Sesshoumaru was quiet during their trip, just as he had always been while wandering the lands years ago. Before he had been quiet because he had no interest in conversing, he was too busy obsessing over Tetseiga and Naraku to bother talking to his young companion.

Now he was silent so he would not say what he longed to tell her.

He knew he wanted to keep her, to have her in ways he would have once thought repulsive.

Oh how his father would take pleasure in knowing Sesshoumaru's current predicament, after Sesshoumaru had criticized his father for being foolish enough to love a human woman.

But Sesshoumaru would not be completely like his father. He would not ruin his human girl's life by telling her of his love.

After all, the woman Inu Taisho had been with was the lady of the castle, she was to wed a nobleman, and it was because Inu Taisho had lured the woman to him that she had lost it all. Her home had burned the night of Inuyasha's birth, she had become an outcast because she had kept her half demon child, and it had eventually lead to her premature death.

Sesshoumaru would do what was best for the girl he loved, by letting her go.

He would not let her have the same fate as Inuyasha's mother. He would do all he could to make certain that she had a long and happy human life.

He'd asked Inuyasha's human to send him news of Rin's life. He wanted to know she was well.

And while he wanted her happiness, he knew he would also dread of one day hearing about her human mate, of learning about the children she would have.

As much as Sesshoumaru knew he couldn't have those things with her, he still wanted them. He wanted to see her smile during their union, see her blush on the night her would mark her, to see her joy as they watched their child sleep.

Sesshoumaru mourned for the life he could not have.

The mere thought of doing any of that with any other woman made him feel ill.

"I see the village!" Rin exclaimed as she smiled.

She was so eager to see the child his brother had sired.

"Yes, we are nearly there." He said this calmly as they kept walking, coming closer and closer to the place he would leave her.

What would she do when she learned what would happen?

Would she just smile in relief as she found out she could finally lead a normal human life?

Or would she resist? Would she try to refuse? Beg to stay with him? Scream or cry, because she wanted to stay with him? He wouldn't be able to cave to her wishes, if she didn't see how foolish it would be to stay with him.

And if she did resist, what would be her reason to do so? Would it be possible she felt for him what he felt for her? Or, the more likely, she viewed him as a parent. He nearly cringed at the thought.

Sesshoumaru wasn't sure which reaction would cause him more pain.

~*~

Inuyasha's ears twitched when he heard his brother's voice. He was still a ways away, far enough that it would take a while for him to get there if he continued walking at such a slow pace.

He was not the least bit happy about having Sesshoumaru in the village. And neither was anyone else for that mater.

They had warned everyone to not piss Sesshoumaru off, just in case.

Kagome had assured him that Sesshoumaru wouldn't hurt anyone, because he wouldn't want anyone to hold any prejudice against the girl he was bringing here.

"He's almost here."

Kagome smiled. "Then it's a good thing we have her room all ready. Thank you again for building the extra space."

"Feh." It really wasn't so hard, and he'd do anything for Kagome. Not that he'd tell her that, she was already too smug about the power she held over him.

It was going to be strange to take the girl into their home, they didn't really know much about her besides that fact that she liked Sesshoumaru enough to have stayed with him for so long.

"He just better not stay too long. I don't want him here." Inuyasha knew Sesshoumaru would be able to hear him, he didn't care either. So long as Inuyasha had his sword, Sesshoumaru couldn't beat him.

"Oh calm down Inuyasha, he's going to be on his best behavior. He knows we don't have to take Rin in, so he's not going to risk angering us."

Inuyasha watched as she burped their son. He'd just eaten, and he would sleep soon. That was good, it would be an excuse to keep Sesshoumaru away.

"He'd better."

Inuyasha would never trust his bastard of a brother; they would always hate one another.

"You stay here with Yoshi, I'll go out to get the girl." Inuyasha stood. He really didn't want Sesshoumaru near his wife or child, and he'd make sure he stayed away from them.

"Inuyasha, your not going to do something stupid are you?"

Inuyasha growled a little. "Hey!"

Kagome giggled, and he rolled his eyes.

"Just stay put, I'll be back with the girl." He got up and went outside, and walked just outside the village to wait for Sesshoumaru and his girl.