Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters

A/N: Yes yes I know another fic. But hey! I got a GREAT idea, and I hope everyone else thinks the same too! Also, I didn't put in any of my own characters in this time, well ok I might later on but NOT MAIN I PROMISE!! Lol. Like all my other stories, reviewers will receive something! Not sure what yet, but oh, it will be grand! Lol now onto the story!!!

Chapter 1: Finding a Teacher

Sesshoumaru leaned back in his wooden chair, completely forgetting about the letter he was writing only a few short minutes ago. He was once again, pondering about something that has been troubling him for quite some time. His golden eyes closed slightly as his brow drew together.

He had to face it, Rin was growing up faster then he would have liked. She was now 12, which meant she was now a woman. He knew he needed someone to teach her other them himself now. Sure, he could teach her many things about reading and writing, but when it came down to teaching her about herself, he was simply clueless. He needed a woman to teach her before it was too late. She was already showing signs of advancing onto womanhood, something he knew never little of.

For once he cursed himself for not having any female human servants around, although he hated to admit it. 'I must find someone fast...' He thought to himself. After a few minutes he finally came to a conclusion. He would simply take a female villager and make her teach Rin until she was needed no longer. He just hoped Rin wouldn't soften him up into keeping the girl, something that was becoming oh too easy for the child to do now.

Sesshoumaru got out of his chair and walked towards the large double doors leading out of his study. He hesitated for a slight moment, wondering if he really should bring another human into the house, but he knew he must. He reached out and pushed the large doors open and headed down the long hallway.

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Sango wiped off her shoulders and looked down at the fallen foe. This one was a rather easy kill, compared to the other demons they had fought. She looked over at Kagome as she picked up the shard from the demon, instantly purifying it. The Shikon no Tama was almost complete now.

"What now?" Kagome's voice ringed out. Sango looked over at her friend, an idea slowly forming in her head. "Why don't we go to the hot spring? I saw one not to long ago." Sango answered, wanting oh-so bad to relax. Inuyasha had been pushing them all day, traveling non stop and killing almost ten demons by now.

Kagome nodded, making sure to give Inuyasha a warning glare before she walked over to Sango. "Kiara, keep an eye on them." Sango ordered her trusty companion. Kiara gave a soft 'meow' and rushed over to the men, sitting in between Inuyasha and Miroku.

After the short journey towards the hot spring, the girls slipped off their clothing and jumped into the spring, letting their worried lift. Sango had herself resting against the edge where a large boulder was resting. Her muscles were beginning to relax from her long day, something she was most definitely enjoying.

"Um, Sango?" Kagome hesitantly asked, slowly moving closer to her. Sango pulled her head up to look at her friends troubled eyes, "What is it Kagome?"

Kagome looked down and shifted a bit, "You know..." She began, unsure of how to phrase this properly, "We've all been together for a long time right?" Sango frowned slightly, "What's on your mind?"

"Well, um, you...know...about how I feel..." Kagome looked around nervously, "About Inuyasha...." She finished in a whisper. Sango had to stop herself from smiling, 'So this is what it's about.' She thought to herself before urging her friend to continue.

"Do you think...he feels the same?" Kagome looked up at Sango, her eyes clearly showing every emotion that was running through her. Sango smiled sincerely at her, "I'm sure he does. You know Inuyasha; he just won't show his true feelings."

Kagome looked back down at her reflection, praying that Sango was right. God only knows that she had loved Inuyasha for quite some time, and not once did she get a hint of mutual feelings. She jumped as she felt a hand gently press against her shoulder, shaking her from her roaming thoughts. She looked over at Sango, "I think I'm going to let it all out. Tell him how I feel." She finally said, determination spread across her face. Sango nodded, "That is the best thing for you to do." She replied and resumed her position against the boulder.

As she felt Kagome wonder off to the other side of the spring, she let her thoughts roam freely, something she had refrained from doing for quite some time. Since last year, she had pushed every thought out of her head, trying not to remember the painful past. It was during the final battle with Naraku that she had felt as if her heart had been literally crushed.

