed Rin to the nearest village and paid a human woman to help Rin take care of her female problems.

"Milord, the Fugashi family can raise her like royalty! And she will have the company of humans, while still under the protection of demons!" Jaken spouted trying to sound confident.

"I never particularly cared for the arrogant Fugashi family, or ever considered them royalty. Sir Fugashi is undoubtedly a war hero, but their bloodline is no where near pure…" Sesshomaru said with a condescending tone. Then letting out an irritated sigh, "But I guess Sir and Lady Fugashi can offer her the proper upbringing for a lady…"

"Milord, you need but trust me and the plans I put in place. And just as we discussed Lord, when you finally are able to permanently return to the West palace, we can call for Rin. This will ensure her good future" Jaken anxiously reassured Sesshomaru.

"Hn" Sesshomaru replied his eyebrows knit together, his amber eyes tightly focused on the village where he was leaving her. Rin is getting older…and why should him leaving her bother him so? She was just a human. But he couldn't deny it. She wasn't just any human; he had grown attached to her.

Continuing on into the forest beyond the village, Sesshomaru looked back once more and couldn't help but feel he was losing something. The unusual feeling bothered him and he looked away, and resisting the temptation, he refused to look back.