Kohaku had just finally remembered everything, Naraku's control over him completely gone. She had tried to keep him away from the battle, something she wished she had done better. It was him that gave the final blow to Naraku, silencing his hatred for good. But doing this action caused his life to disappear for the final time. Naraku had managed to pull out the Shikon shard out of his back as Kohaku began to slice into him.

Sango pulled herself out of her thoughts as she felt the sting of tears fill up her deep brown eyes. She shook her head, refusing to let them fall. She cried one to many tears already, and her pride wouldn't allow any more to fall.

"I think we should head back." Sango said once she regained her composer. Kagome nodded and climbed out of the spring, quickly drying off and putting her clothes on. She no longer wore her school uniform, being that she was no longer in school. She would have gone on to College once she somehow managed to graduate, but she knew it would be impossible if she was still in the Feudal Era.

Sango jumped out, pulling on her kimono with ease. She gave a look over to Kagome before heading down the path back towards the others.

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Sesshoumaru sat high up in a tree, once again deep in thought. He had been searching all day for a possible teacher but none of the woman he encountered he deemed worthy of doing so. Not only did he just want someone to tell Rin of what she was becoming, but he needed her to be taught how to act like a woman, without sacrificing strength. He wouldn't allow her to be weak, it just wasn't an option.

Voices began to take his attention away from his troubled thoughts. They were the voices of woman. He sniffed the air, confirming that they were human. Just as he thought he would check it out, he realized who these scents belonged to. They were the women that travelled with his pathetic Hanyou brother. He looked down from his perch as one of them walked by. He studied her carefully, finally deciding that it would not be a good idea. She wore very strange clothing, a bit too much showing. Not only that, but this one was a Miko, one that he had problems with in the past.

The other girl finally came into view. She was definitely better dressed then the other one was, wearing a simple kimono with her hair neatly tied back. She seemed well suited for the job...the only problem was the fact that she was demon slayer. Sure, that meant that she a strong warrior, but it also meant many problems for Sesshoumaru. He watched carefully as the girl slowly made her way, falling behind the other.

Sesshoumaru recognized this opportunity and decided to take it. He jumped down from the tree he was sitting in, landing directly in front of Sango. Sango jumped slightly but kept her ground, staring intently at him once she realized who exactly it was. By now Kagome was long gone and most definitely out of sight.

"What do you want Sesshoumaru?" Sango asked him, hoping he still wasn't after the Tetsusaiga. It was actually surprising to see him now. After they defeated Naraku the group had seen very little of him. The fact that he showed up now concerned her greatly, there was always a reason for his appearances.

Sesshoumaru pushed back his burning desire to slice her down with her claws, he knew if he wanted her help it would be most un-wise to attack her. "I require a Teacher for Rin." He finally said. His was rather difficult for him to manage, asking a mere human for aid. He knew though, that if she was to become Rin's teacher, she would be completely in his control no matter what, and it would stay that way.

"Teacher?" Sango questioned, not quite understanding what he was really asking for. She remembered Rin from previous battles between the two half-brothers. She never really knew why he kept a human child with him. "She is becoming a woman..." Sesshoumaru flatly said, breaking Sango away from her straying thoughts. 'Oh....OH!' She thought as it finally kicked in. He needed someone to teach Rin about her body as it grew up, but why would he come to her?

"Ok, I get why you need a teacher, but why would you seek my aid of all people. Surely you know who I am..." Sango started, her confusion quite obvious in the tone of her voice. "That mean's nothing. I need a stronger woman that also has some manners." He replied, like usual completely emotionless. He cursed himself for actually responding to this exterminator, but knew fully that all of this was necessary.

'So, he thinks I'm strong...' Sango thought to herself, slightly amused at this. Then again, the women they have seen in the villages that did have manners were pretty much helpless in a situation, so she could definitely see his point. She wasn't sure though, if it was a good idea to accept his offer. After all, there were still Shards to collect, and who knows what would happen once she was done with teaching Rin.

"If I help you..." Sango started to say, trying to get insurance if she decided to help, "After I have taught Rin of everything, will I be able to leave?"

"That depends on Rin." He flatly said, starting to become annoyed with this human. He was beginning to curse himself for thinking of asking her of all people to do this task. Sango raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"

"It means what I have said, now do you accept?" Sesshoumaru growled out, the last of his patience fading. Sango sighed and looked down the path behind Sesshoumaru, "If I can say goodbye." She finally said. The idea of helping Sesshoumaru was definitely not flattering but she knew this child would need to know why her body was acting this way. Travelling with a male demon her whole life, she wouldn't exactly know why she felt certain things, or even worse... why she was bleeding.

Sesshoumaru growled under his breath, not even noticeable to human ears. "Fine, but make it quick." Sango owed slightly in thanks and ran off. She knew that if she took too long he would come, which meant a fight between the brothers. Sango made it in record time to her friends.

"Sango? Why did you take so long?" Kagome asked, walking over to her friend. "Um, you see, I have to go for bit." Sango replied, not wanting to tell them of why she was leaving. "What?!" Inuyasha yelled out. "You can't leave now! We have Shards to hunt!" Inuyasha was now standing face-to-face was Sango. "Inuyasha, I must. I will be back shortly." She said, leaving no room for argument. "A least tell us why." Miroku spoke up, sadness slightly visible in his voice. He would most definitely miss groping her, and even miss her hash hits to his head afterwards.

"That is none of your concern." She replied and turned around. "I will be back, don't worry." She finished before she began her trek back towards where Sesshoumaru was.

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Sesshoumaru stood in his place, rather impatiently. He now wished he had never even asked the exterminator to do this task. But then again it was much better then having to take an un-willing woman who would most likely fail because of her fear.

Just as he was about to go get her, he noticed her coming back towards him. "Are you finished?" He said, his words sounding rather cold. Sango tried to ignore his tone and nodded, "Yes I am." She replied. 'Oh kami, why did I even go along with this?' She thought, inwardly kicking herself.

Sesshoumaru also doubted his choice, wondering how good of an idea it was to bring a Youkai exterminator to his domain.

No matter both their doubts, they continued on. Sesshoumaru silently lead the way as Sango followed him, not even sure of where he was going. She figured it was where he was living, wherever that may be.

"Um..." Sango finally spoke up after about an hour of travelling. "Has Rin...um...." It was definitely something rather hard for her to ask. Even though she wasn't embarrassed about these kinds of things, it was rather strange to be talking about it around Sesshoumaru of all people. Sesshoumaru looked behind him at Sango, "What?" He asked, rather annoyed. "Has she....bled yet?" Sango finally got out. Sesshoumaru stopped walking and raised an eyebrow. "Bled?" He questioned, actually half showing his emotions. "You know!" Sango said, trying not to explain it. Sesshoumaru was still confused until it hit him. He was almost embarrassed but quickly suppressed it.

"No she has not. But her scent is changing rapidly, that is why this is urgent." He finally answered. Sango nodded, understanding what she he was saying and continued to keep up the silence that they were getting quite good at doing.

The sky was begging to burn like fire as the sun began to set down, nearly past the mountains. "We will make camp here." Sesshoumaru said to Sango, finally stopping their long trek. Sango sighed in relief. She would never admit that she was tired and would have pushed herself to continue if he hadn't decided to stay. She sat down on the ground for a minute, remembering that she had failed to bring any supplies with her. 'Oh well.' She thought to herself and stretched out a bit.

"How much longer?" She asked, almost without any thought at all. She was hoping it wasn't too far away but she knew not to expect too much. "Two days if you keep good pace." Sesshoumaru said, walking towards the forest for fire wood. He should have stopped earlier so she would have to do this, but he knew how awful human vision could get in the darkness.

Sango nodded to the departing figure and laid down on the ground. 'What have I gotten myself into?' She asked herself before yawning and letting the darkness of sleep lowly surround her.